JP2021004718A - Auger type ice-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an auger type ice-making machine which enables a water supply valve and a water level sensor to be attached to a lid body of a water supply tank securely and easily.SOLUTION: A water supply tank 14 includes: a tank body 19 and a lid body 20 provided at an opening of an upper part of the tank body 19. The lid body 20 is formed with: a water supply valve fixing hole 22 which is connected to a water supply pipe 16 for supplying ice-making water and to which a water supply valve attachment pipe 21 extending from a water supply valve 17, which allows or shuts off supply of the ice-making water to the water supply tank 14, is fixed; and a sensor fixing hole 24 to which a sensor attachment pipe 23 extending from a water level sensor 18 for detecting an amount of water stored in the water supply tank 14 is fixed. At least one of the water supply valve fixing hole 22 and the sensor fixing hole 24 has holding mechanisms 25, 26 which hold the water supply valve attachment pipe 21 or the sensor attachment pipe 23 at a predetermined insertion position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an auger type ice maker used for producing chip ice and the like.

In the auger type ice maker, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, an evaporator 13 in which ice making water for ice making is supplied to the inside of the auger 2 having a spiral spiral blade 2a formed therein, and a refrigerant flows on the outer peripheral surface. Is rotated in the ice-making cylinder 3 around which the ice is wound, and the film-like ice formed on the inner surface of the ice-making cylinder 3 is scraped off by the spiral blade 2a. Then, the scraped film-like ice is compressed by the rotation of the spiral blade 2a to form ice pieces of a predetermined size. The formed ice pieces are stored in the ice storage 6.

When the water level in the ice making cylinder 3 drops with the ice making, the ice making water tank 16 attached to the ice making cylinder 3 supplies ice making water by the amount of the decrease. Along with this, when the water level in the ice making water tank 16 drops, the water level sensor (not shown) such as a float provided in the ice making water tank 16 detects the drop in the water level, and ice is made in the ice making water tank 16. The water supply valve 19 provided in the water supply pipe 22 for supplying water is opened. As a result, ice-making water is supplied from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice-making water tank 16 (see paragraphs 0009 to 0014 of Patent Document 1, FIG. 1 and the like).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-221641

In the auger type ice maker shown in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is difficult to attach the water supply valve 19 and the water level sensor provided in the ice making water tank 16, and it takes time to assemble.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the water supply valve 100 is often connected to the lid 101 of the ice making water tank by the rubber hose 102, and at that time, the water supply valve 100, the rubber hose 102, and the rubber hose It is necessary to fasten the 102 and the lid 101 with the hose band 103, which requires time and effort. Further, the water level sensor needs to be fixed to the ice making water tank at a predetermined height in order to accurately detect the water level, and fastening means such as bolts 104 and nuts 105 are used for the fixing. It takes time and effort to fasten it. In particular, when the float 106 is used as the water level sensor, a large hole for passing the float 106 is formed in the lid 101 in order to attach the float 106 from above the lid 101. Then, it is necessary to close this hole with a plate material 107 so that foreign matter such as dust does not enter the ice making water tank, and this work also requires time and labor.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to securely and easily attach the water supply valve and the water level sensor to the lid of the water supply tank.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an ice-making cylinder that compresses and forms ice pieces conveyed by an auger rotating around an axis and ice-making water supplied to the ice-making cylinder are temporarily stored. In an auger-type ice machine equipped with a water supply tank, the water supply tank includes a tank body and a lid provided at an upper opening of the tank body, and is connected to a water supply pipe that supplies ice-making water to the lid. It is extended from the water supply valve fixing hole for fixing the water supply valve mounting pipe extended from the water supply valve that turns on and off the supply of ice-making water to the water supply tank, and the water level sensor that detects the amount of water stored in the water supply tank. A sensor fixing hole for fixing the sensor mounting pipe is formed, and at least one of the water supply valve fixing hole or the sensor fixing hole holds the water supply valve mounting pipe or the sensor mounting pipe at a predetermined insertion position. The configuration has a holding mechanism.

In this way, at least one of the water supply valve and the water level sensor can be held at a predetermined insertion position of the lid of the water supply tank, so that the functions of the water supply valve and the water level sensor can be reliably exerted and the auger can be exhibited. The cost required for the entire assembly of the type ice maker can be reduced.

In the above configuration, the holding mechanism of the water supply valve mounting pipe is connected to the water supply valve and is inserted into the water supply valve mounting pipe, and a water discharge pipe flange that expands in the radial direction is formed at the lower end. The water pipe and the water pipe are connected from the upper end side to prevent the water pipe from being inserted more than a predetermined value. The first step portion formed in the water supply valve mounting pipe and the upper end side provided on the lid. The cylindrical receiving portion to which the water supply valve mounting pipe is connected and the first step portion formed on the water supply valve mounting pipe are brought into contact with each other to prevent the water supply valve mounting pipe from being inserted more than a predetermined value. The second step portion formed in the receiving portion is in contact with the radial outward bulging portion generated at the insertion position of the water pipe flange of the water supply valve mounting pipe due to the connection of the water pipe. It is possible to have a structure having a retaining portion formed so as to prevent the water supply valve mounting pipe once connected from being pulled out, which is formed so as to project toward the inner diameter side of the receiving portion above the second stage portion. ..

In this way, the water supply valve can be securely and easily attached to a predetermined position, and the lower end of the water supply valve attachment pipe functions as a spout for ice-making water into the water tank, so that the water supply valve is separately discharged to the lid. There is no need to form a water outlet. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost related to the installation work of the water supply valve and the parts.

In the configuration in which the water supply valve mounting pipe has the holding mechanism, the upper end of the receiving portion and the lid are continuously provided by a tapered portion that is inclined downward from the upper end of the receiving portion toward the lid. The lid can be configured such that a space facing the tank body is formed below the tapered portion.

In this way, since a space is secured around the water spout (the lower end of the water supply valve mounting pipe), water can be smoothly supplied from the water spout to the water supply tank.

In each of the above configurations, the holding mechanism of the sensor mounting tube is formed on the mounting tube flange formed by projecting outward in the radial direction of the sensor mounting tube and downward on the lower surface of the lid, and the mounting tube is formed. A contact portion that prevents the sensor mounting tube connected from below from being inserted more than a predetermined value by contacting the flange, and the sensor that extends downward to the lower surface side of the lid and is connected from below. The configuration is such that the mounting pipe flange formed on the mounting pipe is received from below, and a retaining portion for preventing the sensor mounting pipe once connected from being pulled out by engaging with the mounting pipe flange is provided. be able to.

In this way, the water level sensor can be reliably and easily attached to a predetermined position. Moreover, since the sensor mounting pipe is connected from below the lid, when a float is adopted as the water level sensor, it is not necessary to form a large hole for passing the float in the lid. Therefore, the work of closing the hole with a plate material or the like becomes unnecessary, and the work time and cost can be reduced.

In the auger type ice maker according to the present invention, at least one of the water supply valve mounting pipe connected to the water supply valve or the sensor mounting pipe connected to the water level sensor is attached to the lid of the water supply tank by a holding mechanism. It is configured to be held at a predetermined insertion position. Therefore, the functions of the water supply valve and the water level sensor can be surely exhibited, and the working time and cost required for the entire assembly of the auger type ice maker can be reduced.

Partial sectional view showing an embodiment of an auger type ice maker according to the present invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the main part of the auger type ice maker shown in FIG. 1, (a) the state before connecting the water supply valve to a lid body, (b) the state after connecting a water supply valve to a lid body. Top view showing the main part of the lid It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the main part of the auger type ice maker shown in FIG. 1, (a) the state before connecting the water level sensor to a lid body, (b) the state after connecting a water level sensor to a lid body. Sectional view of the main part of the auger type ice maker according to the prior art

An embodiment of the auger ice machine 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to each drawing. As shown in FIG. 1, the auger-type ice maker 10 includes an auger-type ice-making unit 11 for producing ice, and the ice (chip ice or the like) produced by the ice-making unit 11 is discharged from the ice-making unit 11. It is configured to be stored in a stocker (not shown) via a guide path 12 provided on the side. The ice making section 11 is provided with a water supply tank 14 for temporarily storing the ice making water supplied to the ice making cylinder 13 of the ice making section 11, which will be described later. The water supply tank 14 and the ice making section 11 (ice making cylinder 13) are connected by a connecting pipe 15 through which ice making water is passed.

The water supply tank 14 and the ice making cylinder 13 are always in a state of being communicated with each other by the connecting pipe 15, and the water level of the water supply tank 14 and the water level of the ice making cylinder 13 are always the same.

The water supply tank 14 is connected to a water supply pipe 16 for supplying ice-making water, a water supply valve 17 for turning on / off the supply of ice-making water to the water supply tank 14, and a water level sensor 18 for detecting the amount of water stored in the water supply tank 14. Is provided. The water supply valve 17 is an electromagnetic water supply valve that opens and closes the valve body by an electric signal from a control unit (not shown). Further, the water level sensor 18 is a float that moves up and down with the vertical movement of the water level in the water supply tank 14 (hereinafter, the same reference numerals as those of the water level sensor 18), and the float 18 in the water supply tank 14 It is a float type water level sensor that detects the water level by height.

The water supply tank 14 includes a tank body 19 for storing ice-making water, and a removable lid 20 provided at the upper opening of the tank body 19. The lid 20 has a water supply valve fixing hole 22 for fixing a water supply valve mounting pipe 21 made of a rubber hose extending from the water supply valve 17, and a sensor fixing for fixing the sensor mounting pipe 23 extending from the water level sensor 18. A hole 24 is formed. The water supply valve fixing hole 22 and the sensor fixing hole 24 are provided with holding mechanisms 25 and 26 for holding the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 and the sensor mounting pipe 23 at predetermined insertion positions.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the holding mechanism 25 of the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 includes a water discharge pipe 27 connected to the water supply valve 17 and a first water supply valve mounting pipe 21 formed on the water supply valve mounting pipe 21. It is composed of a step portion 28, a cylindrical receiving portion 29 formed on the lid 20, a second step portion 30 formed on the receiving portion 29, and a retaining portion 31.

A water pipe flange 32 that expands in diameter outward in the radial direction is formed at the lower end of the water pipe 27. The water discharge pipe 27 is connected to the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 from the upper end side thereof. Then, when the water pipe flange 32 comes into contact with the first step portion 28, the water pipe 27 is prevented from being inserted more than a predetermined value. As described above, since the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 is made of an elastic material (rubber), when the water discharge pipe 27 is inserted into the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 and connected, the water discharge pipe flange formed on the water discharge pipe 27 is formed. A bulging portion 33 that bulges outward in the radial direction is formed in the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 corresponding to the insertion position of 32.

The retaining portion 31 is formed by push-cutting at two positions symmetrical about the center of the axis so as to project above the second step portion 30 of the receiving portion 29 toward the inner diameter side thereof (see FIG. 3). The water supply valve mounting pipe 21 into which the water discharge pipe 27 is inserted is inserted until the first step portion 28 formed on the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 and the second step portion 30 formed on the receiving portion 29 come into contact with each other. When connected, the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 is prevented from being pulled out from the receiving portion 29 by the contact between the retaining portion 31 and the bulging portion 33.

The distance between the upper end of the second step portion 30 formed in the receiving portion 29 and the lower end of the retaining portion 31 is substantially the same as the vertical width of the bulging portion 33 formed in the water supply valve mounting pipe 21. .. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rattling of the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 connected to the receiving portion 29 in the insertion direction as much as possible. Further, since the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 is supported on the entire inner surface of the receiving portion 29, wobbling (inclination from the vertical axis) of the water supply valve mounting pipe 21 can be prevented as much as possible.

The upper end of the receiving portion 29 and the lid 20 are connected by a tapered portion 34 that inclines downward from the upper end of the receiving portion 29 toward the lid 20, and the tank main body is below the tapered portion 34. A space facing 19 is formed. Therefore, a space is secured around the water spout (the lower end of the water supply valve mounting pipe 21), and water can be smoothly supplied from the water spout to the water supply tank 14.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the holding mechanism 26 of the sensor mounting tube 23 has a mounting tube flange 35 formed on the sensor mounting tube 23 so as to project outward in the radial direction, and a lower surface of the lid 20. It is composed of an abutting portion 36 formed downward from the lid and a retaining portion 37 extending downward from the lower surface side of the lid 20.

The mounting pipe flange 35 is formed at the upper end of the sensor mounting pipe 23 that guides the float 18 in a vertically movable manner. The sensor mounting tube 23 is provided with a stopper (not shown) for preventing the float 18 from falling off from its lower end, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the vertical position of the float 18.

The sensor mounting tube 23 is inserted into a through hole formed in the center of the contact portion 36 from below the lid body 20. Then, when the mounting pipe flange 35 comes into contact with the lower surface of the contact portion 36, the sensor mounting pipe 23 is prevented from being inserted more than a predetermined value. The retaining portion 37 is a hook-shaped member having a hook portion facing inward. The retaining portion 37 elastically expands outward due to contact with the upper end of the mounting pipe flange 35, and receives the mounting pipe flange 35 from below. On the other hand, after passing through the mounting pipe flange 35, it narrows inward again, and the engagement between the hook portion and the lower end of the mounting pipe flange 35 prevents the sensor mounting pipe 23 once connected from being pulled out (falling off). Has the function of

The size of the gap between the hook portion of the retaining portion 37 and the lower end portion of the contact portion 36 is substantially the same as the vertical width of the mounting pipe flange 35. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rattling of the sensor mounting pipe 23 inserted in the through hole formed in the contact portion 36 in the insertion direction as much as possible, and accurately detect the water level in the water supply tank 14. be able to.

In this configuration, since the sensor mounting tube 23 is inserted from below the lid body 20, a large hole for passing the float 18 is formed in the lid body 20 to close this hole after the float 18 is installed. You can save time and effort. Around the sensor fixing hole 24 for fixing the sensor mounting tube 23, there is a hole for pushing through when forming the sensor fixing hole 24, but this hole is closed by a seal member or the like.

The ice making section 11 includes a tubular ice making cylinder 13. Inside the ice making cylinder 13, ice making water is supplied through a connecting pipe 15 connecting the water supply tank 14 and the ice making cylinder 13. A refrigerant pipe 38 through which a cooling refrigerant flows is spirally wound around the outer circumference of the ice making cylinder 13. The ice making cylinder 13 and the refrigerant pipe 38 are covered with a cover 39. Urethane foam resin is provided as a heat insulating material 40 in the gap between the ice making cylinder 13 and the cover 39. When the ice making cylinder 13 is cooled by flowing a refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 38, film-like ice is formed on the inner surface of the ice making cylinder 13.

Inside the ice making cylinder 13, an auger 41 is provided coaxially with the ice making cylinder 13. The auger 41 is rotationally driven around an axis by a motor (not shown) provided on the lower side of the auger 41 via a plurality of gears (not shown). A spiral rotary blade 42 is provided on the outer circumference of the auger 41. When the auger 41 is rotated around the axis, the film-like ice formed on the inner surface of the ice making cylinder 13 is scraped off by the rotary blade 42. The scraped ice pieces are conveyed to the upper end side of the ice making cylinder 13 by the rotary blade 42.

A fixed blade 43 is provided at the upper end of the ice making cylinder 13. The ice pieces conveyed by the rotary blade 42 are pressed against the fixed blade 43. Then, when it passes through the gap between the blades formed on the fixed blade 43, it is compressed and compacted.

An agitator 44, which is fixed to the upper end of the auger 41 and rotates about an axis together with the auger 41, is provided on the upper portion of the fixed blade 43. The agitator 44 is provided with a pair of cutting rods 45 at the center of the rotation axis. The ice that has been compacted into a rod shape by passing through the fixed blade 43 is cut into ice (chip ice) of a predetermined size by a cutting rod 45 that rotates around the axis of the agitator 44.

The guide path 12 is provided on the upper side of the ice making cylinder 13. Below the guide path 12, a dew tray 46 for receiving the dew condensation water adhering to the guide path 12 and the like is provided.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the auger type ice maker 10 according to the present invention, and the subject of the present invention is that the water supply valve 17 and the water level sensor 18 are securely and easily attached to the lid 20 of the water supply tank 14. As long as it can be solved, the shape and the like of the constituent members can be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, an electromagnetic water supply valve is used as the water supply valve 17, and a float is used as the water level sensor 18, but the types of the water supply valve 17 and the water level sensor 18 are not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, the structure in which the holding mechanisms 25 and 26 are provided in both the water supply valve fixing hole 22 and the sensor fixing hole 24 is shown, but either the water supply valve fixing hole 22 or the sensor fixing hole 24 is provided. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the holding mechanisms 25 and 26 are provided.

10 Ogre type ice machine 11 Ice making part 12 Guideway 13 Ice making cylinder 14 Water supply tank 15 Connection pipe 16 Water supply pipe 17 Water supply valve 18 Water level sensor (float)
19 Tank body 20 Lid 21 Water supply valve mounting pipe 22 Water supply valve fixing hole 23 Sensor mounting pipe 24 Sensor fixing hole 25 (of water supply valve mounting pipe) Holding mechanism 26 (of sensor mounting pipe) Holding mechanism 27 Water discharge pipe 28 First stage Part 29 Receiving part 30 Second stage part 31 Retaining part 32 Water discharge pipe flange 33 Swelling part 34 Tapered part 35 Mounting pipe flange 36 Contact part 37 Retaining part 38 Refrigerator pipe 39 Cover 40 Insulation material 41 Auger 42 Rotary blade 43 Fixed blade 44 Agitator 45 Cutting rod 46 Dew pan

Claims (3)

An ice-making cylinder (13) that compresses and forms ice pieces conveyed by an auger (41) that rotates around an axis, and a water supply tank (water supply tank) that temporarily stores ice-making water supplied to the ice-making cylinder (13). 14) In an auger ice machine equipped with
The water supply tank (14) includes a tank body (19) and a lid (20) provided in the upper opening of the tank body (19).
A water supply valve that is connected to a water supply pipe (16) that supplies ice-making water to the lid (20) and extends from a water supply valve (17) that turns on and off the supply of ice-making water to the water supply tank (14). Sensor fixing that fixes the water supply valve fixing hole (22) that fixes the mounting pipe (21) and the sensor mounting pipe (23) that extends from the water level sensor (18) that detects the amount of water stored in the water supply tank (14). A hole (24) is formed,
A holding mechanism (25,) in which at least one of the water supply valve fixing hole (22) or the sensor fixing hole (24) holds the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) or the sensor mounting pipe (23) at a predetermined insertion position. An auger-type ice maker characterized by having 26). The holding mechanism (25) of the water supply valve mounting pipe (21)
A water discharge pipe (27) connected to the water supply valve (17) and inserted into the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) and having a water discharge pipe flange (32) formed at the lower end which expands in diameter outward in the radial direction.
A first step portion (28) formed in the water supply valve mounting pipe (21), to which the water discharge pipe (27) is connected from the upper end side and prevents the water discharge pipe (27) from being inserted more than a predetermined value.
A cylindrical receiving portion (29) provided on the lid (20) and to which the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) is connected from the upper end side.
Formed on the receiving portion (29) that comes into contact with the first step portion (28) formed on the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) and prevents the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) from being inserted more than a predetermined value. The second stage (30) and
In contact with the radial outward bulging portion (33) generated at the insertion position of the water pipe flange (32) of the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) due to the connection of the water pipe (27), A retaining portion (31) formed so as to prevent the water supply valve mounting pipe (21) once connected from being pulled out, protruding toward the inner diameter side of the receiving portion (29) above the second stage portion (30). )When,
The auger type ice maker according to claim 1. The holding mechanism (26) of the sensor mounting tube (23)
A mounting tube flange (35) formed on the sensor mounting tube (23) so as to project outward in the radial direction.
Contact that is formed downward on the lower surface of the lid (20) and abuts on the mounting tube flange (35) to prevent the sensor mounting tube (23) connected from below from being inserted more than a predetermined value. Part (36) and
The mounting tube flange (35) formed on the sensor mounting tube (23) extending downward from the lower surface side of the lid body (20) and connected from below is received from the lower side, and the mounting tube flange is received. A retaining portion (37) that prevents the sensor mounting tube (23) once connected from being pulled out by engaging with (35).
The auger type ice maker according to claim 1 or 2.

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