JPH07234052A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice making machine having no trouble in ice detecting operation even when an ice detecting lever is condensed or frozen due to the suction of outside air or the like. CONSTITUTION:An ice detecting lever 3 is constituted so that the same lever 3 is pushed up forcibly to the highest starting position by the normal rotation of a driving motor 7 while the engagement is released by the reverse rotation of the driving motor 7 and the lever 3 is lowered until the lever 3 is abutted against ice in an ice reserving box 4 by a force of a spring. In this case, the waiting position of the ice detecting lever 3 is determined at a position lowered from the highest starting position by a predetermined amount by an ice amount detecting mechanism, detecting whether the ice reserving box 4 is filled with ice or empty of ice by the lowered position of the ice detecting lever 3, then, the ice detecting lever 3 is pushed up from the starting wating position forcibly to the highest strting position by the driving motor 7 upon starting ice detecting operation whereby frozen ice is crushed and, thereafter, ice detecting operation, wherein the ice detecting lever 3 is lowered, is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator containing an automatic ice maker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an automatic ice making machine housed in a conventional refrigerator, FIG. 15 is a side view of an ice detecting mechanism for explaining the ice detecting operation thereof, and FIG. , Figure 1
7 is a view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is a time chart,
FIG. 19 is a flowchart. Note that FIG. 16 and FIG.
In FIG. 7, (A) shows the start of ice detection operation, (B) shows the full ice detection, and (C) shows the air ice detection.

In the figure, (1) is an ice tray which is installed in an independent room having a freezing temperature (-18 ° C.) in a freezing room of a refrigerator. (2) is the ice making completion temperature attached to the outer bottom of the ice tray (1)
Ice making complete temperature detecting means including a temperature sensor for detecting (for example, -12 ° C.), (3) ice detecting lever, (3a) ice detecting lever (3)
(3b) is a tip bending portion of the engagement lever (3a), (4) is an ice storage box, (5) is an ice removing mechanism, (6) is its housing, and (7) ) Is a drive motor provided in the housing (6).

(8) is a cam protrusion (8a) (8) which is rotationally driven by a drive motor (7) via a gear mechanism (not shown).
b) The first cam gear having (8c), (9) is the drive motor (7)
18 is rotationally driven by the drive motor (7) meshing with the gear mechanism only in a predetermined rotation angle range (ab in FIG. 18), and the pin (9a) and the engagement lever are engaged in the positive rotation direction of the drive motor (7).
The ice detecting lever (3) is pushed up by the engagement of (3a), and in the opposite rotation direction, the spring (9b) causes the pin (9a) and the engaging lever (3a) to come into contact with each other. ) To follow and descend
Cam gears.

In (10), the cam protrusions (8a), (8b), and (8c) have the switch lever (1) at a predetermined rotational position of the first cam gear (8).
The contact (10b) is closed by pressing 0a)
Position switch (11) of the second cam gear (9) at its final rotational position in the reverse rotation direction (Fig. 18b).
It is a second position switch whose contacts are closed by c).
The ice detection range of the ice detection lever (3) (rotation angle range 3
0 ° to 40 °), FIG. 16 (C) and FIG.
As shown in (C), even if the protrusion (8b) of the first cam gear (8) abuts the switch lever (10a), the tip bent portion (3b) of the engaging lever (3a) does not move to the first position. It is configured to engage the switch lever (10a) of the position switch (10) to prevent closing of its contacts (10b).

(12) is a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice tray (1) from a water supply tank (not shown) installed in the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator in response to the end of operation of the ice removing mechanism (5), and (13) is Water pump, (14) is a controller consisting of a microcomputer, (15)
Is a drive means for driving the drive motor (7) according to the control of the controller (14), and (16) is a water supply pump (13) according to the control of the controller (14)
Is a driving means for driving.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power is turned on, step (1
The initial operation routine (100) of 01) to (106) is entered. Step
At (101), the drive motor (7) is at the starting position (Fig. 18a, Fig. 16).
A, FIG. 17A) is driven in the reverse direction, the first and second cam gears (8) and (9) rotate, and the ice detecting position (FIG. 17b, FIG. 16A).
B, C, FIG. 17B, C), the second position switch (11) is closed, the process proceeds from step (102) to step (103), and the drive motor (7) is stopped. Then, in step (104), the drive motor (7) rotates in the forward direction, returns to the initial starting position, the first position switch (10) is closed, and the process proceeds from step (105) to step (106). (7) is stopped, the initial operation routine step (100) is completed, and in step (201), the process waits until the ice making in the ice tray (1) is completed.

When the water in the ice tray (1) is completely frozen and the ice-making completion temperature detecting means (2) detects, for example, -12 ° C. or lower, it is judged that the ice-making is completed in step (201), and the process proceeds to step (202). The advance drive motor (7) rotates in the reverse direction, the second position switch (11) is closed at the ice detecting position b, and the process proceeds from step (203) to step (204) and the drive motor (7) is stopped. , Step (2
At 05), ice detection is performed by the ice detection lever (3).

The ice detecting lever (3) engages with the second cam gear (9) when the drive motor (7) rotates forward and is forcedly raised by the rotation of the second cam gear (9). The cam gear (9) is disengaged and connected to the second cam gear (9) only via the spring (9b). Therefore, if the ice in the ice storage box (4) hits the ice detecting lever. The descent of (3) is blocked. Therefore, it is determined whether the inside of the ice storage box (4) is full ice or empty ice by the rotation position of the ice detection lever (3) at the ice detection position b. That is, when the rotation angle θ ₁ = 40 ° of the second cam gear (9), the second position switch (11) is set to O.
When N, the rotation angle θ ₂ of the ice detection lever (3) is 0 ° ≦ θ ₂ <3
If it is 0 °, the first position switch (10) is turned on and it is determined that it is full ice, and if 30 ° ≦ θ ₂ <40 °, the first position switch (10) is turned off and it is determined that it is empty ice. To be done.

As described above, if ice detection is performed in step (205) and it is determined that the first position switch (10) is OFF and it is empty ice, the process proceeds to step (206) and the first position switch If (10) is ON and it is determined that the ice is full, the process proceeds to step (219). When the process proceeds to step (206) with the ice cube, the drive motor (7) starts the normal rotation to start the ice removing operation. When the drive motor (7) rotates normally, the first and second cam gears (8) and (9) also rotate normally, and the second cam gear
With the rotation of (9), the ice detecting lever (3) rotates in the upward direction and is pushed up to the maximum starting position a, where the second cam gear (9) disengages from the gear mechanism and stops. On the other hand, the first cam gear (8) continues to rotate, and the cam projections (8a) (8c) of the first cam gear (8) turn the first position switch (10) twice from the a position to the d position OFF → ON.
(Step (207) to step (209)), step (21
0) (211), and the drive motor (7) stops.

At the rotation position e of the drive motor (7) during this period, the rotation mechanism (not shown) of the ice tray (1) engages with the gear mechanism to start the rotation of the ice tray (1) to the f position. In the ice tray (1), one end of the ice tray (1) is rotated and twisted, and the ice tray (1) is rotated at a rotation angle of 170 °.
The ice inside is released and falls into the ice storage box (4) to complete the ice removal. Then, in step (212), the drive motor (7) starts reverse rotation, proceeds to steps (213) and (214), and returns to the initial starting position a when the first position switch (10) is turned on.
In 5), the water supply pump (13) is turned on and the water supply mechanism (12) starts to operate. If the water supply pump (13) is continuously operated for a predetermined time in steps (216) and (217), it is stopped in step (218).
It returns to (201) and becomes ice-making state again.

When the ice storage box (4) is full of ice and the first position switch (10) is ON, the steps (205) to (219), (220) and (221) are advanced to drive the motor ( 7) rotates in the forward direction and stops at the rotational position a, and after waiting for a predetermined time in steps (222) and (223), the process returns to step (201).

[0013]

Since the conventional automatic ice making machine is constructed as described above, it is generated between the ice detecting lever and the ice removing mechanism due to the warm air sucked into the refrigerator when the door is opened or closed. If the dew ice freezes during the ice making period, the ice detecting lever during the ice making period is at the highest starting position, which is the highest point of the operable range, and the ice detecting lever is moved to its spring by the reverse rotation of the drive motor at the start of ice detecting. Even if an attempt is made to lower it by force, it does not descend due to freezing, and the controller judges that the ice storage box is full of ice, although it is actually empty ice. Therefore, there is a problem that the ice is not released even if the ice is made.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a refrigerator containing an automatic ice maker that can perform an ice detecting operation without trouble even when the ice detecting lever freezes. The purpose is to Another object of the present invention is to obtain a refrigerator containing an automatic ice maker that can prevent dew condensation on the ice detecting lever and freezing even when warm air is sucked in by opening and closing the door.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator for starting waiting means for stopping the ice detecting lever at a position lowered by a predetermined amount from the maximum starting position while the operation of the ice removing mechanism is stopped. A starting position returning means for raising the ice detecting lever to the maximum starting position by the forward rotation of the drive motor is provided at the time of starting the ice removing mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the first aspect, the starting standby means is used to return the ice detecting lever to the maximum starting position when the power is turned on or the operation of the ice removing mechanism is completed. In response to this, the drive motor is started to rotate in the reverse direction and the drive motor is stopped after a predetermined time. Is a means for stopping the drive motor according to the return to the maximum starting position.

A refrigerator according to a third aspect of the present invention is a door opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a refrigerator door, and operates according to the detecting operation of this means to prevent dew condensation on the ice detecting lever and the ice removing mechanism. And a means for preventing dew condensation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the third aspect, the dew condensation preventing means starts to operate in response to the door open / close detection means detecting whether the door is open or closed, and is stopped after a predetermined time. It is something that is done.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the fourth aspect, an operating time changing means for changing the predetermined time of the dew condensation preventing means according to the door opening detection time by the door opening / closing detection means is provided. It is a thing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the third aspect, the dew condensation preventing means starts to operate a predetermined time after the door opening / closing detecting means detects that the door is closed or opened, and the door is opened. The opening / closing detecting means is adapted to stop in response to the detection of opening to closing of the door.

A refrigerator according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the refrigerator according to the third aspect of the invention, wherein the dew condensation preventing means starts its operation after a first predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the door opening / closing detection means of closing or opening the door. The door opening / closing detection means is stopped after a second predetermined time from the detection of the opening to closing of the door.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the fifth to seventh aspects, the dew condensation preventing means biases the ice detecting lever or a heating element provided in the vicinity of the ice detecting lever. It is used as a heating means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the fifth to seventh aspects, the dew condensation preventing means is a blower forced drive means for forcibly driving the cool air circulation blower in the refrigerator.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the ice detecting operation is started, the ice detecting lever is forcibly raised from the maximum starting position by a predetermined amount to a maximum starting position by the drive motor. Even if the ice lever is frozen, after crushing the ice, the ice detection lever is lowered to start the ice detection operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the ice detecting lever is returned to the maximum starting position when the power is turned on or the operation of the ice removing mechanism is completed, the drive motor is stopped after the reverse rotation for a predetermined time, and the ice detecting is performed. The lever descends from the maximum starting position by a predetermined amount and enters the standby state. Then, at the start of the ice detecting operation, the drive motor rotates in the normal direction, and the ice detecting lever is forcibly raised to the maximum starting position, and then the ice detecting operation is started.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the dew condensation preventing means operates in response to opening and closing of the refrigerator door to prevent dew condensation on the ice detecting lever that occurs when the refrigerator door is opened, and to prevent ice formation caused by dew condensation. It

In the invention of claim 4, the operation of the dew condensation preventing means is started by closing the refrigerator door, and is stopped after a predetermined time has passed.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, the operating time of the dew condensation preventing means is changed by the door opening time.

In the invention according to claim 6, the operation of the dew condensation preventing means starts after a predetermined time has passed from the opening of the refrigerator door and stops when the refrigerator door is closed.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, the operation of the dew condensation preventing means starts after the first predetermined time from the opening of the refrigerator door and stops after the second predetermined time from the closing of the refrigerator door.

In the eighth aspect of the present invention, dew condensation on the ice detecting lever is prevented by urging the ice detecting lever or a heating element provided in the vicinity thereof.

In the invention of claim 9, the outside air containing moisture that has entered by opening the refrigerator door is sucked into the cooler by the forced drive of the blower for circulating the cool air, cooled and dehumidified there, and the ice detecting lever. Condensation is prevented.

[0033]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an automatic ice making machine in this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of an ice detecting mechanism thereof, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing its operation. Note that FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are also used for the description of this embodiment.

In the figure, (1) is an ice tray, (2) is an ice making completion temperature detecting means including a temperature sensor, (3) is an ice detecting lever, and (4)
Is an ice box, (5) is an ice removal mechanism, (6) is its housing,
(7) is a drive motor, (12) is a water supply mechanism, (13) is a water supply pump, (14) is a controller consisting of a microcomputer, (15)
Is a drive motor drive means, (16) is a water supply pump drive means,
The above is the same as the conventional example shown in FIGS.

(17) detects the amount of ice in the ice storage box (4) by the descending position of the ice detection lever (3) from the maximum starting position when the drive motor (7) is rotated in the reverse direction to a predetermined rotation position. The same amount of ice detection means as in the conventional example, (18) is a standby for starting the ice detecting lever (3) that is stopped at a position lowered by a predetermined amount from the maximum starting position while the ice removing mechanism (5) is not operating. Means, (19) is the ice removal mechanism
At the start of (5), the drive motor (7) rotates forward to rotate the ice detection lever.
Starting position returning means for raising (3) to the maximum starting position, (2
Reference numeral 0) is a heating element for preventing dew condensation.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the power is turned on to enter the initial operation routine (100). Since this initial operation routine (100) is exactly the same as the conventional example shown in FIG. 19, its explanation is omitted. After completion of the initial operation routine, the overrun routine (300) is entered. In the overrun routine (300), drive motor in step (301).
(7) is driven in the reverse direction from the starting position (Fig. 18a, Fig. 16A, Fig. 17A), the first position switch (10) is turned off in step (302), and then the overrun timer counts in step (303). After the start, the step (304) counts for a predetermined time, and the step (305) stops the drive motor (7) (start standby means). That is, the reverse rotation of the drive motor (7) for a predetermined time causes the ice detection lever (3) to descend and stop at a predetermined position (FIG. 18h) indicated by the “start standby position” in FIG. The lever (3) waits for the next start.

When the water in the ice tray (1) is completely frozen, the ice making completion temperature detecting means (2) detects, for example, -12 ° C. or lower, and it is judged that the ice making is completed in step (201). move on. In step (306), the drive motor (7) starts forward rotation, and in step (307) the first position switch (10) rotates until it is turned on (position in FIG. 18a), and the ice detection lever (3) is turned on. It rises to the "maximum starting position" of 2 and stops at step (308) (starting position returning means). At this time, since the engaging lever (3a) of the ice detecting lever (3) is pushed up by the pin (9a) of the second cam gear (a), the ice detecting lever (3) is forcibly rotated and raised,
Even if the ice detection lever (3) and the ice removal mechanism (5) are frozen,
The ice detecting lever (3) breaks the ice and returns it to the maximum starting position.

Then, the process proceeds to step (202), the drive motor (7) rotates in the reverse direction, the second position switch (11) is closed at the ice detecting position b, and steps (203) to (204) are performed.
Then, the drive motor (7) is stopped and the ice detection lever (3) performs ice detection in step (205). In step (205), if the first position switch (10) is OFF and it is determined to be empty ice, the process proceeds to step (206), and if the first position switch (10) is ON and it is determined to be full ice, step Continue to (219).

The drive motor is moved to step (206) with empty ice.
(7) starts forward rotation, the ice detection lever (3) rotates in the ascending direction and is pushed up to the maximum starting position a, and proceeds to steps (207) to (210), and the first position switch (10) Is turned off and then turned on twice, and at step (211) the drive motor (7) is stopped at the position shown in FIG. Then, in step (212), the drive motor (7) starts reverse rotation, and from step (213) to step (21
4) and returns to the position of FIG. 18a, the above-mentioned overrun routine (300) is entered, the ice detection lever (3) is lowered to the start standby position, and the drive motor (7) is stopped.

Then, in step (215), the water supply mechanism starts to operate and the water supply pump is turned on. Step (216)
When the water supply pump (13) continues to operate for a predetermined time at (217), it stops at step (218), returns to step (201), and enters the ice making state again. When the ice storage box (4) is full of ice and the first position switch (10) is ON, the steps (205) to (219), (220) and (221) are advanced to the drive motor (7). Forward rotation stops at rotation position a, and the overrun routine (30
0), the drive motor (7) stops by rotating to the h position, the ice detection lever (3) stops at a start standby position lower than the maximum start position, and waits for a predetermined time in steps (222) (223). After that, the process returns to step (201).

Example 2. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the automatic ice maker in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation thereof. Note that FIG. 2 is also applied to this embodiment.

In the figure, (2) is an ice making completion temperature detecting means,
(3) is an ice detection lever, (5) is an ice removal mechanism, (7) is a drive motor,
(12) is the water supply mechanism, (13) is the water supply pump, (14) is the controller, (1
5) is a drive motor drive means, (16) is a water supply pump drive means,
(17) is an ice amount detecting means which is the same as that of the first embodiment. (20) is a heating element attached to the end of the rotary shaft of the ice detection lever (3), (21) is a heating element urging means for urging the heating element (20), (22)
Is a door opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the refrigerator door, (23) is an ice detecting lever heating means for controlling the urging of the heating element (20), and (24) is the urging time of the heating element (20). It is a heating element energizing time timer.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 5 is used as a subroutine of the main routine for controlling the refrigerator, and when the door of the refrigerator is opened, step (401) from the main routine,
After proceeding to (402) and closing the door again, the heating element (20) is energized in step (403), the heating element energizing time timer (24) starts counting in step (404), and is set. When a predetermined time, such as 2 minutes, has elapsed, the timer (2
4) time is up and step (406) is followed by heating element (20)
Is deactivated. Thus, by heating the ice detecting lever (3) for 2 minutes, the dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3) due to the outside air containing the moisture sucked into the refrigerator every time the door is opened and closed is prevented.

Example 3. In the second embodiment, the heating element (20) is energized for a certain period of time according to the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, but the heating element energizing time may be changed according to the opening time of the door. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice maker in the third embodiment in this case, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a door opening time and a heating element energizing time set accordingly. In the figure,
(25) changes the heating element energizing time set in the heating element energizing time timer (24) according to the door opening detection time by the door opening / closing detection means (22) so as to have the relationship shown in FIG. 7. The operation time changing means is the same as that of FIG. 4 in other parts.

As described above, since the heating element energizing time is changed according to the opening time of the door, it is possible to set the heating element energizing time to the minimum, and the power consumption by the heating element (20) and its heat generation. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the refrigerating capacity due to.

Example 4. In Examples 2 and 3, as the dew condensation preventing means for preventing dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3) and the ice removing mechanism (5), the ice detecting lever heating means for heating the ice detecting lever (3) was used. In the fourth embodiment, the cold air circulation blower in the refrigerator is forcibly driven to prevent dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3) and the ice removing mechanism (5). FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the automatic ice maker in the fourth embodiment. In the figure, (26) is attached to the inside of the refrigerator to cool the inside by circulating the cool air generated in the cooler into the inside. Blower for circulating cold air, (27) means for driving it, (28) blower
Blower forced drive means to drive (26) forcibly, (29) blower
It is a blower drive time timer for setting the forced drive time of (26), and other parts are the same as in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. When the door of the refrigerator is opened and the door is closed again, the blower (26) is driven, and the drive of the blower (26) is stopped after a predetermined time set in the blower drive time timer (29), for example, 2 minutes has elapsed. . When the blower (26) is forcibly driven in this way for a certain period of time, the outside air containing the moisture that has been sucked into the refrigerator by the opening and closing operation of the door is returned to the cooler for heat exchange, cooling and dehumidification, and the ice detecting lever.
It is blown out in the vicinity of (10). In this way, every time the door is opened and closed, the outside air containing moisture sucked into the refrigerator is cooled and dehumidified to prevent dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3). In addition, if the forced drive time of the blower (26) is set to about 2 minutes, the outside air sucked in can be sufficiently circulated by opening and closing the door once, and the increase in power consumption due to it can be made small. .

Example 5. FIG. 9: Blower in Example 4
It is a block diagram which shows the automatic ice maker in Example 5 which changed the forced drive time of (26) according to the door opening time. In the figure, (25) changes the forced drive time set in the blower drive time timer (29) according to the door open detection time by the door open / close detection means (22) so that it has the relationship shown in FIG. 7, for example. The operation time changing means is the same as that of FIG. 8 in other parts. In this embodiment, according to the opening time of the door, the forced drive time of the blower (26) is long when the door open time is long and a large amount of outside air is sucked into the refrigerator, and when the door open time is short, the blower forced drive time is long. By shortening, the increase in power consumption is minimized and the dew condensation on the ice detection lever (3) is completely prevented.

Example 6. In the second and third embodiments, the heating element (20) is urged after opening and closing the refrigerator door, but when the general user mistakenly forgets to close the refrigerator door or the half-door state continues for a long time. Is the ice detection lever while the door is open
(3) Since there is a possibility of significant dew condensation on the ice removing mechanism (5) and its vicinity, the heating element (20) may be urged when the door opening continues for a predetermined time. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to the sixth embodiment in this case, and FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the operation thereof. In the figure, (30)
Is a door open time timer that starts when the door open / close detection means (22) detects that the door is open, and after a certain fixed time elapses, starts the energization of the heating element (20). The same as 4.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When the refrigerator door is opened, the main routine proceeds to steps (501) and (502), and the door open time timer
If (30) starts and the door remains open in step (503), proceed to step (504) .If the door does not close until the timer (30) times out, proceed to step (505) to generate the heating element (2
0) is turned on. After energizing the heating element (20) or the timer (3
If the door is closed before the time is up in (0), the process proceeds from step (503) to step (506), the heating element (20) is turned off,
In step (507), the timer (30) is reset before the time is up. In this way, dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3) is prevented when the door is opened for a long time. Although the ice detecting lever heating means (23) is controlled in this embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by the blower forced driving means (28).

Example 7. In the sixth embodiment, the heating element (20) is turned on after a predetermined time has passed since the door was opened, and the heating element (20) is turned off when the door is closed.
0) may be turned off. FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to the seventh embodiment in this case, and FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining the operation thereof. In the figure, (30)
Is a door open time timer for turning on the heating element (20) after a first predetermined time from the detection of door open by the door open / close detection means (22), (3
1) is a door closing time timer for turning off the heating element (20) after a second predetermined time from the detection of the door opening / closing by the door opening / closing detecting means (22), and other parts are the same as in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When the refrigerator door is opened, the main routine proceeds to steps (601) and (602), and the door open time timer
If (30) starts and the door remains open in step (603), the process proceeds to step (604). If the door does not close until the timer (30) has elapsed the first predetermined time and has timed out, step
Proceeding to (605), the heating element (20) is turned on. When the door is closed after energizing the heating element (20) or before the timer (30) times out, the process proceeds from step (603) to step (606), and the timer (3
If (0) is before the time is up, it will be reset, step (607)
Then, the door closing time timer (31) is started, the timer (31) is timed up after the second predetermined time has elapsed in step (608), and the heating element (20) is turned off in step (609). In this way, dew condensation on the ice detecting lever (3) is sufficiently prevented when the door is opened for a long time.

In this embodiment also, the ice detecting lever heating means is used.
Although (23) is controlled, the same effect can be obtained even by using the blower forced drive means (28). Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, only the ice detecting lever heating means and the blower forced driving means have been described, but it goes without saying that other dew condensation preventing means may be used.

[0054]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the ice detecting operation is started, the drive motor is forced to raise the ice detecting lever from a position lowered by a predetermined amount from the maximum starting position to the maximum starting position. Since the freezing of the ice detecting lever is configured to break ice, there is an effect that a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker having high reliability against freezing of the ice removing mechanism can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the drive motor is reversely rotated for a predetermined time to lower the ice detecting lever from the maximum starting position by a predetermined amount. Therefore, a complicated cam mechanism is not used and the cost is low. Since only the use of the switch and the timer is required, there is an effect that a refrigerator having the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained at low cost.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the dew condensation preventing means is operated in response to the opening and closing of the refrigerator door. Therefore, the ice detecting lever and the deicing by the outside air containing the moisture invaded when the refrigerator door is opened. It is possible to obtain a highly reliable refrigerator with an automatic ice maker that prevents the mechanism from freezing.

According to the invention described in claim 4, since the operation time of the dew condensation preventing means is set to a predetermined constant time, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 3 is obtained, and the adverse effect of the operation of the dew condensation preventing means is exerted. There is an effect that can be prevented.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the operation time of the dew condensation preventing means is changed by the door opening time, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 3 can be obtained and the dew condensation preventing means can be operated. There is an effect that the adverse effect of the operation can be minimized.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation of the dew condensation preventing means is started after a predetermined time from the opening of the refrigerator door and stopped by closing the refrigerator door. Therefore, it is effective even when the door is opened for a long time. It is effective in preventing dew condensation.

According to the invention of claim 7, the operation of the dew condensation preventing means is started after the first predetermined time from the opening of the refrigerator door and stopped after the second predetermined time from the closing of the refrigerator door. Effectively prevents dew condensation even when the door is open for a long time.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, as the dew condensation preventing means, the ice detecting lever or the heating element provided in the vicinity of the ice detecting lever is biased, so that the dew condensation on the ice detecting lever is extremely prevented. This is effective, and the dew condensation preventing means can be easily controlled.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, as the dew condensation preventing means, the blower for circulating the cool air in the refrigerator is forcibly driven, so that the dew condensation on the ice detecting lever can be effectively prevented. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ice detecting mechanism according to the first embodiment and the second, third, sixth, and seventh embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a door opening time and a heating element energizing time according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice making machine according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic ice maker stored in a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the ice detecting mechanism for explaining the ice detecting operation of the conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of an essential part of the ice removing mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a view on arrow XX in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the ice removing mechanism according to the first embodiment and the conventional example.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional automatic ice making machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ice tray 2 ice making complete temperature detecting means 3 ice detecting lever 4 ice storage box 5 ice removing mechanism 7 drive motor 14 controller 17 ice amount detecting means 18 start waiting means 19 starting position returning means 20 dew condensation preventing heating element 22 door open / close detection Means 23 Ice detecting lever heating means (condensation preventing means) 26 Blower for circulating cool air 27 Blower forced driving means (condensation preventing means) 29 Door opening time timer 31 Door closing time timer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ice detecting lever, which is raised to a maximum starting position by forward rotation of a drive motor, disengaged from the drive motor by reverse rotation, and lowered by spring force until it hits ice in an ice storage box, and the drive. Ice amount detection means for detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box by the descending position of the ice detection lever from the maximum starting position when the motor is rotated in the reverse direction to the predetermined rotation position, and this means for detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box. In response to the detection that the amount of ice is not full, the refrigerator containing an automatic ice machine equipped with an ice removing mechanism that rotates the ice tray to drop the ice in the ice tray into the ice storage box, Starting standby means for stopping the ice detecting lever at a position lowered by a predetermined amount from the maximum starting position while the operation of the ice mechanism is stopped, and the ice detecting by the forward rotation of the drive motor when the ice removing mechanism is started. Move the lever to the highest starting position A refrigerator provided with a starting position returning means for raising. 2. The start standby means starts the reverse rotation of the drive motor in response to the return of the ice detecting lever to the maximum start position when the power is turned on or the operation of the ice removing mechanism is completed, and the drive motor is started after a predetermined time. The means for stopping, the starting position returning means,
The means for starting normal rotation of the drive motor in response to detection of an ice-free condition and stopping the drive motor in response to return of the ice detecting lever to the maximum starting position. Refrigerator. 3. An ice amount detecting means for detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box by raising and lowering the ice detecting lever by the rotation of the drive motor, and if the amount of ice in the ice storage box by this means is not full. In the refrigerator containing an automatic ice machine equipped with an ice removing mechanism that rotates the ice tray to drop the ice in the ice tray into the ice storage box in response to the detection of A refrigerator provided with a detecting means and a dew condensation preventing means which operates according to the detecting operation of the means and prevents dew condensation on the ice detecting lever and the ice separating mechanism. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the dew condensation preventing means starts its operation in response to detection of opening and closing of the door of the door opening / closing detecting means, and stops after a predetermined time. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising operation time changing means for changing a predetermined time of the dew condensation preventing means according to a door opening detection time by the door opening / closing detection means. 6. The dew condensation preventing means starts its operation a predetermined time after the door opening / closing detecting means detects the opening / closing of the door, and stops in response to the opening / closing detection of the door opening / closing detecting means. The refrigerator according to claim 3, which is made. 7. The dew condensation preventing means starts its operation after a first predetermined time period from the detection of the door opening / closing of the door opening / closing detection means,
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerator is stopped after a second predetermined time from the detection of the opening and closing of the door of the door opening / closing detecting means. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the dew condensation preventing means is an ice detecting lever heating means for urging an ice detecting lever or a heating element provided in the vicinity thereof. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the dew condensation preventing means is a blower forced drive means for forcibly driving the cool air circulation blower in the refrigerator.