WO2022034948A1

WO2022034948A1 - Ice maker, refrigerator and control method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2022034948A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/010927
Authority: WO
Inventors: 지준동; 신계영; 임동혁
Original assignee: 주식회사 대창
Priority date: 2020-08-14
Filing date: 2020-08-14
Publication date: 2022-02-17

Abstract

Provided are an ice maker, a refrigerator and a control method therefor, enabling the efficient separation of ice from ice making grooves in an ice tray at the time point when the ice making is completed, regardless of the size (capacity), operation rate, surrounding temperature and cooling capacity of a refrigerator. To this end, the ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: an ice tray having ice making grooves formed therein; an ice separating motor driven so that ice is separated from the ice making grooves; a temperature detection unit; and a control unit for controlling the ice separating motor, wherein the control unit operates the ice separating motor or an ice separating heater at an ice separation starting time point or a heating starting time point calculated using temperatures detected according to time by the temperature detection unit, or a cumulative ice making time.

Description

Ice maker, refrigerator and control method therefor

The present invention relates to an ice maker, a refrigerator, and a method for controlling the same.

BACKGROUND ART In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a low temperature state, and includes at least one of a refrigerating chamber storing food in a refrigerated state and a freezing chamber storing food in a frozen state.

The refrigerator may supply cold air to at least one of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber by using a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator.

An ice maker is provided in at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and an ice maker is installed in the ice maker.

The ice maker is a device that receives ice-making water and produces ice.

The ice maker includes an ice tray having an ice making groove. After the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making grooves, ice may be generated by freezing the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making grooves.

There are two types of methods for freezing the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making grooves: an intercooling type ice making method and a direct cooling type ice making method.

The intercooling type ice making method is a method of supplying cold air heat-exchanged with an evaporator of a refrigerator to the ice making chamber, which is a space in which the ice tray is disposed, and freezing the ice water supplied to the ice making groove by the cold air.

In the direct cooling type ice making method, the refrigerant that has passed through the expansion mechanism of the refrigerator is supplied to a device, a cooling device, and a cooling unit installed inside the ice tray, and the ice water supplied to the ice making groove is frozen by the refrigerant.

On the other hand, when the ice making in the ice making groove is completed, ice is transferred from the ice making groove through an ice icing means and stored in an ice box.

The method of icing the ice in the ice-making groove includes a twist method of twisting the ice tray to transfer the ice fixed to the ice-making groove, and the ice heater installed in the ice tray heats up and adheres to the ice-making groove. There is an ejector method in which ice is slightly melted and then the ice is pushed out of the ice making groove with an ejector.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1439460 (published on Sept. 12, 2014) (hereinafter referred to as 'prior art') discloses an ejector type 'ice machine'.

In an ice maker as in the prior art, after about 50 minutes passes after ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove of the ice tray, the ice-making water in the ice-making groove is changed to ice. Accordingly, in the prior art ice maker, after about 50 minutes have elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove, the ice-removing is started in the ice-making groove.

1 is a graph showing an ice-making time according to an operating rate of a refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 1 , it can be seen that when the operating rate of the refrigerator is low, the ice making time is longer than when the operating rate is high. That is, when the operating rate of the refrigerator is high, the ice-making time is a, but when the operating rate of the refrigerator is low, the ice-making time is b.

That is, when the ambient temperature of the refrigerator is low, the operating rate of the refrigeration cycle is lowered, and the time during which the refrigeration cycle is not in operation increases. There was a problem that the ice could not be made because it was not possible.

In addition, when the refrigerator is small, the cooling capacity is insufficient, and the ice making temperature of the ice maker cannot be reached, thereby lowering the ice making capacity.

In addition, when the set temperature (strong, medium, or weak) of the refrigerator is high, in the case of a low-capacity refrigerator, the time to reach the ice-making temperature of the ice maker is greatly delayed or cannot be reached, so that the amount of ice is significantly reduced.

As described above, while the situation of the refrigerator is diverse, the existing ice maker has only one ice-breaking start time, and thus does not effectively respond to various conditions of the refrigerator.

[Prior art literature]

[Patent Literature]

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1439460 (2014.09.12. Announcement date)

An object to be solved by the present invention is an ice maker capable of efficiently removing ice at the time when ice is completed in an ice-making groove of an ice tray regardless of the size (capacity), operating rate, ambient temperature, and cooling capacity of the refrigerator, and the refrigerator. and to provide a method for controlling the same.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, an ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray having an ice making groove formed therein, an icing motor driving the ice to move from the ice making groove, a casing to which the icing motor is mounted, and a motor of an ice maker provided in a refrigerator or ice maker. a control unit or a heater control unit, wherein the control unit applies a forced delay time before starting ice after water supply, and after the forced delay time, if the ice-making condition set according to the combination of the ice-making time and the ice-making temperature is satisfied, the ice motor or the ice heater is operated make it work That is, the present invention can be controlled according to two or more set times, two or more set temperatures, and combinations thereof for the ice start point.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, and a control unit. These components may be included in a swallowing machine or a refrigerator. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The control unit controls the divergence motor. The controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the calculated ice-diving start time using the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove and the temperature of the refrigerator storage compartment or the ice tray.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, and a control unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The control unit controls the divergence motor. The control unit operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the starting time of the ice making or the heating start time calculated by using the accumulated ice making time or the accumulated time below a predetermined temperature.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, and a control unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The control unit controls the divergence motor. In the control unit, a set temperature of a time that follows in time from among a plurality of start points of ice is set to be higher than a set temperature of a time that precedes in time among the plurality of start points of ice.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray and an ice motor. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The icing motor is controlled by a refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator. The refrigerator control unit operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the time of starting ice or heating start time calculated using the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove and the temperature of the ice tray unit.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, and an ice maker control unit. The ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The ice maker controller receives an ice signal from a refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator to control the ice motor. The ice maker controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater at a plurality of ice moving start times or a plurality of heating start times.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, a temperature detection unit, a capacitive sensor, and a control unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature around the temperature detection unit. The capacitance sensor senses the capacitance of the ice-making groove. The control unit controls the divergence motor. The controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the calculated ice-diving start time or heating start time using the accumulated ice-making time, the temperature of the temperature detection unit, and the capacitance of the capacitive sensor.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, an ice motor, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The icing motor drives the ice to be iced in the ice making groove. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature of the temperature detection unit. The control unit controls the divergence motor. The control unit operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the time of starting ice or the start of heating, calculated by using the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit over time, or the slope of the temperature graph, and the accumulated ice-making time.

The ice maker has a forced icing delay time after water supply. Accordingly, the icing delay or the accumulation of the ice maker time improves the freezing accuracy by setting the temperature below a specific temperature, such as 0 degrees.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature after a first set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, the controller determines that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and sets the temperature sensed by the temperature detector to the first The first set time below the -1 set temperature may be determined as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature after the first set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, the control unit is a second set time that lags in time from the first set time Afterwards, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, the second set time may be determined as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.

After the second set time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove, the controller is configured to, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, after a third set time which lags in time from the second set time , when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, the third set time may be determined as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.

An ice maker control method according to the present invention is a control method for an ice maker including an ice tray and a temperature detection unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature around the temperature detection unit. The method for controlling an ice maker according to the present invention is composed of a water supply step, an ice making step, and a step of determining the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor. In the water supply step, ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove. In the ice making step, the ice making water is made of ice. In the determining the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor, an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor is determined using the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied and the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit. In the determining operation timing of the ice heater or the ice motor, a plurality of operation times of the ice heater or the ice motor are determined.

The determining of the operating time of the icing heater or the icing motor may include the determining of the operating time of the first icing heater or the icing motor and the determining of the operating timing of the second icing heater or the icing motor. In the first ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after a first set time after the water supply step, if the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is less than or equal to the first set temperature, it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and the temperature detecting unit is detected When one temperature is equal to or less than the 1-1 set temperature, the first set time may be determined as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor. In the second ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after the first set time after the water supply step, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, it lags in time than the first set time After the second set time, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, the second set time may be determined as the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.

The step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor may further include the step of determining the operating time of the third ice heater or the ice motor. In the third ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after the second set time after the water supply step, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to the first set temperature, the second set time lags in time After the third set time, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, the third set time may be determined as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.

The ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray, a temperature detection unit, a capacitive sensor, and a control unit. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature around the temperature detection unit. The capacitance sensor senses the capacitance of the ice-making groove. The control unit determines the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor by using the elapsed time since the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor. . The control unit determines the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor according to the rising temperature in a plurality of stages. That is, the control unit according to the present invention determines the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor by calculating the capacitance, temperature, and time as a comprehensive combination.

After a first set time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove, the control unit operates if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is equal to or greater than the set electrostatic capacity It is determined that the refrigerator has a high rate, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the 1-1 set temperature, and the first set time may be determined as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature after the first set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, the control unit is a second set time that lags in time from the first set time Afterwards, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is equal to or greater than the set capacitance, the second set time is set to the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor can be determined as

After the second set time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove, the controller is configured to, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, after a third set time which lags in time from the second set time , when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is equal to or greater than the set capacitance, the third set time is set to the ice heater or the It can be determined by the operating time of the ice motor.

An ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray having an ice making groove formed therein, an ice motor driving the ice to be removed from the ice making groove, and a control unit controlling the ice motor, wherein the control unit delays the ice making time forcibly, After the delay time has elapsed, the ice motor or the ice heater may be operated according to the time point of the ice temperature as compared with the preset delay time.

An ice maker according to the present invention includes an ice tray having an ice making groove formed therein, an ice motor driving to cause ice to be iced in the ice making groove, and a controller controlling the ice motor, wherein the controller includes an ice-making accumulation time or accumulation of less than a predetermined temperature. It is calculated using time, but when the temperature is above a certain temperature, the accumulated time is excluded, or the accumulated time is newly calculated or added to the existing accumulated time to operate the ice motor or the ice heater at the time of starting ice or heating start time. there is.

The method for controlling an ice maker according to the present invention is a control method for an ice maker including an ice tray, a temperature detection unit, and a capacitive sensor. An ice-making groove is formed in the ice tray. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature around the temperature detection unit. The capacitance sensor senses the capacitance of the ice-making groove. The method for controlling an ice maker according to the present invention is composed of a water supply step, an ice making step, and a step of determining the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor. In the water supply step, ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove. In the ice making step, the ice making water is made of ice. In the step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor, the ice heater or It determines the operating time of the ice motor. In the step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor, the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is determined according to the rising temperature in a plurality of steps.

The determining of the operating time of the icing heater or the icing motor may include the determining of the operating time of the first icing heater or the icing motor and the determining of the operating timing of the second icing heater or the icing motor. In the first ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after a first set time after the water supply step, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to the first set temperature, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is the set power failure If the capacity is greater than the capacity, it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the 1-1 set temperature, and the first set time may be determined as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor. In the second ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after the first set time after the water supply step, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, it lags in time than the first set time After a second set time, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is equal to or greater than the set capacitive capacity, the second set time is set to the ice heater or the It can be determined by the operating time of the ice motor.

The step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor may further include the step of determining the operating time of the third ice heater or the ice motor. In the third ice heater or ice motor operation time determination step, after the second set time after the water supply step, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to the first set temperature, the second set time lags in time After the third set time, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than or equal to a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor is equal to or greater than the set capacitance, the third set time is It may be determined by the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor.

The method for controlling an ice maker according to the present invention is a method for controlling an ice maker comprising an ice tray having an ice making groove formed thereon and a temperature detecting unit sensing a surrounding temperature, the water supplying step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove, and ice making the ice making water The ice making step and the ice making time are forcibly delayed, but after the preset delay time has elapsed, the ice heater or the ice motor operation time determination step is compared with the preset delay time to determine the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor according to the ice temperature time Including, in the step of determining the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor, a plurality of operation points of the ice heater or the ice motor may be determined.

The method for controlling an ice maker according to the present invention is a method for controlling an ice maker comprising an ice tray having an ice making groove formed thereon and a temperature detecting unit sensing a surrounding temperature, the water supplying step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove, and ice making the ice making water It is calculated using the ice making step and the accumulated ice making time or the accumulated time below a certain temperature, but when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the accumulated time is excluded, or the accumulated time is newly calculated or the accumulated time is added to the existing accumulated time to calculate an ice heater or an ice motor and determining an operating time of an ice heater or an ice motor to determine an operation time of the icing heater or an ice motor.

In addition, the ice maker according to the present invention may further include an ice heater.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes the ice maker.

Details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

In the ice maker, refrigerator, and control method thereof according to the present invention, since the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is provided with a plurality of operating points, regardless of the size (capacity), operation rate, ambient temperature and cooling capacity of the refrigerator, the above There is an effect of efficiently removing the ice at a point in time when ice is completed in the ice making groove of the ice tray among a plurality of operation points.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

1 is a graph showing an ice-making time according to an operating rate of a refrigerator;

2 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator in which an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed;

3 is a perspective view schematically showing an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a control block diagram of an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a view schematically showing an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a control block diagram of an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an operation diagram of an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the start time of ice removal according to time and temperature after ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove of the ice tray;

9 is a flowchart according to a control method of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a detailed flowchart of the ice transfer start time determination step shown in FIG. 9;

11 is a control block diagram of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention;

12 is a detailed flowchart of an ice removal start time determination step in a method for controlling an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an ice maker, a refrigerator, and a method for controlling the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator in which an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the ice maker 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be installed in a storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 .

The refrigerator 1 may include a cabinet having a rectangular cylinder shape forming the storage compartment with an open front, and a door disposed in front of the cabinet to open and close the open front of the storage compartment.

The storage chamber may be formed of a plurality of storage chambers partitioned by a barrier therein, and the door may be provided as a plurality of doors for opening and closing the plurality of storage chambers.

The storage compartment may include at least one of a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. An ice maker 100 may be installed in the storage room. The ice maker 100 may make ice. An ice box may be disposed under the ice maker 100 in the storage compartment. The ice completed in the ice maker 100 may be removed and stored in the ice box.

On the other hand, the

ice makers

100 and 200 may be largely divided into two types according to a method of transferring the ice completed in the ice making groove of the ice tray from the ice making groove. That is, the

ice makers

100 and 200 include an ejector-type ice maker 100 including an ejector 120 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a twist-type ice maker as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 ( 200) may be included.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1 , the refrigerator with a high operating rate according to the present invention may have a higher operating rate as the cooling performance is lower, and may have a higher operating rate due to a high ambient temperature. rate can be high. Conversely, a refrigerator with a low operating rate may have a low operating rate due to high cooling performance, and may have a low operating rate due to a low ambient temperature.

3 is a perspective view schematically showing the ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 , the ice maker 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include an ice tray 110 , an ejector 120 , and a control box 130 .

An ice-making groove 115 may be formed in the upper surface of the ice tray 110 . The ice making groove 115 may be a space that becomes ice after the ice making water is filled. The ice-making grooves 115 may be formed of a plurality of ice-making grooves 115 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the ice tray 110 .

A part of the upper surface of the ice tray 110 is concave and a part of the lower surface of the ice tray 110 is convex. this can be

Ice making water may be supplied to the ice making groove 115 from a water supply device installed on one side of the ice tray 110 .

After the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 and cold air is supplied to the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1, the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 exchanges heat with the cold air in the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 to generate ice ( 4) can be

The ice tray 110 may be horizontally protruded from one side of the control box 130 . The ice tray 110 may be formed to be elongated in a horizontal direction. A slit into which one end of the ice tray 110 in the longitudinal direction is inserted may be formed on one side of the control box 130 . One end in the longitudinal direction of the ice tray 110 may be inserted into the slit formed on one side of the control box 130 to be coupled to the control box 130 .

The ejector 120 may separate the ice made in the ice making groove 115 from the ice making groove 115 . After ice is made from the ice making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 , the ejector 120 may remove the ice in the ice making groove 115 from the ice making groove 115 .

The ejector 120 may be formed with a long axis disposed in the horizontal direction on one side of the control box 130 . The ejector 120 may be disposed to be spaced upward from the ice tray 110 .

An ejection pin 125 may be protruded from the circumferential surface of the ejector 120 . The eject pin 125 may be formed to protrude in a radial direction of the ejector 120 . When the ejector 120 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the end of the eject pin 125 is inserted into the ice-making groove 115 , so that ice in the ice-making groove 115 can be removed from the ice-making groove 115 . The eject pin 125 may push the ice in the ice-making groove 115 to release the ice from the ice-making groove 115 .

The ejection pins 125 may be formed of a plurality of ejector pins 125 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the ejector 120 . The number of eject pins 125 may be the same as the number of ice-making grooves 115 formed in the ice tray 110 . The plurality of eject pins 125 may be disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of ice-making grooves 115 .

Meanwhile, ice made in the ice making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 may be disposed while being fixed to the ice making groove 115 . Accordingly, when the eject pin 125 removes ice made from the ice-making groove 115 from the ice-making groove 115 , the ice may not be easily removed from the ice-making groove 115 .

When the eject pin 125 transfers ice made from the ice-making groove 115 to the ice-making groove 115 , the lower surface of the ice tray 110 may allow the ice to be easily removed from the ice-making groove 115 . An ice heater 113 may be installed there.

The ice heater 113 may generate heat before the eject pin 125 transfers the ice made in the ice making groove 115 into the ice in the ice making groove 15 . The ice heater 113 may supply heat to the ice-making groove 115 to slightly melt the ice in the ice-making groove 115 . The ice heater 113 may slightly melt the ice in the ice making groove 115 so that the ice made in the ice making groove 115 can be easily removed by the eject pin 125 .

A control unit 131 may be disposed inside the control box 130 . In addition, an icing motor 135 for rotating the ejector 120 in the circumferential direction of the ejector 120 may be disposed inside the control box 130 . The ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 may be controlled by the controller 131 .

After the ice is made in the ice making groove 115 , the controller 131 may control the ice heater 113 to generate heat to slightly melt the ice adhering to the ice making groove 115 . Thereafter, the controller 131 controls the icing motor 135 so that the icing motor 135 rotates the ejector 120 , so that the eject pin 125 moves the ice from the ice-making groove 115 . can

The rotating shaft of the icing motor 135 may be coupled to the ejector 120 through a coupler. The ejector 120 may extend in the direction of the rotation axis of the icing motor 135 . In this case, the ejector 120 may be disposed on the same axis as the rotation shaft of the icing motor 135 . Also, the rotating shaft of the icing motor 135 is connected to the ejector 120 through a plurality of gears, so that the rotational force of the rotating shaft of the icing motor 135 may be transmitted to the ejector 120 through the plurality of gears. In this case, the ejector 120 may be disposed on an axis different from the rotation axis of the icing motor 135 .

The ice heater 113 may be formed as a U-shaped tube that is heated by hot gas flowing through the inside of the ice heater 113 . In this case, the controller 131 may control the hot gas valve to supply or block the hot gas into the ice heater 113 so that the hot gas is supplied or blocked into the ice heater 113 .

Alternatively, the ice heater 113 may be formed of a hot wire or a planar heater that is heated by electricity input to the ice heater 113 . In this case, the control unit 131 may control a current supply switch that supplies or cuts off the electricity to the ice heater 113 so that the electricity is supplied or cut off to the ice heater 113 .

Meanwhile, the control unit 131 may be provided in the ice maker 100 , may be provided in the refrigerator 1 , or may be provided in both the ice maker 100 and the refrigerator 1 . That is, the controller 131 may be provided in at least one of the refrigerator 1 and the ice maker 100 . The controller 131 may include a refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator 1 and an ice machine controller provided in the ice maker 100 . The ice maker 100 may be operated by receiving a control signal from the refrigerator controller, or may be operated through a control signal from the ice maker controller. The ice maker control unit may receive an ice signal from the refrigerator control unit to control the ice icing motor 135 . Control power of the ice maker control unit may be supplied from the refrigerator control unit.

The ice maker 100 may further include a temperature detection unit 161 . The temperature detection unit 161 may include all sensing means capable of sensing the surrounding temperature, and may be a temperature sensor or infrared rays. The temperature detection unit 161 may be installed on the ice tray 61 . The temperature detection unit 161 may be installed to be exposed to the ice tray 110 . The temperature detection unit 161 may detect a surrounding temperature, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 may be input to the control unit 131 . The controller 131 may control at least one of the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 by using the temperature input from the temperature detection unit 161 .

After a set time after the ice-making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice-making groove 115, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is less than or equal to the set temperature, the control unit 131 sets the set time for the ice in the ice-making groove 115. can be determined as the start time of divergence for divergence.

That is, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the set time is equal to or less than the set temperature, the control unit 131 determines that the ice-making water in the ice-making groove 115 has changed to complete ice, and sets the set time to start the ice-diving. time can be determined.

When the control unit 131 determines the set time as the start time of the ice divergence, the ice maker may start the ice divergence in the ice making groove 115 at the set time. That is, when the control unit 131 determines the set time as the start time of the ice moving, the ice heater 113 is heated so that the ice in the ice making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 is slightly melted, and then the ice motor ( By controlling 135 , the ejector 120 may be rotated so that the eject pin 125 may remove the ice in the ice making groove 115 .

5 is a view schematically showing an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the ice maker according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention. is the working diagram of Here, the same names are given to the same objects as in the above-described first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted, and only different points will be described.

5 to 7 , the ice maker 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention does not include the ejector 120 and the ice heater 113 of the first embodiment described above.

That is, the ice maker 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include an ice tray 210 and a control box 230 .

An ice-making groove 215 may be formed in the ice tray 210 .

An icing motor 235 and a plurality of gears 240 may be installed in the control box 230 . The plurality of gears 240 may include a driving gear 241 and a driven gear 242 . The driving gear 241 may transmit the driving force of the icing motor 235 to the driven gear 242 . The driving gear 241 may include a plurality of gears. The rotation shaft coupled to the center of the driven gear 242 may be coupled to one side of the ice tray 210 .

The other side of the ice tray 210 may be fixed to the structure of the ice maker 200 . Therefore, when the icing motor 230 is driven, the plurality of gears 240 are rotated by the driving force of the icing motor 230 , and accordingly, the ice tray 210 is rotated and twisted, so that the ice in the ice-making groove 215 is rotated. Ice may be removed from the ice-making groove 215 .

A temperature detection unit 261 may be installed in the ice tray 210 , and a control unit 231 may be installed in the control box 230 . The temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 261 may be input to the control unit 231, and the control unit 261 calculates the start time of the ice transfer using the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 261, and at the start time of the ice transfer The ice motor 235 may be operated.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the controller 131 may control the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 at the start time of ice drift, and in the second embodiment, the controller 231 controls the start time of ice drift. The divergence motor 135 can be controlled.

The first embodiment and the second embodiment may have in common that each of the

ice moving motors

135 and 235 is controlled by the

respective controllers

131 and 231 at the time of starting the ice moving. That is, in the first embodiment, the icing motor 135 can rotate the ejector 120 so that the eject pin 125 transfers ice from the ice-making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 at the start of the ice-moving. In the second embodiment, the icing motor 235 rotates the ice tray 210 to twist the ice tray 210 so that ice moves from the ice-making groove 215 of the ice tray 210 at the start of the ice-diving. can do it

The icing motor 135 of the first embodiment is driven so that ice is iced in the ice making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 at the start of the ice removal, and the icing motor 235 of the second embodiment is driven at the start of the ice removal. The ice tray 210 may have a common feature of being driven so that the ice is transferred from the ice-making groove 215 of the ice tray 210 .

In the first embodiment, the control unit 131 may operate the icing motor 135 at a plurality of ice divergence start timings, and may operate the icing heater 113 at a plurality of heating start timings. In addition, in the second embodiment, the controller 231 may operate the divergence motor 235 at a plurality of ice divergence start timings. Hereinafter, only the first embodiment will be described as an example in the description.

In the ice maker 100 , when the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 is in a state of complete ice, the ice maker 100 must be removed from the ice-making groove 115 by the ejection pin 125 . However, since the operating rate of the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator 1 may be different depending on the temperature of the refrigerator 1 and the cooling capacity may be different depending on the size (capacity) of the refrigerator 1, the ice making groove 115 ), it cannot be concluded that the ice-making water has completely turned into ice just because a certain time has elapsed after the ice-making water was supplied.

Therefore, when the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making grooves 115 of the ice tray 110 is in a state of complete ice, the ice maker according to the first embodiment of the present invention ( 100) may operate at least one of the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 at a plurality of ice moving start times.

The controller 131 may operate the ice heater 113 or the ice motor 135 at a plurality of ice drift start times.

The controller 131 controls the ice heater at a plurality of ice-moving start times calculated by using the elapsed time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 and the temperature of the storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 or the temperature of the ice tray 110 . 113 or the divergence motor 135 may be operated.

The controller 131 may operate the icing heater 113 or the icing motor 135 at a plurality of ice removal start times calculated using the accumulated ice making time or the accumulated time below a predetermined temperature.

The control unit 131 may set a set temperature of a temporally following time among a plurality of ice-diving start times to be higher than a set temperature of a temporally preceding time among the plurality of ice-dividing start times.

The ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 may be controlled by a refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator 1 . The refrigerator controller operates the icing heater 113 or the icing motor 135 at a plurality of ice-diving start times calculated using the elapsed time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 and the temperature of the ice tray 110 . can do it

The ice maker controller may receive an ice signal from the refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator 1 to control the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 .

The controller 131 may operate the icing heater 113 or the icing motor 135 at the start time of ice divergence corresponding to the set temperature input by the user through the input unit. The input unit may be provided as a button type or a touch type. The input unit may be installed in the ice maker 100 or installed in the refrigerator 1 . The input unit may be installed on the door of the refrigerator 1 . The user may input the set temperature for adjusting the plurality of ice-diving start times through the input unit.

When a plurality of ice-diving start times have elapsed, the control unit 131 may force the ice-diving heater 113 or the ice-diving motor 135 to operate after a set time.

The controller 131 may accumulate and link the time between the water supply function and the drifting function.

The controller 131 may control the cumulative linkage of the time between the drifting and the next drifting.

The control unit 131 is a capacitance

The water supply can be controlled using the sensor 162 (refer to FIG. 11 ).

The control circuit of the ice maker control unit may be electrically connected to the control circuit of the refrigerator control unit.

The controller 131 may operate the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 at the time of ice start that is calculated using the accumulated ice making time, the temperature of the temperature detection unit 161 and the capacitance of the capacitive sensor 162 . there is.

The controller 131 may operate the icing heater 113 and the icing motor 135 at the start time of ice removal calculated using the slope of the temperature graph sensed by the temperature detection unit 161 over time and the accumulated ice making time. .

The control unit 131 may control the ice-dividing start time according to the rising temperature in a plurality of stages. That is, the control unit 131 according to the present invention can determine the operating time of the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 by calculating the capacitance, temperature, and time as a comprehensive combination.

In the following description, the ice start time, the first ice start time, the second ice start time, the third ice start time, and the fourth ice start time point have the same meaning as the operating time of the ice heater 113 or the ice motor 135. there is. That is, in the case of the ice maker 100 of the first embodiment, the ice-dividing start time, the first ice-dividing start time, the second ice-dividing start time, the third ice-dividing start time, and the fourth ice-dividing start time are the ice heaters ( 113) may have the same meaning as the operation time. In addition, in the case of the ice maker 200 of the second embodiment, the ice-dividing start time, the first ice-dividing start time, the second ice-diverging start time, the third ice-dividing start time, and the fourth ice-dividing start time are determined by an ice motor ( 135) may be the time to operate.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the start time of ice removal according to time and temperature after ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove of the ice tray.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the controller 131 may determine the temperature sensed by the temperature detector 161 after a first set time T1 after the ice making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice making groove 115 . If the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the first set time T1 is equal to or less than the first set temperature Z, the controller 131 determines that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and sets the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit to the second setting. The first set time T1 below the 1-1 set temperature may be determined as the first ice drift start time. Here, the first set time T1 may be 50 minutes, and the first set temperature Z may be -9 degrees Celsius. That is, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is -9 degrees Celsius or less 50 minutes after the ice-making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice-making groove 115, the control unit 131 controls the ice-making groove 115 to make ice. When it is determined that the number has changed to complete ice, the ice can be started in the ice making groove 115 by controlling the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 .

In addition, the control unit 131 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 determined after the first set time T1 after the ice making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice making groove 115 is the first set temperature (Z). If higher, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 may be re-determined after a second set time T2 that is temporally later than the first set time T1. If the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the second set time T2 is higher than the first set temperature Z, the controller 131 sets the second set time T2 as a second ice drift start time. can decide Here, the second set time T2 is a time 10 to 20 minutes later than the first set time T1, which is 50 minutes, from 60 minutes to 60 minutes after the ice making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice making groove 115 . It may be 70 minutes, and the temperature C2 higher than the first set temperature Z may be -7 degrees Celsius. That is, when it is determined that the ice-making water is not completely frozen 50 minutes after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 from the water supply device, which is the first ice-moving start time, the control unit 131 determines the first ice-moving start time. After 10 to 20 minutes, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is determined again, and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than -9°C, the ice-making water in the ice-making groove 115 is completely changed to ice. As a result, ice can be started in the ice making groove 115 by controlling the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 .

In addition, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 determined after the second set time T2 after the ice making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice making groove 115 is less than or equal to the first set temperature, After a third set time T3 that is temporally later than the second set time T2, the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit 161 may be determined again. If the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the third set time T3 is less than or equal to the second set temperature C, the control unit 131 determines the third set time T3 as the third ice-diving start time. can Here, the third set time T3 is a time 10 minutes to 20 minutes later than the second set time T2, and may be 70 minutes to 90 minutes after the ice making water is supplied from the water supply device to the ice making groove 115. And, the second set temperature (C) is a temperature higher than the first set temperature (Z) may be -5 °C. That is, when the controller 131 determines that the ice-making water is not completely iced 60 to 70 minutes after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 from the water supply device, which is the time when the second ice-diving starts, the second ice After 10 to 20 minutes from the start time, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is determined again, and if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is -5°C or less, the ice-making water in the ice-making groove 115 is completely ice. When it is determined that the ice has changed, the ice can be started in the ice making groove 115 by controlling the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 .

In addition, in some cases, the control unit 131 forcibly delays the ice making time, but after a preset delay time has elapsed, compared with the preset delay time, the ice motor or the ice heater is operated according to the time of the ice temperature, The control unit 131 calculates using the accumulated ice-making time or the accumulated time below a certain temperature, but when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature, the accumulated time is excluded, the accumulated time is newly calculated, or the accumulated time is calculated in addition to the existing accumulated time to start the ice removal or It may be configured to operate the ice motor or the ice heater at the time of starting heating.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the method for controlling an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a water supply step ( S1000 ), an ice making step ( S2000 ), and an ice removal start time determination step ( S3000 ). In the water supply step ( S1000 ), ice-making water may be supplied to the ice-making grooves 115 of the ice tray 110 . In the ice making step ( S2000 ), ice making water supplied to the ice making groove 115 of the ice tray 110 may be made ice. In the ice removal start time determination step ( S3000 ), a time point at which ice is removed from the ice making groove 115 may be determined.

FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart of the step of determining an ice transfer start time shown in FIG. 9 . Here, the method for controlling the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in connection with the operation of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 8 to 10 , in the step of determining the starting time of ice removal ( S3000 ), the controller 131 detects the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove 115 and the temperature detection unit 161 detects it. Using one temperature, it is possible to determine an ice-dividing start time point for ice-removing in the ice-making groove 115 .

In the ice-diving start time determining step (S3000), the controller 131 may determine the ice-diverging start time according to the rising temperature in a plurality of stages. The ice-diving start time determination step (S3000) includes the first ice-diving start time determination step (S3), the second ice-diving start time determination step (S5), the third ice-diving start time determination step (S7), and the fourth ice transfer start time determination step ( S9) may be included.

After the water supply step (S1000), a temperature input step (S1) may be performed. In the temperature input step S1 , the temperature detection unit 161 may detect a temperature around the temperature detection unit 161 , and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 may be input to the control unit 131 .

After the temperature input step ( S1 ), a first temperature determination step ( S2 ) may be performed. In the first temperature determination step S2 , the control unit 131 may determine whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the water supply step S1000 is equal to or less than a preset temperature A.

As a result of the first temperature determination step (S2), if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is equal to or less than the preset temperature (A), it may be determined whether the first set time (T1) has elapsed (S4). In addition, as a result of the first set time (T1) elapse determination step (S4), if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is below the preset temperature (B), it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is At the first set temperature (Z) or less or at the 1-1 set temperature (Z-1), the first ice-diving start time determining step (S3) or the second ice moving start time determination step (S5) may be performed. In the first ice transfer start time determination step S3 or the second ice transfer start time determination step S5 , the controller 131 sets the first set time T1 or the first set time T1-1 to start the first ice transfer. It may be determined as the time point S3 or the second ice transfer start time point S5.

As a result of the first set time (T1) elapsed determination step (S4), if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the set temperature (B), the second set time (T2) elapsed determination step (S6) proceeds and it can be determined whether it is below a preset temperature (C). As a result of the second set time (T2) elapsed determination step (S6), if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the preset temperature (C), the third set temperature (B) the third ice start time determining step (S7) is to be performed can In the third ice divergence start time determining step (S7), the controller 131 may determine the second set time (T2) as the third ice divergence start time (S7).

In addition, as a result of the second set time (T2) elapsed determination step (S4), if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the preset temperature (C), the third set time (T3) elapsed determination step (S8) is in progress, and it can be determined whether the temperature is below the preset temperature D. As a result of the third set time (T3) elapse determination step (S8), if the preset temperature (D) or less, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is the preset temperature (D) and the fourth ice divergence start time determining step (S9) can be performed there is. In the fourth ice divergence start time determination step (S9), the controller 131 may determine the third set time (T3) as the fourth ice divergence start time (S9). The fourth ice moving start time may be a time point at which at least one of the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 is forcibly operated.

Meanwhile, as a result of the fourth temperature determination step S9 , when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the preset temperature D, the process may return to the fourth temperature determination step S9 .

11 is a control block diagram of an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements as those of the above-described embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a capacitive sensor 162 compared to the above-described embodiment.

The capacitance sensor 162 may detect the capacitance of the ice making groove 115 . The controller 131 may determine whether the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 has become completely ice by using the capacitance input from the capacitive sensor 162 .

That is, the capacitance of the ice-making groove 115 is proportional to the dielectric constant of the object accommodated in the ice-making groove 115 . In general, since the permittivity of water is 80 and the permittivity of ice is 100, when the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making grooves 115 becomes complete ice, the capacitance increases compared to the case in which the ice-making water is not frozen. The control unit 131 may set the capacitance of the ice making groove 115 when the ice making water in the ice making groove 115 becomes completely ice. The controller 131 may compare the capacitance input from the capacitive sensor 162 with the set capacitance to determine whether the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 has completely turned into ice. When the capacitance input from the capacitive sensor 162 is equal to or greater than the set capacitance, the controller 131 may determine that the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 has become completely ice.

After determining whether the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making groove 115 has become completely ice, the control unit 131 compares the capacitance input from the capacitive sensor 162 with the set capacitance, as in the above-described embodiment, It is judged again whether the ice-making water supplied to 115) has turned into complete ice. Ice can be started in the ice making groove 115 .

That is, the controller 131 uses the time elapsed after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove 115 , the temperature sensed by the temperature detector 161 , and the capacitance sensed by the capacitive sensor 162 to make ice. It is possible to determine an ice-diving start time point for ice-removing from the groove 115 .

The controller 131 may determine the start time of the ice drifting according to the rising temperature in a plurality of stages.

That is, the control unit 131 determines the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 after the first set time T1 after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove 15 . can do. The control unit 131 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the first set time T1 is equal to or less than the first set temperature Z, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the 1-1 set temperature Z-1, and the first set time T1 may be determined as the first ice moving start time.

In addition, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 determined after the first set time T1 after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove 115 is higher than the first set temperature Z, After the second set time T2 , the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 may be determined again. The control unit 131 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the second set time T2 is higher than the first set temperature Z and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, the second set time T2 may be determined as the second ice divergence start time.

In addition, the control unit 131 controls the ice-making groove 115 to be supplied with ice-making water, and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 determined after the second set time T2 is equal to or less than the first set temperature Z, the After the third set time T3 , the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 may be determined again. The control unit 31 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 after the third set time T3 is equal to or less than the second set temperature C, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, the third set time T3 may be determined as the third ice divergence start time.

12 is a detailed flowchart of an ice removal start time determination step in a method for controlling an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention. Here, a method for controlling an ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in connection with the operation of the ice maker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 and 11 and 12 , in the step of determining the start time of ice removal ( S3000 ), the controller 131 controls the time elapsed after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove 115 , and the temperature detection unit 161 . ) and the capacitance sensed by the capacitive sensor 162 , it is possible to determine an ice-diverging start time for icing ice in the ice-making groove 115 .

In the ice-diving start time determining step ( S3000 ), the controller 131 may determine the ice-dividing start time according to the rising temperature in a plurality of stages. The ice-diving start time determination step ( S3000 ) may include a first ice-diving start time determination step ( S30 ), a second ice-diving start time determination step ( S50 ), and a third ice transfer start time determination step ( S70 ).

After the water supply step (S1000), the temperature and capacitance input step (S10) may be performed. In the temperature and capacitance input step ( S10 ), the temperature detection unit 161 may detect the surrounding temperature, and the capacitance sensor 162 may detect the capacitance of the ice-making groove 115 . The temperature sensed by the temperature detector 161 and the capacitance sensed by the capacitive sensor 162 may be input to the controller 131 .

After the temperature and capacitance input step ( S1 ), a first temperature and capacitance determination step ( S20 ) may be performed. In the first temperature and capacitance determination step (S20), the controller 131 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is the first set temperature (Z) after the first set time (T1) after the water supply step (S1000). ) or less, it can be determined whether the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 162 is equal to or greater than the set capacitance.

As a result of the first temperature and capacitance determination step (S20), the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is equal to or less than the first set temperature Z, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is below the 1-1 set temperature (Z-1), and the first ice-dividing start time determining step ( S30 ) may be performed. In the first ice divergence start time determination step S30 , the controller 131 may determine the first set time T1 as the first ice divergence start time.

In addition, as a result of the first temperature and capacitance determination step (S20), when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the first set temperature (Z), the second temperature and capacitance determination step (S40) is performed can be In the second temperature and capacitance determination step (S40), the controller 131 determines that after the second set time T2, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the first set temperature Z, and the capacitance It may be determined whether the capacitance detected by the sensor 162 is equal to or greater than the set capacitance.

As a result of the second temperature and capacitance determination step (S40), the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the first set temperature Z, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, the second ice transfer start time determination step ( S50 ) may be performed. In the second ice divergence start time determination step S50 , the controller 131 may determine the second set time T2 as the second ice divergence start time.

In addition, as a result of the second temperature and capacitance determination step (S40), when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is equal to or less than the first set temperature (Z), the third temperature and capacitance determination step (S60) will be performed can In the third temperature and capacitance determination step (S60), the controller 131 determines that after the third set time T3, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is equal to or less than the second set temperature C, and the capacitance It may be determined whether the capacitance detected by the sensor 162 is equal to or greater than the set capacitance.

As a result of the third temperature and capacitance determination step (S60), the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is equal to or less than the second set temperature C, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor 162 is the set capacitance If this is the case, the third ice transfer start time determination step ( S70 ) may be performed. In the third ice divergence start time determining step S70 , the controller 131 may determine the third set time T3 as the third ice divergence start time.

On the other hand, as a result of the third temperature and capacitance determination step (S60), when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the second set temperature (C), the logic returns to the temperature and capacitance input step (S10) can be

Alternatively, as a result of the third temperature and capacitance determination step (S60), when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 161 is higher than the second set temperature (C), the third set time (T3) follows the third set time (T3). 4 The set time may be determined as the fourth ice divergence start time. The fourth ice moving start time may be a time point at which at least one of the ice heater 113 and the ice motor 135 is forcibly operated.

As described above, in the ice maker 100, the refrigerator 1, and the control method thereof according to the embodiments of the present invention, the operating points of the ice heater 113 or the ice motors 135 and 235 (T1, T2, T3) Since the plurality of operating time points (T1, T2, T3) are provided, the ice is among the plurality of operating points (T1, T2, T3) regardless of the size (capacity), operating rate, ambient temperature, and cooling capacity of the refrigerator. When the ice is completed in the

ice making grooves

115 and 215 of the

trays

110 and 210, the ice can be efficiently removed.

Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the above detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

[Explanation of code]

1: refrigerator 100, 200: ice machine

110, 210: ice tray 115, 215: ice making groove

131, 231: control unit 135, 235: ice motor

161, 261: temperature detection unit 162: capacitive sensor

Claims

an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove;

a casing to which the icing motor is mounted;

Including; a motor control unit or a heater control unit of the ice maker provided in the refrigerator or ice maker;

The controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater when a forced delay time is applied after water supply and before the start of ice removal, and after the forced delay time, the combination of the ice-making time and the ice-making temperature satisfies the set ice-making conditions.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

A control unit for controlling the ice-making motor is included in an ice maker or a refrigerator,

The controller operates the icing motor or the ice heater at the time of starting ice or heating start time calculated using the elapsed time after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove and the temperature of the refrigerator storage compartment or the ice tray unit. ice machine.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

A control unit for controlling the ice-making motor is included in an ice maker or a refrigerator,

The controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater at the start time of ice removal or heating start time calculated using the accumulated ice making time or the accumulated time below a predetermined temperature.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

Including; a control unit for controlling the divergence motor;

In the controller, an ice set temperature at a temporally following time among a plurality of ice removal start times is set to be higher than a set temperature at a temporally preceding point in time among the plurality of ice removal start times.
an ice tray having an ice making groove; and

and an icing motor for driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

The icing motor is controlled by a refrigerator controller provided in the refrigerator,

The refrigerator controller operates the icing motor or the icing heater at a time of starting ice or a starting time of heating, which is calculated using a time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove and the temperature of the ice tray unit.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove;

a temperature detection unit for sensing the surrounding temperature;

a capacitive sensor sensing the capacitance of the ice-making groove; and

Including; a control unit for controlling the divergence motor;

The control unit operates the icing motor or the ice heater at the time of starting ice or the start of heating, calculated using the accumulated ice making time and the capacitance of the capacitive sensor.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

The control unit is

After a first set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, if the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is lower than the 1-1 set temperature for the first set time is determined as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor,

After the first set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, after a second set time that lags in time from the first set time, the When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the first set temperature, the ice maker determines the second set time as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.
8. The method of claim 7,

The control unit is

After the second set time after the ice making water is supplied to the ice making groove, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, after a third set time that lags in time from the second set time, the temperature When the temperature detected by the detector is equal to or less than a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, the ice maker determines the third set time as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor.
an ice tray having an ice making groove; and

A control method of an ice maker comprising a temperature detection unit for sensing ambient temperature, the method comprising:

a water supply step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove;

an ice making step of making the ice making water; and

an icing heater or icing motor operating time determining step of determining an operating time of an icing heater or an icing motor using the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied and the temperature sensed by the temperature detection unit;

A control method of an ice maker comprising a.
10. The method of claim 9,

The step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is,

After the first set time after the water supply step, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, it is determined that the refrigerator has a high operating rate and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is lower than the 1-1 set temperature. A first ice heater or ice motor operation time determining step of determining a first set time as an operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor;

After the first set time after the water supply step, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is higher than the first set temperature, after a second set time that follows the first set time in time, the temperature detecting unit detects and determining an operating time of a second icing heater or an icing motor when the temperature is higher than the first set temperature, determining the second set time as an operating time of the icing heater or the icing motor.
11. The method of claim 10,

The step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is,

After the second set time after the water supply step, when the temperature sensed by the temperature detecting unit is equal to or less than the first set temperature, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit after a third set time that lags in time from the second set time is less than or equal to a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature, determining the third set time as the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor. control method.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

Including; a control unit for controlling the divergence motor;

The control unit forcibly delays the ice making time, but compares it after a preset delay time has elapsed and operates the ice motor or the ice heater according to the time point of the ice temperature.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

an icing motor driving the ice to be iced in the ice making groove; and

Including; a control unit for controlling the divergence motor;

The control unit calculates using the accumulated ice-making time or the accumulated time below a certain temperature, but when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the accumulated time is excluded, or the accumulated time is newly calculated or additionally calculated to the existing accumulated time to start ice removal or heating An ice maker operating the ice motor or the ice heater at a point in time.
an ice tray having an ice making groove;

a temperature detection unit for sensing the surrounding temperature;

In the control method of an ice maker comprising; a capacitance sensor for sensing the capacitance of the ice making groove,

a water supply step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove;

an ice making step of making the ice making water; and

An ice heater that determines an operation time of an ice heater or an ice motor using the time elapsed after the ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making groove, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, and the capacitance detected by the capacitive sensor; or Including; determining the timing of the operation of the ice motor;

In the step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor, the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is determined according to the rising temperature in a plurality of steps.
an ice tray having an ice making groove; and

A method for controlling an ice maker including a temperature detection unit, the method comprising:

a water supply step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove;

an ice making step of making the ice making water; and

The ice-making time is forcibly delayed, but an ice heater or an ice motor operation time determination step of determining the operation time of the ice heater or the ice motor according to the time of the ice temperature by comparing after a preset delay time has elapsed;

In the step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor, the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is determined according to the rising temperature in a plurality of steps.
an ice tray having an ice making groove; and

A method for controlling an ice maker including a temperature detection unit, the method comprising:

a water supply step of supplying ice making water to the ice making groove;

an ice making step of making the ice making water; and

It is calculated using the accumulated ice making time or the accumulated time below a certain temperature, but when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature, the accumulated time is excluded, or the accumulated time is newly calculated or the accumulated time is calculated in addition to the existing accumulated time to determine the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor Including; determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor to determine

In the step of determining the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor, the operating time of the ice heater or the ice motor is determined according to the rising temperature in a plurality of steps.
A refrigerator comprising the ice maker of any one of claims 1 to 8 and 12 to 13.