JP2011202937A - Ice-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice-making machine avoiding unnecessary stop of ice piece production while suppressing increase in component cost.SOLUTION: In the ice-making machine, first and second guard wall portions 54, 55 are provided inside a bracket body 5c. The guard wall portions are disposed to face one another across an ice shard transit passage 60 within the bracket body 5c, and extended in the downward direction from the upper part of the bracket body 5c to extend the inner wall surface 5d of a chute portion 5b. A light-emitting unit 6a and a light-receiving unit 6b that constitute an optical ice storage sensor 6 face the ice piece transit passage 60 via first and second openings 56, 57 formed in the first and second guard wall portions 54, 55.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine such as an auger type ice making machine.

  As this type of ice making machine that has been conventionally used, for example, an ice making machine shown in Patent Document 1 is used. That is, in the conventional ice making machine, the ice pieces produced in the ice making unit are guided by the ice piece guiding member to the ice storage located below the ice making unit. Inside the lower part of the ice piece guide member, an optical ice storage sensor including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion arranged so as to face each other is provided, and the ice piece is stored up to the full ice amount by this optical ice storage sensor. It has been detected. When it is detected that the ice pieces are stored up to the full ice amount, the production of the ice pieces in the ice making unit is stopped.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-7869

In the conventional ice making machine as described above, since the optical ice storage sensor is provided inside the lower part of the ice piece guide member, ice pieces and condensed water may come into contact with the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the optical ice storage sensor. is there. When ice pieces or condensed water come into contact with the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, erroneous detection of full ice occurs, and production of ice pieces is unnecessarily stopped.
Further, in order to avoid contact of ice pieces or the like with the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the so-called reflection type optical ice storage sensor, that is, the light emitting part and the light receiving part are arranged on the ice piece guide member and stored. It is possible to adopt a configuration that detects the amount of ice by irradiating the ice piece with light from the light emitting unit and receiving the light reflected by the ice piece with the light receiving unit, but a general transmission type optical ice storage Compared to the sensor, the component cost increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making machine capable of avoiding unnecessary stop of ice piece production while suppressing an increase in parts cost. is there.

  An ice making machine according to the present invention includes an ice making unit that manufactures ice pieces, an ice storage disposed below the ice making unit, an upper connection unit connected to the ice making unit, a chute unit connected to the upper connection unit, and It includes a lower connection part connected to the lower part of the chute part and the upper part of the ice storage, and is mounted on the side of the lower connection part so as to face each other, with an ice piece guide member for guiding ice pieces from the ice making part to the ice storage. And an optical ice storage sensor for detecting that the ice pieces have been stored up to the full ice amount, and the inside of the lower connection portion has an ice piece passage in the lower connection portion. And a first guard wall portion extending downward from the upper portion of the lower connecting portion, and the light emitting portion is a first guard. Facing the ice piece passage through the first opening formed in the wall, 2 ice pieces passage and the surface through a second opening formed in the guard wall.

Moreover, the door part for taking out the ice piece in an ice storage to the exterior is attached to the side part of an ice storage, The 1st guard wall part and 2nd guard wall which are arrange | positioned at the side part side of an ice storage Either one of the parts is formed such that the lower end of the inclined surface formed from the lower end of one side toward the side part by the ice pieces stored up to the full ice amount is positioned below the lower end of the door part. .
In addition, a door portion for taking out ice pieces in the ice storage to the outside is attached to the side surface portion of the ice storage, and the light receiving portion is disposed on the side surface side of the ice storage.
Moreover, it is further provided with the dew receiving tray which is provided in the upper part of a lower connection part and receives the dew which falls along the outer peripheral surface of a chute | shoot part.
Also, a machine room bottom plate that is disposed above the ice storage and supports the ice making unit, an insertion hole that is provided in the machine room bottom plate and through which the lower connection portion is inserted, and a lower connection portion that is provided above the ice storage. Is further provided with a cylindrical connection guide part to be inserted, and a protrusion part that is located above the machine room bottom plate and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lower connection part that extends parallel to the machine room bottom plate. The edge of the hole is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower connection portion, and is provided at a position farther from the outer peripheral surface of the lower connection portion than the outer peripheral surface of the connection guide portion. The protrusion is brought into non-contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate by contacting the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate.

The first and second openings are slits whose lower ends are opened.
The first and second openings are round holes or elongated holes having closed outer edges.
Moreover, the outer edge lower part of the 1st and 2nd opening part is comprised by the inclined surface.
Further, it is disposed in the gap between the first guard wall portion and the light emitting portion and between the second guard wall portion and the light receiving portion, and is disposed below the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. Further provided is a scattering prevention plate for preventing scattered objects from adhering to the light emitting part and the light receiving part.
In addition, a gap is formed between the inner edge of the anti-scattering plate on the ice piece passage and the first and second guard walls.
Further, the scattering prevention plate is provided to be inclined so as to be lowered as it approaches the ice piece passage.
The scattering prevention plate is provided so that the inner edge portion on the ice piece passage way side is located above the lower ends of the first and second guard wall portions.
Further, the scattering prevention plate is detachably provided to the lower connection portion.
Moreover, the 1st and 2nd guard wall part is extended toward the downward direction from the upper part of the lower connection part so that the inner wall surface of a chute | shoot part may be extended.
Moreover, the 1st and 2nd guard wall part is arrange | positioned outward rather than the extension surface of the inner wall face of a chute | shoot part.
Moreover, the water supply guide wall part extended toward the downward direction from the upper part of the lower connection part so that the inner wall surface of a chute | shoot part may be extended is further provided.
In addition, a lower portion of the hanging water guide wall is provided with a central portion located above the first and second openings, and an inclined portion extending from the central portion so as to lower as it approaches the outer peripheral wall of the lower connecting portion. ing.
Moreover, while being arrange | positioned upwards rather than a 1st and 2nd opening part, the water which protrudes toward an ice piece passage from the 1st and 2nd guard wall part, and droops down along the inner wall face of a chute | shoot part. It further includes a drooping water receiving portion for receiving water so as to avoid reaching the first and second openings.

  According to the ice making machine of the present invention, the first and second first and second members are arranged so as to face each other with the ice piece passage in the lower connection portion interposed therebetween, and extend downward from the upper portion of the lower connection portion. 2 guard walls are provided inside the lower connection part, the light emitting part faces the ice piece passage through the first opening formed in the first guard wall part, and the light receiving part is the second guard wall Since it faces the ice piece passage through the second opening formed in the part, water drops that have fallen along the inner wall of the chute part can be dropped down along the first and second guard wall parts. . Accordingly, it is possible to avoid detection of full ice without using a reflection type optical ice storage sensor, and it is possible to avoid an unnecessary stop of ice piece production while suppressing an increase in parts cost.

It is sectional drawing in alignment with the width direction of the ice making machine by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the bracket body of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing of the lower part of the ice making machine along the depth direction of FIG. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the area | region A of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the bracket body of the ice making machine by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the line VIII-VIII of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the bracket body of the ice making machine by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the bracket body of the ice making machine by Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the bracket body of the state from which the scattering prevention unit of FIG. 10 was removed. It is sectional drawing which shows the bracket body of the ice making machine by Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the bracket body of the ice making machine 1 by Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the line XIV-XIV of FIG. It is a perspective sectional view showing a bracket body of an ice making machine according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the width direction 1a of the ice making machine 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a machine room 2 is provided in the upper part of the ice making machine 1. The machine room 2 is a space for storing equipment such as the ice making unit 3 that manufactures ice pieces. A machine room bottom plate 2a is provided at the bottom of the machine room 2, and the ice making unit 3 is placed on the machine room bottom plate 2a. That is, the ice making unit 3 is supported by the machine room bottom plate 2a. In FIG. 1, the ice making unit 3 is shown as a well-known auger type ice making unit, but other types of ice making units may be employed.

  An ice storage 4 for storing ice pieces produced by the ice making unit 3 is provided below the ice making machine 1, that is, below the ice making unit 3 and the machine room bottom plate 2a. The ice storage 4 and the ice making unit 3 are connected by an ice piece guide member 5. The ice pieces produced by the ice making unit 3 are guided to the ice storage 4 by the ice piece guide member 5.

  The ice piece guide member 5 includes a snout 5a (upper connection portion), a chute portion 5b, and a bracket body 5c (lower connection portion). The snout 5 a is a cylindrical member connected to the upper part of the ice making unit 3, and extends along the width direction 1 a of the ice making machine 1. The chute part 5b is a cylindrical member connected to the snout 5a, and extends along the height direction 1b of the ice making machine 1 from the upper part to the lower part of the machine room 2. The bracket body 5 c is a cylindrical member connected to the lower part of the chute part 5 b and the upper part of the ice storage 4, and extends along the height direction 1 b of the ice making machine 1 from the lower part of the machine room 2 to the upper part of the ice storage 4. Has been extended. As will be described in detail later, the bracket body 5c supports an optical ice storage sensor 6 for detecting that the ice pieces have been stored up to the full ice amount.

  Next, the bracket body 5c will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the bracket body 5c of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2, and is a cross section of the bracket body 5 c along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2, and is a cross-section of the bracket body 5 c along the width direction 1 a of the ice making machine 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the connection part 50 and the dew tray 51 are provided in the upper part of the bracket body 5c. The connection part 50 is comprised from the inner wall body 50a and the outer wall body 50b which were formed mutually spaced apart by the plate | board thickness of the chute | shoot part 5b lower part. By inserting the lower part of the chute part 5b between the inner wall body 50a and the outer wall body 50b, the lower part of the chute part 5b is connected to the bracket body 5c. The inner wall body 50a is formed in a tapered shape upward (see FIGS. 3 and 4). This is for smooth guidance of ice pieces falling from above through the chute portion 5b.

  The dew receiving tray 51 is configured to receive dew that falls along the outer peripheral surface of the chute portion 5b. The dew receiving tray 51 includes an outer wall body 50b of the connecting portion 50, an upper surface 51a of the bracket body 5c, and an edge portion 51b that stands from the outer edge of the upper surface 51a. As shown in FIG. 2, the dew tray 51 is formed so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the connection portion 50. The dew received by the dew receiving tray 51 is that the air inside the chute part 5b becomes cooler than the air outside the chute part 5b due to the influence of ice pieces passing through the chute part 5b and ice pieces stored in the ice storage 4. Condensed water generated on the outer peripheral surface of the chute portion 5b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first and second sensor storage portions 52 and 53 are formed on the side portion of the bracket body 5 c along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1. The first sensor storage unit 52 stores a light emitting unit 6 a that constitutes the optical ice storage sensor 6, and the second sensor storage unit 53 stores a light receiving unit 6 b that constitutes the optical ice storage sensor 6. . The light emitting section 6a of this embodiment is a light emitting element that emits infrared light. The light receiving unit 6b is a light receiving element that is disposed to face the light emitting unit 6a and receives infrared light from the light emitting unit 6a. When the ice pieces are accumulated up to the arrangement positions of the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b, the ice pieces are prevented from receiving infrared light by the light receiving unit 6b. That is, the optical ice storage sensor 6 detects that the ice pieces have been stored up to the full ice amount when the light receiving unit 6b cannot receive the infrared light from the light emitting unit 6a.

  Here, for example, when ice pieces adhering to the inner wall of the chute portion 5b melt, water drops may fall down to the bracket body 5c along the inner wall of the chute portion 5b. If this water droplet adheres to the light emitting part 6a or the light receiving part 6b, a false detection of full ice will occur. In the configuration of this embodiment, the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55 are provided inside the bracket body 5c in order to avoid such erroneous detection.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second guard walls 54 and 55 are walls extending downward from the upper part of the bracket body 5c so as to extend the inner wall surface 5d of the chute part 5b. The first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55 are spaced apart from each other along the depth direction 1c of the ice making machine 1 and face each other with the ice piece passageway 60 in the bracket body 5c interposed therebetween. Are arranged. The 1st sensor storage part 52 in which the light emission part 6a was stored is arrange | positioned outside the 1st guard wall part 54 along the depth direction 1c of the ice making machine 1, and the 2nd sensor storage in which the light reception part 6b was stored. The portion 53 is disposed outside the second guard wall portion 55 along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1. By being configured in this way, the water droplets that have fallen along the inner wall of the chute portion 5b are not transmitted to the first and second sensor storage portions 52, 53, but the first and second guard wall portions 54, 55. It is dropped down along. Thereby, possibility that a water droplet will adhere to the light emission part 6a or the light-receiving part 6b is reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a first opening 56 is formed in the first guard wall 54. Similarly, a second opening 57 is formed in the second guard wall 55 (see FIG. 3). The light emitting portion 6 a faces the ice piece passage 60 through the first opening 56, and the light receiving portion 6 b faces the ice piece passage 60 through the second opening 57. That is, infrared light is transmitted and received between the light emitting unit 6 a and the light receiving unit 6 b through the openings 56 and 57 provided in the guard walls 54 and 55.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end 56 a of the first opening 56 is formed in an arc shape. Although not particularly shown in the drawing, the upper end 57a of the second opening 57 is similarly formed in an arc shape. When the openings 56 and 57 are included in the path of the water droplets that fall along the inner wall of the chute portion 5b, the water droplets are collected into large particles at the upper ends 56a and 57a of the openings 56 and 57 and are moved downward by their own weight. It falls quickly. By being configured in this way, the possibility of water droplets remaining on the upper ends 56a and 57a of the openings 56 and 57 is reduced, and the water droplets remaining on the upper ends 56a and 57a are caused between the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b. The possibility of obstructing the transmission and reception of infrared light is reduced.

  The openings 56 and 57 are slits (notches) extending along the height direction 1b of the ice making machine 1 and having the lower ends 56b and 57b opened. By being configured in this way, it is possible to smoothly drop the water drops traveling through the openings 56 and 57 downward, and to reduce the possibility that the water drops stay in the openings 56 and 57.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second guard wall portions 54, 55 are disposed inside the dew tray 51 along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1, and the first and second sensor storage portions 52. , 53 are arranged outside the dew tray 51 along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1. In other words, the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55 are disposed closer to the ice piece passage 60 than the dew tray 51, and the first and second sensor storage units 52 and 53 are more ice than the dew tray 51. It is arranged at a position away from the one-pass path 60. In other words, the gap between the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55 and the first and second sensor storage portions 52 and 53 (the light emitting portion 6a and the light receiving portion 6b) is located below the dew receiving tray 51. 61 is formed. By being configured in this way, the possibility that water drops are transmitted to the first and second sensor storage parts 52 and 53 through the openings 56 and 57 is reduced, and water drops are generated on the light emitting part 6a and the light receiving part 6b. The possibility of adhesion is further reduced.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the ice making machine 1 along the depth direction 1c of FIG. In the figure, a door 4b for taking out ice pieces in the ice storage 4 to the outside is attached to the side surface 4a on the front side of the ice storage 4. The light receiving unit 6 b is disposed on the side surface 4 a side (front side) of the ice storage 4, and the light emitting unit 6 a is disposed on the rear end 4 c side of the ice storage 4. In other words, the light receiving part 6b is arranged with its back facing the opening opened and closed by the door part 4b, and the light emitting part 6a is arranged so that the front faces the opening opened and closed by the door part 4b. With this configuration, the possibility that ambient light entering from the outside when the door portion 4b is opened is reduced by the light receiving portion 6b, and the optical ice storage sensor 6 malfunctions. The possibility of being low.

  The 2nd guard wall part 55 is arrange | positioned by the side part 4a side (front side) of the ice storage 4 with the light-receiving part 6b. The ice pieces stored up to the full ice amount form a mountain shape as a whole (see FIG. 5), and form an inclined surface 65 from the lower end 55a of the second guard wall portion 55 toward the side surface portion 4a. If the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 is located above the lower end of the door part 4b, ice pieces will spill outside when the door part 4b is opened. In this embodiment, the second guard wall portion 55 is formed so that the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 is located below the lower end of the door portion 4b in order to avoid spilling ice pieces to the outside. .

  Specifically, the angle of the inclined surface 65 formed by the ice pieces stored up to the full ice amount is due to the shape of the ice pieces and is predictable. If the lower end 55a of the 2nd guard wall part 55 is located below, the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 will also be located below. Similarly, if the second guard wall portion 55 is further away from the side surface portion 4a side of the ice storage 4, the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 is positioned further downward. That is, in this embodiment, the position of the lower end 55a of the second guard wall 55 and the distance of the second guard wall 55 from the side surface 4a side of the ice storage 4 are such that the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 is the door portion. It is determined to be positioned below the lower end of 4b.

  Next, FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a region A in FIG. In the figure, the bracket body 5c is inserted through an insertion hole 66 provided in the machine room bottom plate 2a. Further, the lower part of the bracket body 5 c is inserted into a connection guide part 67 provided at the upper part of the ice storage 4. The connection guide portion 67 is a cylindrical member that extends along the height direction 1 b and is formed integrally with a flange portion 68 that extends along the upper surface of the ice storage 4.

  The edge 66a of the insertion hole 66 is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bracket body 5c, and is provided at a position farther from the outer peripheral surface of the bracket body 5c than the outer peripheral surface 67a of the connection guide portion 67. That is, the inner diameter of the insertion hole 66 is larger than the outer diameter of the bracket body 5 c at the portion inserted into the insertion hole 66 and the outer diameter of the connection guide portion 67. With this configuration, moisture and machine oil that are generated in the machine chamber 2 and fall on the machine chamber bottom plate 2 a travel along the outer peripheral surface of the bracket body 5 c and the inner peripheral surface of the connection guide portion 67. The possibility of entering the ice storage 4 is reduced.

  In FIG. 6, the lower surface 51c of the dew receiving tray 51 is a lower surface of the bracket body 5c which is located above the machine room bottom plate 2a and extends in parallel with the machine room bottom plate 2a. From the lower surface 51 c of the dew receiving tray 51, a protruding portion 69 protrudes downward. By the protrusion 69 being in contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate 2a, the lower surface 51c of the dew receiving tray 51 is not in contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate 2a. As shown in FIG. 3, in the cross section of the bracket body 5c along the depth direction 1c, the lower surfaces of the sensor storage portions 52 and 53 are located above the machine room bottom plate 2a and parallel to the machine room bottom plate 2a. It is the lower surface of the extended bracket body 5c. The protruding portion 69 is also provided on the lower surface of each sensor storage portion 52, 53. By being configured in this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility that moisture or machine oil that has fallen on the machine room bottom plate 2a is transmitted to the insertion hole 66, and the possibility that these moisture and machine oil enter the ice storage 4 Is further reduced.

  In the ice making machine 1 as described above, the first and second members are arranged so as to face each other with the ice piece passage 60 in the bracket body 5c interposed therebetween, and extend downward from the upper part of the bracket body 5c. The second guard walls 54 and 55 are provided inside the bracket body 5c, and the light emitting portion 6a faces the ice piece passage 60 through the first opening 56 formed in the first guard wall 54, Since the light receiving part 6b faces the ice piece passage 60 through the second opening 57 formed in the second guard wall part 55, the first and second water drops that have fallen along the inner wall of the chute part 5b are caused. The guard walls 54 and 55 can be moved down and dropped. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid detection of full ice without using a reflection type optical ice storage sensor, and it is possible to avoid an unnecessary stop of ice piece production while suppressing an increase in parts cost.

  Further, the second guard wall portion 55 disposed on the side surface portion 4a side of the ice storage 4 is formed from the lower end 55a of the second guard wall portion 55 toward the side surface portion 4a by the ice pieces stored up to the full ice amount. Since the lower end 65a of the inclined surface 65 is formed to be positioned below the lower end of the door portion 4b, the second guard wall portion 55 can prevent ice pieces from spilling to the outside. Conventionally, a configuration has been adopted in which a baffle body is attached to the door portion 4b as a separate member in order to prevent the ice pieces from spilling to the outside. However, by configuring as in this embodiment, the function of the baffle body has been adopted. The second guard wall portion 55 can also serve as a part, and the component cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since the light receiving part 6b is arranged on the side surface part 4a side of the ice storage 4 provided with the door part 4b, disturbance light entering from the outside when the door part 4b is opened is received by the light receiving part 6b. Can reduce the possibility that the optical ice storage sensor 6 malfunctions.

  Furthermore, since the dew receiving tray 51 for receiving the dew falling along the outer peripheral surface of the chute part 5b is provided at the upper part of the bracket body 5c, the dew falling along the outer peripheral surface of the chute part 5b is provided. It is possible to avoid falling to the machine room bottom plate 2a, and to more reliably avoid this dew from moving to the ice storage 4.

  The edge portion 66a of the insertion hole 66 is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bracket body 5c, and is provided at a position farther from the outer peripheral surface of the bracket body 5c than the outer peripheral surface 67a of the connection guide portion 67. The lower surface 51c of the bracket body 5c is not in contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate 2a because the protrusion 69 is in contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate 2a. The possibility that the machine oil is transmitted to the insertion hole 66 can be reduced, and the possibility that these moisture and machine oil enter the ice storage 4 can be more reliably reduced.

  Furthermore, since the first and second openings 56 and 57 are slits with the lower ends 56b and 57b open, water droplets transmitted through the first and second openings 56 and 57 can be smoothly dropped. The possibility that water droplets stay in the first and second openings 56 and 57 can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the first and second guard walls 54 and 55 are extended downward from the upper portion of the bracket body 5c so as to extend the inner wall surface 5d of the chute portion 5b. Water droplets that have fallen along the inner wall of the chute portion 5b can be more reliably dropped downward without being transmitted to the sensor storage portions 52 and 53.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of an ice making machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the structure which is the same as that of the structure of Embodiment 1, or similar. In the first embodiment, it has been described that the first and second openings 56 and 57 are configured by the slits whose lower ends 56b and 57b are opened. However, the first and second openings in the second embodiment are described. 200 and 210 are constituted by elongated holes having closed outer edges 200a and 210a. In addition, the 1st and 2nd opening parts 200 and 210 may be comprised by the round hole. The lower portions of the outer edges of the first and second openings 200 and 210 are constituted by inclined surfaces 200b and 210b. The inclined surfaces 200b and 210b are inclined so as to fall as they approach the ice piece passageway 60.

  The ice pieces produced by the ice making unit 3 are dropped to the ice storage 4 through the inside of the ice piece guide members 5 (the snout 5a, the chute 5b, and the bracket body 5c) (see FIG. 1). Moisture adheres to the ice pieces falling through the ice piece guide member 5. Therefore, when the ice pieces falling through the ice piece guide member 5 collide with the ice pieces stored in the ice storage 4, the water attached to the ice pieces may be scattered. The scattered water may travel from below to the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b of the optical ice storage sensor 6. That is, when the first and second openings 56 and 57 are configured by slits with the lower ends opened as in the first embodiment, there is a possibility that scattered water from below adheres to the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b. Becomes higher.

  Therefore, when the amount of water adhering to the ice pieces is large and it is necessary to take measures against the scattered water adhering to the light emitting part 6a and the light receiving part 6b, as in the second embodiment, By configuring the second openings 200 and 210 with long holes or round holes, it is possible to reduce the possibility that scattered water from below adheres to the light emitting part 6a and the light receiving part 6b.

  On the other hand, when the first and second openings 200 and 210 are configured by long holes or round holes, water dripping from above or splashed water from below may accumulate in the first and second openings 200 and 210. Conceivable. Therefore, the lower part of the outer edge of the first and second openings 200 and 210 is inclined surfaces 200b and 210b so that the water attached to the first and second openings 200 and 210 can be smoothly dropped. ing. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, since the first and second openings 200, 210 are configured by round holes or long holes having closed outer edges 200a, 210a, scattered water from below is generated by the light emitting part 6a. In addition, the possibility of adhering to the light receiving unit 6b can be reduced, and the possibility of malfunction of the optical ice storage sensor 6 can be reduced. This configuration is particularly effective when the amount of water adhering to the ice pieces is large.

  In addition, since the lower portions of the outer edges of the first and second openings 200 and 210 are formed by the inclined surfaces 200b and 210b, the possibility that water accumulates in the first and second openings 200 and 210 can be reduced. The possibility that the ice storage sensor 6 malfunctions can be further reduced.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of an ice making machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the structure which is the same as that of the structure of Embodiment 1,2. The configuration of the third embodiment is a configuration in which a scattering prevention plate 300 is added to the configuration of the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the anti-scattering plate 300 is a plate-like member protruding from the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 58 of the bracket body 5 c toward the inside (ice piece passage path side), and the first guard wall portion 54 and It arrange | positions in the clearance gap 61 between the light emission part 6a and between the 2nd guard wall part 55 and the light-receiving part 6b, respectively. The scattering prevention plate 300 is disposed below the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b. Further, the scattering prevention plate 300 extends along the separation direction between the first guard wall portion 54 and the light emitting portion 6a and between the second guard wall portion 55 and the light receiving portion 6b. That is, the scattering prevention plate 300 is for preventing scattered water (scattered matter) from the lower side through the separation gap 61 toward the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b from adhering to the light emitting unit 6a and the light receiving unit 6b. It is.

  Here, when such a scattering prevention plate 300 is disposed in the separation gap 61, water that has entered the separation gap 61 through the first and second openings 200 and 210 may accumulate on the upper part of the scattering prevention plate 300. There is. Therefore, in this embodiment, a gap 310 is formed between the inner edge portion 300a of the scattering prevention plate 300 on the ice piece passage 60 side and the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55. The water that has entered the separation gap 61 is discharged to the outside through the gap portion 310.

  Further, the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided so as to be lowered as it approaches the ice piece passage 60. By providing the anti-scattering plate 300 in an inclined manner as described above, it is possible to smoothly collect the water that has entered the separation gap 61 into the gap portion 310.

  Further, the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided such that the inner edge portion 300a on the ice piece passage way 60 side is located above the lower ends 54a and 55a of the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55. If the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided such that the inner edge portion 300a is positioned below the lower ends 54a and 55a of the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55, the ice falling through the ice piece passageway 60 is provided. There is a risk that the piece will be caught by the scattering prevention plate 300. That is, in this embodiment, the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided by providing the anti-scattering plate 300 so that the inner edge portion 300a is positioned above the lower ends 54a, 55a of the first and second guard wall portions 54, 55. To avoid catching ice pieces. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, the scattering prevention plate 300 is arrange | positioned in the clearance gap 61 between the 1st guard wall part 54 and the light emission part 60a, and the 2nd guard wall part 55 and the light-receiving part 60b, respectively. Therefore, the scattered matter from below can be prevented from adhering to the light emitting unit 60a and the light receiving unit 60b, and the possibility of malfunction of the optical ice storage sensor 6 can be reduced.

  Further, since the gap portion 310 is formed between the inner edge portion 300a of the scattering prevention plate 300 and the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55, the water that has entered the separated gap 61 is externally supplied from the gap portion 310 to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the accumulation of water on the upper part of the anti-scattering plate 300.

  Furthermore, since the splash prevention plate 300 is provided so as to be lowered as it approaches the ice piece passageway 60, the water that has entered the separation gap 61 can be discharged more smoothly from the gap 310 to the outside. It is possible to more reliably avoid water collecting on the upper portion of the prevention plate 300.

  Furthermore, the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided so that the inner edge portion 300a on the ice piece passage 60 side is positioned above the lower ends 54a and 55a of the first and second guard wall portions 54 and 55. Ice pieces falling through the ice piece passageway 60 can be prevented from being caught by the anti-scattering plate 300, and entry of ice pieces into the separation gap 61 can be avoided.

  In the third embodiment, the scattering prevention plate 300 is added to the configuration of the second embodiment. However, the scattering prevention plate may be added to the configuration of the first embodiment. That is, even when the first and second openings are formed of slits, a scattering prevention plate may be added.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of the ice making machine 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket body 5c with the scattering prevention unit 400 of FIG. 10 removed. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the structure same as the structure of Embodiment 1-3. In the third embodiment, the scattering prevention plate 300 is described as being provided integrally with the bracket body 5c. However, in the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the scattering prevention plate 300 is attached to the bracket body 5c with a detachable character bond. Is provided.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the anti-scattering plate 300 is provided integrally with the anti-scattering unit 400 that is detachable from the bracket body 5c. As shown in FIG. 11, when the bracket body 5c is removed from the scattering prevention unit 400, a maintenance opening 410 provided on the side of the bracket body 5c appears. The user of the ice making machine 1 can clean the surfaces of the light emitting unit 60a and the light receiving unit 60b (lenses of the light emitting unit 60a and the light receiving unit 60b) through the maintenance opening 410. Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, since the anti-scattering plate 300 is detachably provided to the bracket body 5c, the surfaces of the light emitting unit 60a and the light receiving unit 60b can be more easily cleaned. Can improve convenience.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of the ice making machine 1 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the same or similar structure as the structure of Embodiment 1-4. In Embodiment 1-4, although it demonstrated that the 1st and 2nd guard wall parts 54 and 55 were provided so that the inner wall surface 5d of the chute | shoot part 5b might be extended, in the structure of this Embodiment 5, As shown in FIG. 12, the 1st and 2nd guard wall parts 500 and 510 are arrange | positioned rather than the extended surface 520 of the inner wall face 5d of the chute | shoot part 5b. In other words, the separation distance between the first and second guard wall portions 500 and 510 is larger than the separation distance between the inner wall surfaces 5d of the chute portion 5b facing each other.

  More specifically, the first and second guard walls 500, 510 are first and second from the upper part of the bracket body 5c when the ice pieces are stored up to the upper part of the bracket body 5c. The chute portion 5b so that the lower end 530a of the inclined surface 530 of the ice piece formed toward the guard walls 500, 510 is located below the lower ends 200c, 210c of the first and second openings 200, 210. The inner wall surface 5d is disposed outside the extended surface 520. Other configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, the first and second guard walls 500, 510 are arranged outside the extended surface 520 of the inner wall surface 5 d of the chute 5 b, so that even when ice pieces are stored, It is possible to prevent the piece from coming into contact with the first and second openings 200 and 210, and to reduce the possibility that the ice piece will adversely affect the operation of the optical ice storage sensor 6.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of the ice making machine 1 according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the structure which is the same as that of Embodiment 1-5, or similar. The configuration of the sixth embodiment is a configuration in which a drooping guide wall portion 600 is added to the configuration of the fifth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the hanging water guide wall portion 600 is a plate-like member that extends downward from the upper portion of the bracket body 5c so as to extend the inner wall surface 5d of the chute portion 5b. It arrange | positions rather than the 2nd guard wall part 500,510. The water falling along the inner wall surface 5d of the chute part 5b is guided by the drooping guide wall part 600 so as to fall without going to the first and second guard wall parts 500 and 510.

  Next, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. In the figure, a central portion 600a and an inclined portion 600b are provided at the lower part of the drooping guide wall portion 600 disposed on the front surface of the first guard wall portion 500. The central portion 600 a is disposed so as to be positioned above the first opening 200 at a substantially central position along the width direction of the drooping guide wall portion 600. That is, when the first guard wall 500 and the drooping guide wall 600 are viewed along the depth direction 1 c of the ice making machine 1 as shown in FIG. 14, the first opening 200 is not hidden by the dripping guide wall 600.

  The inclined portion 600b is an inclined surface extending from the central portion 600a so as to be lowered as it approaches the outer peripheral wall 58 of the bracket body 5c. The water that has reached the lower portion of the dripping guide wall portion 600 along the inner wall surface 5d of the chute portion 5b is guided by the inclined portion 600b so as to gather at the outer end 600c of the dripping guide wall portion 600. That is, it is avoided that water accumulates on the front surface of the first opening 200.

  14 shows the drooping guide wall portion 600 disposed on the front surface of the first guard wall portion 500, the same applies to the dripping guide wall portion 600 disposed on the front surface of the second guard wall portion 510. is there. That is, in the hanging water guide wall portion 600 disposed on the front surface of the second guard wall portion 510, the central portion 600 a is located above the second opening portion 210. Other configurations are the same as those of the fifth embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, since the drooping guide wall portion 600 extends from the upper portion of the bracket body 5c downward so as to extend the inner wall surface 5d of the chute portion 5b, the inner wall surface of the chute portion 5b. It is possible to prevent water falling through 5d from being transmitted to the first and second guard walls 500 and 510, and to reduce the possibility of malfunction of the optical ice storage sensor 6.

  Further, a central portion 600a located above the first and second openings 200 and 210 and an inclined portion 600b extending from the central portion 600a so as to approach the outer peripheral wall 58 of the bracket body 5c are provided as the drooping guide wall portion. Since it is provided in the lower part of 600, it can avoid that the water which reached the lower part of the hanging water guide wall part 600 along the inner wall surface 5d of the chute | shoot part 5b accumulates in the front of the 1st and 2nd opening parts 200 and 210. The possibility of malfunction of the optical ice storage sensor 6 can be reduced.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
FIG. 15 is a perspective sectional view showing a bracket body 5c of the ice making machine 1 according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the structure same as the structure of Embodiment 1-6, or the same. The configuration of the seventh embodiment is a configuration in which a drooping water receiving portion 700 and a pair of drooping guide protrusions 710 are added to the configuration of the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 15, the drooping water receiving portion 700 is a protrusion that protrudes from the inner wall surface 54 b of the first guard wall portion 54 toward the ice piece passageway 60 (see FIG. 7). In this embodiment, the drooping water receiving portion 700 includes a top portion 700 a disposed immediately above the first opening portion 200, and an inclined portion 700 b inclined from the top portion 700 a toward the side of the first opening portion 200. It is composed of The lower end of the inclined portion 700 b is located below the lower edge of the outer edge of the first opening 200. The water dripping above the first opening 200 through the inner wall surface 5d (see FIG. 7) of the chute 5b is received by the drooping water receiving portion 700 to the side of the first opening 200. Thereby, it is avoided that the water dripping above the first opening 200 reaches the first opening 200.

  The hanging water guide protrusion 710 is a long protrusion extending from the lower end of the inclined portion 700 b to the lower end of the first guard wall portion 54. The water received by the suspended water receiving portion 700 is guided to the lower end of the first guard wall portion 54 by the suspended water guide protrusion 710. Thereby, it is avoided that the water received by the drought receiving part 700 returns to the 1st opening part 200 along the drought receiving part 700 grade | etc.,.

  In FIG. 15, the drooping water receiving portion 700 provided in the first guard wall portion 54 is illustrated, but the drought water receiving portion 700 is also provided in the second guard wall portion 55. That is, the drooping water receiving portion 700 protrudes also from the inner wall surface of the second guard wall portion 55 toward the ice piece passageway 60, and travels along the inner wall surface 5 d of the chute portion 5 b above the second opening 210. The water dripping into the second opening 210 is flushed to the side. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  In such an ice making machine 1, the water dripping above the first and second openings 200, 210 along the inner wall surface 5 d of the chute 5 b is lateral to the first and second openings 200, 210. Since the drooping water receiving portion 700 is directed toward the water, the water dripping above the first and second openings 200 and 210 can be prevented from reaching the first and second openings 200 and 210, and the optical ice storage sensor. The possibility that the malfunction 6 will occur can be reduced.

  In the seventh embodiment, the drooping water receiving portion 700 is configured by projecting the entire periphery of the first and second openings 200 and 210 toward the ice piece passage 60. However, the drooping water receiving portion may be configured such that only the upper periphery of the first and second openings protrudes into, for example, an inverted V shape or an arc shape. In other words, the end face on the ice piece passage side of the drooping water receiving portion and the end face on the ice piece passage side of the first and second openings may not be formed on the same plane.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice machine, 2a Machine room bottom plate, 3 Ice making part, 4 Ice storage, 4a Side part, 4b Door part, 5 Ice piece guide member, 5a Snout (upper connection part), 5b Chute part, 5c Bracket body (lower connection part) ), 6 optical ice storage sensor, 6a light emitting part, 6b light receiving part, 54, 55, 500, 510 first and second guard wall parts, 56, 57, 200, 210 first and second opening parts, 60 ice pieces Passage path, 65 inclined surface, 66 insertion hole, 66a edge, 67 connection guide, 68 flange, 69 protrusion, 200b, 210b inclined surface, 300 scattering prevention plate, 300a inner edge, 310 gap, 400 scattering prevention Unit, 600 Tarp guide wall, 700 Tarp receiving part.

Claims (18)

An ice making unit for producing ice pieces;
An ice storage located below the ice making section;
An upper connection part connected to the ice making part, a chute part connected to the upper connection part, and a lower connection part connected to a lower part of the chute part and an upper part of the ice storage, An ice piece guide member for guiding from the ice making part to the ice storage;
An optical ice storage sensor for detecting that the ice pieces have been stored up to a full ice amount, comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part attached to the side of the lower connecting part so as to face each other, and
In the lower connection part, the first connection part is disposed so as to face each other with an ice piece passage in the lower connection part therebetween, and extends downward from the upper part of the lower connection part. And a second guard wall is provided,
The light emitting unit faces the ice piece passage through a first opening formed in the first guard wall, and the light receiving unit passes through a second opening formed in the second guard wall. An ice making machine that faces an ice piece passage. A door part for taking out the ice pieces in the ice storage to the outside is attached to the side surface of the ice storage,
Any one of the first guard wall portion and the second guard wall portion disposed on the side surface portion side of the ice storage is made from the lower end of the one side to the side surface by the ice pieces stored up to the full ice amount. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the inclined surface formed toward the portion is formed to be positioned below the lower end of the door portion.   A door part for taking out the ice pieces in the ice storage to the outside is attached to a side part of the ice storage, and the light receiving part is arranged on the side part side of the ice storage. The ice making machine according to claim 1.   The dew receiving tray which is provided in the upper part of the said lower connection part, and receives the dew which falls along the outer peripheral surface of the said chute | shoot part is further provided, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The ice making machine described in 1. A machine room bottom plate disposed above the ice storage and supporting the ice making unit;
An insertion hole provided in the machine room bottom plate and through which the lower connection portion is inserted;
A cylindrical connection guide part provided at the upper part of the ice storage, into which the lower connection part is inserted,
A projection that is located above the machine room bottom plate and extends downward from the lower surface of the lower connection part that extends in parallel with the machine room bottom plate;
The edge of the insertion hole is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower connection portion, and is provided at a position farther from the outer peripheral surface of the lower connection portion than the outer peripheral surface of the connection guide portion,
5. The lower surface of the lower connection portion is not in contact with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate by contacting the protrusion with the upper surface of the machine room bottom plate. The ice maker according to any one of the preceding items.   The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second openings are slits whose lower ends are opened.   The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second openings are round holes or long holes having closed outer edges.   The ice making machine according to claim 7, wherein lower outer edge portions of the first and second openings are formed by inclined surfaces.   They are arranged between the first guard wall and the light emitting part and in the gaps between the second guard wall and the light receiving part, respectively, and below the light emitting part and the light receiving part. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scattering prevention plate for preventing scattered objects from below from adhering to the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. Ice machine.   The ice making machine according to claim 9, wherein a gap is formed between an inner edge portion of the scattering prevention plate on the ice piece passage side and the first and second guard wall portions.   The ice making machine according to claim 10, wherein the scattering prevention plate is provided so as to be inclined so as to approach the ice piece passage.   The said scattering prevention board is provided so that the inner edge part by the side of the said ice piece passage way may be located above the lower end of the said 1st and 2nd guard wall part, The Claims 9-11 characterized by the above-mentioned. The ice maker according to any one of the preceding items.   The ice making machine according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the scattering prevention plate is detachably provided to the lower connection portion.   The first and second guard wall portions are extended downward from an upper portion of the lower connection portion so as to extend an inner wall surface of the chute portion. The ice maker according to any one of the preceding items.   The said 1st and 2nd guard wall part is arrange | positioned outward rather than the extension surface of the inner wall face of the said chute | shoot part, The any one of Claim 1-13 characterized by the above-mentioned. Ice machine.   16. The ice making machine according to claim 15, further comprising a hanging water guide wall portion extending downward from an upper portion of the lower connection portion so as to extend an inner wall surface of the chute portion.   At the lower part of the hanging water guide wall part, there are a central part located above the first and second openings, and an inclined part extending from the central part so as to fall as it approaches the outer peripheral wall of the lower connecting part. The ice making machine according to claim 16, wherein the ice making machine is provided.   The first and second openings are disposed above the first and second openings, protrude from the first and second guard walls toward the ice piece passage, and travel along an inner wall surface of the chute. 18. A drooping water receiving portion for receiving water dripping above the second opening toward the sides of the first and second openings is further provided. The ice making machine of any one of Claims.

Images