KR100756989B1 - Ice-maker - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice maker is provided to protect a heater and a motor from excessive current by respectively installing a fuse to both sides of the power supply end. An ice maker(100) comprises a power supply end(110), a controller(120), a motor(140) and a heater(130). The power supply end supplies a predetermined power supply. The controller is connected to the power supply end, and controls ON/OFF of various switches. The motor is installed between the controller and the power supply end, and rotates an ejector installed in an upper part of the tray. The heater is installed between the controller and the power supply end, and heats a tray. A fuse is connected to the power supply end. A first pusher is additionally installed inside a control box so as to allow the fuse inside an opening to be adhered to the tray.

Description

Ice Makers {Ice-maker}

1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit of an ice maker according to the present invention.

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

3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3a-3a of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3b-3b of FIG.

4A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a rear view showing a predetermined area of the back of the control box.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100; Ice maker according to the present invention

110; Power supply 111; 1st power supply terminal

112; Second power supply terminal 120; Control

121; A heater control switch 122; Motor Control Switch

123; Water valve control switch 130; heater

140; Motor 150; Hughes

151; First fuse 152; Second fuse

160; Water valve terminal 170; Ground terminal

180; Temperature sensor 190; Stop switch

210; Control box 211; Opening

212; First pusher 213; 2nd pusher (guide cam)

220; Tray 221; Upper rib

222; Extension rib 223; Bottom rib

224; Wiring 230; Bottom cover

240; Front cover 250; Ejector

260; Water reservoir 270; Full Sink Detection Lever

280; Brackets

The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly, by installing a fuse at both ends of the power source, an ice maker capable of stably coupling the fuse between the side of the tray or the control box and the tray while protecting the overcurrent of the motor as well as the heater. It is about.

In general, a refrigerator includes a main body provided with a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and a heat exchanger for generating cold air are installed at the rear of the main body. The cold air generated by the heat exchanger is supplied to the inside of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment by the fan, and the air whose temperature is raised by circulating the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment is supplied to the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment through the heat exchanger to always keep fresh food stored in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment. It can be kept in a state.

The ice maker provided in the refrigerator is installed in the freezer compartment to automatically supply water to the tray and check the ice making state so that when ice making is completed, the ejector ice is automatically removed from the tray and loaded into the ice storage container. As one apparatus, ice can be obtained without a user's separate operation for the ice making operation and has been widely used recently.

In addition, the ice maker is equipped with a heater at the lower end of the tray in order to easily take out ice from the tray after ice making. That is, the ice is easily separated from the tray by operating the heater for a short time after ice making.

In addition, in the ice maker, a heater cover covering the heater is coupled to the bottom of the ice maker body in order to prevent heat generated during the operation of the heater from being radiated to the outside and to prevent burns caused by the user's accident during operation.

On the other hand, such an ice maker has a large amount of current flows during the operation of the heater, but if a current of more than the allowable current flows, the heater itself may be damaged or a fire may occur, and a fuse is usually mounted at both ends of the heater to protect it. That is, when a current exceeding the allowable value flows toward the heater, the fuse is melted, thereby protecting the heater and preventing a fire.

However, a high current may be applied to the ice maker as well as the motor. That is, the ejector is operated by the motor, but a high current more than the allowable value may flow even when the motor is driven. However, as described above, since the fuse is provided only at both ends of the heater, the heater is stably protected from high current, but the motor is not protected. Therefore, when a high current is applied to the motor, the motor may be damaged, as well as a fire that may occur from the motor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to install a fuse at both ends of the power supply to protect not only the heater but also the overcurrent of the motor, and at the same time, the fuse is disposed between the side of the tray or the control box and the tray. To provide an ice maker that can be stably coupled to the.

In order to achieve the above object, the ice maker according to the present invention comprises a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal, and a power supply terminal for supplying predetermined power, and connected to a first power supply terminal among the power supply terminals to turn on / off various switches. A control unit for controlling an off state, a motor installed between the control unit and a second power supply terminal of the power supply terminal to rotate an ejector installed at an upper portion of the tray, and installed between the control unit and a second power supply terminal of the power supply terminal. And a heater for heating the tray instantaneously, wherein a fuse is connected to each of the first power terminal and the second power terminal.

Here, the control unit may be provided with a switch for operating the motor.

In addition, the control unit may be provided with a switch for operating the heater.

In addition, the control unit may be provided with a switch for controlling the water valve for supplying water to the tray.

In addition, the controller may be connected to a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the tray.

In addition, the tray is installed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator may be iced water supply.

In addition, at least one upper rib is formed on the side of the tray from the upper end toward the lower end, and the fuse may be coupled to the inner side of the upper rib.

In addition, the lower side of the upper rib is formed with a lower rib toward the upper end from the lower rib, the fuse may be seated on the upper portion of the lower rib.

In addition, an extension rib may be formed at a lower end of the upper rib, and a wire may be seated between the extension rib and the lower rib.

In addition, a control box in which the control unit is built is installed at a longitudinal end of the tray, and a predetermined opening is formed in the control box, and the fuse may be coupled to the opening.

In addition, a first pusher may be further installed inside the control box to closely contact the fuse inside the opening toward the tray.

In addition, a second pusher may be further coupled to the inside of the control box to closely contact the first pusher toward the tray.

In addition, the second pusher may be a guide cam to which the ejector is coupled.

In addition, a packing or an O-ring may be fitted between the tray and the control box so that water does not infiltrate the fuse located therebetween.

As described above, the ice maker according to the present invention is provided with fuses on both sides of the power supply terminal instead of both ends of the heater, so that the fuse operates even when an overcurrent flows not only to the heater connected to the power supply terminal but also to a motor. . Therefore, the present invention can prevent the damage phenomenon of the heater and the motor at the same time, and also prevent the occurrence of fire.

Further, the ice maker according to the present invention secures the fuse to the side of the tray with ribs, or between the control box and the tray, whereby the fixing state of the fuse is robust.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit of an ice maker according to the present invention.

As illustrated, the ice maker 100 according to the present invention includes a power supply terminal 110, a control unit 120, a heater 130, a motor 140, and a fuse 150.

The power supply terminal 110 includes a first power terminal 111 and a second power terminal 112, through which the AC power of approximately 90 ~ 250V is supplied.

The controller 120 includes a plurality of semiconductor devices, circuit boards, and the like, which are connected to the first power terminal 111. In addition, the control unit 120 is provided with a heater control switch 121, a motor control switch 122, and a water valve control switch 123 to be described later. Of course, such a switch is made of a semiconductor device such as a bipolar transistor or a MOSFET transistor, and operates according to a predetermined algorithm through a conventional microcomputer.

The heater 130 is connected between the heater control switch 121 of the controller 120 and the second power terminal 112 of the power supply terminal 110. Therefore, when the heater control switch 121 of the control unit 120 is turned on, the heater 130 generates predetermined heat by supplying predetermined power from the power supply terminal 110. The heater 130 is installed at the lower end of the tray (ice container), as is well known, and instantly melts the iced ice surface inside the tray so that the ice can be easily taken out from the tray.

The motor 140 is connected between the motor control switch 122 of the control unit 120 and the second power terminal 112 of the power supply terminal 110. Therefore, when the motor control switch 122 of the control unit 120 is turned on, the motor 140 is operated by supplying power from the power supply terminal 110. Of course, since the ejector is connected to the motor 140 and installed, the ejector rotates in a predetermined direction according to the operation of the motor 140. Accordingly, the surface of the tray inside the tray is slightly melted ice to the outside. Pushed out.

On the other hand, the water valve control switch 123 of the control unit 120 is connected to the water valve, when the water valve control switch 123 is turned on, the water valve is opened. Therefore, a certain amount of water is supplied to the tray by opening the water valve. In the figure, the water valve is not shown and the water valve terminal 160 is shown. In the drawing, reference numeral 170 denotes a ground terminal.

In addition, the control unit 120 is provided with a temperature sensor 180. The temperature sensor 180 detects a temperature of the tray and outputs the temperature to the controller 120. Accordingly, the controller 120 may detect whether the amount of water supplied is appropriate (when the water supply is insufficient if the temperature is lower than the proper temperature) by checking the temperature inside the tray, and accordingly, a predetermined control operation (water supply completion or resupply) is performed. Will be performed. In addition, a stop switch 190 is further connected to the temperature sensor 180. The stop switch 190 serves to stop all operations of the controller 120 by allowing the temperature sensor 180 to be in a short state when the user operates. That is, the ice maker 100 is programmed to stop all operations of the ice maker when the stop switch 190 is operated.

Subsequently, a first fuse 151 is connected to the first power terminal 111 of the power supply terminal 110, and a second fuse 152 is connected to the second power terminal 112 of the power supply terminal 110. ) Is connected to constitute a fuse 150 according to the present invention. That is, the first fuse 151 is installed between the first power terminal 111 and the control unit 120, the second fuse 152 is the second power terminal 112, the motor 140 and the heater. It is connected to one end of 130.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the overcurrent flows in the heater 130 or the overcurrent flows in the motor 140, the first fuse 151 or the second fuse 152 immediately operates, so that the heater 130 or It is possible to prevent damage to the motor 140 at the same time. Of course, the fire of the heater 130 or the motor 140 may be prevented by the operation of the first fuse 151 or the second fuse 152.

2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker according to the present invention. The ice maker 100 is an example in which the circuit shown in FIG. 1 is applied, and the present invention is not limited to the ice maker 100 shown in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ice maker 100 according to the present invention is coupled to a control box 210, a tray 220 coupled to one side of the control box 210, and a bottom surface of the tray 220. A bottom cover 230, a front cover 240 coupled to the front of the tray 220, an ejector 250 positioned above the tray 220 from the control box 210, and the tray 220. Water supply container 260 coupled to one side, the ice sensor detection lever 270 installed between the control box 210 and the water supply container 260, installed on one side of the tray 220 adjacent to the control box 210 And a temperature sensor 180 for sensing the water temperature inside the tray 220, and a bracket 280 coupled to the rear of the tray 220 to be coupled to the inside of the freezer compartment.

The control box 210 is provided with the power supply terminal 110, the control unit 120, the motor 140, and the like described with reference to FIG. 1.

In addition, a plurality of grooves are formed in the tray 220, and water is iced in each of the grooves to form ice.

The bottom cover 230 and the front cover 240 serves to concentrate the heat generated from the tray 220 during operation of the heater 130 is concentrated only on the tray 220 than the outside. Of course, the bottom cover 230 and the front cover 240 may also prevent burns due to possible user contact.

The ejector 250 is coupled to the motor 140 installed in the control box 210 to rotate in a predetermined direction. Of course, the ice inside the tray 220 is discharged to the outside by the rotation of the ejector 250.

The water supply container 260 serves to receive water from the water valve. That is, when the water valve control switch 123 of the above-described control unit 120 is turned on, the water valve is opened, thereby supplying a predetermined amount of water to the water supply container 260. Of course, the water in the water supply container 260 is directly supplied to the tray 220.

The ice detection lever 270 detects the amount of ice accumulated at the bottom, so that the control unit 120 inside the control box 210 determines whether or not to further perform an ice making operation.

The temperature sensor 180 senses the temperature inside the tray 220 to detect whether water is currently supplied or whether the supplied water has been iced, or the like, to operate the heater 130 and the motor 140. The control unit 120 determines whether or not.

Finally, the bracket 280 naturally serves to fix the tray 220, that is, the entire ice maker 100 at a predetermined position in the freezer compartment.

Here, although the heater 130 is not shown in FIG. 2, the heater 130 is coupled to the lower end of the tray 220 so that the tray 220 is instantaneously heated when ice making is completed in the tray 220. Of course, after the operation of the heater 130, the motor 140 operates, so that the ice peeled from the tray 220 by the rotation of the ejector 250 is pushed out.

Meanwhile, the fuse 150, that is, the first fuse 151 and the second fuse 152 may be installed at the side of the tray 220 inside the front cover 240 or the control box 210 and the tray 220. It may be installed between), it will be described with reference to the drawings to be described below.

3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3a-3a of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3b-3b of FIG.

As shown in the drawing, two upper ribs 221 are formed on the side of the tray 220 from the top to the bottom. Of course, a predetermined space is formed between the upper rib 221 and the side of the tray 220. In addition, three lower ribs 223 are formed on the side of the tray 220 from the lower side to the upper side.

In addition, the above-described fuse 150, that is, the first fuse 151 and the second fuse 152 are fixed to the inner space of the upper rib 221. Moreover, the fuse 150 is also fixed by the end of the lower rib 223. That is, the fuse 150 is formed to be seated on the end of the lower rib 223.

Accordingly, the fuse 150 is stably fixed to the side of the tray 220 by the upper rib 221 and the lower rib 223.

Further, an extension rib 222 extending further a predetermined length downward is further formed at the end of the upper rib 221. Between the extension rib 222 and the lower rib 223, for example, a wire 224 for operating the heater 130 is stably seated.

4A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a rear view showing a predetermined area of the back of the control box.

As shown, an opening 211 having a predetermined size is formed in the control box 210 in close contact with the tray 220, and a fuse 150 is installed in the opening 211. Of course, the fuse 150 is provided with the first fuse 151 and the second fuse 152, two openings 211 are also formed. In addition, a first pusher 212 is installed inside the control box 210 so as to closely contact the fuse 150 toward the tray 220. In addition, a second pusher 213 is installed inside the control box 210 so that the first pusher 212 can be tightly pressed toward the tray 220. The second pusher 213 may be a guide cam to which the ejector 250 is coupled.

Here, a packing or an O-ring may be further inserted between the tray 220 and the control box 210 so that water does not enter the fuse 150 positioned therebetween. Of course, by preventing the intrusion of water in this way, it is possible to prevent the electrical short caused by this.

As described above, the ice maker according to the present invention is provided with fuses on both sides of the power supply terminal instead of both ends of the heater, so that the fuse operates even when an overcurrent flows in the motor as well as the heater connected to the power supply terminal. Therefore, the present invention can prevent the damage phenomenon of the heater and the motor at the same time, and also has the effect of preventing the occurrence of fire.

In addition, the ice maker according to the present invention has an effect that the fixing state of the fuse is robust by fixing the fuse to the side of the tray with ribs or between the control box and the tray.

What has been described above is only one embodiment for carrying out the ice maker according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the scope of the present invention as claimed in the following claims. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, those skilled in the art will have the technical spirit of the present invention to the extent that various modifications can be made.

Claims (13)

A power supply stage for supplying predetermined power; A control unit connected to the power supply terminal to control on / off states of various switches; A motor installed between the control unit and the power supply terminal to rotate the ejector installed on the upper tray; A heater installed between the controller and the power supply terminal to heat the tray, A fuse is connected to the power supply terminal, A control box in which the control unit is built is installed at a lengthwise end of the tray, and a predetermined opening is formed in the control box, and the fuse is coupled to the opening. An ice maker, characterized in that the first pusher is further provided inside the control box to closely contact the fuse inside the opening toward the tray. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided with a switch for operating the motor. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided with a switch for operating the heater. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the controller is provided with a switch for controlling a water valve for supplying water to the tray. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the tray is connected to the controller. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an upper side rib is formed at a side of the tray from at least one upper end to a lower end, and the fuse is coupled inside the upper rib. The ice maker of claim 6, wherein a lower side rib is formed at a lower side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the upper side of the rib. The ice maker of claim 7, wherein an extension rib is formed at a lower end of the upper rib, and a wire is seated between the extension rib and the lower rib. delete delete The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a second pusher is further coupled to the inside of the control box to closely contact the first pusher toward the tray. 12. The ice maker of claim 11 wherein the second pusher is a guide cam to which the ejector is coupled. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a packing or an O-ring is inserted between the tray and the control box so that water does not enter the fuse located therebetween.

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