JP3361666B2 - Automatic ice making equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic ice making device having an ice removing test function, and more particularly to an automatic ice making device incorporated in a freezer-refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A freezer-refrigerator having an automatic ice making device which is supplied with ice making water from a water supply tank to make ice and automatically removes ice after completion of ice making is already known, and as an automatic ice making device of this kind, An automatic ice making device having an ice removing test switch and having an ice removing test function for forcibly performing the ice removing operation when the ice removing test switch is turned on is already known.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional example of a refrigerator-freezer having an automatic ice making device. This freezer-freezer has a water supply tank 3 in the upper refrigerating compartment 1, and an ice tray 7 and an ice storage box 9 in the lower freezer compartment 5. In the water supply tank 3, the ice making water supply port 11 for the ice making plate 7 is opened and closed by the electromagnetic valve 13, and the ice making water supply port 11 is opened to supply the ice making water in the water supply tank 3 to the ice making plate 7 through the water passage 15. To be done. A temperature detecting thermistor 17 for detecting the temperature of the ice tray 7 is attached to the lower bottom surface of the ice tray 7.

The ice tray 7 is attached to a rotary shaft 21 of a rotary drive device 19 for ice removal and is driven to rotate in an upside down direction for ice removal. The rotation drive device 17 is a gear box 23.
And a push button 27 of the ice removal test switch 25 is provided on the lower bottom surface of the gear box 23.

FIG. 14 shows an example in which the water supply tank 3 is provided in the refrigerating chamber 29a. In this example, the refrigerating compartment 29a and the chilled compartment 29 are provided by the internal partition panel 31.
It is classified into b. A water supply warning lamp 33 is provided on the front end surface of the internal partition panel 31 to warn that the amount of water in the water supply tank has become zero.

The detection of the amount of water in the water supply tank 3 becoming zero is detected by the temperature detecting thermistor 17 even when the electromagnetic valve 13 is opened to supply water from the water supply tank 3 to the ice tray 7. If the temperature of the ice tray 7 does not rise within a predetermined time, it is determined that the water tray 3 has not supplied water to the ice tray 7, and it is determined that the amount of water in the water tank 3 has become zero. The water supply warning lamp 33 is turned on based on the determination.

When the electromagnetic valve 13 is opened in a state where the ice making water is stored in the water supply tank 3, the ice making water is supplied to the water supply tank 3 through the water passage 15 to the ice tray 7 in a predetermined amount. When the ice making in the ice making tray 7 is completed, the ice making tray 7 is turned upside down by the rotation drive device 19, and the ice made in the ice making tray 7 is separated from the ice making tray 7 and falls into the ice storing box 9 and is stored in the ice storing box 9. To be

When the push button 27 of the ice removing test switch 25 provided on the lower bottom surface of the gear box 23 is pressed, the ice tray 7 is turned upside down by the rotary drive device 19 to force the ice removing operation. To be done.

[0009]

In the conventional automatic ice making device as described above, when the push button 27 of the ice removing test switch 25 is pressed for 2 seconds, the ice removing test forcibly performing the ice removing operation is started. Therefore, even if the push button 27 is erroneously pressed, the deicing test is unintentionally performed. In order to prevent this, the push button 27 is placed at a position where it is difficult to push, but in this case, the operability of the ice removal test is deteriorated, and ice is not formed on the placement portion of the push button 27. Foreign matter is likely to get stuck and cause a malfunction.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and prevents the deicing test from being performed without deteriorating the operability and prevents the deicing test from being performed unintentionally. The purpose is to obtain an automatic ice-making device that is less likely to break down because the push button of the ice removal test switch can be placed in a place where ice or foreign matter is unlikely to be caught.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an automatic ice making device according to the present invention is an automatic ice making device having an ice removing test function for forcibly performing an ice removing operation. Internal push button configured
A push button which is arranged on the front end face of the partition panel so as to be exposed to the front and which has a water supply warning lamp inside the push button which lights up when the amount of water in the water supply tank for ice making becomes zero or less than a predetermined value. A switch and a continuous on-state detecting means for forcibly performing an ice removing operation when it is detected that the push button switch is continuously on for a predetermined time or more.

In the automatic ice making device according to the present invention, the push button which is the operator of the ice removing test switch and the water supply warning lamp are arranged at the same position where they are exposed to the front on the front end face of the internal partition panel. The push button of is apparently a water supply warning lamp. Moreover, the ice removing operation is not performed unless it is detected that the push button switch is continuously turned on for a predetermined time or longer, so that the ice removing operation is not performed unintentionally.

An automatic ice making device according to the next invention is provided with an ice removing motion.
It has the function of de-icing to force the product to be frozen and refrigerated.
In the automatic ice maker built in the refrigerator, the internal partition
It is rotatably arranged on the front end face of the flannel and
Temperature setting for freezer or refrigerating room
Dial, and built into the temperature setting dial,
Equipped with temperature setting dial and push button that can be operated individually
Push button switch and the push button switch
When it is detected that it is on continuously for a predetermined time or more
Continuous on-state detection means for forcibly performing ice removal operation when
It is characterized by having.

In the automatic ice making device according to the present invention, the push button is
Tongue and temperature setting dial for freezer or refrigerator
It is placed at the same position on the front end face of the partition panel.
It Turn the temperature setting dial to set the temperature.
Because it does, the operation of the push button and the operation of temperature setting are that
Each is done individually without making mistakes. Moreover,
If the push button switch is on continuously for a predetermined time or longer
Unless it detects that there is no ice removal operation, so be careful
On the contrary, the ice removing operation is not performed.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an automatic ice making device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments of the present invention described below, parts having the same configurations as those of the above-described conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described conventional example, and description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 1. 1 to 5 show Embodiment 1 of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating an automatic ice making device according to the present invention. In this refrigerator-freezer, the push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 is arranged on the front end face of the internal partition panel 31 that partitions the refrigerating chamber 29a and the chilled chamber 29b.

The push button 43 is made of a light-transmitting material such as plastic having light-transmitting property, and the inside of the push button 43 indicates that the amount of water in the ice making water supply tank has become zero or less than a predetermined value. A water supply warning lamp 33 such as an LED for warning is arranged. The lighting of the water supply warning lamp 33 is seen through from the front of the push button 43.

The ice-release test switch 41 has a push button 4
3 is a push-button switch of a normally open type that closes the contact 45 when the push button 3 is pressed.
Connected to 7.

The continuous on-state detecting section 47 may be embodied by software processing by a microcomputer for controlling the whole of the automatic ice making device, and the ice removing test switch 41 is operated for a predetermined time (2.5 seconds). It is detected that the push button 43 is continuously turned on, that is, that the push button 43 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or longer, and the ON signal is detected by detecting the fact that the push signal 43 is continuously turned on. 19 outputs to the drive circuit 4 9. The drive circuit 49 activates the rotation drive device 19 by inputting an ON signal from the ice removal test switch 41.

FIG. 5 shows a processing routine of this ice release test operation. This processing routine is executed as an interrupt routine at predetermined time intervals. First, it is determined whether or not an ON signal has been input from the ice removal test switch 41 due to the contact 45 being closed (step S10). When an ON signal is input from the ice removal test switch 41, the time count value is up-counted (step S20). On the other hand, when an OFF signal is input from the ice removal test switch 41,
Reset the time count value to the initial value (step S
30).

When the time count value is counted up, it is then determined whether or not the time count value has reached a predetermined value (step S40). If the time count value has reached the predetermined value, an ON signal is output to the drive circuit 49 (step S50).

As a result, unless the ice-breaking test switch 41 is kept in the ON state continuously for a predetermined time or longer, the forced ice-breaking operation, that is, the ice-breaking test is not performed, and the operator of the ice-breaking test switch 41 is If the push button 43, which is a button, is accidentally pressed a little when the food is taken in and out, the deicing test is not started.

[0025] Thus, by ice separation test switch 41 is not performed ice removal test unless the ON state continuously more than a predetermined time, the refrigerating chamber 29a and the chilled compartment pushbutton 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 It can be arranged in a region with good operability, such as the front end face of the internal partition panel 31 that separates from 29b, and the operability of the ice removal test switch 41 does not deteriorate, and an ice removal test is performed against the intention. It is compatible with the prevention of this. Further, since the push button 43 is arranged in a place where the ice or the foreign matter is not caught, the occurrence of a failure due to the ice or the foreign matter being caught is prevented.

Although the push button 43 is located at a slightly recessed position, since the food storage front limit in the chilled chamber 29b is the position shown by the line A in FIG. 2, the chilled chamber 29b is full. Push button 4 when food is put in
3 is exposed to the front of the refrigerator-freezer so that the push button 43 can be easily pushed.

A water supply warning lamp 33 is provided inside the push button 43. Since the lighting of the water supply warning lamp 33 is seen through from the front of the push button 43, the push button 43 and the water supply warning lamp 33 are arranged at the same position. Then, the push button 43 apparently functions as a water supply warning lamp by the operator of the ice removal test switch 41, and the possibility that the push button 43 is erroneously pressed is reduced.

Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 shows Embodiment 2 of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating the automatic ice making device according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a water supply tank for ice making water is separately installed, and a push button 43 is arranged on a temperature adjusting panel 39 provided in the chilled chamber 29b. The temperature adjustment panel 39 has a temperature setting dial 35 for the freezer compartment.
And a temperature setting dial 37 for the refrigerating room.

Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the deicing test switch 41 is constituted by a normally open type push button switch which closes the contact point 45 when the push button 43 is pushed. The continuous on-state detector 47 is connected to the on-state detector 47 and detects that the push button 43 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or longer. and outputs to the drive circuit 4 9 of the rotary drive device 19.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the deicing test is performed unless the push button 43 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or longer and the deicing test switch 41 is kept on for a predetermined time or longer. If the push button 43, which is the operator of the ice removal test switch 41, is accidentally pressed a little when taking food in and out, the ice removal test will not be started.

Embodiment 3. 7 and 8 show Embodiment 3 of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating the automatic ice making device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a temperature setting dial 35 for the freezer compartment and a temperature setting dial 37 for the refrigerating compartment are arranged on the front end face of the internal partition panel 31 that partitions the refrigerating compartment 29a and the chilled compartment 29b. A push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 is arranged in the center of the unit 35 so as to be operable separately from the temperature setting dial 35. As a result, the push button 43 and the temperature setting dial 35 are arranged at the same position.

In this embodiment as well, the ice release test switch 41 has the push button 4 as shown in FIG.
3 is a push-button switch of a normally open type that closes the contact 45 when the push button 3 is pressed.
7, the continuous on-state detector 47 detects that the push button 43 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or longer, and upon detection of this, an on signal is output to the rotary drive device 19 for ice removal. and outputs to the drive circuit 4 9.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the deicing test is carried out unless the deicing test switch 41, in which the push button 43 is continuously pressed for a prescribed time or more, remains on for a predetermined time or longer. However, if the push button 43, which is the operator of the ice removal test switch 41, is accidentally pressed a little when the food is taken in and out, the ice removal test is not started.

Since the temperature setting dial 35 is rotated to set the temperature, the operation of the push button 43 and the operation of the temperature setting can be individually performed without making an error.

The push button 43 is the same as when incorporated in the temperature setting dial 37 for the refrigerating room, and in this embodiment as well as in the first embodiment, a water supply warning lamp is provided inside the push button 43. Can be arranged.

Fourth Embodiment 9 and 10 show Embodiment 4 of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating the automatic ice making device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a tamper-proof opening / closing door-like shutter plate 51 is provided at a portion of the front end face of the internal partition panel 31 for partitioning the refrigerating compartment 29a and the chilled compartment 29b, where the push button 43 of the ice separation test switch 41 is arranged. It is provided.

The shutter plate 51 is rotatably supported at its upper edge by a hinge pin 53 so as to be flipped up from the internal partition panel 31, and normally hangs down by its own weight to form a closed door state. In this closed state, the push button 4 is pressed.
3 is inoperably shielded, and the push button 43 is operably exposed to the outside when the door is flipped open. At the lower end of the shutter plate 51, a grip portion 55 for hooking the shutter plate 51 with a toe and opening the shutter plate 51 is formed.

In this automatic ice making device, when the shutter plate 51 is in the closed state, the push button 43 of the ice separation test switch 41 is shielded and becomes inoperable, so that the push button 43 is prevented from being pushed carelessly. It In order to push the push button 43, it is necessary to open the shutter plate 51, which provides a tamper proof that prevents the push button 43 from being accidentally operated.

As a result, the push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 can be arranged at a position with good operability, such as the front end face of the internal partition panel 31 for partitioning the refrigerating chamber 29a and the chilled chamber 29b. The operability is not deteriorated and the deicing test is prevented from being performed unintentionally. Further, since the push button 43 is arranged in a place where the ice or the foreign matter is not caught, the occurrence of a failure due to the ice or the foreign matter being caught is prevented.

In this embodiment as well, the shutter plate 51 is made of a light transmissive material, so that the first embodiment
It is possible to dispose the water supply warning lamp inside the push button 43 in the same manner as in the above case.

Embodiment 5. 11 and 12 show Embodiment 4 of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating the automatic ice making device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 can be accessed through a small hole 57 formed in the internal partition panel 31 that partitions the refrigerating chamber 29a and the chilled chamber 29b. The small hole 57 is a small hole that does not allow the fingertip to enter, and the push button 43 can be pressed only by a sharp object such as the pen tip P or a thin rod.

In this automatic ice making device, in order to push the push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41, a sharp object such as the pen tip P or a thin stick is required, and it cannot be operated by the fingertip. Tamper proof is provided to prevent 41 from being accidentally pushed.

As a result, the push button 43 of the ice removal test switch 41 can be arranged at a position with good operability, such as the front end surface of the internal partition panel 31 which separates the refrigerating chamber 29a and the chilled chamber 29b. The operability is not deteriorated and the deicing test is prevented from being performed unintentionally. Further, since the push button 43 is arranged in a place where the ice or the foreign matter is not caught, the occurrence of a failure due to the ice or the foreign matter being caught is prevented.

As a modification of this embodiment, the push button 43 itself may be formed to have a small size that cannot be operated by the fingertip.

[0046]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the automatic ice making device of the present invention, the push button which is the operator of the ice removing test switch and the water supply warning lamp are internally partitioned.
The push button of the ice removal test switch, which is located at the same position exposed to the front on the front end face of the rear panel, apparently functions as a water supply warning lamp, reducing the possibility that the push button will be operated accidentally. The operability does not deteriorate. Moreover, the ice removing operation is not performed unless it is detected that the push button switch is continuously turned on for a predetermined time or longer, so that the ice removing operation is not performed unintentionally. Further, since the push button is arranged in a place where the ice or the foreign matter is not caught, the occurrence of a failure due to the ice or the foreign matter being caught is prevented.

According to the automatic ice making device of the next invention,
Push button and temperature setting dial for freezer or refrigerator
Are placed at the same position on the front end face of the internal partition panel.
Placed. When the temperature setting dial is turned, the temperature
Since the settings are made, the push button operation and the temperature setting operation
Is done individually without making mistakes. This
Reduce the risk of accidentally operating the push button.
And its operability does not deteriorate. Only
Also, the push button switch is turned on continuously for a predetermined time or longer.
The ice removal operation is not performed unless it is detected that
Unintentionally, the ice removal operation is not performed. Push further
Is the button placed so that ice and foreign matter are not caught?
From the occurrence of a failure due to the inclusion of ice or foreign matter.
Prevented in advance.

[0048]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of a first embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a main part of the first embodiment of the refrigerator-freezer in which the automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the first embodiment of the refrigerator-freezer in which the automatic ice making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an ice removal test switch portion of the automatic ice making device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an ice removing test operation of the automatic ice making device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a main part of a second embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a main part of a third embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of a third embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a main part of a fourth embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing an essential part of a fourth embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a main part of a fifth embodiment of a refrigerator-freezer in which an automatic ice-making device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of a fifth embodiment of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating the automatic ice making device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view showing a conventional example of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating an automatic ice making device.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a conventional example of a freezer-refrigerator incorporating an automatic ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 upper refrigerating room, 3 water tank, 5 lower freezing room, 7
Ice tray, 9 ice storage box, 11 ice water supply port,
13 solenoid valves, 15 water passage, 17 temperature detection thermistor, 19 rotation drive device, 21 rotation shaft, 23 gear box, 25 ice removal test switch , 27 push button, 29a refrigerating compartment, 29b chilled compartment, 31 internal partition panel, 33 Water supply warning lamp, 35, 37 Temperature setting dial, 39 Temperature adjustment panel, 41 Ice removal test switch, 43 Push button, 45 contacts, 47
Continuous on-state detector, 49 drive circuit , 51 shutter plate, 53 hinge pin, 55 grip, 57 small hole.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Katsumasa Sakamoto 2-3-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroaki Yokouchi 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-5-306864 (JP, A) JP-A-5-332651 (JP, A) JP-A-4-313659 (JP, A) Actual Development Sho 59-152531 (JP , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25C 1/10 F25D 11/02 H01H 13/14 F25D 29/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic ice making device having an ice-breaking test function for forcibly performing an ice-breaking operation, wherein a push button made of a light-transmissive material is internally partitioned.
A push button provided on the front end face of the rear panel so as to be exposed to the front and having a water supply warning lamp inside the push button, which lights up when the amount of water in the water supply tank for ice making becomes zero or falls below a predetermined value. An automatic ice-making device comprising: a switch; and a continuous on-state detecting means for forcibly performing an ice removing operation when it is detected that the push button switch is continuously on for a predetermined time or more. . 2. An automatic ice maker having a function of ice-breaking test for forcibly performing an ice-breaking operation, and in an automatic ice making device incorporated in a refrigerator / freezer, the inner partition panel is rotatably disposed at a front end face thereof and is rotated. A temperature setting dial for setting the temperature of the freezer compartment or a refrigerating room in accordance with an operation; a push button switch which is incorporated in the temperature setting dial and includes a push button which can be operated separately from the temperature setting dial; and the push button. An automatic ice-making device, comprising: a continuous on-state detecting means for forcibly performing an ice removing operation when it is detected that the switch is continuously on for a predetermined time or longer.