KR100221143B1 - Automatic ice removing device for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

When the ice making container rotates when the ice making container rotates, the compressing force and the rotating force may be transmitted to the ice making container to more efficiently ice the ice. The first end of the ice making container is provided with a first rotating shaft, and the second end is provided on the second end opposite to the first end. The power transmission member transmits a rotational force to the ice making container through the first rotation shaft, and delivers a compressive force in the direction of the first rotation shaft to ice the ice. The support member limits the rotation of the ice making container and supports the second axis of rotation. Use the rotational force of the step motor to turn over the ice tray. In the state in which the ice making container is inverted, the power transmission member generates a compressive force to be bent by applying it to the ice making container. This bending phenomenon separates the ice from the ice making vessel.

Description

Refrigerator automatic ice maker

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker, and more particularly, to an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator having an automatic ice making function for automatically separating ice from an ice making container.

In general, the refrigerator freezes the water supplied by the water supply device in the ice making vessel installed in the ice making chamber, rotates the ice making container by the driving device after ice making, and then ices the ice by turning it upside down to store the ice, and water is supplied again to the ice making container. An automatic ice making device that repeats the operation is provided.

A freezer compartment, a refrigerating compartment, an ice-making compartment, etc. are formed in the inside of a refrigerator, and the cold air cooled by the cooler is supplied to each room by a fan. The automatic ice maker is installed in the ice maker. Examples of such automatic ice making devices are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,177,980 (issued to Akira Kawamoto et al.), 5,400,605 (issued to Sung-Ki Jeong) and the like.

1 is a perspective view for showing an example of a conventional automatic ice making device. As shown, a driving unit (not shown) is provided at the front of the ice making chamber, and an L-shaped fixing member 41 protruding toward the rear is provided at one end of the rear surface of the driving unit. A drive mechanism comprising a motor, a gear mechanism and an output shaft is provided inside the drive portion, and the drive mechanism is configured to reduce the rotation of the motor by the gear mechanism and to transmit it to the output shaft 20.

An ice making container 10 is provided inside the fixing member 41. The ice making container 10 has a rotating pin 11 formed at the center of the front portion. The rotating pin 11 is connected to and supported by the central portion (not shown) of the front of the fixing member 41 to the output shaft 20 of the rotational force generated by the motor. Moreover, the support shaft 13 is formed in the center part on the opposite side to the ice-making container 10. As shown in FIG. The ice making container 10 is fixed to the fixing member 41 via the support shaft 13 so as to be rotatable. The rotational force generated by the motor is transmitted to the output shaft 20 through the gear mechanism, and the rotational force is transmitted to the ice making vessel 10 through the rotating pin 11 so that the ice making vessel 10 is rotated by the rotation of the output shaft 20. It can rotate.

The ice making container 10 is made of a sheet-like material (for example, plastic) that can be twisted in a lateral direction, has an open hexahedral container shape, and is divided into a plurality of recesses for producing ice. . The concave portion is shaped like a reverse mesa so that the ice can easily escape from the ice making vessel. Water is supplied to the ice-making container 10 by the ice-making water supply device.

An ice plate 15 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the ice making container 10 at a rear portion of the ice making container 10, that is, at one corner portion of the portion where the support shaft 13 is formed. In addition, a stopper 31 is formed at a corner of the side of the fixing member 41 opposite to the ice plate 15 about the support shaft 13. When the stopper 31 rotates the ice making container 10 to separate the ice in the ice making container 10 from the ice making container 10, the stopper 31 comes into contact with the ice plate 15 to stop the rotation of the ice making container 10. Restrict.

Although not shown, the ice tray is placed under the ice making chamber, that is, under the ice making container 10. The ice released by the ice making container 10 is stored in the ice bowl.

2 is a schematic perspective view for schematically illustrating a moving process of a conventional automatic ice maker.

In the conventional automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 1, when ice is produced in the recessed portion of the ice making container 10, the microcomputer (not shown) uses a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the ice making container 10. Detect ice freezing If the microcomputer determines that the ice is frozen, the microcomputer sends an ice signal to the motor to drive the motor. The rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the rotary pin 11 through the output shaft 20 so that the ice making container 10 rotates 180 ° as shown in FIG. At this time, the ice plate 15 is in contact with the stopper 31 to prevent the ice making container 10 from rotating further. However, the rotational force of the motor is continuously transmitted to the ice making container 10 through the rotation pin (11). Accordingly, the rear portion of the ice making container 10, on which the ice plate 15 is formed, is no longer rotated in a state of rotating 180 °, but is the front of the ice making container 10 to which the rotational force of the motor is transmitted (that is, the rotating pin ( 11) formed portion) is rotated by more than 180 ° so that the ice making container 10 is twisted in the left and right directions. By the twist of the ice-making container 10 which generate | occur | produces in this way, the ice frozen in the ice-making container 10 will fall down from the ice-making container 10. FIG.

The conventional automatic ice making apparatus includes an ice plate or a stopper on a plate. These ice plates or stoppers are easily deformed or broken. These deformations and breakages make the ice action incomplete. In addition, when the components according to the rotation radius of the ice plate 15 is placed during the rotation of the ice plate 15, the rotation thereof is limited, which affects the design of the ice maker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and to provide an automatic de-icing device capable of more efficiently moving ice from an ice-making container when making ice in a refrigerator.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a conventional automatic ice making device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view for schematically illustrating the moving process of the conventional automatic ice making device.

3 is a perspective view for showing the configuration of the automatic ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the center line of the automatic ice maker shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the power transmission member of the automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a partial perspective view showing the power transmission member of FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting member of the automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting member shown in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: ice making container 11: rotary pin

13: support shaft 15: ice sheet

20: output shaft 31: stopper

41: fixing member 110: ice making container

111: second cylindrical connecting member 111: first rotating shaft

111b: second inclined plane 112: second cylindrical support member

112a: second rotary shaft 112b: second step

120: first cylindrical connecting member 121a: first inclined surface

133: first cylindrical support member 133b: first step

141: fixing member 200: step motor

400: control unit

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ice making container having a first rotating shaft in a first stage and a second rotating shaft in a second stage opposite to the first stage to freeze water to generate ice; Power transmission means for transmitting a rotational force to the ice making container through the first rotational shaft, and transferring the compressive force in the direction of the first rotational shaft to ice the ice; Support means for limiting rotation of the ice making vessel and supporting a second axis of rotation; And driving means for providing the rotational force to the power transmission means.

Preferably, the power transmission means, the first end is connected to the drive means, the second end opposite the first end of the power transmission means is connected to the first axis of rotation of the ice making container, The first inclined surface has a first cylindrical connecting member having a second cylindrical surface corresponding to the first inclined surface so as to be in close contact with the first inclined surface, and a second cylindrical connecting having a center line coincident with the center line of the first axis of rotation of the ice making container. It consists of members. At this time, the second end of the first cylindrical connecting member is formed with a shaft hole into which the first rotation shaft is inserted. The first rotating shaft is extrapolated to the second end of the second cylindrical connecting member so that the first rotating shaft protrudes from the second cylindrical connecting member.

Preferably, the supporting means is formed by supporting the second rotating shaft on the inner wall of the refrigerator so as to be rotatable and having a first stepped cross section of the free end in a first worm shape to limit the rotation of the ice making container. And a second cylindrical support member having a first cylindrical support member and a second step corresponding to the first step, and having a second worm shape corresponding to the first worm shape. At this time, the first cylindrical support member has a shaft hole into which the second rotary shaft is inserted, the second cylindrical support member is extrapolated to the second rotary shaft, and the second rotary shaft protrudes from the second cylindrical support member. .

According to the present invention, the rotational force of the stepper motor is transmitted to the power transmission member through the driving unit, and the power transmission member first provides the rotational force to the ice making container and overturns the ice making container. In the state in which the ice making container is inverted, the power transmission member generates a compressive force to be bent by applying it to the ice making container. This bending phenomenon separates the ice from the ice making vessel.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the components and operating principle of the automatic ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an automatic ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG.

The illustrated automatic ice making device includes a drive unit, an ice making container, a power transmitting member and a supporting member.

A driving unit is installed at the front of the refrigerator ice making chamber, and an L-shaped fixing member 141 protruding toward the rear is provided at one end of the rear surface of the driving unit. The drive unit includes a step motor 200 and a gear mechanism 300. An output shaft is connected to the gear mechanism 300. The drive mechanism decelerates the rotation of the step motor 200 by the gear mechanism and transmits it to the output shaft.

An ice making container 110 is installed inside the fixing member 141. A first rotary shaft 111b is formed at a first end of the ice making container 110, and a second rotary shaft 112a is formed at a second end opposite to the first end. The first rotary shaft 111 is connected to the output shaft of the gear mechanism 300 of the drive unit, and transmits the rotational force of the step motor 200 to the ice making container 110.

The ice making container 110 has a plurality of recesses for freezing water to generate ice. The ice making container 110 is made of a sheet-like material (for example, plastic) that can be twisted in a lateral direction, has an open hexahedral container shape, and is divided into a plurality of recesses for producing ice. . The concave portion is shaped like a reverse mesa so that the ice can easily escape from the ice making vessel. Water is supplied to the ice making container 110 by an ice making water supply device (not shown).

Transmitting the rotational force primarily through the first rotating shaft 111b to the ice-making vessel 110 at the central portion of the front portion of the ice-making vessel 110, and transferring the compressive force in the direction of the first rotational shaft to make the ice ice. It is provided with a power transmission member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the power transmission member of the automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the power transmission member of FIG.

As shown, the power transmission member is composed of a first cylindrical connecting member 120 and a second cylindrical connecting member 111. The first end of the first cylindrical connecting member 120 is connected to the output shaft of the gear mechanism 300 to receive the rotational force of the step motor 200. The second end opposite to the first end of the power transmission member is connected to the first rotating shaft 111b of the ice making container 110 and has an elliptical first inclined surface 121a. The second end of the first cylindrical connection member 120 is formed with a shaft hole 121 is inserted into the first rotating shaft (111b).

The second cylindrical connecting member 111 has a second inclined surface 111a corresponding to the first inclined surface 121a to be in close contact with the first inclined surface 121a and has a first rotating shaft ( It has a center line coinciding with the center line of 111b). The second cylindrical connecting member 111 is extrapolated to the first rotating shaft 111b so that the first rotating shaft 111b protrudes from the second cylindrical connecting member 111.

The rotational force generated by the step motor 200 is transmitted to the first cylindrical connecting member 120 through the output shaft of the gear mechanism 300, and the rotational force is again passed through the second cylindrical connecting member 111 to the ice making container 110. It is transmitted to the first rotary shaft 111 of. Since the first inclined surface 121a of the first cylindrical connecting member 120 and the second inclined surface 111b of the second cylindrical connecting member 111 are in close contact with each other, the rotational force of the first cylindrical connecting member 120 is an ice making container. The ice making container 110 is rotated by being transmitted to the 110.

When the second cylindrical connecting member 111 does not rotate but only the first cylindrical connecting member 120 rotates, the first inclined surface 121a and the second inclined surface 111b push against each other in the horizontal direction. (I.e., compressive force in the horizontal direction) is generated and transmitted to the ice making container 110.

The support member limits the rotation of the ice making container 110 and supports the second rotating shaft 112a.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting member of the automatic ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting member shown in FIG.

7 and 8, the support member includes a first cylindrical support member 133 and a second cylindrical support member 112. The first cylindrical support member 133 supports the second rotating shaft 112a on the inner wall of the refrigerator so as to be rotatable. In order to limit the rotation of the ice making container 110, the cross section of the free end of the first cylindrical support member 133 is formed in a first worm shape to have the first stepped portion 133b. The second cylindrical support member 112 has a second stepped portion 112b corresponding to the first stepped portion 133b and has a second worm shape corresponding to the first worm shape.

The first step 133b and the second step 112b are symmetrically positioned with respect to the second rotation shaft 112a with each other in a state for freezing water contained in the recess of the ice making container 110. In order to transfer the ice formed in the concave portion of the ice making container 110 to the rotating force of the step motor 200 to the ice making container 110 through the power transmission member, the ice making container 110 The first step 133b and the second step 112b are in contact with each other at a point rotated by 180 ° so that the ice making container 110 can no longer rotate.

At this time, the second cylindrical connecting member 111 does not rotate, only the first cylindrical connecting member 120 is rotated, so that the second inclined surface 121a and the second inclined surface 111b push against each other in the horizontal direction. The force (that is, the compressive force in the horizontal direction) is generated and transmitted to the ice of the ice making container 110 to separate the ice from the ice making container 110.

The first cylindrical support member 133 has an axial hole 133a into which the second rotation shaft 112a is inserted, and the second cylindrical support member 112 is extrapolated to the second rotation shaft 112a to provide the second rotation shaft. 112a is formed to protrude from the second cylindrical support member 112.

The first step 133b and the second step 112b are in contact with each other when the ice making container 110 is rotated to separate the ice in the ice making container 110 from the ice making container 110. Limit the rotation of the.

Although not shown, an ice bowl is placed under the ice making chamber, that is, under the ice making container 10. The ice released by the ice making container 10 is stored in the ice bowl.

Hereinafter, the operation of the automatic moving device as described above will be described in detail.

In the state as shown in FIG. 3, water is supplied to the recess of the ice making container 110 through a water supply device. The second rotating shaft 112a of the ice making container 110 is rotatable in the shaft hole 133a of the first cylindrical support member 133 fixed on the inner surface of the L-shaped fixing member 141 fixed to the inner wall of the refrigerator. To be combined. In addition, the first rotating shaft 111b of the ice making container 110 is inserted into the shaft hole 121 of the first cylindrical connecting member 120.

At this time, the second step 112b of the helical cross section of the second rotary shaft 112a is located at the upper part, and the first step 133b of the first cylindrical support member 133 is located at the lower part (or vice versa). However, the first step 133b and the second step 112b may be positioned symmetrically with respect to the second axis of rotation 112a). In addition, the second inclined surface 111a of the second cylindrical connecting member 111 is in contact with the first inclined surface 121a of the first cylindrical connecting member 120.

When ice is generated, the microcomputer (not shown) detects that the ice is frozen through a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the ice making container 110. When the microcomputer determines that the ice is frozen, the microcomputer sends the ice signal to the stepper motor 200 through the control unit 400 to drive the stepper motor 200.

The rotational force of the step motor 200 is transmitted to the first cylindrical connecting member 120 through the driving unit 300. At this time, the first cylindrical connecting member 120 and the first rotary shaft 111b are co-rotating with each other, but the second inclined surface 111a of the second cylindrical connecting member 111 is the first of the first cylindrical connecting member 120. Since the intimate contact with the inclined surface (121a), the rotational force of the second cylindrical connecting member 111 is transmitted to the first rotating shaft (111b) to rotate the ice making container (110).

The first step 133b of the first support member 133 and the second step 112b of the second support member 112 come into contact with each other when the ice maker 110 rotates 180 °. 110 is no longer able to rotate. At this time, the ice making container 110 is inverted by about 180 °.

However, the controller 400 controls the step motor 200 to continue to rotate. Then, the ice making container 110 is maintained in an inverted state by the first step 133b of the first support member 133 and the second step 112b of the second support member 112. The second inclined surface 111a of the two-cylindrical connecting member 111 and the first inclined surface 121a of the first cylindrical connecting member 120 are generated while compressing a portion of the second inclined surface 111a of the first cylindrical connecting member 120 to the ice making container 110. Will be added. That is, the rotational motion of the step motor 200 is converted into linear motion by the second inclined surface 111a of the second cylindrical connecting member 111 and the first inclined surface 121a of the first cylindrical connecting member 120.

Therefore, in the state where the ice making container 110 is inverted by about 180 °, the ice making container 110 is subjected to the compressive force in the horizontal direction and is bent. Due to this bending phenomenon, the frozen portion of the ice making container 110 is convex, and a gap between the ice making container 110 and the ice is opened. As a result, ice is separated from the ice making container 110.

The separated ice is stored away by the ice bowl under the ice making container (110).

According to the present invention, the rotational force of the stepper motor is transmitted to the power transmission member through the drive unit. The power transmission member firstly provides a rotational force to the ice making container, so that the ice making container is turned over by 180 °. In the state where the ice making container is inverted, the ice making container can no longer be rotated. At this time, if the step motor continues to rotate, the power transmission member generates a compressive force and is applied to the ice making container. Therefore, the ice making container is subjected to a compressive force in the horizontal direction and is bent. Due to this bending phenomenon, the ice frozen portion of the ice making container becomes convex, and a gap between the ice making container and the ice is opened to separate the ice from the ice making container.

Since the power transmission device providing the rotational force and the compressive force in the horizontal direction is formed at the rotation axis portion of the ice making container in the ice-ice device according to the present invention, it can be easily manufactured, and the use of space is small, and the design freedom is improved. In addition, the rigidity can be improved by forming a supporting member on the fixed shaft portion that restricts rotation of the ice making container.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail by the said Example, this invention is not restrict | limited by this, It is possible for a person with ordinary skill in the art to modify or improve this within a normal range.

Claims (8)

An ice making container having a first rotary shaft at a first stage and a second rotary shaft at a second stage opposite to the first stage to freeze water to generate ice; Power transmission means for transmitting a rotational force to the ice making container through the first rotational shaft, and transferring the compressive force in the direction of the first rotational shaft to ice the ice; Support means for limiting rotation of the ice making vessel and supporting a second axis of rotation; And driving means for providing the rotational force to the power transmission means. According to claim 1, wherein the power transmission means, the first end is connected to the drive means, the second end opposite the first end of the power transmission means is connected to the first axis of rotation of the ice making vessel, elliptical A second cylindrical connecting member having a first inclined surface of the second member and a second inclined surface corresponding to the first inclined surface to be in close contact with the first inclined surface, and a second line having a center line coincident with the centerline of the first axis of rotation of the ice making container An automatic ice making device for a refrigerator, comprising a cylindrical connecting member. The automatic ice making apparatus of claim 2, wherein a shaft hole into which the first rotation shaft is inserted is formed at the second end of the first cylindrical connecting member. The automatic ice making apparatus of the refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second cylindrical connecting member is extrapolated to the first rotating shaft so that the first rotating shaft protrudes from the second cylindrical connecting member. The ice machine of claim 1, wherein the power transmission means primarily transmits the rotational force to the ice making container, thereby overturning the ice making container, and transmits the horizontal compressive force to the ice making container while the ice making container is turned upside down. Automatic de-icing device of the refrigerator, characterized in that separated from the ice-making container. According to claim 1, wherein the support means for supporting the second rotation axis on the inner wall of the refrigerator to be rotatable, and to form a cross section of the free end to have a first step so as to limit the rotation of the ice making container in the first worm shape And a second cylindrical support member having a first cylindrical support member and a second step corresponding to the first step and having a second worm shape corresponding to the first worm shape. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the second step is formed at a symmetrical position of the first step with respect to the second axis of rotation. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first cylindrical support member has a shaft hole into which the second rotary shaft is inserted, and the second cylindrical support member is extrapolated to the second rotary shaft so that the second rotary shaft is separated from the second cylindrical support member. An automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, which protrudes.

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