JP2835225B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator , and more particularly to a refrigerator prior to the start of a defrosting operation.
The pre-operation that forcibly drives the
The present invention relates to a refrigerator configured to execute a cool operation .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic ice maker provided in a refrigerator of this type, an ice tray is placed in an ice making space to be cooled similarly to a freezing room, and a water supply tank (for example, a refrigerator) (In the room), and in such a water supply state, when the temperature of the ice tray reaches the ice-making completion temperature, the ice tray is rotated while being twisted. The ice generating operation is performed such that ice generated in the ice tray is dropped into an ice storage box below.

On the other hand, in a general refrigerator, a defrosting operation of a cooler is periodically performed, and during this defrosting operation, the operation of a compressor for supplying a refrigerant to the cooler is stopped. At the same time, power is supplied to a defrost heater attached to the cooler. Also, in recent refrigerators
The temperature inside the refrigerator is limited by the defrosting operation described above.
Open the defrosting operation to prevent the
Forcibly operate the compressor for a predetermined time before starting
To perform pre-cool driving.
You.

[0004]

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the defrosting operation is often started immediately before the ice making by the automatic ice making machine is completed. However, when the defrosting operation is started at such a timing, the pre-defrosting operation performed prior to the start of the defrosting operation is performed.
Cooled down to just before the ice making completion temperature
The temperature of the ice tray rises unnecessarily
Will be. For this reason, there is no cooling
Can be ruined, resulting in reduced ice making capacity per day
There were many possibilities.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the ice making capacity of an automatic ice maker provided in a refrigerator regardless of the start timing of a defrosting operation performed after a precool operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which can be used without any effects and has an effect of improving its ice making ability.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for controlling a compressor before starting a defrosting operation.
Perform pre-cooling operation that forcibly operates only for a predetermined time.
In addition, an automatic ice making machine configured to stop driving of the compressor for the internal cooling operation during the subsequent defrosting operation, and to perform an ice removing operation when the temperature of the ice tray reaches the ice making completion temperature. in the refrigerator comprising an internal, said Puriku
When the ice making operation is completed, the temperature of the ice making tray
Become higher than the temperature and below the preset standby temperature
If there is, the start of the defrosting operation is suspended and the
The recooling operation is performed when the temperature of the ice tray
In this configuration, control means for performing control for extending the lamp until it is lowered is provided.

[0007]

In the operation state of the compressor, the ice tray is also cooled as the inside of the refrigerator is cooled, and the automatic ice making machine releases ice when the temperature of the ice tray drops to the ice making completion temperature. Perform the operation. When it is time to start defrosting operation
Before starting the defrosting operation,
Pre-cool operation is performed, in which only forced operation is performed during
It is. When performing such precool operation,
The temperature of the ice tray is higher than the ice making completion temperature and is set in advance.
When the temperature is below the specified standby temperature, that is, ice making
Is in the state immediately before the completion of, the control means,
Hold the start of defrosting operation and perform pre-cooling operation on the ice tray
System until the temperature of the ice falls below the ice making completion temperature.
I will do it. For this reason, ice trays
Cooling operation to just before the ice-making completion temperature.
Nevertheless, the temperature of the ice tray
Prevents the wastefully increased, so that leads to increased daily ice making capacity.

[0008]

FIG. 4 shows the external appearance of a refrigerator. In FIG. 4, a refrigerator compartment 1 provided with double doors 1a and 1b is provided above a refrigerator body 2, and an ice making room 3 provided with a drawer door 3a is provided in the refrigerator body. 2 is provided in the middle section. In addition, the refrigerator main body 2 includes a freezer compartment 4 having a drawer-type door 4a, a freezer compartment 5 also having a drawer-type door 4a (see FIG. 3), and a vegetable compartment having a drawer-type door 6 (see FIG. 3). (Not shown) is provided. 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 structure of the automatic ice maker 7 provided in the refrigerator main body 2, which will be described below.

That is, a water supply tank 8 (also shown in FIG. 4) and a tank shelf 9 for supporting the water supply tank 8 in a mounted state are provided at a tank storage corner 1c formed at the lowermost portion in the refrigerator compartment 1. , Water receiving tray 1 supplied from the water supply tank 8 at a constant water level
0, a water supply pump 11 for pumping water in the water tray 10
The water pumped up by the water supply pump 11 is supplied to an ice tray 12 provided in the ice making chamber 3 via a water supply hose 11a.

The tank switch 9 is turned on when the water supply tank 8 is set (mounted) on the tank shelf 9.
3 are provided. 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 ice making machine body 14 having a built-in motor and the like, and a twist is given at a final stage of the rotation. The ice that has fallen from the ice tray 12 due to the ice removal operation is removed from the ice storage box 1 below.
5 is stored.

The ice storage box 15 is provided with an ice storage amount detection lever 16 which is rotated according to the ice storage amount. When the rotation amount of the lever 16 reaches a set value,
That is, when a predetermined amount or more of ice is stored in the ice storage box 15, a limit switch (not shown) in the ice making machine main body 14 is turned on to restrict the start of the ice releasing operation.

On the back surface of the ice tray 12, the temperature T
a thermistor 17 for detecting i.
Based on the detected temperature Ti of the thermistor 17, control such as the ice-making completion timing is performed as described later.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 schematically shows an electrical configuration by a combination of functional blocks, which will be described below.

The temperature detecting circuit 18 is provided with the thermistor 17.
And outputs a temperature signal Si having a voltage level corresponding to the detected temperature Ti to the control circuit device 19 as control means. The cooling operation temperature detection circuit 20 includes a temperature sensor provided to detect the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 and 5, and a temperature sensor provided to detect the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1;
A signal indicating the temperature detected by each temperature sensor is given to the control circuit device 19.

The water supply lamp 21 is, for example, a refrigerator door 1b.
It is provided on the front surface of the water supply tank, and in response to the lighting, gives notification that the inside of the water supply tank 8 has been emptied, and reports abnormality such as a setting failure of the water supply tank 8. Defrost heater 22
Is attached to a cooler (not shown) and melts frost on the cooler according to the energization.

The compressor 23 is a well-known compressor that constitutes a refrigeration cycle for cooling the inside of the refrigerator, and is adapted to supply a liquid refrigerant to the cooler in accordance with its drive. The fan device 24 has a well-known configuration provided to circulate cool air from the cooler in the refrigerator in accordance with the driving thereof. The damper device 25 has a well-known configuration provided so as to adjust the amount of cold air supplied from the cooler into the refrigerator compartment 1 according to the opening and closing thereof.

The integrating timer 26 is provided for determining the defrosting operation timing of the cooler.
Is performed only during the drive period, and when the timer operation time reaches a predetermined time T (for example, 8 hours), a defrost command signal Sd is output and given to the control circuit device 19. ing. Note that this integration timer 26
Is initialized when the control circuit device 19 starts the defrosting operation of the cooler.

The control circuit device 19 includes a microcomputer, and includes the above-described temperature detection circuit 1.
8. In addition to the input signals from the cooling operation temperature detection circuit 20 and the integration timer 26, an on signal from the tank switch 13 is also received. Based on these input signals and a program stored in advance, The water supply pump 11, the ice making machine main body 14, the water supply lamp 21, the defrost heater 22, the compressor 23, the fan device 24, and the damper device 25 are controlled.

FIG. 1 shows only the part directly related to the gist of the present invention out of the control contents of the control circuit device 19, which will be described below together with the related operation.

In the power-on state, the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 indicated by the temperature signal Si from the temperature detection circuit 18
Waits for the temperature to drop below the ice making completion temperature of -12.5 ° C. (step A1).

When the temperature of the ice tray 12 drops to -12.5 ° C. or lower, the ice making machine 14 performs a de-icing operation (routine A2). Thereafter, the setting state of the water supply tank 8 is determined based on a signal from the tank switch 13, and if the water supply tank 8 is not set correctly, the state in which the water supply lamp 21 is turned on is changed to the water supply tank 8 state.
Continue until is set correctly (steps A3, A
4).

When the water supply tank 8 is correctly set, the apparatus stands by for a predetermined time τa (about 5 to 6 minutes) (step A5), and thereafter drives the water supply pump 11 for a predetermined time to supply water to the ice tray 12. (Routine A6).

After the completion of the water supply operation, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the ice tray 12 is equal to or higher than -9.5 ° C. (step A7). At this time, when the water supply to the ice tray 12 is performed normally, the temperature Ti increases. However, when the water supply is not performed normally due to a shortage of water in the water supply tank 8, for example, The temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 does not rise above -9.5 ° C.

When Ti ≧ −9.5 ° C., that is, when the water supply to the ice making tray 12 is normally performed, it is determined whether or not the defrosting command signal Sd is input from the integrating timer 26. That is, it is determined whether or not the accumulated driving time of the compressor 23 has reached 8 hours (step A8). When the defrosting command signal Sd is not input, the control from step A1 is repeated.

On the other hand, when Ti <-9.5.degree. C., a loop for repeatedly executing the determination step A7 is created and waits for a predetermined time .tau.b (about 5 to 6 minutes) (step A9). If Ti ≧ −9.5 ° C. is not reached during the standby period, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the operation of supplying water to the ice tray 12 (including a state in which the water supply tank 8 is empty). Turn on the water supply lamp 21 (Step A1)
0).

In this lighting state, the temperature of the ice tray 12 is -9.5 ° C. until the water supply tank 8 is reset.
Wait until it rises above (steps A11, A1
2). Then, when the water supply tank 8 is reset or when Ti ≧ −9.5 ° C., the water supply lamp 21 is turned off (step A13 or step A1).
4) After that, the control after step A3 is executed.

On the other hand, if the defrosting command signal Sd is input in response to the accumulated driving time of the compressor 23 reaching eight hours ("YES" in step A8), the compressor 23 and the fan device 24 are cooled. Temperature detection circuit 2
A so-called precool operation is performed in which the forced operation is performed irrespective of the signal from 0 (step A15).

Such a pre-cooling operation is performed until 30 minutes have elapsed or until the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 drops to -10.degree. C. or less, which is the standby temperature set to the ice making completion temperature (-12.5.degree. C.) or higher. (Steps A16 and A17), and the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 is set to -10
When 30 minutes have elapsed without the temperature dropping below the temperature of not more than 0 ° C., the defrosting operation by the defrosting heater 22 is executed (routine A1).
8) Then, the process returns to the initial state (step A1).

On the other hand, when the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 drops to -10 ° C. or less during the precool operation, that is, when the ice tray 12 is in a state immediately before the ice making is completed, the forced operation of the compressor 23 and the fan device 24 is performed. The operation is continued until the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 drops to -12.5 ° C or lower or until 30 minutes elapses after the temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 drops to -10 ° C or lower (steps A19 to A2).
1).

The temperature Ti of the ice tray 12 is set to -12.
When the temperature falls to 5 ° C. or less, that is, when the ice making is completed, the control after the ice releasing operation routine A2 is performed, and when 30 minutes have elapsed without the ice making being completed, that is, although the ice making is normally completed, If the ice making is not completed due to any abnormality, the defrosting operation routine A18
And returns to the initial state.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit device 19 determines that the limit switch (not shown) has been turned on by the ice storage amount detecting lever 16 during execution of the ice releasing operation routine A2. Without performing the ice release operation,
For example, the subsequent water supply operation routine A6, determination step A
7 to execute the control after the determination step A8.

In short, when the time required for the defrosting operation of the cooler has been reached, a precool operation in which the compressor 23 and the fan device 24 are forcibly operated for 30 minutes before the defrosting operation is started. Some are done. In this case, during the precool operation, the ice tray 12
Is below the standby temperature (−10 ° C.) which is equal to or higher than the ice making completion temperature (−12.5 ° C.), that is, the state immediately before ice making is completed, the control circuit device 19
However, the start of the defrosting operation is suspended and the forced operation of the compressor 23 and the fan device 24 is continued. For this reason, the temperature of the ice tray 12 is not increased unnecessarily with the start of the defrosting operation as in the related art, and as a result, the ice making capacity per day is improved.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the start timing of the defrosting operation has been so determined by integrating the driving time of the compressor 23, it can be performed by such simple time control or frost formation amount detection.

[0036]

According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, the compressor is controlled prior to the start of the defrosting operation.
Perform pre-cooling operation that forcibly operates only for a predetermined time.
In addition, during the subsequent defrosting operation,
It is configured to stop driving the
Thus, in a refrigerator provided with an automatic ice making machine that performs a de-icing operation when the temperature of the ice tray reaches the ice making completion temperature in the refrigerator, the temperature of the ice tray is kept at the time of executing the precool operation.
Is higher than the ice making completion temperature and a preset standby temperature.
Degrees, the start of the defrosting operation is
Hold the pre-cooling operation and keep the ice tray temperature above
Since the control means for performing the control for extending the temperature to the temperature lower than the ice making completion temperature is provided, the ice making ability of the automatic ice making machine can be fully exhibited regardless of the start timing of the defrosting operation. It has an excellent effect of improving the ice making capacity per day.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main part in cross section.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the figure, 1 is a refrigerator room, 2 is a refrigerator body, 3 is an ice making room,
5 is a freezing room, 6 is a vegetable room, 7 is an automatic ice machine, 8 is a water supply tank, 11 is a water supply pump, 12 is an ice tray, 14 is an ice machine main body, 18 is a temperature detection circuit, 19 is a control circuit device (control Means), 22 is a defrost heater, 23 is a compressor, 24
Denotes a fan device, and 26 denotes an integrating timer.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F25C 1/10 F25D 21/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A compressor for starting defrosting operation.
Pre-cooling operation is performed to forcibly operate
In addition, during the subsequent defrosting operation, the operation of the compressor for the internal cooling operation is stopped , and the deicing operation is performed when the temperature of the ice tray reaches the ice making completion temperature. In a refrigerator having an automatic ice making machine built therein, the temperature of the ice making tray may become
Higher than the ice making completion temperature and below the preset standby temperature
Holds the start of the defrosting operation when it is in the lower state
The pre-cooling operation is performed and the temperature of the ice tray
A refrigerator provided with control means for performing control to extend the temperature until the temperature falls below the completion temperature .