JP2011038707A - Automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic ice making machine properly holding an ice discharge member during ice making operation, and preventing cracking or chipping of ice lumps by reducing momentum and speed of ice lumps discharged during deicing operation. <P>SOLUTION: A drain pan 40 is disposed in a lower side of an ice making unit U including an ice making part 20 comprising a first ice making chamber 21 and a second ice making chamber 22, and an abutting shock absorbing member 60 is provided in the drain pan 40. The abutting shock absorbing member 60 includes an abutting part 63 abutting on an opposite side of the second ice making chamber 22 in a lower end side in the ice discharge member 50 of a retreated attitude to retain the retreated attitude of the ice discharge member 50. The abutting shock absorbing member 60 includes an abutting shock absorbing part 62 positioned in an inclination lower end side in the ice discharge member 50 of an ice discharge attitude covering the second ice making chamber 22, to absorb momentum of spherical ice S by abutting on the spherical ice (an ice lump) S slipping down on the ice discharge member 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker that manufactures a group of ice blocks having a spherical shape or a polyhedral shape in an ice making unit.

  For example, an automatic ice making machine M1 as shown in FIG. 8 has been put to practical use as an injection type automatic ice making machine capable of continuously producing spherical or polyhedral ice blocks in an ice making unit. The automatic ice making machine M1 is configured such that the inside of a substantially box-shaped housing 10 is vertically divided, and the upper side of the housing 10 is configured as an ice storage chamber 11 and the lower side as a machine chamber 12. An ice making unit U is disposed in the upper part of the ice storage chamber 11, and the spherical ice (ice block) S generated in the ice making unit 20 of the ice making unit U falls and is stored in the bottom of the ice storage chamber 11. The Various parts such as a compressor, a condenser, a cooling fan motor, and expansion means (none of which are shown) constituting the refrigeration mechanism are disposed in the machine room 12, and the evaporator 18 constituting the refrigeration mechanism includes the evaporator 18 described above. It is disposed on the upper surface of the ice making unit 20.

  The ice making unit U includes a first ice making chamber 21 having a plurality of hemispherical first ice making chambers 21A that open downward and the evaporator 18 on the upper surface, and a hemispherical second ice making chamber that opens upward. An ice making unit 20 including a second ice making chamber 22 that defines a large number of small chambers 22A is provided. In addition, the ice making unit U integrates the water tray 23 having the second ice making chamber 22 on the upper surface, the ice making water tank 24 disposed at the lower portion of the water tray 23, and the water tray 23 and the ice making water tank 24. A water tray opening / closing mechanism 25 that tilts automatically, a water supply unit 26 that supplies water from an external water source into the ice making water tank 24, and the like. As shown in FIG. 9, the water tray 23 has a support portion 27 attached to the front portion and the rear portion on the left side of the front surface pivoted to a water tray support bracket 14 disposed on an attachment member 13 installed on the housing 10. While being pivotally supported via the support shaft 15, the vicinity of the right end is supported by the water tray opening / closing mechanism 25, and the water tray opening / closing mechanism 25 is driven to achieve the horizontal posture (closed position) shown in FIG. It is possible to tilt between the downwardly inclined posture (open position) shown in FIG. The ice making water tank 24 is provided with a water supply pump 29 for supplying ice making water to the ice making unit 20 through an injection hole 28 provided in the water tray 23 on the left front wall which is the deepest part of the ice making water tank 24. ing.

  In the ice making operation, the automatic ice making machine M1 displaces the water tray 23 to the closed position by driving the water tray opening / closing mechanism 25 and brings the second ice making chamber 22 into contact with the first ice making chamber 21 to make the ice making section. By closing 20, the first ice making chambers 21 </ b> A of the first ice making chamber 21 and the second ice making chambers 22 </ b> A of the second ice making chamber 22 are correspondingly aligned, and a plurality of ice making units 20 are arranged inside the ice making unit 20. An ice making space 20A is defined (FIG. 8). Therefore, by cooling the ice making unit 20 by the refrigeration mechanism, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 24 is jetted and supplied to each ice making space 20A defined in the ice making unit 20 by the water pump 29. Spherical ice S is generated in each ice making space 20A. Then, the automatic ice making machine M1 shifts to the deicing operation after the generation of the spherical ice S by the ice making operation is completed, and firstly, room temperature deicing water is stored around the second ice making chamber 22 to warm the second ice making chamber 22. As a result, the freezing of the second ice making chamber 22A and the spherical ice S is released. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the water tray 23 is moved to the open position by driving the water tray opening / closing mechanism 25, and the second ice making chamber 22 is separated from the first ice making chamber 21 to open the ice making section 20. Then, the first ice making chamber 21 is heated to release the freezing of each first ice making chamber 21A and the spherical ice S, so that each generated spherical ice S falls from each first ice making chamber 21A.

  In the automatic ice making machine M 1, the second ice making chamber 22 is disposed on the upper surface of the water tray 23, so that the second ice making chamber is located below the first ice making chamber 21 in the open position of the water tray 23. Each of the second ice making chambers 22A is opened upward. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent the spherical ice S falling from the first ice making chamber 21 from being fitted into the second ice making chamber 22A of the second ice making chamber 22, and the ice covering the second ice making chamber 22 from above. A discharge mechanism G is provided. This ice discharge mechanism G has an ice discharge member 30 that is a plate-shaped member that can cover substantially the entire second ice making chamber 22 in the vicinity of the right end of the drainage tray 35 disposed below the ice making unit U. It is arranged to be rotatable via a support shaft 31. The ice discharge member 30 rotates between an upright retracted posture (FIG. 8) and an ice discharge posture (FIG. 9) that covers the second ice making chamber 22 from above when the water pan 23 is tilted to the open position. It is possible. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the ice discharge member 30 covers the second ice making chamber 22 in an inclined manner from above at the open position of the water tray 23, so that the first ice making chamber 21 </ b> A of the first ice making chamber 21 The fallen spherical ice S slides down on the ice discharge member 30 and is discharged to the ice storage chamber 11. The ice discharge member 30 is provided with a contact piece 32 on which the right end of the water pan 23 whose posture is displaced from the closed position to the open position can be contacted. By contacting, the ice discharge member 30 is configured to rotate following the ice discharge posture from the standing posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the attachment member 13 is provided with a holding member 16 on which the upper end portion 30 </ b> A of the ice discharge member 30 displaced to the standing posture can be brought into contact. An automatic ice making machine equipped with such an ice discharge mechanism G is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-143069

  By the way, the ice discharge member 30 has its upper end 30A in contact with the holding member 16 in the standing posture. For this reason, a force is applied to the ice discharge member 30 stopped in the standing posture from the water dish 23 side (left side in FIG. 8), and the ice discharge member 30 is likely to rotate to the side opposite to the ice discharge posture side. The upper end 30 </ b> A of the ice discharge member 30 is easily detached from the holding member 16. When the ice discharge member 30 is detached from the holding member 16, the ice discharge member 30 is rotationally displaced to the side opposite to the ice discharge posture side, so that the water dish 23 contacts the contact piece 32 during the subsequent deicing operation. The contact discharge member 30 may not be displaced to the ice discharge posture during the deicing operation. Accordingly, the spherical ice S falling from the first ice making chamber 21 fits into the second ice making chamber 22A of the second ice making chamber 22 and the spherical ice S is not released reliably, so the deicing operation is changed to the ice making operation. The spherical ice S may be bitten during the transition, and the ice making unit U may be damaged or broken. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, since the ice discharge member 30 in the ice discharge posture is inclined to the lower right by about 40 degrees, the spherical ice S sliding down on the ice discharge member 30 is decelerated and decelerated. Rather, it falls into the ice storage chamber 11 while accelerating, and vigorously collides with the wall or bottom of the ice storage chamber 11 or the spherical ice S stored in the ice storage chamber 11. There was also an inherent problem that chipping occurred and the product value decreased.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the problems inherent in the above-described conventional technology, it has been proposed to suitably solve this problem. The ice discharge member is appropriately held during the ice making operation, and the deicing operation is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making machine that sometimes decelerates and decelerates ice blocks that are released to prevent cracking or chipping of the ice blocks.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, a first ice making chamber having a first ice making chamber opened downward and a second ice making chamber opened upward. And is disposed below the first ice making chamber in such a manner that the posture can be displaced, and is in a closed position in contact with the first ice making chamber from below during the ice making operation so that the second ice making chamber corresponds to the first ice making chamber. A second ice making chamber that is held and is spaced downward from the first ice making chamber during the deicing operation and displaces to an inclined opening position that opens the first ice making chamber, and the closed position with the lower end as a fulcrum. An ice discharge member that is displaced from an upper position to an ice discharge position that covers the second ice making chamber in the open position in an inclined manner from above, and the first ice making chamber and the second ice making chamber are moved by the ice making operation. 2 Ice blocks are generated in the ice making chamber. In the automatic ice making machine the ice cubes falling from the first freezing cells is released by sliding down on the ice discharge member ice discharge position,
An abutting portion for abutting a lower end side of the ice discharging member in the retracted position opposite to the second ice making chamber and holding the ice discharging member in the retracted position, and an inclination in the ice discharging member in the ice discharging position A contact buffer member having a buffer portion that is located on the lower end side and that relaxes the momentum of the ice block by hitting the ice block sliding down on the ice discharge member is provided.
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, during the ice making operation, the ice discharge member in the retracted position is appropriately held in the retracted position by contacting the contact portion of the contact buffering member. Thus, during the deicing operation, the ice discharge member can be reliably displaced to the ice discharge posture. In addition, during the deicing operation, the ice blocks that have fallen from the first ice making chamber are released to the ice storage chamber while being decelerated and de-energized by the buffer portion of the contact buffer member, so that the ice blocks that have been released to the ice storage chamber Can prevent cracks and chips from occurring.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the buffer portion is formed to be flat and horizontal, and to horizontally change the discharge direction of the ice block sliding down on the ice discharge member in an ice discharge posture. And
Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the ice block discharge direction is horizontally changed by the buffer portion of the contact buffer member, so that the ice block can be discharged while being decelerated and decelerated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the buffer portion is formed so as to incline upward toward a side away from the ice discharge member, and the ice block that slides downward on the ice discharge member in an ice discharge posture is provided. The gist is that the discharge direction is changed upward.
Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the ice block discharge direction is changed upward by the buffer portion of the contact buffer member, so that the ice block can be discharged while being decelerated and decelerated.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the buffer portion is formed to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction.
Therefore, according to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, since the buffer part of a contact | abutting buffer member is elastically deformed when an ice block hits, this can be discharge | released, decelerating and decelerating this ice block.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the buffer portion includes a first buffer surface that changes a discharge direction of the ice block sliding down on the ice discharge member in an ice discharge posture to a first direction, and the first buffer portion. And a second buffering surface that changes the discharge direction of the ice block that slides down on the ice discharge member in an ice discharge posture in a second direction different from the first direction. The gist.
Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ice lump discharge direction by the first buffer surface is different from the ice lump discharge direction by the second buffer surface, so that the ice lump discharge range can be widened.

  According to the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the ice discharging member is appropriately held during the ice making operation to prevent the failure of the ice making unit, and the ice block discharged during the deicing operation is reduced and decelerated to decelerate the ice block. Can prevent cracking and chipping.

It is explanatory drawing which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making unit in the automatic ice maker of 1st Example in an ice making operation state. It is explanatory drawing which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making unit in the automatic ice maker of 1st Example in the discharge | release state of the spherical ice in the deicing operation. In 1st Example, it is explanatory perspective view which shows the state in which the spherical ice which slid down on the ice discharge | release member which covers a 2nd ice making chamber is turned in the buffer part of the contact buffer member provided in the drain tray. It is explanatory drawing which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making unit in the automatic ice maker of 2nd Example in the discharge | release state of the spherical ice in the deicing operation. It is explanatory drawing which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making unit in the automatic ice maker of 3rd Example in the discharge | release state of the spherical ice in the deicing operation. It is explanatory drawing which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making unit in the automatic ice maker of 4th Example in the discharge | release state of the spherical ice in the deicing operation. In 4th Example, it is explanatory perspective view which shows the state by which the spherical ice which slid down on the ice discharge | release member which covers a 2nd ice making chamber is turned in the buffer part of the contact buffer member provided in the drain tray. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional automatic ice maker partially broken in the ice making operation state. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a part of the ice making unit in the automatic ice making machine of FIG. 8 in a state where spherical ice is released during the deicing operation.

  Next, an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of preferred embodiments. In addition, the left-right direction in each Example mentioned later refers to the left-right direction when the automatic ice making machine M1 is viewed from the front (FIG. 8), and the front-rear direction refers to the front-rear direction of the automatic ice making machine M1. .

  The automatic ice making machine M of each embodiment includes each component constituting the ice making unit U, that is, an ice making unit 20 including a first ice making chamber 21 and a second ice making chamber 22, a water tray 23, an ice making water tank 24, and a water tray opening and closing. The mechanism 25, the water pump 29, the water supply unit 26, and the like basically have the same configuration as the ice making unit U of the conventional automatic ice making machine M1 shown in FIG. Accordingly, in each embodiment, the same members and parts as those already described in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the basic configuration of the ice making unit U is omitted, which is the gist of the present invention. The ice discharge mechanism G and parts related thereto will be mainly described.

(First embodiment)
1 shows an ice making unit U in the automatic ice making machine M according to the first embodiment, a drain tray 40 set below the ice making unit U, and an ice discharge mechanism G1 disposed in the drain tray 40. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the ice making unit U, the drain tray 40 and the ice discharge mechanism G1 in the deicing operation state. The ice discharge mechanism G1 in the first embodiment is the same as the ice discharge member 50 that is rotatably arranged on the drainage tray 40 and forms an ice discharge part, while the drainage tray 40 is enlarged in the left-right direction. It is comprised from the contact | abutting buffer member 60 which is fixedly arrange | positioned at the plate | plate 40 and makes | forms a contact buffer part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drain tray 40 is a rectangular tray member and is disposed below the ice making unit U (ice making water tank 24). When the water tray 23 is tilted to the open position, The bottom wall 41 is provided with a drain port 45 that receives the ice-making water discharged from the ice-making water tank 24 tilted together with the plate 23 and discharges it to the outside of the apparatus. And the ice discharge | release member 50 and the contact | abutting buffer member 60 which comprise the said ice discharge | release mechanism G1 are arrange | positioned from the right-left center of the drain tray 40 to the right side part. That is, at a position spaced a required distance in the left direction from the right wall 42 of the drainage tray 40, the support shafts 46 whose front and rear ends are respectively fixed to the front wall 43 and the rear wall 44 of the drainage tray 40 are horizontally oriented in the front-rear direction. The support shaft 46 serves as a support portion for the ice discharge member 50. Further, the right wall 42 of the drain tray 40 is an attachment portion for the abutting buffer member 60.

  The ice discharging member 50 is a plate-like member made of stainless steel or synthetic resin, and is formed in a size that can cover the second ice making chamber 22 in whole or in part. Specifically, the ice discharge member 50 includes an ice discharge plate 51 that slides the spherical ice S that has fallen from the first ice making chamber 21 in the ice making unit 20 on the surface 51A, and the lower and front and rear portions of the ice discharge plate 51. And support pieces 52 and 52 formed with support holes 53 through which the support shafts 46 are inserted. Therefore, the ice discharge member 50 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 46 by the support pieces 52, 52, and is retracted from the second ice making chamber 22 of the ice making unit U (FIG. 1) and in the open / closed position. The posture can be changed between an inclined ice discharge posture (FIGS. 2 and 3) that falls into the second ice making chamber 22 on the tilted water tray 23 from the upper right and covers the second ice making chamber 22. . The ice discharge plate 51 does not need to be set to a size that covers all the second ice making chambers 22A formed in the second ice making chamber 22, and the spherical ice S falling from the first ice making chamber 21 causes the second ice making chamber to What is necessary is just to set it as the magnitude | size which prevents fitting to 22A.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice discharge member 50 is provided at a position adjacent to the support piece 52 on the back surface 51 </ b> B of the ice discharge plate 51 so as to extend from the ice discharge plate 51 at a substantially right angle. A contact piece 54 is erected. The contact piece 54 extends in an upwardly inclined shape toward the tip in the retracted posture of the ice discharge member 50, and the right end of the water dish 23 in the middle of the posture displacement from the closed position to the open position is upward. It is located so that it can contact | abut from. Accordingly, when the water dish 23 is displaced toward the open position while the right end of the water dish 23 is in contact with the contact piece 54 from above, the contact piece 54 is pushed downward, whereby the ice discharge member 50 is pressed. Is configured to follow and rotate from the retracted posture to the ice discharging posture around the support shaft 46. Then, when the water tray 23 arrives at the open position, the ice discharge member 50 is held in the ice discharge posture by the ice discharge plate 51 falling over the second ice making chamber 22 to cover the second ice making chamber 22 from above. The On the other hand, in the ice discharge posture shown in FIG. 2, when the water dish 23 is displaced from the open position to the closed position, the water dish 23 comes into contact with the back surface 51B of the ice discharge plate 51 from below, so that the ice discharge is performed. The member 50 rotates following the ice discharge posture from the ice discharge posture toward the retreat posture around the support shaft 46. Note that the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 in the ice discharge posture is inclined downward to the right, and the inclination angle is about 40 degrees.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the abutting buffer member 60 is a molded member made of stainless steel or synthetic resin having a L-shaped cross-sectional shape in the short direction, and at the right end of the drain tray 40 in the front-rear direction. It is being fixed to this drainage tray 40 so that it may extend. That is, the abutting buffer member 60 extends vertically and is attached to the right wall 42 of the water dish 23 and fixed to the right wall 42, and leftward from the upper end of the attachment portion 61 (direction close to the ice discharge member 50). ) And a contact buffering portion (buffering portion) 62 positioned on the inclined lower end side of the ice discharging member 50. The abutment buffer 62 abuts on the ice release member 50 in the retracted position during the ice making operation to restrict the rotation of the ice release member 50 and the surface 51A of the ice release member 50 during the deicing operation. The spherical ice S that has fallen down is received and the function of decelerating and decelerating the spherical ice S is provided.

  Specifically, the left end portion of the contact buffering portion 62 is located at a position close to the support shaft 46 on the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 with respect to the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position (the lower end side of the ice discharge member 50). ), An abutting portion 63 that abuts from the opposite direction to the second ice making chamber 22 (water tray 23). The contact buffering portion 62 and the ice discharge plate 51 are subjected to an external force from the left side with respect to the back surface 51B of the ice discharge plate 51, so that the ice discharge member 50 is in a direction opposite to the ice discharge posture from the retracted posture (see FIG. 1 (rightward in FIG. 1), the contact state between the contact buffering member 60 and the ice discharge member 50 is not released as is apparent from FIG. Rather, the contact strength increases. Therefore, even if a force that rotates in the opposite direction to the ice discharging posture acts on the ice discharging member 50 in the retracted posture, the contact state between the ice discharging member 50 and the contact buffering member 60 is not released. Therefore, the rotation of the ice discharge member 50 can be reliably regulated.

  Further, the upper surface of the contact buffering portion 62 is a buffering surface 64 that is horizontal in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and is formed flat overall. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the contact buffering portion 62 is against the surface 51 </ b> A of the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 that is inclined to the right at about 40 degrees in the ice discharge posture. As the distance from the ice discharge plate 51 increases, the surface 51A protrudes upward from the extending direction. Therefore, the ice discharge line L of the spherical ice S by the ice discharge mechanism G1 extends in a bent shape in which the boundary portion between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 60 is recessed as shown by a broken line in FIG. Yes.

  When the ice discharging member 50 is in the ice discharging posture, a gap C is defined between the ice discharging member 50 and the contact buffer member 60 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, when ice making water falls on the ice releasing plate 51 of the ice releasing member 50 during the deicing operation, the ice making water falls from the right end of the ice releasing member 50 into the drain tray 40 and goes out of the machine. Discharged.

  In the automatic ice making machine M of the first embodiment, during the ice making operation of the ice making unit U, the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 in the ice discharge mechanism G1 contacts the contact portion 63 of the contact buffer member 60. Thus, the ice discharge member 50 is held in the retracted posture.

  When spherical ice S is generated in each ice making space 20A of the ice making unit 20 and the ice making operation is completed, the ice making operation is shifted to the deicing operation as described above. First, room temperature deicing water is placed around the second ice making chamber 22. And the second ice making chamber 22 is warmed to release the freezing of the second ice making chamber 22A and the spherical ice S. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the water tray 23 is moved to the open position by driving the water tray opening / closing mechanism 25, and the second ice making chamber 22 is separated from the first ice making chamber 21 to open the ice making section 20. At this time, the ice discharging member 50 in the ice discharging mechanism G1 rotates around the support shaft 46 in conjunction with the posture displacement of the water dish 23, and when the water dish 23 reaches the open position, the ice discharging member 50 The ice discharge plate 51 is in an ice discharge posture in which the second ice making chamber 22 is covered from above.

  Then, the first ice making chamber 21 is heated to release the freezing of the first ice making chambers 21A and the spherical ice S, so that each generated spherical ice S is discharged from each first ice making chamber 21A to the ice discharge mechanism G1. Falls above the ice discharge plate 51. Each spherical ice S falling on the ice discharge member 50 slides along the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 and then hits the buffer surface 64 of the contact buffer member 60, whereby the discharge direction is changed in the horizontal direction. At the same time, it falls to the bottom of the ice storage chamber 11 while being decelerated and decelerated.

Therefore, according to the automatic ice maker of the first embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) During the ice making operation, the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position comes into contact with the contact portion 63 of the contact buffer member 60, so that the ice discharge member 50 is appropriately set in the retracted position. While being held, the posture displacement in the direction opposite to the ice discharge posture is preferably prevented. As a result, the ice discharge member 50 is appropriately held in the retracted posture, so that the ice discharge member 50 can be reliably displaced to the ice discharge posture during the deicing operation.
(2) During the deicing operation, the spherical ice S falling from the first ice making chamber 21 slides down on the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 in the ice discharge mechanism G1, and then the buffer surface of the contact buffer member 60 By hitting 64, it is discharged to the ice storage chamber 11 in a state of being decelerated and reduced, so that it is possible to prevent the spherical ice S discharged to the ice storage chamber 11 from being cracked or chipped, and the product value is not lowered.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 4 shows an ice making unit U in the automatic ice making machine M of the second embodiment, a drain tray 40 set below the ice making unit U, and an ice discharge mechanism G2 disposed in the drain tray 40. It is explanatory drawing shown in an ice driving | running state. The ice discharge mechanism G2 of the second embodiment includes an ice discharge member 50 that is rotatably disposed on the drain pan 40 and forms an ice discharge portion, and a fixed buffer disposed on the drain pan 40 and includes a contact buffer portion. The drain buffer 40 and the ice discharge member 50 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the drainage tray 40 and the ice discharge member 50 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the contact buffer member 70 in the ice discharge mechanism G <b> 2 of the second embodiment is a molded member made of stainless steel or synthetic resin having a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional shape in the short-side direction. And a mounting portion 71 that is attached to and fixed to the right wall 42 of the water tray 23, and protrudes upward from the upper end of the mounting portion 71 in the left direction (the direction close to the ice discharge member 50). An abutting buffer portion (buffer portion) 72 that is curved and extends in a downwardly inclined shape and is located on the inclined lower end side of the ice discharge member 50 is provided. The abutment buffer 72 functions to abut the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position during the ice making operation to restrict the rotation of the ice discharge member 50 and the surface 51A of the ice discharge member 50 during the deicing operation. And the function of decelerating the spherical ice S by receiving the spherical ice S sliding down.

  The left end of the abutting buffer 72 is located at a position close to the support shaft 46 on the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 with respect to the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position (the lower end side of the ice discharge member 50). 2 An abutting portion 73 that abuts from the opposite direction to the ice making chamber 22 (water tray 23). Therefore, even if a force that rotates in the opposite direction to the ice discharging posture acts on the ice discharging member 50 in the retracted posture, the contact state between the ice discharging member 50 and the contact buffering member 70 is not released. Therefore, the rotation restriction of the ice discharge member 50 can be reliably achieved.

  Further, the upper surface of the abutting buffering portion 72 is a buffering surface 74 having a shape that is downwardly curved leftward in the left-right direction and curved upward. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the abutting buffer 72 has an ice discharging posture with respect to the surface 51A of the ice discharging plate 51 of the ice discharging member 50 that is inclined to the right at about 40 degrees. As it moves away from the discharge plate 51, it has an upwardly inclined shape protruding upward from the extending direction of the surface 51A. Accordingly, the ice discharge line L of the spherical ice S by the ice discharge mechanism G2 has a V shape in which the boundary portion between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 70 is recessed as shown by a broken line in FIG. When the ice discharge member 50 is in the ice discharge posture, a gap C is defined between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 70.

  In the automatic ice making machine M of the second embodiment configured as described above, each spherical ice S falling on the ice discharge member 50 slides along the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51, and then the contact buffer member 70. , The discharge direction changes slightly upward, and falls to the bottom of the ice storage chamber 11 in a state where it is appropriately de-energized and decelerated.

  Therefore, in the automatic ice maker M of the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) of the automatic ice maker M of the first embodiment. Since the discharge direction of the spherical ice S by the buffer member 70 is changed upward, further improvement in the de-energization and deceleration effects can be expected.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows an ice making unit U in the automatic ice making machine M according to the third embodiment, a drain tray 40 set below the ice making unit U, and an ice discharge mechanism G3 disposed in the drain tray 40. It is explanatory drawing shown in an ice driving | running state. The ice discharge mechanism G3 of the third embodiment includes an ice discharge member 50 that is rotatably arranged on the drainage tray 40 and forms an ice discharge portion, and is also fixedly disposed on the drainage tray 40 and has a contact buffering portion. The drain buffer 40 and the ice discharge member 50 are the same as those in the first and second embodiments. Accordingly, the drainage tray 40 and the ice discharge member 50 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the contact cushioning member 80 in the ice discharge mechanism G3 of the third embodiment is a molded member made of a metal or a synthetic resin having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape in the short direction. There is a mounting portion 81 that extends vertically and is fixedly attached to the right wall 42 of the water tray 23, and extends substantially horizontally from the upper end of the mounting portion 81 to the left (the direction close to the ice discharge member 50). And an abutting buffer portion (buffer portion) 82 located on the inclined lower end side of the ice discharge member 50. The abutment buffer 82 abuts on the ice release member 50 in the retracted position during the ice making operation and regulates the rotation of the ice release member 50, and the surface 51A of the ice release member 50 during the deicing operation. And the function of decelerating the spherical ice S by receiving the spherical ice S sliding down. Further, as described above, since the contact buffering member 80 has elasticity, the left end side (side adjacent to the ice discharge member 50) of the contact buffering portion 82 is displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting portion 81. Elastic deformation is possible.

  The left end of the abutting buffer 82 is located at a position close to the support shaft 46 on the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 (the lower end side of the ice discharge member 50) with respect to the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted posture. The contact portion 83 is in contact with the plate 23 from the opposite direction. Therefore, even if a force that rotates in the opposite direction to the ice discharge posture acts on the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position, the contact buffer portion 82 is in a contact state between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 80. Is not released, and the rotation of the ice discharge member 50 can be reliably restricted.

  Further, the upper surface of the contact buffering portion 82 is a buffering surface 84 that is horizontal and flat in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact buffering portion 82 has an ice discharging posture with respect to the surface 51 </ b> A of the ice discharging plate 51 of the ice discharging member 50 that is inclined to the right at about 40 degrees. As it separates from the discharge plate 51, it protrudes upward from the extending direction of the surface 51A. Accordingly, the ice discharge line L of the spherical ice S by the ice discharge mechanism G3 extends in a bent shape in which the boundary portion between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 80 is recessed as shown by a broken line in FIG. Yes. When the ice discharge member 50 is in the ice discharge posture, a gap C is defined between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 80.

  In the automatic ice making machine M according to the third embodiment configured as described above, each spherical ice S falling on the ice discharge member 50 slides down along the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51, and then the contact buffer member 80. , The discharge direction changes horizontally and falls to the bottom of the ice storage chamber 11 in a state where it is appropriately de-energized and decelerated. In addition, when the spherical ice S hits the contact buffering portion 82, the corresponding contact buffering portion 82 is elastically deformed, so that the momentum of the spherical ice S is reliably and efficiently reduced.

  Therefore, in the automatic ice making machine M of the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) achieved by the automatic ice making machine M of the first embodiment. Due to the elastic deformation of the buffer member 80, it can be expected that the spherical ice S is reduced and further decelerated.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows an ice making unit U in the automatic ice making machine M according to the fourth embodiment, a drain tray 40 set below the ice making unit U, and an ice discharge mechanism G4 disposed in the drain tray 40. It is explanatory drawing shown in an ice driving | running state. The ice discharge mechanism G4 of the fourth embodiment includes an ice discharge member 50 that is rotatably disposed on the drain tray 40 and forms an ice discharge portion, and is also fixedly disposed on the drain tray 40 and includes a contact buffer portion. The ice releasing member 50 is the same as in the first to third embodiments. Therefore, the ice discharge member 50 is denoted by the same reference numeral, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the drainage tray 40 is a rectangular tray member, and the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 90 constituting the ice discharge mechanism G4 are disposed on the right side portion from the left and right center. It has become. That is, at a position spaced a required distance in the left direction from the right wall 42 of the drainage tray 40, the support shafts 46 whose front and rear ends are respectively fixed to the front wall 43 and the rear wall 44 of the drainage tray 40 are horizontally oriented in the front-rear direction. The support shaft 46 serves as a support portion for the ice discharge member 50. The right wall 42 of the drainage tray 40 is an attachment portion for the contact buffer member 90. In addition, a discharge port 47 opened in a shape and size that allows passage of the spherical ice S is opened on the right end front side of the bottom wall 41. Further, a partition wall 48 extending upward is formed at the left end of the discharge port 47, and the ice making water discharged from the ice making water tank 24 into the drainage tray 40 is prevented from flowing into the discharge port 47. In addition, the spherical ice S is configured to be prevented from moving onto the bottom wall 41 of the drain tray 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the contact buffer member 90 in the ice discharge mechanism G4 of the fourth embodiment is a molded member made of stainless steel or synthetic resin, and extends vertically to the right of the water dish 23. A mounting portion 91 that is attached and fixed to the wall 42, and extends horizontally from the upper end of the mounting portion 91 in the left direction (the direction close to the ice discharge member 50), and is positioned on the inclined lower end side of the ice discharge member 50. An abutting buffer portion (buffer portion) 92 is provided. An opening 95 having a shape and size that allows passage of the spherical ice S is formed from the front-rear center to the front side of the abutting buffer 92, and a portion of the mounting portion 91 that faces the opening 95 as will be described later. Functions as a buffering portion to which the spherical ice S hits. The opening 95 has substantially the same shape and size as the discharge port 47 provided in the drain pan 40, and the opening 95 and the discharge port 47 are aligned in the vertical direction. A longitudinal wall 96 is formed at the center in the front-rear direction of the abutting buffer 92 (the end facing the opening 95) so as to extend vertically and the lower end edge abuts against the bottom wall 41 of the drainage tray 40. The vertical wall 96 prevents the ice making water discharged from the ice making water tank 24 into the drain tray 40 from flowing into the discharge port 47 and the spherical ice S arriving at the opening 95 enters the drain tray 40. To prevent.

  The left end of the abutting buffer 92 is located at a position close to the support shaft 46 on the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 with respect to the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted position (the lower end side of the ice discharge member 50). The contact portion 93 is in contact with the plate 23 from the opposite direction. Therefore, even if a force that rotates in the opposite direction to the ice discharge posture acts on the ice discharge member 50 in the retracted posture, the contact buffer portion 92 is in a contact state between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 90. Is not released, and the rotation of the ice discharge member 50 can be reliably restricted.

  The upper surface of the contact buffering portion 92 is formed as a first buffering surface 94A that is formed horizontally and flatly in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and functions as a buffering portion. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the contact buffer 92 is formed on the surface 51 </ b> A of the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 that is inclined to the right at about 40 degrees in the ice discharge posture. As it separates from the discharge plate 51, it protrudes upward from the extending direction of the surface 51A. Accordingly, the spherical ice S hitting the abutting buffer 92 is depressurized and decelerated, the discharge direction is changed to the horizontal direction (first direction) by the first buffer surface 94A, and the bottom of the drainage tray 40 is lowered. Fall to a position outside Thereby, the ice discharge line L of the spherical ice S by the first buffer surface 94A is formed between the ice discharge member 50 and the contact buffer member 90 at the position where the contact buffer portion 92 is formed, as shown by a broken line in FIG. The boundary portion extends in a concave shape. When the ice discharging member 50 is in the ice discharging posture, a gap C is defined between the ice discharging member 50 and the contact buffer member 90.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the portion corresponding to the opening 95 in the attachment portion 91 is adapted to be hit by the spherical ice S that slides down on the ice discharge member 50 and falls into the opening 95. The second buffer surface 94B functions as the buffer portion. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the mounting portion 91 has an ice discharge plate that is inclined with respect to the surface 51 </ b> A of the ice discharge plate 51 of the ice discharge member 50 that is inclined to the right at about 40 degrees in the ice discharge posture. As the distance from the surface 51 increases, the surface 51A projects downward from the extending direction. Therefore, the spherical ice S falling from the opening 95 and hitting the mounting portion 91 is deenergized and decelerated, and the second buffer surface 94B changes the discharge direction to the vertical direction (second direction), and the release. It falls below the drainage tray 40 through the outlet 47. Thereby, the ice discharge line L of the spherical ice S by the 2nd buffer surface 94B becomes horizontal V shape in the formation position of 91 A of contact buffer parts, as shown with a broken line in FIG. When the ice discharging member 50 is in the ice discharging posture, a gap C is defined between the ice discharging member 50 and the contact buffer member 90.

  In the automatic ice maker M of the fourth embodiment configured as described above, each spherical ice S falling on the ice discharge member 50 slides down along the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51, and then the spherical ice S A part hits the first buffer surface 94A. The spherical ice S that hits the first buffer surface 94A falls to a position outside the drain tray 40 in the ice storage chamber 11 in a state where the discharge direction is changed in the horizontal direction and is depressurized and decelerated. On the other hand, the rest of the spherical ice S that has fallen onto the ice discharge member 50 and slid along the surface 51A of the ice discharge plate 51 falls into the opening 95 and then hits the second buffer surface 94B. The spherical ice S that has hit the second buffer surface 94B falls from the discharge port 47 directly below the drainage tray 40 in a state in which the discharge direction is changed vertically downward or diagonally to the left and is decelerated and decelerated.

  Therefore, in the automatic ice maker M of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the effects (1) and (2) achieved by the automatic ice maker M of the first embodiment. Since the spherical ice S is also discharged directly under the drainage tray 40 through the discharge port 47, the spherical ice S can be discharged on the whole in the ice storage chamber 11 on average.

(Example of change)
The automatic ice making machine M according to the embodiment can be changed to a form other than the embodiment.
(1) In each of the examples, the automatic ice maker M that generates the spherical ice S as the ice block is illustrated, but the present application is not limited to the automatic ice maker that generates the spherical ice S, and generates square ice and irregular-shaped ice. Automatic ice maker is also targeted.
(2) In each embodiment, the ice discharge member 50 is attached to the drainage tray 40. However, the ice discharge member 50 may be attached to the inner wall of the ice storage chamber 11 via a support member. Good.
(3) In each embodiment, the contact buffer members 60, 70, 80, 90 are attached to the drainage tray 40, but the corresponding buffer members 60, 70, 80, 90 are the inner walls of the ice storage chamber 11. You may make it attach and fix to etc.
(4) In the third embodiment, with respect to the abutting buffer member 80, the mounting portion 81 and the abutting buffer portion 82 are individually formed to form the mounting portion 81 from a rigid member that is difficult to deform, such as stainless steel. The contact buffering portion 82 may be formed of a resilient member such as rubber or synthetic resin.
(5) In the fourth embodiment, with respect to the contact buffering member 90, the opening 95 is provided in the front half and the contact buffering portion 92 is provided in the rear half, but the opening 95 is provided in the rear half. And the abutting buffer 92 may be provided in the front half. When a plurality of openings 95 can be formed, the openings 95 and the contact buffering portions 92 may be alternately provided in the front-rear direction.
(6) In the fourth embodiment, the first buffer surface 94A provided on the contact buffer portion 92 is horizontal and the second buffer surface 94B provided on the mounting portion 91 is vertical, but the first buffer surface 94A is The second buffer surface 94B is not limited to be vertical, and is not limited to be vertical. Further, the angle difference between the first buffer surface 94A and the second buffer surface 94B is not limited to 90 degrees.

21 first ice making chamber, 21A first ice making chamber, 22 second ice making chamber, 22A second ice making chamber 40 drain tray, 47 discharge port, 50 ice discharge member, 60, 70, 80, 90 abutting buffer member 63, 73 , 83,93 Contact part, 62,72,82,92 Contact buffer part (buffer part)
94A 1st buffer surface, 94B 2nd buffer surface, 95 opening, S spherical ice (ice block)

Claims (5)

A first ice making chamber (21) having a first ice making chamber (21A) that opens downward, and a second ice making chamber (22A) that opens upward, the posture is displaced below the first ice making chamber (21). During ice making operation, the first ice making chamber (21) is in contact with the first ice making chamber (21) from below, and the first ice making chamber (21A) corresponds to the second ice making chamber (22A). During the ice operation, the second ice making chamber (22) which is spaced downward from the first ice making chamber (21) and displaces to the inclined open position where the first ice making chamber (21A) is opened, and the lower end portion as a fulcrum. An ice discharge member (50) that is displaced in a retracted posture retracted from the second ice making chamber (22) in the closed position and an ice discharging posture that covers the second ice making chamber (22) in the open position in an inclined manner from above; And an ice block (S) is generated in the first ice making chamber (21A) and the second ice making chamber (22A) by the ice making operation, and dropped from the first ice making chamber (21A) by the deicing operation. In the automatic ice making machine the ice blocks (S) is released by sliding down the ice discharge member (50) on the ice discharge orientation that,
Abutting portions (63, 73) that abut on the opposite side of the ice discharge member (50) in the retracted position to the opposite side of the second ice making chamber (22) on the lower end side and hold the ice discharge member (50) in the retracted position , 83, 93) and the ice lump (S) sliding down on the ice discharge member (50) located on the inclined lower end side of the ice discharge member (50) in the ice discharge posture, An automatic ice making machine comprising an abutting buffer member (60, 70, 80, 90) having a buffer portion (62, 72, 82, 92) for reducing the momentum of (S).   The buffer portion (62) is formed to be flat and horizontal so as to horizontally change the discharge direction of the ice block (S) sliding down on the ice discharge member (50) in an ice discharge posture. Automatic ice machine as described.   The buffer portion (72) is formed so as to incline upward toward a side away from the ice discharge member (50), and the ice block (sliding downward on the ice discharge member (50) in an ice discharge posture) ( The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the discharge direction of S) is changed upward.   The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the buffer portion (82) is formed to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction.   The buffer portion (92) includes a first buffer surface (94A) that changes a discharge direction of the ice block (S) sliding down on the ice discharge member (50) in an ice discharge posture to a first direction, and the first buffer surface (94A). The discharge direction of the ice block (S) formed on the direction of crossing the one buffer surface (94A) and sliding down on the ice discharge member (50) in the ice discharge posture is changed to a second direction different from the first direction. The automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, further comprising a second buffer surface (94B) facing.

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