Patent Abstract:
An ice making apparatus for a refrigerator, in which an ice bank stores ice and has an opening that discharges ice on its one side. An ejector opens and closes the opening and is rotatably provided at the opening to also eject ice from the ice bank. After completion of an ice discharging operation, a sensor senses a relative position of the ejector against the ice bank and the ejector is controlled to close the opening to the extent necessary.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0116616, filed on Nov. 24, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to ice dispensing technology. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus that maintains a freezing chamber or a refrigerating chamber at a relatively low temperature using a refrigeration cycle that generates cold air. The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander and an evaporator. 
     Some refrigerators have an ice making apparatus that makes ice using cold air of the freezing chamber and a dispenser that allows the ice to be dispensed to an exterior of the refrigerator, without opening a door that opens and closes the freezing chamber. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an ice making apparatus for a refrigerator includes an ice maker configured to make ice, a dispenser configured to dispense ice, and an ice bank that is configured to store ice made by the ice maker and that has an opening that enables passage of ice from within the ice bank to the dispenser. The ice making apparatus also includes an ejector that is configured to open and close the opening and that is configured to rotate to promote movement of ice from within the ice bank toward the opening, and a sensor that is configured to sense a position of the ejector relative to the opening of the ice bank. The ice making apparatus further includes a controller that is configured to, in response to completion of an ice dispensing operation, determine whether the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank based on output from the sensor and that is configured to, in response to a determination that the ejector does not close the opening of the ice bank, control the ejector to rotate to a position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the ejector may include a plurality of blades that extend radially from a center of a rotation shaft of the ejector. The sensor may include a magnet provided on one of the ice bank and the ejector and a hall sensor that is provided on the other of the ice bank and the ejector and that is configured to sense strength of an electric field of the magnet. 
     The ice bank may include a housing that defines an external appearance of the ice bank and that defines a space in which ice is stored. The ice bank also may include an inclined portion that defines a bottom surface of the ice bank and that is inclined in a manner that guides ice stored in the ice bank toward the opening by force of gravity. 
     In some implementations, the ejector may be configured to rotate in a first direction to promote movement of ice from within the ice bank toward the opening. In these implementations, the controller may be configured to, in response to a determination that the ejector does not close the opening of the ice bank, control the ejector to rotate in a second direction to a position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. The second direction may be opposite of the first direction. 
     In some examples, when the controller controls the ejector to rotate to a position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank, the controller may be configured to determine whether ice interferes with rotation of the ejector to the position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank and the controller may be configured to, in response to a determination that ice interferes with rotation of the ejector to the position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank, control the ejector to perform an ice removal operation in which the ejector rotates alternately in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. In these examples, the controller may be configured to determine whether, subsequent to completion of the ice removal operation, ice continues to interfere with rotation of the ejector to the position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. A warning part may be configured to display an error message in response to a determination that, subsequent to completion of the ice removal operation, ice continues to interfere with rotation of the ejector to the position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. Further, in these examples, the controller may be configured to determine whether, subsequent to completion of the ice removal operation, the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank based on output from the sensor. 
     In another aspect, a refrigerator includes an ice maker configured to make ice, a dispenser configured to dispense ice, and an ice bank that is configured to store ice made by the ice maker and that has an opening that that enables passage of ice from within the ice bank to the dispenser. The refrigerator also includes an input part that is configured to receive an operation signal to dispense ice using the dispenser and an ejector that is configured to open and close the opening based on the operation signal and that is configured to rotate to promote movement of ice from within the ice bank toward the opening based on the operation signal. The refrigerator further includes a sensor that is configured to sense a position of the ejector relative to the opening of the ice bank and a controller that is configured to, in response to completion of an ice dispensing operation controlled by the operation signal, determine whether the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank based on output from the sensor and that is configured to, in response to a determination that the ejector does not close the opening of the ice bank, control the ejector to rotate to a position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the ejector may include a plurality of blades that extend radially from a center of a rotation shaft of the ejector. The sensor may include a magnet provided on one of the ice bank and a blade of the ejector and a hall sensor that is provided on the other of the ice bank and the blade of the ejector and that is configured to sense strength of an electric field of the magnet. 
     In some implementations, the ejector may be configured to rotate in a first direction to promote movement of ice from within the ice bank toward the opening based on the operation signal. In these implementations, the controller may be configured to, in response to a determination that the ejector does not close the opening of the ice bank, control the ejector to rotate in a second direction to the position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. The second direction may be opposite of the first direction. 
     The input part may include a lever that is provided on the dispenser and that is configured to receive user input and generate the operation signal based on the user input. 
     In yet another aspect, a controlling method of an ice making apparatus includes controlling an ejector to open an opening of an ice bank and to promote movement of ice stored in the ice bank toward the opening. The method also includes controlling the ejector stop at a first position when dispensing of ice is completed and determining whether the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank in the first position. In response to a determination that the ejector does not close the opening of the ice bank in the first position, the ejector is controlled to move from the first position to a second position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the method may include sensing, using a sensor, a position of the ejector relative to the opening of the ice bank when the ejector is positioned in the first position and determining whether the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank in the first position based on the sensed position of the ejector relative to the opening of the ice bank. The method also may include controlling the ejector to remain in the first position in response to a determination that the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank in the first position. 
     The method further may include controlling the ejector to rotate in a first direction and controlling the ejector to rotate in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. 
     In some examples, the method may include determining whether ice interferes with movement of the ejector from the first position to the second position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank and, in response to a determination that ice interferes with movement of the ejector from the first position to the second position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank, controlling the ejector to perform an ice removal operation in which the ejector moves alternately in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. In these examples, the method may include determining whether, subsequent to completion of the ice removal operation, ice continues to interfere with movement of the ejector from the first position to the second position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank and controlling a warning part to display an error message in response to a determination that, subsequent to completion of the ice removal operation, ice continues to interfere with movement of the ejector from the first position to the second position in which the ejector closes the opening of the ice bank. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an ejector; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1  in a state where the ice bank is opened by the ejector; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1  in a state where the ice bank is closed by the ejector; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing an example where ice that is interfering operation of an ejector is removed; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a controlling method of an ice making apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a refrigerator, and  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an ejector. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the refrigerator  1  includes a main body  10  that includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus, and an ice making apparatus  20  that makes ice and allows the ice to be taken out to the exterior of the refrigerator  1  by an operation of a user. 
     The inside of the main body  10  includes a freezing chamber  11  and a refrigerating chamber  12  in which foods are preserved in a cold storage at a low temperature by the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The freezing chamber  11  maintains a temperature at or below freezing and, thereby, stores foods in a frozen state. The refrigerating chamber  12  maintains a temperature above freezing, but below typical ambient or room temperature (e.g., between 0° C. to 10° C.). The refrigerating chamber stores foods in a cool or refrigerated state. The spaces of the freezing chamber  11  and the refrigerating chamber  12  are partitioned by a barrier  13 . A freezing chamber door  15  and a refrigerating chamber door  16  that selectively open and close the freezing chamber  11  and the refrigerating chamber  12 , respectively, are provided on both sides of the main body  10 . The other ends of the freezing chamber door  15  and the refrigerating chamber door  16  are installed to enable forward and backward rotation with a center of rotation at or near an end of the door. 
     Meanwhile, the ice making apparatus  20  is mounted on a back side of the freezing chamber door  15 . The ice making apparatus  20  makes ice using cold air of the freezing chamber  11  and allows the ice to be taken out to the outside of the refrigerator  1 . Although the ice making apparatus  20  is described to be provided on the back side of the freezing chamber door  15  in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , it also may be provided on the refrigerating chamber door  16  depending on the design and constitution of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The ice making apparatus  20  includes an ice maker  21 , an ice bank  22 , an ejector  23 , and a dispenser  24 . 
     The ice maker  21  includes a tray (not shown) with a cube (not shown) partitioned into a plurality of spaces within the tray, wherein water stored within the cube of the ice maker  21  is frozen into ice by the cold air of the freezing chamber  11 . The ice maker  21  supplies the produced ice to the ice bank  22  provided on below the ice maker  21 . 
     The ice bank  22  stores the ice supplied from the ice maker  21  and allows the ice to be taken out to the outside of the refrigerator  1  through the dispenser  24 , if an ice supply signal is input to the refrigerator  1 . Also, the ice bank  22  is separable from the ice making apparatus  20 , such that, when a user needs a large quantity of ice, he or she can use the ice by separating the ice bank  22  from the ice making apparatus  20  without passing the ice through the dispenser  24 . 
     The dispenser  24  includes an ice duct that defines an ice flow passage through the freezing chamber door  15 . The ice duct provides a supply path of the ice during the process where the ice ejected from the ice bank  22  is supplied to the outside of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The ejector  23  is provided in the space where the ice bank  22  contacts the dispenser  24  and is configured to eject ice in the ice bank  22  to the dispenser  24 . In addition, when ice is not being ejected from the ice bank  22  to the dispenser  24 , the ejector  23  shields the ice bank  22  against the dispenser  24  to reduce an amount of cold air from the ice bank  22  that escapes to the outside of the refrigerator  1  through the dispenser  1 . For instance, the ejector  23  prevents or blocks passage of cold air from the ice bank  22  to the dispenser  24  when the ejector  23  is not being used to eject ice. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ejector  23  includes a rotation shaft  231  that provides a rotation center when the ejector  23  is driven, and a plurality of blades  232  that extend radially from the rotation shaft  231 . In some examples, a magnet  235  is located at ends of the respective blades  232 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-section of an example ice making apparatus  20  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1  in a state where the ice bank  22  is opened by the ejector  23 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-section of an example ice making apparatus  20  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1  in a state where the ice bank  22  is closed by the ejector  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the ice bank  22  includes a housing  221  that defines an external appearance of the ice bank  22  and stores ice  100  therein. The housing  221  includes an inclined portion  222  that is located on a lower side of the housing  221  and is inclined at a predetermined angle. The housing  221  also includes an opening  224  defined on an end side of the inclined portion  222 . The inclined portion  222  guides ice  100  stored in the ice bank  22  toward the opening  224  by the force of gravity. A hall sensor  225  is provided on an end of the inclined portion  222 . The hall sensor  225  senses the magnet  235  of the blade  232  to determine a position of the blade  232  relative to the end of the inclined portion  222 . In this example, the hall sensor  225  and the magnet  235  constitute a sensing part that determines the position of the blade  232 . 
     The inclined portion  222  that defines the bottom surface of the ice bank  22  is inclined downwardly at a predetermined angle. Therefore, if the ice  100  contacts the inclined portion  222 , the ice  100  is guided toward the opening  224  by its own weight. 
     The ice making apparatus  20  further includes a controller (not shown) that drives the ejector  23  depending on an ice dispensing signal input at a user input control positioned at an exterior portion of the refrigerator  1  and the position of the blade  232  relative to the end of the inclined portion  222  sensed by the hall sensor  225 . 
     During the process where the ice is dispensed from the dispenser  24 , the ejector  23  is driven to eject the ice  100  within the ice bank  22  toward the dispenser  24 . More specifically, while the ice is being dispensed from the dispenser  24 , the ejector  23  is rotated in a first direction (R 1 ). As the ejector  23  is rotated, the plurality of blades  232  contact ice  100  positioned on the inclined portion  222  and promote movement of the ice  100  toward the opening  224 . The ice  100  moved to the opening  224  falls through the opening  224  and then is dispensed to the exterior of the refrigerator  1  through the dispenser  24 , which is provided below the ice bank  22 . 
     When the ice dispensing operation of the ice  100  is completed, the ejector  23  shields the opening  224 . Shielding the opening  224  obstructs (e.g., blocks, prevents, etc.) ice  100  from being ejected from the ice bank  22  to the dispenser  24 . 
     More specifically, the blade  232  of the ejector  23  has a size corresponding to the size of the opening  224 . The hall sensor  225 , which is provided adjacent to the opening  224 , senses the magnet  235  located on the end of the blade  232  and, thereby, senses the relative position of the blade  232  against the opening  224 . 
     For example, when the dispensing operation of ice  100  is completed, the hall sensor  225  senses the position of the blade  232  relative to the opening  224 . Based on the sensed position of the blade  232  relative to the opening  224 , the controller drives the ejector  23  so that a blade  232  (e.g., one of the multiple blades of the ejector  23 ) is positioned to shield the opening  224 . For instance, the ejector  23  is driven in a second direction (R 2 ) to a position in which a blade  232  shields or covers the opening  224 . The second direction (R 2 ) is different than the first direction (R 1 ) in which the ejector  23  is rotated to eject ice  100 . By rotating the ejector  23  in the second direction (R 2 ) when attempting to shield or cover the opening  224  after dispensing of ice is complete, the controller controls the ejector  23  to rotate in a direction that is less likely to cause ejection of ice  100  through the opening  224  because the ejector  23  pushes ice  100  positioned on the inclined portion  222  away from the opening  224  when rotated in the second direction (R 2 ). 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of an example ice making apparatus  20  showing an example of removing ice that interferes with the operation of an ejector. Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the ice  100  is lodged between the opening  224  and the ejector  23  when the ejector  23  is being rotated to shield the opening  224 , the driving of the ejector  23  may be interfered with by the ice  100 . For instance, as the ice  100  contacts the blade  232 , the ice  100  interferes with the rotation of the ejector  23  in the direction (R 2 ), as shown. 
     When the ejector  23  does not rotate even though power is supplied to the ejector  23  for a predetermined period of time, the controller senses the interference. In response to sensing the interference, the controller controls the ejector  23  to alternately rotate in a first direction (R 1 ) and a second direction (R 2 ). At this time, the driving of the ejector  23  is referred to as an ice removal operation. The ice  100  commonly interferes the driving of the ejector  23  in a certain direction, such that, if the ejector  23  is driven in the opposite direction, the ice  100  dislodges, falls through the opening  224 , and no longer interferes with rotation of the ejector  23  in shielding the opening  224 . 
     If the ice  100  is not removed even though the ice removal operation of the ejector  23  is performed at a predetermined operation frequency (e.g., the ejector  23  is rotated back and forth a predetermined number of times), an error message is displayed through a warning part provided on an external surface of the refrigerator  1 . Therefore, a user is alerted to a state where the ice  100  is stuck at a position that prevents shielding of the opening  224  and is able to address the problem. 
     Although the hall sensor  225  has been described as being provided on the ice bank  22 , in other implementations, the hall sensor  225  may be provided on the ejector  23  side and the magnet  235  may be provided on the ice bank  22  side. In some implementations, the sensing part used to sense a position of the blade  232  relative to the opening  224  is another type of sensor, such as a position sensor, an infrared sensor, etc. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a controlling method of an ice making apparatus. Referring to  FIG. 6 , it is determined whether an ice dispensing signal is input to the ice making apparatus  20  (S 100 ). The ice dispensing signal may be input when a lever provided on the dispenser  24  or a user input button is pressed. 
     If the ice dispensing signal is input, the ejector  23  starts to be driven (S 200 ). As the ejector  23  is rotated in one direction (R 1 ), the ice  100  is supplied to the dispenser  24  from the ice bank  22  through the opening  224  and then is dispensed to the exterior of the refrigerator (S 200 ). 
     It is determined whether the input of the ice dispensing signal is completed (S 300 ). If the input of the ice dispensing signal is completed, the driving of the ejector  23  is completed (S 400 ). 
     If the driving of the ejector  23  is completed, the hall sensor  225  senses the relative position of the ejector  23  against the opening  224 , and the controller determines whether the opening  224  is shielded based on the relative position of the ejector  23  (S 500 ). 
     When the opening  224  is not shielded, the ejector  23  is driven in the opposite direction (R 2 ) toward a position in which the opening  224  is shielded (S 510 ). 
     At this time, it is determined whether the driving of the ejector  23  is interfered with by the ice  100  (S 520 ). For example, the controller determines whether the driving of the ejector  23  is interfered with by the ice  100  based on whether the ejector  23  has not rotated to a position in which a blade  232  shields the opening  224 , even though power has been supplied to the ejector  23  for a predetermined period of time. In other examples, the ice making apparatus  20  may include a sensor configured to sense whether ice  100  is positioned between a blade  232  and the edge of the inclined portion  222  and the controller determines whether the driving of the ejector  23  is interfered with by the ice  100  based on output from the sensor. 
     When the driving of the ejector  23  is not interfered with by the ice  100 , it is determined whether the opening  224  is shielded. When the opening  224  is shielded, the driving of the ejector  23  is stopped and the control thereof is completed. 
     If it is determined that the driving of the ejector  23  is interfered with by the ice  100 , the ice removal operation of the ejector  23  is performed (S 530 ). For instance, the ice removal operation of the ejector  23  may include the ice removal operation described above with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     After the ice removal operation is performed, it is determined whether the ice  100  is removed from the opening  224  (S 540 ). For instance, the controller determines whether the ice  100  is removed from the opening  224  using techniques described above with respect to reference numeral (S 520 ). 
     When the ice  100  is removed and the ejector  23  is able to be driven to shield the opening  224 , the ejector is not interfered with and is driven to shield the opening  224  (S 541 ). When the ice  100  is not removed (S 540 ), it is determined whether the ice removal operation has been performed at a predetermined frequency (S 542 ). 
     When the ice  100  is not removed although the ice removal operation is performed at the predetermined operation frequency, an error message is displayed to allow a user to recognize the state of the ice that is inserted into the opening  224  (S 543 ). When the ice  100  is not removed and the ice removal operation has not been performed at the predetermined operation frequency, the ice removal operation is performed again. 
     In some implementations, the state where the ice bank  22  is shielded against the dispenser  24  is maintained by the ejector  23 , excepting for the case where the ice dispensing operation of the ice making apparatus  20  is performed. This may reduce unnecessary and unwanted ejection of the ice  100  from the dispenser  24 . 
     Also, when the operation of the ejector  23  is interfered with by the ice  100  during the shielding process of the opening  224 , the ice  100  is removed to enable shielding of the opening  224 . This may reduce the likelihood of the ejector  23  being overloaded. 
     Also, in some examples, the ejection of ice and the opening and closing of the opening is simultaneously performed by the ejector. This may reduce an amount of air that escapes through the dispenser  24  during a dispensing operation. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5