JPH0493569A - Automatic ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make ices having a high degree of transparency and a high degree of purity by a method wherein non-frozen water containing gaseous substance or impurities discharged as ices are progressively generated is separated. CONSTITUTION:Cold air cooled at a cooling device 8 under operation of a blower 9 is forcedly aerated onto a water surface in an ice making pan 33 and then cooled there. In concurrent with this operation, a heater A32a and a heater B32b of a metallic plate 30 are continuously operated and the metallic plate 30 is heated. It is possible to prevent a bottom part of the ice making pan 33 from being frozen. The ice is made stably from an upper part to a lower part in the pan, resulting in that gaseous substances or various impurities contained in the water are crystallized out of the ice crystals and then gradually discharged into the lower non-frozen water. Ices having a high degree of transparency and a high degree of purity are present at an upper part within each of small segments 34 of the ice making pan 33 and also the non-frozen water having a low degree of purity are present at the lower part thereof. A driving device 40 is operated and the ice making pan 33 is rotated and reversely rotated above a water splashing pan 37. The ice making pan 33 is deformed in its strain and the ices in each of the small segments 34 are dropped onto the grid-like water splashing pan 37. The ice making pan 33 is rotated and stored within a thermal insulating tank 28, the ices are dropped into an ice storing box 50 and stored there.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice-making device that is installed in a refrigerator and is particularly capable of automatically producing transparent ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An automatic ice making device that has been conventionally used in some home refrigerators includes, for example, the one shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-234771, the contents of which are shown in the cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Fig. 7 and in Fig. 8. This will be explained according to a perspective view of an automatic ice making device.

In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, 1 is the refrigerator main body,
It is composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a partition wall that divides the interior of the refrigerator body 1 into upper and lower sections, with a freezing compartment 6 in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment 7 in the lower part. 8 is a refrigeration cycle cooler provided on the back side of the freezer compartment 6, and 9 is a blower for forcing cold air cooled by the cooler 8 into the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 7.

10 is an automatic ice maker provided in the freezer compartment 6, which includes a motor,
It is composed of a drive device 11 incorporating a group of reduction gears (not shown), etc., an ice tray 13 to which a support shaft 12 is connected and fixed in the center, a frame 14 for pivotally supporting the ice tray 12 on the drive device 11, and the like. . 15 is a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the drive device 11 in order to distort and deform the ice tray 13 to remove ice; 16 is a stopper plate attached to the ice tray 13 so as to come into contact with the stopper 15; 17 is an ice storage box provided below the automatic ice maker 10.

A water supply tank 18 is detachably provided in one section of the refrigerator compartment 7, and is used to store water for making ice.

19 is a water supply port of the water supply tank 18, which is opened and closed by a valve 20. 21 is a water storage tray provided below the water supply port 19 of the water supply tank I8, and when the water supply tank 18 is set with the water supply port 19 facing downward, the valve 20 is pushed up and the water supply port 19 is opened. It is configured. 22
2 is a water supply pump for pumping water received in the water storage tray 21, and 23 is a water supply pipe connected to the water supply pump 22 and arranged so that its outlet faces the ice tray 13 of the automatic ice maker 10. be.

In this configuration, when the user places the water supply tank 18 filled with water in a predetermined position, the valve 20 is pushed up, the water supply port 19 is opened, and the water storage tray 21 is filled with water. Thereafter, the filled water is pumped up by the water supply pump 22 and poured into the ice tray 13 via the water supply pipe 23. In this way, a predetermined amount of water is filled in the ice tray 13 and is frozen by the cooling action within the freezing chamber 6, thereby producing ice. When ice making is finished, the ice making tray 13 rotates in reverse around the support shaft 12 due to the rotating action of the drive device 11, and the stopper 15 comes into contact with the backing plate 16, causing distortion and deformation of the ice making tray 13, causing ice making. The ice in the tray 13 returns to its original state due to the reverse rotation action of the separation length 11.

Thereafter, this action is repeated until the water in the water supply tank 18 is used up, and ice is made and water is stored automatically.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such an ice making method, the water in the ice tray 13 freezes when ice is produced, or the contact surface between the ice tray 13 and the water and the contact between the cold air and the water. As it progresses from the contact surface to the center, gaseous components, soluble salts, and insoluble impurities dissolved in the water are trapped in the center of the ice.
As a result, the ice becomes cloudy and opaque in the center, has low purity, and does not taste good, which poses a problem that the ice is not sensually suitable for use in beverages such as whisky.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide an automatic ice making device that can produce highly transparent and highly pure ice.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an automatic ice making device such as a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a heat insulating tank provided in one section of the cooling chamber and having an open top surface, and an internal bottom and side surfaces of the heat insulating tank. A heater A is disposed in the ice-making tank and is energized in synchronization with the compressor during ice-making; a heater B is continuously energized during ice-making; a first support shaft connected and fixed to one end; a draining tray installed in parallel with the ice tray;
The ice making tray is rotated about a second support shaft connected and fixed to one end of the draining tray and the first support shaft.
a drive device for rotating the draining tray around a support shaft of the draining tray; a draining tray provided below the draining tray; a drain pipe connected to the draining tray; and an ice storage box provided adjacent to the draining tray. and a water supply tank provided outside the cooling chamber.

Function The present invention has the above-described configuration, and the water in the ice tray is heated by the heat insulating effect of the heat insulating tank and the heater Δ disposed on the bottom and side surfaces.
Due to the heating action of B and B, the cold air in the cooling chamber performs a unidirectional freezing action downward from the ice surface, and ice crystals are generated while gas components and impurities in the water are discharged into the water below. Next, when the ice reaches an appropriate thickness, the drive device is activated, and the ice tray rotates and reverses to release the ice, causing the ice to fall onto the draining tray, increasing the concentration of gas components and impurities. The unfrozen water is separated and drained.

Next, when the water-stained draining tray is rotated and reversed by the driving device, highly transparent and pure ice falls into the ice storage box and is stored.

At this time, by energizing heater A in synchronization with the compressor, even if the outside air temperature changes and the operating rate of the compressor changes, heater A will supply the amount of heat commensurate with the amount of cooling to the water in the ice tray. It is possible to keep the rate of ice formation constant even if the outside temperature changes.

In addition, even if the energization rate of heater A decreases as the operating rate of the compressor decreases at low outside temperatures, heater B is continuously energized during ice making, thereby preventing the bottom of the ice tray from freezing. As a result, ice is generated stably from the top to the bottom.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an automatic ice making apparatus such as a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. Note that the same components as those in the prior art are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ice making device such as a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerator equipped with the same automatic ice making device, and Figs. 3 to 6 are the same automatic ice making device. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining the operation of FIG.

In Figures 1 to 3, reference numeral 24 denotes a partition wall containing a heat insulating material 25 inside, a freezer compartment 26 in the upper part, and a refrigerator compartment 2 in the lower part.
7 is divided into sections. Reference numeral 28 denotes a concave-shaped heat insulating tank with an open upper surface placed on the partition wall 24, and includes an outer frame 29 made of resin, a metal plate 30 (for example, an aluminum plate) placed in the concave portion, and an outer frame 29 and a metal plate 28. Insulating material 31 surrounded by plate 30
and a heater A 32a and a heater 32b that are thermally conductively fixed to the back surface of the portion corresponding to the bottom and side surfaces of the recessed portion of the metal plate 30. 33 is insulation tank 2
This ice tray has an outer shape that fits into the recessed part 8, and includes a small section 34, a partition frame 35 that partitions this small section 34, and a communication formed in this partition frame 35 that communicates between the small sections 34. It is constituted by a groove 36. 37 is a lattice-shaped draining tray arranged in parallel with the ice tray 33;
A first support shaft 38 is connected and fixed to one end of the draining plate 37, and a second support shaft 39 is connected and fixed to one end of the draining plate 37, respectively. 40
is a drive device that rotates the first support shaft 38 and the second support shaft 39 to rotate the ice making tray 33 and the draining tray 37, and has a built-in motor, reduction gear group, etc. (not shown). ing. 41 cooperates with the outer shell of the drive device 40 to move the ice tray 3
3 and a first support shaft 38 and a second support shaft 39 of the draining tray 37. 4243 are stoppers 44, 4 provided on a part of the outer shell of the drive device 40.
5, the ice tray 33 and the draining tray 3 are arranged so that they come into contact with the stoppers 42 and 43 when the ice tray 33 and the draining tray 37 are turned over.
7 are respectively attached to the backing plates.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a drain plate provided below the drain plate 37, 47 a drain pipe connected to the drain plate 46, and heaters 48 and 49 are respectively disposed for thermal conduction. Reference numeral 50 denotes an ice storage box provided below the draining tray 37 when it is in an inverted position and close to the draining tray 46. Furthermore, the drain pipe 47 is connected to the partition wall 24
It passes through the heat insulating material 25 of the main body 1 and the heat insulating material 4 of the main body 1, and communicates with the inside of the machine room 51 provided at the bottom of the main body 1. Reference numeral 52 denotes an evaporator installed in the machine room 51, which includes a heating plate 55 in close contact with a high-temperature, high-pressure heating tube 54 piped from the compressor 53 of the refrigeration cycle, and an evaporation plate 56 placed on the heating plate 55. Water is guided into the evaporating dish 56 by a water conduit 57 connected to the outlet of the drain pipe 47.

58 is a water supply pipe for supplying water temporarily stored in the water storage tray 21 from the water supply tank 18 to the ice tray 33 via the water supply pump 22; one end is connected to the water supply pump 22, and the other end is connected to the ice tray 33. It is opened to face the top surface. 59 is a ventilation passage in the freezer compartment 26 that guides the cold air sent by the blower 9 to the top surface of the ice cube tray 33;
This is a temperature sub-device that detects the temperature inside the air blower 9 and controls the operation and stop of the blower 9 and the compressor 53.

Here, during ice making, the heater A 32a is energized in synchronization with the compressor 53, and the heater B 32b is configured to be continuously energized.

In this configuration, when the user sets the water supply tank 18 filled with water in a predetermined position, the valve 20 is pushed up, the water supply port 19 is opened, and the water storage tray 21 is filled with water. Thereafter, the filled water is pumped up by the water supply pump 22, and water starts to be supplied to the ice tray 33 via the water supply pipe 58. When water is supplied to one of the subdivisions 34 of the ice tray 33, a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the other subdivisions 34 through the communication groove 36.
2). This state is shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the draining tray 37
is in an inverted position away from the drain tray 46.

In this state, the cold air cooled by the cooler 8 is forcedly ventilated by the blower 9 onto the water surface of the ice tray 33 through the ventilation path 59, and the cooling action is started.

At the same time, the heater A 32a disposed on the bottom of the metal plate 30 on the inner surface of the heat insulating tank 28 is energized in synchronization with the compressor.
The heater B 32b disposed on the side surface of the metal plate 30 is continuously energized, a heating action is started, and the metal plate 30 is heated. Furthermore, since the outer periphery of the ice tray 33 is surrounded by a heat insulating material 31 in the heat insulating tank 28, the cooling effect from the outer periphery is also suppressed, and the freezing effect progresses in one direction from the top to the bottom of the ice tray 33. I'm going to go.

At this time, by energizing the heater A 32a in synchronization with the compressor 53, the outside air temperature changes and the compressor 53
Even if the operating rate of the ice tray 33 changes, the heater A 32a supplies the water in the ice tray 33 with an amount of heat commensurate with the amount of cooling, so the ice production rate can be kept constant even if the outside temperature changes. Ru.

In addition, even if the energization rate of the heater A 32a decreases as the operating rate of the compressor 53 decreases at low outside temperatures, the heater B 32b continues to operate during ice making. 1 t, the bottom of the ice tray 33 can be prevented from freezing, and ice can be stably generated from the top to the bottom.

If the freezing rate is slowed down to an appropriate level (for example, about 5 gm/h), gas components dissolved in the water and various impurities contained in the water will precipitate out of the ice crystals and flow downward as ice formation progresses. In this way, the ice that is sequentially formed over time becomes extremely transparent and highly pure ice with few impurities.Then, as the predetermined cooling time elapses, the ice that is produced as needed is As shown in the state diagram of FIG.
In the upper part, there is highly transparent and pure ice, and in the lower part, unfrozen water with reduced purity coexists.

In this state, the drive device 40 operates to start rotating the first support shaft 38 and the second support shaft 39, and first, the draining tray 3
7, the ice tray 33 is turned over and set above the drain tray 46, and then the ice tray 33 is rotated and removed from the insulation tank 28, and then turned over to a position close to overlapping the drain tray 37 that was set earlier. do. At the same time, the heater A in the insulation tank 28
The heating action of 32a, 32b is stopped. Then, the contact plate 44 fixed to the ice tray 33 comes into contact with the stopper 42 provided on the drive device 40, and the drive device 40 then applies rotational force to the ice tray 33, causing the ice tray 33 to be distorted and deformed. The ice in the compartment 34 is released and falls onto a grid-shaped draining tray 37 set below. At the same time, unfrozen water with increased concentration of gaseous components and impurities remaining in each subdivision 34 also flows out and falls, but since the draining tray 37 is formed in a lattice shape and most of the through holes are occupied, Then, the ice does not accumulate on the draining tray 37, but instead falls into the draining tray 46, where the ice and water are separated. As a result, only highly transparent and pure ice remains on the draining tray 37. This state is shown in FIG. On the other hand, the unfrozen water that has fallen into the drain tray 46 is drained through the drain pipe 47 and into the evaporator tray 56 of the evaporator 52 in the machine room 51 from the water conduit 57 . after that,
The water drained into the evaporating dish 56 is transferred to the heating plate 5 which is brought into close contact with the heating tube 54 through which the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 53 flows.
It is evaporated by the heating action of step 5. In addition, drainage fi46
, a heater 48 is installed to prevent the running water from freezing in the drain pipe 47.
．． 49 performs a heating action as appropriate.

On the other hand, since the remaining ice still has moisture attached to a portion of its surface, it is cooled and dried as it is for a suitable period of time. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the drive device 40 is operated again to rotate the first support shaft 38 and the second support shaft 39, and first the ice tray 33 is rotated and stored and set in the heat insulating tank 28. The draining tray 37, which is inverted from the top of the draining tray 46, is placed in the ice storage box 5.
The backing plate 45 fixed to the draining plate 37 contacts the stopper 43 above the draining plate 37, and the driving device 40 applies rotational force to the draining plate 37, causing the draining plate 37 to be distorted and deformed. The placed ice is released and falls into the ice storage box 50 below, where water is stored. FIG. 6 shows this state.

In this way, after the water supply tank 18 is set by the user, these series of steps are automatically repeated until the water in the water supply tank 18 is used up. As a result, ice storage box 50
A large quantity of highly transparent and highly pure ice is stored inside the container, allowing the user to use a sufficient amount of extremely sensually excellent ice for drinking and drinking without much effort. I can do it.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, by separating unfrozen water containing gas components and impurities discharged as ice continues to form, highly transparent and pure ice can be kept in the ice storage box. A large amount of ice is automatically stored (therefore, the user can use a sufficient quantity of highly sensually excellent ice for eating and drinking at any time).

Further, by energizing heater A in synchronization with the compressor and continuously energizing heater B, stable transparency and purity can be maintained even if the outside temperature changes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ice making device such as a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerator equipped with the same automatic ice making device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing water supplied to the automatic ice making device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of main parts of the automatic ice making device showing a state in which ice making has progressed from the state shown in Fig. 3; FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts of the automatic ice-making apparatus showing the state in which water has been separated; FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator equipped with a conventional automatic ice-making device, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same automatic ice-making device. 18... Water supply tank, 21... Water storage tray, 22...
Water supply pump, 26... Freezer room (cooling room), 28...
Heat insulation tank, 30...Metal plate, 32a, 32b...Heater A, heater B, 33...Ice tray, 37...Draining tray, 38...First support shaft, 39... Second support shaft, 40... Drive device, 42.43... Stopper,
44. , 45... patch plate, 46... drainage plate, 47
...Drain pipe, 50...Ice storage box, 53...Compressor,
58... Water supply pipe. 5g Figure 3 Figure 4 Cause Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat insulating tank provided in one section of the cooling chamber with an open top surface; a heater A disposed on the bottom and side surfaces of the heat insulating tank that is energized in synchronization with the compressor during ice making; a heater B that is energized, an ice tray superimposed on the inner surface from the opening of the heat insulating tank, a first support shaft connected and fixed to one end of the ice tray, and a draining tray installed in parallel with the ice tray; a second support shaft connected and fixed to one end of the draining tray; and a drive device that rotates the ice making tray about the first support shaft and rotates the draining tray about the second support shaft. and,
a drain tray provided below the drain tray, a drain pipe connected to the drain tray, and an ice storage box provided adjacent to the drain tray;
An automatic ice making device comprising a water supply tank provided outside the cooling chamber.