KR102627200B1 - Packing device for sensor, icemaker and refrigerator including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packing for a sensor applied to an ice maker, and specifically, to a packing on one side that can be positioned adjacent to a control unit; a second side portion that faces the one side portion and can be positioned adjacent to a tray for ice making; a pair of connection surface portions connecting the one side portion and the other side portion; A base portion that is connected on one side to at least one of the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions to form a bottom, and includes an opening portion that is at least partially open. It can prevent malfunction due to contact with the ice-making tray.

Description

Packing for sensors, and ice makers and refrigerators including the same {PACKING DEVICE FOR SENSOR, ICEMAKER AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to sensor packing applied to ice makers, and ice makers and refrigerators including the same.

Generally, a refrigerator has a main body including a refrigerating compartment for refrigerating food and a freezer compartment for freezing food, and a compressor for compressing refrigerant and a heat exchanger for generating cold air are installed at the rear of the main body. The cold air generated from the heat exchanger is supplied into the refrigerator or freezer by a fan, and the air whose temperature has risen by circulating through the refrigerator or freezer is supplied back to the refrigerator or freezer through the heat exchanger, so that the food stored in the refrigerator or freezer is always fresh. status can be maintained. Typically, the temperature of the refrigerator is maintained at 3℃~4℃ to maintain the freshness of food or vegetables, and the freezer is maintained at a temperature below 0℃ to store food in a frozen state. At this time, ice is stored in the freezer or refrigerator. An ice maker is installed to manufacture ice.

The ice maker provided in these refrigerators automatically supplies water to the ice-making container, checks the ice-making status, and when ice-making is complete, automatically removes the ice from the ice-making container and loads it into the ice storage container, and provides user input for the ice-making operation. It has been widely used recently because ice can be obtained without any additional manipulation.

Typically, an ice maker includes a control unit, an ice-making tray connected to the control unit via a rotating shaft, a fixture for supporting the ice-making tray, and an ice bucket for storing ice generated at the bottom of the ice-making tray. do. The control unit is composed of a circuit board on which the control part is mounted, a mechanical driving device, and a motor and a gear that decelerates or amplifies the movement of the motor and transmits it. The transmitted motion is output through the drive shaft. In addition, various sensors are configured to monitor the status and power supply of the ice maker.

For example, the ice maker may be equipped with a sensor that detects the temperature and horizontal position of the ice-making tray and a sensor that detects abnormalities. These sensors are attached and installed adjacent to the ice-making tray, and can transmit sensed data to the refrigerator's control unit or perform operations on their own.

KR 1019950054800 B1 KR 1020150022960 A

The disclosure provides packing for a sensor that can reduce failure of a sensor for detecting the state of a tray, and an ice maker and refrigerator including the same.

According to one aspect of the present invention, one side portion that can be located adjacent to the control portion; a second side portion that faces the one side portion and can be positioned adjacent to a tray for ice making; a pair of connection surface portions connecting the one side portion and the other side portion; A base portion that is connected on one side to one or more of the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions to form a bottom, and includes an opening portion that is opened and formed. A packing for a sensor including a. .

In addition, it may include a shaft seal portion connected to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions on the other side, and having a hole for passing a drive shaft for rotation of the ejector.

Additionally, the base portion may include a flexible locking rib.

Additionally, the flexible locking rib may be formed to be biased in the storage direction of the sensor.

In addition, a sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions, the base portion includes a flexible locking rib, and the flexible locking rib is stored in the space. It is possible to prevent the sensor from being pulled out.

Additionally, a sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions, and a wire connected to the sensor may be drawn out through the opening portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, one side portion may be located adjacent to the control portion and includes an opening portion that is formed to be open; a second side portion that faces the one side portion and can be positioned adjacent to a tray for ice making; a pair of connection surface portions connecting the one side portion and the other side portion; a base portion connected at one side to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions to form a floor; And a shaft seal portion connected to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions on the other side, and having a hole for passing a drive shaft for rotation of the tray is formed. A packing for a sensor will be provided, including a. You can.

Additionally, the opening portion may be formed adjacent to the base portion or the shaft seal portion.

Additionally, a sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions, and a wire connected to the sensor may be drawn out through the opening portion.

In addition, it may further include a partition part formed between the pair of connection surface parts and connecting the one side part and the other side part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an ice maker including packing for the sensor may be provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator including the ice maker may be provided.

The sensor packing provided in one aspect of the present invention can protect the sensor contained therein by preventing it from being exposed to moisture in the ice making device. In addition, it is possible to prevent the sensor stored inside from malfunctioning due to contact with the ice-making tray. Through this, sensor failure and malfunction can be reduced.

In addition, the sensor packing provided in one aspect of the present invention can fix the sensor contained therein so that it is not pulled out during the ice maker assembly, thereby improving assembly efficiency when manufacturing the ice maker. Through this, work convenience can be improved.

1 is a perspective view of the sensor packing of the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a structure for storing and preventing the sensor from being taken out in the sensor packing of the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sensor packing of the second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows the sensor stored in the sensor packing of the second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a fastening structure in which the control unit of the ice maker, the ice tray, and the drive shaft are assembled with the sensor packing in between according to one aspect of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an exemplary embodiment 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 gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

The technical idea of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following examples are only a means of efficiently explaining the advanced technical idea of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

In addition, the attached drawings are only examples shown to explain the technical idea of the present invention in more detail, so the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the form of the attached drawings.

Additionally, throughout the specification, when a part is said to be 'connected' to another part, this does not only mean 'directly connected', but also 'indirectly connected' with another element in between. Includes. In addition, 'including' a certain component does not mean excluding other components, but rather including other components, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

According to one aspect of the present invention, packing may be provided. The packing is intended to protect the sensor included in the ice making device, and the sensor is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the state of the ice making tray. For example, the sensor may be a thermal fuse or a bimetal to detect abnormal operation of the ice maker (for example, overheating due to abnormal operation of a heater included in the ice maker, etc.). However, the sensor is not limited thereto, and the sensor is comprehensive, including at least one selected from the group consisting of, for example, a temperature detection sensor, a horizontal detection sensor, a defrost sensor, and a full ice detection sensor, capable of detecting predetermined data. It is used as a name.

Packing according to one aspect of the present invention can be applied to an ice making device. The ice making device may include a control unit, a drive shaft, and an ice making tray for ice making. The control unit may include at least one selected from the group consisting of a driving device for driving the ice making device, a gear for transmitting motion of the driving device, and a control board for controlling the ice making. The drive shaft may be connected to the control unit to be rotatable under the control of the control unit. The ice-making tray is used to freeze water into ice, and includes a plurality of accommodating parts capable of containing water or ice, and may be connected or coupled to the drive shaft to rotate in conjunction with the movement of the drive shaft. The material of the ice-making tray is not particularly limited and may be plastic or steel. The packing according to one aspect of the present invention may be located between the control unit and the ice-making tray, but is not limited thereto. In embodiments to be described later, it will be explained that the packing is positioned adjacent to the control unit of the ice making device and the ice making tray.

Packing of the first embodiment according to one aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Packing 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor accommodating portion (not shown) that forms a space in which a sensor can be accommodated; And it may include a shaft seal 160 through which the drive shaft of the ice making device can pass. The sensor housing includes one side portion 110; Another side portion 120 opposite to the one side portion; A pair of connection surface portions 130 connecting the one side portion 110 and the other side portion 120; and a base portion 140.

The one side portion 110 and the other side portion 120 are connected by the pair of connection surface portions 130 to form a sensor receiving portion (not shown) with a space therein, and the space includes an ice making device. Sensors applied to can be accommodated. The shapes of the one side portion 110, the other side portion 120, and the pair of connection surface portions 130 are not particularly limited, and in this embodiment, they are described as having a rectangular shape. The one side portion 110 may be located adjacent to the control unit of the ice making device, and the other side portion 120 may be located adjacent to the ice making tray of the ice making device. The one side portion 110 and the other side portion 120 may have a larger area than the pair of connection surface portions 130, but are not limited thereto.

The packing 10 may further include a partition 150 for dividing the space between the pair of connection surface parts 130. The partition portion 150 may be formed to connect the one side portion 110 and the other side portion 120.

The base portion 140 may be connected on one side to one or more of the one side portion 110, the other side portion 120, and the pair of connection surface portions 130 to form a floor, and may be stored inside the space. The sensor can be supported by limiting its movement in one direction. The base portion 140 may include an opening formed by being opened, and after the sensor is accommodated inside the packing 10 through the opening, a wire connected to the sensor can be drawn out. Here, the description is mainly given for the case where the entire opening part is open, but may also include the case where some parts are open. Additionally, the base portion 140 may include a flexible locking rib 141. The structure for storing and removing the sensor in the packing 10 of this embodiment including the flexible locking rib 141 is shown in FIG. 2 . The flexible locking rib 141 can prevent the sensor stored in the space from being pulled out, and at the same time, when the sensor is stored in the space, it is bent in the direction in which the sensor is introduced, thereby securing a space for the sensor to be introduced. can do. The shape of the flexible locking rib 141 is not particularly limited, and for example, it may be formed to be biased in the direction of housing the sensor. Alternatively, it may be formed to include an entry guide inclined surface portion that is formed to slope downward as it moves away from one side of the flexible locking rib 141 adjacent to the space so that the sensor can easily enter the space.

The shaft sealing portion 160 may be formed by being connected to the one side portion 110, the other side portion 120, and the pair of connection surface portions 130 on the other side. The shaft seal 160 may be formed to include a hole 161 through which a drive shaft for rotation of an ejector for moving ice in the ice-making tray passes. The inner diameter of the hole 161 may be larger than or equal to the outer diameter of the drive shaft.

Packing of the second embodiment according to one aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. In describing the second embodiment, detailed descriptions of parts that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted. Packing 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor accommodating portion (not shown) that forms a space in which the sensor can be accommodated; And it may include a shaft seal 160 through which the drive shaft of the ice making device can pass. The sensor housing includes one side portion 110; Another side portion 120 opposite to the one side portion; A pair of connection surface portions 130 connecting the one side portion 110 and the other side portion 120; and a base portion 140.

A sensor may be accommodated in the space formed by the one side portion 110, the other side portion 120, and the pair of connection surface portions 130. The one side portion 110 may be located adjacent to the control unit of the ice maker and may include an opening formed by being open. The opening is configured to allow the sensor to be inserted and the wire connected to the sensor to be pulled out. The shape of the opening is not particularly limited as long as it allows the sensor to be stored inside, and the base portion 140 or the It may be formed adjacent to the shaft sealing portion 160. Figure 4 shows the sensor stored in the packing 10 according to this embodiment. The sensor can be stored into the space through the opening, and after the sensor is stored in the space, the wire connected to the sensor can be drawn out through the opening.

The base portion 140 may be connected to the one side portion 110, the other side portion 120, and the pair of connection surface portions 130 on one side to form a floor, and support the sensor stored in the space. can do.

The material of the packing 10 is not particularly limited, and may be a polymer material, for example, a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin may be, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, but is not limited thereto.

Packing according to one aspect of the present invention can be installed in an ice maker. The ice maker may be installed in a refrigerator.

As described above, the packing according to one aspect of the present invention can be applied to an ice maker, and for this purpose, it can be assembled by being connected or combined with elements included in the ice maker. An example of this is shown in Figure 5. Referring to FIG. 5, the packing 10 may be connected to the control unit 300 included in the ice maker, the ice making tray 400 for ice making, and the drive shaft 500. At this time, the packing 10 can be connected to other elements with the sensor stored therein. Since the sensor, the control unit 300, the tray 400, and the drive shaft 500 have already been described above, their detailed description will be omitted here.

The packing 10 may first accommodate a sensor therein before being assembled with other elements of the ice maker. The sensor can be inserted through an opening formed in the packing 10 and stored in a space formed within the packing 10, and a wire connected to the sensor can be drawn out through the opening. The sensor stored in the space is supported by one side part, the other side part, the connection surface part, and the base part of the packing 10 forming the space, so that it is not pulled out while being connected or combined with other elements of the ice maker and is stored in the packing ( 10) can be fixed within.

After the sensor is stored inside, the packing 10 can be connected and assembled with the tray 400 or the control unit 300. In this embodiment, it is explained that the packing 10 is first connected to the tray 400. The connection assembly between the packing 10 and the tray 400 or the control unit 300 is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the two, for example, through structural fastening using grooves and protrusions or adhesive components. This may be through attachment using a member having. The tray 400 may include a shaft fitting portion 410 to be connected to the drive shaft 500 in the axial direction. The shaft fitting portion 410 may have a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the outer diameter shape of the drive shaft 500. Assembly of the tray 400 and the drive shaft 500 may be performed before or after the packing 10 and the tray 400 are assembled. Additionally, assembly of the packing 10 and the tray 400 may be performed before or after assembly of the tray 400 and the drive shaft 500.

In the packing 10 according to one aspect of the present invention, the portion adjacent to the tray 400 has a sealed structure, so the sensor stored inside the packing 10 can be protected. In addition, since the sensor stored inside the packing 10 can be stably maintained even during assembly with other components of the ice maker, the packing 10 can improve convenience during assembly.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above through representative embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications to the above-described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. You will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the claims described below as well as equivalents to these claims.

10: Packing
110: one side part
111: opening part
120: Other side part
130: connection part
140: base part
141: Locking rib
150: compartment
160: Shaft sealing part
161: Hall
200: sensor
210: wire
300: control unit
400: Tray
410: Shaft fitting part
500: Drive shaft

Claims (12)

One side portion that can be positioned adjacent to the control portion;
a second side portion that faces the one side portion and can be positioned adjacent to a tray for ice making;
a pair of connection surface portions connecting the one side portion and the other side portion;
A base portion connected to one or more of the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions on one side to form a bottom, and including an opening portion that is at least partially open,
Packing for a sensor comprising; a shaft sealing portion connected to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions on the other side, and having a hole for passing a drive shaft for rotation of the ejector.
delete In claim 1,
Packing for a sensor, wherein the base portion includes a flexible locking rib.
In claim 3,
Packing for a sensor, wherein the flexible locking rib is formed to be biased in the storage direction of the sensor.
In claim 1,
A sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions,
The base portion includes a flexible locking rib,
The flexible locking rib is a packing for a sensor that can prevent the sensor stored in the space from being pulled out.
In claim 1,
A sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions,
Packing for a sensor, wherein a wire connected to the sensor can be drawn out through the opening.
One side portion that can be located adjacent to the control portion and includes an opening portion that is formed to be at least partially open;
a second side portion that faces the one side portion and can be positioned adjacent to a tray for ice making;
a pair of connection surface portions connecting the one side portion and the other side portion;
a base portion connected at one side to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions to form a floor; and
Packing for a sensor comprising; a shaft sealing portion connected to the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions on the other side, and having a hole for passing a drive shaft for rotation of the ejector.
In claim 7,
Packing for a sensor, wherein the opening portion is formed adjacent to the base portion or the shaft seal portion.
In claim 7,
A sensor may be accommodated in a space formed by the one side portion, the other side portion, and the pair of connection surface portions,
Packing for a sensor, wherein a wire connected to the sensor can be drawn out through the opening.
The method of claim 1 or 7,
Packing for a sensor, which is formed between the pair of connection surface parts and further includes a partition part connecting the one side part and the other side part.
An ice maker comprising the packing for the sensor of any one of claims 1, 3 to 9.
A refrigerator comprising the ice maker of claim 11.