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.

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.