JP2001263887A - Automatic ice maker and freezer/refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of the automatic ice maker in a conventional freezer/refrigerator that a user must clean a water supply tank and a water supply pump periodically otherwise fur is possibly formed, and the user is recommended to clean the water supply passage from the water supply tank to an ice making pan periodically as well as the ice making pan itself but since they are secured in the freezer/refrigerator, cleaning is difficult for some user and hygienical anxiety is inevitable. SOLUTION: The automatic ice maker comprises an ice making pan having a hook part, a part to be hooked with the ice making pan through the hook part, a sensor for detecting ice made in the ice making pan, and a gear section for turning the ice making pan and the part to be hooked based on detection of ice made in the ice making pan, wherein the ice making pan is pulled and the hook part thereof is removed from the part to be hooked and then water is supplied to the ice making pan.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator, and more particularly to a specification of an automatic ice maker which does not use a water storage tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic refrigerator for a refrigerator will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a section of an automatic ice maker in a conventional refrigerator-freezer. 7, 11 is a water supply tank, 12 is an ice making completion detection sensor, 13 is an ice tray, 14 is a gear box, and 15 is a water supply pump.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker in the conventional refrigerator shown in FIG. 7 will be described. An ice tray 13 of a conventional automatic ice maker is supplied with water from a water supply tank 11. Then, when the water supplied to the ice tray 13 is made, the ice making completion detection sensor 12 detects the ice making state. When the ice making completion detecting sensor 12 detects the completion of ice making, the ice making tray 13 is rotated to release ice from the ice making tray 13. The rotation of the ice tray 13 is controlled by the gear box 1.
4 is performed.

When the ice is released from the ice tray 13, the gear box 14 returns the ice tray 13 to its original position.
Thereafter, the ice tray 13 is supplied with water from the water supply tank 11 again. The amount of water supplied from the water supply tank 11 to the ice tray 13 is constant. In addition, ice tray 13
Is supplied by a water supply pump 15. Further, as for the water supply to the water supply tank 11, the user takes out the water supply tank 11 out of the freezer and refrigerator, and supplies tap water or the like.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, it is necessary to periodically clean the water supply tank and the water supply pump by the user. Could be. In addition, the water supply path from the water tank to the ice tray and the ice tray itself should be periodically cleaned by the user.However, these are fixed in the refrigerator and are difficult to clean by the user. I felt anxious. The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems, and relates to an automatic ice maker for a refrigerator-freezer which does not have a water supply tank, a water supply pump, and a water supply path, and has a specification in which an ice tray can be washed by a user.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic ice making machine according to the present invention is provided with an ice tray having a hook, a hooked portion through which the ice tray is hooked, and water supplied to the ice tray. Equipped with a sensor for detecting that the water has been iced, and a gear section for rotating the ice tray and the hooked portion based on the detection, pulling the ice tray, and removing the hooked portion of the ice tray from the hooked portion. The water is supplied to the ice tray.

Further, in the automatic ice maker according to the present invention, the ice tray is detachable from the hooked portion.

Further, the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention is provided with a heater for heating the ice tray when the ice tray and the hooked portion rotate.

A refrigerator according to the present invention is provided with an automatic ice maker in an ice maker.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the ice making room is located at the center of the refrigerator.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the temperature zone of the ice making room can be changed.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the temperature zone of the ice making room is changed at a place remote from the refrigerator.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, completion of ice making is visually or audibly notified.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a section of an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator-freezer of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes an ice making room. Reference numeral 22 denotes a gear box, which is provided on an upper rear side of the ice making chamber 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes a rotary table, which is rotated by the gear box 22. 24 is an ice tray.

Reference numeral 24a denotes a claw portion provided on the bottom surface of the ice tray, and the ice tray 24 is hooked on the rotary table 23 by the claw portion 24a. Reference numeral 24b denotes a handle, and an ice tray 2
4 is provided on the ice making room door 27 side. 24c is an ice tray 24
It is an ice grain part. 25 is an ice making completion detection sensor,
It is arranged on the turntable 23 so as to be in contact with the ice tray 24. Reference numeral 26 denotes a heater for ice separation, which is provided on the rotating table 23 on the side of the ice tray 24. 27 is an ice making room door of the ice making room 21.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker in the refrigerator-freezer of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Ice tray 2
As for the operation of supplying water to 4, the ice making chamber door 27 is first opened, then the handle portion 24b in front of the ice making tray 24 is pulled out, and the individual ice particles 24c of the ice making tray 24 are directly supplied with water from another container or the like. When the ice tray 24 is further pulled out, the claw portion 24a on the bottom surface of the ice tray 24 comes off the turntable 23, and the ice tray 24 comes off the turntable 23 completely. Thus, the ice tray 24 can be washed by detaching the ice tray 24 from the rotary table 23, and the ice tray 24 can be kept hygienic. The water supply to the ice tray 24 may be performed with the ice tray 24 completely removed from the turntable 23. Thereafter, the ice tray 24 is set on the turntable 23 again to make ice.

In the operation of removing ice from the ice tray 24, first, the ice making state of the ice tray 24 is detected by the ice making completion detecting sensor 25. This ice making completion detection sensor 2
When the completion of ice making is determined by the detection of 5, the predetermined signal is output. When the signal is output from the ice making completion detection sensor 25, the gear box 22 is turned
3 is rotated 180 degrees. This turntable 23 is 18
When rotated 0 degrees, the heater 26 for ice separation is energized, and the bottom of the ice tray 24 is warmed. As described above, when the bottom surface of the ice tray 24 is warmed, the ice is easily separated from the ice tray 24,
Fall into the given box. When the ice making is completed, the user is notified visually or audibly, that is, displayed or by voice.

The detection of full ice in the ice making room 21 is performed by manually performing a water supply operation and visually checking the amount of ice in the ice making room 21 at the time of water supply. That is, when there is enough ice in the ice making chamber 21, the water supply is not performed to detect the full ice. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a full ice detection lever or the like in the refrigerator of the present embodiment.

As described above, the automatic ice making machine in the refrigerator of the present embodiment can automatically make ice without providing a water supply tank. In addition, the automatic ice maker in the refrigerator of the present embodiment does not require a water supply tank or a water supply pump, so that periodic cleaning of the water supply tank or the water supply pump becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, the automatic ice maker in the refrigerator of the present embodiment uses the ice of the automatic ice maker in a sanitary and safe manner because there is no unwashable portion such as a water supply path or an ice tray as a conventional automatic ice maker has. be able to.

In the above-described automatic ice maker of the present embodiment,
The ice making chamber door 27 is opened and the handle 24 of the ice tray 24 is opened.
b, pull out the ice tray 24, and supply water
Shown in FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a section of the automatic ice maker when the ice tray 24 is pulled out and water is supplied in the refrigerator of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the automatic ice maker of the present embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows how the claw portion 24a provided on the bottom surface of the ice tray 24 and the rotary table 23 are hooked when the ice tray 24 is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hooked state between the ice tray 24 and the turntable 23 in the refrigerator of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

Further, the position of the ice making chamber 21 in the refrigerator according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the position of the ice making room 21 in the refrigerator of the present embodiment. The position of the ice making chamber 21 of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment is located at the center of the refrigerator. By arranging the ice making room 21 at the center of the refrigerator, the ice making room 21 becomes very easy to use. If the ice making chamber 21 is arranged above the refrigerator, it is difficult to put ice in and out. In addition, when the ice making chamber 21 is arranged below the refrigerator, when putting ice in and out,
Put a strain on the body, such as bending over. Ice making room 2
Placing 1 below the refrigerator has an unsanitary image in that the ice to be put directly into the mouth is below.

The cooling mechanism of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a cooling mechanism in the refrigerator-freezer of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 31 denotes an internal fan. Three
2 is an air volume adjusting device. The cold air generated to cool the refrigerator-freezer is provided in an independently provided ice making room 21 or the like.
It is sent to each room in the refrigerator. The cool air is blown to each room by the in-compartment fan 31 via a predetermined blow path. The degree of the flow of the cool air into the ice making chamber 21 is adjusted by the air volume adjusting device 32 provided in the air passage. Reference numeral 33 denotes a food storage case, which is usually an ice storage case for storing ice. In FIG. 5, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the parts different from FIG. 1 will be described.

Next, a temperature adjusting section in the refrigerator-freezer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a temperature adjustment unit in the refrigerator-freezer of the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 41 denotes a display unit. 41a is an LED. Reference numeral 42 denotes a room selection button. 43 is an adjustment button. 44 is a remote control light receiving unit.

The display section 41 has a display section relating to the refrigerator compartment, a display section relating to the ice making chamber 21, and a display section relating to the freezer compartment. The display section related to the refrigerator compartment indicates the temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the like. In addition, the display portion related to the freezer compartment shows the temperature of the freezer compartment and the like. Further, the display portion relating to the ice making room 21 shows the usage form of the ice making room and the like. This ice making room 21 can be used as a refrigerating room, a chilled room, a soft freezing room, a freezing room, or an ice making room by switching the indoor temperature zone.

As described above, switching the temperature zone of the ice making room 21 is performed by first operating the room selection button 42 to select an adjustment mode relating to the ice making room 21 and then adjusting the adjustment button 4.
3 is operated by switching. As described above, by switching the temperature zone of the ice making room 21, the ice making room 2 is switched.
Select the usage mode of 1. By operating the room selection button 42, it is also possible to select an adjustment mode for the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment and change the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment.

As described above, when the usage mode of the ice making chamber 21 is selected, the LED 41a corresponding to the usage mode is turned on. If the ice making room 21 is used as an ice making room,
The LED 41a next to the “ice making” display on the display unit 41 lights up, indicating that the ice making room 21 functions as an ice making room. The ice making room 21 is used as an ice making room, and the ice making tray 2 is used.
When the ice making is completed in the water of No. 4, the display portion of "Ice making completed" below the "Ice making" display is lit to notify the user of the ice making completion.

When the usage of the ice making room 21 changes, the ice making completion detecting sensor 25 in the ice making room 21 functions as a temperature sensor of the ice making room 21 and the air volume adjusting device 32.
Are opened and closed, and the temperature is controlled so as to be in a predetermined temperature range. Further, as the usage of the ice making chamber 21 changes, the food storage case 33, which is usually an ice storage case for storing ice, is used as a chilled case or a refrigerated case.

As described above, when the ice making function of the ice making room 21 is not used, the inside temperature of the ice making room 21 is changed,
It can be used as a refrigerator room or a freezer room. For this reason, the capacity distribution of each room can be changed as needed, and, for example, even when the number of items to be stored in the refrigerator compartment suddenly increases, it can be stored in the refrigerator.

Further, a remote control light receiving section 44 is provided in the refrigerator.
Is provided, even a user located at a position away from the refrigerator-freezer can change the temperature zone and the like of the ice making room 21 by using a separate remote controller. Furthermore, if the refrigerator-freezer is connected to a telephone line or the like, the temperature zone of the ice making room 21 can be changed from outside the house.

[0031]

As described above, the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention is provided with an ice tray having a hook, a hooked portion on which the ice tray is hooked via the hook, and water supplied to the ice tray. Equipped with a sensor that detects that the water has been iced, and a gear unit that rotates the ice tray and the hooked part based on the detection, pulling the ice tray,
It removes the hook of the ice tray from the hooked part and supplies water to the ice tray.There is no need to install a water tank, water pump, or water supply path. Automatic ice making is possible.

In the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention, the ice tray is detachable from the hooked portion, and there is no part that cannot be washed. be able to.

Further, in the automatic ice maker according to the present invention, when the ice tray and the hooked portion rotate, the ice tray is heated by the heater, so that the ice is easily separated from the ice tray.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the ice-making room is located at the center of the refrigerator, so that ice can be easily taken.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the temperature zone of the ice making room can be changed, and the capacity distribution of each room of the refrigerator can be easily changed as required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a section of an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator-freezer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a section of the automatic ice maker when the ice tray 24 is pulled out and water is supplied in the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hooked state between the ice tray 24 and the turntable 23 in the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a position of an ice making chamber 21 in the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a cooling mechanism in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a temperature adjustment unit in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a section of an automatic ice maker in a conventional refrigerator-freezer.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 water tank, 12 ice making completion detection sensor, 13
Ice tray, 14 gearbox, 15 water pump, 2
1 ice making room, 22 gear box, 23 rotary table, 24 ice tray, 24a claws, 24b handle,
24c ice particle part, 25 ice making completion detection sensor, 26
Ice release heater, 27 Ice making room door, 31 Internal fan, 3
2 Air volume adjustment device, 33 food storage case, 41 display unit, 41a LED, 42 room selection button, 43 adjustment button, 44 remote control light receiving unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3L045 AA02 AA04 AA07 BA01 BA03 CA02 CA04 CA09 EA01 KA00 LA11 LA15 LA18 MA01 NA21 PA04 3L110 AA07 AB00

Claims (8)

[Claims] An ice tray having a hook portion, a hook portion to which the ice tray is hooked via the hook portion, and detecting that water supplied to the ice tray has been iced. A sensor for rotating the ice tray and the hooked portion based on the detection, pulling the ice tray, removing the hook of the ice tray from the hooked portion, An automatic ice maker characterized by supplying water. 2. The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the ice tray is detachable from the hooked portion. 3. The automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, further comprising a heater for heating the ice tray when the ice tray and the hooked portion rotate. 4. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said automatic ice maker is provided in an ice making chamber. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the ice making room is located at the center of the refrigerator. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the temperature zone of the ice making room can be changed. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the temperature zone of the ice making room is changed at a location remote from the refrigerator. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein completion of ice making is notified visually or audibly.