CN110621947B

CN110621947B - Ice making system

Info

Publication number: CN110621947B
Application number: CN201780053606.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 加治木义孝; 河野卓也; 中滨涉; 川浪徹
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2017-06-30
Publication date: 2021-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-30
Also published as: CN110621947A; WO2018163453A1; JPWO2018163453A1; JP6869325B2; MY195914A

Abstract

The ice making system (100) includes a rotatable ice making tray (171), at least one water filling nozzle (130L, 130R) for filling water to the ice making tray (171). The discharge opening (131) of at least one water injection nozzle (130L, 130R) is formed at a position lower than the highest arrival point X when the ice making tray (171) rotates, and discharges water in an oblique direction from the obliquely upper side of the ice making tray (171) toward the center of the ice making tray (171).

Description

Ice making system

Technical Field

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a technique of an ice making system mounted on a freezer or the like.

Background

Ice making systems for making ice are known. For example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2005-291682 (patent document 1) discloses a refrigerator-freezer, a freezer door, and an automatic ice maker. The refrigerator-freezer of patent document 1 is characterized by including the following components: a freezing chamber having an opening on a front surface thereof, having other surfaces insulated from heat, and having an ice tray for making ice disposed therein; a freezing chamber door which is provided to close an opening of the freezing chamber and rotates around one longitudinal side of the opening as an axis to open and close the opening; and an ice storage box which is detachably provided on the freezing chamber side of the freezing chamber door, is positioned below the ice making tray in a state that the freezing chamber door is closed, and stores water. Japanese patent laying-open No. 9-89426 (patent document 2) discloses a refrigerator in which an ice tray and an ice storage box are integrally movable.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2005-291682

Patent document 2: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 9-89426

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the case of the structure in which water is manually poured into the ice tray as in patent document 2, the water to be poured may overflow or be scattered from the ice tray when a user is in a hurry to pour the water. In a state where the ice storage portion is positioned below the ice making portion, when a user fills water into the ice making portion, water that overflows or flies away enters the ice storage portion, and the ice stored in the ice storage portion may melt.

Accordingly, an object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an ice making system that is highly convenient and that is less likely to overflow or scatter water even if water is manually poured into an ice making unit. Means for solving the problems

According to one aspect of the present invention, an ice-making system is provided. The ice making system includes a rotatable ice making tray, at least one water injection nozzle for injecting water to the ice making tray. The discharge port of the at least one water injection nozzle is formed at a position lower than the highest arrival point when the ice making tray is rotated, and discharges water in an oblique direction from an obliquely upper side of the ice making tray toward the center of the ice making tray.

Preferably, at least a part of the flow path of the water injection nozzle is formed with a narrow portion.

Preferably, the water injection nozzle includes a first face for discharging water in an oblique direction and a second face for inducing water toward the first face and forming a narrow portion.

Preferably, the first surface and the second surface are formed so as not to overlap in a bottom view.

Preferably, the ice making system further includes a water supply part for supplying water to the water injection nozzle. The water supply part is provided with a water receiving part for injecting water at a position far away from the water injection nozzle in a plan view.

Preferably, the at least one water injection nozzle includes a plurality of water injection nozzles. The water supply unit has a region capable of temporarily storing water formed between the water receiving unit and the plurality of water injection nozzles.

Preferably, the water supply part is formed with a convex part. The upper surface of the convex part is provided with a water receiving part. The side surface of the projection forms a plurality of grooves for guiding water to the plurality of nozzles. Each of the plurality of groove portions is formed to become narrower in width and lower in height as it approaches the water injection nozzle.

Effects of the invention

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an ice making system in which injected water is less likely to overflow or scatter, and which is highly convenient.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment in a state where a water pouring cup 190 and a front cover 160 are attached.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment in a state where the water pouring cup 190 is attached and the front cover 160 is removed.

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment in a state where the front cover 160 is attached and the water pouring cup 190 is removed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice making tray 171 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view and a front cross-sectional view illustrating ice making system tray 100 in a state in which water pouring cup 190 is mounted according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a plan view and a front cross-sectional view illustrating the ice making system tray 100 with the water pouring cup 190 removed according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the water supply unit 120 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating water flow in the ice making tray 120 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view and a plan view showing a feed tray 120B according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a water feed tray 120C according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a water supply unit 120D according to the sixth embodiment.

Modes for carrying out the invention

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

< first embodiment >

< integral constitution of Ice making System >

First, the entire configuration of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where the water pouring cup 190 and the front cover 160 are attached. Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where the water pouring cup 190 is attached and the front cover 160 is removed. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment with front cover 160 attached and water pouring cup 190 removed.

The ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment is an ice making system that is mounted, removed, attached, removed, and mounted in a freezer.

The ice making system 100 mainly includes an ice storage section 180 in the lower housing 102, an ice making section 170 in the middle housing 101, and a water supply section 120 formed on the upper surface 103 of the middle housing 101. Further, (1) water is supplied to the water supply unit 120 by the user, (2) the water is made into ice in the ice making unit 170, and (3) the ice is stored in the ice storage unit 180.

More specifically, the ice making unit 170 according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by an ice making tray 171 shown in fig. 4. The ice making tray 171 according to the present embodiment is formed with a plurality of

ice making spaces

174, 174 by one vertical wall 172 and a plurality of

lateral walls

173, 173.

Further, the vertical wall 172 of the ice making tray 171 according to the present embodiment has

grooves

172X, 172X formed in both the front and rear portions thereof. Thereby, water in the ice making tray 171 can flow back and forth on the right and left sides of the vertical wall 172 through the

groove portions

172X, 172X. In addition, the lateral walls 173 of the ice making tray 171 are all formed with

groove portions

173X, 173X. As such, the plurality of

ice making spaces

174, 174 are provided with water substantially uniformly.

The rear shaft 178 of the ice making tray 171 is pivotally supported by the frame 101 at the middle portion, and the operation portion 179 is connected to the handle 161 of the front cover 160. Accordingly, when the ice making is completed, the user can rotate the ice making tray 171 by rotating the handle 161 of the front cover 160 in a state where the front cover 160 is closed, and drop the ice after the ice making to the ice storage portion 180.

Next, the water supply unit 120 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7. Fig. 5 (a) is a plan view of ice making system 100 in a state in which water pouring cup 190 according to the present embodiment is placed, and fig. 5 (B) is a front cross-sectional view of ice making system 100 in a state in which water pouring cup 190 according to the present embodiment is placed. Fig. 6 (a) is a plan view showing ice making system 100 with water pouring cup 190 removed according to the present embodiment, and fig. 6 (B) is a front cross-sectional view showing ice making system 100 with water pouring cup 190 removed according to the present embodiment. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the water supply unit 120A according to the present embodiment.

The water supply unit 120 of the present embodiment mainly includes a water supply tray 120A into which water is supplied, and two

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R for injecting water from the water supply tray 120A into the ice making tray 171. The water feed tray 120A is formed with a water receiving portion 121 that is a region into which water is fed, a water storage portion 122 that is a region into which water from the water receiving portion 121 flows, and two

grooves

123, 123 for guiding water from the water storage portion 122 to the two

water feed nozzles

130L, 130R.

Water receiving unit 121 is formed in a convex shape so as to form water storage unit 122 and the side walls of

grooves

123 and 123. It is preferable that characters and patterns indicating an area to be filled with water are marked on the upper surface of the water receiving portion 121 so that a user can easily recognize the area to be filled with water. The upper surface of the water receiving portion 121 is formed in a concave shape symmetrical to the left and right so that the injected water flows toward the water storage portion 122 without flowing into the

grooves

123, 123.

The water storage portion 122 is a water storage portion capable of temporarily storing water. In other words, the water storage part 122 has a larger area than the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R in plan view. The area of water storage unit 122 is preferably larger than five times the total area of

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R in plan view. Alternatively, it is preferable that the time from when water storage unit 122 is filled to when all the water is discharged from

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R is about 3 seconds or more and 10 seconds or less. In this way, since most of the water injected by the user is temporarily stored in water storage unit 122, the water injected by the user can be prevented from directly flowing into

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R. The water stored in the water storage portion 122 is supplied to the ice making tray 171 substantially uniformly from the plurality of

water supply nozzles

130L and 130R. This can prevent water from collecting in the single

water injection nozzle

130L, 130R.

The

grooves

123, 123 narrow in width toward the rear, i.e., toward the water injection nozzle 130. The

grooves

123, 123 are formed to be lower toward the rear. With this configuration, the water quickly passes through the

grooves

123, 123 and reaches the

water injection nozzles

130L, 130R, and the possibility of water freezing in the water supply unit 120 can be reduced.

With this configuration, when the user fills water into the water receiving portion 121 using the water filling cup 190 or the like, most of the water flows into the water storage portion 122 along the concave surface of the water receiving portion 121, as shown in fig. 8. After the water temporarily stays in the water storage part 122, the water quickly passes through the

grooves

123, 123 and flows into the

water injection nozzles

130L, 130R.

Further, the shape of one surface of the water filling cup 190 may have a convex surface along the concave surface of the water receiving part 121. In this case, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the convex surface of water pouring cup 190 can be fixed so as to fit into the concave surface of water receiving portion 121. Therefore, the water filling cup 190 can be stored in the ice making system 100 in a space-saving manner when not in use.

Left water injection nozzle 130L is formed downward from the left-right center of upper surface 103 of ice making system 100. In other words, the left water injection nozzle 130L is formed downward from the left-right center of the water feed tray 120A. The left water filling nozzle 130L extends downward to a position where it does not contact the ice making tray 171 when the ice making tray 171 rotates. In other words, the discharge port 131 of the left water filling nozzle 130L is located below the highest point X with respect to the rotation locus Y of the ice making tray 171. By thus reducing the height from the lower end of left water injection nozzle 130L to ice making tray 171, the possibility of water scattering from the outside of ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

The discharge port 131 at the lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L is open to the right. Namely, the structure is as follows: water from left water injection nozzle 130L is injected toward vertical wall 172 in the left and right center portions of ice making tray 171, and thus the possibility of water scattering to the outside of ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Here, fig. 9 (a) is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the discharge port 131 of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment, and fig. 9 (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the discharge port 131 of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 9 (a) and (B), a bottom surface 132 constituting a discharge port 131 is formed at a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 132 discharges water flowing down substantially vertically from above through the water injection nozzle 130 in the right direction.

The bottom surface 132 enters the inside of the water injection nozzle 130 in a plan view, so that the flow path area of at least a part of the water injection nozzle 130, that is, the width of the discharge port 131 of the water injection nozzle 130 in the present embodiment can be reduced. As a result, the amount of water to be injected into ice making tray 171 can be limited, and the possibility that this water is injected into ice making tray 171 at once and splashes outside ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Similarly, right water injection nozzle 130R is formed downward from the right side of the right-left center of upper surface 103 of ice making system 100. In other words, the right water injection nozzle 130R is formed downward from the right side to the left center of the water feed tray 120A. Right water filling nozzle 130R extends downward to a position where it does not contact ice making tray 171 when ice making tray 171 rotates. In other words, the discharge port 131 of the right water filling nozzle 130R is located below the highest point X with respect to the rotation locus Y of the ice making tray 171. By thus lowering the height from the lower end of right water injection nozzle 130R to ice making tray 171, the possibility of water scattering to the outside of ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

The discharge port 131 at the lower portion of the right water injection nozzle 130R opens leftward. Namely, the structure is as follows: water from right water injection nozzle 130R is injected toward vertical wall 172 in the right and left center portions of ice making tray 171. This also reduces the possibility of water scattering to the outside of ice making tray 171.

As shown in fig. 9 (a) and (B), a bottom surface 132 constituting a discharge port 131 is formed at a lower portion of the right water injection nozzle 130R. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 132 causes water flowing down substantially vertically from above through the water injection nozzle 130 to be discharged in the left direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the plurality of water injection nozzles 103L and 130R are provided, water can be quickly supplied from the water supply unit 120 to the ice making tray 171, and the possibility of water freezing in the water supply unit 120 can be reduced.

Of course, the water supply unit 120 may have only one water injection nozzle.

< second embodiment >

The first embodiment is an embodiment in which a surface 132 for discharging water from above toward the left and right center portions of ice making tray 171 is formed at a part of the lower end portions of

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R. Fig. 10 (a) is a perspective view showing a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment, and fig. 10 (B) is a sectional view showing a lower portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 10, the present embodiment is an embodiment in which a portion of the left water injection nozzle 130L facing the surface 132 is cut away from the upper side of the first embodiment. This can widen the tip of the discharge port 131 of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R, and therefore, the discharge port 131 can be prevented from being blocked by the surface tension of the water at the tip of the discharge port 131 and from freezing.

< third embodiment >

Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R according to the embodiment shown in the drawings. As shown in fig. 11, in the present embodiment, a surface 133 for guiding water to the surface 132 is formed in a portion of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R facing the surface 132. Accordingly, the water flowing down from the upward surface 133 of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R hits the surface 132, and then flows out toward the side opposite to the surface 132.

In the present embodiment, the bottom surfaces 132 and 133 are inserted into the water injection nozzle 130 in a plan view, thereby reducing the diameter of the water injection nozzle 130 and the width of the discharge port 131 of the water injection nozzle 130. As a result, the flow of water injected into ice making tray 171 can be reduced, and the possibility of the water scattering to the outside of ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the surface 132 and the surface 133 do not overlap each other in a bottom view and a top view, and therefore molding is easy.

The positions where the inner diameters and the flow path areas of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R are narrowed are not limited to the vicinity of the discharge port 131, and may be provided above the discharge port 131.

< fourth embodiment >

The configuration of the water feed tray is also not limited to the configurations of the first to third embodiments. For example, the following water feed tray 120B may be used. Fig. 12 (a) is a perspective view showing the feed tray 120B according to the present embodiment, and (B) is a plan view of the feed tray 120B. As shown in fig. 12 (a) and (B), in the present embodiment, the water receiving portion 121B of the water feed tray 120B is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.

< fifth embodiment >

In the first to fourth embodiments, as shown in fig. 7, 8, and 12, the water feed tray 120A is formed with a convex portion as the water receiving portion 121, and the water injected into the water receiving portion 121 hits a surface opposite to the water receiving portion 121, that is, the

groove portions

123, 123 where the front wall of the water storage portion 122 turns to the sides of the water receiving portion 121. However, other configurations are also possible.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a water feed tray 120C according to the fifth embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 13, the water feed tray 120C is configured to have no

grooves

123, 123. That is,

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R may be disposed immediately below water storage unit 122C.

< sixth embodiment >

Next, fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a feed water tray 120D according to a sixth embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 14, the water feed tray 120D may have a projection 125 different from the water receiving portion 121D. Then, inlets of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R may be formed at both side portions of the convex portion 125.

[ conclusion ]

With the first to sixth embodiments described above, the ice making system 100 is provided. The ice making system 100 includes a rotatable ice making tray 171, and at least one

water filling nozzle

130L, 130R for filling water to the ice making tray 171. The discharge port 131 of at least one of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R is formed at a position lower than the highest arrival point X when the ice making tray 171 rotates, and discharges water in an oblique direction from obliquely above the ice making tray 171 toward the center of the ice making tray 171.

Preferably, at least a part of the flow path of the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R is formed with a narrow portion 131.

Preferably, the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R include a first surface 132 for discharging water in an oblique direction and a second surface 133 for inducing water toward the first surface 132 and forming a narrow portion.

Preferably, the first surface 132 and the second surface 133 are formed so as not to overlap when viewed from below.

Preferably, the ice making system 100 further includes a water supply part 120 for supplying water to the

water filling nozzles

130L and 130R. The water supply unit 120 has a water receiving unit 121 for receiving water at a position distant from the

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R in a plan view.

Preferably, the at least one

water injection nozzle

130L, 130R includes a plurality of

water injection nozzles

130L, 130R. The water supply unit 120 has an area 122 that can temporarily store water, formed between the water receiving unit 121 and the plurality of

water injection nozzles

130L and 130R.

Preferably, the water supply part 120 is formed with a protrusion. The upper surface of the convex portion is formed with a water receiving portion 121. The side surfaces of the convex portions form a plurality of

grooves

123, 123 for guiding water to each of the plurality of

nozzles

130L, 130R. Each of the plurality of

grooves

123, 123 is formed to have a width that becomes narrower and a height that becomes lower as it approaches the

water injection nozzles

130L, 130R.

The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In addition, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in the present specification are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

100: ice making system

103L: water injection nozzle

120: water supply part

120A: water supply plate

120B: water supply plate

120C: water supply plate

120D: water supply plate

121: water receiving part

122: water storage part

123B: water receiving part

123: trough part

125: convex part

130: water injection nozzle

130R: left side water injection nozzle

130L: right water injection nozzle

131: discharge port

131: first side

132: second surface

160: front cover

161: handle (CN)

170: ice making part

171: ice making tray

172: longitudinal wall

172X: trough part

173: transverse wall

173X: trough part

174: ice making space

178: rear axle

179: operation part

180: ice storage part

190: water filling cup

X: highest arrival point

Y: locus of rotation

Claims

1. An ice-making system, characterized in that,

comprises a rotatable ice making tray, a water supply part for supplying water to a water injection nozzle, and at least one water injection nozzle for injecting water to the ice making tray,

a discharge port of the at least one water injection nozzle is formed at a position lower than a highest arrival point when the ice making tray is rotated, and discharges water in an oblique direction from an obliquely upper side of the ice making tray toward a center of the ice making tray;

the water supply part is provided with a water receiving part as a region for injecting water, a water storage part as a region for flowing in the water receiving part and a groove part for guiding the water in the water storage part to the water injection nozzle;

the groove is formed to have a width that becomes narrower as the groove approaches the water injection nozzle.

2. The ice making system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flow path of the water injection nozzle is formed with a narrow portion.

3. The ice making system of claim 2, wherein said water injection nozzle comprises a first face for discharging said water in an oblique direction and a second face for inducing said water toward said first face and forming said narrow portion.

4. An ice making system as in claim 3, wherein said first face and said second face are formed so as not to overlap when viewed from below.

5. An ice making system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the water supply part having the water receiving part formed at a position distant from the water injection nozzle in a plan view.

6. The ice making system of claim 5, wherein the water injection nozzle comprises a plurality of water injection nozzles, the groove part comprises a plurality of groove parts guiding water to the plurality of water injection nozzles, respectively, and the water receiving part is formed in a convex shape so as to form the water storage part and side walls of the plurality of groove parts.