JP6325861B2 - Ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine provided with an ice making mechanism on the upper side of an ice storage and having a guide passage for guiding ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism to the ice storage.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ice making machine provided with an ice making mechanism on an upper side of an ice storage, and a guide passage that guides the ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism to the ice storage by dropping them in the horizontal direction and then dropping them in the vertical direction. Is disclosed. In the guide path of this ice making machine, the inside of the ice storage is located by the detection plate pivotally supported at the top and the magnet provided at the upper end of the detection plate approaching or separating by the swing of the detection plate. An ice storage sensor for detecting that the ice is full is provided. In this ice making machine, the operation of the ice making mechanism is controlled based on the detection of the full ice by the ice storage sensor. Specifically, when the ice storage is not full, ice pieces are not piled up in the guide passage, and in this state, the detection plate is mounted in an inclined posture in the guide passage. At this time, the magnet provided at the upper end of the detection plate approaches an ice storage sensor composed of a reed switch provided at a position facing the guide passage, and the ice storage sensor outputs an ON signal to the control device. When the ON signal is input, the control device determines that the ice storage is not full and activates the ice making mechanism. On the other hand, when the ice storage is full, the ice pieces falling in the guide passage are not released into the ice storage and are piled up in the guide passage, and the detection plate Is pushed in the vertical direction. At this time, the magnet provided at the upper end of the detection plate is separated from the ice storage sensor, and the ice storage sensor outputs an off signal to the control device. When the off signal is input, the control device determines that the ice storage is full of ice and stops the operation of the ice making mechanism.

JP2013-221698A

  In the above ice making machine, the upper part of the guide passage is provided with a swinging shaft part that pivotally supports the upper part of the detection plate, and the upper part of the detection plate is U-shaped with the lower side receiving the swinging shaft part open. The swinging bearing part is provided, and the swinging bearing part of the detection plate is swingably locked to the swinging shaft part of the guide passage from above. When the ice storage is full and no ice pieces can be discharged from the guide passage into the ice storage, as described above, the detection plate is pushed up by the ice pieces stacked in the guide passage and stands in the vertical direction. However, the detection plate may be pushed upward by ice pieces stacked near the exit of the guide passage. In this case, there is a possibility that the detection of full ice in the ice storage using the detection plate is not possible because the swinging bearing portion of the detection plate is out of the state of being locked to the swing shaft of the guide passage. An object of the present invention is to prevent the detection plate pivotally supported in the guide passage from coming off even when a force pushed upward is applied to the detection plate.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ice making mechanism provided above the ice storage, a guide passage for dropping ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism to the ice storage, and an upper portion extending into the guide passage. If the ice pieces that are pivotally supported and fall between the inner wall of one of the guide passages are piled up without being released when the ice storage is full, the ice pieces that rise on the lower end side And a detection plate that swings toward the other peripheral wall facing the one peripheral wall of the guide passage, and an ice storage sensor that detects that the ice storage is full based on the swinging posture of the detection plate. The guide passage is provided with a swing shaft portion that pivotally supports the detection plate, and the detection plate is provided with a swing bearing portion that receives the swing shaft portion at a position facing the swing shaft portion. in the ice making machine, a U-shaped lower side is open to the rocking bearing portion receives the pivot shaft portion The ceiling of the guide passage is provided with a protrusion for making the distance between the upper end of the detection plate and the ceiling wall of the guide passage smaller than the vertical depth of the rocking bearing, and the lower end of the protrusion is detected. The present invention provides an ice making machine characterized in that an arcuate concave surface is formed in accordance with the swing of the upper end of the plate .

In the ice making machine configured as described above, the rocking bearing portion is U-shaped with the lower side opened to receive the rocking shaft portion, and the upper end of the detection plate and the ceiling wall of the guide passage are formed on the ceiling portion of the guide passage. Protrusions are provided to make the distance between them smaller than the vertical depth of the oscillating bearing, and an indented arc surface corresponding to the oscillation of the upper end of the detection plate is formed at the lower end of the protrusion. Therefore, even if a force pushed upward is applied to the detection plate, the upper end of the detection plate comes into contact with the protrusion of the ceiling portion of the guide passage before the swinging bearing portion is disengaged from the swinging shaft portion. It was possible to prevent the oscillating bearing portion from being detached from the oscillating shaft portion of the guide passage. Furthermore, no matter what swinging posture the detection plate is lifted, the upper end of the detection plate comes into contact with the projecting portion of the arcuate surface that is recessed inward, and each of the above effects can be obtained more reliably. .

As another embodiment of the present invention, an ice making mechanism provided above the ice storage, a guide passage for dropping ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism into the ice storage, and an upper portion extending into the guide passage are shaken. If ice pieces that are pivotally supported and fall between the inner wall of one of the guide passages are piled up without being released when the ice storage is full, A detection plate that swings toward the other peripheral wall facing the one peripheral wall of the guide passage by a load, and an ice storage sensor that detects that the inside of the ice storage is full based on the swinging posture of the detection plate, The detection plate is provided with a swing shaft portion that is pivotably supported by the guide passage, and the guide passage is provided with a swing bearing portion that supports the swing shaft portion at a position facing the swing shaft portion. In ice machines, the rocking bearing is U-shaped with the top open to receive the rocking shaft Was, the ceiling of the guide passage is provided with a projection for narrower than the vertical depth of the rocking bearing portion the distance between the ceiling wall of the guide passage and the upper end of the sensing plate, the lower end of the projection Provides an ice making machine characterized in that an arcuate concave surface is formed in accordance with the swing of the upper end of the detection plate .

In the ice making machine configured as described above, the rocking bearing portion is U-shaped with the upper side opened so as to receive the rocking shaft portion, and the upper end of the detection plate and the ceiling wall of the guide passage are formed on the ceiling portion of the guide passage. Protrusions are provided to make the distance between them smaller than the vertical depth of the oscillating bearing, and an indented arc surface corresponding to the oscillation of the upper end of the detection plate is formed at the lower end of the protrusion. Therefore, even if a force pushed upward is applied to the detection plate, the upper end of the detection plate comes into contact with the protrusion of the ceiling portion of the guide passage before the swinging shaft portion is detached from the swing bearing portion. It was possible to prevent the oscillating shaft portion from being detached from the oscillating bearing portion of the guide passage. Furthermore, no matter what swinging posture the detection plate is lifted, the upper end of the detection plate comes into contact with the projecting portion of the arcuate surface that is recessed inward, and each of the above effects can be obtained more reliably. .

  In each ice making machine configured as described above, it is preferable that the protrusion is provided at a position facing the end of the detection plate in the axial direction of the swing shaft. Further, it is more preferable to provide the protrusion at a position facing both ends of the detection plate in the axial direction of the swinging shaft portion. When this is done, the detection plate is tilted up and down from the axial direction of the swinging shaft portion. Even if it is lifted as described above, one end portion in the axial direction of the upper end of the detection plate hits the protrusion, so that each of the above effects can be obtained more reliably.

It is the schematic which shows the outline of the ice making machine of this invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in which a part of the ice making mechanism and guide passage of FIG. 1 is broken. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the guide passage in FIG. 2. It is a partially expanded sectional view in the AA line. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 3 of the ice making machine of other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ice making machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making machine 10 includes an ice storage 12 at a lower portion of a housing 11, and an ice making mechanism 13 and a guide passage 20 above the ice storage 12 in a machine room above the housing 11. .

  The ice making mechanism 13 is a well-known auger type ice making mechanism, and includes a cylindrical refrigeration casing in which an evaporation pipe of a refrigeration apparatus is wound around an outer periphery, and an auger provided rotatably in the refrigeration casing. Circulating and evaporating in the evaporation pipe cools the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing, gradually freezes the ice making water flowing down the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing, and grows on the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing by a rotating auger The ice is scraped off and the ice pieces are sent out to the guide passage 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the guide passage 20 sends out ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism 13 to the ice storage 12, and the spout 21 fixed to the upper part of the ice making mechanism 13 and the spout 21 are fixed. A chute 22 and a lid 25 that closes the upper surface opening of the spout 21 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the spout 21 is made of a tubular material that is long in the lateral direction and has two openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface. An opening 21a is formed at one end (left side in FIG. 2) in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of the spout 21, and the spout 21 is inserted with the upper part of the ice making mechanism 13 through the opening 21a. It is attached to the top. Further, the other end (right side in FIG. 2) of the spout 21 in the longitudinal direction is formed with a connecting cylinder part 21b extending downward in a cylindrical shape and having an open bottom, and ice pieces are formed on the connecting cylinder part 21b. A cylindrical chute 22 that leads into the ice storage 12 is connected in communication. Further, the bottom surface of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the spout 21 is formed with an inclined portion 21c in which the connecting tube portion 21b side is lowered between the opening portion 21a and the connecting tube portion 21b, and from the ice making mechanism 13 to the inside of the spout 21. The introduced ice piece is guided to the connecting cylinder portion 21b side by the inclined portion 21c. The connecting tube portion 21b of the spout 21 is provided with swing shaft portions 21d made of a pair of protrusions on opposite side walls (both side walls in the depth direction in FIG. 2), and these swing shaft portions 21d are described later. The detecting plate 23 is pivotally supported.

  A detection plate 23 for detecting that the ice storage 12 is full of ice is pivotally supported in the guide passage 20 so as to be swingable, and on the outside of the guide passage 20 based on the swinging posture of the detection plate 23. An ice storage sensor 24 for detecting that the ice storage 12 is full of ice is provided.

  Specifically, the detection plate 23 includes a substantially rectangular main body plate 23a extending inside the spout 21 and the chute 22, and side walls 23b extending to the left side shown in FIG. 2 on both sides in the width direction of the main body plate 23a. Is inserted into the spout 21 and the chute 22 from the upper surface opening of the spout 21 and is detachably accommodated in the spout 21 and the chute 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side wall 23b of the detection plate 23 is provided with a rocking bearing portion 23c that receives the rocking shaft portion 21d at a position facing the rocking shaft portion 21d. The oscillating bearing 23c has a U-shape with the lower side opened so that the oscillating shaft 21d is inserted and received from the lower side (attached to the oscillating shaft 21d from the upper side). The detection plate 23 pivotally supported by the swinging shaft portion 21d is pivotally supported at the center of gravity position where the lower end side is inclined to the left as shown in FIG. When the ice storage 12 becomes full of ice and the ice pieces cannot be discharged from the chute 22 of the guide passage 20 into the ice storage 12, the ice pieces pile up in the chute 22 and the detection plate 23 is pushed by the ice pieces. As shown by the two-dot chain line 2, the standing posture stands up in a substantially vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the upper end of the main body plate 23 a is provided with a detection portion 23 d that protrudes upward at the center in the width direction. A magnet 23e is attached to the detection unit 23d, and this magnet 23e causes the ice storage sensor 24 to detect whether the detection plate 23 is in an inclined posture or a standing posture.

  The ice storage sensor 24 detects that the ice storage 12 is full of ice based on the swinging posture (inclined posture or standing posture) of the detection plate 23. The ice storage sensor 24 is a reed switch, and is attached to a position facing the magnet 23e provided on the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 in an inclined posture on the outer surface of the spout 21. When the inside of the ice storage 12 is not full, the ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism 13 fall on the spout 21 and the chute 22, and the ice pieces are discharged to the ice storage 12 without being stacked on the chute 22. At this time, the detection plate 23 slightly swings but maintains an inclined posture, the magnet 23e of the detection unit 23d approaches the ice storage sensor 24, and the ice storage sensor 24 is not filled with ice in the ice storage 12 to a control device (not shown). An ON signal indicating that this is output. On the other hand, when the inside of the ice storage 12 is full, the ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism 13 fall on the spout 21 and the chute 22, and the ice pieces are not released into the ice storage 12 but inside the chute 22. Pile up. At this time, the detection plate 23 is pushed by the stacked ice pieces to be in an upright posture as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 from the inclined posture, and the magnet 23e of the detection unit 23d is separated from the ice storage sensor 24. The ice storage sensor 24 outputs an off signal indicating that the ice storage 12 is full of ice to a control device (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lid body 25 detachably covers the upper surface opening of the spout 21 and constitutes the ceiling portion of the guide passage 20. The lid body 25 is attached to the spout 21 so as not to come off even if a force is applied from below by a fastening member such as a clip or a screw. The lid body 25 includes a ceiling wall portion 25 a that covers the upper surface opening of the spout 21 and forms the ceiling wall of the guide passage 20. The lid 25 includes a protrusion 25b that protrudes downward from the ceiling wall 25a immediately above the position where the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is provided. The protrusion 25b moves upward of the detection plate 23. It has a function to regulate. That is, the distance d1 between the protrusion 25b and the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is smaller than the depth d2 of the U-shaped rocking bearing portion 23c, and the detection plate 23 is moved upward in the guide passage 20. Even if moved, the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 abuts against the protrusion 25b before the swinging bearing portion 23c of the detection plate 23 is disengaged from the swing shaft portion 21d of the spout 21 so that the movement is restricted. As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 25b is formed to protrude downward at a position facing both ends (end portions) of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 in the axial direction of the pair of swing shaft portions 21d. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the projection 25 b is formed with an arcuate surface 25 b 1 that is recessed inward as a shape corresponding to the oscillation of the upper end of the detection plate 23, and this arc surface 25 b 1 is swung. This is to keep the distance d1 from the upper end of the detection plate 23 always smaller than the depth d2 of the rocking bearing portion 23c.

  In the ice making machine 10 configured as described above, the rocking bearing portion 23c provided on the detection plate 23 has a U-shape whose lower side is opened so as to receive the rocking shaft portion 21d provided on the connecting tube portion 21b of the spout 21. doing. The vertical depth d2 of the oscillating bearing portion 23c is larger than the distance d1 between the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 (the upper end of the detection plate 23) and the lid body (ceiling portion of the guide passage 20) 25. did. In particular, in this embodiment, the cover body 25 is provided with a protrusion 25b at a position facing the upper end of the detection section 23d of the detection plate 23 on the lower surface of the ceiling wall section 25a covering the upper surface opening of the spout 21. The distance d1 between the portion 25b and the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is made smaller than the vertical depth d2 of the swing bearing portion 23c. As a result, even if a force pushed upward is applied to the detection plate 23, the upper end of the detection portion 23 d of the detection plate 23 is moved before the swing bearing portion 23 c of the detection plate 23 is disengaged from the swing shaft portion 21 d of the spout 21. It came into contact with the protrusion 25b of the lid 25, and it was possible to prevent the swinging bearing part 23c of the detection plate 23 from coming off from the swinging shaft part 21d of the connecting cylinder part 21b of the spout 21. In this way, even if a force that pushes upward is applied to the detection plate 23, the detection plate 23 can be supported in a swingable manner in the guide passage 20, so that the ice storage 12 is full of ice. This can be detected reliably. In this embodiment, the lid 25 is provided with a protrusion 25b on the lower surface of the ceiling wall portion 25a so that the distance d1 between the lid 25 and the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is set as a swinging bearing portion. The depth d2 is smaller than the vertical depth d2 of 23c, but is not limited to this. The distance between the ceiling wall portion 25a of the lid 25 and the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is set to the upper and lower portions of the rocking bearing portion 23c. The depth may be smaller than the depth in the direction, and the same function and effect can be obtained when this is done.

  In addition, an arcuate surface 25b1 that is recessed inward according to the swing of the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is formed at the lower end of the protrusion 25b of the lid 25. Thus, no matter what swinging posture the detection plate 23 is lifted upward, the detection portion of the detection plate 23 is moved before the swinging bearing portion 23c of the detection plate 23 is disengaged from the swinging shaft portion 21d of the spout 21. The upper end of 23 d comes into contact with the protrusion 25 b, and the swing bearing portion 23 c of the detection plate 23 can be prevented from coming off from the swing shaft portion 21 d of the connecting tube portion 21 b of the spout 21.

  Further, the protrusion 25b of the lid body 25 is provided at a position facing both ends of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 in the axial direction of the swing shaft portion 21d. Thereby, even if the detection plate 23 is lifted so as to be tilted up and down from the axial direction of the swinging shaft portion 21d, one end portion in the axial direction of the upper end of the detection portion 23d of the detection plate 23 is either one of the protrusions. Thus, the swing bearing portion 23c of the detection plate 23 can be prevented from coming off from the swing shaft portion 21d of the connecting tube portion 21b of the spout 21.

  In the ice making machine 10 described above, the connecting cylinder portion 21b of the spout 21 is provided with the swinging shaft portion 21d, and the detection plate 23 is provided with the swinging bearing portion 23c that receives the swinging shaft portion 21d. As shown in FIG. 5, the rocking shaft portion 21Ad is provided in the connecting tube portion 21b of the spout 21 and the detecting plate 23 is pivotally supported by the rocking bearing portion 21Ad. 23Ac may be provided, and the swing shaft portion 23Ac of the detection plate 23 may be pivotally supported by the swing bearing portion 21Ad of the spout 21. In this case, the swing bearing portion 21Ad provided on the spout 21 is U-shaped with the upper side open, and the swing shaft portion 23Ac of the detection plate 23 is inserted into the swing bearing portion 21Ad from the upper side so as to be supported. To do. Even in such a case, even if a force pushed upward is applied to the detection plate 23, the detection plate 23 is detected before the swing shaft portion 23Ac of the detection plate 23 is disengaged from the swing bearing portion 21Ad of the spout 21. The upper end of the portion 23d comes into contact with the protrusion 25b of the lid 25, and the swing shaft portion 23Ac of the detection plate 23 can be prevented from being detached from the swing bearing portion 21Ad of the spout 21. In addition, about another structure including the shape of the cover body 25 etc., it is the same as that of said embodiment, Since the effect similar to said embodiment can be acquired, it abbreviate | omits about detailed description.

  In the above embodiment, a reed switch that is turned on or off by the proximity or separation of a magnet is used as the ice storage sensor. However, an optical sensor, a mechanical limit switch, or the like that detects the swinging posture of the detection plate is used. May have been.

  In the above embodiment, the guide passage is formed by the spout and the chute, but the spout and the chute may be provided integrally.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice machine, 12 ... Ice storage, 13 ... Ice making mechanism, 20 ... Guide path, 21d ... Swing shaft part, 21Ad ... Swing bearing part, 23 ... Detection plate, 23c ... Swing bearing part, 23Ac ... Swing Shaft part, 24 ... Ice storage sensor, 25 ... Ceiling part (lid body), 25a ... Ceiling wall (ceiling wall part), 25b ... Projection part, 25b1 ... Arc surface.

Claims (4)

An ice making mechanism provided above the ice storage;
A guide passage for dropping the ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism into the ice storage;
The upper part extending in the guide passage is pivotally supported so that ice pieces falling between the inner surface of one peripheral wall of the guide passage are released when the ice storage is full. A detection plate that swings toward the other peripheral wall facing the one peripheral wall of the guide passage by the load of the ice pieces that are stacked at the lower end side,
An ice storage sensor for detecting that the inside of the ice storage is full ice based on the swinging posture of the detection plate;
The guide passage is provided with a swing shaft portion that swingably supports the detection plate, and
In the ice making machine in which the detection plate is provided with a rocking bearing portion that receives the rocking shaft portion at a position facing the rocking shaft portion,
The swing bearing portion is U-shaped with an open bottom so as to receive the swing shaft portion, and a ceiling portion of the guide passage has a space between an upper end of the detection plate and a ceiling wall of the guide passage. A protrusion for making the swing bearing portion narrower than the vertical depth is provided, and an indented arc surface corresponding to the swing of the upper end of the detection plate is formed at the lower end of the protrusion. An ice machine. An ice making mechanism provided above the ice storage;
A guide passage for dropping the ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism into the ice storage;
The upper part extending in the guide passage is pivotally supported so that ice pieces falling between the inner surface of one peripheral wall of the guide passage are released when the ice storage is full. A detection plate that swings toward the other peripheral wall facing the one peripheral wall of the guide passage by the load of the ice pieces that are stacked at the lower end side,
An ice storage sensor for detecting that the inside of the ice storage is full ice based on the swinging posture of the detection plate;
The detection plate is provided with a swing shaft portion that is pivotably supported by the guide passage, and a swing bearing that supports the swing shaft portion at a position facing the swing shaft portion in the guide passage. In an ice maker with a section,
The swing bearing portion is U-shaped with the upper side open to receive the swing shaft portion, and the ceiling portion of the guide passage has a space between the upper end of the detection plate and the ceiling wall of the guide passage. A protrusion for making the swing bearing portion narrower than the vertical depth is provided, and an indented arc surface corresponding to the swing of the upper end of the detection plate is formed at the lower end of the protrusion. An ice machine. The ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2 ,
An ice making machine, wherein the protrusion is provided at a position facing the end of the detection plate in the axial direction of the swing shaft. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An ice making machine, wherein the protrusion is provided at a position facing both ends of the detection plate in the axial direction of the swing shaft.

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