JPH05106952A - Automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making device which can easily supply a fixed amount of water to an ice tray without using a water supply pump. [Structure] An ice tray 2 rotatably supported by a support shaft 21 and a water supply tank 3 for storing water to be supplied to the ice tray 2 are provided, and the water supplied to the ice tray 2 is An ice making device (1) configured to remove ice by rotating the ice making tray (2) after freezing, wherein a water supply pipe (4) is provided between a water supply tank (3) and the ice making tray (2). A cam 52 that supports the water supply pipe 4 is provided on the support shaft 21, and the water supply pipe 4 moves up and down by the rotation of the cam 52 accompanying the rotation of the ice tray 2, and the downward movement position of the water supply pipe 4 The water in the water supply tank 3 is supplied to the ice tray 2, and the water supply port 41 of the water supply pipe 4 is located above the water level of the water supply tank 3 in the upward movement position so that the water supply is stopped. is there.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device adapted to automatically supply water to an ice tray, remove ice from the ice tray, and store ice in an ice storage section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, automatic ice making is performed so that water supplied to an ice making tray is frozen, the ice making tray is rotated to release the ice, and this operation is automatically repeated to automatically make ice. The device is known.

Conventionally, when water is supplied to this ice tray, water measured in a fixed amount cup is supplied to the ice tray using a water supply pump.

[0004]

However, when the water supply pump is used, the cost of the apparatus increases, which is a disadvantage.

Further, the water supply pump generally uses a DC electric motor, and the driving sound is considerably large, so that it becomes an abnormal noise for the user when sleeping at night.

Therefore, it becomes necessary to add an anti-vibration device or the like to the mounting and fixing of such a DC motor, which further increases the cost of the device.

When the fixed quantity cup is located above the ice tray, water in the fixed quantity cup may be automatically dropped, and a solenoid valve may be provided to control the amount of drop. Mounting the valve increases the cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic ice making device capable of easily supplying a fixed amount of water to an ice making tray without using a water supply pump. ..

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic ice making device of the present invention for solving the above problems stores an ice tray rotatably supported by a support shaft and water to be supplied to the ice tray. A water supply tank and an ice tray, which is provided with a water supply tank for storing the water, and which is configured to perform ice removal by rotating the ice tray after the water supplied to the ice tray is frozen. A water supply pipe is provided between the water supply pipe and the water supply pipe, and a cam for supporting the water supply pipe is provided on the support shaft. The water supply pipe moves up and down by the rotation of the cam accompanying the rotation of the ice tray. The water in the water supply tank is supplied to the ice tray at the down position, and the water supply port of the water supply pipe is located above the water level in the water supply tank at the up position to stop the water supply. ..

[0010]

According to the automatic ice making device of the present invention, the water supply pipe moves up and down by the rotation of the cam accompanying the rotation of the ice making plate, and the water in the water supply tank is supplied to the ice making plate at the lower position of this water supply pipe. Then, the water supply port of the water supply pipe is located above the water level of the water supply tank at the upper position, and the water supply is stopped.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a main part structure of an automatic ice making device 1.

That is, the automatic ice making device 1 comprises an ice making tray 2 and a water supply tank 3. After the water supplied from the water supplying tank 3 to the ice making tray 2 freezes, the ice making tray 2 is rotated. In this device, ice removal is performed by causing the water supply pipe 4 provided between the water supply tank 3 and the ice tray 2 to move up and down as the ice tray 2 rotates. The water in the water supply tank 3 is supplied to the ice tray 2.

The ice tray 2 has a support shaft 21 at the center on both sides thereof.
Is supported by and is rotatable around the support shaft 21. That is, the support shaft 21 is adapted to interlock with the motor 51 built in the drive box 5. The ice tray 2 is rotated by controlling the drive of the motor 51 to rotate it forward and backward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 21 is provided with a cam 52, and above the cam 52, a water supply arm 53 interlocked with the movement of the cam 52 is provided. That is, one end of the water supply arm 53 is rotatably fixed in the drive box 5.
A receiving portion 54 for attaching the water supply pipe 4 is formed at the other end. Then, the water supply arm 53 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the cam 52, and the receiving portion 54 of the water supply arm 53 moves up and down.

Further, a thermistor 22 is provided on the bottom of the ice tray 2 in a state of being covered with a heat insulating material 23. The thermistor 22 detects the frozen state of the water supplied into the ice tray 2. Water is supplied to the ice tray 2 from a water supply pipe 4 provided above the ice tray 2.

The water supply tank 3 comprises a closed tank 31 and a fixed quantity cup 32.

The closed tank 31 is for replenishing water to the water receiving chamber 33, and a water outlet 34 having a valve 35 is provided at a water outlet 34 projecting at the bottom of one end thereof. Three
7 is mounted on the valve 35 in this mounted state.
Is open. Then, the cutout portion 38 of the water outlet body 36
Is replaced by air through the water receiving chamber 3
3 and the upper limit water level of the fixed quantity chamber 39 are set.

The fixed quantity cup 32 includes a water receiving chamber 33 and a fixed quantity chamber 3.
The water in the water receiving chamber 33 is
And a fixed quantity chamber 39 through a small hole 30 for water supply control provided between the fixed quantity chamber 39 and the fixed quantity chamber 39. The water supply control small hole 30 is small, and the water supply control small hole 3 is provided.
The flow rate of water through 0 is very low. Therefore, if the water in the fixed amount chamber 39 is discharged at the time of water supply, the water will flow out from the water receiving chamber 33 to the fixed amount chamber 39 through the small holes 30 for water supply control, but the amount of water flowing out is extremely small. Yes, the amount of water is practically negligible.

One end of the water supply pipe 4 is connected to the bottom of the metering chamber 39 of the water supply tank 3. Further, it is arranged above the ice tray 2 by being supported by the receiving portion 54 of the water supply arm 53 at a position separated from the water inlet 41 at the other end by an appropriate distance. Further, it is fixed to the fixing portion 55 of the drive box 5 at a position separated from the supporting portion by a slight distance. Then, of the water supply pipe 4, the fixed portion 5
The portion corresponding to between 5 and the receiving portion 54 is configured such that the entire water supply pipe 4 has a bellows shape and has flexibility. Thus, when the water supply arm 53 moves up and down, the water supply pipe 4 bends around the fixed portion 55 as a fulcrum, and the water injection port 41 moves up and down.

The water supply pipe 4 is separated from the water supply tank 3 side and the ice tray 2 side by a heat insulating material 6 with the fixed portion 55 as a boundary. A heater 42 for freeze prevention is provided around the water inlet 41 of the water supply pipe 4. Thereby, the water flowing in the water supply pipe 4 is prevented from freezing.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice making device 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, first, after the power is input, the horizontal state of the ice tray 2 is confirmed (steps 1 and 2).

After water is supplied to the ice tray 2, 60 minutes are counted to detect whether the temperature of the thermistor 22 is -12 ° C or lower (steps 3 and 4).

Then, the temperature of the thermistor 22 is -1.
From the time when the temperature becomes 2 ° C. or less, another 30 minutes is counted, and when 30 minutes or more has elapsed, it is considered that the water in the ice tray 2 is completely frozen (steps 5 and 6).

When this freezing is completed, the drive motor 51 rotates in the forward direction, the ice tray 2 is reversed, and the ice frozen on the ice tray 2 is stored in an ice storage container (not shown) below the ice tray 2. Becomes At this time, the cam 52 also rotates in the normal direction together with the drive motor 51, but the water supply arm 53 does not operate, and the state in which the water supply arm 53 remains moving upward is maintained (step 7).

After that, when the ice removal from the ice tray 2 is completed, the drive motor 51 is reversed and the ice tray 2 is returned to a predetermined horizontal state (step 8).

Subsequently, the drive motor 51 is slightly reversed, and the ice tray 2 is slightly tilted in the opposite direction from the horizontal position. At this time, the water supply arm 53 is moved downward by the cam 52, and along with this downward movement, the water supply port 41 of the water supply pipe 4 is
Therefore, the water in the fixed quantity chamber 39 is supplied to the ice tray 2 (step 9).

Then, this supply time is counted and 1
It is detected whether or not 0 seconds or more has elapsed. After 10 seconds or more, it is judged that all the water in the fixed quantity chamber 39 has been supplied to the ice tray 2 (steps 10 and 11).

Then, the drive motor 51 is rotated in the normal direction, and the ice tray 2 is returned to the horizontal state. At this time, the water supply arm 53 moves upward by the cam 52, and along with this movement, the supply of water from the water injection port 41 of the water supply pipe 4 is stopped (step 12).

After that, the operation from step 3 is repeated.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the water supply pipe is moved up and down by the rotation of the cam accompanying the rotation of the ice tray to supply a certain amount of water in the water supply tank to the ice tray. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a water supply pump. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost of the device and prevent noise.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an outline of a main configuration of an automatic ice making device.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the automatic ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Automatic Ice Making Device 2 Ice Making Plate 21 Support Shaft 3 Water Supply Tank 4 Water Supply Pipe 41 Water Injection Port 52 Cam

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ice tray rotatably supported by a support shaft, and a water supply tank for storing water to be supplied to the ice tray, after the water supplied to the ice tray freezes. An automatic ice making device for removing ice by rotating the ice tray, wherein a water supply pipe is provided between a water supply tank and the ice tray, and the support shaft is provided with the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe moves up and down by the rotation of the cam that accompanies the rotation of the ice tray, and the water in the water supply tank is supplied to the ice tray at the lower position of this water supply pipe and moves upward. At the position, the water injection port of the water supply pipe is located above the water level of the water supply tank so that the supply of water is stopped.