KR20010062102A - Driving apparatus of a automatic making-ice machine and manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a switch mechanism for use in sensing a rotating angle of an ice making pan or sensing an amount of ice in an ice storing container in a compact and simple configuration and further enable an automatic assembling of it to be attained. CONSTITUTION: This driving device 5 for an automatic ice making machine is made such that when a lack of ice in an ice storing container is detected, an ice making pan is reversed to cause the ices to be dropped into the ice storing container, thereafter the ice making pan is returned back to the original position to make ice. A rotary member 41 rotated in cooperation with driving of the ice making pan so as to turn-on or turn-off a switch 42 for use in sensing a position of the ice making pan is arranged in one case half segment 9b of the two divided cases 9 for storing each of the segments of the driving device 5, and a supporting segment for supporting a pivot 41d of the rotary member 41 is constituted by a notch 53a formed at the releasing end of the case half segment 9b of both side walls 53 installed at both sides of the pivot 41d of the rotary member 41.

Description

DRIVING APPARATUS OF A AUTOMATIC MAKING-ICE MACHINE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a driving apparatus of an automatic ice maker for supplying the manufactured ice to the storage container when the ice is installed in the refrigerator and the ice shortage is detected at the same time.

Recently, household refrigerators with an automatic ice making function are known. In the automatic ice making apparatus attached to this type of refrigerator, an ice making plate is connected to a cam car that is rotated by a motor drive, and ice is dropped from the ice plate when the ice plate is twisted according to the rotation of the cam car. In such an automatic ice making device, after the ice is dropped, the motor is rotated in reverse to return the ice making plate to its original position, and the ice is supplied to the ice making plate to start manufacturing new ice. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the position at which the ice making plate falls ice and the original position before driving in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft of the motor, and to control the driving / stopping / reverse rotation of the motor.

In addition, the above-mentioned automatic ice making apparatus is provided with the ice-covering lever for detecting the quantity of the ice in the ice storage container which receives and saves the ice falling from an ice making plate. The ice detection lever operates in the storage container in conjunction with the rotation of the cam car, and detects whether there is more than a predetermined amount of ice in the storage container. Also in this operation, it is necessary to provide a switch for outputting a signal informing it of any case where there is ice more than a predetermined amount or there is no ice more than a predetermined amount.

The driving device of the automatic ice maker of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-313132 or the automatic ice maker described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-78277 includes the above-mentioned ice-breaking position of the ice-making dish (a position where the ice-making dish drops ice) and A configuration including a switch for detecting the home position before driving and a switch for outputting a signal at the time of sensing is disclosed and constitutes a configuration capable of meeting the aforementioned requirements.

The switch mechanism of the automatic ice maker of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-313132 discloses a lever 102 which swings in a direction parallel to the cam surface of the cam car 101 that rotates in conjunction with an ice making plate as shown in FIG. 10. The swing angle of the lever 102 is used to detect the rotation angle of the ice making plate. Therefore, the occupancy and moving area of the switch lever 102 are large, which causes the enlargement of the apparatus.

Moreover, although the lever 102 is made to rock around the point 102a, the spring 103 is used as a drive source of this rocking. The spring 103 is caught by the engaging portion 102b of the lever 102 and the engaging portion 104 of the other member. For this reason, it is difficult to automate the assembling work since the work to be applied to the engaging portion 102b of the lever 102 and the engaging portion 104 of the other member while compressing or extending the spring 103 when assembling the spring 103 is required. There is a problem.

The automatic ice making apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-78277 has a structure including a lever 112 which swings in a direction orthogonal to the cam surface of the cam car 111 as shown in FIG. The rotation angle of the ice making plate is detected by using the swing of. In this automatic ice making apparatus, the shaft portion 112a serving as the pivot point of the lever 112 is supported by the bearing 114 formed in the case, and its assembly is complicated. Also in the apparatus shown in FIG. 11, a spring 113 is used as a driving source of the swing of the lever 112, and one end of the spring 113 is attached to the engaging portion 112b of the lever 112. It is made to hang on the engaging part 15 of a member. This configuration causes a problem that the assembly of the lever 112 to the bearing 114 and the automation of the assembly of the spring 113 are difficult and depend on manual operation.

1 is a plan view of main parts of an automatic ice maker of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the automatic ice maker of Figure 1;

3 is a front view showing the driving device of the automatic ice maker of FIG. 1 by detaching one half of the case so that the inside can be observed.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional developmental view showing the connection of the rotational transmission means of the drive device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view of the cam difference of the driving device of FIG. 4 as viewed in the arrow V direction of FIG. 4; FIG.

6 is a front view showing an ice detection shaft of the driving device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the switch pressing lever of the driving device of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of arrow VII; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7 viewed in the direction of arrow VIII. FIG.

9 is a view showing the operation of the automatic ice maker of FIG.

10 is a schematic diagram showing a switch mechanism of a conventional automatic ice making device.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a switch mechanism of a drive device of a conventional automatic ice maker as another example.

※ Explanation of symbols about main part of drawing ※

1: automatic ice maker 2: ice tray

3: detection arm 5: driving device

9: case 9a, 9b: case half body

10: Camcha 11: ice detection mechanism

12: switch mechanism 13: DC motor

28: Cam surface for detection shaft 29: Cam surface for switch crimping lever

31: detection axis 31d: switch piece rotation blocking portion (compression blocking means)

41: switch crimping lever (rotating member)

41a: cam contact portion (sliding portion) 41b: crimping portion

41d: pivot point 41e: upper part of protrusion

42: duct switch 44: switch crimping spring (presence member)

53: side wall 53a: recess

The present invention provides a compact, simple configuration and automatic assembly of a switch mechanism that detects the rotation angle of the ice making plate or the amount of ice in the ice storage container, and has a high assembly efficiency, low cost, and reliable operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a driving device for an automatic ice maker provided with a switch and a manufacturing method of the device.

In order to solve the above object, in the present invention, when ice shortage is detected in the ice storage container, the ice tray is inverted and dropped into the ice storage container, and then the ice tray is returned to its original position to produce an ice maker. The rotation member which rotates in conjunction with the drive of an ice making plate and performs the on-off conversion of the position detection switch of an ice making plate is arrange | positioned in one case half of the case divided into two for accommodating each part of this drive apparatus. The support portion for supporting the pivot point shaft of the pivot member is composed of a recess formed on the release end side of one case half of both side walls disposed on both sides of the pivot point shaft of the pivot member.

Therefore, the switch mechanism can be made compact, and the pivoting point of the pivoting member for switching the on / off of the switch is easily dropped by simply dropping the pivoting point to the concave portions of the side walls arranged on both sides of the pivoting member. Since it can support, assembly work of a switch mechanism becomes simple.

Another invention is in addition to the above-mentioned driving device of the automatic ice maker, both side walls are integrally formed on the bottom of the case. Therefore, the support part which supports the rotating member which turns a switch on and off can be easily formed integrally with a case.

In still another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described driving device of the automatic ice maker, both side walls having a support portion are formed to be orthogonal to the pivot point axis, respectively. As a result, the movement of the rotation member in the axial direction of the pivot point can be prevented on both side walls, and the on-off operation of the switch can be stabilized.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described driving device of the automatic ice maker, the rotating member extends radially outwardly from the pivot point axis and has projections formed on both side edges so as to contact both side walls. It is prevented from falling in the direction orthogonal to the rotational direction by contacting with. Therefore, the rotating member does not fall down during assembly and after assembly, so that the rotating member can be supported on the support portion accurately, thereby achieving stabilization of the rotating member.

The invention further includes a crimping part for crimping the switch at a position facing the switch of the rotating member in addition to the above-described driving device of the automatic ice maker, and a biasing member for pushing the crimping part toward the switch side, in conjunction with driving of the ice tray. It is provided with a crimping stop means for preventing the operation of the crimping portion to operate and to crimp the crimping portion against the switch against the biasing force of the biasing member, and to switch on and off the switch by crimping and detaching the crimping portion. Therefore, the switch can be reliably turned on and off by crimping and non-pressing the rotating member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described driving device of the automatic ice maker, a rotating member is disposed on the rotating member in sliding contact with a cam surface of a cam car that rotates in association with an ice making plate, and the sliding portion is slid along the cam surface to move about the pivot point axis. Rotation is performed to switch on and off. Therefore, the operation of the rotating member which performs the on-off conversion of a switch can be easily made to rotate with the cam car.

Another invention relates to a method of manufacturing an automatic ice maker driving apparatus for manufacturing ice by reversing an ice tray and dropping the ice into the ice storage container when the lack of ice in the ice storage container is detected, and then returning the ice tray to its original position. In this case, the concave portions formed on the upper ends of the two side walls placed on one of the two case halves constituting the case for storing each member of the drive device rotate in conjunction with the driving of the ice making plate and detect the position of the ice making plate. Both ends of the pivot point axis of the rotating member for performing the on-off conversion of the switch for performing the operation are dropped, and the other of the case halves is covered thereon.

In this way, the pivot point of the rotating member for switching the on and off of the switch is dropped into the recesses of both side walls formed on one side of the case half body, and a simple operation of covering the other case half body thereon can reliably support the rotation of the rotating member. As a result, the assembling work of the switch mechanism is simple and at low cost.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Next, embodiment of this invention is described in detail based on drawing.

1 and 2 show a driving apparatus of an automatic ice maker and an automatic ice maker driven by the driving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. This automatic ice maker 1 performs automatic ice making, ice-making, etc., and is installed in an ice-making room, such as a refrigerator, and is operated by the drive method mentioned later.

This automatic ice maker 1 is located above the ice storage container (not shown), and is an ice making plate 2 to which water or the like is supplied, and an ice detection arm that is an ice detection means for lifting up and down to detect the amount of ice storage in the storage container. (3) and a drive device 5 for driving the ice tray 2 and the ice arm 3 in conjunction with each other. In addition, a thermistor 1a for detecting the temperature of the ice making plate is disposed under the ice making plate 2.

The drive device 5 can lower the tip of the ice-breaking arm 3 into the storage container and detect the presence or absence of ice in the storage container based on the lowered position. When the lack of ice is detected, the driving device 5 twists and inverts the ice making plate 2 to fall to the ice storage position to drop the ice into the storage container. In other words, the inverted ice tray 2 is torsionally deformed by the projection 2a on the other end thereof contacting the contact piece (not shown) arranged on the base 6 of the automatic ice maker 1, and using the deformation. Drop it. Thereafter, the drive unit 5 returns the ice making plate 2 to the ice making position (original position), and the liquid is supplied to the ice making plate 2 at this position to produce ice.

The driving device 5 is a cam car 10 connected to the ice making plate 2 and reversed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and an ice making mechanism 11 that is operated by the cam car 10 to operate the sensing arm 3. ) And a switch mechanism 12 are provided. Moreover, the internal mechanism of this drive device 5 is arrange | positioned in the case 9 which consists of two case halves 9a and 9b.

The cam car 10 is rotated by a DC motor 13 serving as a drive source. The rotation of the DC motor 13 is carried out through the worm 15, the first gear 16, the second gear 17, and the third gear 18 connected to the output shaft 13a of the motor 13. Is passed on.

In FIG. 4, the camshaft 10 is integrally formed with the rotating shaft 25 used as a rotation center axis. The pivot shaft 25 protrudes outward of the drive device 5 from a hole disposed in one case half body 9a to be connected to the ice making plate 2, and the cam car 10 and the ice making plate 2 are Rotate integrally The end of the side of the rotating shaft 25, which is not connected to the ice making plate 2, is cylindrical and supported so as to rotate freely on the circular supporting portion 7 disposed on the case half body 9b. Moreover, the cylindrical friction member 8 is loosely fitted in the outer peripheral surface of the edge part of this rotation shaft 25, and is arrange | positioned.

The cylindrical friction member 8 can be integrally rotated with a frictional force with respect to the rotation shaft 25. A cut-out groove (not shown) is formed in the lower edge of the friction member 8 (the end of the side opposite to the case half body 9b), and both ends of the groove are convex formed in the case half body 9b. It can be contacted with a part (not shown). Therefore, the friction member 8 can be rotated only in the range where both ends of the groove and the convex portions on the case half body 9b side touch. The relationship between the friction member 8 and the rotational shaft 25 rotates integrally until the friction member 8 contacts the both ends of the groove and the convex portions on the case half body 9b side, and rotation is prevented by contact. Even after the rotation shaft 25 is rotated only.

In addition, a blocking piece (not shown) is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical friction member 8 to prevent rotation of the ice detection shaft 31 shown in FIG. 3. This blocking piece does not engage with the engaging piece 31b (see Fig. 6) of the ice-shaking shaft 31 when the cam car 10 rotates to the ice position, and only when the cam car 10 rotates to the ice-making position side. In combination with the engaging piece 31b of 31), the rotation of the ice detection shaft 31 is prevented. When the rotation of the ice detection shaft 31 is prevented by the blocking piece, the switch piece rotation stopping portion 31d formed on the detection axis 31 of the switch compression lever 41 turns the duct switch 42 on and off. Without entering the range of rotation, the duct switch 42 can be switched on and off freely.

The friction member 8 is always in the middle when the ice arm 3 returns from the ice position to the ice making position when the duct switch 42, which is on or off, is used to identify the lack of ice and ice in the ice detection operation. It is to be turned on. That is, when the ice arm 3 descends to a predetermined position in the ice storage container during the ice ice operation, it is judged that ice is insufficient, and the cam car 10 is rotated to the ice ice position as it is to drop the ice. When returning to, there is a situation where the ice is already in full ice by the first ice and the state of lack of ice continues. Therefore, a nonuniformity arises on / off of the duct switch 42 after it is iced, which is not preferable in terms of control. This friction member 8 is a member for ensuring that the duct switch 42 is turned on when returning from the icing position to the ice making position so that such a problem does not occur.

In addition, a groove 26 is formed along the circumferential direction on one side surface 10b facing the case half body 9a of the cam car 10 as shown in FIG. A protrusion (not shown) formed in the inner surface of one of the case halves 9a is inserted into the groove 26, and the angle at which the cam car 10 can be rotated is limited to a predetermined range. That is, the position where the projection of the case half body 9a contacts the both end surfaces (not shown) of the groove 26 is set as the rotation limit position of the cam car 10. In the case of this embodiment, the cam car 10 can be rotated in the range of -6 degrees to 168 degrees. In addition, this rotation angle is normally operated in the range of 0 to 160 degrees except for the case of performing a mechanical lock by rotating to -6 degrees when initializing.

On the other hand, an annular recess 27 is formed in the side surface 10c opposite the case half body 9b of the cam car 10 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a view of the cam car 10 seen from the arrow V direction in FIG. 4, showing the cam surface of the cam car 10. In the concave portion 27, the cam face 28 for the detection shaft having the inner wall as the cam surface is arranged, and the cam face 29 for the switch crimp lever 29 having the inner wall as the cam surface is formed on the outside thereof. Each cam surface 28, 29 is formed in the inner circumferential surface portion of the side wall of the speaker portion which extends substantially parallel to the pivot shaft 25, which is the center of rotation of the cam car 10. As shown in FIG.

The detection axis cam surface 28 includes the detection non-operation position part 28a, the detection and fall operation part 28b, the ice shortage detection position part 28c, and the detection and return operation part 28d. The non-sensing operation position part 28a is a section which keeps the detection arm 3 without lowering it, -6 degree | times when the position which contacts the detection axis 31 in the initial position of the cam car 10 is 0 degree | times. It is formed in the interval of ~ 11 degrees and 79 ~ 168 degrees. In addition, the ice detection lowering operation unit 28b is formed in a section of 11 degrees to 35 degrees as a section for gradually lowering the ice detection arm 3 when ice is insufficient. In addition, the ice shortage detection position (28c) is formed in a section of 35 to 55 degrees as a section that can lower the ice detection arm (3) when the ice is insufficient. In addition, the ice detection return operation unit 28d is a section for raising the lowered ice detection arm 3, and is formed in a section of 55 degrees to 79 degrees.

On the other hand, the switch pressing lever cam surface 29 includes a first signal generating cam portion 29a for outputting a signal at -6 degrees to 5 degrees including an original ice making position (0 degrees), and an ice sensing position (42 degrees). The second signal generating cam portion 29b for outputting the signal at 42 degrees to 48 degrees including a third signal generation for outputting the signal at 160 degrees to 168 degrees including an icing position (160 degrees). It has a cam part 29c. With this configuration, when the rotation angle of the cam car 10 is at the ice making position, the ice making position, and the ice making position, the pressing part 41b of the switch crimping lever 41 is rotated in the direction of pushing against the duct switch 42 side.

The signal generated at the ice making position is referred to as an original position signal, and the first signal generating cam portion 29a is capable of generating a signal in the range of -19 degrees to 5 degrees. In addition, let the signal which generate | occur | produces in a sensing position be an sensing position signal. In addition, the signal generated at the ice position is referred to as an ice signal, and the third signal generating cam portion 29c can generate a signal in a range of 160 degrees to 179.5 degrees in shape.

The ice detection mechanism 11 is a mechanism for identifying whether the amount of ice in the ice storage container is full ice or insufficient, and determines that the ice is insufficient when the ice detection arm 3 is lowered into the ice storage container and lowered at a predetermined level position. In addition, the detection mechanism 11 is operated by the cam car 10 and at the same time, the detection axis 31 for operating the detection arm 3, and the engaging convex portion 31a of the detection axis 31 for the detection axis of the cam car 10. It consists of the coil spring 32 (refer FIG. 3) urging so that it may rotate in the direction which pushes toward the cam surface 28 side. And in this embodiment, the ice detection arm (3) can be rotated up to 35 degrees, it is determined that the ice is insufficient when rotated more than 30 degrees.

The sensing axis 31 is operated by the cam car 10 and is disposed between the cam car 10 and the case half body 9b. As shown in Fig. 6, the inspection shaft 31 has a coupling convex portion 31a, a coupling piece 31b, a spring engaging portion 31c, a switch piece pivot stopping portion 31d, and a thrust drop preventing protrusion 31e. ), A female connecting portion 31f, a case receiving portion 31g, and a guide piece 31h.

The case receiving portion 31g composed of the convex portion at one end of the inspection axis 31 is supported to freely rotate in the receiving hole (not shown) formed in the case half body 9b. On the other hand, the female connection portion 31f formed at the other end of the inspection axis 31 protrudes to the outside of the case 9 and the point portion of the detection arm 3 is fitted to the female connection portion 31f.

Moreover, the engaging convex part 31a formed in the vicinity of the case receiving part 31g of the detection axis 31 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the detection axis 31, and becomes the shape curved at the intermediate position, and the detection axis 31 ) And the center of rotation is the center of rotation. The engaging convex portion 31a is a cam floor that contacts the cam surface 28 for the ice detection shaft formed on the cam car 10.

Moreover, the engaging piece 31b arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the edge part of the detection axis | shaft 31 can come into contact with the blocking piece of the friction member 8 arrange | positioned coaxially with the rotation shaft 25. As shown in FIG. In addition, the spring coupling portion 31c is disposed to engage with the coil spring 32. Therefore, the detection axis 31 pushes the engagement convex part 31a toward the cam face 28 for the detection axis of the cam car 10 by the return force of the compressed coil spring 32 (arrow A direction in FIG. 3). Is urged to turn to.

The switch piece pivot stopping portion 31d is arranged to prevent rotation of the switch crimping lever 41 as a pivot member for turning on / off the duct switch 42, and the crimping portion 41b of the switch crimping lever 41 is prevented. Is a crimp blocking means for preventing the crimping operation to the duct switch 42.

The switch piece rotation stopping part 31d rotates so that the ice-shaking shaft 31 lowers the ice-arm 3, and when the ice-shaking shaft 31 rotates 30 degrees or more, it contacts the switch crimping lever 41 and switches it. The rotation of the crimp lever 41 is prevented. Specifically, the switch piece rotation stopping part 31d enters the rotation range of the crimping portion 41b of the switch crimping lever 41 when the sensing shaft 31 is rotated 30 degrees or more, and the switch piece crimping spring 44 The crimping portion 41b pushed toward the duct switch 42 by the secondary force prevents the duct switch 42 from being turned on.

The thrust drop preventing protrusion 31e is formed over the entire circumference, and the ice detection shaft 31 can move only a predetermined range in the thrust direction.

In addition, the guide piece 31h enters into the guide groove (not shown) formed in the rear part of the ceiling of the case half body 9a, and is moved along this guide groove. For this reason, the detection axis 31 is guided to the case half body 9a by the guide piece 31h, and can be rotated in the range which the guide piece 31h can move in this guide groove.

The detection device 11 configured in this manner transmits the motion of the detection axis 31 operated by the detection axis cam surface 28 to the detection arm 3. That is, when the ice detection arm 3 stops its movement by full ice, the ice detection shaft 31 also stops rotation. The ice detection mechanism 11 is configured to restrict the operation of the switch compression lever 41 by the switch pressing lever cam surface 29 when the ice detection arm 3 rotates by a predetermined angle due to lack of ice during the inspection operation. . Therefore, when the ice is insufficient during the ice detection operation, the switch crimping lever 41 does not rotate so that the duct switch 42 is not crimped.

In addition, the coil spring 32 is accommodated in the spring box 52 disposed on the case half 9b, and one end thereof is caught by the spring engaging portion 31c of the detection axis 31.

The switch mechanism 12 is connected to the duct switch 42 and the ice making plate 2 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 25 of the cam car 10 (arrow C in FIG. 4). The rotation of the switch crimping lever 41 and the switch crimping lever 41 as a rotating member provided with a crimping portion 41b for crimping the duct switch 42 at a position opposite to the duct switch 42 while rotating. The switch piece rotation stopping part 31d which operates so as to prohibit, and the switch crimping spring 44 as a biasing member which pushes the crimping part 41b of the switch crimping lever 41 to the duct switch 42 side are provided. Then, the crimping portion 41b along the rotation of the crimping lever 41 is squeezed to the duct switch 42 and the detachment from the duct switch 42 of the crimping portion 41b due to the blockage of the switch piece pivot stopping portion 31d. By this, the contact of the switch is combined and disengaged, and the on / off conversion is performed.

The switch crimping lever 41 is formed of the upper edge of the two side walls 53 formed integrally with the bottom surface of the case half body 9b of the two case half bodies constituting the case 9, that is, the case half body 9b. It is supported so that it may freely rotate in each recessed part 53a arrange | positioned at the release end side. That is, each of the recesses 53a formed on both sidewalls 53 is a support portion for supporting the pivot point shaft 41d serving as the pivot point of the switch crimping lever 41 as the pivot member.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the switch crimping lever 41 is a sliding portion that contacts the cam face 29 for the switch crimping lever of the cam car 10, and a cam contact portion 41a serving as a cam floor is disposed. . Therefore, when the cam car 10 rotates, the cam contact part 41a slides along the cam surface 29, and the switch crimping lever 41 rotates centering on the rotation point axis 41d. As a result, the crimping portion 41d operates to squeeze / release the duct switch 42 and to turn on / off the duct switch 42.

Further, at a predetermined position of the switch crimping lever 41, the switch crimping spring 44 shown in Fig. 4 is urged, and a crimping portion 41b for crimping the duct switch 42 is formed under this biasing force. This crimping | compression-bonding part 41b is located in the vicinity of 31 d of switch piece rotation stopping parts arrange | positioned at the detection axis 31. As shown in FIG. The switch crimping lever 41 cannot rotate toward the duct switch 42 in a state where the switch piece pivot stopping portion 31d is in contact with the crimping portion 41b.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the button 42a of the duct switch 42 is disposed at a position facing the crimping portion 41b. Further, a mountain-shaped protrusion 41c is disposed on the surface of the switch crimping lever 41 that does not face the duct switch 42 so as to enter into one end of the switch crimping spring 44. In addition, the other end of the switch crimping spring 44 enters into the coupling cylinder 21c disposed in the case half body 9a, and the shaft (not shown) in the coupling cylinder 21c enters the end thereof.

In addition, the center of the switch crimping lever 41 is a pivot point shaft 41d for supporting rotation in the longitudinal direction in FIG. 4, and both ends of the pivot point shaft 41d enter the recess 53a. It rotates centering on the pivot point axis | shaft 41d (refer FIG. 7). In this embodiment, both ends of the pivot point shaft 41d fall into recesses 53a and 53a formed at the upper ends of both side walls 53 and 53 formed on the bottom surface of the case half body 9b. Since the switch mechanism 12 can be configured by a simple operation of covering the case half 9a from above, the assembling work can be made simple and can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, the switch pressing lever 41 is provided with a projection upper portion 41e, which is extended from the pivot point shaft 41d on the reverse side from the cam contact portion 41a. This projection top portion 41e is housed in a position control box composed of two side walls 53 and connecting walls 53b and 53b connecting the two side walls 53 as shown in FIG. Thus, since the projection upper part 41e is accommodated in the position regulation box, and is attached so that it may rotate within the range of this control box, the switch crimping lever 41 has one recessed part 53a of the rotation point shaft 41d. It does not rise and inclines from the bottom of the bottom, and the swinging center is not shifted, so that it can operate correctly along the cam face 29 for the switch crimping lever.

In addition, the switch pressing lever 41 is restricted in movement in the width direction by contacting both side walls 53 formed so that both side surfaces of the protrusion upper portion 41e are orthogonal to the pivot point axis 41d. For this reason, the shifting of the switch crimping lever 41 in the width direction can be achieved by simply entering both ends of the pivoting point shaft 41d into the recess 53a without using the pivoting point shaft 41d as a bearing support as usual. Falling is prevented, and the switch lever 41 can operate the button 42a of the duct switch 42 reliably. In addition, it is possible to prevent the switch lever 41 from falling down during assembly.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an end portion 41f is disposed on each surface of the protrusion member 41e facing the side wall 53. The tip end 41g of each of the end portions 41f enters the end portion 53f formed on the inner wall of the side wall 53 to prevent the switch compression lever 41 from being shifted in the width direction.

The duct switch 42 is fixed to the case half 9b and connected to the printed wiring board 51 connected to the rear end of the DC motor 13. The duct switch 42 is a case in which ice production is performed in a state in which the switch crimping lever 41 is in an inoperative state, that is, in a driving stop state in which the cam car 10 is in the 0 degree position, or in the case of a full ice during an ice detection operation or an ice moving operation. In this case, since the cam contact portion 41a does not rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7, the cam contact portion 41a is compressed by the pressing portion 41b of the switch pressing lever 41 subjected to the subordinate force of the switch pressing spring 44. Is placed. By the compression operation of the compression section 41b, a home position signal, an ice detection signal, and an ice breaking signal are generated. In addition, when the ice making plate 2 is in a position other than these, the duct switch 42 is turned off without being crimped at the crimping portion 41b.

In this way, when the ice in the ice storage container is insufficient when the duct switch 42 is turned on in the ice making position, the cam car 10 rotates from the ice making position (0 degrees) to the ice making position (160 degrees). It does not come on. That is, when the cam car 10 rotates 5 degrees, the duct switch 42 is turned off from the duct switch 42 by the cam car 10 from the crimping portion 41b of the switch crimping lever 41.

When the cam car 10 rotates to 42 degrees, the switch press lever 41 is rotated in the switch-on direction by the cam car 10 and the spring 44. At this time, when the switch piece rotation stop part 31d of the detection axis 31 is operated to block the rotation of the switch crimping lever 41, it is recognized as an ice shortage condition and the duct switch 42 is not turned on and the detection signal is not turned on. No output For this reason, the duct switch 42 is not turned on until the cam car 10 is in the moving position rotated by 160 degrees.

On the other hand, the duct switch 42 is turned on when the inside of the storage container is full ice when the cam car 10 rotates to the detection position (42 degrees) to perform the ice detection operation. That is, the detection lever 3 cannot descend to a predetermined position because the inside of the storage container is full of ice. Therefore, the ice detection shaft 31 does not rotate more than a predetermined angle, and the switch piece rotation stopping part 31d does not operate. As a result, the switch crimping lever 41 can be rotated, and the duct switch 42 is turned on.

In addition, the driving apparatus of the automatic ice maker performs control to reversely rotate the cam car 10 on the basis of the first signal output and driving time after starting the ice detection operation. For this reason, control is performed to stop the DC motor 13 at a time when the cam car 10 is rotated 42 degrees during full ice, and when the cam car 10 is rotated 160 degrees when ice is insufficient.

In addition, when the DC motor 13 is stopped by the first signal output when the cam car 10 is rotated by 42 degrees, the driving time is monitored for short time, and after the reverse rotation, the DC motor 13 is rotated based on the first signal output. The drive of the motor 13 is stopped. Accordingly, the cam car 10 stops at the original position.

On the other hand, when the DC motor 13 is stopped by the first signal output when the cam car 10 is rotated by 160 degrees, the driving time is monitored and the counterclockwise rotation is performed based on the second signal output. (13) is stopped. That is, the first signal output is a signal indicating that the cam car 10 has returned to the position of 48 to 42 degrees (confirmation signal at the time of return) and a signal indicating that the second signal has returned to the position where the cam car 10 has returned to 5 degrees as the cam car 10. Therefore, it stops based on the second signal.

In addition, the cam face 29 for the switch crimping lever is provided with recesses at three positions, which are the first, second and third signal generating cam portions 29a, 29b and 29c. The cam contact portion 41a of the switch crimp lever 41 rotates to the duct switch 42 side when fitted into these recesses. The duct switch 42 is turned on if the switch piece rotation support part 31d of the ice detection shaft 31 does not operate at this time of rotation.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit for executing the initial setting program or the basic operation program may be shared with the refrigerator main body with the automatic ice maker 1 or may be dedicated to the automatic ice maker 1.

First, when any one of the signals for turning on or initializing the power is input to the controller, an initial setting program (operation mode of initializing) is started. This initial setting program confirms the position of the ice making plate 2 and makes it to a horizontal position state.

That is, when the power is turned on, the DC motor 13 is rotated in the CCW direction, that is, the cam car 10 is returned to the ice making position (home position = 0 degrees). When the duct switch 42 is turned on, the timer is set to 3 seconds, and the DC motor 13 is stopped when the timer is finished as the switch on state continues.

In this operation, the cam car 10 stops in the mechanical locking position (-6 degrees). In other words, the timer is set to 3 seconds after the initial signal output to identify whether the signal output from the switch is turned on for the first time is the sensing signal or the home position signal. Then, it is recognized as an in-situ signal that 3 seconds have elapsed while the switch is in the on state, and it is recognized as a sensing output when the switch is turned off and the signal output is cut off before 3 seconds have elapsed.

In the initial setting operation, the cam car 10 stops at a position near the ice making position (0 degree = home position). As a result, the operation ends when the automatic setting machine 1 executes the initial setting program.

When the above-described initialization ends, the program shifts to the basic operation program for performing normal operation. This basic operation program is executed when a certain time elapses after the completion of ice making by thermistor 1a placed under the ice making plate 2, for example, when the door is not opened.

When the basic operation program is started, the controller detects whether the ice in the ice storage container is in a low state, and when the ice is not full, that is, when the ice is insufficient, the controller inverts the ice tray 2 and supplies ice to the storage container. Rotate in reverse direction to next home position. As a result, the ice making plate 2 returns to the horizontal position to supply water, and ice making is performed. On the other hand, when the ice is in ice state, the ice making plate 2 does not reverse and returns to the origin and waits for the next ice detection.

Next, the ice detection operation will be described. First, when ice making is completed, the DC motor 13 is rotated in the CW direction. When the duct switch 42 is off, the timer is set to 7 seconds. In the meantime, when the duct switch 42 is turned on after the operation of the timer is terminated while the switch-off is maintained, an ice signal is generated and the DC motor 13 is stopped for one second. In this case, it means that the ice is carried out on the basis of the lack of ice and the lack of ice during the ice detection operation.

In other words, when the ice is insufficient, when the cam car 10 is rotated by a predetermined angle (42 to 48 degrees), the detection axis 31 is also lowered by a predetermined amount. As a result, the switch piece rotation stop part 31d operates to switch the switch. The pressing lever 41 does not press the duct switch 42. Therefore, in this case, the duct switch 42 is not turned on, and thus no signal is output.

In addition, after stopping the DC motor 13 for one second, this time the DC motor 13 is rotated in the CCW direction. When the duct switch 42 is turned off, the ice signal is turned off, and when the next duct switch 42 is turned on, the confirmation signal (damping signal) at the time of return is turned on. In addition, when the duct switch 42 is turned off, the inspection signal is turned off, and when the next duct switch 42 is turned on, it is determined that it is the home position signal.

The second ON of the duct switch 42 indicates that the duct switch 42 has returned to the 5 degree position. That is, when the cam car 10 is rotated to a predetermined position (42 to 48 degrees) after the ice moving operation, the detection axis 31 is blocked by the stopping piece of the friction member 8 and cannot be rotated. The blocking portion 31d does not operate, and the pressing portion 41b of the switch pressing lever 41 presses the duct switch 42. In this case, therefore, the duct switch 42 is turned on so that the first on-signal is output.

Then, the DC motor 13 is stopped at the position where 0.5 second has elapsed from the second on-signal. Accordingly, the cam car 10 stops in the vicinity of the original position. Thereafter, water is supplied to the ice making plate 2, and a series of ice-breaking operations and ice-breaking operations are completed.

When the duct switch 42 is turned on by the ice detection operation, the DC motor 13 is stopped for one second based on the switch-on. After this time, the DC motor 13 is rotated in the CCW direction. When the duct switch 42 is turned off, the detection signal is turned off, and when the duct switch 42 is turned on, it is determined that the duct switch 42 is the home position signal. Thereafter, since the ice making plate 2 is in a state of ice, water supply is not performed and a standby state is obtained.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment is a suitable embodiment of the present invention, it is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, both sidewalls 53 having the concave portion 53a as the support portion for supporting the switch crimping lever 41 as the rotating member at the upper end are integrally disposed on the bottom surface of the case 9. Both side walls 53 may be separate from the case 9. Moreover, although the rotation range control part of the switch crimping lever 41 is formed using the connection wall 53b which connects both side walls 53, these may be absent.

In addition, although the rotating shaft 25 was arrange | positioned integrally with the cam car 10 in the above-mentioned embodiment, you may separate it. In that case, you may drive them by a separate drive source. The outer peripheral surface or the end face is the cam surface instead of contacting the engaging convex portion 31a of the detection axis 31 serving as the cam floor and the cam contact portion 41a of the switch crimping lever 41 with the inner peripheral surface of the cam difference 10. The end face cam may be contacted.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the switch crimping spring 44 as the biasing member pushes the crimping portion 41b of the switch crimping lever 41 toward the duct switch 42. 41 may be applied, or the switch crimping spring 44 may be closed, and the switch crimping lever 41 may not be biased toward the duct switch 42. In the above-described embodiment, the detection signal is generated only in the case of full ice, but the signal may be generated in the low state without generating the full ice.

The drive source may be an AC motor or a condenser motor instead of the DC motor 13. Instead of using a motor requiring time control like the DC motor 13, the stepping motor may be used to control the rotation angle of the cam car 10 by the number of steps. In addition, a drive source other than a motor such as a solenoid may be employed. As the liquid to be iced, beverages such as juice, non-drinks such as test reagents, and the like can be employed. The means for detecting whether ice in the storage container is completed may be a bimetal using a shape memory alloy in addition to the thermistor 1a.

As described above, the driving device of the automatic ice maker of the present invention comprises a support for supporting the rotating member for performing the on-off conversion of the switch, with a recess formed on each of the release end sides of both side walls of the case half. Therefore, the switch mechanism can be made compact, and the pivoting point of the pivoting member for switching the on / off of the switch is easily dropped by simply dropping the pivoting point on the recesses of the side walls arranged on both sides of the pivoting member. Since it can support, assembly work of a switch mechanism becomes simple. As a result, this work can be mechanized and the assembly cost can be greatly reduced.

Moreover, the manufacturing method of the drive system of the automatic ice-maker of this invention provides the ice plate with the recessed part formed in the upper part of the two side walls which were placed in one of the two case half bodies which comprise the case which accommodates each member of this drive device. Both ends of the pivot point axis of the rotating member which performs on / off conversion of the switch for position detection are dropped, and the other side of the case half body is covered thereon. Therefore, it is possible to reliably support the rotation of the rotating member by a simple operation, and by assembling this operation, the assembling work of the switch mechanism can be made simpler and at a lower cost.

Claims (8)

When the lack of ice in the ice storage container is detected, the ice tray is inverted at the original position to drop the ice into the ice storage container, and then the ice tray is driven to return to the original position, and the ice maker is manufactured at this position. In the drive unit, In one case half of the case, the rotating member which rotates in conjunction with the drive of the ice making plate and performs on / off conversion of the position detecting switch of the ice making plate is divided into two to accommodate a portion constituting the drive device. Place it, And a support portion for supporting the pivot point shaft of the pivot member comprising a concave portion formed on the release end side of the one half of the case half of both side walls disposed on both sides of the pivot point shaft of the pivot member. The method of claim 1, Both side walls are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the one case half body. The method of claim 2, Both sidewalls having the support portion are formed so as to be orthogonal to the pivot point axis, respectively. The method of claim 3, wherein The pivot member is provided with a protrusion upper part formed to extend from the pivot point axis and at the same time both side edges are led to the side walls, A drive device for an automatic ice maker characterized in that the protrusion is prevented from falling in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction by contacting the side walls. The method of claim 4, wherein At the same time as the crimping portion for pressing the switch in a position opposite to the switch of the rotating member, A biasing member which pushes the crimping portion toward the switch side, and a crimping restraining means which operates in conjunction with driving of the ice making plate and prevents the crimping portion in which the crimping portion is crimped by the switch in response to the biasing force of the biasing member; Equipped, And an on / off conversion of the switch by pressing and detaching the crimping unit. The method of claim 5, The rotating member is provided with a sliding part slidingly contacting the cam surface of the cam car that rotates in association with the ice making plate, and the sliding part is slid along the cam surface to rotate about the pivot point axis to perform on-off conversion of the switch. A drive device for an automatic ice maker, characterized in that. In the manufacturing method of the drive system of the automatic ice maker for manufacturing ice by inverting an ice plate and dropping an ice plate into the said ice storage container, and returning an ice tray to its original position when it detects the lack of ice in a storage container, The concave portions formed on the upper ends of the two side walls placed on one of the two case halves constituting the case for storing each member of the drive device rotate in synchronization with the driving of the ice making plate and detect the position of the ice making plate. A method of manufacturing a drive device for an automatic ice maker, characterized in that the two ends of the pivot point shaft of the rotating member for performing the on-off conversion of the switch for performing the operation are covered and cover the other half of the case half body thereon. The method of claim 7, wherein The pivot member is provided with a protrusion upper part formed to extend from the pivot point axis and at the same time both end edges are led to the side walls, The projection upper part is inserted between both side walls when both ends of the pivot point shaft of the pivot member are dropped, and the projection upper part is prevented from falling in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction by contacting the two side walls. Method for manufacturing a drive device of an automatic ice maker.