KR20080081464A - Automatic water dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic water dispenser is provided to selectively open and close a passage by using a flow rate adjusting unit. An automatic water dispenser includes a water supply unit(210), a vessel state and water level detecting unit(400), a flow rate adjusting unit(240), and a controller(270). The water supply unit is provided at a front surface of a refrigerator. The water supply unit is provided therein with a vessel resting unit(211) to rest a vessel(V). The water supply unit is connected with a water tank and a passage(221). At least one nozzle is provided at an upper portion of the vessel resting unit. A body of a passage opening/closing unit(215) is interposed between the water tank and the passage to open/close the passage by using an electrical signal. The passage is equipped with the flow rate adjusting unit. The flow rate adjusting unit selectively adjusts a flow rate of water.

Description

Automatic Water Dispensing System

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator provided with a water supply according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an automatic water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view illustrating main parts of FIG. 2.

4 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention.

5A to 5D are schematic diagrams of a channel opening and closing state by a flow control shutter.

6 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention.

7 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention.

8 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention.

9 and 10 are front views illustrating a process of detecting a height and a level of a container by a container and a level detector according to the present invention.

<< Explanation of symbols for main part of drawing >>

210: water supply 211: seating portion

213: Nozzle

221 Euro

230: identification mark

240: flow rate flow controller 241: flow control shutter

242: MFC (Mass Flow Controller) 243a: solenoid valve

245: n-way solenoid valve 245a, 245b, 245c: outlet

400: vessel and water level detection unit 410: ultrasonic transducer for transmission

421, 423, 425: ultrasonic transducer for reception

V: container

The present invention relates to an automatic water supply system capable of adjusting the flow rate and quantitative rate in water supply.

In general, the water supply unit is installed in a refrigerator, a water purifier, or the like so that the user can easily take out the liquid.

In particular, the water supply unit installed in the refrigerator is configured to take out the liquid inside the refrigerator through the water supply unit installed outside the refrigerator without opening the door of the refrigerator.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a water supply device according to the related art is installed in a refrigerator, and a water supply device 120 is installed on a front surface of the door 110 of the refrigerator 100.

The water supply unit 120 is provided with a container seating unit 130, the discharge key (not shown) for discharging water is provided in the water supply unit 120.

Therefore, the user inserts the container 140 into the container seating portion 130 of the water supply 120 installed in the front of the door 110 of the refrigerator 100, and presses the discharge key only water for the time the liquid discharge key is pressed. It can be thrown to the container 140.

When the water supply unit is installed in the refrigerator, since the door does not need to be opened, the cold air inside the refrigerating compartment is not leaked to the outside, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator and maintaining the freshness of foods stored in the refrigerator for a longer time.

Recently, attempts have been made to develop automatic water dispensers, and automatic water dispensers have been developed with an emphasis on user convenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic water supply system that can adjust the water supply amount and flow rate by the user's selection.

The object of the present invention, the container seating portion is formed with one side open, the water supply unit provided with at least one nozzle on the container seating portion; A flow rate flow regulator provided in a flow passage communicating with the water supply; A vessel and a water level detector which transmits ultrasonic waves to the vessel seated on the vessel guide portion and detects the reflected ultrasonic waves to generate a signal; It can be achieved by an automatic water supply system configured to include a control unit for receiving a signal from the vessel and the water level detection unit to control the flow rate flow regulator of the water supply.

Preferably, the flow rate flow regulator of the present invention is a flow rate adjustment shutter to selectively open and close the cross-sectional area of the flow path.

Preferably, the flow rate flow regulator of the present invention is MFC.

More preferably, the MFC of the present invention is opened only for a certain time corresponding to the flow rate setting of the user.

Preferably, the flow path of the present invention has at least two branch pipes branched, and the flow rate flow regulator is a solenoid valve provided in each of the branch pipes.

Preferably, the flow rate flow regulator of the present invention includes an inlet, a plurality of outlets, and a solenoid valve capable of gradually blocking the plurality of outlets corresponding to the level of the vessel.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention with reference to the drawings in detail.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an automatic water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG.

2 and 3, the automatic water supply system according to the present invention includes a water supply 210, a container and a water level detection unit 400, a flow rate flow regulator 240, and a controller 270.

The water supply 210 is provided at the front of the refrigerator (not shown), and a container seating portion 211 in which the container is mounted is formed. The container seating part 211 is a constant space in which one side surface of the front surface of the refrigerator is open and a flat horizontal surface is formed inside so that the container can be seated.

The water supply 210 communicates with a water tank (not shown) in which water is contained and a flow path 221, and a nozzle 213 which is at least one water inlet is provided on the container seating portion 211.

The main body of the flow path switch 217 is an actuator such as a solenoid interposed between a water tank (not shown) and the flow path 221 communicating with the water supply 210 to open and close the flow path 221 by an electrical signal.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention is configured to further include a flow rate flow controller 240 that can selectively adjust the flow rate and flow rate of the water to be supplied to the flow path (221). Flow rate regulator 240 according to the present invention can be variously modified as shown in Figures 4 to 8.

4 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention, in which a flow path 221 of the water supply 210 is provided, and the flow rate flow regulator 240 has a flow rate adjustment mounted on the flow path 221. It consists of a shutter 241.

Here, the flow rate adjustment shutter 241 blocks a part or all of the end surface of the flow path 221 passing through the water (or liquid), and adjusts the flow rate passing through the flow path 221. At this time, the flow rate adjustment shutter 241 is preferably adjusted so that the flow rate is gradually reduced in accordance with the water level in the container from the start of the water supply to the completion of the water supply in the water supply 210.

Therefore, if the flow rate is gradually reduced in accordance with the water level in the container by the flow rate adjustment shutter 241, water can be prevented from splashing out of the container.

On the other hand, the flow control shutter 241 can block a part or all of the flow path 221, like the camera aperture system, it is possible to freely design this blocking method.

5A to 5D are schematic diagrams of opening / closing a flow path by a flow control shutter. First, FIG. 5A illustrates a flow control shutter 241 not blocking the flow path 221 during water supply.

After that, when the liquid is filled to the container at the first height, as shown in FIG. 5B, a portion 'A' of the cross section of the pipe 221 through which the liquid passes is blocked.

Subsequently, when the container is filled with the liquid at a second height higher than the first height, as shown in FIG. 5C, a portion 'B' of the cross section of the flow path 221 is blocked.

In this case, for example, if the cutoff state of FIG. 5B is blocked by 50% of the cross-sectional area of the flow path 221, in FIG. 5C, 90% of the cross-sectional area of the flow path 221 is blocked. That is, the flow control shutter of the present invention blocks the cross-sectional area of the flow path 221.

Next, in order to end the water supply in the water supply 210, all the cross-section 'C' of the flow path 221 is completely blocked so that the water is not discharged.

6 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention, which is mounted on the flow path 221 of the water supply 210 and controls a mass flow controller (MFC) for adjusting the water pressure of water discharged into the container ( 242). Here, the MFC 242 has a function of opening the flow path 221 only for a predetermined time corresponding to the set flow rate when the user wants to supply a predetermined capacity such as 1 liter, 1 oz.

That is, the MFC 242 preferably adjusts the water supply pressure so that the water supply pressure gradually decreases according to the water level. Therefore, the MFC 242 can gradually reduce the water supply pressure, thereby preventing water from splashing out of the container.

7 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention, in which a flow path 221 of a water supply 210 is provided, and the flow path 221 includes first and second branch pipes 221a and 221b. Branched).

Therefore, corresponding first and second solenoid valves 243a and 243b are respectively installed in the first and second branch pipes 221a and 221b. As a result, the first and second solenoid valves 243a and 243b are the flow rate flow regulators of the third embodiment.

This flow rate flow regulator of the third embodiment opens both the first and second solenoid valves 243a and 243b when water is supplied from the water supply 210 so that both solenoid valves can discharge water, If it exceeds 50% of the height, in order to prevent splashing of water, one solenoid valve is closed to supply water using only one open solenoid valve.

8 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of the flow rate flow regulator according to the present invention, in which a flow path 221 of the water supply 210 is provided, and the flow rate flow regulator 240 has one inlet and a plurality of outlets 245a. And 245b and 245c, the inlet is mounted at the end of the flow path 221, and the n-direction (Way) in which the plurality of outlets 245a, 245b and 245c are gradually blocked according to the level of the container. ) And the solenoid valve 245.

The n-way solenoid valve 245 is a plurality of outlets (245a, 245b, 245c) is open when water supply, but as the water level of the container is gradually blocked the outlet to prevent water from splashing out of the container. .

And when the n-way solenoid valve 245 is provided with one inlet and two outlets, it is called a two-way solenoid valve, and such a solenoid valve is already known, and thus its structure is not described in detail. Do not.

9 and 10 are front views illustrating a process of detecting a height and a level of a container by a container and a level detector according to the present invention.

9 and 10, the container and the water level detection unit 400 according to the present invention may include a transmitting ultrasonic transducer 410 and at least one receiving transducer 421, 423, 425 provided on a printed circuit board (no number). Configured sensor module. The above-described nozzle 213 is located between the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 410 and the receiving water level ultrasonic transducer 421 which is most adjacent to the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 410.

The container and the water level detecting unit 400 according to the present invention are receiving ultrasonic transducers 423 and 425 (container height detection only) based on the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 410 and receiving transducer 421 (water level). They are spaced apart from each other in a position opposite to the detection only and the height detection. As a result, the transducers 410.421, 423, 425 are provided in a row in the container and the water level detection unit 400 according to the present invention. However, the placement relationship of the ultrasonic transducers is fixed at the position where the outgoing ultrasonic transducer 410 and the level measurement ultrasonic transducer 421 are sandwiched between the nozzles 213, while the ultrasonic transducers 423 425 dedicated to the remaining vessel height measurement. ) May be horizontal or vertical, and the illustration of the invention is merely one embodiment.

Here, the height of the container (V) transmits the ultrasonic wave from the transmitting ultrasonic transducer 410 and the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected by the container (V) is determined by the first received signal among the receiving ultrasonic transducers (421, 423, 425). In addition, the container and the water level detection unit 400 according to the present invention are illustrated as being limited to being disposed in the vertical direction, but is not limited thereto and may be arranged in the horizontal direction.

In addition, the present invention provides an identification mark 231 on the bottom surface of the container seating portion 211 so that a user can easily mount the container V to the container seating portion 211.

The control unit 270 receives a signal transmitted from the container and the water level detection unit 400 and supplies water to the container V according to a preloaded program. At this time, the flow rate flow regulator 240 is controlled by the controller 270 according to the user's selection to adjust the flow rate, flow rate control or flow rate / flow rate of the discharged water.

The control unit 270 controls the container and the water level detection unit 400 according to a loaded program when the user normally seats the container V on the container seating unit 211 and operates a function key for the automatic water supply provided in the refrigerator. To open the flow path switch 217 to correspond to the user's set value. In addition, the container and the water level detector 400 transmit the water supply level of the container V to the controller 270 in real time.

The controller 270 closes the flow path 221 by controlling the flow switch 217 when the level value by the signal input from the container and the water level detection unit 400 is equal to or higher than the user's set value. When the user removes the container V from which the water supply is completed, the water supply process is completed.

Although the present invention described above is limited to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and modifications to the extent that a person skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention are not limited thereto. Obviously, it belongs to the technical idea of the invention.

The present invention having the above configuration has the effect of providing ease of use that can automatically supply the flow rate or amount of water to be supplied according to the user's selection of cooking.

Claims (6)

A water supply unit having a container seating part having an open side, and provided with at least one nozzle on the container seating part; A flow rate flow regulator provided in a flow passage communicating with the water supply; A vessel and a water level detector which transmits ultrasonic waves to the vessel seated on the vessel guide portion and detects the reflected ultrasonic waves to generate a signal; And a controller configured to receive a signal from the vessel and the water level detector to control a flow rate controller of the water supply. The method of claim 1, The flow rate flow regulator is an automatic water supply system, characterized in that the flow rate shutter to selectively open and close the cross-sectional area of the flow path. The method of claim 1, The flow rate flow regulator is an automatic water supply system, characterized in that the MFC. The method of claim 3, wherein The MFC is automatic water supply system, characterized in that for opening for a predetermined time corresponding to the flow rate setting of the user. The method of claim 1, The flow path has at least two branch pipes, The flow rate flow regulator is an automatic water supply system, characterized in that each solenoid valve provided in the branch pipe. The method of claim 1, The flow rate flow regulator, And an inlet, a plurality of outlets, and a solenoid valve capable of gradually shutting off the plurality of outlets in response to the level of the vessel.

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