JPH04203870A - Refrigerator equipped with automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the detection of existence of reserved water and prevent the deterioration of detecting function due to the ionization of an electrode after the detection by a method wherein a feed water pump is controlled so as to be in a condition capable of being operated upon the excitation of a pair of electrodes while the impressing voltage on the electrode is controlled so as to be intercepted after the control of the feed water pump. CONSTITUTION:Under a condition that water flows from a feed water tank 6 into a water receiving pan 5 and is reserved, a voltage is conducted between electrodes 81, 82 through reserved water 5a and the potential of the positive terminal of a comparator 94 becomes a high potential whereby the output of the same sets a RS flip flop circuit 95 and high-potential outputs are supplied to respective amplifiers 97a, 97b, 97c. As a result, the feed water pump 4 becomes a condition capable of being operated and an indicator 7 is driven into a low potential by a converting amplifier 97c whereby it is decided that the reserved water exists and a light (indication) is put off. At the same time, a relay 98 is operated to switch a relay contact 91 into OFF condition. This operation is effected instantaneously after the electrodes 81, 82 have detected the existence of water. Accordingly, the ionization of the electrode due to electrolysis can be avoided even when the electrodes 81, 82 are dipped into the reserved water successively.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an improvement in a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker.

(Prior Art) An automatic ice maker for a refrigerator is installed, for example, in a refrigerator-freezer, and automatically and continuously performs a cycle of supplying water to an ice tray, cooling ice making, removing ice, and resupplying water.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, in which an ice tray 11 made of synthetic resin is placed in an ice making compartment 1, and water is supplied from a water supply pipe 2 at the rear of the refrigerator.

After the water supply is completed, the water supply is automatically stopped, and the cold air flow sent from the cold air passage 3 on the rear back is blown onto the surface of the ice making tray 11, and ice making is started.

A temperature sensor 12 attached to the outside bottom of the ice tray 11 determines that ice making is complete when the temperature drops to, for example, -12°C, and the motor in the ice maker body 13 is driven to rotate the ice tray 11 to remove ice. , the fallen ice is taken out from the ice box 14 below. After the ice is removed, the ice tray is returned to its original position by the rotation operation of the ice maker main body 13, and water supply is restarted.

Therefore, water is pumped and supplied to the ice tray 11 by the water supply pump 4 on the water supply side, and the temperature of the sensor (12) rises due to the water pumped from the water tray 5, so for example, 3 minutes and 30 seconds have elapsed after the completion of water supply. After that, for example -9,5
When the temperature exceeds ℃, it is determined that water is being supplied normally and the ice-making operation is repeated again.

By the way, in a conventional refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, even when the water to be pumped into the water tray 5 runs out, the ice maker body 13 operates the water supply pump 4 once for a predetermined period of time, and then the sensor detects the sensor after 3 minutes and 30 seconds have elapsed. (12) Detects temperature and still -9
, 5° C. or lower, it is determined that the water supply tank 6 is out of water, and the control circuit in the ice maker body 13 lights up the indicator 7 on the refrigerator door.

However, in such a conventional refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, ice-making is performed by running it dry to determine whether the water has run out, or by simply determining whether the water tank 6 is set or not. Because it was meant to make
In other words, the presence or absence of water is indirectly detected, and even if the temperature sensor 12 determines that there is no water, there is a drawback that the wasteful water supply operation may be repeated.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventional refrigerators with automatic ice makers have been configured to control the ice making operation using a temperature sensor and the water supply operation by detecting the presence or absence of a water tank. There was a drawback that the operation was performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to provide a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker in which water supply and ice making operations are controlled depending on the presence or absence of actual water.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to the present invention includes: a water tray that receives water from a water tank; a water supply pump that supplies water from the water tray to the ice tray; a pair of electrodes arranged to be immersed in water stored in the water tray; an indicator that is driven and displayed by conduction between the pair of electrodes; and when the pair of electrodes are conductive, the water supply pump is enabled to operate. In addition to controlling
The present invention is characterized by comprising a control circuit that controls to cut off the voltage applied to the electrodes after the control.

(Function) In this invention, a pair of electrodes are arranged so as to be immersed in the water stored in the water tray, and by detecting the presence or absence of continuity, the presence or absence of the stored water is directly detected, and the direct detection activates the water supply pump. or controlled.

Furthermore, the voltage applied to the electrodes is cut off after the water supply pump is controlled to be operable after the stored water is detected. Therefore, even if the electrode remains immersed in water for a long time after detecting the stored water, the ionization of the electrode itself is prevented because the current to the electrode is cut off.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, the third
Components that are the same as the conventional configuration shown in the drawings are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main parts of a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to the present invention, particularly the water supply side.

That is, when the cassette-type water supply tank 6 is set at a predetermined position, water flows into the water tray 5 up to a predetermined water level, and the water supply pump 4 is connected to the ice maker main body (13
) A constant amount of water is supplied to the ice tray (1
1) is configured to be supplied with water.

Also, so as to be immersed in the water 5a stored in the water tray 5,
A pair of electrodes 81, 82 made of copper or the like are attached, and the electrodes 81, 82 are connected to a control circuit 9 as shown in FIG. 2 as electrodes for detecting stored water.

That is, one electrode 81 is connected to a DC power supply terminal 92 via a relay contact 91, and the other electrode 82 is grounded via a resistor 93, and at the same time is connected to a positive input terminal of a comparator 94. ing.

A voltage dividing resistor 95 is connected between the DC power supply terminal 92 and ground so that a constant voltage is supplied to the input negative terminal of the comparator 94.
Connection points a and 95b are connected.

The output of the comparator 94 is input to the set terminal of the RS flip-flop circuit 96, and its output is input to the output amplifier 97a, respectively.
, 97b and output inverting amplifier 97c, respectively. It is connected to the water supply pump 4 and the display 7.

Further, a signal from the temperature sensor 12 is supplied to a reset terminal of the RS flip-flop circuit 96.

When water flows from the water supply tank 6 into the water tray 5 and is stored, conduction occurs between the electrodes 81 and 82 via the stored water 5a.
Since the positive terminal of the comparator 94 has a high potential (H),
The output sets the RS flip-flop circuit 96,
Each amplifier 97a outputs a high potential (H).

97b and 97c. As a result, the water supply pump 4 becomes ready for operation, and the display 7 indicates that the inverting amplifier 97
Since it is driven to a low potential (L) by c, the light is turned off (displayed) indicating that there is stored water 5a. At the same time, the relay 98 operates to switch the relay contact 91 to the off state (open). This turning off of the relay contact 91 by the relay 98 is carried out almost instantaneously, in just 0.1 seconds or less after the electrodes 81, 82 detect the presence of water. Therefore, after the relay 98 is activated and the relay contact 91 is turned off, even if the electrodes 81, 82 made of copper or the like continue to be immersed in the stored water, ionization of the electrodes due to electrolysis is avoided.

Furthermore, since the temperature sensor 12 is connected to the reset terminal of the RS flip-flop circuit 96, when the ice-making completion signal and water draining signal are supplied, the output of the RS flip-flop circuit 96 is inverted and the display 7 is It will be displayed lit.

In this state, if there is no stored water 5a, the electrode 8
Since there is no electrical continuity between 1.82 and 1.82, the positive terminal of the comparator 94 is still at a low potential (I,), and the output of the RS flip-flop circuit 96 continues to be at a low potential (L).

In any case, since the refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to the present invention directly detects the presence or absence of the stored water 5a in the water tray 5 using the electrodes 81 and 82, malfunctions caused by the tank switch (6a) and dry running can be avoided. This avoids waste such as
Detection of the presence or absence of water storage becomes reliable, and after detection,
Since the power applied to the electrodes is immediately cut off, it is also possible to prevent the detection function from deteriorating due to ionization of the electrodes.

[Effect of the invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by simple improvement,
The present invention provides a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker that can reliably detect stored water, has a long life, and is highly reliable, and can be used for home use with remarkable effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the control circuit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional refrigerator with an automatic ice maker. FIG. 1...Ice making room, 11...Ice making tray, 12...
Temperature sensor, 13... Ice maker body (control unit), 14... Ice box, 2... Water supply pipe, 4...
...Water pump, 5.Water tray, 6.Water tank, 7.Display, 81, 82...
Electrode, 9... Control circuit, 91... Relay contact, 94... Comparator, 96... RS flip-flop circuit, 98... Relay. Agent: Patent attorney Norihiro Ogo 4: Water supply pump 5: Eiyuu 6, Kenei tank

Claims (1)

[Claims] A water tray that receives water from a water tank, a water pump that supplies water from the water tray to an ice cube tray, a pair of electrodes arranged to be immersed in water stored in the water tray, and a gap between the pair of electrodes. and a control circuit that controls the water supply pump to be in an operable state when the pair of electrodes are electrically conductive, and after that control controls to cut off the voltage applied to the electrodes. A refrigerator with an automatic ice maker.