JP2005201589A - Ice tray drive unit for automatic ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a compact ice tray drive unit with a small height size in regard to an ice tray drive unit for an automatic ice maker driving two trays. <P>SOLUTION: The ice tray drive unit 13 is provided with a first output gear 31 turning a first ice tray 11, a second output gear 32 turning a second ice tray 12, and a driving gear 43 arranged between both output gears 31 and 32, and turned by optionally meshing with either one of the output gears 31 and 32. Since both output gears 31 and 32 can be individually driven without enlarging a diameter of the driving gear 43 more than diameters of both output gears 31 and 32 by providing a long tooth 44 in the driving gear 43 meshing with a first meshing tooth 41 of the first output gear 31 when rotated clockwise from a standby position not meshing with either of the output gears 31 and 32, and meshing with a second meshing tooth 42 of the second output gear when rotated counterclockwise from the standby position, the ice tray drive unit 13 can be miniaturized by suppressing its height size. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice tray driving device for an automatic ice maker mounted on an electric refrigerator for home use.

  In an ice tray drive device of an automatic ice maker mounted on a home electric refrigerator, one having a configuration in which two ice trays are rotated to release ice (for example, see Patent Document 1) is used.

  Hereinafter, the conventional ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the inside of an ice tray driving device of a conventional automatic ice making machine.

  In FIG. 4, the rotation of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the first gear 1 via a reduction gear (not shown). The first gear 1 is composed of a gear region 1a formed in a range of approximately 90 ° and the remaining missing tooth region 1b.

  The second gear 2 and the third gear 3 can rotate in mesh with the gear region 1a of the first gear 1, but cannot mesh with the missing tooth region 1b.

  Furthermore, when the second gear 2 is rotating in mesh with the gear region 1a, the third gear 3 is stopped facing the missing tooth region 1b, and the second gear 2 is stopped with the missing tooth region 1b. When facing each other and stopping, the third gear 3 is engaged with the gear region 1a and is rotating.

Since the rotation of the second gear 2 and the third gear 3 is transmitted to the ice trays connected thereto, the other ice tray is stopped at the horizontal position when one ice tray is rotating. When the other ice tray is rotating, one ice tray stops at a horizontal position.
JP-A-2-230076

  However, in the above conventional configuration, in order to rotate the two plates separately and independently, the missing tooth region 1b is set wider than the gear region 1a of the first gear 1, and the second gear 2 is the gear. When facing the region 1a, the third gear 3 faces the missing tooth region, and when the second gear 2 faces the missing tooth region 1b, the third gear 3 faces the gear region 1a. In the case where the pitch circle diameter of the first gear 1 is larger than that of the second gear 2 and the third gear 3 and the height direction dimension of the driving device is increased, and the first gear 1 is installed in the refrigerator. The occupied space in the height direction also increases.

  On the other hand, in the refrigerator, when the ice tray drive device of the automatic ice maker has a large height dimension, the height of the ice storage box must be lowered to avoid interference with the ice storage box for storing ice, and the ice storage amount is reduced. It will be limited.

  Therefore, it is desired to realize an ice making tray driving device having a small height in an ice making tray driving device of an automatic ice making machine that drives two dishes.

  The ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention is sandwiched between the first output gear for rotating the first ice tray, the second output gear for rotating the second ice tray, and both the output gears. A drive gear arranged and meshed with any one of the two output gears, and the drive gear is rotated in one direction from a standby position that does not mesh with either of the two output gears. Is engaged with the first output gear, and is provided with one long tooth that meshes with the second output gear when rotated in the other direction from the standby position. Both output gears can be driven separately and independently without being larger than the diameter.

  Further, in the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the number of teeth of the drive gear is the same as the number of teeth of the first output gear and the second output gear. It becomes equal to or less than the diameter of the gear, and both output gears can be driven independently.

  Further, in the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the shaft center of the drive gear is located below the imaginary horizontal line connecting the shaft center of the first output gear and the shaft center of the second output gear. The diameter of the drive gear becomes lower than the height direction of the diameters of both output gears, and both output gears can be driven independently.

  Since both the output gears can be driven independently without making the diameter of the drive gear larger than the diameter of the both output gears, the height size of the ice tray driving device can be suppressed and downsizing can be realized.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the first output gear for rotating the first ice tray, the second output gear for rotating the second ice tray, and the two output gears. A drive gear that is arbitrarily meshed with one of the two output gears and rotated, and the drive gear is rotated in one direction from a standby position that does not mesh with either of the two output gears. When the first output gear meshes with the first output gear and is rotated in the other direction from the standby position, one long tooth is provided which meshes with the second output gear. Since both the output gears can be driven independently without increasing the diameter, the height dimension of the ice tray driving device can be suppressed, and the miniaturization can be realized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of teeth of the drive gear according to the first aspect of the invention is the same as the number of teeth of the first output gear and the second output gear. Since the diameter can be equal to or less than the diameters of both output gears, the height of the ice tray driving device can be suppressed and downsizing can be realized.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, the shaft center of the drive gear according to the first aspect of the invention is located below a virtual horizontal line connecting the shaft center of the first output gear and the shaft center of the second output gear. As a result, the diameter of the drive gear can be made smaller than the height direction of the diameters of both output gears, so that the height dimension of the ice tray driving device can be suppressed and the miniaturization can be realized.

  Embodiments of an ice tray driving device for an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiments of an ice tray driving device for an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the periphery of Embodiment 1 of an ice tray driving device of an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reduction gear group in the ice tray driving device of the same embodiment. These are front views of the reduction gear group of the same embodiment.

  1, 2, and 3, the first ice tray 11 is formed of a plastic resin polypropylene, and includes a plurality of ice chambers 11 a that determine the ice shape, an ice chamber frame 11 b that collectively fixes the ice chamber 11 a, and an ice chamber. A shaft 11c formed at the end of the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the frame 11b is provided.

  The second ice tray 12 is formed of polypropylene like the first ice tray 11 and is provided with an ice chamber 12a, an ice chamber frame 12b, and a shaft 12c.

  The ice tray driving device 13 holds the shafts 11c and 12c of the first ice tray 11 and the second ice tray 12, and rotates the first ice tray 11 and the second ice tray 12 as necessary to separate them. A motor serving as a drive source and a reduction gear group for reducing and transmitting the rotation of the motor are arranged inside the apparatus.

  The ice storage box 14 is disposed below the first ice tray 11 and the second ice tray 12 and stores the deiced ice. The inside 141 stores the ice from the first ice tray 11 and the second ice tray. And a compartment 142 for storing ice from 12 pieces.

  The ice detection lever 15 detects the amount of ice in the ice storage box, 151 is a first ice detection lever for detecting the amount of ice stored in the compartment 141 of the ice storage box 14, and 152 is stored in the compartment 142. A second ice detecting lever for detecting the amount of ice produced.

  The tank 16 stores water, and the water is supplied to the first ice tray 11 and the second ice tray 12.

  The water supply device 17 includes a first pipe 171 that guides water to the first ice tray 11, a second pipe 172 that guides water to the second ice tray 12, a pump 173 that takes out water from the tank 16, and a flow of water that comes out of the pump 173 A switching valve 174 for switching the path is used.

  The control unit 18 controls the ice tray driving device 13 and the water supply device 17.

  The automatic ice making machine 19 includes a first ice tray 11, a second ice tray 12, a drive device 13, an ice storage box 14, an ice detection lever 15, a tank 16, a water supply device 17, and a control unit 18.

  Next, the structure of the reduction gear group in the ice tray driving device 13 will be described.

  The case 20 (not shown) is an outer shell of the ice tray driving device 13 and is formed of ABS which is a plastic resin.

  The first output gear 31 is rotatably supported by the case 20 and is disposed so that an output shaft 31a connected to the first ice tray 11 protrudes from the center of the end surface. Further, a circumferential portion 31b having a diameter larger than the tip circle diameter is provided on the end surface opposite to the output shaft 31a, and a part of the circumferential portion 31b further projects in the radial direction, and a drive gear described later is provided. The ice tray 11 is held horizontally in contact with the lower circumferential portion.

  The second output gear 32 is rotatably supported by the case 20 and disposed, and an output shaft 32a connected to the second ice tray 12 projects from the center of the end surface. Further, a circumferential portion 32b having a diameter larger than the tip diameter is provided on the end surface opposite to the output shaft 32a, and a part of the circumferential portion 32b further protrudes in the radial direction, and a drive gear described later is provided. The ice tray 12 is held horizontally in contact with the lower circumferential portion.

  The first meshing tooth 41 is one of the teeth of the first output gear 31, and its circumferential dimension is about twice as thick as the other teeth, and its tooth width dimension is shorter than the other teeth. Both sides of the first meshing teeth 41 are tooth gaps having dimensions wider than other tooth gaps.

  The second meshing tooth 42 is one of the teeth of the second output gear 32, and its circumferential dimension is about twice as thick as the other teeth, and its tooth width dimension is shorter than the other teeth. Both side teeth of the second meshing teeth 42 are tooth gaps having dimensions wider than other tooth gaps.

  The drive gear 43 is disposed between the first output gear 31 and the second output gear 32 and can mesh with both the first output gear 31 and the second output gear 32, and meshes with both in the standby position. Not.

  Further, the drive gear 43 has circumferential portions at both ends in the axial direction, and is composed of an upper end circumferential portion 43a and a lower end circumferential portion 43b in FIG. The width dimension of the upper end circumferential portion 43a may be a little larger than the tooth width dimension of the first and second meshing teeth 41 and 42 described above.

  The long tooth 44 is one of the teeth of the drive gear 43, the circumferential dimension is about twice as thick as the other teeth, and the tooth width dimension is longer than the other teeth. The 32 meshing teeth 41 and 42 can be brought into contact with each other.

  In the present embodiment, the tooth width dimension of the long teeth 44 is longer than the tooth width dimension of the other teeth by the width dimension of the upper circumferential portion 43a.

  The gear 45 is a gear in which a small gear 45 a that meshes with the drive gear 43 and a large gear 45 b that meshes with the gear of the previous stage are formed coaxially and integrally.

  The gear 46 is a gear in which a small gear 46 a that meshes with the large gear 45 b of the gear 45 and a large gear 46 b that meshes with the gear of the previous stage are integrally formed.

  The gear 47 is a gear in which a pinion gear 47a that meshes with the large gear 46b of the gear 46 and a worm wheel gear 47b that meshes with the worm gear in the previous stage are formed integrally with each other.

  The worm gear 48 meshes with the worm wheel gear 47b of the gear 47, and one end of the rotating shaft is connected to the motor 49. When the motor 49 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the worm gear 48.

  Therefore, the rotation of the motor 49 is transmitted in the order of the worm gear 48, the gear 47, the gear 46, the gear 45, the drive gear 43, and the output gears (31, 32).

  In the present embodiment, the number of teeth of the drive gear 43 and the number of teeth of the first output gear 31 and the second output gear 32 can be made equal so that the gear diameter can be made equal. When the first output gear 31 rotates at an angle of 160 °, the drive gear 43 also rotates at 160 °, and the teeth of the drive gear 43 engaged with the first output gear 31 face the teeth of the second output gear 32. There is also an effect that a stable operation can be performed even when the first output gear 31 and the second output gear are independently operated.

  In the present embodiment, the shaft center of the drive gear 43 is positioned below the imaginary horizontal line connecting the shaft center of the first output gear 31 and the shaft center of the second output gear 32, so that the front gear of the drive gear 43. Since the gear 45 and the gear 46 can be arranged close to the virtual horizontal line, there is an effect of suppressing the enlargement of the ice tray driving device 13.

  Further, in the present embodiment, by arranging other gears so as to surround the worm gear 48, the vertical dimension is substantially equal to the imaginary line connecting the central axes of the output gears 31, 32. Since it can be set, there is an effect of suppressing dead space in the case 20.

  The first output gear 31 and the second output gear 32 are substantially plane-symmetric with respect to a virtual vertical plane at the axis center of the drive gear 43.

  The operation of the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice maker configured as described above will be described.

  When the motor 49 is started, the worm gear 48 rotates. The rotation of the worm gear 48 is transmitted to the drive gear 43 through the gear 47, the gear 46, and the gear 45.

(Ice removal operation of the first ice tray 11)
When the ice tray driving device 13 wants to perform the ice removing operation of the first ice tray 11, the motor 49 may be rotated to rotate the driving gear 43 in the clockwise direction.

  In FIG. 2, when the drive gear 43 rotates clockwise, the long teeth 44 of the drive gear 43 abut on the first meshing teeth 41 of the first output gear 31, and other teeth of the first output gear 31 are at this timing. As a result, the first output gear 31 rotates.

  While the drive gear 43 is rotating in the clockwise direction, the first output gear 31 rotates the first ice tray 11 in the deicing direction. On the other hand, the second output gear 32 remains stopped, and the second ice tray 12 does not rotate but stands by in a horizontal position.

  The ice tray driving device 13 determines that the ice removal is completed when the first ice tray 11 reaches the deicing position rotated about 160 ° to 165 °, and once stops the rotation of the motor 49, the first time. In order to return the ice tray 11 to the horizontal position, the motor 49 rotates the drive gear 43 counterclockwise.

(Ice removal operation of the second ice tray 12)
When the ice tray driving device 13 wants to perform the ice removing operation of the second ice tray 12, the motor 49 may be rotated to rotate the driving gear 43 counterclockwise.

  In FIG. 2, when the drive gear 43 rotates counterclockwise, the long teeth 44 of the drive gear 43 abut against the second meshing teeth 42 of the second output gear 32, and at this timing, the other teeth of the second output gear 32 are changed. The second output gear 32 rotates with the teeth.

  While the drive gear 43 is rotating counterclockwise, the second output gear 32 rotates the second ice tray 12 in the deicing direction. On the other hand, the first output gear 31 is stopped and the first ice tray 11 is not rotated and is waiting in a horizontal position.

  The ice tray driving device 13 determines that the ice removal is completed when the second ice tray 12 reaches the deicing position rotated about 160 ° to 165 °, and once the motor 49 stops rotating, the second time. In order to return the ice tray 12 to the horizontal position, the motor 49 rotates the drive gear 43 clockwise.

  As described above, the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention includes the first output gear 31 that rotates the first ice tray 11, the second output gear 32 that rotates the second ice tray 12, and The drive gear 43 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the output gears 31 and 32, and is arbitrarily engaged with one of the output gears 31 and 32 to be rotated. When rotated clockwise from a standby position that does not mesh with either, it engages with the first meshing teeth 41 of the first output gear 31, and when rotated counterclockwise from the standby position, the second output gear 32 of the second output gear 32. It has one long tooth 44 that meshes with the meshing tooth 42, thereby driving either one of the output gears 31, 32 without making the diameter of the drive gear 43 larger than the diameter of the both output gears 31, 32. To let The height of the ice tray driving device 13 can be realized suppressing downsized because kill.

  As described above, the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention is small and can suppress the installation volume, and thus is useful as an automatic ice maker for a refrigerator-freezer.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the periphery related to the first embodiment of the ice tray driving device of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention; The top view of the reduction gear group in the ice tray drive device of the embodiment Front view of the reduction gear group of the same embodiment A plan view showing the inside of a driving device of a conventional automatic ice making machine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st ice tray 12 2nd ice tray 13 Ice tray drive device 19 Automatic ice making machine 31 1st output gear 32 2nd output gear 43 Drive gear 44 Long teeth

Claims (3)

A first output gear for rotating the first ice tray, a second output gear for rotating the second ice tray, and any one of the two output gears arranged between the two output gears. A drive gear that meshes with and rotates, and the drive gear meshes with the first output gear when rotated in one direction from a standby position that does not mesh with either of the output gears, and from the standby position. An ice tray driving device for an automatic ice making machine, characterized in that one long tooth that meshes with the second output gear when rotated in the other direction is provided. 2. The ice tray driving device for an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of teeth of the drive gear is the same as the number of teeth of the first output gear and the second output gear. 2. The ice tray driving device for an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the shaft center of the drive gear is located below a virtual horizontal line connecting the shaft center of the first output gear and the shaft center of the second output gear.

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