JPH0894221A - Automatic ice making apparatus of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a false detection of completion of water feed by stopping water feed completion-detecting operation when the opening of a door is detected after a predetermined period of time has elapsed while completion of water feed is not being detected, and executing water feed completion-detecting operation to detect completion of water feed at a predetermined temperature when the closing of the door is detected. CONSTITUTION: Completion of water feed is detected by a water feed completion primary- detecting means of a control circuit 26 on the basis of the fact that a temperature detected by a tray temperature sensor 17 has reached a level of a predetermined temperature or higher within a predetermined period of time after starting water feed. When the opening of a door is detected by a door switch 27 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed while completion of water feed is not detected by the water feed completion primary detecting means, the water feed detecting operation based on the temperature detected by the tray temperature sensor 17 is stopped. Also, when the closing of the door is detected by the door switch 27, the water feed completion detecting operation is executed and, when a predetermined temperature is detected by the tray temperature sensor 17, completion of water feed is detected by a water feed completion secondary-detecting means of the control circuit 26. Accordingly, the erroneous detection of completion of water feed can be obviated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device for a refrigerator which is provided with a plate temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of an ice making plate and detects completion of water supply based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, refrigerators provided with an automatic ice making device have been provided. As is well known, in this automatic ice making device, water is automatically supplied into an ice tray provided in an ice making chamber, and when the completion of water supply is detected, ice making is started, and when this ice making is completed, ice making is started. The plate is twisted and rotated to remove ice.

In this case, the water supply completion detection is performed as follows. That is, a plate sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice tray is attached to the ice tray, and the temperature of the ice tray is considerably low in the ice-making completed state and the ice-released state before water supply, and when the water supply is started, the temperature is lowered. Paying attention to the fact that the water temperature rises, it is detected that the water supply is completed when the plate temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, −9.5 ° C. or higher within a predetermined time after the start of water supply, and after the predetermined time elapses, the predetermined temperature When the amount does not reach the above level, it is determined that water is not being supplied (water supply has not been completed) due to, for example, no water in the water supply tank, and an alarm lamp or the like is used to perform an alarm operation.

By this notification operation, replenishment water to the water supply tank is prompted. Further, even after the lapse of the predetermined time, the predetermined temperature detecting operation based on the predetermined temperature, that is, the water supply completion detecting operation is actually executed, and if the predetermined temperature is detected, it is determined that the water supply is completed, The notification operation is stopped.
When the completion of water supply is detected in this way, the ice making operation is executed.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, even when the temperature reaches or exceeds the predetermined temperature in the so-called additional detection operation after the water supply completion detection operation after the predetermined time has passed, the temperature rise or door opening or It may be due to the defrosting operation, that is, the completion of water supply may be erroneously detected. Therefore, the ice making operation is unnecessarily executed, resulting in waste of power consumption and deterioration of each electrical component.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making device for a refrigerator which can eliminate false detection of water supply completion in a so-called additional detection operation after the water supply completion detection operation is performed for a predetermined time.

[0007]

A first means is an ice making chamber opened and closed by a door, an ice making plate provided in the ice making chamber, a plate temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice making plate, and the door. Door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the water, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice tray, and detection of completion of water supply based on detection temperature of the plate temperature sensor reaching a predetermined temperature or more within a predetermined time after starting water supply After completion of the water supply completion by the water supply completion primary detection means and the water supply completion primary detection means is not detected, when the opening of the door is detected by the door opening / closing detection means, the plate temperature sensor Stop the water supply completion detection operation based on the detected temperature,
When the closing of the door is detected, the water supply completion detecting operation is executed, and when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, the water supply completion secondary detecting means is included. The invention of claim 1).

A second means is an ice tray provided in the ice making chamber, a cooler for cooling the ice making chamber, a defrosting operation executing means for performing a defrosting operation on the cooler, and the ice making machine. A plate temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the plate, a water supply mechanism that supplies water to the ice tray, and detection of completion of water supply based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor having reached a predetermined temperature or higher within a predetermined time after the start of water supply After completion of the water supply completion by the water supply completion primary detection means and the water supply completion primary detection means, when it is determined that the defrosting operation is being executed, the dish temperature sensor When the water supply completion detection operation based on the detected temperature is stopped and it is determined that the defrosting operation is not being executed When the water supply completion detection operation is executed and the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature Is configured to include a water supply completion secondary detecting means for detecting the water supply completion (the invention of claim 2).

A third means is an ice tray provided in an ice making chamber, a plate temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice tray, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice tray, and a water supply mechanism within a predetermined time after starting water supply. Water supply completion primary detection means for detecting completion of water supply based on the detection temperature of the plate temperature sensor having reached a predetermined temperature or more, and after the predetermined time has elapsed without completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detection means. Until the preset delay time elapses, the water supply completion detection operation based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor is continued, and when the plate temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected and the delay time is set. And a secondary supply completion detecting means for stopping the supply completion detection operation after a point of time has elapsed (the invention of claim 3).

[0010]

In the first means, when the opening / closing of the door is detected by the door opening / closing detecting means after the predetermined time has elapsed without the completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detecting means, the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor is detected. Since the water supply completion detection operation based on this is stopped, the temperature rise due to opening the door will not be erroneously detected as water supply completion. Then, when the closing of the door is detected, the water supply completion detection operation is executed, and when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected, so that the temperature rise due to the water supply can be detected, that is, the water supply completion. Can be detected normally.

In the second means, when it is determined that the defrosting operation is being executed after a lapse of a predetermined time without the completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detection means, the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor is detected. Since the water supply completion detection operation based on is stopped, the temperature rise due to the defrosting operation is not erroneously detected as water supply completion. Then, when it is determined that the defrosting operation is not being executed, the water supply completion detection operation is executed, and when the dish temperature sensor detects the predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected, so that the temperature rise due to water supply can be detected. That is, the completion of water supply can be normally detected.

In the third means, the water supply based on the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor is performed until a preset delay time elapses after a predetermined time elapses without the completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detecting means. Continuing the completion detection operation, the completion of water supply is detected when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, and the water supply completion detection operation is stopped after the delay time elapses. become able to. That is, when the completion of water supply is not detected by the water supply completion primary detection means,
During a certain period of time, the temperature-increasing factors of the ice tray other than the water supply (such as opening the door, performing defrosting operation, running out of water in the water supply tank) are often eliminated. However, if too much time elapses, it is rare that the elements for raising the temperature of the ice tray other than water supply are eliminated, which often results in false detection. Therefore, the water supply completion detection operation is performed again by the water supply completion secondary detection means until the delay time elapses after the water supply completion primary detection means, and the water supply completion detection operation is stopped after the delay time elapses. , It becomes possible to reduce false detection of water supply completion.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG.
A freezer compartment 2, an ice making compartment 3, a refrigerating compartment 4 and the like are formed inside the refrigerator main body 1, and cold air cooled by a cooler (not shown) is supplied to each of the compartments 2 by a fan (not shown). , 3, 4 are supplied. The chambers 2, 3 and 4 are opened and closed by doors 7, 8 and 9, respectively.

An automatic ice making device 10 according to the present invention is provided in the ice making chamber 3, which will be described in detail below. Reference numeral 11 denotes a rectangular box-shaped machine body provided in the front part in the upper part of the ice making chamber 3, and as shown in FIG. 3, an L-shaped support member 12 protruding rearward is provided at one end part of the rear surface. ing. A drive mechanism including a dish motor 13 (see FIG. 4) and a gear mechanism (not shown) is provided inside the machine body 11. This drive mechanism reduces the rotation of the dish motor 13 by the gear mechanism and outputs the output shaft 14 It is configured to be transmitted to.

15 is a plastic ice tray, for example,
It has a thin rectangular container shape with an open top surface, and the inside is divided into a plurality of small chambers. The ice tray 15 rotates about the output shaft 14 and the support shaft 16 with respect to the support member 12 through a support shaft 16 having a front center portion on the output shaft 14 and a rear center portion on the output shaft 14. It is supported so that it can be rotated by the output shaft 12 and turned upside down.

A locking piece 1 is provided at one end of the rear portion of the ice tray 15.
When the ice tray 15 is rotated in the reversing direction, the locking piece portion 15a abuts the stopper 12a formed on the support member 12 so that the ice tray 15 is provided on the other end side of the ice tray 15. The rotation of the ice tray 15 is restricted so that the ice tray 15 is twisted and deformed. A plate temperature sensor 17 is attached to the ice tray 15.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes an ice storage container that is stored below the ice tray 15 so that it can be put into and taken out of the ice making chamber 3, and reference numeral 19 denotes an ice storage detection lever that is rotatably supported by the machine body 11. 20 is a water supply mechanism, which is a refrigerating room 4
The water in the water supply tank 21 housed inside is supplied to the ice tray 15 by the water supply pump 22 via the water supply pipe 23. The water supply tank 21 is detachably set, and a lever 24 is provided so as to respond to the set, and the lever 24 is set in response to the setting of the water supply tank 21. A tank set detection switch 25 (see FIG. 4) for detecting is provided.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows the electrical construction of the automatic ice making device 7. In the figure, reference numeral 26 is a control circuit which is a water supply completion primary detection means and a water supply completion secondary detection means, which is configured to include a microcomputer for controlling each process related to ice making described later.
6, a door switch 27 serving as a door opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the door 8 of the ice making chamber 3, an ice storage detecting switch 28 interlocking with the ice storage detecting lever 19, a plate temperature sensor 17, and a tank set detecting switch 25. A signal is input.

Then, the control circuit 26 is responsive to the input in accordance with the program stored in advance, and the dish motor 1 is operated.
3 and the water supply pump 22 are respectively controlled via a drive circuit 29 and a drive circuit 30, and a water supply lamp 31, which is a notifying means provided on a display panel (not shown), is driven and controlled. .

Next, regarding the operation of the above configuration, the control circuit 2
6 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 1 showing the control contents. In step S1, the water supply pump 22 is driven for a certain period of time to supply water to the ice tray 15. Then, step S2 and step S3 corresponding to the water supply completion primary detecting means are executed. That is, it is determined whether or not the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, −9.5 ° C. or higher, for a predetermined time after the start of water supply, for example, 5.5 minutes. When the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, -9.5 ° C or higher, the completion of water supply is detected.

If the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor 17 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, -9.5 ° C. or higher, that is, if the completion of water supply is detected, the process proceeds to step 4 according to "Y" in step S2 to make ice. Perform an action. The ice making operation here means the following. That is, ice is generated in the ice tray 15 by the supply of cool air by the cooler and the fan, and the completion of the generation is detected by the tray temperature sensor 17, and then the tray motor 13 is driven to drive the ice tray 15 The ice tray 15 is returned to the horizontal state by further rotating and twisting to determine whether or not the ice stored in the ice storage container 18 is full, based on the ice storage detection switch 28,
If it is determined that it is not full, the procedure returns to step S1.
If it is determined to be full, it waits as it is.

Now, step S2 and step S3
When the completion of the water supply is not detected (when the result is "Y" in step S3) in the (water supply completion primary detection means), the process proceeds to step S5, and the water supply lamp 31 is turned on to notify of the water supply abnormality. After that, the process proceeds to step S6, it is determined whether or not the water supply tank 21 is reset based on the tank set detection switch 28, and if reset, the water supply lamp 31 is turned off (step S7). ,
Return to step S1. The purpose of determining whether or not the resetting is performed is to determine that the user has taken out the water supply tank 21 and supplied water by turning on the water supply lamp 31.

When the water supply tank 21 is not reset (in the case of "N" in step S6), steps S8 and S9 corresponding to the water supply completion secondary detecting means are executed. That is, in step S8, the door switch 2
It is determined based on 7 whether the door 8 is opened. If the door 8 is not opened, the process proceeds to step S9, and the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor 17 reaches -9.5 ° C or higher. Determine whether or not. If the door 8 is open, step S9
The temperature judgment, that is, the ice making completion detecting operation is not executed.

However, if it is determined in step S9 that the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 has reached -9.5 ° C. or higher, the process proceeds to step S10 and the water supply lamp 3
1 is turned off and the above-mentioned ice making operation is executed.

According to the present embodiment as described above, steps S2 and S3 corresponding to the water supply completion primary detecting means.
In step S8, when the predetermined time elapses without the completion of water supply being detected, the step S8 corresponding to the water supply completion secondary detection means is performed.
Then, in step S9, it is detected whether or not the door 8 is opened, and when this is detected, the water supply completion detection operation based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor 17 (step S9).
Since the determination operation 9) is not performed (stopped), the temperature rise due to the opening of the door 8 is not erroneously detected as the completion of water supply.

When the closing of the door 8 is detected, the water supply completion detecting operation is executed, and when the plate temperature sensor 17 detects the predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected. Therefore, the temperature rise due to the water supply can be detected. That is, the completion of water supply can be normally detected. As a result, the ice making operation is not executed while the water supply is completed, so that it is possible to eliminate the waste of power consumption and the deterioration of each electric component.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, although not shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the cumulative time of the cooling operation reaches a predetermined time, the cooling operation is stopped and the defrost heater is energized, so that the defroster for the cooler is performed. Defrosting operation executing means for executing the operation is provided. Thus, in this second embodiment, step G corresponding to the water supply completion secondary detecting means.
8 and step G9 are different from the first embodiment. That is, in step G8, it is determined whether or not the defrosting operation is being performed on the cooler. If the defrosting operation is not being executed, the process proceeds to step G9 and the dish temperature sensor 1
It is determined whether the detected temperature of 7 has reached −9.5 ° C. or higher. If the defrosting operation is being executed, the temperature determination of step G9, that is, the ice making completion detecting operation is not executed.

However, if it is determined in step G9 that the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 has reached −9.5 ° C. or higher, the process proceeds to step G10, and the water supply lamp 3
1 is turned off and the ice making operation is executed.

According to the second embodiment, in steps G2 and G3 corresponding to the primary water supply completion detecting means, if a predetermined time elapses without the completion of the water supply being detected, the step corresponding to the secondary water supply completion detecting means. In G8 and step G9, it is judged whether or not the defrosting operation is being executed, and when it is detected that the defrosting operation is being executed, the water supply completion detecting operation based on the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 (judging operation of step G9) Do not execute (stop)
Therefore, the temperature rise due to the defrosting operation is not erroneously detected as the completion of water supply. Then, when the defrosting operation is not being executed, the water supply completion detection operation is executed, and when the dish temperature sensor 17 detects the predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected. Therefore, the temperature rise due to the water supply can be detected, that is, the water supply completion. Can be detected normally. As a result, the ice making operation is not executed while the water supply is completed, so that it is possible to eliminate the waste of power consumption and the deterioration of each electric component.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, steps P8 and P9 corresponding to the secondary water supply completion detecting means are different from those in the first embodiment. That is, in step P8, it is determined whether or not a predetermined delay time, for example, one hour has elapsed from the time when a predetermined time of 5.5 minutes has elapsed. Before the delay time elapses, the process proceeds to step P9, and it is determined whether or not the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor 17 has reached −9.5 ° C. or higher. That is, if the ice making completion detecting operation is executed and the above delay time elapses, step P9
The temperature determination, that is, the ice making completion detection operation is stopped. When it is determined in step P9 that the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor 17 has reached −9.5 ° C. or higher, the process proceeds to step P10, the water supply lamp 31 is turned off, and the ice making operation is executed.

According to the third embodiment, in steps P2 and P3 corresponding to the primary water supply completion detecting means, if a predetermined time elapses without the completion of the water supply being detected, a step corresponding to the secondary water supply completion detecting means. If the preset delay time in P8 and step P9 has not elapsed, the water supply completion detection operation is executed, and when the plate temperature sensor detects the 17 predetermined temperature, the completion of water supply is detected, and when the delay time elapses. Since the water supply completion detection operation is stopped, it is possible to eliminate false detection of water supply completion.

That is, step P2 and step P
When the completion of water supply is not detected in 3, the ice tray temperature rising elements other than the water supply (door opening, defrosting operation execution, water supply tank running out of water, etc.) are often eliminated after a certain period of time. However, if too much time elapses, it is rare that the elements for raising the temperature of the ice tray other than water supply are eliminated, which often results in false detection. However, in the third embodiment, the water supply completion detecting operation is performed again in step P9 before the water supply completion detecting operation in steps P2 and P3 is performed and the water supply completion detecting operation is performed in step P9. Since the operation is stopped, it is possible to reduce false detection of water supply completion. Therefore, the ice making operation is not executed while the water supply is completed, so that it is possible to eliminate the waste of power consumption and the deterioration of each electric component.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can obtain the following effects. According to the invention of claim 1, when the door opening / closing detecting means detects the opening of the door after the completion of the water supply is not detected by the water supply completion primary detecting means, the water supply is based on the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor. When the completion detection operation is stopped and the closing of the door is detected, the water supply completion detection operation is executed, and the completion of water supply is detected when the plate temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature. That is, it is possible to normally detect the completion of water supply without waste of power consumption and also to prevent deterioration of each electrical component.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the defrosting operation is being executed after a lapse of a predetermined time without the completion of the water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detecting means, the detection of the plate temperature sensor is performed. The water supply completion detection operation based on the temperature is stopped, the water supply completion detection operation is executed when it is determined that the defrosting operation is not being executed, and the water supply completion is detected when the plate temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature. The temperature rise due to the defrosting operation is not erroneously detected as the completion of water supply, that is, the completion of water supply can be normally detected, and thus waste of power consumption can be eliminated and deterioration of each electrical component can be eliminated. it can.

According to the invention of claim 3, the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor is maintained until a preset delay time elapses after a predetermined time elapses without the completion of the water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detecting means. Continuing the water supply completion detection operation based on this, the water supply completion is detected when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, and the water supply completion detection operation is stopped after the delay time elapses, thereby eliminating false water supply completion detection. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate waste of power consumption and also to prevent deterioration of each electric component.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of control contents showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Vertical side view of the upper part of the refrigerator

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice making device portion.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of control contents showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control contents showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a refrigerator main body, 3 is an ice making chamber, 8 is a door, 10 is an automatic ice making device, 11 is a machine body, 13 is a plate motor, 15 is an ice making plate, 1
7 is a plate temperature sensor, 20 is a water supply mechanism, 26 is a control circuit (water supply completion primary detection means, water supply completion secondary detection means), 2
Reference numeral 7 denotes a door switch (door opening / closing detecting means).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice making chamber opened and closed by a door, an ice tray provided in the ice making chamber, a plate temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice tray, and a door opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing of the door. , A water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice tray, a water supply completion primary detection means for detecting completion of water supply based on a temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor having reached a predetermined temperature or higher within a predetermined time after the start of water supply, and the water supply After the completion of the water supply is not detected by the completion primary detection means, when the opening of the door is detected by the door opening / closing detection means, the water supply completion detection operation based on the temperature detected by the dish temperature sensor is stopped. When the closing of the door is detected, the water supply completion detecting operation is executed, and when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, the water supply completion secondary detecting means for detecting the water supply completion is provided. Automatic ice-making device for refrigerators equipped with. 2. An ice tray provided in the ice making chamber, a cooler for cooling the ice making chamber, a defrosting operation executing means for performing a defrosting operation on the cooler, and a temperature of the ice tray is detected. A plate temperature sensor, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice tray, and a water supply completion primary detection for detecting completion of water supply based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor having reached a predetermined temperature or higher within a predetermined time after the start of water supply Means for supplying water based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor when it is determined that the defrosting operation is being executed after the predetermined time has elapsed without the completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detection means. Stop the completion detection operation,
And a secondary water supply completion detecting unit that detects the completion of water supply when the dish temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature by executing the water supply completion detection operation when it is determined that the defrosting operation is not being executed. Automatic ice making device for the refrigerator. 3. An ice making tray provided in an ice making chamber, a plate temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice making tray, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice making tray, and a plate temperature sensor for supplying water to the ice making tray within a predetermined time after starting water supply. A water supply completion primary detection means for detecting completion of water supply based on the detected temperature having reached a predetermined temperature or higher, and a preset value after the predetermined time has elapsed without the completion of water supply being detected by the water supply completion primary detection means. Until the delay time elapses, the water supply completion detection operation based on the temperature detected by the plate temperature sensor is continued, and when the plate temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature, the water supply completion is detected, and when the delay time elapses. An automatic ice making device for a refrigerator, comprising a water supply completion secondary detection means for stopping the water supply completion detection operation thereafter.