Ice maker and control method thereof

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an ice maker. To this end, the ice maker can include an ice making container configured such that a first tray and a second tray are coupled at a sealing surface, a water supply conduit configured to be connected to the ice making container at one end to supply water to the ice making container, and a first heater disposed adjacent to the sealing surface or the water supply conduit. Various other embodiments are possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments of this disclosure relate to an ice maker and a method for controlling the same. Background Technology

[0002] An ice maker is a device for making ice, in which ice is made by cooling water supplied to the ice-making container. Once ice-making is complete, the produced ice is discharged from the ice-making container and moved to a predetermined storage container.

[0003] A configuration is known in which the ice-making container of an ice maker consists of two trays that can be coupled to each other. In this two-tray ice-making container, ice making is performed in a sealed state with the trays coupled together, and when ice making is complete, the trays are decoupled and the ice is discharged in an open state; in other words, ice separation is performed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] During the ice-making process, ice may form in the water supply pipes that supply water to the ice-making container. Due to the ice in the water supply pipes, the water supply to the ice-making container may not be smooth, or the water supply pipes may become blocked by the ice.

[0006] An ice-making container may have two trays that can be coupled together. During the ice-making process, ice can be produced, and this ice may adhere to the sealing surface between the coupled trays, further increasing the coupling force between the two trays. When the trays are decoupled for ice separation, the increased coupling force between the trays may cause excessive load to be applied to the drive unit. Furthermore, when the trays are coupled together after ice separation for the next ice-making cycle, residual ice adhering to the sealing surface may not affect a perfect seal.

[0007] Various embodiments of this disclosure relate to providing an ice maker capable of removing ice that may form on a sealed surface between trays constituting a water supply conduit or an ice-making container, and a method for controlling the ice maker.

[0008] Technical solution

[0009] To address the aforementioned technical problems, according to embodiments of this disclosure, an ice maker may include: an ice-making container, comprising a first tray and a second tray coupled to each other at a sealing surface; a water supply conduit, including one end connected to the ice-making container, the water supply conduit being configured to supply water to the ice-making container; and a first heater, disposed adjacent to the sealing surface or the water supply conduit.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, according to embodiments of this disclosure, a method for controlling an ice maker may include: controlling a drive unit connected to at least one of a first tray or a second tray to release the coupling between the first tray and the second tray, such that ice is discharged from an ice-making container where the first tray and the second tray are coupled; controlling the drive unit to couple the first tray and the second tray together; and based on the coupling, controlling a first heater, the first heater being disposed adjacent to a sealing surface at the coupling point of the first tray and the second tray or adjacent to a water supply conduit.

[0011] Beneficial effects

[0012] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the heater can be configured to operate before water is fed to the ice-making container to remove residual ice that may have formed and remained on the water supply conduit, thereby facilitating water supply.

[0013] Furthermore, according to various embodiments of this disclosure, since the heater is operated before water is fed into the ice-making container, any residual ice that may have formed on the sealing surface of the tray constituting the ice-making container can be removed, thereby reducing excessive load on the drive unit while driving the tray, and ensuring that the ice-making container is tightly sealed when the tray is coupled again for the next batch of ice making after ice separation, thereby preventing leakage.

[0014] The effects obtainable from the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other effects not mentioned herein can be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure pertain. In other words, those skilled in the art can also readily derive any unintended effects arising from practicing the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure based on the embodiments of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 and Figure 3 These are, respectively, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of an ice-making container having a water supply conduit connected thereto, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a first tray and a second tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the first tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram showing a heater installed in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the ice maker.

[0021] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling of a first tray and a second tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 10 This is a flowchart describing the ice-making process in an ice maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 11 This is a flowchart describing a variable control process for the heater in an ice maker according to an ice-making mode, based on an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the control process of the first heater and the second heater during ice separation in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of the disclosed invention, and various modifications may exist to replace the embodiments and drawings described herein at the time of filing this application. In the following description, only certain details (e.g., specific configurations and components) are provided to provide a general understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known features and configurations may be omitted.

[0027] Furthermore, the same or similar reference numerals or symbols shown in each of the accompanying drawings of this disclosure represent parts or components that perform substantially the same or similar functions.

[0028] Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit and / or define the disclosed invention. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having” are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, without excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0029] Furthermore, ordinal terms such as "first" and "second" used herein may be used to describe various components, but the corresponding components are not limited to these terms, and these terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, a second component may be named a first component.

[0030] Furthermore, when a component is described herein as being “connected” to another component, it means that the two components are not only directly connected, but also connected to each other through other components in between. Additionally, when a component is described herein as being “adjacent” to another component, it means that the two components are not only in contact with each other, but also placed close to each other with other components in between.

[0031] Additionally, the term "and / or" includes a combination of multiple related statements or any one of multiple related statements.

[0032] In the following description, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Ice maker 100 can be installed in a refrigeration or freezing appliance such as a refrigerator, or it can be used independently. (Reference) Figure 1 The ice maker 100 may include an ice container 110, a drive unit 120, a water supply pipe 130, and a housing 140.

[0035] Ice-making container 110 may be provided with a space for containing and storing water for ice making. Ice-making container 110 may be configured to include two trays to be coupled together as described later. The two trays of ice-making container 110 may have a predetermined coupling structure and may be sealed to prevent leakage during water supply and ice making.

[0036] The drive unit 120 can be configured to drive the opening and closing of the ice-making container 110. The drive unit 120 includes a motor and a gear assembly (not shown) connected thereto, and can be connected to at least one of the trays constituting the ice-making container 110. The operation of the drive unit 120 can be controlled by a controller, which will be described later, and when the drive unit 120 is driven, the tray of the ice-making container 110 connected thereto is moved, causing the ice-making container 110 to open or close.

[0037] The water supply conduit 130 can be configured to supply water to the ice-making container 110. The water supply conduit 130 can be configured to have a funnel-shaped form. One end of the water supply conduit 130 can be connected to an opening formed in the housing 140, which will be described later, and the other end can be connected to the ice-making container 110. The water supply conduit 130 can feed water into the ice-making container 110.

[0038] The housing 140 is configured to provide space therein for accommodating and mounting each component of the ice maker 100. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the ice-making container 110 can be housed within the housing 140, and the drive unit 120 can be arranged on one side of the housing 140. In an embodiment, the housing 140 may have an opening through which the water supply conduit 130 is installed. In an embodiment, the opening in the housing 140 may be configured to receive water from the outside, with one end of the water supply conduit 130 located therein. When the ice maker 110 is installed in an external appliance (e.g., the freezer compartment of a refrigerator), the housing 140 can be detachably installed to the external appliance. Furthermore, the size, shape, etc., of the housing 140 are not limited to those shown herein, but can vary depending on the size and shape of the ice-making container 110, the shape of the external appliance in which the ice maker 100 is installed, etc.

[0039] The ice maker 100 may also include a storage container (not shown) for containing and storing the ice produced in the ice-making container 110. The storage container may be disposed below the ice-making container 110 to hold the ice when it is discharged from the ice-making container 110 after ice making is complete (i.e., during ice separation), and may be detachably mounted to allow the user to easily remove the ice.

[0040] Ice maker 100 may include a heater to control the transparency of the ice during ice making and to remove residual ice after ice making. In particular, the heater may be used to remove residual ice from a water supply conduit 130 or from a sealed surface coupled to a tray constituting ice container 110.

[0041] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A front perspective view and a rear perspective view of an ice-making container having a water supply conduit connected thereto, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, are shown respectively.

[0042] As shown herein, the ice-making container 110 may include a first tray 111 and a second tray 112. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may be coupled or decoupled. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may be configured to couple to each other during water supply and ice making to form a chamber, which is an internal space for containing water, and may be configured to separate from each other during ice separation to discharge ice. In embodiments, the first tray 111 or the second tray 112 may be configured to release the coupling of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 when at least one of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 is moved. In embodiments of this disclosure, as shown, the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may be configured to be arranged in a side-to-side orientation such that they are coupled or decoupled when at least one of them moves in a horizontal direction. Alternatively, the first tray and the second tray may be configured to be arranged in a vertical direction such that they are coupled or decoupled when at least one of them moves in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the trays may also have a hinged coupling structure or any other known coupling structure. This disclosure is not limited to the above-described coupling structure, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various known coupling structures can be utilized.

[0043] The ice container 110 can be connected to the water supply conduit 130. The chamber in the ice container 110 can communicate with the water supply conduit 130, so that water can be fed through the water supply conduit 130.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a first tray and a second tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] refer to Figure 4 The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may each have a hemispherical container, such that when they are combined, they form a spherical chamber. The containers of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may be arranged in pairs correspondingly, such that a corresponding number of ice cube pairs can be produced in each ice-making cycle. Furthermore, the multiple chambers formed when the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled together can be in fluid communication. For example, as shown herein, a through hole can be formed in the center of the chamber, allowing adjacent chambers to be in fluid communication via the through hole. Therefore, water can be supplied to all chambers even if the water supply conduit 130 is connected to only one chamber. The number, shape, size, etc., of the chambers of the ice-making container 110 are not limited to those shown herein, but can vary depending on the purpose of use, application, etc.

[0046] Figure 5 An exploded perspective view of a first tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] refer to Figure 5The first tray 111 can be configured to have a first tray body 111a, a first tray shell 111b, and a first tray cover 111c. The first tray body 111a can have a container formed to contain water to form an ice-making chamber. The first tray shell 111b can be configured to surround the first tray body 111a. The first tray cover 111c can be disposed on one side of the first tray body 111a and on the opposite side of the container in which the first tray body 111a is formed.

[0048] The first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may be disposed adjacent to or within the first tray 111, respectively, and may be configured to apply heat to or around the ice-making container 110. The first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may be arranged in different locations. For example, the first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may each be mounted in the first tray cover 111c on the side adjacent to the first tray body 111a. The first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may be respectively mounted between the first tray body 111a and the first tray cover 111c. The first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may be configured in various forms, including the form of wires, and the type of heater is not limited thereto.

[0049] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a heater installed in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] refer to Figure 6 The water supply conduit 130 is configured to have one end connected to the ice-making container 110 to supply water to the ice-making container 110.

[0051] At least a portion of the first heater 151 may be disposed around the periphery of the cavity of the ice-making container 110, that is, adjacent to the sealing surfaces of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112. Furthermore, at least another portion of the first heater 151 may be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit 130. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the first heater 151 may be configured to extend from one end of the water supply conduit 130 connected to the ice-making container 110 to the other end of the water supply conduit 130 supplying water from the outside, around the periphery of the cavity of the ice-making container 110, to be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit 130. In an embodiment, the first heater 151 may be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit 130 located on the housing 140. For example, the first heater 151 may be disposed along an opening formed in the housing 140 through which the water supply conduit 130 is mounted, and the first heater 151 may be formed to wrap around a portion of the water supply conduit 130. Furthermore, the first heater 151 may be configured to contact or be spaced apart from the water supply conduit 130.

[0052] Upon completion of ice making, the first heater 151 may operate under the control of a controller to facilitate the discharge of ice from the ice-making container 110. The first heater 151 may also operate under the control of a controller during ice separation operations to facilitate the discharge of ice from the ice-making container 110.

[0053] After ice separation is complete and before water supply, the first heater 151 can be operated under the control of a controller to remove residual ice from the sealed surface between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 or to remove residual ice from the water supply conduit 130. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 can be tightly sealed and coupled to prevent leakage during water supply and ice making, and thus prevent water supply delays or malfunctions due to residual ice in the water supply conduit 130.

[0054] In addition, the first heater 151 can be controlled by a controller to stop operating when the temperature of the ice container 110 reaches a predetermined temperature or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0055] The second heater 152 may be located at a different position than the first heater, for example, adjacent to or within the ice-making container 110. In an embodiment, the second heater 152 may be located adjacent to or below the central portion of the cavity forming the ice-making container 110 of the first tray 111. In an embodiment, both the first heater 151 and the second heater 152 may be arranged to apply heat to the sealing surface between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112, in which case the first heater 151 may be positioned closer to the sealing surface than the second heater 152.

[0056] The second heater 152 can operate under the control of a controller during ice making to allow air bubbles in the water to be expelled to the outside to produce pure ice. As heat is transferred through the second heater 152 during the ice-making process, air bubbles in the water can move from the freezing portion of the water to another portion that is in a pre-frozen state and can be expelled to the outside without dispersing within the ice. More specifically, the water in the ice-making container 110 is frozen by cold air from the cooling unit 260, and freezing begins at the top of the ice-making container 110 where the cold air from the cooling unit 260 first enters (e.g., at the top of the ice-making container 110 that is opened for water supply). As heat is transferred through the second heater 152, air bubbles in the water move from the frozen portion of the water to the pre-frozen portion. As described above, the second heater 152 can be located in a fixed tray when the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are arranged in a side-to-side orientation such that at least one of them is configured to be coupled or decoupled as it moves in the horizontal direction. At this point, the portion of the ice-making container 110 adjacent to the second heater 152 (i.e., the fixed tray) can be frozen last, and some air bubbles that have not yet been expelled to the outside may cause localized opaque areas in the ice, but can produce ice that is transparent overall.

[0057] During the ice-making process, the second heater 152 can operate under the control of the controller to facilitate the discharge of ice from the ice-making container 110. The second heater 152 can also be operated by the controller during ice separation to facilitate the discharge of ice from the ice-making container 110.

[0058] After ice separation is complete and before water supply, the second heater 152 can be operated under the control of a controller to remove residual ice from the sealed surface between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 or to remove residual ice from the water supply conduit 130. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 can be tightly sealed and coupled to prevent leakage during water supply and ice making, and to prevent water supply delays or malfunctions due to residual ice in the water supply conduit 130.

[0059] As described above, the first heater 151 and the second heater 152 can operate under the control of the controller to produce pure ice and promote ice separation and remove residual ice, thereby preventing undesirable problems that may be caused by residual ice during the water supply and ice making process.

[0060] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the ice maker.

[0061] refer to Figure 7The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may have a predetermined coupling structure to ensure a tight seal when they are coupled. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may each have a coupling structure, and when coupled, they can form a sealing surface B to seal the ice container 110. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 may each form a sealing surface along the periphery of the cavity created by the coupling of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112. In an embodiment, the coupling structure of the first tray 111 may have a protrusion, and the coupling structure of the second tray 112 may have an insertion groove corresponding to the protrusion, such that the protrusion fits into the insertion groove. When the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled, the protrusion and the insertion groove are hermetically coupled to form a seal.

[0062] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling of a first tray and a second tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] Figure 8 (a) shows the state before the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled, and Figure 8 (b) shows the state after the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled.

[0064] refer to Figure 8 (a) The first tray body 111a of the first tray 111 may have a coupling structure formed along a sealing surface. The coupling structure formed on the first tray body 111a may include a protrusion 1111 projecting in a direction facing the second tray 112. Furthermore, the coupling structure formed on the first tray body 111a may include a first rib 1113. The first rib 1113 may be formed in a direction facing the second tray 112 and may deform when pressure is applied along the coupling direction of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112. The first rib 1113 has a shape that projectes obliquely toward the second tray 112 to facilitate deformation upon application of pressure.

[0065] Similar to the first tray 111, the second tray 112 may include a second tray body 112a in which a hemispherical container is formed, and a second tray shell 112b surrounding the second tray body 112a. The second tray body 112a may have a coupling structure formed along a sealing surface. In the coupling structure formed in the second tray body 112a, an insertion groove 1121 adapted to the shape of the protrusion 1111 may be formed. The insertion groove 1121 is formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion 1111 when the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled to each other. Furthermore, the coupling structure formed on the second tray body 112a may include a second rib 1123. The second rib 1123 may be formed to protrude outward (i.e., radially outward) from the second tray body 112a and may be configured to deform when pressure is applied in the opposite direction (i.e., radially inward).

[0066] refer to Figure 8 (b) When the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled by the coupling structure of the first tray 111 and the coupling structure of the second tray 112, a sealing surface is formed by assembling the protrusion 1111 and the insertion groove 1121, thereby performing a seal.

[0067] When the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled, the first rib 1113 of the first tray 111 is compressed and deformed by the corresponding surface of the second tray 112, and comes into close contact with that corresponding surface of the second tray 112. Therefore, an additional seal is performed in the coupling direction of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112.

[0068] When the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled together, the second rib 1123 of the second tray 112 is compressed and deformed in the opposite direction to the direction in which it protrudes through the first tray housing 111b of the first tray 111 (i.e., in a radially inward direction). The second rib 1123 is in close contact with the first tray housing 111b to provide an additional seal in the radial direction.

[0069] When the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled, in addition to the sealing provided by the protrusion 1111 of the first tray 111 and the insertion groove 1121 of the second tray 112, an additional seal is provided by the first rib 1113 and the second rib 1123. This multiple seal maintains the seal between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112, thereby preventing leakage during water supply and ice making processes.

[0070] The coupling structure of the first tray 111 and the coupling structure of the second tray 112 can be integrally formed with the first tray body 111a and the second tray body 112a, respectively. In this case, the first tray body 111a and the second tray body 112a can be made of materials with excellent elasticity and flexibility. Alternatively, at least one of the coupling structures of the first tray 111 or the second tray 112 can also be formed with a component separate from the first tray body 111a and the second tray body 112a. In this case, the coupling structure formed separately from the first tray body 111a and the second tray body 112a can be made of a material with good elasticity and flexibility, so that a seal can be maintained while deforming under pressure applied during coupling.

[0071] The shape, size, and number of the coupling structure between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are not limited to the shapes, sizes, and numbers shown, but can be varied within the range that enables such multiple seals. For example, although one protrusion 1111 and one insertion groove 1121 are shown in the figures, it should be understood that multiple protrusions can be formed. Furthermore, although two second ribs 1123 are shown in the figures, it should be understood that their number can be changed to one, three, or more. Additionally, although the first rib 1113 is shown as being formed on the first tray body 111a, it can also be formed on the second tray body 112a. Similarly, although the second rib 1123 is shown as being formed on the second tray body 112a, it can also be formed on the first tray body 111a.

[0072] Meanwhile, ice may also be generated in the coupling structure during the ice-making process. This residual ice (i.e., residual ice) may cause sealing problems between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 during the coupling process. To prevent this problem, as described above, at least one of the first heater 151 or the second heater 152 can be used to remove the residual ice.

[0073] The operation of each component of the ice maker 110 described above can be controlled by a controller.

[0074] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] refer to Figure 9 The ice maker 100 may further include a control unit 910 and a drive unit 920 (e.g., corresponding to...). Figure 1 The drive unit 120), the first heater 930 (for example, corresponding to the drive unit 120), and the first heater 930 (for example, corresponding to the first heater 930). Figure 5 First heater 151), second heater 940 (e.g., corresponding to Figure 5The second heater 152), storage device 950, cooling unit 960, temperature sensing unit 970 and timer 980.

[0076] The control unit 910 can control the operation of each component. The control unit 910 can perform functions for the overall control of each component of the ice maker 100 to produce ice and remove residual ice according to user-set or preset ice-making modes, cooling temperatures, etc. For this purpose, the control unit 910 can be configured to be operatively connected to each component of the ice maker 100 to control their operation.

[0077] The control unit 910 can be implemented using an integrated circuit with control functions (e.g., a system-on-a-chip (SoC), or a control board including a general-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor unit (MPU))) and software. The general-purpose processor may include a control program (or instructions) for performing control operations, a non-volatile memory in which the control program is installed, a volatile memory in which at least a portion of the installed control program is loaded, and at least one processor or CPU for executing the loaded control program.

[0078] For example, the control unit 910 may include a microprocessor 911 and a memory 913.

[0079] The microprocessor 911 can retrieve data stored in the memory 913 according to the program stored in the memory 913, and can perform arithmetic or logical operations on the retrieved data. Furthermore, the microprocessor 911 can output the result of the arithmetic or logical operation to the memory 913. The memory 913 may include volatile memory that loses its stored data when power is interrupted. The volatile memory can retrieve programs and data from the storage device 950, which will be described later, and temporarily store the retrieved data. Furthermore, the volatile memory can provide the stored programs and data to the microprocessor 911, and can store data output from the microprocessor 911. Such volatile memory may include S-RAM, D-RAM, etc.

[0080] Although the microprocessor 911 and memory 913 have been described as functionally distinct from each other, they do not necessarily need to be physically distinct. For example, the microprocessor 911 and memory 913 can be implemented on separate chips, or they can be implemented using a single chip.

[0081] The drive unit 920 can drive the motor associated with the opening and closing operation of the ice container 110 according to the drive control signal from the control unit 910.

[0082] The first heater 930 and the second heater 940 can operate according to the drive control signal of the control unit 910 to provide heat.

[0083] Storage device 950 can store control programs and control data for controlling the operation of ice maker 100, as well as various application programs and application data for performing various functions based on user input. Furthermore, storage device 950 can store temperature control values ​​for ice container 110 determined by control unit 910. For example, storage device 950 can be configured to store data, such as the detection cycle of temperature sensing unit 970 (described later), or the operating time or power of first heater 930 or second heater 940 based on the detection results of temperature sensing unit 970, and also to store various programs, such as control programs for controlling ice maker 100, proprietary applications initially provided by the manufacturer, and general applications downloaded from external sources.

[0084] The cooling unit 960 can be configured, under the control of the control unit 910, to perform the function of cooling water by supplying cold air to or around the ice-making container 110. Alternatively, the cooling unit 960 can be implemented as a separate device from the ice maker 100. For example, when the ice maker 100 is installed in an external device (e.g., the freezer compartment of a refrigerator), the cooling unit 960 can be installed separately in that external device to supply cold air to the ice maker 100.

[0085] The temperature sensing unit 970 can detect the temperature of the ice-making container 110 and send the detected temperature to the control unit 910. The temperature sensing unit 970 may include one or more temperature sensors disposed at a location inside the ice-making container 110 (e.g., the top, bottom, or inner wall of the ice-making container 110) to detect the temperature inside the ice-making container 110.

[0086] The timer 980 can time the operating duration of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940.

[0087] The ice maker 100 may also include various other sensors as needed, such as sensors for measuring whether the ice container 110 is open or the degree of its opening, or sensors for detecting whether ice making is complete. These sensors can be connected to the control unit 910 so that the control unit 910 can accurately control each component.

[0088] The method of controlling the ice maker via the control unit 910 will be described in detail below.

[0089] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the ice-making process in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0090] refer to Figure 10 Water is supplied to the chamber of the ice-making container 110 (S1001). While water is being supplied, or when water supply is complete, the cooling unit 960, under the control of the control unit 910, performs ice making by supplying cold air to the ice-making container 110 or the area around the ice-making container 110 to cool the water.

[0091] Then, it is determined whether the operating conditions of the second heater 940 are met (S1003). The operating conditions of the second heater 940 may be based on whether the temperature of the ice-making container 110 has reached a predetermined temperature or whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply was completed. For example, the predetermined temperature may be set to 0°C, which is the temperature at which water begins to freeze, and the predetermined time may be set to a maximum of 30 minutes.

[0092] When the operating conditions of the second heater 940 are fully met, the control unit 910 operates the second heater 940 (S1005). The second heater 940 is operated under the control of the control unit 910 during ice making, allowing air bubbles in the water to be discharged to the outside during the ice-making process to produce pure ice. For example, when heat is transferred through the second heater 940 during the ice-making process, air bubbles in the water can move from the frozen portion of the water to the pre-frozen portion and then be discharged to the outside without dispersing in the ice. As an illustration, when water in the ice-making container 110 is frozen by cold air supplied from the cooling unit, freezing begins, for example, from the top of the ice-making container 110, which is opened for water supply (where cold air from the cooling unit first flows in). When heat is transferred through the second heater 152, air bubbles in the water move from the frozen portion of the water to the pre-frozen portion. As described above, when the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are configured in a side-to-side (left-right) orientation such that at least one of them is coupled or decoupled during horizontal movement, the second heater 152 can be located in a fixed tray. Therefore, the portion of the ice container 110 adjacent to the second heater 152 (i.e., the fixed tray) freezes last, and some air bubbles that do not escape to the outside may cause localized opaque parts in the ice, but can produce transparent ice overall.

[0093] When the second heater 940 is operating, the control unit 910 can perform variable control of the second heater 940 (S1005). The second heater 940 can operate for a preset time period in a predetermined ice-making mode, and the ice-making process can be variably controlled by the control unit 910. (Refer to the following...) Figure 11 The variable control operation of the second heater 940 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0094] Then, determine whether the variable control of the second heater 940 has been completed (S1007).

[0095] When the variable control of the second heater 940 is completed, the operation of the second heater 940 is terminated, and additional ice making is performed (S1009).

[0096] Subsequently, it is determined whether the additional ice-making completion condition is met (S1011). The additional ice-making completion condition can be set based on whether the temperature of the ice-making container 110 is maintained for a specific amount of time after reaching a predetermined temperature, or whether a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the start of additional ice-making (i.e., after the operation of the second heater 940 is terminated). For example, the predetermined temperature can be set to -12°C to -14°C, and it can be determined that the additional ice-making completion condition is met when this temperature or temperature range is maintained for at least five minutes. Alternatively, it can be determined that the additional ice-making completion condition is met when the predetermined time is set to 30 minutes and that time has elapsed. Alternatively, it can be determined that the additional ice-making completion condition is met when a longer time than the predetermined time and the time taken to reach the predetermined temperature has elapsed.

[0097] When the additional ice-making completion conditions are met, the control unit 910 operates at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 (S1013). Operating at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 is intended to facilitate the discharge of ice from the ice-making container 110.

[0098] Subsequently, it is determined whether the ice separation conditions are met (S1015). The ice separation conditions can be established based on whether the temperature of the ice-making container 110 has reached a predetermined temperature, or based on whether a predetermined time has elapsed after operating at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940. Alternatively, the ice separation conditions can be determined to be met when the shorter of the predetermined time and the time taken to reach the predetermined temperature has elapsed. For example, the predetermined temperature can be set to -6°C to -8°C, and the predetermined time can be set to 15 minutes.

[0099] When the ice separation conditions are met, the coupling between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 constituting the ice-making container 110 is released (S1017). By decoupling the first tray 111 and the second tray 112, the ice generated in the chamber of the ice-making container 110 can be moved to the storage container. This decoupling of the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 can be performed by the control unit 910, which drives the drive unit 920, and the drive unit 920 can move at least one of the first tray 111 or the second tray 112, thereby releasing the coupling. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 can be decoupled after the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940, which operate under the control of the control unit 910, is terminated. The first tray 111 and the second tray 112 can also be decoupled without terminating the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940, which are operated by the control unit 910, and will be referred to later. Figure 12 The control operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 during ice separation is described according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] After the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are decoupled, it is determined whether ice separation is complete (S1019). This determination can be made using a separate sensor (e.g., a light sensor disposed adjacent to the ice-making container 110, a pressure sensor disposed in the storage container, etc.). Alternatively, ice separation can be determined to be complete when the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are decoupled and spaced apart by a predetermined distance, or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are decoupled.

[0101] Once it is determined that ice separation has been completed, the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled together (S1021). Then, at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 is operated by the control unit 910 (S1023). This is to remove residual ice from the sealing surface or the water supply conduit 130. At this time, at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 can be operated at essentially 100% duty cycle.

[0102] In an embodiment, the operation of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 after ice making is completed can be determined by the ice-making mode. The ice-making mode can be set to any one of a first mode for producing transparent ice (e.g., transparent mode), a second mode for producing ordinary ice (e.g., normal mode), and a third mode for high-speed ice production (e.g., fast ice-making mode), wherein the operation of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 after ice making is completed can be determined according to the ice-making mode. For example, when the ice-making mode is transparent mode, the first heater 930 can be operated. Furthermore, when the ice-making mode is normal mode, at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 can be operated. Furthermore, when the ice-making mode is fast ice-making mode, both the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 can be operated simultaneously. Depending on the ice-making mode, by selectively operating the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 after ice making is completed, energy can be utilized more efficiently.

[0103] In another embodiment, the operation of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 after ice separation is completed can be determined by additional ice-making completion conditions. As described above, additional ice-making completion conditions can be set based on whether the temperature of the ice container 110 is maintained for a specific amount of time after reaching a predetermined temperature, or whether a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after additional ice-making begins (i.e., after the operation of the second heater 940 has ended). For example, when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature and is maintained for a specific period of time as an additional ice-making completion condition, both the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 can operate. Alternatively, when the temperature has not yet reached the predetermined temperature but a specific period of time has elapsed as an additional ice-making completion condition, only the second heater 940 can operate. Depending on the additional ice-making completion conditions, energy can be used more efficiently by selectively operating the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 after ice separation is completed.

[0104] Then, it is determined whether the residual ice removal completion condition is met (S1025). The residual ice removal completion condition can be set based on whether the temperature of the ice-making container 110 has reached a predetermined temperature, or it can be set based on whether a predetermined time has elapsed after operating at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940. Alternatively, the defrosting completion condition can be determined to be met when the shorter of the predetermined time or the time taken to reach the predetermined temperature has elapsed. For example, the predetermined temperature can be set to 25°C to 30°C, and the predetermined time can be set to 1 hour.

[0105] When the residual ice removal completion condition is met, the operation of at least one of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 operated by the control unit 910 is terminated (S1027). In an embodiment, when both the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 are operating to remove residual ice, the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 can be terminated sequentially. The conditions for sequentially terminating the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 can be set based on whether the temperature of the ice-making container 110 has reached a predetermined temperature, or based on whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940. For example, if the temperature of the ice-making container 110 reaches a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 15°C), the operation of the first heater 930 can be terminated first, and if the temperature of the ice-making container 110 continues to rise and reaches a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 27°C), the operation of the second heater 940 can be terminated subsequently. Furthermore, the operation of the first heater 930 can be terminated first when a first predetermined time (e.g., 45 minutes) has elapsed after the first heater 930 has been operated, and the operation of the second heater 940 can be terminated subsequently when a second predetermined time (e.g., 60 minutes) has elapsed after the second heater 940 has been operated.

[0106] Afterward, water can be supplied to the chamber of the ice-making container 110 to restart the ice-making cycle. Therefore, for each ice-making cycle, residual ice remaining in the sealing section or water supply conduit can be removed after ice separation.

[0107] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of variable control of the heater according to the ice-making mode in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0108] When ice making is initiated, the control unit 910 identifies the ice-making mode set by the user (S1101). The ice-making mode can be set to any one of the following: a first mode for producing transparent ice, a second mode for producing ordinary ice, and a third mode for high-speed ice production. The first mode can execute one ice-making cycle every 24 hours (i.e., one ice-making cycle per day), the second mode can execute one ice-making cycle every 12 hours (i.e., two ice-making cycles per day), and the third mode can execute one ice-making cycle every 8 hours (i.e., three ice-making cycles per day). The ice-making mode can be set by the user for each ice-making cycle or can be preset in advance.

[0109] When the set mode is determined to be the first mode (S1103), the second heater 940 can be variably controlled by the control unit 910 during an ice-making cycle that can be performed within a 24-hour period (S1111). Specifically, the control unit 910 can control the duty cycle of the second heater 940 based on the temperature and time measured over a period of approximately 20 to 22 hours.

[0110] When the set mode is determined to be the second mode (S1105), the second heater 940 can be variably controlled by the control unit 910 during an ice-making cycle that is executed within a 12-hour period (S1113). Specifically, the control unit 910 can control the duty cycle of the second heater 940 based on the temperature and time measured over a period of approximately 8 to 10 hours.

[0111] When the set mode is determined to be the third mode (S1107), the second heater 940 can be variably controlled by the control unit 910 during an ice-making cycle that is executed over an 8-hour period (S1115). Specifically, the control unit 910 can control the duty cycle of the second heater 940 based on the temperature and time measured over a period of approximately 1 to 3 hours.

[0112] As described above, the second heater 940 can be variably controlled by the control unit 910 according to each ice-making mode to produce the desired purity at predetermined intervals.

[0113] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the control operations of a first heater and a second heater during ice separation in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0114] refer to Figure 12 The control operation of the first heater and the second heater in the ice separation step after the additional ice making is completed (S1201) is described. When it is determined that the additional ice making has been completed (S1201), the control unit 910 operates at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 (S1203).

[0115] Subsequently, it is determined whether the ice separation condition is met (S1205). If the ice separation condition is met, the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 constituting the ice-making container 110 are decoupled (S1207). By decoupling the first tray 111 and the second tray 112, the ice generated in the chamber of the ice-making container 110 can be transferred to the storage container. When at least one of the driven units 920 of the first tray 111 or the second tray 112 moves and is decoupled, the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 operated by the control unit 910 is not terminated; that is, when the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 is operated, the coupling between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 is released.

[0116] After the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are decoupled, it is determined whether ice separation has been completed (S1209). When it is determined that ice separation is complete, the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 are coupled together (S1211). Then, it is determined whether the residual ice removal completion condition is met (S1213). When the residual ice removal completion condition is met, the operation of the first heater 930 and the second heater 940 operated by the control unit 910 is terminated (S1215).

[0117] As described above, an ice-making cycle can be performed by controlling each component of the ice maker 100 under the control of the control unit 910. After ice separation in each ice-making cycle, the ice maker 100 can operate at least one of the first heater 930 or the second heater 940 to effectively remove residual ice from the sealing surface between the first tray 111 and the second tray 112 or from the water supply conduit 130.

[0118] Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail, they are provided only to aid in a more complete understanding of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on this description. Therefore, the spirit of this disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and the appended claims and all their equivalents or modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising: An ice-making container, comprising a first tray and a second tray coupled to each other at a sealed surface; A water supply conduit, including one end connected to the ice-making container, the water supply conduit being configured to supply water to the ice-making container; The first heater is disposed adjacent to or inside the ice-making container; as well as The second heater is disposed adjacent to or inside the ice-making container, and is located at a different position than the first heater. Wherein, the first heater is closer to the sealing surface than the second heater, and In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first heater is configured to extend from one end of the water supply conduit connected to the ice-making container to the other end of the water supply conduit from which water is supplied from the outside, around the periphery of the chamber of the ice-making container, and to be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein, At least a portion of the first heater is disposed along the sealing surface.

3. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to accommodate the ice-making container and the water supply conduit. in, The housing has an opening through which the water supply conduit is installed, and At least a portion of the first heater is disposed along the opening.

4. The ice maker according to claim 1, further comprising: The control unit is configured to control the operation of the first heater and the second heater; as well as The drive unit is configured to couple or decouple the first tray and the second tray; The control unit is configured as follows: The drive unit is controlled to decouple the first tray and the second tray to allow ice to be discharged from the ice-making container, and to couple the first tray and the second tray back together; as well as Based on the coupling between the first tray and the second tray after ice is discharged from the ice-making container, at least one of the first heater or the second heater is controlled to operate.

5. The ice maker according to claim 4, wherein, The control unit is configured to terminate the operation of the first heater and the second heater when the temperature of the ice-making container reaches a first predetermined temperature or when a first predetermined time has elapsed.

6. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein, The first tray includes a first tray body, the first tray body including a protrusion projecting along the sealing surface toward the second tray. The second tray includes a second tray body, the second tray body including an insertion recess configured to receive the protrusion along the sealing surface, and The first tray body or one of the second tray bodies includes a first rib that protrudes along the sealing surface toward the other of the first tray or the second tray, and the first rib is configured to deform when pressure is applied.

7. The ice maker according to claim 6, wherein, The first pallet also includes a first pallet shell surrounding the main body of the first pallet. The second tray further includes a second tray shell surrounding the main body of the second tray, and The first pallet body or the second pallet body further includes a second rib, which protrudes toward the first pallet housing or the second pallet housing and is configured to deform under pressure from the first pallet housing or the second pallet housing.

8. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein, The first tray and the second tray are arranged side-to-side and configured to be coupled or decoupled by moving the first tray and the second tray in a horizontal direction.

9. A method for controlling an ice maker, the method comprising: The first tray, the second tray, and the first heater are operated by a control unit that is controllably connected to the first tray, the second tray, and the first heater; Control the drive unit connected to at least one of the first tray or the second tray to release the coupling between the first tray and the second tray, so that ice is discharged from the ice-making container where the first tray and the second tray are coupled; Control the drive unit to couple the first tray and the second tray together; and Based on the coupling, the first heater is operated, and the sealing surface at the coupling point between the first heater and the first tray and the second tray is disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first heater is configured to extend from one end of the water supply conduit connected to the ice-making container to the other end of the water supply conduit from which water is supplied from the outside, around the periphery of the chamber of the ice-making container, and to be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: The operation of the first heater is controlled based on the coupling; as well as The operation of the first heater is terminated when the temperature of the ice-making container reaches a first predetermined temperature or when a first predetermined time has elapsed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: The first heater is stopped from operating, and water is supplied to the ice-making container via the water supply conduit.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: Based on the coupling between the first heater and the second heater, the second heater is controlled. The second heater is disposed inside the first tray or adjacent to the first tray and disposed at a position different from that of the first heater.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: Based on the coupling of the first tray and the second tray, operations are performed on the first heater and the second heater, and water is supplied to the ice-making container via the water supply conduit.

14. An ice-making apparatus, comprising: The container includes a first tray and a second tray, the first tray and the second tray being coupled to each other at a sealing surface between the first tray and the second tray; A water supply conduit, including a first end connected to the container, the water supply conduit being configured to supply water to the container; A first heater is located adjacent to or within the container; as well as The second heater is located adjacent to or within the container, and at a different position than the first heater. Wherein, the first heater is closer to the sealing surface than the second heater, and In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first heater is configured to extend from the first end of the water supply conduit connected to the container to the other end of the water supply conduit from which water is supplied from the outside, around the periphery of the chamber of the container, and to be disposed adjacent to the water supply conduit.

15. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, At least a portion of the first heater is disposed along the sealing surface.

16. The ice-making apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a housing configured to accommodate the container and the water supply conduit. in, The housing has an opening through which the water supply conduit is installed, and At least a portion of the first heater is disposed along the opening.

17. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: The driver is configured to couple and decouple the first tray and the second tray; The controller is configured as follows: The actuator is controlled to decouple the first tray and the second tray to allow ice to be discharged from the container, and to couple the first tray and the second tray back together; as well as Based on the coupling between the first tray and the second tray after the ice is discharged from the container, at least one of the first heater or the second heater is controlled to operate.

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