EP0504735B1 - Ice-maker and operating method - Google Patents

Ice-maker and operating method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0504735B1
EP0504735B1 EP92104238A EP92104238A EP0504735B1 EP 0504735 B1 EP0504735 B1 EP 0504735B1 EP 92104238 A EP92104238 A EP 92104238A EP 92104238 A EP92104238 A EP 92104238A EP 0504735 B1 EP0504735 B1 EP 0504735B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
maker
liquid
cleaning
tank
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92104238A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0504735A2 (en
EP0504735A3 (en
Inventor
Alfred Schill
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Maja Maschinenfabrik Hermann Schill GmbH and Co KG
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Maja Maschinenfabrik Hermann Schill GmbH and Co KG
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Publication of EP0504735A2 publication Critical patent/EP0504735A2/en
Publication of EP0504735A3 publication Critical patent/EP0504735A3/en
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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
    • F25C1/142—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 outer walls of cooled bodies
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
    • F28G9/00—Cleaning by flushing or washing, e.g. with chemical solvents
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention is based on a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 1 (see e.g. DE-U-89 12 336) and a method for operating such a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 15.
  • the fine ice maker is provided with a rotatable freezing roller, which is immersed with an area in liquid to be frozen, which is in a Freezing liquid pan is located, the fine ice maker has an ice scraper above the liquid level of the liquid to be frozen and on the freezing liquid pan has a freezing liquid inlet and outlet and a level controller for the liquid level having.
  • the freezing liquid pan is also called “pan" for short.
  • Fine ice makers have proven themselves in practice. They allow, in particular, in a comparatively simple way to produce comparatively strongly supercooled fine ice, for example from water, which nevertheless can be separated from its freezing roller, on which a corresponding layer of ice is formed, well and without any special effort.
  • Fine ice is understood to mean that of fine structure, for example flake ice, ice granules, flake ice, snow and the like. Such artificial fine ice is used, for example, for cutter purposes in the production of sausages or for storing fish and the like. This is easily possible with the known fine ice makers.
  • fine ice can not only be produced there on a water basis, but also frozen products from other liquids to be frozen, such as milk, fruit juice concentrate, etc.
  • the liquid to be frozen is let into the trough and the freezing roller is set in rotation with the supply of refrigerant.
  • a sufficiently thick layer of fine ice forms on the outer surface of the freezing roller, this fine ice layer being so brittle in itself that it can be easily removed from the freezing roller with the aid of a strip-like ice scraper and, for example, passed into a corresponding fine ice collecting container .
  • the liquid remaining in the tub can be removed by opening a drain valve.
  • a fine ice maker has also become known, in which at least some of the disadvantages described above are avoided or at least reduced by the fact that an electrically actuated solenoid valve is installed in both the inlet and the outlet line for the liquid to be frozen, wherein the solenoid valve located in the inlet line opens when the fine ice generator is switched on and the solenoid valve located in the outlet line opens when the fine ice generator is switched off.
  • this embodiment also has considerable disadvantages. For example, even with shorter downtimes of the fine ice maker, for example when the operator is absent for a short time or during his work break, the liquid ice to be frozen runs off when the fine ice maker is switched off. This then unnecessarily increases the consumption of water, for example.
  • the closing of the aforementioned valves in the aforementioned ice maker is carried out in accordance with the known procedure; For example, the solenoid valve located in the feed line, which is opened when the fine ice generator is switched on, can be opened and closed via a liquid level controller during operation of the fine ice generator in accordance with the need for liquid to be frozen.
  • the valve in the drain line remains closed during the normal operating time of the fine ice maker.
  • a fine ice maker of the type mentioned at the outset is also known, in which the water inlet for the freezing liquid pan has a first valve and the water outlet provided on the bottom of the freezing liquid pan has a second valve, a control unit which can be switched as a function of the operating state of the drive device of the fine ice maker being provided is connected to the control elements of the two valves by means of electrical lines (cf. DBGM 89 12 336).
  • a control unit is provided there, which actuates actuating elements of the aforementioned valves arranged in the water inlet and in the water outlet by means of electrical lines, and there are delay units for the two aforementioned valves intended.
  • both the water inlet and outlet valve open for a short time so that fresh water is introduced into the tub and can drain immediately, so that the lower area , especially the bottom, is cleaned.
  • This can be done via the electrical time control described above after the fine ice machine has been stopped.
  • the side surfaces of the tub located further above the water inlet and the substantially upper part of the outer surface of the freezing roller are not affected by fresh water by this “rinsing process” and accordingly are not cleaned either.
  • the above-described rinsing process can also be controlled in this known fine ice maker with the aid of a temperature sensor in such a way that it is initiated, for example, by the freeze roller first defrosting completely after the fine ice maker has stopped.
  • a disadvantage of this embodiment is that neither the upper region of the tub nor that of the freezer roller can be cleaned in a targeted and complete manner, furthermore that after a long period of inactivity and restarting of the fine ice maker, there is no guarantee that contamination that has occurred between a final rinse will also result in contamination Dust particles etc. are removed again immediately before the fine ice generator is started up. This is particularly disadvantageous in the case of fine ice makers whose trough and / or freezer roller is / are at least partially open at the top.
  • the solution to this problem according to the invention consists in a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 1 that the cleaning device has at least one spray nozzle for cleaning the freezing roller and the inside of the tub and that a program switch is provided which, after switching on the fine ice maker, an automatic cleaning of Freezer and tub allows.
  • a cleaning device not only allows extensive rinsing of the freezing liquid pan and / or freezing roller after the end of a working period of the fine ice maker, but also, in particular after a downtime of the fine ice maker, immediately before the resumption of ice production, a cleaning of the essential liquid or ice to be frozen in connection areas that are difficult to access from the outside.
  • dust particles, etc. that have entered can be removed quickly and easily before fine ice is produced and processed.
  • the features of claim 2 offer the advantage that the time period or times of cleaning can be easily started or ended by the operator himself.
  • the features of the third claim enable that after spraying the tub and freezing roller, the liquid used for this purpose can also run out of the tub after the cleaning process has ended. This measure can also be used on the freezer roller fine ice, which has only been completely defrosted after a long time, still run out of the tub.
  • the features of the fourth claim favor the most complete possible application of the areas of the fine ice maker to be cleaned. It can also be ensured that the liquid used for cleaning does not inadvertently splash into the surroundings of its tub or its freezing roller.
  • the features of claim 5 favor a compact design of the fine ice maker with good cleaning options.
  • the features of claim 6 enable independent operation of the cleaning device and the freezing liquid inlet; this makes it possible that a special cleaning liquid deviating from the liquid to be frozen is used for cleaning.
  • An advantageous further development of the fine ice maker according to claim 7 enables a program-defined cleaning sequence for the ice maker after the end of the ice production.
  • the features of claim 8 ensure that the freezing roller continues to run after the end of the fine ice production during the operating time of the cleaning device.
  • the refrigerant circulation can already be switched off, so that the defrosting process on the freezer roller can at least already be initiated during this time.
  • a particularly simple, compact ice machine can be obtained.
  • an automatically controlled cleaning process can be carried out automatically, along with a provision of the fine ice generator for fine ice production, by actuating a switch-on hand button before the fine ice generator is started up. At the push of a button, when the ice machine is at a standstill, a cleaning process and the subsequent operational availability are carried out.
  • a forced control is obtained in such a way that cleaning and subsequent provision of the fine ice maker must be carried out by the operator in this order before the actual fine ice production begins.
  • the effectiveness of refrigerants during the cleaning process is prevented or reduced in the desired manner.
  • the length of the cleaning time sections or corresponding partial sections when starting and stopping the fine generator can be adapted to the respective needs, for example by means of the program.
  • the invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 15.
  • the features of claim 15 allow the parts of the tub which come into contact with the liquid to be frozen and the corresponding liquid to be frozen with and / or the liquid produced Fine ice parts of the freezing roller that come into contact with the freezer roller, in particular also the parts that are adjacent to it and are difficult to clean from the outside, for example first to be cleaned and then rinsed immediately before starting operation, in order to produce as fine as possible fine ice.
  • the measures of claim 16 allow, both after switching off and before switching on again before working periods of the fine ice maker, its parts coming into contact with liquid and / or fine ice to be frozen, first of all rinsed out with a cleaning agent which is particularly suitable for cleaning and which is to be frozen Liquid deviates, but is particularly suitable for cleaning. This also helps to keep the parts of the fine ice maker that are otherwise difficult to access clean.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 show a fine ice maker F of a known type, which is used to produce and detach fine ice from liquid to be frozen.
  • This fine ice maker F has a freezing liquid pan 2, hereinafter also referred to as "pan 2".
  • a rotatable freezing roller 9 dips into the liquid 35 to be frozen. In the normal case, it is pure drinking water, from which fine flake ice 37 or the like is produced with the fine ice generator F.
  • a liquid drain 6 which has an electrically controlled outlet valve 7.
  • a liquid inlet 8 is provided on the tub 2, which is formed by a tube in which an inlet valve 10 is located.
  • the liquid level of the liquid 35 to be frozen is designated by 36.
  • the freezing liquid level 36 can be regulated in a known manner with the aid of a liquid level regulator 62, as will be described in connection with FIG. 3.
  • the valves 7 and 10 are connected to electrical switches 12 and 13 via electrical lines 11.
  • liquid 35 to be frozen can be up to one desired liquid level 36 is introduced into the tub 2 and, if necessary, can be drained via the liquid drain 6. Since liquid to be frozen is processed into fine ice during the production of fine ice, the inlet valve 10 in conjunction with the liquid level controller 62 ensures that the desired level of the liquid level 36 is maintained.
  • the switches 12 and 13 are for the outlet and inlet valve 7 and 1o with a (not shown) switching element for driving the freezing roller 9 of the ice cream maker F and with the associated, also Refrigerator, not shown, in connection such that when the fine ice generator F is started up, the tub 2 is correspondingly filled with liquid to be frozen and when the fine ice generator F is stopped, the liquid in the tub 2 can run off via the liquid outlet 6.
  • At least one cleaning device 50 which can be switched on and off is provided in the tub 2 for rinsing the tub 2 and the freezing roller 9, and the liquid drain 6, hereinafter also referred to briefly as "drain 6", for the operating time of the cleaning device 50 matched.
  • the cleaning device 50 (cf. FIG. 3, left side) has a cleaning switching valve 51 which is in electrical connection via the line 52 with a program 53, the line 52 and program 53 being shown only schematically.
  • a cleaning switch button 54 is provided on the program switching mechanism 53. It can be used to switch the cleaning device 50 on and off manually.
  • the cleaning button 54 does not have to work in conjunction with the program 53, although this or an integrated design of the cleaning circuit and program 53 is a particularly advantageous design.
  • the cleaning button can also be provided in a separate switching and control circuit, which only belongs to the cleaning device.
  • the program control unit 53 can be set such that during the operation of the cleaning device 50 the drain 6 of the tub 2 (for example FIGS. 1 and 3) and the associated drain valve 7 are open and only after the cleaning process has ended with a time delay compared to the end of the operating time the cleaning device 50 close.
  • a special cleaning agent is sprayed into the trough 2 or against the freezing roller 9 by the cleaning device 50, it is expedient to rinse with the liquid to be frozen after the cleaning agent has expired, which is also expediently carried out via the cleaning device 50 by appropriate (not shown) Valve control and detergent inflows are carried out. Only when the rinsing process with the liquid to be frozen has ended and this liquid is removed from the tub 2 via the outlet 6 will the outlet valve 7 be closed at the earliest. The rinsing process could possibly be achieved with the aid of the normal inlet 8, filling the tub 2, letting the freezing roller 9 circulate and draining the corresponding liquid from the tub 2. However, the aforementioned rinsing with liquid to be frozen via the cleaning device 50 is more advantageous because the area which has been sprayed with special cleaning liquid is then rinsed more safely with a liquid which corresponds to the liquid to be frozen.
  • the cleaning device 50 has several rows of spray nozzles 56 with which the freezing roller 9 and the inside 57 of the tub are sprayed.
  • the spray nozzles 56 can be approximately parallel to the freezing roller 9 and parallel to the side walls 57 of the tub 2 arranged nozzle pipes 58 may be formed.
  • nozzle pipes 58a can also be distributed over the side cross section of the tub 2 and, for example, be provided with individual nozzles 59 over their circumference and on their end faces such that complete spraying of the inner sides 57 and the area of the lateral surface 3 facing the tub 2 the freezing roller 9 is safely reached.
  • Both the individual nozzles 59 and the nozzle tubes can be arranged in such a way that cleaning liquid or liquid to be frozen is not sprayed out of the tub 2 in an undesirable manner.
  • This is also advantageous because there are certain difficulties in tightly covering the area of the freezing roller 9 and the tub 2, for example because the freezing roller 9 is covered in its upper area during operation by a fine ice layer 37a, the thickness of which is at least when it starts up and varies at the end of the work process.
  • the inventive fine ice maker 1 has a program 53 which has a cleaning switch button 54.
  • the program 53 can be set up in such a way that when this cleaning switch button is actuated one after the other, the drain valve 7 and the associated drain 6 are opened and kept open until the liquid to be frozen from the tub 2, which is still in the tub 2, and so on Ice 37a located on the freezing roller 9, as far as it has no longer been removed by the strip-like ice scraper 18, is defrosted by the freezing roller 9 and is also removed via the tub 2 and its outlet 6.
  • the program 53 is expediently switched such that after the liquid to be frozen has run out, the cleaning device 50 goes into operation and the freezing roller 9 and the insides 57 of the tub 2 are sprayed, for example, with liquid to be frozen, such as water, this over the period of time Cleaning process the programmer keeps the drain 6 and the associated drain valve 7 open.
  • the program switching mechanism 53 can be provided with the help of a manual hand key 60 and its program sequence can be switched such that, for example, when the supply key is actuated 6o or when operating a main switch 61 for the fine ice maker 1 or la, the cleaning device 50 first starts operating, the freezing roller 9 and the tub 2 being cleaned of liquid to be frozen or of a special cleaning agent when the drain 6 is open. After the cleaning time section has expired and the liquid causing the cleaning has expired, the program 53 closes the drain valve 7 and opens the inlet valve 10 until the desired liquid level 36 is reached in the tub 2 via the associated inlet 8.
  • a tub liquid level controller 62 is provided on the tub 2. It is advantageous if the program 53 only lets refrigerant 64 into the corresponding channels 65 of the freezing roller 9 in a known manner after a partial cleaning interval or after the cleaning time has ended completely.
  • the duration of the cleaning sections when starting and / or turning off the fine ice maker 1 can be optionally, for Example by means of the program 53, adjust and thus adapt to the respective needs.
  • a modified advantageous embodiment of the method for operating the fine ice maker 1, la is that it is cleaned by means of a special cleaning agent which deviates from the liquid to be frozen. Expediently, after the end of such a cleaning process, this will be followed by a rinsing interval at which the rest of the cleaning agent can be rinsed away with liquid 35 to be frozen.
  • the freezing roller 9 continues to run, for example with the aid of the program mechanism 53, during the cleaning process while the supply of refrigerant 64 has already been switched off.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)
  • Bakery Products And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)

Abstract

An ice-maker has a freezing roller which is immersed in a freezing liquid tank (2) and in each case at least one valve-controlled liquid supply and drain, the tank (2) being fillable with liquid to be frozen when the ice-maker is brought into operation and emptiable on stopping of the ice-maker. According to the invention, there is provided on the tank (2) a cleaning device (50) for rinsing the tank (2) and/or the freezing roller (9) and the drain (6) of the tank is adapted to the operating time of the cleaning device (50) (Fig. 3). According to a method for ice-making, a cleaning process for the parts (interior of tank 2; freezing roller 9 or the like) coming into contact with the liquid (35) to be frozen can be included temporally directly before ice-making, and possibly a cleaning agent can be used for cleaning the abovementioned regions of the ice-maker (1, 1a), which agent differs from the liquid to be frozen, possibly with subsequent inclusion of a rinsing interval using liquid to be frozen. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung geht aus von einem Feineiserzeuger gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1 (Siehe z.B. DE-U-89 12 336) sowie einem Verfahren zum Betreiben eines solchen Feineiserzeugers gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 15.The invention is based on a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 1 (see e.g. DE-U-89 12 336) and a method for operating such a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 15.

Durch die DE-OS 16 01 084 sind bereits ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Erzeugen von Feineis oder dergleichen Gefrierprodukte bekannt geworden, bei dem der Feineiserzeuger mit einer drehbaren Gefrierwalze versehen ist, die mit einem Bereich in zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit eintaucht, die sich in einer Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne befindet, wobei der Feineiserzeuger oberhalb des Flüssigkeitsspiegels der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit einen Eisabstreifer hat und an der Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne ein Gefrierflüssigkeitszu- und - Ablauf sowie ein Niveauregler für den Flüssigkeitsspiegel aufweist. Nachstehend wird die Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne auch kurz "Wanne" genannt .From DE-OS 16 01 084 a method and an apparatus for producing fine ice or similar frozen products have already become known, in which the fine ice maker is provided with a rotatable freezing roller, which is immersed with an area in liquid to be frozen, which is in a Freezing liquid pan is located, the fine ice maker has an ice scraper above the liquid level of the liquid to be frozen and on the freezing liquid pan has a freezing liquid inlet and outlet and a level controller for the liquid level having. In the following, the freezing liquid pan is also called "pan" for short.

Solche Feineiserzeuger haben sich in der Praxis gut bewährt. Sie erlauben insbesondere auf vergleichsweise einfache Art, vergleichsweise stark unterkühltes Feineis zum Beispiel aus Wasser herzustellen, das dennoch von ihrer Gefrierwalze, auf der eine entsprechende Eisschicht gebildet wird, gut und ohne besonderen Aufwand abzutrennen. Dabei wird unter Feineis solches von feiner Struktur verstanden, zum Beispiel Scherbeneis, Eisgranulat, Flockeneis, Schnee und dergleichen. Derartiges künstliches Feineis findet zum Beispiel für Cutter-Zwecke in der Wurstherstellung oder zum Einlagern von Fisch und dergleichen Verwendung. Mit den vorbekannten Feineiserzeugern ist dies gut möglich. Außerdem kann man dort Feineis nicht nur auf Wasserbasis herstellen, sondern gegebenenfalls Gefrierprodukte aus anderen zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeiten wie zum Beispiel Milch, Fruchtsaftkonzentrat usw.
Beim Inbetriebnehmen solcher vorbekannter Feineiserzeuger wird die zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit in die Wanne eingelassen und die Gefrierwalze unter Zufuhr von Kältemittel in Drehung versetzt. Es bildet sich dann nach kurzer Anlaufzeit eine genügend dicke Feineisschicht auf der Mantelfläche der Gefrierwalze, wobei diese Feineisschicht in sich so spröde ist, daß sie mit Hilfe eines leistenartigen Eisabstreifers leicht von der Gefrierwalze entfernt und zum Beispiel in einen entsprechenden Feineis-Sammelbehälter geleitet werden kann. Nach dem Stillsetzen eines solchen vorbekannten Feineiserzeugers kann man die in der Wanne noch verbleibende Flüssigkeit durch Öffnen eines Ablaufventiles entfernen.Such fine ice makers have proven themselves in practice. They allow, in particular, in a comparatively simple way to produce comparatively strongly supercooled fine ice, for example from water, which nevertheless can be separated from its freezing roller, on which a corresponding layer of ice is formed, well and without any special effort. Fine ice is understood to mean that of fine structure, for example flake ice, ice granules, flake ice, snow and the like. Such artificial fine ice is used, for example, for cutter purposes in the production of sausages or for storing fish and the like. This is easily possible with the known fine ice makers. In addition, fine ice can not only be produced there on a water basis, but also frozen products from other liquids to be frozen, such as milk, fruit juice concentrate, etc.
When starting up such a known fine ice maker, the liquid to be frozen is let into the trough and the freezing roller is set in rotation with the supply of refrigerant. After a short start-up time, a sufficiently thick layer of fine ice forms on the outer surface of the freezing roller, this fine ice layer being so brittle in itself that it can be easily removed from the freezing roller with the aid of a strip-like ice scraper and, for example, passed into a corresponding fine ice collecting container . After stopping such a known fine ice maker, the liquid remaining in the tub can be removed by opening a drain valve.

In der Praxis hat sich herausgestellt, daß derartige, an sich sehr vorteilhaft arbeitende Feineiserzeuger noch gewisse Nachteile haben, die insbesondere mit den üblichen Stillstandszeiten, dem Anlaufen danach sowie der Bedienung beim Anlaufen und Stillsetzen des Feineiserzeugers zutun haben. Beispielsweise sind bei kleineren Metzgerei-Betrieben solche Feineiserzeuger nicht durchgehend, sondern oft wöchentlich nur einige Tage in Betrieb. Während dieser Stillstandszeit können sich sowohl auf der Gefrierwalze als insbesondere in der Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne Staubpartikel und andere Unreinlichkeiten absetzen, die leicht bei Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers mit in das erzeugte Feineis hineingelangen. Ein sicheres Abdecken des Feineiserzeugers ist nicht leicht möglich und auch von der gewissenhaften Arbeitsweise der Bedienungsperson abhängig. Auch kann es selbst bei guter Abdeckung vorkommen, daß die in der Wanne befindliche Restflüssigkeit nicht vollständig abläuft und daß später der Feineiserzeuger mit "abgestandenem Wasser" oder dergleichen zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit zu arbeiten beginnt.In practice it has been found that such fine ice makers, which work very advantageously, still have certain disadvantages, in particular with the usual ones Downtimes, the start-up afterwards and the operation when starting up and stopping the fine ice machine. For example, in smaller butcher shops, such fine ice cream producers are not in operation continuously, but often only for a few days a week. During this downtime, dust particles and other impurities can settle on the freezer roller, in particular in the freezing liquid pan, which easily get into the fine ice produced when the fine ice maker is started up. It is not easy to cover the fine ice machine safely and it also depends on the conscientious way the operator works. Also, even with good coverage, it can happen that the residual liquid in the tub does not drain completely and that later the fine ice maker begins to work with "stagnant water" or the like liquid to be frozen.

Es ist auch bereits ein Feineiserzeuger bekannt geworden, bei dem wenigstens ein Teil der vorbeschriebenen Nachteile dadurch vermieden oder wenigstens vermindert werden, daß sowohl in der Zulauf- als auch in der Ablauf-Leitung für die zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit je ein elektrisch betätigbares Magnetventil eingebaut ist, wobei das in der Zulaufleitung befindliche Magnetventil beim Einschalten des Feineiserzeugers und das in der Ablaufleitung befindliche Magnetventil beim Ausschalten des Feineiserzeugers öffnet. Jedoch hat auch diese Ausführungsform noch erhebliche Nachteile. Beispielsweise kommt es auch bei kürzeren Stillstandszeiten des Feineiserzeugers, etwa bei kurzer Abwesenheit der Bedienungsperson oder in dessen Arbeitspause, mit dem Ausschalten des Feineiserzeugers zu einem Ablauf der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit. Dies zieht dann unnötigerweise einen erheblich gesteigerten Verbrauch zum Beispiel von Wasser nach sich. Außerdem ist weder beim Ablaufen des zu gefrierenden Wassers oder dergleichen noch bei dessen Zulauf eine genügende Reinigung der Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne gewährleistet und der obere Bereich der Gefrierwalze wird in der Regel überhaupt keiner Reinigung unterzogen, wenn die Maschine, zum Beispiel nach längerer Stillstandszeit, wieder in Betrieb genommen wird. Auch ist das Abdecken des Feineiserzeugers mit der Gefrierwalze und der Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne bei nach oben offenen und/oder geometrisch komplizierten Konstruktionen nicht nur mit kompliziertem Konstruktionsaufwand verbunden, sondern auch noch von der Aufmerksamkeit der Maschinenbedienung abhängig und deshalb unsicher. Ein sicheres Abdichten entsprechender Teile des Feineiserzeugers gegen Eindringen von Staub usw. ist nicht gut möglich.A fine ice maker has also become known, in which at least some of the disadvantages described above are avoided or at least reduced by the fact that an electrically actuated solenoid valve is installed in both the inlet and the outlet line for the liquid to be frozen, wherein the solenoid valve located in the inlet line opens when the fine ice generator is switched on and the solenoid valve located in the outlet line opens when the fine ice generator is switched off. However, this embodiment also has considerable disadvantages. For example, even with shorter downtimes of the fine ice maker, for example when the operator is absent for a short time or during his work break, the liquid ice to be frozen runs off when the fine ice maker is switched off. This then unnecessarily increases the consumption of water, for example. In addition, neither is to freeze when the Water or the like still ensures sufficient cleaning of the freezing liquid pan when it is fed in and the upper area of the freezing roller is generally not subjected to any cleaning at all when the machine is put into operation again, for example after a long downtime. Also, covering the fine ice maker with the freezing roller and the freezing liquid pan in the case of structures which are open at the top and / or geometrically complicated is not only associated with complicated construction expenditure, but is also dependent on the attention of the machine operator and is therefore unsafe. It is not possible to securely seal corresponding parts of the fine ice generator against the ingress of dust, etc.

Eine u.U. gewünschte Verzögerung zum Beispiel beim Öffnen oder Schließen der Ventile ergibt sich bei dieser vorbekannten Ausführung auch nur in unkontrollierter Weise bei der Einlaß-Leitung, wenn der Feineiserzeuger eingeschaltet wird: Ehe die zum Feineiserzeuger gehörige "Kältemaschine" Kältemittel in die Gefrierwalze fördert und dieses an deren Mantelfläche wirksam wird, ist bereits in erwünschter, aber in der Menge unkontrollierter Weise zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit in die Wanne eingelaufen.
Das Schließen der vorerwähnten Ventile beim vorerwähnten Eiserzeuger erfolgt entsprechend der bekannten Arbeitsweise; beispielsweise ist das in der Zulaufleitung befindliche Magnetventil, das beim Einschalten des Feineiserzeugers geöffnet wird, über einen Flüssigkeitsspiegel-Regler während des Betriebes des Feineiserzeugers entsprechend dem Bedarf an zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit zu öffnen und zu schließen. Das in der Ablaufleitung befindliche Ventil bleibt dagegen während der üblichen Betriebszeit des Feineiserzeugers geschlossen.A possibly desired delay, for example when opening or closing the valves, also occurs in this known embodiment only in an uncontrolled manner in the inlet line when the fine ice generator is switched on: before the "refrigerating machine" belonging to the fine ice generator conveys refrigerant into the freezer roller and this on the outer surface of which has already run into the tub in the desired, but amount to be frozen in an uncontrolled manner.
The closing of the aforementioned valves in the aforementioned ice maker is carried out in accordance with the known procedure; For example, the solenoid valve located in the feed line, which is opened when the fine ice generator is switched on, can be opened and closed via a liquid level controller during operation of the fine ice generator in accordance with the need for liquid to be frozen. The valve in the drain line, on the other hand, remains closed during the normal operating time of the fine ice maker.

Man hat die Arbeitsweise der vorerwähnten Eiserzeuger auch schon dadurch zu verbessern versucht, daß man die automatische Wannen-Entleerungsvorrichtung im elektrischen Einschaltkreis des Feineiserzeugers zur Steuerung des Wasserzulaufventils mit einem Zeitrelais versehen hat (vgl. DBGM 90 02 856). Dadurch erreicht man, daß zum Beispiel im Wasserzulauf, und gegebenenfalls bei entsprechender Anordnung eines weiteren Ventils im Wasserablauf, das Füllen und Entleeren der Wanne derart in Abhängigkeit vom Betrieb des Feineiserzeugers erfolgt, daß bei dessen Einschalten zunächst das Ventil im Wasserauslauf geschlossen und das Ventil im Wasserzulauf geöffnet wird, wobei das Ventil im Wasserzulauf solange geöffnet ist, bis die Wasserwanne auf ein bestimmtes Niveau gefüllt ist; ferner daß unter Verwendung eines Eisansatzfühlers der Wasserzulauf mit Hilfe des Zeitrelais erst abgeschaltet wird, wenn die Wasserwanne gefüllt ist. Durch die zeitverzögerte Abschaltung des Eisansatzfühlers während des Füllens des Wasserwanne soll sichergestellt werden, daß das Getriebe des Antriebs der Gefrierwalze vor einer möglichen Beschädigung gesichert wird. Das eingangs erwähnte Problems des Sauberhaltens von Gefrierwalze und Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne wird durch diese Anordnung jedoch praktisch nicht verbessert.Attempts have already been made to improve the functioning of the aforementioned ice makers by automatic Trough emptying device in the electrical switch-on circuit of the fine ice generator for controlling the water inlet valve has been provided with a timing relay (cf. DBGM 90 02 856). This ensures that, for example, in the water inlet, and if necessary with a corresponding arrangement of a further valve in the water outlet, the filling and emptying of the tub takes place depending on the operation of the fine ice maker such that when it is switched on, the valve in the water outlet is closed and the valve in Water inlet is opened, the valve in the water inlet being open until the water tub is filled to a certain level; further that the water supply is only switched off with the aid of an timer when the water pan is filled using an ice accumulation sensor. The time-delayed switch-off of the ice accumulation sensor during the filling of the water basin is intended to ensure that the transmission of the freezer roller drive is secured against possible damage. The problem mentioned at the beginning of keeping the freezing roller and freezing liquid pan clean is practically not improved by this arrangement.

Man kennt auch bereits einen Feineiserzeuger der eingangs erwähnten Art, bei dem der Wasserzulauf für die Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne ein erstes Ventil und der am Boden der Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne vorgesehene Wasserablauf ein zweites Ventil aufweist, wobei eine in Abhängigkeit vom Betriebszustand der Antriebseinrichtung des Feineiserzeugers schaltbare Steuereinheit vorgesehen ist, die mittels elektrischer Leitungen mit Stellelementen der beiden Ventile verbunden ist (vgl. DBGM 89 12 336). Dabei ist dort eine Steuereinheit vorgesehen, die mittels elektrischer Leitungen Stellelemente der vorerwähnten, im Wasserzulauf und im Wasserablauf angeordnete Ventile betätigt und es sind Verzögerungseinheiten für die beiden vorerwähnten Ventile vorgesehen. Mit Hilfe der Steuereinheit und Verzögerungseinheiten kann man bei diesem Feineiserzeuger erreichen, daß sowohl das im Wasserzu- als auch das im Wasserablauf befindliche Ventil für eine kurze Zeit öffnet, so daß Frischwasser in die Wanne eingeleitet wird und sofort ablaufen kann, so daß deren unterer Bereich, namentlich deren Boden, gereinigt wird. Dies kann erfolgt über die vorbeschriebene elektrische Zeit-Steuerung nach dem Stillsetzen des Feineiserzeugers. Die weiter oberhalb des Wasserzulaufes befindlichen Seitenflächen der Wanne und der im wesentlichen obere Teil der Mantelfläche der Gefrierwalze werden jedoch durch diesen "Spülvorgang" nicht von Frischwasser erfaßt und dementsprechend auch nicht gereinigt. Der vorbeschriebene Spülvorgang kann bei diesen bekannten Feineiserzeuger auch mit Hilfe eines Temperaturfühlers derart gesteuert werden, daß er zum Beispiel dadurch eingeleitet wird, daß die Gefrierwalze nach dem Stillsetzen des Feineiserzeugers zuerst vollständig abtaut.
Nachteilig bei dieser Ausführungsform ist, daß weder der obere Bereich der Wanne noch der der Gefrierwalze gezielt und vollständig gereinigt werden können, ferner daß nach längerer Stillstandzeit und Wieder-Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers keine Gewähr dafür gegeben ist, daß eine zwischen einer abschließenden Spülung eingetretene Verschmutzung mit Staubpartikeln usw. noch unmittelbar vor Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers erneut entfernt wird. Dies ist besonders nachteilig bei Feineiserzeugern, deren Wanne und/oder Gefrierwalze wenigstens teilweise nach oben offen ist/sind.A fine ice maker of the type mentioned at the outset is also known, in which the water inlet for the freezing liquid pan has a first valve and the water outlet provided on the bottom of the freezing liquid pan has a second valve, a control unit which can be switched as a function of the operating state of the drive device of the fine ice maker being provided is connected to the control elements of the two valves by means of electrical lines (cf. DBGM 89 12 336). A control unit is provided there, which actuates actuating elements of the aforementioned valves arranged in the water inlet and in the water outlet by means of electrical lines, and there are delay units for the two aforementioned valves intended. With the help of the control unit and delay units can be achieved with this fine ice maker that both the water inlet and outlet valve open for a short time, so that fresh water is introduced into the tub and can drain immediately, so that the lower area , especially the bottom, is cleaned. This can be done via the electrical time control described above after the fine ice machine has been stopped. However, the side surfaces of the tub located further above the water inlet and the substantially upper part of the outer surface of the freezing roller are not affected by fresh water by this “rinsing process” and accordingly are not cleaned either. The above-described rinsing process can also be controlled in this known fine ice maker with the aid of a temperature sensor in such a way that it is initiated, for example, by the freeze roller first defrosting completely after the fine ice maker has stopped.
A disadvantage of this embodiment is that neither the upper region of the tub nor that of the freezer roller can be cleaned in a targeted and complete manner, furthermore that after a long period of inactivity and restarting of the fine ice maker, there is no guarantee that contamination that has occurred between a final rinse will also result in contamination Dust particles etc. are removed again immediately before the fine ice generator is started up. This is particularly disadvantageous in the case of fine ice makers whose trough and / or freezer roller is / are at least partially open at the top.

Es besteht daher insbesondere die Aufgabe, einen Feineiserzeuger der eingangs erwähnten Art zu schaffen, bei der die mit zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit und mit Feineis in Verbindung kommenden Teile, namentlich die Gefrierwalze und die Wanne, gut und auf einfache Weise gereinigt werden können, insbesondere vor einer Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers.There is therefore in particular the task of creating a fine ice maker of the type mentioned at the outset in which the parts coming into contact with liquid to be frozen and with fine ice, namely the freezing roller and the tub, can be cleaned well and in a simple manner, especially before starting up the fine ice machine.

Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung dieser Aufgabe besteht bei einem Feineiserzeuger gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1 darin, daß die Reinigungsvorrichtung wenigstens eine Sprühdüse zum Reinigen der Gefrierwalze und der Innenseite der Wanne aufweist und daß ein Programmschaltwerk vorgesehen ist, welches nach dem Einschalten des Feineiserzeugers eine automatische Reinigung von Gefrierwalze und Wanne ermöglicht. Durch eine solche Reinigungsvorrichtung kann man nicht nur nach dem Ende einer Arbeitsperiode des Feineiserzeugers die Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne und/oder Gefrierwalze umfassend spülen, sondern insbesondere nach einer Stillstandszeit des Feineiserzeugers unmittelbar vor der Wiederaufnahme des Eiserzeugens eine Reinigung der wesentlichen, mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit oder Feineis in Verbindung kommenden von außen schwer zugänglichen Bereiche vornehmen. Insbesondere während seines Stillstandes in den Feineiserzeuger, eingedrungende Staubpartikel usw. können schnell und einfach entfernt werden, bevor Feineis erzeugt und verarbeitet wird.The solution to this problem according to the invention consists in a fine ice maker according to the preamble of claim 1 that the cleaning device has at least one spray nozzle for cleaning the freezing roller and the inside of the tub and that a program switch is provided which, after switching on the fine ice maker, an automatic cleaning of Freezer and tub allows. Such a cleaning device not only allows extensive rinsing of the freezing liquid pan and / or freezing roller after the end of a working period of the fine ice maker, but also, in particular after a downtime of the fine ice maker, immediately before the resumption of ice production, a cleaning of the essential liquid or ice to be frozen in connection areas that are difficult to access from the outside. In particular, during its standstill in the fine ice maker, dust particles, etc. that have entered can be removed quickly and easily before fine ice is produced and processed.

Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen aufgeführt. Dabei bieten die Merkmale von Anspruch 2 den Vorteil, daß der oder die Zeitbereiche des Reinigens von der Bedienungsperson selbst bequem in Gang gesetzt beziehungsweise beendet werden können. Die Merkmale des dritten Anspruches ermöglichen, daß nach dem Besprühen von Wanne und Gefrierwalze die dazu benutzte Flüssigkeit auch noch nach dem Ende des Reinigungsvorganges aus der Wanne ablaufen kann. Ebenso kann durch diese Maßnahme auch noch auf der Gefrierwalze befindliches Feineis, welches erst nach längerer Zeit vollständig abgetaut ist, noch aus der Wanne ablaufen.
Die Merkmale des 4. Anspruches begünstigen eine möglichst vollständige Beaufschlagung der zu reinigenden Bereiche des Feineiserzeugers. Dabei kann auch sichergestellt werden, daß die zum Reinigen herangezogene Flüssigkeit nicht in unerwünschter Weise in die Umgebung seiner Wanne oder seiner Gefrierwalze spritzt. Die Merkmale des 5. Anspruches begünstigen eine kompakte Bauweise des Feineiserzeugers bei guter Reinigungsmöglichkeit. Die Merkmale des 6. Anspruches ermöglichen einen voneinander unabhängigen Betrieb von Reinigungsvorrichtung und Gefrierflüssigkeitszulauf; dadurch wird gut ermöglicht, daß zum Reinigen eine besondere, von der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit abweichende Reinigungsflüssigkeit Verwendung findet.Further developments of the invention are listed in the subclaims. The features of claim 2 offer the advantage that the time period or times of cleaning can be easily started or ended by the operator himself. The features of the third claim enable that after spraying the tub and freezing roller, the liquid used for this purpose can also run out of the tub after the cleaning process has ended. This measure can also be used on the freezer roller fine ice, which has only been completely defrosted after a long time, still run out of the tub.
The features of the fourth claim favor the most complete possible application of the areas of the fine ice maker to be cleaned. It can also be ensured that the liquid used for cleaning does not inadvertently splash into the surroundings of its tub or its freezing roller. The features of claim 5 favor a compact design of the fine ice maker with good cleaning options. The features of claim 6 enable independent operation of the cleaning device and the freezing liquid inlet; this makes it possible that a special cleaning liquid deviating from the liquid to be frozen is used for cleaning.

Eine vorteilhafte Weiterbildung des Feineiserzeugers nach Anspruch 7 ermöglicht einen programm-mäßig vorgegebenen Reinigungsablauf beim Eiserzeuger nach der Beendigung der Eiserzeugung. Durch die Merkmale des 8. Anspruches erreicht man ein Weiterlaufen der Gefrierwalze nach Beendigung der Feineiserzeugung während der Betriebszeit der Reinigungseinrichtung. Dabei kann nach einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Kältemittel-Umlauf bereits abgestellt sein, so daß während dieser Zeit der Abtauvorgang an der Gefrierwalze mindestens bereits eingeleitet werden kann. Nach den Merkmalen des 9. Anspruches kann man einen besonders einfach aufgebauten, kompakten Feineiserzeuger erhalten.An advantageous further development of the fine ice maker according to claim 7 enables a program-defined cleaning sequence for the ice maker after the end of the ice production. The features of claim 8 ensure that the freezing roller continues to run after the end of the fine ice production during the operating time of the cleaning device. According to a preferred embodiment, the refrigerant circulation can already be switched off, so that the defrosting process on the freezer roller can at least already be initiated during this time. According to the features of claim 9, a particularly simple, compact ice machine can be obtained.

Nach den Merkmalen des 10. Anspruches kann man bei der unmittelbar vor Wieder-Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers vorgenommenen Reinigung erreichen, daß das Reinigungsmittel noch nicht auf eine vom Gefriermittel gekühlte Gefrierwalze auftrifft und gegebenenfalls, daß sich diese Gefrierwalze während des Reinigungsvorganges bereits dreht, wodurch der Reinigungsvorgang begünstigt wird. Gemäß den Merkmalen des 11. Anspruches kann man durch Betätigen einer Einschalt-Handtaste vor der Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers einen automatisch gesteuerten Reinigungsvorgang nebst einer Bereitstellung des Feineiserzeugers für die Feineiserzeugung automatisch ablaufen lassen. Man bewirkt per Knopfdruck beim stillstehenden Feineiserzeuger gewissermassen zunächst einen Reinigungsvorgang sowie die darauffolgende Betriebsbereitstellung. Durch die Merkmale des 12. Anspruches erhält man eine Zwangs-Steuerung derart, daß vor Beginn der eigentlichen Feineiserzeugung eine Reinigung und nachfolgende Bereitstellung des Feineiserzeugers zwangsweise von der Bedienungsperson in dieser Reihenfolge durchgeführt werden muß. Man kann mit diesen Steuer-Mitteln in Verbindung mit einer entsprechenden Konstruktion des Feineiserzeugers auch zum Beispiel sicherstellen, daß vor einer Inbetriebnahme des Eiserzeugers dieser nocheinmal mit einem besonderen Reinigungsmittel in seinen entsprechenden inneren Bereichen gereinigt, das Reinigungsmittel abgeführt, ausreichend zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit, gegebenenfalls zum Nachspülen, nachgespeist und dann erst der Feineiserzeuger zum Herstellen von Feineis bereitgestellt wird. Dies ermöglicht ein von der Bedienungsperson weitgehend unabhängiges Erzeugen von qualitativ hochwertigem Feineis, beziehungsweise einen entsprechenden Arbeitsablauf beim Feineis-Erzeugen.According to the features of claim 10, one can achieve in the cleaning performed immediately before restarting the fine ice maker that the cleaning agent does not yet hit a freezing roller cooled by the freezing agent and, if appropriate, that this freezing roller is already rotating during the cleaning process, as a result of which the Cleaning process is favored. According to the features of claim 11, an automatically controlled cleaning process can be carried out automatically, along with a provision of the fine ice generator for fine ice production, by actuating a switch-on hand button before the fine ice generator is started up. At the push of a button, when the ice machine is at a standstill, a cleaning process and the subsequent operational availability are carried out. Due to the features of claim 12, a forced control is obtained in such a way that cleaning and subsequent provision of the fine ice maker must be carried out by the operator in this order before the actual fine ice production begins. You can also use these control means in conjunction with a corresponding construction of the fine ice maker to ensure, for example, that before starting up the ice maker it is cleaned again with a special cleaning agent in its corresponding inner areas, the cleaning agent is discharged, sufficient liquid to be frozen, if necessary, for Rinse, refilled and only then is the fine ice maker provided for producing fine ice. This enables high-quality fine ice to be produced largely independently of the operator, or a corresponding workflow when producing fine ice.

Gemäß den Merkmalen des 13. Anspruches verhindert oder vermindert man in gewünschter Weise das Wirksamwerden von Kältemitteln während des Reinigungsvorganges. Gemäß den Merkmalen des 14. Anspruches kann man, zum Beispiel mittels des Programmwerkes die Länge der Reinigungszeit-Abschnitte beziehungsweise entsprechender Teilabschnitte beim Anlaufen und Abstellen des Feinerzeugers den jeweiligen Bedürfnissen wählbar anpassen.According to the features of claim 13, the effectiveness of refrigerants during the cleaning process is prevented or reduced in the desired manner. According to the features of claim 14, the length of the cleaning time sections or corresponding partial sections when starting and stopping the fine generator can be adapted to the respective needs, for example by means of the program.

Die Erfindung befaßt sich auch mit einem Verfahren gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 15. Dabei erlauben die Merkmale des 15. Anspruchs, die mit der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit in Verbindung kommenden Teile der Wanne und die entsprechenden, mit dieser zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit und/oder dem erzeugten Feineis in Berührung kommenden Feineiserzeuger-Teile der Gefrierwalze, insbesondere auch die damit benachbarten, von außen schwer für das Reinigen zugänglichen Teile unmittelbar vor Betriebsaufnahme zum Beispiel zuerst zu reinigen und dann zu spülen, um damit ein möglichst sauberes Feineis zu erzeugen. Die Maßnahmen des 16. Anspruches erlauben, sowohl nach dem Abschalten als auch vor dem Wiedereinschalten vor Arbeitsperioden des Feineiserzeugers dessen mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit und/ oder Feineis in Verbindung kommenden Teile zunächst mit einem für die Reinigung besonders geeigneten Reinigungsmittel auszuspülen, welches von der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit abweicht, aber zum Reinigen besonders geeignet ist. Dadurch wird das Sauberhalten der sonst schwer zugänglichen Teile des Feineiserzeugers zusätzlich begünstigt.The invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 15. The features of claim 15 allow the parts of the tub which come into contact with the liquid to be frozen and the corresponding liquid to be frozen with and / or the liquid produced Fine ice parts of the freezing roller that come into contact with the freezer roller, in particular also the parts that are adjacent to it and are difficult to clean from the outside, for example first to be cleaned and then rinsed immediately before starting operation, in order to produce as fine as possible fine ice. The measures of claim 16 allow, both after switching off and before switching on again before working periods of the fine ice maker, its parts coming into contact with liquid and / or fine ice to be frozen, first of all rinsed out with a cleaning agent which is particularly suitable for cleaning and which is to be frozen Liquid deviates, but is particularly suitable for cleaning. This also helps to keep the parts of the fine ice maker that are otherwise difficult to access clean.

Weitere Merkmale der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der folgenden Beschreibung ihrer Ausführungsbeispiele in Verbindung mit den Ansprüchen und der Zeichnung. Einzelne Merkmale können je für sich oder zu mehreren bei einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung verwirklicht sein.Further features of the invention emerge from the following description of its exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the claims and the drawing. Individual features can be implemented individually or in groups in one embodiment of the invention.

Es zeigen in unterschiedlichen Maßstäben:

Fig. 1
eine Seitenansicht eines teilweise im Schnitt dargestellten Feineiserzeuger vorbekannter Bauart, entsprechend der Schnittlinie I-I in Figur 2,
Fig. 2
eine teilweise im Schnitt dargestellte Vorderansicht eines vorbekannten Feineiserzeugers ähnlich dem nach Fig. 1,
Fig. 3
eine stärker schematisierte, teilweise aufgebrochene Teil-Seitenansicht ähnlich Fig. 1, jedoch gemäß der erfindungsgemäßen Ausbildung und
Fig. 4
eine etwas abgewandelte Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Feineiserzeugers ähnlich Figur 3.
They show on different scales:
Fig. 1
2 shows a side view of a known type of fine ice generator, partly in section, according to section line II in FIG. 2,
Fig. 2
2 shows a front view, partially in section, of a known fine ice maker similar to that of FIG. 1,
Fig. 3
a more schematic, partially broken partial side view similar to FIG. 1, but according to the inventive design and
Fig. 4
a somewhat modified embodiment of the fine ice maker according to the invention similar to Figure 3.

Fig. 1 und 2 zeigen einen Feineiserzeuger F vorbekannter Bauart, der zum Herstellen und Ablösen von Feineis aus zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit dient. Dieser Feineiserzeuger F weist eine Gefrierflüssigkeitswanne 2 auf, nachstehend auch kurz "Wanne 2" genannt. In diese taucht eine drehbare Gefrierwalze 9 mit einem Bereich in die zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit 35 ein. Im Normalfall handelt es sich dabei um reines Trinkwasser, aus dem mit dem Feineiserzeuger F sauberes Scherbeneis 37 oder dergleichen hergestellt wird. Am Gehäuse 16 befindet sich, der Drehrichtung der Gefrierwalze 9 gemäß Pfeil 17 entgegengerichtet, ein leistenartiger Eisabstreifer 18. Er ist mit seinem keilförmig zulaufenden Ende 19 schaberartig auf den Mantel 3 der Gefrierwalze 9 gerichtet, so daß er das auf der Gefrierwalze 9 erzeugte Eis 37a in bekannter Weise vom Mantel 3 der Gefrierwalze 9 in deren Normalbetrieb entfernt (Fig. 3). Am Boden 5 der Wanne 2 setzt ein Flüssigkeitsablauf 6 an, der ein elektrisch gesteuertes Auslaßventil 7 aufweist. Außerdem ist an der Wanne 2 ein Flüssigkeitszulauf 8 vorgesehen, der von einem Rohr gebildet ist, in dem sich ein Einlaßventil 10 befindet. Der Flüssigkeitsspiegel der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit 35 ist mit 36 bezeichnet. Der Gefrierflüssigkeits-Spiegel 36 kann in bekannter Weise mit Hilfe eines Flüssigkeitsniveau-Reglers 62, wie er in Verbindung mit Fig. 3 noch beschrieben werden wird, in bekannter Weise eingeregelt werden. Die Ventile 7 und 10 stehen über elektrische Leitungen 11 mit elektrischen Schaltern 12 und 13 in Verbindung. Mittels deren Hilfe kann zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit 35 bis zu einem gewünschten Flüssigkeitsspiegel 36 in die Wanne 2 eingeführt und bedarfsweise über den Flüssigkeitsablauf 6 abgelassen werden. Da bei der Feineiserzeugung zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit zu Feineis verarbeitet wird, sorgt das Einlaßventil 10 in Verbindung mit dem Flüssigkeitsniveau-Regler 62 dafür, daß die gewünschte Höhe des Flüssigkeitsspiegels 36 aufrechterhalten wird. Bei dem bekannten Feineiserzeuger F, gemäß Fig. 1 und 2, stehen die Schalter 12 und 13 für das Auslaß- und Einlaßventil 7 und 1o mit einem (nicht gezeichneten) Schaltorgan für den Antrieb der Gefrierwalze 9 des Feineiserzeugers F sowie mit der dazugehörigen, ebenfalls nicht gezeichneten Kältemaschine in Verbindung derart, daß bei Inbetriebnahme des Feineiserzeugers F die Wanne 2 entsprechend mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit gefüllt wird und beim Stillsetzen des Feineiserzeugers F über den Flüssigkeitsablauf 6 die in der Wanne 2 befindliche Flüssigkeit ablaufen kann.1 and 2 show a fine ice maker F of a known type, which is used to produce and detach fine ice from liquid to be frozen. This fine ice maker F has a freezing liquid pan 2, hereinafter also referred to as "pan 2". A rotatable freezing roller 9 dips into the liquid 35 to be frozen. In the normal case, it is pure drinking water, from which fine flake ice 37 or the like is produced with the fine ice generator F. On the housing 16 there is a strip-like ice scraper 18, directed in the opposite direction of rotation of the freezing roller 9 according to arrow 17. With its wedge-shaped tapering end 19 it is scraper-like on the jacket 3 of the freezing roller 9 so that it produces the ice 37a generated on the freezing roller 9 removed in a known manner from the jacket 3 of the freezing roller 9 in its normal operation (Fig. 3). At the bottom 5 of the tub 2 there is a liquid drain 6 which has an electrically controlled outlet valve 7. In addition, a liquid inlet 8 is provided on the tub 2, which is formed by a tube in which an inlet valve 10 is located. The liquid level of the liquid 35 to be frozen is designated by 36. The freezing liquid level 36 can be regulated in a known manner with the aid of a liquid level regulator 62, as will be described in connection with FIG. 3. The valves 7 and 10 are connected to electrical switches 12 and 13 via electrical lines 11. By means of their help, liquid 35 to be frozen can be up to one desired liquid level 36 is introduced into the tub 2 and, if necessary, can be drained via the liquid drain 6. Since liquid to be frozen is processed into fine ice during the production of fine ice, the inlet valve 10 in conjunction with the liquid level controller 62 ensures that the desired level of the liquid level 36 is maintained. 1 and 2, the switches 12 and 13 are for the outlet and inlet valve 7 and 1o with a (not shown) switching element for driving the freezing roller 9 of the ice cream maker F and with the associated, also Refrigerator, not shown, in connection such that when the fine ice generator F is started up, the tub 2 is correspondingly filled with liquid to be frozen and when the fine ice generator F is stopped, the liquid in the tub 2 can run off via the liquid outlet 6.

Gemäß der Erfindung ist nun beim erfindungsgemäßen Feineiserzeuger 1 bei dessen Wanne 2 wenigstens eine ein- und ausschaltbare Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 zum Spülen der Wanne 2 und der Gefrierwalze 9 vorgesehen und der Flüssigkeitsablauf 6, nachstehend auch kurz "Ablauf 6" genannt, auf die Betriebszeit der Reinigungseinrichtung 50 abgestimmt.
Die Reinigungseinrichtung 50 (vgl. Fig. 3, linke Seite) weist ein Reinigungsschaltventil 51 auf, das über die Leitung 52 mit einem Programmwerk 53 in elektrischer Verbindung steht, wobei Leitung 52 und Programmwerk 53 nur schematisch dargestellt sind. Am Programmschaltwerk 53 ist ein Reinigungs-Schaltknopf 54 vorgesehen. Mit ihm kann man die Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 von Hand ein- und ausschalten. Der Reinigungs-Schaltknopf 54 muß nicht in Verbindung mit dem Programmwerk 53 zusammenarbeiten, obgleich dies oder eine interierte Ausbildung von Reinigungsschaltung und Programmwerk 53 eine besonders vorteilhafte Ausbildung ist. Der Reinigungs-Schaltknopf kann aber auch in einem separaten, nur zur Reinigungsvorrichtung gehörenden Schalt- und Steuerkreis vorgesehen sein. Das Programmsteuerwerk 53 kann so eingestellt sein, daß während des Betriebes der Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 der Ablauf 6 der Wanne 2 (z.B. Fig. 1 und 3) und das zugehörige Ablaufventil 7 offen sind und erst nach Beendigung des Reinigungsvorganges mit einer Zeitverzögerung gegenüber dem Ende der Betriebszeit der Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 schließen. Wenn man durch die Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 ein besonderes Reinigungsmittel in die Wanne 2 beziehungsweise gegen die Gefrierwalze 9 spritzt, ist es zweckmäßig, nach dem Ablauf des Reinigungsmittels mit der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit nachzuspülen, was zweckmäßigerweise ebenfalls über die Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 durch entsprechende (nicht näher dargestellte) Ventilsteuerung und Reinigungsmittel-Zuflüsse erfolgt. Erst wenn dann auch der Nachspülvorgang mit der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit beendet und diese Flüssigkeit über den Ablauf 6 aus der Wanne 2 entfernt ist, wird man frühestens das Ablaufventil 7 schließen.
Den Nachspülvorgang könnte man unter Umständen mit Hilfe des normalen Zulaufes 8, Füllen der Wanne 2, Umlaufenlassen der Gefrierwalze 9 und Ablassen der entsprechenden Flüssigkeit aus der Wanne 2 erreichen. Das vorerwähnte Nachspülen mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit über die Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 ist jedoch vorteilhafter, weil dann der Bereich, der mit besonderer Reinigungsflüssigkeit besprüht wurde, sicherer mit einer Flüssigkeit nachgespült wird, die der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit entspricht.According to the invention, in the case of the fine ice maker 1 according to the invention, at least one cleaning device 50 which can be switched on and off is provided in the tub 2 for rinsing the tub 2 and the freezing roller 9, and the liquid drain 6, hereinafter also referred to briefly as "drain 6", for the operating time of the cleaning device 50 matched.
The cleaning device 50 (cf. FIG. 3, left side) has a cleaning switching valve 51 which is in electrical connection via the line 52 with a program 53, the line 52 and program 53 being shown only schematically. A cleaning switch button 54 is provided on the program switching mechanism 53. It can be used to switch the cleaning device 50 on and off manually. The cleaning button 54 does not have to work in conjunction with the program 53, although this or an integrated design of the cleaning circuit and program 53 is a particularly advantageous design. The cleaning button can also be provided in a separate switching and control circuit, which only belongs to the cleaning device. The program control unit 53 can be set such that during the operation of the cleaning device 50 the drain 6 of the tub 2 (for example FIGS. 1 and 3) and the associated drain valve 7 are open and only after the cleaning process has ended with a time delay compared to the end of the operating time the cleaning device 50 close. If a special cleaning agent is sprayed into the trough 2 or against the freezing roller 9 by the cleaning device 50, it is expedient to rinse with the liquid to be frozen after the cleaning agent has expired, which is also expediently carried out via the cleaning device 50 by appropriate (not shown) Valve control and detergent inflows are carried out. Only when the rinsing process with the liquid to be frozen has ended and this liquid is removed from the tub 2 via the outlet 6 will the outlet valve 7 be closed at the earliest.
The rinsing process could possibly be achieved with the aid of the normal inlet 8, filling the tub 2, letting the freezing roller 9 circulate and draining the corresponding liquid from the tub 2. However, the aforementioned rinsing with liquid to be frozen via the cleaning device 50 is more advantageous because the area which has been sprayed with special cleaning liquid is then rinsed more safely with a liquid which corresponds to the liquid to be frozen.

Aus Figur 3 erkennt man gut, daß zum Reinigungsgerät 50 mehrere Reihen von Sprühdüsen 56 gehören, mit denen das Besprühen der Gefrierwalze 9 und der Innenseiten 57 der Wanne erfolgt.
Dabei können die Sprühdüsen 56 als etwa parallel zur Gefrierwalze 9 und parallel zu den Seitenwänden 57 der Wanne 2 angeordnete Düsenrohre 58 ausgebildet sein. Gemäß Figur 4 können solche Düsenrohre 58a auch so über den Seitenquerschnitt der Wanne 2 verteilt und zum Beispiel über ihren Umfang und an ihren Stirnseiten so mit Einzeldüsen 59 versehen sein, daß ein vollständiges Besprühen der Innenseiten 57 und des der Wanne 2 zugewandten Bereiches der Mantelfläche 3 der Gefrierwalze 9 sicher erreicht wird. Dabei kann man sowohl die Einzeldüsen 59 als auch die Düsenrohre so anordnen, daß nicht in unerwünschter Weise Reinigungsflüssigkeit oder zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit aus der Wanne 2 herausgespritzt wird. Dies ist auch deshalb vorteilhaft, weil sich gewisse Schwierigkeiten ergeben, den Bereich von Gefrierwalze 9 und Wanne 2 dicht abzudecken, weil zum Beispiel die Gefrierwalze 9 während des Betriebes in ihrem oberen Bereich von einer Feineisschicht 37a bedeckt ist, wobei deren Dicke zumindest beim Anlaufen und beim Auslaufen des Arbeitsprozesses variiert.It can be clearly seen from FIG. 3 that the cleaning device 50 has several rows of spray nozzles 56 with which the freezing roller 9 and the inside 57 of the tub are sprayed.
The spray nozzles 56 can be approximately parallel to the freezing roller 9 and parallel to the side walls 57 of the tub 2 arranged nozzle pipes 58 may be formed. According to FIG. 4, such nozzle pipes 58a can also be distributed over the side cross section of the tub 2 and, for example, be provided with individual nozzles 59 over their circumference and on their end faces such that complete spraying of the inner sides 57 and the area of the lateral surface 3 facing the tub 2 the freezing roller 9 is safely reached. Both the individual nozzles 59 and the nozzle tubes can be arranged in such a way that cleaning liquid or liquid to be frozen is not sprayed out of the tub 2 in an undesirable manner. This is also advantageous because there are certain difficulties in tightly covering the area of the freezing roller 9 and the tub 2, for example because the freezing roller 9 is covered in its upper area during operation by a fine ice layer 37a, the thickness of which is at least when it starts up and varies at the end of the work process.

In Figur 3 erkennt man, daß der dortige erfindungsgemäße Feineiserzeuger 1 ein Programmwerk 53 hat, das einen Reinigungs-Schaltknopf 54 aufweist. Dabei kann das Programmwerk 53 derart eingerichtet sein, daß mit Betätigung dieses Reinigungs-Schaltknopfes nacheineinander zunächst das Ablaufventil 7 und der dazugehörige Ablauf 6 geöffnet und solange offengehalten werden, bis die noch in der Wanne 2 befindliche, zu gefrierende Flüssigkeit aus der Wanne 2 und das auf der Gefrierwalze 9 befindliche Eis 37a, soweit es nicht mehr vom leistenartigen Eisabstreifer 18 entfernt worden ist, von der Gefrierwalze 9 abgetaut und auch über die Wanne 2 und deren Ablauf 6 entfernt ist. Dabei ist das Programmwerk 53 zweckmäßigerweise derart geschaltet, daß nach dem Ablaufen der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit die Reinigungsvorrichtung 50 in Betrieb geht und die Gefrierwalze 9 und die Innenseiten 57 der Wanne 2 beispielsweise mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit wie Wasser besprüht werden, wobei über den Zeitabschnitt dieses Reinigungsvorganges das Programmierwerk den Ablauf 6 und das zugehörige Ablaufventil 7 offenhält.In Figure 3 it can be seen that the inventive fine ice maker 1 has a program 53 which has a cleaning switch button 54. The program 53 can be set up in such a way that when this cleaning switch button is actuated one after the other, the drain valve 7 and the associated drain 6 are opened and kept open until the liquid to be frozen from the tub 2, which is still in the tub 2, and so on Ice 37a located on the freezing roller 9, as far as it has no longer been removed by the strip-like ice scraper 18, is defrosted by the freezing roller 9 and is also removed via the tub 2 and its outlet 6. The program 53 is expediently switched such that after the liquid to be frozen has run out, the cleaning device 50 goes into operation and the freezing roller 9 and the insides 57 of the tub 2 are sprayed, for example, with liquid to be frozen, such as water, this over the period of time Cleaning process the programmer keeps the drain 6 and the associated drain valve 7 open.

Analog zu dem Aufbau und der dadurch bedingten Betriebsweise beim Ausschalten des Feineiserzeugers 1 beziehungsweise la (Fig. 3 und 4) kann das Programmschaltwerk 53 mit Hilfe einer Bereitstellung-Handtaste 60 versehen und bezüglich seines Programmablaufs so geschaltet sein, daß zum Beispiel bei Betätigung der Bereitstellungstaste 6o oder beim Betätigen eines Hauptschalters 61 für den Feineiserzeuger 1 beziehungsweise la zunächst die Reinigungseinrichtung 50 den Betrieb aufnimmt, wobei die Gefrierwalze 9 und die Wanne 2 von zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit oder von einem besonderen Reinigungsmittel bei geöffnetem Ablauf 6 gereinigt werden. Nach Ablauf des Reinigungszeit-Abschnittes und Ablaufen der die Reinigung bewirkenden Flüssigkeit schließt das Programmwerk 53 das Ablaufventil 7 und öffnet das Einlaßventil 10 solange, bis über den zugehörigen Zulauf 8 in der Wanne 2 der gewünschte Flüssigkeitsspiegel 36 erreicht ist. Dazu ist an der Wanne 2 ein Wannenflüssigkeits-Niveauregler 62 vorgesehen. Dabei ist vorteilhaft, wenn das Programmwerk 53 erst nach einem Reinigungszeit-Teilintervall oder nach vollständiger Beendigung der Reinigungszeit Kältemittel 64 in bekannter Weise in die entsprechenden Kanäle 65 der Gefrierwalze 9 einläßt. Die Kältemittel-Kanäle 65 und das darin befindliche, durch Kreuze angedeutete Kältemittel sind in Figur 2 angedeutet. Es wird von einer (nicht gezeichneten) Kältemaschine erzeugt und zum Beispiel über Zuführleitungen der Welle 20 der Gefrierwalze 9 und entsprechenden Radialkanälen 24 und 25 den vorerwähnten Kältemittel-Kanälen 65 in bekannter Weise zu- und wieder abgeführt.Analogous to the structure and the resulting mode of operation when the fine ice maker 1 or la is switched off (FIGS. 3 and 4), the program switching mechanism 53 can be provided with the help of a manual hand key 60 and its program sequence can be switched such that, for example, when the supply key is actuated 6o or when operating a main switch 61 for the fine ice maker 1 or la, the cleaning device 50 first starts operating, the freezing roller 9 and the tub 2 being cleaned of liquid to be frozen or of a special cleaning agent when the drain 6 is open. After the cleaning time section has expired and the liquid causing the cleaning has expired, the program 53 closes the drain valve 7 and opens the inlet valve 10 until the desired liquid level 36 is reached in the tub 2 via the associated inlet 8. For this purpose, a tub liquid level controller 62 is provided on the tub 2. It is advantageous if the program 53 only lets refrigerant 64 into the corresponding channels 65 of the freezing roller 9 in a known manner after a partial cleaning interval or after the cleaning time has ended completely. The refrigerant channels 65 and the refrigerant therein, indicated by crosses, are indicated in FIG. 2. It is generated by a (not shown) refrigeration machine and is supplied and discharged to the aforementioned refrigerant channels 65 in a known manner, for example via feed lines of the shaft 20 of the freezing roller 9 and corresponding radial channels 24 and 25.

Die Zeitdauer der Reinigungs-Abschnitte beim Anlaufen und/oder Abstellen des Feineiserzeugers 1 kann man wahlweise, zum Beispiels mittels des Programmwerkes 53, einstellen und somit den jeweiligen Bedürfnissen anpassen.The duration of the cleaning sections when starting and / or turning off the fine ice maker 1 can be optionally, for Example by means of the program 53, adjust and thus adapt to the respective needs.

Gemäß dem erfindungsgemäß vorgeschlagenen Verfahren ist es möglich, bei einem Feineiserzeuger 1 beziehungsweise la dessen für eine Reinigung schwer zugänglichen Innenbereich, der bei der Feineisherstellung mit der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit und/oder mit Feineis in Berührung kommt, zeitlich unmittelbar vor dem Beginn einer Feineisherstellung (noch einmal) zu reinigen. In einem Programmwerk 53 kann man die entsprechende zeitliche Arbeitsläufe so programmieren, daß dies in der vorbeschriebenen Weise durch die Betätigung des Hauptschalters 61 erfolgt. Eine Programmierung kann aber auch so erfolgen, daß ein Zusätzlicher Reinigungsvorgang, nach dem Beendigen der Feineiserzeugung über den Reinigungsschaltknopf 54 oder über eine Bereitsstellungs-Handtaste 60 durch eine Bedienungsperson bewirkt wird.
Eine abgewandelte vorteilhafte Ausbildung des Verfahrens zum Betreiben des Feineiserzeugers 1, la besteht darin, daß seine Reinigung mittels eines besonderen Reinigungsmittels erfolgt, das von der zu gefrierenden Flüssigkeit abweicht. Zweckmäßigerweise wird man nach Beendigung eines solchen Reinigungsvorganges diesem ein Spülintervall nachschalten, bei dem mit zu gefrierender Flüssigkeit 35 der Rest des Reinigungsmittels weggespült werden kann.According to the method proposed according to the invention, it is possible, in the case of a fine ice maker 1 or its inner area which is difficult to clean and which comes into contact with the liquid to be frozen and / or with fine ice during the fine ice production, immediately before the start of a fine ice production (still once) to clean. In a program 53 you can program the corresponding temporal work runs so that this is done in the manner described above by operating the main switch 61. Programming can, however, also be carried out in such a way that an additional cleaning process is effected by an operator after the end of the fine ice production via the cleaning switch button 54 or via a manual supply button 60.
A modified advantageous embodiment of the method for operating the fine ice maker 1, la is that it is cleaned by means of a special cleaning agent which deviates from the liquid to be frozen. Expediently, after the end of such a cleaning process, this will be followed by a rinsing interval at which the rest of the cleaning agent can be rinsed away with liquid 35 to be frozen.

Zum Reinigen ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn die Gefrierwalze 9, zum Beispiel mit Hilfe des Programmwerkes 53, noch während des Reinigungsvorganges weiterläuft, während die Zufuhr von Kältemittel 64 bereits abgeschaltet ist.For cleaning, it is particularly advantageous if the freezing roller 9 continues to run, for example with the aid of the program mechanism 53, during the cleaning process while the supply of refrigerant 64 has already been switched off.

Claims (16)

  1. An ice-maker (1, 1a) including a rotatable freezing drum (9) partially immersed in liquid to be frozen situated in a tank (2) for freezing liquid, wherein said tank (2) is provided with at least one valve-controlled liquid inlet and liquid outlet and possibly a liquid level controller, and wherein by means of said inlet and outlet and the associated valves said tank (2) is adapted to be filled with freezing liquid (35) when the ice-maker (1, 1a) is put into operation and is adapted to be drained off when the ice-maker is brought to rest, as well as including a controllable cleaning device (50), the drain (6) of the tank being co-ordinated to the operating time of the cleaning device, characterized in that the cleaning device (50) has at least one spray nozzle (56) for cleaning the freezing drum (9) and the inner surface of the tank (2), and that a program controller (53) is provided enabling freezing drum (9) and tank (2) to be cleaned automatically after the ice-maker (1, 1a) has been started.
  2. An ice-maker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (50) thereof is manually controllable.
  3. An ice-maker as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the drain valve (7) open during operation of the cleaning device (50) closes after conclusion of the cleaning operation with a time lag relative to the cleaning operation, possibly after a drainage time for liquid rinsing the cleaning agent.
  4. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spray nozzle (56) has a plurality of individual nozzles (59) positioned in such a way that the emergent liquid sprays the tank (2) and/or the freezing drum (9).
  5. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one spray nozzle (56), preferably a plurality thereof, is/are arranged approximately parallel to the freezing drum (9) and/or approximately parallel to side walls (57) approximately axially parallel thereto of the tank (2).
  6. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cleaning device and the inlet for freezing liquid are controllable independently of each other.
  7. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, with the aid of the program controller (53), when ice-making is concluded and a cleaning control knob (54) of the program controller is actuated, the outlet (6) and drain valve (7) thereof is opened and is kept open at least until the liquid (35) to be frozen has drained from the tank and the ice (37A) on the freezing drum (9) has thawed and drained off, and that subsequently the cleaning device may be started to clean the freezing drum (9) and/or the interior of the tank (2) over a cleaning time period with the drain (6) in an open condition.
  8. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the ice-maker (1, 1a) and in the program controller (53) thereof the circuitry for a drive motor of the freezing drum (9) is arranged such that the freezing drum (9) rotates during operation of the cleaning device (50), preferably with circulation of the refrigerant (64) stopped.
  9. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inlet for the cleaning liquid simultaneously forms the inlet for freezing liquid.
  10. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the program controller (53) thereof starts the feed of refrigerant to the freezing drum (9) with a time lag when the ice-maker (1, 1a) is started and possibly sets the freezing drum into rotation at least over a certain time period in which the cleaning device sprays.
  11. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a program controller (53) possibly provided with a manual stand-by button (60) is provided for closing the outlet (6) after the ice-maker (1, 1a) has started and after the cleaning time period has concluded, and that the program controller (53) enables the tank (2) to then be automatically filled with cleaning water or liquid (35) to be frozen up to a liquid level (36) predetermined by a level controller (62) for tank liquid.
  12. An ice-maker as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that a device for starting ice-making is blocked by the stand-by button (60) during the process of cleaning and preparation.
  13. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the program controller (53) admits refrigerant (64) into the freezing drum (9) after a cleaning time subinterval or after the cleaning time period has been concluded.
  14. An ice-maker as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the length of the cleaning time periods or parts thereof when the ice-maker (1, 1a) starts and/or stops are to be selectively set, for example by means of the program controller (53).
  15. An operating method for an ice-maker according to claim 1, characterized in that ice-making is preceded directly in time by cleaning the parts (interior of the tank 2; freezing drum 9 and the like) coming into contact with the liquid (35) to be frozen and/or with the flake ice (37).
  16. A method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the parts of the ice-maker (1, 1a) coming into contact with the liquid to be frozen are cleaned with a cleaning agent differing from the liquid (35) to be frozen, possibly succeeded by an interval for rinsing with liquid to be frozen.
EP92104238A 1991-03-19 1992-03-12 Ice-maker and operating method Expired - Lifetime EP0504735B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4108911 1991-03-19
DE4108911A DE4108911C2 (en) 1991-03-19 1991-03-19 Fine ice maker

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EP0504735A2 EP0504735A2 (en) 1992-09-23
EP0504735A3 EP0504735A3 (en) 1992-12-09
EP0504735B1 true EP0504735B1 (en) 1995-05-03

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AT (1) ATE122139T1 (en)
DE (2) DE4108911C2 (en)
DK (1) DK0504735T3 (en)

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JP6013909B2 (en) * 2009-04-09 2016-10-25 マーヤ−マシイネンファブリーク・ヘルマン・シル・ゲゼルシャフト・ミト・ベシュレンクテル・ハフツング・ウント・コンパニー・コマンディトゲゼルシャフト Apparatus for making flake ice and method for washing, demineralizing and / or sterilizing apparatus for making flake ice
DE112011103056A5 (en) 2010-09-13 2013-06-13 Maja-Maschinenfabrik Hermann Schill Gmbh & Co. Kg Apparatus for the production of flake ice
DE202010017695U1 (en) 2010-10-11 2012-04-27 Higel Kältetechnik e.K. flake ice machine
DE102010047900B3 (en) * 2010-10-11 2011-10-06 Hartmut Higel Method for operating flake ice machine, involves starting filling process for filling liquid container with cleaning- or disinfection liquid that is differ from freezing liquid
DE102012004851B3 (en) * 2012-03-13 2013-04-04 Higel Kältetechnik e.K. Scherbeneismachine
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DE102013016987A1 (en) * 2013-10-15 2015-04-16 Hartmut Higel ice maker
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WO2018058319A1 (en) * 2016-09-27 2018-04-05 合肥华凌股份有限公司 Ice maker
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CN109442639A (en) * 2018-11-28 2019-03-08 宁波奥克斯电气股份有限公司 Ice-water maker, ice water cold accumulation air-conditioner and its control method
KR102087581B1 (en) * 2019-10-22 2020-03-11 김진희 Ice processing equipment for ice beer and methods of making ice beer
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KR102042860B1 (en) * 2019-04-18 2019-11-27 주식회사 나까조인터내셔널 Washing Module for Drum Type Ice Making Machine

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DE4108911C2 (en) 1994-05-26
DK0504735T3 (en) 1995-09-04
EP0504735A2 (en) 1992-09-23
ATE122139T1 (en) 1995-05-15
DE4108911A1 (en) 1992-09-24
EP0504735A3 (en) 1992-12-09
DE59202062D1 (en) 1995-06-08

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