JP2001050619A - Automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an automatic ice making machine from being an ignition source, even when a combustible coolant leaks and fills inside the refrigerator with combustible gas in the automatic ice machine mounted on a refrigerator using the combustible coolant. SOLUTION: A unit comprises an ice checking lever 19 entering an ice storage box 18 and retreating from it by turning, an detecting means 118 generating signal when the ice detecting lever 19 turns for a prescribed amount and a drive unit 11 for driving the ice detecting lever 19 holding the other edge of the turning shaft of an ice tray and the turning shaft of the ice detecting lever 19, and by providing the detecting means 118 with a sealed switch or a non contact switch and providing the drive unit 11 with a motor having no commutator or brush as a driving source, spark is not generated to the outside from the switch or the motor and there is no possibility of igniting combustible coolant even if it should leak out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker mounted on a household electric refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic ice machines mounted on home refrigerators have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 6-249556 and 6-3.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 17372, an ice tray is rotated to a preset position by a drive unit that transmits the rotation of a motor to the ice tray, and the other end of the ice tray is brought into contact with a stopper to make the ice tray. Is widely used to twist ice in one direction by a predetermined angle to separate ice.

Hereinafter, a conventional automatic ice maker will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where the ice tray has reached a maximum twist position in a conventional automatic ice maker.
Is an ice tray, which is divided into a plurality of ice chambers 3 by a partition wall 2. Each ice chamber 3 is connected by a common groove 6 for distributing water injection. Reference numerals 4 and 5 denote arcs of the vertical ridge line of the partition wall 2 and gradually increase from the top surface to the bottom surface.

[0005] Reference numeral 7 denotes a stopper provided on the support frame of the ice tray 1, and reference numeral 8 denotes a drive unit for rotating the ice tray 1.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway front view of the drive unit 8. FIG. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 80 denotes a DC brush motor.

Reference numeral 90 denotes a reduction gear group, and a cam gear 91 having a drive shaft for rotating the ice tray 1 is arranged at the last stage.

The cam gear 91 is configured to stop and lock and stop against the outer case 8a of the drive unit 1 when the cam gear 91 reverses by 1 ° from the origin position.

Reference numeral 92 denotes an ice detecting shaft to which an ice detecting lever 93 is attached. The ice detecting shaft 92 rotates the ice detecting lever 93 and the ice detecting member 94 in conjunction with the rotation of the cam gear 91.

Reference numeral 95 denotes a regulating member which regulates the rotation of the detecting member 94 only in the process in which the cam gear 91 rotates in the reverse direction and the ice tray 1 returns.

The switch signal is generated when the ice tray 1 has reached the origin position and the ice separation position, and when the rotation of the detection member 94 is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 16, a DC brush motor 80 includes a metal outer case 81 and a metal end cover 8.
2, a core 84 fixed to the shaft 83, a wire 85 wound around the core 84, a conductive piece 86 located below the core 84, and a piece 86 fixed to the external connection terminal 87. A conductive brush 88 in dynamic contact with the magnet, and a magnet 89 arranged with a certain clearance around the core. To rotate continuously.

When the motor 80 rotates, mechanical and electrical contact and non-contact, that is, so-called contact opening and closing, between the piece 86 and the brush 88 are repeated, so that a discharge phenomenon occurs between the piece 86 and the brush 88. appear.

The operation of the conventional automatic ice maker constructed as described above will be described.

When the water injected into the ice chamber 3 of the ice tray 1 is sufficiently frozen, the power supply to the motor 80 is started and the cam gear 9 is turned on.
1 rotates forward, and the ice tray 1 rotates toward the ice release position.
At this time, when there is no ice up to a predetermined height (not shown) in the ice storage box, a switch signal is not generated because the ice detection shaft 92 rotates and the ice detection lever 93 and the detection member 94 rotate. It is determined that the ice is insufficient, and the ice tray 1 continues to rotate.

When the ice tray 1 is rotated to a predetermined position, the other end of the ice tray 1 hits the stopper 7, and thereafter, the driving unit 8 continues to drive the ice tray 1
As a result, the ice tray is greatly twisted, and the ice in the ice chamber 3 is pushed out.

When the ice tray 1 reaches the ice-releasing position, a switch signal is generated, and the motor 80 stops once to stop ice-releasing.

Thereafter, the ice tray 1 starts to return to the origin position. In the process of the return, the regulating member 95 prevents the rotation of the detecting member 94, so that a switch signal is generated. The switch signal becomes a reference signal for detecting the home position, and when the cam gear 91 is further rotated for a predetermined time after the generation of the switch signal, a switch signal indicating the home position is generated.

After the switch signal indicating the origin position is generated, the cam gear 91 is further rotated backward by 1 °, locked and stopped. After that, it rotates forward by 1 ° and returns to the origin position. Then, it prepares for the next de-icing operation.

On the other hand, when there is ice above a predetermined height in the ice storage box 96, even if the ice detecting shaft 92 tries to rotate, the ice detecting lever 93 hits the ice and is prevented from rotating.
4 does not rotate, a switch signal is generated and it is determined that ice is sufficient, and the ice tray 1 starts to return toward the origin position. After the origin signal is generated, the cam gear 91 is further rotated by 1 °, locked and stopped. Thereafter, it rotates forward by 1 ° and returns to the home position.

[0021]

On the other hand, in the refrigerator industry, from the viewpoint of prevention of ozone layer destruction and prevention of global warming, the refrigeration of refrigerants for refrigerators has been progressing, and hydrocarbon refrigerants have been used as refrigerator refrigerants mainly in Europe. Adoption is progressing. However, since this refrigerant is flammable, a safe design including the usage amount is performed on the adopting side.

Therefore, even in an automatic ice maker employed in a refrigerator, even if a hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks into the refrigerator, it is necessary to prevent the automatic ice maker from becoming an ignition source for the hydrocarbon refrigerant. In order to prevent the hydrocarbon refrigerant from igniting due to the discharge from the switch or the motor, it is necessary to take measures such as improving the airtightness of the drive unit in which the motor is housed, which causes a cost increase.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a safe and inexpensive automatic ice maker which employs components free from a discharge phenomenon.

[0024]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an ice tray, an ice storage box located below the ice tray for storing ice, and rotating into the ice storage box. An ice detecting lever that enters and exits, detecting means for generating a signal when the ice detecting lever rotates by a predetermined angle, a support frame that supports one end of a rotating shaft of the ice tray, and a rotating shaft of the ice tray. A driving device for holding and driving the other end of the ice detection lever and a rotating shaft of the ice detecting lever, and a control unit for controlling the driving device. The detection means is provided with a sealed switch or a non-contact switch. The driving device is provided with a motor having no brush and commutator as a driving source.

According to the above configuration, a discharge phenomenon does not occur from the switch and the motor to the outside.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention of claim 1 is an ice tray, an ice storage box located below the ice tray for storing ice, and an ice detector which enters and exits the ice storage box by rotating. Lever and
Detecting means for generating a signal when the ice detecting lever rotates by a predetermined angle; a support frame for supporting one end of a rotating shaft of the ice tray; and another end of the rotating shaft of the ice tray and the ice detecting lever. A drive unit that holds and drives the rotating shaft; and a control unit that controls the drive unit. The detection unit includes a sealed switch or a non-contact switch, and the drive unit includes a brush and a rectifier. A motor having no motor is provided as a drive source.

[0027] Accordingly, since no discharge phenomenon occurs from the switch and the motor, even if the hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks into the refrigerator, the refrigerant is not ignited and is safe. Cost can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the motor is a stepping motor, and the control unit is provided with rotation control means for controlling the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the stepping motor, and the rotation control means rotates the ice tray. A signal indicating the lack of ice even though the ice detection operation was repeated at a predetermined time interval, and the ice detection operation was performed to detect the amount of ice by rotating the ice detection lever. Is not obtained, the ice removing operation is forcibly performed.

In this way, if no signal can be obtained from the switch even though the ice detecting operation has been repeated a predetermined number of times, it is assumed that the ice tray is stopped at a position other than the horizontal position. Can be used to determine the abnormal position stop, and a more reliable automatic ice maker can be realized.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment.

Note that the same components as those in the related art will be described with the same reference numerals.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an ice tray,
A plurality of ice chambers 3 are divided by the partition wall 2, and each ice chamber 3 is connected by a common groove 6 for distributing water injection. 4,5
Is an arc of a vertical ridge line of the partition wall 2 and gradually increases from the top surface to the bottom surface.

Numeral 11 denotes a driving device, which comprises a stepping motor 12 and a rectangular gear box 13, and has an output shaft 14 protruding from substantially the center of the gear box 13 and an ice tray 1.
Hold one end of the rotating shaft and rotate it.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a support frame for supporting the ice tray 1;
The ice tray 1 has one end of the rotating shaft held by the drive unit 11 and the other end held by the support frame 15.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a first blocking portion, which is formed integrally with the support frame 15. The first blocking portion 16 is provided on the support frame 1.
5 is disposed on the side supporting the ice making tray 1, and when the ice making tray 1 rotates 5 ° in the anti-icing direction from the horizontal position, the ice making tray 1 is rotated.
To give a first twist.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a second blocking portion, which is formed integrally with the support frame 15. The second blocking portion 17 is provided on the support frame 1.
5 is placed on the side supporting the ice making tray 1, and when the ice making tray 1 rotates 160 ° from the horizontal position in the ice releasing direction, it comes into contact with the corner upper surface of the ice making tray 1 to give a second twist.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an ice storage box, which is located below the ice tray 1 and stores ice separated from the ice tray 1.

An ice detecting lever 19 has one end held by the drive unit 11 and the other end held by the support frame 15, respectively.
The ice detecting lever 19 is rotated by the driving device 11, enters the ice storage box 18, and detects the amount of ice in the ice storage box 18.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an ice making sensor, which is sandwiched between the outer bottom surface of the ice tray 1 and the sensor holder 21 and closely contacts the outer bottom surface of the ice tray 1 to detect the surface temperature.

When water is supplied to the ice tray 1, the surface temperature of the bottom surface of the ice tray 1 rises, so that the resistance of the ice making sensor 20 becomes low. The resistance of the ice making sensor 20 increases.

In this embodiment, when the resistance of the ice making sensor 20 becomes 12 kΩ or more, it is determined that the ice making is completed.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the control unit 22.
Drive circuit 302 based on a signal from ice making sensor 20
The drive device 11 is driven by controlling the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the motor 12 via the controller.

Next, the driving device 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the driving device 11. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 111 denotes a case, and 112 denotes a cover. The case 111 and the cover 112 form an outer shell of the gear box 13.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a pinion gear, and a concave portion 113a which is depressed inward in the rotation axis direction of the pinion gear is provided at a shaft end of the pinion gear 113 on the case 111 side.
The shaft 12a of the motor 12 is connected to the recess 113a.

Reference numeral 114 denotes an output gear, which is a pinion gear 1
13. In this embodiment, the reduction ratio between the pinion gear 113 and the output gear 114 is 1 / 5.7.

The output gear 114 has a shaft 11 protruding in the center.
The output shaft 14 is formed at the tip of the shaft portion 115. The output shaft 14 protrudes outward from a through hole 112 a provided at the center of the cover 112.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of the driving device.
The output gear 114 has a cam 116 on the outer periphery.
Drives the ice detection shaft 117 described later.

The ice detection shaft 117 has two cams 117a and 117b protruding from the outer periphery, and the cam 117a and the cam 117
b is arranged so as to contact the cam 116 of the output gear 114.

Further, the ice detecting shaft 117 has a concave portion 117c which is depressed in a rectangular shape inward at the end in the direction of the rotation axis.
One end of the ice detecting lever 19 described above is inserted into 7c.
The end of the ice detecting shaft 117 on the side where the concave portion 117c is located communicates with the outside through a through hole 112b provided near the corner of the cover 112. In FIG. 6, when the output gear 114 rotates counterclockwise, that is, when the ice tray 1 rotates counterclockwise, the ice detecting shaft 117 rotates clockwise, and the ice detecting lever 19 moves to the ice storage box. Enter into 18.

When the ice detecting lever 19 is forcibly rotated by mischief or the like, the cam 11 of the ice detecting shaft 117 is not rotated.
7a pushes and rotates the cam 116 of the output gear 114, so that the torque is transmitted reversely in the power transmission path, and the stepping motor 12 idles. This can prevent the ice detecting lever 19 from being damaged.

At the other end of the ice detecting shaft 117, a substantially circular protruding piece 117d is provided.
When rotated by 0 °, the projecting piece 117d is connected to a switch 1 described later.
Activate 18. The projecting piece 117d projects outward from an arc-shaped through hole 111b provided near the corner of the case 111.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a sealed switch, which is hermetically sealed by an elastomer so that harmful gas, dust and the like do not enter the contacts.

The switch 118 is held outside the case 111 by a holding portion 111c provided in the case 111. FIG. 5 is a front view of the driving device. In FIG.
7 rotates 30 °, the projection 117 of the ice detection shaft 117 is rotated.
is operated by d to generate a signal.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a harness for connecting the switch 118 to the control unit 22;
2 harness.

Next, the stepping motor 12 will be described. The stepping motor 12 has a flange 12c provided with two mounting holes 12d. On the other hand, the case 111 has a mounting hole 1 for the stepping motor 12.
A circular boss 111d is provided for positioning by fitting to 2c.

Mounting hole 12 for stepping motor 12
By pushing d along the circular boss 111 d of the case 111, the stepping motor 12 is held by the case 111.

Next, the internal structure of the stepping motor 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the stepping motor 12, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the motor 12.

The stepping motor 12 has an outer shell formed by a metal case 12b and a cover 12c, and includes a rotor 201 made of a multi-pole magnetized cylindrical permanent magnet.
And a yoke 2 having a number of teeth corresponding to the magnetic poles of the rotor 201
02 and the solenoid coil 20 surrounded by the yoke 202
3 and a drive gear 20 fixed to the rotation shaft of the rotor 201
4, and a reduction gear group 205 driven by the drive gear 204;
It has a shaft 12a at the end and a final stage gear 206 at the final stage of the reduction gear group.

When one electric pulse is applied to the solenoid coil 203, the teeth of the magnetized yoke 202 and the magnetic poles magnetized on the permanent magnet of the rotor 201 repel or attract each other, and the rotor 201 rotates by a predetermined angle.

Since the rotation of the rotor 201 is reduced by the drive gear 204 and the reduction gear, the shaft 12a rotates at a smaller angle. In this embodiment, every time one pulse is applied, the shaft 12a is turned by 0.175 °.

On the other hand, as described above, since the reduction ratio by the gear box 13 is 1 / 5.7, the output shaft 14 of the gear box 13 is rotated by 0.03 ° every time one pulse is applied. .

Therefore, in order to rotate the ice tray 180 °, 6000 electric pulses are applied to the stepping motor 12.
It is necessary to apply a pulse.

Since the stepping motor 12 does not have a contact opening / closing as in the brush motor shown in the conventional example, no discharge phenomenon occurs.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the control unit 22. The controller 301, which is a rotation control means, contains a program necessary for controlling the rotation of the stepping motor 12 and is based on information from the ice making sensor 20. Control the drive circuit 302 to
Control the rotation direction and amount of rotation.

The operation of the automatic ice maker constructed as described above will be described.

First, a first twist that gives the ice tray 1 a first twist
The operation will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first operation program according to the present embodiment, which is executed by the controller 301 as rotation control means.

In step 1, the first operation program is started, and in the next step 2, the pulse P (=) for rotating the ice tray 1 by 18 ° in the anti-icing direction with respect to the driving circuit 302 is set.
In step 3, the pulse P is counted up, and the stepping motor 12 rotates according to the pulse number, and the output gear 114 rotates in the reverse direction (counterclockwise) in FIG.

In step 4, it is checked whether or not the pulse P has reached 600 pulses.
If not, return to step 3.

When the ice tray 1 is rotated by 5 °, the first twist is given by contacting the first blocking portion 16 of the support frame 15, and the ice is formed by the extension of one diagonal line ac of the ice chamber 3. Two of the four corners a, b, c, and d are separated from the ice chamber 3.

Then, the cam 117a of the ice detecting shaft 117 stopped by the cam 116 of the output gear 114 is released from the stationary state, and the ice detecting shaft 117 rotates and is connected to the recess 117c of the ice detecting shaft 117. Ice detection lever 19 also ice storage box 18
Rotate inward.

If there is sufficient ice in the ice storage box 18, even if the ice detection lever 19 enters the ice storage box 18, the ice is prevented from proceeding, so that the rotation of the ice detection shaft 117 is prevented. The projection 117d stops halfway, and the protruding piece 117d is
a is not operated, no signal is generated from the switch 18, and the signal remains at Lo.

On the other hand, when the ice in the ice storage box 18 is insufficient, even if the ice detection lever 19 enters the ice storage box 18, the ice is not stopped from moving forward. The projection 117d is moved to the detection portion 118a of the switch 118.
Is operated, and a Hi signal is generated from the switch 18.

Next, in step 5, the driving of the stepping motor 12 is stopped, and the signal of the switch 118 is set to Hi or L.
Proceed to step 6 regardless of o.

In step 6, the pulse P output in step 2 is returned by the pulse P returning operation.

The stepping motor 12 rotates, the output gear 114 in FIG. 6 rotates in the normal rotation direction (clockwise) to return the ice tray 1 to the horizontal position, and the cam 116 of the output gear 114 causes the ice detecting shaft 117 to rotate. Then, the ice detecting shaft 117 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 to return the ice detecting lever 19 to the original standby position.

At step 8, it is confirmed whether or not the pulse P has reached 0, and if it has reached, the process proceeds to step 9. If not, the process returns to step 7.

Then, in step 9, the driving of the stepping motor 12 is stopped, and the first operation is completed.

Next, the second operation of giving the ice tray 1 a second twist to separate ice will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second operation program of this embodiment, which is executed by the controller 301.

In step 1, the second operation program is started. In the next step 2, a pulse Q (=) for rotating the ice making tray 1 by 180 ° in the ice releasing direction with respect to the driving circuit 302.
6000 pulses), and in step 3, the pulse Q
Is counted up, the stepping motor 12 rotates according to the pulse number, and the output gear 114 rotates in the forward direction (clockwise) in FIG.

In step 4, it is checked whether or not the pulse Q has reached 6000 pulses. If it has reached, the process proceeds to step 5, and if not, the process returns to step 3.

When the ice tray is rotated by 160 °, the second twist is given by contacting the second blocking portion 17 of the support frame 15, and the other diagonal line b-d of the ice chamber 3 extends, so that ice is removed. Two of the four corners a, b, c, and d are ice chamber 3
Peel from

As described above, the other two corners a and c of the ice are separated from the ice chamber 3 during the ice detecting operation, so that the ice in the ice tray 1 is easily separated from the ice tray 1 and put into the ice storage box 18. Released.

Next, at step 5, the driving of the stepping motor 12 is stopped, and the routine proceeds to step 6.

In step 6, the operation of returning the pulse Q (= 6000 pulses) is performed to return the ice tray 1 to the horizontal position.

At step 7, the pulse Q is counted down, the stepping motor 12 rotates according to the pulse number, and the output gear 114 rotates in the reverse direction (counterclockwise) in FIG.

In step 8, it is confirmed whether or not the pulse Q has reached 0. If the pulse Q has reached 0, the process proceeds to step 9, and if not, the process returns to step 7.

In step 9, the driving of the stepping motor is stopped, and the second operation ends.

As described above, the ice removing operation is completed by the end of the first operation and the second operation.

Next, the ice detecting operation will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the ice detecting operation program of this embodiment, which is executed by the controller 301.

At step 1, the ice detecting operation program is started, and at the next step 2, the pulse R (=) for rotating the ice tray 1 by 18 ° in the anti-ice-releasing direction with respect to the driving circuit 302.
600 pulses), and in step 3, the pulse R
, The stepping motor 12 rotates according to the pulse number, and the output gear 114 rotates counterclockwise in FIG.

In step 4, it is confirmed whether or not the pulse R has reached 600 pulses.
If not, return to step 3.

Similarly to the first operation, when the ice tray is rotated by 5 °, the ice making tray comes into contact with the first blocking portion 16 of the support frame 15 and is given a first twist.

Then, the cam 117a of the ice detecting shaft 117 stopped by the cam 116 of the output gear 114 is released from the stationary state, and the ice detecting shaft 117 rotates and is connected to the recess 117c of the ice detecting shaft 117. The ice detecting lever also rotates toward the inside of the ice storage box 18.

If there is sufficient ice in the ice storage box 18, even if the ice detection lever 19 enters the ice storage box 18, the ice is prevented from proceeding, so that the rotation of the ice detection shaft 117 is prevented. The projection 117d stops halfway, and the protruding piece 117d is
a is not operated, no signal is generated from the switch 18 and Lo
Remains.

On the other hand, when the ice in the ice storage box 18 is insufficient, even if the ice detection lever 19 enters the ice storage box 18, the ice is not prevented from proceeding. The projection 117d is moved to the detection portion 118a of the switch 118.
Is operated, and a Hi signal is generated from the switch 18.

Next, in step S5, the driving of the stepping motor 12 is stopped. In step S6, it is confirmed whether the signal S of the switch 118 is Hi or Lo. If Hi, the process proceeds to Step S7, and if Lo, the process proceeds to Step S15. .

In step 7, the Hi signal is stored, and the flow advances to step 8. In step 15, the Lo signal is stored, and the flow advances to step 8.

In step 8, the pulse R output in step 2 is returned by the return operation of the pulse R.

At step 9, the pulse R is counted down, the stepping motor 12 rotates according to the pulse number, and the output gear 114 in FIG. 6 rotates in the normal direction (counterclockwise). Then, the cam 1 of the output gear 114
16 pushes back the cam 117a of the ice detecting shaft 117, rotates the ice detecting shaft 117 counterclockwise in FIG. 6, and returns the ice detecting lever 19 to the original standby position.

In step 10, it is confirmed whether or not the pulse R has reached 0. If the pulse R has reached 0, the process proceeds to step 11, and if not, the process returns to step 9.

Then, in step 11, the driving of the stepping motor 12 is stopped, and the routine proceeds to step 12. In step 12, if the stored signal S of the switch 118 is Hi, the process proceeds to step 13, and the ice tray 1 is supplied with water.

If the stored signal S of the switch 118 is Lo, the ice tray 1 is not supplied with water, the process proceeds to step 14 and the ice tray 1 is kept in an anhydrous state. Perform ice detection operation according to the program.

Thereafter, water supply, ice making, first operation, second operation, and ice detecting operation are repeated.

In this embodiment, the first operation is performed only once before the second operation, but may be performed a plurality of times. that time,
The first operation is periodically performed after the signal indicating that the bottom surface temperature of the ice tray 1 has become 0 ° C. or less from the ice making sensor 20, for example, the ice making sensor 20. Is frequently given to prevent the ice from getting into the ice compartment 3 of the ice tray 1.

In this embodiment, since the ice detecting operation is performed after the ice releasing operation is completed, if the ice tray 1 cannot return to the horizontal position for some reason, the switch 118 is used even if the ice detecting operation is performed. No water is supplied since no Hi signal is generated.

If the Hi signal is not obtained from the switch 118 despite repeating the ice detecting operation a predetermined number of times, the ice tray 1 may be stopped at a position other than the horizontal position. By performing the first and second operations, the ice tray 1 can be returned to the horizontal position.

As described above, the automatic ice making machine of this embodiment is
The ice tray 1, an ice storage box 18 located below the ice tray 1 for storing ice, an ice detecting lever 19 that enters the ice storage box 18 by rotating and detects the amount of ice, and an ice detecting lever 19. Detecting means for generating a signal when rotated by a predetermined angle, a support frame for supporting one end of the rotating shaft of the ice tray 1, holding the other end of the rotating shaft of the ice tray 1 and the rotating shaft of the ice detecting lever 19 A drive unit 11 and a control unit 22 for controlling the drive unit 11. The detection unit is provided with a sealed switch 118, and the drive unit 11 is provided with a stepping motor 12 as a drive source. Since the discharge phenomenon does not occur from the stepping motor 12 to the outside, even if the hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks into the refrigerator, the refrigerant does not ignite and is safe, and the drive device needs to be airtight. Cost is reduced It is.

The controller 22 is provided with a controller (rotation control means) 301 for controlling the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the stepping motor 12, and the controller (rotation control means) 301 rotates the ice tray 1 to release ice. An ice detecting operation for detecting the amount of ice by rotating the ice detecting lever 19 and the ice detecting operation is performed, and a signal indicating the lack of ice is not obtained even though the ice detecting operation is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals. The ice tray 1 is stopped at a position other than the horizontal position when a signal is not obtained from the switch even though the ice detecting operation is repeated a predetermined number of times, because the ice removing operation is forcibly performed. As a result, it is possible to use the ice detection operation to determine the stop of the abnormal position, thereby realizing a more reliable automatic ice maker.

Further, the automatic ice making machine of the present embodiment has
Is rotated in a direction opposite to the ice-releasing direction, the first twisting is given by being prevented from rotating by the first blocking portion 16, and the second twisting is performed when the ice tray 1 rotates in the ice-releasing direction. The rotation of the ice tray 1 is controlled by the first blocking portion 16 so that the rotation of the ice tray 1 is controlled by the first blocking portion 16.
And the second blocking portion 17, the first blocking portion is arranged at a position where the first twist can be given with the opening side of the ice tray 1 facing upward, and the opening of the ice tray 1 is opened. Since the second blocking portion 17 is arranged at a position where the second twist can be given in a state where the side faces downward, the interval between the start position and the end position of the second twist is set as the ice-free position of the ice tray. , Ice tray 1
Generated in each of the ice chambers 3 by the first torsion, the diagonal lines a and c are formed in the ice chambers 3 by the extension of the diagonal line ac of the ice chamber 3.
From the ice chamber 3, and then the diagonal line b of the ice chamber 3 generated by the second twist.
Due to the extension of -d, the remaining two corners b and d are separated from the ice chamber 3, so that ice can be separated with a smaller torque as compared with a conventional automatic ice maker that twists in only one direction. In addition, the driving device can have a smaller and simpler configuration.

Further, the first twist can be given with the opening side of the ice tray 1 facing upward, and water and ice are not discharged from the ice tray, so that ice is generated in the ice chamber. Can often give the first twist, and the ice
Can be prevented from sticking to the inner surface.

Further, since the ice making operation is performed after the ice releasing operation is completed, if the ice making tray 1 cannot return to the horizontal position for some reason, even if the ice detecting operation is performed, the switch 118 is set to the H level.
Since no i signal is generated, water is not supplied, and the trouble of abnormal water supply can be prevented beforehand.

The ice detecting shaft 117 is provided with two cams 117a and 117b projecting to the outer periphery, and the cam 116 of the output gear 114 is disposed between the cam 117a and the cam 117b. Even if 19 is forcibly rotated due to mischief or the like, the power is transmitted in the reverse direction in the power transmission path, and the stepping motor 12 idles,
Breakage of the ice detecting lever 19 can be prevented beforehand.

[0118]

As described above, the present invention provides an ice tray, an ice storage box located below the ice tray, and for storing ice.
An ice detecting lever that enters the ice storage box by rotating to detect the amount of ice, a detecting unit that generates a signal when the ice detecting lever rotates by a predetermined angle, and one end of a rotating shaft of the ice tray. A supporting frame for supporting, a driving device for holding and driving the other end of the rotating shaft of the ice tray and a rotating shaft of the ice detecting lever, and a control unit for controlling the driving device; Provide a sealed switch or a non-contact switch,
The driving device is provided with a motor having no brush and commutator as a driving source.

As a result, no discharge is generated from the switch as the detecting means or the motor as the driving source to the outside, so that even if the hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks into the refrigerator, the refrigerant does not ignite. It is safe, and it is not necessary to make the drive device airtight, so that the cost can be reduced.

The motor is a stepping motor,
The control unit is provided with rotation control means for controlling the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the stepping motor, and the rotation control means rotates an ice tray by rotating an ice tray by rotating an ice detecting lever. The ice detecting operation for detecting the amount is performed, and when the signal indicating the lack of ice is not obtained even though the ice detecting operation is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, the ice removing operation is forcibly performed. Things.

Thus, when a signal is not obtained from the switch even though the ice detecting operation has been repeated a predetermined number of times, it is assumed that the ice tray is stopped at a position other than the horizontal position, thereby performing the ice detecting operation. Can be used to determine the abnormal position stop, and a more reliable automatic ice maker can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first twist of the ice tray in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second twist of the ice tray in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the driving device in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of the driving device in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the drive device of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the stepping motor.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a stepping motor.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first operation program of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second operation program of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an ice detecting operation program of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ice tray reaches a maximum twist position in a conventional automatic ice maker.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway front view of a driving section of a conventional automatic ice maker.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a DC brush motor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ice tray 11 driving device 12 stepping motor 15 support frame 16 first blocking unit 17 second blocking unit 18 ice storage box 19 ice detection lever 22 control unit 118 switch (detection unit) 301 controller (rotation control unit)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ice tray, an ice storage box located below the ice tray for storing ice, an ice detection lever that enters and exits the ice storage box by rotating, and a predetermined angle of the ice detection lever. Detecting means for generating a signal when rotated, a support frame for supporting one end of a rotation axis of the ice tray, holding the other end of the rotation axis of the ice tray and a rotation axis of the ice detecting lever. A drive device to be driven, and a control unit for controlling the drive device, wherein the detection means is provided with a sealed switch or a non-contact type switch, and the drive device does not include a brush and a commutator. An automatic ice maker, characterized in that it is provided as a drive source. 2. A stepping motor is used as a motor, and a control unit is provided with rotation control means for controlling a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the stepping motor, and the rotation control means rotates an ice tray to release ice. When the operation and the ice detecting lever are rotated to perform an ice detecting operation for detecting the amount of ice, and when the ice detecting operation is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals, a signal indicating the lack of ice is not obtained. An automatic ice maker characterized by forcibly performing the ice release operation.