JP2000213837A - Ice making water tank for automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice making water tank for an automatic ice making machine which is able to produce good quality ice while saving water. SOLUTION: When a water pan 4 is inclined downward in defrosting operation, residual ice making water which remained in a tank body 26 is all discharged to a water receiver 13 through a drain port 28. Washing water 31 supplied from a sprinkling pipe 14 onto the water pan 4 flows down along the upper surface of the water pan 4 and enters a water receiving pan 27 through an inlet port 29 so as to be detained therein. When the water an 4 is lifted up and restored to the horizontal position, the washing water 31 detained in the water receiving pan 27 gradually flows and falls into the tank body 26. Thereafter, water which has been supplied onto the water pan 4 from the sprinkling pipe 14 enters into an ice making tank 25 through return holes 10 and mixed with the washing water 31 which already existed in the tank body 26 so as to be newly used as ice making water 30 in the next ice making processes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making water tank for an automatic ice making machine, and more particularly, to saving water by storing washing water flowing onto a water tray during deicing and using it as a part of the next ice making water. The present invention relates to an ice making water tank capable of achieving the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a main part of an automatic ice making machine having a conventional ice making water tank. In the automatic ice making machine, an ice making room 2 having a plurality of cells 1 each opening downward is provided, and a cooling pipe 3 is provided above the ice making room 2 corresponding to each cell 1. A water tray 4 is provided below the ice making chamber 2 so as to be rotatable up and down around a horizontal axis (not shown). An ice making water tank 5 is attached to a lower portion of the water tray 4. When the pump 6 connected near the bottom of the ice making water tank 5 is driven, the ice making water tank 5
The ice making water 7 stored in the inside is sucked up by the pump 6, and is jetted from the jet port 9 into each cell 1 of the ice making chamber 2 through the water channel 8 formed inside the water tray 4. At this time, the ice making water 7 in each cell 1 is cooled by the low-temperature refrigerant flowing in the cooling pipe 3 and starts to freeze.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of water passages 8 of the water tray 4 are formed parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. Return holes 10 are opened at the positions, and the upper portion of the water tray 4 and the inside of the ice making water tank 5 communicate with each other by the return holes 10.
The ice making water 7 that has not been frozen in each cell 1 during ice making returns to the ice making water tank 5 through the return hole 10 of the water tray 4, and is circulated again by the pump 6 for ice making.

When the ice making in each cell 1 is completed, FIG.
As shown in (A), the water tray 4 is inclined downward and hot gas is supplied into the cooling pipe 3. As a result, the ice produced in each cell 1 falls from the ice making chamber 2 onto the water tray 4 and is stored in an ice storage (not shown), and the ice making water remaining in the ice making water tank 5 is removed from the ice making water tank. 5 through a guide 12 from a drain port 11 opening at the front end of the water receiver 1
It is discharged to 3. At the time of deicing, washing water is flown from the sprinkling pipe 14 onto the inclined water tray 4 to melt the ice attached to the water tray 4, and this washing water also flows along the upper surface of the water tray 4. After that, the water is discharged from the guide 12 to the water receiver 13. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, water is supplied from the watering pipe 14 onto the water tray 4 with the water tray 4 returned to a horizontal position, and the water passes through the return hole 10 of the water tray 4. The water is stored in the ice making water tank 5 and used as ice making water 7 in the next ice making process.

[0005]

As described above, after the ice making residual water is completely discharged, the next ice making is performed by the ice making water 7 newly supplied into the ice making water tank 5, so that good quality ice is obtained. However, since the washing water supplied from the sprinkling pipe 14 is simultaneously discharged at the time of deicing, there is a problem that a large amount of water is consumed.

Conventionally, an automatic ice making machine using an ice making water tank 15 as shown in FIG. 7 (A) has also been used. The front end of the ice making water tank 15 is bent upward to reach the height of the water tray 4, and forms a drain port 16 with the water tray 4. The guide 12 used in the ice making water tank 5 of FIG. 4 is not used. At the time of deicing for supplying hot gas into the cooling pipe 3, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the water dish 4 is tilted downward and washing water flows from the watering pipe 14 onto the water dish 4, The ice making residual water 17 remaining in the water tank 15 is discharged from the drain port 16 to the water receiver 13,
Since the front end of the ice making water tank 15 is bent, a part of the ice making water 17 remains in the ice making water tank 15, and a part of the washing water 18 that has entered through the drain port 16 is mixed therein.

[0007] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 (C), water is supplied from the watering pipe 14 onto the water tray 4 in a state where the water tray 4 is returned horizontally, and this water is returned to the return hole of the water tray 4. The ice-making water tank 15 passes through the ice-making water tank 15 and is mixed with the ice-making residual water 17 and the washing water 18 already existing in the ice-making water tank 15 to be used as new ice-making water 19 in the next ice-making process. That is, a part of the ice making residual water 17 remaining in the ice making water tank 15 is not discharged, but is diluted by the water supplied from the water sprinkling pipe 11 thereafter. Since a part of the ice-making residual water 17 is diluted and used, the temperature of the ice-making water at the start of the next ice-making step is low, and the freezing in the ice-making chamber 2 is accelerated. Since much of the washing water supplied from the pipe 11 was discarded, the problem of consuming a large amount of water could not be solved.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making water tank of an automatic ice making machine capable of producing high quality ice while saving water. I do.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ice making water tank for an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention has a water tray for opening and closing each cell of an ice making room, and a washing water flowing over the water tray to remove the water. An ice making water tank used in an automatic ice making machine for performing ice and provided at a lower portion of a water tray, in which water for storing washing water flowing down along a tank body and a water tray provided in the tank body and inclined downward. It is provided with a receiving tray and a drainage port for discharging all remaining ice making water in the tank body when the water tray is tilted downward. The front end of the tank body may be inclined upward, the water tray may be disposed above the front end of the tank body, and a drain port may be formed between the front end of the tank body and the water tray. it can. Also,
An inlet for wash water into the water pan can be formed between the front end of the water pan and the front end of the water pan.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a main part of an automatic ice making machine provided with an ice making water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. An ice making chamber 2 having a plurality of cells 1 opening downward is provided in the automatic ice making machine, and a cooling pipe 3 is provided above the ice making chamber 2 in correspondence with each cell 1. A water tray 4 is disposed below the ice making chamber 2 so as to be rotatable up and down around a horizontal axis (not shown). An ice making water tank 25 is attached to a lower portion of the water tray 4.

The ice making water tank 25 has a double structure including a tank main body 26 connected to the water tray 4 and a water receiving tray 27 disposed inside the tank main body 26. The front end of the tank body 26 is a free end and is inclined upward, a water receiving tray 27 is disposed above the tank body 26, and a drain port 28 for discharging remaining ice making water in the tank body 26 is provided at the tank body 26. 26 is formed between the front end of the plate 26 and the water receiving tray 27. The front end of the water receiving tray 27 is bent upward to reach the level of the horizontal water tray 4, and forms an inlet 29 for washing water between itself and the front end of the water tray 4.

FIG. 2A is an end view of the ice making water tank 25 taken along the line AA. However, the water tray 4 and the ice making chamber 2 are not shown. The double-sided ice making water tank 25 is formed by bending both side portions 27 a of the water receiving tray 27 upward and bonding these bent portions to the inner side surface of the tank body 26. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2B, both side portions 27b of the water receiving tray 27 may be bent downward and placed on the bottom surface of the tank main body 26, or these bent portions may be placed in the tank. It may be adhered to the inner surface of the main body 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (C), steps 26a are formed at lower portions on both side surfaces of the tank body 26, respectively.
And the both edges of the bottom of the water tray 27 may be placed on this step. In this case, the bent portion of the water tray 27 may be bonded to the inner surface of the tank body 26. Further, FIG.
As shown in (D), a groove 26 b is formed on the inner surface of the tank body 26, and a protrusion 27 c formed on the outer side of the water tray 27 is fitted into the groove 26 b of the tank body 26, thereby forming the water tray. 27 can also be fixed to the tank body 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 2E, a part of the bottom of the water receiving tray 27 may be brought into close contact with the bottom of the tank main body 26. As described above, the two types of tanks constituting the tank body and the water receiving tray are separately processed and formed, and then they are overlapped to manufacture the ice making water tank 25 having a double structure. It is also possible to form a double-structure ice making water tank at a time using the method.

Further, a tank body 26 of the ice making water tank 25 is provided.
Is connected to a water channel 8 formed inside the water tray 4 via a pump 6, and a plurality of ejection ports 9 communicating with the water channel 8 are formed in the upper surface of the water tray 4. Similar to the water tray shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of water channels 8 of the water tray 4 are formed parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other, and the water channels 8 are avoided on both sides of each jet 9 communicating with the water channel 8. Return holes are opened at the positions, and the upper portion of the water tray 4 and the inside of the ice making water tank 25 communicate with each other by these return holes. Further, a watering pipe 11 is disposed above the water tray 4, and a water receiver 13 is disposed below the ice making water tank 25.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice making machine will be described. At the time of ice making, the driving of the pump 6 causes the ice making water 30 stored in the ice making water tank 25 to be sucked up.
The water is spouted from the spout 9 into each cell 1 of the ice making chamber 2 through the water channel 8 inside the water tray 4. A low-temperature refrigerant flows through the cooling pipe 3, whereby the ice making water 30 in each cell 1 is cooled and starts to freeze. At this time, the ice making water 30 that has not been frozen in each cell 1 returns to the ice making water tank 25 through the return hole of the water tray 4, and is again circulated by the pump 6 for ice making. On the other hand, at the time of deicing, the water tray 4 is inclined downward as shown in FIG. 3 (A), hot gas is supplied into the cooling pipe 3 and the water dish 4 is washed on the inclined water tray 4 from the watering pipe 14. Water 31 is flushed. Thereby, the ice produced in each cell 1 falls from the ice making chamber 2 onto the water tray 4 and is stored in an ice storage (not shown), and the ice making residual water remaining in the tank body 26 of the ice making water tank 25 is left. Are all discharged from the drain port 28 to the water receiver 13. Further, the washing water 31 supplied from the watering pipe 14 flows down along the upper surface of the water tray 4 while melting the ice adhered on the water tray 4, and the front end of the water receiving tray 27 and the front end of the water tray 4 The water enters the water receiving tray 27 from the inflow port 29 formed between them, and is stored here.

When the ice removal from each cell 1 and the washing of the water tray 4 are completed in this way, the water tray 4 is raised again and returned to a horizontal state. At this time, as shown in FIG. As described above, the washing water 31 stored in the water receiving tray 27 gradually flows down to the tank main body 26. At this time, as the height of the water tray 4 rises, the height of the drain port 28 also increases, so that the washing water 31 flowing down to the tank main body 26 is not discharged from the drain port 28. When the water tray 4 is returned to the horizontal state as shown in FIG. 3C, water is supplied from the watering pipe 14 onto the water tray 4, and the water passes through the return hole 10 of the water tray 4. The water enters the ice making water tank 25 and is mixed with the washing water 31 already existing in the tank body 26 to be used as new ice making water 30 in the next ice making step.

As described above, at the time of deicing, all the ice making residual water in the tank main body 26 is discharged from the drain port 28, while the washing water 31 supplied from the watering pipe 14 onto the water tray 4 is flowed without discarding. To be introduced into the water receiving tray 27 from the inlet 29 and stored here, and used as a part of the ice making water in the next ice making process,
Water can be saved while obtaining good quality ice. In addition,
In the above-described embodiment, at the time of deicing, the washing water 31 is supplied from the sprinkling pipe 14 at the same time as the water tray 4 is tilted downward. It may be performed.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the water receiving tray for storing the washing water is provided in the tank main body to form a double structure, and the tank is provided when the water tray is inclined downward. Since a drain outlet for discharging all the ice-making residual water in the main body is formed, it is possible to produce high-quality ice while saving water.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of an automatic ice maker provided with an ice making water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a view of FIG. 1A from which a water dish and an ice making room are omitted.
It is an A-line end view, and (B)-(E) is a similar end view which shows a modification, respectively.

3 shows a main part of the automatic ice maker of FIG. 1 at the time of deicing, and (A) to (C) are cross-sectional views each showing the order of steps.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of an automatic ice maker provided with a conventional ice making water tank.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a water tray used in the automatic ice maker of FIG. 4;

6 shows a main part of the automatic ice maker of FIG. 4 at the time of deicing, and (A) and (B) are cross-sectional views shown in the order of steps.

FIG. 7 shows a main part of an automatic ice making machine provided with another conventional ice making water tank, wherein (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the time of ice making, and (B) and (C) respectively show the steps of de-icing in process order. It is sectional drawing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... cell, 2 ... ice room, 4 ... water tray, 14 ... sprinkler pipe,
25 ... Ice making water tank, 26 ... Tank body, 27 ... Water receiving tray, 28 ... Drain outlet, 29 ... Inlet, 30 ... Ice making water, 31
... wash water.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic ice maker for tilting a water tray for opening and closing each cell of an ice making room and flowing washing water on the water tray to remove ice, and is provided at a lower portion of the water tray. An ice making water tank, comprising: a tank main body; a water receiving tray provided in the tank main body, for storing washing water flowing down along a downwardly inclined water tray; and the tank main body when the water tray is tilted downward. An ice making water tank for an automatic ice making machine, comprising: a drain for discharging all remaining ice making water therein. 2. A front end of the tank body is inclined upward, the water receiving tray is disposed above a front end of the tank main body, and the drain port is provided between the front end of the tank main body and the water receiving tray. The ice making water tank of the automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the ice making water tank is formed between the two. 3. The automatic ice making machine according to claim 2, wherein an inlet for washing water into the water tray is formed between a front end of the water tray and a front end of the water tray. Ice making water tank.