JPH0447577Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field This invention is an automatic jet ice making machine that generates ice cubes by jetting ice-making water into the corresponding ice-making chamber from a water fountain hole drilled in a water tray. The present invention relates to a water tray structure that can easily and economically adapt to the production of ice cubes of different sizes by simply replacing a part of the ice making unit even if the same model of ice making machine is used.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY An injection type automatic ice maker that produces a large number of ice cubes by spraying ice making water from below into a large number of ice making chambers that open downward is suitably used in kitchen facilities such as coffee shops and restaurants. There is. Since the present invention relates to an improvement of the water tray structure used in this injection type automatic ice maker, in order to contribute to the understanding of the present invention, the general structure of the ice maker will first be explained with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. do. FIG. 3 shows an ice making mechanism of an automatic injection ice maker, and an ice making chamber 1 in which a number of ice making chambers 12 opening downward are defined in a grid pattern inside a casing (not shown).
0 is placed horizontally. An evaporator tube 14 that communicates with the refrigeration system is closely arranged in a meandering manner on the upper surface of the ice-making chamber 10, and the ice-making chamber 12 is forcibly cooled by circulating a refrigerant therethrough during ice-making operation.

Directly below the ice making chamber 10, a water tray 18 including an ice making water tank 16 is pivotably supported by a support shaft 20 so as to be tiltable. This water tray 18 is held horizontally and parallel to the ice making chamber 10 during ice making operation,
During the ice removal operation, the ice making chamber 12 is opened by being biased by an actuator (not shown) and tilting clockwise about the support shaft 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water tray 18 according to the prior art has a U-shaped member 22 with an open top and bottom.
It basically consists of a receiving plate 24 disposed horizontally in the space defined by this U-shaped member 22, and a pressure chamber 26 and a distribution passage 28 disposed on the back surface of the receiving plate 24. It is preferably obtained by injection molding a plastic resin material. The distribution path 28
As shown in FIG. 5, there is a main water channel 28a that extends straight and communicates with the pressure chamber 26 at the center of the back surface of the receiving plate 24, and a main water channel 28a that branches orthogonally from both sides of the main water channel 28a at predetermined intervals. Multiple (4 in the drawing)
main) and a secondary waterway 28b. The distribution channel 28 and the pressure chamber 26 are both open at the bottom for demolding from the mold, and this open part is closed by a lid 30 having the shape shown in the figure, and the pump 32 pumps the pressure. It is designed to define a flow path for ice-making water.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the receiving plate 24 is provided with water fountain holes 34 at predetermined intervals at positions corresponding to the centers of the ice-making compartments 12 of the ice-making compartment 10 and communicating with the distribution passages 28. A receiving plate 24 is also provided.
A return hole 36 is bored at a position adjacent to each fountain hole 34 and avoiding the distribution path 28. Additionally, above the water tray 18 is a water sprinkler 3 connected to an external water system.
8 is disposed, and the water sprinkled onto the surface of the water tray from this water sprinkler 38 passes through the return hole 36 and the front open end of the water tray 18 (on the side opposite to the pivoted portion by the support shaft 20) into ice-making water. The water is returned and stored in the tank 16 and used as ice-making water thereafter.

The ice-making water stored in the tank 16 is passed through the suction pipe 40.
It is sucked in by the pump 32 through the pump 32, and is forced into the pressure chamber 26 through the illustrated discharge pipe 42, tube body 44, and pipe 46. The pressure chamber 26 is connected to the distribution path 2
Therefore, the ice-making water is communicated with the distribution channel 28.
The ice is injected into the corresponding ice-making chamber 12 from a large number of water fountain holes 34 formed in the receiving plate 24 through the ice-making chambers 12 .

Since the ice-making chamber 12 is cooled to below the freezing point by the operation of the refrigeration system, a portion of the ice-making water that is circulated and supplied into the ice-making chamber begins to freeze in a layer on the inner wall surface of the ice-making chamber 12. The ice-making water that has not yet frozen (unfrozen water) falls from a return hole 36 formed in the receiving plate 24 of the water tray 18, is collected in the ice-making water tank 16, and is circulated again. When the ice-making operation progresses and the required ice cubes are generated in the ice-making chamber 12, a sensor detects this and supplies hot gas to the evaporation pipe 14 by switching the valve, and energizes the actuator to open the water tray 18 and Start tilting the ice making water tank 16. As a result, the ice cubes are discharged from the ice making chamber 12, slide diagonally downward on the water tray 18, and are stored in an ice storage (not shown).

Problems that the invention aims to solve In the conventional jet-type automatic ice maker mentioned above, even if the model is the same model, it can
It is often necessary to vary the dimensions of the ice cubes produced. In this case, since the dimensions of the ice cubes approximately match the internal dimensions of the ice-making compartment 12, this can be accommodated by selecting an ice-making compartment 12 having the required internal dimensions when assembling the ice maker.
For example, the ice making chamber 12 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6
When it is necessary to obtain ice cubes smaller than the ice cubes obtained from the ice cubes (4 vertical rows and 4 horizontal rows), as shown in Figures 7 and 8, (row) must be replaced with a smaller ice maker 10.

By the way, the fountain hole 34 bored in the water tray 18 is
As is clear from the drawing, it is important that the ice making water be located directly below the center of each ice making chamber 12, and by injecting ice making water from this central position, homogeneous ice cubes can be created in the corresponding ice making chamber 12. can be generated. However, as mentioned above, the ice making compartment 1 with standard dimensions
An ice-making compartment 1 defining an ice-making compartment 12 smaller than 0
If you select 0, the vertical center of each ice-making chamber 12 and the fountain hole 3 bored in the existing receiving plate 24
It becomes impossible to align perpendicularly to the corresponding position of 4. In other words, the conventional ice-making chamber 12 and water tray 18 are always in a corresponding relationship with respect to the drilling position of the water fountain hole 34, and when adopting an ice-making chamber 12 of different dimensions, specifications that match the dimensions of the ice-making chamber 12 are required. It was necessary to replace the water tray 18 accordingly.

However, since the water tray 18 is also replaced when the ice making chamber 10 is replaced, the position of the corresponding water fountain hole 34 must be changed each time the ice making chamber 10 is prepared to accommodate ice cubes of various sizes. This means that a water tray 18 is required, which has the drawback of increasing manufacturing costs and manufacturing costs for molds and the like. Further, each of the above-mentioned members needs to be stored according to their dimensions, which poses problems such as requiring a large space for storing the members and complicating inventory management.

One proposal to deal with this has been filed by the present applicant as a device titled ``Water tray structure for injection type automatic ice maker'' in Utility Application No. 1971-161 (see Utility Model Application No. 101769-1983). . This idea is constructed so that a receiving plate with a fountain hole and a return hole can be removably attached to the water tray body, so that only the receiving plate can be replaced when the ice making compartment is replaced. This is something that can be highly evaluated. However, this water tray structure can accommodate only cases in which the dimensions of the ice-making chamber change in the extending direction of the secondary distribution channel formed in the water tray body, and can only accommodate cases in which the dimensions of the ice making chamber change in the direction of the main distribution channel as well. still had the disadvantage that the entire water tray had to be replaced.

Purpose of the invention This invention was proposed in order to suitably solve the above-mentioned various drawbacks inherent in the water tray structure of the jet-type automatic ice maker. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new water tray structure that allows changes in any direction (changes in the dimensions of ice cubes) by economically replacing only a portion of the water tray without having to replace the entire water tray. do.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and suitably achieve the intended purpose, the present invention provides an ice-making compartment that defines a number of ice-making compartments that open downward; It is equipped with a water tray that is releasably closed from below and has a fountain hole and a return hole corresponding to each ice-making chamber, and an ice-making water tank attached to the water tray, and the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank is poured into the water tray. In an injection-type automatic ice making machine that generates ice cubes by supplying ice cubes under pressure to a distribution channel through a pressure chamber provided in the ice making water hole and injecting ice making water from the water fountain hole to each ice making chamber, the water tray is connected to the ice making machine. A distribution channel consisting of a water tray main body that is tiltably supported on a fixed part and has an opening that opens upward, a main water channel that connects to the pressure chamber, and a number of secondary water channels that branch from this main water channel. and a receiving plate, and the receiving plate is configured to be removably fixed to the opening of the water tray main body.

Embodiments Next, a preferred embodiment of the water tray structure of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same members already shown in the injection type automatic ice maker described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 5 will be designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a water tray structure in an exploded state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the water tray 18 is basically a water tray that is tiltably supported on a fixed part of the ice maker. The main body part 18a and the receiving plate 18b having the water fountain hole 34 and the return hole 36 formed therein are separated. That is, the water tray main body part 18a is made of a U-shaped member having a rectangular opening 19 that opens entirely upward, and an ice-making water tank is integrally molded with resin below the opening 19. This water dish main body 18a
A step portion 48 having a U-shape in plan is formed on the inner surface of the U-shaped step portion 48, and a receiving plate 18b, which will be described later, is removably fixed to the upper surface of the U-shaped step portion 48. Note that the step portion 48 is provided with a receiving plate 18b, which will be described later.
Screw holes 48a for bolting are screwed into appropriate locations at required intervals.

Ice-making water tank 1 integrally formed in the water tray main body 18a
On the rear side of 6, there is a bulge 5 that protrudes inward of the tank.
0, and an opening 50a is formed at the upper end of this bulging portion 50, on which the bottom of a pressure chamber 26, which will be described later, can be placed. Further, a pump 32 is removed from the outside of the rear surface of the bulging portion 50, and a suction pipe 40 of this pump 32 is connected to the opening of the ice-making water tank 16 via a pipe body 44. Note that when a receiving plate 18b (described later) is attached to the water tray main body 18a, a pipe 46 communicating with the pressure chamber 26 hangs down through the opening 50a, and this pipe 46 connects the pipe body 44 to the discharge pipe 42 of the pump 32. It is now possible to connect via

Next, the receiving plate 18b, which constitutes a separable part of the water tray 18, is made of a flat resin plate having a required thickness, and has a pressure chamber 26 and the above-mentioned main water channel 28a on the back side of this resin plate. A distribution channel 28 consisting of a water channel 28b is integrally molded with resin. These pressure chambers 26, main waterways 28a, and a large number of secondary waterways 28b are all completely opened outward (downward in FIG. 1), and this opening is defined by the arrangement of these members. It is closed by a lid 30 having a specific shape according to the pattern, and defines a flow path for ice-making water inside. A pipe 46 is disposed on the lid 30 at a position where the lid closes the pressure chamber 26, so that the pipe 46 can communicate with the pressure chamber 26 when the lid is closed. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom surface of the pressure chamber 26 is opened by an opening 50 formed in the water tray body 18a when the receiving plate 18b is set in the water tray body 18a.
a The pipe 46 is connected to the pump 32 by hanging down from the back side of the bulging part 50.

The receiving plate 18b has an ice-making compartment 12 in the ice-making compartment 10 that is used in correspondence with the water tray 18 in question.
A required number of fountain holes 34 and return holes 36 are bored in accordance with the arrangement pattern and dimensional specifications. In this case, each fountain hole 34 is arranged so as to face either the main water channel 28a or the secondary water channel 28b. Further, the return hole 36 is
It is bored at a position that avoids the main water channel 28a and the secondary water channel 28b, so that when the receiving plate 18b is disposed at a predetermined position on the water tray main body 18a, unfrozen water flows through the return hole 36. can fall downward from the opening 19 of the water tray main body 18a and be collected in the ice-making water tank 16.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the ice-making chamber 10 has four rows of ice-making chambers 12 and four rows of ice-making chambers 12 horizontally, as shown in FIG. In addition, four vertical rows and four horizontal rows of fountain holes 34 are located in the center of the receiving plate 18.
b (receiving plate shown in FIG. 1).
Further, on the back surface of the receiving plate 18b, four rows of secondary water channels 28b branching from the main water channel 28a are formed corresponding to the four rows of fountain holes. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the ice-making compartments 10 have the same external dimensions, if the ice-making compartments 12 are defined in 5 vertical rows and 5 horizontal rows, the receiving plate 18b also has 5 vertical rows and 5 horizontal rows. Five rows of fountain holes 34 are correspondingly drilled. In this case, on the back side of the receiving plate 18b, there are 5 fountains corresponding to the 5 rows of fountain groups.
A row of secondary channels 28a are formed.

Note that the water tray body 18 described above is attached to the receiving plate 18b.
A through hole 52 corresponding to the screw hole 48a screwed into the stepped portion 48a is formed so as to be able to be tightened with a bolt 54 shown in the figure.

Next, the actual assembly procedure for the water tray structure according to the embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, at the stage of assembling the ice maker, the ice maker 10 to be used is selected. For example, if relatively large ice cubes are to be produced, an ice-making chamber 10 having ice-making chambers 12 arranged in four columns and four rows as shown in FIG. 6 is selected.
In addition, the water tray 18 includes a water tray main body 18a and a receiving plate 18b.
Since the ice making compartment 10 is separated into
A fountain hole 34 is drilled that meets the specifications of 4.
Select the receiving plate 18b (see FIG. 1) in which the secondary water channels 28b of the row are formed.

Then, this receiving plate 18b is applied from above to the water tray main body portion 18a, and the three back end edges of the receiving plate 18b are set in the U-shaped step portion 48.
Next, by inserting the bolt 54 into the through hole 52 of the receiving plate 18b and screwing it into the screw hole 48a formed in the step 48 of the water tray main body 18a, the receiving plate 18b is removed.
is securely fixed to the water tray main body part 18a.

If the size of the ice cubes is to be changed at the user's request after the ice making machine has been assembled and shipped to the user, the ice making chamber 10 is replaced to accommodate the change in the size of the ice making compartment 12. That is, as described above, if the dimensions of the ice-making chambers 12 are changed, the center-to-center length of adjacent ice-making chambers 12 will change, and therefore the position of the water fountain 34 will need to be changed. Furthermore, if the dimensions of the ice-making chamber 12 change in the vertical direction of the water tray 18, it is also necessary to change the number and position of secondary water channels 28b in the distribution channel 28 defining the ice-making water channel. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the ice making chamber 10 is replaced with an ice making chamber 10 in which ice making chambers 2 are defined, five vertical rows and five horizontal rows of fountain holes 34 corresponding to the ice making chambers 12 are bored, and the receiving plate 18b in which the secondary water channels 28b are formed in five rows is bored. Select it and replace it with the receiving plate 18b that has been used so far.

In this way, this embodiment is configured so that only the receiving plate 18b needs to be replaced when the ice making compartment 10 is replaced, so compared to the case where the entire water tray is replaced,
In addition to being able to reduce mold costs, it is extremely economical as it does not require storage space. Especially,
Since the distribution passage 28 is integrally molded on the receiving plate 8b, it is possible to accommodate changes in the ice making chamber 12 not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the water tray structure of the injection type automatic ice maker according to the present invention, the injection hole and the return hole are bored, and the receiving plate integrally formed with the pressure chamber and the distribution path is attached to the water tray. Manufactured separately from the main body,
By making the receiving plate removably attachable to the water tray body, if you want to change the size of the ice cubes, you can simply replace the receiving plate when replacing the ice making compartment. There is no need to replace the entire water tray. In particular, the dimensions of the ice-making chamber (the dimensions of the ice cubes),
It has the excellent advantage of being able to easily accommodate changes in both the vertical and horizontal directions of the water tray. Furthermore, there is no need to manufacture or store a large number of water trays corresponding to ice-making compartments of different sizes, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and overheads for inventory management.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the water tray structure of the injection type automatic ice maker according to the present invention in an exploded state;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the water tray in an assembled state, Fig. 3 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the ice making mechanism of a jet-type automatic ice maker according to the prior art, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water tray according to the prior art. A plan view, Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ice-making compartment shown in Figure 5 observed from the back, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the ice-making compartment that produces ice cubes of different sizes. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when a corresponding water tray is used, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ice-making compartment shown in FIG. 7 observed from the back side. 10... Ice making room, 12... Ice making small room, 16...
Ice-making water tank, 18... Water dish, 18a... Water dish main body, 18b... Receiving plate, 26... Pressure chamber, 28
...Distribution channel, 28a... Main water channel, 28b... Secondary water channel, 34... Fountain hole, 36... Return hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] [1] An ice-making chamber 10 defining a large number of ice-making chambers 12 that open downward, the ice-making chambers 12 being closed so as to be openable from below, and corresponding to each ice-making chamber 12. Water fountain hole 34 and return hole 3
6, and an ice-making water tank 16 attached to this water tray 18, and a pressure chamber 2 in which ice-making water from the ice-making water tank 16 is provided in the water tray 18.
6 to the distribution channel 28, and the fountain hole 3
4, the water tray 18 is tiltably pivoted to a fixed part of the ice maker and opened upward. A distribution channel 2 consisting of a water pan main body 18a provided with an opening 19, a main water channel 28a connected to a pressure chamber 26, and a number of secondary water channels 28b branching from this main water channel 28a.
8, and a receiving plate 18b provided with a receiving plate 18b in the opening 19 of the water tray main body 18a.
A water tray structure for an injection type automatic ice maker, characterized in that the water tray structure is configured such that a portion 8b can be detachably fixed. [2] Pressure chamber 2 formed in the receiving plate 18b
6. Main waterway 28a and multiple secondary waterways 28
The water tray of the jet-type automatic ice maker according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, wherein b is fully open to the outside, and this opening is closed by a lid body 30. structure. [3] Water dish main body 18a provided with the opening 19
A water tray structure for an automatic jet ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein an ice making water tank 16 is integrally formed.