CN115605716A - Ice making machine - Google Patents

Ice making machine Download PDF

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Publication number
CN115605716A
CN115605716A CN202180034301.4A CN202180034301A CN115605716A CN 115605716 A CN115605716 A CN 115605716A CN 202180034301 A CN202180034301 A CN 202180034301A CN 115605716 A CN115605716 A CN 115605716A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
ice
water
ultraviolet
storage tank
irradiation device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CN202180034301.4A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
荒井伸幸
嘉户修治
水谷保起
大谷辉彦
田代秀行
三轮奈美
山冈清史
傅强飞
越洋
太田秀治
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Hoshizaki Corp
Original Assignee
Hoshizaki Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2020088668A external-priority patent/JP2021183874A/en
Priority claimed from JP2020137338A external-priority patent/JP7397775B2/en
Priority claimed from JP2020137337A external-priority patent/JP7465177B2/en
Priority claimed from JP2020137336A external-priority patent/JP7465176B2/en
Application filed by Hoshizaki Corp filed Critical Hoshizaki Corp
Publication of CN115605716A publication Critical patent/CN115605716A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/12—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
    • F25C1/14—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes
    • F25C1/145—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies
    • F25C1/147—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies by using augers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
    • F25C2400/12—Means for sanitation

Abstract

An ice maker (10) is provided with: a water storage tank (60) which has an inflow part (68) into which water flows and an outflow part (61A) from which water flows out and which can store water therein; an ice making unit (20) that freezes water flowing out of the outflow unit (61A) and generates ice; and a UV sterilization device (90) which irradiates ultraviolet rays to sterilize the water, wherein the UV sterilization device (90) is configured in a way that the ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilization device (90) at least comprises the inflow middle of the water flowing from the inflow part (68).

Description

Ice making machine
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to ice making machines.
Background
Conventionally, as an ice maker, a structure described in patent document 1 is known. Specifically, an ice maker is described, which includes: an evaporator having an evaporator pan; a dispenser for dispensing dispenser water to the evaporator pan for the formation of ice; a water accumulation part for receiving the water from the distributor and the source water from the water source; a pump to distribute water from the sump to the distributor; an ice chute to receive ice flakes. Patent document 1 describes that an ice maker includes a microorganism control unit selected from the group consisting of a filter membrane, silver ions, an antibacterial agent, ozone, and any combination thereof, in order to prevent microorganisms from entering a food zone including a water collection area, a dispenser, and an evaporator plate.
In addition, an ice maker that stores ice produced by an ice making mechanism in an ice storage chamber has been known. For example, patent documents 2 and 3 disclose an ice maker including an ultraviolet irradiation device, and describe a case where the ice maker and ice made by the ice maker can be maintained clean by irradiating ultraviolet rays to an ice making water tank, an ice storage chamber, and the like. Patent document 3 describes a case where control is performed to irradiate ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light irradiation device when an ice maker is operated in a specific operation mode.
As an example of an ice maker, an ice dispenser described in embodiment 3 of patent document 4 below is known. The ice dispenser includes an ice storage chamber for storing ice, an ultraviolet irradiator is disposed near an outlet for discharging the ice in the ice storage chamber, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated to a passage including the outlet for sterilizing the ice, thereby maintaining the ice and water discharged together with the ice clean.
Prior art documents
Patent literature
Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-6376
Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2019-219095
Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020-020562
Patent document 4: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020-20562
Disclosure of Invention
Summary of the invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
However, the ice maker described in patent document 1 is configured to cope with the invasion of bacteria (microorganisms) from the outside, and it is difficult to say that the propagation of the bacteria can be suppressed in the interior of an ice maker such as a water accumulation portion or the like, or in a portion serving as a passage through which the ice to be made moves, a portion to be stored, or the like.
In recent years, however, as the ultraviolet irradiation device, a structure including an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) as an ultraviolet light source is used in addition to a discharge lamp such as a mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp. The life of the ultraviolet light source widely used for sterilization purposes is about 1 to 2 ten thousand hours in terms of irradiation time, and is significantly shorter than the life of an ice maker, i.e., about 5 to 10 years, even in a UV-LED having a longer life than a discharge lamp. Here, as described in patent document 3, when ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device only in a specific operation mode, the ultraviolet irradiation device can be used for a shorter period of time and the life of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be maintained long, but there is a disadvantage that a sterilization effect cannot be obtained when ultraviolet rays are not irradiated.
On the other hand, in order to supply highly safe foods and drinks, it is effective to sterilize the foods and drinks discharged from the discharge port. However, since they are supplied after being discharged for a short time, they need to be irradiated with extremely strong ultraviolet rays in order to sterilize them. The ultraviolet irradiator of the ice dispenser described in patent document 4 is configured to always irradiate a certain amount of ultraviolet rays for the purpose of sterilizing the passage of ice or water, and does not include a control unit for adjusting the ultraviolet irradiation intensity according to the usage situation. It is not realistic that a large amount of energy is required to always irradiate strong ultraviolet rays.
The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ice maker capable of producing sanitary ice by suppressing the growth of bacteria. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice maker which can maintain ice and an ice cleaner while prolonging the service life of the ice maker by effectively using an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice maker that can supply food and drink with high safety.
Means for solving the problems
The ice maker of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a tank having an inflow portion into which water flows and an outflow portion from which water flows, and capable of storing water therein; an ice making unit for freezing water flowing out of the outflow unit to produce ice; and a UV sterilization device for sterilizing the water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet rays, wherein the UV sterilization device is configured in such a way that the ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilization device at least includes the water flowing in from the inflow part in the middle of flowing.
According to such an ice maker, the water flowing into the tank from the inflow portion and stored therein is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilization device in the middle of the inflow from the inflow portion, and therefore the water stored in the tank can be effectively sterilized and the inside of the tank can be kept clean. In addition, since the sterilized water kept clean inside the tank can be discharged from the outflow portion of the tank to the ice making portion, sanitary ice can be produced in the ice making portion.
In the above configuration, the tank may include: a storage section for storing water; and a drain unit configured to drain water overflowing from the reservoir unit to the outside, wherein the drain unit is shaped so as not to shield ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV sterilizer to the reservoir unit. According to such an ice maker, a portion where ultraviolet rays are blocked by the drainage portion (a portion which is a shadow of the drainage portion) is not generated in the storage portion, and therefore, the propagation of bacteria can be prevented in such a portion.
In the above configuration, the tank may include a bottom portion constituting a bottom surface, the outflow portion may be provided on the bottom portion, the bottom portion may be inclined downward toward the outflow portion, and the UV sterilizer may be provided near the outflow portion on the bottom portion. According to such an ice maker, the UV sterilizer easily irradiates the entire inner wall of the tank with ultraviolet light from the water on the outflow portion side in the tank, and thus the water stored in the tank and the inner wall of the tank can be effectively kept clean.
In the above configuration, the tank may include a bulging portion that bulges inward, and a distal end portion of the bulging portion facing the inflow portion may have a tapered shape. According to such an ice maker, the water flowing in from the inflow portion contacts the distal end portion, and can be statically accumulated inside the tank. This can prevent the UV sterilization apparatus from being contaminated with water droplets due to the fluctuation of the water surface of the water stored in the tank or the scattering of the water flowing into the tank, and the ultraviolet rays do not smoothly come into contact with the water, thereby reducing the sterilization effect.
In the above configuration, the inflow portion may include: an inflow portion opened toward an inside of the tank; and a flow path portion that forms a flow path of water from outside the tank toward the inlet portion, the flow path portion being bent at the inlet portion side. According to such an ice maker, water flows in a bent manner on the inlet portion side of the flow path portion, so that the flow velocity of water can be reduced, and the water can be prevented from flowing into the tank vigorously. This can prevent the UV sterilization apparatus from being contaminated with water droplets due to fluctuation of the water surface of the water stored in the tank or scattering of the water flowing into the tank, and the sterilization effect from being reduced due to the ultraviolet rays not being smoothly brought into contact with the water.
In the above configuration, the ice maker may include: a circulation mechanism that, by driving of a pump, causes water that has flowed out of the outflow portion and flowed into the ice making portion through a supply passage to flow into the tank again through a flow passage different from the supply passage; and a control unit for controlling the drive of the pump according to the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays of the UV sterilization device. According to the ice maker, the UV sterilizer can effectively sterilize the water circulating in the tank and the ice making unit, and the UV sterilizer and the pump can be effectively driven to improve the service life.
In the above configuration, the ice maker may include a visible light irradiation device that irradiates visible light in response to irradiation of ultraviolet light by the UV sterilization device, and the ice maker may include a visual part that allows visual observation of the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device. According to such an ice maker, the user can easily confirm the operation of the UV sterilizer from the outside without detaching the can or the like. Further, the ice maker can be prevented from being exposed to ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer, and can be safely used.
In the above configuration, the tank may include: a storage section for storing water; and a drain unit that discharges water overflowing from the reservoir unit to the outside, wherein the drain unit includes a trap that temporarily stores the discharged water, and the trap is provided with a trap-side UV sterilization device that sterilizes the water by irradiating ultraviolet rays. When the drain portion is provided with a trap, it is conceivable that bacteria propagate in the trap and, for example, a muddy object may block a flow path of water flowing through the trap. However, according to the ice maker described above, the propagation of bacteria can be prevented in the drain portion, and clogging of the water trap can be suppressed satisfactorily.
Further, an ice maker according to the present disclosure includes: an ice making unit for freezing water to produce ice; an ice storage tank capable of storing ice therein; a passage portion which is provided to connect the ice making portion and the ice storage tank and which constitutes a passage for ice moving from the ice making portion to the inside of the ice storage tank; and a UV sterilization device for sterilizing the ice by irradiating ultraviolet rays, wherein the UV sterilization device is configured in such a way that the ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilization device at least includes the moving middle of the ice moving in the passage part.
According to such an ice maker, the ice produced by the ice making unit is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizing device while the ice moves from the ice making unit to the inside of the ice storage tank through the passage unit. Thereby, hygienic ice can be stored in the ice bank and provided to the user.
In the above configuration, the passage portion may include an opening that opens toward an inside of the ice bank, and the UV sterilizer may be disposed in the ice bank at a position facing the opening.
According to such an ice maker, since ultraviolet rays can be irradiated from the ice storage tank side to the inside of the passage portion through the opening portion, ice moving to the ice storage tank side in the passage portion can be effectively sterilized. In addition, when a user takes out ice from the ice storage tank by a small shovel or the like, germs are likely to be generated in the ice stored in the ice storage tank, the inside of the ice storage tank, and the passage portion connected to the ice storage tank. However, according to the ice maker as described above, ice stored in the ice storage tank, the passage portion, and the ice storage tank itself can be sterilized, and ice kept in a sanitary state can be provided.
In the above configuration, the ice bank may be configured such that an inner wall portion of the ice bank reflects ultraviolet rays, and the UV sterilizer may be disposed such that an ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilizer includes the inner wall portion of the ice bank.
According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer are reflected by the wall portion inside the ice bank, and the ultraviolet rays can reach the corners inside the ice bank. For example, when a structure such as a spray nozzle for spraying a cleaning liquid is disposed in the ice storage tank, it is preferable that the ultraviolet rays reach a portion of the spray nozzle opposite to the UV sterilizer.
In the above-described configuration, the ice making unit may include an outlet portion that forms an opening through which the generated ice is discharged to the passage portion, and the UV sterilizer may be disposed at a position facing the outlet portion in the passage portion. According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilization device can reach the inside of the ice making unit through the discharge port, and sterilization can be performed efficiently.
In the above configuration, the discharge port portion may include a plurality of dividing portions that divide the generated ice, and the UV sterilizer may be disposed at a position facing the plurality of dividing portions in the passage portion. According to the ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilization device can reach the inside of the ice making unit through the space between the divided units, and sterilization can be performed efficiently.
In the above configuration, the discharge port may include: a cutter for cutting the generated ice by rotation; and a reflection part which is arranged on the cutter and reflects ultraviolet rays. According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer are reflected by the reflection unit rotating together with the cutter, and can be diffused in multiple directions. This allows ultraviolet light to reach a relatively wide range inside the discharge port portion, the passage portion, and the like.
In the above configuration, the passage portion may include a rising portion rising from a wall surface inside the passage portion between the UV sterilizer and the discharge port portion. According to such an ice maker, the rising portion can prevent fine ice or water from being scattered by the ice discharged from the discharge port portion being broken when the ice moves inside the spout, and therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the sterilization effect due to insufficient irradiation of ultraviolet rays caused by the fine ice or water adhering to the UV sterilizer.
In the above configuration, a part of the discharge port may be a gas flow port that forms an opening of a gas flow passage, and the UV sterilizer may be disposed in the passage at a position facing the gas flow port. In some cases, an ice maker is provided with a gas flow path through which gas can flow between the ice making unit and the passage unit, separately from a passage of ice from the ice making unit to the passage unit, and bacteria may be generated in the gas flow path. However, according to the ice maker as described above, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer can reach the inside of such a gas flow passage through the gas flow opening portion, and therefore, it is preferable.
In the above-described configuration, the passage portion may include an upper and lower passage portion extending in an upper and lower direction and constituting a passage for ice falling from the ice making portion to the inside of the ice bank, and the UV sterilizing device and the UV detecting device may be provided in the upper and lower passage portion, and the UV detecting device may be disposed at a position facing the UV sterilizing device and may detect ultraviolet rays. According to the ice maker, the ice falling down the upper and lower passages can be sterilized by the UV sterilizing device, and the falling of the ice can be detected by the UV detecting device. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the ice storage tank is in an abnormal state such as a state in which ice is excessively stored or a state in which ice cannot fall down through the upper and lower passage portions.
In the above configuration, the upper and lower passage portions may include a recessed portion recessed toward an outer side of the upper and lower passage portions, and the UV sterilization device or the UV detection device may be provided in the recessed portion. According to such an ice maker, it is possible to prevent the operation of each device from being hindered due to insufficient irradiation or detection of ultraviolet rays by fine ice or water scattering and adhering to the UV sterilizer or the UV detector when ice falls down in the upper and lower passage portions.
In the above configuration, the passage portion may be provided with an ice detecting device that detects ice stored in the ice bank. According to such an ice maker, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not an abnormal state such as a state in which ice is excessively stored in the ice storage tank.
Further, the ice maker disclosed herein includes: an ice making unit for freezing ice making water to make ice; an ice storage part for storing the ice made by the ice making part; and a water supply and drainage mechanism for supplying or draining at least ice making water to or from the ice making unit. At least one of the ice making unit, the ice storage unit, and the water supply and drainage mechanism includes an ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice making unit, and the ice making unit includes a control device capable of increasing or decreasing an irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device. According to such a configuration, the ice making water or ice produced can be UV sterilized by the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the ultraviolet rays are irradiated at least during the ice making, so that the UV sterilized state can be maintained. Further, since the dose of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased or decreased as necessary, the life of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be extended, and the labor and time for inspection can be reduced, which is relatively economical.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the water supply and discharge mechanism, and the water supply and discharge mechanism includes: a water storage tank for storing water supplied to the ice making part; and a water supply valve interposed in a water supply passage connecting an external water source and the water storage tank, and switching between supplying and stopping water from the external water source to the water storage tank by opening and closing. The control device is configured to: when the water supply valve is opened, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is increased, and when the water supply valve is closed, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is decreased. According to such a configuration, when the water supplied to the water storage tank needs UV sterilization, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device can be controlled well.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the water supply and discharge mechanism, and the water supply and discharge mechanism includes: a water storage tank for storing water supplied to the ice making part; and a water supply valve interposed in a water supply passage connecting an external water source and the water storage tank, and configured to switch between supply and cutoff of water from the external water source to the water storage tank by opening and closing. The control device is configured to: the ultraviolet irradiation device is driven in a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation amount from the ultraviolet irradiation device is reduced, and when the water supply valve is closed from an open state, the ultraviolet irradiation amount from the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased while the water supply valve is in a closed state. According to such a configuration, when the water supplied to the water storage tank is sufficiently sterilized, that is, when UV sterilization is required when the water is retained in the water storage tank, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device can be controlled well.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the external water source has a structure for supplying purified water that has passed through the water purifier. The control device is configured to: the ultraviolet irradiation device is configured to reduce the amount of ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation device when the life of the water purifier is not reached, and to increase the amount of ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation device when the life of the water purifier is reached. According to such a configuration, when the water supplied to the water storage tank is purified water, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device can be controlled well in consideration of the lifetime of the water purifier.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the control device has the following configuration: the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is reduced or increased according to the installation environment of the ice maker. With this configuration, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device can be controlled well in consideration of the environment in which the ice maker is installed.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the control device has the following configuration: the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is reduced or increased by PWM control of the current supplied to the ultraviolet radiation device. With this configuration, the amount of current supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device can be appropriately controlled by the high-speed switch without changing the voltage. Further, when the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device is an LED (light emitting diode), the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays can be preferably controlled without changing the emission wavelength of the LED.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the control device includes a timer that measures an irradiation time of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the control device includes: the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased according to the irradiation time. The ultraviolet irradiation device generally has a feature that the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays is reduced even by the same amount of current when the lifetime is approached. According to the above configuration, when the ultraviolet irradiation device is close to the lifetime, the amount of current supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device can be increased to compensate for the decrease in the amount of light emitted due to the lifetime. Thus, even when the ultraviolet irradiation device is near the lifetime, the required amount of ultraviolet rays can be appropriately irradiated.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the control device includes a timer that measures an irradiation time of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the control device includes: notifying that the ultraviolet irradiation device is approaching a lifetime at a predetermined timing before the ultraviolet irradiation device reaches the lifetime. With the above configuration, the user can be prompted to take appropriate measures such as replacement before the ultraviolet irradiation device reaches the lifetime. Thus, the ice maker can be operated in a good sanitary state without causing a failure in the ultraviolet irradiation device due to the life thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the control device has a configuration in which: and stopping the operation of the ice maker when the service life of the ultraviolet irradiation device is not recovered within a predetermined period after the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified that the service life is approaching. According to the above configuration, the user can reliably urge replacement of the ultraviolet irradiation device in accordance with the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device. Further, it is possible to prevent a user from operating the ice maker in a state where a good hygienic state cannot be secured.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the water supply and discharge mechanism includes: a water storage tank for storing water to be supplied to the ice making part; an ice making water supply passage connecting the water storage tank to the ice making unit for supplying water in the water storage tank to the ice making unit; a backflow passage provided separately from the ice making water supply passage, connecting the water storage tank to the ice making unit, and returning water in the ice making unit to the water storage tank; and a liquid feed pump provided in the return passage and feeding the water in the return passage to the water storage tank, wherein the water supply and drainage mechanism forms a circulation path by the water storage tank, the ice making and water supply passage, and the return passage, and the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the circulation path. The control device is configured to: the ultraviolet irradiation device is configured to increase the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device when the liquid feeding pump is driven, and to decrease the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device when the liquid feeding pump is not driven. According to the above configuration, when water stays in the irradiation region of the ultraviolet irradiation device provided in the circulation path, the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be increased by relatively reducing the amount of ultraviolet light to be irradiated, and when a large amount of water passes through the irradiation region, a sufficient amount of ultraviolet light is irradiated, thereby efficiently performing UV sterilization on the circulating water.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the water supply and discharge mechanism includes a water storage tank for storing water to be supplied to the ice making unit, and the water storage tank includes, on an upper surface thereof: a water amount sensor capable of measuring a water level of water stored in the water storage tank; and the ultraviolet irradiation device irradiates ultraviolet rays to the water stored in the water storage tank. The control device is configured to: the ultraviolet irradiation device is configured to decrease the amount of ultraviolet irradiation when the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank detected by the water amount sensor is relatively increased, and to increase the amount of ultraviolet irradiation when the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank detected by the water amount sensor is relatively decreased. Since the irradiation intensity per unit area of ultraviolet light is inversely proportional to, for example, the square of the distance from the light source, the effect of UV sterilization is significantly reduced as the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device and the object to be UV-sterilized is wider. According to the above configuration, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays can be changed according to the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device provided in the water storage tank and the water (water surface) stored in the water storage tank. Thus, the water in the water storage tank can be excellently UV-sterilized without being affected by the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device and the water surface.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ice storage unit is disposed above the ice making unit, and the ice making machine includes: a stirring member for stirring the ice transferred from the ice making part; and a driving part for driving the stirring member, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation device is arranged in the ice storage part. The control device is configured to: the drive unit increases the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device when the drive unit drives the stirring member, and decreases the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device when the drive unit does not drive the stirring member. According to the above configuration, the ice stored in the ice storage unit can be UV sterilized. Further, when the stirring member is driven to stir the ice, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased, whereby the ice can be efficiently UV-sterilized.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ice making unit includes: an ice making unit that shapes ice; and a freezing unit that cools the ice making unit to an ice making temperature, the ice storage portion and the ice making unit being communicated through an ice passage that conveys ice formed in the ice making unit, and the ultraviolet irradiation device being provided in the ice passage. The control device is configured to: the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting device is increased when the refrigeration unit is driven, and the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting device is decreased when the refrigeration unit is not driven. According to the above configuration, the ice can be UV-sterilized while being transported to the ice storage unit after the ice is produced. Further, during the ice making operation, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is increased when the ice passes through the ice passage, thereby effectively UV sterilizing the ice.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ultraviolet irradiation device constitutes a failure detection circuit by electrically connecting visible light irradiators in series, and the visible light irradiators are disposed at positions that can be visually recognized without disassembling the ice maker. According to the above configuration, when the ultraviolet irradiation device emits the ultraviolet rays, the visible light irradiator emits the visible light at the same time. Further, the visible light is not emitted from the visible light irradiator when the ultraviolet irradiation device is disconnected, and the emission intensity of the visible light emitted from the visible light irradiator is greatly increased when the ultraviolet irradiation device is short-circuited. Thus, the light-emitting state of the ultraviolet light that cannot be visually recognized by a person can be confirmed by the visible light with a simple configuration.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the ultraviolet irradiation device is configured such that a coil constituting a part of the a-contact relay and a first resistor having a relatively low resistance value are electrically connected in series to constitute a first circuit, a contact portion constituting another part of the a-contact relay and conducting when a current flows through the coil, a second resistor having a relatively high resistance value, and a visible light irradiator are electrically connected in series to constitute a second circuit, and the second circuit is arranged in parallel with the first circuit to constitute a failure detection circuit. According to the above configuration, when the ultraviolet irradiation device emits the ultraviolet rays by normally supplying the current thereto, the visible light irradiator emits the visible light at the same time. This makes it possible to more reliably confirm the light emission state of the ultraviolet light that cannot be visually recognized by a person, based on the light emission state of the visible light.
In a preferred embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, the ultraviolet irradiation device is configured such that a coil constituting a part of a b-contact relay is electrically connected in series to constitute a first circuit, a contact portion constituting another part of the b-contact relay and opened when a current flows through the coil and an alarm are electrically connected in series to constitute a second circuit, and the second circuit is disposed in parallel to the first circuit to constitute a failure detection circuit. According to the above configuration, when the current is normally supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device to emit ultraviolet rays, the alarm is not energized and the alarm is not operated. When no current is supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device, the alarm is energized and the alarm is activated. When the alarm is a buzzer, the abnormality of the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified by a buzzer sound. Thus, even in a position where the ice maker cannot be visually checked, abnormality of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be grasped.
In a preferred aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the ice maker includes a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the control device includes: when the difference between the initial temperature at which the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device is started and the temperature after the lapse of the predetermined time from the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device is smaller than the predetermined temperature difference, the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified of the abnormality. The ultraviolet irradiation device has a characteristic that a certain temperature rise is recognized when a current is normally supplied for a predetermined time to emit ultraviolet rays. According to the above configuration, by utilizing the characteristics of the ultraviolet irradiation device, it is possible to determine and notify that the ultraviolet irradiation device is abnormal with a simple configuration.
In order to solve the above problem, an ice maker (hereinafter, may be referred to as a dispenser or an ice dispenser) according to the present disclosure has the following configuration.
<1> an ice making machine, comprising: a housing; a storage chamber which is disposed in the housing, stores food and drink, and has a discharge port; a shutter for openably closing the discharge port; a shutter detection unit that detects an open/close state of the shutter; an ultraviolet irradiator for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to sterilize the food or drink; and a control unit that controls irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator based on the open/close state of the shutter detected by the shutter detection unit.
According to the structure of <1>, the ultraviolet irradiation intensity can be controlled according to the open/close state of the shutter, and thus, strong ultraviolet rays can be irradiated only during the period of discharging food or drink. This makes it possible to sterilize the food and drink itself without excessively increasing the energy consumption. As a result, food and drink with higher safety can be supplied. By shortening the time for irradiating strong ultraviolet rays, the possibility of health damage occurring can be reduced even if ultraviolet rays leak to the outside of the dispenser and come into contact with the user's hand or the like.
In the structure of <1>, the food or beverage may be any of a liquid, a solid-liquid mixture, and the like. The irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays is preferably set based on the moving speed of the food or drink to be irradiated.
The control unit may increase the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator when determining that the discharge port is opened by the shutter, and decrease the irradiation intensity when determining that the discharge port is closed by the shutter after increasing the irradiation intensity.
Specifically, by<2>Control ofThe provided food and drink can be sterilized favorably. In that<2>In the above configuration, the control unit may determine that the shutter opens or closes the discharge port based on a signal from the shutter detection unit. Alternatively, a timer unit such as a timer for measuring time may be further provided, and when a predetermined time has elapsed since the ultraviolet irradiation intensity was increased, it may be determined that the discharge port was closed by the shutter. And, in<2>In the above-mentioned configuration, the control unit may increase the irradiation intensity and decrease the irradiation intensity to a value of 0 μ W/cm 2 The ultraviolet irradiator irradiates ultraviolet rays at a high and constant irradiation intensity. In this way, not only the food or drink itself is sterilized during the discharge of the food or drink, but also the path through which the food or drink is discharged can be sterilized and maintained clean during standby. As a result, it is possible to provide food and drink with higher safety, and therefore, this is preferable.
In the ice maker of the present invention, the casing may be provided with a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing, the casing may be provided with a stage disposed below the discharge port and on which a container that receives the food or drink discharged from the discharge port is placed, and a discharge port cover covering the discharge port and the stage may be openably and closably attached to the casing, the ice maker may further include a cover detection unit that detects an open/closed state of the discharge port cover, and the control unit may not increase the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator when the cover detection unit does not detect that the discharge port cover is closed.
According to the structure of <3>, the ultraviolet rays are not irradiated with high intensity in a state where the discharge port cover is not closed. This reduces the possibility of health damage caused by the strong ultraviolet rays coming into contact with the user. In particular, in a configuration in which ultraviolet light is radiated outward from the discharge port or a configuration in which ultraviolet light is radiated from an ultraviolet light irradiator disposed outside the housing, safety of the user can be improved. In the configuration of <3>, the control unit may stop the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator when it is not detected that the discharge mask is closed. In this case, the safety of the user is further improved. In the configuration of <3>, the control unit may increase the irradiation intensity after waiting for a predetermined time after detecting that the discharge mask is closed.
The ultraviolet irradiator may be configured to irradiate the visible light with ultraviolet light, and the discharge mask may include a visible light transmitting portion that transmits the visible light while shielding the ultraviolet light.
According to the structure of <4>, the ultraviolet irradiator irradiates visible light together with the ultraviolet rays, and the discharge mask is passed through to visually confirm whether or not the ultraviolet rays and the visible light are irradiated, so that it is possible to know a failure of the ultraviolet irradiator or the like in advance. Further, when the user opens the discharge mouthpiece and takes out the container, it is possible to confirm whether or not the ultraviolet rays are not irradiated, or to be careful not to be irradiated when the ultraviolet rays are irradiated. As a result, the safety of the user can be further improved.
In the< 5>, a water removal member may be disposed on a bottom surface of the storage chamber, the water removal member may be formed to be transparent to ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be attached to a lower surface of the water removal member so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward.
According to the structure of <5>, the food or drink moved toward the discharge port at the time of supplying the food or drink can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Particularly, if the ultraviolet irradiator is disposed on the bottom surface near the discharge port, the food or drink to be discharged next can be sterilized with high priority. The ultraviolet irradiator is disposed inside the storage chamber and irradiates ultraviolet rays into the storage chamber, so that the possibility of leakage of ultraviolet rays to the outside of the housing can be reduced. In the structure of the above item <5>, if the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to the storage chamber so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays toward the ejection port, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the surface of the shutter on the storage chamber side when the shutter is closed, and the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the vicinity of the ejection port and the like when the shutter is opened, thereby sterilizing the storage chamber and the ejection port.
In the ultraviolet irradiator, the shutter may be attached so as to cover and close the discharge port from the front side, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be attached to a position facing the shutter from the front so as to irradiate ultraviolet rearward in the housing.
The shutter is a structure that separates a storage chamber that is always closed and a discharge passage that communicates with the outside, and when the shutter is formed of a metal having excellent durability in preparation for repeated opening and closing operations, it is difficult to maintain the heat insulation property, and condensation is likely to occur on the surface. In addition, the discharged food or drink may adhere to the outer surface of the shutter that comes into contact with the outside air due to springback or the like. Further, the shutter has a complicated shape to exhibit an opening and closing function, and is difficult to clean. As a result, the outer surface of the shutter often serves as an environment in which bacteria easily grow. According to the structure of <6>, the outer surface of the shutter can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays with high priority, and sterilization can be performed reliably. In the structure of <6>, the ultraviolet irradiator is preferably installed at a position as close to the shutter as possible.
In the above-described configuration, the housing may be provided with a discharge port which communicates with the discharge port and through which the food or drink discharged from the discharge port is discharged to the outside of the housing below the discharge port, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be attached to a position located in front of the discharge port and above the discharge port so as to be capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays rearward and downward in the housing.
According to the configuration of <7>, the ultraviolet light can be irradiated to both the discharge port located at the rear of the ultraviolet light irradiator and the discharge port located at the lower side. Further, when the shutter is opened, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the bottom edge portion of the storage chamber through the discharge port. Therefore, the passing food and drink can be sterilized while maintaining their vicinity clean, and thus, a food and drink with higher safety can be provided. In the structure of item <7>, when a platform for placing a container for receiving the discharged food or drink is formed below the discharge port, the container and the food or drink placed therein can be sterilized by irradiating ultraviolet rays. In addition, even when an external discharge tray for receiving food and drink that is not received in the container is provided below the table, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated into the external discharge tray for sterilization.
In the present invention, a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing may be formed in the front surface of the casing, a table disposed below the discharge port and on which a container receiving the food or drink discharged from the discharge port is placed and an external discharge tray disposed below the table and receiving the food or drink not received by the container may be provided in the front surface of the casing, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be attached to a bottom surface in the external discharge tray so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward.
According to the configuration of <8>, by disposing the ultraviolet irradiator at a position away from the irradiation target, not only the ultraviolet light can be irradiated to the vicinity of the discharge port located above the external discharge tray by one ultraviolet irradiator, but also the ultraviolet light can be irradiated to the discharge path of the food or drink connected upward from the discharge port. When the container is placed and the food or drink is discharged, strong ultraviolet rays are irradiated to sterilize the food or drink which is not received by the container but received by the external discharge tray, thereby suppressing the growth of bacteria in the discharge tray. In the structure of <8>, the ultraviolet irradiator preferably uses a highly directional ultraviolet light emitting diode in order to suppress the irradiation range of the ultraviolet light to a certain range.
<9> a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the housing may be formed in the front surface of the housing, a table disposed below the discharge port and on which a container for receiving the food or drink discharged from the discharge port is placed may be provided in the front surface of the housing, an outer drain plate disposed below the table and receiving the food or drink not received by the container may be provided in the housing, an inner drain plate disposed behind the outer drain plate and communicating with the outer drain plate may be provided in the housing, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be attached to a front surface in the outer drain plate so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward.
When bacteria propagate on the external or internal discharge tray, sludge-like substances are formed, and a discharge port through which discharged water is discharged to the outside of the dispenser is blocked, which may cause water leakage or electric leakage. According to the structure of <9>, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the external drain pan and the communication portion (flow path) between the external drain pan and the internal drain pan. As a result, the proliferation of bacteria in the drain pan is suppressed, the dispenser can be maintained clean, and drainage failure can be reduced.
<10> the housing may have a discharge port formed in a front surface thereof, the discharge port being in communication with the discharge port to discharge the food and drink discharged from the discharge port to an outside of the housing, wherein the front surface of the housing may be provided with a table disposed below the discharge port and on which a container is placed to receive the food and drink discharged from the discharge port, and an outer drain plate disposed below the table to receive the food and drink not received by the container, wherein the housing may be provided with an inner drain plate disposed at a lower portion in the housing, and a flow path communicating the outer drain plate with the inner drain plate, and the ultraviolet irradiator may be installed above the flow path in the housing so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays downward.
According to the structure of <10>, by intensively irradiating the flow path with ultraviolet rays, the drain water flowing from the outer drain pan to the inner drain pan can be reliably sterilized.
Effects of the invention
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an ice maker capable of producing sanitary ice by suppressing the growth of bacteria. Further, it is possible to provide an ice maker which can effectively utilize the ultraviolet irradiation device, achieve an increase in lifetime, and maintain the ice maker and ice cleaner. Further, an ice maker capable of supplying food and drink with high safety can be provided.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to embodiment 1, as viewed from the front and upward.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a structure of an ice maker.
Fig. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of the ice maker (the water storage tank and the ice making unit show a cross section).
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the water storage tank with the lid removed, as viewed from the rear and upward.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the water storage tank as viewed from the rear upper side.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the water storage tank as viewed from the rear and below.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice making machine according to modification 1.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice making machine according to modification 2.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice making machine according to modification 3.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice maker according to embodiment 2.
Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice maker according to modification 4.
Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the water storage tank of the ice making machine according to modification 5.
Fig. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of an ice maker according to embodiment 3.
Fig. 15 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of the ice maker.
Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the passage portion.
Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an ice maker according to embodiment 4.
Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing the ice making portion and the passage portion.
Fig. 19 is a view of the discharge port portion as viewed from directly above (section taken along line VI-VI in fig. 18).
Fig. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the discharge port of the ice maker according to modification 6.
Fig. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the spout in the ice maker according to modification 7.
Fig. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a spout and a part of an ice making unit in the ice making machine according to modification 8.
Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an ice maker according to embodiment 5.
Fig. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an ice maker according to modification 9.
Fig. 25 is an external perspective view of the ice maker according to embodiment 6.
Fig. 26 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the ice maker according to embodiment 6.
FIG. 27 is a block diagram of an ice maker of an embodiment.
Fig. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of a circuit unit in the ice maker according to the embodiment.
Fig. 29 is a diagram showing an example of setting of a target current value in an environment where the ice maker is installed.
Fig. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 32 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of an ice maker according to embodiment 7.
Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 34 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the ice maker according to embodiment 8.
Fig. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 37 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 38 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 39 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the ice maker according to embodiment 12.
Fig. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a failure detection circuit of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 42 is a diagram showing an example of a failure detection circuit of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a failure detection circuit of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 44 is a diagram showing an example of a failure detection circuit of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 45 is a flowchart showing an example of failure detection of the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Fig. 46 is an external perspective view of a dispenser according to embodiment 17.
Figure 47 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dispenser.
Fig. 48 is a partially enlarged view of a portion including the ejection port and the vicinity of the ejection port in fig. 47.
Fig. 49 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of control of the ultraviolet irradiation intensity.
Fig. 50 is a flowchart showing an example of the control of the irradiation intensity.
Fig. 51 is an external perspective view showing a main part of a dispenser according to embodiment 18.
Fig. 52 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of control of the ultraviolet irradiation intensity.
Fig. 53 is a flowchart showing an example of the control of the irradiation intensity.
Fig. 54 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a dispenser of embodiment 19.
Fig. 55 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the dispenser of embodiment 20.
Fig. 56 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a dispenser of embodiment 21.
Fig. 57 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a dispenser of embodiment 22.
Fig. 58 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a dispenser of embodiment 23.
Fig. 59 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a dispenser of embodiment 24.
Detailed Description
< embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 7. In the present embodiment, an auger type ice maker 10 is exemplified. The drawings will be described with arrow direction L as the left, arrow direction R as the right, arrow direction F as the front, arrow direction B as the rear, arrow direction U as the upper, and arrow direction D as the lower. As shown in fig. 1, the ice maker 10 includes a front wall 11 as a front wall, side walls 12 as left and right walls, and an upper wall 13 as an upper wall, and is formed in a housing shape as a whole. The front wall 11 is provided with an ice discharge portion 14 for discharging the generated ice to the outside by dropping the ice.
As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the ice maker 10 includes an ice making unit 20, a refrigeration circuit 40, a water storage tank (tank) 60, an ice storage tank 70, and a control unit 80. The ice making unit 20 has a water storage unit S for storing ice making water (water) supplied from a water storage tank 60, and ice is generated by freezing the ice making water stored in the water storage unit S by the refrigeration circuit 40. The generated ice is transferred to the ice storage tank 70 and discharged from the ice discharge unit 14 (see fig. 1). The water storage section S of the ice making section 20 receives the supply of ice making water flowing out from the outflow section 61A of the water storage tank 60 through the supply passage 30 to be connected to the water storage tank 60. The water storage portion S is provided separately from the supply passage 30 and is connected to the water storage tank 60 via a recovery passage 31, and ice making water that has not been made in the water storage portion S is caused to flow into the water storage tank 60 again. The recovery passage 31 is a different passage from the supply passage 30. A pump device (pump) 32 is provided in the recovery passage 31, and the ice making water in the water storage portion S is delivered to the water storage tank 60 by driving the pump device 32. The supply passage 30, the recovery passage 31, and the pump device 32 are referred to as a circulation mechanism 33. The control unit 80 is mainly configured by a computer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and controls the driving of the ice making unit 20, the refrigeration circuit 40, and the pump device 32.
The ice making unit 20 includes an ice making mechanism 20A that serves as a main body for generating ice, a drive unit 20B that drives the ice making mechanism 20A, and a coupling unit 20C that mechanically couples the ice making mechanism 20A and the drive unit 20B and transmits a driving force of the drive unit 20B to the ice making mechanism 20A. As shown in fig. 3, the ice making mechanism 20A includes a cylinder (ice making cylinder, cooling cylinder) 21, an auger 22, a molding member (fixed blade, compression head) 23, and a heat insulating material 24. The cylinder 21 is made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) and has a cylindrical shape, and an evaporation tube 44 constituting the refrigeration circuit 40 is wound around an outer peripheral surface thereof. A water supply port 21A and a drain port 21B are provided in a side wall of the cylinder 21 below the evaporation pipe 44. The ice making water supplied from supply passage 30 is supplied into cylinder 21 from water supply port 21A. The ice making water in the cylinder 21 is discharged from the water discharge port 21B to the outside of the cylinder 21. The heat insulating material 24 covers the outer surface of the evaporation tube 44 to improve the cooling effect.
The refrigeration circuit 40 includes a compressor 41, a condenser 42, an expansion valve 43, and an evaporation pipe 44, and is configured by connecting these components by a refrigerant pipe 45. The compressor 41 compresses a refrigerant gas. The condenser 42 cools and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas by the air blown by the fan 46. The expansion valve 43 expands the liquefied refrigerant. The evaporation pipe 44 vaporizes the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 43, and cools the cylinder 21. The refrigeration circuit 40 freezes the ice-making water to adhere ice to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 21. The refrigeration circuit 40 further includes a dryer 47 and a temperature sensor 48. The dryer 47 removes moisture mixed into the refrigeration circuit 40. The temperature sensor 48 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 45 between the outlet portion of the evaporation pipe 44 and the condenser 42 and the dryer 47, and detects the temperature of the refrigerant.
The auger 22 constituting the ice making mechanism 20A has a rod shape extending in the vertical direction and is inserted into the inner space of the cylinder 21. The auger 22 includes an ice shaver 22A having a spiral shape on the outer circumferential surface. The ice blade 22A protrudes from the rod-like body of the auger 22 toward the inner surface 21F of the cylinder 21 to such an extent that the protruding length thereof slightly reaches the inner surface 21F of the cylinder 21. The ice shaver 22A rotates to shave off ice adhering to the inner surface 21F of the cylinder 21.
The molding member 23 is fixed to the upper side of the inside of the cylinder 21. The forming member 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an upper portion 22B of the auger 22 is inserted therein to rotatably hold the auger 22. The molding member 23 is a gear-shaped member having a plurality of grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof so as to extend in the axial direction, and has an ice passage 23A penetrating vertically between the molding member and the inner surface 21F of the cylinder 21. The ice shaved by the ice shaving blade 22A is conveyed upward by the rotation of the auger 22, is pushed into the ice passage 23A, is compressed into a columnar shape, and is transported into the ice storage tank 70.
As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the water storage tank 60 includes: a storage unit 61 capable of storing ice-making water therein; a drain 62 for draining the ice making water overflowing from the storage 61 to the outside; a lid 63 covering the upper sides of the reservoir 61 and the drain 62. The storage section 61 is in the form of a housing having a length in the front-rear direction and an upper opening. A collection port 64 for connecting the collection passage 31 and a bulging portion 65 bulging inward are provided in the front wall portion 61F of the storage portion 61.
As shown in fig. 4 and 7, the bulging portion 65 includes a tip portion 65U having a tapered tip as it goes upward. In the lid 63, an inflow portion 68 for allowing ice making water to flow into the storage portion 61 is provided directly above the distal end portion 65U. The distal end portion 65U is disposed at a position facing the inflow portion 68A of the inflow portion 68 (a position facing the inflow portion 68A). The collection port 64 is disposed leftward of the distal end portion 65U. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, a lower wall portion (bottom surface portion constituting the bottom surface) 61D of the storage portion 61 has an outflow portion 61A for allowing the ice making water stored in the storage portion 61 to flow out at a central portion thereof, and is shaped to be inclined downward toward the central side (toward the outflow portion 61A side). The outflow portion 61A is connected to the supply passage 30.
The drain portion 62 is provided on the right side of the reservoir portion 61 on the side of the wall portion 61R, and has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The drain portion 62 has a V-shape whose tip is tapered so that the length in the front-rear direction becomes shorter toward the inside of the reservoir portion 61 when viewed from above. Accordingly, the drainage part 62 has a shape (a shape that does not generate a shadow) that does not shield ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer 90 to the inside of the reservoir part 61, which will be described later. The upper end of the drain 62 is an upper opening 62U that opens upward, and the ice making water stored in the storage 61 overflows through the upper opening 62U. The upper opening 62U is disposed at a position having a height in the vertical direction equal to the front end portion 65U of the bulging portion 65 (or equal to or greater than the front end portion 65U of the bulging portion 65). A lower opening 62D forming an opening communicating with the drain passage 66 is provided on the inner side of the lower side of the drain portion 62. The drainage passage 66 is a passage for draining the excess ice making water to the outside of the reservoir 61, and as shown in fig. 3, an S-shaped water trap 66T for temporarily accumulating the drained water is provided in a midway portion thereof.
As shown in fig. 4, the lid 63 includes: a float switch 67 for detecting the water level of the ice making water stored in the storage section 61; an inflow unit 68 disposed right above the swelling unit 65 and into which tap water as ice making water flows; and a UV sterilizer 90 disposed between the float switch 67 and the inflow portion 68 and irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice making water at a central portion in a left-right direction (a depth direction of a paper plane). The inflow portion 68 includes: an inlet 68A opening into the storage section 61; a water supply valve 68C connected to the water supply pipe 53 for supplying tap water from the tap water pipe; and a flow path portion 68B serving as a flow path of water from the water supply valve 68C (from the outside of the water storage tank 60) to the inlet portion 68A.
As shown in fig. 6, the flow path portion 68B is bent in an S-shape on the side of the inlet portion 68A. Specifically, the flow path portion 68B includes a first bent portion 68B1, a second bent portion 68B2, a third bent portion 68B3, and a fourth bent portion 68B4. The first bent portion 68B1 is a portion having a shape in which a flow path extending from the water supply valve 68C side to the right below is bent in the left direction. The second bent portion 68B2 is a portion having a shape in which the flow path extending leftward from the first bent portion 68B1 is bent downward. The third bent portion 68B3 is a portion having a shape in which the flow path extending downward from the second bent portion 68B2 is bent rightward. The fourth bent portion 68B4 is a portion having a shape in which the flow path extending rightward from the third bent portion 68B3 is bent downward, and is disposed rightward relative to the first bent portion 68B 1. The inflow port 68A is disposed directly below the fourth bent portion 68B4. Tap water supplied as ice-making water from water supply valve 68C flows through flow path portion 68B while being bent, and is poured from inflow port portion 68A toward tip portion 65U of bulging portion 65, flows quietly down along the wall surface of bulging portion 65, and accumulates inside storage portion 61.
As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the lid 63 includes: a rear side 63A to which a float switch 67 is attached; a rising portion 63B rising upward from the rear side portion 63A on the front side of the rear side portion 63A; a front side portion 63C located above the rear side portion 63A on the front side of the rising portion 63B. UV sterilizer 90 and inflow unit 68 are attached to front portion 63C. UV sterilizer 90 is disposed at the rear end portion of front side portion 63C (end portion on the side of rising portion 63B). As shown in fig. 7, UV sterilizer 90 is disposed such that irradiation portion 91 for irradiating ultraviolet rays is directed toward the inside of storage portion 61, and such that the ultraviolet ray irradiation range includes at least the inflow portion of ice-making water flowing from inflow portion 68 into storage portion 61. The irradiation part 91 is circular when viewed from below, and irradiates ultraviolet rays toward each part inside the storage part 61, such as the bottom part 61D, the front wall part 61F, the drain part 62, and the bulge part 65. Therefore, UV sterilization device 90 irradiates ultraviolet rays to ice making water poured from inflow port 68A toward distal end portion 65U of bulging portion 65 and flowing down along the wall surface of bulging portion 65, and ice making water accumulated inside storage portion 61. The UV sterilizer 90 may be configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays having a wavelength in a range of 253nm to 285 nm. A protruding portion 92 is provided between the irradiation portion 91 and the inflow port portion 68A, and the protruding portion 92 protrudes downward from the front portion 63C, and has a semicircular arc shape with a central angle of about 180 degrees when viewed from below, and extends along the circumference of the irradiation portion 91. As shown in fig. 4, the height of the protruding portion 92 protruding downward from the front portion 63C (the length of the protruding portion 92 in the vertical direction) is smaller than the height of the rising portion 63B (the length in the vertical direction), and does not exceed the height of the rear portion 63A. The protruding portion 92 prevents the water injected from the inflow port 68A from being ejected by the distal end portion 65U of the bulging portion 65 and adhering to the irradiation portion 91. As shown in fig. 3, the water storage tank 60 includes a UV sterilizer (trap-side UV sterilizer) 93 capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays into the inside of the trap 66T of the drainage passage 66 in addition to the UV sterilizer 90. This can prevent bacteria from growing inside the trap 66T.
Control section 80 (Referring to fig. 2) controls the driving of the pump device 32 according to the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays of the UV sterilization device 90. Specifically, the control unit 80 controls the UV sterilization device 90 to irradiate the UV ray at an amount of 10 to 30mJ/cm 2 During the period before the drive of the pump device 32 is turned off, and then, during the period before about half of the ice making water stored in the storage section 61 is replaced, the drive of the pump device 32 is turned on, and the pump device 32 is controlled by alternately switching the drive. This enables the ice making water circulated by the circulation mechanism 33 to be sterilized satisfactorily, and the pump device 32 to be driven efficiently, thereby extending the life thereof. The control unit 80 may control the UV sterilizer 90 and the pump device 32 by alternately switching the drive of the pump device 32 to off while the UV sterilizer 90 irradiates ultraviolet rays and the drive of the pump device 32 to on while the UV sterilizer 9 does not irradiate ultraviolet rays. In addition to the above steps, the control unit 80 may control the pump device 32 such that the total irradiation time is longer and the time for turning off the drive of the pump device 32 is longer as the total irradiation time is longer.
Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, an ice maker 10 is shown, which includes: a water storage tank 60 having an inflow portion 68 into which water flows and an outflow portion 61A from which water flows out, and capable of storing water therein; an ice making unit 20 for freezing water flowing out from the outflow unit 61A to produce ice; and a UV sterilization device 90 that sterilizes the water by irradiating ultraviolet rays, wherein the UV sterilization device 90 is disposed so that an ultraviolet irradiation range thereof includes at least an inflow portion of the water flowing from the inflow portion 68.
According to ice making machine 10 of this type, water flowing from inflow portion 68 and stored in water storage tank 60 is sterilized by ultraviolet light emitted from UV sterilization device 90 in the middle of inflow from inflow portion 68, and therefore, water stored in water storage tank 60 can be effectively sterilized and the interior of water storage tank 60 can be kept clean. In addition, since the water sterilized and kept clean inside the water storage tank 60 can be discharged from the outflow portion 61A of the water storage tank 60 to the ice making unit 20, sanitary ice can be produced in the ice making unit 20.
The water storage tank 60 includes a reservoir 61 for storing water and a drain 62 for draining water overflowing from the reservoir 61 to the outside, and the drain 62 is shaped so as not to block ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV sterilizer 90 to the reservoir 61 side. According to the ice maker 10, since the portion of the storage unit 61 that is shielded from the ultraviolet light by the drain 62 (the portion that is shaded by the drain 62) does not occur, it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria in such a portion.
The water storage tank 60 includes a bulge portion 65 bulging inward, and a tip portion 65U of the bulge portion 65 facing the inflow portion 68 has a tapered shape. According to ice making machine 10, water flowing from inflow unit 68 contacts tip portion 65U, and can be statically stored inside water storage tank 60. This can prevent the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank 60 from fluctuating or the water flowing into the water storage tank 60 from scattering and the water droplets from adhering to the UV sterilizer 90, which prevents the ultraviolet rays from smoothly contacting the water and thus reduces the sterilization effect.
The inflow portion 68 includes an inflow port 68A opening toward the inside of the reservoir tank 60, and a flow path portion 68B serving as a flow path of water from the outside of the reservoir tank 60 toward the inflow port 68A, and the flow path portion 68B is bent toward the inflow port 68A. According to ice making machine 10, water flows while being bent toward inlet portion 68A of passage portion 68B, the flow rate of water is reduced, and water can be prevented from flowing into water storage tank 60 by a rush. This can prevent the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank 60 from fluctuating or the water flowing into the water storage tank 60 from scattering and the water droplets from adhering to the UV sterilizer 90, which prevents the ultraviolet rays from smoothly contacting the water and thus reduces the sterilization effect.
Further, the apparatus comprises: a circulation mechanism 33 that, by driving of the pump device 32, causes water that has flowed out of the outflow portion 61A and flowed into the ice making unit 20 through the supply passage 30 to flow into the water storage tank 60 again through a flow passage 31 different from the supply passage 30; and a control unit 80 for controlling the drive of the pump device 32 in response to the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays by the UV sterilizer 90. According to such ice maker 10, the water circulating in water storage tank 60 and ice making unit 20 can be effectively sterilized by UV sterilizing device 90, and UV sterilizing device 90 and pump device 32 can be effectively driven to improve their life.
The water storage tank 60 includes a reservoir 61 for storing water and a drain 62 for discharging water overflowing from the reservoir 61 to the outside, the drain 62 includes a trap 66T for temporarily storing the discharged water, and the trap 66T is provided with a trap-side UV sterilizer 93 for sterilizing the water by irradiating ultraviolet rays. When the drain portion 62 is provided with the trap 66T, bacteria propagate in the trap 66T, and a muddy object, for example, may block a flow path of water flowing through the trap 66T. However, according to the ice maker 10 as described above, the drainage portion 62 can prevent the propagation of bacteria, and the clogging of the trap 66T can be suppressed satisfactorily.
< modification 1>
Next, modification 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 8. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment, and redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. The water storage tank 160 includes a drain portion 162 that drains the ice making water overflowing from the storage portion 161 to the outside. The drain portion 162 is provided on the right wall portion 61R side of the reservoir portion 161, is in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and has a diameter increasing in the horizontal direction as the diameter increases downward. The drain portion 162 has a V-shape with a tapered tip so that the length in the front-rear direction becomes shorter toward the inside of the reservoir portion 161 when viewed from above. With the above configuration, the drain portion 162 has a shape that does not block ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV sterilizer 90 to the inside of the reservoir 161. A lower opening 162D that forms an opening communicating with the drain passage 66 is provided inside the lower side of the drain portion 162.
< modification 2>
Next, modification 2 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 9. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification, and redundant description of the structure, the operation, and the effect is omitted. The water storage tank 260 includes a storage portion 261, a water discharge portion 62, and a lid portion 63 covering the storage portion 261 and the upper side of the water discharge portion 62. A recovery port 64 connected to the recovery passage 31 is provided in a wall 261F on the front side of the reservoir 261. In the lid portion 263, an inflow portion 268 for allowing ice making water to flow into the storage portion 261 is provided slightly rightward (in the paper surface) above the recovery port portion 64. The inflow portion 268 includes: an inlet 268A opening toward the inside of the reservoir 261; a water supply valve 68C connected to the water supply pipe 53 for supplying tap water from the tap water pipe; and a flow path portion 68B serving as a flow path of water from the water supply valve 68C (from the outside of the water storage tank 260) to the inlet portion 268A. The inflow portion 268 is attached to the cover portion 263 such that the entire inflow portion 268A is inclined rearward so as to face the front wall portion 261F of the storage portion 261. Tap water supplied as ice-making water from water supply valve 68C flows through flow path portion 68B while being bent, and water is injected so that the water flow obliquely contacts wall portion 261F on the front side of storage portion 261 from inflow port 268A. That is, the ice making water flowing into the storage unit 261 from the inlet 268A does not flow downward from the inlet 268A, and is supplied obliquely downward from the inlet 268A. In this way, since the inflow portion 268 is attached to the cover portion 263 in an inclined manner, the ice making water poured obliquely to the wall portion 261F flows quietly down along the front wall portion 261F and is accumulated in the storage portion 261. This can prevent the ice making water stored in the storage unit 261 from fluctuating in water level or from scattering and water droplets from adhering to the UV sterilizer 90, and thus prevent the ultraviolet rays from smoothly contacting the ice making water, thereby preventing the sterilization effect from being reduced.
< modification 3>
Next, modification 3 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 10. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification, and redundant description of the structure, operation, and effects is omitted. The water storage tank 360 includes a water discharge portion 362 for discharging the ice making water overflowing from the storage portion 361 to the outside. The drain 362 is provided outside the right wall 361R of the reservoir 361, and has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. An opening 362U that opens in the left-right direction near the upper end of the drain 362 is provided in the right wall portion 361R of the reservoir 361, and the ice making water stored in the reservoir 361 overflows to the drain 362 over the opening 362U. The opening 362U is disposed at a position having a height in the vertical direction equal to the front end portion 65U of the bulging portion 65 (or equal to or greater than the front end portion 65U of the bulging portion 65).
The lid 63 is provided with a UV sterilizer 90 and a visible light irradiator (visible light irradiator) 394 for irradiating visible light. The visible light irradiation unit 394 irradiates the inside of the storage unit 361 with visible light while the UV sterilizer 90 irradiates ultraviolet light, for example, under the control of the control unit 80 (see fig. 2). At this time, the control unit 80 may flash the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation unit 394. On the other hand, a visual part 369 made of a material (transparent or translucent resin material or the like) that can transmit visible light is provided on the left wall part 61L of the storage part 361. Accordingly, for example, in the side wall portion 12 (see fig. 1) of the ice maker 10, by providing an opening or the like in a portion that becomes the outside of the visible part 369, visible light emitted from the visible light irradiator 394 can be viewed through the visible part 369. According to such an ice maker, the user can easily confirm the operation of UV sterilizer 90 from the outside without detaching water storage tank 360 and the like. Further, for example, by using a material that transmits visible light and blocks ultraviolet light as a material of the visual part 369, it is possible to prevent a user from being exposed to ultraviolet light emitted from the UV sterilizer 90, and to provide an ice maker that can be used safely.
< embodiment 2>
Next, embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 11. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modified examples, and redundant description of the structure, the operation, and the effects is omitted. In water storage tank 460, outflow portion 461A for discharging ice-making water accumulated in storage portion 461 and UV sterilizer 490 arranged near outflow portion 461A (on the front side of the paper plane) are provided at the center portion of wall portion 461D on the lower side of storage portion 461 (bottom surface portion constituting the bottom surface). The bottom surface portion 461D is inclined downward toward the center (toward the outflow portion 461A). When the ice making water is stored in the storage unit 461, the UV sterilizer 490 is submerged in the water, and irradiates ultraviolet rays upward from the bottom of the water in the storage unit 461. The bottom surface 461D has a shape that expands in diameter in the horizontal direction as it goes upward, but the angle of the expansion is smaller than the light distribution angle of the ultraviolet rays of the UV sterilizer 490. According to the ice maker, in the water storage tank 460, the UV sterilizer 90 easily irradiates the entire inner wall of the water storage tank 460 with ultraviolet light from the water on the outflow portion 461A side, and therefore, the ice making water stored in the water storage tank 460 and the inner wall of the water storage tank 460 can be effectively kept clean.
< modification 4>
Next, modification 4 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 12. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification, and redundant description of the structure, operation, and effects is omitted. The reservoir tank 560 includes a reservoir portion 561 and a lid portion 563 covering the reservoir portion 561 and the upper side of the drain portion 62. An inflow portion 568 for allowing ice making water to flow into the reservoir portion 561 is provided below the left wall portion 561L of the reservoir portion 561. The inflow portion 568 includes an inflow port 568A opened to the inside of the reservoir portion 561 and a flow passage 568B connected to a water supply pipe to which tap water is supplied from the tap water pipe. On the other hand, a UV sterilizer 590 is disposed on the inflow portion 568 side of the bottom portion 561D constituting the bottom surface of the reservoir portion 561. When the storage unit 561 stores ice making water, the UV sterilization device 590 is submerged in the water, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the bottom of the water to the upper side in the storage unit 561. Tap water supplied as ice-making water from the tap water pipe flows through the flow path 568B, and is poured from the inflow port 568A toward the vicinity directly above the UV sterilizer 590, and is stored in the storage portion 561. The inflow portion 568 may be provided in the wall 561L so that the ice making water flowing in from the inflow port 568A is directly poured toward the upper surface of the UV sterilizer 590 (the surface to which ultraviolet rays are irradiated into the inside of the reservoir 561). Therefore, the water flow of ice making water flowing in through inlet opening 568A disposed above UV sterilizer 590 can remove dirt such as impurities in ice making water (tap water) adhering to the upper surface of UV sterilizer 590, and thus can suppress a decrease in the sterilization effect of UV sterilizer 590.
< modification 5>
Next, a modification 5 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 13. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification, and redundant description of the structure, the operation, and the effect is omitted. The water storage tank 660 includes a storage portion 661 and a lid portion 663 that covers the storage portion 661 and the upper side of the drain portion 62. The lid 663 is provided with three inflow units 668D, 668E, and 668F for allowing ice-making water to flow into the storage unit 661. The inflow units 668D, 668E, and 668F are arranged in a row in this order from the front, and each includes an inflow port 668A opening into the reservoir 661 and a flow channel 668B connected to a water supply pipe for supplying tap water from the tap water pipe. On the other hand, three UV sterilization devices 690D, 690E, and 690F are disposed on bottom surface portion 661D constituting the bottom surface of storage unit 661. UV sterilization devices 690D, 690E, and 690F are arranged in a row in this order from the front, and when ice-making water is stored in storage unit 661, it is submerged in water, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the bottom of the water to the upper side inside storage unit 661. Inlet 668A of inlet 668D, 668E, and 668F is disposed directly above each of UV sterilization devices 690D, 690E, and 690F. Tap water supplied as ice-making water from a tap water pipe flows through each flow path portion 668B of each inflow portion 668D, 668E, 668F, and is poured from each inflow portion 668A directly above UV sterilization devices 690D, 690E, 690F, and is stored in storage unit 661. At this time, dirt such as impurities in ice making water (tap water) adhering to the surface of UV sterilizers 690D, 690E, and 690F is removed by the flow of ice making water flowing in from inflow units 668D, 668E, and 668F disposed directly above each of UV sterilizers 690D, 690E, and 690F. This can suppress a decrease in the sterilization effect of UV sterilization devices 690D, 690E, and 690F.
< embodiment 3>
Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 14 to 16. In the present embodiment, an auger type ice maker 2010 is exemplified. As shown in fig. 14 and 15, the ice maker 2010 includes an ice making unit 2020, a refrigeration circuit 2040, a water storage tank 2060, an ice storage tank 2070, and a control unit 2080. The ice making unit 2020 includes a water storage portion 2000S for storing ice making water (water) supplied from the water storage tank 2060, and ice is generated by freezing the ice making water stored in the water storage portion 2000S by the refrigeration circuit 2040. The generated ice is transferred to the ice bank 2070 through the passage 2050 and stored in the ice bank 2070. The water storage portion 2000S of the ice making portion 2020 receives the supply of ice making water flowing out from the outflow portion 2063 of the water storage tank 2060 through the supply passage 2030 to be connected to the water storage tank 2060. The water storage portion 2000S is provided separately from the supply passage 2030 and is connected to the water storage tank 2060 through a recovery passage 2031, and a part of the ice making water that is not made by the water storage portion 2000S is caused to flow into the water storage tank 2060 again. The recovery passage 2031 is a different flow passage from the supply passage 2030. The recovery passage 2031 is provided with a pump 2032, and the ice-making water in the water storage portion 2000S is delivered to the water storage tank 2060 by driving the pump 2032. The supply path 2030, the recovery path 2031, and the pump device 2032 are referred to as a circulation mechanism 2033. The control unit 2080 is mainly configured with a computer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and controls operations of the ice making unit 2020, the refrigeration circuit 2040, the pump device 2032, the UV sterilization device 2073, and the like, which will be described later.
The water storage tank 2060 includes: an inflow portion 2061 into which tap water as ice making water flows; a drain 2062 for draining the ice-making water stored inside to the outside; and an outflow portion 2063 connected to the supply passage 2030 and configured to flow out the ice making water stored therein to the ice making portion 2020. The water storage tank 2060 includes: a water storage tank side UV sterilizer 2064 that irradiates the ice-making water stored inside with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice-making water; an ultrasonic sensor 2065 for detecting the water level of the ice making water stored inside. A first drain pipe 2066 is connected to the lower end of the drain portion 2062. On the other hand, a second drain pipe 2067 for discharging water generated by melting ice stored in the ice bank 2070 is connected to the bottom wall 2070B of the ice bank 2070. The first drain pipe 2066 and the second drain pipe 2067 are joined inside the ice maker 2010, and drain to the outside through a check valve trap 2069 provided midway thereof. The check valve trap 2069 can prevent drainage and backflow of gas to the water storage tank 2060 and the ice storage tank 2070, and prevent generation of foreign odor, bacteria, and the like in the interior of the ice maker 2010.
The ice making unit 2020 includes: an ice making mechanism 2020A which generates a main body for generating ice; a drive unit 2020B that drives the ice making mechanism 2020A; and a connecting portion 2020C that mechanically connects the ice making mechanism 2020A and the driving portion 2020B and transmits a driving force of the driving portion 2020B to the ice making mechanism 2020A. As shown in fig. 15 and 16, the ice making mechanism 2020A includes a cylinder (ice making cylinder, cooling cylinder) 2021, an auger 2022, a molding member (stationary blade, compression head) 2023, and a heat insulating material 2024. The cylinder 2021 is made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) and has a cylindrical shape, and an evaporation tube 2044 constituting the refrigeration circuit 2040 is wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof. A water supply port 2021A and a drain port 2021B are provided in the side wall of the cylinder 2021 below the evaporation pipe 2044. The ice making water supplied from the supply passage 2030 is supplied from the water supply port 2021A into the cylinder 2021. The ice making water in the cylinder 2021 is discharged from the water discharge port 2021B to the outside of the cylinder 2021. The heat insulating material 2024 covers the outer surface of the evaporation tube 2044, and improves the cooling effect.
The refrigeration circuit 2040 includes a compressor 2041, a condenser 2042, an expansion valve 2043, and an evaporation pipe 2044, and is configured by connecting these components by a refrigerant pipe 2045. The compressor 2041 compresses a refrigerant gas. The condenser 2042 cools and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas by blowing air from a fan 2046. Expansion valve 2043 expands the liquefied refrigerant. The evaporation pipe 2044 vaporizes the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 2043, and cools the cylinder 2021. The refrigeration circuit 2040 freezes the ice-making water, and causes ice to adhere to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 2021. The refrigeration circuit 2040 further includes a dryer 2047 and a temperature sensor 2048. The dryer 2047 removes moisture mixed in the refrigeration circuit 2040. The temperature sensor 2048 is provided between the condenser 2042 and the dryer 2047, and detects the temperature of the refrigerant.
The auger 2022 constituting the ice making mechanism 2020A has a rod shape extending in the vertical direction, and is inserted into an inner space of the cylinder 2021. The auger 2022 includes an ice shaving blade 2022A having a spiral shape on an outer peripheral surface. The ice shaver 2022A projects from the rod-like body of the auger 2022 toward the inner surface 2021F of the cylinder 2021 to such an extent that the projecting length thereof reaches the inner surface 2021F of the cylinder 2021 by a small amount. The ice shaver 2022A rotates to shave off ice adhering to the inner surface 2021F of the cylinder 2021.
The molding member 2023 is fixed to the upper side of the inside of the cylinder 2021. The molding member 2023 is substantially cylindrical, and the upper portion 2022B of the auger 2022 is inserted into the inside thereof to rotatably hold the auger 2022. The molding member 2023 includes a plurality of plate-shaped divided portions 2023A extending upward and downward radially toward the outer peripheral surface. A space between adjacent divided portions 2023A of the plurality of divided portions 2023A is an ice passage through which ice passes. The ice shaved by the ice shaving blade 2022A is conveyed upward by the rotation of the auger 2022 and is divided by the dividing portion 2023A. The ice is pushed into the ice passage which is a space between the adjacent divided portions 2023A, compressed into a columnar shape, and sent to the passage portion 2050.
As shown in fig. 16, the passage portion 2050 is a cylindrical body provided in a shape that connects the ice making portion 2020 and the ice storage tank 2070, and serves as a passage for ice that moves from the ice making portion 2020 to the inside of the ice storage tank 2070. The passage portion 2050 includes: a spout 2051 coupled to an upper portion of the ice making part 2020; and a coupling pipe 2052 coupled to the right end 2051R of the nozzle 2051 and the side wall 2070A of the ice tank 2070. The nozzle 2051 extends from the upper portion of the ice making unit 2020 to the right in the horizontal direction (the direction toward the ice storage tank 2070). The connecting pipe 2052 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the right end 2051R of the nozzle 2051, and is shaped such that the right end 2051R of the nozzle 2051 is fitted inside the left portion 2052L thereof and the right portion 2052R thereof penetrates the upper side (the upper left side inside the ice storage tank 2070) of the side wall portion 2070A of the ice storage tank 2070. The right side portion 2052R of the connecting pipe 2052 includes an opening 2052R1 that opens toward the inside of the ice bank 2070.
In the ice making section 2020, a rotator (cutter) 2028 that rotates with the auger 2022 with the same rotation axis is attached to the upper side of the molding member 2023. The rotating body 2028 is provided with a protrusion 2029 protruding in the horizontal direction. The ice making unit 2020 is coupled to the nozzle 2051 such that the rotator 2028 enters the inside of the nozzle 2051. The upper portion of the divided portion 2023A is a discharge port portion 2027, and the discharge port portion 2027 is an opening through which the columnar ice passing through the space (ice passage path) between the adjacent divided portions 2023A is discharged into the nozzle 2051. The columnar ice discharged into the nozzle 2051 through the discharge port portion 2027 is cut into a predetermined length by the protrusion 2029 of the rotating cutter 2028, and is sequentially discharged into the ice storage tank 2070 through the connecting pipe 2052 from the opening 2052R 1.
As shown in fig. 15 and 16, the ice storage tank 2070 is disposed on the right of the ice making unit 2020. The ice bank 2070 includes a side wall part 2070A as a side wall part, a bottom wall part 2070B as a lower wall part constituting a bottom surface, and an upper wall part 2070C constituting an upper wall part. The inner surfaces of the wall portions 2070A, 2070B and 2070C are made of metal such as aluminum, for example, and ultraviolet rays can be reflected inside the ice storage tank 2070. The bottom wall 2070B includes a bottom wall mouth 2070B1 serving as an opening connected to the second drain pipe 2067, and the inner surface thereof has an inclined surface shape inclined downward toward the bottom wall mouth 2070B 1.
The upper wall 2070C includes an ultrasonic sensor (ice detection device) 2071 for detecting the height of ice stored in the ice tank 2070 by ultrasonic waves, and a spray nozzle 2072 for spraying a cleaning liquid for cleaning bacteria, dirt, and the like into the ice tank 2070, and the surface of the inner side of the upper wall has an inclined surface shape that is inclined upward (outward) as it goes toward the spray nozzle 2072. The ultrasonic sensor 2071 is arranged between the injection nozzle 2072 and the opening 2052R1 of the connecting pipe 2052. The jetting nozzle 2072 has a semicircular sectional shape with a hemispherical lower part 2072B, and can jet cleaning liquid to clean the wall parts 2070A, 2070B and 2070C by its rotation. The spray nozzle 2072 is disposed such that a lower part 2072B thereof is positioned in the horizontal direction of the opening 2052R1 and a UV sterilizer 2073 described later, and can spray a cleaning liquid from the opening 2052R1 to the inside of the connecting pipe 2052 and the nozzle 2051 and the UV sterilizer 2073 for cleaning. The cleaning liquid jetted from the jetting nozzles 2072 may be supplied from the ice-making water stored in the water storage tank 2060. A circular wall 2071C is provided around the ultrasonic sensor 2071, which is formed to rise downward from the upper wall 2070C, that is, to have a circular shape with the ultrasonic sensor 2071 as the center when viewed from below. The upper wall portion 2070C enables the cleaning liquid ejected from the ejection nozzles 2072 to flow along the side wall portion 2070A.
The side wall portion 2070A includes a UV sterilizer 2073 that irradiates ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice. The UV sterilizer 2073 may be configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays with a wavelength ranging from 253nm to 285 nm. UV sterilizer 2073 is arranged such that the ultraviolet irradiation range thereof is included at least in the movement of the ice moving through passage 2050. Specifically, the UV sterilizer 2073 is provided at a position facing the opening 2052R1, and connects the opening 2052R1 of the tube 2052 and the rotor 2028 of the ice maker 2020 to the right in the horizontal direction (at a position facing the opening 2052R 1). The UV sterilizer 2073 may be disposed on the right side in the horizontal direction of the center (center in the vertical direction) of the diameter of the nozzle 2051 and the connecting pipe 2052. Further, the UV sterilizer 2073 may be disposed on an extension line of the traveling direction of the ice moving inside the passage 2050. The rotator 2028, the ultrasonic sensor 2071, the jetting nozzle 2072 and the UV sterilizer 2073 of the ice making unit 2020 are arranged on the same plane so that the positions in the depth direction of the paper surface become the same. UV sterilizer 2073 irradiates ultraviolet rays toward the inside of passage part 2050, spray nozzle 2072, and wall parts 2070A, 2070B and 2070C.
Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, an ice maker is shown, which includes an ice making unit 2020 for freezing water to produce ice, an ice storage tank 2070 capable of storing ice therein, a passage portion 2050 provided to connect the ice making unit 2020 and the ice storage tank 2070 and serving as a passage for ice moving from the ice making unit 2020 to the inside of the ice storage tank 2070, and a UV sterilizer 2073 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice, wherein the UV sterilizer 2073 is disposed so that the ultraviolet ray irradiation range thereof is included at least in the middle of the movement of the ice moving in the passage portion 2050.
According to such an ice maker, the ice made by the ice making unit 2020 is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer 2073 while the ice making unit 2020 moves into the ice storage tank 2070 through the passage 2050. This allows hygienic ice to be stored in the ice bank 2070 and provided to the user.
Further, the passage part 2050 includes an opening part 2052r1 opened toward the inside of the ice bank 2070, and the uv sterilizer 2073 is arranged in the ice bank 2070 at a position facing the opening part 2052R 1. According to such an ice maker, since ultraviolet rays can be irradiated from the ice storage tank 2070 side to the inside of the passage 2050 through the opening 2052R1, ice moving toward the ice storage tank 2070 side in the passage 2050 can be sterilized effectively. When the user takes out ice from the ice storage tank 2070 with a small shovel or the like, germs are easily generated in the ice stored in the ice storage tank 2070, the inside of the ice storage tank 2070, and the passage part 2050 connected to the ice storage tank 2070. However, according to the ice maker as described above, ice stored in the ice storage tank 2070, the passage part 2050, and the inside of the ice storage tank 2070 itself are sterilized, and ice kept in a sanitary state can be provided.
Further, ice bank 2070 is configured to reflect ultraviolet rays from the inner wall, and UV sterilizer 2073 is disposed so that the ultraviolet irradiation range thereof includes inner walls 2070A, 2070B and 2070C of ice bank 2070. According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays radiated from the UV sterilizer 2073 are preferably reflected by the wall parts 2070A, 2070B and 2070C inside the ice bank 2070, and can reach the corners inside the ice bank 2070, such as the part of the injection nozzle 2072 opposite to the UV sterilizer 2073.
< embodiment 4>
Next, embodiment 4 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 17 to 19. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those in the above-described embodiment, and redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. As shown in fig. 17, the ice maker 2200 includes: an upper side portion 2201 having an ice making portion 2220 and a passage portion 2250; the ice maker 2200 has a lower side 2202 having an ice storage tank 2270 and provided below the upper side 2201, and is formed in a box shape having a length in the vertical direction as a whole. The ice making unit 2220 includes: an ice making mechanism 2220A that becomes a main body for generating ice; a drive unit 2020B that drives the ice making mechanism 2220A; and a coupling portion 2020C that mechanically couples ice making mechanism 2220A and drive portion 2020B and transmits a driving force of drive portion 2020B to ice making mechanism 2220A. Ice bank 2270 is disposed below ice making unit 2220 and passage 2250. The resulting ice 2000I is stored in an ice storage tank 2270.
As shown in fig. 18, the passage 2250 is a cylindrical body provided to connect the ice making unit 2220 to the ice storage 2270, and serves as a passage for ice moving from the ice making unit 2220 to the inside of the ice storage 2270. The passage 2250 includes a nozzle 2251 connected to an upper portion of the ice making unit 2220, a chute (also referred to as a connecting pipe or an upper and lower passage) 2252 connected to a lower right end 2251R of the nozzle 2251 and an upper wall 2270A as an upper wall of the ice storage tank 2270. Chute 2252 has a shape extending vertically to the right of ice making unit 2220, and has its upper end 2252A fitted to lower right end 2251R of spout 2251. A lower end 2252D of the slide groove 2252 penetrates an upper wall 2270A, which is an upper wall of the ice storage tank 2270, and opens toward the inside of the ice storage tank 2270.
The nozzle 2251 includes an upper wall 2251A as an upper wall and a side wall 2251B as a right side wall. Further, the nozzle 2251 includes: a lower wall part 2251C that connects the discharge port part 2227 of the ice making part 2220 as a lower wall part opposite to the upper wall part 2251A; a sloped wall 2251D is disposed on the right side of the lower wall 2251C and forms a slope that slopes downward toward the side wall 2251B. The rotating body 2228 and the projection 2229 of the ice making unit 2220 are located above the lower wall 2251C and enter the inside of the nozzle 2251. The columnar ice discharged into the ejection port 2251 through the discharge port 2227 of the ice making unit 2220 is cut into a predetermined length by the projection 2229 of the rotating rotor 2228, and slides down the inclined wall 2251D toward the chute 2252. The ice drops inside chute 2252 and is sequentially discharged into ice storage tank 2270.
Fig. 19 is a view of the outlet portion 2227 as viewed from directly above, and shows a plurality of UV sterilization devices 2273 in cross section. The upper portion 2022B of the auger 2022 is inserted into an annular portion 2223B, which is an annular portion, in the forming member 2223. The annular portion 2223B holds the auger 2022 to be rotatable. The shaping member 2223 includes a plurality of plate-shaped divided portions 2223A (portions indicated by dots) extending radially from the annular portion 2223B and extending in the depth direction of the sheet (in fig. 18, the vertical direction). A space between adjacent divided portions 2223A of the plurality of divided portions 2223A is set as an ice passage path 2000P through which ice passes. The discharge port portion 2227 is a portion above the dividing portion 2223A and the ice passage path 2000P, and has a circular shape when viewed from above. As shown in fig. 18 and 19, the ice shaved by the ice shaving blade 2022A is conveyed upward by the rotation of the auger 2022 and is divided by the dividing portion 2223A. The ice is pushed into the ice passage 2000P, which is a space between the adjacent divided portions 2223A, compressed into a columnar shape, and discharged into the nozzle 2251 through the discharge port portion 2227.
On the inner surface side of the upper wall 2251A, a plurality of UV sterilization devices 2273 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize ice are provided at positions directly above the discharge port 2227 of the ice making unit 2220 (positions facing the discharge port 2227). When viewed from above, the plurality of UV sterilization devices 2273 are arranged so as to be entirely circular, overlapping the plurality of dividing portions 2223A and the plurality of ice passage paths 2000P. The plurality of UV sterilization devices 2273 may be disposed at positions (facing positions) directly above the plurality of dividing portions 2223A and the plurality of ice passage paths 2000P.
Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the ice making unit 2220 includes a discharge port 2227 as an opening for discharging the generated ice to the discharge port 2251, and the uv sterilizer 2273 is disposed at a position facing the discharge port 2227 in the discharge port 2251. According to the ice maker 2200, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilization device 2273 can reach the inside of the ice making unit 2220 through the discharge port 2227, and can be efficiently sterilized.
In addition, the outlet portion 2227 includes a plurality of dividing portions 2223A that divide the generated ice, and the uv sterilizer is disposed at a position facing the plurality of dividing portions 2223A in the nozzle 2251. According to the ice maker 2200, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer 2273 can reach the inside of the ice making unit 2220 through the ice passage path 2000P between the dividing units 2223A, and can be sterilized efficiently.
< modification 6>
Next, modification 6 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 20. In the present modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment, and the redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. A UV sterilizer 2373 that irradiates ultraviolet rays to sterilize ice is provided on the upper wall 2251A of the nozzle 2351 in the passage 2350. UV sterilizer 2373 is disposed directly above between lower wall 2251C and inclined wall 2251D. Further, the upper wall portion 2251A of the nozzle 2351 is provided with a wall-shaped rising portion 2374 rising downward from the inner wall surface of the upper wall portion 2251A. The rising portion 2374 is disposed on the left side of the UV sterilizer 2373, and between the UV sterilizer 2373 and the outlet portion 2227. According to such an ice maker, the rising portion 2374 can prevent fine ice or water that is scattered by the ice discharged from the discharge port portion 2227 being broken when moving inside the discharge port 2351, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the sterilization effect due to insufficient irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the fine ice or water adhering to the UV sterilizer 2373.
< modification 7>
Next, a modification 7 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 21. In the present modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above embodiment, and the redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. A UV sterilizer 2473 for sterilizing ice by irradiating ultraviolet rays is provided on the upper wall 2251A of the spout 2451 in the passage 2450. On the other hand, in the ice making portion 2420, a rotating body (cutter) 2428 which rotates with the auger 2022 at the same rotation axis and cuts the generated ice by rotation is provided on the upper side of the forming member 2223. A reflection unit 2429 made of metal such as aluminum and reflecting ultraviolet rays is provided on the rotation body 2428. The reflection part 2429 has an asymmetrical shape on the left and right sides, and rotates together with the rotator 2428 on the same rotation axis. According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer 2473 are reflected by the reflection part 2429 rotating together with the rotating body, and can be diffused in multiple directions. This allows ultraviolet light to reach a relatively wide range inside the discharge port 2227, the spout 2451, and the like. In the present modification, the ice maker is configured such that the ice storage tank 2270 is disposed below the ice making unit 2420 and the passage unit 2450, as in embodiment 4, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the ice maker may be configured such that the ice bank is disposed above the ice making unit and the rotator enters the ice bank. In this case, the UV sterilizer may be installed inside the ice bank as in embodiment 3.
< modification 8>
Next, a modification 8 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 22. In the present modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment, and the redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. UV sterilizer 2573 for sterilizing ice by irradiating ultraviolet rays is provided in upper wall portion 2551A of spout port 2551 of passage portion 2550. On the other hand, the ice making unit 2520 is provided with a tubular gas flow passage 2522C that vertically communicates the inside of the auger 2522. The gas flow path 2522C connects the inside of the nozzle opening 2551 of the passage portion 2550 to the inside of the cylinder 2021, and allows gas to flow therein. The gas flow path 2522C includes a cylinder side opening 2522C1 that opens to the cylinder 2021 side and a discharge port side opening (gas flow port) 2522C2 that opens to the discharge port 2551 side. The outlet side opening 2522C2 is provided at the center of the rotary body 2528 in the horizontal direction, and forms a part of the outlet portion 2527. UV sterilizer 2573 is disposed at a position (facing position) directly above spout-side opening 2522C2. According to such an ice maker, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilizer 2573 can reach the inside of the gas flow passage 2522C through the outlet opening 2522C2, and generation of bacteria growing inside the gas flow passage 2522C can be suppressed, which is preferable.
< embodiment 5>
Next, embodiment 5 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 23. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those in the above-described embodiment, and redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. The ice maker 2600 includes: an upper portion 2601 including an ice making portion 2220 and a passage portion 2650; an ice storage tank 2270 is provided, and a lower side 2202 is provided below the upper side 2601. The passage portion 2650 includes: a nozzle 2651 coupled to an upper portion of the ice making part 2220; a chute (upper and lower passage portion) 2652 connected to the nozzle 2651. Chute 2652 has a shape extending in the vertical direction on the right side of ice making unit 2220, and has its upper end fitted into right lower end 2651R of spout 2651. A lower end 2652D of the slide groove 2652 penetrates the upper wall 2270A, which is an upper wall of the ice tank 2270, and opens into the ice tank 2270. The columnar ice discharged into the ejection port 2651 through the ice making unit 2220 drops into the chute 2652 and is sequentially discharged into the ice storage tank 2270.
The chute 2652 includes a recessed portion 2653 recessed in a concave shape toward the ice making portion 2220 (outer side) at a central portion in the vertical direction. A UV detection device 2674 for detecting ultraviolet rays is provided in the recess 2653. A UV sterilizer 2673 that irradiates ultraviolet light to sterilize ice is provided on a wall portion inside chute 2652 at a position facing UV detector 2674.
According to the ice maker 2600, ice falling from the chute 2652 is sterilized by the UV sterilizer 2673, and the falling of the ice can be detected by the UV detector 2674. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the ice storage tank 2270 is in an abnormal state, such as a state in which ice is stored excessively or a state in which ice cannot fall down through the chute 2652. Further, by providing UV detection device 2674 in recess 2653, it is possible to suppress the situation in which the operation of each device is hindered by insufficient irradiation or detection of ultraviolet rays due to fine ice or water scattering and adhering to UV detection device 2674 when ice falls in chute 2652.
Further, an ice detecting device 2675 for detecting the height of ice stored in the ice bank 2270 is provided on the lower end 2652D side of the chute 2652. According to the ice maker 2600, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not an abnormal state such as a state in which ice is excessively stored in the ice storage tank 2270 is present.
In addition to the above-described embodiments, the ice maker may be configured such that the UV sterilization device is disposed in the recess portion and the UV detection device is disposed at a position facing the UV sterilization device. Further, in addition to the above embodiments, the ice detecting device may be provided to the spout. Further, when the ice making unit is operated without the ice storage tank storing ice excessively, the control unit may notify the user of the ice making unit of an abnormality by sounding a buzzer or the like when the UV detection device does not detect the dropping of ice.
< modification 9>
Next, a modification 9 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 24. In the present modification, the same reference numerals are used for the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment, and the redundant description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted. The ice maker 2700 includes: an upper portion 2201 including an ice making portion 2220 and a passage 2250; an ice storage tank 2770 is provided on the lower side 2702 of the upper side 2201. An upper wall portion 2770A, which is an upper wall portion of the lower portion 2702, is provided with an ice storage tank side UV sterilization device 2773 that irradiates ultraviolet rays to sterilize ice, and a UV detection device 2774 that detects ultraviolet rays. Such a configuration is preferable because the height of the ice 2000I stored in the ice bank 2770 can be detected. The ice-storage-tank-side UV sterilizer 2773 according to the present modification is provided separately from the UV sterilizer provided in the nozzle 2251 (see embodiment 4 described above).
A door portion 2703 that can be opened by being turned outward is provided in the lower portion 2702. The door portion 2703 has a grip portion 2704 extending in the depth direction of the drawing sheet at the upper end thereof. The user of the ice maker 2700 can take out the ice 2000I stored in the ice bank 2770 with a small shovel or the like by gripping the grip portion 2704 and opening the door portion 2703. The grip portion 2704 is in a cross-sectional hook shape extending upward from the upper end portion of the door portion 2703 and returning the front end thereof outward downward. A lower end portion of the grip portion 2704 is provided with a grip portion side UV sterilizer 2775 that irradiates ultraviolet rays upward (the upper front end of the grip portion 2704). The holding unit-side UV sterilizer 2775 has a long shape extending in the depth direction of the paper, and a plurality of LEDs for irradiating ultraviolet rays are arranged on a strip-shaped base. As the grip-side UV sterilizer 2775, a bar lamp type LED module or a strip lamp module using a flexible base can be used. In the holding part-side UV sterilizer 2775, a material having a relatively high ultraviolet transmittance such as quartz glass or calcium fluoride is preferably used for the portion through which ultraviolet rays pass. The grip-side UV sterilizer 2775 is not limited to the lower end of the grip 2704, and may be disposed at the upper front end of the grip 2704. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent bacteria from growing on the grip portion 2704 gripped by the user, and to keep the grip portion 2704 in a clean state. In addition, a plurality of LEDs (visible light LEDs) for emitting visible light may be further disposed in the holding portion side UV sterilizer 2775. In this case, the controller may change the color and brightness of the visible light LED according to the state of the ice maker 2700 (ice making, ice storage tank full of ice, abnormal stop, or state requiring cleaning of the inside).
EXAMPLE 6
The technique disclosed herein will be described with reference to fig. 25 to 31 as appropriate. In the drawings, reference numerals F, rr, L, R, U, and D denote front and rear sides in the front-rear direction, left and right sides in the width direction, and upper and lower sides in the vertical direction, respectively, of the ice maker. However, the above directions are merely directions determined for convenience and should not be construed restrictively.
< Ice making machine >
As shown in fig. 26, the ice maker 3001 of the present embodiment is configured to house an ice making unit 3005, an ice storage unit 3030, a water supply/drainage mechanism 3040 connected to these units, and a control device 3100 (see fig. 27) in a box-shaped housing 3003 that is vertically long as a whole as shown in fig. 25. The ice making unit 3005 includes a freezing unit 3010 and an ice making unit 3020, and ice making can be prepared on the inner surface of the cylinder 3021 by cooling the cylinder 3021 of the ice making unit 3020 from the outside by the freezing unit 3010. Ice is made by supplying ice making water into the cylinder 3021 by the water supply and drainage mechanism 3040, and the ice is transported to the ice storage portion 3030. An operation panel 3150 for instructing and setting various operations of the ice maker 3001 by a user is provided on the front surface of the housing 3003, and an air vent 3004 for promoting air blowing in the refrigeration unit 3010 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 3003. Hereinafter, each constituent element will be described.
First, the freezer unit 3010 is an element for cooling the cylinder 3021 of the ice-making unit 3020, which will be described later, to a predetermined ice-making temperature, and as shown in fig. 26, includes a compressor 3011, a condenser 3012, an expansion valve 3013, an evaporation tube 3014, and a refrigerant tube 3015 that accommodates and circulates a refrigerant between them. The compressor 3011 compresses a refrigerant gas and sends the compressed gas to the refrigerant pipe 3015. The condenser 3012 cools and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas fed into the refrigerant pipe 3015 at substantially constant pressure by blowing air from fans 3016 arranged in parallel. The expansion valve 3013 decompresses and expands the liquefied compressed refrigerant. The evaporation pipe 3014 is a refrigerant pipe 3015 on the downstream side of the expansion valve 3013, and is wound around the outer surface of the cylinder 3021 without a gap. In the evaporation pipe 3014, as the expanded liquefied refrigerant vaporizes, heat is absorbed from the surface of the cylinder 3021 to cool the cylinder 3021. The refrigerant gas vaporized in the evaporation pipe 3014 passes through the refrigerant pipe 3015 and is sent to the compressor 3011 again.
By such a freezing cycle, the freezing unit 3010 cools the ice making portion (the portion around which the refrigerant pipe 3015 is wound) of the cylinder 3021 to the ice making temperature. The refrigerating unit 3010 includes a heat insulating material 3018, a dryer not shown, and a temperature sensor not shown, and the heat insulating material 3018 covers the evaporation pipe 3014 from the outside to improve the cooling effect of the cylinder 3021. The dryer is provided downstream of the condenser 3012 and removes water mixed in the freezing unit 3010. The temperature sensors are provided in a portion where the winding of the evaporation tube 3014 is completed and a portion on the downstream side of the condenser 3012 and on the upstream side of the dryer, and detect the temperature of the refrigerant at each position. The compressor 3011, the condenser 3012, the expansion valve 3013, the fan 3016, the dryer, and the temperature sensor in the refrigeration unit 3010 are electrically connected to the control device 3100.
The ice making unit 3020 is an element for forming ice, and includes, as shown in fig. 26, a cylinder 3021, an auger 3022, a forming portion 3023, a sealing portion 3026, and a driving portion 3027. The cylinder 3021 is formed in a cylindrical shape by a metal such as stainless steel, and a cylindrical axis thereof is provided in the vertical direction. The evaporation tube 3014 of the freezer unit 3010 is wound tightly around the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 3021 except for both ends in the vertical direction without a gap, thereby constructing the ice making section. At the lower end of the cylinder 3021, a water supply port and a water discharge port are provided in the cylinder wall, and ice making water can be supplied into the cylinder 3021 or can be discharged from the cylinder 3021 by connecting to a water supply and discharge mechanism 3040 described later.
The auger 3022 is a cutting tool having a helical ice shaver 3022B on the circumferential surface of a cylindrical rotary shaft portion 3022A, and is housed in the cylinder 3021 such that the rotary shaft of the rotary shaft portion 3022A is concentric with the central axis of the cylinder 3021. The ice shaver 3022B is provided to protrude from the circumferential surface of the rotary shaft portion 3022A toward the inner surface of the cylinder 3021 in a range corresponding to the ice making portion of the cylinder 3021 in the vertical direction, and the protruding dimension thereof is set to a level slightly reaching the cylinder 3021. The lower end of the auger 3022 is connected to the driving portion 3027. Specifically, the driving unit 3027 includes a gear motor, a gear train, and an output shaft, which are not shown, and the lower end of the auger 3022 is mechanically connected to the output shaft. The seal section 3026 is constituted by a rotary ring member fitted around the lower end of the auger 3022, a stationary ring member fitted around the output shaft and fixed to the drive section 3027, and a secondary seal member that seals each section watertight, and functions as a mechanical seal that seals off the space between the drive section 3027 and the water supply area inside the cylinder 3021 without impairing the rotational power. When the geared motor of the driver 3027 is rotationally driven, power is transmitted to the output shaft through the gear train, and the auger 3022 rotates. The rotation of the auger 3022 causes the ice shaving blade 3022B to sequentially shave off ice formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 3021, and the shaved sherbet-like ice is transferred to the upper side of the cylinder 3021 so as to be placed on the blade flank of the helical ice shaving blade 3022B.
The forming portion 3023 is a substantially cylindrical body housed in the upper end portion of the cylinder 3021 to rotatably support the upper end bearing of the auger 3022, and forms ice conveyed by the auger 3022 by cooperation with the cylinder 3021. A plurality of grooves serving as ice forming passages are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the forming portion 3023 along the axial direction of the cylinder 3021. The sherbet-like ice conveyed upward by the auger 3022 is pressed into an ice forming passage formed by the inner surface of the cylinder 3021 and the groove on the outer peripheral surface of the forming portion 3023, and is dehydrated and formed into a columnar shape. The driving portion 3027 in the ice making unit 3020 is electrically connected to the control device 3100.
As shown in fig. 26, an ice storage portion 3030 according to the present embodiment is disposed above an ice making unit 3020, and is configured mainly of a bottomed box-shaped storage tank 3031 having an upper opening and a lid 3033 closing the upper opening of the storage tank 3031, which is substantially cylindrical. The inside of the storage tank 3031 and the lid 3033 is filled with a heat insulating material, and has heat insulation properties to suppress melting of ice stored in the ice storage space surrounded by the storage tank 3031 and the lid 3033. The ice bank 3030 is connected to the upper end of the cylinder 3021 of the ice making unit 3005 at the bottom of the hopper 3031 in a watertight manner, and ice formed by the ice forming passage is transferred into the hopper 3031 by the auger 3022. The storage tank 3031 has a drain hole 3032 and a drip plate portion 3037 at its bottom. The drain hole 3032 is provided in the peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion, and the bottom portion is inclined downward toward the drain hole 3032. The drip plate portion 3037 has a disc shape having a plurality of through holes, and supports ice at a position spaced upward from the bottom portion in order to avoid contact with water accumulated in the bottom portion. The drip plate portion 3037 slightly rises upward from the outer periphery of the cylinder 3021, and then descends to the outer peripheral side along the slope of the bottom portion.
The hopper 3031 is provided with a stirrer 3036 therein, and is coaxially fixed to the upper end of the auger 3022 so as to penetrate the center of the drip plate portion 3037. The agitator 3036 is a rotating body including a shaft portion connected to the auger 3022 and a plurality of agitating bars (an example of an agitating member) extending in different directions from the shaft portion toward the wall surface of the storage container, and the lower end of the shaft portion is formed into a tapered surface by expanding its diameter at a predetermined position. The ice shaped into a columnar shape by the shaped portion 3023 is discharged by the auger 3022, pressed against the tapered surface of the agitator 3036, cut into a predetermined length, and stored in the drip plate portion 3037. The beater 3036 rotates in conjunction with the auger 3022, and the ice stored in the hopper 3031 is beaten by the beater, thereby preventing the ice from being deposited on each other and becoming ice cubes.
An ice discharge port 3034C and an electric shutter 3034B are provided on the front surface side of the hopper 3031, and an ice discharge button 3034A is provided on the operation panel 3150. The ice discharge button 3034A and the electric shutter 3034B are electrically connected to the control device 3100, and the user presses the ice discharge button 3034A to give an ice discharge command to the control device 3100, whereby the control device 3100 drives the driver 3027 for a predetermined time to open the electric shutter 3034B. Accordingly, the agitator 3036 rotates, and the ice in the storage tank 3031 slides on the upper surface of the drip plate portion 3037, is transferred to the ice discharge port 3034C, and is discharged to the outside from the ice discharge port 3034C.
The cover 3033 is provided with a disk-shaped ice amount sensor 3035, and the ice amount sensor 3035 is electrically connected to the control device 3100. The ice amount sensor 3035 is suspended from the center of the cover 3033 and is vertically displaceable above the storage tank 3031. The ice amount sensor 3035 is pressed upward by an increase in the amount of ice stored in the hopper 3031, and when the amount of ice reaches a predetermined level to reach a full ice state, a non-illustrated readout switch is input to detect the full ice state.
The water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 is an element for supplying and draining water, such as ice making water or cleaning water, to the ice making unit 3005, and is generally configured to include a water storage tank 3041 for storing water, a tubular water supply passage and drainage passage, a valve body, and the like, which will be described later, as shown in fig. 26. The water storage tank 3041 includes a case 3042 which is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container having an upper opening, and a lid 3043 which covers the opening of the case 3042, and an overflow drain port which is provided in one corner of the case 3042 and discharges water exceeding a predetermined water level is provided in the case 3042.
More specifically, the lid 3043 of the storage tank 3041 is connected to a first water supply path S1 via a water supply valve Vs, and water can be supplied to the storage tank 3041 from an external source such as a water pipe through the first water supply path S1. The water storage tank 3041 is disposed above the cylinder 3021, and a water passage port provided in the bottom of the water storage tank 3041 is connected to the water supply port of the cylinder 3021 by a second water supply passage S2. This allows the water to flow through the water storage tank 3041 and the cylinder 3021 without a water head difference.
On the other hand, a first drain passage D1 is connected to a drain port of the cylinder 3021, and the first drain passage D1 communicates with a main drain passage D4 via a drain valve Vd. The water in the first drain passage D1 is sent to the main drain passage D4 by opening the drain valve Vd. A second drain passage D2 is connected to the overflow/drain port 3045 of the storage tank 3041, and the second drain passage D2 communicates with the main drain passage D4 on the downstream side thereof. The third drain passage D3 is connected to the drain hole 3032 of the ice bank 3030, and the third drain passage D3 communicates with the main drain passage D4 on the downstream side thereof. A check valve Vt is provided downstream of a communication point of the main drain passage D4 communicating with the first drain passage D1, the second drain passage D2, and the third drain passage D3, and the drain from the ice maker 3001 is drained to the external drain passage through the main drain passage D4.
The cover 3043 includes a water amount sensor 3048 and an ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. The water amount sensor 3048 of the present embodiment is an ultrasonic sensor that can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the bottom of the water storage tank 3041, and detects the amount of water stored in the water storage tank 3041 (oversize) without contact based on the time difference from transmission to reception of the ultrasonic waves reflected at the water surface of the water stored in the water storage tank 3041. The water amount sensor 3048 is provided at a position slightly spaced upward from the inner surface of the cover 3043, and can detect with high accuracy even an ultrasonic wave reflected from the water surface of the water storage tank 3041 corresponding to the highest predetermined water storage level.
The ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 is an element for generating ultraviolet light, and as a light source of ultraviolet light, at least one of a discharge lamp such as a mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp and an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) can be used. The ultraviolet light generated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3050 may be, for example, ultraviolet light (UV) having a wavelength of about 200nm or more and 300nm or less and having a bactericidal action, typically, about 220nm or more and 280nm or less, and further, deep ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 253nm or more and 285nm or less and exhibiting a high bactericidal action is preferably contained in a large amount. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 in the present embodiment includes a deep ultraviolet UV-LED as a light source. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can irradiate ultraviolet rays at a wide angle downward and can irradiate ultraviolet rays over a wide range in the water storage tank 3041. This enables the inside of the water storage tank 3041 and the water stored in the water storage tank 3041 to be reliably irradiated with ultraviolet light. The member of the ice maker 3001 disposed in the ultraviolet irradiation range by the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is made of a weather-resistant synthetic resin such as an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate, or a vinyl chloride resin, or a metal material.
The operation panel 3150 includes a display unit 3152 (see fig. 27) capable of displaying, for example, state information of each unit of the ice maker 3001, operation conditions of the ice maker 3001, and the like, an input unit 3154 (see fig. 27) for instructing and setting various operations of the ice maker 3001, and the like. The operation panel 3150 may be configured to be detachable from the ice maker 3001, for example. The display portion 3152 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or the like, and displays text, images, and the like in accordance with an instruction from the control device 3100. The display unit is an example of the notification means in the present technology. The input unit 3154 is a user interface used by a user to input an instruction to the control device 3100, and is configured by, for example, an operation button, a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like. The user can input information, operation conditions, and an operation instruction about the installation state of the ice maker 3001 from the input unit. The ice discharge button 3034A is an example of the input portion 3154.
In ice maker 3001 described above, control device 3100 controls operations of ice making unit 3005, ice storage unit 3030, and water supply and drainage mechanism 3040. The configuration of the control device 3100 is not particularly limited, and, for example, as shown in fig. 27, the control device 3100 is mainly configured by a microcomputer including an interface (I/F) for transmitting and receiving various kinds of information and the like from and from the outside, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for executing a command of a control program, a ROM (read only memory) for storing a program to be executed by the CPU, a RAM (random access memory) for use as a work area for developing the program, a storage unit 3000M for storing various kinds of information, a timer 3000T having a timer function, and the like, and the control device 3100 is communicably connected to each unit of the ice maker 3001 via wire or wireless. The control device 3100 is mainly housed in a control box, not shown, provided behind the stocker 3031. Control device 3100 further includes an ice making operation control portion 3110 and an ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120, and each of ice making operation control portion 3110 and ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 may be partially or entirely configured by hardware such as a processor and an electric circuit, or may be functionally realized by a CPU executing a program or the like.
The ice making operation controller 3110 controls each part of the ice maker 3001 to perform the following ice making operation.
First, the freezer unit 3010 is driven to cool the ice making portion of the cylinder 3021 to a predetermined ice making temperature. Next, it is checked by the ice amount sensor 3035 whether or not ice is stored in the stocker 3031 in a full ice state as an ice making limiting amount, and when the stocker 3031 is not in the full ice state, the ice making unit 3020 and the water supply drainage mechanism 3040 are driven to perform ice making until the full ice state of the stocker 3031 is detected by the ice amount sensor 3035. Specifically, the water supply valve Vs is opened with the drain valve Vd closed while the water storage level of the water storage tank 3041 is detected by the water amount sensor 3048 and the ice storage amount of the storage tank 3031 is detected by the ice amount sensor 3035, and water is stored in the water storage tank 3041 until the water storage level reaches a predetermined ice making maximum water level. When the water storage is completed, the water supply valve Vs is closed to drive the ice making unit 3020 (drive unit 3027). During this time, if the water storage level falls to the predetermined ice making minimum water level, the water supply valve Vs is opened, and when the water storage level rises to the ice making maximum water level, the water supply valve Vs is closed, and the water level control is continued. The above ice making operation continues until the ice amount sensor 3035 detects a full ice state of the stocker 3031. While the ice amount sensor 3035 detects the ice-full state of the stocker 3031, ice making is waited for. Then, as the ice is consumed, the ice making operation is restarted when the ice storage amount in the storage tank 3031 is reduced to a predetermined operation restart position by the ice amount sensor 3035. The ice making operation control unit 3110 of the present embodiment starts, for example, according to an ice making operation program based on the time measured by the timer 3000T or by a user inputting an operation start instruction from an input unit.
The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 controls the irradiation amount of the UV light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. Since the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 emits ultraviolet light with a varying amount of current, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 drives the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 by supplying a high-speed pulse current to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, and controls (adjusts) the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 by changing the pulse width of the supplied pulse current. For example, as shown in fig. 28, the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 of the present embodiment includes a current control portion 3121 and an electronic circuit portion 3122 (a portion surrounded by a dotted line in fig. 28), and the electronic circuit portion 3122 is disposed in the vicinity of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, for example, by being mounted on a substrate. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is electrically connected to the drive power supply 3009 outside the ice maker 3001 via the electronic circuit portion 3122. The electronic circuit portion 3122 is electrically connected to the current control portion 3121, and is driven in accordance with a signal transmitted from the current control portion 3121.
Here, an electronic circuit of the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 will be described. As shown in fig. 28, the power supply lines extending from the driving power supply 3009 generally include a first power supply line LB1 and a second power supply line LB2. Here, the second power supply line LB2 supplies power from the driving power supply 3009 to the main portion of the electronic circuit portion 3122 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. A switch 3123 (contact portion) is provided in the second power supply line LB2, and the second power supply line LB2 is opened and closed by the switch 3123. Then, the first power supply line LB1 supplies electric power from the driving power supply 3009 to the ice making operation control portion 3110 of the control device 3100, the current control portion 3121 of the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120, the electromagnetic coil C that operates the opening and closing of the shutter 3123, and other portions of the ice making machine 3001. First power supply line LB1 is provided with a switch SW (e.g., a main power switch) that is opened and closed by a mechanical operation. When switch SW is turned on, electric power is supplied to control device 3100, and ice maker 3001 can be operated.
The switching element Q3 in the electronic circuit portion 3122 is a load switch that switches on/off the energization of the contact relay constituted by the shutter 3123 and the electromagnetic coil C. In the present embodiment, an N-channel FET (field effect transistor) is used as the switching element Q3, and the switching element Q3 is disposed on the ground side of the electromagnetic coil C. The drain of switching element Q3 is connected to electromagnetic coil C, the source is connected to ground, and the gate is connected to current control portion 3121. When the switching element Q3 is turned on (turned on) by a control signal (on signal) from the current control portion 3121, the electromagnetic coil C is turned on and the switch 3123 is closed. Thus, power is supplied to the part of the electronic circuit unit 3122 other than the switching element Q3 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 via the second power supply line LB2, and ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be irradiated. When the control signal (off signal) from current control unit 3121 is output and switching element Q3 is in the off state (disconnected state), solenoid C is in the non-energized state and switch 3123 is opened. Thereby, the supply of the power to the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 is stopped, and the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 is stopped.
The electronic circuit portion 3122 of the present embodiment includes an H-type hybrid bridge circuit 3122A, a PWM control circuit 3122B, a current detection resistor R, and an amplifier AP in addition to the switching element Q3.
The H-type hybrid bridge circuit 3122A includes two switching elements Q1, Q2 and two regenerative diodes Dr1, dr2, and the switching elements Q1, Q2 are composed of N-channel FETs (field effect transistors). H-type hybrid bridge circuit 3122A is connected in parallel to second power supply line LB2, and has switching element Q1 connected to the upper branch of the first phase, regenerative diode Dr1 connected to the lower branch of the first phase, regenerative diode Dr2 connected to the upper branch of the second phase, and switching element Q2 connected to the lower branch of the second phase. More specifically, the drain of the switching element Q1 is connected to the second power supply line LB2. The cathode of the regeneration diode Dr1 is connected to the source of the switching element Q1, and the anode of the regeneration diode Dr1 is connected to the ground (first phase). The cathode of the regenerative diode Dr2 is connected to the second power supply line LB2. The drain of the switching element Q2 is connected to the anode of the regenerative diode Dr2, and the source of the switching element Q2 is connected to the ground (second phase).
Further, a current detection resistor R and an ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 are connected in series to a load branch between a middle connection point a of the upper branch and the lower branch of the first phase and a middle connection point b of the upper branch and the lower branch of the second phase. The amplifier AP constitutes a differential circuit, detects a voltage drop at the current detection resistor R, and outputs a current detection signal indicating the value of the load current flowing to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to the PWM control circuit 3122B.
The PWM control circuit 3122B functions as a driver for driving the switching elements Q1 and Q2 to be turned on and off, and has an input terminal connected to the current control unit 3121 and two output terminals connected to the gates of the switching elements Q1 and Q2, respectively. The power supply terminal of the PWM control circuit 3122B is connected to the second power line LB2, and when the switch portion of the switch 3123 is closed, electric power is supplied from the drive power supply 3009. The switching elements Q1 and Q2 turn on/off the switches in accordance with the high/low of the PWM signal. When the switching elements Q1 and Q2 are turned on (conducting state), a current flows along a path of the driving power source 3009 → the switching element Q1 → the current detection resistor R → the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 → the switching element Q2 → the ground. When the switching elements Q1 and Q2 are in the off state (disconnected state), the current flows along a path of the ground → the regenerative diode Dr1 → the current detection resistor R → the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 → the regenerative diode Dr2 → the driving power source 3009.
Here, the PWM control circuit 3122B receives information on the value Ia of the target current to be flowed to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 depending on the state of the ice maker 3001 from the current control portion 3121. Then, the PWM control circuit 3122B transmits a PWM signal such that the current detection signal transmitted from the amplifier AP becomes a target current detection signal for realizing the value Ia of the target current to the switching elements Q1 and Q2. In other words, the PWM control circuit 3122B switches the power supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 at high speed, and transmits a PWM signal, which is Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) so that the current flowing to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 becomes the target current value Ia, to the switching elements Q1 and Q2. Specifically, the high-speed switch shows, as a preferable example, a case where the cycle is about 0.01 μ S to 100 μ S. When the value of the load current flowing to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is smaller than the target current value Ia and the current detection signal is smaller than the target current detection signal, the pulse width of the PWM signal is increased (increased high period) to increase the on period of the switching elements Q1 and Q2. Conversely, when the load current value is larger than the target current value Ia and the current detection signal is larger than the target current detection signal, the pulse width of the PWM signal is shortened (the high period is shortened) to shorten the on period of the switching elements Q1 and Q2. In this way, the load current flowing to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be controlled to a desired current value.
As described above, current control unit 3121 controls switch 3123 (switching element Q3) and PWM control circuit 3122B for driving ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. Specifically, the current control unit 3121 outputs information on the target current value Ia to be supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to the PWM control circuit 3122B according to the state of the ice maker 3001. Here, the required amount of ultraviolet light differs depending on the installation environment, the operation state, and the like of the ice maker 3001. Therefore, the current control portion 3121 changes the target current value Ia instructed to the PWM control circuit 3122B in accordance with the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 and the operation state of the ice maker 3001, which are input to the ice maker 3001 by the user in advance.
For example, when ice making operation is performed by ice maker 3001, it is preferable that the required amount of ultraviolet rays be irradiated to the water stored in water storage tank 3041 by ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3050, since the ice making water can be UV sterilized and ice can be made using the UV sterilized ice making water. On the other hand, when ice making operation (including standby) of ice maker 3001 is stopped, the ice making water that has been UV sterilized does not need to be further UV sterilized, and it can be said that the ice making water stored in water storage tank 3041 is sufficient as long as the sterilized state can be maintained. Therefore, the current control portion 3121 switches the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 between control in a relatively large amount (referred to as "high mode" control) and control in a relatively small amount (referred to as "low mode" control) according to the ice making state of the ice maker 3001. In other words, the target current value Ia instructed to the PWM control circuit 3122B is differentiated into a relatively high value and a relatively low value differently in the high mode (H) and the low mode (L), respectively, according to the ice making state of the ice maker 3001.
In addition, the amount of ultraviolet light required for UV sterilization differs depending on the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 with respect to the water to be supplied to the water storage tank 3041. Fig. 29 is a diagram schematically showing the target current value Ia divided into the environments a to C in which the ice maker 3001 is installed, and the target current value Ia is a value for causing the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to generate ultraviolet rays necessary for UV sterilization of the ice making water in the ice maker 3001.
< environment a > for example, in a region where the sanitary environment of a tap water pipe is poor or bacteria are often mixed in used water such as in a developing country, a relatively large amount of ultraviolet rays is required to sterilize water. Therefore, as shown as environment a in fig. 29, current control portion 3121 sets target current value Ia in a range in which a higher ultraviolet irradiation amount can be secured, and switches between the high mode and the low mode at the time of water supply during the ice making operation and at the time of water supply stoppage.
< environment B > in addition, in a region where the sanitary environment of the tap water pipe is good such as an advanced country, the amount of ultraviolet rays required for sterilizing water can be relatively small. Therefore, as shown as environment B, current control portion 3121 sets target current value Ia within a range in which a relatively low ultraviolet irradiation amount can be ensured, as compared with environment a, and switches between the high mode and the low mode at the time of water supply during the ice making operation and at the time of water supply stoppage.
On the other hand, in an environment where the sanitary environment is high, the city water pipe water is clean enough to be drunk, and an appropriate amount of chlorine gas for sterilization is contained, for example, like the city water pipe in japan, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the water originally fed to the water storage tank 3041 can be relatively small. Therefore, in the environment C, it can be said that the amount of ultraviolet rays for sterilizing the water supplied to the water storage tank 3041 can be relatively small when the ice making operation is performed. On the other hand, when the ice making operation (including standby) is stopped, it is sometimes preferable to irradiate a relatively large amount of ultraviolet light because water stays in the water storage tank 3041 and bacteria easily grow. Therefore, as shown as environment C, current control portion 3121 sets target current value Ia within a range in which a relatively low ultraviolet irradiation amount can be ensured as compared with environments a and B, and switches between the high mode and the low mode between the time of water supply stoppage and the time of water supply in the ice making operation.
In the case where the purified water having passed through the water purifier is sent to the water storage tank 3041, it is conceivable that the filter of the water purifier is used even when the filter has passed through a predetermined filter life (life water flow amount). In this case, the amount of ultraviolet light required to sterilize the purified water may be small until the filter life of the water purifier is reached, but it is preferable to UV sterilize the water in the water storage tank 3041 with a relatively large amount of ultraviolet light after the filter life is reached and before the filter is replaced. Therefore, in any of the environments a to C, when the water purifier is used, the current control portion 3121 performs the low mode control by slightly decreasing (for example, -30 to-10%) the target current value Ia when the filter life is not reached, and performs the high mode control by slightly increasing (for example, +10 to + 30%) the target current value Ia when the filter life is reached.
Since the target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode described above differs depending on the type of the light source used by the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, the number of light sources, the amount of water used by the ice maker 3001, and the like, it cannot be said that the irradiation intensity in the high mode becomes 0.1mW/cm when the water purifier is not used in the environment B, for example 2 ～1000mW/cm 2 While the irradiation intensity in the low mode was 0.1. Mu.W/cm 2 ～1000μW/cm 2 Target current value Ia is set. Further, for example, in the case of using the water purifier in the environment B, the irradiation intensity in the high mode is 0.13mW/cm 2 ～1300mW/cm 2 While the irradiation intensity in the low mode became 0.97. Mu.W/cm 2 ～970μW/cm 2 Target current value Ia is set.
The relationship between the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 (for example, any of the environments a to C, the presence or absence of installation of the water purifier) and the target current values Ia of the high mode and the low mode in the environment may be stored in the storage unit M in advance as a lookup table or the like, for example, and the current control unit 3121 may set the target current value Ia corresponding to the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 by referring to the lookup table of the storage unit M. The target current values Ia in the high mode and the low mode may be set by the user only at the time of the first ice making operation after the installation environment information of the ice maker 3001 is changed (input), and the target current value Ia used in the previous time may be continuously used even when the installation environment information is not changed.
< control examples 1-1>
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 by the current control unit 3121 will be described with reference to fig. 30. The following is an example of control in the environments a and B.
When the main power SW of the ice maker 3001 is input and the control of the control device 3100 is started, the current control portion 3121 sets the target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode corresponding to the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 with reference to the look-up table stored in the storage portion 3000M based on the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 input by the user in advance (S3001).
Then, the current control unit 3121 closes the shutter 3123 by turning on the switching element Q3, and irradiates ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (S3002). The target current value Ia at this time is in a relatively low mode, and the amount of ultraviolet rays generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is relatively suppressed, but ultraviolet rays of an amount suitable for sterilizing the water storage tank 3041 and the like can be generated.
After step S3002, for example, the ice making operation by the ice making operation control portion 3110 is started, and when the water supply valve Vs is opened while the freezer unit 3010 is being driven (yes in S3003), the current control portion 3121 switches the target current value Ia to the relatively high mode (S3004). Thereby, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is increased, and sufficient amount of ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the water supplied to the water storage tank 3041, thereby performing UV sterilization. When the ice making operation is not started (no in S3003), the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays in the low mode is continued as it is.
In the ultraviolet irradiation in the high mode, for example, when the water in the water storage tank 3041 reaches the ice making maximum water level, the water supply valve Vs is closed in a state where the freezing unit 3010 and the ice making unit are driven (yes in S3005). At this time, current control portion 3121 switches target current value Ia to the relatively low mode (S3006). Thus, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is reduced, and the water stored in the water storage tank 3041 is irradiated with ultraviolet light in an amount sufficient to maintain the UV sterilization state, thereby enabling the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (light source) to be increased while maintaining the UV sterilization state.
After step S3006, the process returns to step S3003 again, and the control of switching between the high mode and the low mode is repeated until step S3006, for example, in response to the opening and closing of water supply valve Vs in association with the water level control of water storage tank 3041 during the ice making operation.
< control examples 1 and 2>
Control of current control portion 3121 in environment C is shown in fig. 31, for example. That is, when the main power SW of the ice maker 3001 is input and the control by the control device 3100 is started, the current control portion 3121 refers to the map stored in the storage portion 3000M based on the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 input in advance by the user, and sets the target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode corresponding to the installation environment of the ice maker 3001 (S3011). At this time, as shown in fig. 29, the target current value Ia of the ice maker 3001 installed in the environment C is set to a relatively low value compared to the environments a, B, and the like, regardless of the high mode or the low mode.
Then, the current control portion 3121 turns on the switching element Q3 to close the shutter 3123, and starts the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray by the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3050 in the low mode (S3012). Step S3013 of the control of current control unit 3121 in environment C is different as follows. That is, after step S3012, even if, for example, the ice making operation control unit 3110 starts the ice making operation, the water supply valve Vs opens and water supply to the water storage tank 3041 starts, the ultraviolet irradiation in the low mode continues. When the water supply to the water storage tank 3041 is completed and the water supply valve Vs is closed from the open state (yes at S3013), the current control portion 3121 switches the target current value Ia to the relatively high mode (S3014). Thus, although the water remaining in the water storage tank 3041 stays in the spot and the bacteria are likely to grow, the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 irradiates the ultraviolet rays in the high mode, thereby suppressing the growth of the bacteria.
When the water supply valve Vs is opened again and water supply to the reservoir tank 3041 is started (yes at S3015), the retention of water in the reservoir tank 3041 is eliminated. Therefore, current control portion 3121 switches target current value Ia to the low mode which is relatively low (S3016). Thus, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is reduced, and the water stored in the water storage tank 3041 is irradiated with ultraviolet light in an amount sufficient to maintain the UV sterilization state, thereby enabling the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (light source) to be increased while maintaining the UV sterilization state.
As described above, the ice maker 3001 according to embodiment 6 includes the ice making unit 3005 for freezing ice making water to make ice, the ice storage unit 3030 for storing ice made by the ice making unit 3005, and the water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 for supplying ice making water to at least the ice making unit 3005 or draining ice making water from at least the ice making unit 3005, and the water storage tank 3041 (water supply and drainage mechanism 3040) includes the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice, and the current control unit 3121 (an example of the control device 3100) that irradiates ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 at least during ice making and controls the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 in accordance with the driving state of the ice making unit 3005 is provided. According to such a structure, the ultraviolet rays are irradiated at least during ice making (including ice making standby time), and therefore, the ice making water can be UV sterilized from the start to the end of ice making, and the UV sterilized state can be maintained. Further, since the dose of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased or decreased as necessary, the life of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be increased without being unnecessarily consumed, and the maintenance labor and time can be reduced relatively economically.
The current control unit 3121 increases the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation unit 3050 when the water supply valve Vs is open, and decreases the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation unit 3050 when the water supply valve Vs is closed. With this configuration, when the water supplied to the water storage tank 3041 needs UV sterilization, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device 3050 can be controlled well. Current control unit 3121 is configured as follows: the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3050 is driven in a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation amount is reduced, and when the water supply valve Vs is closed from an open state, the ultraviolet irradiation amount is increased while the water supply valve Vs is in a closed state. According to such a configuration, when the water supplied to the water storage tank is sufficiently sterilized and when UV sterilization is required when the water is retained in the water storage tank, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device can be controlled well.
The above various controls are performed to be suitable for any one of the setting environments of the ice maker 3001. That is, current control unit 3121 has the following configuration: the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device 3050 is reduced or increased according to the installation environment of the ice maker 3001. With such a configuration, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be controlled well in consideration of the environment in which the ice maker 3001 is installed. The current control portion 3121 is configured as follows: the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is reduced or increased by PWM controlling the current supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. With such a configuration, the amount of current supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be appropriately controlled by switching at high speed without changing the voltage. In addition, when the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is an LED, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays can be preferably controlled without changing the emission wavelength of the LED.
EXAMPLE 7
The ice maker 3201 according to embodiment 7 will be described with reference to fig. 32 and 33. As shown in fig. 32, the ice maker 3201 includes an ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 in addition to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 provided in the cover 3043 of the water storage tank 3041, and in addition, the cover 3033 of the ice storage portion 3030. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 has the same configuration as the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 according to embodiment 6, and is electrically connected to the control device 3100. In the disc-shaped ice amount sensor 3235, an interference avoiding hole portion 3235B is provided at a position corresponding to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction without interfering with the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250. The other structures of ice making unit 3005, ice storage unit 3030, and water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 are the same as those of ice making unit 3001 in embodiment 6, and therefore the same reference numerals are given thereto and the description thereof is omitted (the same applies to embodiment 8 and the following).
As shown in fig. 28, the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 of the present embodiment further includes a current control portion 3221 and an electronic circuit portion 3122, and the electronic circuit portion 3122 is disposed in the vicinity of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250, for example, mounted on a substrate. Configuration and operation of electronic circuit portion 3122 are the same as those of embodiment 6, and information on target current value Ia and output timing of current control portion 3221 to PWM control circuit 3122B are different from those of current control portion 3121 in embodiment 6 (the same applies to embodiment 8 and the following).
That is, the current control unit 3221 outputs information on the target current value Ia to be supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 to the PWM control circuit 3122B according to the stirring state of ice in the ice storage portion 3030 of the ice maker 3201. Specifically, since the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 can irradiate only the surface of the ice facing the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 with ultraviolet rays when the ice in the storage tank 3031 is at rest, the ice on the surface can be UV-sterilized by irradiating only a relatively small amount of ultraviolet rays. However, when the stirrer 3036 is driven in the storage container 3031 to stir the ice stored in the storage container, the ice and the surface of the ice exposed by the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 are variously replaced, and thus a relatively large amount of ultraviolet rays is irradiated to sterilize them by UV.
Therefore, when ice making operation (including standby) is performed in ice maker 3201 and when driver 3027 drives agitator 3036, current control unit 3221 controls ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 in the high mode with target current value Ia instructed to PWM control circuit 3122B set to a relatively high value, thereby increasing the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from ultraviolet irradiation device 3250. Further, when ice making operation (including standby) is performed in ice maker 3201, and when ice stored in the hopper is stationary without driving agitator 3036 in hopper 3031, current control unit 3221 controls ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 in the low mode by setting target current value Ia instructed to PWM control circuit 3122B to a relatively low value, thereby reducing the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated by ultraviolet irradiation device 3250.
The target current values Ia in the high mode and the low mode corresponding to the condition of ice in the storage tank 3031 (presence or absence of stirring) are different depending on the size of the storage tank 3031 in the ice maker 3201, the stirring state of ice (shape of ice, shape of stirrer, and the like), the type of light source used in the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250, the number of light sources, and the like, and therefore cannot be determined appropriately in consideration of the configurations of the ice maker 3201 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250. The target current values Ia in the high mode and the low mode may be stored in the storage unit 3000M in advance as a lookup table or the like, for example, and the current control unit 3221 may set the target current value Ia according to the configuration of the ice maker 3201 by referring to the lookup table of the storage unit 3000M.
< control example 2>
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 by the current control unit 3221 will be described with reference to fig. 33.
When the main power SW of the ice maker 3201 is input and control by the control device 3100 is started, the current control unit 3221 turns on the switching element Q3 to close the switch 3123, and irradiates ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3250 (S3021). The target current value Ia at this time is a relatively low mode, and the amount of ultraviolet rays generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 is relatively suppressed, but ultraviolet rays of an amount suitable for sterilizing the inside of the stocker 3031 can be generated.
After step S3021, when the ice making unit 3020 is driven by the freezer unit 3010 cooling the ice making unit to the ice making temperature based on the start of the ice making operation by the ice making operation control portion 3110, the ice made is transferred to the hopper 3031 as the auger 3022 rotates. Here, in the ice maker 3201, since the stirrer 3036 is driven to rotate as the auger 3022 is rotated by the driving unit 3027 (yes in S3022), the ice transferred into the hopper 3031 is stirred by the stirrer 3036 while the ice is being made (that is, while the auger 3022 is rotating). At this time, current control section 3221 switches target current value Ia to a relatively high mode (S3023). Accordingly, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 increases, and sufficient amount of ultraviolet light is irradiated to the ice transferred to the storage tank 3031 and stirred in the storage tank 3031, thereby performing UV sterilization. When the ice making operation is not started (no in S3022), the ultraviolet irradiation in the low mode is continued as it is.
In the ultraviolet irradiation in the hi mode, for example, when the ice amount sensor 3035 detects that ice is stored in the stocker 3031 in a full ice state, the ice making unit 3020 is stopped while the freezer unit 3010 is driven. In other words, the rotational driving of the agitator 3036 is stopped while the freezer unit 3010 is being driven (yes at S3024). At this time, current control section 3221 switches target current value Ia to the low mode which is relatively low (S3025). Thus, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 is reduced, and the ice stored in the storage 3031 in a static state is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in an amount sufficient to maintain the UV sterilization state, thereby enabling the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 (light source) to be increased while maintaining the UV sterilization state.
After step S3025, the process returns to step S3022 again, and the control for switching between the high mode and the low mode before step S3025 is repeated in accordance with the driving of the agitator 3036 in the stocker 3031.
According to the above configuration, the ice storage portion 3030 includes the agitator 3036 (agitation member) that agitates ice and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 that irradiates ultraviolet light toward the ice, and the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 is increased or decreased depending on whether or not the agitation of ice by the agitator 3036 is performed. Thereby, the ice in the storage tank 3031 and the storage tank 3031 can be UV sterilized. Further, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 is increased when the agitator 3036 is driven to agitate the ice, and the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated is decreased when the agitator 3036 is stopped, whereby the ice can be efficiently UV-sterilized.
EXAMPLE 8
The ice maker 3301 according to embodiment 8 will be described with reference to fig. 34 and 35. As shown in fig. 34, the ice maker 3301 has a slightly different structure of the water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 than the ice maker 3001 of embodiment 6. That is, the liquid sending pump Pm is interposed in the first drain passage D1 connected to the drain port of the cylinder 3021 on the immediately downstream side of the drain port. The first drain passage D1 branches into a circulation passage D11 and a branch drain passage D12 on the downstream side of the liquid sending pump Pm. The circulation passage D11 is connected to a return water port provided in a lid 3043 of the reservoir tank 3041, and is connected to the reservoir tank 3041. The one branch water discharge passage D12 is connected to the second water discharge passage D2 via the drain valve Vd, and when the drain valve Vd is opened, the water in the first water discharge passage D1 flows to the second water discharge passage D2 through the branch water discharge passage D12. Further, by closing the drain valve Vd to communicate the first drain passage D1 with only the circulation passage D11 and driving the liquid feeding pump Pm in a state where the drain valve Vd is closed, the water in the cylinder 3021 can be returned to the reservoir tank 3041, and a circulation path (return passage) connected to the reservoir tank 3041, the second water supply passage S2, the cylinder 3021, the first drain passage D1, the circulation passage D11, and the reservoir tank 3041 is constructed. Here, an ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is provided in the middle of the second water supply path S2. The ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3350 has the same configuration as the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 according to embodiment 6, and is electrically connected to the control apparatus 3100.
In controller 3100 according to the present embodiment, ice making operation controller 3110 controls each unit of ice maker 3301 to perform the following ice making operation. As shown in fig. 28, the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 further includes a current control portion 3321 and an electronic circuit portion 3122, and the electronic circuit portion 3122 is disposed in the vicinity of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350, for example, mounted on a substrate.
Similarly to the ice making operation control unit 3110 according to embodiment 6, the ice making operation control unit 3110 first drives the freezer unit 3010 to cool the ice making parts of the cylinder 3021 to a predetermined ice making temperature, and then drives the ice making unit 3020 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 to make ice while checking by the ice amount sensor 3035 whether or not ice is stored in the storage tank 3031 in a full ice state as an ice making limiting amount. When the ice amount sensor 3035 detects the ice-full state of the stocker 3031, ice making is waited for. Then, when the ice amount sensor 3035 detects that the ice storage amount in the storage tank 3031 has decreased to a predetermined operation restart position as the ice is consumed, the ice making operation is restarted.
During the ice making process, the ice making operation controller 3110 continues to perform water level control such that the water supply valve Vs is opened when the water level in the water storage tank 3041 drops to a predetermined ice making minimum water level, and closed when the water level rises to the ice making maximum water level. When the storage tank 3031 is in a full ice state and ice making is in standby (in other words, when the drive unit 3027 is stopped although the freezer unit 3010 is driven), the ice making operation control unit 3110 drives the liquid feed pump Pm at predetermined time intervals to circulate the water in the circulation path, thereby suppressing the stagnation of the water in the circulation path.
The current control unit 3321 outputs information on the target current value Ia to be supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 to the PWM control circuit 3122B in response to the driving of the liquid feeding pump Pm of the ice maker 3301. In other words, while ice maker 3301 circulates water in the circulation path, current control unit 3321 determines that the necessity of UV sterilization of the circulating ice making water is higher, and controls to increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation from ultraviolet radiation device 3350. For example, while ice making is being performed by ice maker 3301, when liquid feed pump Pm is stopped while freezer unit 3010 and drive unit 3027 are driven, the flow rate of ice making water passing through the ultraviolet irradiation region from ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is relatively slow, and therefore, by controlling ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 in the low mode with target current value Ia instructed to PWM control circuit 3122B set to a relatively low value, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation from ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is relatively reduced. Further, when ice making is waited for by the ice maker 3301, the current control unit 3321 drives the freezer unit 3010 and stops the drive unit 3027, and when the liquid feeding pump Pm is driven, the flow rate of ice making water passing through the ultraviolet irradiation region from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is increased, so the target current value Ia instructed to the PWM control circuit 3122B is set to a relatively high value, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is controlled in the high mode, thereby increasing the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350.
The target current values Ia in the high mode and the low mode described above associated with the circulation of the water in the circulation path are different depending on the flow rate of the water per unit time in the circulation path, the type of light source used in the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350, the number of light sources, and the like, and therefore cannot be determined appropriately in consideration of the configurations of the ice maker 3301 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350. The target current values Ia in the high mode and the low mode may be stored in the storage unit M in advance as a lookup table or the like, for example, and the current control unit 3321 may set the target current value Ia according to the configuration of the ice maker 3301 by referring to the lookup table of the storage unit 3000M.
< control example 3>
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 by the current controller 3321 will be described below with reference to fig. 35.
When the main power SW of ice maker 3301 is input and control by control device 3100 is started, current control unit 3321 refers to the look-up table stored in storage unit 3000M based on the installation environment of ice maker 3001 input by the user in advance, and sets target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode corresponding to the installation environment of ice maker 3301 (S3031). Then, the switch device Q3 is turned on to close the shutter 3123, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 (S3032). In the low mode in which the target current value Ia is relatively low, the amount of ultraviolet light generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 is relatively suppressed, but ultraviolet light can be generated in an amount suitable for sterilizing the second water supply passage S2 and the water flowing therethrough.
After step S3032, the ice making operation by the ice making operation control unit 3110, for example, is started. That is, the ice making unit 3010 cools the ice making portion to the ice making temperature, and the ice making unit 3020 drives to transport the made ice to the hopper 3031. Here, when the ice amount sensor 3035 determines that the ice in the storage tank 3031 is in a full ice state, the driving of the driving unit 3027 is stopped, and the liquid sending pump Pm is driven for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals to circulate water in the circulation path. At this time, when the liquid sending pump Pm is driven (yes in S3033), the current control unit 3321 switches the target current value Ia to the high mode which is relatively high (S3034). Thus, the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3250 is increased, and a sufficient amount of ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the water circulating in the circulation path. When the liquid sending pump Pm is not driven (no in S3033), the current control unit 3321 continues the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays in the low mode as it is.
In the ultraviolet irradiation in the high mode, when the liquid sending pump Pm stops driving (yes in S3035), the current control part 3321 switches the target current value Ia to the low mode which is relatively low (S3036). This reduces the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting device 3350, and can emit an appropriate amount of ultraviolet light to the water staying in the circulation path. After step S3036, the process returns to step S3033 again, and the switching control between the high mode and the low mode before step S3036 is repeated in accordance with the driving of the liquid feeding pump Pm.
According to the above configuration, the water supply and discharge mechanism 3040 includes the water storage tank 3041, the second water supply passage S2 (ice making and water supply passage), the first water discharge passage D1 and the circulation passage D11 (return passage) which are provided separately from the second water supply passage S2 and connect the water storage tank 3041 and the cylinder 3021 (ice making unit 3005) to return the water in the cylinder 3021 to the water storage tank 3041, and the liquid feeding pump Pm which is provided in the first water discharge passage D1 and feeds the water in the first water discharge passage D1 to the water storage tank 3041, and the water supply and discharge mechanism 3040 forms a circulation path by the water storage tank 3041, the second water supply passage S2, the first water discharge passage D1, and the circulation passage D11, and is provided with the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 in the circulation path. The current control unit 3321 includes the following components: when the liquid sending pump Pm is driven, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3350 is increased, and when the liquid sending pump Pm is not driven, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3350 is decreased. Accordingly, when water stays in the irradiation region of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350 provided in the circulation path or the flow rate of water is relatively slow, the amount of ultraviolet rays to be irradiated is relatively reduced to increase the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3350, and when a large amount of water passes through the irradiation region, a sufficient amount of ultraviolet rays is irradiated, thereby efficiently performing UV sterilization on the circulating water.
EXAMPLE 9
The ice maker 3401 according to embodiment 9 is described with reference to fig. 36. The ice making unit 3005, the ice storage unit 3030, and the water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 of the ice making machine 3401 have the same configuration as the ice making machine 3001 according to embodiment 6 (see fig. 26). Information on target current value Ia output by current control unit 3421 (see fig. 28) to PWM control circuit 3122B in ice maker 3401 according to the present embodiment is different from current control unit 3121 according to embodiment 6.
That is, the current control unit 3121 in the ice maker 3001 according to embodiment 6 switches the current to be supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 between the high mode and the low mode in accordance with the opening and closing of the water supply valve Vs, and differs the information on the target current value Ia to be output to the PWM control circuit 3122B between the high mode and the low mode. However, since the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 deteriorates with energization, there is a characteristic that the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source is generally decreased exponentially with time although the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays at a constant current is proportional to the current. Therefore, the current control unit 3421 of the present embodiment calculates the total irradiation time Tt from the start of use of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 at predetermined time intervals when the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 provided in the water storage tank 3041 irradiates the water in the water storage tank 3041 with ultraviolet light, and increases the target current value Ia output to the PWM control circuit 3122B in accordance with an increase in the total irradiation time Tt so that the amount of ultraviolet light actually irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is maintained even if the total irradiation time Tt increases. Then, when the total irradiation time Tt of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 reaches the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050, the current control unit 3421 notifies the user that the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 has reached the lifetime. In the measurement of the total irradiation time Tt, for example, each time the target current value Ia is recalculated, the time until recalculation is integrated to obtain the total irradiation time Tt. The total irradiation time Tt at the time of recalculation may be stored in the storage section 3000M.
The ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 may consider the lifetime to be a time when the beam (illuminance) maintenance rate becomes 70%, for example. Therefore, as an example, if the light beam (illuminance) maintenance rate is 1 ten thousand hours of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 with 70% of the total irradiation time, the current control unit 3421 sets the target current value Ia at the first use time (Tt = 0) of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to 70% of the rated current in advance, and gradually increases the target current value Ia according to the total irradiation time so that the target current value Ia becomes 100% of the rated current when the total irradiation time becomes 1 ten thousand hours. Here, for example, in the case where the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is a UV-LED, the ultraviolet irradiation amount Qx at the predetermined current value Ix as a function of the total irradiation time Tx can be represented by the following expression (1). In the formula, C is a proportionality constant determined by a light source (UV-LED), and τ is a time constant of illuminance decrease.
Qx＝Ix×C×exp(-Tx/τ)…(1)
Therefore, for example, the current value Ix of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 for maintaining the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV-LED at the current I0 in the initial state T0 for the total irradiation time Tx can be represented by the following formula (2).
Ix＝I0×exp(Tx/τ)…(2)
Similarly, if the maximum irradiation time of the UV-LED light source is Tlife, the current Ilife of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 when the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the UV-LED at the current I0 in the initial state T0 is maintained for the maximum irradiation time Tlife can be represented by the following formula (3).
Ilife＝I0×exp(Tlife/τ)…(3)
According to the equation (3), the light source is selected such that the current Ilife for ultraviolet irradiation of the desired irradiation amount Qx becomes equal to or less than the maximum rated current of the light source at the end of the life of the light source, and the current control unit 3421 sets the current value Ix for irradiating ultraviolet of the predetermined irradiation amount Qx according to the total irradiation time Tx as the target current value Ia. The time constant τ of the decrease in illuminance of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, the initial value of the target current value Ia (70% of the rated current), and the like may be stored in the storage unit M in advance.
< control example 4>
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 by the current control unit 3421 will be described below with reference to fig. 36.
First, when the main power source SW is input to the ice maker 3401 and control of the control device 3100 is started, the current control unit 3421 refers to the look-up table stored in the storage unit 3000M to set an initial value of the target current value Ia corresponding to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to be used (S3041). Next, the current control unit 3421 turns on the switching element Q3 to close the shutter 3123, and irradiates ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (S3042).
After step S3042, the ice making operation by the ice making operation control portion 3110, for example, is started. The current control unit 3421 calculates the total irradiation time Tx of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 at predetermined time intervals, and stores the calculated total irradiation time Tx in the storage unit 3000M (S3043). Then, the current control unit 3421 calculates the current value Ix required for maintaining the ultraviolet irradiation amount Qx for the total irradiation time Tx, resets the obtained current value Ix as the target current value Ia, and outputs the current value Ia to the PWM control circuit 3122B (S3044). The resetting of the target current value Ia is repeated until the total irradiation time Tx is determined to be the so-called lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (the beam maintenance ratio is 70% of the time) (yes in S3047). However, during this period, the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 may be turned off (yes in S3045) due to the ice making operation control unit 3110 ending the ice making operation or the main power supply SW being turned off, and thus no current may be supplied. In this case, when the measurement of the total irradiation time Tx of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is interrupted and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is turned on again (yes at S3046), the process returns to step S3043, and the measurement of the total irradiation time Tx of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is resumed again.
When the total irradiation time Tx reaches the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (yes in S3047), the current control unit 3421 displays the content of the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 on the display unit 3152 and notifies the user of the content (S3048), for example. According to the above configuration, the current control unit 3421 includes the timer T for measuring the irradiation time of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, and is configured to increase the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 based on the total irradiation time (irradiation time). Thus, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is approaching the lifetime, the amount of current supplied to the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be increased to compensate for the decrease in the amount of light emitted due to the lifetime. As a result, even if the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 is aged, for example, when the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 3050 (light source) is near the lifetime, a necessary amount of ultraviolet rays can be appropriately irradiated. When the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 reaches the lifetime, the user can be notified of the contents, and a situation in which UV sterilization by the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is not performed can be avoided.
EXAMPLE 10
Ice maker 3501 according to embodiment 10 will be described with reference to fig. 37. An ice maker 3501 (see fig. 26) of embodiment 5 is configured by changing a part of the operation of a current control unit 3421 (see fig. 28) in the ice maker 3401 of embodiment 9. That is, the current control unit 3421 of embodiment 9 measures the total irradiation time Tx of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 with the timer 3000T, and determines whether or not the total irradiation time Tx has reached the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 in step S3047. In contrast, in embodiment 10, the current control unit 3521 (see fig. 28) determines whether or not the total irradiation time Tx reaches a notice time that is a predetermined time before the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (S3051). When the total irradiation time Tx reaches the notice time, the current control unit 3521 displays a predetermined error message or the like on the display unit 3152, for example, and notifies the user that the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 has reached the replacement time (S3052). Then, the current control unit 3521 checks whether or not the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 has been replaced at predetermined time intervals, for example, until the total irradiation time Tx reaches the lifetime (S3053). Here, if the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is replaced (yes in S3053), the current control unit 3521 resets the total irradiation time Tx to 0 and returns to step S3041 (see fig. 33), and the initial value of the target current value Ia is set with reference to the look-up table stored in the storage unit 3000M for the new ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (S3041). On the other hand, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is not replaced (no at S3053) and the total irradiation time Tx reaches the lifetime (yes at S3055), the current control unit 3521 determines that the ice maker 3501 cannot be operated in the sanitary state, and stops the operation of the ice maker 3501.
According to the above configuration, the current control unit 3521 includes the timer 3000T for measuring the irradiation time of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, and is configured to notify that the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is approaching the lifetime at a predetermined timing before the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 reaches the lifetime. This can prompt the user to take appropriate measures such as replacement before the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 reaches the lifetime. As a result, the ice maker 3501 can be operated while maintaining a good sanitary state without causing a failure of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 due to the lifetime. Further, according to the above configuration, current controller 3521 includes: after the notification that the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 has reached the end of its life, the operation of the ice maker 3501 is stopped when the life of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is not recovered within a predetermined period. This enables the user to reliably prompt replacement of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. Further, it is possible to prevent the user from operating the ice maker 3501 in a state where a good hygienic state cannot be secured.
EXAMPLE 11
The ice maker 3601 according to embodiment 11 will be described with reference to fig. 38. Ice maker 3601 has the same configuration as ice maker 3001 according to embodiment 6 with respect to ice maker 3005, ice storage unit 3030, and water supply and drainage mechanism 3040 (see fig. 26). In ice maker 3601 of the present embodiment, information on target current value Ia output by current control unit 3621 (see fig. 28) to PWM control circuit 3122B and the timing of output are different from those of current control unit 3121 in embodiment 6.
That is, current control unit 3121 in embodiment 6 switches between the high mode and the low mode in accordance with the opening and closing of water supply valve Vs in a state in which refrigerating unit 3010 is driven when the installation environment of ice maker 3001 is environments a and B, and makes information on target current value Ia output to PWM control circuit 3122B different. In other words, while water is being supplied to the water storage tank 3041, ultraviolet rays of a substantially constant irradiation amount corresponding to the high mode are generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050. However, in the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, since the irradiation intensity per unit area of the ultraviolet rays is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the ultraviolet light source, there is a characteristic that the effect of the UV sterilization is exponentially reduced as the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device and the object to be UV sterilized is wider. Therefore, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 provided in the water storage tank 3041 irradiates the water being supplied with ultraviolet rays in the high mode, the current control unit 3621 of the present embodiment changes the information on the target current value Ia output to the PWM control circuit 3122B so that a larger amount of ultraviolet rays is generated as the distance between the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 and the water surface of the water storage tank 3041 increases and the amount of ultraviolet rays decreases as the distance increases, depending on the distance between the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 and the water surface of the water storage tank 3041. In other words, current control unit 3621 changes the information on target current value Ia output to PWM control circuit 3122B so that a larger amount of ultraviolet light is generated as the water level of water storage tank 3041 detected by water amount sensor 3048 decreases.
Since the relationship between target current value Ia and the water level of water storage tank 3041 depends on the size and capacity of water storage tank 3041, the water supply speed when water supply valve Vs is opened, the type of light source used for ultraviolet irradiation device 3050, the number of light sources, and the like, the relationship between the water level of water storage tank 3041 and target current value Ia is obtained in advance for ice maker 3601, and may be stored in memory unit M in advance as a lookup table or the like, for example. Current control unit 3621 refers to the look-up table in memory unit 3000M, and can output information on target current value Ia suitable for the water level to PWM control circuit 3122B every time the water level of water storage tank 3041 changes. For example, current controller 3621 may divide the water level of water storage tank 3041 into 3 levels or more and switch target current value Ia stepwise according to the water level, and more preferably, current controller 3621 may control target current value Ia at any time according to the water level when water level sensor 3048 detects the water level of water storage tank 3041 at predetermined intervals.
< control example 6>
Hereinafter, an example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 by the current control unit 3621 will be described with reference to fig. 38. The following is an example of control under the environments a, B.
When the main power SW of ice maker 3601 is input and control by control device 3100 is started, current control unit 3621 refers to the lookup table stored in storage unit M and sets the relationship between target current value Ia in the low mode and target current value Ia in the high mode corresponding to the installation environment of ice maker 3001 based on the installation environment of ice maker 3001 input in advance by the user (S3061). However, the target current value Ia in the high mode changes according to the change in the water level of the water storage tank 3041. The target current value Ia for the high mode control corresponding to the predetermined water level may be set based on the water level at that time in step S3064 described later, while referring to the lookup table.
Next, the current control unit 3621 turns on the switching element Q3 to close the shutter 3123, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 irradiates ultraviolet rays (S3062). The target current value Ia at this time is in a relatively low mode, and the amount of ultraviolet rays generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is relatively suppressed, but ultraviolet rays of an amount suitable for sterilizing the water storage tank 3041 and the like can be generated.
After step S3062, for example, when ice making operation by ice making operation control unit 3110 is started and water supply valve Vs is opened while freezing unit 3010 is driven (yes in S3063), current control unit 3621 switches target current value Ia to a relatively high mode and changes target current value Ia at predetermined intervals in accordance with the water level of water storage tank 3041 detected by water amount sensor 3048 (S3064). Specifically, when the distance from the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to the water surface in the water storage tank 3041 is large, the target current value Ia is changed so that a relatively large amount of ultraviolet light is generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 and a relatively small amount of ultraviolet light is generated as the distance decreases. Accordingly, the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 can be controlled so as to obtain a desired UV sterilization effect, taking into consideration the distance from the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 to the water surface in the water storage tank 3041. When the ice making operation is not started (no in S3063), the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray in the low mode is continued as it is.
The irradiation of ultraviolet rays corresponding to the water level in the high mode is continued until the water in the water storage tank 3041 reaches the ice making maximum water level. When the water in water storage tank 3041 reaches the ice making maximum water level, water supply valve Vs is closed while freezing unit 3010 and the ice making unit are driven (yes in S3065), and thus current control portion 3621 switches target current value Ia to a relatively low mode (S3066). Thus, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 is reduced, and the water stored in the water storage tank 3041 is irradiated with ultraviolet light in an amount sufficient to maintain the UV sterilization state, thereby enabling the lifetime of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 (light source) to be increased while maintaining the UV sterilization state. After step S3066, the process returns to step S3063 again, and the control of switching between the high mode and the low mode before step S3066 is repeated in accordance with, for example, the opening and closing of water supply valve Vs in association with the water level control of water storage tank 3041 and the water level of water storage tank 3041 during the ice making operation.
According to the above configuration, the current control unit 3621 includes: when the water level of the water stored in water storage tank 3041 detected by water amount sensor 3048 is relatively high, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from ultraviolet radiation unit 3050 is reduced, and when the water level of the water stored in water storage tank 3041 detected by water amount sensor 3048 is relatively low, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from ultraviolet radiation unit 3050 is increased. This allows the ultraviolet irradiation amount to be changed according to the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 provided in the water storage tank 3041 and the water (water surface) stored in the water storage tank 3041. As a result, the water in the water storage tank can be satisfactorily UV sterilized without being affected by the distance between the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 and the water surface.
EXAMPLE 12
An ice maker 3701 according to embodiment 12 will be described with reference to fig. 39 and 40. Although the configuration of the freezing unit 3010 and the ice making unit 3020 of the ice maker 3701 below the molding section 3023 is substantially the same as that of the ice maker 3001 according to embodiment 6, the ice storage portion 3030 is disposed below the ice making unit 3020 and the configuration of the ice passage from the upper end of the ice making unit 3020 to the ice storage portion 3030 is different. That is, the cutter 3024 is coaxially fixed to the upper end portion of the auger 3022 of the ice making unit 3020 protruding upward from the forming portion 3023, and the cutter 3024 rotates together with the auger 3022, thereby cutting the columnar ice discharged from the forming portion 3023 at a predetermined pitch. The ice bank 3030 includes a box-shaped storage container 3031 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a door for opening and closing an ice discharge port, not shown, provided in the front surface of the storage container 3031, and a lower end of a cylindrical chute 3025B extending in the vertical direction is connected to the upper wall of the storage container 3031 in a penetrating state. And, an upper end of the ice making unit 3020 communicates with an upper end of the chute 3025B through the spout 3025A. The spout 3025A is installed to cover the cutter 3024, and ice cut by the cutter 3024 falls down in the chute 3025B after moving horizontally in the spout 3025A and is transferred to the hopper 3031. The spouting port 3025A and the chute 3025B constitute an ice passage of the ice maker 3701. Further, an ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is provided near the center of the chute 3025B in the vertical direction. An ice amount sensor 3035 is provided on the upper wall of the storage tank 3031. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 and the ice amount sensor 3035 are electrically connected to the control device 3100 in the same manner as the ultraviolet irradiation device 3050 and the ice amount sensor 3035 in embodiment 6.
Information on target current value Ia output by current control unit 3721 (see fig. 28) to PWM control circuit 3122B and the output timing in ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 of the present embodiment are different from those of current control unit 3121 of embodiment 6. That is, when ice made by the ice maker 3701 passes through the ice passage, the current control unit 3721 changes the information on the target current value Ia output to the PWM control circuit 33122B so that the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is relatively increased (high mode control). Then, when ice made by the ice maker 3701 stopping making ice does not pass through the ice passage, the current control unit 3721 changes the information on the target current value Ia output to the PWM control circuit 3122B so that the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation device 3750 is relatively reduced (low mode control). The target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode is different depending on the ice making amount per unit time of the ice maker 3701, the type of light source used by the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750, the number of light sources, and the like, and thus cannot be determined in a short time, but may be determined appropriately in consideration of the structures of the ice maker 3701 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750. In addition, target current value Ia in the high mode and the low mode may be stored in advance in storage unit M as a map, for example, and current control unit 3721 may set target current value Ia corresponding to the configuration of ice maker 3701 by referring to the map in storage unit M.
< control example 7>
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 by the current control unit 3721 will be described below with reference to fig. 40.
When the main power SW of the ice maker 3701 is input and control by the control device 3100 is started, the current control unit 3721 turns on the switching element Q3 to close the switch 3123, and the ultraviolet radiation device 3750 radiates ultraviolet radiation (S3071). At this time, the target current value Ia is in a relatively low mode, and the amount of ultraviolet light generated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is relatively suppressed, but ultraviolet light of an amount suitable for sterilizing the inside of the chute 3025B can be generated.
After step S3071, the ice making unit is cooled to the ice making temperature by the freezer unit 3010 and the ice making unit 3020 is driven, for example, based on the start of the ice making operation by the ice making operation control unit 3110. Then, the produced ice is cut by the cutter 3024 with the rotation of the auger 3022, and then is transported to the hopper 3031 through the spout 3025A and the chute 3025B. When the driving unit 3027 is driven (yes in S3072) while the freezer unit 3010 is being driven, the current control unit 3721 switches the target current value Ia to the relatively high mode (S3073) because the produced ice passes through the chute 3025B. Accordingly, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is increased, and ice itself can be UV-sterilized by irradiating ice passing through the chute 3025B with a sufficient amount of ultraviolet light. When the ice making operation is not started (no in S3072), the ultraviolet irradiation in the low mode is continued as it is.
In the ultraviolet irradiation in the high mode, when the ice amount sensor 3035 detects that ice is stored in the hopper 3031 in a full ice state, for example, the driving of the driving unit 3027 is stopped in a state where the freezer unit 3010 is driven (yes in S3074). At this time, the current control unit 3721 switches the target current value Ia to the low mode which is relatively low (S3075). Accordingly, the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is reduced, and when ice does not pass through the chute 3025B, the chute 3025B is irradiated with ultraviolet light in an amount suitable for maintaining the UV sterilization state, so that the UV sterilization state can be maintained, and the life of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3250 (light source) can be increased. After step S3075, the process returns to step S3072 again, and the control for switching between the high mode and the low mode before step S3075 is repeated in accordance with the driving of the driving unit 3027.
In the above configuration, ice making unit 3005 includes freezer unit 3010 and ice making unit 3020, ice storage unit 3030 communicates with ice making unit 3020 through an ice passage through which ice formed in ice making unit 3020 is transported, and ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is provided in the ice passage (chute 3025B). The current control unit 3721 has the following configuration: the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is increased when the refrigeration unit 3010 is driven, and the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is decreased when the refrigeration unit 3010 is not driven. This allows UV sterilization of ice in the middle of the ice transfer to the ice storage 3030 after ice production. In addition, during the ice making operation, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3750 is increased when the ice passes through the ice passage, thereby effectively performing UV sterilization on the ice.
EXAMPLE 13
Embodiment 13 will be described with reference to fig. 41. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 according to embodiment 13 is arranged at a position as disclosed in any one of embodiments 6 to 12 described above, and controls the supply current, and as shown in fig. 17, the failure detection circuit FD1 is configured by electrically connecting the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 and the visible light irradiator 3060 in series. The failure detection circuit FD1 is connected between a terminal a2 extending from the intermediate connection point a of the first phase and the current detection resistor R of the electronic circuit portion 3122 in fig. 28 and a terminal b2 extending from the intermediate connection point b of the second phase. The visible light irradiator 3060 is, for example, a visible light LED (the same applies to embodiment 14 and the following description), and is connected to the terminal a2. The failure detection circuit FD1 may additionally also be connected in series with the voltage dividing resistance R0. The visible light irradiator 3060 is disposed at a position where it can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing 3003 (see fig. 25) without detaching the ice maker 3801 (see fig. 26) according to the disposition of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 (for example, at a position where it can be visually recognized from the operation panel 3150, the inside of the storage tank 3031, or the gap of the air filter 3004 in the housing 3003) (the same applies to embodiments 14 and the following).
In general, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 cannot be observed by human eyes, and even if the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 fails, the user cannot visually confirm the failure of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850. However, by disposing the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 in the failure detection circuit FD1 as described above, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 is disconnected, the visible light irradiator 3060 is turned off to visually recognize the disconnection. When the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 is short-circuited, the visible light irradiator 3060 is brightly lighted up, and the short circuit can be visually recognized. With this, it is possible to detect a failure of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3850 which cannot be visually recognized by a person with a simple configuration by visual observation using visible light.
EXAMPLE 14
Embodiment 14 will be described with reference to fig. 42. The ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 according to embodiment 14 is arranged at a position as disclosed in any one of embodiments 6 to 12 described above and controls supply of electric current. As shown in fig. 42, the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 is configured such that a coil C1 constituting a part of the a-contact relay RL1 and a first resistor R11 having a relatively low resistance value are electrically connected in series to constitute a first circuit, a contact portion X1 constituting another part of the a-contact relay RL1 and turned on when a current flows through the coil C1, a second resistor R12 having a relatively high resistance value, and a visible light irradiator 3060 are electrically connected in series to constitute a second circuit, and the second circuit is disposed in parallel with the first circuit to constitute a failure detection circuit FD2. The coil C1 of the first circuit and the contact portion X1 of the second circuit constituting the a-contact relay RL1 are connected to the terminal a2, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 of the first circuit and the visible light irradiator 3060 of the second circuit are connected to the terminal b 2.
In embodiment 13, the failure detection circuit FD1 is configured by connecting the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 and the visible light irradiator 3060 in series, but at present, the UV-LED has a very low light emission efficiency compared with the visible light LED. Therefore, in order to strongly emit light from the UV-LED in the failure detection circuit FD1, it is necessary to flow a relatively high current of about several hundred mA through the failure detection circuit FD1, and accordingly, it is necessary to use an expensive device having a large rated current value as the UV-LED. In contrast, in the failure detection circuit FD2 according to embodiment 14, the first resistor R11 and the second resistor R12 are respectively interposed as voltage-dividing resistances between the first circuit and the second circuit connected in parallel. Accordingly, a relatively large current (for example, about 100 to 300 mA) can be supplied to the first circuit including the ultraviolet irradiator 3950, and a relatively small current (for example, about 10 to 30 mA) can be supplied to the second circuit including the visible light irradiator 3060. Since the a-contact relay RL1, which is a normally open contact, is configured in the first circuit and the second circuit, if the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 is turned on in a normal state, the visible light irradiator 3060 is also turned on, and thus the turning on of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 can be visually recognized by the visible light. Further, since the visible light irradiator 3060 is also turned off if the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 falls into an abnormal state and is turned off, the abnormality of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 can be visually recognized by the case where no visible light is observed. Thus, the light emission state of the ultraviolet irradiation device 3950 which cannot be visually recognized by a person can be confirmed more reliably by the light emission state of the visible light.
EXAMPLE 15
Embodiment 15 is explained with reference to fig. 43. The ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 according to embodiment 15 is arranged at a position as disclosed in any of embodiments 6 to 12 above and controls the supply of current. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 is configured by configuring a first circuit by electrically connecting in series the coil C2 constituting a part of the b-contact relay RL2, configuring a second circuit by electrically connecting in series the contact portion X2 constituting another part of the b-contact relay RL2 and opening when a current flows through the coil C2, and the alarm Bz, and configuring the failure detection circuit FD3 by arranging the second circuit in parallel with the first circuit. The coil C2 of the first circuit and the contact portion X2 of the second circuit constituting the b-contact relay RL2 are connected to the terminal a2, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 of the first circuit and the alarm Bz of the second circuit are connected to the terminal b 2. In the first circuit, a voltage dividing resistor R0 may be additionally connected in series between the coil C2 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050, for example.
There are cases where the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 is mounted on any one of the ice making unit 3005, the ice storage unit 3030, and the water supply/drainage mechanism 3040 of the ice maker 31001 (see fig. 26), and cases where the electronic circuit unit 3122 and the visible light irradiator 3060 of the failure detection circuit FD3 are not mounted at a position of the ice maker 31001 which is visible from the outside of the housing 3003 (see fig. 25). According to the above configuration, since the first circuit including the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 and the second circuit including the alarm Bz are connected in parallel, and the b-contact relay RL2, which is a normally closed contact, is constructed by the first circuit and the second circuit, when the current flows to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 and is turned on in the normal state, the b-contact relay RL2 is released and no current flows to the alarm Bz. On the other hand, when the current does not flow to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050 in the abnormal state, the b-contact relay RL2 returns to the normally closed state, and the current flows to the alarm Bz. When the alarm Bz is a buzzer, the abnormality of the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified by a buzzer sound. Thus, even when the position of the ice maker 31001 cannot be visually recognized, the user can be notified of an abnormality of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31050.
EXAMPLE 16
Embodiment 16 is explained with reference to fig. 44 and 45. The ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 according to embodiment 16 is arranged at a position as disclosed in any of embodiments 6 to 12, and controls supply of electric current. As shown in fig. 44, the ultraviolet irradiator 31150 includes a thermistor Th (an example of a temperature sensor) for measuring the temperature of the ultraviolet irradiator 31150, thereby forming a failure detection circuit FD4. The thermistor Th is electrically connected to the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120. In general, the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 cannot avoid heat generation due to a current supplied to emit ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 of the present embodiment detects a failure of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 to normally emit light by determining whether or not the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 has generated heat to a predetermined expected heat generation temperature when a predetermined time period in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is expected to generate heat to a certain extent has elapsed since the start of the supply of current to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150. In addition, the failure detection circuit FD4 may be connected with a voltage dividing resistor R0 in series on the side of the terminal a2 of the ultraviolet irradiator 31150, for example.
That is, as shown in fig. 45, when the main power SW of the ice maker 31101 (see fig. 26) is input and control by the control device 3100 is started, the current control portion 31121 of the ultraviolet irradiation control portion 3120 turns on the switching element Q3 and closes the shutter 3123. Thereby, a current is supplied to the ultraviolet irradiator 31150 and ultraviolet rays are emitted from the ultraviolet irradiator 31150 (low mode) (S3101). At this time, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 detects the initial temperature Tmp0 at which the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is started by the thermistor Th (S3102), and counts the irradiation time from the start of the emission of the ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 by the timer 3000T (S3103). When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the supply of the current, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 detects the temperature Temp1 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 using the thermistor Th, and determines whether or not the temperature increase (Tmp 1 to Tmp 0) from the initial temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (S3104). When the temperature rise (Tmp 1 to Tmp 0) of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value (yes in S3104), it is determined that the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is operating normally (S3105), and the failure detection step is ended. On the other hand, when the temperature rise (Tmp 1 to Tmp 0) of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is lower than the predetermined threshold value Tmp-th (no in S3104), it is determined that the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is not normally operated (failed) (S3106), and a predetermined error message or the like is displayed on the display portion 3152 to notify the user that the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is not normally operated (S3107).
The ice maker 31101 configured as described above includes a thermistor Th (temperature sensor) for measuring the temperature of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150, and the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 3120 includes: when the difference between the initial temperature Tmp0 at the time of starting the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 and the temperature Tmp1 after the elapse of the predetermined time from the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is smaller than the predetermined temperature difference (threshold), it is notified that the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 is abnormal. Accordingly, by utilizing the characteristics of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150, it is possible to determine the contents of the abnormal operation of the ultraviolet irradiation device 31150 with a simple configuration and notify the user.
< embodiment 17>
Embodiment 17 of the present disclosure is explained with reference to fig. 46 to 50. In addition, the X, Y, and Z axes of the orthogonal coordinate system XYZ are shown in a part of each drawing except for the block diagram and the graph, and the directions of the axes are drawn in the same direction in each drawing. The X-axis direction is the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction is the front-back direction, the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction, the upper side in fig. 47 is the up (lower side is down), and the left side is the front (right side is back). In addition, in the case of a plurality of identical members, one member is denoted by a reference numeral and the other members are omitted.
[ Ice dispenser 4001]
In embodiment 17, an ice dispenser 4001 (an example of a dispenser as an ice maker) that discharges ice pieces 40IC manufactured in a library will be described. As shown in fig. 46, the ice dispenser 4001 has a housing 4010. The housing 4010 has an overall elongated box shape and is supported by legs 4019 arranged at four corners of the bottom surface. As shown in fig. 46, an upper projection 4011U and a lower projection 4011L are formed on the front surface of the housing 4010 such that the upper end and the lower end of the housing 4010 project forward. As shown in fig. 47 and the like, the upper projection 4011U is provided so as to include a position overlapping with an ice storage tank 4040 described later with respect to the vertical direction. The protruding length (length in the front-rear direction) of the upper protruding portion 4011U is substantially the same as that of the lower protruding portion 4011L. Further, with respect to the projecting width (length in the left-right direction) of the upper projecting portion 4011U and the lower projecting portion 4011L, the upper projecting portion 4011U is smaller than the lower projecting portion 4011L, and the lower projecting portion 4011L is provided over substantially the entire width of the housing 4010, whereas the upper projecting portion 4011U is provided only in the central portion.
As shown in fig. 47, ice dispenser 4001 includes a refrigerator 4020, an ice making mechanism 4030 that makes ice by cooling in refrigerator 4020, and an ice storage tank (an example of a storage chamber) 4040 that stores ice pieces (an example of food and drink) 40IC (see fig. 48) produced by ice making mechanism 4030. A machine chamber 4010A for housing main equipment constituting the freezer 4020 is formed in a rear portion in the housing 4010, an ice making mechanism 4030 is provided in a front lower portion in the housing 4010, and an ice storage tank 4040 is provided in a front upper portion.
As shown in fig. 47 and 48, the ice dispenser 4001 further includes: dispensing mechanism 4060 for ejecting ice pieces 40IC and the like which are made with ice by ice making mechanism 4030 and stored in the ice bank; a drainage mechanism 4070 for treating the drainage water; an ultraviolet irradiator 4080 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an object to sterilize the object. A discharge port 4013 is provided on the lower surface of upper projection 4011U, and ice pieces 40IC and the like are discharged from dispensing mechanism 4060 from upper projection 4011U to lower projection 4011L downward. Drainage and the like generated from ice pieces 40IC received by lower projection 4011L are discharged to the outside of housing 4010 by drainage mechanism 4070.
[ freezer 4020]
The ice dispenser 4001 includes a freezer 4020.
The refrigeration apparatus 4020 includes an expansion valve in addition to the compressor 4021, the condenser 4023, the condenser fan 4025, and the evaporation pipe 4027 shown in fig. 47, and is connected by a refrigerant pipe 4029 filled with a refrigerant gas. As shown in fig. 47, a compressor 4021, a condenser 4023, and a condenser fan 4025 are housed in a machine room 4010A provided at the rear part in a housing 4010. The refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 4021 is cooled and liquefied by the air blown by the condenser fan 4025 in the condenser 4023. The liquefied refrigerant gas passes through the expansion valve and expands, and is vaporized in the evaporation tube 4027. Evaporation pipe 4027 is wound around cylinder 4031 of ice making mechanism 4030 described later, and cools cylinder 4031 by the vaporization heat of the refrigerant gas. As a result, the clean water supplied into the cylinder 4031 is frozen and adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 4031, thereby making ice. The operation of the refrigeration apparatus 4020 may be controlled by a control unit 4090 described below.
[ Ice making mechanism 4030]
Ice dispenser 4001 includes auger-type ice making mechanism 4030. As shown in fig. 47, ice making mechanism 4030 is provided in front of a lower front portion in housing 4010, compressor 4021, and the like.
As shown in fig. 47, ice making mechanism 4030 includes a cylinder (ice making cylinder, cooling cylinder, freezer housing) 4031. The cylinder 4031 is made of metal such as stainless steel, has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed to extend in the vertical direction. The evaporation tube 4027 described above is wound around the outer side of the peripheral wall of the cylinder 4031, and the outer side thereof is covered with a heat insulating material 4035. A water supply port and a drain port are provided in the peripheral wall of the cylinder 4031 below the portion around which the evaporation pipe 4027 is wound. Purified water is supplied into the cylinder 4031 from the water supply port, and purified water that has not been made ice is discharged out of the cylinder 4031 from the water discharge port.
As shown in fig. 47, an ice dispenser 4001 of the present embodiment includes a clean water tank 4015 in a housing 4010. The water purification tank 4015 is connected to water supply equipment such as tap water, and stores purified water obtained by filtering the tap water. The clean water stored in the clean water tank 4015 is supplied to the work tub 4031 through a water supply pipe 4017 disposed in the housing 4010.
As shown in fig. 47, ice making mechanism 4030 includes augers 4033. The auger 4033 has an elongated bar shape as a whole, and is rotatably housed in an internal space of the cylinder 4031 so as to extend in the vertical direction along the central axis of the cylinder 4031. The auger 4033 includes a helical ice shaving blade 4033A protruding toward the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 4031 at a position in the vertical central portion and overlapping the evaporation tube 4027 wound around the cylinder 4031. The length of the ice shaver 4033A is set to a small extent so as to reach the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 4031, and ice adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 4031 is shaved off by the rotation of the ice shaver 4033A.
As shown in fig. 47, ice making mechanism 4030 includes compression head 4037. The compression head 4037 is fixed to the upper side of the interior of the cylinder 4031. The compression head 4037 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the auger 4033 is rotatably held by inserting the upper end of the auger 4033 into the interior. A plurality of grooves extending in the axial direction are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the compression head 4037, and an ice passage path penetrating in the vertical direction is formed between the grooves and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 4031. The ice scraped off from the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 4031 by the auger 4033 and conveyed upward is pushed into the ice passage path, compressed and molded into a columnar shape, and then conveyed into the ice storage tank 4040.
As shown in fig. 47, ice making mechanism 4030 includes a driving device 4039. The driving device 4039 includes a motor 4039A, a gear, an output shaft 4039B, and the like, and is disposed below the cylinder 4031. The upper end of the output shaft 4039B is coupled to the lower end of the auger 4033, and when the motor is driven to rotate and the output shaft 4039B rotates, the auger 4033 rotates. The control unit 4090 described later may be configured to control the driving of the driving device 4039.
[ Ice storage tank 4040]
The ice dispenser 4001 includes an ice storage can 4040. As shown in fig. 47, ice storage tank 4040 is provided at the upper front portion in the housing, i.e., above ice making mechanism 4030.
As shown in fig. 47, the ice storage tank 4040 includes a tank main body 4041 having a cylindrical box shape as a whole, and a lid 4043 fixed to an upper portion of the tank main body. The tank main body 4041 has a double-walled structure in which an inner tank 4041B is disposed inside an outer tank 4041A with a space therebetween, and a heat insulating material 4041C is filled between the outer tank 4041A and the inner tank 4041B. A through hole 4045 is formed through the bottom wall of the tank main body 4041 at the center thereof, and the tank main body 4041 and the cylinder 4031 are watertightly coupled by a bolt or the like via a sealing material in a state where the upper end portion of the ice making mechanism 4030 is inserted through the through hole 4045. Thus, the upper end of the compression head 4037 is held in a state of protruding upward from the bottom wall of the inner box 4041B into the internal space of the ice storage tank 4040.
As shown in fig. 47, in the tank main body 4041, the bottom wall of the outer box 4041A is formed to be substantially flat, whereas the bottom wall of the inner box 4041B is formed to have a downward slope from the center portion through which the compression head 4037 is inserted toward the outer peripheral side. A water permeable drip plate (an example of a water removing member) 4047 having a plurality of through holes is placed on the bottom wall of the inner case 4041B. The drip plate 4047 is configured to: the center portion rises slightly from the upper end of the compression head 4037 (to a height at which the distance from a tapered surface 4049A1 of a rotating body 4049 described later becomes a predetermined length), and then descends toward the outer circumferential side along the slope of the bottom wall of the inner case 4041B.
As shown in fig. 47, ice storage tank 4040 includes a rotating body 4049. The rotating body 4049 is disposed above the compression head 4037 protruding from the bottom wall of the tank main body 4041. The rotating body 4049 has a shaft 4049A and a wing 4049B. The shaft 4049A has a lower end connected to an upper end of the auger 4033 and rotates with the auger 4033. Tapered surface 4049A1 is formed in a part of the lower side surface of shaft 4049A, and ice compressed by compression head 4037 and pushed upward from the ice passage path is bent at tapered surface 4049A1 and cut into a predetermined length, thereby producing ice piece 40IC. The wing 4049B extends from the shaft 4049A toward the outer periphery of the tank main body 4041, and moves in the tank main body 4041 with the rotation of the shaft 4049A. Accordingly, wing 4049B functions as a stirrer for stirring ice pieces 40IC, and reduces the bonding of ice pieces 40IC to each other.
As shown in fig. 47 and 48, a spout 4048 is formed through the bottom end of the front wall of the tank main body 4041. Ice pieces 40IC cut by shaft 4049A of rotating body 4049 are stirred by wing 4049B, slide on the upper surface of drip plate 4047 at an inclination, and reach discharge port 4048.
[ dispensing mechanism 4060]
Ice dispenser 4001 is provided with a dispensing mechanism 4060. As shown in fig. 47 and 48, dispensing mechanism 4060 is provided mainly on upper projection 4011U on the front side of casing 4010.
As shown in fig. 48, the dispensing mechanism 4060 includes a shutter 4061. The shutter 4061 is provided in the front side of the outlet 4048 inside the upper projection 4011U. The shutter 4061 is normally closed, and is openably and hermetically closed by coming into contact with the discharge port 4048 from the front side. For example, as shown in fig. 48, the shutter 4061 may be configured to have a metal attachment plate 4061A, and a thick metal plate 4061B for reinforcement, an L-shaped plate 4061C for suppressing scattering of food and drink, and the like are attached to the front surface of the attachment plate 4061A with screws 4061D. A sealing member made of elastic resin or the like is attached to a portion of the rear surface of the attachment plate 4061A which abuts against the ejection port 4048, and the attachment plate 4061A is connected to a connection plate 4062C of a solenoid device 4062 described later.
As shown in fig. 48, the dispensing mechanism 4060 is provided with a solenoid device 4062. The solenoid device 4062 is provided above the shutter 4061 in the upper projection 4011U. For example, as shown in fig. 48, the solenoid device 4062 may have a structure including a solenoid body 4062A provided with an electromagnetic coil, a plunger 4062B that moves up and down by the electromagnetic coil, and a connecting plate 4062C that connects the above-described mounting plate 4061A and the plunger 4062B. When a lever switch 4065 or a touch switch 4067, which will be described later, is turned on, the electromagnetic coil in the solenoid main body 4062A is excited, the plunger 4062B, which is always in the lowered position, is raised, the shutter 4061 connected by the connecting plate 4062C is rotated forward about the upper edge as the rotation axis, and the discharge port 4048 is opened. The shutter 4061 operated by the solenoid device is merely an example, and a known shutter that is opened and closed by various mechanisms can be used.
As shown in fig. 48, the dispensing mechanism 4060 includes a guide member 4063. The guide member 4063 is attached to the lower side of the outlet 4048 inside the upper projection 4011U. As shown in fig. 48, the guide member 4063 of the present embodiment has a bottom wall inclined downward from the lower side of the outlet 4048, and side walls erected on the left and right side edges of the bottom wall, and is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape with an upward opening in cross section.
As shown in fig. 48, the dispensing mechanism 4060 is provided with a cover member 4064. The cover member 4064 is attached to the front lower side of the guide member 4063 inside the upper protruding portion 4011U. As shown in fig. 48, the cover member 4064 of the present embodiment has a front wall covering the front side of the guide member 4063, left and right side walls formed to protrude rearward from left and right side edges of the front wall, and a lower wall disposed below the guide member 4063. Ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4048 are guided to discharge port 4013 by guide member 4063 and cover member 4064.
As shown in fig. 48, a cylindrical pipe holding portion 4064A extending in the vertical direction is provided in the cover member 4064 of the present embodiment, and a water supply pipe 4017 connected to water supply equipment such as tap water is fitted to the pipe holding portion 4064A. Thus, the ice dispenser 4001 is configured to be able to discharge purified water together with the ice pieces 40IC from the discharge port 4013.
As shown in fig. 48 and the like, the dispensing mechanism 4060 includes a lever switch 4065. As shown in fig. 48, the lever switch 4065 of the present embodiment includes an operating lever 4065A and a switch main body 4065B. The operating rod 4065A is provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the upper protrusion 4011U to the lower side of the discharge port 4013, and is supported so as to rotate against the spring force when pressing the cup 4000C or the like, and a magnet is embedded in the operating rod 4065A. The switch main body 4065B is disposed in the housing 4010 at a position where the operating rod 4065A moves rearward and abuts against the switch main body 4065B, and a readout switch that senses a magnet is provided in the switch main body 4065B. When the operating lever 4065A is pressed by the cup 4000C, the readout switch in the switch main body 4065B is turned on. When the cup 4000C is removed, the operating lever 4065A returns to the initial position, and the switch is turned off.
As shown in fig. 48 and the like, the dispensing mechanism 4060 includes a touch switch 4067. The touch switch 4067 of the present embodiment is provided on the front surface of the upper projection 4011U, and when a finger or the like of a user touches the front surface, the capacitance inside the switch changes and turns on. When a finger or the like is detached from the surface, the switch becomes off. It is to be understood that the switch is not limited to the on/off configuration by the above-described operation, and any known switch such as a configuration in which contacts in a circuit are connected or separated by a user operation may be used. For example, when it is detected that some article is placed on the table 4071 described later, the dispensing port 4048 may be automatically opened. Further, the switch may be turned off after a certain time elapses after the switch is turned on.
When lever switch 4065 or touch switch 4067 is turned on by the user's operation, shutter 4061 opens discharge port 4048, and ice pieces 40IC in ice storage tank 4040 are guided from discharge port 4048 to discharge port 4013 by guide member 4063 and cover member 4064, and discharged into cup 4000C. When lever switch 4065 or touch switch 4067 is turned off, shutter 4061 closes discharge port 4048 to stop discharging ice pieces 40 IC.
[ drainage mechanism 4070]
The ice dispenser 4001 includes a water draining mechanism 4070. As shown in fig. 47 and 48, the drainage mechanism 4070 is mainly provided at the bottom of the lower projection 4011L and the housing 4010.
As shown in fig. 48, the drainage mechanism 4070 includes a stand 4071. The table 4071 is a water-permeable plate-like member having a plurality of holes, and is attached substantially horizontally to the upper surface of the lower projection 4011L. Cup 4000C for receiving discharged ice pieces 40IC is placed on this table 4071.
As shown in fig. 48, the drainage mechanism 4070 includes an external drain pan 4072. The external drain pan 4072 is provided below the table 4071 in the lower protruding portion 4011L. A stepped portion 4072A is formed on an upper portion of an inner surface of the outer drain pan 4072, and the above-described table 4071 is fitted into the stepped portion 4072A. Clean water overflowing without being received by cup 4000C or the like, water generated from ice pieces 40IC, and the like are dropped from water permeable table 4071 and received in outer drain pan 4072. A rear wall of the external discharge tray 4072 is formed with a flow path 4072B extending through it toward the ice making mechanism 4030 disposed on the rear side. The flow path 4072B has a U-shaped cross section, and the rear end portion of the flow path 4072B is positioned above an internal drain pan 4073 described later. The bottom surface of the outer drain pan 4072 is inclined so that the base end of the flow path 4072B is the lowest, and the bottom surface of the flow path 4072B is inclined so as to be higher in the front and lower in the rear. Thus, the drain water received by the external drain pan 4072 flows down from the rear end into the internal drain pan 4073 through the flow path 4072B.
As shown in fig. 48, the drainage mechanism 4070 includes an internal drain pan 4073. Internal drain tray 4073 is disposed below driving device 4039 of ice making mechanism 4030 described above. Water or the like flowing down from the external drain pan 4072 through the flow path 4072B collects in the internal drain pan 4073, in addition to the molten water generated by frost formation on the evaporation tubes 4027 and the like, the purified water discharged from the cylinder 4031, and the like.
As shown in fig. 48, the drainage mechanism 4070 includes a drainage pipe 4074. The drain tube 4074 is connected to the bottom wall of the internal drain pan 4073 and led out to the lower side of the housing 4010. The drain water in the inner drain pan 4073 is discharged to the outside of the ice dispenser 4001 through the drain pipe 4074.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4080]
The ice dispenser 4001 includes an ultraviolet irradiator 4080. The ultraviolet irradiator 4080 may use a structure having an ultraviolet lamp or an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED). Specifically, the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 is configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays (UV) having a wavelength of 200nm to 300nm, more preferably 220nm to 280nm, and still more preferably 253nm to 285nm, which have a high bactericidal activity.
In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 48 and the like, an ultraviolet irradiator 4080 is attached to the front wall rear surface of the cover member 4064 described above. With respect to the up-down direction, it is located slightly below the upper end of the front wall of the cover member 4064. The ultraviolet irradiator 4080 can irradiate the ultraviolet rays at a wide angle rearward, and for example, as shown by an arrow of a single-dot chain line in fig. 48, can irradiate the ultraviolet rays over a range including substantially the entire guide member 4063, the shutter 4061, and the discharge port 4048. Thus, when ice pieces 40IC are discharged from discharge port 4048, ultraviolet rays can be reliably irradiated to the discharged ice pieces 40 IC.
[ control unit 4090]
The ice dispenser 4001 according to the present technology further includes a control unit 4090 (see fig. 49) that controls irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080. The control unit 4090 is mainly configured by a computer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and is housed in a control box 4090A provided behind an ice storage tank 4040 as shown in fig. 47.
The ultraviolet irradiator 4080 described above can irradiate ultraviolet rays at least two levels of irradiation intensity, low (low irradiation intensity) and high (high irradiation intensity). Specifically, the irradiation intensity at a low level may be set to 0.1. Mu.W/cm 2 ～1000μW/cm 2 The irradiation intensity at a high level may be set to 0.1mW/cm 2 ～1000mW/cm 2 . The irradiation intensity at a low level may be set in consideration of the installation location of the ice dispenser 4001 (whether or not the environment is likely to cause bacteria), the type of food or drink to be discharged (whether or not bacteria are likely to occur), the installation position of the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 (whether or not ultraviolet light is likely to leak to the outside of the refrigerator, whether or not the structure of the object is complicated), and the like. The irradiation intensity at the high level may be set in consideration of the type of food or drink to be discharged or discharged (whether sterilization is facilitated by ultraviolet rays), the time required for the food or drink to pass through the ultraviolet irradiation range, and the like. For example, in the case of irradiating the discharged or discharged ice pieces 40IC as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to set the irradiation intensity at a low level to 1. Mu.W/cm 2 ～100μW/cm 2 The irradiation intensity at a high level was set to 1mW/cm 2 ～100mW/cm 2 。
As shown in fig. 49, in order to control the intensity of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiator 4080, the controller 4090 includes a lever switch 4065 and a touch switch 4067 in addition to the ultraviolet light irradiator 4080. As described above, in the dispensing mechanism 4060 of the present embodiment, the shutter 4061 opens and closes the discharge port 4048 in conjunction with the on/off operations of the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067. Thus, when the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067 are on/off, it is determined that the shutter 4061 opens/closes the ejection port 4048, and control is performed. That is, in the present embodiment, the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067 function as a shutter detection means for detecting the open/closed state of the shutter 4061.
An example of control of the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 by the control unit 4090 is described below with reference to fig. 50.
As shown in fig. 50, when the control is started, the control unit 4090 irradiates ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 (step S4001). The irradiation intensity at this time is low, and the ultraviolet irradiation at the low irradiation intensity is maintained until it is detected that the lever switch 4065 or the touch switch 4067 is turned on.
After step S4001, when it is detected that either one of the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067 is turned on (yes in step S4002), the control unit 4090 increases the ultraviolet irradiation intensity from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 (step S4003). The irradiation intensity at this time is high, and the ultraviolet irradiation at the high irradiation intensity is maintained until it is detected that both the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067 are turned off.
After step S4003, when it is detected that both the lever switch 4065 and the touch switch 4067 are turned off (yes in step S4004), the control unit 4090 reduces the ultraviolet irradiation intensity from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 (step S4005). Then, the process returns to step S4002, and the control (fine copy 1) up to S4005 is repeated.
The above-described control is explained according to the use condition of the ice dispenser 4001.
In the case of using the ice dispenser 4001 in a standby state, i.e., in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated at a low irradiation intensity in step S4001, the user holds the cup 4000C below the discharge port 4013 and presses the lever switch 4065, or places the cup 4000C on the stand 4071 and contacts the touch switch 4067. Thereby, either the lever switch 4065 or the touch switch 4067 is turned on (yes in step S4002), and the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays is increased (step S4003). At this time, in dispensing mechanism 4060, shutter 4061 opens discharge port 4048 to discharge ice pieces 40IC, and guide member 4063 and cover member 4064 to discharge port 4013. By irradiating ice pieces 40IC passing through the ultraviolet irradiation region with ultraviolet rays at a high irradiation intensity, ice pieces 40IC themselves can be sterilized even in a short time.
When a sufficient amount of ice pieces 40IC are received by cup 4000C, the user turns the switch on off. When both of lever switch 4065 and touch switch 4067 are turned off (yes in step S4004), shutter 4061 closes discharge port 4048 to stop discharging ice pieces 40 IC. This causes the ultraviolet irradiation intensity to decrease (step S4005), and the system returns to the standby state. In the standby state, the discharge path of ice pieces 40IC can be maintained clean by sterilizing the vicinity of discharge port 4048 including the front surface of the closed shutter while suppressing energy consumption and maintaining ultraviolet irradiation at a low irradiation intensity.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
As described above, the ice dispenser (an example of a dispenser) 4001 according to embodiment 17 includes: a housing 4010; an ice storage tank (an example of a storage chamber) 4040 which is disposed in the housing 4010 and stores ice pieces (an example of food and drink) IC, that is, the ice storage tank 4040 in which a discharge port 4048 is formed; a shutter 4061 for openably closing the discharge port 4048; a touch switch (an example of the shutter detection means) 4067 and a lever switch (another example of the shutter detection means) 4065 that detect the open/closed state of the shutter 4061; an ultraviolet irradiator 4080 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice pieces 40IC discharged from the discharge port 4048; a control unit 4090 for controlling the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 based on the open/close state of the shutter 4061 detected by the touch switch 4067 and the lever switch 4065.
With the above configuration, the ultraviolet irradiation intensity can be controlled according to the open/close state of the shutter 4061, and thus strong ultraviolet rays can be irradiated only during the period when the ice pieces 40IC are discharged. This makes it possible to sterilize ice pieces 40IC themselves without excessively increasing energy consumption. As a result, ice pieces 40IC with higher safety can be supplied. By shortening the time for irradiating the strong ultraviolet rays, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the ultraviolet rays leak to the outside of the ice dispenser 4001 and the user's hand or the like comes into contact with the ultraviolet rays to cause health damage.
In the present embodiment, the case of irradiating the ice pieces 40IC as food and drink with ultraviolet rays is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The food or beverage may be any of liquid, solid-liquid mixture, and the like. As described above, the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays can be set based on the moving speed of food or drink to be irradiated.
In the ice dispenser 4001, the control unit 4090 increases the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 when determining that the shutter 4061 opens the discharge port 4048, and decreases the irradiation intensity when determining that the shutter 4061 closes the discharge port 4048 after increasing the irradiation intensity.
Specifically, the provided food and drink can be sterilized satisfactorily by the control as described above.
In the present embodiment, the control unit 4090 determines whether the shutter 4061 opens or closes the discharge port 4048 based on signals from the touch switch 4067 and the lever switch 4065 functioning as the shutter detection means, but is not limited thereto. A timer means such as a timer for measuring time may be further provided, and when a predetermined time has elapsed since the ultraviolet irradiation intensity was increased, it is determined that the shutter 4061 has closed the discharge port 4048.
In the present embodiment, the control unit controls the irradiation intensity to be higher than 0 μ W/cm before increasing the irradiation intensity and after decreasing the irradiation intensity 2 The ultraviolet irradiator irradiates ultraviolet rays at a high and constant irradiation intensity. This can sterilize not only ice pieces 40IC itself at the time of releasing ice pieces 40IC, but also the release path of ice pieces 40IC at the time of standby, and can maintain the path clean. As a result, ice pieces 40IC with higher safety can be provided.
< embodiment 18>
Embodiment 18 will be described with reference to fig. 51 to 53. In embodiment 47, an ice dispenser (ice maker) 4201 is illustrated in which a discharge port cover 4250 covering a space between a discharge port 4013 and a table 4071 is attached to a front surface of a housing 4210. The basic structure of ice dispenser 4201 is the same as ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a configuration of the ice dispenser 4201 different from the ice dispenser 4001, and the same configuration as the ice dispenser 4001 will be given the same reference numerals as in embodiment 17 and will not be described (the same applies to embodiment 19 and the following).
[ spit-out mask 4250]
Ice dispenser 4201 includes a spitting mask 4250. As shown in fig. 51, the discharge mask 4250 is attached between the upper projection 4011U and the lower projection 4011L.
The discharge mask 4250 is configured to block ultraviolet rays and transmit visible light. In the present embodiment, a resin member which is integrally molded with a resin capable of blocking ultraviolet rays and transmitting visible light is used as the discharge mask 4250. As such a resin, for example, a structure made of a light-transmitting acrylic resin, a polycarbonate resin, or the like can be used. The discharge mask 4250 is attached to the front surface of the housing 4210 so as to be openable and closable, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens rearward. In the closed state, as shown in fig. 51, the discharge port cover 4250 is connected to the lower side of the upper projection 4011U, and closes the space including the discharge port 4013 and up to the center of the table 4071. The discharge cover 4250 of the present embodiment is openable by pivoting about a left edge (left side in fig. 51) toward the front of the ice dispenser 4201. The discharge mask need not be entirely formed of a resin that can block ultraviolet rays and transmit visible light, and an ultraviolet shielding member having a window portion that can transmit visible light may be used.
The spit-out mask 4250 is preferably always closed. The user opens the discharge mouthpiece 4250 and places a container such as the cup 4000C on the table 4071 below the discharge port 4013. After the discharge mask 4250 is closed, for example, a touch switch 4067 is operated to discharge ice pieces 40IC and purified water into the container. After completion of the discharge, the discharge mask 4250 is opened again, the container filled with the ice pieces 40IC and the like is taken out, and the discharge mask 4250 is closed.
[ cover opening/closing detection sensor 4251]
Ice dispenser 4201 includes a cover open/close detection sensor (an example of cover detection means) 4251 for detecting an open/close state of discharge port cover 4250. For example, a configuration in which a non-contact sensor such as an infrared sensor is attached to an appropriate position of the housing 4210 can be used as the cover opening/closing detection sensor 4251. Alternatively, a magnet or the like may be attached to the edge portion on the rotation side (right side in fig. 51) of the discharge port cover 4250, and a readout switch may be embedded as a cover opening/closing detection sensor at a position in the housing 4210 close to the magnet when the discharge port cover 4250 is closed. As shown in fig. 52, the cover opening/closing detection sensor 4251 is connected to a control unit 4290 described later.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4280]
The ice dispenser 4201 includes an ultraviolet irradiator 4280. The ultraviolet irradiator 4280 of the present embodiment is configured to irradiate visible light having a wavelength of 380nm to 780nm simultaneously with ultraviolet rays. By irradiating visible light and ultraviolet light at the same time, the presence or absence of ultraviolet light irradiation and the ultraviolet light irradiation range can be visually confirmed. The ultraviolet irradiator 4280 of the present embodiment is attached to the same position as the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17, for example. As shown in fig. 52, the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 is connected to a control unit 4290 described later.
[ control unit 4290]
Ice dispenser 4201 includes a control unit 4290 for controlling irradiation of ultraviolet rays from ultraviolet irradiator 4280. As shown in fig. 52, the control unit 4290 is connected to a touch switch 4067, a cover opening/closing detection sensor 4251, and an ultraviolet irradiator 4280. In the present embodiment, the shutter 4061 opens and closes the ejection port 4048 in conjunction with the touch switch 4067, and the touch switch 4067 functions as a shutter detection means for detecting the open/closed state of the shutter 4061.
An example of the control of the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 by the controller 4290 will be described below with reference to fig. 53.
As shown in fig. 53, when the control is started, the control unit 4290 checks whether the discharge port cover 4250 is closed (step S4021). When determining that the discharge mask 4250 is closed (yes in step S4021), the control unit 4290 irradiates ultraviolet rays and visible light from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 (step S4022). At this time, the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays is low, and the irradiation of ultraviolet rays at low irradiation intensity is maintained until it is detected that the discharge mask 4250 is opened (no in step S4023) or the touch switch 4067 is turned on.
After step S4022, if it is determined that the discharge mask 4250 is open (no in step S4023), the control unit 4290 stops the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays and the visible light (step S4024), and returns to step S4021 to repeat the control (corresponding to 2). When it is detected that the discharge port cover 4250 is not opened (yes in step S4023) and the touch switch 4067 is on (yes in step S4025), the control unit 4290 confirms again whether or not the discharge port cover 4250 is closed (step S4026). When it is determined that the discharge mask 4250 is opened, the control unit 4290 stops the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays and the visible light (step S4027), and returns to step S4021 to repeat the control (corresponding to 2). After the touch switch 4067 is turned on, if it is determined that the discharge mask 4250 is closed (yes in step S4026), the control unit 4290 increases the ultraviolet irradiation intensity from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 (step S4028). At this time, the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet rays is high, and the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays at the high irradiation intensity is maintained until the discharge mask 4250 is opened (no in step S4029).
After step S4028, if it is determined that the discharge mask 4250 is open (no in step S4029), the control unit 4290 stops the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays and the visible light from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 (step S4030), and returns to step S4021 to repeat the control (addition 2).
The above control will be described based on the usage situation.
In the standby state, that is, in the case of the ice dispenser 4001 irradiated with ultraviolet rays at a low irradiation intensity in step S4022, the user opens the discharge mask 4250, places the cup 4000C on the table 4071, and closes the discharge mask 4250. At this time, when it is detected that the discharge mask 4250 is opened (no in step S4023), the irradiation of ultraviolet rays and visible light is stopped (step S4024), and therefore, the ultraviolet rays are not irradiated to the hand of the user when the cup 4000C is placed. When the user closes the discharge mask 4250 after placing the cup 4000C (yes in step S4021), the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 irradiates ultraviolet rays again at a low irradiation intensity (step S4022).
When the user touches the touch switch 4067 to turn on (yes in step S4025) without opening the discharge mask 4250 (yes in step S4023), after confirming that the discharge mask 4250 is closed (yes in step S4026), the ultraviolet irradiation intensity is increased (step S4028), and the ice pieces 40IC discharged from the discharge port 4048 opened by opening the shutter 4061 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays at a high irradiation intensity. At this time, the user can confirm sterilization by irradiating visible light together with ultraviolet rays and transmitting through the discharge mask 4250.
When a sufficient amount of ice pieces 40IC are received in cup 4000C, the user opens discharge port cover 4250 by turning off touch switch 4067, and closes discharge port cover 4250 after taking out cup 4000C. At this time, since irradiation of ultraviolet rays and visible light is stopped (step S4030) at the stage when the discharge mask 4250 is opened (no in step S4029), ultraviolet rays are not irradiated to the hand of the user when the cup 4000C is taken out. When the user closes the discharge mask 4250 after taking out the cup 4000C (yes in step S4021), the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 irradiates ultraviolet rays again at a low irradiation intensity (step S4022), and returns to the standby state. Note that, at the time point when the touch switch 4067 is turned off, the control unit 4290 may decrease the ultraviolet irradiation intensity from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
As described above, in ice dispenser 4201 according to embodiment 18, a discharge port 4013 is formed in housing 4210, ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4048 are discharged to the outside of housing 4210 while discharge port 4013 communicates with discharge port 4048, a table 4071 on which cup (an example of a container) 4000C placed below discharge port 4013 and receiving ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4013 is placed is provided, discharge port cover 4250 covering between discharge port 4013 and table 4071 is attached so as to be openable and closable, a cover opening/closing detection sensor (an example of cover detection means) 4251 that detects the opening/closing state of discharge port cover 4250 is further provided, and control unit 4290 does not increase the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays from ultraviolet irradiator 4280 when cover opening/closing detection sensor 4251 does not detect that discharge port cover 4250 is closed.
According to the above configuration, the discharge mask 4250 is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays at high intensity in a state where it is not closed. This reduces the possibility of health damage to the user due to the irradiation of strong ultraviolet light.
In the present embodiment, the control unit 4290 stops the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 when the closing of the discharge mask 4250 is not detected. This further improves the safety of the user.
In ice dispenser 4201, ultraviolet irradiator 4280 can irradiate visible light together with ultraviolet rays, and discharge mask 4250 is formed to include a visible light transmitting portion that shields ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light.
With this configuration, since visible light is irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 together with ultraviolet rays, and whether or not the ultraviolet rays and the visible light are irradiated can be visually confirmed through the discharge mask 4250, it is possible to know a failure or the like of the ultraviolet irradiator 4280 in advance. When the user opens the discharge mask 4250 and takes out the cup 4000C, it can be confirmed that ultraviolet rays are not irradiated. As a result, the safety of the user can be further improved.
< embodiment 19>
Embodiment 19 will be described with reference to fig. 54. In embodiment 19, the ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is mounted at a position different from the position at which the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17 is mounted. The other structure of the ice dispenser (ice maker) 4301 is the same as that of the ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4380]
In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 54, an ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is attached to a lower surface of a drip plate (an example of a water removing member) 4047. In this embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is located near the discharge port 4048 of the drip plate 4047, and mainly irradiates ultraviolet rays upward. In order to exhibit water permeability, the drip plate 4047 is provided with a large number of through holes, and ultraviolet rays pass through the through holes and reach the ice pieces 40IC on the upper surface of the drip plate 4047. The ultraviolet irradiator 4380 of the present embodiment can irradiate ultraviolet rays at a wide angle around the upper side, and for example, as shown by the one-dot chain line arrow in fig. 54, when the shutter 4061 is closed, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated also to the rear surface thereof.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
In ice dispenser 4301 according to embodiment 19, a weep plate (an example of a water removal member) 4047 formed so as to be capable of transmitting ultraviolet rays is disposed on a bottom surface of an ice storage tank (an example of a storage chamber) 4040, and an ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is attached to a lower surface of weep plate 4047 so as to be capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays upward.
With the above configuration, the ice sheet 40IC can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays while the top surface of the drip plate 4047 is moved toward the discharge port 4048. In the present embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is disposed particularly on the bottom surface near the discharge port 4048, ice pieces 40IC to be discharged next can be sterilized intensively. Since ultraviolet irradiator 4380 is disposed inside ice storage tank 4040 and irradiates ultraviolet light substantially into ice storage tank 4040, the possibility of ultraviolet light leaking to the outside of housing 4010 can be reduced. In the present embodiment, in particular, the ultraviolet irradiator 4380 can irradiate ultraviolet rays toward the discharge port 4048 together with the inside of the ice storage tank 4040 above, and therefore, when the shutter 4061 is closed, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the rear surface of the shutter 4061 (the surface on the ice storage tank 4040 side), and when the shutter 4061 is opened, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to a part of the discharge path (the upper end portion of the guide member 4063, the cover member 4064, and the like), and sterilization thereof can be performed.
< embodiment 20>
Embodiment 20 is explained with reference to fig. 55. In embodiment 20, the mounting position of the ultraviolet irradiator 4480 is different from that of the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17. The other structure of the ice dispenser (ice maker) 4401 is the same as the ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4480]
In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 55, an ultraviolet irradiator 4480 is attached to the front wall rear surface of a cover member 4064 in the same manner as the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17. In the vertical direction, unlike the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17, the ultraviolet irradiator 4480 is located at the upper end portion of the front wall of the cover member 4064 and substantially faces the front surface of the shutter 4061 covering the ejection port 4048 from the front side. The ultraviolet irradiator 4480 is configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward, and as shown by the one-dot chain line arrow in fig. 55, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated at a strong intensity from a distance shorter than the shutter 4061.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
In ice dispenser 4401 of embodiment 20, shutter 4061 is attached so as to cover and close discharge port 4048 from the front, and ultraviolet irradiator 4480 is attached to housing 4010 at a position facing shutter 4061 from the front so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward.
The discharge path of ice sheet 40IC formed by guide member 4063 and cover member 4064 communicates with the outside, and shutter 4061 separates this discharge path from ice storage tank 4040 which is always closed. When the shutter 4061 is formed of a metal having excellent durability in preparation for repeated opening and closing operations, it is difficult to maintain the heat insulation property, and dew condensation is likely to occur on the front surface of the discharge path. Further, the discharged food or drink such as ice pieces 40IC may adhere to the front surface of the shutter 4061 due to rebounding or the like. As described in embodiment 17, the shutter 4061 has a complicated shape to exhibit an opening and closing function, and is difficult to clean. As a result, the front surface of the shutter 4061 is often an environment in which bacteria easily grow. According to the above configuration, ultraviolet rays can be intensively irradiated to the front surface of the shutter, and sterilization can be reliably performed.
< embodiment 21>
Embodiment 21 will be described with reference to fig. 56. In embodiment 21, the ultraviolet irradiator 4580 is different from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17 in structure and mounting position. The other structure of the ice dispenser (ice maker) 4501 is the same as the ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4580]
The ultraviolet irradiator 4580 according to the present embodiment is configured to irradiate visible light with ultraviolet light. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 56, an ultraviolet irradiator 4580 is mounted on the front wall rear surface of a cover member 4064. In the vertical direction, the ultraviolet irradiator 4580 is located at the upper end portion of the front wall of the cover member 4064, similarly to the ultraviolet irradiator 4480 of embodiment 20, but is attached obliquely rearward and downward, unlike the ultraviolet irradiator 4480 of embodiment 20. The ultraviolet irradiator 4580 can irradiate ultraviolet rays at a wide angle from the rear to the lower side, and as shown by the single-dot chain line arrows in fig. 56, can irradiate ultraviolet rays not only to the rear walls of the shutter 4061, the discharge port 4048, the guide member 4063, and the cover member 4064, but also to the edge portion of the discharge port 4013 located below. Ultraviolet rays can also be irradiated into the cup 4000C placed on the lower table 4071 and into the external drain pan 4072.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
In ice dispenser 4501 according to embodiment 21, a discharge port 4013 is formed in casing 4010, and discharge port 4013 communicates with discharge port 4048 to discharge ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4048 to the outside of casing 4010 below discharge port 4048, and ultraviolet irradiator 4580 is attached to casing 4010 at a position in front of discharge port 4048 and above discharge port 4013 so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward and downward.
With the above configuration, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to both the discharge port 4048 positioned at the rear of the ultraviolet irradiator 4580 and the discharge port 4013 positioned below. When the shutter 4061 is opened, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the bottom edge portion of the ice storage tank 4040 through the outlet 4048. Therefore, by sterilizing the ice pieces 40IC passing through the vicinity of the food and drink while maintaining the vicinity of the food and drink clean, it is possible to provide food and drink with higher safety. Further, cup 4000C disposed below discharge port 4013 and receiving ice pieces 40IC and ice pieces 40IC received in cup 4000C are also irradiated with ultraviolet rays, thereby sterilizing. If the irradiation with ultraviolet light is performed at a low irradiation intensity even during standby, the table 4071 and the external drain pan 4072 provided below the table 4071 can be irradiated with ultraviolet light for sterilization. As a result, one ultraviolet irradiator 4580 can sterilize a wide range, maintain ice dispenser 4501 clean, and provide ice pieces 40IC safely. In the present embodiment, although ultraviolet light is irradiated between the upper projection 4011U and the lower projection 4011L, the user can confirm and pay attention to the irradiation range of ultraviolet light by using the ultraviolet light irradiator 4580 that irradiates visible light and ultraviolet light together.
< embodiment 22>
Embodiment 22 will be described with reference to fig. 57. In embodiment 22, the structure and the mounting position of the ultraviolet irradiator 4680 are different from those of the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17. The other structure of ice dispenser (ice maker) 4601 is the same as ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4680]
The ultraviolet irradiator 4680 of the present embodiment uses ultraviolet light emitting diodes having high directivity and irradiates visible light and ultraviolet light together. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 57, the ultraviolet irradiator 4680 is attached to the bottom surface inside the external bleed disk 4072. The ultraviolet irradiator 4680 can irradiate ultraviolet rays from below upward, and as shown by the one-dot chain line arrows in fig. 57, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated from the inside of the external drain pan 4072 to the periphery of the discharge port 4013, the tip end portion of the water supply pipe 4017 held by the pipe holding portion 4064A, the cover member 4064, the lower end portion of the guide member 4063, and the like.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
Ice dispenser 4601 of embodiment 22 has discharge port 4013 formed on the front surface of casing 4010, which communicates with discharge port 4048 and discharges ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4048 to the outside of casing 4010, and has stage 4071 and external discharge disk 4072, in which stage 4071 is disposed below discharge port 4013 and cup 4000C for receiving ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4013 is placed thereon, external discharge disk 4072 is disposed below stage 4071 and receives ice pieces 40IC not received in cup 4000C, and ultraviolet irradiator 4680 is attached to the bottom surface inside external discharge disk 4072 so as to be capable of irradiating ultraviolet light upward.
According to the above configuration, by disposing the ultraviolet irradiator 4680 at a position separated from the discharge port 4013, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated from the discharge port 4013 positioned above the external discharge tray to the discharge path of the ice pieces 40IC and the like connected above by one ultraviolet irradiator 4680. Further, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the mouth edge portion of the water supply tube 4017 which discharges the purified water together with the ice pieces 40 IC. When cup 4000C is placed and ice pieces 40IC and the like are discharged, ice pieces 40IC and the like which are not received in cup 4000C but received in outer discharge tray 4072 among the discharged ice pieces 40IC and the like are irradiated with strong ultraviolet rays to be sterilized, whereby propagation of bacteria in outer discharge tray 4072 and, further, in inner discharge tray 4073 can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the use of a highly directional ultraviolet light emitting diode as the ultraviolet irradiator 4680 can suppress the ultraviolet light irradiation range from becoming too wide. In addition, although ultraviolet rays are irradiated between the upper protruding portion 4011U and the lower protruding portion 4011L in the present embodiment, the user can check and keep track of the irradiation range of ultraviolet rays by using the ultraviolet ray irradiator 4680 that irradiates visible light and ultraviolet rays.
< embodiment 23>
Embodiment 23 is explained with reference to fig. 58. In embodiment 23, the position where the ultraviolet irradiator 4780 is attached is also different from the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17. The other structure of the ice dispenser (ice maker) 4701 is the same as the ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4780]
The ultraviolet irradiator 4780 of the present embodiment uses ultraviolet light emitting diodes with high directivity. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 58, the ultraviolet irradiator 4780 is attached to the front surface of the inside of the external drain disk 4072 provided in the lower protruding portion 4011L, at a position facing the base end portion of the flow path 4072B communicating with the internal drain disk 4073. The ultraviolet irradiator 4780 can irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward, and as shown by the one-dot chain line arrow in fig. 58, can irradiate ultraviolet rays into the flow path 4072B from the inside of the external drain pan 4072.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
In ice dispenser 4701 according to embodiment 52, discharge port 4013 communicating with discharge port 4048 and discharging ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4048 to the outside of casing 4010 is formed in the front surface of casing 4010, and table 4071 and external discharge disk 4072 are provided, table 4071 being disposed below discharge port 4013 and placing cup 4000C that receives ice pieces 40IC discharged from discharge port 4013, external discharge disk 4072 being disposed below table 4071 and receiving ice pieces 40IC not received by cup 4000C, internal discharge disk 4073 being provided in casing 4010, internal discharge disk 4073 being disposed behind external discharge disk 4072 and communicating with external discharge disk 4072, ultraviolet irradiator 4780 being attached to the front surface in external discharge disk 4072 so as to be capable of irradiating ultraviolet light rearward.
When bacteria propagate in the external and internal drain disks 4072 and 4073, sludge-like substances are formed to block a drain port, a drain pipe 4074, and the like, which discharge the drain water to the outside of the ice dispenser 4701, and water leakage or electric leakage may occur. According to the above configuration, not only the external bleed disk 4072 but also the flow path 4072B that communicates the external bleed disk 4072 with the internal bleed disk 4073 and the internal bleed disk 4073 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays. As a result, the ice dispenser 4701 can be maintained clean while suppressing the propagation of bacteria in the external drain pan 4072 and the internal drain pan 4073, and thus, the drainage failure can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiator 4780 is provided with an ultraviolet light emitting diode having high directivity, and can reliably irradiate the flow path 4072B with ultraviolet light.
< embodiment 24>
Embodiment 24 is explained with reference to fig. 59. In embodiment 24, the ultraviolet irradiator 4880 is attached at a position different from the position at which the ultraviolet irradiator 4080 of embodiment 17 is attached. The other structure of the ice dispenser (ice maker) 4801 is the same as the ice dispenser 4001 of embodiment 17.
[ ultraviolet irradiator 4880]
In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 59, an ultraviolet irradiator 4880 is attached above a flow path 4072B that communicates an external discharge disk 4072 with an internal discharge disk 4073, within a housing 4010. The ultraviolet irradiator 4880 can irradiate ultraviolet rays downward, and can irradiate ultraviolet rays into the flow path 4072B and the internal drain pan 4073 as indicated by the single-dot chain line arrow in fig. 59.
[ subject of Structure and Effect ]
In ice dispenser 4801 according to embodiment 24, an ejection port 4013 that communicates with ejection port 4048 and can eject ice pieces 40IC ejected from ejection port 4048 to the outside of casing 4010 is formed in the front surface of casing 4010, and a stage 4071 and an external drain disk 4072 are provided, in which stage 4071 is disposed below ejection port 4013 and cup 4000C that receives ice pieces 40IC ejected from ejection port 4013 is placed, in which external drain disk 4072 is disposed below stage 4071 and receives ice pieces 40IC that are not received by cup 4000C, and in which internal drain disk 4073 disposed at the lower part of casing 4010 and flow path 4072B that communicates external drain disk 4072 with internal drain disk 4073 are provided in casing 4010, and ultraviolet irradiator 4880 is mounted above flow path 4072B in casing 4010 so as to irradiate ultraviolet light downward.
According to the above configuration, the flow path 4072B is intensively irradiated with ultraviolet rays, whereby the drain water flowing from the external drain pan 4072 to the internal drain pan 4073 can be reliably sterilized. When the ultraviolet irradiator 4880 can irradiate ultraviolet rays into the internal discharge tray 4073, the internal discharge tray 4073 can be sterilized.
< other embodiment >
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure, and various modifications other than the following embodiments can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
(1) In addition to the above embodiments, the structure of the UV sterilizer can be changed as appropriate. For example, the UV sterilizer may be disposed directly below the recovery port connected to the recovery passage and may be configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward from the bottom of the water. In this case, the control unit may first drain the ice making water accumulated in the ice making unit and concentrated in bacteria or impurities before driving the pump device, and then supply the ice making water to the storage unit or the like.
(2) In modification 3 described above, the ice maker is configured to be capable of transmitting visible light through a part of the wall portion of the storage section, but the ice maker is not limited to this. For example, the ice maker may be configured to transmit visible light through all of the wall portion of the storage portion or a part or all of the lid portion. Further, the ice maker may have the following structure: the ice maker is provided with a light guide body which extends from the inside to the outside of the storage section and guides visible light, and visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation section to the light guide body can be confirmed from the outside of the ice maker.
(3) In the above embodiment, the ice maker detects the water level of the ice making water stored in the storage section by the float switch disposed on the lid section, but is not limited thereto. For example, the ice maker may have the following structure: the cover portion is provided with a UV ray detection device for detecting ultraviolet rays, and the UV detection device detects ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV sterilization device and reflected to the ice making water stored in the storage portion, so that the control portion determines the water level of the ice making water stored in the storage portion.
(4) In addition to the above embodiments, the position of the UV sterilizer is changed as appropriate. In embodiment 4 described above, the UV sterilizer is provided on the upper wall 2251A, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a UV sterilization device may be provided in the lower wall 2251C. Thereby, the ice moving through the nozzle moves to slide on the UV sterilizer, and thus the sterilization effect can be improved. The ice moved by this is preferable because it can wash away germs and dirt adhering to the UV sterilizer.
(5) In the above embodiment 4, the forming member 2223 has 4 dividing parts 2223A and 4 ice passing paths 2000P, but is not limited thereto. For example, 6 divisions and 6 ice passing paths may be provided. The divided portions may have different sizes.
(6) In addition to the above embodiments, the method of controlling each part by the control unit may be appropriately changed. For example, the control unit may switch the UV sterilization device from off to on when the ice produced by the ice making unit is started to be delivered from the discharge port to the passage unit. In this case, the control unit may determine whether or not the ice starts to be delivered to the passage unit based on an elapsed time from the start of the compressor, a temperature of the inlet or outlet of the evaporator, a gear motor current, and the like.
(7) In the above embodiment, the control device switches the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device between the high mode and the low mode, but as shown in fig. 29, the target current value Ia may be arbitrarily set according to the required irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays, and the control device may be configured to switch the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device between the arbitrary levels.
(8) In the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation device includes the deep ultraviolet UV-LED as the light source, but the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device is not limited to the deep ultraviolet UV-LED as long as it is configured to be capable of changing the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet light, and may be another UV-LED, a discharge type UV lamp, or the like.
(9) The configuration of the control device for varying the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation device is not limited to the configuration based on the electronic circuit portion disclosed in the above embodiment, and may be other electronic circuits based on PWM control, on/off cycle control based on a relatively long period (for example, 0.1 to 100 seconds), electronic circuits using linear control of transistor elements, electronic circuits using resistance value varying means, or the like.
(10) In the above embodiment, the water amount sensor 3048 that detects the water level of the water storage tank 3041 is an ultrasonic sensor, but the water amount sensor 3048 is not limited to this as long as it can detect the water level of the water storage tank 3041, and may be, for example, a float switch, an infrared sensor, or the like. This enables the use of a water amount sensor suitable for the capacity of the water storage tank 3041, required accuracy, cost, and the like. When the water amount sensor 3048 is a float switch, the distance d from the water amount sensor 3048 to the water surface can be linearly estimated using the following relationship when setting the target current value Ia in embodiment 8 described above.
When the water level descends: d = d1+ d2 × Tc/Tc
When the water level rises: d = d1+ d2 × Ts/Ts
In the equation, d1 is a distance between the ultraviolet light source and the ice making maximum water level, d2 is a distance between the ice making maximum water level and the ice making minimum water level, tc is a water supply stop time (for example, an arithmetic average value when a plurality of measurements are performed) for the ice maker 4601 from the ice making maximum water level to the ice making minimum water level by making ice, tc is an elapsed time from the water supply stop (closing of the water supply valve Vs), ts is a water supply time (for example, an arithmetic average value when a plurality of measurements are performed) for the ice maker 4601 from the ice making minimum water level to the ice making maximum water level by supplying water while making ice, and Ts is an elapsed time from the water supply start (opening of the water supply valve Vs).
(11) The ice maker may have any combination of the embodiments described above. For example, the configuration in which the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays is set in consideration of the distance between the light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device and the water surface as in embodiment 11 can be applied to setting of the target current value Ia in the high mode control and the low mode control, for example.
(12) In the above-described embodiment, the ice maker is mainly disclosed as an ice maker that includes an auger type ice making mechanism and can discharge ice, but the present technology is not limited to such an ice maker. The present technology can also be applied to various types of ice making machines such as a flow-down type, a unit type, a drum type, and a water storage type. In addition, the present technology can be applied to dispensers that discharge various kinds of food and drink, such as ice dispensers that supply beverages such as water together with ice, tea dispensers, coffee machines, and soup machines.
(13) In < control example 1-2> of embodiment 6 described above, water in the water storage tank 3041 is consumed for ice making and water is periodically supplied during the driving of the freezer unit 3010 and ice making unit 3020. Therefore, the retention of water in the water storage tank 3041 is short (e.g., about 1 to 15 minutes) due to the relationship between the capacity of the water storage tank 3041 and the ice making rate by the ice making unit 3020. In this case, even if water supply valve Vs is in the closed state, current control unit 4121 may set the target current value for ultraviolet irradiation to the low mode during driving of freezing unit 3010 and ice making unit 3020.
(14) In the above embodiment, the shutter 4061 is linked to the touch switch 4067 or the lever switch 4065 only, and these switches are made to function as the shutter detection means. For example, the shutter may be configured to close the discharge port when a certain time has elapsed after the discharge port is opened. Alternatively, the shutter may be configured to close the discharge port when the discharge port is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of food or drink. The control unit may be connected to the shutter, and the shutter may be opened and closed based on a signal output from the control unit to the shutter, and the control unit may determine that the shutter is opened or closed when such a signal is output. The shutter detection means may be provided with an optical sensor, a weight sensor, or the like that detects the open/close state of the shutter or the discharge state of food or drink.
(15) In the above-described embodiment 18 and the like including the discharge mask, the discharge mask 4250 is manually opened and closed, and the opened and closed state is detected by the mask opening and closing detection sensor 4251, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, actuators for opening and closing the discharge mask may be connected to the control unit, the discharge mask may be opened and closed based on a signal output from the control unit to the actuators, and the control unit may determine that the discharge mask is opened or closed when such a signal is output.
(16) The dispenser (ice maker) may be a combination of the embodiments described above. For example, in the case of a configuration in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the outside of the casing as in embodiment 21 or embodiment 22, if the discharge mask as in embodiment 18 is provided, and the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays is controlled in consideration of the open/closed state of the discharge mask as in embodiment 18, it is possible to particularly effectively improve the safety of the user.
(17) The dispenser may be provided by combining a plurality of ultraviolet irradiators as exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, if an ultraviolet irradiator attached to a position where ultraviolet rays can be irradiated over a wide range of a discharge path of food and drink, as in the ultraviolet irradiator 4580 of embodiment 21, and an ultraviolet irradiator attached to a position where ultraviolet rays can be irradiated into a discharge mechanism including a discharge tray, as in the ultraviolet irradiator 4780 of embodiment 23, are provided, it is possible to provide food and drink with high safety and maintain the dispenser in an extremely hygienic state.
Description of the reference symbols
10 \8230, ice maker 20 \8230, ice making section 32 \8230, pump device 33 \8230, circulation mechanism 60, 160, 260, 360, 460, 560, 660 \8230, water storage tank 61, 161, 261, 361, 461, 561, 661 \8230, storage section 61A, 461A \8230, outflow section 62, 162, 362 \8230, drainage section 65 \8230, outflow section 65U \8230, tip section 66T \82303030, trap 68268, 568, 668D, 82668E, 668F \ 30, inflow section 68A, 268A, 568A, 668A \8230, inflow section 68B 30568, 568B, 668B \828230, flow path section, 80 \, 82303030, control section 90, 490, 590, 690, 82F \ 8293, 8293 \ and 823093 \ UV sterilization device
2010. 2200, 2600, 2700, 8230, ice maker 2020, 2220, 2420, 2520, 8230, ice making section 2023A, 2223A, 8230, dividing section 2027, 2227, 2527, 8230, outlet section 2028, 2228, 2428, 2528, rotator (cutter) 2050, 2250, 2350, 2450, 2550, 2650, 8230, passage section 2052R1, 8230, opening section 2070, 2270, 2770, 8230, ice storage tank 2070A, 2070B, 2070C, 2270A, 2770A, 8230, wall 2675, 8230, ice detection device 2073, 8230, UV sterilization device
3001. 3201, 3301, 3401, 3501, 3601, 3701, 3801, 31001, 31101, 8230, an ice maker 3005, 8230, an ice making part 3010, 8230, a freezing unit 3020, 8230, an ice making unit 3025A, 8230, a spout 3025B, 8230, a chute 3030, an ice storage part 3031, 8230, a 3035, 3235, 8230, an ice amount sensor 3036, a stirrer 3040, a 8230, a water supply and drainage mechanism 3041, 8230tank, 3048, a water amount sensor 3050, 30550, 3350, 3450, 3850, 3950, 31050, 8231150, an ultraviolet irradiation device 3100, a 823030, a control device 3110, an operation control part 82303121, an ice making branch 82302, a 823082303, a water supply and drainage path 82302, a water supply and drainage path 82301, a water supply and drainage path 82302, a water supply and drainage path 823021, a water supply and drainage path 82303, a water supply and a water discharge path 82303, a water supply and a water discharge path 8230channel 823021, a water discharge path 82303, a light source, D4 8230, main drainage channel 4001, 4201, 4301, 4401, 4501, 4601, 4701, 4801, 8230, ice dispenser (an example of a dispenser of an ice maker), 4010, 4210, 8230, housing, 4011L 8230, lower protrusion, 4011U \ 8230, upper protrusion, 4013 8230, spout, 4020 \ 8230, freezing device, 4030 8230, ice making mechanism, 4040 \ 8230, ice storage tank (an example of a storage chamber), 4041 \ 8230, tank body, 4047 \ 8230, plate (an example of a water removing member), 4048 \ 8230, spout, 4060 8230, dispensing device, 4061 \ 8230, shutter, 40823062 \ 8230, solenoid device, 4063 \ 8230, guide member, 4063 \ 8230, 8230cover, 4064, 823064 \ bar, 8230, 823067, 8230, open/close unit, 8230, and a detection unit (an example of a 408230303080, 823080, 823071), 4080. 4280, 4380, 4480, 4580, 4680, 4780, and 4880 \8230, ultraviolet irradiators 4090 and 4290 \8230, a control unit 4250 \8230, a spitting mask 4251 \8230, a mask opening/closing detection sensor (an example of a mask detection unit) 4000C \8230, a cup (an example of a container), 40IC \8230, and borneol (an example of food and drink).

Claims (46)

1. An ice maker, comprising:
a tank having an inflow portion into which water flows and an outflow portion from which water flows, and capable of storing water therein;
an ice making unit for freezing water flowing out from the outflow unit to produce ice; and
a UV sterilizer for sterilizing water by irradiating ultraviolet rays,
the UV sterilization device is configured in a way that the ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilization device at least comprises the inflow middle of the water flowing from the inflow part.
2. The ice-making machine of claim 1,
the tank is provided with:
a storage section for storing water; and
a drain part for discharging the water overflowing from the storage part to the outside,
the drain portion is shaped so as not to shield ultraviolet light emitted from the UV sterilizer to the storage portion side.
3. The ice-making machine of claim 1 or 2,
the tank is provided with a bottom surface part forming a bottom surface,
the outflow part is arranged on the bottom surface part,
the bottom surface portion is inclined downward toward the outflow portion,
the UV sterilization device is arranged near the outflow part on the bottom surface part.
4. The ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The can includes a bulging portion bulging inward,
the front end of the bulge part facing the inflow part is in a shape of a tapered front end.
5. The ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
the inflow portion includes:
an inlet portion opened toward an inside of the tank; and
a flow path portion constituting a flow path of water from outside of the tank toward the inlet portion,
the flow path portion is bent toward the inlet portion.
6. The ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
the ice maker is provided with:
a circulation mechanism that, by driving of a pump, causes water that has flowed out of the outflow portion and flowed into the ice making portion through a supply passage to flow into the tank again through a flow passage different from the supply passage; and
and a control unit for controlling the drive of the pump according to the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays of the UV sterilization device.
7. The ice-making machine of any of claims 1-6,
the ice maker is provided with a visible light irradiation device which irradiates visible light according to the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray of the UV sterilization device,
The ice maker includes a visual part that can visually recognize the visible light emitted from the visible light emitting device.
8. The ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
the tank is provided with:
a storage section for storing water; and
a drain part for discharging water overflowing from the storage part to the outside,
the drain unit includes a trap for temporarily storing discharged water,
the trap is provided with a trap-side UV sterilizer that irradiates ultraviolet rays to sterilize water.
9. An ice maker, comprising:
an ice making unit for freezing water to produce ice;
an ice storage tank capable of storing ice therein;
a passage portion which is provided to connect the ice making portion and the ice storage tank and which constitutes a passage for ice moving from the ice making portion to the inside of the ice storage tank; and
a UV sterilizer for sterilizing the ice by irradiating ultraviolet rays,
the UV sterilizer is arranged such that an ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilizer includes at least a moving part of the ice moving in the passage portion.
10. The ice-making machine of claim 9,
The passage portion includes an opening portion that opens toward the inside of the ice bank,
the UV sterilizer is disposed at a position facing the opening in the ice bank.
11. The ice-making machine of claim 9 or 10,
the ice storage tank has a structure that the wall part at the inner side reflects ultraviolet rays,
the UV sterilizer is disposed such that an ultraviolet irradiation range of the UV sterilizer includes the wall portion inside the ice bank.
12. The ice-making machine of claim 9,
the ice making unit includes an outlet portion constituting an opening through which the generated ice is discharged to the passage portion,
the UV sterilizer is disposed at a position facing the discharge port in the passage portion.
13. The ice-making machine of claim 12,
the discharge port portion is provided with a plurality of dividing portions that divide the generated ice,
the UV sterilizer is disposed at a position facing the plurality of dividing portions in the passage portion.
14. The ice-making machine of claim 12 or 13,
the discharge port portion includes:
A cutter for cutting the generated ice by rotation; and
and a reflection unit disposed on the cutter and reflecting the ultraviolet rays.
15. The ice-making machine of any of claims 12-14,
the passage portion includes a rising portion rising from a wall surface on an inner side of the passage portion between the UV sterilizer and the discharge port portion.
16. The ice-making machine of any of claims 12-15,
a part of the discharge port portion is a gas flow port portion constituting an opening of a gas flow path,
the UV sterilizer is disposed at a position facing the gas flow port in the passage portion.
17. The ice-making machine of claim 9,
the passage portion includes an upper and lower passage portion extending in an up-down direction and constituting a passage for ice falling from the ice making portion side to the inside of the ice bank,
the upper and lower path portions are provided with the UV sterilization device and a UV detection device which is disposed at a position facing the UV sterilization device and is capable of detecting ultraviolet rays.
18. The ice-making machine of claim 17,
The upper and lower passage portions are provided with recessed portions recessed toward the outside of the upper and lower passage portions,
the UV sterilization device or the UV detection device is arranged in the concave part.
19. The ice-making machine of claim 17 or 18,
an ice detecting device is provided in the passage portion, and the ice detecting device detects ice stored in the ice storage tank.
20. An ice maker, comprising:
an ice making unit for freezing ice making water to make ice;
an ice storage part for storing the ice made by the ice making part; and
a water supply and drainage mechanism for supplying or draining at least ice making water to or from the ice making unit,
wherein the content of the first and second substances,
at least one of the ice making unit, the ice storage unit, and the water supply/drainage mechanism includes an ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating ultraviolet rays to sterilize the ice making unit, the ice storage unit, and the water supply/drainage mechanism,
the ice maker is provided with a control device capable of increasing or decreasing the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation device.
21. The ice-making machine of claim 20,
the ultraviolet irradiation device is arranged on the water supply and drainage mechanism and comprises a water supply pipe, a water discharge pipe and a water discharge pipe,
The water supply and drainage mechanism comprises:
a water storage tank for storing water supplied to the ice making part; and
a water supply valve interposed in a water supply passage connecting an external water source and the water storage tank, and switching between supply and cutoff of water from the external water source to the water storage tank by opening and closing,
the control device has the following structure:
when the water supply valve is opened, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is increased,
when the water supply valve is closed, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is reduced.
22. The ice-making machine of claim 21,
the ultraviolet irradiation device is arranged on the water supply and drainage mechanism and comprises a water supply pipe, a water discharge pipe and a water discharge pipe,
the water supply and drainage mechanism comprises:
a water storage tank for storing water supplied to the ice making part; and
a water supply valve interposed in a water supply passage connecting an external water source and the water storage tank, and switching between supplying and stopping water from the external water source to the water storage tank by opening and closing,
the control device has the following structure:
the ultraviolet irradiation device is driven in a state that the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device is reduced,
when the water supply valve is closed from an open state, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is increased while the water supply valve is closed.
23. The ice maker of claim 21 or 22,
the external water source is provided with a structure for supplying purified water passing through the water purifier,
the control device has the following structure:
reducing the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device when the water purifier has not reached the lifetime of the water purifier,
when the life of the water purifier is reached, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is increased.
24. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 23,
the control device has the following structure: the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is reduced or increased according to the installation environment of the ice maker.
25. The ice maker of any of claims 21-24,
the control device has the following structure: the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting device is reduced or increased by PWM control of the current supplied to the ultraviolet light emitting device.
26. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 25,
the control device includes a timer for measuring an irradiation time of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device,
The control device has the following structure: the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is increased according to the irradiation time.
27. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 26,
the control device includes a timer for measuring an irradiation time of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device,
the control device has the following structure: notifying that the ultraviolet irradiation device is approaching a lifetime at a predetermined timing before the ultraviolet irradiation device reaches the lifetime.
28. The ice-making machine of claim 27,
the control device has the following structure: and stopping the operation of the ice maker when the service life of the ultraviolet irradiation device is not recovered within a predetermined period after the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified that the service life is approaching.
29. The ice maker of any of claims 21-28,
the water supply and drainage mechanism comprises:
a water storage tank for storing water for supply to the ice making part;
an ice making water supply passage connecting the water storage tank to the ice making unit and supplying water in the water storage tank to the ice making unit;
A backflow passage provided separately from the ice making water supply passage, connecting the water storage tank to the ice making unit, and returning water in the ice making unit to the water storage tank; and
a liquid feed pump provided in the return passage and configured to feed the water in the return passage to the water storage tank,
in the water supply and discharge mechanism, a circulation path is formed by the water storage tank, the ice-making water supply path, and the return path, and the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the circulation path,
the control device has the following structure:
increasing the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device when the liquid feeding pump is driven,
when the liquid-sending pump is not driven, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device is reduced.
30. The ice maker of any of claims 21-29, wherein,
the water supply and discharge mechanism is provided with a water storage tank for storing water for supplying to the ice making part,
the upper surface of the water storage tank is provided with:
a water amount sensor capable of measuring a water level of water stored in the water storage tank; and
the ultraviolet irradiation device irradiates ultraviolet rays to the water stored in the water storage tank,
The control device has the following structure:
reducing the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device when the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank detected by the water amount sensor is relatively increased,
when the water level of the water stored in the water storage tank detected by the water amount sensor is relatively lowered, the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device is increased.
31. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 30,
the ice storage portion is disposed above the ice making portion, and,
the ice maker is provided with:
a stirring member for stirring the ice transferred from the ice making part; and
a driving part for driving the stirring member,
the ultraviolet irradiation device is arranged at the ice storage part,
the control device has the following structure:
increasing the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device when the stirring member is driven by the driving section,
when the stirring member is not driven by the driving unit, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is reduced.
32. The ice maker of any of claims 21-31,
The ice making unit includes: an ice making unit that shapes ice; and a freezing unit cooling the ice-making unit to an ice-making temperature,
the ice storage portion communicates with the ice making unit through an ice passage that conveys ice formed in the ice making unit, and the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided to the ice passage,
the control device has the following structure:
increasing the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device when the refrigeration unit is driven,
when the refrigeration unit is not driven, the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device is reduced.
33. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 32,
the ultraviolet irradiation device constitutes a failure detection circuit by electrically connecting the visible light irradiators in series, and,
the visible light irradiator is disposed at a position where it can be visually recognized without disassembling the ice maker.
34. The ice maker according to any one of claims 21 to 33,
with the ultraviolet irradiation device, a coil constituting a part of the a-contact relay is electrically connected in series with a first resistor having a relatively low resistance value, thereby constituting a first circuit, and,
A second circuit is formed by electrically connecting in series a contact portion which constitutes the other part of the a-contact relay and is turned on when a current flows through the coil, a second resistor having a relatively high resistance value, and a visible light irradiator,
the fault detection circuit is configured by arranging the second circuit in parallel with respect to the first circuit.
35. The ice maker of any of claims 21-34,
in the ultraviolet irradiation device, coils constituting a part of a b-contact relay are electrically connected in series to constitute a first circuit, and,
a contact portion which constitutes the other part of the b-contact relay and is opened when a current flows through the coil, and an alarm are electrically connected in series to constitute a second circuit,
the fault detection circuit is configured by arranging the second circuit in parallel with respect to the first circuit.
36. The ice maker of any of claims 21-35,
the ice maker is provided with a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the ultraviolet irradiation device,
the control device has the following structure: when the difference between the initial temperature at which the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device is started and the temperature after the lapse of the predetermined time from the supply of the current to the ultraviolet irradiation device is smaller than the predetermined temperature difference, the ultraviolet irradiation device is notified of the abnormality.
37. An ice maker, comprising:
a housing;
a storage chamber which is disposed in the housing, stores food and drink, and has a discharge port;
a shutter that openably closes the discharge port;
a shutter detection unit that detects an open/close state of the shutter;
an ultraviolet irradiator for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to sterilize the food or drink; and
and a control unit that controls irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator based on the open/close state of the shutter detected by the shutter detection unit.
38. The ice-making machine of claim 37,
the control unit increases the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator when determining that the shutter opens the discharge port,
the control unit decreases the irradiation intensity when it is determined that the shutter closes the discharge opening after increasing the irradiation intensity.
39. The ice-making machine of claim 37 or 38,
a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing is formed in the casing,
A table is provided in the housing, the table being disposed below the discharge port and on which a container is placed, the container receiving the food and drink discharged from the discharge port,
a discharge port cover covering the discharge port and the table is openably and closably attached to the housing,
the ice maker further comprises a cover detection unit for detecting the open/close state of the spit-out mask,
the control unit does not increase the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiator when the mask detection unit does not detect that the discharge mask is closed.
40. The ice-making machine of claim 39,
the ultraviolet irradiator can irradiate visible light together with ultraviolet rays,
the discharge mask is formed to include a visible light transmitting portion that transmits visible light while shielding ultraviolet light.
41. The ice maker of any of claims 37 to 40,
a water removal member formed so as to be capable of transmitting ultraviolet rays is disposed on a bottom surface of the storage chamber,
the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to a lower surface of the water removing member so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward.
42. The ice maker of any of claims 37 to 41,
the shutter is installed to cover and close the discharge opening from the front side,
the ultraviolet irradiator is mounted in the housing at a position facing the shutter from the front so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward.
43. The ice maker of any of claims 37-42,
a discharge port communicating with the discharge port is formed in the casing, and discharges the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing below the discharge port,
the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to a position located in front of the discharge port and above the discharge port so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward and downward in the housing.
44. The ice maker of any of claims 37-43,
a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing is formed in the front surface of the casing,
a stage and an external drain pan are provided on a front surface of the housing,
the stage is disposed below the discharge port and mounts a container that receives the food or drink discharged from the discharge port,
The outer drain pan is disposed on the underside of the table, receives food and drink not received by the receptacle,
the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to a bottom surface in the external drain pan so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays upward.
45. The ice maker of any of claims 37-44,
a discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing is formed in the front surface of the casing,
a stage and an external drain pan are provided on a front surface of the housing,
the stage is disposed below the discharge port and carries a container for receiving the food or drink discharged from the discharge port,
the outer drain pan is disposed on a lower side of the table, receives food and drink not received by the container,
an inner bleed disc is disposed within the housing, the inner bleed disc being disposed rearward of and in communication with the outer bleed disc,
the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to a front side surface in the external drain pan so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays rearward.
46. The ice maker of any of claims 37 to 45,
A discharge port communicating with the discharge port and discharging the food or drink discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the casing is formed in the front surface of the casing,
a stage and an external drain pan are provided on a front surface of the housing,
the stage is disposed below the discharge port and mounts a container that receives the food or drink discharged from the discharge port,
the outer drain pan is disposed on a lower side of the table, receives food and drink not received by the container,
an internal bleed disc and flow path are provided within the housing,
said internal bleed disc being arranged in a lower portion of the housing,
the flow path communicates the outer bleed disc with the inner bleed disc,
the ultraviolet irradiator is attached to the upper side of the flow path in the housing so as to irradiate ultraviolet rays downward.
CN202180034301.4A 2020-05-21 2021-05-14 Ice making machine Pending CN115605716A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

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JP2020-088668 2020-05-21
JP2020088668A JP2021183874A (en) 2020-05-21 2020-05-21 Ice maker
JP2020-137337 2020-08-17
JP2020137338A JP7397775B2 (en) 2020-08-17 2020-08-17 dispenser
JP2020137337A JP7465177B2 (en) 2020-08-17 2020-08-17 Ice maker
JP2020-137336 2020-08-17
JP2020137336A JP7465176B2 (en) 2020-08-17 2020-08-17 Ice maker
JP2020-137338 2020-08-17
PCT/JP2021/018458 WO2021235359A1 (en) 2020-05-21 2021-05-14 Ice-making machine

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US5484538A (en) * 1993-09-14 1996-01-16 Texavia International, Inc. Multiple service water purifier and dispenser and process of purifying water
JP2007003062A (en) * 2005-05-26 2007-01-11 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Refrigerator
KR20090075068A (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-08 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 A refrigerator having dispenser part and methods of using the same
EP2673579A1 (en) 2011-02-09 2013-12-18 Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, LLC Methods and systems for improving and maintainig the cleanliness of ice machines
KR20120110737A (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-10-10 정휘동 Apparatus for detecting ice and, water purifier having the same
JP2019219095A (en) 2018-06-19 2019-12-26 ホシザキ株式会社 Ice-making machine
JP2020020562A (en) 2018-08-03 2020-02-06 ホシザキ株式会社 Ice making machine
JP2020020561A (en) * 2018-08-03 2020-02-06 ホシザキ株式会社 Ice making machine
KR102120039B1 (en) * 2019-03-08 2020-06-09 주식회사 로벤 Sterilization apparatus for vending machine of ice drinking water

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