JP2019045040A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ice making device capable of properly and easily assembling an ice detection shaft to an energization member used in a driving unit.SOLUTION: In an ice making device, a driving unit has an ice detection shaft 31 rotated and driven by a cam face of a cam gear connected to an ice tray, an energization member 38 for energizing the ice detection shaft 31 toward the cam face, and a second case member 72 supporting the ice detection shaft 31 and an energization member 38. The second case member 72 has a stopper 76 kept into contact with the ice detection shaft 31 from one side L1a of the axis L1 of the ice detection shaft 31 for regulating a position of the ice detection shaft 31 in an axis L1 direction when the ice detection shaft 31 is assembled and the energization member 38 is elastically deformed. When the ice detection shaft 31 positioned by the stopper 76 is rotated about the axis L1, a spring energization portion 31c is passed through a cutout 755 of a side wall 752 and compresses the energization member 38.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making apparatus which drives an ice detecting shaft by a cam surface of a cam gear connected to an ice tray.

  The ice making apparatus mounted in the refrigerator has an ice making tray in which a water storage recess is disposed upward, and a drive unit which rotationally drives the ice making tray around an axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. The drive unit has, in addition to a cam gear connected to the ice tray, an ice detecting shaft rotationally driven by the cam surface of the cam gear, and a compression coil spring urging the ice detecting shaft toward the cam surface. The ice detecting lever rotates integrally with the ice detecting shaft interlocked with the cam gear to perform ice detecting operation (see Patent Document 1). In the ice making apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the support member for supporting the cam gear, the ice detecting shaft and the like is formed with a partition wall provided with a notch at a position opposite to one end of the compression coil spring. When assembling the ice shaft, the position of the spring engaging portion and the notch is aligned by adjusting the axial position of the ice detection shaft, and then the ice detection shaft is rotated about the axis. As a result, the spring engaging portion passes through the notch and abuts on one end of the compression coil spring to compress the compression coil spring.

JP 2001-165539 A

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when incorporating the ice detecting axis, it is necessary to adjust the position of the ice detecting axis in the axial direction to align the spring engaging portion with the notch (compression coil spring). Because, it takes a lot of time. In addition, positional deviation is likely to occur between the spring engagement portion of the ice detection shaft and the compression coil spring, and in an extreme case, the ice detection shaft is in a state where the spring engagement portion holds the end of the compression coil spring from above. It may be incorporated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making apparatus capable of properly and easily incorporating an ice detecting shaft into a biasing member used in a drive unit.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ice making apparatus according to the present invention rotationally drives the ice making tray around a first axis line extending in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction and an ice making plate in which a water storage recess is disposed upward. A drive unit, the drive unit including a cam gear connected to the ice tray, an ice detecting lever connected to the ice gear, and an ice detecting shaft rotationally driven by a cam surface of the cam gear; And a support member supporting the cam gear, the ice detecting shaft, and the urging member, wherein the support member is the ice detecting shaft. When elastically deforming the biasing member, the position of the ice detecting axis in the second axial direction abuts on the ice detecting axis from one side in the second axial direction which is the axis line of the ice detecting axis It has a stopper which defines.

In the present invention, when the ice detecting shaft is incorporated to elastically deform the biasing member, the ice detecting shaft is defined in the second axial direction by the stopper of the support member. For this reason, since it is not necessary to match the position of the ice detecting axis with the biasing member while adjusting the position of the ice detecting axis in the second axial direction, the ice detecting axis can be performed easily and efficiently. In addition, when the ice detecting axis is incorporated, since the positional deviation does not easily occur, the ice detecting axis can be properly incorporated to the biasing member.

  In the present invention, the biasing member is a compression coil spring whose axial direction is oriented in a direction intersecting the second axis, and from the outer peripheral surface of the ice detecting shaft, the position is defined by the stopper. It is possible to adopt a mode in which a spring engaging portion which is in contact with one end of the compression coiled spring to compress the compression coiled spring when it is rotated about the second axis projects. According to this aspect, the compression coil spring can be compressed by a simple operation of rotating the ice detecting axis about the second axis in a state in which the position of the second axial direction is defined by the stopper of the support member.

  In the present invention, the support member includes a partition wall provided with a notch at a position facing the one end of the compression coil spring, and the ice detecting axis is the second axis at a position defined by the stopper. When rotated about the periphery, the spring engagement portion may be configured to pass through the notch and abut on the one end of the compression coil spring. According to this aspect, even when the configuration in which the compression coil spring is disposed inside the partition wall is employed, the ice detecting axis can be properly and easily incorporated into the biasing member.

  In the present invention, in a state in which the ice detecting axis is completely assembled, the spring engaging portion may adopt an aspect in which the position is biased to one side in the second axial direction with respect to the notch. According to this aspect, the spring engagement portion is unlikely to come out of the notch of the partition wall.

  In the present invention, it is possible to adopt an aspect in which the spring engaging portion is in contact with a position of one end of the compression coil spring biased to one side from the center in the second axial direction. According to this aspect, the compression spring is in contact with one end of the compression coil spring even when the spring engagement part is at a position biased to one side in the second axial direction with respect to the notch. Can properly bias the ice detecting shaft through the spring engaging portion.

  In the present invention, at least one of the side end portion of the spring engaging portion located on the side opposite to the compression coil spring and the partition side end portion of the partition opposite to the side end, the side end portion It is possible to adopt an aspect in which an inclined portion is formed to move the ice detecting shaft in one of the second axial directions by the biasing force of the compression coil spring when the partition side end abuts. In this case, it is possible to adopt an aspect in which the inclined portion is formed as a surface on one of the side end and the partition side end, and the other is formed as a convex. According to this aspect, the ice detecting axis can be automatically moved in one of the second axial directions by the biasing force of the compression coil spring.

  In the present invention, an aspect in which the inclined portion is formed on both the side end and the partition side end can be adopted. For example, the aspect by which the said inclination part is formed as a surface in both the said side edge part and the said partition side edge part is employable. According to this aspect, the ice detecting axis can be automatically and more reliably moved in one of the second axial directions by the biasing force of the compression coil spring.

  In the present invention, it is possible to adopt an aspect in which the stopper is a step formed at a root of a seat to which a screw is fixed in the support member. In the present invention, the stopper may be a plate-like convex portion protruding from the support member.

In the present invention, when the ice detecting shaft is incorporated to elastically deform the biasing member, the ice detecting shaft is defined in the second axial direction by the stopper of the support member. For this reason, since it is not necessary to match the position of the ice detecting axis with the biasing member while adjusting the position of the ice detecting axis in the second axial direction, the ice detecting axis can be performed easily and efficiently. In addition, when the ice detecting axis is incorporated, since the positional deviation does not easily occur, the ice detecting axis can be properly incorporated to the biasing member.

It is the perspective view which saw the ice making apparatus to which this invention is applied from the side on which the 2nd side plate part is located, and from diagonally upward. It is the disassembled perspective view which saw the ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from the side on which the 2nd side plate part is located, and from diagonally upward. It is the disassembled perspective view which saw the ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from the side on which the 2nd side plate part is located, and from diagonally downward. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the disassembled drive unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the side where the ice tray is located. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit shown in FIG. 2 in a disassembled state as viewed from the opposite side to the ice tray. It is a perspective view of a drive mechanism shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which removed the cam gear from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a cam gear or the like shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the side opposite to the ice tray. It is explanatory drawing of the ice detection axis | shaft shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the incorporation method of the ice detecting axis | shaft shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the stopper used for the ice making apparatus to which this invention is applied.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, three directions crossing each other will be described as a first direction X (length direction), a second direction Y (width direction), and a third direction Z (vertical direction). In addition, X1 is attached to one side in the first direction X, X2 is attached to the other side in the first direction X, Y1 is attached to one side in the second direction Y, Y2 is attached to the other side in the second direction Y And one side (upper side) Z1 in the third direction Z (vertical direction) and the other side (lower side) Z2 in the third direction Z (vertical direction) will be described.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ice making device 1 to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the obliquely upper side on the side where the second side plate portion 42 is positioned. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ice making apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the upper side of the side where the second side plate portion 42 is located. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ice making device 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the lower side on the side where the second side plate portion 42 is located.

  The ice making apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes an ice tray 2 in which the water storage recess 20 (cell) is disposed toward one side Z1 (upper side) in the third direction Z, and the ice tray 2 with respect to the ice tray 2. It has a drive unit 3 disposed on one side X1 of the direction X, and a frame 4 provided with a mounting portion 40 on which the drive unit 3 is mounted. The ice making apparatus 1 is mounted on a refrigerator main body (not shown), and in the refrigerator, water in a water supply tank (not shown) is filled into the water storage recess 20 of the ice tray 2 through a water supply pipe (not shown) I do. Then, when ice making is completed, the drive unit 3 performs a reverse operation around the axis L0 (first axis) extending in the first direction X to the ice tray 2 as an ice removing operation, and a twisting operation interlocked with the reverse operation. By doing this, the ice of the ice tray 2 is dropped into an ice storage container (not shown).

(Configuration of ice tray 2)
The ice tray 2 is a member formed of a resin material so as to have a substantially square planar shape, and is made of an elastically deformable material. In the ice tray 2, a plurality of water storage recesses 20 are arranged in the first direction X and the second direction Y. For example, in the ice tray 2, the inside of the substantially square frame 25 is
The two water storage concave portions 20 aligned in the second direction Y are arranged in four rows in the first direction X in a set. In the frame portion 25 of the ice tray 2, a wall (not shown) connected to the output shaft 33 of the drive unit 3 on the axis L0 is formed on the wall 26 located on one side X1 in the first direction X In the wall portion 27 located on the other side X2 of the first direction X, a shaft portion 28 supported rotatably on the frame 4 on the axis L0 is formed. The wall portion 27 of the ice tray 2 is formed with a rotation restricting portion 29 which abuts the frame 4 when the ice tray 2 is rotated about the axis L0, and the rotation restricting portion 29 prevents the rotation of the ice tray 2 By doing this, the ice tray 2 is caused to perform a twisting operation.

  In the ice tray 2, on the lower surface 2 a in the third direction Z, a plurality of convex portions 21 in which the shapes of the plurality of water storage concave portions 20 are reflected are arranged. A temperature sensor 8 for detecting the temperature of the ice tray 2 is disposed on the lower surface 2 a of the ice tray 2, and the temperature sensor 8 is covered with a cover member 9 fixed to the lower surface 2 a of the ice tray 2. Signal wires 88 and 89 extend from the temperature sensor 8 to the inside of the drive unit 3. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 8 is a thermistor 80.

(Structure of frame 4)
The frame 4 is a first side plate portion 41 extending in the first direction X along the first side surface 2b of the ice tray 2 in the second direction Y of the ice tray 2 and the other side of the ice tray 2 in the second direction Y The second side plate portion 42 extends in the first direction X along the second side surface 2c of Y1, and the first side plate portion 41 and the second side plate portion 42 face in parallel in the second direction Y. ing. Between the second side plate portion 42 and the ice tray 2, an ice detecting lever 6 whose proximal end is connected to the drive unit 3 is disposed.

  The first upper plate portion 410 projects toward the second side plate portion 42 from the upper end 41 e (the edge of the one side Z1 in the third direction Z) of the first side plate portion 41, and the first upper plate portion 410 After being bent downward at a position halfway toward the one side Y1 in the two directions Y, the second side plate portion 42 protrudes. The second upper plate 420 protrudes toward the first side plate 41 from the vicinity of the upper end 42 e (the edge of the one side Z1 in the third direction Z) of the second side plate 42, and the ice tray 2 Between the upper plate portion 410 and the second upper plate portion 420, the upper side (one side Z1 in the third direction Z) is open. In the second upper plate portion 420, an opening 420a in which the upper end portion of the ice detecting lever 6 is positioned inside is formed.

  The end of the one side X1 of the first side plate portion 41 and the second side plate portion 42 in the first direction X overlaps the drive unit 3 when viewed from the second direction Y. The first side plate portion 41 and the second side plate portion 42 are provided at the plate-like first wall portion 43 positioned at the end of the one side X1 in the first direction X and at the end of the other side X2 in the first direction X. It is connected by the 2nd wall 44 located. The first side plate portion 41 and the second side plate portion 42 are also connected by an upper plate portion 45 which covers the drive unit 3 from the upper side on the other side Y2 in the second direction Y. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the frame 4, the space surrounded by the first side plate portion 41, the second side plate portion 42, the first wall portion 43, and the upper plate portion 45 becomes the mounting portion 40 of the drive unit 3. The lower side (the other side Z2 in the third direction Z) of the mounting portion 40 is in the open state. The second wall portion 44 is a porous wall in which a plurality of plate-like ribs are connected to each other, and an axial hole 440 for rotatably supporting the axial portion 28 of the ice tray 2 is formed at the center thereof. There is.

A plurality of reinforcing ribs 411a, 411b, and 411c are formed on the wall (inner wall 411) of the first side plate portion 41 on the side where the ice tray 2 is located so as to extend in the vertical direction. In the wall (outer wall) opposite to the ice tray 2 in the first side plate portion 41, the upper end 41e and the lower end 41f of the first side plate portion 41 to the other side X1 in the first direction X from the drive unit 3 A plurality of attachment portions 414 are formed to fix the frame 4 to the refrigerator body when mounting 1 on the refrigerator body (not shown). In the lower end 41f of the first side plate portion 41, a through portion 417 formed of a notch is formed between the attachment portions 414 adjacent in the first direction X, and the wiring 5 for supplying power to the drive unit 3 is After extending from the drive unit 3 along the inner wall 411 of the first side plate portion 41 to the other side X2 in the first direction X, it is pulled out from the through portion 417.

  Therefore, when the drive unit 3 causes the ice tray 2 to perform a twisting operation in order to perform the ice removing operation, even if a large force is applied to the frame 4 by the reaction force, the force is applied to the first side plate portion 41. Transmission to the side of the through portion 417 is suppressed by the attachment portion 414 fixed to the refrigerator main body on one side X1 of the first direction X from the through portion 417. Therefore, in the first side plate portion 41, concentration of stress in the vicinity of the through portion 417 can be suppressed, and therefore, breakage of the first side plate portion 41 in the vicinity of the through portion 417 can be suppressed.

(Configuration of drive unit 3)
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the disassembled drive unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the side on which the ice tray 2 is located. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the disassembled drive unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the side opposite to the ice tray 2.

  In FIG. 2, in the drive unit 3, a drive mechanism such as a drive source and a rotation transmission mechanism is disposed inside a case 7 (support member) formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the rotational force of the drive source is the drive mechanism An output shaft 33 to which the ice tray 2 is connected is integrally formed with the cam gear 32, which is transmitted to the cam gear 32 via the. The output shaft 33 protrudes from the hole 7 a of the case 7 to the outside of the case 7. The output shaft 33 rotates counterclockwise around the axis L0 in the direction of CCW to reverse the ice tray 2 when returning the ice tray 2 to the original position, when the ice in the ice tray 2 is to be dissociated. To rotate clockwise CW direction.

  The ice detecting lever 6 is disposed at a position adjacent to the ice tray 2 on the one side Y1 in the second direction Y, and the driving unit 3 has an axis for the ice detecting lever 6 in conjunction with the cam gear 32. An ice detecting mechanism to be operated to rotate around L1 (second axis), a switch mechanism to operate based on a signal or the like inputted from the temperature sensor 8 through the signal wires 88 and 89, and the like are configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the drive unit 3, the case 7 is provided with a first case member 71, a second case member 72, and a first case member 71 disposed so as to overlap the one side X1 to the other side X2 in the first direction X. 3 A case member 73 is provided. The second case member 72 and the third case member 73 are connected by a screw 781 and an engagement protrusion 791, and the first case member 71 and the second case member 72 are connected by an engagement protrusion 792. In addition, the first case member 71, the second case member 72, and the third case member 73 are connected by a screw 782.

  A drive mechanism 15 described later is disposed between the second case member 72 and the third case member 73, and an AC-DC converter or the like is configured between the first case member 71 and the second case member 72. The circuit board 51, the control board 52, the switch 53 and the like are arranged.

(Configuration of drive unit 3)
6 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism 15 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a state in which the cam gear 32 is removed from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cam gear 32 etc. shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the side opposite to the ice tray 2.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second case member 72 has a substantially rectangular bottom plate portion 721 and an angular tubular shape protruding from the outer edge of the bottom plate portion 721 to one side X1 and the other side X2 in the first direction X. And a body 722. In the second case member 72, on the other side X2 in the first direction X with respect to the bottom plate portion 721, the drive mechanism 15 is provided inside the body portion 722. The drive mechanism 15 includes a motor 34 as a drive source. The motor 34 is a DC motor, and the rotation of the motor 34 is performed by the worm 350 connected to the motor shaft 34 a of the motor 34, the first gear 351.
, And the second gear 352 and the third gear 353 to reduce the speed and transmit the same to the cam gear 32. A groove 326 is formed along the circumferential direction on the surface of the cam gear 32 facing the third case member 73. A protrusion (not shown) formed on the third case member 73 is inserted into the groove 326, and the rotational angle range of the cam gear 32 is limited.

  In this embodiment, control is performed to reversely rotate the cam gear 32 based on the first signal output after the ice detecting operation is started and the driving time. Therefore, control is performed to stop the motor 34 when the cam gear 32 is rotated, for example, 42 degrees when the ice is full, and then reversely rotate it. Further, when the ice is insufficient, the motor 34 is stopped at the time when the cam gear 32 is rotated, for example, 160 degrees, and then control is performed to reversely rotate it.

  The cam gear 32 is integrally formed with an output shaft 33 so as to protrude on one side X1 and the other side X2 in the first direction X. A pressing switch 371, a switch pressing lever 372, and a coil spring 373 are overlapped on the side of the cam gear 32, and the switch pressing lever 372 is biased toward the pressing switch 371 by the coil spring 373. It is done. The push-type switch 371 is either on / off in order to distinguish between lack of ice and full ice in the ice detecting operation.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a cylindrical friction member 36 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of a portion 331 of the output shaft 33 which protrudes from the cam gear 32 to one side X1 in the first direction X. The friction member 36 can rotate integrally with the output shaft 33 by the frictional force with the output shaft 33. A notch 361 is formed at an end of the friction member 36 in the first direction X1 of the first direction X, and a protrusion (not shown) is formed on the second case member 72 at both ends of the groove 361. ) Can be abutted. Therefore, the friction member 36 can rotate only in the range where the both ends of the groove 361 and the convex portion of the second case member 72 abut, and after the rotation of the friction member 36 is blocked, only the output shaft 33 is the axis L0. Rotate around.

  The outer peripheral surface of the friction member 36 is provided with a convex portion 362 for blocking the rotation of the ice detecting shaft 31 described later. The convex portion 362 does not engage with the engagement convex portion 31b (see FIG. 9) of the ice detecting shaft 31 when the cam gear 32 rotates to the ice separation position side, and rotates when the cam gear 32 rotates to the ice making position side. It engages with the engagement convex portion 31 b of the ice detecting shaft 31 so as to block the rotation of the ice detecting shaft 31. When the convex portion 362 blocks the rotation of the ice detecting shaft 31, the switch pressing operation blocking portion 31d (see FIG. 9) formed on the ice detecting shaft 31 turns on the pressing type switch 371 shown in FIGS. The switch can not be switched within the rotation range of the switch pressing lever 372 which switches between on and off, and the switch 371 can be switched on and off freely. Therefore, the push-type switch 371 functions so that it always turns on halfway when the ice detecting lever 6 returns from the ice separation position to the ice making position.

  In FIG. 8, an annular recess 327 is formed on the surface of the cam gear 32 facing the second case member 72, and a switch pressing lever cam surface 329 for driving the switch pressing lever 372 is formed in the recess 327. Is provided. Further, in the recessed portion 327, an ice detection axis cam surface 328 for driving the ice detection axis 31 is provided radially inward of the ice detection axis cam surface 328. The ice detecting axis cam surface 328 and the switch pressing lever cam surface 329 are respectively formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the side walls 324 and 325 which project substantially parallel to the axis L0 which is the rotation center of the cam gear 32.

The ice detection axis cam surface 328 has a configuration in which an ice detection non-operation position portion 328a, an ice detection descent operation portion 328b, an ice shortage detection position portion 328c, and an ice detection return operation portion 328d are connected in the circumferential direction. . The ice detecting non-operating position portion 328a is a section in which the ice detecting lever 6 (see FIG. 1 and the like) is maintained in a state of not being lowered. The ice detecting descent operation unit 328 b is a section for gradually lowering the ice detecting lever 6 when the ice is insufficient. The ice shortage detection position portion 328 c is a section in which the ice detecting lever 6 is maintained in the state of being lowered to the fullest when ice is lacking. The ice detecting and returning operation unit 328 d is a section for raising the lowered ice detecting lever 6.

  The switch pressing lever cam surface 329 includes a first signal generating cam portion 329a for outputting a signal near the ice making position, and a second signal generating cam portion 329b for outputting a signal near the ice detecting position. And a third signal generating cam portion 329c for outputting a signal near the ice separation position. With this configuration, when the rotation angle of the cam gear 32 is at the ice making position, the ice detecting position, and the ice separating position, the switch pressing lever 372 is rotated in the direction of pressing the pressing switch 371.

(Configuration of ice detecting mechanism 11)
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the ice detecting shaft 31 shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the ice detecting mechanism 11 is a mechanism for identifying whether the amount of ice in the ice storage container is full or insufficient, and the ice detecting lever 6 is placed in the ice storage container. It is determined that the ice is insufficient when it is lowered and lowered from the predetermined level position. In the ice detecting mechanism 11, the ice detecting lever 6 is connected to the ice detecting shaft 31 driven by the ice detecting shaft cam surface 328 of the cam gear 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the ice detecting shaft 31 includes a sliding portion 31a that slides on the ice detecting shaft cam surface 328 of the cam gear 32 on one end L1a side in the direction of the axis L1. The ice detecting lever 6 is operated in accordance with the rotation angle of. In this embodiment, when the ice detecting lever 6 is rotated 30 degrees or more, it is determined that the ice is insufficient. The case receiving portion 31g, the sliding portion 31a, the spring engaging portion 31c, the guide convex portion 31h, and the switch are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the ice detecting shaft 31 from the one end L1a side to the other end L1b side in the axis L1 direction. A pressing operation blocking portion 31d, a thrust detachment preventing ridge 31e, and a lever connecting portion 31f are provided so as to protrude radially outward, and an engaging convex portion 31b is provided on the opposite side in the circumferential direction with respect to the sliding portion 31a. It is formed.

  Further, the ice detecting mechanism 11 has a biasing member 38 which biases the ice detecting shaft 31 in a direction in which the sliding portion 31a is in pressure contact with the ice detecting axis cam surface 328 side. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 38 comprises a compression coil spring 380 disposed on the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72, and on the upper side of the compression coil spring 380 (the other side X2 in the first direction X1) The shaft 31 and the cam gear 32 are arranged in order. In this state, the axis L1 of the ice detecting axis 31 is orthogonal to the direction of the axis L2 of the compression coil spring 380.

The ice detecting shaft 31 has a semicircular notch 722a formed in a portion of the trunk 722 of the second case member 72 located on the other side Y2 in the second direction Y, and a side wall 754 of a spring box 75 described later. The second case member 72 and the third case member 73 are rotatably supported about the axis L <b> 1 while being supported by the semicircular cutout 754 a. At that time, the case receiving portion 31g is rotatably supported by being fitted into a receiving hole 724 (see FIG. 10) formed in the plate portion 723 of the second case member 72. The lever connecting portion 31 f protrudes outside the case 7, and the ice detecting lever 6 is connected. The sliding portion 31 a is a cam follower that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the ice detecting shaft 31 and abuts on the ice detecting shaft cam surface 328 of the cam gear 32. The engagement convex portion 31 b can be in contact with the convex portion 362 of the friction member 36. The spring engaging portion 31 c is provided to abut on one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380. Therefore, the ice detecting shaft 31 presses the sliding portion 31 a against the ice detecting shaft cam surface 328 of the cam gear 32 by the return force of the compression coil spring 380. The other end 382 of the compression coil spring 380 is in contact with the body 722 of the second case member 72. When the ice detecting shaft 31 rotates so as to lower the ice detecting lever 6, the switch pressing operation blocking portion 31d abuts on the switch pressing lever 372 to block the rotation of the switch pressing lever 372, and the press type switch 371 Work to prevent it from turning on. The thrust detachment preventing ridge 31 e is formed to extend in the circumferential direction of the ice detecting shaft 31, and interferes with a convex portion (not shown) formed on the third case member 73 to form the ice detecting shaft 31. The range of movement in the direction of the axis L1 is defined. The guide convex portion 31 h enters a guide groove (not shown) formed in the third case member 73 and moves along the guide groove. At this time, the guide groove formed in the third case member 73 serves as a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation range of the ice detecting shaft 31.

  The ice detecting mechanism 11 configured in this manner transmits the movement of the ice detecting axis 31 operating along the ice detecting axis cam surface 328 to the ice detecting lever 6. That is, when the ice detecting lever 6 stops its movement by full ice, the ice detecting shaft 31 stops its rotation together with the ice detecting lever 6. In addition, the ice detecting mechanism 11 regulates the operation of the switch pressing lever 372 by the cam surface 329 for the switch pressing lever when the ice detecting lever 6 is rotating by a predetermined angle or more when the ice runs out during the ice detecting operation. ing. For this reason, when the ice is insufficient at the time of the ice detecting operation, the switch pressing lever 372 is not rotated and the pressing switch 371 is not pressed.

  The biasing force of the compression coil spring 380 is set so that at least the switch pressing operation blocking portion 31 d of the ice detecting shaft 31 can block the switch pressing operation of the switch pressing lever 372. That is, although the switch pressing lever 372 is urged in the direction to press the pressing switch 371 by the coil spring 373, the switch pressing lever 372 is displaced in the direction to separate the switch pressing lever 372 from the pressing switch 371 against the spring force. The biasing force of the compression coil spring 380 is set to such an extent.

  Therefore, the switch 371 receives the biasing force of the coil spring 373 when the switch pressing lever 372 is in the non-operating state (during ice making, when ice is full during ice detecting operation, and when ice separating operation is finished). While being pressed by the pressing lever 372 to generate an original position signal, an ice detecting signal, an ice separating signal, etc., in other cases, the pressing switch 371 is not pressed by the switch pressing lever 372 and is turned off. Here, the push-type switch 371, which is always on at the ice making position, does not turn on until the cam gear 32 rotates from the ice making position to the ice releasing position when ice is insufficient in the ice detecting operation. Therefore, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is rotated by a predetermined angle or more in the ice shortage state, the pressing switch 371 is not turned on even at the position where the ice detecting signal is to be generated, and the detection signal is not output. On the other hand, when the cam gear 32 rotates from the ice making position to the ice detecting position, when the ice is full, the ice detecting lever 6 does not fall to the predetermined position. Therefore, the ice detecting shaft 31 does not rotate by a predetermined angle or more, and the switch pressing operation blocking portion 31 d of the ice detecting shaft 31 does not work. Accordingly, the switch pressing lever 372 rotates to press the pressing switch 371, and the pressing switch 371 is turned on. Therefore, based on the signal output from the push-type switch 371, it can be determined whether or not the ice is insufficient, so the ice removing operation can be performed at an appropriate timing.

(Configuration around the ice detection axis 31)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a method of incorporating the ice detecting shaft 31 shown in FIG. 7, and FIGS. 10 (a), (b) and (c) respectively show the compression coil spring 380 disposed in the second case member 72. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a spring box 75, an explanatory view showing a state in which the ice detecting axis 31 is positioned when assembling the ice detecting axis 31, and an explanatory view after the ice detecting axis 31 is integrated.

  The compression coil spring 380 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is disposed on the bottom plate portion 721 side of the second case member 72 with respect to the ice detecting shaft 31. Therefore, at the time of assembly, the compression coil spring 380 is incorporated into the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72 prior to the ice detecting shaft 31, and then the ice detecting shaft 31 is incorporated. At this time, the compression coil spring 380 is held in a compressed state by the spring box 75 formed in the second case member 72.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the side of the third case member 73 of the spring box 75 is open, and one side wall 751 is constituted by the body 722 of the second case member 72, and the other three The side walls 752, 753, 754 are formed of partition walls formed in the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72. Here, the compression coil spring 380 before incorporation of the ice detecting shaft 31 is supported by the side wall 752 (partition wall) at one end 381 in a compressed state, and the body 722 (side wall of the second case member 72) at the other end 382 751). Then, after the ice detecting shaft 31 is incorporated, the compression coil spring 380 is supported by the spring engaging portion 31 c of the ice detecting shaft 31 at one end 381, and the spring engaging portion 31 c and the body 722 of the second case member 72 It becomes further compressed between (side wall 751).

  The side wall 752 located on the one end 381 side of the compression coil spring 380 is provided with a slit-like notch 755 slightly on the lever connecting portion 31f side of the ice detecting shaft 31 (the other side L1b in the direction of the axis L1) from the center. The side wall 752 is divided into a first wall 756 and a second wall 757 across the notch 755. The ends of the first wall 756 and the second wall 757 on the side of the notch 755 have slopes 756 a and 757 a at the edge opposite to the compression coil spring 380. In the present embodiment, the inclined portions 756a and 757a are inclined surfaces.

  Here, a side end 31t of the spring engaging portion 31c opposite to the compression coil spring 380, and an end of the second wall 757 facing the side end 31t of the spring engaging portion 31c (partition wall side end The ice detecting shaft 31 is moved to one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 380 when the side end 31t and the end of the second wall 757 abut on at least one of the parts). An inclined portion is formed. In the present embodiment, as described below, the inclined portion is formed on both the side end 31 t of the spring engaging portion 31 c and the end of the second wall 757.

  More specifically, a protrusion 758 formed to protrude in the direction of the internal space of the spring box 75 is formed at the end (partition wall side end) of the second wall 757, and the protrusion 758 is formed. The end face on the side of the compression coil spring 380 is an inclined portion 758a inclined to one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1. In the present embodiment, the inclined portion 758a is an inclined surface. At the end of the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72 of the projecting portion 758, a plate portion 759 obliquely formed from the side surface of the projecting portion 758 toward the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72 is formed. There is.

  When the ice detecting shaft 31 is incorporated into the second case member 72 to elastically deform the biasing member 38, the ice detecting ice 31 is abutted against the ice detecting shaft 31 from one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1 and the ice is detected in the direction of the axis L1. A stopper 76 which defines the position of the shaft 31 is formed. In this embodiment, in the second case member 72, the stopper 76 protrudes in the second case member 72 toward the other side L1b in the direction of the axis L1 near the root of the cylindrical seat 728 to which the screw 781 shown in FIG. It consists of

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, in the spring engaging portion 31c of the ice detecting shaft 31, the side surface 31s in contact with one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380 has a convex curved surface fitted inside the compression coil spring 380. In the engaging portion 31c, the side end 31t opposite to the side surface 31s extends linearly. Of the side end portions 31t, a portion 31r extending on the one side L1a side in the direction of the axis L1 is an inclined portion 31u inclined on the other side L1b side in the direction of the axis L1. In the present embodiment, the inclined portion 31 u is an inclined surface.

(Incorporation method of ice detection axis 31)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), after the compression coil spring 380 is disposed in the spring box 75, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the second case member The tip end side of the case receiving portion 31 g of the ice detecting shaft 31 is inserted into the receiving hole 724 formed in the plate portion 723 of 72. At this time, the ice detecting shaft 31 is supported by the notch 722 a formed in the body 722 of the second case member 72 and the notch 754 a formed in the side wall 754 of the spring box 75. As a result, the second case member 72 is mounted on the guide convex portion 31 h of the ice detecting shaft 31.
The stopper 76 (stepped portion 729) abuts from one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1. In this state, the spring engaging portion 31c of the ice detecting shaft 31 and the notch 755 of the side wall 752 are aligned in the direction of the axis L1.

  Next, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is rotated about the axis L1, as shown in FIG. 10C, the guide convex portion 31h of the ice detecting shaft 31 is detached from the stopper 76 of the second case member 72. The spring engaging portion 31c of the ice detecting shaft 31 is guided by the inclined portion 756a of the first wall portion 756, and the ice detecting shaft 31 is formed on the side wall 752 of the spring box 75 while being shifted to the one side L1a side in the direction of the axis L1. Go through the cut-out 755 made. The guide convex portion 31 h of the ice detecting shaft 31 abuts on one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380 to further compress the compression coil spring 380.

  Next, the ice detecting axis 31 is shifted to the one side L1a side in the direction of the axis L1, and the case receiving portion 31g of the ice detecting axis 31 is further inserted into the receiving hole 724 formed in the plate portion 723 of the second case member 72. In this state, the ice detecting shaft 31 receives the biasing force of the compression coil spring 380, and the ice detecting shaft 31 tries to rotate in the opposite direction to that at the time of installation described above. Even in such a case, the spring engaging portion 31c of the ice detecting shaft 31 is pulled out of the notch 755 because the spring engaging portion 31c is at a position biased to the one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1 with respect to the notch 755. There is no That is, the spring engaging portion 31 c abuts on the second wall portion 757 and the rotation of the ice detecting shaft 31 is blocked. In this state, the ice detecting shaft 31 is temporarily held.

  In this embodiment, in the spring engaging portion 31 c of the ice detecting shaft 31, the inclined portion 31 u is formed at the side end 31 t facing the projecting portion 758 formed on the side wall 752 of the spring box 75. The end face on the compression coil spring 380 side is also an inclined portion 758a (partition wall side end). Therefore, when the ice detecting shaft 31 receives the biasing force of the compression coil spring 380 in a state where the inclined portions 31u and 758a abut each other, the force is such that the ice detecting shaft 31 is displaced to one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1. Act as a force to For this reason, the spring engaging portion 31 c moves to a position deviated to the one side L 1 a in the direction of the axis L 1 with respect to the notch 755, and therefore does not come out of the notch 755.

  Next, the cam gear 32 is mounted, and the third case member 73 is covered on the second case member 72. At this time, since the cam gear 32 is mounted in a state where the ice detecting shaft 31 is temporarily held, the cam gear 32 can be mounted without receiving the spring force of the compression coil spring 380. At this time, when the sliding portion 31 a is not in contact with the ice detecting axis cam surface 328 and the second case member 72 is covered, the guide convex portion 31 h of the ice detecting axis 31 is the second case member 72. When fitted in the guide groove (not shown), the ice detecting shaft 31 rotates in the direction to further compress the compression coil spring 380, and the spring engaging portion 31c of the ice detecting shaft 31 is the second wall 757 of the spring box 75. And away from the projection 758. Therefore, the compression coil spring 380 urges the sliding portion 31a of the ice detecting shaft 31 to abut the cam surface 328 for the ice detecting shaft, and as a result, the ice detecting lever 6 is always urged toward the ice detecting position. Be done.

(Operation)
In the ice making apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, in the ice making process, water is supplied to the ice making tray 2 horizontally disposed so that the water storage recess 20 faces upward through a water supply pipe (not shown), and the water storage recess 20 Is filled with water. Thereafter, the water filled in the ice tray 2 is cooled by a cooling unit (not shown) installed above the ice tray 2. Whether or not the ice making is completed is judged by whether or not the temperature of the ice tray 2 has become equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature by the temperature sensor 8 (thermistor 80) attached to the ice tray 2.

When the ice making is completed, the ice detecting lever 6 detects the amount of ice in an ice storage container (not shown) installed below the ice making tray 2. Specifically, the ice detecting lever 6 is driven by the drive unit 3 and descends. At this time, when the ice detecting lever 6 is lowered to a predetermined position, it is determined that the inside of the ice storage container is not full ice. On the other hand, if the ice detecting lever 6 contacts the ice in the ice storage container before the descent to the predetermined position, it is determined that the ice storage container is full of ice. If the ice storage container is full of ice, after waiting for a predetermined time, the ice detecting lever 6 again detects the amount of ice in the ice storage container.

  When the inside of the ice storage container is not full ice, the ice making operation of the ice tray 2 is performed. Specifically, the rotation of the output shaft 33 of the drive unit 3 causes the ice tray 2 to rotate counterclockwise CCW around the axis L0. When the ice tray 2 is rotated to a predetermined rotation angle (for example, 120 °) of 90 ° or more from the first position arranged horizontally, the rotation restricting portion 29 of the ice tray 2 abuts on the frame 4. In this state, even if the ice tray 2 is further rotated, the rotation is prevented, and the ice tray 2 is twisted and deformed. As a result, the ice in the ice tray 2 separates from the ice tray 2 and falls into an ice storage container (not shown) installed below the ice tray 2.

  Thereafter, the drive unit 3 reversely rotates the ice tray 2 clockwise CW about the axis L0 so that the water storage recess 20 faces upward, and the above operation is repeated.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the present embodiment, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is incorporated and the biasing member 38 is elastically deformed, the ice detecting shaft 31 is in the direction of the axis L1 by the stopper 76 of the second case member 72 (supporting member). The position of is defined. For this reason, since it is not necessary to match the position of the ice detecting shaft 31 and the biasing member 38 while adjusting the position of the ice detecting shaft 31 in the direction of the axis L1, the ice detecting shaft 31 can be assembled easily and efficiently. Can. In addition, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is incorporated, positional deviation is unlikely to occur, so the ice detecting shaft 31 can be properly incorporated into the biasing member 38.

  In this embodiment, in particular, the biasing member 38 is the compression coil spring 380, and from the outer peripheral surface of the ice detecting shaft 31, one side of the compression coil spring 380 when it is rotated around the axis L1 in a state where the position is defined by the stopper 76. A spring engaging portion 31c which abuts on the end 381 and compresses the compression coil spring 380 is projected. Therefore, the compression coil spring 380 is compressed by a simple operation of rotating the ice detecting shaft 31 around the axis L1 in a state where the position in the direction of the axis L1 is defined by the stopper 76 of the second case member 72 (supporting member). Can. Further, the second case member 72 (support member) includes a side wall 752 (partition) provided with a notch 755 at a position facing the one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380. The position of the ice detecting shaft 31 in the direction of the axis L1 can be defined by the stopper 76 of the member. Therefore, when the ice detecting shaft 31 is rotated about the axis L1 at a position defined by the stopper 76, the spring engaging portion 31c passes through the notch 755 and abuts on one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380. Therefore, even when the compression coil spring 380 is disposed on the inner side of the side wall 752, the ice detecting shaft 31 can be properly and easily incorporated into the compression coil spring 380.

  Further, in a state in which the ice detecting shaft 31 has been assembled, the spring engaging portion 31 c is at a position deviated from the notch 755 toward the one side L 1 in the direction of the axis L 1. For this reason, the situation where the spring engaging portion 31 c gets out of the notch 755 does not easily occur. Further, the spring engaging portion 31 c is in contact with the one end 381 of the compression coil spring 380 at a position biased to the one side L 1 a from the center in the direction of the axis L 1. Therefore, even when the spring engagement portion 31c is at a position deviated from the notch 755 toward the one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1, the compression coil spring 380 properly operates the ice detecting shaft 31 via the spring engagement portion 31c. It can be energized.

Further, since the inclined portions 31 u and 758 a are formed on both the side end 31 t of the spring engaging portion 31 c and the second wall 757 (projecting portion 758), the ice detecting shaft 31 is formed by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 380. Can be automatically and more reliably moved to the one side L1a in the direction of the axis L1.

[Modification of stopper 76]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the stopper 76 used in the ice making device 1 to which the present invention is applied. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, the stopper 76 is constituted by the stepped portion 729 formed in the vicinity of the root of the cylindrical seat portion 728 to which the screw 781 can be stopped. However, as shown in FIG. The stopper 76 may be configured by a plate-like convex portion 727 protruding from the bottom plate portion 721 of the second case member 72.

[Other embodiments]
The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the inclined portions 31u and 758a are formed on both the side end 31t of the spring engaging portion 31c and the second wall 757 (projecting portion 758), but only one of them is formed. It is also good. For example, one of the inclined portions 31 u and 758 a may be an inclined surface, and the other may be a slidable convex portion.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the compression spring that biases the ice detecting shaft 31 is formed by the compression coil spring 380, but may be another compression spring such as a compression rubber spring. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the switch for detecting the ice detecting position and the like is configured of the push-type switch 371, but a leaf switch or the like which is switched on / off by engagement / disengagement of the contact may be used. Although the DC motor is used as the drive source in the above embodiment, an AC motor, a capacitor motor, or a stepping motor may be used. Also, a driving source other than a motor such as a solenoid may be employed. Moreover, as the liquid to be iced, in addition to water, a drink such as juice or a non-drink such as a test reagent can be adopted. In addition to the thermistor 80, a bimetal or the like using a shape memory alloy or the like may be used as a means for detecting whether or not the ice in the ice storage container is finished.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ice making apparatus, 2 ... ice tray, 3 ... drive unit, 4 ... frame, 6 ... ice detecting lever, 7 ... case (support member), 11 ... ice detecting mechanism, 15 ... driving mechanism, 20 ... recessed part for water storage 31: ice detecting shaft, 31a: sliding portion, 31b: engaging convex portion, 31c: spring engaging portion, 31d: switch pressing operation blocking portion, 31e: thrust omission preventing ridge, 31f: lever connecting portion, 31g: case Receiving part, 31h: guide projection part, 31t: side end part, 31u, 758a: inclined part, 32: cam gear, 33: output shaft, 34: motor, 36: friction member, 38: biasing member, 71 ... First case member (support member), 72 second case member, 73 third case member, 75 spring box, 76 stopper, 752 side wall (partition wall) 328 cam surface for ice detecting shaft, 329 Cam surface for switch pressing lever, 71: pressing switch 380: compression coil spring 721: base plate portion 722: body portion 727: plate-like convex portion (stopper) 728: seat portion 729: step portion (stopper) 755: notch 758 ... Protrusion, L0 ... axis (first axis), L1 ... axis (second axis)

Claims (11)

An ice tray with a water storage recess facing upwards,
A drive unit that rotationally drives the ice tray about a first axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction;
Have
A cam gear connected to the ice tray and an ice detecting lever are connected to the drive unit, and an ice detecting shaft rotated by the cam surface of the cam gear, and the ice detecting axis directed to the cam surface A biasing member for biasing, and a support member for supporting the cam gear, the ice detecting shaft, and the biasing member,
The support member contacts the ice detecting axis from one side in a second axial direction, which is an axis of the ice detecting axis, when the ice detecting axis is incorporated and the biasing member is elastically deformed. An ice making apparatus comprising: a stopper which defines the position of the ice detecting axis in an axial direction. The biasing member is a compression coil spring whose axial direction is oriented in a direction intersecting the second axis,
Spring engagement from the outer peripheral surface of the ice detecting shaft, which causes one end of the compression coil spring to abut and compress the compression coil spring when it is rotated about the second axis in a state where the position is defined by the stopper The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the portion is protruded. The support member includes a partition wall provided with a notch at a position facing the one end of the compression coil spring,
When the ice detecting shaft is rotated about the second axis at a position defined by the stopper, the spring engaging portion passes through the notch and abuts on the one end of the compression coil spring. The ice making device according to claim 2, characterized in that   4. The ice making apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spring engaging portion is in a position biased to one side in the second axial direction with respect to the notch in a state in which the ice detecting shaft has been assembled. .   The ice making apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the spring engaging portion is in contact with a position of the one end of the compression coil spring which is biased to one side from the center in the second axial direction.   The side end portion and the partition wall side end are at least one of a side end portion opposite to the compression coil spring in the spring engaging portion, and a partition side end portion opposite to the side end portion in the partition wall The inclined portion is formed to move the ice detecting axis in one of the second axial direction by the biasing force of the compression coil spring when the portion abuts against the second portion. Ice maker.   The ice making device according to claim 6, wherein the inclined portion is formed as a surface on one of the side end portion and the partition side end portion, and the other is formed as a convex portion.   The ice making device according to claim 6, wherein the inclined portion is formed on both the side end and the partition side end.   The ice making device according to claim 8, wherein the inclined portion is formed as a surface at both the side end and the partition side end.   The ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the stopper is a step formed at a root of a seat to which a screw is fixed in the support member.   The ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the stopper is a plate-like convex portion protruding from the support member.