KR20080026384A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to prevent ices from being wasted by supplying the exact number of ices through operations of a detector and a controller. A refrigerator comprises an ice storage unit(130) and a guide unit(140). The ice storage unit stores ices and has a transfer member that transfers a predetermined number of ices to an outlet provided at one side thereof. The guide unit is installed between the outlet of the ice storage unit and a discharge port formed at the outer side of the refrigerator. A detector is provided at the guide unit to count the number of ices that pass through the guide unit. A controller compares the input number of ices with the number of ices counted by the detector to control an operation of the transfer member according to the comparison results. An input unit is provided at the outer side of the refrigerator and receives the desired number of ices.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

1 and 2 are views illustrating a refrigerator equipped with an ice extracting device according to a conventional embodiment.

3 is a view showing a refrigerator equipped with an ice extracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a view showing the input unit of the ice taking apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a view showing a storage unit and the transport means of the ice extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a view showing the guide of the ice taking out device which is an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the control flow of the ice taking out device which is an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

110: input unit 120: ice maker

130: storage 140: guide

150 detection unit 160 control unit

The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of extracting the correct number of ice.

Generally, a refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, and a refrigerator compartment keeps food and vegetables fresh for a long time at a temperature of about 3 ° C to 4 ° C, while a freezer keeps food such as meat and fish frozen at subzero temperatures. Let's do it.

In general, refrigerators are mainly composed of a top mount type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are formed up and down, and the freezer door and the refrigerating compartment door can be opened and closed in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively. Accordingly, many side by side type refrigerators are formed on both sides of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and the freezer compartment door and the refrigerating compartment door are configured to be opened and closed with both end portions pivoted.

However, the side-by-side refrigerator as described above has a large capacity of the freezer compartment or the refrigerating compartment in which cold air can be circulated, and thus, when the freezer door or the refrigerating compartment door is opened and closed, the cold air loss increases and the efficiency decreases. An outlet for acquiring ice from the outside is formed, and the home bar is installed to open and close at the side of the refrigerating chamber so that simple water or a beverage can be withdrawn inside the refrigerating chamber.

1 and 2 are views illustrating a refrigerator equipped with an ice extracting device according to a conventional embodiment.

1 and 2, the refrigerator is formed so that the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are partitioned at both sides, and the door 1 is installed to open and close the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively. Ice taking out device 10 to be taken out is provided.

Of course, the door 1 is provided with a control panel 2 capable of selecting a predetermined function of the refrigerator, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling a predetermined function of the refrigerator according to an input of the control panel 2 is also incorporated.

In more detail, the ice extractor 10 includes an ice maker 11 that manufactures ice, an ice bank 12 in which ice produced by the ice maker 11 is accommodated, and discharges ice from the ice bank 12 to the outside. Consisting of the ice chute 13 and the dispenser unit 14, a water supply passage (not shown) for supplying water to the ice maker 11 is provided.

At this time, the ice maker 11 and the ice bank 12 are provided in the freezer compartment, while the ice chute 13 and the dispenser unit 14 are provided in the door 1, and the ice is in a state where the door 14 is closed in the freezer compartment. The bank 12 and the ice chute 13 are installed to communicate with each other.

In addition, the control panel 6 is provided with a button (not shown) of the ice extraction function, the ice bank 12 is provided with a separate transfer means (not shown) for transferring the ice to the ice chute 13, the control unit Is to adjust the operation of the ice maker 11 and the conveying means in accordance with the signal input through the control panel (2).

Normally, the amount of ice to be drawn out is adjusted according to the time when the button is pressed, or the set amount of ice is drawn out by pressing the button.

Therefore, when the user presses the button of the ice extracting function, the control unit controls the operation of the ice maker 11 and the conveying means according to the signal input from the button, and the ice stored in the ice bank 13 is guided by the conveying means. Then, it is withdrawn through the ice chute 13 and the dispenser unit 14.

However, in the refrigerator according to the related art, when the button of the ice withdraw function is pressed to withdraw ice, a predetermined amount of ice is withdrawn according to the time when the button is pressed or the number of times the button is pressed, so that the user can select the correct number of ice. It is difficult to draw out, and there are many cases in which more than necessary ice is taken out and wasted, and further, there is a problem such as waste of energy.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of extracting the ice in the correct number.

The present invention for solving the above problems is stored in the ice, ice storage unit having a transport means for transporting the ice to the outlet provided on one side; A guide unit disposed between the outlet of the ice storage unit and the outlet formed in the exterior of the refrigerator, and configured to guide the ice of the ice storage unit to the outlet; A sensing unit provided in the guide unit and counting the number of ice passing through the guide unit; And a controller for comparing the number of the input ice with the number of ice counted by the sensing unit and controlling the operation of the transfer means according to the comparison result.

In addition, the refrigerator provided in the exterior of the refrigerator, the input unit for receiving the number of ice; provides a refrigerator characterized in that it further comprises.

The input unit may include a button for inputting the number of ice; A display window for displaying the number of ice input through the button or the number of ice to be withdrawn is provided.

In addition, the guide portion provides a refrigerator, characterized in that the flat cross-sectional area is larger than the maximum cross-sectional area of one ice so that the ice can pass sequentially one by one.

In addition, the guide portion provides a refrigerator, characterized in that the opening and closing means for opening and closing the guide portion in a portion close to the outlet.

In addition, the sensing unit is provided on one surface of the guide portion perpendicular to the direction in which the ice is guided, the light emitting unit for generating light; And, provided on one surface of the guide portion facing the light emitting portion, and provides a refrigerator comprising a; light receiving unit for receiving light.

In addition, the light emitting unit provides a refrigerator, characterized in that the infrared light emitting diode.

In addition, the conveying means includes a conveying motor provided on the side opposite to the outlet of the ice storage portion; And, it is installed to be connected to the transfer motor inside the ice storage unit, it provides a refrigerator comprising a; screw to transfer the ice to the outlet of the ice storage while rotating.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a view showing a refrigerator provided with an ice extracting device which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing main parts of the ice extracting device which is an embodiment of the present invention.

Looking at the refrigerator equipped with an ice extractor according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to Figs. 3 to 6, the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are formed in the main body 101, the front surface is open, can open and close the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. Each door 102 is provided so that the door 102 is provided with a dispenser 103 for extracting ice, and the freezer and the door 102 are provided with an ice extractor capable of extracting the ice for each number. It is provided.

Of course, the shelf 104 is provided in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment so as to be partitioned, and a refrigerating cycle including a compressor 105 is provided at one side of the main body 101, and an evaporator (not shown) is provided on the inner wall of the main body 101. ) Is equipped with a cold air circulation path 106 for cooling the cold air to the freezer compartment or the refrigerating compartment while passing through the evaporator.

At this time, the ice extracting device is also provided in the freezer compartment so as to generate ice by cold air supplied from the cold air circulation path 106, and a water supply passage (not shown) to which water is supplied from the outside is connected.

More specifically, the ice taking device is an ice storage unit 130, the guide unit 140, the sensing unit 150 and the control unit 160, the input unit 110, the ice maker 120, the transfer means 133 is provided. Although the control unit 160 controls the ice maker 120 and the transfer means 133 according to the number of ice input through the input unit 110, the ice generated by the ice maker 120 is ice storage unit 130. And it is withdrawn through the guide unit 140, while counting the number of ice withdrawn from the detection unit 150 to be withdrawn as much as the number of the input ice.

First, the input unit 110 is installed on the front of the door 102, and includes various buttons electrically connected to the control unit 160 to operate a predetermined function of the refrigerator, the input button 111 for inputting the number of ice ), A display window 112 that displays the number of input ice or the number of extracted ice is included.

In this case, the input button 111 may input the number of ice as a number, but may also be input to add a certain number of ice every time it is pressed, while the display window 112 is initially input button 111 After the number of ice input through the display is displayed, the number of ice to be withdrawn while the ice is withdrawn, it is configured to display the number of ice to be withdrawn.

For example, the display window 112 may include seven segments in which seven rod-shaped light emitting diodes are arranged in an eight-character shape and display decimal numbers while turning on / off light to each light emitting diode.

Next, the ice maker 120 may be installed in a freezer compartment, and may be configured in various ways, including a kind of tray (not shown) connected with a water supply passage and containing water, and a separation means (not shown) for removing ice from the tray. The detailed description will be omitted because it is a known technique.

Next, the ice storage unit 130 is a kind of container in which ice is contained, which is installed to be positioned below the ice maker 120 at the freezing chamber side, and the inlet 131 formed so as to open the upper surface so that the ice is introduced therethrough, so that the ice escapes. An outlet 132 formed as an opening in front of the bottom surface is provided.

At this time, the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130 is preferably formed to be a predetermined interval larger than the maximum cross-sectional area of the ice so that the ice can sequentially escape one by one, which counts the ice one by one in the detector 150 To do that.

In addition, the transfer unit 133 for guiding the ice stored in the ice storage unit 130 to the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130 is provided, the transfer unit 133 is the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130 Consisting of the feed motor 133a positioned in the opposite direction), the feed motor 133a is axially coupled to the screw-shaped feed screw 133b installed to extend to the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130, The feed motor 133a is also installed to be connected to the control unit 160.

Of course, the ice falling on the transfer screw 133b transfers the ice to the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130 while the transfer screw 133b is rotated as the transfer motor 133a is operated.

Next, the guide portion 140 is a kind of tubular shape through which ice passes, and is installed in the door 102 and positioned on the inner surface of the door 102 so that the ice falling from the outlet 132 of the ice storage 130 flows in. The communication port 141 which is to be provided, the outlet 142 is located on the exterior of the door 102 so that the ice falls, the outlet 142 is located below the communication port 141 so that the ice is pulled out as free fall. .

In this case, like the outlet of the ice storage unit, the guide unit 140 is preferably configured to have a predetermined interval larger than the maximum cross-sectional area of the ice so that only one ice passes.

In addition, the guide portion 140 close to the outlet 142 is provided with an opening and closing portion 143 for opening and closing the guide portion 140, the guide portion connected to the solenoid 143a, the solenoid 143a to provide the opening and closing force It is made of a shutter (143b) to block the heat transfer inside and outside the freezer compartment while opening and closing 140, the solenoid (143a) is also installed to be connected to the control unit 160.

At this time, the shutter 143b is a kind of check valve type, and may be configured to provide an opening and closing force to block the outlet 142 of the guide portion 140 by a spring.

Next, the sensing unit 150 is installed on the surfaces facing each other of the guide unit 140, that is, the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ice passes in the guide unit 140, and emits light to generate light. It consists of a light receiving unit 152 for detecting the light receiving unit 152 is also installed to be connected to the control unit 160.

At this time, the light emitting unit 151 is preferably made of a light emitting diode for generating a low-cost infrared, it can be configured in various ways.

Next, the control unit 160 adjusts the operation of various components to implement a predetermined function of the refrigerator, as described above in order to take out the desired number of ice, the input unit 110, the ice maker 120, the conveying means 133, the opening and closing portion 143, is installed to be connected to the sensing unit 150, the operation relationship will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow of an ice extractor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, a control flow of an ice extractor according to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

First, when the user inputs the number of ice to be drawn out through the input button 111, the control unit 160 displays the number of ice set on the display window 112 and at the same time the water through the water supply flow path 120 After being introduced into and frozen, ice is separated from the ice maker 120 and introduced into the ice storage unit 130 through the inlet 131 of the ice storage unit 130.

Next, the control unit 160 rotates the feed screw 133b while operating the feed motor 133a, and the ice falling on the feed screw 133b is guided to the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130, and then free. The drop flows into the communication port 141 of the guide part 140 from the outlet 132 of the ice storage unit 130 and is withdrawn to the outlet 142 of the guide part 140 along the guide part 140. .

At this time, while the ice is withdrawn to the outlet 142 of the guide unit 140 along the guide unit 140, the light generated from the light emitting unit 151 is detected by the light receiving unit 152, the ice light emitting unit ( Each time the light passes between the 151 and the light receiving unit 152, the signal between the light emitting unit 151 and the light receiving unit 152 is blocked, and the controller 160 counts the number of ice.

Of course, the controller 160 compares the set number of ice with the number of counted ice, and operates the display window 112, the ice maker 120, the transfer motor 133a, and the solenoid 143a according to the comparison result. Control the ice to be drawn out as many as the set number of ice.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail by way of examples based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

The refrigerator according to the present invention configured as described above, in addition to the components for generating and withdrawing the ice, the detector for counting the number of ice on the flow path from which the ice is drawn out, so that the ice is withdrawn according to the set number according to the signal of the detector Since the control unit is provided, an accurate number of ice can be taken out, and there is an advantage of preventing waste of ice.

Claims (8)

An ice storage unit in which ice is stored and a transporting means for transporting ice to an outlet provided at one side thereof; A guide unit disposed between the outlet of the ice storage unit and the outlet formed in the exterior of the refrigerator, and configured to guide the ice of the ice storage unit to the outlet; A sensing unit provided in the guide unit and counting the number of ice passing through the guide unit; And, And a control unit which compares the number of input ice and the number of ice counted by the sensing unit, and controls the operation of the transfer unit according to the comparison result. The method of claim 1, And an input unit provided at an exterior of the refrigerator and receiving the number of ice. The method of claim 1, The input unit includes a button for inputting the number of ice; And a display window for displaying the number of ice input through the button or the number of ice to be withdrawn. The method of claim 1, The guide unit is a refrigerator, characterized in that the flat cross-sectional area is formed larger than the maximum cross-sectional area of one ice so that the ice can pass sequentially one by one. The method of claim 1, The guide portion is a refrigerator, characterized in that the opening and closing means for opening and closing the guide portion in close proximity to the outlet. The method of claim 1, The sensing unit is provided on one surface of the guide unit perpendicular to the direction in which the ice is guided, the light emitting unit for generating light; And a light receiving part provided on one surface of the guide part facing the light emitting part and receiving the light. The method of claim 6, The light emitting unit is an infrared light emitting diode, characterized in that the refrigerator. The method of claim 1, The conveying means includes a conveying motor provided on the side opposite to the outlet of the ice storage portion; And a transfer screw installed inside the ice storage unit to be connected to the transfer motor and transferring the ice to the outlet of the ice storage unit while rotating.

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