JP2506166Y2 - Ice carrier - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice carrier device for carrying ice stored in an ice storage provided integrally with or separately from an automatic ice making machine or the like and discharging it from a discharge port. The present invention relates to a device for controlling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic ice machines, for example, for making cubic ice cubes (ice cubes) of several centimeters square are used at various places for various purposes. In such an automatic ice making machine, the ice cubes made in the ice making section are generally stored in an ice storage located below the ice making section, and are usually carried by an ice carrier to a discharge port outside the upper part of the automatic ice making machine, It is released from the outlet. Further, the ice storage may be separated from the automatic ice maker, and after the ice cubes are manually carried into the ice storage from the automatic ice maker, the ice cubes in the ice storage may be discharged by the above-described ice carrier.

For example, in FIG. 6, ice cubes 7 are discharged from a discharge port 5 of a discharge tower 3 provided upright on the ice storage 1 as needed. That is, whether it is attached to an automatic ice machine, or
An ice carrier (not shown) is provided in the ice storage 1 and the discharge tower 3 above the ice storage 1 which are independently provided. For example, in a container such as a cup 9, when the lever switch 11 is pressed, the drive motor of the ice transport device is activated, and the ice cubes 7 transported from the inside of the ice storage 1 exit from the discharge port 5 and the inside of the cup 9 to go into. When it is determined that the required number or the required amount of ice cubes 7 has been entered, the cup 9 is pulled, the lever switch 11 returns, and the release of the ice cubes 7 is stopped. A push button switch or a foot switch may be used instead of the lever switch 11, but the operation is the same.

[0004]

As described above, even if the amount of ice cubes in the container is checked and the lever switch 11 or the like is turned off, the following ice cubes are falling or the inertia of the ice carrier device is increased. The movement causes the next ice cube to be conveyed and released, which results in an extra ice cube 13. The number of ice cubes 13 tends to increase as the transportation speed of the ice transportation device increases. If this conveying speed is reduced, there will be no ice cubes that jump out of the cup 9, but if the container is not a cup and is large, such as an ice pail or water pitcher, it will take time to release the required amount of ice cubes. There is a problem that it takes too much.

In order to solve this, it is conceivable that the drive motor of the ice carrier is of a variable speed type, but this causes another problem that the structure of the drive motor becomes complicated and the cost becomes high.

Further, a push button switch (not shown) is provided separately from the lever switch 11, and during the pressing operation of the push button switch, the ice carrier device is continuously operated at a relatively higher speed than when the lever switch 11 is operated. If it is made drivable and the lever switch 11 or the push button switch is selectively operated according to the purpose, there may be no problem that the ice cubes pop out of the cup 9 or that it takes too much time to release the ice cubes. . However, even if the operating time of the drive motor is simply controlled by the lever switch 11, it is not desirable to accurately control the amount of ice cubes released in units of numbers.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an ice carrier which can control the amount of ice cubes released when the intermittent operation switch is operated in units of a number.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an accurate amount of ice cubes without ejecting the ice cubes in the case of a small container, and to quickly fill the ice cubes with a large capacity container. The purpose is to provide a cost-effective ice transport device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the main object described above, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, there is provided an ice transport device for transporting ice stored in an ice storage and discharging it to the outside of the ice storage. An endless conveying member that circulates along at least a horizontal portion and a vertical ice carrying portion that extends upward from the horizontal portion, and is provided on the back side of the endless conveying member at a predetermined distance from the endless conveying member. It has a fixed guide and a drive control circuit in communication with the drive motor of the endless conveying member. For the endless transport member, an integer (n) of the dimension of the maximum side of the ice supplied to the ice storage
A plurality of horizontal bars provided at intervals of a predetermined pitch (P) slightly larger than twice in the ice transport direction are provided, and the drive control circuit includes an intermittent operation switch for starting an intermittent operation of the drive motor. , Drive motor intermittent operation time, P /
It is connected to a control device that controls a distance substantially equivalent to an integer (k) times n, based on the time required for the endless conveyance member to travel.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned another object,
In the ice carrier device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the drive control circuit is provided with a continuous operation switch for performing continuous operation of the drive motor, in priority to the intermittent operation switch during the operation. The drive motor is connected in such a manner that the drive motor can be driven.

[0011]

When the intermittent operation switch is pressed, the drive motor is driven and the endless conveying member circulates along the horizontal portion and the vertical ice carrying portion. Further, when the intermittent operation switch is operated, the control device provided in the drive control circuit starts operating to control the operation time of the drive motor.

The endless conveying member has an integral multiple n (n = 1, 2, 3, ...) Of the size of the maximum side of the ice supplied to the ice storage.
Preferably, a plurality of horizontal bars are provided at a predetermined pitch P, which is slightly larger than n ≦ 4 to 5) in the ice transport direction, so that the operation time of the drive motor is controlled by the above-mentioned predetermined value. If the distance corresponding to a multiple k of the pitch P / n is set based on the time required for the endless transport member to travel, ice cubes are discharged in units from the discharge port of the ice transport device.

Further, the drive motor of the ice carrier has a relatively large number of rotations, and when the continuous operation switch is pressed, the ice carrier moves quickly to discharge a large amount of ice cubes into a large container in a short time.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In FIG. 1, a discharge tower 3 is erected above the top plate 1a of the ice storage 1, and a discharge port 5 is provided on the lower surface of the horizontally extending portion of the discharge tower 3. . The release tower 3 has a lever switch 1 which is an intermittent operation switch.
1 and a push button switch 12 which is a continuous operation switch.

Since the ice transport device 20 according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 is provided in the discharge tower 3, the discharge tower 3 may be considered as a cover of this device.

In FIG. 2, a pair of endless chains 21
The plurality of horizontal bars 23 connected to both of them at predetermined intervals or at a pitch P form a conveyor belt (endless conveyor member) 25, and ice cubes are provided between the horizontal bars 23. Accept and transport. Since the size of ice cubes when supplied to the ice storage 1 and the interval between the horizontal bars 23 are determined for each device, the number of ice cubes that can be received therein is determined, and if the transport speed is given, the unit time The amount of ice carried per hit is also determined.

That is, an integral multiple n (n = 1, 2, ...) Of the dimension of the maximum side of cube ice cubes (not shown) that are received and conveyed between adjacent horizontal bars 23 with a pitch P. Is set to be slightly larger than n ≦ 4 to 5), and the distance between the endless chains 21 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the horizontal bar 23 is an integral multiple m of the size of the maximum side of the ice cube. (M = 1, 2, ..., Suitably m ≦ 2), the number of ice cubes entering between each horizontal bar 23 is nm. Therefore, if the ice carrier device 20 is intermittently operated for a time required for the horizontal bar 23 to move at a predetermined speed by a distance corresponding to an integer (k) times P / n, the ice-carrying amount for each intermittent operation is km. It becomes an individual.

1 and 2, the lower horizontal portion 27 of the ice transport device 20 is located at the bottom portion (not shown) of the ice storage 1, and the vertical ice carrying portion 29 (which extends upward from the horizontal portion 27). In the embodiment, it is perpendicular to the horizontal portion 27, but it is not always necessary and may be slightly inclined to the front side which is the left side in the plane of FIG. The ice discharging unit 31 of the ice carrier device 20 faces above the discharge port 5 and extends upward through the la 1a. The output shaft gear 35 of the drive motor 33 meshes with a drive gear 39 of a drive sprocket (not shown) similar to the sprocket 37, and when the push button switch 12 or the lever switch 11 is closed and power is supplied to the drive motor 33, the drive gear 33 is driven. Drive 39.

The conveyor belt 25, which is driven and circulated by the drive motor 33, receives a specified amount of ice cubes between the horizontal bars 23 in the horizontal portion 27, and the vertical conveyor portion 2 via the bending portion 41.
Enter 9 In this part, lift the ice cubes vertically upwards,
It reaches the discharge part 31 via a drive sprocket. Here, the ice cubes that have been conveyed are released. On the back side of the horizontal section 27 and the vertical ice carrying section 29, a substantially L-shaped fixed guide base 22a is arranged at a predetermined distance from the movement trajectory of the horizontal bar 23, and below the discharge section 31, the horizontal bar is similarly arranged. Another fixed guide base 22b is arranged at a predetermined distance from the movement trajectory of 23. Further, although not shown, appropriate guide members such as rolling sprockets and guide rails for facilitating and ensuring the movement of the conveyor belt 25 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows a sequence circuit (drive control circuit) for controlling the drive motor 33, in which the lever switch 11 and the push button switch 12 are connected in parallel. For example, when the lever switch 11 is closed by the cup 9 (see FIG. 1), the relay X ₁ is energized through the normally closed contact 43a (control device) of the timer 43 (control device), and the normally open contact X ₁₁ of the relay X ₁ is also applied. It is energized. That is, the timer normally closed contact 43
The relay X ₁ is self-held while a is closed. At the same time, the normally open contact X ₁₂ of the relay X ₁ is also closed, the drive motor 33 is energized, the drive motor 33 rotates, and the above-described ice-carrying operation is performed.

When the normally open contact X ₁₂ is closed, the timer 43 is energized through the normally closed contact X ₂₁ of the relay X ₂ and the timer 4
3 starts operation. If the set time has passed, the timer 43
By this action, the timer contact 43a is opened, the excitation of the relay X ₁ is completed, and the self-holding is released. That is, the intermittent operation ends.

Here, as described above, the pitch P is an integer multiple n (n = 1, n) of the maximum side dimension of cube ice cubes (not shown) received and conveyed between the adjacent horizontal bars 23.
2, ... It is preferably set to be slightly larger than n ≦ 4 to 5), and the interval between the endless chains 21 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the horizontal bar 23 is an integer of the dimension of the maximum side of the ice cube. Since it is set to be slightly larger than double m (m = 1, 2, ..., Preferably m ≦ 2), the number of ice cubes entering between each horizontal bar 23 is nm. Therefore,
If the timer 43 sets a time required for the horizontal bar 23 to move at a predetermined speed by a distance corresponding to an integer (k) times P / n, and the ice carrier device 20 is intermittently operated for this time,
The amount of ice carried for each intermittent operation is km . In the example of FIG. 2, n = 1, m = 2, and nm = 2, so k = 1,
That is, it is understood that if the endless chain 21 is intermittently operated at the predetermined pitch P, two ice cubes are released at one time.

On the other hand, when the push button switch 12 is pressed and closed, the relay X ₂ is excited, the normally open contact X ₂₂ of the relay X ₂ is closed, and the drive motor 33 is energized. That is, the ice carrying operation is performed. At the same time, the normally closed contact X ₂₁ opens, so the timer 43
If is active, it will be forced to stop. Since there is no timer in the power supply circuit using the push button switch 12,
The ice carrying device 20 is continuously operated while the push button switch 12 is closed. Although not shown, an element for suppressing the operation of the drive motor 33 can be connected to the above sequence circuit when the ice cubes are substantially not present in the ice storage 1 (FIG. 1), and You may install the warning lamp etc. which notify deterrence in an appropriate position.

Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lever switch 11 is connected to one input of the OR circuit 15 via a monostable or one-shot multivibrator 14 (control device), and the push button switch 12 is connected to another input of the OR circuit 15. There is.

The monostable multivibrator 14 outputs a pulse 14a having a predetermined adjustable width when a trigger pulse is input each time the lever switch 11 is pressed. When the pulse 14a is input to the OR circuit 15, A voltage is applied to the base of the transistor 16, and the relay 17 is excited by the output from the collector, so that the ice storage 1 (see FIG.
If the door (not shown) is closed, the drive motor 33 is energized via the closed safety switch 18. That is, in this embodiment, regarding the lever switch 11,
Ice is released during the generation of the pulse 14a due to the operation. Reference numerals 19a to 19c in the figure indicate resistors for adjusting current or voltage, of which resistors 19a and 19b can be connected to a power source.

When the push button switch 12 is pressed,
While the push button switch 12 is operating, the OR circuit 15,
As described above, the drive motor 33 is energized via the transistor 16, the relay 17, the switch 18, etc. to continuously release ice. The OR circuit 15 is the lever switch 1
When both 1 and the push button switch 12 are pressed, the signal of the push button switch 12 is prioritized as in the above-described embodiment.

As described above, since the size of the ice cubes and the distance between the horizontal bars 23 (see FIG. 2) are determined for each device,
The number of ice cubes to be received there is determined, and if the transportation speed is given, the number of ice transportation per unit time is also determined. Therefore, the width of the output pulse 14a of the monostable multivibrator 14 is set to drive the conveyor belt 25 (FIG. 2) by a distance substantially corresponding to an integer k times P / n, as in the first embodiment. If it is set so as to correspond to the time required, it is possible to secure an accurate ice-carrying quantity of km pieces for each intermittent operation.

According to still another embodiment, parts similar to those in FIG. 4 are omitted and as shown in FIG.
Instead of the timer 43 of FIG. 4 and the multivibrator 14 of FIG. Similarly, the drive motor 33 can be controlled.

That is, the sensor 44 may be a non-contact type such as a proximity switch or an optical encoder, or a contact type such as a micro switch, and is operated simultaneously with the operation of the lever switch 11. The sensor 44 passes the horizontal bar 23 shown in FIG. 2, rotates the sprocket 37, etc.,
When the rotation of the gears 35, 39 or the traveling distance of the endless chain 21 is detected and the signal is sent to the counter 45, the counter 45 integrates the signal. When the integrated value reaches a value substantially equivalent to k times P / n, the output signal is supplied to the drive motor 33 via the OR circuit 15 and the transistor 16 shown in FIG. I do.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the endless conveying member has an integral multiple n (n = 1, 2, 3, ...) Of the dimension of the maximum side of ice supplied to the ice storage. Preferably n ≦ 4 to
5) is provided with a plurality of horizontal bars spaced apart in the ice transport direction at a predetermined pitch P which is slightly larger than 5), and moreover, the control of the driving time of the drive motor by the control device is performed at the predetermined pitch P ÷ since the n approximately corresponds to the distance to a multiple k of the endless conveying member made based on the time required for traveling, for each operation of the intermittent operation switch, from the discharge port of the ice conveying device, ice cubes of km integers It can be reliably released in double units.

When a large amount of ice cubes is put in a large container, the continuous operation switch is pushed to obtain the necessary amount of ice cubes in a short time. When a small amount of ice cubes is obtained, the intermittent operation switch is used. As a result, as described above, it is possible to accurately release only the necessary amount of ice cubes in units of numbers.

Moreover, the structure of the present invention can be obtained by simply using the combination of the timer device and the relay circuit, the combination of the monostable multivibrator and the OR circuit, or the combination of the sensor and the counter, and therefore the cost is minimized. You can hold it down.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a partial side view showing the vicinity of a discharge port of an embodiment of an ice carrier according to the present invention.

2 is an overall perspective view showing a main part of the ice carrier device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a sequence circuit, that is, a drive control circuit for controlling the ice carrier device of FIG.

4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing another drive control circuit of the present invention for controlling the ice transport device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram showing another drive control circuit of the present invention for controlling the ice transport device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view showing a part of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ice storage 11 lever switch (intermittent operation switch) 12 push button switch (continuous operation switch) 14 monostable multivibrator (control device) 14a output pulse 15 OR circuit (control device) 20 ice carrier device 22a fixed guide table 22b fixed guide table 23 horizontal bar 25 an endless belt (endless conveying member) 27 horizontal section 29 vertical搬氷unit 33 drives the motor 43 timer (controller) 43a normally closed timer (controller) _{X 1} relay X ₂ relay 44 sensor (controller) 45 counter (control device)

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ice transport device for transporting ice stored in an ice storage and discharging it to the outside of the ice storage, the endless device circulatingly traveling at least along a horizontal portion and a vertical ice transport portion extending upward from the horizontal portion. A conveying member, and a fixed guide table disposed on the back side of the endless conveying member at a predetermined distance from the endless conveying member,
A drive control circuit connected to a drive motor of the endless conveyance member, wherein the endless conveyance member has a predetermined pitch slightly larger than an integer (n) times the maximum side dimension of ice supplied to the ice storage. (P) is provided with a plurality of horizontal bars that are spaced apart in the ice transport direction, and the drive control circuit includes an intermittent operation switch for starting an intermittent operation of the drive motor, and a drive motor of the drive motor. An ice transport device connected to a controller for controlling the intermittent operation time based on the time required for the endless transport member to travel a distance substantially equivalent to an integer (k) times P / n. . 2. A continuous operation switch for performing continuous operation of the drive motor is connected to the drive control circuit in such a manner that the drive motor can be driven prior to the intermittent operation switch when the switch is operated. The ice carrier device according to claim 1, which is provided.