JP2002031445A - Ice block discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent locking of a motor and breakdown of a connecting pin and besides to reduce occurrence of crushed ice. SOLUTION: An ice block discharging device 34 is composed of a geared motor 27 and an ice block delivering screw 28. The free end part 35b of a rotating shaft 35 of the ice block delivering screw 28 is inserted fitly into and supported rotatably by a bearing hole 38a of an ice storage chamber 16. Long holes 39 extending axially are formed in the front end part 35a of the rotating shaft 35. The dimension of the outside diameter of an output shaft 36 is so set that the output shaft can be inserted into the rotating shaft 35, while a through hole piercing in the direction intersecting the axial direction perpendicularly is bored in the output shaft. In a state of the output shaft 36 being inserted into the rotating shaft 35 so that the through hole is aligned with the long holes 39 of the rotating shaft 35, the connecting pin 41 is inserted through the long holes 39 and the through hole in common. Thereby the rotating shaft 35 is so connected with the output shaft 36 as to be rotatable integrally therewith and movable axially.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice block discharging device, and more particularly, to an ice block discharging device provided with an ice block sending screw for sending a plurality of ice blocks stored in an ice storage to an ice discharging section. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an ice making machine 10 shown in FIG. 4, a lower machine room 14 for accommodating a refrigerating machine such as a compressor 12 and a condenser 13 is defined inside a housing 11 constituting an ice making machine main body. At the same time, a box-shaped ice storage 17 surrounded by a heat insulating material 15 and defining an ice storage chamber 16 is disposed above the ice storage 17, and an ice making unit 18 is disposed above the ice storage 17. Have been. The ice making unit 18 includes a water tray 19 for storing ice making water at a predetermined level, and an ice making board 21 having ice making projections 20 immersed in the ice making water. The water tray 19 is switched to a deicing operation. The ice making water remaining in the water tray 19 is discharged to the drainage receiving portion 22 and the ice blocks S formed around the ice making projections 20 are discharged to the ice storage chamber 16. I have. The housing 11
The ice storage 17 disposed inside is formed in a box shape that opens upward and forward, and an ice discharge part 24 having an ice discharge opening 23 is opened in a lower front part of the ice storage chamber 16. Further, an ice block discharging device 25 for sending out the ice blocks S toward the ice discharge port 23 is disposed at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 16.

The ice block discharging device 25 is provided with the ice storage 17
A geared motor 27 with a speed reducer disposed on the front side of a cover body 26 detachably attached to the front opening of the vehicle, and an ice block sending screw 28 connected to the geared motor 27. This ice block delivery screw 28
Is composed of a hollow rotary shaft 29 rotated by the geared motor 27 and fins 30 spirally provided at a predetermined pitch on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 29.
At the bottom of the base 6, it extends so as to incline upward from the rear toward the ice discharge port 23. Accordingly, in a state where a large number of ice blocks S discharged from the ice making unit 18 are stored at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 16, the geared motor 27 is driven and controlled to control the ice block sending screw 28.
Is rotated in a predetermined direction, the ice blocks S facing the gap between the fins 30 are sequentially moved to the ice discharge port 23 side, and then discharged from the ice discharge unit 24 above the mounting table 31 on the front surface of the ice making machine 10. .

[0004]

The ice block discharging device 25
As shown in FIG. 5, the output shaft 32 of the geared motor 27 and the rotating shaft 29 of the ice block sending screw 28 have through holes 32a, 29a passing through the output shaft 32 and the rotating shaft 29 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Drilled, both through holes 32a, 29
In a state where the output shaft 32 is inserted into the rotary shaft 29 so as to align the connection pins a, the connection pins 33 are fitted into both through holes 32a and 29a to be connected so as to rotate integrally. in this case,
If the ice block S is caught between the ice block sending screw 28 and the bottom of the ice storage chamber 16 during the release of the ice block S by the ice block discharging device 25, the gear motor 27 is locked because the screw 28 does not rotate, There is a possibility that stress concentrates on the connecting pin 33 and the pin 33 is broken.

Further, the ice block S sandwiched between the ice block sending screw 28 and the bottom of the ice storage chamber 16 is broken by the rotational force of the geared motor 27 to generate broken chip ice. There has been a problem that the ice block S is stuck in the ice discharge port 23 and stable release of the ice block S is hindered.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the prior art ice block discharging device, and has been proposed in order to solve the problem suitably. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice block discharging device that can prevent breakage and suppress generation of broken ice.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and appropriately achieve the intended purpose, an ice block discharging device according to the present invention includes a motor output inside an ice storage chamber for storing a large number of ice blocks. An ice block sending screw provided with a fin for feeding ice blocks in a spiral shape in the outer peripheral axis direction of the rotating shaft connected to the shaft is rotatably disposed, and the ice block is provided in an ice storage chamber while the ice block sending screw is rotating. In the ice block discharging device configured to send out to the discharging unit, a guide portion extending at a predetermined length in the axial direction of the output shaft is formed on either the output shaft or the rotation shaft, and the guide portion is formed. By movably engaging a connecting pin disposed on either the output shaft or the rotating shaft which is not engaged with the guide portion, the rotating shaft can be integrally rotated with the output shaft and the axial movement is allowed. It is characterized by being connected so that

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for discharging ice blocks according to the present invention. In addition, the ice block discharging device according to the embodiment is:
It is provided in the existing ice maker 10 and the like, which are schematically shown in FIG. 4 and described above. Since the basic configuration of the ice maker 10 itself is the same, detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 4
The same reference numerals are given to the members already described in relation to the above.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an ice block discharging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the ice block discharging device 34 is basically the same as the above-described conventional ice block discharging device 25. A geared motor fixed to the front side of a cover body 26 detachably attached to the front opening of the ice storage 17
It comprises a (motor) 27 and an ice block delivery screw 28 rotatably arranged at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 16. The ice block sending screw 28 includes a hollow rotary shaft 35 and fins 30 provided on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 35 so as to extend spirally at a predetermined pitch. The rotation shaft 35
The front end (axial end) 35a is connected to the output shaft 36 of the geared motor 27 so as to rotate integrally by a structure described later, and rotates in one direction under the driving of the geared motor 27. ing.

The bottom of the ice storage chamber 16 is provided with the ice discharge port 2.
A rear wall 38 is formed at the rear end of the bottom surface 37 which is inclined downward as it goes from the rear to the rear.
The ice block discharging screw 28 connected to the bottom surface 37 extends along the bottom surface 37. The rear wall 38 is provided with a bearing hole 38a that opens forward, and the free end of the rotating shaft 35 of the ice block discharging screw 28 (the other end not connected to the output shaft 36) is formed in the bearing hole 38a. (End) 35b
Are rotatably fitted and supported. The bearing hole 38a
Is set to a size that allows the rotation of the rotating shaft 35 in the axial direction with respect to the output shaft 36, so that the rotating shaft 35 can move back and forth in the axial direction in the bearing hole 38a. .

The front end 35a of the rotating shaft 35 has a structure as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a long hole 3 as a guide portion extending at a predetermined length in the axial direction (axial direction of the output shaft 36).
9 are formed on both sides of the axis so as to face each other. The output shaft 36 of the geared motor 27 is set to have an outer diameter dimension that can be inserted into the rotating shaft 35, and has a through hole 40 penetrating in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. And
When the output shaft 36 is inserted into the rotary shaft 35 so that the through holes 40 are aligned with the elongated holes 39, 39 of the rotary shaft 35,
The rotation shaft 35 is connected to the output shaft 36 so as to be integrally rotatable by the common insertion of the connection pin 41 into the through hole 39 and the through hole 40. The connecting pin 41 is set so as to be firmly fitted into the through hole 40 of the output shaft 36 so as not to be easily pulled out. The rotation of the output shaft 36 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 35. The connecting pin 41 is connected to the rotating shaft 3.
5 is set to be movable in the extending direction of the long holes 39, 39, the rotation shaft 35 is integrally rotatable with respect to the output shaft 36, and the movement in the axial direction is allowed. It is configured to be.

[0012]

Next, the operation of the ice block discharging device according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the geared motor 27 is driven, the rotation shaft 35 of the ice block sending screw 28 connected to the output shaft 36 via the connection pin 41 and the long holes 39, 39 integrally rotates in a predetermined direction, and the gap between the fin 30 is formed. Is transported toward the ice discharge section 24 under the rotation of the screw 28,
The ice is discharged from the ice discharge port 23 to the outside.

During the operation of releasing the ice blocks S, the ice blocks S are placed between the ice block sending screw 28 and the bottom surface 37 of the ice storage chamber 16.
May be pinched. In this case, the rotation shaft 35 of the ice block sending screw 28 is connected to the output shaft 36 of the geared motor 27.
, The reaction force generated when the ice block S is pinched acts on the fins 30 to move the rotary shaft 35 in the axial direction, and the pinch of the ice block S is released. . Therefore, the geared motor 27 locks,
It is possible to prevent the stress from being concentrated on the connecting pin 41 and damaging the pin 41. In addition, great force is applied to the ice block S.
(Motor torque) can be prevented from being applied,
The ice blocks S can be prevented from breaking and generating debris ice, and the ice discharge ports 23 are not blocked by the debris ice, so that the ice blocks S can be stably discharged.

Since the ice block discharging device 34 of the embodiment can be handled as one unit in a state where the geared motor 27 and the ice block sending screw 28 are connected, the ice storage 1
It is easy to remove from 7 and clean, and can always keep it clean.

In the ice block discharging device of the embodiment, a long hole is formed in the rotating shaft of the ice block sending screw, but a long hole is formed in the output shaft of the geared motor, and a through hole into which the connecting pin is inserted is inserted into the rotating shaft. It is possible to adopt a configuration for forming.
In addition, making the rotating shaft solid and the output shaft hollow,
The end of the rotating shaft may be inserted into the output shaft.
Further, the guide portion with which the connecting pin is movably engaged is not limited to a long hole, but may be a long groove. For example, by connecting a connecting pin, which is disposed on the rotating shaft so as to protrude inward, movably into a long groove formed on the output shaft, the rotating shaft can be integrally rotated with the output shaft and can be rotated in the axial direction. Can be operatively coupled. In addition, the relationship between the shaft on which the long groove and the connecting pin are formed may be reversed. The ice block discharging device according to the above-described embodiment is not limited to the ice maker of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but may be suitably applied to other various types of ice maker, ice storage, and the like.

[0016]

As described above, according to the ice block discharging device according to the present invention, the rotation axis of the ice block sending screw is connected to the output shaft of the motor so as to be movable in the axial direction. When an ice block is sandwiched between the screw and the ice storage chamber, the rotation of the rotating shaft in the axial direction can release the ice block. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the motor from being locked or the connecting pin from being damaged, and to suppress the generation of broken ice by breaking the ice block. In addition, there is an advantage that the ice discharging portion is not blocked by the debris ice, and stable release of ice blocks can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a main part of an ice block discharging device according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in an ice storage room of an ice making machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an exploded state of a connection portion between an output shaft of the geared motor and a rotation shaft of an ice block sending screw according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between an output shaft of a geared motor and a rotation shaft of an ice block sending screw according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing a configuration of an ice maker provided with an ice block discharging device according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting portion between an output shaft of a geared motor and a rotating shaft of an ice block sending screw according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

16 ice storage room, 24 ice discharge unit, 27 geared motor (motor) 28 ice block sending screw, 30 fin, 35 rotation shaft, 36 output shaft 39 long hole (guide unit), 41 connecting pin, S ice block

Claims (1)

[Claims] A rotating shaft (35) connected to an output shaft (36) of a motor (27) inside an ice storage chamber (16) for storing a large number of ice blocks (S).
An ice block delivery screw (28) provided with a helical ice block delivery fin (30) in the outer peripheral axis direction is rotatably disposed, and the ice block (S) is rotated under rotation of the ice block delivery screw (28). In an ice block discharging device configured to be fed to an ice discharging section (24) provided in an ice storage chamber (16), a guide section (3) extending a predetermined length in the axial direction of the output shaft (36) is provided.
9) is formed on either the output shaft (36) or the rotating shaft (35), and the output shaft (36) or the rotating shaft (35) on which the guide portion (39) is not formed. Connect the provided connecting pin (41) to the guide portion (3
An ice block discharging device characterized in that the rotating shaft (35) is connected to the output shaft (36) so as to be integrally rotatable and movable in the axial direction by movably engaging with the output shaft (9). .