JPH1062044A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to prevent putrefaction of water or the generation of odor by connecting a suction side of a reversible self-absorbing pump to a water supply tank and turning reversely the pump for a definite time when water supply operation is not executed over a definite time after water is supplied to an ice making pan. SOLUTION: The water in a water supply tank 7 is absorbed with a pump 6 and is discharged from a nozzle 13 by way of pipe connecting members 35 and 71 and a pipeline 9 from a pipe 36. Then the pump 6 is switched over reversely and adapted to stop the discharge of water from a nozzle 13, thereby ending a series of water supply processes. The water in the ice making pan 2 is connected and the ice making pan 2 is turned back with an inversion device 3 so as to separate ice, thereby dropping the ice into an ice storage vessel 5 and repeating the water supply processes again until the ice storage vessel 5 is filled with ice. Therefore, when much ice is not used in a winter season, a suspension time continues long so that the pump 6 is turned reversely for a definite time so as to inhibit the growth of bacteria in the water when a control circuit fails to execute a water supply operation for more than a definite time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device incorporated in a refrigerator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ice machine is often used in a refrigerator. As this type of ice making device, for example, a configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-3082 is known. Hereinafter, a conventional ice making device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-3082 will be described.

The conventional ice making apparatus 200 is roughly composed of an ice tray 201, a reversing device 202, a pump 203, a measuring tank 205, a water supply tank 206, and a pipe 207. The inner ice tray 201, the reversing device 202
Is located in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, and the other members are placed in the refrigerator compartment.

[0004] The ice tray 201 is a tray for freezing the water inside. The reversing device 202 has a built-in gear train, and functions to invert the ice tray 201 and to twist the ice tray 201 to separate ice.

[0005] The measuring tank 205 is a water tank partitioned into a measuring chamber 212 and a water storage chamber 213. A small hole is provided in a partition wall separating the two, and when the water level of the measuring chamber 212 falls, water flows slowly from the water storage chamber 213. The upper surface of the measuring tank is open.

The pump 203 includes a motor section 210 and a pump section 211. Prior art ice making apparatus 200
In the above, a spiral pump was employed as the pump 203.
That is, since the pump 203 employed in the prior art is a spiral pump, it does not have self-priming. Therefore, in the conventional ice making device 200, the pump unit 211 of the pump 203 is not used.
Was directly inserted into the measuring chamber 212.

The water supply tank 206 has a closed tank body provided with a lid 217. The lid 217 is provided with an on-off valve. The water supply tank 206 is filled with water, placed on the weighing tank 205 with the lid 217 down, and a part of the above-described on-off valve is connected to the water supply tank 20.
6 is in contact with the bottom of the sump chamber 213.

In the conventional ice making apparatus 200, the water in the water supply tank 206 falls into the measuring tank 205, and the measuring chamber 212 is filled with water through the water storage chamber 213. Then, water is pumped up by a pump 203 inserted into the measuring chamber 212 and supplied to the ice tray 201 through a pipe 207.

[0009]

The prior art ice making apparatus 2
00 is widely used as a device built in a refrigerator. However, the ice making device 200 of the related art has a problem that water in the measuring tank 205 is spoiled or an odor is transferred to ice.

That is, the conventional ice making apparatus 200 requires the measuring tank 205, and water is exposed to the air in the measuring tank 205. More specifically, in the ice making device 200 of the related art, since a spiral pump is used as the pump 203, only the pump section 211 of the pump 203 has to be inserted into the measuring tank 205 from above the measuring tank 205. Further, in the related art, a configuration is adopted in which replenishment of water to the measuring tank 205 is performed by dropping water from the water supply tank 206.

Therefore, the measuring tank 2 required in the prior art is required.
05 is inevitably an open top.

In addition, the water supply to the ice tray 201 is not always performed, and it is not uncommon that the ice tray is not supplied for a considerable period of time depending on the amount of ice consumed.

[0013] Therefore, while water is not being supplied to the ice tray,
The water in the measuring tank is not replaced at all. During this time, bacteria and the like floating in the refrigerator compartment enter the water in the measuring tank, and the water quality deteriorates due to decay for a long period of time.

Alternatively, a gas having an odor component in the refrigerator may melt into the water from the surface of the measuring tank for a long period of time, and the formed ice may emit an odor.

The present invention focuses on the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and reduces the chance of water being exposed to air in the water supply path,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making device capable of preventing generation of water rot and off-flavor.

[0016]

A feature of the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide a water supply tank, a pump, an ice tray disposed in a refrigerator, and a pipe connecting these components. The pump is a self-priming pump that can rotate normally and reversely, and the suction side of the pump is connected to the inside of the water supply tank, and after the water supply operation to the ice tray,
An ice making device comprising: a control device that reversely rotates the pump for a certain period when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period.

An ice making device comprising: a pump for controlling the pump to rotate at a lower rotational speed than in the forward rotation for a certain period of time when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period of time after the water supply operation to the ice making tray; It is.

This is an ice making device provided with a water purification filter provided around a water supply port in a tank and a control device for inverting a pump at regular intervals.

A water reservoir provided between the tank and the pump or between the pump and the ice tray, and the pump is rotated at regular intervals to draw up the amount of water in the water reservoir, and then reversed to return the water into the tank. It is an ice making device provided with a control device.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a water supply tank, a pump, an ice tray disposed in a refrigerator, and a pipe connecting these, and the pump is driven to rotate normally and reversely. A self-priming pump that is capable of being sucked, the suction side of the pump being connected to the inside of the water supply tank, and when the pump does not perform the water supply operation for a certain period of time after the water supply operation to the ice tray, the pump And a control device that reversely rotates the water for a certain period of time.If the water is in a stationary state for a certain period or more, the growth of bacteria in the water is likely to occur. By sending the water to the water, it is possible to vibrate the water, delay the growth of bacteria, and delay the decay of water and the generation of off-flavors.

Further, the pump operates after the water supply operation to the ice tray.
When the water supply operation is not performed for a fixed period or more, the pump is a fixed time, the ice making device is provided with a control device that rotates the pump at a lower rotation speed than at the time of normal rotation and reverses the rotation speed. The noise can be suppressed by rotating the air reversely for a certain period of time and sending the air into the water, the water can be vibrated for a relatively long time to delay the growth of bacteria, and the effect of delaying the decay of water and the generation of an odor can be enhanced.

Further, the ice making device is provided with a water purification filter provided around a water supply port in the tank and a control device for reversing the pump at regular intervals, and by reversing the pump at regular intervals, The air can be sent to the water purification filter to enhance the water purification effect and prevent the water purification filter from being clogged.

Further, a water storage container provided between the tank and the pump or in the piping between the pump and the ice tray, the pump is rotated at regular intervals to suck up the amount of water in the water storage container, and then reversed to reverse the water in the tank. It is an ice making device with a control device that returns water to the water storage tank.By periodically transferring water to the water storage container and returning it to the tank again, it has the effect of delaying the growth of bacteria and delaying the decay of water and the generation of off-flavors. Can be enhanced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ice making apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control device of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

First, the basic configuration of the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment, and a frame 8 described later is not illustrated. The ice making device 1 of the present embodiment includes an ice tray 2, an inverting device 3, an ice storage container 5, a pump 6, a water supply tank 7, and pipes 4 and 9. That is, the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment does not have a member corresponding to the measuring tank, which is essential in the related art.

The ice making device 1 of this embodiment is arranged in a refrigerator. More specifically, the internal ice tray 2, the reversing device 3, and the ice storage container 5 of the above-described components are located in the lower freezer compartment 10, and the pump and the water supply tank are located in the upper refrigerator compartment 11. The pipe 4 connects the water supply tank 7 and the pump 6. On the other hand, the pipe 9 has the pump 6 and the ice tray 2
And Here, the pipe 4 is continuously connected without a gap, while the pipe 9 is connected to the upper surface of the ice tray 2 with the nozzle 1.
A configuration is adopted in which an opening 3 is opened and water is poured into the ice tray 2 from the nozzle 13.

Among the components of the ice making device 1 described above, the ice making tray 2, the reversing device 3, and the ice storage container 5 are not different from known ones. Briefly, the ice tray 2 is a tray for freezing the water inside. The reversing device 3 has a built-in gear train and functions to reverse the ice tray 1 and release ice. The ice storage container 5 is located below the ice tray 2 and stores ice dropped from the ice tray 2.

The characteristic configuration of the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment is as follows.
Mainly in the pump 6, the water supply tank 7, the pipes 4 and 9, and the frame 8 supporting these.

Starting from the water supply tank 7, the water supply tank 7 is made of a tank body 15 made of a resin such as acrylic nitrostin and a lid 16 also made of acrylic nitrostin or the like. .

Here, the tank body 15 is a container having an open upper surface. In addition to the above-described configuration, the lid 6 is provided with a hole 34 for water injection, and a cap 33 is attached to the hole 34.

Further, a hole is provided at the center of the lid 16, and a discharge pipe 30 is attached to this hole. The discharge pipe 30 has a suction pipe section 36 and an air vent pipe section 37 provided integrally. That is, the suction pipe 36 has a long tubular shape, and its end reaches the bottom of the tank body 15.

The tip of the suction pipe 36 is connected to the lid 16.
From the pipe joint member (A) 35
Is provided. The pipe joint member (A) 35 has a nozzle shape and extends in the horizontal direction. Also, a pipe joint member (A) 35
An annular projection 39 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the. The top surface 42 of the discharge pipe 30 has a gradient that decreases in the axial direction of the pipe joint member (A) 35.

On the other hand, the air vent pipe 37 has a very short tubular shape and communicates the upper surface of the tank body 15 with the outside.

The pump 6 used in the ice making device 1 of the present embodiment
Is a gear pump having self-priming properties. The suction side of the pump 6 and the pipe joint member (B) 71 are connected by the pipe 4.

A pipe 9 is attached to the discharge side of the pump. The pipe 9 extends downward and is connected to the nozzle 13, and the nozzle 13 is open at the top of the ice tray 2.

The operation of the ice maker 1 of the present embodiment will be described below following the operation procedure of the ice maker. In using the ice maker 1 of this embodiment, first, water is supplied to the water supply tank 7. To add water to the water supply tank 7, remove the cap 33,
This is performed by pouring water into the water supply tank 1 from the hole 34.

After water is supplied into the water supply tank 7, the water supply tank 7 is attached to the frame 8. Ice making device 1 of the present embodiment
Then, the water supply tank 7 is mounted by holding the water supply tank 7 horizontally and pushing in the water supply tank 7 to insert it.

On the other hand, when the pipe joint member (A) 35 is completely inserted into the pipe joint member (B) 71,
As shown in FIG. 14, the distal end portion of the pipe joint member (A) 35 comes into contact with the seal member 76, and complete watertightness is ensured.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the present control device.
Is a motor, 120 is a switch, 130 is a control circuit, and 131 is a drive circuit. When the installation of the water supply tank 7 is completed, automatic water supply is performed. That is, when the mounting of the water supply tank 7 is completed, the motor 100 of the pump 6 starts normal rotation.

Here, the pump 6 employed in the ice making device 1 of this embodiment is a gear pump and has a self-priming property, so that water is directly drawn from the water supply tank 7 by the rotation of the motor 100. That is, water is supplied from the suction pipe 36 inserted into the water supply tank 7 to the pipe joint members (A) 35 and (B) 71.
And enters the pump 6. Then, water is discharged from the nozzle 13 through the pipe 9 from the pump 6.

Thereafter, the pump 6 is switched to the reverse rotation, the discharge of water from the nozzle 13 is stopped, and a series of water supply steps is completed. After that, similarly to a known ice making device, the water in the ice tray 2 is connected, the ice tray 2 is inverted by the reversing device 3 to separate ice, and the ice is dropped into the ice storage container 5.

Then, the water supply step is repeated again until the ice in the ice storage container 5 is full. When the ice is full, this series of operations is stopped.

Here, when ice is not used much in winter or the like, this suspension period continues for a long time. The control circuit 130 is provided with a control device for rotating the pump 6 backward for a certain period of time when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period.

According to this configuration, when the ice making device is not used much in winter or the like and the suspension period of the ice making device continues for a long time, the bacteria in the water in the tank 7 proliferate, and the water often rots or produces an odor. However, when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period of time, the pump 6 is rotated in the reverse direction for a certain period of time, air is sent into the water, and the movement of the water suppresses the growth of bacteria in the water, thereby suppressing the decay of water and the generation of offensive odor. be able to. In addition, the effect of suppressing bacterial growth by moving water has been confirmed in literatures and the like.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ice making apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control device of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

The main structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. Here, the pump 6 used in the ice making device 1 of this embodiment is
Is a gear pump and has a self-priming property.
By the rotation of 00, water is directly drawn from the water supply tank 7.

That is, water enters the pump 6 from the suction pipe 36 inserted into the water supply tank 7 via the pipe joint members (A) 35 and (B) 71.

Then, the nozzle 1 from the pump 6 via the pipe 9
Water is discharged from 3. Thereafter, the pump 6 is switched to the reverse rotation, the discharge of water from the nozzle 13 is stopped, and a series of water supply steps is completed.

After that, similarly to the known ice making apparatus, the water in the ice tray 2 is frozen, the ice tray 2 is inverted by the reversing device 3 and the ice is released, and the ice is dropped into the ice storage container 5. Then, the water supply step is repeated again until the ice in the ice storage container 5 is full.

When the ice is full, this series of operations is stopped. Here, when ice is not used much in winter or the like, this suspension period continues for a long time. Control circuit 130
Is provided with a control device that, when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period of time, rotates the pump at a lower rotation speed for a certain period of time than at the time of normal rotation and rotates the pump in reverse.

With this configuration, when the ice making device is stopped for a long time, such as in winter, when the ice making device is not used for a long time, bacteria in the water in the tank proliferate, and water decay and a bad smell often occur. When the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period of time, the pump 6 is rotated in the reverse direction for a certain period of time, air is sent into the water, and the growth of the bacteria in the water is suppressed by moving the water,
Water rot and off-flavor generation can be suppressed.

Further, by lowering the rotation speed from that at the time of the normal rotation, noise can be reduced, and the rotation can be performed at a reverse rotation for a long time, so that the effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria can be further enhanced. The effect of suppressing bacterial growth by moving water has been confirmed in literatures and the like.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ice making apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control device of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. A filter 40 is housed in the filter case 38. The filter 40 used in this embodiment is made of activated carbon having a deodorizing effect, and has a ring shape. Further, the filter 40 has a considerably small passage area, and water passes relatively slowly.

The filter 40 is disposed in the filter case 38 as described above, and the suction pipe section 3 of the discharge pipe 30 is provided.
The opening 6 is located at the center of the filter 40.

In this configuration, there is provided a control circuit 130 for reversely rotating the pump 6 for a predetermined period at regular intervals. A water purification filter provided around the water supply port in the tank,
It is an ice making device equipped with a control device that reverses the pump at regular intervals.By reversing the pump at regular intervals, air is sent to the water purification filter to enhance the water purification effect, and the water purification filter is clogged. Can be prevented.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ice making apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control device of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

In addition to the structure of the first embodiment, a water reservoir 132 is provided between the tank 7 and the pump 6 or between the pump 7 and the pipe 9, and the pump 6 is rotated at regular intervals to rotate the water reservoir. The control circuit 130 has a control circuit 130 that sucks up the water amount equal to or less than the volume of the pump 132 and then returns the water into the tank 7 by rotating the pump 7 in the reverse direction. In such a configuration, by periodically moving the water to the water storage container 132 and returning it to the inside of the tank 7, the effect of delaying the growth of bacteria due to the movement of the water and delaying the decay of water and the generation of offensive odor can be enhanced.

[0059]

The ice making apparatus according to the present invention has a water supply tank, a pump, an ice making tray disposed in a refrigerator, and a pipe connecting these, and the pump is a self-priming pump that can rotate normally and reversely. A control device for reversely rotating the pump for a certain period of time when the water supply operation to the ice tray is not performed for a certain period after the water supply operation to the ice making tray, wherein the suction side of the pump is connected to the inside of the water supply tank; This is an ice making device equipped with a water pump.When the water is in a stationary state for a certain period of time, the water is oscillated by rotating the pump in reverse for a certain period of time and sending air into the water. To slow down the growth of bacteria and delay the spoilage of water and the generation of off-flavors.

Further, in the ice making device of the present invention, after the water supply operation to the ice tray, the pump rotates the pump at a lower rotation speed than the normal rotation for a predetermined time when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period of time. It is an ice making device equipped with a control device.It can reduce noise by lowering the rotation speed of the pump and rotating it in reverse for a certain period of time to send air into the water. And the effect of delaying the decay of water and the generation of off-flavors can be enhanced.

Further, the ice making device of the present invention is an ice making device provided with a water purification filter provided around a water supply port in a tank and a control device for reversing a pump at fixed time intervals. By inverting the pump, air can be sent to the water purification filter to enhance the water purification effect, and clogging of the water purification filter can be prevented.

Further, the ice making apparatus of the present invention has a water storage container provided between the tank and the pump or between the pump and the ice tray, and the pump is rotated at regular intervals to draw up the water amount of the water storage container. This is an ice making device equipped with a control device that reverses and returns water to the tank.Water is periodically moved to a water storage container and returned to the tank again, thereby delaying the growth of bacteria and causing water decay and odor. The effect of delaying the occurrence of the occurrence can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control device of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an ice making device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a conventional ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ice making device 2 ice making tray 3 inverting device 6 pump 7 water supply tank 8 frame 9 piping 10 freezing room 11 refrigeration room 15 tank body 16 lid 26 lock member 30 discharge pipe 35 pipe joint member (A) 36 suction pipe section 37 air vent pipe Part 38 Filter case 40 Filter 60 Water supply tank mounting part 61 Pump arrangement part 71 Fitting member (B) 72 Engagement claw 76 Seal member 98 Pump body 99 Drain hole 100 Motor 108 Filter 130 Control circuit 132 Water reservoir

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank, a pump, an ice tray arranged in a refrigerator, and a pipe connecting these, wherein the pump is a self-priming pump capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation, and a suction side of the pump. Is an ice making device which is connected to the inside of the water supply tank and has a control device for reversely rotating the pump for a certain time after the water supply operation to the ice tray, when the water supply operation is not performed for a certain period after the water supply operation. 2. After the water supply operation to the ice tray, the pump is operated for a predetermined time when the water supply operation is not performed for a predetermined period or more.
An ice making device comprising: a control device that performs a reverse rotation by lowering the rotation speed than at the time of normal rotation. 3. The ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a water purification filter provided around a water supply port in the tank, and a control device for reversing the pump at regular intervals. 4. A water storage container provided between a tank and a pump or in a pipe between the pump and an ice tray, and a pump is rotated at regular intervals to suck up an amount of water equal to or less than the amount of the water storage container, and then reversed to reverse the water. The ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for returning the inside of the ice making device.