Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice-making device for a refrigerator. The ice-making device of the present invention comprises a water tank detachably installed to a rear surface of a refrigerator door for selectively opening or closing a storage space, first and second ice trays rotatably installed to the rear surface of the door to make ice using water supplied from the water tank, and an ice bank installed to the rear surface of the door to store therein the ice made in the first and second ice trays. According to the present invention, ice can be more simply and easily taken out while minimizing the leakage of cold air circulating in the storage space. Further, ice can be stored in a more sanitary way while minimizing the contamination of the storage space in the process of making ice.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water comprises: a cold water unit configured to store cold water therein; an ice making unit configured to make the cold water into ice cubes; a first heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit; and a second heat exchanger configured to supply cold air to the cold water unit. Since the heat exchangers are individually disposed at the cold water unit and the ice making unit, the temperature of the cold water supplied from the cold water unit may be easily controlled. Furthermore, this may allow the cold water to be supplied to a user with a uniform temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for circulating air within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator are disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating the icemaker, filling the ice cavities with water, and activating the fan after a predetermined time after the ice cavities are filled with water. The apparatus includes a food storage compartment, an access door operable to selectively close the food storage compartment, an icemaker compartment on the access door, an icemaker disposed in the icemaker compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold body defining a plurality of ice cavities, an ice storage bin disposed in the icemaker compartment, a fan for distributing cold air within the icemaker compartment, at least one heating element attached to the ice mold body, a coolant pump, and a controller for regulating the fan and the coolant pump.

Abstract: An ice making unit includes an ice making chamber having an ice making area and an ice storing area, an ice tray installed within the ice making area and rotatable by a driving force transferred from the exterior, a driving module fixed in an inner wall of the ice making chamber and configured to provide the driving force, and a control module disposed outside the ice making chamber and configured to control the driving module. Also, a refrigerator with the ice making unit is provided. Therefore, the ice making area and the ice storing area of the ice making chamber can be increased.

Abstract: A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.

Abstract: A weighing type ice vending machine includes an ice cube formation device installed in a machine body for supplying a specific weight of ice cubes after coins are inputted, and a body composed of a storage bucket, an output device, a weight sensing module and a control loop. Pure water is put into an ice tray in the machine body and condensed into ice cubes which are gathered into a storage bucket for a cold storage. A user puts a user's container on a weighing scale of the weight sensing module at an outlet of the machine body outlet and inserts coins whose dollar amount information is displayed. The quantity of outputted ice cubes is calculated and outputted automatically, and then the ice supply is stopped. The quantity of remained ice cubes in the machine body is recorded automatically, such that the ice cube will be produced again timely and the supply of ice cubes will be stopped temporarily.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having an ice making apparatus installed at a cooling chamber door that opens/closes a cooling chamber. The refrigerator includes a body having a cooling chamber therein, a cooling chamber door to open/close the cooling chamber, and an ice making apparatus installed in the cooling chamber door to make ice. An ice making evaporator is provided in the ice making apparatus to independently supply the ice making apparatus with cooling air and an ice making evaporator chamber, in which an ice making evaporator is installed, is provided adjacent to the cooling chamber door while being partitioned from the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigerator and a power saving method of an ice maker are provided. The ice maker includes: an ice tray for making ice; an ejector for removing the ice from the ice tray; an storage unit for dispensing and storing the removed ice; and a controller for controlling an ice making operation for making ice, an ice removing operation for removing generated ice, and a dispensing operation of dispensing removed ice, and providing control to cut off power supply during the ice making operation. While an ice making operation is being performed, an ice making elapsed-time and an ice making temperature are measured to determine whether or not the ice making operation has been completed, and while the ice making operation is being performed, power supplied to the ice maker is cut off, thus reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.

Abstract: A pivotable guard includes a guard surface configured to be mounted to a bin such that the guard surface is pivotable about an axis; and the bin including at least one side wall and a rear wall. The guard surface is configured to pivot between a lowered position relative to the bin and a raised position relative to the bin higher than the lowered position.

Abstract: An apparatus and refrigerator for creating ice pellets is disclosed. The apparatus and refrigerator include a compartment, an ice storage bin positioned in the compartment and configured to store whole ice cubes therein, and a pellet ice dispenser. The pellet ice dispenser includes a first motor, a first axle drivingly connected to a shaft of the first motor, a first ice cube auger drivingly connected to the first axle, a blade downstream of the first ice cube auger and configured to shave whole ice cubes into ice pieces, and an ice pelleter. The ice pelleter includes an extrusion die disposed downstream of the blade, a shaved ice auger disposed between the blade and the extrusion die and configured to move and compress the ice pieces through the extrusion die to form pellet ice.

Abstract: An ice dispensing apparatus is described which is capable of dispensing free ice or ice in a sealed bag. The apparatus has an ice manufacturing zone capable of converting incoming water to ice. An ice storage zone receives the ice from the ice manufacturing zone. An ice distribution zone has a distributor capable of receiving the ice from the ice storage zone and distributing the ice to a free ice chute or an ice bagging station wherein the free ice chute discharges ice to an exterior receptacle. The ice bagging station has a bag funnel capable of receiving ice and passing the ice in a downward flow of predetermined size. A bag storage device stores multiple bags prior to use. A bag grabbing device removes a bag from the bag storage device and bag filling hold the bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least as large as the predetermined size whereby the ice passing through the bag funnel is collected in the bag. Bag closing pins hold the bag with the mouth in an orientation for sealing.

Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigerator and a method for making ice are provided. The ice maker includes an ice-making tray configured to be disposed at one side of a refrigerating chamber, that stores water to be used to make ice, and an ice-making pipe that freezes the water stored in the ice-making tray. In an ice-releasing process, the ice-making tray is instantly heated by applying power thereto.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an air duct that brings a supply of chilled air to an air flow pathway that leads to an ice maker. A low profile impeller within the pathway forces the chilled air toward the ice maker. A curved vane guides the flow of air towards the ice maker. An impinger with a plurality of nozzles focuses the air flow from the impeller onto the ice maker.

Abstract: An ice producing apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a door configured to permit and prohibit access to an interior volume of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the door defining therein a door interior volume; a fan disposed in the door interior volume; and a mold disposed in the door interior volume and configured to receive water and to retain the water during freezing of the water into ice.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door provided to the main body, including an outer door and a door liner. The door liner includes support steps, a liner plate, and a seating step that define an installation space. An ice maker is located at least partially in the installation space. A cold air duct is provided in one side of the storage chamber to supply the ice maker with cold air. An ice maker cover is provided having a cold air inlet on a top portion thereof and a viewing window on a lower portion thereof. The viewing window allows the ice maker to be seen from outside of the ice maker cover. An ice bank is removably located below the ice maker to transfer ice received from the ice maker to a dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure for allowing ice, which is received in an ice-storing device provided in a refrigerating chamber door, to be in a frozen state without being melted. The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a main body including at least a refrigerating chamber, a door for opening or closing the refrigerating chamber, a container provided in the door to store ice therein, and a cold heat storage member surrounding the container. According to the refrigerator of the present invention constructed as above, even though an ice bank for storing ice is provided in a refrigerating chamber door, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon by which ice is melted and stuck together.

Abstract: A refrigerator is shown having a dosing unit for dispensing ice pieces one by one from an icemaker.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigerator. The present invention provides an ice maker for a refrigerator, which is provided at one side of the refrigerator to make ice. The ice maker comprises an ice maker body provided with an ice-making tray for making ice; an ejector rotatably mounted at one side of the ice maker body so as to eject ice made in the ice-making tray to the outside; a water supply hopper provided at one side of the ice maker body and having at least an open portion so that the water supply hopper is supplied with water from a water supply source through a water supply tube and then transfers the water to the ice-making tray; and a hopper cover coupled to the water supply hopper so as to selectively open and close the open portion of the water supply hopper. According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which water supplied from an outer water supply source to the water supply hopper splashes to the outside.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a drawer to be pushed into or pulled out of a storage compartment. An ice-making unit is integrally mounted in the drawer so as to be pushed into or pulled out of the drawer through an opening perforated in a front wall of the drawer, resulting in improved use convenience and space utilization.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing product is provided including a storage compartment located within the appliance, a dispensing unit located on the exterior of the appliance including a dispensing outlet, and an actuating mechanism located on the exterior of the storage compartment. The actuating mechanism is configured to be moved from a neutral position to at least a first position and a second position. The first position is configured to trigger a release of a first type of product, and the second position is configured to release a second type of product, respectively, from the dispensing outlet. In one example, a switch can be provided to detect the position of the actuating mechanism, and each position triggers the release of a different type of product from within the appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a shell body (1) divided into a refrigerating chamber (2) and a freezing chamber (3), and a door body (20) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and further comprises an ice-making chamber (21) and movable supporting mechanisms (213, 214) connecting the ice-making chamber (21) and the inner wall of the shell body (1).

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice maker (211) comprises a freezing chamber (3), a refrigerating chamber (2), door bodies (21, 31) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and an ice maker (211) provided in the freezing chamber (3), the refrigerating chamber (2) or the door body (21, 31) for making ice. The ice maker (211) is connected with a refrigerating system independent from the freezing chamber (3) and the refrigerating chamber (2) so that the ice maker (211) is not affected by the refrigerating conditions of other chambers and can make ice independently.

Abstract: A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator door has an outer case forming a shape of the refrigerator door, an inner case provided within the outer case to configure a backside of the refrigerator door wherein a space between the inner case and the outer case is charged with a foaming liquid, an ice making unit provided to one side of the inner case to make ice, a fixing unit provided to the space charged with the foaming liquid between the inner case and the outer case and fixing the ice making unit to the refrigerator door, and a dispenser provided to one side of the outer case to discharge the ice supplied by the ice making unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator housing, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice bin at the door, the ice bin having a window for viewing an ice level within the ice bin. An ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having an insulated front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, and an open top, and a first window pane and a second window pane positioned at the front of the ice storage bin to allow for viewing the ice level within the ice storage bin. There may be an air gap between the first window pane and the second window pane.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body provided with a freezing chamber, a freezing chamber door to open and close the freezing chamber, a subsidiary door to open and close an opening provided on the freezing chamber door, and an ice maker installed on the rear surface of the subsidiary door to manufacture ice. As the opening is opened by the subsidiary door, the ice maker is drawn out of the freezing chamber, thereby enabling a user to conveniently supply water to the inside of the ice maker or to conveniently use the ice manufactured by the ice maker.

Abstract: An ice cube container of an ice maker for household purposes includes a bottom, front and rear wall sections arranged on opposite ends of the bottom, and two sidewall sections interconnecting the end wall sections. The front and rear wall sections have each a length which is shorter than a length of the side wall sections. Arranged on one of the sidewall sections is a removal handle to allow easy removal of ice cubes. The ice cube container is removably received in a receptacle of a freezer compartment drawer of a refrigeration appliance in only one way in which the removal handle of the ice cube container faces the center of the freezer compartment drawer when the ice cube container is inserted in the receptacle.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice storage bin at the door. The ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having a front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, an open top, and a cover mounted to the top. Insulation is provided between the cover and the front of the ice storage bin. The ice storage bin may be pivotally mounted to the door and configured to tilt open to allow for access to ice disposed within the ice storage bin. The ice storage bin may be removable. The ice storage bin may be accessed directly from within the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispenser to dispense water or ice, a door handle positioned below the dispenser, and a tray mounted to the door handle in a position to receive at least some water or ice dispensed from the dispenser. The tray coupled to the door handle attached to the door may receive excess or residue water or ice dispensed from the dispenser without deterioration of the exterior appearance of the door.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ice bank of a refrigerator comprising: a casing for storing ice pieces introduced through one side of an upper surface thereof, and a guide unit formed at one side of the casing so as to guide the introduced ice pieces to be stored in the casing with being uniformly distributed therein. According to the ice bank of the refrigerator the present invention, the ice pieces can be uniformly heaped in the ice bank. Accordingly, it is capable of preventing the ice pieces from overflowing resulting from that the ice pieces are heaped up around a spot where the ice pieces fall down in the ice bank and of facilitatingly containing the ice pieces in the ice bank.

Abstract: An ice level detection device of a refrigerator includes an ice level detection arm and an ice storage container detection arm, the ice level detection arm operatively connected to a mechanical motor for movement between an ice sensing position with the ice level detection arm extending at least partially into the ice storage container and an ice harvest position with the ice level detection arm being clear of the ice storage container, the ice storage container detection arm abutting the ice storage container while the ice storage container is mounted at the door. The ice level detection arm transitions from the ice sensing position to the ice harvest position for ice harvest by the ice maker. Opening the door disables ice harvest by the ice maker. Upon removal of the ice storage container the ice level detection arm transitions to the ice harvest position and disables ice harvest.

Abstract: Disclosed is the auger in an ice bin mounted in a refrigerator, and the like. The auger in the ice bin is configured to rotate an auger having spiral-shaped transfer blades and to dispose ice in each space between the transfer blades of the auger for transfer. Accordingly, a certain amount of ice can always be discharged without simultaneously discharging a great amount of ice, and a user may select the number of ice, thus to diversity functions of an ice dispenser. In addition, since the auger is made of a flexible material, the ice can be prevented from being crushed during transfer, thereby enhancing the reliability of the ice dispenser.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment which includes an ice chamber. The ice chamber includes an ice maker which includes a first heat exchanger for producing ice. The ice chamber further includes an ice container, a second heat exchanger, an air moving apparatus, and an enclosed loop passageway. The ice container is for storing ice produced by the ice maker and includes an exterior surface. The second heat exchanger is for controlling temperature at the ice container. The passageway forms an air flow path such that air travels in thermal contact with the second heat exchanger. The air moving apparatus is positioned to move air through the passageway.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice bank includes a rotation shaft to which a transfer unit for transferring ice pieces in the ice bank is connected, and having a coupling groove on an outer circumferential surface of the end thereof; a joint penetrated by the rotation shaft; a driving shaft connected to the joint, and transmitting a driving force of a motor to the joint; and a coupling ring coupled to the coupling groove of the rotation shaft penetrating the joint. Since the coupling ring is locked by the joint, the rotation shaft is prevented from being arbitrarily separated from the joint. The rotation shaft can be rotated in forward and backward directions. Furthermore, since the rotation shaft has a length shorter than a rotation shaft having screw threads and nuts, the motor can have a compact configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ice maker for a refrigerator. The ice maker is further provided with an ice making evaporator in addition to an evaporator for cooling a refrigerating chamber of a freezing chamber, and the ice making evaporator is sunk in water to generate ice, thereby quickly creating transparent ice. The ice maker can also be disposed in the refrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door, thus to prevent ice from being formed with air bubble remaining in water, resulting in enhancing transparency of ice. In addition, even if the ice maker is disposed in the refrigerating chamber door, cold air is not needed to be induced from the freezing chamber, which allows independent operations of the freezing chamber and the ice maker, thereby increasing energy efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an icemaker of a refrigerator including an ice dispersing unit to disperse ice for uniform distribution of ice in an ice making container. The icemaker includes an ice making unit to make ice, and an ice making container to receive ice separated from the ice making unit. The icemaker further includes an ice dispersing unit arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container. The ice dispersing unit serves to guide the ice moving from the ice making unit to the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.

Abstract: A refrigerator and an ice-making system thereof, which may maximize space utilization inside a storage compartment. To this end, an ice-making device is horizontally wide and vertically thin, and an ice discharge port of a dispenser unit is oriented obliquely or parallel to a surface of a storage compartment door to reduce the thickness of the dispenser unit. An icemaker and an ice storage container to receive ice made by the icemaker are horizontally arranged parallel to each other within the ice-making device. A transfer channel is formed in an inner foamed portion of the storage compartment door to maximize space utilization inside the storage compartment and door shelves.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a refrigerator door opening and closing the storage compartment. The refrigerator door includes an ice compartment, an ice maker in the ice compartment, the ice maker generating ice cubes, an ice bin storing the ice cubes generated in the ice maker, and a cool air duct guiding cool air to the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment; a door configured to open and close the storage compartment, the door comprising an outer case and a door liner; an ice maker configured to generate ice cubes; an ice bin provided at the refrigerator door, the ice bin storing the ice cubes generated in the ice maker; a dispenser provided at the door, the dispenser dispensing the ice cubes stored in the ice bin; and a vacuum insulation panel disposed between the outer case and the ice bin to insulate the storage compartment from an outside.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a slim refrigerator door. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment; a refrigerator door configured to open and close the storage compartment; an ice maker configured to generate ice cubes; an ice bin provided at the refrigerator door to receive the ice cubes generated in the ice maker and having a discharge opening through which the ice cubes are discharged; a motor provided at the refrigerator door; and at least one blade disposed within the ice bin, the at least one blade being operably connected to the motor, wherein at least one ice cube generated in the ice maker directly drop onto the at least one blade, and the at least one blade moves at least one ice cube stored in the ice bin to the discharge opening to discharge the at least one ice cube from the ice bin by an operation of the motor.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator that includes a cabinet, a refrigerator door, and a cabinet sealing part. The cabinet defines a storage compartment. The refrigerator door opens and closes the storage compartment. The cabinet sealing part is provided to a contact portion between the refrigerator door and the cabinet to prevent a communication between the storage compartment and an outside. The refrigerator door includes a door liner defining an ice compartment, an ice maker in the ice compartment, the ice maker generating ice, an ice bin storing ice generated by the ice maker, an ice compartment door opening and closing the ice compartment, and a plurality of sealing parts at positions spaced apart from each other. The sealing parts prevent a communication between the ice compartment and the storage compartment.

Abstract: An ice supply device and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The ice supply device includes an ice breaking unit having a breaker to break ice and a housing to house the breaker, an ice storage container removably coupled to the ice breaking unit and having a discharge hole to discharge ice, and a binding device to bind the ice storage container and the ice breaking unit. Accordingly, the ice storage container can be separated from the ice breaking unit, thereby facilitating handling of the ice storage container.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice-cube maker is provided. The refrigerator includes a collection container to collect the pieces of ice produced by the ice-cube maker. The collection container has a panel and is removable from the refrigerator. The refrigerator further includes an ice-cube production apparatus associated with the collection container and a cover which blocks access, at a front side, to the ice-cube production apparatus. The cover is rearwardly offset in relation to the panel of the collection container.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a cabinet having a cabinet door pivotally connected thereto. A primary ice bin is disposed on one of the cabinet and the cabinet door and includes a primary gate operable between a closed position and an open position. A secondary ice bin is disposed on the other of the cabinet and the cabinet door. The secondary ice bin includes a secondary gate operable between a closed position and an open position. The secondary gate operably engages with the primary gate to form an ice overflow route when the primary gate and the secondary gate are in the open position. An ice maker is disposed inside the cabinet and adapted to dispense ice into the primary ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigerator is provided. The ice dispenser includes an ice storage container housing and an ice generator having a hollow mold which is filled with water. The ice storage container housing and the ice generator are combined into one modular unit.