KR20190036943A - Cooling apparatus for ice maker and ice maker having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a cooling apparatus for an ice maker and an ice maker having the same. The cooling apparatus for an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: an evaporator in which a refrigerant flows; and an ice disintegrating unit connected to the evaporator such that the coolant may be introduced and stored therein, and heating the stored coolant so as to move the evaporator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device for an icemaker and an icemaker including the same,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device for ice making machine and an ice maker including the same.

The ice maker is making ice. To this end, the ice maker includes an evaporator through which refrigerant flows.

When water contacts at least a part of a member connected to an evaporator or an evaporator in a state where a refrigerant having a freezing point or lower flows into the evaporator, ice is generated in the evaporator or a member connected to the evaporator.

When ice cubes of a predetermined size are formed in a member connected to an evaporator or an evaporator, the ice should be separated from the evaporator or a member connected to the evaporator, that is, deaerated.

To this end, conventionally, the evaporator is caused to have a refrigerant flowing over a freezing point from a compressor connected to the evaporator, or a heater is provided outside the evaporator to heat the evaporator.

However, when the refrigerant over the freezing point flows from the compressor connected to the evaporator to the evaporator, noise is generated in the flow path switching valve used for this purpose. When the heater is provided outside the evaporator, the evaporator is heated to a high temperature, The resistance was decreased.

The present invention is realized by recognizing at least any one of the above-mentioned conventional needs or problems.

One aspect of the present invention is to minimize the generation of noise during de-icing to separate ice produced by the evaporator and to prevent degradation of the evaporator's resistance to corrosion by de-icing.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is to allow the refrigerant to flow into the defrosting unit and store the refrigerant, and then heat the refrigerant stored in the defrosting unit to flow through the evaporator, thereby de-iceing the ice produced by the evaporator.

The cooling device and the icemaker for an ice maker according to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the above problems may include the following features.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling device for an ice maker, comprising: an evaporator through which a refrigerant flows; And a driving unit connected to the evaporator so that the refrigerant is introduced and stored, and a heating unit for heating the refrigerant to flow through the evaporator; . ≪ / RTI >

In this case, a part of the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator or the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator may be stored in the driving unit.

The defrosting unit may be connected between the evaporator and the refrigerant expansion unit connected to the evaporator, or between the evaporator and the compressor connected to the evaporator.

When ice cubes below the freezing point flow into the evaporator to generate ice, the cold refrigerant flows into the ice-making unit and is stored. When the generated ice is defrosted, hot refrigerant above the freezing point heated by the ice- Thereby allowing the evaporator to flow.

Further, the compressor can be driven at the time of deicing, and the driving of the compressor can be stopped at the time of de-icing.

The defrosting unit may include a refrigerant storage tank connected between the evaporator and the refrigerant expansion unit or between the evaporator and the compressor and having a refrigerant introduced therein and stored therein; And a heater provided in the refrigerant storage tank and driven during de-icing to heat the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage tank; . ≪ / RTI >

Further, an upper portion of the refrigerant storage tank may be connected between the evaporator and the refrigerant expansion unit or between the evaporator and the compressor.

The evaporator may be connected to an immersion member at least partially immersed in water and generating ice.

Further, the refrigerant may flow into the immersion member.

In addition, the evaporator may be connected to an ice maker having an ice-making groove for generating ice.

The ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the cooling device for the ice maker described above; An icemaker which is connected to an evaporator included in the icemaker and is connected to the evaporator and includes an immersion member; And a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making water receptacle or the ice-making groove; . ≪ / RTI >

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, after the refrigerant is introduced into the ice-breaking unit to be stored therein, the refrigerant stored in the ice-breaking unit is heated to flow in the evaporator.

Also, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of noise during de-icing for separating the ice generated by the evaporator and to prevent the corrosion resistance of the evaporator from being deteriorated by de-icing.

1 is a view showing a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention and a first embodiment of the ice maker including the same.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker and an operation of a first embodiment of the ice maker including the same according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2 is for ice making and FIG. 3 is for deicing.
4 is a view showing a second embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention and a first embodiment of the ice maker including the same.
5 is a view showing a second embodiment of an icemaker including a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention.
6 is a view showing a third embodiment of the icemaker including the first embodiment of the cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a cooling device for an ice maker and an ice maker including the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in order to facilitate understanding of the features of the present invention.

The embodiments described below will be described on the basis of embodiments best suited to understand the technical characteristics of the present invention and the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the embodiments described, It is to be understood that the invention can be practiced with embodiments. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. In order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described below, in the reference numerals shown in the accompanying drawings, among the constituent elements that perform the same function in the respective embodiments, the related constituent elements are indicated by the same or an extension line number.

Hereinafter, a cooling device for an ice maker and an ice maker including the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention and a first embodiment of the ice maker including the same, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention And an ice maker including the ice maker, wherein FIG. 2 shows the ice making operation and FIG. 3 shows the deicing operation.

4 is a view showing a second embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention and a first embodiment of the ice maker including the same.

5 is a view showing a second embodiment of an icemaker including a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention.

6 is a view showing a third embodiment of an ice maker including a first embodiment of a cooling device for an ice maker according to the present invention.

Cooling system for ice maker

The cooling device 100 for an ice maker according to the present invention may include an evaporator 200 and a driving unit 300.

The refrigerant may flow into the evaporator 200 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, one side of the evaporator 200 may be connected to the refrigerant expansion unit EP and the other side may be connected to the compressor CP. Further, the refrigerant expansion part EP and the compressor CP may be connected to the condenser CD. Thereby, a refrigerating cycle in which the pressure and the temperature are changed while the refrigerant flows while changing the phase to the liquid or the gas can be obtained.

An immersion member 210 may be connected to the evaporator 200. The immersion member 210 can be at least partially immersed in the water WT contained in the ice-making water receptacle TR rotated to the ice-making position, as shown in FIG.

In this configuration, when the compressor CP is driven and the refrigerant flows into the refrigerating cycle, cold refrigerant below the freezing point can flow into the evaporator 200. Thereby, the immersion member 210 is cooled below the freezing point, and ice (I) can be generated in the immersion member 210 as shown in FIG.

When the size of the ice I reaches a predetermined size, the ice-making water receiver TR can be rotated to the ice-making position as shown in FIG. When the hot refrigerant above the freezing point flows from the ice-breaking unit 300 into the evaporator 200, the ice-making unit 210 is heated to a temperature higher than the freezing point, so that the ice I can be separated from the immersion member 210. Then, the ice I separated from the immersion member 210 is dropped by its own weight, and can be moved to and stored in an ice reservoir (not shown).

The refrigerant may flow into the immersion member 210 as well. For example, the immersion member 210 may also include a refrigerant channel (not shown) connected to a refrigerant channel (not shown) formed in the evaporator 200 to allow the refrigerant to flow.

This makes it easier to cool the freezing point of the immersion member 210 below the freezing point or to heat the freezing point above the freezing point so that the generation of the ice I in the immersion member 210 and the separation of the ice I from the immersion member 210 Can be achieved more easily.

5 and 6, the evaporator 200 may be connected to an ice-making frame IF formed with an ice-making groove IH.

In this configuration, when the coolant cooler below the freezing point flows in the evaporator 200, the ice-making frame IF can be cooled below the freezing point. In this state, when water is sprayed from the water supply portion PW to the ice-making groove IH or water is supplied, ice I may be generated in the ice-making groove IH.

When the size of the ice I generated in the ice making groove IH of the ice-making frame IF reaches a predetermined size, hot refrigerant of a freezing point or more can be flowed from the ice-breaking unit 300 to the evaporator 200. Thereby, the ice-making frame IF is heated above the freezing point, so that the ice I can be separated from the ice-making groove IH. The ice (I) separated from the ice making groove (IH) of the ice making frame (IF) can be moved and stored in an ice reservoir or the like.

The ice-breaking unit 300 may be connected to the evaporator 200 so that the refrigerant is introduced and stored. Also, the ice-breaking unit 300 may heat the stored refrigerant to cause the evaporator 200 to flow.

Accordingly, a channel switching valve (not shown) is provided in the refrigeration cycle or a heater is not required to be provided in the evaporator 200 in order to rid ice of the ice (I) generated by the evaporator 200 as in the conventional art . Therefore, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of noise during de-icing for separating the ice (I) generated by the evaporator 200, and to prevent the corrosion resistance of the evaporator 200 from being deteriorated by de-icing.

A part of the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator (200) or the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator (200) may be stored in the ice-breaking unit (300).

The defrosting unit 300 may be connected between the evaporator 200 and the refrigerant expansion unit EP as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant expanding portion EP to the evaporator 200 can be stored in the ice-breaking unit 300. As shown in FIG.

However, the ice-breaking unit 300 may be connected between the evaporator 200 and the compressor CP as shown in FIG. In this case, some of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 200 and then flowing to the compressor CP may be stored in the ice-breaking unit 300.

Ice I is generated in the ice making groove IH of the immersion member 210 or the ice-making frame IF as described above, for example, as described above, in which the cold refrigerant below the freezing point flows into the evaporator 200, The cold refrigerant can be introduced into the ice-breaking unit 300 and stored therein.

The compressor (CP) can be driven during the icing. 2, a part of the cool refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant expansion part EP to the evaporator 200 can be introduced into the ice-breaking unit 300 and stored. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a part of the coolant refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 200 to the compressor CP may flow into the ice-making unit 300 and be stored.

When the generated ice I is defrosted, for example, as described above, the deicing of ice (I) generated in the ice making groove IH of the immersion member 210 of the evaporator 200 or the ice- The hot refrigerant heated by the ice-breaking unit 300 at a freezing point can flow through the evaporator 200.

At the time of de-icing, the driving of the compressor (CP) can be stopped. Further, the refrigerant over the freezing point heated by the driving unit 300 can flow through the evaporator 200.

The ice-breaking unit 300 may include a refrigerant storage tank 310 and a heater 320.

The refrigerant storage tank 310 may be connected between the evaporator 200 and the refrigerant expansion unit EP as shown in FIG. However, the refrigerant storage tank 310 may be connected between the evaporator 200 and the compressor CP as shown in FIG.

The refrigerant may be stored in the refrigerant storage tank 310. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion of cool refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant expansion unit EP to the evaporator 200 at the time of ice-making may be stored in the refrigerant storage tank 310. However, the refrigerant storage tank 310 may store a part of the cool refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 200 to the compressor CP as shown in FIG.

An upper portion of the refrigerant storage tank 310 may be connected between the evaporator 200 and the refrigerant expansion unit EP or between the evaporator 200 and the compressor CP. A part of the cool refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant expanding portion EP to the evaporator 200 or flowing from the evaporator 200 to the compressor CP can be naturally stored in the refrigerant storage portion 200, May be introduced into the tank 310 and stored therein.

The heater 320 may be provided in the refrigerant storage tank 310. The heater 320 may be provided at least partially within the refrigerant storage tank 310 as shown in FIG. However, the heater 320 may be provided outside the refrigerant storage tank 310.

The heater 320 can be driven at the time of de-icing. Thereby, the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage tank 310 can be heated by the heater 320. The hot refrigerant heated by the heater 320 can naturally flow out of the refrigerant storage tank 310 and flow to the evaporator 200 rather than the refrigerant expanding part EP or the compressor CP having a high resistance. Thereby, the evaporator 200 is heated by the hot refrigerant and the ice I generated in the immersion member 210 and the ice making groove IH of the ice making frame IF is transferred to the immersion member 210, That is, from the ice-making groove IH of the intermediate shaft IF.

Ice machine

The ice maker IM according to the present invention may include the cooling device 100 for the ice maker, the ice-making water receiver TR, the ice-making frame IF, and the water supply part PW.

Since the cooling device 100 for an ice maker has been described above, a description thereof will be omitted.

The icemaker TR can rotate between the ice-making position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the ice-making position as shown in Fig.

At the ice-making position, water (WT) is supplied to the ice-making water receiving tray (TR) from the water supplying portion (PW). The immersion member 210 connected to the evaporator 200 of the ice maker cooling apparatus 100 may be immersed in the water WT contained in the ice-making water receptacle TR. In this state, ice (I) may be generated in the immersion member (210) when cool refrigerant below the freezing point flows into the evaporator (200) by driving the compressor (CP) connected to the evaporator (200).

The compressor CP connected to the evaporator 200 of the ice-maker cooling apparatus 100 stops driving and the heater 320 of the ice-making unit 300 of the ice- Can be driven. Thus, the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage tank 310 of the ice-breaking unit 300 is heated by the heater 320, so that the hot refrigerant above the freezing point from the refrigerant storage tank 310 can flow through the evaporator 200.

The ice I generated to a predetermined size in the immersion member 210 connected to the evaporator 200 of the ice maker cooling apparatus 100 may be separated from the immersion member 210 and moved to and stored in an ice reservoir have.

The ice-making frame IF may be connected to the evaporator 200. In addition, the ice making frame IF may be formed with an ice making groove IH as shown in FIGS. A plurality of ice-making grooves IH may be formed in the ice-making frame IF. However, the number of the ice-making grooves IH formed in the ice-making frame IF is not particularly limited and may be one or any number.

5, the compressor CP connected to the evaporator 200 of the ice maker cooling device 100 is driven to cause the evaporator 200 to cool down to a freezing point The water can be sprayed from the water supply unit PW at the time of deicing.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, water supplied from the water supply portion PW may flow into the ice making groove IH of the ice-making frame IF during the icing.

Thereby, ice I can be generated in the ice-making groove IH of the ice-making frame IF.

The hot refrigerant heated by the heater 320 provided in the refrigerant storage tank 310 of the ice-breaking unit 300 is discharged from the refrigerant storage tank 310 to the evaporator 200 200). ≪ / RTI > Accordingly, ice I of a predetermined size generated in the ice-making groove IH of the ice-making frame IF can be separated from the ice-making groove IH.

The ice (I) separated from the ice making groove (IH) of the ice making frame (IF) can be moved and stored in an ice reservoir or the like.

 The water supply unit PW can supply water to the ice-making water receptacle TR and the ice-making groove IH of the ice-making frame IF. The water supply portion PW is not particularly limited and any well-known means can be used as long as it can supply water to the ice making water receptacle TR and the ice making groove IH of the ice making frame IF.

As described above, when the ice maker cooling device and the ice maker including the ice maker according to the present invention are used, the refrigerant is introduced into the ice-making unit to be stored therein, and then the refrigerant stored in the ice-making unit is heated to flow through the evaporator. The generated ice can be scraped off, the occurrence of noise during de-icing for separating the ice generated by the evaporator can be minimized, and the resistance against corrosion of the evaporator can be prevented from being lowered by de-icing.

The cooling device for the ice-maker and the ice maker including the ice-maker described above are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but the embodiments may be modified such that all or some of the embodiments are selectively combined It is may be of

100: cooling device for ice-maker 200: evaporator
210: immersion member 300: driving unit
310: Refrigerant storage tank 320: Heater
I: Ice TR:
IF: Ice making frame IH: Ice making groove
PW: Water supply WT: Water
EP: refrigerant expansion part CP: compressor
CD: Condenser IM: Vending machine

Claims (11)

An evaporator through which the refrigerant flows; And
A driving unit connected to the evaporator so that the refrigerant is introduced and stored, the driving unit heating the refrigerant to flow the evaporator;
And a cooling device for cooling the ice making chamber. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 1, wherein a part of the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator or the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator is stored in the ice-making unit. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 2, wherein the ice-breaking unit is connected between the evaporator and a refrigerant expansion part connected to the evaporator, or between the evaporator and a compressor connected to the evaporator. The refrigeration system of claim 3, wherein when the evaporator is cooled by a cold refrigerant below the freezing point and ice is generated, cold refrigerant flows into the evaporator,
And when the generated ice is defrosted, hot refrigerant equal to or higher than a freezing point heated by the ice-breaking unit flows through the evaporator. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 4, wherein the compressor is driven at the time of ice making and the driving of the compressor is stopped at the time of de-icing. 6. The ice making machine according to claim 5,
A refrigerant storage tank which is connected between the evaporator and the refrigerant expansion unit or between the evaporator and the compressor and into which the refrigerant is introduced and stored; And
A heater installed in the refrigerant storage tank and driven during de-icing to heat the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage tank;
And a cooling device for cooling the ice making chamber. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 6, wherein an upper portion of the refrigerant storage tank is connected between the evaporator and the refrigerant expansion unit or between the evaporator and the compressor. 7. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 6, wherein the evaporator is connected to an immersion member at least partly immersed in water and generating ice. The cooling device for an icemaker according to claim 8, wherein the coolant flows into the immersion member. The cooling device for an ice-maker according to claim 6, wherein the evaporator is connected to an ice-making frame having an ice-making groove for generating ice. A cooling device for an ice maker as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7;
An icemaker which is connected to an evaporator included in the icemaker and is connected to the evaporator and includes an immersion member; And
A water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making water receptacle or the ice-making groove;
.

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