KR960008176B1 - Automatic ice making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

Automatic Ice Maker

1 is a perspective view of an ice making body according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Ga in FIG. 1,

3 is a longitudinal side view of the refrigerator,

4 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which the lid is opened,

5 is an operation explanatory diagram showing another comparative example of the present invention;

6 is an explanatory diagram showing another comparative example of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

14 ice making room 17 ice making body

18: main body case 20: ice making container

21: lid 22: hinge portion (connection portion)

25: catching part 26: main catching part

27: auxiliary catch portion 28: water supply device

The present invention relates to an automatic ice making apparatus having a lid covering an upper surface of an ice making container.

In an automatic ice making machine installed in a domestic refrigerator, an ice making vessel is rotatably installed in a main body case having a driving mechanism through a supporting member to supply ice to the ice making vessel from a water supply device, and to make ice by using a driving mechanism after ice making. It is provided to repeat the operation of separating the ice by rotating to reverse the up and down, and then supplying water to the ice making container again.

However, in such an automatic ice making apparatus, since the lower side and the upper side of the ice making vessel are simultaneously cooled, the water contained in the ice making dish is frozen evenly.

This eliminates the place for the air to escape and creates opaque ice with bubbles inside.

In order to make transparent ice, it is thought that it is good to install a lid having a softness on the upper surface of the ice making container so that the water contained in the ice making container freezes sequentially from the lower side so that the upper surface of the water contained in the ice making container is not cooled.

However, in this kind of automatic ice making apparatus, since the ice is separated by inverting the ice making container up and down after ice making, it is necessary to open the lid so that it does not interfere with the ice separating operation.

In the automatic ice making device provided with a lid, in order to open the lid so that it does not interfere with the ice separation operation, the following structure can be considered.

One, as shown in FIG. 5, connects the lid 2 to the ice making container 1 rotatably via a self-hinge connection 3, and the opposite end 2a of the lid 2 connection 3 The tongue piece (4) is installed in the lower part of the tongue piece (4), and the locking pin (5) is installed in the main body case (not shown) to support the ice making container (1) rotatable.

According to this configuration, the lid 2 covers the upper surface of the ice making container 1 as shown in FIG. 5 (a) during ice making, and the ice making container 1 moves in the direction of the arrow A to separate the ice. Rotation, the ice making container 1 and the lid 2 are rotated integrally, and when the tongue piece 4 of the lid 2 is in contact with the locking pin 5, the tongue piece 4 is locked. The lid 2 is automatically opened as shown in FIG. 5 (b) by being caught by (5).

However, in the above configuration, since the tongues 4 protrude from the end portion 2a of the lid 2 main body case, the width dimension of the lid 2 is increased as much as the tongues 4, and at the time of opening the lid 2, The high dimension h is increased, which may cause the tongue piece 4 to contact the ice stored in the ice making container (not shown) provided below the ice making container 1.

The other is formed at the end of the lid 2 at the end of the lid 2 from the body case end 2a of the lid 2 toward the connecting portion 3 side, and the body of the lid 2 The locking pin 7 located in the vicinity of the case end 2a is provided in the main body case.

According to this configuration, the lid 2 covers the upper surface of the ice making container 1 as shown in FIG. 6 (a) during ice making, and the ice making container 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow A due to the ice separation operation. In the initial stage of rotation, the locking pin 7 is caught by the flaw 6 of the lid 2, and the lid 2 is opened as shown in FIG. 6 (b) simultaneously with the rotation of the ice making container 1. .

Since the configuration does not require the tongue piece 4, the width dimension of the lid 2 can be made smaller than that described above, and the opening angle of the lid 2 with respect to the ice making container 1 can be increased. There is this.

However, when the lid 2 is opened, the lid 2 shown in Fig. 6 (b) has its own weight and rotational force because the position caught by the locking pin 7 is close to the connecting portion 3. Thereby, a moment in the direction of the arrow F acts, and a large force acts on the connecting portion 3 by the moment, and therefore, there is a disadvantage that strength measures are required for the connecting portion 3.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic ice making device in which a lid is provided in an ice making container, which can open the lid so that it does not interfere with the ice separation operation, and at the same time increase the opening angle, It is to provide an automatic ice making device that can reduce the burden on the product.

The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device for separating ice by rotating ice making vessels by rotating the ice making vessel by means of a driving mechanism after ice making, and separating ice from the ice making apparatus, wherein one end is rotatably connected to the ice making vessel. A main lid which is connected to the lid and covers the upper surface of the ice making container from the ice making position, and a main catching part for opening the lid by supporting the end portion of the main body case of the lid when starting to rotate in a direction reversed from the ice making position of the ice making container. It extends obliquely downward from the portion, and when the ice making container is rotated by a predetermined angle, it has an auxiliary locking portion to assist the opening of the lid by supporting the end of the body case side of the lid instead of the main locking portion. .

In the state where the ice making container is located in an ice making position, the lid has covered the upper surface of the ice making container, and ice making is performed in this state.

When the ice making is completed and the ice making container rotates in the up and down direction by the driving mechanism to separate the ice, the lid starts to open as the end of the main body case side of the lid is supported by the locking part at the beginning of the rotation.

Then, when the lid is rotated by a predetermined angle, the end of the main body case side of the lid is supported by the auxiliary locking portion instead of the main locking portion, and the ice making vessel is inverted up and down while the lid is supported by the auxiliary locking portion to separate the ice. . Thereafter, the ice making container is rotated in the direction of the right ice making position by the drive mechanism, and accompanied by the lid, the lid is supported by the auxiliary locking part and the main locking part to return to the original state of covering the ice making container.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, in FIG. 3, the freezing chamber 12, the refrigerating chamber 13, the ice making chamber 14, etc. are formed in the inside of the cold storage main body 11, and the cold air produced | generated by the cooler 15 is a fan 10 It is supplied to each chamber 12, 13, and 14 by this.

In the upper part of the ice-making chamber 14, the ice-making apparatus main body 17 shown in FIG. 1 is provided.

The ice maker body 17 includes a main body case 18 in which driving mechanisms such as a motor and a gear mechanism (not shown) are arranged, a supporting member 19 provided in the main body case 18, a main body case 18, and a supporting member. (19) a plastic ice making container (20) rotatably supported by the cover and a lid (21) having thermal insulation provided to cover the upper surface of the ice making container (20), wherein the ice making container (20a) is driven by a drive mechanism. Is rotated around.

As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the lid 21 is rotatably connected to the ice making container 20 through a hinge portion 22, which is a connecting portion.

The lid 21 is open at the end of the main body case 18 and the flaws 23 and the bottom surface of the main body case 18 are opened, and a flaw 23 is formed from the main body end 21a to the hinge portion 22. The cutout part 24 for supplying water to the ice-making container 20 is formed in the opposite end part of this flaw 23. As shown in FIG.

The ice tray 20 has a water receiving part 20b formed at a portion corresponding to the cutout 24.

In addition, although not shown, the lid 21 is provided with a heater for heating.

A plate-shaped locking portion 25 is installed on the rear surface of the main body case 18 (side of the ice making container 20).

This locking portion 25 is the main locking portion 26 and the main locking portion formed in the portion where the ice making container 20 is directed from the horizontal ice making position toward the grooves 23 of the body case end 21 of the lid 21. And an auxiliary locking portion 27 extending obliquely from 26.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 3, the water supply device 28 for supplying water to the ice making container 20 includes a water supply tank 29 installed in the refrigerating chamber 13 and a water receiving plate receiving water from the water supply tank 29. 30), a pump 31 for pumping up the water in the water receiving plate 30, and a water supply pipe for guiding the water pumped by the pump 31 from the water receiving unit 20b to the ice making container 20 ( 32).

Then, in the rear part of the ice making chamber 14, the outlet 33a of the cold air passage 33 which guides the cool air sent to the fan 16 into the ice making chamber 14 corresponds to the lower part of the ice making container 20. It is formed, and cold air from the outlet 33a flows along the lower part of the ice making container 20.

An ice making container 34 positioned below the ice making container 20 in the lower part of the ice making chamber 14 is housed so that access is possible, and the ice making detection lever 35 which detects the quantity of ice stored in this ice making container 34 is carried out. ) Is rotatably attached to the main body case (18).

In addition, although not shown, the ice making container 20 is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting an ice making completion temperature.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

It is assumed that the ice making container 20 is now in a horizontal ice making position.

De-icing is performed from water supply to the ice-making container 20 in this ice-making position, ie, the pump 31 of the water supply apparatus 28 is driven for a fixed time.

When the pump 31 is driven, the water in the water receiving plate 30 is pumped up and supplied into the ice making container 20 through the water supply pipe 32.

When the water supply is completed, a heater (not shown) in the lid 21 is energized so that the heater generates heat.

On the other hand, cold air sprayed into the ice making chamber 14 from the outlet 33a of the cold air passage 33 flows along the lower part of the ice making container 20, and the ice making container 20 is cooled mainly from the lower part by the cold air.

At this time, since the upper surface of the ice making container 20 is covered by the lid 21 and is heated by the heater, the water contained in the ice making container 20 is sequentially frozen from the lower part to the upper part, and the upper surface part is finally frozen.

Therefore, the air contained in the water can freely escape to the water surface of the unfrozen water, and becomes transparent ice.

When the water in the ice making vessel 20 is completely frozen, the temperature of the ice making dish 20 decreases drastically, and when the detection temperature is lower than the ice making completion temperature (eg, -12 ° C.) by the temperature sensor installed in the ice making vessel 20, The heater of 21 is disconnected, the motor which is a drive mechanism in the main body case 18 is energized, and the ice-making container 20 rotates in the direction of arrow B by the drive mechanism.

The ice making container 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow B in the state of FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 4, at the beginning of rotation, the main body case end 21a of the flaw 23 of the lid 21 is caught ( The lid 21 starts to open by being supported by the main catching portion 26 of 25 (see also fourth (a)).

And with the rotation of the ice making container 20, the locking part of the main locking part 20 with respect to the lid 21 moves to the hinge part 22 side, and the opening angle of the lid 21 with respect to the ice making container 20 is carried out. Gradually increases (see also fourth (b)).

In this state, when the ice making container 20 is rotated so that the lid 21 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the lid 21 is supported by the auxiliary catching portion 27 instead of the main catching portion 26 and the lid 21 is supported by the lid 21. It is supported by the locking portion 27 and the lid 21 is opened while sliding in the inclined direction according to the auxiliary locking portion 27 (see also fourth (c)).

Here, FIG. 4 (c) shows a state in which the ice making container 20 is completely rotated, and in this state, the water receiving part 20b of the ice making container 20 is in contact with the supporting member 19, and from this state, ice making is performed. The ice making container 20 is twisted by the rotation of the main body case 18 of the container 20.

This twist separates the ice in the ice maker 20, and the ice is stored in the ice maker 34.

When the ice separation operation is completed, the motor of the drive mechanism is reversed, and the ice making container 20 is rotated in the opposite direction to the arrow B to be returned to the original ice making position, and at the same time, the lid 21 of the ice making container 20 It is returned to its original state to cover the top surface.

After that, as described above, water is supplied into the ice making container 20, and the ice making operation is repeated.

As a result, the ice storage container 34 is stacked with ice. If there is no use of ice, the amount of storage increases and can escape from the storage container 34. Therefore, when the amount of ice in the storage container 34 reaches a predetermined amount or more, the storage detection lever 35 which stops the ice making operation is shown in FIG. It is installed as shown. This storage detection lever 35 is a lever which rotates about an end part, and the lower part contacts the ice of the upper surface in the storage container 34, and rotates according to increase / decrease of storage. When the amount of ice in the storage container 34 reaches a certain amount, the storage detection lever 35 presses a switch (not shown) to stop the ice making operation.

According to the first embodiment, the water contained in the ice making container 20 can be sequentially frozen from the bottom by covering the upper surface of the ice making container 20 with the lid 21 at the time of ice making, thereby making the transparent ice satisfactory. I can make it.

In particular, according to the present embodiment, since the upper surface of the ice making container 11 is heated by a heater installed in the lid 22, transparent ice can be made more secure.

In addition, since the lid 21 is opened by being supported by the main locking portion 26 and the auxiliary locking portion 27 in conjunction with the rotation of the ice making container 20 at the time of ice separation, the ice separation operation can be reliably performed.

Also, in this case, the main locking part 26 of the flat type is close to the lid 21, and the lid 21 is mainly caught by the main body side 21a of the lid at the beginning of rotation of the ice making container 20. It does not require tongues for opening because it begins to open as supported by the part 26.

And because the tongue does not require the lid 21 is in close contact with the opening angle of the lid 221 may be increased.

In addition, since the lid 21 is accommodated in the main case side end 2a of the lid when the lid 21 is opened at a predetermined angle, the direction of the arrow F toward the free end 21a of the lid 21 in this state. Even if the moment acts, the force applied to the hinge portion 22 connecting the lid 21 and the ice making container 20 is reduced, and the burden on the hinge portion 22 can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the state in which the ice making container 20 is rotated the largest in the up-down direction (Fig. 4 (c)), the lid 21 is placed so that its lower part is almost the same position as the lower part of the main body case 18. Since the lid 21 is not opened, the lid 21 is not likely to affect the ice collected in the storage container 34, and the lid 21 does not interfere with the entrance of the storage container 34.

As described above, according to the present invention, the water collected in the ice making container can be sequentially frozen from the bottom by installing a lid covering the upper face of the ice making container and covering the upper face of the ice making container by the lid during ice making. You can make

In addition, since the lid is opened by being supported by the main locking portion and the auxiliary locking portion of the locking portion at the same time as the ice making container rotates, the ice separating operation can be performed without resistance.

Moreover, in this case, the lid starts to open by supporting the main body part of the lid at the beginning of the rotation of the ice making container, and thus does not require a tongue for opening, so that the lid can be closely attached. The opening angle can be increased.

In addition, when the lid is opened at a predetermined angle, the end of the main body case side of the lid is supported by the auxiliary locking portion instead of the main locking portion, thereby reducing the burden on the connecting portion connecting the lid and the ice making container.

Furthermore, since the main locking portion and the auxiliary locking portion of the locking portion are formed in one, the strength can be increased as compared with the case of forming them independently.

Claims (1)

In the automatic ice making apparatus to separate the ice from the ice making container by making ice in the ice making container and rotating the ice making container up and down by the drive mechanism after the ice making, one end is connected to the ice making container through a connecting portion, A lid covering the upper surface of the ice making container at the ice making position; A main catching part for opening the lid by supporting an end portion of the main body case of the lid when the ice maker starts to rotate after ice making; And an auxiliary locking portion extending downwardly from the main locking portion and supporting the opening of the lid by supporting an end portion of the main body case of the lid instead of the main locking portion when the ice making container rotates a predetermined angle. Automatic ice maker, characterized in that.