KR100574633B1 - Ice making cycle shortening method of ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

In the ice making cycle shortening method of the ice maker of the present invention, the ice is discharged from the tray 110 and the power of the heater 120 for supplying heat to the tray 110 is intermittently prevented to prevent malfunction of the water level sensor 101. By supplying to the tray 110 to maintain only the minimum room temperature temperature that is the temperature before the ice is iced, significantly shortening the ice making cycle time to re-supply water after the ice making step of the ice maker 100 to prepare the ice making step By making it possible to produce a larger amount of ice in a short time there is an effect that can maximize the efficiency of the ice maker (100).

In addition, since the power supply of the heater 120 is intermittently supplied, the power consumption of the heater 120 is reduced, and since the heating temperature for ice peeling is low, it does not adversely affect the freezer of the refrigerator, thereby minimizing the failure of the refrigerator.

Description

Ice making cycle shortening method of ice maker

1 is a perspective view showing a general ice maker for a refrigerator.

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view showing a typical ice maker for a refrigerator.

3 is a process chart showing an ice making cycle of a typical refrigerator ice maker.

4 is a conceptual diagram showing the ice peeling temperature of a typical refrigerator ice maker.

5 is a process chart showing an ice making cycle of the ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

6 is a conceptual view showing the ice peeling temperature of the ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 7a, b is a graph showing the ice peeling temperature of the ice maker for refrigerators according to the present invention.

8 is a graph showing the experimental results according to the heating temperature of the ice making short cycle of the ice maker according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: ice maker 110: tray

101: water level sensor 120: heater

130: Ebbing lever 140: Gumbling lever

The present invention relates to a heater control method and apparatus for a refrigerator ice maker. More specifically, an ice maker capable of maximizing the efficiency of the ice maker by shortening the cycle time of the ice maker forming the ice making step by re-watering after the ice making step of the ice maker. It is to provide a method for shortening the ice making cycle.

1 and 2 are shown the configuration of the ice maker 100 according to the prior art, with reference to this will be described the configuration of the general ice maker 100.

The ice maker 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the wall surface of the freezer compartment by using a connection bracket (not shown) extending upward from the tray 110. For example, a hole formed in the connection bracket is formed. It is fixed to the wall surface of the freezer compartment using a fastening screw.

In addition, the ice maker 100 is provided with a tray 110 for containing water for ice making into a predetermined shape of ice, wherein the tray 110 is formed in a half moon shape, for example, and has excellent thermal conductivity. It is molded from a material, for example aluminum. Supply of water to the tray 110 is made through a feed tube connection (not shown) formed on one side.

An ice lever 130 is installed at an upper portion of the tray 110. The ice lever 130 is configured to rotate to take out ice completely iced from the tray 110 to the outside of the tray 110 by using the rotational force of the driving motor installed inside the casing.

And, as can be seen in Figure 2, the lower portion of the tray 110 is provided with a heater 120 for applying a small amount of heat so that the completed ice is easily separated from the tray 110.

Therefore, when cold air is supplied for a predetermined time and ice making is completed, the heater 120 generates heat and heats the ice on the tray 110 to dissolve the surface to separate the ice.

As such, the spaced semi-moon-shaped ice is separated from the tray 110 by the rotation of the ice lever 130. Then, the separated ice falls into the ice storage container located below.

At this time, the stripper is installed on the front upper surface of the tray 110 in order to prevent the separated ice from entering the inside of the tray 110 again.

Then, before the ice is separated from the tray 110, whether the ice is filled in the ice storage container in the lower portion is detected by the detection ice 140. The detection lever 140 moves up and down within a certain angle range by a motor inside the casing, and detects whether the ice storage container is full of ice.

As described above, the ice maker 100 itself is installed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. In addition, by the cold air supplied into the freezer compartment, the fresh water in the tray 110 is made of ice.

Therefore, when cold air is supplied in the direction of the arrow in the freezer compartment, such cold air lowers the tray 110 and freezes the coagulation heat from the water by contacting the tray 110 through the rear of the front plate. As the ice making is done.

In addition, the heater 120 is operated to supply heat in the icing process of taking out the iced ice. In the normal operation state, the heater 120 generates heat for a predetermined time and stops only after being heated for a predetermined time until the ice in the tray 110 is completely iced.

In general, the steps of the ice making cycle of the general ice maker 100 as described above are summarized as follows.

First, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the water supply step (S1) for supplying water to the internal space of the tray 110,

Water level sensing step (S2) for controlling the amount of water supplied by sensing the amount of water supplied by the water level sensor 101 installed in the tray 110,

After the water supply step (S1) by supplying cold air to quench the water to make ice (S3) and,

When the ice bucket 140 detects that the ice bucket is empty after the ice making step S3, the heater 120 generates heat for a predetermined time or more through the heater 120 to easily peel off the ice and the water level sensor 101. Heating step (S4) to prevent malfunction of the,

When the heating step (S4) proceeds and the surface of the ice begins to melt discharge step (S5) and discharge the ice to the ice bucket through the ice lever 130,

When the discharge step (S5) is completed, the temperature reduction step (S6) to stop the heater 120 to lower the temperature of the tray 110 to the elevated temperature to prepare the next ice making step, and

When the surface temperature of the tray 110 is lowered after the temperature lowering step S6, the water resupplying step S7 is performed to supply water to the inside of the tray 110.

The temperature drop step (S6) is a cycle time for preparing the next ice making step (S3) by lowering the surface temperature of the tray 110, which maintains the room temperature between the ice discharge step (S6) and the resupply step (S10) Say.

However, the ice making cycle of the ice maker according to the prior art tray through the heater 120 from the time when the ice is confirmed through the ice detection lever 140 to the time when the discharge step (S5) is completely completed by the ice lever 130. Because the tray 110 is heated, the tray 110 is heated to a high temperature, and the surface temperature measured by the tray 110 is heated to approximately 4 to 5 ° C. or more, thereby preparing for the next ice making step S. The time for the temperature reduction step was long.

Furthermore, even when the heater 120 is stopped at the time when the discharge step S5 is completed, the tray 110 generates heat above a temperature higher than 4 to 5 ° C., which is measured by the amount of heat remaining in the heater 120. Since the next temperature is lowered, the temperature reduction step progresses longer, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes (min).

Therefore, as the ice making cycle defrosts the ice by the ice maker 100 and discharges the ice, the efficiency of the ice maker 100 decreases, and at a high temperature generated by the heater 120 and the tray 110. This has a fatal adverse effect on freezer performance.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to supply the tray with a minimum rising temperature in the heating stage of the ice maker, which prevents malfunction of the water level sensor, which is easily peeled off the ice and the temperature is kept below zero by the ice. It is to provide a method for shortening the ice making cycle of the ice maker to maximize the efficiency of the ice maker by making it possible to reduce significantly.

In order to achieve the above object, the method for shortening the ice making cycle of the ice maker of the present invention enables a smooth peeling of the ice from the tray after the ice making step of quenching the water supplied to the semi-circular tray inner space and at the same time the water level sensor In order to prevent malfunction, supply heat to the tray from the heater installed at the bottom of the tray, and then check that the remaining amount of ice filled in the ice container by the ice level lever is insufficient. In

The basic feature of the present invention is to turn off the power of the heater when the ice lever is rotated to reach a position of 90 ° in the tray before the ice is completely taken out by the ice lever.

5 is a process chart showing an ice making cycle of a refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the ice peeling temperature of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention, Figure 7a, b is the ice of the refrigerator ice maker according to the present invention 8 is a graph showing the peeling temperature, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing the test results according to the heating temperature of the ice making cycle of the ice maker according to the present invention.

First, the ice making cycle of the ice maker according to the present invention, as shown in Figures 5 to 7a, b, the ice of the tray 110 after the ice making step of quenching the water supplied into the semi-circular tray 110 interior space In order to prevent the malfunction of the water level sensor 101 at the same time to remove the heat is supplied from the heater 120 installed in the lower portion of the tray 110 to the tray 110 side and then to the inspection lever 140 In the ice maker 100 for discharging the ice to the ice bucket through the ice lever 130 when it is confirmed that the remaining amount of ice is insufficient,

When the moving lever 130 is rotated to reach a position of 90 ° in the tray 110 before the ice is completely taken out by the moving lever 130, the power of the heater 120 is turned off. do.

The moving lever 130, which rotates inside the tray 110 and discharges ice into the ice bucket, rotates by 90 ° or more inside the tray 110, leaving the tray 110 and completely discharging the ice. Cut the power in half.

Also. When the power of the heater 120 is cut in half, the power of the heater 120 is intermittently supplied, but the power of the heater 120 is continuously or discontinuously supplied.

As described above, the shortening method of the ice making cycle of the ice maker of the present invention in more detail as follows.

First, as shown in Figure 5, the water supply step (S1) for supplying water to the interior space of the tray 110,

The water level sensing step (S2) of controlling the supply amount of water by sensing the amount of water supplied by the water level sensor 101 installed in the tray 110 during the water supply step (S1),

After the water supply step (S1) by supplying cold air to quench the water to make ice (S3) and,

When the ice bucket 140 detects that the ice bucket is empty after the ice making step S3, the ice lever 130 supplies a temperature of room temperature to the tray 110 through the heater 120, and discharges the ice into the ice bucket. Heating step (S4) for supplying heat from the heater 120 to the tray 110 until the rotation is reached to the position at 90 ° from inside the tray 110,

After the heating step (S4), the heating lever 130 rotates inside the tray 110 and starts to move out of the 90 ° position from the time when the moving lever 130 leaves the tray 110 to completely discharge the ice. A temperature interruption step S5 of reducing the power of the 120 in half and supplying the power of the heater 120 continuously or discontinuously so that only the minimum room temperature temperature is supplied to the tray 110 side;

At the same time as the temperature control step (S5) proceeds and the discharge step (S6) for completely discharging the ice into the ice bucket by the ebbing lever 130,

When the discharge step (S6) is completed, the temperature lowering step (S6) for turning off the heater (120) to prepare for the next ice making step,

When the temperature lowering step (S5) is completed, it is made of a re-supply step (S6) for supplying water to the inside of the tray 110.

As described above, in the ice making cycle shortening method of the ice maker of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the water level sensor 101 may be directly rubbed on the ice or the ice is discharged at the same time while allowing the ice to be easily discharged. Heater 120 in the heating step to prevent the malfunction of the water level detection sensor 101 is maintained below the semi-circular tray (1) by the ice buried in While continuously supplying heat to the tray 110 side until the 90 ° rotation of the center position of the 110, the power of the heater 120 is turned off (OFF) to block the supply of heat.

Then, after stopping the heater 120, the moving lever 130 is rotated 90 degrees or more in the tray 110 from the tray 110 from the time when the heater 120 does not operate even if the tray by the amount of heat remaining thereon 110 heats only to a limit temperature above a certain temperature and gradually lowers the temperature. At this time, the power of the heater 120 is cut in half so that only the minimum temperature (0 to 4 ° C.) is maintained in the tray 110. .

That is, the tray 110 is maintained at a minimum temperature of 0 ° C. before the ice is defrosted from the 90 °, the center position of the tray 110, to the 180 ° position completely off the tray 110 side. In order to allow the heater 120 to be cut in half, a temperature intermittent step is performed.

At this time, as shown in Figure 7a, b, the power supply of the heater 120 is interrupted so that the tray 110 can be maintained at approximately 0 ℃ temperature before the ice is iced, but continuously or discontinuously So that the target minimum room temperature is more easily maintained.

As such, after the ice is completely discharged by the ice lever 130, the tray 110 temperature is maintained at a minimum temperature before the ice is defrosted until the ice is re-supplied to freeze the ice. The ice-making cycle time can be greatly reduced.

In addition, if the water level sensor 101 maintains the temperature of the sensor surface only at 0 ° C or higher (preferably 1.5 ° C or higher), the ice level on the surface of the sensor is removed so that the water level can be accurately sensed. Along with the smooth operation of the sensor 101, the ice can be easily peeled off and at the same time, the ice making cycle can be effectively shortened by maintaining only the minimum temperature on the tray 110 side, thereby maximizing the ice making efficiency.

This, as shown in Figure 8, referring to the experimental results graphs of the prior art and the present invention, the conventional heating temperature is a temperature drop step time by heating the temperature of the tray 110 up to approximately 4 ~ 5 ℃ or more It can be seen that it takes about 5 to 10 minutes (min), and the present invention allows the temperature of the tray 110 to be raised to approximately 1.5 ° C. and then maintained at 0 ° C. so that the temperature dropping step time is 1. It can be drastically reduced to ~ 4 minutes (min), thereby maximizing the efficiency of the ice making cycle of the ice maker.

 As described above, in the ice making cycle shortening method of the ice maker of the present invention, the heater for supplying heat to the tray 110 in order to discharge the ice from the tray 110 and to prevent malfunction of the water level detection sensor 101 ( Intermittent supply of the power of 120 so that the tray 110 can maintain only the minimum temperature before the ice is iced by re-supplying water after the ice making step of the ice maker 100 to prepare the ice making step By greatly shortening the time, it is possible to produce a larger amount of ice in a short time, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the ice maker 100.

In addition, by intermittently supplying the power of the heater 120, the power consumption is reduced, and the heating temperature for the ice peeling is low, so that it does not adversely affect the freezer of the refrigerator, thereby maximizing the freezing performance of the refrigerator and minimizing failure. have.

Claims (3)

delete After the ice making step of rapidly cooling the water supplied into the semi-circular tray 110, the ice tray 110 may be smoothly peeled off and the tray 110 may be prevented from malfunctioning at the same time. After supplying heat to the tray 110 from the heater 120 installed on the lower side and confirming that the remaining amount of ice filled in the ice container by the ice detection lever 140 is insufficient, ice is transferred through the ice lever 130. In the ice maker 100 discharged to the ice bucket, The moving lever 130 rotating the inside of the tray 110 and discharging the ice into the ice bucket is rotated by 90 ° or more in the tray 110 while leaving the tray 110 and completely discharging the ice to the heater 120. A method for shortening an ice making cycle of an ice maker, characterized in that the control is performed to cut the supplied power in half. After the ice making step of rapidly cooling the water supplied into the semi-circular tray 110, the ice tray 110 may be smoothly peeled off and the tray 110 may be prevented from malfunctioning at the same time. After supplying heat to the tray 110 from the heater 120 installed on the lower side and confirming that the remaining amount of ice filled in the ice container by the ice detection lever 140 is insufficient, ice is transferred through the ice lever 130. In the ice maker 100 discharged to the ice bucket, The moving lever 130, which rotates inside the tray 110 and discharges ice into the ice bucket, rotates by 90 ° or more inside the tray 110, leaving the tray 110 and completely discharging the ice. Supplying power intermittently but controlling the supply of power to the heater (120) continuously or discontinuously.

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