JPH09273842A - Protective equipment of auger type ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an ice release passage from clogging with ice, even when an ice storing switch fails, and also to prevent a leak of water or the like by stopping an ice making operation in the case when an ice making machine tilts. SOLUTION: An auger type ice making mechanism part 10, an ice release passage 11 being connected to the upper end part of a freezing casing 10a of the ice making mechanism part 10, extending laterally and sending chip- shaped ice into an ice storing tank, and a stored ice detecting device 15 being positioned in the vicinity of the outlet of the ice release passage 11 and detecting that the ice release passage 11 is filled up with ice, are provided. A tilt switch 20 detecting a tilt of the ice release passage 11 and outputting a tilt signal is provided on the outer surface of the passage at a position being off the part just above the freezing casing 10a, and an operation of the ice making mechanism part 10 is stopped on the basis of the tilt signal from the tilt switch 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an auger type ice making machine, and more particularly to a protective device for preventing abnormal clogging of an ice discharge passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional auger type ice making machine, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is provided in the freezing casing 3 of the ice making mechanism 2,
A cutter 3c that is attached to the rotating screw shaft 3a and cuts the rod-shaped ice extruded from the compression passage 3b into chips.
It has. Then, the chip-shaped ice cut by the cutter 3c is fed into the ice storage tank 1 through the ice discharge passage 4 extending laterally from the upper end of the freezing casing 3. A chute 5 for dropping ice into the ice storage tank 1 is connected to the ice discharge passage 4 and the ice storage tank 1, and an ice storage detection device 6 is provided near the outlet of the ice discharge passage 4. Ice making mechanism 2
Normally, the ice from the inside falls through the chute 5 into the ice storage tank 1, but when the amount of ice in the ice storage tank 1 becomes large and the ice accumulates in the chute 5, the detection plate 6a of the ice storage detection device 6 is detected. Is swung by being pushed by ice from the ice discharge passage 4, and the detection switch 6b is operated to stop the operation of the ice making mechanism 2.

When the ice storage detecting device 6 does not operate for some reason, the ice making mechanism 2 which keeps operating is clogged with ice in the ice releasing passage 4 and the internal pressure of the ice releasing passage 4 rises and the ice making mechanism is also activated. Geared motor 7 driving 2
Will increase the load. In the small-sized auger type ice making machine, the geared motor 7 is locked due to the increase of the load, and the overcurrent protection device is activated to stop the ice making operation.

Also, in a large auger type ice making machine,
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a spout switch 30 is provided above the ice discharge passage 11 at a position outside the upper portion of the freezing casing of the ice making mechanism, and when the inside of the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice, the spout is opened. The one in which the switch 30 operates to stop the ice making operation is proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-32977. The spout switch 30 proposed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-32977 has an opening 1
2, a cover plate 35 detachably fixed to the ice discharge passage 11 so as to cover the upper side of the ice cover 2, an actuator 31 provided so as to block the opening 12 from the upper side so that the lower side of the cover plate 35 can move upward and downward by a slight distance. Plate 35
And a switch unit 37 that is sealed by an elastic cover 38 that is provided between the actuator 31 and the actuator 31 and that operates when the actuator 31 rises.

Here, two contact plates (not shown) are arranged in the switch unit 37. Therefore, when the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice, the actuator 31 comes into contact with the ice and is pushed up toward the cover plate 35. Due to the movement of the actuator 31, the two contact plates come into contact with each other, and it is detected that the ice is full and an ice full signal is output.

[0006]

However, in the case where the ice making operation is stopped by the overcurrent protection device, sometimes the internal pressure of the ice discharging passage 4 becomes excessively large before the geared motor 7 is locked, and the ice discharging passage 4 becomes too large. May be damaged. Further, in the case where the ice storage detecting device 6 is provided, the ice storage detecting device 6 operates normally even when the ice making device is installed in a tilted state or the ice making device is tilted due to an earthquake or the like, so that the ice making mechanism unit 2 continues to operate. Therefore, there is a problem that water leakage is caused by a drain pan or the like (not shown) provided at the bottom of the water storage tank 8 or the ice making machine.

Further, in the case where the spout switch 30 is provided at a position outside the upper part of the freezing casing, when the ice making mechanism portion exhibits excessive ice making capacity at low ambient temperature or low water temperature, or in the freezing casing. When the ice blockage is released by some force and lifted at once, there is a problem that the spout switch 30 operates due to the ice that rises together to stop the ice making operation. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and prevents the ice discharge passage from being abnormally clogged with ice even when the ice storage switch fails, and when the ice maker tilts. It is to prevent water leakage by stopping the ice making operation.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly includes an auger type ice making mechanism 10 and an upper end portion of a freezing casing 10a of the ice making mechanism 10 as illustrated in FIG. The ice discharging passage 11 that is connected and extends laterally to feed the chip-like ice into the ice storage tank, and the upper portion of the chute 14 connected near the outlet of the ice discharging passage 11 is filled with ice inside the chute 14. And an ice storage detecting device 15 for outputting an ice-filling signal to detect the temperature of the ice aeration machine, and the auger ice-making machine according to claim 1, wherein the ice discharge passage 11 has an outer surface of the frozen casing 10a. Tilt switch 2 that detects tilt and outputs tilt signal
0 is provided and the operation of the ice making mechanism unit 10 is stopped based on the tilt signal from the tilt switch 20.

When the tilt switch 20 is provided in this way,
Even if the ice storage detecting device 15 fails and the ice storage tank 10 exceeds the predetermined amount of ice, the ice making mechanism 10 continues to operate and the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice, and the tilt switch 20 operates. The operation of the ice making mechanism unit 10 is stopped. In addition, when the ice making mechanism unit 10 exerts an excessive ice making capacity, or when the ice blockage in the freezing casing 10a is released by some force and lifted at once, the ice that rises as a whole is frozen. It is broken by a cutter located directly above the casing 10a and sent into the ice storage tank through the ice discharge passage 11. Therefore, unless the amount of ice in the ice storage tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the ice discharge passage 11 is not filled with ice, and thus the ice making operation is not stopped.

[0010] In the invention according to claim 2,
The opening 1 is provided above the freezing casing 10a of the ice discharge passage 11.
2 and the ice discharge passage 11 so as to cover above the opening 12.
The cover plate 13 is rotatably fixed from the outside, and the tilt switch 20 is arranged on the upper side of the cover plate 13. When the cover plate 13 tilts, the tilt switch 20 operates to operate the ice making mechanism unit 10. I am trying to stop the operation.

In this way, when the ice storage detecting device 15 fails and the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice, the opening 1 is opened.
As ice enters inside 2, the cover plate 13 rotatably fixed is opened. Then, the cover plate 13 is tilted, the tilt switch 20 is operated, and the operation of the ice making mechanism unit 10 is stopped.

Further, in the invention as set forth in claim 3, the tilt switch 20 opens its contact when the switch 20 tilts and outputs a tilt signal or a normally closed switch which closes the contact to tilt the tilt signal. It is a normally open switch that outputs.

[0013]

Since the protective device of the present invention operates as described above, in the invention of claim 1, even if the ice storage detecting device 15 fails, the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice. For example, the operation of the ice making mechanism 10 will be stopped,
The breakage of the ice discharge passage 11 can be prevented. Also,
When the ice maker is installed at an angle or when it is tilted due to an earthquake or the like, the tilt switch 20 operates and the ice making mechanism unit 10 stops operating, so that an accident such as water leakage can be prevented. Furthermore, even when the ice making mechanism unit 10 exerts an excessive ice making capacity, or when the ice blockage in the freezing casing 10a is released by some force and lifted at once, the ice storage tank has a predetermined amount of ice. Unless the above conditions are satisfied, the ice making mechanism unit 10 is not stopped, so there is no inconvenience that the ice making mechanism unit 10 stops operating during normal ice making operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tilt switch 20 operates when the rotatably fixed cover plate 13 opens outward and tilts. Therefore, the ice switch is in a normal state or a full state. The movement of ice through the discharge passage 11 is not hindered. Further, since the opening 12 is covered by the cover plate 13, there is no risk that dust, water droplets, etc. will enter the ice discharge passage 11 through the opening 12 and it is hygienic. Furthermore, since the cover plate 13 is detachable from the outside, maintenance and inspection is easy.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 A first embodiment of a protection device for an auger type ice making machine of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 1 showing a main structure of an auger type ice making machine and FIG. 2 showing a top view thereof. Ogre type ice making mechanism 1
No. 0 refrigerating casing 10a is equipped with a cutter (see FIG. 6) that is attached to a rotating screw shaft (not shown) and cuts the rod-shaped ice extruded from the compression passage into chips. One end of an ice discharge passage 11 extending in the lateral direction is bolted to the upper end of the freezing casing 10a, and a chute 14 extending downward is flange-connected to the other end through a gasket. The outer surface of the chute 14 is covered by a heat insulating cover 17 except for the upper and lower ends, and the heat insulating cover 17 is attached by a fastening band 17a.

On the upper wall of the ice discharge passage 11 having a substantially rectangular cross section, an opening 12 having a constant width is formed over the entire width at a position laterally offset from the upper portion of the freezing casing 10a attached thereto. A cover plate 13 is arranged above the opening 12. Cover plate 13
Is composed of an upper cover plate 13a and a lower cover plate 13b, and the upper cover plate 13a and the lower cover plate 13b are rotatably fixed by butterfly plates 13c and 13c. Butterfly plate 13c of the upper cover plate 13a,
The end portion on the side opposite to the side on which 13c is disposed is L-shaped in cross section and is bent downward. The bent end portion is arranged so as to contact the upper surface of the upper wall of the ice discharge passage 11. I have set up. The lower cover plate 13b is provided with a screw hole and a downward flange portion.

A pair of strip-shaped projections 12a, 12a are integrally formed on both side edges of the opening 12 in parallel with the both side edges. Both ends of each strip-shaped projection 12a are bent inward toward each other to form screw holes. The portion 12b is formed. A lower cover plate 13b having a downward flange is placed on one of the strip-shaped projections 12a, and is fixed by a mounting screw 13d that is screwed into a screw hole of the boss portion 12b.

The opening 12 on the upper surface of the upper cover plate 13a
The tilt switch 2 that outputs the tilt detection signal by opening the contact by tilting the upper cover plate 13a at a predetermined angle (for example, 10 to 20 degrees) at the center portion corresponding to.
A tilt switch 20a for outputting a tilt detection signal when 0 or the contact is closed is provided. 1 and 2 show an example in which the tilt switch 20 is used.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the tilt switch 20 which outputs a tilt detection signal when the contact is opened has a pot 22 made of a conductive material having a concave portion protruding downward in the central portion. It is arranged in the container 21, and the concave portion of the pot 22 is filled with mercury 23.
The lead pin 24 connected to is inserted into the mercury 23, and the second terminal 26 is connected to the pot 22. With this configuration, when the tilt switch 20 tilts at a predetermined angle (for example, set between 10 and 20 degrees), the contact between the mercury 23 and the lead pin 24 is cut off, and the tilt switch 20 outputs the tilt signal. Output.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the tilt switch 20a which outputs the tilt detection signal when the contact is closed, has annular electrodes 22a, 22a on the inner side wall of the container 21a.
And a concave electrode 23a having a spherical concave surface on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the container 21a. A conductive spherical electrode 24a is placed on the concave electrode 23a.
a is connected to the annular electrodes 22a, 22a, and
The terminal 26a is connected to the concave electrode 23a. With this configuration, when the tilt switch 20a is tilted at a predetermined angle (for example, set between 10 and 20 degrees), a part of the annular electrodes 22a, 22a and the concave electrode 23a are interposed via the spherical electrode 24a. The tilt switch 20a outputs a tilt signal.

An ice storage detecting device 15 is provided above the chute 14.
Is arranged. The ice storage detection device 15 is a chute 1
4, the support plate 15a is fixed by covering the opening formed in the upper wall, and the detection plate 15c facing the other end of the ice discharge passage 11 is pivotally supported via the bracket 15b fixed on the lower side. A detection switch 15d operated by the swing of the detection plate 15c is arranged on the upper side. Detection plate 15c
Both sides of the chute are bent toward the ice discharge passage 11 side, and the ice sent from the ice discharge passage 11 to the chute 14 is provided on both sides of the inner surface of the chute 14 located at the connection portion with the ice discharge passage 11. A pair of baffle plates 16 are fixed to prevent wraparound to the back side of 15c.

With the above-mentioned structure, the chip-shaped ice from the ice making mechanism 10 is sent to the chute 14 side mainly through the lower half of the ice discharge passage 11, and the ice storage tank provided below (see FIG. (See 6). If the amount of ice in the ice storage tank is less than a predetermined amount, this ice will fall without pushing the detection plate 15c, but when the ice accumulated in the chute 14 exceeds the predetermined amount and reaches near the detection plate 15c, the ice discharge passage Since the ice from 11 will not fall, the detection plate 15c is pushed and rocked to operate the detection switch 15d. As a result, a control device (not shown) is activated to stop the geared motor (see FIG. 6) of the ice making mechanism 10 to prevent the ice discharge passage 11 from being clogged with ice. The pair of baffle plates 16 guide the ice from the ice discharge passage 11 so as to surely push the detection plate 15c, and the ice goes around to the back side of the detection plate 15c to detect the detection plate 1.
Do not block the swing of 5c.

In the normal operating state described above, the ice discharge passage 11 is not filled with ice, and therefore the cover plate 13 is not inclined, so the inclination switch 20 is in the inoperative state. However, if the ice storage detection device 15 fails for some reason, even if the amount of ice in the ice storage tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the ice making mechanism unit 10 continues to operate and the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice. As shown, the filled ice comes into contact with the upper cover plate 13a of the cover plate 13, and these ice pieces are not covered by the upper cover plate 1a.
3a is pushed upward and the upper cover plate 1
Incline 3a.

Here, when the upper cover plate 13a reaches a predetermined angle (this angle is set between 10 and 20 degrees), the mercury 23 and the lead pin 24 of the tilt switch 20 are set.
The contact with the tilt switch 2 (see FIG. 3 (a)) is cut off.
0 sends a tilt signal to a control device (not shown), the control device is activated, the geared motor (see FIG. 6) of the ice making mechanism unit 10 is stopped, and the ice discharge passage 11 is clogged with ice and the internal pressure rises. Is prevented. Upper cover plate 13a
Is inclined at a predetermined angle (this angle is set between 10 and 20 degrees), the ice is no longer supplied into the ice discharge passage 11, so that the internal pressure of the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice. It is possible to reliably detect the occurrence of secondary trouble before the operation, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of secondary troubles due to the increase of the internal pressure.

Further, when the ice making machine is installed at an inclination when the ice making machine is installed, the tilt switch 20 is actuated at the same time when the ice making operation is started, the geared motor (see FIG. 6) is stopped, and the abnormal lamp is turned on. As a result, the operator can know that he / she accidentally installed the product at an angle, and can prevent the occurrence of water leakage or the like. Further, even if an earthquake or the like occurs while the ice making machine is operating and the ice making machine tilts, the tilt switch 20 operates and the geared motor (see FIG. 6) stops, so that the water tank (see FIG. 6) or It will be possible to prevent water leakage accidents such as drain pans.

Further, even when the ice making operation is performed normally at low ambient temperature and low water temperature, the ice making mechanism exhibits an excessive ice making capacity, or when the ice clogged inside the freezing casing 10a is released by some force, it is suddenly released. When the ice is lifted, the ice cubes may rise from the frozen casing 10a. However, this ice is broken by a cutter located immediately above the freezing casing 10a, and falls from the chute 14 into the ice storage tank through the ice discharge passage 11. Therefore, unless the amount of ice in the ice storage tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the ice discharge passage 11 will not be filled with ice, and thus the ice making operation will not be stopped.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the protection device for an auger type ice making machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 showing a main structure of the auger type ice making machine. The same reference numerals as those used in the auger-type ice making machine according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The difference between the auger type ice making machine of the second embodiment and the auger type ice making machine of the first embodiment described above is that a bracket 15e is provided above the support plate 15a of the ice storage detecting device 15 described above. , This bracket 15e
The tilt switch 20 is disposed on the above.

If the ice storage detecting device 15 fails for some reason, the chute 14 and the ice discharging passage 1
When 1 fills with ice, the internal pressure in the chute 14 and the ice discharge passage 11 increases. When the ice making mechanism unit 10 further continues the ice making operation from this state, the chute 14
And the internal pressure in the ice discharge passage 11 rises abnormally. Then, the chute 14 and the ice discharge passage 11 have the weakest connection strength at the joint portion where they are flange-joined via the gasket.
Is out of the ice discharge passage 11. Shoot 14
When the chute 14 comes out of the ice discharge passage 11, the chute 14 is pushed toward the side opposite to the ice discharge passage 11 by the pressing force of the ice and is inclined.

When the tilt angle of the chute 14 reaches a predetermined angle (this angle is set between 10 and 20 degrees), the mercury 23 of the tilt switch 20 and the lead pin 24.
The contact with the tilt switch 2 (see FIG. 3 (a)) is cut off.
0 sends a tilt signal to a controller (not shown). Then, the control device is actuated to stop the operation of the geared motor (see FIG. 6) of the ice making mechanism 10, and it is possible to prevent the overflow of ice into the machine room (not shown). Further, in the tilt switch 20, the chute 14 has the ice discharge passage 11
The tilt switch 20 sends a tilt signal to a control device (not shown) at the moment when the chute 14 moves out of the ice discharge passage 11, because the tilt switch 20 also operates by the action of a force (for example, gravitational acceleration) at the moment of coming off.

When the ice making machine is installed at an inclined position when the ice making machine is installed or when the ice making machine is tilted due to an earthquake or the like, the tilt switch 20 is actuated and the geared motor is stopped at the same time when the ice making operation is started. Since the abnormal lamp is turned on, the operator can know that the product is installed by being tilted by mistake, and the occurrence of water leakage can be prevented. Further, when an earthquake or the like occurs during the operation of the ice making machine and a force (for example, gravitational acceleration) acts on the ice making machine, the tilt switch 20 operates and the geared motor stops, so that the water tank (see FIG. 6). Alternatively, it becomes possible to prevent water leakage from the drain pan or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part structure of an embodiment of an auger type ice making machine provided with a protection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a tilt switch of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the ice discharge passage of the auger type ice making machine of FIG. 1 is filled with ice.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part structure of another embodiment of an auger type ice making machine provided with a protection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an auger type ice making machine provided with a conventional protection device.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of a conventional auger type ice making machine provided with a spout switch in an ice discharge passage.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the spout switch shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice making mechanism part, 10a ... Freezing casing, 11 ... Ice discharge passage, 12 ... Opening, 13 ... Cover plate, 15 ...
Ice storage detector, 20 ... Tilt switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An auger type ice making mechanism, an ice discharging passage connected to an upper end of a freezing casing of the ice making mechanism and extending laterally to feed chip-like ice into an ice storage tank, and the ice discharging passage. Is an auger type ice making machine comprising an ice storage detection device that detects that the ice is filled in the ice discharge passage near the outlet of the ice storage device, and outputs an ice filling signal. An auger type characterized in that an inclination switch for detecting the inclination and outputting an inclination signal is arranged on the outer surface, and the operation of the ice making mechanism is stopped based on the detection signal from the inclination switch. Protective device for ice machine. 2. An opening on the upper side of the freezing casing of the ice discharge passage, and a cover plate rotatably fixed to the ice discharge passage from the outside so as to cover the opening above the opening, and the cover. The auger type according to claim 1, wherein the tilt switch is provided on an upper side of a plate, and when the cover plate tilts, the tilt switch operates to stop the operation of the ice making mechanism. Protective device for ice machine. 3. The tilt switch is a normally closed switch that opens its contact and outputs a tilt signal when the switch tilts, or a normally open switch that closes its contact and outputs a tilt signal. A protection device for an auger type ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.