JP2003042641A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform proper washing of an automatic ice making machinery. SOLUTION: A permeability sensor is provided to detect permeability of water for ice making in the automatic ice making machine. When instantaneous lowering of permeability is detected by the permeability sensor, it is decided that a suspended matter of fouling such as scale is generated, a washing report lamp 24 to effect report to urge a user to effect washing of the automatic ice making machine is operated. And, when gradual lowering of permeability is detected, it is decided that fouling, such as scale, is adhered in a level to need washing to the automatic ice making machine, the washing report lamp 24 is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an automatic ice maker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, refrigerators having an automatic ice making machine have been provided. This refrigerator's automatic ice maker uses a refrigerator with a water storage tank, a water supply hose, an ice tray,
An ice removing mechanism and an ice storage container are provided.The ice making water stored in the water storage tank is guided to the ice making tray by the water supply hose to make ice, and the produced ice is peeled from the ice making tray by the ice removing mechanism to store the ice. It is designed to be stored in a container.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned automatic ice making machine, due to long-term use, stains such as water stains adhere to the inner surface of the water storage tank, the inner surface of the water supply hose, or the inner surface of the ice tray, and the stains are removed. Eventually, the ice that has been contaminated will be produced by being peeled off from the attachment point and floating. For this reason, the instruction manual of the refrigerator describes that the user should regularly wash the automatic ice maker.

However, in that case, the cleaning of the automatic ice maker is left to the autonomy of the user, and the cleaning interval varies depending on the user. or,
There were some users who forgot to wash and rarely washed, and the automatic ice maker was not properly washed. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can properly wash an automatic ice maker.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the refrigerator of the present invention firstly has an automatic ice making machine, and detects the permeability of water for ice making in the automatic ice making machine. The notification device includes a transparency detecting unit and a notification unit for informing the user of the cleaning of the automatic ice making machine, and when the transparency detecting unit detects a momentary decrease in the transparency, the notification is provided. The present invention is characterized by comprising control means for controlling the operation of the means (the invention of claim 1).

When the permeability of the ice making water in the automatic ice making machine is detected by the permeability detecting means, dirt such as scale on the automatic ice making machine is peeled off from the adhered portion and passes through the detecting portion of the permeability detecting means. At this time, a momentary decrease in transmittance is detected. Therefore, when the floating water such as scales is generated in the ice making water due to this, the automatic ice making machine is properly washed by activating the notification means for informing the user to wash the automatic ice making machine. Like

Secondly, the refrigerator of the present invention has an automatic ice-making machine, and in the automatic ice-making machine, there is provided a permeability detecting means for detecting the permeability of water for ice making, and a user of the automatic ice-making machine. And a control unit that controls the operation of the notification unit when a gradual decrease in the transmittance is detected by the permeability detection unit. (Claim 2
Invention).

When the permeability of the ice making water in the automatic ice making machine is detected by the permeability detecting means, when stains such as scales adhere to the automatic ice making machine, a gradual decrease in the permeability is detected as the dirt progresses. To be done. Therefore, if dirt such as water stains adheres to the automatic ice maker due to this, by operating the notification means for informing the user to wash the automatic ice maker, the automatic ice maker can be properly washed. Become.

In these cases, the control means is provided with the second notifying means for notifying the user of replenishing the ice making water, and the control means detects that there is no ice making water. At this time, it is preferable to perform control to activate the second notification means (the invention of claim 3). When there is no ice making water in the automatic ice maker, the permeability detecting means also detects it. Therefore, by activating the second notifying means for notifying the user of replenishing the ice-making water, the replenishing water for the automatic ice maker can be appropriately performed.

Further, it is preferable that the automatic ice maker has a water storage tank for storing water for ice making, and the permeability detecting means is provided in the water storage tank (the invention of claim 4). In the automatic ice making machine, the water storage tank is a part that continuously stores water for ice making, and is a part where dirt such as scale is likely to float and dirt is easily attached to the inner surface. Therefore, by providing the water storage tank with the permeability detecting means, it becomes easy to detect the floating of dirt such as scale and the adhesion of dirt.

Further, the automatic ice maker comprises a water storage tank for storing water for ice making, and an ice storage container for storing the produced ice, and the control means sets the operation of the notification means and the water storage tank is installed. It is preferable to open the door of the room or the door of the room where the ice storage container is installed (condition of claim 5). In this thing, by closely operating the automatic ice maker, the door of the room where the water storage tank is installed, or the door of the room where the ice storage container is installed is operated under the condition that the notification means is operated, Notification is effectively performed.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 2 shows the entire configuration of the refrigerator. Inside the main body cabinet 1, a refrigerator compartment 2, a vegetable compartment 3, an ice storage compartment 4, a switching compartment (not shown), and a freezer compartment 5 are arranged in this order from the top. Have
Further, each of these chambers has a dedicated door, that is, a refrigerating compartment door 6, a vegetable compartment door 7, an ice storage compartment door 8, a switching compartment door 9, and a freezing compartment door 10. Of these, the refrigerating compartment door 6 is of a pivoting type, but the remaining doors 7 to 10 are of a pulling-out type together with storage containers (only the vegetable compartment storage container 11 and the freezer compartment storage container 12 are shown) housed in each room. Has become.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an automatic ice making machine 13 incorporated in the above-mentioned refrigerator.
It has a water storage tank 14, a water supply hose 15, an ice tray 16, an ice removing mechanism (not shown), and an ice storage container (not shown) which is a storage container of an ice storage chamber. Of these, the water storage tank 14
Is for storing water for ice making, and is composed of a tank main body 14a, which is made of a transparent material as a whole and has a top opening, and a lid 14b attached to the top opening. Further, a water supply pump 17 for sucking water in the tank body 14a is integrated with the lid 14b.

The water supply hose 15 is the water storage tank 14 described above.
The water sucked from the water supply pump 17 by the water supply pump 17 is guided to the ice tray 16, and the ice tray 16 stores the guided water and freezes it in a freezing atmosphere to produce ice. The inside of the ice tray 16 is divided into a plurality of compartments by a partition 16a so as to manufacture ice cubes.
Further, the ice separating mechanism peels the ice produced in the ice tray 16 from the ice tray 16 by reversing the ice tray 16 while twisting the ice tray 16, for example. It is designed to be stored.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic ice maker 13 stores the water storage tank 14 in the lowest part of the refrigerating compartment 2 so that it can be taken in and out, and the water supply hose 15 is stored in the storage compartment of the water storage tank 14. It is also stored so that it can be put in and taken out for 4 times. Then, the ice tray 16 is stored in the upper part of the ice storage chamber 4 so that it can be taken in and out, and the ice removing mechanism is also installed in the upper part of the ice storage chamber 4, and the ice storage container is stored in the lower part of the ice storage chamber 4 so that it can be taken in and out.

Further, in the automatic ice making machine 13, in particular, in this case, it is the lower portion of the water storage tank 14 shown in FIG. 3 (for the vicinity of the lowermost portion, the permeability sensor 1 which is the permeability detecting means).
8 are provided. The transparency sensor 18 includes a light emitting unit 18
a and a light receiving portion 18b, which are opposed to each other with a particularly parallel portion near the lowermost portion of the water storage tank 14 interposed therebetween. Note that FIG. 4 shows only the transparency sensor 18 (excluding the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the water storage tank 14), and light, particularly infrared rays S in this case, is emitted from the light emitting portion 18a, and this is received by the light receiving portion 18b. Is received, converted into a voltage according to the amount of received light, and output.

FIG. 1 shows the operation display panel 19,
The operation display panel 19 is provided on the front portion of the refrigerator door 6, for example. The operation display panel 19 has a display section 20 for displaying various kinds of information such as the temperature of the refrigerating room 2, the temperature of the freezing room 5, the specification setting of the switching room, and the like. There are operation switches 21 to 23 for operating the freezer compartment 5, the freezer compartment 5 and the switching compartment, and in addition, the automatic ice making machine 13 is provided to the user.
Cleaning notification lamp 24 as a notification means (first notification means) for urging the user to wash the water, and a makeup water notification lamp 25 as a second notification means for urging the user to replenish water for ice making. And exist.

Further, FIG. 5 shows an electrical structure mainly of the control device 26. The control device 26 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and functions as a control means for controlling the overall operation of the refrigerator including the automatic ice making machine 13. An operation signal is input to the control device 26 from an operation input unit 27 including the operation switches 21 to 23. In addition, a refrigerating room temperature sensor 28 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerating room 2 and the refrigerating room temperature sensor 28, A freezing room temperature sensor 29 for detecting the temperature of the freezer compartment 5 receives a temperature detection signal, and a transparency sensor 18 receives a transparency detection signal.

Further, the control device 26 includes a first door opening / closing sensor 30 which is a door opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the refrigerating room door 6 which is a door of the room in which the water storage tank 14 is installed,
Door opening / closing detection signals are respectively input from a second door opening / closing sensor 31 which is a door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the ice storage compartment door 8 which is a door of the room in which the ice storage container is installed. . The first door opening / closing sensor 30 and the second door opening / closing sensor 31 are both configured by, for example, door switches that respond to opening / closing of each door.

Then, the control unit 26, based on those inputs and the control program stored in advance,
The display section 20, the washing notification lamp 24, the makeup water notification lamp 25, the compressor 32 of the refrigeration cycle for cooling the respective chambers, the solenoid valve 33 for switching the flow of the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration for supplying cold air to the refrigeration chamber 2. Room fan 34,
A freezer compartment fan 35 for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment 5, a water supply pump 17 of the automatic ice making machine 13, and a drive motor 3 of the ice removing mechanism.
6, a drive control signal is supplied to a drive circuit 37 for driving

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described. 6A and 6B show the detection status of the transparency by the transparency sensor 18 in FIG. 6A, the detection output (output voltage) in FIG. 6B, and the detection status differences (A) to (E). Of these, as shown in FIG.
In the situation where 8a and the light receiving portion 18b are opposed to each other without sandwiching anything therebetween, the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a are transmitted through the air and received by the light receiving portion 18b. In this case, the detection output at this time is 5 [V].

On the other hand, as shown in (a), the water storage tank 1 has a structure in which the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b of the transparency sensor 18 are opposed to each other with the water storage tank 14 interposed therebetween.
In the situation where there is no water in the inside 4, the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a pass through the water storage tank 14 and are received by the light receiving portion 18b. At this time, although the water storage tank 14 is transparent, it impedes the transmission of the infrared rays S a little, so that the detection output is slightly lower than the above and becomes 4 [V].

As shown in (c), when there is water W in the water storage tank 14, the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a are transmitted through the water storage tank 14 and the water W and are received by the light receiving portion 18b. As a result, the transmission of the infrared rays S is further hindered, and the detection output is slightly lower than that described above and is 3.5.
[V].

Then, as shown in (d), when the water W in the water storage tank 14 contains a suspended matter F such as stains, the suspended matter F passes between the light emitting section 18a and the light receiving section 18b. At this time, since the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a are blocked by the floating material F, the detection output instantaneously greatly decreases from the above and becomes less than 3.5 [V], particularly near 0 [V]. . This occurs every time the floating material F passes between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b. When the control device 26 continues for several times, for example, the control device 26 determines that the floating material F has been generated and activates the cleaning notification lamp 24 that notifies the user of the cleaning of the automatic ice maker 13.

Further, as described above, in the situation where the water W is in the water storage tank 14 (c), the detection output of the permeability sensor 18 is 3.5 [V], but there is no water W (i. ) Is 4
[V]. When the detection output of the permeability sensor 18 suddenly changes from 3.5 [V] to 4 [V], the control device 26 determines that the water W has run out in the water storage tank 14,
The replenishment water notification lamp 25 is activated to notify the user of the replenishment of ice making water.

Furthermore, the control device 26 detects each door opening / closing sensor of the first door opening / closing sensor 30 and the second door opening / closing sensor 31 when the cleaning notification lamp 24 or the makeup water notification lamp 25 is activated. From the signal, the open / close status of the refrigerator compartment door 6 which is the door of the room where the water storage tank 14 is installed and the open / close status of the ice storage compartment door 8 which is the door of the room where the ice storage container is installed are determined, and at least those When it is determined that one of the doors is open, the cleaning notification lamp 24 or the makeup water notification lamp 25 is operated. In particular, when it is determined that any of the doors is not opened at this time, the cleaning notification lamp 24 or the makeup water notification lamp 25 is operated after waiting for the opening.

As shown in (e), the water storage tank 1
In the situation where a non-transparent substance U such as juice is put in 4 instead of water, the infrared ray S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a continues to be blocked by the U, so the detection output is much lower than that in the case of water. It becomes 0 [V], and it continues. In this situation, the control device 26 determines that the cause of the decrease in the permeability is not due to the formation of the suspended matter F in the water W in the water storage tank 14, and operates the cleaning notification lamp 24. I don't do that.

As described above, in this structure, the transparency sensor 1 which is the transparency detecting means for detecting the permeability of the ice making water in the automatic ice making machine 13, especially in the water storage tank 14 thereof.
The cleaning notification lamp 2 is a notification means for notifying the user of cleaning the automatic ice maker 13 when the transmittance sensor 18 detects a momentary decrease in the transmittance.
4 is activated. Therefore, based on the operation of the cleaning notification lamp 24, the user can operate the automatic ice maker 13
If the (water storage tank 14) is washed, the automatic ice maker 13 will be washed appropriately according to the situation in which the floating material F is generated in the water W in the water storage tank 14, and after that, contamination of dirt will occur. Will be able to produce no clean ice.

The automatic ice maker 13 can be cleaned easily and as desired by removing the water storage tank 14, the water supply hose 15, and the ice tray 16 from the refrigerator, and treating them individually.

Further, in the case of this construction, a replenishment water notification lamp 25 is provided as a second notification means for informing the user of the replenishment of ice making water, and the penetration sensor 18 is provided in the water storage tank 14. When it is detected that there is no water for ice making, the supplementary water notification lamp 25 is operated. As a result, the make-up water for the automatic ice maker 13 is appropriately performed in accordance with the situation where the water for ice making has run out in the water storage tank 14, and the water for ice making has run out in the water storage tank 14. This ensures that ice production will not be interrupted.

In this case, since the permeability sensor 18 is provided at the lower portion of the water storage tank 14, the makeup water notification lamp 25 is activated when the water in the water storage tank 14 becomes less. be able to.

Further, the transparency sensor 18 is the automatic ice making machine 13.
It is provided in the water storage tank 14. In the automatic ice making machine 13, the water storage tank 14 is a portion that continuously stores water for ice making, and is a portion where dirt such as water stains easily floats.
Therefore, by providing the water storage tank 14 with the permeability sensor 18, it is possible to easily detect the floating of dirt such as scale.

In addition, the operation of the cleaning notification lamp 24 and the makeup water notification lamp 25 is closely related to the automatic ice making machine 13, the refrigerator door 6 (the door of the room in which the water storage tank 14 is installed), or the ice storage. The chamber door 8 (the door of the chamber in which the ice storage container is installed) is opened on condition that the user is informed that the automatic ice maker 13 should be washed, and that the user has water for ice making. It is possible to effectively carry out the information prompting the replenishment.

In contrast to the above, FIGS. 7 to 11 show the second to fifth embodiments of the present invention.
The same parts as those of the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described. [Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the control device 26 is operated in accordance with the attachment of dirt to the water storage tank 14 of the automatic ice maker 13.

In FIG. 7, when the stain Y such as water stains adheres to the inner surface of the water storage tank 14, the transmittance detection state by the transmittance sensor 18 is shown in (a), and the detection output (output voltage) is shown in (b). Is shown in. In this situation, since the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a are blocked by the dirt Y on the inner surface of the water storage tank 14, the detection output is 3.5 [V] in the situation where there is no dirt Y ((c) in FIG. 6). Further, and as the adhesion of dirt Y progresses, it further drops further below 3.5 [V].

In this situation, when the detection output of the permeability sensor 18 has dropped to 2.5 [V], for example, the control device 26 has reached a level where the dirt Y on the inner surface of the water storage tank 14 requires cleaning. Then, the cleaning notification lamp 24 is operated.

As described above, according to this structure, when the transmittance sensor 18 detects a gradual decrease in transmittance,
The cleaning notification lamp 24 is operated, and the user can automatically operate the ice making machine 13 (the water storage tank 1 based on this).
If the cleaning of 4) is performed, the cleaning of the automatic ice maker 13 will be appropriately performed according to the situation that the dirt Y has adhered to the inner surface of the water storage tank 14 at a level required for cleaning. Will be able to produce no clean ice.

In this case as well, the control device 26 operates the makeup water notification lamp 25 when the permeability sensor 18 detects that there is no water for ice making in the water storage tank 14. Further, the operation of the makeup water notification lamp 25 and the cleaning notification lamp 24 is performed by the refrigerator door 6 (the water storage tank 14).
Is opened) or the ice storage chamber door 8 (door of the chamber in which the ice storage container is installed) is opened.
Further, if it is judged that the non-permeable material U has been put into the water storage tank 14, the cleaning notification lamp 24 is not operated.

In addition, the function of operating the cleaning notification lamp 24 in this case may be obtained together with the function of operating the cleaning notification lamp 24 in the situation of FIG.

[Third Embodiment] In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a permeability sensor 18 is provided at a tip portion 15a of a water supply hose 15 of an automatic ice maker 13 made of a transparent material.
Is provided so as to be sandwiched between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b. Even in this case, the transmission of ice-making water in the automatic ice making machine 13 can be detected in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, and accordingly, necessary notification can be made in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the transparency sensor 18 is a detection part 16b of the ice tray 16 of the automatic ice maker 13 which is formed of a transparent material into a small container shape. The light emitting portion 18
It is provided so as to be sandwiched between a and the light receiving portion 18b. Even in this case, the transmittance of the ice making water in the automatic ice making machine 13 can be detected in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, and the necessary notification can be made in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. it can. In this case, since the water and ice have different transmittances, it is necessary to detect the transmittance before the water in the detected portion 16b freezes.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the permeability sensor 18 is provided in the space P between the water supply hose 15 and the ice tray 16 in the automatic ice maker 13. Then, it is provided so as to be sandwiched between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b.

Similar to FIG. 6, in FIG. 11, the transmission state of the transmission sensor 18 is shown in (a) and the detection output (output voltage) is shown in (b). )
~ (D). Of these, as shown in (A), when the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b of the transmittance sensor 18 are left empty (the space P is left as is), the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting portion 18a. S transmits air and is received by the light receiving portion 18b. In this case as well, the detection output at this time is 5 [V].

On the other hand, as shown in (a), in a situation where the water W for ice making flows from the water supply hose 15 to the ice tray 16 between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b of the transparency sensor 18. The infrared ray S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a is transmitted through the flowing water W and is received by the light receiving portion 18b. At this time, the infrared rays S pass through the water W for ice making, but since it is running water, the detection output is the water W in the water tank 14.
When the water is stored ((c) in FIG. 6), the amount of decrease due to the water W (for example, 1 [V] more than 0.5 [V] decreases to 4 [V].

As shown in (c), in the situation where the water W flowing from the water supply hose 15 to the ice tray 16 contains the suspended matter F of dirt such as scale, as in the above ((d) in FIG. 6), 18
When the floating material F passes between a and the light receiving portion 18b,
Since the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting portion 18a are blocked by the floating material F, the detection output is momentarily greatly reduced from the above value.
It is less than 5 [V], particularly near 0 [V]. This occurs every time the floating material F passes between the light emitting portion 18a and the light receiving portion 18b. Then, the control device 26 determines that the floating material F has been generated when it continues for several times,
The cleaning notification lamp 24 is operated.

Further, as described above, in the situation (a) where there is water W flowing from the water supply hose 15 to the ice tray 16, the detection output of the permeability sensor 18 is 4 [V], but there is no water W. In (a), it is 5 [V]. The control device 26 outputs the detection output of the permeability sensor 18 at 5 [V] instead of 4 [V] at the timing of flowing the water W from the water supply hose 15 to the ice tray 16.
If so, it is determined that the water W has run out in the water storage tank 14, and the makeup water notification lamp 25 is operated.

The cleaning notification lamp 24 and the makeup water notification lamp 25 are also operated on condition that the refrigerator door 6 or the ice storage compartment door 8 is opened. Also, FIG.
As shown in (d) of FIG.
In the situation where the liquid flowing to the U is a non-transparent U such as juice, the infrared rays S emitted from the light emitting unit 18a
Is kept blocked while flowing, the detection output drops to about 0 [V], which is much lower than that of water, and this continues.
In this situation, the controller 26 causes the cleaning notification lamp 2 to
It does not activate 4.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. In particular, the notification means may be used instead of or together with the lamps 24 and 25, a buzzer, a voice or a character. The notification may be given by means of the above. If the notification is given on the condition that the refrigerator door 6 or the ice storage compartment door 8 is opened, it will more effectively act on the user.

[0049]

As described above, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the permeation rate of water for ice making in an automatic ice making machine is detected, so that the permeation rate thereof decreases momentarily or gradually. When it is detected, the automatic ice maker can be properly cleaned by activating the notification means for informing the user of the cleaning of the automatic ice maker.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an operation display panel showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire refrigerator

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice making machine and a transmittance sensor provided therein.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the transparency sensor alone.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detection state and a detection output of the transparency by the transparency sensor according to the difference in the detection state.

FIG. 7 is a partial equivalent view of FIG. 6 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 is a refrigerating room door (a door of a room where a water storage tank is installed), 8 is an ice storage room door (a door of a room where an ice storage container is installed), 13 is an automatic ice machine, 14 is a water storage tank, and 18 is a permeability sensor. , 24
Is a cleaning notification lamp (notification means for informing the user of cleaning the automatic ice maker), 25 is a makeup water notification lamp (second notification means for informing the user of replenishing water for ice making), Reference numeral 26 denotes a control device (control means).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic ice maker having a transparency detecting means for detecting the permeability of water for ice making in the automatic ice making machine, and a notifying means for giving a notification to a user to wash the automatic ice making machine. And a control means for controlling to activate the notification means when a momentary decrease in the transmittance is detected by the transmittance detecting means. 2. An automatic ice-making machine, wherein a permeability detecting means for detecting a permeability of ice-making water in the automatic ice-making machine, and a notifying means for giving a notification to a user to wash the automatic ice-making machine. And a control unit that controls the operation of the notification unit when a gradual decrease in the transmittance is detected by the transmittance detecting unit. 3. A second notifying means for notifying a user of replenishing water for ice making is provided, and when the control means detects that there is no water for ice making by the permeability detecting means. ,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerator is controlled to operate the second notification means. 4. The automatic ice making machine comprises a water storage tank for storing water for ice making, and the permeability detecting means is provided in the water storage tank. Refrigerator. 5. The automatic ice maker comprises a water storage tank for storing water for ice making, and an ice storage container for storing manufactured ice, and the control means sets the operation of the notification means and the water storage tank is installed. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is operated under the condition that the door of the room or the door of the room where the ice storage container is installed is opened.