KR100740840B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator that accurately detects whether an ice bank is full.

The present invention provides an ice making machine including an ice making tray for making ice and an ejector for taking out the generated ice out of the ice making tray; An ice bank in which the ice made in the ice maker is moved and accommodated / stored; A horizontal plate-shaped ice detection device hinged between the ice maker and the ice bank and rotated downward by the weight of the ice as the moving ice is placed; And a freezing sensor configured to detect whether or not the ice bank is full as the freezing sensor rotates.

Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Ice Sensor, Ice Bank, Hall Sensor

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

1 is a perspective view showing an ice maker for a conventional refrigerator

2 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker of FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view showing an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker shown in FIG. 3.

4B is an operation diagram showing the state of the ice sensor when the ice bank is not ice in the ice maker shown in FIG.

4C is an operation diagram showing the state of the ice-covering device when the ice bank is full ice in the ice maker shown in FIG.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

110: ice maker 111: ice tray

112: water supply unit 113: takeout motor unit

114: ejector 114a: ejector pin

120: ice bank 130: transfer motor unit

150: ice detection device 151: hinge

152: magnetic 160: Hall sensor

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice making apparatus of an ice maker which detects whether ice banks are full.

A typical refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, and the refrigerator compartment is maintained at a temperature of about 3 to 4 ° C. so that food and vegetables can be kept fresh and long, and the freezer compartment has a temperature below zero to keep meat and food frozen. Is maintained.

Recently, the refrigerator has an ice maker that automatically performs a series of processes related to ice making without user interaction, and a dispenser that makes ice or water available outside the refrigerator. Various features are being added to make it available.

At this time, the ice maker has a function to enable the user to select ice cubes or ice cubes.

An example of a conventional refrigerator ice maker will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as follows.

The refrigerator (not shown) includes an ice maker 10 that receives water and generates ice, and an ice bank 20 in which ice generated by the ice maker 10 is taken out and stored.

The ice maker 10 has an ice making tray 11 in which ice is generated, and a water supply unit 12 for supplying water to the ice maker 10 is installed at one side of the ice making tray 11.

At this time, the water supply unit 12 for supplying water to the ice maker 10 is connected to a water source (not shown) outside the refrigerator, the water supply pipe (not shown) for guiding water from the water source to the ice maker 10 On the pipeline, a water supply filter (not shown) for purifying the incoming water, and a water supply valve (not shown) for controlling the opening and closing of the water supply pipe (not shown) may be installed.

The ice tray 11 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and ribs (not shown) are formed at predetermined intervals so as to generate ice of a predetermined size in the ice tray 11.

In addition, one side of the ice making tray 11 has an ejector 14 for extracting the ice generated by the ice making tray 11 to the outside and a blowout motor unit 13 for driving the ejector 14. Is provided.

The ejector 14 is installed so that the rotating shaft crosses the center of the ice making tray 11, and an ejector pin 14a protruding perpendicular to the rotating shaft is formed.

The ejector 14 is installed so that the ejector pin 14a corresponds to the divided section of the ice making tray 11 in one-to-one correspondence, and as the ejector pin 14a rotates, the ice rotates together to form an ice bank 20. Taken out).

In addition, the slide 16 is inclined downward to the vicinity of the rotation axis of the ejector 14 at an upper end of the front side in which the ice is taken out from the ice making tray 11.

In addition, the ice maker 10 is provided with an ice sensor 15 for detecting an amount of ice filled in the ice bank 20.

On the other hand, reference numeral 15a, which is not described, is a hinge for fixing the ice-covering device 15, and reference numeral 30 is a transfer motor unit for taking ice out of the ice bank 20.

Referring to the operation of the refrigerator ice maker 10 configured as described above, water is first supplied to the ice making tray 11 is filled with water up to a certain level, exposed to cold air in the freezer for a predetermined time to freeze.

At this time, the ice is proceeded when the freezing temperature is approximately -9 ℃ so that the ice is completely produced in the ice maker 10.

In the above-mentioned ice removing process, the heater installed under the ice maker 10 is operated for a short time to melt and separate the surface of the ice contacting the ice making tray 11, and the blowout motor unit 13 is driven to eject the ejector 14 and the ejector pin. As the 14a rotates, the ice is taken out to the ice bank 20.

Then, water is supplied to the empty ice tray 11 again, and the series of processes described above are repeatedly performed to continue ice making.

On the other hand, the ice sensor 15 is interlocked with the take-out motor unit 13, when the take-out motor unit 13 operates to move the ice up and down to sense the amount of ice filled in the ice bank 20 Done.

Accordingly, the ice sensor 15 may continue to make ice when the ice bank 20 is not full, and stop ice making when the ice bank 20 is full, so that the ice bank 20 is always filled with a certain amount of ice. .

However, the above-described ice sensor 15 of the icemaker for a refrigerator has the following problems.

The conventional ice cream detecting device 15 has a structure that detects the ice state by moving up and down within a predetermined range of angles. Therefore, the ice sensor 15 is designed on the principle of detecting the ice state while avoiding direct interference with the iced ice.

However, the ice sensor 15 does not accurately detect whether the ice bank 20 is full, so that the amount of ice stored in the ice bank 20 is insufficient, or the amount of ice is too large to overflow outside the ice bank 20. There is this.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that improves the accuracy of the detection of ice stored in the ice bank.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, an ice making machine including an ice making tray made of ice, and an ejector for taking out the generated ice out of the ice making tray; An ice bank in which the ice made in the ice maker is moved and accommodated / stored; A horizontal plate-shaped ice detection device hinged between the ice maker and the ice bank and rotated downward by the weight of the ice as the moving ice is placed; And a freezing sensor configured to detect whether or not the ice bank is full as the freezing sensor rotates.

The ice sensing device has a hinge installed in the longitudinal direction of the ice maker so that the rotating shaft is parallel to the longitudinal direction across the ice maker, in particular, it may be installed at the front end of the ice maker.

In addition, the ice sensor may be formed of at least one sheet having a length corresponding to the length of the ice maker.

In addition, the ice detection device is extended horizontally to protrude forward than the front of the ice maker, the ice detection device is formed to have a width at least equal to or greater than the size of the ice.

In addition, the ice detection device may be installed in the hinge, the torsion spring for applying the elastic force to return to the initial position.

At this time, the elastic force of the spring may be designed to be smaller than the weight of the ice on the ice sensor, and larger than the weight of the ice sensor.

The ice sensor may be a magnet installed on one side of the ice detection device and a hall sensor installed in the ice maker to correspond to the magnet.

In addition, the Hall sensor may be installed at a position for detecting the position of the ice sensor when the ice bank is empty, the Hall sensor is the initial position of the ice detector and when the ice bank is empty Can be installed at each position to detect the position of.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described.

The same components as in the prior art are given the same names and the same reference numerals for convenience of description, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to Figures 3 to 4c, the ice-covering detection device of the refrigerator ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A refrigerator (not shown) according to the present invention includes an ice maker 110 including an ice making tray 111 in which ice is made and an ejector 114 for moving the generated ice to the outside of the ice making tray 111; The ice bank 120 is moved and received / stored in the ice maker 110 and the plate-shaped hinged to the lower portion of the ice maker 110 to sense the amount of ice filled in the ice bank 120 It is configured to include a full ice detection device (150).

The ice sensor 150 is formed of a horizontal plate having a length corresponding to the length of the ice maker 110 and a predetermined width.

The ice sensor 150 is a structure that rotates downwardly around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ice maker 110, when viewed from the side as shown in Figure 4b, the ice sensor 150 is By rotating clockwise, ice is dropped into the ice bank 120.

In addition, the ice sensor 150 extends horizontally forward than the front surface of the ice maker 110.

In particular, since the ice sensor 150 is placed on the protruding portion of the ice sensor 150 at the time of ice, it is preferably installed to have a width protruding forward at least equal to or longer than the size of the ice. Do.

In addition, the hinge 151 may be installed at the front end of the ice maker 110 to prevent the ice sensor 150 from interfering with the ice bank 120 when rotating.

In addition, since the ice detection device 150 is opened by the weight of the ice and its own weight, a means for returning to the initial position is provided.

In particular, the return means is preferably a torsion spring (not shown) installed on the hinge 151 to apply an elastic force so that the ice sensor 150 can be returned to the initial position.

In addition, the elastic force of the spring, since the ice sensor 150 is opened by the weight of the ice, it must be able to return the ice sensor 150 by the elastic force, the magnitude of the elastic force is smaller than the weight of the ice and the ice detection It is preferably designed to be greater than the weight of the device 150.

On the other hand, the return means of the ice sensing device 150 is installed a spring to act between the ice sensing device 150 and the ice maker 110, or between the ice sensing device 150 and the ice bank 120. It is also understandable to install a spring that acts on the repulsive force.

In addition, when the spring is installed in the ice detection device 150, by reducing the opening speed of the ice detection device 150 at the time of ice, it is possible to obtain a greater effect of mitigating the impact of the ice when falling. There is this.

In addition, the ice detection sensor 150 is provided with a ice detection sensor for detecting whether the ice bank 120 is full as the ice detection device 150 moves up and down.

The ice sensor includes a magnet 152 installed in the ice sensor 150 and a hall sensor 160 installed in the ice maker 110.

At this time, the Hall sensor 160, as a principle for detecting whether or not the full moon through the intensity change of the current according to the change in the relative position between the Hall sensor 160 and the magnet 152, in particular, the ice sensor ( 150 is determined by the distance difference between the position when the ice bank 120 is in an empty state (hereinafter, referred to as an “ice position”) and a position when the ice bank 120 is full (hereinafter referred to as an “ice position”). Detect whether the ice is full.

On the other hand, if the ice sensor is installed near the hinge 151, since the amount of movement of the ice sensor 150 is relatively small, a plurality of Hall sensors 160 for detecting the initial position and the ice position. Without installing, there is an advantage in that only one Hall sensor 160 can be installed at a position capable of detecting the full ice position or the initial position.

In addition, the Hall sensor 160 is installed at a position capable of detecting the initial position of the ice sensor 150, but when the ice bank 120 is empty to detect the ice ice position of the ice sensor 150. It can be installed in a position where it can be, it is also understood that the embodiment to install the Hall sensor 160 in both the initial position and the ice-cold position.

At this time, when the Hall sensor 160 is installed in the initial position, it detects whether or not the ice is in accordance with the distance change between the Hall sensor 160 and the magnet 152, the Hall sensor 160 is installed in the freezing position In this case, when the magnet 152 is not detected by the hall sensor 160, it is determined to be full ice.

Referring to the operation of the ice-covering device of the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are as follows.

First, water supply proceeds and water is filled in the ice making tray 111 to a predetermined level, and the ice is exposed to the cold air in the freezing chamber for a predetermined time.

When deicing is completed after a predetermined time, power is applied to the take-out motor unit 113 so that the ejector 114 pushes the ice out of the ice tray 111, and the ice moves the inclined surface of the slide 116. As it slides along, it is placed on the ice sensor 150.

Then, when the ice detection device 150 is opened by the weight of the ice and the weight is removed while the ice falls to the ice bank 120, the ice detection device 150 returns to the initial position.

At this time, when the ice bank 120 is empty, the ice-covering device 150 is rotated up to about 90 ° until it reaches the wall of the ice bank 120.

However, when the ice bank 120 is full of ice, the full ice detection device 150 may not be completely opened due to interference with ice, and the rotation angle may be smaller than 90 °.

Therefore, when the Hall sensor 160 is installed at a position for detecting the initial position of the ice sensor 150, when the magnet 152 is detected by the Hall sensor 160, the ice sensor 150 is detected. Output the initial position detection signal.

The distance between the hall sensor 160 and the magnet 152 is changed while the ice sensor 150 is opened. When the ice is full, the position of the magnet 152 is the ice position in the hall sensor 160. Since it is detected closer, the full moon position detection signal of the full moon detection device 150 is output.

In addition, when the Hall sensor 160 is installed in a position to detect the ice ice position, when the ice is full, the magnet 152 is not detected from the Hall sensor 160 or the distance from the lowest point is detected so that the ice level is detected. Will output a signal.

If the ice bank 120 is not full ice, water is supplied to the empty ice tray 11 again, and ice making is continued until the ice bank 120 is full of ice while the above series of processes are repeated. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to the effect of the refrigerator according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, since it is operated by the weight of the ice and the weight of the ice sensor, it is not necessary to have a separate motor for driving the ice sensor and there is no need to interlock with the take-out motor for driving the ejector.

Second, when the ice bank is in full ice, interference occurs between the ice sensor and the ice, so it works on the principle that the ice bank cannot be fully lowered to the position when the ice bank is empty. Therefore, only one sensor for detecting the full ice may be installed. The advantage is that even one sensor can operate correctly.

Third, since the ice is iced to the ice bank through the ice-covering device during the ice, there is an effect to mitigate the drop impact of the ice and to prevent the ice from breaking.

Fourth, since the ice sensing device operates to enter the inside of the ice bank, there is an advantage of accurately detecting whether the ice bank is full.

Claims (14)

An ice maker including an ice making tray for making ice and an ejector for taking out the generated ice out of the ice making tray; An ice bank in which the ice made in the ice maker is moved and accommodated / stored; A horizontal plate-shaped ice detection device hinged between the ice maker and the ice bank and rotated downward by the weight of the ice as the moving ice is placed; And The refrigerator comprising a ice detection sensor for detecting whether the ice bank is full as the ice detection device rotates. The method of claim 1, The hinge is installed in the longitudinal direction of the ice maker. The method of claim 2, And the hinge is installed at the front end of the ice maker. The method of claim 1, The ice-covering device is a refrigerator, characterized in that made of at least one sheet corresponding to the length of the ice maker. The method of claim 1, And the ice-covering device extends horizontally to protrude forward than the front side of the ice maker. The method of claim 5, And the ice-covering device extends forward of the ice maker at least equal to or greater than the size of ice. The method of claim 1, The ice-covering device is a refrigerator, characterized in that the spring is further installed to apply an elastic force to return to the initial position. The method of claim 7, wherein The elastic force of the spring in the ice detection device is less than the weight of the ice on the ice detection device, characterized in that the refrigerator is designed to be larger than the weight of the ice detection device. The method of claim 7, wherein In the ice detection device, the spring is a torsion spring installed on the hinge. The method of claim 1, And the ice sensor is a magnet installed on one side of the ice detection device, and a hall sensor installed in the ice maker so as to correspond to the magnet. The method of claim 10, And the magnet and the hall sensor are installed near a hinge of the ice sensor. The method of claim 10, The Hall sensor is a refrigerator, characterized in that installed in the position to detect when the ice-covering device is in the initial state. The method of claim 10, The hall sensor is a refrigerator, characterized in that installed in the position to detect the position of the ice sensor when the ice bank is empty. The method of claim 10, And the hall sensor is installed at both an initial position of the ice sensor and a position capable of detecting the position of the ice detector when the ice bank is empty.

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