Ice maker capable of adjusting full-ice level, device and method for adjusting full-ice level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016370079-A1
Application number	US-201514825075-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Jun 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for adjusting a full-ice level includes: an ice making tray for making ice; an ice making tray fixing unit positioned on both sides of the ice making tray to support the ice making tray; an ice storage unit positioned below the ice making tray and for storing ice that is separated from and drops from the ice making tray; a full-ice level sensor for sensing the highest level of ice stored in the ice storage unit; a sensor guide on which the full-ice level sensor is installed, and positioned in the ice storage unit; and a motor on one side of the ice making tray fixing unit and coupled with the sensor guide, and for moving the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device for adjusting a full-ice level in an ice maker, the device comprising:
an ice making tray operable for making ice; an ice making tray fixing unit positioned on both sides of the ice making tray and supporting the ice making tray; an ice storage unit positioned below the ice making tray and configured for storing the ice that is separated from the ice making tray; a full-ice level sensor operable for sensing the highest level of ice stored in the ice storage unit; a sensor guide on which the full-ice level sensor is installed, and positioned in the ice storage unit; and a motor located on one side of the ice making tray fixing unit and coupled with the sensor guide, and operable for moving the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor guide is coupled with the motor through a guide gear, and moves upward and downward in the ice storage unit in response to the motor driving the guide gear upward and downward.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor guide has a light emitting unit of the full-ice level sensor and a light receiving unit of the full-ice level sensor installed facing the light emitting unit.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the ice storage unit has a guide formed therein, the guide enabling the sensor guide to move upward and downward relative to the ice storage unit.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the guide is formed on two sides of the ice storage unit.

6 . A refrigerator comprising the device of claim 1 .

7 . An ice maker comprising:
an ice making unit operable for repeating a process of making and separating ice from an ice making tray; a full-ice level sensor for sensing the highest level of the ice in an ice storage unit; a sensor guide comprising the full-ice level sensor, and positioned in the ice storage unit; a motor coupled with the sensor guide via a gear structure, and operable for moving the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit according to the motor's rotation; and a control unit operable for controlling the process of making ice until the level of ice reaches the highest level of ice, for calculating an amount of motor rotation equivalent to a position adjustment for the full-ice level sensor in response to a position adjustment input, and for driving the motor by the calculated amount of motor rotation to adjust the position of the full-ice level sensor.

8 . The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the motor is formed on one side of an ice making tray fixing unit that supports the ice making tray, and moves the sensor guide upward and downward in the ice storage unit when it is driven by the control unit.

9 . The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the sensor guide is coupled with the motor through a guide gear that converts rotational motion of the motor into upward and downward motions, and moves upward and downward in the ice storage unit when the motor rotates.

10 . The ice maker of claim 7 , wherein the full-ice level sensor uses a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to sense the full-ice level when light emitted from the light emitting unit is not received by the light receiving unit.

11 . A refrigerator comprising the ice maker of claim 7 .

12 . A method for adjusting a full-ice level, the method comprising:
entering a position adjustment value for a full-ice level sensor in an ice maker; calculating an amount of motor rotation for adjusting the position of a sensor guide comprising the full-ice level sensor, the amount of motor rotation corresponding to the position adjustment value; rotating the motor by the calculated amount of rotation; transmitting the rotation of the motor to the sensor guide; and moving the sensor guide upward and downward in response to the rotation of the motor to adjust the position of the full-ice level sensor.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor guide comprises a guide gear coupled with the motor, and the sensor guide is moved upward and downward in the ice storage unit by driving the guide gear according to the motor's rotation.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensor guide moves upward and downward in the ice storage unit along a guide in the ice storage unit.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the full-ice level sensor uses a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to sense the full-ice level when light emitted from the light emitting unit is not received by the light receiving unit.

Assignees

• Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Park Won Gu

Classifications

• F25D29/005

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title

• F25C5/187 Primary

  with ice level sensing means · CPC title

• F25D11/00

  Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators · CPC title