JP4805307B2 - Automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Description

In this invention , an ice making chamber having an ice making chamber opened downward is closed by a water dish joined to the lower surface thereof, ice making water is spouted from the water dish into the ice making room to generate ice blocks, and an ice making process is performed. The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker in which the ice tray generated in the ice making chamber is dropped and released by tilting the water dish in a direction away from the ice making chamber after completion .

Conventionally, an automatic ice maker of this type are disclosed in the following patent documents, it is used in facilities other kitchen such as secondhand tea house and restaurant (e.g., see Patent Document 1).

For example, in a conventional automatic ice making machine has been shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, device storage reservoir 11 to provide the both the ice making chamber 16 above the inside of the apparatus main body inside the lower main body 10, the water tray 24, manufactured ice water reservoir An ice making mechanism 12 composed of 28 or the like is disposed. The ice making chamber 16 has a large number of ice making chambers 21 opened downward in the interior thereof, and is assembled to the lower side of the mounting frame 15 disposed horizontally at the top of the apparatus body 10 . On the upper surface of the ice making compartment 16 of this, serpentine evaporator 22 connected to the refrigeration circuit (not shown) is placed, freezing cells 21 are cooled by circulating and supplying a refrigerant to the evaporator 22 during the ice making operation. Directly under the manufacturing icehouse 16, it is arranged water tray 24 provided integrally with the ice making water tank 28 to store the ice making water on a lower surface thereof. The water tray 24, as shown in FIG. 8, the cantilevered at its one end is tiltably pivotally supported, A effectuator eta motor AM, the cam 34,3 5, such as coils springs 36 and 36 It is supported so as to be tiltable by a water pan tilting mechanism 30 made up of components . The water dish tilting mechanism 30 is held in a closed position where the water dish 24 closes the ice making chamber 21 of the ice making chamber 16 from below during the ice making process, and the water dish 24 tilts downward during the ice removing process. The operation of the water tray is controlled so as to be held in the open position for opening 21. Pump PM is mounted on the bottom outside the manufacturing ice water tank 28, the ice making compartment 16 from the fountain hole 26 the ice making water is stored in the ice-making water tank 28 by the operation of the pump PM is provided in the water dish 24 is pumped injection is morphism supplied to the ice making compartment 21.

Open end opposite the pivot support side of the water tray 24 to the lower surface of the mounting frame 15 in proximity to (right end), as shown in Figure 9, a pair at spaced locations in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 10 bearing 31, 31 is suspended fixed, cam shaft 32 is rotatably supported by the both bearings 31, 31. The Ca Mushafuto 32, the second cam 35 is coupled to the rear end first cam 34 is coupled at its front end. On the front surface of the winding with frame 15, so as to cover the first cam from above, U-shaped cross section of the intake member with 23 opening downward is fixed by A effectuator eta motor AM mounted to the front surface of the mounting member 23 The camshaft 32 is rotated forward and reverse.

The cams 34 and 35, the arm 34a extending radially of the mosquito Mushafuto 32, 35a is integrally provided, the arms 34a, pins 37, 37 and water projecting from the respective distal end portions of 35a coil springs 36 and 36 is stretched between the pins 25 and 25 projecting from the both ends of the tray 2 4. These water dish 24 by the coil spring 36 is pulled in a horizontal closed position is held to close the manufacturing icehouse 16 from below. Also, the cam surfaces of the cams 34 and 35, they become capable of contacting the upper surface of the water tray 24, a water tray 24 is tilted downward by the rotation of the A effectuator eta motor AM at deicing operation, thereby The water tray 24 opens the ice making chamber 16 and is held at the lower open position.

A changeover switch 40 is attached to the front plate of the attachment frame 15 to which the attachment member 23 of the actuator motor AM is fixed . The changeover switch 40 is switched when the changeover arm 34b protruding from the first cam 34 comes into contact with the toggle lever 40a supported by protruding forward from the front plate of the mounting frame 15, and detects the end of the tilting of the water tray 24. you. Ie, when the ice making operation is shifted to the deicing operation completed, the water tray 24 by a predetermined angle rotation by the activation of the actuator motor AM switching arm 34b of the first cam 34 is in contact with the toggle lever 40a switch The switch 40 is switched, the actuator motor AM is stopped, and the water tray 24 is held at the lower open position. In this state, the ice mass dropped from the ice making compartment 21 is stored in a sliding and savings icehouse 11 on the inclined surface of the water tray 24 which is held in open position by the deicing operation. Further, upon returning to the ice-making operation, the A effectuator eta motor AM is reversely rotated water dish 24 is restored above the closed position, again to close from below the ice making compartment 21. During this operation, the arm 34a of the first cam 34 comes into contact with the toggle lever 40a to switch the changeover switch 40 , the actuator motor AM is stopped, and the water tray 24 is held in the closed position.
JP 2000-205715 A

In the above-described conventional automatic ice maker, the tilt stop of the water tray 24 is affected by the contact of the first cam arm 34a and the switching arm 34b with the toggle lever 40a of the changeover switch 40. In this case, the mounting position of the changeover switch 40 to the mounting frame 15 is insufficiently adjusted, the positional relationship between the ice making chamber 16 and the water tray 24 is shifted, or the actuator motor AM is deteriorated over time. Then, there may be a delay until the motor AM stops after receiving the stop signal of the changeover switch 40 . Therefore, the arm 34a or the switching arm 34b and Oh Baran is, there is a possibility that the toggle lever 40a thus bent. Toggle lever 40a is not the changeover switch 40 is switched properly if bent, or caused the ice-making operation is performed by ice defect in a state where the water tray 24 is not completely closed, the water tray 24 is not fully opened In this case, the deicing operation is performed, and the deicing failure is caused . In this case, when the water tray 24 in a state where deicing is not made entirely from manufacturing icehouse 16 is closed, the ice making chamber 1 6, there is a risk that ice mechanism 12 such as a water pan 24 is damaged. Further, when the toggle lever 40a is bent is a necessary task to replace the changeover switch 40 before the trouble in the ice making mechanism 12 occurs, replacement work of securing the work space in the installation site of the automatic ice making machine It is difficult to adjust the changeover switch 40 to an appropriate position .

This invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional automatic ice maker as described above, to enhance the reliability of the switching means for controlling the stop of the tilting operation of said water tray, open- and closing the water dish for manufacturing icehouse is target The purpose is to provide an automatic ice maker that is made accurately.

To achieve the above object, the present invention has an ice making chamber having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers arranged inside the apparatus main body, and one end which is positioned directly below the ice making chamber and can be tilted up and down. A water tray that is pivotally supported and has an ice making water tank integrally mounted on the lower surface thereof, and the water tray is held in a closed position that closes the ice making chamber of the ice making chamber in the ice making process, and the water dish is in the deicing process. A motor that is operatively connected to the water tray so as to be held in an open position that tilts downward to open the ice making chamber, and the water tray is moved to the upper closed position during the ice making process. The ice-making water is ejected from the ice-making water tank into the ice making chamber through the plurality of holes provided in the water tray in a state of being held and frozen, and the water tray is held at the open position in the deicing process. Ice blocks frozen in the ice making chamber fall on the ice making chamber In the automatic ice making machine was so that a permanent magnet attached to the rotating member rotationally driven by an output shaft of the motor, position spaced by tilting angle in the circumferential direction corresponding to the open position and closed position of the water tray And a non-contact type position detection means comprising a pair of magnetic sensors arranged around the motor body and respectively reacting to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet , and the motor in response to a detection signal of the position detection means there is provided an automatic ice maker, characterized in that provided in the switching control means for controlling the reversing operation and forward operation. In an optimal embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that the pair of magnetic sensors is provided on a substrate fixed to the motor body and is electrically connected to the switching control means .

In the automatic ice making machine configured as described above, the non-contact type position detecting means and the switching control means are provided, so that the ice tray is opened when the water tray is closed to close the ice making compartment. It can be stopped accurately and reliably at the open position. Further, in the implementation, when the pair of magnetic sensors is provided on the substrate fixed to the motor body and electrically connected to the switching control means, the positional relationship between the magnet and the pair of magnetic sensors is There is no deviation from the initial setting position, and maintenance work can be saved. Further, unlike the conventional mechanical contact switch mechanism, the tilt position of the water pan is detected in a magnetically non-contact state, so that the reliability of the detection function can be improved.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the automatic ice making machine of this embodiment has a configuration in which the actuator motor described in the conventional example is provided with non-contact type switching means (detecting means) instead of the above-described changeover switch. Or about the same component as the automatic ice making machine shown in FIG. 9, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code | symbol, and only a different part is demonstrated. Also, in the ice making mechanism, the side on which the actuator motor is disposed is the front side, and the water pan is pivotally supported at the left end when viewed from the front by a pivot shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the housing, and the right end side is in the up-and-down direction that has become so tilted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the ice making mechanism 13 of the ice making machine according to the embodiment has a partition plate 20 arranged vertically and horizontally on the lower surface (one surface) of an ice making plate 18 disposed horizontally in the ice storage chamber 11. A plurality of ice making chambers 21 opening downward (on the side away from the ice making plate 18) are arranged in a grid pattern, and the upper surface (other surface) of the ice making plate 18 is arranged in a meandering manner. , An evaporator 22 through which a refrigerant or hot gas supplied from a refrigeration circuit ( not shown) flows, and a closure that closes the ice making chamber 21 is disposed below the ice making chamber 16 (on the side facing the opening of the ice making chamber 21). position and tiltable water tray 24 to the open position to open the location and manufacturing ice compartment 21, and is basically composed of the water tray tilting mechanism 30 for tilting the water tray 24 up and down. Then, the ice-making operation, the ice making chamber 16 is forcibly cooled by the refrigerant supplied to the vapor Hatsuki 22 in the closed position of closing the ice making chamber 16 in the water tray 24, the ice making water which is provided integrally with the water tray 24 Ice making water stored in the tank 28 is pumped to the water tray 24 by the pump motor PM, ice making water sprayed and supplied from the fountain hole 26 of the water tray 24 to the ice making chamber 21 is frozen, and ice blocks in the ice making chamber 21 are frozen. (See FIG. 1 or FIG. 3). Also, in the deicing operation, about a pivot shaft 29 provided at the left end portion of the water tray 24, the water tray Rimizu dish 24 by the tilting mechanism 30 to open the ice-making chamber 21 is tilted downwardly co When displaced to the open position, by heating the ice making chamber 16 by a hot gas supplied to the vapor Hatsuki 22, adapted to drop by its own weight ice blocks group to melt the frozen surface between the ice making compartment 21 and ice cubes (See FIG. 2 or FIG. 4). In this embodiment, a small gap is formed between the ice making chamber 16 and the water dish 24, an ice layer is generated in the gap, and the lower end portion of the ice block is connected by this ice layer to thereby form an ice block group. Configured to release as.

Water tray tilting mechanism 30 described above, the lower surface of the mounting frame 15 proximate the open end opposite the pivot support side of the water tray 24 (right end), vertical set apart predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 10 The cam shaft 32 that is pivotally supported by the pair of bearings 31, 31, the pair of cams 42, 42 connected to the front and rear ends of the cam shaft 32, and the cams 42 extend in the radial direction. Coil springs 36 and 36 that elastically connect the tip of the arm 42a and the open end of the water dish 24, an actuator motor AM that rotates the camshaft 32, and detection means that detects the tilt position of the water dish 24. 50. The actuator motor AM is disposed on the front side of the mounting member 23 mounted on the front surface of the mounting frame 15 so as to cover the cam 42 disposed on the front end side of the cam shaft 32 from above, and the cam shaft 32 is mounted by the motor AM. It is designed to rotate forward and reverse. The pair of cams 42, 42 is a substantially symmetrical shape, as well as rotate with the rotation of the camshaft 32 by the A effectuator eta motor AM in a forward or reverse direction, the arm 42a, 42a of the closed position When the tip is positioned upward, the water tray 24 is elastically pulled upward via the coil springs 36 and 36 to close the ice making chamber 21 with the water tray 24, and the closed state is maintained during the ice making operation. Is done. On the other hand, in the open position, the cams 42, 42 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and the tips of the arms 42a, 42a are displaced downward, so that the water tray 24 tilts downward, and the ice making chamber. 21 is opened to allow the lump group to be detached in the deicing operation.

The actuator motor AM comprises a motor body (not shown) such as a rotor housed in a motor box 44 and a speed reduction mechanism 48 housed in a gear cover (cover) 46 and configured by combining gears. The rotation is adjusted to a predetermined rotational speed by the speed reduction mechanism 48 and transmitted to the camshaft 32. That is, when energized actuator motor AM, the motor body rotation is transmitted to the first reduction stage of the gear constituting the reduction mechanism 48, a predetermined in the process of reached transferred to the tooth wheel constituting the reduction mechanism 48 The speed is reduced to the rotational speed, and the camshaft 32 coaxially connected to the final reduction gear (predetermined gear) 48a is rotated. Also, A effectuator eta motor AM is configured to be rotatable in a forward or backward direction under the control of the control means (not shown) is controlled such that the control means to stop to be applied a signal from the detecting means 50 The

The detecting means 50 for detecting the tilting position of the water tray 24 includes a permanent magnet (detected object) 52 disposed in one gear of the final reduction gear (hereinafter referred to as the final gear) 48a, and the final gear. The substrate 54 is arranged so as to face the end surface 48a and spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the axial direction, and a pair of magnetic sensors (detecting elements ) 56A and 56B disposed on the substrate 54. Permanent magnet 52 is embedded in the predetermined interval spaced position to the shaft center radially outwardly in the final gear 48a faces forward from the front end face of the final gear 48a, As the rotation of the final gear 48a by the rotation of the motor body It rotates in the forward or reverse direction. The substrate 54, opposite the front end face of the final gear 48a, is fixed in a state of being separated from the front end surface on the inside of the gear cover 46, extending in a position facing the front of the rotation path of at least the permanent magnets 52 is doing. The pair of magnetic sensors 56 </ b> A and 56 </ b> B are opposed to the rotation locus of the permanent magnet 52 on the substrate 54, and are tilted between the closing position and the opening position of the water dish 24 on the rotation locus of the same radius. The permanent magnet 52 is spaced apart from the permanent magnet 52 by a required angle corresponding to the angle. In this embodiment, the pair of magnetic sensors 56 </ b> A and 56 </ b> B are spaced apart from each other by a required angle (for example, about 135 °) and are disposed on the substrate 54, and are positioned below the closed position of the water tray 24. The permanent magnet 52 faces the first magnetic sensor (one magnetic sensor) 56A, and the permanent magnet 52 faces the second magnetic sensor (the other magnetic sensor) 56B positioned above the open position of the water dish 24. It is set (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2). The magnetic sensor 56A which is fixed by soldering or the like on the substrate 54, 56B is not electrically connected to the control means for controlling the operation of the actuator motor, these magnetic sensors 56A, a detection signal from 56B control means Are configured to be input respectively.

The above detection means 50, the actuator motor AM final gear 48a during rotation the permanent magnet 52 rotates the magnetic sensors 56A, opposed to 56B, the magnetic sensors 56A, 56B are permanent magnets Te under noncontact When the magnetic force 52 is detected, a detection signal is output to the control means of the actuator motor AM . The control means to which the detection signals of the magnetic sensors 56A and 56B are input controls to stop the actuator motor AM . That is, the pair of magnetic sensors 56A, the arrangement positions of the substrate 54 of 56B with closure position location and open- position of the water tray 24 is defined, both sensors 56A, the tilt angle of the water tray 24 by spaced angles 56B Is set.

(Effects of Example)
Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment will be described. In the ice making operation, manufacturing icehouse 16 is in the state of being closed by the water tray 24, steam Hatsuki 22 refrigerant is supplied the ice making chamber 16 is cooled in ice making water injection-supplied from the fountain hole 26 of the water tray 24 Will freeze in layers within the ice making chamber 21. Here, in the closed position of the water tray 24, permanent magnet 52 is positioned on the lower side of an end face of a final gear 48a, and faces the first magnetic sensor 56A of the lower side (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 3) . The manufacturing ice compartment 21 and ice blocks are generated switches to the deicing operation, A effectuator eta motor AM is rotated. Is energized to the motor body of the actuator motor AM, the rotation of the motors body is transmitted to the speed reduction mechanism 48, a final gear 48a of the deceleration mechanism 48 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the reduction rotation that is adjusted to a desired rotational speed by the gears constituting the mechanism 48 is the cam shaft 32 is transmitted to the cam shaft 32 coupled to the final gear 48a starts to rotate counterclockwise. At the same time, the hot gas is heating the manufactured ice chamber 16 is supplied to the evaporator 22 is switched valve of the refrigeration circuit, the freezing surface between manufacturing icehouse 16 and ice blocks begin to melt. Further, by rotating the cam 42 and 42 in a counterclockwise direction with the rotation of the mosquito Mushafuto 32, separated from the ice mass the water tray 24 is pressed by the cam 42, the pivot shaft 29 and the tilting center to start the tilting toward the lower side Te.

Rotating the thus final gear 48a is rotated in the A effectuator eta motor AM, the permanent magnet 52 reaches the position facing the second magnetic sensor 56B, the second magnetic sensor 56B will detect the magnetism of the permanent magnet 52 and it outputs a detection signal to the control unit. When the detection signal is input from the second magnetic sensor 56B, the control means judges that the water tray 24 has reached the open position, causes stop the actuator motor AM immediately shut off the power supply to the motor body. Then, the icing status of the ice making chamber 16 and the ice block group by the action of the hot gas is canceled, ice blocks are released stored in savings icehouse 11 top sliding to the water tray 24 held in the open position.

Then in, the thermistor is not shown FIG detects a set temperature, it is determined that release of the ice blocks group is completed, A effectuator eta motor AM under the control of the control means to reverse direction was in the open position The water dish 24 tilts in a direction (upward) for closing the ice making chamber 16. As the actuator motor AM rotates reversely, the final gear 48a rotates in the reverse direction, and the permanent magnet 52 facing the second magnetic sensor 56B rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 to the first magnetic sensor 56A. When the opposite position is reached , the first magnetic sensor 56A detects the magnetism of the permanent magnet 52 and outputs the detection signal to the control means . When the detection signal is input from the first magnetic sensor 56A, the control means judges that the water tray 24 has reached the closed position, stops the actuator motor AM immediately shut off the power supply to the motor body, next To prepare for ice making.

As described above, the stop control of the actuator motor AM is executed by the detection of the detection means 50 constituted by the permanent magnet 52 provided on the final gear 48a of the speed reduction mechanism 48 and the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B provided on the substrate 54. . In this case, since the detection means 50 does not depend on mechanical contact or a means accompanied by an operation such as a switch , the response speed and detection accuracy are excellent, and the actuator motor AM can be stopped simultaneously with the detection of the permanent magnet 52. 24 can be accurately and reliably stopped at the closed position and the open position. The actuator motor AM is reliably stopped when the final gear 48a is rotated by the arrangement angle of the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B, and the permanent magnet 52 and the magnetic sensors 56A and 56B provided on the final gear 48a. Therefore, the tilt angle of the water pan 24 is defined by the arrangement angle of the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B, and can always be constant. Further, since the tilt angle of the water dish 24 can be defined by the arrangement angle of the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B, there is no need to adjust the positional relationship between the detection means 50 and the water dish 24, etc. Adjustment work can be reduced. The detecting means 50 is a combination of a permanent magnet 52 employed as a detected object and a pair of magnetic sensors 56A, 56B employed as corresponding sensing elements . The magnetic sensors 56A, 56B are permanent. Since it is a non-contact detection means for detecting the magnetism of the magnet 52, the detection means 50 itself is not damaged even if the motor AM overruns due to deterioration of the actuator motor AM over time, etc. As a means for controlling the tilt stop of 24, high reliability is achieved.

That is, by adopting the detection means 50 described above, the ice making failure or the deicing failure due to the misalignment of the water tray 24 between the closed position and the open position is prevented, and the ice making mechanism 13 is damaged due to ice biting or the like. Such troubles can be avoided. Therefore, after installing the automatic ice making machine, with can suppress the occurrence of trouble detecting means 50 by the failure, there is no need to adjust the positional relationship between the detection means 50 and the water tray 24 and the like at the installation site of the automatic ice making machine Thus, maintenance work can be reduced. Also, before Symbol detecting means 50 from being accommodated in the gear cover 46 with the reduction mechanism 48, by the environment, such as humid atmosphere in the apparatus main body 10, that could be the malfunction or deterioration over time is suppressed. Teeth may, detection means 50, the magnetic sensor 56A, by a combination of 56B and the permanent magnet 52, even if the magnetic sensor 56A, or adhered dust 56B and the permanent magnet, or condensation occurs, detected The accuracy is not lowered, and the life can be improved in combination with the effect of housing the detection means 50 in the gear cover 46 of the motor body .

In the above embodiment, the stop of the tilting operation of the water pan 24 is controlled by the detection of the permanent magnet 52 by the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 56 may be carried set only by the. For example, another magnetic sensor 56 is disposed at a position beyond the second magnetic sensor 56B in the rotation direction of the permanent magnet 52 from the first magnetic sensor 56A to the second magnetic sensor 56B. The stop of the actuator motor AM may be controlled by detecting the permanent magnet 52 by 56 .

(Example of change)
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a part of the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine according to the modified example. In the embodiment described above , the closed position and the open position of the water dish 24 are detected by the detection of the pair of magnetic sensors 56A and 56B disposed at a predetermined angle apart from the substrate 54 disposed opposite to the final gear 48a provided with the permanent magnet 52. In this modified example, a third magnetic sensor 56C is disposed as the second detection means 60 between the first magnetic sensor 56A and the second magnetic sensor 56B. ing. According to the case, not only the manner of stops with tilted open position as to completely discharge the manufacturing ice water remaining in the ice-making water tank 28 by the detection of the second magnetic sensor 56B of the water tray 24, the detection of the third magnetic sensor 56C The water pan 24 is configured to be able to stop even at a half-open position where the tilt angle of the water dish 24 is smaller than the open position. The basic configuration of the automatic ice making machine of this modification is the same as an automatic ice making machine described in the above embodiments, the same members and description thereof is omitted with the same reference numerals, different configurations Only explained.

In the modified automatic ice making machine, the permanent magnet 52 disposed on the final gear 48a and rotating with the tilting of the water tray 24, and the water tray 24 tilted from the open position or the half-open position to the closed position. a first magnetic sensor 56A for detecting the reaction of the permanent magnet 52 and a second magnetic sensor 56B for detecting the reaction of the permanent magnet 52 that the water tray 24 is tilted to the open position from the closed position, the water tray A third magnetic sensor 56 </ b> C is provided that detects that 24 has tilted from the closed position to the half-open position by reaction with the permanent magnet 52. The third magnetic sensor 56 </ b> C is a pair of magnets disposed on the substrate 54 disposed opposite to the final gear 48 a provided with the permanent magnet 52 so as to be separated by a predetermined angle corresponding to the closed position and the open position of the water dish 24. Between the sensors 56A and 56B, the permanent magnet 52 is disposed on a rotation trajectory in which the permanent magnet 52 is displaced from the first magnetic sensor 56A toward the second magnetic sensor 56B as the water dish 24 is opened. Yes. Here, a first magnetic sensor 56A disposed angle of the third magnetic sensor 56C is tilted angle of the water tray 24 more stops the detection of the permanent magnet 52 by the third magnetic sensor 56C is making water at the ice-making completion inside manufacturing ice water tank 28 is set to stop at a half open position may remain to some extent, it is set to be smaller than the tilt angle in the open position as to completely discharge the manufacturing ice water remaining in the ice-making water tank 28 ing.

Further, the magnetic sensors 56A, 56B, the control means controls to stop the A effectuator eta motor AM to input detection signals from 56C, the input count (the water tray 24 of the detection signal from the third magnetic sensor 56C Counting means for counting the number of tilts from the closed position to the half-open position), and number setting means for presetting the number of inputs counted by the counting means. In this case, the control unit of the actuator motor AM, upon opening of the water tray 24, until the number of inputs of the detection signal from the third magnetic sensor 56C in the counting means reaches the preset number of times at times number setting unit, the third In response to the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 56C, control is performed to stop the tilting of the water tray 24 at the half-open position, and when the number of inputs of the counting means reaches the set number of times, the detection signal of the third magnetic sensor 56C is detected. without so it performs control for stopping the tilting of the water tray 24 in the open release position in response to the detection signal of the second magnetic sensor 56B. The control unit is configured to cancel the signal third magnetic sensor 56C detects the permanent magnet 52 in the middle of the water tray 24 is tilted moving toward the closed position from the open position. Further, the control means is responsive to the detection signal of the second magnetic sensor 56B resets the count means, so as to count the newly detected signal of the third magnetic sensor 56C from the next time. For example, the water tray 24 is semi-open position or in inclination movement to the deicing operation is four times after the (number of inputs set) repeated, fifth in the ice-making water tank 28 is tilted water tray 24 to the open position cycle manufacturing ice to practice the deicing operation drained all are set to be repeated. Thus, in the automatic ice maker, not only to stop controlling the opening and closing of simply in response the water tray 24 to the detection signal from the second detection means 60, a plurality of magnetic sensors to the second detecting means 60 56, and the control means is provided with a counting means and a number setting means so that the tilting angle when the water tray 24 is opened in the deicing operation is gradually displaced, and the ice making remaining in the ice making water tank 28 is provided. It is controlled so that the water is partially or completely drained .

Automatic ice maker of this modification, in the ice making cycle to repeat deicing operation and manufacturing ice operation, by stopping the small semi-open position of the tilting angle from the open position to the water tray 24 during the deicing operation, the ice-making operation preceding emissions manufacturing ice cooled may be partially due. Thus, when supplemented with new ice-making water in manufacturing ice water remaining in the ice-making water tank 28 upon completion of the deicing operation, it is possible to lower the temperature of the entire ice-making water, the ice making time in the ice-making operation The ice making efficiency can be improved by shortening. Furthermore, among the plurality of ice making cycle, the water tray 24 is greatly tilted to the open position, because manufacturing ice from the ice-making water tank 28 is discharged total amount, are concentrated in the ice-making water tank 28 at a frequency in the deicing operation There is an advantage that a clean ice block can be generated by avoiding remaining impurities .

( Other changes)
Is the other variant, the rotary body that rotates with a magnetic sensor to the rotation of a predetermined gear 48a or the actuator motor AM of the reduction mechanism 48 (for example, inside of the gear cover 46 was fixed to the cam shaft 32 A permanent magnet may be disposed opposite to the magnetic sensor.

In the detection means using the magnetic sensor in the above embodiment , the permanent magnet 52 is used as the object to be detected, the magnetic sensor 56 is used as the means for detecting the permanent magnet 52, and the detection means using magnetism as the detection method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other non-contact detection means such as an optical detection means using, for example, a light emitter as a detected object and a light sensor as a means for detecting the light emitter. Can be adopted. The gear for disposing the permanent magnet 52 is not limited to the gear 48a at the final reduction stage, and the permanent magnet 52 can be disposed on an appropriate gear constituting the reduction mechanism.

The detecting means according to the magnetic sensor in the above embodiment can also be applied to an automatic ice maker having a ice mechanism for generating a spherical ice as shown in FIG. Ice mechanism of automatic ice maker of this 70 forms multiple image the first freezing cells 72a which opens downward, the first ice-making chamber 72 having a vaporizer 68 to the rear, second freezing cells which opens upwardly The second ice making chamber 74 having a large number of 74a is basically provided, and in the ice making operation, the ice making chambers 72a and 74a are correspondingly closed to form a spherical ice block defined inside. By supplying ice-making water, it is configured to generate spherical ice in the space. In this ice making mechanism 70, during the deicing operation, the deicing water between the second ice making chamber 74 a and the spherical ice is released by accumulating the deicing water at room temperature around the second ice making chamber 74 and then heating to release the ice. The second ice making chamber 74 is tilted and released with the pivot shaft 82 as the tilting fulcrum with respect to the first ice making chamber 72 by the water dish tilting mechanism 80 comprising the actuator motor AM, the cam 76, the coil spring 78 and the like configured in the same manner. The first ice making chamber 72 is heated to release the freezing between the first ice making chamber 72a and the spherical ice, whereby the spherical ice is peeled and dropped.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ice making mechanism 70 is provided with the second detection means 60 described in the above modification inside the gear cover 46. The rotation of the actuator motor AM during the deicing operation rotates the cam 76 by a predetermined angle in a direction in which the coil spring 78 is loosened (a direction in which the coil spring 78 releases the hold of the closed position of the second ice making chamber 74). At this time, the permanent magnet 52 disposed on the final gear 48a arrives at a position facing the third magnetic sensor 56C, the actuator motor AM is stopped, and the water supply valve WV is opened to enter the second ice making chamber 74. It is set to start supplying deicing water. Further, a deicing water end switch SW for detecting the completion of deicing of the second ice making chamber 74 is disposed at a position near the pivot side of the second ice making chamber 74 in the mounting frame 15. When turned off, the water supply valve WV is closed to stop the supply of deicing water to the second ice making chamber 74, and the operation of the actuator motor AM is restarted to open the second ice making chamber 74 to the open position. the towards is tilted, the permanent magnet 52 is Ru is set to stop the actuator motor AM when arriving at the position facing the second magnetic sensor 56B.

It is a front view which partially cuts out the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine which concerns on the suitable Example of this invention in the closed state of a water tray. It is a front view which partially cuts out the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine of an Example in the open state of a water tray. It is a side view which partially cuts out the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine which concerns on an Example in the closed state of a water tray. It is a side view which partially cuts out the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine of an Example in the open state of a water tray. It is a front view which partially cuts out and shows the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine of the modified example. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice maker which concerns on the other example of a change in the closed state of a water tray. It is a front view which notches and shows the actuator motor of the ice making mechanism of the other example of a change. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the ice making mechanism of the conventional ice making machine. It is a side view which cuts off and shows the ice making mechanism of the conventional ice making machine, (a) is in a closed state, (b) is in an open state.

Explanation of symbols

16 ice making chamber, 21 ice making chamber, 24 water tray, 46 gear cover (cover), 48 speed reduction mechanism, 48a final gear (predetermined gear), 52 permanent magnet (detected object), 56A first magnetic sensor ( detection means, one side) Magnetic sensor), 56B second magnetic sensor ( detection means, one magnetic sensor), AM actuator motor

Claims (2)

An ice making chamber having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers disposed in the upper part of the apparatus main body, and an ice making water tank integrally formed on the lower surface of the ice making chamber, which is positioned directly below the ice making chamber and is tiltable up and down. The assembled water tray and the water tray is held in a closed position that closes the ice making chamber of the ice making chamber in the ice making process, and the water tray tilts downward in the deicing process to open the ice making chamber A forward / reverse rotatable motor operatively connected to the water dish so as to be held in position, and provided in the water dish in a state where the water dish is held in the upper closed position during the ice making process. Ice making water is ejected from the ice making water tank into the ice making chamber through a plurality of holes and frozen, and the ice block frozen in the ice making chamber is placed on the water dish held in an open position during the deicing process. In an automatic ice maker that falls by heating the ice making chamber,
A permanent magnet attached to a rotating member that is rotationally driven by the output shaft of the motor;
A non-contact configured with a pair of magnetic sensors arranged around the motor body and reacting to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet at positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction at a tilt angle corresponding to the closing position and the opening position of the water dish. Contact-type position detection means;
Automatic ice maker, characterized in that a switching control unit for controlling the reverse operation and forward operation of the motor in response to the detection signal of said position detecting means. 2. The automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the pair of magnetic sensors are provided on a substrate fixed to the motor body and are electrically connected to the switching control means .

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