KR100565498B1 - Ice maker for refrigerator and the control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ice maker that can store ice storage liquid in an ice maker mold in which water is iced, and to shorten the ice making time. In the refrigerator provided with a refrigeration cycle device, the cold air cooled by the refrigeration cycle device is provided. An ice maker mold in which water supplied by the refrigerator is cooled to generate ice; An ejector for discharging ice generated in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid contained in the ice maker mold; It characterized in that it comprises a heater for heating the ice maker mold.

Refrigerator, ice maker mold, ejector, cold storage liquid, circulation pump, storage pump. Cold storage tank

Description

Ice maker for refrigerator and its control method {Ice maker for refrigerator and the control method of the same}             

1 is a perspective view of an open freezer and a refrigerating compartment of a typical refrigerator;

2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the prior art,

3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the prior art,

4 is a control block diagram of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the prior art;

5 is a perspective view of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention opened;

6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a freezer compartment of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

7 is a side sectional view showing a refrigerating chamber of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating an ice maker and an ice bank of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

9 is a cross-sectional view showing an ice maker and an ice bank of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an ice maker and an ice bank of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

11 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a control method of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention;

12 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a control method of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention;

13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of an ice maker mold of a refrigerator first embodiment according to the present invention;

14 is a side sectional view showing a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

50: main body 52: barrier

54: freezer door 56: cold storage door

60: ice maker 61: ice maker mold

61a: connecting portion 61b: partition projection

61c: water overflow prevention portion 61d: coolant flow path

62: ejector 63: cup

63b: slider 64: circulation pump

65: heater 66: cold storage tank

66a: connection tube 67: storage pump

68: ice making control unit 70: ice bank

71: ice outlet 72: shutter

74: auger 75: motor

76: ice crusher 80: dispenser

90: ice chute 122: evaporator

124: cooling fan 132: compressor

134: condenser 136: inflator

F: Freezer R: Refrigerator

C: cooling chamber w: water

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ice maker and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerator ice maker and a control method thereof, in which an ice storage liquid is accommodated inside an ice maker mold in which water is iced to shorten the ice making time.

In general, a refrigerator is a device for keeping a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment at a low temperature by using a refrigeration cycle device of a refrigerant.

1 is a perspective view of a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment of an ordinary refrigerator are opened.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator includes a freezing cycle device for freezing compartment F and a refrigerating compartment R defined by a barrier 1 to cool the freezing compartment F and a refrigerating compartment R at low temperature. And a freezer compartment door 4 connected to the main body 2 to open and close the freezer compartment F, and a refrigerating compartment door connected to the main body 2 to open and close the refrigerating compartment R. It is comprised including (6).

The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor for compressing a low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant, a condenser in which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor is radiated to outside air to condense, an expander for reducing the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, and the expander The refrigerant expanded in the evaporator is configured to evaporate by taking heat of air circulated from the freezing compartment (F) or the refrigerating chamber (R).

In recent years, ice making apparatus using ice cold in the freezing compartment (F) is a trend that is equipped with an ice making device to take out to the outside.

The ice making apparatus is mounted on an inner upper portion of the freezing compartment (F), the ice making machine (12) for making ice water supplied to the cold air in the freezing compartment (F), and the freezing compartment so that ice iced in the ice maker 12 is iced and contained (F) the ice bank 14 mounted on the inside, the freezer compartment dispenser 16 mounted on the freezer door to take out the ice without opening and closing the freezer door 4, and the ice contained in the ice bank It consists of an ice chute 18 for guiding it to fall into the dispenser 16.

2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator ice maker according to the prior art, Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator ice maker according to the prior art, Figure 4 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator ice maker according to the prior art.

2 to 4, the conventional ice maker 12 is supplied through a water supply hose (not shown), the cup 21 is filled with water and the water supply hole is formed on one side, and the cup 21 of Water supplied through the water supply hole is contained in the ice maker mold 22 which is iced by the cold air in the freezer compartment, and is mounted on the ice maker mold 22 so that the ice maker mold 22 and the ice can be separated when the ice is taken out. A heater 25 for heating the ice maker mold 22, an ejector 24 for spraying ice iced from the ice maker mold 22, and a motor 25 for generating a driving force for rotating the ejector 24. And a slider 26 for guiding the ice scooped up by the ejector 24 to the ice bank, an ice-covering detection lever 27 for sensing the ice of the ice bank, and a temperature of the ice maker mold 22. And the heater 23 and the mother according to whether the ice bank is full of ice. Controlling (25) and consists of the ice-making controller 28 for controlling the water supply valve (21a) to regulate the water supplied to the cup 21.

The motor 25 is mounted inside the ice making control 28.

The ice making control unit 28 has a temperature sensor 29a for detecting a temperature of the ice maker mold 22 and a ice detection sensor 29b for detecting an ice level of the ice bank by detecting an operation of the ice detection lever 22. ) Is provided.

Looking at the operation of the refrigerator of the prior art configured as described above are as follows.

First, when the compressor is driven, a high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant is discharged from the compressor, and the discharged high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant is heat-exchanged with air around the condenser while condensing into a liquid refrigerant of medium temperature and high pressure. As it passes through the expander, it expands into a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant expanded in the expander cools the surroundings while passing through the evaporator, and the cold air cooled by the evaporator circulates around the freezer compartment (F) and the refrigerating chamber (R) and the evaporator, and the freezer compartment (F) and the refrigerating compartment ( Keep R) at low temperature.

On the other hand, the cold air discharged into the freezer compartment (F) cools the ice maker (12) inside the freezer compartment (F) and cools the water contained in the ice maker (12) to make ice, and the iced ice is the ice It is contained in the bank 14.

The ice contained in the ice bank 14 is extracted from the ice bank 14 when the user presses the ice take-out button installed in the control panel or the ice take-out lever installed to protrude from the dispenser. 16) and falls into the dispenser (18).

However, in the refrigerator ice maker according to the prior art, the water supplied to the ice maker 12 is cooled only by the heat exchange with the cold in the freezer compartment F and the heat conduction of the ice maker 12, so that the ice making time is long. There is this.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device for a refrigerator capable of shortening the ice making time is stored in the ice storage liquid in the ice maker mold in which water is iced.

In addition, the present invention provides a control method of an ice maker for a refrigerator capable of accelerating cooling of water contained in the ice maker mold by circulating the cold storage liquid contained in the ice maker mold.

Refrigerator deicing device according to the present invention for solving the above problems; A refrigerator provided with an ice maker mold in which water is cooled by cold air cooled by the refrigeration cycle device to generate ice and an ice storage flow path is formed, the refrigerator comprising: a heater for heating the ice maker mold; An ejector for discharging ice generated in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid passage; And a circulation pump configured to circulate the cold storage liquid in the cold storage liquid passage.

In addition, the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a refrigeration cycle device; A refrigerator provided with an ice maker mold in which water is cooled by cold air cooled by the refrigeration cycle device to generate ice and an ice storage flow path is formed, the refrigerator comprising: a heater for heating the ice maker mold; An ejector for discharging ice generated in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid passage; A cold storage liquid storage tank for storing the cold storage liquid in the cold storage liquid passage; It characterized in that it comprises a storage pump for storing the cool storage liquid to the cool storage liquid storage tank or to return to the cool storage liquid flow path.

In addition, the control method of the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a water supply step of watering the water after the water in the ice maker mold; A circulation step of circulating the cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid flow path of the ice maker mold after the water supply step; A heating step of stopping circulation of the cold storage liquid and heating the ice maker mold when the temperature of the ice maker mold is lowered below a set temperature; It characterized in that it comprises a take-out step of taking out the ice from the ice maker mold after the heating step.

In addition, the control method of the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a water supply step of watering the water after the water in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid storage step of storing the cold storage liquid stored in the cold storage liquid flow path of the ice maker mold in the cold storage liquid storage tank when the temperature of the ice maker mold is lowered below a preset temperature; A heating step of heating the ice maker mold after the storage of the cold storage liquid; Taking out the ice from the ice maker mold after the heating step; It is characterized in that it comprises a storage liquid storage return step of returning the storage liquid storage liquid stored in the storage liquid storage liquid tank to the storage liquid storage flow path of the ice maker mold.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a perspective view of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention opened;

In the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the freezing compartment F and the refrigerating compartment R are left and right partitioned by the barrier 52 in the main body 50 to open and close the freezing compartment F. The freezer compartment door 54 is pivotally connected to the main body 50, and the refrigerating compartment door 56 for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment R is rotatably connected to the main body 50.

The freezer compartment door 56 has an ice maker 60 in which the supplied water is iced by cold air in the freezer compartment F, an ice bank 70 in which ice iced in the ice maker 60 is contained, and the freezer compartment door ( 54 is provided with a dispenser 80 for taking out ice to the outside without opening and closing of the ice, and an ice chute 90 for guiding the ice contained in the ice bank to fall into the dispenser 80.

The ice maker 60 is mounted on the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 54 in order to increase the effective contents of the freezer compartment F.

The ice bank 70 is mounted to the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 54 in order to increase the effective contents of the freezer compartment F.

6 is a side sectional view showing a freezer compartment of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body 50 has an outer casing 112 forming an outer appearance, and is positioned inside the outer casing 112 to form the freezing compartment F and to access an animal to be cooled. It is configured to include a freezer compartment inner casing 114 having an open front surface, and a heat insulating material 116 surrounding the outer surface of the freezer compartment inner casing 114.

In the freezer compartment inner casing 114, a cold air discharge hole 120a and a cold air return hole 120b are formed to circulate cold air in the freezer compartment F or the refrigerating compartment, and between the rear portion of the inner casing 114. The cooling chamber panel 120 forming the cooling chamber C is disposed.

An evaporator 122 is disposed in the cooling chamber C to evaporate the refrigerant having a low temperature and low pressure therethrough, and a cooling fan that blows air exchanged with the evaporator 122 to the freezing chamber F or the refrigerating chamber R. 124 is disposed.

The cooling fan 124 is arranged in the motor 125 mounted in the cooling chamber (C).

In addition, a plurality of cold air discharge holes 126a are formed in front of the cooling chamber panel 120 to distribute and discharge the air blown by the cooling fan 124 into the freezing chamber F. The freezer compartment back panel 126 having the cold air return hole 126b for returning cold air is spaced apart from each other.

On the other hand, the dispenser 80 is open to the front so that the container for the ice can enter, and both sides and the back is blocked.

In addition, the ice chute 90 is mounted on the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 54 so as to be positioned between the ice bank 70 and the dispenser 80 so that an upper end of the passage 91 through which ice passes is the ice. It communicates with the ice outlet of the bank 80, and the lower end of the passage 91 communicates with the inner space of the dispenser 80.

7 is a side sectional view showing a refrigerator compartment of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main body 50 is positioned inside the outer casing 112 to form the refrigerating chamber R, and a refrigerating chamber inner casing 118 having a front surface open for access to the object to be cooled. And, it comprises a heat insulating material 116 surrounding the outer surface of the freezer compartment inner casing 114, the lower portion is provided with a machine room (M).

In addition, the main body 50 is mounted in the machine room (M) and the compressor 132 for compressing the low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator, the inside of the machine room (M) or the outer casing (112) A condenser 134 mounted on a rear surface of the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 82 is radiated to outside air to condense, and an expander 136 that depressurizes the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 134 to facilitate evaporation. It is configured to include more.

The barrier 52 has a cold air discharge duct 137 is formed so that the cool air cooled by the evaporator 122 is supplied into the refrigerating chamber (R), the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber (R) is the evaporator ( The cold air return duct 138 is formed to return to the side 122.

Each of the cold air discharge duct 137 and the cold air return duct 138 has one end communicating with the refrigerating chamber R and the other end communicating with the cooling chamber or between the cooling chamber panel and the freezing chamber rear panel.

8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating an ice maker and an ice bank of a first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an ice maker and an ice bank of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention. Refrigerator according to the invention is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ice maker of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the ice maker 60 ices the ice maker mold 61 having an ice making space having an upper surface open so that water can be iced after water is supplied, and ice iced in the ice making space. It is configured to include an ejector 62 for making.

 One side of the ice maker mold 61 contains water supplied through the water supply hose 63a, and a cup 63 is mounted to transfer the contained water to the ice making space of the ice maker mold 61.

The ice maker mold 61 has a connecting portion 61a protruding from the front left and right sides to be fixed to the rear surface of the freezer compartment door.

The ice maker mold 61 has a semi-cylindrical shape of the ice making space, and is formed to be long in the left and right direction, and the plurality of partition protrusions 62b are spaced apart by a predetermined interval so that a plurality of ices can be separated and formed. .

The ice maker mold 61 is formed such that a flat plate water overflow prevention portion 61c extends upward at an upper end of the front portion.

On the rear side of the ice maker mold 61, a slider 63b for guiding the ice scooped up by the ejector 62 to the ice bank is mounted.

The slider 63b is formed in a flat shape such that the guided ice slides and falls, and the water contained in the ice making space of the ice maker mold 61 does not overflow.

On the other hand, in the ice maker mold 62, a cold storage liquid passage 61d is formed between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, and the cold storage liquid S is accommodated in the cold storage liquid passage 61d.

The coolant liquid passage 61d may be formed in a zigzag shape in the ice maker mold 61 to form one circulation passage, and a plurality of circulation passages may be spaced apart for rapid heat transfer.

The cold storage liquid S is made of salt water having a lower freezing point than water supplied to the ice maker mold 62.

On the other hand, the ice maker 60 further includes a circulation pump 64 for circulating the cold storage liquid so as to increase the heat transfer efficiency of the cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid passage 61d.

  The circulation pump 64 may be mounted on the ice maker mold 61 or may be mounted in the ice maker 68 described later.

The ejector 62 is composed of a shaft 62a arranged to cross the upper side of the ice making space, and a pin 62b protruding from the side surface of the shaft 62a.

One end of the shaft 62a is rotatably supported by the cup 63, and the other end of the shaft 62a protrudes into the ice making controller and is connected to the driven gear 62c.

The pin 64b is formed in plural as the number of ice making spaces divided into plural portions by the partition protrusion 62a.

In addition, the ice maker 60 is equipped with a heater 65 for heating the ice maker mold 61 so as to separate the ice maker mold 62 and the ice when taking out the ice.

The heater 63 is disposed in a '⊃' shape on the bottom surface of the ice maker mold 62.

In addition, the ice maker 60 is a cold storage liquid storage tank 66 and the ice maker mold 61 for transferring the cold storage liquid (S) to the outside of the ice maker mold 61 before heating by the heater (63). And a storage pump 67 for pumping the cold storage liquid on one side of the cold storage liquid storage tank 66 to the other side.

The cold storage liquid storage tank 66 is mounted to the ice making control unit 68 or to a rear surface of the freezer compartment door.

The cold storage liquid storage tank 66 is connected to a connection tube 66a communicating with the cold storage liquid passage 61d of the ice maker mold 61.

On the other hand, the ice making control unit 68 is a temperature sensor 68a for detecting the temperature of the ice maker mold 61, the ice detection lever 68b and the ice detection sensor 69 for detecting the full ice of the ice bank 70. ), A motor 68c generating a driving force for rotating the ejector 62, and water supplied to the cup 62 according to the temperature of the ice maker mold 61 and whether the ice bank 70 is full. It is configured to include a control panel 68e for controlling the water supply valve for intermittent control and controlling the circulation pump 64, the heater 65, the storage pump 67, and the motor 68c.

The ice detection sensor 69 is mounted on the magnet 69a whose position is changed according to the position of the ice detection lever 68b and the control panel 68e to detect a magnetic field change when the magnet 69a moves. It consists of the hall sensor 69b.

The motor 68c has a drive gear 68d engaged with the driven gear 62c connected to the rotation shaft.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the ice bank 70 has an upper surface open to contain ice iced from the ice maker 60, and an ice outlet 71 is formed to take out ice contained in one side of the ice bank 70. do.

In addition, the ice bank 70 is a shutter 72 for opening and closing the front portion of the ice outlet 71, and the auger 74 is arranged in the left and right directions to horizontally transport the contained ice to the front portion of the ice outlet 71 And a motor 75 for rotating the auger 74 and an ice crusher 76 mounted above the ice outlet 71.

Here, the shutter 72 causes the ice transported by the auger 74 to fall below the front part of the ice outlet 71 without crushing when the front part of the ice outlet 71 is opened. When the front portion of the blowout port 71 is blocked, the ice conveyed by the auger 74 is lifted up and crushed by the grinder 76 so as to fall to the rear of the ice blower 71.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the auxiliary blade 72a protrudes from the shutter 72 so that the raised ice can help the grinding operation of the grinder 76.

On the other hand, the ice crusher 76 is formed orthogonal to the rotation axis of the auger 74 and rotated with the auger 74, the fixed blade formed inside the ice bank (70) ( 76b).

Reference numeral w denotes water contained in the ice making space of the ice maker mold 61.

Looking at the operation of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, when the compressor 132 is driven, the high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 132, and the discharged high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant passes through the condenser 134 while the external air around the condenser 134 is discharged. Heat exchanges with the liquid refrigerant to condense into a medium temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant, and expands into a low temperature low pressure liquid refrigerant while passing through the expander 136. The refrigerant expanded in the expander 136 cools the surrounding air while passing through the evaporator 122.

When the cooling fan 124 is driven, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 122 circulates through the cooling chamber C, the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R, and the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber. Keep (R) at low temperature.

The cold air circulated to the freezer compartment F partially cools the ice maker 60 at the rear side of the freezer compartment door 54 to ice the water supplied to the ice maker 60, and to make ice in the ice maker 60. The frozen ice is iced into the ice bank 70.

Hereinafter, the ice making process of the ice maker configured as described above will be described.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a control method of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

First, when power is input, the ice making control unit 68 controls the motor 68d to set the ejector 62 to an initial position A. (S11)

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 turns on and turns off a water supply valve (not shown) that regulates the water supplied to the cup 63 for a predetermined time (S12).

Water supplied from the outside when the water supply valve is turned on is filled in the cup 63 and then transferred to the ice making space of the ice maker mold 61.

Thereafter, the water contained in the ice maker mold 61 is cooled by heat exchange with the cold air or the ice maker mold 61 in the freezer compartment, and the cooling is accelerated by the cold storage liquid S accommodated in the cold storage liquid passage 61d. Gradually freezes as time passes.

On the other hand, the ice making control unit 68 turns on the circulation pump 64 after the start of the water supply or the end of the water supply, so that the cold storage liquid S is connected to the cold storage liquid passage 61d of the ice maker mold 61. While circulating the circulation pump 64 to further promote the cooling of the water. (S13)

Meanwhile, the ice making control unit 68 determines that ice making is completed when the temperature of the ice maker mold 61 sensed by the temperature sensor 68a is lower than a set temperature (eg, -7 ° C). Turn off the pump 64 (S14, S15).

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 turns on the heater 65, and after a set time (for example, two minutes) elapses after the heater 65 is turned on, or the temperature of the ice maker mold 61 is removed. When the temperature is greater than 2 set temperatures (for example, -2 ° C), the heater 65 is turned off. (S16)

The temperature of the ice maker mold 61 is increased by turning on the heater 65, and the iced ice is separated from the ice maker mold 61 while starting to melt from the portion in contact with the ice maker mold 61.

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 controls the motor 68d to rotate the ejector 62 from the initial position A to the ice position B, and then returns to the initial position A (S17). )

As the ejector 62 rotates, the ice in the ice maker mold 61 is scooped up and dropped onto the slider 64, and guided to the slider 64 to be iced to the ice bank 70.

Then, the ice making control unit 68 determines whether or not the ice bank 70 is full by sensing the ice detection sensor 69 according to the rotation of the ice detection lever 68b.

If it is determined that the ice bank 70 is not full of ice, the ice making control unit 68 repeats the circulation of the water supply and the cold storage liquid as described above, the ice making, the heating, the ice breaking, and the ice-covering, and the If it is determined that the ice is full, the circulation of the water supply and the coolant as described above, the ice making, the heating, the ice and the detection of the ice are stopped.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a control method of an ice maker for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

First, when power is input, the ice making control unit 68 controls the motor 68d to set the ejector 62 to an initial position A. (S31)

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 turns on and turns off a water supply valve (not shown) that regulates the water supplied to the cup 63 for a predetermined time (S32).

Water supplied from the outside when the water supply valve is turned on is filled in the cup 63 and then transferred to the ice making space of the ice maker mold 61.

Thereafter, the water contained in the ice maker mold 61 is cooled by heat exchange with the cold air or the ice maker mold 61 in the freezer compartment, and the cooling is accelerated by the cold storage liquid S accommodated in the cold storage liquid passage 61d. Gradually freezes as time passes.

The ice making control unit 68 determines that ice making is completed when the temperature of the ice maker mold 61 sensed by the temperature sensor 68a is lower than a set temperature (eg, −7 ° C.). The storage pump 67 is driven so that the cold storage liquid S in 61d) is transferred to the cold storage liquid storage tank 66. (S33, S34)

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 turns on the heater 65, and after a set time (for example, two minutes) elapses after the heater 65 is turned on, or the temperature of the ice maker mold 61 is removed. When the temperature is greater than 2 set temperatures (for example, -2 ° C), the heater 65 is turned off. (S35)

The temperature of the ice maker mold 61 is increased by the on of the heater 65, and the iced ice is separated from the ice maker mold 61 while melting the ice from the site in contact with the ice maker mold 61.

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 controls the motor 68d to rotate the ejector 62 from the initial position A to the ice position B, and then returns to the initial position A (S36). )

As the ejector 62 rotates, the ice in the ice maker mold 61 is scooped up and dropped onto the slider 64, and guided to the slider 64 to be iced to the ice bank 70.

The ice making control unit 68 drives the storage pump 67 to return the cold storage liquid S in the cold storage liquid storage tank 66 to the cold storage liquid flow path 61d of the ice maker mold 61. (S37)

Thereafter, the ice making control unit 68 determines whether or not the ice bank 70 is full by sensing the ice detection sensor 69 according to the rotation of the ice detection lever 68b.

If it is determined that the ice bank 70 is not full of ice, the ice making control unit 68 repeats the water supply, ice making, storage of coolant, storage, heating, ice, return of coolant, and detection of ice. If it is determined that the ice is 70, the water supply, ice-making, storage of cold storage liquid, heating, ice-making, recovery of cold storage liquid, and detection of ice is stopped.

On the other hand, when the user manipulates any one of the barrel ice extraction button and the crushed ice extraction button installed in the control panel of the refrigerator, the ice contained in the ice bank 70 passes through the ice chute 90, the dispenser It falls to 80.

Hereinafter, the ice extraction process of the ice bank in more detail as follows.

First, when a user operates the barrel ice take-out button, the shutter 72 opens the front portion of the barrel ice outlet 71, and the motor 75 of the ice bank 70 is driven to the auger 74. ), The auger 74 transfers the ice contained in the ice bank 70 horizontally to the upper portion of the front portion of the ice outlet 71.

The ice conveyed by the auger 74 falls through the front part of the barrel ice outlet 71 and is taken out into the passage 91 of the ice chute 90.

On the other hand, when the user operates the crushed ice take-out button, the shutter 72 blocks the upper portion of the front portion of the ice outlet 71, and the motor 75 of the ice bank 70 opens the auger 74. The auger 74 rotates the ice contained in the ice bank 70 and horizontally transfers the ice in the front portion of the ice outlet 71.

The ice conveyed by the auger 74 is put on the shutter 72 and crushed by the rotating blade 76a, the fixed blade 76b, and the auxiliary blade 72a, and then the ice outlet 71. It falls through the rear part of and is taken out into the passage 91 of the ice chute 90.

On the other hand, the ice taken out into the passage 91 of the ice chute 90 passes through the passage 91 and falls to the dispenser 80.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of an ice maker mold of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, the ice maker mold 61 may have a bow or 'U' shape in cross section between the inner coolant flow path 61d and the inner wall of the ice maker mold 61. Of course.

14 is a side sectional view showing a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

In the refrigerator according to the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the freezer compartment F and the refrigerating compartment R are vertically divided by the barrier 52 in the main body 50, and the ice maker 60 and the ice bank are divided up and down. 70, a dispenser 80, and an ice chute 90 are disposed in the refrigerating chamber R or in the refrigerating chamber door 56, and a blow passage 150 for blowing cool air in the freezer compartment F to the ice maker 60. ) And a blower 160, the structure in which the coolant liquid is accommodated in the ice maker mold of the ice maker 60, and the other configurations and functions of the circulation pump and the storage pump are the same as the first embodiment of the present invention The code is used and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, a part of the cold air in the freezer compartment F is blown to the ice maker 60 through the blower passage 150, and the blown cold air cools the ice maker 60.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and before the ice making is completed and the heater 65 is turned on, the circulation pump 64 is turned off to stop the circulation of the cold storage liquid S. It is also possible that the storage pump 67 is turned on with the circulation pump 64 turned off so that the cold storage liquid S is transferred to the cold storage liquid storage tank 66.

The ice making apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention configured as described above has an advantage that the cold storage liquid is accommodated in the ice maker mold, thereby shortening the ice making time of water supplied to the ice maker mold.

In addition, the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention further comprises a cold storage liquid flow path formed in the ice maker mold and a circulation pump for circulating the cold storage liquid in the cold storage liquid flow path, so that cooling of the water is circulated in the circulation of the cold storage liquid. By further promoting, the ice making time can be shortened.

In addition, the ice making apparatus for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a cold storage liquid storage tank for storing the cold storage liquid in the ice maker mold. Since it does not delay the separation of the ice maker mold and ice, there is an advantage that the ice can be more efficiently iced while reducing the ice making time.

In addition, the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention further comprises a storage pump for pumping the cold storage liquid of one side of the ice maker mold and the cold storage liquid storage tank to the other side, it is possible to easily and quickly transfer the cold storage liquid. There is an advantage to that.

In addition, the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes an ice bank in which the ice discharged by the ejector is stored; An ice transporter for transporting the ice stored in the ice bank in a horizontal direction; It is configured to include an ice crusher for crushing the ice conveyed by the ice conveyor, there is an advantage that can increase the effective volume of the freezer compartment.

In addition, the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention has the advantage that the ice maker mold is mounted on any one side of the freezer compartment door and the freezer compartment door to increase the effective contents of the freezer compartment.

Claims (12)

A refrigeration cycle apparatus; In the refrigerator provided with an ice maker mold in which water is cooled by the cold air cooled by the said refrigeration cycle apparatus, ice is formed, and a cool storage fluid flow path is formed. A heater for heating the ice maker mold; An ejector for discharging ice generated in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid passage; And a circulation pump configured to circulate the cold storage liquid in the cold storage liquid passage. A refrigeration cycle apparatus; In the refrigerator provided with an ice maker mold in which water is cooled by the cold air cooled by the said refrigeration cycle apparatus, ice is formed, and a cool storage fluid flow path is formed. A heater for heating the ice maker mold; An ejector for discharging ice generated in the ice maker mold; A cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid passage; A cold storage liquid storage tank for storing the cold storage liquid in the cold storage liquid passage; An ice making device for a refrigerator, comprising: a storage pump for storing the cold storage liquid as a cold storage liquid storage tank or returning the cold storage liquid to a cold storage liquid flow path. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The ice maker mold is a refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that mounted on any one side of the freezer door and the freezer door. The method of claim 2, The ice maker for the refrigerator further comprises a connection tube connecting the ice maker mold and the cold storage liquid storage tank. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The ice storage flow path is a refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that formed between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the ice maker mold. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The ice storage fluid flow path is a refrigerator ice maker, characterized in that formed in a zigzag shape on the ice maker mold. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The ice storage liquid flow path is a refrigerator ice making apparatus characterized in that a plurality of spaced apart. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the ice storage liquid has a lower freezing point than water supplied to the ice maker mold. delete delete A water supply step of supplying water to the ice maker mold and then cutting the water; A circulation step of circulating the cold storage liquid contained in the cold storage liquid flow path of the ice maker mold after the water supply step;  A heating step of stopping circulation of the cold storage liquid and heating the ice maker mold when the temperature of the ice maker mold is lowered below a set temperature; And a take-out step of taking out the ice from the ice maker mold after the heating step. A water supply step of supplying water to the ice maker mold and then cutting the water; A cold storage liquid storage step of storing the cold storage liquid stored in the cold storage liquid flow path of the ice maker mold in the cold storage liquid storage tank when the temperature of the ice maker mold is lowered below a preset temperature; A heating step of heating the ice maker mold after the storage of the cold storage liquid; Taking out the ice from the ice maker mold after the heating step; And a storage of the cold storage liquid for returning the cold storage liquid stored in the cold storage liquid storage tank to the cold storage liquid flow path of the ice maker mold.

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