Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a dispenser provided in a door and having a dispenser casing, which is provided with a first region and a second region located close to the first region. The first region and the second region are adjacent to a heat insulating layer of the door. A first heater is arranged in the first region for supplying heat to the dispenser casing and a second heater is arranged in the second region for supplying heat to the dispenser casing, with the first heater and the second heater being controlled independently.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerator body defining at least one storage space;   a door connected to the refrigerator body for closing at least a part of the storage space, said door being provided with a heat insulating layer;   a dispenser provided in the door and comprising a dispenser casing, said dispenser casing comprising a first region and a second region located close to the first region, said first and second regions being arranged adjacent to the heat insulating layer;   a first heater arranged in the first region for supplying heat to the dispenser casing; and   a second heater arranged in the second region for supplying heat to the dispenser casing, wherein the first heater and the second heater are controlled independently.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the second region is surrounded by the first region. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the first heater comprises two heating segments spaced at a predetermined distance, at least a part of the second heater being located between the two heating segments. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising an ice transfer passage for transferring ice, at least one of the first and second heaters being arranged at least partly around the ice transfer passage. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the first heater operates at a power which is different than a power of the second heater. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a control unit and a sensing unit for detecting at least one ambient parameter, said first heater being controlled automatically by the control unit in response to the detected ambient parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the second heater is configured to operate in an auxiliary heating mode which is activated manually, so as to supply additional heat to the dispenser casing. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the second heater is controlled by the control unit automatically. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , wherein the second heater is turned on only when an ambient temperature is higher than a predetermined value and/or ambient relative humidity is higher than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat conducting element which covers at least a part of an inner surface of the dispenser casing, said heat conducting element being arranged at least close to at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first heater and the second heater for transmitting the heat generated by the member to the dispenser casing. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator of  claim 22 , wherein the dispenser casing defines a dispensing cavity for receiving at least a part of an external container, said dispensing cavity comprising a dispensing cavity wall extending in a longitudinal direction, with the heat conducting element covering at least a major portion of the dispensing cavity wall. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigerator of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second heaters are arranged distal to the dispensing cavity wall. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigerator of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second heaters are arranged in a marginal region of the dispensing cavity wall.