JP4653343B2 - Protective switch device for auger ice machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protection switch device for an auger type ice making machine, and in particular, a fixed band on the side facing the protection switch is also used as an operation means of the protection switch to reduce the number of parts and to reduce variations in installation of the fixed band. In addition, the present invention relates to a protection switch device for an auger type ice making machine that ensures the operation of the protection switch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an ice making mechanism of an auger type ice making machine is vertically arranged, and ice produced is pushed out from above. In order to smoothly store the pushed ice in the ice storage, the ice guide transport means attached to the ice making mechanism is installed with an ice storage switch for controlling the positional relationship from the ceiling surface inside the storage and the amount of ice stored Due to restrictions due to location, etc., it has a two-part configuration of a spout arranged horizontally and a chute connected to the spout and arranged vertically. In this case, if the ice storage switch fails and malfunctions, if the ice making operation continues with ice clogging in the spout and chute, the drive motor that drives the ice making mechanism of the auger ice making machine May be overloaded, or the connection may be damaged, causing ice or water to overflow from the damaged part. Therefore, as a device for preventing such a situation, it is important to develop a device that properly detects ice clogging at a connection portion.
[0003]
An example of such a detection device is an auger type ice making machine (hereinafter referred to as “first conventional device”) described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-248309 shown in FIG. This is because a spout 2 (ice discharge cylinder) is horizontally arranged above the ice making mechanism 1 and a chute 4 (ice supply cylinder) is arranged vertically via a packing 6 on a spout flange 3 provided in the vicinity of the outlet opening end. An ice guide / conveying means is formed by connecting the spout flange 3 and the chute flange 5 using the connecting band 7. A known ice storage switch 8 is installed in the chute 4. 9 is a proximity switch as a protection switch that operates by sensing a change in magnetic field lines. A U-shaped magnetic field generating coil 9a is provided on the chute 4 side, and a metal piece 9b that advances and retreats in the coil 9a on the spout 2 side. The metal piece 9b is pulled out of the magnetic field generating coil 9a, so that the relative displacement between the metal piece 9b and the magnetic field generating coil 9a is detected.
[0004]
The ice pushed out from the ice making mechanism 1 into the spout 2 is guided into the chute 4 and dropped and released into the ice storage below so that the ice is stored in the ice storage. When the ice storage amount reaches a certain amount or more, the ice storage switch 8 is operated to temporarily stop the refrigeration machine device and interrupt the ice making cycle. When the amount of ice storage decreases, normal operation is resumed.
If the ice storage switch 8 breaks for some reason and breaks down, ice accumulates in the spout 2 and the chute 4 and an ice clogging phenomenon occurs. Then, the connecting band 7 is plastically deformed without resisting the pressure due to ice clogging, and the chute 4 is separated from the flange 3 of the spout 2 and tries to spread. At this time, the proximity switch 9 is operated by detecting a delicate relative displacement between the spout 2 and the chute 4, thereby stopping the drive motor and interrupting the ice making cycle.
[0005]
Further, in the second conventional apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304392 shown in FIG. 6, the spout 2 and the chute 3 are coupled by the fastening tool 7 and the switch means 10a is provided on the spout 2 side. Actuating means 10b is provided. When ice clogging occurs, the gap between the switch actuating means 10b and the switch means 10a is widened, and the switch means 10a is actuated to stop the ice making operation.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the proximity switch 9 of the first conventional apparatus has a large number of components such as the magnetic field generating coil 9a and the metal piece 9b, and it is difficult to determine the mounting position relationship between the two components 9a and 9b. Therefore, there is a problem that the proximity switch 9 is liable to malfunction during normal operation.
Further, according to the second conventional apparatus, when the fastening tool 7 is loosened and the mounting position with respect to the chute 4 is moved and deviated, the installation position of the switch operating means 10b with respect to the switch means 10a is misaligned, and ice clogging is accurately detected. There was a problem that made it difficult.
[0007]
The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problems. A protection switch is attached to one of the ice discharge cylinder fixing member and the ice supply cylinder fixing member, and the other fixing member is operated as the protection switch. The auger type ice maker protection switch device that reduces the number of parts involved in the installation of the protection switch, greatly reduces the variation in installation, and ensures more reliable switch operation. For the purpose.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. In other words, the protection switch device for an auger type ice making machine according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a protection switch in a connecting means for connecting an ice discharge cylinder connected to the ice making mechanism and an ice supply cylinder connected to the ice storage tank. In the protection switch device of the auger type ice making machine that detects ice clogging in the ice discharge cylinder and the ice supply cylinder by the protection switch, the connecting means is an ice discharge cylinder fixing member that engages with the ice discharge cylinder, An ice supply tube fixing member provided so as to be opposed to the ice discharge tube fixing member and engaged with the ice supply tube; an elastic body that elastically couples the ice discharge tube fixing member and the ice supply tube fixing member; A switch bracket extending from one fixing member of the ice discharge cylinder fixing member and the ice supply cylinder fixing member to the other fixing member, and the other fixing facing the protection switch Part The those configured to serves as an operating means for operating protection switch.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the protective switch device for an auger type ice making machine according to the first aspect, the switch bracket abuts on the ice discharge tube or the ice supply tube.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the protective switch device of the auger type ice making machine according to the first or second aspect, the elastic body has an ice discharge cylinder fixing member and an ice supply cylinder fixing member in substantially the same direction as the through direction of the switch bracket. And is externally inserted into a bolt that penetrates the bolt, and is screwed down by screwing a nut into the bolt.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 is an external side view in an assembled state, FIG. 2 is an assembled longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows an operation when an ice force is applied. (A) is a principal part external side view which shows the state before a band opens, (b) is a principal part external side view in the open state.
[0011]
11 is an ice making mechanism of an auger type ice making machine, 12 is a spout (ice discharge cylinder) horizontally disposed above the ice making mechanism 11, and 13 is a connecting means (described later) disposed substantially vertically above an ice storage tank (not shown). A chute (ice supply cylinder) 14 connected to the spout 12 via a protective switch mechanism portion provided in the connecting means has a protective switch 14a made of, for example, a microswitch. The protection switch 14a detects ice clogging in the spout 12 and the chute 13 caused by the ice pushed out from the ice making mechanism 11. A switch box 15 is provided on the upper surface of the chute 13 and is used for the ice storage switch 16.
[0012]
First, the connection means will be described. In FIG. 3, the connecting means includes a spout fixing band (ice discharge cylinder fixing member) 18 provided to engage with a spout flange 17 formed in the vicinity of the outlet opening end 12a of the spout 12, and the spout fixing band. A chute fixing band (ice supply cylinder fixing member) 20 provided so as to be engaged with a chute flange 19 provided at the inlet opening end 13a of the chute 13 so as to face the chute 13, and two fixing bands 18, 20 The upper coil spring 21 (elastic body), the lower fixing band 22, and the left and right ends of the lower fixing band 22, which are contracted between them, are connected to the pair of legs of the portal spout fixing band 18 or the chute fixing band 20. It consists of a bolt 22a, a nut 22b, and a lower coil spring 23 for bridging and fixing between the lower parts.
[0013]
A bolt 24 is provided horizontally through the spout fixing band 18 and the chute fixing band 20. An upper coil spring 21 is extrapolated to the bolt and screwed into the nut 25, whereby the upper coil spring 21 is screwed with the nut 25 and the spout fixing band. 18 is attached in a compressed state. The spring end 21 a of the upper coil spring 21 is fixed through the hole 18 a of the spout fixing band 18. The spring pressure is adjusted according to the screwing amount of the nut 25.
A packing 26 is sandwiched between the spout fixing band 18 and the chute fixing band 20, and each open end 12 a of the spout 12 and the chute 13 by the spring force of the upper coil spring 21 and the spring force of the lower coil spring 23. , 13a is watertightly sealed.
[0014]
Next, the switch mechanism unit 14 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 27 denotes a U-shaped sheet metal switch bracket. The base 27a is fixed to the outer surface of the spout fixing band 18, and the horizontal portion 27b bent horizontally from the base 27a is connected to the spout fixing band 18 and the chute. A bent portion 27c that extends through a small hole (not shown) drilled in the fixed band 20 and is bent upward is formed at the free end. The protection switch 14a is fixed to the bent portion 27c with a screw 14b. 14c is a movable contact. When the protective switch 14a is installed, the movable contact 14c is provided so as to have a predetermined gap with the chute fixing band 20, and the chute fixing band 20 also functions as an operation plate for the movable contact 14c of the protective switch 14a.
Further, the horizontal portion 27b of the switch bracket 27 is moved downward by coming into contact with the chute flange 19 when the spout fixing band 18 and the chute fixing band 20 are assembled from above. Is restricted, and positioning at the time of the apparatus is facilitated.
[0015]
1, in the assembled state, the spring force of the upper coil spring 21 acts in the horizontal direction (arrow B), and the spring force of the lower coil spring 23 acts in the vertical direction. The packing 26 is held between the spout flange 17 and the chute flange 19 while being compressed and elastically deformed. Thus, the ice making is sent from the spout 12 to the chute 13.
[0016]
Since the switch bracket 27 to which the protective switch 14a is attached is supported by penetrating the spout fixing band 18 and the chute fixing band 20, the distance between the two fixing bands 18 and 20 is increased at the time of installation. Even if the installation position is shifted downward, the switch bracket 27 abuts on the chute flange 19. For this reason, positioning of both the fixing bands 18 and 20 can be performed accurately, and as a result, insufficient fixing of the lower fixing band 22 can be avoided. Due to the presence of such a switch bracket 27, installation can be performed reliably and easily, and the position of the protective switch 14a can be prevented from being shifted.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper coil spring 21 is used for fixing between the spout 12 and the chute 13. For this reason, when the ice storage switch 16 does not operate or the like, if the ice continues to be generated and a load of a predetermined value or more acts on the spout 12 or the chute 13 due to the ice pressure, the upper coil spring 21 is compressed. As a result, the fixation between the spout 12 and the chute 13 changes from the state shown in FIG. 4 (a) to the state shown in FIG. 4 (b), and the distance between the two increases. The distance between the switch 14a and the movable contact 14c is relatively moved to decrease, and the chute fixing band 20 finally operates the movable contact 14c to detect ice clogging and automatically stop the freezing operation.
[0018]
Thus, it is not necessary to provide a separate operation plate for pressing the movable contact 14c as the actuator of the protection switch 14a, and the chute fixing band 20 also functions as the operation plate. Therefore, in the first conventional apparatus, the molding tolerance of the chute 4, the mounting tolerance between the chute 4 and the bin control, the tolerance of the bin control itself, the mounting tolerance of the bin control and the switch bracket 9c, the tolerance of the switch bracket 9c itself, the switch There are many tolerances such as the mounting tolerance between the bracket 9c and the switch cover 9d, the tolerance of the switch cover 9d itself, and the attachment tolerance between the switch cover 9d and the protection switch 9a. Only the tolerance of the bracket 27 itself and the attachment tolerance between the switch bracket 27 and the protection switch 14a are obtained. As a result, the variation in the installation of the protection switch 14a, that is, the variation in the operation position of the protection switch 14a can be satisfactorily suppressed.
Therefore, the occurrence of malfunctions can be extremely reduced, and a reliable operation can be realized.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the protection switch is assembled to one of the fixing member of the ice discharge tube fixing member and the ice supply tube fixing member, and the wall of the other fixing member is operated without separately providing the operating means. The configuration is also used as a means.
For this reason, the number of parts related to the positional relationship between the protection switch and the operating means can be greatly reduced, the variation in installation can be greatly reduced, and the stable operation can be obtained.
[0020]
According to the invention of claim 2, since the switch bracket is configured to contact the ice discharge cylinder or the ice supply cylinder, positioning at the time of installation of the ice discharge cylinder fixing member and the ice supply cylinder fixing member is facilitated, Each fixing member can be securely fixed, water leakage can be avoided, and further, the installation position of the protection switch can be ensured, so that the malfunction of the protection switch can be avoided.
[0021]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the elastic body is extrapolated to the bolt that penetrates the ice discharge cylinder fixing member and the ice supply cylinder fixing member in substantially the same direction as the penetration direction of the switch bracket. It has a configuration that is contracted by screwing.
For this reason, when ice clogging occurs, the switch bracket can smoothly move relative to the other fixing member against the spring force of the elastic body, and the protective switch can be operated reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external side view showing an assembled state of a protection switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an assembly longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part A in FIG.
FIG. 4 shows an operating state when ice force is applied in the assembled state, (a) is a main part external side view showing a state before the band is opened, and (b) is an external view of the main part in the opened state. It is a side view.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first conventional device.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second conventional device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Spout, 13 ... Chute, 14 ... Protection switch mechanism part, 14a ... Protection switch, 14c ... Movable contact, 17 ... Spout flange, 18 ... Spout fixing band, 19 ... Chute flange, 20 ... Chute fixing band, 21 ... Upper part Coil spring, 22 ... lower fixing band, 23 ... lower coil spring, 24 ... bolt, 25 ... nut, 26 ... packing, 27 ... switch bracket.

Claims (3)

A protection switch is provided in the connecting means that connects the ice discharge cylinder connected to the ice making mechanism and the ice supply cylinder connected to the ice storage tank, and this protection switch detects ice clogging in the ice discharge cylinder and the ice supply cylinder. In the protective switch device of the auger type ice making machine,
An ice discharge tube fixing member that engages with the ice discharge tube, an ice supply tube fixing member provided so as to engage the ice supply tube opposite to the ice discharge tube fixing member, and the ice discharge tube An elastic body that elastically couples the tube fixing member and the ice supply tube fixing member,
A protection switch is provided on a switch bracket extending from one fixing member of the ice discharge cylinder fixing member and the ice supply cylinder fixing member to the other fixing member, and the other fixing member is opposed to the protection switch. A protection switch device for an auger type ice making machine, characterized in that it is also used as an operation means for operating the protection switch. The protection switch device for an auger type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the switch bracket abuts on the ice discharge cylinder or the ice supply cylinder. The elastic body is externally attached to a bolt that penetrates the ice discharge tube fixing member and the ice supply tube fixing member in substantially the same direction as the penetration direction of the switch bracket, and is contracted by screwing a nut into the bolt. The protective switch device for an auger type ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2.

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