JP5544251B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to control of a refrigerator.

  In conventional refrigerator control, as a means for defrosting the cooler, a defrost heater is arranged in the cooler, and the operation time of the compressor is accumulated from the end of the last defrost, and the accumulated value is predetermined. Generally, defrosting control is performed in which defrosting is performed when this time is reached.

  As another conventional refrigerator control, for example, in the refrigerator control described in Patent Document 1, the compressor operation time is calculated from the compressor operation time per unit time and the number of times the door is opened and closed over several days. When the compressor operating time reaches a predetermined time, select the time unit with the fewest door opening / closing times within the predetermined defrosting time range and If the door opening / closing frequency of the next unit time of the smallest time unit is the maximum within the predetermined defrosting time range, the time unit with the fewest door opening / closing times is next to the time unit with the fewest door opening / closing times. The thing which performs a defrost is proposed.

Japanese Patent No. 3320082

  However, the control of the conventional refrigerator is such that the door opening / closing frequency is the highest when the door opening / closing frequency of the next unit time in the time unit with the smallest door opening / closing frequency is the maximum within a predetermined defrosting time range. Since defrosting is executed in the time unit with the fewest door opening / closing times after the small time unit, for example, the time unit next to the time unit with the maximum door opening / closing frequency becomes the second time unit with the fewest door opening / closing times. In this case, a temperature increase due to frequent opening and closing of the door and a temperature increase in the refrigerator due to defrosting occur continuously, which may adversely affect food preservation.

  In addition to the number of times the door is opened and closed, the opening time of the door is an important factor for food preservation, and it is necessary to consider the influence on the internal temperature caused by opening the door for a long time.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to suppress a significant temperature increase in a storage chamber by performing defrosting in accordance with the actual use situation.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted. As an example, a refrigeration cycle having a compressor and a cooler, a fan that circulates cold air generated by the cooler, a defrosting means for defrosting frost adhering to the cooler, and opening and closing of a door of a storage room in a refrigerator having a door opening and closing detection means for detecting and means for determining the opening time of the door per time unit of the plurality of divided day into a plurality of time units, the door for each of said plurality of time units Means for storing the opening time of a plurality of days, and the door opening integration by time zone in which the opening times of the door stored for each of the plurality of time units are integrated for each of the plurality of time units. A means for obtaining time and a door opening integration time by time unit for each of the plurality of time units are obtained by adding a predetermined number of the time unit continuous door opening integration times for each of the plurality of time units. means and said time unit of each of the plurality of time units Means for selecting each said time unit of the predetermined number from the direction towards and often little opening time of the door of the door opening time, the defrosting end of the cooler in accordance with a predetermined defrost interval, the cooler calculated defrosting start time, the removal as defrost transition region for a predetermined time before and after the frost start time, the case where the time unit selected from the lesser of the opening time of the door defrosting the transition range is present, to select the most less the time unit as defrosting the scheduled start time.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a significant temperature increase in the storage chamber by performing the defrosting according to the actual use situation.

It is a control block diagram of the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the integration | accumulation method of the door opening time according to time slot which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the method of determining the door opening time for every unit time and the door opening order for every unit time concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing of the conventional refrigerator. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing of the conventional refrigerator. It is a figure which shows the method of determining the defrost transfer range which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing in case the time unit selected from the direction with little door opening time exists in the defrost transfer range which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. In the defrosting transition range according to an embodiment of the present invention, the defrosting start timing when there is no time unit selected from the one with the smaller door opening time and the time unit selected from the larger one is present. FIG. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing in case the time unit selected from the direction with little door opening time from the one with little door opening time does not exist in the defrost transfer range which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing in case the time unit which becomes the maximum within the defrost transfer range which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention exists in the time unit selected from the one with little door opening time. It is a figure which shows the defrost start timing when the operation integration time of a compressor reaches the defrost start operation time prescribed | regulated previously before the defrost start scheduled time which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator. In the figure, 9a is a compressor that compresses and circulates refrigerant, 9b is a cooler that forms a refrigeration cycle with the compressor and evaporates the refrigerant, and 10 is an internal cooling fan that circulates cold air cooled by the cooler 9b in the refrigerator. , 11 is a defrost heater for defrosting the frost attached to the cooler 9b, 7 is a cooler temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooler in order to determine the start and end of defrost, and 8 is for detecting the ambient temperature of the refrigerator The outside air temperature sensor 5 is a refrigeration room door switch for detecting opening / closing of the refrigeration room door, and 6 is a freezing room door switch for detecting opening / closing of the freezer room door. Reference numeral 2 denotes a control unit, which is equipped with a microcomputer 3 that controls the entire refrigerator 1. The microcomputer 3 has a built-in memory 4 that stores the opening time of the door, the operation time of the compressor 9 a, the ambient temperature of the refrigerator, and the like.

  FIG. 2 shows a method of integrating the door opening time. First, the opening time of each door detected by the refrigerator compartment door switch 5 and the freezer compartment door switch 6 is stored in the memory 4 in seconds every predetermined time zone (one hour unit in this embodiment) of the day ( (A total of 24 data from 0 to 23 is the door opening time for one day). The door opening time for one day is stored for a predetermined number of days (in this embodiment, seven days). If it exceeds seven days, the door opening time on the oldest day is overwritten with the latest door opening time. Thereafter, this is repeated, and the latest 7 days of door opening time is stored in 4 memories. The door opening time for 7 days stored every hour is added for each time zone to obtain an integrated time of the door opening time. In addition, the door to detect is not restricted to a refrigerator compartment door and a freezer compartment door, If there are doors which can detect opening and closing, such as a vegetable compartment door and an ice-making compartment door, you may add them.

  FIG. 3 shows a method of obtaining the door opening time for each predetermined time unit from the accumulated time of the door opening time, and obtaining the time unit having a large door opening time and the small time unit from the door opening time for each predetermined time unit.

  First, the door opening time is added up from the accumulated time of the door opening time in a predetermined time unit (3 hours in the present embodiment) as one time unit, and the door opening time for a total of 24 time units is created. For example, the door opening time by time unit at 0 o'clock is the sum of the door opening times at 0 o'clock, 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and the door opening time by hour unit at 1 o'clock is 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock and 3 The sum of the door opening times at the time and the door opening time for each time unit at 23:00 are the sum of the door opening times at 23:00, 0 and 1 o'clock.

  This time unit sets the defrost time and the temperature return time required to return to the refrigerator temperature at the start of the defrost. The defrosting time is approximately 30 minutes, the temperature recovery time after defrosting is approximately 1 hour, the temperature recovery fluctuation time at ambient temperature or load is approximately 30 minutes, and the stabilization time after the temperature recovery is 1 hour. Set the time unit to 3 hours. Thereby, even if there is much door opening time of the next time unit which implemented defrosting, it can prevent that the internal temperature rises continuously.

  The 24 doors by time unit are ranked in order from the one with the smallest door opening time and the one with the larger door opening time, and a predetermined number (three in this embodiment, one in FIG. , Small 2 and small 3) are door opening time units, and a predetermined number (3 in this embodiment, multiple 1, multiple 2 and multiple 3 in FIG. 3) of the door opening time is opened. Use multi-hour units.

  4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the defrosting start timing of a conventional refrigerator. The next scheduled defrosting start time is determined based on a defrosting interval time (for example, 24 hours) defined in advance at the end of defrosting. Further, the operation time of the compressor 9a is integrated from the end of defrosting, and it is determined whether or not the constant integration time has reached a predetermined time (defrosting start operation time).

  The defrosting is started at the earlier time when the scheduled defrosting start time is reached or the accumulated operation time of the compressor 9a reaches a predetermined time. FIG. 4A shows a case where the accumulated operation time of the compressor 9a does not reach the defrost start operation time even when the defrost start scheduled time is reached. In this case, defrosting is performed according to a predetermined defrost interval time. Start. FIG. 4B shows a case where the operation integration time of the compressor 9a reaches the defrost start operation time earlier than the scheduled defrost start time, and defrosting is performed when the defrost start operation time is reached. Start.

  That is, in the normal use state, defrosting is performed at predetermined intervals, and when the ambient temperature is high or the amount of stored food suddenly increases and the operating rate of the compressor increases, the cooler 9b Since the amount of frost formation on the surface is larger than usual, defrosting is started earlier than a predetermined interval.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining the defrosting transition range. The defrost transfer range indicates a range in which the defrost start time can be moved. The base point is the time after the defrost interval defined in advance at the end of the previous defrost (22 hours in this embodiment, position (A) in the figure), and the predetermined time before and after (7 hours before in this embodiment) A total of 9 hours after 2 hours) is set as the defrosting transition range. By defining the defrosting transition range, the defrosting interval is prevented from becoming extremely short or long. Thereby, defrosting can be started in an appropriate time in which the frost on the cooler 9b is not too little or not too much.

  FIGS. 6A to 6E show some of the methods for determining the defrosting start timing based on the door opening time order and the defrosting transition range. In the figure, there are two places from 0:00 to 18:00, but for convenience of explanation, the door opening time by time unit and the door opening order by time unit from 0:00 to 18:00 are the same.

  First, FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the defrosting start timing when there is a time unit selected from the side with the smaller door opening time within the defrosting transition range. When the time unit selected from the one with the smallest door opening time of the said time unit exists in the said defrost transfer range, the smallest time unit is selected as defrost start scheduled time. In the present embodiment, since there is a smaller first time unit, defrosting is started at the first time. Thereby, there is no temperature rise in a store | warehouse | chamber by door opening, and defrosting can be implemented in the state where temperature was stable.

  Next, FIG. 6B shows the defrosting start timing when there is no time unit selected from the side with the smaller door opening time within the defrosting transition range, and there is a time unit selected from the larger side. FIG. The time unit in which the time unit other than the time unit with a large door opening time within the defrost transition range is the longest is selected as the defrost start time. In this embodiment, since the first time unit and the next time unit in the defrosting transition range have time units selected from those with more door opening, the longest time from the second time unit, that is, defrosting. The maximum time unit of the transition range is the scheduled defrost start time. Thereby, it can prevent that the temperature rise by the door opening and the temperature rise by defrost generate | occur | produce continuously.

  Next, FIG. 6C is a diagram showing the defrosting start timing when there is no time unit selected from the side with the small door opening time or the side with the large door opening time within the defrosting transition range. In this case, regardless of the door opening time, the time after the defrost interval time from the end of the defrost is set as the scheduled defrost start time. Thereby, defrosting can be started at a defrosting interval assumed in advance.

  Next, FIG. 6D is a diagram showing the defrosting start timing when the maximum time unit within the defrosting transition range is present in the time unit selected from the one with the smaller door opening time. When the time unit selected from the one with the smaller door opening time of the said time unit exists, the time unit which becomes the maximum within a defrost transfer range is selected as defrost start scheduled time. In this embodiment, the maximum time unit within the defrosting transition range is the third time unit from the side with the smallest door opening time, and is within the third place which is the order defined in this embodiment. The maximum time unit within the range is the defrosting start time. Thereby, although it is not the most efficient time, defrosting can be started at a defrosting interval assumed in advance. For example, if it is defined that the time unit from the start of defrosting to the maximum time unit within the defrosting transition range is 24 hours, the order from the one with the shortest door opening time as in the embodiment is consecutive. In such a midnight time zone, a slight time lag can be absorbed, so that defrosting can be performed almost at the same time every day.

  Next, FIG. 6E is a diagram illustrating the defrosting start timing when the accumulated operation time of the compressor 9a reaches a predetermined defrosting start operating time before the scheduled defrosting start time. When the operation integration time of the compressor 9a reaches a predetermined defrost start operation time earlier than the scheduled defrost start time, defrosting is started at that time. Reaching the defrost start operation time earlier than the scheduled defrost start time means that the operation rate of the compressor is high, the amount of frost formation on the cooler 9b is larger than usual, and the ventilation resistance of the cooler 9b is reduced. It leads to increase and longer defrosting time. By starting defrosting when the defrosting start operation time is reached, it is possible to prevent the internal temperature from rising. In the embodiment, the operation integration time of the compressor 9a is simply used, but it may be obtained from the operation rate of the compressor 9a. Further, since recent compressor control is generally variable speed control using an inverter, the rotational speed condition may be combined with the operation integration time of the compressor 9a.

  Although not shown in the figure, the defrosting transition range is relatively small because the defrosting unit based on the door opening time is started only after the defrosting is performed at a predetermined defrosting interval. Even when the defrosting is performed earlier than the scheduled defrosting start time due to the integrated operation time of the compressor 9a, repeated defrosting can be prevented in a short time.

  Although not shown, since the defrosting transition range is provided with means that can be changed according to the operating condition of the refrigerator, after the defrosting is performed according to the accumulated operation time of the compressor 9a, Defrosting is repeatedly performed in a short time by using a method that takes a defrosting transition range in which the time on the front side of the time at which frost should be started is shortened, that is, a time from the defrosting end to the defrosting transition range is increased. Can be prevented.

  Although not shown, the temperature of the outside air temperature sensor 8 is accumulated for a specified number of days at regular time intervals, an average temperature is obtained from the accumulated ambient temperature, and the average temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature. Only, because it has means for performing defrosting based on the door opening time, such as in summer, the ambient temperature is high, the operating rate of the compressor 9a is high, and the frosting progresses quickly, It can prevent that a defrost interval becomes long.

  The defrosting start is not limited to simply stopping the compressor 9a and energizing the defrosting heater 11, but may include a precooling operation before defrosting and a frost cooling operation. The frost cooling operation is a cooling method in which, after the compressor 9a is stopped, the internal cooling fan 10 is operated before the defrost heater 11 is energized, the frost cool air adhering to the cooler 9b is circulated, and the interior is cooled. It is.

  Although not shown, when the defrosting is started in the time unit selected from the one with the smallest door opening time in the time unit, since the frost cooling operation time is provided, the door is opened. By performing frost cooling in a state where the interior is relatively low in temperature, a higher energy saving effect can be obtained.

  Although not shown, since there is provided means for adding a weight corresponding to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator obtained by the outside air temperature sensor 8 when storing the door opening time, the added value when the ambient temperature is high When the ambient temperature is low, increase the value. For example, when the temperature is less than 10 ° C, 1 is added every second. When the temperature is 10 ° C or more and less than 20 ° C, 2 is added every second. When the temperature is 20 ° C or more and less than 30 ° C, 3 is added every second. Add 4 to. In this way, since the value of the opening time in the time zone in which the ambient temperature is high becomes larger, it is possible to avoid the daytime time zone that easily affects food. In addition to the ambient temperature, a humidity sensor may be combined.

  As mentioned above, since defrosting is implemented according to the use condition of a refrigerator, the temperature rise in a store | warehouse | chamber can be suppressed. In addition, under circumstances where the compressor is frequently operated and frost formation on the cooler increases, defrosting is performed according to the operation state of the compressor regardless of the opening time of the door. Since the control is switched, it is possible to prevent the cooling capacity from being lowered. As a whole, a refrigerator capable of suppressing the influence on food can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 2 Control part 3 Microcomputer 4 Memory 5 Refrigeration room door switch 6 Freezing room door switch 7 Cooler temperature sensor 8 Outside temperature sensor 9a Compressor 9b Cooler 10 Inside cooling fan 11 Defrost heater

Claims (10)

A refrigeration cycle having a compressor and a cooler, a fan for circulating cold air generated by the cooler, a defrosting means for defrosting frost adhering to the cooler, and opening / closing of the door of the storage chamber are detected. A refrigerator having a door opening / closing detection means,
It means for determining the opening time of the door per time unit of the plurality of divided day into a plurality of time units,
Means for storing the opening time of the door for each of the plurality of time units over a plurality of days;
Means for determining the door opening integration time by time zone obtained by integrating the opening times of the door stored for each of the plurality of time units , respectively, for each of the plurality of time units ;
Means for adding a predetermined number of the time unit continuous door opening hours for each of the plurality of time units to obtain a door opening time by time unit for each of the plurality of time units ;
Means for selecting each of the predetermined number of time units from the lesser and the more open time of the door among the time unit door opening time for each of the plurality of time units;
At the end of the defrosting of the cooler, the defrosting start time of the cooler is obtained according to a predetermined defrosting interval, and the predetermined time before and after the defrosting start time is defined as the defrosting transition range, and within the defrosting transition range wherein if there is a time unit selected from the lesser of the opening time of the door, the refrigerator characterized by selecting the least the time unit as defrost scheduled start time to. The defrosting absent selected the time units within the transition range of the lesser of the door opening time, and if the said time unit selected from one with a lot exists, often the time of opening time of the door 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the time unit other than the unit that is the longest is selected as the scheduled defrosting start time. If an open time of lesser and greater toward the time unit selected from the door into the defrost the transition range does not exist any, characterized in that to start the defrosting in accordance with the predetermined defrost interval, The refrigerator according to claim 1. If becomes maximum time in the defrosting transition range is present within said time unit selected from the lesser of the opening time of the door, the defrost start the time unit becomes maximum in the defrosting transition area The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is selected as a scheduled time.   The defrosting is started when the accumulated operation time of the compressor reaches the defrosting start time before the scheduled defrosting start time. refrigerator.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein defrosting based on an opening time of the door is started after defrosting at the predetermined defrosting interval. Means for accumulating the ambient temperature value of the refrigerator for a predetermined number of days;
Means for obtaining an average temperature from the accumulated ambient temperature value;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the average temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, defrosting is performed based on an opening time of the door.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the defrosting transition range can be changed in accordance with an operation state of the refrigerator. When the defrosting start time is reached, the operation of the compressor is stopped, and the fan is operated until a specified time or the temperature of the cooler reaches a specified temperature, and then the defrosting unit is operated to perform the defrosting. A refrigerator that performs
If you start the defrosting in the time unit selected from the lesser of the opening time of the door, characterized in that it longer than usual time to drive the fan before operation of the defrosting means, claim The refrigerator according to 1 or 3.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening time of the door is stored with weighting corresponding to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator.

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