JPH02126070A - Automatic ice making apparatus for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To return drained residual water containing gaseous substances and impurities to a water supply tank and the concentration is reduced so that the capacity of the water storage can be reduced, by a method wherein a draining unit and first and second drain pipes are connected to a drain port, and the second drain pipe is led to a detachable water supply tank. CONSTITUTION:A drain valve 40 is put into action when a pre-set action time comes. The clearance between the inner surface of a water storage and the outer surface of an ice making tray 30 is not frozen completely due to heating effect of a heater 39. The residual water in the water storage 28 in which balance of pressure is kept is led to a drain pipe 51 through a drain port 29, a connecting pipe 49, an inlet pipe 47, a water inlet 43, a water outlet 44 and an outlet pipe 48, and returned to a water supply tank 18'. When water in the water supply tank 18' is run out and the water storage 28 is drained, the drain valve 40 is put into action. The residual water is led to a first drain pipe 51' through the drain port 29, the connecting pipe 49, the inlet pipe 47, a water inlet 43', a water outlet 44' and the outlet pipe 48, and discharged into an evaporation pan 57 of an evaporation unit 53 in a machine compartment 52 through a water pipe 58.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice-making device that is installed in a refrigerator and is particularly capable of automatically producing transparent ice.

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic ice making device that has been conventionally employed in some household refrigerators will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator body, which is composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a dividing wall that divides the interior of the refrigerator body 1 into upper and lower sections, and defines a freezing compartment 6 in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment in the lower part.

Reference numeral 8 is a cooler for a refrigeration cycle provided behind the freezer compartment 6a, and 9 is a blower for forcing the cold air cooled by the cooler 8 into the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 7.

Next, 10 is an automatic ice maker provided in the freezer compartment 6,
A drive device 11 that includes a motor, a group of reduction gears (not shown), etc., an ice tray 13 that has a support shaft 12 connected and fixed to its center;
It is composed of a frame 14 and the like for pivotally supporting the ice tray 12 on the drive device 11. In addition, 16 is a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the drive device 11 in order to strain and deform the mark-resistant ice tray 13 to remove ice.
e indicates the ice tray 13 so as to come into contact with the stopper 15.
” This is a backing plate attached to the top. Further, 17 is an ice storage box provided below the automatic ice making machine 1o.

18 is a water tank for storing water for ice making;
It is detachably provided in one section of the refrigerator compartment γ. Also 19
is a water supply port of the water supply tank 18, which is opened and closed by a valve 2o. Reference numeral 21 indicates a water tray provided below the water supply port 19 of the water supply tank 18, and when the water supply tank 18 is set with the water supply port 19 facing downward, the valve 20 is pushed up and the water supply is completed. The mouth 19 is configured to be open. Further, 22 is a water supply pump for pumping water received in the tray 21, and 23 is connected to the water supply pump 22, and its outlet is connected to the ice tray 13 of the automatic ice making machine 10. This is a water supply pipe arranged so as to face the building.

In this configuration, when the water supply tank 18 filled with water is set in a predetermined position by the user, the valve 20 is pushed up, the water supply port 19 is opened, and the water tray 21 is filled with water. After that, the filled water is transferred to the water supply pump 22
The water is pumped up and poured into the ice tray 13 via the water supply pipe 23.

In this way, a predetermined amount of water is poured into the ice cube tray 13 into the freezer compartment 6.
The cooling effect within the container causes it to freeze, producing ice. When ice making is finished, the ice making tray 13 rotates in reverse around the support shaft 12 due to the rotational action of the drive device 11, and the stopper 15 comes into contact with the backing plate 16, causing the ice making tray 13 to be distorted and deformed. The ice within 13 is released. Further, the ice that has been released falls into the ice storage box 17 and is stored in water, and the ice tray 13 whose ice removal action has been completed is returned to the drive device 11.
It returns to its original state by the reverse rotation action.

Thereafter, this action is repeated until the water in the water supply tank 18 is used up to automatically make ice and store water.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such an ice making method, the freezing of the water in the ice tray 13 when ice is generated is caused by the contact surface between the ice tray 13 and the water and the contact between the cold air and the water. As the water progresses from the contact surface to the center, impurities such as gas components and soluble salts dissolved in the water are trapped in the center of the ice.
As a result, the ice becomes opaque with a cloudy center and does not have a good taste, resulting in a problem that the ice is not sensually suitable for use in beverages such as whisky, for example.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an automatic ice making device that can produce ice with high transparency and good taste.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the automatic ice making device for a refrigerator of the present invention includes an ice making tray with an open bottom that is superimposed on the inner surface of a water storage tank with a drain port provided in one section of the cooling chamber. The ice tray is equipped with a drive device that rotates and reverses the ice tray, and the water storage tank and drain port are surrounded by a heat insulating material, and a heater is provided in close contact with the outer wall of the tank, and the drain port is equipped with a drain device and a first A drain pipe and a second drain pipe are connected, and the second drain pipe is led into a detachable water supply tank. Furthermore, a water supply pump is installed and configured to lead a water supply pipe to a water storage tank.

Effect 7 The present invention has the above-described configuration, so that when a predetermined amount of water filled in the water tank is supplied into the water storage tank via the water supply pipe by the water supply pump, the ice tray polymerized on the inner surface of the water storage tank is removed from the bottom surface. Water is flooded through the opening to a predetermined water level. The outer periphery of the water tank is surrounded by insulation material and kept warm by a heater, so the cold air in the cooling chamber causes a unidirectional freezing effect from the ice surface downwards, and the gas components in the water remove impurities from the water below. Ice crystals are generated as the water is discharged. Next, when the ice reaches a suitable thickness, the drainage device is activated, and the unfrozen water with a high concentration of gaseous components and impurities is returned to the water tank through the drainage device and the second drain pipe.
Highly transparent and pure ice remains in the ice tray.

The overlapping portion of the water storage tank and the ice tray is prevented from freezing by the heating action of the heater, and the ice tray is detached from the water storage tank and turned over by rotation by the driving device.

Freezing takes place. This action is repeated including the cycle of unfrozen water being returned to the water supply tank, and finally, when the required amount of ice is not made for one time, it is drained out of the system via the first drain pipe. .

Embodiment Hereinafter, an ice making apparatus for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. Incidentally, the same components as those in the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a partition wall that houses a heat insulating material 25 therein, and defines a freezer compartment 26 in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment 27 in the lower part. 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a water storage tank which is buried in the heat insulating material 25 and has an open top, and has a drain port 29 at the bottom. Reference numeral 30 denotes an ice making tray configured to overlap inside the water storage tank 28 with the opening of the water storage tank 28 as the upper end, and has a plurality of small sections 31 which penetrate through the bottom surface [-] and this small section 31. The reference numeral 33 constituted by the partition frame 32 is a drive device that rotates the support shaft 34, and has a motor, a group of reduction gears, etc. (not shown) built therein. and the support shaft 3
4 is connected and fixed to one end of the ice tray 30, and 36
The ice tray 30 is connected to the drive device 33 by the support shaft 34.
``f: A frame for pivotally supporting the drive device 33. 36 is a stopper provided on a part of the outer shell of the drive device 33, and 3T is a frame so as to come into contact with the stopper 36 when the ice tray 30 is turned over. 38 is an ice storage box provided below the ice tray 30 when it is in an inverted position.

Next, 39 is the outer wall of the water tank 28 and the drain port 29.
40 is a heater placed in close contact with the outer wall of the drain port 2.
A lid water device (hereinafter referred to as a drain valve) connected to the drain valve 9 is configured to drain water by electrically opening the valve. That is, 41 and 41' are plungers, 42 and 42' are rubber-based diaphragms, and the outer periphery has manholes 43 and 43'.
Outlet ports 44 and 44' are formed in the center, and m
The upper end of the water outlet 4444' is connected to the plunger 4.
1, 41' is configured to be sealed at the tip. Also 4
6 and 46' are springs for pressing the plungers 41, 41' against the upper end ports of the water outlets 44 and 44', and 46 and 46' are springs for attracting the plungers 41, 41' by electromagnetic action. It is an electromagnetic coil. and 4
7 is an inlet pipe 48, 48' is an outlet pipe, and 49 is the inlet pipe 4.
7 is a connecting pipe that connects the drain port 29 of the water storage tank 28, and 5o is a filter for removing foreign matter provided in the water inlet path within the connecting pipe 49. 51 is a first drain pipe connected to the outlet pipe 48 of the drain valve 4o, and is a first drain pipe connected to the outlet pipe 48 of the drain valve 4o;
4 and the inside of the heat insulating material 4 of the main body 1 to communicate with a machine room 52 provided at the bottom of the main body 1. 53 is an evaporator, and a heating plate 6 has a high-temperature, high-pressure heating pipe 55 connected from the compressor 54 of the refrigeration cycle.
e, and an evaporating dish 6 placed on the heating plate 56. Further, 68 is a water conduit pipe connected to the outlet of the drain pipe 61 to lead water into the inside of the evaporating dish 5a.

51' is a second water pipe connected to the outlet pipe 48' of the water valve 40, and carries the drained water to the water supply tank 18.
(The structure is different from the water supply tank 18 in the conventional example by having openings on two sides of the water supply tank 17).

On the other hand, 59 is the water receiver from the water tank 18' written in O11.
This is a water supply pipe for guiding temporarily stored water 1 to 28 into the water supply pump 22 into the water supply tank 2B. It is open to the inside.

Further, 60 is located in the freezer compartment 26 and the ice tray 30 is placed inside the freezer compartment 26.
61 is a ventilation passage that guides cold air to the upper surface of the JX wind fan 9. Compressor 6
This is a temperature control device that controls the operation/stop of the 4.

In such a configuration, when the water tank 18' filled with water is placed in a predetermined position by the user, the valve 20
is pushed up, the water supply port 19 opens, and the water tray 21 is filled with water. Thereafter, the filled water is pumped up by the water supply pump 22 and passed through the water supply pipe 69 to the water storage tank 28.
A predetermined amount of water is injected into the inner surface of the ice tray 30 (the predetermined amount of water may be injected, for example, by means such as regulating the operating time of the motor of the water supply pump 22), and the water is poured into the ice tray 30 through the bottom opening of the ice cube tray 30 superimposed on the inner surface. As shown in the figure, each small section 31 is flooded to a predetermined water level. In this state, the cooler 8 is
The cold air cooled by the ice tray 3o is forced to be ventilated through the ventilation path 60 above the wooden surface of the ice tray 3o, and the cooling action is started. However, at this time, since the outer periphery of the water tank 28 is closely surrounded by the heat insulating material 25, there is almost no cooling effect from the outer periphery, and the outer periphery of the water tank 28 is warmed by the heating action of the heater 39. The freezing action progresses in one direction from the top to the bottom of each small section 31 of the ice tray 3o.

For this reason, if the freezing speed is appropriately slowed down (for example, 5m
/n) As ice formation progresses, gaseous components dissolved in the water and various impurities contained in the water are precipitated outside the ice crystals and discharged into the unfrozen water below. Since the bottom surface of the compartment 31 is penetrated and opened, there is no obstacle wall that prevents the diffusion of the discharged gas components or the settling of impurities, and the discharged gas is smoothly discharged into the lower water of the water storage tank 28. In addition, since there is no barrier wall, the concentration of gaseous components in the water near the freezing surface due to ice growth is high, and therefore bubbles are less likely to occur. In this way, as time passes, the ice that is produced one after another becomes ice with very high transparency and good taste with few impurities. Then, as a predetermined cooling time elapses, ice of a required appropriate thickness (for example, 26 μm) is generated. That is, if shown in the state diagram, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper ice tray 30
Highly transparent and pure ice coexists in this area, and unfrozen water with reduced purity coexists below it.

On the other hand, during the ice-making operation described above, due to the heating action of the heater 39, freezing does not completely progress in the gap between the inner wall of the water storage tank 28 and the outer wall of the ice-making tray 30, and the outer periphery of the ice-making tray 30 is covered with a film of water. The situation is as follows. Further, the drain port 29 is also heated to prevent the interior from freezing and to prepare for drainage. At this point, when the predetermined operating time is reached and the drain valve 40 (K magnetic coil/L'46' is energized, the plunger 41' is pulled up. Due to the heating action of the heater 39, the gap between the tank 3o and the outer wall is not completely frozen, and the atmospheric pressure is evenly distributed, so that the remaining water in the water tank 28 is drained through the drain port 29, the connecting pipe 49, the inlet pipe 4, and the water tank 28. The second pipe passes through the water inlet 43, the water outlet 44, and the outlet pipe 4B.
The water is led to the water pipe 51' and fed to the water tank 18'. After this action has been carried out 11 times, the state of the water tank 28 is as shown in FIG. That is, only the highly transparent and pure ice produced in the ice tray 30 remains in the water storage tank 28.

On the other hand, since the ice left in this way is mainly high-temperature ice with moisture attached to the bottom, the ice-making process is followed by cooling and drying it for an appropriate period of time (for example, 30 mx) to reduce the temperature. Keep it dry and prepare for the next ice removal process.

Next, when the cooling and drying is completed, the drive device 33 is activated, the support shaft 34 begins to rotate, and the ice tray 30 rotates and is removed from the water storage tank 28. When the ice tray 30 rotates to a position close to the reverse position, the backing plate 37 fixed to the ice tray 3o
comes into contact with the stopper 38, and the drive device 33 continues as it is.
ice tray 3o by applying the same power to ice tray 3o
is distorted and deformed, and the ice in the small section 31 of the ice tray 30 is released and falls into the ice storage box 38 provided below, where it is stored (this action is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8).

After the water supply tank 18' is set by the user in this way, these series of steps are automatically repeated until the water in the water supply tank 18' is used up. The series of steps is repeated, and when the water in the water supply tank 18' is used up, when draining the water tank 28, the electromagnetic coil 46' of the drain valve 40 is energized and the plunger 41' is pulled up. The remaining water is led to the first drain pipe 51 via the drain port 29 connecting pipe 49, the inlet pipe 47, the person exit 43', the water outlet 44', and the outlet pipe 48', and is then introduced into the machine room 62 via the water conduit pipe 68. The water is drained into the evaporation tray 57 of the evaporator 63 of the evaporator 63. Thereafter, the water drained into the evaporating dish 57 is evaporated by the heating action of the heating plate 56, which is closely connected to the heating pipe 66 through which the high-pressure, high-temperature cold ring gas from the compressor 54 flows. Water tank 2 after this action has taken place
The state of No. 8 is as shown in FIG. the result,
In the ice storage box 38, a large amount of highly transparent, pure, and delicious ice is stored, and the user can enjoy extremely sensually excellent ice for eating and drinking without causing any discomfort to the user's hands. can be fully used at any time. In addition, the remaining water from each ice making process is recycled by returning it to the water supply tank 18', but this may dilute the concentration of impurities in the water, so if you are careful not to increase the freezing speed too much, the quality of the ice produced will be affected. has almost no effect. Furthermore, by recycling the remaining water, the water supply tank 18' and the evaporator 53 can be downsized, which is very convenient.

Effect of the invention As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) After the start of ice making, the drainage device is operated at an appropriate time to drain the remaining water containing gas components and impurities that have been drained as ice continues to form, and the outer periphery of the water storage tank is covered with insulating material. By enclosing the ice tightly, ice is frozen in one direction from the top to the bottom, and gaseous components and impurities are not trapped in the water. Therefore, the ice formed in the ice cube tray is extremely transparent, and no impurities are contained. 11. The amount of ice that is good in taste is small, and a large amount of ice is automatically stored, allowing the user to enjoy highly sensual ice for eating and drinking. It can be used sufficiently at a time.

(2) Since the bottom of the ice tray is open and open, there is no obstacle to the downward diffusion of gaseous components discharged as ice formation progresses or the downward settling of impurities. Air bubbles that cause clouding are less likely to occur, impurities are more easily discharged, and the clarity and purity of the ice release is increased.

(3) Appropriate heating of the outer wall of the water tank and the outer wall of the drain outlet with a heater prevents freezing in the gap where the water tank and ice tray overlap, and also prevents the drainage route from freezing, so when draining water, the air pressure is is balanced, unnecessary residual water is reliably drained, and the ice tray can be easily removed from the water tank.
De-icing action can be performed reliably.

(4) After the start of ice making, the drainage device is activated at an appropriate time to return the residual water containing gaseous components and impurities that was drained as ice production progresses to the water supply tank, which reduces the concentration and improves the water supply. Not only can the capacity of the tank be made smaller, but the amount of water drained outside the refrigerator is also smaller, and the evaporator required to evaporate the drained water can also be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts of an automatic ice-making device for a refrigerator showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, and FIG.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator equipped with the automatic ice-making device shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which water is supplied to the automatic ice-making equipment shown in Figure 1. Ice-making progresses from the state shown in Figure 4 in Figure 5. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state after draining water in the state shown in Figure 6, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the ice is waiting to be released from the state shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the operation of ice removal, Figure 9 is a state diagram after the water in the water tank is used up and drained in the state shown in Figure 6, and Figure 10 is a diagram showing the conventional automatic Vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator equipped with an ice-making device, No. 11
This figure is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts of the automatic ice making device shown in FIG. 10. 18... Water supply tank, 22... Water supply pump, 26... Heat insulation material, 26... Freezer room (cooling room), 28...・Water tank, 29...
...Drain port, 30...Ice tray, 33...
・Drive device, 34...Support shaft, 38...
・Ice storage box, 39... Heater, 40...
Drain valve (drainage device), 61...first drain pipe,
61'... Second drain pipe, 59... Water supply pipe. Agent's name Patent attorney Awa! ! ! f Shigetaka and others 1
Name 30-°-Ice making 233-Drive device 34-Support shaft 33-Loat book blind 5q-Water supply pipe 28゛・Water tank zq-WJ-Water mouth y′-Water production plant゛- Water pipe 1 3q-Heag 4θ ・Seto water pipe 51- Water pipe 51- 2nd water pipe 5q- Water supply pipe 5/ 4θ S/' Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] a water storage tank provided in one section of the cooling chamber with an open top surface; an ice tray configured to overlap with the inner surface from the opening of the water tank and open at the bottom; and connected to one end of the ice tray. A fixed support shaft, a drive device that rotates the ice tray about the support shaft, an ice storage box provided adjacent to the water storage tank with the support shaft in between, and surrounding an outer wall of the water storage tank. a heat insulating material, a drain port provided on the bottom of the water tank, a heater that is in close contact with the outer walls of the water tank and the drain port, a drain device connected to the drain port, and a first drain port connected to the drain device. a second drain pipe connected to the drainage device and having an outlet facing into a removably configured water tank;
An automatic ice making device for a refrigerator comprising a water supply pump for pumping water from the water supply tank, and a water supply pipe connected to the water supply pump and having an outlet facing into the storage tank.