KR100346401B1 - The regulatory structure and method of the amount of storaged ice for refrigerators - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure and a control method of the ice storage amount of the refrigerator configured to be able to adjust the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container at the user's discretion.

Ice storage amount control structure according to the present invention, and the ice motor for separating the ice from the ice making vessel; An ice storage container for storing the ice separated from the ice making container; An ice detection lever rotatably provided in contact with ice stored in the ice storage container by rotation; A microswitch connected to a microcomputer and provided to contact the sensing lever at a predetermined angle of rotation; By changing the position of the micro switch, it comprises a control unit for adjusting the contact position with the sensing lever.

According to the configuration as described above, the microcomputer can change the contact position of the microswitch and the detection lever to determine whether or not to perform the ice process, it is possible to increase or decrease the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container.

Description

{The regulatory structure and method of the amount of storaged ice for refrigerators}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice maker of a refrigerator installed inside the refrigerator to ice water supplied from an external water supply.

Recently released large refrigerators are equipped with a dispensing device that can take out drinking water or ice without opening the door of the refrigerator. Since the dispensing device can take out water or ice without opening the door of the refrigerator, it is possible to prevent cold air from escaping to the outside and to provide convenience for the user.

When the water dispensed from the external water source, the supplied water is purified through a filter body installed in the refrigerator, and then supplied to the water storage tank to be stored in a refrigerated state, or ice making. It is fed into the device and made into ice. The refrigerator door is usually provided with a dispenser having a take out button for a user's operation. When the user presses the take out button, stored water or ice is discharged to the outside through the dispenser.

1 shows a configuration of an ice making apparatus installed in a refrigerator. As illustrated, the ice maker 1 of the refrigerator includes an ice maker 10 for supplying ice, an ice motor 20 for separating ice from the ice maker 10, and the ice maker 10. Ice storage container 30 is stored in the ice separated from the) and the ice detection lever 40 for detecting the ice storage amount of the ice storage container (30).

A plurality of ice making grooves 11 are formed in the ice making container 10, and water supplied through a water supply pipe is collected in the ice making grooves 11 to make ice. The ice making container 10 is axially connected to the ice motor 20 and is configured to separate ice by rotating when the ice motor 20 is driven and being upside down. In addition, the ice storage container 30 described above is installed at the lower side of the ice making container 10, and when the ice making container 10 rotates as described above, ice is introduced into the ice storage container 30 and taken out to the outside. Until it is saved.

On the other hand, before the above-mentioned ice-making process is performed, a process of detecting how much ice is stored in the ice storage container 30 through the ice detection lever 40 is performed. That is, the detection lever 40 is configured to rotate downward by the driving of the ice motor 20, and when rotated downward, one side is in contact with the ice inside the ice storage container 30. Through this contact, it is determined how much ice is stored.

2 shows the structure of such an ice detection lever. As shown, the rotating shaft 41 of the ice detection lever 40 is connected to the drive shaft and the gear 22 of the moving motor 20 inside the case 21 of the moving motor 20. Therefore, when the moving motor 20 is driven, power is transmitted to the rotating shaft 41 through the gear 22, so that the ice detection lever 40 rotates up and down. In addition, a switch contact portion 42 is formed inside the case 21 on the rotating shaft 41, and the switch contact portion 42 is provided to rotate upward when the detection lever rotates downward.

And the upper side of the switch contact portion 42 is provided with a micro switch 50 that is connected to a microcomputer (not shown). The micro switch 50 is a kind of sensor for detecting the operation of the detection lever 40. When the switch contact portion 42 is in contact with the micro switch 50, the micro switch 50 is configured to send a signal to the microcomputer.

Looking at the operation of the ice making device configured as described above with reference to Figure 3, when the ice is completed after a predetermined time after the water is supplied to the ice making container 10, the detection ice 40 under the control of a microcomputer Rotate to check whether the ice storage container 30 is full of ice. In this process, if the detection lever 40 comes into contact with ice before the switch contact portion 42 contacts the micro switch 50, the microcomputer determines that the ice is full and suspends the moving process.

When the inspection process is repeatedly performed at a predetermined time and the inspection lever 40 rotates without being restrained by ice, and the switch contact portion 42 contacts the micro switch 50, the microcomputer It is determined that ice can be supplied to the ice storage container 30, and an ice process is performed by controlling the ice motor 20 to rotate.

However, the conventional ice making apparatus as described above has the following disadvantages.

The installation position of the micro switch 50 for detecting the operation of the sensing lever 40 is fixed. That is, the range of the angle that the sensing lever 40 can rotate is limited to a predetermined angle. In this case, the ice-making process is performed only when ice having a predetermined level or less is stored in the ice storage container 30. However, the amount of ice used varies depending on seasonal factors, and in the conventional ice making apparatus, it is impossible to increase or decrease the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 30.

For example, in summer, when the amount of ice used is relatively high, since ice is often taken out, it is necessary to store a larger amount of ice in the ice storage container 30. However, since the ice is not supplied until the ice stored in the ice storage container 30 reaches a predetermined level in the fixed state of the micro switch 50, the ice storage amount of the ice storage container 30 can be increased. It is not there.

Therefore, after the stored ice is taken out, a situation may occur in which the user does not receive the ice in a timely manner, which may cause dissatisfaction of the user and cause a decrease in reliability of the product.

The present invention is to improve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and relates to an ice storage amount control structure and a control method of the refrigerator that can adjust the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container at the user's discretion.

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a typical refrigerator ice maker.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view showing the structure of a conventional refrigerator ice maker.

Figure 3 is an operating state diagram showing the operating state of the conventional gumbing lever.

Figure 4 is a plan sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a front view showing the outer structure of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 6a-6b is an operating state diagram showing the operating state of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 7a-7b are partial cross-sectional view and operation state diagram showing the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention.

※ Explanation of code about main part of drawing ※

110: ice tray 111: ice tray

120: moving motor 121: moving motor case

130: ice storage container 140: gum ice lever

141: rotating shaft 142: switch contact

150: micro switch 160: control lever

Ice storage amount control structure according to the present invention for achieving the above object, and the ice motor for separating the ice from the ice making vessel; An ice storage container for storing the ice separated from the ice making container; An ice detection lever rotatably provided and contacting the ice stored in the ice storage container; A microswitch connected to a microcomputer and provided to contact the sensing lever at a predetermined angle of rotation; It comprises a control unit for moving the position of the micro switch, for adjusting the contact position with the sensing lever.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is to move the position of the micro switch up and down, according to this feature, the control unit comprises a control lever hinged on one side, the micro switch is It is fixed to one side of the control lever, it is configured to change the position of the micro switch by rotating the control lever up and down about the hinge.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is to move the position of the micro switch back and forth, according to this feature, the control unit comprises a rotary knob, a part of which is threaded, the micro switch is one side It is provided to be engaged with the screw portion of the rotary knob, it is configured to move back and forth in accordance with the rotation of the rotary knob.

In addition, the ice amount control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention, the ice-making step of supplying water to the ice making container; After the de-icing, ice level sensing step of detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container; As a result of detecting the amount of ice, if the amount is less than the reference amount, in the ice making process comprising the step of separating the ice from the ice making container and put it into the ice storage container, whether or not to perform the ice step before the ice amount detecting step And adjusting the reference amount of ice to be judged.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to adjust the installation position of the micro-switch, since the detection lever can rotate above or below a predetermined angle, there is an advantage that the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container can be adjusted.

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

4 shows the installation structure of the ice making apparatus according to the present invention. As shown, the ice detection lever 140 is installed on one side of the ice motor 120 for separating the ice from the ice making container 110, and the rotating shaft 141 is the case 121 of the ice motor 120. ) Is inserted into the drive shaft and the gear 122 of the moving motor 120. Therefore, by the generation of the power of the moving motor 120, the rotating shaft 141 is rotated so that the ice detection lever 140 is rotated downward.

In addition, a switch contact part 142 is installed at an inner portion of the case 121 of the rotation shaft 141. Referring to FIG. 6A, the switch contact part 142 is provided to move upward when the sensing lever 140 rotates downward.

Meanwhile, a micro switch 150 connected to a microcomputer (not shown) is installed above the switch contact unit 142. The micro switch 150 is in contact with the switch contact portion 142 when the sensing lever 140 is rotated downward by a predetermined angle, the contact between the switch contact portion 142 and the micro switch 150 as described above is If detected, the microcomputer performs an ice-making process for separating the ice-making ice from the ice-making groove 111 of the ice-making container 110.

The micro switch 150 is attached to the control lever 160, which is hinged to one side of the inside of the moving motor case 121. The control lever 160 is protruded toward the outside of the case 121, the user is provided so that the user can hold the tip of the protruding control lever 160 to rotate up and down around the hinge. Therefore, by rotating the control lever 160 it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the micro switch 150, it is possible to adjust the contact angle with the switch contact portion 142. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, when the control range of the control lever 160 is shown on the outer surface of the moving motor case 121 protruding from the tip of the control lever 160, the user may Since the control lever 160 can be adjusted based on the range shown, it may provide a more convenient use environment.

Operation of the embodiment of the present invention by the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

When water is supplied to the ice making device, the supplied water is collected in the ice making groove 111 of the ice making container 110 and iced with ice. When the ice making is completed, the ice-making process is performed by the driving of the ice-cream motor 120, and the ice amount sensing step of the ice storage container 130 through the ice-covering lever 140 is performed before the ice-making process is performed. do.

That is, as shown in Figure 6a, by the generation of the power of the moving motor 120, the ice detection lever 140 is rotated downward to come in contact with the ice inside the ice storage container 130 located at the lower side, at this time When the sensing lever 140 comes into contact with ice before the switch contacting part 142 and the micro switch 150 come into contact with each other, the microcomputer (not shown) determines that the interior of the ice storage container 130 is in an iced state. Will hold the ice.

On the other hand, when the detection lever 140 rotates downward without contact with the ice to come into contact with the switch contact part 142 and the micro switch 150, the microcomputer detects such contact and the ice storage container 130. It is determined that the ice can be supplied to the) and proceeds to the above-mentioned ice-making process.

On the other hand, in the summer when the demand for ice increases, since the amount of ice taken out increases, it may be desirable to keep a large amount of ice in the ice storage container 130. Then, the user rotates the control lever 160 downward as shown in FIG. 6B to move the position of the microswitch 150 attached to one side of the control lever 160 downward.

In this case, even when the detection lever 140 is rotated at a small angle, the contact between the switch contact portion 142 and the microswitch 150 is generated, the ice is carried out by this contact, the ice storage container Ice is injected into 130. In addition, in order for the above-mentioned ice process to be suspended, ice must be supplied to a position where the switch contact unit 142 and the micro switch 160 can come into contact with the sensing ice lever 140. The amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 130 is increased.

On the other hand, when the amount of ice used is not large, such as winter, since the amount of ice taken out is small, it is not necessary to keep a lot of ice in the ice storage container (130). In this case, the user rotates the control lever 160 upward to move the position of the micro switch 150 upward.

Then, the angle that the switch contact portion 142 should rotate in order to contact the micro switch 150 is increased, which means that the detection lever 140 should rotate further by that much, the ice storage container ( Since the ice-covering process is performed only when the ice stored in 130 is in contact with the ice detection lever 140, the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 130 is reduced.

And again to increase the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container 130, it can be simply performed by rotating the control lever 160 downward.

As described above, the present invention is to be configured so that the amount of the ice stored in the ice storage container by increasing the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container can be arbitrarily adjusted by the user.

Within the above technical scope, many other modifications based on the present invention will be possible to those skilled in the art.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the microswitch 150 'is installed on one side of the switch contact portion 142' rather than on the upper side, the rotary knob 160 'is used instead of the adjustment lever 160 described above. And screw a part of the inner part of the case of the rotary knob 160 ', and then form one side of the microswitch 150' to be engaged with the screw in a shape corresponding to the screw thread, so that the user rotates the knob 160 '. When rotating the micro switch 150 'may be provided to move back and forth. Even in this case, the contact position with the switch contact portion 142 'is changed according to the forward and backward movement of the microswitch 150', so that the rotation angle of the detection lever 140 'may be adjusted.

According to the present invention as described above by adjusting the position of the micro switch connected to the microcomputer, it is possible to adjust the downward rotation angle of the ice detection lever, it is possible to adjust the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container at the user's discretion. . Therefore, it is possible to adjust the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container in accordance with the demand of the ice, can provide convenience in use, and can provide satisfaction for the product.

Claims (6)

An ice motor for separating ice from the ice making container; An ice storage container for storing the ice separated from the ice making container; An ice detection lever rotatably provided and contacting the ice stored in the ice storage container; A microswitch connected to a microcomputer and provided to contact the sensing lever at a predetermined angle of rotation; Ice storage amount control structure of the refrigerator comprising a control unit for changing the position of the micro switch, the contact position with the detection lever. The ice storage control mechanism of claim 1, wherein the controller moves the position of the micro switch up and down. According to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to include a control lever hinged on one side, the micro switch is fixed to one side of the control lever, rotate the control lever up and down about the hinge to position the micro switch Ice storage capacity control structure of the refrigerator, characterized in that configured to change. The structure of claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the position of the micro switch back and forth. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjusting portion comprises a rotating knob, a part of which is threaded, the micro-switch is configured to be moved back and forth according to the rotation of the rotary knob, one side is engaged with the screw portion of the rotary knob. Ice storage capacity control structure of the refrigerator. An ice making step of supplying water to the ice making container and making the ice; After the de-icing, ice level sensing step of detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container; As a result of detecting the amount of ice, if the amount is less than the reference amount, in the ice making process comprising the step of separating the ice from the ice making container and put it into the ice storage container, whether or not to perform the ice step before the ice amount detecting step Ice control method of the refrigerator further comprises the step of adjusting the reference amount of ice to determine.