JP2008151363A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of quickly making ice of a prescribed thickness and high transparency with an inexpensive structure. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator 1 comprises a refrigerator body 21 provided with a storing compartment, a refrigerating cycle having a cooler 64 for the storing compartment to cool the storing compartment, an ice-making device incorporated in the refrigerator body 21, and a control device. The ice-making device comprises an ice-making portion 68 constituted by a part of the refrigerating cycle and having a cooler 67 for ice-making and a tilted ice-making face 31a, a water circulating device for allowing the water for ice-making to flow down on the ice-making face 31a of the ice making portion 68, an ice thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of a plate-shaped ice produced on the ice-making face 31a of the ice-making portion 68, and an ice storing case 57 for storing the ice produced in the ice-making portion 68. The control device comprises a function for controlling an operation of the water circulating device on the basis of a result of detection by the ice thickness detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and is particularly suitable for a household refrigerator incorporating an ice making device that generates transparent ice.

  In recent years, commercially available refrigerators for home use have a tendency to increase in capacity due to changes in eating habits and food distribution circumstances. In this flow, users' demand for ice is high, a dedicated ice making room with an independent door is provided, and an ice making device with an ice tray installed in this ice making room (conventional technology) 1) has become widespread.

  In the ice making device in the prior art 1, a water storage tank is installed in a refrigerator compartment, an ice tray serving as an ice making unit is installed in the ice making chamber, and an appropriate amount of water in the water storage tank is supplied to the ice tray by a pump. The ice was frozen by the cold air supplied to the ice making chamber, the drive motor of the ice making unit was driven after freezing, and the generated ice was dropped from the ice tray to the lower ice storage container and provided to the user . In this automatic ice making device, in order to turn the water supplied to the ice tray into ice, a part of the cold air produced by the cooler for the storage room that cools the freezer room, the refrigerator room, the vegetable room, etc. is supplied by the circulation fan. This was performed by supplying the ice into the ice making chamber and blowing this cold air onto the surface of the water in the ice tray.

  Also, as another refrigerator (Prior Art 2), an electric heater is placed around the ice tray so that it becomes transparent ice, and the water in the ice tray is slowly frozen from the surroundings and bottom rather than from the top. A method of expelling a gas component from the upper surface of water in a dish has come to be marketed.

  Another type of refrigerator (Prior Art 3) is proposed in which the ice tray is mechanically swung back and forth and the top of the ice tray is heated with a heating device to expel bubbles from the water. ing.

  Moreover, as a refrigerator (prior art 4) equipped with an ice making device that circulates water to make ice, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-5211 (Patent Document 1). This refrigerator is a proposal to circulate water in an ice tray to make transparent ice.The low temperature ice tray is placed in the freezer compartment, the high temperature ice tray is placed in the refrigerator compartment, and the high temperature ice tray is changed to the low temperature ice tray. It is equipped with a water pipe and a water pump for sending ice-making water.

  Moreover, as a refrigerator (prior art 5) that prevents the smell of other storage rooms from being transferred to the produced ice, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-194448 (Patent Document 2). This refrigerator has a refrigeration room, an ice making room, a switching room, a vegetable room and a freezing room. The ice making room is a dedicated ice making section, and a dedicated ice making room cooler and blower are provided.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-5211 JP 2003-194448 A

However, in the refrigerator of Prior Art 1, since cold air is blown to the surface of the ice tray water, the water freezes from the ice tray surface. As a result, the gaseous components (CO ₂ , O ₂ ) or mineral components dissolved in the water are confined in the ice, and the resulting ice becomes clouded due to the gaseous components or mineral components. It became opaque ice, and there were problems such as poor appearance.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator of the above-mentioned prior art 2, although the gaseous component in water can escape to some extent, since the mineral component in water cannot be released, the transparency of ice is improved, but it is similar to natural ice. It was not possible to make ice with high transparency.

  Moreover, even in the refrigerator of the above prior art 3, bubbles in the water can escape to some extent, but it does not remove the mineral component in the water, but the mineral component is made fine and folded as crystals. As a result, there is a risk that mineral crystals may be formed on the ice surface.

  Further, the refrigerator of prior art 4 has a problem that it takes time to make ice because the temperature in the ice tray is lowered by low-temperature cold air in the freezer to make water in the ice tray. In addition, the thing which made the reservoir part and circulates the surface water like the ice tray of this refrigerator can escape the gas component, but the chlorinated or mineral component remains in the ice to some extent, The transparency was inferior.

Moreover, in the refrigerator of the prior art 5, as in the prior art 1, since the cold air is blown to the surface of the water in the ice tray, the water freezes from the surface of the ice tray. As a result, the gaseous components (CO ₂ , O ₂ ) or mineral components dissolved in the water are confined in the ice, and the resulting ice becomes clouded due to the gaseous components or mineral components. It became opaque ice, and there were problems such as poor appearance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of quickly obtaining ice having a predetermined thickness and high transparency with an inexpensive structure.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a refrigerator body having a storage room, a refrigeration cycle having a storage room cooler for cooling the storage room, and an ice making device built in the refrigerator body. In the refrigerator comprising the control device, the ice making device includes an ice making cooler constituted by a part of the refrigeration cycle, an ice making portion having an inclined ice making surface, and an ice making surface on the ice making surface of the ice making portion. A water circulation device for flowing down the water, ice thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the plate ice generated on the ice making surface of the ice making unit, and an ice storage container for storing the ice generated in the ice making unit. The control device is configured to have a function of controlling the operation of the water circulation device based on the detection result of the ice thickness detection means.

A more preferable specific configuration example of the present invention is as follows.
(1) The water circulation device includes: a water storage tank for storing ice-making water; a water circulation path for circulating the ice-making water stored in the water storage tank through the ice-making unit; and the ice-making water through the water circulation path. A circulation circuit having a circulation pump for circulation; and the control device has a function of controlling the operation of the circulation pump based on a detection result of the ice thickness detection means.
(2) The ice making section and the ice storage container are disposed in an independent ice making chamber separated from a cold air circulation path by the cooler for the storage room.
(3) The ice making section includes an ice making cooling plate having an inclined ice making surface and an ice making cooler including a cooling pipe thermally connected to the ice making cooling plate.
(4) The ice thickness detecting means detects the thickness of the plate ice by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor.
(5) The water storage tank includes a water supply tank and a recovery tank, and the circulation pump forcibly supplies the ice making water stored in the water supply tank to the ice making unit through the water circulation path; A recovery pump for recovering the water flowing down from the ice making section from the recovery tank to the water supply tank through the water circulation path;
(6) The ice thickness detecting means detects the thickness of the plate ice by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor, and the control device periodically moves the arm sensor up and down to It has a function of stopping the operation of the water supply pump when the sensor detects plate-like ice having a set thickness.
(7) The control device has a function of continuing the operation of the recovery pump for a predetermined time after the water supply pump is stopped.
(8) The control device has a function of stopping the operation of the recovery pump when the amount of water stored in the water supply tank becomes a predetermined amount or less.
(9) The control device has a function of starting the operation of the recovery pump after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of operation of the feed water pump.
(10) After the operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump is stopped, the control device performs reverse rotation operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump to return the water in the water supply pipe and the recovery pipe to the water storage tank. Have the function to let you.
(11) The ice thickness detecting means detects the thickness of the plate ice by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor, and the control device raises and lowers the arm sensor at regular intervals to the lowest lowered position. Has the function of stopping the operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump when the same is continued for three times or more.
(12) The storage room is ventilated to a refrigeration room, a freezing room, and a vegetable room that are communicated via a cold air passage that is passed through the cooler for the storage room, and to the refrigeration room, the freezing room, and the vegetable room And an ice making chamber composed of an independent room adjacent to and above the freezer compartment under the independent refrigerator compartment separated from the cold air passage, wherein the water supply pump and the recovery pump are the water supply It is installed in the refrigerator compartment together with the tank.
(13) The recovery tank is a rear lower portion of the ice making chamber surrounded by the ice making portion disposed at the upper rear side of the ice making chamber and the ice storage tank disposed at the lower front side of the ice making chamber. It is placed in the space.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible to provide a refrigerator capable of quickly obtaining ice having a predetermined thickness and high transparency with an inexpensive structure.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings of the respective embodiments indicate the same or equivalent.
(First embodiment)
The refrigerator of 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-12.

  First, the overall configuration of the refrigerator of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator main body in a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. In addition, FIGS. 1-3 is represented by the door omission state, and the door which opens and closes the front opening of each store room is provided.

  The refrigerator 1 cools the refrigerator main body 21 in which the storage chambers 22 to 26 are formed, the doors 22a, 23a, 25a, and 26a that can be opened and closed at the front openings of the respective chambers, and the storage chambers 22 and 24 to 26. A refrigerating cycle having a storage room cooler 64 and an ice making device built in the refrigerator main body 21 having an ice making unit for generating ice.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator main body 21 has a plurality of storage chambers 22 to 26 therein. These storage rooms 22 to 26 are arranged in the order of the refrigeration room 22, the ice making room 23, the freezing rooms 24 and 25, and the vegetable room 4 from the top. The freezer compartments 24 and 25 are composed of a quick freezer compartment 24 and a main freezer compartment 25. The ice making chamber 23 and the quick freezing chamber 24 are disposed adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and the ice making chamber 23, the quick freezing chamber 24, and the main freezing chamber 25 are disposed adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. The ice making room 23 and the quick freezing room 24 and the refrigerating room 22 are arranged adjacent to each other vertically through a partition 29 that is thermally partitioned. The refrigerator compartment 22, the freezer compartments 24 and 25, and the vegetable compartment 26 are connected via the cold air ventilation path. The ice making chamber 23 is configured to be partitioned from other chambers by providing partitions 29 and 30 on the upper and lower sides thereof.

  The ice making chamber 23 is not connected to the storage chambers 22, 24 to 26 via the cold air ventilation path, and is configured as an independent room separated from the cold air circulation path by the storage chamber cooler 64. With this configuration, ice making and ice storage can be performed in the ice making chamber 23 so that the odors of the other storage chambers 22, 24-26 do not move.

  And the ice making room 23 is not directly cooled by the cold air cooled by the cooler 64 for the storage room, but indirectly cooled via the boundary wall (partition) with the quick freezing room 24 and the main freezing room 25, It is kept at a low temperature by direct cooling or the like by the ice making cooler 24b.

  A cooler chamber 64 e is provided on the back surface of the main freezer chamber 25. As shown in FIG. 2, a storage room cooler 64, a blower 70, and a defrost heater 71 are disposed in the cooler chamber 64 e. The blower 70 is a blower that cools the refrigerator compartment 22, the freezer compartments 24 and 25, and the vegetable compartment 26 to a predetermined temperature by blowing and circulating the cold air generated by the storage compartment cooler 64. The defrost heater 71 is a heater having a capacity for melting frost adhering to the storage room cooler 64, and is disposed immediately below the storage room cooler 64.

  A compressor 61 is installed at the back corner of the refrigerator main body 21. The compressor 61 forms a part of a refrigeration cycle together with a storage room cooler 64, an ice making cooler 67, and the like.

  The ice making device has an ice making cooler 67 constituted by a part of a refrigeration cycle and an ice making part 68 having an inclined ice making surface 31a, and water for making ice flows down to the inclined ice making surface 31a of the ice making part 68. A water circulation device that circulates, an ice thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the plate-like ice generated on the inclined ice making surface 31 a of the ice making unit 68, and an ice making surface 31 a that is generated on the inclined ice making surface 31 a of the ice making unit 68. The ice-breaking heater that peels off the plate-like ice from the ice-making surface 31a, and the plate-like ice 35 (see FIG. 3) peeled off from the inclined ice-making surface 31a of the ice making unit 68 are substantially rectangular ice blocks 36 (see FIG. 3). And an ice storage device 57 for storing the ice produced by the ice making unit 68.

  The ice making unit 68 includes an ice making cooling plate 31 having an inclined ice making surface 31a, and an ice making cooler 67 made of a cooling pipe thermally connected to the lower surface of the ice making cooling plate 31. .

  The ice-making cooling plate 31 is disposed in the upper part on the back side of the ice-making chamber 23. The ice making cooler 67 extends the outlet pipe 65 of the storage room cooler 64 disposed in the cooler chamber 64 e to the inside of the ice making chamber 23, and the extension portion is connected to the back surface of the metal ice making cooling plate 31. It is configured by arranging in a U shape so that heat exchange is possible.

  The water circulation device is configured to circulate ice-making water, a water-supply path for guiding ice-making water stored in the water-supply tank 51 to the ice-making section 68, a recovery path for guiding water flowing down from the ice-making section 68 to the water-supply tank 51, and It comprises a circulation circuit provided with a pump 90. Here, the water supply path is constituted by a water supply pipe 52a. The recovery path includes a drain pipe 54, a recovery tank 55, and a return pipe 56a. The circulation pump 90 includes a water supply pump 52 and a recovery pump 56.

  In other words, the water circulation device includes a water supply side water circulation device for supplying ice making water stored in the water supply tank 51 to the ice making unit 68, and a recovery for returning the water flowing down from the ice making unit 68 to the water supply tank 51. It consists of a side water circulation device. The water supply tank 51 is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 22 that is maintained at a temperature that does not freeze.

  The water supply side water circulation device includes a water supply pipe 52a, a water supply pump 52, a freeze prevention heater 52b, and the like.

  The water supply pipe 52 a extends from the water supply tank 51 of the refrigerating chamber 22 to the upper part of the ice making surface 31 a of the ice making cooling plate 31 of the ice making chamber 23 through the partition 29. The antifreeze heater 52b is wound around the water supply pipe 52a in order to prevent the water in the water supply pipe 52a from freezing.

  The water supply pump 52 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 52a in the refrigerating chamber 22, and the ice-making water stored in the water supply tank 51 is passed through the water supply pipe 52a onto the ice-making surface 31a of the ice-making cooling plate 31 of the ice making unit 68. Force watering. By providing the water supply pump 52 in the refrigerator compartment 22, it is not necessary to wind the freeze prevention heater 52b around the water supply pump 52, and input can be reduced.

  The collection-side water circulation device includes a water receiving trough 53, a drain pipe 54, a freeze prevention heater 54b, a collection tank 55, a heat insulating member 27, a return pipe 56a, a freeze prevention heater 56b, a collection pump 56, and the like.

  The water receiving trough 53 is configured to receive water that has been sprinkled on the ice making surface 31a without being frozen on the ice making surface 31a, and is disposed immediately below the lower end of the ice making cooling plate 31. .

  The drain pipe 54 is provided between the ice-making cooling plate 31 and the recovery tank 55 in order to guide the water received by the ice-making cooling plate 31 to the recovery tank 55. The anti-freezing heater 54b is wound around the drain pipe 54 so that the water in the drain pipe 54 does not freeze.

  The collection tank 55 stores the water guided from the ice-making cooling plate 31 in the ice-making chamber 23. The heat insulating member 27 thermally partitions the recovery tank 55 from the ice making chamber 23 so that water stored in the recovery tank 55 does not freeze. The recovery tank 55 and the heat insulating member 27 are arranged in a dead space at the lower part on the back side surrounded by the ice making unit 68 and the ice storage container 57 in the ice making chamber 23.

  The heat insulating member 27 is installed using the dead space generated behind the beam-shaped partition 30a that partitions the ice making chamber 23 and the freezing chamber 25 and across the rear rear projection surface of the beam-shaped partition 30a. It is configured. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the partition 30 that partitions the ice making chamber 23 and the freezing chamber 25 is formed with a beam that forms the sealing surfaces of the packing 23 b of the ice making chamber door 23 a and the packing 25 b of the freezing chamber door 25 a at the front part thereof. The partition 30a part and the shielding board part 30b which is installed in the back of this beam-like partition 30a, and partitions the ice-making room 23 and the freezing room 25 thermally. The size of the thickness Ft1 of the beam-shaped partition 30a requires a certain thickness, for example, about 30 to 60 mm, in order to form a sealing surface between the packing 23b and the packing 25b. On the other hand, the size of the thickness Ft2 of the shielding plate portion 30b that thermally separates the ice making chamber 23 and the freezing chamber 25 is usually the temperature between the inside temperature of the ice making chamber 23 and the inside temperature of the freezing chamber 25. Since the difference is small, it is smaller than the Ft1 dimension, for example, about 2 to 20 mm.

  Further, when the internal temperature of the ice making chamber 23 and the internal temperature of the freezing chamber 25 are set to be substantially the same, the air blown by the blower 70 does not enter the ice making chamber 23 and the refrigerating room 22 or the freezing room. As a shield for preventing the smell of food stored in the ice 25 from entering the ice making chamber 23, the thickness Ft2 of the shielding plate 30b is set to about 1 to 2 mm, for example. .

  That is, since the relationship of Ft1> Ft2 is set, the difference between the Ft1 dimension and the Ft2 dimension occurs as a dead space behind the beam-shaped partition 30a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heat insulating member 27 provided with the recovery tank 55 is installed in the dead space so that the dead space generated behind the beam-shaped partition 30a can be effectively used.

  The return pipe 56 a extends from the recovery tank 55 of the ice making chamber 23 through the partition 29 to the water supply tank 51 of the refrigerator compartment 22. The anti-freezing heater 56b is wound around the return pipe 56a in order to prevent water in the return pipe 56a from freezing.

  The recovery pump 56 is provided in the middle of the return pipe 56a in the refrigerating chamber 22, and recovers the water collected in the recovery tank 55 to the water supply tank 51 through the return pipe 56a. By providing the recovery pump 56 in the refrigerator compartment 22, it is not necessary to wind the antifreeze heater 56b around the recovery pump 56, and input can be reduced.

  The ice thickness detection means includes an arm sensor 160 that detects the thickness of the plate ice formed on the ice making surface 31 a of the ice making cooling plate 31, and a drive device 58 that drives the arm sensor 160. . The driving device 58 is constituted by a motor, and is fixed in the ice making chamber 23 by a support. The drive device 58 also serves as a drive device for an ice splitting device, which will be described later.

  The ice removing heater is provided over the entire back surface of the ice making cooling plate 31 so as to heat the ice making cooling plate 31 as a whole.

  The ice dividing device includes a lattice-shaped cutting heater 41 that is arranged in front of the lower end of the ice making unit 68 and cuts the plate-like ice 35 peeled off from the ice making surface 31a of the ice making unit 68 into a substantially rectangular shape. And a driving device 58 that moves the heater 41. The driving device 58 cuts the plate-like ice 35 peeled off from the ice-making surface 31 and the cutting position where the heater 41 for cutting cuts the plate-like ice 35 peeled off from the ice-making surface 31 a of the ice-making unit 68 into a substantially rectangular shape. Without moving, it can move to the non-cutting position where it drops into the ice storage container 57 in the state of the plate ice 35.

  The ice storage container 57 is provided in front of and below the ice-making cooling plate 31 so as to store the plate-like ice 35 and the ice block 36.

  The control device 28 is installed on the back surface of the refrigerator main body 21, and performs operation control of the entire refrigerator, operation control of the ice making device, and the like. The operation control of the ice making device by the control device 28 includes a function of controlling the operation of the water circulation device and the ice dividing device based on the detection result of the ice thickness detection means.

  A method of making the plate ice 35 and the ice block 36 having the above-described configuration will be specifically described.

  First, when the power of the refrigerator 1 is turned on, the refrigeration cycle formed by the compressor 61, the storage room cooler 64, and the like starts operation. As a result, the cooler 64 for storage room is cooled and the cooler 67 for ice making is cooled. The metal ice-making cooling plate 31 is cooled by the cooling of the ice-making cooler 67.

  When the ice making surface 31a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the drive device 58 is driven by the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, and the arm sensor 160 supported by the drive device 58 is moved up and down. To do. If there is no foreign material such as a packaging material for transportation on the ice making surface 31a as detected by the vertical movement of the arm sensor 160, the water supply pump 52 is operated according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, and the water in the water supply tank 51 is detected. Is sprayed onto the ice making surface 31a from the water supply pipe 52a.

  A part of the water sprinkled on the ice making surface 31a is frozen on the ice making surface 31a, and the water that is not frozen is collected in the recovery tank 55 through the water receiving trough 53 and the drain pipe 5 as shown in FIG. When a predetermined time elapses after the operation of the water supply pump 52 starts and the interior of the recovery tank 55 reaches a predetermined water level, the recovery pump 56 is operated to return the water in the recovery tank 55 according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28. It returns to the water supply tank 51 through the pipe 56a.

  The water returned to the water supply tank 51 is again sprinkled on the ice making surface 31a from the water supply pipe 52a by the operation of the water supply pump 52. These circulation operations repeat.

  During the ice making operation, according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, the antifreeze heaters 52b, 54b, and 56b installed in the water circulation path are energized and heated so that the water is not frozen except on the ice making surface 31a.

  When water spraying onto the ice making surface 31a by the operation of the water supply pump 52 is continued, the thickness of the plate ice generated on the ice making surface 31a gradually increases. When a predetermined time elapses after the operation of the water supply pump 52 starts, the drive device 58 is driven according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, and the arm sensor 160 is moved up and down periodically at a predetermined interval of, for example, 5 to 10 minutes. The thickness of the plate-like ice produced on the ice making surface 31a is detected.

  When the arm sensor 160 detects the plate ice having the preset thickness, the ice making operation of the water supply pump 52 is stopped and the deicing heater 72 is energized according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28. Then, the plate-like ice 35 having the set thickness is heated so as to be peeled off from the ice making surface 31a.

  The plate-shaped ice peeled off from the ice making surface 31a falls from the ice making surface 31a by its own weight, and is positioned by the switch / stopper portion 41b and falls onto the cutting heater 41 as shown in FIG. To do.

  When the plate-like ice 35 contacts the switch / stopper portion 41b and falls onto the cutting heater 41, the cutting heater 41 is energized and heated according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28 to form the cutting heater 41 in a lattice shape. The cut heater wire 41a cuts into a substantially rectangular ice block 36. The cut ice block 36 is dropped into the ice storage container 57.

  In addition, even after the arm sensor 160 detects the set thickness of the plate ice and stops the ice making operation of the water supply pump 52, the water that has not been frozen on the ice making surface 31a for a while will remain in the water receiving bowl. 53, and continues to flow into the recovery tank 55 through the drain pipe 54. After the operation of the water supply pump 52 is stopped, the operation of the recovery pump 56 is continued for a predetermined time, and the amount of water stored in the recovery tank 55 falls below a predetermined amount. The operation of the recovery pump 56 is stopped.

  Since the water in the water supply pipe 52a and the return pipe 56a described above may be frozen due to the cold heat of the ice making chamber 23, the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 after the ice making operation of the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 is stopped. The reverse rotation operation is performed so that water is not left in the piping pipe connected to the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3 when storing ice blocks, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3 when storing plate ice.

  The cutting heater 41 is configured so that the mounting position of the cutting heater 41 can be changed by the rotation of the driving device 58 by fitting the rotating shaft 45 provided at one end thereof to the driving device 58. is there.

  The cutting heater 41 is normally positioned at a position indicated by a solid line 41c in FIG. 4, that is, when the plate-like ice 35 is dropped, the plate-like ice 35 is formed on the cut heater wire 41a formed in a lattice shape. It is set to the position where it is placed.

  When the user of the refrigerator operates the operation unit to select the “plate ice” operation mode, the control device 28 senses and determines the operation input, and drives the drive device 58 to cut the heater. 41 is moved to the position indicated by the solid line 41d in FIG. Thereby, when the plate-like ice 35 falls, the plate-like ice 35 is stored in the ice storage container 57 as it is.

  Further, when the user of the refrigerator re-operates the operation unit and selects the “ice block” operation mode, the control device 28 senses and determines the operation input, and drives the drive device 58 to cut the heater 41 for cutting. Is returned to the position indicated by the solid line 41c in FIG. Thereby, when the plate-shaped ice 35 falls, it is reset to the position where the plate-shaped ice 35 is mounted on the cut heater wire | line 41a formed in the grid | lattice form. That is, when the user of the refrigerator operates the operation unit, it is possible to select and store either the plate ice 35 or the ice block 36 in the ice storage container 57.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the cutting heater 41 of FIG. 6A is a perspective explanatory view of the vertical cut heater wire 42 and the insulator 42a constituting the heater 41 for cutting, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the horizontal cut heater wire 43 and the insulator 43a constituting the heater 41 for cutting. FIG. 6C is a perspective explanatory view of the frame 44 constituting the cutting heater 41, and FIG. 6D is a perspective explanatory view of the cutting heater 41 as a whole. For simplicity of explanation, when FIGS. 6A to 6C are overlapped, the drawings are arranged as shown in FIG. 6D.

  A frame 44 shown in FIG. 6C forms an outer shell of the cutting heater 41. The frame body 44 is integrally provided with a rotation shaft 45 fitted to a drive shaft 125 (see FIG. 14) of the drive device 58 and a stopper portion 44b for positioning the plate ice 35. The rotating shaft 45 and the stopper portion 44b may be configured by attaching a separate body from the frame body 44.

  The horizontal cut heater wire 43 shown in FIG. 6B is composed of a single wire, and is provided so as to be a parallel wire by reciprocating a plurality of times to a pair of insulators 43a fixed at the lower position of the frame body 44. It has been.

  The vertical cut heater wire 42 shown in FIG. 6A is composed of a single line, and is provided so as to be a parallel line by reciprocating a plurality of times with a pair of insulators 42a fixed to the upper position of the frame body 44. It has been.

  Then, after the insulator 43a is fixed to the left and right frame portions of the frame body 44 and the horizontal cut heater wire 43 is installed, the insulator 42a is fixed to the front and rear frame portions of the frame body 44 and the vertical cut heater wire 42 is installed. Thus, the cutting heater 41 in the state shown in FIG. 6D is formed. The heater 41 for cutting has a grid-like heater wire of M1 size × M2 size by the horizontal cut heater wire 43 and the vertical cut heater wire 42, and can cut the plate ice 35 into a substantially rectangular shape.

  In addition, 42b shown to Fig.6 (a) is a switch which detects the weight of the plate-shaped ice 35, when the plate-shaped ice 35 comes on the vertical cut heater wire 42. FIG. The control device 28 energizes the vertical cut heater wire 42 and the horizontal cut heater wire 43 based on the detection result of the switch 42b.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of piping between the storage room cooler 64 and the ice making cooler 67 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the refrigeration cycle includes a compressor 61, a condenser 62, a capillary tube 63, a connecting pipe 63b, a storage chamber cooler 64, an outlet pipe 65, an ice making cooler 67, and an accumulator 69 in this order. It is configured to be connected in a ring shape.

  The ice-making cooler 67 is formed so as to extend from the storage-room cooler 64 and project in a substantially U shape, and is attached so as to be in close contact with the back surface (lower surface) of the ice-making cooling plate 31 and to exchange heat. ing. In other words, the ice making cooler 67 cools the extension of the outlet pipe 65 of the storage room cooler 64 so that the water sprinkled on the ice making surface 31a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31 can be frozen. Consists of pipes for use. That is, the storage room cooler 64 is composed of the pipe 64c and the fins 64d, while the ice making cooler 67 is composed of a pipe extended from the pipe 64c.

  With this configuration, the ice making unit 68 can be provided without cooling the ice making chamber 23 by preparing a separate refrigeration cycle and a separate refrigeration cycle for cooling the storage chambers 22, 24 to 26 other than the ice making chamber 23. Since it can cool, the refrigerator with an ice making function advantageous in cost can be obtained.

  Further, the ice making cooler 67 is operated by the temperature control device 28 of the refrigerator main body 21, but in the case where priority is given to ice making in particular, the ice making capacity is improved if the operation of the refrigerator main body 21 is made continuous operation. be able to.

  Further, when the defrost heater 71 defrosts the storage room cooler 64, if the deicing heater 72 of the ice making cooler unit 67 is energized in synchronization with the defrost heater 71, the storage room cooler 64 is provided. The defrosting of the outlet pipe 65 and the ice making cooler 67 can be performed simultaneously with the defrosting.

  If the ice making cooler 67 is a copper pipe, the ice making chamber 23 (23 in FIG. 3) can be kept clean for the sterilization of copper metal.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing two different examples in the DD section of FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9A, an ice making cooler 67 is held in a groove 32 protruding from the ice making surface side of the ice making cooling plate 31 so that the ice making cooling plate 31 and the ice making cooling plate are cooled. Heat exchange with the vessel 67 is promoted. An ice removing heater 72 that covers the ice making cooler 67 and can heat the entire ice making cooling plate 31 is provided on the back side of the ice making cooling plate 31.

  The deicing heater 72 is configured by arranging a plurality of deicing heater wires 72b on a plate-like portion 72a having thermal conductivity such as aluminum foil. This deicing heater 72 conducts the heat of the deicing heater wire 72b efficiently to the entire ice making cooling plate 31 by attaching the plate-like portion 72a from the entire back surface of the ice making cooling plate 31 to the lower portions of both sides. It is supposed to be.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9A described above, the groove 32 holding the ice making cooler 67 protrudes toward the ice making surface 31 a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31, so that the generated plate ice is produced. It becomes the structure which the dent for the groove | channel 32 arises in the back surface of 35.

  Therefore, when the back surface of the plate ice 35 is substantially flat, as shown in FIG. 9B, the ice making surface 31a is substantially flat and the groove 32 holding the ice making cooling plate 31 is used for deicing. Desirably, the heater 72 is formed of a plate-like portion 72 a having thermal conductivity such as an aluminum foil.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a pipe connection explanatory diagram of the water supply tank 51 and the water supply pump 52 of FIG.

  On the upper surface of the water supply tank 51, a water supply tank lid 51a for closing the opening is provided. A water supply port 51 b that sucks up water in the water supply tank 51 and a joint portion 51 c that sends the sucked water into the water supply pump 52 are integrally formed and attached to the water supply tank 51. The joint part 52c is a joint part on the water supply pump 52 side. The joint portion 51c is installed so as to be attached to and detached from the joint portion 52c. The packing 51d is provided so as to prevent water leakage between the joint portions 51c and 52c.

  By adopting such a configuration, the water supply tank lid 51a and the water supply tank 51 can be removed simply by removing the joint portion 51c from the joint portion 52c, so that the water supply tank cover 51a and the water supply tank 51 can be washed with water. it can.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the arm sensor 160 in FIG. 3, and shows the passage of time in the order of (a), (b), and (c). FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining the ice formation state of the plate-like ice on the ice making surface 31a in the initial stage of ice making, and FIG. 11B is the ice making surface when a predetermined time has elapsed from the state of FIG. FIG. 11C is a diagram for explaining the icing state of the plate-like ice 31a. FIG. 11C is a diagram for explaining the icing state of the plate-like ice on the ice making surface 31a when a predetermined time has elapsed from the state of FIG. 11B. It is.

  The arm sensor 160 is an ice thickness detection arm sensor configured to be turned up and down by a drive device 58 that rotates the cutting heater 41, and the arm sensor 160 is determined and instructed by the control device 28. Thus, for example, the thickness of the plate ice formed on the ice making surface 31a by moving up and down at regular intervals (5 to 10 minutes) can be detected.

  11 (a), 11 (b), and 11 (c) are moved up and down at the above-described fixed intervals (5 to 10 minutes), and the thicknesses t1 and t2 of the plate ice formed on the ice making surface 31a are as follows. Assuming that t3 is detected, when the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 are the same (t1 = t2 = t3), that is, the lowest descent position of the ice thickness detection arm sensor 160 continues three or more times. At the same time, since the amount of water in the water supply tank 51 is insufficient, the operation of the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 is stopped assuming that there is no sprinkling on the ice making surface 31a. In this case, it is desirable that an alarm unit (not shown) issues an alarm according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28.

  The thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 detected by the ice thickness detection arm sensor 160 are different. For example, when the thickness t3 is equal to the preset thickness of the plate ice, According to the judgment and instruction, the operation of the water supply pump 52 is stopped and the ice-breaking heater 72 is energized to peel off the plate-like ice from the ice making surface 31a.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory view of the arm sensor 160 of FIG.

  The detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is a surface that comes into contact with the plate-like ice when detecting the thicknesses t1, t2, and t3 of the plate-like ice shown in FIG. In order to ensure a certain contact area, the length dimension is set to L1 and the width dimension is set to L2.

  In the present invention, the above-described L1 dimension and L2 dimension are not specified, but according to the experiments by the inventors, it is desirable to form the L2 dimension of the arm sensor 160 with a plane portion of 3 to 10 mm. I found out. That is, if the L2 dimension is 3 mm or less, the thickness of the plate ice may not be accurately detected. If the L2 dimension is 10 mm or more, the detection unit 163 itself of the arm sensor 160 freezes with the plate ice. It has been found that there is a risk of losing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a water draining section 166 is provided at the base of the detecting section 163 so as to prevent water droplets adhering to the detecting section 163 from flowing into the driving device 58. Note that it is desirable that the entire detection unit 163 or the arm sensor 160 be subjected to water repellent treatment.

  According to this embodiment, since it has the above-described configuration, it has the following effects.

  The ice-making cooler 67 is attached to a metal ice-making cooling plate 31 installed in the partitioned ice-making chamber 23, and the water in the water supply tank 51 is circulated through the ice-making cooling plate 31 so that the plate-like ice is removed. In addition, an ice storage container 57 is provided below the ice-making cooling plate 31, and a water supply pump 52 that circulates water in the water supply tank 51 and a recovery pump 56 that collects the circulating water are supplied to the ice-making cooling plate 31. 23, and the temperature of the ice plate formed on the ice making cooling plate 31 is detected to control the operation of the feed water pump 52. It is possible to provide a refrigerator that does not transfer odor, has high transparency, and can obtain plate-like ice. In addition, since the ice making cooling plate 31 is cooled by the ice making cooler 67, the ice making time can be shortened and a refrigerator capable of producing hard ice can be provided. In addition, it is possible to provide a refrigerator in which the thickness of the plate ice formed by the ice-making cooling plate 31 can be made substantially constant.

  In addition, the arm sensor 160 that is moved up and down by the drive device 58 is used to detect the thickness of the plate ice formed on the ice making surface 31 a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31. Compared to the case where a type ice making completion detection sensor is used, it is possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator that does not cause an error in the thickness management of the plate ice due to the ground resistance change of the refrigerator itself. That is, when an electrostatic ice making completion detection sensor is used, an ice-making cooling plate for freezing ice is grounded, and an electrode is provided opposite to the grounded ice-making cooling plate. Capacitance change with the cooling plate will be detected by an OP amp, etc. If the grounding resistance changes due to the looseness of the grounding of the refrigerator itself, etc., the capacitance will change. Therefore, there is a possibility that the thickness of the ice cannot be accurately grasped.

  Further, the arm sensor 160 is moved up and down periodically, and when the arm sensor 160 detects plate-like ice having a set thickness, the ice making operation of the water supply pump 52 is stopped. Since the operation time of 52 can be shortened, a refrigerator advantageous in terms of energy saving can be provided.

  Further, after the water supply pump 52 is stopped, the recovery pump 56 is continuously operated for a predetermined time, and the operation of the recovery pump 56 is stopped when the amount of water stored in the recovery tank 55 becomes a predetermined amount or less. Since the amount of water stored in the recovery tank 55 does not increase even after the stop, a refrigerator that is hygienic and advantageous in that old water does not stagnate in the recovery tank 55 can be provided.

  In addition, since the operation of the recovery pump 56 is started when a predetermined time elapses after the operation of the water supply pump 52 starts and the amount of water stored in the recovery tank 55 exceeds a predetermined amount, the recovery pump 56 is started. Therefore, the refrigerator in which the reliability of the recovery pump 56 is improved can be provided.

  In addition, after the ice making operation of the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 is stopped, the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 are operated in reverse rotation so that no water remains in the piping pipes connected to the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56. Therefore, since the input to the antifreezing heaters 52b, 54b, 56b, etc. can be reduced, a refrigerator that is advantageous in terms of energy saving can be provided.

  Further, the cutting heater 41 can be freely rotated by a driving device 58 so that the user of the refrigerator can select and obtain either the plate ice 35 or the ice block 36 in the ice storage container 57. Therefore, a user-friendly refrigerator can be provided for the user.

  Further, since the driving device for rotating the cutting heater 41 and the driving device for moving the arm sensor 160 up and down are performed by the same driving device 58, only one driving device is required, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost. A refrigerator can be provided.

  In addition, the ice thickness detection arm sensor 160 moves up and down at regular intervals (5 to 10 minutes), and when the lowest descent position is the same for three or more times, the amount of water in the water supply tank 51 is insufficient. Since the operation of the water supply pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 is assumed to be stopped, it is necessary to provide a water amount monitoring sensor such as a weight detection sensor for detecting the amount of water in the water supply tank 51. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost. Moreover, since the useless operation of the feed water pump 52 and the recovery pump 56 is not performed, a refrigerator that is advantageous in terms of energy saving can be provided.

Further, when the defrosting of the storage room cooler 64 is performed, the deicing heater 72 is energized in synchronization with the defrosting heater 71 of the storage room cooler. Since the defrosting with the pipe 68 (extended portion 67 of the outlet pipe of the cooler) can be performed at the same time, for example, it is not necessary to install a separate defrosting system and defrost at each timing. An advantageous refrigerator can be provided, and since it is not necessary to increase the number of defrosts, an advantageous energy-saving refrigerator can be provided.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, the refrigerator of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. 13-16. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the drive device in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in the first operation example of the drive device of FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in the second operation example of the drive device of FIG. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the driving device shown in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, and the other points are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus redundant description thereof is omitted.

  First, an example in which the arm sensor 160 is moved up and down by the driving force of the motor will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The driving device 58 includes a motor 120 that rotates the arm sensor 160 and the cutting heater 41. The rotation of the motor 120 is decelerated by the worm (rotational force transmission member) 122 connected to the output shaft 121, the first gear 123 and the second gear 124 that sequentially decelerates the rotation of the worm 122, and the The rotational torque is sequentially increased and transmitted to the gear 130.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the gear 130 has a large-diameter gear portion 131 that is a worm wheel portion that meshes with the pinion 124 a of the second gear 124, and a hollow shaft portion 132 that rotates integrally with the gear portion 131. The bearings 111 and 112 of the case 110 are rotatably supported.

  A movable iron core 140 that rotates integrally with the hollow shaft portion 132 and can move left and right within the hollow shaft portion 132 is provided in the hollow shaft portion 132. One end of the movable iron core 140 is provided with a pinion portion 141 that meshes with the rack 150. At multiple ends of the movable iron core 140, a fitting shaft 142 that fits into the shaft hole 126 of the heater drive shaft 125 is provided.

  Normally, as shown in FIG. 14, the pinion portion 141 at one end and the rack 150 are engaged with each other, and the multi-end fitting shaft 142 and the shaft hole 126 are not fitted. In other words, when the arm sensor 160 is moved up and down by the driving force of the motor 120, the cutting heater 41 is not rotated, thereby preventing damage due to wear or the like of components related to the cutting heater 41. .

  Next, an example in which the cutting heater 41 is rotated by the driving force of the motor will be described with reference to FIG.

  The exciting coil 133 is installed so that the movable iron core 140 can be moved to a predetermined position. And if the user of a refrigerator operates an operation part, it will energize the exciting coil 133 by the judgment and instruction | indication of the control apparatus 28. FIG. Accordingly, for example, from the position of the movable iron core 140 in FIG. 14, that is, the position where the pinion portion 141 and the rack 150 are engaged, the position of the movable iron core 140 shown in FIG. When the hole 126 is fitted, the rotation and torque of the motor 120 can be changed to a position where the rotation can be transmitted to the rotation shaft 45 of the cutting heater 41 via the heater drive shaft 125.

  And, according to the selective operation of the user of the refrigerator, by controlling the rotation of the motor 120 according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, the position where the ice heater 36 can be supplied by rotating the heater 41 for cutting, Alternatively, the plate-shaped ice 35 is configured to be variable to a position where it can be supplied. In other words, when the cutting heater 41 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 120, the arm sensor 160 is not rotated, thereby preventing damage due to wear or the like of components related to the arm sensor 160. .

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 16 and 13. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.

  The arm sensor 160 is configured to move up and down by a rack 150 that is movable by a motor 120. As shown in FIG. 16, the arm sensor 160 has a substantially spoon shape, and has a detection portion 163 that can detect even if the thickness of the plate-shaped ice changes by making the tip thereof a substantially arc shape, A permanent magnet 164 for operating a Hall IC described later is provided at the rear end of the handle 162.

  At an arbitrary position of the handle portion 162, a pivot shaft 165 serving as a pivot center of the arm sensor 160 and a guide hole 161 configured to be moved up and down by the convex portion 151 of the rack 150 are provided. The pivot shaft 165 is pivotally supported by the arm sensor bearing 113 provided in the case 110, so that the vertical movement of the rack 150 is converted into the vertical movement while the detection unit 163 rotates. In other words, the rotational movement of the motor 120 can be converted into the vertical movement of the detection unit 163 by reducing the speed and increasing the torque. That is, in the unlikely event that a small amount of freezing occurs in the vicinity of the arm sensor 160, a rotation torque that can be rotated by breaking the freezing is applied. For this purpose, the terminal movable iron pinion 141 driven by the motor 120 is configured to output 10 to 50 kg · m, for example.

  16, X1, X2, Xx, and X4 represent distance dimensions between the ice making surface 31a of the ice making cooling plate 31 and the detecting unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 described above. For example, X1 indicates the standby position of the detection unit 163 after the end of the detection operation, X2 indicates a preset thickness of the plate ice, and X4 indicates that the detection unit 163 is in contact with the ice making surface 31a. That is, the case where X4 is almost zero is shown, and Xx is an arbitrary thickness between X2 and X4.

  When the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 indicates the positions of X1, X2, Xx, and X4, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear end of the handle of the arm sensor 160 indicates the position of the permanent magnet 164. Hall ICs 171, 172, 173, and 174 provided on the substrate 170 provided in the case 110 and electrically connected to the control device 28 are provided at positions that are operated by magnetic force.

  The positions X1, X2, Xx, and X4 of the detection unit 163 can be determined based on detection signals output from the Hall ICs 171, 172, 173, and 174. In other words, a plurality of Hall ICs that are actuated by the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear end of the handle of the arm sensor 160 that rotates up and down are provided, and the positions of X1, X2, Xx, and X4 are determined by the detection signals output from the Hall ICs. Can be recognized by the control device 28.

  For example, the Hall ICs 171, 172, 173, and 174 are normally set to output a low level signal (hereinafter referred to as an L signal), and the Hall IC 171 is moved only when the detection unit 163 is at the X1 position. A high level signal (hereinafter referred to as an H signal) is output, or the Hall IC 172 outputs an H signal only when the detection unit 163 comes to the X2 position, or the detection unit 163 comes to the X4 position. Only when the Hall IC 174 outputs an H signal to the control device 28, the control device 28 can recognize the positions of X1, X2, Xx, and X4.

  Here, an example of the operation for detecting the thickness of the plate-shaped ice with the above configuration will be described.

  First, the refrigerator 1 is turned on to operate the refrigeration cycle, and the ice making surface 31a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31 is cooled to a predetermined temperature. When the ice making surface 31a is cooled to a predetermined temperature and a predetermined time elapses, the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is set to the standby position X1 by rotating the motor 120 forward, for example, according to the determination and instruction of the control device 28. Descent from the position.

  If there is no foreign matter such as a packaging material for transportation on the ice making surface 31a, the detection unit 163 descends to the position X4 and comes into contact with the ice making surface 31a. When the detection unit 163 comes into contact with the ice making surface 31a, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear of the handle of the arm sensor 160 operates the Hall IC 174, and the Hall IC 174 outputs an H signal.

  In response to the H signal output from the Hall IC 174, the control device 28 determines that there is no foreign matter or the like on the ice making surface 31a, and rotates the motor 120, for example, reversely to raise the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160. The detection unit 163 is returned to the position X1. When the detection unit 163 returns to the position X1, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear of the handle of the arm sensor 160 operates the Hall IC 171 and the Hall IC 171 outputs an H signal.

  In response to the H signal output from the Hall IC 171, according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, the water supply pump 52 is operated and the water in the water supply tank 51 is sprinkled on the ice making surface 31 a from the water supply pipe 52 a to perform ice making operation. Start. When a predetermined time elapses, the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is lowered again from the position X1 which is the standby position by rotating the motor 120, for example, in accordance with the determination and instruction of the control device 28.

  At that time, if, for example, plate ice having a thickness of Xx is generated on the ice making surface 31a, the detection unit 163 comes into contact with the plate ice. When the detection unit 163 comes into contact with the plate-shaped ice having a thickness of Xx, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear part of the handle of the arm sensor 160 operates the Hall IC 173, and the Hall IC 173 outputs an H signal.

  In response to the H signal output from the Hall IC 173, the control device 28 recognizes the thickness Xx of the plate ice and compares it with the preset thickness X2 of the pre-programmed plate ice, and Xx <X2. If there is, the operation of the water supply pump 52 is continued, and the motor 120 is reversely rotated, for example, to raise the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 and return the detection unit 163 to the standby position of X1.

  When a predetermined time elapses from the above state, the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is lowered again from the standby position X1 by rotating the motor 120 forward, for example, according to the determination and instruction of the control device 28. Let At this time, if, for example, plate ice having a preset thickness X2 is generated on the ice making surface 31a, the detection unit 163 comes into contact with the plate ice. When the detection unit 163 comes into contact with plate-shaped ice having a thickness of X2, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear part of the handle of the arm sensor 160 operates the Hall IC 172, and the Hall IC 172 outputs an H signal.

  In response to the H signal output from the Hall IC 172, the controller 28 determines that the thickness of the plate ice has reached the set thickness, stops the operation of the water supply pump 52, and rotates the motor 120, for example, in the reverse direction. Then, the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is raised to return the detection unit 163 to the standby position of X1.

  At the same time, according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28, the ice removing heater 72 that heats the entire ice making cooling plate 31 is energized, and the plate ice having the set thickness is peeled off from the ice making surface 31a. In the same manner as described in 1, the ice is stored in the ice storage container 57 (57 in FIG. 3).

  When a predetermined time elapses after the deicing heater 72 is energized, the detection unit 163 of the arm sensor 160 is set to the standby position X1 by rotating the motor 120, for example, in accordance with the determination and instruction of the control device 28. Lower again from position. For example, if there is no plate-like ice on the ice making surface 31a, the detection unit 163 descends to the position X4 and comes into contact with the ice making surface 31a.

  When the detection unit 163 comes into contact with the ice making surface 31a, the permanent magnet 164 provided at the rear of the handle of the arm sensor 160 operates the Hall IC 174, and the Hall IC 174 outputs an H signal.

  Then, the above-described operation is repeatedly performed according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28 in accordance with a preprogrammed procedure.

  Since the second embodiment has the configuration described above, it has the following effects.

  In order to detect the thickness of the plate ice formed on the ice making surface 31a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31, the arm sensor 160 that moves up and down by the driving device 58 is used. Even if a little freezing occurs in the vicinity of the sensor 160, the arm sensor 160 is moved up and down by the drive device 58 having a large turning torque that can break and turn the freezing. It is possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator that does not cause an error in thickness management.

  Further, since the drive device for rotating the cutting heater 41 and the drive device for moving the arm sensor 160 up and down are performed by the same drive device 58, only one drive device is required, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost. A refrigerator can be provided.

It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even when a mechanical changeover switch such as a microswitch provided with an anti-icing means is used in place of the Hall IC described above.
(Third embodiment)
Next, the refrigerator of 3rd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. 17-19. FIG. 17 is a plan view of a drive device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM in FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line KK in FIG. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, and the other points are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus redundant description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the driving device 200 incorporates a motor 220 that rotates the arm sensor 260 and the cutting heater 41. The motor 220 is constituted by, for example, a direct current motor or the like having a characteristic that a lock current larger than a normal current flows when rotation is stopped in an energized state.

  The rotation of the motor 220 is decelerated by the worm (rotational force transmission member) 222 connected to the output shaft 221, the first gear 223 and the second gear 224 that sequentially decelerates the rotation of the worm 222, and The rotational torque is sequentially increased and transmitted to the gear 230.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the gear 230 includes a large-diameter gear portion 231 that is a worm wheel portion that meshes with the pinion 224 a of the second gear 224, and a shaft portion 232 that rotates integrally with the gear portion 231. The bearings 211 and 212 of the case 210 are rotatably supported.

  A pinion portion 241 that meshes with the rack 250 is provided at one end of the shaft portion 232. A heater drive shaft 225 that fits on a rotation shaft 45 that rotates the cutting heater 41 is provided at multiple ends of the shaft portion 232.

  As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the arm sensor 260 is configured to move up and down by a rack 250 that is movable by a motor 220. The arm sensor 260 has a substantially spoon shape, and has a detection portion 263 that can detect even if the thickness of the plate-like ice changes by forming a substantially arc shape at the tip thereof, and at the rear end of the handle portion 262. A switch pressing portion 264 of an arm sensor that operates the micro switch 175 is provided.

  Then, at any position of the handle portion 262, there is a rotation shaft 265 of the arm sensor that becomes the rotation center of the arm sensor 260, and a guide hole 261 configured to move up and down by the convex portion 251 of the rack 250. The arm sensor rotating shaft 265 is pivotally supported by an arm sensor bearing 213 provided in the case 210, so that the vertical movement of the rack 250 is converted into the vertical movement while the detection unit 263 rotates. It is. In other words, the rotational movement of the motor 220 can be converted into the vertical movement of the detection unit 263 by reducing its speed and increasing its torque. In other words, even if a small amount of freezing occurs in the vicinity of the arm sensor 260, a rotation torque that can be rotated by breaking the freezing is provided. For this purpose, the terminal pinion unit 241 driven by the motor 220 is configured to output, for example, 10 to 50 kg · m.

  19, Y1 and Yx represent the distance between the ice making surface 31a of the ice making cooling plate 31 and the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor. For example, Y1 stands by the detection unit 263 after completion of the detection operation. Yx indicates an arbitrary thickness dimension between Y1 and the ice making surface 31a.

  When the arm sensor detection unit 263 indicates the position of Y1 described above, the arm sensor switch pressing unit 264 provided at the rear end of the arm sensor handle 262 includes the micro-device incorporated in the driving device 200. By pressing the engagement arm 176 of the switch 175, the control device 28 receives a signal generated by the micro switch 175 so that the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor can recognize that it is in the Y1 position. It is.

  Note that the microswitch 175 is preferably configured so as to include an anti-icing means in the vicinity thereof or in the vicinity thereof.

  Here, an example of the operation for detecting the thickness of the plate-shaped ice with the above configuration will be described.

  First, the refrigerator is turned on and the refrigeration cycle is operated to cool the ice making surface 31a formed by the ice making cooling plate 31 to a predetermined temperature. When the ice making surface 31a is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the water supply pump 52 is operated and water in the water supply tank 51 is sprinkled from the water supply pipe 52a onto the ice making surface 31a according to the judgment and instruction of the control device 28 to make ice. Since the operation is started, plate ice starts to be generated on the ice making surface 31a.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the ice making operation, the control unit 28 determines and instructs the motor 220 to rotate forward, for example, so that the arm sensor detector 263 starts to descend from the Y1 position, which is the standby position. Then, a timer provided in either the control device 28 or on the route thereof is started, and the elapsed time is recorded in the control device 28.

  After tx time from the start of the timer, the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor descends to the position of the Yx dimension shown in FIG. 19, and at that time, for example, plate-like ice of the Yx dimension is generated on the ice making surface 31a. If so, the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor comes into contact with the plate-like ice at the position of the Yx dimension and stops the descent.

  Therefore, since the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor stops the descent at the position of the Yx dimension, the motor 220 rotating the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor is in a locked state and is locked higher than the normal operation current. Current flows. The control device 28 senses the lock current that flows to the motor 220, and rotates the motor 220, for example, in reverse to raise the detection unit 263 of the arm sensor and return the detection unit 263 to the Y1 position. The thickness Yx dimension of the plate ice is recognized by a timer count when the lock current is detected.

  Then, the control device 28 compares the Yx dimension with a preset set thickness y2 of the plate ice by a preprogrammed comparison means. If the Yx dimension is smaller than the preset plate ice thickness y2, the ice making operation is continued. If the Yx dimension is the same as the preset plate ice thickness y2, the ice making operation is stopped. It is comprised so that it may do.

  The relationship between the timer count time tx and the thickness Yx of the plate ice varies depending on the ice making capacity of the refrigerator and the ambient temperature at which the refrigerator is used. It is obvious that it is necessary to input this relationship to the control device 28 or the like.

  Since the third embodiment has the configuration as described above, it has the following effects.

  Since the arm sensor 260 that moves up and down by the driving device 200 is used to detect the thickness of the plate-like ice formed on the ice-making surface 31a formed by the ice-making cooling plate 31, the arm sensor 260 should be used. Even if a small amount of freezing occurs in the vicinity of the sensor 260, the arm sensor 260 is moved up and down by the driving device 200 having a large turning torque that can break and turn the freezing. It is possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator that does not cause an error in thickness management.

  Further, since the driving device for rotating the cutting heater 41 and the driving device for moving the arm sensor 260 up and down are performed by the same driving device 200, only one driving device is required, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost. A refrigerator can be provided.

  It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even if the Hall IC described in the second embodiment is used instead of the mechanical switch such as the micro switch 175.

It is a front view of the refrigerator main body in the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a main part of FIG. 2. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 in the case of storing an ice block. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 in the case of storing plate-shaped ice. FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view of the cutting heater of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the refrigerating cycle in the refrigerator of FIG. It is a figure explaining the example of piping of the cooler for store rooms in FIG. 7, and the cooler for ice making. It is an enlarged view which shows two different examples in the DD cross section of FIG. It is piping connection explanatory drawing of the water supply tank of FIG. 3, and a water supply pump. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the arm sensor in FIG. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the arm sensor of FIG. 11. It is a top view of the drive device in the refrigerator of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is EE sectional drawing in the 1st operation example of the drive device of FIG. It is EE sectional drawing in the 2nd operation example of the drive device of FIG. It is FF sectional drawing of the drive device of FIG. It is a top view of the drive device in a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is JJ sectional drawing of FIG. It is KK sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Refrigerator, 21 ... Refrigerator main body, 22 ... Refrigeration room, 23 ... Ice making room, 24 ... Rapid freezing room, 25 ... Freezing room, 26 ... Vegetable room, 27 ... Thermal insulation member, 28 ... Control apparatus, 29 ... Partition, 31 ... Ice-making cooling plate, 31a ... Ice making surface, 32 ... Groove, 35 ... Plate ice, 36 ... Ice block, 41 ... Cutting heater, 41a ... Cut heater wire, 41b ... Switch and stopper, 41c, 41d ... For cutting Examples of variable positions of heaters: 42 ... vertical cut heater wire, 42a, 43a ... insulator, 42b switch, 43 ... horizontal cut heater wire, 44 ... frame body, 44b ... stopper portion, 45 ... rotating shaft, 51 ... water supply tank 51a ... Water tank lid, 51b ... Water supply port, 51c ... Joint part, 51d ... Packing, 52 ... Water supply pump, 52a ... Water supply pipe, 52b ... Anti-freezing heater, 52c ... Joint part, 53 ... Water receiving bowl 54 ... Drain pipe, 54b ... Antifreeze heater, 55 ... Recovery tank, 56 ... Recovery pump, 56a ... Return pipe, 56b ... Antifreeze heater, 57 ... Ice storage container, 58 ... Drive unit, 61 ... Compressor, 62 ... Condensation 63, capillary tube, 63b, connecting pipe, 64 ... cooler for storage chamber, 64c ... pipe, 64d ... fin, 64e ... cooler chamber, 65 ... outlet pipe, 67 ... cooler for ice making, 68 ... ice making 69, accumulator, 70 ... air blower, 71 ... defrost heater, 72 ... heater for deicing, 90 ... circulating pump, 110 ... case, 111, 112 ... bearing part, 113 ... bearing for arm sensor, 120 ... motor, 121: Motor output shaft, 122: Worm, 123: First gear, 124: Second gear, 124a: Pinion of second gear, 125: Heater drive shaft, 26 ... shaft hole, 130 ... gear, 131 ... gear part of gear, 132 ... hollow shaft part of gear, 133 ... excitation coil, 140 ... movable iron core, 141 ... pinion part of movable iron core, 142 ... movable iron core Fitting shaft, 150 ... rack, 151 ... rack convex part, 160 ... arm sensor, 161 ... arm sensor guide hole, 162 ... arm sensor handle, 163 ... arm sensor detection part, 164 ... permanent magnet, 165 Rotating shaft of arm sensor, 166, draining portion, 170, substrate, 171, 172, 173, 174, Hall IC, 175, micro switch, 176, engaging arm of micro switch, 200, driving device, 210, case 211, 212 ... bearings, 213 ... arm sensor bearings, 220 ... motor, 221 ... motor output shaft, 224 ... worm, 223 ... first gear, 24 ... second gear, 224a ... second gear pinion, 225 ... heater drive shaft, 230 ... gear, 231 ... gear part of gear, 250 ... rack, 251 ... rack convex part, 260 ... arm sensor, 261 ... arm Guide hole of sensor, 262 ... handle part of arm sensor, 263 ... detection part of arm sensor, 265 ... rotating shaft of arm sensor, 266 ... draining part, 264 ... switch pressing part of arm sensor, 232 ... shaft part of gear 241 ... Pinion part of the gear.

Claims (15)

In a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having a storage room, a refrigeration cycle having a cooler for a storage room for cooling the storage room, an ice making device built in the refrigerator body, and a control device,
The ice making device includes an ice making cooler constituted by a part of the refrigeration cycle and an ice making unit having an inclined ice making surface, a water circulation device for flowing ice making water to the ice making surface of the ice making unit, and the ice making device Ice thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the plate-like ice generated on the ice making surface of the part, and an ice storage container for storing the ice generated in the ice making part,
The said control apparatus is provided with the function to control the driving | operation of the said water circulation apparatus based on the detection result of the said ice thickness detection means. The refrigerator characterized by the above-mentioned.   2. The water circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the water circulation device stores water for storing ice making water, a water circulation path for circulating the ice making water stored in the water storage tank through the ice making unit, and water circulation for the ice making water. A refrigerator having a circulation circuit that circulates through a path, and the control device has a function of controlling the operation of the circulation pump based on a detection result of the ice thickness detection means. .   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ice making unit and the ice storage container are disposed in an independent ice making chamber separated from a cold air circulation path by the cooler for the storage room.   3. The ice making part according to claim 2, comprising an ice making cooling plate having an inclined ice making surface and an ice making cooler comprising a cooling pipe thermally connected to the ice making cooling plate. Refrigerator.   3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the ice thickness detecting means detects the thickness of the plate ice by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor.   3. The water supply pump according to claim 2, wherein the water storage tank includes a water supply tank and a recovery tank, and the circulation pump forcibly supplies ice-making water stored in the water supply tank to the ice making unit through the water circulation path. And a recovery pump for recovering the water flowing down from the ice making part to the water supply tank through the water circulation path from the recovery tank.   In Claim 6, the ice thickness detection means detects the thickness of the plate ice by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor, the control device periodically moves the arm sensor up and down, A refrigerator comprising a function of stopping the operation of the water supply pump when the arm sensor detects plate-like ice having a set thickness.   7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the control device has a function of continuing the operation of the recovery pump for a predetermined time after the water supply pump is stopped.   7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the control device has a function of stopping the operation of the recovery pump when the amount of water stored in the water supply tank becomes a predetermined amount or less.   7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the control device has a function of starting the operation of the recovery pump after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of operation of the feed water pump.   7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein after the operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump is stopped, the control device performs a reverse rotation operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump to supply water in the water supply pipe and the recovery pipe to the water storage tank. A refrigerator characterized by having a function of returning it to the above.   7. The ice thickness detecting means according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the plate ice is detected by an arm sensor driven up and down by a motor, and the control device raises and lowers the arm sensor at regular intervals. A refrigerator having a function of stopping the operation of the water supply pump and the recovery pump when the lowered position is the same for three or more times.   7. The storage room according to claim 6, wherein the storage room includes a refrigeration room, a freezing room, and a vegetable room communicated via a cold air passage that is ventilated through the storage room cooler, and the refrigeration room, the freezing room, and the vegetable room. An ice-making chamber composed of an independent room adjacent to and above the freezer compartment under the independent refrigeration chamber separated from the cold-air ventilation passage. A refrigerator that is installed in the refrigerator compartment together with the water supply tank.   14. The back surface of the ice making chamber according to claim 13, wherein the recovery tank is surrounded by the ice making unit disposed at an upper rear side of the ice making chamber and the ice storage tank disposed at a lower front side of the ice making chamber. A refrigerator characterized by being arranged in a space on the lower side.   15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the recovery tank and a heat insulating member that partitions the recovery tank are installed across the rear of the beam-shaped partition that partitions the ice making chamber and the freezing chamber.

Images