JP2005291621A - Ice storage detector of ice-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the reliability of an ice storage detector disposed in an ice storage compartment. <P>SOLUTION: This ice storage detector 40 detecting the ice storage state of the ice storage compartment 14 comprises a body part 42 disposed on the ceiling surface of the ice storage compartment 14, a detection lever 46 swingably pivoted on the body part 42 and suspended in the ice storage compartment 14, a detection switch 50 disposed in the body part 42 and opened and closed by the swinging displacement of the detection lever 46, and a cover member 60 vertically installed along the detection cover 46. The cover member 60 comprises a front cover part 62 extending to the swing direction front side of the detection lever 46, side cover parts 64 and 64 extending from both side edge parts to the swing direction rear side of the front cover part 62, and a lower cover part 66 extending from the lower end part to the swing direction rear side of the front cover part 62. The cover member is formed to cover the swing route of the detection lever 46. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an ice making mechanism that continuously generates ice having a required shape, and in an ice making machine that stores ice released from the ice making mechanism in an ice storage chamber, by a swinging displacement of a detection lever that is suspended in the ice storage chamber. The present invention relates to an ice storage detection device for detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage chamber.

  An automatic ice maker that continuously manufactures ice blocks (ice) of a required shape is suitably used in facilities such as coffee shops and restaurants and other kitchens. The ice making mechanism of these automatic ice making machines is a spray type that supplies ice making water from below to a large number of ice making chambers that open downward, and a flow down type that makes ice making water flow down to the ice making surface. There are various types of. FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of the injection type ice making machine 10, and a so-called closed cell type ice making mechanism 18 and a refrigeration mechanism 20 are provided in an upper part of an ice storage 12 defining an ice storage chamber 14. A stack-on type on which ice making units 16 are loaded. The ice storage 12 is constituted by a heat insulating box body filled with a heat insulating material between an inner box and an outer box, and an upper part thereof is opened so that an ice block C falling from above can be received. In addition, an opening as an outlet for the ice block C is opened on the front side of the ice storage 12, and the opening is closed by an opening / closing door 22.

  In the ice making unit 16, a first chamber 26 and a second chamber 28 are divided into left and right inside a housing 24 formed by disposing a panel on each surface of the frame-shaped main body. The ice making mechanism 18 is disposed in the first chamber 26 formed on the left side, and the refrigeration mechanism 20 including a condenser, a compressor, and a fan motor is disposed in the second chamber 28 formed on the right side. Yes. The first chamber 26 and the ice storage chamber 14 are configured to communicate with each other while the ice making unit 16 is placed on the top of the ice storage 12. An ice discharge passage 30 for dropping the ice block C discharged from the ice making mechanism 18 into the ice storage chamber 14 is defined between the ice making mechanism 18 and the freezing mechanism 20. Further, an ice storage detection device 32 including a detection lever 36 hanging inward of the ice storage chamber 14 is disposed on the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14, and the detection associated with the contact and separation of the ice block C with respect to the detection lever 36 is provided. The presence or absence of the ice block C is determined by the swinging displacement of the lever 36, and the operation control of the ice making mechanism 18 is performed according to the detected state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As shown in FIG. 6, the ice storage detection device 32 is pivotally supported by a main body 34 disposed in the vicinity of the ice discharge passage 30 on the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14, and freely swingable on the main body 34. The detection lever 36 hangs inward of the ice storage chamber 14 and a detection switch 38 that is disposed in the main body 34 and opens and closes when the detection lever 36 swings. When the storage amount of the ice block C is small and the ice block C is not in contact with the detection lever 36, the detection lever 36 is in a normal position hanging free from the main body 34 under the action of gravity, The upper end portion is separated from the contact 38a of the detection switch 38 disposed in the main body 34, and the contact 38a is open. When the ice block C is gradually accumulated in the ice storage chamber 14 and reaches a predetermined position by repeating the ice making operation, the ice block C abuts against the detection lever 36 to apply a pressing force, and the detection lever 36 is moved obliquely upward. Swing and displace (forward in the swing direction). When the detection lever 36 is swung by a predetermined angle, the upper end of the detection lever 36 comes into contact with the contact 38a of the detection switch 38 and arrives at a detection position where the contact 38a is closed (two points in FIG. 6). Chain line). That is, the ice storage detection device 32 determines that the ice lump C has been stored to the predetermined position in the ice storage chamber 14 by the swinging displacement of the detection lever 36 from the normal position to the detection position. . When the ice storage detection device 32 detects the full ice state of the ice block C, the required control means stops the ice making operation of the ice making mechanism 18 to prevent the ice block C from being excessively stored.
JP 2000-193353 A

  By the way, when the ice block C is made to flow, such as when the ice block C is taken out from the outlet of the ice storage 12 with a scoop or when the ice block C is stirred to eliminate arching or blocking, the detection lever 36 is moved. Ice blocks C may be unevenly distributed and accumulated in a path (oscillation path) that passes when the displacement between the normal position and the detection position is oscillated (see FIG. 6). In this case, the detection lever 36 is blocked by the ice block C existing in the swing path and cannot swing and move in the direction from the normal position toward the detection position (front side of the swing direction), and cannot reach the detection position. Although the ice block C has accumulated up to a predetermined position in the ice storage chamber 14, a detection failure occurs in which the ice storage detection device 32 does not detect the full ice state, and the ice making operation of the ice making mechanism 18 is not stopped. It is pointed out that operation may occur. That is, if the ice storage detection device 32 does not reliably detect the full ice state of the ice block C, there is a problem that the ice discharge passage 30 is blocked by the excessively stored ice block C or the ice making mechanism 18 is damaged.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in the ice storage detection device of an ice making machine according to the prior art, and it is ensured that there is no ice stored in the ice storage chamber. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice storage detection device for an ice making machine that can detect the above.

In order to overcome the above-described problems and achieve the intended purpose, an ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to the present invention includes:
A swinging pivot is pivotally supported on the upper part of the ice storage chamber for storing ice released from the ice making mechanism, and a required amount of ice is accumulated in the ice storage chamber. In the ice storage detection device for an ice making machine, the detection lever comprises a detection switch that is actuated by swinging from the normal position to the detection position.
A cover member for preventing ice from entering the swinging path of the detection lever and allowing the detection lever to swing is provided.

  According to the ice storage detection device of the ice making machine according to the present invention, the cover member that prevents the ice from entering and allows the detection lever to swing is provided in the swing path from the normal position to the detection position of the detection lever. Since ice does not exist in the swing path of the detection lever, the swing displacement from the normal position of the detection lever to the detection position accompanying the contact of ice is not hindered. In other words, the reliability of the ice storage detection device can be improved because the detection lever is reliably oscillated and displaced to the detection position when the ice reaches a full ice state where the ice has accumulated to a predetermined position. Moreover, even when the ice is taken out from the outlet with a scoop or when the ice is stirred to eliminate ice arching or blocking, the flowing ice is blocked by the cover member and the detection lever swings. There is no risk of entering the path. In addition, by forming the lower cover portion that forms the bottom surface of the cover member and covers the lower side of the swing path of the detection lever so as to be inclined downward from the detection position of the detection lever toward the normal position, Even if ice enters inside, the ice is led to the inclination of the lower cover part and discharged downward. Therefore, even if ice enters the swing path of the detection lever located inside the cover member, the ice is discharged from the cover member, so that the swing displacement of the detection lever is hindered and the ice storage detection device causes a detection failure. There is no.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the conventional ice storage detection device shown in FIG. 5 or FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a front view in which a part of an ice making machine 11 of the embodiment is cut out, and a closed cell type ice making mechanism 18 and a refrigeration mechanism 20 are provided above an ice storage 12 that internally defines an ice storage chamber 14. It is a stack-on type on which the ice making unit 16 provided is loaded. An ice discharge passage 30 communicating with the ice storage chamber 14 located below is defined between the ice making mechanism 18 and the refrigeration mechanism 20, and ice blocks (ice) C discharged from the ice making mechanism 18 are stored in the ice making mechanism 18. It is configured to fall into the ice storage chamber 14 through the discharge passage 30 and accumulate in the ice storage chamber 14. The ice storage detection device 40 of the embodiment is disposed on the ceiling surface (upper part) of the ice storage chamber 14 and in the vicinity of the ice discharge passage 30. That is, when the ice block C received in the ice storage chamber 14 from the ice making unit 16 through the ice discharge passage 30 is piled up in a mountain shape, the ice storage detection device is located at a position opposite to the top of the deposited ice block C. 40 is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ice storage detection device 40 is supported by a main body portion 42 disposed on the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14, and is pivotally supported by the main body portion 42 so as to hang down on the ice storage chamber 14. A detection lever 46; a detection switch 50 which is disposed in the main body portion 42 and is actuated (opened / closed) by a swinging displacement of the detection lever 46; and a cover member 60 which is suspended along the detection lever 46; It is composed of Further, the cover member 60 is configured to cover the swing path of the detection lever 46 protruding inward of the ice storage chamber 14. Here, the rocking path of the detection lever 46 is a normal position where the ice lump C is not in contact with the detection lever 46 (see FIG. 2), and the ice lump C is in contact with the detection lever 46. This refers to the trajectory that passes when the detection lever 46 is oscillated and displaced between the detection position (see FIG. 3) that has been oscillated and displaced by a predetermined angle, and the direction in which the detection lever 46 is oscillated and displaced from the normal position to the detection position. Is the front side in the swing direction.

  The main body 42 is a box-shaped body having a hollow internal space, and a pivot shaft 44 is disposed in the internal space, and an upper end portion of the detection lever 46 is inserted into the internal space on the lower surface thereof. An opening 42a that allows the above is established. The opening 42 a is set to have a width that allows the detection lever 46 to swing and the opening edges positioned in the front and rear directions of the detection lever 46 regulate the swing displacement of the detection lever 46. It has become. A flange portion 42b extending along the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14 is formed in the upper portion of the main body portion 42, and fixing means such as a screw is inserted through an insertion hole (not shown) formed in the flange portion 42b. The main body portion 42 is fixed to the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14 by inserting 56 and fastening.

  The detection lever 46 is a rod-shaped body having a predetermined length, and a pivotal support hole 46a is formed at the upper end thereof. By fitting the pivot shaft 44 and the pivot hole 46a, the detection lever 46 is pivotally supported by the main body 42 around the pivot shaft 44. The upper end of a contact point to be described later is in contact with or separated from the contact point. Further, a pressing plate 48 having a plate surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the swinging direction is disposed at the lower end of the detection lever 46 so that the detection range of the detection lever 46 is widened. The detection lever 46 is always in a freely suspended state under the action of gravity, and is in a normal position that hangs inward of the ice storage chamber 14 (see FIG. 2). When the ice lump C comes into contact with the ice lever C and receives a pressing force, the detection lever 46 in the normal position is oscillated and displaced obliquely upward toward the front side of the oscillating direction, which is a direction away from the ice discharge passage 30. Arrives at a detection position that contacts the contact of the detection switch 50 (see FIG. 3). When the pressed state by the ice block C is released, the detection lever 46 located at the detection position swings toward the rear side in the swing direction, which is a direction close to the ice discharge passage 30 under the action of gravity. Displaces and returns to normal position. Here, the amount of ice block C stored in the ice storage chamber 14 is defined by the extension dimension of the detection lever 46.

  The detection switch 50 is disposed inside the main body portion 42. The detection switch 50 protrudes from the lower surface of the main body portion 42, covers the switch portion 52 facing the internal space of the main body portion 42, and covers the switch portion 52. A contact point composed of a switch plate 54 facing above the upper end of the detection lever 46 is provided. At the normal position of the detection lever 46, the upper end portion of the detection lever 46 and the switch plate 54 are separated from each other, and the switch plate 54 and the switch portion 52 are separated from each other, and the contact of the detection switch 50 is opened. ing. When the detection lever 46 is swung to the detection position, the upper end portion of the detection lever 46 abuts on the switch plate 54 and pushes upward, and the switch plate 54 presses the switch portion 52 and contacts. Is configured to be closed.

  The ice storage detection device 40 has a full ice in which ice blocks C have been stored up to a predetermined position in the ice storage chamber 14 by closing the contact of the detection switch 50 in accordance with the swinging displacement of the detection lever 46 from the normal position to the detection position. The ice making operation of the ice making mechanism 18 is stopped via the required control means. Further, the ice storage detection device 40 determines that the storage amount of the ice storage chamber 14 has decreased due to the opening of the contact of the detection switch 50 accompanying the swing displacement from the detection position to the normal position in the detection lever 46, The ice making operation of the ice making mechanism 18 is started via the required control means.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cover member 60 is a molded product integrally formed of, for example, resin, and is suspended from the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14 along the detection lever 46. The cover member 60 includes a front cover portion 62 that extends vertically on the front side of the detection lever 46 in the swing direction, and a horizontal cover that extends from both side edges of the front cover portion 62 toward the rear side in the swing direction. Parts 64 and 64, and a lower cover part 66 extending from the lower end of the front cover part 62 toward the rear side in the swinging direction. The swinging path of the swinging path is allowed in a state that allows the detection lever 46 to swing. Constructed to cover both sides, front and bottom. That is, the cover member 60 is formed in a U shape with the ice discharge passage 30 side opened in a plan view, and extends so that the detection lever 46 closes the open portion. The cover member 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the ice discharge passage 30 with the detection lever 46 interposed therebetween, and the front cover portion is moved when the detection lever 46 is oscillated and displaced forward in the oscillating direction to the detection position. They are separated so as not to contact 62. The front cover portion 62 is formed with an attachment portion 68 whose upper end is bent toward the rear side in the swinging direction. When the attachment portion 68 is attached to the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14, a screw or the like is fixed. A through hole 68a through which the means 56 is inserted is opened at a position aligned with an insertion hole (not shown) of the main body portion 42. The cover member 60 abuts the mounting portion 68 against the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14, and inserts and fixes the fixing means 56 in a state where the insertion hole of the main body portion 42 and the through hole 68a are aligned. Thus, the main body 42 is integrally fixed to the ceiling surface of the ice storage chamber 14.

  The horizontal cover portions 64, 64 extend on both sides of a side edge portion from a position separated from the upper end portion of the front cover portion 62 so as not to enter the ice block C to the lower end portion, and are detected from the front cover portion 62. It extends to a position close to the lever 46. The distance between the pair of side cover portions 64 and 64 is set such that the ice block C does not enter from the gap between the detection lever 46 and the side cover portion 64 extending vertically to the open end side of the cover member 60. . The lower cover portion 66 constitutes the bottom surface of the cover member 60 and covers the lower side of the swing path of the detection lever 46. The lower cover portion 66 is configured to incline downward as the distance from the front cover portion 62 increases. That is, the lower cover portion 66 is formed so as to incline downward from the front side (detection position) in the swinging direction of the detection lever 46 toward the rear side (normal position), and the ice mass that has fallen inward of the cover member 60. C is discharged while being guided by the lower inclination of the lower cover portion 66. In the embodiment, the detection lever 46 is not covered by the cover member 60 in the normal position, whereas the detection lever 46 is covered by the cover member 60 in the swing path and the detection position ( (See FIG. 2 or FIG. 3).

(Effects of Example)
Next, the operation of the ice storage detection device for the ice making machine according to the embodiment will be described. In the ice making operation, ice blocks C are discharged from the ice making mechanism 18 through the ice discharge passage 30 to the ice storage chamber 14 and gradually accumulate as the ice making operation is repeated. At this time, the detection lever 46 of the ice storage detection device 40 is in a normal position depending on the action of gravity (see FIG. 2). When the accumulated ice mass C accumulates to a predetermined position in the ice storage chamber 14, it comes into contact with the pressing plate 48 disposed at the tip of the detection lever 46 and presses the detection lever 46 in a direction away from the ice discharge passage 30. Add The detection lever 46 arrives at the detection position by swinging by a required angle about the pivot shaft 44 (in the direction away from the ice discharge passage 30) about the pivot shaft 44 as a pressing force is applied by the ice block C. (See FIG. 3). As the detection lever 46 swings and displaces from the normal position to the detection position, the upper end of the detection lever 46 abuts on the switch plate 54 to push the switch plate 54 upward, and the switch plate 54 By pressing the portion 52, the contact of the detection switch 50 is closed, and the ice storage detection device 40 detects the full ice state of the ice storage chamber 14. Then, based on the full ice detection of the ice storage detection device 40, it is determined that the storage amount of the ice block C in the ice storage chamber 14 has reached a predetermined position, and the ice making operation of the ice making mechanism 18 is stopped via the control means.

  When the storage amount of the ice block C in the ice storage chamber 14 decreases and the pressing state of the detection lever 46 by the ice block C is released, the rear side in the swing direction under the action of gravity (the direction close to the ice discharge passage 30). When the detection lever 46 comes into contact with the opening edge of the opening 42a in the main body portion 42, the swing displacement is regulated and the normal position is restored again (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, since the upper end of the detection lever 46 is separated from the switch plate 54, the switch plate 54 and the switch unit 52 are separated, the contact of the detection switch 50 is opened, and the detection state of the ice block C is released. Then, the ice making operation is started in the ice making mechanism 18.

  Since the cover member 60 is configured to cover the swing path of the detection lever 46, the ice block C does not exist in the swing path of the detection lever 46, and the detection lever associated with the contact of the ice block C is detected. The swinging displacement toward the detection position 46 is not hindered. That is, when the ice block C accumulates to a predetermined amount and reaches a full ice state, the detection lever 46 is reliably oscillated and displaced to the detection position. Can be detected, and the reliability of the ice storage detection device 40 can be improved. Even when the ice block C is taken out from the outlet with a scoop or when the ice block C is stirred to eliminate arching or blocking of the ice block C, the cover member 60 swings the detection lever 46. Since the path is covered, it is possible to prevent malfunction such as chattering caused by the flowing ice block C coming into contact with the detection lever 46. In addition, even when the ice block C flows when the ice block C is taken out, there is no possibility that the ice block C enters the swinging path of the detection lever 46 by being blocked by the cover member 60. Accordingly, the ice storage detection device 40 is prevented from over-storage of the ice block C due to a detection failure that does not detect the full ice state of the ice block C, and the ice discharge path 30 may be blocked by the ice block C or the ice making mechanism 18 may be damaged. There is no.

  In addition, since the lower cover portion 66 of the cover member 60 that covers the lower side of the swinging path in the detection lever 46 is configured to be inclined downward as the distance from the front cover portion 62 increases, Even if the ice block C enters inward, the ice cover C can be discharged downward by being guided by the inclination of the lower cover portion 66. That is, even if the ice block C enters the rocking path located inward of the cover member 60, the ice lump C is released from below the cover member 60. There is no malfunction. Further, since the ice block C is not sandwiched between the cover member 60 and the detection lever 46 and an excessive force is not applied to the detection lever 46, the life of the detection lever 46 can be extended.

  The detection switch 50 disposed in the ice storage detection device 40 of the embodiment employs a micro switch that opens and closes when the switch portion 52 and the switch plate 54 come in contact with each other, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited to this. It may be a proximity switch.

1 is a front view showing a part of an ice making machine provided with an ice storage detection device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the ice storage detection apparatus of an Example in the normal position state of a detection lever. It is sectional drawing which shows the ice storage detection apparatus of an Example in the detection position state of a detection lever. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the cover member of the ice storage detection apparatus of an Example. It is a front view which notches and shows a part of ice machine which has arrange | positioned the conventional ice storage detection apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional ice storage detection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

14 ice storage rooms, 18 ice making mechanisms, 46 detection levers, 50 detection switches,
60 Cover member, 66 Lower cover part, C Ice block (ice)

Claims (2)

A detection lever (46) pivotably supported on an upper portion of an ice storage chamber (14) for storing ice (C) discharged from the ice making mechanism (18), and hanging down to a normal position of the ice storage chamber (14); A detection switch (50) in which the detection lever (46) is oscillated and displaced from a normal position to a detection position by accumulating a required amount of ice (C) in the ice storage chamber (14); In the ice storage detection device of the ice making machine consisting of
An ice making machine comprising a cover member (60) that prevents ice (C) from entering the swing path of the detection lever (46) and allows the detection lever (46) to swing. Ice storage detector. A bottom cover portion (66) that forms the bottom surface of the cover member (60) and covers the lower side of the swing path of the detection lever (46) is formed so as to incline downward from the detection position toward the normal position. The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to claim 1.

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