U.S. patent application number 09/819345 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for automatic ice maker.
This patent application is currently assigned to Japan Servo Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ando, Hitoshi, Kuroda, Eiji, Nakayama, Atsuo, Niwa, Yasushi, Toida, Naoko, Yamane, Kentaro, Yamashita, Kazufumi.
Application Number | 20010025492 09/819345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18604148 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010025492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Niwa, Yasushi ; et
al. |
October 4, 2001 |
Automatic ice maker
Abstract
An automatic ice maker for use in freezing compartments of the
refrigerators. A planar stop arm is used as an ice cube detecting
device for detecting a sufficient ice cubes stored in a bin
arranged below a tray for making ice cubes. The stop arm can be
swung between the bin for storing therein the ice cubes and the
tray in order prevent the ice cubes stored in the bin from being
molten by a head radiation from a heater provided on the tray.
Inventors: |
Niwa, Yasushi; (Gunma,
JP) ; Yamane, Kentaro; (Gunma, JP) ; Kuroda,
Eiji; (Gunma, JP) ; Yamashita, Kazufumi;
(Gunma, JP) ; Ando, Hitoshi; (Gunma, JP) ;
Nakayama, Atsuo; (Gunma, JP) ; Toida, Naoko;
(Gunma, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James E. Nilles
NILLES & NILLES, S.C.
Firstar Center, Suite 2000
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee
WI
53202-5345
US
|
Assignee: |
Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
18604148 |
Appl. No.: |
09/819345 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/02 20130101; F25C
1/04 20130101; F25C 2500/02 20130101; F25C 2305/024 20210801; F25C
5/187 20130101; F25C 2400/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/1 |
International
Class: |
F25C 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2000 |
JP |
88250/2000 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automatic ice maker for use in household refrigerators
comprising a water supply device, a tray for making ice cubes, an
ice cube ejector device, a heater for separating ice cubes from the
tray, a sensor for sensing a temperature of the tray, a bin for
storing therein ice cubes, an ice cube detecting device for
detecting ice cubes located within the bin, and an electronic
control circuit for controlling the ice making operation, wherein
said components other than the water supply device are arranged in
a freezer compartment of the refrigerator, and the ice cube
detecting device is formed of a planar stop arm movable to a
position between the tray and the bin according to the energization
and deenergization of the heater.
2. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
stop arm has an upper surface inclined downwards gradually from a
tray side to an opposite side.
3. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
stop arm is supported rotatably through a spring by a drive
shaft.
4. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
stop arm can be moved horizontally.
5. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
electronic control circuit comprises an original point hole IC and
a magnet faced to each other with a gap therebetween, and said
magnet is composed of N and S poles superposed to each other.
6. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
stop arm is supported rotatably through a spring by a drive
shaft.
7. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
stop arm can be moved horizontally.
8. An automatic ice maker as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
electronic control circuit comprises an original point hole IC and
a magnet faced to each other with a gap therebetween, and said
magnet is composed of N and S poles superposed to each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an automatic ice maker and, more
particularly, relates to an automatic ice maker for household
refrigerators.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 show a conventional automatic ice maker
disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,738, wherein a reference
numeral 1 denotes a tray for making ice cubes, 2 denotes an array
of stationary fingers mounted on one side of an upper surface of
the tray 1, 3 denotes a rotary shaft extending along the center
line of the upper surface of the tray 1 and to be rotated by a
motor (not shown), 4 denotes an array of ejector fingers fixed to
the rotary shaft 3 for rotation therewith so as to interleave with
the stationary fingers 2 and cooperate therewith to cause the ice
cubes to be deposited in a bin 8 arranged below the tray 1. A
reference numeral 5 denotes a control box, 6 denotes a water supply
box, 7 denotes an ice cube detecting device for detecting whether a
sufficient ice cubes are located within the bin 8 or not, and 9
denotes a freezer compartment of a refrigerator 10. In the tray 1,
a thermostat and a heater are installed. The heater and the motor
are energized when the water is frozen in the tray 1 and the
thermostat is turned ON, so that a surface of the ice cubes
attached to the tray 1 are molten and that the ice cubes in the
tray 1 is ejected to the bin 8 by the ejector fingers 4 when the
motor is rotated. The water supply to the tray 1 is started and a
quantity of water determined according to the angular position of
the motor is supplied to the tray 1 to make ice cubes, again. The
above cycle is repeated.
[0005] When the ice cube detecting device 7 detects a sufficient
quantity of ice cubes located within the bin 8, the automatic
operation of the ice maker is stopped temporarily. The automatic
operation of the ice maker is restarted when the quantity of the
ice cubes located within the bin 8 is reduced. The ice cube
detecting device 7 comprises a stop arm in the form of a wire and
swings along an arc above the bin 8 to detect the upper surface of
the ice cubes located within the bin 8. However, the
above-mentioned conventional automatic ice maker has many problems
and defects. The stop arm is sometimes broken when it is brought
into contact with the ice cubes. The ice cubes stored in the bin 8
positioned below the bottom surface of the tray 1 are liable to
melt by a heat radiation from the tray 1, when the heater is
energized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve the above
problems.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
automatic ice maker for use in household refrigerators comprising a
water supply device, a tray for making ice cubes, an ice cube
ejector device, a heater for separating ice cubes from the tray, a
sensor for sensing a temperature of the tray, a bin for storing
therein ice cubes, an ice cube detecting device for detecting ice
cubes located within the bin, and an electronic control circuit for
controlling the ice making operation, wherein said components other
than the water supply device are arranged in a freezer compartment
of the refrigerator, and the ice cube detecting device is formed of
a planar stop arm movable to a position between the tray and the
bin according to the energization and deenergization of the
heater.
[0008] Said stop arm has an upper surface inclined downwards
gradually from a tray side to an opposite side.
[0009] Said stop arm is supported through a spring and rotated by a
drive shaft.
[0010] Said stop arm can be moved horizontally. Said electronic
control circuit comprises an original point hole IC and a magnet
faced to each other with a gap therebetween, and said magnet is
composed of N and S poles superposed to each other.
[0011] These and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description in
conjunction with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic ice maker according
to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an automatic ice maker according to
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an automatic ice maker according
to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a stop arm drive portion of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a stop arm operation of an
automatic ice maker according to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a cross section taken along line 12-12 of FIG.
2;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a magnet for an original
point hole IC of an automatic ice maker according to the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a magnet for an original
point hole IC of an automatic ice maker according to the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a magnet for an original
point hole IC of an automatic ice maker according to the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 16 is an enlarged, perspective view illustrating a
conventional automatic ice maker; and
[0028] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a conventional
automatic ice maker.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] As automatic ice maker according to the present invention
will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings.
[0030] According to the present invention, an elongated stop arm 11
in the form of a triangular plate is used as shown in FIG. 1 to
FIG. 3 instead of using the stop arm in the form of a wire as in
the conventional automatic ice maker. The distal end of the stop
arm 11 is supported through a coil spring 13 rotatably by a driving
shaft 12 projected from the bottom surface of a control box 5 so
that the stop arm 11 can be rotated with respect to the driving
shaft 12 against the force of the coil spring 13 when the stop arm
11 is hit against an obstacle. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a rod
shaped cam follower 16 is provided on the driving shaft 12 so as to
extend radially therefrom so that the tip end of the cam follower
16 is brought into contact with a cam surface of a cam 15 fixed to
an output shaft 14 to be rotated by a motor. The configuration of
the cam surface of the cam 15 is so determined that the stop arm 11
is positioned below the tray 1 when the heater is energized and
that the stop arm 11 swings horizontally on the bin 8 according to
the rotation of the ejector fingers 4 when the heater is not
energized.
[0031] A magnet 17 is mounted on the tip end of an arm extending
radially from the driving shaft 12, and an arm hole IC 19 is
provided on a base plate 18 of the control box 5 facing the magnet
17 with a gap therebetween.
[0032] A magnet 20 is mounted on an end surface of the output shaft
14, and an original point hole IC 21 is provided on the base plate
18 facing the magnet 20 with a gap therebetween.
[0033] According to the automatic ice maker of the present
invention, the stop arm 11 is positioned below the tray 1 directly
before or directly after the energization of the heater, or at the
same time of the energization of the heater, after the water in the
tray 1 has been frozen, so that the ice cubes in the bin 8 is
prevented from being molten by the heat radiation from the
heater.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is positioned
above the bin 8 and outside of the tray 1, the arm hole IC 19 is
turned OFF, the original point hole IC 21 is turned ON, the water
in the tray 1 is frozen, the thermostat is turned ON, and the
heater is energized, but the ejector fingers 4 are not yet
rotated.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a state after about 90 seconds from the
energization of the heater. The stop arm 11 is not yet moved to the
below the tray 1. The arm hole IC 19 and the original point hole IC
21 are turned OFF, and the ejector fingers 4 are rotated by
15.degree..
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is swing and
positioned below the tray 1, the ejector fingers 4 are rotated by
195.degree., the arm hole IC 19 is turned ON, and the original
point hole IC 21 is turned OFF.
[0037] In this state, the ice cubes stored in the bin 8 are
prevented from being molten by the heat radiation from the heater,
because the stop arm 11 is positioned below the tray 1.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is not yet moved
from below the tray 1 to the outside, but the ejector fingers 4 are
rotated by 270.degree., the arm hole IC 19 is turned ON, and the
original point hole IC 21 is turned OFF.
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is not yet moved
from below the tray 1 to the outside, but the ejector fingers 4 are
rotated by 300.degree., the arm hole IC 19 is turned ON, and the
original point hole IC 21 is turned OFF.
[0040] FIG. 10 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is swung and
moved from below the tray 1 to the outside, the ejector fingers 4
are rotated by 330.degree., and the arm hole IC 19 and the original
point hole IC 21 are turned OFF.
[0041] FIG. 11 shows a state that the stop arm 11 is positioned at
the outside of the tray 1, the ejector fingers 4 are returned to
the original position, the arm hole IC 19 is turned OFF, and the
original point hole IC 21 is turned ON.
[0042] FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the stop arm 11. The upper
surface of the stop arm 11 is inclined downwards gradually from the
side of the tray 1 to the opposite side, so that the ice tips or
water drops formed by the ejecting operation of the ejector fingers
4 are removed automatically when they are fallen on the stop arm
11.
[0043] Further, conventionally, either one of N and S poles of the
conventional single magnet is used as the magnet 17 or 20 for the
hole IC. In this case, however, the relation between the relative
distance and the magnetic flux density of the original point hole
IC 21 and the magnet 20 is shown by a gentle curve as shown in FIG.
13. The original point hole IC 21 is operated only when the
distance between the original point hole IC 21 and the magnet 20 is
changed to the large extent and the change of the magnetic flux
density becomes a predetermined value, so that the precision of the
operation of the original point hole IC 21 is deteriorated.
[0044] Accordingly, in the present invention, a magnet consisting
of superposed N and S poles as shown in FIG. 14 is used as the
magnet 20. In this case, the relation between the relative distance
and the magnetic flux density of the original point hole IC 21 and
the magnet 20 is shown by a curve having a sharply inclined portion
as shown in FIG. 15. Accordingly, the original point hole IC 21 can
be operated by a small change in distance if the above sharply
inclined portion of the curve is used, so that the precision of the
operation of the original point hole IC 21 can be enhanced.
[0045] As stated above, according to the present invention, the
original point of rotation of the ejector fingers 4 can be detected
by the original point hole IC 21, and the stop arm 11 can be swung
according to the output of the arm hole IC 19 only when the output
shaft 14 is in the angular position between 15.degree. to
330.degree..
[0046] Further, the stop arm 11 can be prevented from being
damaged. The ice cubes can be prevented from being molten by the
heat radiation from the heater, because the stop arm 11 can be
positioned below the bottom surface of the tray 1.
[0047] Furthermore, the operations of the ejector fingers 4 and the
stop arm 11 can be controlled precisely by elevating the
sensitivity of the original point hole IC 21.
[0048] It should be understood that many changes and modifications
may be made within the scope of the present invention without
departing from the spirit thereof The scope of these changes will
become apparent from the attached claims.
* * * * *