Ice storage container and refrigerator having same

Abstract

An ice storage container is provided that is capable of separating ice cubes that have been frozen together and maintaining the separated state for dispensing through a dispensing apparatus provided in a refrigerator or a water purifier. The ice storage container may include a case main body forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof, an ice ejector rotatably installed in the case main body and having a motor rotation shaft, a blade mounting shaft, and a plurality of blades protruding radially from the blade mounting shaft, and an ice separating device coupled to the ice ejector to separate ice cubes that have been frozen together in the ice storage bin due to an extended storage period, and/or to maintain the separated state of the ice cubes in the ice storage container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice storage container for a refrigerating apparatus, comprising:
 a case configured to be coupled to a dispenser of the refrigerating apparatus, the case having a storage space formed therein configured to receive ice pieces;   a discharge port formed at a lower portion of the case to discharge ice pieces from the case to the dispenser;   an ejector rotatably installed in the case to direct ice pieces to the discharge port for discharge to the dispenser, the ejector comprising:
 a motor rotation shaft configured to be coupled to a motor; 
 a blade mounting shaft coupled to the motor rotation shaft and extending into the storage space formed in the case; and 
 a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the blade mounting shaft at predetermined intervals; and 
   an ice separating device installed in the case and configured to prevent ice pieces stored in the case from being frozen together.   
     
     
         2 . The ice storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the ice separating device comprises:
 a rotational shaft rotatably installed at an upper portion of the case; and   an auger coupled to the rotational shaft and extending into the case in an axial direction of the rotational shaft, wherein the auger operates in response to rotation of the rotational shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The ice storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the auger is operably coupled to and spaced radially apart from the rotational shaft such that the auger performs a circular motion in of the case as the rotational shaft rotates. 
     
     
         4 . The ice storage container of  claim 3 , wherein the auger comprises a plurality of auger rods each spaced radially apart from the rotational shaft and extending into the into the storage space formed in the case. 
     
     
         5 . The ice storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the ice separating device comprises a rotatable cam centered on the rotational shaft, and wherein the auger comprises a plurality of auger rods arranged on the cam in parallel to the rotation shaft and extending into the storage space formed in the case. 
     
     
         6 . The ice storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises:
 an upper case formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material such that ice received therein is visible from outside the case; and   a lower case coupled to a bottom end of the upper case and having the ejector installed therein for connection to the motor.   
     
     
         7 . The ice storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving force transfer device that transfers a rotation force between the ice separating device and the ejector. 
     
     
         8 . The ice storage container of  claim 7 , wherein the ejector comprises a first cam rotatably provided in a side of the case and receiving the rotational force from the motor, and wherein the ice separating device comprises a second cam rotatably provided in the side of the case, adjacent to the first cam, and receiving a rotational force transferred thereto from the first cam. 
     
     
         9 . The ice storage container of  claim 8 , wherein the driving force transfer device comprises a plurality of first teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first cam and a plurality of second teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the second cam and engaged with the plurality of first teeth, and wherein the separating device is configured to rotate in response to the rotational force from the ejector. 
     
     
         10 . The ice storage container of  claim 7 , wherein the case comprises:
 an ejector mount formed through a side of the case and having the ejector mounted therein; and   an ice separating device mount formed through the side of the case, above the ejector mount, and having the ice separating device mounted therein.   
     
     
         11 . The ice storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the ice separating device is installed at an upper portion of the case, above the ejector, and is operably coupled to the ejector such that operation of one of the ice separating device of the ejector causes the other of the ice separating device or the ejector to also operate. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a cooling chamber formed therein;   a door coupled to the main body to open and close the cooling chamber;   an ice maker provided in the cooling chamber;   an ice storage container positioned below the ice maker and configured to receive and store ice produced by the ice maker; and   a dispenser coupled to the ice storage container, wherein the ice storage container comprises:
 a case having a storage space formed therein; 
 a discharge port provided in the case and in communication with the dispenser; 
 an ejector installed in the case and having a plurality of blades configured to direct ice toward the discharge port; and 
 an ice separating device installed in the case, comprising:
 a rotational shaft installed in a side of the case; and 
 an auger that extends into the storage space formed in the case and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the rotational shaft to prevent ice pieces received in the ice storage space from being frozen together. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the ice separating device comprises a cam rotatably centered on the rotational shaft, and wherein the auger comprises a plurality of auger rods extending from the rotational cam in parallel to the rotational shaft and into the storage space formed in the case. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising a driving force transfer device that transfers a rotational force between the ejector and the ice separating device. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the driving force transfer device comprises a plurality of first teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ejector and a plurality of second teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ice separating device and engaged with the plurality of first teeth, and wherein the ice separating device is configured to rotate in response to the rotational force applied to the ejector.