Dispenser structure for a refrigerator, apparatus and method for controlling an operation thereof

Abstract

A dispenser structure for a refrigerator comprising a main body of the dispenser, an ice guide coupled at the tip of an ice discharge port disposed at the main body of the dispenser, an ice discharge lever configured to operate the activator of the ice discharge at the ice discharge port, a water discharge lever installed at the front side of the ice guide and configured to operate the activator of the water discharge, a detachable system which is inserted with a free separation into a casing formed in the main body of the dispenser and is extendable to the outside through a flexible tubing, the detachable system comprising a water discharge port formed therein, and an opening and closing member installed in the detachable system and configured to open and close for supplying water to the water discharge port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser structure for a refrigerator, the structure comprising:
 a main body;   an ice guide coupled at a tip of an ice discharge port disposed at the main body;   an ice discharge lever configured to operate an ice activator at the ice discharge port;   a water discharge lever installed at a front side of the ice guide and configured to operate the water's activator;   a detachable system inserted with free separation into a casing formed in the main body and extendable to the outside through a flexible tubing, the detachable system comprising a water discharge port formed therein; and   an opening and closing member installed in the detachable system and configured to open and close for supplying water to the water discharge port.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser structure of  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing member comprises:
 an operation button configured to operate the water activator; and   an electronic activator switch configured to open the water discharge port on the basis of a power source supplied from a battery built in the detachable system when the operation button is engaged.   
     
     
         3 . The dispenser structure of  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing member comprises:
 an operation button configured to operate the water activator; and   an electronic activator switch configured to open the water discharge port on the basis of a power source supplied through an electric signal line coupled to a power source of the refrigerator along the flexible tubing when the operation button is engaged.   
     
     
         4 . The dispenser structure of  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing member comprises:
 an operation button configured to operate the water activator; and   a mechanical activator switch configured to open mechanically the water discharge port when the operation button is engaged.   
     
     
         5 . The dispenser structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rolling accommodating space formed in the main body and configured to accommodate the flexible tubing by winding.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for controlling an operation of a dispenser for a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising:
 a main body;   an ice guide coupled at a tip of an ice discharge port disposed at the main body;   an ice discharge lever configured to operate an ice activator at the ice discharge port;   a water discharge lever installed at the front side of the ice guide and configured to operate a water activator;   a detachable system inserted with free separation into a casing formed in the main body and extendable to the outside through a flexible tubing, the detachable system comprising a water discharge port formed therein;   an opening and closing member installed in the detachable system and configured to open and close to supply water to the water discharge port;   an operation button mounted on the detachable system and configured to operate the water activator; and   a control unit configured to: control an opening of ice discharge port according to an operation signal for the ice discharge; control an opening of the water discharge port according to an operation signal from the water discharge lever when the detachable system is inserted into the casing; and control an opening of the water discharge port according to an operation signal from an operation button when the detachable system is separated from the casing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sensing unit configured to sense whether the detachable system is inserted into the casing and to transmit the sensing signal to the control unit.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the detachable system comprises an electronic activator switch configured to open the water discharge port on the basis of a power source supplied from a battery built in the detachable system when an opening command is transmitted from the control unit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the detachable system comprises an electronic activator switch configured to open the water discharge port on the basis of a power source supplied through an electric signal line connected to the power source of the refrigerator along the flexible tubing when an opening command is transmitted from the control unit. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling an operation of a dispenser for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 monitoring whether an operation signal for ice discharge or water discharge is generated;   responsive to an operation signal for the ice discharge, discharging ice by opening an ice discharge port of a main body of the dispenser;   responsive to an operation signal for the water discharge, checking whether a detachable system comprising a built-in water discharge port is inserted into a casing of the main body, wherein the detachable system is extendable by a predetermined length from the main body to the outside while maintaining a physical connection through a flexible tubing;   responsive to a first condition that the detachable system is inserted into the casing, generating an operation signal for the water discharge based on a water discharge lever of the main body and discharging water by opening the water discharge port of the detachable system;   responsive to a second condition that the detachable system is separated from the casing, generating an operation signal for the water discharge from an operation button mounted on the detachable system and discharging water by opening the water discharge port of the detachable system; and   when the first condition and the second condition are not satisfied, maintaining the water discharge port of the detachable system in the closed state.