JPH02140576A - Ice removing structure in automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly remove spherical or cubic ice blocks formed in second ice making small chambers by a method wherein a clearance having a required depth is provided between the bottom of a second ice making chamber and a water trays, and water supplied from outside flows through the clearance. CONSTITUTION:As a clearance 74 having a required depth is formed between the bottom of a second ice making chamber 12 and a water tray 38, the bottom of the second ice making chamber 12 mostly comes in to contact with city water reserved in a water reservoir 65, so that the temperature of the second ice making chamber 12 is quickly raised. The second ice making chamber 12 is heated by city water flowing into the water reservoir 65 and the clearance 74, and the freezing force between the walls of second ice making small chambers 15 and ice balls is weakened. And the adhesive force of ice formed on the surface close to a first ice making chamber 11 is also weakened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention is directed to an automatic ice making machine that can fully automatically produce large quantities of ice cubes in the form of, for example, spheres or polyhedrons. The present invention relates to a deicing structure configured to smoothly remove ice from the ice making room.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In various industrial fields, automatic ice making machines that continuously produce large quantities of dice-shaped ice cubes, ice sheets of a required thickness, and ice flakes are suitably used depending on the application.

For example, as an ice maker for producing the ice cubes described above, (1) A large number of cube-shaped ice-making compartments are arranged downward in the ice-making compartment, which can be opened and closed from below with a water tray, and ice-making water is poured into each compartment from the water tray. The so-called closed-cell method, in which ice cubes are gradually formed in the ice-making chamber by injection, A so-called open cell system is known in which ice is formed in the ice-making compartment. In addition, ice makers that continuously produce sheet ice or fine crushed ice, and auger-type ice makers that continuously produce ice flakes are also in use.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, most of the ice produced by various conventional ice making machines are cube-shaped ice cubes, sheet ice, other flaky ice pieces, and crushed ice. Only the above-mentioned ice cubes have the required shape and can be floated on drinks or used as a cooling bed for various foodstuffs (board ice also has a shape, but (Usually cannot be used with the same dimensions.)

However, in recent years, coffee shops, restaurants, and other food and beverage establishments have been making strenuous efforts to differentiate themselves from other companies in order to gain an advantage over similar businesses in various ways and attract customers. - Tamaki and Shizu 1. For example, there is a trend to use ball-shaped (spherical) ice cubes instead of the more widely popular ice cubes, thereby providing customers with immediate new changes. I can accept it.

However, since this spherical water is widely used for eating and drinking, its commercial value will decrease unless it is clear and transparent ice cubes without cloudiness due to aeration. It also needs to be able to be produced in large quantities, but there has been no automatic ice-making machine for spherical water that meets this type of requirement. Therefore, the inventor of the present application engaged in the development of an ice making machine capable of producing a large amount of transparent and clear spherical water, and having obtained a mechanism that fully satisfies the above requirements, the inventor developed the basic concept in January 1988. On the 29th, he filed a patent application for his invention, an "automatic ice maker."

The ice-making machine according to the previous application includes: ■ a first ice-making compartment configured with a number of first ice-making compartments that open downward and equipped with an evaporator on the back;
■Basically equipped with a second ice-making chamber consisting of a number of No. 211 ice chambers that open upward, and during ice-making operation, both ice-making chambers close correspondingly to form irregularly shaped water such as spheres inside. It is what constitutes space. In the ice making machine according to this basic structure, during deicing operation, the spherical water that has frozen in the first ice making chamber can be actively melted and peeled off by passing hot gas through the evaporator. However, since this ice maker is further equipped with a second ice maker, the problem to be solved is how to smoothly remove the frozen spherical water from the second ice maker.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems and to suitably solve the problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a deicing structure with a novel configuration that can smoothly remove ice blocks of a shape.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and suitably achieve the intended purpose, the present invention provides a method for injecting ice-making water into an ice-making chamber to form ice blocks in the ice-making chamber and freezing. In an automatic ice making machine that recirculates unused ice making water, the first ice making machine is equipped with an evaporator on the back, is fixedly placed inside the machine, and has a number of first ice making compartments of a desired shape that open downward. a second ice-making chamber, and a second ice-making chamber of a desired shape, which is disposed so as to be able to move toward and away from the first ice-making chamber, and which can correspondingly close each of the first ice-making chambers from below.
A second ice-making compartment is formed with a large number of ice-making compartments and has a through hole in the bottom of each second ice-making compartment, and a second ice-making compartment is arranged below the second ice-making compartment and corresponds to the through hole of each second ice-making compartment. The second ice-making chamber and the water tray are supported by a water tray having a supporting member protruding from the upper surface, which has fountain holes drilled at positions corresponding to the water fountain holes and through holes communicating with each fountain hole. By arranging the parts to face each other with the members in between, a required gap is formed between the bottom of the second ice making compartment and the top of the water tray, and water supplied from the outside is allowed to flow down into this gap during deicing operation. It is characterized by

Embodiment Next, a preferred embodiment of the deicing structure of an automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment of the present invention, an automatic ice making machine that continuously produces the spherical water 1 shown in FIG. 12(a) will be explained.
By simply changing the internal shape of the ice-making compartment, which will be described later, the 12th
The present invention can also be easily applied to the production of diamond-cut polyhedral water 2 as shown in Figure (b).

(Regarding ice removal structure) Fig. 1 schematically shows the main ice making groove structure of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention in an ice making state. First ice making room 11 installed
It basically consists of a second ice-making compartment 12 that can be opened and closed from below, and a second ice-making compartment 12 that can be freely opened and closed from below. That is, a rectangular first ice-making chamber 11 made of a metal with good thermal conductivity is arranged and fixed horizontally in the upper part of the inside of an ice-making machine housing (not shown), and the first ice-making chamber 11 is arranged and fixed horizontally in a predetermined alignment pattern. Ice making room 13
A number of recesses are provided in the first ice making chamber 11 facing downward. Each first ice making chamber 13 is formed as a hemispherical recess,
- As an example, the diameter is set to 3 cm and the depth is set to 1.5 marks.

On the top surface above the first ice making compartment 1.

An evaporator 14 led out from a refrigeration system (not shown) is closely fixed in a meandering manner, and the operation of the refrigeration system promotes heat exchange of the vaporized refrigerant in the evaporator 14, so that the temperature of the first ice making compartment 11 reaches below freezing. cooled down.

Immediately below the first ice making chamber 11, a second ice making chamber 12 made of a metal with good heat conductivity such as copper is provided so as to be tiltable as described below. The first ice making chamber 11 can be closed from below, and the first ice making chamber 11 can be opened during deicing operation. That is, in the second ice making compartment 12.

Corresponding to the first ice-making chambers 13 recessed in the first ice-making chamber 11, a large number of second ice-making chambers 15, also made of hemispherical recesses, are recessed upward in a desired alignment pattern. The diameter of this second ice-making chamber 15 is also 3 cm, for example, and the depth of the four parts is set to 1.5 (2). Therefore, when the second ice-making compartment 12 is closed from below with respect to the first ice-making compartment 11, the two ice-making compartments 13, 15 correspond to each other, and a spherical space with a diameter of 3 cm is formed within each compartment. In addition, the second ice making room 1
A through hole 12a into which a support member 71, which will be described later, is inserted is bored at the bottom of each second ice making compartment 15 in FIG.

As described above, the second ice-making chamber 12 is configured as a block body made of a metal with good thermal conductivity such as copper, and each of the second ice-making chambers 15
A water tray 38 for spraying and supplying ice-making water to the support member 7
1 is interposed therebetween and is integrally fixed to the outer bottom of the second ice making chamber 12 via bolts 60. Also water plate 38
The rear end of the rear end stands up at a right angle to form a rear part 64, and the open end of the rear part 64 is pivoted to a fixed part of the ice maker housing (not shown) by a pivot 16 so as to be tiltable and rotatable. It is rotated together with the second ice making chamber 12 by an actuator motor AM. That is, if it is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 8, the second ice-making chamber 12 integrally fixed to the water tray 38 opens the first ice-making compartment 13, and if it is rotated counterclockwise, the second ice-making chamber 12, which is integrally fixed to the water tray 38, opens the first ice-making compartment 13. As shown in the figure, the second ice making compartment 12
closes the first ice making chamber 13.

On the back side of the water tray 38, fountain holes 25 communicating with each of the second ice making DS chambers 15 are correspondingly bored, and distribution pipes 24 for supplying ice making water to these fountain holes 25 are also on the back side of the water tray 38. It is arranged in a meandering manner. Further, below the water tray 38, an ice-making water tank 19 for supplying ice-making water to the distribution pipe 24 is integrally provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the surface of the water tray 38,
At a position corresponding to each fountain hole 25 bored in the water tray 38,
A support member 71 having a convex shape in cross section is provided in a protruding manner. Small diameter portion 7 formed at the upper part of this support member 71
The outer diameter of 1a is set to a size that allows it to be inserted into the through hole 12a of the second ice making chamber 15, and the second ice making chamber 12 is configured such that the small diameter portion 71a of the corresponding support member 71 is fitted into each through hole 12a. It is placed and fixed on the water tray 38 in the inserted state. That is, the second
As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the ice-making chamber 12 lands on the step 71b of the support member 71, so that the support member 71 is disposed between the surface of the water tray and the bottom surface of the second ice-making chamber 12. A gap 74 having a thickness dimension d of the large diameter portion 71c is configured.

This gap 74 functions as a flow path for tap water supplied via the water supply valve Wv during a deicing operation to be described later. Note that the upper surface of the small diameter portion 71a of the support member 71 is formed in an arc shape that matches the inner surface shape of the second ice making chamber 15.

The support member 71 is provided with a supply hole 72 that communicates with the water fountain hole 25 formed in the water tray 38, and the distribution pipe 24 and the ice forming space communicate with each other through the supply hole 72. Further, a discharge hole 73 is formed adjacent to the supply hole 72 of the support member 71, and this discharge hole 73 communicates with a return hole 26 formed in the water tray 38. Therefore, during the ice making operation to be described later, the re-ice making chamber 13 is
．． Ice-making water is supplied to the ice-forming space configured in 15, and the ice-making water that has not yet frozen in the space (hereinafter referred to as "unfrozen water") is discharged through the discharge hole 73 and the return hole 2.
6 and is returned to the ice making water tank 19.

Note that the support member 71 is made of a poor thermal conductor, and is configured so that heat conduction from the first ice making compartment 11 and the second ice making compartment 12 is not performed well.

That is, when the first ice making compartment 11 is cooled during the ice operation, the temperature of the 2111th ice compartment 12 made of a good thermal conductor becomes approximately the same as that of the first ice making compartment 11, but the temperature of the support member 71 increases again. The temperature is slightly higher than that of the ice-making compartment 11.12, and the time it takes for an ice layer to form on the upper surface of the support member 71 is longer than the time it takes for an ice layer to form in the re-ice-making compartment 13.15. This prevents an ice layer from growing on the upper surface of the support member 71 and blocking the supply hole 72 and the discharge hole 73 before a complete spherical ice is produced in the re-ice making chamber 13.15.

(Regarding the water pan tilting mechanism and water circulation system) The actuator motor AM for tilting the water pan 38 is equipped with a speed reducer, and the cam lever 17 and the lever piece 37 are fixed to the rotating shaft thereof so as to extend in the radial direction. tip 1
A coil spring 18 is elastically engaged between 7a and the front end of the water tray 38. A cam surface 17b formed at the base of the cam lever 17 is dimensioned to be able to cam engage with the upper surface of the side portion 61 of the water tray 38. Further, a changeover switch S2 is disposed at a fixed portion that supports the first ice making chamber 11, and when the lever piece 37 is rotated by the rotation of the motor AM accompanying the deicing operation, the changeover switch S2 is changed over. The motor AM is stopped, and the water tray 38 is stopped in a tilted state. It also functions to switch the refrigeration system valve and circulate hot gas to the evaporator 14.

Water supply pipe 2 led out from the bottom side of the ice-making water tank 19
1 communicates with a pressure chamber 23 provided on the side of the tank via a water supply pump 22, and further communicates from the pressure chamber 23 with the distribution pipe 24. Therefore, from the ice making water tank 19 to the pump 2
2 is injected into each of the second ice-making chambers 15 through the water fountain holes 25 formed in the one-way pipe 24 and the supply holes 72 formed in the support member 71. It is something that In addition, during the ice-making operation described later, unfrozen water that has not been frozen in the re-ice-making chamber 13.15 is
The ice-making water tank 19 is discharged from the discharge hole 73 formed adjacent to the supply hole 72 and the return hole 2G formed in the water tray 38.
It is now possible to return to

Further, in front of the water tray 38, a dam part 62 is provided which is set to be lower than the side part 61 by a predetermined dimension, and both ends of this dam part 62 are in close contact with both side parts 61. . Further, a drainage hole 63 of a required diameter is bored in the water tray 38 between the front end of the second ice making chamber 12 and the damming part 62. As a result, the inner surface of the water tray 38 has both sides 61,
61. A water drop portion 65 is formed which is surrounded by the dam portion 62 and the rear portion 64. A part of the water stored in the water reservoir 65 flows down from the drain hole 63 to the ice-making water tank 19, and the other water overflows from the upper end of the dam 62 and flows from the front side of the water tray 38. It is arranged so that it flows into the tank 19. Note that water is supplied to the ice-making water tank 19 by opening the water supply valve Wv of the water supply pipe 27 connected to the external water supply system.

(About the temperature-sensing mechanism) A temperature-sensing section (
A temperature sensing section of a de-icing detection thermometer Th, which functions as a de-icing completion detecting means, is disposed at a different position on the top surface of the first ice-making chamber. Furthermore, the second ice making room 1
A temperature-sensing part of a thermometer Th is disposed on a required side of the thermometer Th, and the main body of the thermometer Th that emits an electric signal is a water tray 3.
8.

(About the water guide plate) A drain tray 69 is provided below the ice-making water tank 19 to receive ice-making residual water and discharge it to the outside of the machine.
A water guide plate 67 fixed to a shaft 68 faces above. During the ice-making operation, the water guide plate 67 is positioned by coming into contact with a positioning member 70 that extends and hangs down from a fixed portion of the housing.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is stopped at a position close to the open end of the tank 19. In this state, if the ice-making water in the tank 19 overflows, as shown in FIG.
After this water flows down along the back surface of the water guide plate 67,
It is discharged from the drain tray 69 to the outside of the machine. Further, during deicing operation, as shown in FIG. 8, if the shaft 68 to which the water guide plate 67 is fixed is driven counterclockwise by a driving means (not shown), the water guide plate 67 can be tilted. state (
(described later) collapses onto the upper surface of the second H ice chamber 12 and blocks each of the second ice making compartments 15. As shown in FIG. 9, the hydrophobic water falling from the first ice making chamber 11 is caused to slide down on this water guiding plate 67 and is smoothly guided to the ice storage tL (not shown).

Note that when the water tray 38 (second ice making compartment) returns to its original position, the water guide plate 67 is pressed by the water tray 38 returning to the horizontal state and rotates clockwise, as shown in FIG. , comes into contact with the positioning member 7o and stops. This water guide plate 6
7 is tilted by moving the center of gravity using the shaft 68 as a fulcrum.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a modification of the support member 71 employed in the deicing structure according to the present invention, and the support member 7J has a water fountain hole 25 and a return hole 26 formed in the water tray 38. A large diameter through hole 75 that communicates in common is bored. That is, this through hole 75.

During ice-making operation, it functions to supply ice-making water into the re-ice-making chamber 13.15 and to discharge unfrozen water that has not frozen in the single-car ice-making chamber 13.15.

Function of the embodiment Next, the function of the de-icing structure according to the embodiment will be explained. First, in the ice-making operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the second ice-making chamber 12 closes the first ice-making chamber 11 from below, makes each first ice-making chamber 13 correspond to each second ice-making chamber 15, and then closes the inside of the second ice-making chamber 12. constitutes an ice-forming space.

When the automatic ice-making machine is powered on in this state, ice-making operation is started, and refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporator 14 provided in the first ice-making compartment 11, thereby cooling the first ice-making compartment 11.

The ice-making water from the ice-making water tank 19 is pumped to the distribution pipe 24, and is passed through each water fountain 25 of the distribution pipe 24 and the supply hole 72 of the support member 71 into a spherical ice-making compartment 13.15. Sprayed into space.

The injected ice-making water comes into contact with the inner surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 and is cooled, moistening the second ice-making chamber 15 below, and then is discharged from the spherical space through the plurality of discharge holes 73. This unfrozen water flows through the return hole 26 formed in the water tray 38.
The water is returned to the ice-making water tank 19 for circulation again. As the circulation of the ice-making water is repeated, the temperature of the entire ice-making water stored in the tank 19 gradually decreases, and the temperature of the second ice-making chamber 15 also gradually decreases.

First, a portion of the ice-making water freezes on the inner wall surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 and an ice layer begins to form (see Fig. 4), and the unfrozen water returns to the tank 19 through the discharge hole 73 and the return hole 26. As these operations are repeated, the growth of the ice layer further progresses, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, spherical ice 1 is finally formed in the spherical space formed in the re-ice making chamber 13. generated. If the ice making operation is terminated at the timing when the ice making state shown in FIG. 4 is reached, hollow spherical ice as shown in FIG. 12(c) will be obtained. The hollow ice obtained in this way can contain ingredients such as cherries in its inner space.

By adding beverages such as juice and ornamental materials such as flower petals, new demand for ice can be stimulated.

Furthermore, the perforated parts of this hollow ice (supply hole 72 and discharge hole 73
It can also be used as a flute (torpedo) by blowing by placing the part corresponding to the lower lip against the lower lip, giving it a unique feel.

To explain the progress of ice making in more detail, the second ice making chamber 12
As mentioned above, since it is made of a good thermal conductor made of metal such as copper, the heat conduction from the 1111th icebox 11 is good, and the appropriate cooling temperature is quickly reached, which is approximately the same as that of the 11B icebox 11. Become. Therefore, at the same time as an ice layer is formed in the first ice making compartment 11, an ice layer is also formed in the second ice making compartment 12, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4. Here, the support member 71
is made of a poor heat conductor, so heat conduction from the second ice making compartment 12 is not good. Therefore, the second ice making compartment 1
The temperature of the support member 71 becomes higher than the temperature in step 2, and as a result, the supply hole 72 and the discharge hole 73 are
It is possible to effectively prevent the supply of ice-making water from being stopped even though the ice is covered with an ice layer and there is an unfrozen cavity in the center of each spherical ice.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the production of spherical ice is completed and the temperature of the first ice-making chamber 11 drops to the required temperature range, the ice-making detection thermo Th detects this temperature drop and starts circulating and supplying ice-making water. At the same time, the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator 14 continues. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, open the water supply valve Wv,
Supply of water to the water reservoir 65 formed on the surface of the water tray 38 is started.

Since the amount of tap water supplied via the water supply valve Wv is large compared to the amount flowing down from the drain hole 63 to the tank 19, the water level in the water reservoir 65 gradually rises and finally reaches the dam part of the water tray 38. 62, resulting in an overflow. The water surface level of the water reservoir 65 when it overflows is the 211th! By setting the temperature so that the water reaches near the upper end of the ice compartment 12, the tap water at normal temperature can mainly heat the second ice making compartment 12.

At this time, since a gap 74 of a required size is formed between the bottom of the second ice making compartment 12 and the surface of the water tray 38, most of the bottom of the second ice making compartment 12 is kept in the water reservoir 65. This makes it possible to hasten the temperature rise in the second ice making chamber 12.

The overflow water from the dam 62 is as follows.

The water flows down from the tip of the water dish 38 into the tank 19. The water level in the tank 19 gradually rises due to the water flowing in from the tip of the water dish and the water flowing down from the drain hole 63, and the water overflows from the tip of the tank in a short time, causing the water guide plate 67 to be in the standby position. It is discharged from the drain tray 69 to the outside of the machine along the same direction.

21st! ! The ice chamber 12 is heated by the tap water flowing into the water reservoir 65 and the gap 74, and the temperature rises, and the second ice making chamber 1
The freezing force between the wall surface of No. 5 and the hydrophobic layer decreases.

Furthermore, the adhesion force of the ice formed on the surface adjacent to the first ice making chamber 11 is also weakened. When the temperature of the second ice making compartment 12 rises in this way, the thermometer Th detects this and the water supply valve Wv
At the same time, the actuator AM is energized and begins to rotate counterclockwise as shown in FIG. As a result, the cam lever 17 rotates as shown in FIG.
A cam surface 17b formed at the base forcibly presses the upper side surface of the water tray 38 downward. As already mentioned, the second ice making compartment 12 is heated by tap water and the adhesion force between the first ice making compartment 11 and the spherical ice 1 is reduced, so the water tray 38 and the second ice making compartment 12 are It is forcibly separated from the first ice making chamber 11 and begins to tilt diagonally downward. By tilting the water tray 38 and the tank 19, the ice-making water in the tank 19 and the water in the water reservoir are disposed of to the outside.

During the tilting of the water tray 38, the water guide plate 67 is reversed by pushing a reversing lever (not shown) integrally disposed on the shaft 68 with a part of the water tray assembly.

It tilts while leaning against the water tray 38. At the timing when the water tray 38 is tilted to the maximum, the lever piece 37
suppresses and energizes the eight changeover switches, which causes motor A to
M stops its rotation and stops the tilting of the water tray 38.

As described above, the water guide plate 67 covers the upper surface of the second ice making chamber 12 and provides a smooth surface for the ice cubes to slide down.

Furthermore, by switching the switch S2, the condenser fan motor (not shown) is stopped, the hot gas valve (not shown) is opened, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator 14, and the first ice making compartment 11 is supplied with hot gas. Heating has been done.

The frozen surface between the inner surface of the first ice making chamber 13 and the spherical water starts to melt. Note that the first ice making chamber 11 has a water tray 38 as described above.
Since the cooling continues until the spherical water is tilted and opened, the freezing force (adhesion force) between the spherical water and the inner surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 is strong, and when the second ice-making chamber 12 is opened, the spherical water 1 is as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is firmly attached to the first ice making compartment 13. However,
Since hot gas has been circulating in the evaporator 14 since a while ago, the temperature of the first ice making chamber 11 is increasing. When the first ice-making chamber 13 is heated to an extent that the spherical water 1 is unfrozen from the chamber wall, it falls under its own weight and settles on the surface of the water guide plate 67, which is waiting to be tilted, and is placed in the water storage. (not shown) and is recovered by falling down (see Figure 9).

In this way, when all of the spherical water 1 leaves the first ice-making compartment 13, the temperature of the first ice-making compartment 11 rises all at once due to the hot gas circulating in the evaporator 14, as shown in FIG. When the deicing detection thermo Th2 detects this temperature rise, the deicing operation is completed and the motor AM reversely rotates to drive the cam lever 17. Therefore, the lever 17
The coil spring 18 elastically engaged between the water tray 38 and the water tray 38 rotates the water tray 38 and the ice making water tank 19 counterclockwise and returns them to the horizontal state, thereby opening the first ice making chamber. 11 from below again.

Next, the cam lever 17 is rotated by the reverse rotation of the motor AM.
The refrigeration system valve also rotates in the opposite direction, presses and energizes the changeover switch S2, switches the refrigeration system valve, and stops the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 14. Furthermore, the water supply valve Wv is opened to supply new ice-making water to the tank 19 whose water level has decreased. Then, the ice making operation is restarted and the above-described operation is repeated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the de-icing structure according to the present invention, the first ice-making compartment includes a first ice-making compartment that opens downward, and the second ice-making compartment includes a second ice-making compartment that opens upward. In relation to an ice making machine that basically comprises an ice making compartment and generates ice blocks in an ice forming space that is configured internally by closing a re-ice making compartment, the second ice making machine described above
A gap is formed between the bottom surface of the ice-making compartment and the top surface of the water tray, and external tap water supplied onto the water tray during deicing operation flows down into the gap. Thereby, the spherical or polyhedral ice cubes that have frozen in the second ice-making chamber can be smoothly removed in a short time. Therefore, the time required for deicing can be shortened, ice making capacity is improved, and tap water and electricity supplied for deicing can be prevented from being wasted, thereby effectively saving energy.

Furthermore, although the case has been described in which external tap water is directly used as the heating means, it is also possible to supply hot water heated by a heater, water heater, or the like. Furthermore, although the production of spherical water has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.
Of course, it is also possible to produce polyhedral water having other shapes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show a deicing structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows an initial state when the second ice making compartment is closed with respect to the first ice making compartment and ice making operation is started. A vertical cross-sectional view of the ice-making mechanism, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main part showing an enlarged view of the support member in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the main part showing the second Wl ice chamber and water tray, and FIG. Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice making mechanism showing the state in which hollow spherical water is formed in the reproducing water chamber as ice making progresses. A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ice making mechanism showing a state in which solid spherical water is formed and the water level of the ice making water in the tank is decreasing. Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice-making mechanism showing the state in which water has been formed.When ice-making is completed and the water supply valve is opened, the water that overflows from the dam due to the rise in the water level in the water reservoir flows through the water guide plate. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice making mechanism section showing ice flowing down along the back side of the ice making chamber and being discharged from the drain tray to the outside of the machine. , a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice making mechanism section showing a state in which the water guide plate is collapsed onto the top surface of the second ice making compartment to block each of the second ice making compartments. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ice making mechanism section showing the state in which the ice making mechanism slides down the water guide plate located slanted directly below it.
As the second ice maker begins to rotate back counterclockwise. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice-making mechanism showing a state in which the water guide plate is also returned to its original position; FIG. Figure 12 (
FIG. 12(a) is an explanatory diagram showing spherical ice, FIG. 12(b) is an explanatory diagram showing multifaceted water, and FIG. 12(c) is an explanatory diagram showing hollow spherical ice. 1...First ice making chamber 2a...Through hole 4...Evaporator 5...Water hole 1...Support member 4...Gap 2...Second ice making chamber 3...No. 1 Ice making chamber 5...Second ice making chamber 8...Water tray 2...Supply hole FIo, 11 FIo, 12 15...21st!1 Ice chamber 25...Fountain hole 38...Water Dish 71...Supporting member 74...Gap

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] [1] An automatic ice-making machine in which ice-making water is injected into an ice-making chamber to form ice cubes in the ice-making chamber, and ice-making water that has not yet frozen is recirculated, Evaporator (1
4), which is fixedly arranged inside the machine and has a number of first ice-making compartments (13) of a desired shape that open downward; are arranged freely,
A large number of second ice-making chambers (15) having a desired shape are formed so that each of the first ice-making chambers (13) can be closed correspondingly from below, and a through hole (15) is formed in the bottom of each second ice-making chamber (15). 12
a), a second ice-making compartment (12) having a hole therein;
12) is provided below, and has fountain holes (25) bored at positions corresponding to the through holes (12a) of each of the second ice-making compartments (15), and communicates with each fountain hole (25) in a corresponding manner. Through hole (
The second ice-making chamber (12) and the water tray (38) are connected to the support member (
By arranging them facing each other with the ice making compartment (71) in between,
12) and the top surface of the water tray (38).
74), and water supplied from the outside flows down into the gap (74) during deicing operation. [2] The deicing structure for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the support member (71) is made of a thermally poor conductor.