KR101275559B1 - An ice-dispenser controlling device for refrigerator and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser control device for a refrigerator and a control method thereof. According to the present invention, the input unit 71 receives an input amount of the ice or water or ice and water and the extraction time and the extraction time per unit time taken out through the refrigerator dispenser 57, and the amount of the extraction amount per unit time input by the input unit 71. And a control unit C for controlling ice or water or ice and water to be taken out through the dispenser 57 during the taking-out time input by the input unit 57. According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the user can use the refrigerator more conveniently and simply.

Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Dispenser

Description

Dispenser control device and method for controlling the refrigerator {An ice-dispenser controlling device for refrigerator and method of controlling the same}

1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a main portion of a refrigerator provided with a refrigerator dispenser according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the main portion of the refrigerator provided with a dispenser control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention and a preferred embodiment of the control method.

Figure 3 is a front view showing a dispenser constituting a preferred embodiment of the dispenser control device for a refrigerator and a control method according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing a process of taking out ice and water according to a preferred embodiment of the dispenser control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention and a control method control method thereof.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

51: main body 53: freezer

55: door 57: dispenser

58: operation knob 59: water supply pipe

59H: Heater 61: Ice Maker

63: ice maker 64: ice bank

65: ice screw 66: motor

67: gearbox 68: icebreaker

69A: Ice Duct 71: Input Section

73: ejection amount setting button 75: ejection time setting button

77: Setup complete button 79: Display

C: control unit SW2: switch

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a dispenser control device for a refrigerator for manufacturing ice and transporting it to a dispenser to be taken out to the outside and a control method thereof.

Recently released refrigerators are equipped with ice makers that produce ice inside the freezer compartment. The ice produced by the ice maker is transferred to a dispenser provided in the freezer door and taken out to the outside according to a user's selection.

1 shows a refrigerator having a refrigerator dispenser according to the prior art.

As shown in the figure, a freezer compartment 13 in which food is stored is provided in the refrigerator body 11. The freezing chamber 13 is selectively opened and closed by the door 15. The rear protrusion 16 is provided on the rear surface of the door 15. The rear protrusion 16 is formed by protruding a portion of the door liner forming the rear surface of the door 15 to the rear.

And one side of the front side of the door 15 corresponding to the lower side of the rear projection 16 is provided with a dispenser 17 for taking out ice or / and water to the outside. The dispenser 17 is formed by recessing a part of the front surface of the door 15 to the inside.

The dispenser 17 is provided with an operating lever 18. The operation lever 18 is rotatably installed in the front and rear with respect to the upper end thereof. A switch SW1 is provided on an inner surface of the dispenser 17 corresponding to the operation lever 18. The switch SW1 is turned on by the operation of rotating the operation lever 18 backward to operate the motor 26 to be described below.

In addition, the water supply pipe 19 is introduced into the refrigerating chamber 13. The water supply pipe 19 is for supplying water for the production of ice. A heater 19H is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the water supply pipe 19. The heater 19H serves to prevent the water supply pipe 19 from freezing.

Meanwhile, an ice maker 21 is installed above the freezing chamber 13. The ice maker 21 is provided with an ice maker 23 for preparing ice by receiving water from the water supply pipe 19. And below the ice making unit 23 is provided with an ice bank 24 to store the ice made in the ice making unit 23.

Inside the ice bank 24 is provided with an ice screw 25 for transferring the stored ice to the front end of the ice bank 24. The ice screw 25 is spirally formed and rotates by the motor 26 installed at the rear of the ice bank 24 to transfer ice.

A gearbox 27 is provided between the ice bank 24 and the motor 26. The gear box 27 serves to increase the driving torque by reducing the driving force of the motor 26 by the plurality of gears provided therein and transmitting the decelerating force to the moving screw 25.

In addition, the ice bank 24 is provided with an icebreaker 28 in front. The crushing cutter 28 is connected to the front end of the ice screw 25 and serves to crush the ice transferred to the front end of the ice bank 24 by the ice screw 25 to a predetermined size.

Meanwhile, the ice crushed by the icebreaker 28 is guided to the dispenser 17 by the ice duct 29A. The ice duct 29A is formed in a tubular shape having a predetermined flow cross-sectional area. The ice duct 29A is installed by inclining the door 15 at a predetermined angle from the ice maker 21 toward the dispenser 17. At this time, one end of the ice duct (29A) is located on one side of the door 15, which is directly below the icebreaking cutter (28), substantially on one side of the upper surface of the rear projection (16). The other end of the ice duct 29A is located at an upper side of the dispenser 17.

In addition, the outlet 29B is provided at the ceiling of the dispenser 17 adjacent to the ice duct 29A. The outlet 29B is for taking out water to the outside. Water taken out through the outlet 29B is selectively taken out by a valve (not shown).

However, the refrigerator dispenser control apparatus and the control method according to the prior art has the following problems.

As described above, in order to take out the ice through the dispenser 17, the operation lever 18 is rotated until the required amount of ice is taken out so that the switch SW1 is switched on. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that it is inconvenient because a force to apply the force to rotate the operation lever 18 to the rear to the container to hold ice.

The present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser control device for a refrigerator and a control method thereof configured to be used by a user more convenient.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, the present invention is an input unit for inputting the extraction amount and the extraction time of ice or water or ice and water per unit time taken out through the refrigerator dispenser, and the unit received the input unit It is configured to include a control unit for controlling the amount of ice or water or the amount of water or the amount of time taken out per hour through the dispenser during the take-out time input.

An operation signal and a setting completion signal for setting the take-out amount and take-out time of ice or water or ice and water per unit time are input by the take-out amount setting button, the take-out time setting button, and the setting completion button provided in the input unit.

The control unit controls a driving speed of a motor providing a driving force for transferring ice to the dispenser according to the ejection amount per unit time received by the input unit, and controls the driving time of the motor according to the ejection time received by the input unit. It is characterized by.

The control unit controls the opening and closing degree of the valve for delivering water to the dispenser according to the amount of water withdrawal per unit time received by the input unit, and controls the opening and closing time of the valve according to the withdrawal time received by the input unit do.

The control unit is characterized in that the control unit is provided to one side of the dispenser to receive the take-out start signal from the on-operation switch to start the extraction of ice or water or ice and water through the dispenser.

The switch is characterized in that the operation is provided by pressing the operation knob provided on one side of the dispenser.

According to another feature of the present invention, the present invention comprises the steps of (a) receiving an input signal for selecting the operation of the ice or water or ice and water, and (b) the input unit of the ice or water or ice and water per unit time Receiving an operation signal for setting an ejection amount and an ejection time, and (c) the control unit using the dispenser during the ejection time input by the input unit for the selected ice or water or ice and water as much as the ejection amount per unit time input by the input unit; And controlling to be taken out.

In the step (b), (b1) the input unit receives an operation signal for setting the amount of ice or water or ice and water per unit time, and (b2) the input unit takes out ice or water or ice and water extraction time. Receiving an operation signal for setting the, and (b3) The input unit is characterized in that it comprises a step of receiving an operation signal for completing the setting of the extraction amount of ice or water or ice and water and the extraction time per unit time.

In the step (c), (c1) the input unit receives an operation signal for generating a take-off start signal, and (c2) the control unit receives the take-out start signal from the input unit and takes out the unit time inputted by the input unit. And controlling the amount of the selected ice or water or ice and water to be drawn out through the dispenser during the taking-out time inputted by the input unit.

In the step (c2), the control unit controls the driving speed of the motor for providing a driving force for transferring the ice to the dispenser according to the amount of ice per unit time received by the input unit, the input unit of the ice The driving time of the motor is controlled according to the take-out time.

In the step (c2), the control unit controls the opening and closing degree of the valve for delivering water to the dispenser according to the amount of water withdrawal per unit time received by the input unit, the valve according to the withdrawal time of water input by the input unit It is characterized by controlling the opening and closing time.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the user can use the refrigerator more conveniently.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the refrigerator dispenser control apparatus and the control method according to the present invention will be described in detail.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the refrigerator dispenser control apparatus and its control method according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a dispenser constituting a preferred embodiment of the refrigerator dispenser control apparatus and its control method according to the present invention. A front view is shown.

As shown in the drawing, a freezer compartment 53 is provided inside the refrigerator body 51. Food is stored in the freezer compartment 53. The freezing chamber 53 is selectively opened and closed by the door 55. The door 55 is rotatably installed at one side of the main body 51 with the other end around the one end thereof in front and rear of the main body 51.

A dispenser 57 is provided at one side of the front surface of the door 55. The dispenser 57 is for taking out ice or / and water to the outside without opening the door 55. The dispenser 57 is formed by recessing a part of the front surface of the door 55 to the inside.

The dispenser 57 is provided with an operation knob 58. The inner surface of the dispenser 57 corresponding to the operation knob 58 is provided with a switch SW2 which is turned on by pressing the operation knob 58 toward the inner surface of the dispenser 57. The switch SW2 serves to receive an ice start start signal.

In addition, a water supply pipe 59 is introduced into the freezing chamber 53. The water supply pipe 59 supplies water for making ice in the ice maker 61 which will be described below. On the outer circumferential surface of the water supply pipe 59, a heater 59H is provided. The heater 59H generates heat at a predetermined temperature to prevent the water supply pipe 59 from freezing.

In addition, an ice maker 61 is installed above the freezing chamber 53. The ice maker 61 serves to produce ice, crush it to a predetermined size, and deliver the ice to the dispenser 57.

The ice maker 61 is provided with an ice maker 63. The ice making unit 63 receives water from the water supply pipe 59 to substantially manufacture ice. And the ice bank 64 is installed below the ice making unit 63. The ice bank 64 stores the ice made by the ice making unit 63.

And the inside of the ice bank 64 is provided with an ice screw 65 is formed spirally. The ice screw 65 transfers the ice stored in the ice bank 64 to the front of the ice bank 64, that is, toward the icebreaking cutter 68 to be described below.

The motor 66 is installed at the rear of the ice bank 64. The motor 66 provides a driving force for the rotation of the ice screw 65 and the icebreaker 68. In addition, a gearbox 67 is provided between the rear surface of the ice bank 64 and the motor 66. A plurality of gears are provided inside the gear box 67 to increase driving torque by reducing the driving force of the motor 66. The driving speed and driving time of the motor 66 are controlled by the controller C to be described below.

In addition, the ice bank 64 is provided with an icebreaker 68 in front. The crushing cutter 68 serves to crush the ice conveyed by the icing screw 65 to a predetermined size. The crushing cutter 68 is connected to the front end of the ice screw 65 and rotates by the driving force of the motor 66 to crush the ice to a predetermined size.

Ice duct 69A is provided to guide the ice crushed by the icebreaker 68 to the dispenser 57. The ice duct 69A is installed through the door 55 in a tubular shape having a predetermined flow cross section. The ice duct 69A extends inclined downward from the ice maker 61 toward the dispenser 57 at a predetermined angle. At this time, both ends of the ice duct 69A are installed through the door 55 such that the ice duct 69A is positioned directly below the ice maker 61 and substantially adjacent to the icebreaker 68 and the dispenser 57.

In addition, an outlet 69B is provided at one side of the ceiling of the dispenser 57 adjacent to the ice duct 69A. The outlet 69B is where water is taken out substantially. In addition, a valve (not shown) is provided to selectively open and close the water through the outlet 69B.

As shown in FIG. 3, an input unit 71 is provided on the front surface of the door 55 corresponding to the dispenser 57. The input unit 71 is provided with a take-out amount setting button 73 and a take-out time setting button 75 for receiving the take-out amount of ice and the take-out time of ice per unit time. In addition, the input unit 71 is provided with a setting completion button 77 for completing the setting of the take out amount of ice and the take out time of ice per unit time received from the take-out amount setting button 73 and the take-out time setting button 75. . In addition, one side of the input unit 71 is provided with a display 79 that displays the amount of ice taken out and the time taken out of the ice per unit time received by the input unit 71.

Meanwhile, the control unit C (see FIG. 4) controls the amount of ice and / or water taken out and unit of the ice or / and water taken out per unit time. In more detail, the controller C controls the driving speed of the motor 66 (see FIG. 2) according to the amount of ice taken out per unit time input by the input unit 71. The controller C controls the driving time of the motor 66 according to the ice taking-out time input by the input unit 71. In addition, the control unit C controls the opening degree of the valve according to the amount of water withdrawal per unit time received by the input unit 71. The control unit C controls the opening time of the valve according to the withdrawal time of water input by the input unit 71.

In addition, the control unit C is configured to set the amount of ice or / and water withdrawal amount per unit time by the take-out amount setting button 73, or to set the take-out time of ice or / and water by the take-out time setting button 75, If the input of the setting completion signal by the setting completion button 58 and the input of the take-out start signal by the switch SW2 are not made within a predetermined time, the switch SW2 is operated by the operation knob 58; It is controlled so that ice or / and water is withdrawn only during the time that the operation time is on. This is to prevent the extraction of ice and / or water regardless of the intention of use by other users according to the user's setting.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a dispenser control device for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 4 shows the process of taking out the ice according to a preferred embodiment of the icemaker control method for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, first, the user operates the ejection amount setting button 73 and the ejection time setting button 75 to input the ejection amount and the ejection time of ice or / and water per unit time (S11) (S12) and The user operates the setting completion button 58 to complete the input of the amount of ejecting ice and / or water per unit time and the dispensing time. (S13) In this state, the user operates the operation knob 58 by using a container to hold the ice. Press to turn on the switch SW2 to input a signal to start taking out ice (S14).

As such, when a signal for starting the extraction of ice or / and water is input, the control unit C drives or opens the motor 66 (see FIG. 2) or / and the valve (S15). The ice screw 65 (refer to FIG. 2) is rotated so that ice is taken out through the ice duct 69A or water is taken out through the outlet 69B. (S16) At this time, the control unit C is a unit input by a user. The driving speed and driving time of the motor 66, the opening degree and the opening time of the valve are controlled according to the amount of the ice or / and the water taken out and the time taken out. (S17) Accordingly, the user continues the operation knob 58. Even without pressing, the amount of ice or water and / or water required by the user is extracted.

The controller C stops or shields the motor or / and the valve when the time inputted to the input unit 71 is completed. (S18) When the driving of the motor 66 is stopped or the valve is shielded. Extraction of ice and / or water is also terminated.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. will be.

According to the icemaker for a refrigerator according to the present invention configured as described above, the following effects can be expected.

First, according to the present invention, the ice or / and water is taken out according to the extraction amount and the extraction time of the ice or / and water per unit time received by the input unit. Accordingly, the refrigerator can be used more simply and conveniently because the user does not have to lift the heavy container and keep pressing the operation knob while ice or / and water is taken out.

Claims (11)

An input unit for inputting the amount of ice or water or the amount of the ice and water and the time taken out through the refrigerator dispenser; And a control unit which controls the amount of ice or water or ice and water to be taken out through the dispenser during the taking out time input unit inputted by the input unit. The control unit controls a driving speed of a motor providing a driving force for transferring ice to the dispenser according to the ejection amount per unit time received by the input unit, and controls the driving time of the motor according to the ejection time received by the input unit. Refrigerator dispenser control device characterized in that. The method of claim 1, For the refrigerator, characterized in that the operation signal and the setting completion signal for setting the extraction amount and the extraction time of the ice or water or ice and water per unit time is input by the take-out amount setting button, the take-out time setting button and the setting completion button provided in the input unit Dispenser Control. The method of claim 1, The input unit is a dispenser controller for refrigerators formed above the dispenser. The method of claim 1, The control unit controls the opening and closing degree of the valve for delivering water to the dispenser according to the amount of water withdrawal per unit time received by the input unit, and controls the opening and closing time of the valve according to the withdrawal time received by the input unit Refrigerator dispenser controls. The method of claim 1, The control unit is a refrigerator dispenser control device, characterized in that the control unit is controlled to start taking out the ice or water or the ice and water through the dispenser by receiving the take-out start signal from the switch that is provided on one side of the dispenser. 6. The method of claim 5, The switch is a dispenser control device for a refrigerator, characterized in that the operation is turned on by pressing the operation knob provided on one side of the dispenser. (a) the input unit receiving an operation signal for selecting ice or water or extraction of ice and water, (b) the input unit receiving an operation signal for setting the extraction amount and the extraction time of ice or water or ice and water per unit time; and (c) controlling the controller to take out the selected amount of ice or water or ice and water by the input unit through the dispenser during the extraction time input by the input unit; The step (c) (c1) receiving an operation signal for generating an extraction start signal by the input unit; (c2) the control unit receives a start start signal from the input unit and controls the selected ice or water or ice and water to be taken out through the dispenser during the take-out time input by the input unit by the amount of take-out per unit time inputted by the input unit; Steps, In the step (c2), The control unit controls the driving speed of the motor providing a driving force for transferring the ice to the dispenser according to the amount of ice taken out per unit time received by the input unit, the input of the motor in accordance with the take-out time of the ice received by the input unit Dispenser control method for a refrigerator, characterized in that for controlling the driving time. The method of claim 7, wherein In step (b), (b1) the input unit receiving an operation signal for setting the amount of ice or water or the amount of ice and water extracted per unit time; (b2) the input unit receiving an operation signal for setting an ice or water or an extraction time of the ice and water, and (b3) The refrigerator dispenser control method, characterized in that the input unit comprises the step of receiving an operation signal for completing the setting of the ice or water or ice and water withdrawal amount and the extraction time per unit time. delete delete The method of claim 7, wherein In the step (c2), The control unit controls the opening and closing degree of the valve for delivering water to the dispenser according to the amount of water withdrawal per unit time received by the input unit, and controls the opening and closing time of the valve in accordance with the withdrawal time of the water inputted by the input unit Refrigerator dispenser control method characterized in that.

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