Cleaning device of ice maker and cleaning method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a cleaning device of an ice maker and a method thereof. In the cleaning device of an ice maker and a method thereof according to embodiments of the present invention, since the cleaning block is detachably coupled to the ejector to clean the ice making container, a cleaning operation can be easily performed on the ice making container, which is difficult for an operator to directly clean, thereby enhancing quality of ice made by the ice maker.

1 . A cleaning device of an ice maker, the cleaning device comprising:
 an ice making container having one or more ice making spaces formed to receive water to make ice;   an ejector installed at an upper portion of the ice making container, having at least one ejector pin, and drawing up ice to release ice; and   a cleaning block detachably coupled to the ejector and cleaning the ice making spaces of the ice making container.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning block includes a fixed unit detachably coupled to the ejector and a cleaning unit coupled to the fixed unit to wipe out the ice making space of the ice making container. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed unit includes pin insertion recesses formed to correspond to the ejector pins to allow the ejector pins to be insertedly coupled thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed unit is made of a material having a relatively greater strength than that of the cleaning unit. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein a single fixed unit is provided and a plurality of cleaning u nits are provided, and the plurality of cleaning units are coupled to the single fixed unit. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed units and the cleaning unit are formed as a single piece, respectively, by the number corresponding to the ice making spaces. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejector is coupled to a rotational motor which makes a forward and reverse rotation, and in the cleaning mode, the rotational motor is rotated in both directions within a certain angle to perform cleaning. 
     
     
         8 . A cleaning method of an ice maker, the method comprising:
 a cleaning preparation step of rotating an ejector configured to draw up ice from an ice making container such that the ejector is positioned to allow a cleaning block for cleaning the ice making container to be easily inserted thereto;   a cleaning step of rotating the ejector to allow the cleaning block to clean the ice making container; and   a cleaning separation step of rotating the ejector such that the ejector is positioned to allow the cleaning block to be easily separated from the ejector.   
     
     
         9 . The cleaning method of  claim 8 , wherein an ice making operation is stopped before performing the cleaning preparation step. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining whether or not ice remains in the ice making container before the ejector is positioned at an angle at which the cleaning block is easily inserted.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 when it is determined that ice remains in the ice making container in the determining of whether or not ice remains in the ice making container, rotating the ejector to remove the remaining ice.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether or not the cleaning block remains in the ice making container after the ejector is positioned at an angle at which the cleaning block is easily separated.   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 when it is determined that the cleaning block remains in the determining of whether or not the cleaning block remains, further rotating the ejector in a separation direction to secure a withdrawal space.