JP3291722B2 - Automatic ice making equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker installed mainly in a freezer compartment of a home refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic ice making apparatus mainly provided in a freezing room of a home refrigerator is disclosed in
As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 68, the water supplied from the water supply device is stored in an ice tray to make ice, and after the ice is made, the ice in the ice tray is turned upside down by a drive mechanism. It is dropped on a box or the like to perform the ice removal operation. Further, the automatic ice making apparatus has a vibration applying mechanism for applying vibration in the horizontal direction, and a lid having a heater for heating the upper surface of the ice making tray. Air bubbles contained in the water inside are degassed, and the heater is heated in a closed state to make ice sequentially from the lower side of the ice tray to obtain transparent ice.

[0003]

In the structure of the prior art described above, it is possible to remove bubbles contained in water in the ice tray by vibrating the ice tray, but it is not possible to remove impurities. When ice making is performed from the lower side of the ice, a white portion remains on the ice, and there is a problem that completely transparent ice cannot be obtained.

To solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent No. 313663 discloses that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 28 is
When it is determined that the ice making is completed based on the
The water absorbing member 41 heated to a relatively high temperature is
14 against the top of the ice
The surface part is melted, and water generated by the melting is absorbed by the water absorbing member.
No air bubbles or impurities by absorbing and removing by 41
An ice making device capable of producing transparent ice is disclosed.
You.

[0005] However, here, the ice making is completed,
The water absorbing member 41 heated by the auxiliary heater 40
To the top of the ice to melt the ice and remove impurities
To remove the water containing
Separate mechanism (auxiliary heater 40) for melting the upper surface of
Must be provided. Also, melt the water on top of the ice
Contains impurities due to absorption by the water absorbing member 41
Mechanism for separating water and transparent ice (water absorbing member 41)
Is required separately. Therefore, melting the top of the ice,
There must be a separate mechanism for separating water and ice.
There is annoyance that must be done.

[0006] In another Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-137470,
Is manufactured with unfrozen water coexisting in the lower part of the ice tray 33.
Rotate the ice tray 33 to remove the unfrozen water along with the ice
Unfrozen water that has dropped onto the dish 37 and passed through the dish 37
Only to the first sump 46 to ensure transparency and purity.
Separation of high-grade ice and unfrozen water with high impurity concentration
An automatic ice making device is disclosed.

[0007] However, in this case, the
Ice is formed downward from the
Water remains at the bottom of the ice tray 33 in a closed state
Therefore, when the ice tray 33 rotates, only the unfrozen water
Not a transparent ice is dropped from the ice tray 33 to the water Setsusara 37, Ltd.
Ice and water are separated on a draining dish 37, which is a separate member from the ice tray 33.
I have to do it. Therefore, this also separates water and ice
The trouble of having to provide a mechanism for
There is.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems,
A mechanism for melting the top of ice and separating water and ice
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic ice making device capable of obtaining completely transparent ice free from impurities without providing both.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an ice tray having a vibration applying mechanism for applying horizontal vibration to the ice tray and a lid having a heater for heating an upper surface of the ice tray. In an automatic ice making apparatus that degass air bubbles contained in the ice tray and sequentially makes ice from the lower side of the ice tray to obtain transparent ice, a temperature sensor detects the temperature based on the temperature detected by the ice tray.
Determine the state in which the upper portion of the ice tray of ice can remain water
And, discharging the ice tray rotating means for rotating the ice tray, the water that has moved from the top of the ice during the rotation of the ice tray to the outside
And a discharge groove integrally formed with the ice tray to be discharged .

[0010]

According to the above construction, the water containing impurities remaining in the ice tray is rotated by rotating the ice tray at a predetermined angle by the ice tray rotating means while water remains on the ice of the ice tray. Is discharged to the outside through the drain section. Where the temperature
Based on the temperature detected by the sensor,
To determine the state of water remaining at the top of the
The water in the ice tray freezes completely without bothering
Before that, the ice tray can be reliably rotated. Also,
When the ice tray rotates, the water remaining on top of the ice
Move to the discharge groove side formed integrally with the dish, and from there to the outside
Since it is discharged, a separate mechanism separates water and ice.
No need to be installed in the room to obtain completely transparent ice without impurities
Can be

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ice making room provided in a refrigerator, and the ice making room 1 is cooled by a cooler (not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a rectangular box-shaped body disposed at an upper part in the ice making chamber 1 and provided with an L-shaped outer frame 3 protruding rearward. A drive mechanism 7 including a drive motor 4, a gear mechanism 5, and an output shaft 6 attached via a thrust washer 6A is provided inside the body 2. The drive mechanism 7 includes the drive motor 4
Is reduced by the gear mechanism 5 and transmitted to the drive gear 5A formed integrally with the output shaft 6.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a deformable ice tray made of plastic, for example. The ice tray 8 has a thin rectangular container shape with an open upper surface, and the interior is defined by a plurality of blocks 9. The output shaft 6 is connected to the front center of the ice tray 8, and the support shaft 10 is connected to the rear center of the ice tray 8, so that the output shaft 6 and the support shaft 10 can move horizontally in the axial direction. In this state, the ice tray 8 is supported so as to be rotatable about the output shaft 6 and the support shaft 10. A compression coil spring 11 is wound between the ice tray 8 and the outer frame 3.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a lid for covering the upper surface of the ice tray 8 at the ice making position, which is a container-shaped bottom plate 13 having an open upper surface.
A cover 14 covering the upper surface of the bottom plate 13 and a heat insulating material 15 such as styrene foam disposed therebetween are provided. A hinge piece 16 is formed on one side of the lid 12, and the hinge piece 16 is inserted into the shaft 17 of the ice tray 8, whereby the lid
12 is supported on one side of the ice tray 8 so as to be freely opened and closed. A projecting piece is located at the rear of the body 2 at the outside of the other side of the ice tray 8.
When the ice tray 8 is rotated via the drive mechanism 7, an upper surface of the ice tray 8 is opened by contacting the end 12A formed on the front side of the lid 12. . further,
On the upper surface of the bottom plate 13, a heater 19 as a heating means is adhered.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a vibration applying mechanism for applying vibration to the ice tray 8 in the axial direction. This vibration imparting mechanism 21
And a pulse motor 22 provided therein.
A cam 24 is mounted on the rotating shaft 23 and is provided so as to be able to face the output shaft 6 side, and a shaft-shaped vibration transmission member 25 that rotatably penetrates the axis of the drive gear 5A. .
One end of the vibration transmitting member 25 abuts the cam 24 and the other end is provided so as to be able to abut a concave portion 26 formed in the front portion of the ice tray 8, and one end of the vibration transmitting member 25 is not shown. A ball such as a steel ball is rotatably provided by swaging or the like. When the pulse motor 22 operates, the ice tray 8 vibrates in the axial direction according to the contact position between one end of the vibration transmitting member 25 and the cam 24 and the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11. ing.

On the other hand, on the other side of the ice tray 8,
A discharge groove 31 is integrally formed as a drainage portion for discharging water containing impurities remaining therein to the outside. The drain groove 31 has a substantially U-shaped cross section. As shown in FIG. 5, when the ice tray 8 is rotated from the horizontal state, water flowing into the drain groove 31 is provided on the other rear part of the ice tray 8. So that it is discharged to the outlet 32
The bottom is provided to be inclined downward toward the outlet 32 side. The outlet 32 communicates with a drain pipe 33 provided on the back of a refrigerator (not shown), and through the outlet pipe 33, the outlet 32
Is discharged to an external evaporating dish (not shown).

A temperature sensor 34 is provided between the blocks 9 formed on the back side of the ice tray 8, and the temperature sensor 34
Thereby, the temperature of the upper part of the ice tray 8 is detected. Reference numeral 35 denotes a rectangular parallelepiped heat insulating material provided at the bottom of the temperature sensor 34, and is formed of a material such as foamed polyethylene. A sensor cover 36 is provided outside the heat insulating material 35 so as to cover the back side of the ice tray 8. The temperature sensor 34 is substantially hermetically sealed by the member 35 and the sensor cover 36, and is shielded from external cold air.

The body 2 has a circuit board (not shown) therein, and a horizontal position detection switch 41 for detecting the horizontal position of the ice tray 8 near the output shaft 6; An upright position detection switch 42 for detecting that the 8 has rotated about 90 ° from the horizontal state, and an inversion position detection switch 43 for detecting the inversion position of the ice tray 8 are provided. Further, an ice box 44 is provided below the ice tray 8 so as to be able to be taken in and out of the ice making chamber 1, and water is supplied to the ice tray 8 through a water supply pipe 45 of a water supply device (not shown). The cold air supply port 46 for supplying cold air into the ice making chamber 1 is connected to the ice making tray 8.
The cold air flows to the lower side of the car. Airframe 2
Is provided with an ice storage detection lever 47 for detecting the amount of ice in the ice box 44.

FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit diagram. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 51 denotes a microcomputer for controlling a series of steps relating to ice making, which will be described later. An ice tray rotating means for rotating the ice tray 8 in a state where the ice tray 8 is kept, a time measuring means, and the like are provided. The microcomputer 51 receives a voltage signal based on the temperature detected by the ice tray 8 by the temperature sensor 34, a reference voltage from a reference voltage generating circuit 52 corresponding to the water supply completion temperature (for example, −3 ° C.) of the ice tray 8, The reference voltage from the reference voltage generating circuit 53 corresponding to the temperature (for example, −5 ° C.) when water remains on the ice of the ice tray 8, and the ice-making completion temperature of the ice tray 8 (for example, −13.5) ° C) from the reference voltage generating circuit 54. Further, the microcomputer 51 includes the horizontal position detection switch 4.
1, Upright position detection switch 42, reverse position detection switch 4
3, and a detection signal from an ice storage detection switch 55 responsive to the ice storage detection lever 47 is provided. The drive motor 4 of the drive mechanism 7 is connected to the microcomputer 51 via a motor drive circuit 56, and the pulse motor 22 of the vibration applying mechanism 21 is connected to the microcomputer 51 via a pulse motor drive circuit 57. You. Further, a water supply pump 58 constituting the water supply device is connected to the microcomputer 51 via a transistor 59, and the heater 19 is connected to the microcomputer 51 via a transistor 60. Then, the drive motor 4, the pulse motor 22, the heater
The microcomputer 19 and the water supply pump 58 are controlled by the microcomputer 51 according to a predetermined procedure described later.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 9 showing the control of the microcomputer 51 and the operation explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 15. First, in the water supply process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the water supply pump 58 is driven for a predetermined time in step S <b> 1 to supply water to the ice tray 8 via the water supply pipe 45. Then, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the water supply has been completed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34. At this time, if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34 is lower than the water supply completion temperature, it is determined that the water supply is not being performed, the water supply abnormality is detected, and the operation is stopped (steps S3 and S4).
On the other hand, if it is higher, it is determined that the water supply has been completed, and the process proceeds to the ice making process.

In the ice making process, first, in step S5, the microcomputer 51 outputs a drive signal to the pulse motor 22 via the pulse motor drive circuit 57, and the vibration applying mechanism 21
As a result, the ice tray 8 is vibrated in the axial direction. In step S6, the heater 19 is energized via the transistor 60. At this time, the cool air from the cool air supply port 46 is mainly supplied to the lower side of the ice tray 8, and the upper surface of the ice tray 8 is heated by the heater 19 while being covered by the lid 12,
Moreover, since the water is vibrated with the vibration of the ice tray 8, the bubbles contained in the water are released, and the formation of ice on the water surface side is delayed. 8 and grows in one direction sequentially, forming transparent ice.
During this ice making operation, since the side portion 37 of the sensor cover 36 has a double structure, an air layer is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the side portion 37, and the cool air from the cool air supply port 46 is cooled by the temperature sensor 34.
To prevent intrusion. Furthermore, the thermal insulation 35 is a temperature sensor
By preventing heat conduction to the bottom of 34, temperature sensor 34 accurately detects the temperature at the top of ice tray 8 without being affected by external cold air.

Next, in step S7, it is determined based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34 whether or not the water in the ice tray 8 is in a state before it is completely frozen. Temperature detected by temperature sensor 34
When the temperature drops below -5 ° C., as shown in FIG.
It is determined that water B remains in the upper part of the ice A, the pulse motor 22 is turned off, the vibration of the ice tray 8 is temporarily stopped (step S8), and the heater 19 is turned off (step S8). Step S9), the process proceeds to the drainage process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In this water draining process, first, in step S10, the ice tray rotating means of the microcomputer 51 energizes the drive motor 4 via the motor drive circuit 56, and the drive mechanism 7 drives the ice tray around the support shaft 10. 8 is rotated forward in the direction of arrow S. With the rotation of the ice tray 8, the protruding piece 18 comes into contact with the end 12A of the lid 12, so that the upper surface of the ice tray 8 is opened, and as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,
The water B remaining on the upper part of the ice A moves to the drain 31 together with impurities contained in the water B, and is discharged from the drain 31 to the water distribution pipe 33. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, when the upright position detection switch 42 detects that the ice tray 8 has been rotated by approximately 90 ° to be in the upright state, the microcomputer 51 once outputs a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 56. Is stopped (step S11). Subsequently, in step S12, the microcomputer 51 determines whether or not the upright state of the ice making tray 8 has elapsed for a predetermined time by means of a timer. It is determined that it has not been performed, and the process proceeds to step S13. In this step S13, as shown in FIG. 14, the drive motor 4 is rotated via the motor drive circuit 56 in the direction opposite to that at the time of the water disposal operation, and the ice tray 8 is rotated in the direction of arrow S '. In step S14, when the horizontal position detection switch 41 detects that the ice tray 8 has returned to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 14, the drive motor 4 is turned off,
The ice tray 8 is held at a horizontal position (step S15).

Thereafter, the flow proceeds to step S16 to execute the ice making process again, and it is determined whether or not the ice making is completed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34 becomes equal to or lower than the ice making completion temperature of -13.5 ° C., it is determined that the ice making has been completed, and the process shifts to the ice separation process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In the ice removing process, first, in step S17, the ice making tray 8 is rotated from the horizontal state in FIG. 14 in the direction of arrow S shown in FIG. At this time, when the ice tray 8 is inverted to a predetermined position, the ice tray 8 is twisted, and all the ice A in the block 9 of the ice tray 8 falls into the ice box 44. Then, step S18
When the inversion position of the ice tray 8 is detected by the inversion position detection switch 43, the process proceeds to step S19, where the microcomputer 51 rotates the driving motor 4 in the reverse direction via the motor driving circuit 56, thereby making the ice making operation. The plate 8 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow S. When the horizontal position of the ice tray 8 is detected by the horizontal position detection switch 41 in step S20, the drive motor 4 is turned off, and the rotation of the ice tray 8 is stopped (step S21). Next, the process proceeds to step S22, where it is determined by the ice storage detection switch 55 whether or not the ice in the ice box 44 is full. If it is determined that the ice is not full, the process returns to step S1, and if it is determined that the ice is full. Will wait as it is.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the ice tray 8 is rotated by the ice tray rotating means of the microcomputer 51 with the water B remaining above the ice A of the ice tray 8, Water B containing impurities remaining in the ice tray 8
Is discharged to the outside through the drain groove 31, and complete transparent ice free of impurities can be obtained.

In particular, the detected temperature of the ice tray 8 by the temperature sensor 34
Based on the degree, water remains on the ice on ice tray 8
Do not bother to melt the top of the ice.
Before the water in the ice tray 8 completely freezes, secure the ice tray 8
Can be rotated. Also, the ice tray 8 rotates.
And the water remaining on top of the ice is formed integrally with the ice tray 8.
Move to the drain groove 31 side where the
It is necessary to separately provide a mechanism to separate water and ice
You can get completely transparent ice without any impurities
You.

Also, as an effect of the embodiment, the side portion 37 of the sensor cover 36 is formed in a double structure so as to prevent cold air from entering the temperature sensor 34 from the cold air supply port 46.
34 can perform accurate temperature detection without being affected by external cold air, and the heat insulating material 35 may be formed in a small rectangular parallelepiped shape that simply prevents heat conduction at the bottom of the temperature sensor 34. By enabling 35 cutting processes, cost reduction can be easily realized. In addition, thermal insulation 35
Is covered by the sensor cover 36, so that there is no risk that the user will mistake the heat insulating material 35 for the packing material, and it is possible to eliminate the problem that each component is accidentally removed. Also,
It does not take extremely long ice making time only around the temperature sensor 34.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the drain groove formed on the side of the ice tray can be appropriately changed in consideration of the amount of water remaining in the ice tray. Further, the ice tray and the output shaft may be connected like a spline shaft.

[0028]

According to the present invention, bubbles contained in water in the ice tray are provided by a vibration applying mechanism for applying horizontal vibration to the ice tray and a lid having a heater for heating the upper surface of the ice tray. Temperature in an automatic ice-making apparatus in which ice is degassed and ice is sequentially formed from the lower side of the ice tray to obtain transparent ice.
Determining the state of the upper portion of the ice tray of ice are still water on the basis of the detected temperature of the ice tray by capacitors, and the ice tray rotating means for rotating the ice tray, before the time of rotation of the ice tray
The ice tray for discharging water transferred from the top of the ice storage to the outside
And a discharge groove formed integrally with the upper part of the ice.
A mechanism to melt the ice or separate water and ice
Without providing the seat, it can provide an automatic ice making device capable of obtaining a completely clear ice without impurities.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the same.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the above.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state when the ice tray is rotated.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart in a water supply process and an ice making process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart in a water dumping process and an ice making process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart in the deicing process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation during the same water dumping process.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation during the same water dumping process.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation during the same water dumping process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the operation during the same water drainage process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in the ice making process.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory view in the deicing process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Ice tray 12 Lid 19 Heater 21 Vibration imparting mechanism 31 Dischargegroove 34 Temperature sensor  51 Microcomputer (ice tray rotating means)

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-313663 (JP, A) JP-A-3-137470 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25C 1/10 F25C 1/18 F25C 1/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An air tray for removing air bubbles contained in water in the ice tray is provided by a vibration applying mechanism for applying horizontal vibration to the ice tray and a lid having a heater for heating an upper surface of the ice tray. In an automatic ice making device that makes ice sequentially from the lower side of this ice tray to obtain transparent ice, a temperature sensor is used.
Determining a state in which the water remains in the top of the ice tray of ice on the basis of the detected temperature of the ice tray, and ice tray rotating means for rotating the ice tray, the ice during the rotation of the ice tray Upper part
Integrated with the ice tray that discharges water transferred from the outside
Automatic ice making device being characterized in that a the discharge groove.