JPH07208841A - Icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To a small-sized icemaker which can make ice pieces formed at sharp corners and has a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:An icemaking tray 6 for an icemaker reciprocates to rotate between an icemaking rotary position and an ice separating rotary position. A cooler cools the tray. A compressor 37 recovers refrigerant from the cooler, and a condenser 42 supplies the refrigerant to the cooler. A refrigerant supply pipe 26 made of shape memory material is connected to a refrigerant inlet 22 of the cooler and an outlet side of the condenser. Similarly, a pipe 27 made of shape memory material to recover the refrigerant is connected to a refrigerant outlet 23 of the cooler and a suction pipe 38 of the compressor. The pipe for supplying the refrigerant and the pipe for recovering the refrigerant are disposed in a thermal conductive state, and when it becomes a shape resetting temperature, the tray is energized to one rotary position. Energizing means 15 energizes the tray to the other rotary position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small household or commercial ice-making machine for producing ice pieces by freezing water in an ice-making tray to make ice and releasing the ice from the ice-making tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ice making machines for producing ice pieces of this type are
Cell type, chip type, plate type, flow-down type, reverse cell type and the like are known. These ice makers have the following problems.

The cell type is complicated in its mechanism and control and has many failures.
The tip type is expensive and has a problem that the rotating part is worn. The plate type requires a large space and is difficult to miniaturize. In the downflow type, sharp-edged ice cannot be made, the edges of the ice are dull, and polygonal ice with sharp corners cannot be made.

In the reverse cell type, the structure of the water tray is complicated, a complicated mechanism such as a gear motor and a cam is required, and it is difficult to control the whole.

By the way, unlike the above-mentioned ice making machine, an ice making machine having a simple structure and capable of making beautiful polygonal ice is general in today's household refrigerator-freezers. Such an ice making machine is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-6289 (F25).
C) and the like. In this ice making machine, the ice tray itself is rotated by a driving device such as a motor and gears, and the ice falls, is taken out, and the ice is released.

[0006]

However, since the ice tray itself rotates in this ice making machine, it can be used only in a freezer where there is cold air for cooling the ice tray. This is because if the cooler is fixed to the ice tray to cool the ice tray, the copper pipe of the cooler interferes with the ice tray and it is impossible to rotate the ice tray.

Therefore, if this ice making machine is to be adopted in a place other than a freezer / refrigerator, it is necessary to form a space filled with cold air in order to cool the ice making tray. However, indirectly cooling the ice tray by forming the cold air space as described above is considerably less efficient than cooling the ice tray by a direct cooler. In addition, a driving device such as a motor and gears is required to rotate the ice tray. Furthermore, a control device is also required to control this motor.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized ice-making machine which is capable of producing ice pieces having sharp edges and has a simple structure. And

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an ice tray (6) of an ice making machine of the present invention is reciprocally pivoted between an ice making pivot position and an ice detaching pivot position. To do. Then, the cooler (21) is fixed to the ice tray to cool it. Further, the compressor (37) recovers the refrigerant from the cooler, and the condenser (42) connected to the compressor supplies the refrigerant to the cooler.

The refrigerant supply pipe (26) has one end connected to the refrigerant inlet (22) of the cooler and the other end connected to the outlet side of the condenser. Further, one end of the refrigerant recovery pipe (27) has a refrigerant outlet (23) of the cooler.
, And the other end is connected to the suction pipe (38) of the compressor. Then, the shape memory piping means including the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe in a state of being able to conduct heat to each other is such that when the shape return temperature is reached, the ice tray is moved to one of the two rotational positions. Energize. Further, the biasing means (15) biases the ice tray to the other rotation position.

At least one of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means may be a shape memory pipe.

Further, both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are constituted by a shape memory pipe, and the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are in close contact with each other, and It may be coiled.

In addition, there is a case where the shape memory pipe is connected by a shape memory joint (31) having a transformation temperature lower than the temperature of the refrigerant inlet of the cooler and deforming at the transformation temperature or lower.

Both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are shape memory pipes, and the binder (32) is one of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe. In some cases, the ends on the cooler side are connected to each other, and the fixing member (39) fixes the other ends of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe to the ice machine body.

The "shape memory pipe" means a pipe formed of a shape memory material such as shape memory alloy or shape memory plastic. Further, the “shape memory piping means” means a piping means which itself is a shape memory pipe, or a piping means in which a shape memory member is attached to the constituent pipe. Then, the shape memory piping means is easily deformed by an external force when the transformation temperature is reached, and when the shape restoration temperature is reached, the shape memory is revived and the shape is restored to the original shape.

[0016]

[Operation] The compressor (37) of the ice maker recovers the refrigerant from the cooler (21), and the condenser (42) cools the refrigerant and supplies it again to the cooler. The ice tray (6) is cooled by this cooler, and the water in the ice tray is frozen. Then, the shape memory piping means has a shape recovery temperature of 10 °, for example.
Assume that C is a material having a transformation temperature of -20 ° C. In this case, if the water in the ice tray freezes,
Refrigerant outlet (23) of the cooler and refrigerant recovery pipe (2)
The temperature of 7) is lowered and the shape memory piping means is easily deformed. Then, the urging means (15) causes the ice tray to rotate to the ice removal rotation position. Then, the supply of the refrigerant from the condenser to the cooler is stopped. Then, when the ice tray is released from the ice tray, the temperature of the shape memory piping means rises to the shape return temperature, so that the shape memory piping means regains its shape memory and rotates the ice tray to the ice making rotation position.

When the shape memory piping means is made of a material having a shape recovery temperature of -20 ° C and a transformation temperature of 10 ° C, the shape memory piping means and the urging means may be used to form an ice tray. It is necessary to reverse the direction of rotation.

Further, both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are constituted by a shape memory pipe, and the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are in close contact with each other, and It may be coiled. In this case, when the temperature of the refrigerant supply pipe and the temperature of the refrigerant recovery pipe are equalized and both pipes reach the shape recovery temperature, the shape memory is revived and the ice tray is rotated.

Further, the shape memory joint (31) is cooled to a transformation temperature lower than the temperature of the refrigerant inlet of the cooler, deformed and fitted into the shape memory pipe. Then, after that, the shape memory joint is restored to the original shape and fixedly connected to the shape memory pipe.

Further, both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are constituted by a shape memory pipe, and the binding member (32) is composed of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe. In some cases, the ends on the cooler side are connected to each other, and the fixing member (39) fixes the other ends of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe to the ice machine body. In this case, since the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are constrained, the ice tray is rotated in synchronization.

[0021]

EXAMPLES Next, an example of an ice making machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of an ice making machine of the present invention, and is an overall system diagram in an initial state and during ice making. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the ice making machine and is an overall system diagram at the time of ice removal.

In FIG. 1, a water supply pipe 1 is connected to a water supply source (not shown), and a water supply valve 2 is opened to supply water from a water pipe 3 to an ice tray 6. In addition, in FIG. 2, the water supply pipe 1, the water supply valve 2, and the water conduit 3 are omitted. In FIG. 1, the ice tray 6 is in the shape of a box with an open top, and a grid-like partition 7 is provided inside the ice tray 6 to form a large number of cubic cells 8. The upper end of the partition 7 is lower than the upper end of the side wall of the ice tray 6. Therefore, when water is supplied to the cell 8 on the left side of the ice tray 6 and the cell 8 is filled with water, it does not flow out from the side wall of the ice tray 6 but overflows from the upper end of the partition 7 to the right. Cell 8
Flow into. In this way, all the cells 8 of the ice tray 6 are
Is supplied with water.

The ice tray 6 is rotatably supported by the body of the ice making machine about a rotary shaft 11, and the ice making rotation position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which is 180 degrees inverted from the ice making rotation position. It reciprocally rotates between the illustrated ice-breaking rotation position. And
An arm 12 is fixed to the front left side of the ice tray 6.
This arm 12 contacts the changeover switch 13 which also has a function as a stopper in the initial state and ice making shown in FIG. 1, and when the ice is shown in FIG.
It is in contact with 4. A bias coil spring 15, which is a biasing means, is inserted into the rotary shaft 11, and one end of the bias coil spring 15 is inserted into the ice tray 6.
Is locked to a hanger 16 formed so as to project from the front surface, and the other end is locked to a locking portion provided on the ice making machine body (not shown). And this bias coil spring 15
Rotates the ice tray 6 in the clockwise direction to bring the ice tray 6 to the ice release rotation position. That is, the arm 12 of the ice tray 6 is biased in the direction in which it comes into contact with the stopper 14.

In FIG. 2, the ice tray 6 is shown upside down, but a cooling pipe 21 made of a copper tube as a cooler meanders on the lower surface of the bottom plate of the ice tray 6 so as to be integrally brazed. And the ice tray 6 is cooled. In FIG. 1, the coolant inlet 22 and the coolant outlet 23 of the cooling pipe 21 are connected to a coolant supply pipe 26 and a coolant recovery pipe 27, respectively. This connection is for the coolant inlet 2 of the cooling pipe 21.
The shape memory joints 31a and 31b that undergo martensitic transformation at a transformation temperature (eg, -30 ° C) lower than the temperature of 2 are connected by the binding band 32 that is a binding tool. Has been done. Due to the binding band 32, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 always operate in synchronization. The binding band 32 is not fixed to the body of the ice making machine but rotates together with the refrigerant inlet 22 and the refrigerant outlet 23 of the cooling pipe 21 fixed to the ice tray 6 about the rotating shaft 11.

In order to attach the shape memory joints 31a and 31b to the refrigerant inlet 22 or the refrigerant outlet 23, first of all, the shape memory joints 31a and 31b are transformed from the martensitic transformation temperature (for example, -30 ° C). Cool down too. By this cooling, the shape memory joint 31
Since a and 31b can be easily deformed, the inner diameter is enlarged. Then, for example, the shape memory joint 31a is fitted into the refrigerant inlet 22, and then the shape memory joint 31a is heated to the shape restoration temperature, the inner diameter is contracted to the original diameter, and the shape memory joint 31a is fixedly attached to the refrigerant inlet 22.

Further, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 constitute shape memory piping means. As the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27, shape memory pipes made of a shape memory alloy having a composition with a shape recovery temperature of 10 ° C. are used. Then, the shape memory process is performed. The central axes 28 of the coils of the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 coincide with the rotating shaft 11 of the ice tray 6. In addition,
In FIG. 1, the center shaft 28 and the rotary shaft 11 are shown as deviated from each other, but they actually coincide with each other. Since the coolant supply pipe 26 and the coolant recovery pipe 27 are formed by the shape memory pipes in this manner, the shape memory piping means can restore the shape memory to the original shape at the shape recovery temperature.

Although the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 need to be operated simultaneously, the temperatures of the refrigerant inlet 22 and the refrigerant outlet 23 of the cooling pipe 21 are different.
Especially at the beginning of operation, it is very different. Therefore, the refrigerant inlet 2
2 and the temperature of the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 connected to the refrigerant outlet 23 are different from each other, and the operation timing of the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 are increased. There is a difference in the operation timing. Therefore, as described above, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 are closely contacted with each other as a double coil to reduce the temperature difference due to heat conduction so that they operate simultaneously. As a result, the force required to restore the shape memory to the original shape is doubled as compared with the case where there is a difference in operation timing. Moreover, since it is coiled, it is compact.

The other end of the refrigerant supply pipe 26 is cheese 36
Further, the other end of the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 is connected to the suction pipe 38 of the compressor 37 by the shape memory joint 3 described above.
They are connected by shape memory joints 31c and 31d similar to 1a and 31b. These two shape memory joints 31c, 3
1d is connected by a fixing plate 39, which is a fixing portion, and is fixed to the body of the ice making machine.

At room temperature, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 are positioned so that a slight unwinding stress is generated, and assembled in a state in which a counterclockwise torsion torque is generated. Therefore, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 rotate the ice tray 6 in the counterclockwise direction and urge the ice tray 6 to a rotation position, that is, a position where the arm 12 of the ice tray 6 contacts the changeover switch 13. To do. In the initial state and the ice making state, the arm 12 of the ice making tray 6 is always provided with the changeover switch 13
Is pressed, and the ice tray 6 is restricted from rotating by the changeover switch 13 to maintain the horizontal state.

The discharge pipe 41 of the compressor 37 is connected to a condenser 42, and a fan 45 driven by a fan motor 44 cools the condenser 42 by air. The outlet pipe 47 of the condenser 42 is a dehydrator 48.
It is connected to the capillary tube 49 via.
The capillary tube 49 contacts the suction pipe 38 on the way to form a heat exchange section 50, and is connected to the cheese 36. Therefore, the refrigerant supply pipe 26 is connected to the condenser 36 by the cheese 36, the capillary tube 49, the dehydrator 48 and the outlet pipe 47.
Is connected to the exit side of. The cheese 36 is connected to the middle of the discharge pipe 41 of the compressor 37 via a hot gas valve 51.

Next, regarding the electric circuit of this ice making machine,
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the ice maker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, an on / off switch 62 is connected to a power plug 61 to branch the end. Then, the operating capacitor 64 and the starting capacitor 65 are connected in parallel to the branched one,
Then, the starting relay 67, the compressor 37 and the overload relay 69 are connected and returned to the power plug 61.

Further, the changeover switch 1 is provided on the other branch.
3 is connected, and the contact C of the changeover switch 13 is connected to the contact NO or the contact NC by the lever. The timer 71 and the water supply valve 2 connected in series to the contact NO of the changeover switch 13 and the fan motor 44 are connected in parallel, the hot gas valve 51 is connected to the contact NC, and the power plug 61 is connected to the power plug 61. I'm back. Then, in the initial state shown in FIG. 1 and during ice making, the arm 12 contacts the changeover switch 13 so that a current flows from the contact C to the contact NO. Further, at the time of ice removal shown in FIG. 2, the arm 12 separates from the changeover switch 13 and the lever of the changeover switch 13 is changed over, so
A current flows from the contact NC to the contact NC.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the ice making machine having the above-mentioned structure will be described. In order to make ice with this ice maker, in FIG. 3, the power plug 61 is inserted into an AC100V outlet (not shown), and the on / off switch 62 is turned on.
To Then, a large current flows through the coil of the starting relay 67, the contact is closed, and the compressor 37 starts to rotate by the current on the starting condenser 65 side and the current on the operating condenser 64 side. After that, the starting current of the compressor 37 decreases, the electromagnetic force of the coil of the starting relay 67 decreases, the contact opens, and the compressor 3
7 continues to rotate only by the current on the side of the driving capacitor 64. The overload relay 69 is for protecting the electric circuit by interrupting the electric circuit when a current exceeding the allowable limit flows.

Further, in the initial state, since the changeover switch 13 is connected to the contact on the NO side, the fan motor 44 rotates, and at the same time, the water supply valve 2 is opened through the timer 71.

In FIG. 1, the compressor 37 rotates as described above, and the refrigerant of the high temperature and high pressure gas is supplied to the condenser 42 through the discharge pipe 41. Then, the fan motor 44 is also rotating, and the fan 45 is connected to the condenser 42.
Air cool. Therefore, the refrigerant in the condenser 42 is deprived of heat and liquefied. This liquefied refrigerant flows from the outlet pipe 47 of the condenser 42 to the dehydrator 48, where moisture is adsorbed and suspended particles are also filtered. Then, it flows into the capillary tube 49. The refrigerant is decompressed by the capillary tube 49 and cooled by the heat exchange section 50 in contact with the suction pipe 38,
The cheese 36 adiabatically expands at a stretch and becomes a low temperature.

After that, the refrigerant passes through the shape memory joint 31c, goes around the inside of the refrigerant supply pipe 26, and passes through the shape memory joint 31.
After passing through a, through the refrigerant inlet 22, and around the cooling pipe 21 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the bottom surface of the ice tray 6, the ice tray 6
To cool. The refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant outlet 23 of the cooling pipe 21 passes through the shape memory joint 31b, circulates in the refrigerant recovery pipe 27, and flows into the suction pipe 38 of the compressor 37 via the shape memory joint 31d. In this way, the refrigerant returns to the compressor 37 again, and a series of cooling cycles is completed.

Further, as explained in FIG. 3 described above, since the electric current flows through the water supply valve 2 through the timer 71, the water is guided from the water supply pipe 1 through the water supply valve 2 in FIG. It flows into the water pipe 3 and is poured into the ice tray 6. And
When all the cells 8 of the ice tray 6 are filled with water, the water supply valve 2 is closed by the timer 71. The control of the water supply valve 2 by the timer 71 is required to be an appropriate time that is neither too short nor too long. The water poured into the ice tray 6 is cooled by the cooling pipe 21 (see FIG. 2) and freezes.

The refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe 21 is the ice tray 6
Until the water inside is frozen, it is warmed by water at 0 ° C or higher, but when the water freezes and becomes ice, the cooling load decreases, and the refrigerant in the cooling pipe 21 remains and a large amount flows into the refrigerant outlet 23. . Then, the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 is cooled and the temperature thereof gradually decreases, and the temperature of the refrigerant supply pipe 26 that is in close contact with the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 also similarly decreases. Then, when the transformation temperature (about -20 to -25 ° C) is lowered, the shape memory alloy forming the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 undergoes martensite transformation, the strength is lowered and the biasing force is lost. Together with this, it can be easily deformed.

Then, until now, the ice tray 6 has been urged to the ice making rotation position by the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27. However, as described above, this urging force disappears, and the bias coil spring 15 is used. , The ice tray 6 rotates clockwise to reach the ice separating rotation position shown in FIG. By the rotation of the ice tray 6, the arm 12 of the ice tray 6 is separated from the changeover switch 13. Then, in FIG. 3, the contact C of the changeover switch 13 is connected to the contact NC, and a current starts to flow through the hot gas valve 51 to open the valve.

Then, in FIG. 2, the refrigerant that has flowed from the compressor 37 to the condenser 42 until now is shown in FIG.
Since the pipeline of the capillary tube 49 at the end of 2 is thin and difficult to flow, it is bypassed to the cheese 36 through the opened hot gas valve 51. The gas discharged from the compressor 37 has a high temperature and high pressure, and the high temperature and high pressure gas flows into the shape memory joint 31c, the refrigerant supply pipe 26, and the cooling pipe 21, warms the ice tray 6, and adheres to the ice tray 6. I started to melt the ice I was doing. Until the ice finishes falling, the refrigerant outlet 23 does not exceed 0 ° C. due to the heat of melting of the ice. Therefore, the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 is 0 ° C.
The above is not the case, and the refrigerant supply pipe 2 in contact therewith
6 is also kept at 2-3 ° C.

Then, the surface of the ice adhering to the ice tray 6 on the ice tray side melts, and the ice drops from the ice tray 6 to form ice pieces having the same shape as the cells 8 of the ice tray 6. . When the ice falls from the ice tray 6 in this way, the refrigerant gas flowing through the cooling pipe 21 is not cooled because there is no ice, and the temperature of the refrigerant gas flowing out from the refrigerant outlet 23 rises to 10
It becomes over ° C.

Then, the temperature of the coolant supply pipe 26 becomes 10 ° C. or higher, which is the shape restoration temperature, and the coolant starts to return to its original shape. Further, the refrigerant recovery pipe 27, which is in close contact with the refrigerant supply pipe 26, also reaches the shape recovery temperature or higher at the same time, and similarly starts to return to the original shape. This restoring force is the bias coil spring 1
5, the ice tray 6 is rotated counterclockwise, the arm 12 of the ice tray 6 shown in FIG. 1 is brought into contact with the changeover switch 13, and the ice tray 6 is horizontally rotated. To the position.

Then, the changeover switch 13 is connected to the arm 12
3, the lever of the change-over switch 13 moves from the contact NC to the contact NO in FIG. 3, the current to the hot gas valve 51 is cut off, the hot gas valve 51 is closed, and the fan motor 44 and the timer are connected. 7
1. The electric current starts to flow through the water supply valve 2, and the ice making state is resumed. In this way, ice making and ice removing are repeated.

By the way, since the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 are wound in a coil shape, when the shape-recovering temperature is reached, the tip on the cooling pipe 21 side substantially forms an arc about the central axis 28. Draw and rotate to return to the original state. Since the central axis 28 of the coil formed by the refrigerant supply pipe 26 and the refrigerant recovery pipe 27 is coaxial with the rotary shaft 11 of the ice tray 6, the cooling pipe 21 is provided.
The movement locus of the side tip substantially coincides with the rotation locus of the ice tray 6. As a result, due to the turning force of the tips of the cooling medium supply pipe 26 and the cooling medium recovery pipe 27 on the cooling pipe 21 side,
It is possible to smoothly rotate the ice tray 6 provided coaxially.

Further, since the hot gas valve 51 is provided to allow the gas discharged from the compressor 37 to flow into the cooling pipe 21 to heat the ice tray 6, it is necessary to install a special heater for removing ice. Absent.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. It is possible to make changes. A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated below. (1) In the embodiment, the shape memory piping means is composed of a refrigerant supply pipe and a refrigerant recovery pipe made of a shape memory alloy, but the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are flexible pipes. It is also possible to configure the structure and attach a shape memory member to the side surface thereof so that the shape memory is revived and returns to the original shape at the shape restoration temperature. Also,
Although both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are formed of shape memory pipes, it is also possible to configure one of them as a flexible pipe and the other one as a shape memory pipe. Further, the shape memory pipe can be made of other material such as shape memory plastic instead of the shape memory alloy material. Further, in the embodiment, the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are separate bodies, but they may be integrated.

(2) In the embodiment, the biasing means is a coil spring, but it may be constituted by another spring such as a leaf spring, a bar spring or another elastic member. (3) In the embodiment, the shape memory piping means urges the ice tray to the ice making rotation position, but it may be configured to urge the ice making rotation position.

(4) In the embodiment, the tying member is a tying band, but other tying means such as a wire or a tying member can be used. Similarly, although the fixing member is a fixing plate, other fixing means such as a wire or a fixing metal member can be used.

(5) In the embodiment, heat conduction is achieved by closely adhering both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant supply pipe, but between the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe. It is also possible to perform heat conduction by interposing a member that easily conducts heat, such as a metal plate. (6) The shape of ice made by the ice tray is not limited to a cube, and it is possible to make ice of various shapes by changing the shape of the cells of the ice tray.

[0050]

According to the present invention, since the ice tray is rotated by the shape memory piping means, no special driving means such as a motor or a gear is required, and the structure is simple and the size can be reduced. . Further, since the shape memory piping means operates by detecting the temperatures of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe, the detection means and control means for controlling are not required.

Further, since the ice making tray is used to make ice,
It is possible to make ice with sharp edges. Further, since the ice tray is directly cooled by the cooler, the cooling efficiency is better than the case where it is indirectly cooled.

In some cases, at least one of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means is composed of a shape memory pipe. In this case, the shape memory piping means does not need to be provided with a shape memory member separate from the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe, and the configuration is further simplified.

Further, both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are constituted by a shape memory pipe, and the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are in close contact with each other, and It may be coiled. In this case, the temperatures of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe become more uniform, and when the shape return temperature is reached, both pipes can operate simultaneously. Further, since it is wound in a coil shape, the size can be further reduced.

When the shape memory pipe and the copper pipe of the cooler are joined by brazing or welding, the composition of this joint is destroyed and the mechanical properties are weakened. Then, it becomes impossible to endure repeated fatigue, and the joint part easily separates.
However, when the shape memory pipes are connected to each other by the shape memory joint, they are mechanically joined, so that the composition of the joined portion does not change and the mechanical characteristics are maintained.

Further, both the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are constituted by the shape memory pipes, and the binder is on the cooler side of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe. In some cases, the ends are connected to each other, and the fixing member fixes the other ends of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe to the ice maker body. In this case, since the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are constrained, the ice tray is rotated in synchronization. As a result, the power is doubled as compared with the case where only one pipe is operated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of an ice making machine of the present invention, and is an overall system diagram in an initial state and during ice making.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the ice making machine, and is an overall system diagram during ice removal.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the ice maker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Ice tray 15 Bias coil spring (biasing means) 21 Cooling pipe (cooler) 22 Refrigerant inlet 23 Refrigerant outlet 26 Refrigerant supply pipe 27 Refrigerant recovery pipe 31 Shape memory joint 32 Binding band (binding tool) 37 Compressor 38 Suction pipe 39 Fixed plate (fixed member) 42 Condenser 47 Outlet pipe

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An ice tray which reciprocates between an ice making pivot position and an ice releasing pivot position, a cooler which is fixed to the ice tray and cools the ice tray, and the cooler. A compressor for recovering the refrigerant from the compressor, a condenser connected to the compressor and supplying the refrigerant to the cooler, one end connected to the refrigerant inlet of the cooler and the other end connected to the outlet side of the condenser A refrigerant supply pipe and a refrigerant recovery pipe, one end of which is connected to the refrigerant outlet of the cooler and the other end of which is connected to the suction pipe of the compressor, are provided so as to be able to conduct heat to each other, and when the shape return temperature is reached. An ice making machine comprising shape memory piping means for urging the ice tray to one of the two rotation positions and urging means for urging the ice tray to the other rotation position. 2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means is formed of a shape memory pipe. 3. The refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are both shape memory pipes, and the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe are in close contact with each other, and The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the ice making machine is wound in a coil shape. 4. The shape memory pipe is connected by a shape memory joint that has a transformation temperature lower than the temperature of the refrigerant inlet of the cooler and that is deformed below this transformation temperature. The ice machine described in 3. 5. The refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe of the shape memory piping means are both formed of a shape memory pipe, and the binder is on the cooler side of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant recovery pipe. 5. The ice making machine according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein end portions of the ice making machine are connected to each other, and a fixing member fixes the other end portions of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant collecting pipe to the ice making machine body. .