JP2517158Y2 - Refrigerator ice making equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device for a refrigerator in which water stored in an ice making tray is sequentially frozen from the bottom to produce transparent ice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fan-cool type refrigerator, the compressor is operated / stopped based on the temperature of the freezing compartment, and when the freezing compartment reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the operation of the compressor is started and the fan is driven. The cool air is supplied to the inside of the refrigerator and the compressor and the fan are stopped when the temperature of the freezing room becomes lower than a predetermined temperature by the cold air supply. In addition, some recent fan-cooled refrigerators have a quick cooling operation that can be selected so that the food stored in the freezing room can be quickly cooled and frozen. For example, the compressor and the fan are continuously operated for 90 minutes regardless of the temperature.

As an ice making device provided in such a fan-cool type refrigerator capable of rapid cooling operation, the upper portion of the ice tray is covered with a lid with a heater, and the heater is used to heat the upper portion of the ice tray to cool the ice tray. There is one configured to spray ice on the bottom of the to make ice. In this one,
Since the water stored in the ice tray will freeze from the bottom side toward the water surface, the bubbles generated in the process will escape freely from the unfrozen water surface, producing transparent ice. It is possible.

In this ice making device, an ice tray temperature sensor is provided at a predetermined position of the ice tray, and when the temperature detected by the ice tray temperature sensor reaches, for example, about -5 ° C, the uniced portion leaves the water surface portion. Since it is only in the state, the heater is cut off at that point and finally the water surface part is frozen. Then, when the water stored in the ice tray completely freezes, the temperature of the ice tray decreases sharply thereafter, so when the ice tray temperature sensor detects a predetermined low temperature, for example, -13.5 ° C, the ice making is completed. As a result, the next ice removing operation is performed.

[0005]

However, when the rapid cooling operation is selected, cold air is continuously sprayed on the ice tray for a long time of 90 minutes during the rapid cooling operation. For this reason, the temperature of the ice tray temperature sensor detects -5 ° C earlier, and when not only the water surface portion but also water at a considerably deep place is in an unfrozen state, the ice tray temperature sensor detects -5 ° C. However, the heater may be cut off. If this happens, an ice film will form on the water surface, and there will be no escape for bubbles in the water, resulting in opaque ice containing bubbles.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to achieve a rapid cooling operation even if selected.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device for a refrigerator capable of producing transparent ice.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is incorporated into a refrigerator, in which the upper portion of a ice tray is heated by a heater while cold air is blown against the lower portion of the ice tray to cool the water in the ice tray. Is an ice making device for a refrigerator configured to freeze from the bottom side, and a temperature sensor for ice making plate that detects the temperature of the ice making plate and a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making that is higher than the ice making completion temperature. And a control unit that disconnects the heater when it detects that
When the rapid cooling operation for rapidly cooling the food contained in the refrigerator is selected, the heater is continuously energized regardless of the detection of the predetermined temperature near the completion of the ice making by the ice tray temperature sensor. It is characterized by being configured in.

[0008]

When the rapid cooling operation is selected, cold air is continuously blown to the ice tray, so that the ice tray tends to have a lower temperature in advance. However, during the rapid cooling operation, even if the ice tray temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making, the heater continues to generate heat without being cut off, so there is no risk of an ice film forming on the water surface.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings by applying it to an ice-making device for a fan-cool type refrigerator.

First, in FIG. 3, a freezer compartment 2, a refrigerating compartment 3 and an ice making compartment 4 are formed inside the refrigerator body 1, and the air cooled by the cooler 5 is distributed to each of these compartments by the fan 6. It is being supplied. An ice making device 7 according to the present invention is provided in the ice making chamber 4, and the ice making device 7 will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

That is, a machine body 8 is provided on the upper front side in the ice making chamber 4, and a motor 9 (see FIG. 4) is provided in the machine body 8.
A gear reduction mechanism (not shown) having a drive source as a drive source and a vibration imparting mechanism (also not shown) having an electromagnet 10 (see FIG. 4) as a drive source are housed. A support frame 11 is provided on the rear side of the machine body 8.
The ice tray 12 is arranged inside the. This ice tray 12
The rear central portion is rotatably supported by the support frame 11 via the shaft 12a, and the front central portion is connected to the output shaft of the gear reduction mechanism and the output element of the vibration imparting mechanism. Then, when the motor 9 rotates in the forward or reverse direction, the ice tray 12 is turned upside down or returned from the inverted position to the original horizontal position. When the electromagnet 10 is driven and its iron core reciprocates,
The ice tray 12 is adapted to vibrate in the front-back direction.

Although not shown, a projection is provided on the rear portion of the ice tray 12 so that the projection abuts the support frame 11 just before the end of the reversing operation. The motor 9 continues to rotate for a while even after the protrusion comes into contact with the support frame 11 to rotate the front portion of the ice tray 12 to the normal reversal position, so that the ice tray 12 is twisted and the ice is rotated by this twist. Is separated from the ice tray 12 and dropped and stored in the lower ice storage box 13.

Water is supplied to the ice tray 12 by a water supply device 14. This water supply device 14
Is a water supply tank 15 arranged in the refrigerating compartment 3, a water receiving tray 16 for receiving water from the water supplying tank 15, and the water receiving tray 1
It is composed of a water supply pump 18 for pumping the water in 6 into the ice tray 12 through a water supply pipe 17. Then, in order to detect that the water supplied to the ice tray 12 becomes ice, an ice tray temperature sensor 19 is attached to the ice tray 12.

On the other hand, in the rear wall of the ice making chamber 4, there is provided a cool air duct 20 for guiding the cool air sent by the fan 6 into the ice making chamber 4. The outlet 20a of the cold air duct 20 is directed obliquely upward, and the cold air discharged from the outlet 20a is blown onto the lower surface of the ice tray 12. Further, in order to prevent the cool air discharged from the outlet 20a from wrapping around to the upper surface side of the water stored in the ice tray 12, a lid 21 made of a heat insulating material covering the upper surface of the ice tray 12 is rotatable. It is installed in.

A heater 22 for heating the ice tray 12 from above and a lid temperature sensor 23 for detecting the ambient temperature of the upper portion of the ice tray 12 heated by the heater 22 are provided in the lid 21. . The lid 21 is supported by a support rod 24 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 during the reversing operation of the ice tray 12, so that the lid 21 does not interfere with the falling of ice.

The refrigerator provided with the ice making device 7 thus constructed is controlled by the microcomputer 25 as a control means shown in FIG. Signals from a freezer compartment temperature sensor 26 for detecting the temperature in the freezer compartment 2 and a quick cooling operation switch 27 are input to the microcomputer 25. Then, the microcomputer 25
The compressor 29 and the fan motor 6a are controlled via the cooling device drive circuit 28 based on these input signals and the control program stored in advance.

In this case, normally, the microcomputer 25 starts the operation of the compressor 29 and the fan motor 6a when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 26 for the freezer compartment becomes a predetermined temperature or higher, and the operation when the temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature. To stop. When the rapid cooling operation is selected, for example, the compressor 29 and the fan motor 6 for 90 minutes regardless of the temperature detected by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 26.
a is operated continuously.

Signals from the ice tray temperature sensor 19 and the lid temperature sensor 23 are input to the microcomputer 25, and a switch circuit 30 for detecting the inverted position and the horizontal position of the ice tray 12 is input. The signal from is input. And the microcomputer 25
Controls the motor 9 of the gear reduction mechanism, the electromagnet 10 of the vibration imparting mechanism, the water supply pump 18, and the heater 22 via the ice making device drive circuit 31 based on these input signals and a control program stored in advance.

Here, the microcomputer 25 indicates the ice sensor temperature sensor 1 at the start of ice making and the end of ice making.
It is configured to make a determination based on the detected temperature t1 of 9. That is, when the ice tray 12 is supplied with water, the ice tray 12 retains the water (plus temperature) in the refrigerating chamber 3 until then.
The temperature of the ice tray 12 rises, and the temperature of the ice tray 12 drops when the ice making is completed. Therefore, the microcomputer 25, after the water supply operation of the water supply pump 18 is completed,
When the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects that the temperature has risen above a certain temperature T0, it is determined that the ice tray has started, and the ice tray temperature sensor 19 has a predetermined negative temperature (for example,-).
13.5 ° C) is detected as the time point when ice making is completed.

Further, the microcomputer 25 makes the energization period of the heater 22 different between the normal cooling operation and the rapid cooling operation. That is, during the normal cooling operation, the microcomputer 25 controls the energization period of the heater 22 from the start of ice making (when the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects a predetermined plus temperature) to the ice tray temperature sensor 19. Is a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making, for example −
It is up to the detection of 5 ° C. The microcomputer 25 keeps the lid temperature sensor 2 in the energized period.
The heater 22 is energized when the detected temperature t2 of 3 becomes 8 ° C. or less, and the heater 22 is cut off when the detected temperature t2 exceeds 8 ° C.
The atmospheric temperature above the ice tray 12 is controlled.

On the other hand, during the rapid cooling operation, the microcomputer 25 sets the energization period of the heater 22 from the start of ice making to the end of ice making, and the heater 2 during that period.
2 is always energized.

Next, the control contents of the microcomputer 25 relating to ice making will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

It is now assumed that the ice tray 12 has returned from the inverted position to the horizontal position. Then, a return signal is output from the switch circuit 30, whereby the microcomputer 25
The water supply pump 18 is activated to supply a predetermined amount of water to the ice tray 12 (step S1 in FIG. 5). When the water supply is finished,
The temperature of the ice tray 12 rises. When the detected temperature t1 of the ice tray temperature sensor 19 rises above a certain temperature T0, the microcomputer 25 determines that time as the ice making start time ("YE" in step S2 of FIG. 5).
S ”), the electromagnet 10 of the vibration imparting mechanism is energized to make the ice tray 1
2 is vibrated to shift to the ice making process (step S in FIG. 5).
3).

If "NO" in the step S2, the microcomputer 25 lights a water supply lamp (not shown) to prompt the water supply to the water supply tank 15 (step S4 in FIG. 5). The user takes out the water supply tank 15 from the refrigerating room 3 by seeing the lighting of the water supply lamp,
When water is supplied to the water supply tank 15 and the water supply tank 15 is reset in the refrigerating compartment 3, the microcomputer 25 returns to step S1 based on a signal from a switch (not shown) which operates in response to the setting of the water supply tank 15, and then the ice tray 12 To supply water to.

In the ice making process, the microcomputer 25 determines whether or not the rapid cooling operation is in progress (step S5 in FIG. 5). Now, assuming that the normal cooling operation in which the compressor 29 is turned on and off based on the temperature detected by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 26 is not in the rapid cooling operation, the microcomputer 25 determines that the ice tray temperature sensor 19 is in operation. The time until the detected temperature t1 of the heater 22 reaches a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making, for example, -5 ° C or less is set as the energization period of the heater 22, and the heater 22 is subjected to on / off control based on the detected temperature t2 of the lid temperature sensor 23. .

That is, the microcomputer 25
In step S6 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether the temperature t1 detected by the ice tray temperature sensor 19 is -5 ° C. or lower (step S6 of FIG. 5). It is judged whether the detected temperature t2 of 23 is, for example, 8 ° C. or lower (step S7 in FIG. 5), and if it is 8 ° C. or lower, the heater 22 is energized (step S8 in FIG. 5) and exceeds 8 ° C. If the heater is turned off, the heater 22 is turned off (step S in FIG. 5).
9) It looks like this.

On the other hand, the cold air discharged from the outlet 20a of the cold air duct 20 hits the lower surface of the ice tray 12 to cool the water in the ice tray 12 from the lower surface side. In addition to the cold air cooling the ice tray 12 from the lower surface side in this way, the heater 22 warms the ice tray 12 from the upper surface side, so that water starts to freeze from the lower surface side.

When most of the water in the ice tray 12 freezes and the unfrozen portion only leaves the water surface portion, the temperature of the ice tray 12 decreases. When the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects −5 ° C. or lower (“YES” in step S6 of FIG. 5), the microcomputer 25 turns off the heater 22 (step S9 of FIG. 5), and thereafter, as it is. The heater 22 is maintained in the disconnected state (“YES” in step S10 of FIG. 5, “NO” in step S5, “YES” in step S6, and repetition of step S9). When the water remaining on the water surface freezes due to the disconnection of the heater 22, the temperature of the ice tray 12 rapidly decreases thereafter, and when the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects -13.5 ° C ( In step S10 of FIG. 5, “YES”), the microcomputer 25 determines that the ice making is completed, and turns off the electromagnet 10 of the vibration applying mechanism here (step S11 of FIG. 5).

It is assumed that the rapid cooling operation switch 27 is operated and the rapid cooling operation is selected during the above ice making process. When the rapid cooling operation is selected, the cool air will be 90% thereafter.
Since the ice tray 12 is continuously blown to the ice tray 12 for a minute to be in a strong cooling state, the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects the temperature of −5 ° C. earlier, so that not only the water on the water surface portion but also the water on a considerably deep portion Even in the unfrozen state, the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects −5 ° C.

However, when the rapid cooling operation is selected, the microcomputer 25 returns "Y" in step S5.
ES ”, and thereafter the heater 22 is maintained in the energized state (“ NO ”in step S12 and step S13 in FIG. 5,
Repeat "YES" in step S5). For this reason, during the rapid cooling operation, the cold air is continuously supplied for 90 minutes to the ice tray 1.
Heater 22
Since the battery is still energized, the problem that the surface portion of the water in the unfrozen state freezes and there is no escape area for bubbles does not occur. And when the water is completely frozen, ice tray 1
The temperature of No. 2 rapidly decreases, and the ice tray temperature sensor 19
When 13.5 ° C is detected (“Y” in step S13 of FIG. 5)
ES "), the microcomputer 25 judges that the ice making is completed and turns off the heater 22 (step S1 in FIG. 5).
4), the electromagnet 10 of the vibration imparting mechanism is cut off (step S11 in FIG. 5).

When the ice tray temperature sensor 19 detects -13.5 ° C. as described above to determine that the ice making is completed, the microcomputer 25 then shifts to ice removal (step S15 in FIG. 5). ), The motor 9 of the gear reduction mechanism is rotated in the forward direction to turn the ice tray 12 upside down.
Immediately before the end of this inversion operation, the ice tray 12 is twisted, and due to this twist, the ice is separated from the ice tray 12 and dropped and stored in the ice storage box 13. Then, when the ice tray 12 is rotated to the inversion position, the inversion completion signal is output from the switch circuit 30, so that the microcomputer 25 next moves to the motor 9
Is rotated in the opposite direction to return the ice tray 12 to the original horizontal position. When the ice tray 12 returns to the horizontal position, the switch circuit 30
Since the return signal is output from the microcomputer 25, the microcomputer 25 drives the water supply pump 18 to supply water to the ice tray 12, and the above ice making operation is repeated.
It should be noted that, when the ice storage box 13 is filled with ice, a detection switch (not shown) operates, so that subsequent ice making is stopped.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the rapid cooling operation is selected, the ice tray temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making which is higher than the ice making completion temperature. Since the heater is configured to continue to be energized, even if there is a situation in which cold air is continuously blown to the ice tray during a long-time cooling operation, there is no risk of the water on the water surface freezing first. Therefore, it has an excellent effect that transparent ice can be reliably manufactured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the refrigerator shown partially removed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical control configuration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control contents regarding ice making.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 is an ice tray, 14 is a water supply device, 19 is a temperature sensor for ice tray, 20 is a cold air duct, 21 is a lid, 22 is a heater, 2
Reference numeral 3 is a lid temperature sensor, 25 a microcomputer (control means), 26 is a freezer temperature sensor, 27 is a rapid cooling operation switch, and 29 is a compressor.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ice making device, which is incorporated in a refrigerator, wherein the upper portion is heated by a heater while cold air is blown to the lower portion of the ice making tray to freeze the water in the ice making tray from the bottom side. An ice tray temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the dish, and a control means for disconnecting the heater when the ice tray temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature near the completion of ice making which is higher than the ice making completion temperature, When the rapid cooling operation for rapidly cooling the food stored in the refrigerator is selected, the control means keeps the heater energized regardless of the detection of the predetermined temperature by the temperature sensor for the ice tray. An ice-making device for a refrigerator, which is configured as follows.