Powdered ice machine

Abstract

An automatic powdered ice machine has an ice barrel with a chamber defined through the ice barrel. Refrigerating devices are provided at an outer periphery of the ice barrel. A milling device has a milling pole with a helical ridge extending into the ice barrel and driven by a motor to rotate. A feeding member is provided beside the milling device. When the ice barrel is cooled by the refrigerating device to −10° C. and below, liquid is poured into the ice barrel by the feeding member and frozen. Then, the milling device is actuated and the ice is removed and powdered by the helical ridge, and pushed downwards to fall into a container under the ice barrel.

1 . An automatic powdered ice machine comprising: 
 an ice barrel ( 10 ) having a cylindrical chamber ( 11 ) defined through the ice barrel ( 10 );    at least one refrigerating device ( 20 ) mounted at an outer periphery of the ice barrel ( 10 ), the at least one refrigerating device ( 20 ) having a semiconductor refrigerating component ( 21 ) with a cold surface abutting the outer periphery of the ice barrel and a hot surface away from the outer periphery of the ice barrel;    a milling device ( 30 ) having a milling pole ( 35 ) driven by a motor ( 31 ) and extending into the cylindrical chamber ( 11 ), and a helical ridge ( 351 ) formed at an outer periphery of the milling pole ( 35 ), wherein the helical ridge ( 351 ) has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the cylindrical chamber (I  1 ) to define a clearance between the helical ( 351 ) and an inner wall of the cylindrical chamber ( 11 ); and    a feeding member ( 40 ) having a funnel ( 41 ) provided above the ice barrel ( 10 ) and beside the milling device ( 30 ) and in communication with the ice barrel ( 10 ) by a pipe ( 42 ).    
   
   
       2 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the milling device ( 30 ) has a driving gear ( 32 ) mounted on an output axle of the motor ( 31 ), a driven gear ( 34 ) formed at a top of the milling pole ( 35 ), and a clutching gear ( 33 ) between the driving gear ( 32 ) and the driven gear ( 34 ).  
   
   
       3 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the clutching gear ( 33 ) is movable along its axis to engage with/disengage from the driving gear ( 32 ) and driven gear ( 34 ).  
   
   
       4 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ice barrel ( 10 ) has a counterbore ( 12 ) defined at a top end of the cylindrical chamber ( 11 ), an ear formed at the outer periphery of the ice barrel ( 10 ), and an inlet ( 13 ) defined in the ear and in communication with the counterbore ( 12 ) and the ice barrel ( 10 ).  
   
   
       5 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feeding member ( 40 ) further has a control valve ( 43 ) provided between the funnel ( 41 ) and the pipe ( 43 ).  
   
   
       6 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the control valve ( 43 ) has a passage ( 431 ) communicated with the funnel ( 41 ) and the pipe ( 43 ), and a knob ( 432 ) for adjusting a flux through the passage ( 431 ) into the pipe ( 42 ) from the funnel ( 41 ).  
   
   
       7 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerating device ( 20 ) further has a heat sink ( 22 ) mounted at the hot surface of the semiconductor refrigerating component ( 21 ), and a fan mounted on the heat sink ( 22 ).  
   
   
       8 . The automatic powdered ice machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ice barrel ( 10 ) is covered with a layer of heat insulating material ( 14 ) at the outer periphery of the ice barrel.