JP2002188875A - Counter structure of automatic ice-maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a counter structure, in which a freely openable counter is provided on the front side, on which a container holding a great amount of ice can be temporarily placed. SOLUTION: The ice-maker 11 is provided with a sliding door 3 at a take-out opening 6 of an ice storage chamber 4. A counter 12 is provided below the opening 6 for placing a container 8 for taken out ice. Thus, even when a great amount of ice is taken out of the ice-maker 11 installed in a narrow space, the container 8, such as a bucket, can be temporarily placed on the counter 12, and in that state, the ice can be taken out from the chamber 4 to facilitate the ice-take-out operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ice storage compartment provided with a counter which can be stored and unfolded below an outlet of the ice storage compartment so that a container for storing ice taken out of the ice storage compartment can be placed on the counter. The present invention relates to a counter structure of an automatic ice making machine which makes it very easy to take out ice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional automatic ice maker having a sliding door at an outlet of an ice storage room, there is one shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The automatic ice maker 1 shown in FIG. (A) is of a type in which a refrigerator 2 is provided on a lower side and an ice storage room 4 provided with a slide door 3 in an intermediate part is shown in FIG. The automatic ice maker 5 is of a type in which the refrigerator 2 is provided on the upper side and an ice storage room 4 having a slide door 3 in an intermediate portion is formed. When the amount of ice in the ice storage chamber 4 decreases, the ice makers 1 and 5 automatically drive the refrigerator 2 to make ice and supply the ice to the ice storage chamber 4. When removing the ice, slide the slide door 3 upward or downward to open the outlet 6 of the ice storage chamber 4, scoop up with a small scoop 7 (see FIG. 5) or the like, and take it into a storage container 8 such as a bucket. ing.

[0003]

In the automatic ice making machines 1 and 5 of the type in which the sliding door 3 is provided, as shown in FIG. The sliding door 3 can be opened and closed, and ice can be taken out from the ice storage room 4. This removal is fine if a small amount of ice is overhanging. However, as shown in FIG. 5, when a large amount of ice is taken out into a large storage container 8 such as a bucket, the storage container 8 such as a bucket having a size of several tens of kg in a narrow area between the wall and the automatic ice maker 1 is required. It was necessary to scoop up with a scoop 7 in the other hand while holding in one hand, which was very hard work. In particular, it was an unfavorable task for weak women, elderly people and children. Further, since the ice is taken out in a narrow area, it is difficult to perform a smooth operation, and the ice 9 may spill from the scoop 7 to the floor due to unnatural movement. And people passing there slip. for that reason,
There is a disadvantage that the melting water must be wiped off with a mop every time the ice is taken out.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been improved and eliminated in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is an openable and closable container in which a container containing a large amount of ice can be once placed. The aim is to provide an automatic ice machine with a counter.

According to the present invention, in an ice making machine provided with a slide door at an outlet of an ice storage room, a counter for placing an ice container taken out below the outlet is provided. The counter is mounted so that it can be stored and deployed so that it can be taken out only when necessary. Therefore, even when a large amount of ice is taken out from an automatic ice maker installed in a small space, the ice container is placed once on a counter where a storage container such as a bucket is deployed and the ice is stored in that state. , It is possible to significantly reduce the work load.

The counter of the present invention is openable and closable with respect to the ice making machine main body. When the counter is stored, the outer surface of the counter is flush with the outer surface of the ice making machine main body. I have. Therefore, the appearance is also good. Further, in the present invention, a recess is provided in the counter, and a receiving tray is provided in the recess. In this case, the spilled ice can be received by the tray, and the floor surface is not wetted.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings. The same reference numerals as those in the conventional case denote the same members. 1 to 3 relate to one embodiment of the present invention,
1 is a perspective view showing a state where a counter 12 is unfolded, FIG. 2 (A) is a front view showing the entire automatic ice maker 11, FIG. 2 (B) is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an automatic ice maker It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of 11. As shown in the figure, in this automatic ice maker 11, a counter 12 for temporarily placing the taken-out ice container 8 below the outlet 6 of the ice storage chamber 4 is installed. . The counter 12 has the recess 1
The receiving tray 14 is detachably fitted and mounted in the recess 13. Saucer 14
May be a size that can be accommodated in the counter 12. The counter 12 has its lower end edge pivotally supported by a pivot 15 on the ice making machine main body 11a, and upper ends at both ends are stored and unfolded in the ice making machine main body 11a by two foldable arms 16a and 16b. It is freely attached. A connecting portion between the counter 12 and the arm 16b, a connecting portion between the arms 16a and 16b, and the arm 16
The connecting portions between the a and the ice making machine main body 11a are pivotable connecting portions 17, 18, and 19, respectively, which are rotatable.

Next, the automatic ice maker 1 constructed as described above.
The usage mode 1 will be described. Note that the automatic ice maker 11 is
It is assumed that it is installed in a small space. like this
If you do not take out the ice in the installation situation,
As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG.
The monitor 12 is in the stored state. In this storage state
The outer surface of the counter 12 and the outer surface of the ice making machine body 11a
A surface is defined by its size and mounting position so that it is flush.
Entities are set. Take out a lot of ice from ice storage room 4
First, a perspective view of FIG. 1 and a perspective view of FIG.
As described above, the counter 12 is unfolded to be in a horizontal state. This
When, the counters 12 of the arms 16a and 16b
Allows rotation up to a certain angle to maintain horizontal posture
Then, it functions as a stopper.

Next, an ice container 8 such as a bucket is placed on a counter 12 in a horizontal position, the knob 3a of the slide door 3 is gripped, the slide door 3 is pulled up, and the ice storage chamber 4 is taken out. Release 6. After that, the ice stored in the ice storage chamber 4 is scooped with a scoop 7 or the like and the counter 12
What is necessary is just to throw it into the storage container 8 of an upper bucket etc. In this case, the ice is thrown into the storage container 8 to increase the amount. Even if the container becomes considerably heavy, the user does not need to directly support the weight, and even if the person has no muscle strength such as a woman, the ice can be easily collected. Extraction work can be performed. In this case, even if ice 9 spills out of a storage container 8 such as a scoop 7 or a bucket, the tray 1
4, the ice 9 can be collected, so that the ice 9 does not fall on the floor to wet or stain the floor.

By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed. For example, the counter 12 has been described as being rotatable around a pivot 15 in a range from a vertical standing posture to a horizontal posture. However, the counter may be a drawer-type movable type. is there. In this case, the front end surface of the counter may be flush with the outer surface on the front side of the ice making machine main body 11a when the counter is stored. The ice making machine body 1 when the counter 12 is stored.
1a is fixed to the magnet catcher or the pivot 18
It is also possible to use a stopper mechanism or the like (not shown) provided in the apparatus.

[0011]

As described above, in the present invention,
In an ice maker equipped with a sliding door at the exit of the ice storage room, a counter for placing the ice storage container taken out below the exit was installed. Even when ice is taken out, the work load can be significantly reduced because ice can be taken out of the ice storage room by placing the storage container such as a bucket once on the deployed counter and in that state. It is possible.

The counter of the present invention is openable and closable with respect to the ice making machine main body, and is capable of moving forward and backward. When the counter is stored, the outer surface of the counter is flush with the outer surface of the ice making machine main body. Has been made. for that reason,
The appearance is good. Further, in the present invention, a recess is provided in the counter, and a receiving tray is provided in the recess. In this case, the spilled ice can be received by the tray, and the floor surface is not wetted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a counter is developed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 relates to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (A) is a front view showing an entire automatic ice maker, and FIG. 2 (B) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an automatic ice maker of a type in which a refrigerator is provided on a lower side and an ice storage room is formed in an intermediate portion, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the automatic ice maker of the type in which a refrigerator is provided in the upper part side and an ice storage room is formed in an intermediate part.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of use of a conventional automatic ice maker.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Refrigerator, 3 Slide door, 3a Slide door knob, 4 Ice storage room, 6 Outlet, 7 Scoop, 8 Container for ice such as bucket, 9 Ice, 11 Automatic ice machine , 1
1a: ice machine body, 12: counter, 13: recess of counter, 14: tray, 15: pivot

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ice maker provided with a slide door at an outlet of an ice storage compartment, wherein a counter for placing a container for ice taken out below the outlet is mounted so as to be retractable and deployable. The counter structure of an automatic ice machine. 2. The automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the counter is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the ice making machine main body, and an outer surface of the counter is flush with an outer surface of the ice making machine main body when stored. Machine counter structure. 3. A counter structure for an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein a recess is provided in the counter, and a tray is provided in the recess.