KR20090109420A - Full ice detecting apparatus of ice maker for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A full ice detecting apparatus of an ice maker for a refrigerator is provided to rotate a full ice detection sensor with a rotary unit for exact sensing by installing the full ice detection sensor at an ice maker body to be rotated by the rotary unit. CONSTITUTION: A full ice detecting apparatus of an ice maker for a refrigerator comprises an ice maker body, a full ice detection sensor, and a rotary unit. The ice maker of a refrigerator is arranged in the refrigerator and makes ice. An ice making unit is arranged in the ice maker body(101). The full ice detection sensor is arranged in the ice maker body and senses the full of ice delivered from the ice maker. The rotary unit(200) connects the full ice detection sensor to the ice maker body to be rotated.

Description

Full ice detecting apparatus of ice maker for refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an apparatus for detecting ice in a refrigerator ice maker.

Refrigerator is a device that can be stored fresh by refrigerated or frozen food. The refrigerator may be provided with an ice maker, which is an apparatus for manufacturing ice, and an ice bank in which the ice produced by the ice maker is accommodated.

Recently, ice makers and ice banks are installed in refrigerators as demand increases. The ice produced in such an ice maker falls into the ice bank and accumulates in the ice bank.

In a conventional refrigerator ice maker, whether or not the ice in the ice bank is detected by using the ice detection lever connected to the controller of the ice maker. That is, conventionally, by the mechanical structure, whether the ice bank is full of ice is detected.

The ice sensing lever is in a state of being rotated downward by a spring connected thereto, and the ice rises as the ice fills up in the ice bank. When the ice detection lever is raised above a predetermined height by ice, it is determined as ice.

However, according to the above-described conventional ice detection method, a mechanical operation of the ice detection lever may not be performed, such as when the rotating part of the ice detection lever is frozen. In this case, since the ice sensing lever does not operate properly, whether or not the ice in the ice bank is full is not properly detected. Then, even after the ice bank is filled with ice, the ice may continue to be supplied, causing problems such as overflow of the ice outside the ice bank.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice level detection device for a refrigerator ice maker having a structure capable of accurately and stably detecting whether or not ice is iced in the ice maker.

In the ice maker of the refrigerator ice maker according to an aspect of the present invention is disposed in the refrigerator, to make ice,

An ice maker body in which an ice making unit is disposed; An ice sheet detection sensor disposed on the ice maker body and configured to detect an ice cube of the ice iced by the ice maker; And a rotating unit rotatably connecting the ice detection sensor to the ice maker body.

The rotating unit may include a rotating shaft for rotatably connecting the ice maker body and the ice detection sensor and a shaft insertion hole into which the rotating shaft is inserted.

The rotating unit may further include an elastic member that provides an elastic force to reposition the rotated ice sensor.

The pivoting unit may include a flexible portion rotatably connecting the ice maker body and the ice-covering sensor.

According to the ice-covering device of the refrigerator ice maker according to an aspect of the present invention, the ice-covering sensor is installed by the rotating unit to be rotatable with respect to the ice-maker body, so that the ice-covering sensor is disposed inside the ice container and the inside for accurate detection. It can be rotated by the rotating unit so as not to hinder such movement upon movement of the ice container. Therefore, while accurately detecting whether the ice in the ice container and / or the amount of ice, there is an effect that the detachment of the ice container can be made smoothly.

In addition, according to the ice-covering device of the refrigerator ice maker according to another aspect of the present invention, when the transmitter is connected to the ice maker body by the flexible portion, when the external force is applied, the transmitter can be rotated while the flexible portion is deformed, While the structure of the unit is simplified, the detachment of the ice container is effective without being hindered by the transmitting unit.

In addition, according to the ice-covering device of the refrigerator ice maker according to another aspect of the present invention, since the ice-covering sensor is disposed on the ice maker body, and detects the ice of the ice iced out of the ice maker and accumulated in the ice container, mechanical ice detection lever When detecting whether or not by the ice, such as the rotating part of the ice detection lever to prevent the phenomenon that the ice is not properly detected, there is an effect that can be accurately and stably detected whether the ice in the ice container. .

In addition, according to the ice-covering device of the refrigerator ice maker according to another aspect of the present invention, the sensing height of the ice-covering sensor is disposed at a height corresponding to the ice level of the ice container having a predetermined height difference with the top of the ice container. . Therefore, by the ice sensor, it is possible to accurately detect whether the ice is in the ice container.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for detecting full ice in a refrigerator ice maker according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a refrigerator to which a full-water detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment is a device in which food is stored, a refrigerating compartment 11 in which food is kept cold at an image temperature, and a freezer compartment in which food such as ice is stored at a subzero temperature. (12), an ice maker (100) accommodated in the freezer compartment (12) and manufactured with ice, an ice container (180) for storing and storing ice produced in the ice maker (100), and the ice container A dispenser 190 is formed to ensure that the ice stored in 180 is properly supplied at the time desired by the user.

Of course, the refrigerator 10 is formed with components such as a compressor, a condenser, an expander and an evaporator to achieve a refrigeration cycle.

In addition, the refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 are opened and closed with respect to the outside by the refrigerating compartment door 13 and the freezing compartment door 14, respectively.

An operation related to the ice maker 100 will be described briefly.

After the appropriate amount of water is supplied to the ice maker 100, cold air is supplied to the ice maker 100. Then, after the ice is manufactured in the ice maker 100 by the supplied cold air, the ice is separated by the operation of the ice maker 100 and dropped into the ice container 180 to be accommodated. In addition, whenever the ice contained in the ice container 180 is requested by the user, the ice is supplied to the user by the dispenser 190 in a desired amount.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG. 3.

2 to 4 together, the ice maker 100 according to the present embodiment is an article from which ice is manufactured, the water supply unit 107 to supply water from the outside, the ice maker 104 to ice the ice, and The icemaker body 101 includes an ejector 105 in which ice manufactured in the ice making chamber 104 is separated, and a plurality of parts for allowing the ejector 105 to rotate.

At the rear of the ice making chamber 104, a seating part 102 for forming the ice maker 100 inside the refrigerator is formed. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 103 is a hole into which the coupling protrusion is inserted such that the seating portion 102 is seated inside the refrigerator.

A shaft that rotates outside the ice maker body 101 extends. The ejector 105 extends in the outward direction of the shaft, and the ejector 105 is rotated in accordance with the rotational movement of the shaft, thereby spreading the ice.

On the upper side of the ice making chamber 104, a separator 106 is formed so that the ice spread by the ejector 105 is guided to the ice container 180 to fall.

The water supply unit 107, the ice making chamber 104, the ejector 105, and the like are components for manufacturing ice in the ice maker 100 and may be defined as an ice manufacturing unit. Of course, the configuration of the ice making unit is exemplary, other components may be added to the configuration, and some of the components may of course be deleted.

An ice making heater 140 to which heat is applied is disposed below the ice making room 104 so that the interface between the ice and the inner surface of the ice making room 104 is separated from each other. The ice maker 140 may be electrically connected to an external power source in the ice maker body 11.

The heater support part 130 is formed below the ice making heater 140. The heater support 130 is connected to the ice maker body 101. Preferably, the heater support 130 may be molded together with the ice maker body 101.

In this embodiment, the transmitting unit 121 is rotatably connected to the ice maker body 101 through the rotating unit 200. The receiver 123 is installed at an extended portion of the heater supporter 130 so as to correspond to the rotation unit 200. The transmitter 121 and the receiver 123 face each other, and a transmitter 122 and a receiver 124 for receiving and receiving signals are disposed.

Since the transmitter 121 and the receiver 123 detect whether or not the ice inside the ice container 180 while receiving and receiving a signal, the transmitter 121 and the receiver 123 may be defined as the ice sensor 120. An infrared sensor may be used as the ice detection sensor 120.

The ice detection sensor 120 is disposed on the ice maker body 101 to detect the ice of ice that is iced in the ice maker 100 and accumulated in the ice container 180.

Here, the ice sensor 120 may be disposed at a height corresponding to the ice level of the ice container 180.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transmitter 121 of the ice detection sensor 120 extends downward to the inside of the ice container 180. The transmitter 122 is installed below the transmitter 121. The installation height of the transmitter 122 is disposed at a height corresponding to the ice level of the ice container 180.

Although the position of the transmitter 122 has been described herein, the heights of the receiver 123 and the receiver 124 are also formed to correspond to the height of the transmitter 121 and the transmitter 122.

When formed as described above, the sensing height of the ice sensor 120 is at the ice level of the ice container 180 has a predetermined height difference (h) with the upper end 181 of the ice container 180. Placed at the corresponding height. Accordingly, whether the ice is filled in the ice container 180 may be accurately detected by the ice detection sensor 120.

In addition, the transmitter 121 and the receiver 123 of the ice sensor 120 are disposed at both sides of an ice outlet, which is a passage through which ice is iced in the ice maker body 101. Then, the ice sensor 120 may detect infrared rays while receiving infrared rays across the ice exit.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the rotation unit 200 which rotatably connects the transmitter 121 of the ice detection sensor 120 to the ice maker body 101 is provided. Of course, the rotation unit 200 may also be provided in the receiving unit 123 of the ice detection sensor 120.

The rotation unit 200 includes a rotation shaft 210 for rotatably connecting the ice maker body 101 and the transmitter 121 of the ice detection sensor 120, and a shaft into which the rotation shaft 210 is inserted. The insertion hole 211 is included. The shaft insertion hole 211 is formed through the ice maker body 101.

A rotation unit installation hole 218 is formed at a lower end of the ice maker body 101, and the shaft insertion hole 211 is formed in the rotation unit installation hole 218. The rotating shaft 210 penetrating the transmitting unit 121 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 211 formed as described above, so that the transmitting unit 121 can be rotatably connected to the ice maker body 101. have.

The rotation unit 200 may be rotated in a plurality of directions. That is, the rotation unit 200 may be rotated in a forward direction or a reverse direction with respect to the rotation shaft 210.

The rotation unit 200 further includes springs 212 and 215 that are elastic members.

Spring supporting protrusions 214 and 217 are formed at both sides of the rotation shaft 210 at the rotation unit installation hole 218 at positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance therefrom. One end of the springs 212 and 215 is supported against the upper end of the rotation unit installation hole 218 around the spring support protrusions 214 and 217, and the other end thereof is directed toward the transmission part 121. Headed.

The springs 212 and 215 provide an elastic force for repositioning the pivoted transmitting part 121. The springs 212 and 215 provide an elastic force in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction to the transmission part 121 rotated in each rotation direction, respectively.

The rotation unit 200 includes stoppers 213 and 216 for limiting the springs 212 and 215 to stop providing the elastic force to the transmitter 121 when the transmitter 121 is repositioned.

Operation of the springs 212 and 215 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

On the other hand, the ice container 180 provides a space for receiving the ice iced from the ice maker 100 therein.

A transfer unit 150 is installed below the ice container 180. The transfer unit 150 sequentially transfers the ice contained in the ice container 180 in the ice container 180, and pulverizes the ice into an appropriate size required.

In detail, the transfer unit 150 may include a fixed blade 155 fixed to the ice container 180, a rotating blade 151 relatively rotatable with respect to the fixed blade 155, and the rotating blade 151. The rotating shaft 153 is connected to, the motor 154 is connected to the rotating shaft 153, and a conveying blade 152 for transporting ice.

The rotating blade 151 is formed on one side of the rotating shaft 153, the transfer blade 152 is formed on the other side. Then, according to the rotation of the rotary shaft 153, the rotary blade 151 and the transfer blade 152 may be rotated together.

A spiral auger may be used as the transfer blade 152.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 160 denotes an outlet through which the ice is taken out of the ice container 180, and reference numeral 170 denotes a guide path through which the ice extracted through the outlet 160 is guided to the dispenser 190. .

Hereinafter, operations of the ice maker 100 and the transfer unit 150 will be described.

First, water is supplied to the water supply part 107 by being guided by a water supply pipe having a predetermined shape. The water supplied is introduced into the ice making chamber 104, and sub-zero cold air is supplied to the ice making chamber 104 to freeze the water contained in the ice making chamber 104.

After the water in the ice-making chamber 104 is completely frozen while the above-described process is carried out, the ejector 105 is operated by a predetermined driving mechanism placed inside the ice-maker body 101. Then, ice frozen in the ice making chamber 104 is spread along the inner circumferential surface of the ice making chamber 104.

Here, before the ejector 105 is operated, heat is applied to the ice making chamber 104 by the ice making heater 140 so that the contact surfaces of the ice and the ice making chamber 104 are separated from each other.

After the ice is pumped up by the ejector 105, the ice is guided by the separator 106, falls into the ice container 180, and accumulates inside the ice container 180. .

The above operation is repeatedly performed. After the ice is received inside the ice container 180 during the repeated operation, the ice sensor 100 detects that only the ice is received by the ice sensor 120. ) Is stopped.

On the other hand, when the ice supply is required to the user through the dispenser 190, while the motor 154 is driven, the rotating shaft 153 connected to the motor 154 is rotated. Then, the rotary blade 151 and the transfer blade 152 is rotated together.

As the conveying blade 152 is rotated, ice under the ice receiving container 180 is conveyed toward the rotating blade 151.

When the ice guided toward the rotating blade 151 is caught between the rotating blade 151 and the fixed blade 155, the ice is crushed by the pushing operation of the rotating blade 151.

The crushed ice is taken out through the outlet 160 formed below the fixed blade 155. The extracted ice falls through the guide path 170. The dropped ice may be supplied to the user through the dispenser 190.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the ice level detecting device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention senses the state of full ice, and FIG. 6 illustrates the ice level detecting device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view showing the state of sensing the ice.

Hereinafter, the operation of the ice detection device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, ice iced in the ice maker 100 is iced, and falls into the ice container 180. The dropped ice accumulates in the ice container 180.

In the process of continuing ice accumulation, as shown in FIG. 5, before the ice, the infrared rays transmitted from the transmitter 122 reach the receiver 124, and the controller (not shown) controls the ice container 180. ) It is determined that the interior is in the state before the ice.

On the other hand, if the ice accumulation as described above continues, the ice rises to the ice level of the ice container 180. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the infrared rays transmitted from the transmitter 122 are blocked by the ice, and thus cannot reach the receiver 124, and the controller controls the inside of the ice container 180 to be filled with ice. Judging by

In this embodiment, the ice sensor 120 is disposed on the ice maker body 101 to detect the ice of ice iced in the ice maker 100 and accumulated in the ice container 180.

As described above, since the ice in the ice container 180 is detected by the ice sensor 120, whether the ice is full is detected, when the ice is detected by a mechanical ice detection lever or the like, the rotating part of the ice detection lever freezes and ices. Whether or not it is not properly detected can be prevented, and whether or not the ice in the ice container 180 is full can be accurately and stably detected.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a rotation unit rotating in one direction in the ice level detection apparatus of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a view showing that the rotation unit shown in FIG. 7 rotates in another direction. The figure looks like.

7 and 8 together, when the ice container 180 is moved in any one direction, the transmitter 121 is interfered with the ice container 180. Then, the transmission unit 121 is rotated about the rotation shaft 210, the ice container 180 is to move smoothly.

At this time, when the transmitting unit 121 is rotated, the spring (212, 215) located in the rotation direction is compressed. In the direction shown in FIG. 7, the spring 212 in that direction is compressed, and in the direction shown in FIG. 8, the spring 215 in that direction is compressed.

Thereafter, when the ice container 180 is detached and detached, and the ice container 180 and the transmitter 121 no longer interfere with each other, the restoring force of the compressed ones of the springs 212 and 215 may be reduced. By this, the transmitter 121 is returned to its original state.

When the transmitter 121 returns to its original state, the springs 212 and 215 are caught by the stoppers 213 and 216, respectively, and thus the force transmission to the transmitter 121 is stopped. Therefore, the transmitter 121 may be maintained in its original state.

When configured as described above, the roving detection sensor is rotatably installed with respect to the ice maker body by the rotating unit, so that the roving detection sensor disposed inside the ice container and the inside of the ice container for accurate detection can perform such movement when the ice container is moved. It can be rotated by the rotating unit so as not to interfere. Therefore, while accurately detecting whether the ice in the ice container and / or the amount of ice, the detachment of the ice container can be made smoothly.

Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In carrying out this description, the description overlapping with the contents already described in the above-described first embodiment of the present invention will be replaced with, and will be omitted herein.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a rotation unit applied to a full ice detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the rotation unit 300 includes a flexible portion 310 that rotatably connects the ice maker body 101 and the transmitter 321 of the ice sensor. The rotation unit 300 may also be applied to the receiver of the ice detection sensor.

The transmitter 321 is connected to the ice maker body 101 by the flexible portion 310. Therefore, when the external force is applied, the flexible part 310 may be deformed while the transmitting part 321 may be rotated, while the structure of the rotating unit 300 is simplified, while the ice container 180 is attached or detached. This may be made smoothly without being disturbed by the transmitter 321.

Here, the rotated transmitter 321 may be returned to the original position by gravity.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a rotation unit applied to a full ice detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the rotation unit 400 includes a flexible portion 410, springs 431 and 434, and stoppers 432 and 435.

The transmitter 421 is rotatably connected to the ice maker body 101 by the flexible portion 410. Therefore, when the flexible portion 410 is deformed by an external force caused by contact with the ice container 180 when the ice container 180 is attached or detached, the transmitting unit 421 is rotated.

When the detachment of the ice container 180 is completed, the transmitter 421 is returned to its original position by the restoring force of the springs 431 and 434. Operation of the springs 431, 434 is of course limited by the stoppers 432, 435.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art can variously modify the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. And that it can be changed. Nevertheless, it will be clearly understood that all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the present invention.

According to the ice-covering detection device of the refrigerator ice maker according to an aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to accurately and stably detect whether the ice iced in the ice maker is accurate, the industrial applicability thereof will be high.

1 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a refrigerator to which a full-water detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator ice maker to which a full ice detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied; FIG.

3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator ice maker to which the full-water detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

4 is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the ice level detecting device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention senses the state of full ice.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a full ice detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a first embodiment detects a full ice state; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a rotation unit rotating in one direction in the ice detection device of the refrigerator ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a rotation unit shown in FIG. 7 being rotated in another direction.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a rotation unit applied to a full ice detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a rotation unit applied to a full ice detection device of a refrigerator ice maker according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: refrigerator 100: ice maker

101: ice maker body 120: ice detection sensor

121: transmitter 123: receiver

130: heater support portion 140: ice making heater

150: transfer unit 180: ice container

200, 300, 400: rotating unit

Claims (10)

In an ice maker which is placed in a refrigerator and can make ice, An ice maker body in which an ice making unit is disposed; An ice sheet detection sensor disposed on the ice maker body and configured to detect an ice cube of the ice iced by the ice maker; And And a rotating unit rotatably connecting the ice detection sensor to the ice maker body. The method of claim 1, Under the icemaker body is disposed an ice container containing the ice iced from the ice manufacturing unit, And the ice detection sensor is connected to the ice maker body by the rotation unit so that the ice detection sensor is disposed at a height corresponding to the ice height of the ice container lower than the top of the ice container. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the rotation unit includes a rotation shaft for rotatably connecting the ice maker body and the ice detection sensor and a shaft insertion hole into which the rotation shaft is inserted. The method of claim 3, wherein And the rotation unit further comprises an elastic member for providing an elastic force for repositioning the rotated ice detection sensor. The method of claim 4, wherein The rotation unit may be rotated in a plurality of directions, and the elastic member may provide an elastic force in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction to the ice detection sensor rotated in each rotation direction by the rotation unit, respectively. The ice level detection device of the refrigerator ice maker. The method of claim 4, wherein And the rotation unit further includes a stopper for limiting the elastic member so that the elastic member stops providing elastic force to the ice-covering sensor when the ice-covering sensor is repositioned. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the rotation unit includes a flexible portion that rotatably connects the ice maker body and the ice detection sensor to each other. The method of claim 7, wherein The rotatable ice detection sensor of the refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that the original position by gravity. The method of claim 7, wherein And the rotation unit further comprises an elastic member for providing an elastic force for repositioning the rotated ice detection sensor. The method of claim 9, And the rotation unit further includes a stopper for limiting the elastic member so that the elastic member stops providing elastic force to the ice-covering sensor when the ice-covering sensor is repositioned.

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