JP2006105574A - Automatic ice maker and freezing refrigerator equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for allowing easy assembly, repair and inspection of an automatic ice maker, easy cleaning of an ice tray and adequate change-over into a freezing chamber and for improving reliability by providing an auxiliary ice making portion on which an auxiliary ice tray capable of being manually twisted is placed, in addition to the automatic ice maker for making ice. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic ice maker comprises the ice tray arranged in a freezing temperature chamber and an electric operated mechanism for turning and twisting it to make ice in the ice tray drop down. In addition to the automatic ice maker, the auxiliary ice making portion is provided on which the auxiliary ice tray 7C capable of being manually twisted is placed to be freely taken out. The auxiliary ice making portion 105 is detachably provided in the freezing temperature chamber together with the automatic ice maker 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker incorporated in a refrigerator-freezer, and more particularly to an automatic ice maker configured to be detachable from the refrigerator-freezer and a refrigerator-freezer provided with the automatic ice maker.

Some automatic ice makers for refrigerators have a structure in which the ice tray can be attached and detached (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a thermistor is attached to an ice tray, the temperature of the ice tray is detected by the thermistor, and the process proceeds to the deicing process. In such a configuration, the thermistor can be easily attached and detached with the ice tray. It is related to technology.
JP 2000-88410 A

As described above, the invention of Patent Document 1 is a technique for facilitating the attachment and detachment of the ice tray and the thermistor. However, the electric mechanism that rotates the ice tray remains in the refrigerator. For this reason, when the ice making room is used as a normal freezing room for storing food, the remaining portion is an obstacle and the usability is poor. In addition, regarding the assembly relationship between the ice tray and the electric mechanism, the configuration for effectively attaching and detaching to the refrigerator, and the point of considering the ease of inspection, repair, etc. of the ice tray and the electric mechanism Is not certain.

In view of these points, the present invention makes it possible to simultaneously remove the ice tray and the electric mechanism section that rotates the same outside the refrigerator-freezer, making it easy to assemble, repair, check, and clean the ice tray. I will provide a. The present invention is further developed, and in addition to ice making with an automatic ice maker, an auxiliary ice making unit for installing an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted is attached to the automatic ice maker, thereby making ice making using only an automatic ice maker, It is possible to select ice making by only the auxiliary ice making unit and ice making by both the automatic ice making machine and the auxiliary ice making unit according to the demand situation of ice, and provide an ice making device convenient for use. Furthermore, both the automatic ice maker and the auxiliary ice making unit can be attached to and detached from the freezing temperature chamber in the freezer and can be selected to be used as an ice making room or as a normal frozen food storage room. Technology.

The automatic ice maker according to the first aspect of the invention is an automatic ice maker configured to rotate the ice tray placed in the freezing temperature chamber in the refrigerator-freezer by an electric mechanism to twist the ice tray to drop downward. The automatic ice maker is detachably supported in the freezing temperature chamber, and an auxiliary ice maker for detachably placing a manually twistable auxiliary ice tray is attached to the automatic ice maker, and the auxiliary ice maker Is detachably provided in the freezing temperature chamber together with the automatic ice maker.

An automatic ice maker according to a second aspect of the invention is an automatic ice maker configured to rotate the ice tray placed in the freezing temperature chamber in the refrigerator-freezer by an electric mechanism to twist the ice tray to drop downward. In the automatic ice maker, a main body member is supported so as to be freely drawn out into the freezing temperature chamber, and the ice making tray can be drawn out forward while leaving the electric mechanism on the main body member. An automatic ice making unit for storing a tray and an auxiliary ice making unit for storing an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted so that it can be pulled out forward are provided, and the auxiliary ice making unit is frozen together with the automatic ice maker by pulling out the main body member. It can be taken out into the temperature chamber.

The automatic ice maker according to the third aspect of the invention is an automatic ice maker configured to rotate the ice tray placed in the freezing temperature chamber in the freezer and the torsion by rotating it by an electric mechanism, thereby dropping the ice in the ice tray downward. The automatic ice maker has a main body member that is slidable in the front-rear direction on left and right rail portions provided in the freezing temperature chamber and can be pulled out of the freezing temperature chamber, and the electric mechanism is attached to the main body member. The ice tray is supported by an ice tray support that is slidably supported in the front-rear direction on the main body member, and the front portion of the ice tray is pivotally supported. The rear portion of the ice tray and the electric mechanism are the main body member. In the state where the electric mechanism remains, the ice tray support body is detachably connected with the ice tray so that the ice tray support can be pulled out, and an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted is slidable on the main body member. Provided on the side of the auxiliary ice making section is the ice tray to location, the automatic ice maker and the auxiliary ice making unit is characterized in that it is taken out to the freezing temperature outside at withdrawal of the body member.

An automatic ice maker according to a fourth aspect of the invention is an automatic ice maker configured to rotate an ice tray placed in a freezing temperature chamber in a refrigerator-freezer by an electric mechanism to twist the ice tray to drop downward. In the automatic ice maker, a main body member is supported by a left and right rail portion provided in the freezing temperature chamber so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and can be pulled out of the freezing temperature chamber. An ice tray storage unit is provided at a front portion of the electric mechanism storage unit and a front position thereof, and an ice tray support that rotatably supports the front portion of the ice tray is rotatably stored in the ice tray storage unit in a slidable manner in the front-rear direction. And the rear part of the ice tray and the electric mechanism are detachably connected by a power transmission unit so that the ice tray support can be pulled out together with the ice tray in a state where the electric mechanism remains in the main body member, The body member Is provided with an auxiliary ice making unit that slidably stores an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted in the front-rear direction, on the side of the ice tray storage unit, and the ice tray storage unit and the auxiliary ice making unit are cool air on the ice tray. Is communicated by a cold air passage so as to pass through the auxiliary ice tray.

According to a fifth invention, in the third or fourth invention, the coupling between the rear portion of the ice tray and the drive shaft of the electric mechanism in the power transmission unit is a non-circular coupling that is detachable in the front-rear direction, The shaft support portion between the front portion of the ice tray and the ice tray support is configured such that the shaft of the ice tray front is detachably mounted on the bearing portion of the ice tray support. .

A sixth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the ice tray is removable, and the auxiliary ice tray is in a form compatible with the ice tray.

According to a seventh invention, in any one of the first invention to the fifth invention, the ice tray is removable, and the auxiliary ice tray is in a form compatible with the ice tray, and the ice making cell of the ice tray And an ice making cell having a different shape or a different size.

  An eighth invention is a refrigerator-freezer provided with the automatic ice maker according to any one of the first invention to the seventh invention.

In the first invention, the ice tray and the electric mechanism for rotating the ice tray can be detached from the refrigerator-freezer at the same time, and the automatic ice maker can be easily assembled, repaired, inspected, and cleaned. In addition to ice making with an automatic ice maker, an auxiliary ice maker that installs an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted is attached to this automatic ice maker, so that only the ice maker with the automatic ice maker and only the auxiliary ice maker According to the ice demand, ice making by both the automatic ice making machine and the auxiliary ice making unit can be selected. Furthermore, since both the automatic ice making machine and the auxiliary ice making unit can be attached to and detached from the freezing temperature chamber, the ice making unit is arranged in an easy-to-use arrangement, and the freezing temperature chamber is used as an ice making chamber. There is an effect that can be selected so that it can be used as a normal frozen food storage room.

In the second invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, the ice tray of the automatic ice making machine can be removed from the electric mechanism, and water washing is facilitated as in the auxiliary ice tray. Since the ice making tray and the auxiliary ice making tray of the automatic ice making machine are housed in the main body member so as to be able to be drawn forward, the auxiliary ice making tray is placed on the bottom surface of the freezing temperature chamber to make ice separately from the automatic ice making machine. Compared to such cases, it becomes easier to secure a place to place the auxiliary ice tray, and the ice making part can be put together, so it is easy to use and stowable, and it is also preferable from the use of the freezing temperature chamber It becomes. Furthermore, both the automatic ice making machine and the auxiliary ice making unit can be attached and detached at the same time, thereby improving the workability.

In the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the second aspect, the ice tray of the automatic ice maker is supported by an ice tray support that is separate from the main body member. It is also possible. In addition, the ice tray of the automatic ice making machine is in a state where the horizontal state support and the attachment and detachment at the power transmission unit are stable.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the third aspect of the invention, the main body member is formed with a storage portion for the auxiliary ice tray on the side of the storage portion for the ice tray of the automatic ice maker. And it becomes easy to form a cold air passage for cooling the auxiliary ice tray, and it is suitable for downsizing. In addition, since the ice making tray of the automatic ice making machine is a flow of cold air that preferentially cools the auxiliary ice making tray, the effective ice making operation in the automatic ice making machine can be obtained. In addition, since the electric mechanism is housed behind the ice tray of the automatic ice maker, the electric mechanism does not interfere with the attachment / detachment of the ice tray, and there is no possibility of damaging the electric mechanism when the ice tray is attached / detached.

In addition to the effects of the third or fourth invention, the fifth invention makes it easy to attach to and detach from the ice tray of the automatic ice maker, and facilitates cleaning and replacement of the ice tray of the automatic ice maker.

In the sixth invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fifth inventions, automatic ice making can be continued by attaching an auxiliary ice tray when the ice tray of the automatic ice making machine is damaged or deformed. It will be.

In the seventh invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention to the fifth invention, the auxiliary ice tray can make ice having a shape or a size different from that of the ice tray of the automatic ice making machine. Can be used properly. In addition, if the ice tray of the automatic ice maker is damaged or deformed, it is possible not only to continue automatic ice making by attaching an auxiliary ice tray, but also to replace the auxiliary ice tray automatically. In the ice making machine, the ice in the auxiliary ice tray can be made, and in the auxiliary ice making section, the ice can be made in the removed ice tray. Therefore, it is possible to select which type of ice is automatically made.

The eighth invention can provide a novel refrigerator-freezer having improved convenience and usability by including an automatic ice maker that achieves the above effects.

The present invention is an automatic ice maker configured to drop ice in the ice tray downward by rotating the ice tray placed in the freezing temperature chamber in the refrigerator with an electric mechanism and twisting it.
An auxiliary ice making unit for detachably placing a manually twistable auxiliary ice tray is provided in the automatic ice maker, and the auxiliary ice making unit is detachably provided in the freezing temperature chamber together with the automatic ice maker. To do. Examples of the invention are described below.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, FIG.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal side view of an ice making chamber and a freezing chamber portion where the automatic ice maker of the refrigerator refrigerator body of the present invention is installed, Fig. 3 is a front view of the automatic ice maker portion of the refrigerator refrigerator of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is an ice making of the refrigerator refrigerator of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a state where the ice making room door of the refrigerator / freezer of the present invention is opened (drawn) and the entire automatic ice making machine is slightly pulled out. Figure 6
Fig. 7 is a front perspective view showing a state in which the ice making chamber door of the refrigerator / freezer of the present invention is opened (drawn) and the ice tray of the automatic ice maker is pulled out, and Fig. 7 is automatically opened (drawn) by opening the ice making chamber door of the refrigerator / freezer of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention with the ice tray being pulled out, FIG.
2 is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention with the ice tray pulled out and removed, FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention in which a part of the upper wall of the main body member is cut, and FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention showing a state in which the tray is slightly rotated, FIG. 15 is a front view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention shown in a longitudinal section, and FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section through the state in which the ice tray is slightly rotated. 17 is a front view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention shown in a plane, FIG. 17 is a vertical side view of the state where the automatic ice maker according to the present invention is attached to the ice making chamber, and FIG. FIG. 19 is a longitudinal side view showing the pulled-out state.
FIG. 20 is a longitudinal side view showing a state in which the automatic ice maker of the present invention is slightly pulled further forward than the ice making chamber in FIG. 18, FIG. 20 is a longitudinal side view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention in which the ice tray is stored, FIG. FIG. 22 is a vertical side view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention showing a state in which the ice tray is unlocked, and FIG. 22 is a vertical side view of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention showing a state in which the ice tray is slightly pulled out with the lock removed. .

The refrigerator-freezer 1 which concerns on Example 1 is the structure which partitions off the inside of the refrigerator-freezer main body 2 of front opening, and forms several storage chambers, and the front surface of each of these storage chambers can be opened and closed with a door. The refrigerator-freezer main body 2 has a heat insulating structure in which a foam heat insulating material 2C is filled between an outer box (outer wall plate) 2A and an inner box (inner wall plate) 2B. A refrigerator compartment 3, a freezing temperature compartment 5, and a vegetable compartment 4 are partitioned and provided in the refrigerator main body 2 from the top. In the freezing temperature chamber 5, an ice making chamber 6 having a front opening that is maintained at the freezing temperature is partitioned by a partition plate (partition plate) 41, and a freezing chamber 5 </ b> A that is maintained at the freezing temperature is partitioned in the lower portion. An automatic ice making machine 7 is attached to the upper part of the ice making chamber 6, and an ice storage container 8 is disposed below the automatic ice making machine 7. A freezer compartment 5B is defined on the side of the ice making chamber 6.

The refrigerating chamber 3 located in the upper part and the freezing temperature chamber 5 (in the figure, the ice making room 6 and the freezing small room 5B) located in the lower part are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall. The heat insulating partition wall 28 is a heat insulating material 31 in which polyurethane resin is foam-filled between an injection-molded synthetic resin upper plate 29 and an injection-molded synthetic resin lower plate 30, foamed polystyrene or the like previously molded into a predetermined shape, etc. The heat insulating structure provided with the heat insulating material 31 is formed.

An automatic ice making machine 7 is attached to the upper part of the ice making chamber 6, and an ice storage container 8 having an upper surface opening is disposed immediately below the automatic ice making machine 7. The front opening of the ice making chamber 6 is opened and closed by a pull-out door 14 supported by the support device 18 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction together with the ice storage container 8.
The support device 18 is configured such that the rails 16 of the left and right support members 19 extending horizontally from the back side of the door 14 are placed on rollers 17 attached to the left and right walls of the ice making chamber 6. 8, the left and right sides of the ice storage container 8 are placed on the left and right support members 19 so as to be removable upward. With this configuration, with the automatic ice maker 7 left in the ice making chamber 6, the ice storage container 8 is pulled out to the front of the ice making chamber 6 as the pull-out door 14 is pulled out. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice storage container 8 has a size such that the automatic ice maker 7 enters the upper surface opening and wraps the automatic ice maker 7 from below, and the drawer type door 14 is pulled out. It is supported so as to be removable upward from the support member 19.

The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened and closed by a revolving refrigerator door 10 that is rotated laterally by hinge devices 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B on one side of the refrigerator refrigerator body 2. The front opening of the vegetable compartment 4 is opened and closed by a drawer-type door 11 that is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction together with the vegetable container by a support device using a combination of left and right rails and rollers, as in the ice making compartment 6. Freezer room 5A
Like the ice making chamber 6, the front opening is opened and closed by a pull-out door 12 that is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction together with the container 15 by a support device that is a combination of left and right rails and rollers provided in the freezing chamber 5 A. Is done. The front opening of the freezer compartment 5B is similar to the ice making room 6 in the freezer compartment 5B.
Further, it is opened and closed by a pull-out door 13 supported by a support device comprising a combination of left and right rails and rollers so as to be movable in the front-rear direction together with the container of the upper surface opening.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a refrigerant compressor installed in a machine room provided at the bottom of the refrigerator-freezer main body 2. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 20 is condensed by a condenser (not shown), and a decompression unit such as a capillary tube is provided. After passing through the evaporator (cooler) 24 and evaporating, the refrigerant is returned to the compressor 20 and compressed again, and a refrigeration cycle is constituted by these. Reference numeral 25 denotes a freezing room 5A, an ice making room 6 and a freezing small room 5B constituting the freezing temperature chamber 5 of the cold air cooled by the evaporator (cooler) 24.
And a fan that circulates further through the duct to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4. Freezer room 5A
The ice making chamber 6 and the freezer compartment 5B are configured to be cooled by circulating the cool air cooled by the evaporator (cooler) 24 by the blower 25, while the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4 are You may comprise so that it may be cooled by circulating the cool air cooled with the other evaporator (cooler) connected to the refrigerating cycle with another blower.

The automatic ice making machine 7 includes an electric mechanism 7A and an ice tray 7B that is rotationally driven by the electric mechanism 7A. The electric mechanism 7A and the ice tray 7B are configured to be detachable together by pulling out of the refrigerator 1 including the automatic attachment / detachment of the power supply line to the electric mechanism 7A. The ice tray 7B is formed of a twistable material and has a long shape in the front-rear direction.
It is made of a synthetic resin that is divided into a plurality of ice making cells 7B1 in rows, five rows, two rows, or six rows and two rows, thereby producing 8 to 12 square ice cubes. The ice storage container 8 is made of a white, transparent, translucent or other color synthetic resin, and has a box shape with a top opening that is longer than the left and right widths.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a water supply container (also referred to as a water storage container) for storing ice-making water to be supplied to the ice tray 7B of the automatic ice making machine 7. The water supply container 9 has a rectangular shape whose depth is longer than the horizontal width, and is a small chamber partitioned in the refrigerator compartment 3 And is cooled at the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 3. By opening the front door 10 of the refrigerator compartment 3, the water supply container 9 can be taken out to the front of the refrigerator 1 and the upper lid 9A can be opened to inject new water. The ice making water may be pumped from the water supply container 9 by a pump and supplied to the ice tray 7B of the automatic ice making machine 7. In the embodiment, however, the ice making water is supplied from a water supply channel 51 that vertically penetrates the heat insulating partition wall 28 by a natural fall method. The structure supplied to the ice tray 7B of the automatic ice making machine 7 is shown.

A solenoid 52 is disposed around the water supply channel 51, and the operation rod disposed in the water supply channel 51 is raised by energization of the solenoid 52, and the open / close valve 53 provided at the bottom of the water supply container 9 is pushed up to supply water. The water supply hole 54 at the bottom of the container 9 is opened, and ice-making water is supplied from the water supply channel 51 to the ice tray 7B. Then, when the solenoid 52 is not energized, the on-off valve 53 is lowered by a spring force to close the water supply hole 54 at the bottom of the water supply container 9.

The automatic ice making machine 7 includes an electric mechanism 7A and an ice tray 7B that is rotationally driven by the electric mechanism 7A in the main body member 100. The main body member 100 of the automatic ice making machine 7 constitutes a frame that combines the respective members. The housing member 100 will be referred to. Housing member 10
At 0, an electric mechanism 7A and an ice tray 7B are arranged in front of the electric mechanism 7A. The rear part of the housing member 100 is provided with a connector 120 that is detachably connected to a connector 121 provided on the refrigerator-freezer main body 2 side. The housing member 100 can be pulled out to the front of the ice making chamber 6 using the supporting portion 200 as a rail and can be stored in the ice making chamber 6. With such a configuration, the automatic ice maker 7 including the electric mechanism 7A and the ice tray 7B.
Can be removed with a drawer forward of the refrigerator 1 and can be stored in the refrigerator 1.

A specific configuration related to this will be described below. The ice making chamber 6 and the freezer compartment 5B are provided at the left and right intermediate portions of the synthetic resin lower plate 30 of the heat insulating partition wall 28 constituting the ceiling wall of the ice making chamber 6 and the freezer compartment 5B.
A partition plate 40 is attached, and support portions 200 are formed on both left and right sides near the ceiling wall portion of the ice making chamber 6 so as to perform a rail function in the front-rear direction. The support portion 200 is
Although the lower plate 30 and the lower plate 30 are integrally formed, the support portion 200 may be formed in the form of a rail that extends in the front-rear direction integrally or separately from the left and right walls of the ice making chamber 6. This support part 2
100, the left and right flange portions 100A of the housing member 100 are placed so as to be freely drawable in the front-rear direction. For this reason, the left and right support portions 200 can be referred to as the left and right rail portions 200.

The housing member 100 includes front and rear and left and right walls 101A, 101B, 101C, 101.
An automatic ice making unit 101 surrounded by D and the bottom wall 101E is formed. Then, the housing member 100 is located on the side of the automatic ice making unit 101, and the auxiliary ice tray 7 made of synthetic resin that can be manually twisted.
An auxiliary ice making part 105 for storing C so that it can be pulled out forward is formed. The automatic ice making unit 101 and the auxiliary ice making unit 105 are a right wall 101D of the automatic ice making unit 101 that is a partition wall of both.
Is the adjacent arrangement state on both the left and right sides. The auxiliary ice making unit 105 includes front and rear and left and right walls 1.
05A, 105B, 105C (same as 101D), 105D and the bottom wall 105E are enclosed, and the auxiliary ice tray 7C is slidably mounted on the bottom wall 105E. Further, from the form of the housing member 100, the right side wall 105D and the right bottom wall 105E of the auxiliary ice making unit 105 have a structure in which the integrated members Q are combined.

The front part of the automatic ice making unit 101 forms the storage part 102 of the ice tray 7B, and the rear part of the automatic ice making part 101 forms the storage part 103 of the electric mechanism 7A. The housing member 100 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a main body member base (hereinafter referred to as a housing main body) 100B and a cover 106 that covers the upper surface thereof. The cover 106 is attached to the housing main body 100B with screws at the fixing portion 106B so as to cover the automatic ice making portion 101 and the auxiliary ice making portion 105, and forms an upper wall of the housing member 100. For this reason, the storage part 10 of the ice tray 7B.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an area surrounded by the cover 106, the front wall 101A, the left and right walls 101C, 101D, and the bottom wall 101E. The storage portion 103 of the electric mechanism 7A is an area surrounded by the cover 106, the rear wall 101B, the left and right walls 101C, 101D, and the bottom wall 101E. The auxiliary ice making unit 105 includes the cover 106, the front wall 105A, the left and right walls 105C, 1
This is a region surrounded by 05D and the bottom wall 105E. In order to improve the cooling from the bottom surface of the ice tray 7B, a hollow portion R is formed in the bottom wall 101E of the storage portion 102, and in order to improve the cooling from the bottom surface of the auxiliary ice tray 7C, an auxiliary A hollow portion S is formed in the bottom wall 105E of the ice making portion 105.

In the storage portion 102 of the ice tray 7B, a frame-shaped ice tray support 104 that supports the ice tray 7B is placed on the bottom wall 101E so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. In the electric mechanism 7A, an electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism that is a combination of a plurality of gears rotated by the electric motor are housed in a case, and a drive shaft 110 that decelerates in front of the case protrudes in the horizontal direction. In the electric mechanism 7A, the left and right engaging claws 7A1 formed on the front upper part of the case are held by the storage portion 103 in a state where the engaging portions 7A1 of the cover 106 are engaged.

A horizontal shaft portion 70 is formed at the front portion of the ice tray 7B, and a bearing portion 71 that rotatably supports the shaft portion 70 of the ice tray 7B is formed at the front portion of the ice tray support 104. Yes. The bearing portion 71 is opened upward, and the shaft portion 70 of the ice tray 7B can be taken out and placed on the bearing portion 71 in the vertical direction. A driven shaft 72 is formed at the rear of the ice tray 7B. The drive shaft 110 of the electric mechanism 7A and the driven shaft portion 72 of the ice tray 7B are non-circularly coupled so that the non-circular portion of the drive shaft 110 can be detachably fitted to the driven shaft portion 72 in the front-rear direction. The power transmission unit 80 is configured.

At the rear of the ice tray support 104, a circular hole support portion 73 is formed in which a driven shaft portion 72 provided at the rear of the ice tray 7B is supported in a penetrating state. The driven shaft portion 72 at the rear part of the ice tray 7B may be formed simultaneously with the ice tray 7B, but in this embodiment, the driven shaft member in which the front shaft 77 is fitted to the protruding shaft 74 at the rear portion of the ice tray 7B. 75. The driven shaft member 75 is attached with the upper and lower elastic claws 76 engaged with the protruding shaft 74. Drive shaft 72
Is a loosely fitting relationship with the support portion 73, so that the shaft portion 70 of the ice tray 7 </ b> B is connected to the bearing portion 7.
When the ice tray 7B is pulled forward while slightly lifted from 1, the driven shaft portion 72 of the ice tray 7B is detached from the drive shaft 110 of the electric mechanism 7A.
Can be removed upwards.

In addition, when the ice tray 7B is placed on the ice tray support 104, pulling the ice tray support 104 forward removes the driven shaft 72 from the drive shaft 110, and the ice tray 7B has a front portion. With the shaft portion 70 placed on the bearing portion 71, the rear driven shaft portion 72 is placed on the support portion 73. In this state, the ice tray 7B is held in a substantially horizontal state, and the ice tray 7B is prevented from falling off. Then, the ice tray 7B can be removed upward from the ice tray support 104. Thus, since the ice tray 7B can be held in a substantially horizontal state with the ice tray support 104 being pulled out, the ice tray 7B is placed on the ice tray support 104 and is slid to the normal position. In this case, the driven shaft portion 72 and the drive shaft 110 can be connected smoothly.

A drawer handle 78 is rotatably attached to the front surface of the ice tray support 104. The handle 78 is arranged so as to keep a distance from the front wall 104A of the ice tray support 104.
The locking protrusion 79 formed on the cover 106 is located in front of 04A, the upper portion is rotatably supported by the shaft 78A, and the locking projection 79 is formed to protrude upward by the applied spring (not shown) force. 81
Is engaged. With this engaged state, the ice tray support 104 is kept in the normal position of the storage portion 102 of the ice tray 7B, and the drive shaft 110 of the electric mechanism 7A and the driven shaft portion 72 of the ice tray 7B are fitted. Thus, power transmission is possible.

When the ice tray support 104 is pulled forward from the housing member 100, the handle 78 is rotated by pulling the handle 78 forward (forward) against the spring force, and the locking projection 79 is locked by the locking portion 81.
Therefore, the ice tray support 104 can be pulled out from the housing member 100 forward. A stopper device 111 is provided to prevent the ice tray support 104 from falling off the housing member 100 in a state where the entire top surface of the ice tray 7B is pulled out so as to be almost exposed. With almost all the ice tray 7B pulled out, as described above, the ice tray 7B
Can be removed from the ice tray support 104.

When the ice tray support 104 is pulled out, the stopper device 111 is configured to support the ice tray support 10.
4, the locking protrusion 113 of the elastic locking piece 112 provided at the bottom rear part 4 comes into contact with the stopper part 114 at the rear end of the front part of the bottom wall 101E of the housing member 100, thereby preventing the ice tray support 104 from being pulled out. It is a mechanism to be done. From the state stopped by the stopper device 111, the ice tray support 1
The removal of 04 is accomplished by pulling the ice tray support 104 forward of the housing member 100 in a state where the elastic locking piece 112 is pushed up by hand from below and the locking projection 113 is removed from the stopper portion 114. .

In the present invention, since the ice tray 7B can be taken out of the ice making chamber 6 with the electric mechanism 7A left in the ice making chamber 6, even when the ice tray 7B is washed with water, the electrical components are not splashed with water. It is. As a configuration that exhibits this effect, the electric mechanism 7 for rotationally driving the ice tray 7B.
Since A is stored in the rear part of the automatic ice making unit 101, the cold air cooled by the evaporator (cooler) 24 cannot be introduced into the ice making plate 7B from directly behind the ice making plate 7B. For this reason, in order to introduce the cool air cooled by the evaporator (cooler) 24 from the cool air passage 91 to the ice tray 7B, the cool air introduction path 90 is formed so as to bypass the automatic ice making machine 7. The cold air introduction path 90 is depressed at a portion corresponding to the auxiliary ice making unit 105 of the cover 106, and automatic ice making is performed so that the cold air supplied from the cold air passage 91 flows into the ice tray storage unit 102 from the side of the ice tray 7B. A cold air introduction path 90 is bent at the side of the portion 101.

The cold air cooled by the evaporator (cooler) 24 flows from the cold air passage 91 to the cold air introduction passage 90 by the blower 25 and also flows from the cold air passage 92 to the freezer compartment 5A. Cold air introduction path 90
The cold air that has flowed into the water is diverted by the flow dividing wall 90 </ b> A and flows into the ice tray storage unit 102 from the right side surface of the ice tray storage unit 102. The cool air that has flowed into the freezer 5A cools the freezer 5A,
It returns to the circumference | surroundings of the evaporator (cooler) 24 from the suction inlet 93, is cooled again, and performs said circulation.

The ice tray storage unit 102 and the auxiliary ice making unit 105 communicate with each other through a cold air passage so that the cold air on the ice tray 7B passes to the auxiliary ice tray 7C. That is, the cold air that has flowed into the ice tray receiving section 102 from the cold air introduction path 90 formed by recessing the portion corresponding to the auxiliary ice making section 105 of the cover 106 flows around the ice tray 7B to cool the ice tray 7B. The water in it can be frozen. A wall in which a part of the cold air is a vent hole 83 formed in the right side wall of the ice tray support 104 and a partition wall between the ice tray storage portion 102 and the auxiliary ice making portion 105 that are opened at a position overlapping the vent hole 83. 101D (10
5C), the auxiliary ice tray 7C in the auxiliary ice tray 105 is cooled to freeze the water in the auxiliary ice tray 7C, and the hollow portion S and the right wall 105D are vented. It flows out from 87 to the ice making chamber 6. Further, the other portions of the cold air that flowed around the ice tray 7B are a portion that flows out from the hollow portion R to the ice making chamber 6 below, and a vent hole 85 formed in the left side wall of the ice tray support 104. The left side wall 101 of the ice tray storage unit 102 vacated at a position overlapping the ventilation hole 85.
There is a portion that flows out to the ice making chamber 6 through the vent hole 86 formed in C. The cold air that has flowed out into the ice making chamber 6 flows into the freezing chamber 5A through a gap around the bottom plate 47 of the ice making chamber 6 and the suction port 9
3 is returned to the periphery of the evaporator (cooler) 24, cooled again and circulated as described above.

As described above, the automatic ice maker 7 is supported by the left and right rail portions 200 provided in the ice making chamber 6 in which the housing member 100 is the freezing temperature chamber so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. For this reason, the automatic ice making machine 7 can be pulled out of the ice making chamber 6 by pulling out the housing member 100 with the front door 14 pulled out and the ice storage container 8 pulled out forward, and can be stored by sliding. . In order to store and hold the automatic ice making machine 7 in a regular position in the ice making chamber 6, a lock device 95 is provided for holding the housing member 100 in the regular position. The locking device 95 is pivotable on the front wall of the housing member 100, and a locking recess 97 formed by recessing upward in the synthetic resin lower plate 30 of the heat insulating partition wall 28 constituting the ceiling wall of the ice making chamber 6. It is comprised in combination with the lock lever 96 attached to.

The housing member 100 can be held in the normal position by engaging the upper end of the lock lever 96 with the locking recess 97 while the housing member 100 is stored in the normal position. Further, the housing member 100 can be pulled out from the ice making chamber 6 in a state where the lock lever 96 is rotated and removed from the locking recess 97.

The ice making water supplied from the water supply channel 51 to the ice making tray 7B is supplied to one ice making cell 7B1 of the ice making tray 7B, and is sequentially supplied from there to another ice making cell 7B1 by overflow. Therefore, a water supply hole 106A is formed in the cover 106 at a position corresponding to one ice making cell 7B1 at the rear of the ice tray 7B, and the lower end of the water supply path 51 corresponds to the water supply hole 106A. The cover 106 is provided with a water supply hole 106 </ b> A so that the lower end of the pipe forming the water supply path 51 does not hit the cover 106 by pulling the housing member 100 forward.
A groove 106 </ b> D that opens rearward is formed.

Like the ice tray 7B, the auxiliary ice tray 7C is made of a twistable synthetic resin, and the ice tray support 1
04 and a fitting structure with the drive shaft 110 of the electric mechanism 7A, a shaft portion 70C similar to the shaft portion 70 of the ice tray 7B, and a driven shaft similar to the driven shaft portion 72 of the ice tray 7B. Part 7
2C and a projection 7C2 similar to a projection 7B2 described later are formed. For this reason, the auxiliary ice tray 7C and the ice tray 7B are attached to the ice tray support 104 and the drive shaft 110 of the electric mechanism 7A.
It is a form which is compatible in fitting with. Further, the auxiliary ice tray 7C is an auxiliary ice tray 7C.
The shape and / or size of the ice making cell 7C1 inside C is different from the shape and / or size of the ice making cell 7B1 of the ice tray 7B. When the ice tray 7B is deformed or damaged, the ice tray 7B can be replaced with the auxiliary ice tray 7C to continue automatic ice making. In addition, since the auxiliary ice tray 7C can make ice having a shape different from that of the ice tray 7B, it is possible to select which type of ice to use according to preference.

As described above, the automatic ice making machine 7 is provided with the housing member 100 along the upper wall 30 of the ice making chamber 6 so as to be disposed in the vicinity of the upper wall of the ice making chamber 6, and is an ice making chamber that is a freezing temperature chamber. Room 6
Is supported by the left and right rail portions 200 provided in the slidable manner in the front-rear direction. For this reason, the electrical line that electrically connects the electrical equipment section and the control circuit section on the refrigerator-freezer body 2 side and the electric mechanism 7A is
It is a detachable connector mechanism. This specific configuration will be described below.

The housing member 100 is provided with an automatic ice maker 7 side connector 120, and a connector 121 to which electric power is supplied from an electrical component (not shown) of the refrigerator refrigerator body 2 through a lead wire is provided on the refrigerator refrigerator body 2 side. Is provided. The automatic ice maker 7 side connector 120 connected to the electric mechanism 7A is provided to protrude rearward from the rear portion of the housing member 100, specifically, to the housing main body 100B. The connector 121 on the side of the refrigerator main body 2 is connected to the upper wall 30 of the ice making chamber 6.
It is attached to the synthetic resin lower plate 30 so as to be close to. In order for the automatic ice maker 7 to be housed in the refrigerator-freezer 1, the left and right portions 100 </ b> A of the housing member 100 are placed and pushed onto the support portion 104, so that the automatic ice-maker 7 reaches the predetermined position in the refrigerator 1. 1
20 is connected to the connector 121. In order to facilitate the pushing-in of the housing member 100, the combination of the housing member 100 and the support portion 200 is provided with a little flexibility, so that the connector 120 and the connector 121 are also joined slightly. As a result, the connection between the connector 120 and the connector 121 becomes smooth.

As this specific configuration, the terminal portion of the connector 120 is formed of a protruding pin, and the connector 12
Reference numeral 1 denotes a terminal portion in the form of a hole into which the protruding pin is inserted. Even if the housing member 100 is slightly displaced up and down and left and right due to the pushing of the housing member 100, the protruding pin of the connector 120 can easily enter the hole of the connector 121. In addition, the inlet of the hole of the connector 121 is slightly widened. Further, the connector 120 has a flexible mounting structure so that the connector 120 can move slightly in the vertical and horizontal directions.

In the automatic ice maker 7, the housing member 100 is supported by the left and right rail portions 200 provided in the ice making chamber 6 that is a freezing temperature chamber so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The ice storage container 8 can be used as a storage container for frozen food. If the ice storage container 8 is also removed from the ice making chamber 6, the ice making chamber 6 can be used as a freezing room for storing frozen food.

A connector cover 130 is provided to cover the terminal portion of the connector 121 in a state where the housing member 100 is pulled out and the automatic ice making machine 7 is detached from the ice making chamber 6. In the state where the housing member 100 is pulled out from the ice making chamber 6, the connector cover 130 is covered with the cover portion 1.
31 is lowered so as to cover the terminal portion of the connector 121. In this state, in order to house the housing member 100 in the ice making chamber 6, the housing member 100 is slid rearward along the left and right rail portions 200, whereby the cover portion 131 is moved to the housing member 10.
The terminal portion of the connector 121 is gradually exposed by being pushed up along the inclined surface of the upper surface of the pair of left and right actuating portions 133 protruding rearward. Further, as the housing member 100 slides rearward along the left and right rail portions 104, the connector 120 is connected to the connector 1.
When the housing member 100 is housed in the regular position, the connectors are in a regular coupled state.

The pair of left and right operating pieces 133 are disposed close to the left and right sides of the connector 120 so that the connector 12
A cover portion 134 is provided on the rear wall of the housing member 100 so as to protect 0 and to cover the pair of left and right operating pieces 133 from both the left and right sides and the lower side. In a state where the housing member 100 is pulled out, the cover portion 134 allows the connector 120 and the pair of left and right operating pieces 13 to be pulled out.
3 is protected from collision with other objects.

The ice making operation of the automatic ice making machine 7 includes an ice making process and a deicing process controlled by a control circuit unit provided in the refrigerator 1. When the ice making process is started in a state where a sufficient amount of ice making water is contained in the water supply container 9 set at a predetermined position in the refrigerator compartment 3, the solenoid 52 is energized for a predetermined time by the control circuit unit, and is opened and closed. The valve 53 opens the water supply port 54, and a predetermined amount of ice making water required for one ice making is automatically supplied to the ice making tray 7B by natural fall.

By supplying water to the ice tray 7B, the water in the ice tray 7B is frozen, and when the timer means of the control circuit unit has passed for a certain period of time, or the ice tray sensor detects the lowered temperature of the ice tray 7B when ice is formed. Then, the deicing process is started by the control circuit unit, the electric mechanism 7A is started, and the ice tray 7B is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8 and reversed, and the protrusion provided at the front portion of the ice tray 7B. 7B2 comes into contact with the stopper 104B of the ice tray support 104, and the ice tray 7B is twisted,
Ice in the ice tray 7B is dropped into the ice storage container 8 below. After this twisting, the ice tray 7B is returned and rotated clockwise in FIG. 8, and the ice tray 7B returns to the horizontal state. In this state, the next ice making process starts automatically, and after supplying water again, the above operation is performed. By performing such an ice making operation cycle, ice is stored in the ice storage container 8. In the deicing step, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the ice tray 7B may be rotated clockwise.

The amount of ice in the ice storage container 8 is determined by the ice detecting lever 1 that is lowered by the electric mechanism 7A for each ice making process.
40. The ice detecting lever 140 is disposed on the side of the ice tray 7B so as not to obstruct the rotation of the ice tray 7B, and enters the ice storage container 8 through the hollow portion R to detect the amount of ice. When the amount of ice in the ice storage container 8 becomes full, the ice detecting lever 140 is restricted from descending by the ice, so this state is electrically detected and the ice tray before entering the next ice making process. It is a mechanism to stop water supply to 7B.

The automatic ice making machine of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the arrangement relationship of the refrigerator compartment, the freezing room, the ice making room, etc. of the refrigerator-freezer is not limited to the above form and deviates from the technical scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, it can be applied to various types of refrigerator-freezers.

It is a front view of the present invention refrigerator-freezer. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view of the ice making room and the freezing room part which installed the automatic ice making machine of the refrigerator-freezer main body of this invention. (Example 1) It is a front view of the automatic ice maker part of this invention refrigerator-freezer. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker part of the state which opened the ice-making chamber door of this invention refrigerator refrigerator (drawn). (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the state which opened the ice-making chamber door of this invention refrigerator refrigerator, and pulled out the whole automatic ice making machine a little. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the state which opened the ice-making chamber door of this invention refrigerator refrigerator, and pulled out the ice tray of the automatic ice maker. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view explaining the state which opened the ice-making chamber door of this invention refrigerator refrigerator and pulled out the ice-making tray of the automatic ice maker. (Example 1) It is a disassembled perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention. (Example 1) It is a back perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention in the state where an ice tray was pulled out. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention in a state where the ice tray is pulled out and removed. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention which cut | disconnected a part of upper wall of the main-body member. (Example 1) It is a front perspective view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention which shows the state which the ice-making tray rotated a little. (Example 1) It is a front view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention shown in a longitudinal section. (Example 1) It is a front view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention which shows the state which the ice-making tray rotated a little in the longitudinal section. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view of the state in which the automatic ice making machine of the present invention is attached to the ice making chamber. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view which shows the state which pulled out the automatic ice making machine of this invention a little to the ice making chamber front. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view which shows the state which pulled out the automatic ice making machine of this invention a little further ahead of the ice making chamber from FIG. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view of the automatic ice maker of the present invention in which the ice tray is stored. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view of the automatic ice making machine of this invention which shows the state which removed the lock | rock of the ice tray. (Example 1) It is a vertical side view of the automatic ice making machine of the present invention showing a state where the lock is removed and the ice tray is slightly pulled out. (Example 1)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Refrigeration refrigerator 2 ... Refrigeration refrigerator main body 3 ... Refrigeration room 4 ... Vegetable room 5 ... Freezing room 5A ... Freezing room 6 ... Ice making room 7 ... Automatic ice making machine 7A・ ・ Electric mechanism 7B ・ ・ Ice tray 7B2 ・ ・ Protrusion of ice tray 7C ・ ・ ・ Auxiliary ice tray 7C2 ・ ・ Protrusion of auxiliary ice tray 8 ... Ice storage container 9 ... Water supply container 24 ・ ・ Cooler 25 ・・ Blower 28 ・ ・ Insulating partition wall 29 of refrigerator compartment and ice making room ・ ・ Upper plate 30 of insulating partition wall ・ ・ Lower plate 31 of insulating partition wall ・ ・ Insulating material 51 ・ ・ Water supply channel 52 ・ ・ Solenoid 53 ・ Opening and closing Valve 54 ·· Water supply port 70 ·· Axle tray shaft portion 70C ·· Auxiliary ice tray shaft portion 71 ··· Bearing 72 ··· Ice tray follower shaft portion 72C ··· Auxiliary ice tray driven shaft portion 78 ... Handle 78A ... Shaft 79 ... Locking convex part 80 ... Power transmission part 95 ... Lock device 96... Lock lever 97 .. locking recess 100 .. body member (housing member)
100A .. Left and right parts of main body member (housing member) 100B .. Main body member base (housing main body)
101.. Automatic ice making unit 102.. Ice tray storage unit 103.. Electric mechanism storage unit 104.. Ice tray support 105. · · Elastic locking piece 114 · · Stopper portion 120 · · Refrigerator main body side connector 121 · · Automatic ice maker side connector 130 · · Connector cover 200 · · Support portion (rail portion)

Claims (8)

An automatic ice maker configured to drop ice in the ice tray downward by rotating an ice tray placed in a freezing temperature chamber in a refrigerator with an electric mechanism to give a twist, the automatic ice maker comprising: An auxiliary ice making unit that is detachably supported in the freezing temperature chamber and that can be manually twisted to be taken out and placed thereon is attached to the automatic ice making machine, and the auxiliary ice making unit together with the automatic ice making machine has the freezing temperature. An automatic ice maker, which is detachable in the room. An automatic ice maker configured to drop ice in the ice tray downward by rotating an ice tray placed in a freezing temperature chamber in a refrigerator with an electric mechanism to give a twist, the automatic ice maker comprising: A main body member is supported so that it can be pulled out to the freezing temperature chamber, and the main body member has an automatic ice making unit for storing the ice tray so that the ice tray can be pulled forward with the electric mechanism remaining. An auxiliary ice making unit is provided for storing an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted so that it can be pulled out forward, and the auxiliary ice making unit can be taken out into the freezing temperature chamber together with the automatic ice maker by pulling out the main body member. An automatic ice making machine. An automatic ice maker configured to drop ice in the ice tray downward by rotating an ice tray placed in a freezing temperature chamber in a refrigerator with an electric mechanism to give a twist, the automatic ice maker comprising: A body member is supported on the left and right rails provided in the refrigeration temperature chamber so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction and can be pulled out of the refrigeration temperature chamber, the electric mechanism is supported by the body member, and the ice tray is A front part is pivotally supported by an ice tray support that is slidably supported in the front-rear direction on the main body member, and the rear portion of the ice tray and the electric mechanism leave the electric mechanism in the main body member. The ice tray support is detachably connected to the ice tray with a power transmission unit so that the ice tray support can be pulled out, and an auxiliary ice making unit for slidably mounting an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted is mounted on the main body member. Provided on the side of the ice tray, an automatic ice maker, wherein the ice maker and the auxiliary ice making section can be taken out to the freezing temperature compartment outward in a drawer of the body member. An automatic ice maker configured to drop ice in the ice tray downward by rotating an ice tray placed in a freezing temperature chamber in a refrigerator with an electric mechanism to give a twist, the automatic ice maker comprising: A body member is supported on the left and right rails provided in the refrigeration temperature chamber so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and can be pulled out to the outside of the refrigeration temperature chamber. An ice tray storage unit is provided at a front position, and an ice tray support that rotatably supports a front portion of the ice tray is rotatably stored in the ice tray storage unit in a front-rear direction. The electric mechanism is detachably connected by a power transmission unit so that the ice tray support can be pulled out together with the ice tray while the electric mechanism is left on the main body member, and the ice tray is connected to the main body member. Of storage An auxiliary ice making unit is provided for slidably storing an auxiliary ice tray that can be manually twisted in the forward and backward directions, and the ice making tray storage unit and the auxiliary ice making unit allow cold air on the ice tray to pass to the auxiliary ice tray. An automatic ice making machine characterized by communication through a cold air passage. The coupling between the rear part of the ice tray and the drive shaft of the electric mechanism in the power transmission unit is a non-circular coupling that is detachable in the front-rear direction, and the shaft support between the front part of the ice tray and the ice tray supporter. The automatic ice maker according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the portion is configured such that a shaft of the front portion of the ice tray is detachably mounted on a bearing portion of the ice tray support. 6. The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the ice tray is removable, and the auxiliary ice tray is in a form compatible with the ice tray. The ice tray is removable, and the auxiliary ice tray is in a form compatible with the ice tray, and forms an ice making cell having a shape different from or different in size from the ice making cell of the ice tray. The automatic ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   A refrigerator-freezer comprising the automatic ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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