JP3563671B2

JP3563671B2 - Refrigerator with automatic ice maker

Info

Publication number: JP3563671B2
Application number: JP2000173170A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 清西田; 勝福田
Original assignee: 松下冷機株式会社
Priority date: 2000-06-09
Filing date: 2000-06-09
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-09
Also published as: JP2001349657A

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator ensuring in particular the effective content volume of an ice making chamber and high in mounting efficiency, in a thin type refrigerator having a small depth size. SOLUTION: A cold passage 35 for cold air guided from a cooler 33 to an ice making chamber 20 is situated in a partition plate 18 to partition the ice making chamber 20 and a freezing chamber 19 from each other. By discharging cold air through a discharge hole formed in the partition plate 18 to an ice chipper tray 25, cold air uniformly flows to the ice chipper tray, and an ice making speed is improved without unevenness. Further, since there is no air passage in the rear of the ice making chamber 20, a depth size in a chamber can be ensured.

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図１０，図１１は例えば、実公昭５２−１８７５５号公報又は特開平６−３１７３７０号公報に示されている従来の自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の要部を示したものである。１は冷蔵庫本体、２は冷凍室、３は冷凍室２の扉。４は自動製氷装置、５はこの装置で作った氷を貯えておく貯氷箱である。
【０００３】
６は製氷皿であり、この製氷皿６を駆動する駆動装置７を有している。駆動装置７には貯氷箱５の貯氷量を検出する検氷レバー８が設けられ、製氷皿６内に氷のできあがったら検氷レバー８が動作し、貯氷箱５内の貯氷量が所定量以下であるか検知を行い、所定量以下であれば製氷皿６を回転させ離氷動作に入る構造となっている。
【０００４】
９は上下に区画する区画壁である。１０は区画壁に配置した冷却器、１１は冷凍室２，冷蔵室１２へ冷気を循環させるファンである。１３は冷凍室への通風ダクトで一部自動製氷装置４の製氷皿６へ導入させる吐出口１３ａが設けられている。
【０００５】
次に冷気の流れについて説明すると、ファン１１で送風された冷気は一部は、通風ダクト１３を通過し、一部は冷凍室２内へ、一部は吐出口１３ａから製氷皿６の後方から前方へ冷気が通過し自動製氷装置４内を通って区画壁９の冷却器１０を介してファン１１へ帰還する。もう一方は通風ダクトを通り冷蔵室１２内へ吐出し区画壁９の冷却器１０を介して、ファン１１へ帰還する。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら上記の構成では、特に近年の冷蔵庫の大容量にあって据付けスペースの制約又マンション等の設置で、冷蔵庫本体１の奥行寸法を浅くし、食器棚やシステムキッチンの奥行き範囲内に設置され前面に飛び出すことがないのでキッチン内のインテリア性を高め、人の移動の邪魔にならない冷蔵庫が主流となってきているという背景に対しては、標準化された自動製氷装置を冷蔵庫内に配置し、製氷内へ冷気を取入れる構造が後方からである為冷蔵庫の奥行寸法を浅くできないとか、浅い奥行寸法の商品に取り付ける事ができないという欠点があった。
【０００７】
更に製氷皿６への冷気が後からの取り入れの為、製氷皿６前後の製氷スピードにバラツキが生じるという欠点もあった。
【０００８】
本発明は従来の課題を解決するもので、他機種に共用化される自動製氷装置を、冷蔵庫の奥行方向に配置し従来の製氷装置内への冷気取り入れ口を奧面から横側面風路にすることにより奥行寸法の浅い冷蔵庫内でも自動製氷装置の収納が図れる。又自動製氷装置への横風路の為製氷皿前後に均一に冷気が流れる為の製氷にバラツキがなく製氷スピードの向上が図れることを目的としている。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の請求項１に記載の発明は、冷蔵庫本体内に第１の区画壁によって上下段に形成され上段を冷蔵室とするとともに、下段は左右に区画する第２の区画壁によって各々冷凍室と製氷室とに区画され、冷蔵室を除いた室は引出し扉を備え、製氷室内に自動製氷装置と貯氷箱を設置した冷蔵庫であって、前記第２の区画壁に、前記自動製氷装置の上板の側壁に設けた導入孔に相対向した位置に仕切板より第１の吐出孔を設け、且つもう一方製氷室内の貯氷箱と、その下の容器との間へ冷気を吐出する第２の吐出孔を仕切板より一体に設けたものであり、各製氷部でバラツキなくほぼ同時に製氷できるので製氷時間を短縮することができ、使い勝手がよいとともに、製氷室内を上下からの冷気で適切に循環され室内の温度ムラのない適切な温度に維持できる。
【００１３】
請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の発明において、自動製氷装置の上板の側壁に設けた導入孔の下部に冷気を誘導させる突出リブ片を上板から一体に形成したもので、吐出される冷気を確実に製氷皿へ導くことができる。
【００１６】
請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項１または２に記載の発明において、製氷皿に水を注ぐ給水パイプを前記上板の上方後部に配設し、その近傍にパイプ先端への風当たり防止リブを上板から一体に設けたもので、製氷皿へ給水させる給水パイプを前記上板の上方後部に位置し、そのパイプ近傍に冷風当り防止リブを前記上板から一体に設ける為、横風路から導入した冷気が、前記リブに遮断され直接給水パイプ先端に当たることがないのでパイプ先端に氷結等を発生させることがない自動製氷装置が提供できる。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明による自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の実施の形態について、図面を参照しながら説明する。
【００２１】
（実施の形態１）
図１は、本発明の実施の形態１による自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の斜視図である。図２は、同実施の形態１の自動製氷装置の分解斜視図である。図３は、同実施の形態１の冷蔵庫の正面図である。図４は、図３のＢ−Ｂ線断面図。図５は、図３のＣ−Ｃ線断面図。図６は、同実施の形態１の蓋体と自動製氷装置を示す側面図である。図７は、図３のＤ−Ｄ線断面図である。図８は、図７のＥ−Ｅ線断面図である。
【００２２】
図１から図８においては、１４は冷蔵庫本体である。１５は冷蔵庫本体１４内を上下に断熱区画する第１の区画壁であり、前記第１の区画壁１５の上部に上部区画１６，下部に下部区画１７を形成し上部区画１６を冷蔵室としている。
【００２３】
１５ａは第１の区画壁１５に形成した蓋体である。蓋体１５ａには各々係止片１５ｂが形成している。１８は前記下部区画１７内を左右に区画する第２の区画壁である。１９は第２の区画壁１８により一側に形成された冷凍室、２０は他側に形成された製氷室である。
【００２４】
そして、前記冷凍室１９，製氷室２０の開口面に開閉自在に取り付けられた引き出し扉２１，２２が設けている。２３は製氷室２０内の上面に位置する自動製氷装置であり、２４は製氷皿２５を駆動する駆動装置である。２６は前記駆動装置２４を保持しコ字状の枠体に形成された上板である。
【００２５】
前記製氷皿２５は、一方を駆動装置２４に嵌合され、他方を上板２６に設けた支持穴２６ａに回転自在に挿入され取り付けられている。上板２６の側壁２６ｂには、製氷皿２５へ冷気を導入する導入孔２６ｃが横並びに数箇所設けている。
【００２６】
前記導入孔２６ｃは製氷皿２５の縦一列にある各々の製氷部の個数に対応した数だけ設けられていてもよい。図２の場合、縦一列に６個あるので、前記導入孔２６ｃはそれぞれの製氷部に対応して６個設けられている。
【００２７】
また、前記導入孔２６ｃの下部には冷気を前記製氷皿２５へ誘導させる突出リブ片２６ｄが形成されている。２６ｅは上板２６から形成し前後に設けた爪であり、２７は製氷皿２５の下方に配置した貯氷箱である。２８は、駆動装置２４に設けられた貯氷箱２７内の氷の量を検出する検氷レバーである。
【００２８】
下部区画１７内を左右に区画する第２の区画壁１８には各々冷気の吐出孔１８ａ、吸込み孔１８ｂが形成している。
【００２９】
２９は、第２の区画壁１８の製氷室２０側に取付けられる冷気を通す仕切り板である。前記仕切り板２９には各々上方に、前記自動製氷装置２３の上板２６ｂに形成した導入孔２６ｃに相対向するように横並びに数個所の第１の吐出孔２９ａを形成し、一方下方に別の第２の吐出孔２９ｂを一体に形成している。
【００３０】
３０は、貯氷箱２７の下部に配置した下部容器である。
【００３１】
３１は給水パイプであり、前記上板２６の上方後部に設けた支持穴２６ｆに支持されている。２６ｇは、給水パイプ３１の近傍に上板２６より一体に設けた冷気当り防止リブである。
【００３２】
３２は、冷凍室１９内の背面を覆う前板で、その中に冷却器３３，送風ファン３４を備えている。
【００３３】
３５ａは前記第２の区画壁１８の吐出孔１８ａへ冷気を誘導する第１の冷気通路である。３５ｂは前記第２の区画壁１８内に設けられ第２の吐出孔２９ｂに連通する第２の冷気通路である。３６，３７は各々前板３２から一体に形成した吐出穴、吸い込み穴である。
【００３４】
以上の様な構成された自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫について説明する。
【００３５】
製氷室２０の上面には、コ字状の枠体に形成された上板２６に配置される駆動装置２４，製氷皿２５，検氷レバー２８を備えた自動製氷装置２３が、第１の区画壁１５の蓋体１５ａに設けた係止片１５ｂに上板２６の爪２６ｅが嵌合され取付けられる。
【００３６】
また、下部区画１７内を左右に区画する第２の区画壁１８には、製氷室２０内側に自動製氷装置２３と相対向する様に仕切り板２９が取り付けられている。その時仕切り板２９の第１の吐出孔２９ａは、自動製氷装置２３に備えた上板２６の側壁２６ｂに設けた導入孔２６ｃ及び突出リブ片２６ｄと相対向する位置となる。
【００３７】
又仕切り板２９の下方に設けた第２の吐出孔２９ｂは、製氷室２０の貯氷箱２７と下部容器３０の間に位置する。この様な構成において冷却器３３で冷却された冷気が送風ファン３４で一部前板３２から冷凍室１９内へ吐出され、所定の温度に冷却される。
【００３８】
もう一方の冷気は、冷気通路３５を通り、第２の区画壁１８内に設けた吐出孔１８ａに流入し、一方は第２の区画壁１８に取り付けられた仕切り板２９の第１の吐出孔２９ａから相対向する自動製氷装置２３の上板２６に設けた突出リブ片２６ｄに誘導されるように側壁２６ｂの各導入孔２６ｃから製氷皿２５の上面に冷気が送風される。
【００３９】
その時上板２６から設けた冷気防止リブ２６ｇは近傍に位置する給水パイプ３１の先端に直接冷気があたらないようにするための遮蔽リブである。一方第２の区画壁１８に取り入れられた冷気は、仕切り板２９の下方に設けた第２の吐出孔２９ｂより貯氷箱２７と下部容器３０の間に吐出され製氷室２０内を循環し、その後第２の区画壁１８に設けた吸込み孔１８ｂを通過し、冷凍室１９内に戻り前板３２の吸い込み穴３７から冷却器３３へ帰還する。
【００４０】
以上のような構成によると、自動製氷装置２３への冷気の取り入れが横風路の為、冷蔵庫の奥行寸法Ａが減じられ、実施例の場合Ａ寸法は４６７ｍｍであり冷蔵庫の奥行寸法を浅くでき、食器棚やシステムキッチン設置されても、隣に設置された食器棚や流し台の前面より前に飛び出すことのない冷蔵庫が提供できる。
【００４１】
また、製氷皿２５への冷気取り入れが横方向から製氷皿２５全奥行に対し、均一に冷気を注ぐ為、製氷スピード向上と、製氷のバラツキがなくなる。更に第２の区画壁１８から導入した冷気が仕切り板２９から上下に吐出される為、製氷室２０内は、温度ムラのない適切な温度に維持できる効果がある。
【００４２】
（実施の形態２）
図９は、本発明の実施の形態２による自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の正面図である。
【００４３】
４０は冷蔵室１６の隣に設けられた貯蔵室である。前記貯蔵室４０は、本実施の形態の場合ボトル室となっており、庫内温度は５±２．５度に冷やされている。以下ボトル室４０とする。冷蔵室１６の下部には野菜室４１が備えられている。
【００４４】
図９のように、４２は前記ボトル室４０と前記冷蔵室１６、前記野菜室４１を区画する第２の仕切り板である。４３は前記第２の仕切り板４２内に備えられた第３の冷気通路である。４３ａは第３の吸入孔である。４３ｂは第３の吐出孔である。
【００４５】
４４は、第２の送風ファンで、４５は前記第２の送風ファン４４の下部に備えられた第２の冷却器である。
【００４６】
前記第３の吸入孔４３ａは、前記第２の仕切り板４２に備えられ、前記第２の冷却器４５よりも上方に位置する。前記第２の仕切り板４２内を、第３の冷気通路４３が設けられ、ボトル室４０に連通して前記第３の吐出孔４３ｂがある。
【００４７】
４６ａは前記第２の仕切り板４２の下部に備えられた第４の吸入孔であり、第４の冷気通路４６を通って第４の吐出孔４６ｂから前記野菜室４１の下部側面に連通している。
【００４８】
以上のように構成された自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫について以下その動作を説明する。
【００４９】
前記冷蔵室１６の後方に備えられた前記第２の冷却器４５から第２の送風ファン４４によって冷気が冷蔵室１６とボトル室４０に連通する冷気通路に分配される。
【００５０】
ボトル室４０へは第２の送風ファン４４により冷気が前記第３の吸入孔４３ａから第３の冷気通路４３を通って第２の吐出孔４３ｂから吐出され、室内を循環して、所定温度に冷却される。
【００５１】
循環した冷気は前記第３の吸入孔４６ａから前記第４の冷気通路４６を通って、前記第３の吐出孔４６ｂより野菜室４１に導かれ野菜収納容器（図示しない）の外周を間接的に冷却した後、野菜室４１の奥面上部に形成された戻り孔（図示しない）より第２の冷却器４５に戻る。
【００５２】
ボトル室４０後方に風路を形成しないので、ボトル室４０の内容積を奥行き方向に広げることができ、収納量を増やすことができる。
【００５３】
また前記第２の吸入孔４３ａは、第２の冷却器４５より上方にあるので、第２の送風ファン４４によってボトル室４０に冷気を循環させやすい。このためボトル室４０を所定温度に冷却することが容易にできる。
【００５４】
またボトル室４０の下部に第４の吸入孔４６ａを備えたので、室内を万遍なく冷気が循環するので、温度バラツキを小さくして冷やすことができる。
【００５５】
【発明の効果】
以上に説明したように請求項１に記載の発明は、冷蔵室の下方で冷凍室と製氷室とに区画する第２の区画壁に自動製氷装置の上板の側壁に設けた導入孔に相対向した位置に仕切板より第１の吐出孔を設け、且つもう一方製氷室内の貯氷箱と、その下の容器との間へ冷気を吐出する第２の吐出孔を仕切板より一体に設けたことにより、製氷時間を短縮することができ、使い勝手がよいとともに、製氷室内を上下からの冷気で適切に循環され室内の温度ムラのない適切な温度に維持できる。
【００５８】
また、請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の発明において、自動製氷装置の上板の側壁に設けた穴の下部に冷気を誘導させる突出リブ片を上板から一体に形成したもので、冷気を適切に製氷皿へ送ることができるので常に適切な循環量を維持できる。
【００６０】
また、請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項１または２に記載の発明において、自動製氷装置内において製氷皿に水を注ぐ給水パイプを前記上板の上方後部に配設し、その近傍にパイプ先端への風当たり防止リブを上板から一体に設けたので、上板の側壁穴より導入した冷気が直接給水パイプ先端に当たらないのでパイプ先端の氷結及び凍結を防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明による冷蔵庫の実施の形態１の自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の斜視図
【図２】同実施の形態１の自動製氷装置の分解斜視図
【図３】同実施の形態１の自動製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の正面図
【図４】図３のＢ−Ｂ線断面図
【図５】図３のＣ−Ｃ線断面図
【図６】同実施の形態１の蓋体と自動製氷装置を示す側面図
【図７】図３のＤ−Ｄ線断面図
【図８】図７のＥ−Ｅ線断面図
【図９】本発明による冷蔵庫の実施の形態２の正面図
【図１０】従来の製氷装置付き冷蔵庫の縦断面図
【図１１】従来の自動製氷装置の分解斜視図
【符号の説明】
１４冷蔵庫本体
１５第１の区画壁
１６冷蔵室
１８第２の区画壁
１９冷凍室
２０製氷室
２１、２２引出し扉
２３自動製氷装置
２５製氷皿
２６上板
２６ｂ側壁
２６ｃ導入孔
２６ｄ突出リブ片
２６ｇ冷気当たり防止リブ
２７貯氷箱
２９仕切り板
２９ａ第１の吐出孔
２９ｂ第２の吐出孔
３０下部容器
３１給水パイプ
３３冷却器
３５ａ第１の冷気通路
３５ｂ第２の冷気通路
４０貯蔵室（ボトル室）
４２第２の仕切り板
４３第３の冷気通路
４３ａ第３の吸入孔
４３ｂ第３の吐出孔
４５第２の冷却器
４６第４の冷気通路
４６ａ第４の吸入孔
４６ｂ第４の吐出孔[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerator with an automatic ice making device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIGS. 10 and 11 show the essential parts of a conventional refrigerator with an automatic ice making device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-18755 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-317370. 1 is a refrigerator main body, 2 is a freezing room, and 3 is a door of the freezing room 2. 4 is an automatic ice making device, and 5 is an ice storage box for storing ice made by this device.
[0003]
Reference numeral 6 denotes an ice tray, which has a driving device 7 for driving the ice tray 6. The driving device 7 is provided with an ice detecting lever 8 for detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage box 5, and when ice is completed in the ice tray 6, the ice detecting lever 8 is operated, and the amount of ice stored in the ice storage box 5 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Is detected, and if it is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the ice making tray 6 is rotated to start the ice releasing operation.
[0004]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a partition wall for partitioning vertically. Reference numeral 10 denotes a cooler arranged on the partition wall, and reference numeral 11 denotes a fan for circulating cool air to the freezing room 2 and the refrigerating room 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a ventilation duct to the freezing room, which is provided with a discharge port 13a for introduction into the ice tray 6 of the partially automatic ice making device 4.
[0005]
Next, the flow of the cool air will be described. A part of the cool air blown by the fan 11 passes through the ventilation duct 13, a part of the cool air enters the freezing compartment 2, and a part of the cool air flows from the outlet 13 a from behind the ice tray 6. The cool air passes forward, passes through the automatic ice making device 4, and returns to the fan 11 via the cooler 10 of the partition wall 9. The other is discharged into the refrigerator compartment 12 through the ventilation duct and returns to the fan 11 through the cooler 10 of the partition wall 9.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described configuration, the depth of the refrigerator main body 1 is reduced by the limitation of the installation space and the installation of an apartment or the like, particularly in the large capacity of the refrigerator in recent years, and the refrigerator is installed in the depth range of the cupboard or the system kitchen. In order to enhance the interior of the kitchen and prevent the refrigerator from becoming a hindrance to the movement of people, a standardized automatic ice maker is placed inside the refrigerator, There is a drawback that the depth of the refrigerator cannot be made shallow or the product cannot be attached to a product with a shallow depth because the structure for taking in the cold air is from behind.
[0007]
Furthermore, since the cold air to the ice tray 6 is taken in later, there is a disadvantage that the ice making speed before and after the ice tray 6 varies.
[0008]
The present invention solves the conventional problem, and arranges an automatic ice making device shared by other models in the depth direction of the refrigerator, and arranges a cold air intake into the conventional ice making device from the back to the side air passage. By doing so, the automatic ice making device can be stored even in a refrigerator having a shallow depth dimension. It is another object of the present invention to improve the ice making speed without variation in ice making because cold air flows uniformly in front of and behind the ice making tray due to a horizontal wind path to an automatic ice making device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a refrigerator compartment is formed by a first partition wall in a refrigerator main body, and an upper stage is a refrigerator compartment, and a lower compartment is formed by a second partition wall partitioned left and right. And an ice-making room, and the refrigerator except for the refrigerator compartment is provided with a drawer door, and is a refrigerator in which an automatic ice-making device and an ice storage box are installed in the ice-making room. A second discharge hole is provided from a partition plate at a position opposite to an introduction hole provided on a side wall of the upper plate, and cool air is discharged between an ice storage box in the other ice making chamber and a container therebelow. The discharge holes are provided integrally with the partition plate, making it possible to make ice almost simultaneously at each ice making unit without any variation.This makes it possible to shorten the ice making time. Appropriate temperature that is circulated and free of room temperature unevenness It can be maintained.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a protruding rib piece for guiding cool air is formed integrally from the upper plate at a lower portion of an introduction hole provided in a side wall of the upper plate of the automatic ice making device. Thus, the discharged cool air can be reliably guided to the ice tray.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a water supply pipe for pouring water into an ice tray is provided at an upper rear portion of the upper plate, and a rib for preventing a wind from hitting the tip of the pipe is provided near the water supply pipe. Is provided integrally from the upper plate, and a water supply pipe for supplying water to the ice tray is located at the upper rear of the upper plate, and a cold air hit prevention rib is integrally provided from the upper plate in the vicinity of the pipe. Since the introduced cool air is blocked by the ribs and does not directly hit the tip of the water supply pipe, it is possible to provide an automatic ice making device that does not cause freezing or the like at the tip of the pipe.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a refrigerator with an automatic ice making device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with an automatic ice making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic ice making device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the lid and the automatic ice making device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.
[0022]
1 to 8, reference numeral 14 denotes a refrigerator main body. Reference numeral 15 denotes a first partition wall for vertically insulating the inside of the refrigerator main body 14. An upper partition 16 is formed above the first partition wall 15, and a lower partition 17 is formed below the first partition wall 15. The upper partition 16 is a refrigerator compartment. .
[0023]
Reference numeral 15a denotes a lid formed on the first partition wall 15. Engagement pieces 15b are formed on the lid 15a. Reference numeral 18 denotes a second partition wall that partitions the inside of the lower partition 17 left and right. 19 is a freezing room formed on one side by the second partition wall 18, and 20 is an ice making room formed on the other side.
[0024]
Drawer doors 21 and 22 are provided on the opening surfaces of the freezing room 19 and the ice making room 20 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 23 denotes an automatic ice making device located on the upper surface in the ice making chamber 20, and 24 denotes a driving device for driving the ice making tray 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes an upper plate that holds the driving device 24 and is formed in a U-shaped frame.
[0025]
One of the ice trays 25 is fitted into the driving device 24, and the other is rotatably inserted and attached to a support hole 26 a provided in the upper plate 26. In the side wall 26b of the upper plate 26, introduction holes 26c for introducing cool air to the ice tray 25 are provided side by side at several places.
[0026]
The introduction holes 26c may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of each ice making unit in one vertical line of the ice tray 25. In the case of FIG. 2, since there are six in a vertical line, six introduction holes 26c are provided corresponding to the respective ice making units.
[0027]
A protruding rib piece 26d for guiding cool air to the ice tray 25 is formed below the introduction hole 26c. 26e is a claw formed from the upper plate 26 and provided on the front and rear, and 27 is an ice storage box arranged below the ice tray 25. Reference numeral 28 denotes an ice detection lever that detects the amount of ice in the ice storage box 27 provided in the drive device 24.
[0028]
A second partition wall 18 that partitions the lower partition 17 left and right has a discharge hole 18a and a suction hole 18b for cool air, respectively.
[0029]
Reference numeral 29 denotes a partition plate, which is attached to the ice making chamber 20 side of the second partition wall 18 and allows cold air to pass through. A plurality of first discharge holes 29a are formed side by side in the partition plate 29 so as to be opposed to the introduction holes 26c formed in the upper plate 26b of the automatic ice making device 23, while one is formed below the other. Are formed integrally with each other.
[0030]
Reference numeral 30 denotes a lower container arranged below the ice storage box 27.
[0031]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a water supply pipe, which is supported by a support hole 26f provided in an upper rear portion of the upper plate 26. 26 g is a cold air hit prevention rib provided integrally with the upper plate 26 near the water supply pipe 31.
[0032]
Reference numeral 32 denotes a front plate that covers the back surface of the freezing compartment 19, and includes a cooler 33 and a blower fan 34 therein.
[0033]
Reference numeral 35a denotes a first cool air passage for guiding cool air to the discharge hole 18a of the second partition wall 18. Reference numeral 35b denotes a second cool air passage provided in the second partition wall 18 and communicating with the second discharge hole 29b. Reference numerals 36 and 37 denote a discharge hole and a suction hole formed integrally from the front plate 32, respectively.
[0034]
A refrigerator with an automatic ice making device configured as described above will be described.
[0035]
On the upper surface of the ice making chamber 20, an automatic ice making device 23 having a driving device 24, an ice making tray 25, and an ice detecting lever 28 disposed on an upper plate 26 formed in a U-shaped frame is provided in a first section. The claw 26e of the upper plate 26 is fitted and attached to the locking piece 15b provided on the lid 15a of the wall 15.
[0036]
Further, a partition plate 29 is attached to the second partition wall 18 that partitions the lower partition 17 left and right so as to face the automatic ice making device 23 inside the ice making chamber 20. At this time, the first discharge hole 29a of the partition plate 29 is located at a position facing the introduction hole 26c and the protruding rib piece 26d provided in the side wall 26b of the upper plate 26 provided in the automatic ice making device 23.
[0037]
Further, a second discharge hole 29 b provided below the partition plate 29 is located between the ice storage box 27 and the lower container 30 of the ice making chamber 20. In such a configuration, the cool air cooled by the cooler 33 is partially discharged from the front plate 32 into the freezer compartment 19 by the blower fan 34 and cooled to a predetermined temperature.
[0038]
The other cool air passes through the cool air passage 35 and flows into the discharge hole 18 a provided in the second partition wall 18, and one cool air flows into the first discharge hole of the partition plate 29 attached to the second partition wall 18. Cool air is blown from the inlet holes 26c of the side wall 26b to the upper surface of the ice tray 25 so as to be guided from the projecting rib pieces 26d provided on the upper plate 26 of the automatic ice making device 23 opposing from 29a.
[0039]
At this time, a cool air preventing rib 26g provided from the upper plate 26 is a shielding rib for preventing cool air from directly hitting the tip of the water supply pipe 31 located in the vicinity. On the other hand, the cool air introduced into the second partition wall 18 is discharged between the ice storage box 27 and the lower container 30 from the second discharge hole 29b provided below the partition plate 29, and circulates in the ice making chamber 20, and thereafter. After passing through the suction hole 18 b provided in the second partition wall 18, it returns to the freezing compartment 19 and returns to the cooler 33 from the suction hole 37 of the front plate 32.
[0040]
According to the above configuration, since the intake of cold air into the automatic ice making device 23 is a horizontal air passage, the depth dimension A of the refrigerator is reduced. In the case of the embodiment, the dimension A is 467 mm, and the depth dimension of the refrigerator can be reduced. Even if a cupboard or a system kitchen is installed, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that does not jump out of the front of a cupboard or a sink installed next to it.
[0041]
In addition, since the cold air is introduced into the ice tray 25 uniformly from the lateral direction to the entire depth of the ice tray 25, the ice making speed is improved and there is no variation in ice making. Further, since the cool air introduced from the second partition wall 18 is vertically discharged from the partition plate 29, the inside of the ice making chamber 20 can be maintained at an appropriate temperature without temperature unevenness.
[0042]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a front view of a refrigerator with an automatic ice making device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0043]
Reference numeral 40 denotes a storage room provided next to the refrigerator compartment 16. In the present embodiment, the storage room 40 is a bottle room, and the temperature in the refrigerator is cooled to 5 ± 2.5 degrees. Hereinafter, it is referred to as a bottle chamber 40. A vegetable compartment 41 is provided below the refrigerator compartment 16.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 9, reference numeral 42 denotes a second partition plate for partitioning the bottle chamber 40, the refrigerator compartment 16, and the vegetable compartment 41. 43 is a third cold air passage provided in the second partition plate 42. 43a is a third suction hole. 43b is a third discharge hole.
[0045]
Reference numeral 44 denotes a second blower fan, and reference numeral 45 denotes a second cooler provided below the second blower fan 44.
[0046]
The third suction hole 43a is provided in the second partition plate 42, and is located above the second cooler 45. A third cool air passage 43 is provided in the second partition plate 42, and has the third discharge hole 43 b communicating with the bottle chamber 40.
[0047]
Reference numeral 46a denotes a fourth suction hole provided at a lower portion of the second partition plate 42, which communicates with a lower side surface of the vegetable compartment 41 from a fourth discharge hole 46b through a fourth cool air passage 46. I have.
[0048]
The operation of the refrigerator with the automatic ice making device configured as described above will be described below.
[0049]
Cold air is distributed from a second cooler 45 provided behind the refrigerator compartment 16 to a cool air passage communicating with the refrigerator compartment 16 and the bottle compartment 40 by a second blower fan 44.
[0050]
Cold air is discharged into the bottle chamber 40 from the third suction hole 43a through the third cool air passage 43 through the second discharge hole 43b by the second blower fan 44, and circulates in the room to reach a predetermined temperature. Cooled.
[0051]
The circulated cool air passes through the fourth cool air passage 46 from the third suction hole 46a, is guided to the vegetable compartment 41 from the third discharge hole 46b, and indirectly moves around the outer periphery of a vegetable storage container (not shown). After cooling, it returns to the second cooler 45 through a return hole (not shown) formed in the upper part on the back side of the vegetable compartment 41.
[0052]
Since no air path is formed behind the bottle chamber 40, the internal volume of the bottle chamber 40 can be expanded in the depth direction, and the storage capacity can be increased.
[0053]
Further, since the second suction hole 43a is located above the second cooler 45, it is easy to circulate cool air into the bottle chamber 40 by the second blower fan 44. Therefore, the bottle chamber 40 can be easily cooled to a predetermined temperature.
[0054]
In addition, since the fourth suction hole 46a is provided in the lower part of the bottle chamber 40, the cool air circulates all over the room, so that the temperature can be reduced and the cooling can be performed.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the invention according to claim 1 has a structure in which a second partition wall partitioned into a freezing compartment and an ice making compartment below a refrigerator compartment is opposed to an introduction hole provided in a side wall of an upper plate of an automatic ice making device. A first discharge hole is provided at a position facing the partition plate, and a second discharge hole for discharging cool air between the ice storage box in the other ice making chamber and a container therebelow is provided integrally with the partition plate. Thereby, the ice making time can be shortened, the usability is good, and the ice making room can be properly circulated by the cool air from above and below, and the room can be maintained at an appropriate temperature without temperature unevenness.
[0058]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a protruding rib piece for guiding cool air is formed integrally from the upper plate at a lower portion of a hole provided in a side wall of the upper plate of the automatic ice making device. Since the cold air can be appropriately sent to the ice tray, an appropriate circulation amount can always be maintained.
[0060]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a water supply pipe for pouring water into an ice tray in the automatic ice making device is disposed at an upper rear portion of the upper plate, and is provided in the vicinity thereof. Since the rib for preventing the wind from hitting the tip of the pipe is provided integrally from the upper plate, the cold air introduced from the side wall hole of the upper plate does not directly hit the tip of the water supply pipe, so that the freezing and freezing of the tip of the pipe can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with an automatic ice making device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic ice making device of the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 3 FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 7 FIG. 9 is a front view of Embodiment 2 of the refrigerator according to the present invention FIG. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator with an ice making device of FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional automatic ice making device.
14 Refrigerator body 15 First partition wall 16 Refrigerator room 18 Second partition wall 19 Freezer room Ice making room 21, 22 Drawer door 23 Automatic ice making device 25 Ice tray 26 Upper plate 26b Side wall 26c Inlet hole 26d Projecting rib piece 26g Cold air Contact prevention rib 27 Ice storage box 29 Partition plate 29a First discharge hole 29b Second discharge hole 30 Lower vessel 31 Water supply pipe 33 Cooler 35a First cool air passage 35b Second cool air passage 40 Storage room (bottle room)
42 second partition plate 43 third cool air passage 43a third suction hole 43b third discharge hole 45 second cooler 46 fourth cool air passage 46a fourth suction hole 46b fourth discharge hole

Claims

In the refrigerator main body, the upper section is formed as a refrigerator compartment by a first partition wall and the upper section is formed as a refrigerator compartment, and the lower section is partitioned into a freezing compartment and an ice making compartment by a second partition wall partitioned left and right. A refrigerator provided with a drawer door and an automatic ice making device and an ice storage box in the ice making room, wherein the second partition wall faces an introduction hole provided in a side wall of an upper plate of the automatic ice making device. A first discharge hole is provided from the partition plate at the set position, and a second discharge hole for discharging cold air between the ice storage box in the other ice making chamber and the container thereunder is provided integrally with the partition plate. A refrigerator characterized by the following.

2. The refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein a protruding rib piece for guiding cool air is integrally formed from the upper plate at a lower portion of an introduction hole provided in a side wall of the upper plate of the automatic ice maker.

A water supply pipe for pouring water into an ice tray in the automatic ice making device is provided at an upper rear portion of the upper plate, and a rib for preventing cold air from coming from the upper plate is integrally provided in the vicinity of the water supply pipe. Item 3. The refrigerator with an automatic ice maker according to Item 1 or 2 .