Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator body defining at least one storage space, and a door connected to the refrigerator body for closing at least a part of the storage space. A dispenser is provided in the door and includes a dispenser casing which is supplied with heat by a first heater. A control unit automatically controls the on and off operation of the first heater. Arranged near the first heater is a second heater to optionally supply extra heat to the dispenser casing in a manually initiated auxiliary heating mode.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . 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;   a dispenser provided in the door and comprising a dispenser casing;   a first heater for supplying heat to the dispenser casing;   a control unit configured to automatically control on and off operation of the first heater; and   a second heater arranged near the first heater to optionally supply extra heat to the dispenser casing in a manually initiated auxiliary heating mode.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising a manually-operated switching member operably connected with the second heater and switchable between an on-state and off-state, wherein the second heater is rendered operative when the switching member is manually switched to the on-state, so as to initiate the auxiliary heating mode. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the second heater is turned off by switching the switching member to the off-state, so as to end the auxiliary heating mode. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising a timer configured to generate a signal after the second heater has been turned on for a predetermined time, for turning off the second heater. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the second heater operates at a power which is lower than a power of the first heater. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising a sensing unit configured to sense at least one environmental parameter and to feed the parameter to the control unit, said control unit being configured to control the first heater in response to the sensed environmental parameter. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator of  claim 21 , wherein the environmental parameter is at least one member selected from the group consisting of ambient temperature and ambient relative humidity. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first heater and the second heater is disposed on an inner side of the dispenser casing adjacent to a heat insulating layer of the door. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the dispenser casing comprises a first area and a second area near the first area, said first heater being provided in the first area, and said second heater being provided in the second area. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the dispenser comprises an ice transfer passage extending through the door, said dispenser casing comprising a through hole forming a part of the ice transfer passage, with at least a part of the first heater being arranged along the through hole. 
     
     
         26 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising a heat conducting element provided on an inner side of the dispenser casing, said heat conducting element being configured to transmit heat from at least one of the first heater and the second heater to the dispenser casing. 
     
     
         27 . The refrigerator of  claim 26 , wherein the dispenser casing defines a dispensing cavity for receiving at least a part of an outside container, said heat conducting element covering at least a major portion of a longitudinal wall of the dispensing cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigerator of  claim 26 , wherein the heat conducting element comprises a metal foil having a high heat conductivity, said metal foil establishing face-to-face contacting with the dispenser casing. 
     
     
         29 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the first heater comprises two heating segments which are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, with at least a part of the second heater being arranged between the two heating segments. 
     
     
         30 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising a third heater for supplying heat to a longitudinal side wall of the door.