Ice maker and control method for ice maker

Abstract

An ice maker 1 includes an ice making tray 5, a driving unit 6 configured to flip the ice making tray 5 around a predetermined axis, a water supply mechanism 8, and a control unit 19 configured to control driving of the driving unit 6 and the water supply mechanism 8, and a setting switch 22 configured to set a water supply time of water to be supplied from the water supply mechanism 8 to the ice making tray 5. If the water supply time is set to a first water supply time, a second water supply time, or a third water supply time by the operation on the setting switch 22 (steps ST20, ST25, ST28), the ice maker 1 performs a setting confirmation operation to swing the ice making tray 5 the number of times corresponding to the set water supply time (steps ST21, ST26, ST29).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker, comprising:
 an ice making tray;   a driving unit configured to flip the ice making tray around a predetermined axis from a water storage position where an opening faces upward to an ice removal position where the opening faces downward, and vice versa;   a control unit configured to   drive a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the ice making tray to supply water to the ice making tray in the water storage position, and   drive the driving unit to cause the ice making tray to reach the ice removal position from the water storage position to remove made ice from the ice making tray; and   a setting switch configured to set a water supply time of water to be supplied to the ice making tray,   wherein the control unit includes:   a water supply time setting unit configured to set the water supply time to a first water supply time or a second water supply time different from the first water supply time based on an operation on the setting switch; and   a setting confirmation unit configured to perform a setting confirmation operation in which the driving unit is driven to swing the ice making tray in a first form if the water supply time is set to the first water supply time, and the driving unit is driven to swing the ice making tray in a second form different from the first form if the water supply time is set to the second water supply time.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein in the first form, the ice making tray swings a first number of times, and
 in the second form, the ice making tray swings a second number of times different from the first number of times.   
     
     
         3 . The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein in the first form, the ice making tray swings by a first angle, and
 in the second form, the ice making tray swings by a second angle different from the first angle.   
     
     
         4 . The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein in the setting confirmation operation, an angle by which the ice making tray swings around the axis is smaller than an angle between the water storage position and the ice removal position around the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker according to  claim 1 , comprising a changeover switch configured to switch an operation mode between an ice making mode for making ice and a setting mode for setting the water supply time,
 wherein the water supply time setting unit sets the water supply time when the operation mode is the setting mode.   
     
     
         6 . The ice maker according to  claim 5 , comprising a power switch configured to turn on a power source,
 wherein the changeover switch includes the power switch and the setting switch, and   if the power source is turned on by a simultaneous operation on the power switch and the setting switch, the ice maker is activated in the setting mode.   
     
     
         7 . The ice maker according to  claim 5 , wherein the setting switch is a push button type switch, and
 if the setting switch is further depressed until a predetermined input reception time has elapsed from when the setting switch is depressed, the water supply time setting unit counts the number of times the setting switch is depressed until the input reception time has elapsed in a state of no depressing of the setting switch from when the setting switch is last depressed, and sets the water supply time based on the counted number of times.   
     
     
         8 . The ice maker according to  claim 7 , wherein if the setting switch is not depressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time has elapsed from when the operation mode is shifted from the ice making mode to the setting mode, the water supply time setting unit makes no change in the water supply time. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker according to  claim 6 , wherein the driving unit includes a casing configured to house a drive source of the driving unit, and
 the power switch and the setting switch are provided on a lower surface of the casing.   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker according to  claim 1 , wherein the water supply mechanism includes a water channel through which water flows toward the ice making tray and a valve configured to open and close the water channel,
 the control unit includes a valve driving control unit configured to control driving of the valve, and   the valve driving control unit drives the valve into an open state only for the water supply time set when water is stored in the ice making tray.   
     
     
         11 . A control method for an ice maker including an ice making tray, a driving unit configured to flip the ice making tray around a predetermined axis from a water storage position where an opening faces upward to an ice removal position where the opening faces downward, and vice versa, and a control unit configured to drive a water supply mechanism to supply water to the ice making tray in the water storage position to make ice, and to drive the driving unit to flip the ice making tray to cause the ice making tray to reach the ice removal position to remove the made ice, the method comprising:
 providing a setting switch configured to set a water supply time of water to be supplied to the ice making tray;   setting the water supply time to a first water supply time or a second water supply time different from the first water supply time based on an operation on the setting switch; and   performing a setting confirmation operation in which the ice making tray swings around the axis in a first form if the water supply time is set to the first water supply time, and the ice making tray swings around the axis in a second form different from the first form if the water supply time is set to the second water supply time.   
     
     
         12 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein in the first form, the ice making tray swings a first number of times, and
 in the second form, the ice making tray swings a second number of times different from the first number of times.   
     
     
         13 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein in the first form, the ice making tray swings by a first angle, and
 in the second form, the ice making tray swings by a second angle different from the first angle.   
     
     
         14 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein in the setting confirmation operation, an angle by which the ice making tray swings around the axis is smaller than an angle between the water storage position and the ice removal position around the axis. 
     
     
         15 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein a changeover switch configured to switch an operation mode between an ice making mode for making ice and a setting mode for setting the water supply time is provided, and
 in a state where the operation mode is the setting mode by an operation on the changeover switch, if the setting switch is operated, the water supply time is set based on the operation on the setting switch, and the setting confirmation operation is performed.   
     
     
         16 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 15 , wherein while a power switch configured to turn on a power source is provided, the power switch and the setting switch are provided as the changeover switch, and
 if the power source is turned on by a simultaneous operation on the power switch and the setting switch, the ice maker is activated in the setting mode.   
     
     
         17 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 15 , wherein as the setting switch, a push button type switch is provided, and
 if the setting switch is further depressed until a predetermined input reception time has elapsed from when the setting switch is depressed, the number of times the setting switch is depressed is counted until the input reception time has elapsed in a state of no depressing of the setting switch from when the setting switch is last depressed, and the water supply time is set based on the counted number of times.   
     
     
         18 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 17 , wherein if the setting switch is not depressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time has elapsed from when the operation mode is shifted from the ice making mode to the setting mode, the setting of the water supply time is not changed. 
     
     
         19 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 16 , wherein the driving unit includes a casing configured to house a drive source of the driving unit, and
 the power switch and the setting switch are provided on a lower surface of the casing.   
     
     
         20 . The control method for an ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein the water supply mechanism includes a water channel through which water flows toward the ice making tray and a valve configured to open and close the water channel, and
 the valve is opened only for the set water supply time to store water into the ice making tray.