Ice maker with a collection tank for ice in particles equipped with an improved closing door

Abstract

A particle ice maker (1) comprising a compartment (2), an ice particle formation evaporator, and a particle ice collection tank (30) positioned in the compartment (2), wherein the collection tank (30) comprises a bottom (31), two flankes (32), a back wall (33), a front wall (34) provided with a window (35) for access to the interior of the collection tank (30) for ice removal, and a door (40) for closing the window (35), movable between a raised position of opening the access window (35) and a lowered position of closing the access window (35), a damping and slowing means (50) of the closing of the door (40) comprising at least one fixed linear guide (51) comprising at least one rotary viscous damper (54) provided with a pinion (55) for taking up the movement, at least one slide (52) slidable along the fixed linear guide (51) in contrast to and by action of at least one elastic element (53), wherein the slide (52) has a rack (56) engaging with the pinion (55) and at least one interception element (57) configured and arranged to interact with the door (40).

Description

[0001] ICE MAKER WITH A COLLECTION TANK FOR ICE IN PARTICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN IMPROVED CLOSING DOOR

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention refers to a maker of ice in particles that features an ice tank equipped with an improved closing door.

[0004] It is well known that in ice-makers, the ice particles produced, whether ice cubes, granular ice or flake ice, fall by gravity from the evaporator, in which liquid water is cooled and solidified into ice, into a collection tank located in a compartment inside the maker.

[0005] As is well known, the collection tank is protected by a movable closure door, typically closed during ice-making, door that the operator traditionally moves manually between the closed and open position - and vice versa - to collect ice particles inside the tank.

[0006] For hygienic and / or simply operational reasons, the door should always ensure that the tank is properly closed and easy to open.

[0007] It is, moreover, common knowledge that the operator, due to carelessness, inattention, or simply unpreparedness, performs the closing and opening movements without special attention, often with rapid and violent mechanical gestures, which can over time compromise the integrity of the door itself and its closing characteristics.

[0008] There is therefore a need to improve the structure of a particle ice maker of a known type.

[0009] The technical task that this invention proposes is, therefore, to develop a particle ice maker that can eliminate the drawbacks of the known prior art.

[0010] In the context of this technical task, one aim of the invention is to realise a particle ice maker with a movable closing door for the ice tank that has stable closing characteristics over time.

[0011] Another aim of the invention is to realise a particle ice maker with a movable closing door for the ice tank that ensures proper closure of the tank regardless of the care and attention of the operator. Another aim of the invention is to realise a particle ice maker that allows the structural integrity of the movable closing door of the ice tank to be preserved over time.

[0012] The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present invention are achieved by making a particle ice maker, comprising a compartment, an ice particle formation evaporator, and a particle ice collection tank positioned in the compartment, wherein the collection tank comprises a bottom, two flankes, a back wall, a front wall provided with an access window within the ice collection tank, and a door closing the window, movable between a raised position of opening the access window and a lowered position of closing the access window, comprising means for damping and slowing the closing of the door comprising at least one fixed linear guide comprising at least one rotary viscous damper provided with a pinion for taking up the movement, at least one slide sliding along the fixed linear guide in contrast to and by action of the at least one elastic element, wherein the slide has a rack meshing with the pinion and at least one interception element configured and arranged to interact with the door.

[0013] In one form of embodiment, the door has pivots sliding into respective linear shaped guides running along the flankes of the collection tank, and where the interception element projects into one of the linear shaped guides for interaction with one of the pivots.

[0014] In one form of embodiment, the door has a horizontal laying plane at the open position and a vertical laying plane at the closed position.

[0015] Other features of the present invention are also defined in subsequent claims.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive first form of embodiment of the particle ice maker according to the invention, illustrated by way of illustration and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which

[0017] Figure 1 shows an overview of an ice particle collection tank with a door in the open position; Figure 2 shows an overview of an ice particle collection tank with a door in the closed position;

[0018] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the collection tank with evidence of the linear guides and damping means of the door closure.

[0019] Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the damping means;

[0020] Figure 5 shows a lower inside view of the closing door.

[0021] The following detailed description refers to the attached drawings, which form part of it.

[0022] In drawings, similar reference numbers typically identify similar components, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0023] The illustrative forms of embodiment described in the detailed description and drawings are not intended in a limiting sense.

[0024] Other forms of embodiment may be used, and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter depicted here.

[0025] The aspects of this description, as generally described in this context and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and are part of this description.

[0026] With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a particle ice maker is shown, indicated overall by reference number 1.

[0027] The particle ice maker 1 traditionally comprises an ice particle formation evaporator, not shown in the figures for simplicity of representation, a compartment 2 and a particle ice collection tank 30 located in compartment 2 inside the ice maker 1.

[0028] The collection tank 30 comprises a bottom 31, two flankes 32, a right flank 32 and a left flank 32 respectively, a back wall 33, and a front wall 34 equipped with a window 35 for access to the inside of the tank for ice removal.

[0029] Typically, the collection tank 30 is symmetrical with respect to a vertical centre plane XZ.

[0030] Appropriately, the collection tank 30 includes a door 40 for closing the window 35; the door 40 is movable -typically manually- between an open position of the access window 35 and a closed position of the access window 35. Typically, door 40 is in the raised position when opening window 35, and in the lowered position when closing window 35.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collection tank 30 has at least one pair of linear shaped guides 36, left and right respectively, suitably and internally extending along at least one side, typically two sides, of the left and right flankes 32 respectively of the collection tank 30.

[0032] Door 40 has at least one wheel 41 and one pivot 42 for a right and a left side, typically a pair of pivots for a right and a left side respectively.

[0033] Wheels 41 and pivots 42 are slidably engaged in their respective linear shaped guides 36.

[0034] Appropriately, favourably and innovatively, the ice maker 1 includes dampening means 50 for dampening the door 40.

[0035] Dampening means 50 typically comprise at least a first means and preferably a pair of symmetrical right and left dampening means 50 respectively: for simplicity of description, reference will be made in the following description to a first single dampening means 50, where the description is understood to extend to the second dampening means of the pair.

[0036] The dampening means 50 comprises at least one fixed linear guide 51 and at least one slide 52 sliding along the fixed linear guide 51.

[0037] Typically, the fixed linear guide 51 is fixed vertically to the outer side of a flank 32 of the collection tank 30, and typically consists of a hollow longitudinal profile with an open side towards the flank 32 to which it is fixed.

[0038] The slide 52 slides along the fixed linear guide 51 in contrast and by the action of at least one elastic element 53.

[0039] In one form of embodiment, the elastic element 53 is formed by a helical spring interposed between the fixed linear guide 51 and the slide 52.

[0040] The fixed linear guide 51 comprises at least one rotary viscous damper 54 which has means of attachment, preferably snap-on, to the linear guide 51, and is equipped with a pinion 55 for taking up the movement.

[0041] The rotary viscous damper 54 has one direction of calibrated resistant rotation and one direction of free rotation.

[0042] The slide 52 has a rack 56 meshing with the pinion 55 of the viscous rotary damper 54.

[0043] The slide 52 then has at least one intercepting element 57 configured and arranged to interact with the door 40: typically, the intercepting element 57 is formed by a shelf that extends orthogonally from the slide 52, and is arranged passing through a slot 37 of the flank 32 of the collection tank 30.

[0044] The interception element 57 then projects into one of the linear shaped guides 36 for interaction with at least one of the pivots 42 of the door 40.

[0045] The operation of a particle ice maker that features an ice tank with an improved closing door according to the invention appears evident from what has been described and illustrated, and in particular is essentially as follows.

[0046] Figure 1 shows a tank 2 for collecting ice particles equipped with a door 40 in the raised open position; the operator, having completed the collection of ice particles from tank 2, manually activates door 40 to the lowered closed position.

[0047] The wheels 41 and the pair of pivots 42 of the door 40 are slidingly engaged in the respective linear shaped guides 36, and in the closing movement the first of the pivots 42 in advance engages with the respective intercepting element 57 of the slide 52 of the dampening means 50, arranged passing through a slot 37 of the flank 32 of the collecting tank 30.

[0048] Upon release of the operator's partial closing action, the door 40 continues substantially by gravity the guided descent to the closed position, dragging the intercepting element 57 fixed relative to the slide 52.

[0049] The slide 52 slides along the fixed linear guide 51 in contrast to and by the action of the elastic element 53, and the rack 56 of the slide 52 is meshed with the pinion 55 of the viscous rotary damper 54, which in the guided downward movement of the door 40 is engaged in calibrated resistant rotation.

[0050] The calibrated and joint action of the elastic element 53 in contrast and the calibrated resistant rotation of the viscous rotary damper 54 slows down through the rack 56 the guided descent of the slide 52, consequently of the interception element 57 engaged with the wheel 41 and the pivot 42 of the door 40, until the door 40 has reached the window 35 for access to the inside of the ice collection tank, shown in figure 2.

[0051] For the closing phase, the operator then simply initiates the movement of the door 40, giving it a kinetic charge, door that is then led to the closed position by its own weight guided by the linear shaped guides 36 and braked by the dampening means 50 until it is completely closed.

[0052] When opening, the operator manually lifts the door 40, which is guided into position via the pivots 42 engaged by the linear shaped guides 36.

[0053] In the dampening means 50, the intercepting element 57 is freed from the engagement of the wheel 41 and pivot 42, and the elastic element 53 rearms itself as it can freely stretch out no longer being restrained by the rotary viscous damper 54 now engaged in the direction of free rotation.

[0054] In practice, it has been found that a particle ice maker according to the invention is particularly advantageous due to the fact that it has a mobile closing door of the ice tank that is guided, simple, reliable, and independent of the care and attention of the operator.

[0055] A particle ice maker thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the concept of the invention as defined by the claims; moreover, all details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

[0056] For example, given that the guide 36 has an "L" shape defining a vertical guide section and a horizontal guide section, the fixed guide 51 of the dampening means 50 can be positioned, as illustrated, along the vertical section of the guide 36 so that an interaction takes place between the intercepting element 57 and the wheel 41 and the more forward pivot 42, or in a variant not illustrated, along the horizontal section of the guide 36 so that an interaction takes place between the intercepting tapping 57 and the wheel 41 and the more rearward pivot 42.

[0057] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Maker (1) of ice in particles, comprising a compartment (2), an evaporator for forming ice particles, and a collection tank (30) for collecting the ice in particles positioned in said compartment (2), where said collection tank (30) comprises a bottom (31), two flanks (32), a back wall (33), a front wall (34) provided with an access window (35) inside said collection tank (30) for picking up the ice, and a door (40) for closing said window (35), movable between a raised open position of said access window (35) and a lowered closed position of said access window (35), characterised in that it comprises a damping and slowing means (50) of the closing of said door (40) comprising at least one fixed linear guide (51) comprising at least one rotary viscous damper (54) provided with a pinion (55) for taking up the movement, at least one slide (52) slidable along said fixed linear guide (51) in contrast to and by the action of at least one elastic element (53), where said slide (52) has a rack (56) meshing with said pinion (55) and at least one intercepting element (57) configured and arranged to interact with said door (40).

2. Particle ice maker (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said door (40) has pivots (42) with wheels (41) slidingly engaged in respective linear shaped guides (36) running along said flankes (32) of said collection tank (30), said intercepting element (57) projecting into one of said linear shaped guides (36) for the interaction with one of said pivots (42) with wheels (41).

3. Particle ice maker (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said fixed linear guide (51) is fixed to the outer side of one of said flankes (32) of said collection tank (30).

4. Particle ice maker (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said intercepting element (57) is arranged passing through a slot (37) of said sidewall (32) of said collection tank (30).

5. Particle ice maker (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that said fixed linear guide (51) is a hollow longitudinal profile having an open side attached to the outer side of said flank (32) of said collection tank (30).

6. Particle ice maker (1) according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said fixed linear guide (51) is vertical or horizontal.

7. Particle ice maker according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said elastic element (53) is formed by a helical spring interposed between said fixed linear guide (51) and said slide (52).

8. Particle ice maker according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said rotary viscous damper (54) has means of attachment to said linear guide (51).

9. A particle ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said rotary viscous damper (54) has one direction of calibrated resistant rotation and one opposite direction of free rotation.

10. Particle ice maker according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said intercepting element (57) is formed by a shelf extending orthogonally from said slide (52).

11. A particle ice maker according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said door (40) has a horizontal lying plane at said open position and a vertical lying plane at said closed position.

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