KR20020057131A - Control device for ICE maker apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A control device of automatic ice maker is provided to make ice cubes with appropriate size by precisely supplying water. CONSTITUTION: A control device(530) includes a motor(504) supplying rotary force to a discharge device; a thermistor(554) detecting temperature of an ice making vessel(526); a microcomputer(550) determining whether ice making is completed based on detection of the thermistor to control the motor to push ice cubes to a storage vessel; and a first heater(507) installed in the control device and driven by control of the microcomputer to prevent influence of temperature on parts of circuits working under low-temperature condition.

Description

Control device for automatic ice maker

The present invention relates to a control device of an automatic ice maker, and more particularly, to a control device of an automatic ice maker that completely controls from water supply to the ice making container to push the iced ice into the storage container.

Refrigerators and freezers, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and kimchi refrigerators, operate a cooling cycle to generate the cold air required inside the equipment. The cooling cycle generates the cool air required by the device by heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage connected to the condenser and the evaporator from the compressor to the air.

The automatic ice maker refers to a device that automatically ices ice by cold air supplied by the operation of the cooling cycle as described above. Therefore, the automatic ice maker is installed in a portion of the refrigeration / refrigeration equipment.

1 shows a general automatic ice maker.

Generally, the ice maker 118 is installed in the chamber of the refrigerating device. The chamber is refrigerated by air or a heat transfer device. That is, it is refrigerated by an evaporator in the cabinet wall, and the cooling cycle for driving the evaporator is composed of a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator, as mentioned above, and carries the refrigerant from the evaporator to the evaporator. Refrigerant flow path is included.

The ice maker 118 includes an ice maker 126 as shown in FIG. 1. The ice tray forms an ice body in which the cavity of the tray is divided into partitions. And collect the ice in the reservoir by the ejector 131 scraping the ice in the ice maker during the discharge cycle. A cup 127 is formed at one side of the ice making container to help receive water in the cavity of the ice making container.

Periodic operation of the ejector is automatically controlled by the control device 130. The control device 130 is installed at the front end of the ice making container 126.

The ice maker thus constructed is made of ice by the following process.

Water is supplied through the cup 127 to the respective cavities beyond the wall of each ice tray partition until the water is filled. Then, ice is made while cold ice is supplied to the ice making container, and when the completion of freezing of the ice body is detected by the control device 130, the ejector 131 rotates and scrapes ice from the cavity to the bottom to scrape the ice from below. It will be pushed out to the reservoir.

In the conventional automatic ice maker which operates as described above, when water is supplied to the cavity and the supplied water is frozen and the freezing completion is sensed, the control device 130 controls the operation until the ice is pushed into the storage container by operating the ejector. Various sensing means are provided inside and outside.

2 is a block diagram of a control device for controlling the operation of a conventional automatic ice maker.

First, a heater 207 is provided at the bottom of the ice making container 126. The heater 207 helps to easily separate the iced ice from the ice making container.

The control device 130 includes a motor 204 for supplying the discharge force required for the ejector 131. The motor 204 is configured to transmit power to the ejector 131 through the cam shaft 189. That is, the wing 188 of the ejector 131 moved by the cam shaft 189 pushes the ice out of the ice making container against the stripper wing 208. The stripper blade 208 serves to effectively peel off ice from the ejector 131.

The control device 130 includes a thermostat 254. The thermostat is of bimetal type and senses the temperature of the ice making container 126 to determine the completion of ice body cooling. The discharge cycle is then controlled according to the detected value. The thermostat 254 is installed on the rear wall of the ice making container 126, as shown in FIG.

In addition, the control device 130 is an ice sensing sensor 261 connected to the cam shaft 189, and the ice detection sensing micro-switch to detect the full moon by the operation of the switch in contact with the motion of the detection lever 261 ( 290). The detection lever 261 moves in connection with the cam shaft 189 and detects that the ice is filled in the storage container under the ice maker. Therefore, when ice is filled in the storage container, the ice detection lever 261 does not move any more, and the ice detection micro switch 290 is opened. When the ice detection micro switch 290 is opened, the ice maker no longer stops making ice.

And conventional automatic ice maker determines the water supply time at the interval of the cam. That is, when water is supplied to the ice making container 126 through the cup 127, the water supply time is determined by the mechanical operation interval of the cam, and water is supplied accordingly.

The conventional automatic ice maker described above is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,362,181.

However, the control apparatus of the conventional automatic ice maker has the following problems.

First, in order to determine the completion of ice body cooling, the temperature of the ice making container 126 is sensed by a bimetal type thermostat, and the ice discharge cycle is controlled according to the detected value. However, the thermostat has a very high operating error, as also indicated in US Patent 3,362,181. Therefore, there are many defects and a small amount of ice making.

Second, the water supply time for supplying water to the ice making container is determined by the mechanical operation interval of the cam. Therefore, due to the mechanical operation error of the cam, a lot of errors occur in the water supply time, and thus, it is difficult to accurately supply water, and thus a water supply related defect is generated.

Third, the various components mounted in the control device are circuit components. Since these circuit components react sensitively to temperature, a problem arises that normal control is difficult while operating in a space where a low temperature condition is continuously maintained, such as a freezer.

As a result, the control apparatus of the conventional automatic ice maker did not bring consumer satisfaction in ice making due to the above problems.

Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to provide a control device of an automatic ice maker that can control ice making of an appropriate size by supplying accurate water to the ice making container.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus of an automatic ice maker that can maintain the temperature of circuit components mounted for normal control of the automatic ice maker.

1 is a configuration diagram of a typical automatic ice maker;

2 is a block diagram of a control device of a conventional automatic ice maker;

3 is a block diagram of a control device of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

504: motor 5077: heater

526: Ice tray 527: Cup

530: control unit 531: ejector

550: microcomputer 554: thermistor

558: Power switch 561: Gumbling lever

589: cam shaft 590: ice detection unit

500: heater

An apparatus for controlling an automatic ice maker according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes an ice making container having a cavity divided into partitions, and a discharging means for separating the ice attached to the ice making container and discharging the ice into the storage container. A control apparatus for an ice maker, comprising: a motor for providing rotational power of the discharge means; Resistance temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the ice making vessel; A microcomputer which determines the completion of cooling from the sensed value of the resistance temperature sensing means and controls the driving of the motor to push the iced ice into the storage container; It is comprised in the control apparatus and is comprised including the 1st heater which drives by control of the said microcomputer.

The microcomputer is configured to control the water supply time and the water supply time to the ice making vessel.

The present invention is characterized in that a second heater is provided on the bottom surface of the ice making container for assisting the separation operation of the ice cooled in the ice making container, and the microcomputer controls the operation of the second heater.

The present invention further comprises ice-covering means for sensing the ice of the storage container for storing the ice separated from the ice-making container, and for transmitting the detected value to the microcomputer.

Hereinafter, a control device of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a structural diagram of a control device of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention.

The automatic ice maker of the present invention has an ice maker 526 in which the cavity of the tray is divided into partitions. A heater 507 is provided at the bottom of the ice making container 526 to help separate ice. In addition, an ejector 531 scraping the ice ice on the upper portion of the ice making container 526 is installed to be rotated in the ice making container 526. In addition, a cup 527 is formed at one side of the ice making container 526 to help receive water from the ice making container 526.

The ejector 531 is controlled to rotate periodically, the operation of the ejector 531 is controlled by the control device 530. The control device 530 is installed at the front end of the ice making container 526.

The control device 530 includes a microcomputer 550 for controlling the ice making operation of the ice maker. The microcomputer 550 is installed on the PCB, the operation control can be made by the on / off operation of the power switch 558.

The microcomputer 50 adjusts the time point at which water is supplied to the ice making container 526 and the amount of water supplied with time. The adjustment value at this time is controlled so that accurate water supply can be made based on the experimental value.

The control device 530 includes a motor 504 for supplying the ice discharge force required by the ejector 531. The motor 504 is configured to transmit power to the ejector 531 through the cam shaft 589. Operation control of the motor 504 is performed by the microcomputer 550. Therefore, the motor 504 is connected to the microcomputer 550 through the lead wire (L1).

The control device 530 includes a full ice detection unit 590 for detecting full ice of the ice contained in the storage container. The ice sensor 590 detects ice in accordance with the amount of motion of the ice sensor lever 561 connected to the cam shaft 589, and transmits the detected signal through the lead wire L2 to the microcomputer 550. To pass).

The control device 530 is installed on the rear wall of the ice making container 526, and includes a thermistor 554 that is a resistance temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the ice making container 526. The detection temperature of the thermistor 554 is transmitted to the microcomputer 550 through the lead wire (L3). Accordingly, the microcomputer 550 determines ice making completion based on the detection temperature of the thermistor 554 and controls the discharge cycle accordingly.

The microcomputer 550 is connected to the heater 507 through the lead wire L4 and controls the operation of the heater 507.

In addition, the control device 530 includes a heater 500 for controlling the temperature of all the circuit components installed in the control device 530 to be properly maintained. The heater 500 is driven by the control of the microcomputer 550. Therefore, the heater 500 generates heat so that various circuit components driven in a low temperature state such as a freezing chamber are not affected by temperature. That is, the heat generated by the heater 500 enables the normal operation of the circuit components.

The following describes the control operation of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention having the above configuration.

The microcomputer 550 controls the water supply time and the water supply time to the ice making container 526. That is, in consideration of various operating conditions such as the detection temperature of the thermistor 554 and the operation of the ejector 531, it is determined when the water should be supplied to the ice making container 526.

For example, based on the detection temperature of the thermistor 554, it may be sensed that the ice making is completed, and it may be detected that the ice ice is discharged to the storage container by the operation control of the ejector 531. After such a sensing operation, a control is performed to open a valve (not shown) connected between the ice making container 526 and the water supply means. Then, by controlling the open time of the valve to the set value, to control the water supply time to the ice making container (526).

Therefore, the microcomputer 550 sets the water supply to the ice making container 526 and the water supply time to an appropriate value, and controls the water supply to the ice making container 526 accordingly. At this time, it is possible to variably adjust the size of the ice ice by the control of the water supply time.

And only the water supply time and water supply time is controlled only through the microcomputer 550. Thus, water is supplied through the cup 527 so that each cavity can flow over the respective ice tray partition wall to the end cavity until the water is filled.

In this operation, when water is supplied to the ice maker, ice is supplied while cold cold air is supplied. During the operation as described above, the thermistor 554 continuously detects the temperature of the ice making container 526, and the detected temperature is transmitted to the microcomputer 550. The microcomputer 550 determines whether ice making is completed based on the detection temperature of the thermistor 554.

When it is determined that ice cooling is completed from the detection temperature of the thermistor 554, the microcomputer 550 drives the motor 504. Microcomputer 550 also operates heater 507.

At this time, the heat generated by the driving of the heater 507 helps to be separated from the ice making container 526 while slightly melting the ice ice. The power of the motor 504 generated by the driving of the motor 504 is transmitted to the ejector 531 through the cam shaft 589. At this time, the blade of the ejector 531 rotated by the cam shaft 589 pushes the ice separated from the ice maker 526 out of the ice maker against the stripper blade.

In this way, the ice pushed out of the ice maker is stored in a reservoir located on the bottom of the ice maker.

On the other hand, the ice detection lever 561 determines the amount of ice contained in the storage container. If the ice is filled in the storage container so that the ice can no longer be contained in the storage container, the motion range of the detection lever 561 is blocked at a certain portion. That is, it is no longer possible to move downward by the full ice. At this time, the ice sensor 590 connected to the detection lever 561 detects the ice of the storage container, and transmits the detected signal to the microcomputer 550.

The microcomputer 550 stops the ice making operation of the ice maker any more by the ice detection signal of the ice detection unit 590. That is, the ice making operation is no longer performed until the ice detection signal of the ice detection unit 590 is released.

In addition, a value for determining whether the components operate normally is set in the microcomputer 550. Therefore, the microcomputer 550 may cut off the power supply to each component, and then determine whether the microcomputer 550 operates normally based on a signal input through a lead wire connected to each component.

When it is determined that the circuit components in the control device 530 do not operate normally due to the low temperature due to the above operation, the microcomputer 550 drives the heater 500 installed in the control device 530. . At this time, the power supply to the heater 500 is controlled to drive the heater 500.

The heat generated while the heater 500 is driven keeps the temperature of the circuit components inside the control device 530 appropriately. Of course, the driving of the heater 500 should be controlled to the extent that the circuit components are not damaged by heat.

As described above, the present invention controls the ice making operation of the ice maker as a whole by the microcomputer. In particular, the water supply amount is adjusted by the water supply time from the judgment of the water supply time. In addition, a thermistor which is a resistance type temperature sensing unit having a small operating error is used for temperature detection for determining whether the ice making operation is completed.

Therefore, the present invention uses a thermistor having a low operating error, thereby minimizing defects upon completion of cooling, and minimizing water supply-related defects by controlling water supply and water supply time by a microcomputer. In addition, the present invention is provided with a heater in the control device so that the circuit components inside the control device can maintain a proper temperature, and selectively drives the heater.

In the present invention described above, the water supply time and water supply time are set by the microcomputer for controlling the ice making operation of the ice maker, and the cooling is completed to control the circuit using the resistance temperature sensor. In addition, the present invention provides a basic technical idea of providing a heater in the control device and selectively driving the heater so that circuit components inside the control device maintain a proper temperature.

And within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, of course, various modifications are possible to those skilled in the art.

The present invention described above has the following effects.

First, it is possible to minimize defects by using a thermistor, which is a resistance temperature sensing unit having a low operating error, to determine whether the ice is cooled.

Second, since water supply time and water supply time are determined by the microcomputer, it is possible to perform accurate water supply without time error, thereby minimizing water supply-related defects.

Third, it is possible to increase the amount of ice making by the combined ice making method by adjusting the ice making time as well as controlling the water supply time.

Fourth, in particular, the present invention makes it possible to properly maintain the temperature of circuit components mounted in the control apparatus using a heater. Therefore, since the semiconductor devices cannot operate normally at a low temperature below zero, the conventional computer eliminates the installation of the microcomputer in the freezer, and the normal control can be obtained in the state of being mounted in the freezer.

Claims (4)

A control apparatus for an ice maker comprising a deicing container of a type in which a cavity is divided into partitions, and a discharging means for separating the ice attached to the ice making container and discharging it to a storage container: A motor for providing rotational power of the discharge means; Resistance temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the ice making vessel; A microcomputer which determines the completion of cooling from the sensed value of the resistance temperature sensing means and controls the driving of the motor to push the iced ice into the storage container; The control apparatus of the automatic ice maker provided in the control apparatus and including the 1st heater which is driven by the control of the said microcomputer. The method of claim 1 wherein: And the microcomputer controls the water supply time and the water supply time to the ice making machine. The method of claim 1 wherein: Installing a second heater on the bottom surface of the ice making container to help the separation operation of the ice cooled in the ice making container, And the microcomputer controls the operation of the second heater. The method of claim 1 wherein: And an ice-covering sensing means for detecting the ice-covering of the storage container for storing the ice separated from the ice-making container and transferring the detected value to the microcomputer.