WO2012077972A2

WO2012077972A2 - Ice maker and ice making method using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2012077972A2
Application number: PCT/KR2011/009424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung-Chul Park; Jung-Hun Lee
Original assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-08
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: WO2012077972A3

Abstract

An ice maker capable of making ice without a void therein by using an ice making frame in which at least a lower part thereof is opened, an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frame, and an opening and closing member configured to open or close the opened lower part of the ice making frame, and an ice making method using the same, are provided. The ice maker includes: one or more ice making frames in which at least a lower part thereof is opened; a water supply pipe supplying water to the ice making frames; an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frames; and an opening and closing member closing the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while making ice and opening the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while releasing ice.

Description

ICE MAKER AND ICE MAKING METHOD USING THE SAME

The present invention relates to an ice maker that makes ice and an ice making method using the same, and more particularly, to an ice maker capable of making ice without a void therein by using an ice making frame in which at least a lower part thereof is opened, an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frame, and an opening and closing member configured to open or close the opened lower part of the ice making frame, and an ice making method using the same.

An ice maker is a device for making ice to supply it to consumers.

A related art ice maker includes a plurality of dipping members connected to an evaporator included in a refrigeration system which allow a refrigerant to flow therein to form ice thereon, and a tray member configured to rotate between an ice making position, up to which water is supplied to allow the dipping members to be immersed therein, and an ice releasing position at which ice generated on the dipping members is separated and dropped from the dipping members.

With such a configuration, in the case of the tray member rotated to be maintained at the ice making position, water is supplied to the tray member to allow the dipping members to be immersed therein. In this state, when the refrigeration system is driven to make the sub-zero temperature (cold) refrigerant flow to the evaporator and the dipping member, ice is formed on the dipping member according to heat transmission from the water housed in the tray member to the sub-zero temperature refrigerant flowing in the dipping member.

After an ice having a predetermined size has formed on the dipping members, the tray member is rotated to the ice releasing position. A relatively hot refrigerant having a temperature above-zero is then allowed to flow through the evaporator and the dipping members. Then, the ice formed on the dipping members is separated from the dipping members and dropped, through gravitational force, into an ice repository to be kept in storage or dropped to a cold water tank to cool water stored in the cold water tank.

However, as for ice formed by the related art ice maker having the foregoing configuration, since ice is formed on or along the circumference of the dipping members, a void equal to a width of the dipping members is present in the ice, causing a problem in which ice may easily be brittle due the void therein, and the mass of ice may be relatively small.

In addition, only ice having a like shape or size may be made.

An aspect of the present invention provides an ice maker and an ice making method using the same capable of making ice without a void therein.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an ice maker and an ice making method capable of making ice which is rarely brittle through not having a void therein.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an ice maker and an ice making method capable of making ice having a relatively large mass through not having a void therein.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an ice maker and an ice making method capable of making ice having various shapes and sizes.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice maker including: one or more ice making frames in which at least a lower part thereof is opened; a water supply pipe supplying water to the ice making frames; an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frames; and an opening and closing member closing the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while making ice and opening the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while releasing ice.

Each of the ice making frames may have a plurality of partitions to form a plurality of ice making cells.

The water supply pipe may include a water supply hole formed in a position corresponding to each of the ice making cells to allow water to be supplied to each ice making cell therethrough.

The opening and closing member may have a sealing member to seal the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while making ice.

Each of the ice making frames may have an oscillation generator oscillating the ice making frame to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frame while making ice to generate transparent ice.

The oscillation generator may be an ultrasonic wave oscillator.

The oscillation generator may be an eccentric motor.

The oscillation generator may include a solenoid, and a plunger operated by the solenoid, to periodically or aperiodically strike the ice making frame.

An air supply device for jetting air to the water housed in the ice making frames may be connected to the water supply pipe to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frame while making ice to make transparent ice.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice making method including: an ice making preparation step of closing lower parts of one or more ice making frames in which at least a lower part thereof is opened, by an opening and closing member; a water supply step of supplying water to the ice making frames through a water supply pipe; an ice making step of making a cold refrigerant flow in an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frames to generate ice; and an ice releasing step of making a hot refrigerant flow in the evaporator and moving the opening and closing member to open the lower parts of the ice making frames to allow ice generated in the ice making frames to be separated therefrom.

In the water supply step, water may be supplied through the water supply pipe to be provided up to a partial height of the ice making frames, and in the ice making step, water may be supplied through the water supply pipe to be provided up to the other remaining height of the ice making frame to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.

In the ice making step, each of the ice making frames may be oscillated by an oscillation generator provided on each of the ice making frames to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.

In the ice making step, air may be jetted to the water housed in the ice making frames through an air supply device connected to the water supply pipe to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.

As set forth above, according to embodiments of the invention, ice without a void therein can be made.

Also, since ice is made without a void therein, the ice is rarely brittle.

In addition, since ice is made without a void therein, the ice can have a relatively large mass.

Also, ice having various shapes and sizes can be made.

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A’in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 through 8 are views showing an ice making method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views showing a water supply step and an ice making step of an ice making method according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an ice making step of an ice making method according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a view showing an ice making step of an ice making method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions of elements may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like components.

An ice maker and an ice making method using the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention are based on making ice without a void therein by using an ice making frame in which at least a lower part thereof is opened, an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frame, and an opening and closing member configured to open and close the opened lower part of the ice making frame.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, an ice maker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more ice making frames 200, a water supply pipe 300, an evaporator 400, and an opening and closing member 500.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, at least a lower part of the ice making frame 200 may be open. Also, as described hereinafter, upper and lower parts of the ice making frame 200 may be open to supply water.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ice making frame 200 may be supportedly connected to an ice maker main body B by a connection member F.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the ice making frame 200 may include a plurality of partitions 210. Accordingly, a plurality of ice making cells C may be formed in the ice making frame 200. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, water may be supplied to be housed in the ice making cell C by the water supply pipe 300. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12, ice I may be formed. Thus, a void equal to the size of the dipping members, as in the case of the related art, may not be present. Namely, ice without a void therein may be made. Also, since the interior of the ice does not have a void, ice is not brittle and has a relatively larger mass.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the shapes of partitions 210 or the distances between the partitions 210 are uniform, but the shapes and distances may be varied to make ice having various shapes and sizes. For example, the ice making cell C may have any shape such as a cylindrical shape, a triangular shape, a pentagonal shape, without being limited to the square pillar shape as illustrated, and may have various sizes.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the ice making frame 200 may have an oscillation generator 600. The ice making frame 200 may be oscillated by the oscillation generator 600, when ice I is made, namely, in an ice making step S300 as illustrated in FIG. 11. Accordingly, as illustrated, waves may be generated in water housed in the ice making frame 200. According to the generation of waves, air bubbles included in water housed in the ice making frame 200 may be externally discharged. Accordingly, transparent ice I, as illustrated in FIG. 11, can be made.

Such an oscillation generator 600 may be, for example, an ultrasonic wave oscillator which generates ultrasonic waves to oscillate the ice making frame 200. Alternatively, the oscillation generator 600 may be an eccentric motor. Besides, the oscillation generator 600 may include a solenoid, and a plunger operated by the solenoid, to periodically or aperiodically strike the ice making frame 200. However, without being limited to the oscillation generator 600, the oscillation generator 600 may be any known device so long as it can oscillate the ice making frame 200 to generate waves in water housed in the ice making frame 200.

The water supply pipe 300 may be configured to supply water to the ice making frame 200. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, upper and lower parts of the ice making frame 200 may be opened and the water supply pipe 300 may be positioned on the ice making frame 200 to supply water to the ice making frame 200 through the opened upper portion of the ice making frame 200. However, the upper portion of the ice making frame 200 may be closed and the water supply pipe 300 may be formed to be integrated with the closed upper portion of the ice making frame 200 to supply water to the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe 300.

The water supply pipe 300 may be connected to a water supply source (not shown) such as a water tank holding water in storage. Accordingly, water stored in the water supply source may be supplied to the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe.

As described above, when a plurality of ice making cells C are formed by the partitions 210 in the ice making frame 200, the water supply pipe 300 may include a water supply hole 310 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The water supply hole 310 may be formed such that the water supply pipe 300 may be provided in a position corresponding to each ice making cell C. In this manner, water stored in the water supply source can be supplied to the respective ice making cells C through the water supply holes 310 formed in the water supply pipe 300.

Meanwhile, an air supply device (not shown) may be connected to the water supply pipe 300. The air supply device may be, for example, an air pump. However, the air supply device is not limited thereto, and any known devices may be used so long as they can supply air. Accordingly, when the ice I is made, namely, in the ice making step S300 as illustrated in FIG. 12, air can be jetted (or sprayed) to the water housed in the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe 300. Accordingly, waves can be generated in the water housed in the ice making frame 200 as illustrated, thus generating transparent ice I.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the evaporator 400 may be provided to be in contact with the ice making frame 200. For example, the evaporator 200 may be installed to be in contact with the ice making frame 200 through welding. However, the method of disposing the evaporator 400 to be in contact with the ice making frame 200 is not limited to welding, and any known method, such as blazing, or the like, may be used, so long as it can bring the evaporator 400 into contact with the ice making frame 200.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the evaporator 400 may surround the ice making frame 200. As illustrated, the evaporator 400 may have a circular pipe. However, the shape of the evaporator 400 is not limited to the circular pipe but may have an oval pipe or a quadrangular pipe extended to a contact area with the ice making frame 200. However, the method of bring the evaporator 400 into contact with the ice making frame 200 and the shape of the evaporator 400 may not be limited to the illustrated example; any known method and pipe shape, allowing the evaporator 400 to be brought into contact with the ice making frame 200, may be used.

The evaporator 400 may be included in a refrigeration system (not shown). Accordingly, a sub zero temperature refrigerant or above-zero temperature (hot) refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 400. Namely, in the ice making step S300 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 to 12, a sub-zero temperature refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 400. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12, ice I can be formed in each of the ice making cells C of the ice making frame 200, according to heat transmission from the water, which has been supplied to be housed in the ice making cells C, to the sub-zero temperature refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 400. In an ice releasing step S400 as illustrated in FIG. 8, an above-zero temperature refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 400. Accordingly, as illustrated, ice I may be separated from the ice making cell C to be released.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the evaporator 400 may be supportedly connected to an ice maker main body B by a connection member F.

The opening and closing member 500 may be configured to close the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 in the water supply step S200 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9 and in the ice making step S300 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12, and open the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 in the ice releasing step S400 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

To this end, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening and closing member 500 may be rotatably connected to the ice making main body B by a rotational shaft 520. A driving motor 530 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be connected to the rotational shaft 520. Accordingly, in the water supply step S200 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9 and in the ice making step S300 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12, the opening and closing member 500 may be rotated according to driving of the driving motor 530 to close the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200. Also, in the ice releasing step S400 illustrated in FIG. 8, the opening and closing member 500 may be rotated according to driving of the driving motor 530 to open the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200.

However, the configuration in which the opening and closing member 500 closes the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 in the water supply step S200 and the ice making step S300 and opens the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 in the ice releasing step S400 is not limited to the configuration in which the opening and closing member 500 is rotated by the rotational shaft 520 and the driving motor 530, and any known configuration, for example, a configuration in which the opening and closing member 500 is slidably moved to close the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 while making ice and open the opening lower part of the ice making frame 200 in releasing ice, may be used.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the opening and closing member 500 may include a sealing member 510. Accordingly, when the opening and closing member 500 closes the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 in the water supply step S200 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9 and in the ice making step S300 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12, the opened lower part of the ice making frame 200 can be hermetically sealed. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, water can be supplied to be housed in each of the ice making cells C of the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe 300 and the water supply hole 310 in the water supply step S200. Also, when a sub-zero cold refrigerant flows in the evaporator 400, ice I can be generated in each of the ice making cells C of the ice making frame 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 through 12.

As shown in FIGS. 5 through 8, an ice making method according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an ice making preparation step S100, a water supply step S200, an ice making step S300, and an ice releasing step S400.

In the ice making preparation step S100, the opening and closing member 500 closes lower parts of one or more ice making frames 200 in which at least a lower part thereof is opened. In an embodiment in which the opening and closing member 500 is configured to be rotatable, the driving motor 530 may be driven to rotate the opening and closing member 500 to an ice making position as illustrated in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the opened lower part of the ice making frame is hermetically closed.

In the water supply step S200, water is supplied to the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe 300 placed on the ice making frame 200. Namely, as shown in FIG. 6, water is supplied to be housed in the respective ice making cells C of the ice making frame 200 through the water supply pipe 300 and the water supply hole 310 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In the ice making step S300, a cold refrigerant flows in the evaporator 400 provided to be in contact with the ice making frame 200 to generate ice I. Namely, as shown in FIG. 7, a refrigeration system (not shown) is operated to allow a sub-zero temperature refrigerant to flow in the evaporator 400. Accordingly, as illustrated, ice I is generated in each of the ice making cells C.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, the shape or size of the ice I made in the ice making cells C may vary according to the shape or size of the ice making cells C. Also, as for the shape and size of the respective ice making cells C, as mentioned above, the shape of the partitions 210 and the distance between the partitions 210 may vary. Accordingly, ice I having different shapes and sizes may be generated.

In the ice releasing step S400, a hot refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 400, the opening and closing member 500 is moved to open the lower part of the ice making frame 200 to allow ice I generated in the ice making frame 200 to be separated from the ice making frame 200. Namely, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ice I is generated in all of the ice making cells C, an above-zero temperature refrigerant flows in the evaporator 400. Accordingly, the ice I generated in each of the ice making cells C can be separated from the ice making cells C. Thereafter, the driving motor 530 is driven to rotate the opening and closing member 500 to the ice releasing position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Accordingly, the ice I separated from the respective ice making cells C is dropped by self-weight as shown in FIG. 8. The dropped ice I is dropped into an ice repository (not shown) to be kept in storage therein or may be dropped into a cold water tank (not shown) to cool water kept in storage in the cold water tank.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, in the water supply step S200, water may be supplied through the water supply pipe 300 to be provided up to a partial height of the ice making frame 200. As shown in FIG. 10, in the ice making step S300, water may be supplied through the water supply pipe 300 to be provided up to the other remaining height of the ice making frame 200. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, waves may be generated in water housed in the ice making frame 200. Also, as illustrated, transparence ice I can be formed.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the ice making step S300, the ice making frame 200 may be oscillated by the oscillation generator 600 provided in the ice making frame 200. Accordingly, waves can be generated in water housed in the ice making frame 200 as illustrated. Also, the transparent ice I can be generated as illustrated.

In the ice making step S300, as shown in FIG. 12, air can be jetted to the water housed in the ice making frame 200 through an air supply device (not shown) connected to the water supply pipe 300. Accordingly, waves can be generated in the water housed in the ice making frame 200 as illustrated. And, the transparent ice I can be generated as illustrated.

In this manner, the use of the ice maker and the ice making method using the same according to embodiments of the present invention can allow ice to be made without a void therein, and accordingly, ice which is rarely brittle and has a relatively large mass as well as various shapes and sizes can be made.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

An ice maker comprising:

one or more ice making frames in which at least a lower part thereof is opened;

a water supply pipe supplying water to the ice making frames;

an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frames; and

an opening and closing member closing the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while making ice and opening the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while releasing ice.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein each of the ice making frames includes a plurality of partitions to form a plurality of ice making cells.
The ice maker of claim 2, wherein the water supply pipe includes a water supply hole formed in a position corresponding to each of the ice making cells to allow water to be supplied to each ice making cell therethrough.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing member includes a sealing member to seal the opened lower parts of the ice making frames while making ice.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein each of the ice making frames includes an oscillation generator oscillating the ice making frame to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frame while making ice to generate transparent ice.
The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the oscillation generator is an ultrasonic wave oscillator.
The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the oscillation generator is an eccentric motor.
The ice maker of claim 5, wherein the oscillation generator includes a solenoid, and a plunger operated by the solenoid, to periodically or aperiodically strike the ice making frame.
The ice maker of claim 1, wherein an air supply device for jetting air to the water housed in the ice making frames is connected to the water supply pipe to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frame while making ice to make transparent ice.
An ice making method comprising:

an ice making preparation step of closing lower parts of one or more ice making frames in which at least a lower part thereof is opened, by an opening and closing member;

a water supply step of supplying water to the ice making frames through a water supply pipe;

an ice making step of making a cold refrigerant flow in an evaporator provided to be in contact with the ice making frames to generate ice; and

an ice releasing step of making a hot refrigerant flow in the evaporator and moving the opening and closing member to open the lower parts of the ice making frames to allow ice generated in the ice making frames to be separated therefrom.
The method of claim 10, wherein, in the water supply step, water is supplied through the water supply pipe to be provided up to a partial height of the ice making frames, and in the ice making step, water is supplied through the water supply pipe to be provided up to the other remaining height of the ice making frame to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.
The method of claim 10, wherein, in the ice making step, each of the ice making frames is oscillated by an oscillation generator provided on each of the ice making frames to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.
The method of claim 10, wherein, in the ice making step, air is jetted to the water housed in the ice making frames through an air supply device connected to the water supply pipe to generate waves in the water housed in the ice making frames to thus generate transparent ice.