DE7418684U - Ice machine - Google Patents

Description

Ice machine

The invention relates to an ice machine, and more particularly to a ^v Ma thine for producing and dispensing ice cubes.

An automatic ice dispenser is known (US Pat. No. 3,272,3oo), in which, if necessary, predetermined amounts of ice in the form of ice cubes manufactured and ejected or sold. This is the amount of ice cubes in an ice storage container periodically with the aid of an automatic ice-making device normally located within the machine housing filled up. Since the ice cubes are removed from the storage container inside the machine and refilled periodically, he there is a change over time in terms of the ice demand and the time required to replenish the ice supply Amount of ice cubes in the storage container between a maximum amount of ice when fully filled and a minimum amount of ice when almost empty.

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; There is a risk that those in the storage container

Ice cubes stick together and fuse together in what is commonly referred to as "cake". The caking is normally prevented by a kind of ice agitator inside; the ice storage container, through which the ice cubes are ; agreed time intervals and to be moved in certain ways to prevent the ice cubes from melting together; because the ice cubes j ep but are relatively fragile and as free from breakage as possible: are to be given, the stirring action must be kept as small as possible, especially since the stirring process leads to increased melting; speed of the EisvürSL and also a premature Ver wear and tear on the machine. Another problem associated with the agitation system is that it is extremely difficult is to set all ice cubes stored in an ice storage bin in motion. Even if there is an agitator in the storage tank is used, often only a part of the ice cubes is set in vigorous movements during the stirring process the remaining ice cubes at risk of merging or merging cheekbones are exposed.

According to the invention, a machine for producing and dispensing ice cubes of the type mentioned above is to be created in which the Risk of the ice cubes sticking together as little as possible and the ice cubes are dispensed uniformly and hygienically without excessive breakage or fusion.

To solve this problem, the invention creates in the claims

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ees =

the machine described.

i The ice dispenser according to the invention or. - Includes sales machine Linen ice storage bin and a dispensing drum, which as a result of ih- j

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j rer special design the risk of the ice caking j Turn off the cube to a large extent. In view of improved cleanliness and hygiene, the ice storage container is preferably |

I made from a cast, polymeric | synthetic resin material that

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easy to clean. To shut off the ice flow between; the ice storage bin and a discharge chute is a special j Closure provided which during the periodic stirring effect derj

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Output drum is switched on. At the end of each ice dispensing cycle, the drum is driven by a brake assembly on the drive motor

brought to a predetermined position for selective rotation of the drum. In the inventive machine uniform amounts of ice are further ejected while ¹ of each dispensing operation. The machine according to the invention has a relatively simple structure, a reliable mode of operation and a long service life.

Overall, the machine for ice making and metered ice dispensing contains several inverted ice cells, under which there is a perio- j

the moving water spray arm is located, as well as an ice storage container, in which the ice cubes produced in the ice cells are stored before they are dispensed. A rotating ice dispensing drum from j Shovel-like cross-section is passed through the ice mass located in the storage container and fördejrt during its rotation

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; Predefined amounts of ice from the storage container to a removal point accessible from the outside on the machine housing. The storage container is a special cast part and has a predetermined shape with respect to the dispensing drum, which largely eliminates the caking of the ice cubes in the storage container. Fer A closure is provided through which the flow of ice is temporarily interrupted at a discharge chute when the ice in the storage container is stirred, and at the end of each ice dispenser

j cycle is the rotation of the drum at a certain point j ■ Ie stopped to ensure that the drum is correctly positioned in the direction of rotation before the next dispensing cycle.

i
Further details and features of the invention emerge from

the following description in conjunction with the drawings.

II It shows:

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4th Fig. 5

a perspective view of an inventive ice making and dispensing machine;

a longitudinal section of the machine according to FIG. 1; an enlarged partial section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

a further longitudinal section of the machine according to FIG. 1; an enlarged section along line 5-5 of FIG Fig. 4;

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Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Fig. 9

! Fig. 1o

Fig. 11

an enlarged section of the ice mixer and dispenser drum;

an enlarged section of the drum, the discharge chute and the discharge opening; a clarity inverted Seitenan- \ sees the drive motor and the associated co-operating with the output drum brake and cam assembly; j

an enlarged side view of a desired j if usable latch assembly; |

a schematic representation of the electrical stiffness

circuit;

a schematic representation of the invention

usable cooling and water system.

The term "ice cubes" refers to the most diverse Ice products and does not imply any geometric restriction. Furthermore, the expressions "inside", "outside", etc. are only intended to indicate the relative position the various components are designated.

As particularly shown in FIG. 1, the ice-making and -aus-r

dispensing machine 1o a substantially cuboid, upright standing Housing 12 with a front surface 14 in which an ice removal opening 16 is located. The removal opening 16 is over a discharge chute described below with an ice dispenser 2o connectable, which are arranged in the housing 12 substantially in the middle between the upper and lower housing ends

—— ™ —- ___ ^ ___—— .—— ■ «φ ^ *

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is. An ice-making unit is located above the dispensing device 2o 22, in which the ice cubes are made and from which they fall down into the dispenser 2o, from where they are later delivered to the removal opening 16. Below the output device 2o is a cooling unit 24, which in the usual manner includes a compressor 26, a condenser 28 and an evaporator 3o, which is connected to a combined evaporator and ice-making device in the ice-making unit 22 is. The compressor 26, the condenser 28 and the evaporator 3o are connected to one another via conventional refrigerant lines, a refrigerant drying device 32 and a collector 34 being assigned to them. In the cooling unit 24, the compressor 26 conveys gaseous refrigerant under a relatively high pressure to Condenser 28, and the refrigerant is cooled and liquefied as it passes through the condenser 28. The cooled and liquefied Refrigerant passes from the condenser 28 to the evaporator 3 ^, where it as a result the supply of heat from the water converted into ice in the ice-making unit 22 evaporates. Then the gaseous flows Refrigerant from the evaporator 3o back to the suction side of the compressor 26, where the cycle is repeated.

The combined evaporator and ice making device that one Is part of the cooling unit 24, at the same time forms part of the water system 36 of the machine 1o. The water system 36 is over : the line 38 (Fig. 81 with a source of fresh drinking water;

! connectable. The drinking water line 38 is connected to an electrically powered

activated solenoid valve 4o connected, which depends on

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i ix iiirirMi V Ί HJ '/ L.

an electrical signal is selectively actuated to increase the flow rate medium connection to the drinking water line 38 to open or close. The valve 4o is via a supply line 44 with a

Water heating tank 42 connectable. The water heating tank 42 is in turn Can be connected to a three-way valve 48 via a water line 46, j that on the in the German patent application P 22 51 o4o.3; is designed in the manner described. The valve 48 can be via a water line 52 with a water reservoir So in the ice making unit

jheit 22 will be connected. The water line 52 can also be connected to a Water pump 54 can be connected, which pumps water from the water reservoir 5o via a line 58 to a water spray arm 56. Above the spray arm 56 is sprayed in the manner described below Wassex up to an ice-making plate 6o, where the de :: Machine ejected ice cubes are made. As FIG. 11 shows, the plate 6o is connectable to the line 46 and contains Furthermore, a limiting device through which an excess ι amount of water in the manner described below to the memory 5o to-I is returned.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the ice making unit 22 is disposed at the top of the housing 12 and includes an inner housing 7o, which has downwardly converging side walls 7 2 which are provided with a bottom section 74 at their lower ends are, which forms the water reservoir 5o. The plate 6o lies in the obef Ren end of the inner housing 7o and includes upstanding side walls 76 and a bottom portion 78, which are from the below-described-j given reasons, a predetermined amount of water on the plate 6o back.

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keep. The refrigerant evaporator 3o is located in the upper end of the plate 60 and consists of refrigerant coils that / for the purpose of heat transfer with a multitude of ice cells arranged upside down! 80 are connected, which down to the inside of the inner housing 7o and into which water can be sprayed with the help of the water spray arm 56. A water weir 82 (Fig. 11) is in the plate 60 arranged and leads the amount of water exceeding a predetermined volume in the plate 60 down to the water reservoir So. Below of the ice cells 80 is a downwardly inclined ice sieve 84 on which the ice cubes produced in the ice cells 80 during the During the defrosting step of the machine's operating cycle. The sieve 84 directs the ice cubes over one formed in the housing wall 7 2 Outlet opening 86 from the housing 7o, wherein an Eisumlenkschirm 88 or the like. Ensures that the ice down into the immediately underlying ice dispenser 2o falls. Excess water that is on the surface of the ice cubes can, if they fall from the ice cells 80 down onto the sieve 84, drips through the sieve 84 into the water reservoir 5o. Immediately below the sieve 84 is the water spray arm 56, which is driven by an electric motor 9o, which is connected to the spray arm 56 a linkage 92 or the like. Is coupled, can be pivoted back and forth. The spray arm 56 includes a plurality of upwardly directed Water spray nozzles 94 through which, during operation of the spray arm 56, water is passed upwards into the ice cells arranged in reverse is steered.

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To explain the operation of the ice-making unit 22 of the machine 10, it is initially assumed that the ice cells 80 are empty! that the water tank 5o is one for the production of ice cubes | in the ice cells 80 contains a suitable amount of water that the water! heating tank 42 is filled with an amount of water to be heated before the next defrosting process of the work cycle, so that the valve 48 is actuated in such a way that the fluid connection between the storage | rather so and the flow 96 (Fig. 11) interrupted and the flow medium connection between the plate 60 and the memory 5o is opened, that furthermore the solenoid valve 4o is connected to the drinking water line 38 and the electric motor 9o assigned to the spray arm 56 is switched on, so that the spray arm 56 is operated, the water pump 54 pumps water to the spray arm 56 from the memory 5o, and in that finally a control device operates the Eisfüllstand in the fcisausgabevorrichtung 2o monitored _t, whereby a demand-j for additional ice dispenser for ice dispenser 2o displayed will. The freezing cycle of the ice making unit 22 then begins by switching on the refrigerant compressor 26. When the compressor 26 is switched on, the refrigerant is conveyed to the refrigerant condenser 28 and then to the evaporator 3o assigned to the ice cells 80. At the same time, the spray arm 56 is pivoted back and forth below the ice cells 80, and the water pump 54 conveys water upwards via the nozzles 94, so that water is sprayed to the open undersides of the ice cells 80. When the water is sprayed into the ice cells 80 and during normal operation of the cooling unit 24, the ice i

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cells 8ο to form ice cubes, the sprayed from the nozzles 94 excess water drips down and gets into the memory 5o. At the same time that is located in the water heating tank 42 Water through the refrigerant that is in the tank with the Condenser 28 and the compressor 26 connected pipe windings flows through, in preparation for the subsequent defrosting of the Operating cycle warmed up.

After the freezing process of the operating cycle has been a certain period of time, due to the temperature and pressure conditions in the evaporator

; 3o can be controlled, has stopped the freezing process

ended and the defrosting process initiated. For this purpose, the valve 48 is operated in such a way that the flow

Jmmittel connection interrupted from the disk 6o to the memory 5o will. At the same time, the fluid connection between |

j the memory 5o and the drain 96 released and water from the I valve 48 passed to the water heating tank 42, so that before during

j '

During the freezing process, water was heated via line 46 to the plate 6o, where it flows around the ice cells 8o on the upper side, so that the ice cubes formed in them are raised on their outer surfaces. ! are thawed and free from the ice cells 8o, whereupon the ice j

! The cubes fall down onto the sieve 84 and pass through the opening 86

'towards the screen 8o, from where the ice cubes are directed downwards fall into the ice dispenser 2o. During the defrosting process, water is retained in the plate 6o, since the valve 48 accordingly is switched on. At the end of the defrosting process and during

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The valve 48 ■ is switched on for the subsequent freezing process operated in such a way that the water retained in the plate 6o reaches the reservoir 5o, where it is used during the subsequent freezing process The water required to make the ice cubes forms j. The water system can be referenced in the German Pa- | tentanmeldung described manner, so that the Spray arm 56 and water pump 54 remain on during both defrosting and freezing. If namely-

j lent water to the undersides of the he-

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^{1 produced} ice cube is sprayed, the defrosting time is shortened by j ^! i

: significant, since the dissolving of the ice cubes takes place faster than this j would be the case if the spray arm 56 and the water pump 54 during; the defrosting process would be switched off.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the ice dispensing device 2o contains an inner container 1oo which has several vertically upwards! Has running side walls, of which two side walls 1o2 and \ 1o4 are visible in FIG. 2. As shown, the sidewalls extend

i de of the container 1oo from a position above the cooling unit 24! up to the area of the upper end of the housing 12. At the bottom! At the end of the container Io there is a substantially arcuate shape lower end section 106, which according to FIG. 2 is essentially half

is cylindrical, i.e. runs along an imaginary circle, to which the side walls 1o2, 1o4 are essentially tangential | connect and its center point according to Figure 2 at the point C;

and the radius of which is equal to the distance R. In other wordseij

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the diameter of the imaginary circle is roughly equal to the lateral one Distance between walls 1o2 and 1o4. As Fig. 7 most clearly shows, the lower end of the container 1oo is further characterized by: a substantially flat, forward and upward sloping side f section 1o8, which together with the circular arc-shaped ßodenabschnitt 1o6 forms an ice storage area in which the can collect ice cubes generated in the ice cells 8o and from which they are conveyed in the manner described below. The container 1oo is through at its lower end in the housing 12 two essentially strip-shaped support tapes 1oo and 112 supported, which run transversely through the housing 12 / and are attached with their ends to opposite housing side walls (Fig 2). The container 100 is preferably made of a polymeric plastic, for example polyethylene, so that it is easy to clean. gen and can be produced as a cast part in an extremely economical manner. Optionally, the container 100 can also be made from stamped metal parts Be made, for example, stainless steel or aluminum idas over the required sanitary and corrosion-resistant 'Features.

As Fig. 7 shows most clearly, the rach is inclined upward and forward Side section 1o8 arranged directly behind the ice removal opening 16. Immediately behind the side section 1o8 lies a dispensing and stirring drum 114. Referring to FIGS. 2, 6 and the drum is essentially circular, and its outer diameter is about the same, but slightly smaller than j is the lateral distance between the side walls 1o2 and 1o4. Of the

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The center of the drum 114 is essentially at the point C, and the radius of the drum 114 is approximately equal to or slightly less than the radius R of the lower end portion 106 of the container 1oo. The drum 114 is also arranged substantially parallel to the side portion 1o8, so that the drum 114 in the manner shown in i Fig. 2 installation position shown essentially with the shape of the lower End section 1o6 of the container 1oo coincides, with the j upwardly extending side walls 1o2, 1o4 of the container 1oo in the ! Are arranged substantially tangentially to the drum 114. As shown most clearly in Figure 6, the drum 114 has an annular shape Bead 116 and a substantially circular bottom portion ! 118, which runs uniformly within the bead 116. At the

Bottom portion 118 are a plurality of substantially radially extending ribs 12o arranged in the same direction as the bead 116 protrude outward from the bottom section 118 and with this meh * Form rere, essentially segment-shaped recesses 122. One The ribs 12o are at their radially outer end with a substantially Lent L-shaped web 124 is provided, which consists of a radially outward ! extending section 126 and a substantially circular arc

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| moderately extending section 128 consists (Fig. 2). The web sections

[126, 128 form a scoop area 13o, at its in the direction of rotation

j of the drum 114 according to FIG. 2 downstream end a cover plate 132 is arranged, which serves to ensure that ice cubes as the drum 114 rotates in the manner described below in the scoop

y y

area 13o are held back. In the 13o scoop area, there is

The section 118 has a substantially rectangular outlet opening 134 | formed, which is used in the manner described below to

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Dispense ice cubes from drum 114 to removal point 16. the Drum includes a central, outwardly protruding portion 135 having a central opening 138 (Fig. 7) in one Hub 14o is arranged. The hub 14o is in turn with a middle one Opening 142 is provided which serves to secure the drum 114 to be supported and stored in the container 1co. The drum i14 is preferably Made of a polymeric plastic, for example polyethylene, which is secured to the rear by a filling material 144 (Fig. 7) is reinforced, for example from a mixture of zonolite and a compatible '. Resin is made. For reasons of cleanliness the edges of the drum 114 are rounded off.

As shown most clearly in Figure 7, drum 114 is so rotatable stored that their ßodenabschnitt 118 at a parallel distance from the side portion 1o8 of the container 1oo runs. For rotatable support the drum 114 in this / position serves a drive shaft 146, those through openings 142 and 138 in hub 14o and the middle Section 136 of the drum 114 runs. On the outer linden tree A lock nut 148 is screwed on shaft 146 so that drum 114 is securely held on shaft 146. The wave 146 j is connected to an electric motor 15o via a reduction gear 152 connected, through which the speed of the shaft 146 and thus the Can control drum 114 when switching on the motor 15o. The motor 15o is supported on a support plate 154 which is on top of the drum 114 arranged opposite side of the container section 1o8!

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is (Fig. 7). When the motor 15o is excited, the drum 114 runs

into a position in which the drum opening 134 is aligned with an im | Container side section 1o8 formed opening 158 is aligned, which can be brought into connection via an output chute 16o with the removal point 16 of the machine housing 12 in the manner described below. As a result of the coordinated shape of the drum 114 and the container 100, according to the invention, during normal operating conditions, it is not necessary for the ice cubes located in the container 100 to be set in motion periodically. Since the lower bottom section 1o6 of the container 1oo is semicircular and has the same shape as the drum 114, the risk of the pieces of ice in the container 1oo sticking together or melting together is kept as low as possible. The reason for this is that the normal rotational movement of the drum 114 is already sufficient to move the ice cubes in the container in such a way that caking is almost completely excluded, provided that ice is removed from the machine 10 periodically. Since there are no remote corners or dead spaces in the container 100 which would normally not be affected by the rotation of the drum 114 and therefore not subject to the agitation of the drum 114, the rotation of the drum alone normally prevents caking. If the container 100 were essentially rectangular in shape and the drum were arranged at the lower end of the container, the possibility would be that ice cubes, which are located at the remote corners of such a rectangular container, would not be affected by the stirring action during the cyclical movement of the drum 114. --- - 16 - ^:

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are exposed to be very large and therefore would be a highly undesirable one ! Merging or caking together of the Ek jken located ice cubes more than likely. However, since the

! Lower bottom section 1o6 of the container 1oo has a radius R

; i

! which is approximately equal to the radius of the drum 114, and the j The pivot point of the drum 114 at the center C of an imaginary circle!

whose radius is equal to the distance R, the danger is | that there are pieces of ice at corners or dead spaces in the container and finally merge or bak-

jken, largely turned off.

According to the invention is also the drive motor 15o for the drum 114 is provided with a holding device which stops the rotational movement of the drum 114 in predetermined rotational positions. The holding device 8, which can be seen most clearly in FIG has a disk 164 which is arranged on the output shaft of the motor 15o and connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner. The disc 164 is assigned a braking band 166, which consists of a relatively flexible material. The braking band 166 is at one end firmly held by a support piece 168, the brake band 166 approximately tapering by half the circumference of the disc 164 to a point at which the end of the brake band 166 facing away from the support piece 168 is attached to an actuating arm 17o of an electrically operated sun lenoids 172 is attached. The operating arm 17o is counterclockwise by a coil spring 174 or the like

Trunnion 176 pushed through the actuator arm 17o

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and supports it. The spring 174 loads the brake band 166 nor-j sometimes with a tension such that the braking band 166 in | frictional engagement with one or more resilient friction rings 178, which are arranged on the outer circumference of the disk 164, is brought, whereby the rotation of the disk 164 and thus the drive shaft 146 and the drum 114 is forcibly prevented. However, when the motor 15o is turned on, will be simultaneously the solenoid 172 energized, whereby the actuator arm 17o around the Dreji pin 176 is pivoted clockwise, whereupon the end of the actuating arm 17o facing away from the solenoid 172 in the sense of Fig. 8 is moved downward against the force of the spring 174, so that the tension of the braking band 166 is reduced and the Disc 164, drive shaft 146 and drum 114 can rotate. At some point during the duty cycle of the engine 1o, both the motor 15o and the solenoid become 172 switched off, whereupon the actuating arm 17o under the force j

I of the spring 174 actuated again counterclockwise and thus] the brake band 166 is tensioned into frictional engagement with the disc 164 and thereby further rotational movement of the disc 164 is prevented.

The control device for the selective timing of the Um- j

Movement of the drum 114 is most clearly shown in FIG visible and contains a cam disk 18o, which is arranged on the end of the shaft 146 opposite the drum 114 and rotates together with the drum 114. On the cam disk 18o a recess 182 running in the circumferential direction is formed,

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those with a sense of touch 184 of an electrical control switch 186 cooperates. The recess 162 in the cam disk 18o is positioned in its angular position with respect to the drum 114 such that the recess 182 cooperates with the feeler arm 184 of the control scarf sector 186 when the scoop area 13o of the drum 114 is about 6o ° is behind the upper reversal point of the drum 114 according to FIG. When an ice cream dispensing operation is in progress, the drive will:

¹ i

Motor 15o as well as the solenoid 172 switched on, whereupon the drum 114 rotates counterclockwise according to FIG. 2 and the scoop area 13o of the drum is finally guided through the amount of ice located in the lower end of the container 1oo. When passing through the ice cubes located there, the | The scoop area 13o, and the drum 114 continues to be driven in the direction of rotation until the scoop area 13o reaches the upper reversal point as measured in FIG. 2, whereupon those located in the scoop area 13o

Ice cubes fall through the opening 158 and the discharge chute 16o. The drum 114 continues to rotate until the scoop area 13o again reached the position lying about 6o ° behind the upper reversal point according to FIG. 2, whereupon the recess 182 again with the Probe arm 184 of the control switch 186 cooperates, whereby the An-I drive motor 15o and the solenoid 172 are switched off and the;

Output process is ended. \

Fig. 1o shows a schematic representation of the electrical control circuit the machine 1o having a motorized timer S such as that described in US Pat. No. 2,949,091 Is of construction and a timer motor TM for driving

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of a cam C contains. During the refrigeration unit freeze cycle 24 holds the cam C a switching tongue b in contact with a normally closed timer contact T1. At the end of the freezing cycle lus the switching tongue b runs into a recess of the cam C, where-!

: i

| through them into a contact with the normally open contact T2 can move cooperating switch position. When closing the ! Contact T2 energizes the solenoid valve 48 and the defrosting operation | of the duty cycle begins. At the end of the defrosting time, cam-j runs button of the switch tongue b from the recess of the cam C, whereby;

contact T2 is opened again and contact T1 is closed again, thus ending the defrosting process. The electric control: circuit of the machine 1o contains three main relays R1, R2 and R3. The relay R1 works with a sensing device ILS for determination of the ice level together, the sensing device ILS serving to scan the ice level in the storage container 1oo and from! may be of the construction described in US application 434,009. When the relay R2 is energized, the spray arm motor 9o and the water pump 54 actuated, while the relay R3 is used to switch the pushbutton!

i device ILS to be bridged during the freezing process, so that the sensing device does not have any additional during the freezing process Indicates need for ice.

The structure of the control circuit is best illustrated by explanation their mode of operation understandable. The electrical control switch-i tug is powered by main conductors C1 and C2, and un-j

i ter the assumption that the main switch MS and the compressor switch I

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ter CS are closed, the motor of the compressor 26 is supplied with power via the double-directional triac T. The start and drive circuits for the motor of the compressor, like j

i]

I the engine itself will be of the usual design and will not be closer ^!

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described. When the compressor is switched on, the freezer starts j Operation of the work cycle. As a result of the excitation of the relay R2 i! The spray arm motor 9o as well as the water pump 5o are turned on ! ι

switches, so that water goes up into the ice cell, which is arranged upside down. 80 is sprayed. When the formation of the ice cubes has progressed to a predetermined extent, a control device CS for monitoring the ice cube size, for example an evaporator control, switches on the timer motor TM, whereupon the freezing process of the working cycle is ended and the defrosting process begins. Specifically, when the timer cam C is turned, the switching tongue b detaches from contact T2 and meets contact T1, thereby switching off the circuit leading to the compressor and opening the circuit leading to the spray arm motor 9o and the water pump 54 via relay R2. By the cooperation of the switching tongue b with the contact TI the solenoid water valve 48 is actuated further, indicating whether the;. N-described manner results in that heated water is conducted to the plate 60 \ previously in the water tank 42. During the defrosting time, the timer motor TM continues to drive the associated cam C until finally the cam switch runs out of the cam recess, whereby the contact T1 is opened again and the contact T2 is closed again. If the ILS sensing device indicates no more ice is required, the machine remains idle until more ice is required,

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more complete - 21 - and defrosting on the 31 Way expires. Freezer whereupon a above described

The machine 1o is equipped with a manually operated, electrical output switch VS provided, when actuated, an output process is triggered. When this switch VS is operated, a ■ The circuit leading to the drive motor 15o is closed and at the same time, the brake solenoid 172 is energized via a further relay R4. As a result, the drum 114 begins to revolve, whereby the scoop area 13o through those in the container 1oo Ice cube is moved, while at the same time the feeler arm 184 runs on the circumference of the rotating cam disk 18o. The one on the probe arm Switch 186 associated with 184 closes a circuit to brake solenoid 172 and to drive motor i5o when arm 184 is not connected to; ■ the cam recess 182 is aligned. When the cam disk j 18o runs far enough (about one revolution), the feeler arm 184 moves into the cam recess 182 of the cam disk 18o, whereby j

the said circuit is opened and thus the brake solenoid | 172 and the drive motor 15o are switched off. As already he;

I j

'imagines the ice conveyed in the drum 114 into the output i Irutsche 16o delivered when the opening 134 of the drum 114 in j ; Pages i

j aligned alignment with opening 158 of the container / section

i i

| 1o8 reached. As will be explained below, there is also!

i j

lein ice door safety switch SS normally in the closed position j However, if the ice dispensing door in the receiving opening 16 is opened, the safety switch SS is actuated, whereby the to j Circuit leading to relay R4 is open and the output

i 2-2

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gear is ended.

As FIG. 7 shows in detail, at the front end of the discharge chute 16o there is an opening 2oo which is formed in the end wall 14 of the housing M in the region of an upper end section 2o2 of the removal opening 16. Immediately in front of the opening 2oo and thus in front of the dispensing chute 16o is an ice dispensing door 2o4, on the end face 2οό of which a handle 2o8 is formed. The door 2o4 is preferably made of an injection-molded, transparent plastic so that the operator can observe the presence of ice cubes that have been dispensed from the dispensing chute 16o to a chamber 21 ο formed between the rear of the door 2o4 and the opening 2oo » The door 2o4 is guided in a vertically displaceable manner by two guides 212 arranged on laterally opposite edges of the door 2o4 and also by two guide pins 214 at the upper end of the door 2o4, one of the guide pins being visible in FIG. 7. The guide pins 214 and the guides 212 enable the door 204 to be displaced from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 into a lowered position shown in broken lines in FIG Container or the like. May fall, the dsr ßedienungsmann at the lower end of the removal opening 16 drops. The door 2o4 is resiliently held in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 by springs 216, the springs 216 yielding such that the door 2o4 can be displaced downwards during an iron removal process. At the lower end J of the door 2o4 is its pivotable locking plate 218, which

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normally in that shown in solid lines in FIG
Position is located and between the front of the removal opening 16 and the rear of the door 2o4 runs. The closure plate 218; is used to hold back ice cubes in the compartment 21 ο before the
Operator moves door 2o4 down to remove ice. Interacting guides are between the sides! opposite edges of the closure plate 218 and the
adjacent edges of the door 2o4 are provided so that the locking plate 218 swings in a downward movement of the door 2o4 from its normal horizontal position clockwise according to FIG. 7 shown in dashed lines vertical position. When the shutter plate 218 in this way from its horizontal! position in the essentially vertical pivot position
is rotated, the ice cubes located in the chamber 21o fall j

under the influence of gravity down into a darungergestel} ^-:

tes vessel. When the amount of ice in compartment 21 ο rises

has been removed in this way, the handle 2o8 can be released, so that the door 2o4 is pressed upwards under the force of the spring 216!

j i

idem pivoted clockwise and the lower end of the chamber 21 ο

'j

! is closed before the next ice cube supply from the drum 114 to chamber 21 ο takes place.

In the area of the upper end of the door 2o4 is a in Fig. 7 with 2o
designated door safety switch is arranged, which has an actuating arm 222 which, for example, is selectively actuated by one of the guide pins 214 when the door 2o4 is lowered.

7418684 03/27/75

As already mentioned, the switch 22o is in the course of the to _!

i drive motor 15o leading electrical circuit, and if derj

I arm 222 is operated when lowering the door 2o4, it becomes the motojr

I 15o leading circuit opened and thus the motor 15o cut off

tet. Therefore, the motor 15o is temporarily stopped so that the j

j Drum 114 does not convey any additional ice cubes to compartment 21 ο! can as long as the door 2o4 is lowered, i.e. during an ice removal process. When the door 2o4 at the end of a removal process

] is again raised to its normal position shown in Fig. 7, the switch 22o is operated in such a way that the circuit leading to the motor 15o is closed and when the

connection with the electrical circuit of the machine 1o described ^ Output switch VS a normal dispensing of ice cubes with the aid of the drum 114 is possible.

At the lower end of the removal opening 16 is a drain opening 224

formed, over which a support grid 226 is located. The drain opening 224 is connected to a drain piece 228, which in turn is connected to a drain line 23o, which at its lower j End can be connected to the same, outwardly leading machine process as that of the solenoid-operated water valve 48 associated drain 96. Optionally, the drain line 23o and the drain 96 can also be connected to a common, within the housing 12 arranged drain basin be connected.

In certain applications, for example in the event that

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7418684 27.0175

a considerable period of time elapses between the removal processes, it is advisable to set the ice cubes in the storage container 1oo periodically in motion, regardless of the fact that a joint j

menbacken the I normally located in the storage container 1oo

I ice cubes due to the size and shape of the storage container 1oo

and the drum 114 arranged at the lower end of the container

I is held. Such a movement of the ice cubes is achieved in a particularly advantageous manner in that the drum 114 is rotated periodically as a result of its orientation in the container

; 1oo circulates in the lower area of the ice mass stored in the container 1oo and thus provides sufficient agitation or agitation to prevent the ice cubes from melting together. But when the formula 114 is used to achieve such a stirring effect, it is necessary to transport during the stirring process of ice cubes from the Schöpfbereici 13o of the drum 114 over the 16o to prevent ice dispensing chute. For this purpose, according to the invention a locking device shown for example in FIG

! provided, which during a stirring process prevents the unwanted transport of ice cubes from the container 1oo to the one on the door 2o4. | inserted chamber 21 ο prevents. The locking device consists of! A swiveling lock 25o, which can be switched between a resting

jlage, in which it enables an ice flow through the slide 16o, and a barrier to prevent such an ice flow moving- I is cash. In detail, the lock 25o is designed as an essentially flat, rectangular plate which, if desired, is also perforated can be and is dimensioned somewhat larger than the cross section of the slide 16o. At one corner the lock is 25o with the help of a twist

7418684 27.0175

; - 26 -

pin 252 pivotally mounted. The pivot 252 is on one ! The end of the slide 16o is rotatably supported and ensures a rotating movement the lock 25o between the lowered position shown in phantom in FIG. 9 and the raised position shown in dashed lines in FIG

!Position. The pivot 252 is next to or on the inclined side * - jabschnitt 1o8 of the storage container loo stored so that the lock

! se 25o between the underside of the drum 114 and that of the drum

I!

114 facing end face of the side section 1o8 can be pivoted \

I i

list. The pivot 252 preferably extends through the side ab- j

j cut 1o8 and is at its 'facing away from the drum 114' End face of the side section 1o8 located end with a roller

i 254 provided. Below the roller 254 is an electrically operated Bares solenoid 256, which has an actuating armature ι on its top 258, which in response to an electrical signal supplied to the solenoid 256 between the in Fig. 9 in continuous and positions shown in dashed lines is movable. The J

Anchor 258 is connected to the roller 254 via a flexible cable 26o bound, which is tensioned at its lower end in the area of the connection point with the armature 258 by a spring. The diameter the roller 254 and the working stroke of the armature 258 are coordinated in such a way that when the armature moves from 9 in dashed to the position shown in solid lines, the roller 254 in the sense of this figure opposite to Turns clockwise and the lock 25o counterclockwise pivoted from its lowered, dash-dotted position to the raised, dashed position. The anchor 258 is located nor- * times in the dashed position according to Fig. 9 and the lock 25o is normally in the lowered, in Fig. 9 stichpuriktier-

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7418684 03/27/75

ten position. When the ice cubes located in the storage container 1oo are to be stirred with the aid of the drum 114, the solenoid is activated 256 is supplied with a corresponding electrical signal, so that the armature 258 moves from the position shown in dashed lines moved down to the position shown in solid lines. As a result the roller 254 and the pivot 25 2 are rotated counterclockwise and consequently the lock 25o as well pivoted counterclockwise so that the lock 25o moves from the lowered position to the raised position where it prevents ice from being drawn off the scoop 13o of the drum 114 enters the chute 16o. When the agitation is complete, the solenoid 256 can be turned off so that the armature 258 is adjusted upward into the position dashed according to FIG. 9, whereby the lock 25o clockwise around the axis of rotation of the I. Pin 252 from the raised position to the lowered position swiveled and again a transport of ice cubes over!

I releases the slide 16o. According to the figure, the lock is located; Although, however, be arranged, they can also at various other Stel-i 25o 16o at the inlet end of the chute, for certain application cases i Karn the lock, whereby it need only be able to \ during a stirring process a transport of ice cubes in the j

Chamber 21 ο located on door 2o4 must be prevented with certainty. I. With the ice making and dispensing machine 1o according to the invention

a caking or melting of ice in the ice storage container as a result of the special structure and the mutual i

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7418684 03/27/75

I - 28 -

I;

Position of the drum 114 and the container 1oo largely prevented. In addition, a proper operation is guaranteed, by ensuring that the ice cubes only for the removal opening of the machine housing can be promoted when the removal switch is actuated, the drive motor 15o assigned Brake arrangement at the end of each removal operation ensures accurate positioning of the drum 114. The braking arrangement is j effective in both directions of rotation and thus not only prevents forward rotation of the drum 114 at the end of a removal cycle, but also a reverse rotation, which can occur when the drum 114 due to the amount and distribution of the in the container 1oo the ice cube is loaded in a certain way. Additionally, if additional ice movement is required, a special lock arrangement such a stirring movement with the aid of the ice conveyor drum 114, without any additional agitator is needed. Furthermore, the entire ice storage container can be made from an easily pourable, synthetic one in an economical manner polymeric material, for example made of plastic, which meets the necessary sanitary requirements and infoL ge the one-piece design of the storage container a light

Assembly allows. The machine is also suitable for a wide variety

suitable for different applications.

I.

7418684 03/27/75

Claims (32)

Protection claims 1. Ice machine for dispensing ice cubes, with a housing that has an ice removal point, an ice cube container forming an ice storage area in the housing and an ice dispensing path via which ice cubes can be transported from the storage area to the removal point, characterized by an ice stirrer (114, 15ο) arranged in the storage area. through which the ice cubes in the storage area to prevent them from collapsing | backens are selectively movable and one in the storage area; arranged conveyor drum (114) having a bottom (118) and a substantially annular side wall (116) for selective _; Conveying ice cubes to the ice dispensing path (16o), the ice cube container (loo) having two vertical side walls (Io2, lo4) kept at a distance in the transverse direction, an upwardly inclined end wall (Io8) j running between the side walls and an essentially circular arc-shaped one Bathing wall (Io6), which together with the inclined end wall (Io8) and -2- 7418684 03/27/75 the side walls (Io2, lo4) form the lower section of the storage area, a storage (136,14ο, 116) for the drum (114) in a position in which the drum base (118) runs essentially parallel to the inclined container end wall (Io8) and the vertical The container side walls (Io2, lo4) are arranged essentially tangentially to the drum side wall (116), a locking device (25o, 252) for selectively interrupting the flow of ice along the output path (Ιδο), a device (2524,256,258) for actuating the agitator (11'4,15o) at certain time intervals and for adjusting the Locking device (25o, 252) .. and an adjustable retaining device (162) which, in a first position, prevents movement of the drum (114) and in a second position enables selective movement of the drum (114). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance of the vertical container side walls (Io2, Io4) in the transverse direction is approximately equal to the diameter of the drum (114). 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drum (114) rotatably mounted in the container (loo) and the 7418684 03/27/75 -z- Container bottom wall (Io6) is partially formed by a circle, the center of which ^{lies on the pivot point of the drum (II 1} +). 4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the container bottom wall (Io6) curved essentially in a semicircle 5. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the drum (114) has a scooping device (13oj> and that in the inclined container end wall (Io8) an opening (15 8) for the passage of the feed from the scoop area (13o) Ice cube is formed. 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening (15 8) in the inclined container end wall (Io8) in the vertical direction above the point on the container front wall (Io8) where the drum (114) is rotatably mounted, is arranged. : 7. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized through one penetrating the inclined container end wall (Io8) Shaft (146) for the rotatable mounting of the drum (114) 8. Machine according to claim 5,6 ode ?? 7, characterized in that in the drum (114) in the region of the scooping device (i3o); one selectively with the opening (158) in the inclined container- ' 7418884 03/27/75 front wall (1ο8) adjustable outlet opening (13 ¹ O formed
is. 9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized by an adjusting device direction (18o, 182,184,186) through which the drum (114) nor- i is sometimes positioned in a position in which the! The drum outlet opening (134) is not aligned with the opening (158) of the inclined container end wall (Io8). j 10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that in a position of the drum (114) fixed by the adjusting device (18o, 182,184,186), the drum outlet opening (134) is immediate
is arranged downstream of the opening (15 8) of the inclined container end wall (Io5). 11. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
characterized in that the container (loo) consists of a cast,
polymeric material. 12. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum (114) consists of a cast,
polymeric material. 13. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum (114) of a circle whose
The center is on the pivot point (o) of the drum 114),
is limited. 7418684 03/27/75 - O "■ 14. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (162) is frictionally engaged can be coupled to the bearing (136, 14o, 146) of the drum (114) is. 15. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the holding device (152) has a brake (164, 16 6). 16. Machine according to claim 1, characterized by an actuating device (17o, 172,174) for selective actuation of the brake (164,166). 17. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the actuating device (17o, 172,174) has a solenoid (172) which can be actuated as a function of a control signal. 18. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive motor (15οϊ and a power transmission device (146,152) for driving connection of the ', Motor (15o) with the drum (114). 19. Machine according to claims 16 to 18, characterized [in that the brake (164,166,172) frictionally engaged with the Kraftuber- i tragungsvorrichtung (146.152) coupled. ; 20. Machine according to claim 19, characterized by one on the ' 7418684 03/27/75 Power (! Transmission device (146,15 2) mounted brake disc (164) and a brake band (166) which can be applied to the brake disc (164) with a friction fit. 21. Mascnine according to claim 2o, characterized in that the Brake band (166) selectively tensionable by the solenoid (172) and in frictional engagement with the periphery (178) of the Brake disc (164) is movable. 22. Machine according to claim 21, characterized in that the Brake band (16 6) normally arranged in a first, with the brake disc (164) frictionally cooperating position and upon actuation of the solenoid (17 2) can be moved into a second position in which it is frictionally engaged with the circumference (178) of the brake disc (164) is separated. 23. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that by the holding device (16 2) a rotation of the drum (114) is inhibited in both directions. 24. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the drum (114) in a first operating state of the machine (lo) is independent of the locking device (25o, 252) and, in a second operating state of the machine (lo), can be operated together with the locking device (2So, 252) is. 7 - 7418684 03/27/75 25. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the locking device (25o, 252) selectively into and out of a position locking the output path (15o) is movable. 26. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that j indicates that the locking device (25o, 252) is a lock; (25o). ' 27. Machine according to claim 26, characterized by an actuator; i gungsvorrichtur.g (256), through which the lock (25o) selects: tiv in and out of one of the output path (16o) lock-end: Position is movable. 28. Machine according to claim 26 or 27, characterized by a pivoting device (252) for the pivotable mounting of the Lock (25o). 29. Machine according to claim 28, characterized in that the pivoting device (252) has a shaft. 30. Machine according to claim 29, characterized by a solenoid (256) and connecting links (254,258,26o) through which the Solenoid (25o) connected to shaft (252) and the shaft (252) is selectively rotatable upon actuation of the solenoid (256). J 7418684 03/27/75 j 31. Machine according to claim 3o, characterized in that the I connecting links (254,258,26o) are a flexible cable (26o) ■ included. 32. Machine according to claim 3o or 31, characterized in that the solenoid (256) can be actuated simultaneously with the actuation of the drive motor (15o) for driving the drum (114) ^! is. 7418684 03/27/75