JPH0327268Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to an ice-making device, and in particular, an ice-making device that is fixed to a water tray that closes a number of ice-making chambers that open downward, and that can be tilted and moved together with the water tray. This invention relates to a so-called inverted cell type ice making device equipped with a water tank.

(b) Conventional technology This type of conventional general ice making device was developed in 1983.
-53243, Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-47072, etc., when the ice making operation is finished and the water tray is tilted, the remaining ice making water in the water tank is drained from the front opening of the water tank. At this time, a drainage guide plate is provided in front of the water tank to change the flow of ice-making residual water flowing out from the front opening of the water tank and guide it to the drainage tray. Of course, considering only the point of draining the remaining water from ice making into the drain tray, by extending the drain tray, a drainage guide plate becomes unnecessary. Since there is a great risk of water entering the water, a drainage guide plate is considered to be an essential component of this type of ice making device.

In such conventional ice-making devices, the drainage guide plate cannot be removed, and therefore, not only the drainage guide plate but also parts to attach it are required, which complicates the configuration and increases the number of work steps. There were consequences.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention In view of these points, the present invention provides a water tank that does not impede the drainage operation of ice-making residual water even though the drainage guide plate is removed; The purpose is to simplify the structure.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a water tray that is fixed to a water tray that closes a large number of ice-making chambers that open downward, and that can tilt and move together with the water tray. A front wall is formed in the tank, and the upper edge of the front wall is below the surface of the water tray and faces the front surface of the water tray with a gap therebetween, and the front part of the bottom wall that is continuous with the front wall has a A drain port is formed at the same position as or above a predetermined water supply level of the water tank, and grooves are continuously formed between the drain port and the front wall and on both sides of the drain port, and between the drain port and the front wall. An ice making device is constructed in which the groove portion is located on an extension of the front surface of the water tray.

(E) Function According to the present invention, when ice making is finished and the water tank is tilted together with the water tray, the ice making water in the water tank is directly drained from the drain port into the drain tray. Moreover, ice-making water that falls into the water tank from the front of the water tray during ice-making is not drained from the drain port due to the action of the groove.

(F) Embodiment Figure 1 shows a partially cutaway side view of an ice-making device embodying the present invention, in which 1 has a large number of ice-making chambers 1A that open downward, and is fixed to the outer surface of the upper wall. A cooler containing an evaporation pipe 2, 3 for each small chamber 1
A from below with sufficient margin, and surface 3A
, a water tray with a fountain hole 4 facing each small chamber 1A and a return hole 5 on both sides thereof; 6, a water tank fixed to the water tray 3 and communicating with the return hole 5; 7, water in the water tank 6; a circulation pump 1 that circulates water from the water fountain 4 to each small room 1A via the water supply pipe 8 and the distribution pipe 9;
0 is a deceleration motor 12 capable of forward and reverse rotation for tilting and reciprocating the water tray 3 whose rear portion is supported on a fulcrum shaft 11;
A drive cam 13 connected to the output shaft of the motor 12 and a coil spring 1 connecting the cam 13 and the water tray 3.
15 is a water sprinkler that sprinkles water on the surface 3A of the water tray 3 when the water supply valve 16 is opened;
17 is a float tank 17A, a float 17B, and a water level switch 17 that communicate with the bottom of the water tank 6.
A water level detection device having the configuration shown in C detects a predetermined water level in the water tank 6. Reference numeral 18 denotes a drain tray disposed below the water tank 6.

Further, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water tank 6 is composed of an integrally molded front wall 6A, both side walls 6B, a rear wall 6C, and a bottom wall 6D that is generally sloped low toward the rear. In the fixed state of the water tank 6 with both side walls 6B joined to the water tray 3, the front wall 6A has its upper edge 6A1 located slightly below the water tray surface 3A and is spaced from the front surface 3B of the water tray 3. and face each other. In addition, in the front part of the bottom wall 6D of the water tank 6 which is continuous with the front wall 6A of the water tank 6, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. An opening 19 is formed, and a groove 20 is continuously formed on three sides around the drain 19, both ends of which face the bottom wall 6D of the water tank 6 behind the drain 19. The groove portion 20A between the openings 19 is located on an extension of the water tray front surface 3B. Note that the drain tray 18
The front end of the drain port 19 is located at a position where it cannot be removed from the drain port 19.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. Water dish 5 is the first
As shown by the solid line in the figure, each small chamber 1A is closed in a horizontal state, and first the water supply valve 16 is opened and the sprinkler 15 is opened.
Water is sprinkled onto the surface 3A of the water tray 3 from the water tray 3, and water is mainly supplied to the water tank 6 through the return hole 5, but some water also flows down the front surface 3B of the water tray 3 and falls into the water tank 6.
Since this water is received by the groove 20A, it is stored in the water tank 6 through the groove 20 without being drained from the drain port 19. Further, the low-temperature refrigerant is circulated through the evaporation pipe 2 to cool the cooler 1, and the circulation pump 7 is operated to start ice-making operation. Thereafter, when the water level in the water tank 6 reaches a predetermined water supply level
The contact point 7C is opened, the water supply valve 16 is closed, and the water supply operation is completed.

The water in the water tank 6 passes through the water supply pipe 8 and the distribution pipe 9 and is sprayed from each water fountain 4 into each ice making compartment 1A, and the remaining water that does not freeze in the compartment 1A is sent from the return hole 4 to the water tank 6. Repeat the returning circular action. Such ice-making operation is controlled by, for example, a timer, and when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the circulation pump 7 is stopped and the ice-making operation is ended.

Upon completion of this ice-making operation, hot gas is circulated through the evaporator pipe 2 to start a de-icing operation to cool the cooler 1, and at the same time, the deceleration motor 12 rotates forward and the drive cam 13 rotates counterclockwise. Accordingly, the water tray 3 starts tilting. During the tilting of the water tray 3, the remaining ice-making water remaining at the bottom of the water tank 6 moves to the front of the water tank 6 as shown by arrow A, flows into the drain port 19, and flows from the drain port 19 into the drain tray. 1
8 and is drained.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, during the tilting of the water tray 3, the water level switch 17C closes, the water supply valve 16 opens, and the sprinkler 15 starts spraying water onto the surface 3A of the water tray 3 for cleaning. Since the water tray 3 is tilted, this washing water flows down the water tray surface 3A, washes away the thin film of ice adhering to the water tray surface 3A, and hits the front wall 6A of the water tank 6 as shown by arrow B. After being returned to the water tank 6 by the water tank 6, it is drained from the drain port 19 in the same manner as the ice-making residual water as described above.

When it is detected at a predetermined temperature rise of the cooler 1 that the ice has left each ice-making chamber 1A due to the deicing operation using hot gas, the deceleration motor 12 rotates in the reverse direction and the drive cam 13 rotates. As the water tray 3 rotates clockwise, the water tray 3 starts to move backward. Then, when the water tray 3 returns to the horizontal position that closes the ice-making chamber 1A again, the deceleration motor 12 stops, and at this time, the de-icing operation using the hot gas ends, and the next cycle of ice-making operation starts.

In addition, the drain port 19 in the above embodiment of the present invention
is formed above the water supply level X based on the water level detection device 17, but when the water supply level X is regulated by the drain port 19, the drain port 19 may be formed at the same position as the water supply level

(g) Effects of the invention The water tank of the invention has the following practical effects.

Not only can the ice-making water left in the water tank be drained directly into the drain tray without the need for a conventional drainage guide plate, but also all the ice-making water that is returned to the water tank from the front of the water tray during ice-making can be drained. It can be returned to the tank, ensuring that water shortages during ice making can be prevented.

Since a drainage guide plate and its attachment parts are not required, the structure can be simplified, the assembly process can be reduced, and the number of parts can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a partially cutaway side view of the ice making device of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the water tank of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a partially cutaway view of the main parts of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cutaway enlarged side view. 3 ...Water dish, 3A...Water dish surface, 3B...Water dish front, 6 ...Water tank, 6A...Front wall, 19...
Drain port, X...Water supply level.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cooler divided into a number of ice-making chambers that open downward, a tiltable water tray that closes each chamber, a water tank fixed to the water tray, and a water tank that allows the water in the water tank to be transferred to the surface of the water tray. In the ice-making apparatus, the water tank has an upper edge lower than the surface of the water tray and facing the front surface of the water tray with a gap therebetween. A drain port is formed in the front part of the bottom wall that has a wall and is continuous with the front wall at the same position as or above a predetermined water supply level of the water tank,
An ice making device characterized in that a groove is continuously formed between the drain port and the front wall and on both sides of the drain port, and the groove portion between the drain port and the front wall is located on an extension of the front surface of the water tray. .