KR101535483B1 - Full ice detecting apparatus of ice maker for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A full ice detecting device for a refrigerator ice maker is disclosed.

A freeze detection apparatus for a refrigerator ice maker is disclosed. The freeze detection apparatus is disposed in a refrigerator and is capable of making ice, comprising: an ice maker body in which an ice making unit is disposed; A full ice sensor disposed in the ice-maker body for sensing the ice of the ice transferred from the ice-maker; And a rotation unit rotatably connecting the ice-making sensor to the ice-maker body.

According to the ice-maker detection device of the refrigerator ice maker disclosed in the above, the ice-maker detection sensor is rotatably mounted on the ice-maker body by the rotation unit, so that the ice-maker container and the ice- It can be pivoted by the pivoting unit so as not to interfere with such movement. Therefore, there is an advantage that the ice container can be smoothly attached and detached while accurately detecting the presence of ice and / or the amount of ice in the ice container.

Detection unit, rotation unit, flexible part

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an ice-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a full ice detecting device for a refrigerator ice maker.

A refrigerator is a device that can store foods freshly by refrigeration or freezing. Such a refrigerator may be provided with an ice maker, which is an apparatus for producing ice, and an ice bank, which receives ice produced by the ice maker.

In recent years, there have been many cases where ice makers and ice banks are installed in refrigerators as demand increases. The ice produced in such an ice maker is dropped into the ice bank and accumulated in the ice bank.

In a conventional refrigerator ice maker, a full ice detection lever connected to a controller of the ice maker was used to detect whether or not the ice cubes were full. That is, in the past, it was detected whether or not the ice bank was full by a mechanical structure.

The ice-making sensing lever is rotated downward by a spring connected to the ice-making sensing lever, and the ice-making sensing lever ascends as the ice moves in the ice bank. When the ice-making detecting lever is elevated above a predetermined height by ice, it is judged as full ice.

However, according to the conventional full ice sensing method, when the rotation of the ice-cube detecting lever is frozen, mechanical movement of the ice-cube detecting lever may not be performed. In such a case, the ice-full detection lever is not properly operated, so that the ice-full ice in the ice bank is not properly detected. Then, even after the ice bank is empty, the ice is continuously supplied, and the ice bank may flood outside the ice bank.

An object of the present invention is to provide a full ice sensing device for a refrigerator ice maker having a structure capable of accurately and stably detecting whether ice cubes are free from ice in the ice maker.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice-maker for ice-making, which is disposed in a refrigerator,

An ice maker body in which the ice making unit is disposed; A full ice sensor disposed in the ice-maker body for sensing the ice of the ice transferred from the ice-maker; And a rotation unit rotatably connecting the ice-making sensor to the ice-maker body.

The pivoting unit may include a pivot shaft for rotatably connecting the ice-maker body and the ice-cube detection sensor, and a shaft insertion hole into which the pivot shaft is inserted.

The rotation unit may further include an elastic member for providing an elastic force to restore the rotation of the full ice level sensor.

The rotating unit may include a flexible portion for rotatably connecting the ice-maker body and the ice-making sensor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the ice-making sensor is rotatably mounted on the ice-maker body by the rotation unit, so that the ice-making container and the ice- And can be pivoted by the pivoting unit so as not to interfere with such movement when the ice container is moved. Therefore, there is an effect that the ice container can be smoothly attached and detached while accurately detecting the presence of ice and / or the amount of ice in the ice container.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when the dispenser is connected to the ice-maker body by the flexible portion, when the external force is applied, the flexible portion may be deformed and the dispenser may be rotated, There is an effect that the structure of the unit is simplified, and the detachment / detachment of the ice container can be smoothly performed without being disturbed by the transmission portion.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, in the ice-maker detection device for a refrigerator ice maker, the ice-fullness sensing sensor is disposed on the ice-maker body and is detached from the ice- It is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the rotation of the ice-making sensor lever is frozen and the ice-making is not properly detected, and it is possible to accurately and stably detect whether or not the ice- .

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sensing height of a full ice level sensor is disposed at a height corresponding to a full ice level of an ice container having a predetermined height difference from an upper end of the ice container, . Therefore, there is an effect that the full ice level in the ice container can be accurately detected by the full ice level sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a full ice detecting device for a refrigerator ice maker according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a refrigerator to which a full ice sensing device for a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

1, the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment is a device for storing food. The refrigerator 10 includes a refrigerating chamber 11 in which foods are stored at a temperature of an image, a freezing chamber 11 for storing foods such as ice An ice making container 100 accommodated in the freezing chamber 12 to produce ice and an ice receiving container 180 for storing and storing ice produced in the ice making device 100, A dispenser 190 is provided to allow the ice stored in the ice maker 180 to be supplied appropriately when desired by the user.

Of course, components such as a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator for forming a refrigeration cycle are formed in the refrigerator 10.

The refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 are opened and closed with respect to the outside by the refrigerating compartment door 13 and the freezing compartment door 14, respectively.

An operation related to the ice-maker 100 will be briefly described.

After the appropriate amount of water is supplied to the ice-maker 100, cool air is supplied to the ice maker 100. After ice is produced in the ice maker 100 by the supplied cool air, the ice is separated by the self-operation of the ice maker 100, and falls into the ice container 180 and is received therein. Each time the ice cubes contained in the ice container 180 are requested by the user, the ice cubes are supplied to the user by the dispenser 190 by a desired amount.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator ice maker to which a full ice sensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a refrigerator ice maker to which a full ice sensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied , And Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion A shown in Fig.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice maker 100 according to the present embodiment is an article in which ice is produced. The ice maker 100 includes a water supply unit 107 for supplying water from outside, an ice making chamber 104 for ice- An ejector 105 in which ice produced in the ice making chamber 104 is separated and an ice maker body 101 in which a number of components for rotating the ejector 105 are contained.

At the rear of the ice making chamber 104 is formed a seating portion 102 for allowing the ice maker 100 to be placed inside the refrigerator. Reference numeral 103 in FIG. 2 is a hole into which the engaging protrusion is inserted so that the seating portion 102 is seated in the refrigerator.

The shaft to be rotated is extended to the outside of the ice-maker body 101. The ejector 105 is extended in the outer direction of the shaft, and the ejector 105 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the shaft to pierce the ice.

A separator 106 is formed on the upper side of the ice making chamber 104 to guide the ice raised by the ejector 105 to the ice container 180 to be dropped.

The water supply unit 107, the ice making chamber 104, the ejector 105 and the like may be defined as units for manufacturing ice in the ice maker 100 and an ice making unit. Of course, the configuration of the ice-making unit is exemplary, and other components may be added to the configuration, and some of the components may be deleted.

An ice-making heater 140 is installed under the ice-making chamber 104 to apply heat to the interface between the ice and the inner surface of the ice-making chamber 104. The ice-making heater 140 may be electrically connected to an external power source in the ice-maker body 11.

A heater support part 130 is formed below the ice-making heater 140. The heater support part 130 is connected to the icemaker body 101. Preferably, the heater support part 130 may be formed together with the ice maker body 101.

In this embodiment, the transmitting portion 121 is rotatably connected to the ice-maker body 101 through the rotating unit 200. [ A receiving portion 123 is provided at an extended portion of the heater receiving portion 130 to correspond to the rotating unit 200. The transmitter 122 and the receiver 124 are disposed facing the transmitter 121 and the receiver 123 so as to receive signals.

The sensing unit 121 and the receiving unit 123 sense whether the inside of the ice container 180 is full while exchanging signals with each other. An infrared ray sensor may be used as the full ice level sensor 120.

The ice-fullness detecting sensor 120 is disposed in the ice-maker body 101 and senses the ice of the ice accumulated in the ice-making container 180 when the ice-making sensor 100 is detached from the ice-

Here, the ice-fullness detection sensor 120 may be disposed at a height corresponding to the full ice level of the ice-making container 180.

In detail, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the emitting portion 121 of the ice-making sensor 120 extends downward to the inside of the ice container 180. The transmitter 122 is installed below the transmitter 121. The installation height of the transmitter 122 is arranged at a height corresponding to the full ice level of the ice container 180.

Although the position of the transmitter 122 is described herein, it is needless to say that the height of the receiver 123 and the receiver 124 correspond to the heights of the transmitter 121 and the transmitter 122.

The detection height of the ice-cube detection sensor 120 is set to a height of the ice-making container 180 having a predetermined height difference h from the upper end 181 of the ice- Are disposed at corresponding heights. Accordingly, the full ice level sensor 120 can detect the full ice level in the ice container 180.

The transmitting unit 121 and the receiving unit 123 of the ice-making sensor 120 are disposed on both sides of the ice-making outlet, which is a passage through which ice is discharged from the ice-maker body 101. Then, the full ice level sensor 120 can detect whether or not it is full ice while receiving infrared rays across the ice-making exit.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the ice maker includes a rotation unit 200 that rotatably connects the emitting portion 121 of the ice-making sensor 120 to the ice-maker body 101. It is needless to say that the rotation unit 200 may be provided in the receiver 123 of the full ice level sensor 120. [

The rotary unit 200 includes a rotary shaft 210 rotatably connecting the ice-maker body 101 and the sensing unit 120 of the ice-making sensor 120, And includes an insertion hole 211. The shaft insertion hole 211 is formed through the ice-maker body 101.

A rotating unit mounting hole 218 is formed in the lower end of the ice-maker body 101 and the shaft insertion hole 211 is formed in the rotating unit mounting hole 218. The rotation shaft 210 penetrating through the transmission portion 121 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 211 formed as described above so that the transmission portion 121 can be rotatably connected to the ice-maker body 101 have.

The rotating unit 200 can be rotated in a plurality of directions. That is, the rotation unit 200 may be rotated about the pivot shaft 210 in a forward direction or a reverse direction opposite thereto.

The pivoting unit 200 further includes springs 212 and 215 which are elastic members.

Spring supporting protrusions 214 and 217 are formed on both sides of the pivot shaft 210 in the pivot unit mounting hole 218 at positions spaced apart from the pivot shaft 210 by a predetermined distance. One end of each of the springs 212 and 215 is held in abutment with the upper end of the rotation unit installation hole 218 with the spring support protrusions 214 and 217 as a center and the other end is connected to the transmission part 121 I'm headed.

The springs (212, 215) provide an elastic force to return the turned transmitting portion (121). The springs (212, 215) provide elastic force in the direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the transmission portion (121) rotated in each rotation direction.

The rotation unit 200 includes stoppers 213 and 216 for restricting the springs 212 and 215 to stop providing the elastic force to the transmission part 121 when the transmission part 121 is retracted.

Operation of the springs 212 and 215 will be described later with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig.

Meanwhile, the ice container 180 is provided therein with a space for accommodating the ice released from the ice maker 100.

A transfer unit 150 is installed below the ice container 180. The transfer unit 150 sequentially transfers the ice contained in the ice container 180 into the ice container 180 and crushes the ice into the appropriate size required.

In detail, the transfer unit 150 includes a fixed blade 155 fixed to the ice container 180, a rotating blade 151 rotating relative to the fixed blade 155, A motor 154 connected to the rotary shaft 153, and a conveying blade 152 for conveying the ice.

The rotary shaft 151 is formed on one side of the rotary shaft 153, and the transfer blade 152 is formed on the other side thereof. Then, according to the rotation of the rotation shaft 153, the rotation blade 151 and the transfer blade 152 can be rotated together.

As the transfer blade 152, a spiral auger may be used.

Reference numeral 160 in FIG. 3 denotes an outlet through which the ice is taken out from the ice container 180, and reference numeral 170 denotes a guide passage through which the ice taken out through the outlet 160 is guided to the dispenser 190 .

Hereinafter, the operations of the ice-maker 100, the transfer unit 150 and the like will be described.

First, water is guided by a water supply pipe of a predetermined shape and water is supplied to the water supply unit 107. Water supplied into the ice making chamber 104 flows into the ice making chamber 104, and freezing air is supplied to the ice making chamber 104 to freeze the water contained in the ice making chamber 104.

After the water in the ice making chamber 104 is completely frozen as described above, the ejector 105 is operated by a predetermined drive mechanism placed inside the icemaker body 101. Then, the frozen ice in the ice making chamber 104 is pushed up along the inner peripheral surface of the ice making chamber 104.

Before the ejector 105 is operated, heat is applied to the ice-making chamber 104 by the ice-making heater 140 so that the ice and the contact surface of the ice-making chamber 104 are separated from each other.

After the ice is pumped up by the ejector 105, ice is guided by the separator 106 and falls into the ice container 180 and is accumulated inside the ice container 180 .

After the ice cubes are received in the ice container 180 during the repetitive operation, it is sensed that only the ice cubes are received by the ice-making sensor 120 and the ice-maker 100 ) Is stopped.

Meanwhile, when ice supply is requested to the user through the dispenser 190, the motor 154 is driven and the rotation shaft 153 connected to the motor 154 is rotated. Then, the rotary blade 151 and the transfer blade 152 are rotated together.

The ice in the lower part of the ice container 180 is transferred to the rotary blade 151 while the transfer blade 152 is rotated.

When the ice guided to the rotating blade 151 is caught between the rotating blade 151 and the fixed blade 155, the ice is crushed by the pushing action of the rotating blade 151.

The crushed ice is taken out through the outlet 160 formed below the stationary blade 155. The extracted ice is dropped through the guide passage 170. The dropped ice can be supplied to the user through the dispenser 190.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the full ice level sensing apparatus of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention senses a state before full ice, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a full ice level sensing apparatus for a refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, It is a perspective view showing a state of detecting the state of fullness.

Hereinafter, the operation of the full ice detecting device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

First, the ice from the ice maker 100 is ice-cooled and dropped into the ice-containing container 180. The dropped ice is accumulated in the ice container 180.

5, infrared rays emitted from the transmitter 122 reach the receiver 124, and a control unit (not shown) receives the infrared rays from the ice container 180 ) Is judged to be in a state before full ice.

On the other hand, when the ice accumulation is continued as described above, the ice is heated up to the full ice level of the ice container 180. 6, the infrared rays emitted from the transmitter 122 are blocked by the ice and can not reach the receiver 124, so that the inside of the ice container 180 is filled with ice .

In the present embodiment, the ice-fullness detecting sensor 120 is disposed in the ice-maker body 101, and detects the ice of the ice accumulated in the ice-making container 180 in the ice-maker 100.

As described above, whether or not ice is fully contained in the ice container 180 is sensed by the ice-making sensor 120. When the ice-making sensor detects the ice-making by a mechanical ice-making sensing lever or the like, And it is possible to accurately and stably detect whether the inside of the ice container 180 is full or not.

7 is a view showing a state in which the rotation unit is rotated in one direction in the ice detector of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a view showing the rotation unit shown in FIG. Fig.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 together, when the ice container 180 is moved in either direction, the transmitter 121 interferes with the ice container 180. Then, the transmitting portion 121 is rotated about the pivot shaft 210, and the ice container 180 is smoothly moved.

At this time, when the transmitting portion 121 is rotated, the springs 212 and 215 located in the rotating direction are compressed. In the direction shown in Fig. 7, the spring 212 in that direction is compressed, and in the direction shown in Fig. 8, the spring 215 in that direction is compressed.

Thereafter, when the ice container 180 is completely removed and the ice container 180 and the transmitter 121 are no longer interfered with each other, the restoring force of the compressed one of the springs 212 and 215 The transmitting portion 121 is returned to the original state.

When the transmitting portion 121 is returned to the original state, the springs 212 and 215 are hooked on the stoppers 213 and 216, respectively, and the transmission of the force to the transmitting portion 121 is stopped. Therefore, the transmitting portion 121 can be kept in a circular state.

According to the above configuration, since the ice-cube detection sensor is rotatably provided to the ice-maker body by the rotation unit, the ice-cube container and the ice- It can be pivoted by the pivoting unit so as not to interfere. Therefore, the ice container can be smoothly attached and detached while accurately detecting the presence of ice and / or the amount of ice in the ice container.

Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In carrying out these explanations, the description overlapping with the content already described in the first embodiment of the present invention described above will be omitted and omitted here.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a rotating unit applied to a full ice detecting apparatus of a refrigerator ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the rotation unit 300 includes a flexible portion 310 that rotatably connects the ice-maker body 101 and the detector portion 321 of the ice-making sensor. Needless to say, the rotation unit 300 may be applied to the receiver of the full ice level sensor.

The transmission portion 321 is connected to the ice-maker body 101 by the flexible portion 310. Therefore, when the external force is applied, the flexible portion 310 is deformed and the transmission portion 321 can be rotated. Therefore, the structure of the rotation unit 300 is simplified, Can be smoothly performed without being disturbed by the transmitting portion (321).

Here, the turned transmitting portion 321 may be returned to its original position by gravity.

10 is a view showing a rotating unit applied to a full ice detecting device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

10, the rotating unit 400 includes a flexible portion 410, springs 431 and 434, and stoppers 432 and 435 in this embodiment.

The transmission portion 421 is rotatably connected to the ice-maker body 101 by the flexible portion 410. Accordingly, when the flexible portion 410 is deformed by an external force due to contact with the ice container 180 at the time of attaching / detaching the ice container 180, the transmitter portion 421 is rotated.

When the ice container 180 is removed, the transmission portion 421 is returned to its original position by the restoring force of the springs 431 and 434. Needless to say, the operation of the springs 431 and 434 is limited by the stoppers 432 and 435.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims And can be changed. However, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the full ice sensing device for a refrigerator ice maker can accurately and stably detect whether or not the ice cubes are free from ice in the ice maker.

1 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a refrigerator to which a full ice sensing device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator ice maker to which a full ice sensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a refrigerator ice maker to which a full ice sensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part A shown in Fig. 3; Fig.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a full ice level sensing apparatus of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention senses a state before full ice.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a full ice level sensing apparatus of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention senses a full ice state. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a rotating unit rotated in one direction in a full ice detecting device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

8 is a view showing a state in which the rotating unit shown in Fig. 7 is rotated in another direction; Fig.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a rotation unit applied to a full ice sensing device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a rotating unit applied to a full ice detecting device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Description of the Related Art

10: Refrigerator 100: Ice-maker

101: Ice-maker body 120:

121: transmitter 123: receiver

130: heater receiving portion 140: ice making heater

150: transfer part 180: ice container

200, 300, 400: rotating unit

Claims (10)

delete delete delete delete In an ice maker disposed in a refrigerator and capable of making ice, An ice maker body in which the ice making unit is disposed; A full ice sensor disposed in the ice-maker body for sensing the ice of the ice transferred from the ice-maker; And A rotating unit rotatably connecting the ice-making sensor to the ice-maker body; / RTI > Wherein the rotation unit includes an elastic member for providing an elastic force to restore the rotation of the full ice level sensor, Wherein the rotation unit is rotatable in a plurality of directions and the elastic member provides the elasticity force in the direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the full ice level sensor rotated in the rotation direction by the rotation unit, Detection device for freeze of refrigerator ice machine. In an ice maker disposed in a refrigerator and capable of making ice, An ice maker body in which the ice making unit is disposed; A full ice sensor disposed in the ice-maker body for sensing the ice of the ice transferred from the ice-maker; And A rotating unit rotatably connecting the ice-making sensor to the ice-maker body; / RTI > Wherein the rotation unit includes an elastic member for providing an elastic force to restore the rotation of the full ice level sensor, Wherein the rotation unit further includes a stopper for restricting the elastic member so that the elasticity of the full ice level sensor is stopped when the full ice level sensor is restored. In an ice maker disposed in a refrigerator and capable of making ice, An ice maker body in which the ice making unit is disposed; A full ice sensor disposed in the ice-maker body for sensing the ice of the ice transferred from the ice-maker; And A rotating unit rotatably connecting the ice-making sensor to the ice-maker body; / RTI > Wherein the rotation unit includes a flexible portion for rotatably connecting the ice-maker body and the ice-making sensor. 8. The method of claim 7, Wherein the ice-cube detection sensor is rotated by gravity. 8. The method of claim 7, Wherein the rotating unit further comprises an elastic member for providing an elastic force to return the rotated ice-cube detection sensor to its original position. 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the rotation unit further includes a stopper for restricting the elastic member so that the elasticity of the full ice level sensor is stopped when the full ice level sensor is restored.

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