JP6091075B2 - Automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an automatic ice maker configured to install an ice making mechanism at an upper part of an ice storage, and to discharge and store the ice produced by the ice making mechanism into an ice storage chamber defined in the ice storage through an ice discharge path. Related to the machine.

  As an automatic ice maker that produces a large amount of ice, a stack-on type ice maker is known in which an ice making unit having an ice making mechanism and a refrigeration mechanism is loaded on top of an ice storage that defines an ice storage chamber (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In this automatic ice making machine, the ice making mechanism and the ice storage chamber are connected in communication by a chute, and the ice produced by the ice making mechanism is discharged and stored in the ice storage chamber via the chute. Further, in the automatic ice making machine, an ice storage detection device including an ice storage switch and an ice storage detection plate for operating the ice storage switch on and off is disposed in the vicinity of the exit portion of the chute in the ice storage chamber and stored in the ice storage chamber. When the ice storage switch is actuated by being pushed by the ice and the ice storage switch is activated to enter the detection state (ON state), the ice making operation in the ice making mechanism is stopped, and the ice consumption is reduced and the ice storage detection plate When the ice storage switch returns to its original position and the ice storage switch is in the non-detection state (OFF state), the ice making mechanism is controlled so that the ice making operation is resumed. It is comprised so that it can maintain substantially constant.

Japanese Utility Model No. 4-40142

  In the configuration in which the ice storage detection device is disposed in the ice storage chamber, when the ice stored in the ice storage chamber is taken out by an extraction tool such as a scoop, the extraction tool comes into contact with the ice storage detection device, that is, the ice storage detection plate. There was a risk of damaging the ice storage detection plate. In addition, when the blocked ice block stored in the ice storage chamber is broken or the ice in the ice storage chamber is agitated, the ice wraps around to the side where the ice storage switch of the ice storage detection plate is set to the detection state, and the ice storage detection plate There was a risk that ice could not be detected due to the inability to tilt.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional automatic ice making machine, and is capable of reliably detecting ice storage by the ice storage detection means without damaging the ice storage detection member. An object is to provide an automatic ice maker that can be used.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, an automatic ice making machine according to the invention of claim 1 is provided:
An ice making mechanism disposed in an upper part of an ice storage in which an ice storage chamber is internally defined, an ice discharge unit that communicates the ice making mechanism and the ice storage chamber, and discharges ice produced by the ice making mechanism to the ice storage chamber; In an automatic ice maker equipped with
The ice discharge section includes a first guide path that guides the ice produced by the ice making mechanism in a lateral direction and the ice storage chamber that guides the ice supplied from the first guide path in the vertical direction and communicates with the lower end. A second guideway for discharging,
The first guide path extends from the vicinity of the upper end of the second guide path to the vicinity of the lower end of the second guide path, and is pivotally supported by a pivot means at a height lower than the first guide path . The second guide path and the first guide are swingable about an axis extending in the width direction intersecting with the direction of ice supply from the guide path to the second guide path , and a portion above the swing axis. An ice storage detection member located at a communication portion with the road ;
Ice storage detection having a detection part provided in the ice storage detection member and a detection part provided in the ice discharge part and switched between a detection state and a non-detection state of the detection part as the ice storage detection member swings Means and
The first guide path is provided on both sides of the inclined bottom wall in the width direction with the inclined bottom wall inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detection member, and the opposing surface is directed toward the second guide path. The gist is to include a pair of guide protrusions that are close to each other.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the ice storage detection member is disposed in the second guide path, the take-out tool contacts the ice storage detection member when the ice stored in the ice storage chamber is taken out by the take-out tool. The ice storage detection member can be prevented from being damaged. In addition, since the ice storage detection member does not extend into the ice storage chamber, when the ice in the ice storage chamber is stirred, the ice does not enter the side that disturbs the rocking of the ice storage detection member, and the ice storage detection means reliably detects ice storage. You can do it. Furthermore, since the ice can be guided toward the center in the width direction of the second guide path by the pair of guide protrusions, it is possible to suppress the ice from entering the front side from both sides in the width direction of the ice storage detection member. That is, the ice storage detection member is not disturbed by the ice, and the ice storage detection can be reliably performed. Further, since the inclined bottom wall is inclined so as to face the swing axis of the ice storage detection member, the ice supplied to the second guide path along the inclined bottom wall is near the swing axis of the ice storage detection member. In this case, the ice storage detection member is prevented from frequently swaying by the ice. That is, it is possible to prevent the detection unit from frequently switching between the detection state and the non-detection state as the ice storage detection member swings, thereby extending the life of the detection unit.

In the invention according to claim 2, the first guide path is provided on an inclined bottom wall inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detecting member, on both sides in the width direction of the inclined bottom wall, and opposed surfaces are provided. The gist of the present invention is to include a pair of guide protrusions set close to each other toward the second guide path and set to a height dimension that does not extend above the inclined upper end of the inclined bottom wall .
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ice can be guided by the pair of guide protrusions toward the center in the width direction of the second guide path, the ice enters the front side from both sides in the width direction of the ice storage detection member. Can be suppressed. That is, the ice storage detection member is not disturbed by the ice, and the ice storage detection can be reliably performed. Further, since the inclined bottom wall is inclined so as to face the swing axis of the ice storage detection member, the ice supplied to the second guide path along the inclined bottom wall is near the swing axis of the ice storage detection member. In this case, the ice storage detection member is prevented from swinging by the ice. That is, it is possible to prevent the detection unit from frequently switching between the detection state and the non-detection state as the ice storage detection member swings, thereby extending the life of the detection unit.

In the invention according to claim 3, the ice storage detection member is provided with a pair of side plates extending toward the first guide path side on both side edges in the width direction of the main body plate extending in the vertical direction. The gist is that the ice storage detection member is swingably supported in the second guide path by a pair of pivot means provided between the corresponding inner side surfaces of the second guide path.
According to the invention of claim 3, since the pivot support means for pivotally supporting the ice storage detection member is located outside the pair of side plates in the ice storage detection member, the ice supplied to the inside of the both side plates is contained in the ice storage detection member. Can be prevented from remaining on the surface. Further, the side plate can more reliably prevent the ice supplied from the first guide path to the second guide path from entering the front side of the ice storage detection member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, each of the pivot support means is provided with a first protrusion protruding from the side plate of the ice storage detecting member and an inner surface of the second guide path so as to rotate the first protrusion. A second projecting portion that freely supports, and a contact surface of at least one of the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion with the other projecting portion is inclined to bring the ice storage detection member toward the center in the width direction of the second guide path It is a summary that is attached.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the ice storage detection member pivotally supported by the pivot means can always be located in an appropriate position.

  According to the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the ice storage detection by the ice storage detection means can be reliably performed.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the automatic ice making machine which concerns on an Example. It is the schematic which partially fractures | ruptures and shows the ice making mechanism and ice discharge | release part which concern on an Example. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the ice making mechanism and ice discharge | release part of an Example in the state which accommodated the ice storage detection member in the ice discharge | release part. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the ice making mechanism and ice discharge | release part of an Example in the state which pulled out the ice storage detection member partially from the ice discharge | release part. It is a top view which shows the spout of an Example. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the spout, chute | shoot, and ice storage detection member of an Example. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the pivot part of the spout of an Example and an ice storage detection member. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation in the automatic ice making machine of an Example. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows another Example of the pivotal support part of a spout and an ice storage detection member. It is a figure which shows another Example of the guidance protrusion provided in a spout, Comprising: (a) is the schematic perspective view seen from diagonally upward, (b) is a top view, (c) is the schematic perspective view seen from back upper direction It is.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, “front” and “rear” are designated based on the direction in which the ice produced by the ice making mechanism 16 is supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46. In the direction intersecting with the ice supply direction, “left” and “left” are designated.

  FIG. 1 shows an automatic ice maker 10 according to an embodiment. The automatic ice maker 10 is mounted on an ice storage 12 having an ice storage chamber 12a defined therein, and an upper portion of the ice storage 12. A stack-on type ice making machine including an ice making unit 14. The ice making unit 14 includes a so-called auger type ice making mechanism 16 that produces chip-like or flake-like ice, and a refrigeration mechanism (not shown) that cools the ice making mechanism 16. Then, the ice produced by the ice making mechanism 16 is discharged and stored in the ice storage chamber 12a via the ice discharge portion 18. A machine room 20a is internally defined by the housing 20 above the ice storage 12, and the ice making unit 14 is accommodated in the machine room 20a.

  The ice making mechanism 16 includes a cylindrical refrigeration casing, an auger (not shown) rotatably disposed inside the refrigeration casing, a drive motor 22 that rotates the auger, and ice making in the refrigeration casing. It is basically composed of an ice making water tank (not shown) for supplying water. The refrigeration casing is made of a metal having good thermal conductivity and is housed in a state surrounded by a heat insulating material inside the mechanism section main body 24. The mechanism section main body 24 is in a posture in which the refrigeration casing stands in the machine room 20a. It is arranged. Further, an evaporation pipe constituting a refrigeration mechanism is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing, and the refrigeration casing is cooled by a refrigerant flowing through the evaporation pipe by operation of the compressor. The auger is disposed coaxially with the refrigeration casing inside the refrigeration casing, and a cutting blade spirally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the auger (a peripheral surface facing the ice making surface of the refrigeration casing) It faces the inner peripheral surface (ice-making surface) with a slight gap. The auger has a lower part rotatably supported by a lower bearing provided in the lower part of the refrigeration casing, and an upper part rotatably supported by a pressing head (not shown) disposed inside the upper part of the refrigeration casing. A lower end extending downward from the bearing is connected to the drive motor 22, and the drive motor 22 is configured to rotate inside the refrigeration casing. Then, the ice making mechanism 16 removes the ice grown on the ice making surface of the refrigeration casing cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the evaporation pipe in a state where the ice making water supplied from the ice making water tank is filled at a predetermined level in the refrigeration casing. Then, the auger is rotated by the drive motor 22 and scraped off by the cutting blade, and the ice containing the removed moisture is transferred upward under the rotation of the auger. In addition, a water supply pipe connected to the external water system is connected to the ice making water tank, and the water supply valve inserted in the water supply pipe is controlled to open and close based on the detection state of the water level setting means arranged in the tank, The ice making water tank is configured to store a predetermined amount of ice making water (tap water).

  In the pressing head, a plurality of fixed blades are provided radially on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body in a circumferential direction, and between the outer wall surface of the cylindrical main body and the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing, the circumferential direction A plurality of compression passages are defined at a distance from each other. In addition, on the upper part of the pressing head, a head part 26 which is detachably disposed on the shaft part on the upper side of the auger and rotates integrally with the auger is faced, and the compressed ice is compressed by the pressing head. The head portion 26 is configured to be folded at predetermined dimensions.

  The ice discharge part 18 for discharging the ice produced by the ice making mechanism 16 to the ice storage chamber 12a is detachably attached to the upper part of the mechanism part main body 24 as shown in FIGS. An existing spout (ice guide tube) 28 and a chute 30 formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction and having an upper opening communicating with the spout 28 and a lower opening facing the ice storage chamber 12a.

(About Spout)
2, 5, and 6, the spout 28 is a member formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is closed as a whole and opened upward, and the upper opening has two lids to be described later. The members 54 and 56 can be opened and closed. A wall portion forming the outer periphery of the spout 28 is connected to the arc-shaped wall 32 formed in a semicircular shape so as to surround the head portion 26, and to both open ends of the arc-shaped wall 32 (from the first guide path). It is comprised from a pair of side wall 34,34 extended toward the ice supply direction to the 2nd guide way), and the front wall 36 which connects between the extended ends of both side walls 34,34. The wall portion forming the bottom of the spout 28 includes a mounting bottom wall 38 extending substantially horizontally over a predetermined region on the rear side of the arc-shaped wall 32 and the pair of side walls 34, 34, and the mounting bottom wall 38. The spout 28 is detachably attached to the mechanism main body 24 via the attachment bottom wall 38. The inclined bottom wall 40 is connected to the front end edge and inclines downward toward the front. A first ice passage (first guide passage) 42 extending in the lateral direction is defined by the side walls 34, 34, the attachment bottom wall 38 and the inclined bottom wall 40. Further, the front end edge of the inclined bottom wall 40 is spaced rearward from the front wall 36, and a rear wall 44 extending downward is connected to the front end edge so as to be connected to the front wall 36, the rear wall 44, and both sides. A second ice passage 46 communicating with the first ice passage 42 at an upper portion is defined by the walls 34 and 35 so as to extend in the vertical direction (vertical direction). In addition, the 2nd ice channel | path 46 is opened below by the communication port 46a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an insertion hole 38 a penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the mounting bottom wall 38, and the insertion hole 38 a is attached to the mechanism body 24 via the mounting bottom wall 38. The refrigeration casing communicates with the spout 28 (first ice passage 42) through 38a, and the head portion 26 is inserted into the insertion hole 38a and faces the spout 28 (first ice passage 42). The The ice folded to a predetermined size by the head portion 26 is configured to be pushed laterally toward the second ice passage 46 through the first ice passage 42 by the radial pushing action of the ice by the auger. The Further, the upper end of the chute 30 is detachably fitted to the lower end defining the communication port 46a in the front wall 36, the rear wall 44 and the pair of side walls 34, 34 that define the second ice passage 46. A mating portion 46b is provided, and the upper end portion of the chute 30 is fitted to the fitting portion 46b, whereby the chute 30 is connected to the second ice passage 46 in communication. That is, the ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 is introduced into the chute 30 through the communication port 46a, falls inside the chute 30 and is discharged into the ice storage chamber 12a. It has become. In the embodiment, the ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 is guided so as to drop downward and discharged to the ice storage chamber 12a, and the chute communicating with the second ice passage 46 is provided. A second guide path is constituted by 30 internal passages 30a described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the side walls 34, 34 of the spout 28 have shaft portions (second protrusions) 48, 48 projecting inwardly on the inner surface facing the second ice passage 46. And the ice storage detection member 50 is swingably supported through the pair of shaft portions 48,48. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the inclined bottom wall 40 of the spout 28 is set so as to be inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detection member 50 that is swingably supported by both shaft portions 48 and 48. The ice moving (sliding down) along the inclined bottom wall 40 is supplied to the second ice passage 46 toward the vicinity of the swing axis of the ice storage detection member 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft portion 48 is formed in a truncated cone shape whose diameter decreases toward the inside, and an upper outer peripheral surface (contact surface) with which a bearing portion 66 described later of the ice storage detection member 50 comes into contact is formed. The ice storage detection member 50 that is configured to incline downward toward the center in the width direction of the second ice passage 46 and is supported by both shaft portions 48, 48 has an effect of approaching the center in the width direction in the second ice passage 46. Configured to work.

  A pair of guide projections 52, 52 projecting into the first ice passage 42 are provided at both left and right ends of the inclined bottom wall 40 (corners formed by the inclined bottom wall 40 and the side wall 34). The guide protrusions 52, 52 are formed so as to extend from the rear end to the front end of the inclined bottom wall 40, and the opposing surfaces of both guide protrusions 52, 52 are as shown in FIG. The inclined surfaces that are close to each other as they go from the rear end to the front end (second ice passage 46), and the ice that moves toward the second ice passage 46 along the inclined bottom wall 40 by the two inclined surfaces, The ice passage 46 is configured to be collected at the center in the left-right direction (width direction). In addition, the protrusion height from the inclined bottom wall 40 in the guide protrusion 52 is set small, and the pressure applied when the ice is compressed by being collected in the center in the width direction by both guide protrusions 52 and 52 is It doesn't work until ice. Specifically, the guide protrusion 52 is set to a height dimension that does not extend above the upper surface of the mounting bottom wall 38 (the inclined upper end of the inclined bottom wall 40) (see FIG. 6). Further, the separation width between the front ends of the pair of guide protrusions 52 and 52 is set to be smaller than the separation width between the inner surfaces of side plates 62 and 62 (described later) of the ice storage detection member 50, and the guide protrusion 52 is guided by the inclined surface. The ice is configured to be supplied to the inside of the side plate 62 in the ice storage detection member 50.

(About the shoot)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the chute 30 is a member that is formed in a rectangular tube shape and is long in the vertical direction, and has an upper end fitted into the fitting portion 46 b of the spout 28 and a lower end. The second ice passage 46 and the second ice passage 46 are connected to each other through the internal passage 30a of the chute 30 by allowing the portion to enter the ice storage chamber 12a through a through hole formed in the bottom portion of the housing 20 (ceiling of the ice storage 12). It communicates with the ice storage chamber 12a. A flange portion 30b extending radially outward is formed on the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the chute 30, and the lower end portion of the chute 30 is positioned by contacting the flange portion 30b with the upper surface of the bottom of the housing 20. (See Figure 1). In the embodiment, the lower end of the chute 30 extends a predetermined length into the ice storage chamber 12a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the upper opening of the spout 28 that faces the upper side of the head portion 26 of the first ice passage 42 can be freely opened and closed by a first lid member 54 disposed in the spout 28. Configured to be closed. A rotation support portion 54 a is provided at the front end edge of the first lid member 54. Further, the spout 28 is detachably attachable to a second lid member 56 that opens and closes an upper opening that faces the upper side of the second ice passage 46 and the upper side of the first ice passage 42 that is not closed by the first lid member 54. It is arranged. The second lid member 56 is provided with a supported portion 56a at the rear edge, and the supported portion 56a is detachably engaged with the rotation support portion 54a of the first lid member 54, so that the spout 28 can be attached. On the other hand, the 2nd cover member 56 is comprised so that it can rotate centering on the to-be-supported part 56a.

(About reed switch)
A switch mounting portion 28a is provided on the outer surface of the front wall 36 of the spout 28, and a reed switch 58 as a detecting portion constituting ice storage detecting means is detachably mounted on the switch mounting portion 28a. The reed switch 58 is in an OFF state when it is away from a magnetic field or the like that forms a magnetic field, and is in an ON state when it is close to the magnet or the like. The reed switch 58 is electrically connected to a control means (not shown) for controlling the automatic ice making machine 10, and when it is in the ON state, it sends a signal indicating the ON state to the control means, and when it is in the OFF state. Stop transmitting the signal. In the embodiment, when the reed switch 58 is ON, the control means determines that the ice storage chamber 12a is not full, and when the reed switch 58 is OFF, the control means determines that the ice storage chamber 12a is full. It is set to judge. In the embodiment, when the OFF state of the reed switch 58 continues for a preset duration (for example, 5 seconds) or longer, the control means is set to determine that the ice storage chamber 12a is full.

(About the ice storage detection member)
In the second ice passage 46 and the internal passage 30 a of the chute 30, the ice storage detection member 50 is supplied with ice from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 via the shaft portions 48, 48. Is supported so as to be swingable forward and backward. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice storage detection member 50 includes a rectangular plate-like main body plate 60 extending in the vertical direction, and rearward (on the first ice passage 42 side) from both left and right edges of the main body plate 60. It has side plates 62 and 62 extending toward the top, and is formed in a U-shape that opens rearward in a plan view. In addition, restricting plates 64, 64 extending toward the corresponding side walls 34, 34 of the spout 28 are formed on the rear end edges of the side plates 62, 62 with a predetermined length in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the restriction plates 64, 64 are provided from the upper end of the ice storage detection member 50 to a position below the front end of the inclined bottom wall 40, and move along the inclined bottom wall 40. The restriction plates 64, 64 are configured to restrict the entry of ice from the side of the ice storage detection member 50 (between the side plate 62 and the side wall 34) to the front side of the main body plate 60. The separation width between the outer surfaces of the side plates 62, 62 in the ice storage detecting member 50 is between the extended ends of the pair of shaft portions 48, 48 projecting from the inner surfaces of the side walls 34, 34 as shown in FIG. Is set to be slightly smaller than the distance between the side plate 62 and the side wall 34 so that no large gap is formed between the side plate 62 and the side wall 34.

  Bearing portions (first protrusions) 66 formed in an inverted U shape so as to open downward are respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the both side plates 62, 62, and the bearing portions 66 are connected to the corresponding shafts. By engaging the portion 48 from above, the ice storage detection member 50 is configured to be swingable in the front-rear direction in the second ice passage 46 and the internal passage 30 a of the chute 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice storage detection member 50 is supported by the shaft portions 48 and 48 via the bearing portions 66 and 66, and the chute 30 from the communication portion of the second ice passage 46 with the first ice passage 42. The length extends to the vicinity of the lower end of the (internal passage 30a). In the embodiment, the lower end of the ice storage detection member 50 is positioned slightly above the lower end of the chute 30 and faces the internal passage 30a, and the lower end is set so as not to extend into the ice storage chamber 12a. The bearing portion 66 is provided at a position facing the front of the restriction plate 64, and melted ice water or the like flowing along with the ice from the first ice passage 42 toward the second ice passage 46 is supplied to the bearing portion 66 and the shaft. The restriction plates 64 and 64 can prevent the portion 48 from being applied. In the embodiment, a pivot means is constituted by the shaft portion 48 and the bearing portion 66, and the ice storage detection member 50 is swingably supported by a pair of pivot means located on the left and right outer sides. The front ends of the inclined surfaces of the guide protrusions 52, 52 provided on the inclined bottom wall 40 in a state where the ice storage detecting member 50 is supported at the center in the width direction in the second ice passage 46 by the pair of pivot means. Are set to be located inside the corresponding side plate 62.

  A magnet 68 serving as a detected portion constituting ice storage detecting means is disposed on the ice storage detection member 50 above the main body plate 60 (above the position where the bearing portion 66 is formed), and the ice storage detection member 50 is connected to the shaft portion 48. , 48 as a fulcrum, the magnet 68 is configured to move toward and away from the reed switch 58. In addition, the ice storage detection member 50 is moved from the first ice passage (first guide passage) 42 to the second ice passage as the main body plate 60 moves from the upper end to the lower end in a state where the ice storage detection member 50 is not biased from the outside. (Second guide path) The gravity center position and pivot position (the bearing 66 of the bearing portion 66) of the ice storage detection member 50 so as to have an inclined posture (refer to the solid line in FIG. 2) biased toward the rear side in the direction of supplying ice to the 46. Forming position) is set. In the embodiment, in the inclined posture where the ice storage detection member 50 is not biased from the outside, the lower end of the main body plate 60 is set so as to be positioned approximately at the center in the front-rear direction of the lower end portion of the internal passage 30a of the chute 30. . In this inclined posture, the magnet 68 is close to the reed switch 58, and the reed switch 58 is turned on. Further, the ice stored in the ice storage chamber 12a reaches the lower end of the chute 30, and the ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 thereafter accumulates in the internal passage 30a. When the lower end is pushed forward and the magnet 68 is in a detection posture (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) that is separated from the reed switch 58, the reed switch 58 is turned off.

  In the embodiment, the upper end portion of the main body plate 60 of the ice storage detection member 50 is in contact with the inner surface of the front wall 36 of the spout 28 so that the inclined posture (non-detection posture) of the ice storage detection member 50 is maintained. It is. In the embodiment, the main body plate 60 is formed with a magnet housing portion, and the magnet 68 is housed in the housing portion so that the magnet 68 is not exposed to the surface of the main body plate 60.

(Effects of Example)
Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the power switch of the automatic ice making machine 10 is turned on in a state where ice is not stored in the ice storage chamber 12a, water supply to the ice making water tank is started (step S1). Then, when the water level setting means provided in the ice making water tank detects the specified water level, the water supply to the ice making water tank is stopped (step S2). Next, when the drive motor 22 is activated, the auger is rotated, the compressor of the refrigeration mechanism is activated, and the refrigerant flows through the evaporation pipe, whereby the refrigeration casing is cooled (steps S3 and S4). In the automatic ice making machine 10 of the embodiment, the compressor is set to be started after a preset delay time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed since the drive motor 22 was started.

  When the refrigeration casing is forcibly cooled by the refrigerant, the ice making water stored in the casing gradually begins to freeze from the inner wall surface of the casing, and layered thin ice is formed. The thin ice is transferred upward while being scraped off by a cutting blade of an auger that rotates in a refrigeration casing, and the ice is compressed in the process of passing through the pressing head to remove moisture, thereby producing compressed ice. Then, the obtained ice is folded at predetermined dimensions by the head portion 26 that rotates integrally with the auger. Then, the ice folded by the head portion 26 is pushed in the lateral direction by moving the first ice passage 42 in the spout 28 toward the second ice passage 46 by the radial push-out action of the ice by the auger. It is supplied to the ice passage 46. The ice supplied to the second ice passage 46 falls along the main body plate 60 and the side plates 62 and 62 of the ice storage detection member 50 along the internal passage 30a of the chute 30 and is discharged into the ice storage chamber 12a for storage. Is done.

  When ice is not stored up to the lower end of the chute 30 in the ice storage chamber 12a, the ice storage detection member 50 maintains the inclined posture shown by the solid line in FIG. Since the switch 58 is in the ON state in the vicinity, the control means determines that the ice storage chamber 12a is not full and continues the ice making operation. When the ice is stored in the ice storage chamber 12 a up to the lower end of the chute 30, the ice that is subsequently supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 is detected in the internal passage 30 a of the chute 30. It is stored between the main body plate 60 of the member 50. When the ice pushes the lower end portion of the ice storage detection member 50 to the front side of the chute 30 and the ice storage detection member 50 tilts with the shaft portions 48 and 48 as fulcrums, the magnet 68 moves from the reed switch 58. Separate. The control means determines that the ice storage chamber 12a is full when the reed switch 58 is in the OFF state for more than the duration (step S5), and controls to stop the compressor and the drive motor 22 (step S5). Step S6).

  When ice is extracted from the ice storage chamber 12a and reduced, the ice stored in the internal passage 30a of the chute 30 falls into the ice storage chamber 12a, so that the ice storage detection member 50 has a pivot position and a center of gravity position. With this relationship, the main body plate 60 returns to the inclined posture biased toward the rear side again from the upper end toward the lower end due to its own weight, and the reed switch 58 is turned on by the magnet 68. In this case, water supply to the ice making water tank is started again, and the drive motor 22 and the compressor are activated to restart the ice making operation (steps S1 to S4).

  Here, in the automatic ice making machine 10 of the embodiment, when the accumulated time during which the compressor is operated exceeds a preset time (for example, 12 hours) (step S8), the control means makes the ice making. It is configured to forcibly stop operation. That is, after stopping the compressor in step S9, the drive motor 22 is stopped in step S10. When the ice making operation is forcibly stopped, the automatic ice making machine 10 according to the embodiment is set to stop the drive motor 22 after a preset delay time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed since the compressor was stopped. .

  In step S11, water supply to the ice making water tank is started, and in step S12, the water supply is stopped by detecting the specified water level in the same manner as described above, and stored in the ice making water tank in step S13. After discharging the ice making water, the process returns to step S1 and the same process as described above is performed. In addition, after discharging ice making water by step S13, it sets so that water supply may be restarted after the preset delay time (for example, 10 minutes) passes.

  As described above, the ice storage detecting member 50 is disposed in the second ice passage 46 and the internal passage 30a of the chute 30, and the lower end thereof is not extended into the ice storage chamber 12a. When the ice that has been taken out is taken out by the take-out tool, the take-out tool does not come into contact with the ice storage detection member 50, and the ice storage detection member 50 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, since the lower end of the ice storage detection member 50 faces the vicinity of the lower end of the chute 30, that is, the vicinity of the upper end of the ice storage chamber 12 a, the ice is stored in the lower end of the internal passage 30 a in the chute 30 to detect fullness. can do. That is, in the full detection state in which the ice storage detection member 50 is in the detection posture, ice is not stored up to the upper part of the internal passage 30a or the second ice passage 46 in the chute 30, and the ice is taken out from the ice storage chamber 12a. At this time, it is possible to prevent the user from being surprised by a large amount of ice stored in the second ice passage 46 or the internal passage 30a of the chute 30 falling.

  Side plates 62 and 62 extending toward the first ice passage 42 are provided on the left and right side edges of the main body plate 60 in the ice storage detection member 50, and restrictions are extended from the extending ends of the side plates 62 toward the outside. Since the plate 64 is provided, it is possible to prevent the ice supplied toward the second ice passage 46 along the first ice passage 42 from entering the front side of the ice storage detection member 50 (the front wall side of the spout 28). Can do. That is, the rocking of the ice storage detection member 50 is not hindered by ice, and it is possible to prevent the ice storage detection from being disabled. Further, guide protrusions 52 and 52 for guiding the ice moving along the inclined bottom wall 40 to be gathered at the center in the width direction of the second ice passage 46 are provided at the left and right ends of the inclined bottom wall 40 of the spout 28. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent ice from entering from the outside in the width direction of the ice storage detection member 50 to the front side. That is, the presence of ice on the front side of the ice storage detection member 50 can reliably prevent the ice storage detection member 50 from being inhibited from swinging, so that ice storage detection can always be performed reliably.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide protrusions 52 and 52 of the embodiment are set so that the height of the upward protrusion is low, so that much ice is excessively compressed in the spout 28 and clogging occurs. Can be prevented. Even if ice clogging occurs between the pair of guide projections 52, 52, the space above the upper surfaces of the pair of guide projections 52, 52 in the first ice passage 42 extends in the width direction. The clogging generated in the lower part can be eliminated by the ice moving above the upper surfaces of the guide protrusions 52 and 52.

  Since the ice storage detection means of the embodiment is composed of the magnet 68 disposed on the ice storage detection member 50 and the reed switch 58 that is turned on and off by the magnet 68, there is no need to route wiring or the like inside the chute 30. Hygienic. Further, the ice storage detection member 50 is inserted into the second ice passage 46 and the internal passage 30a of the chute 30 from the upper opening of the spout 28, and the bearing portions 66, 66 are simply placed on the shaft portions 48, 48. Since it is configured so that it can be attached with, it is easy to assemble. In addition, the second lid member 56 that opens and closes the upper opening of the spout 28 is detachably attached to the first lid member 54 and is rotatably supported, so that the ice storage detection member 50 can be easily attached and detached. Become.

  The ice storage detection member 50 of the embodiment is configured so that the lower end of the main body plate 60 is positioned at the center in the front-rear direction of the internal passage 30a in the chute 30 in a state where it is not urged from the outside (full non-detection state). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ice falling from the second ice passage 46 from passing through the communication port 46 a into the internal passage 30 a of the chute 30 from being clogged due to the presence of the ice storage detection member 50. Further, the shaft portions 48, 48 that pivotally support the ice storage detection member 50 in the first ice passage 46 and the internal passage 30 a of the chute 30 are positioned outside the pair of side plates 62, 62 in the ice storage detection member 50, Since no support shaft or the like faces the inside of the plates 62, 62, it is possible to prevent ice from remaining inside the ice storage detection member 50 (the portion defined by the main body plate 60 and the side plates 62, 62). Can do.

  Further, since the inclined bottom wall 40 of the spout 28 faces the swing axis of the ice storage detecting member 50, the ice sliding down the inclined bottom wall 40 collides with the vicinity of the swing axis of the ice storage detecting member 50. . Accordingly, the ice storage detection member 50 is prevented from swinging due to the impact of the ice colliding with the ice storage detection member 50, and the reed switch 58 is prevented from being frequently turned on and off. Life can be extended.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shaft portions 48 and 48 have a shape that decreases in diameter toward the center in the width direction of the second ice passage 46. Therefore, for example, the ice storage detection member 50 is moved to the second ice by vibration during transportation. Even when the ice 46 is moved to the left or right side in the width direction of the passage 46, when the ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 hits the ice storage detection member 50 and swings, the ice storage detection member 50 Since the action of displacing in the center in the width direction of the two ice passages 46 works, the ice storage detecting member 50 can be positioned in the center in the width direction of the second ice passages 46. That is, the ice storage detection member 50 can always be supported at an appropriate position, and the side plate 62 and the regulation plate 64 of the ice storage detection member 50 come into contact with the side wall 34 of the spout 28 and the inner surface of the chute 39 to shake the ice storage detection member 50. It is possible to prevent the situation where the movement is hindered. Further, since the ice storage detection member 50 can be positioned at the center in the width direction of the second ice passage 46, the positional relationship between the pair of guide protrusions 52, 52 and the side plates 62, 62 can be properly maintained. The ice guided by both guide protrusions 52 and 52 can be supplied to the inside of both side plates 62 and 62.

  Here, the restriction plates 64 and 64 of the ice storage detection member 50 are positioned so as to cover the rear side (the first ice passage 42 side) of the pivot support means (the shaft portions 48 and 48 and the bearing portions 66 and 66). 4 (see FIG. 4), when the melted water accumulated on the bottom walls 38, 40 of the spout 28 is pushed by the ice and enters the second ice passage 46, the melted water is supported by the pivot means (shaft portion 48). , 48 and the bearing portions 66, 66) can be prevented by the restriction plates 64, 64. That is, it is possible to prevent a component such as chalk contained in the melted ice water from being deposited on the surface of the pivot support means (the shaft portions 48 and 48 and the bearing portions 66 and 66) and causing the malfunction of the ice storage detection member 50. .

[About another embodiment]
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the pivoting means of the ice storage detecting member 50, and the basic configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment, so only the parts different from the embodiment will be described and the same member will be described. Shall be given the same reference numerals.

  The pivoting means of another embodiment includes a shaft portion 70 as a first protrusion protruding from each side plate 62 of the ice storage detection member 50, and a U that protrudes from the inner side surface of the side wall 34 of the spout 28 and opens upward. It is comprised from the bearing part 72 as a character-shaped 2nd protrusion. Then, the shaft portion 70 protruding from the side plate 62 is formed in a truncated cone shape whose diameter decreases toward the outside, and the lower outer peripheral surface (contact surface) with which the bearing portion 72 contacts is the second ice passage 46. The ice storage detection member 50 is configured in the second ice passage 46 in the center in the width direction with the shaft portions 70, 70 supported by both bearing portions 72, 72. It is comprised so that the effect which approaches may work. Thereby, also in the pivot support means of another embodiment, when ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 hits the ice storage detection member 50 and swings, the ice storage detection member 50 has the width of the second ice passage 46. The action of displacing in the center of the direction works, and the ice storage detecting member 50 can be positioned in the center of the second ice passage 46 in the width direction.

  10 (a) to 10 (c) show another embodiment of the guide protrusion provided on the spout 28, and the basic configuration of the spout 28 is the same as that of the above embodiment. Only different parts will be described, and the same reference numerals will be assigned to the same members.

  The guide protrusions 74 of another embodiment protrude upward and inward from the left and right ends of the inclined bottom wall 40, and the pair of guide protrusions 74 and 74 are between the rear end and the front end of the inclined bottom wall 40. It is formed to extend over. Further, the opposing surfaces of both guide projections 74, 74 are inclined surfaces that are closer to each other as they go from the rear end to the front end (second ice passage 46), as shown in FIGS. 10 (b) and 10 (c). The ice moving toward the second ice passage 46 along the inclined bottom wall 40 by both inclined surfaces is configured to be collected at the center in the left-right direction (width direction) of the second ice passage 46. The protruding height from the inclined bottom wall 40 in the guide protrusion 74 of another embodiment is set so as to extend above the upper surface of the mounting bottom wall 38 and is supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46. It is configured so that substantially all the ice to be collected can be collected at the center in the width direction of the second ice passage 46.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the projecting dimension of the guide projection 74 of another embodiment to the inner side (the center in the width direction) of the front end facing the second ice passage 46 is the inside of the side wall 34 on the corresponding side. It is set so as to be located on the inner side (center in the width direction) than the protruding end of the shaft portion 48 protruding inward from the side surface. As a result, the ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 can be reliably prevented from going toward the shaft portions 48, 48. That is, ice supplied from the first ice passage 42 to the second ice passage 46 and melted water entering the second ice passage 46 along with the ice are applied to the pivot support means (the shaft portion 48 and the bearing portion 66). Can be surely prevented.

(Example of change)
The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments and other embodiments, and can be modified as follows, for example.
(1) In the embodiment, the detection unit of the ice storage detection unit is described as a detection unit using a reed switch that is turned on and off by a magnet. However, the detection state is detected by the detection unit that is displaced as the ice storage detection member swings. If it switches to a non-detection state, an optical sensor, a mechanical limit switch, etc. are employable.
(2) In the embodiment, the spout and the chute are separately formed. However, the spout and the chute are separately formed, and the first ice passage that guides the ice in the horizontal direction and the second ice passage that guides the ice in the vertical direction are defined as an integrated body. Also good.
(3) In the embodiment and another embodiment, the one contact surface of the shaft portion and the bearing portion constituting the pivot support means is inclined, but both contact surfaces may be inclined.
The configuration described in the embodiment is not limited to the above-described modification example, and various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The following technical idea can be specified from the description of the above-described embodiment and another embodiment.
[Appendix 1]
An ice making mechanism (16) disposed in an upper portion of an ice storage (12) in which an ice storage chamber (12a) is defined, and the ice making mechanism (16) and the ice storage chamber (12a) communicate with each other, and the ice making mechanism In an automatic ice making machine comprising an ice discharge section (18) for discharging the ice produced in (16) to an ice storage chamber (12a),
The ice discharge section (18) is configured to guide the ice produced by the ice making mechanism (16) in the lateral direction and the ice supplied from the first guide path (42) in the longitudinal direction. A second guide path (30a, 46) for guiding and discharging to the ice storage chamber (12a) communicating with the lower end;
It is pivotally supported inside the second guide path (30a, 46) and extends in the width direction intersecting with the ice supply direction from the first guide path (42) to the second guide path (30a, 46). An ice storage detection member (50) swingable about the axis, and
Detection of the detected part (68) as the ice storage detecting member (50) swings provided in the detected part (68) provided in the ice storage detecting member (50) and the ice discharge part (18). An ice storage detection means having a detection unit (58) that switches between a state and a non-detection state,
The first guide path (42) is provided on an inclined bottom wall (40) inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detection member (50), and on both sides in the width direction of the inclined bottom wall (40). An automatic ice maker comprising a pair of guide protrusions (52, 52, 74, 74) that are close to each other as the opposing surfaces face the second guide path (30a, 46).

  According to the automatic ice maker according to Supplementary Note 1, since the ice can be guided by the pair of guide protrusions toward the center in the width direction of the second guide path, the ice enters the front side from both sides in the width direction of the ice storage detection member. Can be suppressed. That is, the ice storage detection member is not disturbed by the ice, and the ice storage detection can be reliably performed. Further, since the inclined bottom wall is inclined so as to face the swing axis of the ice storage detection member, the ice supplied to the second guide path along the inclined bottom wall is near the swing axis of the ice storage detection member. In this case, the ice storage detection member is prevented from frequently swaying by the ice. That is, it is possible to prevent the detection unit from frequently switching between the detection state and the non-detection state as the ice storage detection member swings, thereby extending the life of the detection unit.

[Appendix 2]
In the automatic ice maker according to appendix 1, the upper surface of the guide protrusion (52, 52) is located below the inclined upper end of the inclined bottom wall (40).
According to the automatic ice maker according to appendix 2, even if clogging occurs due to the ice on the lower side being gathered in the center in the width direction by the pair of guide protrusions, the upper surface of the pair of guide protrusions in the first guide path Since the upper space is widened in the width direction, clogging generated in the lower portion can be eliminated by ice moving above the upper surface of the guide projection.

12 ice storage, 12a ice storage room, 16 ice making mechanism, 18 ice discharge part 30a internal passage (second guideway), 40 inclined bottom wall, 42 first ice passage (first guideway)
46 Second ice passage (second guide path), 48 Shaft (second protrusion, pivot means), 50 Ice storage detection member 52 Guide protrusion, 58 Reed switch (detection part, ice storage detection means), 60 Main plate 62 side plate, 66 bearing part (first protrusion, pivot support means), 68 magnet (detected part, ice storage detection means)
70 Shaft portion (first protrusion, pivot means), 72 Bearing portion (second protrusion, pivot means), 74 Guide protrusion

Claims (4)

An ice making mechanism (16) disposed in an upper portion of an ice storage (12) in which an ice storage chamber (12a) is defined, and the ice making mechanism (16) and the ice storage chamber (12a) communicate with each other, and the ice making mechanism In an automatic ice making machine comprising an ice discharge section (18) for discharging the ice produced in (16) to an ice storage chamber (12a),
The ice discharge section (18) is configured to guide the ice produced by the ice making mechanism (16) in the lateral direction and the ice supplied from the first guide path (42) in the longitudinal direction. A second guide path (30a, 46) for guiding and discharging to the ice storage chamber (12a) communicating with the lower end;
The second guide path (30a, 46) extends from the vicinity of the upper end of the second guide path (30a, 46) to the vicinity of the lower end, and is lower than the first guide path (42). An axial center that is pivotally supported by the pivot means (48, 66) at a position and extends in the width direction intersecting with the ice supply direction from the first guide path (42) to the second guide path (30a, 46). An ice storage detecting member (50) which is swingable around and whose upper portion from the swing axis is located at a communication portion between the second guide path (30a) and the first guide path (42) ;
Detection of the detected part (68) as the ice storage detecting member (50) swings provided in the detected part (68) provided in the ice storage detecting member (50) and the ice discharge part (18). An ice storage detection means having a detection unit (58) that switches between a state and a non-detection state,
The first guide path (42) is provided on an inclined bottom wall (40) inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detection member (50), and on both sides in the width direction of the inclined bottom wall (40). An automatic ice maker comprising a pair of guide protrusions (52, 52, 74, 74) that are close to each other as the opposing surfaces face the second guide path (30a, 46). The first guide path (42) is provided on an inclined bottom wall (40) inclined downward toward the swing axis of the ice storage detection member (50), and on both sides in the width direction of the inclined bottom wall (40). A pair of guide protrusions set to a height dimension that is close to each other as the opposing surfaces go to the second guide path (30a, 46) and does not extend above the inclined upper end of the inclined bottom wall (40). The automatic ice maker according to claim 1, comprising: (52, 52, 74, 74).   The ice storage detection member (50) has a pair of side plates (62, 62) extending toward the first guide path (42) on both side edges in the width direction of the main body plate (60) extending in the vertical direction. And a pair of pivot means (48, 66, 70, 72) provided between each side plate (62) and the corresponding inner side surface of the second guide path (30a, 46). The automatic ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the (50) is swingably supported in the second guide path (30a, 46).   Each pivot means (48, 66, 70, 72) includes a first protrusion (66, 70) projecting from a side plate (62) of the ice storage detection member (50), and a second guide path (30a, 46). ) And a second protrusion (48, 72) that rotatably supports the first protrusion (66, 70), the first protrusion (66, 70) and the second protrusion The contact surface of at least one of the two protrusions (48, 72) with the other protrusion (48, 66, 70, 72) causes the ice storage detection member (50) to cross the second guide path (30a, 46) in the width direction. The automatic ice maker according to claim 3, wherein an inclination toward the center is added.

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