JP6155874B2 - Ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine, and more particularly to an ice making machine that stores ice pieces supplied from an ice making unit while stirring them in an ice storage chamber and dispenses a predetermined amount of ice pieces as needed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic vending machine that sells beverages such as cups in a beverage container such as a cup, an auger type ice maker that manufactures ice pieces of a predetermined shape as proposed in Patent Document 1, for example, is provided. ing.

  The auger type ice making machine stores ice pieces on the cocoon of an ice storage chamber by rotating and pushing up thin ice produced in an ice making unit. The ice pieces stored on the cocoon cake are stirred by the agitator and supplied into the beverage container from the discharge outlet opened as necessary. The melted water generated by the melting of the ice pieces passes through the hole in the spider and accumulates at the bottom of the ice storage chamber, and is discharged to the outside through a discharge port provided at the bottom.

  By the way, in the auger type ice making machine, a small amount of melted water always accumulates at the bottom of the ice storage chamber due to its surface tension. Moreover, although tap water is used as water supplied for ice making, since a lot of chlorine is contained in tap water, there is a possibility that if the tap water is iced as it is, chlorine odor may be generated. Therefore, the tap water supplied for ice making is removed with chlorine in a water purifier, and ice with reduced chlorine odor is created. The water from which this chlorine content is removed is the bottom of the ice storage room. If it is stored for a long time, there is a problem that germs are easy to propagate. Therefore, in order to prevent the propagation of various bacteria, chemicals such as hypochlorous acid are retained in the ice storage chamber for sterilization.

Japanese Patent No. 2617996

  However, in sterilization in which chemicals such as hypochlorous acid stay in the ice storage chamber, there is a possibility that a strange odor may occur if the chemical remains even in a trace amount, and it is necessary to wash with running water several times after discharging the chemical. It takes a long time and the sterilization work is complicated. If sterilization takes a long time in this way, the ice making machine cannot be operated during that time, and as a result, the sales opportunity of the vending machine provided with the ice making machine has been lost.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making machine that can easily sterilize a region where melted water is stored in an ice storage chamber even during operation.

To achieve the above object, an ice making machine according to the present onset Ming, ice chips supplied from the ice making unit and stored in the ice storage, in the ice making machine to pay out a predetermined amount of ice chips if necessary, the ice A storage region for storing the ice pieces and the melt water temporarily by passing melt water generated by melting a part of the ice pieces through a hole formed in the chamber. A partition member for partitioning the molten water storage region stored in an automatic manner, and an irradiation means for irradiating the molten water storage region with an ultraviolet ray disposed in a manner facing the molten water storage region partitioned by the partition member The irradiating means is supported by a mounting metal disposed in a manner extending upward from the bottom of the ice storage chamber .

An ice making machine according to the present invention is an ice making machine that stores ice pieces supplied from an ice making unit in an ice storage chamber, and dispenses a predetermined amount of ice pieces as needed. A melted area in which the melted water is temporarily stored by passing the melted water generated by melting a part of the iced pieces through a hole formed in the ice piece and the melted water temporarily. A partition member that partitions the storage region; and an irradiation unit that radiates ultraviolet light to the molten water storage region, disposed in a manner facing the molten water storage region partitioned by the partition member; The outer diameter of the partition member is radially increased as it goes toward the surface, and the irradiating means irradiates the lower surface of the partition member with ultraviolet rays and reflects it.

  According to the ice making machine of the present invention, the partition member allows the molten water generated by melting a part of the ice piece to pass through the hole formed in the partition member, and the storage region for storing the ice piece and the molten water. Is separated from the molten water storage area temporarily stored, and the irradiating means is disposed in a manner facing the molten water storage area partitioned by the partition member, and irradiates the molten water storage area with ultraviolet rays. As described above, the sterilization can be easily performed as compared with sterilization with a medicine or the like, and the sterilization can be performed even during operation.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a main configuration of an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scissors shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the ice making machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of a modified example of the ice making machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

  Exemplary embodiments of an ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a main configuration of an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ice making machine exemplified here is called an auger type ice making machine, and is applied to a vending machine that puts and sells a beverage as a product in a beverage container such as a cup. Such an ice making machine includes an ice making unit 10 and an ice storage unit 20.

  The ice making unit 10 is constituted by an ice making cylinder 11 containing an auger 12 made of a screw-like rotary cutting blade. The auger 12 is connected to a drive motor 14 via a speed reducer 13 and is driven to rotate about its own central axis by the drive motor 14. The ice making cylinder 11 is provided with a metal inner tube 11a through which the auger 12 is inserted, and an evaporator 15 is wound around the inner tube 11a. The evaporator 15 is connected to a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism (not shown) and a refrigerant pipe to constitute a refrigeration cycle, and the refrigerant passing through itself evaporates to cool the inner pipe 11a. Thin ice is generated on the inner wall surface of the inner tube 11a.

  The ice storage unit 20 is a bottomed cylindrical heat insulating container and has an ice storage chamber 21 inside. The ice storage unit 20 is connected to the upper part of the ice making cylinder 11 constituting the ice making unit 10. More specifically, the ice storage chamber 21 communicates with the inside of the inner tube 11 a of the ice making cylinder 11 through an opening 20 a 1 formed in the bottom 20 a of the ice storage unit 20.

  The ice storage chamber 21 is provided with a vertical rotation shaft 22 connected to the upper end of the auger 12 and a plurality of agitators 23 protruding radially from the rotation shaft 22.

  Further, the ice storage chamber 21 is provided with a spider (partition member) 30 made of a metal material such as stainless steel. As shown in FIG. 2, the spider child 30 is formed in a radial shape (umbrella shape) such that the outer diameter gradually increases as it goes downward, and the rotation shaft 22 is inserted through the center portion thereof. A through hole 31 is formed. A large number of holes 32 are formed in such a spear child 30. The salmon child 30 is arranged in the ice storage chamber 21 so as to partition the ice storage chamber 21 vertically, and partitions the upper side from itself as a stirring region (storage region) 21a and the lower side from itself as a molten water storage region 21b. ing. In addition, the spider 30 has a mirror finish on its lower surface.

  In addition, the code | symbols 24 and 25 in FIG. 1 are a fixed blade and a detection plate. Although the details will be described later, the fixed blade 24 is for cutting off the ice sent by the auger 12. The detection plate 25 is disposed in the upper part of the stirring region 21a so as to be movable up and down, and detects the amount of ice storage through a detection switch (not shown) by moving up and down.

  In the ice making machine, the thin ice generated on the inner wall surface of the inner tube 11 a of the ice making cylinder 11 is sent upward while scraping with the auger 12, and the ice pieces cut out with the fixed blade 24 are placed on the cage 30 of the ice storage chamber 21. Let me put it. That is, the ice is supplied to the stirring region 21 a of the ice storage chamber 21. In the agitation region 21a, the agitator 23 that rotates in conjunction with the auger 12 agitates the ice pieces to prevent the ice pieces from fusing and forming a large ice mass. Then, a predetermined amount of ice pieces in the stirring region 21a is supplied into the beverage container from a not-shown discharge outlet that is opened as necessary.

  On the other hand, the melted water generated by melting the ice pieces in the stirring region 21 a passes through the hole 32 of the eggplant 30 and accumulates in the melted water storage region 21 b which is the bottom 20 a of the ice storage chamber 21, and the bottom 20 a of the ice storage unit 20. When the discharge port 20a2 provided in is opened, it is discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 26.

  In the ice making machine according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the irradiation member 40 is disposed in the molten water storage region 21 b of the ice storage chamber 21. The irradiation member 40 is an ultraviolet irradiation means constituted by an LED or the like that irradiates ultraviolet rays. The configuration of the irradiation member 40 is not particularly limited. However, the irradiation member 40 preferably has waterproof performance and may be housed in a waterproof container (not shown). Moreover, it is preferable that the waterproof container which accommodates the irradiation member 40 in this case, and the wiring of the irradiation member 40 are comprised with the material which followed the food hygiene law. A plurality of such irradiation members 40 are provided in the circumferential direction in the molten water storage region 21 b, and each is attached to the attachment 50.

  The attachment metal 50 is formed by bending a plate-like body made of a metal material such as stainless steel, for example, and includes a base 51 attached to the bottom 20a of the ice storage unit 20 and an upper end from one end of the base 51. And a support portion 53 that extends outward from the upper end edge portion of the upper extension portion 52 and supports the irradiation member 40. Such a mounting metal 50 supports the irradiation member 40 by the support portion 53. At this time, the irradiation member 40 irradiates the bottom of the molten water storage region 21b, that is, the entire bottom portion 20a of the ice storage portion 20 with ultraviolet rays. Each mounting position is adjusted so that it is possible.

  In the ice making machine according to the present embodiment as described above, the irradiation member 40 supported by the attachment metal 50 irradiates ultraviolet rays, so that the entire bottom portion of the molten water storage region 21b is irradiated. The ultraviolet rays reflected from the entire area of the molten water storage area 21b can irradiate the entire molten water storage area 21b with ultraviolet light.

  According to the above ice making machine, since the irradiation member 40 irradiates the melted water storage area 21b with ultraviolet rays, it can be sterilized more easily than conventional sterilization with chemicals and the like. Sterilization can be performed even during operation. Therefore, the region 21b in the ice storage chamber 21 where the molten water is stored can be easily sterilized even during operation. Thereby, it is possible to prevent taking away the sales opportunity of the vending machine to which the ice making machine is applied.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of a modified example of the ice making machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to what has the structure similar to the ice making machine which is embodiment mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the embodiment described above, the irradiation member 40 is attached and supported by the attachment metal 50, but in the example shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation member 41 is provided at the bottom of the molten water storage region 21b, that is, the bottom 20a of the ice storage unit 20. Is buried. More specifically, the irradiation member 41 is an ultraviolet irradiation means configured by an LED or the like that irradiates ultraviolet rays. The configuration of the irradiation member 41 is not particularly limited, but a member having waterproof performance is preferable, and the irradiation member 41 may be housed in a waterproof container (not shown). In this case, the waterproof container for storing the irradiation member 41 and the wiring of the irradiation member 41 are preferably made of a material that complies with the Food Sanitation Law.

  A plurality of such irradiation members 41 are provided in the circumferential direction at the bottom of the molten water storage region 21b (the bottom 20a of the ice storage unit 20), and the ultraviolet rays are irradiated toward the lower surface of the bowl 30 and appropriately reflected to melt. The number and the embedment location are adjusted so that ultraviolet rays can be spread over the entire water storage area 21b.

  Even in such a configuration, the irradiation member 41 embedded in the bottom portion 20a of the ice storage unit 20 irradiates ultraviolet rays, so that the lower surface of the eggplant 30 is appropriately reflected to spread the ultraviolet rays over the entire molten water storage region 21b. The entire molten water storage region 21b can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  And since the irradiation member 41 irradiates the molten water storage area | region 21b with an ultraviolet-ray, it can sterilize easily compared with sterilizing with a chemical | medical agent etc. like the past, and also sterilizes even during operation of an ice making machine. It can be performed. Therefore, even during operation, the area where the molten water is stored in the ice storage chamber 21 can be easily sterilized. Thereby, it is possible to prevent taking away the sales opportunity of the vending machine to which the ice making machine is applied.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment and its modification example of this invention were described, this invention is not limited to these, A various change can be made.

  In the modified example of the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the irradiation member 41 embedded in the bottom portion 20a of the ice storage unit 20 are reflected by the lower surface of the bag 30, but in the present invention, the partition member ( A reflective member that reflects ultraviolet rays radially may be attached to the lower surface of the cocoon ridge, and the ultraviolet rays may be reflected by the reflective member to spread the ultraviolet rays over the entire molten water storage region.

  In the above-described embodiment and its modification, the ultraviolet light is spread over the entire molten water storage region 21b. However, in the present invention, the ultraviolet light is irradiated only on the part where bacteria or the like are thought to enter. It may be. More specifically, the ultraviolet ray may be irradiated at the communication point with the drain pipe 26.

  In the present invention, when the front opening of the vending machine main body is opened by opening and moving the front door of the vending machine to which the ice making machine is applied, the irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the irradiation means is stopped. Also good.

  In the present invention, ultraviolet irradiation by the irradiation means may be performed intermittently. As a result, the service life of the irradiation means can be extended.

  In the above-described embodiment and its modifications, an auger type ice making machine has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the wiring of the irradiation means may be arranged so as to run over the drain pipe as necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ice making part 11 Ice making cylinder 11a Inner pipe 12 Auger 13 Reduction gear 14 Drive motor 15 Evaporator 20 Ice storage part 20a Bottom part 21 Ice storage room 21a Stirring area (storage area)
21b Molten water storage area 22 Rotating shaft 23 Agitator 30 Samurai child (partition member)
31 Through-hole 32 Hole 40 Irradiation member (irradiation means)
50 Mounting bracket 51 Base 52 Upper extension 53 Support

Claims (2)

In an ice making machine that stores ice pieces supplied from the ice making unit in an ice storage chamber and dispenses a predetermined amount of ice pieces as needed,
A storage region that is disposed in the ice storage chamber and that stores the ice pieces by passing through the holes formed in the ice pieces by melting a part of the ice pieces and passing through the holes. A partition member that partitions the molten water storage region in which the water is temporarily stored;
An irradiation means arranged to face the molten water storage area partitioned by the partition member, and irradiating the molten water storage area with ultraviolet rays ,
The ice making machine is characterized in that the irradiating means is supported by a mounting metal disposed in a manner extending upward from the bottom of the ice storage chamber . In an ice making machine that stores ice pieces supplied from the ice making unit in an ice storage chamber and dispenses a predetermined amount of ice pieces as needed,
A storage region that is disposed in the ice storage chamber and that stores the ice pieces by passing through the holes formed in the ice pieces by melting a part of the ice pieces and passing through the holes. A partition member that partitions the molten water storage region in which the water is temporarily stored;
An irradiating means arranged to face the molten water storage area partitioned by the partition member, and irradiating the molten water storage area with ultraviolet rays;
With
The partition member is formed radially in a manner in which the outer diameter gradually increases as it goes downward,
It said illumination means, an ice machine manufactured by you, characterized in that for reflecting irradiated with ultraviolet rays on the lower surface of the partition member.

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