JP2000258007A - Ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the removal or replacement of ice making pan. SOLUTION: The ice maker comprises an ice making pan 1 having a supporting part comprising a rotary shaft 1f and a fitting recess 1a serving as a bearing provided, respectively, at the opposite axial ends thereof, a rotary drive section 3 provided with an output shaft 3a being coupled removably and rotatably with one supporting part of the ice making pan 1, and a supporting member 2 for holding the other supporting part of the ice making pan 1 removably and rotatably, wherein the supporting member 2 is provided with an opening 4 large enough to pass the body of the ice making pan 1. Since the ice making pan 1 can be put in and out through the opening 4, it can be cleaned or replaced extremely easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is provided in a refrigerator,
The present invention relates to an ice making device capable of attaching and detaching an ice tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an automatic ice making apparatus of a type in which a resin ice tray is rotated by a motor, twisting the ice tray to automatically take out ice blocks. FIG. 11 shows a simple schematic diagram of a general ice making device of this kind.
Inside the refrigerator main body 21, a refrigerator compartment, a freezing compartment, an ice making compartment 22 and the like provided with a door for closing an opening on the front surface are formed. Cooling is maintained.

[0003] In the ice making chamber 22, a support plate 25 provided at least on the door side and a rotation drive unit 23 having a built-in motor and the like having a rotating shaft protruding horizontally in the back side are provided. An ice tray 26 made of resin is fixedly mounted between the opposing members constituted by these components in a rotatable state. This means that the ice tray 26 is inverted under predetermined conditions,
This is a mechanism for causing the ice blocks in the ice tray 26 to fall into the ice storage box 24 arranged downward by giving a twisting deformation on the diagonal line of the ice tray 26 structurally.

In order to automatically operate this mechanism continuously, a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the ice tray 26 and the inside of the refrigerator is provided on the back surface or below the ice tray 26, and the like.
The ice tray 26 is rotated when the control device determines that the ice making is completed. Then, when no ice is stored in the ice storage box 24, the ice tray 26 is inverted to a predetermined position and twisted. As a result, the ice in the ice tray 26 leaves the ice tray 26 and falls into the ice storage box 24. The presence or absence of ice in the ice storage box 24 is determined by the rotation drive unit 23.
This is carried out by an ice detecting arm (not shown) connected to the arm.

A reversing switch or the like for switching the driving direction of the motor is provided in the rotation driving section 23, and switches the rotation direction of the motor after the ice is removed. Furthermore, the ice making room 22
A water supply mechanism (not shown) for supplying water to the ice tray 26 when the ice tray 26 returns to the initial stationary state is provided inside or outside the ice making chamber 22.

[0006]

By the way, in general, the ice tray 26 used in this type of ice making apparatus is liable to adhere to water scale and mold for a long term due to the water quality.
Cannot be removed, so scales and the like cannot be removed. In addition, since it is made of resin, there is a tendency that durability problems such as deterioration of ice removability due to deterioration of the surface of the ice tray 26 and drastic reduction of durability of the resin due to twisting tend to occur. However, these problems cannot be solved because the ice tray 26 cannot be replaced. Further, before the refrigerator is installed, it is impossible to wash dust and the like attached to the ice tray 26.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making device capable of easily removing and replacing an ice tray.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ice tray provided with a support portion comprising a rotating shaft or a bearing at both ends in the axial direction, and an ice tray provided on one of the support portions of the ice tray. A rotation drive unit having an output shaft that is detachably and rotatably connected, and a support member that detachably and rotatably holds the other support portion of the ice tray, wherein the support member includes an ice tray. An opening large enough to allow passage of the body is formed.

For this reason, the ice tray can be pulled out or inserted from the opening. As a result, it is possible to wash the ice tray, and it is possible to remove dust before installation of the refrigerator, water scale and mold due to use. In addition, the ice tray can be replaced, and the old ice tray can be replaced with a new ice tray, so that the problem of ice-removing property and durability can be solved. Further, by changing the ice tray, ice of a different shape can be manufactured.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the ice making device of the above-described invention, the supporting portion on the opening side of the ice tray is a rotating shaft, and the supporting member for supporting the rotating shaft is a wall. The opening of the member is a concave portion into which the rotating shaft is fitted, and a window hole formed continuously on the upper side of the concave portion and surrounding the periphery.

For this reason, the ice tray can be pulled upward with the rotation shaft, and then the ice tray can be pulled out from the opening. When inserting the ice tray, the tip end of the ice tray is connected to the output shaft of the rotary drive unit. Thereafter, the rotating shaft on the rear end side of the ice tray can be returned to the original position by being dropped into the concave portion.

Further, in another invention, in addition to the ice making device of each of the above-mentioned inventions, a guide for guiding the removal and insertion of the ice tray is provided. By providing the guide as described above, extraction and insertion are facilitated.

[0013] In addition, another invention includes, in addition to the ice making device of each of the above-mentioned inventions, a detecting means for detecting a detachable state of the rotation drive unit and the ice tray. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which water is supplied by mistake or the ice tray is driven after the ice tray is extracted.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same members as the conventional members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG.
The support member 2 has wall surfaces 2a and 2b at both ends and side walls 2c and 2d on both side surfaces, and the upper surface is closed by the top plate 2e and the lower side is opened. It is arranged to be detachable and rotatable. A water supply device (not shown) is provided above the ice tray 1, and
An ice storage box 14 having an open top is disposed below the storage box. Further, a temperature sensor (not shown) including a thermistor or the like for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator is arranged on the support member 2 so as to face the lower surface of the ice tray 1. Also, the top plate 2e
Is provided with a water supply hole 2f through which a pipe (not shown) for supplying water to the ice tray 1 is provided.

The ice tray 1 has a concave portion 1a as a supporting portion in a thick portion 1b of a side wall disposed on the back side in the ice making chamber 12. The concave portion 1 a has a depth
, Which is substantially the same as the output shaft 3a, and is fitted with an output shaft 3a protruding from a rotary drive unit 3 having a built-in motor, reduction gear, and the like disposed on the wall surface 2a side of the support member 2, and a bearing and an engagement unit. It is rotatably connected by functioning as.

In the present embodiment, the output shaft 3a is
On the upper side of the recessed portion 1a, a tapered surface 1c having an outer diameter on the opening side larger than an outer diameter on the bottom side is provided, while the upper and lower surfaces have a substantially oval appearance. Is formed. Using the tapered surface 1c as a guide, detachment and mounting of the ice tray 1 in a procedure described later are facilitated.

The output shaft 3a of the rotary drive unit 3 is projected in a state of being urged by a spring or the like (not shown) in the axial direction, and as shown in FIG. By providing a typical sensor S, the amount of displacement of the output shaft 3a in the axial direction is detected so that the attachment / detachment of the ice tray 1 can be detected. The sensor S is connected to a control device (not shown) in the refrigerator, and can also function as a detection unit when the mode is switched according to the type of the ice tray 1 to be mounted. That is, the presence or absence of the ice tray 1 and the type of the ice tray 1 can be detected by the sensor S. In addition, the type of the sensor S is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, the other supporting portion of the ice tray 1 protrudes from a cylindrical thick portion 1e arranged on the wall surface 2b side of the supporting member 2 as a rotating shaft 1f having a cylindrical external shape. . The rotating shaft 1f is rotatably supported by fitting into a concave portion 4a formed in a part of an opening 4 provided on a wall surface 2b of the support member 2. In the present embodiment,
In order to take out the ice tray 1 by gripping the rotating shaft 1f, the rotating shaft 1f is formed to have a sufficient length that can protrude to the near side when assembled to the recess 4a.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wall surface 2 of the support member 2
b is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and a substantially rectangular opening 4 is formed on a surface above the central side thereof, and a wall surface 2b is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the opening 4. In the center of the lower edge of the opening 4, a notch 4 a having a size that allows the rotation shaft 1 f of the ice tray 1 to be fitted from above is formed. On the other hand, above the opening 4, a large window 4b is formed continuously with the recess 4a, and the periphery is surrounded. The window hole 4b and the concave portion 4a allow the supporting portion of the ice tray 1 to be attached and detached, that is, the rotating shaft 1f, and allow the ice tray 1 main body to enter and exit through the opening 4 together with the rotating shaft 1f.

On the side walls 2c and 2d of the support member 2, there are integrally provided guide walls 5 and 5 which serve as guides when the ice tray 1 enters and exits. On the other hand, the ice tray 1 is provided with guided members 6, 6 that slide while being placed on the guide walls 5, 5, protruding from the side of the thick portion 1b. The ice tray 1 is provided with a twist projection 7 for applying a twist to the ice tray 1, and a projection 8 against which the twist projection 7 abuts is provided on the wall surface 2 b of the support member 2.

The concave portion 4a has a shape in which a part of an upper portion of a circular hole is omitted so that the rotation shaft 1f can smoothly rotate, and when the ice tray 1 is twisted, the rotation of the concave portion 4a is reduced. It is formed as a substantially U-shaped groove having a depth that forms a wall surface that gives a sufficient reaction force to the rotating shaft 1f so that the shaft 1f does not come off. It is also possible to provide a structure in which a projection is provided toward the inner peripheral side near the hole 4b to prevent accidental detachment.

The projection 8 described above is a projection which comes into contact with the twisting projection 7 projecting in the length direction of the ice tray 1 when the ice tray 1 is rotated by the rotation drive unit 3. That is, the ice tray 1 is formed as a resin ice tray that can be elastically deformed. When the rotary drive unit 3 rotates the initial state from the horizontal stationary state, the twist projection 7 and the projection 8 have a predetermined amount of angle change. Contact (see FIG. 7).

Thus, the ice tray 1 on the side of the rotary drive unit 3
Continuously rotates with the output shaft 3a.
The rotation of the side where the twist projection 7 is present is stopped by the projection 8. As a result, the ice tray 1 is twisted. By setting the position where the twist deformation occurs in a state where the ice tray 1 is substantially inverted, an ice block (not shown) in the ice tray 1 falls into the ice storage box 24 shown in FIG.

Note that the output shaft 3 when twisting deformation occurs
The force F1 of a moves toward the bottom of the recess 4a as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the upper portion of the recess 4a is cut, the output shaft 3a does not fall out of the recess 4a. Further, the force F2 of the twisting projection 7 of the ice tray 1 during the twisting deformation is opposite to the force F1 in the direction in which the twisting projection 7 hits the protrusion 8.

Next, with respect to the ice making device of the present embodiment configured as described above, an operation of removing the ice tray 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

The ice tray 1 is detached in the mounted state in FIG. 3, that is, in a state where the ice tray 1 is kept in a horizontal position. At this time, when the sensor S is provided, it is possible to check the mounting state in the ice making chamber 22. First, the user opens the door inside the ice making chamber 22, holds the rotating shaft 1f of the ice tray 1 with the hand h, lifts it upward and separates it from the recess 4a as shown in FIG.

At this time, the ice tray 1 is lifted upward with the joint with the rotation drive unit 3 at the back of the ice tray 1 as a fulcrum. At this time, since the tapered surface 1c whose outer diameter on the opening side is larger than the outer diameter on the bottom side is formed in the concave portion 1a at the upper side, the tapered surface 1c is raised when it is lifted to a predetermined angle. Abuts in parallel with the outer peripheral edge of the output shaft 3a. On the other hand, the lower surface of the recess 1a is opposite to the output shaft 3
An air gap is formed with respect to the outer peripheral edge of a. As a result, the ice tray 1 can be pulled out through the window hole 4b.

Since the opening 4 including the window 4b is formed large enough to allow the ice tray 1 to pass through, the ice tray 1 passes through the opening 4 as shown in FIG. It can be pulled out and inserted.
Therefore, after the ice tray 1 is pulled out, it can be washed and returned to its original state.

At this time, the detachment of the ice making tray 1 is detected in the rotary drive unit 3, and the malfunction of the rotary drive unit 3 and the malfunction of the water supply device are prevented.

When the ice tray 1 is mounted, the ice tray 1 is inserted through the opening 4 and the guided members 6 and 6 are pushed into the rotation drive unit 3 while being placed on the guide walls 5 and 5. Then, the output shaft 3a of the rotation drive unit 3 comes into contact with the concave portion 1a. At this time, while positioning the ice tray 1 using the tapered surface 1c, the rotating shaft 1f of the ice tray 1 is fitted into the concave portion 4a and mounted. With this mounting, the recess 1
The innermost surface of “a” slightly pushes the output shaft 3a, and the sensor S detects its attachment.

The output shaft 3 extends from the concave portion 1a of the ice tray 1.
Immediately before “a” comes out, the guided members 6 and 6 of the ice tray 1 are placed on the guide walls 5 and 5 of the support member 2. As a result, the ice tray 1 is prevented from falling off the support member 2. The guide walls 5 and 5 also have a function of preventing falling-off when the ice tray 1 is inserted and guiding.

Although the above-described embodiment shows a preferred example of the present invention, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the opening 4 may be provided not to the wall surface 2b but to the wall surface 2b and the top plate 2e, or may be provided to cover one or both of the side walls 2c and 2d and the wall surface 2b. Further, the opening 4 is provided on the top plate 2e, the ice tray 1 is taken in and out from above, and the opening 4 is provided on one of the side walls 2c and 2d.
The ice tray 1 may be taken in and out from the side.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ice making device may be configured such that the ice tray 11 can be attached to and detached from the support member 12 having the opening 4 below the wall surface 12b.
In this ice making device, the output shaft 3a is fitted from below into the concave portion 13 whose lower portion is notched. The same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified. The ice tray 11 is the same as the ice tray 1 described above.
The support member 12 has substantially the same configuration as that of the support member 2 described above, but has a slightly different point.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 9C, the recess 13 has a substantially circular engagement hole 13 into which the output shaft 3a is completely fitted.
a, elastic arms 13b, 13b having elasticity that works to widen the passage when the output shaft 3a is fitted, and the opening side for guiding the fitting of the output shaft 3a is wide and the back side is gradually narrowed. And a guide hole 13c. Further, small holes 13d, 13d for exerting an elastic action are provided on each side of the elastic arms 13b, 13b.

The ice tray 1 is provided with a twisting projection 7, while the wall surface 12b is provided with a projection 8 against which the twisting projection 7 abuts. Twisting projection 7 and projection 8
Are arranged so as to come into contact when the ice tray 11 rotates about 135 degrees from the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 9B.

The detection of the attachment / detachment of the ice trays 1 and 11 includes, in addition to the detection of the axial movement of the output shaft 3a and the detection by the Hall element and the proximity switch, as shown in FIG. The contact switch 15 may be provided, and a contact action piece 16 for operating one contact piece of the contact switch 15 may be provided to protrude outward from the rotation drive unit 3.

According to this structure, when the ice trays 1 and 11 are mounted, the contact action piece 16 is pushed by the opposing surface 1d to turn on the contact switch 15 and send the signal to the control unit. Thereby, the refrigerator 21 detects that the ice trays 1 and 11 are mounted. The attached ice trays 1, 11
As shown in FIG. 10C, in order to have a structure in which the contact action piece 16 is kept pressed even when rotated in the range of 0 to 145 degrees,
It is preferable to provide a disk-shaped contact portion 17 protruding outward at the tip of the thick portion 1b of the ice tray 1.

Further, as the detection of the attachment / detachment of the ice trays 1 and 11, the current flowing through the motor in the rotary drive unit 3 may be detected. That is, when the ice trays 1 and 11 are twisted and deformed, a current that is at least one digit larger than a normal current value flows through the motor. Therefore, the presence or absence of the ice trays 1 and 11 can be detected by measuring and detecting the current value of the motor.

When the ice trays 1 and 11 are taken out, it is preferable that the ice trays 1 and 11 cannot be removed when they are not at the horizontal position. For example, when the ice tray 1 is rotating, it is conceivable to block the lower part of the guide walls 5, 5 so that one of the guided members 6, 6 hits one of the guide walls 5, 5 and cannot be pulled out. Can be Further, after the ice trays 1 and 11 are removed at the horizontal position, a motor drive stop signal is sent from a detection member that has detected the attachment / detachment of the ice trays 1 and 11 to a member that controls the motor so that the output shaft 3a does not rotate. However, it is preferable to prevent the motor from operating accidentally.

The connection between the ice trays 1 and 11 and the rotation drive unit 3 is performed by using the concave part 1a of the ice tray 1 and the output shaft 3a as well as by using the ice tray 1 side as a protruding shaft and rotating. Drive unit 3
Various configurations and coupling configurations, such as a configuration in which a concave portion is provided on the side, a configuration in which one is a projection having a recess, and the other is a mere projection, and a configuration in which another connecting member is interposed between the two, or the like, are employed. be able to.

Further, the shape of the recesses 4a, 13 may be U-shaped, V-shaped, or the like, other than a substantially semicircular shape, as long as it can receive the force at the time of twisting. Also,
In the above-described embodiment, the temperature sensor for detecting the generation of ice is attached to the predetermined position of the support member 2 so as to contact the bottom of the ice tray 1 when the ice tray 1 is mounted. It may be installed so that it is only brought close to the dish 1 so as not to come into contact with it, or the temperature sensor may be eliminated so that time control is performed entirely.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the supporting member for detachably and rotatably holding the other supporting portion of the ice tray has an opening large enough to allow the ice tray main body to pass therethrough. The ice tray can be taken out by a simple operation of grasping the supporting portion of the ice tray by hand and then pulling out the ice tray. Accordingly, this allows the ice tray to be periodically replaced or washed, thereby eliminating contamination by scale or mold and problems of durability. Also,
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the structure of this invention, it becomes possible to take out or insert the ice tray installed in the limited space in the ice making room, without changing the installation space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of an ice making device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the ice making device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state where an ice tray is mounted in the ice making device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the ice tray is being taken out of the opening in the ice making device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the ice tray is being taken out horizontally from the opening in the ice making device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a horizontal state of an ice tray in the ice making device of FIG. 1, and is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 In the ice making device of FIG. 1, the ice tray is rotated,
It is a side view which shows the state just before starting twist deformation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use state of the ice making device of FIG. 1 in a refrigerator.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing another mounting structure in the ice making device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 9A is a diagram for explaining a situation where the ice making tray is mounted on the support member, and FIG. 9B is a view in which the mounted ice making tray is twisted. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a state immediately before deformation starts, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a concave portion into which a rotating shaft is fitted.

10A and 10B are diagrams showing another example for detecting attachment / detachment of an ice tray in the ice making device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 10A is a front view of a rotary drive unit, FIG. 10B is a side view thereof, and FIG. (C) is a partial side view when the ice tray is mounted.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a conventional ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice tray 1a Depression 1c Taper surface 1f Rotation shaft 2 Support member 2a, 2b Wall surface 2c, 2d Side wall 2e Top plate 3 Rotation drive part 3a Output shaft 4 Opening 4a Depression 4b Window hole 5 Guide wall (guide guide) 6 Cover Guide member 7 Twisting projection 8 Projecting part 11 Ice tray 21 Refrigerator 22 Ice making room 24 Ice storage box

Claims (4)

[Claims] An ice tray provided with a support portion comprising a rotating shaft or a bearing at both ends in an axial direction, and a rotation provided with an output shaft detachably and rotatably connected to one of the support portions of the ice tray. A drive member, and a support member for detachably and rotatably holding the other support portion of the ice tray, wherein the support member has an opening large enough to allow the ice tray body to pass therethrough. An ice making device characterized by being formed. 2. A supporting part on the opening side of the ice tray is a rotating shaft, a supporting member for supporting the rotating shaft is a wall, and the opening of the supporting member is fitted with the rotating shaft. 2. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion is a window hole formed continuously on the upper side of the concave portion and surrounded by the concave portion. 3. A guide for guiding removal and insertion of the ice tray is provided.
Or the ice making device of 2. 4. The ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects a detached state of the rotation drive unit and the ice tray.