JPH11218374A - Refrigerator with automatic ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce operation sound and frequency of sound generation at the time of water supply to an ice maker container. SOLUTION: A water supply action is executed on the condition that a compressor is turned on (step S4 and S5). When water is not present in a reservoir tank (water is exhausted), water is not supplied to an ice making container. A water exhaustion is judged on the basis of 'YES' of a step S7. When water is supplemented to the water reservoir tank and a reset is performed ('YES' of step S9, step S10, step S11), a transition to the step S5 is carried out so as to execute water supply action on the condition that the compressor is turned on as indicated in the step S12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice maker having a water storage tank and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice maker. .

[0002]

Conventionally, this type of refrigerator has an ice-making container provided in an ice-making room kept at a freezing temperature, a mechanism for performing ice-releasing operation, a refrigerating room provided with a water storage tank, and A water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to the ice making container when it becomes necessary to supply water to the ice making container. Further, the ice making container is provided with a temperature sensor so that the completion of ice making and the completion of water supply can be detected. The water supply means may include a water supply pump provided with a water supply pump for forcibly sending the water in the water storage tank to the ice making container, or a water storage tank and the ice making container in an up-and-down positional relationship, and an electromagnetic opening may be provided at the mouth of the water storage tank. There is a solenoid system in which a water supply valve of a solenoid drive type is provided and the water in the water storage tank is supplied to the ice making container by natural flow by opening the water supply valve.

When the temperature sensor detects an ice-making detection temperature (for example, -12.5 ° C.), it detects completion of ice-making in the ice-making container and operates the mechanism to remove ice from the ice-making container. The ice removal operation is performed. The extracted ice is stored in a predetermined ice storage box. When the ice removing operation is completed, the ice making container becomes empty, and water supply is required. When the water supply requirement occurs, water is supplied from the water storage tank to the ice making container by the water supply means. Then, when water is supplied to the ice-making container, the ice-making chamber is kept at a freezing temperature, and then ice is made.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, it is known that a loud operation noise is generated at the time of water supply, regardless of whether the water supply means is of a pump type or a solenoid type. In addition, the refrigerator is provided with a compressor that is turned on and off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command in the refrigeration cycle.However, even when the compressor is turned on, an operation sound is output. Together, the fact is that the refrigerator has a high frequency of noise generation.

[0005] Further, since the above-described water supply operation related to the ice making operation is generally performed after the above-described ice release operation,
The user will hear a series of sounds of the ice release operation, and the user will rarely feel abnormal or be surprised, but if the water storage tank is out of water (there is no water for one ice formation), the water will be stored. Since the water supply operation is performed after refilling the tank with water, the time interval is considerably long unlike the case of the above-described ice-removal operation, that is, a suddenly large water supply operation sound is generated, There was a problem that the user felt abnormal or was surprised.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the sound of the water supply operation from being suddenly heard loud, reduce the frequency of noise generation, and reduce the overall noise. Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with an automatic ice making machine.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic ice making machine having a water storage tank and water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container, a compressor operation command, When the compressor that is turned on and off based on the operation stop command and the water supply permission condition is
And a water supply operation control unit that controls the water supply unit to execute a water supply operation on condition that the compressor is turned on.

In the above configuration, when the water supply permission condition is satisfied, the water supply operation control means executes the water supply operation by the water supply means on condition that the compressor is turned on. Since the sound overlaps with the sound, the water supply operation sound does not protrude and is not heard loudly, and the water supply operation sound is always generated simultaneously with the compressor operation sound, so that the degree of noise generation is also reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic ice making machine comprising a water storage tank and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to the ice making container, and a water drainage detecting the water drainage state of the water storage tank. Detecting means, a compressor that is turned on / off based on a compressor operation command and a stop command, and that the compressor is turned on when a water supply permission condition is satisfied after the running out of water is detected by the running out of water detecting means. And a water supply operation control means for controlling the water supply operation by the water supply means under the condition.

[0010] In the above configuration, when the water supply detecting condition is satisfied (water is supplied to the water storage tank) after the water supply is detected by the water supply detection means, the water supply operation is performed by the water supply means. In this case, since the water supply operation is performed on condition that the compressor is turned on, the operation sound of the compressor overlaps with the operation sound of the compressor. Does not protrude and sound loud, and the user does not feel abnormal or be surprised. In addition, since the water supply operation sound after the water tank is out of water and the compressor operation sound always occur simultaneously, the degree of noise generation is also reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic ice making machine comprising a water storage tank detachably provided in a predetermined chamber and water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container. Out-of-water detecting means for detecting the out-of-water condition of the compressor, a compressor which is turned on / off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command, a door open / close detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of a door for opening / closing the predetermined chamber, Control means to execute the water supply operation by the water supply means on condition that the opening / closing of the door is detected by the door open / close detection means and the compressor is turned on after the running out of water is detected by the means. And a water supply operation control means.

When the water-out detecting means detects the water-out, it is necessary to detect that water has been supplied to the water storage tank. That is, a means for determining that the water supply permission condition is satisfied is required. Conventionally, the tank detection switch detects that the water storage tank has been taken out of the predetermined chamber and has been reset, but this increases the cost.

When refilling and resetting the water in the water storage tank, a door for opening and closing a predetermined chamber is opened and closed.
The door opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing operation of the door is generally provided for the purpose of turning on / off the lighting of the room or the like, that is, it is an existing one.

In the above configuration, by detecting the opening / closing of the door, it is possible to determine by the existing door opening / closing means that the water has been supplied to the water storage tank and reset (the water supply permission condition has been satisfied). Can be detected, and the cost can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic ice making machine comprising a water storage tank detachably provided in a predetermined chamber and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container. Out-of-water detecting means for detecting the out-of-water condition of the compressor, a compressor which is turned on / off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command, a door open / close detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of a door for opening / closing the predetermined chamber, When running out of water is detected by the means, a water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle, and at this water supply operation timing, it has been detected that the door opening / closing has been detected by the door open / close detection means so far and after the water supply operation timing, Water supply operation control means for controlling to execute a water supply operation by the water supply means on condition that the compressor is turned on. It has a feature where was painting.

In this configuration, similarly to the above, it can be determined by the existing door opening / closing means whether or not the water has been replenished and reset in the water storage tank (whether or not the water supply permission condition has been satisfied). Can contribute. Further, when a water shortage is detected, a water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle, and it is determined that the door open / close detection has been performed by the door open / close detection means at this water supply operation timing. The number of water supply operations can be reduced as compared with the case where it is determined whether or not the opening / closing of the door is detected by the opening / closing detecting means. That is, when the door is opened and closed, it may not be for replenishing water to the water storage tank. In this case, if the water supply operation is performed uniquely in response to the detection of the opening / closing of the door, useless water supply operations will be performed many times when water is not actually supplied.

However, in the above configuration, the water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle, and the water supply operation is executed when the door opening / closing detection unit detects the opening / closing of the door at this water supply operation timing. Useless water supply operation can be prevented. Since the water supply operation is performed under the condition that the compressor is turned on in the same manner as described above, the water supply operation sound does not protrude and is not heard loudly, and the noise generation degree is reduced.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an external air temperature sensor for detecting an external air temperature is provided, and a predetermined cycle of water supply operation timing is extended when a temperature detected by the external air temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a reference temperature. . In a refrigerator, a room in which a water storage tank is set is usually a refrigeration room (a room having a temperature at which water does not freeze), and doors of each room open and close frequently in summer and low in winter. Therefore, it is preferable that the predetermined cycle described in the third aspect of the invention be long in winter. However, the above configuration includes an outside air temperature sensor that detects an outside air temperature, and when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is equal to or lower than the reference temperature, a predetermined cycle of the water supply operation is extended. The cycle can be lengthened, and wasteful water supply operation can be prevented regardless of summer and winter.

The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the water supply means emits a sound like an electromagnetic solenoid or a pump. According to this, a water supply means that emits a sound, such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a pump, can be used with almost no trouble.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the entire configuration of the refrigerator, the refrigerator main body 1 includes a refrigerator room 2, an ice making room 3 arranged side by side, a specification switching room 4, a freezing room 5, a vegetable room in order from the top as a storage room. 6 are provided, and each of the chambers 2 to 6 is opened and closed by doors 7 to 11.

Of these storage rooms, the specification switching room 4 can switch its cooling temperature in a wide range, and by switching, it can be selected from a freezing room, a partial freezing room, a chilled room, a refrigerator room and a vegetable room. You can use it.

Since the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 5 have the same temperature zone, the two rooms 3 and 5 are in communication with each other. A cooler 12 is arranged at the rear of the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 5, and the partition member 13 is placed at the rear of the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 5 so as to cover the cooler 12 from the front side. By arranging these two chambers 3,
5, a cooler room 14 is formed at the rear.

Inside the partition member 13, a cold air supply path 1 is provided.
The cool air in the cooler room 14 is sent out into the cool air supply path 15 by the fan device 16. Some of the cool air blown into the cool air supply passage 15 is blown into the ice making chamber 3 and the freezing chamber 5 from a plurality of outlets 17 formed in the front part of the partition member 13.
The remaining cool air is supplied from the rear side of the cool air supply path 15 to the refrigerating room 2 and the specification switching room 4 via a damper device 18 provided at the rear of the specification switching room 4.

The refrigerating compartment 2, the specification switching compartment 4 and the freezing compartment 5 have a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 2a, a specification switching compartment temperature sensor 20 and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 2 shown in FIG.
1 is provided. Then, a control device 56 described later includes:
An operation start command or an operation stop command is output to the compressor 19 in accordance with the temperature detected by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 21 to control the operation of the compressor 19 and the operation of the fan device 16. The ice making room 3 and the freezing room 5 are controlled to a predetermined low temperature.

The damper device 18 includes a refrigerator-side baffle and a specification switching-room-side baffle (both not shown).
Each of these baffles is controlled to be opened and closed by a damper motor 18a (see FIG. 7). In this case, the baffles correspond to the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor 2a for the refrigerator compartment and the temperature sensor 20 for the specification switching chamber shown in FIG. Damper motor 18a
Is controlled to control the opening and closing of each baffle, whereby the temperature of the refrigeration room 2 and the specification switching room 4 is controlled. In this case, the opening and closing temperature of the specification switching chamber side baffle can be switched by operating an operation knob (not shown), and by this switching,
The specifications of the specification switching room 4 can be switched to a plurality of specifications such as a freezing room, a chilled room, a partial room, a refrigerator room, and a vegetable room.

As shown in FIG. 4, an ice making machine main body 23 of an automatic ice making machine 22 is disposed in the upper part of the ice making room 3. The ice making machine main body 23 has a substantially rectangular support frame 23a fixedly disposed at an upper portion in the ice making chamber 3, and the support frame 23a
, A plastic ice making container 24 is rotatably supported. A mechanism casing 25 is provided at a front portion of the support frame 23a, and an ice-making vessel reversing motor 26 for reversing the ice-making vessel 24 at the time of ice removal is provided in the mechanism casing 25.

The interior of the ice making container 24 is divided into a plurality of recesses 24a for making ice cubes. A groove (not shown) is formed in a partition portion for partitioning each of the recesses 24a, so that an ice making container is formed. The water supplied to the inside 24 is evenly distributed to each recess 24a through the groove.
An ice container temperature sensor 27 is mounted outside the bottom of the ice container 24. The ice making container temperature sensor 27 is resin-molded to more accurately detect the bottom temperature of the ice making container 24 without being directly exposed to the cold air.

Here, when the ice making container 24 reaches the position near the end of the upside-down inversion, the ice making container 24 is detached from the ice making container 24 by an engaging projection (not shown) provided at the rear end thereof on the support frame 23a. Is performed by stopping the rotation. That is, when the rear end of the ice making container 24 hits the locking projection and the rotation is stopped, the front end of the ice making container 24 continues to rotate.
6, the ice making container 24 is rotated a little.
Since the whole is in a state of being twisted, the ice cube is peeled off from the concave portion 24a by this twisting. When the ice is removed by twisting the ice making container 24, the ice making container 2
4 is returned to the original horizontal position by the inversion of the ice making container inversion motor 26. At this time, the inverted position and the horizontal position of the ice making container 24 are detected by the ice making container position detecting sensor 28 shown in FIG.

The ice cubes separated from the ice making container 24 are stored in an ice storage case 29. A detection lever 30 is pivotably mounted on the apparatus case 25 to detect the amount of ice stored in the ice storage case 29 in a vertically rotatable manner, and operates in accordance with the rotation position of the detection lever 30. An ice storage amount detection switch 31 (see FIG. 7) is provided. The door 8 of the ice making room 3 is the door 9 of the specification change room 4, the freezing room 5, and the vegetable room 6
The ice storage case 29 is integrated with the door 8 so that the ice storage case 29 is integrated with the door 8 so that the ice storage case 29 is drawn out of the ice making chamber 3 by pulling out the door 8. It has become.

With respect to the ice making machine main body 23, the water supply chamber 3 is located at a position corresponding to the position just above the ice making chamber 3 in the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 2.
The water supply chamber 32 is provided with a water supply device 33 as water supply means. This water supply device 33 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the water in the water storage tank 34 is supplied to the ice making 24 by a head by opening a water supply valve 35 of the water storage tank 34 with a valve operating device 36.

That is, a tank table 37 is provided at the bottom of the water supply chamber 32, and the water storage tank 34 is removably mounted on the tank table 37. In order to detect that the water storage tank 34 has been set on the tank table 37, a lever 38 which rotates in the direction of arrow A by the setting of the water storage tank 34 and the lever 38 are provided at the rear end of the tank table 37. A tank detecting means 40 comprising a tank detecting switch 39 which is turned on by turning in the direction of arrow A is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical portion 34a is projected from a lower portion of the water storage tank 34, and a cap 41 is screwed to the cylindrical portion 34a. A water supply port 42 is formed in the cap 41. The water supply valve 35 is provided with a water supply port 42.
And is mounted on the cap 41. Further, a water purification filter 43 is attached to the cap 41.

The water supply valve 35 includes a valve rod 44 movably supported by a frame 41a formed integrally with the cap 41, a valve body 45 attached to the lower end of the valve rod 44, and a valve rod 44. And a compression coil spring 46 as urging means for urging the spring downward in the closing direction. The water storage tank 34 is sealed except that it is connected to the outside through the water supply port 42.

The water supply valve 35 always keeps the water supply port 42 closed by the valve body 45 by the spring force of the compression coil spring 46. When the valve body 45 opens the water supply port 42 by pushing up the valve rod 44, the water in the water storage tank 34 flows out from the water supply port 42. The water flowing out of the water supply port 42 is received by a water receiving tray 47 formed in the tank table 37, and a water injection pipe provided from the water receiving tray 47 to a heat insulating wall 48 for partitioning the refrigerator compartment 2 and the ice making chamber 3. It is supplied into the ice making container 24 through 49. Therefore, the water receiving tray 47 and the water injection pipe 49 function as a water supply passage 50 (see FIG. 4) for guiding the water flowing out of the water supply port 42 into the ice making container 24.

The valve operating device 36 for opening and closing the water supply valve 35 of the water storage tank 24 is provided below the bottom of the water receiving tray 47. As shown in FIG. 5, the valve operating device 36 is configured to open and close the water supply valve 35 by moving the rod 51 up and down, and a water supply electromagnetic solenoid 52 is used as a drive source. When the electromagnetic solenoid 52 is energized, the plunger 53 is moved upward, and the rod 51 is provided on the upper part of the plunger 53. A packing 54 that can expand and contract up and down is put on the upper part of the rod 51, and when the rod 51 is moved upward, the valve body 4 is inserted through the packing 54.
5 is operated upward (opening operation) to open the water supply port 42 (see FIG. 6). With this, the water in the water storage tank 34 is
The water flows down to the water receiving tray 47, and is supplied from the water outlet into the ice making container 24 via the water injection pipe 49. In this case,
As shown in FIG. 4, the water outlet of the water receiving tray 47 is
A ball valve 55 is provided to prevent a large amount of water flowing out of the water supply port 42 of the water storage tank 34 from flowing out of the water receiving tray 47 at the time of opening the water tank 5.

FIG. 7 shows the electrical configuration. The control device 56 functioning as a drainage detection means and a water supply operation control means is mainly composed of a microcomputer. The control device 56 includes a temperature sensor 2a for the refrigerator compartment, a temperature sensor 20 for the specification switching room, and a temperature sensor for the freezer compartment. 21, ice making container temperature sensor 27, ice making container position detecting sensor 28, ice storage amount detecting switch 31, tank detecting switch 39, doors 7 to 11
Detection signals are input from door switches 57a to 57e for detecting the opening and closing of the refrigerator, an outside air temperature sensor 58 for detecting the temperature outside the refrigerator, and the like.

Then, the control unit 56 controls the ice making vessel reversing motor 26, the electromagnetic solenoid 52 of the water supply unit 33, the compressor 19, the damper motor 18a, the fan motor 16a of the fan unit 16, the water supply, based on the input signals and a preset program. The lamp 59 and the vegetable room heater 60 are controlled. The water supply lamp 59 is illuminated and displayed when it is detected that the water in the water storage tank 34 has run out (this detection control will be described later), and an operation panel (not shown) of the refrigerator body 1 (not shown). 2). The vegetable room heater 60 is controlled so as to prevent the vegetable room 6 from being too cold when the outside air temperature is low (this is detected by the outside air temperature sensor 58).

Next, regarding the operation of the above configuration, the control device 5
6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 showing the control contents related to ice making. Now, the water tank 34 is set on the tank base 37, and water is supplied to the ice making container 24 (water supply control will be described later).
Consider a state in which the compressor 19 is on / off controlled by the freezing room temperature sensor 21 and the freezing room 2 and the ice making room 3 are controlled to a predetermined temperature state.

The water in the ice making container 24 in the ice making room 3 is made by cold air. In this case, the control device 56 constantly monitors whether or not the ice making is completed (step S1). That is, the control device 56 compares the temperature detected by the ice making container temperature sensor 27 with an ice making judgment reference temperature (for example, -12.5 ° C.), and when the detected temperature falls below the ice making judgment reference temperature, the ice making is made. Determine completion. When it is determined in step S1 that the ice making has been completed, the process proceeds to step S2 to perform the ice releasing operation. That is, the ice making container reversing motor 26 is driven to twist the ice making container 24, and then the ice making container 24 is reversed to its original position.
The ice in the container 24 is dropped into the ice storage container 29 by the ice releasing operation.

In the next step S3, it is determined by the ice storage amount detection switch 31 whether or not the amount of ice in the ice storage container 29 is full, and if it is full, the ice is no longer full (the user consumes ice). Until you wait. When the user takes out the ice from the ice storage container 29 in order to consume the ice, the detection lever 30 is lowered by that amount.
1 is detected, that is, it is determined that it is not full.

If it is determined in step S3 that the compressor 19 is not full, the process proceeds to step 4, where it is determined whether the compressor 19 is on. If it is determined that the compressor 19 is on, the process proceeds to step S5. Shift to execute the water supply operation. That is, the water supply electromagnetic solenoid 52 is energized for a predetermined period of time to operate the valve body 45 upward to open the water supply port 42. Thereby, the water in the water storage tank 34 is supplied to the ice making container 24 as described above. In step S6, it is detected whether or not water is actually supplied into the ice making container 24. That is, when the water in the water storage tank 34 is empty or almost empty, the water may not actually be contained in the ice making container 24 even if the above-described water supply operation is performed. In this case, if the temperature detected by the ice making container temperature sensor 27 is equal to or lower than the water-free determination reference temperature, for example, -9.5 ° C., it is determined that water is not supplied. When the absence of water supply is detected, the process proceeds to step S7, where it is determined whether or not the state of no water supply lasts for a predetermined time, in this case, 15 minutes. It is determined that there is no water in the water supply lamp 34 (this portion is a function of water-out detection means), and the flow proceeds to step S8.
9 is turned on to urge the user to supply water to the water storage tank 34.

In the next step S9, it is determined whether or not the water storage tank 34 has been reset based on a switch signal from the tank detection switch 39. When it is determined that the water storage tank 34 has been reset, in step S10 water supply is performed. The lamp 59 is turned off, and at step S11, a predetermined time, for example, 5.5 minutes elapses after the resetting of the water storage tank 34 is waited. The purpose of this time standby is to allow time for the water to sufficiently enter the water supply port 42 after the water storage tank 34 is reset. After the elapse of 5.5 minutes, step S
The process proceeds to step 12 to determine whether or not the compressor 19 is turned on. If it is determined that the compressor 19 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S5 to execute a water supply operation.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a change in the detected temperature of the ice making container 24. In response to this change, the control unit 52 performs the above-described control to perform the ice-removing operation and the water supply operation. Now, at time t1, when it is determined that ice making is completed,
The ice releasing operation is performed, and the water supply operation is performed on condition that the compressor 19 is turned on. When the water supply is detected at the time t2, the cold air in the ice making chamber 3 causes the ice making container 2 to cool.
The water in 4 is made ice. Then, at time t3, it is determined that the ice making is completed, and the ice releasing operation and the water supply operation are performed. In this case, if there is no water in the water storage tank 34, since the water supply is not detected even after 15 minutes (time t4), the water supply lamp 59 is turned on, and the water storage tank 34 is reset at an arbitrary time t5. When set, the water supply lamp 59 is turned off, and after 5.5 minutes (time t6), if the compressor 19 is in the on state, the water supply operation is executed.

Incidentally, step S after the normal ice-removal operation
Since the water supply operation 5 is performed in synchronization with the operation of the compressor 19, the water supply operation sound becomes difficult to understand. Further, since the water supply operation performed after it is determined that there is no water is performed following the ice removal operation in step S2, the user hears a series of operation sounds of ice removal, and the user feels abnormal. No surprises or surprises
If the water is out of water, the water supply operation will be performed after refilling and resetting the water in the water storage tank 34, so that the time interval is considerably long unlike the above-described ice-removal operation,
In other words, a sudden loud water supply operation noise is generated,
There is a possibility that the user may feel abnormal or be surprised.

However, in the above embodiment, when the water supply permission condition is satisfied (for example, when it is determined in step S3 that the ice is not full) at the timing when water is to be supplied, as shown in step S4, the compressor 19 is turned on.
Is turned on, the water supply operation is executed (step S5).
Since the water supply operation sound does not protrude and is not heard loudly, and the water supply operation sound is always generated simultaneously with the compressor operation sound, the degree of noise generation is also reduced.

When it is determined that there is no water (out-of-water detection) by the out-of-water detecting means ("YES" in step S7), if the condition for permitting water supply is met (supply and resetting of water in the water storage tank 34 in step S9). Judgment, step S1
If the waiting time is 0), the operation is executed on condition that the compressor 19 is turned on, as shown in step S12. Even if the water supply operation is performed suddenly, the water supply operation sound does not protrude and is not heard loudly, and the user does not feel abnormal or be surprised. In addition, since the water supply operation sound after the water tank 34 runs out of water and the compressor operation sound always overlap in time, the degree of noise generation is also reduced.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the water supply operation after the normal ice removal operation (after the ice removal operation when there is no water absence detection) is described.
It is characterized in that the water supply operation is performed without considering the ON condition of the compressor 19 and that the water supply to the water storage tank 34 is detected without using the tank detection switch 39. That is, step P
In steps 1 to P4, FIG.
Is not provided with a compressor ON determination step corresponding to step S4.

If "YES" is determined in the step P6, that is, if no water supply is detected, the process proceeds to a step P7, in which the door 7 of the refrigerator compartment 2 in which the water storage tank 34 is set is opened. Is determined. this is,
Judgment is made based on a switch signal from a door switch 57a as a door open / close detecting means. When it is determined that the door is opened, the process proceeds to step P8, and it is determined whether the door 7 is closed and 10 seconds have elapsed since the closing. When it is determined in step P8 that the door 7 is closed and 10 seconds have elapsed, it is determined that the water storage tank 34 has been refilled with water and reset. Then, the flow shifts to Step P9, where the water supply operation of Step P4 is executed on condition that the compressor 19 is turned on.

In the second embodiment, resetting of the water storage tank 34 can be detected while eliminating the tank detection switch 39, which can contribute to cost reduction. That is, the door 7 for the refrigerating compartment 2 in which the water storage tank 34 is set is originally provided for turning on and off the internal lamp (not shown) and for controlling the stop of the fan device 16. When the water is supplied to the water storage tank 34, the door 7 is always opened and closed, so that it is possible to detect whether or not water has been supplied by using this opening and closing without using the tank detection switch 39. .

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a water storage tank 34 is provided.
Is detected without using the tank detection switch 39, and when running out of water is detected, a water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle. At the time of this water supply operation.
It is characterized in that the water supply operation is executed on condition that 9 is turned on.

That is, steps Q1 to Q6 correspond to steps P1 to P in FIG. 1 in the second embodiment.
Same as 6. Then, "YES" in step Q6.
In other words, when the absence of water supply is detected, the process proceeds to step Q7 to determine whether or not the 30-minute timer has counted up (30 minutes from the time of step Q6). Then, it is determined whether or not the door 7 of the refrigerator compartment 2, which is the compartment in which the water storage tank 34 is set, has been opened at least once during this 30 minutes.

If there is no door opening even once,
The process shifts to step Q9 to reset the 30-minute timer, and shifts to step Q7. As you can see,
The water supply operation timing is set in a cycle of 0 minutes. If the door 7 is opened at least once in the cycle of 30 minutes, the process proceeds to step Q10, and it is determined whether or not the door 7 is closed and 10 seconds have passed since the closing. When it is determined in step Q10 that the door 7 is closed and 10 seconds have elapsed, it is determined that the water storage tank 34 has been refilled and reset. Then, step Q1
The flow proceeds to 1 to execute the water supply operation of step Q4 on condition that the compressor 19 is turned on.

FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the change in the detected temperature, the presence or absence of opening and closing of the door 7, and the water supply operation. That is, if it is determined at time t4 that there is no water supply detection, 30 minutes are counted, and if the door 7 is not opened at least once by the time t5 of the count-up, an additional 30 minutes is counted. Time t of the count up
If the door 7 is not opened at least once even up to 6, an additional 30 minutes are counted. If the door 7 is opened at least once at the time t7 when the 30 minutes are counted up, ten times after the door 7 is closed (time t8).
Then, the water supply operation is executed on condition that the compressor 19 is turned on.

In the third embodiment, when a water shortage is detected, the water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle (30 minute cycle), and the opening / closing of the door 7 has been detected so far at this water supply operation timing. Since it is determined that there is a water supply operation, the number of water supply operations can be reduced as compared with a case where it is always monitored whether or not the door 7 is opened or closed. That is,
When the door 7 is opened and closed, it may not be for replenishing the water storage tank 34 with water. In this case, if the water supply operation is uniquely performed in response to the detection of the opening / closing of the door 7, useless water supply operations will be performed many times when water is not actually supplied.

However, according to the above-described embodiment, the water supply operation is executed when the opening and closing of the door 7 has been detected so far in the water supply operation timing of the predetermined cycle, so that useless water supply operation can be prevented. .

FIG. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the third embodiment in that the set time of the timer is changed and set according to the outside air temperature. That is, when the water shortage is detected (“YES” in step R6), the process proceeds to step R7 to determine whether the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 58 is equal to or lower than a preset reference temperature. If not, the process proceeds to step R8 to set the timer time to, for example, "30 minutes".
Then, the process goes to step 9 to set the timer time to "30 + α" (extend). In this case, α is, for example, 30 (minutes).
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step R10 and thereafter to obtain a water supply opportunity on the basis of the set timer cycle and to obtain a predetermined condition (step R10).
11. If the steps R13 and R14 are satisfied, the water supply operation is executed (step R4).

Generally, in a refrigerator, the water storage tank 34
The frequency of opening and closing the doors of each room including the refrigerator room 2 in which is set is high in the summer and low in the winter. In the third embodiment, the predetermined period of the water supply operation is extended when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 58 is equal to or lower than the reference temperature. Therefore, the period of the water supply operation is extended in winter. It is possible to prevent unnecessary water supply operation regardless of summer and winter. In each of the above embodiments, the electromagnetic solenoid 52 has been exemplified as the water supply means. However, the present invention can be widely applied to those using a water supply means that emits an operation sound, and for example, those using a water supply pump such as a gear pump may be used. .

[0058]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the water supply permission condition is satisfied, the water supply operation control means executes the water supply operation by the water supply means on condition that the compressor is turned on. Can be prevented from being heard loudly, and the degree of noise generation can also be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the water supply operation is executed under the condition that the compressor is turned on after the water-out detection is detected by the water-out detection means. The noise can be eliminated, the frequency of noise generation can be reduced, and the noise can be reduced as a whole.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to judge by the existing door opening / closing means that replenishment of water to the water storage tank has been performed (water supply permission condition has been satisfied) after detection of running out of water, thereby reducing costs. Can be achieved. According to the invention of claim 4, it is determined that the door opening / closing has been detected by the door opening / closing detecting means at the water supply operation timing in a predetermined cycle after the water outage detection, and this is regarded as one of the water supply operation execution conditions. Therefore, the number of water supply operations can be reduced as compared with the case where it is always determined whether or not the door opening / closing detection unit detects the door opening / closing.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is equal to or lower than the reference temperature, the cycle of the water supply operation timing is extended, so that the water supply operation is wasteless regardless of the summer and winter. It can be prevented.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, a water supply means that emits a sound, such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a pump, can be used without any trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of control contents related to an ice removal / water supply operation according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a vertical side view of an automatic ice making machine.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a water supply port of a water storage tank.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a water supply port portion of a water storage tank in different operation states.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a change in the temperature detected by the ice making container temperature sensor.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

3 is an ice making room, 5 is a freezing room, 7 is a door, 12 is a cooler, 19
Is a compressor, 21 is a freezer compartment temperature sensor, 22 is an automatic ice maker, 24 is an ice making container, 27 is an ice making container sensor, 2
9 is an ice storage case, 30 is a detection lever, 31 is an ice storage amount detection switch, 32 is a water supply chamber, 33 is a water supply device (water supply means), 34 is a water storage tank, 35 is a water supply valve, 36 is a valve operating device, and 39 is a tank. A detection switch, 42 is a water supply port, 52
Is an electromagnetic solenoid, and 56 is a control device (water drain detection means,
(A water supply operation control means), 57a is a door switch (door opening / closing means), and 58 is an outside air temperature sensor.

Claims (6)

[Claims] An automatic ice maker comprising a water storage tank and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container, a compressor which is turned on and off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command. Water supply operation control means for controlling the water supply means to execute a water supply operation on condition that the compressor is turned on when a water supply permission condition is satisfied. With refrigerator. 2. An automatic ice maker comprising a water storage tank and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to the ice making container; a water shortage detection means for detecting a water shortage state of the water storage tank; and a compressor. A compressor that is turned on and off based on an operation command and an operation stop command; and, when a water supply permission condition is satisfied after the water shortage is detected by the water shortage detection means, the water supply means on condition that the compressor is on. A water supply operation control means for controlling a water supply operation according to the above. 3. An automatic ice making machine comprising a water storage tank detachably provided in a predetermined chamber and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container, and detecting a water-out state of the water storage tank. Running out of water detecting means, a compressor which is turned on / off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command, a door open / close detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of a door for opening and closing the predetermined chamber, and a running out of water detected by the water running out detecting means Water supply operation control means for controlling the water supply means to execute the water supply operation on condition that the door is opened and closed by the door open / close detection means and that the compressor is turned on. A refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, comprising: 4. An automatic ice maker comprising a water storage tank detachably provided in a predetermined chamber and a water supply means for supplying water in the water storage tank to an ice making container, and detecting an out-of-water state of the water storage tank. Running out of water detecting means, a compressor which is turned on / off based on a compressor operation command and an operation stop command, a door open / close detecting means for detecting an opening / closing operation of a door for opening and closing the predetermined chamber, and a running out of water detected by the water running out detecting means When done
The water supply operation timing is set at a predetermined cycle, and the water supply operation timing is based on the condition that the door opening / closing has been detected by the door open / close detection unit so far and that the compressor is turned on after this water supply operation timing. A refrigerator with an automatic ice maker, comprising: a water supply operation control means for controlling a water supply operation by the water supply means. 5. A water supply operation timing according to claim 4, further comprising an outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature, wherein a predetermined cycle of the water supply operation timing is extended when a temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a reference temperature. Refrigerator with automatic ice machine. 6. The refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water supply means emits sound such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a pump.