AU2017402441B2

AU2017402441B2 - Automatic ice maker and freezer refrigerator

Info

Publication number: AU2017402441B2
Application number: AU2017402441A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Takashi Ito; Mariko Matsumoto; Daiji SAWADA; Maiko SHIBATA
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2017-03-08
Publication date: 2020-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-08
Also published as: CN110352326B; JP6750725B2; CN110352326A; WO2018163332A1; TWI636223B; TW201833493A; JPWO2018163332A1; AU2017402441A1

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is to provide an automatic ice maker that can make at least two sizes of ice, large and small, and that can make ice that is less likely to melt compared to ice of the same volume even for the small size. To this end, an automatic ice maker comprises: an ice making tray (11) that has a plurality of ice making blocks (20) divided by a first partition wall (19) of a first height; a water supply device that supplies water into each of the plurality of ice making blocks (20); and a cooling device that cools and freezes the water inside the ice making blocks (20). The ice making tray (11) further comprises a second partition wall (21) that is of a second height lower than the first height, that is provided in the ice making blocks (20), and that divides the ice making blocks (20) into a plurality of sections.

Description

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER AND FREEZER REFRIGERATOR

Field [0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker and a freezer refrigerator.

Background [0002]

An automatic ice maker including a partitioned ice making tray, water supply means for supplying water to the ice making tray, ice removal means for removing the ice by rotating the ice making tray after the ice making is finished, and water supply amount changeable means for changing the water supply amount from the water supply means to the ice making tray (for example, see PTL 1).

Citation List

Patent Literature [0003] [PTL 1] JP Hl 1-325682 A [0004]

The shape of the ice of that can be made by the automatic ice maker as described in PTL 1 is a truncated pyramid shape. The ice of each size has a common lowersurface dimension and different height dimensions. Therefore, for the small-sized ice, as compared to the large-sized ice, the shape is flatter and the surface area per unit

-22017402441 28 Feb 2020 volume, that is, the specific surface area increases. Thus, as compared to the large-sized ice, the area of the small-sized ice that is in contact with ambient air, water, and the like increases, and the small-sized ice easily melts.

[0005]

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

[0005A]

Throughout this specification the word comprise, or variations such as comprises or comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[Summary] [0006]

An automatic ice maker according to the present disclosure includes: an ice making tray including a plurality of ice making blocks partitioned by first partitioned walls of a first height; a water supplying device configured to supply water in each of the plurality of ice making blocks; and a cooling device configured to cool the water in the ice making blocks into ice, the ice making tray further including second partitioned walls of a second height being lower than the first height, the second partitioned walls provided in the ice making blocks, each of the ice making blocks divided into a plurality sections by the second partitioned walls. Each of the first partitioned walls have a groove

2017402441 28 Feb 2020

-3 portion. Each of the second partitioned walls have a cut-out portion. A height from a bottom surface of the ice making tray to the lowermost portion of the groove portion is equal to a height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray to the lowermost portion of the cut-out portion.

[0007]

A freezer refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes the automatic ice maker described above.

[0008]

The automatic ice maker and the freezer refrigerator according to an embodiment described herein has an effect in which ice in at least two types of sizes, that is, a large size and a small size can be made, and ice that is less likely to melt as compared to the ice of the same volume can be made even if it is the ice of small size.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] [0009]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a freezer refrigerator including an automatic ice maker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an ice making compartment portion of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a top view of an ice making tray of the ice making compartment according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

-4Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ice making tray taken along a cross section

A-A indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a control system of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention to a first water level.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the ice that is made in a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention to the first water level.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention to a second water level.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the ice that is made in a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention to the second water level.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating ice making operation of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 illustrating an example of the ice making tray according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control system of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 illustrating another example of the ice making tray according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

-5 Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an ice making compartment portion of the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an upper-stage ice storage case of the ice making compartment according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 illustrating the ice making tray according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments [0010]

Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference characters, and overlapping descriptions are simplified or omitted, as appropriate. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments below, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0011]

Embodiment 1.

Fig. 1 to Fig. 11 are according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and Fig. 1 is a front view of a freezer refrigerator including an automatic ice maker, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the freezer refrigerator, Fig. 3 is an enlarged crosssectional view of an ice making compartment portion of the freezer refrigerator, Fig. 4 is a top view of an ice making tray of the ice making compartment, Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view of the ice making tray taken along a cross section A-A indicated in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a control system of the freezer

-6refrigerator, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray to a first water level, Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the ice that is made in a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray to the first water level, Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray to a second water level, Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the ice that is made in a state in which water is supplied to the ice making tray to the second water level, and Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating ice making operation of the freezer refrigerator. Note that, in each of the drawings, the relationship of the dimensions, the shapes, and the like of the component members may be different from the actual relationship of the dimensions, shapes, and the like. The positional relationship (for example, the vertical relationship and the like) of the component members in the description is basically for when the refrigerator is installed in a usable state.

[0012] (Configuration of Freezer Refrigerator)

A freezer refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a heat insulation box body 90 as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the heat insulation box body 90, the front surface (frontal surface) is open, and a storage space is formed. The heat insulation box body 90 includes an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulating material. The outer box is made of steel. The inner box is made of resin. The inner box is placed in the outer box. The heat insulating material is urethane foam and the like, for example, and is filled in a space between the outer box and the inner box. The storage space formed in the heat insulation box body 90 is partitioned into a plurality of

-7storage compartments that house and keep food by one or a plurality of partitioning members.

[0013]

As illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, here, the freezer refrigerator 1 includes, as the plurality of storage compartments, for example, a refrigerating compartment 100, a switching compartment 200, an ice making compartment 300, a freezing compartment 400, and a vegetable compartment 500. Those storage compartments are placed in the heat insulation box body 90 so as to form a four-stage configuration in the vertical direction.

[0014]

The refrigerating compartment 100 is placed in the uppermost stage in the heat insulation box body 90. The switching compartment 200 is placed in a place on one side of the left and right sides below the refrigerating compartment 100. The cool keeping temperature zone of the switching compartment 200 can be switched by selecting any of a plurality of temperature zones. The plurality of temperature zones that are selectable as the cool keeping temperature zone of the switching compartment 200 are, for example, a freezing temperature zone (for example, about -18°C), a refrigerating temperature zone (for example, about 3°C), a chilled temperature zone (for example, about 0°C), a soft freezing temperature zone (for example, about -7°C), and the like. The ice making compartment 300 is placed to be adjacent to the switching compartment 200 on the side of the switching compartment 200 so as to be in parallel with the switching compartment 200, that is, on the other side of the left and right sides below the refrigerating compartment 100.

[0015]

-8The freezing compartment 400 is placed below the switching compartment 200 and the ice making compartment 300. The freezing compartment 400 is mainly used when the object to be stored is kept in a frozen state for a relatively long period of time. The vegetable compartment 500 is placed in the lowermost stage below the freezing compartment 400. The vegetable compartment 500 is mainly for housing vegetables, large plastic bottles with large capacity (for example, 2 L and the like), and the like. [0016]

On an opening portion formed in the front surface of the refrigerating compartment 100, a rotating-type refrigerating compartment door 7 that opens and closes the opening portion is provided. Now, the refrigerating compartment door 7 is a double door type (double swing door type), and is formed by a right door 7a and a left door 7b. On the outer front surface of the refrigerating compartment door 7 (for example, the left door 7b) on the front surface of the freezer refrigerator 1, an operation panel 6 is provided. The operation panel 6 includes, as illustrated in Fig. 6, an operation unit 6a and a display unit 6b. The operation unit 6a is an operation switch for setting the cool keeping temperature of each storage compartment and the operation mode (defrosting mode and the like) of the freezer refrigerator 1. The display unit 6b is a liquid-crystal display that displays various information such as the temperature of each storage compartment. The operation panel 6 may include a touch panel that serves as both of the operation unit 6a and the display unit 6b.

[0017]

The storage compartments (the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, the freezing compartment 400, and the vegetable compartment 500) other than the refrigerating compartment 100 are each opened and closed by a drawer-9type door. The drawer-type door can be opened and closed to the depth direction (longitudinal direction) of the freezer refrigerator 1 by sliding a frame provided so as to be fixed to the door with respect to rails horizontally formed on left and right inner wall surfaces of each storage compartment.

[0018]

On the inside of the freezing compartment 400, a freezing compartment house case 401 that can house food and the like on the inside is stored so as to be freely drawable. Similarly, in the vegetable compartment 500, a vegetable compartment house case 501 that can house food and the like on the inside is stored so as to be freely drawable.

[0019] (Cooling Mechanism)

The freezer refrigerator 1 includes a freezing cycle circuit that cools air to be supplied to each storage compartment. The freezing cycle circuit is formed by a compressor 2, a condenser (not shown), a throttle device (not shown), a cooler 3, and the like. The compressor 2 compresses and discharges a refrigerant in the freezing cycle circuit. The condenser condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2. The throttle device expands the refrigerant flowing out from the condenser. The cooler 3 cools the air to be supplied to each storage compartment by the refrigerant expanded by the throttle device. The compressor 2 is, for example, placed in a lower portion of the freezer refrigerator 1 on a rear surface side thereof.

[0020]

In the freezer refrigerator 1, an air duct 5 for supplying the air cooled by the freezing cycle circuit to each storage compartment is formed. The air duct 5 is mainly

-10placed in the freezer refrigerator 1 on the rear surface side thereof. The cooler 3 of the freezing cycle circuit is installed in the air duct 5. In the air duct 5, a blower fan 4 for sending the air cooled by the cooler 3 to each storage compartment is also installed.

[0021]

When the blower fan 4 is operated, the air (cold air) cooled by the cooler 3 is sent to the freezing compartment 400, the switching compartment 200, the ice making compartment 300, and the refrigerating compartment 100 through the air duct 5, and cools the inside of those storage compartments. The vegetable compartment 500 is cooled by introducing the cold return air from the refrigerating compartment 100 into the vegetable compartment 500 via a return air duct for the refrigerating compartment. The cold air that has cooled the vegetable compartment 500 is returned into the air duct 5 including the cooler 3 through a return air duct for the vegetable compartment (the return air ducts are not shown). Then, the cold air is cooled again by the cooler 3 and is circulated in the freezer refrigerator 1.

[0022]

In midway sections leading to the storage compartments from the air duct 5, dampers (not shown) is provided. Each damper opens and closes the section of the air duct 5 leading to each storage compartment. By changing the opened and closed state of the dampers, the air blowing amount of the cold air to be supplied to each storage compartment can be adjusted. The temperature of the cold air can be adjusted by controlling the operation of the compressor 2.

[0023]

- 11 The freezing cycle circuit formed by the compressor 2 and the cooler 3, the blower fan 4, the air duct 5, and the dampers provided as above form cooling means for cooling the inside of the storage compartments including the ice making compartment 300.

[0024]

In the upper portion of the freezer refrigerator 1 on the rear surface side thereof, for example, a control device 8 is accommodated. In the control device 8, a control circuit and the like for performing various controls necessary for the operation of the freezer refrigerator 1 are included. The control circuit included in the control device 8 includes, for example, a circuit for controlling the operation of the compressor 2 and the blower fan 4 and the opening degree of the dampers on the basis of the temperature in each storage compartment, information input to the operation panel 6, and the like. In other words, the control device 8 controls the operation of the freezer refrigerator 1 by controlling the cooling means and the like described above. Note that the temperature in each storage compartment can be detected by a thermistor and the like installed in each storage compartment.

[0025] (Configuration of Ice Making Compartment)

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the ice making compartment 300 of the freezer refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1. On the front surface of the ice making compartment 300, an ice making compartment door 9 is provided. In the ice making compartment 300, an ice storage case 10 and an ice making tray 11 are accommodated. The ice storage case 10 is supported by a frame (not shown) of the ice making compartment door 9. When the ice making compartment door 9 is drawn out frontward, the ice storage case 10 is drawn out frontward together with the ice making

- 12compartment door 9 and the frame thereof. The ice storage case 10 is placed below the ice making tray 11. The ice storage case 10 is for receiving the ice removed from the ice making tray 11 and storing the ice.

[0026]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, in the refrigerating compartment 100, a water supply tank and a water supply pump 13 are provided. A water supply pipe 14 is provided so as to cause the refrigerating compartment 100 and the ice making compartment 300 to communicate with each other. The water supply tank 12 and the water supply pump 13 are placed, for example, in the lowermost stage portion in the refrigerating compartment 100. One end of the water supply pipe 14 is connected to the water supply pump 13. The other end of the water supply pipe 14 is placed above the ice making tray 11 in the ice making compartment 300.

[0027]

In the water supply tank 12, water for ice making is stored. The water supply pump 13 is for pumping up the water in the water supply tank 12. The water pumped up by the water supply pump 13 is supplied to the ice making tray 11 through the water supply pipe 14. In Embodiment 1, the water supply tank 12, the water supply pump 13, and the water supply pipe 14 form a water supplying device that supplies water in each of a plurality of ice making blocks 20 (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) of the ice making tray 11 described below.

[0028]

In a rear surface portion of the ice making compartment 300, a cold air outlet 15 is formed. From the cold air outlet 15, cold air blows out into the ice making compartment 300 through the air duct 5 of the cooling means described above. The cold air that has

- 13 blown out into the ice making compartment 300 from the cold air outlet 15 cools the water in the ice making tray 11. In Embodiment 1, the cooling means and the cold air outlet 15 form a cooling device that cools the water in the ice making blocks 20 (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) of the ice making tray 11 described below so as to make ice.

[0029]

In the ice making compartment 300, a rotation device 16, an ice detection lever

17, and a temperature sensor 18 are included. In the ice making compartment 300, the ice making tray 11 is rotatably supported so as to be vertically inverted. The rotation device 16 can vertically invert the ice making tray 11 by rotating the ice making tray 11. The ice detection lever 17 is for detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10. By lowering the ice detection lever 17 until the ice detection lever 17 comes into contact with the ice in the ice storage case 10, the height of the ice in the ice storage case 10 can be detected. The temperature sensor 18 is placed above the ice making tray 11 in the ice making compartment 300. The temperature sensor 18 detects the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11.

[0030] (Configuration of Ice Making Tray)

Next, with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the configuration of the ice making tray is described. The ice making tray 11 is a molded item made of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene, for example. The ice making tray 11 can be bent. The ice making tray 11 has an external form that is a rectangle shape in planar view of which upper surface is open. The ice making tray 11 has the plurality of ice making blocks 20. The plurality of ice making blocks 20 are formed by partitioning the inside of the ice making tray 11 into a plurality sections by first partitioned walls 19. Each of the ice

- 14making blocks 20 has a recessed shape. The first partitioned wall 19 has a first height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11. Now, the first height is the same height as the outer edge walls of the ice making tray 11.

[0031]

In each of the ice making blocks 20, a plurality of ice making cells 22 are formed. The ice making cells 22 are formed by dividing the ice making block 20 into a plurality sections by second partitioned walls 21. In other words, the second partitioned walls 21 are provided in the ice making block 20. Each of the ice making cells 22 has a recessed shape. The second partitioned wall 21 has a second height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11. The second height is lower than the first height.

[0032]

The inner volume of the ice making block 20 is larger than the inner volume of the ice making cell 22. The inner surfaces of the ice making block 20, that is, the front surfaces of the first partitioned walls 19 and the second partitioned walls 21 are formed to be smooth so that ice easily comes off.

[0033]

Note that, in the example illustrated in Fig. 4, six ice making blocks 20 placed in the ice making tray 11 in two columns and three stages are provided. However, the places, the number, the shapes, and the like of the ice making blocks 20 are not limited to this example. In the same example, in one ice making block 20, a total of four ice making cells 22 placed in two columns and two stages are provided. However, as with the ice making blocks 20, the places, the number, the shapes, and the like of the ice making cells 22 are also not limited to this example.

[0034]

- 15 In the first partitioned walls 19, groove portions 23 are formed. The inner sides of the ice making blocks 20 that are adjacent to each other via the first partitioned wall 19 communicate with each other through the groove portions 23 formed in the first partitioned wall 19. In the second partitioned walls 21, cut-out portions 24 are formed. The inner sides of the ice making cells 22 adjacent to each other via the second partitioned wall 21 communicate with each other through the cut-out portion 24 formed in the second partitioned wall 21.

[0035]

As described above, water is supplied to the ice making tray 11 from the water supply pipe 14 of the water supplying device. Thus, first, water enters the ice making block 20 directly below the water supply pipe 14. When the water supply from the water supply pipe 14 continues, the water spreads from the ice making block 20 directly below the water supply pipe 14 to the adjacent ice making blocks 20 through the groove portions 23. Eventually, the water from the water supply pipe 14 spreads to all of the ice making blocks 20 through the groove portions 23. In the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the groove portions 23 are formed in all of the first partitioned walls 19. However, as long as all of the ice making blocks 20 directly or indirectly communicate with the ice making block 20 directly below the water supply pipe 14, the places of the groove portions 23 in the first partitioned walls 19 are not limited to the above.

[0036]

Also for the cut-out portions 24, similarly, as long as all of the ice making cells 22 directly or indirectly communicate with the ice making cell 22 directly below the water supply pipe 14 via the groove portions 23 or the cut-out portions 24, the places of the cutout portions 24 in the second partitioned walls 21 are not limited to the above. Note

- 16that, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 5, the height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11 to the lowermost portion of the groove portion 23 is lower than the second height. In more detail, the height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11 to the lowermost portion of the groove portion 23 is the same as the height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11 to the lowermost portion of the cut-out portion 24. As a result, water can come and go between adjacent ice making cells 22 via the first partitioned wall 19.

[0037]

Note that the ice making tray 11 may be supported with an inclination so that the side close to the water supply pipe 14 is high and the side far from the water supply pipe 14 is low. As a result, water can be easily spread from the ice making block 20 or the ice making cell 22 directly below the water supply pipe 14 to other ice making blocks 20 or ice making cells 22.

[0038]

The ice making tray 11 includes a rotation device mounting portion 25 and a stopper portion 26. The rotation device mounting portion 25 is provided on one end side of the ice making tray 11 in the longitudinal direction, for example. On the rotation device mounting portion 25, the rotation device 16 is mounted. The ice making tray 11 is supported by the rotation device 16 so as to be able to rotate in both directions via the rotation device mounting portion 25. The rotation device 16 includes a rotary driving mechanism formed by a motor, a gear, and the like (not shown). The rotation device 16 rotates the ice making tray 11 in both directions about a rotation axis X illustrated in Fig. 4 via the rotation device mounting portion 25.

[0039]

- 17The stopper portion 26 is provided on one side portion on the opposite side of the rotation device mounting portion 25 in the ice making tray 11. The stopper portion 26 is a flat-plate-like member. The stopper portion 26 protrudes to the side from the ice making tray 11.

[0040]

In normal times, the ice making tray 11 is supported in a state in which the open side faces upward. When the rotation device 16 rotates the ice making tray 11 from this state, the stopper portion 26 comes into contact with a member fixed in the ice making compartment 300 when the rotation angle becomes a certain angle set in advance.

When the stopper portion 26 comes into contact with the member, the stopper portion 26 side of the ice making tray 11 is prevented from rotating further. When the rotation device 16 rotates the ice making tray 11 further in this state, only the rotation device mounting portion 25 side of the ice making tray 11 rotates, and the ice making tray 11 is twisted and deformed. Then, the ice made in the ice making blocks 20 or the ice making cells 22 of the ice making tray 11 receives force from each direction of the front surface of the ice making tray 11, and is taken off from the front surface of the ice making tray 11, to thereby be removed.

[0041] (Control System of Refrigerator)

Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control system of the freezer refrigerator 1. In Fig. 6, portions relating to the control of the ice making compartment 300 are particularly illustrated. The control device 8 includes, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a processor 8a and a memory 8b. When the

- 18processor 8a executes a program stored in the memory 8b, the control device 8 executes preset processing, and controls the freezer refrigerator 1.

[0042]

A detection signal of the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 output from the ice detection lever 17 is input to the control device 8. A detection signal of the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 output from the temperature sensor 18 is also input to the control device 8. Although not shown in Fig. 6, a detection signal of the temperature in each storage compartment output from a thermistor installed in each storage compartment is also input to the control device 8. An operation signal from the operation unit 6a of the operation panel 6 is also input to the control device 8.

[0043]

The control device 8 executes, on the basis of the input signals, processing of controlling the operation of the cooling device such as the compressor 2 and the blower fan 4 so that the storage compartments including the ice making compartment 300 are each maintained at a set temperature. The control device 8 outputs a display signal to the display unit 6b of the operation panel 6. The control device 8 operates the water supply pump 13 and the rotation device 16, and controls the ice making operation. In the control of the ice making operation, the detection signal of the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 output from the ice detection lever 17, the detection signal of the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 output from the temperature sensor 18, and the operation signal from the operation unit 6a are used.

[0044] (Control of Ice Making Operation)

- 19Next, the control of the ice making operation by the control device 8 is described. On the operation panel 6, the ice making size can be selected by a user. For example, on the operation panel 6, buttons of L and S are provided as the operation unit 6a. The user operates the button of L when a large ice making size is selected. Meanwhile, the user operates the button of S when a small ice making size is selected. [0045]

The control device 8 specifies the water supply amount to the ice making tray 11 in accordance with the ice making size of the button operated by the operation unit 6a. The control device 8 operates the water supply pump 13 for the water supply time specified in accordance with the water supply amount. Now, a water supply time when the large ice making size is selected is ΔΤ1. The water supply time when the small ice making size is selected is ΔΤ2. Now, ΔΤ2 is shorter than ΔΤ1. Specifically, for example, ΔΤ1 is set to 12 seconds and ΔΤ2 is set to 6 seconds.

[0046]

Fig. 7 illustrates the water level by which water is supplied to the ice making tray when the large ice making size is selected. When the large ice making size is selected, the control device 8 operates the water supply pump 13 for ΔΤ1. When the water supply pump 13 is operated for ΔΤ1, water enters the ice making tray 11 to the preset first water level. The first water level is lower than the first height and is higher than the second height. In other words, in the ice making tray 11, water is supplied to a height exceeding the second partitioned walls 21 and lower than the first partitioned walls

19.

[0047]

-20The ice made when ice making is performed at the first water level is illustrated in Fig. 8. The ice completed in the ice making tray 11 is in a state in which the ice in the ice making blocks 20 is connected to each other by the ice made by freezing the water in the groove portions 23. However, by the stress generated when the ice is removed, the ice is divided into individual ice cubes for the respective ice making blocks 20, and the individual ice cubes each have a shape as illustrated in Fig. 8.

[0048]

Fig. 9 illustrates the water level by which water is supplied to the ice making tray when the small ice making size is selected. When the small ice making size is selected, the control device 8 operates the water supply pump 13 for ΔΤ2. When the water supply pump 13 is operated for ΔΤ2, water enters the ice making tray 11 to the preset second water level. The second water level is lower than the second height. In other words, in the ice making tray 11, water is supplied to a height that is lower than the second partitioned wall 21.

[0049]

As described above, the height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11 to the lowermost portion of the groove portion 23, and the height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray 11 to the lowermost portion of the cut-out portion 24 are the same height. Therefore, when the water is supplied to the second water level, the water passes through both of the groove portions 23 and the cut-out portions 24, and water can be made to spread to all of the ice making cells 22.

[0050]

The ice made when ice making is performed at the second water level is illustrated in Fig. 10. The ice completed in the ice making tray 11 is in a state in which the ice in

-21 the ice making blocks 20 is connected to each other by the ice made by freezing the water in the groove portions 23 and the cut-out portions 24. However, as with the first water level, by the stress generated when the ice is removed, the ice is divided into individual ice cubes for the respective ice making cells 22, and the individual ice cubes each have a shape as illustrated in Fig. 10, for example. The individual ice cubes for the respective ice making cells 22 are smaller than the individual ice cubes for the respective ice making blocks 20.

[0051]

As described above, the water supplying device formed by the water supply tank 12, the water supply pump 13, and the water supply pipe 14 can select the water level, to which the water is supplied in the ice making blocks 20, from at least two types of water levels, that is, the first water level and the second water level. The first water level is lower than the first height and higher than the second height. The second water level is lower than the second height.

[0052]

When water is supplied into the ice making blocks 20 by the water supplying device, the water in the ice making block 20 is cooled by the cooling device described above. When the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 detected by the temperature sensor 18 becomes equal to or less than a preset reference temperature, the control device 8 determines that the ice making is completed. The reference temperature is specifically set to -6°C, for example. When the temperature sensor 18 detects that the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 is equal to or less than the reference temperature, the control device 8 operates the ice detection lever 17 and detects the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10.

-22[0053]

When the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 has not reached the full ice amount, the control device 8 rotates the ice making tray 11 by the rotation device 16. At this time, by rotating the ice making tray 11 so as to twist the ice making tray 11, the ice making tray 11 is temporarily deformed, and the ice removal from the ice making tray 11 is prompted. The full ice amount is preset so that the height of the ice in the ice storage case 10 is at a place that is lower than the lowest place in the rotation trajectory of the ice making tray 11.

[0054]

Note that the water supplying device may be able to select, for each of the plurality of ice making blocks 20, whether the water is supplied to the first water level or whether the water is supplied to the second water level. As a result, large and small ice of different sizes can be simultaneously made in one ice making.

[0055]

Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 11, an example of a flow of the ice making operation control performed by the control device 8 in the freezer refrigerator 1 including the automatic ice maker formed as above is described. When the user operates the operation unit 6a and selects the ice making size, the control device 8 starts the ice making operation. When the ice making size L (large) is selected by the operation of the operation unit 6a, in Step S101, the control device 8 sets the operation time ΔΤ of the water supply pump 13 to ΔΤ1. Meanwhile, when the ice making size S (small) is selected by the operation of the operation unit 6a, in Step SI 02, the control device 8 sets the operation time ΔΤ of the water supply pump 13 to ΔΤ2. For both of

-23 the case where Step S101 is executed and the case where Step SI02 is executed, the processing proceeds to Step SI03.

[0056]

In Step SI 03, the control device 8 starts the operation of the water supply pump 13. Thus, the water supply to the ice making tray 11 performed by the water supplying device starts. After Step S103, the processing proceeds to Step S104.

[0057]

In Step SI04, the control device 8 resets a timer t that counts the water supply time to 0, and starts the clocking by the timer. After Step SI04, the processing proceeds to Step SI05.

[0058]

In Step SI05, the control device 8 checks whether the timer t has reached ΔΤ that is set in Step S101 or Step SI02. In other words, the control device 8 checks whether ΔΤ has elapsed since the water supply has started in Step SI03. When ΔΤ has not elapsed since the water supply has started, the check in Step SI05 is repeated untilAT elapses. When ΔΤ has elapsed since the water supply has started, the processing proceeds to Step SI06.

[0059]

In Step SI 06, the control device 8 stops the operation of the water supply pump 13. Thus, the water supply to the ice making tray 11 performed by the water supplying device is stopped. After Step SI06, the processing proceeds to Step SI07.

[0060]

In Step SI07, the control device 8 checks whether the temperature 0 of the water in the ice making tray 11 detected by the temperature sensor 18 is equal to or less than a

-24preset reference temperature θ 1. When the temperature Θ of the water in the ice making tray 11 is not equal to or less than the reference temperature Θ1, the check in Step SI07 is repeated until the temperature 0 becomes equal to or less than the reference temperature θ 1. When the temperature 0 of the water in the ice making tray 11 becomes equal to or less than the reference temperature θ 1, the processing proceeds to Step SI08.

[0061]

In Step SI 08, the control device 8 starts the operation of the rotation device 16. The rotation direction of the rotation device 16 at this time is a preset positive direction. Thus, the rotation of the ice making tray 11 to the positive direction performed by the rotation device 16 is started. After Step SI08, the processing proceeds to Step SI09. [0062]

In Step SI09, the control device 8 resets the timer t that counts the rotation time to 0, and starts the clocking by the timer. After Step SI09, the processing proceeds to Step S110.

[0063]

In Step SI 10, the control device 8 checks whether the timer t has reached a preset rotary driving time tr. The rotary driving time tr is specifically set to 5 seconds, for example. In other words, the control device 8 checks whether the rotary driving time tr has elapsed since the rotation has started in Step SI09. When the rotary driving time tr has not elapsed since the rotation has started, the check in Step SI 10 is repeated until the rotary driving time tr elapses. When the rotary driving time tr has elapsed since the rotation has started, the processing proceeds to Step Sill.

[0064]

-25 In Step Sill, the control device 8 rotates the rotation device 16 in the reverse direction. The reverse direction is a direction opposite to the positive direction described above. Thus, the rotation of the ice making tray 11 to the reverse direction performed by the rotation device 16 is started. After Step SI 11, the processing proceeds to Step SI 12.

[0065]

In Step SI 12, the control device 8 resets the timer t that counts the rotation time to 0, and starts the clocking by the timer. After Step SI 12, the processing proceeds to Step S113.

[0066]

In Step SI 13, the control device 8 checks whether the timer t has reached the preset rotary driving time tr. The rotary driving time tr is the same value as the rotary driving time tr in Step SI 10. In other words, the control device 8 checks whether the rotary driving time tr has elapsed since the reverse rotation has started in Step Sill. When the rotary driving time tr has not elapsed since the reverse rotation has started, the check in Step SI 13 is repeated until the rotary driving time tr elapses. When the rotary driving time tr has elapsed since the reverse rotation has started, the processing proceeds to Step SI 14.

[0067]

In Step SI 14, the ice making tray 11 has returned to the original place, and hence the control device 8 stops the rotation of the rotation device 16. After Step SI 14, the processing proceeds to Step SI 15.

[0068]

-26In Step SI 15, the control device 8 operates the ice detection lever 17 and detects the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10. The control device 8 checks whether the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 detected by the ice detection lever 17 has reached the full ice amount described above. When the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 is the full ice amount, the check in Step SI 15 is repeated until the ice in the ice storage case 10 is taken out and the amount is not the full ice amount. Meanwhile, when the amount of ice in the ice storage case 10 is not the full ice amount, the processing returns to Step SI03 and continues the ice making.

[0069]

The automatic ice maker and the freezer refrigerator 1 including the automatic ice maker formed as above can make ice of different sizes with one ice making tray 11. Not only the large-sized ice but also the small-sized ice can be made to have a shape that is close to a cube. Therefore, the specific surface area of the small-sized ice can also be reduced, and ice that is less likely to melt even if the ice is small can be made. When the small ice making size is selected, a larger number of ice as compared to the number of ice obtained in one ice making when the large ice making size is selected can be obtained in one ice making. Therefore, when a large amount of fine ice is desired, for example, efficient ice making can be performed.

[0070]

Embodiment 2.

Fig. 12 to Fig. 14 are according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5 illustrating an example of the ice making tray, Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control

-27system of the freezer refrigerator, and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to

Fig. 5 illustrating another example of the ice making tray.

[0071]

Embodiment 2 described here is obtained by providing, in the configuration of Embodiment 1 described above, a heating device that heats the ice making tray in which ice is generated in the ice making blocks of the ice making tray. For the freezer refrigerator including the automatic ice maker according to Embodiment 2, the differences from Embodiment 1 are mainly described below.

[0072]

As illustrated in Fig. 12, in Embodiment 2, on the ice making tray 11 of the freezer refrigerator 1, heaters 27 are mounted. The heaters 27 are provided so as to be in contact with the outer front surface of the ice making tray 11. In the example illustrated in the same figure, the heaters 27 are placed on places that are on the outer side of the side walls the ice making blocks 20 and are close to the bottom portion of the ice making tray 11. In this example, the heaters 27 have oval cross sections. The heaters 27 can heat the ice making tray 11 from the outer side of the ice making tray 11.

[0073]

As illustrated in Fig. 13, in Embodiment 2, the control device 8 also controls the operation of the heaters 27. As with Embodiment 1, after water is supplied to the first water level or the second water level in each of the ice making blocks 20 by the water supplying device, the water in the ice making blocks 20 is cooled by the cooling device described above. When the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 detected by the temperature sensor 18 becomes equal to or less than the reference temperature described above, the control device 8 determines that the ice making is completed.

-28[0074]

When the temperature sensor 18 detects that the temperature of the water in the ice making tray 11 is equal to or less than the reference temperature, the control device 8 starts the operation of the heaters 27. The heaters 27 operate for a certain preset time and heat the ice making tray 11. In other words, the heaters 27 are heating devices that heat the ice making tray 11 in which ice is generated in the ice making blocks 20. When the heaters 27 heat the ice making tray 11, by the heated ice making tray 11, the surface of the ice that is in contact with the ice making tray 11 is heated. By the heating, the surface of the ice in the ice making blocks 20 that is in contact with the ice making tray 11 can be melted.

[0075]

When the heating of the ice making tray 11 by the heaters 27 ends, the control device 8 rotates the ice making tray 11 by the rotation device 16. In other words, in Embodiment 2, the rotation device 16 performs ice removal by rotating the ice making tray 11 in which the front surface of the ice is melted by the heat of the heaters 27 that are the heating devices. At this time, by rotating the ice making tray 11 so as to twist the ice making tray 11, the ice making tray 11 can be temporarily deformed, to thereby prompt the ice removal from the ice making tray 11.

Note that other configurations and operations are similar to those in Embodiment

1, and the description thereof is omitted here.

[0076]

The automatic ice maker and the freezer refrigerator 1 including the automatic ice maker formed as above can also can have a similar effect as that of Embodiment 1. After the ice making ends, by heating the ice making tray 11 by the heaters 27 and

-29melting the front surface of the ice in the ice making tray 11 before rotating the ice making tray 11, the generated ice can be reliably removed from the ice making tray 11 for both of large and small ice making sizes.

[0077]

When the number of the ice making blocks 20 and the ice making cells 22 is particularly large, by only twisting and temporarily deforming the ice making tray 11, there may be ice making blocks 20 and ice making cells 22 in which the stress acting on the ice is small depending on the place in the ice making tray 11. In the ice making blocks 20 and the ice making cells 22 in which the stress acting on the ice is small, there is a fear that the ice removal cannot be performed well. According to Embodiment 2, by melting the front surface of the ice by the heaters 27, even in the ice making blocks 20 and the ice making cells 22 in which the stress acting on the ice is small, the ice can be reliably removed.

[0078]

Note that the number, shapes, places, and the like of the heaters 27 are not limited to the example in Fig. 12. Alternatively, for example, thin sheet-like heaters 27 may be placed so as to cover the bottom surface portion of the ice making tray 11 from the outer side, as illustrated in Fig. 14.

[0079]

Embodiment 3.

Fig. 15 to Fig. 17 are according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an ice making compartment portion of the freezer refrigerator, Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an upper-stage ice storage case of the

-30ice making compartment, and Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the ice making tray corresponding to Fig. 5.

[0080]

Embodiment 3 described here is obtained by providing, in the configuration of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 described above, a sorting device that sorts the ice of the large ice making size and the ice of the small ice making size in the ice storage case, and enabling the ice of the large ice making size and the ice of the small ice making size to be separately stored. For the automatic ice maker and the freezer refrigerator according to Embodiment 3, a case based on the configuration of Embodiment 1 is taken as an example and the differences from Embodiment 1 are mainly described below. [0081]

As illustrated in Fig. 15, in Embodiment 3, the ice storage case 10 includes an upper-stage ice storage case 28. The upper-stage ice storage case 28 is placed in the ice storage case 10. A bottom surface 29 of the upper-stage ice storage case 28 is placed below the ice making tray 11 and above the bottom surface of the ice storage case 10. When the ice making compartment door 9 is drawn out frontward, the ice storage case 10 and the upper-stage ice storage case 28 are drawn out frontward together. In the state in which the ice making compartment door 9 is drawn out, when the upper-stage ice storage case 28 is slid rearward, a state in which only the ice storage case 10 is drawn out is obtained, and the ice in the ice storage case 10 can be put in and out.

[0082]

With reference to Fig. 16, the description of the configuration of the upper-stage ice storage case 28 is continued. As illustrated in the same figure, the bottom surface 29 of the upper-stage ice storage case 28 has a lattice shape in which a plurality of opening

-31 portions 30 are formed. Each of the opening portions 30 exhibits, for example, a rectangle shape or a square shape. When the opening portion 30 has a rectangle shape, the length of the long side thereof is 1. When the opening portion 30 has a square shape, the length of a side thereof is 1. The lengths are collectively referred to as a dimension 1 of the opening portions 30 below.

[0083]

As illustrated in Fig. 17, the width of the ice making cell 22 of the ice making tray is x. In other words, the distance from the second partitioned wall 21 to the first partitioned wall 19 and the distance from the second partitioned wall 21 to the wall portion on the outer periphery of the ice making tray 11 is x. The width x of the ice making cell 22 is the size of the ice of the small ice making size. The width of the ice making block 20 of the ice making tray 11 is y. In other words, the distance from the first partitioned wall 19 to the wall portion on the outer periphery of the ice making tray 11 is y. The width y of the ice making block 20 is the same size as the ice of the large ice making size.

[0084]

The dimension 1 of the opening portions 30 is adjusted so as to be larger than the width x of the ice making cell 22 and smaller than the width y of the ice making block 20. Thus, the ice of the small ice making size that is removed from the ice making tray 11 passes through the opening portions 30 and falls to the ice storage case 10. Meanwhile, the ice of the large ice making size removed from the ice making tray 11 does not pass through the opening portions 30 and remains in the upper-stage ice storage case 28. Thus, the ice of the small ice making size is stored in the ice storage case 10. In the upper-stage ice storage case 28, the ice of the large ice making size is stored.

-32[0085]

As described above, the upper-stage ice storage case 28 forms the sorting device that causes the ice of the small ice making size, that is, the ice generated by suppling water to the second water level in the ice making blocks 20 to pass, and cause the ice of the large ice making size, that is, the ice generated by supplying water to the first water level in the ice making block 20 to not pass.

Note that other configurations are similar to those in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and the description thereof is omitted here.

[0086]

The automatic ice maker and the freezer refrigerator 1 including the automatic ice maker formed as above can also have a similar effect as those in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. Provision of the sorting device that sorts the ice of the large ice making size and the ice of the small ice making size in the ice storage case 10 enables the ice of the large ice making size and the ice of the small ice making size to be separately stored, even when the ice of different sizes is made at the same time. Thus, the user can use both of large and small sizes of ice without sorting out the ice with the hand of the user, which provides improved convenience.

Industrial Applicability [0087]

The present invention can be used for an automatic ice maker and a freezer refrigerator that make ice with use of an ice making tray.

[Reference Signs List] [0088]

Freezer refrigerator

Compressor

Cooler

Blower fan

Air duct

Operation panel

6a Operation unit

6b Display unit

Refrigerating compartment door

7a Right door

7b Left door

Control device

8a Processor

8b Memory

Ice making compartment door

Ice storage case

Ice making tray

Water supply tank

Water supply pump

Water supply pipe

Cold air outlet

Rotation device

Ice detection lever

Temperature sensor

-34First partitioned wall

Ice making block

Second partitioned wall

Ice making cell

Groove portion

Cut-out portion

Rotation device mounting portion

Stopper portion

Heater

Upper-stage ice storage case

Bottom surface

Opening portion

Heat insulation box body

Refrigerating compartment

Switching compartment

Ice making compartment

Freezing compartment

Vegetable compartment

Freezing compartment house case

Vegetable compartment house case

Claims

Claims [Claim 1]

An automatic ice maker, comprising:

an ice making tray including a plurality of ice making blocks partitioned by first partitioned walls of a first height;

a water supplying device configured to supply water in each of the plurality of ice making blocks; and a cooling device configured to cool the water in the ice making blocks into ice, the ice making tray further including second partitioned walls of a second height being lower than the first height, the second partitioned walls provided in the ice making blocks, each of the ice making blocks divided into a plurality sections by the second partitioned walls, each of the first partitioned walls having a groove portion, each of the second partitioned walls having a cut-out portion, a height from a bottom surface of the ice making tray to the lowermost portion of the groove portion being equal to a height from the bottom surface of the ice making tray to the lowermost portion of the cut-out portion.

2017402441 02 Jul 2019 [Claim 2]

The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water supplying device is capable of selecting a level of water supplied in the ice making blocks from at least two types of water levels including a first water level and a second water level, the first water level being lower than the first height and higher than the second height, the second water level being lower than the second height.

[Claim 3]

The automatic ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the water supplying device is capable of selecting, for each of the plurality of ice making blocks, whether the water is supplied to the first water level or the water is supplied to the second water level.

[Claim 4]

The automatic ice maker according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising an ice storage case placed below the ice making tray, the ice storage case configured to receive ice removed from the ice making tray, wherein the ice storage case includes a sorting device configured to pass ice generated by supplying water to the second water level in ice making blocks, and not to pass ice generated by supplying water to the first water level in the ice

2017402441 02 Jul 2019 making blocks.

[Claim 5]

The automatic ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to

4, further comprising:

a heating device configured to heat the ice making tray in which ice is generated in the ice making blocks; and a rotation device configured to remove the ice by rotating the ice making tray in which a front surface of the ice is melted by heat of the heating device.

[Claim 6]

A freezer refrigerator comprising the automatic ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5.