KR20230015070A - Control method of ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method of an ice maker. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control method of an ice maker can comprise: a water supply step, an ice making step, and an ice removing step. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice removing step can include: a pre-heating step, and an ice removing position moving step. Here, in the ice removing position moving step, an upper heater and a lower heater work. In the pre-heating step, the heat quantity supplied by the lower heater can be set to be smaller than the heat quantity supplied by the upper heater. Through this, thanks to the structural characteristics of the upper heater and the lower heater, the heat quantity supplied from the lower heater with an active heat supply can be controlled, thereby preventing the excessively melting ice in the heating process for removing ice.

Description

Ice maker control method {CONTROL METHOD OF ICE MAKER}

The present invention relates to a control method of an ice maker.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows low-temperature storage of food in an internal storage space shielded by a door. These refrigerators cool the inside of the storage space using cold air, so that stored food can be stored in a refrigerated or frozen state.

Typically, an ice maker for making ice is provided inside the refrigerator. The ice maker is configured to make ice by receiving water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank in a tray for making ice. In addition, the ice maker is configured to separate the ice that has been made from the ice tray in a heating method or a twisting method.

In this way, the ice maker that automatically supplies and separates water is formed to open upward and scoops up the molded ice. Ice made in the ice maker having such a structure has at least one flat surface such as a crescent moon shape or a cubic shape.

On the other hand, when the ice is formed in a substantially spherical shape, it may be more convenient to use the ice and provide a different feeling of use to the user. Also, when storing the ice that has been made, it is possible to prevent the ice from sticking together by minimizing the area in which the ice is in contact with each other.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1850918, which is a prior document, discloses an ice maker. The ice maker disclosed in the Korean Registered Patent Publication includes an upper tray in which a plurality of hemispherical upper cells are arranged, a lower tray in which a plurality of hemispherical lower cells are arranged, and rotatably connected to the upper tray; It includes a water supply tray provided in the water supply tray to supply water for ice making and a water supply guide to guide the water supplied from the water supply tray to the lower tray.

In the case of the ice maker disclosed in the Korean Registered Patent Publication, a water supply guide is formed on the upper tray. This water supply guide shape corresponds to an undercut structure and can be implemented only in flexible materials such as silicon, which increases manufacturing cost. there is

In addition, when ice is made with the upper and lower trays closed, when the tray is deformed according to temperature change, there is a problem in that spherical ice of a uniform size and shape cannot be made because it becomes a shape other than a sphere. .

In addition, in the case of the Korean registered patent, an upper heater 18 for ice shaving is provided, and the upper heater heats only one position in the vertical direction of the upper tray, so that ice is formed on the upper side of the upper tray through which ice-making water flows. There may be cases where the ice melts in an incompletely melted state. In addition, since a heating region is not provided between the cells, ice may be separated even between the cells in a state in which the ice is not sufficiently melted.

In this way, when the ice is taken out in an incompletely melted state, the ice attached to the upper tray may be taken out in a state in which the surface is damaged due to adhesion to the surface of the upper tray during the take out process.

On the other hand, even after the ice has been removed, ice may remain on the outer portion of the upper tray or the lower tray. When the ice making and ice removal processes are repeated without removing the residual ice, the residual ice continuously grows, and the upper tray and the lower tray are not completely closed due to the grown residual ice.

As such, when ice making is performed in a state where the upper tray and the lower tray are not completely closed by remnants of ice, burr-shaped edge ice is formed along the main surface of the spherical ice in response to the gap that is not closed, thereby forming a spherical shape. There is a problem of not being able to make ice.

Similarly, even in the case of ice that is damaged during the ice removal process and adhered to the inside of the cell, that is, residual ice that is generated for various reasons is preferably removed because it affects the shape of ice that is formed later.

In addition, the tray is heated during the ice removal process to take out the ice. Depending on the preheating conditions, the ice surface may be excessively melted during the heating process, which may cause heating marks to be left on the ice surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of an ice maker capable of more smoothly dispensing ice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling an ice maker capable of minimizing damage to ice when a tray is heated during an ice shaving process for taking out ice.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling an ice maker capable of effectively removing residual ice formed on a tray in the process of generating ice and extracting it.

An ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper tray, a lower tray contacting the upper tray to form an ice chamber, an upper heater supplying heat to the upper tray, and a lower heater supplying heat to the lower tray. can do.

An ice maker control method according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a water supplying step, an ice making step, and an ice breaking step.

In the water supplying step, ice-making water is supplied into the ice chamber, in the ice-making step, the ice-making water in the ice chamber is made, and in the ice-making step, after the ice-making step is completed, the ice-making step is removed from the ice chamber. can be ebbing.

The icing step according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a preheating step and a step of moving the icing location. In the preheating step, the upper heater and the lower heater may be turned on so that heat is supplied to the upper tray and the lower tray. In the step of moving the ice shaving position, the lower tray may rotate and move to the ice shaving position after the preheating step is completed so that the ice may be flaked.

Here, the upper heater and the lower heater are operated in the step of moving the ice position, and the amount of heat supplied by the lower heater in the preheating step may be set smaller than the amount of heat supplied by the upper heater.

In addition, the amount of heat supplied to the lower tray of the lower heater may be adjusted through on/off duty control in the preheating step.

The upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plastic material; The lower tray may be made of an elastic material.

In addition, the upper heater and the lower heater may be maintained in an on state in the step of moving the moving position of the ice.

The preheating step according to an embodiment of the present invention may be completed when a preset preheating time is longer than the first preheating time and a preset preheating completion condition is satisfied after the first preheating time has elapsed.

Here, the preheating completion condition may be satisfied when the second preheating time elapses or when a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor provided in the upper tray reaches a preset preheating completion temperature.

The icing step may further include a fan sensing step of detecting an operating state of the freezer compartment fan. Here, the preheating step may be performed when it is detected that the operation of the freezer compartment fan is in an off state in the fan sensing step.

In addition, the icing step may further include a waiting time detecting step of detecting a waiting time after completion of the ice making step before the fan detecting step. Here, when the waiting time exceeds the preset preheating waiting time, the fan sensing step may be skipped and the preheating step may be performed.

In addition, the separating step may further include a door sensing step of detecting whether the freezer compartment door is opened or closed before the fan sensing step. Here, when it is detected that the freezer compartment door is closed in the door sensing step, the fan sensing step is performed, and when it is detected that the freezer compartment door is open in the door sensing step, the waiting time detection step is returned. can

The method for controlling an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include removing residual ice.

The ice removal step is performed between the water supply step and the ice making step, and at least one of the upper heater and the lower heater is operated to supply heat to the ice-making water in the ice chamber, so that the upper tray and the lower tray The residual ice formed on can be removed.

Here, the step of removing the remaining ice may be performed every time among repetitions of the water supplying step, the ice making step, and the ice breaking step, or may be performed in units of predetermined repetition periods.

Also, the step of removing the remaining ice may be performed for a preset time for removing the remaining ice.

The water supplying step may include moving the lower tray toward the upper tray to a water supplying position, supplying water for ice making to the ice chamber at the water supplying position, and completing water supplying. and moving the lower tray toward an ice-making position by rotating the lower tray toward the upper tray.

Here, at the water supply position, the lower surface of the upper tray and the upper surface of the lower tray are spaced apart from each other; At the ice making position, the lower surface of the upper tray and the upper surface of the lower tray may come into close contact with each other to form the ice chamber.

Also, during at least a part of the ice making process, the lower heater may be operated to supply heat to the ice chamber.

In the ice-making step, it may be determined that ice-making is completed when a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor provided in the upper tray exceeds a predetermined ice-making completion temperature.

The ice maker control method according to the present invention has one or more of the following effects.

First, the upper and lower heaters are operated before rotation of the lower tray for icing to melt the ice and the ice between the upper and lower trays, thereby providing an effect of enabling smooth icing.

Second, due to the structural characteristics of the upper and lower heaters, an effect of preventing excessive melting of ice during a heating process for ice-breaking is provided by controlling the amount of heat supplied from the lower heater having a smooth heat supply.

Third, after water is supplied into the ice chamber, the upper heater and the lower heater remove residual ice using the supplied ice-making water, thereby providing an effect capable of effectively removing residual ice.

Fourth, an effect of preventing the accumulation of residual ice from ice-making repetitions is provided by performing a process of removing residual ice every time or in a predetermined repetition period.

Fifth, by preventing the accumulation of residual ice, ice, eg, intact ice can be generated and separated without damage to the outer appearance of the ice.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in which a door is opened according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an example of a specific configuration of an upper tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a perspective view viewed from above.
6 is a plan view of the upper tray shown in FIG. 5 viewed from the room.
7 is a cross-sectional view of the upper tray shown in FIG. 5;
8 is a plan view showing an upper case viewed from below according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a partial perspective view showing an upper case viewed from below according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a view showing states of an upper tray and a lower tray where water is supplied to the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view showing a state in which ice making in the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention is completed and the lower tray is rotated.
12 is a block diagram of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a flowchart for explaining an ebbing step according to an embodiment of the present invention.
15 is a flowchart for explaining an ebbing step according to another embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.
17 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods of achieving them, will become clear with reference to the detailed description of the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to completely inform the person who has the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numbers designate like elements throughout the specification.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the door 20 is opened.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet 10 forming a storage space and a door 20 opening and closing the storage space.

More specifically, the cabinet 10 is. As shown in FIG. 2, a storage space partitioned left and right by a barrier 11 may be formed, a refrigerating compartment 13 may be formed on one side of both left and right sides, and a freezing compartment 12 may be formed on the other side. Here, storage members such as drawers, shelves, and baskets may be provided inside the refrigerating chamber 13 and the freezing chamber 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The door 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a refrigerating compartment door 22 for shielding the refrigerating compartment 13 and a freezing compartment door 21 for shielding the freezing compartment 12 . Here, the arrangement of the refrigerating chamber 13 and the freezing chamber 12 and the shape of the door 20 may vary depending on the type of refrigerator, and the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various types of refrigerators. For example, it is also possible that the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13 are vertically partitioned and arranged.

The door 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 10 to open and close the refrigerating compartment 13 and the freezing compartment 12, respectively. As described above, the door 20 may include a refrigerating compartment door 21 for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment 22 and a freezing compartment door 22 for opening and closing the freezing compartment 12. The refrigerating compartment door 21 is arranged vertically. It may include a plurality of doors (22, 23) to be.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a dispenser 24 . The dispenser 24 is provided so that a user can take out water or ice. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is taken as an example that the dispenser 24 is disposed on the door 20, for example, the freezer door 22, and it is assumed that the dispenser 24 is located above the freezer door 22 for the convenience of the user.

In addition, the display assembly 231 is provided in the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the display assembly 231 corresponds to a configuration in which the operating state of the refrigerator 1 is displayed and a user's manipulation for operating the refrigerator 1 is input.

For example, the display assembly 231 may be disposed on the door 20 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the display assembly 231 is disposed on the refrigerating compartment door 21 as an example, and it is exemplified that the display assembly 231 is disposed above the refrigerating compartment door 21 for user's convenience.

Meanwhile, an ice making chamber 26 accommodating the main ice maker 25 may be formed in the freezing chamber door 21 . The ice-making chamber 26 can receive cold air from the evaporator 14 provided in the cabinet 10 so that ice can be made in the main ice maker 25 .

In addition, the dispenser 24 may have a structure in which the ice making chamber 26 and the dispenser 24 communicate with each other so that the ice made in the main ice maker 25 can be taken out.

Meanwhile, in the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker 100 may be installed in the freezing compartment 12 separately from the main ice maker 25 . The ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the upper shelf 103 of the freezer compartment 12 as an example. As described above, since the upper case 230 to be described later of the ice maker 100 is fixed to the shelf 103, the ice maker 100 can be installed.

An ice bin 102 for storing ice generated in the ice maker 100 may be provided below the ice maker 100 . In addition, a plurality of outlets 151 may be formed below the shelf 103 to guide the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 .

Meanwhile, a duct for supplying cold air to the freezing chamber 12 may be provided. Accordingly, some of the cold air generated in the evaporator 14 and supplied to the freezing chamber 12 flows toward the ice maker, whereby ice can be produced by indirect cooling.

Of course, as other examples, the refrigerator 1 may be configured with only the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention without the dispenser 24 and the main ice maker 25, and the main ice maker ( Instead of 25), the ice maker 100 may be provided inside the ice making compartment 26.

Hereinafter, the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

3 is a perspective view 100 of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is an example of a specific configuration of the upper tray 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a perspective view viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the upper tray 210 shown in FIG. 5 viewed from a room. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the upper tray 210 shown in FIG. 5 .

Referring to the drawings, the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper tray 210, a lower tray 310, and an upper heater 270. In addition, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower heater 370.

For the convenience of explanation and understanding, we want to define the direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the upper tray 210 is formed is defined as the upper side, and the direction in which the lower tray 310 is formed is defined as the lower side.

The upper tray 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper chamber 211 forming an upper portion of an ice chamber (IC, see FIG. 10 ).

Also, the lower tray 310 may include a lower chamber 311 forming a lower portion of the ice chamber IC when in contact with the upper tray 210 .

That is, the upper chamber 211 forms a part of the upper side of the ice chamber IC, and the lower chamber 311 forms a part of the lower side of the ice chamber IC, so that the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 ), an ice chamber IC for forming ice may be formed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as an example, three ice chambers (IC) are formed, and the upper tray 210 includes three upper chambers 211, and the lower tray 310 also includes three lower chambers. (311) is included as an example. However, it is needless to say that the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the number of ice chambers (IC) exemplified.

In addition, in the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ice chamber IC has a substantially spherical shape as an example, and the ice produced in the ice chamber IC has a substantially spherical shape as an example. Accordingly, the upper chamber 211 may have a semi-spherical shape, and the lower chamber 311 may also have a semi-spherical shape.

The shape of the ice chamber IC according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a hemispherical shape. That is, when the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 contact each other, it may have various shapes that can be formed by the upper chamber 211 and the lower chamber 311 .

For example, a cross section of the ice chamber IC in the direction shown in FIG. 7 may have a racetrack shape or an elliptical shape. That is, the upper and lower sides of the ice chamber IC may each have a round shape. As another example, the upper chamber 211 may have a polygonal pyramid shape, and the lower chamber 311 may also have a polygonal pyramid shape.

The shape of the ice chamber IC, that is, the shape of the upper chamber 211 may be defined as a shape narrowing inward in a radial direction toward the upper direction. Similarly, the shape of the lower chamber 311 may be defined as a shape narrowing radially inward toward the lower direction.

Hereinafter, an ice chamber IC according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a spherical shape, and correspondingly, an upper chamber 211 and a lower chamber 311 each have a hemispherical shape will be described as an example. At this time, the spherical or hemispherical shape may not be an ideal spherical or hemispherical shape in the dictionary meaning.

Meanwhile, the upper heater 270 according to an embodiment of the present invention may heat the upper chamber 211 . For example, the upper heater 270 heats the upper chamber 211 during the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention to melt the surface of the ice generated in the ice chamber IC, thereby smoothly separating the ice. can make it possible. In addition, the upper heater 270 may also be used in a remnant removal section to be described later.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper heater 270 heats the upper chamber 211 so that at least two or more heating regions h1 and h2 are formed at different positions in the vertical direction. exemplify that

In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, as an example, the heating regions h1 and h2 are formed at two different positions in the vertical direction, but the heating regions h1 and h2 are formed at three or more different positions. ) can be formed.

Hereinafter, the heating areas h1 and h2 according to the embodiment of the present invention are divided into two areas as an example, and the heating areas h1 and h2 formed on the upper side of the heating areas h1 and h2 are divided into two areas. It is defined as 1 heating area h1, and the heating areas h1 and h2 located lower than the first heating area h1 are defined as the second heating area h2.

According to the configuration described above, the upper heater 270 forms the heating regions h1 and h2 at different positions in the vertical direction, so that the entire region of the upper chamber 211 can be evenly heated.

This can remove a phenomenon in which the ice is not sufficiently melted when the ice is separated due to insufficient heating of regions relatively spaced from the heating regions h1 and h2 . Through this, not only damage to the ice during ice breaking can be prevented, but also a phenomenon in which residual ice is generated in the upper chamber 211 due to damage to the ice can be prevented.

In addition, in order to prevent the ice from being damaged during ice breaking, excessive heating is eliminated, so that ice having a desired shape can be created.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the upper tray 210 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a first heat transfer unit 510 and a second heat transfer unit 520 .

The first heat transfer unit 510 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed to protrude upward from the upper chamber 211 at a position corresponding to the first heating area h1 among the heating areas h1 and h2. Also, the second heat transfer unit 520 protrudes upward along the circumference of the upper chamber 211 at a position corresponding to the second heating area h2 among the heating areas h1 and h2.

Here, the second heat transfer unit 520 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be formed in a shape surrounding at least one area around the upper chamber 211 . Accordingly, the second heating area h2 formed by the second heat transfer unit 520 may also be formed to surround at least one area around the upper chamber 211 .

As shown in FIG. 7 , the first heating area h1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is located above the second heating area h2 in the vertical direction, so that the first heat transfer unit 510 It may protrude upward from the upper chamber 211 at an upper portion of the second heat transfer unit 520 in a vertical direction.

Here, the first heat transfer unit 510 may transfer heat from the upper heater 270 to the upper chamber 211 . Similarly, the second heat transfer unit 520 may also transfer heat from the upper heater 270 to the upper chamber 211 .

Through this, the area where the first heat transfer unit 510 and the upper chamber 211 meet forms the first heating area h1 of the upper chamber 211 heated by the upper heater 270, and the second An area where the heat transfer unit 520 and the upper chamber 211 meet forms a second heating area h2 of the upper chamber 211 heated by the upper heater 270 .

As described above, a plurality of upper chambers 211 are provided. As shown in FIG. 6, at least one first heat transfer unit 510 is formed in each upper chamber 211, thereby providing first heating At least one area h1 may also be formed in each upper chamber 211 .

In addition, it is exemplified that at least one of the plurality of first heat transfer units 510 formed to correspond to the plurality of upper chambers 211 is formed between a pair of mutually adjacent upper chambers 211 . Through this, it is possible to solve the ice breakage problem and the residual ice problem caused by no heat transfer between the upper chambers 211 in the existing heater structure, which was manufactured in a form surrounding the entire plurality of upper chambers 211. do.

As described above, the upper chamber 211 has a shape narrowing inward in the radial direction toward the upper direction, for example, a hemispherical shape, according to the shape of the upper chamber 211, as shown in FIG. Likewise, the first heating area h1 may be formed radially inner than the second heating area h2.

That is, the distance from the center of the upper chamber 211 to the first heating area h1 may be shorter than the distance to the second heating area h2.

Such a structural feature is not only the difference in position in the vertical direction, but also the position in the plane direction based on the radial direction is different, so that when the upper chamber 211 is heated by the upper heater 270, the upper chamber 211 is heated. (211) to enable more uniform heat transfer throughout.

Meanwhile, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include an upper case 230 .

The upper case 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention may support the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 . Here, the upper tray 210 may be coupled to the upper case 230 from the lower side. That is, the upper tray 210 is coupled in the lower direction of the upper case, so that the upper case 230 and the lower tray 310 may be configured as one assembly.

An upper end of the first heat transfer unit 510 according to an embodiment of the present invention comes into contact with the upper heater 270 when the upper case 230 and the upper tray 210 are coupled. Similarly, the upper side end of the second heat transfer unit 520 comes into contact with the upper heater 270 when the upper case 230 and the upper tray 210 are coupled.

Here, the first area where the first heat transfer unit 510 and the upper chamber 211 come into contact, that is, the first heating area h1, is the second area where the first heat transfer unit 510 and the upper heater 270 come into contact with each other. Can be made wider.

To this end, as shown in FIG. 5 , the first heat transfer unit 510 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a chamber contact unit 511 and a heater contact unit 512 as an example.

The chamber contact portion 511 according to an embodiment of the present invention may protrude upward from the upper chamber 211 . Also, the heater contact portion 512 is formed to extend upward from the chamber contact portion 511 .

Here, while the chamber contact part 511 and the heater contact part 512 are integrally formed, the length of the chamber contact part 511 is formed longer than the length of the heater contact part 512, so that a step is formed between the two members. By having, the first area can be formed wider than the second area.

Through this configuration, when the heat of the upper heater 270 is transferred to the upper chamber 211 through the first heat transfer unit 510, heat can be transferred to the upper chamber 211 in a wider area. . Such a structure can increase the heat transfer efficiency to the upper chamber 211 while reducing the size of the heater contact portion 512 in the design of the mechanical structure in which the heater contact portion 512 and the upper heater 270 come into contact with each other. It also provides the effect of reducing the constraints of

In the embodiment of the present invention, the length of the chamber contact portion 511 is formed as an example, but the thickness in the direction of the plate surface is formed thicker toward the upper chamber 211, so that the heat transfer efficiency can be increased. .

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the upper case 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from below. 9 is a partial perspective view showing the upper case 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from below.

Referring to the drawings, in an embodiment of the present invention, the upper heater 270 may be installed in the upper case 230. To this end, the upper case 230 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a heater insertion portion 231 into which the upper heater 270 is inserted.

Here, the heater insertion part 231 according to the embodiment of the present invention is formed at a position corresponding to the first heat transfer part 510 and the second heat transfer part 520, and the upper heater 270 moves downward. An upper heater 270 may be inserted so as to be exposed.

Here, when the upper case 230 and the upper tray 210 are coupled, the upper ends of the first heat transfer unit 510 and the second heat transfer unit 520 are inserted into the heater insertion unit 231, Upper end portions of the first heat transfer unit 510 and the second heat transfer unit 520 come into contact with the upper heater 270 .

The heater insertion part 231 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a first heater insertion part 231a into which the first heat transfer part 510 is inserted, and a second heater into which the second heat transfer part 520 is inserted. A portion 231b may be included.

Here, the upper heater 270 may be inserted across the first heater insertion part 231a and the second heater insertion part 231b. At this time, the area of the upper heater 270 inserted into the first heater insertion part 231a is higher on the upper side in the vertical direction than the area of the upper heater 270 inserted into the second heater insertion part 231b. As shown in FIG. 8 , it is possible to form a structure in which the upper heater 270 is positioned at different positions in the vertical direction on the cross section.

More specifically, the upper case 230 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a tray opening 232 and an opening wall 233 .

When the tray opening 232 according to the embodiment of the present invention is coupled to the upper tray 210, a region of the upper side of the upper chamber 211 may pass therethrough. Also, the opening wall 233 may extend downward from at least one region of the inner diameter of the tray opening 232 .

Here, the first heater insertion part 231a protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the opening wall 233, and the second heater insertion part 231b is formed in one region of the lower end of the opening wall 233. It can be.

That is, the second heater insert 231b is formed at the lower end of the opening wall 233, the first heater insert 231a is formed on the inner wall surface of the opening wall 233, and the first heater insert A region in which the upper heater 270 inserted across 231a and the second heater insert 231b is disposed at different positions in the vertical direction is formed, so that the arrangement on the cross section shown in FIG. 7 is possible.

In addition, the first heater insertion part 231a protrudes to the inside of the opening wall 233, and the second heater insertion part 231b is formed at the lower end of the opening wall 233, as described above, in the upper chamber. An area adjacent to the center of 211 in the radial direction and an upper heater 270 may be disposed on an outer side from the center, respectively.

Meanwhile, the upper tray 210 of the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include an auxiliary heat transfer unit 530 .

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the auxiliary heat transfer unit 530 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed to extend radially outward from the second heat transfer unit 520 . Also, the auxiliary heat transfer unit 530 may extend from the second heat transfer unit 520 and be connected to one area of the upper tray 210 .

Accordingly, heat transferred from the upper heater 270 to the second heat transfer unit 520 is transferred to one area of the upper tray 210 through the auxiliary heat transfer unit 530, and is transferred to an area other than the upper chamber 211. , for example, it is possible to prevent residual ice from occurring in one area of the upper tray 210 around the upper chamber 211 .

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is exemplified that the recessed portion 235 is formed on the plate surface of the upper tray 210 in a downward direction. In addition, the upper chamber 211 is disposed in the depression 235 formed in the upper tray 210 as an example.

Also, the auxiliary heat transfer unit 530 passes through the recess 235 from the second heat transfer unit 520 of the upper chamber 211 disposed inside the recess 235, and the inner wall surface of the recess 235. It is connected to and transfers heat through the inner wall surface of the recessed portion 235 as an example.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, as an example, a plurality of, for example, three upper chambers 211 are formed, and the auxiliary heat transfer unit 530 is provided in each upper chamber ( 211) is formed at regular intervals along the circumference.

The upper tray 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention is made of a general plastic resin material used in injection molding. For example, the upper tray 210 may be made of a general thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin material.

Here, the plastic material has a lower thermal conductivity than that of the elastic material of the lower tray 310, for example, silicon material. However, as described above, the upper heater 270 according to the embodiment of the present invention heats the upper tray 210 in the first heating area h1 and the second heating area h2, so that the upper tray 210 It is possible to heat the front surface evenly, so that injection molding of the upper tray 210 through a plastic material is possible. This provides an effect of reducing the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time of the upper tray 210 .

Meanwhile, the upper tray 210 may further include a pair of upper supporters 234 formed at both side ends, respectively.

Here, the upper supporter 234 may be connected to the upper ejector 250 to guide the movement of the upper ejector 250 in the vertical direction. In the embodiment of the present invention, guide slots 234a are formed in the upper supporter 234 in the vertical direction, and separation prevention protrusions 253 of the upper ejector 250 are guided while being inserted into the guide slots 234a, respectively. An example of guiding movement in the vertical direction is taken.

Again, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower supporter 350 and a lower case 330 .

The lower supporter 350 according to the embodiment of the present invention may support the lower side of the lower tray 310 . And, the lower case 330 may cover the upper side of the lower tray 310 .

That is, the lower case 330, the lower tray 310, and the lower supporter 350 may be sequentially arranged in the vertical direction, and fastening members may be fastened to form one assembly. When such one assembly is rotated by a driving unit 700 to be described later, the lower tray 310 may be in contact with the upper tray 210 or rotated and separated from the upper tray 210.

Hereinafter, an assembly constituted by the upper tray 210 and the upper case 230 is defined as the upper assembly 200, and constituted by the lower case 330, the lower tray 310, and the lower supporter 350. The assembly is defined as the lower assembly 300 and will be described.

The lower assembly 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be rotatably mounted on one side end of the upper assembly 200 . Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the lower assembly 300 is rotatably coupled to the upper case 230 of the upper assembly 200, and the upper case 230 rotates the lower assembly 300 in the forward and reverse direction. By rotating, the lower tray 310 is rotatably supported between an ice-making position in contact with the upper tray 210 and an ice-making position in which the lower tray 310 is spaced apart from the upper tray 210 .

Here, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a driving unit 700 that rotates the lower assembly 300 so that the lower assembly 300 can rotate relative to the upper assembly 200. . For example, the driving unit 700 may include a motor and one or more gears for transmitting rotational force of the motor.

As described above, in a state in which the lower tray 310, the lower assembly 300, and the driving unit 700 are installed in the upper case 230, the upper case 230 is mounted on the upper surface of a refrigerator or on a shelf, which will be described later. The ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be installed inside the freezing chamber.

Meanwhile, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a water supply guide 900 . Here, the water supply guide 900 is installed on the upper side of the upper assembly 200 to supply water to the ice chamber IC formed by contacting the upper chamber 211 and the lower chamber 311 .

In addition, when ice is generated after water is supplied into the ice chamber IC through the water supply guide 900 , the lower assembly 300 may be rotated in the forward direction. Then, as the lower assembly 300 rotates, the lower tray 310 is separated from the upper tray 210, and ice generated in the ice chamber IC may be separated and fall into an ice bin to be described later.

In addition, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include an upper ejector 250 for separating ice from the upper tray 210 .

The upper ejector 250 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper ejector body 251 and one or more upper ejecting pins 252 extending in a direction crossing the upper ejector body 251 . Here, the upper ejecting pins 252 may be provided in the same number as the ice chambers IC, and ice generated in each ice chamber IC may be separated.

Separation prevention protrusions 253 may be formed at both ends of the upper ejector body 251 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The separation prevention protrusion 253 moves up and down along a guide slot 234a formed in the upper supporter 234 to be described later, and may be connected to one end of a link 820 to be described below connected to the lower assembly 300.

Here, the upper ejector 250 moves up and down in association with the rotation of the lower assembly 300 to separate the ice in the ice chamber IC from the ice chamber IC. That is, while the upper ejecting pin 252 is drawn into the ice chamber IC through the case opening of the upper case 230 and the inlet 212 of the upper tray 210, the ice chamber IC is applied to separate the ice from the ice chamber IC.

In addition, the lower assembly 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower ejector 360 . The lower ejector 360 may pressurize the lower tray 310 of the lower assembly 300 so that ice adhered to the lower chamber 311 of the lower tray 310 is separated from the lower chamber 311 .

Here, the end of the lower ejector 360 may be positioned within the rotational range of the lower assembly 300, and during the rotation of the lower assembly 300, it presses the lower outer side of the ice chamber IC, that is, the lower chamber 311. It can break ice.

And, for example, the lower ejector 360 is installed in the upper case 230 so that its position can be fixed regardless of the rotation of the lower assembly 300 .

For example, the lower ejector 360 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a lower ejector body 361 fixed to the upper case 230 and a lower ejecting pin 262 protruding from the lower ejector body 361. do. Here, the surface on which the lower ejecting pin 262 is formed is inclined so that the lower ejecting pin 262 faces the lower opening 351 formed in the lower supporter 350 when the lower assembly 300 rotates. can

Meanwhile, during rotation of the lower assembly 300 for icing, rotational force of the lower assembly 300 may be transmitted to the upper ejector 250 . To this end, the ice maker 100 may further include a connection unit 800 connecting the lower assembly 300 and the upper ejector 250 . Here, the connection unit 800 may include one or more links 820 .

Also, the connection unit 800 may include a pair of rotating arms 810 and a link 820 . The rotating arm 810 may be connected to the driving unit 700 together with the lower supporter 350 to rotate together.

Also, the link 820 connects the lower supporter 350 and the upper ejector 250 so that rotational force of the lower supporter 350 can be transmitted to the upper ejector 250 when the lower supporter 350 rotates. The upper ejector 250 moves up and down in association with the rotation of the lower supporter 350 by the link 820, and as described above, the upper ejector pin 252 may pressurize the ice in the ice chamber IC. there is. On the other hand, when the lower assembly 300 is rotated in the reverse direction, the upper ejector 250 may be raised by the connection unit 800 and returned to its original position.

Also, the connection shaft 830 of the connection unit 800 is connected to the hinge shaft 331 of the lower case 330 to be described later, and the rotation of the drive unit 700 is transferred to the lower assembly 300 .

Meanwhile, as in the above-described example, the lower tray 310 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed of a flexible material having elasticity or a soft material that can return to its original shape after being deformed by an external force.

Through this, when the lower tray 310 and the upper tray 210 come into contact with each other for ice making, the hardness of the lower tray 310 is lower, so that the top of the lower tray 310 is deformed and the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 are deformed. The trays 310 may be pressurized and sealed to each other.

For example, the lower tray 310 may be formed of a silicon material. Since the lower tray 310 has a structure that is repeatedly deformed by direct contact with the lower ejector 360, it can be formed to be easily deformed and thus correspond to the shape of the ice chamber IC despite repeated ice formation. ice generation is possible.

Meanwhile, the ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower heater 370 . Here, the lower heater 370 may be installed adjacent to the lower chamber 311 to heat the lower chamber 311 of the lower tray 310 (see FIGS. 10 and 11 ). Here, an operation process of the lower heater 370 will be described later.

Hereinafter, basic operations of the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 .

In the process of supplying water, the upper surface of the lower tray 310 is spaced apart from at least a part of the lower surface of the upper tray 210, and the water supplied from the outside is guided by the water supply guide 900 to the ice chamber IC. supplied with In this case, water may be supplied to the ice chamber IC through one of the inlets 212 respectively formed in the plurality of upper chambers 211 of the upper tray 210 .

In addition, since the lower tray 310 and the upper tray 210 are spaced apart, when a specific lower chamber 311 is filled with water during the water supply process, the water flows to the neighboring lower chamber 311 and all lower chambers 311 are filled with water. The chamber 311 can be filled. Accordingly, each of the plurality of lower chambers 311 of the lower tray 310 can be filled with water.

On the other hand, when the water supply is completed, the lower assembly 300 is rotated in the reverse direction by the driving unit 700, and the upper surface of the lower tray 310 comes into contact with the lower surface of the upper tray 210, so that the upper tray 210 and The lower tray 310 is closed, and ice making begins.

When ice making starts, the lower heater 370 is turned on to heat the lower tray 310 . Thus, ice is created from the uppermost side in the ice chamber IC. In addition, the output of the lower heater 370 may be controlled to vary according to the mass per unit height of the water in the ice chamber IC, so that ice formation proceeds sequentially from the upper end of the ice chamber IC downward.

When ice making is completed, the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 may be turned on to remove ice. When the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 are turned on, the heat of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 is transferred to the upper chamber by the first heat transfer unit 510 and the second heat transfer unit 520. 211 and the lower chamber 311, the ice I may be separated from the inner surfaces of the upper chamber 211 and the lower chamber 311.

Then, when the lower assembly 300 is moved in the forward direction, the lower tray 310 may be separated from the upper tray 210 . During the rotation of the lower assembly 300 , the upper ejecting pins 252 press the ice that is in close contact with the upper tray 210 , so that the ice may be separated from the upper tray 210 . Ice separated from the upper tray 210 may be supported by the lower tray 310 again. In addition, the ice may be moved together with the lower assembly 300 while being supported by the lower tray 310 , and the ice may be separated from the lower tray 310 by its own weight and moved to the ice bin 102 .

Hereinafter, a control method of the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

12 is a block diagram of an ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a process of generating ice in the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ice maker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a controller 710 that controls the above-described upper heater 270 and lower heater 370 .

Here, the controller 710 may determine whether ice making is completed or not according to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 720 .

Also, the controller 710 may control on/off and output of the upper heater 270 and/or the lower heater 370 . In the embodiment of the present invention, it is exemplified that the control unit 710 controls the output, that is, the amount of heat, by controlling the on/off duty of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370. That is, the output of the upper heater 270 and/or the lower heater 370 may be controlled by adjusting the on time and the off time.

In addition, the controller 710 may turn on/off the current upper heater 270 and adjust the output in response to detection of door opening or closing or fan operation during ice making or ice removal.

Also, the controller 710 may control the driving unit 700 to rotate the lower assembly 300 . When the lower assembly 300 rotates, the upper ejector 250 connected to the lower assembly 300 descends to separate ice from the upper assembly 200, that is, separate the ice.

13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in the ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13 in more detail, in order to generate ice in the ice maker 100, first, a water supply step (S100) is performed.

More specifically, in order to perform the water supplying step (S100), the lower assembly 300 rotates and the lower tray 310 moves to the water supplying position.

Here, in the water supply position of the lower tray 310, the upper surface of the lower tray 310 is spaced apart from the lower surface of the upper tray 210. In this state, water supply is started, and water for ice making is supplied into the ice chamber IC.

For example, water flows to the water supply guide 900 through a water supply pipe connected to an external water supply source of the refrigerator 1 or a water tank provided therein. Then, water is guided by the water supply guide 900 and supplied to the ice chamber IC.

At this time, since the upper surface of the lower tray 310 is spaced apart from the lower surface of the upper tray 210, when a specific lower chamber 311 is filled with water during the water supply process, water flows along the upper surface of the lower tray 310. It may flow to another lower chamber 311. Accordingly, each of the plurality of lower chambers 311 of the lower tray 310 may be filled with water.

When water is supplied, the lower assembly 300 rotates and the lower tray 310 is moved to an ice making position. That is, the controller 710 may control the driving unit 700 to rotate the lower assembly 300 in the opposite direction. The ice making step ( S300 ) may be performed in a state in which the lower tray 310 is moved to the ice making position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after ice making starts, the controller 710 may control the lower heater 370 to be operated so that heat is supplied to the ice chamber during at least a portion of the ice making step (S300).

For example, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 720 reaches the on-reference temperature, the control unit 710 may determine that the on condition of the lower heater 370 is satisfied and turn on the lower heater 370. . Here, when the lower heater 370 is turned on, heat from the lower heater 370 is transferred to the lower chamber 311 of the lower tray 310 .

Therefore, when ice making is performed while the lower heater 370 is turned on, heat is supplied from the water accommodated in the lower chamber 311 in the ice chamber IC, so that ice is formed from the upper side in the ice chamber IC. can Accordingly, bubbles in the water move downward to create transparent ice.

Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 710 may determine whether ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 720 . For example, the controller 710 may determine that ice making is completed when it is determined that the temperature of the upper tray 210 detected by the temperature sensor 720 is equal to or less than the ice making completion temperature, for example, when it satisfies -9 ° C or less. there is.

Here, when it is determined that ice making is completed, the controller 710 can turn off the lower heater 370 .

When ice making is completed through the above process, the control unit 710 performs the ice breaking step (S400).

14 is a flowchart for explaining an ebbing step according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14 , the icing step (S400) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a preheating step (S440) and an icing location moving step (S450).

In the icing step ( S400 ), the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 are operated so that heat is supplied to the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 .

In the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, since the upper tray 210 is made of a plastic material, its thermal conductivity may be lower than that of the lower tray 310 made of a silicone resin. In addition, the molded product made of such a plastic material is more water-friendly than the silicone resin, and the upper tray 210 and the ice can be more strongly attached to each other in the process of phase change of water into ice.

In consideration of this phenomenon, in the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of heat supplied through the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370, that is, the output of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370, is controlled during the preheating process. example of doing

For example, the upper heater 270 maintains an on state during the preheating step (S440), and the lower heater 370 controls the amount of heat supplied to the lower tray 310 through on/off duty control. (S441). For example, the lower heater 370 may be controlled to turn on for 47 seconds and off for 14 seconds based on 60 seconds.

That is, in the preheating step, the amount of heat supplied by the lower heater 370 may be set smaller than the amount of heat supplied by the upper heater 270 .

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the preheating step (S440) is completed when the first preheating time is performed (S442) and the preheating completion condition is satisfied (S443) after the first preheating time has elapsed. exemplify that For example, if the first preheating time is set to 10 minutes, the preheating step may end depending on whether a preheating completion condition is satisfied after 10 minutes have elapsed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the preheating completion condition is satisfied when the second preheating time elapses or when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 720 provided on the upper tray 210 reaches the preset preheating completion temperature. can be set. For example, if the second preheating time is set to 20 minutes, the preheating step ( S440 ) may end regardless of whether the preheating completion temperature is reached when another 10 minutes elapse after the first preheating time of 10 minutes has elapsed.

On the other hand, even before the second preheating time elapses, if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 720 reaches the preheating completion temperature, for example, 7°C, the preheating step ( S440 ) may end.

As described above, when the preheating step (S440) is completed, the control unit 710 performs the moving ice position step (S450). That is, the control unit 710 controls the driving unit 700 to rotate the lower assembly 300 in the forward direction, thereby rotating the lower tray 310 to the moving position (S452).

When the lower assembly 300 is rotated in the forward direction, the lower tray 310 is separated from the upper tray 210 . During this ice-breaking process, ice may be separated from the surface of the upper tray 210 by the heat of the upper heater 270 .

In the embodiment of the present invention, for smooth icing, it is exemplified that the upper heater and the lower heater are controlled to maintain an on state (S451) during the process of moving the icing position (S450). That is, as described above, since the output of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 is controlled through on/off duty control, the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 are turned on so as to have full output. can keep

In the above process, when the upper ejecting pins 252 press the ice that is in close contact with the upper tray 210 and the lower tray 310 is pressed by the lower ejector 360, the ice is ejected from the lower tray 310. can be separated

Also, the ice separated from the surface of the lower tray 310 may fall downward and be stored in the ice bin 102 .

Through the preheating process as described above, intact ice state, for example, spherical ice can be separated without damage to the ice.

In addition, a phenomenon in which excessive heat is supplied to the lower tray 310 during the preheating process to melt ice can also be prevented.

15 is a flowchart for explaining an ebbing step according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the icing step S400 according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a waiting time detection step S410, a door detection step S420, and a fan detection step 430.

When it is determined that ice making is completed, the controller 710 may detect a waiting time after ice making is completed. In addition, the controller 710 may determine whether or not the waiting time after completion of ice making is within a predetermined preheating waiting time (S410). Here, the preheating waiting time is a time during which a defect in icing may occur according to the lapse of time after completion of ice making, and may be, for example, 60 minutes.

When it is determined that the waiting time exceeds the preheating waiting time, the control unit 710 skips the door detection step (S420) and the fan detection step (430), and performs the preheating step (S440) and moving the ice location step (S450). do. Here, the preheating step (S440) and the moving ice position step (S450) may correspond to the above-described embodiment, and thus descriptions thereof are omitted.

On the other hand, if it is within the preheating waiting time, the controller 710 performs a door detection step (S420).

The refrigerator 1 may include a door detector 730 that detects whether the freezer compartment door 21 is opened or closed. The door detector 730 may be configured as a kind of switch that is compressed when the freezer door 21 is closed and restored when the freezer door 21 is opened.

Here, when the freezing compartment door 21 is opened, the temperature of the freezing compartment 12 rises due to the influence of the external temperature. In order to lower the elevated temperature, the freezing chamber fan 740 is operated, and cold air from the evaporation chamber 14 is circulated into the freezing chamber 12 . Also, cold air circulating in the freezing chamber 12 may flow into the ice chamber IC through the cold air hole 121 .

At this time, when the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 are operated for icing, the upper heater 270 provides sufficient heat for icing under the influence of cold air introduced through the cold air hole 121 to the upper chamber ( 152) may not be delivered.

Therefore, it is preferable that the controller 710 checks whether the freezer compartment door 21 is open or closed, and operates the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 with the freezer door 21 closed.

Here, if it is determined that the freezer compartment door 21 is closed, the controller 710 performs a fan detection step (S430) of detecting whether the freezer compartment fan is operating. When it is determined that the freezer compartment door 21 is opened, the controller 710 returns to the waiting time detection step (S410) and waits in a state in which ice making is completed.

Meanwhile, when ice making is completed, the control unit 710 detects the operating state of the freezing compartment fan before the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 operate for ice shaving. (S430).

At this time, the controller 710 may sequentially perform a preheating step (S440) and a moving ice position step (S450) when it is detected that the freezing compartment fan is in an off state.

On the other hand, if it is detected that the freezing compartment fan 740 is on, the control unit 710 returns to the waiting time detection step (S410) and waits with the ice making completed.

Meanwhile, FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the ice maker 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention, the residual ice removing step (S200) may be performed after water supply is completed and before the ice making step (S300) is performed.

In the residual ice removal step (S200) according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 710 operates at least one of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 to supply heat to the ice-making water in the ice chamber IC. You can control it.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is exemplified that both the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 operate in the ice remnant removal step (S200). In addition, it is exemplified that both the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 are controlled to operate with full output for quick removal of residual ice.

As described above, since the output control of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 is performed through on/off duty control, the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 perform the residual ice removal step (S200). For example, it is kept continuously on during the process.

It is exemplified that the residual ice removal step ( S200 ) according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed during a preset residual ice removal time. For example, the residual ice removal time may be set to 30 minutes. Here, the ice removal time may be set in consideration of conditions such as the output capacities of the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 and the size of the ice chamber IC, and the optimal time may be derived through an experiment. there is.

When the residual ice removal step (S200) is completed as described above, the controller 710 sequentially performs the ice making step (S300) and the ice breaking step (S400), which are the steps described above. Since it is performed through, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

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

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 , it is assumed that the residual ice removal step ( S200 ) is performed each time during the iterative process of the water supply step ( S100 ), the ice making step ( S300 ), and the ice breaking step ( S400 ).

On the other hand, as another embodiment of the present invention, the step of removing the remaining ice (S200) may be performed in units of preset repetition cycles in the process of repeatedly performing the water supply step (S100), the ice making step (S300), and the ice breaking step (S400). there is.

Referring to FIG. 17 in more detail, as described above, when the water supply step (S100) is completed, the controller 710 may determine whether a preset repetition period has elapsed (S210). For example, it may be determined whether the ice making process has been repeated n times.

At this time, if it is determined that the repetition period has not elapsed, the controller 710 does not perform the residual ice removal step (S200), and immediately performs the ice making step (S300) and the ice breaking step (S400) sequentially.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the repetition period has elapsed, that is, if it is determined that the ice-making process has been repeated n times, as described above, after the residual ice removal step (S200) is performed, the ice-making step (S300) and the ice-breaking step (S400) are performed. ) are performed sequentially.

Here, when the controller 710 performs the residual ice removal step (S200), it can initialize the n value, which is the number of repetitions (S220).

As described above, after water is supplied into the ice chamber IC, the upper heater 270 and the lower heater 370 remove residual ice using the supplied ice-making water, so that residual ice can be effectively removed.

In addition, by performing the residual ice removal process each time or in a predetermined repetition period, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of residual ice occurring in the repetition of ice making.

Through the removal of the remaining ice, it is possible to produce ice, eg, intact ice, without damaging the outer appearance of the ice.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be manufactured in a variety of different forms, and those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs A person will understand that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not limiting.

100: ice maker 200: upper assembly
210: upper tray 211: upper chamber
212: inlet 230: upper case
231: heater insertion part 231a: first heater insertion part
231b: second heater insertion part 232: tray opening
233: opening wall 234: upper supporter
234a: guide slot 235: depression
250: upper ejector 251: upper ejector body
252: upper ejecting pin 253: separation prevention projection
270: upper heater
300: lower assembly 310: lower tray
311: lower chamber 330: lower case
331: hinge axis 350: lower supporter
351: lower opening 360: lower ejector
361: lower ejector body 362: lower ejecting pin
370: lower heater 500: heat transfer unit
510: first heat transfer part 511: chamber contact part
512: heater contact part 520: second heat transfer part
530: auxiliary heat transfer unit 700: drive unit
800: connection unit 810: rotating arm
820: link 830: connecting shaft
900: water supply guide

Claims (14)

An ice maker control method comprising an upper tray, a lower tray contacting the upper tray to form an ice chamber, an upper heater supplying heat to the upper tray, and a lower heater supplying heat to the lower tray,
a water supply step of supplying water for making ice into the ice chamber;
an ice-making step in which the ice-making water in the ice chamber is made ice; and
and an ice-breaking step of separating the ice-made ice from the ice chamber after the ice-making step is completed;
The icing step is
A preheating step in which the upper heater and the lower heater are turned on so that heat is supplied to the upper tray and the lower tray; and
an ice-breaking position moving step of rotating and moving the lower tray to an ice-breaking position so that the ice is separated after the preheating step is completed;
The upper heater and the lower heater are operated in the step of moving the moving ice location;
In the preheating step, the amount of heat supplied by the lower heater is set to be smaller than the amount of heat supplied by the upper heater. According to claim 1,
The lower heater controls the amount of heat supplied to the lower tray through on/off duty control in the preheating step. According to claim 2,
The upper tray is made of a plastic material;
The ice maker control method wherein the lower tray is made of an elastic material. According to claim 2,
The ice maker control method of claim 1 , wherein the upper heater and the lower heater are maintained in an on state during the moving of the ice icing position. According to claim 2,
The preheating step is performed for a predetermined first preheating time or more, and is completed when a predetermined preheating completion condition is satisfied after the first preheating time has elapsed. According to claim 5,
The preheating completion condition is satisfied when the second preheating time elapses or when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor provided in the upper tray reaches a preset preheating completion temperature. According to claim 1,
The icing step is
Further comprising a fan sensing step of detecting an operating state of the freezer compartment fan;
The preheating step is performed when it is detected that the operation of the freezer compartment fan is in an off state in the fan detection step. According to claim 7,
The icing step is
a waiting time detecting step of detecting a waiting time after completion of the ice making step before the fan detecting step;
Wherein the fan detection step is skipped and the preheating step is performed when the waiting time exceeds the preset preheating waiting time. According to claim 8,
The icing step is
further comprising a door sensing step of detecting whether the freezer compartment door is opened or closed before the fan sensing step;
performing the fan sensing step when it is detected that the freezer compartment door is closed in the door sensing step;
If it is detected that the freezer compartment door is open in the door detecting step, the ice maker control method returns to the waiting time detecting step. According to claim 1,
It is performed between the water supplying step and the ice making step, and at least one of the upper heater and the lower heater is operated to supply heat to the ice-making water in the ice chamber to remove the remaining ice formed on the upper tray and the lower tray. It further includes a residual ice removal step;
The ice maker control method of claim 1 , wherein the step of removing the remaining ice is performed each time during the repetition of the water supply step, the ice making step, and the ice shaving step, or in a predetermined repetition period. According to claim 10,
The method of controlling an ice maker in which the step of removing the remaining ice is performed for a predetermined time for removing the remaining ice. According to claim 1,
The watering step is
Rotating the lower tray toward the upper tray to move to a water supply position;
supplying the ice-making water to the ice chamber at the water supply position; and
after water supply is complete, the lower tray rotates toward the upper tray and moves to an ice-making position;
At the water supply position, the lower surface of the upper tray and the upper surface of the lower tray are spaced apart from each other;
The ice maker control method of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the upper tray and the upper surface of the lower tray are brought into close contact at the ice making position to form the ice chamber. According to claim 1,
The ice maker control method of claim 1 , wherein the lower heater is operated to supply heat to the ice chamber during at least a part of the ice making step. According to claim 1,
In the ice making step, it is determined that ice making is completed when a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor provided in the upper tray exceeds a predetermined ice making completion temperature.

Images