U.S. patent application number 11/724254 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for automatic icemaker.
This patent application is currently assigned to JAPAN SERVO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hideaki Ito, Naotaka Sasaki, Kenji Sugaya.
Application Number | 20070227164 11/724254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38556864 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227164 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ito; Hideaki ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Automatic icemaker
Abstract
An automatic icemaker according to the present invention is
capable of being installed in a freezing compartment and
automatically making and discharging ice cubes, the automatic
ice-making comprising at least one ice-making tray having a
plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions disposed
between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments, and
groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of the
partitions which are offset from centers of the partitions, and a
rotating device for rotating the ice-making tray, wherein water is
supplied after the ice-making tray is inclined at a water supply
angle less than a water filling angle in such a direction that the
water passage channels face downward.
Inventors: |
Ito; Hideaki; (Kiryu-shi,
JP) ; Sasaki; Naotaka; (Kiryu-shi, JP) ;
Sugaya; Kenji; (Kiryu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
JAPAN SERVO CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
38556864 |
Appl. No.: |
11/724254 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/135 ;
62/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/06 20130101; F25C
2600/04 20130101; F25C 2700/12 20130101; F25C 2700/02 20130101;
F25C 1/10 20130101; F25C 2400/10 20130101; F25C 2305/022 20130101;
F25D 2700/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/135 ;
62/340 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00; F25C 1/22 20060101 F25C001/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2006 |
JP |
2006-102649 |
Claims
1. An automatic icemaker capable of being installed in a freezing
compartment and automatically making and discharging ice cubes,
said automatic icemaker comprising: at least one ice-making tray
having a plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions
disposed between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments,
and groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of said
partitions which are offset from centers of said partitions; and a
rotating device for rotating said ice-making tray; wherein water is
supplied after said ice-making tray is inclined at a water supply
angle less than a water filling angle in such a direction that said
water passage channels face downward.
2. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, further including a
microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a water supply angle
inclination instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to
be inclined at the water supply angle when an ice-making cycle is
started, a valve opening instructing-means for causing a water
supply solenoid valve to be opened after said water supply angle
inclination instructing-means causes said ice-making tray to be
inclined at the water supply angle, a valve closing
instructing-means for causing said water supply solenoid valve to
be closed after the water supplied to said ice-making tray is
spread evenly into said small ice-making compartments, a water
filling angle inclination instructing-means for causing said
ice-making tray to be inclined at the water filling angle after
said valve closing instructing-means causes said water supply
solenoid valve to be closed, and a horizontal position return
instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be returned
to a horizontal position after a predetermined time has elapsed
since said water filling angle inclination instructing-means causes
said ice-making tray to be inclined at the water filling angle.
3. An automatic icemaker according to claim 2, wherein said
microprocessor has an AD converter contained therein.
4. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, further including a
temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of said
ice-making tray or a temperature of ice, and a temperature
detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of an interior of said
freezing compartment.
5. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, wherein two said
ice-making trays are combined together back-to-back.
6. An automatic icemaker capable of being installed in a freezing
compartment and automatically making and discharging ice cubes,
said automatic icemaker comprising: at least one ice-making tray
having a plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions
disposed between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments,
and groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of said
partitions which are offset from centers of said partitions; and a
rotating device for rotating the ice-making tray; wherein water is
supplied while said ice-making tray is rotated in such a direction
that the water-passage channels face downward, according to a
quantity of the water stored in the small ice-making compartments
by the supply of the water.
7. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the water is
supplied while said ice-making tray is successively rotated.
8. An automatic icemaker according to claim 7, further including a
microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising an operation start
instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be rotated in
such a direction that said water passage channels face downward and
for causing a water supply solenoid valve to be opened, when an ice
making cycle is started, a valve closing instructing-means for
causing said water supply solenoid valve to be closed after a
predetermined time has elapsed since said operating start
instructing-means causes said water supply solenoid valve to be
opened, a water filling angle inclination instructing-means for
causing said ice-making tray to be kept at the water filling angle
when a tilt angle of said ice-making tray reaches the water filling
angle, and a horizontal position return instructing-means for
causing said ice-making tray to be returned to a horizontal
position after a predetermined time has elapsed since said valve
closing instructing-means causes said water supply solenoid valve
to be closed and said water filling angle inclination
instructing-means causes the tilt angle of said ice-making tray to
be kept at the water filling angle.
9. An automatic icemaker according to claim 8, wherein said
microprocessor has an AD converter contained therein.
10. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the water
is supplied while said ice-making tray is rotated step by step.
11. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, further including a
temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of said
ice-making tray or a temperature of ice, and a temperature
detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of an interior of said
freezing compartment.
12. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein two said
ice-making trays are combined together back-to-back.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an automatic icemaker which
is provided in a refrigerator, and designed such that it repeatedly
carries out a water feeding operation, an ice making operation and
an ice discharging operation according to a predetermined sequence,
and automatically makes ice cubes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In a conventional automatic icemaker, a groove-shaped
water-passage channels are formed in partitions between respective
adjacent small ice-making compartments of an ice-making tray in
order that water supplied to the ice-making tray from above the
ice-making tray can be equally spread into respective small
ice-making compartments of the ice-making tray. However, when ice
cubes formed in the small ice-making compartments are to be
discharged from the ice-making tray, adjacent ice cubes in the
small ice-making compartments are freezingly connected to each
other through ice formed in the water passage channels. This
contributes to falling of the dischargeability of the ice cubes and
users' convenience.
[0005] For this reason, it is conceivable that the groove-shaped
water passage channels are formed in portions of the partitions
between the respective adjacent small ice-making compartments which
are offset from centers of the partitions, and the ice-making tray
is inclined at a predetermined angle, which allows the water to be
equally spread into the respective small ice-making compartments,
namely, at a water filling angle, and the supply of the water to
the ice-making tray is then carried out.
[0006] However, when the supply of the water is carried out in the
condition where the ice-making tray is inclined at the water
filling angle, the water runs along walls of the small ice-making
compartments and spills out of the ice-making tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
automatic icemaker which is capable of causing water supplied to an
ice-making tray from above the ice-making tray to be equally spread
into respective small ice-making compartments of the ice-making
tray, does not allow adjacent ice cubes formed in the small
ice-making compartments to be freezingly connected to each other
through ice formed in water passage channels when the ice cubes are
to be discharged from the ice-making tray, and does not allow the
water to spill out of the ice-making tray at the time of the water
supply.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an automatic icemaker which is capable of being
installed in a freezing compartment and automatically making and
discharging ice cubes, the automatic icemaker comprising at least
one ice-making tray having a plurality of small ice-making
compartments, partitions disposed between respective adjacent small
ice-making compartments, and groove-shaped water-passage channels
formed in portions of the partitions which are offset from centers
of the partitions, and a rotating device for rotating the
ice-making tray, wherein water is supplied after the ice-making
tray is inclined at a water supply angle less than a water filling
angle in such a direction that the water passage channels face
downward.
[0009] According to an another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an automatic icemaker which is capable of being
installed in a freezing compartment and automatically making and
discharging ice cubes, the automatic icemaker comprising at least
one ice-making tray having a plurality of small ice-making
compartments, partitions disposed between respective adjacent small
ice-making compartments, and groove-shaped water-passage channels
formed in portions of the partitions which are offset from centers
of the partitions, and a rotating device for rotating the
ice-making tray, wherein water is supplied while the ice-making
tray is rotated in such a direction that the water-passage channels
face downward, according to a quantity of the water stored in the
small ice-making compartments by the supply of the water.
[0010] In these automatic icemakers, the groove-shaped
water-passage channels are formed in the portions of the partitions
between the respective small ice-making compartments which are
offset from the centers of the partitions, so that the water can be
equally spread into the respective small ice-making compartments
and adjacent ice cubes formed in the small ice-making compartments
are not freezingly connected to one another through ice formed in
the water passage channels when the ice cubes are to be discharged
from the ice-making tray. Moreover, the ice-making tray is inclined
at the water supply angle in such a direction that the water
passage channels face downward, and the supply of the water to the
ice-making tray is then carried out, or the supply of the water is
carried out while causing the ice-making tray to be rotated in such
a direction that the water passage channels face downward,
according to the quantity of the water stored in the small
ice-making compartments by the supply of the water, so that even if
the flow of the water is strong, it is possible to supply the water
to the ice-making tray without allowing the water to spill out of
the ice-making tray.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automatic icemaker
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view of the automatic
icemaker shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the
automatic icemaker, taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the automatic icemaker
shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a microprocessor of
the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flow chart which is of assistance in explaining
the operation of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;
[0017] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are each a view which is assistance in
explaining the operation of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1
to 4;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a microprocessor of
an automatic icemaker according to another embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a flow chart which is of assistance in explaining
the operation of the automatic icemaker having the microprocessor,
the functional block of which is illustrated in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic icemaker according
to an embodiment of the present invention will be discussed
hereinafter. An ice-making tray 4 is rotatably attached to a
control box 2. A reversible motor 6 is provided in the control box
2. A pinion gear 8 is mounted on an output shaft of the motor 6. A
driven gear 10 is mounted on a shaft of the ice-making tray 4. The
pinion gear 8 and the driven gear 10 are meshed with each other.
The motor 6, the pinion gear 8 and the driven gear 10 constitute a
rotating device for rotating the ice-making tray 4. A water supply
port 12 is provided above the ice-making tray 4. A water supply
solenoid valve 14 for opening and closing the water supply port 12
is provided at the water supply port 12. The ice-making tray 4 is
provided with a plurality of small ice-making compartments 16 which
are lined up along the direction of a rotation centerline of the
ice-making tray 4. Groove-shaped water-passage channels 20 are
formed in portions of partitions 18 between respective adjacent
small ice-making compartments 16, which are offset from centers of
the partitions 18, namely, in end portions of the partitions 18. An
ice-fullness detecting arm 26 is rotatably provided at the control
box 2 and adapted to be driven by the motor 6. Incidentally, a
mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor 6 to the
ice-fullness detecting arm 26 is not shown.
[0021] A microprocessor 28 containing an AD converter and a counter
is provided in the control box 2. A temperature detecting sensor 22
is designed such that it successively outputs a temperature signal
voltage corresponding to a temperature of the ice-making tray 4. A
position detecting sensor 24 is designed such that it outputs a
position signal voltage corresponding to a rotational position of
the ice-making tray 4. An ice-fullness detecting sensor 30 is
designed such that it outputs a signal voltage corresponding to
amounts of ice cubes stored in an ice storage box (not shown),
according to the movement of the ice-fullness detecting arm 26. A
motor drive circuit 32 is designed such that it drives the motor 6.
A valve drive circuit 34 is designed such that it drives the water
supply solenoid valve 14. The microprocessor 28 is designed such
that it gradually inputs the temperature signal voltage outputted
from the temperature detecting sensor 22, and carries out an AD
conversion, to thereby detect the temperature of the ice-making
tray 4. Also, the microprocessor 28 is designed such that it
detects from the signal voltage from the position detecting sensor
24 that the ice-making tray 4 is in a horizontal position with an
opening portion of the ice-making tray 4 facing the water supply
port 12. Moreover, the microprocessor 28 is designed such that it
receives the signal voltage from the ice-fullness detecting sensor
30 and then detects that predetermined amounts of ice cubes have
been stored in the ice storage box. Furthermore, the microprocessor
28 is designed such that it controls the motor drive circuit 32 and
the valve drive circuit 34.
[0022] This automatic icemaker is fixed through a bracket (not
shown) to a fixing part which is provided in advance in a freezing
compartment of a refrigerator. In the automatic icemaker, water
supplied to the ice-making tray 4 from the water supply port 12 is
frozen by the cold in an interior of the freezing compartment, and
the ice-making tray 4 is rotated by the motor 6, whereby formed ice
cubes are released and discharged from the ice-making tray 4, and
the discharged ice cubes are adapted to be dropped into the ice
storage box. Moreover, a temperature detecting sensor (not shown)
for detecting the temperature of the interior of the freezing
compartment is provided and adapted to successively detect the
temperature of the interior of the freezing compartment.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the microprocessor
of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. A water supply
angle inclination instructing-means 38 controls the motor drive
circuit 32 when a cycle of making ice is started, and then causes
the ice-making tray 4 to be inclined at an angle equivalent to
20-30% of a water filling angle, namely, at the water supply angle.
A valve opening instructing-means 40 controls the valve drive
circuit 34 after the water supply angle inclination
instructing-mean 38 causes the ice-making tray 4 to be inclined at
the water supply angle, and then causes the water supply solenoid
valve 14 to be opened. After a predetermined time has elapsed since
the valve opening instructing-means 40 causes the water supply
solenoid valve 14 to be opened, a valve closing instructing-means
42 controls the valve drive circuit 34 and then causes the water
supply solenoid valve 14 to be closed. A water filling angle
inclination instructing-means 44 controls the motor drive circuit
32 after the valve closing instructing-means 42 causes the water
supply solenoid valve 14 to be closed, and then causes the
ice-making tray 4 to be inclined at the water filling angle. After
a predetermined time has elapsed since the water filling angle
inclination instructing-means 44 causes the ice-making tray 4 to be
inclined at the water filling angle, a horizontal position return
instructing-means 46 controls the motor drive circuit 32 and then
cause the ice-making tray 4 to be returned to the horizontal
position.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation of the
automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be discussed
hereinafter. First of all, when ice-making is to be started, the
microprocessor 28 confirms from the output of the position
detecting sensor 24 that the ice-making tray 4 is in the horizontal
position in a condition where the opening portion of the ice-making
tray 4 faces the water supply port 12. At this time, unless the
ice-making tray 4 is in the horizontal position, the microprocessor
28 controls the motor drive circuit 32 to drive the motor 6,
whereby the ice-making tray 4 is rotated to the horizontal
position. Then, when the ice-making cycle is started, the
microprocessor 28 (the water supply angle inclination
instructing-means 38) causes the ice-making tray 4 to be inclined
at the water supply angle (S1) as shown in FIG. 7A. Then, the
microprocessor 28 (the valve opening instructing-means 40) causes
the water supply solenoid valve 14 to be opened (S2). Thereupon,
water is supplied to the ice-making tray 4 from the water supply
port 12. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the water
supply solenoid valve 14 is opened, the microprocessor 28 (the
valve closing instructing-means 42) causes the water supply
solenoid valve 14 to be closed (S3 and S4). That is, the quantity
of the water supplied to the ice-making tray 4 is managed depending
on time expended during the water supply solenoid valve 14 is
opened. The time which is expended during the water supply solenoid
valve 14 is opened is set to time during which the surface of the
water 36 supplied to the ice-making tray 4 which is in the
horizontal condition does not reach bottom surfaces of the water
passage channels 20. Subsequently, the microprocessor 28 (the water
filling angle inclination instructing-means 44) causes the
ice-making tray 4 to be inclined at the water filling angle (S5) as
shown in FIG. 7B. Then, the water 36 stored in the ice-making tray
4 passes through the water passage channels 20 and is then spread
evenly into the respective small ice-making compartments 16.
Subsequently, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the
ice-making tray 4 is inclined at the water filling angle, the
microprocessor 28 (the horizontal position return instructing-means
46) causes the ice-making tray 4 to be returned to the horizontal
position (S6 and S7) as shown in FIG. 7C.
[0025] Subsequently, when the microprocessor 28 detects from the
output of the position detecting sensor 24 that the ice-making tray
4 is in the horizontal position, the microprocessor 28 detects the
temperature of the ice-making tray 4 from the output of the
temperature detecting sensor 22, and stands by until a
predetermined time elapses in a condition where the temperature of
the ice-making tray 4 becomes a temperature less than a preset
temperature. Then, the water supplied to the respective small
ice-making compartments 16 is cooled by the cold in the freezing
compartment of the refrigerator and then frozen. Subsequently, when
the microprocessor 28 detects that a predetermined time has elapsed
in the condition where the temperature of the ice-making tray 4 is
lower than the preset temperature, the microprocessor 28 controls
the motor drive circuit 32 to drive the motor 6, whereby the
ice-making tray 4 is rotated, and formed ice cubes are released
from the ice-making tray 4 by twisting of the ice-making tray 4, or
the like and dropped into the ice storage box. After the respective
small ice-making compartments 16 are positively emptied, the
ice-making tray 4 is returned to the horizontal position.
[0026] In this way, the water supply, ice-making and discharge of
the ice cubes are repeatedly carried out according to the
predetermined sequence, thus automatically making ice cubes.
[0027] When this ice-making cycle is successively carried out, the
ice storage box is filled with the discharged ice cubes. When the
ice-fullness detecting sensor 30 detects that the amount of the ice
cubes stored in the ice storage box exceeds a predetermined amount
and the microprocessor 28 detects the signal from the ice-fullness
detecting sensor 30, the microprocessor 28 causes the ice-making
cycle to be temporarily stopped. When the microprocessor 28 detects
that the amount of the ice cubes in the ice storage box becomes
less than the predetermined amount by removal of the ice cubes from
the ice storage box by a user, the microprocessor 28 causes the
ice-making cycle to be resumed. During the above series of the
ice-making cycle, the microprocessor 28 monitors the temperature
detected by the temperature detecting sensor 22. When any operation
such as opening of a door of the refrigerator is carried out during
the operation of the automatic icemaker, whereby the temperature
becomes different from an original value of the temperature, the
microprocessor 28 judges the situation as an abnormality, and then
carries out abnormal-situation processing which is predetermined
per each stage.
[0028] In the automatic icemaker constructed as discussed above,
when the supply of the water to the ice-making tray 4 is to be
started, the ice-making tray 4 is adapted to be inclined at the
water supply angle, so that even if the flow of the water is
strong, the water can be supplied to the ice-making tray 4 without
spilling out of the ice-making tray 4. Moreover, after the supply
of the water to the ice-making tray 4 is completed, the ice-making
tray 4 is inclined at the water filling angle, so that the water 36
can be spread evenly into the respective small ice-making
compartments 16. In addition, in the condition where the ice-making
tray 4 is made to become horizontal, the surface of the water 36
supplied to the small ice-making compartments 16 does not reach the
bottom surfaces of the water passage channels 20, so that the
waters in the respective small ice-making compartments 16 can be
made to be independent from one another and, therefore, when the
ice cubes are to be discharged from the ice-making tray 4, adjacent
ice cubes are not freezingly connected to each other via ice formed
in the water passage channels 20. Therefore, it is possible to
positively cause respective ice cubes to be independent from one
another, thus improving users' convenience. Moreover, the rotation
of the ice-making tray 4 allows the independence of the ice cubes
from one another to be realized, so that torque to be required in
order to twist the ice-making tray 4 at the time of the discharge
of the ice cubes can be reduced. It is unnecessary to provide a
heater or the like, so that the number of parts is not increased,
the ice-making tray 4 is not large-sized, and ice cubes which are
uniform in size can be made.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a microprocessor of
an automatic icemaker according to another embodiment of the
present invention. When the ice-making cycle is started, an
operation start instructing-means 52 controls the motor drive
circuit 32, cause the ice-making tray 4 to be successively rotated
by the motor 6 in such a direction that the water passage channels
20 face downward and, at the same time, controls the valve drive
circuit 34 to cause the water supply solenoid valve 14 to be
opened. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the water
supply solenoid valve 14 is opened by the operation start
instructing-means 52, a valve closing instructing-means 54 controls
the valve drive circuit 34 and then cause the water supply solenoid
valve 14 to be closed. When a tilt angle of the ice-making tray 4
reaches the water filling angle, a water filling angle inclination
instructing-means 56 controls the motor drive circuit 32 and then
cause the ice-making tray 4 to be kept at the water filling angle.
After a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply
solenoid valve 14 is closed by the valve closing instructing-means
54 and the tilt angle of the ice-making tray 4 is kept at the water
filling angle by the water filling angle inclination
instructing-means 56, a horizontal position return
instructing-means 58 controls the motor drive circuit 32 and then
cause the ice-making tray 4 to be returned to the horizontal
position.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 9, the operation of the automatic
icemaker having the microprocessor, the functional block of which
is shown in FIG. 8, will be discussed hereinafter. First of all,
when the ice making cycle is started, the microprocessor 28 (the
operation start instructing-means 52) causes the ice-making tray 4
to be successively rotated in such a direction that the water
passage channels 20 face downward and, at the same time, causes the
water supply solenoid valve 14 to be opened (S1). Thereupon, the
tilt angle of the ice-making tray 4 successively becomes large and,
at the same time, water is supplied to the ice-making tray 4. That
is, the supply of the water to the ice-making tray 4 is carried out
while causing the ice-making tray 4 to be rotated in such a
direction that the water passage channels 20 face downward,
according to the quantity of the water stored in the small
ice-making compartments 16 by the supply of the water. Then, after
a predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply solenoid
valve 14 is opened, the microprocessor 28 (the valve closing
instructing-means 54) causes the water supply solenoid valve 14 to
be closed and the microprocessor 28 (the water filling angle
inclination instructing-means 56) causes the ice-making tray 4 to
be kept at the water filling angle when the tilt angle of the
ice-making tray 4 reaches the water filling angle (S2 to S6).
Thereupon, the water 36 stored in the ice-making tray 4 passes
through the water passage channels 20 and is then spread evenly
into the respective small ice-making compartments 16. Then, after a
predetermined time has elapsed since the water supply solenoid
valve 14 is closed and the tilt angle of the ice-making tray 4 is
kept at the water filling angle, the microprocessor 28 (the
horizontal position return instructing-means 58) causes the
ice-making tray 4 to be returned to the horizontal position (S7 and
S8).
[0031] In the automatic icemaker constructed as discussed above,
the supply of the water is carried out while causing the ice-making
tray 4 to be rotated according to the quantity of the water stored
in the small ice-making compartments by the supply of the water, so
that even if the flow of the water is strong, it is possible to
supply the water to the ice-making tray 4, without allowing the
water to spill out of the ice-making tray 4. Moreover, the
ice-making tray 4 is kept in the condition where it is inclined at
the water filling angle after the supply of the water to the
ice-making tray 4 is completed, so that the water can be spread
evenly into the respective small ice-making compartments 16. In
addition, in the same manner as in the automatic icemaker shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4, adjacent ice cubes are not freezingly connected to
each other via the ice formed in the water passage channels 20,
when the ice cubes are to be discharged from the ice-making tray
4.
[0032] Incidentally, while the embodiments of the present invention
have been described in connection with the automatic icemaker
having the single ice-making tray, the present invention may be
applied to an automatic icemaker having two ice-making trays
combined together back-to-back, namely, two ice-making trays
combined together with bottom surfaces of small ice-making
compartments 16 being opposed to each other. Moreover, while the
water supply angle is set to a value equivalent to 20-30% of the
water filling angle in the above-mentioned embodiments, a value of
the water supply angle which is less than a value of the water
filling angle is sufficient. In addition, while the temperature
detecting sensor 22 which is designed such that it outputs the
temperature signal voltage corresponding to the temperature of the
ice-making tray 4 is employed in the above-mentioned embodiments, a
temperature detecting sensor which is designed such that it outputs
a temperature signal voltage corresponding to the temperature of
the water poured into the respective small ice-making compartments
16 of the ice-making tray 4 (or the temperature of ice), may be
employed. Moreover, while in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
supplied water is made to be evenly spread into the respective
small ice-making compartments 16 by causing the ice-making tray 4
to be returned to the horizontal position after the predetermined
time has elapsed since the ice-making tray 4 is inclined at the
water filling angle, or by causing the ice-making tray 4 to be
returned to the horizontal position after the predetermined time
has elapsed since the water supply solenoid valve 14 is closed and
the tilt angle of the ice-making tray 4 is kept at the water
filling angle, the even spreading of the water into the respective
small ice-making compartments 16 may be confirmed by variation in
the temperature signal voltage which is detected by the temperature
detecting sensor 22 provided at the ice-making tray 4. Moreover,
while the microprocessor 28 having the AD converter and the counter
contained therein is employed in the above-mentioned embodiments, a
microprocessor having a counter contained therein and an AD
converter may be employed. In addition, while in the
above-mentioned embodiments, the supply of the water to the
ice-making tray 4 is carried out while causing the ice-making tray
4 to be successively rotated, the supply of the water to the
ice-making tray 4 may be carried out while causing the ice-making
tray 4 to be rotated step by step.
[0033] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used
as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no
intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any
equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
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