JPH0744925Y2 - Automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device that automatically performs from water supply to ice removal.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, as an automatic ice making device of this type, for example, an open technical report
Those disclosed in 89-19839 are known.
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a conventional automatic ice making device.

In the conventional automatic ice making device as described above, water is supplied from the replenishment tank 12 via the water supply port cap 15 to the water receiving chamber 8 provided in the water storage tank 4. Next, water is the above-mentioned water storage tank
To the wicking chamber 9 through the activated carbon filter 28 provided at the opening of the partition wall 7 that partitions the water receiving chamber 8 and the wicking chamber 9. At this time, impurities and residual chlorine contained in water are removed. After that, the water is pumped up by the water supply pump 3 and water is supplied to the ice tray 1 from the discharge pipe 6, and the ice tray 1 is rotated and turned over time by the drive device 2, and the ice blocks are stored in the ice storage box 17.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, in the conventional automatic ice making device as described above, since the activated carbon filter is attached to the partition wall of the water storage tank fixed in the refrigerator, the activated carbon filter is not contaminated or polluted. It was not easy to check and replace the clogging condition. Further, there is a problem that if the activated carbon filter is left as it is for a long time until it becomes dirty, bacteria grow and become unsanitary, and the grown bacteria cause clogging of the activated carbon filter and the water supply pump.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and removes impurities and residual chlorine contained in water used for ice making, prevents bacterial growth, and is hygienic and has a chlorine odor. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making device capable of producing ice without ice.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a supply tank for water used for ice making in an automatic ice making device that automatically performs water supply, ice making, and ice removing used for a refrigerator or the like. The water inlet cap will be provided with a water purification filter containing activated carbon and an air vent passage.

In addition, it is characterized in that an antibacterial substance is additionally stored in the water purification filter, a non-woven fabric is arranged at the water inlet / outlet of the water purification filter, and the non-woven fabric is welded to the main body case and the filter lid of the water purification filter.

<Action> In the above configuration, impurities and residual chlorine are removed by activated carbon, bacterial growth in the activated carbon portion is prevented by an antibacterial substance, and by further adhering the non-woven fabric and the main case of the water purification filter and the filter lid, It is possible to eliminate the outflow of activated carbon and fragments of antibacterial substances.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an automatic ice making device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same automatic ice making device.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ice tray, which is disposed in a freezer compartment or an ice compartment of a refrigerator, and is rotated by a drive device 2 with time, for example, once every two hours. When the ice tray 1 is rotated, one end of the ice tray 1 hits a rotation prevention pin (not shown) and the ice tray 1 is twisted, so that the ice blocks are separated from the ice tray 1 and stored in the ice storage box 17 below. ing.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a water supply pump for supplying a fixed amount of water to the ice tray 1. The water supply pump 3 has a suction pipe 5 having one end opened to a suction chamber 9 of a water storage tank 4 and a discharge pipe having one end opened to the ice tray 1. Have six. The water supply pump 3 is controlled so as to operate with the drive device 2 over time, and when the ice removing operation is completed and the ice tray 1 returns to its original position, the water supply pump 3 is operated.
Is operating for a certain period of time.

The water storage tank 4 is provided with a partition wall 7 for partitioning the suction chamber 9 and the water receiving chamber 8 and between the suction chamber 9 and the water receiving chamber 8. Below the partition wall 7, both chambers 8 and 9 are provided. There is a hole (not shown) connecting the two. At the center of the bottom of the water receiving chamber 8, there is a water inlet cap receiving portion 11
Is projected.

A water supply port cap 15 is detachably provided at the water supply port of the supply tank 12. This cap 15 is a valve rod 13,
It is composed of a spring 16, a valve 20, a water filter 18 and a cap body 15A, and a valve rod 13 and a valve 2
0 is integrated by bonding or the like, and the spring 16 is installed so as to wind the valve rod 13, and the valve 20 is always installed.
Urges the valve rod 13 so that is pressed against the cap body 15A. Therefore, when the replenishment tank 12 containing water is attached to or detached from the water storage tank 4, the water does not flow out from the cap 15 even if the cap 15 faces downward.

Also, on the opposite side of the valve rod 13 of this cap 15,
Water purification filter 18 with air vent pipe 19 inserted in the center
Is attached. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an assembled state of the replenishment tank 12, the water supply port cap 15 and the water purifying filter 18.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structures of the water purifying filter 18 and the air vent pipe 19 which is the air vent passage.
C'is a nonwoven fabric, 18D is an activated carbon felt, and 18E is an antibacterial substance (for example, silver-impregnated activated carbon). However, the water purification filter 18 of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and granular activated carbon may be used instead of the activated carbon felt 18D. Similar effects can be obtained by mixing granular activated carbon and silver impregnated activated carbon.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a detailed structure of the water purification filter 18. 18A is a filter lid, 18B is a filter body, the filter body 18B is made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and the air vent pipe 1 is in the center hole 18F.
9 is to be inserted. This filter body 1
Nonwoven fabric 18C 'made of polypropylene or the like from below, activated carbon felt 18D, antibacterial substance (eg silver impregnated activated carbon) 18E, activated carbon felt 18D, nonwoven fabric 18 in the annular space of 8B.
After filling in the order of C, attach the filter lid 18A to the filter body 18B.
It is fitted into and has a lid. The non-woven fabric 18C 'and the filter body 18B, and the non-woven fabric 18C and the filter lid 18A are welded so that fragments of activated carbon felt or the like do not flow out.

In the above configuration, water is supplied to the replenishment tank 12, and the replenishment tank 12 is placed on the water storage tank 4. Then, the tip of the valve rod 13 comes into contact with the water inlet cap pedestal 11, and the valve rod 13 is pushed up against the force of the spring 16,
The valve 20 separates from the cap body 15A.

Therefore, the inside of the replenishment tank 12 and the water receiving chamber 8 communicate with each other through the water purifying filter 18 or the air vent pipe 19. Therefore, if the water surface of the water receiving chamber 8 is lowered and the lower end of the cap body 15A is above this water surface, air will pass through the air vent pipe 19 from the gap between this water surface and the lower portion of the cap body 15A to the inside of the replenishment tank 12. Water that has invaded the inside of the water filter and is almost equal to its volume is provided in the filter lid 18A and the filter body 18B of the water purifying filter 18 as shown in FIG.
And flows out into the water receiving chamber 8.

At this time, the non-woven fabric 18C, 18 filled in the water purification filter 18
Impurities and residual chlorine contained in water are removed by C'and activated carbon felt 18D. The non-woven fabrics 18C and 18C ′ mainly remove large visible dust in water and fragments of activated carbon felt 18D, and the activated carbon felt 18D adsorbs and removes impurities such as residual chlorine dissolved in water.

If the water filter 18 in use is left in water for a long time, bacteria adhering to the activated carbon felt 18D will grow and make the water unsanitary, clog the water filter 18, or flow out. Water supply pump 3 and suction pipe 5 of the water supply pump
An antibacterial substance (eg, silver-impregnated activated carbon) 18E is interposed between the activated carbon felts 18D in order to clog the discharge pipe 6.

Since the water that has entered the water receiving chamber 8 is provided with a communication hole between it and the suction chamber 9, if the water level of the suction chamber 9 is below the water level of the water receiving chamber 8 due to the siphon principle, it will be at the same height. Until it reaches the suction chamber 9. Then, when a sensor (not shown) informs the control circuit that the ice tray 1 has completed the ice removal and has returned to the original position, the water supply pump 3 is activated, and the suction chamber 9 is temporarily stopped. Suck water from the suction pipe 5 that opens the
A certain amount of water is supplied to the ice tray 1.

The water filter 18 is used for a long time, and if it becomes clogged, it will be used to replenish the replenishment tank 12 with water.
Since it can be visually confirmed when the 15 is removed, if the activated carbon felt 18D and the nonwoven fabrics 18C and 18C 'are replaced in the filter body 18B, the filter body 18B can be replaced without contaminating the surroundings.

<Effect of device> Since the automatic ice making device of the present invention is configured as described above, impurities and residual chlorine contained in water used for ice making are removed, and hygienic ice free of odor is obtained. In addition, since it is possible to visually check when the water inlet cap is removed, it is possible to easily check and replace the contamination or clogging of the water purification filter. Since air can be introduced into the replenishment tank through the passage, the water in the replenishment tank can efficiently pass through the water purification filter, and the water purification treatment with the water purification filter can be performed efficiently and quickly. The present invention has excellent effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an automatic ice making device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same automatic ice making device, and FIG. 3 is an assembled state of the replenishment tank, water supply cap and water purification filter. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the water purifying filter air vent pipe, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the detailed structure of the water purifying filter, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional automatic ice making device. FIG. 1 ... Ice tray, 3 ... Water supply pump, 12 ... Supply tank,
15 …… Water inlet cap, 18 …… Water purification filter, 18A…
… Filter lid, 18B …… Filter body, 18C, 18C ′…
… Nonwoven fabric, 18D …… Activated carbon felt, 18E …… Antibacterial substance

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An automatic ice making device for automatically performing water supply, ice making, and ice removing, wherein a water purifying filter containing activated carbon and the like is provided in a water supply cap of a water supply tank used for ice making, and an air vent passage is provided. An automatic ice making device characterized in that