JP6869325B2 - Ice making system - Google Patents

Description

One aspect of the present invention relates to a technique of an ice making system mounted on a freezer or the like.

Ice making systems for producing ice are known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-291682 (Patent Document 1) discloses a freezer / refrigerator, a freezer door, and an automatic ice maker. The refrigerator / freezer of Patent Document 1 is provided so as to close the freezing chamber in which an ice tray for making ice is arranged and the opening of the freezing chamber is provided so as to have an opening on the front surface and heat insulation on the other surface. A freezing room door that rotates around one vertical side of the opening to open and close the opening, and a detachable freezing room door on the freezing room side, below the ice tray with the freezing room door closed. It is located and features an ice storage case for storing ice. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-89426 (Patent Document 2) discloses a refrigerator in which an ice tray and an ice storage box can be moved integrally.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-291682 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-89426

In the case of the configuration in which water is manually injected into the ice tray as in Patent Document 2, the water injected from the ice tray may overflow or scatter when the user hurries to inject water. If the user injects water into the ice making section while the ice storing section is located below the ice making section, overflowing or scattered water may enter the ice storing section and accumulate in the ice storing section or melt the ice in the ice storing section.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient ice making system in which the injected water is less likely to overflow or scatter even in a configuration in which water is manually injected into the ice making section.

According to certain aspects of the invention, an ice making system is provided. The ice making system includes a rotatable ice tray and at least one water injection nozzle for pouring water into the ice tray. The outlet of at least one water injection nozzle is formed at a position lower than the highest reaching point during rotation of the ice making tray, and outputs water diagonally from diagonally above the ice making tray toward the center of the ice making tray.

Preferably, the water injection nozzle has a narrow portion formed in at least a part of the flow path.

Preferably, the water injection nozzle includes a first surface for outputting water in an oblique direction and a second surface for guiding water toward the first surface to form a narrow portion.

Preferably, the first surface and the second surface are formed so as not to overlap in bottom view.

Preferably, the ice making system further comprises a water supply for supplying water to the water injection nozzle. In the water supply section, a water injection section for pouring water is formed at a position away from the water injection nozzle in a plan view.

Preferably, the at least one water injection nozzle comprises a plurality of water injection nozzles. In the water supply section, an area where water can be temporarily stored is formed between the water injection section and the plurality of water injection nozzles.

Preferably, the water supply portion is formed with a convex portion. A water injection portion is formed on the upper surface of the convex portion. The side surface of the convex portion forms a plurality of grooves for guiding water to each of the plurality of nozzles. Each of the plurality of grooves is formed to have a narrower width and a lower height toward the water injection nozzle.

As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the water injected into the ice making section from overflowing or splashing, and it is possible to provide a highly convenient ice making system.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment, in a state where the water injection cup 190 and the front cover 160 are attached. It is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment, in a state where the water injection cup 190 is attached and the front cover 160 is removed. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the ice making system 100 according to the first embodiment, in a state where the front cover 160 is attached and the water injection cup 190 is removed. It is a perspective view which shows the ice making tray 171 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view and the front sectional view which shows the ice making system 100 in the state which put the water injection cup 190 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view and the front sectional view which shows the ice making system 100 in the state which the water injection cup 190 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is removed. It is a perspective view which shows the water supply part 120 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the flow of water in the water supply part 120 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view and sectional view which shows the lower part of the water injection nozzle 130L which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view and sectional view which shows the lower part of the water injection nozzle 130L which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the lower part of the water injection nozzle 130L which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view and the plan view of the water supply dish 120B which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the water supply dish 120C which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the water supply dish 120D which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, the detailed description of them will not be repeated.
<First Embodiment>
<Overall configuration of ice making system>

First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the overall configuration of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where the water injection cup 190 and the front cover 160 are attached. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where the water injection cup 190 is attached and the front cover 160 is removed. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment in a state where the front cover 160 is attached and the water injection cup 190 is removed.

The ice making system 100 according to the present embodiment is placed in a freezer, taken out, attached, removed, or pre-mounted.

The ice making system 100 mainly includes an ice storage section 180 in the lower housing 102, an ice making section 170 in the middle housing 101, and a water supply section 120 formed on the upper surface 103 of the middle housing 101. Including. Then, (1) when the user pours water into the water supply unit 120, (2) water is made in the ice making unit 170, and (3) ice is stored in the ice storage unit 180.

More specifically, the ice making section 170 according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of the ice making tray 171 shown in FIG. Regarding the ice making tray 171 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of ice making spaces 174, 174 ... Are formed by one vertical wall 172 and a plurality of horizontal walls 173, 173 ....

The vertical wall 172 of the ice tray 171 according to the present embodiment has grooves 172X and 172X formed at two locations, a front portion and a rear portion thereof. As a result, the water in the ice tray 171 can move back and forth between the right side and the left side of the vertical wall 172 via the grooves 172X and 172X. The side walls 173 of the ice tray 171 are all formed with grooves 173X and 173X. In this way, water is supplied to the plurality of ice making spaces 174, 174 ... Almost uniformly.

In the ice making tray 171, the rear shaft 178 is pivotally supported by the housing 101 at the center, and the operation unit 179 is connected to the lever 161 of the front cover 160. As a result, when the ice making is completed, the user rotates the ice making tray 171 by rotating the lever 161 of the front cover 160 with the front cover 160 closed, and stores the ice after ice making in the ice storage unit 180. Can be dropped into.

Next, the water supply unit 120 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. 5 (A) is a plan view showing the ice making system 100 in a state where the water injection cup 190 according to the present embodiment is placed, and FIG. 5 (B) is a plan view showing the water injection cup 190 according to the present embodiment. It is a front sectional view which shows the ice making system 100 in the state which 190 is placed. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing an ice making system 100 in a state where the water injection cup 190 according to the present embodiment is removed, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing the ice making system 100 in a state where the water injection cup 190 according to the present embodiment is removed. It is a front sectional view which shows the ice making system 100 in a state of being in a state. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a water supply dish 120A according to the present embodiment.

The water supply unit 120 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a water supply tray 120A into which water is poured, and two water injection nozzles 130L and 130R for pouring the water of the water supply tray 120A into the ice making tray 171. The water supply tray 120A has two water injection nozzles 130L and 130R, which are a water receiving unit 121 as an area into which water is poured, a water storage unit 122 as an area into which water of the water receiving unit 121 flows, and water of the water storage unit 122. Two groove portions 123 and 123 for leading to the above are formed.

The water receiving portion 121 is formed in a convex shape so as to form a side wall of the water storage portion 122 and the groove portions 123 and 123. It is preferable that the upper surface of the water receiving portion 121 is provided with a character or a pattern indicating that the area should be filled with water so that the user can easily recognize that the area is filled with water. The upper surface of the water receiving portion 121 is formed symmetrically in a concave shape so that the poured water flows toward the water storage portion 122 instead of the grooves 123 and 123.

The water storage unit 122 can temporarily store water. In other words, the area of the water storage unit 122 is larger than the area of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R in a plan view. Preferably, the area of the water storage unit 122 is larger than five times the total area of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R in a plan view. Alternatively, it is preferable that the time from when the water storage unit 122 is full until all the water is output from the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R is about 3 seconds or more and 10 seconds or less. In this way, since most of the water poured into the user is temporarily stored in the water storage unit 122, it is possible to prevent the water poured into the user from directly flowing into the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R. Further, the water stored in the water storage unit 122 is substantially uniformly injected into the ice making tray 171 from the plurality of water injection nozzles 130L and 130R. As a result, it is possible to prevent water from concentrating on one of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R.

The width of the grooves 123 and 123 becomes narrower as they move backward, that is, as they approach the water injection nozzle 130. Further, the grooves 123 and 123 are formed lower toward the rear. With such a configuration, the water quickly passes through the grooves 123 and 123 and reaches the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R, and the possibility that the water freezes in the water supply unit 120 can be reduced.

Since the water supply unit 120 is configured in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, when a user pours water into the water receiving unit 121 using a water injection cup 190 or the like, most of the water is the water receiving unit. It flows into the water storage portion 122 along the concave surface of 121. Then, the water once stays in the water storage unit 122, then quickly passes through the groove portions 123 and 123, and flows into the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R.

The shape of one surface of the water injection cup 190 may have a convex surface so as to follow the concave surface of the water receiving portion 121. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the convex surface of the water injection cup 190 can be fixed by fitting it into the concave surface of the water receiving portion 121. Therefore, the water injection cup 190 can be stably stored in the ice making system 100 in a space-saving manner when not in use.

The left water injection nozzle 130L is formed from the left side to the lower side of the left and right center of the upper surface 103 of the ice making system 100. In other words, the left water injection nozzle 130L is formed from the left side to the lower side of the left and right central portions of the water supply tray 120A. The water injection nozzle 130L is extended downward to the extent that it does not come into contact with the ice making tray 171 when the ice making tray 171 rotates. In other words, the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130L is located below the highest point X of the rotation locus Y of the ice tray 171. By lowering the height from the lower end of the water injection nozzle 130L to the ice making tray 171 in this way, the possibility of water splashing to the outside of the ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Then, in the left water injection nozzle 130L, the lower outlet 131 is released toward the right. That is, the water from the water injection nozzle 130L is configured to be poured toward the vertical wall 172 at the center of the left and right sides of the ice tray 171. This also reduces the possibility of water splashing outside the ice tray 171.

Here, FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130L. Is. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the water injection nozzle 130L has a bottom surface 132 forming a blowout port 131 formed below the water injection nozzle 130L. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 132 blows out water flowing down from above in the water injection nozzle 130 substantially vertically to the right.

By allowing the bottom surface 132 to enter the inside of the water injection nozzle 130 in bottom view, the area of at least a part of the flow path of the water injection nozzle 130, and in the present embodiment, the width of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130 is narrowed. Can be done. As a result, the amount of water poured into the ice making tray 171 can be limited, and the possibility that the water is poured into the ice making tray 171 at once and scattered to the outside of the ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Similarly, the right water injection nozzle 130R is formed from the right side to the lower side of the left and right center of the upper surface 103 of the ice making system 100. In other words, the right water injection nozzle 130R is formed from the right side to the lower side of the left and right central portions of the water supply tray 120A. The water injection nozzle 130R is extended downward to the extent that it does not come into contact with the ice tray 171 when the ice tray 171 rotates. In other words, the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130R is located below the highest point X of the rotation locus Y of the ice tray 171. By lowering the height from the lower end of the water injection nozzle 130R to the ice making tray 171 in this way, the possibility of water splashing to the outside of the ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Then, in the right water injection nozzle 130R, the lower outlet 131 is released toward the left. That is, the water from the water injection nozzle 130R is configured to be poured toward the vertical wall 172 at the center of the left and right sides of the ice tray 171. This also reduces the possibility of water splashing outside the ice tray 171.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the water injection nozzle 130R has a bottom surface 132 forming a blowout port 131 formed below the water injection nozzle 130R. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 132 blows out water flowing down from above in the water injection nozzle 130 substantially vertically to the left.

By allowing the bottom surface 132 to enter the inside of the water injection nozzle 130 in bottom view, the area of at least a part of the flow path of the water injection nozzle 130, and in the present embodiment, the width of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130 is narrowed. Can be done. As a result, the amount of water poured into the ice making tray 171 can be limited, and the possibility that the water is poured into the ice making tray 171 at once and scattered to the outside of the ice making tray 171 can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, since there are a plurality of water injection nozzles 130L and 130R, water can be quickly supplied from the water supply unit 120 to the ice making tray 171, and the water can be frozen in the water supply unit 120. The sex can be reduced.

As a matter of course, the water supply unit 120 may have only one water injection nozzle.
<Second embodiment>

In the first embodiment, the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R have a surface 132 formed on a part of the lower end portion thereof for outputting water from above toward the left and right center portions of the ice making tray 171. Met. FIG. 10 (A) is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the water injection nozzle 130L according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 10 (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the lower portion of the water injection nozzle 130L. As shown in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, the portion of the water injection nozzle 130L that opposes the surface 132 is removed above that of the first embodiment. As a result, the tip of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R can be widened, so that it is possible to prevent the outlet 131 from being blocked and frozen by the surface tension of the water at the tip of the outlet 131.
<Third embodiment>

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower portions of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, a surface 133 for guiding water toward the surface 132 is formed on a portion of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R that opposes the surface 132. As a result, the water flowing down from above the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R toward the surface 133 collides with the surface 132, and then is output to the side opposite to the surface 132.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the bottom surfaces 132 and 133 enter the inside of the water injection nozzle 130 in the bottom view, so that the diameter of the water injection nozzle 130 and the width of the outlet 131 of the water injection nozzle 130 Can be narrowed. As a result, it is possible to weaken the flow of water poured into the ice making tray 171 and reduce the possibility that the water is scattered outside the ice making tray 171.

In the present embodiment, since the surface 132 and the surface 133 are configured so as not to overlap each other in the bottom view and the plan view, molding becomes easy.

The portion of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R that narrows the inner diameter and the flow path area is not limited to the vicinity of the outlet 131, and may be provided above the outlet 131.
<Fourth Embodiment>

The configuration of the water supply pan is also not limited to that of the first to third embodiments. For example, the following water supply plate 120B may be used. FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the water supply dish 120B according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a plan view of the water supply dish 120B. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in the present embodiment, the shape of the water receiving portion 121B of the water supply tray 120B is formed to be substantially rectangular in a plan view.
<Fifth Embodiment>

In the first to fourth embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 12, a convex portion as a water receiving portion 121 is formed on the water supply tray 120A and poured into the water receiving portion 121. The water is configured to hit the surface opposite to the water receiving portion 121, that is, the front wall of the water storage portion 122, and turn toward the groove portions 123 and 123 on the side of the water receiving portion 121. However, it may have a different configuration.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the water supply dish 120C according to the fifth embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the water supply tray 120C is configured to have no grooves 123 and 123. That is, the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R may be arranged directly below the water storage unit 122C.
<Sixth Embodiment>

Further, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the water supply dish 120D according to the sixth embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the water supply tray 120D may have a convex portion 125 different from the water receiving portion 121D. Then, the inlets of the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R may be formed on both side portions of the convex portion 125.
<Summary>

In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the ice making system 100 is provided. The ice making system 100 includes a rotatable ice making tray 171 and at least one water injection nozzle 130L, 130R for pouring water into the ice making tray 171. The outlet 131 of at least one water injection nozzle 130L, 130R is formed at a position lower than the maximum reaching point X when the ice making tray 171 rotates, and is obliquely directed from diagonally above the ice making tray 171 toward the center of the ice making tray 171. Output water to.

Preferably, the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R have a narrow portion 131 formed in at least a part of the flow path.

Preferably, the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R have a first surface 132 for outputting water in an oblique direction and a second surface for guiding water toward the first surface 132 to form a narrow portion. Includes 133 and.

Preferably, the first surface 132 and the second surface 133 are formed so as not to overlap in bottom view.

Preferably, the ice making system 100 further includes a water supply unit 120 for supplying water to the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R. The water supply unit 120 is formed with a water receiving unit 121 for pouring water at a position away from the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R in a plan view.

Preferably, at least one water injection nozzle 130L, 130R includes a plurality of water injection nozzles 130L, 130R. In the water supply unit 120, an area 122 in which water can be temporarily stored is formed between the water receiving unit 121 and the plurality of water injection nozzles 130L and 130R.

Preferably, the water supply portion 120 is formed with a convex portion. A water receiving portion 121 is formed on the upper surface of the convex portion. The side surface of the convex portion forms a plurality of groove portions 123 and 123 for guiding water to each of the plurality of nozzles 130L and 130R. Each of the plurality of grooves 123 and 123 is formed to have a narrower width and a lower height toward the water injection nozzles 130L and 130R.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. In addition, a configuration obtained by combining the configurations of different embodiments described in the present specification with each other is also included in the scope of the present invention.

100: Ice making system 103L: Water injection nozzle 120: Water supply unit 120A: Water supply plate 120B: Water supply plate 120C: Water supply plate 120D: Water supply plate 121: Water receiving unit 122: Water storage unit 123B: Water receiving unit 123: Groove 125 : Water injection nozzle 130L: Left water injection nozzle 130R: Right water injection nozzle 131: Outlet 132: First surface 133: Second surface 160: Front cover 161: Lever 170: Ice making part 171: Ice making tray 172: Vertical wall 172X: Groove 173: Side wall 173X: Groove 174: Ice making space 178: Rear shaft 179: Operation part 180: Ice storage part 190: Water injection cup X: Highest arrival point Y: Rotation locus

Claims (5)

With a rotatable ice tray
With at least one water injection nozzle for pouring water into the ice tray,
A water supply unit for supplying water to the water injection nozzle is provided.
The outlet of the at least one water injection nozzle is formed at a position lower than the highest reaching point when the ice tray is rotated, and water is output diagonally from diagonally above the ice tray toward the center of the ice tray. And
The water supply unit
A water injection portion for pouring water is formed at a position away from the at least one water injection nozzle in a plan view.
In the middle of the flow path from the water injection unit to the at least one water injection nozzle, a water storage unit capable of temporarily storing water is provided at a position away from the water injection unit and the at least one water injection nozzle in a plan view. An ice making system that is formed. The water supply unit is formed with a groove portion that guides the water stored in the water storage unit to the water injection nozzle.
The ice making system according to claim 1, wherein the groove portion is formed so that the width becomes narrower as it approaches the water injection nozzle. The water injection nozzle includes at least two sets of the water injection nozzle and the groove portion.
The ice making system according to claim 2, wherein the water injection portion is formed in a convex shape between the two grooves with the side wall of the groove as a side surface. The ice making system according to claim 3, wherein the water injection portion is formed on a concave surface whose convex upper surface is recessed toward the water storage portion. A water injection cup for pouring water into the water injection section is further provided.
The ice making system according to claim 4, wherein the shape of one surface of the water injection cup has a convex surface along the concave surface of the water injection portion.

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