Ice maker and water purifier comprising same

Abstract

This ice maker comprises: an ice-making member for generating ice; an ice-making tray configured to be rotatable about a horizontally extending center of rotation, and receiving water therein; and an ice-separating part configured to be placed in a pressurizing state for pressurizing the ice or a non-pressurizing state for not pressurizing the ice. A portion of the ice-making member is configured to come into contact with the water received in the ice-making tray.

Description

Ice maker and water purifier including same

[0001] The present invention relates to an ice maker and a water purifier including the same.

[0002] In general, a water purifier is a device that produces drinking water for users through a filter that filters raw water, and may include a filter that filters raw water and an ice maker that produces ice.

[0003] Here, an ice maker is used to make ice. Refrigerant can flow inside the ice maker, and as this refrigerant circulates within the ice maker at a temperature below the freezing point, it lowers the surface temperature of the ice maker to below the freezing point. For example, if part of the ice maker is submerged in water contained in an ice tray and the refrigerant circulates within the ice maker, the water turns into ice. The ice produced by the ice maker can then be separated from the ice maker and stored separately in an ice bucket or other such device.

[0004] Meanwhile, if ice is formed while part of the ice maker is submerged in water, it can be difficult to separate the ice from the ice maker. To facilitate the removal of ice attached to the ice maker, a heater has been used to heat the ice maker and remove the ice. More specifically, when the heater heats the ice maker, the part of the ice maker that comes into contact with the ice rises to a certain temperature, melting the ice and allowing it to be easily separated from the ice maker.

[0005] In this regard, the applicant's published patent publication No. 10-2018-0010815, "Evaporator Manufacturing Method" (Patent Document 1), discloses a heater attached to the upper portion of a refrigerant pipe. In Patent Document 1, when ice is removed, the heater attached to the upper portion of the refrigerant pipe is heated, and when the ice melts due to the heating of the heater, the ice is separated from the refrigerant pipe (evaporator) by its own weight. In other words, in Patent Document 1, when the ice melts due to the heater, the ice falls from the refrigerant pipe (evaporator) when the ice's own weight becomes greater than the adhesive force.

[0006] However, Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the ice is not immediately separated from the refrigerant pipe (evaporator) as soon as it melts, but must wait until the ice's own weight becomes greater than the adhesion force, such as the surface tension of water. In other words, according to Patent Document 1, even if the heater is heated, the ice attached to the refrigerant pipe is not immediately de-iced due to surface tension, and de-icing occurs only after some time has passed until the surface tension is completely released, which unnecessarily lengthens the time between de-icing and the next de-icing.

[0007] In addition, the applicant's published patent publication No. 10-2013-0104467, "Ice-cooling and hot water purifier and ice-making pipe manufacturing method of ice-cooling and hot water purifier" (patent document 2), discloses a heater inserted into the inside of a refrigerant pipe. In patent document 2, when the heater is heated and the self-weight of the ice becomes greater than the surface tension of water, the ice falls from the evaporator (refrigerant pipe).

[0008] However, even in Patent Document 2, since the heater must continue to be heated until the self-weight of the ice becomes greater than the surface tension, the problem of unnecessarily lengthening the deicing time and the problem of energy waste due to long power consumption time arises.

[0009] In addition, since the exact de-icing time cannot be confirmed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the time of the de-icing process must be predicted in advance and input into the controller. However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem in that the de-icing time is uneven depending on the season and external temperature, so the de-icing cycle must be set long. In other words, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the de-icing time becomes early when the external temperature is high, such as in summer, and late when the external temperature is low, such as in winter, it is difficult to predict the exact de-icing time in Patent Documents 1 and 2, so there was a problem in that the de-icing cycle had to be set based on the latest de-icing time.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention have been invented against the background described above, and are intended to provide an ice maker and a water purifier including the same, which can shorten the usage time of the heater and the ice-removing time by physically pressurizing the ice together with the heating of the heater when removing ice.

[0011] An ice maker according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: an ice-making member for generating ice; an ice-making tray configured to be rotatable about a center of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and configured to receive water; and an ice-removing unit configured to be in a pressurized state for pressing the ice or a non-pressurized state for not pressing the ice, wherein a portion of the ice-making member is configured to come into contact with the water received in the ice-making tray.

[0012] Additionally, the ice removal unit can be placed in the pressurized state or the non-pressurized state by rotation of the ice tray.

[0013] Additionally, the ice removal unit may be placed on the ice tray.

[0014] In addition, the ice-removing unit includes a rotational shaft; and a pressure piece extending outward from the rotational center of the rotational shaft so as to pressurize the ice, and the rotational shaft may have the same rotational center as the ice-making tray.

[0015] In addition, the ice removing unit can pressurize the ice when in the pressurized state to remove the ice from the ice making member.

[0016] Additionally, the above-mentioned de-icing part may be provided with an elastic material.

[0017] In addition, the ice removal unit may be configured to be elastically deformed by pressing the ice when in the pressurized state.

[0018] In addition, the ice-removing unit further includes a driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and a controller that controls the driving unit, wherein the ice-making unit is configured to be heated so that the ice is removed when the ice is produced in the ice-making unit, and the controller can control the driving unit so that the ice-removing unit is placed in a pressurized state when the ice-making unit is heated.

[0019] In addition, the ice-removing unit further includes a driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and a controller that controls the driving unit, wherein the controller can control the driving unit so that when the ice-removing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state, if the current value in the driving unit is greater than or equal to a reference current value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the current value in the driving unit is less than the reference current value, the state is switched to the non-pressurized state.

[0020] In addition, the controller may be provided with an ice maker that calculates a torque value of the driving unit based on a current value in the driving unit.

[0021] In addition, the ice-removing unit further includes a driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and a controller that controls the driving unit, wherein the controller can control the driving unit so that when the ice-removing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state, if the torque value of the driving unit is greater than or equal to a reference torque value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the torque value of the driving unit is less than the reference torque value, the state is switched to the non-pressurized state.

[0022] In addition, the deicing unit and the driving unit further include a strain gauge that detects deformation of at least one of the deicing unit and the driving unit, and the controller can control the driving unit to maintain the pressurized state when the deicing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state if the stress value calculated through the strain rate detected by the strain gauge is greater than or equal to the reference stress value, and to switch to the non-pressurized state if the stress value calculated through the strain rate detected by the strain gauge is less than the reference stress value.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, a water purifier comprises a filter that filters raw water to provide purified water; and an ice maker that uses the purified water to create ice, wherein the ice maker comprises an ice-making member that creates ice; an ice-making tray that is configured to be rotatable about a center of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and that receives water; and an ice-removing unit that is configured to be in a pressurized state that pressurizes the ice or a non-pressurized state that does not pressurize the ice, and a part of the ice-making member is configured to come into contact with the water received in the ice-making tray.

[0024] According to embodiments of the present invention, by physically pressurizing ice during ice removal, the ice removal time can be shortened, thereby significantly increasing the amount of ice produced per day.

[0025] In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, by physically pressurizing the ice together with the heating of the heater during ice removal, the operation time of the heater can be shortened, thereby saving energy used for heating the heater.

[0026] In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, by detecting the pressurized or non-pressurized state of the pressurizing member that pressurizes the ice, the time point of ice removal completion can be accurately determined and the next ice removal can be quickly started, thereby reducing the overall process time.

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a water purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the ice maker of Figure 1.

[0029] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice maker of Figure 1.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the unpressurized state of the ice maker cut along line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the pressurized state according to the ice maker of Fig. 1.

[0032] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the switching between a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state through a reference current value according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the transition between a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state through a reference torque value according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a strain gauge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the transition between a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state through a reference stress value according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the technical idea of ​​the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0037] In addition, when explaining the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

[0038] Additionally, when it is said that a component is 'connected to', 'supplied with' or 'in contact with' another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected to, supplied with or in contact with that other component, but there may also be other components present in between.

[0039] The terminology used herein is intended solely to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0040] Additionally, please note that the terms "upper side," "lower side," and "side" in this specification are based on the illustrations in the drawings and may be expressed differently if the orientation of the subject changes. For the same reason, some components in the attached drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted, and the sizes of each component do not fully reflect the actual size.

[0041] Additionally, terms that include ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by such terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0042] The term "comprising" as used in the specification means specifying a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element and / or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of other particular characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups.

[0043] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a specific configuration of an ice maker and a water purifier including the same according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, a water purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention can provide clean water to a user by filtering water supplied from an external source. For example, the water purifier (1) can receive water from a water supply source (not shown) such as a tap water, and filter the supplied water into clean water. Such a water purifier (1) can include a filter (10) and an ice maker (20).

[0045] A filter (10) can filter raw water to provide purified water. The filter (10) can be configured to accommodate a filter medium in a filter housing. The purified water filtered by the filter (10) can be provided to an ice maker (20).

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, an ice maker (20) is a device that cools water to produce ice. The ice maker (20) can use a refrigerant having a temperature below a predetermined temperature to produce ice. The ice maker (20) may include a finger-type ice maker that produces ice through a plurality of fingers. The ice maker (20) may include an ice-making member (100), an ice-making tray (200), an ice-removing unit (300), a driving unit (400), a controller (500), and a heating means (not shown).

[0047] An ice-making member (100) may provide a space for refrigerant to flow. This ice-making member (100) may generate ice by cooling water using the cooled refrigerant. The ice-making member (100) may be provided so that refrigerant circulates within it and cools water contained in an ice-making tray (200) to be described later, thereby generating ice. This ice-making member (100) may include a refrigerant passage (110) and a plurality of fingers (120).

[0048] The refrigerant passage (110) is a passage through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant passage (110) may extend horizontally and include a conduit through which the refrigerant may flow therein. The refrigerant passage (110) may include a main body partition (not shown) extending in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant passage (110) so that the refrigerant may be reciprocally circulated therein. The main body partition may divide the internal space of the refrigerant passage (110) into a space through which the refrigerant flowing into the fingers (120) flows and a space through which the refrigerant passing through the fingers (120) flows so as to be discharged. For example, the refrigerant passage (110) may be configured such that the refrigerant flows to the end of the refrigerant passage (110) on the lower side based on the partition, and the refrigerant flowing to the end on the upper side may be returned. A through hole (not shown) through which the refrigerant can be returned may be formed at one end of the bulkhead of the refrigerant passage (110).

[0049] A plurality of fingers (120) can directly contact water in the ice tray (200) and generate ice. In addition, the plurality of fingers (120) can be arranged inside the ice tray (200). The plurality of fingers (120) can extend from one surface of the refrigerant passage (110) toward the ice tray (200) so that the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage (110) can flow to the end of the fingers (120) and return to the refrigerant passage (110). The plurality of fingers (120) can have a portion of the inside partitioned by a partition wall so that the refrigerant can be reciprocally circulated therein, and a through hole (not shown) through which the refrigerant is returned can be formed at one end of the partition wall.

[0050] An ice-making tray (200) can accommodate water for ice-making. The water accommodated in the ice-making tray (200) can come into contact with the fingers (120) of the ice-making member (100). The ice-making tray (200) may have a basket shape with one side open to accommodate water. The ice-making tray (200) may include a plurality of water-accommodating grooves to minimize the accommodation of water that is not used for ice-making. The ice-making tray (200) is connected to one side of a driving motor (not shown) to rotate, and the center of rotation thereof may be eccentric.

[0051] The ice removing unit (300) can physically pressurize and de-ice the ice generated in the ice making member (100). The ice removing unit (300) can be configured to be in a pressurized state where it pressurizes at least a portion of a plurality of ice cubes by rotating, or in a non-pressurized state where it does not pressurize the ice cubes. For example, the ice removing unit (300) can be configured to pressurize the upper portions of the plurality of ice cubes in a pressurized state. The ice removing unit (300) can be arranged in the ice making tray (200). For example, the ice removing unit (300) can be supported on the ice making tray (200) so as to rotate concentrically with the ice making tray (200). The ice removing unit (300) can be provided to pressurize the upper portion of the ice (I) produced in the ice making member (100) when in a pressurized state, thereby de-icing the ice (I) from the ice making member (100). The ice removal unit (300) may be provided with an elastic material. The ice removal unit (300) may be configured to be elastically deformed by applying pressure to ice (I) produced from the ice removal member (100) when under pressure. The ice removal unit (300) may include a rotation shaft (310) and a pressure piece (320).

[0052] The rotation shaft (310) may be provided to rotate with the same rotation center as the ice tray (200). The rotation shaft (310) may rotate together with the rotation of the ice tray (200). The rotation shaft (310) may extend in a horizontal direction and be supported on one side and the other side of the inside of the ice tray (200). The rotation shaft (310) may be positioned above the top of the ice (I) produced by the ice making member (100).

[0053] A pressure member (320) is provided to pressurize one side of ice (I) formed on an ice-making member (100). The pressure member (320) may extend outward from the center of rotation of the rotation shaft (310) so as to pressurize the ice (I) when rotating about the rotation shaft (310). A plurality of pressure members (320) may be provided. The plurality of pressure members (320) may be arranged at positions where they can pressurize at least a portion of the plurality of ice pieces when in a pressurized state. For example, the spacing between the plurality of pressure members (320) may be the same as the spacing between the fingers (120) so as to pressurize the plurality of ice pieces formed on the plurality of fingers (120). In addition, the plurality of pressure members (320) may be arranged so as to pressurize the upper edge of the ice formed on the fingers (120). These pressurizing pieces (320) are formed of an elastic material and can be elastically deformed when pressing ice. One end of the pressurizing piece (320) can be moved to a position lower than the upper end of the ice (I) before the ice (I) produced in the ice-making member (100) begins to be defrostered by the rotation of the ice-making tray (200).

[0054] The driving unit (400) generates driving force so that the ice making tray (200) and the ice removing unit (300) can rotate. The driving unit (400) may be, for example, a motor. The driving unit (400) may be connected to one side of the ice making tray (200) so as to rotate the ice making tray (200). The driving unit (400) may be controlled by the controller (500) so that it can rotate when driving force is required.

[0055] The controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) and the heating means. When ice is made in the ice-making member (100), the controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) to heat the ice-making member (100) through the heating means and to switch the ice-removing unit (300) from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state. In addition, when all of the plurality of ices (I) are removed from the ice-making member (100), the controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) to control the ice-removing unit (300) to a non-pressurized state.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 6, when the ice removal unit (300) is switched from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state, if the current value in the driving unit (400) is greater than or equal to a reference current value, the controller (500) determines that the ice (I) is not defrostered and maintains the pressurized state, and if the current value in the driving unit (400) is less than the reference current value, the controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) to switch to the non-pressurized state.

[0057] This controller (500) can be implemented by a computing device including a microprocessor, and its implementation method is obvious to those skilled in the art, so further detailed description is omitted. In addition, the controller (500) may further include a current measuring sensor that measures the current applied to the driving unit (400).

[0058] The heating means can heat the ice-making member (100) when ice is made on the ice-making member (100). The heating means can be controlled by a controller (500). For example, the heating means can be a heater for heating the finger (120), and as another example, it can be a heat pump that heats the refrigerant and causes the heated refrigerant, such as hot gas, to flow inside the ice-making member (100).

[0059] Below, the operation and effect of an ice maker having the configuration described above and a water purifier including the same are described.

[0060] Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ice maker (20) according to one embodiment of the present invention injects water into the ice tray (200) in a non-pressurized state until the ice tray (200) is filled with water to a predetermined level. When the water is injected, the cooled refrigerant flows into the ice-making member (100), and the cooled refrigerant creates ice around the fingers (120). After the ice-making time has elapsed and the ice has grown to a size sufficient to be provided to the user, the controller (500) operates the heating means to heat the fingers (120) and cause the ice created on the fingers (120) to drop while thawing the ice.

[0061] In other words, the ice tray (200) can be rotated around an eccentric center of rotation so that the ice (I) can fall downward and be defrostered after being defrostered. Afterwards, the ice (I) generated on the ice making member (100) is heated by a heating means (not shown), thereby thawing the contact surface between the ice making member (100) and the ice (I) and causing the ice to fall.

[0062] In addition, when the part of the ice (I) that comes into contact with the ice-making member (100) thaws, the ice-removing member (300) presses the ice (I) that has not been removed from the ice-making member (100). As the ice-removing member (300) physically presses the top of the ice (I), the ice can be removed more smoothly from the ice-making member (100).

[0063] Referring to Fig. 4, the ice removing unit (300) is placed in a state where the pressure piece (320) of the ice removing unit (300) is lifted to the upper surface of the ice (I) when the ice making tray (200) receives water. The ice removing unit (300) maintains a non-pressurized state while the water is cooled by the ice making member (100) after the water is received in the ice making tray (200).

[0064] Referring to Fig. 5, the ice removal unit (300) is placed in a state of physically pressing the upper side of one side of the ice (I) while rotating along with the rotation of the ice removal tray (200) after the ice (I) is frozen. The ice removal unit (300) maintains the pressurized state until the ice (I) is frozen.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 6, the controller (500) measures the current value applied to the driving unit (400), and if the measured current value is greater than or equal to the reference current value, it determines that the ice is not removed and maintains the pressurized state. If the measured current value is less than the reference current value, it determines that the ice is removed and controls the driving unit (400) to change to the non-pressurized state.

[0066] Accordingly, by identifying the point in time when the ice (I) has been defrostered, it is possible to reduce unnecessary waiting time even though the ice (I) has been defrostered from the defroster (100), and by reducing the defroster cycle, it is possible to significantly increase the production of ice (I).

[0067] Meanwhile, in addition to these configurations, a water purifier (1) and an ice maker (20) according to a second embodiment of the present invention may be provided. Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In describing the second embodiment, differences compared to the above-described embodiment will be primarily described, and the same description will refer to the above-described embodiment.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 7, the controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) so that when the deicing unit (300) is switched from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state, if the torque value of the driving unit (400) is greater than or equal to the reference torque value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the torque value of the driving unit (400) is less than the reference torque value, the pressurized state is switched to the non-pressurized state. Here, the torque value of the driving unit (400) is as shown in Equation 1 below, where the torque value T is a torque constant K according to the specifications of the driving unit. t It can be calculated as the product of the current value I generated in the driving unit (400).

[0069] [Formula 1]

[0070] T = K t × I

[0071] The controller (500) determines that the pressure is not released when the measured torque value is greater than or equal to the reference torque value based on the torque value calculated through the above formula 1, and controls the driving unit (400) to maintain the pressurized state, and determines that the pressure is released when the measured torque value is less than the reference torque value, and controls the driving unit (400) to change to the non-pressurized state.

[0072] In addition to these configurations, a water purifier (1) and an ice maker (20) according to a third embodiment of the present invention may be provided. Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In describing the third embodiment, differences compared to the above-described embodiment will be primarily described, and the same description will refer to the above-described embodiment.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the ice maker (20) may further include a strain gauge (600). The strain gauge (600) may detect strain of one or more of the ice removal unit (300) and the driving unit (400). For example, the strain gauge (600) may be attached to the shaft of the driving unit (400).

[0074] When the controller (500) is switched from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state, if there is ice (I) that is not removed from the ice making member (100), the ice removing unit (300) will not be able to rotate completely due to the ice (I). In other words, if there is ice (I) that is not removed from the ice making member (100) in a pressurized state, the ice (I) will act as a stopper that restricts the complete rotation of the ice removing unit (300), and the ice removing unit (300) will be distorted and deformed by the driving force (torque) applied by the driving unit (400). Since the stress value is proportional to the strain rate and elastic modulus below, the stress value of the ice removing unit (300) and the driving unit (400) can be calculated as in Equation 2 below, where the stress value σ is the product of the strain ε detected through the strain gauge (600) and the elastic modulus E of the driving unit (400).

[0075] [Formula 2]

[0076] σ = ε× E

[0077] When the ice removal unit (300) is in a pressurized state, the controller (500) calculates a stress value through the strain detected by the strain gauge (600), and if the calculated stress value is higher than the reference stress value, the ice (I) is not defrostered, so the pressurized state can be maintained. In addition, when the ice removal unit (300) is in a pressurized state, the controller (500) can control the driving unit (400) to switch to a non-pressurized state if the stress value calculated through the strain detected by the strain gauge (600) is lower than the reference stress value.

[0078] In other words, the controller (500) determines that the pressure is not released when the measured stress value is greater than or equal to the reference stress value based on the stress value calculated through the above formula 2, and controls the driving unit (400) to maintain the pressurized state, and determines that the pressure is released when the measured stress value is less than the reference stress value, and controls the driving unit (400) to change to the non-pressurized state.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described as specific embodiments, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto, but should be construed to have the broadest scope in accordance with the technical concepts disclosed in this specification. Those skilled in the art may combine / substitute the disclosed embodiments to implement patterns of shapes not specified, but this also does not depart from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art may easily modify or alter the disclosed embodiments based on this specification, and it is clear that such modifications or alterations also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice-making member that creates ice; An ice tray configured to be rotatable about a center of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and containing water; and It includes a deicing unit configured to be placed in a pressurized state that pressurizes the ice or in a non-pressurized state that does not pressurize the ice, A portion of the above ice-making member is configured to come into contact with the water contained in the ice-making tray. Ice maker.

2. In paragraph 1, The above ice removing unit is placed in the pressurized state or the non-pressurized state by the rotation of the ice making tray. Ice maker.

3. In paragraph 1, The above de-icing part is, Placed on the above ice tray, Ice maker.

4. In paragraph 1, The above de-icing part is, axis of rotation; and It includes a pressurizing piece extending outward from the center of rotation of the rotation axis so as to pressurize the ice, The above rotation axis has the same rotation center as the above ice tray, Ice maker.

5. In paragraph 1, The above de-icing part is, In the above pressurized state, the ice is pressurized to remove the ice from the ice making member. Ice maker.

6. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned de-icing part is provided with an elastic material. Ice maker.

7. In paragraph 6, The above de-icing part is, It is configured to be elastically deformed by pressing the ice in the above pressurized state. Ice maker.

8. In paragraph 1, A driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and Further comprising a controller for controlling the above driving unit, The above ice-making member is configured to be heatable so that the ice is defrostered when the ice is formed in the above ice-making member, The above controller controls the driving unit so that the deicing unit is placed in a pressurized state when the deicing member is heated. Ice maker.

9. In paragraph 8, A driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and Further comprising a controller for controlling the above driving unit, The above controller, When the deicing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state, if the current value in the driving unit is greater than the reference current value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the current value in the driving unit is less than the reference current value, the driving unit is controlled to switch to the non-pressurized state. Ice maker.

10. In paragraph 8, The above controller, Calculating the torque value of the driving unit based on the current value of the driving unit, Ice maker.

11. In paragraph 8, A driving unit that generates a driving force to pressurize the ice; and Further comprising a controller for controlling the above driving unit, The above controller, When the deicing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state, if the torque value of the driving unit is greater than or equal to the reference torque value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the torque value of the driving unit is less than the reference torque value, the driving unit is controlled to switch to the non-pressurized state. Ice maker.

12. In paragraph 8, Further comprising a deformation gauge for detecting deformation of at least one of the above-described de-icing unit and the above-described driving unit, The above controller, When the deicing unit is switched from the non-pressurized state to the pressurized state, if the stress value calculated through the strain rate detected by the strain gauge is greater than or equal to the reference stress value, the pressurized state is maintained, and if the stress value calculated through the strain rate detected by the strain gauge is less than the reference stress value, the driving unit is controlled to switch to the non-pressurized state. Ice maker.

13. A filter that filters raw water to provide purified water; and An ice maker is included that creates ice using the above-mentioned integer, The above ice maker, An ice-making member that creates ice; An ice tray configured to be rotatable about a center of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and containing water; and Including a deicing unit configured to be placed in a pressurized state that pressurizes the ice or in a non-pressurized state that does not pressurize the ice. A portion of the above ice-making member is configured to come into contact with the water contained in the ice-making tray. water purifier.

Images