US 2015/0082816 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING ICEMAKER OF REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for driving an icemaker of a refrigerator, the icemaker including an ice-detecting lever which is interlocked with a cam gear and revolves about a point, an ice-full state sensing unit which is interlocked with the ice-detecting lever and determines an ice-full state, and an ice-detecting arm which is interlocked with the cam gear and contacts ice cubes,

wherein the ice-full state is determined as the cam gear, an ejector and the ice-detecting arm are rotated by a predetermined angle in a reverse direction (a direction opposite to an ice-ejecting direction) by a driving motor.

An apparatus for driving an icemaker of a refrigerator, the icemaker including an ice-detecting lever which is interlocked with a cam gear and revolves about a point, an ice-full state sensing unit which is interlocked with the ice-detecting lever and determines an ice-full state, and an ice-detecting arm which is interlocked with the cam gear and contacts ice cubes,

wherein the cam gear, which is interlocked with and is rotated by the driving motor, includes a cam gear body which is formed with teeth on a circumferential outer surface thereof, and an ice-full state sensing contour which projects in the shape of a ring on one side surface of the cam gear body and is brought into contact with one end of the ice-full state sensing lever of the ice-full state sensing unit,
wherein the ice-full state sensing lever includes a sensing lever body which has the shape of a bar and is rotated about a point, and an engagement portion which projects from one end of the sensing lever body and contacts the ice-full state sensing contour, and
wherein an ice-full state indicating groove is defined on a circumferential portion of the ice-full state sensing contour, such that, in the case where the engagement portion is engaged into the ice-full state indicating groove, the ice-full state sensing lever is rotated by a predefined angle, causing the ice-full state sensing magnet not to face the ice-full state sensing sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for driving icemaker of refrigerator

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for driving icemaker of refrigerator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19