An ice maker with an ice weighing function

Abstract

This application belongs to the technical field of ice makers, and discloses an ice maker with an ice weighing function. An ice discharging control mechanism is arranged below the ice outlet of the ice maker body. The ice discharging control mechanism is electrically connected to an electromagnetic valve. The ice discharging control mechanism includes a receiving funnel and a weighing module. The side wall of the receiving funnel is fixedly connected to the weighing module. The top inlet of its cavity is directly below the ice outlet, and a falling ice control module is arranged at the bottom outlet of its cavity for controlling the falling of the ice in the receiving funnel. The falling ice control module is electrically connected to the weighing module. By arranging the ice discharging control mechanism below the ice outlet in this application, the weighing module is used to weigh the ice falling into the receiving funnel. When the ice meets the weight standard, the falling ice control module controls the final falling of the ice, realizing the precise quantitative use of the ice and greatly improving the practicability of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of ice makers, and more specifically, to an ice maker with an ice weighing function. Background Art

[0002] With the popularity of cold drinks, as a device for making ice cubes, ice makers are widely used in various shopping malls. An ice maker is a refrigeration mechanical device that makes liquid water form fixed ice by means of heat exchange between the liquid water and the refrigerant in the refrigeration system through cooling.

[0003] In the existing ice makers generally applied to the unmanned retail field, the ice outlet controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve at the ice outlet to control the falling of ice by time (a single variable). The following problems exist in actual use: the weight of the falling ice is inaccurate during the same ice falling time, and the ice output for the same kind of drink is inaccurate, resulting in problems with the quality control of the drink; there are errors in the different ice falling times designed for different ice falling amounts, and they are not in a linear relationship, so there will be a large error in adjusting the ice falling amount according to time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, this application provides an ice maker with an ice weighing function.

[0005] The ice maker with an ice weighing function provided by this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] An ice maker with an ice weighing function includes an ice maker body. A storage ice bucket for storing formed ice cubes is arranged in the ice maker body. One side of the bottom of the storage ice bucket is provided with an ice outlet, and an electromagnetic valve is arranged at the ice outlet for controlling the falling of ice cubes. An ice outlet control mechanism is arranged below the ice outlet in the ice maker body. The ice outlet control mechanism is electrically connected to the electromagnetic valve. The ice outlet control mechanism includes a receiving funnel and a weighing module. The side wall of the receiving funnel is fixedly connected to the weighing module. The top inlet of its cavity is located directly below the ice outlet, and a falling ice control module for controlling the falling of ice cubes in the receiving funnel is arranged at the bottom outlet of its cavity. The falling ice control module is electrically connected to the weighing module.

[0007] Further, the weighing module includes a support frame and a weighing sensor. The support frame is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the box body of the ice maker body. The wire outlet end of the weighing sensor is detachably and fixedly installed on the support frame, and its force receiving end is fixedly connected to the side wall of the receiving funnel.

[0008] Further, the ice-falling control module includes a flip plate, a stepping motor and a limiting rod. The flip plate is hinged to one side of the bottom outlet of the receiving funnel. The stepping motor is fixedly connected to the same side of the side wall of the receiving funnel. The top end of the limiting rod is fixedly connected to the output end of the stepping motor, and its bottom end bends towards the flip plate side until it fits with the flip plate.

[0009] Further, a pressure equalizing block is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the limiting rod, and a buffer cushion block is fixedly connected to the outer side surface of the pressure equalizing block.

[0010] Further, the bottom surface slope of the receiving funnel is 50-70°.

[0011] Further, a ice-taking groove is arranged on the front shell of the ice maker body below the ice-outlet control mechanism. The top of the ice-taking groove is penetrated and fixedly connected with a secondary funnel. The top inlet of the secondary funnel is located directly below the outlet of the receiving funnel.

[0012] In summary, the present application includes at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0013] (1) By arranging the ice-outlet control mechanism below the ice outlet, the weighing module is used to weigh the ice cubes falling into the receiving funnel. When the ice cubes meet the weight standard, the ice-falling control module controls the final falling out of the ice cubes, realizing the precise quantitative use of the ice cubes and greatly improving the practicability of the equipment;

[0014] (2) Through the setting of the flip plate at the bottom of the receiving funnel, when the ice cubes at the bottom outlet of the receiving funnel are blocked, the stepping motor can be controlled to drive the limiting rod to rotate repeatedly, and then drive the flip plate to pat the bottom of the receiving funnel, and use the vibration effect to shake down the ice cubes to ensure the smoothness of ice falling. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is the overall structural schematic diagram of the present application;

[0016] Figure 2 is the internal structural schematic diagram of the present application;

[0017] Figure 3 is Figure 2 the enlarged view at A in

[0018] Description of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0019] 1. Ice maker body; 2. Ice storage bucket; 3. Ice outlet; 4. Ice-outlet control mechanism; 41. Receiving funnel; 42. Weighing module; 421. Support frame; 422. Weighing sensor; 43. Ice-falling control module; 431. Flip plate; 432. Stepping motor; 433. Limiting rod; 434. Pressure equalizing block; 435. Buffer cushion block; 5. Ice-taking groove; 6. Secondary funnel. Detailed implementation mode

[0020] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application; obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top / bottom end", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0022] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "provided with", "sheathed / connected", "connection", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0023] Embodiment 1:

[0024] The following will further describe the present application in detail in conjunction with the attached Figures 1-3 drawings.

[0025] The embodiment of the present application discloses an ice maker with an ice weighing function, which includes an ice maker body 1. A storage ice bucket 2 for storing formed ice cubes is arranged in the ice maker body 1. An ice outlet 3 is arranged on one side of the bottom of the storage ice bucket 2. An electromagnetic valve is arranged at the ice outlet 3 for controlling the falling of the ice cubes. An ice outlet control mechanism 4 is arranged below the ice outlet 3 of the ice maker body 1. The ice outlet control mechanism 4 is electrically connected to the electromagnetic valve. The ice outlet control mechanism 4 includes a receiving funnel 41 and a weighing module 42. The side wall of the receiving funnel 41 is fixedly connected to the weighing module 42. The top inlet of its cavity is located directly below the ice outlet 3, and a falling ice control module 43 is arranged at the bottom outlet of its cavity for controlling the falling of the ice cubes in the receiving funnel 41. The falling ice control module 43 is electrically connected to the weighing module 42.

[0026] Please refer to Figure 2 andFigure 3 , the weighing module 42 includes a support frame 421 and a weighing sensor 422. The support frame 421 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the box body of the ice maker body 1. The lead-out end of the weighing sensor 422 is detachably and fixedly installed on the support frame 421, and its force-receiving end is fixedly connected to the side wall of the receiving funnel 41. The weighing sensor 422 can weigh the overall weight of the receiving funnel 41 and the ice cubes falling into its cavity, and send an electrical signal to the electromagnetic valve and the ice-falling control module 43.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the ice-falling control module 43 includes a turning plate 431, a stepping motor 432 and a limiting rod 433. The turning plate 431 is hinged to one side of the bottom outlet of the receiving funnel 41. The stepping motor 432 is fixedly connected to the same side wall of the receiving funnel 41. The top end of the limiting rod 433 is fixedly connected to the output end of the stepping motor 432, and its bottom end bends towards the turning plate 431 and fits with it. By controlling the operation of the stepping motor 432 to drive the limiting rod 433 to rotate, the rotation of the turning plate 431 is limited.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 3 , a pressure equalizing block 434 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the limiting rod 433, and a buffer cushion block 435 is fixedly connected to the outer side surface of the pressure equalizing block 434. The buffer cushion block 435 can be made of a flexible material such as rubber, silica gel or foam, which avoids scratches on the turning plate 431 caused by rigid contact and also makes the stress distribution at the contact point more uniform.

[0029] As a further preference of this embodiment, the bottom slope of the receiving funnel 41 is 60°, which makes the ice cubes fall more smoothly while ensuring a certain ice storage capacity.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a ice-taking slot 5 is provided on the front shell of the ice maker body 1 below the ice-discharging control mechanism 4. The top of the ice-taking slot 5 is penetrated and fixedly connected with a secondary funnel 6, and the top inlet of the secondary funnel 6 is located directly below the outlet of the receiving funnel 41.

[0031] The implementation principle of an ice maker with an ice weighing function in an embodiment of the present application is as follows: when in use, the electromagnetic valve of the ice outlet 3 of the ice storage bucket 2 is opened, and the ice cubes first fall into the receiving funnel 41. At this time, the weighing sensor 422 weighs them. When the weight of the fallen ice reaches the set threshold, an electrical signal is triggered to the electromagnetic valve to close it, and at the same time, an electrical signal is triggered to the stepper motor 432 to make it run, driving the limit rod 433 to rotate outward, releasing the limit on the flip plate 431, and the ice cubes in the receiving funnel 41 fall from the outlet into the secondary funnel 6, and then fall out of the ice taking trough 5 of the ice maker, completing the quantitative use of ice cubes. Furthermore, if the ice cubes in the receiving funnel 41 are stuck to each other inside the cavity and cannot fall down, the weighing sensor 422 can still detect the weight information and send out an electrical signal to control the operation of the stepper motor 432, thereby driving the limit rod 433 to rotate repeatedly, thereby causing the flip plate 431 to hit the bottom of the receiving funnel 41, and using the vibration effect to shake the ice cubes down, which can effectively prevent blockage at the outlet and further improve the practicability of the equipment.

[0032] The above are all preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Therefore, any equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An ice maker with an ice weighing function, comprising an ice maker body (1). A storage ice bucket (2) for storing formed ice cubes is arranged in the ice maker body (1). An ice outlet (3) is arranged on one side of the bottom of the storage ice bucket (2). An electromagnetic valve is arranged at the ice outlet (3) for controlling the falling of the ice cubes. It is characterized in that: The ice maker body (1) is provided with an ice outlet control mechanism (4) below the ice outlet (3). The ice outlet control mechanism (4) is electrically connected to the electromagnetic valve. The ice outlet control mechanism (4) comprises a receiving funnel (41) and a weighing module (42). The side wall of the receiving funnel (41) is fixedly connected to the weighing module (42). The top inlet of its cavity is located directly below the ice outlet (3). A falling ice control module (43) is arranged at the bottom outlet of its cavity for controlling the falling of the ice cubes in the receiving funnel (41). The falling ice control module (43) is electrically connected to the weighing module (42); The falling ice control module (43) comprises a turning plate (431), a stepping motor (432) and a limiting rod (433). The turning plate (431) is hingedly connected to one side of the bottom outlet of the receiving funnel (41). The stepping motor (432) is fixedly connected to the same side of the side wall of the receiving funnel (41). The top end of the limiting rod (433) is fixedly connected to the output end of the stepping motor (432), and its bottom end bends towards the turning plate (431) to fit with it; A pressure equalizing block (434) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the limiting rod (433). A buffer cushion block (435) is fixedly connected to the outer side surface of the pressure equalizing block (434); The bottom surface slope of the receiving funnel (41) is 50 - 70°.

2. The ice maker with an ice weighing function according to claim 1, It is characterized in that: The weighing module (42) comprises a support frame (421) and a weighing sensor (422). The support frame (421) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the box body of the ice maker body (1). The wire outlet end of the weighing sensor (422) is detachably fixedly installed on the support frame (421), and its force receiving end is fixedly connected to the side wall of the receiving funnel (41).

3. The ice maker with an ice weighing function according to claim 1, It is characterized in that: A ice taking groove (5) is arranged on the front shell of the ice maker body (1) below the ice outlet control mechanism (4). The top of the ice taking groove (5) is penetrated and fixedly connected with a secondary funnel (6). The top inlet of the secondary funnel (6) is located directly below the outlet of the receiving funnel (41).

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