WO2008082129A1

WO2008082129A1 - Device for ice making and controlling method for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2008082129A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006796
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wook Yong Lee; Kyung Han Jeong
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2007-12-24
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: KR100845858B1; KR20080062189A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice maker. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ice maker which enables a full ice sensor therein operative with high reliability for measuring a quantity of ice in an ice bank. To do this, the present invention provides in ice maker (110) and a method for controlling the same in which a sensing bar (132) on one side of the ice maker determines whether the ice bank (120) is full of ice or not by means of change of current to the sensing bar when the sensing bar is brought into contact with the ice (5), thereby permitting more reliable sensing of the full of ice.

Description

DEVICE FOR ICE MAKING AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR THE SAME

Technical Field

[I] The present invention relates to an ice maker. More speάfically, the present invention relates to an ice maker which enables a full ice sensor therein operative with high reliability for measuring a quantity of ice in an ice bank.

Background Art [2] In general, the refrigerator, having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, stores food. The refrigerating chamber is maintained at about 3 ~ 4°C for making long time storage of the food, and the freezing chamber is maintained at a sub-zero temperature for making frozen state storage of food. [3] Recently, various functions are added to the refrigerator for user's convenience, such as the ice maker for performing a series of steps for automatic ice making without any handling of a user enabling to obtain ice conveniently, and a dispenser for the user to obtain the ice or water on an outside of the refrigerator. [4] An example of a related art ice maker in a refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. [5] The related art ice maker 10 is provided with an ice tray 11 for receiving water and forming ice, an ice bank 20 for receiving and holding the ice from the ice making unit. [6] The ice maker 10 is provided with the ice tray 11 for forming the ice, and a water supply unit 12 for supplying water to an ice making chamber. [7] The ice tray 11 of a semi<ylindrical shape has ribs (not shown) formed therein at regular intervals for segmenting the ice. [8] The ice tray 11 also has an ejector 14 for ejecting the ice from the ice tray 11 to an outside of the ice tray 11, with ejector pins 14a projected in a vertical direction from the ejector 14. The ejector 14 ejects the ice from the ice tray 11 to the ice bank 20 as the ejector pin 14a rotates to push the ice upward. [9] In front of a top side of the ice tray 11 toward which the ice is ejected, there is a downward slide 16 extended near to a rotation shaft of the ejector 14. [10] The ice maker 10 is also provided with a full ice sensor for sensing a quantity of the ice filled in the ice bank 20.

[II] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an operation of the full ice sensor, and an operation of a control unit for the full ice sensor, respectively. [12] The Ml ice sensor is provided with a full ice sensing lever 15 for moving inward as the full ice sensing lever 15 rotates, and a control unit 30 for sensing rotation of the full ice sensing lever 15 to determine whether the ice is full in the ice bank 20 or not.

[13] In general, the control unit 30 is mounted to an inside of control box 13 on one side of the ice tray.

[14] The full ice sensing lever 15 is designed such that a stiff member thereof is rotates by a driving unit 38 in the ice maker.

[15] The control unit 30 has an arm lever 32 to rotate a predetermined section following rotation of the full ice sensing lever 15.

[16] The arm lever 32 has a magnet 34 at an end for moving following the rotation of the arm lever 32, and the control unit 30 has a hole sensor 36 fixedly secured thereto for sensing magnetic force of the magnet 34. The hole sensor 36 is mounted opposite to a location of the magnet 34 when the full ice sensing lever 15 rotates to a lowest point.

[17] Referring to FIG. 3, the full ice sensing lever 15 is positioned in a state it is rotated to the lowest point usually. When the ejector 14 starts to rotate to eject the ice, the full ice sensing lever 15 rises for avoiding interference with the ice being ejected. When the ejection of the ice finished, the full ice sensing lever 15 rotates downward again.

[18] In this instance, referring to FIG. 4, if the ice bank 20 is full with the ice 5, the full ice sensing lever 15 is brought into contact with the ice 5 to fail to move down before the full ice sensing lever 15 moves down to the lowest point.

[19] According to this, the arm lever 32 also fails to move down to an original position, leading the hole sensor 36 to fail to sense the magnetic force of the magnet 34, resulting in the control unit 30 to determine such a state as a full ice state. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[20] Ebwever, the related art ice maker has the following problems.

[21] First, in a case the full ice sensing lever has ice stuck thereto, to restrict movement of the full ice sensing lever even if the ice bank 20 is not full of ice, the control unit 30 is liable to determine that the ice bank 20 is full of ice.

[22] Second, because the many elements of the full ice sensor required for driving the full ice sensor, such as the driving unit and the full ice sensing lever for providing rotating force, the arm lever for being rotated by the full ice sensing lever, and gears engaged between the full ice sensing lever and the arm lever, makes a mechanism complicate, fabrication and maintenance of the full ice senor is difficult and cost thereof is high.

[23] Third, because the full ice sensor is one directional, i.e., the full ice sensor senses the full ice only when the full ice sensor moves in one direction, there can be occasions when the full ice sensor fails to sense the full ice depending on a mode of ice pieces piled up in the ice bank, but malfunctions. Technical Solution

[24] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker which can make reliable full ice sensing more than the related art.

[25] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in aαoordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a ice maker includes an ice forming device for freezing ice, an ice bank for holding ice formed at the ice forming device, a driving unit on one side of the ice forming device for providing rotating force, a sensing bar having one end connected to, and rotated by the driving unit and at least two electrodes, for causing change of a voltage of a current when the sensing bar bends as the sensing bar is rotated to be brought into contact with the ice, and a control unit for applying the current to the electrodes of the sensing bar, and determining full ice by the change of voltage at the sensing bar.

[26] The driving unit may be reversible.

[27] The sensing bar causes a change of section thereof to cause the change of voltage when the sensing bar is bent.

[28] The sensing bar may be provided over a full width of the ice bank.

[29] The two electrodes of the sensing bar are not connected to each other electrically when the two electrodes are not bent, and are connected electrically when the two electrodes are brought into contact with each other when the two electrodes are bent, to cause the change of voltage.

[30] The sensing bar includes at least two bar members for having the current applied thereto, and an insulating member at an end of the sensing bar for making the two bar members spaced from each other so as to be disconnected electrically.

[31] Preferably, the driving unit rotates within a range of predetermined angle.

[32] The driving unit may include a motor.

[33] Preferably, the ice forming device and the ice bank are provided in a refrigerator.

[34] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an ice maker includes an ice forming step for forming ice, a full ice determining step for determining full of ice in an ice bank by change of voltage at a sensing bar, an ice transferring step for transferring ice from the ice forming device to the ice bank when the ice bank is not full of ice, and a standby step for standing by a user to take out the ice if the ice bank is full of ice.

[35] Preferably, the method further includes the step of returning to the full ice determining step after the user takes out the ice in the standby step.

[36] Preferably, the method further includes the step of returning to the ice forming step after the ice transferring step.

[37] Thus, the present invention provides an ice maker having a more reliable and simple full ice sensor. Advantageous Effects

[38] The present invention has following advantageous effects.

[39] First, the ice maker and the method for controlling the same of the present invention permits reliable sensing of full ice because the sensing bar which is to sense the full ice in the ice bank is flexible such that the sensing bar bends as far as the sensing bar is brought into contact with the ice regardless of direction of rotation.

[40] Second, the flexibility of the sensing bar permits easy break out of seizure in the ice.

[41] Third the full ice sensing, not by position of the sensing bar, but by change of a voltage at the sensing bar, enabling to dispense with elements required for sensing the position of the sensing bar, permits a structure thereof simple, thereby reducing a number of components to allow easy fabrication, reducing a cost, and permitting simple maintenance and repair. Brief Description of the Drawings

[42] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

[43] In the drawings:

[44] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art ice maker;

[45] FIG. 2 illustrates a section of the ice maker in FIG. 1 ;

[46] FIG. 3 illustrates a section showing a full ice sensing lever and an inside of a control unit of the related art ice maker when the full ice sensing lever is at a lowest point;

[47] FIG. 4 illustrates a section showing a full ice sensing lever and an inside of a control unit of the related art ice maker when an ice bank of the related art ice maker is in a full ice state; [48] FIG. 5 illustrates a section of an ice maker and an ice bank in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[49] FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the full ice sensor in FIG. 5;

[50] FIG. 7 illustrates a section of the full ice sensor in FIG. 6 in a bent state as the full ice sensor is brought into contact with ice;

[51] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the ice maker in FIG. 5;

[52] FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a full ice sensor in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; [53] FIG. 10 illustrates a section of the full ice sensor in FIG. 9 in a bent state as the full ice sensor is brought into contact with ice; and [54] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for controlling an ice maker in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [55] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. [56] Though the ice maker of the present invention is described taking a case the ice maker is applied to a refrigerator as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, but can be applied to an ice maker individually, or applicable to any device as far as the device has the ice maker applied thereto. [57] FIG. 5 illustrates a section of an ice maker and an ice bank in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [58] The ice maker 110 of the present invention includes an ice tray 112 having a space for holding water to be frozen, take-out means, such as ejector 114 or the like, for taking out frozen ice from the ice tray 112, an ice bank 120 for holding the ice taken out by the take-out means, and a full ice sensor 130 for sensing full of ice in the ice bank 120. [59] The full ice sensor 130 includes a driving unit 116 for providing rotating force, a sensing bar 132 to be rotated by the driving unit 116, and a control unit (not shown) for determining whether the ice bank 120 is full of ice or not with a change of a voltage at the sensing bar 132 when the sensing bar 132 rotates. [60] The driving unit 116 may include a motor (not shown) as means for providing the rotating force. It is preferable that the driving unit 116 is reversible, by providing a reversible motor, or by providing unidirectional motor added with a direction changing mechanism (not shown) which can change the rotation force transmitted to the sensing bar in either direction.

[61] It is preferable that the driving unit 116 can rotate the sensing bar 132 within a predetermined range of angles, by applying a motor (not shown) which can rotate within a predetermined range of angles, or by providing an angle restricting mechanism (not shown) which can change the rotation force of the motor such that the sensing bar 132 rotates only within a predetermined range of angles though the motor itself keeps rotating in one direction.

[62] Though it is preferable that the predetermined angle is 180 from a vertical line over the sensing bar 132 to a vertical line under the sensing bar 132, the predetermined angle is not limited to this.

[63] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate sensing bars of the ice maker in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

[64] It is preferable that the sensing bar 132 has one end connected to, and rotated by, the driving unit 116, and the other end with a length enough to re∑ch to a full ice height of the ice bank 120, such that the other end is in contact with the ice when the ice bank 120 is full.

[65] The full ice height of the ice bank 120 is a height of the ice piled up in the ice bank

120 when the ice is full in a full ice state.

[66] It is also preferable that the sensing bar 132 is formed of an electrically conductive material and has at least two electrodes 136a and 136b for flow of a current, and flexible enough to bend within an elastic limit of the material when the sensing bar 132 is brought into contact with the ice.

[67] It is also preferable that the sensing bar 132 produces voltage change of a current flowing through the sensing bar 132 when the sensing bar 132 is bent.

[68] It is also preferable that the control unit is mounted in the ice maker, for applying a current to the sensing bar 132, and sensing variation of the current to the sensing bar 132 to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice or not.

[69] In this instance, the two electrodes of the sensing bar 132 are in a connected state always for the current to flow always. If the ice bank 120 is not in the full of ice state, the sensing bar 132 does not touch the ice even if the sensing bar 132 rotates, without bending of the sensing bar 132 and without the variation of current to the sensing bar 132 consequently, the control unit determines that the ice bank 120 is not in full of ice.

[70] If the ice bank 120 is in the full of ice state, the sensing bar 132 comes to touch the ice in the middle of rotation, and deforms elastically as the sensing bar 132 is bent accordingly as shown in FIG. 7. In this instance, a sectional shape or area of the sensing bar 132 changes, to cause voltage change, such as noise of the current to the sensing bar 132.

[71] In the meantime, if the sensing bar 132 is bent in the middle of keeping application of the current to the sensing bar 132, the control unit senses the voltage change, such as the noise, and notices it as a full ice signal, and determines the full ice state.

[72] In a case a quantity of the ice in the ice bank 120 is reduced to a height lower than the full ice height, since the sensing bar 132 returns to an initial state, leading the current to the sensing bar 132 to return to an initial state too again, the control unit determines the state as a full ice removal state.

[73] Referring to FIG. 8, the sensing bar 132 may be provided over a full width of the ice bank 120.

[74] In the meantime, the sensing bar of the ice maker of the present invention may be as described in the foregoing embodiment, or may be one as described below.

[75] An ice maker in axordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[76] Parts of the embodiment not described herein are identical to the foregoing embodiment, and description of which will be omitted. Only a sensing bar and a control unit which are different from the foregoing embodiment will be described.

[77] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate sensing bars in an ice maker in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

[78] Alike the foregoing embodiment, it is preferable that the sensing bar 232 has one end connected to, and rotated by, the driving unit 216, and the other end with a length enough to reach to a full ice height of the ice bank 120, such that the other end is in contact with the ice when the ice bank 120 is full.

[79] It is also preferable that the sensing bar 232 is formed of an electrically conductive material and has at least two electrodes 236a and 236b connected to the control unit (not shown) electrically for flow of a current, and flexible enough to bend within an elastic limit of the material when the sensing bar 232 is brought into contact with the ice.

[80] It is also preferable that the sensing bar 232 is constructed of at least two bar members 232a and 232b connected to the control unit for having the current applied thereto.

[81] The sensing bar 232 has an end provided with an insulating member 234 which makes the two bar members 232a and 232b spaced from each other such that the two bar members 232a and 232b are cut off, electrically. Of course, if the sensing bar 232 can maintain a spaced state enough to be in a cut-off state when the sensing bar 232 is not in contact with the ice, the insulating member 234 is required, not necessarily.

[82] In this instance, it is preferable that the sensing bar 232 is spaced from each other enough to be brought into contact with each other if the sensing bar is bent so as to be in a conductive state electrically if the ice bank 120 is full of ice to bend the sensing bar 232 in the middle of a state the sensing bar 232 maintains the electrically cut-off state if the sensing bar 232 is not bent.

[83] Accordingly, since if the ice bank 120 is not in the full ice state, the sensing bar 232 is not in contact with the ice and does not bend even if the sensing bar 232 rotates, to maintain an electrically disconnect state between the two bar members 232a and 232b, letting no current to flow to the sensing bar 232, the control unit determines this state as a non-full ice state.

[84] In the meantime, if the ice bank 120 is in the full ice state, the sensing bar 232 is brought into contact with the ice 5 and bent as the sensing bar 232 rotates, leading the two bar members 232a and 232b to be in an electrically connected state to cause a voltage change, and the control unit senses the voltage change, to determine the ice bank is full of ice.

[85] In a case a quantity of the ice in the ice bank 120 is reduced to remove the full ice state, since the sensing bar 232 elastically deforms to return to an original state, leading the two bar members 232a and 232b spaced from each other so as not to be connected electrically to each other, the control unit determines the state as a non-full ice state.

[86] A method for controlling an ice maker in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[87] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for controlling an ice maker in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[88] At first, an ice forming step Sl is performed. The ice forming step Sl is a step for freezing ice at the ice maker 110. In general, by filling water in the ice maker 110, and cooling down an environment of the ice maker 110 to subzero, the ice is formed. Ebwever, the ice forming step Sl of the present invention is not limited to above, but the ice may be formed by other methods.

[89] Upon finishing the formation of ice in the ice forming step Sl, a full ice determining step S2 is performed. The full ice determining step S2 is a step for de- termining whether the ice bank 120 is full of ice. In the present invention, the full ice of the ice bank 120 is determined by change of voltage to the sensing bar 132.

[90] That is, the control unit determines that the ice bank 120 is in the full of ice state if there is a voltage change of the current to the sensing bar 132 when the sensing bar 132 rotates, because the sensing bar 132 is bent due to contact with the ice, and that the ice bank 120 is not in the full of ice state if there is no voltage change.

[91] If the control unit determines that the ice bank 120 is not full of ice in the full ice determining step S2, an ice transfer step S3 is performed, in which the ice is transferred from the ice maker 110 to the ice bank 120.

[92] Though the ice transfer step S3 may be performed by using an ejector 114 or the like in the ice maker 110, the ice may be transferred by other methods without the ejector 114 depending on a structure of the ice maker 110, the present invention is not restricted by a structure of the ejector 114 or the provision of the ejector 114.

[93] After finish of the ice transfer step S3, it is preferable that the process returns to the ice forming step Sl, to form ice at the ice maker 110.

[94] In the meantime, if it is determined that the ice bank 120 is full in the full ice determining step S2, a standby step S4 is performed, in which the ice maker 110 stands by for the user's taking out of the ice.

[95] Since there can be a change of an ice quantity if the user takes the ice even if the ice bank 120 is full of ice, after sensing the user's taking out of ice, the control unit returns to the full ice determining step S2, in which it is determined whether the ice bank 120 is full of ice or not.

[96] That is, if it is determined that the ice bank 120 is not full of ice in the full ice determining step S2, the ice transfer step S3 is performed, and if deteπnined that the ice bank 120 is full of ice, the standby step S4 is performed, in which the ice maker stands by for the user's taking out of ice, again.

[97] Thus, the ice maker and the method for controlling the same of the present invention permits reliable sensing of full ice because the sensing bar which is to sense the full ice in the ice bank is flexible such that the sensing bar bends as far as the sensing bar is brought into contact with the ice regardless of direction of rotation.

[98] Moreover, the flexibility of the sensing bar permits easy break out of seizure in the ice.

[99] The full ice sensing, not by position of the sensing bar, but by change of a voltage at the sensing bar, enabling to dispense with elements required for sensing the position of the sensing bar, permits a structure thereof simple, thereby reducing a number of components to allow easy fabrication, reducing a cost, and permitting simple maintenance and repair. Industrial Applicability The present invention has an industrial applicability in that the ice maker and the method for controlling the same of the present invention permits reliable operation of the full ice sensor in the ice bank by determining the full ice in the ice bank with a change of current to a sensing bar in the ice maker.

Claims

[I] An ice maker comprising: an ice forming device for freezing ice; an ice bank for holding ice formed at the ice forming device; a driving unit on one side of the ice forming device for providing rotating force; a sensing bar having one end connected to, and rotated by the driving unit and at least two electrodes, for causing change of a voltage of a current when the sensing bar bends as the sensing bar is rotated to be brought into contact with the ice; and a control unit for applying the current to the electrodes of the sensing bar, and determining full ice by the change of voltage at the sensing bar.

[2] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing bar is flexible enough to be bent when the sensing bar is brought into contact with the ice.

[3] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving unit is reversible.

[4] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing bar causes a change of section thereof to cause the change of voltage when the sensing bar is bent.

[5] The ice maker as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensing bar is provided over a full width of the ice bank.

[6] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two electrodes of the sensing bar are not connected to each other electrically when the two electrodes are not bent, and are connected electrically when the two electrodes are brought into contact with each other when the two electrodes are bent, to cause the change of voltage.

[7] The ice maker as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensing bar includes; at least two bar members for having the current applied thereto, and an insulating member at an end of the sensing bar for making the two bar members spaced from each other so as to be disconnected electrically.

[8] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the driving unit rotates within a range of predetermined angle.

[9] The ice maker as claimed in claim 7, wherein the driving unit includes a motor.

[10] The ice maker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice forming device and the ice bank are provided in a refrigerator.

II 1] A method for controlling an ice maker comprising the steps of: ice forming step for forming ice; full ice determining step for determining full of ice in an ice bank by change of voltage at a sensing bar; ice transferring step for transferring ice from the ice forming device to the ice bank when the ice bank is not full of ice; and standby step for standing by a user to take out the ice if the ice bank is full of ice. [12] The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of returning to the full ice determining step after the user takes out the ice in the standby step. [13] The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of returning to the ice forming step after the ice transferring step.