JPH09178316A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently store much ice in an ice storage box by making effective use of the volume of the ice storage box. SOLUTION: An ice-making pan 8 is arranged above an ice storage box 2 in a refrigerator. The ice-making pan 8 repeats the manufacture of ice and the drop of ice into the ice storage box 2. An ice-receiving plate 5 having an ice-receiving face 6 to receive the dropped ice into the ice storage box 2 is arranged on a bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2. The ice-receiving face 6 of the ice-receiving plate 5 forms an inclined surface extending from a part close to one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 to a part above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10. The ice-receiving plate 5 is elastically supported on the bottom plate 10 by an elastic member 7 so that inclination of the ice-receiving face 6 is gradually reduced due to the weight of ice stored in the ice storage box 2. An ice storage quantity detection lever 4 is arranged below the ice-making pan 8 in the ice storage box 2. The detection lever 4 is abutted on an upper part of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and when the height of the upper part of ice reaches a prescribed value, the manufacture of ice by the ice-making pan 8 is temporarily stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator with a so-called automatic ice making device, which automatically repeats the production of block-shaped ice and the dropping of the ice into an ice storage box, and more particularly relates to the ice storage. The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of efficiently storing ice in a box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows an example of a conventional refrigerator. In FIG. 10, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment 100, a freezer compartment 1 having an upper stage 1a and a lower stage 1b, and a vegetable compartment 102.
And In such a refrigerator, the refrigerator compartment 1
Open the door 105 corresponding to 00, the upper stage 1a of the freezer compartment 1
The state in which the freezer compartment upper stage 1a is pulled out is partially shown in FIG. 11, in the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 100, a chilled chamber 106 is provided on the right side when facing the front, and a tank shelf 108 for storing the water supply tank 20 is also provided on the left side. A freezing tray 109 is provided on the right side of the upper stage 1a of the freezer compartment, and an ice storage box 2 is provided on the left side. This ice storage box 2 is shown in FIG.
2 and FIG. 13, a bottom plate 10 having a rectangular planar shape
And two pairs of opposing side walls 11 to 14 extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, automatic ice making for automatically repeating the production of a plurality of blocks of ice above the ice storage box 2 and dropping the ice into the ice storage box 2. A section 3 is provided. The automatic ice making unit 3 stores the water storage tank 20 and water supplied from the water storage tank 20,
Ice tray 8 (FIG. 1) for producing a plurality of blocks of ice.
3)) and a reversing / clearing means (not shown) for reversing the ice tray 8 and dropping the ice into the ice storage box 2 (see FIG. 14 (a)). As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the ice storage amount detection lever 4 is disposed below the ice tray 8 in the ice storage box 2. This detection lever 4
Is for temporarily stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 when the ice stored in the ice storage box 2 comes into contact with the upper portion of the ice and the height of the upper portion of the ice reaches a predetermined height.

In such a conventional refrigerator, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), a plurality of block-shaped ice K repeatedly falling from the ice tray 8 of the automatic ice making unit 3 onto the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 has a mountain-like shape centered on the fall position from the ice tray 8. To stack. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, the peaks of the stacked ice K mountains substantially correspond to the positions where the ice K drops from the ice tray 8, and the height near the peaks of the ice K mountains is predetermined. When the height of the ice-making unit 3 reaches the height of 1, the operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 is stopped by the action of the detection lever 4 that abuts near the peak.

[0005]

The conventional refrigerator as described above has the following problems. That is, as described above, when the height near the summit of the ice K mountain, which substantially corresponds to the position where the ice K falls from the ice tray 8, reaches a predetermined height,
Although there is a space near the side walls 13 and 14 of the ice storage box 2 in which ice K is not yet stored, the detection lever 4 acts to stop the operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 and further ice is stored in the ice storage box. It will not be stored (see FIG. 14 (b)). Therefore, the capacity of the ice storage box 2 cannot be used effectively, and a large amount of ice cannot be stored efficiently.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively using the capacity of the ice storage box and efficiently storing a large amount of ice in the ice storage box. .

[0007]

A first means is to provide a freezing chamber, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape, which is disposed in the freezing chamber, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate. An ice storage box having, an automatic ice making section for arranging above the ice storage box, for automatically repeating the production of block-shaped ice and dropping the ice into the ice storage box, and the ice storage box of the ice storage box. An ice receiving member that is disposed on the bottom plate and has an ice receiving surface for receiving ice that has fallen into the ice storage box, and an ice receiving member that is disposed inside the ice storage box and that is above the ice stored in the ice storage box. A refrigerator provided with an ice storage amount detection body for stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit when the height of the upper part of the ice contacting it reaches a predetermined height, wherein the ice receiving member is The ice receiving surface forms an inclined surface extending from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box to above the other side of the bottom plate. Characterized in that it is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the serial ice box.

According to the first means, the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member forms an inclined surface extending from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box to above the other side of the bottom plate, so that the ice dropped in the ice storage box. Is
First, it slides down (or rolls down) on the ice receiving surface toward one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box, and begins to accumulate near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Since the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box, the inclination of the ice receiving surface gradually decreases due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box. Approaching the bottom plate. Therefore, the ice dropped by the automatic ice making unit gradually accumulates from one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box to the other side as the inclination of the ice receiving surface becomes smaller.
As a result, the ice in the ice storage box does not pile up in a mountain shape around the fall position by the automatic ice making unit, but accumulates at a substantially uniform height over the entire ice storage box, and the ice is almost distributed over the entire ice storage box. When the upper portion of the ice stacked at such a height reaches a predetermined height, the operation of the automatic ice making unit is stopped by the function of the ice storage amount detector that abuts on the upper portion. In addition, since the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box, the ice receiving member can reduce the impact caused by the falling of ice.

A second means is an ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape and disposed in the freezer compartment, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and It is placed above the ice storage box and produces block-shaped ice,
An automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the falling of the ice into the ice storage box, and an ice receiving surface provided on the bottom plate of the ice storage box for receiving the ice falling in the ice storage box. The ice receiving member having, and the automatic ice making unit, which is disposed in the ice storage box, abuts against an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and the height of the upper portion of the ice reaches a predetermined height. And an ice storage amount detecting body for stopping the operation of the ice storage member, wherein the ice receiving member has an inclination that an ice receiving surface extends from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box to above the other side of the bottom plate. It is characterized by comprising an elastic body forming a surface.

According to the second means, the ice receiving member is made of an elastic body whose inclined surface extends from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box to above the other side of the bottom plate. The weight of the ice stored in the box gradually decreases the inclination of the ice receiving surface, and approaches the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Therefore, the same effect as that of the first means can be obtained, and since the ice receiving member is made of an elastic body, the ice receiving surface itself of the ice receiving member is also elastically deformed by an external force. This allows the ice receiving member to further reduce the impact caused by the falling of the ice as compared with the first means.

A third means is an ice storage box having a freezing compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular plane shape and arranged in the freezing compartment, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, It is placed above the ice storage box and produces block-shaped ice,
An automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the dropping of this ice into the ice storage box, and an ice receiving surface provided on the bottom plate of the ice storage box for receiving the ice falling in the ice storage box. The ice receiving member having, and the automatic ice making unit, which is disposed in the ice storage box, abuts against an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and the height of the upper portion of the ice reaches a predetermined height. And an ice storage amount detector for stopping the operation of the ice receiving member, wherein the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface having a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain top of the mountain is the automatic ice making unit. It substantially corresponds to the position where the ice is dropped by and is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box.

According to the third means, the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member has a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain top of this mountain substantially corresponds to the position where the ice is dropped by the automatic ice making unit. The ice that has fallen into the box first hits the vicinity of the mountain top of the ice receiving surface, then slides down (or rolls) down the slopes on both sides of the top of the ice receiving surface, and begins to accumulate at the bottom of the slope of the ice receiving surface. Further, since the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box, the inclination of the slopes on both sides of the mountain top of the ice receiving surface gradually increases depending on the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box. It becomes smaller and approaches the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Therefore, the ice dropped by the automatic ice-making unit gradually accumulates from the slopes on both sides of the ice receiving surface toward the summit as the slopes on both sides of the mountain receiving portion decrease. As a result, the ice in the ice storage box does not pile up in a mountain shape around the fall position by the automatic ice making unit, but accumulates at a substantially uniform height over the entire ice storage box, and the ice is almost distributed over the entire ice storage box. When the upper portion of the ice stacked at such a height reaches a predetermined height, the operation of the automatic ice making unit is stopped by the function of the ice storage amount detector that abuts on the upper portion. In addition, since the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box, the ice receiving member can reduce the impact caused by the falling of ice.

A fourth means is an ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape and arranged in the freezer compartment, and two pairs of opposed side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and It is placed above the ice storage box and produces block-shaped ice,
An automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the dropping of this ice into the ice storage box, and an ice receiving surface provided on the bottom plate of the ice storage box for receiving the ice falling in the ice storage box. The ice receiving member having, and the automatic ice making unit, which is disposed in the ice storage box, abuts against an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and the height of the upper portion of the ice reaches a predetermined height. A refrigerator having an ice storage amount detector for stopping the operation of the ice receiving member, wherein the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface having a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain top of the mountain is the automatic ice making unit. It is characterized by being made of an elastic body substantially corresponding to the position where the ice is dropped by.

According to the fourth means, the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface having a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain top of this mountain substantially corresponds to the position where the ice is dropped by the automatic ice making unit. Since it is made of an elastic material, the slope of the slopes on both sides of the mountain top of the ice receiving surface gradually decreases due to the weight of ice stored in the ice storage box, and approaches the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Therefore, the same effect as the third means can be obtained, and since the ice receiving member is made of an elastic body, the ice receiving surface itself of the ice receiving member is also elastically deformed by an external force. For this reason, the impact due to the falling of the ice can be further reduced by the ice receiving member as compared with the third means.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the same components as those of the conventional example shown in FIGS.
Detailed description of the same components as those in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 will be omitted.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes a refrigerating compartment 100, and below the refrigerating compartment 100, a freezer compartment upper stage 1 is provided.
a is provided. Further, a tank shelf 108 is arranged below the refrigerating compartment 100, and an ice storage box 2 is arranged inside the upper stage 1a of the freezing compartment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice storage box 2 includes a bottom plate 10 having a rectangular planar shape, and the bottom plate 1.
0 has two pairs of opposing side walls 11 to 14 extending upward from the peripheral edge thereof.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of blocks of ice are manufactured above the ice storage box 2 and the ice storage box 2 of the ice is stored.
An automatic ice-making unit 3 is provided for automatically repeating falling and dropping. The automatic ice making unit 3 is provided with the tank shelf 10 described above.
It has a water storage tank 20 installed inside 8, and an ice tray 8 (see FIG. 2) arranged above the ice storage box 2 in the freezer compartment upper stage 1a. This ice tray 8 is a water storage tank 20.
It is for storing water supplied from the water supply pipe 21 to produce a plurality of blocks of ice. The ice tray 8 has its longitudinal direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the ice storage box 2, and is rotatable about a rotation axis 8a extending in the longitudinal direction. Then, the automatic ice-making unit 3 further reverses the ice tray 8 to the ice storage box 2 side, and twists the ice tray 8 around its rotation axis 8a so as to drop the ice into the ice storage box 2. It has ice means (not shown) (see FIG. 3A).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, a flat plate having an ice receiving surface (upper surface) 6 for receiving the ice falling in the ice storage box 2 is formed. An ice receiving plate (ice receiving member) 5 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice receiving plate 5 has an ice receiving surface 6 that is an inclined surface extending from near one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 to above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10. That is, the ice receiving plate 5 has one side 1
7 contacts one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, and the other side 18 is located above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10. Also,
An elastic member 7 such as a spring or rubber is interposed between the other side 18 of the ice receiving plate 5 and the bottom plate 10, and the elastic member 7 elastically supports the ice receiving plate 5 on the bottom plate 10. And
In the ice receiving plate 5, the inclination of the ice receiving surface 6 becomes gradually smaller due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 becomes smaller.
(See Fig. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice storage box 2
Inside, an ice storage amount detection lever 4 is disposed below the ice tray 8. The detection lever 4 is for temporarily stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 when the ice lever 2 comes into contact with the upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2 and the height of the upper portion of the ice reaches a predetermined height. Is. For example, the detection lever 4 is configured to stop the water supply from the water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 8 via a micro switch or the like corresponding to the base end portion thereof.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. According to the present embodiment, the ice receiving surface 6 of the ice receiving plate 5 is an inclined surface extending from one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 to above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10, so that FIG. As shown in the figure, the ice K dropped from the ice tray 8 onto the ice receiving surface 6 of the ice receiving plate 5 is first treated with the ice receiving surface 6
It slides down (or rolls down) toward the one side 17 of the ice receiving plate 5, and starts to store near the one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2. And the ice receiving plate 5 is the ice K stored in the ice storage box 2.
Since the inclination of the ice receiving surface 6 becomes gradually smaller due to the weight of the ice cube and approaches the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, FIG.
As shown in (c), the ice K falling from the ice tray 8 gradually accumulates from one side 15 to the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 as the inclination of the ice receiving surface 6 becomes smaller. .

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the ice K in the ice storage box 2 should be stacked in a mountain shape below the ice tray 8 (the position where the ice K is dropped by the automatic ice making unit 3). Without
When the upper portion of the ice K stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height and reaching a predetermined height, it abuts on the upper portion of the ice K stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height. The operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 is stopped by the action of the detection lever 4. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the capacity of the ice storage box 2 and efficiently store a large amount of ice K in the ice storage box 2. Also, the ice receiving plate 5 is an elastic member 7.
Since it is elastically supported on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, the ice receiving plate 5 can reduce the impact caused by the falling of the ice K. Therefore, the sound of the ice K falling into the ice storage box 2 can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 2, the maximum distance A between the other side 18 of the ice receiving plate 5 and the side wall 14 of the ice storage box 2 is set to a size such that block-shaped ice cannot pass through. There is a need. In this case, since small pieces of ice and the like may fall from between the other side 18 of the ice receiving plate 5 and the side wall 14 of the ice storage box 2 and accumulate on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 may be deposited. It is preferable that the ice receiving plate 5 can be removed from the ice storage box 2 so that the small pieces of ice accumulated on the ice can be removed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a stretchable seal made of rubber or the like is provided between the other side 18 of the ice receiving plate 5 and the side wall 14 of the ice storage box 2 to prevent a small piece of ice from falling. The member 19 may be attached.

Second Embodiment FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, instead of the ice receiving plate 5 and the elastic member 7 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an elastic ice receiver (ice receiving member) 30 is stored in the ice storage box. 2 is disposed on the bottom plate 10, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 5, the elastic ice receiver 30 is made of a very soft elastic body such as a sponge having an ice receiving surface (upper surface) 36. In addition, the ice receiving surface 3 of the elastic ice receiving body 30
Reference numeral 6 denotes an inclined surface extending from near one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 to above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10.
The elastic ice receiving body 30 is configured such that the inclination of the ice receiving surface 36 is gradually reduced due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and the elastic ice receiving body 30 approaches the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2. It should be noted that the surface including the ice receiving surface 6 of the elastic ice receiver 30 is provided with a waterproof coating or the like so that the water in which the ice melted penetrates into the elastic ice receiver 30 and is not frozen. preferable.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. According to this embodiment, the ice receiving surface 36 of the elastic ice receiving body 30 is located on the one side 1 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2.
5 forms an inclined surface extending from the vicinity of 5 to above the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10, and the elastic ice receiving body 30 gradually reduces the inclination of the ice receiving surface 36 due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and Since it approaches the bottom plate 10 of the box 2, as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The ice in the ice storage box 2 is not stacked below the ice tray 8 in a mountain shape, but is stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height. When the upper portion of the ice K stacked in step 2 reaches a predetermined height, the operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 (see FIG. 1) is stopped by the action of the detection lever 4 that is in contact with the upper portion.

Therefore, the capacity of the ice storage box 2 is effectively used,
A large amount of ice can be efficiently stored in the ice storage box 2. Further, since the elastic ice receiver 30 is made of a very soft elastic body such as sponge, the ice receiving surface 36 itself of the elastic ice receiver 30 is also elastically deformed by an external force. This allows
The elastic ice receiving body 30 can further reduce the impact caused by the falling of ice to a greater extent than the ice receiving plate 5 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the sound of ice falling into the ice storage box 2 can be further reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, instead of the ice receiving plate 5 and the elastic member 7 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an ice receiving member 50 and an elastic member 59 are provided in the ice storage box 2. It is arranged on the bottom plate 10, and other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 6, the ice receiving member 50 is composed of two flat plate ice receiving plates 51 and 52. The two ice receiving plates 51 and 52 have ice receiving surfaces (upper surfaces) 53 and 54 for receiving the ice that has fallen into the ice storage box 2, respectively.
Further, one side 55 of the ice receiving plate 51 on one side is the bottom plate 1 of the ice storage box 2.
0, one side 57 of the other ice receiving plate 52, and one side 57 of the other ice receiving plate 52 slidably abut on the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10. Also, the other side 56 of both ice receiving plates 51, 52,
58 are connected to each other above the bottom plate 10 substantially corresponding to the ice tray 8 so as to be bendably connected to each other.
Has made. Then, the ice receiving plates 5 connected to each other
The ice receiving surfaces 53, 54 of the 1, 52 (ice receiving member 50) have a mountain-shaped (triangular) cross-sectional shape as a whole, and mountain-shaped peaks (connecting portions) 56, 58 of the mountain-shaped portions are formed from the ice tray 8. It almost corresponds to the position where the ice falls.

An elastic member 59 such as a spring or rubber is interposed between the connecting portions 56 and 58 of the ice receiving member 50 and the bottom plate 10, and the connecting portions 56 and 58 are placed on the bottom plate 10 by the elastic member 59. It is elastically supported. Then, the ice receiving member 50 is gradually changed depending on the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2.
The inclination of the ice receiving surfaces 53, 54 becomes smaller, and the height of the mountain tops (connecting portions) 56, 58 becomes lower, so that the ice storage box 2
It is designed to approach the bottom plate 10 (see FIG. 7). The width of the ice receiving plates 51, 52 is equal to the width of the ice receiving plates 51, 5
In the process of 2 approaching the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, one side 55, 57 is sized so as not to hit the side walls 13, 14 of the ice storage box 2 (see FIG. 7).

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. According to this embodiment, the ice receiving surfaces 53 and 54 of the ice receiving member 50 have a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape as a whole, and the mountain-shaped peaks 56 and 58 of the mountain-shaped portions are formed.
7 corresponds to the position where the ice falls from the ice tray 8, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the ice K dropped from the ice tray 8 onto the ice receiving surfaces 53, 54 of the ice receiving member 50 first receives the ice receiving surfaces 53, 5.
After hitting the vicinity of the mountain peaks 56, 58 of No. 4, the ice receiving surfaces (slopes) 53, 54 on both sides of the mountain peaks 56, 58
Sliding down (or rolling down), each ice receiving plate 51,
It starts to accumulate near one side 55, 57 of 52.

In the ice receiving member 50, the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2 gradually reduces the inclination of the ice receiving surfaces 53 and 54, and the height of the peaks 56 and 58 of the ice receiving members 50 decreases, so that the ice receiving member 50 is stored. As it approaches the bottom plate 10 of the box 2, FIG.
As shown in (a) to (c), the ice K falling from the ice tray 8 successively has one side 55, 57 (each of the ice receiving plates 51, 52 as the inclination of the ice receiving surfaces 53, 54 becomes smaller. It accumulates from both sides 15, 16) of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 toward the connecting portions 56, 58.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the ice K in the ice storage box 2 should be stacked in a mountain shape below the ice tray 8 (the position where the ice K is dropped by the automatic ice making unit 3). Without
When the upper portion of the ice K stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height and reaching a predetermined height, it abuts on the upper portion of the ice K stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height. The operation of the automatic ice making unit 3 (see FIG. 1) is stopped by the action of the detection lever 4. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the capacity of the ice storage box 2 and efficiently store a large amount of ice K in the ice storage box 2. Further, since the ice receiving plates 51, 52 of the ice receiving member 50 are elastically supported on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 by the elastic member 59, the ice receiving plates 51, 52 reduce the impact caused by the falling of the ice K. can do. Therefore, the sound of the ice K falling into the ice storage box 2 can be reduced.

The case where the connecting portions 56, 58 of the ice receiving plates 51, 52 of the ice receiving member 50 are supported by the elastic member 59 has been described, but the ice receiving plates 51, 52 of the ice receiving member 50 will be described. You may make it support by each independent elastic member.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, instead of the ice receiving plate 5 and the elastic member 7 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an elastic ice receiving plate 70 is provided on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2. It is arranged in
Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 8, the elastic ice receiving plate 70 has an ice receiving surface (upper surface) 7 for receiving ice falling in the ice storage box 2.
6 has an extremely soft and elastic metal plate or plastic plate. The elastic ice receiving plate 70 has a mountain-shaped (arch-shaped) cross-sectional shape, and the mountain-shaped peak 7
3 corresponds to the position where the ice falls from the ice tray 8. Further, one side 74 of the elastic ice receiving plate 70 is attached to the ice storage box 2
Near the one side 15 of the bottom plate 10 of the
5 are slidably in contact with the other side 16 of the bottom plate 10.

The elastic ice receiving plate 70 is gradually increased in weight depending on the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2 on the mountain top portion 7 of the ice receiving surface 76.
As the slopes of the slopes 77 and 78 on both sides become smaller,
The height of the mountain top 73 is lowered, and the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 is
Is getting closer to. The elastic ice receiving plate 7
The width of 0 is set such that both sides 74 and 75 of the elastic ice receiving plate 70 do not abut against the side walls 13 and 14 of the ice storage box 2 when the elastic ice receiving plate 70 approaches the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. According to the present embodiment, the elastic ice receiving plate 70 has a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain-shaped peak portion 73 substantially corresponds to the position where the ice falls from the ice tray 8, and The ice plate 70 gradually decreases in inclination of the slopes 77 and 78 on both sides of the mountain top portion 73 of the ice receiving surface 76 due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and the height of the mountain top portion 73 becomes low, and Since it is adapted to approach the bottom plate 10 of the box 2, the ice in the ice storage box 2 is piled up below the ice tray 8 as in the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. When the upper part of the ice K stacked on the whole ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height reaches a predetermined height without stacking in a fixed shape, ,
The automatic ice making unit 3 is operated by the action of the detection lever 4 which is in contact with the upper portion thereof.
The operation (see FIG. 1) is stopped.

Therefore, the capacity of the ice storage box 2 is effectively used,
A large amount of ice can be efficiently stored in the ice storage box 2. Further, since the elastic ice receiving plate 70 is made of a metal plate or a plastic plate that is extremely soft and rich in elasticity, the elastic ice receiving plate 7
A value of 0 can mitigate the impact of falling ice. Therefore, the sound of ice falling into the ice storage box 2 can be reduced.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, instead of the ice receiving plate 5 and the elastic member 7 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an elastic ice receiver 90 is placed on the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2. It is arranged in
Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 9, the elastic ice receiver 90 is made of a very soft elastic body such as a sponge having an ice receiving surface (upper surface) 96. The ice receiving surface 96 of this elastic ice receiving body 90
Has a mountain-shaped (arch-shaped) cross-sectional shape, and the mountain-shaped peak portion 93 substantially corresponds to the position where the ice falls from the ice tray 8. Also, the mountain-shaped peak 9 of the ice receiving surface 96
The slopes 97, 98 on the three sides extend to both sides 15, 16 of the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2, respectively.

The elastic ice receiving body 90 gradually increases in weight depending on the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2 on the mountain top portion 9 of the ice receiving surface 36.
3 As the slopes of the slopes 97 and 98 on both sides become smaller,
The height of the mountain top 93 is lowered, and the bottom plate 10 of the ice storage box 2 is
Is getting closer to. The elastic ice receiver 9
It is preferable that the surface of No. 0 has a waterproof coating or the like so that the water in which the ice melted penetrates into the elastic ice receiver 90 and is not frozen.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described. According to this embodiment, the ice receiving surface 96 of the elastic ice receiver 90 has a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the mountain-shaped peak portion 93 substantially corresponds to the position where the ice falls from the ice tray 8, In the elastic ice receiver 90, the slopes 97 and 98 on both sides of the mountain top portion 93 of the ice receiving surface 36 gradually decrease due to the weight of the ice stored in the ice storage box 2, and the height of the mountain top portion 93 decreases. Therefore, the ice in the ice storage box 2 is piled up below the ice tray 8 as in the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. When the upper portion of the ice K stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height reaches a predetermined height, the ice storage boxes 2 are stacked on the entire ice storage box 2 at a substantially uniform height without being stacked in a uniform shape. , The detection lever 4 abutting on the upper part of the automatic ice making unit 3 (see FIG.
(See) is stopped.

Therefore, the capacity of the ice storage box 2 is effectively used,
A large amount of ice can be efficiently stored in the ice storage box 2. Further, since the elastic ice receiver 90 is made of a very soft elastic body such as sponge, the ice receiving surface 96 itself of the elastic ice receiver 90 is also elastically deformed by an external force. This allows
By the elastic ice receiver 90, the impact due to the falling of ice can be alleviated further than in the case of the third and fourth embodiments. Therefore, the sound of ice falling into the ice storage box 2 can be further reduced as compared with the third and fourth embodiments.

[0044]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the ice in the ice storage box does not have to be piled up in a mountain shape around the dropping position by the automatic ice making unit, and has a substantially uniform height. Then, when the upper part of the ice stacked on the entire ice storage box at a substantially uniform height reaches a predetermined height, the ice storage amount detector contacting the upper part of the ice storage works to activate the automatic ice making part. Is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the capacity of the ice storage box and efficiently store a large amount of ice in the ice storage box.

According to the invention of claim 1 or 3, the ice receiving member has its ice receiving surface elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Can be relaxed. Therefore, the sound of ice falling into the ice storage box can be reduced.

According to the second or fourth aspect of the invention, since the ice receiving member is made of an elastic body, the ice receiving surface of the ice receiving member itself is elastically deformed by an external force. Due to this, the impact due to the falling of the ice by the ice receiving member is prevented.
Alternatively, it can be alleviated to a greater extent than the invention described in 3. For this reason, the sound of the ice falling into the ice storage box may be generated.
Alternatively, it can be made smaller than the invention described in 3.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a third embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a fourth embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a fifth embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional refrigerator.

11 is a perspective view showing a main part of the conventional example shown in FIG.

12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the conventional example shown in FIG.

13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation of the conventional example shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Freezer 2 Ice storage box 3 Automatic ice making unit 4 Ice storage amount detection lever 5 Ice receiving plate (ice receiving member) 6,36,53,54,76,96 Ice receiving surface 7,59 Elastic member 8 Ice tray 10 Bottom plate 30, 90 elastic ice receiver (ice receiving member) 50 ice receiving member 51, 52 ice receiving plate 56, 58 connecting portion (mountain top) 70 elastic ice receiving plate (ice receiving member) 73, 93 mountain top

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape and arranged in the freezer compartment, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and above the ice storage box. And an automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the production of block-shaped ice and the dropping of the ice into the ice storage box, and the ice storage box disposed on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. An ice receiving member having an ice receiving surface for receiving ice falling therein, and an ice receiving member disposed in the ice storage box, abutting on an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and a height of an upper portion of the ice is predetermined. And an ice storage amount detection body for stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit when the height of the ice storage member is reached, the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box. The bottom plate has an inclined surface extending to the other side and is elastically supported on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. Refrigerator, characterized in that. 2. An ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape and arranged in the freezer compartment, and two pairs of opposed side walls extending upward from a peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and above the ice storage box. And an automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the production of block-shaped ice and the dropping of the ice into the ice storage box, and the ice storage box disposed on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. An ice receiving member having an ice receiving surface for receiving ice falling therein, and an ice receiving member disposed in the ice storage box, abutting on an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and a height of an upper portion of the ice is predetermined. And an ice storage amount detection body for stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit when the height of the ice storage member is reached, the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface from near one side of the bottom plate of the ice storage box. A refrigerator comprising an elastic body having an inclined surface extending to the upper side of the other side of the bottom plate. 3. An ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate having a rectangular planar shape and arranged in the freezer compartment, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and above the ice storage box. And an automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the production of block-shaped ice and the dropping of the ice into the ice storage box, and the ice storage box disposed on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. An ice receiving member having an ice receiving surface for receiving ice falling therein, and an ice receiving member disposed in the ice storage box, abutting on an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and a height of an upper portion of the ice is predetermined. And an ice storage amount detector for stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit when the height of the ice receiving member is reached, the ice receiving member of the ice receiving member has a chevron cross-sectional shape. The mountaintop of the Yamagata roughly corresponds to the position where the ice is dropped by the automatic ice making unit, and the top of the ice storage box has a bullet. Refrigerator, characterized in that it is to support. 4. An ice storage box having a freezer compartment, a bottom plate arranged in the freezer compartment and having a rectangular planar shape, and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate, and above the ice storage box. And an automatic ice making unit for automatically repeating the production of block-shaped ice and the dropping of the ice into the ice storage box, and the ice storage box disposed on the bottom plate of the ice storage box. An ice receiving member having an ice receiving surface for receiving ice falling therein, and an ice receiving member disposed in the ice storage box, abutting on an upper portion of the ice stored in the ice storage box, and a height of an upper portion of the ice is predetermined. And an ice storage amount detector for stopping the operation of the automatic ice making unit when the height of the ice receiving member is reached, the ice receiving member has an ice receiving surface having a chevron cross-sectional shape, The mountain top of the mountain shape is made of an elastic body that substantially corresponds to the position where the ice is dropped by the automatic ice making unit. The refrigerator.