JP2753079B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerator adapted to selectively perform automatic ice making and automatic ice cream production.

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice making device is the real
The contents are described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, which is composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. 5
Is a partition wall which partitions the inside of the refrigerator main body 1 up and down, and forms a freezer compartment 6 at an upper portion and a refrigerator compartment 7 at a lower portion. Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooler of a refrigerating cycle housed on the back of the freezing room 6, and reference numeral 9 denotes a blower for forcibly ventilating the cool air cooled by the cooler 8 to the freezing room 6 and the refrigerating room 7. Reference numeral 10 denotes a compressor of a refrigeration cycle housed at the rear of the bottom of the refrigerator main body 1.

Next, reference numeral 11 denotes an automatic ice making device comprising a water supply device 12 provided in the refrigerator compartment 7, a driving device 13, a flexible ice tray 14, and an ice storage box 15 provided in the freezer compartment 6. Here, the water supply device 12 is a detachable water supply tank 16 for supplying water for ice making, a water storage tray 17 for temporarily storing water from the water supply tank 16, and water received in the water storage plate 17. It comprises a water supply pump 18 for pumping water and a water supply pipe 19. The ice making tray 14 has a support shaft 20 connected and fixed to the center of the
13 and the frame 21 formed in a substantially U-shape, the support shaft 20
Are pivotally supported around the center of the shaft. Incidentally, 22
Is a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the driving device 13 to deform and deform the ice tray 14 so that ice is removed, and 23 denotes the ice tray 14 so as to contact the stopper 22.
This is the backing plate attached above.

In such a configuration, when the water supply tank 16 filled with water is set at a predetermined position by the user, the water storage tray 17
, Water is supplied into the ice tray 14 through the water supply pipe 19 by operating the water supply pump 18. The water filled in the ice tray 14 in a predetermined amount in this manner is frozen by the cooling action in the freezer 6 to generate ice. When the ice making is completed, the ice tray 14 is rotated around the support shaft 20 by the driving device 13, and the ice tray 14 is distorted and deformed by the abutment plate 23 coming into contact with the stopper 22, whereby the ice is released. . Also, the ice that has been separated falls into an ice storage box 15 provided below the ice tray 14 and is stored, and the ice tray 14 after the ice removal operation returns to its original state by the reverse rotation of the drive unit 13. I do. Thereafter, this operation is repeated until the water in the water supply tank 16 is used up to automatically perform ice making and ice storage.

On the other hand, an example of an automatic ice cream production apparatus is shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-18780, and although not particularly shown, a dedicated drive motor is provided in the freezing room to rotate the stirring blades, and the inside of the container is rotated. The ice cream mix is agitated to produce an ice cream.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in these examples, a dedicated driving device is required for each of automatic ice making and automatic ice cream production.

On the other hand, in recent years, the use of ice has been expanding from the use of merely cooling food and drink to the use as a material for creating a dining table, in conjunction with the trend of high-grade eating habits, gourmet orientation, and handmade orientation. There is a growing need for automatic ice making equipment that can use large amounts of ice without any hassle. Also,
Ranked 2nd among Japanese favorite items (according to NHK questionnaire survey in 1984), recently responded to their own preference for ice cream, which has been increasing in chain stores, especially in urban areas. It is thought that there is enough need to make homemade ice cream at home.

Against this background, it is conceivable that both the functions of automatic ice making and automatic ice cream production may be provided to meet these needs as part of the enhancement of the functionality of refrigerators. However, there is a problem that the product cost is increased and the space in the freezer compartment is occupied correspondingly, so that the effective space is reduced.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the refrigerator of the present invention shares a driving device with an automatic ice making device provided in a freezing room, swings repeatedly by this driving device, and makes a first swing of the bottom portion. Props,
An automatic ice cream including an agitating blade composed of a second support provided at an interval above the agitating blade and a container having an upper surface opened and having a bottom surface curved so as to match the movement locus of the agitating blade; The apparatus can be selectively used by exchanging an ice tray and a stirring blade and an ice storage box and a container.

According to the present invention, when an automatic ice cream manufacturing device is used, the stirring device is attached to a driving device for the automatic ice making device, and a container for ice cream manufacturing is set instead of the ice storage box. When the is operated, the ice cream mix (the dough with mixed ingredients) is cooled through the container, and is stirred by the swinging motion of the stirring blade, and at the same time, the exchanging section between the first support and the second support of the stirring blade. The mixture containing air flowing backward from the rear and the mixture flowing backward after climbing over the second support post contain air, and thereafter, ice cream is produced over time.

Embodiment A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different portions will be described.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a driving device of the automatic ice making device 11 provided in the freezing compartment 6, in which a driving motor 24, a plurality of reduction gears 25 for transmitting this rotational force, and one of the reduction gears 25 are provided. A magnet 26 attached to the outer periphery of the two gears and a rotational position detecting device 29 composed of two reed switches 27 and 28 provided on the rotational locus of the magnet 26 are accommodated. By the operation of the device 29, a signal for switching between forward rotation and reverse rotation of the drive motor 24 is extracted.

Numeral 30 is a stirring blade that has one end penetrated by the final end gear of the reduction gear 25 in the driving device 13 and the other end penetrated by the frame 21 instead of the ice tray 14 of the automatic ice making device 11,
It is composed of an arm portion 31, a first column 32a provided on the bottom surface portion, and a second column 32b provided above the first column 32a. Reference numeral 33 denotes a container for producing ice cream made of metal such as aluminum, which is installed in place of the ice storage box 15 of the automatic ice making device 11, and the bottom surface having an open upper surface corresponds to the movement trajectory of the first support 32a of the stirring blade 30. It has a curved surface shape. The driving device 13, the frame 21, the stirring blade 30, and the container 33 constitute an automatic ice cream production device 34. 35 is a mix of ice cream put in the container 33 (for example,
The dough is a mixture of materials such as egg yolk, fresh cream, milk, vanilla essence, and granulated sugar.

In such a configuration, when the mix 35 is put into the container 33 and the drive device 13 is operated, the drive motor 24 starts rotating, and the reduction gear 25 also rotates in conjunction with this. Reduction gear 25
When is rotated, the stirring blade 30 connected to the final stage gear starts swinging. When the reduction gear 25 continues to rotate and the magnet 26 comes to a position facing the reed switch 27, the signal from the reed switch 27 temporarily stops the movement of the drive motor 24 and starts to rotate in the opposite direction. At this time, the first support 32a and the second support 32b of the stirring blade 30 are located at the ridgeline between the curved surface and the side surface of the bottom surface of the container 33. Then, when the reduction gear 25 rotates in the reverse direction and the magnet 26 comes to a position facing the reed switch 28, the drive motor 24 is temporarily stopped by a signal from the reed switch 28, and the rotation is again reversed in the forward direction. . At this time, the first support 32a and the second support 32b of the stirring blade 30 are located at the other ridgeline between the curved bottom surface and the side surface of the container 33. As described above, the operation of the rotation position detecting device 29 causes the drive motor 24 to rotate at a constant rotational speed and
In this case, the normal reversal is repeated within a certain rotation angle range. In response to this movement, the stirring blade 30 also repeats the swing operation at a certain angle. For this reason, the mix 35 of the container 33 is displaced by the first support 32a and the second support 32b of the stirring blade 30, and a part of the mix 35 flows backward from the space between the first support and the second support. Fall. The remaining mix 35 flows over the second strut and flows backward. The space formed between the mixes 35 flowing out from both the upper and lower sides is sealed, so that air is contained in the mix 35. This state is shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the container 33 is under a freezing atmosphere in the freezing compartment 6 and is sufficiently cooled because it is made of metal. Freezing of water proceeds on the wall surface, and ice crystals are generated. The mix 35 in contact with the inner wall surface of the container 33 in which the freezing is proceeding is scraped by the swinging motion of the first support 32a of the stirring blade 30 while being stirred and mixed together with the action of the second support 32b. As the mixing proceeds, the temperature of the mix 35 also decreases, and ice crystals are dispersed to increase the viscosity, thereby further promoting the inclusion of air. At the same time, the mix 35 is cooled down to the freezing temperature zone (depending on the material composition, but generally around -5 ° C.) with the protein, fat globules, ice crystals, bubbles and the like dispersed by the stirring action, and the so-called smooth mouthfeel is obtained. It becomes a state of soft ice cream. And
A desired ice cream can be obtained by further freezing from this state.

For this reason, the automatic ice making device 11 and the automatic ice cream producing device 34 can be used by a single refrigerator according to the selection of the user, and the function of the refrigerator can be enhanced at a low product cost. Further, the space in the freezing room 6 is not wasted.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the driving device of the automatic ice making device is commonly used as the driving device of the automatic ice cream production device, it is possible to provide a high-performance refrigerator having both functions at a low product cost.

(2) If the set of the stirring blades and the container for the automatic ice cream manufacturing device is made an optional sales form, the consumers who do not necessarily desire both functions are not forced to waste money, and the consumers can be used. There is a lot of room for selecting functions.

(3) The ineffective space in the freezer compartment can be reduced, and the usability of the freezer compartment is improved.

(4) An ice cream mix flowing backward from the space between the first support provided on the bottom surface of the stirring blade and the second support provided at a distance from the first support, and over the second support after passing over the second support. The air layer formed between the mix flowing out and falling is confined, and the mix contains sufficient air to obtain a smooth-mouthed ice cream.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ice cream manufacturing apparatus provided in a refrigerator showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the automatic ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the driving device of the automatic ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of stirring the ice cream mix, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator provided with an automatic ice making device showing a conventional example, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the automatic ice making device. 6… Freezer, 7… Refrigerator, 11… Automatic ice making equipment, 12
…… Water supply device, 13 …… Drive device, 14 …… Ice tray, 15 ……
Ice storage box, 24 Drive motor, 25 Reduction gear, 30 Stirrer blade, 32a First stirrer blade support, 32b Second stirrer blade support, 33 Container, 34 Automatic Ice cream production equipment.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A freezing room, a refrigerating room, a water supply device provided in the refrigerating room, a driving device including a drive motor and a reduction gear provided in the freezing room, and an ice making device which is rotated and inverted by the driving device. An automatic ice making device comprising a dish and an ice storage box provided below the ice making tray; a first strut provided at the bottom, which repeatedly swings by the driving device, and a space above the first strut. A stirrer which is replaced with the ice tray, and a container which is replaced with the ice storage box having a curved bottom surface in accordance with the movement trajectory of the stirring blade and having an open upper surface. And an automatic ice cream manufacturing apparatus, comprising: