KR20120013494A - Ice maker and ice manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An icing machine and ice manufacturing method are provided to improve a property of heat transfer by circulating an ice making water using an ejector, thereby reducing an ice making time. CONSTITUTION: An icing machine comprises an ice tray(202), an ejector(208), and a control unit. The ice tray stores water inside an icing space and performs icing by supplying icing water. The ejector installed in the icing space rotates on an axis. The control unit controls a motor connected to the axis of the ejector, thereby transferring a torque to the ejector. The control unit accelerates a cooling of the icing water by using the ejector and separates ice from inside the icing space to outside by rotating the ejector after finishing icing.

Description

ICE MAKER AND ICE MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to an ice maker and an ice making method thereof, and more particularly, to an ice maker and an ice making method thereof, which can reduce an ice making time by using an ejector.

In general, a refrigerator is provided with a plurality of storage compartments for freezing or refrigerating food, and one side of the storage compartment is opened to store and take out food. In such a refrigerator, an ice maker for manufacturing ice may be provided in the refrigerator body or the refrigerator door. The ice maker is provided with an ice tray in which the process of ice-making water solidifies with ice by cold air.

Initially, the ice maker contained ice-making water in the ice tray, and after the ice was produced, the user directly performed the task of separating the ice from the ice tray. In recent years, however, many processes have been automated. For example, an ice maker that automatically performs both an ice making process for supplying ice making water to the ice tray and cooling it using cold air in the freezer and an ice making process for separating ice from the ice tray when the ice making water is completely iced, have.

Embodiments of the present invention to provide a means for reducing the ice making time by increasing the cooling rate of the ice-making water accommodated in the ice tray using the ejector.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for producing ice that is beneficial to the human body using the ejector.

Ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is an ice tray for receiving and ice-making water in the ice making space, the ejector is located in the ice making space, rotates about an axis, the shaft of the ejector And a control unit for controlling the motor connected to the controller to transmit rotational force to the ejector, to promote cooling of the ice-making water by using the ejector during ice-making, and to rotate the ejector when the ice is frozen to ice the ice in the ice-making space to the outside. do.

The ice tray ice making method includes an ice tray in which ice-making water is iced, an ejector located in an ice-making space of the ice tray and rotating about an axis, and a controller for controlling rotation of the ejector. (A) supplying and receiving the ice-making water in the ice-making space, and starting ice-making; and using the ejector until the temperature of the ice tray reaches the freezing point of water after the ice-making is started. (B) facilitating cooling, and (c) rotating the ejector to ice the ice in the ice making space to the outside when the ice making water is frozen.

The embodiment of the present invention can shorten the ice making time by circulating the ice making water to the ejector during ice making to improve heat transfer characteristics.

In addition, since the embodiment of the present invention circulates the ice making water by the ejector during the ice making, it is possible to manufacture the ice by discharging the bubbles in the ice making to the outside.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can further promote the cooling of the ice-making water by the ejector obtained in the ice-making water by lowering the temperature of the ejector by forming an air hole or inserting a pipe inside the ejector.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention may provide ice that is beneficial to the human body by generating oxygen or active hydrogen and dissolving it in ice-making water.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention extends the air hole inside the ejector to a part of the surface of the ejector surface of the ejector water, thereby supplying cold cold air directly to the ice-making water through the air hole, Cooling can be further promoted.

1 is a perspective view showing an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the ice tray and the ejector of FIG. 1.
2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another example of the ice tray and the ejector of FIG. 1.
2C is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another example of the ice tray and the ejector of FIG. 1.
3 is a flowchart illustrating an ice making method of an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may be changed according to the intention or custom of the user, the operator, and the like. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

The technical spirit of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are merely means for efficiently explaining the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

Hereinafter, an ice maker and an ice making method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing an ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is the ice tray 102, the water supply cup 104, the water supply pipe 106, the ejector (ejector) 108, the control unit 110, the ice bank 112, gas generator 114, control line 116, and supply hose 118.

The ice tray 102 has a semi-cylindrical ice making space therein, and receives ice-making water in the ice making space. At this time, the ice making water accommodated in the ice tray 102 is iced by the cold air of the freezer compartment. The water supply cup 104 receives ice-making water through the water supply pipe 106 and supplies water to the ice tray 102.

On the other hand, the main component of the material of the ice tray 102 is a polypropylene resin, a thermoplastic resin such as a polyethylene resin or a plastic such as a thermally conductive resin, and in addition to the main component, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, graphite, carbon black, graphene Metal powders such as carbon, aluminum, zinc oxide, copper, silver, nickel, zinc, stainless steel or alloys thereof, metal oxides such as ITO, ATO, ceramics and the like are mixed. In addition, a heat dissipation promoting material, for example, carbon nanotubes, may be coated on one or more surfaces of the ice tray 102 to increase ice making efficiency. Specifically, after the carbon nanotubes, which are heat dissipation promoting materials, are mixed with a binder and a solvent to prepare a coating solution, the heat dissipation promoting material may be coated by a method of coating and drying the coating solution on an ice tray.

In the ice tray 102, an ejector 108 is positioned across the center of the ice making space. The ejector 108 includes a plurality of ejector pins formed at regular intervals on the ejector shaft 108a and the ejector shaft 108a. And 108b. The material of the ejector 108 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a metal such as aluminum or a thermally conductive plastic. In addition to this component, one or more of the same carbon, metal powder, metal oxide, ceramic, and the like as in the ice tray 102 are mixed.

The controller 110 is coupled to one side of the ice tray 102, and a motor (not shown) is accommodated therein, and the motor is connected to the ejector shaft 108a. Therefore, the ejector 108 is rotated along the inner surface of the ice tray 102 by receiving the rotational force of the motor. Although not shown, a temperature sensor is attached to the lower portion of the ice tray 102 to monitor the temperature change of the ice tray 102 in real time, and the controller 110 drives the motor according to the temperature change of the ice tray 102. Control the operation of the ejector 108. When the ice making water in the ice making space is completed, the controller 110 drives the motor to rotate the ejector 108. The ice is pushed out by the ejector pin 108b which rotates, and is taken out to the ice bank 112.

On the other hand, the ice maker 100 may further include a gas generator 114 for generating oxygen or active hydrogen for supplying in the ice-making water in order to produce ice that is beneficial to the human body. The controller 110 controls the gas generator 114 to generate oxygen or active hydrogen during ice making through the control line 116 connected to the gas generator 114. As will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C to be described later, an air hole through which gas can move is formed inside the ejector 108. The gas generator 114 removes oxygen or active hydrogen through the air hole of the ejector 108. It can be fed into the ice water. The dissolved oxygen supplied to the ice-making water increases the dissolved oxygen content of the ice-making water, and the active hydrogen, which has excellent reducing power, is combined with the active oxygen harmful to the human body to neutralize the ice-making water. It helps prevent various kinds of adult diseases (eg cancer, dementia, atopy, high blood pressure, etc.) and makes it possible to produce ice that is beneficial to the human body by lowering acidification of the body.

The case of the controller 110 and the ice tray 102 may be integrally formed. For example, the case of the control unit 110 and the ice tray 102 may be manufactured as one diecast casting by a diecasting method. Here, die casting is a precision casting method in which molten metal is injected into a steel die that is accurately machined to perfectly match the required casting shape, thereby obtaining castings similar to the die. The die cast casting produced by this die casting method has the advantage of excellent mechanical properties and mass production.

2A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the ice tray and the ejector of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are cross-sectional views showing another example of the ice tray and the ejector of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2A, ice making water 203 is accommodated in the ice making space of the ice tray 202. In addition, the heater 205 is inserted into the ice tray 202. The heater 205 is provided to easily ice the ice in the ice tray 202, and heats the ice tray 202 to melt the ice in a portion in contact with the ice tray 202, thereby allowing the ice tray 202 to melt. Loose bond between the inner and ice of the. However, when inserting the heater 205 into the ice tray 202 as described above, not only the physical coupling force is improved between the heater 205 and the ice tray 202, but also the heat of the heater 205 is transferred to the ice tray 202. ) Is easier to deliver.

On the other hand, the ejector 208 located in the center of the ice making space of the ice tray 202 is provided with an air hall (211). The air hole 211 may be formed over the ejector shaft 208a and the ejector pin 208b, or may be formed only on the ejector shaft 208a. The air hole 211 is formed to promote ice making. When the cold air of the freezer compartment is sucked into the air hole 211 through the side of the ejector 208, the cold air moves along the air hole 211 and the ejector 208 It will lower its temperature. Therefore, when the ejector 208 reciprocates in the ice making water 203 while the ice making water 203 is cooled, the cooling speed of the ice making water 203 becomes faster by the cold air transmitted through the ejector 208. do.

On the other hand, the ice making water in the ice tray 202 tends to freeze from the surface. In this case, the surface is clogged, and the bubbles in the ice-making water are not discharged to the outside, and ice is likely to be produced as it is. However, when moving the ejector 208 in the ice making water 203 as described above it is possible to discharge the bubbles to the outside and to produce transparent ice.

Next, referring to FIG. 2B, as in FIG. 2A, the heater 205 is inserted into the ice tray 202. In addition, a pipe 213 for heat transfer is inserted into the ejector shaft 208a located at the center of the ice tray 202. In this case, the pipe 213 may be a heat pipe or a refrigerant pipe through which a coolant or a coolant of the freezer compartment is transferred into the ejector 208, thereby lowering the temperature of the ejector 208. Therefore, when the ejector 208 reciprocates in the ice making water 203 while the ice making water 203 is cooled, the cooling speed of the ice making water 203 becomes faster. Meanwhile, when the ejector 208 is frozen, warmth may be transmitted to the inside of the ejector 208 through the pipe 213 to thaw.

Next, referring to FIG. 2C, the air hole 211 of the ejector 208 may extend to the surface of the ejector 208. More precisely, the rotation of the ejector 208 should extend to some surface of the portion of the surface of the ejector 208 that is available in the ice making water 203. In this case, when the external cold cold air is sucked through the air hole 211, not only the ejector 208 itself is cooled, but also cold cold air may be directly supplied to the ice making water 203. That is, the cold ice is directly supplied through the ejector 208 and the air hole 211, which are cooled during ice making, to further promote the cooling of the ice making water 203. Meanwhile, oxygen or active hydrogen generated by the gas generator 114 of FIG. 1 may be discharged into the ice making water 203 through the air hole 211. Thus, oxygen or active hydrogen is added to the ice to be produced.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an ice making method of an ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 3, the operation of the ice maker 100 will be described.

First, ice making water is supplied to the ice tray 202 through the water supply pipe 106 and the water supply cup 104, and ice making is started (S302). In addition, the controller 110 operates the ejector 208 while the ice making is in operation S304.

In ice making, the ejector 208 may be used to promote cooling of the ice making water or to add a separate gas to the ice making water.

First, a method of promoting cooling of ice-making water using the ejector 208 will be described. First, there is a method of circulating the ice-making water by reciprocating the ejector 208 in the ice-making water by rotating the motor by a predetermined angle alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise. At this time, since the heat is uniformly transferred to all regions of the ice-making water by the movement of the ejector 208, the overall cooling rate of the ice-making water is increased. The controller 110 reciprocates the ejector 208 until the ice tray 202 reaches a freezing point of water or for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time may be preset in consideration of the time required until the ice making water starts to freeze. Second, there is a method of accelerating cooling of the ice-making water by obtaining an ejector self-cooled by an air hole or a pipe in the ice-making water during ice-making. In addition, there is a method of directly supplying cold cold air to ice-making water by extending the air hole to the ejector surface. At this time, since cold cold air is supplied to the ice making water while the cooled ejector is obtained, cooling of the ice making water is further promoted.

Meanwhile, the ejector 208 may be used to add a separate component to the ice making water instead of cooling the ice making water. That is, when the ice maker obtains the ejector 208 in the ice making water and adds oxygen or active hydrogen generated in the gas generator through the air hole, ice containing oxygen or active hydrogen can be manufactured. Thereafter, when the ice tray 202 reaches the freezing point of water (S306), since the ice making water accommodated in the ice tray 202 starts to freeze, the controller 110 stops the operation of the ejector 208 (S308). Return to position Alternatively, the operation of the ejector 208 may be stopped after a predetermined time elapses (S308). Thereafter, when the ice tray 202 reaches a predetermined warming temperature after a predetermined time (S310), the controller 110 first operates the heater 205 to ice the ice in the ice tray 202 (S312). ). At this time, the heater 205 heats the ice tray 202 for a short time to supply only the heat to the extent that the ice can be iced from the ice tray 202. When the operating time of the heater 205 elapses, the controller 110 operates the ejector 208 to ice the ice (S314). The ejector 208 rotates along the inner surface of the ice tray 202 to push the ice out by the ejector pin 208b and drop it into the ice bank 112. As such, the ejector 208 may be utilized at both ice making and ice cutting.

As described above, the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention circulates the ejector by reciprocating the ejector in the ice-making water during ice making, thereby circulating the ice-making water, cooling the ejector, or directly supplying cold cold air to the ice-making water through the ejector. In addition, the cooling time of the ice making water is accelerated to shorten the ice making time. Meanwhile, oxygen or active hydrogen may be supplied to ice-making water through an ejector to prepare ice containing oxygen or active hydrogen.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. I will understand.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

102, 202: ice tray 104: water cup
106: water supply pipe 108, 208: ejector
110: control unit 112: ice bank
114: gas generator 205: heater
211: air hole 213: pipe

Claims (16)

An ice tray for receiving iced water and accommodating and making ice in the ice making space;
An ejector positioned in the ice making space and rotating about an axis; And
Controls a motor connected to the shaft of the ejector to transmit rotational force to the ejector, and promotes cooling of the ice making water by using the ejector during the ice making, and rotates the ejector when the ice is iced to eject the ice in the ice making space to the outside. A control unit;
Ice maker comprising a.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the ejector into the ice-making water until a temperature of the ice tray reaches a predetermined temperature or for a predetermined time during ice-making.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the controller circulates the ice making water by moving the ejector in the ice making water for a predetermined time or until the temperature of the ice tray reaches a predetermined temperature during ice making.
The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an inside of the ejector is provided with an air hole through which external gas is sucked in and moves, or a pipe for heat transfer is inserted.
The ice maker according to claim 4, wherein the pipe is a heat pipe or a refrigerant pipe through which a coolant or external heat is transferred.
5. The ice maker of claim 4 wherein the air hole extends to a portion of the surfaces of the ejector that enters the ice making water.
7. The ice maker of claim 6 further comprising a gas generator for generating oxygen or active hydrogen and supplying it through said air hole into said ice making water.
The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a material of the ice tray is made of plastic, and at least one of carbon, metal powder, metal oxide, and ceramic is mixed in addition to the main component.
The ice maker according to claim 1 or 8, wherein a heater for heating the ice tray for a predetermined time is inserted into the ice tray.
The ice maker according to claim 1 or 8, wherein one or more surfaces of the ice tray are coated with a heat release accelerator.
The ice maker according to claim 1 or 8, wherein the case of the ice tray and the controller is integrally molded.
In the ice making method of the ice maker which comprises an ice tray which ice-making of ice-making water, the ejector which is located in the ice-making space of the said ice tray, and rotates about an axis, and a control part which controls the rotation of the ejector,
(A) supplying and receiving the ice making water in the ice making space of the ice tray, and starting ice making;
(B) promoting cooling of the ice-making water by using the ejector after the ice-making is started until the temperature of the ice tray reaches a freezing point of water; And
(C) rotating the ejector to freeze ice in the ice making space when the ice making water is frozen;
Ice making method comprising a.
13. The ice making method of claim 12, wherein step (b) comprises obtaining the ejector into the ice making water.
The ice making method of claim 12, wherein the step (b) comprises circulating the ice making water by moving the ejector in the ice making water.
15. The ice making method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein an air hole through which external gas is sucked and moved inside the ejector is formed or a pipe for heat transfer is inserted.
13. The ice making method of claim 12 including discharging oxygen or active hydrogen into the ice making water through an air hole formed in the ejector.

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