JPH07270009A - Icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an icemaker in which chance that water is exposed to the air in water supply route is reduced, putrefaction and offensive odor of water are prevented and uninsertion of a water supply tank can be easily recognized. CONSTITUTION:A water supply tank 7, a pump 6, an icemaking tray 2 and tubes for coupling them are fixed to a frame 8 in a cold storage chamber. The tank 7 is removable from the frame 8. The tank 7 has a tank body 13 and a cover 14. The cover 14 is removable from the body 13. The tank 7 is brought into contact with a pressing member 36 for always pressing it forward.

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 incorporated in a refrigerator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ice maker has often been incorporated into a refrigerator for use. Examples of this type of ice making device include, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-3082 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-136869.
The configuration disclosed in the publication is known. The conventional ice making devices disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-3082 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-136869 will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a conventional ice making device. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a switch unit of a conventional ice making device.

The conventional ice making device 200 is roughly divided into an ice making tray 201, and an inversion device 202 for reversing the ice making tray 201 to deform the ice making tray 201 to remove ice.
A pump 203 and a pipe 20 for measuring the water in the water supply tank 206 with the measuring tank 205 and supplying it to the ice tray 201.
It is composed of 7.

The internal ice tray 201 and the reversing device 202 are
It is in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, and the other members are placed in the refrigerator compartment.

The ice tray 201 is a tray for freezing the water inside. The reversing device 202 has a built-in gear train and functions to reverse the ice tray 201 and to twist the ice breaking tray 201 to remove ice.

The measuring tank 205 is a water tank divided into a measuring chamber 212 and a water storage chamber 213. A small hole is provided in the partition wall that separates the two, and the measuring chamber 2
When the water level of 12 drops, water slowly flows from the water storage chamber 213.

The water supply tank 206 is a closed tank body provided with a lid 214. The lid 214 is provided with an opening / closing valve. The water supply tank 206 is filled with water, and the measuring tank 205 with the lid 214 facing down.
Is located above the water supply tank 2 and part of the on-off valve described above
The bottom of the water storage chamber 213 of No. 06 contacts.

Reference numeral 215 is a switch for detecting the presence or absence of the water supply tank 206, and 216 is a lever that swings up and down. One of them is a switch button 2 without the water supply tank 206.
One of them is in contact with 17, and one of them is biased so as to be pressed from above when the water supply tank 206 is inserted. 218 is a lever 215
It is a spring that gives a swinging force to.

In the prior art ice making device 200, when the water supply tank 206 is inserted, a part of the on-off valve is pressed from above by a lever 215 so as to abut against the bottom surface of the water storage chamber 213 of the measuring tank 205. The water in the water supply tank 206 falls into the measuring tank 205, passes through the water storage chamber 213, and then enters the measuring chamber 21.
2 is filled with water. Then, the water is pumped up by the pump 203 inserted into the measuring chamber 212 and the pipe 20
Water is supplied to the ice tray 201 through 7.

[0011]

However, in the ice making device 200 of the prior art, the water in the measuring tank 205 is rotted, the odor is transferred to the ice, or the water supply tank is not securely inserted to the back, so that the on-off valve is opened. Does not open, or the opening is so small that water does not fall into the water storage chamber 213 and water supply and ice making cannot be performed.

That is, the ice making device 200 of the prior art requires the measuring tank 205 as an essential element, and water is exposed to the air in the measuring tank 205. More specifically, in the conventional ice making device 200, since the centrifugal pump is used as the pump 203, only the pump portion 211 of the pump 203 has to be inserted into the measuring tank 205 from above the measuring tank 205.

In the prior art, the replenishment of water to the measuring tank 205 is carried out by dropping water from the water supply tank 206. Therefore, the measuring tank 205, which is indispensable in the prior art, must be an open upper surface.

In addition, the water supply to the ice tray 201 is not always performed, and it is not unusual that the ice tray 201 is not supplied during the charge period depending on the amount of ice consumption.

Therefore, while water is not supplied to the ice tray,
The water in the metering tank is never replaced. During this period, dust and the like floating in the refrigerating chamber fall on the water surface of the measuring tank, and the dust and the like in the water is decomposed over a long period of time. Alternatively, a gas having an offensive odor component in the refrigerator may dissolve into water from the surface of the measuring tank over a long period of time, and the resulting ice may give off an offensive odor.

Further, in the conventional ice making device 200, when the water supply tank 206 is inserted, a part of the opening / closing valve is pressed from above by the lever 215 so as to contact the bottom surface of the water storage chamber 213 of the measuring tank 205. If the tank 206 is not properly inserted, the on-off valve does not come into contact with the bottom of the water storage chamber 213, or the on-off valve has a small opening.
The water did not fall into 5, the water was not supplied to the ice tray 201, and the ice could not be made.

The present invention focuses on the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, reduces the chance of water being exposed to the air in the water supply path,
It is possible to prevent water from spoiling and generating an offensive odor. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice making device that can be surely not inserted when the water tank is not inserted properly.

[0018]

The features of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object are that a detachable water tank, a frame, a pump, an ice tray, and a pipe connecting them are built in a refrigerator. A discharge pipe communicating with the inside is discharged to the water supply tank, and a nozzle-shaped pipe joint member (A) is provided at the tip of the discharge pipe, and the vicinity of the pipe joint member (A) is provided. Is provided with a contact portion, the pump is fixed to a frame provided in a refrigerator, a tubular pipe joint member (B) is provided on a suction side of the pump, and the frame or the pipe joint member is provided. (B) is provided with a locking member, and the frame is provided with a pressing member for pressing the water supply tank in the detaching direction, a spring for applying a pressing force to the pressing member, and a water supply tank. The presence of Switch is provided, an ice making device rail receiving portion for sliding the pressing member in the front-rear direction is provided.

Further, in the ice making device, a stopper is provided near the terminal end of the rail receiving portion of the frame so as to come into contact with a pressing member for pressing the water supply tank in the detaching direction.

Further, in the ice making device, the pressing member is integrally provided with a lever for activating ON / OFF of a switch for detecting the presence / absence of the water supply tank.

Further, in the ice making device, the frame is provided with a guide rib that comes into contact with a spring that applies a pressing force to the pressing member.

Further, in the ice making device, the foamable material is inserted into the spring that applies a pressing force to the pressing member.

[0023]

In the ice making device of the present invention, the frame is provided with the rail receiving portion that is slidable in the front-rear direction, and the pressing member that presses the water supply tank in the detaching direction is slid in the front-rear direction.
If the joints of the pipe joint members (A) and (B) are in a loose state,
You can push the water tank forward and make it clear that the water tank is not set.

Further, in the ice making device of the present invention, when the pressing member is pushed in the back direction, the stopper is provided in the vicinity of the terminal end of the rail receiving portion of the frame, and the pressing member does not move further in the back direction.

Further, in the ice making device of the present invention, when the water supply tank is inserted, the pressing member is interlocked and pushed in, and the switch can be turned on and off.

Further, in the ice making device of the present invention, when the water supply tank is pulled out, the pressing member is moved by the spring to the front of the Y dust. At this time, the spring abruptly contracts and tries to resonate, but since the spring is in contact with the guide rib, the resonance sound is alleviated.

Further, in the ice making device of the present invention, the spring tries to resonate like the above, but resonance noise can be prevented by inserting a foaming material into the spring.

[0028]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a water supply tank used in the ice making device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a water supply tank used in the ice making device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ice making device according to the specific embodiment of the present invention before the water supply tank is inserted. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the ice making device of FIG. 5 when the water supply tank is set.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a pressing member portion according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the rail receiving portion of the frame. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pressing member portion.

First, the basic construction of the ice making apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment, and a frame 8 described later is not shown. The ice making device 1 of the present embodiment includes an ice tray 2, an inverting device 3, a water storage container 5, a pump 6, a water supply tank 7, and pipes 4 and 9. That is, the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment does not have a member corresponding to the measuring tank, which is essential in the prior art.

The ice making device 1 of this embodiment is placed in a refrigerator. More specifically, among the components described above, the ice tray 2, the reversing device 3, and the water storage container 5 are located in the lower freezing compartment 10, and the pump 6 and the water supply tank 7 are located in the upper refrigerating compartment 11. It

The pipe 4 connects the water supply tank 7 and the pump 6. The pipe 9 connects the pump 6 and the ice tray 2 to each other. Here, the pipe 4 is continuously connected without a gap, and the pipe 9 has a structure in which a nozzle 12 is opened on the upper surface of the ice tray 2 and water is poured from the nozzle 12 into the ice tray 2.

Among the components of the ice making device 1 described above, the ice tray 2, the reversing device 3 and the water storage container 5 are not different from the known ones. Briefly, the ice tray 2 is a tray that freezes the water inside. The reversing device 3 has a built-in gear train and functions to reverse the ice tray 2 to separate water. The water storage container 5 is located below the ice tray 2 and is a container for storing ice dropped from the ice tray 2.

In the water supply tank 7 used in this embodiment, the opening of the tank body 13 is covered with a lid 14. At this time, the packing 16 is arranged in the bag-shaped portion 15 of the lid body 14, and the packing 16 is pressed against the open end of the tank body 13 so that the tank body 13 and the lid body 14 are sealed. Then, the engagement claw 18 of the lock member 17 engages with the bottom surface of the flange 19 of the tank body 13. Therefore, the lid 14 is attached to the tank body 13 so as not to come off.

In addition to the above-described structure, the lid 14 is provided with a hole 20 for pouring water, and the hole 20 has a cap 2
1 is attached. Further, the lid 14 has a water supply tank 7
A recess 22 is formed which acts as a handle when pulling out. Further, the lid body 13 is provided with a pipe joint member (A) 23 integrally protruding from the lid body 13 to the upper side.

Reference numeral 24 is an air hole provided in the lid 13, which connects the upper surface of the tank body 13 and the outside. Reference numeral 25 is a discharge pipe communicating with the pipe joint member (A) 23 and having an end reaching the bottom of the tank body 13.

Next, the frame 8 will be described. The frame 8 having the above-mentioned configuration is fixed in the refrigerating compartment 11.
The frame 8 is made of resin, and is divided into a water supply tank mounting portion 26 and a pump placement portion 27.

The water supply tank mounting portion 26 is formed with a pipe joint member (A) accommodating portion 28. Pipe joint member (A)
The storage portion 28 has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, and the end portion side of the water supply tank mounting portion 26 has a wide width, and is tapered and narrowed toward the center. An open port 29 is provided on the tip end side of the pipe joint member (A) storage portion 28, in other words, on the center side of the water supply tank mounting portion 26.

Further, a pipe joint member (B) 31 and an engaging claw 32 are provided around the opening 29 of the water supply tank mounting portion 26 via a support base 30.

The engaging claw 32 has a claw 3 at the tip of the rod member 33.
4 is provided. The engagement claw 32 is swingably supported by a shaft 35. Then, the spring a35 'comes into contact with the rod member 33 of the engaging claw 32, and the engaging claw 32
Is always urged so that the claw 34 moves downward.

A pressing member 36 is provided near the water tank mounting portion 26. The pressing member 36 is the frame 8
It is inserted into a rail receiving portion 37 formed integrally with and is attached so as to be slidable back and forth. The pressing member 36 includes a water tank contact portion 38, a spring b attachment portion 39, a switch lever portion 40, a rear stopper contact portion 41, and a rail portion 42.

Near the rear end of the rail receiving portion 37 of the frame 8, the rear stopper contact portion 41 of the pressing member 36 is provided.
Is formed with a stopper 43. The abutting surfaces of the rear stopper abutting portion 41 and the stopper 43 are wedge-shaped.

A spring b mounting portion 45 for mounting a spring b44 for applying a pressing force to the pressing member 36 is attached to the frame 8.
Are integrally formed. As the spring b44, a tension coil spring is used so as to pull the pressing member forward. Further, a guide rib 46 is formed so as to come into contact with the side surface of the spring b44.

In FIG. 7, the foamable material 47 is provided in the spring b44.
(For example, foamed polyethylene foam) is inserted.

The pump 6 is attached to the pump arranging portion 27 via a rubber vibration isolation mount 48.

The operation of the ice making device of the present embodiment will be described below in accordance with the work procedure of the ice making device. Ice making apparatus 1 of the present embodiment
Before using, fill the water tank 7 with water.
When water is added to the water supply tank 7, the cap 21 is removed and water is poured into the water supply tank 7 through the hole 20.

After pouring water into the water supply tank 7, the water supply tank 7 is inserted and attached to the frame 8.

Here, when the water supply tank 7 is mounted, the pipe joint member (A) 23 advances inward from the wide opening of the pipe joint member (A) accommodating portion 28 along the taper, and the pipe joint member ( Since A) 23 is held by the side surface of the pipe joint member (A) housing portion 28, the lateral movement of the water supply tank 7 is restricted.

Then, the pipe joint member (A) 23 reaches the opening 29 on the front end side of the pipe joint member (A) accommodating portion 28.

Further, when the water supply tank 7 is pushed in, the top surface 49 of the pipe joint member (A) 23 pushes up the engaging claw 32 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Then, the tip of the pipe joint member (A) 23 is inserted into the pipe joint member (B) 31.

The pipe joint member (A) 23 is a pipe joint member (B).
When it is completely inserted into 31, the engaging claw 32 is lowered by the force of the spring a35 'so that the side surface of the pipe joint member (A) 23 and the claw 34 are engaged. As a result, the pipe joint member (A) 23 is held so as not to come off from the pipe joint member (B) 31.

On the other hand, the pressing member 36 is a spring b mounting portion 45 provided on the front side surface of the water supply tank mounting portion 26 of the frame 8.
And the spring b mounting portion 3 provided on the front side of the pressing member 36.
A force is applied to the front side by the spring b44 hooked on 9.

The pressing member 36 is notched at the rear end portion of the rail receiving portion 37 of the frame 8 and is inserted from the rear side. The rail 42 of the pressing member 36 and the rail receiving portion 37 of the frame 8 have a sufficient fitting margin in the front-rear direction, and there is no rattling when sliding in the front-rear direction, and when the water tank 7 is inserted,
Can be inserted smoothly without getting caught. If the water tank 7 is not securely inserted all the way, the pressing member 36
The water tank 7 is pushed out by the
You can see that is not inserted.

Even when the water supply tank 7 is not present and the pressing member 36 is pushed in, the rear stopper abutting portion 41 of the pressing member 36 abuts on the stopper 43 of the frame 8 so that the pressing member 36 is a rail of the frame 8. Receiver 3
It does not fall off from 7. Further, the lever 49 of the switch 48 is not damaged.

The switch 48 attached to the side of the pressing member 36 is turned on by the switch lever portion 40 formed integrally with the pressing member 36 sliding in the front-back direction.
Activate OFF. In this embodiment, the switch lever portion 40 and the switch 48 contact each other before the water tank 7 is inserted, and the pressing member 36 moves rearward after the water tank 7 is inserted, so that the switch lever portion 40 and the switch 48 are separated from each other. As described above, the pressing member 36 has less rattling, does not give a shock to the lever 49 of the switch 48, and does not adversely affect the reliability of the switch 48.

Further, the pressing member 36 and the switch lever portion 40
Since it is integrally formed, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of work steps.

When the water tank 7 is suddenly pulled out, the spring b
44 tries to shrink sharply. By providing the frame 8 with a guide rib that abuts the spring b44, it is possible to prevent a resonance sound due to the contraction of the spring b44.

Further, by inserting the foaming material 47 into the spring b44, resonance can be eliminated and resonance noise can be prevented.

[0058]

The ice making device of the present invention is provided with the rail receiving portion for sliding the pressing member in the front-back direction, so that the fitting dimension with the pressing member can be long, the rattling of the pressing member is small, and the water tank. When inserted, it can be inserted smoothly without getting caught. Since it slides in the front-back direction, the stroke of the pressing member can be sufficiently secured, and when the water tank is inserted halfway, the pressing member pushes the water tank forward, making sure that the water tank is not inserted. Recognize.

Further, in the structure in which the stopper is provided at the terminal end of the rail receiving portion of the frame, even if the pressing member is pressed unfavorably, the stopper contact portion of the pressing member contacts the stopper and does not go further and the pressing member is pushed. Can be prevented from falling off and damage to the switch lever can be prevented.

Further, since the pressing member is integrally provided with a lever for activating ON / OFF of the switch for detecting the presence / absence of the water supply tank, there is no rattling of the pressing member and no impact is given to the switch.

Further, in the structure in which the spring is brought into contact with the guide rib of the frame, even if the water tank is suddenly pulled out, the spring does not hit the guide rib and resonate or resonate.

Further, even in the structure in which the foamable material is inserted into the spring, the foamable material hits the inner surface of the spring and resonates in the same manner as above.
It does not resonate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a water supply tank used in the ice making device of FIG.

4 is a front sectional view of a water supply tank used in the ice making device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ice making device according to the specific embodiment of the present invention before the water tank is inserted.

6 is a plan view of the water supply tank of the ice making device of FIG. 5 when set.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a pressing member according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a rail receiving portion of the frame.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a pressing member portion.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a conventional ice making device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a water supply tank switch unit of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ice Making Device 2 Ice Making Plate 3 Inversion Device 4 Pump 7 Water Tank 9 Piping 23 Pipe Joint Member (A) 26 Water Tank Attachment Part 31 Pipe Joint Member (B) 36 Pressing Member 37 Rail Receiving Port 38 Water Supply Tank Abutting Port 40 Switch Lever part 41 Rear stopper contact part 42 Lever part 43 Stopper 44 Spring b 46 Guide rib 47 Foaming material 48 Switch

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Aoki 3-22 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Refrigerator Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuo Miyaji 3-22 Takaidahondori, East Osaka Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank that is detachable from a refrigerator, a self-priming pump, an ice tray arranged in the refrigerator, piping connecting the above-mentioned components, a water supply tank mounting portion, and a pump arrangement portion. Frame, a discharge pipe provided in the water supply tank for communicating with the inside of the tank, a nozzle-like pipe joint member (A) provided at the tip of the discharge pipe, and a tubular pipe joint provided on the suction side of the pump. A member (B), a locking member provided on either the frame or the pipe joint member (B), and an abutting portion with which the locking member engages near the pipe joint member (A). , A pressing member provided on the frame for pressing the water supply tank in the detaching direction, a spring for applying a pressing force to the pressing member, and a switch for detecting the presence / absence of the water supply tank. Rail receiver to slide on An ice making device with a hook. 2. The ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper, which comes into contact with a pressing member for pressing the water supply tank in the detaching direction, near the terminal end of the rail receiving portion of the frame. 3. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is integrally provided with a lever for activating ON / OFF of a switch for detecting the presence or absence of a water supply tank. 4. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a guide rib that comes into contact with a spring that applies a pressing force to the pressing member. 5. A foamable material is inserted in the spring.
The described ice making device.