KR20230031261A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator, which comprises: 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; a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell, contacting the first tray during an ice-making process, and connected to a driving unit to be spaced apart from the first tray during the ice-making process; a water supply unit supplying water to the ice-making cell; and a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell. The second temperature sensor is in contact with at least one of the first tray and the second tray.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

This specification relates to a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows low-temperature storage of food in an internal storage space shielded by a door.

The refrigerator may cool the inside of the storage space using cold air, thereby storing stored food in a refrigerated or frozen state.

Usually, an ice maker for making ice is provided in a refrigerator.

The ice maker generates ice by accommodating water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank in a tray and then cooling the water.

In addition, the ice maker may 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 shape or a cubic shape.

On the other hand, when the ice is formed in a spherical shape, it may be more convenient to use the ice, and a different feeling of use may be provided to the user. In addition, even when storing the ice that has been made, it is possible to minimize the sticking of the ice by minimizing the area where 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 of the prior literature includes an upper tray in which a plurality of hemispherical upper cells are arranged and a pair of link guides extending upward from both side ends, a plurality of hemispherical lower cells are arranged, and the upper tray A lower tray rotatably connected to the lower tray, a rotational shaft connected to the rear ends of the lower tray and the upper tray and allowing the lower tray to rotate with respect to the upper tray, one end connected to the lower tray, and the other end connected to the link A pair of links connected to the guide unit; and an upper ejecting pin assembly connected to the pair of links in a state in which both ends are inserted into the link guide part, and moves up and down together with the links.

In the case of the prior literature, although it further includes an ice-leaving heater for heating the upper cell for ice-leaving, there is a problem in that there is no means for detecting a temperature change due to cold air for cooling and heat from the ice-leaving heater.

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a tray, which is a means capable of detecting an appropriate ice-making completion time while the ice maker is operating.

In addition, this embodiment provides a refrigerator that is not interfered with by wires connected to the temperature sensor.

In addition, this embodiment provides a refrigerator in which the temperature sensor is disposed at an optimal position for measuring the temperature inside the tray.

In addition, the present embodiment provides a refrigerator with improved reliability at the time of completion of ice making.

A refrigerator according to one aspect includes 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; a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell, contacting the first tray during an ice-making process, and connected to a driving unit so as to be spaced apart from the first tray during an ice-making process; a water supply unit supplying water to the ice-making cell; a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell; and the second temperature sensor is in contact with at least one of the first tray and the second tray.

At least one of the first tray and the second tray may include a sensor accommodating portion in which the second temperature sensor is accommodated.

The second temperature sensor may contact a fixed tray of the first tray and the second tray.

The heater is turned on in at least a partial section while the cold air supply unit supplies cold air so that bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice-making cell move toward liquid water in the ice-making portion to generate transparent ice. A transparent ice heater may be included.

The second temperature sensor may contact a tray located farther from the transparent ice heater among the first tray and the second tray.

The second temperature sensor may contact a tray having a greater temperature change during the ice making process among the first tray and the second tray.

The number of ice-making cells may be plural, and at least a part of the second temperature sensor may be positioned between two adjacent ice-making cells.

The ice-making cell is plural, and the distance between the cold air hole and the cold air hole is greater than the distance between the cold air hole and the first ice making cell located farthest from the cold air hole through which the cold air is supplied by the cold air supply means among the plurality of ice making cells. The second temperature sensor may be disposed such that a distance between the sensors is small.

The second temperature sensor may be disposed to contact the first ice-making cell.

The plurality of ice-making cells may include a second ice-making cell disposed adjacent to the first ice-making cell, and at least a part of the second temperature sensor may be located between the first ice-making cell and the second ice-making cell. there is.

The plurality of ice-making cells include a third ice-making cell positioned opposite the first ice-making cell with respect to the second ice-making cell, and a distance between a center of the first ice-making cell and a center of the second ice-making cell is It may be longer than the distance between the centers of the second ice-making cell and the third ice-making cell.

The heater may include a heater for icing that supplies heat to at least one of the first tray and the second tray during the icing process.

The second temperature sensor may be positioned apart from the ice-leaving heater, and a distance from the second temperature sensor to a contact surface between the first tray and the second tray is the distance between the ice-leaving heater and the first tray. It may be shorter than the distance to the contact surface between the second trays.

A refrigerator according to another aspect includes a storage compartment in which food is stored; a door opening and closing the storage compartment; a cold air supply means for supplying cold air to the storage compartment; a first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the storage compartment; a first tray forming at least a part of a wall for providing an ice-making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air; a second tray forming at least another part of a wall for providing the ice-making cell; a water supply unit supplying water to the ice-making cell; a second temperature sensor provided to sense a temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell and disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray and the second tray; a heater positioned adjacent to at least one of the first tray and the second tray; and a control unit that determines whether ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

The heater may include an ice-leaving heater disposed adjacent to the first tray to supply heat to the first tray and transfer the heat supplied to the first tray to the ice-making cell.

The ice-making cells are plural, and the plurality of ice-making cells include a first ice-making cell; and a second ice-making cell disposed adjacent to the first ice-making cell, wherein at least a part of the second temperature sensor may be positioned between the first ice-making cell and the second ice-making cell.

The first tray may include a sensor accommodating portion in which the second temperature sensor is accommodated, and the ice-leaving heater may be spaced apart from the second temperature sensor.

In the ice removal heater, the distance from the ice removal heater to the contact surface between the first tray and the second tray is located longer than the distance from the second temperature sensor to the contact surface between the first tray and the second tray. part may be included.

The second temperature sensor may contact the first tray or may be disposed at a position spaced apart from the first tray by a predetermined distance.

The plurality of ice-making cells include three ice-making cells, and the sensor receiving portion of the first tray is positioned between the right ice-making cell and the center ice-making cell among the left and right sides of the three ice-making cells, and the second temperature sensor At least part of can be accommodated.

At least a part of the second temperature sensor may contact a bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part.

The second temperature sensor may be directly accommodated in the sensor accommodating part.

In a state where the second temperature sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating part, the second temperature sensor may be positioned lower than the plate of the first tray.

A part of the ice-leaving heater may be positioned higher than the second temperature sensor and may be spaced apart from the second temperature sensor.

The first tray may further include a heater accommodating portion in which the ice-leaving heater is accommodated.

The second temperature sensor may be positioned to be spaced apart from the ice heater.

In a state where the second temperature sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating unit, a bottom surface of the sensor accommodating unit may be positioned lower than a bottom surface of the heater accommodating unit to prevent the second temperature sensor from interfering with the ice-leaving heater. there is.

A bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part may be located closer to a lower surface of the first tray than a bottom surface of the heater accommodating part.

The first tray may include a first cell wall defining a first cell among the ice-making cells.

The second temperature sensor may be disposed between the first cell walls of the two ice-making cells of the first tray, and may contact the first tray outside the first cell walls.

The second temperature sensor measures the temperature of a cell that freezes last among the plurality of ice-making cells, thereby preventing ice-making in a state in which ice-making is not completed.

The second temperature sensor such that the distance between the cold air hole and the second temperature sensor is smaller than the distance between the cold air hole and the ice making cell located farthest from the cold air hole for supplying cold air by the cold air supply means among the plurality of ice making cells. A temperature sensor may be located.

a first pusher including at least one extension provided to push the ice located in the ice-making cell during the ice-making process; And it may further include a first tray case coupled to the first tray.

A hole through which a portion of the first pusher passes may be provided in the first tray case.

According to the proposed invention, reliability of the ice making completion time can be improved by including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the tray, which is a means for detecting an appropriate ice making completion time while the ice maker is operating.

In addition, the temperature sensor is disposed at an optimal location for measuring the temperature of the ice inside the tray without being interfered with by wires connected to the temperature sensor, thereby preventing the temperature sensor from malfunctioning.

1 is a view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a perspective view illustrating an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a perspective view of the ice maker in a state in which the bracket is removed from FIG. 2;
4 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 to show a second temperature sensor installed in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along 6-6 of FIG. 2 to show a second temperature sensor contacting a first tray according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along 6-6 of FIG. 2 to show a second temperature sensor contacting a second tray according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a perspective view of a first tray according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ice maker when a second tray is positioned at a water supply position according to an embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating ice in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;
12 is a view showing a state in which water supply is completed at a water supply position;
13 is a view showing how ice is generated at an ice-making location;
14 is a view showing a state in which the second tray and the first tray are separated during the icing process;
Fig. 15 is a view showing a state in which the second tray is moved to the tearing position in the tearing process;

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

Also, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe components of an embodiment of the present invention. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, order, or order of the corresponding component is not limited by the term. When an element is described as being “connected,” “coupled to,” or “connected” to another element, that element may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but there may be another element between the elements. It should be understood that may be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

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 that opens and closes the storage compartment.

The storage compartment may include a refrigerating compartment 18 and a freezing compartment 32 . The refrigerating compartment 14 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, it is also possible that the freezing chamber is disposed on the upper side and the refrigerating chamber is disposed on the lower side. Alternatively, the freezing chamber may be disposed on one side of the left and right sides, and the refrigerating chamber may be disposed on the other side.

An upper space and a lower space of the freezing chamber 32 may be divided from each other, and a drawer 40 capable of being drawn in and out from the lower space may be provided in the lower space.

The door may include a plurality of doors 10 , 20 , and 30 that open and close the refrigerating compartment 18 and the freezing compartment 32 .

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

Even if the freezing compartment 32 can be opened and closed by one door 30, it may be provided to be separated into two spaces.

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

An ice maker 200 capable of making ice may be provided in the freezing chamber 32 . For example, the ice maker 200 may be located in an upper space of the freezing compartment 32 .

An ice bin 600 in which ice produced in the ice maker 200 is dropped and stored may be provided below the ice maker 200 . The user may take the ice bin 600 out of the freezing chamber 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, a duct for supplying cold air to the ice maker 200 is provided in the cabinet 14 . 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 at the rear of the cabinet 14 and 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 on at least one of a rear wall and an upper wall of the freezing chamber 32 .

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ice maker in a state in which the bracket is removed from FIG. 2 , and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. am.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 3 to show a second temperature sensor installed in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 to show the second temperature sensor, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 to show the second temperature sensor contacting the second tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view taken along 6.

8 is a perspective view of the first tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ice maker when the second tray is positioned at a water supply position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 9 , each component of the ice maker 200 may be 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 compartment 32, for example.

A cold air hole 221 through which cold air flows from a cold air supply means (900, see FIG. 10) to be described later may be formed at one side of the bracket 220.

A water supply unit 240 may be installed on the upper side of the inner surface of the bracket 220.

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

Since the upper opening of the water supply unit 240 is larger than the lower opening, the discharge range of the water guided downward through the water supply unit 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 move downward. The water supply unit 240 prevents water discharged from the water supply pipe from falling from a high position, thereby preventing splashing of water.

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 moves downward due to the lowered height, the amount of water splashing can be reduced.

The ice maker 200 may include an ice making cell 320a, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold air.

The ice maker 200 includes a first tray 320 forming at least a part of a wall for providing the ice-making cell 320a, and forming at least another part of a wall for providing the ice-making cell 320a. A second tray 380 may be included.

Although not limited, the ice-making cell 320a may include a first cell 320b and a second cell 320c.

The first tray 320 may define the first cell 320b, and the second tray 380 may define the second cell 320c.

The second tray 380 may be disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the first tray 320 . The second tray 380 may be linearly or rotationally moved.

Hereinafter, rotation of the second tray 380 will be described as an example.

For example, during the ice making process, the second tray 380 may move relative to the first tray 320, and the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may contact 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, the second tray 380 may move with respect to the first tray 320 during the ice-breaking process after completion of ice making, so that the second tray 380 may be spaced apart from the first tray 320 .

In this embodiment, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be arranged in a vertical direction in a state in which the ice-making cells 320a are 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 . 4 illustrates formation of three ice-making cells 320a as an example.

When water is cooled by cold air in a state in which water is supplied to the ice-making cell 320a, ice having a shape identical to or similar to 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.

In this case, the first cell 320b may be formed in a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to a hemisphere. In addition, the second cell 320c may be formed in a hemispherical shape or a shape similar to a hemisphere.

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

The ice maker 200 may further include a first tray case 300 coupled to the first tray 320 .

For example, the first tray case 300 may be coupled to an upper side of the first tray 320 .

The first tray case 300 may be manufactured as a product separate from the bracket 220 and may be coupled to the bracket 220 or integrally formed with the bracket 220 .

The ice maker 200 may further include a first heater case 280 . A heater 290 for ice removal may be installed in the first heater case 280 . The heater case 280 may be integrally formed with the first tray case 300 or formed separately.

The ice-leaving heater 290 may be disposed adjacent to the first tray 320 . The heater 290 for icing may be, for example, a wire-type heater.

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

In any case, the ice-making heater 290 may supply heat to the first tray 320, and the 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 tray cover 340 positioned below the first tray 320 .

The first tray cover 340 may have an opening corresponding to the shape of the ice-making cell 320a of the first tray 320 and may be coupled to the lower surface of the first tray 320 .

The first tray case 300 may include a guide slot 302 having an inclined upper side and a vertically extending lower side. The guide slot 302 may be provided on a member extending upward of the first tray case 300 .

A guide protrusion 262 of a first pusher 260 to be described later may be inserted into the guide slot 302 . Thus, the guide protrusion 262 may be guided along the guide slot 302 .

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

The extension part 264 may push the ice located in the ice-making cell 320a during the ice-breaking process. For example, the extension part 264 may pass through the first tray case 300 and be inserted into the ice-making cell 320a.

Accordingly, the first tray case 300 may have a hole 304 through which a portion of the first pusher 260 passes.

The guide protrusion 262 of the first pusher 260 may be coupled to the pusher link 500 . At this time, the guide protrusion 262 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 ice maker 200 may further include a second tray case 400 coupled to the second tray 380 .

The second tray case 400 may support the second tray 380 at a lower side of 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 case 400 .

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

The ice maker 200 may further include a second tray cover 360 .

The second tray 380 may include a circumferential wall 382 surrounding a portion of the first tray 320 in a state of being in contact with the first tray 320 .

The second tray cover 360 may cover the circumferential wall 382 .

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 transparent ice heater 430 will be described in detail. The controller 800 of the present embodiment controls the transparent ice heater 430 to supply heat to the ice-making cell 320a in at least a partial section while cool air is being supplied to the ice-making cell 320a so that transparent ice can be produced. can be controlled so that

The ice making machine ( In 200), transparent ice may be generated. That is, bubbles dissolved in water may be induced to escape to the outside of the ice-making cell 320a or be collected in a certain position within the ice-making cell 320a.

Meanwhile, when the cold air supply unit 900 to be described later supplies cold air to the ice-making cell 320a, if the speed at which ice is produced is high, bubbles dissolved in water inside the ice-making cell 320a are formed at the portion where ice is generated. Transparency of ice produced 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 speed at which ice is produced is slow, the above problem is solved and the transparency of the ice may be increased, but it takes a long time to make ice. problems can arise.

Therefore, the transparent ice heater 430 can locally supply heat to the ice-making cell 320a to increase the transparency of ice, while reducing the ice-making time delay. Can be placed on one side.

Meanwhile, when the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed on one side of the ice-making cell 320a, it is possible to reduce the easy transfer of heat from the transparent ice heater 430 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 lower thermal conductivity than metal.

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

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

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, it is also possible that the second heater case 420 is not separately provided and the tomingbing heater 430 is installed in the second tray case 400 .

In any case, the transparent ice heater 430 may supply heat to the second tray 380, and the 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. The second tray 380 may relatively move with respect to the first tray 320 by receiving the driving force of the driving unit 480 .

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

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

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

Rotation arms 460 may be provided at both ends of the shaft 440, respectively. The shaft 440 may be rotated by receiving rotational force from the driving unit 480 .

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

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 full ice detection lever 520 may be rotated by rotational force provided by the drive unit 480 .

The full ice detection lever 520 may have a 'c' shape as a whole. For example, the full ice detection lever 520 includes a first part 521 and a pair of second parts 522 extending from both ends of the first part 521 in a direction crossing the first part 521. ) may be included.

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

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

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

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

For example, the cam may include a magnet, 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 control unit 800, which will be described later, can determine the position 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 can be indirectly determined based on a detection signal of a magnet provided in the cam.

For example, based on the signal output from the sensor, a water supply position and an ice making position, which will be described later, may be distinguished and determined.

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 extension part 544 . For example, the second pusher 540 may include the same number of extensions 544 as the number of ice-making cells 320a, but is not limited thereto.

The extension part 544 may push the ice located in the ice making cell 320a. For example, the extension part 544 may pass through the second tray case 400 and contact the second tray 380 forming the ice-making cell 320a, and the contacted second tray ( 380) can be pressurized.

Accordingly, the second tray case 400 may be provided with a hole 422 through which a portion of the second pusher 540 passes.

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

In this embodiment, the second tray 380 may be formed of a non-metallic material.

For example, when the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540, the shape may be formed of a flexible material or softness that can be deformed.

Although not limited, the second tray 380 may be formed of a silicon material, for example.

Therefore, while the second tray 380 is being pressed by the second pusher 540, the second tray 380 is deformed, and the pressing force of the second pusher 540 can be transmitted to the ice. Ice may be separated from the second tray 380 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 the ice and the second tray 380 may decrease, so that the ice can be easily separated from the second tray 380. there is.

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 ), the second tray 380 can be easily restored to its original shape.

Meanwhile, it is also possible that the first tray 320 is made of a metal material. In this case, since the bonding force or separation between the first tray 320 and the ice is strong, the ice maker 200 of the present embodiment may include at least one of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the first pusher 260. can

As another example, the first tray 320 may be formed of a non-metallic material.

When the first tray 320 is made of a non-metallic material, the ice maker 200 may include only one of the heater 290 for ice removal and the first pusher 260 .

Alternatively, the ice maker 200 may not include the ice-leaving 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 made of the same material, the sealing performance is maintained at the contact area 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 case of the present embodiment, since the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540 and deformed, the second tray 380 can be easily deformed. The hardness of may be lower than that of the first tray 320 .

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the ice maker 200 may further include a second temperature sensor (or tray temperature sensor) 700 for sensing the temperature of the ice making cell 320a.

The second temperature sensor 700 may detect the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell 320a.

In detail, the second temperature sensor 700 is disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 and senses the temperature of the tray, such as the temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell 320a. temperature can be sensed indirectly.

For example, the second temperature sensor 700 may contact the first tray 320 as shown in FIG. 6 or the second tray 380 as shown in FIG. 7 .

In this embodiment, the temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell 320a may be referred to as the internal temperature of the ice-making cell 320a.

For example, the second temperature sensor 700 may be installed in the first tray case 300 .

In this case, the second temperature sensor 700 may contact the first tray 320 or may be spaced apart from the first tray 320 by a predetermined distance.

As another example, the second temperature sensor 700 may be installed on the first tray 320 and come into contact with the first tray 320 .

Of course, when the second temperature sensor 700 is disposed to pass through the first tray 320 , the temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell 320a may be directly sensed.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the first tray 320 may further include a sensor accommodating part 322 in which the second temperature sensor 700 is accommodated.

The sensor accommodating portion 322 may be formed by being depressed downward in the case accommodating portion 323b.

At this time, in a state where the second temperature sensor 700 is accommodated in the sensor accommodating portion 322, the sensor accommodating portion ( 322) may be located lower than the bottom surface of the heater accommodating part 323a.

The bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part 322 may be located closer to the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320 than the bottom surface of the heater accommodating part 323a.

In addition, in a state where the second temperature sensor 700 is accommodated in the sensor accommodating part 322, the second temperature sensor 700 is positioned lower than the plate 324 of the first tray 320, or An upper surface of the second temperature sensor 700 may come into contact with the heater case 280 .

At least a part of the second temperature sensor 700 may contact the bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part 322 . Although not limited, the second temperature sensor 700 may be directly accommodated in the sensor accommodating part 322 .

Alternatively, the second temperature sensor 700 may be installed in the heater case 280 . In this case, when the heater 290 for separating the heater case 280 is accommodated in the heater accommodating part 323a, the second temperature sensor 700 may be accommodated in the sensor accommodating part 322.

The sensor accommodating part 322 may be located between two adjacent ice making cells 320a.

When the sensor accommodating part 322 is located between the two ice-making cells 320a, the second temperature sensor 700 can be easily installed without increasing the volume of the first tray 320 . In addition, when the sensor accommodating part 322 is positioned between the two ice-making cells 320a, it may be affected by the temperature of at least two ice-making cells 320a, so that the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is the ice-making cell 320a. It may be positioned as close as possible to the actual temperature of the inside of the cell 320a.

For example, the sensor accommodating part 322 may be positioned between two adjacent upper cells 320b (or first cells) among three upper cells 320b arranged side by side.

Through this, the second temperature sensor 700 can represent both the temperatures of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, and exposure of the second temperature sensor 700 to the outside is minimized. Thus, the influence of external temperature can be reduced as much as possible.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 6 , the second temperature sensor 700 is disposed between the first cell walls 321a (see FIG. 9 ) of the two ice-making cells 320a of the first tray 320 to control the first cell The outside of the wall 321a may contact the first tray 320 .

In addition, the second temperature sensor 700 can prevent icing in a state in which ice making is not completed by measuring the temperature of a cell that freezes last among the plurality of ice making cells 320a.

Among the plurality of ice-making cells 320a, a cell that freezes last may be an ice-making cell 320a positioned furthest from the direction in which cold air is supplied from the cold air supply unit 900.

In addition, among the plurality of ice-making cells 320a, the distance between the cold air hole 221 for supplying cold air by the cold air supply means 900 and the ice-making cell located farthest from the cold air hole 221 is greater than the distance between the cold air hole 221 and the cold air hole 221. The second temperature sensor 700 may be positioned such that a distance between 221 and the second temperature sensor 700 is small.

In detail, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sensor accommodating part 322 is between the right ice-making cell (or the first ice-making cell) and the center ice-making cell (or the second ice-making cell) of the left and right sides among the three ice-making cells. ) is located so that at least a part of the second temperature sensor 700 can be accommodated.

In addition, when the sensor accommodating part 322 is located between the right upper cell and the center upper cell of the left and right sides among the three upper cells 320b, the upper right side is larger than the distance between the left upper cell and the center upper cell. The distance between the cell and the central upper cell may be longer. This is to prepare a place for the second temperature sensor 700 to be accommodated.

Of course, the second temperature sensor 700 may be disposed adjacent to the second tray 380 and positioned between the plurality of lower cells 320c.

Meanwhile, the wire 701 connected to the second temperature sensor 700 may be guided upward of the first tray case 300 .

Accordingly, in order to prevent interference by the wire 701 and to prevent the wire 701 from being broken due to deformation, the second temperature sensor 700 includes the first tray 320 and the second tray ( 280), it may be mounted on a tray that is not rotated by the drive unit 480.

That is, the second temperature sensor 700 may be mounted on the first tray 320 that is fixed and not rotated by the driving unit 480 .

If the second temperature sensor 700 is installed adjacent to the transparent ice heater 430, there is a possibility that the accuracy of the ice making completion point may deteriorate due to the heat supplied by the transparent ice heater 430.

In addition, by the transparent ice heater 430, water in the lower portion freezes later than water in the upper portion, so that temperature change hardly occurs during the ice-making process and the phase change temperature is maintained. Accordingly, if the second temperature sensor 700 is installed adjacent to the tray in contact with the transparent ice heater 430, the temperature change of the temperature sensor during the ice making process is not large, so that the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 for each stage is reduced. You may have difficulty controlling it.

Accordingly, the second temperature sensor 700 may be mounted on a tray farther from the transparent ice heater 430 to be less affected by the transparent ice heater 430 .

Meanwhile, a portion of the ice-leaving heater 290 may be positioned higher than the second temperature sensor 700 and may be spaced apart from the second temperature sensor 700 .

Also, the second temperature sensor 700 may be provided in the first heater case 280 together with the ice-leaving heater 290 . At this time, the reliability of the second temperature sensor 700 can be secured only when the second temperature sensor 700 and the heater 290 for ice removal are spaced apart from each other.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the ice maker 200 of this embodiment may be designed so that the location of the second tray 380 is different from the water supply location and the ice making location.

For example, the second tray 380 may be formed along the second cell walls 381 defining the second cells 320c of the ice-making cells 320a and along the outer edges of the second cell walls 381. It may include an extending perimeter wall 382 .

The second cell wall 381 may include an upper surface 381a. In this specification, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be referred to as the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 .

An upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be positioned lower than an upper end of the circumferential wall 381 .

The first tray 320 may include first cell walls 321a defining first cells 320b of the ice-making cells 320a.

The first cell wall 321a may include a straight portion 321b and a curved portion 321c. The curved portion 321c may be formed in an arc shape having a center of the shaft 440 as a radius of curvature.

Accordingly, the circumferential wall 381 may also include a straight portion and a curved portion corresponding to the straight portion 321b and the curved portion 321c.

The first cell wall 321a may include a lower surface 321d. In this specification, the lower surface 321b of the first cell wall 321a may be referred to as the lower surface 321b of the first tray 320 .

The lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a may contact the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381a.

For example, in the water supply position as shown in FIG. 9 , at least a portion of the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a and the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be separated from each other.

FIG. 9 shows, for example, that the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a and the entirety of the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 are spaced apart from each other.

Accordingly, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be inclined to form a predetermined angle with the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

Although not limited, in the water supply position, the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a may be substantially leveled, and the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be the first cell wall ( It may be disposed to be inclined with respect to the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a below the 321a.

In the state shown in FIG. 9 , the circumferential wall 382 may surround the first cell wall 321a. In addition, the upper end of the circumferential wall 382 may be positioned higher than the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

Meanwhile, at the ice making position (see FIG. 13 ), the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may contact at least a portion of the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

The angle between the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 and the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320 at the ice making position is the angle between the upper surface 382a of the second tray 380 and the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320 at the water supply position. It is smaller than the angle formed by the lower surface 321d of one tray 320.

In the ice-making position, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may contact all of the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

In the ice-making position, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 and the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a may be substantially level.

In this embodiment, the reason why the water supply position of the second tray 380 and the ice making position are different is that, when the ice maker 200 includes a plurality of ice making cells 320a, communication between the ice making cells 320a is prevented. This is to uniformly distribute water to the plurality of ice-making cells 320a without forming a water passage in the first tray 320 and/or the second tray 380.

If the ice maker 200 includes the plurality of ice making cells 320a and 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, in a state in which water has been completely distributed to the plurality of ice-making cells 320a, water exists in the water passage, and when ice is generated in this state, the ice generated in the ice-making cell 320a is generated in the water passage portion. linked by ice.

In this case, there is a possibility that the ice is attached to each other even after the ice-breaking is completed, and even if the ice is separated from each other, some of the plurality of ice includes ice generated in the water passage part, so the shape of the ice is the shape of the ice-making cell There is a problem that differs from

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 that has fallen to the second tray 380 is discharged from the second tray 380. It can be evenly distributed to the plurality of second cells 320c of 380 .

For example, the first tray 320 may include a communication hole 321e. When the first tray 320 includes one first cell 320b, the first tray 320 may include one communication hole 321e.

When the first tray 320 includes a plurality of first cells 320b, the first tray 320 may include a plurality of communication holes 321e.

The water supply unit 240 may supply water to one communication hole 321e among the plurality of communication holes 321e.

In this case, the water supplied through the one communication hole 321e passes through the first tray 320 and then falls onto the second tray 380 .

During the water supply process, water may fall into any one second cell 320c among the plurality of second cells 320c of the second tray 380 . Water supplied to one of the second cells 320c overflows from the one of the second cells 320c.

In this embodiment, since the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320, the water overflowing from any one of the second cells 320c is It moves along the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 to another adjacent second cell 320c.

Accordingly, the plurality of second cells 320c of the second tray 380 may be filled with water.

In addition, in a state in which the water supply is completed, a part of the supplied water fills the second cells 320c, and another part of the supplied water fills the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380. can

At the water supply position, depending on the volume of the ice making cell 320a, water upon completion of water supply is located only in the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, or between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380. It may also be located in the space between the second trays 380 and within the first tray 320 (see FIG. 12).

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 in the plurality of first cells 320b. can be equally 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.

In this case, in order to generate transparent ice, the controller of the refrigerator controls 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 the water in the ice-making cell 320a. When this is controlled to be variable, at least one of the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is controlled to be rapidly changed several times or more at the portion where the water passage is formed.

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, a reliability problem of components may occur, and expensive components having a wide range of maximum and minimum output may be used, which may be disadvantageous in terms of power consumption and cost of components. As a result, the present invention may require the above-described technology related to the ice-making position even to generate transparent ice.

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

Referring to FIG. 10 , the refrigerator of this embodiment may further include a cold air supply means 900 for supplying cold air to the freezing compartment 32 (or ice making cell). The cold air supply unit 900 may supply cold air to the freezing compartment 32 using a refrigerant cycle.

For example, the cold air supply unit 900 may include a compressor for compressing the refrigerant. The temperature of the cold air supplied to the freezing compartment 32 may vary according to the output (or frequency) of the compressor.

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

Alternatively, the cold air supply means 900 may include a refrigerant valve for adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant cycle.

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

Therefore, in this embodiment, the cold air supply unit 900 may include one or more of the compressor, fan, and refrigerant valve.

The refrigerator of this embodiment may further include a controller 800 that controls the cold air supply means 900 .

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

The refrigerator may further include a door open/close detection unit 930 for detecting the opening/closing of a door of a storage compartment (for example, the freezing compartment 32) in which the ice maker 200 is installed.

The control unit 800 may control some or all of the ice-leaving heater 290, the transparent ice heater 430, the driving unit 480, the cold air supply unit 900, and the water supply valve 242. there is.

In addition, when the door opening/closing detection unit 930 detects the opening/closing of the door (the door is opened or closed), the control unit 800 determines the temperature based on the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 33. Whether or not the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 is variable may be determined.

Also, when the door opening/closing detection unit 930 detects the door opening/closing, the control unit 800 determines the output of the transparent ice heater 430 based on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700. variable can be determined.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, when the ice maker 200 includes both the ice removal heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430, the output of the ice removal heater 290 and the transparent ice heater ( 430) may be different.

When the outputs of the heater 290 for ice removal and the transparent ice heater 430 are different, the output terminal of the heater 290 for ice removal and the output terminal of the transparent ice heater 430 may be formed in different shapes. , misconnection of the two output terminals can be prevented.

Although not limited, the output of the ice-leaving heater 290 may be set higher than the output of the transparent ice heater 430 . Accordingly, ice can be quickly separated from the first tray 320 by the ice-leaving heater 290 .

In this embodiment, when the ice-leaving heater 290 is not provided, the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed adjacent to the second tray 380 described above, or is disposed adjacent to the first tray 320. It can be placed in an adjacent location.

The refrigerator may further include a first temperature sensor 33 (or an internal temperature sensor) 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 .

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

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

12 is a view showing a state in which water supply is completed at the water supply position, FIG. 13 is a view showing how ice is generated at the ice making position, and FIG. FIG. 15 is a view showing a state in which the second tray is moved to the tearing position in the tearing process.

11 to 15 , in order to make ice in the ice maker 200, the controller 800 moves the second tray 380 to a water supply position (S1).

In this specification, the direction in which the second tray 380 moves from the ice making position of FIG. 13 to the ice making position of FIG. 15 may be referred to as forward movement (or forward rotation).

On the other hand, the direction of movement from the ice breaking position of FIG. 15 to the water supply position of FIG. 9 may be referred to as reverse movement (or reverse rotation).

The movement of the water supplying position of the second tray 380 is detected by a sensor, and when the movement of the second tray 380 to the water supplying position is detected, the controller 800 stops the driving unit 480 .

Water supply starts in a state where the second tray 380 is moved to the water supply position (S2).

To supply water, 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 can turn off the water supply valve 242.

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

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

For example, the controller 800 may control the driving unit 480 to move the second tray 380 in a reverse direction from the water supply position.

When the second tray 380 moves in the reverse direction, the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 comes closer to the lower surface 321e of the first tray 320 .

Then, the water between the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 and the lower surface 321e of the first tray 320 is divided and distributed into each of the plurality of second cells 320c.

When the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 and the lower surface 321e of the first tray 320 come into close contact with each other, the first cells 320b are filled with water.

The movement of the ice making position of the second tray 380 is detected by a sensor, and when the movement of the second tray 380 to the ice making position is detected, the controller 800 stops the driving part 480 .

Ice making starts with the second tray 380 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 to supply cold air to the ice making cell 320a.

After ice making starts, the control unit 800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to be turned on in at least a partial section while the cold air supply unit 900 supplies cold air to the ice making cell 320a. Yes (S5).

When the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, heat from the transparent ice heater 430 is transferred to the ice-making cell 320a, and thus the speed of ice production in the ice-making cell 320a may be delayed.

As in the present embodiment, by the heat of the transparent ice heater 430, the speed of ice formation is reduced so that the bubbles dissolved in the water inside the ice-making cell 320a can move from the ice-generating part to the liquid state water. By delaying, transparent ice may be produced 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.

In this embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 does not turn on immediately after ice making starts, and the transparent ice heater 430 can be turned on only when the turn-on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied.

In general, the water supplied to the ice-making cell 320a may be room temperature water 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 water.

Therefore, after supplying the water, the temperature of the water is lowered by the cold air, and when the freezing point of the water is reached, the water is changed into ice.

In this embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 may not be turned on before 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 is slowed down by the heat of the transparent ice heater 430. As a result, the onset of ice formation is delayed.

The transparency of the ice may vary depending on the presence or absence of air bubbles in the portion where the ice is generated after the ice starts to be formed. It can be seen that the transparent ice heater 430 is operating.

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 prevent it from happening.

Of course, since the transparency is not affected even if the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on immediately after ice making starts, it is also possible to turn on the transparent ice heater 430 after ice making starts.

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, although water exists in the ice-making cell 320a, the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700 may be below zero after ice starts to be formed in the ice-making cell 320a.

Therefore, in order to determine that ice has started to be formed 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, since the on-reference temperature is a sub-zero temperature, the temperature of the ice in the ice-making cell 320a is a sub-zero temperature and is set to the on-reference temperature. will be lower than Accordingly, it may be indirectly determined that ice is generated in the ice-making cell 320a.

As such, when the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, the heat of the transparent ice heater 430 is transferred into the ice making cell 320a.

As in the present embodiment, when the second tray 380 is positioned below the first tray 320 and the transparent ice heater 430 is arranged to supply heat to the second tray 380 Ice may start to be generated from the upper side of the ice-making cell 320a.

In this embodiment, since ice is generated from the upper side in the ice-making cell 320a, bubbles move downward toward the liquid water at the portion where the 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 convect 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 sphere, an inverted triangle, or a crescent moon, the mass (or volume) per unit height of water is different.

If it is assumed that the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 is constant and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is the same, the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell 320a is different, so ice per unit height The rate at which this is produced may vary.

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 high, the rate of ice formation is slow.

As a result, since the speed at which ice is generated per unit height of water is not constant, the transparency of ice may vary according to unit height. In particular, when the ice generation rate is high, bubbles may not move from the ice to the water side, and the ice may contain bubbles, resulting in low transparency.

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

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

In this specification, the cooling capacity of the cold air supply means 900 may include one or more of variable output of the compressor, variable output of the fan, and variable opening degree of the refrigerant valve.

Also, in the present specification, varying 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 the 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 ratio of the transparent ice heater 430 in one cycle. It may mean the ratio of off time to time and off time.

In the present specification, the unit height of water in the ice-making cell 320a may be different depending on the relative positions of the ice-making cell 320a and the transparent ice heater 430 .

If the ice generation rate is different for each unit height, the transparency of the ice is different for each unit height, and in a specific section, the ice generation rate is too fast, and there is a problem in that the transparency is lowered due to the inclusion of air bubbles.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is such that the speed at which ice is produced for each unit height is the same or similar, while allowing bubbles to move toward the water side in the ice-generating part during the ice-generating process. can control.

After the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may gradually decrease from the first section to the middle section.

The output of the transparent ice heater 430 becomes minimum in the middle section, which is the section where the mass of water per unit height is minimum.

From the next section of the middle section, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be increased step by step again.

By controlling the output of the transparent ice heater 430, the transparency of the ice becomes uniform for each unit height, and bubbles are collected in the lowermost section. Therefore, when looking at the ice as a whole, bubbles may gather in local portions and other portions may become totally transparent.

Even if the ice-making cell 320a is not spherical, if the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is varied according to the mass of water per unit height in the ice-making cell 320a, transparent ice may be produced.

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

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

In addition, transparent ice can be created by varying the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 according to the mass of water per unit height.

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

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

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

The cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 is maximized in the middle section, which is the section where the mass of water per unit height is the minimum.

From the next section of the middle section, the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 may be reduced step by step again.

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

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 at least one of the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is controlled according to the mass per unit height of water, the ice generation rate per unit height of water is substantially increased. It can be the same as or maintained within a predetermined range.

Meanwhile, the controller 800 may determine whether ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 (S6).

When it is determined that ice making is completed, the controller 800 can turn off the transparent ice heater 430 (S7).

For example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches the first reference temperature, the controller 800 may determine that ice making is completed and turn off the transparent ice heater 430 .

In this case, in the present embodiment, since the distance between the second temperature sensor 700 and each ice-making cell 320a is different, the control unit 800 determines that ice production is completed in all ice-making cells 320a. may start ice-making after a predetermined time elapses from the time when it is determined that ice-making is completed 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-breaking heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430 to break the ice (S8).

When the ice-ice heater 290 is turned on, heat from the heater is transferred to the first tray 320 so that ice can be separated from the surface (inner surface) of the first tray 320 .

In addition, the heat of the ice-leaving heater 290 is transferred from the first tray 320 to the contact surface of the second tray 380, and the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320 and the second tray ( 380) becomes detachable between the upper surfaces 381a.

After at least one of the ice-leaving heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on and the movement condition of the second tray 380 is satisfied, the controller 800 turns off the turned-on heater , the second tray 380 can be rotated in the forward direction so as to move to the tearing position (S9).

As shown in FIG. 14 , when the second tray 380 is moved in the forward direction, the second tray 380 is separated 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 extension part 264 passes through the communication hole 321e and presses the ice in the ice-making cell 320a. do.

In the present embodiment, in the process of icing, ice may be separated from the first tray 320 before the extension part 264 presses the ice. That is, ice may be separated from the surface of the first tray 320 by the heat of the ice-leaving heater 290 .

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

As another example, there may be cases in which ice is not separated from the surface of the first tray 320 even by the first and second heating of the ice-leaving heater 290 .

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

In this state, in the process of moving the second tray 380, the extension part 264 passing through the communication hole 320e presses the ice that is in close contact with the first tray 320, so that the ice is It can be separated from the first tray 320 .

The ice separated from the first tray 320 may be supported by the second tray 380 .

When ice is moved along with the second tray 380 in a state supported by the second tray 380, even if no external force is applied to the second tray 380, the ice is moved to the second tray 380 by its own weight. It can be separated from the tray 250 .

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. 14 . When is pressurized, ice may be separated from the second tray 380 and fall downward.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 , while the second tray 380 is moving, the second tray 380 comes into contact with the extension 544 of the second pusher 540 .

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

The 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. 15 , a position in which the second tray 380 is deformed by being pressed by the second pusher 540 may be referred to as an icing position.

In this embodiment, in order to secure the reliability of ice breaking, the ice can be separated from the tray through the two-time heating process of the ice-breaking heater 290 and the first and second pushers.

Meanwhile, whether the ice bin 600 is full of ice may be detected while the second tray 380 moves from the ice making position to the ice making position.

For example, if the full ice detection lever 520 is rotated together with the second tray 380 and the rotation of the full ice detection lever 520 is interfered with by ice while the full ice detection lever 520 is being rotated. , it may be determined that the ice bin 600 is in a full ice state. On the other hand, if the rotation of the full ice detection lever 520 is not interfered with by ice during the rotation of the full ice detection lever 520, it may be determined that the ice bin 600 is not in a full ice state.

After ice is separated from the second tray 380, the controller 800 controls the drive unit 480 to move the second tray 380 in the reverse direction (S10).

Then, the second tray 380 moves from the leaving position toward the water supply position.

When the second tray 380 moves to the water supply position in FIG. 9 , the control unit 800 stops the driving unit 480 (S1).

When the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the extension part 544 while the second tray 380 is moved in the reverse direction, the deformed second tray 380 can be restored to its original shape. there is.

During the reverse movement of the second tray 380, the moving force of the second tray 380 is transferred to the first pusher 260 by the pusher link 500, and the first pusher 260 rises, and the extension part 264 is removed from the ice-making cell 320a.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 may be determined in correspondence to the target temperature of the freezing compartment 32 . The cold air generated by the cold air supply unit 900 may be supplied to the freezing compartment 32 .

The 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 and the water in the ice-making cell 320a.

In this embodiment, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 per unit height of water may be determined in consideration of the predetermined cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 .

The heating amount (or output) of the transparent ice heater 430 determined in consideration of the predetermined cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 is referred to as a reference heating amount (or reference output). The magnitude of the standard heating amount per unit height of water is different.

However, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold air in the freezing compartment 32 and the water in the ice-making cell 320a changes, if the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is not adjusted to reflect this, the transparency of the ice per unit height will change. there is a problem.

In this embodiment, when the amount of heat transfer between cold air and water is increased, for example, when the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 is increased, or air having a temperature lower than the temperature of the cold air in the freezing chamber 32 is transmitted to the freezing chamber 32 . may be supplied.

On the other hand, when the amount of heat transfer between cold air and water is reduced, for example, when the cooling power of the cold air supply unit 900 is reduced, or when the door is opened and the temperature of the cold air in the freezing compartment 32 is higher than that of the cold air in the freezing compartment 32. When air is supplied, when food having a temperature higher than the temperature of the cold air in the freezing chamber 32 is introduced into the freezing chamber 32, or when a defrost heater (not shown) for defrosting the evaporator is turned on can

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 one or more of the compressor and the fan is increased, or the refrigerant valve When the opening degree is increased, the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 may be increased.

On the other hand, when the target temperature of the freezing chamber 32 is increased, the operation mode of the freezing chamber 32 is changed from the rapid cooling mode to the normal mode, the output of one or more of the compressor and the fan is reduced, or the opening of the refrigerant valve is changed. When reduced, the cooling capacity of the cold air supply unit 900 may be reduced.

When the amount of heat transfer between the cold air and the water increases, the temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 decreases, so that the speed of ice production increases.

On the other hand, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold air and water is reduced, the temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 rises, resulting in a slow ice generation rate and an increase in ice making time.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the heat transfer amount between cold air and water is increased so that the ice-making speed can be maintained within a predetermined range lower than the ice-making speed when the ice-making is performed with the transparent ice heater 430 turned off, the transparent ice-making speed is increased. The heating amount of the heater 430 can be controlled to increase.

On the other hand, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold air and water is reduced, the amount of heating of the transparent ice heater 430 may be controlled to decrease.

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

Claims (15)

storage rooms where food is stored;
a door opening and closing the storage compartment;
a cold air supply means for supplying cold air to the storage chamber;
a first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the storage compartment;
a first tray forming at least a part of a wall for providing an ice-making cell, which is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air;
a second tray forming at least another part of a wall for providing the ice-making cell;
a water supply unit supplying water to the ice-making cell;
a second temperature sensor provided to sense a temperature of water or ice in the ice-making cell and disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray and the second tray;
a heater positioned adjacent to at least one of the first tray and the second tray; and
a controller that determines whether ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor;
The heater supplies heat to the first tray, and includes a heater for icing disposed adjacent to the first tray so that the heat supplied to the first tray is transferred to the ice-making cell,
The ice-making cells are plural, and the plurality of ice-making cells include a first ice-making cell; and a second ice-making cell disposed adjacent to the first ice-making cell, wherein at least a portion of the second temperature sensor is positioned between the first ice-making cell and the second ice-making cell;
The first tray includes a sensor accommodating portion in which the second temperature sensor is accommodated, so that the ice heater is spaced apart from the second temperature sensor,
In the ice removal heater, the distance from the ice removal heater to the contact surface between the first tray and the second tray is located longer than the distance from the second temperature sensor to the contact surface between the first tray and the second tray. Refrigerator containing parts. According to claim 1,
The second temperature sensor is in contact with the first tray or disposed at a position spaced apart from the first tray by a predetermined distance. According to claim 1,
The plurality of ice-making cells include three ice-making cells, and the sensor receiving portion of the first tray is positioned between the right ice-making cell and the center ice-making cell among the left and right sides of the three ice-making cells, and the second temperature sensor A refrigerator in which at least a portion of the According to claim 1,
At least a part of the second temperature sensor is in contact with the bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part. According to claim 1,
The second temperature sensor is directly accommodated in the sensor accommodating part. According to claim 1,
In a state where the second temperature sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating part, the second temperature sensor is positioned lower than the plate of the first tray. According to claim 1,
A part of the heater for ice may be positioned higher than the second temperature sensor and spaced apart from the second temperature sensor. According to claim 1,
The first tray further includes a heater accommodating portion in which the ice-leaving heater is accommodated. According to claim 8,
The second temperature sensor is located spaced apart from the ice heater. According to claim 8,
A refrigerator in which a bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part is positioned lower than a bottom surface of the heater accommodating part so that the second temperature sensor is prevented from interfering with the ice-free heater in a state where the second temperature sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating part. . According to claim 8,
A bottom surface of the sensor accommodating part is located closer to a lower surface of the first tray than a bottom surface of the heater accommodating part. According to claim 1,
The first tray includes a first cell wall defining a first cell of the ice-making cells;
The second temperature sensor is disposed between the first cell walls of the two ice-making cells of the first tray and contacts the first tray outside the first cell walls. According to claim 1,
The second temperature sensor measures the temperature of a cell that freezes last among a plurality of ice-making cells, thereby preventing ice from becoming ice-making in a state in which ice-making is not completed. According to claim 1,
The second temperature sensor such that the distance between the cold air hole and the second temperature sensor is smaller than the distance between the cold air hole and the ice making cell located farthest from the cold air hole for supplying cold air by the cold air supply means among the plurality of ice making cells. Refrigerator where the temperature sensor is located. According to claim 1,
a first pusher including at least one extension provided to push the ice located in the ice-making cell during the ice-making process; and
Further comprising a first tray case coupled to the first tray,
The first tray case is provided with a hole through which a portion of the first pusher passes.

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