JP6474613B2 - Water supply device for automatic ice making device and refrigerator equipped with this water supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device provided in a refrigerator, and particularly to a water supply device including a water storage container for storing ice making water.

  As a prior art of the present invention, there is a water supply device that supplies water from a water supply tank installed in a refrigerator to an ice tray of an ice making device using a pressure reducing effect by compressed air blown from an air pump. This water supply device sucks the water in the water supply tank in a liquid or mist state and introduces the sucked liquid or mist into the gas-liquid separation means by the reduced pressure generated when the compressed air blown out from the air pump passes through the pressure reducing means. . The liquid accumulates in the gas-liquid separation means, and the mist is separated from the air by the gas-liquid separation means to become a liquid, which is sent to an ice tray to make ice (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-326117 A

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, since the pressure reducing means is used, a pressure reducing means, a compressed air inlet passage for the pressure reducing means, a water suction passage from the water supply tank, and an outlet passage are required above the water supply tank. A liquid separation means is required, and the structure is complicated.
The suction pipe for sucking the water in the water supply tank into the pressure reducing means passes through the water purification box and is fixed to the lid. For this reason, the suction pipe and the water purification box are attached to the lid removed from the tank body, and the disassembly and assembly when cleaning the suction pipe and the water purification box are troublesome.
Further, a gas-liquid separation means is required downstream of the decompression means, and furthermore, since the gas-liquid separation means has an open top surface, dust may enter.

  An object of the present invention is to easily form a main tank part for storing ice-making water and a measuring tank part for storing a predetermined volume of ice-making water to be supplied to an ice-making dish in a water storage container, and The main tank part and the metering tank part are to provide a water storage container that is easy to clean.

To achieve this object, a main tank section for storing ice-making water and a measuring tank section for storing a predetermined volume of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making tray are provided in the water storage container. A partition is formed by inserting a partition body in which a supply hole communicating with the tank portion is formed.
And the packing which seals the said main tank part and the said measurement tank part is provided, and the water storage container of the structure which can attach and remove this packing and a partition body to the predetermined position in a water storage container easily is provided.

The present invention is a water supply device of an automatic ice making device,
A water storage container for storing ice-making water is
A container body having an opening opening upward;
The internal space of the container body is partitioned into a main tank section for storing ice making water and a measuring tank section for storing a predetermined volume of ice making water to be supplied to an ice tray of the automatic ice making device, the main tank section And a partition body in which a supply hole communicating with the measuring tank unit is formed,
An annular packing that seals between the peripheral edge of the partition and the container body;
A packing holding part that is formed at the bottom of the container body and holds the annular packing in a detachable manner;
A lid attached to the opening of the container body and closing the opening of the container body,
The annular packing has a shoulder at the upper part, an outer annular rib and an inner annular rib at the lower part, and a mounting groove opened downward between the outer annular rib and the inner annular rib,
The packing holding portion includes an annular groove that opens upward around the measuring tank portion and into which the outer annular rib fits, and an annular protrusion that fits into the attachment groove,
The partition body includes a pressing flange that presses the annular packing, and a support protrusion that contacts the shoulder, and the annular packing is attached to the container body via the partition body by attaching the lid body to the container body. The support protrusion is held by the packing holding portion in a state of supporting the shoulder portion.

In the present invention, the annular packing further includes a fin portion extending outward from the shoulder portion at an upper position.
The packing holding portion includes an annular contact portion formed inside the annular protrusion,
The annular packing is held by the packing holding portion in a state where the pressing flange presses the fin portion and the support protrusion supports the shoulder portion by attaching the lid body to the container body, A seal portion is formed by the rib and the annular groove, the attachment groove and the annular protrusion, the inner annular rib and the contact portion, the tip of the fin portion and the upper portion of the attachment groove. .

The present invention is further characterized in that the packing holding part includes a holding protrusion for holding the lower inner side of the inner annular rib inside the abutting part with a space from the annular protrusion.

The present invention further includes a water storage container storage part for removably storing the water storage container formed in a refrigerator compartment, and the ice tray is disposed in the ice making part,
A pump device for sending compressed air to the metering tank is disposed in the water storage container housing;
The said water storage container is a refrigerator provided with the said water supply apparatus characterized by being detachably connected to the air outlet of the said pump apparatus with the accommodation in the said water storage container accommodating part.

In the present invention, the annular packing is detachably placed on a packing holding portion formed at the bottom of the container body, and the partition is detachably placed on the annular packing held by the packing holding portion. For this reason, it is easy to attach the flexible annular packing to the normal position of the packing holding part, and to remove the annular packing from the packing holding part, and to easily clean the main tank part, the measuring tank part, the partition body and the annular packing. Become.
In addition, the annular packing of the packing holding part prevents the seal failure due to the annular packing falling inward because the partition presses the annular packing with the supporting projections supporting the shoulder, and the main tank part and the measuring tank part Can achieve the desired seal.

  In the present invention, the outer annular rib and the annular groove, the attachment groove and the annular protrusion, the inner annular rib and the contact portion, the tip of the fin portion and the upper portion of the attachment groove are formed with the annular packing. It is possible to achieve a sufficient seal around the measuring tank. For this reason, it becomes a water storage container which can be applied to the system which extrudes the ice making water of a measurement tank part with the compressed air from an air pump.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the packing holding part has a holding protrusion that holds the lower inner side of the inner annular rib inside the abutting part with a gap from the annular protrusion, so that the partition body is pressed against the packing holding part. In the annular packing, the lower part of the inner annular rib is held by the holding projection, and the lower part of the annular packing is prevented from being displaced inward. For this reason, the flexible annular packing can be held in the normal position, the seal around the measuring tank portion is sufficient, and the main tank portion can be made a region partitioned in a watertight and airtight state.

It is a front view of the refrigerator 1 of 1st Embodiment provided with the water supply apparatus of the automatic ice making apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining the internal configuration of the refrigerator 1. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the refrigerator 1. FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view for demonstrating the relationship between the water supply apparatus which concerns on this invention, and an automatic ice maker. It is a cross-sectional perspective view for demonstrating the slide structure of the water storage container of the water supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a vertical side view for demonstrating the internal structure of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a vertical side perspective view which shows a supply hole part in a cross section in order to demonstrate the internal structure of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows a supply hole part in a cross section in order to demonstrate the internal structure of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded view perspective view of the water storage container concerning the present invention. It is an upper surface perspective view of the container main body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the container main body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view from one direction of the partition of a water storage container concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view from the other direction of the partition of a water storage container concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view from the lower part of the partition of a water storage container concerning the present invention. It is an upper surface perspective view of the state which inserted the partition body in the container main body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. (A) is a top view of the state which inserted the partition body in the container main body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention, (B) is an enlarged view of C circle of (A). It is a perspective view of the float body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a vertical side view of the supply hole part explaining the relationship between the float body and the barrier of the water supply apparatus according to the present invention. It is a vertical side view of the supply hole part explaining other embodiment of the barrier of the water supply apparatus concerning the present invention. It is a vertical side view of the partition body for demonstrating the air discharge groove part in the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a vertical side view in the left-right direction of the partition body for demonstrating the air discharge groove part in the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the packing holding | maintenance part of the front part of the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the packing holding part of the rear part of the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the packing holding | maintenance part of the left side part of the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the packing holding | maintenance part of the right side part of the measurement tank part of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the annular packing of the circumference of a measuring tank part concerning the present invention. It is an expanded sectional view for description of the state which inserts a partition body on the annular packing attached in the container main body which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the state which the partition body pressed the annular packing within the container main body which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the state which fits a cover body to the container main body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the seal state of the front side part of the container main body and lid of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the seal state of the left side part, right side part, and rear side part of a container main part and a lid of a water storage container concerning the present invention. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the other seal | sticker form of the container main body and cover body of the water storage container which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the pump apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view explaining the relationship between the air pump unit which concerns on this invention, and the gasket 63B. 1 is an external perspective view of a pump device according to the present invention. It is a vertical side perspective view for demonstrating the internal structure of the pump apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged vertical sectional view for explaining a contact state between the rear end surface of the gasket 63B of the pump device according to the present invention and the front wall of the main body case. It is a back perspective view of a pump device in the state where a back plate of an air pump unit concerning the present invention was removed. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the relationship between the back plate of the air pump unit which concerns on this invention, and a dustproof filter. It is a perspective view of the backplate in the state where the dustproof filter was attached to the upper part of the backplate of the air pump unit concerning the present invention. It is a front view of the back board of the air pump unit which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a right view of the pump apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a front view which shows the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator 1 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a vertical side view of the refrigerator 1 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional plan view of the refrigerator 1 of 2nd Embodiment.

The present invention is a water supply device for an automatic ice making device, wherein a water storage container for storing ice making water has a container main body having an opening opening upward, and a main tank for storing ice making water in the internal space of the container main body. And a partition body in which a supply hole communicating with the main tank portion and the measurement tank portion is formed, and a measuring tank portion storing a predetermined volume of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice tray. An annular packing that seals between the peripheral edge of the partition and the container main body, a packing holding portion that is formed at the bottom of the container main body and detachably holds the annular packing, and is attached to the opening of the container main body And a lid that closes the opening of the container body. The said annular packing and the said partition are detachable in the said container main body. The annular packing is pressed through the partition body by the attachment of the lid body to the container body, and is held by the packing holding portion in a state of preventing inward collapse.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a water supply device of an automatic ice making device according to the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment provided with a water supply device for an automatic ice making device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the internal configuration of the refrigerator 1 . FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the refrigerator 1.

  In the following, with reference to FIG. 1, among the directions parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 1, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as “vertical direction” and the horizontal direction in FIG. The direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 will be described as the “front-rear direction”. In the description, one of the vertical directions is referred to as “upward” and the other is referred to as “downward”. One of the left and right directions is called “left”, and the other is called “right”. The front direction among the front and rear directions is referred to as “front”, and the other is referred to as “rear”.

  The refrigerator 1 has a configuration in which a refrigerator main body 2 having an opening formed on the front surface is partitioned by a partition wall to form a plurality of storage chambers, and the front surfaces of these storage chambers can be opened and closed by doors. The refrigerator main body 2 has an outer box 2A and an inner box 2B, and has a heat insulating structure in which a foam heat insulating material 2C is filled between the outer box 2A and the inner box 2B. In the refrigerator main body 2, the storage rooms are partitioned and provided in the order of the refrigerator compartment 3, the freezer compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment 5 from the top.

The opening part of the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened and closed by the refrigerator compartment door 10 attached to one side part of the refrigerator main body 2 via a hinge so that rotation is possible. The opening of the freezer compartment 4 is formed to be openable and closable by a door 12 that is provided at one side of the refrigerator main body 2 via a hinge so as to be rotatable. The opening of the vegetable compartment 5 is provided in front of the vegetable container 15 and the vegetable container 15 supported so as to be able to be pulled out in the front-rear direction by a support device 18 including left and right rails and left and right rollers provided in the vegetable compartment 5. The drawer door 11 is closed.
In addition, you may comprise the opening part of the freezer compartment 4 like the vegetable compartment 5 so that it can be pulled out in the front-back direction by a freezing container, the support device 18, and a drawer-type door.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerant compressor 20 that performs a refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant condenser 21 of the refrigeration cycle, and an evaporating dish 22 that evaporates defrosted water, which will be described later, by the heat of the condenser 21. The compressor 20, the condenser 21, and the evaporating dish 22 are installed in a machine room 23 provided in the lower part of the refrigerator body 2. The evaporating dish 22 is placed on the condenser 21 and is provided so as to be movable forward from the front lower portion of the refrigerator body 2.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigeration cycle cooler 24 installed in a cooler chamber 26 formed on the back surface of the freezer compartment 4, and cold air cooled by the cooler 24 in the refrigerator compartment 3, the freezer compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment. 5 further includes a blower 25 that circulates to 5 and a glass tube heater 27 for defrosting the cooler 24. The defrost water of the cooler 24 is guided to the evaporating dish 22 through the drain pipe and is evaporated in the evaporating dish 22.

  The refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 28. As shown in FIG. 4, the heat insulating partition wall 28 includes a bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3 made of injection-molded synthetic resin, a ceiling plate 30 of the freezer compartment 4 made of injection-molded synthetic resin, and the bottom plate 29 and the ceiling. It is comprised with the heat insulating material clamped between the board | plates 30. FIG. A heat insulating material is implement | achieved by the polystyrene etc. which were shape | molded previously by the predetermined shape. The heat insulating partition wall 28 is inserted from the opening of the refrigerator main body 2 into a groove formed to extend in the front-rear direction on the left and right side walls of the inner box 2B of the refrigerator main body 2 and a groove formed on the rear wall of the inner box 2B. Can be attached.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a back wall member 32. The back wall member 32 is a back wall member of the refrigerator compartment 3 disposed on the front side of the back wall behind the refrigerator main body 2, and includes a synthetic resin back plate and a heat insulating material such as foamed polystyrene attached to the back side thereof. Composed of a combination. The back wall member 32 forms a cold air supply passage 35 in the vertical direction on the back side of the refrigerator compartment 3 and a cold air passage 35 </ b> A provided in the left and right direction of the cold air supply passage 35.

  In the rear part of the heat insulating partition wall 28, a cold air supply passage 36 penetrating up and down the heat insulating partition wall 28 is formed. The lower portion of the cold air supply passage 36 is an introduction portion of the cold air supplied from the blower 25, and the upper portion communicates with the cold air supply passage 35. A damper device 50 is attached to the cold air supply passage 36. The damper device 50 opens and closes the cold air supply passage 36 according to a command from the control circuit unit based on the detection result of the sensor that senses the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3. The flow rate of the cold air is controlled by the opening / closing operation of the damper device 50, and the refrigerator compartment 3 is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

  The inside of the freezer compartment 4 is divided by the partition plate 47 into an ice making unit 6 and a freezer compartment 4A constituting the ice making room. The ice making unit 6 is provided with an automatic ice making machine 7 and an ice storage box 8. The automatic ice making machine 7 includes an electric mechanism 7A and an ice making tray 7B that rotates forward and reverse on a substantially horizontal axis extending in the front-rear direction by the electric mechanism 7A. Below the ice tray 7B, an ice storage box 8 having an open top surface is disposed. The ice making unit 6 is an area for producing ice by freezing ice-making water supplied from a water storage container 9 described later. The ice making unit 6 has a temperature substantially equal to that in the freezer compartment 4, for example, a freezing temperature region around 20 ° C. below freezing point.

  The ice tray 7B is divided into four, five, or six ice making chambers in a row with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-rear direction as a row, and is arranged in two rows on the left and right sides to make 8 to 12 square ice cubes. Made of synthetic resin. The ice storage box 8 is made of a white, transparent, translucent or other color synthetic resin and has a box shape with a top opening that is longer than the left and right width.

  A pair of rails 6 </ b> A are provided on the left and right side walls of the ice making unit 6. The ice storage box 8 is supported by the rail 6A so that it can be pulled out in the front-rear direction. The ice tray 7 </ b> B is rotated by the electric mechanism 7 </ b> A and supplies the ice made to the ice storage box 8.

  The ice storage box 8 can be pulled forward by opening the door 12. The opening part of ice making part 6 and freezer compartment 4A may be the composition which can be opened and closed by a separate door, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic ice making device A according to the present invention includes an automatic ice making machine 7 and a water supply device B. The water supply device B includes a water storage container 9 and a pump device 60 that supplies compressed air for sending ice-making water from the water storage container 9 to the water storage container 9. The water supply device B is disposed in a water storage container housing portion 46 provided in a part of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  A water storage container 9 for storing ice-making water to be supplied to the ice tray 7B is disposed in a water storage container accommodating portion 46 in a small chamber in which the refrigerator compartment 3 is partitioned by a partition wall 45. The water storage container accommodating portion 46 is a partial region of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the refrigerator compartment 3 is cooled to a cooling temperature of 2 to 4 ° C., for example, which does not freeze. For this reason, the water storage container accommodating part 46 is also cooled to substantially the same temperature. The water storage container 9 can be taken out forward by a front handle 9T with the upper surface of the bottom plate 29 as a slide surface in a state where the front door 10 of the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened.

  The water storage container housing part 46 and the ice making part 6 are partitioned by the heat insulating partition wall 28. An ice making water supply passage 51 is formed through the heat insulating partition wall 28 in the vertical direction so that the ice making water supplied from the water supply device B naturally flows down. The ice-making water supply path 51 forms an entrance of the ice-making water supply path 51 by a water supply pipe 51P. The ice making water is supplied from the water storage container 9 to the ice making tray 7B of the automatic ice making machine 7 through the ice making water supply path 51.

First, the water storage container 9 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view for explaining the relationship between the water supply apparatus and the automatic ice maker according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view for explaining the slide configuration of the water storage container of the water supply apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side view for explaining the internal structure of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a vertical side perspective view showing the supply hole portion in cross section for explaining the internal configuration of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view showing the supply hole portion in cross section for explaining the internal structure of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the container body of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the container body of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view from one direction of the partition of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a perspective view from another direction of the partition of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a perspective view from below of the partition of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a state in which a partition body is inserted into the container body of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 17 (A) is a plan view showing a state in which a partition body is inserted into the container body of the water storage container according to the present invention, and FIG. 17 (B) is an enlarged view of a circle C in FIG. 17 (A).

The water storage container 9 of the present invention includes a container body 9A having an opening 9A2 that opens upward, and a lid 9C that is attached to the opening 9A2 of the container body 9A and closes the opening 9A2 of the container body 9A.
Further, the water storage container 9 is accommodated in the container main body 9A and the internal space of the container main body 9A is stored in a main tank portion 90 for storing ice-making water and a predetermined volume of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice tray 7B. It has a partition wall that is divided into a tank portion 91 and in which a supply hole 92 that communicates with the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91 is formed. In the embodiment, the partition wall is configured by a partition body 9B that is detachably accommodated in the container body 9A, and a supply hole 92 that communicates with the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91 is formed in the partition body 9B.
The water storage container 9 further includes a compressed air introducing portion 91A that communicates with the measuring tank unit 91, and an ice making water outlet unit 91B that communicates with the measuring tank unit 91 and guides the ice making water in the measuring tank unit 91 to the ice tray 7B. Have. The compressed air supplied to the compressed air introducing portion 91A is supplied by a pump device 60 described later.

  In such a configuration, as a technique for achieving the object of the present invention, the water storage container 9 is configured such that the compressed air introduction part 91A is arranged on one side of the measuring tank part 91, and the supply hole 92 and the ice making water outlet part 91B are measured. It arrange | positions in the other side part of the tank part 91. FIG.

  Further, as a technique for achieving the object of the present invention, the supply hole 92 is provided farther from the compressed air introduction part 91A than the ice making water lead-out part 91B.

Further, as a technique for achieving the object of the present invention, the measuring tank portion 91 has a quadrilateral shape, the compressed air introduction portion 91A is disposed at any one of the corner portions, and the supply hole 92 is provided at the diagonal corner portion. Place.

Furthermore, as a technique for achieving the object of the present invention, the partition body 9B includes a supply hole 92 and a compressed air introduction portion 91A.
The ice making water lead-out portion 91B is detachable from the container main body 9A.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the water storage container 9 of the present invention will be described.
As the form of the water storage container 9, various shapes and structures such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an oval shape, a quadrilateral shape, and a polygonal shape can be applied. In addition, various forms such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an oval shape, a quadrilateral shape, and a polygonal shape can be applied to the shape of the measuring tank unit 91 that stores the ice-making water pushed out to the ice tray 7B by the compressed air of the pump device 60. .

  In the present invention, the water storage container 9 includes the supply hole 92 and the compressed air introduction part 91 </ b> A communicating with the measurement tank part 91, regardless of the form of the water storage container 9 and the form of the measurement tank part 91. The ice making water outlet 91B communicates with the measuring tank 91 and guides the ice making water in the measuring tank 91 to the ice tray 7B. As one technique, the compressed air introduction part 91 </ b> A is arranged on one side part of the measuring tank part 91, and the supply hole 92 and the ice making water outlet part 91 </ b> B are arranged on the other side part of the measuring tank part 91.

  Preferably, the supply hole 92 is provided farther from the compressed air introduction part 91A than the ice making water lead-out part 91B. As shown in FIG. 17A, the distance L2 to the center of the supply hole 92 is longer than the distance L1 to the center of the ice making water outlet 91B with respect to the center of the compressed air introduction part 91A. .

  As shown in FIG. 12 and the like, when the measuring tank portion 91 is a quadrilateral shape that forms four corner portions K1 to K4 in a top view, the compressed air introduction portion 91A is disposed in any one of the corner portions, Supply holes 92 are arranged at diagonal corners.

  As a preferred arrangement, among the four corner parts K1 to K4, the compressed air introduction part 91A to the measuring tank part 91 is arranged in one corner part K1 of the two corner parts K1 and K4 on one side HR. To do. Of the two corners K2 and K3 on the other side HF facing the one side HR, the ice making water outlet 91B is arranged at the corner K2 near the compressed air introduction part 91A, and the compressed air The supply hole 92 is disposed in the corner portion K3 far from the introduction portion 91A.

  As shown in the figure, when the measuring tank portion 91 has a rectangular shape that forms four corner portions K1 to K4 in a top view, it has a pair of short sides HF and HR and a pair of long sides HS and HT in a top view. Of the corner portion that is rectangular and intersects with the pair of short sides HF and HR and the pair of long sides HS and HT, it is measured at one corner portion K1 of the corner portions K1 and K4 on the short side HR side. A compressed air introduction part 91A to the tank part 91 is arranged. Further, among the corner portions K2 and K3 on the other short side HF side, the ice making water lead-out portion 91B is arranged at the corner portion K2 near the compressed air introduction portion 91A, and the corner portion far from the compressed air introduction portion 91A. A supply hole 92 is disposed in K3. An annular packing 117 described later also has a rectangular shape having a pair of short sides and a pair of long sides in a top view, like the peripheral shape of the measuring tank unit 91.

  The water storage container 9 of the present invention is provided with a measuring tank in order to reduce the amount of ice making water in the main tank 90 flowing down to the measuring tank 91 when supplying ice making water from the measuring tank 91 to the ice tray 7B. The float body 93 is provided so that the supply hole 92 can be opened and closed according to the water level of the ice making water in the section 91. As a result, the float 93 closes the supply hole 92 until the ice making water level in the measuring tank unit 91 reaches a predetermined low water level. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the float body 93 from flowing down from the main tank portion 90 to the measuring tank portion 91 through the supply hole 92. Furthermore, the float body 93 can prevent a part of the ice making water stored in the measuring tank portion 91 from passing through the supply hole 92 to flow back to the main tank portion 90.

  As described above, the compressed air introduction portion 91 </ b> A is disposed on one side portion of the measuring tank portion 91, and the supply hole 92 and the ice making water outlet portion 91 </ b> B are disposed on the other side portion of the measuring tank portion 91. Further, the measuring tank portion 91 has a quadrilateral shape, and the compressed air introduction portion 91A is disposed at one of the corner portions, and the supply hole 92 is disposed at the diagonal corner portion. As a result, the supply hole 92 and the ice making water lead-out portion 91B are arranged apart from the compressed air introduction portion 91A. For this reason, the influence of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing portion 91A can be reduced with respect to the float body 93, and the operation of the float body 93 closing the supply hole 92 is stabilized. Furthermore, by providing the supply hole 92 farther from the compressed air introduction part 91A than the ice making water lead-out part 91B, the opening and closing operation of the float body 93 can be further stabilized, and the compressed air leaks from the supply hole 92. Can be prevented.

Usability and manufacturability of the water storage container 9, securing of the volume of the main tank part 90, securing of the volume of the measuring tank part 91, storage capacity in the refrigerator 1, reduction rate of the volume occupying the refrigerator compartment 3 due to the storage of the water storage container 9 In consideration of the above, as one of the preferable modes, the water storage container 9 has a rectangular shape with a length in the front-rear direction longer than the left-right width.
Hereinafter, details of the water storage container 9 of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in the drawing, the water storage container 9 has a sufficiently long length (depth) in the front-rear direction on the long side compared to the length in the left-right direction (width) on the short side, and the front-rear direction as viewed from above. The overall shape is a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction.

  In accordance with this shape, the water storage container 9 includes a container main body 9A having an opening 9A2 that opens upward to form a main tank part 90 that is long in the front-rear direction for storing ice-making water, and a main tank inserted into the container main body 9A. A partition body 9B that partitions and forms the measuring tank section 91 immediately below the section 90, and a lid body 9C that is detachably attached to the container body 9A so as to close the opening 9A2 of the container body 9A.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the measuring tank portion 91 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed from above, and the corner portions K1 to K4 at the four corners form an arc. As shown in FIG. 17A, the compressed air introduction part 91A is arranged on one side of the measuring tank part 91, that is, on the short side HR side of the rear part among the short sides HF and HR located in the front and rear. In addition, the supply hole 92 and the ice making water lead-out portion 91 </ b> B are spaced apart from each other on the other side of the measuring tank 91, that is, on the short side HF on the front side of the short sides HF and HR located in the front and rear.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, this specific arrangement is such that compressed air is introduced into one of the left and right corner portions K1 and K4 of the rear short side HR out of the short sides HF and HR positioned in the front and rear. The part 91A is arranged. Further, among the left and right corner portions K2 and K3 of the front short side HF, the ice making water lead-out portion 91B is disposed at the corner portion K2 near the compressed air introduction portion 91A, and the far side from the compressed air introduction portion 91A. The supply hole 92 is disposed in the corner portion K3. The ice making water lead-out portion 91B and the supply hole 92 are located away from each other, and the supply hole 92 is arranged farther from the compressed air introduction portion 91A than the ice making water lead-out portion 91B. The metering tank unit 91 stores a predetermined amount of ice making water necessary for one ice making by the automatic ice making machine 7. The specified amount required for one ice making is the amount that makes the ice tray 7B at the specified water level.

  Also in the case of the water storage container 9 of this form, similarly to the above, the influence of the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introduction portion 91A can be reduced with respect to the float body 93, and the operation of the float body 93 closing the supply hole 92 is stable. To do. Furthermore, by providing the supply hole 92 farther from the compressed air introduction portion 91A than the ice making water outlet portion 91B, a more stable operation can be obtained.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 and 17A, a supply hole 92, a compressed air introduction portion 91A, and an ice making water lead-out portion 91B are formed through the partition body 9B. For this reason, it becomes easy to determine the mutual arrangement of the supply hole 92, the compressed air introduction part 91A, and the ice making water outlet part 91B.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the compressed air introduction passage 94 for introducing the compressed air of the pump device 60 into the metering tank portion 91 includes a compressed air introduction portion 91A formed through the partition body 9B, and a lid. A compressed air induction pipe 96 extending rearward from the body 9C and detachably connected to an air discharge port 63 on the front surface of the pump device 60, and a lower end portion communicating with the compressed air induction pipe 96 via an annular packing 116 at the upper end portion Is constituted by a compressed air introduction pipe 97 erected on the partition body 9B so as to communicate with the compressed air introduction portion 91A. In the embodiment, the compressed air introduction pipe 97 is integrally formed with the partition body 9B together with the compressed air introduction portion 91A, has the same diameter as the circular compressed air introduction portion 91A (there is a gentle draft on the molding), and has a circular shape. Compressed air introduction pipe 97 rises.

  An ice making water lead-out path 95 for leading ice making water from the measuring tank portion 91 toward the ice tray 7B is erected on the partition body 9B so that the ice making water lead-out portion 91B communicates with the ice making water lead-out portion 91B. The ice making water lead-out pipe 99, the ice making water guide pipe 98 standing on the container body 9A so that the lower end faces the ice making water supply channel 51, the upper end portion of the ice making water lead pipe 99, and the upper end portion of the ice making water guide pipe 98 And a communication path 100 that communicates with each other. As a result, the ice making water lead-out path 95 forms a path bent upward in an inverted U shape or a gate shape.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in order to push out a specified amount of ice making water required for one ice making to the ice making tray 7B by the compressed air of the pump device 60, the partition 9B is connected to the ice making water outlet pipe 99. The ice making water outlet 91B is formed by the opening at the lower end of the outlet pipe 99P extending downward. The opening at the lower end of the outlet pipe 99 </ b> P opens at a position close to the inner bottom surface of the measuring tank portion 91. Between the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the measuring tank portion 91 corresponding to the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A and the lower end of the outlet pipe 99P, an interval TP through which ice making water flows out is formed. In the embodiment, the circular ice making water outlet pipe 99 and the circular outlet pipe 99P form a series of pipes having the same inner diameter. For this reason, the circular outlet pipe 99P rises and communicates with the circular ice making water outlet pipe 99 having the same diameter as that of the circular ice making water outlet 91B (there is a gentle draft for molding).

  In the embodiment, the outlet pipe 99P communicates with the ice making water outlet pipe 99 with the same inner diameter as the ice making water outlet pipe 99, and is integrally formed with the partition body 9B.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 (A) and 17 (B), the communication path 100 is an open communication path having an upper surface opening, leaving substantially the lower half of the tubular body extending in the lateral direction. The communication path 100 has an opening portion 100A having an upper surface opening that expands in a quadrangular bowl shape at the upper end portion of the ice making water guide pipe 98 and an opening portion of the upper surface opening that extends forward from the upper end portion of the ice making water outlet pipe 99. It is comprised from the collar part 100B. The opening part 100A forms a notch-shaped connecting wall 100M on the wall thereafter. The unfolding part 100B has a tip part 100P where the bottom wall and the left and right walls are enlarged, and a connecting groove 100N is formed on the outer periphery on the base side of the tip part 100P.

  As shown in FIGS. 16, 17A and 17B, the opening portion 100B is placed on the opening portion 100A by inserting the partition 9B into the container body 9A, and the connecting wall 100M is placed in the connecting groove 100N. Mating. In this state, the leading end portion 100P of the opening portion 100B enters the opening portion 100A, and both are connected to form a continuous communication path 100. The upper surface opening of the communication path 100 is closed by the lid body 9C attached to the container main body 9A, thereby forming the communication path 100 extending in the lateral direction. The communication path 100 is inclined downward from the ice making water outlet pipe 99 side toward the ice making water guide pipe 98 side. For this reason, the flow of ice making water from the measuring tank unit 91 toward the ice making water supply path 51 is good, and the draining is good.

  When the container body 9A, the partition body 9B, and the lid body 9C are molded with synthetic resin, the compressed air introduction path 94, the ice making water outlet path 95, and the like related thereto are integrally molded with synthetic resin. In this case, if the entire ice making water outlet path 95 including the communication path 100 is used as a culvert path, a molding die, a molding method, and the like become complicated, resulting in a large cost increase. As described above, the ice making water lead-out path 95 forms a path that is bent upward in an inverted U shape or a gate shape, and the communication path 100 is an opening portion 100A of the upper surface opening on the ice making water guiding pipe 98 side. In addition, since the opening portion 100B of the upper surface opening on the ice making water lead-out pipe 99 side is formed, even when each part is molded with a synthetic resin as described above, the molding die, the molding method, etc. are simplified and the cost is reduced. Can be achieved.

  There is also a method of using a seal packing at the connecting portion between the opening portion 100A and the opening portion 100B, but in this case, water remaining in the sealing packing portion may rot and mold may occur. As described above, according to the present invention, as the partition body 9B is inserted into the container body 9A, the distal end portion of the opening portion 100B is placed on the distal end portion of the opening portion 100A, and the distal end portion 100P of the opening portion 100B. Is a state of entering the opening part 100A. For this reason, it is possible to prevent water leakage of ice making water flowing through the ice making water lead-out path 95 without using seal packing. Moreover, since the opening part 100A and the opening part 100B can be wash | cleaned if the partition body 9B is removed from the container main body 9A, generation | occurrence | production of mold | fungi can be prevented. Furthermore, since the opening part 100A and the opening part 100B can be connected with the insertion of the partition 9B, the connecting operation of both opening parts is simplified. For this reason, it is easy to connect and separate portions of the communication passage 100 and to facilitate cleaning, so that assembly and disassembly are easy and the hygienic communication passage 100 is obtained.

Further, the ice making water lead-out path 95 forms a path that is bent upward in an inverted U shape or a gate shape, so that the refrigerated cold air in the ice making section 6 rises in the ice making water supply path 51 and flows back to the measuring tank section 91. There is an effect that can be suppressed. Further, the compressed air introduction path 94 rises from the compressed air introduction section 91A, and the ice making water outlet path 95 has a form in which the ice making water led out from the ice making water outlet section 91B rises and falls. For this reason, when the water storage container 9 is accommodated in the water storage container accommodating part 46 or when the refrigerator door 10 is opened and closed, the ice making water in the measuring tank part 91 is supplied to the air in the ice making water supply path 51 and the pump device 60. Leakage to the discharge port 63 can be prevented.
In order to improve the leakage prevention effect, the bottom surface level 100L in the communication passage 100 and the bottom surface level 96L of the compressed air guiding pipe 96 are set slightly higher than the ice-making water full level WL in the water storage container 9. The ice making water full level WL in the water storage container 9 is the ice making water full level of the main tank unit 90, and is set at the level of the horizontal side 104 </ b> A provided below the water supply port 104.

Next, the relationship between the supply hole 92 and the float body 93 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 15, the supply hole 92 has a shape having an enlarged portion 92A at the center of a rectangular hole. As shown in FIGS. 17A and 18, the float body 93 has a substantially T-shaped support portion 93 </ b> A having a size that passes through the rectangular supply hole 92 at the center of the upper surface. Therefore, by turning the float body 93 approximately 90 degrees with the support portion 93A passing through the supply hole 92 from below along the rectangular shape of the supply hole 92, the locking side 93P of the upper end portion of the support portion 93A is The floating body 93 is locked to the upper edge portion of the enlarged portion 92A of the supply hole 92, and the float body 93 is held in a state where it does not fall. In this state, the longitudinal shaft portion 93Q of the support portion 93A is loosely fitted to the enlarged portion 92A of the supply hole 92. For this reason, the float body 93 can be moved up and down by the water level of the measuring tank unit 91.

  With this configuration, before the water level of the measuring tank unit 91 reaches a predetermined full state, the float body 93 is lowered, and the ice making water in the main tank unit 90 passes through the supply hole 92 from the periphery of the support unit 93A, It naturally flows down to the measuring tank portion 91 through the periphery of the float body 93. When the water level of the measuring tank unit 91 rises toward full, the float body 93 rises, and when the measuring tank unit 91 becomes full, the upper surface of the float body 93 is supplied as shown in FIG. The supply hole 92 is closed by contacting the lower surface of the partition 9B around the hole 92.

  With the start of the ice making process, the pump device 60 is operated, compressed air flows from the compressed air introduction part 91A, and pushes out the ice making water in the measuring tank part 91. With this extrusion, the water level in the measuring tank unit 91 gradually decreases, but the float body 93 maintains the supply hole 92 in a closed state until the measuring tank unit 91 reaches a predetermined low water level. Thus, the buoyancy of the float body 93 is set. Thereby, it is possible to limit the pushing out of the ice making water in an amount exceeding the specified amount pushed out from the measuring tank unit 91.

  When the water level in the measuring tank unit 91 is lowered to a predetermined low water level, the float body 93 opens the supply hole 92. At this time, the float body 93 does not descend immediately but descends with a slight delay. To do. That is, the float body 93 maintains the state in which the supply hole 92 is closed by the adhesion action of water existing between the upper surface of the float body 93 and the lower surface of the partition body 9B. When the balance between the weight of the float body 93 and the adhesion action is lost, the maintenance action disappears, and the float body 93 finally descends to open the supply hole 92. Even if a small amount flows down from the supply hole 92 by opening the supply hole 92, the specified amount of ice-making water has already been pushed out from the measuring tank unit 91 to the ice-making tray 7 </ b> B. Even if this small amount flows down from the supply hole 92, the extrusion of the specified amount of ice making water is hardly affected.

  In the embodiment, the prescribed amount required for one ice making is 80 cc, and the measuring tank unit 91 has a volume for securing this prescribed amount. The specified amount of 80 cc required for one ice making is determined by the operating time of the air pump 61. In the embodiment, it is obtained by operating for 15 seconds.

Next, a configuration for stabilizing the closing operation of the supply hole 92 by the float body 93 will be described.
18 is a perspective view of a float body of a water storage container according to the present invention, FIG. 19 is a longitudinal side view of a supply hole portion for explaining the relationship between the float body and a barrier of the water supply apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 20 is according to the present invention. It is a vertical side view of the supply hole part explaining other embodiment of the barrier of a water supply apparatus.

  It is desired that the float body 93 stably closes the supply hole 92 while pushing out the ice-making water from the metering tank unit 91 by the compressed air. However, the ice-making water in the measuring tank unit 91 is reduced by taking out food from the refrigerator 1, storing food in the refrigerator 1, or other factors while the water level of ice-making water in the measuring tank unit 91 is lowered. If it swings, the float body 93 swings due to the influence. If the supply hole 92 is opened by this swinging, there is a concern that ice making water in the main tank unit 90 may flow excessively to the measuring tank unit 91 through the supply hole 92.

In view of the above concerns, in order to stabilize the operation of the float body 93 closing the supply hole 92, a barrier 121 surrounding the float body 93 is provided.
This configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 19, a partition body 9 </ b> B that is a partition wall that partitions the main tank unit 90 and the measurement tank unit 91 is provided with a barrier 121 that surrounds the float body 93.
By the normal operation, the float body 93 is lowered to open the supply hole 92 so that the ice making water in the main tank portion 90 flows into the measuring tank portion 91 through the supply hole 92. For this purpose, the lower end 121B of the barrier 121 forms a gap G between the inner bottom surface of the measuring tank portion 91, that is, the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A. The gap G constitutes an ice making water outflow portion 122 from which ice making water flows into the measuring tank portion 91.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 19, the float body 93 has a circular shape depending on the partition 9B, and the barrier 121 has a circular shape. The barrier 121 is formed on the lower surface of the partition 9B by integral molding. As will be described later, while the partition 9B is inserted into a predetermined position in the container body 9A and kept in a normal state, the ice-making water flowing down from the supply hole 92 passes through a gap of about 1 mm around the float body 93. As a result, the air smoothly flows from the gap G into the measuring tank 91. The interval G is preferably the minimum interval that can secure this flow. In the embodiment, the interval G is 1 mm, but the object can be effectively achieved if it is in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm.

  In a state where the inside of the measuring tank unit 91 is filled with ice-making water, the ice-making water in the measuring tank unit 91 is pushed out by the compressed air flowing from the compressed air introducing unit 91A, and the water level in the measuring tank unit 91 is lowered. Until the water level falls below the lower end 121B of the barrier 121, the water level in the barrier 121 does not fall, so the float body 93 remains closed as shown in FIG. When the water level falls below the lower end 121B of the barrier 121, the float body 93 opens the supply hole 92. At that time, the float body 93 does not descend immediately but descends with a slight delay. That is, the float body 93 maintains the state in which the supply hole 92 is closed by the adhesion action of water existing between the upper surface of the float body 93 and the lower surface of the partition body 9B. When the balance between the weight of the float body 93 and the adhesion action is lost, the maintenance action disappears, and the float body 93 finally descends to open the supply hole 92. Even if a small amount flows down from the supply hole 92 by opening the supply hole 92, the specified amount of ice-making water is already pushed out from the measuring tank unit 91 to the ice tray 7B.

  Thus, the float body 93 and the surrounding barrier 121 can reduce the flow of ice making water from the main tank portion to the measuring tank portion while the ice making water is pushed out by the compressed air.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the lower surface of the float body 93 is equivalent to or slightly above the lower end 121 </ b> B of the barrier 121. As a result, as described above, the state in which the float body 93 closes the supply hole 92 by the ice-making water in the barrier 121 can be stably maintained until the water level falls below the lower end 121B of the barrier 121. Further, it is possible to secure a gap through which ice making water flows between the upper surface of the float body 93 and the partition body 9B in a state where the float body 93 is lowered.

  Thus, by providing the barrier 121, even if the ice-making water in the measuring tank unit 91 swings, the float body 93 is protected from the influence. For this reason, the float body 93 stably closes the supply hole 92 until the water level of the measuring tank unit 91 is lowered to a predetermined low water level. In the embodiment, the float body 93 can keep the supply hole 92 stably closed until the water level is lower than the lower end 121 </ b> B of the barrier 121.

  That is, by providing the barrier 121, the float body 93 stably closes the supply hole 92 until the water level of the ice making water in the measuring tank unit 91 is lowered to a predetermined low water level. Even if the oscillates, excess water for ice making can be prevented from being supplied from the main tank unit 90 to the measuring tank unit 91.

  As shown in FIG. 20, when the lower end of the barrier 121 that hangs down from the partition 9 </ b> B comes into contact with the inner bottom surface 9 </ b> A <b> 1 of the container body 9 </ b> A, the ice making water outflow portion 122 is formed by a notch in a part of the lower end of the barrier 121. . In this case, the ice making water outflow portion 122 may be formed on the side opposite to the compressed air introduction portion 91A side.

  Further, as another form, although not shown in the figure, the substantially half-circular portion 121A of the entire circumference of the barrier 121 is integrally formed with the partition body 9B so as to hang down from the partition body 9B, and the remaining substantially half-circle of the entire periphery of the barrier 121 is formed. The portion 121B is integrally formed with the container body 9A so that the portion 121B rises from the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container body 9A. By inserting the partition body 9B into the container main body 9A, the semicircular portions 121A and 121B are combined to form the entire circumference of the barrier 121. In this case, the upper end of the 121B portion abuts against the partition 9B, and the 121A portion forms a gap G of the ice making water outflow portion 122 between the lower end and the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A. In this case, the ice making water outflow portion 122 may be formed on the side opposite to the compressed air introduction portion 91A side.

Next, a technique for smoothly supplying ice-making water from the main tank unit 90 to the measuring tank unit 91 will be described.
In order to push out the ice-making water stored in the measuring tank unit 91 with the compressed air of the pump device 60, the measuring tank unit 91 is formed between the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container body 9A and the partition body 9B, and The measuring tank unit 91 is filled with ice-making water necessary for ice making. In this case, when the ice-making water in the main tank 90 is naturally flowing down, the float body 93 is pushed down through the supply hole 92 and flows into the measuring tank 91, so that the air in the measuring tank 91 should be pushed away well. In this case, the measuring tank unit 91 cannot be filled.

In order to solve this problem, an air discharge groove 125 through which the air in the measurement tank unit 91 is released to the compressed air introduction unit 91 </ b> A is formed on the upper surface in the measurement tank unit 91.
FIG. 21 is a longitudinal side view of the partition body in the front-rear direction for explaining the air discharge groove portion in the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 22 is a vertical side view of the partition body in the left-right direction for explaining the air discharge groove portion in the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 10, 13 to 15, 17 (A), 21, and 22, the upper wall of the measuring tank unit 91 is the partition 9 </ b> B, and therefore the lower surface of the partition 9 </ b> B. Is a state in which the air discharge groove 125 formed by inflating is communicated with the compressed air introduction portion 91A. The position of the air discharge groove 125 is arranged along the side of the measuring tank 91 where the compressed air introduction part 91A and the ice making water outlet part 91B are arranged so as to be located away from the supply hole 92. It is formed in a straight line extending from the outer surface of 99P to the center of the compressed air introduction pipe 97.

  As illustrated, the air discharge groove 125 is an inclined groove that gradually deepens upward toward the center of the compressed air introduction portion 91A. Further, in order to improve the flow of air toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A, the groove width of the air discharge groove 125 is wider on the compressed air introduction portion 91A side than the outlet pipe 99P side far from the compressed air introduction portion 91A. A preferable groove width is a shape that gradually expands toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A. The shape of the air discharge groove 125 in the illustrated embodiment is a shape that gradually inclines toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A and gradually widens toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A. .

  As described above, the ice making water outlet 91B opens the outlet pipe 99P so as to communicate with a position close to the inner bottom surface of the measuring tank 91, and discharges air to an upper position considerably away from the ice making water outlet 91B. A groove 125 is provided. For this reason, as the ice-making water in the main tank 90 flows into the metering tank 91 under a natural flow, the air in the metering tank 91 is compressed from the compressed air introduction part 91A through the air discharge groove 125. It is discharged to the introduction pipe 97 and discharged from a dust filter 63D described later.

  With this configuration, the ice making water in the main tank unit 90 flows well to the measuring tank unit 91 under natural flow, and as the measuring tank unit 91 becomes full, the float body 93 is caused by the ice making water in the measuring tank unit 91. The float body 93 is pushed up, the upper surface of the float body 93 comes into contact with the periphery of the supply hole 92 and closes the supply hole 92, and the flow of ice-making water from the main tank unit 90 into the measuring tank unit 91 is stopped.

  In particular, the measuring tank unit 91 is filled with ice-making water necessary for one ice-making in order to allow the ice-making water stored in the measuring tank unit 91 to be pushed out by the compressed air of the pump device 60. Even in the case of the configuration, the air remaining in the upper part in the measuring tank unit 91 is favorably pushed out from the air discharge groove 125 toward the compressed air introducing unit 91A. It can be filled with the necessary amount of ice making water.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the air discharge groove 125 is formed with a bulge groove 125 </ b> A that bulges the center portion further upward over the entire length on the line toward the center portion of the compressed air introduction portion 91 </ b> A. . The bulging groove 125A is formed in communication with the compressed air introduction portion 91A.

  The air discharge groove 125 is formed so as to be gradually inclined upward while moving toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A, and the groove width is also widened. Therefore, the bulging groove 125A is also gradually raised upward toward the compressed air introduction portion 91A. The groove width is widened while being deeply inclined.

  For this reason, when the ice making water in the main tank unit 90 flows into the measuring tank unit 91 under natural flow, the air in the measuring tank unit 91 is efficiently concentrated in the air discharge groove 125. Since the air discharge groove 125 has the bulging groove 125A, the air in the measuring tank portion 91 concentrated in the air discharge groove 125 is concentrated in the bulging groove 125A, and the compressed air that is the uppermost position of the bulging groove 125A. Guided to the introduction portion 91A side.

Next, the seal configuration of the peripheral part of the measuring tank unit 91 will be described.
FIG. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the packing holding portion at the front of the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 24 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining a packing holding portion at the rear of the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the packing holding portion on the left side of the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the packing holding portion on the right side of the measuring tank portion of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the annular packing at the periphery of the measuring tank according to the present invention. FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the partition body is inserted onto the annular packing attached to the container body according to the present invention. FIG. 29 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the partition member presses the annular packing in the container main body according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, in order to reliably partition the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91, an annular packing 117 surrounding the measuring tank portion 91 is provided between the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A and the partition body 9B. Is provided. The annular packing 117 has a shape that forms the outer shape of the measuring tank unit 91, and has a form corresponding to the form of the measuring tank unit 91.

Next, the sealing configuration of the measuring tank unit 91 by the annular packing 117 will be described.
In the present invention, each part is easily disassembled so that each part in the water storage container 9 can be washed with water. For this reason, the partition body 9B forming the measuring tank portion 91 can be detachably inserted into the container main body 9A, and the annular packing 117 is also detachable accordingly. The annular packing 117 is made of flexible silicone rubber in order to improve sealing performance, detachability, durability, and the like.

  In order to divide the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91 by the flexible annular packing 117, the partition body is usually attached with the annular packing 117 attached to the peripheral edge of the partition body 9B. A method of inserting 9B into the container main body 9A is adopted. In this system, in order to hold the annular packing 117 on the peripheral portion of the partition body 9B, an attachment groove and an attachment flange are formed, and the annular packing 117 is fitted into that portion. In this attachment, the flexible annular packing 117 is stretched during the attachment operation, which causes an extra part. In that case, the annular packing 117 is removed and the attaching operation is performed again, which is troublesome for completing the attaching operation of the annular packing 117.

  Further, even when the annular packing 117 is attached to the peripheral edge of the partition 9B in a normal state, as described above, it is surrounded by the rear wall and the left and right walls of the container body 9A, and has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed from above. When the measuring tank portion 91 is formed in this area, when the partition 9B is inserted into a predetermined position in the rear area of the container body 9A, the annular packing 117 is caused by friction with the rear wall and the left and right walls of the container body 9A. It is difficult to insert the partition body 9B into a predetermined position, and the annular packing 117 is detached from the partition body 9B due to friction with the rear wall and the left and right walls of the container body 9A.

  In view of such a point, the present invention provides a configuration that can be easily attached in a normal state and can ensure a normal seal state even when a flexible silicon rubber annular packing 117 is employed. Therefore, before inserting the partition 9B into a predetermined position in the rear region of the container main body 9A, a packing holding portion 90P for attaching the annular packing 117 to a predetermined position in the rear region of the container main body 9A is annularly formed in the container main body 9A. The partition body 9B is inserted into a predetermined position in the rear region of the container body 9A after the annular packing 117 is attached to the packing holding portion 90P.

A configuration that conforms to the method is described below.
As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 12, etc., the measuring tank portion 91 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction, which is one of the four sides, when viewed from above, and the corner portions K1 to K4 at the four corners form an arc. This is a shape that matches the shape of the container body 9A, and is long in the front-rear direction in the top view over substantially the entire rear half region of the container body 9A surrounded by the rear wall and the left and right walls of the container body 9A. An area of the rectangular measuring tank portion 91 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the area of the measuring tank portion 91 is formed by a partition wall 90 </ b> K that goes around the front, rear, left and right of the recess by recessing the bottom wall of the rear half region of the container body 9 </ b> A.

  As described above, the measuring tank unit 91 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed from above according to the shape of the container main body 9A, and the measuring tank unit 91 is formed by effectively using the inside of the container main body 9A. Therefore, in the front part of the measuring tank part 91, the partition wall 90K is formed by the front wall of the said hollow of the container main body 9A. Further, in the rear part of the measuring tank unit 91, the partition wall 90K is also used as the lower part of the rear wall 90B of the container body 9A, and in the left part of the measuring tank unit 91, the partition wall 90K is connected to the lower part of the left wall 90R of the container body 9A. In addition, in the right side portion of the measuring tank portion 91, the partition wall 90K is configured to be shared by the lower portion of the right side wall 90L of the container body 9A.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 27 to 29, the annular packing 117 includes a mounting groove 117D that opens downward between the outer annular rib 117R1 and the inner annular rib 117R2, and an outwardly outward portion. A fin portion 117T extending to the bottom and a shoulder portion 117Q formed of a depression so as to form a lower step at the bottom of the fin portion 117T are formed. The partition body 9B is formed with a pressing flange 9BF formed on the peripheral edge of the lower surface so as to press the fin portion 117T so as to press the upper surface of the annular packing 117, and an annular support protrusion 9BT inside thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 23 to 26, 28, and 29, an annular shape is formed along the front and rear, left and right partition walls 90 </ b> K formed as described above at the bottom of the container body 9 </ b> A. A packing holding portion 90P for holding the packing 117 in a detachable manner is formed. The packing holding portion 90P forms an annular groove 90P2 that opens upward around the circumference of the measuring tank portion 91. The annular groove 90P2 is formed between a partition wall 90K that surrounds the measuring tank portion 91 and an annular protrusion 90P1 that rises upward in a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction in parallel when viewed from above. Further, an annular contact portion 90P3 is formed along the inner side of the annular protrusion 90P1. As a result, the annular groove 90P2 is formed as a groove having an outer wall that is a partition wall 90K and an inner wall that is an annular protrusion 90P1 that opens upward between them.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 28, and 29, the annular packing 117 is inserted from the upper surface opening of the container body 9 </ b> A, and the attachment groove 117 </ b> D is fitted into the annular protrusion 90 </ b> P <b> 1. The outer annular rib 117R1 is fitted into the annular groove 90P2, and the inner annular rib 117R2 is attached to the packing holding portion 90P in such a relationship that it abuts against the abutting portion 90P3 located inside the annular protrusion 90P1. By this mounting, the locking protrusion 90P11 formed on the inner surface of the annular protrusion 90P1 fits into the locking groove 117D1 formed in the attachment groove 117D, and the annular packing 117 is prevented from coming off from the packing holding portion 90P.

  In this state, the partition body 9B is inserted from the upper surface opening of the container main body 9A into the rear half region in the container main body 9A surrounded by the partition wall 90K around the front, rear, left and right along the rear wall and the left and right walls of the container main body 9A. Then, the pressing flange 9BF at the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the partition member 9B is pushed down until it comes into contact with the upper fin portion 117T of the annular packing 117. In this state, the partition 9 </ b> B is supported on the annular packing 117, and the rectangular area surrounded by the annular packing 117 is the area of the measuring tank unit 91.

  In this manner, the annular packing 117 is mounted on the packing holding portion 90P, and the partition body 9B is inserted into the container main body 9A and placed on the annular packing 117. As described later, the lid body 9C is attached to the container main body 9A. The container body 9A and the lid body 9C are coupled by the hook device 101. By this connection, the lid body 9C presses the partition body 9B, and accordingly, the support protrusion 9BT of the partition body 9B abuts on the shoulder portion 117Q of the annular packing 117, and the annular packing 117 is on the measuring tank portion 91 side. The pressing flange 9BF at the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the partition member 9B presses the fin portion 117T while preventing it from falling down. The front end portion of the pressing flange 9BF is bent obliquely downward, whereby the front end portion of the fin portion 117T is pushed and elastically deformed and bent downward.

  As a result, the annular packing 117 forms a plurality of seal portions. As shown in FIG. 29, the annular packing 117 is bent at the upper portion of the outer annular rib 117R1 as the fin portion 117T is bent. At the same time, the outer tip of the fin portion 117T is in close contact with the partition wall 90K at the upper portion of the annular groove 90P2 (this is referred to as the seal portion 1), and the annular protrusion 90P1 and the attachment groove 117D are in close contact (this is referred to as the seal portion 2). The outer annular rib 117R1 is in close contact with the bottom of the annular groove 90P2 (this is referred to as the seal portion 3), the inner annular rib 117R2 is in close contact with the contact portion 90P3 (this is referred to as the seal portion 4), and the annular packing 117 is sealed. The compressed state is held in the holding unit 90P. As described above, the annular packing 117 is prevented from falling inward by the support protrusions 9BT of the partition 9B, and is quadruple sealed mainly by the four portions of the seal portions 1 to 4, and is surrounded by the annular packing 117. In this area, the main tank part 90 and the measuring tank part 91 partitioned into a watertight and airtight state are formed.

  Further, the packing holding portion 90P includes a holding projection 90P4 that holds the lower inner side of the inner annular rib 117R2 inside the contact portion 90P3 with a space from the annular projection 90P1. Therefore, when the annular packing 117 is pressed by pressing the partition 9B as described above, the lower portion of the inner annular rib 117R2 of the annular packing 117 is held by the holding projection 90P4 as shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent the lower part of 117 from slipping inward, the flexible annular packing 117 can be held in a normal position, a seal around the measuring tank part 91 is sufficient, and the periphery of the measuring tank part 91 is the main tank part 90. And a water-tight and air-tight area.

  As described above, the annular packing 117 can be held at the normal position, and the seal around the measuring tank unit 91 is sufficient. Therefore, the structure is suitable for a structure in which the water for making ice in the measuring tank unit 91 is pushed out by the compressed air of the air pump 61. It will be a thing.

Next, the assembly of the partition body 9B into the container body 9A will be described.
When assembling the water storage container 9, the annular packing 116 is attached to the upper end opening of the compressed air introduction pipe 97, and the annular packing 115 is attached to the periphery of the lower end of the ice making water induction pipe 98. Further, as described above, the annular packing 117 is attached to the packing holding portion 90P so as to go around the peripheral portion of the measuring tank portion 91 in the container main body 9A.

  The partition body 9B holding the float body 93 in the supply hole 92 is inserted into the container main body 9A from the upper surface opening of the container main body 9A and placed on the annular packing 117 mounted on the packing holding portion 90P. Thereby, both are connected in a state where the tip of the opening part 100B is placed on the tip of the opening part 100A, and a continuous opening-shaped communication path 100 is formed. In this state, the container body 9A is covered with a lid body 9C so as to close the upper surface opening of the container body 9A, and the container body 9A and the lid body 9C are coupled by the hook device 101.

  Thus, the open communication path 100 is covered with the lid body 9C, and the partition body 9B is pushed toward the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A by the lid body 9C. Thereby, the annular packing 117 is compressed by the partition body 9B and the packing holding portion 90P, and the measuring tank portion is reliably partitioned from the main tank portion 90 between the inner bottom surface of the container body 9A and the partition body 9B. 91 is formed.

  In this way, the partition body 9B is pressed toward the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A by the lid body 9C. The partition 9B is pressed by a place P where the compressed air introduction pipe 97 and the compressed air guide pipe 96 are connected via the annular packing 116, and a place Q where the upper surface opening of the communication passage 100 is blocked by the lid 9C. However, the column portion 103 is provided upright on the partition body 9B so that the pressure on the partition body 9B is averaged. Thereby, the location P, the location Q, and the support pillar portion 103 are arranged in a triangular location, so that the pressing of the partition 9B by the lid 9C is averaged, and the annular packing 117 is compressed substantially evenly. A measuring tank portion 91 surrounded by an annular packing 117 is formed between the partition 9B and the inner bottom surface 9A1 of the container main body 9A in a watertight and airtight state immediately below the portion 90.

  Thus, since the partition body 9B is held by the lid body 9C, a fixing device such as a screw for attaching the partition body 9B to the container main body 9A is unnecessary. For this reason, if the lid body 9C is removed and the partition body 9B is pulled up from the container body 9A, the annular packing 117 can also be removed. Therefore, the lid body 9C, the container body 9A, the partition body 9B, and the annular packing 117 can be easily cleaned. Moreover, the main tank part 90, the measurement tank part 91, the float body 93, and the barrier 121 can be easily cleaned by removing the partition 9B. Furthermore, the ice-making water discharge passage 95 and the air inflow portion 94 can be easily cleaned.

Next, a mechanism for attaching the lid 9C to the container body 9A will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the container body 9 </ b> A and the lid body 9 </ b> C are coupled by the hook devices 101 provided on the left and right sides and the rear part of the container body 9 </ b> A and the lid body 9 </ b> C. Further, the lid body 9C can be removed from the container main body 9A by releasing the hook device 101. In the hook device 101, the container main body 9A and the lid body 9C are connected to each other by the back side latching portion 101B of the lever 101A provided on the lid body 9C so as to be freely turnable and elastically latching to the latching portion 101C of the container main body 9A. Combined. Such a hook device 101 has a known configuration.

Next, a water seal structure between the container main body 9A and the lid body 9C will be described.
FIG. 30 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the lid is fitted to the container body of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 31 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a sealed state at the front part of the container body and the lid of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 32 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the sealed state of the left side, right side, and rear side of the container body and the lid of the water storage container according to the present invention. FIG. 33 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another seal form of the container body and the lid of the water storage container according to the present invention.

  For example, when the water storage container 9 is installed in the water storage container housing 46, it is necessary to prevent the ice making water injected into the water storage container 9 from leaking. For this reason, the fitting part of the container main body 9A and the lid body 9C has a sealing configuration without providing the annular packing. Hereinafter, this seal configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 30 to 33, the seal portion according to the present invention has an engagement groove 111 formed on one of the upper surface opening peripheral portion of the container body 9 </ b> A and the lower surface peripheral portion of the lid body 9 </ b> C, and the other A bendable engaging protrusion 110 that enters the engaging groove 111 is provided at the upper end of the wall, and an inclined surface 112 that goes into the engaging groove 111 is provided at the upper end of the wall that constitutes the engaging groove 111. When the lid 9C is attached to the main body 9A, the inclined surface 112 enters the sliding engagement groove 111 while being bent. Thereby, the upper-surface opening peripheral part of 9 A of container main bodies and the cover body 9C are maintained in a watertight state.

  Although it is possible to form only the engaging protrusion 110 in a bendable ring shape, the manufacturing cost is high and it is not practical. Therefore, as an embodiment that is easy to manufacture, maintains the shape of the water storage container 9, is suitable for handling, and the like, the engagement groove 111 is formed in an annular shape at the upper peripheral edge of the upper surface of the container body 9A, and the container body 9A Is made of a hard synthetic resin and relatively sturdy in order to keep the entire shape including the engaging groove 111 stable. Further, an engagement protrusion 110 is formed in an annular shape on the back side of the lid body 9C so as to correspond to the engagement groove 111, and the entire lid body 9C including the engagement protrusion 110 is made of a flexible material such as ABS resin. Made of a certain synthetic resin. In addition, an inclined surface 112 is formed at the upper end of the inner wall 111 </ b> A of the engagement groove 111 so as to fall into the engagement groove 111. As shown in FIG. 7, the compressed air guide pipe 96 is integrally formed in the lid body 9 </ b> C so as to protrude rearward from the lid body 9 </ b> C at a position higher than the engagement protrusion 110.

  When the lid body 9C is attached to the container body 9A, the lid body has a relationship in which the engagement protrusions 110 are arranged along the inner side of the outer wall 111B of the engagement groove 111 that extends to the left and right side portions and the rear portion of the container body 9A. 9C is placed on the container body 9A. In this state, the front end of the engagement protrusion 110 abuts on an inclined surface 112 that is formed at the upper end of the inner wall 111 </ b> A of the engagement groove 111 and extends toward the engagement groove 111. In this state, the lid body 9C can be coupled to the container body 9A by operating the lever 101A of the hook device 101 and elastically locking the back side locking part 101B to the locking part 101C of the container body 9A. .

  Since the width of the engaging groove 111 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the engaging protrusion 110, the tip of the engaging protrusion 110 abuts on the inclined surface 112 by such a coupling operation of the lid body 9C to the container body 9A. The engagement protrusion 110 is elastically deformed along the inclined surface 112, whereby the engagement protrusion 110 enters the engagement groove 111 while being bent inward of the engagement groove 111.

  Since the engaging protrusion 110 is flexible like the lid body 9C, a restoring force acts on the bending. As a result, at the front portion of the water storage container 9, as shown in FIG. 31, the tip end portion of the engagement protrusion 110 abuts against the inner wall 111 </ b> A of the engagement groove 111 at the lower portion P <b> 1 of the inclined surface 112. Further, in the left and right portions and the rear portion of the water storage container 9, as shown in FIG. 32, the tip end portion of the engagement protrusion 110 abuts the inner wall 111A of the engagement groove 111 on the inclined surface 112 at the lower portion P1. By this contact, this portion becomes a fitting seal portion between the container main body 9A and the lid body 9C.

  Further, other seal forms of the container body 9A and the lid body 9C are shown in FIGS. In this case, similarly to the above, the cover body 9C is put on the container main body 9A, the lever 101A of the hook device 101 is operated, and the back side locking portion 101B is locked to the locking portion 101C of the container main body 9A. The lid 9C is coupled to the main body 9A. As a result of this coupling, the tip of the engagement protrusion 110 is elastically deformed along the inclined surface 112 as described above, whereby the engagement protrusion 110 is bent into the engagement groove 111 and into the engagement groove 111. enter in.

  The distal end portion of the engagement protrusion 110 abuts on the inner wall 111 </ b> A of the engagement groove 111 at the lower portion P <b> 1 of the inclined surface 112. In addition, the distal end portion of the engagement protrusion 110 may come into contact with the outer wall 111B of the engagement groove 111 at the P2 portion opposite to the inclined surface 112. When the engagement protrusion 110 and the engagement groove 111 are brought into contact with each other, a fitting seal portion between the container main body 9A and the lid body 9C is formed. When the tip of the engaging protrusion 110 abuts on both the P1 portion and the P2 portion, there are two water sealing portions between the lid body 9C and the container main body 9A, and the water sealing effect is improved.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 31, in order to facilitate the work of removing the lid 9 </ b> C with the left and right hook devices 101 and the rear hook device 101 removed of the water storage container 9. A gap 118 extending upward is formed between the front wall 9C1 of the lid 9C and the rear wall 9T1 of the handle 9T. Thus, after removing the left and right hook devices 101, the rear hook device 101 is removed, and in this state, the rear portion of the lid body 9C is lifted with respect to the container body 9A, whereby the lower end of the front wall 9C1 of the lid body 9C, That is, the lid body 9 </ b> C can be rotated by the gap 118 with the contact portion between the front portion of the engagement protrusion 110 and the front portion of the engagement protrusion 110 as a shaft portion. For this reason, it becomes easy to remove the lid 9C from the container main body 9A.

Next, the pump device 60 will be described.
FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view of the pump device according to the present invention. FIG. 35 is an external perspective view illustrating the relationship between the air pump unit and the gasket 63B according to the present invention. FIG. 36 is an external perspective view of the pump device according to the present invention. FIG. 37 is a longitudinal side perspective view for explaining the configuration of the pump device according to the present invention. FIG. 38 is an enlarged vertical sectional view for explaining a contact state between the rear end surface of the gasket 63B of the pump device according to the present invention and the front wall of the main body case. FIG. 39 is a rear perspective view of the pump device with the rear plate of the air pump unit according to the present invention removed. FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the relationship between the back plate of the air pump unit according to the present invention and the dustproof filter. FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the back plate with a dust filter attached to the top of the back plate of the air pump unit according to the present invention. FIG. 42 is a front view of the back plate of the air pump unit according to the present invention. 43 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 44 is a right side view of the pump device according to the present invention. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

The pump device 60 is attached to the rear part of the water storage container housing part 46, that is, the back part of the water storage container housing part 46.
As illustrated, the pump device 60 has a configuration in which an air pump unit 60U is covered with an outer case 65. The air pump unit 60U includes an air pump 61, an air outlet pipe 63A that forms an air outlet path for extracting compressed air delivered from the air pump 61, and a non-woven dustproof filter 63D, and a main body case 62 made of synthetic resin. It is the structure accommodated in the inside.

  In order to prevent dust from being introduced into the air pump 61, a dust filter 63 </ b> D is provided in the air inflow path communicating with the air intake port of the air pump 61. The main body case 62 has an upper surface and a rear surface opened, and the rear surface of the main body case 62 is closed by a back plate 62R coupled to the main body case 62 as described later. Further, the upper surface of the main body case 62 is closed by a dustproof filter 63D held on the back plate 62R.

  The air outlet pipe 63A forms a support portion 63A3 to which the air pump 61 is attached on the upper surface, and a vertical passage portion 63A1 extending substantially vertically downward therefrom, and a main body case 62 extending substantially horizontally from the lower end of the vertical passage portion 63A1. And a lateral passage portion 63A2 that penetrates the hole 62D of the front wall 62F. The support portion 63A3 is inserted from the rear surface opening of the main body case 62 into a support groove 62M1 formed in a horizontal state in the front-rear direction on the left and right side walls of the main body case 62 at a position below the position where the dust filter 63D is disposed.

  The pump device 60 has a gasket 63 </ b> B for connection with the compressed air guide pipe 96 of the water storage container 9. As will be described later, the gasket 63B is held between the air pump unit 60U and the outer case 65 and protrudes to the front surface of the pump device 60.

  The gasket 63B is made of silicon rubber having elasticity, and has a cylindrical shape that penetrates and forms an air discharge passage 63C that is elastically connected to the air outlet pipe 63A in the center. The gasket 63B is accommodated in a cylindrical case 64 that opens to the front side and the rear side. The air discharge port 63 at the front portion of the air discharge path 63C forms an insertion portion for inserting a compressed air guide pipe 96 of the water storage container 9 described later in an airtight state by a plurality of circular annular ribs 63C1 having elasticity.

  Although there are various forms of the air pump 61, a known piezoelectric element type air pump is suitable as one suitable for downsizing. The piezoelectric element type air pump 61 has a diaphragm having a piezoelectric element disposed opposite to an inlet opening at the upper end of the air outlet pipe 63A, applies a voltage of a predetermined frequency to the piezoelectric element, and vibrates the diaphragm to the air outlet pipe 63A. The operation of sending out compressed air is performed.

The assembly of the air pump unit 60U and the outer case 65 will be described.
The locking protrusion 62A protruding upward from the main body case 62 is locked to the locking claw portion 65R of the outer case 65, and in this state, the mounting portion 62B protruding downward from the main body case 62 is fixed to the fixing portion 65B of the outer case 65. Fix with a screw NJ. In this state, the cylindrical case 64 containing the gasket 63B is made to correspond to the insertion hole 65A of the front wall 65F of the outer case 65, and a pair of left and right protrusions projecting outward from the cylindrical case 64 from the front of the outer case 65. The pawl portion 64A is made to correspond to the pair of left and right cutout portions 65C formed in the insertion hole 65A of the front wall 65F of the exterior case 65, and the cylindrical case 64 is pushed in that state. By this pushing, the annular protrusion 62F2 formed on the front wall 62F of the main body case 62 is fitted into the circular groove formed on the rear end surface of the gasket 63B. Further, the rear end surface of the gasket 63B comes into contact with circular recesses 62F1 and 62F3 formed at positions inside and outside the annular protrusion 62F2 of the front wall 62F of the main body case 62.

  As shown in FIG. 38, the rear end surface of the gasket 63B thus contacts the recess 62F1, the recess 62F3, and the annular protrusion 62F2 of the front wall 62F of the main body case 62, and the rear end edge of the air discharge path 63C. The chamfered R portion 63B1 formed to be depressed forward on the entire circumference of the pipe and the corner R portion 63AR formed to protrude forward from the outer peripheral portion of the pipe tip of the lateral passage 63A2 of the air outlet pipe 63A interfere with each other. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the sealing performance due to.

  With the gasket 63B stored in the cylindrical case 64, the gasket 63B is set on the front wall 62F of the main body case 62, and is rotated and stored in the outer case 65. Then, the cylindrical case 64 is rotated so that the locking claw portion 64A goes around to the back side of the front wall 65F of the exterior case 65. The rotation of the cylindrical case 64 is performed until the position where the reference sign M1 indicated on the front wall 64B of the cylindrical case 64 faces the reference sign M2 indicated on the front wall 65F of the exterior case 65. This position is a state rotated approximately 90 degrees. In this state, the gasket 63B is slightly compressed, whereby the rear end portion of the gasket 63B is in close contact with the front wall 62F of the main body case 62, and the front end of the lateral passage portion 63A2 of the air outlet pipe 63A is the gasket 63B. The air discharge passage 63C is in close contact with the rear end of the air discharge passage 63C, whereby the lateral passage portion 63A2 of the air outlet pipe 63A and the air discharge passage 63C form a series of substantially horizontal air passages. For this reason, in the pump device 60, a substantially L-shaped air outlet passage is formed by the longitudinal passage portion 63A1, the lateral passage portion 63A2, and the air discharge passage 63C.

Next, based on FIG. 39 thru | or FIG. 45, the structure which arrange | positions the dustproof filter 63D in the upper part of the main body case 62 is demonstrated.
As described above, the pump device 60 that assembles the air pump unit 60U and the outer case 65 is provided with a dustproof filter 63D in the air inflow passage communicating with the air intake port of the air pump 61 in order to prevent dust from being taken into the air pump 61. I have. The dust filter 63D is supported on the upper part of the back plate 62R coupled to the main body case 62 so as to close the rear opening of the main body case 62. Hereinafter, this configuration will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 40, the back plate 62R is made of synthetic resin, and has a main body portion 62R1 and a filter holding portion 62FH that is rotatably connected to the upper end portion of the main body portion 62R1. The filter holding portion 62FH has a first filter holding portion 62R2 rotatably connected to the upper end portion of the main body portion 62R1 by the first hinge portion H1, and a second hinge portion H2 at the other end of the first filter holding portion 62R2. A second filter holding portion 62R3 that is rotatably connected. The first hinge portion H1 and the second hinge portion H2 are formed by simultaneously forming the main body portion 62R1 and the filter holding portion 62FH with a synthetic resin so as to reduce the thickness.

  The first filter holding portion 62R2 has a filter housing portion FK that is formed to be recessed to accommodate the dust filter 63D. The second filter holding part 62R3 protrudes and forms a filter support part FT that supports the dustproof filter 63D in the filter housing part FK. The first filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3 form air passages AR1 and AR2 in a grid pattern, respectively. For this reason, the periphery of the air passage AR1 becomes the filter housing portion FK, and the periphery of the air passage AR2 becomes the filter support portion FT. Further, the filter holding portion 62FH has a flange FR that protrudes in the left and right sides and extends in the front-rear direction. In the embodiment, the flange FR is constituted by flanges FR1 and FR2 extending in the front-rear direction and protruding from the left and right sides of the first filter holding portion 62R2 and the second filter holding portion 62R3.

  With the first hinge part H1 and the second hinge part H2, the dust filter 63D is housed in the filter housing part FK with the first filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3 opened with respect to the main part 62R1. In this state, by closing the first filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3 so as to overlap each other by the second hinge part H2, the filter support part FT enters the filter housing part FK, and the first The dustproof filter 63D is sandwiched between the filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3. When the first filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3 are overlapped, the left and right engaging claws KT1 formed on the first hinge part H1 side of the first filter holding part 62R2 are connected to the second filter holding part 62R3. The left and right flanges FR2 are held by being elastically locked to the end portions FR21 opposite to the second hinge portions H2. As shown in FIGS. 41 and 43, the filter holding portion 62FH holding the dust filter 63D is in a state where the air passages AR1 and AR2 are opposed to each other through the dust filter 63D. Further, the left and right flanges FR1 and FR2 overlap each other.

  Thus, the filter holding part 62FH in which the first filter holding part 62R2 and the second filter holding part 62R3 overlap each other is rotated forward in a substantially horizontal state by the first hinge part H1 with respect to the main part 62R1. Along with this rotation, the locking claw KT2 formed at the rear end portion of the second filter holding portion 62R3 is locked by the elastic force to the locking portion KB1 formed in the upper front portion of the main body portion 62R1. The filter holding portion 62FH is held in a substantially horizontal state at the upper end portion of the main portion 62R1.

  In this way, the back plate 62R in which the filter holding portion 62FH is held in a substantially horizontal state at the upper end portion of the main body portion 62R1 is formed in a support groove 62M2 formed in a substantially horizontal state in the front-rear direction on the left and right walls of the main body case 62. The left and right flanges FR are inserted from the rear surface opening of the main body case 62. Along with this insertion, ribs RB projecting from the left and right and lower portions of the peripheral edge of the main portion 62R1 enter along the inner sides of the left and right side walls and the lower wall of the main body case 62. Then, the locking claw KT3 formed at the lower portion of the main body 62R1 is locked by an elastic force to the locking portion KB2 formed in the bottom wall of the main body case 62. Further, with this insertion, the locking claws KT4 formed at the left and right end portions of the main body portion 62R1 are locked by the elastic force with the locking portions KB3 formed in the left and right side walls of the main body case 62.

Thus, the main portion 62R1 of the back plate 62R is joined in close contact with the main body case 62 so as to close the rear opening of the main body case 62, and the inner side surface of the main portion 62R1 is connected to the rear end surface of the support portion 63A3. In close contact. Further, in this state, the upper surface of the main body case 62 is closed by the filter holding portion 62FH that holds the dust filter 63D. In this state, the inside of the main body case 62 is separated into upper and lower spaces by the support portion 63A3, and the air intake port of the air pump 61 communicates with the upper space.
A known piezoelectric element type air pump employed in the air pump 61 has an air intake port and an air outlet for compressed air on the lower surface. For this reason, an air passage that communicates the air intake port with the upper space is formed by a gap between the air pump 61 and the support portion 63A3. The air outlet of the air pump 61 communicates with the inlet opening at the upper end of the air outlet pipe 63A. Therefore, the air around the main body case 62 sequentially passes through the air passage AR1, the dust filter 63D, and the air passage AR2, and flows into the air intake port of the air pump 61. The compressed air compressed by the air pump 61 is sent from the air outlet of the air pump 61 to the air outlet pipe 63A.

  As described above, the pump device 60 in which the air pump unit 60 </ b> U and the outer case 65 are assembled is attached to the attachment portion 67 provided at the back of the water storage container housing portion 46. The attachment portion 67 is formed by a concave portion in which a part of the back wall member 32 is recessed rearward. The attachment portion 67 has a support base portion 66 on which the pump device 60 is placed, and a locking portion that elastically locks the locking claw portions 65G on the left and right walls of the outer case 65. This locking portion is formed by locking holes or locking protrusions formed in the left and right side walls of the mounting portion 67. The support base 66 is formed by bending the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3 upward. In order to attach the pump device 60 to the attachment portion 67, the lead wire extending from the pump device 60 to the back side is connected to the power line on the refrigerator body 2 side, and this power connection portion is arranged on the back side of the pump device 60. . The bottom 65E of the outer case 65 of the pump device 60 is placed on the support base 66, and the left and right wall locking claws 65G are locked with the fingers while gripping the right and left wall gripping portions 65W of the outer case 65 with the fingers. Elastically locked to the part. As a result, the pump device 60 is attached to the attachment portion 67. The mounting portion 67 is formed by an opening into which the rear portion of the pump device 60 enters a part of the back wall member 32, and the locking claw portion 65G is elastically engaged with the locking portions formed on the left and right sides of the opening. Alternatively, the bottom 65E of the outer case 65 may be placed on the support base 66. By adopting such a configuration, even when liquid is spilled in the refrigerator compartment 3, it is possible to prevent the water from splashing on the power connection portion existing on the back side of the pump device 60.

  By mounting the pump device 60, the air discharge port 63 of the air discharge path 63 </ b> C is exposed to the water storage container housing 46. Further, the air in the cold air passage 35A or the refrigerator compartment 3 is sucked into the air pump 61 through the dustproof filter 63D through the rear surface opening of the outer case 65.

  The water supply device B has a configuration in which the pump device 60 is disposed on the refrigerator main body 2 side, and the water storage container 9 is detachably connected to the air discharge port 63 of the pump device 60, and the water storage container 9 is water for making ice in the main tank unit 90. Is a system in which the water for ice making stored in the measuring tank section 91 is pushed out to the ice tray 7B by the compressed air of the pump device 60.

  In this system, since it is feared that the piezoelectric element-type air pump 61 may be inoperable due to water, the air pump 61 is not covered with water. That is, even if the ice making water in the water storage container 9 flows backward to the compressed air induction pipe 96, the reverse flow energy is reduced so that the ice making water does not reach the air pump 61 through the air passage from the air pump 61 to the air discharge port 63. In addition to the attenuation, the compressed air of the air pump 61 is configured to be smoothly supplied to the measuring tank unit 91. For this reason, the air passage from which the air discharged from the air pump 61 is supplied to the compressed air induction pipe 96 protruding rearward from the water storage container 9 in a substantially horizontal state is guided by the compressed air induction from the longitudinal passage through the transverse passage. The configuration reaches the pipe 96.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 37, the air passage through which the air discharged from the air pump 61 is supplied to the compressed air induction pipe 96 includes an air passage in the air outlet pipe 63 </ b> A and an air outlet pipe. It is formed by the air discharge path 63C formed in the gasket 63B to which 63A is connected. In consideration of the connection relationship with the compressed air guide pipe 96, durability, ease of molding, etc., the gasket 63B is made of silicon rubber, the air discharge path 63C is formed in a straight line, and the air derived from the synthetic resin is molded. The pipe 63A has an air passage configuration bent in an L shape.

  The air passage in the air outlet pipe 63A has a passage configuration that is bent in an L shape by the longitudinal passage portion 63A1 and the lateral passage portion 63A2. Specifically, the lower lateral passage portion 63A2 and the air discharge passage 63C form a substantially horizontal lateral passage that communicates with the compressed air guide pipe 96, and is substantially vertically upward from the lateral passage portion 63A2. In the extending vertical passage portion 63A1, the rising energy of the ice making water collides with the intersecting portion 63A4 between the vertical passage portion 63A1 and the horizontal passage portion 63A2, and is attenuated, and the remaining energy rises in the vertical passage portion 63A1. However, a longitudinal passage having a length that does not reach the air pump 61 is formed. The lengths of the longitudinal passage portion 63A1 and the lateral passage portion 63A2 are confirmed and set by a preliminary test in the water supply apparatus B of the embodiment.

  As described above, the compressed air introduction path 94 of the measuring tank unit 91 includes a compressed air induction pipe 96 that is detachably connected to the air discharge port 63, a compressed air introduction portion 91A that is formed through the partition body 9B, and an upper end. It is formed by a compressed air introduction pipe 97 erected on the partition body 9B so that the portion communicates with the compressed air induction pipe 96 and the lower end portion communicates with the compressed air introduction portion 91A.

  For this reason, the path through which the ice-making water in the metering tank section 91 flows backward through the compressed air introduction path 94 rises from the compressed air introduction section 91A to the compressed air introduction pipe 97 provided in a substantially vertical state, and then extends in a substantially horizontal direction. Since the compressed air guide pipe 96 reaches the air discharge port 63, the reverse flow energy of the ice making water is also attenuated in the compressed air introduction path 94, and further flows in the horizontal direction and collides with the intersection 63A4 to be attenuated. To do. In the embodiment, as shown in the drawing, the longitudinal passage portion 63A1 can exhibit a sufficient effect when it is approximately twice as large as the lateral passage portion 63A2.

Next, a configuration in which a specified amount of ice-making water is smoothly pushed out from the measuring tank unit 91 by the small air pump 61 will be described.
In order to smoothly supply a specified amount of ice making water from the measuring tank unit 91 to the ice tray 7B by the compressed air from the pump device 60, the diameter of the circular compressed air introducing unit 91A is a circular ice making water outlet unit 91B. Larger than the diameter of

As a result, the compressed air from the pump device 60 is a small air pump 61 having a small air discharge pressure, such as a piezoelectric element type air pump, due to the pressure relationship between the inlet side and the outlet side of the measuring tank unit 91. However, the action of pushing out the ice-making water from the measuring tank unit 91 is improved, and the specified amount of ice-making water can be smoothly supplied from the measuring tank unit 91 to the ice tray 7B. Therefore, the air pump 61 can also adopt a small piezoelectric element vibration type, and the air pump 61 can be disposed in the cold air supply passage 35 at the back of the water storage container housing portion 46. Ensuring is easy.
In order to obtain this effect, the inner diameter of the circular compressed air introduction pipe 97 rising with the same diameter as the compressed air introduction portion 91A is larger than the inner diameter of the circular ice making water extraction pipe 99 rising with the same diameter as the ice making water outlet portion 91B. Is also big.

Next, injection of ice-making water into the water storage container 9 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and the like, the lid body 9C has a circular water supply port 104 penetratingly formed at a position corresponding to the main tank portion 90 at the front upper surface thereof. It is closed by a rotatable cap 105 that can be opened and closed. In the state where the lid body 9C is attached to the container main body 9A, when water for making ice is poured from the water supply or the like through the water supply port 104, if the water poured directly into the supply hole 92, the ice making flowing into the measuring tank unit 91 will be performed. There is a possibility that the amount of water used exceeds the specified amount. In order to prevent this, the water supply port 104 is arranged at a position far from the supply hole 92. In the embodiment, the water supply port 104 is a position corresponding to the front region of the main tank unit 90 that is out of the upper surface region of the measuring tank unit 91. Thereby, it is possible to prevent water from being ejected from the compressed air guide pipe 96.

As a result, even when water is poured from the water supply port 104, the water injection collides with the main tank unit 90 immediately below the water supply port 104, and the momentum of the water injection is attenuated. It is stored in the measuring tank unit 91 under a natural flow from the supply hole 92, and a specified amount is stored.
The ice making water full level WL in the water storage container 9 is the ice making water full level of the main tank unit 90, and is set at the level of the horizontal side 104 </ b> A provided at the lower part of the water supply port 104. For this reason, whether or not the water for ice making is filled in the water storage container 9 is determined to be full when the water is filled up to the full level WL.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, activated carbon 119 supported by the support legs 120 is disposed above the supply hole 92 in the main tank portion 90. As a result, when the ice making water in the main tank 90 flows into the measuring tank 91 from the supply hole 92 under natural flow, the flowing ice making water is purified by passing through the activated carbon 119.

Next, means for installing the water storage container 9 at a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating portion 46 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view for explaining the slide configuration of the water storage container of the water supply apparatus according to the present invention.
In the embodiment, the water storage container 9 is configured to be inserted and withdrawn by a slide. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 and 16, leg portions 9 </ b> K that protrude downward from the bottom surface of the container body 9 </ b> A are integrally formed on the container body 9 </ b> A on both the left and right sides of the bottom of the water storage container 9. Each of the left and right legs 9K includes a front leg 9K1 and a rear leg 9K2, and the left front leg 9K1 and the rear leg 9K2 are arranged on the same straight line in the front-rear direction. Further, the right front leg 9K1 and the rear leg 9K2 are also arranged on the same straight line in the front-rear direction. The right front leg 9K1 and the left front leg 9K1 are symmetrically arranged in a bilaterally symmetrical manner, and the right rear leg 9K1 and the left rear leg 9K1 are symmetrically arranged. It is a symmetrical arrangement. Each of the front leg portion 9K1 and the rear leg portion 9K2 is arranged in a straight line with a plate shape extending in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides.

  The upper surface of the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerating chamber 3 forming the bottom surface of the water storage container housing portion 46 constitutes a rail portion so that the leg portion 9K of the container main body 9A slides on the bottom surface of the water storage container housing portion 46. This rail portion can be formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 29 by a groove in which the left and right leg portions 9K slide, but by other means, it is possible to limit the left and right blurring when the water storage container 9 is inserted and withdrawn. .

  In the embodiment, guide walls 46 </ b> K extending in the front-rear direction are formed by bending the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3 on the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the water storage container housing portion 46. The dimension between the left and right guide walls 46K is slightly larger than the dimension between the outsides of the left and right legs 9K. For this reason, the bottom surface of the water storage container accommodating part 46 along the inner side surface of the left and right guide walls 46K acts as a rail part on which the leg part 9K slides.

In this rail portion, the recesses 46Y1 and 46Y2 in which the left and right front leg portions 9K1 and the rear leg portions 9K2 fall are formed by bending the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3 in a state where the water storage container 9 is accommodated in a predetermined position. To do.
In addition, with the water storage container 9 housed in a predetermined position, a locking step 46A that functions as a stopper is provided so that it does not move forward, and a part of the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3 is located between the left and right guide walls 46K. Bend to form. Thus, the groove 46Z between the left and right guide walls 46K and the locking step 46A constitutes a rail portion on which the left and right leg portions 9K slide.

  In this configuration, an annular packing 115 is attached to the periphery of the lower end of the ice making water guiding pipe 98, and a water storage container 9 into which a predetermined amount of ice making water has been injected is prepared. The water storage container 9 is inserted rearward while sliding the bottom surface of the water storage container accommodating portion 46 in such a relationship that the left and right rear legs 9K2 are inserted into the left and right grooves 46Z. By this insertion, the left and right front legs 9K1 and rear legs 9K2 fall into the corresponding recesses 46Y1, 46Y2.

  As a result, the compressed air induction pipe 96 is inserted into the insertion portion 63C1 of the air discharge port 63 on the front surface of the pump device 60, and is connected in an airtight state by the elasticity of the annular rib 63C1 of the gasket 63B. In this connected normal state, the locking portion 9A3 that protrudes downward from the bottom front portion of the container main body 9A is positioned on the rear side of the locking step 46A. As a result, the movement of the water storage container 9 from the water storage container accommodating portion 46 is restricted. This state is a state in which the water storage container 9 is installed at a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating portion 46.

  As described above, like the bottom plate 29 of the refrigerator compartment 3, if the support base 66 for placing the outer case 65 and the slide portion of the water storage container 9 are formed on the same member, the water storage container 9 is inserted into the pump device 60. In addition, there is an effect that it is easy to set the pulling operation relationship to a normal state.

  In a state where the water storage container 9 is installed at a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating portion 46, the lower end portion of the ice making water guiding pipe 98 that is the ice making water outlet has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower end portion of the ice making water guiding pipe 98. It faces the upper end opening of the ice-making water supply channel 51 that spreads upward in a funnel shape. In this state, an annular packing 115 attached to the periphery of the lower end portion of the ice making water guiding pipe 98 is provided so that the ice making water is introduced from the lower end portion of the ice making water guiding pipe 98 to the ice making water supply passage 51 without leakage. This is a relationship in contact with the peripheral edge of the upper end opening of the ice-making water supply passage 51.

Next, the ice making operation will be described.
With the water storage container 9 inserted into a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating portion 46 as described above, the automatic ice making machine 7 starts the ice making operation by operating the ice making start switch provided on the operation panel portion 127 of the refrigerator 1. To do. When the ice making operation is started, a preset operation of the automatic ice making machine 7 such as whether or not the ice tray 7B is in a predetermined state is performed by the operation of the control unit. After this preset operation, the air pump 61 operates for a predetermined time, compressed air flows from the compressed air introduction path 94 to the measuring tank section 91, and ice making water in the measuring tank section 91 is pushed out to the ice making water outlet path 95, Through the ice making water supply path 51, the ice making cell 7B11 is introduced into one of the ice making cells 7B1 of the ice making tray 7B. Since the plurality of ice making cells 7B1 of the ice tray 7B communicate with each other through a communication path formed in the upper part of the partition walls of the ice making cells 7B1, the ice making water introduced into the predetermined ice making cell 7B11 is overflowed. The ice making cells 7B1 sequentially flow from the communication path, and the ice making water levels of the ice making cells 7B1 become substantially equal. In this state, as will be described later, the ice making process is started by detection of the infrared sensor 110, and the ice making water in the ice making tray 7B can be frozen.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an infrared sensor 110 that detects whether or not ice is generated in the ice making cell 7B1 of the ice making tray 7B is disposed on the upper wall of the ice making unit 6. The infrared sensor 110 is a known thermopile type infrared sensor. The thermopile type infrared sensor measures the temperature of water in a predetermined ice making cell 7B11 at a predetermined cycle by the operation of a control unit (not shown), and the temperature measured by the infrared sensor 110 is a predetermined low level. When the temperature is reached, the control unit determines that ice has been generated in the ice tray 7B.

  There are various methods for detecting whether or not the ice making water in the measuring tank unit 91 has been introduced into the ice tray 7B. As one method, the infrared sensor 110 causes the ice making water in the measuring tank unit 91 to be supplied to the ice tray 7B. Whether or not it has been introduced can be detected. In that case, in the embodiment as described above, the specified amount 80 cc of the measuring tank unit 91 is pushed out to the ice tray 7B by the operation of the air pump 61 for 15 seconds. The control unit reads the output of the infrared sensor 110 when 15 seconds have elapsed, and if the temperature in the ice making cell 7B11 has risen to a predetermined temperature or more due to the inflow of ice making water, the control unit determines that water has been supplied and performs ice making operation. Let it start.

  When the infrared sensor 110 detects that a predetermined amount of water has been supplied to the ice tray 7B, the ice making process starts, and ice is generated in the ice making cell of the ice tray 7B. As described above, when the infrared sensor 110 detects the temperature at which ice is generated in the ice tray 7B, the ice tray motor of the electric mechanism 7A is driven by the operation of the control unit to rotate the ice tray 7B in reverse. The ice making cell 7B1 is dropped into the ice storage box 8 below, and the ice tray 7B is returned to the original horizontal state again. In this state, the air pump 61 is operated again and the ice making process similar to the above is started.

  A state in which the state in which the water storage container 9 is inserted and installed at a predetermined position of the water storage container housing portion 46 may be detected by a position detection switch disposed on the back side wall of the water storage container housing portion 46 or the like. In that case, the signal of the position detection switch is input to the control unit, and the ice making operation is possible. In this state, by operating an ice making start switch provided on the operation panel unit 127 of the refrigerator, the automatic ice making machine 7 starts the ice making operation as described above.

  There is also a method in which this position detection switch is not provided. That is, the ice making start switch is operated to give an ice making operation start command to the automatic ice making machine 7, and after the control unit operates the air pump 61 for a predetermined time (15 seconds in the embodiment), the control unit outputs the infrared sensor 110. If the temperature in the ice making cell of the ice tray 7B is below the freezing point when there is no inflow of ice making water, it is determined that there is no water supply, and an LCD or LED lamp provided on the operation panel 127 of the refrigerator 1 On the display. This indication indicates that the water storage container 9 is not inserted and installed at a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating part 46, or that the water storage container 9 is inserted and installed at a predetermined position of the water storage container accommodating part 46 but is out of water. It is.

  The ice making operation of the automatic ice making machine 7 ends when the ice storage box 8 is full. In this full state, as shown in FIG. 4, an ice detecting lever 7K that descends from above into the ice storage box 8 is provided by the electric mechanism 7A every time the ice making operation is completed. When the ice detecting lever 7K is prevented from descending by the ice in the ice storage box 8, the control unit detects a rapid increase in load current related to the electric mechanism 7A, and determines that the ice storage box 8 is full.

  In the case of replenishing ice-making water to the water storage container 9, the water storage container 9 is lifted by a handle 9T provided on the front surface of the water storage container 9 until the locking portion 9A3 is disengaged from the locking step 46A. By drawing 9 to the front of the water storage container housing portion 46, the compressed air induction pipe 96 can be pulled out while being separated from the air outlet 63 of the pump device 60.

  As described above, in the water storage container 9, since the partition body 9B is pressed downward by the lid body 9C attached to the container body 9A, the measuring tank portion 91 is formed between the inner bottom surface of the container body 9A. The measurement tank unit 91 can be easily formed, and an attachment device for fixing the partition body 9B to the container main body 9A becomes unnecessary. Therefore, since the partition body 9B can be detached from the container body 9A by removing the lid body 9C, the container body 9A, the partition body 9B, and the lid body 9C can be easily cleaned, and the compressed air introduction path 94 and the ice making water lead-out path 95 are also easy to clean. This can be easily performed. Further, since the upper end opening of the ice making water supply passage 51 is exposed to the water storage container receiving portion 46 in a state where the water storage vessel 9 is pulled out from the water storage vessel containing portion 46, the inside of the ice making water supply passage 51 can be easily cleaned. Become.

[Second Embodiment]
46-48 shows Example 2 provided with the water supply apparatus of the automatic ice maker for refrigerators which concerns on this invention. FIG. 46 is a front view showing the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 47 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator 1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment. In these drawings, the foam insulation 2C of the refrigerator body 2 is omitted.

  In the refrigerator 1 of the second embodiment, the interior of the refrigerator body 2 is partitioned so that the refrigerator compartment 3 is at the top, the freezer compartment 4 is below it, and the vegetable compartment 5 is at the bottom. The main difference from the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment is that the freezer compartment 4 has a main freezer compartment 4S having a large volume in the lower part, an ice making unit 6 on the left side, and a freezer room 4A on the right side in the upper part. Compartment formation. An ice making tray 7B of the automatic ice making machine 7 is arranged in the upper part of the ice making unit 6, and an ice storage box 8 having an upper surface opening is arranged below the ice making plate 7B.

  In this arrangement, the opening of the refrigerating room 3 is not a single door, but a double door opening type that opens left and right at the refrigerating room doors 10A and 10B. The opening of the vegetable compartment 5 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and is closed by the pull-out door 11. The opening of the ice making unit 6 has the same configuration as that of the vegetable compartment 5, and the ice storage box 8 supported so as to be able to be pulled out in the front-rear direction with respect to the left and right rails provided in the ice making unit 6 together with the door 12A. The structure is a pull-out type that is pulled forward. The opening of the freezer compartment 4A has the same configuration as the vegetable compartment 5, and the container supported so as to be able to be pulled out in the front-rear direction with respect to the left and right rails provided in the freezer compartment 4A is drawn forward together with the door 12B. The structure is a pull-out type. Moreover, the opening part of the main freezer compartment 4S is the structure similar to the vegetable compartment 5, and the container supported so that it can be pulled out in the front-back direction with respect to the left and right rails provided in the main freezer compartment 4S together with the door 12C. The structure is a pull-out type that is pulled forward.

  Since the water supply device of the automatic ice making device according to the present invention in the refrigerator 1 of the second embodiment has the same configuration and the same action as the first embodiment, the same parts as those of the first embodiment are the same. The description is based on the first embodiment.

Since the present invention is effective when applied to refrigerators of various forms, the present invention is not limited to the forms described in the first and second embodiments. For this reason, it is applicable to the refrigerator of various forms within the meaning of the present invention.
Further, the partition body 9B that divides the inside of the container main body 9A into the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91 can achieve the form described in the above embodiment if the object of the present invention is achieved and the effects of the present invention are obtained. Not exclusively. For this reason, the main tank container which forms the main tank part 90 in the container main body 9A is detachably accommodated in the container main body 9A, and the measuring tank is interposed between the bottom wall of the main tank container and the bottom wall of the container main body 9A. The form which forms the part 91 may be sufficient. In the case of this form, the bottom wall of the main tank container corresponds to the partition body 9 </ b> B, and becomes a partition wall that partitions the main tank portion 90 and the measuring tank portion 91. For this reason, the supply hole 92 is formed in the bottom wall of the main tank container, the float body 93 is provided, and the barrier 121 is provided. Further, a compressed air introduction path 94, an ice making water discharge path 95, and an air discharge groove 125 are provided on the bottom wall of the main tank container.

A ... Automatic ice making equipment B ... Water supply equipment 1 .... Refrigerator 2 .... Refrigerator body 3 .... Refrigerator room 4 .... Freezer compartment 6 ····························································································· Ice tray 8 ... Container body 9A3 ... Locking part 9A1 ... Inner bottom surface of container body 9B ... Partition body 9BF ... Pressing flange 9BT ... Supporting protrusion 9C ... · Lid 9T ··· Handle 28 ··· Insulation partition wall 32 · · · Back wall member of refrigerator compartment 46 · · · Water storage container housing portion 46A · · · Locking step portion 51 ... Water supply path for ice making 60 ... Pump device 60U ... Air pump unit 61 ... Air pump 62 ... Main unit 62FH: Filter holding part 62M1 ... Support groove 62M2 ... Support groove 62R ... Back plate 62R1 ... Main part of back plate 62R2 ... First filter holding part 62R3 ... No. 2 Filter holding part 63 ... Air discharge port 63A ... Air discharge pipe 63A1 ... Vertical passage 63A2 ... Horizontal passage 63B ... Gasket 63C ... Air discharge path 63D ······· Dust-proof filter 65 ··· Outer case 90 ··· Main tank portion 90P ··· Packing holding portion 90P1 ··· Ring protrusion 90P2 · · · annular groove 90P3 ··· Contact portion 90P4 ··· Holding protrusion 91 ··· Metering tank portion 91A ··· Compressed air introduction portion 91B · · · Water discharge portion for ice making 92 ··· Supply hole 93 ··· Float body 94・ ・ ・ ・ Compressed air introduction path 95... Ice making water discharge path 96. ··· Ice making water outlet pipe 99P ··· Outlet pipe 100 ··· Communication path 100A ··· Opening portion 100B ··· Opening portion 104 ··· Water supply port 105 ··· Cap 110 ... ... engaging protrusion 111 ... ... engaging groove 111A ... inner wall 111B of the engaging groove ... outer wall 112 of the engaging groove ... ... inclined surface 115 ... ... annular packing 116 ················································································· Installation groove 117Q ··· Shoulder portion 117R1 ··· Outside annular rib 117R2 ··· Inner annular rib 117T ··· .... Water outflow part 1 for ice making 25... Air discharge groove 125A.

Claims (4)

A water storage container for storing ice-making water is
A container body having an opening opening upward;
The internal space of the container body is partitioned into a main tank section for storing ice making water and a measuring tank section for storing a predetermined volume of ice making water to be supplied to an ice making tray of an automatic ice making device, and the main tank section A partition body in which a supply hole communicating with the measuring tank portion is formed;
An annular packing that seals between the peripheral edge of the partition and the container body;
A packing holding part that is formed at the bottom of the container body and holds the annular packing in a detachable manner;
A lid attached to the opening of the container body and closing the opening of the container body,
The annular packing has a shoulder at the upper part, an outer annular rib and an inner annular rib at the lower part, and a mounting groove opened downward between the outer annular rib and the inner annular rib,
The packing holding portion includes an annular groove that opens upward around the measuring tank portion and into which the outer annular rib fits, and an annular protrusion that fits into the attachment groove,
The partition includes a pressing flange that presses the annular packing, and a support protrusion that contacts the shoulder.
The annular packing is held by the packing holding portion in a state where the support protrusion supports the shoulder portion through the partition body by attaching the lid body to the container main body. Equipment water supply. The annular packing has a fin portion extending outwardly at an upper position from the shoulder portion at an upper portion,
The packing holding portion includes an annular contact portion formed inside the annular protrusion,
The annular packing is held by the packing holding portion in a state where the pressing flange presses the fin portion and the support protrusion supports the shoulder portion by attaching the lid body to the container body, A seal portion is formed by the rib and the annular groove, the attachment groove and the annular protrusion, the inner annular rib and the contact portion, the tip of the fin portion and the upper portion of the attachment groove. The water supply device of the automatic ice making device according to claim 1. The said packing holding | maintenance part was equipped with the holding | maintenance protrusion which hold | maintains the lower inner side of the said inner side annular rib inside the said contact part at intervals with the said annular protrusion . Water supply device for automatic ice making equipment. A water storage container storage part for freely storing the water storage container is formed in a refrigeration chamber, and the ice tray is arranged in the ice making part,
A pump device for sending compressed air to the metering tank is disposed in the water storage container housing;
The automatic ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water storage container is detachably connected to an air outlet of the pump device as the water storage container is accommodated in the water storage container accommodating portion. Refrigerator equipped with a water supply device.

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