JPH0435671B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention has two or more functions, such as forced defrosting operation of a cooler and forced operation operation of a cooler, in addition to operations related to a normal refrigeration cycle. Regarding refrigerators.

[Technical Background of the Invention] Conventionally, in so-called direct-cooling refrigerators, quick freezing is a method in which only the freezer compartment cooler is forcibly operated for a predetermined period of time to quickly freeze food stored in the freezer compartment. There is also a regular defrosting function that uses a heater or the like to periodically defrost the frost that has adhered to the concentrated frost formation area, which is provided in the freezer compartment cooler so that the temperature is lower than other areas.

[Problems with the Background Art] The conventional refrigerators described above are configured to stop the periodic defrosting midway and execute the quick freezing operation when a quick freezing operation command is received during the periodic defrosting. Furthermore, even if a periodic defrosting operation command is issued during the quick freezing operation, the quick freezing operation continues as is. For this reason, defrosting of the freezer compartment cooler is often carried over until the next periodic defrosting without being completely defrosted, and there is a risk that sufficient defrosting may not be performed. In addition, the concentrated frost formation area of freezer coolers is generally located on the ceiling and back of the freezer compartment, and as mentioned above, defrosting is not completed completely until the next regular defrosting time. If ice flake-like frost is carried over and grows large on the above-mentioned concentrated frost areas (i.e. the ceiling and back of the freezer compartment), ice flake-like frost on the freezer compartment ceiling will be removed during subsequent periodic defrosting. may fall, causing discomfort to the user.

[Object of the Invention] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a system having two or more functions such as forced defrosting operation of the cooler and forced operation operation of the cooler in addition to operations related to the normal refrigeration cycle. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can always sufficiently defrost the cooler.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a holding means for holding two or more functions such as a forced defrosting operation of a cooler and a forced operation of a cooler when operation commands corresponding to these functions are issued. When commands for two or more of the above-mentioned functional operations are given, the functions corresponding to the operation commands held in the holding means are executed first, and then the remaining movement commands held in the holding means are responded to. It is characterized by the provision of control means for performing the functions.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a refrigerator body equipped with a freezing compartment 2 and a refrigerator compartment 3, 4 is a refrigerator compartment cooler disposed at the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 3, and 5 is a refrigerator body along the bottom of the freezing compartment 2. The first freezer compartment cooler 6 is a second freezer compartment cooler for concentrated frosting located along the ceiling and back wall of the freezer compartment 2; The second freezer compartment cooler 6 is configured to have a lower temperature than the first freezer compartment cooler 5. Further, 7 is a defrosting heater attached to the second freezer compartment cooler 6.

On the other hand, in Figure 2 showing the refrigeration cycle, 8
is a compressor, the discharge port 8a of which is connected to the main capillary tube 10 via the condenser 9, such a refrigerant flow path is branched into two on the outlet side of the main capillary tube 10, and one branch is connected to the main capillary tube 10. Pili tube 11, refrigerator cooler 4 and second
It is connected to the suction port 8a of the compressor 8 via the freezer compartment cooler 6. The other branch is connected to an inlet 14a of a flow path switching device, such as a bubble pump 14, via a solenoid valve 12 and a capillary tube 13. The bubble pump 14
When the built-in heater 15 (see FIG. 3) is energized, the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 14a flows out from the first outlet 14b, and when the built-in heater 15 is energized, the refrigerant flows through the inlet 14a. The structure is such that the refrigerant that has flowed in from the refrigerant flows out from the second outlet 14c, and the first outlet 14b is connected to the inlet side of the second freezer compartment cooler 6 via the capillary tube 16. . Further, the first freezer compartment cooler 5 is interposed between the second outlet 14c of the bubble pump 14 and the inlet side of the second freezer compartment cooler 6.

Now, FIG. 3 shows only the portions of the electric circuit configuration of the refrigerator that are related to the gist of the present invention. In this Figure 3, 17 is the set temperature
TR (having a certain differential) is a temperature control unit for the refrigerator compartment that can be changed by a variable resistor 18, and this is a temperature control unit for the refrigerator compartment that is detected by a thermistor 19 arranged to detect the temperature of the cooler 4 for the refrigerator compartment. When the temperature exceeds the upper limit of the set temperature TR, the comparison circuit 2
A high level signal is output from 0, and a low level signal is output from the comparator circuit 20 when the detected temperature becomes below the lower limit of the set temperature TR. The output of the comparator circuit 20 is supplied to a drive circuit 24 via an inverter 21, an AND circuit 22, and an OR circuit 23, and this drive circuit 24 operates the solenoid valve 12 only when receiving a high level signal. Turn on the power and open it. 25 is the set temperature
A temperature control section for the freezer compartment in which TF (having a constant differential) can be changed by a variable resistor 26, and this is a thermistor 27 arranged to detect the temperature of the second freezer cooler 6. When the detected temperature exceeds the upper limit of the set temperature TF, the comparator circuit 28 outputs a high level signal, and when the detected temperature falls below the lower limit of the set temperature TF, the comparator circuit 28 outputs a low level signal. Output.
The output of the comparator circuit 19 is applied to a drive circuit 31 via an AND circuit 29 and an OR circuit 30, and this drive circuit 31 energizes the compressor 8 only when it receives a high level signal. drive. Reference numeral 32 denotes an automatic reset type rapid freezing start switch interposed between the set input terminal S of the R-S flip-flop 33, which is a means for holding the DC power supply E, and the R-S flip-flop starts when turned on.
-S flip-flop 33 is set. That is, when the switch 32 is turned on, a quick freezing start command (high level signal) as an operation command is given to the set input terminal S of the R-S flip-flop 33, and in response, the R-S flip-flop 33 is turned on. A set state in which a high-level signal is output from the output terminal Q, that is, a state in which the quick freezing start command is held. Reference numeral 34 denotes a defrosting command timer unit supplied with power from the DC power source E, which outputs one timer pulse Pc every 24 hours, for example. Further, 35 is a holding means R set by the above-mentioned timer pulse Pc.
-S flip-flop. That is, the timer pulse Pc is given to the set input terminal S of the R-S flip-flop 35 as a forced defrost command, which is an operation command, and in response to this, the R
-S The flip-flop 35 outputs a high level signal from the output terminal Q, indicating a set state, that is, a state in which the forced defrosting command is held. Reference numeral 36 denotes a control circuit which is a control means, and is comprised of transfer gates 37 and 38 which receive the respective outputs of R-S flip-flops 33 and 35, respectively. The transfer gates 37 and 38 have their gate terminals 37
It is made conductive only when a low level signal is received at transfer gate 37a and 38a.
The output terminal of the transfer gate 38 is connected to the gate terminal 38a of the transfer gate 38, and the output terminal of the transfer gate 38 is connected to the gate terminal 37a of the transfer gate 37. 39 is an R-S flip-flop whose set input terminal S is connected to the output terminal of the transfer gate 37, and whose set output terminal Q is connected to each input terminal of the OR circuits 23 and 30 and the input terminal of the drive circuit 40. There is. The drive circuit 40 energizes the built-in heater 15 of the bubble pump 14 only when receiving a high level signal. Further, the output of the R-S flip-flop 39 is also given to a timer circuit 41, and this timer circuit 41 starts a timer circuit that receives a high level signal when, for example, 40 minutes have elapsed since receiving the high level signal. A pulse _P41 is output, and the R-S flip-flops 33 and 39 are reset by the timer pulse _P41 .
42, the set input terminal S is the transfer gate 3
The set output terminal Q is an R-S flip-flop connected to the output terminal of the set output terminal Q, and the output from the set output terminal Q is given to the drive circuit 43 and the timer circuit 44.
The drive circuit 43 is configured to energize the defrosting heater 7 only when it receives a high level signal, and the timer circuit 44 is configured to energize the defrosting heater 7 only when it receives a high level signal. output pulse P ₄₄ , output its timer pulse P ₄₄ , output its timer pulse
R-S flip-flop 35 and 4 by P ₄₄
2 is reset. Furthermore, the output of the R-S flip-flop 42 is transmitted through an inverter 45.
It is also applied to each input terminal of AND circuits 22 and 29.

In addition, the control circuit 36, the R-S flip-flop 3
3, 35, 39, 42 and timer circuits 41, 4
Functions such as 4 can also be obtained by a microcomputer program.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained. Now, during the normal cooling operation in which the quick freezing start switch 32 is not turned on and the defrosting operation of the second freezer compartment cooler 6, which will be described later, is not performed, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment cooler 4, i.e. Thermistor 1
When the temperature detected by 9 is higher than the upper limit of the set temperature TR, a high level signal is output from the comparison circuit 20, and the temperature of the second freezer compartment cooler 6, that is, the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 is the upper limit of the set temperature TF. When the value is greater than the value and a high level signal is also output from the comparison circuit 28, a low level signal inverted by the inverter 21 is applied to one input terminal of the AND circuit 22, and one input terminal of the AND circuit 29 A high level signal is applied to the input terminal. At this time, that is, when the defrosting operation is not being performed, a high level signal is applied to each local input terminal of the AND circuits 22 and 29, as will be understood later, so that as a result, the drive circuit 3
1, a high level signal is applied from the AND circuit 29 via the OR circuit 30 to energize the compressor 8, and a low level signal is applied to the drive circuit 24, so that the solenoid valve 12 is closed. Therefore, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 is supplied to both the refrigerator compartment cooler 4 and the second freezer compartment cooler 6, thereby cooling both the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 2. Due to such cooling operation, the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 3 decreases, and the temperature detected by the thermistor 19 similarly decreases, and when the temperature detected by the thermistor 19 becomes equal to or lower than the lower limit of the set temperature TR, the comparator circuit 2
A low level signal is output from 0 and the AND circuit 2
Since the high level signal inverted by the inverter 21 is applied to the drive circuit 24, as a result, the drive circuit 24
A high level signal is applied to the solenoid valve 12, and the solenoid valve 12 is energized and opened. At this point, that is, when the quick freezing operation of the freezer compartment 2 is not being performed, the built-in heater 15 of the bubble pump 14 is cut off, as will be clear from the description below.
4a and the first outlet 14b are in communication with each other. Therefore, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 passes through the solenoid valve 12, bubble pump 14, etc.
The cooling operation of the freezer compartment 2 continues with the supply being supplied only to the freezer compartment cooler 6. Due to this cooling operation, the temperature inside the freezer compartment 2 further decreases,
Therefore, the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 is the set temperature.
When TF falls below the lower limit value, a low level signal is output from the comparator circuit 28, so the compressor 8 is cut off and the operation of the refrigeration cycle is stopped. After this, the temperature detected by the thermistor 27 will be the set temperature.
When the upper limit of TF is exceeded, the compressor 8 starts to be driven, and the solenoid valve 12 is closed or opened depending on the temperature detected by the thermistor 19, thereby repeating the normal cooling operation as described above.

Now, when home freezing or when you want to freeze water immediately, place the item to be frozen in the freezer compartment 2, especially on the first freezer compartment cooler 5, and turn on the quick freezing start switch 32. When turned on for a short time, R-S flip-flop 3
3 is set, and a high level signal from the set output terminal Q is applied to the transfer gate 37. At this point, that is, when the second freezer compartment cooler 6 is not in the defrosting operation, a low level signal is applied to the gate terminal of the transfer gate 37, as will be understood from below.
A high level signal is output from the transfer gate 37 and the R-S flip-flop 39 is set. Therefore, a high level signal is output from the R-S flip-flop 39, and this is sent to the drive circuit 2.
4, 31, and 40, so that the solenoid valve 12 and the compressor 8 are energized regardless of the respective states of the refrigerator compartment temperature control unit 17 and the freezer compartment temperature control unit 25, and the built-in When the heater 15 is energized, the bubble pump 14 comes into a state where the inlet 14a and the second outlet 14c are communicated with each other. Then, the forced operation of the cooler is such that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 is supplied to the first freezer compartment cooler 5 and the second freezer compartment cooler 6 via the solenoid valve 12 and the bubble pump 14. Barrel rapid freezing operation begins. Also, at the same time as the start of such quick freezing operation, the R-S flip-flop 3
Timer circuit 4 receiving the high level signal from 9
1 starts the timer operation, and after 40 minutes, the timer circuit 41 outputs a timer pulse.
_P41 is output and R-S flip-flops 33 and 39 are reset. As a result, solenoid valve 1
2. The compressor 8 and built-in heater 15 are all cut off, and the quick freezing operation is terminated.

On the other hand, defrosting inside the freezer compartment 2 is performed as follows. That is, during the normal cooling operation, only the second freezer compartment cooler 6 is operated, so frost buildup concentrates on the second freezer compartment cooler 6, and during the quick freezing operation, the first freezer compartment cooler 6 is operated.
Although frost forms on the freezer compartment cooler 5, the frost is transferred by sublimation to the second freezer compartment cooler 6, which has a lower temperature. Frost will start to grow on container 6. When the timer pulse Pc is output from the timer section 34 and the R-S flip-flop 35 is set in a state where the quick freezing operation is not being performed, a high level signal from the set output terminal Q is sent to the transfer gate 38. given to. At this time, if rapid freezing operation is not performed,
As will be understood from the description below, Transfer Gate 3
Since a low level signal is applied to the gate terminal of the transfer gate 8, a high level signal is output from the transfer gate 38 and the R-S flip-flop 42
is set. Therefore, a high level signal is outputted from the R-S flip-flop 42 and given to the drive circuit 43, which starts energizing the defrosting heater 7. At the same time, the high-level signal from the R-S flip-flop 42 is outputted to the inverter. 45, the signal is inverted to a low level signal and sent to the AND circuit 22,
As a result, the solenoid valve 12 and the compressor 8 are forcibly cut off, and a periodic defrosting operation, which is a forced defrosting operation by the defrosting heater 7, is started. Simultaneously with the start of the periodic defrosting operation, the timer circuit 44 that receives the high level signal from the R-S flip-flop 42 starts the timer operation, and when 30 minutes have elapsed, the timer circuit 44 outputs a timer pulse _P44. is output, and the R-S flip-flops 35 and 42 are reset. As a result, the defrosting heater is cut off, and the AND circuits 22 and 29 allow the signals from the refrigerator temperature control section 17 and the freezer temperature control section 25 to pass through, respectively. The temperature controllers 17 and 25 control the electromagnetic valve 12 and the compressor 8, respectively, and the regular defrosting operation ends.

Therefore, for example, during periodic defrosting operation, the R-S
Since the high level signal from the flip-flop 35 is applied to the gate terminal 37a of the transfer gate 37 via the transfer gate 38, the transfer gate 37 is in a non-conductive state. Therefore, when the quick freezing start switch 32 is turned on and the R-S flip-flop 33 is set during regular defrosting operation, the R-S flip-flop 33 is set.
The high level signal output by the S flip-flop 33 does not pass through the transfer gate 37, and therefore the quick freezing operation is not started. After this,
When the periodic defrosting operation is stopped and the R-S flip-flop 35 is reset, a low level signal is input to the gate terminal 37a of the transfer gate 37, making the transfer gate 37 conductive. The high level signal passes through the transfer gate 37 and becomes R-.
The S flip-flop 39 is set, and the rapid freezing operation is started in the same manner as described above. On the other hand, during the quick freezing operation, a high level signal from the R-S flip-flop 33 is applied to the gate terminal 38a of the transfer gate 38 via the transfer gate 37.
Transfer Gate 38
is in a non-conducting state. For this reason, the timer pulse Pc is output from the timer unit 34 during the quick freezing operation.
is output and the R-S flip-flop 35 is set, the R-S flip-flop 35 is set.
The high level signal outputted by No. 5 does not pass through the transfer gate 38, and therefore the periodic atomization operation is not started. Thereafter, when the quick freezing operation is stopped and the R-S flip-flop 33 is reset, the gate terminal 38 of the transfer gate 38 is reset.
Since a low level signal is input to the terminal a and the transfer gate 38 is made conductive, a high level signal from the RS flip-flop 35 passes through the transfer gate 38 and is output to the RS flip-flop 42.
is set, and the periodic defrosting operation is started in the same manner as described above.

According to the present embodiment described above, when the timer pulse Pc is output from the timer section 34, in other words, when the periodic defrosting operation command is issued, if the quick freezing operation is not being performed, the periodic defrosting operation is not performed immediately. Since the defrosting operation is started and, if a quick freezing operation is being performed at the same time, a periodic defrosting operation is started following the end of the quick freezing operation, so that periodic defrosting is performed reliably every time. Therefore, there is no risk that the defrosting inside the freezer compartment 2 will be insufficient as in the past.
Rapid freezing operation will not be interrupted carelessly due to periodic defrosting.

Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be applied to a refrigerator equipped with a refrigeration cycle having a well-known configuration as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, in this FIG. 4, 46 is a compressor, 47 is a condenser, 48, 49, and 50 are capillary tubes, 51 is a solenoid valve, 52 is a refrigerator cooler, and 53 is a capillary tube.
is a cooler for the freezer compartment; during quick freezing operation, the refrigerant from the compressor 46 is supplied only to the cooler 53 for the freezer compartment via the solenoid valve 51, and during periodic defrosting operation, the compressor 46 is stopped while freezing. A defrosting heater (not shown) attached to the cooler 53 is energized.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, as is clear from the above explanation, in addition to operations related to the normal refrigeration cycle, two or more operations such as forced defrosting operation of the cooler and forced operation operation of the cooler are performed. Although the configuration has the above functions, it has the excellent effect of always being able to sufficiently defrost the cooler without impairing other functions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the upper half of the refrigerator, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the refrigeration cycle, and Figure 3 is the electrical configuration. FIG. Moreover, FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 4 and 52 are refrigerator compartment coolers, 5 is a first freezer compartment cooler, 6 is a second freezer compartment cooler, 3
3 and 35 are R-S flip-flops (holding means);
36 is a control circuit (control means), and 53 is a freezer compartment cooler.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In addition to operations related to the normal refrigeration cycle, when an operation command for each of the above functions is issued in a device that has two or more functions such as forced defrosting of the cooler and forced operation of the cooler, holding means for holding these and releasing the holding operation of the corresponding operation command after the execution of the operation; A refrigerator characterized in that it is provided with a control means for performing functions corresponding to the remaining operation commands held in the holding means after performing the functions with priority.