CN102770727A

CN102770727A - Ice maker, refrigerator having the same, and method for supplying ice thereof

Info

Publication number: CN102770727A
Application number: CN2011800106918A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金成宰; 金捧辰
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2010-02-23
Filing date: 2011-02-23
Publication date: 2012-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-23
Also published as: US20120318003A1; WO2011105791A2; CN102770727B; EP2539648B1; EP2539648A2; WO2011105791A3; EP2539648A4

Abstract

Disclosed are an ice maker, a refrigerator having the ice maker, and a method for supplying ice of the refrigerator. When the ice making container is rotated, ice of the ice making container freefalls to be released, thereby reducing the size of the ice maker and making a refrigerator slimmer. Also, since a partition wall is not provided on an inner circumferential surface of the ice making container, the roughness of the inner circumferential surface of the ice making container can be enhanced, and accordingly, heat can be evenly transferred from an ice releasing heater to reduce a generation amount of residual water. In addition, since ice can be released without using the ice releasing heater, power consumption can be reduced and residual water which can be generated in case of using the heater can be further reduced.

Description

The confession ice method of ice maker, refrigerator and this refrigerator with this ice maker

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of ice maker, have the confession ice method of refrigerator and this refrigerator of this ice maker, relate in particular to the ice maker that area occupied is little and space availability ratio is high, have the confession ice method of the refrigerator and this refrigerator of this ice maker.

Background technology

Generally speaking, domestic refrigerator is to have the device of certain spatial accommodation so that food or analog are preserved at low temperatures, and it is divided into and maintains the above zero refrigerating chamber and the refrigerating chamber that maintains the subzero low temperature range of low temperature range.In recent years, because the demand of ice is increased, so it is increasing to have a refrigerator of automatic ice-making device that can ice making.

According to the type of refrigerator, automatic ice-making device (to call ice maker in the following text) can be installed in refrigerating chamber or refrigerating chamber.When ice maker is installed in refrigerating chamber, the cold air in the refrigerating chamber be directed (or being supplied to) to ice maker to carry out ice making.

Ice maker has the displacer that is installed on the ice maker container upside, so that when being rotated, boost and make ice to separate with ice maker container in ice.

Summary of the invention

Technical problem

Yet the ice maker of the refrigerator of correlation technique has following problem.

At first; In the ice maker of correlation technique; Because boosting when being rotated, will ice by displacer, so be used to preserve the front side that the ice container of the ice that discharges from ice maker container is set at ice maker container to front side (that is, the main body side of refrigerator) release; Thereby the shared area of ice maker (promptly along preceding/rear to area) is increased, the thinner refrigerator doors of manufacturing is restricted.

Second; In the ice maker of correlation technique, owing in ice maker container, form the partition wall in the ice making space of dividing ice maker container, institute is so that when making ice maker container; The increase of the surface roughness that ice maker container is inboard is restricted; This causes in heating during ice maker container, and the interface between ice maker container and the ice can not be by even heating, thus the generation residual water.

The 3rd, in the ice maker of correlation technique,, heat ice maker container through using heater in order from ice maker container, to discharge ice.The use of heater has increased energy consumption, and produces abundant residues water.

Solution

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of refrigerator, in this refrigerator; When ice is released from ice maker container; It is directly discharged from ice maker container, has reduced preceding/rear, ice maker container and ice container edge thus to shared area, and a kind of method of moving this refrigerator also is provided simultaneously.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a kind of refrigerator, and in this refrigerator, the surface roughness of ice maker container increases to some extent, thereby heats ice maker container equably and reduce the generation of residual water, and a kind of method of moving this refrigerator also is provided simultaneously.

A further object of the present invention provides a kind of refrigerator, in this refrigerator, need not to heat ice maker container and just can discharge ice, has reduced number of components thus, has reduced energy consumption and has reduced residual water, and a kind of method of moving this refrigerator also is provided simultaneously.

In order to realize these purposes and other advantage, according to the object of the invention,, a kind of ice maker is provided as at this concrete statement and generalized description, this ice maker comprises: ice maker container has the ice making space and wherein comes ice making to allow water put into; Demarcation strip has a plurality of partition walls, in order to the ice making spatial is divided into a plurality of unitary spaces; And driver element, being used to ice maker container provides revolving force to rotate with respect to demarcation strip to allow ice maker container, thereby discharges the ice in the ice making space.

For realizing above-mentioned purpose, a kind of refrigerator also is provided, this refrigerator comprises: refrigerator main body has ice-making compartment; And ice maker, be arranged in the ice-making compartment of this refrigerator main body, wherein this ice maker comprises: ice maker container has the ice making space and wherein comes ice making to allow water put into; Demarcation strip has a plurality of partition walls, in order to the ice making spatial is divided into a plurality of unitary spaces; And driver element, being used to ice maker container provides revolving force to rotate with respect to demarcation strip to allow ice maker container, thereby discharges the ice in the ice making space.

For realizing above-mentioned purpose, a kind of confession ice method also is provided, this method comprises: ice making in ice maker; Reception is from user's ice distribute signals; Rotate the ice maker container of ice maker; Ice is separated with ice maker; And the ice that separated of distribution.

In confession ice method according to the ice maker of example embodiment of the present invention, refrigerator and this refrigerator with this ice maker; Because when ice maker container is rotated; Ice free-falling in the ice maker container and being released; Therefore can reduce the size of ice maker, and can reduce the shared area of ice maker, thereby make refrigerator more very thin.

And, because when ice maker container is rotated, the ice free-falling in the ice maker container and being released, thus can save the heater that is used to discharge ice, thus can cut down the consumption of energy, and the residual water that produces can further reduce the use heater time.

In addition, because demarcation strip is independent the setting, rather than forms partition wall on the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container, so can increase the roughness of the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container.Therefore, heat can transmit in ice maker container equably, thereby in the operation that discharges ice, reduces the generation of residual water, and prevents that the ice cube that stores from boning.

In addition, be mounted to fixed body at demarcation strip,, made things convenient for the manufacturing of ice maker container and reduced energy consumption so ice maker container can easily be driven owing to be used for discharging the ice heater of icing of releasing from ice maker container.

From below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing detailed description of the present invention, aforementioned purpose, characteristic, aspect and advantage with other of the present invention will become more obvious.

Beneficial effect

When rotating ice maker container, the ice free-falling in the ice maker container and being released has reduced the size of ice maker thus and has made the refrigerator shape more very thin.And, owing on the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container, partition wall is not set, thus the roughness of the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container can be increased, and therefore can conduct heat equably from releasing the ice heater, so that reduce the generation of residual water.In addition, release the ice heater and just can discharge ice cube owing to needn't use, thus can cut down the consumption of energy, and can further reduce the residual water that use produces during heater.

Description of drawings

To provide the present invention is further understood in accompanying drawing is included in, and be merged in and constitute the application's a part, these accompanying drawings show embodiments of the invention, and are used to explain principle of the present invention with specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 puts the type refrigerator at the bottom of having the refrigerating chamber of the ice maker of one example embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the stereogram of the ice maker among Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is the cutaway view along the line I-I intercepting among Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the cutaway view along the line II-II intercepting among Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is the schematic block diagram of the control module among Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is the vertical cross-sectional that demonstrates the ice-making process of the ice maker among Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is the flow chart that demonstrates by the performed ice-making process of the ice maker among Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are the stereogram and the transverse sectional view of another example that the cover plate of the ice maker among Fig. 2 is shown;

Figure 10 is the stereogram of another example that the ice maker of Fig. 1 is shown;

Figure 11 is the cutaway view along the line III-III intercepting of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is the rear perspective view of the ice maker of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is the schematic block diagram of the control module of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is the vertical cross-sectional that illustrates by the performed ice-making process of the ice maker of Figure 10; And

Figure 15 is the flow chart that demonstrates the ice-making process in the ice maker of Figure 10.

The specific embodiment

To describe the confession ice method of the ice maker according to example embodiment of the present invention, refrigerator and this refrigerator with reference to accompanying drawing in detail with this ice maker at present.

Fig. 1 puts the type refrigerator at the bottom of having the refrigerating chamber of the ice maker of one example embodiment according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the refrigerator of one example embodiment comprises according to the present invention: refrigerating chamber 2, be formed on the bottom of refrigerator body 1, and with food preservation under freezing state; And refrigerating chamber 3, be formed on the top of refrigerator body 1, and with food preservation under frozen state.2 places are equipped with refrigerating chamber door 4 at refrigerating chamber, are used for opening and closing refrigerating chamber 2 with the pull mode, and in the both sides of refrigerating chamber 3 a plurality of refrigerating-chamber doors 5 are installed, so that open and close refrigerating chamber 3 in hinged way in both sides.Rear side lower end in refrigerator body 1 is formed with the Machine Room, and compressor and condenser are installed in this Machine Room.

Be connected with condenser and compressor, can be installed on the back surface of refrigerator body 1 in order to evaporimeter (figure does not show) from the cooling air to refrigerating chamber 2 or refrigerating chamber 3 that supply with, promptly be installed on the back wall surface of refrigerating chamber 2, between shell and inner casing.In addition, evaporimeter can be installed in the inboard of the sidewall surfaces or the top wall surface of refrigerating chamber 2 with being plugged, perhaps can be plugged in the inboard of the dividing plate of separating refrigerating chamber 2 and refrigerating chamber 3.In refrigerating chamber 2, single evaporimeter can be installed; Thereby the mode to distribute is supplied with the cooling air to refrigerating chamber 2 and refrigerating chamber 3; Perhaps freezer evaporator and refrigerator evaporator can be installed respectively, thereby supply with the cooling air to refrigerating chamber 2 and refrigerating chamber 3 with mode independently.

On the inner wall surface on refrigerating-chamber door 5 tops, be formed with ice-making compartment 51, so that make and preserve and ice, the ice maker 100 that is used for ice making is installed in the inside of ice maker 51.The ice container 52 that is used for that the ice that ice maker 100 is processed is preserved is installed in the downside of ice-making compartment 51, and distributor 53 is installed into and is exposed to the refrigerator outside, is stored in the ice the ice container 52 so that allow to take out from refrigerator.Here; Ice container 52 is configured to allow the ice maker 100 (to be described) according to example embodiment of the present invention to make the ice free-falling, so ice container 52 can be configured to make the center of ice container 52 and the center of ice maker container 120 to be located substantially on the straight line.

In aforesaid refrigerator according to example embodiment of the present invention; During tote (load) in detecting refrigerating chamber 2 or refrigerating chamber 3; Compressor operation is to produce the cooling air through evaporimeter; This cooling part of air is fed into refrigerating chamber 2 and refrigerating chamber 3, and another part of this cooling air that produces through evaporimeter is fed into ice-making compartment 51.Supply to the ice maker 100 that the cooling air of ice-making compartment 51 exchanged to allow to be installed in the ice-making compartment 51 and carry out ice making, be withdrawn into refrigerating chamber 2 then or supply to refrigerating chamber 3.According to take out the ice of in ice maker 100, processing from the request of distributor 52.This process is in succession carried out with being repeated.

Fig. 2 is the stereogram of the ice maker among Fig. 2, and Fig. 3 is the cutaway view along the line I-I intercepting among Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is the cutaway view along the line II-II intercepting among Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is the schematic block diagram of the control module among Fig. 2.

As shown in the figure, ice maker 100 comprises: water supply unit 110 is connected to the water source and supplies water; Ice maker container 120 has water that is used to admit 110 supplies from the water source and the ice making space 122 of carrying out ice making; Demarcation strip 130 is used for the ice making space 122 of ice maker container 120 is separated into a plurality of unitary spaces (C); And driver element 140, be installed in a side of ice maker container 120, and make ice maker container 120 rotations, discharge from ice maker container 120 to allow ice.

Water supply unit 110 comprises: the feed pipe 111 that connects the ice making space 122 of water source and ice maker container 120; Be installed in the feed water valve 112 at feed pipe 111 middle parts, in order to regulate the water yield of supplying with (or output); And be installed in the upstream side of feed water valve 112 or the supply-water pump in downstream, in order to pumps water.Here, supply-water pump 113 is asked to supply with the hydraulic pressure of homogeneous, but this is optional.When not comprising supply-water pump 113, the difference in height between water source capable of using and the ice maker container 120 supplies water.

Feed pipe 111 can be directly connected to the water source and supply water, and perhaps can feed pipe 111 be connected to water tank (figure does not show), and this water tank is arranged in the refrigerating chamber 3 and wherein stores certain water yield.In the case, this water tank is the water source.Here,, can in ice maker container 120, level sensor be installed, perhaps the flow sensor that is used to detect discharge can be installed in feed pipe, perhaps level sensor can be installed in water tank in order to supply with the suitable water yield to ice maker container 120.

Can feed water valve 112 and supply-water pump 113 be electrically connected, to send and to receive signal to control module 160.Control module 160 can be regulated output based on the value that is detected in real time by level sensor or flow sensor, perhaps can be converted into data the running time of feed water valve 112 and supply-water pump 113, so that periodically open or close feed water valve 112 and supply-water pump 113.

Ice maker container 120 comprises container unit 121 and axle unit 125, and container unit 121 has ice making space 122 to admit water and ice making therein, and axle unit 125 forms from a side of container unit 121 and protrudes out.

Container unit 121 has single ice making space 122, and this ice making space 122 is the shape of hemispherical container portions substantially.Yet, on the inner peripheral surface of container unit 121, can insert wherein with the partition wall 132 that allows demarcation strip 30 (to be described) along circumferential formation notch (figure does not show).Container unit 121 comprises a plurality of pushers (pusher) 123, and these pushers form the projection that is profile of tooth in an open end of this container unit, will disappear without a trace so that promote the ice in each unitary space (C) and put.The inner peripheral surface that constitutes the ice maker container 120 in ice making space 122 can apply fluorine material.Certainly, the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 120 can apply like any other materials such as potteries.

Axle unit 125 can be formed on container unit 121 central authorities vertically, and can be connected to driver element 140, between axle unit and driver element, is inserted with decelerator.

Demarcation strip 130 comprises: fixed part 131, and the edge is extended with the axle unit 125 identical directions of ice maker container 120 and is had the shape that is similar to axle, and is fixed to driver element 140; A plurality of barrier rib parts 132, from fixed part 131 towards ice maker container, form with specific interval vertically, thereby ice making space 122 is separated into a plurality of unitary spaces (C); And the backstopping assembly 133 that connects the upper surface of partition wall parts 132, in order to when ice maker container 120 is rotated, the ice cube in the unitary space (C) can be released, rather than along with ice maker container 120 is rotated together.

As stated, an end of fixed part 131 is connected to the motor casing 141 that constitutes driver element 140 integratedly, and the other end of fixed part 131 rotatably is connected to the central authorities of the container unit 121 of ice maker container 120.

Partition wall parts 132 are formed the identical shape of shape when having with ice making space 122 projection vertically, and are promptly semicircle.Partition wall parts 132 can be formed its outer peripheral face and contact with the inner peripheral surface in ice making space 122, so that reduce the connection area between the ice cube (or borneol), thereby discharge ice.

Water channel 135 with certain depth is formed on a side of the outer peripheral face of partition wall parts 132, is formed on the minimum point of partition wall parts 132 particularly, so that water can move to unitary space (C).Certainly, water channel 135 can be penetratingly formed at the middle part of partition wall parts 132.

As shown in Figure 3, backstopping assembly 133 can be formed on the part at pusher 123 place of ice maker container 120, on the fore-end when promptly being formed on ice maker container 120 and being rotated.As the case may be, backstopping assembly 133 can form the entire upper surface that covers partition wall parts 132 1 sides, perhaps can form standing shape in case stagnant ice along with ice maker container 120 is rotated together.Yet, because backstopping assembly 133 can be used for preventing that the water of putting into ice maker container 120 from spilling, so this backstopping assembly can form greatly as far as possible.

Demarcation strip 130 can be as the such fluorin radical (fluorine group, fluorine material) that applies of the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 120.

Driver element 140 can comprise: be fixedly mounted in the motor casing 141 in the ice-making compartment 51; Drive motors 142 is installed in motor casing 141 inside and produces revolving force; And reduction gearing 143, be connected to drive motors 142 so that revolving force slows down and it is delivered to ice maker container 120.

The axle unit 125 of ice maker container 120 rotatably is connected to motor casing 141, and the fixed part 131 of demarcation strip 130 is fixedly coupled to motor casing 141.

Simultaneously, on the outer peripheral face of ice maker container 120, the heater of being processed by the Heat Conduction Material of aluminium and so on can be installed, use so that ice separates from the ice making space 122 of ice maker container 120.Heater 150 is configurable to be the pipeline heater that contacts with the outer peripheral face of ice maker container 120.

Can be with heater 150 unit 110 reciprocations that are controlled to be and supply water.For example, according to the variation of the numerical value that records by level sensor or flow sensor, judge whether to supply water to ice maker container 120 and come ice making; Whether whether ice making is carried out, perhaps after processing ice, will disappear without a trace and put, when confirming that supplying with water comes ice making; Perhaps finish when confirming to have supplied water, when carrying out ice making; Stop the operation of heater, and after ice making is accomplished, during the release of icing, but control heater 150 brings into operation.

Here; Can confirm the time point of heater 150 operations through the temperature that detects ice maker container 120 in real time or periodically; Elapsed time changes into data after perhaps can the numerical value of level sensor or flow sensor being changed, then according to this data value forced service heater.That is, can perhaps verify the ice making operation through the temperature that detects ice maker container 120 and whether accomplish through the ice making time.For example, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor in being installed in ice maker container 120 (figure do not show) is lower than a certain temperature (for example-9 ℃), can confirm that ice making accomplishes, perhaps after supplying water, pass through the regular hour, can confirm that ice making accomplishes.

Although not shown, heater 150 can be made up of conducting polymer, the baffle heater with positive thermal conductivity factor, aluminum laminated films and other materials such as material that for example can supply conduct heat.

Except heater attachment is linked the front side of ice maker container 120, although not shown, heater also can be embedded in the inside of ice maker container 120 or be arranged on the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 120.In addition, under the situation of not using heater 150, can ice maker container be configured to produce the resistor of heat, make that at least a portion of ice maker container 120 can be served as heater when it is applied electric current, thereby produce heat.

Heater 150 can be installed into ice maker container 120 to be separated, rather than contacts with ice maker container 120, so that be configured to thermal source.For example, this thermal source comprises to ice or at least one radiative light source of ice maker container 120, to the magnetron of at least one launched microwave of ice or ice maker container 120.Directly apply heat energy such as thermals source such as heater, light source or magnetrons, or apply heat energy, to melt a part of interface between ice and the ice maker container 120 to interface between the two to ice or at least one of ice maker container 120.Therefore, when ice maker container 120 rotates,, can utilize the pusher 123 of (ice) deadweight or ice maker container 120 that ice is separated with ice maker container though the interface between ice and the ice maker container 120 does not thaw fully.

Simultaneously, heater 150 can be controlled by the control module 160 (that is micro computer) that is electrically connected on drive motors 142 and heater 150 with drive motors 142 simultaneously.For example, as shown in Figure 5, control module 160 comprises: detecting unit 161, be connected to temperature sensor (figure does not show) to detect the temperature of ice maker container 120, and perhaps be connected to timer (figure does not show) to detect from the beginning institute elapsed time that supplies water; Judging unit 162 is used for comparing through temperature that detecting unit 151 is recorded or time and reference value and judges whether ice making is accomplished; And command unit 163, be used for coming the on/off operation of control heater 150 and the operation of drive motors 142 according to the judgement of judging unit 162.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show the confession ice method in the refrigerator of one example embodiment according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, when the needs ice making, open ice maker 100 to start ice making operation (S1).Then, water supply unit 110 is to ice maker container 120 water supply (S2).In the case, being installed on the level sensor of ice maker container 120, the flow sensor that is installed on feed pipe, the devices such as level sensor that are installed on water tank through use detects output in real time, and the output that records is sent to micro computer.Then, micro computer compares (S3) with output that receives and preset output.Micro computer judges whether an amount of water to be supplied to ice maker container 120 according to comparative result; And after micro computer is confirmed an amount of water have been supplied to ice maker container 120; Micro computer cuts out the feed water valve of water supply unit 110, to prevent supplying water to ice maker container (S4) again.

After accomplishing to the water supply of ice maker container 120, the water in the ice maker container 120 are exposed in the cold air that supplies to ice-making compartment 51 at least one special time period and are freezed (S5).The frozen while of water in ice maker container 120, temperature sensor (figure does not show) periodically or in real time detects the temperature of ice maker container, and the temperature that records is sent to micro computer.Micro computer compares (S6) with detected temperatures that receives and preset temperature.Micro computer judges whether the surface of the water put into ice maker container 110 is frozen, when micro computer is judged the water of putting into ice maker container 110 surperficial frozen, stops the follow-up operation entry release steps (S7) of going forward side by side.

When customer requirements discharged ice, control module 160 made heater 150 operations, and when heater 150 operations, heat is applied to ice maker container 120, thereby makes the outer surface of the ice that contacts with the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 120 melt (S8 and S9).

After this; When running based on the drive motors of controlling by control module 150; When the container unit 121 of ice maker container 120 is rotated for the center around axle unit 125; The backstopping assembly 133 that ice cube (I) in the C of unitary space is separated plate 130 stops, so ice cube can not rotate (S10) together along with ice maker container 120.Then; Ice maker container 120 is further rotated, and the pusher 123 of ice maker container 120 (passing between a plurality of partition walls 132 of opposite side of the backstopping assembly 133 that is formed on demarcation strip 130) is by the ice cube (F) that promotes units corresponding space (C) based on the revolving force (F) of drive motors 142.Then, ice cube (I) separates and free-falling with the backstopping assembly 133 of partition wall parts 132 and demarcation strip 130, thereby is discharged into ice container 52, or directly is discharged into distributor 53 (S11 and S12).

Here, discharging the process of ice, perhaps in the process of preparing release ice, can stop to supply with cold air, so that discharge the operation of ice and the electric energy that minimizing is applied to heater 150 to ice-making compartment 51 from ice maker container 120.

When distribution is accomplished, stop the operation of heater 150 and cutter unit 140, open feed water valve 112, to supply with an amount of water to ice maker container 120 by level sensor, flow sensor etc.This process in succession is repeated to carry out.

In this mode; Owing to the free-falling when ice maker container rotates of the ice in the ice maker container is released; So can reduce the size of ice maker, and can reduce the shared area of ice maker, thereby can make the shape of the refrigerator that comprises ice maker become more very thin.That is; In correlation technique, the ice of ice maker container is promoted and is released by displacer, so need be used for boosting from ice maker container the space of ice; And for ice; Must ice container be set in the front side of ice maker container, make that the shared area of ice maker is very big on the whole, very thinization of refrigerator caused restriction.Yet; In this example embodiment, ice maker container is rotated so that ice can free-falling and be released, and need not boost and rotate ice; Thereby reduced the ice making space; And because ice container is set at the downside of ice maker container, thus the shared area of ice maker can be reduced significantly, so that refrigerator or refrigerator doors shape are more very thin.

And; Owing on the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container, do not have partition wall, thus the roughness of the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container can be increased, thus release when icing heater when being equipped with at the ice maker container place; Release the ice heater and can transmit heat equably; Carry out the operation that discharges ice efficiently, and can reduce the generation of residual water, bond with the ice that prevents to store.

In addition; Owing to ice maker container be rotated with promote ice make ice can free-falling so that be released, release the ice heater so can save, in the case; Owing to do not use heater just can discharge ice; So can cut down the consumption of energy equally, and the residual water that can reduce as produce when using heater, thereby the quality that is stored in the ice in the ice container improved.

Simultaneously, like Fig. 8 and shown in Figure 9, be installed under the situation on the refrigerator doors at ice maker 100, when the switch refrigerator doors, the water of injection ice maker container 120 may be shaken before freezing fully and gushed out.Thus, in order to stop the water (outflow) of putting into ice maker container 120, can cover plate 170 be set in addition at the upside of demarcation strip 130.

Cover plate 170 can have the recessed semicircular sectional shape of the edge direction opposite with the concave surface of ice maker container 120, but and the central authorities' along continuous straight runs in cover plate 170 upper ends extend to form water supply groove and cold air through hole.Cover plate 170 can comprise elastomeric element 172, can flexibly open in order to when ice maker container 120 is rotated, to make cover plate 170.

When being provided with aforesaid cover plate, although ice maker as stated that kind be installed on the refrigerator doors, the water that can prevent to put into ice maker container is given a shock and gushes out, thereby has improved the ice making effect.In the case, the configuration of ice maker and operation again are said, therefore omit its detailed description.

The invention pattern

Ice maker is according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention below described.That is, in aforesaid example embodiment, release the ice heater and be installed in the ice maker container, but in this example embodiment, release the ice heater and be installed into partition wall and contact.

Figure 10 is the stereogram of another example that the ice maker of Fig. 1 is shown.Figure 11 is the cutaway view along the line III-III intercepting of Figure 10.Figure 12 is the rear perspective view of the ice maker of Figure 10.Figure 13 is the schematic block diagram of the control module of Figure 10.In this example embodiment, the detailed description of the parts identical with the parts of the ice maker of previous exemplary property embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, ice maker 200 comprises: water supply unit 210 is connected to the water source and supplies water; Ice maker container 120 has ice making space 222 in order to admit the water and the ice making of 210 supplies from the water source; Demarcation strip 230 is used for ice making space 222 is separated into a plurality of unitary spaces (C); Stop part 240 is arranged on the open side of ice maker container 220, and is used for ice is discharged from ice maker container; And driver element 250, be installed in a side of ice maker container 220 and make ice maker container 220 rotations to discharge ice.

Water supply unit 210 comprises: the feed pipe 211 that connects water source and ice maker container 220; Be installed in the feed water valve 212 at feed pipe 111 middle parts, in order to regulate the water yield of supplying with (or output); And be installed in the upstream side of feed water valve 212 or the supply-water pump in downstream, in order to pumps water.Here, supply-water pump 213 is asked to supply with the hydraulic pressure of homogeneous, but this is optional.When not having supply-water pump 213, the difference in height between water source capable of using and the ice maker container 220 supplies water.

Ice maker container 220 is the shape in semicircular in shape cross section substantially, and comprises single ice making space 221.Can form the coating surface of processing by fluorine material 222 on the inner peripheral surface in ice making space 221.This coating surface can be by processing like any other materials such as potteries.

Like Figure 11 and shown in Figure 12, can form the barrier film parts of processing by rubber-like material (like silicon) 223 at the two ends of the open side of ice maker container 220, overflow in the water supply position of ice maker container 220 to prevent water.

A plurality of partition walls 230 can be along the vertically setting at certain intervals of ice maker container 220, ice making space 221 is separated into a plurality of unitary spaces (C).Partition wall 230 is formed the identical shape of shape when having with ice making space 122 projection vertically, and is promptly semicircle.Partition wall parts 132 can be formed and make its outer peripheral face contact with the inner peripheral surface in ice making space 122, so that reduce the connection area between the ice cube (or borneol), thereby discharge ice.

Water channel 231 with certain depth is formed on a side of the outer peripheral face of partition wall 230, is specially the minimum point that is formed on partition wall parts 230, so that water can move to unitary space (C).Certainly, water channel 231 can be penetratingly formed at the middle part of partition wall parts 230.

Stop part 240 can be connected through the upper surface with partition wall 230 and form with partition wall, when being rotated with convenient ice maker container 220, the ice cube of unitary space (C) is discharged rather than along with ice maker container 220 is rotated together.Identical with the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 220, on the surface of stop part 240, can form the coating surface of processing by fluorine material.

Shown in figure 11, stop part 240 can be formed on and when ice maker container 220 is rotated, contact at first on ice cube that part of.According to specific circumstances, stop part 240 can form cover partition wall 230 a upper surface whole, perhaps can form standing shape in case stagnant ice along with ice maker container 220 is rotated together.Yet; Preferably; This stop part 240 is formed big as far as possible, and has writing board shape, and its end is contacted with the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 220; Preventing that the water of putting into ice maker container 220 from spilling, and between the inner peripheral surface of the upper surface of stop part 240 and ice maker container 220, form water space 241.

Stop part 240 can be formed towards the inner peripheral surface of ice maker container 220 downward-sloping; So that the surface forms water space 241 above that; And can form stop member 242 in the end of the inboard of stop part 240; This stop member flows into ice making space 221 along vertically having certain altitude to prevent the water in the water space 241.

Driver element 250 can comprise: be fixedly mounted on the motor casing 251 in the ice-making compartment 51; Drive motors 252 is installed in the inside of motor casing 251 and produces revolving force; And reduction gearing 253, be connected to drive motors 252, so that revolving force slows down and it is delivered to ice maker container 220.

Simultaneously; The framework 260 that is fixedly coupled to refrigerator doors 5 is formed with the part of the upper surface of partition wall 230 and contacts or be formed on the part of upper surface of partition wall 230; Promptly be formed on the opposite side of stop part 240; And heater slot 261 can form along the longitudinal extension of ice maker container 220, is installed in wherein to allow releasing ice heater 270.

Framework 260 can be processed by the material that has good heat-conductivity like aluminium etc.When partition wall 230 is connected into when contacting with framework 260, partition wall 230 can be processed by the aluminium with good heat-conductivity by processing with framework 260 identical materials.

The structure of heater 270 and the control module 280 (seeing Figure 12) that is used to move heater 270 and operation are identical with last example embodiment, therefore will omit its detailed description.

Simultaneously, be installed under the situation on the refrigerator doors at ice maker 200, when the switch refrigerator doors, the water of injection ice maker container 220 may be given a shock before freezing fully and gush out.Thus, flow out, can be provided with in addition at the upside of framework 280 and cover 290 in order to stop the water of putting into ice maker container 220.

Lid 280 can have the recessed semicircular sectional shape of the edge direction opposite with the concave surface of ice maker container 220, but and the central authorities' along continuous straight runs in lid 290 upper ends extend to form supply flume 291.Lid 290 can comprise elastomeric element 292, covers 280 and can flexibly open in order to when ice maker container 220 is rotated, to make.

According to the confession ice method in the refrigerator of this example embodiment like Figure 14 and shown in Figure 15.Because this method and last example embodiment are similar, therefore omit its detailed description.

Ice maker according to this example embodiment is slightly different at the ice maker of textural and last example embodiment, therefore in corresponding operation, also possibly have difference.For example, when customer requirements discharged ice, control module 280 made heater 270 operations, and when heater 270 operations, heat is applied to framework 260, and the outer surface that makes and be connected to the partition wall 230 contacted ice of framework 260 begins thawing (S8).

Next, by control module 280 operation of drive motor 252, make ice maker container 220 rotations, in the case, the ice cube (it does not separate with ice maker container 220 fully) in unitary space (C) is tilted and rotates with ice maker container 220.Yet; Because the ice cube in the unitary space (C) is stopped by backstopping assembly 240 and can not rotate together along with ice maker container 220; Therefore when ice maker container 220 is further rotated; Separated and the free-falling of the ice cube that places ice maker container 220, thus be discharged into the ice container 52 that is used for preserving ice, perhaps directly be discharged to distributor 53 (S12).In the case;, the interface of ice can produce residual water when melting; But residual water moves with the state that is poured into ice maker container 220, and is retained in the water space 241 between the inner peripheral surface that is formed at stop part 240 and ice maker container 220, has prevented thus water is introduced into ice container 52.Therefore, can prevent to be stored in that ice cube in the ice container sticks together and the quality that reduces ice.

Here, discharging the process of ice, perhaps in the process of preparing release ice, can stop to supply with cold air, so that discharge the operation of ice and the electric energy that minimizing is applied to heater 133 to ice-making compartment 51 from ice maker container 120.

After distribution is accomplished, stop the operation of heater 133 and cutter unit 140, open feed water valve 112, to supply with an amount of water to ice maker container 120 by level sensor, flow sensor etc.This process in succession is repeated to carry out.

Work according to the confession ice method of the ice maker of of the present invention example embodiment, the refrigerator with this ice maker and this refrigerator is identical with the work of previous example embodiment of the present invention.Yet, in this example embodiment, be installed into fixed body at demarcation strip owing to being used for discharging the ice heater of icing of releasing from ice maker container, so ice maker container can easily be driven, made things convenient for manufacturing and reduced energy consumption.

Because the present invention can be with some kinds of embodied under the situation that does not deviate from its aim or substantive characteristics; So what will also be understood that is; If not explanation is arranged in addition, the foregoing description is not subject to any aforementioned details, and should broadly be explained in aim of the present invention and in like institute's restricted portion in the claim of enclosing; And the claim of enclosing just because of this, is intended to contain the remodeling of all boundaries that fall into these claims and scope and the equivalents of modification or these boundaries and scope.

Claims

1. ice maker comprises:

Ice maker container has the ice making space and wherein comes ice making to allow water put into;

Demarcation strip has a plurality of partition walls, in order to said ice making spatial is divided into a plurality of unitary spaces; And

Driver element, being used to said ice maker container provides revolving force to rotate with respect to said demarcation strip to allow said ice maker container, thereby discharges the ice in the said ice making space.

2. ice maker according to claim 1, wherein said demarcation strip comprises stop part, said stop part is used for stopping the ice in said ice making space, discharges from said ice maker container to allow ice.

3. ice maker according to claim 1, wherein said stop part are formed and connect said partition wall.

4. ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the openend from said ice maker container forms pusher highlightedly, releases in order to will ice through said partition wall from said demarcation strip.

5. ice maker according to claim 1, wherein said ice maker container comprise releases the ice heater.

6. ice maker according to claim 5, the wherein said ice heater of releasing is electrically connected to control module, and said control module comprises: detecting unit is used to detect the temperature of said ice maker container, or is used for detecting from the beginning institute elapsed time that supplies water; Judging unit is used for comparing through temperature that said detecting unit is recorded or time and reference value and judges whether ice making is accomplished; And command unit, be used for controlling the on/off operation of said heater according to the judgement of said judging unit.

7. ice maker according to claim 1 is wherein released the ice heater and is contacted with said demarcation strip.

8. ice maker according to claim 7, the wherein said ice heater of releasing is electrically connected with control module, and said control module comprises: detecting unit is used to detect the temperature of said ice maker container, or is used for detecting from the beginning institute elapsed time that supplies water; Judging unit is used for comparing through temperature that said detecting unit is recorded or time and reference value and judges whether ice making is accomplished; And command unit, be used for controlling the on/off operation of said heater according to the judgement of said judging unit.

9. ice maker according to claim 2; Wherein said ice maker container is formed and makes the openend of said ice maker container be higher than the contact jaw corresponding with inner peripheral surface said ice maker container said stop part, thereby between the upper surface of said inner peripheral surface and said stop part, forms water space.

10. ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the upside at said stop part is provided with lid, overflows so that prevent the water of putting into said ice maker container.

11. ice maker according to claim 10, wherein said lid comprises elastomeric element, and when said ice maker container was rotated, said elastomeric element can flexibly be opened said lid.

12. a refrigerator comprises:

Refrigerator main body has ice-making compartment; And

Ice maker is arranged in the ice-making compartment of said refrigerator main body,

Wherein said ice maker is according to each is constructed in the claim 1 to 11.

13. refrigerator according to claim 12; Wherein said refrigerator main body is separated into refrigerating chamber and refrigerating chamber; Said ice-making compartment is set to the refrigerating-chamber door that is used to open and close said refrigerating chamber; Ice container is set to the said refrigerating-chamber door with said ice-making compartment, so that preserve the ice that separates with ice maker, and said ice container is positioned at the scope of said ice maker container.

14. refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein said ice container and said ice maker container are configured such that the center of said ice container and the center of said ice maker container as one man are on the vertical curve substantially.

15. one kind supplies the ice method, this method comprises the steps:

Ice making in ice maker;

Reception is from user's ice distribute signals;

Rotate the ice maker container of said ice maker;

Ice is separated with said ice maker; And

The ice that distribution has separated.

16. method according to claim 15, wherein the step of ice making comprises:

Supply water to said ice maker container;

Detection supplies to the water temperature or the water yield of the water of said ice maker container; And

Judge whether the measured water temperature and the water yield have reached the preset water temperature or the water yield.

17. method according to claim 13 also comprises:

Before the ice in promoting said ice maker container, the contact surface between making said ice maker container and icing separates.

18. method according to claim 15, wherein in making ice and said ice maker separation steps, the ice maker container of said ice maker directly applies power to ice when being rotated.

19. method according to claim 15 also comprises:

Before said ice maker container is rotated, stop to supply with cold air to said ice maker container.