JPH10153364A - Auger type ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auger type ice making machine which is capable of halting ice making operation so that an ice carrier passage may not leave from an ice storage even when an ice storage detection switch suffers from an operational failure and confirming an operating state of the switch without taking out an ice making mechanism section from a cabinet. SOLUTION: When an ice storage detection switch 63 suffers from an operational failure, an ice carrier passage 50 moves in he direction separating from an ice storage 60 due to an increased pressure of clogged ice. At that time, an electric equipment box, which is movably and integrally provided with an ice making mechanism section 20, which is connected to the ice carrier passage, moves in the same direction as wall. This places a tumbler switch 71 provided on the opposite side of the ice storage 60 of the electric equipment box into contact with a switch operation means 72 of a cabinet 10 and puts an end to ice making operation. This construction makes it possible to confirm visually the operating state of the tumbler switch by opening an open and or closed panel without taking out the ice making mechanism section from the open and close cabinet.

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 having an ice making mechanism and an ice storage in a cabinet, which are mutually connected by an ice conveying passage, and in particular, a malfunction of an ice storage detecting switch provided in the ice storage. The present invention relates to a technique for coping with the detachment of the ice transport passage caused by the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An auger-type ice making machine has a vertically long cylindrical refrigerating casing, and an evaporator as a part of a refrigerating circuit is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the refrigerating casing. Is provided. Ice making water is supplied to the inside of the freezing casing, and the ice grown on the inner peripheral surface of the freezing casing is scraped off by the rotation of the spiral blade, becomes flake-like ice, and is upwardly formed by the spiral action. Transported to A pressing head for forming ice into a desired shape and hardness is provided at an upper portion of the freezing casing. Further, the upper end of the freezing casing is communicated with an ice storage by an ice conveying passage. Therefore, flaked ice
It is compressed to a suitable hardness at the pressing head and transported to an ice storage through an ice transport passage. Usually, the ice storage is provided with an ice storage detection switch for detecting that the ice storage is full with the conveyed ice and stopping the rotation of the auger.

In the conventional auger-type ice making machine described above, when the ice storage detection switch does not operate normally for some reason, the rotation of the auger does not stop even if the ice storage is full of ice. Ice may continue to be transported. As a result, ice is clogged into the ice transfer passage, and the auger and the drive system (motor, etc.) for driving the auger are overloaded. In some cases, the internal pressure of the ice transfer passage is increased due to the ice clogging. The passage could come off the upper part of the freezing casing. Therefore, in order to prevent the problem caused by the clogging of the ice, in the auger type ice making machine disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-51332 by the present applicant, a flexible body is attached to the cylinder as the discharge port of the freezing casing. A switch is provided on a fastener for fitting the ice transport pipe and tightening the pipe, and a switch operating means is provided on the cylindrical body, and ice clogging occurs due to a malfunction of the ice storage detection switch. In this case, the switch means is operated by the relative movement of the fastening tool with respect to the cylinder to stop driving the auger,
The problem caused by the ice clogging described above was successfully solved.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned auger type ice making machine disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-51332, the problem of ice clogging, which is the original object, has been solved tentatively. There were open issues. That is, since the above-described switch means and switch operation means are attached to a portion through which ice passes, such as an ice transport pipe or a cylindrical body, there is a possibility that rust may occur due to dew condensation or a switch may malfunction. Further, since the mounting positions of the switch means and the switch operating means are the fasteners and the cylindrical body, the operating state of the switch means cannot be known visually from outside the cabinet. Therefore, when the operation of the ice making machine was stopped, did the ice storage detection switch stop, or did it stop due to the operation failure of the ice storage detection switch and the operation of the switch means provided on the cylindrical body? It is inconvenient to know the condition because the user has to take out the ice making mechanism from the cabinet and check the position of the switch means every time.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve not only the above-mentioned problem due to the ice clogging but also the above-mentioned unsolved problem. Even if the detection switch malfunctions, the operation can be stopped so that the ice conveyance passage does not separate from the ice storage, and the operation state of the switch can be changed without removing the ice making mechanism from the cabinet. An object of the present invention is to provide an auger-type ice maker that can be confirmed.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an ice making mechanism and an ice storage housed in a cabinet are communicated with the ice making mechanism and the ice storage. An ice transport passage, an electrical box provided movably with the ice making mechanism, a switch attached to the electrical box, and having a switch knob or a switch button exposed on the side opposite to the ice storage, And a switch actuating means provided at a predetermined interval. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an operation confirmation window is formed in the cabinet of the auger type ice making machine according to the first aspect, wherein an operation state of the switch can be visually confirmed from outside. I have. The predetermined interval is a distance such that the switch does not operate due to vibrations or the like that normally occur during operation, and the switch operates only when the ice making mechanism moves due to clogging of ice. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an auger in which an ice making mechanism, an ice transport passage, and an ice storage are housed in a cabinet, and the ice making mechanism can be pulled out and put in and out of a door for taking in and out provided in the cabinet. In the ice making machine, an electric box provided integrally with the ice making mechanism, a switch provided on the electric box, and having a switch knob or a switch button exposed on the opposite side to the ice storage, And a switch operating means provided at a predetermined interval from the switch, and the access door is also used as a window for visually confirming the operating state of the switch.

In the auger-type ice making machine according to the first aspect, if ice continues to be transported even when the ice storage is full, the ice transport passage is also filled with ice and the pressure rises, and the ice transport passage is increased. Moves away from the ice storage. At this time,
The ice making mechanism connected to the ice carrying passage, and the electrical box provided integrally with the ice making mechanism also move in the same direction as the ice carrying passage. When the ice transport passage, the ice making mechanism, the electrical box and the like move a predetermined distance, the switch knob or the switch button of the switch attached to the electrical box comes into contact with the switch operating means, and the ice making operation is stopped. ing. In the auger-type ice maker according to the second aspect, the operation state of the switch can be easily visually confirmed from the outside via an operation confirmation window formed in the cabinet. In the drawer-type auger-type ice making machine according to claim 3, if ice continues to be transported even when the ice storage is full, the ice transport passage is also filled with ice and the pressure increases, and the ice transport passage becomes It moves away from the ice storage. At this time, the ice making mechanism connected to the ice conveying passage, and the electrical box provided integrally with the ice making mechanism also move in the same direction as the ice conveying passage. When the ice transport passage, the ice making mechanism, the electrical box and the like move a predetermined distance, the switch knob or the switch button of the switch attached to the electrical box comes into contact with the switch operating means, and the ice making operation is stopped. ing. Further, the operating state of the switch can be easily visually checked by opening and taking out the door for taking in and out, without pulling out the ice making mechanism from the cabinet.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. In the following embodiments, a drawer-type auger-type ice maker will be described in which an opening / closing panel for pulling out an ice making mechanism is also used as a window for visually checking the operation state of a switch. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the drawer-type auger-type ice making machine, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a structure around the ice making mechanism 20. The drawer type auger ice machine is
Ice making mechanism 20 and water circulation system 3 in cabinet 10
0, a drive mechanism 40, an ice transport passage 50, an ice storage 60, and an electrical box 70 are accommodated. The cabinet 10 is a housing having an opening / closing panel 11 on the front surface, which is a door for taking in and out the ice making mechanism unit 20 and the like.

In FIG. 3, what is indicated by reference numeral 21 is
It is a frozen casing. The refrigerating casing 21 is a vertically long tubular member, and an auger 22 is rotatably supported in the inside thereof. On the outer periphery of the auger 22, a spiral blade 22
a is formed. Around the freezing casing 21,
A tubular evaporator constituting a part of a well-known refrigeration circuit together with the condenser 23b and the compressor 23c (shown only in FIG. 5), that is,
The cooling pipe 23a is wound. A heat insulating material 24 is provided around the cooling pipe 23a in order to efficiently transmit cool air to the freezing casing 21. Frozen casing 21
The supply pipe 32 is connected to a lower part of the supply pipe. Supply pipe 32
Supplies ice making water into the freezing casing 21 from an ice making water tank 31 (see FIG. 2) which is a part of the water circulation system 30 shown in FIG. The lower part of the auger 22 is connected to a geared motor 42 via a well-known power transmission mechanism 41. The geared motor 42 and the power transmission mechanism 41
Together with the condenser 23b described above, it is mounted on a base 43 slidably supported with respect to the cabinet 10 by a slide rail (not shown).

A pressing head 25 for compressing ice into a desired shape and hardness is provided at an upper portion of the freezing casing 21. Above the pressing head 25, a cutter 26 for cutting the ice formed by compression into a predetermined size is provided. The cutter 26 is attached to the upper part of the auger 22 and rotates together with the rotation of the auger 22. Further, one end of the freezing casing 21 is
The other end of the ice transport passage 50 connected to the other end is connected.

A heat insulator 62 for preventing heat from penetrating is attached around a wall 61 constituting the ice storage 60. An ice storage detection switch 63 is provided at an upper portion of the wall 61 to detect when the ice storage 60 is full of conveyed ice and stop the rotation of the auger 22. The ice storage detection switch 63 is turned ON / OFF by an operation lever indicated by reference numeral 64. Operating lever 64
Extends downward from the ice storage detection switch 63. A hole 65 that penetrates the wall 61 and the heat insulating material 62 is provided in an upper part of the ice storage 60 on the side of the ice making mechanism 20. This hole 6
5 is fitted with an ice guide cylinder 66. Ice guide cylinder 66
Extends from the wall body 61 toward the inside of the ice storage 60, and the bottom thereof is inclined downward toward the tip. The above-described ice transport passage 5 is provided inside the ice guide cylinder 66.
0 end is fitted.

The electrical box 70 is mounted on the upper part of the condenser 23b by a suitable connecting means. Therefore,
The electrical box 70 is integrally movable with the ice making mechanism unit 20 mounted on the base 43 similarly to the condenser 23b. The electrical box 70 contains an operation control circuit described later and shown in FIG. A tumbler switch 71 is attached to a side surface of the electrical box 70. FIGS. 4A and 4B are partially enlarged views showing an operation state of the tumbler switch 71 provided in the electrical box 70, wherein FIG. 4A is an ON state, and FIG.
Indicates an OFF state. The operation of the tumbler switch 71 will be described in detail later. The tumbler switch 71 is a switch that is opened and closed by reversing the undulation of a switch knob 71a. The tumbler switch 71 is attached to the electrical box 70 such that the switch knob 71a is exposed on the side opposite to the ice storage 60. On the inner wall surface of the cabinet 10, a switch operating means 72 is attached at a position facing the tumbler switch 71. Switch operating means 7
As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 2 includes a joining portion 72a, an interval adjusting portion 72b, and a knob contact portion 72c. The switch actuating means 72 is fixedly supported on the inner wall surface of the cabinet 10 by a suitable joining means such as welding or screwing at a joining portion 72a. The knob contact portion 72c faces a portion protruding when the switch knob 71a is in the ON state at a predetermined distance. The interval adjusting unit 72b
The distance between the knob contact portion 72c and the switch knob 71a is adjusted to be a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is
The switch knob 71a does not come into contact with the knob contact portion 72c due to the vibration of the ice making mechanism unit 20 during operation or the like, and when the ice clogging occurs and the ice transport passage 50 moves in the direction to leave the ice storage 60. Only switch knob 71a
The tumbler switch 71 contacts the knob contact portion 72c.
Is set to be OFF. As described above, since the tumbler switch 71 is mounted on the electrical box 70, the wiring of the circuit for controlling the operation can be accommodated in the electrical box 70, and rust and malfunction of the switch due to dew condensation can occur. The problem that there is a possibility of occurrence of the problem has been solved.

Next, the operation of the drawer-type auger-type ice making machine according to the present embodiment will be described. The ice storage 60 is not in a full state, and the ice storage detection switch 63 is
N and the circuit is closed as shown in FIG. Also,
The ice conveyance passage 50 is properly fitted to the ice storage 60, the switch knob 71a is separated from the knob contact portion 72c, and the tumbler switch 71 is ON and closed as shown in FIG. . First, connect the drawer-type auger type ice making machine to the power supply and turn switch 80, tumbler switch 71 is energized to the water supply valve WV through relay contacts X ₃₁ of ice storage detection switch 63 and normally closed, the water supply valve W
V opens. When the water supply valve WV is opened, ice making water is supplied to the ice making water tank 31 from an external water supply system (not shown). Water supply by opening the water supply valve WV is performed by the ice making water tank 31.
This continues until the water level inside rises and the upper limit water level detection switch 33a of the float switch 33 closes.

[0014] The upper limit water level detection switch 33a is closed by detecting the upper limit water level, the relay X ₃ are being energized energized. Thus, relay contacts X ₃₁ normally closed is open-circuited, the power supply to the water supply valve WV is closed is stopped. Energization of the relay X _3, the excitation first relay X ₁ is energized, then the relay X ₂ is excited, whereby the geared motor 4
2. The compressor 23c is started in that order, and the ice making operation starts. When the geared motor 42 and the compressor 23c are activated to start the ice making operation, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 31 is supplied into the refrigeration casing 21 through the supply pipe 32. The ice making water is deprived of heat by the cooling pipe 23 a wound around the outer peripheral surface, and is gradually frozen on the inner surface of the freezing casing 21. At the same time, since the auger 22 is rotated by the geared motor 42, the ice frozen on the inner surface is scraped off by the spiral blade 22a, and is sent upward as flake ice. Then, the ice compressed by the upper pressing head 25 is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 26 and stored in the ice storage 60 through the ice transport passage 50.

From the ice making water tank 31 to the frozen casing 21
When the ice making water supply is continued into the inside and the water level in the ice making water tank 31 becomes lower than the lower limit water level, the lower limit water level detection switch 3
3b is opened. Thereby, the upper limit water level detection switch 3
3a is a relay X ₃ which has been self-holding even after open circuit is deenergized, the relay contacts X ₃₁ is closed. Then, the water supply valve WV is opened again, and the water supply to the ice making water tank 31 is restarted. The water is supplied to the ice making water tank 31 to make the ice making water tank 3
When the water level in the 1 rises to the upper limit water level, the upper limit water level detection switch 33a is closed, the relay X ₃ is again energized,
Ice making operation starts. Thus, as ice is made and water is supplied to produce ice, the transported ice is piled up in the ice storage 60, and the height of the ice rises. Then, when the inside of the ice storage 60 is full of ice and the accumulated ice comes into contact with the operation lever 64 and tilts the operation lever 64 upward, the ice storage detection switch 63 is opened. Thereby, the relay X ₃
Is demagnetized, the geared motor 42 stops, and the ice making operation is interrupted. Therefore, even after the ice storage 60 is full of ice, the further manufactured ice does not continue to be transported into the ice storage 60 through the ice transportation passage 50, and the ice transportation passage 50 due to the ice clogging is not provided. Problems such as detachment are prevented.

Further, there may be a case where the ice storage detection switch 63 does not operate normally for some reason. When the ice detection switch 63 be in the ice bin 60 becomes full of ice does not work, because the relay X ₃ is not demagnetized, ice-making operation is continued, further ice after the ice bin 60 is full with ice Continues to be transported. The transported ice overflows from the ice storage 60 to the ice transport passage 50, and the ice transport passage 50 is also filled with ice. Then, the pressure of the ice clogged in the ice transport passage 50 increases, and the ice transport passage 50 starts moving in a direction of detaching from the ice guide cylinder 66, that is, the direction of the arrow A in FIGS. The ice making mechanism 20, the condenser 23b, the electrical box 70, and the tumbler switch 71 which are integrally movable also move in the same direction. And the ice transport passage 5
0, when the ice making mechanism 20 and the electrical box 70 move in the direction A by a predetermined distance, the switch knob 71 of the tumbler switch 71
a comes into contact with the knob contact portion 72c of the switch operating means 72, and the switch knob 71a is turned on as shown in FIG.
The state is reversed from the state of N to the OFF state shown in (b), that is, the tumbler switch 71 is opened in FIG. When the tumbler switch 71 is opened, the relay X ₃
Is demagnetized, the geared motor 42 stops, and the ice making operation is interrupted. As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the ice storage detection switch 63 does not operate normally,
The geared motor 42 is stopped before 0 is removed from the ice storage 60, so that the ice transport passage 50 can be prevented from being detached due to ice clogging.

As described above, after the ice making operation is stopped by the operation of the ice storage detection switch 63 or the tumbler switch 71, the ice making operation is restarted.
When the open / close panel 11 provided on the front panel 0 is opened, the electrical box 70 in front can be seen, so that the operating state of the tumbler switch 71 can be easily understood. Therefore, if the tumbler switch 71 is ON, the operation is stopped by the operation of the ice storage detection switch 63, and if the tumbler switch 71 is OFF, the operation failure of the ice storage detection switch 63 occurs, and the operation of the tumbler switch 71 is stopped. It can be seen that the operation was stopped by the operation. Therefore, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to pull out the ice making mechanism unit 20 from the cabinet 10 and check it each time, which is convenient.

The present invention can be modified and implemented as follows. In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is implemented with respect to a drawer-type auger-type ice maker in which the ice making mechanism unit 20 can be pulled out and put in and out of the cabinet 10; In, instead of the opening and closing panel 11,
A window for confirming the operation state of the switch may be provided near the tumbler switch 71 of the cabinet 10, and when the operation is stopped, the operation state of the tumbler switch 71 may be confirmed from the window. Further, instead of the tumbler switch 71, a push button switch whose ON / OFF can be distinguished by the unevenness of the switch button may be used.

[0019]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the ice storage is full of ice, for example, the ice storage detection switch provided in the ice storage is not normally operated. Even in such a case, the ice making operation is stopped by the operation of the switch provided in the electrical component box, and the ice transport path can be prevented from being detached due to ice clogging. Claim 2
According to the invention described in (1), the operation state of the switch can be easily visually confirmed from outside the cabinet through the operation confirmation window formed in the cabinet. Furthermore,
According to the invention described in claim 3, when the ice storage is full of ice, for example, even if the ice storage detection switch does not operate normally, the ice making operation is performed by the operation of the switch provided in the electrical box. It is possible to prevent the ice transport passage from coming off due to the stoppage and the ice clogging. Further, the operating state of the switch can be easily visually checked without opening the ice making mechanism or the like by pulling out the cabinet opening / closing door. Furthermore,
Since the above-mentioned door for access is originally provided in a drawer type auger type ice making machine, it is possible to reduce the cost as compared with a case where a means for visually confirming the switch operation state is newly provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer-type auger type ice making machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the drawer-type auger type ice making machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure around an ice making mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing an operation state of a tumbler switch provided in an electrical box.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation control circuit housed in an electrical box.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Cabinet, 11 ... Opening / closing panel (operation confirmation window, access door), 20 ... Ice making mechanism part, 50 ... Ice conveyance passage, 60 ... Ice storage, 70 ... Electrical box, 71 ... Tumble switch (switch), 71a … Switch knob, 72…
Switch operating means, 72c: knob contact portion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice making mechanism and an ice storage housed in a cabinet, an ice transport passage communicating the ice making mechanism and the ice storage, and an electrical box provided integrally with the ice making mechanism. An auger-type ice making machine comprising: a switch attached to the electrical box, having a switch knob or a switch button exposed on the side opposite to the ice storage, and switch operating means provided at a predetermined distance from the switch in the cabinet. Machine. 2. The auger ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet is provided with an operation confirmation window through which the operation state of the switch can be visually confirmed from the outside. 3. An auger-type ice maker in which an ice making mechanism, an ice transport passage, and an ice storage are housed in a cabinet, and the ice making mechanism can be pulled out and put in and out of a door for taking in and out provided in the cabinet. An electrical box provided integrally with the ice making mechanism, a switch provided on the electrical box, and having a switch knob or a switch button exposed on the side opposite to the ice storage; A drawer-type auger-type ice maker, comprising: switch operating means provided at intervals; wherein the door for taking in and out is also used as a window for visually checking the operating state of the switch.