An ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice making control method

Abstract

This invention provides an ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice-making control method, relating to the field of household appliance technology. The ice maker includes a housing, an ice-detecting probe, and a driving element. An air inlet is located on one side of the housing to introduce cold airflow. The driving element is located inside the housing, at the furthest point opposite the air inlet, obstructing or disturbing the airflow path to ensure efficient cold air circulation. Furthermore, the driving element is longitudinally positioned and has a first driving shaft extending axially in the vertical direction. The ice-detecting probe is driven by the first driving shaft and rotates in a horizontal plane under the driving action of the first driving shaft. This significantly increases the effective detection area of ​​the ice-detecting probe, thus more reliably reflecting the overall ice storage status.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and more specifically, to an ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice-making control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of home appliance technology and the improvement of people's living standards, refrigerators with ice-making functions have become common equipment in modern households. As an important functional module of refrigerators, the performance of ice makers directly affects the user experience.

[0003] However, the inventors discovered that the motor in the ice maker is horizontally positioned, and the ice probe is pointing vertically downwards, meaning it can only detect the height of ice accumulation in a localized area directly below. When the ice is unevenly distributed within the ice storage box and clusters on the sides, the probe cannot make effective contact, leading to misjudgments of the ice storage status. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice-making control method, which achieves a more comprehensive identification of the ice storage status by improving the movement of the ice probe.

[0005] The embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides an ice maker, comprising: The housing has an air inlet on one side; A drive element is disposed within the housing and located at the farthest side opposite the air inlet; the drive element has a first drive shaft that extends axially in the vertical direction. An ice probe is connected to the first drive shaft and is used to rotate in the horizontal plane under the driving action of the first drive shaft.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the driving element further includes a second driving shaft that extends axially in the horizontal direction; the ice maker also includes an ice-making box located within the housing, the ice-making box being drivenly connected to the second driving shaft and used to rotate in a vertical plane under the driving action of the second driving shaft.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the ice box has multiple ice trays, which are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the second drive shaft, and all ice trays are arranged collinearly in the same row.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the ice maker further includes an ice storage box located below the ice maker box; the probing end of the ice probe extends into the ice storage box.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the housing is also provided with a water inlet, which is configured to correspond to the ice maker.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the housing is also provided with a clearance hole, which is configured to correspond to the mating terminal of the drive element.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the housing also includes a hanging hole for engaging with a snap-fit ​​device on the freezer liner.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the ice maker also includes an air guide plate connected to the air inlet for guiding the cold airflow.

[0013] Secondly, the present invention provides a refrigerator, including a cabinet and an ice maker as described in any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein a freezer compartment is provided in the cabinet and the ice maker is located above the freezer compartment.

[0014] Thirdly, the present invention provides an ice-making control method, applied to the refrigerator of the aforementioned embodiments, the method comprising: Obtain the real-time ambient temperature of the physical space where the refrigerator is located and the real-time indoor temperature of the freezer compartment; Based on the real-time ambient temperature and the real-time freezer compartment temperature, a two-dimensional mapping table is queried to determine the target ice-making time. The columns of the two-dimensional mapping table correspond to multiple preset ambient temperature ranges, and the rows correspond to multiple preset freezer compartment temperature ranges. The corresponding ice-making time is stored in the cell at the intersection of each row and column. Control the ice maker to perform ice-making operations and set the ice-making duration to the target ice-making time.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the ice maker, refrigerator, and ice-making control method provided in the embodiments of the present invention include: This invention provides an ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice-making control method. The ice maker includes a housing, an ice-detecting probe, and a driving element. An air inlet is located on one side of the housing to introduce cold airflow. The driving element is located inside the housing, at the furthest point opposite the air inlet, obstructing or disturbing the airflow path to ensure efficient cold air circulation. Furthermore, the driving element is longitudinally positioned and has a first driving shaft extending axially in the vertical direction. The ice-detecting probe is driven by the first driving shaft and rotates in a horizontal plane under its influence. This significantly increases the effective detection area of ​​the ice-detecting probe, thus more reliably reflecting the overall ice storage status. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ice maker provided in this embodiment; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the ice maker from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator provided in this embodiment; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial structural diagram of the refrigerator in the image; Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the ice-making control method provided in this embodiment.

[0018] Icons: 010-Refrigerator; 10-Ice Maker; 30-Freezer Compartment; 31-Air Inlet Channel; 33-Drawer; 100-Shell; 110-Air Inlet; 120-Water Inlet; 130-Barrier Hole; 140-Hanging Hole; 150-Air Guide Plate; 200-Drive Component; 300-Ice Probe; 400-Ice Maker; 410-Ice Tray; 500-Ice Storage Box; 600-Snap-on Component. Detailed Implementation

[0019] In related technologies, the ice probe in an ice maker is positioned vertically downwards, which can only detect the height of ice accumulation in a localized area directly below, easily leading to misjudgments of the ice storage status.

[0020] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an ice maker, a refrigerator, and an ice-making control method, which improves the movement of the ice probe to achieve a more comprehensive identification of the ice storage status.

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0022] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0023] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of this invention is usually placed, they are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0026] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0027] The following detailed description, through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, details the overall structure, working principle, and technical effects of the ice maker and refrigerator provided by the present invention, as well as the detailed steps, implementation principles, and technical effects of the supporting ice-making control.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides an ice maker 10, used in a refrigerator 010, comprising a housing 100, an ice probe 300, and a drive element 200. An air inlet 110 is provided on one side of the housing 100 for introducing cold airflow. The drive element 200 is located inside the housing 100 and at the furthest point opposite the air inlet 110, obstructing or disturbing the airflow path to ensure efficient cold air circulation.

[0029] Based on the above, the driving element 200 is vertically positioned and has a first driving shaft that extends axially in the vertical direction. The ice probe 300 is connected to the first driving shaft and is used to rotate in the horizontal plane under the driving action of the first driving shaft. This significantly increases the effective detection area of ​​the ice probe 300, thereby more reliably reflecting the overall ice storage status.

[0030] To further improve the heat exchange efficiency of the ice maker 10 and shorten the single ice-making cycle, the ice maker 10 also includes an air guide plate 150, which is connected to the air inlet 110 to guide the cold airflow. Figure 1 As shown, the air guide plate 150 extends obliquely upward from the air inlet 110 to rectify and directionally guide the cold airflow entering the housing 100 from the air inlet 110.

[0031] Please refer to this again. Figure 1 and Figure 2The driving element 200 also has a second driving shaft that extends axially in the horizontal direction. The ice maker 10 also includes an ice-making box 400 located within the housing 100. The ice-making box 400 is connected to the second driving shaft and is used to rotate in a vertical plane under the driving action of the second driving shaft. Based on the above, the ice-making box 400 can automatically tilt after ice making is completed, allowing the molded ice cubes to be easily demolded under gravity.

[0032] Building upon the above, the ice maker 10 also includes an ice storage box 500, located below the ice maker box 400, for receiving and temporarily storing ice blocks that fall into the ice maker box 400 after it tilts and demolds. The probing end of the ice probe 300 extends into the ice storage box 500 and rotates around a vertical axis in the horizontal plane under the drive of the first drive shaft, thereby achieving a more comprehensive identification of the ice storage status.

[0033] Furthermore, please refer again. Figure 1 The ice maker 400 has multiple ice trays 410, which are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the second drive shaft, and all ice trays 410 are collinearly arranged in the same row. That is to say, the ice maker 400 is a single row, which can effectively reduce the overall size of the ice maker 10 based on the vertical arrangement of the drive element 200.

[0034] Please refer to it again. Figure 2 The housing 100 also has a water inlet 120, which is correspondingly provided with the ice maker 400. It is used to inject a preset volume of clean water into the ice maker 400 during the start-up phase of the ice-making cycle, ensuring that each ice maker compartment 410 is filled with water evenly and forms ice blocks of the same size. Optionally, the water inlet 120 is provided through the top surface of the housing 100, and there can be one or more in this example. No specific limitation is made in this example.

[0035] Furthermore, the housing 100 is also provided with a clearance hole 130, which is correspondingly provided with the docking terminal of the drive element 200. After the drive element 200 is assembled in place, it provides a plug-in channel for the docking terminal, ensuring that the external wiring harness can be accurately connected to the drive element 200.

[0036] To ensure stable installation of the ice maker 10, the housing 100 also includes a hanging hole 140, which is used to engage with the snap-fit ​​part 600 on the freezing chamber to form a tool-free, self-locking mechanical connection structure.

[0037] In an optional embodiment, the hanging hole 140 is gourd-shaped, consisting of a first through hole and a second through hole arranged adjacent to each other and communicating with each other, wherein the diameter of the first through hole is larger than the diameter of the second through hole. The snap-fit ​​member 600 includes a first snap-fit ​​portion and a second snap-fit ​​portion vertically fixed above the first snap-fit ​​portion. The outer diameter of the first snap-fit ​​portion is larger than the diameter of the second through hole but smaller than the diameter of the first through hole. The outer diameter of the second snap-fit ​​portion is smaller than the minimum width at the connection between the first and second through holes and smaller than the diameter of the second through hole.

[0038] When the ice maker 10 is assembled into the refrigerator 010, the second snap-fit ​​part first enters the first through hole and slides into the second through hole along the connecting part, thereby locking the snap-fit ​​part 600. When the ice maker 10 is removed from the refrigerator 010, the second snap-fit ​​part retracts from the second through hole through the connecting part back into the first through hole, and can be easily removed.

[0039] Optionally, the housing 100 has one, two, or more hanging holes 140, and the snap-fit ​​component 600 is configured to correspond one-to-one with the hanging hole 140.

[0040] In summary, this invention provides an ice maker 10, comprising a housing 100, an ice probe 300, and a drive element 200. An air inlet 110 is provided on one side of the housing 100 for introducing cold airflow. The drive element 200 is disposed within the housing 100 and located at the farthest point opposite the air inlet 110, obstructing or disturbing the airflow path to ensure efficient cold air circulation. Furthermore, the drive element 200 is longitudinally positioned and has a first drive shaft extending axially in the vertical direction. The ice probe 300 is connected to the first drive shaft and rotates in the horizontal plane under the drive of the first drive shaft. This significantly increases the effective detection area of ​​the ice probe 300, thereby more reliably reflecting the overall ice storage status.

[0041] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 The present invention also provides a refrigerator 010, which includes a cabinet and an ice maker 10 as described in the foregoing embodiments. A freezer compartment 30 is provided inside the cabinet, and the ice maker 10 is located above the freezer compartment 30. Since the refrigerator 010 integrates the aforementioned ice maker 10, it can also achieve a more comprehensive identification of the ice storage status. The relevant working principle and beneficial effects have been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the side wall of the freezer compartment 30 has an air inlet channel 31, which is connected to the air inlet 110 to guide the cold airflow quickly and directionally into the ice maker 10, thus shortening the ice-making time. Furthermore, the refrigerator 010 also includes a drawer 33 that is slidably connected to the freezer compartment 30. The ice storage box 500 in the aforementioned embodiment is located inside the drawer 33 for convenient access to ice by the user.

[0043] In addition, please see Figure 5 The present invention also provides an ice-making control method, which is based on the refrigerator 010 provided in any of the foregoing embodiments, and specifically includes the following steps: S1, obtain the real-time ambient temperature of the physical space where the refrigerator 010 is located and the real-time indoor temperature of the freezer compartment 30.

[0044] Before step S1, after the user sets the refrigerator 010 to enter ice-making mode, the water pump does not immediately start filling with water. Instead, it first executes a preset delay waiting time before filling the ice tray 410 with water. The delay waiting time is used to ensure that the residual water in the ice tray 410 from the previous ice-making cycle is completely frozen, thereby avoiding residual water from interfering with the accuracy of the water volume and the quality of the ice cubes. Optionally, the delay waiting time is equal to the target ice-making time determined in the previous ice-making process.

[0045] It should be noted that, to reduce costs, the ice maker 10 in this invention does not have its own independent temperature sensor; the required real-time ambient temperature and the indoor temperature of the freezer compartment 30 are both obtained from the existing temperature sensing system of the refrigerator 010. Specifically, the ambient temperature is taken from the ambient temperature sensor connected to the display and control board of the refrigerator 010. The indoor temperature of the freezer compartment 30 is taken from the cavity temperature sensor built into the freezer compartment 30.

[0046] S2, based on the real-time ambient temperature and the real-time indoor temperature of the freezer compartment 30, queries the two-dimensional mapping table to determine the target ice-making time.

[0047] The two-dimensional mapping table has columns corresponding to multiple preset ambient temperature ranges and rows corresponding to multiple preset freezer compartment 30 indoor temperature ranges. Each cell at the intersection of rows and columns stores the corresponding ice-making time.

[0048] For example, the preset ambient temperature range can be T1 < 10℃, 10℃ ≤ T1 < 20℃, and T1 ≥ 25℃. The preset indoor temperature range of the freezer compartment 30 can be T2 < -22℃, -22℃ ≤ T2 < -18℃, and -18℃ ≤ T2 < -16℃.

[0049] It should be noted that the ice-making time stored in each cell is determined by the longest ice-making time obtained through actual measurement under the most unfavorable operating conditions, which are the upper limit of the ambient temperature range corresponding to that cell and the upper limit of the indoor temperature range of the freezer compartment.

[0050] S3 controls the ice maker 10 to perform ice-making operations and sets the ice-making duration to the target ice-making time.

[0051] After step S3 ends, i.e. the target ice-making time expires, the controller outputs a control signal to the drive element 200 to drive the second drive shaft to rotate, causing the ice-making box 400 to flip in the vertical plane to achieve ice demolding.

[0052] In addition, it should be noted that if the user adjusts the freezer compartment 30 temperature setting multiple times, causing the freezer compartment 30 temperature setting to change, the highest freezer compartment 30 temperature setting that occurs within that cycle will be used as the benchmark to determine the target ice-making time for this ice-making cycle.

[0053] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice maker characterized by, include: Housing (100), with an air inlet (110) on one side; A drive element (200) is disposed within the housing (100) and located at the farthest side opposite to the air inlet (110); the drive element (200) has a first drive shaft that extends axially in the vertical direction; An ice probe (300) is connected to the first drive shaft and is used to rotate in the horizontal plane under the driving action of the first drive shaft.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein, The drive element (200) also has a second drive shaft that extends axially in the horizontal direction; the ice maker (10) also includes an ice box (400) located in the housing (100), the ice box (400) being connected to the second drive shaft and used to rotate in a vertical plane under the driving action of the second drive shaft.

3. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, The ice box (400) is provided with a plurality of ice trays (410), each of the ice trays (410) being arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the second drive shaft, and all the ice trays (410) being arranged collinearly in the same row.

4. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, The ice maker (10) also includes an ice storage box (500), which is located below the ice maker (400); the probe end of the ice probe (300) extends into the ice storage box (500).

5. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, The housing (100) is also provided with a water inlet (120), which is correspondingly provided with the ice box (400).

6. The ice maker of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The housing (100) is also provided with a clearance hole (130), which is correspondingly provided with the docking terminal of the driving element (200).

7. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The housing (100) also includes a hanging hole (140) for engaging with a snap-fit ​​(600) on the freezer liner.

8. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The ice maker (10) also includes an air guide plate (150), which is connected to the air inlet (110) and is used to guide the cold airflow.

9. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The device includes a housing and an ice maker (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing has a freezing chamber (30) and the ice maker (10) is located above the freezing chamber (30).

10. An ice-making control method, applied to the refrigerator (010) of claim 9, characterized in that, The method includes: The real-time ambient temperature of the physical space where the refrigerator (010) is located and the real-time indoor temperature of the freezer compartment (30) are obtained; Based on the real-time ambient temperature and the real-time indoor temperature of the freezer (30), a two-dimensional mapping table is queried to determine the target ice-making time; wherein, the column direction of the two-dimensional mapping table corresponds to multiple preset ambient temperature ranges, the row direction corresponds to multiple preset indoor temperature ranges of the freezer (30), and each row and column intersection cell stores the corresponding ice-making time; Control the ice maker (10) to perform ice-making operation and make the ice-making duration the target ice-making time.

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