CN101749907A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator (1) comprises a box body (2) and an icing and ice storage mould (3); the icing and ice storage module (3) comprises an icing device (4), an ice container (5) and an ice discharging device (6) used for discharging ice out from the ice container (5); the icing device (4) comprises at least one first electrical element (40 and 45); the ice discharge device (4) comprises at least one second electrical element (26); the icing and ice storage module (3) comprises a first electrical connector (10) used for matching and connecting the icing and ice storage module (3) and the electrical elements of the refrigerator, wherein the first electrical connector (10) comprises an insulating body (11) and a plurality of conductive terminals (12a-121), at least part of which are accommodated in the insulating body (11). According to the suggestion of the invention, the first electrical elements (40 and 45) and the second electrical element (26) are respectively and electrically connected with the corresponding conductive terminals of the first electrical connector.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator including a home or commercial refrigerator that can make and preserve ice.

[ background art ]

Such refrigerators are known. For example, U.S. patent 5,272,888 discloses a refrigerator including an ice maker disposed in a freezing chamber and an ice storage unit located below the ice maker. The ice storage unit includes an ice storage container for receiving and storing ice made by the ice maker, and an ice discharging device for pushing out the ice from the ice storage container. The ice discharging device includes a screw (auger) inside the ice storage container and a motor for driving the screw. Ice makers are also typically provided with electrical components that are electrically driven.

In the prior art, the ice storage unit and the ice maker each include an electrical connector to connect the respective electrical components with the refrigeration electrical system. In the process of mounting the ice storage unit and the ice maker on the refrigerator body, the electrical connectors of the ice storage unit and the ice maker are respectively connected with the matching electrical connectors arranged on the refrigerator body, so that the ice storage unit and the ice maker are electrically connected with the refrigerator electrical system, and related elements of the ice storage unit and the ice maker can work under the control of the refrigerator system.

The prior art has a drawback in that when the ice storage unit and the ice maker are mounted to the refrigerator, the ice storage unit and the ice maker need to be connected to the refrigerator system through respective electrical connectors, which increases difficulty and man-hour of assembly and is prone to error. In addition, it is also not advantageous to arrange the electrical connectors in a more secure and easier to connect position.

[ summary of the invention ]

In order to overcome at least one of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can simplify an assembling process thereof and can improve assembling efficiency.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, which includes an ice making device, an ice storage container for storing ice made by the ice making device, and an ice discharging device for discharging the ice from the ice storage container, wherein the ice making device includes at least one first electrical component, and the ice discharging device includes at least one second electrical component, wherein the ice making and storing module includes a first electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals at least partially received in the insulating body, and wherein the first electrical component and the second electrical component are electrically connected to the corresponding conductive terminals of the first electrical connector, respectively.

Since the electrical components of the ice making device and the ice discharging device can be connected to the refrigerator system by a common electrical connector, the external electrical connector of the ice system can be significantly reduced. It is expected that the number of times of connection of the electrical connector can be reduced when the ice system is mounted to the refrigerator, which facilitates the mounting of the ice making and ice storage system, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency of the refrigerator. On the other hand, when the electrical connectors between the ice making and storing module and the overall system of the refrigerator can be reduced, the arrangement of the cables and the electrical connectors associated with the ice making and storing module in a neater and concealed manner within the refrigerator is more easily accomplished.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention, individually or in combination with other features, are set forth in the following appended claims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making device includes an ice separator and a driving device for driving the ice separator, and the first electrical component includes the driving device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making device includes an ice tray and a heater for heating the ice tray, and the first electrical element includes the heater.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice discharging device includes an ice discharging lever and a motor for driving the ice discharging lever, and the second electrical component includes the motor.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storing module includes an ice crushing device, and the ice crushing device includes a third electrical component, and the third electrical component is connected to the corresponding conductive terminal of the first electrical connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storing module includes an illumination device connected to the corresponding conductive terminal of the first electrical connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storage module is connected to a second electrical connector provided on the refrigerator body through a common first electrical connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first electrical connector is received in the ice making and ice storing module, although it is possible that the first electrical connector protrudes out of the ice making and ice storing module. In this way, it is prevented that the first electrical connector and the cable connected to the first electrical connector are damaged before the ice making and ice storage module is mounted to the case.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storing module has a receiving space receiving the first electrical connector, which is not exposed to a front opening of the case that is at least partially closed or opened by a door connected to the case, so that the first electrical connector is not generally seen by a user, and thus is effectively hidden.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storage module includes a plurality of walls defining the receiving space, wherein at least one of the walls is detachably connected to the other walls, thereby facilitating installation and maintenance of the first electrical connector and also facilitating connection of the second electrical connector provided on the case with the first electrical connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storing module includes a frame body on which the ice making device, the ice storage container and the ice discharging device are mounted.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shelf, the ice making device, the ice storage container, and the ice discharging device form a pre-assembled unit to be mounted in the case.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator including an ice making and storing module including an ice making device, an ice storage container to store ice made by the ice making device, an ice discharging device to discharge the ice from the ice storage container, and an ice crushing device, wherein the ice making apparatus includes at least one first electrical element, the ice discharging apparatus includes at least one second electrical element, the ice crushing device comprises at least one third electrical element, the ice making and storing module comprises a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals at least partially received within the insulative housing, at least two of the first electrical element, the second electrical element and the third electrical element are electrically connected with the corresponding conductive terminals of the first electrical connector.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator including a cabinet defining at least one storage space, and an ice making and storing module received in the storage space, the ice making and storing module including an ice making device, an ice storage container for storing ice made by the ice making device, an ice discharging device for discharging the ice from the ice storage container, and an ice crushing device, wherein the ice making device and the ice discharging device respectively include at least one electrical component, the ice making and storing module includes a first electrical connector electrically connected to at least one of the electrical components, wherein the ice making and storing module further includes a lighting device for lighting at least a portion of the storage space, the lighting device being electrically connected to the first electrical connector.

In this way, the storage space can be illuminated by the illumination device provided on the ice making and ice storing module, so that possible adverse effects on the illumination conditions of the storage space due to the provision of the ice making and ice storing module can be greatly reduced or even no longer be affected. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the external electrical connector is shared by the lighting device and the electrical components on the ice making and storing module, so that the lighting condition of the storage space can be improved without increasing the external electrical connector of the ice making and storing module.

The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein,

fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic partial sectional view of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an ice making and storing module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a drawer portion is drawn out.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another angle of the ice making and storing module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a bottom wall of a receiving space receiving a first electrical connector is disassembled.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating connection of an electrical component of the ice making and storing module to the first electrical connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a first electrical connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

In the following description, the same or similar elements have the same reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, reference is first made to fig. 1 and 2 in particular. The refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 2, and the cabinet 2 defines a plurality of storage spaces 22 having front end openings 17. In the present embodiment, the storage space 22 includes a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber disposed side by side.

The refrigerator 2 includes doors 16 pivotally mounted to the cabinet 2 to close or open the corresponding storage spaces 22, respectively. The door 16 is normally closed to prevent cold air within the storage space 22 from exiting through the front opening 17 of the storage space 22 and causing a loss of cooling energy. When desired, the user may open the door 16 to perform a corresponding operation, such as taking and placing food.

An ice making and storing module 3 is arranged in the freezing chamber. The ice stored in the ice making and storing module 3 is delivered to the dispenser 28 provided on the door 16 through the ice delivery passage 24 provided on the door 16 corresponding to the freezing chamber and penetrating the door 16, so that the user can obtain the ice without opening the door 16.

The ice making and storing module 3 includes an ice making device 4 to make water into ice. The ice making device 4 includes an ice tray 25 having a plurality of lattice-shaped water/ice receiving grooves formed thereon to receive water supplied from a water supply pipe. The water in the ice tray 25 exchanges heat with cold air from behind the freezing chamber to be made into ice cubes.

After the ice cubes in the ice tray 25 are formed, the ice cubes are transferred into the ice storage container 5. The ice storage container 5 is disposed lower than the ice tray 25 to facilitate receiving ice cubes from the ice tray 25. When not needed, ice cubes are stored in the ice storage container 5.

The ice making and storing module 3 includes an ice discharging device 6 to discharge ice cubes from the ice storage container 5. In the present embodiment, the ice discharging device 6 includes a screw 14 extending inside the ice storage container 5 and a motor 26 to drive the ice discharging lever 14. When the motor 26 is turned on, the screw 14 is rotated, so that the ice cubes located in the ice storage container 5 are pushed forward by the screw 14 and discharged out of the ice storage container 5 through an opening (not shown) located at a front wall of the ice storage container 5. The ice making and storing module 3 is provided at a bottom of a front end thereof with an ice discharge opening 27, and the ice discharged out of the ice storage container 5 is discharged toward the dispenser 28 through the ice discharge opening 27 into the ice transfer passage 24 provided on the door 16. The ice discharge opening 27 is located in front of the ice storage container 5, so that an ice discharge path is formed between the front wall of the ice storage container 5 and the ice discharge opening 27 in the ice crushing chamber 29.

The ice making and crushing module 3 includes an ice crushing device 13 to crush or crush ice cubes discharged from the ice storage container 5 when necessary. The ice cubes are crushed in the ice crushing chamber 29 communicating with the ice storage container 5 and located in front of the ice storage container 5.

The ice crushing device 13 includes an ice crushing blade 30 located in the ice crushing chamber 29 and a moving piece 31 engaged with the ice crushing blade 30. In the present embodiment, the ice crushing blade 30 is provided at the distal end of the screw bar 14, and the ice crushing blade 30 is also rotated by the motor 26 together during the ice discharging process. Whether or not the ice leaving the ice storage container 5 is processed by the ice crushing device 13 (i.e., whether or not the ice crushing device 3 is activated) is determined by the movable piece 31.

In this embodiment, the movable piece 31 is substantially arc-shaped and is disposed along the ice crushing blade 30. The moving plate 31 is movable in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable piece 31 is spaced apart from the ice crushing blade 30 while maintaining the size of the ice discharge path at a size that allows ice cubes to smoothly pass through. In the second position, the movable piece 31 is adjacent to the ice crushing blade 30 and extends into the ice discharge path to block ice cubes of a larger size from entering the ice discharge opening 27, and the ice cubes are thus crushed by the ice crushing blade 30 and the movable piece 31 before being discharged from the ice making and storing module 3. The crushed ice is discharged out of the ice making and storing module 3 through the narrowed ice discharge path.

The ice crushing device 13 includes a Solenoid valve (Solenoid)32 for driving the moving plate 31. When the electromagnetic valve 32 is energized, the movable piece 31 is rotated to the second position by the driving of the electromagnetic valve 32, thereby starting the ice crushing function. When the solenoid valve 32 is de-energized, the moving plate 31 remains in the first position. The solenoid valve 32 and the rotor 31 are preferably connected by a connecting rod (not shown). The ice crushing device 13 may be provided with a return means such as a spring to keep the moving plate 31 in the first position when there is no actuation of the solenoid valve 32. The solenoid valve 32 may be activated by a user by operating a control device (e.g., a switch) provided on the door 16.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ice making and storing module 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the drawer portion is pulled out. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another angle of the ice making and storage module 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a bottom wall of a receiving space receiving the first electrical connector is disassembled.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the ice making and storing module 3 includes a frame body 21. The ice making device 4, the ice storage container 5, the ice discharging device 6, and the ice crushing device 13 are assembled to the frame body 21, respectively. In the present embodiment, the ice-making and ice-storing module 3 is installed in the case 2 after forming a pre-assembled unit. The ice-making and ice-storing module 3 forming a pre-assembled unit may be fixed within the case 2 by fixing means 47 on the side wall of the frame body 21 in cooperation with the corresponding structure of the side wall of the storage space 22.

The ice-making and ice-storing module 3 includes a drawer portion 48 mounted to the frame body 21 like a drawer. Preferably, the drawer 48 is detachable from the frame 21. The drawer 48 includes the ice storage container 5 and a front 49 located in front of the ice storage container 5, wherein the ice crushing chamber 29 is formed in the front 49. Preferably, the front portion 49 forms a handle 50 for pulling the drawer bottom 48.

The bank 21 defines a chute (not shown) corresponding to the shape of the ice storage container 5. When the drawer portion 48 is mounted on the bank 21, the ice storage container 5 is received in the chute. The shelf 21 includes a top wall 33 above the chute, the top wall 33 covering most of the upper end opening of the ice storage container 5, but the rear of the ice storage container 5 remains open to receive ice pieces from the ice making device 4. Preferably, the upper surface of the front portion 49 is flush with the upper surface of the top wall 33.

The ice-making device 4 is located at the rear upper side of the ice storage container 5. The ice making and storing module 3 includes an observation door 36 to observe the ice making device 4. The viewing door 36 is preferably pivotally mounted to the frame 21 and is rotatable about an axis parallel to the horizontal between a first position and a second position. Normally, the viewing door 36 is in the first position and the ice making device 4 is substantially concealed. Preferably, the viewing door 36 is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal when in the first position. The upper end of the viewing door 36 is preferably adjacent the upper side wall of the freezer compartment when the viewing door 36 is in the first position. In the second position, the upper and lower ends of the observation door 36 form a large distance with the upper and top walls 33 and 33 of the freezing chamber, respectively, so that the user can observe the ice making device 4 through the distance. Preferably, the second position on the viewing door 36 is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane. The viewing door 36 has a plurality of openings therein to allow cool air to enter a small storage compartment 37 defined by the top wall 33, the upper wall of the freezer compartment, and the viewing door 36.

The observation door 36 is located near the rear end of the top wall 33, and therefore, when items such as food or beverage are stored in the small storage chamber 37, the observation door 36 constitutes a blocking member that restricts the backward movement of the stored items, for example, which prevents the stored items from sliding backward to fall into the ice storage container 5 or the ice tray 25.

Although in the above embodiment, the blocking member is implemented as the observation door 36 for observing the ice making device 4. The invention should not be limited thereto, however, and for example, in another embodiment, the blocking member may be constituted by a protrusion protruding upward from the rear end of the top wall 33.

In a preferred embodiment, when the door 16 is closed, the front surface of the ice-making and ice-storage module 3 approaches the inner surface of the door 16, for example, the front distance between the inner surface of the door 16 and the front surface of the ice-making and ice-storage module 3 is less than 5 mm. In one embodiment, the front surface of the ice making and storing module 3 extends on a plane of the front opening of the freezing chamber. In order to allow air in the freezing chamber to be well circulated, the ice making and storage module 3 is provided with an air flow passage 39 fluidly communicating the small storage chamber 37 and a main storage space 38 located below the ice making and storage module 3. The air flow passage 39 is preferably provided on the front 49 of the ice making and storage module 3 so that cold air from an evaporator chamber (not shown) can flow toward the small storage chamber 37 after blowing through the ice tray 25 and to the main storage space 38 via the air flow passage 39. This allows good circulation of the air in the small storage compartment 37 and avoids situations where the local temperature in the storage space 22 is relatively high.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storage module 3 is provided with an illumination device 15 to illuminate a corresponding portion of the storage space 22, such as a small storage room 37. In one embodiment, the lighting device 15 is disposed on the top wall 33 to illuminate a portion of the storage space 22 above the top wall 33. Preferably, the lighting means 15 are LEDs, housed inside the top wall 33. The top wall 33 is arranged at least semi-transparent at the corresponding lighting means 33.

In further embodiments, an illumination device 15 may also be provided at the bottom of the ice making and storage module 3 to illuminate the main storage space 38 located below the ice making and storage module 15. In one embodiment, the top and bottom of the ice making and storing module 3 are provided with the lighting devices 15 to illuminate the small storage room 37 and the main storage space 38 of the storage space 22, respectively. It is also possible that the lighting device 15 is provided at other suitable positions of the ice making and storing module 3 to illuminate the corresponding portions of the storage space 22.

The rear wall 34 of the shelf body 21 is located behind the ice making device 4, constituting a rear boundary of the ice making and storage module 3. The rear wall 34 is provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) for sending the cold air to the ice tray 25. Preferably, the ice making device 4 is fixed to the rear wall 34 by, for example, screws.

The ice making device 4 includes an ice separator 41 positioned above the ice tray 25 to separate the made ice pieces from the ice tray 25. The ice separator 41 includes a shaft connected to both ends of the ice tray 25 and a plurality of separation sheets 42 (not shown) spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The separation sheets 42 are distributed radially along the axis of the ice separator 41. The separation sheet 42 is normally located above the water/ice receiving grooves of the ice tray 25. After the ice on the ice tray 25 is formed, the shafts of the ice separators 41 are rotated by the driving device 40 connected to the ice separator 21, so that the separating sheets 42 enter the corresponding water/ice receiving grooves, respectively, to stir the ice located in the water/ice receiving grooves forward. The ice cubes thus move away from the ice tray 25 toward the ice storage container 5. In the present embodiment, the driving device 40 is provided in the appliance chamber 43 on the side of the ice tray 25, preferably, a motor device.

The ice making device 4 may further include a heater 45 to provide a certain amount of heat to the ice tray 25 to melt a portion between ice cubes and a surface of the water/ice receiving groove to easily leave the ice tray 25. The heater 45 is preferably disposed at the bottom of the ice tray 25. The ice-making device 4 may be further provided with a micro switch to control the heater 45, a temperature controller, and an overheat protection switch to prevent overheating.

The refrigerator 1 includes a water supply valve (not shown) for controlling a water supply path (not shown) for supplying water to the ice tray 25. The water supply path supplies water to the ice tray when the water supply valve is energized, and stops supplying water to the ice tray when the water supply valve is de-energized. An electric switch device (not shown) for controlling whether the electric switch device of the water supply valve is turned on or off is provided in the electric appliance chamber 43. The electrical switching device is, for example, a microswitch provided in the appliance compartment 43.

As described above, the ice making and storing module 3 includes a number of electrical components, such as the driving device 40, the heater 45, the switching device, the motor 26 of the ice discharging device 6, the solenoid valve 32 of the ice crushing device 13, and the lighting device 15, which are provided on the ice making device 4.

As shown in fig. 2, 4 and 5, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice making and storing module 3 includes a first electrical connector 10 electrically connected to all electrical components thereon. Through the first electrical connector 10, electrical components of the ice making and storing module 3 are connected to a refrigerator system.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6, the first electrical connector 10 includes an insulating housing 11 and a plurality of conductive terminals 12a to 12l housed in the insulating housing 11. The ice discharging device 6, the ice crushing device 13, the ice making device 4 and the illuminating device 15 are electrically connected with the corresponding conductive terminals 12a to 12c, 12e to 12f, 12h to 12i and 12k to 12l through cables.

In the present embodiment, the conductive terminals 12e, 12f, 12h, 12i are connected to the ice making device 4 through cables 8e, 8f, 8h, 8i, respectively. The terminal 12f is connected to ground, and the terminals 12e and 12i are connected to electrical components (e.g., the driving device 40 and the heater 45) of the ice making device 4 to supply operating power to the latter. The switching device for controlling the water supply valve is connected to the terminal 12 h. One end of the cable 8e, 8f, 8h, 8i connected to the ice-making device 4 may be connected to the ice-making device 4 through a connector (not shown) having four terminals.

The conductive terminals 12a, 12b, 12c are connected to the ice discharging device 6 and the ice crushing device 13 through cables 8a, 8b, 8c, respectively. In particular, the conductive terminals 12a, 12b are used to connect the solenoid valve 32 of the ice crushing device 13 to supply the latter with an operating voltage. The conductive terminals 12a, 12c are adapted to be connected to a motor 26 of the ice discharging device 6 to supply an operating voltage to the motor 26.

The conducting terminals 12k, 12l are used for connection with the lighting device 15 via cables 8k, 8l, respectively, to supply the lighting device 15 with an operating voltage. In the present embodiment, the remaining conductive terminals 12d, 12g, 12j of the first electrical connector 10 are left unused.

In a preferred embodiment, the first electrical connector 10 is received within the ice making and storage module 3. The ice making and storage module 3 has a receiving space 18 for receiving the first electrical connector 10. The first receiving space 18 is preferably arranged such that the first electrical connector 10 is not visible to a user during normal use, and therefore the first electrical connector 10 is preferably not exposed to the front opening 17 of the storage space 22.

The rear wall 34 of the ice making and ice storing module 3 is provided with a through hole 46 in fluid communication with the receiving space 18 to allow the second electrical connector 9 and a cable connected to the second electrical connector 9 to pass through the through hole 46 into the receiving space 18.

In the present embodiment, the housing space 18 is formed at the bottom of the ice making and storage module 3. To facilitate assembly of the first electrical connector 10 and to facilitate connection of the first electrical connector 10 to the second electrical connector 9, at least one wall 36 defining the receiving space 18 is mounted to the other wall 20 after engagement of the first electrical connector 10 and the second electrical connector 9. In this embodiment, the bottom wall 36 of the receiving space 18 is detachably connected to the other walls 20, so that the first and/or second electrical connectors 9, 10 can be repaired or replaced by detaching the bottom wall 36.

In the process of mounting the ice making and storing module 3 to the cabinet 2, the second electrical connector 9 is inserted into the receiving space 18 to be connected to the first electrical connector 10, so that electrical components on the ice making and storing module 3 are connected to other electrical components of the refrigerator 1 through the first and second electrical connectors 9, 10.

In the above embodiment, all the electrical components of the ice-making and ice-storing module 3 are electrically connected to the refrigerator system through a common first electrical connector 10. However, the present invention should not be limited thereto. For example, in one possible embodiment, the electrical components of any two of the ice making device 4, the ice discharging device 6, and the ice crushing device 13 are connected to the connector provided on the case 2 through one common electrical connector, and the remaining electrical components of the ice making and storing module 3 are connected to the refrigerator system through another electrical connector. In another embodiment, the lighting device 15 and any one or both of the ice making device 4, the ice discharging device 6, and the ice crushing device 13 are connected to the ice making and storing module 3 through a common electrical connector.

Claims (15)

1. A refrigerator (1) comprising an ice making and storing module (3), the ice making and storing module (3) comprising an ice making device (4), an ice storage container (5) for storing ice made by the ice making device (4), and an ice discharging device (6) for discharging ice from the ice storage container (5), the ice making device (4) comprising at least one first electrical element (40, 45), the ice discharging device (4) comprising at least one second electrical element (26), wherein the ice making and storing module (3) comprises a first electrical connector (10), wherein the first electrical connector (10) comprises an insulating body (11) and a plurality of conductive terminals (12 a-12 l) at least partially housed within the insulating body (11), characterized in that the first electrical element (40, 45) and the second electrical element (26) are respectively in contact with corresponding conductive terminals (12 a) of the first electrical connector (10), 12c, 12e to 12f, 12h to 12 i).

2. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the ice making means (4) comprising an ice separator (41) and drive means (40) for driving the ice separator (41), the first electrical element (40, 45) comprising the drive means (40).

3. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by the ice making device (4) comprising an ice tray (25) and a heater (45) for heating the ice tray (25), the first electrical element (40, 45) comprising the heater (45).

4. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice discharging device (6) comprising an ice discharging lever (14) and an electric motor (26) for driving the ice discharging lever (14), the second electrical element (26) comprising the electric motor (26).

5. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice making and storing module (3) comprising an ice crushing device (13), the ice crushing device (13) comprising a third electrical element (32), the third electrical element (32) being connected to a corresponding conductive terminal (12a, 12c) of the first electrical connector (10).

6. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice making and storage module (3) comprising an illumination device (15), said illumination device (15) being connected to a corresponding conductive terminal (12k, 12l) of the first electrical connector (10).

7. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice making and storage module (3) being connected to a second electrical connector (9) provided on the refrigerator cabinet (2) by a common first electrical connector (10).

8. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the first electrical connector (10) housed inside the ice making and storage module (3).

9. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 8, characterized by the ice making and storage module (3) having a housing space (18) housing the first electrical connector (10), the first electrical connector (11) not being exposed to a front opening (17) of the cabinet (2) at least partially closed or opened by a door (16) connected to the cabinet (2).

10. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 9, characterized by the ice making and storage module (3) comprising a plurality of walls (36, 20) defining the housing space (18), wherein at least one wall (36) is detachably connected to the other walls (20).

11. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice making and storing module (3) comprising a frame (21), the ice making device (4), the ice storage container (5) and the ice discharging device (6) being mounted on the frame (4).

12. A refrigerator (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the shelf (21), the ice making device (4), the ice storage container (5) and the ice discharging device (6) form a pre-assembled unit installed in the cabinet (2).

13. A refrigerator (1) comprising an ice making and storing module (3), the ice making and storing module (3) comprising an ice making device (4), an ice storage container (5) for storing ice made by the ice making device (4), an ice discharging device (6) for discharging ice from the ice storage container (5) and an ice crushing device (13), wherein the ice making device (4) comprises at least one first electrical element (40, 45), the ice discharging device (6) comprises at least one second electrical element (26), the ice making and storing module (3) comprises a first electrical connector (10), the first electrical connector (10) comprises an insulating housing (11) and a plurality of conductive terminals (12 a-12 l) at least partially housed in the insulating housing (11), characterized in that the first electrical element (40, 45) comprises a first electrical element (4), a second electrical element (6) and a second electrical element (13), the first electrical connector (10) comprises a plurality of conductive terminals (12 a-12 l) at least partially housed in the insulating, At least two of the second electrical element (26) and the third electrical element (32) are electrically connected with the corresponding conductive terminals (12 a-12 b, 12 e-12 f, 12 h-12 i, 12 k-12 l).

14. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 13, characterized by the ice making and storage module (3) comprising an illumination device (15), the illumination device (15) being electrically connected to the corresponding conductive terminals (12k, 12l) of the first electrical connector (10).

15. Refrigerator (1) comprising a cabinet (2) defining at least one storage space (22) and an ice making and storing module (3) housed within the storage space (22), the ice making and storing module (3) comprising an ice making device (4), an ice storage container (5) for storing ice made by the ice making device (4) and an ice discharge device (6) for discharging ice from the ice storage container (5), wherein the ice making device (4) and the ice discharge device (6) respectively comprise at least one electrical element (26, 40, 45), the ice making and storing module (3) comprising a first electrical connector (10), the first connector (10) being electrically connected with at least one of the electrical elements (26, 40, 45), characterized in that the ice making and storing module (3) further comprises an illumination device (15) for illuminating at least a portion of the storage space (22), the lighting device (15) is electrically connected with the first electric connector (10).

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