JP4286028B2 - Ice dispenser - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ice dispenser, and more particularly to an improved ice discharge mode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of an ice dispenser, the following is known. The discharge stage is provided on the front surface of the dispenser main body containing the ice making unit and the ice storage for sequentially storing the ice pieces produced thereby, and the stage is connected to the ice storage at the ceiling portion. A discharge port is provided, and a discharge switch is provided below the discharge port. When the cup is pressed against the discharge switch, the shutter provided at the discharge port is opened while the cup is being pressed, and the ice pieces in the ice storage are discharged from the discharge port toward the cup. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-18784
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
On the other hand, depending on the purpose, a large amount of ice pieces may be required at one time. In that case, a large receiving container such as a bucket is prepared in the past, and the discharge port is pressed while pressing the discharge switch in the same way. I was trying to receive ice pieces from.
However, with this method, although the discharge of ice pieces has progressed and the weight has increased, it is still a very difficult task since the discharge switch must still be held with the receiving container.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it easy to perform a work of discharging a large amount of ice pieces.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Invention 請 Motomeko 1, the front surface of the dispenser body housing a ice bin for storing the ice pieces is provided a stage for ice discharge, the upper position of the stage, can be opened and closed is connected to the ice bin In the ice dispenser provided with a discharge port , a positioning unit that has a large receiving container that can be placed on the stage and that can be placed by positioning the receiving container at a predetermined position on the stage; and Detection means comprising a non-contact switch provided between the receiving container and the stage to detect that the receiving container is placed at the predetermined position on the stage, and a detection signal of the detection means The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a discharge control means for opening the discharge port for a predetermined time on the basis.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the magnet is provided in the receiving container, and the detection means is configured by providing a reed switch sensitive to the magnet in the stage. It has a characteristic where it exists.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the release control means includes a delay function that takes in the detection signal for the first time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the receiving container was placed. It has a characteristic where it exists.
[0007]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
When the receiving container is placed on the stage and detected by the detecting means, the discharge opening is opened for a predetermined time by the discharge control means, and the ice pieces in the ice storage are discharged into the receiving container.
Just by placing the receiving container on the stage, a large amount of ice pieces are automatically released into the receiving container, making it unnecessary to hold down the release switch while holding a heavy container as before, making work easier. Further, it is possible to leave the site while the discharging operation is being performed, and it is easy to use.
[0008]
<Invention of Claim 2>
When the receiving container is placed on the stage, the reed switch on the stage side is sensitive to the magnet provided in the receiving container, and it is detected that the receiving container is placed.
<Invention of Claim 3>
The discharge of the ice piece is not started until it is detected that the receiving container has been continuously placed for a predetermined time, in other words, that the receiving container has been placed with a clear intention.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a main body of the ice dispenser. An auger type ice making unit 12 connected to the refrigeration apparatus 11 is installed at a lower position inside the ice dispenser. A cabinet 13 is stacked and connected. During ice making, the ice layer frozen on the inner surface of the ice making casing 15 is scraped by the auger 17 driven by the motor 16 and conveyed upward, broken into pieces of ice, and then stirred by the agitator 18. It is stored in the ice storage 13 sequentially from the bottom side. When the ice storage switch 19 detects that the ice pieces are full in the ice storage 13, the ice storage switch 19 detects the ice making, the ice making is stopped.
[0010]
At the lower position of the front surface of the dispenser body 10, an apron panel 21 is stretched in a retracted state, whereby a discharge stage 20 is formed on the front surface. A shooter 24 connected to the discharge port 23 of the ice storage 13 described above is installed on the ceiling of the stage 20 downward. The discharge port 23 is equipped with a normally closed shutter 27 that is opened by a solenoid device 26.
A discharge switch 30 is provided in front of the stage 20 at a position below the shooter 24. The release switch 30 can be pressed into a switch body 32 against a spring elasticity by a pressing operation unit 31 to which a cup or the like can be applied. The switch body 32 is embedded in the pressing operation unit 31. A reed switch is provided which is responsive to the magnet.
Further, a drain pan 35 with a hook 34 is provided at the bottom of the stage 20.
[0011]
In the case of discharging ice, when the cup is pressed against the pressing operation portion 31 of the discharge switch 30, the reed switch in the switch body 32 is turned on, while the shutter 27 of the discharge port 23 is opened, and the ice storage 13 is opened. The ice pieces are discharged from the discharge port 23 through the shooter 24 into the cup. When the cup is returned, the shutter 27 is closed and the discharge is stopped.
The ice storage amount decreases due to the discharge of the ice pieces, and when the detection plate 37 is lowered to a predetermined lowered position and detected by the ice storage switch 19, ice making is resumed. In normal times, the above operations are repeated.
[0012]
Now, in this embodiment, a means suitable for discharging a large amount of ice pieces at once is taken.
First, a large receiving container 40 is equipped. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the receiving container 40 is formed in a box shape with an open top from a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene and can be placed on a drain pan 35 at the bottom of the stage 20. Specifically, the horizontal width of the bottom portion of the receiving container 40 is a size that fits tightly within the horizontal width of the drain pan 35, and the depth size of the bottom portion is about 50% larger than the depth size of the drain pan 35. . The height is such that when it is placed on the drain pan 35, its upper surface reaches just below the discharge switch 30 (see FIG. 2).
[0013]
A positioning groove 41 into which the front edge portion 35A of the drain pan 35 (including the scissors 34) fits is formed over the entire width at a position close to the front edge from the rear edge on the outer bottom surface of the receiving container 40 by the depth dimension of the drain pan 35. The ratio of the depth dimension before and after the positioning groove 41 is about 1: 2. The receiving container 40 is disposed on the drain pan 35 while fitting the positioning groove 41 to the front edge portion 35A of the drain pan 35, the upper side tilts rearward due to the weight balance described above, and the upper edge of the back surface becomes the front surface of the stage 20. The apron panel 21 is held in contact with the apron panel 21. Therefore, there is no gap between the back surface of the receiving container 40 and the apron panel 21, and the released ice pieces are prevented from entering the gap as much as possible. In addition, since the horizontal width of the bottom portion fits within the horizontal width of the drain pan 35, the horizontal width does not shift.
A flange 42 serving as a handle extends from the front edge to the left and right side edges of the upper opening of the receiving container 40. In particular, the provision of the flange 42 at the front edge is convenient when the receiving container 40 is taken in and out from the front surface when a wall or other device is arranged on the side of the ice dispenser.
[0014]
On the back surface of the receiving container 40, an escape groove 44 for escaping the pressing operation portion 31 of the release switch 30 is formed over the entire height. A bridge portion 45 is formed over the left and right opening edges at a substantially central height position of the escape groove 44, and as shown in FIG. 3, in the mounting portion 45A at the right end portion viewed from the back of the bridge portion 45, A magnet 46 is embedded.
On the other hand, on the back surface of the apron panel 21 which is the front surface of the stage 20, a reed switch sensitive to the magnet 46 is placed at a position corresponding to the magnet 46 when the receiving container 40 is placed on the drain pan 35. A detection switch 48 is attached.
[0015]
Further, in order to control the discharge of ice and the like, as shown in FIG. 6, a control means 50 equipped with a microcomputer, timers 51, 52 and the like is provided. An ice storage switch 19, a discharge switch 30 for normal operation, and a detection switch 48 for a large receiving container 40 are connected to the input side of the control means 50.
On the other hand, an ice making unit 54 (water supply valve, refrigeration device 11, etc.), motor 16, solenoid device 26, ice making lamp 55, power lamp 56 and service call lamp 57 are connected to the output side.
[0016]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In a state where the receiving container 40 is not set, a normal operation is performed (step S1). In this normal operation, the ice making unit 54 (water supply valve, refrigeration apparatus 11 and the like) and the motor 16 are driven, so that ice pieces are manufactured and stored in the ice storage 13, and the ice making switch 19 detects that the ice storage switch 19 is full. Is stopped. After that, the motor 16 is driven, and the agitator 18 rotates to stand by in the storage state while preventing the ice pieces from being combined.
When the cup is pressed against the discharge switch 30 to be turned on, the shutter 27 is opened via the solenoid device 26, and the ice pieces in the ice storage 13 are discharged into the cup. When the ice storage amount decreases below a predetermined value and is detected by the ice storage switch 19, ice making is resumed.
[0017]
Thereafter, a large receiving container 40 is placed on the drain pan 35 at the bottom of the stage 20, and when this is detected by the detection switch 48, the ice making is stopped and the ice making lamp 55 blinks (step S2). The second timer 51 starts (step S3). When the 2-second timer 51 ends, the solenoid device 26 is driven to open the shutter 27 and the 2-minute timer 52 starts (step S4). Here, the reason why the 2-second timer 51 is provided is that it is only after detecting that the receiving container 40 has been continuously placed for at least 2 seconds, in other words, that the receiving container 40 has been placed with a clear intention. In order to enter the release mode.
[0018]
As described above, the shutter 27 of the discharge port 23 is opened and held in an open state, so that ice pieces in the ice storage 13 are discharged into the receiving container 40 through the shooter 24. When the two-minute timer 52 ends, the shutter 27 is closed, and the entire stop (both ice making and discharging) state is entered. At the same time, the ice making lamp 55 is turned off and the power lamp 56 blinks (step S5). During this time, all of the ice pieces stored in the ice storage 13 are discharged into the receiving container 40.
[0019]
When the receiving container 40 is removed during the discharge, the shutter 27 is closed and the two-minute timer 52 is temporarily stopped (step S6). Thereafter, when the receiving container 40 is placed again, the 2-second timer 51 starts (step S7). When the 2-second timer 51 ends, the shutter 27 is opened again and released, and the 2-minute timer 52 is restarted. The remaining time is measured after starting (step S8). When the 2-minute timer 52 ends, the above-described all-stop state (step S5) is entered.
Note that if the second release is included and less than 2 minutes, Steps S6 to S8 are repeated until the 2-minute timer 52 ends.
[0020]
After reaching the all-stop state (step S5), if a predetermined time or more remains until the end time of business hours, it is automatically returned (step S9) and the normal operation (step S1) is started. In addition, even if the discharge into the receiving container 40 is completed in less than 2 minutes, the power is once turned off and then the operation is started again to return to the normal operation (step S1). In addition, a reset switch may be provided separately, and the normal operation (step S1) may be restored by operating the reset switch.
On the other hand, when the total stop state (step S5) is reached and there is less than a predetermined time by the end time of the business hours, the stop state is continued and the ice storage switch 19 is kept. If it is in a state where full ice is detected, it is considered that the place where it should originally be empty is in a state where the ice pieces remain connected (arched) to the upper side of the ice storage 13, and the service call lamp 57 is turned on.
[0021]
In addition, it is desirable to empty the ice storage 13 after the business is completed in order to prevent the ice pieces from being combined. About that, when the ice making switch is turned off as in step S11, the ice making lamp 55 blinks (step S2). Here, although it can discharge | release to a cup etc. via the discharge | release switch 30, it is in the state which does not make new ice making.
When the business is over, the receiving container 40 is placed on the drain pan 35, and the ice pieces are discharged for 2 minutes (steps S3 to S5), and the ice storage 13 is emptied.
[0022]
Also, there are cases where the power is forgotten to be turned off or the operation state continues for a long time depending on the purpose of use. In this way, the old ice piece is easy to arch, and even if the discharge progresses, the ice storage switch 19 is not turned off, resulting in a situation where ice is not made. Therefore, as shown in step S12, when 24 hours have elapsed since the start of operation, the ice making lamp 55 blinks for warning. Then, by similarly placing the receiving container 40 on the drain pan 35, the old ice pieces are discharged for 2 minutes (steps S3 to S5), and the operation is started again.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by placing the receiving container 40 on the drain pan 35 of the stage 20, a predetermined amount (total amount in the ice storage 13) of ice pieces is automatically released into the receiving container 40. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold down the release switch 30 while holding a heavy container as in the prior art, and the work becomes easier, and it is also possible to leave the site while the release operation is being performed. It will be excellent.
Further, at the end of business, the ice pieces remaining in the ice storage 13 can be discharged using the receiving container 40. That is, it is easy to arch when old ice remains, but this can be prevented beforehand. Moreover, such ice discharging operation can be performed in a sanitary manner.
Furthermore, the discharge of the ice piece is not started until it is detected that the receiving container 40 has been continuously placed for a predetermined time (2 seconds), in other words, that the receiving container 40 has been placed with a clear intention. From being accidentally released.
[0024]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) The ice piece discharge time is not limited to 2 minutes, and can be arbitrarily set according to conditions such as the ice storage capacity of the ice storage. Further, a plurality of release times may be set and selected.
(2) An appropriate time other than 2 seconds may be set as the delay time for confirming that the receiving container is placed with the will.
(3) In order to assist the discharge of ice pieces, a discharge screw may be provided at the discharge port so that it is driven when the shutter is opened. The present invention is also applied to such a structure. Is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ice dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the ice dispenser. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a receiving container. Side sectional view of stage bottom [FIG. 5] Partially cutaway perspective view [FIG. 6] Block diagram of control circuit [FIG. 7] Flowchart explaining operation
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Dispenser main body 13 ... Ice storage 20 ... Stage 21 ... Apron panel 23 ... Release port 24 ... Shooter 26 ... Solenoid device 27 ... Shutter 34 ... Samurai child 35 ... Drain pan 40 ... Receptacle container 46 ... Magnet (detection means) 48 ... Detection switch (Detecting means) 50 ... Control means 51 ... 2-second timer 52 ... 2-minute timer

Claims (3)

An ice discharge stage is provided on the front surface of the dispenser main body that stores the ice storage for storing ice pieces, and an ice that is connected to the ice storage and has a discharge opening that can be opened and closed is provided at an upper position of the stage. In the dispenser,
With a large receiving container that can be placed on the stage,
Positioning means for positioning and placing the receiving container at a predetermined position on the stage;
A detection means for the receptacle is formed of a non-contact switch provided between the receiving container and the stage in order to detect that it has been placed on the predetermined position on the stage,
An ice dispenser comprising discharge control means for opening the discharge port for a predetermined time based on a detection signal of the detection means.   2. The ice dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means is provided with a magnet while the stage is provided with a reed switch sensitive to the magnet.   3. The ice dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the discharge control unit has a delay function of capturing the detection signal for the first time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the receiving container was placed.

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