JP2533308Y2 - Automatic ice maker for block ice - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention relates to a lifter device having a transfer body for transferring a block-shaped ice block (hereinafter referred to as "block ice") manufactured by an ice making mechanism to an ice block storage position in an ice storage room. The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker for block ice, which is configured as a cassette and is configured such that the lifter device can be detachably mounted on an automatic ice making machine main body, so that cleaning and maintenance of the lifter device can be easily performed. .

2. Description of the Related Art In coffee shops, restaurants, and other eating and drinking establishments, square ice blocks (corn ice) produced by an automatic ice machine are floated in beverages and used as cooling beds for various foodstuffs. However, since the ice blocks are of a fixed shape, they give an impression of poor visual interest when used for the above-mentioned applications. Therefore, block ice of a required size is broken with an ice pick to obtain an irregular ice block, thereby giving a visual uniqueness to give the customer a sense of quality and enhance the commercial value.

This block ice is generally factory-produced by a large-scale can-ice manufacturing apparatus. For example, an ice can is immersed in brine filled in an ice making tank, and the ice can is filled with ice making water. And when the brine is cooled by a cooler, the water freezes in the ice can,
By removing this from the can, a block-shaped ice block can be obtained. Since this ice block is generally too large, it is cut into required blocks and supplied to consumers.

As described above, conventionally, large-scale factory equipment was required to manufacture block ice. However, in order to easily manufacture the same, an automatic ice maker for block ice has been proposed for consumers. This automatic ice making machine has a basic configuration in which a single block ice is manufactured by an ice making mechanism provided above the inside of the housing and the obtained ice is released and stored in an ice storage room defined below the inside of the housing. ing.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The size and weight of the block ice manufactured by this automatic ice maker are, for example, 50 mm × 80 mm × 200 mm and about 800 g. Compared to conventional ice cubes, which are about 36 mm cubic in size and light in weight, block ice is much heavier. For this reason, in the case of the ice cubes described above, even if the ice cubes were discharged into the ice storage room and dropped, no problems such as an impact noise and cracking of ice occurred. However, since the block ice has a considerable weight and bulk size as described above, when the ice is discharged from the ice making mechanism toward the ice storage chamber, the ice may be discharged from the ice storage chamber depending on the discharge head. There is a disadvantage that it breaks when it hits the bottom.

In addition, a loud impact sound generated when the block ice collides with the bottom of the ice storage chamber becomes environmental noise, and also points out that the ice storage chamber may be damaged due to frequent falling of heavy objects. In addition, block ice in the ice storage room,
In order to store the ice with maximum efficiency in a space efficient manner, it is effective to stack the ices in an aligned manner. However, if bulky block ice is randomly discharged into the ice storage chamber, there is a disadvantage that the effective stock amount is reduced.

Therefore, one proposal for solving the various problems described above is:
The present applicant has filed an application for an invention "automatic ice maker for block ice". In the automatic ice making machine according to the earlier application, a lifter device provided with a transfer body capable of reciprocating up and down between an ice making mechanism and an ice storage room is provided on the inner rear side of the housing. According to the automatic ice maker according to this configuration, since the block ice manufactured by the ice making mechanism is transferred to the ice block storage position of the ice storage room via the transfer body and discharged, the block ice can be dropped from a high position. Absent. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the block ice from breaking or generating a loud impact sound. Further, since the transfer body can change the discharge position of the block ice in accordance with the storage state of the block ice in the ice storage room, the block ice can be efficiently stacked and stored in the ice storage room.

Since the lifter device is disposed on the inner rear side of the housing, cleaning and maintenance of the lifter device must be performed from the ice storage room side. In this case, if the block ice is stored in the ice storage chamber, the operation of the block ice is hindered. Therefore, the block ice must be taken out, and this block ice is wasted. In addition, cleaning and maintenance of the lifter device must be performed in the space between the ice storage rooms, and it has been pointed out that there is a problem that it becomes extremely complicated, and how to solve this is a new problem. Was.

Object of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been proposed to appropriately solve the problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide means for easily performing cleaning and maintenance of a lifter device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and appropriately achieve the intended purpose, the present invention provides an ice making mechanism which is disposed above the inside of a housing and in which a block-shaped ice block is manufactured, An ice storage compartment defined below the inside, the block-shaped ice blocks are stacked and stored, and a transfer body that reciprocates up and down between the ice making mechanism and the ice storage chamber is provided. An automatic ice making machine configured to transfer and discharge to an ice block storage position in an ice storage room via a transfer body, a lifter device including the transfer body movably up and down,
It is characterized in that the lifter device is configured as an independent cassette with respect to the housing, and the lifter device formed into the cassette can be detachably mounted on the housing.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the automatic ice maker for block ice according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vertical side view of an automatic ice maker for block ice according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, each component of the automatic ice maker will be described individually.

(Overall Configuration of Automatic Ice Maker for Block Ice) As shown in FIG. 1, an ice making mechanism 12 for continuously producing block ice 11 of a predetermined size is provided above the inside of a housing 10 forming the main body of the automatic ice maker. Is arranged. Further, a refrigeration mechanism 14 for cooling the ice making chamber 13 of the ice making mechanism 12 is provided on the front side of the ice making mechanism 12.
Is arranged. Below the two mechanisms 12 and 14, an ice storage chamber 15 in which the block ice 11 can be stored in a stacked state is defined. The housing 10 located on the front side of the ice storage chamber 15 is provided with two openings 10a, 10a vertically spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a lid 16 for opening and closing the opening 10a. Is established. That is, the upper and lower openings 10 are changed according to the stacking state of the block ice 11 stacked and stored in the ice storage chamber 15.
By properly using a and 10a, it is possible to easily take out the block ice 11 from the ice storage room 15.

The ice making mechanism 12 is provided on the inner rear side of the housing 10.
A lifter device 17 having a transfer body 32 that can reciprocate up and down between the ice storage chamber 15 and the ice storage chamber 15 is provided. This lifter device 17
Stores the block ice 11 produced by the ice making mechanism 12 in the ice storage chamber 15
The block ice 11 is transferred to the ice block storage position, and the block ice 11 is gently discharged into the ice storage chamber 15 to be stacked (see FIG. 6 (c)).

[Members related to the ice making mechanism]

(Regarding the Ice Making Chamber) Above the inside of the housing 10, a defining member 18 which is open in the vertical direction and the back side is disposed, and the space surrounded by the defining member 18 has good thermal conductivity. A rectangular cylindrical ice making chamber 13 made of a suitable metal is disposed and fixed vertically. This ice room
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of partition plates 19 extending over the entire length in the vertical direction of the ice making chamber 13 are provided inside the ice making chamber 13 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. A plurality (three in the embodiment) of ice making compartments 13a are defined in parallel.
In addition, a cooler 20 derived from the refrigeration mechanism 14 is closely fixed in a meandering shape to the opposing outer surface of the ice making chamber 13, and the operation of the refrigeration mechanism 14 promotes heat exchange of the vaporized refrigerant in the evaporator 20. The ice making chamber 13 is cooled to below freezing.

(Regarding Water Sprinkling Member) As shown in FIG. 1, an ice making water tank 21 is provided below the defining member 18, and the ice making water supply drawn out from this tank 21 via a circulation pump (not shown). The pipe 22 is communicatively connected to a sprinkling member 23 which is detachably disposed above the ice making chamber 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the watering member 23 includes a watering tank 24 to which the ice making water supply pipe 22 is connected, and a sprayer 25 to which the tank 24 is detachably mounted on the upper part. The lower part of 25 is fitted in the ice making chamber 13. Further, a plurality of ice making water sprinkling holes 24a are formed on the bottom surface of the water sprinkling tank 24 facing the inside of the sprayer 25, and the ice making water pumped from the ice making water tank 21 to the water sprinkling tank 24 is supplied with the ice making water sprinkling holes 24a. Is first supplied to the sprayer 25.
Then, the ice making water supplied to the sprayer 25 is uniformly sprayed and supplied to each ice making chamber 13a.

The water spraying member 23 is provided with a deicing water supply system separately from the ice making water supply system described above. That is, watering member
The inside of the watering tank 24 in the ice making water supply pipe 22
A space other than the space in which is communicated is defined, and a deicing water supply pipe 27 derived from a deicing water tank (not shown) is communicatively connected to the space. Further, a deicing water sprinkling hole (not shown) is formed in the bottom surface of the space to which the deicing water is supplied, and the deicing water sprinkling hole faces the outer side of the sprayer 25. Therefore, at the time of the deicing operation, the normal or heated deicing water supplied from the deicing water tank to the sprinkling tank 24 via the deicing water supply pipe 27 is sprayed through the deicing water sprinkling hole formed in the sprinkling tank 24. The spray is supplied to the outer surface of the container 25. The ice making water flows down along the outer surface of the ice making chamber 13 and functions to promote the melting of the ice between the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 13a and the block ice 11.

(About Float Switch) Here, when the block ice 11 is generated in each ice making chamber 13a during the ice making operation, the ice making water supplied from the water sprinkling member 23 does not flow below the ice making chamber 13. Therefore, the ice making water is stored inside the sprayer 25, and the water level gradually rises. Therefore, in the embodiment, a float switch 28 is provided in the sprayer 25, and the rise switch 28 detects the rise in the level of ice making water stored in the sprayer 25, and switches from the ice making operation to the deicing operation. doing.

(Regarding the water collecting plate) As shown in FIG. 1, a water collecting plate 26 having a plurality of through-holes 26a is inclined and provided directly below the ice making room 13, and is supplied to each ice making small room 13a during the ice making operation. The ice making water that has not been frozen is collected and stored in the ice making water tank 21 located below through the through hole 26a. Further, deicing water flowing down the outside of the ice making chamber 13 during the deicing operation is also collected in the ice making water tank 21 through the through hole 26a formed in the water collecting plate 26 in the same manner as the ice making water. The water collecting plate 26 also has a function of guiding the block ice 11 separated from the ice making chamber 13a by the deicing operation to the transfer body 32 of the lifter device 17 (see FIG. 6 (a)).

(Regarding the water splash prevention plate) As shown in FIG.
A water splash prevention plate that faces the back side of the ice making chamber 13 (the side opposite to the side where the refrigeration mechanism 14 is provided) and can entirely cover the back side of the ice making chamber 13
29 is rotatably supported at its upper end. The water splash preventing plate 29 functions to prevent deicing water flowing outside the ice making chamber 13 from scattering to the lifter device 17 and the ice storage chamber 15 during the deicing operation. Water splash prevention plate 29
The block ice 11, which extends downward from the lower end of the ice making chamber 13 by a predetermined length and is separated from the ice making chamber 13a by the deicing operation and slides down the water collecting plate 26, as shown in FIG. 6 (a). It is set to be able to contact. That is, when the block ice 11 is tilted by contact with the block ice 11, the water splash prevention plate 29
Also has a function of activating the start switch 30 of the lifter device 17 disposed in the vehicle.

[Members related to the lifter device]

(Regarding the Lifter Main Body) As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 10b that opens upward is opened on the inner rear side of the housing 10, and a lifter device 17 that is made into a cassette independent of the housing 10 is provided with the opening. It is removably housed and arranged in the housing 10 via 10b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lifter device 17 includes a main body 31 formed of a rectangular frame, a transfer body 32 disposed inside the main body 31 so as to be able to move up and down, and And a motor 33 with a brake that drives the transfer body 32 up and down. The block ice 11 manufactured by the ice making mechanism 12 is set to be receivable in the transfer body 32 in a state where the lifter main body 31 is positioned and arranged on the inner rear side of the housing 10.

That is, as the lifter device 17 provided with a transfer body 32 for transferring the block ice 11 so as to be able to move up and down is made into a cassette, as shown in FIG. The device 17 can be removed from the housing 10. Therefore, cleaning and maintenance of the lifter device 17 can be easily performed in a short time. The lifter device 17 protruding upward from the opening 10b of the housing 10,
It is covered with a cover (not shown).

Opposite side plates 31a, 31a of the lifter main body 31 are formed in a U-shape in cross section, and the opposing bent portions 31c, 31c formed on the side plates 31a function as guide rails of the transfer body 32. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the transfer body 32 is formed in a box shape open to the front side,
A plurality of guide rollers 34 are rotatably supported on the outside of the side plates 32a, 32a facing the side plates 31a, 31a, respectively, and these guide rollers 34 are rotatably abutted on the bent portions 31c of the side plates 31a. It has become.

(Regarding the lifting mechanism of the transfer body) A motor 33 with a brake is disposed and fixed on the lower surface of the top plate 31b of the lifter body 31, and the rear end of the wire 35 having a predetermined length is connected to the output shaft of the motor 33. A fixed take-up roller 36 is provided. In the lifter body 31, a back plate 37 is disposed between the two side plates 31a, 31a above the moving area of the transfer body 32, and at an appropriate position on the back plate 37,
A bracket 39 having a through hole (not shown) is provided so as to protrude horizontally to the front side. As shown in FIG. 4, the wire 35 fed out from the winding roller 36 is wound around a pulley 38 which is rotatably supported on the top surface of the top plate of the transfer body 32.
The front end of the wire 35 is inserted through the through hole of the bracket 39 and extends upward. A disk 40 having a larger diameter than the through hole of the bracket 39 is fixed to the front end of the wire 35, and the disk 40 is configured to be immovable below the bracket 39.

That is, the transfer body 32 is supported by the wire 35 in a suspended state, and if the motor 35 with a brake is urged in the normal rotation direction to draw out the wire 35 from the winding roller 36, the transfer body 32 is Of the lifter main body 31 along its both sides 31a, 31a due to its own weight. When the motor 33 is urged in the reverse direction, the wire 35 is wound around the winding roller 36, and as a result, the transfer body 32 moves upward.

(Regarding the mechanism for stopping the lowering of the transfer body) As shown in FIG. 4, a compression spring 41 is elastically interposed between the disk 40 disposed on the wire 35 and the bracket 39, so that the disk 40 is always moved. Is configured to be pushed upward. Above the disk 40, a switch 42 for lowering and stopping the transfer body 32 is provided.
It is located so that it can abut. That is, when the load of the transfer body 32 is applied to the wire 35, the disk 40 descends against the elasticity of the compression spring 41, and separates from the operating piece 42a as shown in FIG. I have. Also, as described below,
When the lowering of the transfer body 32 is prevented and the wire 35 becomes loose, the disk 40 is pushed upward by the compression spring 41.
Then, at this time, as shown in FIG.
The switch 42 is actuated by contacting an operating piece 42a of the switch 42.

When the descent stop switch 42 is operated, the brake motor 33 is controlled to stop, and the feeding of the wire 35 is stopped. Further, the motor 33 is set to be urged in the reverse direction after a predetermined time delay from the stop, thereby winding the wire 35 and pulling up the transfer body 32.

(Regarding the Lift Stop Switch) As shown in FIG. 4, a lift stop switch 43 is disposed on the rear plate 37 at a position where the top plate of the transfer body 32 can abut. The switch 43 is connected to a block ice as described later.
When the transfer body 32 that has released 11 rises and operates the switch 43, the function of stopping and controlling the motor 33 with a brake functions. As a result, the transfer body 32 is moved as shown in FIG.
Is stopped at the receiving position of the block ice 11 shown in FIG.

(Regarding the drainage stop detecting means) Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a dog 59 disposed on the transfer body 32 is provided on the side wall of the ice storage chamber 15 facing the descending path of the transfer body 32.
Draining stop detecting means 58 capable of detecting the water drainage is provided.
When the detection means 58 detects the dog 59, it functions to stop the motor 33 with a brake and start counting by a timer (not shown). When the drainage stop detecting means 58 detects the dog 59 and the transfer body 32 stops, the transfer body 32 is set to face the inside of the ice storage chamber 15 as shown in FIG. 6 (b). .

That is, since the ice storage chamber 15 is cooled to a temperature below the freezing point by the cooler 55 as described later, the block ice 11 received by the transfer body 32 stopped at the draining position is stored in the ice storage chamber for the set time of the timer. It will be exposed to the cool air that cools the chamber 15. As a result, the water on the surface of the block ice 11 is removed and becomes dry. Therefore, when the block ice 11 is released and stored in the ice storage chamber 15, the water adhering to the surface of the block ice 11 re-freezes, which can prevent the stacked block ice 11 from sticking to each other. Things.

(About the bottom plate of the transfer body) As shown in FIG. 4, a bottom plate 44 extends over substantially the entire length in the width direction on the inner bottom surface of the transfer body 32, and both sides of the front end side of the bottom plate 44 Is rotatably supported by the corresponding side plate 32a via a pivot pin 45. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressing portion 44a which rises vertically is provided on the rear edge of the bottom plate 44.
The pressing portion 44a connects the bottom plate 44 to the pivot pins 45, 45.
When tilted with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, it functions to push the lower part of the block ice 11 placed on the bottom plate 44 forward.

A rubber plate 46 is fixed to the transfer body 32 at the upper end on the inner rear side of the transfer body 32. The lower end of the rubber plate 46 hangs down to a position facing the front side of the pressing portion 44a in the bottom plate 44. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), when the bottom plate 44 is tilted, the lower end of the rubber plate 46 is pushed forward by the pressing portion 44a, and as a result, the rubber plate 46 moves forward from the upper end to the lower end. As a result, the block ice 11 received by the transfer body 32 can be smoothly discharged.

(Regarding Arm and Engaging Member) As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of an arm 47 is rotatably supported on both sides on the back side of the bottom plate 44 via a pin 48, respectively. At an upper end extending upward, an engagement member 50 that can be engaged with a slide body 49 described later is provided. The engaging member 50 extends from the arm 47 to the front side by a predetermined length, and the extended end is inserted into a long groove 32c that is bored in the side plate 32a and extends in the up-down direction, so that it extends outward. It is protruding. The head 48a of the pin 48 for pivotally supporting the arm 47
Faces the arc-shaped groove 32b formed in the side plate 32a of the transfer body 32, and the head 48a is guided by the arc-shaped groove 32b when the bottom plate 44 tilts with the pivot pins 45, 45 as fulcrums. It has become.

(Regarding the slide body) The transport body 32 prevents the block ice 11 received in the standing state by the transport body 32 from falling forward, and releases the block ice 11 by tilting the bottom plate 44. A slide body 49 is provided so as to be able to move up and down. The slide body 49 is configured as a frame body in which four plate members 49a, 49b, 49b, 49c are assembled in a rectangular shape, and the upper horizontal member 49a
The long grooves 32c, 3 perforated on both side plates 32a, 32a of the transfer body 32
It is inserted through 2c and faces up and down freely. The upper ends of the vertical members 49b extending downward are fixed to the both ends of the upper horizontal members 49a protruding outward of the side plates 32a, 32a, respectively, and the lower horizontal members 49b, 49b are fixed to the lower ends of both vertical members 49b, 49b. A material 49c is erected.

A guide roller 51 is rotatably supported at both upper and lower ends of the vertical member 49b, and the guide roller 51 rotatably abuts the side plate 31a of the lifter main body 31. Also,
The distance between the upper horizontal member 49a and the rubber plate 46 provided on the transfer body 32 is set to a size that can receive the block ice 11 in an upright state.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a guide plate 52 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the upper horizontal member 49a.
52, the portion extending above the horizontal member 49a is formed so as to be inclined forward as going upward, and the ice making chamber
Block ice 11 that separates from 13a and slides down water collecting plate 26
Is set to be able to be smoothly received by the transfer body 32 (the sixth embodiment).
FIG. (A)). Further, the portion of the guide plate 52 extending downward from the horizontal member 49a is formed so as to be inclined forward as it goes downward, and is configured to smoothly discharge the block ice 11 from the transfer body 32 (the second position). FIG. 6 (c)).

(Regarding the movable plate) As shown in FIG.
The movable plate 53 extending toward 5 is a connecting member 5 having flexibility.
It is connected so that it can be bent only downward through 4. The movable plate 53 functions to stop the lowering of the slide body 49 by abutting on the bottom portion 15a of the ice storage chamber 15 or the uppermost block ice 11 when the transporting body 32 is lowered. That is, when the movable plate 53 comes into contact with the bottom portion 15a or the block ice 11, the slide body 49 is firstly prevented from descending, and then the stopped slide body 49 is prevented from descending. At this position, as described above, the bottom plate 44 of the transfer body 32 is tilted to release the block ice 11, so that the block ice 11 transferred by the transfer body 32 is the block ice 11 already stacked.
Always released on top of.

In addition, the block ice 11 released from the transfer body 32,
Depending on the storage condition in the ice storage chamber 15, the rear end is a movable plate
You will remain on 53. However, since the movable plate 53 is configured to be able to bend downward, the movable plate 53 moves while being bent downward via the connecting member 54 as the transport body 32 rises, and To allow for a smooth rise.

(Regarding Ice Storage Room) In an ice storage room 15 defined below the ice making mechanism 12, as shown in FIG. 1, a cooler 55 to which a refrigerant is supplied from the refrigeration mechanism 14 is arranged. Predetermined temperature (-2 ° C to -4 ° C
Degree). That is, in the automatic ice making machine according to the embodiment, the cooling of the ice making chamber 13 and the ice storage
The cooling of 15 is performed via the same refrigeration mechanism 14.

A drain tray 56 surrounding the cooler 55 is provided below the cooler 55, and is configured to collect water drops dropped from the cooler 55 during the defrosting operation and discharge them to the outside. Further, a through hole 56a is formed in the side surface of the drainage dish 56, and a blower fan 57 is provided corresponding to the through hole 56a. That is, by blowing the cool air cooled by the cooler 55 into the storage via the blower fan 57, the storage is cooled to a predetermined temperature.

The internal volume of the ice storage chamber 15 is set to a size that can store, for example, two rows of block ice 11 arranged in three rows in the horizontal direction. Also, the inner bottom 15a of the ice storage chamber 15 is
As shown in FIG. 1, the block ice 11 is set so as to be inclined downward toward the front side, and is configured to store the block ice 11 discharged from the transfer body 32 of the lifter device 17 in order from the front side of the ice storage chamber 15. ing.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker for block ice according to the embodiment will be described. It is assumed that a plurality of block ices are already stored in the ice storage room.

(Ice Making Operation) During the ice making operation, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the transfer body 32 of the lifter device 17 faces the receiving position of the block ice 11, and the slide body 49 hangs down by its own weight, The space between the horizontal member 49a and the ceiling of the transfer body 32 is open.
When the ice making operation of the automatic ice making machine is started in this state, the refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporator 20 provided in the ice making room 13, and the ice making room 13 is cooled. At this time, the ice storage room 15
The refrigerant is also circulated and supplied to the cooler 55 disposed inside the
The inside of the refrigerator is cooled to a predetermined temperature.

The ice making water from the ice making water tank 21 is pumped to the watering tank 24 through an ice making water supply pipe 22, and
The water is supplied to the sprayer 25 through the ice making water sprinkling holes 24a, and then sprayed to the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 13a. The supplied ice making water contacts the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 13a, flows down while being cooled, returns to the ice making water tank 21 through the through hole 26a of the water collecting plate 26, and is again subjected to circulation. . Then, while the circulation of the ice making water is repeated, the ice making water freezes on the inner wall surface of the ice making small chamber 13a to form an ice layer.

The ice making operation progresses, and the block ice 11 enters the ice making compartment 13a.
Is formed, the ice making water scattered and supplied to the ice making chamber 13a does not flow below the ice making chamber 13a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the ice making water is stored in the sprayer 25 and the water level gradually rises. To rise. When the float switch 28 detects the rise in the water level, the circulating supply of the ice making water is stopped to complete the ice making operation.

(Regarding the deicing operation) Next, the valve of the refrigerant circulation system is switched to supply hot gas to the evaporator 20 to heat the ice making chamber 13 and to supply deicing water to the sprinkling tank 24 via the deicing water supply pipe 27. Supply. The deicing water is supplied to the ice making chamber 13 through the deicing water sprinkling hole of the tank 24.
It is sprayed and supplied to the outer surface of the slab to function to promote deicing. When the deicing operation proceeds and the frozen surface between the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 13a and the block ice 11 melts, the block ice 11 falls by its own weight, slides down the water collecting plate 26, and slides the lifter device. It is received in a standing state by the 17 transfer bodies 32.

(About the transfer of the block ice by the lifter device) When the block ice 11 slides down the water collecting plate 26,
The water splash prevention plate 29 disposed on the back side of the ice making chamber 13 is tilted (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 (a)). As a result, the start switch 30 of the lifter device 17 is actuated, the motor 33 with a brake is urged, and the wire is
The transfer body 32 starts descending as 35 is fed.
The block ice 11 received by the transfer body 32 in a standing state
Is prevented from falling forward by a guide plate 52 disposed on the upper horizontal member 49a.

The dog disposed on the transfer body 32 when the transfer body 32 is lowered
As shown in FIG. 6 (b), when 59 arrives at the position where the drainage stop detecting means 58 is provided, the detecting means 58 detects this and stops the motor 33 with brake, and the timer counts. Start. While the transfer body 32 is stopped until the timer expires, the block ice 11 received by the transfer body 32 is exposed to cool air that cools the ice storage chamber 15 to remove moisture adhering to its surface. .

(Regarding the release of block ice from the transfer body) When the timer times out, the motor with brake 33 is energized again, and the transfer body 32 resumes descending from the draining position. By lowering the transfer body 32, first, the transfer body 32
The movable plate 53 of the slide 49 disposed on the block 32 comes into contact with the upper surface of the first-stage block ice 11 already stacked and stored in the bottom 15a of the ice storage chamber 15, and the slide 49 is prevented from descending. However, since the lowering of the transfer body 32 is continued, the slide body 49 is relatively moved upward by being guided by the long grooves 32c, 32c of the transfer body 32.

When the transfer body 32 further descends, the upper ends of the vertical members 49b, 49b abut against the corresponding engaging members 50, 50 projecting outward from the long grooves 32c, 32c and push it upward. As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the bottom plate 44 tilts about the pivot pins 45, 45 via the arms 47, 47. At this time, the upper horizontal member 49a is located above the transfer body 32, and the space between the upper horizontal member 49a and the bottom plate 44 is open to the front side. Therefore, when the bottom plate 44 tilts, the lower part of the block ice 11 placed on the bottom plate 44 in an upright state is pushed forward by the pressing portion 44a of the bottom plate 44. Further, since the rubber plate 46 disposed on the transfer body 32 also tilts with the tilt of the bottom plate 44, the block ice 11 is discharged toward the ice storage chamber 15 from the lower part.

Since the block ice 11 is stored in the ice storage chamber 15 in a state of being inclined forward, the block ice 11 newly discharged from the transfer body 32 smoothly moves toward the front of the ice storage chamber 15. It slides down and is stored. The block ice 11 discharged into the ice storage chamber 15 has moisture removed from its surface removed, so that the block ice
11 do not stick to each other.

When the transfer body 32 descends with respect to the slide body 49 and the bottom plate 44 finishes tilting as described above, the slide body 49 prevents the transfer body 32 from lowering. However, since the motor with brake 33 is continuously urged in the direction in which the wire 35 is fed, the wire 35 is inevitably loosened. When the lowering stop switch 42 detects the looseness of the wire 35, the motor 33 with the brake is stopped and the feeding of the wire 35 is stopped.

Next, after a predetermined time delay, the motor 33 is urged in the reverse rotation direction, and the wire 35 is wound around the winding roller 36, whereby the transfer body 32 moves upward. When the transfer body 32 rises to the position for receiving the block ice 11 and activates the lift stop switch 43, the brake motor 33 is controlled to stop, and the discharging operation of the block ice 11 is completed.

Here, during the operation of the automatic ice making machine, the lifter device 17
It is supposed that the operation of the transfer body 32 in the above becomes malfunctioning or the motor with brake 33 fails. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 3, the lifter device 17 can be completely removed from the housing 10 by pulling the lifter main body 31 upward from the opening 10b of the housing 10. Therefore, cleaning and maintenance of the members related to the lifter device 17 can be performed in a wide external place, and the work efficiency is improved.
Further, the lifter device 17 for which maintenance has been completed can be easily assembled simply by being housed in the housing 10 through the opening 10b, and the working time can be reduced.

Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the automatic ice maker for block ice according to the present invention, the lifter device including the transfer body for transferring the block ice produced by the ice making mechanism to the ice block storage position in the ice storage room is provided by the automatic ice maker. The lifter device is configured to be detachable from the housing while being configured as a cassette independent of the housing forming the main body. Therefore, when performing cleaning and maintenance of the lifter device, the lifter device which has been made into a cassette can be removed from the housing, and work can be performed in a wide external place. As a result, the work efficiency can be improved, the work can be completed in a short time, and there is an advantage that the operation downtime of the automatic ice making machine can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of an automatic ice maker for block ice according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of the automatic ice making machine with the lifter device removed from the housing, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the lifter device partially cut away, and FIG. FIG. 6 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of an ice making mechanism, and FIG. 6 (a) is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic ice making machine in a state where a transfer body of a lifter device is waiting at a block ice receiving position, FIG. (B)
Is a vertical side view of the automatic ice maker showing a state where the transfer body is stopped at a draining position, and FIG. 6 (c) is a vertical side view of the automatic ice maker showing a state where the transfer body has reached a block ice discharging position. It is. 10 ... Housing, 11 ... Block ice 12 ... Ice making mechanism, 15 ... Ice storage room 17 ... Lifter device, 32 ... Transfer body

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An ice making mechanism (12) arranged above the inside of a housing (10) to produce a block-shaped ice block (11), and an ice making mechanism (12) defined below the inside of the housing (10). Ice blocks (1
Ice storage room (15) where 1) is stacked and stored, and ice making mechanism (12)
Transfer body (32) reciprocatingly moving up and down between the ice storage room (15)
An automatic ice maker which transports the block-shaped ice block (11) produced by the ice making mechanism (12) to an ice block storage position of an ice storage chamber (15) via a transfer body (32) and discharges the ice block. A lifter device (17) having the transfer body (32) movably up and down is configured as a cassette independent of the housing (10), and the lifter device (17) made into a cassette is mounted on the housing (1).
An automatic ice maker for block ice, wherein the automatic ice maker is configured so that it can be detachably mounted in 0).