Ice storage detection device of ice maker

Abstract

To detect an ice storage state to stop ice-making operation in an ice-making mechanism even when ice blocks accumulate around a detection lever and a lower end of the lever cannot be displaced freely, in an ice storage detection device of an ice maker.SOLUTION: A detection lever 27 comprises three arms, i.e., first to third arms 34, 36, 38 pivoted so as to be swingable via first to third shafts 33, 35, 37. When a force is applied to move the third arm 38 or the second arm 36 to the right, the second arm 36 is displaced to the right and the first arm 34 swings to the right around the first shaft 33, causing the first arm 34 to be displaced from an inoperative position to an operative position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ice storage detection device for detecting the amount of ice stored in an ice storage compartment of an ice making machine. [Background technology]

[0002] The ice storage detection device according to the present invention includes a detection lever disposed on the top of the ice storage bin and a detection switch that is turned on and off by the detection lever, but an ice storage detection device with a similar configuration is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. The detection lever constituting the ice storage detection device of Patent Document 1 is composed of a movable main rod that is pivotally supported so as to be swingable in the left and right directions about a first axis provided on the top of the ice storage bin, and an auxiliary rod that is connected so as to be swingable in the left and right directions about a second axis provided on the lower end of the movable main rod and faces the falling trajectory of ice blocks that fall from the ice-making mechanism. An operating unit that turns the detection switch on and off is provided on the upper end of the movable main rod. A bending prevention piece is provided on the lower end of the movable main rod to restrict the relative tilting of the auxiliary rod to the right with respect to the movable main rod. An ice-making mechanism is provided in the center of the ice storage bin, and the ice storage detection device is provided on the right side of this ice-making mechanism.

[0003] In the normal state, the movable main rod and the auxiliary rod are each oriented vertically due to their own weight, and the detection lever is in a non-operating position with the operating part away from the detection switch. When both the movable main rod and the auxiliary rod rotate counterclockwise (to the right) from this state, the detection lever is displaced to an operating position with the operating part approaching the detection switch. More specifically, the bending prevention piece allows the auxiliary rod to tilt clockwise (to the left) around the second axis relative to the extension direction of the movable main rod, but prevents it from tilting counterclockwise (to the right) around the second axis. Therefore, when ice blocks stored up to a predetermined height in the ice storage bin apply a force from the left side of the auxiliary rod to rotate the auxiliary rod counterclockwise (to the right), the movable main rod rotates counterclockwise (to the right) around the first axis together with the auxiliary rod, thereby pushing the operating part upward, displacing the detection lever from its non-operating position to its operating position, rotating the operating part counterclockwise (to the right), turning on the detection switch, detecting that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice-making operation by the ice-making mechanism is stopped.

[0004] Ice storage detection devices equipped with a detection lever of the same configuration as that of Patent Document 1 are also disclosed in Patent Documents 2 to 4. The movable main rod that constitutes the detection lever of the ice storage detection device of Patent Document 4 is composed of an upper rotating lever and a lower sliding lever that is configured to be detachable from the rotating lever, and by changing the mounting position of the sliding lever relative to the rotating lever, the overall length of the movable main rod can be adjusted, thereby changing the maximum amount of ice blocks that can be stored in the ice storage room. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Publication number 06-018162 [Patent Document 2] JP 2005-291621 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-126553 [Patent Document 4] JP 2000-193353 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Some users of ice making machines want ice to be stored in the ice storage bin beyond the full ice state detected by the ice storage detection device. Specifically, in an ice making machine equipped with the ice storage detection device of Patent Document 1, even though the movable main rod is displaced to the operating position and it is detected that the ice storage bin is full of ice, a scoop (a scoop for scooping ice blocks) may be used to smooth out the ice blocks in the ice storage bin, and the movable main rod may be displaced from the operating position to the non-operating position to continue the ice making operation by the ice making mechanism. If the ice blocks pile up to the right of the auxiliary rod as a result of performing the work of smoothing out the ice blocks in the ice storage bin in this way, the auxiliary rod may be prevented from moving counterclockwise (to the right), and the movable main rod may be unable to move to the operating position. This may cause a problem that the ice storage detection device is unable to detect the ice, and the ice making operation by the ice making mechanism may continue inappropriately.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an ice storage detection device for an ice making machine that, even when ice blocks pile up around the detection lever and the lower end of the lever cannot move freely, enables the upper end of the lever to move from a non-operating position to an operating position, thereby enabling the ice-making operation of the ice-making mechanism to be properly stopped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is directed to an ice storage detection device for an ice making machine that is disposed in ice storage chamber 1, which stores ice blocks 22 discharged from ice-making mechanism 3, and detects when the amount of stored ice in ice storage chamber 1 has reached a predetermined amount. Ice blocks 22 are discharged to the right of ice-making mechanism 3, and ice storage detection device 4 is disposed on the right side of said ice-making mechanism 3. Ice storage detection device 4 includes detection lever 27 and detection switch 28 that is turned on and off by detection lever 27. Detection lever 27 includes a first shaft 33 disposed on top of ice storage chamber 1 and extending in the front-rear direction, a first arm 34 pivotally supported via first shaft 33 to be swingable to the right, which is at least a non-operating position between an operating position in which detection switch 28 is turned on and an operating position in which detection switch 28 is turned off, a second shaft 35 disposed at the lower end of first arm 34 and extending in the front-rear direction, a second arm 36 pivotally supported via second shaft 35 to be swingable in the left-right direction relative to first arm 34, a third shaft 37 disposed at the lower end of second arm 36 and extending in the front-rear direction, and a third arm 38 pivotally supported via third shaft 37 to be swingable in the left-right direction relative to second arm 36. A regulating body 53 is provided on second arm 36 to regulate the rightward swing of third arm 38 around third shaft 37. When a force is applied to move the third arm 38 or the second arm 36 in the right direction, the second arm 36 is displaced to the right and the first arm 34 swings to the right about the first axis 33, thereby displacing the first arm 34 from the non-operated position to the operated position.

[0009] The second shaft 35 is a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm 34 and extending in the front-rear direction, and a hook 51 that is engaged with the second shaft 35 is provided at the upper end of the second arm 36. The second shaft 35 is provided with restriction structures 44 / 45 that restrict the movement of the hook 51 in the front-rear direction.

[0010] The second shaft 35 is a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm 34 and extending in the front-rear direction, and a hook 51 that engages with the second shaft 35 is provided at the upper end of the second arm 36. The second shaft 35 is formed as a rectangular shaft with a square cross section. The inner surface of the hook 51 facing the second shaft 35 has an inverted U-shaped cross section with left and right straight surfaces and curved surfaces that are continuous with these straight surfaces.

[0011] Restriction ribs 57 for restricting the limit of downward relative movement of the second shaft 35 with respect to the hook 51 are formed on the left and right straight surfaces.

[0012] A first arm 34 is pivotally supported via a first shaft 33 so as to be swingable in the left-right direction. Effect of the Invention

[0013] In the ice storage detection device of the present invention, detection lever 27 disposed at the top of ice storage chamber 1 comprises a total of three arms, first through third, 38, pivoted to be swingable via first through third shafts 33, 35, 37, and second arm 36 is provided with a restrictor 53 that restricts the rightward swing of third arm 38 about third shaft 37. When a force is applied to move third arm 38 or second arm 36 rightward, second arm 36 is displaced rightward and first arm 34 swings rightward about first shaft 33, whereby first arm 34 is displaced from the inoperative position to the operative position.

[0014] According to the ice storage detection device configured as above, for example, when ice block 22 discharged from ice-making mechanism 3 collides with third arm 38 and a force is applied to move third arm 38 to the right, third arm 38 and second arm 36 are displaced to the right together under the control of regulating body 53, whereby first arm 34 swings to the right about first shaft 33, displacing first arm 34 from the inoperative position to the operative position and turning on detection switch 28 (see FIG. 6). In addition, even if third arm 38 falls into a state where it cannot swing freely, when ice block 22 discharged from ice-making mechanism 3 collides with second arm 36 and a force is applied to move second arm 36 to the right, second arm 36 can be displaced to the right, and such displacement of second arm 36 displaces first arm 34 from the inoperative position to the operative position and turns on detection switch 28. As described above, with the ice storage detection device of the present invention, even if ice blocks 22 pile up around detection lever 27 and third arm 38 located at the bottom end of detection lever 27 cannot swing freely, second arm 36 can be displaced to the right to displace first arm 34 from the inoperative position to the operative position, and ice-making operation by ice-making mechanism 3 can be appropriately stopped. Furthermore, with the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems such as ice-making mechanism 3 continuing to make ice even when the ice tank is full.

[0015] For example, if the second shaft is a circular ring as viewed from the left-right direction and a hook at the upper end of the second arm is engaged with this second shaft, the second arm can be displaced in a generally circular manner along the circular ring-shaped second shaft, and the movable range of the second arm is widened, but the second shaft is easily worn and the durability of the detection lever 27 is reduced. In particular, ice blocks 22 in ice storage chamber 1 are scooped up using the attached shovel 18, and when shovel 18 collides with detection lever 27 and the second arm is significantly displaced in the front-rear direction, the second shaft is easily worn due to the sliding between the second shaft and the second arm. In contrast, in the present invention, the second shaft 35 is formed as a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm 34 and extending in the fore-and-aft direction, a hook 51 is provided at the upper end of the second arm 36 which engages with the second shaft 35, and the second shaft 35 is provided with a regulating structure 44 / 45 which regulates the fore-and-aft movement of the hook 51. The regulating structure 44 / 45 can prevent the second arm 36 (hook 51) from being displaced in the fore-and-aft direction beyond the fore-and-aft length dimension of the second shaft 35, thereby suppressing wear on the second shaft 35 and improving the durability of the detection lever 27.

[0016] For example, if the horizontal shaft constituting the second shaft is formed of a round shaft with a circular cross section, the second arm can freely swing left and right relative to the second shaft, but the first arm is difficult to displace just by the second arm swinging left and right around the second shaft, and the first arm is displaced only when the upper end of the second arm is substantially displaced up and down, so the detection switch does not easily turn on, and the sensitivity of the ice storage detection device is inevitably low. In contrast, as in the present invention, if the horizontal shaft constituting the second shaft 35 is formed of a square shaft with a rectangular cross section, and the inner surface of the hook 51 facing the second shaft 35 is an inverted U-shaped cross section with left and right straight surfaces and a curved surface continuing from these straight surfaces, the left and right surfaces of the hook 51 can be sandwiched between the left and right straight surfaces of the hook 51, and the left and right straight surfaces of the hook 51 can be engaged with the left and right surfaces of the second shaft 35. By being able to engage the hook 51 of the second arm 36 with the second shaft 35 in this manner, the first arm 34 can be swung and displaced about the first shaft 33 in conjunction with the displacement of the second arm 36 not only when the upper end of the second arm 36 is displaced up and down, but also when the second arm 36 is displaced slightly left and right, thereby providing the ice storage detection device 4 with more appropriate sensitivity.

[0017] If restricting ribs 57 are formed on the left and right straight surfaces to restrict the limit of downward relative movement of second shaft 35 with respect to hook 51, then even if, for example, scoop 18 hits second arm 36 and moves upward, restricting rib 57 engages the underside of second shaft 35, preventing second shaft 35 from coming off hook 51. As a result, it is possible to prevent the second shaft 35 and hook 51 from accidentally disengaging from each other, thereby improving the reliability of ice storage detection device 4.

[0018] If the first arm 34 is pivotally supported via the first shaft 33 so as to be swingable left and right, not only when the scoop 18 contacts the detection lever 27 from the left, but also when the scoop 18 contacts the detection lever 27 from the right, the first arm 34 can swing about the first shaft 33 to absorb the impact acting on the detection lever 27. This makes it possible to prevent problems such as deformation or damage of the first arm 34 when an impact is applied to the detection lever 27, thereby improving the reliability of the ice storage detection device 4. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of an ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the detection lever is in a non-operating position. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view of an ice making machine equipped with an ice storage detection device. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the ice storage detection device. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the movement of the detection lever of the ice storage detection device, in which (a) is a front view showing the movement of the second axis, and (b) is a front view showing the movement of the third axis. [Figure 6] 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the operation of the ice storage detection device, illustrating the state in which the detection lever is in an operating position. [Figure 7] 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the operation of the ice storage detection device, in which the solid lines indicate the state in which the detection lever is in a non-operating position, and the imaginary lines indicate the state in which the detection lever is in an operating position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] (Embodiment) Figures 1 to 7 show an ice storage detection device of an ice making machine according to the present invention. In this embodiment, front, rear, left, right, and up and down refer to the crossed arrows shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4 and the indications of front, rear, left, right, and up and down written near each arrow. As shown in Figure 2, the ice making machine has an upper ice storage chamber 1 partitioned by an insulating box, and a machine room 2 partitioned below the ice storage chamber 1. An ice making unit (ice making mechanism) 3 and an ice storage detection device 4 are arranged on the upper inner surface of the ice storage chamber 1. Inside the machine room 2, a compressor 5, a condenser 6, a cooling fan 7, and the like are arranged. Although not shown, an outlet for taking out ice blocks stored at the bottom of the ice storage chamber 1 is opened in front of the ice storage chamber 1, and this outlet is opened and closed by a swing door. In Figure 2, the imaginary line with the symbol 8 indicates the location where the outlet is formed, and the imaginary line with the symbol 9 indicates the location where the swing door is arranged.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the ice making unit 3 and the ice storage detector 4 are supported by a unit base 10 fixed to the inner surface of the ceiling of the ice storage chamber 1. The ice making unit 3 is mainly composed of an ice making case 11 fixed to the underside of the unit base 10, a water supply tray 13 that supplies ice making water to a group of cells provided in the ice making case 11, and a water supply tank 14 provided on the underside of the water supply tray 13. In addition to the above-mentioned components, the ice making unit 3 also includes a position switching structure 15 that swings the water supply tray 13 and the water supply tank 14, a water supply section 16 that supplies ice making water at room temperature to the water supply tray 13 and the water supply tank 14, and a drain pan 17 that drains the ice making water remaining in the water supply tank 14 without making ice. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a scoop used to take out ice blocks from the ice storage chamber 1. The scoop 18 is detachably supported by a scoop holder 19 provided on the inner surface of the ice storage chamber 1.

[0022] The water supply tray 13 and the water supply tank 14 are fixed to a tray bracket 20 and are pivotally supported by a tilting shaft 21 provided at the upper end of the bracket 20 so as to be able to swing. The water supply tray 13 and the water supply tank 14 are tilted up and down by a position switching structure 15 between an ice making position (position shown in FIG. 2) where the water supply tray 13 faces the bottom surface of the ice making case 11, and a tray cleaning position (position shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 2 and position shown in FIG. 3) where the water supply tray 13 is tilted downward away from the ice making case 11. When the water supply tray 13 is displaced from the ice making position to the tray cleaning position, ice blocks 22 (see FIG. 3) are dropped onto the water supply tray 13 from cells provided in the ice making case 11, and the ice blocks 22 are further dropped into the ice storage chamber 1 along the downwardly tilted water supply tray 13. In the ice making machine of this embodiment, when the tray cleaning position is reached, the water supply tray 13 is inclined so that its right end hangs diagonally downward to the right, and the ice blocks 22 produced in the ice making unit 3 are dropped to the right side of the ice storage chamber 1.

[0023] On the right side of ice storage chamber 1 into which ice blocks 22 as described above are dropped, ice storage detection device 4 is disposed adjacent to ice making unit 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, ice storage detection device 4 includes a rod-shaped sensor bracket 24 that is installed on the ceiling surface of unit base 10 and extends downward, a sensor case 26 fixed to the lower end of sensor bracket 24 with a screw 25, a detection lever 27 supported by sensor case 26, and a detection switch 28 that is fixed inside sensor case 26 and turned on and off by detection lever 27. Sensor case 26 is a box having a hollow internal space and an opening at the bottom, and detection switch 28 is fixed and supported by a switch support piece 30 that hangs down from the inner surface of upper case wall 29 that defines the upper part of sensor case 26. Switch support piece 30 and detection switch 28 are provided near the right side of sensor case 26. 1, reference numeral 31 denotes a restricting piece that restricts the rightward (counterclockwise) swing limit of a first arm 34 that constitutes the detection lever 27. The detection switch 28 is a magnetic proximity switch.

[0024] The detection lever 27 is provided to the left of the sensor case 26 and is composed of a first axis 33, which is a round shaft extending in the front-to-rear direction, a first arm 34 pivoted to the first axis 33 so as to be swingable in the left-right direction, a second axis 35 arranged at the lower end of the first arm 34 and extending in the front-to-rear direction, a second arm 36 pivoted to be swingable in the left-right direction relative to the first arm 34 via the second axis 35, a third axis 37 arranged at the lower end of the second arm 36 and extending in the front-to-rear direction, and a third arm 38 pivoted to be swingable in the left-right direction via the third axis 37.

[0025] As described above, the first shaft 33 constituting the detection lever 27 is provided on the left side of the sensor case 26. The first arm 34 pivotally supported by the first shaft 33 is formed in an inverted V shape, as viewed from the front (front-rear direction), with an operating piece 40 located on the upper side and a support piece 41 located on the lower side. A pivot hole 43 for supporting the first shaft 33 is opened in a head 42 to which both pieces 40 and 41 are connected. As shown in FIG. 4, as viewed from the left-right direction, the support piece 41 is formed in a hollow rectangular shape having front and rear sides 44 and 45 and a bottom side 46, and a square opening 47 in the center. The bottom side 46 is the second shaft 35. A magnet 48 is embedded in the operating piece 40, which is to be detected by the detection switch 28, which is a magnetic proximity switch. The first arm 34 turns the detection switch 28 on and off in accordance with the displacement of the second arm 36 and the third arm 38 located below. More specifically, the first arm 34 is configured to be able to swing left and right relative to the sensor case 26 via the first shaft 33 between an operating position (see imaginary lines in Figs. 6 and 7) in which the magnet 48 embedded in the operating piece 40 approaches the detection switch 28 and turns on the detection switch 28 due to displacement of the support piece 41 linked to the displacement of the second and third arms 36 and 38, and a non-operating position (see solid lines in Figs. 1 and 7) in which the magnet 48 embedded in the operating piece 40 moves away from the detection switch 28 and turns off the detection switch 28. The first arm 34 can also swing leftward from the non-operating position shown in Fig. 1.

[0026] As described above, the second shaft 35 is formed by the lower side 46 of the support piece 41 of the first arm 34, i.e., the horizontal shaft extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the horizontal shaft constituting the second shaft 35 is a square-shaped shaft in cross section, and straight front and rear sides 44, 45 extending in the up-down direction are connected to the front and rear ends. The first arm 34 has a rectangular opening 47 surrounded by the second shaft 35 (lower side 46), the front and rear sides 44, 45, and the head 42. The front-rear movement limit of the second arm 36 along the second shaft 35 is determined by the front and rear sides 44, 45. In other words, the front and rear sides 44, 45 act as a restricting structure that restricts the front-rear movement limit of the second arm 36.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the second arm 36 includes a main body block 50 formed in an approximately trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front (when viewed from the front-to-rear direction), a hook 51 provided at the upper end of the main body block 50 and engaged with the second shaft 35, a support body 52 formed on the left side of the lower end of the main body block 50, and a regulating body 53 formed on the right side of the lower end of the main body block 50 for regulating the swinging of the third arm 38 in the rightward (counterclockwise) direction around the third shaft 37.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the hook 51 is formed in an inverted U shape by a base end 54 extending upward from the main body block 50, a curved portion 55 extending rightward from the upper end of the base end 54, and a free end 56 formed at the lower end of the curved portion 55. The inner surfaces of the base end 54 and the free end 56 are formed as straight surfaces with a uniform opposing distance in the vertical direction, and the inner surface of the curved portion 55 is formed as a curved surface smoothly continuing to these straight surfaces. The left and right straight surfaces and the curved surfaces form an inner surface of the hook 51 facing the second shaft 35 into an inverted U-shaped surface in cross section. In this way, the second shaft 35 is formed as a square shaft, and the inner surface of the hook 51 that engages with the second shaft 35 is formed as an inverted U-shaped surface in cross section, so that the second arm 36 can be moved up and down relative to the second shaft 35. A restricting rib 57 is protruded from each of the lower ends of the left and right straight surfaces to restrict the limit of downward relative movement of the second shaft 35 with respect to the hook 51, and as a result, when the hook 51 is displaced upward with respect to the second shaft 35, the hook 51 and the second shaft 35 are disengaged from each other, preventing the hook 51 from accidentally coming off the second shaft 35. Also, since the inner surface of the hook 51 can be engaged with the left and right surfaces of the second shaft 35, when the second arm 36 swings left and right, the first arm 34 can be tilted in response to the swinging of the second arm 36.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, when viewed from the left-right direction, support body 52 has front and rear sides 60 and 61 and a bottom side 62, and is formed into a hollow rectangle having an oval opening 63 that is long in the up-down direction at the center, and this bottom side 62 serves as third shaft 37. Third shaft 37 is a curved body whose front-to-back center is located lower than the front and rear ends. In addition, third shaft 37 has a circular cross section (see Fig. 1), and third shaft 37 is formed as a round shaft.

[0030] When viewed from the left-right direction, the regulating body 53 has front and rear sides 65 and 66 and a bottom side 67, and is formed in a hollow ring shape having a substantially circular opening 68 in the center. The outer shape of the regulating body 53 is formed to be larger than the outer shape of the support body 52.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the third arm 38 includes a detection plate 70 formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction, and a hook 71 provided at the upper end of the detection plate 70 and engaged with the third shaft 37. As shown in Fig. 5(b), the hook 71 is formed in an inverted U shape by a base end 72 extending upward from the center in the front-rear direction of the upper end of the detection plate 70, a curved portion 73 extending to the right continuing from the upper end of the base end 72, and a free end 74 formed at the lower end of the curved portion 73. The inner surfaces of the base end 72 and the free end 74 are formed as straight surfaces with a uniform opposing distance in the vertical direction, and the inner surface of the curved portion 73 is formed as a curved surface smoothly continuing from these straight surfaces. A restricting rib 75 is protruded from each of the lower ends of the left and right straight surfaces to restrict the limit of downward relative movement of the third shaft 37 with respect to the hook 71. As a result, when the hook 71 is displaced upward relative to the third shaft 37, the engagement between the hook 71 and the third shaft 37 is released, preventing the hook 71 from accidentally coming off the third shaft 37.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 4, when the hook 71 is engaged with the third shaft 37, the detection plate 70 is configured to be able to swing widely in the front-rear direction along the third shaft 37. Also, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the detection plate 70 is configured to be able to swing left-right around the third shaft 37. However, the limit of the rightward swing of the detection plate 70 around the third shaft 37 is restricted by the free end 74 of the hook 71 coming into contact with the restricting body 53 of the second arm 36.

[0033] Next, the operation of ice storage detection device 4 configured as described above will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, when ice blocks 22 are not in contact with second arm 36 or third arm 38, detection lever 27 is in a free state in which support member 52 of second arm 36 and detection plate 70 of third arm 38 hang down. In this state, first arm 34 is in a non-operating position, magnet 48 of operating piece 40 is not adjacent to and facing detection switch 28, and detection switch 28 is off. When detection switch 28 is off in this manner, ice-making operation by ice-making unit 3 continues.

[0034] From the above state, ice blocks 22 are produced and dropped from ice-making unit 3 located to the left of ice storage detection device 4, and as the ice blocks 22 accumulate in ice storage chamber 1 and the pile becomes large, detection plate 70 of third arm 38, which was hanging down, is swung to the right by ice blocks 22 supplied from the left side, as shown in Figure 6. More specifically, when ice blocks 22 collide with detection plate 70 of third arm 38 from the left side, third arm 38 tries to swing rightward (counterclockwise) about third shaft 37, but the swing limit is regulated by regulating body 53 of second arm 36. As a result, second arm 36 swings rightward integrally with third arm 38 in conjunction with the swing of third arm 38 to the right. At this time, an engagement force acts between the left and right straight surfaces of hook 51 of second arm 36 and the left and right surfaces of second shaft 35, which is a square shaft, so that first arm 34 also swings rightward about first shaft 33 in conjunction with the rightward swinging displacement of second arm 36. Then, due to this rightward swinging displacement of first arm 34, operating piece 40 is displaced upward; in other words, first arm 34 is displaced from the inoperative position to the operative position, and when magnet 48 embedded in operating piece 40 approaches detection switch 28, detection switch 28 is turned on and the ice-making operation by ice-making unit 3 is stopped.

[0035] In addition, when the third arm 38 cannot move rightward about the third shaft 37 because the lower end (detection plate 70) of the third arm 38 is buried in the ice blocks 22 or the lower end of the third arm 38 is caught by the ice blocks 22 from the state where the first arm 34 is in the inoperative position, only the second arm 36 is displaced rightward, and the first arm 34 is displaced to the operative position in the same manner as above, and the ice making operation by the ice making unit 3 can be stopped. Figure 7 shows a state where the user uses the scoop 18 to level the pile of ice blocks 22 stored in the ice storage chamber 1, resulting in a pile of ice blocks 22 being formed to the right of the detection plate 70, causing the detection plate 70 of the third arm 38 to swing leftward (clockwise) about the third shaft 37, and further, the lower end of the detection plate 70 is caught by the pile of ice blocks 22, preventing the third arm 38 from moving rightward about the third shaft 37. From the above state, when ice block 22 collides with support 52 of second arm 36 or main body block 50 from the left, second arm 36 is displaced to the right, as shown by the arrow in Figure 7. Because the angular shaft of second shaft 35 and hook 51 of second arm 36 are engaged as described above, first arm 34 is displaced and swung to the right about first shaft 33 as second arm 36 is displaced to the right. When first arm 34 is displaced to the operating position and detection switch 28 is turned on, the ice-making operation by ice-making unit 3 is stopped.

[0036] As described above, according to ice storage detection device 4 of the present embodiment, even if ice blocks 22 pile up around detection lever 27 and third arm 38 cannot swing freely, second arm 36 displaces rightward and first arm 34 swings rightward about first shaft 33, displacing first arm 34 from the inoperative position to the operative position and appropriately stopping the ice-making operation by ice-making unit 3. This more reliably prevents problems such as ice-making unit 3 continuing to make ice even when the ice tank is full.

[0037] The second shaft 35 is formed as a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm 34 and extending in the front-rear direction, a hook 51 engaged with the second shaft 35 is provided at the upper end of the second arm 36, and front-rear sides 44, 45 are formed at the front and rear of the second shaft 35, so that the front-rear side edges 44, 45 can restrict the front-rear movement of the hook 51 and can prevent the hook 51 of the second arm 36 from being displaced in the front-rear direction beyond the front-rear length dimension of the second shaft 35. This can suppress wear on the second shaft 35 and improve the durability of the detection lever 27.

[0038] The horizontal shaft constituting the second shaft 35 is formed as a square-shaped angular shaft in cross section, and the inner surface of the hook 51 of the second arm 36 facing the second shaft 35 is an inverted U-shaped surface in cross section having left and right straight surfaces and a curved surface continuing from these straight surfaces, so that the left and right surfaces of the second shaft 35 can be sandwiched by the left and right straight surfaces of the hook 51, and the left and right straight surfaces of the hook 51 can be engaged with the left and right surfaces of the second shaft 35. By engaging the hook 51 of the second arm 36 with the second shaft 35 in this manner, the first arm 34 can be swung and displaced about the first shaft 33 in conjunction with the displacement of the second arm 36 not only when the upper end of the second arm 36 is displaced up and down, but also when the second arm 36 is displaced slightly left and right. Therefore, the ice storage detection device 4 can be given an appropriate sensitivity.

[0039] Restriction ribs 57 are formed on the left and right straight surfaces of hook 51 to restrict the limit of downward relative movement of second shaft 35 with respect to hook 51, so that even if, for example, scoop 18 collides with second arm 36 and displaces it upward, restriction rib 57 engages with the underside of second shaft 35, preventing second shaft 35 from slipping out of the opening of hook 51. This prevents second shaft 35 and hook 51 from accidentally disengaging from each other, improving the reliability of ice storage detection device 4.

[0040] Since the first arm 34 is pivotally supported via the first shaft 33 so as to be swingable left and right, not only when the scoop 18 contacts the detection lever 27 from the left, but also when the scoop 18 contacts the detection lever 27 from the right, the first arm 34 swings about the first shaft 33 to absorb the impact acting on the detection lever 27. As described above, it is possible to prevent defects such as deformation or breakage of the first arm 34 when an impact is applied to the detection lever 27, thereby improving the reliability of the ice storage detection device 4.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the first arm 34 is configured to be able to swing to the left from the non-operated position, but it is also possible to provide a regulating body that regulates the swing of the first arm 34 so that the first arm 34 swings only to the right from the non-operated position shown in FIG. 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Ice storage 3 Ice making mechanism (ice making unit) 4. Ice storage detector 27 Detection lever 28 Detection Switch 33 1st axis 34 First Arm 35 2nd axis 36 Second Arm 37 3rd axis 38 3rd Arm 44 Regulatory Structure (Front Edge) 45 Regulatory Structure (Back End) 51 Hook 53 Regulatory Body 57 Regulatory Rib

Claims

1. An ice storage detection device for an ice making machine, which is disposed in an ice storage chamber (1) that stores ice blocks (22) discharged from an ice making mechanism (3) and detects when the amount of ice stored in the ice storage chamber (1) has reached a predetermined amount, The ice blocks (22) are discharged to the right of the ice making mechanism (3), and the ice storage detection device (4) is disposed to the right of the ice making mechanism (3). The ice storage detection device (4) includes a detection lever (27) and a detection switch (28) that is turned on and off by the detection lever (27). The detection lever (27) is A first shaft (33) disposed at the top of the ice storage chamber (1) and extending in the front-rear direction; a first arm (34) pivotally supported via a first shaft (33) so as to be swingable in a rightward direction at least to the operating position between an operating position in which the detection switch (28) is turned on and a non-operating position in which the detection switch (28) is turned off; a second shaft (35) disposed at a lower end of the first arm (34) and extending in the front-rear direction; a second arm (36) pivotally supported via a second shaft (35) relative to the first arm (34) so ​​as to be swingable in the left-right direction; a third shaft (37) disposed at a lower end of the second arm (36) and extending in the front-rear direction; a third arm (38) pivotally supported via a third shaft (37) to be swingable in the left-right direction relative to the second arm (36); Equipped with The second arm (36) is provided with a regulating body (53) that regulates the rightward swing of the third arm (38) about the third shaft (37), The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine is configured such that, when a force is applied to move the third arm (38) or the second arm (36) in a rightward direction, the second arm (36) is displaced to the right and the first arm (34) swings to the right about the first axis (33), thereby displacing the first arm (34) from a non-operating position to an operating position.

2. The second shaft (35) is a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm (34) and extending in the front-rear direction, A hook (51) that is engaged with the second shaft (35) is provided at the upper end of the second arm (36), 2. The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the second shaft (35) is provided with a restricting structure (44, 45) for restricting the movement of the hook (51) in the front-rear direction.

3. The second shaft (35) is a horizontal shaft provided at the lower end of the first arm (34) and extending in the front-rear direction, A hook (51) that is engaged with the second shaft (35) is provided at the upper end of the second arm (36), The second shaft (35) is formed as a square shaft having a square cross section, The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine as described in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the hook (51) facing the second axis (35) has an inverted U-shaped cross section having left and right straight surfaces and a curved surface continuous with these straight surfaces.

4. 4. The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to claim 3, wherein a restricting rib (57) is formed on the left and right straight surfaces for restricting a limit of downward relative movement of the second shaft (35) with respect to the hook (51).

5. 2. The ice storage detection device for an ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the first arm (34) is pivotally supported via a first shaft (33) so as to be swingable in the left-right direction.

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