EP1209429B1 - Apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice - Google Patents

Apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1209429B1
EP1209429B1 EP20010128067 EP01128067A EP1209429B1 EP 1209429 B1 EP1209429 B1 EP 1209429B1 EP 20010128067 EP20010128067 EP 20010128067 EP 01128067 A EP01128067 A EP 01128067A EP 1209429 B1 EP1209429 B1 EP 1209429B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
detecting
detecting plate
storing chamber
plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20010128067
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1209429A2 (en
EP1209429A3 (en
Inventor
Teruhiko Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Otani
Masayuki Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki K. Kuroyanagi
Motohiro Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki K. Kawachi
Takashi Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Hibino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
Publication of EP1209429A2 publication Critical patent/EP1209429A2/en
Publication of EP1209429A3 publication Critical patent/EP1209429A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1209429B1 publication Critical patent/EP1209429B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18—Storing ice
    • F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
    • F25C5/187—Ice bins therefor with ice level sensing means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice according to claim 1.
  • an ice storage detection device which is provided at the horizontal cylindrical part of a L-shaped ice-guiding cylinder, a non-magnetic body plate is provided at the top plate part of the horizontal cylindrical part.
  • a proximity switch is provided onto the non-magnetic body plate, and also an ice storage detection plate with an actuation piece part of a magnetic body is provided in the horizontal cylindrical part.
  • the proximity switch and the ice-guiding cylinder around the proximity switch are covered with a heat-insulating cover, thus preventing the side of an anti-ice-guiding cylinder of the proximity switch from being exposed in machine room atmosphere, uniformly maintaining the temperature of the entire proximity switch, preventing malfunction, preventing heat from entering the ice-guiding cylinder and hence improving also the quality of ice.
  • an ultrasonic bin level control circuit which employs a fail-save circuit to shut off a compressor when echoes are late or absent, and a transducer mounting system, which facilitates installation and removal of a transducer for serving and cleaning.
  • a level detector compares a reference signal with a reflected signal, the ice reaching a desired level when the reflected signal overlaps the reference signal. When the desired level is reached, the reference signal is modified through feedback to prevent short cycling of the compressor.
  • the transducer is installed within a cylindrical housing, which is easily installed and removed from a cylindrical socket within a compartment above the bin.
  • an ice level sensing mechanism for use in ice storage bins and the like; the mechanism including a generally vertically disposed pendulum element and means pivotally supporting the element adjacent the upper end thereof, whereby the lower end of the element is movable in any direction defined by an imaginary plane extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the element, the mechanism also including contact means disposed in generally surrounding relationship to a portion of the pendulum element and adapted to be engaged thereby when the ice level within the associated storage bin reaches a predetermined magnitude, and means for operatively connecting the pendulum element and contact member with an electrical contact circuit associated with an ancillary ice producing machine, which functions to supply ice to the storage bin.
  • US-A-4,662,182 discloses an ice product storage detector, which instantaneously detects when the ice products have filled the reservoir to its full capacity or when the amount of ice product in the storage has decreased.
  • the ice product storage detector includes a proximity switch provided on a barrier plate of a non-magnetizable material, the barrier plate being provided on the lower part of a base portion of the main body of the auger type ice making device, an ice storage detector plate rotatably mounted about a shaft in the ice product reservoir in positional registration with the proximity switch, and which is formed of a low heat capacity and low thermo-conductive material, a pair of inclined plate sections provided on an ice product receiving portion of the ice product storage detector plate, and an auxiliary detector plate formed of a magnetizable material and provided on the ice product storage detector plate so as to be normally parallel to the detective surface of the proximity switch.
  • the auxiliary detector plate When the ice product storage detector plate is turned about the shaft under the effect of the ice products falling from the main body contacting with the ice product receiving portion of the ice product storage detector plate, the auxiliary detector plate is pivoted away from the position of matting with a detecting surface of the proximity switch to detect the ice product storage.
  • Fig. 15 shows a type of another conventional apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice.
  • a shield plate 2 made of non-magnetic material is provided inside a ceiling plate 1 of the ice-storing chamber within an icemaker.
  • a non-contact switch 3 is fixed to a top surface of the shield plate 2.
  • a detecting plate 5 is rotatably mounted to a support member 4 fixed to a lower surface of the shield plate 2.
  • An assist plate 6 made of magnetic material is provided at one end of the detecting plate 5 so as to face the non-contact switch 3.
  • the detecting plate 5 is located in a position indicated by the solid line whereby the position of the assist plate 6, i.e., the position of the detecting plate 5 may be recognized by the non-contact switch 3.
  • the detecting plate 5 is rotated as indicated by a dotted line by the ice.
  • the assist plate 6 is away from the non-contact switch 3 so that the state that the chamber is fully filled with ice is detected by the non-contact switch 3.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice that may be mounted on a ceiling portion of an ice-storing chamber without using any fastening component but may readily be removed from the interior of the ice-storing chamber.
  • FIG. 1 A structure of an ice maker provided with an apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1.
  • An interior of an ice maker is roughly divided into an ice storing chamber 11 and a machine chamber 12.
  • the ice storing chamber 11 is surrounded by heat insulating material.
  • An ice making portion 13 having an auger, a motor for rotating the auger, and a compressor 14 and others constituting a refrigerating circuit are contained in the machine chamber 12.
  • the ice made in the ice maker 13 is discharged from an ice feed outlet 15 to the ice storing chamber 11 to be stored therein.
  • the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17 is mounted on a top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17 has a detecting plate base 18, a detecting plate 19 to be mounted on this detecting plate base 18 and a lead switch 20.
  • the detecting plate base 18 is made of molded resin.
  • a pair of claw portions 22 and 23 that may be elastically deformed are formed on both ends on a top surface of a planar base body 21.
  • a circular arc portion 24 and a switch holding portion 25 are formed between these claw portions 22 and 23.
  • the circular arc portion 24 is adapted to form a recessed portion on the lower surface side of the base body 21, i.e., on the side of the ice storing chamber 11 for making it possible to rotate the detecting plate 19 mounted on the detecting plate base 18.
  • the switch holding portion 25 is adapted to attachably and detachably mount the lead switch 20 on the top surface of the base body 21.
  • the top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11 has a resin portion 26 facing the ice storing chamber 11 and a heat insulating portion 27 formed on the resin portion 26.
  • An opening portion 28 is formed in the resin portion 26 and the heat insulating portion 27 for mounting the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17.
  • An opening end portion of the resin portion 26 is bent substantially perpendicularly along an inner side surface of the opening portion 28.
  • the detecting plate base 18 When the detecting plate base 18 is inserted from the interior of the ice storing chamber 11 into this opening portion 28 under the condition that the pair of claw portions 22 and 23 being deformed inwardly to each other, the detecting plate base 18 is advanced upwardly within the opening portion 28 while the claw portions 22 and 23 being elastically deformed. When the tip ends of the claw portions 22 and 23 reach the opening end portions of the resin portion 26 of the top plate 16, as shown in Fig. 3B, the elastic deformation is released and the claw portions 22 and 23 are engaged with the opening end portions of the resin portion 26. With this -engagement, the detecting plate base 18 is prevented from falling off the opening portion 28. Also, the flow communication of air between the interior and the exterior of the ice storing chamber 11 is interrupted by the existence of the top plate 16 and the detecting plate base 18.
  • a pair of recessed finger insertion portions 29 and 30 are formed in the top plate 16 adjacent to the opening portion 28.
  • the fingers are inserted into these finger insertion portions 29 and 30, respectively, to push the claw portions 22 and 23 to be elastically deformed inwardly to each other so that the engagement between the claw portions 22 and 23 and the opening end portions of the resin portion 26 is released and then the detecting plate base 18 may be removed from the opening portion 28.
  • the switch holding portion 25 of the detecting plate base 18 has a pressing portion 31 that extends in parallel with the surface of the base body 21 and may be elastically deformed.
  • a claw portion is formed to project from the lower surface of a tip end of this pressing portion 31.
  • the pressing portion 31 is lifted at its end upwardly to release the engagement between the claw portion and the lead switch 20 whereby the lead switch 20 may be drawn off from the switch holding portion 25.
  • the detecting plate 19 is made of molded resin and has a substantially flat detecting plate body 32 and a pair of bosses 33 and 34 aligned in a line and projecting outwardly from each other.
  • the boss 33 is formed directly on the side wall of the detecting body 32 while the other boss 34 is formed on an arm portion 35 which extends from the detecting plate body 32 and may be elastically deformed. A distance between the pair of bosses 33 and 34 may be varied due to the elastic deformation of the arm portion 35.
  • a bend stop 36 is formed on the detecting plate body 32 so as to avoid the excessive deformation of the arm portion 35.
  • a magnet 37 is embedded at the tip end portion of the detecting plate body 32 and is covered by a cover member 38.
  • a pair of detecting plate fastening portions 39 and 40 projecting from the lower surface of the base body 21 in parallel with each other are formed in the detecting plate base 18. Holes 41 and 42 are formed in these detecting plate fastening portions 39 and 40, respectively.
  • the bosses 33 and 34 of the detecting plate 19 are loosely fitted in the holes 41 and 42, respectively. Thereby, the detecting plate 19 is mounted on the detecting base 18 to be rotatable about the bosses 33 and 34.
  • the magnet 37 embedded in the tip end portion of the detecting plate 19 is rotated within the circular arc portion 24 of the detecting plate base 18 in accordance with the rotation of the detecting plate 19. Normally, the magnet 37 faces through the wall surface of the circular arc portion 24 the detecting surface of the lead switch 20 held on the switch holding portion 25. The magnet 37 is away in a perpendicular direction from the detecting surface of the lead switch 20 when the detecting plate 19 rotates.
  • the diameters of the bosses 33 and 34 of the detecting plate 19 are made different from each other and correspondingly, also, the diameters of the holes 41 and 42 of the detecting plate base 18 are made different from each other whereby it is possible to avoid the erroneous upside-down mounting of the detecting plate 19.
  • the diameters of the bosses 33 and 34 may be 5.5 mm and 6.5 mm, respectively, and the diameters of the holes 41 and 42 may be 6.0 mm and 7.0 mm, respectively.
  • a lead line fastening portion 45 for pressing a lead line 44 of the lead switch 20 held on the switch holding portion 25 is formed on a top surface of the base body 21 of the detecting plate base 18.
  • the intermediate portion of the lead line 44 is fixed to a position lower than the joint portion with the lead switch 20.
  • a recessed portion 46 having such a size that the lead line fastening portion 45 of the detecting plate 18 may be received is formed adjacent to the opening portion 28 in the resin portion 26 of the top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11. Due to the existence of such a recessed portion 46, even if the detecting plate base 18 is to be mounted in an erroneous direction, the detecting plate base 18 may not be inserted into the opening portion 28. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the impossibility of detection in advance due to the erroneous mounting.
  • the boss 34 formed on the arm portion 35 of the detecting plate 19 is inserted into the hole 42 of the detecting plate fastening portion 40 of the detecting plate base 18.
  • the detecting plate fastening portion 40 is located outside the arm portion 35 and also serves as a guard to cover the arm portion 35 as indicated by the hatched portion. With this guard, for example, when the user picks up ice within the ice storing chamber 11 with a shovel, it is possible to avoid the situation that a tip end of the shovel is brought into collision with the arm portion 35 to bend the arm portion 35.
  • the top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11 is composed of the resin portion 26 and the heat insulating portion 27. These components are formed integrally with each other, or brought into intimate contact with each other by foaming of the heat insulating portion 27 under the condition including the resin portion 26, or brought into intimate contact with each other without any gap by adhesives or the like between the heat insulating portion 27 and the resin portion 26 formed with high precision, respectively, whereby the resin portion 26 cooled down by cold air of the ice storing chamber 11 where the ice is stored is not brought into direct contact with the air outside of the ice storing chamber. For this reason, the air outside of the ice storing chamber is prevented from being cooled down to become dew.
  • a though-hole 47 is formed on the side of the machine chamber 12 in addition to the opening portion 28 on the side of the ice storing chamber 11 and a connector passage 48 for connecting the opening portion 28 and the through-hole 47 with each other is formed.
  • the connector passage 48 is a passage for receiving the lead line 44 from the lead switch 20 of the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17 connected with a control portion (not shown) arranged in the machine chamber 12.
  • the connector passage 48 may be used also to feed a connector for connecting the lead switch 20 to the side of the machine chamber 12 when the lead switches 20 are exchanged in maintenance. As shown in Figs.
  • the connector passage 48 has a groove shape formed in the upper portion of the heat insulating portion 27.
  • a heat insulating material 49 is filled in the opening portion 28 of the top plate 16 and a heat insulating material 50 is filled in the through-hole 47.
  • the heat insulating material 49 and the heat insulating material 50 are formed of material such as foamed polypropylene or the like that is abundant in elasticity into a substantially flat shape as shown in Figs. 12A to 12C and into a T-like shape as shown Figs. 13A and 13B, respectively.
  • These heat insulating members 49 and 50 are formed into sizes that are somewhat greater than the corresponding opening portion 28 and through-hole 47 and fitted into the opening portion 28 and the through-hole 47, respectively, under the somewhat shrunk condition to thereby avoid the gap to prevent the air from entering.
  • each of the opening portion 28 and the through-hole 47 is formed to be narrower than its lower half portion.
  • the heat insulating member 49 is inserted into the upper half portion of the opening portion 28 and the T-shape of the heat insulating member 50 is fitted with the shape of the through-hole 47 to be prevented from falling off, respectively.
  • both of the insulating members 49 and 50 are abundant in elasticity, it is possible to mount or remove the members from below of the opening portion 28 and the through-hole 47.
  • Figs. 14A to 14C may be used as the heat insulating member 49 to be fitted in the opening portion 28.
  • the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17 may be attachably and detachably fitted in the opening portion 28 of the top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11 without any fastening component such as a screw, it is possible to easily remove the device from the inside of the ice storing chamber 11 and to facilitate the maintenance such as exchange, repair, cleaning of the components.
  • the detecting plate 19 when the amount of ice within the ice storing chamber 11 is small, the detecting plate 19 is in the normal position P. When the ice storing chamber 11 is fully filled with ice, the detecting plate 19 is brought to the horizontal position Q. Between these positions, the gap formed between the end portion of the detecting plate 19 where the magnet 37 is embedded and the circular arc portion 24 of the detecting plate base 18 is small. Therefore, there is almost no fear that the ice or the like is clamped in this gap. Also, even if a small piece of ice enters the circular arc portion 24 from this gap, the small piece of ice slidingly drops along the surface of the detecting plate 19 before the detecting plate 19 is returned from the horizontal position Q back to the normal position P. There is no fear that the ice is clamped between the lead switch 20 and the magnet 37.
  • the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice 17 is mounted on the top plate 16 of the ice storing chamber 11, the invention is not limited thereto. It is possible to mount the device on a wall surface within the ice storing chamber 11, for example, at an upper portion of the side wall.
  • this invention may be applied not only to the ice maker but also to various equipment having an ice storing chamber, widely.
  • the detecting plate base is detachably fitted from the inside of the ice storing chamber to the opening portion formed in the wall surface of the ice storing chamber and the detecting means for detecting the storage of the predetermined amount of ice is mounted on this detecting plate base, it is possible to easily mount or remove the device from the inside of the ice storing chamber without any fastening components, to dispense with the tool such as a driver in maintenance and to quickly perform the maintenance work with ease.
  • the detecting means includes a detecting plate mounted on the detecting plate base so as to be rotated by the ice when the predetermined amount of ice is stored in the ice storing chamber and a switch for detecting the rotation of the detecting plate
  • the detecting plate has an arm portion that may be elastically deformed and a boss formed in this arm portion loosely fitted in a hole formed in the detecting plate base and the detecting plate base has a guard for covering the arm portion of the detecting plate, it is possible to avoid the situation that a shovel or the like is brought into contact with the arm portion of the detecting plate so that the detecting plate is removed from the detecting plate base or the erroneous detection.
  • a lead line fastening portion is formed on the detecting plate base to fix an intermediate portion of a lead line connected to the switch and a recessed portion for receiving this lead line fastening portion is formed adjacent to the opening portion in the top plate of the ice storing chamber, it is possible to avoid the detection impossibility due to the erroneous mounting of the detecting plate base to the opening portion.
  • the apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice according to this invention is not subject to corrosion such as rust as in the case where the metal made screw is used. Also, since the fastening component is not used, the number of assembling steps is considerably reduced. Also, the number of the components is decreased to save costs and to prevent the generation of faults due to the loosening of the fastening components.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP20010128067 2000-11-28 2001-11-26 Apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice Expired - Lifetime EP1209429B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000361058 2000-11-28
JP2000361058A JP4653298B2 (ja) 2000-11-28 2000-11-28 貯氷量検知装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1209429A2 EP1209429A2 (en) 2002-05-29
EP1209429A3 EP1209429A3 (en) 2002-07-03
EP1209429B1 true EP1209429B1 (en) 2006-01-18

Family

ID=18832551

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20010128067 Expired - Lifetime EP1209429B1 (en) 2000-11-28 2001-11-26 Apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1209429B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP4653298B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE60116705T2 (ja)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6731384B2 (en) * 2000-10-10 2004-05-04 Hitachi, Ltd. Apparatus for detecting foreign particle and defect and the same method
JP4809946B2 (ja) * 2006-12-07 2011-11-09 ホシザキ電機株式会社 貯氷検知ユニットの取付構造
JP6055630B2 (ja) * 2012-09-03 2016-12-27 ホシザキ株式会社 製氷機
JP7216597B2 (ja) * 2019-04-08 2023-02-01 株式会社日立産機システム 開閉装置及びその状態監視方法
JP7505672B2 (ja) 2020-04-16 2024-06-25 大和冷機工業株式会社 製氷機
CN111928919A (zh) * 2020-08-13 2020-11-13 天津大学 一种用于冰蓄冷设备的蓄冰量监测保护装置

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3911691A (en) * 1974-01-17 1975-10-14 King Seeley Thermos Co Ice level sensing mechanism
JPS5415351U (ja) * 1977-07-04 1979-01-31
JPH0440142Y2 (ja) * 1984-12-04 1992-09-21
US5172595A (en) * 1990-06-12 1992-12-22 Scotsman Group, Inc. Bin level control circuit and transducer mounting system for an ice making machine
JP3784152B2 (ja) * 1997-11-06 2006-06-07 ホシザキ電機株式会社 マイクロスイッチのリード線保護構造
JPH11351718A (ja) * 1998-06-15 1999-12-24 Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd 製氷機の貯氷検知装置
JP3699283B2 (ja) * 1998-12-25 2005-09-28 ホシザキ電機株式会社 貯氷検知装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60116705T2 (de) 2006-07-06
JP4653298B2 (ja) 2011-03-16
EP1209429A2 (en) 2002-05-29
JP2002162141A (ja) 2002-06-07
EP1209429A3 (en) 2002-07-03
DE60116705D1 (de) 2006-04-06

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