KR102475600B1 - Ice maker and water purifier having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a guide lip formed on one side of the tray, a coupler having a certain length and formed to rotate in a certain angular range along the guide lip, and a paddle formed to reciprocate in contact with the coupler according to the rotation of the coupler The guide rib includes a first section extending in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler and a second section extending in a straight line direction in contact with the circumference from one end of the first section. Disclosed is a structure of a paddle driving unit for an ice maker.
In addition, the present invention provides a tray to which one end is hinged, paddles that reciprocate in the storage space of the tray and flow ice-making water, and an ice-separating mode for rotating the tray and an ice-making mode for driving the paddles. Disclosed is an ice maker comprising guide ribs formed on a tray and a coupler formed to reciprocate along the guide ribs, and an ice water purifier including the same.

Description

Ice maker and ice purifier having the same {ICE MAKER AND WATER PURIFIER HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an ice maker and an ice water purifier including the ice maker, and more particularly, to an ice maker capable of producing transparent ice by removing dissolved gas trapped in ice through the flow of ice making water, and the ice maker It relates to an ice water purifier provided.

Recently, home appliances combine various functions to improve convenience. In accordance with this trend, many products such as refrigerators and water purifiers equipped with automatic ice-making devices that do not require a user to freeze ice by directly pouring water into a tray have been released.

A typical automatic ice-making device includes an ice-making tray that stores ice-making water, an ejector that separates ice from the ice-making tray, an ice-making heater that heats the ice-making tray when separating ice from the ice-making tray, and ice separated from the ice-making tray. It includes an ice bucket to store it.

Among the ice-making methods of cooling the ice-making water, in the direct cooling method, a refrigerant pipe is extended into the ice-making chamber to cool the ice-making water, and the refrigerant pipe is provided to contact the ice-making tray.

In this direct cooling method, the ice tray receives cooling energy from the refrigerant pipe in a heat conduction method. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the cooling speed of the ice-making water is fast. However, when ice is rapidly generated, minerals and dissolved gases in water are trapped in the ice, resulting in opaque ice.

According to the prior art, ice is slowly frozen so that dissolved gases can escape, or RO filters are used to remove mineral components (solutes) in water, or water is flowed so that minerals (solutes) and dissolved We tried to solve this by using a method to prevent the gas from being trapped in ice.

Among these conventional technologies, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1981680 (hereinafter referred to as 'Patent Document 1') implements an ice tray capable of obtaining ice with improved transparency by lowering the conductivity of cooling energy and a technology related to a refrigerator equipped with the same. are doing More specifically, in Patent Document 1, the structure of 'the second tray overlapped with the upper surface of the first tray to delay the cooling speed of the ice-making water and formed of a material having lower thermal conductivity than the first tray' was implemented. So, a way to solve this problem is disclosed.

In Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0010474 (hereinafter referred to as 'Patent Document 2'), an ice-making nozzle immersed in ice-making water to perform ice-making and removing ice, and an ice-making water circulation means for circulating and supplying ice-making water make ice from the ice-making nozzle. A technology for generating transparent ice that does not contain air is disclosed. More specifically, Patent Document 2 discloses a 'structure for generating a flow of ice-making water using a circulation pump'.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 1995-122539 (hereinafter referred to as 'Patent Document 3'), ice is first formed on the bottom side of the ice-making dish and the water surface side is formed last, so that bubbles contained in water can be released to the surface side An ice-making technology is disclosed. More specifically, Patent Document 3 discloses a method of generating transparent ice using a 'structure in which vibration is applied to an ice-making dish to slow down ice formation on the surface of the water surface so that air bubbles contained in water are released'.

Although attempts have been made to produce transparent ice in various ways as described above, steady research is being conducted on how to make transparent ice through a more simplified structure.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1981680 Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0010474 Japanese Patent Application No. 1995-122539

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is as follows.

First, transparent ice can be easily produced by simplifying a coupling structure between a tray member and a paddle that generates a flow of ice-making water.

Second, a structure of an ice maker capable of driving a paddle and a tray member by a single motor is intended to be implemented.

Third, it is intended to provide an ice water purifier with improved efficiency by applying an ice maker having a simplified structure.

The technical objects to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned matters, and other technical problems not mentioned above can be solved by those skilled in the art from the embodiments of the present invention to which the present invention belongs. can be considered

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a guide lip formed on one side of the tray, a coupler having a certain length and formed to rotate in a certain angle range along the guide lip, and the coupler according to the rotation of the coupler. It includes a paddle formed to reciprocate in contact with, and the guide lip extends in a first section extending in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler and in a straight line direction tangent to the circumference at one end of the first section, Disclosed is a structure of a paddle driving unit for an ice maker comprising a formed second section.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddle comprises a spring coupler constituting a rotating shaft, a swing connector to receive force in contact with the coupler, and a paddle spring connected to the spring coupler and applying a restoring force. Ice making, characterized in that it comprises Disclosed is a structure of a paddle driving unit for a device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a structure of a paddle driver for an ice maker further comprising a stepping motor coupled to a rotating shaft of the coupler to rotate the coupler in a first direction and a predetermined angle in a second direction is disclosed. .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the paddle driving unit for an ice maker is disclosed, wherein the second section is formed closer to the rotational axis of the tray than the first section.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupler is configured to move to a first section by receiving rotational force in the first direction and to move to the second section by receiving rotational force in the second direction. Disclosed is a structure of a paddle driving unit for use.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the coupler is configured to return to an initial position by a restoring force of the paddle spring after moving to a first section.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stepping motor discloses a structure of a paddle driving unit for an ice maker characterized in that the number of times of applying rotational force in the first direction is greater than the number of times of application of rotational force in the second direction.

In addition, in order to solve another problem described above, the present invention provides a tray to which one end is hinged, a paddle that reciprocates in a storage space of the tray and flows ice-making water, an ice-separating mode for rotating the tray, and the paddle. An ice maker comprising guide ribs formed on the tray to be switched to an ice making mode for driving the trays, and a coupler formed to reciprocate along the guide ribs.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide lip is used in the ice-making mode and is formed by extending in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler, and is used in the ice-separating mode and one end of the first section Disclosed is an ice maker comprising a second section extending in a linear direction in contact with the circumference.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second section is disclosed in the ice maker characterized in that formed closer to the hinge of the tray than the first section.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide lip reciprocates a plurality of times in the first section in the ice-making mode, and then moves to the second section to switch to an ice-separating mode.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddle comprises a spring coupler constituting a rotating shaft, a swing connector to receive force in contact with the coupler, and a paddle spring connected to the spring coupler and applying a restoring force. Ice making, characterized in that it comprises start the device

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker further comprising a stepping motor coupled to a rotating shaft of the coupler to rotate the coupler in a first section or a second section is disclosed.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker is provided in which the coupler is configured to return to an initial position by a restoring force of the paddle spring after rotating in the first section.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention discloses an ice water purifier including an ice maker according to the embodiments described above.

According to the present invention according to at least one embodiment of the present invention described above, the following effects can be expected.

First, a coupler guide lip is formed on the tray member, and ice making and ice removal can occur sequentially through a coupling structure between the coupler and the guide lip. Through this, the structure of the paddle driving unit is simplified to improve the performance of the ice maker.

Second, by dividing the coupler guide lip into two sections, it is possible to simultaneously drive the paddles and drive the tray member using one motor, thereby simplifying the structure of the ice maker.

Third, it is possible to provide a more economical and efficient ice water purifier by applying an ice maker having a simplified structure.

The effects that can be obtained in the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned are common in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description of the embodiments of the present invention below. It can be clearly derived and understood by those with knowledge.

1 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a conceptual view of the ice maker shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the side;
3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating driving of an ice maker in an ice-separating mode;
4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating driving of an ice maker in an ice making stand-by mode;
5A is a side view illustrating the operation of a paddle by driving a coupler;
5B is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a paddle by driving a coupler;
Figure 6a is a side view explaining the operation of returning the paddle and the coupler by the restoring force.
Figure 6b is a perspective view explaining the operation of returning the paddle and the coupler by the restoring force.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components even in different embodiments, and the description is replaced with the first description. Singular expressions used herein include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In addition, the suffixes "module" and "unit" for the components used in the following description are given or used together in consideration of ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguished from each other by themselves.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the ice maker shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the side, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating driving of the ice maker in an ice-separating mode.

1 and 2 , an ice maker includes an ice tray 131, an evaporator disposed in a storage space of the ice tray 131 and generating cold air by evaporating a refrigerant, and storage of the ice tray 131. It may include paddles 121 that reciprocate in space and flow ice-making water so that mineral components (solutes) and dissolved gases in the water are not frozen by being trapped in ice.

In addition, the ice maker may further include a compressor for compressing the refrigerant to a high pressure, a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant, an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant to a low pressure, and a refrigerant pipe for guiding the refrigerant. The description of the present configuration is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a tray 131 at one end of which is hinged; paddles 121 reciprocating in the storage space of the tray 131 to flow ice-making water; guide ribs 150 formed on the tray 131 to switch between an ice-separating mode for rotating the tray 131 and an ice-making mode for driving the paddle 121; and a coupler 142 formed to reciprocate along the guide lip 150.

The paddle driver 120 may include a guide lip 150, a coupler 142, a paddle 121, and the like.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the structure of the paddle driving unit 120 of the present invention includes a guide lip 150 formed on one side of the tray 131; a coupler 142 having a certain length and formed to rotate in a certain angular range along the guide lip 150; and a paddle 121 formed to reciprocate in contact with the coupler 142 when the coupler 142 rotates, and the guide lip 150 extends in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler 142. It may include a first section formed by being formed, and a second section formed by extending in a straight line direction in contact with the circumference from one end of the first section.

More specifically, the guide lip 150 is formed on one side of the tray 131 and is formed to include a first section and a second section.

The first section is formed by bending in a cylindrical shape. More specifically, the first section is formed by extending in the circumferential direction of a circle having the length of the coupler 142 as a radius.

Since the coupler 142 rotates in a circumference around the axis of rotation, it slides along the guide lip 150 without applying force to the tray 131 in the first section.

The second section is formed in a straight line shape. More specifically, the second section is formed by extending from one end of the first section in a tangential direction tangent to a circle having the length of the coupler 142 as a radius.

Since the coupler 142 rotates in a circumference around the axis of rotation, a pulling force toward the lower left side of the tray 131 is applied to the tray 131 in the second section.

As shown, since the upper left side of the tray 131 is hinged, when a force pulling toward the lower left side of the tray 131 is applied, the tray 131 rotates clockwise around the hinge.

That is, when the coupler 142 moves to the second section, as shown in FIG. 3 , the tray 131 is tilted and the ice stored in the tray 131 is poured out. In the present invention, the state in which the tray 131 tilts and pours out ice is referred to as an ice-separating mode for convenience.

The coupler 142 has one end connected to the stepping motor 141 to form a rotating shaft, and the other end coupled to the guide lip 150 to move along the guide lip 150 .

The paddle 121 is formed to reciprocate in response to the rotation of the coupler 142 .

More specifically, the paddle 121 may include a spring coupler 122, a swing connector 123, a paddle spring 124, and the like.

The spring coupler 122 forms a rotation axis so that the paddle 121 can reciprocate by rotation.

The swing connector 123 is formed to receive force in contact with the coupler 142 when the coupler 142 moves along the first section of the guide lip 150.

The paddle spring 124 is connected to the spring coupler 122 to provide restoring force for restoring the paddle 121 to an initial position.

Hereinafter, a driving method of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6B .

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the ice maker in the ice making standby mode, FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating the operation of the paddle 121 by driving the coupler 142, and FIG. 5B is a side view illustrating the operation of the paddle 121 by driving the coupler 142. A perspective view explaining the operation of (121), Figure 6a is a side view explaining the operation of returning the paddle 121 and the coupler 142 by the restoring force, Figure 6b is a paddle 121 and the coupler 142 by the restoring force It is a perspective view explaining the returning operation.

Referring to FIG. 4 , in the ice making standby mode, the coupler 142 is located at the boundary between the first section and the second section. In the ice making standby mode, since the swing connector 123 is not in contact with the coupler 142, a neutral state is maintained in which rotational force is not applied to the spring connector and force is not applied to the paddle spring 124. In the ice making standby mode, the evaporator is not driven and no ice is created.

In the ice-separating mode shown in FIG. 3 , when the coupler 142 connected to the stepping motor 141 rotates clockwise by approximately 45 degrees, the tray 131 is placed in the ice-making standby position as shown in FIG. 4 .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in the ice making standby mode, the stepping motor 141 rotates the coupler 142 clockwise by a predetermined angle (about 12.5 degrees) to move the paddle 121 to the operation standby position.

Here, the paddle 121 operation standby position refers to a position before the coupler 142 enters the first section but applies force to the paddle 121, and this state can be referred to as a paddle 121 operation standby mode.

In the first section, force is not applied to the tray 131 because the coupler 142 rotates in an arc around the axis of rotation. Therefore, the position of the tray 131 does not change between the ice making standby mode and the paddle 121 operation standby mode.

In the ice-making mode, the coupler 142 reciprocates and generates a pendulum motion in the paddle 121, and through this, a flow of ice-making water occurs.

A reciprocating process of the paddle 121 in the ice making mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 6B.

When the coupler 142 further rotates clockwise (about 10 degrees) in the paddle 121 operation standby mode, the swing connector 123 is pushed out by the coupler 142 so that the paddle 121 rotates counterclockwise. (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).

In addition, when the coupler 142 rotates counterclockwise again after a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the paddle 121, the swing connector 123 returns due to the restoring force by the paddle spring 124, and the paddle 121 reverses It rotates in the direction (clockwise) (see Figs. 6a and 6b).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the coupler 142 may be formed to return to an initial position by the restoring force of the paddle spring 124 .

After ice generation is completed, the coupler 142 rotates counterclockwise to move the ice making tray 131 to the ice separation position (see FIG. 3 ).

In order to generate transparent ice, it is necessary to generate a continuous flow of ice-making water in the ice-making mode. Therefore, it is preferable that the number of times the stepping motor 141 applies the rotational force in the first direction is set to be greater than the number of times the rotational force is applied in the second direction.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above, coupler guide ribs are formed on the tray member, and ice making and ice removal can occur sequentially through a coupling structure between the coupler and the guide ribs. Through this, the structure of the paddle driving unit can be simplified to improve the performance of the ice maker, and the coupler guide lip is divided into two sections to form the paddle driving unit and the tray member driving together using one motor. Thus, the structure of the ice maker can be simplified, and effects different from those of the prior art can be expected, such as providing a more economical and efficient ice water purifier by applying the simplified structure of the ice maker.

The present invention described above is not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or part of each embodiment so that various modifications can be made.

111: evaporator
120: paddle driving unit
121: paddle
122: spring coupler
123: swing connector
124: paddle spring
131: tray
141: stepping motor
142: coupler
150: guide rib

Claims (15)

Guide ribs formed on one side of the tray;
a coupler having a certain length and formed to rotate in a certain angular range along the guide lip; and
Includes a paddle formed to reciprocate in contact with the coupler according to the rotation of the coupler,
The guide lip,
a first section extending in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler; and
and a second section extending from one end of the first section in a linear direction contacting the circumference. According to claim 1,
The paddles,
A spring coupler forming a rotation axis;
a swing connector that contacts the coupler and receives force; and
A paddle driving unit structure for an ice maker comprising a paddle spring connected to the spring coupler to apply a restoring force. According to claim 2,
The structure of the paddle driving unit for an ice maker according to claim 1 , further comprising a stepping motor coupled to the rotating shaft of the coupler and rotating the coupler in a first direction and a predetermined angle in a second direction. According to claim 3,
The paddle driving unit structure for an ice maker, characterized in that the second section is formed closer to the rotational axis of the tray than the first section. According to claim 4,
The paddle driving unit structure for an ice maker, characterized in that the coupler is configured to move to a first section by receiving rotational force in the first direction and to move to the second section by receiving rotational force in the second direction. According to claim 5,
The paddle driving unit structure for an ice maker, characterized in that the coupler is formed to return to an initial position by a restoring force of the paddle spring after moving to the first section. According to claim 6,
The structure of the paddle drive unit for an ice maker, wherein the number of times the stepping motor applies the rotational force in the first direction is greater than the number of times the rotational force is applied in the second direction. One end of the tray is hinged;
paddles reciprocating in the storage space of the tray to flow ice-making water;
guide ribs formed on the tray to switch between an ice-separating mode for rotating the tray and an ice-making mode for driving the paddle; and
Includes a coupler formed to reciprocate along the guide lip,
The guide lip,
a first section used in the ice making mode and extending in a circumferential direction corresponding to the length of the coupler; and
and a second section that is used in the ice-separating mode and extends from one end of the first section in a straight direction contacting the circumference. delete According to claim 8,
The ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein the second section is formed closer to the hinge of the tray than the first section. According to claim 10,
The ice making apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guide lip reciprocates a plurality of times in the first section in the ice making mode and then moves to the second section to switch to an ice-separating mode. According to claim 11,
The paddles,
A spring coupler forming a rotation axis;
a swing connector that contacts the coupler and receives force; and
An ice maker comprising a paddle spring connected to the spring coupler to apply a restoring force. According to claim 12,
The ice maker further comprises a stepping motor coupled to the rotating shaft of the coupler to rotate the coupler in a first section or a second section. According to claim 13,
The ice making apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to return to an initial position by a restoring force of the paddle spring after rotating in the first section. An ice water purifier comprising the ice maker of claim 8.

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