Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator (2) and a method for controlling the same, the refrigerator (2) having a detachable automatic ice-making unit (50) provided with an ice-making vessel (52) and a drive motor (54A) for rotating the ice-making vessel (52), a blow-out port (16A) through which gas passing through an evaporator (12) flows out to the ice-making vessel (52), and a quick-freezing line (20) through which the gas passing through the evaporator (12) flows out to the ice-making vessel (52), the quick-freezing line (20) being provided inside a freezing chamber (4) of the refrigerator (2). The quick-freezing pipeline (20) is detachably mounted in a dismounting area when the automatic ice making unit (50) is dismounted; the rapid freezing pipeline (20) comprises a shell (22), an insertion opening (24) which is arranged on the shell (22) and is opposite to the blowing opening (16A), or an ice making pipeline (16) with the blowing opening (16A) is inserted into the insertion opening (24) so that the blowing opening (16A) is positioned in the shell (22), and a cooling fan (28) which is arranged in the shell (22) and is used for cooling the ice making pipeline (16). And a cooling fan (28) provided in the housing (22) so as to increase the flow rate of the gas flowing into the housing (22) from the blow-out opening (16A) and discharge the gas, and an air outlet (26) provided in the housing (22) so as to allow the gas discharged from the cooling fan (28) to flow out to the outside of the housing (22).

Description

Refrigerator and control method thereof Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator with an automatic ice-making unit and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In a conventional refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice-making unit, the automatic ice-making unit includes an ice-making tray and a drive motor for rotating the ice-making tray. In such an automatic ice-making unit, after ice is made, the drive motor rotates the ice-making tray so that its upper surface faces downward, causing the generated ice to fall into a storage container provided below for storage.

[0003] In refrigerators equipped with such automatic ice-making units, a solution has been proposed in which the automatic ice-making unit can be removed from the refrigerator (for example, see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-105419). In the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, the automatic ice-making unit can be removed, for example, in winter when ice is less needed, so that the area where the automatic ice-making unit is removed can be effectively used as a frozen storage area.

[0004] However, because the air outlet is configured so that the cold air passing through the evaporator flows around the ice tray, there may be a problem of insufficient cold air supply to the larger storage area where the storage container is located below the ice tray. This results in an inability to efficiently cool the area where the automatic ice making unit is removed and to fully utilize it as a frozen storage area, thus preventing sufficient rapid freezing.

[0005] Therefore, the need for an improved refrigerator and a control method thereof is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof, which can efficiently cool the area in the freezer compartment from which the automatic ice-making unit is removed, can reliably increase the effectively used frozen storage area, and can reliably achieve rapid freezing.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a refrigerator comprising a freezer compartment, wherein the freezer compartment is provided with: a detachable automatic ice-making unit comprising an ice-making dish and a driving motor for rotating the ice-making dish; a blow-out port, which allows the gas passing through the evaporator to flow out to the ice-making dish; and a rapid freezing pipeline, which is detachably installed in the removed area when the automatic ice-making unit is removed; the rapid freezing pipeline comprises: a shell, an insertion port, which is provided on the shell and opposite to the blow-out port, or an ice-making pipeline having the blow-out port is inserted into the insertion port so that the blow-out port is located in the shell, a cooling fan, which is provided in the shell to increase the flow rate of the gas flowing into the shell from the blow-out port and discharge the gas, and an air outlet, which is provided on the shell to allow the gas discharged from the cooling fan to flow out to the outside of the shell.

[0009] In this way, a cooling fan included in the housing of the rapid freezing circuit increases the flow rate of the gas flowing out of the air outlet after passing through the evaporator, thereby supplying this gas into the freezer compartment through the air outlet of the housing. This effectively cools the area in the freezer compartment where the automatic ice making unit is removed, reliably increasing the effectively usable frozen storage area and enabling reliable rapid freezing.

[0010] Furthermore, the exhaust direction of the cooling fan is downward and forms an angle of not less than 15 degrees and not more than 45 degrees with respect to the direction in which the gas flows out from the blowout port.

[0011] In this way, since the exhaust direction of the cooling fan is at an angle of more than 15 degrees and less than 45 degrees relative to the blowing direction of the blow-out port and is directed downward, cold air can be supplied to a larger storage area including the interior of the storage container arranged on the lower side of the blow-out port, thereby reliably and efficiently cooling the area in the freezer room where the automatic ice-making unit is removed.

[0012] Furthermore, the refrigerator also includes: a controller for controlling the automatic ice-making unit and the rapid freezing pipeline, and an ice-making connector for being connected to the unit-side connector of the automatic ice-making unit in a detachable state, the rapid freezing pipeline includes a pipeline-side connector for being connected to the ice-making connector in a detachable state, and the controller controls so that when the rapid freezing pipeline is installed in the area where the automatic ice-making unit is removed and the pipeline-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector, power is supplied to the fan motor of the cooling fan via the ice-making connector and the pipeline-side connector connected to each other.

[0013] In this manner, by using the pipe-side connector that is detachable from the ice-making connector for supplying power to the automatic ice-making unit, power can be reliably supplied to the fan motor of the cooling fan.

[0014] Furthermore, the wiring connected to the pipeline side connector is equipped with a diode for preventing reverse polarity.

[0015] When the pipeline connector is connected to the ice-making connector, the polarity of the connectors may be reversed. If power is applied with the connectors connected with reverse polarity, the cooling fan's fan motor may rotate in reverse. In the present invention, a diode for preventing reverse polarity allows current to flow when the connectors are properly connected, preventing current from flowing when the polarity of the connectors is reversed. This diode for preventing reverse polarity ensures that the cooling fan always operates properly.

[0016] Furthermore, the refrigerator is provided with a partition plate located on the upper side of the automatic ice-making unit, and a sliding support portion is formed on the partition plate. Both ends of the base of the automatic ice-making unit are slidably inserted into the space surrounded by the sliding support portion and the partition plate.

[0017] Furthermore, the automatic ice-making unit slides backward under the guidance of the sliding support portion until it is locked with the refrigerator at a set position. At this time, the unit-side connector on the automatic ice-making unit is connected to the ice-making connector fixed on the refrigerator.

[0018] Furthermore, the insertion port is provided on the rear side of the shell, and the air outlet is provided on the front side, and the air outlet is in a mesh shape.

[0019] To achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a refrigerator control method, comprising:

[0020] Step S2: Determine whether the front door of the freezer compartment is open;

[0021] Step S4: If the front door is open, determine whether the unit-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector;

[0022] Step S6: When it is determined that the unit-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector, a control process for making ice using the automatic ice-making unit is performed;

[0023] Step S8: determining whether a signal for starting rapid freezing according to a switch operation by the user is received;

[0024] Step S10: If it is determined that a signal for starting rapid freezing has been received, power is supplied to the fan motor, and the fan motor rotates in the forward direction to operate the cooling fan.

[0025] Furthermore, the control method further includes:

[0026] Step S12: determining whether a signal for shutting down the rapid freezing process according to a switch operation by the user is received;

[0027] Step S14: If it is determined that a signal for shutting down the rapid freezing has been received, the power supply to the fan motor is stopped, so that the rotation of the fan motor stops and the operation of the cooling fan is stopped;

[0028] Step S16: Determine whether the front door is open. If not, repeat steps S8 to S14; if so, return to step S4 and repeat the subsequent steps.

[0029] Furthermore, the step S10 also includes changing to a standby state if it is determined that no signal for starting rapid freezing is received.

[0030] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the refrigerator and the control method thereof can efficiently cool the area in the freezer compartment from which the automatic ice-making unit is removed, can reliably increase the effectively used frozen storage area, and can reliably implement rapid freezing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG1 is a side sectional view of the installation structure of the rapid freezing pipeline in the refrigerator of the present invention.

[0032] FIG2 is a front side view of the rapid freezing pipeline viewed along arrow AA in FIG1.

[0033] FIG3 is a side sectional view of the installation structure of the automatic ice-making unit in the refrigerator of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of wiring connected to a pipeline-side connector and equipped with a diode for preventing reverse polarity.

[0035] FIG5 is a control block diagram of a control system for a rapid freezing circuit of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

[0036] 6 is a flow chart of a control process of a rapid freezing process of the refrigerator according to the present invention, wherein the automatic ice making unit is removed and a rapid freezing pipeline is installed, and the pipeline side connector is connected to the ice making connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0038] (refrigerator)

[0039] FIG1 is a side sectional view of the mounting structure of the rapid cooling pipe 20 in the refrigerator 2 of the present invention. FIG2 is a front side view of the rapid cooling pipe 20 as viewed along arrow AA in FIG1. ​​FIG3 is a side sectional view of the mounting structure of the automatic ice making unit 50 in the refrigerator 2 of the present invention.

[0040] First, the outline of the refrigerator 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figures 1 and 3 show the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2 and the cooling flow path 10 provided behind it. A refrigerator compartment (not shown) is provided above the freezer compartment 4.

[0041] An evaporator 12 and a refrigerator-side fan 14 are disposed within the cooling flow path 10. The evaporator 12 forms part of a cooling cycle mechanism through which the refrigerant flows. In the cooling cycle, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 6 flows through the condenser, capillary tube, and the like, and then flows into the evaporator 12. The refrigerant, which has flowed through the heat exchange tubes of the evaporator 12, then returns to the suction side of the compressor 6.

[0042] By operating refrigerator-side fan 14, the gas within cooling flow path 10 flows upward from bottom to top and passes through evaporator 12. The gas is cooled as it passes between the heat exchange tubes of evaporator 12. The cooled gas flows into freezer compartment 4 through outlet 16A of ice-making pipe 16. Although other openings exist for the gas that has passed through evaporator 12 to flow into freezer compartment 4, only outlet 16A of ice-making pipe 16 is shown here.

[0043] In the refrigerator 2 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG3 , an automatic ice-making unit 50 is provided within the freezer compartment 4. Furthermore, as shown in FIG1 and FIG2 , after the automatic ice-making unit 50 is removed, the rapid cooling line 20 can be installed within the freezer compartment 4 instead. For example, in the summer, when ice consumption is high, the automatic ice-making unit 50 is provided in the refrigerator 2 to make ice. On the other hand, in the winter, when ice consumption is low, the automatic ice-making unit 50 can be removed, and the freed space can be used as a frozen storage area within the freezer compartment 4.

[0044] (Automatic ice making unit)

[0045] First, referring to FIG3 , the installation structure of the automatic ice-making unit 50 in the freezer compartment 4 will be described. The automatic ice-making unit 50 includes a resin ice tray 52 and a drive unit 54 having a drive motor 54A that rotates the ice tray 52. ​​An ice-making pipe 16 extending from the cooling flow path 10 of the refrigerator 2 to the front is disposed behind the ice tray 52, with an air outlet 16A of the ice-making pipe 16 opening toward the ice tray 52.

[0046] After passing through evaporator 12, the air flows into ice-making pipe 16 under the force of refrigerator-side fan 14, flows within ice-making pipe 16, and then flows out of outlet 16A into freezer compartment 4. The air flows out of outlet 16A with a slight spread, roughly horizontally centered. In this way, the air flowing out of outlet 16A flows from back to front along the top, sides, and bottom of ice tray 52. ​​This flow of cold air cools the water stored in each cell of ice tray 52, freezing it.

[0047] When freezing the water in each compartment to make ice, controller 60, part of the control system of refrigerator 2, supplies power to drive motor 54A of drive unit 54, rotating ice tray 52 so that its upper surface, originally facing upward, now faces downward. During rotation, a portion of ice tray 52 comes into contact with refrigerator 2. Further rotation of ice tray 52 twists it, causing the ice to separate from the compartments. The ice then falls and is collected in storage container 44 located below ice tray 52.

[0048] The refrigerator 2 is equipped with a partition plate 40 located above the automatic ice-making unit 50. Sliding support portions 42 are formed on the partition plate 40, extending in the front-to-back direction at the left and right ends of the automatic ice-making unit 50 in the width direction. The sliding support portions 42 are L-shaped along their length (see Figure 2). The ends of the base of the automatic ice-making unit 50 are slidably inserted into the space enclosed by the L-shaped sliding support portion 42 and the upper partition plate 40.

[0049] Open the front door of the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2, place the two ends of the base of the automatic ice-making unit 50 into the space enclosed by the L-shaped sliding support 42 and the partition 40, and then tuck the automatic ice-making unit 50 to the rear. The automatic ice-making unit 50 can then be installed in the freezer compartment 4. In this way, the automatic ice-making unit 50 slides backward under the guidance of the sliding support 42 until it finally locks with the refrigerator 2 at the set position.

[0050] When the automatic ice-making unit 50 slides backward and reaches the set position, the unit-side connector 56 fixed to the automatic ice-making unit 50 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 fixed to the refrigerator 2. For example, the unit-side connector 56 has a male pin and the ice-making connector 18 has a female pin. Alternatively, the unit-side connector 56 may have a female pin and the ice-making connector 18 may have a male pin.

[0051] Unit-side connector 56 is electrically connected to drive motor 54A of drive unit 54, and ice-making connector 18 is electrically connected to a power supply unit controlled by controller 60. Thus, power from the power supply unit is supplied to drive motor 54A via ice-making connector 18 and unit-side connector 56, which are connected to each other, based on a control signal from controller 60. Thus, operating drive motor 54A rotates ice tray 52.

[0052] To remove the automatic ice-making unit 50 from the freezer compartment 4, the front door covering the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2 is opened, the buckle securing the automatic ice-making unit 50 is released, and the automatic ice-making unit 50 is pulled forward. At this point, the unit-side connector 56 is disconnected from the ice-making connector 18. The automatic ice-making unit 50 then slides forward under the guidance of the slide support 42, allowing it to be easily removed from the freezer compartment 4.

[0053] As described above, the automatic ice-making unit 50 is detachably mounted to the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2 , and the unit-side connector 56 of the automatic ice-making unit 50 is detachably connected to the ice-making connector 18 .

[0054] (Rapid freezing pipeline)

[0055] Next, the installation structure of the rapid cooling pipe 20 in the freezer compartment 4 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The rapid cooling pipe 20 includes a shell 22 having a space for gas flow therein. A plate-shaped sliding seat 22A extends to the left and right sides of the shell 22. As shown in Figure 2, the left and right end portions of the sliding seat 22A are inserted into the space enclosed by the L-shaped sliding support portion 42 and the upper partition plate 40 in a slidable state. In this way, the rapid cooling pipe 20 can slide back and forth under the guidance of the sliding support portion 42. Thus, the rapid cooling pipe 20 can be installed in and removed from the freezer compartment 4 in the same manner as the automatic ice-making unit 50.

[0056] An insertion port 24 is provided on the rear surface of the housing 22. The ice-making pipe 16 of the refrigerator 2 is inserted into the housing 22 through the insertion port 24. Thus, the air outlet 16A of the ice-making pipe 16 is located within the housing 22. Thus, gas passing through the evaporator 12 flows into the housing 22 through the ice-making pipe 16.

[0057] However, this configuration is not limiting. For example, the ice-making pipe 16 may protrude less forward from the cooling passage 10 than shown. In this case, the ice-making pipe 16 may not be inserted into the housing 22, but rather the outlet 16A of the ice-making pipe 16 may be located behind the rear surface of the housing 22. By arranging the insertion opening 24 and the outlet 16A opposite each other in this manner, gas passing through the evaporator 12 can flow into the housing 22.

[0058] A cooling fan 28 is provided within the housing 22. Air flowing into the housing 22 from the air outlet 16A of the ice-making pipe 16 is drawn by the fan and discharged through the air outlet. Cooling fan 28 increases the flow rate of the incoming air before it is discharged. Cooling fan 28 includes a fan motor 28A that rotates an impeller. Cooling fan 28 is electrically connected to a pipe-side connector 30 secured to the housing 22. This pipe-side connector 30 is connectable to the ice-making connector 18. This allows fan motor 28A to receive power from the power supply of refrigerator 2, similar to the automatic ice-making unit 50.

[0059] The front side of the housing 22 is provided with an air outlet 26 for the air exhausted from the cooling fan 28 to flow outside the housing 22. In this embodiment, the air outlet 26 is formed by a mesh of narrow components. This allows the air that has passed through the evaporator 12 to flow into the housing 22 through the air outlet 16A. The air is then accelerated by the cooling fan 28 and blown out of the air outlet 26 to the outside of the housing 22. This allows for more efficient cooling of the freezer compartment 4 and rapid freezing.

[0060] Furthermore, the rapid cooling pipe 20 can be installed in the freezer compartment 4 in the same order as described above, in the area where the automatic ice-making unit 50 has been removed. Specifically, the front door of the freezer compartment 4 covering the refrigerator 2 is opened, and the two ends of the sliding seat 22A of the rapid cooling pipe 20 are placed in the space enclosed by the L-shaped sliding support portion 42 and the partition plate 40, and the rapid cooling pipe 20 is tucked to the rear. In this way, the rapid cooling pipe 20 slides backward under the guidance of the sliding support portion 42, and finally snaps into place with the refrigerator 2 at the set position. At this point, the ice-making pipe 16 is inserted into the interior of the housing 22 through the insertion port 24.

[0061] When the rapid cooling pipe 20 slides backward and reaches the set position, the pipe-side connector 30 fixed to the rapid cooling pipe 20 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 fixed to the side of the refrigerator 2. The pipe-side connector 30 has the same pin shape as the unit-side connector 56 of the automatic ice-making unit 50.

[0062] Thus, power from the power supply is supplied to the fan motor 28A of the cooling fan 28 via the ice making connector 18 and the pipe-side connector 30 connected to each other based on a control signal from the controller 60 , thereby operating the cooling fan 28 .

[0063] When removing the rapid cooling pipe 20 attached to the freezer compartment 4 to the outside, open the front door covering the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2, release the buckle securing the rapid cooling pipe 20, and pull the rapid cooling pipe 20 forward. At this time, the pipe-side connector 30 is disconnected from the ice-making connector 18. In this way, the rapid cooling pipe 20 slides forward under the guidance of the sliding support 42, and the rapid cooling pipe 20 can be easily taken out of the freezer compartment 4.

[0064] As described above, the refrigerator 2 of the present invention is provided in the freezer compartment 4 with: a detachable automatic ice-making unit 50 having an ice-making dish 52 and a drive motor 54A for rotating the ice-making dish 52; an air outlet 16A for allowing gas passing through the evaporator 12 to flow toward the ice-making dish 52; and a rapid freezing pipe 20 that is detachably mounted in the removed area when the automatic ice-making unit 50 is removed. The rapid freezing pipe 20 includes: a housing 22; an insertion port 24 provided on the housing 22 and facing the air outlet 16A, or an ice-making pipe 16 having the air outlet 16A is inserted into the insertion port 24 so that the air outlet 16A is located in the housing 22; a cooling fan 28 provided in the housing 22 and increasing the flow rate of gas flowing into the housing 22 from the air outlet 16A and exhausting the gas; and an air outlet 26 provided on the housing 22 for allowing the gas exhausted from the cooling fan 28 to flow to the outside of the housing 22.

[0065] In the refrigerator 2 according to this embodiment, a cooling fan 28 disposed within the housing 22 of the rapid freezing circuit 20 increases the flow rate of the gas flowing out of the air outlet 16A after passing through the evaporator 12, thereby supplying the gas into the freezer compartment 4 through the air outlet 26 of the housing 22. This effectively cools the area within the freezer compartment 4 where the automatic ice-making unit 50 is removed, reliably increasing the effectively usable frozen storage area and enabling reliable rapid freezing.

[0066] In particular, the refrigerator 2 involved in this embodiment includes: a controller 60 for controlling the automatic ice-making unit 50 and the rapid freezing pipe 20, and an ice-making connector 18 for being connected to the unit-side connector 56 of the automatic ice-making unit 50 in a detachable state; the rapid freezing pipe 20 includes a pipe-side connector 30 for being connected to the ice-making connector 18 in a detachable state; the controller 60 controls so that when the rapid freezing pipe 20 is installed in the area where the automatic ice-making unit 50 is removed and the pipe-side connector 30 is connected to the ice-making connector 18, power is supplied to the fan motor 28A of the cooling fan 28 via the ice-making connector 18 and the pipe-side connector 30 that are connected to each other.

[0067] As described above, in the present embodiment, by using the pipe-side connector 30 detachable from the ice-making connector 18 for supplying power to the automatic ice-making unit 50 , power can be reliably supplied to the fan motor 28A of the cooling fan 28 .

[0068] (Gas flow from the blast freezing line)

[0069] In the rapid cooling circuit 20, the exhaust direction of the cooling fan 28 is different from the direction in which the gas flows out of the blow-out port 16A of the substantially horizontal ice-making circuit 16. Specifically, as shown in FIG1 , the direction is downward and forms an angle in the range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the outflow direction of the gas from the blow-out port 16A (θ in FIG1 = 15 degrees to 45 degrees). In this way, cold air can be supplied to a larger storage area, including the interior of the storage container 44 provided below the blow-out port 16A. In this way, the area in the freezer compartment 4 from which the automatic ice-making unit 50 has been removed can be cooled reliably and efficiently.

[0070] (Wiring connected to the pipe side connector)

[0071] FIG4 is a circuit diagram of a wiring 32 connected to a line-side connector 30 and equipped with a diode 34 for preventing reverse polarity. When the line-side connector 30 fixed to the rapid cooling line 20 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 fixed to the side of the refrigerator 2, the polarity of the connector may be reversed. If power is applied with the polarity of the connector reversed, the fan motor 28A of the cooling fan 28 may reverse. To address this situation, in this embodiment, the wiring 32 is equipped with a diode 34 for preventing reverse polarity, and the diode 34 for preventing reverse polarity is installed so that it is connected in series with the fan motor 28A.

[0072] The diode 34 for preventing reverse polarity allows current to flow when the connector is correctly connected, but prevents current from flowing when the connector is connected with reverse polarity.

[0073] (Control of rapid freezing pipeline)

[0074] FIG5 is a block diagram of an example of a control system for the rapid freezing line 20 of the present invention. FIG6 is a flow chart of the control process for the rapid freezing process performed by connecting the line-side connector 30 to the ice-making connector 18. Next, the control system and control method for controlling the rapid freezing line 20 will be described with reference to FIG5 and FIG6.

[0075] <Control system for controlling cooling mechanism>

[0076] Controller 60 forms part of the control device of refrigerator 2 and controls compressor 6 and refrigerator-side fan 14, which cool freezer compartment 4 and refrigerator compartment 5. Furthermore, when unit-side connector 56 is connected to ice-making connector 18, controller 60 controls drive motor 54A of automatic ice-making unit 50. On the other hand, when line-side connector 30 is connected to ice-making connector 18, controller 60 controls fan motor 28A of rapid cooling line 20.

[0077] Controller 60 can determine whether unit-side connector 56 is connected to ice-making connector 18. Whether unit-side connector 56 is connected to ice-making connector 18 can be determined by any method, such as sending a detection signal from a detection terminal or detecting a change in resistance between terminals.

[0078] <Control of Rapid Freezing Process>

[0079] In the control flow shown in FIG6 , when the front door covering the freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2 is opened, a control process is performed to confirm whether the unit-side connector 56 is connected to the ice-making connector 18. In FIG6 , a determination is first made as to whether the front door is open (step S2). If the determination is not (No), the determination process is repeated. If the determination in step S2 is that the front door is open (Yes), the determination is then repeated as to whether the unit-side connector 56 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 (step S4).

[0080] If it is determined in this determination that the unit-side connector 56 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 (Yes), control processing for making ice using the automatic ice-making unit 50 is performed (step S6). Then, when the front door is opened (step S2), a determination is made as to whether the unit-side connector 56 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 (step S4).

[0081] If it is determined in step S4 that the unit-side connector 56 is not connected to the ice-making connector 18 (No), it is assumed that the pipe-side connector 30 is connected to the ice-making connector 18 and control processing for operating / stopping the cooling fan 28 is performed.

[0082] First, it is determined whether a signal for turning on rapid freezing according to the user's switch operation is received (step S8). In this judgment, if it is determined that the signal for turning on rapid freezing is not received (no), the standby state is changed. That is, the fan motor 28A continues to be in a stopped state. In the judgment of step S8, if it is determined that a signal for turning on rapid freezing is received (yes), power is then supplied to the fan motor 28A, and the fan motor 28A rotates forward to operate the cooling fan 28 (step S10). Assuming that the unit-side connector 56 is not connected to the ice-making connector 18, even if the control processing for power supply is implemented, there will actually be no electricity flowing to the fan motor 28A, and the cooling fan 28 will not operate.

[0083] Next, it is determined whether a signal for shutting down rapid freezing according to the user's switch operation is received (step S12). In this determination, if it is determined that no signal for shutting down rapid freezing is received (no), the system enters a standby state. In other words, the fan motor 28A continues to rotate and continues rapid freezing. In the determination of step S12, if it is determined that a signal for shutting down rapid freezing is received (yes), power supply to the fan motor 28A is stopped, the rotation of the fan motor 28A is stopped, and the operation of the cooling fan 28 is stopped (step S14).

[0084] Next, a determination is made as to whether the front door is open (step S16). If it is determined that the front door is not open (No), the control process for starting / stopping cooling fan 28 shown in steps S8 to S14 is repeated. If it is determined that the front door is open (Yes) in step S16, the process returns to step S4, where it is again determined whether unit-side connector 56 is connected to ice-making connector 18, and the above control process is repeated.

[0085] In the above-described control process, cooling fan 28 is controlled to start / stop based on a signal to turn on / off rapid freezing in response to a user's switch operation. However, this is not limiting. For example, a possible solution is to have controller 60 transmit a signal to turn on / off rapid freezing based on data measured by a temperature sensor located within freezer compartment 4, preferably a temperature sensor located in the area where storage container 44 is located, and to control the start / stop of cooling fan 28 based on this signal. In this case, control of cooling fan 28 is preferably performed in conjunction with the control of compressor 6 and refrigerator-side fan 14.

[0086] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the technical solutions of the present invention may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator having a freezer compartment, characterized in that: The freezing chamber is provided with: A detachable automatic ice-making unit having an ice-making tray and a drive motor for rotating the ice-making tray. a blow-out port for allowing the gas having passed through the evaporator to flow toward the ice making tray, and a rapid freezing pipeline, which is detachably installed in the removed area when the automatic ice-making unit is removed; The rapid freezing pipeline comprises: case, An insertion port is provided on the housing and is opposite to the blow-out port, or an ice-making pipe having the blow-out port is inserted into the insertion port so that the blow-out port is located inside the housing, a cooling fan disposed in the housing to increase the flow rate of the gas flowing into the housing from the blow-out port and to discharge the gas; and An air outlet is provided on the housing to allow the air exhausted from the cooling fan to flow out of the housing.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The exhaust direction of the cooling fan is downward and forms an angle of not less than 15 degrees and not more than 45 degrees with respect to the direction in which the air flows out from the air outlet.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It includes: a controller for controlling the automatic ice making unit and the rapid freezing pipeline, and an ice-making connector for detachably connecting to the unit-side connector of the automatic ice-making unit; The rapid freezing pipeline includes a pipeline side connector for being detachably connected to the ice making connector. The controller controls so that power is supplied to the fan motor of the cooling fan via the ice-making connector and the pipe-side connector connected to each other in a state where the rapid freezing pipe is installed in the area where the automatic ice-making unit is removed and the pipe-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that The wiring connected to the pipeline-side connector is equipped with a diode to prevent reverse polarity.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that The refrigerator is provided with a partition plate located on the upper side of the automatic ice-making unit, and a sliding support portion is formed on the partition plate. Both ends of the base of the automatic ice-making unit are slidably inserted into the space surrounded by the sliding support portion and the partition plate.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that The automatic ice-making unit slides backward under the guidance of the sliding support portion until it is locked with the refrigerator at a set position. At this time, the unit-side connector on the automatic ice-making unit is connected to the ice-making connector fixed on the refrigerator.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The insertion port is arranged on the rear side of the shell, and the air outlet is arranged on the front side, and the air outlet is in a mesh shape.

8. A refrigerator control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: include: Step S2: Determine whether the front door of the freezer compartment is open; Step S4: If the front door is open, determine whether the unit-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector; Step S6: When it is determined that the unit-side connector is connected to the ice-making connector, a control process for making ice using the automatic ice-making unit is performed; Step S8: determining whether a signal for starting rapid freezing according to a switch operation by the user is received; Step S10: If it is determined that a signal for starting rapid freezing has been received, power is supplied to the fan motor, and the fan motor rotates in the forward direction to operate the cooling fan.

9. The refrigerator control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control method further includes: Step S12: determining whether a signal for shutting down the rapid freezing process according to a switch operation by the user is received; Step S14: If it is determined that a signal for shutting down the rapid freezing has been received, the power supply to the fan motor is stopped, so that the rotation of the fan motor stops and the operation of the cooling fan is stopped; Step S16: Determine whether the front door is open. If not, repeat steps S8 to S14; if so, return to step S4 and repeat the subsequent steps.

10. The refrigerator control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The step S10 further includes changing to a standby state if it is determined that no signal for starting rapid freezing is received.

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