JP2676316B2 - Ice vertical conveyor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vertical conveying device for ice, and more particularly to a vertical conveying device suitable for conveying ice having a relatively uniform shape manufactured by an ice making machine.

[0002]

In the A conventional automatic ice maker, the front door for take-out ice is provided on the front surface of the ice storage room, I was out taking the ice storage of ice Open this front door. The take-out work is done using a scoop, and the work was a heavy burden when the position of the front door was low.

Meanwhile, the need to operate the ice storage detection switch in the ice bin, sufficient space is taken in the upper and inner part, in order to utilize the space space on the space and the top plate, the top of the ice bin There has been an attempt to install an auxiliary refrigerator in the upper part of the ice storage in order to reduce the burden of the work of taking out ice from the front door. There is.

It has also been proposed to provide a vertical carrier for ice in the ice storage and take out the ice from the ice storage through an outlet at the top of the ice storage (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-77742). This vertical ice carrier has a large number of buckets mounted between two endless belts.

Various vertical ice conveying devices are used in addition to the ice making machine. For example, a screw type conveying device (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 56-130675) and two endless belts with a large number of rake means are used. Ice-breaking supply device equipped with (Japanese Patent Publication Sho-60-11792
Publication).

[0006]

In the conventional ice vertical conveying apparatus, particularly, the bucket and the rake means attached to the endless belt, the bucket and the rake means project from the endless belt to the surroundings, and the space corresponding to that is provided. Is not only difficult to place in a narrow space such as the ice storage of an ice making machine, but also the amount of transportation differs depending on the amount of ice storage,
There is a problem that crushed ice (scrap ice) and things that adhere to each other are indiscriminately transported, and in the screw type transport device, ice is bitten between the screw shaft and the cylinder that wraps the shaft, There is a problem that not only the ice is broken but also the device is damaged.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the conventional ice vertical conveying apparatus, and can be easily arranged even in a narrow space of an ice making machine, so that the ice storage amount can be reduced. Regardless of the amount
An object of the present invention is to provide a vertical ice transporting device for sorting and transporting only ices of the same size and shape.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a vertical carrying unit which is continuously connected to a horizontal carrying unit.
In a vertical ice transporting device equipped with a feeding unit,
At least two endless belts driven by
Mounted between the end strips at intervals slightly wider than the longest side of the ice made.
A large number of horizontal bars and the sky surrounded by these horizontal bars
Horizontally for each horizontal bar, parallel to the plane containing the horizontal bar
The fixed guides are arranged at intervals of about 1/2 to 2/3 between the bars .

Further, when the vertical ice transporting device is attached to an ice storage having a front door, a control means is provided to control the endless belt drive means so that it does not operate when the front door is open. is there.

[0010]

[Operation] Two of the ice pieces placed on the horizontal transfer section of the transfer device
What entered into the space formed by the endless belt, the front and rear horizontal bars, and the fixed guide ,
It is pushed up by each horizontal bar by turning. However
That did not enter the space,
Large items that are only placed on the feeding section are
It does not fall and is not transported. Further, such small ice shattered, less the support unit, the horizontal transport unit
It will not be transported. If the small ice cubes are horizontal
From the horizontal transport section
From the vertical transfer section to the vertical transport section due to inertial reaction
Between the horizontal bar and the fixed guide in the vertical transport unit.
take off. Moreover, the ice is conveyed Paternoster Do that exceeds the amount to be accommodated in the space, the shape of the ice to be transported, has a uniform size.

When this vertical ice transporting device is attached to an ice storage box having a front door, it is transported with the door open.
It is controlled by the control means so as not to activate the drive means of the device .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the ice vertical conveying apparatus shown in the drawings. In addition, the vertical carrying of this ice
The feeder is suitable for a closed-cell ice machine (not shown).
It is used. Further, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, the vertical ice transport device includes a horizontal transport unit B, a vertical transport unit A continuously connected to the horizontal transport unit B, and a discharge unit C provided in the vertical transport unit A. , The ice is automatically loaded in the horizontal transport section B and is carried upward in the vertical transport section A,
It is discharged in the discharge part C.

The two parallel endless bands consist of chains 3 and 3 made of stainless steel or synthetic resin, and a large number of horizontal bars 12, 12 ...
Is mounted. The mutual distance between the horizontal bars 12, 12 ... Is determined in consideration of the size of ice to be conveyed, that is, ice to be made by an ice making machine, and the longest side of the ice to be made (for example, 28 32m for x 28 x 32mm
The distance is set to be slightly wider than the length of m).

In the space surrounded by a large number of horizontal bars 12, 12, ... Mounted between the two endless belts of the horizontal conveying section B,
A horizontal fixed guide 1 with a horizontal bar 12 above it,
12 ... is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the longest side of the ice, that is, about 1/2 of the interval between the horizontal bars 12, 12.
It is placed with a spacing of 2/3. Guide rails 2 and 2 having a non-water-absorbing property and self-lubricating property are mounted on both sides of the horizontal fixed guide 1 to guide the chains 3 and 3 (see FIG. 2). .

At one end of the chains 3 and 3 of the horizontal transport section B, sprockets 6 and 6 which receive a shaft 6a thereof by a bearing (not shown) are arranged to guide the chains 3 and 3. The sprockets 6 and 6 are chains 3 and 3.
Made of stainless steel or synthetic resin as well.

At the other end of the chains 3,3 of the horizontal transport section B, guide sprockets 7,7 for the upper chains 3,3 and guides for the lower chains 3,3 are provided. Sprockets 9, 9 are arranged to guide the chains 3, 3 from the horizontal transport section B to the vertical transport section A.
The guide sprockets 7, 7 and 9, 9 are also made of stainless steel or synthetic resin like the sprockets 6, 6, and their shafts 7a, 7a and 9a, 9a are supported by bearings (not shown). Instead of these guide sprockets 7, 7 and 9, 9, a normal grooved guide roller may be used.

The fixed guide base 1 in this portion is bent 90 ° along an arc equal to the outer circumference of the guide sprockets 7 to form a bent portion 4, and continues to a vertical vertical fixed guide base 5 in the vertical transport unit A. ing. The guide rails 2 and 2 on both sides of the fixed guide 1 also extend to the vertical fixed guide 5 via the bent portion 4.

At the ends of the chains 3 and 3 of the vertical transport section A,
Drive sprockets 8 and 8 for the chains 3 and 3 are arranged,
The shaft 8a is connected to the motor 11 via the coupling 10. Like the other sprockets, the driving sprockets 8 and 8 are also made of stainless steel or synthetic resin, and their shafts 8a are supported by bearings (not shown).

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 16 is an attachment for attaching the horizontal bar 12 to the chain 3, and 17 is an attachment for attaching the guide rails 2 and 2 to the fixed guide portion. Reference numeral 18 is a cover for the device made of stainless steel or synthetic resin.

The ice discharging section C is provided in the vertical transport section,
The vertical fixed guide 5 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the upper lateral bars 12, 12 ...

As shown in FIG. 4, an ice guide 19 having an ice discharge port 20 is provided at the ice discharge section C in the vertical transport section A.
It is preferable that the ice discharge port 20 is provided in the front of the vertical fixed guide base 5 and the space between the horizontal fixed bar 5 and the horizontal bars 12 is almost eliminated.

FIG. 5 shows an ice making machine R with an ice storage having a front door 22 to which a vertical conveying device for ice in the ice making machine according to the present invention is attached. In the drawing, 21 is a top plate of the ice making machine. Yes, 23 is a drive switch of the vertical transport device.

This vertical transporting device for ice is arranged so that the horizontal transporting part B is located at the place where the ice just made falls in the ice storage, and the vertical transporting part is located at the back of the widest blank space. It is attached so that A is located.
Further, the ice discharge port 20 is provided so as to be located just above the top plate 21. Therefore, the ice can be taken out to a high position on the top plate 21 without significantly reducing the amount of ice stored in the ice storage.

Now, when the drive switch 23 of this vertical ice carrier is turned on, the motor 11 is rotated, the drive sprocket shaft 8a is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the drive sprockets 8 and 8 cause the chains 3 and 3 to move in the arrow direction. In the horizontal conveyance section B, the ice contained in the space S (the hatched portion in FIG. 1) surrounded by the adjacent horizontal bars 12, 12 and the parallel chains 3, 3 and the horizontal fixed guide 1 in the horizontal conveyance section B ( Ice 13)
Are pushed by the lateral bars 12, 12 ... With the rotation of the chains 3, 3 and proceed to the vertical transporting section A through the bending section 4 of the horizontal fixed guide 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. So that
The ice 14 is carried in the direction of the arrow, that is, upward while being supported by the horizontal bar 12 and the vertical fixed guide 5 (or supported by the subsequent ice).

Even if the ice that has been loaded in the horizontal transport section B and has not been successfully put into the space S is pushed by the ice contained in the space S to proceed, it is supported by the horizontal bar 12. Since it does not exist, it is not carried upward in the vertical transport section A. Therefore, the amount of ice carried up by this vertical ice carrier is
Only the amount of ice that exactly entered the space can be captured relatively easily by the operating time of the device. It should be noted that the ice that has been crushed into small pieces enters into the space leaving a lot of gaps and is unstable, so that in the vertical transport unit A, vibrations of the chains 3 and 3 are caused.
Many of the bent parts 4 fall off from the vertical transport part A due to a reaction due to inertia when abruptly changing the movement direction, and few of them are correctly discharged from the ice discharge port 20. Therefore, this vertical transporting device can sort the ice to be transported.

The ice is discharged in the discharging portion C.
As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal bar 12 (and subsequent ice 1
5) The ice 15 supported in 5) is guided by the inclination of the vertical fixed guide 5, and the inclination gradually narrows the distance between the vertical fixed guide 5 and the horizontal bar 12 toward the discharge portion C. Therefore, the center of gravity of the ice 15 comes off the support of the horizontal bar 12, and the ice 15 is stronger than the adhesive force of the ice 15 to the fixed guide 5.
When the gravity in the direction of gravity wins, the ice falls and the discharge port 20
More released. As shown in FIG. 4, when the ice guide 19 is provided, the ice can be reliably discharged at a fixed position. The ice guide 19 and the discharge port 20 are also made of stainless steel or synthetic resin. The tension adjustment of the chains 3 and 3 is performed by moving the drive sprocket shaft 8a together with the coupling 10 and the motor 11.

In such a vertical ice transporting device, the front-back width of the transporting device corresponds approximately to the diameter of the sprocket, and two endless belts (three or more, if necessary, are provided between the respective endless belts). The horizontal bar can be laid horizontally.) Since it only occupies the space of the width, and even in a narrow place such as the ice storage of the ice making machine R, it can be installed by selecting an effective place for space use. For example, the amount of ice stored in the ice storage is not reduced, and only a certain amount of ice that has entered the space S is carried regardless of the amount of ice storage, so it is easy to control the drive speed and time. The conveyance amount can be controlled, and further, the ice that does not fit into the space S cannot be carried up, so that the conveyance ice can be sorted.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8A and 8B show a control for safety measures when the vertical ice transporting device according to the present invention is attached to an ice storage having a conventional front door. Means are shown. FIG. 6 shows a switch 24 attached to the body of the ice making machine R (ice storage), and this switch 24 constitutes a simple control means of the drive means of the vertical ice carrier. That is, the switch 24 is closed when the front door 22 is closed and the switch pin 24a is pushed, and is opened when the front door 22 is opened. The switch 24 is incorporated in the drive switch circuit of the drive means in series to drive the drive means. Is to control. The switch pin 24a
It is preferable to take drip-proof measures.

In the example of FIG. 7, a spring 22c is stretched between a bracket 22a provided on the front door 22 and the main body R,
A switch plate 22b is attached to the bracket 22a or the spring 22c. As with the example of FIG. 6, when the front door 22 is closed, the switch 24 is closed and the front door 2
When the switch 2 is opened, the switch 24 is opened, and constitutes a control means for controlling the drive means.

The example shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is shown in FIG.
The switch 24 is replaced with a reed switch 26, and 25 is a magnet attached to the bracket 22a. Reed switch 2 according to opening / closing of front door 22
The contact of 6 opens and closes, this signal is input to the control circuit of the control means, and the drive means is controlled by a command from the control means.

As described above, since the control means for the driving means of the ice vertical transporting device is provided, the drive means of the vertical transporting device does not operate even if the drive switch is pressed when the front door is open, and the work is performed. People do not get injured by being caught in the vertical conveyor chain, side bar, sprocket, etc. when trying to remove ice from the front door.

[0032]

According to the present invention, since there is no bucket or rake means extending outwardly from the endless belt as in the conventional carrier device, the space occupied by the carrier device can be reduced accordingly, and the ice making machine can be used. It is possible to select and install even in a narrow place such as an ice storage, and it is possible to make the amount of conveyed and the shape and size of the conveyed ice constant.

Further, if the control means is provided so that the driving means does not operate when the front door is open, the operator takes out the ice from the front door when applied to an ice maker with an ice storage container having a conventional front door. You will not be injured by being caught in the chain, side bar, sprocket, etc. of the vertical transport device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vertical ice transporting device in an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a horizontal transport unit of the vertical ice transport device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main portion of a vertical transport unit of a vertical transport device.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of an ice discharging part.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ice storage having a front door to which the vertical ice transporting device of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a control unit having a drive unit of the vertical ice transport device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another control means of the driving means of the vertical ice transport device.

8A and 8B are explanatory views of still another control means of the driving means of the vertical ice transporting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Horizontal fixed guide, 2 ... Guide rail, 3, 3 ... Endless belt, 4 ... Bending part, 5 ... Vertical fixed guide, 6,6 ... Sprocket, 7, 7, 9, 9 ... Guide sprocket, 8, 8
... Drive sprocket, 8a ... Drive sprocket shaft, 10
… Coupling, 11… Motor, 13, 14, 15…
Ice, 19 ... Ice guide, 20 ... Discharge port, 21 ... Top plate, 22
... front door, 23 ... drive switch, 24 ... switch, 25
... magnet, 26 ... reed switch, A ... vertical transport section, B ...
Horizontal transport section, C ... discharging section, R ... ice making machine, S ... space.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vertical transport which is continuously connected to a horizontal transport unit.
In a vertical ice transport device equipped with
Driven by at least two endless bands and these endless bands
Mounted between the belts at intervals wider than the longest side of the ice made.
A large number of horizontal bars and the space surrounded by these horizontal bars
Horizontal bar for each horizontal bar parallel to the plane containing the horizontal bar.
And a fixed guide stand arranged at intervals of about 1/2 to 2/3 between the two . 2. The ice according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the drive means so that the drive means does not operate when the front door is opened when the ice storage is attached to the ice storage. Vertical transport device.