JPH04126969A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make ices having uniform sizes and facilitate a removal of ice blocks by a method wherein an ice making device is comprised of a lid side electrode formed at a rear surface of a lid, a pan side electrode formed at an inner surface of an ice making pan and formed at a position less than a predetermined height, and an electrostatic capacitance sensing means for sensing a variation of electrostatic capacitance between the lid side electrode and the pan side electrode as water is supplied. CONSTITUTION:A lid 20 is formed with a lid side electrode 15 and a pan side electrode 16 is formed at a position at an inner side surface of the ice making pan 10, slightly lower than an upper edge of a partition 13 and where ice blocks are not continuously formed. During water feeding operation a rectangular wave is inputted to a lid side electrode 15a by an AC signal generating device 24 and then water is guided to the ice making pan 10 by a water supplying pump through a water supplying port 10a. As water supplying is promoted and a water level reaches a position of the pan side electrode 16, a capacitor is formed between the lid side electrode 15 and water surface, a differential wave-from is detected by a signal sensing device 25 and then the most appropriate ice making water level within the ice making pan 10 is detected. Water volume in the ice making pan 10 is unified for each of small segments by water communication grooves of a partion 13 to have the most appropriate water level and then the water supplying pump 5 is stopped through a water supplying pump control device 26.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an ice-making device installed in, for example, a household refrigerator-freezer, etc., and particularly relates to an ice-making device equipped with an appropriate water level detection structure in an ice-making tray. Regarding equipment.

(Prior Art) Currently, household refrigerator-freezers equipped with automatic ice-making devices are on sale. This automatic ice-making device uses a water supply pump to pump up ice-making water from a water tank in the refrigerator compartment, supplies a certain amount of water to a covered ice tray in the freezer compartment from its water supply port, and makes ice.After detecting the completion of ice-making, The process is repeated by removing the lid, rotating the ice tray, applying mechanical strain to the ice tray using an electric mechanism to dehydrate it, and then putting the lid back on and refilling the ice tray with water. The lid is provided to make clear ice, and when making transparent ice, heat is applied from above while moving the ice cube tray.The lid is provided to attach a heater to provide this heat. It is being

FIG. 11 shows a conventional automatic ice-making device installed in such a household refrigerator-freezer. In the same figure, 11
12 is a refrigerator compartment, and 12 is a freezing compartment. Inside the refrigerator compartment 11, there is a water tank 1 containing ice-making water 3 on a water tank fixing stand 4.
is installed.

A fixed amount of water is supplied from the water supply tank 1 to the dish 2 by pressure balance. 5 is motor 6
and an impeller (blade) 7, and a water pipe 8 connected to the discharge port of the water pump 5 is raised to the freezing chamber 12. In the freezer compartment 12, an ice maker 11111.0 with a lid 20 and a water supply port 10a is installed. The inside of the ice making capacity 10 is divided into a number of small sections by partitions, and water communication grooves are formed at the two edges of the partitions. Each water communication groove has a height difference, so that the water supplied from the water inlet 9 to the small compartment on one end side through the water supply port 10a is guided through each small compartment to the small compartment on the other end side. The order is now determined. Moreover, the ice tray 10 is
The rotating shaft 22 protruding from the ice-making surface drive mechanism 21 is
It is rotatable within the frame 23, and an appropriate mechanical strain is applied during dewatering.

Then, a water supply command to the ice tray 10 is sent to the water supply pump 5.
j, when the water 3 in the tray 2 is made ice 111110 at once, the motor 6 is driven for a specified time by timer control and the impeller 7 is rotated at high speed.
be pumped to. At this time, the speed at which water is drawn up from tray 2 is faster than the speed at which water falls from water supply tank 1 to tray 2, so water is always collected in tray 2 to reach ice tray 10. The amount of water currently available will be supplied. After water is supplied, ice is made, and after the completion of ice making is detected, the lid 20 is removed, the ice tray 10 is rotated by the ice tray drive mechanism 21, and appropriate mechanical distortion is removed when the ice tray 10 is rotated. Dehydration is performed by

As described above, in the conventional automatic ice making apparatus, the water M (water level) supplied to the ice making tray 10 when water is supplied is determined by the amount of water stored in the water tray 2.

However, with this structure and method, the water receiver does not directly detect the amount of water in the dish 2. For example, if the refrigerator shakes or if you remove the water tank 1 to refill the water tank 1, the water receiver will not directly detect the amount of water in the dish 2. The amount of water stored in the water tray 2 is not always constant because the water level in the water tray 2 fluctuates and more water is supplied from the water tank 1. In addition, it is thought that there may be variations in the performance of the motor 6 and impeller 7 in the water supply pump 5 for pumping up water, and if ice is made under such conditions, the size of the ice may be small, or the ice may be stuck together. This makes it difficult to dehydrate the ice, and even if it is dehydrated, it will be dehydrated while remaining frozen, making it easy to form uneven ice as a whole.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In conventional automatic ice making devices, when water is supplied to the ice tray, the water tray draws up the water accumulated in the tray at once, and the water level in the ice tray and the water tray are The amount of water was not detected, and in addition, it is thought that there are variations in the amount of water in the dish, and in the performance of the motor and impeller in the water pump for drawing water. When ice is made under these conditions, the inside of the ice tray is generally divided into many small sections by partitions, so the ice may be small or the ice may combine with each other, making it difficult to dehydrate. Even when the ice is dehydrated, it is dehydrated with the ice still stuck to each other, resulting in uneven ice as a whole, which makes it easy to scorch.

Therefore, the present invention is capable of supplying the optimum amount of water for ice making to the ice making 1lII, and generally when the inside of the ice making tray is divided into many small compartments by partitions, the size of the ice is small or the ice cubes are separated from each other. To provide an ice making device capable of making ice of uniform size throughout without coupling, and capable of easily dehydrating ice.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention first provides an ice tray having a lid and installed in a cold atmosphere, and an ice cube tray provided on the back side of the lid. The formed lid-side electrode, the tray-side electrode formed at a position below a predetermined height on the inner surface of the ice tray, and the change in capacitance value between the lid-side electrode and the tray-side electrode due to water supply. The gist is to have a capacitance detection means for detecting.

Second, in the first configuration, a plurality of the tray-side electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the ice tray.

(Function) With the above configuration, firstly, before water is supplied, the capacitance value between the lid side electrode and the dish side electrode is very small and almost zero. When water is supplied to the ice tray, water flows to the tray side electrode and a capacitor is formed between the water surface and the lid side electrode, and the capacitance value depends on the water level. By detecting a change in the capacitance value due to water supply using the capacitance detection means, the optimal water level for ice making in the ice tray is detected. Based on this detection result, it becomes possible to control the amount of water supplied to the ice tray to the optimum amount. Therefore, in general, when the inside of an ice tray is divided into many small compartments by partitions, the ice produced after ice making may be small, or the ice may stick together, making it difficult to dehydrate, or even when dehydrated, the ice may will not remain stuck together,
It becomes possible to make ice of uniform size overall.

Second, by forming a plurality of tray-side electrodes on the inner surface of the ice-making tray and detecting the capacitance value between the plurality of tray-side electrodes and the lid-side electrode, the water level can be detected based on the tilt of the ice tray, etc. This reduces the error in the ice making process, making it possible to more accurately detect the optimum water level for ice making in the ice making tray.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

1 to 7 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 to 7 and figures showing other embodiments to be described later, the same or equivalent parts and equipment as those in FIG. 11 are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the lid 20 has an appropriate notch at a portion corresponding to the water supply port 10a, and a lid with an area slightly smaller than the total area of the back surface. A side electrode 15 is formed. On the other hand, the ice tray 10 is made of an insulating material made of plastic such as polyethylene, and as shown in FIG. A water communication groove 14 is formed. Each water communication groove 14 has a height difference, and the order in which the water supplied from the water inlet 9 to the small compartment on one end side is guided through each small compartment to the small compartment on the other end side is determined. It has become so. And ice cube tray 1
A dish-side electrode 16 is formed on the inner surface of the partition 13 at a height slightly lower than the upper edge of the partition 13 and at a height where ice does not interact with it.

17 is a lead wire connected to the lid side electrode 15, 18 is a lead wire connected to the dish side electrode 16, and as shown in FIG. 5, the other end of the lead wire 17 generates a square wave signal. The lead wire 18 is connected to an AC signal generator 24 , and the other end of the other lead wire 18 is connected to a signal detector 25 . Ice making 111
As water is supplied to the tank 110, the water flows to the dish side electrode 16 and a capacitor is formed between the water surface and the lid side electrode 15. An input square wave is differentiated by a differentiating circuit 31 which is composed of this capacitor and an external resistor 27, and the differential waveform output is detected by a signal detection device 25. Since the peak value of the differential waveform depends on the capacitance value of the capacitor, the capacitance value can be detected by detecting the peak value. Therefore, the AC signal generator 24
The lid side electrode 15 and the dish side electrode 16 are detected by the signal detection device 25.
A capacitance detection means is configured to detect a change in capacitance value between the capacitance and the capacitance. By detecting the differential waveform, the ice tray 10
When it is detected that the water level inside has reached the optimum water level for ice making, the drive of the water pump 5 is stopped via the water pump control device 26, and the water supply is stopped. 6th
The figure shows an equivalent circuit of FIG. 5, and in FIG. 6, C is a capacitor formed between the lid side electrode 15 and the water supply surface, 27 is an external resistor, and this resistor 27 and A differentiating circuit 31 is configured with the capacitor C. 28 is a terminal connected to the signal detection device 25.

Next, the operation of the ice making apparatus configured as described above will be explained using FIG. 7.

During water supply, a square wave is input to the lid-side electrode 15 from the AC signal generator 24 (FIG. 7(a)).

Water is pumped up by the water supply pump and guided from the water supply port 9 to the ice tray 10 via the water supply port 10a. At that time, water accumulates in a small compartment on one end side facing the water inlet 9, and
The water flows through a water communication groove 14 provided in the water inlet 9 to a small section on the other end side away from the water introduction port 9. If there is still no water in the ice tray 10 or the water level has not reached the tray side electrode 16, the capacitance value between the lid side electrode 15 and the tray side electrode 16 is very small, and the signal detection device 25 detects The detected differential waveform output is almost zero (FIG. 7(b)). When the water supply progresses and the water level reaches the position of the dish side electrode 16, a capacitor is formed between the lid side electrode 15 and the water surface, and a differential waveform is detected by the signal detection device 25. Since the peak value of the differential waveform depends on the capacitance value of the capacitor, the optimum water level for ice making in the ice tray 10 can be detected by detecting the peak value of the differential waveform (FIG. 7(C)).

At that time, the amount of water in the ice tray 10 is uniformly averaged in each small section by the water communication groove 14 provided in the partition 13, and becomes the optimum water level. Therefore, by stopping the water supply pump 5 via the water supply pump control device 26 at the time when the differential waveform signal at the optimum water level is detected by the signal detection device 25, it is possible to obtain the optimum amount of water in the ice making unit 11111,0. The ice produced after ice making is small, the ice cubes stick to each other and become difficult to dehydrate, and even after dehydration, the ice cubes do not remain stuck to each other, and the size of the ice is uniform throughout. It is possible to make ice.

In addition, in the dual embodiment, the water tray used in the conventional water supply system does not require a dish, and water can be supplied directly from the water supply tank.

In the above-described embodiment, the tray-side electrode 16 was formed on the inner surface of the ice-making tray 10 at a height slightly lower than the ``1'' edge of the partition 13 and at a height where ice does not interact with the tray-side electrode]6. The ice tray 10 should be formed at a position lower than the position at which ice does not form.
It can also be formed on the bottom surface.

Next, FIGS. 8 to 10 show other embodiments of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a partition 13 is formed on the inner surface of the ice cube tray 10.
A plurality of dish-side electrodes 16a are located at a position slightly lower than one edge.
1.6b... is formed. FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of a signal processing system that processes each differential waveform output at this time. In the figure, 29a129b and 29c are signal processing circuits, and 30 is an AND gate 1.

According to this embodiment, each dish side electrode 16a116b...
By obtaining a more differential waveform signal, it becomes possible to detect the water level in each part of the ice tray 10, and the water supply pump 5 is stopped when a differential waveform signal is obtained from all 1111 side electrodes 1.6a% 16b... By stirring the ice tray 10, the same action and effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.
It is possible to reduce errors in water level detection due to the inclination of the water level.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, firstly, the lid-side electrode formed on the back surface of the lid, and the tray-side electrode formed at a position below a predetermined height on the inner surface of the ice tray. , since it is equipped with capacitance detection means for detecting a change in capacitance value between the lid side electrode and the dish side electrode due to water supply, the capacitance that is formed between the lid side electrode and the water surface due to water supply is provided. Changes in the capacitance value of the capacitor can be detected and the optimum water level for ice making 1111 can be determined by I+
The amount of water supplied to the ice tray can be controlled to the optimum amount based on the detection result. Therefore, in general, when the inside of an ice tray is divided into many small compartments by partitions, the ice produced after ice making may be small, or the ice may interact with each other, making it difficult to dehydrate, or the ice may be difficult to dehydrate. However, the ice cubes do not stick to each other, making it possible to create ice that is uniform in size overall.

Second, by forming a plurality of the tray-side electrodes on the inner surface of the ice-making tray, errors in water level detection due to tilting of the ice-making tray, etc. are reduced, and the optimum ice-making water level of the ice-making tray can be detected more accurately. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the ice making device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice tray with a lid attached, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 1. , Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the tray-side electrode is formed on the ice tray, Figure 4 is a diagram showing how the lid-side electrode is formed on the lid, and Figure 5 shows the detection results of capacitance value changes. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the control system of the water supply pump based on Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a signal waveform diagram showing input/output signal waveforms to the electrodes, Fig. 8 to Fig.
Figure 0 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 shows the second embodiment.
9 is a perspective view showing how a plurality of tray-side electrodes are formed on an ice tray; FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing one signal processing system that processes a plurality of output signals; FIG. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a conventional automatic ice making device. 10: Ice tray, 15: Lid side electrode, 16.16a,
16b: Dish-side electrode, 20: Lid, 24: AC signal generator, 25: Signal detection device that constitutes capacitance detection means together with the AC signal generator, 27: External resistor, 31: Differential circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An ice tray that has a lid and is installed in a cold atmosphere, a lid-side electrode formed on the back surface of the lid, and a tray-side electrode formed at a position below a predetermined height on the inside surface of the ice tray. and capacitance detection means for detecting a change in capacitance value between the lid-side electrode and the tray-side electrode due to water supply. (2) The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the tray-side electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the ice-making tray.