JPH0750944Y2 - Stirrer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a stirring device applicable to, for example, an ice cream maker.

(Prior Art) For example, an ice cream maker has a stirring device for stirring an ice cream material. When the ice cream is completed, the ice cream maker needs to detect this as a change in torque and stop the stirring device. Conventionally, the following methods are known as means for detecting the completion of ice cream.

1. Time control method that presets the time to finish.

2. A method that detects changes in the load current of the drive motor by utilizing the fact that the viscosity of the ice cream material increases
56-30222 and JP-A-61-43960).

3. A mechanical mechanism that intervenes a slip clutch with an inclined sliding surface between the drive shaft and the stirring blade and uses the fact that the slip clutch shifts in the axial direction when the viscosity of the ice cream material increases to detect this. Various detection methods (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-26963).

Further, conventionally, a DC motor is used as a drive motor regardless of which method is used.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) According to the above method 1, the time is set without considering the variations in various conditions of the material, so that the finishing accuracy is uneven.

According to the above method 2, when the torque increases momentarily due to variations in the viscosity of the material, this is detected, and the finish accuracy deteriorates. In order to avoid such inconvenience, there is a method in which an instantaneous torque change is not detected as a torque change, but the torque of the DC motor itself as a drive motor is not constant, so that the finishing accuracy is not improved so much.

According to the method of 3 above, there is a problem that the mechanism becomes complicated and the torque unevenness in the material is detected, and the finish accuracy deteriorates.

Further, in each of the methods, since a DC motor is used as a drive motor, a DC power source with a predetermined capacity is required. Further, since the torque of the DC motor is not constant, the finished viscosity becomes uneven.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an agitator that simplifies a power supply circuit by using an AC motor as a drive source and improves torque detection accuracy. The purpose is to provide.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention comprises a synchronous motor and a stirring member that is driven by being linked to the synchronous motor and that stirs the object to be stirred. As the viscosity increases from the initial state, the synchronous motor
When the object to be stirred reaches a predetermined viscosity, the load of the object to be stirred causes step out and the rotation is stopped.

The present invention also includes a transmission drive mechanism linked to a synchronous motor,
An agitating member that is connected to the transmission drive mechanism is provided, and position detecting means is provided on each of the rotating body and the non-rotating member facing the rotating body in the transmission drive mechanism. The non-rotation side position detecting means is configured to generate a rotation detection signal when facing each other with the rotation of the rotating body, and the agitated object is one whose viscosity increases from the initial state as it is agitated, When the agitated object reaches a predetermined viscosity, the synchronous motor stops the rotation due to the step of the agitated object, and the stop of the rotation of the synchronous motor is detected. The signal may be detected when the signal is not detected for a predetermined time, and the energization of the synchronous motor may be cut off.

(Operation) The stirring member is driven by energizing the synchronous motor,
The object to be stirred is stirred. When the viscosity of the agitated object reaches a predetermined viscosity, a large load is applied to the synchronous motor, and the synchronous motor loses synchronization and stops rotating.

When the rotation side position detection means and the non-rotation side position detection means are provided, when the viscosity of the agitated object reaches a predetermined viscosity and the synchronous motor loses step, the motor stops and the position detection means outputs a rotation detection signal. Disappear. Therefore, when the rotation detection signal is not detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that the viscosity of the agitated object has reached the predetermined viscosity, and the energization to the synchronous motor is cut off.

(Example) Hereinafter, an illustrated example configured for an ice cream maker will be described.

First, an outline of the stirring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a housing indicated by reference numeral 1 has a drive unit including an AC synchronous motor 2, a gear 3 provided on an output shaft of the synchronous motor 2, and a gear 4 meshing with the gear 3. It is contained. The housing 1 is mounted, for example, in a home refrigerator.
The shaft of the gear 4 protruding from the lower surface of the housing 1 is connected to a stirring blade 7 as a stirring member via a coupling 5. The stirring blade 7 is put in a container 8 containing an ice cream material 9 as an object to be stirred. The container 8 is fixedly installed at a predetermined position in the refrigerator. The gears 3, 4 and the coupling 5 constitute a transmission drive mechanism, and the agitating blade 7 is rotationally driven by the synchronous motor 2 via this transmission drive mechanism.

2 to 4 more specifically show the structure of the stirring device. 2 to 4, the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 which are fitted to each other constitute the housing 1 which houses the drive unit.
A synchronous motor 2 is housed in the housing 1. The synchronous motor 2 has a reduction gear train built therein, and the output shaft thereof is provided with the gear 3. Synchronous motors of this kind are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Sho 61-55448, Utility Model Sho 61-55462, and Utility Model Sho 61-5547.
Those described in each publication of No. 6 may be used. It should be noted that the synchronous motor may be of a type that outputs an amount that causes a step out and stops due to a load when the object to be stirred reaches a predetermined viscosity. The gear 3 meshes with the gear 4. In the lower housing 11, the storage portion of the gear 4 is flat with respect to the storage portion of the motor 2. The gear 4 has a boss 41, and the gear 4 is rotatably supported by fitting the inner peripheral side of the boss 41 into the outer periphery of the bearing portion 14 formed in the lower housing 11.
The lower end surface of the boss 41 contacts the housing 11 to form a thrust receiver. A cylindrical portion 18 is formed on the gear 4 on the inner peripheral side of the boss 41, and a concave portion 19 is formed between the boss 41 and the cylindrical portion 18. The sliding contact between the boss 41 of the gear 4 and the bearing portion 14 may generate dust such as shavings.
It is blocked by 14 and does not fall to the ice cream side. Even if the dust passes over the bearing portion 14, the dust is collected in the concave portion 19 and is blocked by the cylindrical portion 18.

A pair of tongue pieces 42 are integrally suspended from the center of the gear 4. At the lower end of the tongue 42, a cylindrical shaft 51 is attached to the shaft 43 by the shaft 43.
It is pivotally attached so as to be rotatable about a vertical plane.
The cylindrical shaft 51 has a pair of bearing portions 52 that sandwich the pair of tongue pieces 42 of the gear 4 and the shaft 43 penetrates the bearing portions 52 to be connected to the gear 4. On the shaft 51, a pair of notches 53 in the axial direction are formed at opposing positions at a position near the bearing portion 52.

The output shaft 6 is slidably mounted in the cylindrical shaft 51 in the axial direction. From the upper part of the output shaft 6, a pair of elastic arms 61
Is extended, and the hook portion 62 formed at the tip of the elastic arm 61 is fitted in the notch 53 of the shaft 51. Output shaft 6
The lower end portion of the is a connecting portion 66 with the stirring blade 7 as described with reference to FIG. The upper half part and the lower half part of the output shaft 6 are each formed in a tubular shape, and the bottom part of the upper half part 63 and the shaft
A repulsive coil spring 65 is interposed between the bearing 52 of 51 and the bearing 52. The output shaft 6 is biased by the elasticity of the spring 65 in a direction projecting from the lower end of the shaft 51, but when the hook portion 62 of the arm 61 engages with the lower end of the notch 53 of the shaft 51, the output force is output by the above biasing force. The movement of the shaft 6 is restricted. Output shaft 6 is a spring
It can be manually pushed into the shaft 51 against the resilience of 65, and the cup rig portion composed of the shaft 51 and the output shaft 6 can be rotated about the shaft 43 in a vertical plane.

A jetty 16 is formed on the lower surface of the lower housing 11 opposite to the motor 2 housing portion so as to surround the coupling portion. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Manually set the output shaft 6 to the shaft 5 as shown by the chain lines 51A and 6A in the figure.
When it is pushed into the shaft 1, it is rotated about the shaft 43 until it is almost horizontal, and then the hand is released. And is held in that position. This position is the storage position of the coupling part. As shown in Fig. 4, the jetty
16 has a substantially semi-circular shape, so even if the start button is pressed while the shaft 51 and the output shaft 6 are in the stored position,
The shaft 51 or the output shaft 6 contacts the inner surface of the semicircular jetty 16 and does not rotate any more. And, as we will see later,
When the rotation stops, the rotation detection signal is not output and the motor 2
Is cut off.

When trying to use as an ice cream maker,
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the shaft 51 is rotated around the shaft 43 so as to hang down, and the output shaft 6 is projected by the elasticity of the spring 65. As shown in FIG. 1, a stirring blade 7 as a stirring member is connected to the output shaft 6, and the stirring blade 7 is put in a container 8 containing an ice cream material 9 as an object to be stirred. When alternating current is applied to the synchronous motor 2 in this state, the synchronous motor 2 is rotationally driven, and this rotational force is agitated via the transmission drive mechanism including the gears 3 and 4, the tongue 42, the cylindrical shaft 51, and the output shaft 6. Feather 7
To the ice cream material 9 by the stirring blade 7.
Is stirred.

Position detecting means 71 is arranged on the lower surface of the gear 4 which is one of the rotating bodies in the transmission drive mechanism. The position detecting means 71 may be one, or a plurality of position detecting means 71 may be arranged at regular intervals as in the example of FIG. A non-rotating side position detecting means 80 is attached to a non-rotating member such as a circuit board integrally attached to the housing 11 at a position facing the rotation locus of the rotating side position detecting means 71. The rotation side position detection means 71 and the non-rotation side position detection means 80 generate a rotation detection signal when they face each other as the gear 4 rotates. These detection means 71,80
Is not particularly limited, and for example, the rotation side position detection means 71 is a magnet and the non-rotation side position detection means is
A magnetic detection method using 80 as a Hall element may be used.
In the case of a magnetic detection method, a combination of a magnet and a reed switch, a combination of a magnet and an MR element, or a magnetic head may be used. Further, an optical encoder that emits a detection signal when light is blocked or transmitted may be used.

When the gear 4 is rotating, the rotation detecting signal is output from the position detecting means 80 at a substantially constant time interval as shown in FIG. 5 (a), but the viscosity of the ice cream material 9 changes from the initial state. When the viscosity increases and reaches a predetermined viscosity, the load on the synchronous motor 2 increases and the synchronous motor 2 loses step and stops, and the rotation detection signal is not output. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 5 (b), if one rotation detection signal is detected and then the next rotation detection signal is not detected even after the lapse of a predetermined time S2, this is detected to energize the synchronous motor 2. Shut off.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, by utilizing the characteristic of the synchronous motor that steps out and stops when the load exceeds a certain level, the drive by the synchronous motor is stopped when the viscosity of the ice cream material exceeds a certain level. Therefore, as long as it is within the range from the no-load state to the load that causes step out, the stirring drive does not stop even if the load fluctuates momentarily due to variations in the material, Therefore, it is possible to perform stirring with high finishing accuracy and without unevenness in accuracy. Further, since the synchronous motor is used, it is sufficient to supply the AC power as it is without using the DC power supply, and there is an effect that the configuration of the power supply circuit can be simplified.

If the synchronous motor 2 is stopped only by the step-out of the motor 2, the so-called hunting state is repeated in a state where the motor cannot be rotated while the motor is energized. Therefore, as described above, the position detection means is provided between the rotating body and the non-rotating body in the transmission drive mechanism,
The hunting state can be prevented by the configuration in which the energization of the synchronous motor is cut off when the rotation detection signal from the position detecting means is not detected for a predetermined time.

As in the illustrated embodiment, if the coupling portion composed of the cylindrical shaft 51 and the output shaft 6 is made foldable, when the stirring device is incorporated in the refrigerator as an ice cream maker, it is not used. Since it can be compactly stored, the space in the refrigerator can be effectively used as a storage space for food and the like, and does not interfere with the taking in and out of food and the like.

When the coupling portion is made foldable as described above, the click mechanism is activated in the usage state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the folding state shown by the chain line in FIG. You may make it known. This click mechanism can be configured, for example, by providing a convex portion on either one of the tongue piece 42 and the bearing portion 52 and providing a concave portion into which the convex portion falls on the other.

(Effect of the Invention) According to the present invention, by utilizing the characteristic of the synchronous motor that the step is stopped and stops when the load exceeds a certain level, the drive is stopped when the viscosity of the agitated object exceeds a certain level. Therefore, as long as it is within the range from the no-load state to the load that causes step out, even if the load fluctuates momentarily due to variations in the object to be stirred, the stirring drive does not stop,
Therefore, it is possible to perform stirring with high finishing accuracy and without unevenness in accuracy. Further, since the synchronous motor is used, it is sufficient to supply the AC power as it is without using the DC power supply, and there is an effect that the configuration of the power supply circuit can be simplified.

In addition, the position detection means is provided between the rotating body and the non-rotating body in the transmission drive mechanism, and when the viscosity of the agitated object reaches a predetermined viscosity, the load causes the synchronous motor to step out and stop the rotation. In this case, the stop of the motor is detected when the rotation detection signal from the position detecting means is not detected for a predetermined time, and the energization of the synchronous motor is cut off so that the synchronous motor remains energized. The synchronous motor can prevent a hunting state that occurs when the synchronous motor cannot rotate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an outline of an example of the stirring device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of the stirring device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a coupling in the same embodiment. 4 is a front sectional view showing a folded state of the portion, FIG. 4 is a partial sectional bottom view of the above embodiment with the coupling portion folded, and FIG. 5 is a position detecting means incorporated in the above embodiment. 4 is a timing chart showing an example of a rotation detection signal by 2 ... Synchronous motor, 3,4 ... Gears constituting transmission drive mechanism, 6 ... Output shaft constituting transmission mechanism, 7 ... Stirring member, 9 ... Stirred object, 71, 72, 80. Position detection means.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A synchronous motor, and a stirring member which is driven by being connected to the synchronous motor to stir an object to be stirred, wherein the object to be stirred has a viscosity from an initial state as it is stirred. The agitating device is characterized in that the synchronous motor is configured so that, when the object to be stirred reaches a predetermined viscosity, the synchronous motor is step-out by a load by the object to be stirred and stops its rotation. 2. A stirrer comprising a synchronous motor, a transmission drive mechanism connected to the synchronous motor, and a stirring member which is connected to the transmission drive mechanism and is rotationally driven by the synchronous motor to stir an object to be stirred. In the device, position detecting means is provided on each of the rotating body and the non-rotating member facing the rotating body in the transmission drive mechanism, and the rotating side position detecting means and the non-rotating side position detecting means are A rotation detection signal is generated when they face each other with the rotation of the rotating body, the viscosity of the object to be stirred increases from the initial state as it is stirred, and the synchronous motor is When the agitated object reaches a predetermined viscosity, it is stepped out by the load of the agitated object to stop the rotation, and the stop of the rotation of the synchronous motor is not detected for a predetermined time. A stirrer which is detected by detecting the electric current and shuts off the energization of the synchronous motor.