JP2667229B2 - Automatic refrigerator for ice making - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice making apparatus provided in a refrigerator or the like and particularly capable of automatically generating transparent ice.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic ice making device which is partially used in a home refrigerator or the like will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

1 is a refrigerator body, an outer box 2, an inner box 3 and the outer box 2, an inner box 3
It is composed of a heat insulating material 4 filled in between. 5 is a partition wall which partitions the inside of the refrigerator main body 1 up and down,
A freezer compartment 6 is formed in the upper part, and a refrigerator compartment 7 is formed in the lower part.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a refrigerating cycle cooler provided on the back of the freezing chamber 6a, and reference numeral 9 denotes a blower for forcibly ventilating the cool air cooled by the cooler 8 into the freezing chamber 6 and the refrigerating chamber 7.

Next, reference numeral 10 denotes an automatic ice maker provided in the freezing room 6,
Drive device with built-in motor, reduction gear group (not shown), etc.
11, an ice tray 13 having a support shaft 12 connected and fixed at the center thereof; a frame 14 for supporting the ice tray 13 with the driving device 11; Reference numeral 15 denotes a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the driving device 11 for distorting and deforming the ice tray 13 to perform ice separation, and 16 denotes the ice tray so as to abut the stopper 15. 13 is a patch attached to the top.
Reference numeral 17 denotes an ice storage box provided below the automatic ice maker 10.

18 is a water supply tank for storing water for ice making,
It is removably provided in a part of the refrigerator compartment 7. Reference numeral 19 denotes a water supply port of the water supply tank 18, which is opened and closed by a valve 20. Reference numeral 21 denotes a water receiving tray provided below the water supply port 19 of the water supply tank 18.When the water supply tank 18 is set with the water supply port 19 facing downward, the valve 20 is pushed up to open the water supply port 19. It is configured to be. Reference numeral 22 is a water supply pump for pumping water received in the water receiving tray 21, and reference numeral 23 is connected to the water supply pump 22 so that an outlet thereof faces the ice tray 13 of the automatic ice maker 10. It is a water supply pipe arranged in.

In this configuration, when the water supply tank 18 filled with water is set to a predetermined position by the user, the valve 20 is pushed up, the water supply port 19 is opened, and the water tray 21 is filled with water. After that, the filled water is pumped up by the water supply pump 22 and injected into the ice tray 13 through the water supply pipe 23. The water filled in the ice tray 13 in a predetermined amount in this manner is frozen by the cooling action in the freezing compartment 6, and ice is generated.
When the ice making is completed, the ice tray 13 is rotated around the support shaft 12 by the rotation of the driving device 11, and the stopper plate 15 comes into contact with the stopper plate 16, whereby the ice tray 13 is distorted and deformed. The ice in 13 is released. Further, the ice that has been separated from the ice falls into the ice storage box 17 and is stored therein, and the ice tray 13 that has completed the ice separation operation returns to the original state by the reverse rotation operation of the driving device 11 again. Since then this effect has been
Automatic ice making and ice storage are repeated repeatedly until the water in 18 is used up.

However, according to such an ice making method, the freezing of water in the ice tray 13 when ice is generated is caused by the contact surface between the ice tray 13 and water and the cold air and water. As it progresses from the contact surface to the center, gaseous components, soluble salts and insoluble impurities dissolved in water are trapped in the center of the ice, resulting in an opaque cloudy center. In addition, there is a problem that the ice becomes unsatisfactory in taste and is not sensually suitable for drinks such as whiskey.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic ice making device that can produce ice with high transparency and good taste.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an automatic ice making device such as a refrigerator of the present invention is an ice making device having an open bottom surface that is superimposed on an inner surface of a water storage tank with a drain port provided in a part of a cooling room. A dish and a driving device for rotating and reversing the ice tray are provided. The water storage tank and the drainage port are surrounded by a heat insulating material, and a heater is provided in close contact with the outer wall thereof. Connect the tubes. A water supply tank, a water receiving tray, a water supply pump, and a water supply pipe for separately supplying water to the water storage tank are provided. In particular, the water supply tank is provided with a water receiving port for receiving the tip of the above-mentioned drain pipe on the upper surface and a water supply port for communicating with the water receiving plate on the lower surface. Is provided.

Effect of the Invention According to the above-described configuration, when water filled in a water supply tank is supplied to a predetermined amount into a water storage tank via a water supply pipe by a water supply pump, an ice tray superposed on the inner surface of the water storage tank has an opening at the bottom. It is flooded to a predetermined water level through the section. The outer periphery of the water storage tank is surrounded by a heat insulating material, and is kept warm by a heater, so that the cooling air in the cooling chamber performs a one-way freezing operation from the surface of the water downward to remove gas components and impurities in the water. Ice crystals are generated while discharging to the surface. Next, when the drainage device is operated when the ice has a suitable thickness, the residual water is returned to the water supply tank through the drainage pipe, and highly transparent and pure ice is left in the ice tray. The overlapping portion between the water storage tank and the ice making tray is prevented from freezing by the heating action of the heater, and the ice making tray is separated from the water storage tank and inverted by the rotating action of the driving device, and ice is separated. on the other hand,
The residual water returned into the water supply tank is mixed with the water in the water supply tank and diluted, so that ice with high transparency and purity is repeatedly generated.

Embodiment An automatic ice making device for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that the same components as those of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Numeral 24 denotes a partition wall in which a heat insulating material 25 is accommodated, which defines a freezer compartment 26 at an upper portion and a refrigerator compartment 27 at a lower portion. Reference numeral 28 denotes a water storage tank buried in the heat insulating material 25 and having an open top surface, and a drain port 29 is provided on the bottom surface. Reference numeral 30 denotes an ice tray that is configured to overlap the inside of the water storage tank 28 with the opening of the water storage tank 28 as an upper end, and a plurality of small compartments that open through the bottom surface.
It is composed of 31 and a partition frame 32 that partitions the small section 31. Reference numeral 33 denotes a driving device for rotating the support shaft 34. The driving device 33 internally includes a motor, a reduction gear group, and the like (not shown). The support shaft 34 is connected and fixed to one end of the ice tray 30, and 35 is a frame for allowing the driving device 33 to support the ice tray 30 via the support shaft 34.
Reference numeral 36 denotes a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the driving device 33, and reference numeral 37 denotes a backing plate mounted on the ice tray 30 so as to come into contact with the stopper 36 when the ice tray 30 is inverted. An ice storage box 38 is provided below the ice tray 30 when the ice tray 30 is in the upside down posture.

Next, reference numeral 39 denotes a heater closely attached to the outer wall of the water storage tank 28 and the outer wall of the drain port 29, and reference numeral 40 denotes a drain device (hereinafter referred to as a drain valve) connected to the drain port 29. Is opened to drain water. That is, 41 is a plunger, 42 is a rubber thread diaphragm,
3. A water outlet 44 is formed at the center, and the upper end of the water outlet 44 is sealed with the tip end surface of the plunger 41. 45 is the plunger 41 for the water outlet.
A spring for press-contacting the upper end of 44 is an electromagnetic coil for attracting the plunger 41 by electromagnetic action. And 47 is the inlet pipe, 48 is the outlet pipe, 49 is the inlet pipe 47
And a connection pipe for connecting the drain port 29 of the water storage tank 28,
Is a filter for removing foreign substances provided in the water inlet path in the connecting pipe 49. Reference numeral 51 denotes a drain pipe connected to the outlet pipe 48 of the drain valve 40. Next, reference numeral 52 denotes a water supply tank detachably provided in the refrigerator compartment 27, and a water receiving port 53 opened on an upper surface thereof for receiving a distal end outlet of the drain pipe 51.
On the lower surface, a water supply port 55 which is opened by a valve 54 when set to supply water into the water receiving tray 21 is provided.

Reference numeral 56 denotes a water supply pipe for guiding water temporarily stored in the water receiving tray 21 from the water supply tank 52 into the water storage tank 28 by the water supply pump 22, one end of which is connected to the water supply pump 22 and the other end of which is connected to the water supply pump 22. It is opened so as to face the water storage tank 28.

On the other hand, 57 is an air passage in the freezing room 26 for guiding cool air to the upper surface of the ice tray 30, and 58 is a ventilation passage.
This is a temperature control device that detects the temperature inside the compressor and controls the operation and stop of the blower 9 and the compressor 59 of the refrigeration cycle.

In such a configuration, when the water supply tank 52 filled with water is set at a predetermined position by the user, the valve 54 is pushed up, the water supply port 55 is opened, and the water receiving tray 21 is filled with water. Thereafter, the filled water is pumped up by the water supply pump 22 and injected into the water storage tank 28 through the water supply pipe 56 in a predetermined amount (the predetermined amount of water is injected by means such as, for example, defining the operation time of the motor of the water supply pump 22). Then, as shown in FIG. 4, each small section 31 is flooded to a predetermined water level through the bottom opening of the ice tray 30 superposed on the inner surface. In this state, the cool air cooled by the cooler 8 by the blower 9 is forcibly blown on the water surface of the ice tray 30 through the ventilation path 57, and the cooling action is started. However, at this time, since the outer periphery of the water tank 28 is closely surrounded by the heat insulating material 25, there is almost no cooling effect from the outer periphery, and the water tank is heated by the heater 39.
Since the outer periphery of 28 is warmed, the freezing action proceeds in one direction from above to below each small section 31 of the ice tray 30. For this reason, if the freezing speed is moderately slowed (for example, about 5 mm / n), the gas components and various impurities contained in the water are precipitated out of the ice crystals as the ice progresses, and the ice frozen water However, since the bottom of each small section 31 of the ice tray 30 is opened through, there is no obstacle to hinder the diffusion of the discharged gas components and the sedimentation of impurities. Is discharged into the lower water of the river. Further, since there is no obstacle wall, the concentration of the gas component in the water in the vicinity of the freezing progress surface due to the growth of ice is hardly increased, and therefore, bubbles are hardly generated. Thus, the ice that is successively generated with the passage of time has a very high transparency and is a good-tasting ice with little impurities. Then, ice having an appropriate thickness (for example, 25 mm) required is generated with the passage of a predetermined cooling time. That is, as shown in the state diagram, as shown in FIG. 5, ice of high transparency and purity is present in the upper portion of the ice tray 30, and unfrozen water of reduced purity is present in the lower portion thereof.

On the other hand, during the ice making operation described above, due to the heating effect of the heater 39, freezing does not completely proceed in the gap between the inner wall of the water storage tank 28 and the outer wall of the ice tray 30, and the outer periphery of the ice tray 30 is covered with a water film. It is in a state that has been done. Also, the drain port 29 is heated to prevent freezing inside, and is ready for drainage. At this time, when the predetermined operating time is reached and the electromagnetic coil 46 of the drain valve 40 is energized, the plunger 41 is raised. Here, the gap between the inner wall of the water tank 28 and the outer wall of the ice tray 30 is not completely frozen due to the heating action of the heater 39, and the pressure in the tank is balanced so that the remaining water in the water tank 28 is drained 29,
A water supply tank that is guided to the drain pipe 51 through the connecting pipe 49, the inlet pipe 47, the water inlet 43, the water outlet 44, and the outlet pipe 48, and is installed in the refrigerator compartment 27.
Returned to 52. Here, only ice with high transparency and purity generated in the ice tray 30 is left in the water storage tank 28 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, since the remaining ice is mainly ice having a high temperature at the bottom surface of which water has adhered, the temperature is lowered by cooling and drying the ice making process as it is for an appropriate time (for example, 30 minutes). Make it dry and prepare for the next de-icing process.

Next, when the cooling and drying is completed, the driving device 33 operates, the support shaft 34 starts rotating, and the ice tray 30 rotates to rotate the water storage tank.
Leave from 28. Then, when the ice tray 30 is rotated to a position close to reverse rotation, the abutment plate 37 fixed to the ice tray 30 comes into contact with the stopper 36, and the driving device 33 further applies power to the ice tray 30 to further rotate the ice tray 30. The ice in the small section 31 of the ice tray 30 is separated from the ice tray 30, and falls into the ice storage box 38 provided below to store ice (this action is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8).

After the water supply tank 52 is set by the user in this way, the water that has been stored in advance in the water supply tank 52 is mixed with the water that is returned as residual water in each ice making operation, so that the water is efficiently recycled. Can be used,
It is possible to increase the amount of ice made by a single water supply by the user or to reduce the size of the water supply tank.

And even in the case of recycling the frozen ice water whose purity is reduced in each ice making, the concentration is reduced by being diluted with the raw water, and the final required amount of ice making is less than one time. Water with the lowest purity is not used (this can be done, for example, by attaching a temperature sensor to the water supply pipe 56 so that the amount of water supply can be known by detecting the flowing time) and the freezing speed during ice making is not too fast. With careful consideration, ice with high transparency and purity can be obtained with almost no influence every time. As a result, only a large amount of ice having high transparency and high purity and good taste is stored in the ice storage box 38, and the user is very sensual for eating and drinking with little trouble. Excellent ice can be used at any time.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) After the ice making is started, the drainage device is operated at an appropriate time to discharge the residual water including gas components and impurities discharged by the progress of ice formation, and the outer periphery of the water storage tank is made of a heat insulating material. As a result of the one-sided freezing action from top to bottom due to the close surrounding, the gas components and impurities are not contained in the ice, and the ice generated in the ice tray is very transparent, The ice is automatically stored in a large amount in such a manner that the ice is stored in a large amount automatically, so that the user can sufficiently use the ice that is extremely sensory for eating and drinking.

(2) Since the bottom surface of the ice tray is open through, there is no obstacle to the diffusion of gas components discharged by the generation of ice downward and the sedimentation of impurities downward, The generation of bubbles that cause cloudiness is unlikely to occur, impurities are easily discharged, and the transparency and purity of ice are further increased.

(3) By appropriately heating the outer wall of the water storage tank and the outer wall of the drainage port with a heater, icing in the gap where the water storage tank and the ice tray overlap is prevented, and freezing of the drainage path is also prevented. Is balanced, unnecessary residual water is drained reliably, and the ice tray can be easily separated from the water tank.
Deicing action can be performed reliably.

(4) Since unfrozen water remaining in each ice making is returned to the water supply tank and mixed and recycled, water can be used efficiently and the amount of ice making increases. Alternatively, there is an effect that the water supply tank can be reduced in size accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part of an automatic ice making device such as a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a view of a refrigerator provided with the automatic ice making device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where water is supplied to the automatic ice making apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where ice making has progressed from the state of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state after draining in the state of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state of waiting for ice removal from the state of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator provided with an automatic ice making device showing a conventional example, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the automatic ice making device of FIG. 21… water tray, 22… water supply pump, 25… thermal insulation, 26
…… freezer (cooling room), 28 …… water tank, 29 …… drain,
30 …… Ice tray, 33 …… Drive device, 34 …… Support shaft, 38 ……
Ice storage box, 39 heater, 40 drain valve (drainage device), 51
…… drain pipe, 52 …… water tank, 53 …… water receiving port, 55 ……
Water supply port, 56 ... Water supply pipe.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water storage tank provided in a part of a cooling chamber and having an open top surface, an ice tray configured to be superposed on an inner surface from an opening of the water storage tank, and having an open bottom surface; A support shaft connected and fixed to one end of the dish, a driving device for rotating the ice tray about the support shaft, an ice storage box provided adjacent to the ice storage tank with the support shaft interposed therebetween, and the water storage tank A heat insulating material surrounding the outer wall of the water tank, a drain port provided on the bottom surface of the water tank, a heater closely attached to the outer wall of the water tank and the drain port, a drain device connected to the drain port, and the drain device A drain pipe connected to the water supply tank detachably configured, a water receiving tray, a water supply pump for pumping water in the water receiving tray, and a water supply pipe connected to the water supply pump and led to the water storage tank. The water supply tank is provided with a receptacle for receiving a tip outlet of the drain pipe. Mouth and refrigerator automatic ice maker formed by providing a water supply port communicating with the water pan.