JPH058429Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] a. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ice discharging device for an ice dispenser, particularly an ice dispensing device for an ice dispenser consisting of an opening/closing door that is biased by a torsion coil spring and opened and closed by an opening/closing device. Regarding.

b. Prior Art There are various types of opening/closing doors of ice dispensing devices of ice dispensers that have been used in the past, depending on the opening/closing means, and one of the typical ones is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. and shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, 2 is an ice storage, and 2a is an opening. 3 is an opening/closing device, 4 is an opening/closing door, 5 is a solenoid, 5a is a movable piece, 6 is a link, and 7 is a torsion coil spring, which constitute an ice discharge device. Note that 8 is a support shaft of the opening/closing door 4. Now, when the solenoid 5 is excited by a control means (not shown), the solenoid 5 attracts the movable piece 5a, and since the movable piece 5a and the door 4 are connected by the link 6, the door 4 is 8 to open the ice discharge device leading to the outlet. After a predetermined amount of ice has been discharged, when the solenoid 5 is demagnetized by the control means, the torsion coil spring 7 rotates the opening/closing door due to its elasticity and closes the ice discharge device.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the torsion coil spring used is a generally cylindrical coil spring with a uniform coil diameter, the coils are tightly wound, and ice storage compartments are provided at both ends. It has an arm part 7b and an arm part 7c, each having a hook that engages with the fixed part of 2 and a part of the rotating opening/closing door.

When the door 4 is opened, a load is applied to the spring 7 via its arm 7b or 7c, and the diameter (inner diameter and outer diameter) of the coil is reduced, and the door 4 is closed. Sometimes it will return to its original diameter with almost no load.

c Problems to be solved by the invention In the ice dispensing device of an ice dispenser consisting of an opening/closing door biased by a conventional torsion coil spring and opened and closed by an opening/closing device having a control means, the diameter of the coil of the torsion coil spring is is uniform, and the torsion coil spring is fitted on the outside of a support shaft (a fixed support shaft that does not rotate or a rotating support shaft that is integrated with the rotating opening/closing door) that has an outer diameter smaller than its inner diameter. Therefore, when a load is applied due to the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing door, its inner surface comes into contact with the spindle, and when its diameter further decreases, it slides on the surface of the spindle (the rotation direction of the fixed part and the opening/closing door is ). Therefore, the torsion coil spring is not only subjected to the most stress at both ends, but also wear due to sliding occurs in these parts, so there is a problem that it is extremely easy to break at the contact part D of the ends, and furthermore, There was a problem in that the ends of the broken torsion coil springs got stuck in the ice and were carried out with them.

d Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides ice dispensing of an ice dispenser consisting of an opening/closing door that is biased by a torsion coil spring and opened and closed by an opening/closing device having a control means. In the device, the annular locking part of the torsion coil spring is provided in the inactive part formed by joining the arm part of the torsion coil spring to a fixed part of the fuselage or a part of the opening/closing door and then bending it. be.

e Function The torsion coil spring is fitted and supported by the support shaft of the opening/closing door, and one of the annular locking parts is connected to the fixed part of the ice dispenser or ice release device, and the other annular locking part is connected to the fixed part of the opening/closing door. The annular locking part is formed by joining the arm part of the torsion coil spring to the fixed part of the ice dispenser or ice discharge device or a part of the opening/closing door and then bending it. Since the torsion coil spring is installed at the active part, most of the stress on the torsion coil spring that occurs when the door rotates is absorbed by the joint, and the stress is absorbed by the non-active part formed by bending after joining. It never reaches.

Therefore, in torsion coil springs, the bases and joints of the arms, which are subject to stress and fatigue due to opening and closing of the door, and the contact parts with the spindle, which are subject to sliding due to torsion and are subject to wear, are susceptible to breakage. However, since the annular anchoring portion does not break due to fatigue, a portion of the broken spring does not fall off and become mixed with the released ice. In other words, if the torsion coil spring breaks at a point where it is likely to break, the coil portion is supported by the coil on the support shaft, and the annular locking portion is supported by the ring on the support shaft or engagement hole of the link. It is supported by

f Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the ice storage 2 is disposed above the ice making mechanism section 1, and the ice storage 2 has an opening 2 at the bottom of the side wall.
a and an ice chute 2b are provided.

An opening/closing door 4 (FIG. 2) is disposed in the opening 2a, and the opening/closing door 4 and the opening/closing device 3 that rotates to open and close the opening/closing door 4 constitute an ice discharging device. The opening/closing device 3 is fixed to the side wall of the ice storage 2, and its configuration is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, it consists of a solenoid 5 connected to a control means (not shown) for controlling energization, a movable piece 5a, a link 6 and its support shaft 3b, and the opening/closing door 4 is connected to the support shaft 3b. 8, and has a fitting hole into which the support shaft 3b of the link 6 is fitted.

The details of the torsion coil spring 7 that biases the opening/closing door 4 to close the opening 2a are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The torsion coil spring 7 has arm portions 7b and 7 at both ends thereof.
c, and as shown in FIG.
The arm part 7c is bent and extended from the part that joins with the opening/closing door, that is, the joint part 7a, and a non-working part 7f is provided, and a locking part 7d is provided at the tip of the non-working part 7f. The torsion coil spring 7 has its coil portion inserted into and supported by the rotating shaft 8 of the opening/closing door 4, and the annular locking portion 7e of the arm portion 7b is inserted into the engagement hole 2c provided at the lower end of the mounting plate of the opening/closing device 3. At the same time, the arm part 7c is connected to a part of the opening/closing door 4 at the joint part 7a, and the tip of the inactive part 7f formed by extending the arm part 7c is connected to the support shaft 3b of the link 6. An annular locking portion 7d to be fitted is formed.

Note that if the tip 7g of the annular locking portion 7e of the arm portion 7b is directed outward as shown in FIG.
It is easy to lock into the engagement hole 2c, and the tip 7h
If it is manufactured into a deformable hook shape as shown in FIG. 4, fixed to the engagement hole 2c, and then deformed with a tool to form an annular shape, its installation is easy.

The operation of the ice discharge device according to this embodiment will now be described.

When the ice maker is turned on, water for ice making is supplied into the ice making mechanism section 1 by a water supply valve (not shown), and at the same time, the compressor and drive motor 9 (not shown) are energized to enter the ice making operation state. When the ice making operation continues, the bar ice made by the ice making mechanism 1 is stored in the ice storage 2.

When an ice sales signal is input to a control means (not shown), the control means excites the solenoid 5, and the movable piece 5a is attracted. The link 6 connected to the movable piece 5a has its support shaft 3b fitted into the insertion hole of the opening/closing door 4, so the opening/closing door 4 rotates around the support shaft 8, and the opening 2a of the ice storage 2 is rotated. is opened, and the ice in the ice storage 2 is released to the outside.

When the solenoid 5 is demagnetized by the control means, the weight of the movable piece 5a and the torsion coil spring 7 cause the opening/closing door 4 to close the opening 2a of the ice storage 2, and the release of ice is completed. Torsion coil spring 7
not only operates the opening/closing door 4, but also operates the ice storage 2.
It has a restoring force that overcomes the release pressure of the ice inside and returns the opening/closing door 4 to the open position.

Every time such an ice selling action is performed, a torsion moment is generated in the torsion coil spring 7 around its center line through the arms 7b and 7c, and especially in the arm parts 7b and 7c and the coil in contact with the support shaft 8. In addition to fatigue due to stress, sliding wear due to torsion occurs at the joint portion 7a with the opening/closing door 4.
Eventually, it may break.

However, in this embodiment, the annular locking portion 7d to which no stress is applied is connected to the support shaft 3b of the link 6.
If the torsion coil spring breaks in the above-mentioned place, the locking part 7d or 7e will be supported by the support shaft 3b or the engagement hole 2c, and the coil part will be held by the support 8. It will be supported and the broken part will not fall off.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the arm portion 7c is provided with the inactive portion 7f has been described, but the arm portion 7b is
Even if a non-working part is provided, the same action and effect can be obtained.
Furthermore, if no inactive parts are provided on both arm parts 7b and 7c, the action and effect will be even more reliable.

g. Effect of the invention According to this invention, the annular locking part of the torsion coil spring is formed by joining the arm part of the torsion coil spring to a fixed part of the aircraft body or a part of the opening/closing door and then bending it. Most of the stress on the torsion coil spring caused by the rotation of the opening/closing door is received at the joint, and is not applied to the inactive part formed by bending after joining. do not have. Therefore, even if the arm part of a torsion coil spring, which is subject to stress and easily fatigues, its root part and joint part, or the contact part with the spindle which is subject to sliding due to torsion and which is easily worn out, the annular connection will not break. Since the stop portion does not break due to fatigue, the coil portion is supported by the coil on the support shaft, and the annular locking portion is supported by the ring on the support portion such as the support shaft or engagement hole of the link. Therefore, a part of the broken spring does not fall off and mix with the released ice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ice dispenser equipped with an ice dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main parts in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4 are each an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view of a torsion coil spring showing an embodiment, FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the main part of an ice discharging device of a conventional ice dispenser, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are a front view and a side view of a conventional torsion coil spring. be. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Ice making mechanism part, 2...Ice storage, 2a...Opening part, 2b...Ice chute, 2c...Engagement hole, 3
...Opening/closing device, 3b... Support shaft, 4... Opening/closing door, 5
... Solenoid, 5a ... Movable piece, 6 ... Link, 7 ... Torsion coil spring, 7a ... Joint part,
7b, 7c...Arm part, 7d, 7e...Annular locking part, 7f...Inactive part, 8...Spindle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an ice discharging device for an ice dispenser comprising an opening/closing door biased by a torsion coil spring and opened and closed by an opening/closing device having a control means, the annular locking portion of the torsion coil spring is connected to an arm portion of the torsion coil spring. An ice dispensing device for an ice dispenser, characterized in that the ice dispenser is provided in an inactive part formed by joining a fixed part of an aircraft body or a part of an opening/closing door and then bending the part.