JPH01203864A - Ice making device for refrigerator or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the electric power consumption of a heating means, by stopping the operation of the heating means of an ice making device for a given period of time after finishing the operation of the heating means for a predetermined period of time, determined by a specified period. CONSTITUTION:After the repeated ON/OFF operation of a heater 11 is effected, the output of an integrating timer 41 becomes 'H' from 'L', the output 'L' is inputted into one of an AND circuit 43 and the output of one of the AND circuit 43 becomes 'L' regardless of the input of the other side. Then, the input of one side of an OR circuit 31 becomes 'L' and the output of an ice making timer 30 becomes 'L', therefore, a transistor 32 is put OFF and a relay coil 33 is intercepted. Then, a relay contact 23 is opened and the heater 11 is put OFF. The heater 11 is put OFF for a predetermined period of time in such a manner, therefore, an ice making sensor 35 is cooled rapidly to a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature and the temperature of water in a first ice making pan 15 is cooled sufficiently to the temperature of a refrigerating chamber 3. Accordingly, ice is produced quickly and the electric power consumption of the heater 11 may be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice-making device that is disposed in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator or the like and is particularly capable of producing transparent ice.

Conventional technology Conventionally, in household refrigerators, etc., an ice making device that stores an ice tray is placed in one section of the freezer compartment, and the water in the ice tray is frozen by the cooling effect of the cold air flowing through the ice making device to make ice. It is common practice to generate.

However, with this ice generation method, when ice is generated, the water in the ice tray progresses to the center from the contact surface between the ice tray and the water and the contact surface between the cold air and water. As a result, gaseous components and impurities dissolved in the water are trapped in the center of the ice, resulting in opaque ice with a cloudy center, which is sensually suitable for beverages such as whisky. It wasn't something.

For this reason, there has been a need for transparent ice for a long time, and the equipment used to produce it is designed so that the ice cube tray is cooled from the bottom of the ice tray by using a nearly sealed chamber structure, and a heater, etc. A method of making transparent ice by heating the water with water and deaerating the bubbles generated in the water from the water surface to the outside air was developed in 1986-6E. It is known from Publication No. 779 and the like.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with this method, when making regular non-transparent ice without heating a heater, etc., there is a problem in that the ice being made is stored in the space for storing the almost sealed ice tray. The water vapor generated from the water causes condensation and frost, and if repeated, there is a problem in that the ice tray cannot be inserted or removed.

Therefore, in order to deal with such problems, methods as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 can be considered.

The contents will be explained below according to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, which is divided by a partition wall 2 into a freezing compartment 3 in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment 4 in the lower part. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cooler for the refrigeration cycle, and e denotes a blower for forced ventilation.
is located on the back of the. Reference numeral 7 denotes an ice-making device disposed at the bottom of the freezer compartment 3, with a first ice-making compartment 8 for producing transparent ice in the upper stage of the box body 7a, and a first ice-making machine for producing regular ice in the lower stage. Two ice-making compartments 9 are provided. The outer walls of the first ice-making chamber 8 except for the bottom and front surfaces are surrounded by 1° heat insulating material, and there is an aluminum heating plate 12 with a heater 11 on the back surface on the top surface, and an aluminum heating plate 12 on the bottom surface. Aluminum cooling plate 1
3 are arranged respectively. 14 is a ventilation passage formed below the cooling plate 13.

15 and 16 are the first ice making compartments 8. and 16, respectively. Second ice making room 9
A first ice tray and a second ice tray are housed within the ice tray.

Further, 17 is a discharge duct for forcing the cold air cooled by the cooler 6 into the ice making device 7 by the blower 6, and the discharge duct 17 is connected to the ventilation passage 14 and the second air passage by means of a discharge port 18 formed at the lower end. It communicates with the inside of the ice making room 9. 19 is a return duct for returning the cold air discharged into the freezer compartment 3 to the cooler 5, and 20 is an ice-making switch for starting making transparent ice. Further, 21 is a compressor of a refrigeration cycle installed at the rear of the lower part of the main body 1.

Next, the electric circuit will be explained. The blower 6 and compressor 21 are connected in parallel, connected in series with a relay contact 22, and then connected to a power source. The heater 11 is connected in series with a relay contact 23 and then connected to a power source.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a freezing room temperature control device, which includes a temperature sensor provided in the freezing room 3, a comparator circuit including a 26% resistance R1, R2, R3 degree comparator 26, a transistor 27, and a relay coil 28. The output of 26 is connected to the base of the transistor 27.

Further, a suction relay coil 28 for opening and closing the relay contact 22 is connected to the collector of the transistor 27.

Reference numeral 29 denotes an ice-making control device, which includes the ice-making switch 20, ice-making timer-3qOR circuit 31, transistor 32, relay coil 33. An ice-making compartment temperature sensor 34, an ice-making sensor 36 provided in the first ice-making compartment 8. Resistance R4, R,',
R6, a comparison circuit including a comparator 36, an AND circuit 37, and a timer 38, and the ice making switch 2
The output of o is connected to the input of the ice making timer 30. Here, the ice making timer 30 receives the htgh signal (
(hereinafter referred to as "H") is inputted once, it remains "H" for a predetermined period of time.
The device is configured to output a signal. Next, the output of this ice-making timer 30 is connected to one input of the OR circuit 31, and the output of the OR circuit 31 is connected to the transistor 32.
Connected to 0 base. A suction relay coil 33 for opening and closing the relay contact 23 is connected to the collector of the transistor 32. Further, the output of the comparator 36 is connected to one input of the AND circuit 37.

The output of the timer 38 is connected to one input of the AND circuit 37. Here, the timer 38 operates at a predetermined period (for example, H″=2 minutes, “L”=8 minutes, here 1L).
It is configured to output a signal (hereinafter referred to as a Low signal).

The output of the AND circuit 37 is the output of the OR circuit 31.
is connected to one input of the In such a configuration,
If the temperature of the freezer compartment 3 is higher than the predetermined value, the temperature sensor 2
When the resistance value RTH of 5 becomes sufficiently small, the comparator 26
The output becomes 1H'', the transistor 27 is turned on, and the relay coil 28 becomes conductive.Then, the relay contact 22 is closed, the compressor 21 is operated, and the cooler 6 performs a cooling action.

At the same time, the blower 6 is operated to forcefully ventilate the cold air cooled by the cooler 6 into the freezer compartment 4 and also through the discharge duct 17.
It is also supplied to the ice making device 7 via the discharge port 18 . When the cold air that has flowed into the ice making device 7 passes through the ventilation path 14, it cools mainly the ice surface of the second ice tray 16 stored in the second ice making compartment 9, so that it becomes normal ice. On the other hand, the cooling plate 13 forming the lower surface of the first ice making chamber 8 is cooled. The cold air passing through the ventilation passage 14 returns to the duct 1 along with the cold air convecting inside the freezer compartment 3.
9 and returned to the cooler 6. After that, when the freezer compartment 3 is cooled down to a predetermined temperature, the resistance value R of the temperature sensor 25
As TH increases, the contact 22 opens and the compressor 21. The blower 6 stops. Thereafter, this action is repeated to perform the normal cooling action, and the cooling plate 13 of the first ice making compartment 8
is also kept sufficiently cool. In this state, when the user stores the first ice tray 16 filled with water in the first ice making chamber 8 to make transparent ice, the ice making switch 2
When o is input, the "H" signal is input to the input of the ice making timer 30, and the "H" signal is output for a predetermined time, so %OR
When one input of the circuit 31 becomes "H", the output becomes "H" regardless of the other input. Therefore, the transistor 32
turns ON, relay coil 33 becomes conductive, and relay contact 23
is closed.

Heater 11 is turned on. For this reason, the heating plate 12 on the top of the first ice tray 16 is heated and gradually cools the water upward from the cooling plate 13 on the bottom so that the water surface does not freeze first. Gaseous components are released and clear ice is formed. Here, if the user stores the first ice tray 16 filled with water to make ice in the first ice making compartment 8 and does not turn on the ice making switch 20, the first ice making tray 16 is stored in the first ice making compartment 8.
As the temperature rises, the resistance value RrH of the ice-making sensor 36 becomes sufficiently small, and the output of the comparator 36 becomes "H".
One input of the AND circuit 37 becomes ``H'', and the output depends on the other input. That is, the output of the timer 38 is "
At the time of H'', the output of the AND circuit 37 becomes 1HH, and O
One input of the R circuit 31 becomes "H" and the output becomes "1H" regardless of the other input, so the transistor 32 turns on and the relay coil 33 becomes conductive.Then, the relay contact 23 closes and the heater 11 is turned on. Also, when the output of the timer 38 is 1L", the output of the AND circuit 37 is "L", one input of the OR circuit 31 is "L", and the output of the ice-making timer 30 is @L. ”, the output of the OR circuit 31 becomes L.

When the transistor 32 becomes 0FFI, the relay coil 33 is cut off. Then, the relay contact 23 opens and the heater 11
turns off. In this way, the heater 11's 0N10FF
(2 minutes/8 minutes) By repeating the operation, the first ice tray 15
It is possible to prevent frost formation due to the difference between the water temperature inside the ice-making compartment 8 and the top surface temperature of the first ice-making compartment 8.

However, even with this configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, when the first ice-making tray 16 is put in and the ice-making sensor 36 reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, -6°C) or higher, the heater 11 starts to be energized. Since the temperature of the ice-making sensor 35 is above -6°C even after the time (e.g. 8 hours) has elapsed until the ice-making is completed, the heater 11 continues to be energized for t hours until the temperature falls below -6°C. , the ice is at the temperature of freezer compartment 3 (e.g. -20"
C)-1 not only requires a long time to be cooled, but also has the problem that power consumption increases due to unnecessary energization of the heater 11.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to reduce the amount of power consumed by the heating means.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ice making device such as a refrigerator according to the present invention stops the operation of the heating means for a certain period of time after the heating means has finished operating for a predetermined period of time.

Operation According to the present invention, the operation of the heating means is stopped for a certain period of time after the heating means has finished operating for a predetermined period of time, and cooling is promoted without heating.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an ice making apparatus such as a refrigerator according to an example of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Incidentally, the same components as those in the prior art are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 39 denotes an ice making device provided at the lower part of the freezer compartment 3, and its internal configuration is entirely the same as that of the conventional example, with only the control specifications being different. That is, 40 is an ice-making control device, which includes an ice-making switch 20, an ice-making timer 30, an OR circuit 31. Transistor 32. Relay coil 33, ice maker temperature detector 34,
An ice-making sensor 36 provided in the first ice-making chamber 8. Resistor R4tR5? A comparison circuit including an R61 comparator 36, an AND circuit 37, a timer 38, an integration timer 41.
Inverter circuit 42. An AND circuit 43 is provided. Here, the integration timer 38 is configured to integrate an "H" signal for a predetermined time (e.g., 8 hours) and then output an "h" signal for a predetermined time (e.g., time t') when the "H" signal is input. The output of the AND circuit 37 is connected to the input of the integration timer 41, the output of the integration timer 41 is connected to one input of the AND circuit 43 via the inverter circuit 42, and one input is connected to the AND circuit. 37 output. The output of the AND circuit 43 is connected to one input of the OR circuit 31.

In this configuration, the user stores the first ice tray 15 filled with water in the first ice making compartment 8 to make ice;
If the ice making switch 20 is not turned on, turn on the first ice making compartment 8.
As the temperature rises, the resistance value RTH of the ice-making sensor 36 becomes sufficiently small, and the output of the comparator 36 becomes 'H'.
One input of the AND circuit 37 becomes "H", and the output depends on the other input. That is, the output of the timer 38 becomes "M".
”, the output of the AND circuit 37 is “H”, and when the output of the timer 38 is “L”, the output of the AND circuit is “L”.
becomes. Here, the output power EIII of the AND circuit 37
When it becomes "H", the integration timer 41 starts integration and the output of the integration timer 41 becomes "L" until 8 hours have elapsed.
It becomes “H” through the inverter circuit 42 and the AND circuit 4
3 becomes "H", and the output depends on one input of the AND circuit 43. That is, when the output of the timer 38 is H'', the output of the AND circuit 37 becomes @H'' and AN
One input of the D circuit 43 becomes “H” and the other input becomes “H”
”, the output becomes “H”, and one input of the OR circuit 31 becomes “H”, and the output becomes @H” regardless of one input, so the transistor 32 becomes O1ζ and the relay coil 33
conducts. Then, the relay contact 23 is closed and the heater 11 is turned on. Furthermore, when the output of the timer 38 is 1L, the output of the AND circuit 37 becomes "L", and regardless of the power of the AND circuit 4, the output becomes "L", and one input of the OR circuit 31 becomes "L". As a result, the output of the ice making timer 30 becomes “L”.
” and one input is L.

Since the output becomes L'', the transistor 32 is turned off and the relay coil 33 is cut off.Then, the relay contact 2
3 is opened and the heater 11 is turned off. In this way, after 0N10FF (2 minutes/8 minutes) operation of the heater 11 is repeated for 8 hours, the output of the integration timer 41 changes from "L" to Hn, and 1L" changes to AN through the inverter circuit 42.
This becomes one input of the D circuit 43, and the output becomes ``L'' regardless of the other input.Then, one input of the OR circuit 31 becomes ``L'', and the output of the ice-making timer 30 becomes ``L''.
This is because the output power becomes L”.

Transistor 32 is turned off and relay coil 33 is cut off. Then, the relay contact 23 opens and the heater 11
turns off. In this way, the heater 11 is turned on during time t'.
FF, and during that time the ice making sensor 35 is below the predetermined temperature (
The temperature of the water in the first ice tray 16 is also sufficiently cooled to the temperature of the freezer compartment 3 (-20"C). Therefore, ice is rapidly generated and , the power consumption of the heater 11 can be reduced.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, since the operation of the heating means is stopped for a certain period of time after the heating means has finished operating for a predetermined period of time, it is possible not only to rapidly cool down the first ice-making compartment to the temperature of the freezing chamber. , the amount of power consumed by the heating means can be reduced, resulting in power savings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of an ice making device such as a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a temperature characteristic diagram when producing ice with the same ice making device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of an ice making device equipped with the same ice making device. A cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator equipped with a conventional ice-making device. Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the same ice-making device. Figure 6 is a diagram of temperature characteristics when producing ice with the same ice-making device. It is. 8...First ice making room (ice making room), 10...
...Insulating material, 11... Heater (heating means), 1
2... Heating plate, 13... Cooling plate, 14
...Ventilation passage (cooling means). 16...First ice tray (ice tray), 20...
... Ice making switch, 39 ... Ice making device, 40
... Ice making control bag @, 34 ... Ice making room temperature detector. 41st! !

Claims (1)

[Claims] a cooling plate; a cooling means for cooling the cooling plate; an ice-making compartment partitioned with the cooling plate as a bottom and an open front; an ice-making compartment temperature detector for detecting the temperature inside the ice-making compartment; An ice-making tray stored in the ice-making chamber and placed on the cooling plate, a heating plate equipped with a heating means such as a heater provided on the top surface of the ice-making tray, and an outer wall of the ice-making chamber excluding the bottom and front surface thereof. an ice-making switch that commands the start of ice-making; when the ice-making switch is turned on, the heating means is activated; and when the ice-making switch is not turned on, the ice-making chamber temperature detector detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. the heating means is operated at a predetermined period for a predetermined time when the ice making chamber temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature or higher; An ice-making device such as a refrigerator that consists of a control device.