JP2017032171A - Ice-making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice-making device such that it can be easily confirmed that the ice-making device is not installed horizontally.SOLUTION: An ice-making device comprises: an ice-making part 21 which makes ice by freezing ice-making water sent out onto an ice-making surface of an ice-making plate installed vertically or horizontally on a base 11; a water storage tank 40 which is installed horizontally on the base 11, and stores the ice-making water to be sent out to the ice-making part 21 below the ice-making part 21 and returns unfrozen ice-making water having been sent out to the ice-making part 21; and an ice-making water sending-out part which sends ice-making water in the water storage tank 40 out to the ice-making part 21. The water storage tank 40 uses a transparent or translucent material at least for an upper part, and first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 extending in a crossing direction of a horizontal direction crossing one horizontal direction at the same height position are displayed on a peripheral wall upper part of the water storage tank 40 at mutually different positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making device for making ice with an ice making unit installed vertically or horizontally on a base.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of an ice making device. The ice making device is constructed of an ice making plate that freezes ice making water that stands vertically in a housing and makes ice on the ice making surface, a storage tank that stores ice making water that flows down to the ice making surface of the ice making plate, and an ice making plate A water sprinkler provided on the upper side for spraying ice making water on the ice making surface of the ice making plate and an ice making water supply circuit for sending ice making water in the water storage tank to the water sprinkler are provided. This ice making device sends ice making water from an ice making water tank to a sprinkler by an ice making water supply circuit, sprinkles the ice making water sent to the water sprinkler so as to flow down the ice making surface of the ice making plate, and makes the ice making water flowing down into ice making. The ice is made by gradually freezing on the ice making surface of the plate.

JP-A-5-106591

  If the above ice making equipment casing is not installed horizontally on the installation table in front, back, left, and right, the amount of ice making water in the water storage tank will change, and the size of the ice frozen on the ice making surface of the ice making plate Was supposed to be different from what was set. In addition, if the ice making device casing is not installed horizontally, the flow speed of the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface of the ice making plate will change, and the ice making water will drift to the left and right. There is a problem that the ice making efficiency is reduced because the ice making surface of the ice making plate cannot be made uniform uniformly because it becomes uneven vertically or horizontally. For this reason, when installing an ice making device, it was inconvenient to always have to prepare a level. In addition, after installing the ice making device, the ice making device may be tilted back and forth or left and right due to the vibration of the compressor of the refrigeration device. In this case, it is inconvenient to always prepare and check the level. It was.

  Further, in the ice making device of the patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-147084) previously filed by the applicant of the present application, the ice making plate is made by providing a lattice member on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate standing vertically on the base. A plurality of ice making chambers are provided vertically and horizontally on the surface side. In this ice making device, the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate is frozen in each ice making chamber to form block ice, and the ice making water that has flowed down is frozen in the ice making chamber. The ice is made to be plate-shaped connecting ice by further freezing so that the ice making surface and the grid member are connected to each other at the opposite edge on the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides. When deicing the plate-shaped connected ice, the ice-making plate is heated by hot gas sent from the compressor, and the plate-shaped connected ice is melted at the contact surface between the ice-making plate and the partition member, opposite to the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate. When the block-shaped ice in the center of the plate-shaped connecting ice is pushed away from the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate by the slide pins provided at the upper and lower and left and right central portions on the side, the plate-shaped connecting ice and the block-shaped ice in the central portion Detach from the ice making surface of the ice making plate and fall into the ice storage tank. As with the ice making device of Patent Document 1, if this ice making device cannot be installed horizontally in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, the ice-making water flowing down will become block-shaped ice with non-uniform sizes in the upper, lower, left and right ice-making chambers. Freezing and the ice making water that flows down will not freeze so that all the block-shaped ice is connected vertically and horizontally, so that all the block-shaped ice is integrally connected vertically and horizontally to form plate-shaped ice. There was a risk that the ice was not made. If the block ice in the ice making chamber is not integrally connected so that it becomes plate-shaped ice, the block ice that has not been connected will remain in the ice making chamber even if the block-shaped ice in the center is pushed out by the slide pin. As a result, there was a problem that it was not possible to deicide the ice-making plate Karako weave. An object of this invention is to provide the ice making apparatus which can confirm easily installing horizontally.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an ice making unit that is installed in a base and freezes ice making water that is sent to an ice making surface of an ice making plate that extends vertically or horizontally to the base to make ice. Is installed at the bottom of the ice making unit, stores the ice making water sent to the ice making unit, returns the unfrozen ice making water sent to the ice making unit, and sends the ice making water in the water storage tank to the ice making unit An ice making device having an ice making water delivery unit, wherein the water storage tank is made of a transparent or translucent material at least at the upper part, and the upper part of the peripheral wall of the water storage tank is located at different positions in one horizontal direction. The ice making apparatus is characterized in that the first and second horizontal reference lines extending in the horizontal crossing direction intersecting one direction at the same height position are displayed.

  In the ice making device configured as described above, the upper part of the peripheral wall of the water storage tank has first and second extending in the horizontal crossing direction that intersects with one direction at the same height at different positions in one horizontal direction. Since 2 horizontal reference lines are displayed, if the ice making water level in the water storage tank is the same as both the first and second horizontal reference lines, the ice making device is installed horizontally in one horizontal direction. If the ice making water level in the water storage tank is the same in all the crossing directions of the first or second horizontal reference line, the ice making device is installed horizontally in the horizontal crossing direction. Can be confirmed. This makes it possible to confirm that the ice making device is installed horizontally without preparing a level when the ice making device is installed and anytime after the installation.

  In the ice making device configured as described above, the water storage tank has a first water storage part and a second water storage part having peripheral walls at different positions in one horizontal direction, and the first water storage part includes a first water storage part and a second water storage part. One horizontal reference line may be displayed, and the second horizontal reference line may be displayed on the peripheral wall of the second water reservoir.

  In the ice making device configured as described above, the ice making water is provided with a drain port formed in the bottom wall near the peripheral wall of the water storage tank, and a partition wall surrounding the drain port together with the peripheral wall of the water storage tank. It is preferable that an overflow portion for overflowing and draining is provided, and that the partition wall is provided with an overflow preventing wall portion that is higher than the other portions in a portion in contact with the peripheral wall of the water storage tank. When the ice making water in the water storage tank is supplied so as to overflow from the overflow portion, the ice making water in the water storage tank becomes a slightly higher water level than the partition wall of the overflow portion due to surface tension. At this time, the ice making water that is slightly higher than the partition wall of the overflow part due to surface tension in the water storage tank tries to gradually flow into the overflow part along the peripheral wall of the storage tank over time. The ice making water in the water storage tank is prevented from flowing into the overflow portion along the peripheral wall by the overflow prevention wall portion which is higher than the other portion at the portion in contact with the peripheral wall. As a result, the water level of the ice-making water in the water storage tank can be kept unchanged between the time immediately after the ice-making water is overflowed from the overflow section and the time when the time has passed. .

  In the ice making device configured as described above, the ice making unit is for making ice by freezing the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface of the ice making plate erected vertically with respect to the base, and the ice making side of the ice making plate Is provided with a guide plate that guides the ice-making water flowing down into the storage tank by curving the lower part to the inside of the water-storage tank while preventing the ice-making water flowing down to the outside. It is preferable to provide a bulging portion that extends in the width direction and bulges inside the water storage tank at the lower end portion on the side. The flow speed of ice-making water flowing down the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate changes depending on the amount of ice frozen on the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate, and if the ice making water flowing down the guide plate increases and the flow velocity increases, the guide Although it is easy to flow from the lower end of the plate toward the outside of the water storage tank, the bottom of the guide plate is provided with a bulging portion that swells inside the water storage tank, so ice-making water flowing down the guide plate flows to the outside of the water storage tank. It became difficult.

  In the ice making device configured as described above, the ice making unit is housed in an ice making chamber that covers at least the ice making surface side, and the guide plate is supported so that the upper end portion thereof is pivotable about a horizontal axis. When the ice frozen on the ice making surface is dropped downward, the lower end of the guide plate is rotated to push it away from the ice making plate side. It is preferable to provide a projecting portion protruding toward the facing wall with the guide plate of the ice making chamber on the opposite side of the facing surface. In this case, when the lower end portion of the guide plate is rotated so as to be pushed out to the side opposite to the ice making plate side, the ice making water adhering to the opposite side of the guide plate facing the ice making plate is provided. The guide plate may come into contact with the opposing wall of the ice making chamber with the ice making water between them and come into contact with the opposing wall, so that the guide plate may not return from the rotated state. Point contact will occur instead of surface contact, and even if ice making water adheres to the guide plate, it will not stick to the opposing wall of the ice making chamber.

It is the perspective view (a) of one Embodiment of the ice making apparatus with an ice dispensing function by this invention, and the perspective view (b) which opened the cover body of (a) and removed the drain pan. It is sectional drawing along the front-back direction of FIG. It is the perspective view which removed the housing, the cover, and the ice storage tank, and made the ice making mechanism part supported by the support frame of the base appear. They are the perspective view (a) of an ice making part, the longitudinal cross-sectional view (b) of the center of the left-right direction, and the horizontal cross-sectional view (c) of the center of an up-down direction. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the center position of the left-right direction of an ice making part. It is a block diagram of a freezing apparatus. It is a figure which shows a water storage tank, and is a perspective view (a), a front view (b), a top view (c), an AA sectional view (d), and a BB sectional view (e). It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. It is a rear view of the state which removed the back panel. It is the perspective view (a) which shows a detachment | leave apparatus, and is the rear view (b) of a 2nd bearing member, and EE sectional drawing (c). It is a top view of the state which removed the cover body. It is a block diagram of a control apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the ice making device of the present invention will be described using an ice making device having an ice dispensing function. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an ice making device 10 having an ice dispensing function (hereinafter referred to as an ice making device 10) includes a base 11 and an ice making mechanism for making ice by installing the base 11. Unit 20, an ice storage tank 60 that is installed on the base 11 and stores ice below the ice making mechanism unit 20, an unloading mechanism 70 that unloads the ice in the ice storage tank 60 toward the discharge port 62a, and an unloading mechanism And a quantification mechanism 80 for quantifying the ice carried out by 70 and discharging it from the discharge port 62a. In addition, the ice making device 10 includes a housing 12 that surrounds the ice making mechanism 20 and the ice storage tank 60, and a lid 13 that covers the upper surface openings of the ice making mechanism 20 and the ice storage tank 60 in an openable and closable manner. The ice making mechanism 20 is arranged in an ice making chamber 14 partitioned by the housing 12 and the lid 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a drain pan 15 is detachably provided on the lower front portion of the housing 12 for placing a container such as a cup and receiving ice spilled. A cover 16 that covers a container such as a cup placed on the drain pan 15 is provided at the lower front portion of the housing 12 so as to be openable and closable. The drain pan 15 has a shallow dish shape, and on the upper surface of the drain pan 15 is provided a net member 15a in which thin metal wires are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on a frame. A protrusion 15b that protrudes rearward is provided at the rear of the central portion of the drain pan 15 in the left-right direction, and the net member 15a is not disposed on the protrusion 15b. When the block-shaped ice is falling inside the net 15a inside the cover 16, when the drain pan 15 is pulled out to the front side, the block-shaped ice inside the cover 16 is caught by the cover 16 and falls to the protruding portion 15b. It is like that.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice making mechanism portion 20 includes an ice making portion 21 supported on the upper portion of the support frame 17 erected on the rear side of the base 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the ice making unit 21 has a lattice-like structure that forms an ice making plate 22 that stands vertically and has an ice making surface on the front surface, and a large number of ice making chambers (cells) on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22. And a partition member 23. The ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23 are made of a copper plate or an aluminum plate having good thermal conductivity. The ice making plate 22 is provided with a bent portion 22a bent at the front and the left and right ends, and the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is a shallow box shape opened to the front side by these bent portions 22a. It has become. A lattice-like partition member 23 is fixed to the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 in a shallow box shape, and a space partitioned by the partition member 23 on the ice making surface side is an ice making chamber. In the ice making unit 21, the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is frozen in the ice making chamber so as to become block ice, and the ice making water flowing down is partitioned by the block ice frozen in the ice making chamber. As the plate-shaped connecting ice in which the edge of the member 23 is connected to each other in the vertical and horizontal directions adjacent to each other at the edge opposite to the ice making plate 22 side, and the edge of the block-shaped ice is connected in a plate shape vertically and horizontally Ice making is performed (plate-shaped connecting ice is indicated by a two-dot chain line on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 in FIGS. 2 and 5).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), a through hole 22b is formed in the center of the ice making plate 22, and as shown in FIG. 56 slide pins 56a can be inserted. The lattice-shaped partition member 23 is formed by connecting a plurality of vertical beam portions and a plurality of horizontal beam portions in a lattice shape, and is fixed to the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 by brazing. As shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), a recess 23a is formed between the vertical beam portion and the horizontal beam portion of the partition member 23 between the ice making plate 22 for each ice making chamber. The ice making chambers adjacent to each other are communicated vertically and horizontally.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the evaporation pipe 34 and the temperature sensor 37 of the refrigeration apparatus 30 are fixed on the opposite side of the ice making plate 22 from the ice making surface, and covers the evaporation pipe 34 and the temperature sensor 37. Insulating material is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the refrigeration apparatus 30 is expanded with a compressor 31 that compresses the refrigerant, a condenser 32 that cools and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas, and a capillary tube 33 that expands the liquefied refrigerant. An evaporation pipe (evaporator) 34 that evaporates the liquefied refrigerant and cools the ice making plate 22 is provided, and these 31 to 34 are connected by the refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant circulates. The compressor 31 is disposed in the lower part of the housing 12 on the upper surface of the base 11. The condenser 32 is installed on the rear side of the support frame 17 that stands on the base 11 and supports the ice making mechanism 20. The refrigeration apparatus 30 includes a bypass pipe 35 that connects between the compressor 31 and the evaporation pipe 34, and a hot gas valve 36 is interposed in the bypass pipe 35.

  When the compressor 31 is operated with the hot gas valve 36 closed to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, the liquefied refrigerant is vaporized in the evaporation pipe 34 to cool the ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23, and the ice making plate 22. The ice making water flowing down on the ice making surface side is cooled by heat exchange between the cooled ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23. When the compressor 31 is operated with the hot gas valve 36 opened, the hot gas sent from the compressor 31 heats the ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23 when passing through the evaporation pipe 34. Ice in the ice making chamber is melted at the contact surface between the heated ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice making mechanism unit 20 includes a water storage tank 40 below the ice making unit 21, and the water storage tank 40 stores ice making water to be sent to the ice making unit 21. The water storage tank 40 is horizontally installed in the front and rear and the left and right with respect to the base 11 and is attached at a position where the water tank 40 can be seen from the front side when the upper cover 13 of the housing 12 is opened. The water storage tank 40 is formed using a transparent resin material so that the water level of the ice making water inside can be visually confirmed. The water storage tank 40 may be made of a translucent resin material having a transparency that allows the water level of the ice making water inside to be visually recognized, or a transparent or translucent resin only on the upper part of the water storage tank 40. A material may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the water storage tank 40 includes a first water storage part 41 and a second water storage part 42, and the first and second water storage parts 41, 42 are in one horizontal direction (front-rear direction). )) Have front walls (peripheral walls) at different positions. The first water storage unit 41 is disposed immediately below the ice making unit 21, and the second water storage unit 42 projects to the front side of the first water storage unit 41 on the left side of the first water storage unit 41. Is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above. A notch 41a is formed at the upper edge of the front wall of the first water storage part 41, and the ice making water flowing down the ice making part 21 returns from the notch 41a into the water storage tank 40.

  The upper part of the peripheral wall of the water storage tank 40 extends in the left-right direction (horizontal crossing direction) intersecting the front-rear direction (one direction) at the same height at different positions in the front-rear direction (one horizontal direction). The second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 are displayed. These horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 are used for visually confirming whether or not the ice making device 10 is installed horizontally at an installation location such as an installation table. The horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 are displayed at the same height as the water level when the water storage tank 40 is full. Specifically, the first and second water storage portions 41 and 42 have front walls (peripheral walls) at positions different from each other in the front-rear direction, and the upper portion of the front wall of the first water storage portion 41 has a left-right direction (horizontal direction). The first horizontal reference line L1 extending in the (crossing direction) is displayed, and extends in the left-right direction (horizontal crossing direction) at the same height position as the first horizontal reference line L1 on the front wall of the second water reservoir 42. A second horizontal reference line L2 is displayed. If the water level when the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is full is the same as both the first and second horizontal reference lines L1, L2, the ice making device 10 is horizontal in the front-rear direction (one direction in the horizontal direction). Can be confirmed. Further, if the water level when the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is full is the same in all the left and right directions (crossing directions in the horizontal direction) of the first or second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2, the ice making device 10 is It can be confirmed that it is installed horizontally in the left-right direction (cross direction in the horizontal direction).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the water storage tank 40 is provided with an overflow portion 43 that discharges water at a level higher than the ice making water necessary to make the plate-shaped connecting ice in the ice making portion 21. The overflow portion 43 surrounds the drainage port 43a together with the drainage port 43a formed at the corner of the bottom wall in the vicinity of the rear wall and the right side wall of the first water storage unit 41, and the rear wall and the right side wall of the first water storage unit 41. And a partition wall 43b. The height of the upper edge of the partition wall 43b of the overflow part 43 is the same height as the water level when the ice making part 21 stores ice making water necessary for making the plate-shaped connecting ice once. The partition wall 43b is provided with an overflow preventing wall portion 43c that is higher than the other portions at the portion that contacts the rear wall and the right side wall (circumferential wall) of the first water storage portion 41. The overflow prevention wall 43c is for preventing the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 from flowing into the overflow part 43 along the rear wall and the right side wall of the first water storage part 41. The overflow prevention wall portion 43c has a triangular shape that inclines downward as it moves away from the rear wall or the right side wall of the first water storage portion 41, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited to this. Various shapes such as an arc shape that swells inward and an arc shape that dents inward may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a temperature sensor 44 and a water level sensor 45 are provided in the water storage tank 40. The temperature sensor 44 detects the temperature of the ice making water in the water storage tank 40. The water level sensor 45 detects the water level in the water storage tank 40, and includes a support column 45a suspended in the water storage tank 40, a float 45b supported by the support column 45a so as to be movable up and down, and a support column. A detection unit 45c such as a proximity switch that is provided in 45a and detects the position of the float 45b is provided. In this embodiment, the water level sensor 45 detects the first water level and the second water level higher than the first water level by the detection unit 45c. The first water level is the water level in the water storage tank 40 when ice making is completed in the ice making unit 21, and the second water level is a level slightly lower than the overflow unit 43. The water level sensor 45 includes a cylindrical cover 45d that surrounds the support column 45a and the float 45b, and a disc 45e provided at the lower end of the support column 45a. The cylindrical cover 45d has a function of preventing the float 45b from moving up and down due to the rippling surface of the ice making water. An air hole (not shown) is formed in the upper portion of the cylindrical cover 45d, and a water passage hole 45d1 through which ice-making water passes is formed in the bottom wall of the cylindrical cover 45d. A disk 45e provided at the lower end of the support column 45a prevents the float 45b from moving up and down the support column 45a due to the flow of ice-making water passing through the water passage hole 45d1.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the ice making mechanism unit 20 includes an ice making water sending unit 50 that sends the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 to the ice making unit 21. The ice making water delivery unit 50 includes a water feeding pump 51 provided in the water storage tank 40, a water feeding pipe 52 that sends ice making water sent from the water feeding pump 51 to the upper side of the ice making unit 21, and a water feeding pipe on the upper side of the ice making unit 21. And a water sprinkler 53 for sprinkling the ice making water sent to 52. The water supply pump 51 operates the pump motor to send out the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 to the ice making unit 21 through the water supply pipe 52 and the sprinkler 53. The water supply pipe 52 guides the ice making water sent from the water supply pump 51 to the water sprinkler 53. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 52 uses a straight pipe material extending in the vertical direction. The water sprinkler 53 flows the ice making water into the ice making unit 21. The water sprinkler 53 uses a straight pipe having a length substantially the same as the width of the ice making portion 21 on the upper side of the ice making portion 21, and a number of water sprinkling holes are formed along the longitudinal direction at the lower peripheral surface of the water sprinkler 53. 53a is perforated. By using straight pipe materials for the water pipe 52 and the water sprinkler 53, the water pipe 52 and the water sprinkler 53 can be easily cleaned using a brush or the like. When the water pump 51 is operated, the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is sent to the water sprinkler 53 through the water pipe 52, and the ice making water sent to the water sprinkler 53 is formed on the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22 through the water sprinkling holes 53a. Water is sprinkled down the side.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a water supply pipe 54 connected to a water supply source such as an external water supply is connected to the water storage tank 40. A water supply valve 55 is interposed in the water supply pipe 54, and ice making water is supplied into the water storage tank 40 by opening the water supply valve 55.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, an ice detaching device 56 is provided on the rear side of the ice making plate 22 to release the ice made on the ice making surface side from the ice making plate 22. As shown in FIG. 11, the ice removing device 56 includes a slide pin 56a inserted into a through hole 22b formed in the center of the ice making plate 22, and the slide pin 56a is moved back and forth by a cam 56c that is rotated by driving of a gear motor 56b. It is supported to be movable in the direction. The gear motor 56b includes an angle detection sensor 56b2 that detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 56b1, and the angle detection sensor 56b2 detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 56b1 by an encoder attached to the rotation shaft 56b1. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, first and second bearing members 56 d and 56 e that support the tip of the slide pin 56 a are provided on the rear surface of the ice making plate 22. The first bearing member 56d is formed in a short cylindrical shape using a material having high thermal conductivity using a copper material or an aluminum material like the ice making plate 22, and is fitted and fixed to the through hole 22b of the ice making plate 22. Has been. The inner diameter of the circular hole 56d1 formed in the first bearing member 56d is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the slide pin 56a, and the first bearing member 56d can introduce outside air between the circular hole 56d1 and the slide pin 56a. It has become. The second bearing member 56e has a cylindrical shape using a resin material having low thermal conductivity, and is provided on the rear side of the first bearing member 56d. A cylindrical insertion hole 56e1 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the second bearing member 56e, and the slide pin 56a is inserted into the insertion hole 56e1 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction with almost no gap. In the insertion hole 56e1, air passages 56e2 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on both sides in the left-right direction. The air passage 56e2 allows air from the rear side to the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 with the slide pin 56a inserted. Inflow is possible. The heat insulating material provided on the rear surface of the ice making plate 22 is provided with a drainage groove 56e opened to the rear side, and the drainage groove 56e lowers ice-making water leaking from the air passage 56e2 of the second bearing member 56e. It is a guide. The water flowing down from the drainage groove 56e is discharged to the outside through the drainage passage 56f.

  In the ice detaching device 56, when the gear motor 56b is driven to move the slide pin 56a to the front side so as to protrude from the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22, the block-shaped ice at the center of the plate-shaped connecting ice is separated from the ice making surface side. The plate-shaped connecting ice is pushed out together with the block-shaped ice in the center so as to be separated from the ice making surface. At this time, the outside air on the opposite side to the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22 passes through the air passage 56e2 provided in the insertion hole 56e1 of the second bearing member 56e and the circular hole 56d1 of the first bearing member 56d, and the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22 is provided. It flows into the ice making chamber in the center in the vertical and horizontal directions. The outside air that has flowed into the ice making chambers in the center in the vertical and horizontal directions on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is formed in all the vertical and horizontal ice making small parts by the recesses 23a provided in the vertical beam portion and the horizontal beam portion of the partition member 23 described above. It is introduced indoors. The plate-shaped connected ice made on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is smoothly separated from the ice making surface side by the outside air introduced into each ice making chamber.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a guide plate 57 is provided on the front side of the ice making plate 22 that is the ice making surface side. The guide plate 57 returns the ice making water that has flowed down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 from the water sprinkler 53 to the water storage tank 40 and prevents the ice making water that has flowed down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 from scattering to the surroundings. It has a function. The guide plate 57 covers the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22, and the lower end portion of the guide plate 57 is curved to the rear side, and the first notch portion 41 a at the front upper edge of the first water storage portion 41 of the water storage tank 40 is used. The water reservoir 41 is inserted inside. The guide plate 57 is provided with a bulging portion 57a extending in the width direction bulging rearward at the lower end portion on the rear side, which is the ice making plate 22 side. The bulging portion 57 a has a function of dropping ice making water flowing down the guide plate 57 to the inside without scattering to the outside of the water storage tank 40.

  The guide plate 57 also has a function as a detection plate for detecting that the ice storage tank 60 is full of ice by detecting that the ice made in the ice making unit 21 has detached from the ice making unit 21. . . The upper end of the guide plate 57 is supported by the support frame 17 so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis, and the guide plate 57 is suspended so as to follow the ice making plate 22 (shown by a solid line in FIGS. 2 and 5). ) And a tilted posture (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 5) pushed out to the front side opposite to the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22. Yes. A detected portion 58 made of a magnet is provided on a side portion of the guide plate 57, and a proximity sensor such as a reed switch is provided on the support frame 17 at a position facing the detected portion 58 of the guide plate 57 in a suspended position. The used ice detachment detection sensor 59 (full ice detection sensor) is provided.

  When the slide pin 56a of the ice removing device 56 is advanced after the ice making operation is finished, the plate-shaped connecting ice made by the ice making unit 21 is pushed out by the slide pin 56a. The guide plate 57 is temporarily inclined from the hanging posture by the pushed plate-shaped connecting ice, and when the plate-shaped connecting ice falls into the ice storage tank 60, the guide plate 57 returns from the inclined posture to the hanging posture again. At this time, when the ice detachment detection sensor 59 detects that the detected portion 58 of the guide plate 57 is temporarily separated from the close state and returns to the close state again, the plate-shaped connecting ice is detached from the ice making portion 21. Then, it is detected that the ice storage tank 60 has been dropped, that is, the ice storage tank 60 is not full of ice. On the other hand, when the plate-shaped connecting ice made by the ice making unit 21 is pushed out by the slide pin 56a of the ice detaching device 56, the pushed-out plate connecting ice does not fall due to the ice accumulated in the ice storage tank 60. is there. At this time, the guide plate 57 is changed from the hanging posture to the inclined posture by the pushed plate-shaped connecting ice, and the inclined posture is maintained without returning to the hanging posture. When the ice detachment detection sensor 59 detects that the detected part 58 of the guide plate 57 is continuously separated from the close state, the plate-shaped connected ice remains without detaching from the ice making part 21, that is, It is detected that the ice storage tank 60 is full of ice.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the ice storage tank 60 stores ice made by the ice making mechanism 20, and is attached to the support frame 17 provided on the base 11 below the ice making mechanism 20. It is supported. On the outer peripheral surface of the ice storage tank 60, a rubber-based vibration damping sheet made of a soft material and a heat insulating sheet made of a foam material are attached to the outside of the rubber-based vibration damping sheet. The ice storage tank 60 has an ice storage chamber 61 for storing ice behind the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction and a cylindrical fixed chamber 62 for determining the ice at the front. The bottom surface of the ice storage chamber 61 has a first inclined bottom surface 61a that inclines downward as the front side advances slightly forward from the rear end, and a second inclined bottom surface 61b that inclines upward as it advances forward in front of the first inclined bottom surface 61a. And have. A U-shaped recess 61c whose upper front part is open is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the second inclined bottom surface 61b of the ice storage chamber 61, and an unloading blade 72 constituting the unloading mechanism 70 rotates in the recess 61c. It is attached freely. Further, the front edge of the central portion of the ice storage chamber 61 in the left-right direction is continuous with the rear edge of the cylindrical metering chamber 62, and the ice in the ice storage chamber 61 is carried out to the cylindrical metering chamber 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, an unloading mechanism 70 for unloading the ice made by the ice making mechanism 20 to the cylindrical quantitative chamber 62 is provided at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 61. The carry-out mechanism 70 includes a gear motor 71 and a carry-out blade 72 provided at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 61. The gear motor 71 mainly rotates the carry-out blade 72 and is fixed to the lower side of the second inclined bottom surface 61 b of the ice storage chamber 61. A drive shaft 71 a is fixed to the output shaft of the gear motor 71, and the drive shaft 71 a rotates in synchronization with the output shaft of the gear motor 71. The drive shaft 71a protrudes at a substantially central portion of the recess 61c of the second inclined bottom surface 61b in the ice storage chamber 61, and a carry-out blade 72 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 71a with a screw. The gear motor 71 includes an angle sensor 71b that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 71a by detecting the rotation angle of the output shaft. The angle sensor 71b is a photo sensor, and detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 71a by a rotary encoder 71c fixed to the output shaft.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the ice storage chamber 61 is provided with a stirring arm 73 for breaking the plate-shaped connected ice (ice block) dropped from the ice making section 21 of the ice making mechanism section 20 into block ice. It has been. The stirring arm 73 is detachably and rotatably attached to the drive shaft 71a of the gear motor 71 via the carry-out blade 72. The stirring arm 73 includes a fixed plate portion 73a fixed to the drive shaft 71a and the upper surface of the carry-out blade 72, and an inner side of the ice storage chamber 61 that is the upper surface side of the carry-out blade 72 from both longitudinal ends of the fixed plate portion 73a. And a pair of first and second arm portions 73b and 73c. The first and second arm portions 73b and 73c are arranged so as to pass through a position where the plate-shaped connecting ice made by the ice making mechanism 20 falls and accumulates in the ice storage chamber 61.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the cylindrical metering chamber 62 is a region for quantifying ice to a predetermined capacity (weight) and discharging it from the discharge port 62a formed at the bottom, and the cylindrical metering chamber 62 has a cylindrical shape. The chamber 62 is provided with a metering mechanism 80 that quantifies ice to a predetermined capacity. The metering mechanism 80 includes a gear motor 81 and an ice meter 82 at the bottom of the cylindrical metering chamber 62. The gear motor 81 rotates the ice quantifier 82 and is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall of the cylindrical metering chamber 62. A drive shaft 81 a is fixed to the output shaft of the gear motor 81, and the drive shaft 81 a rotates in synchronization with the output shaft of the gear motor 81. The drive shaft 81a protrudes substantially at the center of the cylindrical metering chamber 62, and an ice meter 82 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 81a. The gear motor 81 includes an angle sensor 81b that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 81a by detecting the rotation angle of the output shaft. The angle sensor 81b is a photosensor, and detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 81a by a rotary encoder 81c fixed to the output shaft.

  The ice quantifier 82 quantifies the ice sent from the ice storage chamber 61 to a predetermined capacity (weight). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 12, the ice quantifier 82 has a central shaft portion 82a that is concentrically and rotatably supported inside the cylindrical quantitative chamber 62, and a peripheral surface of the central shaft portion 82a. There are six separator portions 82b that extend radially from six positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and form six fan-shaped quantitative spaces 82c around the central shaft portion 82a. Further, on the upper side of the ice quantifier 82, a removing device 83 for removing ice protruding from the upper side of the sector-shaped quantification space 82c is provided. When the ice quantifier 82 is rotated, for example, by 60 °, the ice quantified in the fan-shaped quantification space 82c of one ice quantifier 82 moves to the upper side of the discharge port 62a, and the quantified ice is discharged into the discharge port 62a. When the ice quantifier 2 is rotated 180 °, for example, the ice quantified in the three fan-shaped quantification spaces 82c of the ice quantifier 82 moves to the upper side of the discharge port 62a, and the quantified ice Is discharged from the discharge port 62a.

  The ice making device 10 includes a control device 90. As shown in FIG. 13, the control device 90 includes the compressor 31 of the refrigeration device 30, the hot gas valve 36, the temperature sensor 37 of the ice making plate 22, and water storage. The temperature sensor 44 in the tank 40, the water level sensor 45 (particularly the detection unit 45 c), the water supply pump 51, the water supply valve 55, the gear motor 56 b of the ice detachment device 56, the ice detachment detection sensor 59, and the carry-out mechanism 70 The gear motor 71 and the gear motor 81 of the quantitative mechanism 80 are connected. The control device 90 includes a microcomputer (not shown), and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a timer (all not shown) connected through a bus. The control device 90 quantifies and releases the ice making program for making the plate-shaped connected ice in the ice making unit 21 of the ice making mechanism unit 20 and the block type ice carried out to the cylindrical quantitative chamber 62 by the carry-out mechanism 70 by the quantitative mechanism 80. It has a fixed release program for discharging from the outlet 62a.

  The ice making operation of the ice making device 10 will be described based on the control of the ice making program by the control device 90. The control device 90 cools the ice making plate 22 by operating the compressor 31 of the refrigeration device 30. Further, when the control device 90 opens the water supply valve 55, the water of the water supply source is sent to the water storage tank 40 through the water supply pipe 54 as ice making water. When the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 gradually rises to the second water level and the detection result that the water level sensor 45 has reached the second water level is input to the control device 90, the control device 90 The water supply valve 55 is closed after elapse of a predetermined time from the input. The ice making water in the water storage tank 40 becomes higher than the second water level and overflows from the overflow part 43, and becomes an amount of water necessary for making the plate-shaped connecting ice in the ice making part 21.

  When the water supply pump 51 is operated, the control device 90 sends the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 to the water sprinkler 53 through the water pipe 52, and the ice making water sent to the water sprinkler 53 reaches the ice making plate 22 through the water sprinkling holes 53a. Water is sprinkled down to the ice making side. Ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 flows back into the water storage tank 40 while flowing into the ice making chamber partitioned by the grid-like partition member 23, and the ice making water is heated with the ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23. Replaced and cooled. The ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is frozen in the ice making chamber so as to become block ice, and the ice making water flowing down the block ice frozen in the ice making chamber is made by the ice making plate of the partition member 23. It freezes so that it may connect with the up-and-down and right-and-left which adjoin each other in the edge part on the opposite side to 22 side, and ice-making is carried out as the plate-shaped connection ice which connected the edge part of block-shaped ice in plate shape on the upper and lower side and right and left.

  When the plate-shaped connecting ice is made on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22, the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 becomes the first water level. When the detection result indicating that the water level sensor 45 has reached the first water level is input to the control device 90, the control device 90 stops the operation of the water supply pump 51 based on this detection result and stops water supply of ice making water. At the same time, the hot gas valve 36 is opened. The hot gas sent from the compressor 31 flows into the evaporation pipe 34 by opening the hot gas valve 36, and the ice making plate 22 is heated by the hot gas flowing into the evaporation pipe 34. The ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23 are gradually heated by hot gas, and the contact surface between the ice making plate 22 and the partition member 23 is gradually melted in the block-shaped ice of the plate-shaped connecting ice frozen in the ice making chamber.

  When the temperature sensor 37 of the ice making plate 22 detects a predetermined temperature of 5 ° C. or higher, the control device 90 operates the gear motor 56b of the ice detaching device 56 to advance the slide pin 56a, and the central block of the plate-shaped connecting ice. The ice cubes are pushed forward so as to be separated from the ice making surface side, and the plate-shaped connecting ice is pushed away from the ice making surface together with the block-shaped ice in the central portion. The guide plate 57 is changed from the suspended posture to the inclined posture by the pushed plate-shaped connecting ice, and when the ice separation detection sensor 59 detects that the detected portion 58 of the guide plate 57 is separated from the adjacent position, the control device 90 carries out the carry-out. By actuating the gear motor 71 of the mechanism 70, the stirring arm 73 is rotated. The plate-shaped connecting ice that has fallen into the ice storage tank 60 is broken into block-type ice pieces or block-type ice pieces in a state where several pieces are connected by the stirring arm 73, and the ice making unit 21 in the ice storage chamber 61 of the ice storage tank 60. The block-shaped ice is fed into the left and right sides from the position directly below the ice storage chamber 61 and is uniformly accommodated in the ice storage chamber 61 without locally solidifying directly below the ice making section 21. Further, when the stirring arm 73 is rotated, the unloading blade 72 of the unloading mechanism 70 is also rotated, so that the block type ice in the ice storage chamber 61 is unloaded to the cylindrical fixed amount chamber 62.

  When the plate-shaped connected ice made by the ice making unit 21 falls into the ice storage tank 60 and is detached from the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22, the guide plate 57 returns from the inclined posture to the hanging posture again. . When the ice detachment detection sensor 59 detects that the detected portion 58 of the guide plate 57 has approached again from the separated position, the control device 90 detects that the ice storage tank 60 is not full of ice, and the ice making process described above is performed. Control to run continuously. On the other hand, even if the plate-shaped connecting ice that has been made is pushed out of the ice making unit 21, the guide plate 57 maintains the inclined posture when the plate-shaped connecting ice does not fall due to the ice accumulated in the ice storage tank 60. . When the ice detachment detection sensor 59 detects that the detected portion 58 of the guide plate 57 is continuously separated, the control device 90 detects that the inside of the ice storage tank 60 is full of ice, and performs the ice making operation described above. Control to wait.

  When the operation button 18 on the front panel of the housing 12 is turned on in a state where the block-shaped ice is accommodated in the ice storage tank 60 as described above, the block-shaped ice in the ice storage chamber 61 is moved by the operation of the gear motor 71 of the carry-out mechanism 70. It is carried out to the cylindrical quantitative chamber 62 by the carry-out blade 72. The block type ice in the cylindrical quantification chamber 62 is put into the sector quantification space 82c of the ice quantification device 82, and the quantification mechanism 80 is rotated so that the drive shaft 81a rotates at a predetermined angle (for example, 120 ° or 180 °). By controlling the operation of the gear motor 81, the block type ice put into the two or three fan-shaped fixed spaces 82c is discharged from the discharge port 62a to a container such as a cup.

  In the ice making device 10 configured as described above, the left and right crossing the front-rear direction (one direction) at the same height position at different positions in the front-rear direction (one direction in the horizontal direction) on the upper peripheral wall of the water storage tank 40. First and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 extending in the direction (crossing direction of the horizontal direction) are displayed. Specifically, the water storage tank 40 includes a first water storage portion 41 and a second water storage portion 42 having front walls (peripheral walls) at positions different from each other in the front-rear direction (one direction in the horizontal direction). The first horizontal reference line L1 is displayed on the front wall (peripheral wall) of the portion 41, and the second horizontal reference line L2 is displayed on the front wall (peripheral wall) of the second water reservoir 42. If the water level of the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is the same as both the first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2, the ice making device 10 is installed horizontally in the front-rear direction (one horizontal direction). Can be confirmed. Further, if the water level of the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is the same in all of the left and right directions (crossing directions) of the first or second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2, the ice making device 10 is moved in the left and right direction (horizontal direction). It can be confirmed that it is installed horizontally in the crossing direction. Thereby, it became possible to confirm that the ice making device 10 was installed horizontally without preparing a level (level) when installing the ice making device 10 and any time after the installation.

  In particular, in this ice making device 10, the amount of ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is made to exceed the overflow portion 43 by overflowing and draining ice making water having a higher water level than the overflow portion 43 provided on the right rear portion of the water storage tank 40. The amount of water is suitable for making plate-shaped ice at the edge water level. If the ice making device 10 cannot be installed horizontally in the front-rear and left-right directions, the ice-making water in the water storage tank 40 will overflow more or less from the overflow part 43 provided at the right rear, and the ice-making water in the water storage tank 40 will be horizontal. There was a risk of more or less than when it was installed. In this case, the plate-shaped connected ice produced by the ice making unit 21 has a large thickness due to the large amount of ice-making water in the water storage tank, and it is difficult to break into block type ice. Due to the small amount of ice-making water in the tank, there was a possibility that not all block-shaped ices were connected. However, the ice making device 10 is installed horizontally in the front-rear and left-right directions by checking whether or not the water level of the ice-making water when the water storage tank 40 is full is the same as the first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2. Therefore, the amount of ice-making water in the water storage tank 40 can be set to an appropriate amount for making the plate-type connected ice, and the thickness of the plate portion of the plate-type connected ice is set to an appropriate thickness. I was able to.

  Further, in the ice making device 10 that makes the plate-shaped connected ice by the ice making unit 21 erected vertically on the base 11 as in this embodiment, the ice making device 10 must be installed horizontally in the front-rear and left-right directions. The ice-making water flowing down the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate 22 flows to the left and right, or the flow speed of the ice-making water flowing down changes, so that the block shape in the ice making chamber may not be connected to the plate shape in the vertical or horizontal direction. was there. In this case, even if the block-shaped ice in the central portion is pushed out together with the plate-shaped connecting ice by the slide pin 56a, the block-shaped ice may remain in a part of the ice making chamber of the ice making portion 21. The ice making device 10 is horizontally installed in the front-rear and left-right directions by checking whether or not the water level of the ice-making water when the water storage tank 40 is full is the same as the first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2. Therefore, the ice-making water flowing down the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate 22 does not flow to the left and right, and the flow speed does not change. As a result, the plate-type connected ice made on the ice-making surface side of the ice-making plate 22 is made so that all the block-type ice on the top, bottom, left and right are connected, and the plate-type connected ice is detached from the ice making unit 21. Even if this was done, it was possible to prevent block ice from remaining in some ice-making chambers. Furthermore, since the water storage tank 40 is disposed at a position where the first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2 can be viewed from the front side with the lid 13 opened, the water storage tank 40 can be simply opened temporarily. It is possible to confirm whether or not the water level of the ice making water at the time of full water is the same as the first and second horizontal reference lines L1 and L2, and easily confirm whether or not the ice making device 10 is installed horizontally. I was able to.

  In the ice making device 10 of this embodiment, a large number of ice making chambers are formed by providing a grid-like partition member 23 on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22, but the present invention is limited to this. Alternatively, the ice may be made on the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22 without providing the grid-like partition member 23 on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22. Also, a large number of ice making chambers are formed by providing grid-like partition members on the ice making surface, which is the lower surface of the ice making plate provided horizontally with respect to the base, and ice making water is ejected (watered) into these ice making chambers. Even in such a case, by confirming that the ice making device is installed horizontally, the ice making chamber formed on the ice making surface of the ice making plate can be moved back and forth and left and right. Block-shaped ice with no variation can be made.

  Further, the first water storage portion 41 of the water storage tank 40 has a water discharge port 43a formed in the bottom wall near the rear wall and the right side wall (near the peripheral wall), and a water discharge port together with the rear wall and right side wall (the peripheral wall) of the water storage tank 40. The overflow part 43 provided with the partition wall 43b which surrounds 43a is provided, and the overflow part 43 overflows the ice-making water exceeding the partition wall 43b in the water storage tank 40, and drains it. When ice making water overflows from the overflow part 43, the water level of the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is about 5 mm higher than the partition wall 43b due to surface tension. It is the water level that stores the ice making water necessary to make it. When water is supplied so that the ice making water overflows from the overflow part 43 into the water storage tank 40 and then the ice making operation is set to the standby state, the ice making water that is higher than the partition wall 43b due to surface tension is changed over time with the first water storage part. 41 may flow into the overflow portion 43 along the rear wall or the right side wall.

  In this case, the level of the ice-making water after overflowing the ice-making water from the overflow portion 43 in the water storage tank 40 when the ice-making operation is continuously executed and when the ice-making operation that has been on standby is resumed. Will change. In particular, when the ice making operation that has been put on standby is resumed, if the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is low, the block ice frozen in the ice making chamber is on the opposite side of the partition member 23 from the ice making plate 22 side. There is a shortage of ice-making water that is frozen so that it is connected to the top and bottom and the left and right adjacent to each other at the edge, and the ice-making part 21 may be made into a number of block-shaped ices instead of plate-shaped connecting ice, or dimples There was a risk of forming a block-shaped ice called dent. If the block-shaped ice does not grow up to the plate-shaped connecting ice in the ice-making unit 21, even if it tries to push out the block-shaped ice in the central portion together with the plate-shaped connected ice by the slide pin 56a, the block-shaped ice in some ice making chambers. There was a risk that the block-shaped litter could not be removed from all ice making chambers. In addition, when block-shaped ice with dimples called dimples is formed, the weight (capacity) of the block-shaped ice quantified by the quantification mechanism 80 may vary.

  In the ice making device 10, since the partition wall 43 b is provided with the overflow prevention wall portion 43 c higher than the other portion between the rear wall and the right side wall of the first water storage portion 41, the overflow portion 43 is provided in the water storage tank 40. The ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is supplied to the rear wall by the overflow prevention wall portion 43c provided in the portion contacting the rear wall and the right side wall of the first water storage portion 41 of the partition wall 43b. Alternatively, it does not flow into the overflow portion 43 along the right side wall. For this reason,. The level of the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 is not changed when comparing the time immediately after supplying the water so that the ice making water overflows from the overflow portion 43 into the water storage tank 40 and the time when the time has passed. I was able to. Thereby, even when the ice making operation that has been on standby is resumed, the plate-shaped connecting ice can be reliably made, and no dents called dimples are formed in each block-shaped ice of the plate-shaped connecting ice. It became so.

  The ice making unit 21 of the ice making device 10 is for making ice by freezing ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 that is erected vertically (standing up) with respect to the base 11. The ice making surface side is provided with a guide plate 57 that guides the ice making water flowing down into the water storage tank while curving the lower part to the inside of the water storage tank 40 while preventing the ice making water flowing down to the outside. A bulge portion 57 a that extends in the width direction and bulges inside the water storage tank 40 is provided at the lower end portion of the 57 ice making plate 22 on the opposite surface side. The ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 has a flow rate that varies depending on the amount of ice frozen on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22. That is, since ice is not formed in the ice making chamber at the beginning of ice making, ice making water tends to stay in the ice making chamber, and the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is small and the flow speed is slow, whereas in the late ice making stage Since ice is formed in the ice making chamber, the amount of ice making water flowing down on the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 increases and the flow speed increases. If the flow rate of the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 is high, the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of the ice making plate 22 easily flows from the lower end of the guide plate 57 toward the outside of the water storage tank 40. Since the bulging portion 57 a that swells inside the water storage tank 40 is provided at the lower end portion of the guide plate 57, it is difficult for ice-making water flowing down the guide plate 57 to flow outside the water storage tank 40. Thereby, it was possible to prevent the ice making water in the water storage tank 40 from being reduced except for freezing in the ice making unit 21 during the ice making operation.

  The guide plate 57 is supported at its upper end by a support frame 17 provided on the base 11 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and when the ice frozen on the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22 is dropped downward. The lower end portion of the guide plate 57 is rotated so as to be pushed out to the side opposite to the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22. A protrusion 57 b that protrudes toward the lid (opposing wall) 13 of the ice making chamber 14 is provided on the opposite side of the guide plate 57 opposite the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22. When the lower end portion of the guide plate 57 is rotated so as to be pushed away from the ice making surface of the ice making plate 22, the guide plate 57 comes into surface contact with the lid (opposing wall) 13 constituting the ice making chamber 14. The protrusion 57b makes point contact without any problem. As a result, even if ice making water adheres to the guide plate 57, the state where the ice making water 14 sticks to the lid (opposing wall) 13 of the ice making chamber 14 and does not keep rotating.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice making apparatus, 11 ... Base, 11a ... Opening, 12 ... Cover, 12a ... Cover part, 21 ... Ice making part, 22 ... Ice making plate, 40 ... Water storage tank, 43 ... Overflow part, 43a ... Drain outlet, 43b ... partition wall, 43c ... overflow prevention wall part, 50 ... ice making water delivery part, 57 ... guide plate, L1 ... first horizontal reference line, L2 ... second horizontal reference line.

Claims (5)

An ice making unit for making ice by freezing ice making water sent to an ice making surface side of an ice making plate installed vertically or horizontally on a base;
A water storage tank that is installed horizontally with respect to the base, stores ice-making water to be sent to the ice-making unit below the ice-making unit, and returns unfrozen ice-making water sent to the ice-making unit;
An ice making device comprising an ice making water sending part for sending ice making water in the water storage tank to the ice making part,
The water storage tank uses a transparent or translucent material at least at the top, and the upper part of the peripheral wall of the water storage tank crosses the one direction at the same height at different positions in one direction in the horizontal direction. An ice making device characterized by displaying first and second horizontal reference lines extending in a horizontal crossing direction. The ice making device according to claim 1,
The water storage tank has a first water storage part and a second water storage part having peripheral walls at different positions in one horizontal direction, and the first horizontal reference line is displayed on the peripheral wall of the first water storage part. The ice making device is characterized in that the second horizontal reference line is displayed on the peripheral wall of the second water reservoir. The ice making device according to claim 1 or 2,
A drain port formed in a bottom wall near the peripheral wall of the water storage tank, and a partition wall surrounding the drain port together with the peripheral wall of the water storage tank, and an overflow part for draining ice-making water exceeding the partition wall in the water storage tank Provided,
An ice making device, wherein the partition wall is provided with an overflow prevention wall portion which is higher than other portions at a portion in contact with the peripheral wall of the water storage tank. In the ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The ice making part is for making ice by freezing ice making water flowing down the ice making surface side of an ice making plate erected vertically with respect to a base,
On the ice making surface side of the ice making plate, there is provided a guide plate for guiding the ice making water flowing down into the water storage tank while curving the lower part to the inside of the water storage tank while preventing the ice making water flowing down to the outside. ,
An ice making device, characterized in that a bulging portion extending in the width direction and bulging inside the water storage tank is provided at a lower end portion of the guide plate on the opposite surface side of the ice making plate. The ice making device according to claim 4,
The ice making part is housed in an ice making chamber covering at least the ice making surface side;
The guide plate is supported so that its upper end is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and when the ice frozen on the ice making surface of the ice making plate is dropped downward, the lower end of the guide plate is It is made to rotate so that it extrudes to the opposite side to the ice-making plate side,
An ice making device, wherein the guide plate is provided with a projecting portion protruding toward a wall facing the guide plate of the ice making chamber on the opposite side of the surface facing the ice making plate.

Images