JP4095703B2

JP4095703B2 - Ice making equipment

Info

Publication number: JP4095703B2
Application number: JP00131698A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 豊八下田; 敏夫黒川
Original assignee: Hitachi Appliances Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Appliances Inc
Priority date: 1998-01-07
Filing date: 1998-01-07
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-07
Also published as: JPH11201603A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、給水機能を備えた製氷装置を有する冷蔵庫に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
近年、製氷機を備えた冷蔵庫が数多く生産されるようになっている。従来技術による冷蔵庫の製氷装置について説明する。図３は、従来技術による典型的な冷蔵庫に備えられた製氷装置の概略を示す縦断面図である。１０１は冷蔵庫の庫内に組み込まれた製氷装置であり、この製氷装置１０１は製氷皿１０２、反転装置１０３、貯氷容器１０４、ポンプ１０５、給水タンク１０６、給水パイプ１０７、および吸い込みパイプ１０８らによって構成される。上記した構成物の内、製氷皿１０２、反転装置１０３、および貯氷容器１０４は下段の冷凍室１０９内にあり、ポンプ１０５と給水タンク１０６は上段の冷蔵室１１０に配置される。ポンプ１０５は例えばギアポンプであり、そのギアの回転と同時に水が給水タンク１０６から吸い込みパイプ１０８を通して直接吸い上げられる。また、給水パイプ１０７は、ポンプ１０５と製氷皿１０２との間を導水する経路となるものである。一方、吸い込みパイプ１０８は、給水タンク１０６若しくは給水タンク１０６内の水とポンプ１０５とを間を導水している。ここで、給水パイプ１０７は製氷皿１０２の情報に給水パイプ１０７の出口先端に設けたノズル１１１が開口し、このノズル１１１から製氷皿１０２に注水する構成となっている。一方、吸い込みパイプ１０８はその先端は給水タンク１０６内の水中に没している。
【０００３】
上記した製氷装置１０１の構成物の内、製氷皿１０２は内部の水を凍らせる皿である。反転装置１０３はギア列が内蔵されており、製氷皿１０２を反転して製氷皿１０２から皿内の氷を離脱させる働きをする。貯氷容器１０４は、製氷皿１０２の下にあり、製氷皿１０２から落下した氷を貯めておく容器である。
【０００４】
上記のような構成の製氷装置の製氷動作を簡単に説明する。まず、ポンプ１０５を正回転させ給水タンク１０６にある水をパイプ１０８に吸引し、給水パイプ１０７に送水し、給水パイプの先端に設けたノズル１１１から製氷皿１０２に注水する。製氷皿１０２がほぼ満水となる水量を注水するとポンプ１０５は停止し、その後、給水パイプ１０７を残留した水を給水タンクに戻すためにポンプ１０８を逆回転させる。このようにポンプ１０５のモータを一定時間だけ逆回転する理由は、給水パイプ１０７に残留する水をポンプ１０５を介して給水タンク１０６内に回収するためである。製氷皿１０２で製氷が完了すると、反転装置１０３で製氷皿１０２を反転して氷を製氷皿１０２から離脱させて製氷皿１０２の下にある貯氷容器１０４に落下させ、一連の製氷運転は終了する。
【０００５】
上記したような従来技術は、例えば特開平７−２６０３０５号公報に開示されている。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記従来技術では、上述したポンプの給水側の給水パイプは製氷皿の上面に開口されている製氷構造を有し、給水後に給水パイプに残留した水をポンプを通して給水タンク内に回収させる目的で、給水後一定時間ポンプのモータを逆回転させて残留水を回収するようにした残留水の回収制御を行う製氷装置では、下記の問題が生じる点については考慮されていなかった。
【０００７】
すなわち、給水パイプのパイプ内径が太かったり、パイプ内面が粗だったり、パイプが横方向に傾斜していたり、あるいはパイプ長さが長かったりした場合、給水パイプ内の残留水を回収する為に残留水の回収制御を行っても、給水パイプ内の径方向全域に発達した水流が途中で切れ、給水パイプの内面に附着し、回収できない残留水が発生する。この残留水は回収制御後に給水パイプの出口部まで自重で集結するのに時間がかかってしまう。さらには、給水パイプの出口部に溜まった残留水は表面張力で自重だけでは落下しにくいものであるため、上記の問題を放置しておくと、図示されていないが、給水パイプの凍結防止用のヒータが切れたり、急冷凍のための押ボタンを間違えて１度以上押したりした場合に、出口部の温度も下がって、給水パイプの出口部の残留水がして給水パイプの出口部を詰らせたり、水滴の場合には給水パイプの出口部を半分ふさぐ状態で結氷し、この影響で再給水時に給水パイプの出口部で、水の方向、角度が変化し、水が飛散し、製氷皿への給水ができなくなる。
【０００８】
さらには、上記の問題を解決しようとして、給水パイプの出口部に集結し、表面張力で自重だけでは落下しない残留水をポンプを正回転させ、吸い込みパイプの空気を給水パイプへ送風させて、風圧で落下させようとすると、その間に給水タンクの水を吸引してしまい、この水が再び給水パイプに送水され、給水パイプ内に残留水を発生させてしまう。
【０００９】
さらには、給水パイプの出口部に集結した残留水が異常時結氷し給水パイプが詰まった時、ポンプを逆回転すると給水パイプ内が負圧になるため、ポンプが停止していても給水パイプは給水タンクから水を吸引し、前記した異常運転が正常運転に戻った時、サイフォンの作用で製氷皿へ不必要な給水が行われる。
【００１０】
あるいは、給水パイプの出口部に集結した残留水が多量に発生して、その自重で給水パイプの出口部から離脱する際に給水パイプ内に瞬間的に負圧になるため、ポンプが停止していても給水パイプは給水タンクから水を吸引し、サイフォンの作用で製氷皿へ不必要な給水が行われる。
【００１１】
本発明は、従来技術の上記した問題点に着目し、給水パイプの水切り制御を行うことによって製氷皿への給水不良のない製氷装置を提供することを目的とするものである。
【００１２】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記した目的を達成するための本発明の特徴は、冷蔵庫内に給水タンクと、ポンプと、製氷皿と、これらを結ぶパイプとを配設し、上記ポンプの吸い込み側の吸い込みパイプは給水タンクの内部に接続され、上記ポンプの給水側の給水パイプは上記製氷皿の上面に開口されている製氷構造を有し、上記ポンプを正回転させて製氷皿に給水後、上記ポンプを一定時間逆回転させて上記給水パイプ内の残留水を上記給水タンクに回収する残留水の回収制御を有する製氷装置に於いて、残留水の回収制御の逆回転終了後、上記ポンプを停止させて上記給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を上記給水パイプの内面に沿って自重で落下させ、上記ポンプを正回転させて上記吸込みパイプの空気を上記給水パイプへ送風して上記給水パイプの出口に集結した残留水を風圧で落下させ、上記ポンプを停止させてから前記逆回転させる給水ポンプの水切り制御を附加したことを特徴とする製氷装置にある。
【００１３】
このようにすることによって、ポンプで製氷皿に給水後、ポンプを一定時間逆回転させて給水パイプ内の残留水を給水タンク内に回収する残留水の回収制御では給水パイプの水切りができなかったものを給水パイプの水切りができるようにした。
【００１４】
また、ポンプを停止させて給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を上記給水パイプの内面に沿って自重で落下させ、上記ポンプを正回転させて吸込みパイプの空気を上記給水パイプへ送風して上記給水パイプの出口に集結した残留水を風圧で落下させ、上記ポンプを停止させてから前記逆回転させる動作をサイクルとする上記ポンプの動作を連続して複数回行うようにしたことを特徴とするものである。
【００１５】
このようにすることによって、給水パイプの出口先端の水切りをより確実に行うようにしたものである。
【００１６】
さらに、冷蔵室には給水タンクとポンプとを配設し、冷蔵室の下部に形成した冷凍室には製氷皿を配設し、ポンプと製氷皿とを結ぶ給水パイプはポンプから冷蔵室の内箱背面に沿って下降させ、冷蔵室と冷凍室とを仕切る仕切断熱を貫通して製氷皿の上部に配設すると共に、給水パイプの寸法は内径７ｍｍ〜９ｍｍ、長さ６００ｍｍ〜９００ｍｍとし、その形状は３０°〜１２０°の曲げ部を３ヶ所以上としたことを特徴とするものである。
【００１７】
このようにすることによって、ポンプを停止させて給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を上記給水パイプの内面に沿って自重で落下させ、上記ポンプを正回転させて吸込みパイプの空気を上記給水パイプへ送風して上記給水パイプの出口に集結した残留水を風圧で落下させ、上記ポンプを停止させてから前記逆回転させる動作をサイクルとした水切り制御に於いて、ポンプの停止時間内に給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を給水パイプの出口部まで自重で結集させることができ、次のポンプの正回転時間内に給水パイプの出口部の残留水を風圧で落下させることができるようにしたものである。
【００１８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下本発明の実施例を図１、図２で説明する。図１は、本発明の製氷装置の冷蔵庫組み込み時の主要縦断面説明図である。図２は、本発明の給水工程のフローチャート説明図である。図１に於いて、１は製氷装置であり、該製氷装置は冷蔵庫の庫内に組み込まれ、製氷皿２、反転装置３、貯氷容器４、ポンプ５、給水タンク６、給水パイプ７、および吸い込みパイプ８によって構成される。上記した製氷装置１の構成物の内、製氷皿２、反転装置３、および貯氷容器４は冷蔵庫の下段に配設した冷凍室９に設けられる。製氷皿２は内部の水を凍らせる皿である。反転装置３はギア列が内蔵されており、製氷皿２を反転して離氷させる働きをする。貯氷容器４は製氷皿の下に設けられ、製氷皿２から落下した氷を貯めておく容器である。また、ポンプ５、給水タンク６、吸い込みパイプ８は冷蔵庫の上段に配設した冷蔵室１０に設けられている。ポンプ５はギアポンプであり、回転と同時に水が給水タンク６から吸い込みパイプ８を通して直接吸い上げられる。給水タンク６は内部に給水用の水を貯えた容器である。給水パイプ７は冷蔵庫の内箱背面１１に沿って下降し、冷凍室９と冷蔵室１０とを仕切る仕切断熱１２を貫通して製氷皿２の上面に開口されている。給水パイプ７の出口はノズル等で形成した出口部１３を有しており、この出口部１３から製氷皿２へ水が注水される。給水パイプの寸法は内径７ｍｍ〜９ｍｍ、長さ６００ｍｍ〜９００ｍｍとし、その形状は給水パイプ７の上部、中間部、下部に３０°〜１２０°の曲げ部７Ａ、７Ｂ、７Ｃを有している。吸い込みパイプ８はポンプ５の吸い込み側に隙間無く連続的に接続され、その先端は給水タンク６内の水中に没している。
【００１９】
次に、製氷の動作を説明する。給水タンク６にある水をポンプ５を正回転させ吸い込みパイプ８で吸引し、給水パイプ７に送水し、給水パイプ７の出口部１３から製氷皿２に注水する。製氷皿２が満水になるとポンプ５は停止し、その後給水パイプ７に残留した水を給水タンク６に回収するためにポンプ５を逆回転させる。製氷皿２で製氷が完了すると、反転装置３で製氷皿２を反転して離氷させ、製氷皿２の下にある貯氷容器４に落下させ、一連の製氷運転を終了する。この場合、給水パイプ７の寸法は、上記したように内径が７ｍｍ〜９ｍｍ、長さが６００ｍｍ〜９００ｍｍあり、その形状は給水パイプの上部、中間部、下部に３０°〜１２０°の曲げ部７Ａ、７Ｂ、７Ｃを有しているため、給水パイプ７の残留水を給水タンク６に回収するためにポンプ５を逆回転させる回収制御を行なっても、給水パイプ７の径方向全域に発達した水流が途中で切れ、給水パイプ７の内面に水滴状で附着し、回収できない水滴状の残留水が発生する。この水滴状の残留水のほとんどは自重で給水パイプ７の出口部１３に集まるが、集まるのに１０秒程度時間がかかる。出口部１３に集まった残留水をこのまま放置しておくと結氷して出口部１３を詰まらせる。水滴の場合は、出口部１３を半分ふさぐ状態で結氷し、再給水時に出口部１３で飛散し、製氷皿への給水が出来なくなる。出口部１３に集まった残留水が下に落下しないのは、出口部１３で表面張力が作用し自重では落下しにくくなるためである。そこで本発明では、ポンプ５を短時間（本例では０．２秒程）正回転させる。この正回転により、吸い込みパイプ８の空気を給水パイプ７に送風し、給水パイプ７の出口部１３に集まった残留水を風圧で落下させ、給水パイプ７の出口部１３の残留水の水切りを行うものである。ここで、ポンプ５を０．２秒正回転させると給水タンク６の水は吸い込みパイプ８へ吸い上げられることになるが、この間に吸い込みパイプ８へ吸い上げられる位置は給水タンク６の水面Ａ点から給水ポンプ５の入口部Ｂ点まである。そこで、次の動作で給水ポンプ５の入口部Ｂ点まで吸い上げられた水を給水タンク６へ戻すことが必要となり、給水ポンプ５を１秒逆回転させる。上記したように、ポンプ５の１０秒間の停止と、それに続く０．２秒間の正回転と、更に１秒間の逆回転を一サイクルとした給水パイプ７の水切り制御を行うことにより、給水パイプ７の内面に附着した残留水のほとんど（８０から９０％）を給水パイプ７の出口部１３に集め、給水パイプ７の出口部１３に集めた水を給水ポンプ５の風圧で落下させ、水切りができるようにしたものである。しかし、給水パイプ７の内面に附着した残留水を給水パイプ７の詰まりや製氷皿２への給水不良を完璧に起こさない程度まで除去するためには、上記した一サイクルの水切り制御を複数回繰返して行うことが必要となる。
【００２０】
次に、給水工程を図２のフローチャートによって詳細に説明する。ステップ１で図示されていない制御回路の給水タイマ１が始動し、続いてステップ２でポンプ５のモータが正回転を開始する。この正回転によって水が給水タンク６から吸い込みパイプ８を介して直接吸い上げられ、ポンプ５に入る。そして、ポンプ５から給水パイプ７を経て出口部１３から水が製氷皿２に吐出される。給水タイマ１が満了（本例では５秒間）するとポンプ５のモータが停止し、出口部１３からの水の吐出は停止する。この時、製氷皿２には水が満たされた状態になっている。製氷皿２へ吐出する水量の制御はタイマー１でポンプ５のモータ回転数を制御することによって行われている。ポンプ５はギアポンプを使用しているから、ポンプ５の総回転数にほほぼ比例した吐出水量が得られる。このためポンプ５のモータの回転時間を一定に定めることにより、希望する水量が得られる。
【００２１】
給水タイマー１の満了がステップ３で確認されると、ステップ４でタイマー２が始動を開始する。タイマー２の設定時間は、ポンプ５の停止時間（本例では１秒）と逆回転時間（本例では３秒）からなり、先のタイマー１のそれに比べて短い。そして、タイマー２が始動を開始すると、停止時間（本例では１秒）の後にステップ５でポンプ５のモータが逆回転（本例では３秒）をする。このようにポンプ５のモータを一定時間（３秒）だけ逆回転させる理由は、給水パイプ７に残留する水をポンプ５を介して給水タンク６内に回収するためである。
【００２２】
給水タイマー２の満了がステップ６で確認されると、ステップ１０でタイマー３が始動を開始する。タイマー３の設定時間は、ポンプ５の停止時間（１０秒）と正回転時間（０．２秒）からなる。そして、タイマー３が始動を開始すると、停止時間（１０秒）の後にステップ１１でポンプ５のモータが正回転（０．２秒）をする。このように、ポンプ５のモータを一定時間（１０秒）だけ停止させる理由は、給水パイプ７の内面に附着した残留水を自重で内面に沿って落下させ、給水パイプ７の出口部に集結させるためである。その後に、ポンプ５のモータを一定時間（０．２秒）だけ正回転させる理由は、吸い込みパイプ８の空気を給水パイプ７へ送風して給水パイプ７の出口に集結した残留水を風圧で落下させ水切りを行うためである。
【００２３】
給水タイマー３の満了がステップ１２で確認されると、ステップ１３でタイマー４が始動を開始する。タイマー４の設定時間は、ポンプ５の停止時間（本例では１秒）と逆回転時間（本例では１秒）からなる。そして、タイマー４が始動を開始すると、停止時間（１秒）の後に、ステップ１４でポンプ５のモータが逆回転（１秒）をする。このように、ポンプ５のモータを一定時間（１秒）だけ逆回転させる理由は、前工程でポンプ５のモータを一定時間（０．２秒）だけ正回転したことによって、給水タンク６の水が吸い込みパイプ８内のＡ点（すなわち給水タンクの水面の位置）、からＢ点（すなわち給水ポンプ５の吸い込み側の位置）、に吸い上げられているのをポンプ５の逆回転により給水タンク６に回収するためである。
【００２４】
給水タイマー４の満了がステップ１５で確認され、停止（１０秒）、正回転（０．２秒）、逆回転（１秒）を一サイクルとする給水パイプ７の水切り制御を終了する。しかし、給水パイプ７の詰まりや製氷皿２への給水不良を完璧に起こさせない程度まで給水パイプ７の内面に附着した残留水の水切り制御を行うにはこのサイクルを複数回繰返して行うことが必要となる。
【００２５】
図２のステップ２０からステップ２５は前述したステップ１０からステップ１５までの水切り制御の工程と同じものである。従ってステップ１０からステップ２５まで行うことによって２サイクルの水切り制御を完了するものである。一サイクルの所要時間は１２秒程度であり、このサイクルを複数回繰り返しても数十秒以内に水切り制御が完了できる。これによって、給水パイプ７の出口部の詰まりや製氷皿２への給水不良の発生を抑制することができる。
【００２６】
上記した構成によれば、給水パイプ７の出口部の水切りができることによって、ポンプ５の逆回転時に給水パイプ７内の圧力は負圧にならないこと、あるいは、給水パイプ７の出口部に集結した残留水の自重による離脱で給水パイプ７内の圧力が負圧になることもないので、ポンプ５が停止時に給水タンク６から水を吸収しサイフォンの作用で製氷皿２へ不必要な給水が行われることもなくなる。
【００２７】
また、ポンプの停止時に給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を自重により給水パイプの出口部まで集結させることができ、次の正回転時には吸い込みパイプ内の空気を給水パイプ内に送風し、給水パイプの出口部に集結した残留水を風圧で落下させ、給水パイプの残留水の水切りができる効果がある。これにより、給水パイプの出口部の結氷による詰りが解消できると共に、給水パイプの出口部の水滴もなくなるので、この水滴により、出口部を半分ふさぐ状態で結氷して、再給水時に水の方向、角度が変化し、飛散して製氷皿への給水が出来なくなるという問題を解消できる。また、給水パイプの出口部の水切りができることにより、ポンプを逆回転させても給水パイプ内が負圧になることがなくなり、あるいは、給水性パイプの出口部に集結した多量の残量水が、その自重で給水パイプの出口部から離脱する際に給水パイプ内が瞬間的に負圧になるということもなくなり、ポンプの停止時に給水タンクから水をサイフォン作用で給水パイプ側へ不必要に吸引し、製氷皿に不必要に給水が行われるという問題を解消できる。
【００２８】
さらに、ポンプを停止させ、給水パイプの出口部へ残留水を集める集結動作と、正回転させ、給水パイプの出口部に集結した残留水を風圧で落とす水切り動作と、逆回転させ、前工程で吸い込みパイプに吸い上げられた水を給水タンクへ戻させる戻し動作との３動作を一サイクルとする給水パイプの水切り制御を連続して複数回行うようにしたことによって、給水パイプの出口部の残留水の水切りをより確実に行うことができる。
【００２９】
さらに、製氷装置の構造に於いては、冷蔵室には給水タンクとポンプとを配設し、冷蔵室の下部に形成した冷凍室には製氷皿を配設し、ポンプと製氷皿とを結ぶ給水パイプはポンプから冷蔵室の内箱背面に沿って下降させ、冷蔵室と冷凍室とを仕切る仕切断熱を貫通して製氷皿の上面に配設すると共に、給水パイプの寸法は内径７ｍｍ〜９ｍｍ、長さ６００ｍｍ〜９００ｍｍとし、その形状は３０°〜１２０°の曲げ部を３ヶ所以上有する形状である。この様な構成にすることによって、ポンプの停止、正回転、逆回転の３動作を一サイクルとした給水パイプの水切り制御に於いて、ポンプの停止時間（１０秒間）内に給水パイプの内面に附着した残留水を給水パイプの出口部まで自重で集結させることができ、次のポンプの正回転時間（０．２秒）内に給水パイプの出口部の残留水を風圧で落下させることができ、加えてポンプの逆回転時間（１秒）内に上記正回転（０．２秒）で吸い込みパイプに吸い上げられた水を給水タンクへ戻すことができる。
【００３０】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、製氷皿への給水不良のない製氷装置を提供できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の製氷装置の冷蔵庫組込み時の主要縦断面説明図。
【図２】本発明の給水工程のフローチャート説明図。
【図３】従来の製氷装置の冷蔵庫組込み時の主要縦断面説明図。
【符号の説明】
１・・・製氷装置２・・・製氷皿
３・・・反転装置５・・・ポンプ
６・・・給水タンク７・・・給水パイプ
８・・・吸い込みパイプ９・・・冷凍室
１０・・・冷蔵室１２・・・仕切断熱[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an ice making device having a water supply function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, many refrigerators equipped with ice makers have been produced. A conventional ice making device for a refrigerator will be described. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an ice making device provided in a typical refrigerator according to the prior art. Reference numeral 101 denotes an ice making device incorporated in a refrigerator. The ice making device 101 includes an ice tray 102, a reversing device 103, an ice storage container 104, a pump 105, a water supply tank 106, a water supply pipe 107, and a suction pipe 108. Is done. Among the above-described components, the ice tray 102, the reversing device 103, and the ice storage container 104 are in the lower freezer compartment 109, and the pump 105 and the water supply tank 106 are arranged in the upper refrigerator compartment 110. The pump 105 is, for example, a gear pump, and water is sucked up directly from the water supply tank 106 through the suction pipe 108 simultaneously with the rotation of the gear. The water supply pipe 107 serves as a path for guiding water between the pump 105 and the ice tray 102. On the other hand, the suction pipe 108 guides water between the water supply tank 106 or the water in the water supply tank 106 and the pump 105. Here, the water supply pipe 107 has a configuration in which a nozzle 111 provided at the outlet end of the water supply pipe 107 is opened in the information on the ice tray 102 and water is poured from the nozzle 111 into the ice tray 102. On the other hand, the suction pipe 108 has its tip submerged in the water in the water supply tank 106.
[0003]
Of the components of the ice making device 101 described above, the ice making tray 102 is a tray for freezing water inside. The reversing device 103 has a built-in gear train, and functions to reverse the ice tray 102 to remove the ice in the tray from the ice tray 102. The ice storage container 104 is a container that is located under the ice tray 102 and stores ice that has fallen from the ice tray 102.
[0004]
The ice making operation of the ice making device configured as described above will be briefly described. First, the pump 105 is rotated forward so that water in the water supply tank 106 is sucked into the pipe 108, supplied to the water supply pipe 107, and poured into the ice tray 102 from the nozzle 111 provided at the tip of the water supply pipe. When the amount of water that the ice tray 102 is almost full of water is injected, the pump 105 stops, and then the pump 108 is rotated in reverse to return the water remaining in the water supply pipe 107 to the water supply tank. The reason why the motor of the pump 105 is reversely rotated for a certain time in this way is to collect the water remaining in the water supply pipe 107 into the water supply tank 106 via the pump 105. When ice making is completed in the ice tray 102, the reversing device 103 reverses the ice tray 102 to remove the ice from the ice tray 102 and drop it into the ice storage container 104 under the ice tray 102, and the series of ice making operations is completed. .
[0005]
The prior art as described above is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-260305.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above prior art, the water supply pipe on the water supply side of the pump described above has an ice making structure opened on the upper surface of the ice tray, and for the purpose of collecting the water remaining in the water supply pipe after water supply into the water supply tank through the pump, In the ice making device that performs the recovery control of the residual water in which the pump motor is reversely rotated for a certain time after the water supply to recover the residual water, the following problems have not been considered.
[0007]
That is, when the pipe inner diameter of the water supply pipe is thick, the pipe inner surface is rough, the pipe is inclined in the lateral direction, or the pipe length is long, the residual water in the water supply pipe remains to be collected. Even when the water recovery control is performed, the water flow developed in the entire radial direction in the water supply pipe is cut off halfway and attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe, and residual water that cannot be recovered is generated. It takes time for the residual water to collect by its own weight up to the outlet of the water supply pipe after the recovery control. Furthermore, since the residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe is hard to fall by its own weight due to surface tension alone, if the above problem is left unattended, it is not shown in the figure, but it is used to prevent the water supply pipe from freezing. If the heater is turned off, or if the push button for quick freezing is mistakenly pushed more than once, the temperature at the outlet will drop, and the residual water at the outlet of the water supply pipe will drop and the outlet of the water supply pipe will In the case of clogging or water drops, the water pipe is frozen with the outlet part of the water blocked, and this affects the direction and angle of the water at the outlet part of the water pipe when water is refilled. Can no longer supply water to the ice tray.
[0008]
Furthermore, in an attempt to solve the above problems, the water gathered at the outlet of the water supply pipe, the residual water that does not fall by its own weight due to the surface tension, rotates the pump forward, and the air from the suction pipe is blown to the water supply pipe to reduce the wind pressure. If the water is dropped, the water in the water supply tank is sucked in the meantime, and this water is sent again to the water supply pipe, and residual water is generated in the water supply pipe.
[0009]
Furthermore, when the residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe freezes in the event of an abnormality and the water supply pipe is clogged, reverse rotation of the pump will cause negative pressure in the water supply pipe, so the water supply pipe will not stop even if the pump is stopped. When water is sucked from the water supply tank and the abnormal operation described above returns to normal operation, unnecessary water supply is performed to the ice tray by the action of the siphon.
[0010]
Alternatively, a large amount of residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe is generated, and the pump stops because it loses momentary negative pressure in the water supply pipe when it leaves the outlet of the water supply pipe due to its own weight. However, the water supply pipe draws water from the water supply tank, and the siphon acts to supply unnecessary water to the ice tray.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device that does not cause poor water supply to an ice tray by performing draining control of a water supply pipe, paying attention to the above-described problems of the prior art.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A feature of the present invention for achieving the above-described object is that a water supply tank, a pump, an ice tray, and a pipe connecting these are arranged in the refrigerator, and the suction pipe on the suction side of the pump is a part of the water supply tank. is connected to an internal water supply pipe of the water supply side of the pump has an ice making structure being opened to an upper surface of the ice tray, after water supply to the ice tray by forward rotation of the pump, a predetermined time reverse rotation of the pump the residual water in the allowed by the water feed pipe at the ice making apparatus having a recovery control of the residual water collecting in the water feed tank, after the end opposite the rotation of the recovery control of the residual water, the water supply pipe is stopped the pump the residual water PCB attached to the inner surface is dropped by its own weight along the inner surface of the water feed pipe, the pump rotated forward air of the suction pipe and blown into the water feed pipe gathered to the outlet of the water feed pipe Residual water was dropped by wind pressure, and in the ice making device being characterized in that to wipe the draining control of the reverse rotation causes the water supply pump after stopping the pump.
[0013]
By doing so, after supplying water to the ice tray with the pump, the water supply pipe could not be drained by the residual water recovery control in which the pump was rotated backward for a certain time to collect the residual water in the water supply pipe in the water supply tank. Made it possible to drain water pipes.
[0014]
Further, the pump is stopped and the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe is dropped by its own weight along the inner surface of the water supply pipe, and the pump is rotated forward to blow the air of the suction pipe to the water supply pipe. the residual water gathered in the outlet of the water supply pipe is dropped by wind pressure, and characterized in that to perform a plurality of times in succession the operation of the pump to the reverse rotation causes operation and cycle after stopping the pump To do.
[0015]
By doing so, draining of the outlet end of the water supply pipe is more reliably performed.
[0016]
Furthermore, a water supply tank and a pump are provided in the refrigerator compartment, an ice tray is provided in the freezer compartment formed in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment, and a water supply pipe connecting the pump and the ice tray is provided from the pump to the inside of the refrigerator compartment. It is lowered along the back of the box, penetrates the partition insulation that separates the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, and is arranged at the top of the ice tray. The dimensions of the water supply pipe are 7 mm to 9 mm in inner diameter and 600 mm to 900 mm in length. The shape is characterized by having three or more bent portions of 30 ° to 120 °.
[0017]
In this way, the pump is stopped, the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe is dropped by its own weight along the inner surface of the water supply pipe , the pump is rotated forward, and the air in the suction pipe is removed from the water supply pipe. and blown into is dropped by wind pressure the residual water which has gathered in the outlet of the water feed pipe, in the draining control the cycle of the reverse rotation causes operation after stopping the pump, the water supply to the pump stop time Residual water attached to the inner surface of the pipe can be collected by its own weight up to the outlet of the water supply pipe, and the residual water at the outlet of the water supply pipe can be dropped by wind pressure within the normal rotation time of the next pump. It is a thing.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a main longitudinal section when the ice making device of the present invention is incorporated into a refrigerator. FIG. 2 is a flow chart explanatory diagram of the water supply process of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ice making device, which is incorporated in a refrigerator, and includes an ice tray 2, a reversing device 3, an ice storage container 4, a pump 5, a water supply tank 6, a water supply pipe 7, and a suction pipe. It is constituted by a pipe 8. Of the components of the ice making device 1 described above, the ice making tray 2, the reversing device 3, and the ice storage container 4 are provided in a freezer compartment 9 disposed in the lower stage of the refrigerator. The ice tray 2 is a tray that freezes water inside. The reversing device 3 has a built-in gear train, and functions to reverse the ice tray 2 to release ice. The ice storage container 4 is a container that is provided under the ice tray and stores ice that has fallen from the ice tray 2. Moreover, the pump 5, the water supply tank 6, and the suction pipe 8 are provided in the refrigerator compartment 10 arrange | positioned in the upper stage of the refrigerator. The pump 5 is a gear pump, and simultaneously with rotation, water is directly sucked from the water supply tank 6 through the suction pipe 8. The water supply tank 6 is a container in which water for supplying water is stored. The water supply pipe 7 descends along the inner box rear face 11 of the refrigerator, and is opened on the upper surface of the ice tray 2 through the partition heat insulation 12 that partitions the freezer compartment 9 and the refrigerator compartment 10. The outlet of the water supply pipe 7 has an outlet portion 13 formed by a nozzle or the like, and water is poured from the outlet portion 13 into the ice tray 2. The dimensions of the water supply pipe are 7 mm to 9 mm in inner diameter and 600 mm to 900 mm in length, and the shape has bent portions 7A, 7B and 7C of 30 ° to 120 ° at the upper, middle and lower portions of the water supply pipe 7, respectively. The suction pipe 8 is continuously connected to the suction side of the pump 5 without a gap, and the tip thereof is submerged in the water in the water supply tank 6.
[0019]
Next, the operation of ice making will be described. The water in the water supply tank 6 is sucked by the suction pipe 8 by rotating the pump 5 in the forward direction, is supplied to the water supply pipe 7, and is poured into the ice tray 2 from the outlet 13 of the water supply pipe 7. When the ice tray 2 is full, the pump 5 is stopped, and then the pump 5 is rotated in reverse to collect the water remaining in the water supply pipe 7 in the water supply tank 6. When ice making is completed in the ice tray 2, the ice tray 2 is inverted by the reversing device 3 to be deiced, dropped into the ice storage container 4 below the ice tray 2, and a series of ice making operations is completed. In this case, the dimensions of the water supply pipe 7 are, as described above, an inner diameter of 7 mm to 9 mm and a length of 600 mm to 900 mm, and the shape is a bent portion 7A of 30 ° to 120 ° at the upper, middle, and lower portions of the water supply pipe. , 7B and 7C, the water flow developed over the entire radial direction of the water supply pipe 7 even if the recovery control is performed to reversely rotate the pump 5 in order to recover the residual water in the water supply pipe 7 to the water supply tank 6. Will be cut off in the middle and attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe 7 in the form of water droplets, and water droplets that cannot be recovered will be generated. Most of the residual water in the form of water drops is collected by its own weight at the outlet 13 of the water supply pipe 7, but it takes about 10 seconds to collect. If the residual water collected at the outlet 13 is left as it is, it forms ice and clogs the outlet 13. In the case of water droplets, the ice is frozen in a state where the outlet portion 13 is half blocked, and splashes at the outlet portion 13 at the time of re-watering, making it impossible to supply water to the ice tray. The reason why the residual water collected at the outlet portion 13 does not fall down is that the surface tension acts at the outlet portion 13 and it is difficult to fall under its own weight. Therefore, in the present invention, the pump 5 is rotated forward for a short time (in this example, about 0.2 seconds). By this forward rotation, the air of the suction pipe 8 is blown to the water supply pipe 7, the residual water collected at the outlet portion 13 of the water supply pipe 7 is dropped by wind pressure, and the residual water at the outlet portion 13 of the water supply pipe 7 is drained. Is. Here, when the pump 5 is rotated forward for 0.2 seconds, the water in the water supply tank 6 is sucked up to the suction pipe 8, and the position where the water is sucked up to the suction pipe 8 during this period is supplied from the water surface A point of the water supply tank 6. Up to the inlet B point of the pump 5. Therefore, it is necessary to return the water sucked up to the inlet B point of the feed water pump 5 to the feed water tank 6 in the next operation, and the feed water pump 5 is rotated reversely for 1 second. As described above, the water supply pipe 7 is controlled by draining control of the water supply pipe 7 in which the pump 5 is stopped for 10 seconds, followed by normal rotation for 0.2 seconds, and further reverse rotation for 1 second as one cycle. Most of the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water (80 to 90%) is collected at the outlet 13 of the water supply pipe 7, and the water collected at the outlet 13 of the water supply pipe 7 is dropped by the wind pressure of the water supply pump 5 to drain the water. It is what I did. However, in order to remove residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe 7 to such an extent that the water supply pipe 7 is not clogged or poorly supplied to the ice tray 2, the above-mentioned water draining control is repeated a plurality of times. Need to be done.
[0020]
Next, a water supply process is demonstrated in detail with the flowchart of FIG. In step 1, a water supply timer 1 of a control circuit (not shown) is started, and in step 2, the motor of the pump 5 starts normal rotation. By this forward rotation, water is directly sucked up from the water supply tank 6 through the suction pipe 8 and enters the pump 5. Then, water is discharged from the outlet 5 to the ice tray 2 through the water supply pipe 7 from the pump 5. When the water supply timer 1 expires (in this example, 5 seconds), the motor of the pump 5 stops and the discharge of water from the outlet portion 13 stops. At this time, the ice tray 2 is filled with water. The amount of water discharged to the ice tray 2 is controlled by controlling the motor speed of the pump 5 with the timer 1. Since the pump 5 uses a gear pump, a discharge water amount approximately proportional to the total number of revolutions of the pump 5 can be obtained. Therefore, a desired amount of water can be obtained by setting the rotation time of the motor of the pump 5 constant.
[0021]
When the expiration of the water supply timer 1 is confirmed in step 3, the timer 2 starts to be started in step 4. The set time of the timer 2 is composed of the stop time of the pump 5 (1 second in this example) and the reverse rotation time (3 seconds in this example), and is shorter than that of the previous timer 1. When the timer 2 starts to start, the motor of the pump 5 reversely rotates (3 seconds in this example) in step 5 after a stop time (1 second in this example). The reason why the motor of the pump 5 is reversely rotated for a certain time (3 seconds) in this way is to collect the water remaining in the water supply pipe 7 into the water supply tank 6 via the pump 5.
[0022]
When the expiration of the water supply timer 2 is confirmed in step 6, the timer 3 starts to start in step 10. The set time of the timer 3 includes a stop time (10 seconds) of the pump 5 and a normal rotation time (0.2 seconds). When the timer 3 starts to start, the motor of the pump 5 rotates forward (0.2 seconds) in step 11 after the stop time (10 seconds). Thus, the reason for stopping the motor of the pump 5 for a fixed time (10 seconds) is that the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe 7 is dropped along the inner surface by its own weight and concentrated at the outlet of the water supply pipe 7. Because. Then, the reason why the motor of the pump 5 is rotated forward for a predetermined time (0.2 seconds) is that the air in the suction pipe 8 is blown to the water supply pipe 7 and the residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe 7 is dropped by the wind pressure. This is for draining water.
[0023]
When the expiration of the water supply timer 3 is confirmed in step 12, the timer 4 starts to be started in step 13. The set time of the timer 4 includes a stop time (1 second in this example) of the pump 5 and a reverse rotation time (1 second in this example). When the timer 4 starts to start, the motor of the pump 5 reversely rotates (1 second) in step 14 after the stop time (1 second). As described above, the reason why the motor of the pump 5 is reversely rotated for a predetermined time (1 second) is that the water of the water supply tank 6 is rotated by rotating the motor of the pump 5 forward for a predetermined time (0.2 second) in the previous process. Is sucked from point A in the suction pipe 8 (that is, the position of the water surface of the water supply tank) to point B (that is, the position on the suction side of the water supply pump 5) to the water supply tank 6 by the reverse rotation of the pump 5. This is for recovery.
[0024]
Expiration of the water supply timer 4 is confirmed in step 15, and the draining control of the water supply pipe 7 with one cycle of stop (10 seconds), forward rotation (0.2 seconds), and reverse rotation (1 second) is completed. However, it is necessary to repeat this cycle a plurality of times in order to control the drainage of the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe 7 to the extent that clogging of the water supply pipe 7 and poor water supply to the ice tray 2 are not caused. It becomes.
[0025]
Steps 20 to 25 in FIG. 2 are the same as the draining control steps from Step 10 to Step 15 described above. Therefore, by performing steps 10 to 25, the two-cycle draining control is completed. The time required for one cycle is about 12 seconds, and the draining control can be completed within several tens of seconds even if this cycle is repeated a plurality of times. As a result, the clogging of the outlet portion of the water supply pipe 7 and the occurrence of poor water supply to the ice tray 2 can be suppressed.
[0026]
According to the configuration described above, the drainage of the outlet portion of the water supply pipe 7 can be performed, so that the pressure in the water supply pipe 7 does not become negative during the reverse rotation of the pump 5, or the residual collected in the outlet portion of the water supply pipe 7. Since the pressure in the water supply pipe 7 does not become negative due to separation due to the weight of water, the pump 5 absorbs water from the water supply tank 6 when the pump 5 is stopped, and unnecessary water is supplied to the ice tray 2 by the action of the siphon. Nothing will happen.
[0027]
In addition, residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe when the pump is stopped can be concentrated by its own weight to the outlet of the water supply pipe. During the next forward rotation, the air in the suction pipe is blown into the water supply pipe, and the water supply pipe Residual water collected at the outlet of the pipe is dropped by wind pressure, and the residual water in the water supply pipe can be drained. As a result, clogging due to icing at the outlet of the water supply pipe can be eliminated, and water droplets at the outlet of the water supply pipe are also eliminated, so that the water is frozen in a state where the outlet is half blocked by this water droplet, The problem that the angle changes, scatters and water supply to the ice tray becomes impossible can be solved. In addition, since the drainage of the outlet of the water supply pipe can be performed, even if the pump is rotated in the reverse direction, the inside of the water supply pipe does not become negative pressure, or a large amount of remaining water gathered at the outlet of the water supply pipe When leaving the outlet of the water supply pipe due to its own weight, there is no longer any instantaneous negative pressure inside the water supply pipe, and when the pump is stopped, water is sucked unnecessarily from the water supply tank to the water supply pipe side by siphon action. The problem of unnecessary water supply to the ice tray can be solved.
[0028]
In addition, the pump is stopped, the collecting operation to collect residual water at the outlet of the water supply pipe, and the water draining operation to rotate the forward water and drop the residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe by wind pressure, reverse rotation, and in the previous process Residual water at the outlet of the water supply pipe is controlled by performing water drainage control of the water supply pipe a plurality of times in succession, with three cycles of the return operation for returning the water sucked up by the suction pipe to the water supply tank as one cycle. It is possible to drain the water more reliably.
[0029]
Furthermore, in the structure of the ice making apparatus, a water supply tank and a pump are provided in the refrigerator compartment, an ice making tray is provided in the freezer compartment formed in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment, and the pump and the ice tray are connected. The water supply pipe is lowered from the pump along the back of the inner box of the refrigerating chamber, and is disposed on the top surface of the ice tray through the partition heat insulation partitioning the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber. The dimensions of the water supply pipe are 7 mm to 9 mm in inner diameter. The length is 600 mm to 900 mm, and the shape is a shape having three or more bent portions of 30 ° to 120 °. By adopting such a configuration, in the drainage control of the water supply pipe in which the three operations of pump stop, forward rotation, and reverse rotation are one cycle, the inner surface of the water supply pipe is within the pump stop time (10 seconds). The attached residual water can be collected by its own weight up to the outlet of the water supply pipe, and the residual water at the outlet of the water supply pipe can be dropped by the wind pressure within the normal rotation time (0.2 seconds) of the next pump. In addition, it is possible to return the water sucked up by the suction pipe in the forward rotation (0.2 seconds) within the reverse rotation time (1 second) of the pump to the water supply tank.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ice making apparatus which does not have the poor water supply to an ice tray can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a main longitudinal section when an ice making device of the present invention is incorporated in a refrigerator.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory flowchart of a water supply process of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of main longitudinal sections when a conventional ice making device is incorporated in a refrigerator.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ice making apparatus 2 ... Ice making plate 3 ... Inversion apparatus 5 ... Pump 6 ... Water supply tank 7 ... Water supply pipe 8 ... Suction pipe 9 ... Freezer compartment 10 ...・ Refrigerator room 12 ... partition insulation

Claims

A water supply tank in a refrigerator, a pump, and the ice tray, a pipe connecting these, the the suction side of the suction pipe with the interior swiped the pump of the water supply tank, and is opened in the upper surface of the ice tray the and a water supply pipe of the water supply side of the pump, after the water supply to the ice tray and the pump rotated forward, you collect water remaining in the water supply pipe of the pump is reversely rotated a certain time the water tank ice in the device,
After the reverse rotation of the predetermined time of the pump, the residual water PCB attached to the pump is stopped on the inner surface of the water supply pipe is dropped by its own weight along the inner surface of the water supply pipe,
The pump is rotated forward to blow the air of the suction pipe to the water supply pipe and the residual water collected at the outlet of the water supply pipe is dropped by wind pressure,
An ice making device that rotates the pump reversely after stopping the pump .

The pump is stopped and the residual water attached to the inner surface of the water supply pipe is dropped by its own weight along the inner surface of the water supply pipe, and the pump is rotated forward to blow the air of the suction pipe to the water supply pipe. the residual water gathered in the outlet of the water supply pipe is dropped by wind pressure, claim 1 in succession an operation of the pump that the pump is stopped and cycle the reverse rotation causes operation after was performed a plurality of times The ice making device described.

2. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water supply pipe has an inner diameter of 7 mm to 9 mm and a length of 600 mm to 900 mm, and has three or more bent portions of 30 ° to 120 °.