KR100722051B1 - ice maker in the refrigerator and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Ice maker according to the present invention, the ice maker is an ice making room for forming a space in which ice is iced; An ejector to ice the ice produced in the ice making chamber; And a heater provided in the ice making chamber, the predetermined portion being immersed in the water supplied to the ice making chamber, to create a passage so that bubbles in the water can move.

According to the present invention there is an advantage that can be easily obtained transparent ice even in a home refrigerator. In addition, there is an advantage that can be produced transparent ice at a relatively high speed even in a home refrigerator.

Ice Maker, Heater

Description

Ice maker in the refrigerator and control method of the same}

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator to which an ice maker according to the present invention is applied.

2 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view of II ′ of FIG. 1.

4 is a view showing a state in which the completed ice is iced.

5 is a block diagram showing a control device of an ice maker according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an ice maker according to the present invention.

7 is a view showing a state in which the completed ice according to the second embodiment of the present invention is iced.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: refrigerator 5: ice maker

13: ice-making room 14: ejector

16: extension 17: stripper

22: heater 24: fin

The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly, to an ice maker that can easily produce transparent ice in a home refrigerator.

Republic of Korea Patent Application 10-2003-0034081 discloses an ice maker for a refrigerator, the ice maker is a water supply unit to supply water from the outside, an ice making room for ice ice, and the ice produced in the ice making chamber is separated from the ice making room It includes an ejector and a control box in which a plurality of parts for allowing the ejector to rotate is embedded.

The operation of the configuration related to the ice maker will be briefly described. After the appropriate amount of water is supplied to the ice maker and the cold air is supplied to the ice maker, the ice is frozen from the top of the ice maker by the supplied cold air. After the ice is produced, the ice is separated by the ejector of the ice maker and dropped into the ice bank to be accommodated.

According to the ice maker, ice is frozen from the top of the ice making chamber, and when the ice is frozen from the top, bubbles dissolved in the water cannot escape. Thus, opaque ice is produced rather than transparent ice because bubbles remain in the final ice produced.

The opaque ice is not clean to see, there is a problem that does not feel clean even when put in another drink.

In order to solve the above problems, a transparent ice maker ice maker has been proposed, and a transparent ice maker method of the ice maker includes a spray type and a hot wire separation type.

The spray type is an ice making method of continuously supplying water through a spray nozzle, so that ice grows like an icicle from the top, and has a disadvantage of slow ice making.

In addition, the hot wire separation type is mainly used for commercial purposes, and the water is supplied by the pump, the supplied water is iced in the cold plate, and the ice is broken into pieces while passing through the hot wire, but the volume is too large. It is difficult to use for home use because it is large.

Therefore, there is a need for an ice maker capable of manufacturing transparent ice in a home refrigerator.

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to propose an ice maker that can easily produce transparent ice in a home refrigerator.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to propose an ice maker that can produce transparent ice at a relatively high speed in a home refrigerator.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to propose an ice maker that can produce transparent ice without large changes in the structure of the existing ice maker.

Ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an ice making room for forming a space in which ice is iced; An ejector to ice the ice produced in the ice making chamber; And a heater provided in the ice making chamber, the predetermined portion being immersed in the water supplied to the ice making chamber, to create a passage so that bubbles in the water can move.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling an ice maker includes supplying water to an ice making chamber and operating a heater in which a portion of the water is frozen while the supplied water is frozen, thereby releasing bubbles contained in the water. ; And comparing the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor provided to the ice making chamber with a preset set temperature, when the measuring temperature is lower than the set temperature, an iced ice step is carried out.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling an ice maker includes a first ice-making step in which a heater in which a portion of the water is frozen while the water supplied to the ice-making chamber is frozen is operated to release bubbles contained in the water. ; Comparing a first measurement temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided to the ice making chamber with a preset first temperature and turning off the power of the heater when the first measurement temperature is lower than the first temperature; A second ice making step in which the water supplied to the ice making chamber is continuously frozen even after the heater is turned off; And when the second measurement temperature is lower than the second temperature by comparing the second measurement temperature measured by the temperature sensor with the preset second temperature, an iced ice step is carried out.

By the ice maker for refrigerator and the control method as described above can be easily produced transparent ice at home, it is possible to produce transparent ice in a relatively fast time.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same idea.

First embodiment

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator to which an ice maker according to the present invention is applied, and a structure of the refrigerator will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1.

The refrigerator 1 is a device in which food is stored, and includes a refrigerating chamber 2 in which food is kept cold at an image temperature, a freezing chamber 3 in which food such as ice is stored at a sub-zero temperature, and a freezer compartment 3 of The ice maker 5 accommodated inside to manufacture the ice, the ice bank 6 in which the ice produced by the ice maker 5 is stored and stored, and the ice kept in the ice bank 6 are desired by the user. An ice dispenser 7 is formed to ensure proper supply at the time.

Of course, the refrigerator 1 is formed with components such as a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator to form a refrigeration cycle.

The operation of the configuration related to the ice maker 5 will be briefly described. After an appropriate amount of water is supplied to the ice maker 5, cold air is supplied to the ice maker 5. Then, after the ice is produced in the ice maker 5 by the supplied cold air, the ice is separated and dropped into the ice bank 6 by the ice maker's own operation.

And, whenever the ice contained in the ice bank 6 is requested by the user, the ice dispenser 7 is supplied to the user by the desired amount. In particular, the ice bank 6 is further formed with an ice crusher to allow the ice to be crushed to an appropriate size and a conveying portion for transferring the ice to the ice crusher.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the ice maker will be described in detail.

2 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ice maker 5 is an article from which ice is manufactured, and a water supply unit 12 to which water is supplied from the outside, an ice making chamber 13 in which ice is iced, and an ice making chamber 13 of the ice making chamber 13. It includes an ejector 14 for separating the ice produced in the ice making chamber 13 and a control box 11 in which a plurality of parts for allowing the ejector 14 to rotate are embedded.

In addition, a rear portion of the ice making chamber 13 includes a seating unit 19 for seating the ice maker 5 inside the refrigerator, and the ice maker 5 being filled with ice inside the ice bank 6. The ice detection lever 18 is formed to check whether the operation is performed.

In detail, the ejector 14 includes a shaft 15 on which a rotational movement extending outwardly of the control box 11 is performed, and a rotational movement of the shaft 15 extending outwardly of the shaft 15. It includes an extension (16) is spread by the ice. In addition, a partition protrusion 20 is formed in the ice making chamber 13 so that a large space of the ice making chamber 13 is divided into a plurality of small spaces so that the size of the ice is adjusted.

In addition, a stripper 17 is formed on the upper side of the ice making chamber 13 so that the ice spread by the ejector 14 is guided to the ice bank 6 and dropped.

Meanwhile, the heater 22 may be formed in the ice making chamber 13 to form a passage through which bubbles generated during ice making are discharged. The heater 22 may be formed in the ejector 14, or may include a stripper. 22) may be formed.

The operation to action of the ice maker 5 will be briefly described with reference to the above-described configuration.

Water guided by a water supply pipe having a predetermined shape is supplied to the water supply unit 12. The water supplied is introduced into the ice making chamber 13 and is accommodated in each space divided by the partition protrusion 20. Sub-zero cold air is supplied to freeze water contained in the ice-making chamber 13. The heater 22 is immersed to a certain portion in the water so that the portion of the heater 22 is immersed in the ice does not freeze, bubbles in the water during the process of freezing water in the ice-making chamber 13 by the heater 22 As it exits through the passageway, transparent ice is produced.

When the water inside the ice-making chamber 13 is completely frozen during the above process, the ice is separated from the mold 21, and the ejector 14 is operated by a predetermined driving mechanism placed inside the control box 11. . In detail, the shaft 15 is rotated, and the rotation of the shaft 15 is linked to the rotation of the extension 16 so that the ice frozen in the ice making chamber 13 is free of the ice making chamber 13. It is raised along the inner circumference.

After the ice is pumped up by the ejector 14, the ice is guided by the stripper 17 to fall into the ice bank 6 and accumulate.

The above operation is repeatedly performed. After the ice is accommodated inside the ice bank 6 during the repeated operation, the ice maker detects that only the ice is accommodated by the ice detection lever 18. The operation of (5) is stopped.

Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the ice maker 5 will be described in detail.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which the completed ice is iced.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ice maker 5 is manufactured in the ice making chamber 13 in which ice is made, the mold part 21 to maintain the shape of the ice, and the inside of the ice making chamber 13. The ejector 14 allows the ice to be separated, the heater 22 forming a passage for the air bubbles to escape to the outside during the ice making process, and the ice spread by the ejector 14 is iced. A stripper 17 is included to guide and drop the bank 6.

In detail, the ejector 14 includes a shaft 15 on which a rotational movement extending outwardly of the control box 11 is performed, and a rotational movement of the shaft 15 extending outwardly of the shaft 15. It includes an extension (16) is spread by the ice.

In addition, a heater 22 is formed at the lower end of the ejector 14, the heater 22 is slightly submerged in the water supplied to the ice making chamber 13 to allow the bubbles in the water to escape out of the water, In the ice making stage, the power is always on. In FIG. 3, the heater 22 is formed in the ejector 14, but the heater 22 may be formed in the stripper 17 as well as the ejector 14, and inside the ice making chamber 13. If it is configured to be able to create a passage to escape the bubble to be located in any position may be formed.

At the lower end of the mold portion 21, a plurality of fins 24 are formed at predetermined intervals to promote heat transfer between the incoming cold and the water.

In addition, a temperature sensor 25 for determining whether ice making is completed is formed at one side of the mold part 21. The temperature sensor 25 compares the temperature set in the control box 11 with the temperature of the ice and determines that ice making is completed when the temperature of the ice is lower than the preset temperature.

Hereinafter, the process of ice-making and ice-melting by the ice maker 5 is demonstrated.

Guided by a water supply pipe having a predetermined shape, water is supplied to the water supply unit 12. The water supplied is introduced into the ice making chamber 13 and is accommodated in each space divided by the partition protrusion 20. Sub-zero cold air is supplied from the lower end of the mold portion 21. Water accommodated in the ice-making chamber 13 by the supplied cold air is frozen from the lower end. At this time, the heater 22 located at the lower end of the ejector 14 is slightly submerged in water so that the portion where the heater 22 is located is not frozen.

As the ice freezes from the lower end, the bubbles in the water are pushed to the upper end, and finally all the heaters 22 escape through the submerged part. This is because the portion where the heater 22 is located forms a passage through which heat can be supplied to escape the ice without being deiced.

The temperature sensor 25 mounted on one side of the mold unit 21 compares a preset temperature with a temperature of ice to determine whether ice making is completed.

When the water inside the ice-making chamber 13 is completely frozen while the above process is performed, the ice is separated from the mold 21 by a predetermined heat, and by a predetermined driving mechanism placed inside the control box 11. The ejector 14 is operated. In detail, the shaft 15 is rotated, and the rotation of the shaft 15 is linked to the rotation of the extension 16 so that the ice frozen in the ice making chamber 13 is free of the ice making chamber 13. It is raised along the inner circumference.

After the ice is pumped up by the ejector 14, the ice is guided by the stripper 17 to fall into the ice bank 6 and accumulate.

The above operation is repeatedly performed. After the ice is accommodated inside the ice bank 6 during the repeated operation, the ice maker detects that only the ice is accommodated by the ice detection lever 18. The operation of (5) is stopped.

By the above configuration, since the bubbles in the water are all released from the ice, the user can obtain transparent ice.

5 is a block diagram showing a control device of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the control device of the ice maker 5 according to the present invention includes a control box 11 to control the function of the ice maker 5 and to supply cold air to generate ice. A cold air supply unit 28, a heater driver 26 for controlling the operation of the heater 22 located at the lower end of the ejector 14, and a temperature sensor 25 to measure the temperature of the ice. Reference numeral 29 and an ejector control unit 27 are included to eject the completed ice by the ejector 14.

The control state of the general ice maker 5 will be briefly described. When water is supplied by the controller 30, cold air is supplied by the cold air supply unit 28. The heater 22 is driven by the heater driving unit 26 while the cold air is supplied by the cold air supply unit 28 to ice the ice. When the heater 22 is driven by the heater driving unit 26, bubbles in the water escape to the outside of the ice through a passage generated by the heater 22. While the ice is generated by the cold air, the temperature sensor 25 senses the temperature of the ice by the temperature sensor 29.

If it is determined that the ice making is completed by the control unit 30 by sensing the temperature of the ice, the ejector 14 is operated by the moving unit 27.

Hereinafter, the control method of the ice maker will be described in detail.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control box 11 has a time for supplying the temperature of iced ice and cold air (S1). Water guided by a water supply pipe having a predetermined shape is supplied to the water supply unit 12, and the water supplied is introduced into the ice making chamber 13 and is accommodated in each space divided by the partition protrusion 20 ( S2).

When water flows into the ice-making chamber 13, sub-zero cold air is supplied from the lower portion of the mold part 21 (S3), and the water accommodated in the ice-making chamber 13 by the supplied cold air has a lower end portion. Will be frozen. While cold air is provided and ice is iced, the power of the heater 22 formed at the lower end of the ejector 14 is turned on and the heater 22 is operated (S4).

When the heater 22 is operated, bubbles in the water are forced out of the ice through a kind of passage generated by the heater 22.

After a sufficient time for the ice to freeze, the temperature sensor 25 mounted on one side of the mold unit 21 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the ice to determine whether ice making is completed (S5).

If the predetermined cold air supply time set in the control box 11 has elapsed, and it is determined through the temperature sensor 25 that the temperature of the ice is lower than the preset temperature, ice making is completed and the ice proceeds to the ice-making step (S6). Therefore, after the ejector 14 is operated and the ice is pumped up by the ejector 14, the ice is guided by the stripper 17 and accumulated to fall into the ice bank 6.

The ice generated in the ice making chamber 13 is frozen from the lower end of the mold portion 21, and the bubbles generated are escaped through the passage generated by the heater 22 submerged in water to make transparent ice.

Second embodiment

7 is a view showing a state in which the completed ice according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a flow chart showing a control method of the ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 and 8, in the control box 11 is set the temperature of the ice and the supply time of the cold air of the second stage (S11). The first temperature value is a temperature when ice is about 80% frozen, and the second temperature value is a temperature when ice making is completed. Water guided by a water supply pipe having a predetermined shape is supplied to the water supply unit 12, and the water supplied is introduced into the ice making chamber 13 and is accommodated in each space divided by the partition protrusion 20. (S12).

When water flows into the ice-making chamber 13, sub-zero cold air is supplied from the lower part of the mold part 21, and water received in the ice-making chamber 13 by the supplied cold air is frozen from the lower end. Then, the first ice making step is started (S13). During the first ice making step, the power of the heater 22 formed at the lower end of the ejector 14 is turned on and the heater 22 is operated (S14). By the operation of the heater 22, bubbles in the water escape to the outside of the ice.

When a predetermined time has elapsed, the temperature sensor 25 mounted on one side of the mold unit 21 compares the first temperature set in advance with the temperature of ice ice (S15).

If it is determined through the temperature sensor 25 that the temperature of the ice is lower than the preset first temperature value, the power of the heater 22 is turned off (S16).

When the power supply of the heater 22 is off (OFF), the second ice making step is started (S17). In the second ice making step, since the power of the heater 22 is turned off, the heat load disappears, and the ice freezes more quickly.

When the set cold air supply time has elapsed, and the temperature of the ice ice is determined by comparing the second temperature value preset by the temperature sensor 25 with the ice making temperature, it is determined that the second ice making step is completed. It is determined (S18).

When it is determined that the second ice making step is completed, the completed ice is separated from the mold unit 21, and the power of the heater 22 is turned on again (S19), and the ice-making step is started (S20). The heater 22 is turned on during the ice step. Since the heater 22 stops working while ice is frozen, the heater 22 and the ice are stuck to each other. By turning ON), the heater 22 and the ice are separated from each other.

When the icing step starts, the ejector 14 is operated, and when the ice spread by the ejector 14 is put on the stripper 17, the icing step is completed.

Alternatively, the time point at which the heater 22 is turned on may be determined as the ice is placed on the stripper 17 (the position of the ice in FIG. 7) during the ice step.

If the time when the heater 22 is ON is the time when the heater 22 is put on the stripper 17, the ice is iced by the heater 22, and the ice is removed from the completion of the ice making. It will take longer than the time the heater 22 is turned on until it is completed.

In addition, in order for the ice to be iced by the heater 22, the heater 22 should be made of a material having a certain strength to withstand the force received when the ice is iced.

As described above, the heat load disappears by turning off the power supply of the heater 22 during ice making, so that ice may freeze faster.

The ice maker according to the present invention has an advantage of easily obtaining transparent ice in a home refrigerator.

In addition, there is an advantage that can be produced transparent ice at a relatively high speed even in a home refrigerator.

In addition, there is an advantage that can produce transparent ice without large changes in the structure of the existing ice maker.

Claims (9)

An ice making chamber forming a space in which ice is made; An ejector to ice the ice produced in the ice making chamber; And The ice maker provided in the ice-making chamber, the heater is provided for immersing a predetermined portion in the water supplied to the ice-making chamber to create a passage so that bubbles in the water can move. delete The method of claim 1, The heater is an ice maker formed to extend out of the ejector. delete The method of claim 1, Ice maker to which the temperature sensor is attached to the mold forming the ice-making chamber. Operating a heater in which a portion of the water is locked while the water is supplied to the ice making chamber and the supplied water is frozen, releasing bubbles contained in the water; And And a measuring temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided to the ice making chamber and a preset set temperature, and when the measuring temperature is lower than the set temperature, an ice step of ice is carried out. The method of claim 6, The heater is a control method of the ice maker that is kept on (ON) during the ice making step. A first ice-making step in which a heater in which a certain portion is immersed in the water while the water supplied to the ice-making chamber is frozen is operated to release bubbles contained in the water; Comparing a first measurement temperature measured by a temperature sensor provided to the ice making chamber with a preset first temperature and turning off the power of the heater when the first measurement temperature is lower than the first temperature; A second ice making step in which the water supplied to the ice making chamber is continuously frozen even after the heater is turned off; And And a second measuring temperature is lower than the second temperature by comparing the second measuring temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a preset second temperature, and performing an iced step in which ice is iced. The method of claim 8, After the second ice making step is completed, the control method of the ice maker further comprises the step of turning on the power of the heater (ON).

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