JP7611488B2 - Ice maker - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to ice makers.

Conventionally, a stack-on type ice maker is known in which an ice storage compartment is combined with an ice making unit below the ice making unit (Patent Document 1).
In the ice making machine described in Patent Document 1, the ice made is pushed horizontally through the chute by the rotation of the agitator, passes through the vertical chute that connects the ice making unit and the ice storage bin, and falls vertically into the ice storage compartment of the ice storage bin for storage. The ice making machine in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an ice storage switch that detects when the ice storage compartment of the ice storage bin is full of ice.

JP 2018-54207 A

This disclosure provides an ice-making machine that can accurately detect when the ice storage compartment of an ice storage facility is full of ice.

The ice making machine of the present disclosure is an ice making machine in which made ice is dropped through a chute into an ice storage room for storage, an ice storage switch is located at the bottom of the chute, and an ice storage detection plate is provided which oscillates with the ice to turn on the ice storage switch , the ice storage detection plate is provided with an operating plate which is operated by the ice, and an input plate which works in conjunction with the operating plate and turns on the ice storage switch, the ice storage detection plate is divided into multiple parts in the depth direction with the operating plate and input plate being paired, and the ice storage switch can be turned on regardless of which operating plate oscillates .

The ice making machine disclosed herein is equipped with an ice storage detection plate, so it can accurately detect when the ice storage compartment of the ice storage shed is full of ice.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an ice making machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; A perspective view showing the positional relationship between the vertical shooter and the ice storage detection plate. A perspective view of the ice storage detection plate and ice storage switch An enlarged view of Figure 1 showing the ice storage detection plate and the ice storage switch area. FIG. 5 shows the case where the ice storage detection plate has rotated to the ice storage switch side from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows the case where the ice storage detection plate has rotated to the ice storage switch side from the state shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 7 shows the case where the ice storage detection plate has rotated to the ice storage switch side from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an ice storage detection plate of an ice making machine according to a second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an ice storage detection plate of an ice making machine according to a third embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an ice storage detection plate of an ice making machine according to a fourth embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an ice storage detection plate of an ice making machine according to a fifth embodiment;

(Foundations and other information that form the basis of this disclosure)
At the time the inventors came up with the present disclosure, ice-making machines had been disclosed that were equipped with an ice storage switch that detects when the ice storage compartment of an ice storage bin is full of ice.
In this ice making machine, when the ice storage compartment and vertical chute of the ice storage bin are filled with ice, the accumulated ice directly pushes in the ice storage switch, and if this state continues for, for example, 30 seconds, the ice making operation is stopped.

At this time, even if no ice is removed from the ice storage bin, or only ice other than that directly below the vertical chute is removed from the ice storage bin, the ice in the vertical chute will melt naturally, so the ice that was piled up until the ice storage switch was pressed will melt and the ice storage switch will turn OFF. If this state continues for, for example, 150 seconds, ice-making operation will resume. If the accumulated ice after ice-making operation has resumed presses the ice storage switch again, ice-making operation will stop again.

In this way, if the ice-making operation is repeatedly restarted and stopped due to natural melting of ice for a long time, the ice in the vertical chute and the ice in the ice storage bin will refreeze and harden. As a result, the top line of the accumulated ice will gradually rise. If ice accumulates and refreezes to the extent that the ice storage switch is buried, when the ice that directly pressed the ice storage switch melts, the ice storage switch turns OFF, and the ice-making operation is resumed, the refreezed ice around the ice storage switch may hinder the movement of newly generated ice. In this case, the ice that has been generated will not be able to press the ice storage switch, so the inventors discovered a problem that it is not possible to accurately detect whether the ice storage bin is full of ice, and in order to solve this problem, they have come to configure the subject of the present disclosure.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides an ice making machine that can accurately detect when the ice storage compartment is full of ice.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or duplicate explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming more redundant than necessary and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.
It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[1-1. Configuration]
[1-1-1. Configuration of ice maker]
In this embodiment 1, an auger type ice-making machine will be described as ice-making machine 100.
For ease of explanation, the top (UP), bottom (DO), front (FR), rear (RE), left (LE), and right (RI) in the figures correspond to the top, bottom, front, rear, left, and right of ice making machine 100, respectively, and directions such as front/back, up/down, and left/right described in the text will be defined based on this.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an ice making machine 100 according to the first embodiment.
Ice-making machine 100 comprises ice-making machine body 1 and legs 2 that support ice-making machine body 1. Ice-making machine body 1 is made up of ice storage bin 3, which is a box-shaped body with surrounding walls made of insulating material, and machine room unit 4 provided above ice storage bin 3. The inside of ice storage bin 3 forms ice storage chamber 5. Ice storage bin 3 has an opening on the front, which can be opened and closed by doors 3A and 3B.

The machine room unit 4 houses an ice-making unit 6 that produces ice. A removable machine room panel 4A is attached to the front of the machine room unit 4. The ice-making machine main body 1 is constructed by combining the machine room unit 4 in which the ice-making unit 6 is located, and the ice storage room 3 provided below the ice-making unit 6.

The ice-making unit 6 is composed of an auger unit 7, a condenser 8, a compressor (not shown), refrigerant piping (not shown) that connects these, and a water supply unit 9 that supplies ice-making water to the auger unit 7.

The auger unit 7 is composed of an ice-making cylinder 11 having an ice discharge section 10 at its upper end, an auger 12 arranged to vertically penetrate the ice discharge section 10 and the ice-making cylinder 11, an upper bearing 18 that compresses the ice transported by the auger 12 to form divided ice pieces, and an agitator 13 that transports the ice pieces sent from the upper bearing 18 horizontally.
Auger 12 scrapes off the ice film frozen on the inner wall of ice-making cylinder 11 and transports it to upper bearing 18 located at the bottom of ice delivery unit 10. Auger 12 is rotated by motor 14 arranged adjacent to ice-making cylinder 11, and the rotation of motor 14 is reduced in speed by reducer 15 arranged below ice-making cylinder 11 and motor 14 and transmitted to auger 12. Auger unit 7 produces ice pieces such as chip ice and flake ice.

The condenser 8 , a blower 16 that blows outside air to the condenser 8 , and a control box 17 that controls the entire ice maker 100 are arranged in the machine room unit 4 .
An ice passage is provided between the ice delivery section 10 of the auger unit 7 and the ice storage chamber 5 to guide the ice delivered from the ice delivery section 10 toward the ice storage chamber 5.
The ice passage is defined by a cylindrical spout 20 fixed to the ice delivery section 10, a cylindrical vertical chute 21 extending vertically, and a cylindrical guide body 22 connecting the spout 20 and the vertical chute 21. In this embodiment, the spout 20 and the guide body 22 are integrated plastic molded products. Alternatively, the spout 20 and the guide body 22 may be separate bodies or may be metal products.

[1-1-2. Vertical shooter configuration]
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between vertical chute 21 and ice storage detection plate 35. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of ice storage detection plate 35 and ice storage switch 30. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Fig. 1 showing the periphery of ice storage detection plate 35 and ice storage switch 30.
The vertical shooter 21 is a rectangular tube extending in the vertical direction. In detail, the vertical shooter 21 is formed by combining a stainless steel sheet metal having a square U-shaped cross section with three sides formed by side walls 24B, 24C, and 24D (see FIG. 4) and a flat stainless steel sheet metal forming the side wall 24A (see FIG. 4) to form a rectangular tube. Instead of the stainless steel sheet metal, the vertical shooter 21 may be, for example, a plastic molded product. The upper end of the vertical shooter 21 is connected to the guide body 22, and the lower end is connected to the upper part of the ice storage chamber 5. The vertical shooter 21 is provided with an ice drop section (straight section) 24 extending in a straight line in the vertical direction, an enlarged diameter section 25 connected to the lower part of the drop section 24 and formed in a box-like shape with a flared bottom toward the front, and an outlet section 26 connected to the lower ends of the drop section 24 and the enlarged diameter section 25 to release ice. The outlet portion 26 is constituted by a hole formed in the base wall 4B of the machine chamber unit 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the right side wall 25C and the left side wall 25D of the enlarged diameter portion 25 are formed to protrude forward from the front wall 24A of the drop portion 24. The front wall 25B of the enlarged diameter portion 25 has a tapered surface 27 (see Figure 4) that flares out and slopes downward toward the front. The side walls 24A to 24D of the drop portion 24 are straight surfaces that extend vertically.

Inside the lower part of the drop section 24 and inside the enlarged diameter section 25, there is an ice storage space S (see Figure 4) partitioned by front, rear and left and right side walls 24B-24D and 25B-25D.

An ice storage switch 30 is provided at the bottom of the vertical chute 21. The ice storage switch 30 detects when the ice storage chamber 5 is full of ice and ice has reached the vertical chute 21. The ice storage switch 30 is located in the area of the expanded diameter section 25 at the bottom of the vertical chute 21. Because the ice storage switch 30 is located in the area of the expanded diameter section 25, the front wall 24A of the vertical chute 21 prevents falling ice from touching the ice storage switch 30.

The ice storage switch 30 comprises a fixed part 31, a movable part 32 that is movable relative to the fixed part 31, a magnet (not shown) supported at the lower end of the movable part 32, and a switch part 33 whose contacts are opened by the magnetism of the magnet when the movable part 32 moves. The switch part 33 in this embodiment is a normally closed type magnetic proximity switch. The fixed part 31 of the ice storage switch 30 is attached to the tapered surface 27 of the enlarged diameter part 25 from the lower side (inside). The upper end of the movable part 32 is supported by a support shaft 32A so that it can swing. The movable part 32 is plate-shaped and extends vertically.

The movable part 32 has a pressed surface 32B (see FIG. 4) on the side of the drop part 24 of the vertical shooter 21. Here, the movable part 32 is supported so that the pressed surface 32B inclines forward as it moves downward, whether the switch part 33 is not turned on or is turned on when pressed. In other words, the pressed surface 32B in this embodiment faces downward. By arranging the movable part 32 in this manner, the movable part 32 is held in a state in which the switch part 33 is not turned on by its own weight. Note that instead of a configuration in which the movable part 32 holds the switch part 33 in a state in which it is not turned on by its own weight, the movable part 32 may be urged by an urging member such as a spring to hold the switch part 33 in a state in which it is not turned on.

[1-1-3. Configuration of ice storage detection plate]
An ice storage detection plate 35 is disposed adjacent to the ice storage switch 30 in the expanded diameter section 25 of the vertical chute 21. The ice storage detection plate 35 is supported by a pin (support shaft) 36 on the front side (outside) of the drop section 24 of the vertical chute 21. The pin 36 is disposed within the expanded diameter section 25. The pin 36 is disposed below the ice storage switch 30. The pin 36 is disposed below the lower end of the front wall 24A of the drop section 24. The pin 36 is disposed opposite the lower part of the movable part 32 of the ice storage switch 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ice storage detection plate 35 includes an operating plate 37 on one side relative to the axis L of the pin 36, and an input plate 38 on the other side relative to the axis L of the pin 36. In this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 is formed by bending the operating plate 37 and the input plate 38 from a single plate material. Here, the operating plate 37 extends downward and rearward away from the pin 36 when viewed in the axial direction of the pin 36 (see FIG. 4). The input plate 38 extends downward and frontward away from the pin 36 so as to move away from the operating plate 38 as it advances to the lower end (tip). In this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 is formed so that the operating plate 37 and the input plate 38 are line-symmetric (front-back symmetric) with respect to the axis L passing vertically through the pin 36 when viewed in the axial direction of the pin 36. The ice storage detection plate 35 is in an inverted V-shape. Note that the term "line symmetry" is used in a sense that includes approximate line symmetry. "Line symmetry" is used to include shapes that deviate from strict line symmetry due to design errors, etc. "Inverted V-shape" is used to include shapes that are roughly inverted V-shape.

By forming the operation plate 37 and the input plate 38 in line symmetry, the ice storage detection plate 35 is line symmetrical with respect to the axis L when no ice has accumulated in the drop section 24, i.e., in the swing balance position due to its own weight, so that the positions of the operation plate 37 and the input plate 38 can be easily set. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the ice storage detection plate 35 is configured so that the operation plate 37 protrudes from the enlarged diameter section 25 into the drop section 24 of the vertical shooter 21, and the input plate 38 approaches the ice storage switch 30 in the enlarged diameter section 25. In the swing balance position, the input plate 38 approaches the ice storage switch 30 so as not to come into contact with the ice storage switch 30 and turn on the ice storage switch 30, but the input plate 38 may approach the ice storage switch 30 so as to be separated from the ice storage switch 30.

In this embodiment, for example, the operating plate 37 protrudes into the drop portion 24 of the vertical chute 21 at a predetermined angle θ1 (for example, θ1 = approximately 18°) with respect to the vertical direction. The operating plate 37 is at an angle θ1 with respect to the vertical direction so that it is easily subjected to a pushing force from ice in a standby state. The input plate 38 is configured to input the switch unit 33 when the operating plate 37 of the ice storage detection plate 35 is at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction that is greater than 0° and less than angle θ1. In this embodiment, the predetermined angle is 8°.

Here, ice storage detection plate 35 is positioned so that when operation plate 37 is at an angle of 0° with respect to the vertical, operation plate 37 extends downward in a straight line from the inner surface of front wall 24A of drop section 24. Also, ice storage detection plate 35 is configured to be able to rotate further than 0° toward ice storage switch 30, allowing input plate 38 to further press ice storage switch 30.
This makes it possible to indirectly turn on the ice storage switch 30 via the ice storage detection plate 35, without having to allow ice to accumulate around the ice storage switch 30. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon in which ice accumulated around the ice storage switch 30 solidifies, known as arching. By setting the ice storage detection plate 35 to an appropriate shape and weight, the ice storage detection plate 35 can be moved with a force that does not compress the ice, making it easier to prevent arching around the ice storage detection plate 35. Therefore, the ice storage detection plate 35 and the ice storage switch 30, which are arranged in the lower area of the vertical chute 21, can accurately detect full ice.

In addition, the length λ1 from the pin 36 to the radial lower end of the operating plate 37 is longer than the length λ2 from the support shaft 32A of the movable part 32 to the radial lower end. In particular, in this embodiment, the movable part 32 of the ice storage switch 30 is pressed by moving the lower end of the operating plate 37. For this reason, the movement amount of the operating plate 37 tends to be larger than the movement amount for pressing the ice storage switch 30, and the ice storage switch 30 is pressed when there is a sufficient amount of ice. Therefore, the ice storage switch 30 is likely to be turned on only when there is a sufficient amount of ice, which makes it easier to suppress erroneous detection of full ice.

The lower end of the ice storage detection plate 35 is positioned to correspond to the outlet 26. Specifically, the lower end of the operation plate 37 and the lower end of the input plate 38 of the ice storage detection plate 35 are positioned below the upper surface 4B1 and above the lower surface 4B2 of the base wall 4B of the machine room unit 4 in the swing balance position. This makes it easy to place the machine room unit 4 directly on the floor even if the ice storage detection plate 35 is attached to the machine room unit 4 in advance, facilitating the work of installing the machine room unit 4 in the ice storage room 3.

In addition, in this embodiment, the left and right width of the ice storage detection plate 35 is formed slightly shorter than the width dimension of the vertical chute 21, so that ice does not get into the gap δ (see FIG. 2) between the ice storage detection plate 35 and the left and right side walls 24C, 24D, 25B, and 25C of the vertical chute 21. The gap δ may be set, for example, to be smaller than the maximum length of each piece of ice generated by the auger unit 7. Therefore, the ice storage detection plate 35 is easily pushed by the ice that accumulates in the vertical chute 21.

A protection switch 40 is located at the top end of the vertical chute. Even if ice accumulates in the vertical chute 21 above the ice storage detection plate 35, the protection switch 40 is pressed and the ice making operation is stopped.

[1-2. Operation, etc.]
Next, the operation of ice making machine 100 in the first embodiment will be described.
In ice making machine 100, ice is pushed out horizontally by agitator 13 and passes through guide body 22. After passing through guide body 22, the ice falls inside vertical chute 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operating plate 37 of the ice storage detection plate 35 is operated by being pushed by ice that falls and accumulates down the drop section 24 of the vertical chute 21. In detail, when ice brought in from the guide body 22 falls down the drop section 24 of the vertical chute 21, the ice passes through the drop section 24 and accumulates in the ice storage shed 3. Furthermore, when the generated ice falls down the drop section 24, the ice accumulates in a cone shape and spreads as it crumbles from the top, and the upper end line LA that forms the upper surface of the cone shape grows upward. When the upper end line LA of the accumulated ice is above the lower end of the ice storage detection plate 35, the ice that constitutes the upper end line LA presses the operating plate 37 of the ice storage detection plate 35.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the case where ice storage detection plate 35 has rotated toward ice storage switch 30 from the state shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the case where ice storage detection plate 35 has rotated toward ice storage switch 30 from the state shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the case where ice storage detection plate 35 has rotated toward ice storage switch 30 from the state shown in Fig. 6.
As the amount of accumulated ice increases, when the upper end line LA is above the lower end of the ice storage detection plate 35, the operation plate 37 is pushed by the ice. Therefore, the ice storage detection plate 35 gradually rotates around the pin 36. As a result, the input plate 38 on the ice storage switch 30 side of the ice storage detection plate 35 comes into contact with the ice storage switch 30 and starts to push in the movable part 32 of the ice storage switch 30. Then, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the angle θ of the operation plate 37 with respect to the vertical direction becomes about 8° to 0°, the magnet installed at the lower end of the movable part 32 approaches the switch part 33 and the ice storage switch 30 turns ON. When the ice storage switch 30 remains ON for 30 seconds, which is an example of a predetermined time, the power is cut off and ice making is stopped.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, when the ice storage switch 30 is pressed all the way in, the rotation limit of the ice storage detection plate 35 is such that the lower end of the operating plate 37 can rotate outside the drop section 24, i.e., the lower end of the operating plate 37 can rotate all the way into the enlarged diameter section 25, and the angle θ can rotate up to about -5°. As a result, even if ice accumulates above the ice storage detection plate 35 in the vertical chute 21 and refreezes, removing the ice in the ice storage bin 3 directly below the lower end of the vertical chute 21 makes it easier for the ice in the vertical chute 21 to fall as is.

In this embodiment, the ice storage switch 30 is indirectly pressed via the ice storage detection plate 35. Therefore, compared to when ice falling inside the vertical chute 21 directly presses the ice storage switch 30, it is possible to increase the amount of ice that needs to be loaded from when the movable part 32 begins to be pressed until the switch part 33 is pressed. This makes it easier to reduce errors and allows for accurate detection.

Even if arching occurs and the ice storage switch 30 does not operate, in this embodiment, a protection switch 40 is located in the upper area of the vertical chute 21. Therefore, the protection switch 40 is pressed by the accumulated ice, making it possible to stop ice making.

[1-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in this embodiment, ice-making machine 100 drops made ice through vertical chute 21 into ice storage chamber 5 of ice storage house 3 for storage. In this ice-making machine 100, ice storage switch 30 is disposed below vertical chute 21, and ice storage detection plate 35 is provided which swings with ice to turn on ice storage switch 30.
As a result, ice making machine 100 is provided with ice storage detection plate 35 below vertical chute 21, so ice storage switch 30 can be indirectly turned on via ice storage detection plate 35. Therefore, ice storage switch 30 can be pressed by ice accumulated inside vertical chute 21 while being separated from drop portion 24, which is the portion inside vertical chute 21 where ice falls, making it difficult to be affected by arching and enabling accurate detection that ice storage chamber 5 of ice storage house 3 is full of ice.

As in this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 may be disposed in the expanded diameter portion 25 at the lower part of the vertical chute 21 .
As a result, ice that falls and accumulates inside vertical chute 21 can be appropriately moved to ice storage chamber 5 by utilizing enlarged diameter section 25. This makes it easier to fill ice storage chamber 5 with ice, and makes it easier to accurately detect whether ice storage chamber 5 of ice storage house 3 is full of ice.

As in this embodiment, ice storage detection plate 35 may include operation plate 37 that is activated by ice, and input plate 38 that operates in conjunction with operation plate 37 to turn on ice storage switch 30 .
This allows the ice storage detection plate 35 to be moved by falling and accumulating ice to press the ice storage switch 30 with a simple configuration.

As in this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 is pivotally supported by the pin 36, and when viewed in the axial direction of the pin 36, the ice storage detection plate 35 may include an operating plate 37 extending in a direction away from the pin 36, and an input plate 38 extending in a direction away from the pin 37 so as to move away from the operating plate 37 as it progresses toward the tip.
Thus, by setting the shapes and weights of the operation plate 37 and the throw-in plate 38, the posture of the swing balance position of the ice storage detection plate 35 can be set.

Further, as in this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 may be formed symmetrically with respect to the axis L of the pin 36 .
As a result, the posture of ice storage detection plate 35 at the swing balance position becomes line symmetrical, so that it is easy to set the positional relationship between ice storage detection plate 35 and ice storage switch 30 based on the line symmetrical posture.

As in this embodiment, the pin 36 is arranged in the expanded diameter portion 25, and the ice storage detection plate 35 has an operating plate 37 that protrudes from the expanded diameter portion 25 of the vertical chute 21 into the drop portion 24 of the vertical chute 21, and the input plate 38 that is close to the ice storage switch 30.
This allows ice on the outside of the enlarged diameter portion 25 in the vertical chute 21 to activate the ice storage detection plate 35 and thereby activate the ice storage switch 30.

As in this embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 may have the operating plate 37 protruding into the drop portion 24 of the vertical chute 21 at a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the vertical direction.
This allows ice falling inside vertical chute 21 to be guided to ice storage detection plate 35 while it falls, and when ice accumulates inside vertical chute 21, ice storage detection plate 35 can be easily subjected to a pressing force from the accumulated ice. Therefore, ice can be efficiently accumulated inside ice storage chamber 5, and it can be accurately detected whether ice storage bin 3 is full of ice.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In this second embodiment, an auger type ice-making machine will be described as ice-making machine 100.
[2-1. Overall configuration]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of ice storage detection plate 235 of ice making machine 100 according to the second embodiment.
Ice making machine 100 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that ice storage detection plate 235 is provided instead of ice storage detection plate 35 in the first embodiment.

[2-2. Configuration of ice storage detection plate]
In the ice storage detection plate 235 of the second embodiment, the ice storage detection plate 35 of the first embodiment is divided into several parts in the axial direction. Specifically, the ice storage detection plate 235 is divided into three parts in the axial direction. That is, each ice storage detection plate 235 has a left-right width that is slightly smaller than one-third of the left-right width of the ice storage detection plate 35. Each ice storage detection plate 235 has an operation plate 237 and an input plate 238. The ice storage detection plates 235 are formed symmetrically with respect to the axis L. A predetermined gap is created between adjacent ice storage detection plates 235. An axial movement restriction member (not shown) that restricts the axial movement of the ice storage detection plate 235 is provided on the pin 36.

[2-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in this embodiment, ice storage detection plate 235 is divided into a plurality of parts in the axial direction (depth direction) in pairs of operation plate 237 and input plate 238. When any operation plate 237 swings, input plate 238 can turn on ice storage switch 30.
As a result, when ice accumulates inside the vertical chute 21, the ice storage switch 30 can be turned on while the ice falls through the gap between the operating plates 237 that occurs due to the difference in the operating state of the operating plates 237. Therefore, arching around the ice storage detection plate 235 can be suppressed more accurately while detecting a full ice tank.

In detail, in the vertical chute 21, ice accumulates in a cone shape, so the ice storage detection plate 235 in the center tends to rotate and press the ice storage switch 30. At this time, a gap is created between the operating plate 237 of the rotating ice storage detection plate 235 and the operating plate 237 of the non-rotating ice storage detection plate 235, and ice can fall into the ice storage shed 3 through the gap. In other words, even if ice accumulates in the space surrounded by the side walls 24B-24D that form the three sides of the vertical chute 21, the left and right, and the rear, and the ice storage detection plate, it is easy to create an escape route for the ice. Therefore, the upper end line LA of the accumulated ice tends to be located around the lower end of the ice storage detection plate 235, and ice is prevented from accumulating above the ice storage detection plate 235. This makes it easy to prevent arching around the ice storage detection plate 235, and it is possible to accurately detect that the ice is full. Therefore, like in embodiment 1, embodiment 2 also makes use of the ice storage detection plate 235, making it less susceptible to the effects of arching, and can accurately detect when the ice storage chamber 5 of the ice storage shed 3 is full of ice.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. In this third embodiment, an auger type ice-making machine will be described as ice-making machine 100.
[3-1. Overall configuration]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of ice storage detection plate 335 of ice making machine 100 according to the third embodiment.
Ice making machine 100 according to the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that ice storage detection plate 335 is provided instead of ice storage detection plates 235 on both the left and right sides in the second embodiment.

[3-2. Configuration of ice storage detection plate]
In ice making machine 100 in embodiment 3, ice storage detection plates 335 on both the left and right sides are formed so that the lengths of operation plates 337 and input plates 338 are shorter than the lengths of operation plates 237 and input plates 238 of ice storage detection plates 235 in embodiment 2.

[3-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, ice storage detection plates 235, 335 are divided into a plurality of parts in the axial direction (depth direction) with operation plates 237, 337 and input plates 238, 338 paired together. When any of the operation plates 237, 337 swings, the input plates 238, 338 are configured to turn on the ice storage switch 30.

In particular, in this embodiment, the length of the operation plate 337 and the input plate 338 of the left and right ice storage detection plates 335 adjacent to the side walls 24C, 24D, 25C, and 25D of the vertical chute 21 is short. Therefore, a space that can drop into the ice storage shed 3 can be created between the side walls 24C to 25D of the vertical chute 21 and the central ice storage detection plate 235. Therefore, since the ice that accumulates in a cone shape can fall from that space into the ice storage chamber 5, the upper end line LA of the ice that accumulates in a cone shape is likely to be located around the lower end of the ice storage detection plate 235, and ice accumulation above the ice storage detection plate 235 is suppressed. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, as in embodiment 2, when ice accumulates in the vertical chute 21, it is possible to accurately detect that the ice is full while suppressing arching around the ice storage detection plate 235.

(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In this fourth embodiment, an auger type ice-making machine will be described as ice-making machine 100.
[4-1. Overall configuration]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of ice storage detection plate 235 of ice making machine 100 according to the fourth embodiment.
Ice making machine 100 according to embodiment 4 differs from embodiment 2 in that ice storage detection plates 235 on both the left and right sides of embodiment 2 are omitted. That is, in this embodiment, ice storage detection plate 235 is provided only at the axial center of pin 36. Ice storage detection plate 235 is configured not to move in the left-right direction (axial direction). Axial movement restriction members (not shown) are provided on both the left and right sides of ice storage detection plate 235 on pin 36.

[4-2. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in this embodiment, ice storage detection plate 235 is disposed to create a space between side walls 24C-25D of vertical chute 21. In this embodiment, a space can be created between side walls 24C-25D of vertical chute 21 and ice storage detection plate 235 in the center, which allows ice to fall into ice storage bin 3. Therefore, ice that accumulates in a cone shape can fall from that space into ice storage chamber 5, so that the top line LA of the accumulated ice is likely to be located around the lower end of ice storage detection plate 235, and ice accumulation above ice storage detection plate 235 is suppressed. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, when ice accumulates in vertical chute 21, arching around ice storage detection plate 235 is further suppressed, and it is possible to accurately detect that the ice is full, as in the second embodiment.

(Embodiment 5)
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. In this fifth embodiment, an auger type ice-making machine will be described as ice-making machine 100.
[5-1. Overall configuration]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of ice storage detection plate 535 of ice making machine 100 according to embodiment 5.
Ice making machine 100 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that ice storage detection plate 535 is provided instead of ice storage detection plate 35 in the first embodiment.

[5-2. Configuration of ice storage detection plate]
In ice storage detection plate 535 in the fifth embodiment, the shapes of operation plate 537 and input plate 538 are different from those of operation plate 37 and input plate 38 (see FIG. 3) in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the operation plate 537 has a notch 537A formed at the lower end on both the left and right sides. The notch 537A is inclined toward the center in the axial direction as it advances downward. The input plate 538 is formed symmetrically to the operation plate 537 with respect to the axis L, and has a notch 538A formed in the same manner as the operation plate 537.

[5-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in this embodiment, a space can be created between side walls 24C-25D of vertical chute 21 and operation plate 537 of ice storage detection plate 535 by notch 537A, which allows ice to fall into ice storage bin 3. Therefore, ice accumulated in a cone shape can fall from that space into ice storage chamber 5, so that upper end line LA of the accumulated ice is likely to be located around the lower end of operation plate 537 of ice storage detection plate 535, and ice accumulation above ice storage detection plate 535 is suppressed. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, when ice accumulates in vertical chute 21, arching around ice storage detection plate 535 is further suppressed, and it is possible to accurately detect that the ice is full, as in the second embodiment.

Other Embodiments
Note that, as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application, the first to fifth embodiments have been described. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made.

In the above embodiments 1 to 5, the ice making machine 100 has been described as an auger type ice making machine. However, the application of the ice storage switch 30 and ice storage detection plate 35, 235, 335, 535, etc. according to the present disclosure is not limited to auger type ice making machines, but may be applied to other types of ice making machines, such as cell type ice making machines. As a result, the same effects as those of an auger type ice making machine equipped with the ice storage switch 30 and ice storage detection plate 35 to 535 of the present disclosure can be achieved in other types of ice making machines as well.

In the above embodiments 1 to 5, it is preferable that the ice storage switch 30 and ice storage detection plates 35 to 535 are arranged in the expanded diameter section 25, but they may be arranged at the bottom of the vertical chute 25. For example, the ice storage switch 30 and ice storage detection plates 35 to 535 may be arranged in the drop section 24 of the vertical chute 21. In this case, the expanded diameter section 25 may be omitted.

In the above embodiments 1 to 5, the vertical chute 21 has an expanding portion 25 and is configured to expand only forward, but this is not limited to this. For example, in embodiment 1, the vertical chute 21 may be shaped to expand from the top to the bottom of the ice storage detection plate 35. That is, the lower parts of the rear side wall 24B, left side wall 24C, and right side wall 24D may also be expanded in diameter. This may create a space between the bottom of the vertical chute 21 and the ice storage detection plate 35 that allows ice to fall into the ice storage chamber 5.

In the above embodiments 1 to 5, the ice storage detection plates 35, 235, 335, 535 are configured such that the operation plate 37, 237, 337, 537 and the input plate 38, 238, 338, 538 are formed as a single plate material by bending it to form an integrated structure. However, the operation plate 37 to 537 and the input plate 38 to 538 may be formed separately and then assembled to form the ice storage detection plates 35 to 535 that are integrated with the operation plate 37 to 537 and the input plate 38 to 538.

In the above embodiments 1 to 5, the ice storage detection plates 35 to 535 are described as being configured so that the operation plates 37 to 537 and the input plates 38 to 538 are line-symmetrical, but the operation plates 37 to 537 and the input plates 38 to 538 are not limited to being line-symmetrical, and may each have a different shape. For example, since the input plates 38 to 538 only press the ice storage switch 32B, they may be made shorter than the operation plates 37 to 537, and instead the input plates 38 to 538 may be made thicker than the operation plates 37 to 537 to balance the swing equilibrium position.

In the above third and fourth embodiments, a three-division configuration has been described as a multiple division configuration, but the multiple division is not limited to three divisions, and a four or more division configuration is also possible. Also, three or more divisions are preferable because only the center portion can be swung, but two divisions are also acceptable. In other words, a multiple division configuration with any number of divisions is possible.

As described above, the present disclosure can be suitably used in ice makers equipped with an ice storage switch.

3 Ice storage 21 Vertical shooter (shooter)
25 Expanded diameter portion 30 Ice storage switch 35 Ice storage detection plate 36 Pin (support shaft)
37 Operation plate 38 Input plate 100 Ice maker 235 Ice storage detection plate 237 Operation plate 238 Input plate 335 Ice storage detection plate 337 Operation plate 338 Input plate 535 Ice storage detection plate 537 Operation plate 538 Input plate L Axis

Claims (4)

In an ice making machine in which the ice produced is dropped through a chute into an ice storage room for storage,
An ice storage switch is disposed at the bottom of the chute;
An ice storage detection plate is provided which is swung by the ice and turns on the ice storage switch ,
The ice storage detection plate includes an operating plate that operates with the ice, and an input plate that operates in conjunction with the operating plate to turn on the ice storage switch.
The ice storage detection plate is divided into a plurality of parts in the depth direction, with the operation plate and the input plate being paired, and the ice storage switch can be turned on by any of the operation plates swinging . The ice making machine of claim 1, wherein the ice storage detection plate is disposed in the enlarged portion at the bottom of the chute. The ice storage detection plate is pivotally supported by a support shaft so as to be swingable.
The ice making machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein, when viewed in the axial direction of the support shaft, the ice storage detection plate comprises: an operating plate extending in a direction away from the support shaft; and an input plate extending in a direction away from the support shaft so as to move away from the operating plate as it progresses to the tip . The support shaft is disposed in a lower enlarged diameter portion of the chute,
The ice making machine according to claim 3 , wherein the ice storage detection plate has the operation plate protruding from the enlarged diameter portion and the input plate adjacent to the ice storage switch.

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