JP6482199B2 - Ice dispenser with ice making mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism that discharges ice made by an ice making mechanism.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism that discharges ice made by an ice making mechanism. The ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 1 includes an auger type ice making mechanism at the lower part of the housing and a cylindrical ice storage tank above the ice making mechanism at the upper part of the housing. Ice discharged from an ice discharge port provided in the lower part is put into a container such as a cup on the front side of the housing. An ice making mechanism of an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 1 includes a substantially cylindrical refrigeration casing and an auger rotatably provided inside the refrigeration casing, and supplies ice making water supplied into the refrigeration casing. The ice is cooled and frozen by the action of the refrigeration apparatus, and the ice formed on the inner peripheral surface of the refrigeration casing is scraped by a rotating auger and sent out to an ice storage tank on the upper side of the ice making mechanism.

  An ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 2 includes an ice storage tank that stores ice in an intermediate portion in the vertical direction in the housing, and an ice making mechanism and a refrigeration apparatus on the upper side of the ice storage tank in the housing. Ice discharged from an ice outlet provided in the lower part is put into a container such as a cup on the front side of the housing. In the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 2, the ice making mechanism is provided at the upper rear part of the ice storage tank, and the refrigeration device is provided at the upper front part of the ice storage tank. The ice making mechanism cools and freezes ice making water flowing down the ice making plate by the action of a freezing device, and drops the ice made into a lower ice storage tank. In the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 2, the ice making mechanism and the refrigeration apparatus are integrally assembled on a base plate to form an ice making unit, and this ice making unit is attached to the upper side of the ice storage tank.

JP 2012-09195 A JP-A-1-247976

  In the ice dispenser with the ice making mechanism described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 configured as described above, the parts that are in direct contact with ice and the ice making water are periodically arranged inside the ice storage tank and the path through which the ice making water passes. It is preferable to wash. However, since the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism of Patent Document 1 has an ice storage tank integrally assembled on the upper side of the auger type ice making mechanism in the housing, the inside of the refrigeration casing of the ice making mechanism can be easily disassembled. Therefore, it has been substantially difficult to regularly clean the inside of the refrigeration casing. In addition, the ice making water tank and the ice making water piping that constitute the path for supplying the ice making water to the ice making mechanism are also assembled to the lower side of the ice storage tank in the housing, so that the side panel constituting the housing is attached. Unless it was removed, the pipes could not be cleaned. For this reason, it is technically difficult for a general user such as a restaurant clerk who has installed an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism to periodically clean the inside of an ice storage tank and piping, etc. Specialist technicians for maintenance needed to periodically disassemble the casing and clean the inside of the ice storage tank and the ice making water piping.

  Similarly, in the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism described in Patent Document 2, an ice making unit is attached to the upper side of the ice storage tank inside the housing, and even if the top panel of the housing is removed, the ice making unit is not attached. The inside of the ice storage tank could not be accessed because it covered the upper side of the ice storage tank. Even in this case, it is necessary to remove the ice making unit on the upper side of the ice storage tank after removing the top panel of the housing, and it is technically difficult for general users to regularly clean the inside of the ice storage tank. It is. For this reason, even in the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism of Patent Document 2, as in the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism of Patent Document 1, a professional engineer who maintains the equipment periodically disassembles the housing, inside the ice storage tank, and ice making It was necessary to clean the water piping. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism in which a general user can easily perform maintenance including cleaning of the inside of an ice storage tank and parts in contact with ice and ice making water.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention solves the above problem by storing an ice storage tank in the upper part of the housing, an ice making mechanism provided above one side of the ice storage tank, and releasing the ice stored in the ice storage tank. The ice-making mechanism drops the ice produced by the ice-making mechanism and stores it in the ice storage tank. It is an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism that discharges ice from the discharge port, and the opening formed on the upper surface of the ice storage tank is arranged at the same height as the opening formed on the upper surface of the housing, thereby The ice making mechanism has an ice making surface having an ice making surface on the opening side, and is detachably provided above or above the ice storage tank so that ice making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice making portion. With ice-making water circuit for circulating flow The present invention provides an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism , characterized in that a lid having a cover part that detachably covers the ice making surface side of the ice making part is detachably provided .

In the ice dispenser with the ice making mechanism configured as described above, the opening formed in the upper surface of the ice storage tank is arranged at the same height as the opening formed in the upper surface of the housing, so that the opening of the ice storage tank is Since the lid is detachably provided at the opening of the ice storage tank, the ice storage tank can be accessed from the opening only by opening the lid. Maintenance including internal cleaning can be easily performed. In addition, the ice making mechanism has an ice making part having an ice making surface on the opening side, and the cover body is detachably provided with a cover part that covers the ice making surface side of the ice making part. The ice making surface side of the ice making unit appears on the opening side of the ice storage tank, and maintenance including cleaning can be easily performed on the ice making surface of the ice making unit. In addition, the ice making mechanism is equipped with an ice making water circuit that circulates and flows ice making water on the ice making surface of the ice making part, so that the ice making water circuit can be detachably attached to the top or top of the ice storage tank. It is now possible to easily perform maintenance on the ice making water circuit, including cleaning, by attaching and detaching from the tank.

  In the ice dispenser with the ice making mechanism configured as described above, the carry-out mechanism is provided with a carry-out blade that carries the ice in the ice storage tank to the discharge port in a rotatable and detachable manner, and the lid is opened to the carry-out blade. In such a state, it is preferable to place it at a position where it can be attached / detached from the opening, and in this case, the carrying-out blade can be attached / detached from the opening with the lid open, Maintenance including cleaning can now be performed easily.

  In the ice dispenser with the ice making mechanism configured as described above, the ice storage tank further includes a quantification mechanism having an ice quantifier that quantifies ice into a predetermined amount, and the ice quantifier is opened with the lid open. It is preferable to place it in a position where it can be attached / detached from the unit. In this case, the ice quantifier is attached / detached from the opening with the lid open, and the removed ice quantifier is washed. Including maintenance can be performed easily.

It is a perspective view of one embodiment of an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the AA line of FIG. It is a top view of the state which removed the cover and made the inside of an ice storage tank appear. It is a partial sectional view of the BB line of Drawing 1 for showing an ice making mechanism. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1 for illustrating an ice making mechanism. It is a perspective view of an ice quantification device, a perspective view (a) of the state which assembled the 2nd ice quantification device in the 1st ice quantification device, and a perspective view of the state where the 2nd ice quantification device was removed from the 1st ice quantification device (B). FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 showing an ice quantifier and a removing device in a cylindrical quantitative chamber, and a partially enlarged cross-section of FIG. 2 when both the first and second ice quantifiers are used as the ice quantifier. FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 when only the first ice quantifier is used as the ice quantifier. It is the perspective view (a) of the state which opened the cover body, the perspective view (b) of the state which removed the cover body, and the perspective view (c) of the state which removed the cover body and the water conveyance cover.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an ice dispenser 10 with an ice making mechanism according to the present invention has an ice storage tank 20 that stores ice in an upper part of a housing 11 and an upper part of a rear part (one side part) of the ice storage tank 20. An ice making mechanism 30 provided and an unloading mechanism 50 for unloading ice stored in the ice storage tank 20 toward the discharge port 22a are provided. The ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism drops the ice made by the ice making mechanism 30 and stores it in the ice storage tank 20. The ice stored in the ice storage tank 20 is taken out toward the discharge port 22a by the carry-out mechanism 50 and is taken out. The discharged ice is discharged from the discharge port 22a.

  In particular, the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism of the present invention is intended to allow the user to easily perform maintenance including cleaning of the inside of the ice storage tank 20 and the parts in contact with ice and ice making water. . In order to achieve this object, the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism of the present invention forms the opening 11a on the upper surface of the housing 11 and also provides the opening 20a on the upper surface of the ice storage tank 20. By disposing 20a at the same height as the opening 11a on the upper surface of the casing 11, the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 appears from the opening 11a on the upper surface of the casing 11, and the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 has A lid 12 is provided for closing the lid 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. Below, this ice dispenser 10 with an ice making mechanism is explained in full detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism includes an ice storage tank 20 that stores the ice made by the ice making mechanism 30 at the top of the housing 11. An opening 11 a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 11, and an opening 20 a is provided on the upper surface of the ice storage tank 20. The opening 20 a of the ice storage tank 20 is at the same height as the opening 11 a on the upper surface of the housing 11. The opening 20 a of the ice storage tank 20 appears from the opening 11 a on the upper surface of the housing 11. A lid 12 is provided at the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 so as to be freely opened and closed. The lid 12 is detachably attached to the opening 20 a of the ice storage tank 20. Further, a cover 12a is provided at the rear of the lid 12 so as to detachably cover an ice making mechanism 30 described later.

  The ice storage tank 20 is made of resin and the inner peripheral surface thereof is processed to be a smooth surface with a surface roughness of # 400 or more, and the ice in the ice storage tank 20 is difficult to stick to the inner peripheral surface processed into the smooth surface. It has become. Further, a heat insulating material is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the ice storage tank 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice storage tank 20 has an ice storage chamber 21 for storing ice behind the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction and a cylindrical fixed chamber 22 for determining the ice at the front. The bottom surface of the ice storage chamber 21 is a first inclined surface 21a that is inclined downward as the front side slightly advances from the rear end, and a second inclined surface 21b that is inclined upward as the front side advances forward from the first inclined surface 21a. have. Between the first and second inclined surfaces 21a and 21b, a drain port 21c made of a small hole is formed in the center in the left-right direction, and a drain pipe 21c1 is connected to the drain port 21c. As shown in FIG. 3, a U-shaped concave portion 21d having an open upper side is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the second inclined surface 21b of the ice storage chamber 21, and an unloading mechanism to be described later is formed in the concave portion 21d. Unloading blades 52 constituting 50 are rotatably attached. The front edge of the central portion of the ice storage chamber 21 in the left-right direction is continuous with the rear edge of the cylindrical metering chamber 22, and the ice in the ice storage chamber 21 is carried out to the cylindrical metering chamber 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical metering chamber 22 is a region for quantifying and discharging ice to a predetermined volume (weight). A discharge port 22a is formed for discharging the. An ice quantification device 62 constituting a quantification mechanism 60 described later is rotatably attached to the bottom of the cylindrical quantitation chamber 22. In addition, an adjustment plate 23 that covers a part of the entrance opening is detachably provided at the upper portion of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, and this adjustment plate 23 carries in ice that is carried into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22. Has the function of adjusting the amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, an ice detection sensor 24 is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22. The ice detection sensor 24 is an infrared sensor including a light emitting portion provided on one side surface of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 and a light receiving portion provided on the other side surface facing the one side surface. When ice is carried into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 to the height of the middle part in the vertical direction, the infrared rays from the light emitting part of the ice detecting sensor 24 are blocked and are not received by the light receiving part, and the ice detecting sensor 24 As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical chute 25 is detachably connected to the discharge port 22a of the cylindrical metering chamber 22 to detect that a specified amount of ice is carried into the cylindrical metering chamber 22. The chute 25 guides ice to the cup placed on the cup base 13 which also serves as a drain pan provided at the lower part of the casing 11. A shutter 26 that opens and closes the inside of the chute 25 is attached so as to be openable and closable. The shutter 26 is opened and closed by a solenoid.

  The ice making mechanism 30 is a flow-down type ice making mechanism in which ice making water flows down to the ice making surface side of an ice making plate (ice making unit) 31 and the flowing ice making water is frozen on the ice making surface side to make ice. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the ice making mechanism 30, the ice making plate 31 and the components for circulating the ice making water are arranged close to the rear part (one side part) on the upper side of the ice storage tank 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ice making plate 31 is attached to the support frame 32 that is installed on both the left and right sides of the ice storage tank 20 on the upper rear side of the ice storage tank 20. The ice making surface of the ice making plate 31 faces the opening 20a side of the ice storage tank 20, and the ice making surface of the ice making plate 31 is provided with a grid-like partition 31a for forming a plurality of cells. The ice to be made on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 is made up of a plurality of block ices formed inside a plurality of cells that are adjacent to each other on the opposite side across the ice making surface of the ice making plate 31 and the partition 31a. It becomes the plate-type connection ice connected so that it may become a certain plate shape. An evaporation pipe 41 of the refrigeration apparatus 40 is fixed to the surface opposite to the ice making surface of the ice making plate 31, and the ice making plate 31 is cooled by a cooling action by vaporization of the liquefied refrigerant passing through the evaporation tube 41. The compressor 42 of the refrigeration apparatus 40 is disposed at the lower part of the casing 11, and the condenser 43 of the refrigeration apparatus 40 is disposed at the rear part of the casing 11. In addition, since the structure of the freezing apparatus 40 is well-known, it abbreviate | omits for details.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice making mechanism 30 includes an ice making water circuit 33 that circulates and flows ice making water on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31. The ice making water circuit 33 includes an ice making water tank 34 below the ice making plate 31 at the upper rear side of the ice storage tank 20, a water pipe 35 for sending ice making water in the tank 34 to the upper side of the ice making plate 31, and an ice making plate. And a sprinkler 36 provided on the upper side of 31.

  The tank 34 mainly comprises a water storage part 34a for storing ice making water and a tray part 34b for receiving ice making water flowing down from the ice making plate 31 continuously with the water storage part 34a. The tank 34 stores ice through a support frame 32 to which the ice making plate 31 is attached. The tank 20 is detachably attached. The water storage part 34 a of the tank 34 is arranged on the left side of the ice making plate 31, and the tray part 34 b is arranged directly below the ice making plate 31. An ice making water inlet 34c is formed at the front upper edge of the saucer 34b, and the ice making water flowing down the ice making plate 31 is returned from the inlet 34c to the saucer 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a water supply pipe 34d connected to a water supply source such as an external water supply is connected to the water storage section 34a. A water supply valve 34e is interposed in the water supply pipe 34d, and ice water is supplied into the tank 34 by opening the water supply valve 34e. A pump 34f and a float switch 34g are accommodated in the water storage section 34a of the tank 34. The pump 34 f sends out the ice making water in the water storage section 34 a to the water sprinkler 36 on the upper side of the ice making plate 31 through the water pipe 35. The introduction end of the water pipe 35 is detachably attached to the discharge port of the pump 34f, and the introduction end of the water sprinkler 36 is detachably connected to the outlet end of the water pipe 35. The water sprinkler 36 sprinkles ice making water on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31. The water sprinkler 36 is made of a tube member having a length substantially the same as the width of the ice making plate 31, and a plurality of water sprinkling holes 36 a are formed along the longitudinal direction at the lower portion of the peripheral surface. The sprinkler 36 is detachably connected to the water pipe 35 as described above, and is detachably supported by the upper end portion of the support frame 32.

  The float switch 34g detects an upper limit and a lower limit water level in the tank 34. The upper limit water level detected by the float switch 34g is the water level of the amount of water necessary to form the plate-shaped connecting ice on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31, and the lower limit water level detected by the float switch 34g is above the ice making plate 31. This is the water level when the ice making water is reduced due to the formation of the plate-shaped connecting ice.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a water guide cover 37 is provided on the front side of the ice making plate 31. The water guide cover 37 guides the ice making water sprayed from the water sprinkler 36 to the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 to the tray 34 b of the tank 34, and the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 enters the ice storage tank 20. This is to prevent scattering. The upper end portion of the water guide cover 37 is supported by the upper end portion of the support frame 32 on the front side of the ice making plate 31 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. The lower end portion of the water guide cover 37 is bent backward and inserted into the tray portion 34b from the introduction port 34c, and the ice making water flowing down the ice making plate 31 is received by the lower end portion of the water guide cover 37 and the tray portion 34b. Led inside. The water guide cover 37 has a drooping posture (shown by a solid line in FIGS. 2 and 5) that hangs down in the vertical direction during the ice making process in which ice is formed on the ice making plate 31, and removes ice from the ice making plate 31. In some cases, the tilted posture (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 5) is pushed forward at the lower end by plate-shaped connecting ice.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a detaching device 38 for detaching ice formed on the ice making surface is provided on the rear side of the ice making plate 31. The detaching device 38 includes a slide pin 38a that is inserted into a through hole 31b formed in a substantially central portion of the ice making plate 31, and the slide pin 38a is moved in the front-rear direction by a cam 38c that is rotated by the rotation of the gear motor 38b. Moving. The gear motor 38b includes an angle sensor 38b2 for detecting the rotation angle of the drive shaft 38b1, and the angle sensor 38b2 detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 38b1 by an encoder attached to the drive shaft 38b1. When the slide pin 38a is moved forward so as to pass through the through-hole 31b of the ice making plate 31, the plate-shaped connecting ice formed on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 is pushed out of the ice making plate 31 and separated, and the ice storage tank 20 falls inside. When the plate-shaped connecting ice is pushed out of the ice making surface of the ice making plate 31 by the slide pin 38a, the water guide cover 37 is tilted by being pushed out by the plate-shaped connecting ice.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the ice making mechanism 30 detects that the ice made by the ice making plate 31 has been detached from the ice making plate 31 and dropped into the ice storage tank 20. 39 is provided. The ice detachment detection mechanism 39 detects the posture state of the water guide cover 37 (the above-described drooping posture and tilting posture), thereby detecting that the plate-shaped connected ice is detached from the ice making plate 31 and falls into the ice storage tank 20. It is to detect. The ice detachment detection mechanism 39 includes an ice detachment detection sensor 39 a composed of a reed switch attached to the support frame 32 of the ice making plate 31, and a magnet 39 b attached to the vertical center of the side surface of the water guide cover 37. The ice detachment detection sensor 39a is disposed at a position facing the magnet 39b attached to the water guide cover 37 in the hanging posture.

  In a state where the ice making process by the ice making mechanism 30 is being executed, the water guide cover 37 is in a hanging posture, and the magnet 39b of the water guide cover 37 is close to the ice separation detection sensor 39a. In this state, the ice detachment detection sensor 39a detects that the ice making mechanism 30 is in an ice making process based on the proximity of the magnet 39b, that is, that the ice is not detached from the ice making plate 31. In contrast, when the ice making process by the ice making mechanism 30 is completed and the plate-shaped connecting ice is detached from the ice making plate 31 and dropped into the ice storage tank 20, the water guide cover 37 is pushed down by the plate-shaped connecting ice and droops. The posture is changed to the tilting posture, and the magnet 39b of the water guide cover 37 is separated from the position facing the ice detachment detection sensor 39a. In this state, the ice detachment detection sensor 39a detects that the plate-shaped connected ice is detached from the ice making plate 31 and dropped into the ice storage tank 20 based on the separation of the magnet 39b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an unloading mechanism 50 for unloading the ice made by the ice making mechanism 30 to the cylindrical metering chamber 22 is provided at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 21. The carry-out mechanism 50 includes a gear motor 51 and a carry-out blade 52 provided at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 21. The gear motor 51 mainly rotates the carry-out blade 52 and is fixed to the lower side of the second inclined surface 21 b of the ice storage chamber 21. A drive shaft 51 a is fixed to the output shaft of the gear motor 51, and the drive shaft 51 a rotates in synchronization with the output shaft of the gear motor 51. The drive shaft 51a protrudes substantially at the center of the concave portion 21d of the second inclined surface 21b in the ice storage chamber 21, and a carry-out blade 52 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 51a with a screw. The gear motor 51 includes an angle sensor 51b that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 51a by detecting the rotation angle of the output shaft. The angle sensor 51b is a photo sensor and detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 51a by a rotary encoder 51c fixed to the output shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carry-out blade 52 has a substantially disc-shaped main body portion 52a, and a blade portion 52b that protrudes outward from six locations arranged at equal intervals on the periphery of the main body portion 52a. ing. The carry-out blade 52 is attached to the drive shaft 51 a of the gear motor 51 at the center of the recess 21 d of the second inclined surface 21 b of the ice storage chamber 21. Between the peripheral surface of the main body portion 52a of the carry-out blade 52 and the arc-shaped inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the U-shaped concave portion 21d is an ice carry-out space 53 partitioned by the blade portion 52b. When the carry-out blade 52 is rotated by the gear motor 51, the ice in the carry-out space 53 climbs the second inclined surface 21b by the blade portion 52b and is carried out from the front edge of the second inclined surface 21b into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice storage chamber 21 has a stirring arm (stirring member) for breaking the plate-shaped connecting ice (ice block) dropped from the ice making plate 31 of the ice making mechanism 30 into block ice. 54 is provided. The stirring arm 54 is detachably and rotatably attached to the drive shaft 51 a of the gear motor 51 together with the carry-out blade 52. The stirring arm 54 includes a fixed plate portion 54a fixed to the drive shaft 51a and the upper surface of the main body portion 52a of the carry-out blade 52, and an ice storage chamber 21 that is located on the upper surface side of the carry-out blade 52 from both longitudinal ends of the fixed plate portion 54a. And a pair of first and second arm portions 54b and 54c extending to the inner side. The fixed plate portion 54a has an asymmetric length about the drive shaft 51a, and the side on which the first arm portion 54b is extended has a length that is approximately 1/3 of the radius of the main body portion 52a of the carry-out blade 52. The side on which the second arm portion 54c is extended has a length slightly shorter than the radius of the main body portion 52a. The first arm portion 54b extends from the end of the fixed plate portion 54a so as to stand substantially perpendicular to the main body portion 52a. Further, the second arm portion 54c extends in a state of being inclined and inclined outward at about 45 ° with respect to the main body portion 52a. The first and second arm portions 54b and 54c are arranged so as to pass through a position where the plate-shaped connecting ice made by the ice making mechanism 30 falls and accumulates in the ice storage chamber 21. The first arm portion 54b is disposed so as to pass through the central portion in the vertical direction of the position where the plate-shaped connecting ice in the ice storage chamber 21 drops and accumulates, and the second arm portion 54c is the plate shape in the ice storage chamber 21. It is arranged so as to pass through the lower part in the vertical direction where the connected ice falls and piles up.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical metering chamber 22 is an area for quantifying and discharging ice to a predetermined volume (weight), and the cylindrical metering chamber 22 has a metering mechanism 60. Is provided. The quantitative mechanism 60 includes a gear motor 61 and an ice quantitative device 62 at the bottom of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, and protrudes from the upper side of the sector quantitative space 63 c of the ice quantitative device 62 above the ice quantitative device 62 of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22. A removing device 65 for removing ice is further provided.

  The gear motor 61 rotates the ice quantifier 62 and is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall of the cylindrical metering chamber 22. A drive shaft 61 a is fixed to the output shaft of the gear motor 61, and the drive shaft 61 a rotates in synchronization with the output shaft of the gear motor 61. The drive shaft 61a protrudes substantially at the center of the cylindrical metering chamber 22, and an ice meter 62 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 61a. The gear motor 61 includes an angle sensor 61b that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 61a by detecting the rotation angle of the output shaft. The angle sensor 61b is a photo sensor, and detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 61a by a rotary encoder 61c fixed to the output shaft.

  The ice quantifier 62 quantifies the ice sent from the ice storage chamber 21 to a predetermined capacity (weight), and in particular, quantifies the ice capacity in a changeable manner. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the ice quantifier 62 includes a first ice quantifier 63 and a second ice quantifier 64 detachably attached to the lower side of the first ice quantifier 63. Yes. The first ice quantifier 63 of the ice quantifier 62 quantifies the ice sent from the ice storage chamber 21 to a predetermined capacity (for example, a multiple of about 40 g), and the second ice quantifier 64 is the first ice quantifier 64. The purpose is to change the volume of ice quantified by changing the height of 63 (for example, the volume of ice quantified is a multiple of about 50 g).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the first ice quantifier 63 includes a first central shaft portion 63 a concentrically and rotatably supported in the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, and a first central shaft portion. Six first separator portions 63b that extend radially from six positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface of 63a and form six fan-shaped fixed spaces 63c around the first central shaft portion 63a. ing. The height of the first ice quantifier 63 is a height at which a predetermined volume of ice (for example, block-shaped ice for about 40 g) is quantified by each sector-shaped quantification space 63c. As shown in FIG. 6, a concave groove 63b1 is formed on the lower surface of the first separator portion 63b, and the concave groove 63b1 is formed on the upper surface of the second separator portion 64b of the second ice meter 64 described later. The protrusion 64b1 can be engaged.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the second ice quantifier 64 is for increasing the volume of the sector quantification space 63 c by changing the height of the first ice quantifier 63. The second ice quantifier 64 includes a second central shaft portion 64a concentrically and rotatably supported on the lower side of the first central shaft portion 63a inside the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, and a second central shaft portion. Six second separator portions 64b extending radially from six positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction below the first separator portion 63b on the peripheral surface of 64a, that is, on the peripheral surface of the second central shaft portion 64a. And have. The height of the second ice quantifier 64 is a height at which a predetermined capacity of ice (for example, block-shaped ice for about 50 g) is quantified by each fan-shaped quantification space 63c formed together with the first ice quantifier 63. . As shown in FIG. 6, a protrusion 64b1 that can be engaged with the groove 63b1 of the first separator 63b described above is formed on the upper surface of the second separator 64b, and the protrusion 64b1 is formed in the groove 63b1. By engaging, the second separator 64b is prevented from being displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the first separator 63b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the removing device 65 removes the ice that protrudes from the upper side of the fan-shaped quantitative space 63 c above the ice quantitative device 62. The removing device 65 includes a support arm (support portion) 66 detachably fixed to the upper front surface of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 and a support shaft 67 attached to the support arm 66 and extending downward. Yes. As shown in FIG. 7, the support shaft 67 is attached to the support arm 66 so as to be movable in the vertical direction in order to correspond to the height of the ice meter 62. Two screw holes 67 a and 67 b are formed in the upper and lower portions of the support shaft 67. As shown in FIG. 7A, when both the first and second ice quantifiers 63 and 64 are used for the ice quantifier 62, the screw inserted through the support arm 66 is the screw on the lower side of the support shaft 67. It is screwed into the hole 67b and attached. As shown in FIG. 7B, when only the first ice quantifier 63 is used as the ice quantifier 62, the screw inserted through the support arm 66 is screwed into the screw hole 67 a on the upper side of the support shaft 67. Install.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guard member 68 is fixed to the lower end portion of the support shaft 67. The guard member 68 is disposed at the upper surface position of the ice quantifier 62 above the discharge port 22a of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, and at least blocks the fan-shaped fixed space 63c vertically above the discharge port 22a to flow in ice. Is to block. A disc-shaped cutter 69 is fixed to the lower side of the guard member 68, and the cutter 69 cuts out the ice protruding from the upper side of the fan-shaped fixed space 63c. A portion of the ice thrown into the sector quantitative space 63c at the rear of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 protrudes above the sector quantitative space 63c. In a state where the block-shaped ice protrudes above the fan-shaped fixed space 63c, the block-shaped ice having an accurate capacity cannot be quantified by the fan-shaped fixed space 63c. When the ice quantifier 62 is rotated by, for example, 180 ° counterclockwise, the fan-shaped quantification space 63c located at the rear of the cylindrical quantitation chamber 22 is rotated counterclockwise and the front portion of the cylindrical quantitation chamber 22 is rotated. Will come to be located. At this time, the ice protruding above the sector-shaped fixed space 63c is cut out by the cutter 69, and the block-type ice thrown into the sector-shaped fixed space 63c is accurately quantified. Further, a bar 70 extending in the horizontal direction protrudes from an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the support shaft 67. The bar 70 has a function of crushing a block of ice in which a plurality of block ices are connected inside the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 when the ice quantitative unit 62 is rotated.

  The operation of the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism described above will be described based on the control of a control device (not shown). First, the operation of the ice making process in the ice making mechanism 30 of the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism will be described. The ice making plate 31 is cooled by evaporating the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration apparatus 40 through the evaporation pipe 41. By opening the water supply valve 34e, ice making water is supplied from the water supply pipe 34d to the tank 34. After the upper limit water level is detected by the float switch 34g, the water supply valve 34e is closed after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the water supply is terminated. The ice making water exceeding the upper limit water level is drained from an overflow (not shown) provided in the tank 34. When the pump 34f is driven, ice making water is supplied to the water sprinkler 36 by the water pipe 35, and the ice making water flows from the water sprinkling hole 36a of the water sprinkler 36 to the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31. The ice making water that has flowed down is returned to the tray portion 34 b of the tank 34 by the water guide cover 37. The ice making water circulates between the tank 34 and the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 and gradually freezes on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31.

  The ice-making water flowing down the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate 31 is gradually frozen as block ice inside each cell on the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate 31, and is opposite to the ice-making surface 31 of the ice making plate 31 across the partition 31 a. Ice pieces are produced as plate-type connected ice in which the adjacent ones on the side are connected in an uneven plate shape. When plate-shaped connecting ice is formed on the ice making plate 31, the ice making water in the tank 34 decreases to the lower limit water level. When the lower limit water level is detected by the float switch 34g, the driving of the pump 34f is stopped and the hot gas sent from the compressor 42 of the refrigeration apparatus 40 is sent to the evaporation pipe 41. The plate-shaped connecting ice is melted slightly at the contact surface with the ice making plate 31 and the partition 31a so that the ice can be detached from the ice making plate 31, and the slide pin 38a of the removing device 38 is moved forward from the through hole 31b of the ice making plate 31. By moving, the plate-shaped connecting ice is separated from the ice making plate 31 and dropped into the ice storage tank 20.

  When the plate-shaped connecting ice is detached from the ice making plate 31 and falls into the ice storage tank 20, the tilt is tilted by pushing the lower end portion forward by the plate-shaped connecting ice from the hanging posture in which the water guide cover 37 hangs vertically. Become posture. In the ice detachment detection mechanism 39, the ice detachment detection sensor 39a is in a state where the magnet 39b of the water guide cover 37 is separated from the adjacent state, that is, that the plate-shaped connecting ice is pushed out from the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 and is separated. To detect.

  When the ice detachment detection sensor 39a detects the separation of the magnet 39b, the agitation arm 54 is rotated by driving the gear motor 51. The plate-shaped connecting ice (ice blocks) that have fallen and accumulated inside the ice storage tank 20 are connected to each block-shaped ice or several pieces by the first and second arm portions 54b and 54c of the stirring arm 54. It is broken into block-shaped ice. The block type ice in a state where one or several of these are connected is sent to the left and right side portions of the ice storage chamber 21 of the ice storage tank 20 from directly below the ice making plate 31 by the stirring arm 54, and uniformly into the ice storage chamber 21. The block-shaped ice comes to be accommodated.

  In addition, the ice making process is repeatedly executed, and whenever the ice detachment detection sensor 39a detects the separation of the magnet 39b, that is, whenever the ice detachment detection sensor 39a detects that the ice has fallen into the ice storage tank 20, The gear motor 51 controls the stirring arm 54 so as to alternately rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. By rotating the stirring arm 54 alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, it was possible to prevent the ice from being unevenly distributed on one of the left and right sides of the ice storage chamber 21 of the ice storage tank 20. Further, the first or second arm portion 54b, 54c of the stirring arm 54 is stopped at a position directly below the ice making plate 31 in the ice storage chamber 21 based on the detection angle of the angle sensor 51b of the gear motor 51. By stopping the first or second arm portion 54b, 54c of the agitating arm 54 at a position directly below the ice making plate 31, the plate-shaped connecting ice that is detached from the ice making plate 31 and falls is the first or second arm portion. It comes to collide with 54b and 54c, and it becomes easy for a plate-shaped connection ice to collapse into block-shaped ice.

  When the angle sensor 38b2 of the gear motor 38b detects that the slide pin 38a of the detaching device 38 has returned to the rear side, the ice making process by the ice making mechanism 30 described above is executed again. When the plate-shaped connecting ice is separated from the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate 31 and falls, the water guide cover 37 returns from the tilting posture tilted by being pushed by the plate-shaped connecting ice to the drooping posture hanging down in the vertical direction again. However, when the block storage ice is filled in the ice storage chamber 21 of the ice storage tank 20, the plate-shaped connecting ice detached from the ice making plate 31 remains undisrupted even if the stirring arm 54 is rotated. In such a case, the water guide cover 37 is continuously tilted because the plate-shaped connecting ice is not removed. For this reason, the ice separation detection sensor 39a continuously detects the state where the magnet 39b of the water guide cover 37 is separated, that is, when the water guide cover 37 does not return from the inclined posture to the hanging posture, the ice storage chamber 21 of the ice storage tank 20 is stored. The ice making process by the ice making mechanism 30 is interrupted because it is determined that a sufficient amount of block ice has been stored inside the ice. When the block ice inside the ice storage chamber 21 decreases again, the plate-shaped connecting ice separated to the front side of the ice making plate 31 falls into the ice storage chamber 21, and the water guide cover 37 again changes from the inclined posture to the hanging posture. Return. When the ice separation detection sensor 39a detects that the magnet 39b of the water guide cover 37 is separated from the separated state, the ice making mechanism 30 executes the ice making process again.

  Next, the operation of the quantitative discharge of ice by the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism will be described. A predetermined amount of block-shaped ice is always carried into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 of the ice storage tank 20. That is, when it is not detected by the ice detection sensor 24 that a predetermined amount of block-shaped ice is carried into the cylindrical metering chamber 22, the gear motor 51 is driven to rotate the carry-out blade 52. Ice inside the ice discharge space 53 partitioned by the blade portion 52 b between the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion 21 d of the ice storage chamber 21 and the peripheral surface of the main body portion 52 a of the discharge blade 52 is rotated by the rotation of the discharge blade 52. The second inclined surface 21b is climbed and carried into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22 from the front edge of the second inclined surface 21b. Since the adjustment plate 23 is provided at the inlet opening of the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22, the block type ice sent by the rotation of the carry-out blade 52 is adjusted to an appropriate amount and carried into the cylindrical quantitative chamber 22. Is done. The block-shaped ice carried into the cylindrical quantification chamber 22 is put into the fan-shaped quantification space 63c of the ice quantifier 62.

  In this state, the cup is placed on the cup base 13 on the front surface of the housing 11. A release button 14a or 14b is provided on the front surface of the housing 11, the left release button 14a releases ice having a capacity corresponding to a small cup, and the right release button 14b is a large cup. It releases a corresponding volume of ice. When one of the release buttons 14a and 14b is turned on, the drive of the gear motor 61 is controlled based on the detection angle of the angle sensor 61b, and the ice meter 62 is rotated at an angle corresponding to the release buttons 14a and 14b. Specifically, when the left release button 14a is turned on, the driving of the gear motor 61 is controlled based on the detection angle of the angle sensor 61b, and the ice meter 62 (first and second ice meter 63, 64) is controlled. It is rotated by 120 ° as an angle unit (60 °) corresponding to the fan-shaped fixed space 63c. By rotating the ice quantifier 62 by 120 °, the block-shaped ice inside the two fan-shaped fixed spaces 63c is discharged from the discharge port 22a, and the released block-shaped ice is put into the cup through the chute 25. Is done. Further, when the release button 14b on the right side is turned on, the driving of the gear motor 61 is controlled based on the detection angle of the angle sensor 61b, and the ice quantifier 62 (first and second ice quantifiers 63 and 64) is turned into a fan-shaped quantification space. It is rotated 180 ° as an angle unit (60 °) according to 63c. By rotating the ice quantifier 62 by 180 °, the block-shaped ice inside the three fan-shaped fixed spaces 63c is discharged from the discharge port 22a, and the discharged block-shaped ice is put into the cup through the chute 25. Is done.

  In addition, depending on the user of the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism, the size of the cup to be used may be different. In this case, the block to be quantified by the ice quantifier 62 (first and second ice quantifiers 63 and 64). Try to change the ice shape capacity. When the first and second ice quantifiers 63 and 64 are used, about 50 g of block ice is quantified in the sector quantification space 63c. For this reason, by rotating the first and second ice quantifiers 63 and 64 in units of 60 ° as an angle corresponding to the sector-shaped quantification space 63c, it is possible to quantitatively release a multiple of about 50 g of ice. . On the other hand, when only the first ice quantifier 63 is used, about 40 g of block ice is quantified in the fan-shaped quantification space 63c. For this reason, by rotating the first ice quantifier 63 in units of 60 ° as an angle corresponding to the sector-shaped quantification space 63c, it is possible to quantify and discharge ice of a multiple of about 40 g.

  The ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism configured as described above includes an ice storage tank 20 that stores ice in an upper portion of the housing 11, an ice making mechanism 30 that is provided above the rear portion (one side portion) of the ice storage tank 20, The ice storage tank 20 has an unloading mechanism 50 for unloading the ice stored in the ice storage tank 20 toward the ice discharge port 22a. The ice made by the ice making mechanism 30 is dropped and stored in the ice storage tank 20, and is stored in the ice storage tank 20. The stored ice is transported toward the discharge port 22a by the transport mechanism 50, and the transported ice is discharged from the discharge port 22a. In the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism, an opening 11 a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 11, an opening 20 a is provided on the upper surface of the ice storage tank 20, and the opening 20 a of the ice storage tank 20 is opened to the opening 11 a on the upper surface of the housing 11. The opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 appears from the opening 11a of the housing 11, and a lid 12 is provided on the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 so as to be openable and closable. It was. As shown in FIG. 8A, the inside of the ice storage tank 20 (the ice storage chamber 21 and the cylindrical fixed amount chamber 22) can be accessed from the opening 20a simply by opening the lid 12, and the ice storage tank 20 Maintenance including cleaning of the interior of the can now be performed easily.

  Further, since the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism is arranged with the ice making mechanism 30 close to the rear (one side) on the upper side of the ice storage tank 20, the opening of the ice storage tank 20 is opened when the lid 12 is opened. 20a came to appear widely. Furthermore, since the ice making mechanism 30 is arranged not on the inside of the ice storage tank 20 but above the rear part of the ice storage tank 20, it is not necessary to deepen the ice storage tank 20 more than necessary, and particularly the inside of the ice storage tank 20 is cleaned. It became difficult for maintenance to include.

  The ice making mechanism 30 of the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism includes an ice making plate 31 having an ice making surface on the opening 20a side of the ice storage tank 20, and the cover 12 covers the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 in a detachable manner. Part 12a was provided. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 appears on the opening 20 a side of the ice storage tank 20 only by removing the cover 12 a and the water guide cover 37 together with the lid 12. Thus, maintenance including cleaning of the ice making surface of the ice making plate 31 can be easily performed. Further, the ice making mechanism 30 has an ice making circuit 33 (tank 34, water pipe 35 and water sprinkler 36) for circulating and flowing ice making water on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 31 through the support frame 32 on the upper rear side of the ice storage tank 20. Removably attached to. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the ice making water circuit 33 is disposed at a position where the ice making water circuit 33 can be attached and detached with the lid 12 removed (a part of the water supply pipe 35 is in the tank 34). If the tank 34 is removed, the water pipe 35 appears at a position where it can be attached and detached). Thus, the ice making water circuit 33 can be detached from the ice storage tank 20 with the lid 12 removed, and the ice making water circuit 33 can be easily maintained including cleaning.

  In addition, an unloading blade 52 and a stirring arm 54 for unloading ice to the discharge port 22a are rotatably and detachably mounted inside the ice storage chamber 21 of the ice storage tank 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8A. As described above, the carry-out blade 52 and the stirring arm 54 are disposed at a position where they can be attached and detached from the opening 20 a of the ice storage tank 20 with the lid 12 opened. In this way, with the lid 12 opened, the carry-out blade 52 and the stirring arm 54 are detached from the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20, and the removed carry-out blade 52 and the stirring arm 54 are cleaned. Maintenance can now be performed easily.

  Further, inside the cylindrical quantification chamber 22 of the ice storage tank 20, an ice quantifier 62 (63, 64) that quantifies ice to a predetermined amount and a removal device that removes the ice protruding from the upper side of the sector quantification space 63c of the ice quantifier 62. 2 and FIG. 8A, the ice quantifier 62 and the removing device 65 can be attached and detached from the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 with the lid 12 open. Placed in position. As described above, since the ice quantifier 62 and the removing device 65 can be attached and detached from the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 with the lid 12 opened, the removed ice quantifier 62 and the removing device 65 can be removed. Maintenance including cleaning can now be performed easily.

  In the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism of this embodiment, as described above, the opening 20a of the ice storage tank 20 appears only by opening the lid 12 or removing the lid 12, and the ice 20 is opened from the opening 20a. Can access the inside of the ice storage tank 20. Further, if the lid 12 including the cover 12a is removed, the ice making water circuit 33 (tank 34, water pipe 35 and water sprinkler 36) with which the ice making water comes into contact can be removed, and maintenance including cleaning can be performed. The ice making side of 31 can also be maintained including cleaning. Furthermore, the maintenance including the washing | cleaning can be performed by removing the carry-out blade 52, the stirring arm 54, the ice metering device 62 (63, 64), and the removing device 65 that are in contact with ice simply by opening the lid 12. it can.

  In this way, general users such as restaurant staff can easily perform maintenance including cleaning without requiring special techniques, and the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism is always kept clean. Became easier. Further, since the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism can be easily maintained without cleaning with specialized techniques, it is not necessary for the technicians who maintain the equipment to perform frequent maintenance. The running cost can be reduced by keeping the maintenance cost of the dispenser 10 low.

  In the ice dispenser 10 with the ice making mechanism configured as described above, the ice making mechanism 30 is provided as one side portion of the ice storage tank 20 on the rear upper side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ice making mechanism 30 is provided. The ice storage tank 20 may be provided on the left side, the right side, or the upper side of the front part, and the same effect as described above can be obtained also in this way.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice dispenser with ice making mechanism, 11 ... Housing, 11a ... Opening, 12 ... Cover, 12a ... Cover part, 20 ... Ice storage tank, 22a ... Opening part, 22a ... Release port, 30 ... Ice making mechanism, 31 ... Ice making Part (ice making plate), 33 ... ice making water circuit, 50 ... carry-out mechanism, 52 ... carry-out blade, 62 ... ice quantifier.

Claims (3)

An ice storage tank for storing ice in the upper part of the housing;
An ice making mechanism provided on one side of the ice storage tank;
An unloading mechanism for unloading the ice stored in the ice storage tank toward the ice discharge port;
The ice made by the ice making mechanism is dropped and stored in the ice storage tank, and the ice stored in the ice storage tank is discharged toward the discharge port by the discharge mechanism, and the discharged ice is discharged from the discharge port. An ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism,
By arranging the opening formed on the upper surface of the ice storage tank at the same height position as the opening formed on the upper surface of the housing, the opening of the ice storage tank appears from the opening of the housing,
The ice making mechanism includes an ice making unit having an ice making surface on the opening side, and an ice making water circuit that is detachably provided above or above the ice storage tank and circulates and flows ice making water to the ice making surface of the ice making unit. Prepared,
An ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism, wherein an opening of the ice storage tank is detachably provided with a cover having a cover that detachably covers the ice making surface side of the ice making part. In the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism according to claim 1 ,
The unloading mechanism is provided with unloading blades for unloading ice in the ice storage tank to the discharge port in a rotatable and detachable manner in the ice storage tank,
An ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism, wherein the carry-out blade is disposed at a position where it can be attached and detached from the opening with the lid open. In the ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The ice storage tank further comprises an ice quantifier that quantifies the ice to a predetermined amount,
An ice dispenser with an ice making mechanism, wherein the ice quantifier is arranged at a position where it can be attached and detached from the opening with the lid open.

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