KR20130110875A - Ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ice maker is provided to rapidly generate the ice as a shim member is connected to an ice making groove of an ice making frame in which the water is sprayed to make the ice. CONSTITUTION: An ice maker comprises a cooling unit (200), an ice making frame (300), a spraying unit (400), and a cold water tank (500). The cooling unit includes one or more shim members (210) and the cooling is performed to make the ice. One side of the shim member is penetrated to the ice making frame having one or more ice making grooves (310) in which the ice is generated are formed. The spraying unit is formed to spray the water to the ice making grooves so that the ice is generated. The cold water tank is connected to at least one among the cooling unit, the ice making frame, or the spraying unit to generate the cold water.

Description

Ice-maker {ICE MAKER}

The present invention relates to an ice maker for making ice, and more particularly, to an ice maker in which ice is easily and quickly generated by allowing a core member to penetrate through an ice making groove of an ice making frame in which water is sprayed for ice production.

Ice makers are devices that make ice. Such an ice maker is comprised so that ice may be formed by cooling with a low temperature refrigerant | coolant, a thermoelectric module, etc.

These ice makers make ice by allowing water to be poured into the ice making grooves of the ice making frame where ice is generated or by spraying water. However, the conventional ice maker has a problem that it takes a relatively long time to produce ice in the ice making groove of the ice making frame. Accordingly, there is a problem that ice is not easily and quickly produced.

In addition, the shape and size of the ice produced in the ice maker depends on the shape and size of the ice making groove of the ice making frame, it is difficult to make ice of various shapes or sizes by the ice making groove of the ice making frame included in the conventional ice maker. There is this.

In particular, conventional ice makers have a problem in that ice having a circular cross section, that is, spherical ice, is difficult to be easily and quickly made.

The present invention is made by recognizing at least one of the needs or problems occurring in the conventional ice maker.

One aspect of the object of the present invention is to allow ice to be produced easily and quickly.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is to allow ice of various shapes and sizes to be produced.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is to allow the ice having a circular cross section, ie spherical ice, to be produced easily and quickly.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is to allow transparent ice to be produced.

An ice maker according to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the above problems may include the following features.

The present invention is basically based on allowing the core member to penetrate the ice making groove of the ice making frame to which water is sprayed for ice making so that ice is easily and quickly produced.

Ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a cooling unit including at least one core member and configured to cool for ice generation; An ice making frame having one or more ice making grooves through which one side of the core member is connected and formed with ice; An injection unit configured to spray water into the ice making groove to generate ice; And a cold water tank configured to generate cold water in association with at least one of the cooling unit, the ice making frame, and the spraying unit. As shown in FIG.

In this case, the ice making groove may be opened in the lower portion.

In addition, the cross section of the ice making groove may be semi-circular, semi-oval or semi-polygonal.

One end portion of the core member may protrude from an open lower portion of the ice making groove, be positioned in the interior of the ice making groove, or may coincide with an open lower end of the ice making groove.

The cooling unit may further include an evaporator through which refrigerant flows and a core member connected thereto; As shown in FIG.

The refrigerant may also flow in the core member.

In addition, the cooling unit thermoelectric module to which the core member is connected; As shown in FIG.

The cold water tank may be configured to collect cold water sprayed into the ice making groove by an injection unit to generate cold water.

In addition, the injection unit is located in the cold water tank and one or more injection nozzles for injecting water in the ice making groove; And a pump connected to the spray nozzle and the cold water tank to supply the water stored in the cold water tank to the spray nozzle. . ≪ / RTI >

The pump may be located inside the cold water tank.

The ice making frame may include a first ice making frame having a first ice making groove forming a part of the ice making groove; And a second ice making frame connected to the first ice making frame and having a second ice making groove forming the rest of the ice making groove. . ≪ / RTI >

In addition, the second ice tray may be rotatably connected to the first ice tray.

In addition, the cross section of the ice making groove may be circular, elliptical or polygonal.

The injection unit may be connected to the second ice tray to rotate together with the second ice tray.

The spraying unit may include one or more spraying nozzles for spraying water into the ice-making groove through the outflow hole formed in the second ice-making groove; A pump connected to the injection nozzle to supply water; And a drip member connected to the second ice making frame and configured to collect water discharged through the inflow and outflow hole by being injected into the ice making groove, and to which the pump is connected. . ≪ / RTI >

The top of the drip tray member may be opened.

In addition, the cold water tank is configured to be introduced when the ice formed in the ice making groove of the ice making frame is defrosted to generate cold water.

In addition, the cold water tank may be located under the ice making frame and the upper portion thereof may be opened.

In addition, the upper portion of the cold water tank is provided with a guide member for guiding the ice removed from the ice making groove to the ice reservoir, the guide member to the water sprayed to the ice making groove from the injection nozzle and the water cooled in the ice making groove to the cold water tank One or more through holes may be formed to collect.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ice can be easily and quickly generated by allowing the core member to penetrate the ice making groove of the ice making frame to which water is sprayed for ice production.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, ice of various shapes and sizes may be generated.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in particular, ice having a circular cross section, that is, spherical ice can be produced easily and quickly.

And also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, transparent ice can be produced.

1 is a view showing an embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.
2 is a view showing a position in the ice making groove of the ice making frame of the core member of the ice maker according to the present invention and embodiments of the ice making groove.
3 is a view showing another embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.
4 to 7 are views showing the operation of one embodiment of the ice maker according to the present invention of FIG.
8 is a view showing another embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.
9 to 13 show the operation of another embodiment of the ice maker according to the present invention of FIG.

In order to help the understanding of the features of the present invention as described above, it will be described in more detail with respect to the ice maker associated with an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described based on embodiments best suited for understanding the technical characteristics of the present invention, and the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the illustrated embodiments, It is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented as illustrated embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope of the present invention through the embodiments described below, and such modified embodiments fall within the technical scope of the present invention. In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments to be described below, in the reference numerals shown in the accompanying drawings, among the constituent elements which perform the same function in each embodiment, the related constituent elements are indicated by the same or an extension line number.

Embodiments related to the present invention are basically based on allowing the core member to penetrate the ice making groove of the ice making frame through which water is sprayed for ice making so that ice is easily and quickly produced.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, the ice maker 100 according to the present invention includes a cooling unit 200, an ice making unit 300, an injection unit 400, and a cold water tank 500. Can be configured.

The cooling unit 200 may include one or more core members 210 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8. One side of the core member 210 may be connected to the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 to be described later, as shown in the embodiment. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10, when water is injected into the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 by the spraying unit 400 to be described later, the ice I is generated. As described above, ice I may be generated in the ice making groove 310 based on the core member 210. Therefore, the ice (I) in the ice making groove 310 can be made easier and faster than the case without the core member (210).

The cooling unit 200 may be configured to perform cooling for generating ice (I). To this end, the cooling unit 200 may include an evaporator 220 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The core member 210 may be connected to the evaporator 220 as shown and described above.

A refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 220. The evaporator 220 includes ice (I) as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12 and 13 as well as a low temperature refrigerant for the production of ice (I) as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and 9 to 11. The high temperature refrigerant for deicing of) may also flow.

4 to 6 and 9 to 11 when the low-temperature refrigerant flows in the evaporator 220, the above-described seam member 210, the ice making groove 310 is connected through the core member 210 and The ice making frame 300 in which the ice making groove 310 is formed may be cooled. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, when water is injected into the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300, ice I may be generated around the core member 210 as shown. Can be.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7, 12, and 13, when a high temperature refrigerant flows through the evaporator 220, the core member 210, the ice making groove 310, and the ice making frame 300 may be heated. . Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12, and 13, the ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 may be separated from the ice making groove 310, that is, the ice may be removed.

Meanwhile, as described above, the refrigerant may also flow in the core member 210 connected to the evaporator 220 in addition to the evaporator 220. For example, if a coolant flow path (not shown) in which the coolant flows is formed in the core member 210, and the coolant flow path of the core member 210 is connected to the coolant flow path of the evaporator 220, the core member 210 may also be connected to the coolant flow path. It is possible to allow the refrigerant to flow.

In this case, the high temperature refrigerant may flow in the core member 210 as well as the low temperature refrigerant.

As such, when the refrigerant also flows in the core member 210, as described above and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and 9 to 11, when a low-temperature refrigerant flows to generate ice I, an ice making frame The ice I may be easily and quickly generated in the ice making groove 310 of the 300. As shown in FIGS. 7, 12, and 13, when ice (I) is defrosted by the flow of a high-temperature refrigerant, ice (I) is easily and quickly removed from the ice making groove (310) of the ice making frame (300). Can be iced.

Meanwhile, as described above, the high temperature refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 220 so that ice (I) generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 may be defrosted. The ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 may be defrosted by being provided in the 210 or the evaporator 220 and by operating the heater.

In addition, for cooling to generate ice (I), the cooling unit 200 may include a thermoelectric module 230 as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. The thermoelectric module 230 is configured such that when power is applied in a forward direction, one side is cooled and the other side is heated, and when the reverse direction is applied, one side is heated and the other side is cooled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the core member 210 may also be connected to the thermoelectric module 230. The core member 210 may be connected to the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 230 to be cooled when the power is applied in the forward direction. Accordingly, when the power is applied to the thermoelectric module 230 in the forward direction, the core member 210 may be cooled.

In addition, when the core member 210 is cooled by the thermoelectric module 230 as described above, the ice tray 300 having the core member 210 connected therethrough and the ice tray 300 having the ice tray 310 formed thereon may be cooled. have. Therefore, when water is injected into the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300, ice I may be generated around the core member 210.

In addition, when the power is applied to the thermoelectric module 230 in the reverse direction, the core member 210 may be heated. When the core member 210 is heated, the ice making groove 310 and the ice frame 300 to which the core member 210 is connected may be heated. Accordingly, the ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 may be separated from the ice making groove 310, that is, ice may be removed.

As such, when the cooling unit 200 includes the thermoelectric module 230, the ice I may be defrosted even without a heater.

When the cooling unit 200 includes the thermoelectric module 230, the core member 210 may be connected to the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 230 by the heat conduction plate 240 as shown in FIG. 3. have. In addition, a heat transfer member 250 such as a cooling fin may be connected to the heating side of the thermoelectric module 230 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. As a result, heat may be transferred from the heating side of the thermoelectric module 230 heated by the application of the power in the forward direction to cool the heating side of the thermoelectric module 230. And, as shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the heat transfer member 250 may be provided with a fan 260. Therefore, when the fan 260 is driven, cooling of the heating side of the thermoelectric module 230 can be made easier and faster.

1 to 3 and 8, the ice making frame 300 may be formed with one or more ice making grooves 310 through which one side of the core member 210 is connected. Accordingly, when the core member 210 is cooled by the low temperature refrigerant or the thermoelectric module 230 as described above, the ice making groove 310 and the ice making groove 310 to which the core member 210 is connected are formed. The mold 300 may also be cooled. In this state, when water is injected into the ice making groove 310 by the spraying unit 400 as described below and illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10, the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 is illustrated. ) Ice (I) can be produced.

In addition, when the core member 210 is heated by the high temperature refrigerant or the thermoelectric module 230 as described above, the ice making groove 310 and the ice making frame 300 may also be heated. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12, and 13, the ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 may be separated from the ice making groove 310, that is, the ice may be removed.

On the other hand, the de-icing of the ice I from the ice making groove 310 is not only by the high temperature refrigerant or the thermoelectric module 230 but also by the heater separately provided in the evaporator 220 or the core member 210 as described above. It can also be done by.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower portion of the ice making groove 310 may be opened. As described above, when the lower portion of the ice making groove 310 is opened, water is injected into the ice making groove 310 by the injection nozzle 410 of the spraying unit 400 which will be described later through the opened lower portion, and thus the refrigerant having a low temperature as described above. Alternatively, ice I may be generated in the ice making groove 310 cooled by the thermoelectric module 230.

The cross section of the ice making groove 310 with the lower opening is semi-circular or not shown as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, but is semi-elliptical or the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 (c) and (d). It can be semi-polygonal. Accordingly, ice (I) of various shapes and sizes having a circular, elliptical or semi-polygonal cross section from a semi-circle, semi-elliptic or semi-polygonal cross section may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

To this end, one end of the core member 210 may be protruded from the open lower portion of the ice making groove 310 as shown in the embodiment shown in Figs. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6, ice I larger than the size of the ice making groove 310 may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

That is, since ice (I) is generated in the ice making groove (310) around the core member (210), in this case, as shown in Figure 6 larger than the semi-circle, semi-ellipse or semi-polygon of the cross section of the ice making groove (310). Ice (I) having a circular cross section as shown, i.e., spherical ice (I) or ice (I) not shown but having an elliptical cross section or ice (I) having a polygonal cross section, may be generated in the ice making groove (310). Can be.

As shown in FIG. 2A, one end of the core member 210 may be located inside the ice making groove 310. Therefore, ice I having a size corresponding to the size of the ice making groove 310 may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

That is, since ice (I) is generated in the ice making groove (310) around the core member (210), in this case, the cross section corresponding to the size of the ice making groove (310) is semi-circular, semi-elliptical or semi-polygonal ice ( I) may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

In addition, one end of the core member 210 may be positioned to coincide with the lower end of the ice making groove 310 as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. Thus, ice (I) having a shape and size between circular and semicircular cross section, ice (I) having a shape and size between elliptical and semi-elliptic cross section, or ice having a shape and size between polygon and semi-polygon cross section ( I) may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the ice making frame 300 may include a first ice making frame 300a and a second ice making frame 300b.

A first ice making groove 310a constituting a part of the ice making groove 310 may be formed in the first ice making frame 300a. The second ice tray 300b may be connected to the first ice tray 300a. The second ice tray 300b may be rotatably connected to the first ice tray 300a as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, 12, and 13. In addition, a second ice making groove 310b constituting the rest of the ice making groove 310 may be formed in the second ice making frame 300b.

With this configuration, the second ice making frame (2) is positioned at the position where the first ice making groove 310a and the second ice making groove 310b are combined to form the ice making groove 310 during ice making as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. 300b) can be rotated to position. 12 and 13, the ice I removed from the ice making groove 310 is guided by the second ice making frame 300b, as shown in FIG. The second ice tray 300b is rotated at a position to move to the ice reservoir 600 located below) or to a cold water tank 500 located below the ice tray 300 as shown in FIG. Can be located.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross section of the ice making groove 310 may be circular. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 11, ice I having a circular cross section, that is, spherical ice I may be generated in the ice making groove 310. To this end, the cross section of the first ice making groove 310a may have a semicircular shape with a lower opening as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, the cross section of the second ice making groove 310b may be a semicircle having an open top as in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the cross section of the ice making groove 310 may have a circular shape.

However, in addition to the cross section of the ice making groove 310 may be oval or polygonal. That is, the cross section of the first ice making groove 310a may have an ellipsoidal shape, and the cross section of the second ice making groove 310b may have an elliptical shape. In addition, the cross section of the first ice making groove 310a may have a semi-polygon with an open lower portion, and the cross section of the second ice making groove 310b may have a polygon with a semi-polygon having an open upper portion. As a result, although not shown, ice (I) having an elliptical or polygonal cross section may be generated in the ice making groove 310.

In this form, as shown in Figure 10 in order to spray the water for the production of ice (I) in the ice making groove 310 and to discharge the water sprayed in the ice making groove 310 to the outside of the ice making groove 310, As shown in FIG. 8, an inflow hole 311 may be formed in the second ice making groove 310b.

The injection unit 400 may be configured to spray water into the ice making groove 310 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 so that the ice I may be generated.

To this end, the injection unit 400 may include one or more injection nozzles 410 and the pump 420, as shown in the embodiment shown in Figs.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the injection nozzle 410 may be located inside the cold water tank 500 positioned below the ice tray 300 described above. However, the injection nozzle 410 may be located under the ice making frame 300, not inside the cold water tank 500.

By such a configuration, the injection nozzle 410 may inject water into the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 310 as shown in FIG. To this end, each injection nozzle 410 may be provided in the injection head 430 to correspond to each ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 310 as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pump 420 may supply the water stored in the cold water tank 500 to the injection nozzle 410. To this end, the injection nozzle 410 may be connected to the injection nozzle 410 and the cold water tank 500 as shown in the embodiment shown in Figs. That is, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the pump 420 may be connected to the injection head 430 provided with the injection nozzle 410 by the connecting pipe 440 as described above. In addition, the pump 420 may be located inside the cold water tank 500 as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

With this configuration, when the pump 420 is driven, the water stored in the cold water tank 500 is supplied to the injection head 430 by the connection pipe 440 as shown in FIG. Then, the water supplied to the injection head 430 is injected into each ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 as shown through each injection nozzle 410.

On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the injection unit 400 is connected to the second ice frame 300b may be rotated together. In this embodiment, the injection unit 400 may include one or more injection nozzles 410, a pump 420, and the drip member 450 as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, one or more spray nozzles 410 may spray water into the ice making groove 310 through the inflow and outlet 311 formed in the second ice making groove 310b. To this end, the injection nozzle 410 may be provided in the injection head 430 to correspond to the outflow hole 311 of each of the second ice making groove (310b), as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the injection head 430 may be connected to the second ice tray 300b.

Pump 420 may be connected to the injection nozzle 410 as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. To this end, the pump 420 is shown and when the injection nozzle 410 is provided in the injection head 430 as described above, the injection nozzle 410 by being connected to the injection head 430 by a connecting pipe 440 Can be connected to. When the pump 420 is driven by this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, water may be supplied to the injection nozzle 410.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the drip tray member 450 may be connected to the second ice tray 300b. As described above and illustrated in FIG. 10, the water injected into the ice making groove 310 and discharged through the outflow hole 311 may be collected. To this end, the upper portion of the drip member 450 may be opened. In addition, a storage space for storing water may be formed in the drip tray member 450.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the water sprayed into the ice making groove 310 and discharged to the outside of the ice making groove 310 through the outflow hole 311 is dropped by its own weight to open the open upper portion of the drip member 450. Can flow into the drip tray member 450 through. In addition, the water introduced into the drip tray member 450 may be collected and stored in the drip tray member 450.

In addition, the drip member 450 may be connected to the above-described pump 420 as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, water stored in the drip tray member 450 may be supplied to the aforementioned spray nozzle 410 through the pump 420.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8 the drip member 450 may be connected to the water supply source 700 by the water supply pipe 710. The water supply 700 may be a purified water tank in which water filtered by one or more purified water filters (not shown) is stored if the ice maker 100 according to the present invention is provided in, for example, an ice water purifier (not shown). However, the water supply source 700 is not limited thereto, and any water can be used as long as it can supply water to the drip member 450.

The water supply pipe 710 may be provided with a valve (V) as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, when the valve V is opened toward the drip member 450, the water of the water supply source 700 passes through the water supply pipe 710 in a predetermined amount, such as ice in the ice making groove 310. I) can be supplied to the drip tray member 450 in an amount that can be produced.

Then, when the pump 420 is driven as shown in FIG. 10 in a state in which a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the drip member 450 as described above, the water of the drip member 450 is connected to the pump 420 and the connection pipe ( It may be supplied to the injection nozzle 410 through the 440 and the injection head 430.

The cold water tank 500 may be configured to generate cold water in association with at least one of the cooling unit 200, the ice making frame 300, and the injection unit 400.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cold water tank 500 may be configured to collect water cooled by being injected into the ice making groove 310 by the injection unit 400 to generate cold water. To this end, the cold water tank 500 is located below the ice making frame 300, as shown in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3, the top can be opened.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, a part of the water cooled by being injected into the ice making groove 310 by the spray nozzle 410 becomes ice (I) and remains in the ice making groove 310, and ice (I) If this is not the case by dropping by the weight as shown in the cold water tank 500 through the open upper portion of the cold water tank 500 is collected and stored. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, cold water, which is cooled water, is stored in the cold water tank 500.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cold water tank 500 may be connected to a cold water discharge pipe 520 having a valve V. As illustrated in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the valve V of the cold water discharge pipe 520 is opened, the cold water stored in the cold water tank 500 may be discharged to the outside and supplied to the user.

The upper portion of the cold water tank 500 may be provided with a guide member 510, as shown in the embodiment shown in Figs. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the guide member 510 may be separated from the ice making groove 310, that is, the ice I dropped and dropped, may be guided to the ice storage 600. To this end, the guide member 510 may be provided on the upper portion of the cold water tank 500 to be inclined such that the ice storage 600 side is low as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, the ice I guided to the ice reservoir 600 may be introduced into the ice reservoir 600 and stored.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, one or more through holes 511 may be formed in the guide member 510. As shown in FIG. 5, water may be injected from the injection nozzle 410 to the ice making groove 310 through the through hole 511. As shown in FIG. 5, the water cooled by being injected into the ice making groove 310 may be collected and introduced into the cold water tank 500 through the through hole 511. As a result, in the cold water tank 500, cooled water, that is, cold water may be collected and stored.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the cold water tank 500 may be configured to be introduced when ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 is defrosted to generate cold water. To this end, as shown in FIG. 8, the cold water tank 500 may be positioned below the ice making frame 300 and the upper portion thereof may be opened.

In addition, the cold water tank 500 is provided with a valve (V) as shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 8 may be connected to the water supply pipe 710 connected to the water supply source 700. The water supply 700 is a water purification tank in which the water filtered by one or more water purification filters (not shown) is stored if the ice maker 100 according to the present invention is provided in, for example, an ice water purifier (not shown), as described above. Can be. However, the water supply source 700 is not limited thereto, and any water may be used as long as it can supply water to the cold water tank 500.

With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, when the valve V is opened to the cold water tank 500, the water of the water supply source 700 may be supplied and stored in the cold water tank 500.

As described above, in the state where water is stored in the cold water tank 500, ice I is generated in the ice making groove 310 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Then, the second ice tray 300b is rotated to a position as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the ice I generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 is separated from the ice making groove 310 by the high temperature refrigerant, the thermoelectric module 230, or a separate heater as described above, that is, ice removal. Be sure to Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the ice I removed from the ice making groove 310 directly drops into the cold water tank 500 or is guided to the cold water tank 500 through the second ice making frame 300b to provide cold water. It may flow into the tank 500. As described above, the water stored in the cold water tank 500 may be cooled by the ice I introduced into the cold water tank 500 to form cold water.

The cold water discharge pipe 520 having the valve V may also be connected to the cold water tank 500 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, when the valve V of the cold water discharge pipe 520 is opened as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the cold water stored in the cold water tank 500 may be discharged to the outside and supplied to the user.

On the other hand, the water injected from the injection unit 400 is injected into the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300 so that some of the water to create ice (I) and some of the water is cold water tank 500 or Since it is configured to be injected into the drip tray member 450 and then sprayed back to the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300, that is, the water is continuously circulated to flow, the ice making groove of the ice making frame 300 ( Bubbles may not be included in the ice I generated in 310. Then, transparent ice I may be generated in the ice making groove 310 of the ice making frame 300.

As described above, when the ice maker according to the present invention is used, the core member may be connected to the ice making groove of the ice making frame through which water is sprayed to produce ice, so that ice may be easily and quickly generated, and ice of various shapes and sizes Can be produced, in particular ice having a circular cross section, ie spherical ice, can be produced easily and quickly, and transparent ice can be produced.

The ice maker described above may not be limitedly applied to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.

100: ice maker 200: cooling unit
210: core member 220: evaporator
230: thermoelectric module 240: heat conduction plate
250: heat transfer member 260: fan
300: ice tray 300a: first ice tray
300b: second ice tray 310: ice tray
310a: first ice making groove 310b: second ice making groove
311: outflow hole 400: injection part
410: injection nozzle 420: pump
430 injection head 440 connector
450: drip member 500: cold water tank
510: guide member 511: through hole
520: cold water discharge pipe 600: ice storage
700: water supply source 710: water supply pipe
V: Valve

Claims (19)

A cooling unit 200 including one or more core members 210 and configured to perform cooling for generating ice I;
An ice making frame 300 having one or more ice making grooves 310 formed therethrough with one side of the core member 210 formed therethrough;
An injection unit 400 configured to inject water into the ice making groove 310 to generate ice I; And
A cold water tank 500 configured to generate cold water in association with at least one of the cooling unit 200, the ice making frame 300, and the injection unit 400;
Ice machine configured including. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the ice making groove (310) is opened at a lower portion thereof. The ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the cross section of the ice making groove (310) is semi-circular, semi-elliptical or semi-polygonal. According to claim 2, One end of the shim member 210 is protruded from the open lower portion of the ice making groove 310 or located in the interior of the ice making groove 310 or the opening of the ice making groove 310 Ice maker characterized in that it is located in accordance with the lower end. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit 200
An evaporator 220 through which a refrigerant flows and the core member 210 is connected; Ice maker further comprises a. The ice maker of claim 5, wherein a coolant flows in the core member (210). The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit 200
A thermoelectric module 230 to which the core member 210 is connected; Ice maker further comprises a. The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the cold water tank (500) is configured to collect cold water sprayed into the ice making groove (310) by the spraying unit (400) to generate cold water. The method of claim 1, wherein the injection unit 400
At least one spray nozzle 410 located inside the cold water tank 500 and spraying water into the ice making groove 310; And
A pump 420 connected to the injection nozzle 410 and the cold water tank 500 to supply the water stored in the cold water tank 500 to the injection nozzle 410;
Ice maker comprising a. 10. The ice maker of claim 9 wherein the pump (420) is located inside the cold water tank (500). According to claim 1, wherein the ice making frame 300
A first ice making frame (300a) having a first ice making groove (310a) forming a part of the ice making groove (310); And
A second ice tray (300b) connected to the first ice tray (300a) and having a second ice tray (310b) forming the rest of the ice tray (310);
Ice maker comprising a. 12. The ice maker of claim 11 wherein the second ice making machine (300b) is rotatably connected to the first ice making machine (300a). 12. The ice maker according to claim 11, wherein the cross section of the ice making groove (310) is circular, elliptical or polygonal. The ice maker of claim 12, wherein the spraying unit (400) is connected to the second ice tray (300b) so as to rotate together with the second ice tray (300b). The method of claim 11, wherein the injection unit 400
One or more spray nozzles 410 for spraying water into the ice making groove 310 through an outflow hole 311 formed in the second ice making groove 310b;
A pump 420 connected to the injection nozzle 410 to supply water; And
A drip member 450 connected to the second ice making frame 300b and configured to collect water discharged through the outflow hole 311 by being injected into the ice making groove 310 and to which the pump 420 is connected;
Ice maker comprising a. The ice maker according to claim 15, wherein the drip member (450) is open at the top. The ice maker of claim 11, wherein the cold water tank (500) is configured to be introduced when ice (I) formed in the ice making groove (310) of the ice making frame (300) is defrosted to generate cold water. 18. The ice maker according to claim 8 or 17, wherein the cold water tank (500) is located below the ice tray (300) and has an open top. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the upper portion of the cold water tank 500 is provided with a guide member 510 for guiding the ice (I) released from the ice making groove 310 to the ice reservoir 600,
The guide member 510 allows water to be injected into the ice making groove 310 from the spray nozzle 410 and to cool the water sprayed into the ice making groove 310 to be collected into the cold water tank 500. Ice-making machine characterized in that the above-mentioned through hole 511 is formed.

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