JP2548460Y2 - Lifter device of automatic ice machine for block ice - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a block-shaped ice block manufactured by an upper ice making mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "block ice").
, Which are sequentially discharged into a lower ice storage chamber and stacked and stored.

[0002]

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 or 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.

[0003] This block ice is generally produced in a factory by a large-scale can ice making 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. When the brine is cooled by the cooler, the water freezes in the ice can. By removing the water from the can, a block-shaped ice block is 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 block ice, an automatic ice maker for block ice for consumers has been proposed. I have. 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.

The size and weight of block ice manufactured by this automatic ice maker are, for example, 50 mm × 80 mm × 2.
The weight is about 800 g at 00 mm. Compared to conventional ice cubes, which are as small as about 36 mm cubic and light, block ice has a much greater weight. 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.

Further, loud impact noise generated when the block ice collides with the bottom of the ice storage chamber causes environmental noise, and also points out that the ice storage chamber may be damaged due to frequent dropping of heavy objects. . In addition, in order to store the block ice in the ice storage room to the maximum with space efficiency, 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 addressing the various problems described above has been filed by the present applicant as 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, the block ice manufactured by the ice making mechanism is transferred to and released from the ice block release position of the ice storage room via the transfer body, so that 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. In addition, since the block ice transferred by the transfer body can be discharged so as to be sequentially stacked from below the ice storage chamber, the block ice can be efficiently stored in the ice storage chamber.

[0008]

The lifter device of the automatic ice making machine has a box-shaped lifter body disposed on the inner rear side of the housing so that the transfer body can be raised and lowered via a plurality of guide rollers. It is arranged. Since the guide roller is for stably moving the transfer body up and down with respect to the lifter main body, it is necessary to mount the guide roller at an appropriate position on the transfer body. However, correctly assembling the plurality of guide rollers to the transfer body is a complicated and time-consuming operation, and has the drawback that the number of parts increases and the cost increases.

In the above-mentioned transfer body, when the transfer body is lowered to the ice block discharging position, the bottom plate is tilted to slide the received block ice toward the ice storage room. However, the mechanism for tilting the bottom plate when the transfer body descends to the ice block release position becomes complicated, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps increase, and the cost increases.
It has also been pointed out that there is a problem in that malfunctions are likely to occur due to an increase in the number of movable parts, and how to solve them is a problem to be solved.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above problems suitably. The mechanism is simplified to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the block ice is smoothly removed. It is an object to provide a lifter device that can achieve discharge.

[0011]

[Means for solving the problems] To overcome the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the intended purpose suitably, the present invention sequentially stacks block-shaped ice blocks produced by the ice making mechanism located above the inside of the housing into the ice storage compartment defined below the inside of the housing. In an automatic ice maker for storing, a pair of guide rods which are erected on the inner rear side of the housing and are slidably arranged on the guide rods, which are separated from each other in the left and right directions, and are slidably disposed on the guide rods. There is formed so as to downwardly inclined toward the front side, the receiving block-shaped ice blocks produced by the ice making mechanism, and the conveying member releasable from the front side of ice lumps, the conveying member, from the ice-making mechanism driving means for reciprocally lifting between the release position for releasing the receiving position and ice masses accept the emitted block-shaped ice block toward the ice storage chamber, a support rod which is disposed vertically movably in the conveying member, said support On a stick
So that it moves up and down integrally at the lower end facing the lower part of the transfer body
Disposed to lower the transfer body from the receiving position to the discharging position.
At the time, the bottom of the ice storage room or the stored block shape
A regulating plate which can come into contact with the ice mass, it is arranged to integrally lift to the upper end facing above the conveying member in the support rod, before
The control plate is at the bottom of the ice storage room or in a block of ice
In a state where the block is not in contact with the block, the block comprises a support bar supporting the front side of the block-shaped ice block received by the transfer body and restricting the release of the block-shaped ice block.
Descends against the bottom of the ice or the stored block of ice
When the transfer body descends in a state where is regulated,
The block-shaped ice block received by the transfer body is slid down on the bottom surface and moved to a position where discharge to the front is permitted.
It is characterized in that it is configured to rise relatively .

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifter device for an automatic ice making machine for block ice according to the present invention.

(Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic ice maker for block ice according to an embodiment, in which block ice 11 of a predetermined size is continuously produced above the inside of a housing 10. An ice making mechanism 12 is disposed, and a block ice 1 is provided below the ice making mechanism 12.
An ice storage chamber 13 that can store 1 in a stacked state is defined. A refrigeration mechanism 16 including a compressor 14, a condenser, and the like is disposed below the ice storage chamber 13, and a refrigerant is supplied from the refrigeration mechanism 16 to an evaporator 17 (described later) of the ice making mechanism 12. I have.

An opening 10a is formed in a wall surface of the housing located on the front side of the ice storage chamber 13, and the opening 10a is completely opened and closed by an outer door 18.
In addition, a plurality of inner doors 19 capable of partially closing the opening 10a are provided in the housing 10 facing the inside of the outer door 18 in a vertical direction,
Each inner door 19 is configured to be able to be opened individually with the outer door 18 opened. That is, the block ice 11 can be easily taken out from the ice storage room 13 by properly using the inner door 19 according to the stacking level of the block ice 11 stacked and stored in the ice storage room 13.

Since the refrigeration mechanism 16 is disposed below the housing 10, the ice storage chamber 13 and the opening 10a are provided.
Can be provided above the installation surface by a required height without increasing the height of the housing 10. Thereby, when taking out the block ice 11 from the vicinity of the bottom of the ice storage room 13, the worker does not need to bend down and can take out in a comfortable posture. Also, a heavy refrigeration mechanism 1
By disposing 6 below housing 10, there is an advantage that the ice maker itself is stabilized.

A lifter device 20 is disposed on the inner rear side of the housing 10 so as to be able to reciprocate up and down between the ice making mechanism 12 and the ice storage chamber 13. This lifter device 20
As will be described later, the block ice 1 manufactured by the ice making mechanism 12 is used.
1 serves to transfer the block ice 11 to the ice storage chamber 13 and gently discharge the block ice 11 into the ice storage chamber 13 (see FIG. 2).

(Regarding the Ice Making Mechanism) As shown in FIG. 1, the upper inside of the housing 10 is defined by a partition plate 21 into a front storage space 22 and a rear storage space 23, and communicates with the ice storage chamber 13. A rectangular cylindrical ice making chamber 24 made of a metal having good thermal conductivity is vertically disposed and fixed to the rear storage space 23. This ice making room 24
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of partition plates 25 extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality (three in the embodiment) of ice making is provided inside the ice making chamber 24. Komuro 24
a are defined in parallel. Note that the lower end of the partition plate 25 is dimensioned so as to face slightly upward from the lower end of the ice making chamber 24, and the block ice 11 generated in each ice making small chamber 24a is formed.
Are connected to each other at their lower ends. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an evaporator 17 derived from the refrigeration mechanism 16 is fixedly adhered in a meandering manner on the opposing outer surface of the ice making chamber 24, and the operation of the refrigeration mechanism 16 causes the vaporized refrigerant in the evaporator 17 to move. Heat exchange is promoted, and the ice making chamber 24 is cooled to below freezing. Evaporator 1
Hot gas is supplied to the ice making chamber 7 by switching of a refrigeration system valve during deicing operation.
And is configured to promote melting of the freeze.

Below the front side storage space 22, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an ice making water tank 26 is provided, and an ice making water supply pipe 28 drawn out from this tank 26 via a circulation pump (not shown) is detachably provided at an upper portion of the ice making chamber 24. Watering pipe 30 installed inside water sprinkler 29
(See FIG. 3). This watering pipe 30
A plurality of water spray holes 30a are formed in a predetermined pattern, and ice making water pumped from the ice making water tank 26 to the water spray pipe 30 is uniformly sprayed and supplied to each of the ice making chambers 24a through the water spray holes 30a. It is supposed to be.

Above the ice making water sprinkler 29, there is provided a deicing water sprinkler 31 to which a deicing water supply pipe 32 connected to an external water supply system is connected, and ice making water sprinkling in the deicing water sprinkler 31 is provided. A plurality of deicing water sprinkling holes 31a are formed in the bottom surface facing the outside of the vessel 29. Therefore, by opening the water supply valve (not shown) of the deicing water supply pipe 32 during the deicing operation, the normal-temperature deicing water supplied to the deicing water sprinkler 31 through the supply pipe 32 is used to remove the deicing water. It is configured to be scattered and supplied to the outside of the ice making water sprinkler 29 and the ice making chamber 24 through the hole 31a to flow down. Thereby, the ice making room 2
4 is heated to promote the melting of the freezing between the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 24a and the block ice 11. The deicing water flowing down the outside of the ice making chamber 24 is collected in the ice making water tank 26 via a water collecting plate 34 described later and used as ice making water.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ice making water sprinkler 29 is provided with a float switch 35, which is connected to the ice making small chamber 24a.
Is generated, and the ice making water stops flowing down the ice making chamber 24. When the water level of the ice making water stored in the sprinkler 29 rises to a predetermined level, the ice making operation is started and the ice is removed from the ice making operation. Functions to switch to operation. Ice making mechanism 12
So when the ice storage completion detection switch SW ₅ to be described later operated in a state in which the production is stopped in the block ice 11 in the ice making mechanism 12, so that may perform the cold insulating operation of performing only cooling of the ice storage chamber 13 .

(Regarding the water collecting plate) Immediately below the ice making chamber 24 in the ice making mechanism 12, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the water collecting plate 34 pivotally supported on the fixed portion 44 in the housing faces. The water collecting plate 34 is urged by an elastic member (not shown) so as to always incline downward toward the ice making water tank 26 facing the lower right (in FIG. 1). The ice making water that has not been frozen in the ice making chamber 24 during the ice making operation is collected in the ice making water tank 26 via the water collecting plate 34. Further, deicing water flowing down the outside of the ice making chamber 24 during the deicing operation is also collected in the ice making water tank 26 via the water collecting plate 34 in the same manner as the ice making water. Note that the water collecting plate 34 separates the block ice 11 that has been separated from the ice making chambers 24a by the deicing operation.
Also functions as a guide member for guiding the transfer member 47 (described later) of the lifter device 20. That is, when the block ice 11 falls on the water collecting plate 34, the water collecting plate 34 tilts counterclockwise against the elasticity of the elastic member, and the block ice 11
Are smoothly slid down the bottom surface of the water collecting plate 34 and accommodated in the transfer body 47 of the lifter device 20. When the block ice 11 is separated from the water collecting plate 34, the water collecting plate 34 returns to the standby position (the position shown in FIG. 1) by the elastic member.

[0022] positioned close to the water collecting plate 34, and deicing completion detecting switch SW ₁ of said population water plate 34 is detected (ON) to the standby position inclined toward the ice-making water tank 26, said population water The block ice 11 in which the plate 34 falls from the ice making chamber 24
And ice fall detection switch SW ₂ for detecting (ON) is arranged the release position to be tilted by. The deicing completion detecting switch SW ₁ and ice fall detection switch SW ₂ O
By the N-OFF operation, control for switching from the deicing operation to the ice making operation is performed. Incidentally ice fall detection switch SW ₂ also serves a function to start the lifter device 20 of the brake with motor 46 (described later).

(Regarding the Lifter Apparatus) As shown in FIG. 1, a block ice 11 manufactured by the ice making mechanism 12 is provided on the inner rear side of the housing 10.
A lifter device 20 for transferring and discharging to an ice block discharging position of the ice storage compartment 13 defined below the inside of the storage unit 13 is provided.
The lifter device 20 has a receiving position (FIG. 1) for receiving the block ice 11 dropped from the ice making chamber 24 and a discharge position (FIG. 2) for discharging the block ice 11 to the ice storage chamber 13.
And a transfer body 47 that moves up and down between them.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, concave grooves 48, 48 are formed facing each other on the left and right sides on the inner back surface of the housing 10, and guide rods 49 are vertically provided in the respective concave grooves 48. Have been. Each guide rod 49 has
A moving body 50 is slidably provided. And both moving bodies 5
A transfer body 47 having an L-shaped cross section is disposed between 0 and 50 (see FIG. 5), and this transfer body 47 can receive a plurality of block ices 11 sliding down the water collecting plate 34 in a parallel and upright state. It is configured. Note that the bottom surface 47a of the transfer body 47 is inclined downward toward the front side (the side facing the ice storage chamber 13),
As shown in FIG. 2, when the ice block releasing mechanism 51 disposed on the transfer body 47 is operated, the block ice 11 stored in the transfer body 47 can be smoothly slid forward. .

A motor 46 with a brake is arranged in the front side storage space 22, and the ends of wires 52, 52 which are wound and unreeled by the motor 46 are connected to the moving bodies 50, 50, respectively. Thus, the transfer body 47 is suspended and supported immediately below the ice making chamber 24. Therefore, by urging the motor 46 in the forward and reverse directions, the transfer body 47 moves up and down along the guide rods 49 and 49. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable body 50 is fitted in the concave groove 48 and is prevented from rotating, so that the posture of the transport body 47 can be stably maintained when the movable body 50 moves up and down. Reference numeral 53 denotes a guide roller for the wire 52.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer body 47 which has received the block ice 11 manufactured by the ice making mechanism 12 arrives at a position close to the movement path of the wire 52 and reaches the ice block discharge position, and its lowering is prevented. when the descending stop switch SW ₃ for detecting the slack of the wire 52 is disposed, with brake motor 46 based on a detection signal of the switch SW ₃ is adapted to be controlled to stop. Further, the motor 46 whose stop is controlled is set so as to be urged in the reverse direction after a predetermined time delay to move the transfer body 47 upward.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the ice storage chamber 13, a lift stop switch SW ₄ capable of detecting the moving body 50 facing the receiving position.
There is provided, the raised stop switch SW ₄ is conveying member 47 rises to release the block ice 11, it is detected that the arrival in the receiving position of the block ice 11, stop control the brake with motor 46 It works to do.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the transfer body 47 descends and reaches the ice block discharging position, the transfer body 47 discharges the block ice 11 received therein toward the ice storage chamber 13. An ice block discharging mechanism 51 is provided. This ice block releasing mechanism 51 includes a support rod 5 disposed vertically slidably in the vicinity of the front sides of the two moving bodies 50, 50.
4, 54, the moving body 5 on the support rods 54, 54
A support bar 55 is erected between upper ends facing above 0,50. The support bar 55 is always in contact with the upper surfaces of the moving bodies 50, 50, and functions to support the front side of the block ice 11 received by the transfer body 47 and regulate its release (see FIG. 5).

The transfer members 47 on the support rods 54, 54
A fixed plate 56 is provided between lower ends facing downward, and
The movable plate 5 extending toward the ice storage room 13 is provided on the fixed plate 56.
7 is arranged via a hinge 58 so that its tip can rotate downward. The movable plate 57 functions as a restricting plate that contacts the bottom 13a of the ice storage chamber 13 or the block ice 11 already stored and stacked to restrict the lowering of the fixed plate 56 when the transfer body 47 is lowered. When the movable plate 57 comes into contact with the bottom portion 13a or the block ice, the support bar 55 is relatively raised with respect to the transfer body 47 which is continuously lowered (see FIG. 2). The support bar 55 is configured as a single component made of, for example, an acrylic resin so that positioning with respect to the support bar 54 can be performed easily and reliably.

That is, in the ice block releasing mechanism 51, the transfer body 4
When the movable plate 57 abuts on the bottom surface of the ice storage chamber 13 or the block ice 11 already stored to prevent the movable plate 57 from lowering, the support bars 54, 54 and the support bar 55
In contrast, only the transfer body 47 is lowered, and accordingly, the support bar 55 is relatively raised. When the support bar 55 is separated from the bottom surface 47a of the transfer body 47 by a predetermined distance, the block ice 11 stored in the transfer body 47 slides down the bottom surface 47a and is discharged into the ice storage chamber 13, as shown in FIG. You. In some cases, the block ice 11 discharged into the ice storage compartment 13 may remain on the movable plate 57, but the movable plate 57 has a tip directed toward the ice storage compartment 13 rotatable downward. Therefore, the lifting of the transfer body 47 after the release of the block ice 11 does not hinder.

As shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the movable plate 57 facing the rear side of the housing is set so as to be inclined downward with no load. The bottom surface 47 of the transfer body 47
The open end of a is curved toward the back side,
The movable plate 57 faces above a portion inclined downward toward the rear side. As a result, water drops dropped from the bottom surface 47a of the transfer body 47 flow down to the rear side of the housing via the movable plate 57, and the water drops are prevented from falling onto the block ice 11 stored in the ice storage chamber 13. Preventing.

It should be noted, on the side wall of the ice storage chamber 13 facing the descending path of the conveying member 47, for example, the detectable mobile 50 draining stop switch SW ₆ is disposed. When the transfer switch 47 that has received the block ice 11 is detected by the drain switch SW ₆ , the brake-equipped motor 4
6 stops for a predetermined time, and functions to stop the transfer body 47 that has received the block ice 11 in the ice storage chamber 13. That is, by exposing the block ice 11 to the cool air in the ice storage chamber 13 for a predetermined time, water droplets attached to the surface of the ice 11 are removed. Note draining stop switch SW ₆ is set so as to function only when elevated of the conveying member 47.

(Regarding the Ice Bite Detection Switch) On the lower surface of the water collecting plate 34, the block ice 11 is attached to the transfer body 47 which rises from the ice block releasing position to the receiving position.
There is detected whether or not the remaining, the ice chewing detection switch SW ₇ controlling the operation of the brake with motor 46 is disposed. That is, in a state where the water collecting plate 34 faces the standby position, if the block ice 11 remains on the transfer body 47 that rises from the discharge position to the receiving position, the upper end of the block ice 11 is set so as to oN operated bite detection switch SW ₇ to detection piece abuts. In this case, after the motor with brake 46 is once stopped, the transfer body 47 is again lowered to the release position by urging it in the reverse direction (forward rotation direction for lowering the transfer body 47), whereby the transfer body 47 is lowered. The block ice 11 remaining in 47 can be reliably discharged.

(Blower Fan) As shown in FIG. 1, a blower fan 59 that sucks air from the ice storage chamber 13 and blows the air toward the ice making chamber 24 is provided in the rear storage space 23. . This blower fan 59
Is controlled to operate during the ice making operation and to stop when the operation is switched from the ice making operation to the deicing operation. That is, under the blowing operation of the blower fan 59, the cold air blown to the ice making chamber 24 and the evaporator 17 cooled during the ice making operation and subjected to heat exchange is circulated to the ice storage chamber 13, so that the ice storage chamber 13 is cooled. It is designed to cool. In addition,
During the deicing operation, the blower fan 59 is stopped, so that the heated air is not circulated to the ice storage chamber 13 to raise the room temperature, and the ice storage chamber 13 can always be kept at a low temperature.

(Regarding Ice Storage Room) Bottom 1 of ice storage room 13 defined below ice making mechanism 12
As shown in FIG. 1, 3a is set so as to be inclined downward toward the front side, so that the block ice 11 discharged from the transfer body 47 can be stored in order from the front side of the ice storage chamber 13. . A drainboard 62 is disposed on the bottom 13a, and a drain pipe 61 extending outside the room is disposed at the lower end of the slope. That is, the ice storage room 13
The molten water generated when the block ice 11 stored in the stack is melted is collected by a saw blade 62 and discharged out of the machine via a drain pipe 61.

[0035] The ice storage chamber 13, as shown in FIG. 1, distribution is ice completion detection switch SW ₅ for detecting that the block ice 11 stacked stored in該貯ice chamber 13 has reached a predetermined amount (full state) Has been established. This detection switch SW
_When detecting that the storage level of the block ice 11 has reached a certain amount due to the repetition of the ice making operation, ₅ functions to shift from the ice making / deicing operation to the cold storage operation of the ice storage chamber 13 via control means (not shown). .

[0036]

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker for block ice according to the embodiment will be described.

In the preparation state for the ice making operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the water collecting plate 34 faces the standby position, and the transfer body 47 of the lifter device 20 faces the receiving position. Also,
Wherein with ice completion detection switch SW ₅ is not detected ice storage completion, during ice-making water tank 26 and that a predetermined amount of ice making water is stored.

(Ice making operation) 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 17 provided in the ice making room 24, and the ice making room 24 is cooled. Further, the blower fan 59 shown in FIG. 1 starts operating, and the ice making chamber 24 and the evaporator 17 are started.
The ice storage chamber 13 is cooled by circulating and supplying the cold air having undergone the heat exchange between the ice storage chamber 13 and the ice storage chamber 13.

The ice making water in the ice making water tank 26 is pumped to the ice making water sprinkler 29 through the ice making water supply pipe 28 by the driving of the circulation pump, and the inner surface of each of the ice making small chambers 24a through the water sprinkler 29. To be sprayed. The supplied ice making water flows down while being cooled while coming into contact with the inner wall surface of each of the ice making small chambers 24a, and the ice making water tank 26 through the water collecting plate 34.
And returned to circulation again. Then, as the circulation of the ice making water is repeated, the ice making water freezes on the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 24a to form an ice layer.

As the ice making operation proceeds, as shown in FIG. 3, when the complete block ice 11 grows in the ice making compartment 24a, the float switch 35 provided in the ice making water sprinkler 29 detects this, and the ice making water is detected. The circulation supply is stopped and the ice making operation is completed.

(Regarding the Deicing Operation) Next, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator 17 by switching the refrigeration system valve to heat the ice making chamber 24. The deicing water supplied to the deicing water sprinkler 31 via the deicing water supply pipe 32 is supplied to the outer surface of the ice making water sprinkler 29 and the ice making chamber 2.
4, the melting of the frozen surface between the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 24a and the block ice 11 is promoted. The deicing water flowing down the outside of the ice making chamber 24 is dropped and stored in the ice making water tank 26 via the water collecting plate 34. When the operation is switched to the deicing operation, the blower fan 59 is controlled to stop, and the air heated by the deicing operation and in contact with the evaporator 17 and the ice making chamber 24 is circulated to the ice storage chamber 13. To keep the temperature of the ice storage room 13 low.

When the deicing operation proceeds and the freezing surface between the inner wall surface of each ice making chamber 24a and the block ice 11 melts, the block ice 11 separates from the ice making chamber by its own weight and falls on the water collecting plate 34. I do. Then, the block ice 11 that has slid down while tilting the water collecting plate 34 is received by the transfer body 47 of the lifter device 20 in an upright state.

[0043] Also when the water collecting plate 34 is the ice fall detection switch SW ₂ tilts to operate ON, said is switched refrigeration system valves, the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 17 is stopped. Then, the block ice 11 is separated from the water collecting plate 34, the water collecting plate 34 returns to the standby position, and the water collecting plate 3
By ON operation of the deicing completion detecting switch SW ₁ was OFF operation once the tilting of the 4, the ice making operation is started.

(Transfer of Block Ice by Lifter Device) The tilting of the water collecting plate 34 causes the ice drop detection switch SW ₂
Is turned on, the motor 46 with brake is urged in the normal rotation direction, and the transfer body 4 receiving the block ice 11 is turned on.
7 begins to descend. Further, when the conveying member 47 is the draining detection switch SW ₆ is lowered by a predetermined height to detect the vehicle 50, the brake with motor 46 for a predetermined time is stopped, block ice is received in the conveying member 47 11. Drain the water. And after a lapse of a predetermined time,
By urging the motor 46 with a brake in the forward rotation direction,
Resumes descent.

When the transfer body 47 reaches the ice block release position of the ice storage chamber 13, as shown in FIG.
Is discharged into the ice storage chamber 13. That is, when the movable body 57 descends and the movable plate 57 abuts against the bottom surface 13a of the ice storage chamber 13 or the block ice 11 already stored and is prevented from descending, the support rods 54, 54 and the support bar 55 In contrast, only the transfer body 47 is lowered, and accordingly, the support bar 55 is relatively raised. When the support bar 55 is separated from the bottom surface 47a of the transfer body 47 by a predetermined distance, as shown in FIG. 2, the block ice 11 accommodated in the transfer body 47 moves the bottom surface 47a inclined toward the front side. It slides down and is discharged into the ice storage room 13.

In some cases, the block ice 11 discharged into the ice storage compartment 13 may remain on the movable plate 57, but the movable plate 57 has its tip directed toward the ice storage compartment 13 downward. Since it is configured to be rotatable, it does not hinder the lifting of the transfer body 47 after the block ice 11 is discharged. Also, if that transfer body 47 arrives in ice mass release position wherein the downward stop switch SW ₃ for detecting, increase the transfer member 47 by the temporarily stopped with brake motor 46, and biased in the reverse direction after a predetermined time delay Let it.

[0047] Without the ice chewing detection switch SW ₇ is activated ON, the rise stop switch SW ₄ mobile 5
When 0 is detected, the motor with brake 46 is stopped, the transfer body 47 is held at the receiving position, and the receiving of the next block ice 11 is awaited.

When the transfer body 47 is moved upward from the ice block discharging position to the receiving position, the ice biting detection switch S
If W ₇ is activated ON, so that the block ice 11 is left by the movable Okukarada 47. Therefore, at this time, the control for releasing the residual ice 11 by lowering the transfer body 47 again is performed.

[0049]

As described above, according to the lifter device of the automatic ice maker for block ice according to the present invention, the transfer body is supported by the pair of guide rods so as to be able to move up and down, so that the transfer body has a simple structure. It can be raised and lowered stably. Also, since the bottom surface of the transfer body is inclined in advance toward the front side, there is no need to provide a complicated tilting mechanism or the like,
The number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the movable portion can be reduced when the block-shaped ice block is released, there is an advantage that the ice block can be smoothly discharged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic ice maker for block ice provided with a lifter device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic ice maker showing a state in which block ice produced by an ice making mechanism is transferred to an ice block discharging position in an ice storage room by a transfer body of a lifter device and discharged.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the ice making mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main part of the automatic ice maker showing a transfer body of the lifter device.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part of the lifter device in a state where block ice is received in the transfer body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 11 Block ice 12 Ice making mechanism 13 Ice storage room 13a Bottom part 46 Motor with brake 47 Transporter 47a Bottom surface 49 Guide rod 54 Support rod 55 Support bar 57 Control plate

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hisayuki Fujiwara 3-16 Hoshizaki, Sakaemachi Minamikan, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture Inside (72) Kunihiko Ishitomi 16-16 Hoshizaki, Sakamachicho Minamikan, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References Hikaru 2-9771 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An ice making mechanism disposed above the inside of a housing (10).
Place the block-shaped ice block (11) manufactured in (12) in the housing (10).
To the ice storage compartment (13) defined below
In the automatic ice maker, the inside of the housing (10) is,Stand in parallel, separated from side to side
A pair of guide rods (49, 49) provided, and slidably disposed on the guide rods (49, 49).
The bottom surface (47a) is inclined downward toward the front.
Block-like ice block (11) produced by the ice making mechanism (12)
And can release the ice block (11) from the front side.
Transfer body (47), the transfer body (47),SaidBlocks released from the ice making mechanism (12)
A receiving position for receiving the rock-shaped ice block (11) and the ice block (11)
Reciprocate up and down between the discharge positions where the water is discharged toward the ice storage room
Drive means (46) for moving the transfer member (47)Support rod (54), At the lower end of the support rod (54) facing the lower side of the transfer body (47)
The transfer unit (47) is disposed so as to be integrally lifted and lowered.
At the bottom of the ice storage compartment (13)
Abuts the section (13a) or the stored block of ice (11)
Functioning regulation plate (57),  At the upper end of the support rod (54) facing above the transfer body (47)
Ascend and descend togetherArranged,The regulating plate (57) is used for storing ice.
The bottom (13a) of the chamber (13) or the stored block of ice (1
In the state that is not in contact with 1),Received by transfer body (47)
Supports the front side of the block-shaped ice block (11) to control its release
Support bar (55)The support bar (55) is arranged such that the regulating plate (57) is located at the bottom of the ice storage chamber (13).
Part (13a) or the stored block of ice (11)
When the transfer body (47) descends with the
And is received by the transfer body (47). Block ice
Sliding the lump (11) on the bottom surface (47a) and moving it forwardofreleaseTo
Ascends relatively to the transfer body (47) to the permitted positionDo
Automatically made for block ice, characterized by having such a configuration
Ice machine lifter device.