KR100600727B1 - Control method of ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is to determine the completion of the ice using the interval of the pulse generated during the rotation of the ejector, it is possible to accurately determine whether the ice is completed, and relates to an ice maker and a control method that can prevent malfunction, the ejector A first step of generating a pulse by detecting a magnetic field change of the magnet rotated together with the hall sensor; And if the interval of the pulse output in the first step is equal to or greater than the set interval, the ice making control unit includes a second step of determining completion of the ice.

Ice Maker, Ice Maker Mold, Heater, Ejector, Pin, Shaft, Magnet, Hall Sensor, Ice Maker

Description

Determination of ice making completion of ice makers {Control method of ice maker}

1 is a perspective view of an open freezer and a refrigerating compartment of a typical refrigerator;

2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker and an ice bank according to the prior art,

3 is a cross-sectional view of an ice maker according to the prior art,

4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice maker according to the prior art,

5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an ice maker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a cross-sectional view of an ice maker in one embodiment according to the present invention;

7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice maker in one embodiment according to the present invention;

8 is a control block diagram of an ice maker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a control method of an ice maker according to the present invention;

10 is a schematic diagram showing the main parts of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

11 is a graph showing on / off of pulses generated in the hall sensor during the ejecting operation of the ejector according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

52: ice maker mold 53: ice bank

56: heater 60: ejector

60a: axis of ejector 60b: pin of ejector

62: ice making control unit 72: rotating body

74: magnet 76: hall sensor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of determining the completion of ice making of an ice maker, and more particularly, to a method of determining the deicing completion of an ice maker using a pulse generated in a hall sensor.

In general, an ice maker is mounted on a refrigerating device such as a refrigerator to ice ice by cold air.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle device for freezing compartment F and a refrigerating compartment R partitioned by a barrier 1 and cooling the freezing compartment F and a refrigerating compartment R to low temperature. A main body 2 mounted, a freezer compartment door 4 connected to the main body 2 to open and close the freezer compartment F, and a refrigerating compartment door connected to the main body 2 to open and close the refrigerating compartment R; 6) is configured to include.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor for compressing a low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant, a condenser in which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor is radiated to outside air to condense, an expander for reducing the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, and the expander The refrigerant expanded in the evaporator is evaporated to take the heat of the air circulated from the freezing compartment (F) or the refrigerating chamber (R).

In recent years, an automatic ice making device is installed, which uses ice cold in the freezing compartment F to ice ice and then takes out iced ice to the outside.

The automatic ice making apparatus is mounted on an inner upper portion of the freezing chamber F to make an ice maker 8 for ice-making water supplied with cold air in the freezing chamber F, and the ice iced in the ice maker 8 is iced and contained therein. On the ice bank 9 mounted inside the freezer compartment F, the dispenser 10 mounted on the freezer compartment door to take out ice to the outside without opening and closing the freezer compartment door 4, and on the ice bank 9 It is composed of an ice chute 11 for guiding the contained ice to fall to the dispenser (10).

2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker and an ice bank according to the prior art, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ice maker according to the prior art, Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ice maker according to the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice maker 8 supplies water to the ice maker mold 13 in which the ice making space 12 is formed, and the ice making space 12 of the ice maker mold 13. The water supply cup 15 to supply, the heater 16 which heats the ice maker mold 13 after ice-making is completed so that a part of ice-making ice may be melt | dissolved and isolate | separates from the ice maker mold 13, and the ice maker mold 13 And an ice making controller 22 for controlling the water supply to the water supply cup 15 and controlling the heater 16 and the ejector 18. .

The ice maker mold 13 is formed with a plurality of partition walls 14 that divide the ice making space 12 into a plurality of ice making spaces.

The ejector 18 is arranged such that its axis 18a crosses the center upper side of the ice maker mold 13, and a plurality of ejector pins 18b protrude from the side of the axis 18a of the ejector 18. do.

One end of the shaft 18a of the ejector 18 protrudes into the ice making controller 22, and a driven gear 18c is connected.

In addition, the ice making control unit 22 includes a stationary motor 23 for generating a driving force for rotating the ejector 18 and a temperature sensor 24 for sensing the temperature of the ice maker mold 13.

A drive gear 23a meshed with the driven gear 18c is connected to the shaft of the stationary motor 23.

Reference numeral 26 is a water supply hose for supplying water to the water supply cup 15, and reference numeral 28 is installed in the ice making controller 22 to turn on / off the stationary motor 23 and the heater 16. A control panel, reference numeral 30 denotes a slider provided to allow the ice scooped up by the ejector 18 to slip into the ice bank, and reference numeral 32 denotes a full ice detection for detecting the full ice of the ice bank. It is an appliance.

Looking at the operation of the ice maker according to the prior art configured as described above are as follows.

First, the ice making control unit 22 turns on and turns off the water supply valve for intermittently controlling the water supplied to the water supply cup 15 for a predetermined time.

When the water supply valve is turned on, the water supply cup 15 contains water supplied through the water supply hose 26, and the contained water is transferred to the ice maker mold 13.

Thereafter, the water contained in the ice making space 12 of the ice maker mold 13 is cooled by heat exchange with the cold air or the ice maker mold 13 in the freezer compartment.

Meanwhile, when the temperature of the ice maker mold 13 sensed by the temperature sensor 24 is lower than the set temperature, the ice making controller 22 determines that ice making is completed and turns on the heater 16.

The temperature of the ice maker mold 13 is increased by turning on the heater 16, and the iced ice I starts to be melted from the portion in contact with the ice maker mold 13 and is separated from the ice maker mold 13. .

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 22 rotates the pin 18b of the ejector 18 from the initial position A to the ice position B, and then returns it to the initial position A again. Outputs an ice start signal.

The forward and reverse motor 23 is driven by receiving an ice start signal, and when the forward and reverse motor 23 is driven, the pin 18b of the ejector 18 is at an initial position A, as shown in FIG. 3. It is rotated to the position (C) where it first comes into contact with the ice (I).

When the ice maker mold 13 and the ice I are separated, the pin 18b of the rotated ejector 18 is rotated to an iced position B while spreading the ice I and then the initial position A The ice I, which has been returned, is raised to the slider 30 and then guided to the slider 30 to be iced to the ice bank 9.

On the other hand, if the ice maker mold 13 and the ice I are not separated from each other, the fin 18b of the ejector 18 is fixed to the ice I and the ice maker mold 13, so that the ice I It does not spread, and it returns to the initial position A from the position C which contact | connects ice I for the first time.

If the set time has not elapsed after the ice start signal is output, the ice making control unit 22 determines that the ice is not completed and the ejector 18 until the ice I is spread or the set time elapses. The motor 18 is re-driven so that the pin 18b rotates repeatedly between the initial position A and the position C initially contacted with the ice I.

Then, the ice making control unit 22 detects whether the ice bank is full of ice according to the operation of the ice detection mechanism 32, and if it is determined that the ice bank is not full, the water supply, ice making, heating, ice, and ice detection are repeated. do.

However, in the method of determining the deicing completion of the ice maker according to the prior art, since the deicing is completed when the predetermined time elapses after the deicing control unit 22 generates the deicing start signal, the deicing is performed even though the actual deicing has not been performed. Since it is judged to be completed and the next stroke proceeds, there is a problem of malfunction.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, it is determined by the completion of the ice using the interval of the pulse generated during the rotation of the ejector, it is possible to accurately determine whether the ice is completed, the malfunction It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker and a control method thereof that can be prevented.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining a deicing completion of an ice maker, an ice maker mold having an ice making space, an ejector for icing ice generated in the ice maker mold, and a rotating body rotated together with the ejector; A magnet mounted to one side of the rotating body; In the ice maker comprising a Hall sensor for generating a pulse by detecting a change in the magnetic field according to the change in the position of the magnet, the ejector is rotated so that the ejector returns after the ice is iced, the Hall sensor detects the change in the magnetic field Generating a pulse and outputting the pulse; If the interval of the pulse output in the first step is equal to or greater than the set interval, it comprises a second step of determining the completion of the ice.

 In the method for determining the completion of the ice making of the ice maker, if the interval of the pulse generated in the first step is less than the set interval, it is determined that the ice is not completed, and the first and subsequent steps are repeated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

5 to 7, the ice maker according to the present embodiment includes an ice maker mold 52 having an ice making space where water is iced, and a water supply cup for supplying water to the ice making space of the ice maker mold 52. 54), a heater 56 for heating the ice maker mold 52 after the ice making is completed to partially melt the iced ice to separate the ice maker mold 52, and the ice iced in the ice maker mold 52. The ejector is configured to include an ejector 60 and an ice making controller 62 that controls the water supply to the water supply cup 54 and controls the heater 56 and the ejector 60.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ice maker mold 52 is not mounted inside the freezer compartment or the refrigerating compartment to increase the effective contents of the freezer compartment or the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator, but is mounted on the rear side of the freezer compartment door 51 or the rear side of the refrigerating compartment door. do.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the ice maker mold 52 has a plurality of partition walls 52a for partitioning the ice making space into a plurality of ice making spaces, and is formed on the rear surface of the freezing compartment door 51. The connection part 52b for fixing is formed to protrude on the upper side of the front side, and the flat water overflow prevention part 52c is formed to extend on the upper end of the front part, and the ice scooped up by the ejector 60 is formed on the rear side thereof. A slider 53a is mounted to slide onto the ice bank 53.

As shown in FIG. 5, the water supply cup 54 has a water supply hole 54a for supplying water to the ice maker mold 52, and a water supply hose through which water is supplied from the outside. 55 is arranged.

The water supply hose 55 is equipped with a water supply valve 55a for intermittently supplying water.

As shown in FIG. 7, the heater 56 is disposed in a '⊃' shape on the bottom surface side of the ice maker mold 52.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the ejector 60 protrudes from the shaft 60a disposed to cross the upper center of the ice maker mold 52 and the side of the shaft 60a of the ejector 60. It consists of a plurality of ejector pins 60b formed.

One end of the shaft 60a of the ejector 60 is projected into the ice making control 62 so that the driven gear 60c is connected, and the other end of the shaft 60a is rotatably supported by the water supply cup 54.

In addition, the ice maker 62 is a stationary motor 64 for generating a driving force for the rotation of the ejector 60, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the ice maker mold 52, as shown in FIG. And a control panel 68 for determining whether the ejector 60 is completed, and for turning on / off the forward / reverse motor 23 and the heater 16.

A drive gear 64a meshed with the driven gear 60c is connected to the shaft of the stationary motor 64.

On the other hand, the ice maker is equipped with an ice removal completion inspection device for inspecting the completion of the ice ice iced in the ice maker mold (52).

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the moving completion inspection apparatus may include a shaft of the drive gear 64a, the driven gear 60c, and the ejector 60 so that the ejector 60 may rotate together when the ejector 60 rotates. 60a), the rotating body 72 connected to any one of, the magnet 74 mounted on one side of the rotating body 72 to have the same phase as the pin 60b of the ejector 60, and the magnet 74 Hall sensor 76 to generate a pulse in accordance with the magnetic field change of the) and output to the control panel (68).

Reference numeral 80 is a full ice detection mechanism for detecting whether or not the ice bank 53 is full.

Looking at the operation of the ice maker according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

8 is a control block diagram of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a control method of an ice maker according to the present invention.

5 to 9, the ice making control unit 62 turns on the water supply valve 55a for a predetermined time so that water is supplied to the water supply cup 54. (S1)

When the water supply valve 55a is turned on, the water supply cup 54 contains water supplied through the water supply hose 55, and the contained water is transferred to the ice maker mold 52.

Thereafter, the water contained in the ice making space of the ice maker mold 52 is heat-exchanged with the cold air or the ice maker mold 52 in the freezer compartment to perform ice making.

Meanwhile, when the temperature of the ice maker mold 52 sensed by the temperature sensor 66 is lower than or equal to the set temperature, the ice making controller 62 determines that ice making is completed and turns on the heater 56 (S2, S3). )

By turning on the heater 56, the temperature of the ice maker mold 52 is increased, and the ice I formed on the ice maker mold 52 gradually begins to melt in contact with the ice maker mold 52.

Afterwards, the ice making control unit 62 rotates the pin 60b of the ejector 60 from the initial position A to the ice position B and then returns to the initial position A again. 64, and outputs an ice start signal (S4).

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the main configuration of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a graph showing on / off of pulses generated in a hall sensor during an ejecting operation of an ejector according to the present invention.

The forward and reverse motor 64 is driven by receiving an ice breaking start signal, and when the forward and reverse motor 64 is driven, the pin 60b and the magnet 74 of the ejector 60 are shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. Likewise, it is rotated from the initial position A to the position C initially contacted with the ice I.

At this time, the fin 60b of the ejector 60 does not spread the ice I unless the ice maker mold 52 and the ice I are separated despite the on of the heater 56. , The position (C) is returned to the initial position (A) at the first contact with the ice (I), the magnet 74 is the first contact with the ice (I), as shown in FIG. Is returned to the initial position (A).

Meanwhile, while the magnet 74 is rotated and returned as described above, the hall sensor 76 has an on-signal when the magnet 74 approaches (A) within a predetermined distance, as shown in FIG. 11. In addition, when the magnet 74 is spaced apart (C) by a predetermined distance or more, an off signal is generated to generate a pulse T ₁ .

The ice making control unit 62 compares the interval of the generated pulse T ₁ with the set interval and determines that the ice is not iced if the interval of the pulse T ₁ is within the set interval. And outputs a moving start signal to (64) again (S4, S5).

The forward and reverse motor 64 receives the moving start signal again and is driven again. When the forward and reverse motor 64 is driven again, the pin 60b and the magnet 74 of the ejector 60 are shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. As shown, it is rotated back from the initial position A to the position C initially contacted with the ice I.

The fin 60b of the ejector 60 does not pour ice I, unless the ice maker mold 52 and the ice I are separated despite the continuous turning on of the heater 56. The position C is first returned to the initial position A at the position C first contacted with (I), and the magnet 74 is initially initialized at the position C initially contacted with the ice I, as shown in FIG. 10. It returns to position A again.

On the other hand, when the re-rotation and re-return of the magnet 74 as described above, the Hall sensor 76 as shown in Figure 11, when the magnet 74 is close to (A) within a predetermined distance (A) In addition, when the magnet 74 is spaced apart (C) by a predetermined distance or more, the off signal is generated to generate a pulse T ₂ .

The ice making control unit 62 compares the interval of the generated pulse T ₂ with the set interval and determines that ice is not iced if the interval of the pulse T ₂ is within the set interval. At 64, an output of a moving start signal is made again (S4, S5).

The forward / reverse motor 64 receives the ice start signal again and is driven again. When the forward / reverse motor 64 is re-driven, the pin 60b and the magnet 74 of the ejector 60 are shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. As shown, it is rotated back from the initial position A to the position C initially contacted with the ice I.

If the ice maker mold 52 and the ice I are separated by the continuous on of the heater 56, the fin 60b of the ejector 60 may lift up the ice I while moving to the ice breaking position B. It is rotated by, and it rotates back in the ice position B, and returns to an initial position A again.

At this time, the ice scooped up by the pin 60b of the ejector 60 is raised to the slider 53a and guided to the slider 53a to be iced to the ice bank 53.

On the other hand, when the pin 60b of the ejector 60 is rotated as described above, the magnet 74 is moved to the ice position B at the position C first contacted with the ice I, as shown in FIG. 10. After the rotation, the motor returns to the initial position A again.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the magnet 74 is rotated and returned again, the hall sensor 76 generates an on-signal when the magnet 74 approaches A within a predetermined distance. In addition, while the magnet 74 is spaced apart (B, C) by more than a predetermined distance, the off signal is generated to generate a long pulse (T ₃ ).

The ice making control unit 62 compares the interval of the pulse T ₃ generated as described above with a predetermined interval, and determines that the ice is iced when the interval of the pulse T ₃ is equal to or greater than the predetermined interval. 64) outputs the end of the ribbing signal (S5, S6).

Thereafter, the ice making controller 62 turns off the heater 56 (S7).

Then, the ice making control unit 62 detects whether the ice bank 53 is full of ice according to the operation of the ice detection lever 80, and if it is determined that the ice bank is not full of ice, the water supply, ice making, heating, ice making, and ice making are performed. If the detection is repeated and determined to be full ice, the water supply, ice making, heating, ice breaking, and full ice detection are stopped.

In the ice-making completion determination method of the ice maker according to the present invention configured as described above, the hall sensor detects the magnetic field change of the magnet rotated together with the ejector and generates a pulse, and outputs if the interval of the output pulse is more than the set interval, completion of the ice Since it is determined, it is possible to precisely inspect the completion of ice ice with a simple structure, there is an advantage that can prevent malfunction.

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Claims (2)

An ice maker mold having an ice making space, an ejector for icing ice generated in the ice maker mold, and a rotating body rotated together with the ejector; A magnet mounted to one side of the rotating body; In the ice maker comprising a Hall sensor for generating a pulse by detecting a change in the magnetic field according to the position change of the magnet, A first step of rotating the ejector so that the ejector returns after ice is ejected, and the hall sensor detects a magnetic field change and generates and outputs a pulse; And a second step of determining completion of the ice when the interval of the pulse output in the first step is equal to or greater than a predetermined interval. The method of claim 1, In the method of determining the completion of the ice maker of the ice maker, if the pulse generated in the first step is less than the set interval, it is determined that the ice is not completed, and the first and subsequent steps of the ice maker are repeated. How to determine completion.

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