Control method of twist-type ice maker and twist-type ice maker

Abstract

The application provides a control method of a twist type ice maker and the twist type ice maker. The control method of the twist type ice maker comprises the following steps: controlling an ice making box to initialize after the twist type ice maker is powered on; receiving an ice making signal of the twist type ice maker; obtaining an on-off state of a detection switch; judging whether the detection switch is in a conduction state; if yes, determining that the ice making box is located at an ice making position, and controlling a water valve of the twist type ice maker to open, so that water enters the ice making box. According to the scheme, the detection switch is arranged on a support, the installation of the ice making box can be accurately judged, the abnormal condition that water directly flows into the ice storage box is prevented, and the use experience of a user is improved; the judgment of whether the ice making box is located at the ice making position is added when the ice making box rotates for the first time, the stall time of the ice making box in the ice making position is shortened, the damage and fracture of a supporting part of the ice making box due to long-time friction and impact with the support are avoided, and the service life of the ice making box is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of home appliance technology, and in particular to a control method for a twist-type ice maker and the twist-type ice maker itself. Background Technology

[0002] As society develops and people's living standards improve, the pace of life is accelerating, leading to the potential for people to buy and store large quantities of food at once. To ensure proper food storage, refrigerators have become an indispensable household appliance in daily life.

[0003] Furthermore, modern refrigerators are increasingly equipped with more and more functions. For example, some refrigerators can be equipped with ice makers to utilize the cold air in the storage space to produce ice water, ice cubes, or slushies and provide them to users to meet their diverse needs. Based on the place of use, ice makers can be divided into commercial ice makers, household ice makers, and industrial ice makers. Based on the shape of the ice they can form, ice makers can be divided into granular ice makers, snowflake ice makers, flake ice makers, plate ice makers, tube ice makers, etc. Based on the ice-making method, ice makers can also be divided into spray ice makers, flow-through ice makers, and immersion ice makers.

[0004] Based on their ice-removal methods, ice makers can be divided into Japanese-style ice makers and American-style ice makers. Japanese-style ice makers often remove ice by twisting the ice-making tray, and are also known as twist-type ice makers. American-style ice makers, on the other hand, use a heater to heat the ice and a pusher to eject the ice. Japanese-style ice makers can also be further divided into those with removable ice-making trays and those with fixed ice-making trays, depending on whether the ice-making tray is removable for cleaning. American-style ice makers can be further divided into mechanical and electronic types, depending on their control methods.

[0005] Twist-type ice makers primarily utilize the twisting of the ice tray to release ice. However, current twist-type ice makers cannot determine whether the ice tray is installed. When the ice-making function is activated without an ice tray installed, water may flow directly into the ice storage tank during the water intake phase of the ice-making process, resulting in an abnormal situation. Furthermore, during the initial rotation of the ice tray in the ice maker's initialization process, because it's impossible to determine whether the ice tray has rotated to the correct position, a prolonged stalling method is used. This not only wastes time and reduces efficiency, but more seriously, it may cause damage or breakage to the ice tray's support points due to prolonged friction and impact on the corresponding parts of the bracket. This reduces the ice tray's operational reliability, shortens its lifespan, and negatively impacts the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One objective of this invention is to accurately determine whether the ice maker is installed correctly, effectively preventing water from flowing directly into the ice storage box.

[0007] A further objective of this invention is to shorten the stall time of the ice maker and extend its service life.

[0008] Specifically, the present invention provides a control method for a twist-type ice maker, wherein the twist-type ice maker includes a support and an ice-making box, the ice-making box being detachably mounted on the support, and a detection switch being provided on the support, configured to be turned on when the ice-making box is in the ice-making position, and the control method includes: controlling the ice-making box to initialize after the twist-type ice maker is powered on; receiving an ice-making signal from the twist-type ice maker; obtaining the on / off state of the detection switch; determining whether the detection switch is in the on state; and if so, determining that the ice-making box is in the ice-making position, and controlling the water valve of the twist-type ice maker to open so that water enters the ice-making box.

[0009] Optionally, after the step of controlling the opening of the water valve of the rotary ice maker, the method further includes: controlling the compressor to turn on to provide cooling capacity so that the water in the ice container forms ice.

[0010] Optionally, the steps for initializing the ice maker include: controlling the ice maker to rotate in a first direction; determining whether a first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice maker has reached a near-limit position, wherein the limit position includes an ice-making position and an ice-flipping position, and the torsional ice maker also includes an ice storage box below the ice maker, wherein when the ice maker is in the ice-flipping position, the ice in the ice maker falls into the ice storage box; if so, obtaining the on / off state of a detection switch; determining whether the detection switch is in the on state; and if so, determining that the ice maker is in the ice-making position, and controlling the ice maker to stall in the first direction for a first preset time.

[0011] Optionally, when the detection switch is in the off state, if it is determined that the ice maker is not in the ice-making position, the ice maker is controlled to stall in the first direction for a second preset time, wherein the second preset time is longer than the first preset time.

[0012] Optionally, after the step of controlling the ice maker to stall in the first direction for a first preset time or a second preset time, the method further includes: determining whether a first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice maker has reached a near-limit position; and if so, controlling the ice maker to remain stationary for a third preset time, wherein the third preset time is longer than the first preset time and shorter than the second preset time.

[0013] Optionally, after the step of controlling the ice maker to remain stationary for a third preset time, the method further includes: controlling the ice maker to rotate in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are clockwise or counterclockwise and opposite in direction; determining whether a second feedback signal is received that the ice maker is near its limit position; if so, controlling the ice maker to rotate in the second direction for a first preset time and then remaining stationary for a third preset time.

[0014] Optionally, after the step of controlling the ice maker to remain stationary for a third preset time, the method further includes: controlling the ice maker to rotate in a first direction; determining whether a first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice maker has reached a near-limit position; if so, controlling the ice maker to stop rotating after being stalled in the first direction for a first preset time.

[0015] Optionally, after the step of initializing the ice container of the twist ice maker, the method further includes: controlling the compressor to start so that the twist ice maker enters the ice-making state; and after ice making is completed, controlling the ice container to first rotate to the ice-tumbling position and then rotate back to the ice-making position.

[0016] Optionally, a support and a limit are provided on one side of the ice maker connected to the bracket. When the support reaches the limit, the ice maker is in the ice-making position. A detection switch is provided on the limit, configured to be turned on when the support reaches the limit and turned off when the support leaves the limit.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, a twisting ice maker is also provided, including a control device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a control program, and the control program, when executed by the processor, is used to implement the control method of any of the above-described twisting ice makers.

[0018] The control method and the twist-type ice maker of the present invention control the ice maker box to initialize after the twist-type ice maker is powered on, receive the ice making signal of the twist-type ice maker, obtain the on / off state of the detection switch, determine whether the detection switch is in the conducting state, and if the result is yes, determine that the ice maker box is in the ice making position, and control the water valve of the twist-type ice maker to open so that water enters the ice maker box. By setting the detection switch on the bracket, it is possible to accurately determine whether the ice maker box is installed in place, effectively preventing the abnormal situation of water directly flowing into the ice storage box and improving the user experience.

[0019] Furthermore, the control method and the twisting ice maker of the present invention, when initializing the ice maker, first control the ice maker to rotate in a first direction. After receiving a first feedback signal that the ice maker has reached near its limit position, the on / off state of the detection switch is obtained, and it is determined whether the detection switch is in the on state. If the result is yes, it is determined that the ice maker is in the ice-making position, and the ice maker is controlled to stall in the first direction for a first preset time. If the detection switch is in the off state, it is determined that the ice maker is not in the ice-making position, and the ice maker is controlled to stall in the first direction for a second preset time. By adding the determination of whether the ice maker is in the ice-making position when the ice maker rotates for the first time, the stall time when the ice maker is in the ice-making position is shortened. This can avoid the ice maker's support part from being damaged or broken due to long-term friction and impact with the bracket, thereby improving the working reliability of the ice maker and extending its service life.

[0020] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a bottom view of the support frame in a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the ice-making container in a twist-type ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of a control device in a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator suitable for a twist-type ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a detailed flowchart of a control method for a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029] Figure 8 This is a detailed flowchart of the control method for a torsional ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, which controls the initialization of the ice-making box. Detailed Implementation

[0030] This embodiment first provides a twist-type ice maker. By setting a detection switch on the bracket, it can accurately determine whether the ice box is installed in place, effectively preventing abnormal situations such as water flowing directly into the ice storage box and improving the user experience. Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a torsion ice maker 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a bottom view of the support 210 in a torsion ice maker 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the ice-making container 220 in a twist-type ice maker 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the twisting ice maker 200 of this embodiment generally includes a support 210 and an ice container 220.

[0031] The ice maker 220 is detachably mounted on the bracket 210, which is equipped with a detection switch 212 configured to be activated when the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position. In other words, the activation / deactivation status of the detection switch 212 can determine whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position. Specifically, if the detection switch 212 is activated, it indicates that the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position; if the detection switch 212 is deactivated, it indicates that the ice maker 220 is not in the ice-making position.

[0032] In fact, when the detection switch 212 is in the ON state, the status indication detected by its signal detection circuit can be "1"; when the detection switch 212 is OFF, the status indication detected by its signal detection circuit can be "0". Therefore, the ON / OFF state of the detection switch 212 can be determined by the status indication detected by the signal detection circuit, and thus it can be determined whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the ice maker 220 may be provided with a central shaft 223, and the bracket 210 may be provided with two fixing parts 213 corresponding to both ends of the central shaft 223. The two ends of the central shaft 223 can be fixed to the two fixing parts 213 respectively. In some specific embodiments, the fixing parts 213 at both ends of the bracket 210 may have grooves inside, and the central shaft 223 can be inserted into or locked into the grooves inside the fixing parts 213. It is particularly important to emphasize that the ice maker 220 is detachably mounted on the bracket 210. This allows the ice maker 220 to be removed for cleaning when necessary, and then reinstalled on the bracket 210 after cleaning, thereby improving the cleanliness of the ice produced by the torsional ice maker 200.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, a support portion 221 and a limiting portion 211 are respectively provided on one side of the ice maker 220 connected to the bracket 210. That is, on the same side of the ice maker 220 connected to the bracket 210, the ice maker 220 is provided with a support portion 221, while the bracket 210 is provided with a limiting portion 211. Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a torsion ice maker 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In fact, Figure 1 The image shown is a bottom view of the ice container 220 mounted on the bracket 210. Figures 1 to 3 The limit 211 of the bracket 210 shown is located above the support 221 of the ice maker 220. Furthermore, in the actual use of the twist-type ice maker 200, the limit 211 is located behind the fixing part 213, and the support 221 is located behind the central shaft 223.

[0035] It should be noted that when the support part 221 reaches the limit 211, the ice container 220 is in the ice-making position. A detection switch 212 is provided on the limit 211, configured to be activated when the support part 221 reaches the limit 211 and deactivated when the support part 221 leaves the limit 211. The ice container 220 being in the ice-making position means that it is horizontal and its opening faces upwards, allowing water to be added without overflowing due to unevenness. The twist-type ice maker 200 may include a water valve. After determining that the ice container 220 is in the ice-making position, the water valve can be opened to allow water to enter the ice container 220. Then, the compressor can be turned on to provide cooling energy for the water in the ice container 220 to form ice. It should be noted that the twist-type ice maker 200 can be used as a standalone device, and it can have its own compressor. In some preferred embodiments, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be mounted on a refrigerator, in which case the twist-type ice maker 200 can utilize the refrigerator's compressor to provide cooling capacity.

[0036] The twist-type ice maker 200 also includes an ice storage box below the ice container 220. In other words, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be arranged from top to bottom as follows: support 210, ice container 220, and ice storage box. In fact, the ice container 220 has a limit position 211 during the flipping process, which includes an ice-making position and an ice-flipping position. When the ice container 220 is in the ice-flipping position, the ice in the ice container 220 falls into the ice storage box. This is for the case where ice has formed in the ice container 220. If the ice container 220 is empty, then naturally no ice will fall into the ice storage box when the ice container 220 is in the ice-flipping position.

[0037] The ice container 220 can achieve twisting and ice removal by rotating it to the flipped position. Specifically, the twisting and ice removal process of the ice container 220 is as follows: one end of the support part 221 of the ice container 220 generally rotates 150° clockwise, and the other side rotates 180° clockwise. During this process, the protrusion on the ice container 220 will interfere with the boss on the bracket 210, thereby enabling the ice container 220 to achieve the purpose of twisting and ice removal.

[0038] In one specific embodiment, the detection switch 212 can be a magnetic switch, disposed on the limit 211 of the bracket 210, while the support portion 221 of the ice maker 220 is provided with a magnetic component. A magnetic switch is a switching element controlled by a magnetic field signal; when there is no magnetism, the circuit is open, and it can be used to detect mechanical movement or the state of a circuit. Specifically, when the support portion 221 reaches the limit 211, that is, when the magnetic component on the support portion 221 approaches the magnetic switch on the limit 211, under the influence of the magnetic field, the two reeds of the magnetic switch are magnetized and attract each other, thereby connecting the circuit. When the support portion 221 moves away from the limit 211, that is, when the magnetic component on the support portion 221 moves away from the magnetic switch on the limit 211, without the influence of external magnetic force, the two reeds of the magnetic switch will separate due to their own elasticity, disconnecting the circuit. Therefore, the on / off signal emitted by the magnetic switch can determine the positional relationship between the magnet component and the magnetic switch, and thus determine whether the support 221 has reached the limit 211 and whether the ice box 220 is in the ice-making position.

[0039] In another specific embodiment, the detection switch 212 can be a mechanical switch, mounted on the limit 211 of the bracket 210. The support portion 221 of the ice maker 220 is equipped with a mechanical rod. When the support portion 221 reaches the limit 211, the mechanical rod touches the mechanical switch, making the mechanical switch active. When the support portion 221 moves away from the limit 211, the mechanical rod moves away from the mechanical switch, making the mechanical switch in an open state. Therefore, the positional relationship between the mechanical rod and the mechanical switch can be determined by the on / off signal emitted by the mechanical switch, thereby determining whether the support portion 221 has reached the limit 211 and whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position. Alternatively, the support portion 221 itself can act as a mechanical rod, directly touching or moving away from the mechanical switch to switch the on / off state of the mechanical switch.

[0040] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the ice maker 220 can have multiple ice compartments to make ice. Furthermore, the torsional ice maker 200 can also include a motor, whose output shaft drives the rotation of the ice maker 220. The motor also has an ice-detecting shaft fixed to an ice-detecting rod, which can rotate the ice-detecting rod. After the ice has solidified, the ice-detecting rod can rotate downwards to detect the amount of ice in the ice storage box. At this time, the motor's output shaft will rotate the ice maker 220 along with it. If the ice-detecting rod reaches its limit angle without contacting the ice, the output shaft can rotate the ice maker 220 to the ice-tumbling position, allowing the ice maker 220 to twist and release the ice. If the ice-detecting rod touches the ice during its downward probe, both the ice-detecting shaft and the output shaft can return to their normal positions, and the ice-tumbling process will stop.

[0041] Since the ice maker 220, ice storage box, and ice detection rod need to be in direct contact with ice, they can all be made of food-grade materials. For example, food-grade PP material can be used to make the ice maker 220, ice storage box, and ice detection rod. PP material is polypropylene, a polymer formed by the addition polymerization of propylene. It is resistant to corrosion from acids, alkalis, salt solutions, and various organic solvents below 80°C. Polypropylene, as a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and semi-transparent solid, is a high-performance thermoplastic synthetic resin. It is a colorless, semi-transparent, lightweight, general-purpose thermoplastic plastic with chemical resistance, heat resistance, electrical insulation, high mechanical strength, and good wear resistance. Moreover, due to its plasticity, high strength, toughness, and high wear resistance, polypropylene material has gradually replaced wood and metal materials. In this embodiment, the ice maker 220, ice storage box, and ice detection rod are made of food-grade PP material, which can effectively ensure the reliability of the components while ensuring food safety.

[0042] In this embodiment, the twist-type ice maker 200 can control the ice-making box 220 to initialize after being powered on. It receives the ice-making signal from the twist-type ice maker 200, obtains the on / off state of the detection switch 212, determines whether the detection switch 212 is in the conducting state, and if the result is yes, determines that the ice-making box 220 is in the ice-making position, and controls the water valve of the twist-type ice maker 200 to open so that water enters the ice-making box 220. By setting the detection switch 212 on the bracket 210, it can accurately determine whether the ice-making box 220 is installed in place, effectively preventing the abnormal situation of water directly flowing into the ice storage box and improving the user experience.

[0043] The twist-type ice maker 200 of this embodiment may also include a control device. Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of the control device in a twist-type ice maker 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the control device 400 includes a processor 410 and a memory 420, wherein the memory 420 stores a control program 421, and when the control program 421 is executed by the processor 410, it is used to implement the control method of the twist ice maker of any of the following embodiments.

[0044] As mentioned above, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be used as a stand-alone device, and it can have its own compressor. In some preferred embodiments, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be mounted on a refrigerator, in which case the twist-type ice maker 200 can utilize the refrigerator's compressor to provide cooling. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator 100 to which a twist-type ice maker 200 is applicable according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the refrigerator 100 generally includes a cabinet 110 and a door 120, and the refrigerator 100 is provided with a rotary ice maker 200.

[0045] The interior of the cabinet 110 is defined with storage space, and the number and structure of the storage space can be configured according to needs. The storage space can be configured according to different uses, such as refrigeration space, variable temperature space, and freezer space. Each storage space can be divided into multiple storage areas by partitions, using shelves or drawers to store items. In a specific embodiment, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the interior of the box 110 can be defined as having two storage spaces arranged side by side on the left and right.

[0046] The interior of the cabinet 110 also includes a cooling chamber, within which an evaporator is installed to provide cooling to the storage spaces. The evaporator provides different amounts of cooling to different types of storage spaces, resulting in varying temperatures within each type of space. For example, the temperature in the refrigeration space 112 is generally between 2°C and 10°C, preferably between 4°C and 7°C. The temperature range in the freezing space 114 is generally between -22°C and -14°C. Figure 5 The two storage spaces shown can be configured as a freezer on the left and a refrigerator on the right.

[0047] Door 120 is located on the front side of cabinet 110 to operably open and close the storage space. Door 120 can be correspondingly provided with storage spaces, that is, each storage space is provided with one or more doors 120. Door 120 can be pivotally provided on the front surface of cabinet 110, or it can be a drawer-type opening. Figure 5 The doors 120 of both storage compartments shown are pivot-opening. In one specific embodiment, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be installed in the freezer compartment, for example, on the door 120 of the freezer compartment, to make ice using the cooling capacity provided by the compressor of the refrigerator 100. In other embodiments, the twist-type ice maker 200 can also be installed on the partition of the freezer compartment, or on the door 120 or partition of the refrigerator compartment.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, a selection panel may also be provided on the outside of the door 120. The selection panel may be a touch screen or a touch button. Specifically, the user's touch operation can be received as an ice-making signal through the selection panel. After receiving the ice-making signal, the twist-type ice maker 200 can perform corresponding control to start ice making, and after the ice making is completed, it will be tumbled into the ice storage box for storage, so that the user can open the door 120 to take out ice when needed.

[0049] This embodiment also provides a control method for a torsion ice maker. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the control method for this twist-type ice maker can perform the following steps:

[0050] Step S602: After the torsion ice maker 200 is powered on, the ice container 220 is initialized.

[0051] Step S604: Receive the ice-making signal from the torsion ice maker 200;

[0052] Step S606: Obtain the on / off state of the detection switch 212;

[0053] Step S608: Determine whether the detection switch 212 is in the ON state. If yes, proceed to step S610.

[0054] Step S610: Determine that the ice container 220 is in the ice-making position, and control the water valve of the rotary ice maker 200 to open so that water enters the ice container 220.

[0055] The control method for the twist-type ice maker in this embodiment can be executed using any of the twist-type ice maker 200 described above. In the above steps, step S602 controls the ice-making container 220 to initialize after the twist-type ice maker 200 is powered on. Powering on the twist-type ice maker 200 can be the first power-on after installation or after a power outage during the last use. However, regardless of the power-on situation, initialization is required. This is because the position of the ice-making container 220 cannot be determined after a power outage. The ice-making container 220 may not be in the ice-making position, or it may not have been installed after being removed. If the water valve is opened to add water to the ice-making container 220, it may cause water to flow outside the ice-making container 220, resulting in an abnormal situation. Therefore, it is important to control the ice-making container 220 to initialize and re-determine its position.

[0056] In step S608, it is determined whether the detection switch 212 is in the ON state. If the result is yes, step S610 is executed: The ice maker 220 is determined to be in the ice-making position, and the water valve of the rotary ice maker 200 is opened to allow water to enter the ice maker 220. In other words, the ON / OFF state of the detection switch 212 can be used to determine whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position. Specifically, if the detection switch 212 is ON, it can be determined that the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position; if the detection switch 212 is OFF, it can be determined that the ice maker 220 is not in the ice-making position.

[0057] In fact, when the detection switch 212 is in the ON state, the status indication detected by its signal detection circuit can be "1"; when the detection switch 212 is OFF, the status indication detected by its signal detection circuit can be "0". Therefore, the ON / OFF state of the detection switch 212 can be determined by the status indication detected by the signal detection circuit, and thus it can be determined whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position.

[0058] The control method of the twist ice maker in this embodiment controls the ice maker box 220 to initialize after the twist ice maker 200 is powered on. It receives the ice making signal from the twist ice maker 200, obtains the on / off state of the detection switch 212, determines whether the detection switch 212 is in the conducting state, and if the result is yes, determines that the ice maker box 220 is in the ice making position. It then controls the water valve of the twist ice maker 200 to open so that water can enter the ice maker box 220. By setting the detection switch 212 on the bracket 210, it is possible to accurately determine whether the ice maker box 220 is installed in place, effectively preventing the abnormal situation of water directly flowing into the ice storage box and improving the user experience.

[0059] In some alternative embodiments, the twist ice maker 200 can achieve higher technical effects through further optimization and configuration of the above steps. The following describes the control method of the twist ice maker in this embodiment in detail with reference to an optional execution flow of this embodiment. This embodiment is only an example of the execution flow. In specific implementation, the execution order and operating conditions of some steps can be modified according to specific implementation requirements. Figure 7 This is a detailed flowchart of a control method for a torsion ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control method for the torsion ice maker includes the following steps:

[0060] Step S702: After the rotary ice maker 200 is powered on, the ice container 220 is initialized.

[0061] Step S704: Control the compressor to turn on so that the rotary ice maker 200 enters the ice-making state;

[0062] Step S706: After ice making is finished, control the ice container 220 to first rotate to the ice-flipping position, and then rotate back to the ice-making position;

[0063] Step S708: Receive the ice-making signal from the torsion ice maker 200;

[0064] Step S710: Obtain the on / off state of the detection switch 212;

[0065] Step S712: Determine whether the detection switch 212 is in the on state. If yes, proceed to step S714; otherwise, proceed to step S718.

[0066] Step S714: Determine that the ice container 220 is in the ice-making position, and control the water valve of the rotary ice maker 200 to open so that water enters the ice container 220.

[0067] Step S716: Control the compressor to turn on to provide cooling capacity so that the water in the ice maker 220 can form ice;

[0068] Step S718: Determine that the ice container 220 is not in the ice-making position, and keep the water valve closed.

[0069] Regarding the ice-flipping and ice-making positions in step S706, the ice-making container 220 is in the ice-making position, meaning it is horizontal and its opening faces upwards. Water can be added to the ice-making container 220 without overflowing due to its unevenness. When the ice-making container 220 is in the ice-flipping position, the ice inside falls into the ice storage container. This is for cases where ice has formed in the ice-making container 220. If the ice-making container 220 is empty, then naturally no ice will fall into the ice storage container when it is in the ice-flipping position.

[0070] The control method of the twist ice maker in this embodiment controls the compressor to start after the ice container 220 of the twist ice maker 200 is initialized, so that the twist ice maker 200 enters the ice-making state. After the ice making is finished, the ice container 220 is controlled to first rotate to the ice-flipping position and then rotate back to the ice-making position. Before receiving the ice-making signal from the twist ice maker 200 to make ice, the ice container 220 is controlled to flip once, that is, wait for one cycle before opening the water valve to add water to the ice container 220. This can avoid the abnormal situation that water overflows from the ice container 220 into the ice storage box after adding water to the ice container 220 due to the residual water in the ice container 220 in the previous cycle. This further improves the overall working reliability of the twist ice maker 200 and has a high degree of intelligence.

[0071] Furthermore, after initializing the ice maker 220 and determining its position, before receiving the ice-making signal, the ice maker 220 first rotates to the ice-flipping position and then back to the ice-making position. Even so, after receiving the ice-making signal, it checks whether the detection switch 212 is in the on state to confirm that the ice maker 220 is indeed in the ice-making position, further ensuring that the ice maker 220 is properly installed. Because the ice maker 220 may be removed for cleaning after flipping and rotating, and may not necessarily be installed on the bracket 210, it is necessary to check whether the detection switch 212 is in the on state after receiving the ice-making signal to confirm whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position.

[0072] As mentioned above, it is important to initialize the ice container 220 after the rotary ice maker 200 is powered on and to re-determine the position of the ice container 220. Figure 8 This is a detailed flowchart illustrating the initialization of the ice-making container 220 in a control method for a torsional ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 As shown, the initialization of the ice-making box 220 can be performed by executing the following steps:

[0073] Step S802: Control the ice container 220 to rotate in the first direction;

[0074] Step S804: Determine whether a first feedback signal has been received indicating that the ice container 220 has reached the vicinity of the limit position 211. If yes, proceed to step S806; otherwise, return to this step.

[0075] Step S806: Obtain the on / off state of the detection switch 212;

[0076] Step S808: Determine whether the detection switch 212 is in the conducting state. If yes, proceed to step S810; otherwise, proceed to step S812.

[0077] Step S810: Determine that the ice container 220 is in the ice-making position, and control the ice container 220 to be stalled in the first direction for a first preset time.

[0078] Step S812: Determine that the ice maker 220 is not in the ice-making position, and control the ice maker 220 to be stalled in the first direction for a second preset time.

[0079] Step S814: Determine whether a first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice box 220 has reached the vicinity of the limit position 211. If yes, proceed to step S816; otherwise, return to step S804.

[0080] Step S816: Control the ice container 220 to remain stationary for the third preset time;

[0081] Step S818: Control the ice container 220 to rotate in the second direction;

[0082] Step S820: Determine whether a second feedback signal is received indicating that the ice container 220 has moved away from the vicinity of the limit position 211. If yes, proceed to step S822; otherwise, return to this step.

[0083] Step S822: Control the ice-making box 220 to rotate in the second direction for a first preset time and then remain stationary for a third preset time;

[0084] Step S824: Control the ice container 220 to rotate in the first direction;

[0085] Step S826: Determine whether a first feedback signal has been received indicating that the ice container 220 has reached the vicinity of the limit position 211. If yes, proceed to step S828; otherwise, return to this step.

[0086] Step S828: Control the ice container 220 to stop rotating after being stalled in the first direction for a first preset time.

[0087] In the above steps, the first direction and the second direction are clockwise or counterclockwise, and the directions are opposite. If we follow... Figures 1 to 3As shown, the limit 211 of the bracket 210 is located above the support portion 221 of the ice maker 220. Furthermore, in the actual use of the twist-type ice maker 200, the limit 211 is located behind the fixing portion 213, and the support portion 221 is located behind the central axis 223. Therefore, the first direction can be counter-clockwise, and the second direction can be clockwise.

[0088] The ice maker 220 has limit positions 211 during the flipping process, including both the ice-making position and the ice-flipping position. It should be noted that the ice maker 220 may receive a first feedback signal when it reaches any limit position 211. That is, receiving the first feedback signal does not necessarily mean the ice maker 220 is absolutely at the limit position 211, i.e., the ice maker 220 may not have rotated to the correct position. Specifically, the twist-type ice maker 200 can be equipped with four control lines: two controlling the rotation direction and two providing position information, i.e., sending feedback signals. When the ice maker 220 reaches the vicinity of the limit position 211, a first feedback signal is sent; when the ice maker 220 moves away from the vicinity of the limit position 211, a second feedback signal is sent.

[0089] The following describes a specific embodiment where the first direction is counterclockwise and the second direction is clockwise. Since step S802 is executed at the beginning of the initialization process, controlling the ice maker 220 to rotate counterclockwise, even if the ice maker 220 is initially in its extreme flip position, it will be in a state away from the vicinity of the extreme position 211. The first feedback signal will only be received when it reaches the vicinity of the ice-making position. Therefore, in step S804, it is determined whether a first feedback signal indicating that the ice maker 220 has reached the vicinity of the extreme position 211 has been received. If the result is yes, it can be determined that the ice maker 220 has reached the vicinity of the ice-making position.

[0090] However, even after receiving the first feedback signal, in order to further improve the accuracy of determining the position of the ice maker 220 and ensure that the ice maker 220 is not only near the ice-making position but has also rotated back into place, steps S806 and S808 are executed: obtaining the on / off state of the detection switch 212 and determining whether the detection switch 212 is in the on state. Steps S810 and S812 determine that the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position and control the ice maker 220 to be blocked in the first direction for a first preset time; if the ice maker 220 is not in the ice-making position, control the ice maker 220 to be blocked in the first direction for a second preset time, wherein the second preset time is longer than the first preset time.

[0091] In other words, upon receiving the first feedback signal, the conduction status of the detection switch 212 is used to further confirm that the ice maker 220 has been installed and is in place, definitely in the ice-making position. If the first feedback signal is received but the detection switch 212 is in the off state, it may be that the ice maker 220 is near the ice-making position and has not fully rotated into place. Setting the second preset time longer than the first preset time allows the ice maker 220 to stall for a longer period when it is near the ice-making position but has not fully rotated into place, ensuring that the ice maker 220 fully rotates into place. When the ice maker 220 is indeed in the ice-making position and has fully rotated into place, the stall time is shortened, which can prevent the support part 221 of the ice maker 220 from being damaged or broken due to prolonged friction and impact with the limit 211 of the bracket 210, thereby improving the working reliability of the ice maker 220 and extending its service life.

[0092] In one specific embodiment, the first preset duration can be 0.5 seconds, the second preset duration can be 3 seconds, and the third preset duration can be 1 second. It should be noted that the specific values ​​of the preset durations mentioned above are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention. In other embodiments, the preset durations can be set to other values ​​according to actual circumstances, but the relationship between the three preset durations must ensure that the third preset duration is longer than the first preset duration and shorter than the second preset duration.

[0093] Steps S818 to S828 can be considered as the general initialization process of the ice maker 220. The entire initialization process of the ice maker 220 can be performed by rotating counter-clockwise, clockwise, and counter-clockwise sequentially. This configuration effectively ensures that the ice maker 220 is rotated into position. It should be noted that during the initialization of the ice maker 220, the rotation is performed counter-clockwise, clockwise, and counter-clockwise. Because the rotation amplitude during the initialization process is relatively small, generally controlled within ±7°, even if there is water in the ice maker 220 at this time, it will not flow into the ice storage box.

[0094] The control method of the torsion ice maker in this embodiment, when initializing the ice maker 220, first controls the ice maker 220 to rotate in a first direction. After receiving a first feedback signal that the ice maker 220 has reached the vicinity of the limit position 211, it acquires the on / off state of the detection switch 212, determines whether the detection switch 212 is in the on state, and if the result is yes, determines that the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position, and controls the ice maker 220 to stall in the first direction for a first preset time; when the detection switch 212 is in the off state... If it is determined that the ice maker 220 is not in the ice-making position, the ice maker 220 is controlled to stall in the first direction for a second preset time. By adding the judgment of whether the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position when the ice maker 220 first rotates, the stall time when the ice maker 220 is in the ice-making position is shortened. This can avoid the support part 221 of the ice maker 220 from being damaged or broken due to long-term friction and impact with the limit 211 of the bracket 210, thereby improving the working reliability of the ice maker 220 and extending the service life of the ice maker 220.

[0095] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A control method for a twist-type ice maker, wherein the twist-type ice maker includes a support and an ice-making container, the ice-making container being detachably mounted on the support, the support being provided with a detection switch configured to be activated when the ice-making container is in the ice-making position, and the control method comprising: After the twist-type ice maker is powered on, the ice box is initialized. Receive the ice-making signal from the rotary ice maker; Obtain the on / off state of the detection switch; Determine whether the detection switch is in the ON state; as well as If so, determine that the ice-making box is in the ice-making position, and control the water valve of the twist-type ice maker to open so that water enters the ice-making box; After the step of controlling the opening of the water valve of the rotary ice maker, the method further includes: controlling the compressor to start to provide cooling capacity so that the water in the ice container forms ice; The steps for initializing the ice maker include: controlling the ice maker to rotate in a first direction; determining whether a first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice maker has reached a near-limit position, wherein the limit position includes the ice-making position and the ice-flipping position; if so, obtaining the on / off state of the detection switch; determining whether the detection switch is in a conducting state; and if so, determining that the ice maker is located at the ice-making position, and controlling the ice maker to stall in the first direction for a first preset time. When the detection switch is in the off state, it is determined that the ice maker is not located in the ice-making position, and the ice maker is controlled to stall in the first direction for a second preset time, wherein the second preset time is longer than the first preset time.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein, The twist-type ice maker also includes an ice storage box below the ice maker, whereby ice in the ice maker falls into the ice storage box when the ice maker is in the ice-tumbling position.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein after the step of controlling the ice-making container to stall in the first direction for the first preset time or the second preset time, it further comprises: Determine whether the first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice container has reached the vicinity of the extreme position; as well as If so, the ice maker is kept still for a third preset duration, wherein the third preset duration is longer than the first preset duration and shorter than the second preset duration.

4. The control method according to claim 3, wherein after the step of controlling the ice-making box to remain stationary for a third preset time, it further includes: The ice-making container is controlled to rotate in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are clockwise or counterclockwise and opposite in direction; Determine whether a second feedback signal is received indicating that the ice container has moved away from the extreme position; If so, the ice maker is controlled to rotate in the second direction for the first preset time and then remain stationary for the third preset time.

5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein after the step of controlling the ice-making container to remain stationary for the third preset time, it further comprises: Control the ice-making container to rotate in the first direction; Determine whether the first feedback signal is received indicating that the ice container has reached the vicinity of the extreme position; If so, the ice-making box is controlled to stop rotating in the first direction after the first preset time.

6. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the step of initializing the ice container of the torsional ice maker: The compressor is turned on to put the rotary ice maker into ice-making mode. as well as After ice making is finished, the ice container is controlled to first rotate to the ice-flipping position, and then rotate back to the ice-making position.

7. The control method according to claim 1, wherein, The ice maker is provided with a support and a limiter on one side of the ice maker connected to the bracket. When the support reaches the limiter, the ice maker is in the ice-making position. The limit switch is provided with a detection switch, which is configured to be turned on when the support reaches the limit and turned off when the support leaves the limit.

8. A twist-type ice maker, comprising a control device including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a control program, and the control program, when executed by the processor, is used to implement the control method for the twist-type ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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