WO2011151993A1

WO2011151993A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2011151993A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/002894
Authority: WO
Inventors: 啓司小川; 強荻野; 昌利正久; 康浩辻井
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2010-05-31
Filing date: 2011-05-24
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Also published as: JP2013164170A; TW201207337A; WO2011152034A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator provided with: an ice-making tray (10) which comprises an ice-making surface for forming ice; an ice-separating motor (11) which performs a regular turning motion for turning the ice-making tray (10) from a horizontal first position in which the ice-making surface faces upward to a horizontal second position in which the ice-making surface faces downward, and which performs a reverse turning motion for returning the ice-making tray (10) to the first position; and a position detection means (6) which detects the position of the ice-making tray (10) and whether or not an ice storage box (9) is filled with ice, and which notifies the ice-separating motor (11) of the detected result. If the position detection means (6) detects that the ice storage box (9) is filled with ice during the regular turning motion, the ice-separating motor (11) ignores the notification from the position detection means (6) indicating that the ice-making tray (10) has returned to the first position, and the ice-separating motor (11) continues the reverse turning motion for a predetermined period of time only.

Description

refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator provided with an ice making device for storing ice separated from an ice tray in an ice storage box.

A conventional refrigerator equipped with an ice making device detects full ice in an ice storage box when the ice making plate is deicing when it is going to be deiced from the ice tray. If the ice storage box is full, the ice tray is returned to the horizontal position without removing the ice. Here, if the position of the ice tray is erroneously detected when the ice tray is returned to the horizontal position, the ice tray cannot be stopped at a predetermined horizontal position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A perspective view of a conventional ice making device is shown in FIG.

Chinese Patent Application No. 1629571

As described above, in the above-described conventional configuration, if the position detection of the ice tray is erroneously detected, the ice tray cannot be stopped at a predetermined horizontal position. And if water is supplied to the ice tray stopped diagonally and ice making is performed as it is, ice of a predetermined size cannot be produced. In addition, water flows into the ice storage box that stores ice and melts the stored ice. As a result, there has been a problem that the quality of the ice size is greatly impaired for the user.

This invention solves the said conventional subject, and aims at providing the refrigerator which can rotate an ice-making tray to a horizontal position reliably.

A refrigerator according to an aspect of the present invention stores a refrigerator main body, a door provided on the front surface of the refrigerator main body, an ice maker that automatically makes ice inside the refrigerator main body, and ice generated by the ice maker. And an ice making device having an ice storage box. The ice making machine includes: an ice making tray having an ice making surface for generating ice; and a first position where the ice making plate is leveled with the ice making surface facing down from a first position where the ice making surface is leveled up. An ice-breaking motor that performs a forward rotation operation to rotate to the position 2 and a reverse rotation operation to return to the first position; detects the position of the ice tray and whether or not the ice is full in the ice storage box; And a position detecting means for notifying the deicing motor of the detected result. The ice detecting motor is configured to indicate that the ice tray has returned to the first position when the ice storage box is detected as full ice by the position detecting means during the forward rotation operation. The reverse operation is continued for a predetermined time, ignoring the notification from.

With this configuration, when the ice detection box detects that the ice storage box is full during the forward rotation operation of the ice removal motor, the ice removal motor switches to the reverse operation and ignores the notification from the position detection device for a predetermined time. The reverse rotation operation is continued for a predetermined time. As a result, even if the position detection means erroneously detects the position of the ice tray, the ice tray can be reliably returned to the first position without stopping in an oblique state.

Further, when the ice removing motor does not acquire a signal indicating that the ice tray has returned to the first position from the position detection means when the reverse rotation operation is continued for the predetermined time, An initialization operation for forcibly returning the ice tray to the first position may be executed.

This configuration makes it possible to forcibly return the ice tray to the first position even when the ice tray stops diagonally.

According to the present invention, if the ice storage box detects that the ice storage box is full during the normal rotation operation of the ice removal motor, the ice removal motor switches to the reverse operation, and a notification from the position detection device is given for a predetermined time. Ignore and continue reverse operation. Thereby, even if the position detection means erroneously detects the position of the ice tray, the ice tray does not stop in an oblique state. As a result, the ice tray can be reliably returned to the first position.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the ice maker of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator ice maker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a control timing chart of the ice making machine of the refrigerator, and shows an example when the ice storage box is not full of ice. FIG. 4B is a control timing chart of the ice making machine of the refrigerator, and is a diagram illustrating an example when the ice storage box is full of ice. FIG. 5 is a control timing chart of the refrigerator ice maker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a control timing chart of the refrigerator ice maker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional ice making device.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 includes a refrigerator main body 1, a freezer compartment door 2 that is a door for each storage room laid out on the front surface of the refrigerator main body 1, and a refrigerator compartment door 3. With. An operation board 4 is provided near the center of the refrigerator compartment door 3.

In the refrigerator main body 1, an interior light 5 for illuminating the interior is disposed.

In the freezer compartment door 2, an ice making device 7 including an ice making machine 8 for automatically making ice and an ice storage box 9 for storing the finished ice is disposed. Further, water is supplied to the ice making machine 8 from the water supply via the water tank 20, the water intake valve 14, and the spout 15.

In addition, the layout of the door is a typical one and is not limited to this layout.

About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the ice making machine 8 provided in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The ice making machine 8 shown in FIG. 2 includes a position detecting means 6, an ice making tray 10, an ice removing motor 11, and an ice detecting lever 12.

The ice tray 10 has a structure that receives water poured from the spout 15 via a water pipe 13 and a water intake valve 14 on an ice making surface that generates ice. The ice tray 10 can be rotated between a first position where the ice making surface is horizontal with the ice making surface facing up and a second position where the ice making surface is horizontal with the ice making surface facing down.

The ice removing motor 11 is connected to the ice tray 10 and rotates the ice tray 10 based on the detection result notified from the position detection means 6. Further, the ice removing motor 11 incorporates a position detecting means 6 for detecting the position of the ice tray 10. The position detection means 6 detects the position of the ice tray 10 and whether or not the ice storage box 9 is full of ice. Then, the position detection unit 6 notifies the ice removal motor 11 of the detected result.

When it is determined that the water received in the ice tray 10 has solidified into ice, the ice removing motor 11 rotates the ice tray 10 from the first position to the second position to peel off the ice on the ice tray 10. (Forward rotation operation) is performed, and an operation (reverse rotation operation) is performed to return the ice tray 10 to the first position by reverse rotation after deicing.

The ice detecting lever 12 rotates between the position (1) and the position (2) in synchronization with the rotation of the ice removing motor 11, that is, the rotation of the ice tray 10. The position (1) corresponds to the second position of the ice tray 10 and the position (2) corresponds to the first position of the ice tray 10. If the ice in the ice storage box 9 is not full, the ice detecting lever 12 moves from the position (2) to the position (1). At this time, the position detector 6 detects that the ice tray 10 is in the second position. On the other hand, if the ice storage box 9 is full, the ice detecting lever 12 stops before reaching the position (1) and is returned to the position (2). At this time, the position detector 6 detects that the ice storage box 9 is full.

One of the water intake valves 14 is connected to a water pipe 13 directly connected to a water tap, and the other is connected to a spout 15. Then, the water intake valve 14 pours a predetermined amount of water from the spout 15 onto the ice making surface of the ice tray 10.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of ice maker 8 provided in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The ice making machine 8 shown in FIG. 3 includes a position detecting means 6, an ice removing motor 11, a control device 16, a motor driving means 18, and a valve driving means 19.

In FIG. 3, the control device 16 receives from the position detection means 6 a notification indicating that the position of the ice tray 10 and that the ice storage box 9 has been detected as full ice.

Further, when the temperature at which the water in the ice tray 10 is solidified into ice (determined by the freezer temperature) is reached, the control device 16 causes the ice-breaking motor 11 to rotate forward via the motor driving means 18 so that the ice tray 10 is moved. By rotating from the first position to the second position, a normal rotation operation is performed to peel off the ice on the ice making surface. Thereafter, the control device 16 performs a reverse operation for returning the ice tray 10 to the first position.

Further, the control device 16 releases the ice in the ice tray 10 with the ice motor 11 and returns it to the first position, and then opens the water intake valve 14 via the valve driving means 19 to open the ice tray 10. Supply water to the ice making surface.

The position detecting means 6 outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the ice detecting lever 12. Specifically, the signal output from the position detecting means 6 is obtained when the ice detecting lever 12 is at the position (1) or the position (2) in FIG. 2 and when the rotation of the ice detecting lever 12 is prevented. “H (High state)”, and “L (Low state)” otherwise.

The time when the ice detecting lever 12 is in the position (2) is when the ice tray 10 is in the first position. The time when the ice detecting lever 12 is at the position (1) is when the ice tray 10 is at the second position. Further, the time when the rotation of the ice detecting lever 12 is hindered is when the ice storage box 9 is full.

The control device 16, the water intake valve 14, the position detection means 6, the motor drive means 18, the valve drive means 19, the ice removal motor 11, etc. are each operated by receiving power from the power supply 17.

The operation of the ice making machine 8 provided in the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the control timing charts of FIGS. 4A and 4B. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the relationship between the position of the ice tray 10 accompanying the operation of the ice removal motor 11 and the signal output from the position detection means 6. FIG.

The position number (1) corresponds to the first position where the ice tray 10 is horizontal with the ice making surface facing upward, and the signal of the position detection means 6 at this time indicates “H (High state)”. ing. At this time, the ice detecting lever 12 is stopped at the position (2) in FIG.

When the water in the ice tray 10 becomes ice, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal instructing a normal rotation operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and moves the ice tray 10 from the first position to the first position. The operation of normal rotation to position 2 is started. As a result, after t ₁₄ from the start of the forward operation, the signal of the position detecting means 6 becomes "H → L (Low state)". Further, the ice detecting lever 12 rotates in the direction from the position (2) to the position (1) in FIG. 2 in synchronization with the rotation of the ice tray 10.

Here, if the ice storage box 9 is not full, the signal of the position detection means 6 passes the position number (3) while maintaining “L”, and the signal of the position detection means 6 at the position number (2). Changes from “L to H”. The position number (2) corresponds to the second position where the ice tray 10 is horizontal with the ice making surface down. Further, the ice detecting lever 12 reaches the position (1) in FIG. The ice removing motor 11 stops the forward rotation operation when the signal of the position detecting means 6 changes from “L → H”. At this time, the ice in the ice tray 10 falls into the ice storage box 9.

Thereafter, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal for instructing the reverse operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and starts the operation of returning the ice tray 10 to the first position. When the deicing motor 11 is rotated in the reverse direction, the signal output from the position detecting means 6 changes from “H → L”. Further, the ice detecting lever 12 rotates from the position (1) to the position (2) in FIG.

The ice removing motor 11 continues the reverse rotation operation until the signal output from the position detecting means 6 changes from “L → H” again. Then, when changes to the "L → H", ice removal motor 11, the ice tray 10 is judged to have returned to the first position, to stop within t _12. At this time, the ice detecting lever 12 reaches the position (2) in FIG.

Next, the operation when the ice in the ice storage box 9 is full will be described with reference to FIG. 4B.

When the water in the ice tray 10 becomes ice, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal instructing the normal rotation operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and starts the normal rotation operation. As a result, after t ₁₄ from the start of the forward operation, the signal of the position detecting means 6 becomes "H → L".

When the signal of the position detection means 6 changes from “L → H” within t ₂₁ when the ice removing motor 11 rotates the ice tray 10 from the position number (1) to the position number (3), the ice detecting lever 12 is rotated. Indicates that the ice storage box 9 has been detected to be full of ice. Therefore, the ice removing motor 11 switches to the reverse operation in accordance with the control of the control device 16 in order to return the ice making tray 10 to the first position without removing the ice from the ice tray 10. Then, when the signal from the position detecting means 6 is changed to the "L → H", ice removal motor 11 determines that the ice tray 10 is returned to the first position, stopping the reverse rotation within t _12.

Next, the case where noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters the signal of the position detection means 6 during the reverse rotation operation when the ice storage box 9 is full of ice will be described. When the water in the ice tray 10 becomes ice, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal instructing the normal rotation operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and starts the normal rotation operation. As a result, after t ₁₄ from the start of the forward operation, the signal of the position detecting means 6 becomes "H → L".

Next, when the signal of the position detecting means 6 changes from “L → H” within t ₂₁ when the ice removing motor 11 rotates the ice tray 10 from the position number (1) to the position number (3), the ice detecting lever 12 is moved. This indicates that it is detected that the ice storage box 9 is full of ice. For this reason, the ice removing motor 11 switches to the reverse operation according to the control of the control device 16 in order to return the ice making tray 10 to the first position without removing the ice from the ice tray 10.

If noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters during the reverse rotation operation and the signal of the position detection means 6 changes from “L to H” several times, the ice-making motor 11 indicates that the ice tray 10 is at the first position. It is misunderstood that it has returned to, and reverse rotation is stopped on the spot. As a result, the ice tray 10 stops in an oblique state.

The operation of the ice making machine 8 provided in the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the control timing chart of FIG.

The case where noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters the signal of the position detection means 6 during the reverse rotation operation when the ice storage box 9 is full of ice will be described. When the water in the ice tray 10 becomes ice, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal instructing the normal rotation operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and starts the normal rotation operation. As a result, after t ₁₄ from the start of the forward operation, the signal of the position detecting means 6 becomes "H → L".

If noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters during the reverse rotation operation and the signal of the position detection means 6 changes from “L to H” several times, the ice-making motor 11 indicates that the ice tray 10 is at the first position. I misunderstand that I returned to Therefore, control is performed so that the control device 16 ignores the signal from the position detection means 6 within a predetermined time (tm) after the position detection means 6 detects that the ice storage box 9 is full. That is, the ice removal motor 11 continues the reverse operation for a predetermined time (tm) regardless of whether or not the position detector 6 detects that the ice tray 10 has returned to the first position. Thereby, it can avoid that the ice tray 10 stops in the diagonal state, and can stop the ice tray 10 in a 1st position reliably.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the ice detection motor 11 detects that the ice storage box 9 is full of ice when the position detection unit 6 detects normal rotation, the ice removal motor 11 switches to reverse operation. Since the control device 16 ignores the detection result of the position detection means 6 during this reverse rotation operation, even if the position detection means 6 erroneously detects the position of the ice tray 10, the ice tray 10 stops in an oblique state. The ice tray 10 can be reliably returned to the first position without any problems.

(Embodiment 2)
Operation | movement of the ice making machine 8 with which the refrigerator in Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided is demonstrated with reference to the control timing chart of FIG.

The case where noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters the signal of the position detection means 6 during the reverse rotation operation when the ice storage box 9 is full of ice will be described. When the water in the ice tray 10 becomes ice, the ice removing motor 11 receives a signal instructing the normal rotation operation from the control device 16 via the motor driving means 18 and starts the normal rotation operation. As a result, the signal of the position detecting means 6 from the start of the forward operation after t ₁₄ becomes "H → L".

When the signal of the position detection means 6 changes from “L → H” within t ₂₁ when the ice removing motor 11 rotates the ice tray 10 from the position number (1) to the position number (3), the ice detecting lever 12 is rotated. Indicates that the ice storage box 9 has been detected to be full of ice. For this reason, the ice removal motor 11 switches to the reverse operation according to the control of the control device 16 in order to return the ice tray 10 to the first position without removing the ice from the ice tray 10. If noise such as chattering of the control device 16 enters during this reverse rotation operation and the signal of the position detection means 6 changes from “L → H” several times, the ice removing motor 11 returns the ice tray 10 to the first position. The reverse operation is stopped on the spot. As a result, the ice tray 10 stops in an oblique state.

Therefore, when the ice tray 10 stops in an oblique state at the position number (4), the ice detecting lever 12 is in a free state, and the signal of the position detecting means 6 becomes “L”. On the other hand, when the ice tray 10 stops at the first position, the signal of the position detection means 6 becomes “H”. Therefore, when the ice tray 10 is stopped, that is, when the reverse rotation operation is continued for a predetermined time (tm) and the signal of the position detection means 6 is “L”, the control device 16 determines that the ice tray 10 is It is determined that the vehicle is stopped in an oblique state, and an initialization operation for forcibly returning the ice tray 10 to the first position is performed.

The initialization operation according to the present embodiment indicates the following operation. First, ice removal motor 11 is reverse rotation, determines the signal of the position detecting means 6 during the reverse rotation operation is state t ₁₂ continues in the "H", the ice tray 10 is returned to the first position, reverse Stop operation. Next, after stopping for t ₃₀ (not shown), the ice removing motor 11 starts a forward rotation operation. When the signal of the position detection means 6 detects “H → L” after starting the forward rotation operation, the forward rotation operation is stopped within t ₁₃ (not shown). Next, after stopping for t ₃₀ (not shown), the ice removal motor 11 is switched to the reverse operation. The ice removing motor 11 stops the reverse rotation operation when the signal of the position detecting means 6 detects “L → H”.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the ice detection box 11 is detected to be full by the position detection means 6 during the normal rotation operation of the ice removal motor 11, the ice removal motor 11 performs the reverse operation. In order to prevent malfunction due to erroneous detection of the position or full ice by the position detection means 6, the detection result of the position detection means 6 is ignored for a predetermined time position. Thereby, even if the position detection means 6 erroneously detects the position of the ice tray 10, the ice tray 10 can be reliably returned to the first position without stopping the ice tray 10 in an oblique state.

In addition, when the ice tray 10 stops in an oblique state, an initialization operation for forcibly returning the ice tray 10 to the first position can be performed. For this reason, ice of a predetermined size is formed, water does not flow into the ice storage box 9 storing ice, and the stored ice is not melted. Can be provided.

(Other embodiments)
Specifically, the control device 16 is a computer system including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A computer program is recorded in the RAM or the hard disk unit. The control device 16 achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function. Each device is not limited to a computer system including all of a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and may be a computer system including a part of them. .

Some or all of the constituent elements constituting each of the above devices may be constituted by a single system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is a super multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality of components on one chip, and specifically, a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. . A computer program is recorded in the RAM. The system LSI achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. In addition, each part of the constituent elements constituting each of the above devices may be individually made into one chip, or may be made into one chip so as to include a part or all of them. Although the system LSI is used here, it may be called IC, LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration. Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI's, and implementation using dedicated circuitry or general purpose processors is also possible. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used. Further, if integrated circuit technology comes out to replace LSI's as a result of the advancement of semiconductor technology or a derivative other technology, it is naturally also possible to carry out function block integration using this technology. Biotechnology can be applied.

The control device 16 may be constituted by an IC card that can be attached to and detached from the ice making machine 8 or a single module. The IC card or module is a computer system that includes a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, and the like. The IC card or the module may include the super multifunctional LSI described above. The IC card or the module achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. This IC card or this module may have tamper resistance.

The present invention may be the method described above. Moreover, the computer program which implement | achieves these methods with a computer may be sufficient, and the digital signal which consists of a computer program may be sufficient. The present invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium capable of reading a computer program or a digital signal, such as a flexible disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray Disc), It may be recorded on a semiconductor memory or the like. Moreover, the digital signal currently recorded on these recording media may be sufficient. Further, the present invention may transmit a computer program or a digital signal via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, a data broadcast, or the like. The present invention may also be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, in which the memory stores the above computer program, and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program. The program or digital signal may be recorded on a recording medium and transferred, or the program or digital signal may be transferred via a network or the like, and may be implemented by another independent computer system.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, ice of a predetermined size is formed, water does not flow into the ice storage box for storing ice, and the stored ice is not melted. It is a refrigerator that provides high-quality ice and can be applied to other controls such as a system kitchen storage and various storages equipped with an ice making device linked to other devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 2 Freezer compartment door 3 Refrigeration compartment door 4 Operation board 5 Interior light 6 Position detection means 7 Ice making device 8 Ice making machine 9 Ice storage box 10 Ice tray 11 Deicing motor 12 Ice detection lever 13 Water supply pipe 14 Water intake valve 15 Spout 16 Control device 17 Power supply 18 Motor drive means 19 Valve drive means 20 Water tank

Claims

A refrigerator main body, a door provided on the front surface of the refrigerator main body, an ice making machine for automatically making ice inside the refrigerator main body, and an ice making device having an ice storage box for storing ice generated by the ice making machine A refrigerator with
The ice making machine
An ice tray having an ice making surface for generating ice;
A normal rotation operation for rotating the ice tray from a first position that is horizontal with the ice making surface facing up to a second position that is horizontal with the ice making surface facing down; An de-icing motor that performs reverse rotation operation to be restored;
Position detecting means for detecting whether or not ice is full in the ice tray and the ice storage box, and a position detection means for notifying the ice removal motor of the detected result,
The ice removing motor is configured to output the ice tray from the position detecting means when the position detecting means detects that the ice storage box is full during the forward rotation operation. The refrigerator that ignores the notification and continues the reverse operation for a predetermined time.
When the ice removing motor does not acquire a signal indicating that the ice tray has returned to the first position from the position detecting means when the reverse rotation operation is continued for the predetermined time, The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an initialization operation for forcibly returning the ice tray to the first position is executed.