JPH09236366A - Ice dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide an ice dispenser capable of solving the inconvenience caused by water leakage. SOLUTION: An ice dispenser 1 includes an ice making device 6 installed on a base 2 and the ice storage 1 by a predetermined operation.
The shutter 33 for discharging the ice from 4 and the ice tray portion 36 provided below the shutter 33 are provided to form the outer moat portion 5 depressed around the base 2.
A drainage port 37 is formed in the ice tray portion 36, the outer moat portion 5 and the ice tray portion 36 are communicated with each other, and the drainage water from the ice making device 6 is discharged into the outer moat portion 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice dispenser configured to discharge ice from an ice making device by a predetermined operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of ice dispenser, in particular, a tabletop ice dispenser is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-28268.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5 (F25C5 / 00), a customer presses a piece of ice (ice pieces) produced by an ice making device (unit) with a cup to discharge and supply the ice. .

The structure of a conventional desk-type ice dispenser 101 of this type will be described below with reference to FIG. The ice dispenser 101 is installed on a counter such as a restaurant. In this figure, reference numeral 102 denotes a steel plate base.
, And a rectangular exterior panel 104 is mounted on the base 102.

An ice making device 106 is housed in the exterior panel 104. The ice making device 106 includes an auger type ice making machine 107 and a cooling device 108. The ice making machine 107 includes an ice making unit 111 having an auger (rotary blade) (not shown) in a cooling cylinder (not shown), and an electric motor 11 for rotating the auger.
2, a speed reducer 113, an ice storage 114 provided above the ice making unit 111, a water storage tank 116, and the like, and the speed reducer 113 is fixed on the base 102 by screws 115.

A water supply valve 11 is provided above the water storage tank 116.
A water supply pipe 118 is opened through the water supply tank 116, and a float switch 119 is mounted in the water storage tank 116. Further, an overflow pipe 121 is opened at the upper part of the water storage tank 116, and the water pipe 1 is provided from the lower end of the water storage tank 116.
22 is drawn out and communicates with the lower part inside the cooling cylinder of the ice making unit 111. Further, a connecting pipe 123 is drawn out from the lower portion of the ice making unit 111, and the connecting pipe 123 is connected to the drain valve 124.
It is communicated with the overflow pipe 121 through. The overflow pipe 121 is the base 10
2 is drawn out downward and communicated with a water supply hose (not shown).

On the other hand, the cooling device 108 includes a compressor 126,
Air-cooled condenser 127 and blower 128 for air-cooling the condenser
And a cooling pipe (not shown) and a pressure reducing device (not shown) wound around the cooling cylinder of the ice making unit 111,
The compressor 126 is fixed on the base 102 with bolts 131, and the condenser 127 and the blower 128 are also screws 115.
It is fixed on the base 102 at.

Then, the compressor 126 and the condenser 12
7. The decompression device and the cooling pipe constitute a well-known refrigeration cycle.

On the other hand, an opening / closing shutter 133 is provided on the front surface of the ice storage 114, and the shutter 133 faces the upper front surface of the exterior panel 104. Then, on the front surface of the exterior panel 104 below the shutter 133,
A pressing switch 134 is attached, and the shutter 13 is pressed by pressing the pressing switch 134.
3 is configured to be opened.

Further, below the shutter 133 and the pressing switch 134, on the lower front surface of the exterior panel 104,
An ice tray 136 is attached. This ice saucer 1
A cage 137 is laid inside the pipe 36, and a water distribution pipe 138 is drawn out from the lower part of the lantern 137.
It is connected to 21.

With such a structure, the water supply valve 117 is controlled to open and close by the float switch 119, whereby the inside of the water storage tank 116 is maintained at a predetermined water level shown by the broken line in the figure. Further, the cooling cylinder in the ice making unit 111 is a water conduit 122.
Since they are communicated with each other, the water level in the cooling cylinder is maintained at the same level.

When the ice making operation is started, the compressor 126 and the blower 128 are operated, and the compressor 126
The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant flows into the condenser 127 and is air-cooled there to be condensed. The condensed and liquefied refrigerant is decompressed by the decompression device and then flows into the cooling pipe to evaporate and exert a cooling effect.

By the cooling action, the cooling cylinder of the ice making section 111 is cooled to below the freezing point, and an ice layer grows on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder. A screw-shaped blade is formed on the outer surface of the auger, and the auger is rotated by a motor 112 via a speed reducer 113.

By such rotation, the ice layer grown on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder to a predetermined thickness or more is peeled off by the blade of the auger, transferred to the upper part of the cooling cylinder, and compressed in the process of passing through the ice compression molding bearing (not shown). To form flaky ice pieces. The ice thus generated is stocked in the upper ice storage 114.

With the ice (ice pieces) stocked in the ice storage 114 in this manner, the customer (self-service)
When the cup C is pressed against the pressing switch 134 as shown in the figure, the shutter 133 opens as described above, so that the ice naturally falls from the ice storage 114 as shown in the figure and is received in the cup C.

Further, the ice spilled from the cup C falls onto the cage 137 in the ice tray 136 below it and is caught. The ice water melted on the cage 137 is discharged from the overflow pipe 121 through the water distribution pipe 138. Further, even if the water storage tank 116 becomes full, the overflow pipe 121 prevents further rise of the water level. Furthermore, the impurities accumulated in the cooling cylinder in the ice making unit 111 are opened by opening the drain valve 124, and the connecting pipe 12
It was configured to be discharged from the overflow pipe 121 through the No. 3 connector.

[0016]

However, the ice that has fallen into the ice tray 136 cannot be immediately melted, so that the ice accumulates on the cage 137 each time the ice is repeated. Then, at last, it overflows from the ice tray 136, falls on the counter, and melts there, so that the counter is submerged in water, and it looks bad and becomes unsanitary.

Water may also leak from the shutter 133 part of the ice storage 114, the bearing part of the ice making part 111, etc., and these may be dropped on the base 102 to screw 1.
It will be dripped on the counter from the hole portion of 15 or the like.

Further, when a hand is inserted below the base 102 in order to clean the water leak on the counter, screws 115 and bolts 131 protruding from the base 102.
There was also a risk of injury. Furthermore, since the blower 128 for air cooling of the condenser is used, the exterior panel 104 becomes hot due to waste heat, noise is generated, the customer feels uncomfortable, and the ice making capacity itself decreases in the summer. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ice dispenser capable of solving the above-mentioned inconveniences caused by water leakage.

[0020]

An ice dispenser of the present invention is provided with an ice making device installed on a base, an ice discharging part for discharging ice from the ice making device by a predetermined operation, and a lower part of the ice discharging part. And an ice receiving pan provided to form a recessed outer moat around the base, and a drain outlet is formed in the ice receiving pan while the outer moat and the ice receiving pan are communicated with each other. The drainage from the ice making device is discharged to the inside of the unit.

According to the present invention, the outer moat portion which is recessed is formed around the base on which the ice making device is installed, the drain port is formed in the ice pan portion below the ice discharging portion, and the outer moat portion and the ice pan portion are formed. Since the drainage from the ice making device is discharged into the outer moat part, the ice spilled from the ice discharging part is caught in the ice tray part, and the drainage from the ice making device is drained from the outer moat part. It will flow into the department.

Therefore, the ice in the ice tray is melted by the drainage flowing from the outer moat and is discharged from the drainage together, so that water leaks below the ice dispenser as in the conventional case and becomes unsanitary. Inconvenience such as is solved.

In the ice dispenser of the second aspect of the present invention, the drainage from the ice making device is discharged into the outer moat portion at a position distant from the ice pan portion, and the outer moat portion is inclined downward toward the ice pan portion. It is a thing.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above, the drainage from the ice making device is discharged into the outer moat portion at a position separated from the ice pan, and the outer moat is lowered toward the ice pan. Since it is inclined, the drainage from the outer moat to the ice pan will also flow smoothly, and the drainage will flow around the outer moat to the ice pan, so dust inside the outer moat will also be swept away, which is hygienic. Becomes

In the ice dispenser of the third aspect of the present invention, the condenser of the ice making device in each of the above aspects is a water-cooled type, and the drainage from this condenser is discharged into the outer moat.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to each of the above inventions, the condenser of the ice making device is of a water cooling type, and the drainage passing through this condenser is discharged into the outer moat portion. Compared to the air-cooled type, noise is significantly reduced and the ice making capacity is improved. Further, since the hot drainage water that has passed through the condenser flows in the outer moat portion, the cleaning effect in the outer moat portion is improved, and the waste heat from the ice making device is absorbed,
The temperature drop of the dispenser surface is also promoted.

In particular, since the warm waste water flows into the ice receiving tray, the melting of ice in the ice receiving tray is promoted, and the occurrence of water leakage can be eliminated more reliably.

The ice dispenser according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ice dispenser according to each of the above aspects, in which a waterproof heat insulating material is provided on the bottom surface of the base.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to each of the above inventions, since a waterproof heat insulating material is provided on the lower surface of the base, water leakage from the base is prevented more effectively, and a hand is inserted below the ice dispenser. However, there is no direct contact with the base that becomes hot. Also, since the screws that fix the ice making device can be embedded in the waterproof heat insulating material,
It also eliminates injuries.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an ice dispenser 1 of the present invention. The ice dispenser 1 of the embodiment is a tabletop type ice dispenser installed on a counter such as a restaurant. In this figure, 2 is a steel plate base, and bases 3 ... Along with the attachment, a rectangular exterior panel 4 is mounted on the base 2.
Is attached.

An outer moat 5 is formed around the base 2.
Is formed in a bent shape, and an ice tray portion 36 that opens upward is integrally formed at the front end portion thereof. The outer moat 5 is continuous (communication) with the ice tray 36 at the front end,
Moreover, both sides thereof are gradually inclined downward toward the ice tray portion 36. Further, the bottom surface of the ice tray portion 36 is also inclined low toward the front, and the drain port 3 is located at the lowest position.
7 is formed and connected to a drain hose (not shown).

Then, the ice making device 6 is provided in the exterior panel 4.
Is stored. The ice making device 6 is composed of an auger type ice making machine 7 and a cooling device 8.
Is an ice making part 11 having an auger (rotary blade) not shown in the drawing in a cooling cylinder not shown, a motor 12 and a speed reducer 13 for rotationally driving the auger, and the ice making part 1
1, a water storage tank 16 and the like. The speed reducer 13 is fixed to the base 2 inside the outer moat portion 5 with screws 15.

A water supply pipe 18 is opened above the water storage tank 16 through a water supply valve 17, and a float switch 19 is mounted in the water storage tank 16. Further, an overflow pipe 21 opens at the upper part of the water storage tank 16,
A water conduit 22 is drawn out from the lower end of the water storage tank 16 and communicates with the lower inside of the cooling cylinder of the ice making unit 11. Further, a connecting pipe 23 is drawn out from the lower portion of the ice making unit 11, and the connecting pipe 23 is opened at a rear portion in the outer moat portion 5 via a drain valve 24. Further, the overflow pipe 21 is also opened at the rear portion inside the outer moat portion 5.

On the other hand, the cooling device 8 comprises a compressor 26, a water-cooled condenser 27, a cooling pipe (not shown) wound around the cooling cylinder of the ice making section 11, and a pressure reducing device. 26 is fixed on the base 2 inside the outer moat 5 with bolts 31, and the condenser 27 is also screw 15
Is also fixed on the base 2 inward of the outer moat 5.

The compressor 26, the condenser 27, the pressure reducing device and the cooling pipe constitute a well-known refrigeration cycle. Further, the upper end inlet of the water cooling pipe 38 of the condenser 27 is connected to the water supply pipe 18 upstream of the water supply valve 17 via the water control valve 40, and the lower end outlet of the water cooling pipe 38 is similarly opened at the rear part in the outer moat portion. .

On the other hand, an opening / closing shutter 33 serving as an ice discharging portion is provided on the front surface of the ice storage 14, and the shutter 33 faces the upper portion of the front surface 4A of the exterior panel 4. A pressing switch 34 is attached to the lower front surface 4A of the shutter 33.
The shutter 33 is opened by the pressing operation of 4.

The ice tray 36 is arranged below the shutter 33 and the pressure switch 34. At this time, the lower end of the front surface 4A of the exterior panel 4 is pulled down to the vicinity of the base 2, and the ice tray portion 36
They are made to communicate with each other with a weir formed between the outer moat portion 5 and the outer moat portion 5.

In this case, the front surface 4A may be brought into contact with the base 2, and the ice tray portion 36 and the outer moat portion 5 may be communicated with each other through a hole or the like. A waterproof heat insulating material 41 is attached to the lower surface of the base 2 other than the outer moat portion 5, and the screw 15
The bolts 31 are embedded in the waterproof heat insulating material 41.

With such a configuration, the water supply valve 17 is controlled to be opened / closed by the float switch 19, so that the inside of the water storage tank 16 is maintained at a predetermined water level shown by a broken line in the figure.
Further, since the cooling cylinder in the ice making section 11 is communicated with the water guiding pipe 22, the inside of the cooling cylinder is maintained at the same water level. Further, the water entering the water control valve 40 is cooled by the water cooling pipe 38.
It is pumped in and the condenser 27 is cooled with water.

When the ice making operation is started, the compressor 26 is operated, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 26 flows into the condenser 27 and is condensed there by being water-cooled. . The condensed and liquefied refrigerant is decompressed by the decompression device and then flows into the cooling pipe to evaporate and exert a cooling effect.

By the cooling action, the cooling cylinder of the ice making section 11 is cooled to below the freezing point, and an ice layer grows on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder. A screw-shaped blade is formed on the outer surface of the auger.
Is rotated by.

By such rotation, the ice layer grown on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder to a predetermined thickness or more is peeled off by the blade of the auger, transferred to the upper part of the cooling cylinder, and compressed in the process of passing through the ice compression molding bearing (not shown). To form flaky ice pieces. The ice thus generated is stocked in the upper ice storage 14.

When the customer presses the (self-service) cup C against the pressing switch 34 as shown in the figure with the ice (ice pieces) stocked in the ice storage container 14 as described above, the shutter 33 opens as described above. So ice storage 1
As shown in the figure, the ice naturally falls from inside 4, and is received in the cup C.

Further, the ice spilled from the cup C falls into the ice tray section 36 below and is received. At this time, the ice tray portion 36 and the outer moat portion 5 are attached to the front surface 4 of the exterior panel 4.
Since it is blocked by A, ice that has fallen into the ice tray portion 36 does not enter the outer moat portion 5.

On the other hand, the water overflowing from the water storage tank 16 flows into the rear part of the outer moat 5 through the overflow pipe 21. This prevents the water level in the water storage tank 16 from further increasing. Further, the impurities accumulated in the cooling cylinder in the ice making section 11 are discharged to the rear part of the outer moat section 5 through the connecting pipe 23 by opening the drain valve 24. Furthermore, the drainage leaked from the bearing of the ice making unit 11 also flows into the outer moat 5 of the base 2.

Furthermore, the warm waste water that has exchanged heat with the condenser 27 in the process of passing through the water cooling pipe 38 is also discharged to the rear part of the outer moat 5. These drains flow forward while circling both sides due to the inclination of the outer moat portion 5, and eventually flow into the ice tray portion 36. Therefore, the ice in the ice tray portion 36 is quickly melted by the inflow of the warm waste water, and the melted ice water is discharged through the drain port 37.
Will be discharged together with these warm wastewater.

As described above, according to the present invention, the recessed outer moat portion 5 is formed around the base 2 on which the ice making device 6 is installed, and the drain port 37 is formed in the ice receiving tray portion 36 below the shutter 33. Since the portion 5 and the ice tray portion 36 are communicated with each other so that the drainage from the ice making device 6 is discharged into the outer moat portion 5, the ice spilled from the shutter 33 is received in the ice tray portion 36 and the ice making portion Device 6
The drainage from the outer moat part 5 flows into the ice tray part 36, and the ice in the ice pan 36 is melted by the drainage flowing from the outer moat part 5 and discharged from the drain port 37 together. Become so. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of leaking water on the counter and causing unsanitary condition.

Further, the drainage from the ice making device 6 is discharged to the rear part of the outer moat portion 5, and the outer moat portion 5 is covered with the ice receiving tray portion 36.
Since the water is drained from the outer moat portion 5 into the ice receiving tray portion 36 smoothly, the drainage flows through the outer moat portion 5 into the ice receiving tray portion 36. The dust in the part 5 is also washed away, which is hygienic.

Further, since the condenser 27 is of a water cooling type and the drainage water passing through the water cooling pipe 38 of the condenser 27 is discharged into the outer moat portion 5, noise is remarkably reduced as compared with the forced air cooling type. In addition, the ice making capacity is improved. Also, the outer moat 5
Since the warm waste water that has passed through the condenser 27 flows inside, the cleaning effect inside the outer moat portion 5 is improved, and since the waste heat from the ice making device 6 is absorbed, the temperature decrease on the surface of the exterior panel 4 is also promoted. It

In particular, since the warm waste water flows into the ice tray portion 36, the melting of the ice in the ice tray portion 36 is promoted, and the occurrence of water leakage is more reliably eliminated.

Further, since the waterproof heat insulating material 41 is provided on the lower surface of the base 2, water leakage from the base 2 can be prevented more effectively, and even if a hand is inserted below the ice dispenser 1, the temperature rises directly to the base 2. There is no contact. Further, since the screw 15 for fixing the ice making device 6 and the like are buried in the waterproof heat insulating material 41, the occurrence of injury is eliminated.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a recessed outer moat is formed around a base on which an ice making device is installed, and a drain port is formed in an ice tray below the ice discharging unit. Since the outer moat and the ice tray are connected to each other so that the drainage from the ice making device is discharged into the outer moat, the ice spilled from the ice discharging part is received in the ice tray and the drainage from the ice making device is also received. Will flow into the ice tray from the outer moat.

Therefore, the ice in the ice tray is melted by the drainage flowing in from the outer moat, and is discharged from the drainage together, so that water leaks below the ice dispenser as in the conventional case, which is unsanitary. Inconvenience such as is solved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, drainage from the ice making device is discharged into the outer moat portion at a position separated from the ice pan, and the outer moat is lowered toward the ice pan. Since it is inclined, the drainage from the outer moat to the ice pan will also flow smoothly, and the drainage will flow around the outer moat to the ice pan, so dust inside the outer moat will also be swept away, which is hygienic. Becomes

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to each of the above inventions, the condenser of the ice making device is made water-cooled, and the drainage passing through this condenser is discharged into the outer moat portion. Compared to the air-cooled type, noise is significantly reduced and the ice making capacity is improved. Further, since the hot drainage water that has passed through the condenser flows in the outer moat portion, the cleaning effect in the outer moat portion is improved, and the waste heat from the ice making device is absorbed,
The temperature drop of the dispenser surface is also promoted.

In particular, since the warm waste water flows into the ice pan, the melting of the ice in the ice pan is promoted, and the occurrence of water leakage can be eliminated more reliably.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the above inventions, since the waterproof heat insulating material is provided on the lower surface of the base, water leakage from the base can be prevented more effectively, and the hand is inserted below the ice dispenser. However, there is no direct contact with the base that becomes hot. Also, since the screws that fix the ice making device can be embedded in the waterproof heat insulating material,
It also eliminates injuries.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ice dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional ice dispenser.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 ice dispenser 2 base 5 outer moat 6 ice making device 7 ice making machine 8 cooling device 11 ice making unit 14 ice storage 15 screw 21 overflow pipe 23 connecting pipe 27 condenser 33 shutter 36 ice pan 37 drainage 38 water cooling Pipe 41 waterproof insulation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ice making device installed on a base, an ice discharging part for discharging ice from the ice making device by a predetermined operation, and an ice tray part provided below the ice discharging part. In the ice dispenser, an outer moat portion that is recessed around the base is formed, a drain port is formed in the ice tray portion, the outer moat portion and the ice tray portion are communicated with each other, and the ice making device is provided in the outer moat portion. An ice dispenser that discharges the drainage from the ice. 2. The ice according to claim 1, wherein the drainage from the ice making device is discharged into an outer moat portion at a position separated from the ice pan, and the outer moat is inclined downward toward the ice pan. dispenser. 3. The ice dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the condenser of the ice making device is a water-cooled type, and the drainage from the condenser is discharged into the outer moat. 4. The ice dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the base is provided with a waterproof heat insulating material.