JP7336733B2 - auger ice maker - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies Date of sale June 30, 2018 to June 25, 2019 Place of sale

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an auger-type ice making machine used for manufacturing chip ice and the like.

The auger type ice maker rotates an auger with a spiral rotary blade inside a cylinder in which ice-making water is supplied and a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder. The film-like ice formed on the surface is scraped off with a rotating blade. Then, the shaved film-like ice is passed through a gap between fixed blades provided at the upper end of the cylinder, and the ice is compressed during the passage to form chip ice of a predetermined size. The formed chip ice is discharged from the upper side of the cylinder and stored in a stocker through a guide path fixed to the upper part of the cylinder and a chute extending downward from the guide path.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a detection plate 50 (stock switch) for detecting the amount of stored ice is provided inside the chute 35 . The upper end of the detection plate 50 is swingably supported, and when the chute 35 has no pieces of ice, the detection plate 50 assumes a posture inclined toward the one peripheral wall 35a of the chute 35 toward the lower end side. there is On the other hand, when ice pieces pile up on the chute 35, the lower end side of the detection plate 50 is pushed by the ice pieces, and the detection plate 50 swings toward the other peripheral wall 35c of the chute 35 and stands up ( The detection plate 50 and the peripheral wall 35c are parallel). The reed switch 36 detects the change in the attitude of the detection plate 50 to control the operation of the ice making mechanism 20 (see paragraphs 0015, 0039, and 0040 of Patent Document 1, and FIGS. 10(a) and (b), etc.). ).

JP 2014-48018 A

In the auger-type ice making machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the detection plate 50 is in a vertical state when ice pieces are detected, and the volume of the chute 35 is substantially reduced by the installation space of the detection plate 50. Therefore, ice pieces tend to stay near the lower end of the detection plate 50 . The stagnated ice pieces may partially melt and refreeze repeatedly, which may cause clogging of the chute 35 .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to smoothly deliver ice detected by a stock switch to a stocker.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an ice making section for making ice, a stocker for storing the ice made by the ice making section, and a stocker provided side by side with the ice making section for storing the ice made by the ice making section. An auger type ice maker comprising a chute for sending ice downward and a stock switch provided on the inner wall of the chute for detecting that the ice stored in the stocker is full, wherein the stock switch an ice detector that swings by a swing shaft provided at its upper end as it comes into contact with stored ice; a case that fixes the ice detector to the inner surface of the wall; a tilt detection unit for detecting a tilt state of the ice detection unit, wherein the ice detection unit tilts so that the lower end of the ice detection unit moves away from the inner surface of the wall when ice is not detected; The auger-type ice maker is characterized in that the lower end of the auger is inclined so as to approach the inner surface of the wall portion.

In this way, the ice falling in the chute reliably presses the inwardly inclined ice detecting portion of the chute before the ice-filled state is detected, and the ice storage state can be accurately detected. On the other hand, after detecting the ice-filled state, the ice accumulated in the chute can be smoothly delivered to the stocker by widening the gap through which the ice passes on the lower end side of the ice detecting section as much as possible.

In the above configuration, the lower end of the ice detector may extend to the lower end opening of the chute that opens toward the stocker.

In this way, when the stocker becomes full, the ice detecting section can quickly detect the full state, and the amount of ice accumulated in the chute can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat insulating material covering the periphery of the chute in order to keep the chute cool, thereby reducing the cost of parts.

In each of the above configurations, a fitting hole is formed in the wall of the chute for inserting the ice detection unit into the chute and fixing the case holding the ice detection unit to the wall. can be

By doing so, the degree of freedom in the order in which the ice detectors are assembled to the chute is increased, so there is a possibility that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the configuration in which the fitting hole is formed, the chute has a cylindrical shape, and the case part fixed in the fitting hole is positioned from the imaginary cylindrical surface obtained by extending the cylindrical surface of the chute to the fitting hole. also protrudes radially outward from the chute, and curved flanges are formed along the outer peripheral surface of the chute at both circumferential ends of the case, and the lower end of the ice detector is positioned above the lower end of the case. can also be configured to extend downward.

In this way, each member, such as the tilt detection section, which constitutes the stock switch, can be brought as close to the outer diameter side of the chute as possible, and the maximum movable range of the ice detection section within the chute can be ensured.

Each of the above configurations may have an ice cover that prevents ice from entering the gap between the ice detecting portion and the inner surface of the wall portion.

By doing so, it is possible to prevent the problem that ice that has entered between the ice detector and the inner surface of the wall interferes with the swinging of the ice detector and makes it impossible to detect the full state of ice.

In the auger-type ice making machine according to the present invention, the ice detecting portion of the stock switch for detecting the full state of ice is tilted so that the lower end thereof is away from the inner surface of the wall portion in the non-detecting state of ice, while In the detection state, the lower end is inclined so as to approach the inner surface of the wall. Therefore, before the ice-filled state is detected, the ice falling in the chute reliably presses the inwardly inclined ice detecting portion of the chute, and the ice storage state can be accurately detected. After detection of the full state of ice, the ice accumulated in the chute can be smoothly delivered to the stocker by widening the gap through which the ice passes on the lower end side of the ice detection part as much as possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of an auger type ice making machine according to the present invention 1 shows a stock switch (first example) employed in the auger type ice making machine shown in FIG. 1, (a) being an exploded perspective view, (b) being a perspective view; Fig. 2(b) shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the stock switch, where (a) is the non-detection state of ice, and (b) is the detection state of ice. A modified example (second example) of the stock switch is shown, (a) is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a sectional view along the bb line in (a).

An embodiment of an auger type ice making machine 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. This auger type ice making machine 10 is connected to an auger type ice making section 11 for making ice such as chip ice, a guide path 12 provided on the ice discharge side of the ice making section 11 for guiding the ice, and the guide path 12. It has a chute 13 for sending ice downward and a stocker 14 for storing ice provided on the ice discharging side of the chute 13. - 特許庁A stock switch 15 is provided on the inner wall of the chute 13 to detect that the stocker 14 is full of ice.

The ice making unit 11 has a tubular cylinder 16 . Ice-making water is supplied to the inside of the cylinder 16 through a water supply channel (not shown). A refrigerant pipe 17 through which a cooling refrigerant flows is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the cylinder 16 . Cylinder 16 and refrigerant pipe 17 are covered with cover 18 . A foamed urethane resin is provided as a heat insulating material 19 in the gap between the cylinder 16 and the cover 18 . When the cylinder 16 is cooled by flowing the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 17 , film-like ice is formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 16 .

An auger 20 is provided coaxially with the cylinder 16 inside the cylinder 16 . The upper and lower ends of the auger 20 are supported by bearings (not shown). A motor 21 is provided on the lower end side of the auger 20, and the auger 20 is rotationally driven around its axis. A spiral rotary blade 22 is provided on the outer circumference of the auger 20, and when the auger 20 is rotated around its axis, the film-like ice formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 16 is scraped off by the rotary blade 22 and scraped off. The crushed ice pieces are conveyed to the upper side of the cylinder 16 by the rotary blade 22 .

A fixed blade 23 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 16 . The fixed blade 23 has blade bodies 24 at predetermined angular intervals in its rotational direction. A lower end portion of the blade body 24 is formed in a V shape, and a gap extending from the lower end to the upper end of the fixed blade 23 is formed between adjacent blade bodies 24 . The ice pieces conveyed by the rotary blade 22 are pressed against the fixed blade 23 and compressed and hardened when passing through the gap between the blades 24 .

An agitator 25 that is fixed to the upper end of the auger 20 and rotates around the axis together with the auger 20 is provided above the fixed blade 23 . This agitator 25 is provided with a cutting rod 26 . The stick-shaped ice is cut into pieces of predetermined size (chip ice) by the cutting rod 26 of the agitator 25 .

A guide path fixing member 27 is fixed to the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the cylinder 16 , and the guide path 12 is held by the guide path fixing member 27 . Ice conveyed by guideway 12 is sent to stocker 14 through chute 13 . The chute 13 is a cylindrical member, the upper end of which is directly inserted into the ice outlet of the guideway 12 and the lower end of which is connected to the stocker 14 via a connecting member 28 . In this embodiment, the chute 13 employs a vinyl chloride pipe that can be manufactured at low cost without using a mold.

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the stock switch 15 (first example) has an ice detection section 29, a case section 30, and an inclination detection section 31 as main components.

The ice detector 29 is a vertically long plate-like member extending in the longitudinal direction of the chute 13 . A swing shaft 32 is provided at the upper end of the ice detector 29 . The rocking shaft 32 is inserted into a through hole 33 formed in the case portion 30 for fixing the ice detecting portion 29 to the inner surface of the wall portion of the chute 13. The ice detecting portion 29 is attached to the rocking shaft 32 can be swung around.

The lower end of the ice detector 29 extends to the lower end opening of the chute 13 that opens toward the stocker 14 (near the connecting member 28). As a result, when the stocker 14 becomes full, the ice detector 29 can quickly detect the full state. As a result, the amount of ice accumulated in the chute 13 can be reduced, so that the amount of heat insulating material used to cover the circumference of the chute 13 can be reduced, and the cost of parts can be reduced.

The case portion 30 is fixed to the wall portion of the chute 13 by screws 35 while being fitted into the fitting hole 34 formed in the wall portion of the chute 13 . The case portion 30 is provided with a biasing member 36 that biases the ice detecting portion 29 so that the lower end of the ice detecting portion 29 is separated from the inner surface of the wall portion of the chute 13 . This biasing member 36 is a coil spring. When the stock switch 15 is assembled, the ice detector 29 is mounted inside the chute 13 from the outside of the chute 13 through the fitting hole 34 . As a result, the degree of freedom in the order in which the ice detectors 29 are assembled to the chute 13 is increased, so there is a possibility that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the maintainability can be improved.

The tilt detection unit 31 includes a magnetic sensor (hereinafter referred to as the first member 37) as a first member 37 provided on the case portion 30 side, and a second member 38 provided on the ice detection unit 29 side. and a magnet (hereinafter denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the second member 38).

As shown in FIG. 3A, in the ice non-detection state, the ice detector 29 is inclined so that its lower end is away from the inner surface of the wall of the chute 13 (for example, +6 degrees with respect to the vertical line). At this time, the magnet 38 provided in the ice detection section 29 is in a state of being separated from the magnetic sensor 37 . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), in the ice detection state, the ice detector 29 is inclined so that its lower end approaches the inner surface of the wall of the chute 13 (for example, -1 with respect to the vertical line). Every time). At this time, the magnet 38 provided in the ice detection section 29 is in a state of being close to the magnetic sensor 37 . Note that the inclination angle of the ice detector 29 is merely an example and can be changed as appropriate.

If the lower end of the ice detector 29 is tilted away from the inner surface of the wall of the chute 13 due to the weight balance of the ice detector 29 itself in the non-detection state of ice, the biasing force for urging the ice detector 29 may be used. There is also the possibility that the force member 36 can be omitted.

The magnet 38 and the magnetic sensor 37 are arranged side by side in the extending direction of the chute 13 (that is, vertically) so as not to overlap each other with respect to the rocking direction of the ice detector 29 when they are close to each other. As a result, since the magnet 38 and the magnetic sensor 37 do not overlap, the swinging angle of the ice detector 29 toward the inner surface of the chute 13 can be increased. can be further widened. Therefore, the ice accumulated in the chute 13 can be delivered to the stocker 14 more smoothly. In addition, since the radially outward protrusion of the chute 13 formed to accommodate the inclination detection part 31 can be reduced, the outer side of the chute 13 can be wrapped with a cylindrical heat insulating material.

The arrangement of the magnet 38 and the magnetic sensor 37 is not limited to the above. For example, they can be arranged side by side along the circumferential direction (that is, left and right) of the chute 13 when they are close to each other. In the above, the first member 37 is the magnetic sensor 37 and the second member 38 is the magnet 38, but the first member 37 may be the magnet and the second member 38 may be the magnetic sensor. can. As the tilt detector 31, means other than the magnetic sensor 37, such as a duct switch and an optical sensor, can be employed.

The case portion 30 is formed with a fixing hole 39 for passing a wire connected to the magnetic sensor 37 and a hook-shaped fixing claw 40 for fixing the magnetic sensor 37 .

The ice detector 29 is provided with ice covers 41 that cover both sides of the ice detector 29 . The ice cover 41 prevents ice from entering the gap between the ice detector 29 and the inner surface of the wall of the chute 13 . As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem in which ice that has entered between the ice detector 29 and the inner surface of the wall of the chute 13 hinders the swinging of the ice detector 29 and makes it impossible to detect the full state of ice.

The ice cover 41 is formed by forming upright portions that rise toward the inner side of the chute 13 at both widthwise end portions of the case portion 30 and at both widthwise end portions of the fitting hole 34 formed in the wall portion of the chute 13 . can also be configured.

A modified example (second example) of the stock switch 15 is shown in FIGS. The stock switch according to the second example is similar in basic configuration to the stock switch 15 according to the first example, but the shape of the case portion 30 is different. That is, the case portion 30 according to the second example protrudes radially outward of the chute 13 more than the imaginary cylindrical surface formed by extending the cylindrical surface of the chute 13 into the fitting hole 34 than the case portion 30 according to the first example. ing. For this reason, each member such as the tilt detector 31 constituting the stock switch 15 can be moved as close to the outer diameter side of the chute 13 as possible, and the maximum movable range of the ice detector 29 in the chute 13 can be ensured. can.

Further, curved flanges 42 along the outer peripheral surface of the chute 13 are formed at both ends of the case portion 30 in the circumferential direction. The curved flange 42 secures mounting stability of the case portion 30 (the stock switch 15 ) provided on the chute 13 .

The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the auger type ice making machine 10 according to the present invention, as long as it can solve the problem of the present invention of smoothly feeding ice detected by the stock switch 15 to the stocker 14. , the components thereof may be modified as appropriate.

10 auger type ice machine 11 ice making part 12 guide path 13 chute 14 stocker 15 stock switch 16 cylinder 17 refrigerant pipe 18 cover 19 heat insulating material 20 auger 21 motor 22 rotary blade 23 fixed blade 24 blade body 25 agitator 26 cutting rod 27 fixed guide path Member 28 Connection member 29 Ice detector 30 Case part 31 Tilt detector 32 Swing shaft 33 Through hole 34 Fitting hole 35 Screw 36 Biasing member 37 First member (magnetic sensor)
38 second member (magnet)
39 Fixing hole 40 Fixing claw 41 Ice cover 42 Curved flange

Claims (5)

an ice-making unit (11) for making ice; a stocker (14) attached to the ice-making unit (11) for storing the ice made by the ice-making unit (11); A chute (13) for sending ice downward to a stocker (14); an auger ice maker comprising a switch (15),
The ice detector (29) swings by the swing shaft (32) provided at the upper end of the stock switch (15) when it comes into contact with the stored ice, and the ice detector (29). 29) to the inner surface of the wall, and an inclination detector (31) for detecting the inclination state of the ice detector (29),
The ice detection part (29) has its lower end inclined away from the inner surface of the wall when ice is not detected, and its lower end is inclined closer to the inner surface of the wall when ice is detected. The auger type ice making is characterized in that the contact surface of the ice detector (29) with ice has a negative angle of inclination with respect to the vertical line toward the inner surface of the wall over the entire surface. machine. 2. The auger type ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of said ice detector (29) extends to the lower end opening of said chute (13) opening toward said stocker (14). The ice detector (29) is inserted into the wall of the chute (13), and a case (30) holding the ice detector (29) is fixed to the wall. 3. The auger type ice maker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a fitting hole (34) is formed for fitting. The chute (13) has a cylindrical shape, and the case part (30) fixed in the fitting hole (34) extends the cylindrical surface of the chute (13) into the fitting hole (34). A curved flange (42) is formed along the outer peripheral surface of the chute (13), protruding outward in the radial direction of the chute (13) from the imaginary cylindrical surface, at both circumferential ends of the case portion (30). 4. The auger type ice making machine according to claim 3, wherein the lower end of said ice detector (29) extends below the lower end of said case (30). 5. The auger type ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an ice cover (41) for preventing ice from entering a gap between the ice detector (29) and the inner surface of the wall.

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