JPS6257908B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an automatic ice maker that automatically performs ice making, ice removal, and water supply, and also automatically controls the amount of water stored by an arm sensor, and also has a water storage container that can be pulled out toward the front. This invention relates to an ice storage amount detection device.

The arm sensor of this type of automatic ice maker, which is generally available on the market, detects the amount of ice stored and turns off the ice making circuit. That is, ice made by the ice maker is automatically dropped into an ice storage container installed at the bottom of the machine, but if the amount of ice exceeds a specified amount, the ice making operation must be stopped. To perform this operation, a gear is fitted to the drive motor conventionally used to reverse the ice cube tray to move a cam, and the arm sensor moves inside the ice storage container so that a part of the cam draws an arc. It is moved up and down, and in the process of moving up and down, the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container is detected, and the ice making operation is stopped or restarted.

On the other hand, when the user takes out the ice in the ice storage container, it is convenient for this type of ice maker to take out the ice while pulling out the previous ice storage container. Pull this ice storage container toward you. However, the conventional arm sensor is of the type that cuts the circuit of the drive motor that drives the arm sensor on the spot when it hits ice within the range of circular rotation, so the ice storage container is full of ice. The arm sensor is always located in the ice storage container when the ice storage container is turned on. If the user tries to pull the ice storage container forward without knowing this, the arm sensor will get stuck on the rear wall of the container, and if the user tries to forcefully pull out the container, the arm sensor, which is generally made of wire, will bend. Accidents may occur in which the ice maker is crushed or damaged, making it impossible to use the ice maker itself.

Note that this is not limited to times when the ice is full, but accidents that have occurred in the past, such as when the arm sensor goes down into the container to detect the amount of ice stored, and the user happens to pull out the container. It is. This is because the above-mentioned arm sensor is normally located outside the ice storage container, and when the ice maker performs the ice removal operation, it goes down inside the ice storage container to detect the amount of ice stored, and when the ice is full, the above arm sensor moves inside the ice storage container. This is a common flaw in automatic ice makers that stay closed at the bottom. In order to improve this defect, the present invention has a structure in which the conventional arm sensor is always located outside the ice storage container, and a second sensor that moves in conjunction with the arm sensor is always installed inside the container using a notch in the container. This is what I did.

The details of the present invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator body, and the refrigerator body 1 has a freezer compartment 2 and a refrigerator compartment (not shown) inside. . 3 is a freezer door that closes the front opening of the freezer compartment 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an automatic ice maker body installed in the freezer compartment 2. This automatic ice maker main body 4 has a drive motor (not shown) that reverses the ice tray 4a in order to automatically release the ice made in the ice tray 4a, and also has a drive motor (not shown) that reverses the ice tray 4a. It has gears and cams that move in conjunction with each other, and turns various switches on and off by rotating the cam, automatically making and releasing ice, and supplying water. It rotates. 5 is an ice storage container installed at the bottom of the ice making machine main body. This ice storage container 5 can be pulled out toward the front by suspending its flange 5a from a rail 4c provided on a frame 4b that forms the exterior of the ice maker body 4. 5b is an arc-shaped cut groove provided on the rear wall of the ice storage container O5. 5c is a locking piece that also serves as a handle, and 5d is a deterrent plate that prevents ice falling into the container from an automatic ice maker installed above the container from concentrating and gathering in front of the container. The ice storage container 5 is formed to be longer in the depth direction by l dimension than the depth dimension of the automatic ice maker, and the locking piece 5c which also serves as a handle is extended over a certain range (the previous l dimension).
(within dimensions) Even if the container 5 is pulled out, the rear wall of the container 5 (arc-shaped kerf 5
The wall where b is installed) is designed to prevent it from coming off the ice falling part. Reference numeral 6 denotes a second sensor, which is comprised of an arm portion 6a that rotates in response to the rotational movement of an arm sensor, which will be described later, and a detection portion 6b that extends downward from one end of the arm portion 6a. 7 is a screw that pivots this second sensor to the main body of the automatic ice maker.
The position where this screw 7 is provided is located approximately directly below the pivot point of the arm sensor, which will be described later. Further, the arm portion of the second sensor is formed in an F-shape, and a F-shape sliding groove 6a' is provided in the arm portion. 8
This arm sensor 8 is an arm sensor, as shown in the figure, which is in the form of a vertical part 8a and a horizontal part 8b. It is pivoted by a cam or the like so that it rotates toward the opposite side of the axis. However, the horizontal part of the arm sensor 8 of the lever engages with the sliding groove 6a' of the second sensor 6, and the second sensor 6 is in the state where the arm sensor 8 does not rotate (when it is located directly below the fulcrum). It deeply engages with the arcuate groove of the ice storage container 5, and when the arm sensor 8 rotates, it is located on the side opposite to the fulcrum of the second sensor 6, making the engagement relationship between the previous container and the second sensor 6 shallow. (to lift the second sensor). In other words, the arm sensor 8 is always located within the ice storage container 5 via the second sensor 6. Furthermore, the arm sensor 8 and the second sensor 6 are connected at two points, and their operation is ensured. Reference numeral 9 denotes a small door provided on the third section of the freezer compartment door facing the ice storage container 5. This small door 9 has a claw 9 that locks onto a handle and locking piece provided on the water storage container 5 and pulls out the ice storage container 5 toward the front side in conjunction with opening and closing of the door 9.
A is provided. As shown in the figure, when the small door is closed, this pawl 9a is in the position shown by the solid line, and when the small door 9 is opened, it rotates as shown by the broken line, and is attached to the handle/locking piece 5a at the end.
is locked as shown in the figure, and the container 5 is pulled out by a predetermined distance (L dimension) as the door rotates. Moreover, since this small door 9 is entirely housed within a frame 10 that connects the outer panel 3a and inner panel 3b of the door 3 and forms an opening, the portion 9a that becomes the handle of the small door 9 is provided as in the conventional case. There is no accumulation of dust.

In the automatic ice maker of the present invention, when the completion of ice making is detected by temperature or time, the drive motor starts driving, inverts the ice tray 4a and removes the ice, and the ice is removed via the gear and cam that rotate in conjunction with the drive motor. to rotate the arm sensor 8 in the direction of arrow P. Following this, the second sensor 6 located inside the ice storage container 5 rotates in the direction of arrow f around the screw 7 (during this rotation in the direction of f, one end of the second sensor 6 Since the groove 5b extends downward in the arcuate groove 5b provided on the rear wall of the ice storage container 5, the second
(If the sensor 6 is made of a plate, it is better to make it in an arc shape.) During this process, when the second sensor 6 hits the ice in the ice storage container 5, the previous arm sensor 8 will move inside the second sensor 6. The movement in the sliding groove 6a' is stopped. Then, the movement of this arm sensor turns off the on/off switch and stops the subsequent rotation of the drive motor. This causes the water supply operation scheduled after the arm sensor detects the ice storage amount to be canceled.

On the other hand, the user who uses the ice stored in the ice storage container 5 opens the small door and pulls out the container 5, regardless of the ice making operation as described above. At this time, even if the second sensor 6 that detected full ice is located deep inside the ice storage container, the container will slide smoothly regardless of the presence of the second sensor 6. It is something. This is because the second part of the application
It goes without saying that the shape of the sensor 6 matches the shape of the groove 5b provided in the container 5, and the second sensor 6 is always located within the groove 5b whether the container 5 is pulled out or pushed in. That's what I do.

This is because if the structure is such that the second arm 6 is located within the groove 5b when the container 5 is pulled out, but is not located within the groove 5b when the container 5 is pushed in, the container When 5 is being pushed in, ice is interposed between the second arm 6 and the kerf 5b. If the container 5 is forcibly pulled out with the ice still interposed, the second arm 6 will be pushed by the ice and the rear wall of the container 5, so there is a risk that the second arm 6 will be damaged.

However, in the present invention, since the second arm 6 is always located within the kerf 5b, ice does not exist between the second arm 6 and the kerf 5b.
The second arm will not be damaged.

Further, in the present invention, since a small door is provided in the freezer compartment door, it is conceivable that the freezer compartment door may be opened with the small door open, that is, with the ice storage container pulled out. In such a case, the freezer compartment door not only rotates on a rotational trajectory that does not collide with the ice storage container, but also the engagement between the small door claw and the locking piece on the ice storage container side is smoothly released, and the ice storage container is It must not be locked to the main body of the machine and fall when the freezer compartment door is opened. In this regard, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present invention, the rail 4c formed by the frame 4b of the ice maker main body
The flange 5a of the ice storage container 5 is placed on the flange 5a, and a locking projection 5e provided on the flange 5a slides in a guide groove 4d provided on the rail 4c side. That is, the ice storage container 5 slides only by the length of the guide groove 4d. and guide groove 4d
When the previous locking projection 5e reaches point A, this locking projection 5e locks into the guide groove 4d and restricts its movement. This prevents the ice storage container 5 from falling. 5f is an opening for removing ice provided on the front side of the ice storage container. This 5f
The section is located outside the freezer compartment as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1 when the small door is open. In other words, the small door is opened to the point where the opening 5f is located at this position.

According to the present invention, there is a switch that automatically performs ice making, ice removal, water supply, etc. by a cam that rotates in conjunction with a drive motor that reverses the ice tray, and an arm that moves up and down in a circular arc in conjunction with the cam. An automatic ice maker that detects the amount of ice stored in the ice storage container is installed in the freezer compartment, and a small door with a claw is provided on the door of the freezer compartment, and the ice storage container is opened and closed by opening and closing the small door. In a refrigerator that can be pulled out to the front with a nail,
The rear wall of the ice storage container is provided with an arcuate groove in which the arm is located, and the arm is located within the groove whether the ice storage container is pulled out to the front or pushed in. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator equipped with an automatic de-icing machine that does not damage the second arm. Furthermore, in the present invention, even when the ice storage container is pulled out to the front, the arm is located within the arcuate cutout, so the arcuate cutout is not blocked by ice. Therefore, when the ice storage container is pushed into the freezing chamber, the arm will not be damaged due to collision between the arm and the ice blocking the arcuate cut.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of a refrigerator equipped with the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view of the main part with the small door removed, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the small door provided with the present invention. 1... Refrigerator body, 2... Freezer compartment, 3... Freezer compartment door, 3a... Outer plate, 3b... Inner plate, 4a... Ice tray, 4b... Frame, 4c... Rail, 4d
... Guide groove, 4 ... Automatic ice maker body, 5 ... Ice storage container, 5a ... Flange, 5b ... Cut groove, 5e
... Locking protrusion, 5c ... Locking piece that also serves as a handle, 5d
... Suppression plate, 6 ... Second sensor, 6a ... Arm part, 6b ... Detection part, 6a' ... Sliding groove, 7 ... Screw, 8 ... Arm sensor, 8a ... Vertical part, 8
b...Horizontal part, 9...Small door, 9a...Claw, 10...
…frame.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Ice storage with a switch that automatically performs ice making, ice removal, water supply, etc. using a cam that rotates in conjunction with a drive motor that reverses the ice tray, and an arm that moves up and down in a circular motion in conjunction with the cam. An automatic ice maker that detects the amount of ice stored in the container is installed in the freezer compartment, and a small door with a claw is provided on the door of the freezer compartment,
In the refrigerator, in which the ice storage container is pulled out to the front side by the claw when the small door is opened and closed, a circular cut groove in which the arm is located is provided in the rear wall of the ice storage container, and the ice storage container is pulled out to the front side. The refrigerator is characterized in that the arm is located within the kerf in both the closed and pushed-in states.