KR102226561B1 - Ice maker, Refrigerator having the same and Control method of the refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention, a tray for ice making water; A heater that prevents freezing of water in the water supply unit by heating a water supply unit supplying water to the tray; A temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the tray; An electrode part electrically connected to the temperature sensor and provided on the tray; A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled; A contact portion provided on the frame and capable of contacting the electrode portion in a stopped state of the tray or during the rotation of the tray; And a control unit that is electrically connected to the contact unit and selectively cuts off power supplied to the heater according to the temperature of the tray, and a refrigerator including the same and a control method of the refrigerator.
In the ice making apparatus and the refrigerator equipped with the same, even when the tray is rotated, an electrical connection portion of the installed temperature sensor of the tray does not interfere with the tray. And it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the heater by controlling the operation of the heater installed in the water tank. In addition, when there is no water in the water tank, the operation of the heater is stopped to prevent the temperature of the water tank from rising, thereby preventing a malfunction or failure of the refrigerator.

Description

Ice maker, refrigerator having the same and control method of the refrigerator

The present invention relates to an ice making device, a refrigerator including the same, and a refrigerator control method.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that maintains food and the like in a low-temperature state with a certain accommodation space, and is divided into a refrigerator compartment that maintains an image by dividing a low temperature range and a freezer compartment that maintains it below zero.

Such refrigerators are being released with various structures and convenience devices in consideration of user convenience in accordance with changes in dietary life and the trend of high-end products. In addition, the convenience device may also include an ice making device for making and storing ice.

The ice making apparatus may include a tray for ice making water, and a bucket for supplying water to the tray.

The bucket may be installed in the door of the freezing compartment or inside the freezing compartment. When the bucket is installed inside the freezing compartment, the water filled in the bucket freezes due to the characteristics of the freezing compartment maintained below zero.

In order to solve this problem, a method of making the bucket of heat insulating material or installing a heater in the bucket may be considered.

However, since the method of installing the heater in the water tank requires a separate power supply, there is a problem in that power is greatly wasted if on/off of the heater is not properly controlled.

In addition, even when there is no water in the water tank, if the heater is operated, the temperature of the water tank rises, which may cause a malfunction of the refrigerator.

On the other hand, the technology that serves as the background of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2010-0002901.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device for reducing power wasted from the heater by controlling the operation of a heater provided in a water container, a refrigerator including the same, and a refrigerator control method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can notify the outside when there is no water in the bucket.

An ice making apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a tray for ice making water; A heater that prevents freezing of water in the water supply unit by heating a water supply unit supplying water to the tray; A temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the tray; An electrode part electrically connected to the temperature sensor and provided on the tray; A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled; A contact portion provided on the frame and capable of contacting the electrode portion in a stopped state of the tray or during the rotation of the tray; And a control unit that is electrically connected to the contact unit and selectively cuts off power supplied to the heater according to a temperature of the tray.

The electrode portion may include a first electrode and a second electrode respectively provided on the tray, and the contact portion may include a first contact in contact with the first electrode and a second contact in contact with the second electrode. have.

The first contact and the second contact may be formed in an annular shape so as to respectively correspond to movement paths of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.

The first contact and the second contact may be formed in a curved shape so as to respectively correspond to a part of a movement path of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.

The first contact and the second contact may be disposed to correspond to a point of a movement path of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a main body provided with a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber; Doors respectively shielding the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber; And an ice making device provided in the freezing chamber for ice making water, wherein the ice making device includes a tray for ice making water, a water supply unit for supplying water to the tray, and water from the water supply unit by heating the water supply unit. A heater to prevent freezing, a temperature sensor provided on the tray to measure the temperature of the tray, a frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled, and selectively according to the temperature of the tray detected by the temperature sensor It provides a refrigerator including a control unit that cuts off power supplied to the heater.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the main body is provided with a storage compartment; A door for opening and closing the storage compartment; An ice making device provided in the storage room or door to make water ice; And a notification unit provided on the door and providing information to a user, wherein the ice making device includes a tray for ice making water, a water supply unit for supplying water to the tray, and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the tray. It includes, and provides a refrigerator that provides information on the presence or absence of water from the water supply unit to a user through the notification unit according to the temperature of the tray.

According to another aspect of the present invention, rotating the tray for eaves; And determining whether or not a heater installed in the water supply unit is operated according to whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature by measuring the temperature of the tray by a temperature sensor installed on the tray. Provides a refrigerator control method.

The refrigerator control method may maintain the heater when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature.

In the refrigerator control method, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor does not reach a set temperature, the tray is rotated again, and then the temperature of the tray is measured by the temperature sensor, and the measured temperature is set to the set temperature. It may further include determining whether or not to operate the heater according to whether or not it has reached.

In the refrigerator control method, when the temperature of the tray rotated again reaches a set temperature, the heater may be maintained.

In the refrigerator control method, when the temperature of the tray rotated again does not reach a set temperature, the heater may be stopped.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the step of opening and closing the water discharge portion of the water supply unit for a predetermined period of time; And determining whether or not a heater installed in the water supply unit is operated according to whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature by measuring the temperature of the tray by a temperature sensor installed on the tray. Provides a refrigerator control method.

In the refrigerator control method, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature, the heater is maintained, and when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor does not reach the set temperature, the water supply unit After reopening the discharge unit for a certain period of time, the temperature of the tray is measured by the temperature sensor, and whether or not the heater is operated may be determined according to whether the measured temperature reaches a set temperature.

In the ice making apparatus and the refrigerator having the same according to the present invention, even if the tray is rotated, an electrical connection portion of a temperature sensor installed in the tray does not interfere with the tray.

And it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the heater by controlling the operation of the heater installed in the water tank.

In addition, when there is no water in the water tank, the operation of the heater is stopped to prevent the temperature of the water tank from rising, thereby preventing a malfunction or failure of the refrigerator.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with a door open;
3 is a schematic diagram of an ice maker of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
4 is a configuration diagram of a temperature sensor, a control unit, and an ice-breaking motor of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 3;
5 is a view showing the shape of the installed contact portion of the frame of the ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 to 8 are views showing the shape of the installed contact part of the frame of the ice making apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a refrigerator.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, it should be noted that the same elements are assigned the same numerals as possible, even if they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing an embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related well-known configuration or function interferes with an understanding of an embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the constituent elements of an embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are for distinguishing the constituent element from other constituent elements, and the nature, order, or order of the constituent element is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but another component between each component It should be understood that may be “connected”, “coupled” or “connected”.

Hereinafter, an ice making apparatus, a refrigerator including the same, and a refrigerator control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with a door open.

1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 having a storage compartment formed therein and a door 20 that selectively shields the storage compartment of the main body 10. Includes.

The storage chamber may include a freezing chamber 12 and a refrigerating chamber 13. The freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13 may be divided left and right by a barrier.

Inside the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13, a plurality of shelves and drawers for storing food are provided.

In addition, the door 20 includes a freezing compartment door 21 and a refrigerating compartment door 22 respectively shielding the freezing compartment 12 and the refrigerating compartment 13, and the freezing compartment door 21 and the refrigerating compartment door 22 Is rotatably mounted on the main body 10 to selectively shield the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13.

Meanwhile, door handles 21a and 22a are provided in front of the freezing compartment door 21 and the refrigerating compartment door 22, respectively, and a dispenser 30 is provided in front of the freezing compartment door 21.

The dispenser 30 is for discharging purified water or ice used as drinking water from the outside, and communicates with a part of the ice making device 400 to be described later so that the ice made is taken out.

Here, the ice making device 400 is preferably installed above the dispenser 30 and may be protected by the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 installed on the freezing compartment door 21.

3 is a schematic diagram of an ice-making apparatus of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a temperature sensor, a controller, and an ice-making motor of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 3.

3 and 4, the ice making device 400 includes a tray 420, a water supply unit 430, a heater 440, a temperature sensor 421, an electrode unit 411 and 412, a frame 450, and a contact point. It includes units 413 and 414 and a control unit 460.

The ice making device 400 is based on the principle that when water is supplied from the water supply unit 430 to the tray 420, the surface temperature of the tray 420 increases by the water provided from the water supply unit 430. By using, it is determined whether the water supply unit 430 is filled with water, and it is determined whether or not the heater 440 provided in the water supply unit 430 is operated.

That is, when the surface temperature of the tray 420 reaches a set temperature, it is determined that the water supply unit 430 is filled with water, and the operation of the heater 440 provided in the water supply unit 430 is maintained. do.

In addition, when the surface temperature of the tray 420 does not reach a set temperature, it is determined that there is no water in the water supply unit 430 and the operation of the heater 440 provided in the water supply unit 430 is stopped.

In this way, the ice maker 400 controls on/off of the heater 440 according to whether the water supply unit 430 is filled with water to save power consumed by the heater 440 can do.

Hereinafter, each component of the ice making apparatus 400 and its operation principle will be described.

The tray 420 receives water from the water supply unit 430 and makes ice.

The water supply unit 430 may include a water discharge unit, and a valve may be provided at the water discharge unit. When the tray 420 is rotated by the moving motor 470, power may be received from a link member connected to the tray 420 to operate the valve to supply water to the tray 420.

As another example, the valve is an electronic valve, and the valve is operated by receiving a signal from the control unit 460 to open the water outlet.

Water may be supplied to the tray 420 by receiving a signal from the control unit 460 and operating a valve that discharges water. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the tray 420 is rotated by the moving motor 470, water is supplied to the tray 420 by receiving power from a link member connected to the tray 420 and operating a valve. You can also supply.

The heater 440 prevents freezing of the water in the water supply unit 430 by heating the water supply unit 430. In addition, the heater 440 is stopped when there is no water in the bucket of the water supply unit 430 in order to reduce consumed power.

Whether there is water in the bucket of the water supply unit 430 can be checked by checking whether water has been supplied to the tray 420 after ice ice in the tray 420 has been iced.

In addition, whether water has been supplied to the tray 420 can be checked by measuring whether the surface temperature of the tray 420 has risen with the temperature sensor 421 mounted on the tray 420.

The temperature sensor 421 is preferably installed on a lower surface of the tray 420, but is not limited thereto, and may be installed on a side surface of the tray 420 or an upper surface of the tray 420 as well.

The temperature sensor 421 installed in the tray 420 is electrically connected to the control unit 460, and the measured surface temperature information of the tray 420 is transmitted to the control unit 460.

The electrode portions 411 and 412 include a first electrode 411 and a second electrode 412 respectively fixed to the side of the tray, and the contact portions 413 and 414 are a first electrode in contact with the first electrode 411. It may include a contact 413 and a second contact 414 in contact with the second electrode 412.

The first electrode 411 and the second electrode 412 are electrically connected to the temperature sensor 421 and are fixed to the side of the tray 420.

In addition, a first contact point 413 and a second contact point 414 electrically connected to the control unit 460 may be fixed to the frame 450 to which the tray 420 is rotatably coupled.

The first contact point 413 and the second contact point 414 may respectively contact the first electrode 411 and the second electrode 412 at a position set according to the rotation of the tray 420.

5 is a view showing a shape of an installed contact portion of a frame of an ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the first contact point 413 and the second contact point 414 are, when the tray 420 is rotated, a movement path 411a of the first electrode 411 and the second electrode 412 are formed. ) May be disposed at one point of the movement path 412a. As shown in FIG. 5, the first contact point 413 and the second contact point 414 are between the moving path 411a of the first electrode 411 and the moving path 412a of the second electrode 412. When disposed at one point, the information of the temperature sensor 421 is the contact between the first contact 413 and the first electrode 411, and the second contact 414 and the second electrode 412 When this is in contact, it is transmitted from the temperature sensor 421 to the control unit 460.

6 to 8 are views showing the shape of the installed contact part of the frame of the ice making apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6, the first contact point 413 and the second contact point 414 are a moving path 411a of the first electrode 411 and a moving path 412a of the second electrode 412. It may be formed in each section set in a curved shape in.

Referring to FIG. 7, it may be formed in an annular shape in the entire section of the movement path 411a of the first electrode 411 and the movement path 412a of the second electrode 412, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 8, it may be formed at a plurality of points of a movement path 411a of the first electrode 411 and a movement path 412a of the second electrode 412, respectively.

The control unit 460 is electrically connected to the first contact point 413 and the second contact point 414 and can selectively cut off the power supplied to the heater 440 according to the temperature of the tray 420. have.

That is, the ice making device 400 includes the electrode portions 411 and 412 and the contact portions 413 and 414 at electrical connection portions between the temperature sensor 421 and the control unit 460, so that the tray 420 Even if rotated, the electrical connection portion between the temperature sensor 421 and the control unit 460 does not interfere with the tray 420.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling the refrigerator to turn on/off the heater 440 will be described in detail.

9 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 9, first, the tray 420 is rotated for eave (S1). After the ice is iced in the tray 420, when the tray 420 reaches a position to receive water from the water supply unit 430, the temperature of the tray 420 is adjusted by the temperature sensor 421. Measure.

That is, after the ice in the tray 420 is iced, the water discharge portion of the water supply unit 430 is opened, and the temperature of the tray 420 is measured by the temperature sensor 421.

When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 421 reaches a set temperature, it is determined that the water supply unit 430 is filled with water, and the operation of the heater 440 is continued (S2). That is, when water is present in the water supply unit 430, the water supplied from the water supply unit 430 to the tray 420 increases the temperature of the tray 420 by the temperature sensor 421. The measured temperature reaches the set temperature.

And when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 421 does not reach the set temperature, the tray 420 is rotated once more (S3), and then the tray 420 is When the temperature is measured again and the measured temperature reaches the set temperature, the heater 440 is maintained in operation.

That is, after the tray 420 is rotated for eaves, there is a case where water cannot be supplied from the water supply unit 430 to the tray 420 due to a malfunction of the water supply unit 430, etc. In this case, the tray 420 is rotated once more so that water can be supplied to the tray 420 from the water supply unit 430.

However, without rotating the tray 420, the water discharge portion of the water supply unit 430 may be opened once more so that water can be supplied to the tray 420.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the tray 420 does not reach a set temperature after opening the re-rotated tray 420 or the water discharge unit of the water supply unit 430 once again, the water supply unit 430 It is determined that there is no water, and the heater 440 is stopped (S5).

Through this process, it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the heater 440 by determining whether or not the heater 440 is operated by determining whether there is water in the water supply unit 430.

As another embodiment, when the water supply unit 430 is not disposed in the freezing chamber 12 or the freezing chamber door 21, the heater 440 may be omitted. Even in this case, it is possible to check whether water is present in the water supply unit 430, and when there is no water in the water supply unit 430, information indicating that the water supply unit 430 is empty may be generated in the notification unit. For example, the notification unit may be provided in the dispenser 30.

In the above, even if all the constituent elements constituting the embodiments of the present invention have been described as being combined into one or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. That is, within the scope of the object of the present invention, all the constituent elements may be selectively combined and operated in one or more. In addition, terms such as "include", "consist of" or "have" described above mean that the corresponding component may be present unless otherwise stated, excluding other components. It should not be construed as being able to further include other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined. Terms generally used, such as terms defined in the dictionary, should be interpreted as being consistent with the meaning of the context of the related technology, and are not interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain the technical idea, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

1: refrigerator 10: body
20: door 400: the ice making device
420: tray 411: first electrode
412: second electrode 413: first contact
414: second contact 430: water supply
440: heater 421: temperature sensor
450: frame 460: control unit

Claims (14)

A tray for ice making water;
A heater that prevents freezing of water in the water supply unit by heating a water supply unit supplying water to the tray;
A temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the tray;
An electrode part electrically connected to the temperature sensor and provided on the tray;
A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled;
A contact portion provided on the frame and capable of contacting the electrode portion in a stopped state of the tray or during the rotation of the tray; And
And a control unit electrically connected to the contact unit and selectively cutting off power supplied to the heater according to a temperature of the tray,
The electrode unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the tray and forming separate movement paths when the tray is rotated,
The contact unit includes a first contact in contact with the first electrode and a second contact in contact with the second electrode, respectively.
delete The method of claim 1,
The first contact point and the second contact point are formed in an annular shape so as to correspond to movement paths of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.
The method of claim 1,
The first contact point and the second contact point,
Ice making apparatus formed in a curved shape so as to correspond to a part of a movement path of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.
The method of claim 1,
The first contact point and the second contact point,
An ice making apparatus disposed to correspond to a point in a movement path of the first electrode and the second electrode when the tray is rotated.
A main body provided with a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber;
Doors respectively shielding the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber; And
It is provided in the freezing chamber and includes an ice making device for ice making water,
The ice making device,
A tray for ice making water,
A water supply unit for supplying water to the tray,
A heater for preventing the water from freezing by heating the water supply unit,
A temperature sensor provided in the tray to measure the temperature of the tray,
An electrode part electrically connected to the temperature sensor and provided on the tray,
A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled,
A contact portion provided in the frame and capable of contacting the electrode portion in a stopped state of the tray or during a rotation process of the tray;
And a control unit for selectively shutting off power supplied to the heater according to the temperature of the tray detected by the temperature sensor,
The electrode unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the tray and forming separate movement paths when the tray is rotated,
The contact unit includes a first contact in contact with the first electrode and a second contact in contact with the second electrode, respectively.
The method of claim 6,
It is provided on the door, further comprising a notification unit for providing information to the user,
A refrigerator that provides information on the presence or absence of water from the water supply unit to a user through the notification unit according to the temperature of the tray.
tray; A temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the tray; A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled; And a contact part provided in the frame and capable of contacting an electrode part in a stopped state of the tray or a process of rotating the tray,
Rotating the tray for eaves;
Transferring temperature information of the tray detected by the temperature sensor to a control unit when the electrode unit and the contact unit are in contact; And
Refrigerator comprising the step of measuring the temperature of the tray by a temperature sensor installed in the tray, and determining whether or not a heater installed in the water supply unit is operated according to whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature Control method.
The method of claim 8,
When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature, the refrigerator control method of maintaining the heater operation.
The method of claim 8,
When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor does not reach the set temperature,
After rotating the tray again, measuring the temperature of the tray by the temperature sensor, and determining whether or not to operate the heater according to whether the measured temperature reaches a set temperature. .
The method of claim 10,
When the temperature of the tray rotated again reaches a set temperature, the refrigerator control method of maintaining the heater operation.
The method of claim 10,
When the temperature of the tray rotated again does not reach a set temperature, the refrigerator control method of stopping the heater.
tray; A temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the tray; A frame to which the tray is rotatably coupled; And a contact part provided in the frame and capable of contacting an electrode part in a stopped state of the tray or a process of rotating the tray,
Opening and closing the water discharge part of the water supply part for a predetermined period of time;
Transferring temperature information of the tray detected by the temperature sensor to a control unit when the electrode unit and the contact unit are in contact; And
And determining whether or not a heater installed in the water supply unit is operated according to whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature.
The method of claim 13,
When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature, the heater is maintained to operate,
When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor does not reach the set temperature, the temperature of the tray is measured by the temperature sensor after reopening the water discharge part of the water supply part for a certain period of time, and the measured temperature reaches the set temperature. According to whether or not, the control method of the refrigerator to determine whether or not to operate the heater.

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