JP2022178589A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ice making device capable of generating ice on an ice making tray in a short time, and releasing ice without twisting the ice making tray.SOLUTION: An ice making device includes: a metal ice making tray 10 having a plurality of cells 12, 14, 16 with open top faces; a liquid supply part for supplying liquid to the cells 12, 14, 16; a cooler for cooling the ice making tray 10; and a rotation mechanism for rotating the ice making tray 10. When liquid is stored to the open top face of each first cell 12, an amount of stored liquid is higher than a specified amount K. When the ice making tray 10 is rotated by the rotation mechanism, and the open top face becomes from a state of being substantially horizontal to a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle, a part of liquid flows out from the first cell 12, and liquid of a substantially specified amount K remains in the first cell 12. When the ice making tray 10 is reversibly rotated by the rotation mechanism, and the open top face returns from a state of being inclined to a state of being substantially horizontal, a liquid level is positioned below the open top face of the first cell 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an ice making device that freezes liquid stored in an ice tray to make ice.

2. Description of the Related Art An ice making apparatus is known that stores liquid in each cell of an ice tray having a plurality of cells and freezes the liquid to produce ice. In such an ice-making device, a liquid is supplied to one cell out of a plurality of cells provided in an ice-making tray, a slit is provided in a partition section that partitions the cells, and another cell is provided through the slit. An ice-making device that supplies liquid to cells has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2021-46966 A

In the ice-making device described in Patent Document 1, the liquid existing in the region of the slit is also frozen, so the ice produced in each cell is connected to each other at the slit. In the ice-making device described in Patent Document 1, the ice-making tray is made of resin, and by twisting the ice-making tray using the rotation mechanism of the ice-making tray, even if the ice is integrally connected, the ice is released from the ice-making tray. can be made

In recent years, there has been a demand for an ice-making apparatus that can produce ice in a short period of time. In order to improve cooling efficiency, it is effective to use a metal ice-making tray with high thermal conductivity. However, since the metal ice tray cannot be twisted, it is difficult to de-ice the integrally connected ice as described in Patent Document 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide an ice making apparatus capable of making ice in an ice tray in a short time and removing ice without twisting the ice tray. .

The ice making device of the present invention is
a metal ice tray having a plurality of cells with an open top;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the cell;
a cooling device for cooling the ice tray;
a rotation mechanism for rotating the ice tray;
with
a first cell among the plurality of cells;
When liquid is supplied from the liquid supply section to at least one of the first cells while the upper surface of the opening of the cell is substantially horizontal, the liquid flows over the partition section between the cells and into the other cells. and when the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of each of the first cells, the amount of the stored liquid is larger than a specified amount,
When the rotating mechanism rotates the ice tray so that the upper surface of the opening is tilted at a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state, part of the liquid flows out from the first cell, A substantially specified amount of liquid remains in the cell of
When the rotating mechanism reversely rotates the ice tray to return the top surface of the opening from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid surface is positioned below the top surface of the opening of the first cell. characterized by

If the ice tray is made of metal, it has a high heat transfer rate, so ice can be produced in a short time, but the ice tray cannot be twisted. When the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply part to at least one first cell and is supplied to other cells over the partition part, the liquid remains on the partition part due to the surface tension of the liquid, and the liquid When the cell is frozen, there is a risk that the ice in each cell will be connected. In this case, since the ice tray cannot be twisted, even if the ice tray is heated to melt the portion of the ice in contact with the inner surface of the cell, the ice cannot be easily released from the cell.

In the present invention, the ice tray is rotated so that the upper surface of the opening of the cell is inclined, part of the liquid is discharged from the first cell, and a substantially prescribed amount of liquid is left in the first cell, and the upper surface of the opening is substantially By returning to the horizontal state, the liquid surface can be positioned below the upper surface of the opening of the first cell. Therefore, in the first cell, a substantially prescribed amount of ice can be generated without being connected to each other. Thus, by heating the metal ice tray, the ice in the first cell can be deiced without twisting the ice tray.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ice making apparatus capable of making ice in an ice tray in a short time and removing ice without twisting the ice tray.

Further, the ice making device of the present invention is
the plurality of cells include a second cell in which the position of the top surface of the opening is lower than the position of the top surface of the opening of the first cell;
a liquid distribution channel having an inclined bottom surface is formed in the ice tray;
when the upper surface of the opening is inclined by a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed out of the first cell flows into the liquid distribution channel and flows downward through the liquid distribution channel;
It is characterized in that, when the upper surface of the opening is returned from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed downward through the liquid distribution channel flows into the second cell.

According to the present invention, by inclining the upper surface of the opening and returning it to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid can flow from the first cell to the second cell through the liquid distribution channel. The liquid flows into the second cell side at a predetermined speed because of the flow due to the gravity on the slope of the distribution channel and the rotation of the ice tray. Therefore, even when the liquid flows from the second cell on the liquid distribution channel side to the other second cell over the partition, the liquid does not remain on the partition. Therefore, even in the second cell, the generated ice does not connect with each other. Thus, by heating the metal ice tray, the ice in the second cell can also be deiced without twisting the ice tray.

Further, the ice making device of the present invention is
when the upper surface of the opening of the cell is substantially horizontal and the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of the second cell, the amount of the stored liquid is substantially the same as the specified amount;
When a specified amount of liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit to the total number of the cells provided in the ice tray, the liquid flows from the first cell into the second cell, thereby causing the A substantially prescribed amount of liquid is stored in the second cell, and the liquid surface is substantially coincident with the position of the upper surface of the opening of the second cell.

According to the present invention, when the upper surface of the opening is tilted and returned to a substantially horizontal position, liquid flows from the first cell into the second cell, and a substantially prescribed amount of liquid is stored in the second cell. , the liquid surface substantially coincides with the position of the upper surface of the opening of the second cell. As a result, a substantially prescribed amount of ice that is not connected to each other can be generated in the first cell and the second cell.

Further, the ice making device of the present invention is
further comprising a heating unit for heating the ice tray,
The cell has an inner surface shape that narrows from the top surface of the opening toward the bottom,
After the liquid in the cell is frozen to form ice, the heating unit heats the ice tray, and the rotating mechanism rotates the ice tray so that the upper surface of the opening is changed from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. It is characterized in that deicing is performed by making it a good state.

According to the present invention, since the ice produced in each cell is not connected, the ice can be removed by heating the ice tray without twisting the ice tray. If the ice tray is rotated approximately 180 degrees so that the upper surface of the opening faces downward, the surface tension of the melted liquid existing on the outer surface of the ice may trap the ice within the cell. However, in the present invention, by making the upper surface of the opening substantially vertical, a gap is generated between the upper inner surface of the inclined inner surfaces of the cell and the outer surface of the ice, which is affected by the surface tension of the liquid. Instead, the ice moves downward along the lower inner surface of the cell and falls. Thereby, deicing can be performed smoothly.

Further, the ice making device of the present invention is
It is characterized in that a predetermined region from the tip of the cooled rod-shaped member is arranged so as to be immersed in the liquid filled in the cell.

According to the invention, the liquid in the cells is cooled from the outside by the chilled ice tray, and also from the inside by the bars submerged in the liquid. Thereby, ice can be efficiently made in a short time.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ice making apparatus capable of making ice in an ice tray in a short time and removing ice without twisting the ice tray.

1 is a perspective view of an ice making device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view seen from arrow A in FIG. 1; It is the perspective view which looked at the ice tray which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from diagonally upper side. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a prescribed amount of liquid is stored in each cell of the ice tray shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice tray according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from below; FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a section BB of FIG. 4; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a section CC of FIG. 4; 5 is a sectional view showing section DD of FIG. 4; FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing a cross section similar to FIG. 6A, showing that the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply part to one of the first cells and flows into the other first cells over the partition. It is a diagram. FIG. 7B shows the flow of liquid from the first cell into the intermediate cell over the partition after the condition shown in FIG. 7A; In the first example, after the state shown in FIG. 7B , the liquid flows over the partition from the intermediate cell into the second cell, and the supply of liquid from the liquid supply section is stopped. In the second example, after the state shown in FIG. 7B, the liquid flows over the partition from the intermediate cell into the second cell, and the supply of liquid from the liquid supply section is stopped. FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing a cross section similar to the cross section EE of FIG. 5, showing a state in which liquid is stored up to the top surface of the opening of the first cell, with the top surface of the opening being substantially horizontal. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the liquid surface level of the liquid stored in the first cell when the ice tray is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 8A and the upper surface of the opening is inclined by a predetermined angle. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing the liquid surface level of the liquid stored in the first cell when the ice tray is reversely rotated from the state shown in FIG. 8B and the top surface of the opening is returned to a substantially horizontal state. Fig. 10 schematically shows how ice is removed by rotating the ice tray.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the ice making machine described below is for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following unless there is a specific description. In each drawing, members having the same function may be given the same reference numerals. In consideration of the explanation of the main points or the ease of understanding, the embodiments and examples may be shown separately for convenience, but the configurations shown in different embodiments and examples can be partially replaced or combined. The sizes and positional relationships of members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. The vertical direction in the following description and drawings indicates the vertical direction in a three-dimensional space.

(Ice making device according to one embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice making device 2 according to one embodiment of the invention. 2 is a side view seen from arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ice tray 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a specified amount of liquid is stored in each cell of the ice tray shown in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ice tray 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from below. 6A is a sectional view showing section BB of FIG. 4. FIG. 6B is a sectional view showing section CC of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing section DD of FIG. FIG. 6C shows a cross-section between two rows of cells 12, 14, 16. FIG.

First, an overview of an ice making device 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6C. An ice making device 2 according to this embodiment is installed in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator. Using the cooling mechanism of the refrigerator, cold air that has passed through the evaporator is applied to the ice tray 10 to make ice. That is, in this embodiment, the cooling mechanism of the refrigerator is used as the cooling device for cooling the ice tray 10 .

The ice tray 10 is provided with eight cells 12, 14, 16. - 特許庁A drive-side rotary shaft 22A and a rotary shaft 22B are projected from the outer surface of the ice tray 10 . The drive-side rotating shaft 22A is attached to the drive shaft of the driving portion 20A of the rotating mechanism 20, and the rotating shaft 22B is attached to the bearing portion 20B of the rotating mechanism 20. As shown in FIG. 20 A of drive parts are equipped with an electric motor, and can rotate the ice tray 10 with the driving force of an electric motor.

Ice tray 10 is made of a metal material. As the metal material, it is preferable to use aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or the like, which is lightweight and has high thermal conductivity. However, it is not limited to this, and any other metal material can be used. For example, an ice tray 10 having cells 12, 14, 16 separated by partitions can be formed by pressing a sheet metal. The ice tray 10 according to this embodiment has four first cells 12 , two intermediate cells 14 and two second cells 16 . Each cell 12, 14, 16 has an inner surface shape that narrows from the top of the opening toward the bottom. As a result, when the liquid in the cells 12, 14, 16 freezes, ice having a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape with curved surface portions connected is generated.

Further, on the lateral sides of the cells 12, 14, 16, liquid distribution channels 18 with inclined bottom surfaces are formed. As shown in FIG. 6B, the bottom surface of the liquid distribution channel 18 is inclined so that the first cell 12 side is higher and the second cell 16 side is lower.

The four first cells 12 are partitioned by partitions 12A. A partition portion 14A partitions between the two intermediate cells 14 . The two second cells 16 are separated by a partition 16A. A first intermediate partition portion P partitions between the first cell 12 and the intermediate cell 14 . A second intermediate partition Q partitions between the intermediate cell 14 and the second cell 16 . The cells 12 , 14 , 16 and the liquid distribution channel 18 are partitioned by a cell liquid distribution channel partition portion R.

The position of the top surface of the opening of the first cell 12 is defined by the position of the top of the partition 12A. Similarly, the position of the upper open surface of the intermediate cell 14 is defined by the upper position of the partition 14A, and the position of the upper open surface of the second cell 16 is defined by the upper position of the partition 16A. Therefore, when the upper surfaces of the openings are horizontal, the first cell 12, the intermediate cell 14, and the second cell 16 can store liquid up to the positions of the upper surfaces of the openings corresponding to the positions of the partitions 12A, 14A, and 16A. can.

The position of the upper portion of the partition portion 12A is substantially the same as the position of the upper portion of the first intermediate partition portion P. As shown in FIG. The positions of the upper portions of the partition portion 14A and the partition portion 16A are lower than the positions of the upper portions of the partition portion 12A and the first intermediate partition portion P. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the positions of the upper surfaces of the openings of the intermediate cells 14 and the second cells 16 are lower than the position of the upper surface of the openings of the first cell 12 .

A first example (see FIG. 7C) in which the upper position of the second intermediate partition Q is set slightly lower than the upper positions of the partition 12A and the first intermediate partition P, and the second intermediate partition A second example in which the position of the upper portion of the portion Q is substantially the same as the positions of the upper portions of the partition portion 14A and the partition portion 16A and lower than the upper portions of the partition portion 12A and the first intermediate partition portion P (see FIG. 7D ). The difference in liquid flow between the first and second examples will be described in detail later.

The position of the upper portion of the cell liquid distribution channel partition R is slightly higher than the position of the opening of the first cell 12 in the area of the first cell 12 . On the other hand, in the region of the second cell 16, especially in the end region, the height of the cell distribution channel partition R is close to zero, and the position of the top opening of the second cell 16 and the position of the bottom of the distribution channel 18 are substantially the same.

A liquid supply port of a liquid supply section 40 (see FIG. 7A, etc.) is arranged above one first cell 12 positioned at the end. Liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 40 to the first cell 12 , and finally the cells 12 , 14 , 16 of the ice tray 10 store a specified amount of liquid. The manner in which the prescribed amount of liquid is delivered to each cell 12, 14, 16 will be described later. As the liquid stored in each cell 12, 14, 16, any liquid such as drinking water and sweet drinking water can be used.

The ice tray 10, in which a prescribed amount of liquid is stored in each of the cells 12, 14, and 16, is cooled by cold air having a temperature below freezing, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. As a result, the liquid stored in each cell 12, 14, 16 is frozen to produce ice. The metal ice tray 10 has higher thermal conductivity than resin ice trays, and the thickness of the wall can be made thinner, so ice can be efficiently made in a short time. As described above, in this embodiment, cold air that has passed through the evaporator of the refrigerator is applied to the ice tray 10 to make ice.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the metal ice tray 10, ice can be produced using the cooling unit 30 having the rod-shaped member 32B. The cooling section 30 has a cooling member 32 and a heat sink 34 . The cooling member 32 has a plate-like portion 32A and a plurality of rod-like members 32B projecting from the lower surface of the plate-like portion 32A. The heat sink 34 has a structure in which a plurality of cooling fins are erected on a metal plate. The upper surface of the plate-like portion 32A of the cooling member 32 is in contact with the lower surface of the heat sink 34, and the rod-like member 30B protrudes from the lower surface of the plate-like portion 32A. A predetermined area from the tip of the rod-shaped member 32B is arranged so as to be immersed in the liquid filled in each cell 12, 14, 16. As shown in FIG.

The cooling member 32 having the plate-like portion 32A and the rod-like member 30B and the heat sink 34 are preferably made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, or the like having high thermal conductivity. In this embodiment, the heat sink 34 has an air-cooled structure with cooling fins, but a heat sink having a liquid-cooled structure in which a coolant flows can also be used.

Cold air flows between each cooling fin of the heat sink 34 to cool the heat sink 34, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. The heat conduction cools the plate-like portion 32A from the heat sink 34, and further cools the rod-like member 32B attached to the plate-like portion 32A to a temperature below freezing. As a result, the liquid in which the rod-shaped member 32B is soaked freezes from around the outer surface of the rod-shaped member 32B.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a predetermined area from the tip of the cooled rod-shaped member 32B is arranged so as to be immersed in the liquid stored in the cells 12, 14, and 16. FIG. Thus, the liquid in the cells 12, 14, 16 is cooled from the inside by the liquid-immersed bar 32B in addition to being cooled from the outside by the cooled metal ice tray 10. FIG. Thereby, ice can be efficiently made in a short time. With a conventional ice machine, it took 60 minutes to produce 80 cc of ice even with quick freezing, but the ice machine 2 according to the present embodiment can produce 80 cc of ice in 20 minutes.

As shown in FIG. 5, a linear heater 50 is arranged on the bottom surface of the ice tray 10 so as to surround each cell 12, 14, 16. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a silicon or vinyl chloride cord heater is used. However, it is not limited to this, and a PTC heater, a ceramic heater, a Peltier element, or the like can also be used. In the case of a resin-made ice tray, the ice formed in the cells can be removed by twisting the ice tray using a rotation mechanism. However, in this embodiment, since the ice tray 10 is made of metal, it cannot be twisted. Therefore, after the ice is made, by heating the ice tray 10 with the heater 50 and tilting the ice tray 10 using the rotating mechanism 20, the ice can be reliably removed. A detailed deicing method will be described later in detail. Similarly, the rod-shaped member 32B of the cooling member 32 is also heated by the heater 50.

In this embodiment, the cooling unit 30 having the rod-shaped member 32B is provided. However, there may be a case where the cooling unit 30 is not provided and ice is made only with the metal ice tray 10 exposed to cold air. Also, in the present embodiment, the ice tray 10 has eight cells 12, 14, and 16, but the ice tray 10 is not limited to this, and an ice tray 10 having any other number of cells can be used.

The ice making device 2 according to this embodiment is installed in a refrigerator, but is not limited to this. In some cases, the ice making device 2 has its own cooling device for cooling the ice tray 10 and the cooling unit 30 and is separate from the refrigerator.

(Liquid delivery method to cell)
<First step>
FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically showing a cross section similar to FIG. 6A, in which the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply section 40 to one of the first cells 12 and crosses the partition section 12A to the other first cell. Flow into cell 12 is shown. FIG. 7B shows flow from the first cell 12 to the intermediate cell 14 over the first intermediate partition P after the state shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C shows that in the first example, after the state shown in FIG. 7B, the liquid crosses the second intermediate partition Q and flows from the intermediate cell 14 into the second cell 16, and the liquid from the liquid supply section 40 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where supply has stopped; FIG. 7D shows, in the second example, after the state shown in FIG. 7B , the liquid crosses the second intermediate partition Q and flows from the intermediate cell 14 into the second cell 16, and the liquid from the liquid supply section 40 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where supply has stopped; In the second intermediate partition Q shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the dotted line indicates the case of the first example, and the solid line indicates the case of the second example.

Referring to Figures 7A-7D, a description of the first step in the method of distributing fluid to each cell 12, 14, 16 is provided. First, liquid is supplied to one of the first cells 12 from the liquid supply port of the liquid supply unit 40 . However, the liquid may be supplied from the liquid supply section 40 to the plurality of first cells 12 . Assuming that the specified amount of liquid stored in one cell is K, the amount of liquid to be supplied is 8K, which is obtained by multiplying K by 8, which is the total number of cells 12, 14, and 16. Here, the case where the specified amount K is set to 10 cc and 80 cc of liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 40 will be described as an example.

As the liquid supply part 40 is supplied to one first cell 12, the liquid surface reaches the upper surface of the opening, and the liquid flows over the partition part 12A into another first cell 12. FIG. This state is shown in FIG. 7A. If the liquid supply by the liquid supply part 40 is continued, the liquid surface of the four first cells 12 reaches the upper surface of the opening. The amount of liquid stored in each first cell 12 when the liquid surface reaches the top surface of the opening of the first cell 12 is 12.5 cc. Thus, the four first cells 12 store 12.5 cc×4=50 cc of liquid.

The position of the upper part of the partition part 12A that partitions the first cells 12, that is, the position of the top opening of the first cell 12, and the first intermediate partition part P that partitions the first cell 12 and the intermediate cell 14 The position of the upper part is substantially the same. The position of the upper portion of the cell liquid distribution channel partition R is slightly higher than the position of the upper surface opening of the first cell 12 in the region of the first cell 12 . If the liquid supply by the liquid supply part 40 is continued, the liquid crosses over the first intermediate partition part P and flows from the first cell 12 into the intermediate cell 14 . This state is shown in FIG. 7B.

[First example]
In the first example shown in FIG. 7C, the position of the upper portion of the partition portion 14A that partitions between the intermediate cells 14, that is, the position of the upper surface opening of the intermediate cell 14 is the position of the upper portion of the partition portion 12A and the first intermediate partition portion P lower than the upper position of the The upper position of the second intermediate partition Q that partitions between the intermediate cell 14 and the second cell 16 is set slightly lower than the upper position of the partition 12A and the upper position of the first intermediate partition P. . The position of the upper portion of the cell distribution channel partition R is substantially the same as the position of the upper portion of the second intermediate partition Q in the area of the intermediate cell 14 .

When the liquid supply unit 40 continues to supply the liquid, the liquid flows over the partition 14A to the other intermediate cells 14, and the liquid surface of the two intermediate cells 14 exceeds the height of the partition 14A and reaches the second level. It reaches the upper part of the intermediate partition Q. The amount of liquid stored in each intermediate cell 14 when the liquid level reaches the upper portion of the partition portion 14A is 10 cc. The amount of liquid held is about 11 cc, slightly less than 12.5 cc. Thus, the two intermediate cells 14 store approximately 11 cc×2=22 cc of liquid.

When liquid supply by the liquid supply unit 40 is continued, the liquid crosses over the second intermediate partition Q and flows from the intermediate cell 14 into the second cell 16 . Then, when 8 cc of liquid flows into the second cell 16, 80 cc of liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 40 and the liquid supply is stopped. This state is shown in FIG. 7C. That is, in the first step of the first example, the first cells 12 each contain 12.5 cc of liquid, the intermediate cells 14 each contain 11 cc of liquid, and the second cells 16 each contain 12.5 cc of liquid. , a state in which 4 cc of liquid is stored is formed.

[Second example]
Also in the second example shown in FIG. lower than the upper position of the The position of the upper part of the second intermediate partition Q that partitions between the intermediate cell 14 and the second cell 16 is substantially the same as the position of the upper part of the partition 14A, and the position of the upper part of the partition 12A and the first intermediate partition It is lower than the upper position of P. The position of the upper portion of the cell liquid distribution channel partition R is slightly higher than the position of the upper surface opening of the intermediate cell 14 in the area of the intermediate cell 14 .

When the liquid supply by the liquid supply part 40 is continued, the liquid flows over the partition part 14A to the other intermediate cells 14, and the liquid surface of the two intermediate cells 14 reaches the opening upper surface corresponding to the upper part of the partition part 14A. reach. The amount of liquid stored in each intermediate cell 14 when the liquid surface reaches the upper surface of the opening of the intermediate cell 14 is 10 cc. Thus, in two intermediate cells 14, 10 cc×2=20 cc of liquid are stored.

When liquid supply by the liquid supply unit 40 is continued, the liquid crosses over the second intermediate partition Q and flows from the intermediate cell 14 into the second cell 16 . Then, when 10 cc of the liquid has flowed into the second cell 16, 80 cc of the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply section 40 and the liquid supply is stopped. This state is shown in FIG. 7D. That is, in the first step of the second example, the first cells 12 each contain 12.5 cc of liquid, the intermediate cells 14 each contain 10 cc of liquid, and the second cells 16 each contain 10 cc of liquid. , a state in which 5 cc of liquid is stored is formed.

If there is no surface tension of the liquid, the capacity of each cell 12, 14, 16 (liquid amount when the liquid surface reaches the upper surface of the opening) is formed to be a specified amount, and the liquid supply unit 40 When liquid is supplied to one cell, the liquid flows over the partitions 12A, 14A, 16A, P and Q, and a state in which a prescribed amount of liquid is stored in each of the cells 12, 14 and 16 can be created. However, in reality, the liquid remains on top of the partitions 12A, 14A, 16A, P and Q due to the presence of surface tension of the liquid. In this state, if the ice tray 10 is cooled and the liquid freezes, there arises a problem that the ice generated in each of the cells 12, 14, 16 is connected to each other. In order to solve this problem, the second step described below is performed in this embodiment.

<Second step>
FIG. 8A is a diagram schematically showing a cross section similar to the cross section EE of FIG. 5, showing a state in which the liquid is stored up to the top surface of the opening of the first cell 12 with the top surface of the opening being substantially horizontal. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing; 8B is a diagram showing the liquid level of the liquid stored in the first cell 12 when the ice tray 10 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 8A and the top surface of the opening is inclined by a predetermined angle. FIG. 8C is a view showing the liquid surface level of the liquid stored in the first cell 12 when the ice tray 10 is reversely rotated from the state shown in FIG. 8B and the upper surface of the opening is returned to a substantially horizontal state. be.

In the first step, when 80 cc of liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 40 and the supply of liquid stops, the liquid surface reaches the substantially horizontal opening upper surface of the first cell 12, and 12.5 cc of liquid is supplied to each cell. is stored. When the rotating mechanism 20 is used to rotate the ice tray 10 so that the upper surface of the opening is inclined by a predetermined angle shown in FIG. 8B from the substantially horizontal state shown in FIG. Approximately 2.5 cc of liquid flows out from the The liquid flows over the cell distribution channel partition R into the distribution channel 18 . The liquid flowing into the liquid distribution channel 18 flows along the inclined bottom surface toward the second cell 16 side.

Next, the rotation mechanism 20 is used to rotate the ice tray 10 in the opposite direction, and when the upper surface of the opening is inclined as shown in FIG. The liquid flowing downward through the liquid path 18 flows into the second cell 16 . In addition, as shown in FIG. 8C, in the first cells 12, the liquid surface is located below the upper surface of the opening, and 10 cc of liquid is stored in each first cell 12 .

In the intermediate cell 14 as well, when the top surface of the opening is tilted from a substantially horizontal state by a predetermined angle, part of the liquid stored in the intermediate cell 14 crosses the cell distribution channel partition R and is distributed. Outflow into the channel 18 .

[First example]
In the first example, 12.5 cc of liquid is stored in the first cell 12, about 11 cc in the second cell 14, and 4 cc in the cell 16 at the end of the first step. In this case, about 2.5 cc of liquid flows out of the first cells 12 and about 1 cc of liquid flows out of the intermediate cells 14 . The liquid flowing into the liquid distribution channel 18 flows along the inclined bottom surface toward the second cell 16 side. Then, when the upper surface of the opening returns from the inclined state to the substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed downward through the liquid distribution channel 18 flows into the second cell 16 . Further, in the intermediate cells 14, the liquid level becomes substantially the same as the level of the upper surface of the opening corresponding to the upper position of the partition portion 14A, and 10 cc of liquid is stored in each intermediate cell 14. FIG.

From the first cell 12, 2.5 cc×4=10 cc of liquid flows into the second cell 16 via the distribution channel 18, and from the intermediate cell 14, approximately 1 cc×2=2 cc of liquid flows into the second cell. flows into the cell 16 of From the liquid distribution channel 18, the liquid flows into the second cell 16 on the side of the liquid distribution channel 18, and when the liquid surface reaches the upper surface of the opening, it crosses the partition 16A and flows into the other second cell 16. do. Since 10 cc of liquid is stored when the liquid surface reaches the upper surface of the opening of the second cell 16, 10 cc of liquid is finally stored in each of the two second cells 16. will be

Thereby, a state in which 10 cc of liquid, which is the specified amount K, is stored in all the cells 12, 14, and 16 can be formed.

When the liquid flows from the distribution channel 18 into the second cell 16, the surface tension of the liquid may cause the liquid to remain on the partition 16A. However, considering the gravitational flow through the slanted distribution channel 18 and the flow caused by the rotation of the ice tray 10, it is believed that the liquid flows from the distribution channel 18 into the second cell 16 at a predetermined flow rate. Therefore, the liquid flow overcomes the surface tension, and almost no liquid exists on the partition 16A. Therefore, there is no danger that the ice produced in the individual cells 12, 14, 16 will join together.

[Second example]
In the second example, 12.5 cc of liquid is stored in each of the first cells 12, 10 cc in each of the intermediate cells 14, and 5 cc in each of the second cells 16 at the end of the first step. In this case, a predetermined amount of liquid flows out from the first cell 12 and the intermediate cell 14 to the liquid distribution channel 18 side. The amount of liquid that flows out is determined by the height of the cell distribution channel partition R. However, since 5 cc of liquid is stored in each of the second cells 16 , 10 cc of liquid flows into the second cells 16 from the first cells 12 through the liquid distribution passages 18 .

Therefore, 10 cc of liquid is stored in each of the second cells 16, and the liquid surface of the liquid reaches the upper surface of the opening of the second cell 16. As shown in FIG. Therefore, when the upper surface of the opening is inclined, the liquid flows out from the intermediate cell 14 to the liquid distribution channel 18 side. returns to each intermediate cell 14 over the cell distribution channel partition R. Therefore, also in the second example, a state in which 10 cc of liquid, which is the specified amount K, is stored in all the cells 12, 14, and 16 can be formed.

With 10 cc of liquid, which is the specified amount K, stored in all the cells 12, 14, and 16 of the ice tray 10, the ice tray 10 hit by cold air and the liquid in each cell 12, 14, 16 were submerged. Cooled by the cooled bar member 32B, the liquid in each cell 12, 14, 16 freezes in a short time, and a specified amount K of ice is produced.

As described above, the ice making apparatus 2 according to the above-described embodiment includes a metal ice tray 10 having a plurality of cells 12, 14, 16 with open tops, and supplies liquid to each of the cells 12, 14, 16. A liquid supply unit 40 , a cooling device for cooling the ice tray 10 , and a rotation mechanism 20 for rotating the ice tray 10 are provided. The first cell 12 is among the plurality of cells 12, 14, 16, and at least one of the first cells 12 is drawn from the liquid supply unit 40 in a state in which the upper surfaces of the openings of the respective cells 12, 14, 16 are substantially horizontal. , the liquid crosses the partitions 12A, 14A, 16A, P, Q between the cells 12, 14, 16 and flows into the other cells 12, 14, 16 to When the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of the cell 12, the amount of stored liquid is larger than the specified amount K, and the rotation mechanism 20 rotates the ice tray 10 so that the upper surface of the opening is at a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state. , a part of the liquid flows out from the first cell 12 and a substantially specified amount of liquid K remains in the first cell 12, and the rotating mechanism 20 rotates the ice tray 10 in the opposite direction. When the top surface of the opening is returned from the inclined state to the substantially horizontal state, the liquid surface is positioned below the top surface of the opening of the first cell 12 .

If the ice tray 10 is made of metal, the ice tray 10 cannot be twisted, although ice can be produced in a short period of time due to its high heat transfer rate. In the first step, when the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply part 40 to at least one first cell 12 and supplied to the other first cells 12 beyond the partition part 12A, the surface tension of the liquid , the liquid may also remain on the partition 12A.

However, in the second step, the ice tray 10 is rotated so that the upper surface of the opening is inclined, and part of the liquid flows out from the first cell 12, and the first cell 12 is filled with a substantially prescribed amount K of liquid. The liquid surface can be positioned below the top surface of the opening of the first cell 12 by returning the top surface of the opening to a substantially horizontal state. As a result, in the first cell 12, ice of approximately the specified amount K can be generated without being connected to each other. As a result, by heating the metal ice tray 10 or the like, the ice in the first cells 12 can be deiced without twisting the ice tray 10 .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the ice making device 2 that can make ice in the ice tray 10 in a short time and remove ice without twisting the ice tray 10 .

In the ice making device 2 according to the above-described embodiment, the plurality of cells 12, 14, and 16 include the second cell 16 whose top opening position is lower than the top opening position of the first cell 12, and the ice tray A distribution channel 18 having an inclined bottom surface is formed in 10 . When the upper surface of the opening is tilted by a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state, the liquid flowing out from the first cell 12 flows into the liquid distribution channel 18, flows downward through the liquid distribution channel 18, and the upper surface of the opening is tilted. When the liquid distribution path 18 is returned to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed downward through the liquid distribution channel 18 flows into the second cell 16 .

When the upper surface of the opening is returned to a substantially horizontal state, liquid flows from the first cell 12 to the second cell 16 via the liquid distribution channel 18 . Since the flow is caused by the inclination of the liquid distribution channel 18 and the rotation of the ice tray 10, the liquid flows into the second cell 16 side at a predetermined speed. Therefore, even when the liquid flows from the second cell 16 on the liquid distribution path 18 side to the other second cell 16 over the partition 16A, almost no liquid remains on the partition 16A. As a result, even in the second cell 16, the generated ice does not connect with each other. Therefore, by heating the metal ice tray 10, the ice in the second cell 16 can be deiced without twisting the ice tray 10. - 特許庁

In the case of the above-described first example, when the upper surface of the opening of the intermediate cell 14 is also inclined by a predetermined angle, a part of the liquid flows out from the intermediate cell 14 and enters the intermediate cell 14 by a substantially specified amount K. of liquid remains, and when the upper surface of the opening is returned to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid surface becomes substantially the same as the upper surface of the opening of the intermediate cell 14 . Here, the position of the upper part of the partition part 14A is substantially the same as the position of the upper part of the partition part 12A, the first intermediate partition part P, and the second intermediate partition part Q, and the intermediate cell 14 is similar to the first cell 12. can also be formed into

In the case of the second example, when the upper surface of the opening is tilted, a part of the liquid flows out from the intermediate cell 14 in which a substantially specified amount K of liquid is stored toward the liquid distribution channel 18, and the upper surface of the opening flows out. When returned to a substantially horizontal state, the same amount of liquid that has flowed out returns to the intermediate cell 14, and the intermediate cell 14 is in a state where a substantially specified amount K of liquid is stored. At this time, the liquid level becomes substantially the same as the upper surface of the opening of the intermediate cell 14 .

In the first example and the second example, the rotation of the ice tray 10 causes the liquid to flow from the liquid distribution channel 18 side to the intermediate cell 14 side, and therefore has a predetermined flow rate. Therefore, even when liquid flows from the intermediate cell 14 on the side of the liquid distribution path 18 to another intermediate cell 14 over the partition 14A, almost no liquid remains on the partition 14A. As a result, even in the intermediate cells 14, the generated ice does not connect with each other.

Furthermore, in the ice making apparatus 2 according to the above-described embodiment, when the upper surfaces of the openings of the cells 12, 14, and 16 are substantially horizontal and the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of the second cell 16, the stored liquid is substantially the same as the specified amount K, and when the liquid supply unit 40 supplies the specified amount K of liquid to the total number of the cells 12, 14, and 16 provided in the ice tray 10, the second By the liquid flowing from the first cell 12 into the second cell 16, a substantially specified amount K of liquid is stored in the second cell 16, and the liquid level substantially coincides with the position of the upper surface of the opening of the second cell 16. will come to

According to this embodiment, when the upper surface of the opening is tilted and returned to a substantially horizontal position, the liquid flows from the first cell 12 into the second cell 16, and the liquid flows into the second cell 16 at a substantially specified amount K. of liquid is stored, and the liquid level substantially coincides with the position of the upper surface of the opening of the second cell 16 . As a result, it is possible to generate a substantially prescribed amount of ice in the first cell 12 and the second cell 16 that are not connected to each other.

(Deicing process)
FIG. 9 schematically shows how the ice tray 10 is rotated to remove ice. Next, referring to FIG. 9, a deicing process for removing the ice G produced as described above from the ice tray 10 will be described. After the ice G is generated in each cell 12, 14, 16, the heater (heating means) 50 arranged around the outer surface of each cell 12, 14, 16 is operated. As a result, the metal ice tray 10 is heated, and the regions of the ice G in contact with the inner surfaces of the cells 12, 14, 16 are melted. Also, the rod-shaped member 32B whose tip region is in the ice G is also heated by the heating means. As a result, the region of the ice G in contact with the outer surface of the rod-shaped member 32B is melted.

After that, the rotating mechanism 20 is driven to rotate the ice tray 10 from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. A gap S is formed between the inner surface located above each cell 12, 14, 16 and the ice G in a state where the upper surface of the opening is substantially vertical. As a result, the surface tension of the melted liquid existing on the surface of the ice G is released, and as indicated by the dotted line arrows, the ice G obliquely follows the inner surface located below each cell 12, 14, 16. Move downwards and fall downwards. Then, it is stored in an ice storage compartment arranged below the ice tray 10. - 特許庁

It is also conceivable to drive the rotation mechanism 20 to rotate the ice tray 10 by 180 degrees so that the upper surface of the opening faces directly downward. However, in that case, no gap is generated between the inner surface of each cell 12, 14, 16 and the ice G, so the surface tension of the melted liquid constrains the ice G within each cell 12, 14, 16. Therefore, there is a possibility that smooth deicing cannot be realized.

In this embodiment, as described above, the heater (heating unit) 50 for heating the ice tray 10 is provided, and each cell 12, 14, 16 has an inner surface shape that narrows from the top of the opening toward the bottom. Therefore, after the liquid in each cell 12, 14, 16 freezes and ice is generated, the ice tray 10 is heated by the heater (heating unit) 50, and the ice tray 10 is rotated by the rotating mechanism 20 to open the ice tray. Deicing can be performed by changing the upper surface from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. The inner surfaces of the cells 12, 14 and 16 of the ice tray 10 are preferably coated with a water-repellent resin or the like so as to facilitate deicing.

In this embodiment, the ice produced in each of the cells 12, 14, 16 is not connected, so by heating the ice tray 10, the ice can be removed without twisting the ice tray 10. FIG. In particular, by making the upper surface of the opening substantially vertical, a gap S is generated between the upper inner surface of the inclined inner surfaces of the cells 12, 14, and 16 and the outer surface of the ice G, so that the surface tension of the liquid The ice G moves downward along the lower inner surface of each cell 12, 14, 16 and falls without being constrained by the . Thereby, deicing can be performed smoothly.

Although embodiments and embodiments of the present invention have been described, the disclosure may vary in details of construction, and changes in the combination and order of elements in the embodiments and embodiments, etc., will not affect the claimed invention. without departing from the scope and spirit of

2 Ice making device 10 Ice tray 12 First cell 12A Partition 14 Intermediate cell 14A Partition 16 Second cell 16A Partition 18 Distribution channel 20 Rotation mechanism 20A Driving part 20B Bearing 22A Drive-side rotating shaft 22B Rotating shaft 30 Cooling part 32 Cooling member 32A Plate-like part 32B Rod-like member 34 Heat sink 40 Liquid supply part 50 Heater P First intermediate partition Q Second intermediate partition R Cell distribution channel partition G Ice S Gap

Claims (5)

a metal ice tray having a plurality of cells with an open top;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the cell;
a cooling device for cooling the ice tray;
a rotating mechanism for rotating the ice tray;
with
a first cell among the plurality of cells;
When liquid is supplied from the liquid supply section to at least one of the first cells while the top surface of the opening of the cell is substantially horizontal, the liquid flows over the partition section between the cells and into the other cells. and when the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of each of the first cells, the amount of the stored liquid is larger than a specified amount,
When the rotating mechanism rotates the ice tray so that the upper surface of the opening is tilted at a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state, part of the liquid flows out from the first cell, A substantially specified amount of liquid remains in the cell of
When the rotating mechanism reversely rotates the ice tray to return the top surface of the opening from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid surface is positioned below the top surface of the opening of the first cell. An ice-making device characterized by the plurality of cells include a second cell in which the position of the top surface of the opening is lower than the position of the top surface of the opening of the first cell;
a liquid distribution channel having an inclined bottom surface is formed in the ice tray;
when the upper surface of the opening is inclined by a predetermined angle from a substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed out of the first cell flows into the liquid distribution channel and flows downward through the liquid distribution channel;
2. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the upper surface of the opening is returned from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state, the liquid that has flowed downward through the liquid distribution passage flows into the second cell. . when the upper surface of the opening of the cell is substantially horizontal and the liquid is stored up to the upper surface of the opening of the second cell, the amount of the stored liquid is substantially the same as the specified amount;
When a specified amount of liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit to the total number of the cells provided in the ice tray, the liquid flows from the first cell into the second cell, thereby causing the 3. The ice making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a substantially prescribed amount of liquid is stored in the second cell, and the liquid level substantially coincides with the position of the upper surface of the opening of the second cell. further comprising a heating unit for heating the ice tray,
The cell has an inner surface shape that narrows from the top surface of the opening toward the bottom,
After the liquid in the cell is frozen to form ice, the heating unit heats the ice tray, and the rotating mechanism rotates the ice tray so that the upper surface of the opening is changed from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. 4. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein de-icing is performed by keeping the state of 5. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined area from the tip of the cooled bar member is immersed in the liquid stored in the cell.

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