JPH0498065A - Automatic ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effect ice making operation surely and exclude wasteful time to improve ice making capacity by a method wherein the operation of a timer is started when a detecting temperature has arrived at ice making finishing temperature and ice separating operation is effected after a predetermined timer time has come. CONSTITUTION:When a temperature in an ice making chamber 3 is reduced and the detecting temperature of a temperature detecting element 12, attached to an ice making pan 7, becomes lower than -12 deg.C, the timer operation of a microcomputer 13 is started. Thereafter, when the timer time of 60 second, for example, has come the finishing of ice making is detected. When the finishing of ice making is detected, ice separating operation is effected to separate a produced ice block from an ice making pan 7 and reserve it into an ice reserving vessel 9, then, a program after water feeding operation is repeated again. The detecting operation of the finishing of ice making is effected by the microcomputer 13 so that the operation of a timer is started based on the detecting temperature (-12 deg.C) of the temperature detecting element 12 and the judgment of the finishing is effected when a predetermined time (60sec) has elapsed in such a manner whereby the detection of the finishing of ice making depends on an actual, time necessitated for the ice making even when the speed of ice making is changed in accordance with an using condition and wasteful time can be excluded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device that automatically performs operations from water supply and ice making to ice removal operations.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of automatic ice-making device, a water supply mechanism supplies water to an ice-making tray disposed in an ice-making chamber, a cooler starts ice-making operation, and detects when ice is made. The ice-release mechanism automatically performs the ice-release operation, and the series of operations of storing water in the water storage section are repeated.

In this case, the completion of ice making is detected when the temperature of the ice tray is detected by a temperature sensor and the detected temperature reaches the set temperature for ice making completion, and the timer measures the time from the start of water supply. The determination is made based on the condition that a predetermined time has been reached. As a result, a reliable ice-making operation can be performed automatically, so the user is freed from the trouble of performing water supply or ice removal operations, and is highly user-friendly.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional configuration as described above, there were unresolved problems as described below.

In the above case, the timer time for determining the completion of ice making needs to be set on the premise that ice making is completed regardless of the usage conditions of the refrigerator. Therefore, even under operating conditions such as frequent opening and closing of the door or high outside temperature, ice making must be reliably completed at the end of the timer period.

Since it is difficult to predict and set such usage conditions at the time of manufacture, it is more reliable to set the timer time to a long time, such as 2 hours, which provides sufficient margin for the time required for normal ice making. However, this means that even if the ice-making conditions are good, the ice removal operation will not begin until the above-mentioned timer time has elapsed, so the waiting time after the temperature sensor detects the ice-making completion temperature is wasted. As a result, the ice making efficiency decreases as a whole.

On the other hand, in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, it is conceivable to stop measuring time by the timer means and shift to the ice-off operation based only on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, but in this case, the temperature sensor or temperature detection circuit If the ice-making unit outputs a detection signal even though the ice-making completion temperature has not been reached due to noise, etc., the ice-making operation will be performed with water still remaining, and there is a risk that reliable ice-making operation will not be performed. There is.

In addition, in order to prevent this, if the detection temperature that starts the ice removal operation is set even lower, depending on the usage conditions of the refrigerator, it may take a long time to reach the set temperature, which again results in wasted time or increases. This results in a decrease in ice making efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an automatic ice-making device that can reliably perform ice-making operations and improve ice-making ability by eliminating wasted time.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a water supply mechanism that supplies water to an ice tray to start an ice making operation, detects the completion of ice making, and causes an ice removal mechanism to perform an ice removal operation. The automatic ice making apparatus having the control means as described above is provided with a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the ice making tray and a timer means, and the control means is provided with a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the ice making tray, and a timer means for detecting the temperature detected by the temperature detection means or the ice making completion temperature. It is characterized by the fact that it is delayed as soon as it is done.

(Function) According to the automatic ice making device of the present invention, when the ice making operation is started and the temperature of the ice making tray reaches the ice making completion temperature, the temperature detection means detects this and outputs a detection signal. Thereby, the control means causes the timer means to start a timer operation, and causes the ice removal mechanism to perform an ice removal operation after a predetermined timer period has elapsed. Therefore, the ice-making operation can be reliably started based on the ice-making completion temperature detected by the temperature detection means, and when the temperature of the ice-making tray approaches the ice-making completion temperature, the temperature detection means outputs a detection signal due to adverse effects such as noise. Even in this case, the ice-making completion temperature is sufficiently reached within the timer period, so that the ice-making operation can be carried out reliably. Furthermore, this allows the time required for ice making to be used without wasting time, improving ice making ability.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a refrigerator with an automatic ice-making function will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the refrigerator main body 1 viewed from the front, with the freezer compartment 2. Ice making room 3. Select room that can be switched to multiple temperatures 4. A refrigerator compartment 5 and a food compartment 6 are provided, each of which is controlled to be cooled by a cooling device (not shown). In this ice-making chamber 3, the ice-making tray 7 is rotated upside down while being supported by an ice-removing mechanism 8 to perform an ice-removing operation. Further, a water storage container 9 is disposed below the ice tray 7, and stores the ice from the ice tray 7 that has been detached and dropped by the ice removal mechanism 8. A water supply mechanism 11 for supplying ice-making water stored in a water supply tank 10 is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 5 . A temperature detection element 12 serving as temperature detection means is disposed on the lower surface of the ice tray 7 and detects the temperature of the ice tray 7. The temperature detection element 12 is made of, for example, a thermistor, and detects the corresponding temperature by changing its resistance value depending on the temperature.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration. The microcomputer 13 is supplied with power from a DC power supply 15 via a constant voltage circuit 14, and contains ROM and R
It is equipped with an AM and controls the cooling device and the like based on a control program (not shown) to perform cooling control for each of the above-mentioned rooms.

Further, the microcomputer 13 has a function as a control means and a timer means for controlling the ice making operation based on a program to be described later. The temperature detection element 12 is connected between the output terminal of the constant voltage circuit 14 and the temperature detection input terminal T of the microcomputer r3. The water supply pump motor 16 disposed in the water supply mechanism 11 has one end connected to the positive terminal of the DC power supply 15 via a thermistor 17 having positive temperature characteristics for overcurrent protection, and the other end connected to a control transistor. It is grounded via 18. A base control signal is applied to the transistor 18 from the pump control terminal P of the microcomputer 13. The ice making tray rotation motor 19 of the ice removal mechanism 8 is switched between forward and reverse power supply via a reversing switch 20 . The reversing switch 20 is composed of two interlocked changeover switches 2.
1.22, the movable contacts 21c and 22c are connected to both terminals of the ice tray rotation motor 19, the normally closed contact 21b and the normally open contact 22a are connected to the positive terminal of the DC power supply 15, and the normally open contacts 21a and the normally closed contact 22b are a thermistor 23. for overcurrent protection. It is grounded via a transistor 24 for motor drive control. The reversing switch 20 is switched when the ice tray 7 is rotated 180 degrees from the horizontal position and reaches the position where the ice removal operation is performed, and is switched to the initial state when the ice tray 7 is rotated back to the horizontal position. It looks like this. A base signal is applied to the transistor 24 from the ice release mechanism control terminal C of the microcomputer 13. In the horizontal switch 25, when the ice tray 7 is in a horizontal state, the normally closed contact 25B and the movable contact 25c are in a conductive state.
When the ice tray 7 rotates beyond a predetermined angle, the normally open contact 25a
The normally open contact 25a is connected to the common connection point of the thermistor 23 and the transistor 24, and the normally closed contact 25b is connected to the rotation detection terminal Q of the microcomputer 13. connected,
The movable contact 25c is grounded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of the ice making control program shown in FIG.

First, when the power is turned on, the cooling device starts cooling the inside of the refrigerator, and the microcomputer 13 starts the ice making program shown in FIG.

(1) Ice-making completion detection operation When the temperature inside the ice-making chamber 3 decreases and the temperature detected by the temperature detection element 12 attached to the ice-making tray 7 falls below 112 degrees Celsius, the microcomputer 13 selects rYE in step S1.
It is determined that it is SJ, the process moves to step S2, and a timer operation is started. After this, for example, when the timer time of 60 seconds expires, it is judged as rYESJ in step S3, and step S4
to move to. This allows the completion of ice making to be detected.

In this case, the ice-making operation is not completed in accordance with the ice-making operation described later, but is an initial operation after the power is turned on, so water is not supplied to the ice-making tray 7 and no ice is generated.

(II) Ice removal operation Next, in step S4, the microcomputer 13:
A signal at rHJ level is output from the ice removal mechanism control terminal C to turn on the transistor 24 and rotate the ice tray rotation motor 19. That is, when the transistor 24 is turned on,
DC power supply 151 reversing switch 20. Ice tray rotation motor 19. The ice-making tray rotation motor 19 rotates in the forward direction, that is, in the direction of reversing the ice-making tray 7, through the path of the thermistor 23 and transistor 24. Thereafter, when the ice tray 7 rotates to a predetermined angle, the movable contact 25c of the horizontal switch 25 is switched to conduction with the normally open contact 25a. As a result, the collector of the transistor 24 is grounded via the horizontal switch 25, so that the ice tray rotation motor 19 is kept energized in the forward direction regardless of whether the transistor 24 is on or off.

On the other hand, since the normally closed contact 25b of the horizontal switch 25 is in the oven state, an rHJ level signal is given to the dish rotation detection terminal Q of the microcomputer 13, and based on this, the microcomputer 13
is turned off (step S6). When the ice tray 7 is rotated 180 degrees to the ice release position, the ice removal mechanism 8 automatically performs the ice removal operation, and the reverse switch 20 is switched, and the ice tray rotation motor 19 is switched to the above-mentioned position. On the other hand, it becomes energized. As a result, the ice tray 7 is rotated so as to return to the horizontal position again. Thereafter, when the ice tray 7 returns to the horizontal position, the horizontal switch 25 is switched to return to the initial state. At this time, the transistor 24 operates in step S6.
Since the motor 19 for rotating the ice tray is already turned off, the power is cut off. And microcomputer 13
In step S7), it is determined that the ice-making tray 7 has returned to the horizontal position by switching the horizontal switch 25 to the initial state and applying a rLJ level signal to the ice-release mechanism control terminal C. Finish the operation.

In this case, the initial operation after turning on the power is to ensure that no ice remains in the ice tray 7 before starting the ice making operation. This is to prevent ice-making water from overflowing if water is supplied with ice remaining in the ice-making tray 7 when the power is restored.

(m) Water supply operation Next, the microcomputer 13 connects the pump control terminal P.
A signal at the rHJ level is output from the controller 10 to turn on the transistor 18, and the water supply pump motor 16 is energized and rotated (step S8), and the water supply timer operation is started (step S9).

As a result, the water supply tank 10 disposed in the refrigerator compartment 5
The ice-making water is pumped up and supplied to the ice-making tray 7 by the pump of the water supply mechanism. When the ice-making tray 7 is filled with ice-making water and the predetermined timer period ends, the microcomputer 13 determines rYESJ in step SIO, turns off the transistor 18, and steps to stop the water supply pump motor 16 from being de-energized. 5ll), the series of water supply operations is completed.

In the above-described water supply operation, if water for ice making is stored in the water supply tank 10, water is normally supplied to the ice tray 7, and as water is supplied, the temperature of the ice tray 7 changes to the above-mentioned level. The temperature will rise from 12℃. When the detected temperature given by the temperature detection element 12 becomes -9.5°C or higher within a predetermined period of time (for example, 5 minutes) after stopping the water supply operation described above, the microcomputer 13 determines rYEsJ in step S12. It is determined that the water supply operation has been performed normally and the process moves to step S1.

In addition, if the water for ice making in the water supply tank IO is insufficient and water is not supplied to the ice making tray 7, the temperature of the ice making tray 7 will not rise above -9.5°C even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. This is detected, and a "NO" determination is made in step S12, and the replenishment of water to the water tank 10 is indicated by a light emitting diode or the like (step 813), and the process continues in step S14 until the water is replenished. It will be in a standby state.

After this, when the water tank 10 is replenished with water, rYESJ is determined in step 514, and the process moves to step S1.

(IV) Ice-making operation Now, as described above, when water is supplied to the ice-making tray 7, the ice-making water begins to freeze due to the cold air in the ice-making chamber 3.

At this time, the microcomputer 13 determines whether ice making is complete based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection element CO-2, although the rate of water production varies depending on the usage state of the refrigerator. That is, as described above, by performing the ice-making completion detection operation (1) from steps S1 to S3, the determination is made based on the time substantially required for the ice-making operation.

Now, when the completion of ice making is detected in this way, the ice making operation (II) of steps S4 to S7 described above is executed to remove the generated ice from the ice making tray 7 and store it in the water storage container 9. , repeat the water supply operation (m) and subsequent steps again.

The microcomputer 13 then controls the ice-making operation as described above until the water storage container 9 is full of ice, and when that state is reached, it enters a standby state for an ice-making operation based on a program (not shown). .

According to this embodiment, the microcomputer 1
3, the ice making completion detection operation (I) is performed by temperature detection element 1.
The timer operation is started based on the detected temperature (-12℃) in step 2, and the judgment is made after a predetermined period of time (60 seconds) has elapsed, so even if the ice-making speed changes depending on the usage conditions, Detection of the completion of ice making depends on the actual time required for ice making at that time, and wasted time can be eliminated. Moreover, even if the temperature detection element 12 outputs a detection signal due to adverse effects such as noise as the temperature approaches the ice-making completion temperature, the actual temperature of the ice-making tray 7 will reach the ice-making completion temperature while the timer time elapses, so there is no waste. It can reliably generate ice. Therefore, ice making efficiency can be improved overall.

In the above embodiment, the present invention was applied to a refrigerator, but it goes without saying that the present invention may also be applied to a standalone ice making device.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the automatic ice making apparatus of the present invention, the control means causes the timer means to start the timer operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches the completion of ice making, and when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. After that, the ice removal mechanism is made to perform the ice removal operation. As a result, the completion of ice making can be determined based on the time actually required to generate ice, and even if the completion of ice making is detected due to adverse effects such as noise as the temperature approaches the completion temperature of ice making, the Since ice-making can be completed reliably in a timely manner, the ice-making completion temperature can be set to an appropriate temperature without setting it to an unnecessarily low value. As a result, the excellent effect of improving the ice making efficiency as a whole is achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrical configuration, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view schematically showing the ice making mechanism installed in the refrigerator, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the ice making control program. FIG. In the drawing, 1 is the refrigerator body, 3 is the ice making compartment, 5 is the refrigerator compartment, and 7
8 is an ice tray, 8 is an ice removal mechanism, 9 is an ice storage container, 10 is a water supply tank, 11 is a water supply mechanism, 12 is a temperature detection element (temperature detection means), 13 is a microcomputer (control means, timer means), 16 is A water supply pump motor, 18, 24 a transistor, 19 an ice tray rotating motor, 20 a reversing switch, and 25 a horizontal switch. ]b Agent: Patent Attorney Koka Sato 1.Izusei Shuzo Program

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic ice making apparatus having a control means configured to supply water to the ice tray by a water supply mechanism to start ice making operation, and to detect the completion of ice making and cause the ice removal mechanism to perform the ice removal operation, The control means includes a temperature detection means for detecting temperature and a timer means, and the control means causes the timer means to start a timer operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches the ice making completion temperature, and sets a predetermined timer operation. An automatic ice making device characterized in that the ice removing mechanism is caused to perform an ice removing operation after a time has elapsed.