KR100221145B1 - Controlling method for operation of automatic ice removig device for a refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses an operation control method for optimally determining an ice cycle based on a current temperature in a freezer compartment and a current temperature of an ice making chamber in an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator.

The controller measures the first current temperature of the ice tray through an ice making sensor mounted on a portion of the ice tray, and compares the first current temperature with a first reference temperature. When it is determined that the first current temperature is higher than or equal to the first reference temperature, the controller is based on the cumulative value of the time calculated based on a weight set according to the range of the current temperature of the freezer compartment measured by the freezing sensor installed in the freezer compartment. Compare with time. When it is determined that the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time, the controller executes an ice operation by comparing the second current temperature of the ice tray measured by the ice making sensor with the second reference temperature. Therefore, maximization of the ice making efficiency according to the shortening of the ice making time is achieved, and the power consumption of the refrigerator or the ice maker is reduced.

Description

How to control the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator

The present invention relates to an operation control method for maximizing ice-making efficiency by optimally determining an ice-breaking period based on a current temperature in a freezer compartment and a current temperature of an ice-making chamber in an automatic ice maker of a refrigerator.

Recently, large refrigerator products have built automatic ice makers to meet the demands of consumers and their demands. 1 is an exploded state diagram for showing an example of the mechanical structure of a conventional automatic ice maker. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic icemaker 10 includes front and rear cases 11 and 12, an ice making motor 13, a gear cam 14, and a gear plate 15. The automatic icemaker 10 also includes horizontal and floating micro switches 16, 17, auxiliary plates 18, and ice trays 19 installed on the gear plate 15. A water tank (not shown) is connected with the automatic ice maker 10 to supply the ice tray 19 to the water. The ice produced in the ice tray 19 is stored in an ice storage container.

The apparatus for controlling the ice making operation of the automatic ice maker 10 controls the feed pump so that a predetermined amount of water is supplied from the feed tank to the ice tray each time. The ice produced in the ice making container is loaded into the ice storage container by the control operation of the control device.

The de-icing control device is mutually organic such as a sensor or timer for determining a water supply operation time of a feed pump, a temperature sensor for detecting whether the ice making process is completed, and an ice-making motor for rotating the ice tray to perform an ice-making operation. It is configured to work as.

That is, when the temperature sensor detects the end of the ice making process, the ice tray is rotated through the reduction gear connected to the ice making motor. When the rotation angle of the ice tray reaches a predetermined angle, the ice accumulated in the ice tray is separated from the ice tray as the ice tray is caught by the bracket and twisted. The separated ice falls into the storage container.

Subsequently, the ice tray is continuously rotated in one direction so that when a predetermined time elapses, the ice tray is rotated again in the opposite direction to return to the original position. That is, the automatic ice maker prepares to execute the next ice making process.

The ice making process is described as follows with reference to FIG.

When the operating power is supplied to the automatic ice maker 10, an initial control operation for holding the ice tray 19 horizontally is executed. The initial control operation is performed by a horizontal micro switch 16 which rotates the moving motor 13 forward or reverse. The ice making control device preferentially performs the operation of ice-making the ice produced by the ice making machine 19 by the ice making process up to now without supplying the ice making machine 19 immediately after the operation power is supplied to the automatic ice maker 10. do. Next, the ice making control device controls the power supply unit (not shown) to supply operating power to the feed water motor (not shown). Thus, the water supply operation is started.

The preferential ice-making operation prevents an error of executing the next ice-making operation in the state in which the ice-making control device determines that water is normally supplied to the ice-making vessel 19 even though the ice-making vessel 19 is not normally supplied.

When a predetermined time (for example, 2.4 hours) elapses after the water supply operation is completed, the ice making control device uses an ice making sensor (i.e., I sensor; see FIG. 2) mounted on a part of the ice making container 19. Measure the current temperature of the ice tray. When the temperature is equal to or less than the reference temperature (ie, -12.5 ° C), the ice making control device determines that the ice making operation is completed.

After the ice making operation is completed, the ice making control device rotates the ice motor 13 to rotate the ice tray 19 by the gear cam 14. When the ice tray is rotated, twisting of the case by the auxiliary plate 18 is caused. After the above-mentioned ice operation is completed, the horizontal state of the ice tray 19 is adjusted by the horizontal micro switch 16 while the ice motor 13 is reversely rotated.

Thereafter, the ice making control device determines whether or not the ice is full through the ice micro switch 17. When the 'on' contact signal is provided from the ice maker micro switch 17, the ice making control device determines that the ice maker is not in the ice condition and executes the water supply operation for continuous ice making. When the 'off' contact signal is provided from the ice-making micro switch 17, the ice making control device judges that the ice-making condition is performed to execute the water supply standby operation and ice making stop operation.

After the ice-making operation is completed, when the amount of ice storage is insufficient, the ice making control device controls a power supply unit (not shown) to supply the power supply motor with operating power for a predetermined time. When the ice making control device determines that water is present in the water supply tank through the water supply sensor while the water supply operation is being executed, the water supply operation is performed after 30 minutes have elapsed. On the contrary, when it is determined that no water exists in the water supply tank, the ice making control device determines that the ice making operation is completed and executes the subsequent operation.

For example, US Pat. No. 4,909,039 discloses a method for detecting the non-water supply state when water is not supplied to the ice making vessel even though the water supply operation in the refrigerator is performed by the water supply means. The method for detecting the non-water supply state of the ice tray of the refrigerator ice maker includes measuring a temperature of the ice tray after the water supply operation of the water supply means is performed, and determining that water is not supplied to the ice tray. The temperature measured here is below the predetermined reference value. The ice maker of the refrigerator is a water supply ice tray, which is refrigerated by an evaporator, ice-feeding means for icing ice from the ice tray, and water supply means for supplying water to the ice-making vessel whenever it is iced from the ice-ice bowl. A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the ice making vessel, and determining circuit means for determining that no water is supplied to the ice making vessel by comparing the temperature of the ice making vessel sensed by the temperature sensor with a predetermined reference value, wherein The temperature of the ice tray sensed by the temperature sensor is below a predetermined reference value.

In the automatic ice maker of a refrigerator which performs the ice making operation according to the control operation of the ice making control device, the execution cycle of the ice making operation is set to a fixed value (for example, 2.4 hours) regardless of the internal temperature condition of the freezer compartment. The ice making process is performed inefficiently. Accordingly, power consumption of the refrigerator or the ice maker is also increased.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an operation control method in which an optimum ebbing cycle is determined based on the temperature in the freezer compartment and the temperature of the ice tray in an automatic ice machine installed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. A second object is to provide a method for controlling the operation of an automatic ice maker in accordance with the ice-breaking period.

1 is an exploded state diagram for showing an example of the mechanical structure of a conventional automatic ice machine,

2 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator control device including an ice making control device according to the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a method for performing an ice-making operation of an automatic ice maker based on the present temperature in the freezer compartment and the present temperature of the ice-making chamber by the ice-making control device shown in FIG. 2.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: automatic ice machine 14: motor

14: Cam 15: Plate

16: horizontal micro switch 17: micro switch

18: auxiliary plate 19: ice tray

20: control unit 21: door switch

22: first current limiting resistor 23: refrigeration sensor

24: first reference resistance 25: second current limiting resistor

26: ice making sensor 27: second reference resistance

28: third current limiting resistor 38: compressor drive unit

31: first inverter 32: first relay

40: compressor 50: AC power

60: cooling fan drive unit 61: second inverter

70: cooling fan 90: ice maker drive unit

Method for controlling the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator according to the present invention in order to achieve the first and second objects, (a) an ice tray through an ice sensor mounted on a part of the ice tray Measuring the first current temperature of the cell to compare the first current temperature with a first reference temperature; (b) when it is determined in step (a) that the first current temperature is higher than or equal to the first reference temperature, the first current temperature is calculated based on a weight set according to the range of the current temperature of the freezer compartment measured by the freezing sensor installed in the freezer compartment. Comparing the cumulative value of time with a reference time; And (c) when the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time, in step (b), comparing the second current temperature of the ice tray measured by the ice making sensor with the second reference temperature to perform an ice removal operation. consist of.

In the method of controlling the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the automatic ice machine is determined according to the ice cycle by determining optimally the fixed ice cycle based on the present temperature in the freezer compartment and the temperature of the ice tray. To control the operation. Therefore, maximization of the ice making efficiency according to the shortening of the ice making time is achieved, and the power consumption of the refrigerator or the ice maker is reduced.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings the configuration and operation of the method for controlling the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

2 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator control device including an ice making control device according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the ice making control device includes a control unit 20, a refrigeration sensor 23, a first reference resistor 24, a second current limiting resistor 25, an ice making sensor 26, a second reference resistor 27, And a third current limiting resistor 28 and an ice maker driver 90.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the door switch 21 is in the 'on' state, the Vcc voltage (ie, the 'high' level logic voltage signal) through the first current limiting resistor 22 is controlled. The control unit 20 is connected to the door switch 21 and the first current limiting resistor 22 so as to be applied to the first input terminal IN1. In addition, when the door switch 21 is in the 'off' state, the controller 20 is connected to the door switch 21 so that a logic signal having a 'low' level is applied to the first input terminal IN1 of the controller 20. do.

The refrigeration sensor (i.e., F sensor) 23 is installed in the freezer compartment to detect the current temperature in the freezer compartment as a first resistance value proportional thereto. The first resistance value detected by the refrigeration sensor (that is, the F sensor) 23 is converted into the first voltage V1 by the first reference resistor 24 and the Vcc voltage, so that the second current limiting resistor 25 is used. The control unit 20 is connected to the refrigeration sensor 23 to be applied to the second input terminal IN2 through.

An ice making sensor (ie, I sensor) 26 is mounted on a part of the ice making bowl 19 to detect the present temperature of the ice making bowl 19 or the ice making chamber as a second resistance value proportional thereto. The second resistance value detected by the ice making sensor 26 is converted into the second voltage V2 by the second reference resistor 27 and the Vcc voltage and passes through the third current limiting resistor 28 to the third terminal ( The control unit 20 is connected to the ice making sensor 26 to be applied to IN3).

The compressor driver 30 drives the compressor 40 and includes a first inverter 31 and a first relay 32. The first contact point 32A included in the first relay 32 is configured such that the first AC power supply 50 supplies or does not supply power to the compressor 40 by the switching operation. Connected with 50.

The cooling fan driver 60 drives the cooling fan 70 and includes a second inverter 61 and a second relay 62. The second contact 62A included in the second relay 62 is connected to the second AC power supply 80 by the switching operation.

The control unit 20 provides the first and second control signals 20A and 20B through the first and second output terminals OUT1 and OUT2, respectively. The control unit 20 is connected to the compressor driver 30 and the cooling fan driver 60 so that the first and second control signals 20A and 20B are applied to the compressor driver 30 and the cooling fan driver 60, respectively. do.

The control unit 20 provides the third control signal 20C through the third output terminal OUT3. The controller 20 is connected to the ice maker driver 90 so that the third control signal 20C is applied to the ice maker driver 90. The third control signal 20C rotates the ice motor 13 forward or reverse.

A procedure for controlling the operation of the automatic ice machine by the refrigerator control device including the ice making control device having the above-described configuration will be described next with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a method for performing an ice-making operation of an automatic ice maker based on the present temperature in the freezer compartment and the present temperature of the ice-making chamber by the ice-making control device shown in FIG. 2.

When operating power is supplied to the refrigerator, the control unit 20 transmits the first and second control signals 20A and 20B through the first and second output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 to the compressor driver 30. And the cooling fan driving unit 60 are applied to the first and second alternating current sources 50 and 80 to supply operating power to the compressor 40 and the cooling fan 70, respectively.

That is, the first control signal 20A is at a high level and is inverted while passing through the first inverter 31 to drive the first relay 32. The compressor 40 is operated by supplying operating power to the compressor 40 by the 'on' state of the first contact 32A of the first relay 32. The second control signal 20B is at a high level and is inverted while passing through the second inverter 61 to drive the second relay 62. Operating power is supplied to the cooling fan 70 by the 'on' state of the second contact 62A of the second relay 62 to operate the cooling fan 70. Therefore, the cooling operation in a refrigerator is started.

Then, when the temperature inside the refrigerator reaches a predetermined value, the control unit 20 receives the current temperature data of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment through the refrigerating sensor 23 and the refrigerating sensor (not shown in FIG. 2) mounted in the refrigerating compartment. It reads, and the door open / close data is read through the door switch 21. Therefore, the control unit 20 executes a control operation based on the above various data to optimally maintain the temperature in the refrigerator (step S100).

When the operation signal for the automatic ice maker is generated in the course of the normal operation routines of the refrigerator, the controller 20 measures the first current temperature of the ice tray 19 through the ice making sensor 26. (Step S200). That is, the first current temperature of the ice maker 19 or the ice making chamber is detected by the ice making sensor 26 as a second resistance value proportional thereto. The second resistance value is converted into the second voltage V2 by the second reference resistor 27 and the Vcc voltage, and then passes through the third current limiting resistor 28 to the third input terminal IN3 of the controller 20. Is entered.

The controller 20 compares the first current temperature measured in step S200 with the first reference temperature (step S300). When it is determined that the first current temperature is lower than the predetermined first reference temperature, the control unit 20 returns the procedure to step S100 to continue normal operation of the refrigerator.

When it is determined in step S300 that the first current temperature is lower than the predetermined first reference temperature, the controller 20 reads the current temperature information of the freezer compartment input through the second input terminal IN2 to determine the current interior temperature. (Step S400). That is, the current temperature in the freezer compartment is detected by the freezing sensor 23 as a first resistance value proportional thereto. The first resistance value is converted into the first voltage V1 by the first reference resistor 24 and the Vcc voltage, and then through the second current limiting resistor 25 to the second input terminal IN2 of the controller 20. Is entered.

When the current temperature of the freezer compartment is determined, for example, with reference to the operation value table shown in Table 1, the controller 20 brings a corresponding weight according to the current temperature of the freezer compartment (step S500). That is, when the present temperature of the freezer compartment read by the control part 20 is -20 degrees C or less, the weight is 1.5.

The controller 20 calculates a time by multiplying the weight 1.5 by a predetermined reference fleece time and determines whether the calculated time reaches the reference time (ie, 2.4 hours) (steps S600 and S700). When it is determined that the calculated time is less than the reference time, the control unit 20 returns the procedure to step S400 to measure the current temperature of the freezer compartment again. Accordingly, the control unit obtains the weight again by referring to the weight table, and calculates the time by multiplying the weight by a predetermined reference flip time. At this time, the control unit 20 calculates the calculated cumulative value of the time (step S600) and determines whether the cumulative value has reached the reference time (that is, 2.4 hours) (step S700).

When it is determined in step S700 that the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time, the control unit 20 measures the second current temperature of the ice tray 19 or the ice making chamber through the ice making sensor 26 (step S800). That is, the second current temperature of the ice maker 19 or the ice making chamber is detected by the ice making sensor 26 as a second resistance value proportional thereto. The second resistance value is converted into the second voltage V2 by the second reference resistor 27 and the Vcc voltage, and then passes through the third current limiting resistor 28 to the third input terminal IN3 of the controller 20. Is entered.

When it is determined that the second present temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, the control unit 20 returns the procedure to step S400 to measure the present temperature of the freezer compartment again.

When it is determined in step S900 that the second current temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, the control unit 20 starts an ice moving operation in step S1000. At this time, the controller 20 applies a third control signal 20C for forward rotation or reverse rotation of the ice motor 13 to the ice maker driving unit 90 through the third output terminal OUT3.

That is, when the current temperature of the freezer compartment and the current temperature of the ice maker 19 satisfy the ice-making conditions as described above, the ice-making operation of the automatic ice maker is executed even if the existing ice-making time (ie, 2.4 hours) has not been reached. .

In step S1000, the controller 20 clears the accumulated value recorded in the memory in association with the ice making operation. Thereafter, the control unit 20 returns the procedure to step S100 to prepare for executing the next ice making process of the refrigerator.

In the method of controlling the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the fixed ice cycle is usually optimally determined based on the current temperature in the freezer compartment and the temperature of the ice tray, so that the automatic ice machine is To control the operation. Therefore, maximization of the ice making efficiency according to the shortening of the ice making time is achieved, and the power consumption of the refrigerator or the ice maker is reduced.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated concretely by the above-mentioned Example, this invention is not limited to this, The deformation | transformation and improvement are possible within the range of common knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

Claims (13)

(a) comparing the first present temperature with a first reference temperature by measuring a first present temperature of the ice maker through an ice making sensor mounted on a part of the ice maker; (b) when it is determined in step (a) that the first current temperature is higher than or equal to the first reference temperature, the first current temperature is calculated based on a weight set according to the range of the current temperature of the freezer compartment measured by the freezing sensor installed in the freezer compartment. Comparing the cumulative value of time with a reference time; And (c) when the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time, in step (b), comparing the second current temperature of the ice tray measured by the ice making sensor with the second reference temperature to perform an ice removal operation. A method for controlling the operation of an automatic ice maker in a refrigerator comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises: (i) performing normal operation of the refrigerator; (ii) measuring the first current temperature of the ice tray via the ice making sensor when an operating signal is generated for the automatic ice maker during the execution of step (i); And (iii) comparing the first current temperature measured in step (ii) with the first reference temperature. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined in step (iii) that the first present temperature is lower than the first reference temperature, the step (iii) returns to step (i). How to control the operation. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises: (iv) measuring the current temperature of the freezer compartment through a freezing sensor when it is determined in step (a) that the first current temperature is higher than or equal to the first reference temperature. ; (v) obtaining a weight set differently according to a range to which the current temperature of the freezer compartment measured in step (iv) belongs; (vi) calculating a time by multiplying the weight obtained in step (v) by a reference ice time, and accumulating the calculated time to calculate a cumulative value; And (vii) comparing the cumulative value calculated in step (vi) with a reference time. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein when it is determined in step (vii) that the cumulative value is less than the reference time, the step (vii) returns to step (iv). Way. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) comprises: (viii) measuring the second current temperature of the ice tray through the ice making sensor when it is determined in step (b) that the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time. ; (ix) comparing the second current temperature measured in step (viii) with the second reference temperature; (x) when the second current temperature is determined to be equal to or lower than a second reference temperature, in step (ix), executing an ice operation; And (xi) clearing the accumulated value recorded in the memory associated with the ice making operation. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein when it is determined in step (ix) that the second current temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, the step (ix) returns to step (iv) included in step (b). To control the operation of the automatic ice machine in the refrigerator. 2. The operation of claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise the step of returning to step (a) after executing step (c) to perform the next ice making operation. How to. (i) performing normal operation of the refrigerator; (ii) measuring the first current temperature of the ice tray via the ice making sensor when an operating signal is generated for the automatic ice maker during the execution of step (i); (iii) comparing the first current temperature measured in step (ii) with the first reference temperature; (iv) measuring the present temperature of the freezer compartment via a freezing sensor when it is determined in step (iii) that the first present temperature is higher than or equal to a first reference temperature; (v) obtaining a weight set differently according to a range to which the current temperature of the freezer compartment measured in step (iv) belongs; (vi) calculating a time by multiplying the weight obtained in step (v) by a reference ice time, and accumulating the calculated time to calculate a cumulative value; (vii) comparing the cumulative value calculated in step (vi) with a reference time; (viii) measuring the second current temperature of the ice tray through the ice making sensor when it is determined in step (vii) that the cumulative value is greater than or equal to the reference time; (ix) comparing the second current temperature measured in step (viii) with the second reference temperature; (x) performing an ice-making operation when it is determined in step (ix) that the second current temperature is equal to or lower than a second reference temperature; and (xi) clearing the accumulated value recorded in the memory related to the ice making operation. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein when it is determined in step (iii) that the first present temperature is lower than the first reference temperature, the step (iii) returns to step (i). How to control the operation. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein when it is determined in step (vii) that the cumulative value is less than the reference time, the step (vii) returns to step (iv). Way. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein when it is determined in step (ix) that the second current temperature is higher than the second reference temperature, the step (ix) returns to step (iv). How to control the operation. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise the step of returning to step (i) after executing step (xi) to perform the next ice making operation. How to.

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