JP2766411B2 - Automatic ice making equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device for stopping an ice making operation when an ice making room door is pulled out during an ice making operation for dropping ice from an ice tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, refrigerators provided with an automatic ice making device have been provided. This automatic ice making device supplies water from the water supply tank provided in the refrigerator to the ice tray provided in the ice making room. When the water in the ice tray is frozen, the ice falls from the ice tray to the ice storage container. A series of operations such as a de-icing operation to be performed are automatically executed by the control device.

Further, in this type of automatic ice making apparatus, there is an automatic ice making apparatus in which an ice storage container is provided integrally with a door for closing the ice making room, and the door is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the ice making room. According to such a configuration, when the door is pulled out of the ice making chamber, the ice storage container provided integrally with the door appears to the outside, so that the ice stored in the ice storage container can be easily taken out.

In the case of the above configuration, when the door is pulled out during the ice releasing operation, the ice storage container provided integrally with the door is drawn out of the ice making chamber, so that the ice dropped from the ice tray is removed from the ice storage container. Will not be stored. Therefore, a door switch for detecting that the door has been pulled out of the ice making room is provided, and when the door switch is in the detection state, the ice releasing operation by the control device is stopped.

As described above, since the function of the door switch is extremely important, when the assembly of the refrigerator is completed, all the functions of the door switch are inspected. That is,
The voltage output from the door switch to the control device is measured by a voltmeter, or the lamp of the inspection device is turned on based on the output voltage from the door switch. Therefore,
When the function of the door switch is normal, the voltage output from the lamp to the control device fluctuates at the specified voltage according to the opening and closing of the door, or the lamp of the inspection device blinks. It is possible to determine whether the function of the door switch is normal based on this.

[0006]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional configuration, in order to inspect the function of the door switch, a voltmeter must be connected to the control device, or an inspection device must be connected to the control device. The disadvantage is that the operation is very troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making device that can easily inspect the function of a door switch for stopping an ice releasing operation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an ice tray provided in an ice making chamber which is opened and closed by a drawable door, an ice storage container provided integrally with the door, and the door being moved from the ice making chamber. A door switch for detecting that the ice tray has been pulled out, and an ice releasing operation for dropping ice onto the ice storage container when the water supplied to the ice tray is frozen, In an automatic ice making apparatus, comprising: a control unit for stopping an ice operation; and an inspection unit for forcibly executing the ice releasing operation in response to an external operation, the door is kept until a predetermined time elapses from the execution timing of the inspection unit. A notification means for notifying the detection state of the switch is provided.

[0009]

When the inspection means is driven by an external operation, the inspection means forcibly executes the ice releasing operation by the ice making tray, so that the ice releasing operation can be inspected by confirming the operation.

At this time, if the door is opened and closed before a predetermined time elapses from the execution timing of the inspection means, the detection state of the door switch changes accordingly, so that the notification means notifies the detection state of the door switch. . Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the function of the door switch is normal by checking the notification state of the notification unit.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automatic ice making device mounted on a refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2 showing the appearance of the refrigerator, a double door-type door 1a,
The refrigerator compartment 1 having the refrigerator compartment 1b is provided at the upper part of the refrigerator main body 2, and the ice making compartment 3 having the drawer-type door 3a is provided at the center of the refrigerator main body 2. In addition, the refrigerator body 2
A freezer compartment 4 having a drawer-type door 4a, a freezer compartment 5 also having a drawer-type door 5a (see FIG. 3), and a vegetable compartment (not shown) having a drawer-type door 6 are provided. Have been. The ice making chamber 3 is configured to be cooled to the same temperature as the freezing chambers 4 and 5.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the automatic ice making device 7 provided in the refrigerator main body 2, which will be described below.

That is, a water supply tank 8 (see FIG. 2), a tank fence 9 for supporting the water supply tank 8 in a mounted state, and a water supply tank are provided at a tank storage corner 1c formed at the lowermost portion in the refrigerator compartment 1. Water tray 1 supplied with constant water level from tank 8
A water supply pump 11 for pumping water in the water receiving tray 10 is provided. Water pumped by the water supply pump 11 is supplied to a water supply pipe 11a in an ice tray 12 provided in the ice making chamber 3. Is supplied through the communication terminal.

A tank switch 13 is provided in the vicinity of the water supply pump 11 to turn on when the water supply tank 8 is set (mounted). Further, the control of the amount of water supplied to the ice tray 12 is performed by driving the water supply pump 11 for a fixed time.

The ice tray 12 is made of an elastically deformable plastic material. When the ice making is completed, the ice tray 12 is rotated by an apparatus main body 15 having a dish rotating motor 14 (see FIG. 4), a speed reduction mechanism, and the like. At the final stage of the rotation, the ice tray 12 is twisted so that ice is dropped from the ice tray 12.
The ice that has fallen from the ice tray 12 due to this ice releasing operation is stored in an ice storage container 16 below.

An ice storage amount detection lever 17 is rotatably provided on the apparatus main body 15, and the detection lever 17 is located in the ice storage container 16. Here, an ice storage amount detection switch 18 (see FIG. 4) is provided in the apparatus main body 15. When a predetermined amount or more of ice is stored in the ice storage box 15, the detection switch 18 is turned on and the ice releasing operation is performed. Is restricted.

A temperature sensor 1 made of an NTC thermistor for detecting the temperature is provided on the back side of the ice tray 12.
9 for controlling ice-completion completion timing and the like based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 19.

The apparatus main body 15 has a test switch 2
0 is provided, and the dish switch motor 14 is driven by operation of the test switch 20 to forcibly execute the ice releasing operation.

Here, the ice storage container 16 is provided integrally with the door 3a, and can be pulled out of the ice making chamber 3 by a rail mechanism (not shown). Also, door 3a
A magnet 21 is fixed to a predetermined position in the upper part of the refrigerator, and a door switch 22 composed of a reed switch facing the magnet 21 is provided on the refrigerator body 2 side. A water supply lamp 23 is provided on the front side of the door 3a.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration by a combination of functional blocks, which will be described below.

The control device 24 serving as control means, inspection means and notification means is mainly composed of a microcomputer.
The water supply lamp 23, the water supply pump 11, and the dish rotating motor 14 are driven according to the detection states of the temperature sensor 19, the tank switch 13, the ice storage amount detection switch 18, and the door switch 22 described above. Further, when the test switch 20 is turned on, the control device 24 operates the dish rotation motor 14.
Is driven to forcibly execute the ice removing operation, and the lighting of the water supply lamp 23 is controlled in accordance with the detection state of the door switch 22 until a predetermined time elapses from the execution timing.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the power is turned on, the control device 24 turns on the water supply lamp 23 when the water supply tank 8 is not set. In the lighting state of the water supply lamp 23, the lighting state is continued irrespective of the opening and closing of the door 3a, and when the timer expires, the control device 24 returns to the main routine.

When the water supply tank 8 is set, the tank switch 13 is turned on.
4 turns off the water supply lamp 23. Subsequently, the control device 24
When the detection switch 18 is turned off because the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 16 is not full and the door switch 22 is turned on because the door 3a is closed, the water supply pump 11 is turned on for a predetermined time. When driven, the water supply operation is executed, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 19 becomes -12.
When the temperature reaches ° C, the dish rotating motor 14 is driven to start the ice removing operation.

If the door 3a is opened and the door switch 22 is turned off in the ice releasing operation, the control device 24 stops the ice removing operation, closes the door 3a, and turns on the door switch 22. Then, the ice release operation is restarted.

FIG. 1 shows only the part of the contents of control by the control device 24 that is directly related to the gist of the present invention.

When the assembly of the refrigerator is completed, it is checked whether or not the ice removing operation by the control device 24 functions normally, and whether or not the door switch 22 for stopping the ice removing operation functions normally. Must be inspected. In addition, during normal use of the refrigerator, if the ice-releasing operation is not performed normally, it is necessary to inspect the function of the ice-releasing operation, and even if the door 3a is opened during the ice-releasing operation. If does not stop, the function of the door switch 22 must be checked.

When inspecting such a function relating to the ice releasing operation, the test switch 20 is operated with the door 3a pulled out from the ice making chamber 3. Then, when the test switch 20 is operated during a period other than the water supply operation or the de-icing operation, the control device 24 executes the test mode shown in FIG. That is, the control device 24 sets the timer (step S1), and drives the dish rotating motor 14 to start the ice releasing operation (step S2). As a result, the ice removing operation is performed, so that the function of the ice removing operation can be inspected.

Subsequently, the controller 24 determines whether or not the time is up (step S3), and if not, determines whether or not the water supply tank 8 is set (step S4).

At this time, the control device 24 controls the water supply tank 8
If is not set, the water supply lamp 23 is turned on (step S5). Therefore, when the water supply tank 8 is set, the water supply lamp 23 is opened regardless of whether the door 3a is open or closed.
When the time is up, the control device 24 returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the water supply tank 8 is set, the control device 24 turns off the water supply lamp 23 (step S6). With the water supply lamp 23 turned off, the door 3
When the door switch 22 is turned off due to the opening of the switch a (step S7), the control device 24 sets the water supply lamp 2 to OFF.
3 is turned on (step S8), and when the door switch 22 is turned on by closing the door, the water supply lamp 23 is turned off (step S9). After that, the control device 24
When the timer expires after the set time has elapsed, the process returns to the main routine. Therefore, when the test mode for inspecting the ice release operation is executed, the water supply lamp 23 is turned on according to the on / off of the door switch 22 until the set time elapses.
Blinks, so that the function of the door switch 22 can be inspected.

In short, in the case of the above embodiment, when the test mode is executed by pressing the test switch 20, the deicing operation can be forcibly executed to check its function, and the deicing operation can be performed. Until the set time elapses from the execution timing of the water supply lamp 2 according to the opening and closing of the door 3a.
Since 3 blinks, it can be confirmed whether or not the door switch 22 is functioning normally based on the blinking state of the water supply lamp 23. In other words, when the door switch 22 does not function normally, the water supply lamp 23 remains off even if the door 3a is opened and closed during the execution of the test mode. In such a case, it is determined that the door switch 22 is abnormal. be able to. Therefore, in order to inspect the function of the door switch, the output voltage from the door switch must be inspected by a voltmeter or an inspection device connected to the control device side. By simply operating the test switch 20 to perform the operation, the function of the door switch 22 can be inspected at the same time.

In the case of the above embodiment, the door switch 22
Is added to the test mode for inspecting the de-icing operation, so that the inspection of the door switch 22 can be realized only by changing the program. Further, since the state of the door switch 22 is notified based on the lighting state of the water supply lamp 23 originally provided in the refrigerator, it is not necessary to newly provide a notification function, thereby suppressing an increase in cost. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the state of the door switch 22 is notified by the water supply lamp 23. However, a dedicated lamp for notifying may be provided. Is also good.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the automatic ice making device of the present invention, the inspection device for forcibly executing the ice-removing operation is provided. Until a predetermined time elapses, a notification unit that notifies the detection state of the door switch is provided, so by checking the notification by the notification unit, it is possible to easily inspect the function of the door switch for stopping the ice removal operation. An excellent effect is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing control contents of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a main part.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is a refrigerator main body, 3 is an ice making room, 3a is a door, 7 is an automatic ice making device, 14 is a dish rotating motor, 20 is a door switch, 22 is a door switch, 23 is a water supply lamp (notifying means), and 24 is a control device ( Control means, inspection means, and notification means).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ice making tray provided in an ice making room which is opened and closed by a drawable door, an ice storage container provided integrally with the door, and a door for detecting that the door is drawn out of the ice making room. A switch, a control means for performing an ice removing operation for dropping ice onto the ice storage container when the water supplied to the ice tray is frozen, and stopping the ice removing operation when the door switch is in a detection state. An automatic ice maker having an inspection means for forcibly executing the ice-removing operation in response to an external operation, wherein the notification that the detection state of the door switch is notified until a predetermined time elapses from the execution timing of the inspection means. An automatic ice making device comprising means.