Ice maker capable of quantitatively discharging ice

Abstract

The invention provides a quantitative ice output ice maker which comprises an ice storage bucket, a bearing device and a control system, the ice storage bucket comprises an ice outlet, a guide table and a stirring assembly suitable for preventing ice blocks from caking, the bearing device comprises an objective table and a mass sensor arranged below the objective table, the objective table is arranged perpendicular to the gravity direction, and the mass sensor is arranged below the objective table. The control system comprises a controller and a bin door assembly, the control system is suitable for controlling the bin door assembly to be opened, the guide table guides ice blocks to slide to the ice outlet and fall into the container, the mass sensor is suitable for monitoring the mass of the ice blocks in the container and transmitting sufficient signals, and the controller controls the bin door assembly to be closed according to the sufficient signals so that quantitative ice discharging can be achieved. The controller is arranged to receive the sufficient signal of the mass sensor to control the bin door assembly to be closed so as to achieve quantitative ice discharging, the objective table is arranged perpendicular to the gravity direction, it can be avoided that extra torque is introduced in the installation calibration and measurement process of the mass sensor, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of ice making machines, and in particular relates to a quantitative ice-dispensing ice making machine. Background Art

[0002] With the development of society and the improvement of people's living standards, the requirements for the diversity and quality of food and beverages are getting higher and higher. In the beverage industry, ice cubes, as an important auxiliary material, play a key role in the taste and freshness of beverages. In terms of ice dispensing control, most equipment still adopts a simple timed or quantitative ice dispensing method, which lacks flexibility and accuracy. In addition, in the ice dispensing process of the ice maker in the prior art, ice cubes are easy to stick together and difficult to separate, resulting in unsmooth ice dispensing and affecting the efficiency of use. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice-making machine with a quantitative ice dispensing function to meet the needs of users.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine, comprising

[0005] An ice storage bucket is suitable for storing ice cubes, comprising an ice outlet, a guide platform suitable for guiding the ice cubes to slide toward the ice outlet under the action of gravity, and a stirring assembly suitable for preventing the ice cubes from agglomerating and pushing the ice cubes toward the ice outlet.

[0006] The load-bearing device comprises a loading platform suitable for placing the container and a mass sensor arranged below the loading platform, wherein the loading platform is arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the mass sensor is suitable for monitoring the mass of ice cubes in the container and transmitting a sufficient signal.

[0007] The control system comprises a controller and a door assembly, wherein the door assembly is suitable for closing the ice outlet, and the controller is suitable for receiving a sufficient signal from the mass sensor and controlling the door assembly to close accordingly so as to achieve quantitative ice outlet.

[0008] Preferably, the controller presets a number of different ice output amounts, and / or the controller is adapted to receive other ice output amounts inputted from an electronic terminal, so as to facilitate adaptive adjustment by the user.

[0009] Preferably, the loading platform includes a weighing pan arranged on its upper surface and a mounting platform suitable for carrying the mass sensor, the mounting platform includes a mounting surface arranged parallel to the weighing pan, the mass is fixed to the mounting surface to achieve a horizontal setting, and the mass sensor is arranged corresponding to the central area of ​​the weighing pan.

[0010] Preferably, the mass sensor comprises an elastic element, a strain gauge and a signal processing circuit, wherein the elastic element deforms under the gravity of the ice cube, the strain gauge is suitable for converting the deformation of the elastic element into an electrical signal, and the signal processing circuit is suitable for amplifying and processing the electrical signal and transmitting it to the controller to meet the measurement range and accuracy requirements of the mass sensor.

[0011] Preferably, the elastic element may be at least one of a metal diaphragm, an elastic column or an elastic cylinder, the elastic element is arranged in contact with the lower surface of the weighing pan and is not compressed by the gravity of the weighing pan, or a safety gap is provided between the elastic element and the weighing pan to avoid pressure on the mass sensor when there is no load.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment: the ice outlet is opened on the side wall of the ice storage bucket,

[0013] The door assembly comprises

[0014] A bracket is relatively fixedly mounted on the side wall of the ice storage bucket,

[0015] The door comprises a door seat and a door panel mounted on the door seat, wherein the door panel is suitable for closing the ice outlet, and the door seat is hinged to the bracket via a rotating shaft.

[0016] A driving device, which is adapted to receive instructions from the controller to drive the door to open and close,

[0017] The transmission column has one end adapted to be extended and retracted up and down along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket under the drive of the driving device, and the other end adapted to drive the door seat to flip so as to realize the opening and closing of the door panel.

[0018] Preferably, the door seat includes a transmission groove, the transmission groove includes a locking section and a movable section that are interconnected, and the transmission column includes a first pin shaft arranged parallel to the rotating shaft, and the first pin shaft is suitable for passing through the transmission groove.

[0019] When the door closes the ice outlet, the first pin is located in the locking section, and the locking section is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the ice storage bucket. The first pin cooperates with the locking section in a limited manner in a direction perpendicular to the ice outlet so that the door remains closed, thereby realizing self-locking of the door assembly; when the transmission column moves upward, the first pin enters the movable end from the locking section, and the movable section is arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft. The first pin is suitable for driving the door to flip upward and open the ice outlet.

[0020] Preferably, the driving device is an electromagnet device fixedly mounted on the bracket, the electromagnet device includes a second guide groove, the transmission column is a magnetic body, and under the action of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet device, one end of the transmission column reciprocates and slides with the second guide groove; the electromagnet device includes an energized coil, and the controller is suitable for controlling the magnetic field strength by controlling the current passing through the energized coil, thereby realizing control of the movement of the transmission shaft.

[0021] Preferably, the bracket comprises a first back plate and two first wing plates in a three-sided enclosed structure, the first wing plate is suitable for providing a first guide groove and a first rotating groove supporting the rotating shaft, the first guide groove is arranged along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket, the first guide groove and the first pin shaft are slidingly matched to limit its movable direction, the two first guide grooves are suitable for constituting a limit for the first pin shaft along its axial direction, the door seat comprises a second back plate and two second wing plates in a three-sided enclosed structure, the second wing plate comprises the transmission groove and the second rotating groove supporting the rotating shaft.

[0022] Preferably, the door assembly includes a return torsion spring suitable for driving the door to close, and the return torsion spring includes a spiral portion sleeved on the rotating shaft, a first support leg abutting against the first pin shaft, and a second support leg abutting against the first back plate and / or the second back plate.

[0023] When the door is flipped outward, the first pin shaft synchronously drives the spiral portion to tighten and accumulate potential energy through the first support leg; when the spiral portion opens to release potential energy, the first support leg drives the door to close through the first pin shaft.

[0024] Preferably, the quantitative ice-discharging ice-making machine further comprises an ice-dropping shell, the lower end of the ice outlet is extended with a guide plate, the guide plate is suitable for guiding the ice cubes to slide into the ice-dropping shell, the ice-dropping shell is suitable for guiding the ice cubes to fall into a container placed on the loading platform, the ice-dropping shell comprises a vertical guide surface arranged close to the ice storage bucket and an inclined guide surface arranged away from the ice storage bucket, and the cross-sectional size of the guide cylinder gradually decreases along the direction of gravity.

[0025] Preferably, the stirring assembly comprises a motor, a stirring shaft and a plurality of stirring units extending radially outward, the motor is arranged below the ice storage bucket, the stirring unit is arranged above the guide platform, the guide platform is a truncated table structure, the guide platform, the stirring shaft and the ice storage bucket are coaxially arranged, and the motor is suitable for driving the stirring unit to rotate through the stirring shaft.

[0026] Preferably, at least one of the stirring units constitutes an upper zone stirring unit extending upward, and the other stirring units are grouped in pairs to form a lower zone stirring group symmetrically arranged about the stirring axis and extending downward, and the lower zone stirring groups are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction and staggered in the axial direction.

[0027] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0028] Ice is produced by the cooperation of the guide platform and the stirring assembly. The controller is set to receive sufficient signals from the mass sensor to control the closing of the door assembly to achieve quantitative ice production. Quantitative ice production can be adaptively performed for different ice quantity requirements.

[0029] Setting the stage perpendicular to the direction of gravity can avoid the introduction of additional torque to the mass sensor during installation, calibration and measurement, providing a more ideal force environment for the mass sensor, which is conducive to improving the measurement accuracy and thus achieving ice production accuracy.

[0030] By setting the locking section and the first pin shaft limiter, the door panel will not lose its sealing due to the impact of ice cubes when stirring ice cubes, and the sealing effect of the warehouse door is good. By setting the movable section perpendicular to the rotating shaft, the movement path can be shortened, thereby realizing the compact and lightweight design of the warehouse door assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 The present invention provides a structural schematic diagram of a quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine.

[0032] Figure 2 The present invention provides a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine.

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cabin door assembly provided by the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 An exploded schematic diagram of the cabin door assembly provided by the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 An exploded schematic diagram of the loading platform provided by the present invention.

[0036] In the figure, an ice storage bucket 101, a loading platform 102, a weighing pan 103, a mounting platform 104, a mounting surface 105, a mass sensor 106, an ice outlet 107, a guide platform 108, a bracket 109, a door seat 110, a door panel 111, a driving device 112, a transmission column 113, a first back plate 114, a first wing plate 115, a reset torsion spring 116, a second back plate 117, a second wing plate 118, a rotating shaft 119, a spiral portion 120, a first support leg 121, a second support leg 122, a first pin shaft 123, a first guide groove 124, a second guide groove 125, a transmission groove 126, a locking section 127, a movable section 128, an ice falling shell 129, a guide plate 130, an inclined guide surface 131, a vertical guide surface 132, a motor 133, a stirring shaft 134, an upper zone stirring unit 135, and a lower zone stirring group 136. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0038] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention due to unnecessary details, only structures and / or processing steps closely related to the scheme of the present invention are shown in the drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the present invention are omitted.

[0039] In addition, it should be noted that the terms "comprises", "includes" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or apparatus that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or apparatus.

[0040] like Figure 1-5 The invention discloses a quantitative ice dispensing ice making machine, comprising an ice storage bucket 101, a load-bearing device and a control system. The ice storage bucket 101 comprises an ice outlet 107 provided on its side wall, a guide platform 108 and a stirring assembly suitable for preventing ice cubes from agglomerating. The load-bearing device comprises a loading platform 102 suitable for placing a container and a mass sensor 106 arranged below the loading platform 102. The loading platform 102 is arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The control system comprises a controller and a door assembly. The control system is suitable for controlling the door assembly to open. The guide platform 108 guides the ice cubes to slide toward the ice outlet 107 and fall into the container under the action of gravity. The mass sensor 106 is suitable for monitoring the mass of ice cubes in the container and transmitting a sufficient amount signal. The controller is suitable for receiving a sufficient amount signal from the mass sensor 106 and controlling the door assembly to close accordingly to achieve quantitative ice dispensing. The controller presets a number of different ice dispensing amounts, and is also suitable for receiving other ice dispensing amounts input by an electronic terminal, so that users can make adaptive adjustments.

[0041] In this embodiment, the loading platform 102 includes a weighing plate 103 disposed on its upper surface and a mounting platform 104 suitable for carrying a mass sensor 106. The mounting platform 104 includes a mounting surface 105 disposed parallel to the weighing plate 103. The mass sensor 106 is fixed to the mounting surface 105 to achieve a horizontal arrangement, and the mass sensor 106 is arranged corresponding to the central area of ​​the weighing plate 103. The mass sensor 106 includes an elastic element, a strain gauge and a signal processing circuit. The elastic element deforms under the gravity of the ice cube. The strain gauge is suitable for converting the deformation of the elastic element into an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit is suitable for amplifying and processing the above electrical signal and transmitting it to the controller to meet the requirements for the measurement range and accuracy of the mass sensor 106. Specifically, the elastic element is a metal diaphragm, and there is a safety gap between the elastic element and the weighing plate 103 to prevent the mass sensor 106 from being subjected to pressure when there is no load.

[0042] In this embodiment, the door assembly includes a bracket 109, a door, a driving device 112 and a transmission column 113. The bracket 109 includes a first back plate 114 and two first wing plates 115 in a three-sided enclosed structure. The first wing plates 115 are relatively fixedly mounted on the side wall of the ice storage bucket 101. The door includes a door seat 110, a door panel 111 mounted on the door seat 110, and a return torsion spring 116 suitable for driving the door to close. The door panel 111 is suitable for closing the ice outlet 107. The door seat 110 includes a second back plate 117 and two second wing plates 118 in a three-sided enclosed structure. The door seat 110 is hinged to the first wing plate 115 through a rotating shaft 119. Specifically, the first wing plate 115 and the second wing plate 118 respectively include a first rotating groove and a second rotating groove suitable for supporting the rotating shaft 119. One of the first rotating groove and the second rotating groove is relatively fixedly arranged with the rotating shaft 119, and the other is rotationally matched with the rotating shaft 119. The return torsion spring 116 includes a spiral portion 120 sleeved on the rotating shaft 119, a first leg 121 abutting against the first pin 123, and a second leg 122 abutting against the first back plate 114 and / or the second back plate 117. The driving device 112 is an electromagnet device fixedly assembled on the bracket 109, which is suitable for receiving the instructions of the controller to drive the door to open and close through the transmission column 113. Specifically, the electromagnet device includes an energized coil and a second guide groove 125, and the second guide groove 125 is arranged along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket 101. The transmission column 113 is a magnetic body, and the controller is suitable for controlling the magnetic field strength by controlling the current passing through the energized coil. Under the action of the magnetic field, one end of the transmission column 113 of the driving device 112 is reciprocatingly slidably matched with the second guide groove 125. The other end of the transmission column 113 includes a first pin shaft 123 arranged parallel to the rotating shaft 119, the second wing plate 118 includes a transmission groove 126, and the first wing plate 115 includes a first guide groove 124 arranged along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket 101. The first pin shaft 123 of the transmission column 113 is suitable for passing through the transmission groove 126 and extending into the first guide groove 124. The first guide groove 124 and the first pin shaft 123 are slidably matched to limit the movable direction thereof, and the two first guide grooves 124 are suitable for constituting a limiter arranged along the axial direction of the first pin shaft 123. The transmission groove 126 includes a locking section 127 and a movable section 128 that are connected to each other.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the door closes the ice outlet 107, the first pin 123 is located at the locking section 127, and the locking section 127 is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the ice storage bucket 101. The first pin 123 and the locking section 127 are limited and matched in a direction perpendicular to the ice outlet 107 so that the door remains closed, thereby realizing the self-locking of the door assembly. When the driving device 112 drives the transmission column 113 to move upward, the first pin 123 enters the movable end from the locking section 127, and the movable section 128 is arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft 119. The first pin 123 is suitable for driving the door to flip upward and open the ice outlet 107. The first pin 123 drives the spiral part 120 to tighten and accumulate potential energy through the first support leg 121. When the driving device 112 receives the instruction of the controller to close the door, the transmission column 113 moves downward, and when the spiral part 120 opens to release potential energy, the first support leg 121 drives the door to close through the first pin 123.

[0044] In this embodiment, the quantitative ice-discharging ice-making machine also includes an ice-dropping shell 129. A guide plate 130 is extended at the lower end of the ice outlet 107. The guide plate 130 is suitable for guiding ice cubes to slide into the ice-dropping shell 129. The ice-dropping shell 129 is suitable for guiding ice cubes to fall into a container placed on the loading platform 102. The ice-dropping shell 129 includes a vertical guide surface 132 arranged close to the ice storage bucket 101 and an inclined guide surface 131 arranged away from the ice storage bucket 101, and the cross-sectional size of the guide cylinder gradually decreases along the direction of gravity.

[0045] In this embodiment, the stirring assembly includes a motor 133, a stirring shaft 134, and a plurality of stirring units extending radially outward. The motor 133 is disposed below the ice storage bucket 101, and the stirring unit is disposed above the guide platform 108. The guide platform 108 is a truncated cone structure. The guide platform 108, the stirring shaft 134, and the ice storage bucket 101 are coaxially disposed. The motor 133 is suitable for driving the stirring unit to rotate through the stirring shaft 134. One stirring unit constitutes an upper zone stirring unit 135 extending upward, and the other stirring units are grouped in pairs to form four groups of lower zone stirring groups 136 symmetrically disposed about the stirring shaft 134 and extending downward. The lower zone stirring groups 136 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction and staggered in the axial direction.

[0046] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solution of the present invention may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine, characterized in that: include An ice storage bucket is suitable for storing ice cubes, comprising an ice outlet, a guide platform suitable for guiding the ice cubes to slide toward the ice outlet under the action of gravity, and a stirring assembly suitable for preventing the ice cubes from agglomerating and pushing the ice cubes toward the ice outlet. The load-bearing device comprises a loading platform suitable for placing the container and a mass sensor arranged below the loading platform, wherein the loading platform is arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the mass sensor is suitable for monitoring the mass of ice cubes in the container and transmitting a sufficient signal. The control system comprises a controller and a door assembly, wherein the door assembly is suitable for closing the ice outlet, and the controller is suitable for receiving a sufficient signal from the mass sensor and controlling the door assembly to close accordingly so as to achieve quantitative ice outlet.

2. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller presets a number of different ice output amounts, and / or the controller is adapted to receive other ice output amounts input by an electronic terminal, so as to facilitate adaptive adjustment by the user; The loading platform includes a weighing pan arranged on its upper surface and a mounting platform suitable for carrying the mass sensor, the mounting platform includes a mounting surface arranged parallel to the weighing pan, the mass is fixed to the mounting surface to achieve a horizontal setting, and the mass sensor is arranged corresponding to the central area of ​​the weighing pan.

3. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mass sensor includes an elastic element, a strain gauge and a signal processing circuit. The elastic element deforms under the gravity of the ice cube. The strain gauge is suitable for converting the deformation of the elastic element into an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit is suitable for amplifying and processing the above electrical signal and transmitting it to the controller to meet the measurement range and accuracy requirements of the mass sensor.

4. A quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The ice outlet is provided on the side wall of the ice storage bucket. The door assembly comprises A bracket is relatively fixedly mounted on the side wall of the ice storage bucket, The door comprises a door seat and a door panel mounted on the door seat, wherein the door panel is suitable for closing the ice outlet, and the door seat is hinged to the bracket via a rotating shaft. A driving device, which is adapted to receive instructions from the controller to drive the door to open and close, The transmission column has one end adapted to be extended and retracted up and down along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket under the drive of the driving device, and the other end adapted to drive the door seat to flip so as to realize the opening and closing of the door panel.

5. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The door seat comprises a transmission groove, the transmission groove comprises a locking section and a movable section which are interconnected, the transmission column comprises a first pin shaft which is arranged parallel to the rotating shaft, the first pin shaft is suitable for passing through the transmission groove, When the door closes the ice outlet, the first pin is located at the locking section, the locking section is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the ice storage bucket, and the first pin is limitedly matched with the locking section in a direction perpendicular to the ice outlet so that the door remains closed, thereby realizing self-locking of the door assembly; When the transmission column moves upward, the first pin shaft enters the movable end from the locking section, the movable section is arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft, and the first pin shaft is suitable for driving the compartment door to flip upward and open the ice outlet.

6. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving device is an electromagnet device fixedly mounted on the bracket, the electromagnet device includes a second guide groove, the transmission column is a magnetic body, under the action of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet device, one end of the transmission column reciprocates and slides with the second guide groove; the electromagnet device includes an energized coil, and the controller is suitable for controlling the magnetic field strength by controlling the current passing through the energized coil, thereby realizing control of the movement of the transmission shaft.

7. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bracket includes a first back plate and two first wing plates in a three-sided enclosed structure, the first wing plate is suitable for providing a first guide groove and a first rotating groove supporting the rotating shaft, the first guide groove is arranged along the axial direction of the ice storage bucket, the first guide groove and the first pin shaft are slidably matched to limit its movable direction, the two first guide grooves are suitable for constituting a limit for the first pin shaft along its axial direction, the door seat includes a second back plate and two second wing plates in a three-sided enclosed structure, the second wing plate includes the transmission groove and the second rotating groove supporting the rotating shaft.

8. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The door assembly comprises a return torsion spring suitable for driving the door to close, wherein the return torsion spring comprises a spiral portion sleeved on the rotating shaft, a first leg abutting against the first pin shaft, and a second leg abutting against the first back plate and / or the second back plate; When the door is flipped outward, the first pin shaft synchronously drives the spiral portion to tighten and accumulate potential energy through the first support leg; when the spiral portion opens to release potential energy, the first support leg drives the door to close through the first pin shaft.

9. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The ice drop shell comprises an ice drop shell, the lower end of the ice outlet is extended with a guide plate, the guide plate is suitable for guiding ice cubes to slide into the ice drop shell, the ice drop shell is suitable for guiding ice cubes to fall into a container placed on a loading platform, the ice drop shell comprises a vertical guide surface arranged close to the ice storage bucket and an inclined guide surface arranged away from the ice storage bucket, and the cross-sectional size of the guide cylinder gradually decreases along the direction of gravity.

10. The quantitative ice-dispensing ice-making machine according to claim 9, characterized in that: The stirring assembly includes a motor, a stirring shaft and a plurality of stirring units extending radially outward, wherein the motor is arranged below the ice storage bucket, and the stirring unit is arranged above the guide platform, the guide platform is a truncated table structure, the guide platform, the stirring shaft and the ice storage bucket are arranged coaxially, and the motor is suitable for driving the stirring unit to rotate through the stirring shaft; At least one of the stirring units constitutes an upper zone stirring unit extending upward, and the other stirring units are grouped in pairs to form a lower zone stirring group symmetrically arranged about the stirring axis and extending downward. The lower zone stirring group is evenly distributed in the circumferential direction and staggered in the axial direction.

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