JP2003042607A - Open cell type icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely guide an unfrozen water flowing down from a distal end of an oblique chute in a tank for storing an icemaking water while an inner upper space of an ice storage cabinet is wisely assured by improving a shape of a distal end of the chute. SOLUTION: An open cell type icemaker comprises an icemaking unit 20 provided in an inner upper space of the ice storage cabinet provided therein. The icemaking unit 20 has a casing 40 having an opening part 41f in a front part, a spatted duckboard-like oblique chute 60 disposed obliquely toward the opening part 41f in the casing 40, and a plurality of partition wall plates 50 closably suspended from an upper peripheral edge of the part 41f. The chute 60 has a frame-like plate member 61 and a plurality of slide members 66. A plurality of cutouts 52a cut out to an upper position from a contact part with the plate 50 at least from an end face are formed at the distal end of a front plate member 62.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an open cell type ice making machine, and more particularly to improvement of the shape of the tip of an inclined chute.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an open cell type ice making machine of this type, as shown in FIG. 3, a casing 1 mounted above the inside of an ice storage and having an opening 1a formed on the front side thereof, and an upper side mounted on the bottom of the casing 1 An ice making water storage tank 2 opened to the outside, a sprinkler 3 located at a lower portion of the casing 1 for ejecting the ice making water supplied from the ice making water storage tank 2 upward, and a water sprinkler 3 above the water sprinkler 3. A plurality of ice making cells 4 which are located and are supplied with the ice making water ejected from the water sprinkler 3 to generate ice blocks therein, and are arranged directly below the ice making cells 4 and inclined toward the opening 1a. The ice making cell 4 is allowed to pass through and the ice making cell 4 is supplied.
A slanted child-like tilted chute 5 that receives ice blocks that fall from the opening 1a and discharges them into the ice storage, and a plurality of pieces that are opened outward by the ice blocks that are suspended from the upper peripheral edge of the opening 1a and that drop from the tilted chute 5. And a partition wall plate 6 are known.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the inclined chute 5 is formed in the shape of a cage, and has a large number of slender slide members 5a arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, and is integrally formed at the tip thereof. It is constituted by a plate member 5b with which the lower end of the assembly partition plate 6 abuts.

[0004]

However, in such an open cell type ice making machine, during the ice making operation, the unfrozen ice making water supplied from the sprinkler 3 to the ice making cell 4 is stored in the ice making water storage. It is designed to return to tank 2 for
The ice making water on the way back also falls on the inclined chute 5. The ice-making water that has dropped onto the inclined chute 5 reaches the partition plate 6 that flows down along the inclined chute 5 and contacts the inclined chute 5, and collects around the contact part. Then, when the ice-making water reached a predetermined amount or more, it flowed down. Further, when the partition wall plate 6 was opened by the ice blocks sliding down on the inclined chute 5 during the deicing operation, the ice making water collected around the contact portion was flowing down from the tip of the inclined chute 5. In any case, if a large amount of ice-making water W is flowing down, the wall 2 of the ice-making water storage tank 2 located downstream is located.
It got over a and fell into the ice storage (Fig. 3
(See (a)).

Therefore, in order to deal with this problem, the ice making water storage tank 2 is provided so as to secure the distance from the tip of the inclined chute 5 to the wall 2a of the ice making water storage tank 2 as much as possible.
It was conceived that the ice making water flowing down from the tip of the inclined chute 5 could be surely received by expanding the upper opening of the. However, if the size of the ice making water storage tank 2 is increased, the inside upper part of the ice storage becomes narrower by that amount, the workability at the time of maintenance deteriorates, and the gap between the tip of the inclined chute 5 and the wall 2a of the tank 2 increases. However, there arises a problem that the ice blocks slipping on the inclined chute 5 are caught in the gap.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention improves the shape of the tip of the inclined chute so that the ice making water flowing down from the tip of the inclined chute can be secured while ensuring a large space above the inside of the ice storage. The purpose is to introduce it into the ice-making water storage tank.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (Means for Solving the Problem and Action / Effect of the Invention) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a structural feature of the present invention is that it is mounted above the inside of an ice storage and an opening is provided on the front side thereof. A casing formed, an ice making water storage tank that is attached to the bottom of the casing and has an open upper side, and a sprinkler that is located in the lower portion of the casing and ejects the ice making water supplied from the ice making water storage tank upwards. , A plurality of ice-making cells that are located above the sprinkler and are supplied with the ice-making water ejected from the sprinkler to generate ice blocks inside the sprinkler, and are arranged directly below these ice-making cells with an inclination toward the opening. And allows the ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making cell to pass through, and catches the ice blocks falling from the ice-making cell and discharges them into the ice storage from the opening, and hangs on the upper peripheral edge of the opening. Lowering It is equipped with a plurality of partition plates that are opened to the outside by the ice blocks falling from the inclined chute, so that the unfrozen ice-making water ejected upward from the sprinkler is returned to the ice-making water storage tank. In the open cell type ice making machine, a concave lead-out portion is formed at a position higher than at least the contact portion of the inclined chute with which the lower end of each partition plate abuts the partition plate, and the upward from the sprinkler. Among the ice-making water jetted and supplied, the water that falls on the inclined chute and flows down along the inclined chute flows down into the ice-making water storage tank through the outlet.

According to this, during the ice making operation, the ice making water flowing down along the inclined chute flows down into the ice making water storage tank through the lead-out portion, and therefore reaches the contact portion with the partition plate. It becomes difficult to do so, and it becomes difficult to flow down from the tip of the inclined chute. That is, the ice making water flowing down along the inclined chute can be made to flow down into the ice making water storage tank without increasing the distance from the tip of the inclined chute to the wall of the ice making water storage tank.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably guide the ice making water flowing down from the tip of the inclined chute into the ice making water storage tank while ensuring a large space above the inside of the ice storage.

Further, in the present invention, the tip portion of the inclined chute may be formed of a horizontally long plate member, and the recessed lead-out portion may be formed at a position above at least a contact portion of the plate member with the partition plate. . According to this, since the tip portion of the inclined chute is composed of the horizontally long plate member, the strength of the inclined chute can be improved. Further, since the ice making cell and the water sprayer are covered by the casing, the partition plate, the plate member of the inclined chute, and the ice making water storage tank, it is possible to prevent splashes generated in the casing from splashing into the ice storage. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ice blocks in the ice storage from melting.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an open cell type ice making machine according to the present invention.

This open cell type ice making machine has a housing 1
0, and inside the housing 10, an ice storage R1 and a machine room R2 are formed vertically. A bottom wall 11 and a front wall 12 are provided at the bottom and front of the ice storage R1, respectively.
The walls 11 and 12, the housing 10 and the top plate 13 form an ice storage R1. An ice making device 20 that generates ice blocks and discharges the ice blocks into the ice storage R1 above and below the inside of the ice storage R1, respectively.
An ice carry-out device 30 for discharging the ice blocks inside from the ice carry-out port 11a to the outside is provided.
The ice blocks in the ice storage R1 are discharged and supplied to a container (not shown) mounted on a mounting portion 16 provided below the ice carry-out port 11a.

Inside the machine room R2, a compressor for supplying the cooled refrigerant to the ice making device 20, a condenser, a refrigerator comprising a cooling fan, etc. (not shown) are provided. The housing 10 is open upward and forward,
The top opening 1 of the housing 10 is located at the top of the housing 10.
The top plate 13 for covering the 0a is detachably assembled, and the front opening 10 of the housing 10 is attached to the front part of the housing 10.
A front door 14 that covers the b is assembled to be openable and closable. Further, heat insulating members 15 are provided on the bottom wall 11 and the lower surface of the top plate 13, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the ice making device 20 includes a casing 40 having an opening 41f formed on the front side (the front is the left direction in the drawing), and an ice making water storage tank covering the bottom of the casing 40. 22, an ice container 23 and a water sprinkler 2 provided above and below the inside of the casing 40.
4 and an inclined chute 60 provided between the ice making container 23 and the sprinkler 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the casing 40 is composed of a U-shaped frame body 41 opening forward and a lid body 42 for covering the upper part of the frame body 41. The frame 41 is composed of left and right side walls 41a and 41b and a rear side wall 41c, and left and right side walls 41a and 41b are provided with left and right flanges 41d and 41e facing outward. By assembling the left and right flanges 41d and 41e to the mounting brackets 17 and 18 mounted between the upper ends of the left and right side walls of the housing 10, respectively, the casing 40 becomes the ice storage R1.
It is installed above the inside of the.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lid 42 is a top plate 42.
a and the front side wall 4 formed by hanging from the front end of the top plate 42a
2b, and a plurality of horizontally long slits 42b1 are formed at the lower end of the front side wall 42b.
A partition plate 50 described later is provided in the slit 42b1.
By inserting the engaging portion 52 of the partition wall plate 5
0s are hung adjacent to each other in a detachable and rotatable manner.

The partition plate 50 has a vertically long rectangular flat plate portion 51 and an engagement in which a C-shaped cross section extends in the lateral direction and one of its open ends is integrally connected to the upper edge of the flat plate portion 51. And part 52. Partition plate 5
No. 0 means that the opening 41f of the casing 40 is closed when there is no ice block falling from the tilt chute 60, and is opened outward by this ice when there is an ice block falling from the tilt chute 60.

At the bottom of the casing 40, as shown in FIG. 2, an ice making water storage tank 22 having an open upper surface is attached so as to cover the entire lower surface of the casing 40. The ice-making water storage tank 22 stores therein the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making cell 23a during the ice-making operation, and the ice-making water once supplied to the ice-making cell 23a has fallen without being frozen (not yet Receiving freezing water).

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of injection nozzles 24a directed upward are provided in the lower part of the inside of the casing 40, and are connected to the ice making water storage tank 22 via a pump (not shown). A sprinkler 24 is provided. The sprinkler 24 jets the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage tank 22 supplied by a pump upward from the jet nozzle 24a.

As shown in FIG. 2, an ice making container 23 having a plurality of ice making cells 23a opening downward is provided above the water sprinkler 24 in the casing 40. An ice making cell 23a is provided on the upper surface during the ice making operation.
The refrigerant pipe 23b that cools the water is meanderingly fixed in close contact. During the ice making operation, ice making water is jetted and supplied from the water sprinkler 24 into the ice making cell 23a cooled by the refrigerant pipe 23b, and ice blocks are generated inside the ice making cell 23a.

Immediately below the ice making container 23, as shown in FIG. 2, an inclined chute 60 formed in the shape of a cage is arranged so as to be inclined toward the opening 41f of the casing 40.
The inclined chute 60 allows passage of the ice making water ejected from the water sprinkler 24 and is supplied to the ice making cell 23a of the ice making container 23, receives the ice lump falling from the ice making cell 23a, and receives the ice block from the opening 41f. It is released into R1.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the inclined chute 60 includes a frame-shaped plate member 61 and a plurality of slidable members 66 which are integrally attached to the upper surface of the plate member 61 and which are elongated in a triangular cross section. And is integrally molded of synthetic resin. The frame-shaped plate member 61 includes front and rear plate members 62, 6
3 and left and right plate members 64 and 65 that connect the left and right ends of these plate members 62 and 63, respectively. The slide members 66 are laterally arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval, the front end of the slide member 66 is closely fixed to the rear end of the front plate member 62, and the rear end of the slide member 66 is connected to the rear plate member 63. It is fixed tightly. It should be noted that the slide members 66 are arranged so that the intervals between the slide members 66 are not arranged at least immediately above the spray nozzle 24a within a range where the sprayed ice-making water passes, and the distance between the adjacent slide members 66 is the inclined chute 60. It is set so that the ice blocks that it receives and slides down do not fall.

A plurality of notches 62a (concave lead-out portions) are formed in the front portion of the front plate member 62 (the tip portion of the inclined chute 60). These cutout portions 62a are formed from the tip end surface to at least a position above the contact portion with the partition plate 50. The notch 62 a is formed by the notch 62 adjacent to each other.
It is preferably formed in consideration of the shape of the convex portion 62b between a. That is, since the convex portion 62b is a portion through which the slipping ice block passes, it hinders the passage of the ice block (for example, the notch 6).
It is necessary to make the shape so that the ice block does not slip on the 2a and does not slip off.

Further, it is preferable that these notches 62a are formed immediately below the place where the amount of unfrozen water flowing down is large, for example, the place where the slide members 66 are densely arranged. According to this, the unfrozen water flowing down directly flows into the cutout portion 62a and flows down to the ice-making water storage tank 22, so that it is difficult to collect in the peripheral portion of the tip end of the partition plate 50. Further, it is preferable that these cutouts 62a are formed at a location where the unfrozen water that has flowed down is likely to be accumulated, for example, immediately below the gap between the adjacent partition plates 50. According to this, unfrozen water that should be collected flows into the cutout portion 62a and flows down into the ice-making water storage tank 22, so that it is difficult for the unfrozen water to collect in the peripheral portion of the tip of the partition plate 50.

Further, in the front portion of the front plate member 62 (the tip portion of the inclined chute 60), instead of the above-mentioned plurality of notches 62a, unfrozen water flowing down on the upper surface of the inclined chute 60 is used for ice-making water storage. It is also possible to form a concave lead-out portion for guiding the liquid to the tank 22 and letting it flow out. It may be provided between the two. When the through hole is provided, the through hole is a place where a large amount of unfrozen water flows down like the cutout portion 62a,
For example, it may be formed immediately below the place where the slide members 66 are densely arranged, or to a place where unfrozen water that has flowed down when the recessed lead-out portion is not provided is likely to accumulate, for example, immediately below the gap between the adjacent partition plates 50. preferable. When the through slit is provided, it is preferable that the length be set so as to cover the entire width of the front plate member 62 and that the width be set so as not to catch an ice block that slides down. Horizontal groove (does not penetrate)
Also in the case of providing, the length is preferably set so as to cover the entire width of the front plate member 62, and the width is set so as not to catch an ice block that slides down. Further, it is preferable that the groove is formed so as to be inclined in the longitudinal direction. According to this, the uniced water flowing down the inclined chute 60 flows into the groove along the inclination of the groove, and flows down from the side end of the front plate member 62 to the ice-making water storage tank 22. In addition, it is preferable that the through slit and the groove are provided at a contact portion with the partition plate 50.

The inclined chute 60 is provided with the left and right plate members 6
The rails 4, 65 are slidably engaged with the rail portions provided on the left and right side wall surfaces, so that the rails 4 and 65 are detachably mounted in the casing 21. Further, the inclined chute 60 is a front plate member 62.
The claw (not shown) provided so as to project from the lower surface of the claw and the claw (not shown) provided upright on the ice-making water storage tank corresponding to the claw are positioned at a predetermined position.

According to the open-cell type ice making machine constructed as described above, during the ice making operation, the ice making cell 23 cooled by the refrigerant pipe 23b to which the cooled refrigerant is supplied.
Ice-making water is jetted and supplied from the spray nozzle 24a of the water sprinkler 24 to a, and ice blocks are generated inside the ice-making cell 23a.
At this time, a part of the ice making water supplied from the sprinkler 24 freezes, but the ice making water that has not been frozen (unfrosted water) falls from the ice making cell 23a (passes the inclined chute 60).
Returning to the ice-making water storage tank 22. At this time, the unfrozen water W slides on the slide member 66 that constitutes the inclined chute 60.
Some pass through the space and return, and some pass back along the upper side of the slide member 66 and the upper surface of the front plate member 62.

The upper side of the slide member 66 and the front plate member 6
The unfrozen water W that has returned along the upper surface of 2 flows down along the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60), passes through the cutout portion 62a, and flows down into the ice-making water storage tank 22. It becomes difficult to reach the contact portion with 50, and it is difficult for the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60) to flow down from the tip (see FIG. 2A). That is, the front plate member 6 can be formed without increasing the distance from the tip of the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60) to the wall of the ice-making water storage tank 22.
The unfrozen water W flowing down along the 2 (tilt chute 60) can be made to flow down into the ice-making water storage tank 22. Therefore, it is possible to reliably guide the uniced water W flowing down from the tip of the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60) into the ice-making water storage tank 22 while ensuring a large space above the inside of the ice storage R1. The unfrozen water W returned along the upper side of the slide member 66 and the upper surface of the front plate member 62.
Some of them reach the partition plate 50 directly without flowing down from the cutout portion 62a and accumulate in the peripheral portion of the front end of the partition plate 50, but the amount thereof is small. Even if the partition plate 50 is opened outward, a small amount of unfrozen water accumulates around the tip of the partition plate 50.
Since the amount of unfrozen water flowing down from the tip of the ice making water is small, it does not get over the wall of the ice making water storage tank 22.

As can be understood from the above description, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the uniced water W flowing down along the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60) is notched during the ice making operation. Since it flows down into the ice-making water storage tank 22 through the portion 62a, the partition plate 5
It becomes difficult to reach the contact portion with 0, and the front plate member 62
It becomes difficult for the (tilted chute 60) to flow down from the tip.
That is, the unfrozen water W flowing down along the front plate member 62 (inclined chute 60) is made into ice without expanding the distance from the tip of the front plate member 62 (inclined chute 60) to the wall of the ice making water storage tank 22. It can be made to flow down into the water storage tank 22. Therefore, it is possible to reliably guide the uniced water W flowing down from the tip of the front plate member 62 (the inclined chute 60) into the ice-making water storage tank 22 while ensuring a large space above the inside of the ice storage R1.

Further, since the tip portion of the inclined chute 60 is composed of the horizontally long front plate member 62, the inclined chute 60 is provided.
The strength of can be improved. Also casing 4
0, the partition plate 50, the front plate member 6 of the inclined chute 60
2 and the ice making water storage tank 22 allow the ice making cell 2
3a and sprinkler 24 are covered, so casing 40
It is possible to prevent the splashes generated inside from scattering outside the casing 40 and falling into the ice storage R1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ice blocks in the ice storage R1 from melting.

Although the present invention is applied to the open cell type ice making machine in which the tip (lower end) of the partition plate 50 is in contact with the upper surface of the inclined chute 60 (front plate member 62). The partition plate 5 is not limited to this.
It may be applied to an open cell type ice making machine configured such that the inner side surface of the leading end portion (lower end portion) of 0 contacts the leading end (lower end) of the inclined chute 60 (front plate member 62). Also in this case, the partition plate 5 is attached to the tip of the front plate member 62.
It is sufficient to form a plurality of cutouts notched from a contact portion (end face) with 0 to a predetermined upper position or the above-described through holes, through slits, and the like.

Further, although the present invention is applied to an open cell type ice making machine provided with an inclined chute 60 formed in the shape of a cage, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ice making machine is composed of a flat plate member and is spray-supplied to this flat plate member. It may be applied to an open cell type ice making machine provided with an inclined chute having a through hole (slit shape, circular shape, elliptical shape) through which water passes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an open cell type ice making machine according to the present invention.

2A is a schematic vertical sectional view of the ice making device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a schematic horizontal sectional view.

FIG. 3A is a schematic vertical sectional view of an ice making device constituting an open cell type ice making machine according to a conventional technique, and FIG. 3B is a schematic horizontal sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Housing, 10a ... Top opening, 10b ... Front opening, 11 ... Bottom wall, 11a ... Ice carry-out port, 12 ... Front wall, 13
... top plate, 14 ... front door, 15 ... heat insulating member, 16 ... mounting portion,
17, 18 ... Mounting bracket, 20 ... Ice making device, 22 ...
Ice making water storage tank, 23 ... Ice making container, 23a ... Ice making cell, 23b ... Refrigerant pipe, 24 ... Sprinkler, 24a ...
Injection nozzle, 30 ... Ice carry-out device, 40 ... Casing, 4
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Frame body, 41a, 41b ... Left and right side walls, 41c ... Rear side wall, 41d, 41e ... Left and right flanges, 41f ... Opening part,
42 ... Lid, 42a ... Top plate, 42b ... Front side wall, 42b1
... slits, 50 ... partition plate, 51 ... flat plate part, 52
... Engaging portion, 60 ... Inclined chute, 61 ... Frame-shaped plate member,
62, 63 ... Front and rear plate members, 62a ... Notch portion, 62b ... Convex portion, 64, 65 ... Left and right plate member, 66 ... Sliding member, R
1 ... Ice storage, R2 ... Machine room.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A casing mounted above the inside of an ice storage container and having an opening formed on the front side thereof, an ice making water storage tank mounted on the bottom of the casing and opened on the upper side, and located at a lower part in the casing. A sprinkler for ejecting the ice making water supplied from the ice making water storage tank upward, and a plurality of sprinklers located above the sprinkler for supplying the ice making water ejected from the sprinkler to generate an ice block therein The ice-making cell of, and the ice lump falling from the ice-making cell while allowing passage of the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making cell that is arranged to be inclined with respect to the opening immediately below the ice-making cell. An inclined chute that receives and discharges into the ice storage from the opening, and a plurality of partition plates that are hung on the upper peripheral edge of the opening and are opened outward by ice blocks falling from the inclined chute. In the open cell type ice making machine configured to return to the ice making water storage tank, the unfrozen ice making water jetted upward from the water sprinkler is returned to the ice making water storage tank. A concave leading portion is formed at a position above at least a contact portion of the tip end of the tilted chute with which the partition plate is abutted, and the tilted chute of the ice-making water jetted upward from the sprinkler is supplied to the tilted chute. An open-cell type ice making machine, characterized in that what falls and flows down along the same inclined chute flows down into the ice making water storage tank through the outlet. 2. A tip end portion of the inclined chute is formed of a horizontally long plate member, and a recessed lead-out portion is formed at a position above at least a contact portion of the plate member with the partition plate. Item 1. The open cell type ice maker according to Item 1.