JPH064563U - Ice storage box for automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To reduce the noise generated from ice storage boxes in electric refrigerators. [Structure] FIG. 2 shows the inside of an ice storage box arranged at the bottom of the automatic ice maker. Although not shown, the automatic ice maker is located at the upper right of the ice storage box 3. If the distance (drop) between the ice tray of the automatic ice maker and the ice storage box 3 is large, a large impact noise is generated when the ice falls from the ice tray into the ice storage box 3. A partition plate 4 is provided inside the ice storage box 3 to reduce the impact noise. A rotary shaft 5 is provided on one side of the partition plate 4. The rotating shaft 5 is rotatably supported by a bearing 6 provided at the bottom of the ice storage box 3. 7
Is a spring body for rotating the partition plate. A thin portion 8 is provided on the other side of the partition plate 4, and the tip end portion thereof is brought into contact with the inner surface of the ice storage box 3. Since the ice in the ice tray falls near the thin portion 8 close to the partition plate 4, the impact noise is small. The partition plate 4 gradually descends as the amount of ice increases, and stops at the position indicated by the broken line. When the ice is completely taken out from the ice storage box 3, it rises to the position shown by the solid line.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ice storage box arranged under an automatic ice making machine of an electric refrigerator.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In an electric refrigerator equipped with an automatic ice maker, an ice storage box is placed under the automatic ice maker to store the ice falling from the automatic ice maker. Most of the ice storage boxes are resin molded products, but when the ice storage boxes are empty or when the ice storage box contains only a small amount of ice, a large impact sound is generated when the ice is released. This impact sound is especially loud during quiet times such as when sleeping, and it is offensive to the ears.Therefore, a cushioning mat has been provided on the inner bottom surface of the ice storage box to soften the impact sound. .

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the shock noise could not be softened sufficiently by only providing a cushioning mat on the bottom of the ice storage box. In particular, if the ice falling into the ice box collides with other ice and is blown to the side, and collides with the side wall of the ice box, there is no cushioning mat etc. on that side wall and a large impact noise is heard. Was uttering. Therefore, the purpose of the present proposal is to provide an ice storage box for an automatic ice maker that can reduce the generation of this kind of impact noise.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a partition plate that descends as the amount of ice increases is provided inside an ice storage box that stores ice made by an automatic ice making machine. did.

[0005]

[Action]

 With the above configuration, when there is no ice in the ice storage box, the internal partition plate moves to the top and the distance between the automatic ice machine (ice tray) and the partition plate is shortened. Can be reduced. Also, the partition plate descends as the amount of ice increases, so keep the distance between the automatic ice machine and the ice in the ice storage box almost constant until the ice storage box is full of ice. It is possible to suppress the generation of impact noise at all times.

[0006]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the automatic ice maker and the ice storage box, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the ice storage box. In FIG. 1, 1 is a drive unit of an automatic ice making machine, 2 is an ice tray driven by the drive unit 1, 3 is an ice storage box for storing ice made by the ice tray 2, and 4 is ice from the ice tray 2 This is a partition plate for reducing the impact noise generated when the iceboard is dropped. The partition plate 4 is configured to descend corresponding to the amount (weight) of ice. Although not shown, there is a water supply port (water supply pipe) to the ice tray 2 at the upper portion of the ice tray 2 and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice tray 2 at the lower portion. The drive unit 1 also includes an ice detection lever for detecting whether or not the ice storage box 3 is full of ice.

Whether or not the ice making is completed is determined by whether or not the temperature of the ice making tray 2 and the ice making time satisfy preset values, and when the ice making is completed, the driving unit 1 does not detect it. After checking whether there is enough room to store ice in the ice storage box 3 by driving the ice lever, turn the ice tray 2 upside down and apply a twisting force to the ice tray 2 to release the ice and partition the ice. Drop on the plate 4. Then, the ice slides down on the partition plate 4, but the partition plate 4 descends as the amount of ice in the ice storage box 3 increases, and finally becomes almost parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box 3.

The relationship between the ice storage box 3 and the partition plate 4 will be described below with reference to FIG. A rotary shaft 5 is provided on one side of the partition plate 4, and the rotary shaft 5 is rotatably supported by a bearing 6 formed on one side of the bottom of the ice storage box 3. Reference numeral 7 is a spring body for rotating the partition plate 4. A plurality of the spring bodies 7 are arranged between the rotary shaft 5 or the ice storage box 3 and the partition plate 4, but the spring body may be a spirally wound spring or a substantially V-shaped leaf spring. By the way, the other side of the partition plate 4 extends to the side wall of the ice storage box 3 as shown in the drawing, and a plurality of thin portions 8 are formed in parallel between both ends of the other side. If the thin-walled portion 8 is provided, it is effective in softening the impact sound when the ice falls, and at the same time, lower the tip of the partition plate 4 while keeping it in contact with the inner surface of the ice storage box 3. Because it can be done. Further, if the tip of the partition plate 4 and the inner surface of the ice storage box 3 are in contact with each other, ice fragments will not be caught there.

[0009]

[Effect of device]

 In the case of an ice storage box with a partition plate as described above, when the ice storage box is empty, one of the partition plates approaches the bottom of the ice tray and the distance from the ice tray can be shortened, so the ice drops. It is difficult for the impact sound to occur. In addition, the elastic force of the spring body that rotates the partition plate and the thin portion formed on one side of the partition plate also work well to reduce the impact noise. Furthermore, since the partition plate descends according to the amount of ice, the distance between the ice and the ice tray is always small, and no jarring impact noise is generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between an ice storage box of the present invention and an automatic ice maker.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an ice storage box showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Drive part of automatic ice making device 2 Ice tray 3 Ice storage box 4 Partition plate 5 Rotating shaft 6 Bearing 7 Spring body 8 Thin part

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ice storage box for an automatic ice maker, wherein a partition plate that descends as the amount of ice increases is provided inside the ice storage box that stores ice made by the automatic ice maker. 2. A rotation shaft is provided on one side of the partition plate, and a bearing that rotatably supports the rotation shaft and a spring body that rotates the partition plate are provided at a lower portion of the ice storage box. The ice storage box for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1. 3. The ice storage box for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein a thin wall portion is provided between both ends of the other side of the partition plate, and a front end portion is slidably brought close to an inner surface of the ice storage box. 4. The ice storage box for an automatic ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the partition plate is provided with a plurality of holes such that ice does not fall out.