JPS5817005Y2 - Ice block supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ice block feeding device that can appropriately supply desired ice blocks using an ice block transfer member such as a screw.

It has been known to use a screw to transfer ice blocks in a hopper as a water storage container, and in order to prevent the ice blocks in the hopper from sticking together, a part of the side wall of the hopper is swung by an appropriate means. There are also known things that cause it.

However, once granular ice blocks stick together, they are difficult to separate, and it has been found that simply shaking the side walls does not ensure a reliable supply.

Therefore, in the present invention, a wire rod is used as the stirring member, and the aim is to actively separate ice blocks from each other near the ice block falling opening, which is formed relatively narrowly.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, 1 indicates the main body of the ice making machine, and the inside of the main body 1 is divided into an ice making section A1 an ice block transfer device B1 and a machine room section C from above. Separated.

The ice-making section A includes an ice-making plate 2 that generates plate-shaped ice, a circulation pump 3 that circulates ice-making water through the ice-making plate 2, a water sprinkler 4, and a water storage tank 5, and a cutter grid that cuts the plate-shaped ice into ice cubes. 6th class is arranged.

Further, the machine room B houses a compressor 7, a condenser 8, a blower 9 for cooling the condenser 8, and the like, which together with the evaporator 1 provided in the ice-making plate 2 constitute a refrigeration cycle.

Next, the ice block supply device section B will be explained.

At the lower front of the supply device section B, there is a supply chamber 11 that is closed by a door 10. This supply chamber 11 faces an ice block outlet 12, and is equipped with an ice block transfer device, which will be described later. It is equipped with an operation switch (not shown) for operation.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a hopper for storing ice blocks cut by the cutter grid 6, and has an ice block falling port 14 at its lower end.

The ice block outlet 12 and the ice block falling port 14 are located apart from each other, and are communicated with each other by an ice block transfer passage 15 arranged horizontally.

Reference numeral 16 indicates that the ice cubes in the transfer passage 15 are removed from the falling port 14 through the port 1.
This transfer device has a drive motor 17 driven by the operation of an insertion switch, one end of which is fixed to the rotating shaft 18 of the motor 17, and the other end of which is parallel to the transfer path 15, opposite to the path. A drive shaft 19 supported on the motor side and a spiral screw 20 fixed to this drive shaft 19 are used.

This screw 20 is located directly below the drop port 14 and extends from the rear end of the drop port 14 at the inner side 1 of the front end.

That is, it has a width τ slightly smaller than the width T of the drop opening 14.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a partition member that hangs down from the front end of the screw 20, and is more suitable than a soft member such as rubber.

That is, the transfer passage 15 is divided by the partition member 21 into a portion 15a where the screw 20 is located and where the ice blocks are moved by the rotation of the screw 20, and after passing through the partition member 21, the ice blocks themselves are pushed against each other to the outlet 12. It is separated into a portion 15b to be transferred.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an ice block stirring wire made of an elastic wire such as a piano wire, and horizontal support portions 22a on both sides.

22a, and a stirring part 22b which hangs down perpendicularly from the supporting parts 22a and 22a and whose tip is bent into a substantially dogleg shape.

The bent ends of the supporting parts 22a and 22a are connected to the hopper 13.
The upper side walls 13ae13a are fixed to locking portions 23, 23 provided at positions facing the direction of transfer of the screw 20; A locking pin 24.24 provided at a horizontal position with .23 and approximately above the center of the drop port 14.
It is locked to.

The bent end of the stirring portion 22b is positioned within the rotation range of the screw 20 from the drop opening 14 in a portion 15a of the transfer passage 15.

That is, to explain the ice block removal operation in this configuration, first, when the user operates the operation switch, the motor 17
rotates, and the screw 20 also rotates.

At this time, the tip of the wire 22 is locked to the screw 20 and bent forward as shown by the broken line in FIG.

At this time, the supporting parts 22a, 22a are also curved upward.

When the tip of the stirring part 22b rides on the tip of the screw 20, its elasticity returns it to the normal position.

This operation is constantly repeated while the screw 20 is rotating.

Therefore, the swing of the wire rod 22 is greatest in the vicinity of the drop port 14 where ice blocks tend to gather and solidify, thereby making it possible to effectively stir the ice blocks.

Further, the wire rod 22 has locking parts 23, 23 and locking pins 24, 24.
can be locked by and opposed to pressure.

The ice cubes that have been stirred and entered the screw 20 pass through the partition member 21 and are transferred to the portion 15a, and then sequentially transferred by the subsequent extrusion of the ice blocks, and reach the supply chamber 11 through the outlet 12.

As is clear from the above description, the ice block feeding device according to the present invention includes a hopper that stores ice blocks and has an ice block falling port opened at the lower end, and a rotatably installed ice block transfer passage that communicates with the ice block falling port. and an ice block stirring wire with its tip facing the ice block falling port from both upper side walls of the hopper, and this wire rod is approximately perpendicular to the ice block falling port and the tip is bent into a substantially dogleg shape. The hopper is made up of a stirring part positioned within the rotational range of the screw, and a support part which is connected to the stirring part and extends horizontally on both sides in the transport direction of the screw, and whose ends are fixed to both side walls of the hopper. This prevents the ice blocks from sticking to each other and allows effective stirring, allowing the ice blocks to enter the screw smoothly and reducing the phenomenon of jamming into the screw.

In addition, agitation especially near the drop opening can be achieved efficiently.

Furthermore, the wire rod is reliably supported within the hopper and has sufficient strength to withstand the pressure exerted by the screw.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an ice maker equipped with an ice block supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the ice block supply device, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hopper and stirring wire. It is a diagram. 12...Ice block outlet, 13...Hopper, 14...
・Ice block falling port, 15...Transfer passage, 20...Screw 22...Wire rod for ice block stirring, 22a...Support part,
22b... Stirring section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A hopper that stores ice blocks and has an ice block falling port at its lower end; a screw that is rotatably provided in an ice transfer passage that communicates with the ice block falling port; Similar to the ice block stirring wire shown in Figure 1 above, this wire is approximately perpendicular to the ice block falling port and its tip is bent into a dogleg shape to form a stirring section located within the rotation range of the screw. and a support section connected to the stirring section, extending horizontally on both sides in the direction of screw transport, and having ends fixed to both side walls of the hopper.