KR100781260B1 - Ice-maker for Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

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

The present invention provides 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 accommodated / stored; The plate-shaped ice detection device is hinged to the upper side from the front of the ice maker to detect the amount of ice filled in the ice bank of the ice maker, and is installed to be lifted up by the pushing force of the ice when it is iced and returned to its original position by its own weight. ; It is provided in the ice-covering device to provide a refrigerator ice-making device comprising a ice-covering sensor for detecting whether the ice bank is full.

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

Description

Ice-maker for refrigerators {Ice-maker for 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 an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker shown in FIG. 3 and an operation diagram showing the initial position of the ice-covering device;

5 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: magnet 160: Hall sensor

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ice maker, and more particularly, to a refrigerator ice maker that detects whether an ice bank is 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 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described below.

The ice making apparatus is roughly divided into an ice making tray 11 in which ice is generated by receiving water, and an ice bank 20 in which ice generated in the ice making unit is taken out and stored.

The ice maker 10 includes an ice making tray 11 in which ice is generated and a water supply part 12 formed at one side of the ice making tray 11 to supply water to the ice making chamber.

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 process of the icemaker for a refrigerator configured as described above, water is first supplied to the ice making tray 11, water is filled up to a predetermined level, exposed to the 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.

Conventional ice sensor 15 is designed to detect the ice state by moving up and down within a certain range of angle, that is, the principle of avoiding interference with the ice during the ice.

However, the ice sensor 15 does not accurately detect whether the ice bank 12 is full of ice, and the amount of ice stored in the ice bank 12 is insufficient, or the amount of ice is too large to overflow outside the ice bank 12. There is this.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making device for a refrigerator to increase 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 comprising 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 accommodated / stored; The plate-shaped ice detection device is hinged to the upper side from the front of the ice maker to detect the amount of ice filled in the ice bank of the ice maker, and is installed to be lifted up by the pushing force of the ice when it is iced and returned to its original position by its own weight. Wow; It is provided in the ice-covering device to provide a refrigerator ice-making device comprising a ice-covering sensor for detecting whether the ice bank is full.

The ice sensor may include a magnet installed in the ice detection device and a hall sensor installed in the ice maker corresponding to the magnet.

In this case, the magnet and the Hall sensor is preferably installed near the hinge, in particular, the Hall sensor is a position that can detect the initial position of the ice sensor, or a position that can detect the ice state of the ice bank. Can be installed.

Alternatively, the Hall sensor may be installed at both the initial position and the full ice position.

The ice-covering device may be installed to be inclined downward so as to be lifted upward by the pushing force of the ice during the ice-making in the ice maker.

In addition, when the ice-covering device returns to its initial position, a damper may be installed to cushion the ice maker.

The ice sensing device may be formed in a single plate shape covering the entire surface of the ice maker, and at this time, a bent portion may be formed in a portion of the ice maker that is in contact with the edge portion.

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 5, the ice detection device of the refrigerator ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes an ice maker 110 including an ice making tray 111 in which ice is made, an ejector 114 for moving the generated ice to the outside of the ice tray 111, and An ice bank 120 in which the ice made in the ice making tray 111 is accommodated / stored, and a plate-shaped ice sheet hinged to the front upper side of the ice maker 110 so as to sense the amount of ice filled in the ice bank 120. It consists of a sensing device (150).

The ice sensor 150 is fixed to the hinge 151 at the front left and right of the ice maker 110.

At this time, the hinge 151 is formed a little inward of the front of the ice maker 110, so that the ice detection device 150 can be installed inclined downward while covering the end portion of the ice tray 111. This is preferred.

In addition, the ice detection device 150 is pushed up the ice detection device 150 when the ice slides along the inclined surface of the slide 116 when the ice is iced, the initial position by its own weight when the ice falls to the ice bank 120 In order to operate to return to, it is advantageous that the ice detection device 150 is installed to be inclined downward.

Therefore, the initial position of the ice sensor 150 is in a state in which the ice sensor 150 is in contact with / supported by the ice maker 110.

In addition, when the ice bank 10 is full of ice, the position of the ice detection device 150 (hereinafter, the "full ice position") causes interference with ice and is above the initial position, that is, as shown in FIG. Likewise, the ice maker 110 is in a floating state.

At this time, it is also understood that the hinge 151 is provided with a damper for reducing the impact when the ice sensing device 150 returns to the initial position.

Alternatively, since the ice sensor 150 and the ice maker 110 are in contact with each other at the corners, it may be possible to further install a shock absorbing material to reduce the impact amount and prevent noise.

On the other hand, the ice sensor 150 is preferably made of a single plate covering the front of the ice maker 110, when the ice sensor 150 is in contact with the ice maker 110 in the corner portion. It is also possible to form the bent portion corresponding to the corner shape.

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

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

On the other hand, the Hall sensor 160 and the magnet 152 is preferably installed in a position that can detect the initial position of the ice sensor 150.

Alternatively, it may be understood that the ice bank 120 is installed at a position capable of detecting the full ice position of the full ice detection device 150 when the ice bank 120 is full ice.

In addition, it will also be possible to install the Hall sensor 160 in both the initial position and the position to detect the ice-covering position of the ice sensor 150.

In particular, when the ice sensor is installed close to 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 are provided. 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 ice sensor may be installed on both the left and right sides, it can be understood that only one of the left and right sides.

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

First, water is supplied, and water is filled in the ice making tray 111 to a predetermined level, and the ice is exposed by being exposed to cold air in the freezer 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. Slide along the sliding ice detection device 150 along.

When the ice falls to the ice bank 120, the ice sensor 150 returns to its initial position by its own weight.

However, if the ice bank 120 is full of ice, the full ice detection device 150 may not return to the initial position.

At this time, the Hall sensor 160 detects the magnet 152, and outputs the ice level detection signal of the ice detection device 150.

Therefore, when the hall sensor 160 is installed at a position for detecting the initial position of the ice sensor 150, when the ice sensor 150 reaches the initial position, the hall sensor 160 receives the The magnet 152 is detected, and the initial position detection signal of the ice detection device 150 is output.

In addition, when the ice bank 120 is full of ice and the ice detection device 150 does not return to the initial position, the magnet 152 is not detected by the hall sensor 160. The detection signal is output.

On the contrary, when the hall sensor 160 is installed at a position to detect the full position of the full ice detection device 150, if the ice bank 120 is not full ice, the full water detection device 150 reaches an initial position. Therefore, the full ice position detection signal is not output.

In addition, when the ice bank 120 is full of ice, the ice detection device 150 does not return to the initial position, and the magnet 152 is detected by the hall sensor 160, so that the Hall sensor 160 detects a full ice position. Will output a signal.

On the other hand, when the Hall sensor 160 is installed at both the initial position and the ice-covering position detection position, it is installed at that position can be detected whether or not the full moon by outputting a signal from the Hall sensor 160.

On the other hand, the Hall sensor 160 is iced through the current difference generated by the distance difference between the Hall sensor 160 and the magnet 152 when the ice sensor 150 is in the initial position and the full ice position. It will also be possible to detect whether or not.

If the ice bank 120 is not full ice, water is supplied to the empty ice tray 11 again, and the above series of processes are repeatedly performed to continue ice making.

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 effects of the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, since it is operated by the weight and the weight of the ice on the ice sensor, it is not necessary to have a separate motor for driving the ice sensor, and also does not need to interlock with the ejection motor for driving the ejector. .

Secondly, when the ice bank is in full ice, the ice detection device does not return to its initial position. Therefore, only one sensor may be installed to detect whether or not the ice bank is in full operation.

Third, since the return to the initial position by the weight of the ice sensor, there is an effect of preventing the malfunction of the ice detection due to the malfunction of the motor.

Claims (13)

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 ice made in the ice maker is accommodated / stored; The plate-shaped ice detection device is hinged to the upper side from the front of the ice maker to detect the amount of ice filled in the ice bank of the ice maker, and is installed to be lifted up by the pushing force of the ice when it is iced and returned to its original position by its own weight. ; An ice making device for a refrigerator, comprising: an ice making sensor installed on the ice making device and detecting whether or not the ice bank is filled with ice. The method of claim 1, The ice-making sensor is a refrigerator installed in the refrigerator, characterized in that the magnet installed on one side of the ice-covering device, and a Hall sensor installed in the ice maker to correspond to the magnet. The method of claim 2, And said magnet and hall sensor are installed near a hinge of said ice sensor. The method of claim 2, The Hall sensor is an ice-making apparatus for a refrigerator, characterized in that installed in the position to detect the initial position of the ice sensor. The method of claim 2, And the hall sensor is installed at a position for detecting the position of the ice sensor when the ice bank is in the ice state. The method of claim 2, And the hall sensor is installed at an initial position of the ice sensor and a position for detecting a position when the ice bank is in an ice state. The method of claim 2, And the hall sensor and the magnet are installed one by one near the left and right hinges. The method of claim 2, And the hall sensor and the magnet are installed on only one of the left and right hinges. The method of claim 1, The ice-making detection device is an icemaker for a refrigerator, characterized in that it is installed inclined downward so as to be lifted up by the pushing force during the ice. The method of claim 9, The icemaker for a refrigerator, characterized in that the damper for the buffer function is further installed on the hinge of the ice detection device so as to slowly descend when the ice detection device returns to the initial position. The method of claim 9, And a shock absorber is further provided at a portion where the corners of the ice sensor and the ice maker are in contact with each other to further cushion a shock when the ice sensor returns to its initial position. The method of claim 1, The ice-making detection device is a refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that formed in a plate shape bent corresponding to the corner shape in the portion in contact with the ice maker and the corner. The method of claim 1, The ice-covering device is a refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that formed in one plate covering all the front of the ice maker.

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