JPH0749162A - Automatic icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To timely supply ice by mounting a switch to be pressed when the ice is urgently required, and deciding a forcible operation of a cold air circulating fan and a water feeding time according to the switch and the atmospheric temperature. CONSTITUTION:Switch detecting means 20 becomes ON when a switch is pressed and OFF when the switch is not pressed. When a temperature of atmospheric temperature detecting means 21 in the ON state is higher than a set value, a forcible operation of a cold air circulating fan 22 at a fast rotating speed is selected, while when it is lower, a forcible operation of the fan 22 at a normal rotating speed is selected. When it is OFF, a stop of the forcible operation of the fan 22 is selected. When a temperature of the means 21 is higher than the set value in the ON state, a first water feed timer 26 is selected, while when it is lower, a second water feed timer 27 is selected. When it is OFF, a third water feed timer 28 is selected. The water feed time is set to satisfy (the timer 26 (e.g. 3sec) < the timer 27 (4sec) < the timer 38 (6sec).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device provided in a refrigerator and adapted to automatically rotate an ice making container to perform an ice removing operation after completion of ice making.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an automatic ice making device, for example, attached to a refrigerator for home use, has been conventionally devised and has a structure as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 20769/1992. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of a conventional automatic ice making device. When 1 is an ice making container attached to a home refrigerator, it is installed in a freezer or an independent room at a freezing temperature (-18 ° C). Reference numeral 2 denotes a temperature detecting means which is provided on the outer bottom surface of the ice making container 1 and includes a thermistor for detecting the completion of ice making. 3 is a water supply tank, which is installed in a refrigerating room when it is attached to a home refrigerator. Reference numeral 4 is a water supply pump motor for supplying water from the water supply tank 3 to the ice making container 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an ice removing mechanism for rotating the ice making container 1 to perform an ice removing operation, and a motor 6 for rotating the ice making container 1.
A twisting portion 7 for twisting the ice making container 1 to rotate to separate ice, a position detecting means 8 including a micro switch indicating completion of twisting, and a horizontal position detecting means 9 of the ice making container 1.

The ice removing mechanism 5 is formed in an ice making case 10 surrounded by plastic or the like. Also ice making container 1
An ice storage box 11 for storing the fallen ice is arranged under the. Further, from the ice making case 10, an ice detecting lever 12 which moves up and down in conjunction with the ice removing mechanism 5 and the motor 6 with a part of the ice making case 10 for detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box as a fulcrum is provided on the ice storage box 11. positioned. When the motor 6 starts to move, the ice detecting lever 12 starts to move down to the lowest position after a certain period of time.

When the motor 6 is further moved, the ice detecting lever 12 starts to move up and finally the ice detecting lever 12 returns to the initial position. If the ice detecting lever 12 hits an obstacle such as ice while the ice detecting lever 12 is descending, the ice detecting lever 12 stops at the spot, but the motor 6 continues to move. Then, when the motor 6 starts to move and the operation of raising the ice detecting lever 12 is started after a certain period of time, the ice detecting lever 12 is also raised in conjunction. Inside the ice making case 10, there is an ice making detecting means 13 including a micro switch or the like for judging the amount of ice by the operation amount of the series of ice detecting levers 12.

Next, the control circuit will be described. Reference numeral 14 is a control means composed of a microcomputer or the like, and the temperature detection means 2, the position detection means 8, the horizontal position detection means 9 and the ice making detection means 13 are connected to the input terminals thereof. Driving means 15 and 16 for driving the motor 6 and the water feed pump motor 4 are connected to the output terminal. The control means 14 counts the time during which the water supply pump motor 4 is operated and the time when the control means 14 stops the motor 6 when the water supply timer 17 and the ice making detection means 13 detect full ice. It is composed of a timer 18 and a second timer 19 that counts the time from when the motor 6 starts to move.

In such a structure, the automatic ice making operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 1, if the state of the horizontal position detecting means 9 is ON, it is determined that the ice making container 1 is horizontal, and the process proceeds to step 2. When it is determined in step 1 that the motor 6 is not horizontal, the process proceeds to step 3 and the motor 6 is set to ON so as to operate. In step 2, the motor 6 is turned off and the process proceeds to step 4. In step 4, it is judged whether the temperature of the temperature detecting means 2 is higher or lower than the set value, and if it is higher, the process stands by until it becomes lower in step 4.
When it is determined in step 4 that the temperature is low, it is determined that the ice making is completed, the process proceeds to step 5 and the motor 6 is set to ON so as to operate, and in the next step 6, the second timer 19 is started.

In step 7, it is judged whether or not the second timer 19 has counted for a certain period of time. If the counting is not completed, the process stands by in step 7. The motor 6 is still moving during this time, and the operation thereof is such that the ice detecting lever 12 first descends and hits the ice in the ice storage box 11, stops or does not hit anything, reaches the lowest point, and then moves up. The ice making detection means 13 judges the amount of ice by the operation amount of the ice detecting lever 12,
It is off when there is a lot of ice and on when there is little ice. When the series of operations of the ice detecting lever 12 is completed, the time counting of the second timer 19 is also completed and the process proceeds to step 8.

In step 8, the state of the ice making detecting means 13 is confirmed. If the amount of ice in the ice storage box 11 is small and the ice storage box 11 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to step 9 to proceed to the ice removing operation. The ice making container 1 is rotated and twisted at the twisting portion 7 to make ice.
More freezing. Therefore, if the position detecting means 8 is turned on in step 9, it can be judged that the ice removing is completed, and the process proceeds to step 10 until the horizontal position detecting means 9 in which the ice making container 1 becomes horizontal is turned on. Return. When the horizontal position detecting means 9 is turned on in step 10, it is determined that the ice making container 1 is horizontal and the process proceeds to step 11 where the motor 6 is set to off so as to be stopped.

At step 12, the water supply pump motor 4 is set to ON to supply water to the empty ice making container 1, the water supply timer 17 is started at step 13, and the water supply timer 17 is timed up at step 14. The water supply pump motor 4 is operated up to. When the water supply time 17 is up in step 14, step 1
At 5 the water supply pump motor 4 is set to OFF so as to be stopped.

After the water supply is completed and the ice making cycle is completed, the process returns to step 4, and this cycle is repeated to automatically make ice. When the amount of ice in the ice storage box 11 increases in step 8 and the ice making detection means 13 is turned off, the process proceeds to step 16. In step 16, the motor 6 is set to OFF so as to be stopped, and in step 17
Then, the first timer 18 is started. In step 18, the first timer 18 waits until a predetermined time is reached, and when the predetermined time is reached, the process returns to step 5 to perform the ice detecting operation again.

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the water supply timer is constant (for example, 6 seconds), that is, the water supply amount is constant, and the ice making container is also at a constant temperature, so that the ice making time (for example, 2 hours) is also required. It does not change and is constant. Therefore, when the amount of ice used increases (for example, in summer), ice is supplied only every ice-making time even if ice is needed, which causes ice shortages and makes it possible for consumers to timely use ice. It had the drawback of not being supplied.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making device capable of supplying ice in a timely manner.

[0015]

In order to solve the above problems, the automatic ice making device of the present invention is equipped with a switch that pushes when ice is urgently needed, and the forced operation of the cooling air circulation fan and water supply are performed depending on the switch and the outside air temperature. It is configured to determine the time.

[0016]

With the above-described structure, the automatic ice making apparatus of the present invention, when the switch is pressed, determines the rotation speed of the cooling air circulation fan from the outside air temperature at that time to forcefully operate the ice making container and quickly cool the ice making container. The ice making time is shortened by shortening the water supply amount.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. It should be noted that the same parts as the conventional ones are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the refrigerator, in which 20 is a switch detecting means for detecting the state of the switch to be pushed when urgently wanting ice. Further, 21 is an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and 22 is a cold air circulating fan for detecting the temperature of the freezing compartment and stopping the operation.

FIG. 1 is a control circuit diagram, in which 23 is a control means composed of a microcomputer or the like, and its input terminals are temperature detection means 2, position detection means 8, horizontal position detection means 9, ice making detection means 13, The switch detection means 20 and the outside air temperature detection means 21, and the drive means 24 and the drive means 24 for forcibly driving the motor 6, the drive means 15 and 16 of the feed water pump motor 4 and the cool air circulation fan 22 to the output terminal at high speed. A driving means 25 for normally rotating is connected to the inside thereof, and is internally composed of first and second timers 18 and 19, and first, second and third water supply timers 26, 27 and 28.

The configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the steps 1 to 3 are the same as the conventional method, and the state of the switch detection means 20 is confirmed in the next step 101. The switch detection means 20 is in an ON state when the switch is pressed, and is in an OFF state when the switch is not pressed. If it is ON, the routine proceeds to step 102, where it is judged whether the temperature of the outside air temperature detecting means 21 is higher or lower than the set value. If the temperature is higher than the set value, step 10
In 3, the forced operation of the cold air circulation fan 22 at high speed is selected, and if it is low, the forced operation of the cold air circulation fan 22 in normal rotation is selected in step 104, and the process proceeds to step 4.

If step 101 is OFF,
In step 105, the forced stop of the cooling air circulation fan 22 is selected. Next, the process proceeds to step 4, and thereafter step 8 is the same as conventional. In the next step 106, the state of the switch detection means 20 is confirmed. If the switch detection means 20 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to step 107 to determine whether the temperature of the outside air temperature detection means 21 is higher or lower than the set value. If the temperature is higher than the set value, the first water supply timer 26 is selected in step 108, and if the temperature is lower, the second water supply timer 27 is selected in step 109 and the process proceeds to step 9.

If step 106 is OFF, the third water supply timer is selected in step 110. Here, the relationship of the water supply time is the first water supply timer 26 (for example, 3 seconds) <the second water supply timer 27 (for example, 4 seconds) <the third water supply timer 28 (for example, 6 seconds). Next, the process proceeds to step 9 and the process is the same as before until step 13. In the next step 111, the set water supply timer is counted, and if the time is up, the process proceeds to step 15. Next, returning to step 101, the steps described above are performed.

Further, in step 8, the ice-making detecting means 13 turns the O
If it is in the FF state, the process proceeds to step 112 to stop the forced operation of the cool air circulation fan 22, and the process proceeds to step 16 and thereafter is the same as the conventional one.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the switch is pressed, the rotation speed of the cooling air circulation fan is determined from the outside air temperature at that time, the forced operation is performed to cool the ice making container quickly, and the water supply time is shortened. Can be shortened.

[0025]

As described above, according to the automatic ice making device of the present invention, when the switch is pressed, the rotation speed of the cold air circulation fan is determined in order to shorten the ice making time according to the outside air temperature at that time. After that, forcibly operate to cool the ice making container quickly, shorten the water supply time and reduce the water supply amount,
Even when ice is needed during times of increased use (eg in summer), it can be supplied to consumers in a timely manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control circuit diagram of an automatic ice making device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ice removing mechanism of the automatic ice making device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the refrigerator-freezer in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram of a conventional automatic ice making device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a conventional automatic ice making device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ice removing mechanism of a conventional automatic ice making device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional automatic ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ice making container 2 temperature detecting means 3 water supply tank 4 water supply pump motor 5 ice removing mechanism 6 motor 8 position detecting means 9 horizontal position detecting means 10 ice making case 11 ice storage box 12 ice detecting lever 13 ice making detecting means 20 switch detecting means 21 outside temperature Detecting means 22 Cold air circulation fan 23 Control means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank, an ice making container, a water supply pump motor for supplying water from the water supply tank to the ice making container,
Temperature detecting means attached to the ice making container, a motor for rotating the ice making container, position detecting means for indicating the position of the rotating ice making container, horizontal position detecting means for indicating a horizontal position of the ice making container, and the ice making An ice removing mechanism that rotates a container to drop ice, an ice making case that constitutes the ice removing mechanism, an ice storage box under the ice making container for storing the released ice, and an ice making case coming out of the ice making case. The ice detection lever that moves up and down on the ice storage box in conjunction with the motor to detect the amount of ice, the ice making detection means that determines the amount of ice from the operation amount of the ice detection lever, and want the ice quickly A switch detecting means for detecting the state of the switch to be pushed at some time, an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and a cool air circulation fan for detecting the temperature of the freezing room to stop the operation, and the ice making container is placed horizontally. The above During the first driving period for driving the engine, the forced operation of the cooling air circulation fan is determined based on the state of the switch detection means and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means, and the temperature detection means becomes a predetermined temperature or less. Cooling period, an ice detecting period in which the ice detecting lever is operated after the cooling period is finished to detect the amount of ice by the ice making detecting means, a second driving period in which the ice making container is subsequently rotated, and the second
When the ice making detection means detects full ice in the ice making cycle in the ice making cycle in which the water feed pump motor is driven for a specified water feeding time after the end of the driving period of Is an automatic ice-making device equipped with a control means that does not go on to the next period until the ice storage amount becomes insufficient after performing ice detection operation again after waiting for a certain period of time. 2. An ice detection period in which the ice detection lever is operated after the cooling period is completed to detect the amount of ice by the ice making detection means, and the water supply time is determined based on the state of the switch detection means and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means. The automatic ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising: