DE102010029143A1 - Ice cube maker and refrigerator that has this - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an ice cube maker and a refrigerator having it. The ice cube maker includes an ice cube preparing container that holds a plurality of ice cube preparation cells, a drive unit for rotating the ice cube preparation container, a plurality of knives corresponding to the plurality of ice cube making cells, and blocking the ice cubes prepared in the ice cube making cells and so on rotate the ice cube preparation container, removing the ice cubes from the ice cube preparing cells when the ice cube preparation container is rotated, and containing a protrusion formed on the ice cube preparation container and assisting in removing the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells. The ice cube maker removes the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation container by means of a twisting type deicing process using the plurality of knives and the projection.

Description

background

1st area

embodiments refer to an ice cube maker, which has improved defrost performance and cooling methods with both indirect and direct cooling, as well as a refrigerator, having this.

2. Description of the related technology

in the Generally there are storage compartments in a refrigerator, in which various foods in optimal condition for long Time to be kept. The storage compartments include a fridge compartment and a freezer compartment one, which are separated from each other. Recently there is a refrigerator in which an ice cube maker for preparing ice cubes is present in a storage compartment.

ice maker be in ice cube maker with indirect cooling, where ice cubes using cooler Be circulated in a freezer, and ice maker with direct cooling divided, where ice cubes using a coolant tube a cooling circuit made become. Each of these ice cube makers includes one Ice Cube Making Tank, the water for making ice cubes contains an ejector for removing the ice cubes from the ice cube maker container, as well a storage box for storing the ice cubes removed by the ejector.

de-icing for the ice maker with the structure described above are in a heating type and a Rotary type divided. This is in the deicing of the Heat Type of Ice Cube Preparation Trays a heating device heated at the bottom of the existing aluminum Ice cube maker tank installed is, and so is the surface the ice cube is melted, and then the ejector is rotated and remove the ice cubes from the ice cube making container. at The deicing method of the rotary type is made of plastic Ice Cube Making Tray Twisted and so are ice cubes removed from the ice cube maker container.

however becomes in the de-icing process of the heating type in a de-icing process a high-performance heating device used, so that energy consumption is high and the temperature of an ice cube making tray or one Storage compartment increases.

Of Further, in the rotary type deicing method, the plastic one existing ice cube preparation containers used, so it is difficult to insert an ice cube maker that Contains an aluminum made ice cube preparation container.

Summary

Therefore One aspect is to provide an ice cube maker which has improved defrosting performance and cooling with both indirect cooling as well as direct cooling and a refrigerator, having this.

Further Aspects and / or advantages are set forth in the following description and partially apparent from the description or are in use of the invention.

The The above and / or other aspects are achieved by a fridge is created, which has a variety of storage compartments and an ice cube maker contains in one of the storage compartments is arranged to ice cubes too prepare, taking the ice cube maker An Ice Cube Making Tray, The a variety of ice cube making cells contains take the water to prepare the ice cubes, a drive unit to turning the ice cube maker tank, a Variety of knives corresponding to the ice cube making cells and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells Remove, as well as a projection formed on the ice cube preparation container is to remove the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells to facilitate.

Of the Tab can be from the end of one side of the ice cube maker container protrude inside.

Of the Projection may be at least a pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or have a hemispherical shape.

The Variety of knives can those in the ice cube making cells prepared ice cubes block and twist the ice cube preparation container and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells Remove when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes.

At least one of the plurality of blades may have a different length. With increasing distance of the plurality of knives from the drive unit, the plurality of knives may become longer. Knives corresponding to the ice cube preparation cells formed at both ends of the ice cube preparing container may become shorter his than the other knives.

At least One of the variety of knives may be at a different angle than the remaining Knife be formed. The ice cube maker may further a cooling unit with the supplied water from the ice cube preparation container for Freezing is brought. The cooling unit can be a heat exchanger and an air blower unit for Respectively from cooler Air to the ice cube maker contain.

The cooling unit can an ice cube making tube Contain in which a coolant flows around that the ice cube making cells supplied water directly to the ice cubes to freeze, as well as a cooling housing for Picking up the ice cube making tube.

The Variety of knives can be placed above the ice cube preparation container be and attached to the cooling housing be.

At least a part of the cooling housing can in the ice cube making cells be arranged.

The The above and / or other aspects can be achieved by: an ice cube maker a refrigerator An Ice Cube Making Tank, The a variety of ice cube making cells contains supplied with water is a drive unit for rotating the ice cube maker container, a cooling unit for converting the water supplied to the ice cube feed tank in ice cubes, a plurality of knives which are attached to the cooling unit and the Tung ice making cells match and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells remove when the ice cube maker container is rotated, and contains a lead, the removal of the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells supports and formed at the upper end of one side of each of the ice making cells is.

Of the Tab can be from the end of one side of the ice cube maker container protrude inside. The projection may have at least one pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or have a hemispherical shape. The variety of knives can be the in the ice cube making cells prepare prepared ice cubes and so the ice cube making tray at Removing the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells twist when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes.

The cooling unit can be a heat exchanger and an air blower for feeding from cooler Air to the ice cube maker contain. The cooling unit can an ice cube making tube Contain in which a coolant flows, around the ice cube making cells supplied Water directly to the ice cubes to freeze, and a cooling housing for recording of Ice Cube Pipe.

The The above and / or other aspects are achieved by a ice maker a refrigerator An Ice Cube Making Tank, The a variety of ice cube making cells contains where water is supplied, a drive unit for rotating the ice cube maker container, a cooling unit for converting water supplied from the ice cube preparation container in ice cubes, an ejecting device attached to a side surface of the cooling unit to the ice cube preparation cells is fastened accordingly, as well as containing a projection, the at the upper end of one side of each of the corresponding ice making cells of the ice cube maker container is, wherein the projection on one side of each of the corresponding Tung ice making cells another side of each of the corresponding ice making cells opposite is formed, on which the ejection device is arranged.

Of the Tab can be from the end of one side of the ice cube maker container protrude inside. The projection may have at least one pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or have a hemispherical shape. The variety of knives can be the in the ice cube making cells prepare prepared ice cubes and so the ice cube making tray at Removing the ice cubes from the ice cube making cells twist when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other aspects will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments in connection with the attached Drawings are apparent and better understood, wherein:

1 Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the overall appearance of a refrigerator according to an embodiment;

2 a longitudinal sectional view of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator in 1 is;

3 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice cube maker of the refrigerator in 1 represents;

4 and 5 Perspective views are the ejector devices of the ice cube maker in FIG 3 group;

6 a perspective view of the in 3 is shown ice cube preparation container;

7A to 7C partially enlarged views of 6 are; and

8A to 8C These are views illustrating a deicing process of the ice cube maker of the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

Full description

in the Below, reference will be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout Respectively.

As with reference to 1 and 2 can be seen, a refrigerator contains a main body 10 , which determines the appearance of the refrigerator, and storage compartments are in the main body 10 educated. The storage compartments are separated by a partition 15 separated, and the left storage compartment serves as a freezer compartment 30 and the right-hand storage compartment serves as a refrigerated compartment 20 ,

A heat exchanger 34 and an air blower 35 which produce cool air and cool air respectively to the refrigerating compartment 20 and the freezer 30 are each in the rear section of the refrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30 Installed. Further, in the lower portion of the rear portion of the main body 10 an aggregate compartment 36 present in which a compressor and a condenser are installed, which compress a refrigerant, the condensed refrigerant condense and the condensed refrigerant to the heat exchanger 34 conduct.

doors 21 and 31 for selectively opening and closing the interior of the refrigerating compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30 are each at the front of the refrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30 arranged. Several subjects 22 and 23 for food intake are in several stages at the back of the door 21 respectively. 31 installed, and recording elements 23 and 33 , so z. B. several shelves and bays are in the refrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer 30 Installed. Einlegböden 11 . 12 are also in the refrigerator compartment 21 or the freezer compartment installed.

The refrigerator also contains an ice cube maker 100 who is in the fridge compartment 30 To prepare ice cubes, install an ice cube storage container 40 to store with the ice cube maker 100 prepared ice cubes and an output device 50 for dispensing the ice cubes from the ice cube storage container 40 to the front of the door 31 , Although the term "ice cube" is used, the ice is not necessarily cube-shaped. The storage tank 40 and the output device 50 are the same as those conventionally used, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Recently, a refrigerator having an ice cube preparing tray provided in a refrigerating compartment has been put on the market, and the embodiment can be applied to the ice cube preparing tray of such a refrigerator.

The ice cube maker 100 contains a support frame 110 which is at the upper section of the interior of the freezer compartment 30 is installed. An ice cube preparation tray 120 , a drive unit 130 for turning the ice cube preparation tray 120 , a cooling unit 140 for preparing ice cubes in the ice cube preparation tray 120 and an ejection device 150 to remove the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation tray 120 are, as in 3 shown on the support frame 110 appropriate.

First, there are several ice cube making cells 121 , which have a semicircular shape and contain the externally supplied via a water supply pipe for preparing ice cubes water, at the ice cube preparation container 120 educated. Around the ice cube preparation container 120 to twist and the ice cubes from the corresponding ice cube making cells 120 to remove is the plastic ice cube preparation container 120 more effective. Furthermore, there is a lead 123 supporting ice cube removal, on one side of the top of the ice cube maker container 120 trained, and this is described in detail below.

The drive unit 130 contains a drive motor 131 with which the ice cube making container 120 is turned. The drive unit 130 is how in 3 shown at the ice cube preparation tray 120 stored and serves to the ice cube preparation container 120 according to the rotation of the drive motor 130 in the support frame 110 to turn. The drive unit 130 further includes a ice-filling detection lever 133 that detects whether the ice cube reservoir 40 completely filled with ice cubes.

The cooling unit 140 contains an ice cube making tube 143 that is so from the heat exchanger 34 extends that a coolant in the ice cube making tube 143 flows, as well as a cooling housing 141 for picking up the ice cube making tube 143 , The ice cube making tube 143 in which, as described above, the coolant flows, serves to the ice cube preparation container 120 to convert the water directly into ice cubes. The lower end of the cooling housing 141 is how in 3 shown formed in a semicircular shape, and a specific part of the lower end of the cooling housing 141 is in the respective ice cube making cells 121 of ice cube preparation container ters 120 arranged.

The ejection device 150 contains, as in 3 shown a carrying element 151 on one side of the cooling housing 141 attached, as well as several knives 153 , so different from the support element 151 extend them to the respective ice cube preparation cells 121 correspond. The several knives 153 serve to those in the respective ice cube preparation cells 121 prepared ice cubes to block and so the ice cubes from the respective ice cube preparation cells 121 when removing the ice cube maker container 120 is turned.

Around the ice cube preparation container 120 to twist when the ice cube maker container 120 is rotated, extend the multiple knives 153 ment of the Trageele 151 so that that at least one of the several knives 153 has a different length. With increasing distance of the knives 153 from the drive unit 130 become the knives 153 longer. That is, in the embodiment, when the ice cube preparing container 120 rotated in the respective ice cube preparation cells 121 prepared ice cubes sequentially through the knives 153 blocked by the drive unit 130 are removed so as to make the ice cube preparation container 120 to twist and thus the ice cubes from the ice cube making cells 121 to remove.

Furthermore, as in 4 shown by the several knives 153 those knives 153a placing the ice cube making cells 121 At both ends of the ice cube maker container 120 are formed, a shorter length than the other knives 153 , A speed of ice cube making of ice cube making cells 121 At both ends of the ice cube preparation container 120 are lower than those on other ice cube preparation cells 121 , Therefore, it makes it possible to increase the ice cube making speed of the respective ice making cells 121 To keep uniform, this structure that at both ends of the ice cube maker container 120 trained ice cube making cells 121 prepare an ice cube whose size is smaller than that of the other ice cube preparation cells 121 , For this reason, the at both ends of the ice cube preparation container 120 trained ice cube making cells 121 smaller in size than the other ice cube making cells 121 ,

Furthermore, to the ice cube preparation container 120 to twist when the ice cube maker container 120 is rotated, secondary knives 153 ' be formed at different angles, as in 5 is shown.

Ice cubes in the respective ice cube making cells 121 be prepared adhere to the lower end of the cooling housing 141 , Therefore, when in the respective ice cube making cells 121 prepared ice cubes from the ice cube making cells 121 Remove the ice cubes from the bottom of the cooling box 141 as well as from the ice cube preparation cells 121 separated.

Because of this, as in 6 shown the lead 123 for separating the ice cubes from the lower end of the cooling housing 141 at the ice cube preparation container 120 educated. The lead 123 stands from one side of the top of the ice cube maker tank 120 to the center of the ice cube preparation container 120 even though the ice cubes are not from the refrigeration unit at an initial stage of the de-icing process 140 be separated, the ice cubes are by the projection 123 from the cooling unit 140 disconnected when the ice cube preparation container 120 is rotated by more than a predetermined angle.

Furthermore, as in 7A to 7C shown the lead 123a . 123b or 123c be formed in a pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or a hemispherical shape. This is the lead 123a . 123b or 123c by a predetermined length, so that the ice cubes do not coincide with the rotation of the ice cube preparation container 120 be rotated when the ice cubes take up more than a certain load when the ice cube making tray 120 is turned.

Although the present embodiment exemplifies the direct cooling type ice cube maker having the ice cubes in the ice cube preparing container 120 through the cooling unit 140 prepared with the ice cube making tube 143 It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an indirect cooling type ice cube maker may be employed in which ice cubes in the ice cube preparation container 120 be prepared by cool air coming from the heat exchanger 34 and the air blower 35 is produced. Of course, the ice cube maker of the indirect cooling type has the lead 123 not on the ice cube making tray 120 be educated.

in the Following are the function and the effects of the refrigerator according to the embodiment in detail with reference to the attached Drawings described.

To prepare ice cubes, the respective ice cube making cells 121 of ice cube preparation container 120 , as in 8A shown, fed water. After the ice cube maker tung cells 121 Water is supplied, a coolant flows in the ice cube making tube 143 the cooling unit 140 and when a specified time has elapsed, the water is in the respective ice making cells 121 frozen and has thus turned into ice cubes of a given size.

After the ice cubes in the ice cube preparation container 120 The ice cubes are removed from the ice cube preparation container 120 removed and dropped into the ice cube storage container 40 , The following is an operation of defrosting the ice cube making container 120 described in detail. First, as in 8B shown, the ice cube making tube 143 so controlled that the coolant is not in the ice cube making tube 143 streams, and the ice cube preparation container 120 is by pressing the drive unit 130 turned. When the ice cube maker container 120 are rotated, which are in the respective ice cube preparation cells 121 also produced ice cubes.

When the ice cube maker container 120 Turned by more than a predetermined angle, the ice cubes are moved through the several fixed knives 153 over the ice cube preparation container 120 blocked. Here are the several knives 153 set up so that the knives 153 with increasing distance of the knives 153 from the drive unit 130 get longer. So come from the drive unit 130 removed ice cubes one after the other with the knives 153 in contact. When the ice cube maker container 120 is turned by, as in 8c shown, the ice cube preparation container 120 through the several knives 153 twisted so that the ice cubes from the ice cube making cells 121 be separated.

Furthermore, during the process of deicing the ice cube making cells 121 the ice cubes easily from the cooling unit 140 as well as from the ice cube preparation cells 121 separated, so that the defrosting performance is improved. Thus, in this embodiment, when the ice cube preparing container 120 is rotated by more than a predetermined angle, the ice cubes from the cooling unit 140 ie the lower end of the cooling housing 141 , by the projection 123 Isolated at the ice cube making tray 120 is trained.

Accordingly, as the ice cubes pass through the multiple knives 153 and the tab of the ice cube making tray 120 from the ice cube making container 120 and the cooling unit 140 With the present embodiment, a defrosting performance is improved as compared with a heating type defrosting process. Further, when the de-icing process of the present embodiment is used together with the heating-type de-icing process, de-icing can be performed more effectively.

Further, although the present embodiment describes the twist-type de-icing process in which the plurality of knives 153 The embodiment is applied to both the direct cooling type ice cube maker using a cooling unit and the indirect cooling type ice cube maker using cool air.

As from the above description, is at an icemaker and a fridge, having this, according to one embodiment a twisting-type de-icing process is applied, in which several Knives are inserted when an ice cube maker container is rotated and thus improves defrost performance, and both Ice cube maker from Type with direct cooling, in which a cooling unit is used, as well as an ice cube maker of the type with indirect Cooling, in the cool Air used, are applied.

Even though some embodiments have been shown and described, is obvious to the skilled person, that changes in these embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and spirit of the embodiments whose Scope of protection in the claims and their equivalents is defined.

Claims (15)

Fridge, which includes: a variety of storage compartments; and one Ice maker, in one of the storage compartments is arranged to ice cubes to prepare, with the ice maker includes: a Ice Cube Making Tray, The a variety of ice cube making cells contains the water for preparing the ice cubes take up; a drive unit for rotating the ice cube preparation container; a Variety of knives corresponding to the ice cube making cells and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells remove; and a projection formed on the ice cube preparation container is to remove the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells to support. Refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the projection has at least one pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or a hemispherical shape and of a End of one side of the ice cube maker container protrudes inward. fridge according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades are those in the ice cube preparation cells prepared ice cubes blocked, thus twisting the ice cube making tank and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells be removed when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes. fridge according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of knives another length Has. fridge according to claim 4, wherein the respective lengths of the knives with the distance increase to the drive unit. fridge according to claim 1, wherein of the plurality of knives, the knives formed at both ends of the ice cube making container Tung ice making cells correspond to a shorter one Have length as other knives. fridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of knives in the circumferential direction opposite the other knives is offset. fridge according to claim 1, wherein the ice maker Furthermore, a cooling unit for freezing the water supplied to the ice cube preparing container contains. fridge according to claim 8, wherein the cooling unit a heat exchanger and an air blower unit contains around the ice cube maker Supply cooling air. fridge according to claim 8, wherein the cooling unit an ice cube making tube, in which a coolant flows, around the ice cube making cells supplied Water directly to the ice cubes to freeze, and contains a cooling housing, the the ice cube making tube receives. fridge according to claim 10, wherein: the variety of knives above of the ice cube maker container is and attached to the cooling housing is; and at least part of the cooling housing in the ice cube making cells is arranged. ice maker a refrigerator, which includes: An Ice Cube Making Tray, The a variety of ice cube making cells contains supplied with water becomes; a drive unit for rotating the ice cube preparation container; a cooling unit for converting the water supplied to the ice cube preparing container in ice cubes; a Variety of knives that are attached to the cooling unit and the ice cube making cells correspond to the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells to remove when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes; and a projection that removes the ice cubes from the Tung ice making cells supports and at the upper end of one side of each of the respective ice making cells is trained ice maker according to claim 12, wherein the projection has at least one pyramidal shape, a columnar shape or a hemispherical shape and from the end of one side of the ice cube preparation container protrudes inside. ice maker according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of knives are those in the ice cube making cells prepared ice cubes blocked, thus twisting the ice cube making tank and the ice cubes from the ice cube preparation cells be removed when the ice cube maker container is rotated becomes. ice maker according to claim 12, wherein the projection on one side of each of the corresponding Tung ice making cells another side of each of the corresponding ice making cells, at the the ejector is arranged, opposite is trained.