U.S. patent application number 14/844506 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for ice shaving machine equipped with detachable ice container.
The applicant listed for this patent is SAE KWANG OH. Invention is credited to SAE KWANG OH.
Application Number | 20160069604 14/844506 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54428180 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160069604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OH; SAE KWANG |
March 10, 2016 |
ICE SHAVING MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH DETACHABLE ICE CONTAINER
Abstract
Provided is an ice shaving machine that can shave ice into small
fragments, can sanitarily handle ice for shaved-ice, can prevent
ice from flying to the outside when shaving ice, and allows for
making a predetermined amount of shaved-ice. The ice shaving
machine includes: a body including a rotary member moved up and
down and rotated manually or automatically, or both of manually and
automatically, and having a mount and a shaved-ice container
storage; an ice container having a receiving portion for ice, a
shaved-ice exit formed through a bottom of the receiving portion,
and an ice cutting blade attached to a lower surface at a side of
the bottom from the shaved-ice exit; and a fixing mechanism fixing
the ice container to the mount.
Inventors: |
OH; SAE KWANG; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OH; SAE KWANG |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
54428180 |
Appl. No.: |
14/844506 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
241/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/12 20060101
F25C005/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 5, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0118950 |
Claims
1. An ice shaving machine comprising: a body including a rotary
member moved up and down and rotated manually or automatically, or
both of manually and automatically, and having a mount and a
shaved-ice container storage; an ice container having a receiving
portion for ice, a shaved-ice exit formed through a bottom of the
receiving portion, and an ice cutting blade attached to a lower
surface at a side of the bottom from the shaved-ice exit; and a
fixing mechanism fixing the ice container to the mount.
2. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the body includes a
first sensing unit for sensing a vertical position of the rotary
member.
3. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the body includes a
second sensing unit for sensing attachment and detachment of the
ice container.
4. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice container
includes a height adjuster for adjusting a vertical position of the
ice cutting blade protruding over the shaved-ice exit by adjusting
a position of the ice cutting blade.
5. The ice shaving machine of claim 2, wherein the ice container
includes a height adjuster for adjusting a vertical position of the
ice cutting blade protruding over the shaved-ice exit by adjusting
a position of the ice cutting blade.
6. The ice shaving machine of claim 3, wherein the ice container
includes a height adjuster for adjusting a vertical position of the
ice cutting blade protruding over the shaved-ice exit by adjusting
a position of the ice cutting blade.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an ice shaving machine
equipped with a detachable ice container. More particularly, the
present invention relates to an ice shaving machine that can shave
ice into small fragments, can sanitarily handle ice for shaved-ice,
can prevent ice from flying to the outside when shaving ice, and
allows for making a predetermined amount of shaved-ice.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An ice shaving machine that shaves small ice cubes and an
ice shaving machine that shaves an ice block are typical ice
shaving machines for making shaved-ice.
[0005] As an ice shaving machine for cube ice in the related art,
an "Electric shaved ice maker" has been disclosed in Korean Utility
Model No. 20-0316572 (2003 Jun. 4) (hereafter, referred to as
Related art 1).
[0006] The Related art 1 relates to an electric shaved ice maker
including a body equipped with a driving gear, an ice container, a
rotary shaft pipe, a rotary cup, a ring gear, a nut, a lid, and a
stand, in which the sides of the ice container are made of a
transparent material and the side of the rotary cup is decorated
with various characters.
[0007] The Related art 1, which is a shaved ice maker using ice
cubes, is suitable for domestic use, but is not useful for a
restaurant or a coffee shop that use a large quantity of
shaved-ice. Further, since it uses ice cubes, the ice cubes occupy
a large volume when they are kept cold, so it is not useful as an
ice shaving machine for selling shaved-ice.
[0008] On the other hand, as an ice shaving machine using a large
ice block, a "Domestic ice shaving machine" has been disclosed in
Korean Utility Model Application Publication No. 20-1996-38186
(1995 Dec. 18) (hereafter, referred to as Related art 2).
[0009] The Related art 2 relates to an ice shaving machine
including: a base plate that has a seat on a side where a vessel
for keeping ice is placed and a support rod having a locking
protrusion on the other side; a support plate that has a fastening
portion having a groove where the locking protrusion is inserted
and a insertion groove where the support rod is inserted at the
other side, supports a tub having a plurality of stoppers around
it, and has blades inside the tub and cutting grooves with
predetermined gaps; and an upper body that has a groove where the
tub is inserted, has a plurality of stoppers inside the groove, has
a predetermined rotational gap by the stoppers of the tub, and has
a motor inside, in which a fixing plate for fixing ice is connected
to a rotary shaft of the motor, so that when the fixing plate is
rotated by the motor, ice is rotated and cut by the cutting
grooves.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1 simply showing the entire structure of
the Related art 2, a vessel space 3 where a vessel B is placed is
formed at the lower portion of a body 1, a support plate 7 is fixed
over the vessel space. When a rotary plate 5 coupled to a rotary
rod 4 with ice I on the support plate 7, fixing blades 6 are driven
into the ice and fixed therein, and then when the rotary plate 5 is
rotated, the ice, in contact with a cutting blade 9, is shaved into
shaved-ice and then discharged into the vessel through a discharge
hole 8.
[0011] Since the ice shaving machine having this configuration uses
an ice block, it is suitable for not only for domestic use, but for
shaved-ice stores, and generally, those shops purchase a large
quantity of ice blocks, keep them in a freezer, and use them to
make shaved-ice.
[0012] However, according to the ice shaving machine of the Related
art 2, an ice block is taken out and kept in a freezer to prevent
the ice block from melting after making shaved-ice and then the ice
block is mounted on an ice shaving machine to make shaved-ice
later, so a user has to manually handle an ice block every time to
make shaved-ice, and accordingly, the ice block is frequently
exposed to the outside and may not be sanitarily managed.
[0013] That is, an ice block is exposed to the outside as
frequently as it is handled, so contaminants such as dust may stick
to the ice block. Accordingly, a user has to carefully handle an
ice block, thus causing difficulty in sanitary management.
[0014] Further, when making shaved-ice, a user controls the
operation time of the ice shaving machine to make a desired amount
of shaved-ice while visually checking the amount of shaved-ice made
from an ice block, but the amount of shaved-ice may be different in
accordance with the quality of an ice block and the amount of
shaved-ice visually seen by the user and the actual amount of
shaved-ice may be different, so it is difficult to make a desired
amount of shaved-ice. Further, particularly for a small ice shaving
machine for making shaved-ice in a small amount such as for one or
two persons, it is more difficult to make a desired amount of
shaved-ice every time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose an ice shaving machine
that has a cutting blade in an ice container for keeping a desired
amount of ice, can be detachably mounted on a mount of a body, can
make a desired amount of shaved-ice every time by making shaved-ice
using ice frozen in advance in a predetermined amount for a desired
number of people, and that makes it possible to easily and
sanitarily manage ice so that a user does not need to handle the
same ice every time in order to make shaved-ice.
[0016] Further, the present invention is intended to propose an ice
shaving machine including a fixing mechanism that fixes an ice
container and a straight holding mechanism that restricts rotation
of the ice container in order to prevent the ice container from
being rotated when ice is rotated with the ice container mounted on
a body.
[0017] Further, the present invention is intended to propose an ice
shaving machine including a first sensing unit that is mounted on a
body to vertical position of a rotary member and a second sensing
unit that is mounted on the body to sense attachment/detachment of
an ice container, in order to safely move up/down the rotary member
for rotating ice and prevent a safety accident due to the rotary
member.
[0018] Further, the present invention is intended to propose an ice
shaving machine that makes it easy to replace an ice cutting blade
and includes a height adjusting mechanism that adjust the vertical
position of the ice cutting blade protruding toward an ice exit to
be able to freely adjust the size of shaved-ice by adjusting the
position of the ice cutting blade.
[0019] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose an ice shaving machine
equipped with a detachable ice container that includes: a body
including a rotary member moved up and down and rotated manually or
automatically, or both of manually and automatically, and having a
mount and a shaved-ice container storage; an ice container having a
receiving portion for ice, a shaved-ice exit formed through a
bottom of the receiving portion, and an ice cutting blade attached
to a lower surface at a side of the bottom from the shaved-ice
exit; and a fixing mechanism fixing the ice container to the
mount.
[0020] Further, in the ice shaving machine equipped with a
detachable ice container, the body may include a first sensing unit
that senses the vertical position of the rotary member.
[0021] Further, in the ice shaving machine equipped with a
detachable ice container, the body may include a second sensing
unit that senses attachment/detachment of the ice container.
[0022] Further, in the ice shaving machine equipped with a
detachable ice container, the ice container may include a height
adjuster for adjusting a vertical position of the ice cutting blade
protruding over the shaved-ice exit by adjusting a position of the
ice cutting blade.
[0023] According to the ice shaving machine equipped with a
detachable ice container of the present invention, ice made in a
desired amount is put in a container and shaved-ice is made from
the ice, so there is no need for reusing ice that is used when
making shaved-ice, and accordingly, sanitation can be ensured.
[0024] Further, since ice is made in advance in a desired amount,
the amount of shaved-ice is always the same in a desired amount, so
it is not required to manage the amount of shaved-ice. Accordingly,
the ice shaving machine is very useful particularly for making a
small amount of shaved-ice for one person or two people, for
example.
[0025] Further, according to the ice shaving machine equipped with
a detachable ice container of the present invention, a fixing
mechanism, an ice container, and a mount are designed to prevent
the ice container from rotating when the ice shaving machine is
operated, so stable operation can be ensured. Further, the entire
structure is simple, so the ice shaving machine can be easily
manufactured and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0026] Further, according to the ice shaving machine equipped with
a detachable ice container of the present invention, since a first
sensing unit for sensing the vertical position of the rotary member
and a second sensing unit for sensing attachment/detachment of the
ice container are provided, the rotary member can be stably
operated and a safety accident due to the rotary member can be
prevented.
[0027] Further, according to the ice shaving machine equipped with
a detachable ice container of the present invention, a height
adjuster that adjusts the vertical position of an ice cutting blade
protruding over the shaved-ice exit is provided, it is easy to
replace the ice cutting blade and to freely control the size and
area of ice to be shaved by adjusting the vertical position of the
ice cutting blade; therefore, the ice shaving machine is very
convenient to use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing an ice shaving
machine according to the related art;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ice shaving machine
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views showing main
parts of the ice shaving machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention in different directions;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the
internal structure of the ice shaving machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an ice container
and a fixing mechanism of the ice shaving machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating a height
adjusting mechanism for an ice cutting blade of the ice shaving
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the internal
structure of a body of the ice shaving machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0036] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second sensing
unit in the ice shaving machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] The present invention will now be described in detail based
on aspects (or embodiments). The present invention may, however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited to only the embodiments set forth herein, but should
be construed as covering modifications, equivalents or alternatives
falling within ideas and technical scopes of the present
invention.
[0038] In the figures, like reference numerals, particularly,
reference numerals having the same last two digits or the same last
two digits and letters refer to like elements having like functions
throughout, and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,
elements referred to by reference numerals of the drawings should
be understood based on this standard.
[0039] Also, for convenience of understanding of the elements, in
the figures, sizes or thicknesses may be exaggerated to be large
(or thick), may be expressed to be small (or thin) or may be
simplified for clarity of illustration, but due to this, the
protective scope of the present invention should not be interpreted
narrowly.
[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular aspects (or embodiments) only and is not intended to be
limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular
forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0041] It will be further understood that the terms "comprises,"
"comprising,", "includes" and/or "including," when used herein,
specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and
scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms used
herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent
with their meaning in the context of this specification and the
relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0043] Terms such as `a first .about.` and `a second .about.` are
used only for the purpose for distinguishing a constitutive element
from other constitutive element, but constitutive element should
not be limited to a manufacturing order, and the terms described in
the detailed description of the invention may not be consistent
with those described in the claims
[0044] For convenience of the description of a detachable ice
container for an ice shaving machine according to the present
invention, when an approximate direction rather than a precise
direction is specified with reference to FIG. 2, a lower side is
determined based on a direction to which gravity is applied, up and
down directions and right and left directions are determined as
they are shown, and front and rear directions are determined with
the direction, in which an ice container 20 is mounted, that is, an
opening of a seat 12 is formed, determined as the front direction.
This standard may be also applied to the other drawings, and
directions may be specified and described based on this standard
unless the detailed description of the invention and the claims
specially indicate otherwise.
[0045] Hereinbelow, an ice shaving machine equipped with a
detachable ice container according to the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, an ice shaving machine equipped
with a detachable ice container according to the present invention
includes a body 10 having a storage S that can receive a shaved-ice
container (not shown) and a mount 12 where an ice container 20 is
detachably mounted, and has a ice-shaving rotary member 15, the ice
container 20 receiving a predetermined amount of ice that freezes
in advance and having an ice cutting blade 23, and a fixing
mechanism 30 fixing the ice container 20 to the mount 12 of the
body 10.
[0047] First, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3B, the rotary member 15 (see
FIG. 4) that rotates and moves down when the ice shaving machine is
operated is disposed inside a body housing 11 of the body 10.
[0048] The mount 12 to which the ice container 20 is detachably
attached is disposed at the lower portion of the body housing
11.
[0049] The body is supported by legs 11A at the lower portion of
the body housing 11 and the open space between the legs is the
container storage S where shaved-ice can be kept.
[0050] A water tray (not shown) that can keep water produced from
shaved-ice fragments flying to the outside when shaved-ice drops
into the container in the storage S during shaving of ice to make
shaved-ice or water from ice remaining and melting after the ice
shaving machine is used is further disposed on the bottom of the
container storage S.
[0051] The rotary member 15 can be manually or automatically
rotated and moved up/down, and a driving unit for the rotary
member, as shown in FIG. 7, includes an electric motor 14 disposed
in the body housing 11 and automatically rotating and moving
up/down a rotary rod 15A (see FIG. 2) of the rotary member and a
manual operating unit 18 disposed outside the body housing 11 and
moving up/down the rotary rod 15A.
[0052] The electric motor 14 and the rotary rod 15A are connected
by a timing gear 14A, a thread 15a (see FIG. 3A) formed on the
outer side of the rotary rod 15A is thread-fastened to a threaded
portion (not shown) fixed to the body housing, and a rotary key
(not shown) on the inner side of the timing gear of the rotary rod
15A is inserted in a slit (not shown) formed in the longitudinal
direction of the rotary rod 15A, so as the electric motor 14 is
operated, the rotary key of the timing gear rotates the rotary rod
15A and the rotary rod 15A is moved up or down in accordance with
the rotational direction.
[0053] The manual operating unit 18 is connected to a lifting shaft
18a having a lifting gear (not shown) coupled to the thread 15a of
the rotary rod 15A, so the rotary rod 15A is moved up or down
without rotating in according to the rotational direction of the
lifting gear.
[0054] The connection structure of the electric motor 14 and the
rotary rod 15A and the connection structure 15A of the manual
operating unit 18 and the rotary rod 15A are implemented by other
well-known types composed of various shafts and/or gears, so the
rotary member 15, that is, the rotary rod 15A can be automatically
or manually operated. Further, these configurations are little
related to the necessary characteristics of the present invention
and can be achieved from various structures and connection
relationship applied to common ice shaving machines by those
skilled in the art, so they should not be construed as limiting the
scope of the present invention.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3B, the manual operating unit 18
includes an operating plate 18A that rotates and/or moves up/down
the rotary member 15 in the body housing 11.
[0056] A handle 18B is connected to the operating plate 18A so that
a user can turn the operating plate 18A.
[0057] In particular, the operating plates 18A are provided in a
pair on both sides of the body housing 11 and the handle 18B can be
detachably attached to any one of the left and right operating
plate 18A, so a user can attach the handle to a desired side
regardless of whether he/she is left handed or right handed and can
manually operate the rotary member, thereby improving convenience
for the user.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 7, a first sensing unit S1 that senses the
vertical position of the rotary rod 15A, that is, the rotary member
15 is disposed in the body 10.
[0059] The first sensing unit S1 includes a support rod 17
vertically disposed at a side of the rotary rod 15A, a lifting
member 15B connected to the upper end of the rotary rod 15A and
having a receiving groove 15b in which the support rod 17 is
inserted, a second sensed unit (not shown) mounted in the receiving
groove 15b, and a first-first sensor 17A and a first-second sensor
17B disposed at the upper and lower ends of the support rod 17,
respectively, (that is, at the uppermost and lowermost positions of
the rotary rod vertically moving up/down) and being capable of
sensing the second sensed unit.
[0060] When the rotary rod 15A is moved up/down by the electric
motor 15 and the first-first and first-second sensors 17A and 17B
sense the second sensed unit, the electric motor 14 is
automatically stopped.
[0061] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3B, a control panel 19
including a dial (not shown), a power button (not shown), an
emergency stop button 19a, and an automatic operation button 19b to
control the electric motor 14, that is, the rotation time of the
rotary member 15 is disposed on the front of the body housing
11.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a cutting blade 23 for shaving
ice and a shaved-ice exit are not provided in the body of the
present invention, unlike common ice shaving machines, and this
configuration will be described in detail below.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4, the ice container 20, which is a
common vessel, has a receiving portion 21 that can keep ice made in
advance and a handle 26 allowing a user to easily handle the ice
container 20.
[0064] According to the present invention, with the ice container
20 mounted to the mount 12 of the body 10, the rotary member 15 is
moved down to fix ice and then rotated, thereby making
shaved-ice.
[0065] Accordingly, a shaved-ice exit 22 is formed through the
bottom of the ice container 20 and a cutting-blade 23 for shaving
ice is disposed under a side of the shaved-ice exit 22 to face the
shaved-ice exit 22.
[0066] In particular, the cutting blade 23 may be inclined in the
opposite direction to the rotational direction of ice, that is, the
rotation direction of the rotary member 15 in order to shave ice
well producing high quality shaved-ice.
[0067] The sizes and shapes of the shaved-ice exit 22 and the
cutting blade 23 may be changed in various ways.
[0068] In the drawings, the shaved-ice exit 22 is formed in a `-"
shape at the center of the bottom of the ice container 20.
[0069] A pair of cutting blades 23 is disposed to face each other
at an angle in the opposite direction to the rotational direction
of the rotary member 15, at the left and right sides from the
center of the shaved-ice exit 22.
[0070] However, as described above, the present invention is
fundamentally characterized not by the structure of shape of the
shaved-ice exit 22 and the cutting blades 23, but by the positions
of the shaved-ice exit 22 and the cutting blades 23, that is, by
the shaved-ice exit 22 and the cutting blades 23 disposed not in
the body 10 of the ice shaving machine, but in the bottom of the
ice container 20.
[0071] Accordingly, the shaved-ice exit 22 and the cutting blades
23 may have other structures and shapes different from those shown
in the drawings, and thus, the scope of the prevent invention
should not be construed as being limited to the structure and shape
of the shaved-ice exit 22 and the cutting blades 23.
[0072] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4, the ice container 20 has a flange
24 protruding outward around the opening of the receiving portion
21.
[0073] The mount 12 of the body 10 is a guide member 13 in which
the flange 24 can be slid.
[0074] The guide member 13 has a coupling portion 13A that is
coupled to both left and right sides and the rear side, except for
the front opening, of the bottom of the body housing 11, a side 13B
bending downward from the outer end of the coupling portion 13A,
and a supporting portion 13C bending inward from the lower end of
the side 13B, so it has a semicircular shape or a U-shape in a
plane. Accordingly, the ice container 20 is detachably mounted by
sliding the flange 24 into a space 13D defined by the coupling
portion 13, the side 13B, and the supporting portion 13C.
[0075] Since ice is shaved while it is rotated, the receiving
portion 21 of the ice container 20 may be formed in a circle and
accordingly the flange 24 and the guide member may be formed in a
semicircular shape.
[0076] When the ice container 20 is mounted on the mount 12, the
ice container 20 is fixed by the fixing mechanism 30, but when the
flange 24 and the guide member 13 are formed in a semicircular
shape, the force rotating ice is directly transmitted to the ice
container 20, so fixing protrusions 31 to be described below may
receive large pressure and is likely to be broken.
[0077] In order to prevent this problem, the flange 24 and the side
13B of the guide member 13 respectively have straight retaining
portions 24a and 13a that can prevent rotation of the ice container
20.
[0078] Accordingly, when the ice container 20 of the present
invention is mounted on the mount 12 of the body 10, the straight
retaining portions 24a and 13a of the flange 24 and the side 13B of
the guide member 13 guide the ice container 20 to be coupled in a
predetermined direction, in contact with each other. Further, after
the ice container 20 is mounted, the straight retaining portions
24a and 13a resist the torque by rotation of ice, so they block
pressure that is applied to the fixing protrusions 13A and the
fixing protrusions 13 can be prevented from being damaged and
broken.
[0079] Each of straight retaining portions 24a and 13a, as shown in
the drawings, is disposed at the left and right sides of the flange
24 and the side 13B of the guide member, but they may be disposed
at other positions (for example, the rear end of the flange 24 and
the rear side 13B of the guide member 13) or in other shapes (for
example, two or more straight retaining portions may be connected
to each other in a polygon).
[0080] Accordingly, the straight retaining portions 24a and 13a
fundamentally bring the flange 24 and the side 13B of the guide
member 13 in contact with each other not in a circular shape, but a
straight shape to be able to resist rotation of the ice container
20.
[0081] One or more fixing grooves 25 is formed around the receiving
portion 21 of the ice container 20 and the body 10 has a fixing
member 31 elastically supported toward the mount 12, so the fixing
member constitutes the fixing mechanism 30 for the ice container 20
by being inserted in the fixing grooves.
[0082] In detail, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 5, the fixing
member 31 is composed of a fixing lever 31B exposed to the outside
through a hole 11a formed through the front of the body housing 11
and the fixing projections 31A integrally connected to the fixing
lever 31B and moved in/out through bottom holes 11B formed through
the bottom of the body housing 11.
[0083] The fixing member 31 is elastically supported toward the
lower portion of the body housing 11 by an elastic member (not
shown).
[0084] Further, the fixing projections 31A are rounded in the
mounting direction of the ice container 20, that is, at the front
sides, and perpendicularly formed in the separation direction of
the ice container 20, that is, at the rear sides.
[0085] The ice container 20 has fixing grooves 25 (which may be
holes) at positions corresponding to the fixing member 31 around
the receiving portion 21.
[0086] Accordingly, when a user put ice into the receiving portion
21 of the ice container 20 and couples the ice container 20 to the
mount 12, the rounded surfaces of the fixing protrusions 31A are
inserted into the body 10 in contact with the flange 24 of the ice
container 20, and when the ice container 20 is fully pushed, the
fixing protrusions 31A protrudes under the body 10 and are inserted
into the fixing grooves. Accordingly, in this state, the
perpendicular rear sides of the fixing protrusions 31A are locked
in the fixing grooves 25, so the ice container 20 cannot be
unexpectedly separated and can be fixedly mounted.
[0087] In order to take out the ice container 20 after shaved-ice
is made, a user puts up the fixing lever 31B so that the fixing
protrusions 31A are taken out from the fixing grooves 25 and then
he/she can separate the ice container 20 from the mount 12 of the
body 10.
[0088] Further, a holding handle 31C (see FIG. 2) is fixed to the
body housing 11 over the fixing lever 31B so that a user can push
up the fixing lever by hand holding the holding handle.
[0089] Since the fixing member 31 is provided on the front of the
body housing 11, the fixing grooves 25 where the fixing protrusions
31A are inserted are also formed at the front of the receiving
portion 21 and the handle 26 is formed at the same position.
[0090] In order to prevent the strength of the handle of the ice
container from being reduced by the fixing grooves 25, a pair of
fixing grooves is formed at both sides of the handle of the ice
container and the fixing protrusions 31A of the fixing member 31
may be also formed in a pair to corresponding to the fixing grooves
to ensure the strength of the handle.
[0091] The shape, position, and number of the fixing mechanism 30
may be different from those shown in the drawings.
[0092] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the second sensing
unit S2 that senses attachment/detachment 20 of the ice container
is disposed on the mount 12 of the present invention, so when the
ice container 20 is not mounted, operation of the rotary member 15
due to malfunction is prevented.
[0093] Unlike ice shaving machines of the related art, according to
the ice shaving machine of the present invention, an ice holder 16
of the rotary member 15 is rotated and moved up/down in a state of
being exposed outside the body 10 in order to prevent injury to a
user due to carelessness or incorrect operation by the user.
[0094] The second sensing unit S2 may be implemented by various
sensors of the related art, but in order to ensure safety and
easiness of manufacturing, the second sensing unit S2 is
implemented by a second-first sensor 12A on the front of the mount
12 and the ice container 20 has the second sensed unit 27 on the
front of the receiving portion 21 so that that second-first sensor
12A can sense it.
[0095] That is, the second-first sensor 12A is disposed on a
mounting groove 12a formed at the front of the mount 12 (between a
pair of holes 11a in the drawings) and the second sensed unit 27 is
disposed at the front of the flange, which is positioned in the
same line as the mounting groove when the ice container 20 is fully
pushed inside the mount 12 so that when the ice container 20 is not
fully mounted, that is, when the ice container 20 is not mounted or
unstably mounted, the second-first sensor 12A cannot sense the
second sensed unit 27.
[0096] Accordingly, only when the ice container 20 is fully mounted
on the mount 12 and the second-first sensor 12A senses the second
sensed unit 27, the rotary member 15 is rotated and moved up/down,
so safety for a user can be ensured.
[0097] The sensed unit may be typically a magnetic member and the
sensor may be a sensor that senses magnetism.
[0098] Next, the height adjuster 40 that allow for adjustment of
the size of ice to be shaved by adjusting the vertical position of
the cutting blade 23 over the shaved-ice exit 22 is described with
reference to FIG. 6.
[0099] The height adjuster 40 disposed in the ice container 20 has
the following: an upward inclined surface 41 that is inclined
upward so that the cutting blade 23 faces the shaved-ice exit 22
along the bottom of a side of the shaved-ice exit 22 and on which
the cutting blade 23 is mounted; an adjusting bolt 42 that has a
threaded portion 42a that is thread-fastened to an adjusting
portion 41A of the upward inclined surface 41 and a head 42b
fastened to the rear end of the cutting blade 23; a fixing block 43
that is bolted to the upward inclined surface 41 to cover the
entire cutting blade 243; and oblong holes 44 that are formed
toward the upward inclined surface 41 through the cutting blade 23
so that bolts 43A can be fastened to the ice container 20.
[0100] The adjusting portion 41A protrudes downward (upward in the
drawings) from the bottom of the upward inclined surface 41 and has
a threaded hole 41a.
[0101] The adjusting bolt 42 is coupled to the threaded hole 41a by
means of the threaded portion 42a, with the head 42b locked in a
locking groove 23a formed at the rear end of the cutting blade
23.
[0102] The end of the threaded portion 42a of the adjusting bolt 42
is formed in a shape (for example, the shape of a groove for a
bolt, a hexagonal nut, or a hexagonal wrench) in which a tool is
inserted to tighten or loosen the adjusting bolt 42.
[0103] Accordingly, when the bolts 43A are partially loosened, the
force holding the fixing block 43 is reduced and the force fixing
the cutting blade 23 is removed, so tightening or loosening the
adjusting bolt 42 changes the position of the cutting blade 23 on
the upward inclined surface 41. Therefore, it is possible to adjust
the vertical position of the cutting blade 23 over the shaved-ice
exit 22 by fixing the fixing block 43 in close contact with the
upward inclined surface 41 by tightening the bolts 43A after
adjusting the position of the cutting blade 23.
[0104] Further, a scale 44 is provided at a side of the upward
inclined surface 41 and a ruler 45 is disposed on a side of the
cutting blade 23 that is not covered with the fixing block 43 so
that a user can adjust the vertical position of the cutting blade
23 while directly checking the position of the cutting blade 23
through the scale.
[0105] The ice holder 16 of the rotary member 15 of the present
invention is described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0106] First, as shown in the perspective view in a circle at the
right upper portion in FIG. 4, the ice holder 16 is implemented by
a plurality of needles 16A that are applied to the rotary member 15
of well-known ice shaving machines.
[0107] When the rotary member 15 is moved down, the needles of the
ice holder 16 cut into ice I and fix the ice, so when the rotary
member 15 is rotated, the ice is also rotated.
[0108] However, when the needles 16A are used, the top of ice may
be broken by the needles 16A, so the rotary member 15 may idle
without rotating the ice, depending on the quality of ice.
[0109] That is, when ice partially melts and the freezing state is
poor, the strength of the ice is low, and in this case, when the
needles 16A are driven into the ice and the rotary member 15 is
rotated at a high speed under high pressure, the ice may not be
rotated and the needles 16A may break the top of the ice, so the
rotary member 15 may idle.
[0110] This is because the needles 16A cannot resist the forced in
the rotational direction of the rotary member 15.
[0111] Accordingly, as shown in the perspective view in the circle
at the right lower portion in FIG. 4, the ice holder 16 may be
composed of one or more fixing protrusions 16B are formed
perpendicular to the rotational direction of the rotary member
15.
[0112] The fixing protrusions 16B have a surface that can hold ice
in the rotational direction of the rotary body 15, so if ice
partially melts, idling of the rotary member 15 can be
prevented.
[0113] Although four fixing protrusions 16B are arranged in a cross
shape in FIG. 4, a plurality of fixing protrusions may be arranged
in a star shape (`*`), or if necessary, one fixing protrusion may
be formed in a bar shape (`-`) across the center of the rotary
member 15.
[0114] Further, according to the present invention, a rotary member
15 having the needles 16A and a rotary member 15 having the fixing
protrusions 16B may be separately manufactured to be detachably
mounted on the rotary rod 15A (or a fixing plate fixed to the
rotary rod 15A), so they may be replaced in accordance with the
quality of ice.
[0115] Although an ice shaving machine equipped with a detachable
ice container which has a specific shape and structure was
described above with reference to the accompanying drawing, the
present invention may be changed and modified in various ways by
those skilled in the art and those changes and modifications should
be construed as being included in the scope of the present
invention.
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