KR102490301B1 - Control method of ice making module - Google Patents

Abstract

A control method of an ice making module comprising: making ice in an ice maker in the ice making module, releasing the ice from the ice maker and storing it in an ice storage unit in the ice making module, detecting whether or not the ice in the ice storage unit is full of ice, and storing ice in the ice storage unit. Provided is a control method of an ice making module that detects an ice ejection signal indicating whether ice has been ejected when a full ice portion is detected.

Description

Control method of ice making module {CONTROL METHOD OF ICE MAKING MODULE}

The present invention relates to a control method of an ice making module.

Conventional refrigerating appliances such as household refrigerators generally have both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment is a place where foodstuffs such as fruits, vegetables and beverages are stored, and the freezer compartment is a place where foodstuffs to be kept frozen are stored. Such conventional refrigerators are often equipped with a device for making ice cubes, which is usually placed in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator and uses convection, that is, cold air above the water in the ice-making bowl, to freeze water into an ice tray. Ice is produced by circulating. Also, a storage container for storing frozen pieces of ice is usually provided adjacent to the ice maker. In general, the ice is discharged by an ice delivery device extending between the outlet of the freezing compartment door and the storage container. On the other hand, providing an ice ejector located at a convenient height, such as on the access door to the cold storage compartment, would require a sophisticated system to transport frozen ice cubes from the freezer compartment to the ejector on the access door to the cold storage compartment. This creates many difficulties in making and storing ice in compartments that are normally maintained above the freezing temperature of water. The operation of the ice maker may be affected by temperature fluctuations and other factors that affect the temperature in the refrigerating compartment accommodating the ice maker.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2012-0004976 (2012. 01. 13)

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that determines whether to supply water by detecting whether or not the ice is full while the ice is produced in the ice maker and supplied to the outside of the refrigerator.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, after full ice is detected through a full ice detection lever included in an ice maker to detect whether or not full ice is full, the release of full ice is determined according to whether the door is opened or closed or ice is taken out according to an ice ejection button. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker that determines water supply.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention is an ice maker that detects full ice through a full ice detection lever included in the ice maker in order to detect full ice, then detects whether or not ice is full according to whether or not ice is taken out, or detects whether full ice is detected after a predetermined time. is intended to provide

In addition, an object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an ice maker in which an ice breaking step of shaving ice stored in an ice tray is pretreated before a full ice detection lever operates to detect whether or not ice is full.

A control method of an ice making module comprising: making ice in an ice maker in the ice making module, releasing the ice from the ice maker and storing it in an ice storage unit in the ice making module, detecting whether or not the ice in the ice storage unit is full of ice, and storing ice in the ice storage unit. Provided is a control method of an ice making module that detects an ice ejection signal indicating whether ice has been ejected when a full ice portion is detected.

In addition, when it is confirmed that there is an ice ejection signal, water may be supplied to the ice maker.

Also, if it is confirmed that there is an ice extraction signal, the ice maker may perform the ice removal operation or the ice full detection operation again.

In addition, when a predetermined time elapses in a state in which there is no ice extraction signal, the ice maker may perform the ice removal operation or the ice full detection operation again.

Also, in the refrigerator in which the ice making module is installed, the signal for taking out ice may be a signal corresponding to opening a door of the refrigerator or taking out ice through a dispenser of the door.

A control method of an ice making module comprising: making ice in an ice maker in the ice making module, releasing the ice from the ice maker and storing it in an ice storage unit in the ice making module, detecting whether or not the ice in the ice storage unit is full of ice, and storing ice in the ice storage unit. A control method of an ice making module in which, when the ice storage part is detected as full ice, the ice maker performs the ice removal operation or the ice full detection operation again after a predetermined time elapses, and water is supplied to the ice maker when it is detected that the ice storage part is not full ice state. Provided.

And, an ice making module in which the control method of the ice making module is performed is provided.

In addition, a refrigerator in which the control method of the ice making module is performed is provided.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide an ice maker that determines whether to supply water by detecting whether or not the ice is full while the ice is produced in the ice maker and the ice is supplied to the outside of the refrigerator.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides an ice maker that determines whether to supply water by detecting full ice through a full ice detection lever included in the ice maker and detecting whether or not ice is full by taking out ice according to opening and closing of a door in order to detect whether or not ice is full. can do.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention detects full ice through a full ice detection lever included in an ice maker to detect full ice, detects whether or not full ice is full by taking out ice according to opening and closing of a door after full ice is detected, and detects full ice to detect whether or not full ice is full. It is possible to provide an ice maker that re-detects whether or not ice is full after a predetermined time elapsed after it has been made.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention may provide an ice maker in which an ice breaking step of removing ice stored in an ice tray is pre-processed before the full ice detection lever operates to detect whether or not ice is full.

1 is a flow chart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a flow chart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flow chart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flow chart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or custom of a user or operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

The technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following examples are only one means for efficiently explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

In addition, configurations to be described for performing each step in the description below are described as examples, and include configurations that can be performed by a person skilled in the art through configurations within a range of modifications to perform each of the steps.

1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , in the operation sequence of the ice maker, an ice making step (S1), an ice breaking step (S2), a full ice check step (S3), and a water supply step (S4) may be sequentially performed. Here, the ice making step (S1) may be a step of making ice while being accommodated in the ice tray in an environment where the temperature of the fluid supplied to the ice tray of the ice maker is lower than the freezing point of the fluid. Here, when the fluid is water, the freezing point may be 0 degrees. For example, an ice maker may be located in a freezing chamber at minus 20 degrees, and an environment having a temperature below the freezing point may be an environment of minus 20 degrees. However, this temperature may be selectively adjusted in consideration of the amount and production rate of ice to be made, as an example.

And, in the ice-making step (S2), the ice produced in the ice-making step (S1) is separated from the ice tray and moved. In the process of freezing the ice inside the ice tray, the heater of the ice maker is separated from the ice tray in a stuck state. is operated to separate the ice from the ice tray by the rotation of the ejector, or the ice can be separated from the ice tray by directly rotating the ice tray. The ice separated from the ice tray may be moved into the ice storage unit. Rotation of the heater and the ejector or the rotation of the ice tray may be driven by a controller of an ice maker or a refrigerator.

Next, in the full ice checking step (S3), the amount of ice moved into the ice storage unit through the ice breaking step (S2) may be detected and a water supply signal may be transmitted to the water supply unit. Here, whether or not the ice is full may be confirmed by an ice full detection lever operated by a controller included in the ice maker or refrigerator. The full ice detecting lever may come into contact with ice while reciprocating in a downward direction or rotation to a predetermined depth, and may detect ice filling according to a moving distance. Here, in the full ice confirmation step (S3), an ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1) may be additionally performed according to whether or not the ice is full in addition to the water supply signal.

The ice extraction check step (S3-1) is a step of confirming that the ice produced in the ice maker is provided to the outside of the refrigerator. . Furthermore, the ejection refers to a means for supplying ice to the outside of the refrigerator without opening and closing the door of the refrigerator, and includes an ice ejector such as a dispenser.

Specifically, when a signal is transmitted to the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1) after the full ice confirmation step (S3), whether ice is taken out is confirmed, and if it is confirmed that the ice has been taken out, the water supply step (S4) is performed. A signal can be transmitted to the water supply unit.

However, when it is confirmed that ice has not been taken out in the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1), it is possible to check whether ice has been taken out until it is confirmed that ice has been taken out. It can be confirmed by criteria such as time.

Thereafter, a water supplying step (S4) of supplying water to the ice tray may be performed according to a signal transmitted from the full ice confirmation step (S3) or the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1). Here, the supplied water is filled in the ice tray, the water filled in the ice tray is exposed to a temperature below the freezing point, and the above steps may be sequentially performed.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the signal transmission structure in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 as an example and the ice extraction confirmation step ( S3 - 1 ) may be different. Therefore, in the following description will be given mainly to structures different from the example described above with reference to FIG. 1 .

In the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1) by the signal transmitted in the full ice confirmation step (S3), whether or not ice is supplied to the outside may be checked and the signal may be transmitted to the next step. When the full ice state is confirmed and a signal is transmitted in the full ice checking step (S3), the ice taking out checking step (S3-1) is re-performed according to whether ice is taken out or not, or the ice lifting step (S2 ) Or subsequent steps may be performed sequentially from the full ice check step (S3).

That is, in the ice taking out confirmation step (S3-1), when it detects that ice has been taken out of the refrigerator, the ice breaking step (S2) is performed, and the full ice checking step (S3) is performed by the full ice detecting lever or the ice breaking step (S2) The full ice detection step (S3) may be performed by the full ice detecting lever without going through. Here, if it is detected that the full ice state is not present, a signal may be transmitted to supply water to the water supply unit in the full ice checking step (S3).

However, if the full ice state is detected in the full ice checking step S3, the ice taking out checking step S3-1 may be re-performed until it is detected that ice is being taken out. Here, the ice extraction confirmation step ( S3 - 1 ) may be repeatedly performed at a predetermined time, and each step may be re-performed from the previous step when it is detected that ice is taken out.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a set time detection step (S3-2) may be additionally included in the embodiment described in FIG. 2 as an example, and a signal transmission structure in the ice extraction check step (S3-1) may be different. Therefore, in the following description will be given mainly to structures different from the example described above with reference to FIG. 2 .

In the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1) by the signal transmitted in the full ice confirmation step (S3), whether or not ice is supplied to the outside may be checked and the signal may be transmitted to the next step. When the full ice state is confirmed and a signal is transmitted in the full ice checking step (S3), the set time detection step (S3-2) is performed or the ice lifting step (S2 ) Or subsequent steps may be performed sequentially from the full ice check step (S3).

Here, when it is detected that ice has not been taken out in the ice extraction check step (S3-1), a predetermined time delay may be performed by the set time detection step (S3-2), and the ice is removed during the predetermined time delay. When the ice extraction is detected, the ice extraction confirmation step (S3-1) is performed, and the ice removal step (S2) or the full ice confirmation step (S3) may be sequentially performed again.

On the other hand, when the extraction of ice is not detected during the predetermined time delay, each step may be sequentially re-performed from the ice-leaving step S2 or full ice checking step S3 after the predetermined time.

That is, the set time detection step (S3-2) may be an auxiliary step for re-performing from the ice removal step (S2) or full ice check step (S3) after ice making in the ice maker, and furthermore, the ice extraction check step (S3 It can be a step to respond to the malfunction of -1).

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , an ice making step ( S1 ), an ice breaking step ( S2 ), a full ice check step ( S3 ), and a water supply step ( S4 ) may be sequentially performed. Here, the ice making step (S1) may be a step of making ice while being accommodated in the ice tray in an environment where the temperature of the fluid supplied to the ice tray of the ice maker is lower than the freezing point of the fluid. Here, when the fluid is water, the freezing point may be 0 degrees. For example, an ice maker may be located in a freezing chamber at minus 20 degrees, and an environment having a temperature below the freezing point may be an environment of minus 20 degrees. However, this temperature may be selectively adjusted in consideration of the amount and production rate of ice to be made, as an example.

And, in the ice-making step (S2), the ice produced in the ice-making step (S1) is separated from the ice tray and moved. In the process of freezing the ice inside the ice tray, the heater of the ice maker is separated from the ice tray in a stuck state. is operated to separate the ice from the ice tray by the rotation of the ejector, or the ice can be separated from the ice tray by directly rotating the ice tray. The ice separated from the ice tray may be moved into the ice storage unit. Rotation of the heater and the ejector or the rotation of the ice tray may be driven by a controller of an ice maker or a refrigerator.

Next, in the full ice checking step (S3), the amount of ice moved into the ice storage unit through the ice breaking step (S2) may be detected and a water supply signal may be transmitted to the water supply unit. Here, whether or not the ice is full may be confirmed by an ice full detection lever operated by a controller included in the ice maker or refrigerator. The full ice detecting lever may come into contact with ice while reciprocating in a downward direction or rotation to a predetermined depth, and may detect ice filling according to a moving distance. Here, in the full ice checking step (S3), in addition to the water supply signal, a set time detection step (S3-2) may be additionally performed depending on whether or not the water is full.

The set time detection step (S3-2) is performed to delay a predetermined time so that the full ice check step (S3) can be performed again after a predetermined time after detecting the full ice state in the full ice check step (S3). can be

However, the set time detection step (S3-2) may transmit a signal to perform the previous step, the ice break step (S2), without transferring a signal to perform the full ice detection step (S3) after a preset time. Therefore, when the full ice state is detected in the full ice checking step S3, the ice breaking step S2 of separating the ice from the ice tray may be performed.

Meanwhile, when the full ice state is detected from the full ice checking step (S3), the water supply unit may perform the water supplying step (S4) of supplying water to the ice tray according to the received signal. Here, the supplied water is filled in the ice tray, the water filled in the ice tray is exposed to a temperature below the freezing point, and the above steps may be sequentially performed.

An ice maker performing the steps described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 may be installed in an environment capable of making ice, and may be provided, for example, inside a refrigerator or freezer.

Although representative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments and should not be defined, and should be defined by not only the claims to be described later, but also those equivalent to these claims.

S1: ice making step
S2: Breaking step
S3: full ice confirmation step
S3-1: Ice extraction confirmation step
S3-2: Set time detection step
S4: water supply step

Claims (8)

In the control method of the ice making module,
Ice is made in the ice maker in the ice making module,
The ice made is separated from the ice maker and stored in an ice storage unit in the ice making module;
Whether or not the ice in the ice storage unit is full is detected,
When the ice storage unit detects that the full ice state is detected, an ice extraction signal indicating whether the ice has been taken out is detected;
The control method of the ice making module, wherein the ice making operation or the full ice detecting operation is performed again in the ice maker when a predetermined time elapses without the ice taking out signal.
The method of claim 1,
and supplying water to the ice maker when it is confirmed that the ice ejection signal is present.
The method of claim 1,
If it is confirmed that the ice extraction signal is present, the ice maker performs the ice removal operation or the ice full detection operation again.
delete The method of claim 1,
The ice extraction signal is
In the refrigerator in which the ice making module is installed, the control method of the ice making module is a signal corresponding to opening of a door of the refrigerator or taking out ice through a dispenser of the door.
In the control method of the ice making module,
Ice is made in the ice maker in the ice making module,
The ice made is separated from the ice maker and stored in an ice storage unit in the ice making module;
Whether or not the ice in the ice storage unit is full is detected,
When the ice storage unit detects that the ice is full, the ice maker performs the ice-breaking operation or the full-ice detection operation again after a predetermined time has elapsed.
When it is detected that the ice storage unit is not in a full ice state, water is supplied to the ice maker.
Control method of ice making module.
An ice-making module in which the method of controlling the ice-making module according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 6 is performed.
A refrigerator in which the method of controlling an ice making module according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 6 is performed.

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