JPH11304323A - Water supplier of automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with periodic cleaning by using a used pet bottle for drink as a water supply tank, at the inside of an opening and closing door, and a water receiving container, which receives water flowing down from the water supply tank and supplies it to an ice making container, with a waterproof cover. SOLUTION: A water supplier is provided with a water supply tank 9 consisting of a used pet bottle for drink, capably of mounting and removal, along the inside of the opening and closing door 7 at the front of a refrigerator 3, and a pocket part 8 is made at the lower part of the inside of the opening and closing door 7, corresponding to the water inlet of the water supply tank 9, and a measuring cup 13 for one time of water supply and a water supply plug 14 are positioned in the pocket 8. Then, this is provided with a waterproof cover 18 which waterproofs a solenoid valve 17, under a water receiving pan 10 which receives the water flowing down from the measuring cup 13 when the water stop plug 14 is pushed up and supplies water to an ice making container 12 through a water supply pipe 11 piercing a partition wall 2 from an outlet 10c when the opening and closing door 7 is closed. Hereby, the water supply tank 9 can be replaced easily so the periodic cleaning can be dispensed with.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for an automatic ice maker mounted on a refrigerator, and more particularly to a method for supplying used beverage PET bottles detachably provided on the inner surface of an opening / closing door. The present invention relates to a structure that can be used as a tank, and a structure that can protect a waterproof cover that waterproofs an electromagnetic valve provided in a water receiver that receives water flowing down from the water supply tank and supplies water to an ice making container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some refrigerators have a freezer compartment provided below a refrigerator compartment. In this type of refrigerator, water is supplied to an ice making container of an automatic ice maker disposed in a freezing room from a water supply device provided in an upper refrigerator room. FIG. 2 (A)
FIG. 2 (B) shows an example of this, in which the inside of the refrigerator main body 1 is vertically divided by a partition wall 2, and a water supply device arranged side by side in a chilled room 4 in a refrigerator room 3 partitioned at the top. In addition, water is supplied to an ice making container 12 of an automatic ice maker disposed in a freezing room 5 partitioned at a lower portion, and a pocket portion 8 is provided on an inner surface on a front surface of the refrigeration room 3. An opening / closing door 7 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 6.

The water supply device is provided with a water supply tank 9 having a measuring cup 13 and a water stopcock 14 for collecting water for one ice making which flows from an opening 21 and a water stopcock 14 from a control unit (not shown). A solenoid valve 17 having a shaft 16 that pushes up against a biasing force of a spring body 20 based on a command, and receives water flowing down from the measuring cup 13 when the water stopcock 14 is pushed up, and a lower water outlet 10c.
And a water receiver 10 configured to supply water from the connected water supply pipe 11 to the ice making container 12, and a water outlet 10c of the water receiver 10.
The upper opening is provided with a float a that floats with the water flowing down from the measuring cup 13 and a cylindrical float fitting b that accommodates the float a. The float a is attached except when the ice making container 12 is supplied with water. The upper portion of the water outlet 10c is closed by a to prevent the cool air in the freezer compartment 5 from leaking to the refrigerator compartment 3 side. An elastic waterproof cover 15 for preventing water leakage to the electromagnetic valve 17 side is attached to the opening of the water receiver 10 above the electromagnetic valve 17.

However, since the water supply device is arranged side by side in the chilled chamber 4, the volume of the chilled chamber 4 is limited, or the water supply tank 9 is closed.
There is a problem that it is troublesome to periodically clean the. Further, the waterproof cover 15 is provided with the stopcock.
There is a possibility that the shaft will be damaged when it is rapidly pushed up by the shaft 16 of the solenoid valve 17 together with the shaft 14. Further, the configuration using the float a and the float fixture b as described above is disadvantageous in cost because it takes time for assembly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, in the present invention, there is provided a structure in which a used plastic bottle for drinks which is detachably provided on an inner surface of an opening / closing door can be used as a water supply tank. A water receiver for receiving water flowing down from the water supply tank and supplying water to an ice making container, wherein a waterproof cover for waterproofing an electromagnetic valve provided in a water receiver can be protected. With the goal.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a water supply device disposed in a refrigerator compartment partitioned by an upper part by a partition wall and an automatic refrigerator disposed in a freezer compartment partitioned by a lower part. A water supply tank for supplying water to an ice making container of an ice making machine, wherein the water supply device comprises a used drinking PET bottle detachably provided along an inner surface of an opening / closing door that opens and closes the front of the refrigerator compartment. And a positioning means for positioning in a pocket formed in the lower part of the inner surface of the opening and closing door, a measuring cup and a water stopcock for one water supply. Receiving the water flowing down from the measuring cup when pushing up the water stopcock, and closing the opening / closing door, the ice making container through a water supply pipe penetrating the partition wall from a water outlet provided at the bottom. Like watering Water receptacle comprising Te, and the solenoid valve the water receptacle of the provided in the lower portion, is protruded a shaft body for pushing up the stop cock from the opening formed in the water receptacle,
It is configured to include an elastic waterproof cover attached to the opening.

Further, the engaging means includes a female screw portion corresponding to a male screw portion for a cap formed in the water inlet, and a guide provided on an upper portion of the water receiver so as to be continuous with the measuring cup. It consists of a water tube.

Further, the positioning means includes a through hole formed in the bottom of the pocket portion corresponding to a lower portion of the water receiver, and an outer periphery of the water receiver corresponding to an upper surface of a peripheral portion of the through hole. And a flange provided on a portion of the through hole, the flange being in contact with the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the through hole into which the lower portion of the water receiver is inserted, and the water receiver being positioned in the pocket portion. .

Further, the water outlet is formed in a tapered shape.

[0010] In addition, the upper part of the water supply pipe is expanded to face the water outlet.

Further, a support portion for supporting the water supply tank is provided on the inner surface of the opening / closing door.

Further, the support portion is formed continuously with an inner surface of the opening / closing door, and is constituted by a pair of support pieces that sandwich the outer shape of the water supply tank.

In addition, a protective member having elasticity is provided between the inside of the waterproof cover and the shaft of the solenoid valve opposed to the waterproof cover. It is configured to be protected from being damaged when it is rapidly pushed up by the shaft.

Further, the protection member is formed in a sheet shape and attached to the inside of the waterproof cover.

Further, the protection member is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and mounted on a shaft of the solenoid valve.

Further, the protective member is made of a synthetic resin having a polymer structure.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below as examples based on the attached drawings. 1 (A) to 1 (C), reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, and 2 denotes a main body 1 of the refrigerator.
A partition wall 3 vertically partitions the inside, 3 is a refrigerated room partitioned in the upper part of the main body 1 by the partition wall 2, 4 is a chilled room provided in the refrigerator room 3, and 5 is a chilled room provided by the partition wall 2. A freezer compartment defined below the refrigerator compartment 3, a door 7 for opening and closing the front of the refrigerator compartment 3 with a support shaft 6, a pocket 8 provided at a lower portion of the inner surface of the door 7, and a reference numeral 9. A water supply tank made of a used drinking plastic bottle detachably provided along the inner surface of the opening / closing door 7, and an engagement means 10 for detachably engaging with a water inlet of the water supply tank 9. It is provided with positioning means for positioning in the pocket portion 8, a measuring cup 13 for one water supply, and a water stopcock 14, and receives water flowing down from the measuring cup 13 when the water stopcock 14 is pushed up to open and close. A water outlet provided at the bottom when the door 7 is closed
A water receiver 17 for supplying water to the ice making container 12 from a water supply pipe 11 through a water supply pipe 11 penetrating the partition wall 2 is provided at a lower portion of the water receiver 10, and is formed in the water receiver 10. An electromagnetic valve having a shaft 16 protruding from the opening to push up the water stopcock 14 against the urging force of the spring body 20. An electromagnetic valve 18 is attached to the opening to extend and contract to waterproof the electromagnetic valve 17. Waterproof cover.

As described above, the water supply tank 9 is composed of a used beverage plastic bottle, and is provided detachably along an inner surface of an opening / closing door 7 for opening and closing the front of the refrigerator compartment 3. The water receiver 10 is configured so as to be positioned in the pocket portion 8 so as to face the water supply tank 9, whereby the volume of the chilled chamber 4 is increased as in the above-described conventional technique. At the same time, the water supply tank 9 made of a plastic bottle can be easily attached and detached and easily replaced, so that it is troublesome to periodically clean the water supply tank 9. It is a structure that can be solved.

Further, the engaging means includes a female screw portion 10a corresponding to a male screw portion 9a for a cap formed at a water inlet of the beverage container, and is connected to the measuring cup 13 so as to be continuous.
It has a configuration consisting of a water guide pipe provided on the upper part of the water receiver 10, whereby the male screw portion 9a of the water inlet is provided.
Can be accurately engaged by screwing into the female screw portion 10a of the water pipe, and by removing the male screw portion 9a from the female screw portion 10a, the water supply tank 9 composed of a PET bottle can be easily formed. The structure is such that it can be separated.

[0020] The positioning means may include the water receiver.
A through hole 8b formed on the bottom surface 8a of the pocket portion 8 corresponding to the lower portion of the pocket 10; and a flange 10b provided on the outer peripheral portion of the water receiver 10 corresponding to the upper peripheral portion of the through hole 8b. And the flange 10b is brought into contact with the upper surface of the periphery of the through hole 8b into which the lower portion of the water receiver 10 is inserted, so that the water receiver 10 is positioned in the pocket portion 8. As a result, the water receiver 10 can be accurately positioned on the bottom surface 8a of the pocket portion 8.

The water outlet 10c is tapered so that the water in the water receiver 10 can be smoothly guided from the water outlet 10c to the water supply pipe 11 when the door 7 is closed. The configuration is as follows.

The upper part of the water supply pipe 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (C), the water receiving port 10c is expanded by facing the water outlet 10c.
The internal water is guided more smoothly from the water outlet 10c to the water supply pipe 11.

Further, a support portion for supporting the water supply tank 9 made of a plastic bottle is provided on the inner surface of the opening / closing door 7, so that the water supply tank 9 can be more accurately supported. .

Further, a supporting portion for supporting the water supply tank 9 composed of a PET bottle is formed continuously on the inner surface of the opening and closing door 7 and comprises a pair of support pieces 23 for holding the outer shape of the water supply tank 9. Thus, the water supply tank 9 can be more accurately supported by a cost-effective structure.

Next, the operation of the water supply device composed of the water supply tank 9 composed of a PET bottle and the water receiver 10 will be described. The water receiver 10 shown in FIG.
This shows a state in which the water stopcock 14 moves downward and water for one time of water supply flows into the measuring cup 13 from the opening 21, while the water outlet 10 c is closed by the lid 19. Then, ice is being made in the ice making container 12. During ice making, the energization of the solenoid valve 17 is stopped by a command from a control unit (not shown).
In this state, since the water stopcock 14 is pushed down by the spring body 20, no water leaks from the measuring cup 13 and the waterproof cover 18 is in a contracted state. Therefore, the water outlet 10c is closed by the lid 19, and the leakage of cool air from the freezer compartment 5 to the refrigerator compartment 3 is shut off. In the water receiver 10 shown in FIG. 1 (C), the water stopcock 14 moves upward to close the opening 21 to prevent water from flowing into the measuring cup 13, while the lid 19 This shows a state in which the water outlet 10c is open. In this state, water for one supply of water flows into the ice making container 12 from the measuring cup 13. This is because when the ice making operation is completed and the ice making container is empty, the electromagnetic valve 17 is energized by a command from a control unit (not shown), so that the waterproof cover 18 and the water stopcock 14 are not supplied. Is pushed up to the position shown in FIG. 1C by the shaft 16.
Along with this, the water outlet 10c is opened,
Since the stopcock 14 moves upward, the measuring cup 13
The water flows down into the water receiver 10, and at this time, the upper part of the water stopcock 14 closes the opening 21 on the upper part of the measuring cup 13, so that the water is measured from the water supply tank 9 made of a plastic bottle. There is no water flow to the cup 13, and water for one ice making flows down to the ice making container 12.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the inside of the waterproof cover 18 and the shaft of the solenoid valve 17 facing the inside of the waterproof cover 18.
A protective member 22 having an appropriate elasticity is provided between the shaft 16 and the waterproof cover 18 to protect the waterproof cover 18 from being damaged when the waterproof cover 18 is rapidly pushed up by the shaft 16 together with the water stopcock 14. With this configuration, the waterproof cover 15 can be protected from being damaged when it is quickly pushed up by the shaft 13 together with the water stopcock 7.

Further, since the protective member 22 is formed in a sheet shape and attached to the inside of the waterproof cover 18, the waterproof cover 18 is quickly pushed up by the shaft 16 together with the water stopcock 14. In this case, the protective member 22 formed in a sheet shape and having appropriate elasticity is deformed together with the elastic deformation of the waterproof cover 18 so that the waterproof cover 18 can be effectively protected from being damaged. The configuration is as follows.

Further, since the protective member 22 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and is mounted on the shaft 16 of the solenoid valve 17, the waterproof cover 18 and the water stopcock 14 are quickly moved by the shaft 16. When pushed up, the coaxial body 16 and the waterproof cover
The structure is such that the inside of the waterproof cover 18 is not directly in contact with the waterproof cover 18 so that the waterproof cover 18 can be effectively protected from being damaged.

Further, by forming the protective member 22 from a synthetic resin having a high molecular structure such as polyacetal, for example, the protective member 22 having high strength and high durability is provided.
Thus, the waterproof cover 18 can be more effectively protected from being damaged.

With the above configuration, FIGS.
As shown in (C), the water supply tank 9 is made up of a used beverage plastic bottle, and is provided detachably along an inner surface of an opening / closing door 7 that opens and closes the front of the refrigerator compartment 3. Since the water receiver 10 is positioned in the pocket portion 8 so as to face the water supply tank 9, the volume of the chilled chamber 4 is limited as in the prior art described above. At the same time, the water supply tank 9 made of a plastic bottle can be easily attached and detached and easily replaced, so that the problem that periodic cleaning becomes troublesome can be solved. It becomes the water supply device of the machine.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a structure in which a used beverage PET bottle detachably provided on the inner surface of the opening / closing door can be used as a water supply tank.
A water receiver for receiving water flowing down from the water supply tank and supplying the water to the ice making container with a structure capable of protecting a waterproof cover for waterproofing an electromagnetic valve provided in the water receiver.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a water supply device of an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention, wherein (A) is a perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator equipped with the water supply device, and (B) is a closed water outlet of a water receiver. It is sectional drawing which shows a state, (C) is sectional drawing which shows the state which opened the water outlet of the water receiver.

2A and 2B are explanatory views of a water supply device of an automatic ice maker according to a conventional example, wherein FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator equipped with the water supply apparatus, and FIG.

[Description of Signs] 1 Refrigerator body 2 Partition wall 3 Refrigerator room 4 Chilled room 5 Freezer room 6 Support shaft portion 7 Opening / closing door 8 Pocket portion 8a Bottom surface 8b Through hole 9 Water supply tank (pet bottle) 9a Male screw portion 10 Water receiver 10a Female thread part 10b Flange 10c Water outlet 11 Water pipe 11a Expanding part 12 Ice making container 13 Measuring cup 14 Water stopcock 15 Water supply tank 16 Shaft 17 Solenoid valve 18 Waterproof cover 19 Lid 20 Spring body 21 Opening 22 Protective member 23 Support Piece

Claims (11)

[Claims] An apparatus for supplying water to an ice-making container of an automatic ice-making machine arranged in a freezing compartment defined in a lower part from a water supply part arranged in a refrigerator compartment defined in an upper part by a partition wall. A water tank made of a used drinking plastic bottle detachably provided along an inner surface of an opening / closing door for opening and closing the front of the refrigerator compartment, and removably engaged with a water inlet of the water tank. Engaging means, positioning means for positioning in a pocket formed at the lower portion of the inner surface of the opening / closing door, a measuring cup for one water supply, and a water stopcock. When the water stopcock is pushed up, the water flows down from the measuring cup. A water receiver configured to receive water and to supply water to the ice making container through a water supply pipe penetrating the partition wall from a water outlet provided at a bottom portion when the door is closed; Provided at the bottom of the It is characterized by being constituted by an electromagnetic valve having a shaft body that pushes up the water stopcock protruding from an opening formed in the water receiver, and a telescopic waterproof cover attached to the opening. Water supply for automatic ice maker. 2. An engaging means provided with an internal thread corresponding to an external thread for a cap formed in the water inlet, and a guide provided on an upper portion of the water receiver so as to be continuous with the measuring cup. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, comprising a water pipe. 3. A positioning device according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a through hole formed in a bottom surface of said pocket portion corresponding to a lower portion of said water receiver, and an outer periphery of said water receiver corresponding to an upper surface of a peripheral portion of said through hole. And a flange provided on the portion, wherein the flange is in contact with the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the through hole into which the lower portion of the water receiver is inserted, and the water receiver is positioned in the pocket portion. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1. 4. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water outlet is tapered. 5. The water supply pipe according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the water supply pipe is expanded to face the water outlet.
A water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1. 6. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a support portion for supporting the water supply tank is provided on an inner surface of the door. 7. The water supply for an automatic ice maker according to claim 6, wherein the support portion is formed continuously on an inner surface of the opening / closing door and includes a pair of support pieces that sandwich an outer shape of the water supply tank. apparatus. 8. A protection member having an appropriate elasticity is provided between the inside of the waterproof cover and the shaft of the solenoid valve facing the inside of the waterproof cover. The water supply device for an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the water supply device is protected from being damaged when the shaft body is rapidly pushed up. 9. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 8, wherein the protection member is formed in a sheet shape and attached to the inside of the waterproof cover. 10. The protection member according to claim 8, wherein the protection member is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and mounted on a shaft of the solenoid valve.
A water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1. 11. The water supply device for an automatic ice maker according to claim 8, wherein the protection member is made of a synthetic resin having a polymer structure.