FR2660421A1 - Ice-cube machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for obtaining ice cubes for private use. The device consists of a small casing containing a unit for production of cold and subassemblies for manufacturing ice cubes and distributing them.

Description

DESCRIPTION
This machine consists of automatically making and distributing ice cubes for small requests in a library format.

 Existing ice makers are only designed for high flow rates and are bulky.

 The present machine, according to the mold invention for making ice cubes, overcomes this drawback.

 The ice cube mold consists of a half-tube (13) with an inside diameter of 40 mm and a length of 170 mm. Along its periphery circulates the refrigerant gas, and an Archimedes screw (14) with five propellers, the volume between the propellers determines the quantity of water to be frozen at the end of the mold, a flap (15) attached, semi flexible deforming under the push of the ice cubes. Under the half-tube (13), a heating resistor (16) serving to detach the ice for its translation outside the mold.

 When the water is frozen, the thermostat set at -10 C closes, switches the heating resistance, and the motor in the programmer (17) drives the Archimedes screw (14), and the cam switches a first microswitch for a motor self-supply, because the temperature has risen and the thermostat is open at + SOC, the heating is switched off.

 While the engine made six turns, which resulted in the six ice cubes outside the mold, the cam made only one turn for the following functions: engine feed, ice stock tester, and opening of the solenoid valve (the opening time is given by the stroke of the contact adjusted by knurled screw).

 The water supply pipe for filling the mold is bent at its top for total flow at the end, a drip line.

 The filling must not exceed the half height of the axis of the screw (14).

 The user, using a cylindrical container presses on the fork (18), the flap (19) opens, pushes the contact which switches a motor moving a strongly drawn spring (10) drives, between the turns ice cubes outside the dispensing cavity in the user's container. Said cavity is heated to prevent possible icing.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the machine housing will have a dimension of 430 x 280 x 300 mm.

 The machine according to the invention of the mold is particularly intended for small communities.

Claims (3)

- CLAIMS  I) Ice cube making and dispensing machine characterized in that it comprises an ice cube mold consisting of a half tubular element (13) along and outside its half periphery circulates a refrigerant (20). And inside the tubular element (13) is arranged an Archimedes screw (14) formed of several propellers (14a, 14b, 14c, 14e, 14f, 14g) sealed by the tubular element (13) and forming between them volumes, inside which water is introduced at the height of the axis. The Archimedes screw (14) coupled to a micromotor of the housing (17), is rotated when the water contained in the volumes is frozen, this rotation is preceded by heating of the tubular element by a resistance (16) located outside on the tangent of the bottom in order to take off the ice cubes.  2) Machine characterized according to claim I, in that the tubular element (13) has a "C" shaped profile, one of the edges (21) of which is flared and folded to 900, allowing the ice cubes to be locked in the tubular element (13) for their proper translation in the Archimedes screw (14).  3) Machine according to claim 1 and 2 characterized in that the tubular element (13) has at its end and at the height of the last propeller (14a) a semi-flexible seal flap (15) which deforms under the thrust ice cubes, and returns to its original shape after the last ice cube.