KR20210030014A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator which comprises: a storage compartment which stores food; a cooler for supplying cold into the storage compartment; a tray forming an ice-making cell which is a space where water becomes ice by the cold; a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making cell; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water or ice of the ice-making cell; a heater for supplying heat to the ice-making cell; and a control unit which controls the heater. The control unit makes the heater turned on in at least some sections while the cooler is supplying the cold to generate transparent ice as air bubbles melted in the water in the ice-making cell move to the water in a liquid state at the parts where ice is generated. The control unit variably controls the heating volume of the heater to maintain the speed of the water in the ice-making cell becoming ice in the ice-making process within a certain range which is lower than the ice-making speed when the ice is being made while the heater is turned off. The control unit, when the defrosting process satisfies the conditions for starting defrosting, performs a step of defrosting and reduces the cooling volume of the cooler. The present invention aims to provide a refrigerator which is able to generate ice with a uniform transparency regardless of the shape.

Description

Refrigerator{Refrigerator}

This specification relates to a refrigerator.

In general, refrigerators are home appliances that allow low-temperature storage of food in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door.

The refrigerator cools the inside of the storage space using cold air, so that stored foods can be stored in a refrigerated or frozen state.

Usually, the refrigerator is provided with an ice maker for making ice.

The ice maker generates ice by cooling water after receiving water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank in a tray.

In addition, the ice maker may ice the ice, which has been de-iced, in the ice tray using a heating method or a twisting method.

In this way, the ice maker, which is automatically watered and iced, is formed to be opened upward and pumps the molded ice.

Ice made in an ice maker with such a structure has at least one flat surface such as a crescent shape or a cubic shape.

On the other hand, when the shape of the ice is formed in a spherical shape, it may be more convenient to use ice, and a different feeling of use may be provided to the user. In addition, it is possible to minimize the sticking of ice by minimizing the area in contact with each other even when the ice is stored.

An ice maker is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1850918 (hereinafter referred to as "priority document 1"), which is a prior document.

In the ice maker of Prior Document 1, a plurality of hemispherical upper cells are arranged, an upper tray including a pair of link guides extending upward from both sides, and a plurality of hemispherical lower cells are arranged, and the upper A lower tray rotatably connected to a tray, a rotation shaft connected to the rear end of the lower tray and the upper tray to rotate the lower tray with respect to the upper tray, one end connected to the lower tray, and the other end of the lower tray A pair of links connected to the link guide unit; And an upper ejecting pin assembly connected to the pair of links, respectively, with both ends of which are fitted to the link guide, and moving up and down together with the link.

In the case of Prior Document 1, a sphere-shaped ice can be generated by the hemispherical upper cell and the hemispherical lower cell, but since the ice is simultaneously generated in the upper and lower cells, air bubbles contained in the water are completely discharged. There is a disadvantage that the ice formed by the air bubbles dispersed in the water is opaque.

An ice-making apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 9-269172 (hereinafter referred to as "priority document 2"), which is a prior document.

The ice-making apparatus of Prior Document 2 includes an ice-making dish and a heater that heats the bottom of water supplied to the ice-making dish.

In the case of the ice making apparatus of Prior Document 2, water on one side and the bottom of the ice making block is heated by a heater during the ice making process. Accordingly, solidification proceeds on the water surface side, and convection occurs in the water, so that transparent ice can be produced.

As the growth of transparent ice progresses and the volume of water in the ice-making block decreases, the solidification rate gradually increases, and sufficient convection suitable for the solidification rate cannot occur.

Therefore, in the case of Prior Document 2, when about 2/3 of the water is solidified, the heating amount of the heater is increased to suppress an increase in the solidification rate.

However, according to Prior Document 2, since the heating amount of the heater is increased when the volume of water is simply reduced, it is difficult to generate ice having uniform transparency according to the shape of the ice.

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator capable of generating ice having uniform transparency as a whole regardless of shape.

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator having uniform transparency for each unit height of ice generated.

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator capable of generating ice having uniform transparency as a whole by varying the heating amount of a transparent ice heater in response to a change in a heat transfer amount between water in an ice making cell and cold air in a storage compartment.

In this embodiment, when defrosting is performed during the defrosting process, when the output of the transparent ice heater needs to be reduced, the output of the transparent ice heater is reduced, thereby preventing the transparency of the transparent ice from deteriorating during the defrosting process. Provide refrigerators that can reduce power consumption.

A refrigerator according to an aspect includes: a storage compartment in which food is stored; A cooler for supplying cold to the storage chamber; A tray forming an ice-making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air; A temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell; A heater for supplying heat to the ice making cell; It may include a control unit for controlling the heater.

The control unit may be configured in at least some section of the cooler supplying cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice making cell move from the portion where ice is generated to liquid water to generate transparent ice. The heater can be turned on.

The control unit may variably control the heating amount of the heater so that the rate at which the water inside the ice-making cell is ice-making during the ice-making process is maintained within a predetermined range lower than the ice-making rate when ice-making is performed while the heater is turned off. I can.

When a defrost start condition is satisfied in the ice making process, the control unit may perform a defrosting step for defrosting and reduce the amount of heating of the cooler.

The tray may include a first tray forming a part of an ice-making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air, and a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell.

The second tray may be connected to a driving unit to receive power from the driving unit. The second tray may be in contact with the first tray during an ice making process, and may be spaced apart from the first tray during an ice making process.

By the operation of the driving unit, the second tray may be moved from a water supply position to an ice making position. In addition, the second tray may be moved from the ice making position to the ice making position by the operation of the driving unit.

Water supply of the ice making cell may be performed while the second tray is moved to the water supply position.

After the water supply is completed, the second tray may be moved to the ice making position. After the second tray is moved to the ice making position, the cooler may supply cold to the ice making cell.

When the ice making in the ice making cell is completed, the second tray may move in a forward direction to the ice making position in order to take out ice from the ice making cell.

After the second tray is moved to the ebbing position, it is moved to the water supply position in the reverse direction, and water supply may be started again.

When the defrost start condition is satisfied during the ice making process, the controller may maintain or reduce the amount of heating supplied by the heater.

The control unit may control the heating amount of the heater to be varied in a plurality of preset sections during the ice making process.

The controller may variably control the heating amount of the heater based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor after the heater operates at an initial heating amount corresponding to each section in each of the plurality of sections.

The control unit may control to maintain the heating amount of the heater when the section when the defrosting step starts is a section in which the initial heating amount of the heater is the minimum among the plurality of sections.

When the initial heating amount of the heater in the next section is smaller than the heating amount of the heater in the section when the defrosting step starts, the control unit changes the heating amount of the heater to the initial heating amount in the next section. It can be controlled as much as possible.

When the initial heating amount of the heater in the previous section is smaller than the heating amount of the heater in the section when the defrosting step starts, the control unit changes the heating amount of the heater to the initial heating amount in the previous section. It can be controlled as much as possible.

When the defrosting step is completed, the controller may control the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the heating amount of the heater in a section when the defrosting step starts.

After completion of the defrosting step, the controller may control the heater to be turned on until the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step is started.

When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches the target temperature, the controller may control the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the initial heating amount in the next section.

After the start of ice making, a target slope based on the on reference temperature of the heater and the off reference temperature of the heater for determining completion of ice making may be determined in advance and stored in the memory.

The controller may control the heating amount of the transparent ice heater based on a target value based on the target slope and a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor for each unit time after the start of ice making.

When the defrosting step is completed, the control unit may control the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the heating amount of the heater at a time when the defrosting step is started.

After completion of the defrosting step, the controller may control the heating amount of the transparent ice heater based on a target value at a time point at which the defrosting step is started and a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

The control unit includes cold and water in the ice-making cell in the storage compartment so that the ice-making speed of the water inside the ice-making cell is maintained within a predetermined range lower than the ice-making speed when ice-making is performed while the heater is turned off. It is possible to control the heating amount of the heater to increase when the amount of heat transfer between the heater is increased, and to decrease the heating amount of the heater when the amount of heat transfer between the cold in the storage chamber and the water of the ice making cell decreases. .

The controller may control the heater to be turned off when the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a reference temperature value while the defrosting step is in progress.

The controller may control the heater to be turned on when the value measured by the temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature value.

When the value measured by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than the reference temperature value, the controller may control the heater to operate with a heating amount before the heater is turned off.

After completion of the defrosting step, the controller may control the heater to be turned on until the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step is started.

The heating amount of the heater may be controlled to be changed to the initial heating amount of the heater in the next section.

When it is determined that ice is not generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress, the controller may control the heater to be turned off.

When it is determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress, the controller may control the heater to be turned on.

When it is determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress, the controller may control the heater to operate with a heating amount before the heater is turned off.

According to the proposed invention, since the cooler turns on the heater in at least some section while supplying cold, the ice-making speed is delayed by the heat of the heater, so that the bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice-making cell generate ice. In the liquid water, transparent ice can be created.

In particular, in the case of this embodiment, by controlling one or more of the cooling power of the cooler and the heating amount of the heater to vary according to the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell, ice having uniform transparency as a whole regardless of the shape of the ice making cell Can be created.

In addition, even if defrost is input during the defrosting process, the transparent ice heater is maintained in an on state, so that ice is prevented from being generated in a portion adjacent to the transparent ice heater during the defrosting process, thereby preventing the transparency of the transparent ice from deteriorating. Can be.

In addition, in the ice making process, power consumption of the transparent ice heater can be reduced by reducing the output when it is necessary to reduce the output of the transparent ice heater after the defrost is introduced.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, it should be noted that the same elements are assigned the same numerals as possible, even if they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing an embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with an understanding of an embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the constituent elements of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are for distinguishing the constituent element from other constituent elements, and the nature, order, or order of the constituent element is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but another component between each component It should be understood that may be “connected”, “coupled” or “connected”.

The refrigerator of the present invention includes a tray assembly forming a part of an ice-making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice, a cooler for supplying cold to the ice-making cell, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making cell. And a control unit. The refrigerator may further include a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell. The refrigerator may further include a heater positioned adjacent to the tray assembly. The refrigerator may further include a driving unit capable of moving the tray assembly. The refrigerator may further include a storage compartment in which food is stored in addition to the ice making cell. The refrigerator may further include a cooler for supplying cold to the storage compartment. The refrigerator may further include a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in the storage compartment. The control unit may control at least one of the water supply unit and the cooler. The control unit may control at least one of the heater and the driving unit.

After moving the tray assembly to the ice making position, the controller may control the cooler to supply cold to the ice making cell. The controller may control the tray assembly to move in a forward direction to the ice making position in order to take out ice from the ice making cell after generation of ice in the ice making cell is completed. The control unit may control to start water supply after the tray assembly is moved to the water supply position in the reverse direction after the ice-breaking is completed. The controller may control to move the tray assembly to the ice making position after the water supply is completed.

In the present invention, the storage compartment may be defined as a space that can be controlled to a predetermined temperature by a cooler. The outer case may be defined as a wall partitioning the storage compartment and the outer space of the storage compartment (ie, the outer space of the refrigerator). An insulating material may be positioned between the outer case and the storage compartment. An inner case may be positioned between the heat insulating material and the storage compartment.

In the present invention, the ice making cell is located inside the storage chamber and may be defined as a space in which water changes into ice. The circumference of the ice-making cell is irrelevant to the shape of the ice-making cell, and refers to an outer surface of the ice-making cell. In another aspect, the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may mean an inner surface of a wall forming the ice-making cell. The center of the ice-making cell means a center of gravity or a volume center of the ice-making cell. The center may cross the line of symmetry of the ice making cell.

In the present invention, the tray may be defined as a wall partitioning the ice making cell and the storage compartment. The tray may be defined as a wall forming at least a part of the ice making cell. The tray may be configured to surround all or only part of the ice making cell. The tray may include a first portion forming at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. There may be a plurality of the trays. The plurality of trays may be in contact with each other. For example, the tray disposed under the lower portion may include a plurality of trays. The tray disposed on the upper portion may include a plurality of trays. The refrigerator may include at least one tray disposed under the ice making cell. The refrigerator may further include a tray positioned above the ice making cell. The first portion and the second portion are the heat transfer degree of the tray to be described later, the cold transfer degree of the tray, the inner deformation degree of the tray, the restoration degree of the tray, the supercooling degree of the tray, and the tray and the inside of the tray are solidified. The adhesion between the frozen ice may be a structure in consideration of the bonding force between any one and the other in a plurality of trays.

In the present invention, the tray case may be located between the tray and the storage compartment. That is, at least a portion of the tray case may be disposed to surround the tray. There may be a plurality of tray cases. The plurality of tray cases may contact each other. The tray case may contact the tray to support at least a portion of the tray. The tray case may be configured such that components other than the tray (eg, a heater, a sensor, a power transmission member, etc.) are connected. The tray case may be directly coupled to the component or may be coupled to the component through a medium between the component and the component. For example, if the wall forming the ice making cell is formed of a thin film and there is a structure surrounding the thin film, the thin film is defined as a tray, and the structure is defined as a tray case. As another example, if a portion of the wall forming the ice-making cell is formed of a thin film, and the structure includes a first portion forming another part of the wall forming the ice-making cell and a second portion surrounding the thin film, the The thin film and the first part of the structure are defined as a tray, and the second part of the structure is defined as a tray case.

In the present invention, the tray assembly may be defined as including at least the tray. In the present invention, the tray assembly may further include the tray case.

In the present invention, the refrigerator may include at least one tray assembly configured to be movable by being connected to the driving unit. The drive unit is configured to move the tray assembly in the direction of at least one of X, Y, and Z axes or rotate around at least one of the X, Y, and Z axes. The present invention may include a refrigerator having the rest of the configuration except for the driving unit and a power transmission member connecting the driving unit and the tray assembly as described in the detailed description. In the present invention, the tray assembly may be moved in the first direction.

In the present invention, the cooler may be defined as a means for cooling the storage chamber including at least one of an evaporator and a thermoelectric element.

In the present invention, the refrigerator may include at least one tray assembly on which the heater is disposed. The heater may be disposed near the tray assembly to heat the ice making cell formed by the tray assembly in which the heater is disposed. The heater, in at least a part of the section during which the cooler supplies cold so that the bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice-making cell move from the ice-generating portion toward the liquid water to generate transparent ice. It may include a heater that is controlled to be turned on (hereinafter "transparent ice heater"). The heater may include a heater (hereinafter, referred to as “ice-bing heater”) that is controlled to be turned on in at least some sections after ice making is completed so that ice can be easily separated from the tray assembly. The refrigerator may include a plurality of transparent ice heaters. The refrigerator may include a plurality of ice-breaking heaters. The refrigerator may include a transparent ice heater and an ice ice heater. In this case, the controller may control the heating amount of the ice-breaking heater to be greater than the heating amount of the transparent ice-heating heater.

In the present invention, the tray assembly may include a first region and a second region forming an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. The tray assembly may include a first portion forming at least a part of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion.

For example, the first region may be formed on a first portion of the tray assembly. The first and second regions may be formed on a first portion of the tray assembly. The first and second regions may be part of the one tray assembly. The first and second regions may be arranged to contact each other. The first region may be a lower portion of the ice making cell formed by the tray assembly. The second region may be an upper portion of the ice making cell formed by the tray assembly. The refrigerator may include an additional tray assembly. Any one of the first and second regions may include a region in contact with the additional tray assembly. When the additional tray assembly is located under the first area, the additional tray assembly may contact the lower part of the first area. When the additional tray assembly is above the second area, the additional tray assembly and the top of the second area may contact each other.

As another example, the tray assembly may be configured in a plurality that may be in contact with each other. Among the plurality of tray assemblies, the first region may be positioned on a first tray assembly, and the second region may be positioned on a second tray assembly. The first area may be the first tray assembly. The second area may be the second tray assembly. The first and second regions may be arranged to contact each other. At least a portion of the first tray assembly may be located under an ice making cell formed by the first and second tray assemblies. At least a portion of the second tray assembly may be positioned above the ice making cell formed by the first and second tray assemblies.

Meanwhile, the first region may be a region closer to the heater than the second region. The first region may be a region in which a heater is disposed. The second region may be a region in which a distance from the heat absorbing part of the cooler (that is, the heat absorbing part of the refrigerant tube or the thermoelectric module) is adjacent to that of the first region. The second region may be a region in which a distance between the cooler and a through hole for supplying cool air to the ice-making cell is adjacent to that of the first region. In order for the cooler to supply cool air through the through hole, an additional through hole may be formed in another component. The second area may be an area having a distance to the additional through hole adjacent to the first area. The heater may be a transparent ice heater. The degree of insulation of the second region against the cold may be less than the degree of insulation of the first region.

Meanwhile, a heater may be disposed in either of the first and second tray assemblies of the refrigerator. For example, when the heater is not disposed in the other, the controller may control the heater to be turned on in at least some section while the cooler supplies cold. As another example, when an additional heater is disposed in the other, the controller may control the heating amount of the heater to be greater than the heating amount of the additional heater in at least some section while the cooler supplies cold. have. The heater may be a transparent ice heater.

The present invention may include a refrigerator having a configuration other than the transparent ice heater in the content described in the detailed description.

The present invention may include a pusher having a first edge formed with a surface pressing the ice or at least one surface of the tray assembly so that ice is easily separated from the tray assembly. The pusher may include a second edge extending from the first edge and positioned at an end of the bar. The controller may control the position of the pusher to change by moving at least one of the pusher and the tray assembly. The pusher may be defined as a penetrating pusher, a non-penetrating pusher, a movable pusher, and a fixed pusher, depending on the viewpoint.

A through hole through which the pusher moves may be formed in the tray assembly, and the pusher may be configured to directly apply pressure to ice inside the tray assembly. The pusher may be defined as a through-type pusher.

The tray assembly may be provided with a pressing unit that presses the pusher, and the pusher may be configured to apply pressure to one surface of the tray assembly. The pusher may be defined as a non-penetrating pusher.

The controller may control the pusher to move so that the first edge of the pusher is located between a first point outside the ice making cell and a second point inside the ice making cell.

The pusher may be defined as a movable pusher. The pusher may be connected to a drive unit, a rotation shaft of the drive unit, or a tray assembly that is movable by being connected to a drive.

The controller may control to move at least one of the tray assemblies so that the first edge of the pusher is positioned between a first point outside the ice making cell and a second point inside the ice making cell. . The controller may control at least one of the tray assemblies to move toward the pusher. Alternatively, the controller may control a relative position between the pusher and the tray assembly so that the pusher additionally presses the pressing part after the pusher contacts the pressing part at a first point outside the ice making cell. The pusher may be coupled to the fixed end. The pusher may be defined as a fixed pusher.

In the present invention, the ice making cell may be cooled by the cooler that cools the storage compartment. For example, a storage compartment in which the ice-making cell is located is a freezing compartment that can be controlled to a temperature lower than 0°C, and the ice-making cell may be cooled by a cooler that cools the freezing compartment.

The freezing compartment may be divided into a plurality of areas, and the ice making cell may be located in one of the plurality of areas.

In the present invention, the ice making cell may be cooled by a cooler other than a cooler that cools the storage compartment. For example, a storage compartment in which the ice-making cell is located is a refrigerating compartment that can be controlled to a temperature higher than 0°C, and the ice-making cell may be cooled by a cooler other than a cooler that cools the refrigerating compartment. That is, a refrigerator may include a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, the ice-making cell may be located inside the refrigerating compartment, and the ice-making cell may be cooled by a cooler that cools the freezing compartment.

The ice making cell may be located in a door that opens and closes the storage compartment.

In the present invention, the ice making cell is not located inside the storage chamber and may be cooled by a cooler. For example, the entire storage compartment formed inside the outer case may be the ice making cell.

In the present invention, the degree of heat transfer represents the degree of heat transfer from a hot object to a low temperature object, and is defined as a value determined by the shape including the thickness of the object and the material of the object. do. In terms of the material of the object, a high heat transfer degree of the object may mean a high thermal conductivity of the object. The thermal conductivity may be an inherent material characteristic of an object. Even when the material of the object is the same, the heat transfer degree may vary depending on the shape of the object.

The heat transfer degree may vary depending on the shape of the object. The degree of heat transfer from point A to point B may be affected by the length of a path through which heat is transferred from point A to point B (hereinafter, "Heat transfer path"). The longer the heat transfer path from the point A to the point B, the smaller the degree of heat transfer from the point A to the point B. The shorter the heat transfer path from the point A to the point B, the greater the degree of heat transfer from the point A to the point B.

Meanwhile, the degree of heat transfer from point A to point B may be affected by the thickness of a path through which heat is transferred from point A to point B. As the thickness in the path direction in which heat is transferred from the point A to the point B is thinner, the degree of heat transfer from the point A to the point B may decrease. As the thickness in the path direction in which the heat from the point A to the point B is transferred increases, the degree of heat transfer from the point A to the point B may increase.

In the present invention, the degree of cold transfer refers to the degree of cold transfer from a low temperature object to a high temperature object, and is defined as a value determined by the shape including the thickness of the object and the material of the object. do. The cold transfer degree is a term defined in consideration of the direction in which cold flows, and can be regarded as the same concept as the heat transfer degree. Description of the same concept as the heat transfer diagram will be omitted.

In the present invention, the degree of supercool is the degree of supercooling of the liquid, and the material of the liquid, the material or shape of the container containing the liquid, and external influences applied to the liquid during the solidification process of the liquid It can be defined as a value determined by a factor or the like. The increase in the frequency at which the liquid is supercooled can be seen as an increase in the degree of subcooling. The decrease in the temperature at which the liquid is maintained in the supercooled state can be seen as an increase in the supercooling degree. Here, the supercooling refers to a state in which the liquid is not solidified even at a temperature equal to or lower than the freezing point of the liquid and is present in a liquid state. The supercooled liquid is characterized by rapid solidification from the point when the supercooling is terminated. When it is desired to maintain the rate at which the liquid solidifies within a predetermined range, it will be advantageous to design such that the supercooling phenomenon is reduced.

In the present invention, the degree of deformation resistance represents the degree to which an object resists deformation due to an external force applied to the object, and is a value determined by the shape, including the thickness of the object, and the material of the object. Is defined. For example, the external force may include a pressure applied to the tray assembly while water in the ice making cell is solidified and expanded. As another example, the external force may include a pressure applied to ice or a part of the tray assembly by a pusher for separating ice from the tray assembly. As another example, when the tray assemblies are coupled, the pressure applied by the coupling may be included.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the material of the object, a high degree of deformation resistance of the object may mean that the object has high rigidity. The thermal conductivity may be an inherent material characteristic of an object. Even when the material of the object is the same, the degree of deformation may vary depending on the shape of the object. The degree of internal deformation may be affected by an internal deformation reinforcing portion extending in a direction in which the external force is applied. The greater the stiffness of the deformation resistant reinforcing portion, the greater the degree of deformation resistance may be. The higher the height of the extended internal deformation reinforcing portion, the greater the degree of deformation resistance may be.

In the present invention, the degree of restoration indicates the degree to which an object deformed by an external force is restored to the shape of an object after the external force is removed and before the external force is applied. It is defined as a value determined by material, etc. For example, the external force may include a pressure applied to the tray assembly while water in the ice making cell is solidified and expanded. As another example, the external force may include a pressure applied to ice or a part of the tray assembly by a pusher for separating ice from the tray assembly. As another example, when the tray assemblies are coupled, the pressure applied by the coupling force may be included.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the material of the object, the high reconstruction degree of the object may mean that the elastic modulus of the object is large. The modulus of elasticity may be an inherent material characteristic of an object. Even when the material of the object is the same, the degree of restoration may vary depending on the shape of the object. The degree of restoration may be affected by an elastic reinforcing portion extending in a direction in which the external force is applied. As the elastic modulus of the elastic reinforcing part increases, the degree of restoration may increase.

In the present invention, the coupling force represents the degree of coupling between a plurality of tray assemblies, and is defined as a value determined by the shape including the thickness of the tray assembly, the material of the tray assembly, and the magnitude of the force combining the trays. .

In the present invention, the degree of adhesion indicates the degree of adhesion between ice and the container in the process of turning water contained in the container into ice. It is defined as a value determined by

The refrigerator of the present invention includes a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold, a second tray assembly forming another part of the ice making cell, and the ice making. A cooler for supplying cold to the cell, a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice making cell, and a control unit may be included. The refrigerator may further include a storage compartment in addition to the ice making cell. The storage room may include a space for storing food. The ice making cell may be disposed inside the storage chamber. The refrigerator may further include a first temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in the storage compartment. The refrigerator may further include a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell. The second tray assembly may be in contact with the first tray assembly during an ice making process, and may be connected to a driving unit to be spaced apart from the first tray assembly during an ice making process. The refrigerator may further include a heater positioned adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly.

The control unit may control at least one of the heater and the driving unit. The controller may control the cooler to supply cold to the ice-making cell after the second tray assembly is moved to the ice-making position after the water supply of the ice-making cell is completed. After the ice making in the ice making cell is completed, the controller may control the second tray assembly to move in a forward direction to an ice making position and then in a reverse direction to take out ice from the ice making cell. The control unit may control the water supply to start after the second tray assembly is moved to the water supply position in the reverse direction after the eaves are completed.

Explain in relation to transparent ice. Bubbles are melted in water, and ice that is solidified while the bubbles are included may have low transparency due to the bubbles. Therefore, in the process of solidifying water, by inducing the air bubbles to move from a part frozen first in the ice making cell to another part that has not yet been frozen, the transparency of the ice may be increased.

Through holes formed in the tray assembly can affect the creation of transparent ice. Through-holes that may be formed on one side of the tray assembly may affect the creation of transparent ice. In the process of generating ice, by inducing the bubbles to move out of the ice-making cell in a portion where ice is first frozen in the ice-making cell, transparency of the ice may be increased. In order to induce the air bubbles to move to the outside of the ice making cell, a through hole may be disposed at one side of the tray assembly. Since the air bubbles have a lower density than the liquid, a through hole (hereinafter referred to as “air bleeding hole”) for guiding the air bubbles to escape to the outside of the ice-making cell may be disposed on the upper portion of the tray assembly.

The location of the cooler and heater can affect the creation of transparent ice. The positions of the cooler and the heater may affect the ice making direction, which is a direction in which ice is generated in the ice making cell.

In the ice making process, by inducing bubbles to move or collect from a region where water is first solidified in the ice making cell to another certain region in a liquid state, transparency of the generated ice may be increased. A direction in which the air bubbles move or are collected may be similar to the ice making direction. The predetermined region may be a region desired to induce water to be slowly solidified in the ice making cell.

The constant region may be a region in which cold supplied by a cooler to the ice making cell arrives late. For example, in an ice-making process, in order to move or collect the air bubbles under the ice-making cell, a through hole through which the cooler supplies cool air to the ice-making cell may be disposed closer to an upper portion of the ice-making cell. As another example, the heat absorbing part of the cooler (ie, the refrigerant pipe of the evaporator or the heat absorbing part of the thermoelectric element) may be disposed closer to an upper portion of the ice making cell. In the present invention, the upper and lower portions of the ice making cell may be defined as an upper region and a lower region based on the height of the ice making cell.

The predetermined region may be a region in which a heater is disposed. For example, in the ice making process, in order to move or collect air bubbles in the water to the lower part of the ice making cell, the heater may be disposed closer to the lower part than the upper part of the ice making cell.

The predetermined area may be an area closer to an outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell rather than a center of the ice-making cell. However, it does not exclude the vicinity of the center. When the certain area is near the center of the ice making cell, an opaque part due to moving or trapped bubbles may be easily visible to the user, and the opaque part may remain until most of the ice is melted. have. In addition, it may be difficult to place the heater inside the ice making cell containing water. In contrast, when the predetermined area is located on the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell or near it, water may coagulate from one outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell to the other side of the ice-making cell, thereby solving the above problem . The transparent ice heater may be disposed on or near the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. The heater may be disposed on or near the tray assembly.

The predetermined area may be a position closer to a lower portion of the ice-making cell rather than an upper portion of the ice-making cell. However, it does not exclude the upper part. During the ice making process, liquid water having a higher density than ice descends, so it may be advantageous that the predetermined area is located under the ice making cell.

At least one of a degree of deformation, a degree of restoration, and a bonding force between the plurality of tray assemblies of the tray assembly may affect the formation of transparent ice. At least one of an inner deformation degree, a restoration degree, and a coupling force between the plurality of tray assemblies of the tray assembly may affect the ice making direction, which is a direction in which ice is generated inside the ice making cell. As described above, the tray assembly may include a first region and a second region forming an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. For example, the first and second regions may be part of one tray assembly. As another example, the first area may be a first tray assembly. The second area may be a second tray assembly.

In order to generate transparent ice, it may be advantageous to configure the refrigerator so that the direction in which ice is generated in the ice making cell is constant. This is because, as the ice-making direction is constant, it may mean that bubbles in water are moved or collected in a certain area within the ice-making cell. In order to induce ice to be generated in a portion of the tray assembly in the direction of another portion, it may be advantageous that the degree of deformation of the portion is greater than that of the other portion. Ice tends to grow as ice expands toward a portion with a small degree of deformation resistance. Meanwhile, in order to start ice making again after removing the generated ice, the deformed portion must be restored again to repeatedly generate ice of the same shape. Accordingly, it may be advantageous that a portion with a small degree of deformation resistance has a greater degree of restoration than a portion with a large degree of deformation.

It may be configured such that the inner deformation degree of the tray against external force is less than the inner deformation degree of the tray case against the external force, or the rigidity of the tray is less than the rigidity of the tray case. While the tray assembly allows the tray to be deformed by the external force, the tray case surrounding the tray may be configured to reduce deformation. As an example, the tray assembly may be configured such that only at least a portion of the tray is surrounded by the tray case. In this case, when pressure is applied to the tray assembly while the water inside the ice making cell is solidified and expanded, at least part of the tray is allowed to be deformed, and the other part of the tray is supported by the tray case. It can be configured so that the transformation is limited. In addition, when the external force is removed, the recovery degree of the tray may be greater than that of the tray case, or the elastic modulus of the tray may be configured to be greater than the elasticity modulus of the tray case. This configuration can be configured so that the deformed tray can be easily restored.

The inner deformation degree of the tray against the external force may be greater than the inner deformation degree of the refrigerator gasket against the external force, or the tray may be configured such that the rigidity of the tray is greater than the rigidity of the gasket. When the inner deformation degree of the tray is low, water in the ice making cell formed by the tray is solidified and expanded, thereby causing a problem in that the tray is excessively deformed. Deformation of these trays can make it difficult to produce the desired shape of ice. In addition, when the external force is removed, the recovery degree of the tray may be smaller than that of the refrigerator gasket against the external force, or the elastic modulus of the tray may be configured to be smaller than the elasticity modulus of the gasket.

The inner deformation degree of the tray case against the external force may be smaller than the inner deformation degree of the refrigerator case against the external force, or the rigidity of the tray case may be less than the rigidity of the refrigerator case. In general, the case of the refrigerator may be formed of a metal material including steel. In addition, when the external force is removed, the recovery degree of the tray case may be greater than that of the refrigerator case against the external force, or the elastic modulus of the tray case may be greater than the elasticity modulus of the refrigerator case.

The relationship between transparent ice and the degree of strain resistance is as follows.

The second area may have a different degree of internal deformation in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. It may be configured such that an internal deformation degree of one of the second regions is greater than an internal deformation degree of the other of the second regions. With this configuration, it may be helpful to induce ice to be generated from the ice making cell formed in the second region toward the ice making cell formed in the first region.

Meanwhile, the first and second regions disposed to contact each other may have different degrees of internal deformation in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. An internal deformation degree of any one of the second regions may be higher than an internal deformation degree of any one of the first regions. If configured in this way, it may be helpful to induce ice to be generated from the ice making cell formed in the second region toward the ice making cell formed in the first region.

In this case, while the water solidifies, the volume expands to apply pressure to the tray assembly, and ice may be induced to be generated in the other direction of the second area or the direction of the first area. The degree of internal deformation may be a degree of resistance to deformation by an external force. The external force may be a pressure applied to the tray assembly while water in the ice making cell is solidified and expanded. The external force may be a force in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) among the pressures. The external force may be a force acting from the ice-making cell formed by the second area toward the ice-making cell formed by the first area.

As an example, the thickness of the tray assembly from the center of the ice-making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may be thicker than one of the second region or one of the first region. . Any one of the second regions may be a portion not enclosed by the tray case. The other of the second area may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the first regions may be a portion not enclosed by the tray case. One of the second regions may be a portion of the second region that forms an uppermost end of the ice making cell. The second area may include a tray and a tray case that locally surrounds the tray. In this way, when at least a part of the second region is configured to be thicker than other parts, the degree of deformation of the second region against external force may be improved. The minimum value of the thickness of one of the second areas may be thicker than the minimum value of the thickness of the other of the second area, or may be thicker than the minimum value of any one of the first area. The maximum value of the thickness of one of the second areas may be thicker than the maximum value of the thickness of the other of the second area, or may be thicker than the maximum value of any one of the first area. When a through hole is formed in the region, the minimum value means a minimum value among the remaining regions excluding a portion in which the through hole is formed. The average value of one thickness of the second region may be thicker than the average value of the other thickness of the second region or may be thicker than the average value of any one of the first region. The uniformity of the thickness of one of the second regions may be less than the uniformity of the thickness of the other of the second region or less than the uniformity of the thickness of any one of the first region.

As another example, one of the second regions may extend in a vertical direction away from the first surface forming a part of the ice-making cell and the ice-making cell formed by the other of the second region from the first surface. It may include a deformation reinforcing portion. Meanwhile, any one of the second regions includes a first surface forming a part of the ice-making cell and a deformation-resistant reinforcement portion extending from the first surface in a vertical direction away from the ice-making cell formed by the first region. can do. As described above, when at least a part of the second region includes the internal deformation reinforcing portion, the degree of deformation of the second region may be improved with respect to an external force.

As another example, one of the second regions is at a fixed end of a refrigerator (eg, a bracket, a storage compartment wall, etc.) located in a direction away from the ice making cell formed by the other of the second region from the first surface. It may further include a support surface to be connected. Any one of the second regions further includes a support surface connected to a fixed end (eg, a bracket, a storage compartment wall, etc.) of a refrigerator positioned in a direction away from the ice-making cell formed by the first region from the first surface. can do. As described above, when at least a part of the second region includes a support surface connected to the fixed end, the degree of internal deformation of the second region may be improved with respect to an external force.

As another example, the tray assembly may include a first portion forming at least a part of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. At least a portion of the second portion may extend in a direction away from the ice making cell formed by the first region. At least a portion of the second portion may include an additional deformation-resistant reinforcement. At least a portion of the second portion may further include a support surface connected to the fixed end. As described above, if at least a part of the second region further includes the second part, it may be advantageous to improve the degree of internal deformation of the second region with respect to the external force. This is because an additional internal deformation reinforcing part may be formed in the second part, or the second part may be additionally supported by the fixed end.

As another example, any one of the second regions may include a first through hole. When the first through hole is formed in this way, the ice solidified in the ice making cell in the second area expands to the outside of the ice making cell through the first through hole, so that the pressure applied to the second area can be reduced. . In particular, when water is excessively supplied to the ice-making cell, the first through hole may contribute to reducing deformation of the second region during the process of solidifying the water.

Meanwhile, any one of the second regions may include a second through hole for providing a path through which bubbles contained in water in the ice making cell of the second region move or escape. When the second through hole is formed in this way, the transparency of the solidified ice can be improved.

Meanwhile, in any one of the second regions, a third through hole may be formed so that the through-type pusher can pressurize it. This is because when the degree of deformation of the second region increases, it may be difficult for the non-penetrating pusher to press the surface of the tray assembly to remove ice. The first, second, and third through holes may overlap. The first, second, and third through holes may be formed in one through hole.

Meanwhile, any one of the second regions may include a mounting portion in which the ebbing heater is located. Inducing ice to be generated in the ice making cell formed by the second region in the direction of the ice making cell formed by the first region may mean that the ice is first generated in the second region. In this case, this is because an ebbing heater may be required to separate the ice from the second region, and the second region and the ice may be attached to each other for a long time. The thickness of the tray assembly from the center of the ice-making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may be thinner than the other of the second area in a portion of the second area on which the ice-making heater is mounted. This is because the amount of heat supplied by the ice-making heater may increase the amount transferred to the ice-making cell. The fixed end may be a part of the wall forming the storage compartment or may be a bracket.

The relationship between the transparent ice and the tray assembly's bonding force is as follows.

In order to induce ice to be generated in the ice making cell formed by the second region in the direction of the ice making cell formed by the first region, it may be advantageous to increase the coupling force between the first and second regions disposed to contact each other. have. In the process of solidifying water, when the pressure applied to the tray assembly while expanding is greater than the bonding force between the first and second regions, ice may be generated in a direction in which the first and second regions are separated. In addition, in the process of solidifying water, when the pressure applied to the tray assembly while expanding is small, the direction of the ice making cell in the region of the first and second regions having a small degree of deformation resistance There is also an advantage that can be induced to generate ice.

There may be various examples of a method of increasing the coupling force between the first and second regions. For example, after the water supply is completed, the control unit changes the movement position of the driving unit in the first direction to control any one of the first and second regions to move in the first direction, and then the first and second regions are controlled to move in the first direction. In order to increase the coupling force between regions, the movement position of the driving unit may be controlled to further change in the first direction. As another example, by increasing the coupling force between the first and second regions, the driving unit can reduce the shape of the ice making cell from being changed by the expanding ice after the ice making process starts (or after the heater is turned on). It may be configured such that the degree of internal deformation or restoration of the first and second regions with respect to the transmitted force is different. As another example, the first region may include a first surface facing the second region. The second area may include a second surface facing the first area. The first and second surfaces may be arranged to be in contact with each other. The first and second surfaces may be disposed to face each other. The first and second surfaces may be arranged to be separated and combined. In this case, the first surface and the second surface may be configured to have different areas. With this configuration, it is possible to increase the coupling force between the first and second regions while reducing damage to portions in which the first and second regions are in contact with each other. In addition, there is also an advantage of reducing leakage of water supplied between the first and second regions.

The relationship between transparent ice and the degree of restoration is as follows.

The tray assembly may include a first portion forming at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. The second part is deformed by the expansion of the generated ice and is configured to be restored after the ice is removed. The second portion may include a horizontal extension portion provided to increase a degree of restoration against an external force in the vertical direction of the expanding ice. The second portion may include a vertical extension portion provided to increase a degree of restoration against an external force in the horizontal direction of the expanding ice. Such a configuration may help to induce ice to be generated from the ice making cell formed in the second region toward the ice making cell formed in the first region.

The first region may have a different degree of restoration in a direction along an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. In addition, the first region may have a different degree of internal deformation in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. A reconstruction degree of one of the first regions may be higher than that of another one of the first regions. In addition, one of the degrees of internal strain may be lower than that of the other. Such a configuration may help to induce ice to be generated from the ice making cell formed in the second region toward the ice making cell formed in the first region.

Meanwhile, the first and second regions disposed to contact each other may have different degrees of restoration in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. In addition, the first and second regions may have different degrees of internal deformation in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. The degree of restoration of any one of the first regions may be higher than that of any one of the second regions. In addition, an internal deformation degree of any one of the first regions may be lower than an internal deformation degree of any one of the second regions. Such a configuration may help to induce ice to be generated from the ice making cell formed in the second region toward the ice making cell formed in the first region.

In this case, while the water solidifies, the volume expands and pressure may be applied to the tray assembly, and ice may be induced to be generated in either direction of the first region with a small degree of deformation or a large degree of restoration. . Here, the degree of restoration may be a degree of restoration after the external force is removed. The external force may be a pressure applied to the tray assembly while water in the ice making cell is solidified and expanded. The external force may be a force in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) among the pressures. The external force may be a force from the ice making cell formed by the second region toward the ice making cell formed by the first region.

For example, a thickness of the tray assembly from the center of the ice-making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may be thinner than one of the first region or one of the second region. Any one of the first regions may be a portion not enclosed by the tray case. The other of the first area may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the second regions may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the first regions may be a portion of the first region that forms a lowermost end of the ice making cell. The first area may include a tray and a tray case that locally surrounds the tray.

The minimum value of the thickness of any one of the first region may be thinner than the minimum value of the thickness of the other of the first region or smaller than the minimum value of the thickness of any one of the second region. The maximum value of the thickness of one of the first regions may be thinner than the maximum value of the thickness of the other of the first region or may be smaller than the maximum value of the thickness of any one of the second region. When a through hole is formed in the region, the minimum value means a minimum value among the remaining regions excluding a portion in which the through hole is formed. The average value of the thickness of one of the first regions may be thinner than the average of the thickness of the other of the first region or may be thinner than the average of the thickness of any one of the second region. The uniformity of the thickness of one of the first regions may be greater than the uniformity of the thickness of the other of the first region or greater than the uniformity of the thickness of any one of the second region.

As another example, one shape of the first region may be different from another shape of the first region or may be different from any one shape of the second region. Any one curvature of the first region may be different from another curvature of the first region or may be different from any one curvature of the second region. Any one curvature of the first region may be smaller than another curvature of the first region or less than any one curvature of the second region. Any one of the first regions may include a flat surface. The other of the first region may include a curved surface. Any one of the second regions may include a curved surface. Any one of the first regions may have a shape that is depressed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the ice expands. Any one of the first regions may include a shape that is depressed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the ice is induced to be generated. During the ice making process, any one of the first regions may be deformed in a direction in which the ice expands or in a direction in which the ice is generated. In the ice making process, the amount of deformation from the center of the ice-making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may be greater in one of the first areas than in the other of the first area. In the ice making process, the amount of deformation from the center of the ice making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell may be greater in one of the first regions than in any one of the second regions.

As another example, in order to induce ice to be generated in the ice making cell formed in the second region in the direction of the ice making cell formed in the first region, any one of the first region may form a part of the ice making cell. It may include a first surface and a second surface extending from the first surface and supported on the other surface of the first region. The first region may be configured not to be directly supported by other parts except for the second surface. The other part may be a fixed end of the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, a pressing surface may be formed in any one of the first regions so that a non-penetrating pusher may press. This is because, when the degree of deformation of the first region is low or the degree of restoration is large, the difficulty in removing ice by pressing the non-penetrating pusher on the surface of the tray assembly may be reduced.

The ice making speed, which is the speed at which ice is generated inside the ice making cell, may affect the creation of transparent ice. The ice making speed may affect the transparency of the generated ice. A factor affecting the ice-making speed may be an amount of heating and/or heating supplied to the ice-making cell. The amount of heating and/or cooling may affect the formation of transparent ice. The amount of heating and/or heating may affect the transparency of ice.

In the process of generating the transparent ice, as the ice-making speed is greater than the speed at which bubbles in the ice-making cell move or are collected, the transparency of the ice may be lowered. On the other hand, if the ice-making speed is slower than the speed at which the bubbles move or are collected, the transparency of ice may increase, but as the ice-making speed is lower, the time required to generate transparent ice becomes excessive. In addition, as the ice making speed is maintained in a uniform range, the transparency of ice may become uniform.

In order to keep the ice-making speed uniform within a predetermined range, the amount of cold and heat supplied to the ice-making cell may be uniform. However, under actual conditions of use of the refrigerator, the cold may vary, and it is necessary to change the supply amount of heat in response thereto. For example, when the temperature of the storage compartment reaches a satisfied area from an unsatisfactory area, a defrost operation is performed on the cooler of the storage compartment, the door of the storage compartment is opened, and so on. In addition, when the amount of water per unit height of the ice making cell is different, if the same cold and heat are supplied per unit height, there may be a problem in that the transparency per unit height is different.

In order to solve this problem, the control unit is configured to maintain the ice-making speed of the water inside the ice-making cell within a predetermined range lower than the ice-making speed when ice-making is performed with the heater turned off. When the heat transfer amount between the water of the ice making cell increases, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater is increased, and when the heat transfer amount between the cold for cooling the ice making cell and the water of the ice making cell decreases, the transparent ice heater It can be controlled to reduce the amount of heating.

The controller may control one or more of a cold supply amount of the cooler and a heat supply amount of the heater to vary according to the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell. In this case, transparent ice may be provided according to the shape change of the ice making cell.

The refrigerator further includes a sensor that measures information on the mass of water per unit height of the ice making cell, and the control unit is based on the information input from the sensor, among the cold supply amount of the cooler and the heat supply amount of the heater. One or more can be controlled to be variable.

The refrigerator includes a storage unit in which driving information of a cooler determined in advance is recorded based on information on the mass per unit height of the ice making cell, and the control unit can control the cold supply amount of the cooler to vary based on the information. have.

The refrigerator includes a storage unit in which driving information of a heater determined in advance is recorded based on information on the mass per unit height of the ice making cell, and the control unit can control the amount of heat supplied to the heater to be varied based on the information. have. As an example, the controller may control at least one of a cold supply amount of a cooler and a heat supply amount of a heater to vary according to a predetermined time based on information on the mass per unit height of the ice making cell. . The time may be a time when the cooler is driven to generate ice or a time when the heater is driven. As another example, the controller may control at least one of a cold supply amount of a cooler and a heat supply amount of a heater to vary according to a predetermined temperature based on information on the mass per unit height of the ice making cell. The temperature may be a temperature of the ice making cell or a temperature of a tray assembly forming the ice making cell.

On the other hand, if a sensor that measures the mass of water per unit height of the ice making cell malfunctions, or if the water supplied to the ice making cell is insufficient or excessive, the shape of the ice being made is changed, so that the transparency of the generated ice may decrease. have. In order to solve this problem, there is a need for a water supply method that precisely controls the amount of water supplied to the ice making cell. In addition, in order to reduce water leakage from the ice-making cell at a water supply position or an ice-making position, the tray assembly may include a structure in which water leakage is reduced. In addition, it is necessary to increase the bonding force between the first and second tray assemblies forming the ice making cell so as to reduce the shape of the ice making cell from being changed due to the expansion force of ice during the ice making process. In addition, the precision water supply method, the structure for reducing water leakage of the tray assembly, and increasing the coupling force between the first and second tray assemblies are also necessary in order to generate ice close to the shape of the tray.

The degree of supercooling of water inside the ice making cell may affect the creation of transparent ice. The degree of supercooling of the water may affect the transparency of the generated ice.

In order to generate transparent ice, it is preferable to design the supercooling degree or lower so that the temperature inside the ice making cell is maintained within a predetermined range. This is because the supercooled liquid is characterized by rapid solidification from the point when the supercooling is terminated. In this case, the transparency of the ice may be deteriorated.

In the process of solidifying the liquid, the control unit of the refrigerator reduces the degree of supercooling of the liquid when the time required for reaching a specific temperature below the freezing point after the temperature of the liquid reaches the freezing point is less than the reference value. In order to do so, it is possible to control the supercooling termination means to operate. After reaching the freezing point, it can be seen that the temperature of the liquid is rapidly cooled to below the freezing point as supercooling occurs and no solidification occurs.

As an example of the supercooling termination means, it may include an electric spark generating means. When the spark is supplied to the liquid, the degree of supercooling of the liquid can be reduced. Another example of the supercooling termination means may include a driving means for applying an external force to move the liquid. The driving means may rotate the container in at least one of the X, Y, and Z axes or rotate around at least one of the X, Y, and Z axes. When kinetic energy is supplied to the liquid, the degree of supercooling of the liquid can be reduced. Another example of the supercooling termination means may include a means for supplying the liquid to the container. After supplying a liquid of a first volume smaller than the volume of the container, the control unit of the refrigerator, when a certain time elapses or when the temperature of the liquid reaches a certain temperature below the freezing point, the container is less than the first volume. It can be controlled to additionally supply a large second volume of liquid. When the liquid is dividedly supplied to the container as described above, the liquid supplied first may coagulate and act as ice tuberculosis, so that the degree of supercooling of the additionally supplied liquid can be reduced.

The higher the heat transfer degree of the container containing the liquid, the higher the degree of supercooling of the liquid. The lower the heat transfer degree of the container accommodating the liquid, the lower the degree of supercooling of the liquid.

The structure and method of heating the ice making cell, including the heat transfer rate of the tray assembly, can affect the creation of transparent ice. As described above, the tray assembly may include a first region and a second region forming an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. For example, the first and second regions may be part of one tray assembly. As another example, the first area may be a first tray assembly. The second area may be a second tray assembly.

Cold supplied by a cooler to the ice making cell and heat supplied by a heater to the ice making cell have opposite properties. In order to increase the ice making speed and/and improve the transparency of ice, design of the structure and control of the cooler and the heater, the relationship between the cooler and the tray assembly, and the relationship between the heater and the tray assembly is very important. can do.

In order to increase the ice-making speed of the refrigerator and/and increase the transparency of ice for a certain amount of cooling supplied by the cooler and a certain amount of heat supplied by the heater, the heater may be advantageously disposed to locally heat the ice-making cell. As the heat supplied by the heater to the ice-making cell is less transferred to an area other than the area in which the heater is located, the ice-making speed may be improved. As the heater strongly heats only a part of the ice-making cell, it is possible to move or collect bubbles from the ice-making cell to a region adjacent to the heater, thereby increasing the transparency of the generated ice.

When the amount of heat supplied by the heater to the ice-making cell is large, bubbles in water may be moved or collected in a portion receiving the heat, so that the generated ice may increase transparency. However, if heat is uniformly supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell, the ice making speed at which ice is generated may decrease. Accordingly, as the heater locally heats a part of the ice-making cell, the transparency of the generated ice may be increased, and a decrease in the ice-making speed may be minimized.

The heater may be disposed to contact one side of the tray assembly. The heater may be disposed between the tray and the tray case. Heat transfer by conduction may be advantageous for locally heating the ice making cell.

At least a portion of the other side where the heater does not contact the tray may be sealed with an insulating material. This configuration can reduce the transfer of heat supplied by the heater toward the storage chamber.

The tray assembly may be configured such that a heat transfer degree from the heater to a center direction of the ice making cell is greater than a heat transfer degree from the heater to a circumference direction of the ice making cell.

It may be configured such that a heat transfer degree of the tray from the tray toward the center of the ice making cell is greater than the heat transfer degree from the tray case to the storage compartment, or the heat conductivity of the tray is greater than that of the tray case. This configuration may induce an increase in the amount of heat supplied by the heater transmitted to the ice making cell via the tray. In addition, it is possible to reduce the heat from the heater transmitted to the storage chamber via the tray case.

The heat transfer rate of the tray from the tray toward the center of the ice making cell is smaller than the heat transfer rate of the refrigerator case from the outside of the refrigerator case (for example, the inner case or the outer case) toward the storage compartment, or the thermal conductivity of the tray is the heat conduction of the refrigerator case. It can be configured to be smaller than degrees. This is because the higher the heat transfer or thermal conductivity of the tray, the higher the degree of supercooling of water accommodated in the tray. As the degree of supercooling of the water increases, the water may coagulate more rapidly at a point in time when the supercooling is terminated. In this case, there may be a problem that the transparency of the ice is not uniform or the transparency is lowered. In general, the case of the refrigerator may be formed of a metal material including steel.

The heat transfer degree of the tray case from the storage room to the tray case direction is greater than the heat transfer degree of the insulation wall from the outer space of the refrigerator to the storage room direction, or the heat conductivity of the tray case is the insulation wall (for example, between the inside/outside case of the refrigerator). It can be configured to be greater than the thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material located in). Here, the insulating wall may mean an insulating wall that divides the external space and the storage chamber. This is because when the heat transfer degree of the tray case is equal to or greater than the heat transfer degree of the heat insulating wall, the rate at which the ice making cell is cooled may be excessively reduced.

The first region may be configured to have a different degree of heat transfer in a direction along the outer circumferential surface. It may be configured such that a heat transfer degree of one of the first regions is lower than that of the other one of the first regions. This configuration may help to reduce a degree of heat transfer transmitted through the tray assembly from the first region to the second region in a direction along the outer circumferential surface.

Meanwhile, the first and second regions disposed to contact each other may be configured to have different heat transfer degrees in a direction along the outer circumferential surface. The heat transfer degree of any one of the first regions may be configured to be lower than the heat transfer degree of any one of the second regions. This configuration may help to reduce a degree of heat transfer transmitted through the tray assembly from the first region to the second region in a direction along the outer circumferential surface. In another aspect, it may be advantageous to reduce the heat transferred from the heater to any of the first areas to be transferred to the ice making cell formed in the second area. As the heat transferred to the second region decreases, the heater can locally heat any one of the first region. Through this, it is possible to reduce a decrease in the ice making speed due to heating of the heater. In another aspect, the heater may move or collect air bubbles in a region that is locally heated, so that transparency of ice may be improved. The heater may be a transparent ice heater.

For example, a length of a heat transfer path from the first region to the second region may be configured to be greater than a length in the outer peripheral surface direction from the first region to the second region. As another example, a thickness of the tray assembly from the center of the ice-making cell toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell may be thinner than one of the first region or one of the second region. Any one of the first regions may be a portion not enclosed by the tray case. The other of the first area may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the second regions may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the first regions may be a portion of the first region that forms a lowermost end of the ice making cell. The first area may include a tray and a tray case that locally surrounds the tray.

In this way, when the thickness of the first region is formed to be thin, heat transfer to the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell may be reduced, and heat transfer to the center of the ice making cell may be increased. Accordingly, the ice making cell formed in the first region can be locally heated.

The minimum value of the thickness of any one of the first region may be thinner than the minimum value of the thickness of the other of the first region or smaller than the minimum value of the thickness of any one of the second region. The maximum value of the thickness of one of the first regions may be thinner than the maximum value of the thickness of the other of the first region or may be smaller than the maximum value of the thickness of any one of the second region. When a through hole is formed in the region, the minimum value means a minimum value among the remaining regions excluding a portion in which the through hole is formed. The average value of the thickness of one of the first regions may be thinner than the average of the thickness of the other of the first region or may be thinner than the average of the thickness of any one of the second region. The uniformity of the thickness of one of the first regions may be greater than the uniformity of the thickness of the other of the first region or greater than the uniformity of the thickness of any one of the second region.

As another example, the tray assembly may include a first portion forming at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. The first region may be disposed in the first part. The second region may be disposed in an additional tray assembly that may contact the first part. At least a portion of the second portion may extend in a direction away from the ice making cell formed by the second region. In this case, heat transferred from the heater to the first area may be reduced from being transferred to the second area.

The structure and method of cooling the ice making cell, including the degree of cold transfer of the tray assembly, can affect the creation of transparent ice. As described above, the tray assembly may include a first region and a second region forming an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell. For example, the first and second regions may be part of one tray assembly. As another example, the first area may be a first tray assembly. The second area may be a second tray assembly.

For a certain amount of cooling supplied by the cooler and a certain amount of heat supplied by the heater, in order to increase the ice-making speed of the refrigerator and/and increase the transparency of ice, it would be advantageous to configure the cooler to more intensively cool a part of the ice-making cell. I can. The ice making speed may be improved as the cold supplied by the cooler to the ice making cell increases. However, as cold is uniformly supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell, the transparency of the generated ice may decrease. Therefore, the more intensively the cooler cools a part of the ice-making cell, the more air bubbles can be moved or collected in other areas of the ice-making cell, thereby increasing the transparency of the generated ice and minimizing the decrease in the ice-making speed. I can.

The cooler may be configured such that the amount of cold supplied to the second area and the amount of cold supplied to the first area are different so that the cooler can more intensively cool a part of the ice making cell. I can. The cooler may be configured such that an amount of cold supplied to the second region is greater than an amount of cold supplied to the first region.

For example, the second region may be made of a metal material having a high degree of cold transfer, and the first region may be made of a material having a lower degree of cold transfer than metal.

As another example, in order to increase the degree of cold transfer transmitted through the tray assembly in the direction of the center of the ice making cell in the storage room, the second region may be configured to have a different degree of cold transfer in the center direction. A degree of cold transfer in one of the second regions may be greater than a degree of cold transfer in one of the second regions. A through hole may be formed in any one of the second regions. At least a portion of the heat absorbing surface of the cooler may be disposed in the through hole. A passage through which cold air supplied from the cooler passes may be disposed in the through hole. Any of the above may be a portion not enclosed by the tray case. The other one may be a portion surrounding the tray case. Any one of the second regions may be a portion forming the uppermost end of the ice making cell. The second area may include a tray and a tray case that locally surrounds the tray. In this way, when a part of the tray assembly is configured to have a high degree of cold transfer, supercooling may occur in the tray assembly having a high degree of cold transfer. As described above, a design may be required to reduce the degree of subcooling.

1 is a view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet 14 including a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the storage compartment.

The storage compartment may include a refrigerating compartment 18 and a freezing compartment 32. The refrigerating compartment 18 is disposed on the upper side, and the freezing compartment 32 is disposed on the lower side, so that each storage compartment can be opened and closed individually by each door.

As another example, a freezing chamber may be disposed on the upper side, and a refrigerating chamber may be disposed on the lower side. Alternatively, a freezing chamber may be disposed on one of the left and right sides, and a refrigerating chamber may be disposed on the other side.

In the freezing chamber 32, an upper space and a lower space may be separated from each other, and a drawer 40 capable of drawing in/out from the lower space may be provided in the lower space.

The door may include a plurality of doors 10, 20, and 30 for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 18 and the freezing chamber 32.

The plurality of doors 10, 20, 30 may include some or all of the doors 10, 20 that open and close the storage compartment in a rotating manner, and the doors 30 that open and close the storage compartment in a sliding manner.

The plurality of doors 10, 20, 30 may include a refrigerating compartment door 10, 20 and a freezing compartment door 30.

The freezing chamber 32 may be provided to be separated into two spaces, even though it can be opened and closed by one door 30.

In this embodiment, the freezing chamber 32 may be referred to as a first storage chamber, and the refrigerating chamber 18 may be referred to as a second storage chamber.

An ice maker 200 capable of manufacturing ice may be provided in the freezing chamber 32. The ice maker 200 may be located in the upper space of the freezing chamber 32, for example.

An ice bin 600 in which ice produced by the ice maker 200 is dropped and stored may be provided under the ice maker 200. The user may take the ice bin 600 out of the freezing compartment 32 and use the ice stored in the ice bin 600.

The ice bin 600 may be mounted on an upper side of a horizontal wall partitioning an upper space and a lower space of the freezing chamber 32.

Although not shown, the cabinet 14 is provided with a duct for supplying cold air to the ice maker 200. The duct guides cold air heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator toward the ice maker 200.

For example, the duct may be disposed behind the cabinet 14 to discharge cold air toward the front of the cabinet 14. The ice maker 200 may be located in front of the duct.

Although not limited, the outlet of the duct may be provided in at least one of a rear wall and an upper wall of the freezing chamber 32.

It has been described above that the ice maker 200 is provided in the freezing compartment 32, but the space in which the ice maker 200 can be located is not limited to the freezing compartment 32, and as long as cold air can be supplied, various The ice maker 200 may be located in the space.

In FIG. 1, for example, a refrigerator in which the refrigerating chamber 18 and the freezing chamber 32 are arranged in the vertical direction is disclosed, but in the present invention, there is no limitation on the arrangement of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, and there is no limitation on the type of refrigerator.

2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ice maker with the bracket removed from FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention to be.

2 to 4, each component of the ice maker 200 is provided inside or outside the bracket 220, so that the ice maker 200 may constitute one assembly.

The bracket 220 may be installed on an upper wall of the freezing chamber 32, for example.

A water supply unit 240 may be installed above the inner surface of the bracket 220.

The water supply unit 240 is provided with openings at the upper and lower sides, respectively, so that water supplied to the upper side of the water supply unit 240 may be guided to the lower side of the water supply unit 240.

The upper opening of the water supply part 240 is larger than the lower opening, and thus, a discharge range of water guided downward through the water supply part 240 may be limited.

A water supply pipe through which water is supplied may be installed above the water supply unit 240.

Water supplied to the water supply unit 240 may be moved downward. The water supply unit 240 prevents water discharged from the water supply pipe from falling from a high position, thereby preventing water from splashing.

Since the water supply unit 240 is disposed below the water supply pipe, water is guided downward without splashing to the water supply unit 240, and even if it is moved downward by a lowered height, the amount of water splashing can be reduced.

The ice maker 200 may include a first tray assembly and a second tray assembly.

The first tray assembly may include a first tray 320, a first tray case, or the first tray 320 and a second tray case.

The second tray assembly may include a second tray 380, a second tray case, or the second tray 380 and a second tray case.

The bracket 220 may define at least a portion of a space accommodating the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly.

The ice maker 200 may include an ice making cell 320a (refer to FIG. 11 ), which is a space in which water is transformed into ice by cold air.

The first tray 320 may form at least a part of the ice making cell 320a. The second tray 380 may form another part of the ice making cell 320a.

The second tray 380 may be disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray 320. The second tray 380 may perform linear motion or rotational motion.

Hereinafter, an example in which the second tray 380 rotates will be described.

For example, in the ice making process, the second tray 380 may move with respect to the first tray 320 so that the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may come into contact with each other.

When the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 contact each other, the complete ice making cell 320a may be defined.

On the other hand, after the completion of ice making, the second tray 380 may move relative to the first tray 320 in an ice-breaking process, so that the second tray 380 may be spaced apart from the first tray 320.

In the present embodiment, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be arranged in a vertical direction while the ice making cell 320a is formed.

Accordingly, the first tray 320 may be referred to as an upper tray, and the second tray 380 may be referred to as a lower tray.

A plurality of ice making cells 320a may be defined by the first tray 320 and the second tray 380.

When water is cooled by cold air while water is supplied to the ice-making cell 320a, ice having the same or similar shape as that of the ice-making cell 320a may be generated.

In this embodiment, for example, the ice making cell 320a may be formed in a spherical shape or a shape similar to a spherical shape.

Of course, the ice making cell 320a may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a polygonal shape.

The first tray case may include, for example, the first tray supporter 340 and the first tray cover 300.

The first tray supporter 340 and the first tray cover 300 may be integrally formed, or may be combined after being manufactured in a separate configuration.

For example, at least a portion of the first tray cover 300 may be positioned above the first tray 320. At least a portion of the first tray supporter 340 may be located under the first tray 320.

The first tray cover 300 may be manufactured as a separate article from the bracket 220 and coupled to the bracket 220 or may be integrally formed with the bracket 220. That is, the first tray case may include the bracket 220.

The ice maker 200 may further include a first heater case 280. An icebreaking heater 290 may be installed in the first heater case 280. The heater case 280 may be formed integrally with the first tray cover 300 or separately formed to be coupled to the first tray cover 300.

The ice-breaking heater 290 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the first tray 320. The eving heater 290 may be, for example, a wire type heater.

For example, the ice-breaking heater 290 may be installed to contact the first tray 320 or may be disposed at a location spaced apart from the first tray 320 by a predetermined distance.

In either case, the ice-making heater 290 may supply heat to the first tray 320, and heat supplied to the first tray 320 may be transferred to the ice-making cell 320a.

The ice maker 200 may further include a first pusher 260 for separating ice during an ice breaking process. The first pusher 260 may receive power from the driving unit 480 to be described later.

The first tray cover 300 may be provided with a guide slot 302 for guiding the movement of the first pusher 260. The guide slot 302 may be provided in a portion extending upward of the first tray cover 300.

The guide protrusion 266 of the first pusher 260 may be inserted into the guide slot 302. Accordingly, the guide protrusion 266 may be guided along the guide slot 302.

The first pusher 260 may include at least one pushing bar 264. For example, the first pusher 260 may include a pushing bar 264 provided in the same number as the number of ice-making cells 320, but is not limited thereto.

The pushing bar 264 may push ice located in the ice making cell 320a during the ice making process. For example, the pushing bar 264 may pass through the first tray cover 300 and be inserted into the ice making cell 320a.

Accordingly, the first tray supporter 300 may be provided with an opening 304 through which a portion of the first pusher 260 passes.

The guide protrusion 266 of the first pusher 260 may be coupled to the pusher link 500. At this time, the guide protrusion 266 may be rotatably coupled to the pusher link 500. Accordingly, when the pusher link 500 moves, the first pusher 260 may also move along the guide slot 302.

The second tray case may include, for example, a second tray cover 360 and a second tray supporter 400.

The second tray cover 360 and the second tray supporter 400 may be integrally formed or may be combined after being manufactured in a separate configuration.

For example, at least a portion of the second tray cover 360 may be positioned above the second tray 380. At least a portion of the second tray supporter 400 may be located under the second tray 380.

The second tray supporter 400 may support the second tray 380 under the second tray 380.

For example, at least a portion of a wall forming the second cell 320c of the second tray 380 may be supported by the second tray supporter 400.

A spring 402 may be connected to one side of the second tray supporter 400. The spring 402 may provide an elastic force to the second tray supporter 400 to maintain the second tray 380 in contact with the first tray 320.

The second tray 380 may include a peripheral wall 387 surrounding a part of the first tray 320 in a state in contact with the first tray 320. The second tray cover 360 may surround the peripheral wall 387.

The ice maker 200 may further include a second heater case 420. A transparent ice heater 430 may be installed in the second heater case 420. The second heater case 420 may be integrally formed with the second tray supporter 400 or separately formed to be coupled to the second tray supporter 400.

The transparent ice heater 430 will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the controller 800 may supply heat to the ice-making cell 320a by the transparent ice heater 430 in at least a portion of the period during which cold air is supplied to the ice-making cell 320a so that transparent ice may be generated. To be able to control it.

Due to the heat of the transparent ice heater 430, the ice maker ( In 200), transparent ice may be generated. That is, air bubbles dissolved in water may be induced to escape to the outside of the ice-making cell 320a or to be collected in a predetermined position in the ice-making cell 320a.

On the other hand, when the cold air supply means 900 to be described later supplies cold air to the ice-making cell 320a, if the rate at which ice is generated is high, bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice-making cell 320a are formed at the portion where ice is generated. The transparency of ice generated by freezing without moving toward liquid water may be low.

On the other hand, when the cold air supply means 900 supplies cold air to the ice making cell 320a, if the rate at which ice is generated is slow, the problem is solved and the transparency of the generated ice may be increased, but the ice making time may take a long time. Problems can arise.

Therefore, to reduce the delay of the ice making time and increase the transparency of the ice generated, the transparent ice heater 430 may provide heat to the ice making cell 320a locally. It can be placed on one side.

On the other hand, when the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed on one side of the ice making cell 320a, it is possible to reduce the heat from the transparent ice heater 430 easily transferred to the other side of the ice making cell 320a. At least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than metal.

Meanwhile, at least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be a resin including plastic so that ice attached to the trays 320 and 380 is separated well during the ice breaking process.

Meanwhile, at least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be made of a flexible or flexible material so that the tray deformed by the pushers 260 and 540 can be easily restored to its original shape during the eaves process. have.

The transparent ice heater 430 may be disposed adjacent to the second tray 380. The transparent ice heater 430 may be, for example, a wire type heater.

For example, the transparent ice heater 430 may be installed to contact the second tray 380 or may be disposed at a position spaced apart from the second tray 380 by a predetermined distance.

As another example, the second heater case 420 may not be separately provided, and the toming-bing heater 430 may be installed on the second tray supporter 400.

In either case, the transparent ice heater 430 may supply heat to the second tray 380, and heat supplied to the second tray 380 may be transferred to the ice making cell 320a.

The ice maker 200 may further include a driving unit 480 providing a driving force. By receiving the driving force of the driving unit 480, the second tray 380 may move relative to the first tray 320. The first pusher 260 may move by receiving the driving force of the driving force 480.

A through hole 282 may be formed in an extension portion 281 extending downward on one side of the first tray supporter 300.

A through hole 404 may be formed in the extension part 403 extending to one side of the second tray supporter 400.

The ice maker 200 may further include a shaft 440 passing through the through holes 282 and 404 together.

Rotating arms 460 may be provided at both ends of the shaft 440, respectively. The shaft 440 may be rotated by receiving a rotational force from the driving unit 480. Alternatively, the rotation arm may be connected to the driving unit 480 to be rotated by receiving a rotational force from the driving unit 480. In this case, the shaft 440 may be connected to a rotation arm not connected to the driving unit 480 among the pair of rotation arms 460 to transmit rotational force.

One end of the rotation arm 460 is connected to one end of the spring 402, so that when the spring 402 is tensioned, the position of the rotation arm 460 may be moved to an initial value by a restoring force.

The driving unit 480 may include a motor and a plurality of gears.

A full ice detection lever 520 may be connected to the driving unit 480. The ice detection lever 520 may be rotated by the rotational force provided by the driving unit 480.

The full ice detection lever 520 may have a'U' shape as a whole. For example, the ice detection lever 520 includes a first portion 521 and a pair of second portions 522 extending in a direction crossing the first portion 521 at both ends of the first portion 521. ) Can be included.

One of the pair of second portions 522 may be coupled to the driving unit 480, and the other may be coupled to the bracket 220 or the first tray supporter 300.

The ice detection lever 520 may detect ice stored in the ice bin 600 while being rotated.

The driving unit 480 may further include a cam rotated by receiving the rotational power of the motor.

The ice maker 200 may further include a sensor that detects rotation of the cam.

As an example, a magnet may be provided in the cam, and the sensor may be a Hall sensor for sensing magnetism of the magnet during rotation of the cam. Depending on whether the sensor detects a magnet, the sensor may output a first signal and a second signal, which are different outputs. One of the first signal and the second signal may be a high signal, and the other may be a low signal.

The controller 800, which will be described later, may determine the location of the second tray 380 based on the type and pattern of the signal output from the sensor. That is, since the second tray 380 and the cam are rotated by the motor, the position of the second tray 380 may be indirectly determined based on a detection signal from a magnet provided in the cam.

For example, a water supply location and an ice making location to be described later may be classified and determined based on a signal output from the sensor.

The ice maker 200 may further include a second pusher 540. The second pusher 540 may be installed on the bracket 220.

The second pusher 540 may include at least one pushing bar 544. As an example, the second pusher 540 may include a pushing bar 544 provided in the same number as the number of ice-making cells 320a, but is not limited thereto.

The pushing bar 544 may push ice located in the ice making cell 320a. As an example, the pushing bar 544 may pass through the second tray supporter 400 and come into contact with the second tray 380 forming the ice making cell 320a, and the contacted second tray ( 380) can be pressurized.

Accordingly, the second tray supporter 400 may be provided with a hole 422 (or a lower opening) through which a portion of the second pusher 540 passes.

The first tray supporter 300 may be rotatably coupled to each other with respect to the second tray supporter 400 and the shaft 440 so that the angle may be changed around the shaft 440.

In this embodiment, the second tray 380 may be formed of a non-metal material. For example, when the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540, the second tray 380 may be formed of a flexible or soft material that can be deformed in shape. Although not limited, the second tray 380 may be formed of a silicon material, for example.

Accordingly, while the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540, the second tray 380 is deformed so that the pressing force of the second pusher 540 may be transmitted to ice. Ice and the second tray 380 may be separated by the pressing force of the second pusher 540.

When the second tray 380 is formed of a non-metallic material and a flexible or soft material, the bonding force or adhesion between ice and the second tray 380 may be reduced, so that ice can be easily separated from the second tray 380. have.

In addition, when the second tray 380 is formed of a non-metallic material and a flexible or soft material, after the shape of the second tray 380 is deformed by the second pusher 540, the second pusher 540 When the pressing force of) is removed, the second tray 380 can be easily restored to its original shape.

As another example, the first tray 320 may be formed of a metal material. In this case, since the first tray 320 and the ice have a strong bonding force or adhesion, the ice maker 200 of the present embodiment may include at least one of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the first pusher 260. have.

As another example, the first tray 320 may be formed of a non-metal material. When the first tray 320 is formed of a non-metal material, the ice maker 200 may include only one of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the first pusher 260. Alternatively, the ice maker 200 may not include the ice-breaking heater 290 and the first pusher 260. Although not limited, the first tray 320 may be formed of a silicon material, for example. That is, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be formed of the same material.

When the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 are formed of the same material, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be formed of the same material so that the sealing performance is maintained at a contact portion between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380. The hardness of the first tray 320 and the hardness of the second tray 380 may be different.

In the present embodiment, the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540 to deform the shape, so that the second tray 380 can be easily deformed. The hardness of may be lower than that of the first tray 320.

7 is a perspective view of a first tray viewed from the bottom according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 and 8, the first tray 320 may define a first cell 321a that is a part of the ice making cell 320a.

The first tray 320 may include a first tray wall 321 forming a part of the ice making cell 320a.

The first tray 320 may define a plurality of first cells 321a, for example. The plurality of first cells 321a may be arranged in a line, for example. Referring to FIG. 6, the plurality of first cells 321a may be arranged in the X-axis direction. For example, the first tray wall 321 may define the plurality of first cells 321a.

The first tray wall 321 includes a plurality of first cell walls 3211 for forming each of the plurality of first cells 321a, and a connection wall connecting the plurality of first cell walls 3211 ( 3212). The first tray wall 321 may be a wall extending in a vertical direction.

The first tray 320 may include an opening 324. The opening 324 may communicate with the first cell 321a.

The opening 324 may allow cold air to be supplied to the first cell 321a. The opening 324 may allow water for ice generation to be supplied to the first cell 321a.

The opening 324 may provide a passage through which a portion of the first pusher 260 passes. For example, during the ice-breaking process, a part of the first pusher 260 may pass through the opening 324 and be introduced into the ice-making cell 320a.

The first tray 320 may include a plurality of openings 324 corresponding to the plurality of first cells 321a. Any one 324a of the plurality of openings 324 may provide a passage for cold air, a passage for water, and a passage for the first pusher 260.

Bubbles may escape through the opening 324 in the ice making process.

The first tray 320 may further include an auxiliary storage compartment 325 communicating with the ice making cell 320a. In the auxiliary storage room 325, for example, water overflowed from the ice making cell 320a may be stored.

Ice that expands during a phase change of water supplied may be located in the auxiliary storage chamber 325. That is, the expanded ice may pass through the opening 324 and be located in the auxiliary storage chamber 325.

The auxiliary storage chamber 325 may be formed by the storage chamber wall 325a. The storage chamber wall 325a may extend upwardly around the opening 324.

The storage chamber wall 325a may be formed in a cylindrical shape or a polygonal shape.

Substantially, the first pusher 260 may pass through the opening 324 after passing through the storage chamber wall 325a.

The storage compartment wall 325a not only forms the auxiliary storage compartment 325, but also prevents deformation around the opening 324 in the course of passing the first pusher 260 through the opening 324 in the ice breaking process. Can be reduced.

The first tray 320 may include a first contact surface 322c in contact with the second tray 380.

The first tray 320 may further include a first extension wall 327 extending in a horizontal direction from the first tray wall 321. For example, the first extension wall 327 may extend in a horizontal direction around an upper end of the first extension wall 327.

One or more first fastening holes 327a may be provided in the first extension wall 327. Although not limited, a plurality of first fastening holes 327a may be arranged in at least one X-axis and Y-axis.

In this specification, regardless of the axial direction, the “center line” is a line passing through the volume center of the ice making cell 320a or the center of gravity of water or ice in the ice making cell 320a.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, the first tray 320 may include a first portion 322 defining a part of the ice making cell 320a. The first part 322 may be, for example, a part of the first tray wall 321.

The first portion 322 may include a first cell surface 322b (or an outer peripheral surface) forming the first cell 321a.

The first portion 322 may include the opening 324. In addition, the first portion 322 may include a heater receiving portion 321c. An icebreaker heater may be accommodated in the heater receiving part 321c.

The first part 322 may be divided into a first area located close to the transparent ice heater 430 in a Z-axis direction and a second area located away from the transparent ice heater 430.

The first region may include the first contact surface 322c and the second region may include the opening 324.

The first portion 322 may be defined as an area between two dotted lines in FIG. 6.

At least a portion of the upper portion of the first portion 322 is greater than at least a portion of the lower portion of the ice-making cell 320a from the center to the circumferential direction. In the inner deformation degree, at least a part of the upper portion of the first portion 322 is greater than the lowermost end of the first portion 322.

The upper and lower portions of the first portion 322 may be divided based on an extension direction of a center line C1 (or a vertical center line) in the Z-axis direction in the ice making cell 320a.

The lowermost end of the first portion 322 is the first contact surface 322c in contact with the second tray 380.

The first tray 320 may further include a second portion 323 formed extending from a predetermined point of the first portion 322. A predetermined point of the first portion 322 may be one end of the first portion 322. Alternatively, a predetermined point of the first portion 322 may be a point of the first contact surface 322c.

A part of the second part 323 may be formed by the first tray wall 321, and a part of the second part 323 may be formed by the first extension wall 327.

At least a portion of the second portion 323 may extend in a direction away from the transparent ice heater 430. At least a portion of the second portion 323 may extend upward from the first contact surface 322c.

At least a portion of the second portion 323 may extend in a direction away from the center line C1. For example, the second portion 323 may extend in both directions along the Y axis from the center line C1.

The second portion 323 may be positioned equal to or higher than the uppermost end of the ice making cell 320a. The uppermost end of the ice making cell 320a is a portion in which the opening 324 is formed.

The second part 323 may include a first extension part 323a and a second extension part 323b extending in different directions based on the center line C1.

The first tray wall 321 may include a part of a second extension part 323b of the first part 322 and the second part 323.

The first extension wall 327 may include other parts of the first extension part 323a and the second extension part 323b.

6, the first extension part 323a may be located on the left side with respect to the center line C1, and the second extension part 323b may be located on the right side with respect to the center line C1. .

The first extension part 323a and the second extension part 323b may have different shapes based on the center line C1. The first extension part 323a and the second extension part 323b may be formed in an asymmetric shape with respect to the center line C1.

The length of the second extension part 323b in the Y-axis direction may be longer than the length of the first extension part 323a. Accordingly, while ice is generated and grown from the top during the ice making process, the degree of deformation of the second extension portion 323b may be increased.

The second extension part 323b may be positioned closer to the shaft 440 providing the rotation center of the second tray assembly than the first extension part 323a.

In this embodiment, since the length of the second extension part 323b in the Y-axis direction is longer than the length of the first extension part 323a, the second tray in contact with the first tray 320 ( The rotation radius of the second tray assembly having 380 is also increased.

When the rotation radius of the second tray assembly is increased, the centrifugal force of the second tray assembly is increased, so that the ice breaking force for separating ice from the second tray assembly may be increased during the ice breaking process. This can be improved.

The thickness of the first tray wall 321 is minimum at the side of the first contact surface 322c.

At least a portion of the first tray wall 321 may increase in thickness from the first contact surface 322c toward the upper side. Since the thickness of the first tray wall 321 increases upward, a part of the first portion 322 formed by the first tray wall 321 is an internal deformation reinforcement part (or a first internal deformation reinforcement part) Plays a role. In addition, the second portion 323 extending outward from the first portion 322 also serves as an internal deformation reinforcing portion (or a second internal deformation reinforcing portion).

The internally deformed reinforcing parts may be directly or indirectly supported by the bracket 220. The inner deformation reinforcing part may be connected to the first tray case and supported by the bracket 220 as an example. In this case, a portion of the first tray case in contact with the inner deformation reinforcement portion of the first tray 320 may also serve as an inner deformation reinforcement portion.

Such an internally deformed reinforcement part may cause ice to be generated from the first cell 321a formed by the first tray 320 to the second cell 381a formed by the second tray 380 during the ice making process. have.

7 is a perspective view of a second tray viewed from the top according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along 8-8 of FIG. 7.

4, 7 and 8, the second tray 380 may define a second cell 381a that is another part of the ice making cell 320a.

The second tray 380 may include a second tray wall 381 forming a part of the ice making cell 320a.

The second tray 380 may define a plurality of second cells 381a, for example. The plurality of second cells 381a may be arranged in a line as an example. Referring to FIG. 7, the plurality of second cells 381a may be arranged in the X-axis direction.

For example, the second tray wall 381 may define the plurality of second cells 381a.

The second tray 380 may include a circumferential wall 387 extending around an upper end of the second tray wall 381.

The circumferential wall 387 may be formed integrally with the second tray wall 381 and extend from an upper end of the second tray wall 381, for example.

As another example, the circumferential wall 387 may be formed separately from the second tray wall 381 and positioned around an upper end of the second tray wall 381. In this case, the circumferential wall 387 may contact the second tray wall 381 or may be spaced apart from the second tray wall 381. In any case, the circumferential wall 387 may surround at least a portion of the first tray 320.

If the second tray 380 includes the peripheral wall 387, the second tray 380 may surround the first tray 320.

When the second tray 380 and the circumferential wall 387 are formed separately, the circumferential wall 387 may be integrally formed with the second tray case or may be coupled to the second tray case.

For example, one second tray wall may define a plurality of second cells 381a, and one continuous circumferential wall 387 may surround the first tray 250.

The circumferential wall 387 may include a first extension wall 387b extending in a horizontal direction and a second extension wall 387c extending in a vertical direction.

One or more second fastening holes 387a for fastening to the second tray case may be provided in the first extension wall 387b. A plurality of second fastening holes 387a may be arranged in one or more axes of the X-axis and the Y-axis.

The second tray 380 may include a second contact surface 382c that contacts the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320.

The first contact surface 322c and the second contact surface 382c may be horizontal surfaces. The first contact surface 322c and the second contact surface 382c may be formed in a ring shape. When the ice making cell 320a has a spherical shape, the first contact surface 322c and the second contact surface 382c may be formed in a circular ring shape.

The second tray 380 may include a first portion 382 defining at least a part of the ice making cell 320a. The first part 382 may be part or all of the second tray wall 381, for example.

In the present specification, the first portion 322 of the first tray 320 may be referred to as a third portion to be distinguished from the first portion 382 of the second tray 380 in terms of terms. In addition, the second portion 323 of the first tray 320 may be referred to as a fourth portion to be distinguished from the second portion 383 of the second tray 380 in terms of terms.

The first part 382 may include a second cell surface 382b (or an outer circumferential surface) forming a second cell 381a of the ice making cells 320a.

The first part 382 may be defined as an area between two dotted lines in FIG. 8.

The uppermost end of the first portion 382 is the second contact surface 382c in contact with the first tray 320.

The second tray 380 may further include a second portion 383. The second part 383 can reduce the heat transferred from the transparent ice heater 430 to the second tray 380 to be transferred to the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray 320. have. That is, the second part 383 serves to move the heat conduction path away from the first cell 321a.

The second portion 383 may be part or all of the peripheral wall 387.

The second portion 383 may extend from a predetermined point of the first portion 382. Hereinafter, as an example, the connection between the second portion 383 and the first portion 382 will be described.

A predetermined point of the first portion 382 may be one end of the first portion 382. Alternatively, a predetermined point of the first portion 382 may be a point of the second contact surface 382c.

The second portion 383 may include one end that contacts a predetermined point of the first portion 382 and the other end that does not contact. The other end of the second part 383 may be located farther than the first cell 321a compared to one end of the second part 383.

At least a portion of the second portion 383 may extend in a direction away from the first cell 321a. At least a portion of the second portion 383 may extend in a direction away from the second cell 381a.

At least a portion of the second portion 383 may extend upward from the second contact surface 382c. At least a portion of the second portion 383 may horizontally extend in a direction away from the center line C1.

The center of curvature of at least a portion of the second portion 383 may coincide with a center of rotation of the shaft 440 that is connected to the driving unit 480 and rotates.

The second part 383 may include a first part 384a extending from a point of the first part 382.

The second part 383 may further include a second part 384b extending in the same direction as the first part 384a. Alternatively, the second part 383 may further include a third part 384b extending in a direction different from that of the first part 384a.

Alternatively, the second part 383 may further include a second part 384b and a third part 384c formed by branching from the first part 384a.

For example, the first part 384a may extend in a horizontal direction from the first part 382. A part of the first part 384a may be positioned higher than the second contact surface 382c. That is, the first part 384a may include a horizontal direction extending part and a vertical direction extending part. The first part 384a may further include a portion extending in a vertical line direction from the predetermined point.

For example, the length of the third part 384c may be longer than the length of the second part 384b.

An extension direction of at least a portion of the first part 384a may be the same as an extension direction of the second part 384b. The extending directions of the second part 384b and the third part 384c may be different. An extension direction of the third part 384c may be different from an extension direction of the first part 384a.

The third part 384a may have a constant curvature based on the Y-Z cut surface. That is, the third part 384a may have the same radius of curvature in the longitudinal direction.

The curvature of the second part 384b may be zero. When the second part 384b is not a straight line, the curvature of the second part 384b may be smaller than the curvature of the third part 384a. A radius of curvature of the second part 384b may be greater than a radius of curvature of the third part 384a.

At least a portion of the second portion 383 may be positioned equal to or higher than the uppermost end of the ice making cell 320a. In this case, since the heat conduction path formed by the second portion 383 is long, heat transfer to the ice making cell 320a may be reduced.

The length of the second part 383 may be larger than the radius of the ice making cell 320a. The second portion 383 may extend to a point higher than the center of rotation of the shaft 440. For example, the second portion 383 may extend to a point higher than the uppermost end of the shaft 440.

The second portion 383 is the first portion of the first portion 382 to reduce the transfer of heat from the transparent ice heater 430 to the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray 320. A first extension portion 383a extending from the first point and a second extension portion 383b extending from the second point of the first portion 382 may be included.

For example, the first extension part 383a and the second extension part 383b may extend in different directions based on the center line C1.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first extension part 383a may be located on the left side with respect to the center line C1, and the second extension part 383b may be located on the right side with respect to the center line C1. .

The first extension part 383a and the second extension part 383b may have different shapes based on the center line C1. The first extension part 383a and the second extension part 383b may be formed in an asymmetric shape with respect to the center line C1.

The length (horizontal length) of the second extension part 383b in the Y-axis direction may be longer than the length (horizontal length) of the first extension part 383a.

The second extension part 383b may be positioned closer to the shaft 440 providing the rotation center of the second tray assembly than the first extension part 383a.

In the present embodiment, the length of the second extension part 383b in the Y-axis direction may be longer than the length of the first extension part 383a. In this case, it is possible to increase the heat conduction path while reducing the width of the bracket 220 compared to the space where the ice maker 200 is installed.

When the length of the second extension part 383b in the Y-axis direction is longer than the length of the first extension part 383a, a second tray 380 in contact with the first tray 320 is provided. The turning radius of the second tray assembly is increased.

When the rotation radius of the second tray assembly is increased, the centrifugal force of the second tray assembly is increased to increase the ice breaking force for separating ice from the second tray assembly during the ice breaking process, so that the ice separation performance is increased. It can be improved.

The center of curvature of at least a portion of the second extension part 383b may be a shaft 440 connected to the driving part 480 and rotated as the center of the curvature.

The upper portion of the first extension portion 383a and the distance between the lower portion of the first extension portion 383a and the lower portion of the second extension portion 383b based on the YZ cut surface passing through the center line C1 A distance between upper portions of the second extension portions 383b may be large.

For example, the distance between the first extension part 383a and the second extension part 383b may increase upward.

Each of the first extension part 383a and the third extension part 383b may include the first to third parts 384a, 384b, and 384c.

In another aspect, the third part 384c may also be described as including a first extension part 383a and a second extension part 383b extending in different directions with respect to the center line C1. have.

The first portion 382 may include a first area 382d (refer to area A in FIG. 8) and a second area 382e (remaining areas excluding area A).

A curvature of at least a portion of the first region 382d may be different from a curvature of at least a portion of the second region 382e. The first area 382d may include a lowermost end of the ice making cell 320a. The second area 382e may have a larger diameter than the first area 382d.

The first area 382d and the second area 382e may be divided in a vertical direction.

The transparent ice heater 430 may contact the first region 382d. The first region 382d may include a heater contact surface 382g for contacting the transparent ice heater 430.

The heater contact surface 382g may be, for example, a horizontal surface. The heater contact surface 382g may be positioned higher than the lowermost end of the first portion 382.

The second region 382e may include the second contact surface 382c.

The first region 382d may have a shape in which ice is depressed in a direction opposite to a direction in which ice expands in the ice making cell 320a.

The distance from the center of the ice-making cell 320a to the portion where the shape recessed in the first area 382d is located may be shorter than the distance from the center of the ice-making cell 320a to the second area 382e. have.

For example, the first region 382d may include a pressing portion 382f that is pressed by the second pusher 540 during a moving process. When a pressing force of the second pusher 540 is applied to the pressing part 382f, the ice is separated from the first part 382 as the pressing part 382f is deformed. When the pressing force applied to the pressing portion 382f is removed, the pressing portion 382f may be restored to its original shape.

The center line C1 may pass through the first region 382d. For example, the center line C1 may pass through the pressing part 382f.

The heater contact surface 382g may be disposed to surround the pressing portion 382f. The heater contact surface 382g may be positioned higher than the lowermost end of the pressing portion 382f.

At least a portion of the heater contact surface 382g may be disposed to surround the center line C1. Accordingly, at least a portion of the transparent ice heater 430 in contact with the heater contact surface 382g may also be disposed to surround the center line C1.

Accordingly, the transparent ice heater 430 may be prevented from interfering with the second pusher 540 while the second pusher 540 presses the pressing part 382f.

The distance from the center of the ice making cell 320a to the pressing part 382f may be different from the distance from the center of the ice making cell 320a to the second area 382e.

9 is a top perspective view of a second tray supporter, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along 10-10 of FIG. 9.

9 and 10, the second tray supporter 400 may include a supporter body 407 on which a lower portion of the second tray 380 is seated.

The supporter body 407 may include an accommodation space 406a in which a part of the second tray 380 may be accommodated.

The receiving space 406a may be formed to correspond to the first portion 382 of the second tray 380, and there may be a plurality of the receiving spaces 406a.

The supporter body 407 may include a lower opening 406b (or a through hole) through which a portion of the second pusher 540 penetrates during the ice breaking process.

For example, three lower openings 406b may be provided in the supporter body 407 to correspond to the three receiving spaces 406a.

In addition, a portion of the lower side of the second tray 380 may be exposed through the lower opening 406b. At least a part of the second tray 380 may be positioned in the lower opening 406b.

The upper surface 407a of the supporter body 407 may extend in a horizontal direction.

The second tray supporter 400 may include an upper surface 407a of the supporter body 407 and a stepped lower plate 401.

The lower plate 401 may be positioned higher than the upper surface 407a of the supporter body 407.

The lower plate 401 may include a plurality of coupling portions 401a, 401b, and 401c for coupling with the second tray cover 360.

A second tray 380 may be inserted and coupled between the second tray cover 360 and the second tray supporter 400.

For example, the second tray 380 may be positioned under the second tray cover 360, and the second tray 380 may be accommodated above the second tray supporter 400.

In addition, the first extension wall 387b of the second tray 380 is coupled to the coupling portions 361a, 361b, 361c of the second tray cover 360 and the coupling portion 401a of the second tray supporter 400 , 401b, 401c).

The second tray supporter 400 may further include a vertical extension wall 405 extending vertically downward from an edge of the lower plate 401.

One surface of the vertical extension wall 405 may be provided with a pair of extension portions 403 for rotating the second tray 380 by being coupled to the shaft 440.

The pair of extension parts 403 may be disposed to be spaced apart in the X-axis direction. In addition, each of the extension parts 403 may further include a through hole 404.

The through hole 404 may pass through the shaft 440, and an extension part 281 of the first tray cover 300 may be disposed inside the pair of extension parts 403.

The second tray supporter 400 may further include a spring coupling portion 402a to which the spring 402 is coupled.

The spring coupling part 402a may form a ring so that the lower end of the spring 402 is caught.

The second tray supporter 400 may further include a link connection part 405a to which the pusher link 500 is coupled. The link connection part 405a may protrude from the vertical extension wall 405, for example.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second tray supporter 400 may include a first portion 411 supporting the second tray 380 forming at least a part of the ice making cell 320a. In FIG. 10, the first portion 411 may be an area between two dotted lines. For example, the supporter body 407 may form the first part 411.

The second tray supporter 400 may further include a second portion 413 extending from a predetermined point of the first portion 411.

The second part 413 may reduce the heat transferred from the transparent ice heater 430 to the second tray supporter 400 to the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray 320. can do.

At least a portion of the second portion 413 may extend in a direction away from the first cell 321a formed by the first tray 320.

The second part 413 may be in a horizontal direction passing through the center of the ice making cell 320a in a direction away from the second part 413.

The second part 413 may be in a downward direction with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the ice making cell 320a in a direction away from the second part 413.

The second part 413 may include a first part 414a extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point and a second part 414b extending in the same direction as the first part 414a.

The second part 413 may include a first part 414a extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point and a third part 414c extending in a direction different from the first part 414a.

The second part 413 includes a first part 414a extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point, and a second part 414b and a third part 414c formed to be branched from the first part 414a. Can include.

An upper surface 407a of the supporter body 407 may form the first part 414a, for example.

The first part 414a may further include a fourth part 414d extending in a vertical line direction. The lower plate 401 may form the fourth part 414d, for example.

The vertical extension wall 405 may form the third part 414c, for example.

The length of the third part 414c may be longer than the length of the second part 414b.

The second part 414b may extend in the same direction as the first part 414a. The third part 414c may extend in a different direction from the first part 414a.

The second part 413 may be positioned at the same height as the lowermost end of the first cell 321a or may extend to a lower point.

The second part 413 includes a first extension part 413a and a second extension part 413b positioned opposite to each other with respect to a center line CL1 corresponding to the center line C1 of the ice making cell 320a. It may include.

Referring to FIG. 10, the first extension part 413a may be located on the left side of the center line CL1, and the second extension part 413b may be located on the right side of the center line CL1. .

The first extension part 413a and the second extension part 413b may have different shapes based on the center line CL1. The first extension part 413a and the second extension part 413b may be formed in an asymmetric shape with respect to the center line CL1.

The length in the horizontal direction may be that the second extension part 413b is longer than the first extension part 413a. That is, the heat conduction length of the second extension part 413b is longer than the heat conduction length of the first extension part 413a.

The second extension part 413b may be positioned closer to the shaft 440 providing the rotation center of the second tray assembly than the first extension part 413a.

In the present embodiment, since the length of the second extension part 413b in the Y-axis direction is longer than the length of the first extension part 413a, the second tray in contact with the first tray 320 ( The rotation radius of the second tray assembly having 380 is also increased.

The center of curvature of at least a portion of the second extension part 413a may coincide with the rotation center of the shaft 440 which is connected to the driving part 480 and rotates.

The first extension part 413a may include a portion 414e extending upwardly with respect to the horizontal line. The portion 414e may surround a part of the second tray 380, for example.

In another aspect, the second tray supporter 400 corresponds to the ice making cell 320a to support the first region 415a including the lower opening 406b and the second tray 380. A second region 415b having a shape may be included.

The first area 415a and the second area 415b may be divided in an up-down direction, for example. In FIG. 10, as an example, it is shown that the first region 415a and the second region 415b are separated by a dashed-dotted line extending in the horizontal direction.

The first region 415a may support the second tray 380.

The controller allows the second pusher 540 to move from a first point outside the ice making cell 320a to a second point inside the second tray supporter 400 via the lower opening 406b. 200 can be controlled.

An inner deformation degree of the second tray supporter 400 may be greater than an inner deformation degree of the second tray 380.

A degree of restoration of the second tray supporter 400 may be smaller than a degree of restoration of the second tray 380.

In another aspect, the second tray supporter 400 is from the transparent ice heater 430 compared to the first region 415a including the lower opening 406b and the first region 415a. It can be described as including the second area 415b located farther away.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along 11-11 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which the second tray is moved to the water supply position in FIG.

11 and 12, the ice maker 200 may include a first tray assembly 201 and a second tray assembly 211 connected to each other.

The first tray assembly 201 may include a first portion forming at least a part of the ice making cell 320a and a second portion connected from the first portion to a predetermined point.

The first portion of the first tray assembly 201 includes a first portion 322 of the first tray 320, and the second portion of the first tray assembly 201 is the first tray 320 ). Accordingly, the first tray assembly 201 includes the inner deformation reinforcing portions of the first tray 320.

The first tray assembly 201 may include a first area and a second area located farther from the transparent ice heater 430 than the first area.

The first area of the first tray assembly 201 may include a first area of the first tray 320, and the second area of the first tray assembly 201 is the first tray 320. ) May include a second area.

The second tray assembly 211 includes a first portion 212 forming at least a part of the ice making cell 320a and a second portion 213 extending from a predetermined point of the first portion 212. Can include.

The second part 213 may reduce transfer from the transparent ice heater 430 to the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray assembly 201.

The first portion 212 may be an area positioned between two dotted lines in FIG. 11.

The predetermined point of the first portion 212 may be an end of the first portion 212 or a point where the first tray assembly 201 and the second tray assembly 211 meet.

At least a portion of the first portion 212 may extend in a direction away from the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray assembly 201.

A portion of the second portion 213 may be branched into at least two or more in order to reduce heat transfer in a direction extending to the second portion 213.

A part of the second part 213 may extend in a horizontal direction passing through the center of the ice making cell 320a. A part of the second part 213 may extend upwardly with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the ice making room 320a.

The second part 213 includes a first part 213c extending in a horizontal direction passing through the center of the ice making cell 320a, and extending upward based on a horizontal line passing through the center of the ice making cell 320a. A second part 213d and a third part 213e extending downward may be included.

The first part 212 to reduce heat transferred from the transparent ice heater 430 to the second tray assembly 211 to the ice making cell 320a formed by the first tray assembly 201. ) May have different degrees of heat transfer in a direction along the outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell 320a.

The transparent ice heater 430 may be disposed to heat both sides of the lowermost end of the first part 212.

The first portion 212 may include a first region 214a and a second region 214b. 10 shows that the first region 214a and the second region 214b are divided by a chain-dotted line extending in the horizontal direction. The second area 214b may be an area positioned above the first area 214a.

A heat transfer degree of the second region 214b may be greater than a heat transfer degree of the first region 214a.

The first region 214a may include a portion where the transparent ice heater 430 is located. That is, the first region 214a may include the transparent ice heater 430.

The lowermost end portion 214a1 forming the ice making cell 320a in the first region 214a may have a lower heat transfer rate than other portions of the first region 214a.

The distance from the center of the ice making cell 320a to the outer circumferential surface is greater in the second area 214b than in the first area 214a.

The second area 214b may include a portion where the first tray assembly 201 and the second tray assembly 211 contact each other.

The first region 214a may form a part of the ice making cell 320a. The second region 214b may form another part of the ice making cell 320a.

The second region 214b may be located farther from the transparent ice heater 430 than the first region 214a.

Part of the first region 214a to reduce the heat transferred from the transparent ice heater 430 to the first region 214a to the ice making cell 320a formed by the second region 214b. May have a lower heat transfer rate than other portions of the first region 214a.

In order to generate ice from the ice making cell 320a formed by the second region 214b toward the ice making cell 320a formed by the first region 214a, a part of the first region 214a is The degree of internal deformation may be smaller than that of other parts of the first region 214a and the degree of restoration may be greater.

A thickness from the center of the ice-making cell 320a toward the outer circumferential surface of the ice-making cell 320a may be thinner in a portion of the first area 214a than in other portions of the first area 214a.

The first area 214a may include, for example, at least a portion of the second tray 380 and a second tray case surrounding at least a portion of the second tray 380. For example, the first region 214a may include the pressing portion 382f of the second tray 380.

The rotation center C4 of the shaft 440 may be positioned closer to the second pusher 540 than the ice making cell 320a.

The second part 213 may include a first extension part 213a and a second extension part 213b positioned opposite to each other with respect to the center line C1.

The first extension part 213a may be located on the left side of the center line C1 with reference to FIG. 11, and the second extension part 213b may be located on the right side of the center line C1.

The water supply part 240 may be located close to the first extension part 213a. The first tray assembly 301 may include a pair of guide slots 302, and the water supply unit 240 may be located in a region between the pair of guide slots 302.

The ice maker 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment may be designed such that the position of the second tray 380 is different from a water supply position and an ice-making position. In FIG. 12, as an example, a water supply position of the second tray 380 is shown.

For example, in the water supply position as shown in FIG. 12, at least a portion of the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320 and the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 may be spaced apart.

In FIG. 12, for example, it is shown that all of the first contact surfaces 322c are spaced apart from all of the second contact surfaces 382c. Accordingly, in the water supply position, the first contact surface 322c may be inclined to form a predetermined angle with the second contact surface 382c.

Although not limited, in the water supply position, the first contact surface 322c may be substantially horizontal, and the second contact surface 382c is lower than the first tray 320 with respect to the first contact surface 322c. It can be arranged to be inclined.

Meanwhile, in the ice making position (refer to FIG. 11 ), the second contact surface 382c may contact at least a portion of the first contact surface 322c.

The angle formed by the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 and the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320 at the ice making position is the second contact surface of the second tray 380 at the water supply position It is smaller than the angle formed between 382c and the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320.

In the ice making position, all of the first contact surface 322c may contact the second contact surface 382c.

In the ice making position, the second contact surface 382c and the first contact surface 322c may be disposed to be substantially horizontal.

In this embodiment, the reason why the water supply location of the second tray 380 and the ice making location are different is that when the ice maker 200 includes a plurality of ice making cells 320a, communication between each ice making cell 320a is The purpose is to uniformly distribute water to the plurality of ice making cells 320a without forming a water passage for the first tray 320 and/or the second tray 380.

If the ice maker 200 includes the plurality of ice making cells 320a, when a water passage is formed in the first tray 320 and/or the second tray 380, the ice maker 200 The water supplied to is distributed to the plurality of ice making cells 320a along the water passage.

However, when the water is distributed to the plurality of ice making cells 320a, water exists in the water passage, and when ice is generated in this state, ice generated in the ice making cell 320a is generated in the water passage part. Connected by ice.

In this case, there is a possibility that the ice will stick to each other even after the ice is completed, and even if the ice is separated from each other, some of the ice contains ice generated in the water passage, so the shape of the ice is the shape of the ice making cell. There is a problem different from that.

However, as in the present embodiment, when the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the first tray 320 at the water supply position, the water dropped to the second tray 380 is the second tray. The plurality of second cells 381a of 380 may be uniformly distributed.

The water supply unit 240 may supply water to one of the plurality of openings 324.

In this case, the water supplied through the one opening 324 falls into the second tray 380 after passing through the first tray 320.

During the water supply process, water may fall into any one second cell 381a of the plurality of second cells 381a of the second tray 380. Water supplied to one second cell 381a overflows from one second cell 381a.

In the present embodiment, since the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320, it overflows from the second cell 381a. The water moves along the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 to another adjacent second cell 381a. Accordingly, the plurality of second cells 381a of the second tray 380 may be filled with water.

In addition, when the water supply is completed, a part of the water supplied is filled in the second cell 381a, and another part of the water supplied is filled in the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380. I can.

When the second tray 380 moves from the water supply position to the ice making position, water in the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 is uniformly distributed to the plurality of first cells 321a. Can be distributed.

Meanwhile, when a water passage is formed in the first tray 320 and/or the second tray 380, ice generated in the ice making cell 320a is also generated in the water passage portion.

In this case, in order to generate transparent ice, the control unit of the refrigerator performs at least one of the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 according to the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell 320a. When this variable is controlled, at least one of the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 in the portion where the water passage is formed is controlled to rapidly vary several times or more.

This is because the mass per unit height of water is rapidly increased several times or more in the portion where the water passage is formed. In this case, reliability problems of parts may occur, and expensive parts with large widths of maximum output and minimum output can be used, which can be disadvantageous in terms of power consumption and cost of parts. As a result, the present invention may require a technique related to the above-described ice making position in order to generate transparent ice.

13 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the refrigerator of the present embodiment may include a cooler for supplying cold to the freezing compartment 32 (or ice making cell).

13, it is illustrated that the cooler includes a cold air supply means 900 as an example.

The cold air supply means 900 may supply cold air, which is an example of cold, to the freezing chamber 32 by using a refrigerant cycle. The ice maker 200 may generate ice by the cold air supplied to the freezing chamber 32.

As described above, the cold air supply means 900 may include a compressor for compressing a refrigerant. The temperature of the cold air supplied to the freezing chamber 32 may vary according to the output (or frequency) of the compressor.

The cold air supply means 900 may include a cooling fan for blowing air to the evaporator. The amount of cool air supplied to the freezing chamber 32 may vary according to the output (or rotational speed) of the cooling fan.

The cold air supply means 900 may include an expansion valve that adjusts an amount of refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant cycle.

The amount of refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant cycle is varied by adjusting the opening degree by the expansion valve, and accordingly, the temperature of the cold air supplied to the freezing chamber 32 may vary.

The cold air supply means 900 may further include an evaporator for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air. The cold air heat-exchanged with the evaporator may be supplied to the ice maker 200.

The refrigerator according to the present embodiment may further include a control unit 800 that controls the cold air supply unit 900.

In addition, the refrigerator may further include a flow sensor 244 for sensing the amount of water supplied through the water supply unit 240 and a water supply valve 242 for controlling the amount of water supply.

The refrigerator may further include a defrost heater 920 for defrosting an evaporator for supplying cold air to the freezing chamber 32.

The defrost heater 920 may be installed in the evaporator or positioned around the evaporator to supply heat to the evaporator.

The controller 800 may include some or all of the ice-breaking heater 290, the transparent ice-heating heater 430, the driving part 480, the cold air supply means 900, the water supply valve 242, and the defrost heater 920 Can be controlled.

In this embodiment, when the ice maker 200 includes both the ice-breaking heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430, the output of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the output of the transparent ice heater 430 Can be different.

When the outputs of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the transparent ice-heater 430 are different, the output terminal of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the output terminal of the transparent ice heater 430 may be formed in different forms. Mis-tightening of the output terminal can be prevented.

Although not limited, the output of the ice-breaking heater 290 may be set to be greater than the output of the transparent ice-heating heater 430. Accordingly, ice may be quickly separated from the first tray 320 by the ice-breaking heater 290.

In the present embodiment, when the ice-breaking heater 290 is not provided, the transparent ice-heating heater 430 is disposed adjacent to the second tray 380 described above, or adjacent to the first tray 320. Can be placed in position.

The refrigerator may further include a first temperature sensor 33 for sensing the temperature of the freezing compartment 32. The controller 800 may control the cold air supply means 900 based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33.

The refrigerator may further include a second temperature sensor 700 (or an ice making cell temperature sensor). The second temperature sensor 700 may detect the temperature of water or ice of the ice making cell 320a.

The second temperature sensor 700 is disposed adjacent to the first tray 320 and detects the temperature of the first tray 320, thereby indirectly measuring the temperature of water or ice of the ice making cell 320a. Can be detected. Alternatively, the second temperature sensor 700 may be exposed from the second tray 320 to the ice making cell 320a to directly sense the temperature of the ice making cell 320a.

In the present embodiment, the temperature of the ice making cell 320a may be the temperature of water, ice, or cold air.

The controller 800 may determine whether ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a height criterion according to a relative position of a transparent ice heater with respect to an ice making cell, and FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the output of the transparent ice heater per unit height of water in the ice making cell.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a state in which water supply is completed at a water supply position, FIG. 18 is a view showing a state in which ice is generated at an ice-making position, and FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which the pressing portion of the second tray is deformed in the ice making state FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a second pusher is in contact with a second tray during an eaves process, and FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second tray is moved to an eaves position during an eaves process.

14 to 21, in order to generate ice in the ice maker 200, the controller 800 moves the second tray 380 to a water supply position (S1).

In the present specification, a direction in which the second tray 380 moves from the ice making position in FIG. 18 to the ice ice cream position in FIG. 21 may be referred to as forward movement (or forward rotation).

On the other hand, a direction moving from the eaves position of FIG. 21 to the water supply position of FIG. 17 may be referred to as a reverse movement (or reverse rotation).

The movement of the water supply position of the second tray 380 is sensed by a sensor, and when it is sensed that the second tray 380 has moved to the water supply position, the control unit 800 stops the drive unit 480.

Water supply is started while the second tray 380 is moved to the water supply position (S2).

For water supply, the control unit 800 turns on the water supply valve 242, and when it is determined that a set amount of water has been supplied, the control unit 800 may turn off the water supply valve 242.

For example, in the process of supplying water, when a pulse is output from a flow sensor (not shown) and the output pulse reaches a reference pulse, it may be determined that a set amount of water has been supplied.

After the water supply is completed, the control unit 800 controls the driving unit 480 to move the second tray 380 to the ice making position (S3).

For example, the control unit 800 may control the driving unit 480 so that the second tray 380 moves in a reverse direction from a water supply position.

When the second tray 380 is moved in the reverse direction, the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 becomes close to the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320.

Then, the water between the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 and the second contact surface 322c of the first tray 320 is divided and distributed inside each of the plurality of second cells 381a. do.

When the second contact surface 382c of the second tray 380 and the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320 are completely in close contact, the first cell 321a is filled with water.

The movement of the ice making position of the second tray 380 is sensed by a sensor, and when it is sensed that the second tray 380 has moved to the ice making position, the controller 800 stops the driving unit 480.

Ice-making starts while the second tray 380 is moved to the ice-making position (S4).

For example, when the second tray 380 reaches the ice making position, ice making may start. Alternatively, when the second tray 380 reaches the ice making position and the water supply time elapses, ice making may start.

When ice making starts, the controller 800 may control the cold air supply means 900 so that cold air is supplied to the ice making cell 320a.

After the ice making starts, the controller 800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to be turned on in at least a portion of the section while the cold air supply means 900 supplies cool air to the ice making cell 320a. have.

When the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, since heat from the transparent ice heater 430 is transferred to the ice making cell 320a, the rate of ice generation in the ice making cell 320a may be delayed.

As in this embodiment, by the heat of the transparent ice heater 430, the rate of ice generation is increased so that bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice making cell 320a can move from the portion where ice is generated to the liquid water. By delaying, transparent ice may be generated in the ice maker 200.

During the ice making process, the controller 800 may determine whether the on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied (S5).

In the present embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 is not turned on immediately after ice making starts, and the transparent ice heater 430 may be turned on only when the on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied (S6).

In general, water supplied to the ice making cell 320a may be water at room temperature or water at a temperature lower than room temperature. The temperature of the water supplied in this way is higher than the freezing point of the water.

Therefore, after the water supply, when the temperature of the water decreases due to the cold air and then reaches the freezing point of the water, the water changes to ice.

In the present embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 may not be turned on until the water is phase-changed into ice.

If the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on before the temperature of the water supplied to the ice making cell 320a reaches the freezing point, the speed at which the water temperature reaches the freezing point by the heat of the transparent ice heater 430 becomes slow. As a result, the start of ice formation is delayed.

The transparency of ice may vary depending on the presence or absence of bubbles in the portion where ice is generated after the ice starts to be generated.If heat is supplied to the ice making cell 320a before ice is generated, the above It can be seen that the transparent ice heater 430 operates.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on after the on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied, power is consumed due to unnecessary operation of the transparent ice heater 430 Can be prevented.

Of course, even if the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on immediately after the start of ice making, since there is no effect on the transparency, it is possible to turn on the transparent ice heater 430 after the start of ice making.

In this embodiment, the controller 800 may determine that the on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied when a certain time elapses from a set specific time point. The specific time point may be set to at least one of the time points before the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on. For example, the specific time point may be set as a time point at which the cold air supply means 900 starts supplying cooling power for ice making, a time point at which the second tray 380 reaches the ice making position, a time point at which water supply is completed, and the like.

Alternatively, the controller 800 may determine that the on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches the on reference temperature.

For example, the ON reference temperature may be a temperature for determining that water has started to freeze at the top (opening side) of the ice making cell 320a.

When a part of water is frozen in the ice-making cell 320a, the temperature of ice in the ice-making cell 320a is sub-zero.

The temperature of the first tray 320 may be higher than the temperature of ice in the ice making cell 320a.

Of course, although water is present in the ice-making cell 320a, the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 may be a sub-zero temperature after the ice is started to be generated in the ice-making cell 320a.

Accordingly, in order to determine that ice has started to be generated in the ice making cell 320a based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700, the on-reference temperature may be set to a temperature below zero. .

That is, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches the on reference temperature, the on reference temperature is a sub-zero temperature, so the temperature of the ice in the ice making cell 320a is a sub-zero temperature, and the on reference temperature Will be lower than Accordingly, it may be indirectly determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell 320a.

In this way, when the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, heat from the transparent ice heater 430 is transferred into the ice making cell 320a.

As in the present embodiment, when the second tray 380 is located under the first tray 320 and the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed to supply heat to the second tray 380 In the ice making cell 320a, ice may start to be generated from the upper side.

In this embodiment, since ice is generated in the ice-making cell 320a from the top, air bubbles move downward toward the liquid water in the portion where ice is generated in the ice-making cell 320a.

Since the density of water is greater than that of ice, water or air bubbles may convective in the ice making cell 320a, and air bubbles may move toward the transparent ice heater 430.

In this embodiment, the mass (or volume) per unit height of water in the ice-making cell 320a may be the same or different depending on the shape of the ice-making cell 320a.

For example, when the ice-making cell 320a is a rectangular parallelepiped, the mass (or volume) per unit height of water in the ice-making cell 320a is the same.

On the other hand, when the ice-making cell 320a has a shape such as a spherical shape, an inverted triangle, or a crescent shape, the mass (or volume) per unit height of water is different.

If, assuming that the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is constant, if the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is the same, the ice per unit height is different in mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell 320a. The rate at which it is generated can be different.

For example, when the mass per unit height of water is small, the rate of ice formation is high, whereas when the mass per unit height of water is large, the rate of ice formation is slow.

As a result, the rate at which ice is generated per unit height of water may not be constant, so that the transparency of ice may vary for each unit height. In particular, when the rate of formation of ice is high, bubbles cannot move from ice to water, so that the ice contains bubbles, and thus transparency may be low.

That is, the smaller the deviation in the rate of ice formation per unit height of water, the smaller the variation in transparency per unit height of the generated ice.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the control unit 800, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 and/or the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 according to the mass per unit height of water of the ice making cell 320a It can be controlled to be variable.

In the present specification, the variable of the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may include one or more of variable output of the compressor, variable output of the cooling fan, and variable opening of the expansion valve.

In addition, in the present specification, the variable of the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may mean varying the output of the transparent ice heater 430 or varying the duty of the transparent ice heater 430 .

In this case, the duty of the transparent ice heater 430 means a ratio of the on time to the on time and off time of the transparent ice heater 430 in one cycle, or the on time of the transparent ice heater 430 in one cycle. It may mean a ratio of off time to time and off time.

In this specification, the standard of the unit height of water in the ice-making cell 320a may be different according to a relative position between the ice-making cell 320a and the transparent ice heater 430.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, the transparent ice heater 430 may be arranged so that the height of the transparent ice heater 430 is the same at the bottom of the ice making cell 320a.

In this case, a line connecting the transparent ice heater 430 is a horizontal line, and a line extending in a vertical direction from the horizontal line is a standard of the unit height of water of the ice making cell 320a.

In the case of (a) of FIG. 15, ice is generated and grown from the top to the bottom of the ice making cell 320a.

On the other hand, as shown in (b) of FIG. 15, the transparent ice heater 430 may be arranged to have a different height at the bottom of the ice making cell 320a.

In this case, since heat is supplied to the ice-making cell 320a at different heights of the ice-making cell 320a, ice is generated in a pattern different from that of FIG. 15A.

For example, in the case of (b) of FIG. 15, ice may be generated at a position spaced from the top to the left of the ice making cell 320a, and ice may grow downward to the right where the transparent ice heater 430 is located. .

Accordingly, in the case of (b) of FIG. 15, a line (reference line) perpendicular to the line connecting the two points of the transparent ice heater 430 becomes the reference of the unit height of the water of the ice making cell 320a. The reference line of FIG. 15B is inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical line.

FIG. 16 shows the division of the water unit height and the output amount of the transparent ice heater per unit height when the transparent ice heater is disposed as shown in FIG. 15A.

Hereinafter, an example of controlling the output of the transparent ice heater so that the rate of ice generation is constant for each unit height of water will be described.

Referring to FIG. 16, when the ice-making cell 320a is formed in a spherical shape, for example, the mass per unit height of water in the ice-making cell 320a increases from top to bottom, then becomes maximum, and then decreases again. .

For example, a description will be given of dividing water (or ice-making cell itself) in a spherical ice-making cell 320a having a diameter of 50 mm into 9 sections (section A to section I) with a height of 6 mm (unit height). At this time, it should be noted that there is no limit to the size of the unit height and the number of divided sections.

When the water in the ice making cell 320a is divided by the unit height, the height of each divided section is the same in section A to section H, and section I is lower in height than the rest of the sections. Of course, according to the diameter of the ice making cell 320a and the number of divided sections, the unit heights of all divided sections may be the same.

Among a number of sections, section E is the section in which the mass of each unit height is the maximum. For example, in the section in which the mass of each unit height of water is the maximum, when the ice-making cell 320a has a spherical shape, the diameter of the ice-making cell 320a, the horizontal cross-sectional area or the circumference of the ice-making cell 320a is maximum Including phosphorus part.

As described above, assuming that the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is constant and the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is constant, the ice generation rate in section E is the slowest, and section A and I The ice formation rate in the section is the fastest.

In this case, there is a problem in that the ice generation rate is different for each unit height, so that the transparency of the ice varies according to the unit height, and the ice generation rate is too fast in a specific section, so that transparency including bubbles is lowered.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 so that the ice formation rate is the same or similar for each unit height while allowing the air bubbles to move toward the water in the ice generation process. Can be controlled.

Specifically, since the mass of the E section is the largest, the output W5 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the E section may be set to the minimum.

Since the mass of section D is smaller than that of section E, the rate of ice formation increases as the mass decreases, so it is necessary to delay the rate of ice formation.

Accordingly, the output W4 of the toming ice heater 430 in the section D may be set higher than the output W5 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section E.

For the same reason, since the mass of section C is smaller than the mass of section D, the output (W3) of the transparent ice heater 430 of section C will be set higher than the output (W4) of the transparent ice heater 430 of section D. I can.

In addition, since the mass of the section B is smaller than the mass of the section C, the output W2 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section B may be set higher than the output W3 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section C. .

In addition, since the mass of section A is smaller than the mass of section B, the output W1 of the transparent ice heater 430 in section A may be set higher than the output W2 of the transparent ice heater 430 in section B. .

For the same reason, since the mass per unit height decreases from the E section to the lower side, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may increase from the E section to the lower side (refer to W6, W7, W8, and W9). .

Accordingly, looking at the output change pattern of the transparent ice heater 430, after the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be gradually reduced from the first section to the middle section.

The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be minimized in an intermediate section in which the mass per unit height of water is the minimum. From the next section of the intermediate section, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased stepwise again.

It is also possible to set the output of the transparent ice heater 430 to be the same in two adjacent sections according to the shape or mass of ice to be generated. For example, it is possible that the output of section C and section D is the same. That is, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be the same in at least two sections.

Alternatively, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be set to the minimum in a section other than the section in which the mass per unit height is the smallest.

For example, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in the D section or the F section may be the minimum. The output of the transparent ice heater 430 in the E section may be equal to or greater than the minimum output.

In summary, in this embodiment, the initial output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be the maximum. During the ice making process, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced to a minimum output of the transparent ice heater 430.

The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be gradually decreased in each section, or the output may be maintained in at least two sections.

The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased from the minimum output to the end output. The end output may be the same as or different from the initial output.

In addition, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be gradually increased in each section from the minimum output to the end output, or the output may be maintained in at least two sections.

Alternatively, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be the end output in a section before the last section among a plurality of sections. In this case, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained as the end output in the last section. That is, after the output of the transparent ice heater 430 becomes the end output, the end output may be maintained until the last section.

As ice making is performed, the amount of ice present in the ice making cell 320a decreases, so if the transparent ice heater 430 continues to increase until the output reaches the last section, heat supplied to the ice making cell 320a is Water may be present in the ice making cell 320a even after the end of the last section.

Accordingly, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained as the end output in at least two sections including the final angle section.

By controlling the output of the transparent ice heater 430, the transparency of ice becomes uniform for each unit height, and bubbles are collected in the lowermost section. Thus, when viewed as a whole, air bubbles may be collected in localized portions and the rest of the ice may become entirely transparent.

As described above, even if the ice-making cell 320a is not in a spherical shape, when the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is varied according to the mass of the water in the ice-making cell 320a for each unit height, transparent ice is generated. can do.

The heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 when the mass per unit height of water is large is smaller than the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 when the mass per unit height of water is small.

For example, while maintaining the same cooling power of the cold air supply means 900, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be varied so as to be inversely proportional to the mass of each unit height of water.

In addition, transparent ice can be generated by varying the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 according to the mass of each unit height of water.

For example, when the mass of water per unit height is large, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be increased, and when the mass per unit height is small, the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 may be decreased.

For example, while maintaining a constant heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be varied in proportion to the mass per unit height of water.

Looking at the cooling power variable pattern of the cold air supply means 900 in the case of generating spherical ice, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be gradually increased from the first section to the middle section during the ice making process.

The cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 becomes maximum in the middle section in which the mass of water per unit height is the minimum.

From the next section of the intermediate section, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be gradually decreased.

Alternatively, transparent ice may be generated by varying the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 according to the mass of each unit height of water.

For example, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be varied in proportion to the mass per unit height of water, and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be varied in inverse proportion to the mass per unit height of water.

As in the present embodiment, when one or more of the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 are controlled according to the mass of each unit height of water, the rate of ice generation per unit height of water is substantially The same or may be maintained within a predetermined range.

Meanwhile, the controller 800 may determine whether ice making is complete based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 (S8).

When it is determined that ice making is complete, the controller 800 may turn off the transparent ice heater 430 (S9).

For example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a first reference temperature (or an off reference temperature), the controller 800 determines that ice making has been completed and turns off the transparent ice heater 430. I can make it.

At this time, in the present embodiment, since the distance between the second temperature sensor 700 and each ice making cell 320a is different, in order to determine that ice generation has been completed in all ice making cells 320a, the controller 800 The ice-making may start after a certain period of time has elapsed from a time when it is determined that ice-making is complete or when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a second reference temperature lower than the first reference temperature.

When the ice making is completed, the controller 800 operates at least one of the ice ice heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430 for ice ice removal (S10).

When at least one of the ice ice heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, the heat of the heater is transferred to at least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 so that ice is transferred to the second tray. It may be separated from one or more surfaces (inner surfaces) of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380.

In addition, heat from the heaters 290 and 430 is transferred to a contact surface between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, so that the first contact surface 322c of the first tray 320 and the second It is in a state that can be separated between the second contact surfaces 282c of the tray 380.

When at least one of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the transparent ice-heating heater 430 is operated for a set time, or when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is greater than or equal to the off reference temperature, the controller 800 is turned on. The heaters 290 and 430 are turned off (S10).

Although not limited, the off reference temperature may be set as the temperature of the image.

The control unit 800 operates the driving unit 480 so that the second tray 380 moves in a forward direction (S11).

As shown in FIG. 20, when the second tray 380 is moved in the forward direction, the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the first tray 320.

Meanwhile, the moving force of the second tray 380 is transmitted to the first pusher 260 by the pusher link 500. Then, the first pusher 260 descends along the guide slot 302 so that the pushing bar 264 passes through the opening 324 and presses the ice in the ice making cell 320a. .

In the present embodiment, in the ice breaking process, ice may be separated from the first tray 320 before the pushing bar 264 presses the ice. That is, ice may be separated from the surface of the first tray 320 by the heat of the heated heater.

In this case, ice may move together with the second tray 380 while being supported by the second tray 380.

As another example, even if the heat of the heater is applied to the first tray 320, there may be a case where ice is not separated from the surface of the first tray 320.

Accordingly, when the second tray 380 moves in the forward direction, there is a possibility that ice may be separated from the second tray 380 in a state in which the ice is in close contact with the first tray 320.

In this state, in the process of moving the second tray 380, the pushing bar 264 passing through the opening 324 presses the ice in close contact with the first tray 320, so that the ice 1 can be separated from the tray (320).

Ice separated from the first tray 320 may be supported by the second tray 380 again.

When ice moves together with the second tray 380 while being supported by the second tray 380, the ice may be caused by its own weight even if no external force is applied to the second tray 380. It can be separated from the tray 250.

If, in the process of moving the second tray 380, even if ice does not fall from the second tray 380 due to its own weight, the second tray 380 is moved by the second pusher 540 as shown in FIG. 20. When is pressurized, ice may be separated from the second tray 380 and fall downward.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, while the second tray 380 moves, the second tray 380 comes into contact with the pushing bar 544 of the second pusher 540.

When the second tray 380 continuously moves in the forward direction, the pushing bar 544 presses the second tray 380 to deform the second tray 380, and the extension part ( The pressing force 544 is transmitted to the ice so that the ice may be separated from the surface of the second tray 380.

Ice separated from the surface of the second tray 380 may fall downward and be stored in the ice bin 600.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, a position in which the second tray 380 is deformed by being pressed by the second pusher 540 may be referred to as an eaves position.

Meanwhile, in a home in which the second tray 380 moves from the ice making position to the ice ice position, whether or not the ice bin 600 is full may be detected.

As an example, when the ice-cold detection lever 520 is rotated together with the second tray 380 and the ice-cold ice detection lever 520 interferes with the rotation of the ice-cold ice detection lever 520 , It may be determined that the ice bean 600 is in a full ice state. On the other hand, if the rotation of the ice detection lever 520 is not interfered by ice while the ice detection lever 520 is rotated, it may be determined that the ice bin 600 is not in a full ice state.

After the ice is separated from the second tray 380, the controller 800 controls the driving unit 480 to move the second tray 380 in the reverse direction (S11).

Then, the second tray 380 is moved from the moving position toward the water supply position.

When the second tray 380 moves to the water supply position of FIG. 17, the control unit 800 stops the driving unit 480 (S1 ).

When the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the pushing bar 544 while the second tray 380 is moved in the reverse direction, the deformed second tray 380 may be restored to its original shape. have.

In the process of moving the second tray 380 in the reverse direction, the moving force of the second tray 380 is transmitted to the first pusher 260 by the pusher link 500, and the first pusher 260 Rises, and the pushing bar 264 is removed from the ice making cell 320a.

22 is a view for explaining a method of controlling a refrigerator when a heat transfer amount of cold air and water is varied during an ice making process.

Referring to FIG. 22, the amount of cold supply of the cooler to the freezing chamber 32 may be varied under various conditions.

The heating amount of the cooler may be determined by, for example, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900. Therefore, in the following description, for example, varying the cooling power of the cooling air supply means 900 will be described.

The cold air generated by the cold air supply means 900 may be supplied to the freezing chamber 32.

Water in the ice-making cell 320a may be phase-changed into ice by heat transfer between the cold air supplied to the freezing chamber 32 (or the cold air supplied to the ice-making cell 320a) and the water in the ice-making cell 320a.

In this embodiment, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 for each unit height of water may be determined in consideration of a predetermined cooling power of the cooling air supply unit 900.

In this embodiment, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 determined in consideration of the predetermined cooling power of the cooling air supply means 900 is referred to as a reference heating amount. The size of the standard heating amount per unit height of water is different.

However, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold of the freezing chamber 32 and the water in the ice making cell 320a is varied, if the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is not adjusted to reflect this, the transparency of ice per unit height is There are different problems.

In the present embodiment, when the amount of heat transfer between cold and water in the freezing compartment 32 is increased, for example, the cooling power of the cooling air supply means 900 is increased, or the temperature of the cold air in the freezing compartment 32 to the freezing compartment 32 This may be the case where air of a lower temperature is supplied.

On the other hand, when the heat transfer amount of cold air and water is reduced, for example, the cooling power of the cooling air supply means 900 is reduced, or air having a temperature higher than the temperature of the cold air in the freezing chamber 32 is supplied to the freezing chamber 32. In this case, the defrost heater 920 may be turned on.

For example, the target temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is lowered, the operating mode of the freezing chamber 32 is changed from the normal mode to the rapid cooling mode, the output of at least one of the compressor and the fan is increased, or the refrigerant valve is When the opening degree is increased, the cooling power of the cooling air supply means 900 may be increased.

On the other hand, the target temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is increased, the operating mode of the freezing chamber 32 is changed from the rapid cooling mode to the normal mode, the output of at least one of the compressor and the fan is decreased, or the opening degree of the refrigerant valve is When it is reduced, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be reduced.

When the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is increased, the temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 decreases, thereby increasing the rate of ice generation.

On the other hand, when the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 decreases, the temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 increases, so that the rate of ice generation is slowed, and the ice making time is lengthened.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, cold air supplied to the ice making cell 320a is maintained so that the ice making speed can be maintained within a predetermined range lower than the ice making speed when ice making is performed with the transparent ice heater 430 turned off. When the heat transfer amount of water is increased, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be controlled to increase.

On the other hand, when the amount of heat transfer of cold and water supplied to the ice making cell 320a is decreased, the amount of heat of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

In this embodiment, when the ice-making speed is maintained within the predetermined range, the ice-making speed becomes slower than the speed at which the bubbles move in the ice-generating portion of the ice-making cell 320a, so that no bubbles exist in the ice-generating portion. Will not be.

The control unit 800 may control the output of the transparent ice heater 430 so that the ice making speed of ice can be maintained within a predetermined range.

For example, when ice making starts (S4), a change in the heat transfer amount of cold and water supplied to the ice making cell 320a may be sensed (S31).

The control unit 800 may determine whether the heat transfer amount of cold air and water is increased (S32). For example, the control unit 800 may determine whether a target temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is increased.

As a result of the determination in step S32, if the target temperature of the freezing compartment 32 is increased, the control unit 800 may decrease the reference heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 determined in advance in each of the current section and the remaining sections.

Until the ice making is completed, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be normally controlled for each section (S35).

On the other hand, when the target temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is decreased, the control unit 800 may increase the reference heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 predetermined in each of the current section and the remaining section. Until the ice making is completed, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 for each section can be controlled to be variable (S35).

In this embodiment, the reference heating amount to be increased or decreased may be predetermined and stored in the memory.

According to the present embodiment, the control unit 800 is configured to increase the output of the transparent ice heater 430 when the target temperature of the freezing compartment is lower than the output of the transparent ice heater when the target temperature of the freezing compartment is high. The output of the heater 430 can be controlled.

In this way, by increasing or decreasing the standard heating amount for each section of the transparent ice heater in response to the variable heat transfer amount of cold and water, the ice making speed of ice can be maintained within a predetermined range, so that the transparency per unit height of ice is uniform. There is an advantage to lose.

23 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the transparent ice heater when the defrosting step of the evaporator starts in the ice making process, and FIG. 24 is a change in output of the transparent ice heater for each unit height of water in the ice making process and a second temperature sensor. It is a diagram showing the detected temperature change.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, ice may be started (S4), and the transparent ice heater 430 may be turned on during the ice making process to generate ice.

In the ice making process, the cold air supply means 900 may operate with a predetermined cooling power. For example, the compressor may be turned on, and the fan may be operated with a predetermined output.

As described above, the reference heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 in each of the plurality of sections is predetermined in consideration of the mass per unit mass of water.

In this embodiment, the reference heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be varied in each section.

In the ice making process, if the ice making speed is maintained within a predetermined range, transparency may be uniform throughout the ice, so the reference heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 determined in advance for each section is based on the ice making speed in each section. It can be variable.

That is, in the corresponding section, the transparent ice heater 430 operates with a predetermined reference heating amount (or initial heating amount), and the initial heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is maintained based on the ice making speed in the corresponding section , Can be increased or decreased (variable control of heating amount).

For example, the ice making speed in each section may be determined by a separate sensor or may be determined based on a temperature change detected by the second temperature sensor 700.

The second temperature sensor 700 periodically senses the temperature, and the control unit 800 is the temperature change per unit time calculated based on the temperature currently sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 and the temperature previously sensed. The ice making speed can be determined using the gradient or the amount of temperature change.

When the temperature change slope per unit time is greater than the upper limit slope of the reference slope range or the temperature change amount is greater than the upper limit of the reference change amount range, it means that the temperature decrease speed is fast, which means that the ice making speed is fast. Accordingly, the control unit 800 may increase the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 more than the reference heating amount.

On the other hand, when the temperature change slope per unit time is less than the lower limit slope of the reference slope range or the temperature change amount is smaller than the lower limit of the reference change amount range, it means that the temperature decrease rate is slow, which means that the ice making speed is slow. Accordingly, the control unit 800 may reduce the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 more than the reference heating amount.

The target temperature corresponding to each section may be determined in advance and stored in a memory.

When the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a target temperature of a corresponding section, the controller 800 may operate the transparent ice heater 430 with a reference heating amount corresponding to the next section.

As another example, a plurality of sections are not determined in advance, and a target slope based on the on reference temperature of the transparent ice heater 430 and the off reference temperature of the transparent ice heater 430 for determining the completion of ice making is determined in advance and stored in the memory. Can be.

The controller 800 may control the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 based on a target value based on the target slope and a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 for each unit time after the start of ice making. have.

For example, when ice making starts, the controller 800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to operate as an initial output.

After the first unit time elapses after the start of ice making, the controller 800 may obtain a first target value corresponding to the first unit time from the target slope. The controller 800 may maintain, increase or decrease the output of the transparent ice heater 430 based on the acquired first target value and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700.

For example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is the same as the first target value, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained.

After the elapse of the first unit time, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is greater than the first target value, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

After the elapse of the first unit time, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is lower than the first target value, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased.

In addition, when the second unit time elapses, the control unit 800 determines the transparent value based on the second target value corresponding to the second unit time at the target slope and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700. The output of the ice heater 430 may be maintained, increased or decreased. At this time, the second target value is smaller than the first target value.

In this way, the controller 800 acquires a target value for each unit time, and based on the target value and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700, the transparent ice heater 430 is The output can be maintained, increased or decreased.

Meanwhile, in the ice making process, the controller 800 may determine whether a defrost start condition is satisfied (S22).

As an example, the controller 800 may determine that the defrost start condition is satisfied when the cumulative operation time of the compressor, which is a component of the cold air supply unit 900, reaches the defrost reference time. However, it should be noted that there is no limitation on the method for determining whether the defrost start condition is satisfied in the present embodiment.

When the defrost start condition is satisfied, a defrost process may be performed.

In this embodiment, the defrosting process may include a defrosting step (or a heat input step) in which the defrost heater 920 is turned on (S23).

When the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be reduced (S24). For example, one or more of the compressor and the cooling fan may be turned off. That is, the amount of heating supplied by the cooler can be reduced.

Of course, when the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is reduced, the defrost heater 920 may be turned on. That is, while the defrosting process is being performed, the defrost heater 920 may be turned on or the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be reduced.

When the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the controller 800 may keep the transparent ice heater 430 turned on for ice making in at least a partial section of the defrosting step.

Even if the defrost heater 920 is turned on and the heat of the defrost heater 920 is transferred to the freezing chamber 32, low-temperature cold air remains in the freezing chamber 32. Accordingly, if the transparent ice heater 430 is turned off, ice may be frozen in a portion adjacent to the transparent ice heater 430 in the ice making cell 320a, thereby reducing the transparency of the ice.

Accordingly, even when the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the control unit 800 may maintain the transparent ice heater 430 in the turned on state.

However, after the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the controller 800 may determine whether a reduction in the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 (hereinafter referred to as “output” for example) is required. (S25).

When it is necessary to reduce the output of the transparent ice heater 430, the control unit 800 may reduce the output of the transparent ice heater 430 (S26 ). On the other hand, when it is not necessary to reduce the output of the transparent ice heater 430, the control unit 800 maintains the output of the transparent ice heater 430 (S27).

When the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 decreases and the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the temperature of the freezing chamber 32 increases, and the heat transfer amount of the cold air and water decreases.

In the present embodiment, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is controlled to be varied for each unit height (or for each section) of water during the ice making process, and according to the current output of the transparent ice heater 430 at the start of the defrosting step. The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be varied or maintained at the current output.

For example, referring to (b) of FIG. 24, when the current output of the transparent ice heater 430 is less than or equal to a preset output (or reference value) at the start of the defrosting step, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is Can be maintained. That is, when the current output of the transparent ice heater 430 is less than or equal to a preset output, it is determined that the reduction of the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is not necessary, and the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is to be maintained. I can. The preset output may be a minimum output among reference outputs determined for each unit height of water.

On the other hand, referring to (a) or (c) of FIG. 24, when the current output of the transparent ice heater 430 is greater than a preset output (or reference value) at the start of the defrosting step, the transparent ice heater 430 The output may be lower than the output of the transparent ice heater 430 before starting the defrosting step.

In the present specification, among a plurality of sections in which the reference output of the transparent ice heater 430 is varied during the ice making process, a section in which the reference output of the transparent ice heater 430 is the minimum or maximum may be referred to as an intermediate section.

If the ice making cell has a spherical shape, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 24, a section in which the reference output of the transparent ice heater 430 is the minimum may be an intermediate section.

In this case, when the starting point of the defrosting step is a section before the middle section (eg, section E) among a plurality of sections (sections A to I), the control unit 800 may output the output of the transparent ice heater 430. It can be determined that reduction is necessary.

For example, when the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in the next section is smaller than the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section when the defrosting step starts, the control unit 800 The heating amount of the ice heater 430 may be controlled to be changed to the heating amount in the next section.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 24A, in the ice making process, when the defrosting step starts in section B, the controller 800 reduces the output of the transparent ice heater 430 as an example, but the next section, C. The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced by the output W3 corresponding to the section.

In this way, by reducing the output of the transparent ice heater 430, excessive heat may be prevented from being supplied to the ice making cell 320a, and unnecessary power consumption of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

When the defrosting step is completed, the controller 800 may control the output of the transparent ice heater 430 to be changed to the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in a section when the defrosting step starts.

Specifically, when the defrost phase starts while the transparent ice heater 430 operates with an output of W2 in section B, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is reduced, and operates with an output of W3. do. When the defrosting step is completed, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be changed to W2.

When the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section in which the defrosting step has started after the defrosting step is completed, the transparent ice heater 430 is It can be controlled to change to the output of.

When the defrosting step has not started, when the transparent ice heater 430 reaches a target temperature corresponding to a corresponding section, the control unit 800 causes the transparent ice heater 430 to be changed to the output of the next section. Control. In the same way, after completion of the defrosting step, the transparent ice heater 430 operates until a target temperature is reached with an output corresponding to a corresponding section.

When the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a target temperature corresponding to a corresponding section, the control unit 800 controls the amount of heating of the transparent ice heater 430 in the next section. It can be controlled to change to the heating amount of 430). From the next section, variable control of the output of the transparent ice heater 430 for each section before the start of the defrosting step may be performed (S28).

When the starting point of the defrosting step is a section after an intermediate section (eg, section E) among a plurality of sections (section A to section I), the control unit 800 needs to reduce the output of the transparent ice heater 430 It can be judged as.

For example, when the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in a section earlier than the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section when the defrosting step starts is smaller, the controller 800 It is possible to control the output of the heater 430 to be changed to the heating amount in the previous section.

16 and 24(c), in the ice making process, when the defrosting step starts in section G, the controller 800 reduces the output of the transparent ice heater 430, but in the previous section, section F. The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced with a corresponding output W6.

In this way, by reducing the output of the transparent ice heater 430, excessive heat may be prevented from being supplied to the ice making cell 320a, and unnecessary power consumption of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

When the defrosting step is completed, the controller 800 may control the output of the transparent ice heater 430 to be changed to the output of the transparent ice heater 430 in a section when the defrosting step starts.

Specifically, when the defrost phase starts while the transparent ice heater 430 is operating at the output of W7 in the G section, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is reduced, and operates at the output of W6. do.

When the defrosting step is completed, the transparent ice heater 430 operates with an output of W7. The control unit 800, after completion of the defrosting step, until the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step starts, the transparent ice heater ( 430) can be operated with the output of W7.

From the next section, variable control of the output of the transparent ice heater 430 for each section before the start of the defrosting step may be performed (S28).

As another example, when a plurality of sections are not distinguished during the ice making process, the transparent ice heater 430 based on a target value acquired for each unit time in the ice making process and a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor as described above. The heating amount of is controlled.

In this case, the target value at the start of the defrost step is stored in the memory, and when the defrost step is completed, the target value at the start of the defrost step stored in the memory and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 800 are Based on the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be variably controlled.

As another example, whether it is necessary to decrease the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be determined based on a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 after the start of the defrosting step.

That is, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be varied or the current output may be maintained based on a temperature change detected by the second temperature sensor 700 after the defrosting step starts.

For example, after the start of the defrosting step, if the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700 is less than the reference temperature value, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained.

On the other hand, after the start of the defrosting step, if the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is greater than or equal to the reference temperature value, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

Looking at the operating time of the transparent ice heater 430 in the entire ice making section, the total time the transparent ice heater 430 has been operated for ice making when the defrosting step is started is the ice making when the defrosting step is not performed. For this purpose, it is longer than the total time that the transparent ice heater 430 operates.

As described above, the operating time of the transparent ice heater 430 during the defrosting step may be added to the operating time of the transparent ice heater 430 when the defrosting step is not performed.

Referring to FIG. 24, in a normal ice making process, the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 decreases as time elapses. That is, in each of the plurality of sections, the temperature has a pattern of decreasing.

When the defrost heater 920 is turned on, there is a possibility that the temperature of the ice making cell 320a increases due to the heat of the defrost heater 920.

In an exemplary embodiment, even when the defrost heater 920 is turned on, if the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is small, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may not be reduced.

On the other hand, when the defrost heater 920 is turned on and a change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is large, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced.

For example, while the defrosting step is being performed, if the temperature value measured by the second temperature sensor 700 is greater than or equal to a reference temperature value, the transparent ice heater 430 may be turned off.

After the transparent ice heater 430 is turned off, when the temperature value measured by the second temperature sensor 700 is less than the reference temperature value, the transparent ice heater 430 may be turned on again. The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be the same as the output before the transparent ice heater 430 is turned off. The reference temperature value may be a sub-zero temperature, 0 degrees, or an image temperature. However, even if the reference temperature value is a sub-zero temperature, the reference temperature value may be close to 0 degrees.

The controller 800 operates the transparent ice heater 430 until the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step starts after the defrosting step is completed. I can make it.

Alternatively, when it is determined that ice is not generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is being performed, the controller 800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to be turned off.

When it is determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell 320a while the defrosting step is being performed, the controller 800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to be turned on again. Of course, when it is determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell 320a while the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, the on state of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained. The controller 800 operates the transparent ice heater 430 until the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step starts after the defrosting step is completed. I can make it.

Meanwhile, depending on the type of refrigerator, the defrosting process may further include a pre-defrosting step performed before starting the defrosting step.

The pre-defrost step means a step of lowering the temperature of the freezing chamber 32 before the defrost heater 920 operates.

That is, when the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is increased by the heat of the defrost heater 920, so that the freezing chamber 32 is You can lower the temperature in advance.

When the pre-defrost step is started, the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 may be increased.

In the present embodiment, when the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is increased, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased as described above. That is, in the pre-defrost step, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased.

However, if the time to perform the pre-defrosting step is short, since it may not be necessary to change the output of the transparent ice heater 430, regardless of the increase of the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 in the pre-defrosting step, the It is also possible to maintain the output of the transparent ice heater 430.

In addition, depending on the type of refrigerator, the defrosting process may further include a post-defrosting step performed after the defrosting step.

The post-defrosting step refers to a step of rapidly lowering the temperature of the freezing chamber 32 whose temperature is increased after the defrost heater 920 is turned off.

That is, when the defrost heater 920 is turned on, the temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is increased by the heat of the defrost heater 920, so that the temperature of the freezing chamber is increased after the defrost heater 920 is turned off. It is necessary to quickly lower the temperature of (32).

When the step after the defrosting starts, the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 may be increased than the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 before the start of the defrosting step.

In the present embodiment, when the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 is increased, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased as described above. That is, in the post-defrosting step, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased.

According to this embodiment, even if the defrosting step is started in the defrosting process, the transparent ice heater is maintained in an on state, so that ice is prevented from being generated in a portion adjacent to the transparent ice heater in the defrosting process. Deterioration of the transparency of transparent ice can be prevented.

In addition, in the ice making process, when the output of the transparent ice heater needs to be reduced after the defrosting step starts, the power consumption of the transparent ice heater can be reduced by reducing the output.

In the present invention, the "operation" of the refrigerator includes determining whether a starting condition for driving is satisfied, performing a predetermined operation when the starting condition is satisfied, and determining whether the ending condition for driving is satisfied. It may be defined as including four driving steps of determining a step and a step of ending the driving when the end condition is satisfied.

In the present invention, the "operation" of the refrigerator may be classified into a general operation for cooling the refrigerator storage compartment and a special operation that starts when a special condition is satisfied.

The controller 800 of the present invention may control such that when the general operation and the special operation collide, the special operation is given priority and the operation is performed, and the general operation is stopped.

When the execution of the special operation is completed, the controller 800 may control the normal operation to resume.

In the present invention, the collision of driving is when the starting condition of driving A and the starting condition of driving B are satisfied at the same time, when the starting condition of driving A is satisfied and the starting condition of driving B is satisfied while driving A is being performed, driving It may be defined as a case where the start condition of B is satisfied and the start condition of drive A is satisfied while driving is being performed.

Meanwhile, in the general operation for generating transparent ice (“the first transparent ice operation”), after the water supply to the ice making cell 320a is completed, the control unit 800 performs a normal ice making process. It may be defined as an operation in which at least one of the cooling power of 900) or the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is changed.

The first transparent ice operation may include controlling the cold air supply means 900 to supply cool air to the ice making cell 320a by the control unit 800.

In the first transparent ice operation, the controller 800 supplies the cold air so that the bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice making cell 320a move from the ice-generating portion toward the liquid water to generate transparent ice. It may include the step of controlling the heater to be turned on in at least some section while the means supplies the cold air.

The controller 800 may control the turned-on heater to be varied by a predetermined reference heating amount in each of a plurality of pre-divided sections.

The plurality of pre-divided sections are divided based on a unit height of water to be iced, a case that has elapsed after moving the second tray 380 to an ice making position, and the second After moving the tray 380 to the ice making position, it may include at least one of a case that is classified based on a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700.

On the other hand, the special operation for generating transparent ice is the transparent ice operation for the door load response, which performs an ice making process when the start condition of the door load response operation is satisfied, and the ice making process when the start condition for the defrost operation is satisfied. It may include a transparent ice operation for countermeasure to the defrost to be performed.

In the transparent ice operation (hereinafter referred to as "the second transparent ice operation") for coping with the defrost, the control unit 800 reduces the cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 in the defrosting step before the defrost start condition is satisfied. It may include a step of reducing than the cooling power of ).

The second transparent ice operation may include the step of turning on the defrost heater 920 in at least a partial section of the defrosting step by the control unit 800.

In the second transparent ice operation, when the start condition of the defrost response operation for the transparent ice heater is satisfied, the ice making speed is lowered by the heat load applied during the defrosting step, thereby reducing deterioration of ice making efficiency, and reducing the ice making speed. The control unit may include reducing, by the control unit, a heating amount of the transparent ice heater less than the heating amount of the transparent ice heater during the first transparent ice operation in order to maintain the ice within a predetermined range and uniformly maintain the transparency of the ice.

The starting condition of the defrost response operation for the transparent ice heater may mean a case where it is determined that the heating amount of the transparent ice heater needs to be varied by determining whether the heating amount of the transparent ice heater needs to be changed during the defrosting step.

When the start condition of the defrost response operation for the transparent ice heater is satisfied, a second set time has elapsed after the defrosting step is performed, and the second temperature sensor 700 after the defrosting step is performed. When the temperature sensed in is equal to or higher than the second set temperature, and after the defrosting step is performed, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 is higher than the second set value or more, and the defrosting step is performed When the amount of change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 per unit time is greater than 0, and after the defrosting step is performed, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is greater than a reference value, and the It may include at least one of the cases in which the starting condition of the defrosting operation is satisfied.

When the end condition of the defrost response operation for the transparent ice heater is satisfied, a case B set time has elapsed after the defrost response operation starts, and after the defrost response operation starts, the second temperature sensor 700 When the temperature sensed in is below the B-th set temperature, and when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700 is lower than the B-th set value or less after the start of the defrost response operation, the defrost response operation is started. Thereafter, at least one of a case in which the amount of change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 per unit time is less than 0 and the end condition of the defrosting step operation is satisfied may be included.

The second transparent ice operation includes the step of increasing, by the control unit 800, the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 in the pre-defrosting step than the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 before the defrost start condition is satisfied. I can.

The second transparent ice operation may include, by the control unit 800, increasing the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 in response to an increase in cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 in the pre-defrosting step. .

In the second transparent ice operation, the control unit 800 controls the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 in the post-defrosting step to be increased than the cooling power of the cold air supplying means 900 before the defrost start condition is satisfied. Can include.

The second transparent ice operation may include, by the control unit 800, increasing the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 in response to an increase in cooling power of the cold air supply means 900 in the post-defrosting step. .

The control unit 800 may control the first transparent ice operation to resume after the end condition of the post-defrost step operation is satisfied.

Claims (20)

A storage room in which food is stored;
A cooler for supplying cold to the storage chamber;
A tray forming an ice making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air;
A water supply unit for supplying water to the ice making cell;
A temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell;
A heater for supplying heat to the ice making cell;
Includes a control unit for controlling the heater,
The control unit may be configured in at least some section of the cooler supplying cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice making cell move toward liquid water from the portion where ice is generated to generate transparent ice. Let the heater turn on,
The control unit variably controls the heating amount of the heater so that the ice making speed in the ice making cell during the ice making process is maintained within a predetermined range lower than the ice making speed when ice making is performed while the heater is turned off. ,
When a defrost start condition is satisfied in the deicing process, the controller performs a defrosting step for defrosting, and reduces the amount of heating of the cooler. The method of claim 1,
When the defrost start condition is satisfied during the ice making process, the control unit maintains or decreases the amount of heating supplied by the heater. The method of claim 1,
The controller controls the heating amount of the heater to be varied in a plurality of preset sections during the ice making process. The method of claim 3,
The control unit variably controls the heating amount of the heater based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor after the heater operates at an initial heating amount corresponding to each section in each of the plurality of sections. The method of claim 3,
The control unit controls to maintain the heating amount of the heater when the section when the defrosting step starts is a section in which the initial heating amount of the heater is the minimum among the plurality of sections. The method of claim 3,
When the initial heating amount of the heater in the next section is smaller than the heating amount of the heater in the section when the defrosting step starts, the control unit changes the heating amount of the heater to the initial heating amount in the next section. Refrigerator controlled as much as possible. The method of claim 3,
When the initial heating amount of the heater in the previous section is smaller than the heating amount of the heater in the section when the defrosting step starts, the control unit changes the heating amount of the heater to the initial heating amount in the previous section. Refrigerator controlled as much as possible. The method of claim 3,
When the defrosting step is completed, the controller controls the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the heating amount of the heater in a section when the defrosting step starts. The method of claim 8,
The control unit, after completion of the defrosting step, controls the heater to be turned on until a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step is started. The method of claim 9,
When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches the target temperature, the controller controls the heating amount of the heater to be changed to an initial heating amount in a next section. The method of claim 1,
After the start of ice making, a target slope based on the on reference temperature of the heater and the off reference temperature of the heater for determining the completion of ice making is determined in advance and stored in a memory,
The controller controls the heating amount of the transparent ice heater based on a target value based on the target slope and a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor for each unit time after the start of ice making. The method of claim 11,
When the defrosting step is completed, the controller controls the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the heating amount of the heater when the defrosting step is started. The method of claim 12,
The controller, after completion of the defrosting step, controls the heating amount of the transparent ice heater based on a target value at a time point at which the defrosting step is started and a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The method of claim 1,
The controller controls the heater to be turned off when the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a reference temperature value while the defrosting step is in progress. The method of claim 14,
The controller controls the heater to be turned on when the value measured by the temperature sensor is less than the reference temperature value. The method of claim 14,
The controller, when the value measured by the temperature sensor exceeds the reference temperature value, controls the heater to operate with a heating amount before the heater is turned off. The method of claim 16,
The control unit, after completion of the defrosting step, controls the heater to be turned on until the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a target temperature corresponding to a section when the defrosting step starts,
Refrigerator for controlling the heating amount of the heater to be changed to the initial heating amount of the heater in the next section. The method of claim 1,
The controller controls the heater to be turned off when it is determined that ice is not generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress. The method of claim 18,
The controller controls the heater to be turned on when it is determined that ice is being generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress. The method of claim 19,
When it is determined that ice is generated in the ice making cell while the defrosting step is in progress, the controller controls the heater to operate with a heating amount before the heater is turned off.

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