JP4021001B2 - Water supply tank - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water supply tank of an ice making device incorporated in a refrigerator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, ice refrigerators are often used in refrigerators.
[0003]
A conventional technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-77371.
Hereinafter, the water tank of the conventional ice making device will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0004]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an ice making device including a conventional water supply tank. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a conventional water supply tank. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting portion between the lid body and the tank body of the conventional water supply tank of FIG.
[0005]
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes an ice making device, which is roughly composed of an ice tray 2, an inverting device 3, a pump 4, a water supply tank 5, a tank pipe 6, and a pump pipe 7. The tank pipe 6 connects the water supply tank 5 and the pump 4. One of the pump pipes 7 is connected to the pump 4 and the other extends to the vicinity of the ice tray 2.
[0006]
The ice making device 1 is arranged in a refrigerator. Specifically, the ice tray 2, the reversing device 3, and the ice storage container 8 are in the freezer compartment 9, and the pump 4, the water supply tank 5, and the tank pipe 6 are arranged in the refrigerator compartment 10.
[0007]
In FIG. 8, a water supply tank 5 is composed of a tank body 11 made of a resin such as acrylonitrile styrene and a lid 12 made of a resin such as acrylonitrile styrene. The tank body 11 is a container having an open upper surface, and a small flange 14 is formed around the opening 13.
[0008]
Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. The lid 12 is a plate-like member shaped to be fitted with the opening of the tank body, and is provided with a bag-like part 16 to be fitted with the opening end 15 of the tank body 11 around the inside of the bag-like part 16. A seal member 17 is provided on the surface.
[0009]
18 is a hole for water injection, and 19 is a discharge pipe that reaches the bottom of the tank body 11. Reference numeral 20 denotes a lock member provided with a protrusion 21 and an engaging claw 22. The lid 12 and the tank main body 11 are provided with protrusions 21 on the lock member 20 so that the bag-like portion 16 provided around the lid 12 is engaged with the open end 15 of the tank main body 11 and the lid 12 is not removed. Is attached to the protrusion 23 of the lid 12, and the engagement claw 22 of the lock member 20 is engaged with the bottom surface of the flange 14 of the tank body 11.
[0010]
The operation of the water supply tank of the ice making device configured as described above will be described below.
[0011]
When the pump 4 is operated, water is sent from the water supply tank 5 that stores water in advance to the pump 4 through the tank pipe 6, and is further sent to the ice tray 2 through the pump pipe 7 from the protruding port 24. When ice making is completed, the ice tray 2 is rotated by the reversing device 3, and the ice falls into the ice storage container 8 and stored. That is, the water supply tank is provided to store water used in the ice making device for a certain period of time.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration, since the sealing member 17 is provided inside the bag-like portion 16 of the lid body 12, dust and scale are likely to accumulate in the gap between the bag-like portion 16 and the sealing member 17, and rubber When removing and cleaning the rubber, there was a drawback that the rubber stretched and the sealing performance deteriorated. Furthermore, since silicon rubber is used, it was very expensive.
[0013]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve a conventional problem and to provide a hygienic and inexpensive water supply tank that can be molded in two colors without a gap between a lid and a seal member.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a tank body, a lid, a seal member made of a thermoplastic elastomer on a side wall of the tank body that forms an inclined surface of the lid, and the lid A water supply cover that covers the water supply port is provided on the upper surface of the body, and the lid body and the seal member are molded in two colors and sealed without using a lock member .
[0015]
As a result, there is no gap between the lid and the seal member, dust and scales do not accumulate, and the rubber cannot be removed. An inexpensive water supply tank can be provided.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a tank body, a lid, and a seal member made of a thermoplastic elastomer on a side wall that is located on the inner slope of the tank body and forms the slope of the lid , A water supply cover that covers the water supply port is provided on the upper surface of the lid, and the lid and the seal member are molded in two colors and sealed without using a lock member .
[0017]
Then, by forming the lid body and the seal member in two colors, there is no gap between the lid body and the seal member, dust and scales do not accumulate, and the rubber cannot be removed. Will not go wrong. Furthermore, since the seal member is molded in two colors, the number of parts is reduced, and a hygienic and inexpensive water supply tank with improved sealing performance can be provided.
[0020]
The invention described in claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that an R shape is provided at a corner of the seal member.
[0021]
By providing an R shape at the corner of the seal member, the corner of the seal member is not deformed when the tank body and the lid body are fitted, and the workability is improved.
[0022]
【Example】
Embodiments of a water supply tank according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure as the past, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0023]
Example 1
1 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply tank according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting portion of the water supply tank of the first embodiment.
[0024]
Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 25 denotes a water supply tank, which is roughly composed of a lid body 26, a tank body 27, and accessory parts. The lid body 26 is molded in two colors with the seal member 29 on the side wall 28 of the lid body 26.
[0025]
The lid 26 is made of a styrene resin such as ABS, and the seal member 29 is made of a styrene ethylene propylene styrene thermoplastic elastomer. The lid 26 may be a polystyrene resin.
[0026]
Reference numeral 30 denotes a filter case, and a filter 31 is attached by a filter cover 32. The filter case 30 is attached to the lid body 26 by the engaging portion 33, and the suction destination 35 of the suction portion 34 of the lid body 26 passes through the suction fitting portion 36 of the filter case 30 to the vicinity of the filter cover 32, which is the lower portion of the filter case 30. Has reached.
[0027]
37 is attached with a water supply cover so as to cover the water supply port 38, and can slide freely. A seal member 29 molded in two colors on the side wall 28 of the lid body 26 is fitted into the opening 39 of the tank body 27.
[0028]
As described above, in the water supply tank of the first embodiment, by forming the lid body 26 and the seal member 29 in two colors, there is no gap between the lid body 26 and the seal member 29, so that dust and scale do not accumulate, and rubber is not collected. Since it cannot be removed, the rubber does not stretch and the sealing performance does not deteriorate.
[0029]
Further, since the lid 26 is made of a styrene resin such as ABS and the seal member 29 is made of a styrene ethylene propylene styrene thermoplastic elastomer, the material has high adhesiveness and is difficult to come off even after two-color molding. Furthermore, since the seal member is molded in two colors, the number of parts is reduced, and a hygienic and inexpensive water supply tank with improved sealing performance can be provided.
[0030]
( Reference Example 1 )
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply tank according to Reference Example 1 of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting portion of the water supply tank of Reference Example 1. FIG.
[0031]
Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 27 denotes a tank body, which is molded in two colors with the seal member 29 on the side wall 40 of the tank body 27. The tank body 27 is made of a styrene resin such as general purpose polystyrene, and the seal member 29 is made of a styrene ethylene propylene styrene thermoplastic elastomer.
[0032]
The tank body 27 may be ABS resin. The seal member 29 molded in two colors on the side wall 40 of the tank body 27 is fitted with the lid side wall 41 of the lid body 26.
[0033]
As described above, in the water supply tank of the first reference example , the rubber cannot be removed by molding the tank body 27 and the seal member 29 in two colors, so that the rubber does not extend and the sealing performance is not deteriorated.
[0034]
The tank body 27 is made of styrene resin such as general-purpose polystyrene, and the seal member 29 is made of styrene ethylene propylene styrene thermoplastic elastomer. Hateful.
[0035]
Furthermore, since the seal member is molded in two colors, the number of parts is reduced, and a hygienic and inexpensive water supply tank with improved sealing performance can be provided. Further, the seal member 29 is prevented from slipping during water supply or cleaning, and a water supply tank that is easy to hold and easy to clean can be provided.
[0036]
(Example 2 )
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the lid according to the second embodiment of the present invention .
[0037]
In FIG. 5 , 29 is a sealing member, and an R shape 42 is provided at the corner of the sealing member.
[0038]
As described above, the water supply tank according to the second embodiment is provided with the R shape 42 at the corner of the seal member 29, so that the corner of the seal member 29 is not deformed when the tank body 27 and the lid body 26 are fitted. It is easy to do and improves workability. Furthermore, since the corner has an R shape during two-color molding, fluidity during molding of the thermoplastic elastomer is improved, yield is improved, and productivity is improved.
FIG. 6 is a view showing Reference Example 2 in which an R shape 42 is provided at the corner of the side wall 40 of the tank body and the seal member 29 of Reference Example 1 that has been molded in two colors.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention includes a tank body, a lid, a seal member made of a thermoplastic elastomer on a side wall that is located on the inner slope of the tank body and forms the slope of the lid, and the lid A water supply cover that covers the water supply port on the upper surface of the cover, forming the lid and the seal member in two colors, and sealing without using a lock member , there is no gap between the cover and the seal member, Since dust and scale do not collect and the rubber cannot be removed, the rubber does not stretch and the sealing performance does not deteriorate. Further, since the lid 26 is made of a styrene resin such as ABS and the seal member 29 is made of a styrene ethylene propylene styrene thermoplastic elastomer, the material has high adhesiveness and is difficult to come off even after two-color molding.
[0040]
Furthermore, since the sealing member is molded in two colors, the number of parts is reduced, and a hygienic and inexpensive water supply tank with improved sealing performance can be provided. Further, since the sealing member is a thermoplastic elastomer, it can be recycled and resources can be reused. In addition, since no lock member is required, space can be saved.
[0042]
Further, by providing an R shape at the corner of the seal member, it is possible to provide a water supply tank that is easy to fit and has improved workability without deformation of the corner of the seal member when the tank body and the lid are fitted. Furthermore, since the corner has an R shape during two-color molding, fluidity during molding of the thermoplastic elastomer is improved, yield is improved, and productivity is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a fitting portion of the water supply tank according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 reference water supply tank according to the cross-sectional view of a fitting portion of the water tank of example 1 [5] the main part cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the lid of the water tank according to the invention [6] the present invention Cross-sectional view of the main part of Example 2 [FIG. 7] Schematic diagram of an ice making device including a conventional water supply tank [FIG. 8] Schematic diagram of a conventional water tank [FIG. 9] Fitting portion of a conventional water tank lid and tank body Sectional view of [Figure]
25 Water supply tank 26 Lid 27 Tank body 28 Side wall 29 Seal member 42 R shape

Claims (2)

A tank body, a lid, a seal member made of a thermoplastic elastomer on a side wall that forms an inclined surface of the lid and is located on an inner inclined surface of the tank body, and a water supply cover that covers a water supply port on the upper surface of the lid DOO has, the lid and the sealing member is molded two-color, water tank, characterized in that the seal without using the locking member. The water supply tank according to claim 1 , wherein an R shape is provided at a corner of the seal member.

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