KR20190034890A - Ice maker and refrigerator including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice maker comprises: a control box; an ice making tray connected to one side of the control box and including at least one storage unit; and a water supply unit for supplying ice making water to the ice making tray. The water supply unit comprises a supply unit in which a space for guiding the ice making water is formed, a cutting unit opened for the ice making water to be supplied to the storage unit, and a partition wall for dividing the supply unit from the outside. The partition wall is formed on a side where the cutting unit is formed, and comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, located on a front side and a rear side, respectively, on the basis of a direction in which an ice-removing trace of the ice is formed. Moreover, the second end portion is located in a direction spaced from the first end portion in the direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an icemaker and a refrigerator including the icemaker,

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same.

Generally, the ice maker includes a control box and an ice-making tray. The ice maker may provide ice-making water to the ice-making tray to perform ice-making. Degassed water is provided from the water supply part during the construction, and the amount and the time of the water supply part provided can be generally determined by the control part located in the control box. The provided ice-making water is contained in a receiving portion provided in the ice-making tray, and can be in an ice state at a freezing point of the ice-making water by the environment inside the refrigerator or the freezer. The ice-making performed through this process can be performed later through a twist of the ice-making tray or through the ejector. Here, the ice through the ejector can be removed from the ice-making tray by the rotation of the ejector pin rather than the ice being moved to the storage portion by its own weight. During the removal process, the ice can usually be removed by the ejector pin rotated clockwise or counterclockwise via the upper side of the ice-making tray. At this time, ice may not be smoothly moved due to collision with surrounding structures among the ice traces. For example, in an ice-making machine in which ice is not smoothly transferred, ice may remain on the ice-making tray, ice-making water supplied by the ice-making tray exceeds the ice-making water volume that can be accommodated, . Accordingly, the icemaker may stop the ice making function or cause frequent malfunctions.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0028226 (2005. 03. 22)

In an embodiment of the present invention, a structure such as a water supply portion that can be formed on the ice trajectory of ice during the process of releasing ice formed after ice making in the ice making machine is designed so as not to intersect the ice trajectory, And to provide an ice maker capable of increasing the ice making efficiency of the ice maker.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a structure such as a water supply portion that can be formed on the ice trajectory of ice during the process of releasing ice formed after ice making in the ice making machine is designed so as not to intersect the ice trajectory, And an ice maker capable of increasing the ice making efficiency of the ice maker.

Control box; An ice-making tray connected to one side of the control box and including at least one receiving portion; And a water supply unit for supplying de-iced water to the ice-making tray, wherein the water supply unit includes a cut-off portion opened so as to provide a space for guiding the iced water, and ice making water provided in the accommodating portion, And the partition wall includes a first end portion and a second end portion which are formed on the side where the incised portion is formed and which are located on the front side and the rear side respectively with respect to the direction in which the ice free path is formed, Wherein the ice making water is located in a direction extending in a direction opposite to the water supply direction in which the ice-making water is supplied from the one end or in a direction away from the accommodating portion.

The second end portion extends at a predetermined angle or more from the ice path of the ice around the first end portion, and the predetermined angle may be 1 degree or more and 10 degrees or less.

The water level sensor may further include a water level sensor for sensing the level of the iced water provided from the water supply unit in the receiving unit.

Further, the control box rotates the ejector pin, and the ice can be released by the rotation of the ejector pin.

Further, the outline of the incision may include a curved portion or a flat portion.

Further, the first end and the second end may be connected through a valley or a flat portion.

The partition may include a lower portion for guiding ice-making water, an extension portion extending upward from the lower portion, and a connection portion which is a boundary between the lower portion and the extension portion.

Further, the distance between the side of the partition wall where the incision is made and the ejector pin releasing the ice from the extending portion may be 1.5 times or less the width of the ice to be ice-cooled.

Further, it may further include a departure prevention portion extending from the cut-out portion on the second end side.

Further, the range of the ice traces adjacent to the water supply portion can be widened toward the rear side.

There is provided a refrigerator comprising the ice-maker described above.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a structure such as a water supply portion that can be formed on the ice trajectory of ice during the process of releasing ice formed after ice making in the ice making machine is designed so as not to intersect the ice trajectory, It is possible to provide an ice maker capable of increasing the ice making efficiency of the ice maker.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a structure such as a water supply portion that can be formed on the ice trajectory of ice during the process of releasing ice formed after ice making in the ice making machine is designed so as not to intersect the ice trajectory, And an ice maker that can increase the ice making efficiency of the ice maker.

1 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a view showing a conventional water supply unit included in an ice maker;
3 is a view showing a water supply unit included in the icemaker of the present invention
4 is an enlarged view illustrating a water supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing embodiments of a water supply portion of the present invention
6 is a view showing a curved portion forming the partition wall of the present invention
7 is a view showing the separation distance of the partition of the present invention
8 is a view showing the ice maker in which the position of the incision part of the present invention is located on the rear side
Fig. 9 is a view showing an ice maker in which a partition wall opposite to the ice-making track is narrowed in the water supply portion of the present invention

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

In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. 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 idea of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are merely a means for effectively explaining the technical idea of the present invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the ice maker may include a water supply unit 100, an ice-making tray 200, and a control box 300. The control box 300 may include a control unit (not shown) and a driving unit (not shown), and the control unit (not shown) may calculate information received from a sensor provided in the ice maker, can do. In addition, a controller (not shown) may control the water supply unit 100 that provides deicing water.

The water supply unit 100 may include a supply unit 110 and a partition 120 separating the external space from the supply unit 110, which is a space for guiding the iced water. The partition walls can be cut toward the receiving portion 201 side so that the supplied ice-making water can move the ice-making water to the receiving portion 201 side of the ice-making tray 200, and the ice-making water can be moved through the cut portion.

The control unit (not shown) can determine the amount and timing of the icing water in the water supplying process of the water supplying unit 100. For example, the de-iced water may be provided in a state in which the de-icing is not performed, that is, the container 201 is empty. This can be determined by the information sensed by the water level sensor that senses the level of the ice-making water contained in the accommodating portion 201. If it is determined that the accommodating portion 201 is empty, ice-making water can be provided. Of course, even if the receptacle is empty, the ice-making water may not be provided in the full ice state, and the ice-making ice may not be performed after ice-making. This can be optional.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the water supply is performed in a state where the accommodating portion 201 is empty, ice-making water may be supplied from the water supply portion 100. The ice-making water provided from the water supply unit 100 may be moved to the receiving portion and become ice due to the environment of the refrigerator or the freezer. That is, deicing can be performed. The ice maker performing ice-making can perform ice-removing to remove ice from the ice-making tray 200. The ice can be performed while the ice-making tray 200 is twisted, and can be performed by rotation of the ejector. In the case where the ejector is rotated, a heater (not shown) is generated at one side of the ice-making tray 200 to separate the ice from the ice-making tray 200, and the separated ice is removed by rotation of the ejector . The frozen ice can generally fall into the reservoir by its own weight.

In the above-described ice-making process, during the movement of the ice from the separation point to the storage section, the ice can not move on the movement trajectory of the ice due to the contact with a part of the ice maker. For example, when ice is in contact with one side of the water supply part 100 during the ice making process, the ice can be positioned at an upper side of the ice-making tray 200 even after the ice-making is performed. In this case, the control unit can control the water supply unit 100 to supply the ice-making water by the water level sensor which senses that the storage unit is in the low-level state and the storage unit 201 is empty.

The ice-making water that has been supplied can not be iced and can be filled to overflow the receiving portion 201 by the ice remaining on the ice-making tray 200. Even if ice cubes are provided to fill a certain amount of the storage unit 201, when ice cubes are fixed with ice remaining in the process of ice cubes becoming ice, the ice cubes may not be smoothly performed due to rotation of the ejectors. For example, in the case of a conventional ice maker, the partition 11 of the water supply unit 10 may be positioned adjacent to the movement trajectory of the ice when it is unloaded, as shown in FIG.

Here, the movement trajectory of ice can be determined according to the heat generation temperature of the heater, the heat generation time, the rotational speed of the ejector, the environment including the temperature in the refrigerator or the freezer, and the like, because these conditions can be finely and continuously varied. Every little bit can be different. Therefore, sufficient separation from the movement locus may be required so that there is no configuration that is located on the movement locus when the ice is released. However, the conventional water supply unit 10 has such a poor design. For example, the ice may come into contact with or collide with the partition wall 12 on the side that is cut at the time of the ice discharge.

Since the partition wall 12 is cut so as to move the ice-making water to the receiving portion, the receiving portion, that is, the ice can be positioned so as to be closest to the moving trajectory to be released. Therefore, when the ice cubes are separated from the ice, the ice cubes may come into contact with or collide with the partition walls 12 on the incised side, so that smooth ice-making may not be performed.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a water supply unit 100 included in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the water supply unit 100 may be cut at a position adjacent to the accommodation unit 201 so that the ice-making water can be moved to the accommodation unit 201. When the partition wall 120 is not cut, it may serve as a guiding function to guide the movement locus of ice at the time of ice removal. However, when the ice enters the space opened by the incision, Lt; / RTI > Therefore, securing a sufficient distance from the movement trajectory of the ice is advantageous for the freezing.

However, if the partition wall is entirely spaced from the accommodating portion 201 to avoid the contact and the collision, the supply direction of the ice-making water can not be guided toward the accommodating portion 201, so that the ice- May be formed in a shape that is spaced from the movement locus rather than the other portions.

4), for example, a portion for guiding the ice-making water to the receiving portion 201 side, that is, a lower portion of the partition wall 120 is positioned adjacent to the receiving portion 201, 201), the guide function can be performed. Therefore, the lower portion may mean at least the height of the ice-making water accommodated in the supply portion 110 or more. The partition wall portion extending upwardly beyond the lower portion can be horizontally spaced from the receiving portion 201. [ That is, the barrier ribs 120 may be formed such that they are horizontally spaced apart and extend upward.

As illustrated, the portion of the partition wall 120 that extends beyond the lower portion can be curved in a direction that is horizontally spaced apart from the receiving portion 201 as shown in the drawing. The curved extension may be formed such that the barrier rib 120 is horizontally spaced apart from the receiving portion 201 continuously upward as the curved direction is changed.

4 (a) is an enlarged view of a water supply unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 (b) is a plan view showing a water supply unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4, the partition 120 may include a lower portion 122 for guiding ice-making water to the receiving portion and an extending portion 123 extending upward from the lower portion 122. [ Specifically, the partition 120 is included in the water supply unit 100 located above the storage unit 201 and can be opened from the storage unit 201 with respect to the lower side 122. Here, the term " opening " means that the partition 120 is spaced at a predetermined angle in the horizontal direction from the receiving portion 201 with respect to the vertical direction and extends upward. For example, the predetermined angle may be greater than or equal to an angle determined at 1 degree or more and 10 degrees or less.

As described above, the moving trajectory, which is moved while the ice is being removed from the ice-making tray 200 at the time of ice-removing, is the same as the ice-moving direction shown in the figure, and the ice- The heating temperature, the heating time, the rotational speed of the ejector, and the temperature in the refrigerator or the freezer. Such a condition may vary finely and continuously, so that the movement trajectory of the ice may be slightly different from one to another.

Accordingly, the angle determined between the predetermined angle of 1 deg. And 10 deg. Or less is determined by the fact that the ice enters the inside of the feeder 110 through the cutout 130 irrespective of the angle depending on the above- But may be an example of a spacing angle to ensure contact with or collision with the barrier ribs 120.

5 is a front view showing the embodiments of the water supply portion of the present invention.

5 (a) is a front view of the example described with reference to FIG. 4, and may be curved and extended upwardly and separated in one direction (right direction in the drawing). This may be the shape of the partition 120 to be sufficiently spaced such that a part of the water supply part 100 is not positioned on the movement locus when the ice is released. In other words, the opening 121, which is a space formed by the partition wall 120 extending upward and opened in one direction (right direction in the drawing) and spaced apart from the ice making room, It may be a space separated in the direction of

Such a horizontal separation can be linearly extended in one direction (right direction in the figure) and spaced apart as shown in Fig. 5 (b). Even in this case, the lower portion 122a can be positioned so as to be adjacent to the receiving portion 201 side for guiding the iced water to the receiving portion 201, and the extending portion 123a extending upward from the lower portion 122a And can be gradually separated in the horizontal direction.

Fig. 6 is a view showing curved portions C1, C2, C3 forming the partition 120 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, curved portions C1, C2, and C3 of the cut partition 120 may be variously adopted in the water supply portion 100 according to the curvature. The curved portions C1, C2, and C3 denote curved portions of the extended portion, and refer to the partition 120 from a point extending upward from the lower portion 122. [ The tangents C1, C2, and C3 are examples of differences that are implemented differently depending on the curvature.

The first trough portion C1 is a curved portion that extends abruptly upward from the lower portion 122 and may have a shorter distance from the movement trajectory of ice than the trough portions C2 and C3. On the other hand, the guidable amount of the iced water provided from the supply portion 110 of the water supply portion 100 can be increased. That is, the partition wall having a shape that abruptly extends upward as in the first trough portion C1 is formed such that the supply amount of the ice-making water is large or the range of the movement trajectory of ice is larger than that of the water supply portion including the trough portions C2, It may be suitable for a narrow case.

The third trough portion C3 is a curved portion extending gently upward from the lower portion 122 and may have a longer distance from the movement trajectory of ice than the trough portions C1 and C2. On the other hand, the guideable amount of icing water provided from the feeder 110 of the water supplying section 100 can be reduced. That is, the partition wall having a shape that abruptly extends upward as in the third trough portion (C3) is formed in such a manner that the supply amount of the ice-making water is small or the range of the movement trajectory of ice is smaller than that of the water supply portion including the trough portions It may be suitable for a wide range of applications.

The second curved portion C2 is a curved portion formed between the first curved portion C1 and the third curved portion C3 and functions and effects of the first curved portion C1 and the third curved portion C3 Within the range between < / RTI > Therefore, the shapes of the valley portions C1, C2, and C3 can be changed according to the needs of those skilled in the art.

The curvature portions C1, C2 and C3 as in the above embodiment can change the occupation rate of the area occupied by the partition wall 120. The first valley portion C1, the second valley portion C2 and the third valley portion C3, The occupancy of the area can be sequentially reduced. It can be determined from a maximum of 80% to a minimum of 30% based on a state where the openings 121 are not formed.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a distance D of the partition 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the distance D of the partition 120 may be a distance between the ejector pin E included in the ice maker and the connecting portion 123c. Here, the connecting portion 123c may be a boundary between the lower portion 122 and the extending portion 123 on the plane side. That is, the distance D may mean the distance of the extension portion 123, which can be positioned on the movement trajectory of the ice, from the receiving portion 201 in the horizontal direction.

The size of the separation distance D can be determined so that the distance from the ejector pin E becomes a reference and is spaced apart by a predetermined distance. For example, the separation distance D can be determined as a distance of 1.5 times or less the width of the ice to be ice-cooled.

That is, the partition wall 120 includes a lower portion 122 for guiding ice-making water to the receiving portion 201, and an extension portion 123 positioned at a position where ice or contact with ice or collision during ice- And is spaced horizontally by an angle of not less than 1 degree and not more than 10 degrees with respect to the vertical direction from the accommodating portion 201. The area of the partition wall 120 is 30 % ≪ / RTI > In addition, the plane side boundary between the lower portion 122 and the extending portion 123 can be determined by a distance between the adjacent ejector pin E and a width of 1.5 times or less the width of the ice to be ice-cooled.

8 is a view showing an ice maker in which the cutout portion 130b of the present invention is located at the rear side.

Referring to FIG. 8, the water supply portion 100b may be extended in a direction parallel to the ice-making direction shown in FIG. The cutout 130b may be formed on the rear side in the extended direction of the extended water supply portion 100b. That is, the incision 130b is formed in the water supply part 100b adjacent to the ice-free path of the ice, and may be formed on the rear side of the partition wall of the water supply part 100b in the direction of the freezing. However, the cut-out portion 130b may be formed above the receiving portion 201 so that icing water can be provided to the receiving portion 201. [

When the water supply part 100b extends in the freezing direction as in the above case, the separation preventing part 125b may extend from the cut partition 120b. The partition wall 120b can be guided by a part of the partition wall partitioning the supply portion 110b when the ice is moved in the freezing direction and furthermore, It can be prevented from being released by the release preventing member 125b.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an ice maker in which the partition 120b facing the ice path is narrowed in the water supply part 100b of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the water supply unit 100b may be provided so as to form the ice-making direction and the ice-making angle range A. Specifically, the freezing angle range A can be extended in the outward direction of the ice maker by a predetermined angle on the plane with reference to the freezing direction of ice.

The cutout 130b may be formed in the partition wall forming the angle with the direction of the ice. The ice-making angle range A can be smoothly released even when the ice-making angle deviates from the ice-making direction so as not to cause contact or collision with the ice-cut partition wall.

The ice can be prevented from touching and colliding with a part of the water supply part 100 at the time of ice removal due to the freezing angle range (A). For example, the portion may be the second end 102b. The water supply unit 100 may be provided with a cutout 130b formed by cutting the partition 120b. The incision 130b refers to a space and the ends of the incised portion, that is, the two ends of the partition 120b on the incised side are referred to as a first end 101b and a second end 102b, The second end portion 102b may be positioned adjacent to the front side with respect to the direction in which the ice is formed, and the second end portion 102b may be positioned adjacent to the rear side. The first end portion 101b and the second end portion 102b may be connected as a part of the water supply portion 100 through at least one of a shape of a flat portion and a curved portion.

Specifically, the second end portion 102b can be formed at a position which is a predetermined angle from the direction of the ice starting point of the ice around the first end portion 101b. The predetermined angle may be an opening angle range (A), or may be a separately formed angle.

By the determined angle, the second end portion 102b can be spaced from the receiving portion 201 more than the first end portion 101b. This separation condition is for preventing the second end portion 102b from being located farther from the ice free path of the ice than the first end portion 101b, thereby preventing the trouble caused by contact or collision when the ice is released. Therefore, when the water supply section 100 is located at one side of the receiving section and provides deicing water as in this example, the second end section 102b extends from the first end section 101b to the opposite side of the direction in which the deicing water is supplied Or may be located in an extended direction.

In the case of being unloaded from the freezing direction, it can be determined according to the temperature including the heating temperature of the heater, the heating time, the rotating speed of the ejector, and the temperature in the refrigerator or the freezer. Such conditions may vary finely and continuously, The direction can be changed a little bit each time. And may extend outwardly of the ice maker by a predetermined angle so as to accommodate the ice direction which can be varied as described above.

For example, the freezing angle range may be, for example, 20 degrees or less. 20 degrees, the distance between the cutout 130b and the accommodating portion 201 becomes large on the plane, and thus the provision of the icing water may not be smooth. That is, when a part of the ice-making water is supplied to the outside of the ice-making tray 200 without being introduced into the receiving portion 201, ice may be formed in the peripheral portion of the ice-making tray 200 or ice may be adhered to the ice stored in the storing portion. Such a result may be a factor that interferes with the extraction of ice from the ice maker or causes the ice to be abnormally performed.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, . Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be determined by equivalents to the appended claims, as well as the appended claims.

10, 100:
11, 110, and 110b:
101, 101b: first end
102, 102b: second end
12, 120, 120a, 120b:
121, 121a:
122, 122a:
123, 123a: extension part
123c: Connection
125, 125b:
130, and 130b:
20, 200: Deicing tray
201:
300: control box
C1: 1st trough
C2: 2nd curved portion
C3: third trough
E: Ejector pin
B: separation distance
A: Ice angle range

Claims (11)

Control box;
An ice-making tray connected to one side of the control box and including at least one receiving portion; And
And a water supply unit for supplying ice-making water to the ice-making tray,
The water-
An ice maker for ice-making water, an ice maker for ice-making water, an ice maker for ice-
Wherein,
And a first end portion and a second end portion which are formed on the side where the incision portion is formed and which are respectively located on the front side and the rear side with respect to the direction in which the ice pieces are formed,
And the second end portion is located in a direction extending in a direction opposite to a water supply direction in which the icemap water is supplied from the first end portion or in a direction away from the accommodating portion.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the second end extends at a predetermined angle or more from an ice-free trajectory of the ice around the first end,
Wherein the predetermined angle is not less than 1 degree and not more than 10 degrees.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a water level sensor for sensing a level of the iced water provided from the water supply unit in the water receiving portion.
The method according to claim 1,
The control box rotates the ejector pin,
And the ice is released by rotation of the ejector pin.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outline of the cutout includes a curved portion or a flat portion.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first end and the second end are connected through a valley or a flat portion.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And a connection portion which is a boundary between the lower portion and the extension portion.
The method of claim 7,
Wherein a distance between a side cut at the partition and an ejector pin releasing ice from the extension is 1.5 times or less the width of ice to be ice-cooled.
The method according to claim 1,
And an escape preventing portion extending from the cut-out portion on the second end side.
The method according to claim 1,
And the range of the freezing trajectory is widened toward the rear side of the ice-making track adjacent to the water supply portion.
A refrigerator comprising an icemaker according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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