JPH0124541Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] a. Field of industrial application The present invention relates to an ice dispenser, and particularly to an ice dispenser that reliably breaks up small ice cubes (ice cubes, chips, flakes, etc.) into individual pieces of ice to facilitate dispensing. This invention relates to a new improvement for controlling the amount of stored ice by effectively utilizing the volume inside the ice storage.

b. Prior Art There are various types of small-sized ice dispensers that have been used in the past, but a typical configuration is as shown in FIG.
There is one disclosed in the specification of No. 3651652.

That is, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is a typical device for an ice cube dispenser, and the ice making plate 21 provided at the upper part of the ice making dispenser cabinet 1 having a box shape as a whole has an ice making plate 21 at a lower position. This ice making plate 2
A grid assembly 21a is provided to finely cut the sheet ice falling from the ice storage 3, and an agitator 4 having a stirring rod 4a is rotatably provided in the ice storage 3 surrounded by the side wall 3a. There is.

An ice chute 29 is provided at the bottom of the ice storage 3.
Dispensing auger 5 for delivering ice to
is rotatably arranged and rotationally driven by a drive motor 1a via a rotation transmission device 1b.

Further, a storage thermostat 23 is provided on the lower surface of the grid assembly 21a, and the ice storage thermometer 23 can detect ice storage in the ice storage 3.

c Problems to be solved by the present invention In the conventional example described above, the agitator 4
The fused ice around can be broken up into individual pieces of ice and sent to the dispensing auger 5. However, if the ice storage 3 is full and the ice cubes are fused together, the stirring rod of the agitator 4 Only the ice within the radius of the length of 4a is released, forming a cavity.
A situation occurs where most of the ice remains in a fused state and cannot be released.

Moreover, even if the amount of ice in the ice storage 3 is small, the tip of the stirring rod 4a of the agitator 4 and the ice storage 3
Because the distance from the side wall 3a of the space is too far, it is extremely difficult to break up the ice that has fused within this space into a state similar to that of individual ice, resulting in variations in the amount of ice released (so-called the amount of ice released within a certain period of time). drastically decreased,
In the worst case, the ice in the ice storage 3 remains fused, making it impossible to release ice at all.

Therefore, in the conventional configuration, when the small ice cubes are fused together, it is impossible to release the ice at a position away from the agitator.

In addition, in the case of an auger-type ice maker, ice is discharged from a narrow outlet compared to the area of the ice storage, so if the ice is stored in a conical shape inside the ice storage, the internal volume of the ice storage is effectively used. There was a drawback that it was not fully utilized.

d.Means for solving the problems The purpose of the present invention is to provide extremely effective means for quickly eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the gist of this invention is to provide an auger-type ice making mechanism. In the ice dispenser, the ice dispenser has an agitator in an ice storage for receiving and storing the manufactured ice from above, and an ice delivery mechanism at the bottom of the ice storage; The ice storage is configured to be able to agitate almost the entire area within the ice storage, and includes an ice storage detection section provided at an upper portion within the ice storage, and for operating the agitator based on an output signal of the ice storage detection section. and a control circuit section, and when ice accumulation is detected by the ice accumulation detection section, the agitator is operated for a predetermined period of time by the control circuit section.

e Effect: Even if the ice in the ice storage unit fuses, the ice below each agitator will spread over the entire area of the ice storage unit and be released into nearly individual pieces of ice, so the ice above the agitator will Due to its weight, it is always in contact with the agitator, making it possible to break up the fused ice reliably and efficiently, and with little variation in the amount of ice released, all of the ice in the ice storage can be released. Furthermore, by rotating the agitator for a predetermined period of time when ice storage is detected, the conical shape of the stored ice is broken, increasing the amount of ice storage and effectively utilizing the inside of the refrigerator.

f. Embodiments Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the ice dispenser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Note that the same parts as in the conventional example will be explained using the same reference numerals.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 indicates an ice making dispenser cabinet which is box-shaped as a whole, and a part of this dispenser cabinet 1 includes a float tank 2c and an ice making dispenser cabinet. A drive motor 2e of an auger-type ice making mechanism 2 having a discharge port 2d is attached to its base 1c.

An ice storage 3 is provided at a position adjacent to the ice making mechanism section 2, and the tip of the ice discharge port 2d is disposed to protrude into the upper part of the ice storage 3. A proximity switch 3d is attached to the upper end 3c of the ice storage 3. An ice storage detection lever 3e for detecting when the ice storage 3 is full is rotatably provided at the upper end portion 3c to the positions shown by solid lines and dotted lines by means of a mounting body 3f. The upper end 3g of the lever 3e is configured to be connectable to the proximity switch 3d, and when ice storage progresses and the ice storage detection lever 3e rotates from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line, the proximity switch 3d and the upper end 3g are connected. The connection with
Proximity switch 3d is activated and ice storage is detected.

Inside the ice storage 3, a pair of agitators 4 are rotatably provided, supported by bearings 4b formed on each side wall 3a, and integrally having a stirring rod 4a inclined with respect to a shaft 4e. Each agitator 4
are drive motors 4c, 4 provided independently, respectively.
d, they are configured to rotate in directions that interfere with each other, that is, in opposite directions as shown by the arrows.

In the inclined guide groove 3i formed in the bottom 3h of the ice storage 3, an ice discharging screw 5 for forming an ice sending mechanism is rotatably provided in an inclined state, and the axis of the ice discharging screw 5 5a is rotatably provided on each bearing portion 5b of each side wall 3a, and is rotationally driven by a drive motor 6. An ice outlet 6a is formed in a downward direction at the lower part of the side wall 3a of the ice storage 3, and the ice sent by the ice discharge screw 5 is taken out to the outside from the ice outlet 6a.

The push lever 7 provided at the lower part of the side wall 3a is configured to operate in conjunction with a fixedly provided switch 7a, and is configured to operate the ice release screw 5 in response to the operation of the push lever 7. ing.

The configuration shown in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the control circuit section 8. The drive motor 2e of the ice making mechanism section 2 is connected to the power supply in series with the relay contact X1 _-a , and the compressor 10 of the refrigeration system is connected to the relay contact X1-a. Connected to the power supply in series with contact X _2-a .

Each drive motor 4c, 4d of each agitator 4
are provided in parallel with each other and the relay contacts
The drive motor 6 is provided in series with the relay contact X _{5-a .}

The relay 11 and the float switch 2f are connected in series with each other, and the timer board 12 is connected in parallel with the float switch 2f.

This timer _board 12 is provided with first, second, fourth _{, and fifth relays X 1 ,} X ₂ ,
The contact 14 of the push lever switch 7 is connected to the proximity switch 3d, and the second input terminal 15 is connected to the switch 7a of the push lever switch 7. Further, the first and second water valves 16 and 16a are connected to a power source, and the first water valve 1
6 is for drainage, and the second water valve 16a is for supplying the ice making mechanism section 2.

In the above configuration, when the ice dispenser according to the present invention is operated, by turning on the power, the water valve 1 is activated.
6a opens to start water supply, ice making water is supplied until a constant water level is reached in the float tank 2c and the ice making mechanism section 2, and at the same time the float switch 2f in the float tank 2c is turned on, the relay 11 is energized. The relay contact 14 is turned on. By turning on the relay contact 14 and turning on the proximity switch 3d, the input terminal 13 of the timer board 12
A closed circuit is formed between a and 13b, and an electronic timer (not shown) in the timer board 12 starts operating. Due to the operation of this electronic timer, the first relay X ₁ is energized and relay contact X _1-a is turned on.
The drive motor 2e of the ice making mechanism section 2 is brought into operation. Furthermore, after a certain period of time, the second relay X ₂ is energized, relay contact X _2-a is turned on, and the compressor 10
is driven to enter the ice-making operation state, and ice made by the ice-making mechanism section 2 is stored in the ice storage 3 through the outlet 2d. When the ice making operation continues and the ice in the ice storage 3 becomes full (in other words, as indicated by arrow A), the ice storage detection lever 3e is activated and tilts from the solid line position to the dotted line position, thereby causing The contact of the switch 3d is turned off, opening the circuit between the input terminals 13a and 13b of the timer board 12, and the fourth
When the relay _X4 is energized for a certain period of time, the agitators 4 are rotated in opposite directions by the drive motors 4c and 4d while the contact X4 _-a is on, so that the agitators 4 are stored in an inclined state. The ice is in the state B where the top surface is leveled, and the ice storage detection lever 3e returns to the position shown by the solid line where it does not come into contact with the ice. Therefore, the proximity switch 3d is turned on and the ice making operation is continued, and by repeating this operation, the ice level in the ice storage 3 rises, and when it reaches the state X, each agitator 4 rotates according to the above-mentioned operation. However, the ice accumulation detection lever 3e continues to maintain the tilted state shown by the dotted line, and the input terminals 13a and 13 of the timer board 12
When the open circuit state between 13b exceeds the set time, the second relay X ₂ is demagnetized and the contact X _2-a is turned off.
The operation of compressor 10 is stopped. Furthermore, after a certain time delay, the first relay _X1 is demagnetized, the contact _X1-a is turned off, the drive motor 2e is stopped, and the ice-making operation is stopped.

On the other hand, to release ice, when the push lever 7 is pressed, the switch 7a is turned on, a closed circuit is formed between the second input terminal 15 of the input terminals of the tire board 12, and the fourth and fifth relays X ₄ and X ₅ are activated. It is energized for a certain period of time, contacts X _4-a and X _5-a are turned on, and the drive motor 4 of each agitator 4 and ice discharge screw 5 is turned on.
c, 4d, and 6 are activated, and a certain amount of ice can be discharged from the ice discharge port 6a.

The above operation explanation is for the case where the ice is in a normal state, that is, in a state where it is not fused.
The operation in a state where ice is fused will be explained. That is, the rotation direction of each agitator 4 is set so that each stirring rod 4a interferes with each other, and the locus of the tip of each stirring rod 4a is
The length of each stirring rod 4a and the pitch of each agitator 4 are set so that the distance between the tip of each stirring rod 4a and each side wall 3a is within the range of 1 to 3 pieces of ice. , the mounting angle of each stirring bar 4a is the axis 4e.
The shape is non-perpendicular to the axial direction of the ice storage box 3, that is, it is provided at an angle, and the structure is such that it can operate by expanding the stirring range, so that the side wall 3a and the bottom plate 3h of the ice storage box 3 are mutually moved by the rotation of each agitator 4. The ice that interferes with each other and is fused below the agitator 4 is reliably broken up into individual or nearly individual pieces of ice,
Since the ice is discharged from the ice discharge port 6a by the ice discharge screw 5, the ice level below each agitator 4 of the ice storage 3 falls, and the fused ice above each agitator 4 falls due to its weight. The ice cubes come into contact with the stirring rod 4a and are sequentially broken up into individual pieces of ice, and are discharged from the ice discharge port 6a by the same operation as described above.

Furthermore, by rotating the drive motor 4c clockwise and rotating the drive motor 4d counterclockwise, each of the agitators 4 has the effect of pushing ice onto the ice discharge screw 5, maximizing the ice conveyance capacity of the ice discharge screw 5. It is possible to stabilize the ice in a state close to that of ice dispensers, and it is possible to reliably break up the fused ice, which was the most difficult point in ice dispensers, and to increase the amount of ice stored.

Note that the shape of the stirring rod 4a is not limited to a straight shape, but as shown in FIG. 4, if an extension portion 4f is formed by bending the tip of the stirring rod 4a, the stirring effect can be further enhanced. I can do it.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which a pair of agitators are used, but the configuration is not limited to a pair, and if three or more are used, the agitator 4 can be provided in multiple stages depending on the height of the ice storage 3. , the stirring effect of the large ice storage 3 can be enhanced.

g. Effects of the invention The ice dispenser according to the invention has the above-mentioned configuration and function, so ice storage can be achieved by appropriately setting the distance between the agitator inside the ice storage and the side wall and bottom plate of the ice storage. Even if the ice in the ice storage unit has fused together, the agitator is used to ensure that the ice at the bottom of the ice storage unit is separated into individual or nearly individual pieces of ice, and at the same time, the ice is pushed onto the ice release screw. The lower part of the agitator is hollow, and the fused ice in the upper part comes in contact with the agitator and is broken up, so even if the ice in the ice storage unit fuses, ice release will not become impossible, and stable ice will be maintained at all times. It is possible to secure the amount of release.

Moreover, in conjunction with ice accumulation detection, for a predetermined period of time,
Since the agitator is configured to rotate, this breaks up the almost conical ice pile stored inside the ice storage box and cancels the ice storage detection, making the limited space inside the ice storage space effective. It can be used to measure the increase in ice storage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for showing the ice dispenser according to the present invention; Fig. 1 is a front view including a cross section to show the overall structure, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the main parts of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3. 4 is a control circuit diagram showing the control system, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment of the agitator, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing a conventional configuration. 1 is an ice making dispenser cabinet, 2 is an ice making mechanism, 2c is a float tank, 2d is an ice discharge port, 2e is a drive motor, 2f is a float switch, 3 is an ice storage compartment, 3d is a proximity switch, 3e is an ice storage detection Lever (ice accumulation detection part), 4 is an agitator,
4a is a stirring rod, 4b is a bearing, 4c, 4d are drive motors, 4e is a shaft, 5 is an ice discharge screw (ice delivery mechanism), 6 is a drive motor, 6a is an ice outlet, 7 is a push lever, 7a is a switch, 8 is a control circuit section, 10 is a compressor, 11 is a relay, 12
is the timer board, X ₁ is the first relay, X ₂ is the second
Relay, X ₄ is the 4th relay, X ₅ is the 5th relay, 1
3a and 13b are first input terminals, 15 is a second input terminal, 16 and 16a are water valves, 21 is an ice making plate, 21a is a grid assembly, 23
is an ice storage thermo, and 29 is an ice chute.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An agitator 4 is provided in the ice storage 3 which produces ice with the auger ice making mechanism 2 and receives and stores the produced ice from above, and the bottom 3 of the ice storage 3
In the ice dispenser having an ice delivery mechanism 5 at h, the stirring rod 4a of the agitator 4 is configured to be able to stir almost the entire area inside the ice storage 3, and the upper part of the ice storage 3. Based on the ice storage detection section 3e provided at the location and the output signal of the ice storage detection section 3e, the agitator 4
and a control circuit section 8 for operating the agitator 4 for a predetermined period of time when ice accumulation is detected by the ice accumulation detection section 3e. ice dispenser.