JP2000258008A - Ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice maker producing ice having extremely high transparency while decomposing harmful matters, e.g. bacteria, in the ice making water. SOLUTION: In an ice maker having an ice making water circulation passage for supplying ice making water from an ice making water storage tank 22 to an ice making section, a photocatalyst is arranged on a component in the ice making water circulation passage, e.g. on the inner wall face 221 of the water storage tank 22, to touch the ice making water. An electrostatic field is formed at the water storage tank 22 or the ice making section by applying a high voltage from a high voltage transformer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making machine provided with an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water from a water storage tank for storing ice making water to an ice making part for making ice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ice making machine is provided with a refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigerant circulates through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The ice making section of the ice making machine is provided with an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle device, in which heat is absorbed from ice making water, and the ice making water is cooled to make ice.

Conventionally, there is known an ice maker having an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water from a water storage tank for storing ice making water to an ice making part for making ice. In such an ice making machine, water supplied from an external water supply source is temporarily stored in a water storage tank, this water is supplied to a water sprinkling tank, and water sprinkled from the water sprinkling tank flows down around the ice making unit. Then, the sprinkled water that has not been iced is returned to the water storage tank again to be circulated again.

[0004]

With respect to such an ice making machine, it is necessary to prevent the generation of bacteria inside the ice making water circulation path such as a water storage tank or the like, and to prevent odor from being generated in the ice made ice. No. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently clean the inside of the ice making water circulation path. However, in order to clean the details, it is necessary to disassemble the ice making machine.

[0005] In addition, when providing drinking water containing ice in a restaurant, transparent ice may be preferable in some cases. However, it is difficult to make ice with high transparency because bubbles are trapped inside the ice when the water solidifies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an ice making machine capable of sterilizing and deodorizing water for ice making to produce ice with high transparency.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice making machine having an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water from a water storage tank for storing ice making water to an ice making part for making ice. The photocatalyst was arranged in the circulation path so that the ice making water was in contact therewith.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to the first aspect, the photocatalyst is sprayed on the inner wall of the water storage tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine of the first aspect, the water storage tank includes a floating substance floating in the ice making water, and the photocatalyst is attached to a surface of the floating substance. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to the first aspect, the water storage tank includes a nonwoven fabric, and the photocatalyst is attached to the nonwoven fabric.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the ice making water circulation path includes a photocatalyst unit through which the ice making water passes. A photocatalyst adhering body to which a photocatalyst is adhered is housed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the water circulation path for ice making comprises:
A water spray tank is provided above the ice making unit for spraying ice making water on the ice making unit, and a photocatalyst is provided in the water spray tank.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the photocatalyst is attached to a surface of the ice making section.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, a high voltage is applied to the water storage tank from a high-voltage transformer to form an electrostatic field.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ice making machine provided with an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water from a water storage tank for storing ice making water to an ice making part for making ice, the high pressure transformer is provided in the water storage tank or the ice making part. And applied a high voltage to form an electrostatic field.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an ice making machine 1 according to the present invention.
1 is shown. The ice maker 1 includes an ice making mechanism for making ice inside a box-shaped housing 11 and a refrigeration cycle mechanism for creating a refrigeration cycle. The ice making mechanism is housed in an ice making room 2 located on the left side of FIG. 1, and the refrigeration cycle mechanism is housed inside a machine room 3 on the right side. A door 200 is provided on the front of the ice making chamber 2, and the door 200 can be opened by pulling a handle 201 provided substantially at the center of the front toward the front. Machine room 3
Is formed with a ventilation section 31 provided with a plurality of horizontal slits in the vertical direction. The four corners of the lower surface of the housing 11 are provided with legs 10 for supporting the ice maker 1.
# 10 is provided (see FIG. 1).

The refrigeration cycle mechanism includes a compressor 30 for adiabatically compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 31 for condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 30, an expansion valve 32 for causing the condensed refrigerant to change isenthalpy, An evaporator 33 for evaporating the refrigerant to remove heat from the object to be cooled, and an accumulator 3 for holding a fixed amount of the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator 33 as a liquid refrigerant
4 (see FIG. 2). Further, the condenser 31 includes a fan 35 for taking in air from outside the ice making machine 1 to cool the condenser 31 and a filter 36 for filtering impurities of the air sucked by the fan 35. (See FIG. 2). During ice making, the refrigerant passes along the path indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. Note that, in this refrigeration cycle mechanism, the evaporator 33 is disposed in the ice making unit 21, thereby cooling the periphery of the ice making unit 21.

On the other hand, the ice making mechanism housed inside the ice making chamber 2 has a water storage tank 22 for storing ice making water supplied from a water supply source (not shown) via a pipe 27. The ice making mechanism is provided above the water storage tank 22 and has an ice making part 21 formed in a column shape for making ice.
A ring-shaped watering tank 23 is disposed above the ice making unit 21 and sprays water for ice making. The piping 27 cools the ice making water to some extent and
It is provided so as to pass through the inside of the ice making unit 21 to flow into the ice making unit.

The upper portion of the water storage tank 22 is provided with a receiving portion 220 which projects below the ice making portion 21 and is formed like a shallow box for receiving water spray dripping from the periphery of the ice making portion 21. Further, the water storage tank 22 is provided with a pump device 24 for pumping water for making ice from the water storage tank 22, and a pipe extending vertically in a discharge port of the pump device 24 and communicating the water storage tank 22 with the watering tank. 2
8 are provided. A photocatalyst unit 5 for decomposing bacteria and the like contained in the ice making water is attached to the pipe 28. Further, the water storage tank 22 is provided with a float switch 25 for detecting the amount of stored ice-making water. The watering tank 23 is formed in a ring shape, and a plurality of watering holes are provided on a circumferential line on the bottom surface of the watering tank 23 over the entire circumference. The outer diameter of the watering tank 23 is
A plurality of ice-making chambers 210 # 210 are formed on the peripheral surface of the ice making section 21 and are formed in two steps vertically and over the entire circumference.

In this ice making machine, ice is made as shown in FIG. First, the ice making water in the water storage tank 22 is pumped up by the pump device 24, passed through the pipe 28, and supplied to the watering tank 23. The ice making water supplied to the water spray tank 23 is sprinkled from the water sprinkling hole and the ice making unit 2
It flows down along the circumference of 1. The water that does not become ice out of the sprinkled water for ice-making drops as it is into the receiving portion 220 of the water storage tank 22, and is again returned to the water storage tank 2.
Collected in 2. This is repeated to circulate ice making water. The ice making water that has entered the ice making rooms 210 # 210 is rapidly cooled by the ice making unit 21 each time, and ice is formed in each of the ice making rooms 210 # 210 such that the thickness gradually increases radially outward. . When the ice is completed, the refrigerant solenoid valve 37 is opened, and the refrigerant passes along the path shown by the broken arrow in FIG. For this reason, the evaporator of the refrigerating cycle mechanism functions as a condenser, heats the surface of the ice making section and defrosts the ice contact surface. Then, the ice that has been made is separated from each of the ice making rooms 210 to 210 and stored in an ice storage at the lower part of the ice making machine 1. FIG. 4 shows the ice 101 that has been made. As shown in this figure, the ice 101 is formed in a trapezoidal shape having a length substantially equal to that of the match stick M. However, if the ice maker 1 has not been used for a long time,
A drain pipe 29 is provided in the water storage tank 22 so that the water for ice making 2 can be discarded (see FIG. 2).

When ice is made and ice making water in the water storage tank 22 falls below a predetermined water level, the float switch 25 reacts and sends a signal to open the solenoid valve 26 of the pipe 27. Then, ice making water is supplied to the water storage tank 22 from an external water supply device (not shown). When the ice making water reaches the water storage tank 22 to a predetermined water level, the float switch reacts again and sends a signal to the solenoid valve 26 to close the valve, and the supply of the ice making water to the water storage tank 22 is stopped.

The ice making section 21 and the water storage tank 22 of the ice making machine 1 are connected to a high-voltage transformer 62, and a high voltage is applied to them to form an electrostatic field. The ice making unit 21 and the water storage tank 22 are attached via an insulating member such as a resin material, a rubber material, and ceramics in order to insulate the ice making unit 1 from other parts. This high voltage transformer has 100
It is connected to a V AC power supply 64. The connection between the high voltage transformer 62 and the ice making unit 21 and the water storage tank 22 and the connection with the 100 V AC power supply 64 are made by a cord 63. The voltage applied to the ice making unit 21 and the water storage tank 22 is preferably 200 to 2 KV.

When an electrostatic field is formed in the ice making section 21 as in the present embodiment, clusters of water for ice making become small due to minute vibration of an alternating current, bubbles are hardly generated at the time of coagulation, and transparency is high. Can make ice. When an electrostatic field is formed in the water storage tank 22, the ph value of the ice making water is increased by about 0.2 and ionized, so that delicious ice is made.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the water storage tank 22. The water storage tank 22 is formed in a box shape whose upper surface is opened by a thin iron plate or the like.
A receiving part 220 formed like a box with a shallow depth extending outward is integrally provided on the side. Further, a cylindrical pocket 224 having an open upper surface is attached to the outer wall surface 225 of the water receiving portion 220. This pocket 2
An electrode rod 61 attached to a distal end of a cord 63 connected to a high-voltage transformer (see FIG. 2) is inserted into 24. In order to secure a contact area between the electrode rod 61 and the pocket 224, the cross-sectional shape of the electrode rod 61 and the internal shape of the pocket 224 are formed in a rectangular shape, and a gap is formed between the side surface of the electrode rod 61 and the pocket 224. It is preferable to insert the electrode rod 61 into the pocket 224 so that it cannot be performed.

On the other hand, the inner wall surface 221 of the water storage tank 22
A mixture containing a photocatalyst composed of an optical semiconductor powder and a metal powder and an adsorbent such as apatite is sprayed on the surface of the 221 and the bottom surface 222 in order to decompose bacteria and harmful substances contained in the ice making water. Thus, a film 41 of this mixture is formed (see FIG. 6). This photocatalyst prevents the generation of water moss and increases the ph value of the ice making water by about 0.5 to make the water alkaline.

The photocatalyst contained in this mixture contains fine particles of titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ) having a melting point of 2000 ° C. or less (5%).
-25 μm) and silver particles (1-10 μm), and this photocatalyst is sprayed together with the adsorbent at about 2900-3000 ° C. by a gas spraying method using oxygen, acetylene or the like.

In the sprayed state, the photocatalyst particles consist of titanium oxide particles acting as one electrode and silver fine particles carried by the titanium oxide and acting as the other electrode. After thermal spraying, the photocatalyst becomes particles of 30 to 40 μm and is melted by the high temperature of the gas.
Adheres to In the low-temperature thermal spraying method using gas spraying using oxygen, acetylene, etc., the gas torch for injecting the fine particles of the photocatalyst and the sprayed surface of the water storage tank 22 are relatively moved so that the surface temperature does not exceed 50 ° C. Is being done.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the water storage tank 22 is formed using an iron plate material, but it can also be formed using a resin or the like. The melting point of the raw material powder is limited to 2000 ° C or lower.

In general, titanium oxide (titania) in the form of anatase crystal has a strong photocatalytic action. However, if all the photocatalyst particles after thermal spraying have anatase crystal,
Since the decomposition action is so strong that it will violate the adhered substrate, it cannot be put to practical use. However, the particle size of the rutile-type crystal particles, the thermal spraying temperature, the substrate surface temperature and the heating source used are 5 to 25 μm, about 2900 to 3000 ° C., and 40 to 50 ° C., respectively.
And gas to adjust the anatase crystal 2
It can be 0 to 30%. That is, if the temperature exceeds about 750 ° C., which is the transformation point between anatase and rutile, all the crystals become rutile-type crystals. According to the above-described low-temperature thermal spraying method, when all rutile crystal particles are prepared and sprayed, 20 to 30% of anatase crystals are generated, and the rest are rutile crystals. According to various experiments, the preferred weight ratio of anatase to rutile after spraying is 1: 3.
The line analysis revealed the result.

If the photocatalyst particles are mixed with an adsorbent for adsorbing bacteria such as apatite, zeolite and activated carbon, harmful substances, odors and the like and sprayed, the amount of anatase crystals can be reduced so as not to interfere with the substrate. The point where the photocatalysis is weakened is reinforced.

That is, the apatite after thermal spraying adsorbs and holds an object to be treated such as bacteria, harmful substances and odors in the atmosphere, and decomposes the adsorbed and held object to be treated into photocatalytic particles having 20 to 30% by weight of anatase crystals. Therefore, the photocatalytic action is reinforced. In order to enhance the photocatalytic action, it is necessary to increase the contact area where the particles come into contact with the object, but the low-temperature spraying method is preferable because the particles are finer than plasma spray and a film having a large surface area is formed. .

As the optical semiconductor powder, in addition to TiO ₂ , C
dS, CdSe, WO ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , SrTiO ₃ , KN
bO _{3 and the} like. As the metal powder forming the electrode, various metal powders such as gold, platinum, and copper can be used in addition to silver. Metal powders as photocatalysts include:
Since water is required as one of the indispensable elements for the photocatalyst to exert its essential function, the metal powder needs to be stable without change over time in the presence of water. Among them, platinum is most preferable, but silver is preferable because it has the above characteristics in consideration of economy, and is non-toxic and has sterilization itself. In addition, the electrodes are not necessarily limited to metals, and it has been found that, for example, silicon Si can be used instead of these metals, and the silicon electrodes also cause electron transfer.
Silver, gold, platinum and the like are expensive and the use of silicon has a great economic effect.

The adsorbent is for adsorbing and holding bacteria, viruses, molds, and other substances to be treated such as malodorous substances and harmful substances. As such an adsorbent, one or more selected from the group consisting of ceramic powders such as apatite (apatite), zeolite or sepiolite, activated carbon and silk fiber-containing materials can be used. They can be used in combination. Here, the apatite includes hydroxyapatite [Ca _10, which selectively adsorbs proteins such as bacteria, viruses, and molds.
(PO ₄ ) ₆ (OH) ₂ ] is preferred. Examples of the silk fiber-containing material include, in addition to the silk fiber powder, a granulated material, a gel material, and the like. The particle size of these adsorbent materials (when the silk fiber-containing material is powder) is 0.001 to 0.001 in consideration of good workability while securing a larger surface area.
1.0 μm is preferable, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.05 μm. The mixing ratio of the optical semiconductor powder and the adsorbent is sterilized,
In order to suitably exhibit the deodorizing action, etc., the optical semiconductor powder 1
The adsorbent is preferably 1 to 50 parts by weight, particularly preferably 10 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight. The raw material of the thermal spray coating mixed with hydroxyapatite is Ti as an example.
Preferred are 80% by weight of O ₂ , 10% by weight of Ag and 10% by weight of hydroxyapatite.

As described above, the inner wall surface 221 of the water storage tank is sprayed.
# 221 and the method of attaching the mixture containing the photocatalyst to the bottom surface 222 have been described. However, the mixture may be attached as a paint by dipping as described below.

The paint contains at least a film-forming component as a binder and a dispersant in addition to the photosemiconductor powder, the metal powder and the adsorbing material, and other components as necessary.

The coating film forming components include cellulose derivatives, phthalic acid resins, phenol resins, alkyd resins, amino ald resins, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, urethane resins, vinyl chloride resins, silicone resins, fluorine resins, emulsions, and water-soluble resins. And the like. Examples of the dispersant include petroleum solvents, aromatic solvents, alcohol solvents, ester solvents, ketone solvents, cellosolve solvents, water and the like. When a powder coating is used, a solvent as a dispersant is not required. Other components include pigments, for example, inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide, graphite, red iron oxide, chromium oxide, and carbon black; organic pigments such as Hansa Yellow, Nova Palm Orange, quinacridone violet, and copper phthalocyanine; Extender pigments such as calcium, barium sulfate, talc, clay, white carbon, etc.
Specific functional pigments represented by anticorrosive pigments such as zinc chromate, strontium chromate, zinc phosphate and aluminum phosphate can be exemplified. Further, in addition to the above components, as auxiliary materials, desiccants for imparting coating film accelerating properties, pigment dispersants, anti-flooding agents, pigment sedimentation inhibitors, and additives for adjusting the fluidity of paints. In addition to adhesives, thixotropic agents, anti-drip agents, leveling agents for the purpose of adjusting the coating surface, defoamers, anti-repellent agents, anti-floating agents, plasticizers, anti-skinning agents, electrostatic coating aids, An abrasion inhibitor, an antiblocking agent, an ultraviolet inhibitor, an antistaining agent, a preservative, a fungicide and the like can be added. There is no special mixing ratio of each of these components, and the same mixing ratio as that of a commercially available paint can be applied.

The total amount of the photosemiconductor powder, the metal powder and the adsorbent in the paint exerts effects such as sterilization and deodorization.
In order to ensure appropriate coating properties, the amount is preferably 3 to 55% by weight, and particularly preferably 15 to 35% by weight, based on the total amount of the paint.

The optical semiconductor powder and the metal powder (Ag)
The weight ratio of the adsorption material (hydroxyapatite) is 7
0 to 80% by weight to 10 to 20% by weight is preferred.

The coating method of the paint is not limited to dipping, but may be brush coating, air spray coating,
Electrostatic coating, powder coating, electrodeposition coating, curtain flow coating,
A method such as roll coating can be applied.

The component ratio of the paint used by the present applicant is as follows.

1) Acrylic lacquer paint

[Table 1]

2) Liquid urethane paint (in the dried coating) 30% photocatalyst, binder solids 7
0%.

[Table 2] At the time of coating, the main agent and the curing agent are mixed in a ratio of 4: 1.

3) Baking acrylic paint (in the dried film) 30% photocatalyst, solid content 7 of binder
0%.

[Table 3]

4) Water-based acrylic paint (in the coating film when dried) Photocatalyst 50%, binder solid content 5
0%.

[Table 4]

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, a nonwoven fabric 43 to which a mixture containing a photocatalyst made of an optical semiconductor powder and a metal powder and an adsorbent is attached is provided on the entire bottom surface 222 of the water storage tank 22. The nonwoven fabric 43 is a cloth material having a thickness of about 0.5 mm formed by intertwining the strands of fibers. This nonwoven fabric 4
When the mixture is applied to 3, the mixture can be applied by low-temperature spraying, dipping, or the like, or by printing.

The photocatalyst particles of the printing ink containing the photocatalyst particles applied on the nonwoven fabric 43 are composed of titanium oxide particles and silver particles carried thereon. The photocatalyst particles can have the same structure as the particles in the case of the low temperature spraying method. That is, silicon Si can be used as the metal electrode.

Incidentally, these photocatalyst particles are coated with hydroxyapatite as an adsorbent, and further adhered to the surface of the nonwoven fabric 43 by a binder.

Titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ), which is all in the form of anatase crystal, has an extremely strong oxidizing power and makes the substrate tattered. Therefore, even in printing inks or paints, the titanium oxide particles, which are the raw materials, are anatase and rutile. The weight ratio is preferably 20 to 50%: 50 to 80%. If the ratio of anatase is lower than this, the photocatalytic action is weak, and if the ratio is higher than that, the photocatalytic action is too strong to decompose the binder and decompose the printing ink or paint. Will soon come off.
Most preferably, the weight ratio of anatase to rutile is about 3: 7.

The printing ink contains at least a colorant and a vehicle as a binder in addition to the photosemiconductor powder, the metal powder and the adsorbent, and further contains other components as necessary.

As the colorants, those generally used as colorants for printing inks, such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments,
Dyes such as oil-soluble dyes and disperse dyes can be used. Examples of the vehicle include oils, for example, drying oils such as linseed oil, semi-dry oils such as soybean oil, and non-drying oils such as castor oil.Resin, for example, rosin, modified rosin, natural resin such as gilsonite, or the like. Natural resin derivatives, phenolic resins,
Alkyd resin, xylene resin, urea resin, melamine resin, polyamide resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, ketone resin, petroleum resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate, urethane resin, chlorinated polypropylene, chlorinated rubber, cyclized rubber, Examples thereof include a cellulose derivative and a reactive resin, and further include a plasticizer. Further, as other components, natural or synthetic wax components, desiccants, dispersants, wetting agents, crosslinking agents, gelling agents, thickeners, anti-skinning agents, stabilizers, matting agents,
Examples include an antifoaming agent, a color separation inhibitor, a photopolymerization initiator, and a fungicide. There is no particular mixing ratio of each of these components, and the same mixing ratio as that of a printing ink which is generally commercially available can be applied.

The total amount of the photosemiconductor powder, the metal powder and the adsorbent in the printing ink is 3 to 55% by weight based on the total amount of the printing ink in order to exert effects such as sterilization and deodorization and to secure appropriate printability. Preferably, it is particularly preferably 15 to 35% by weight.

The form and type of such printing inks are not particularly limited, and may be paste inks, solvent inks, or solvent-free inks, which are lithographic printing inks, letterpress printing inks, gravure printing inks, screen printing inks, and the like. It can be applied as intaglio printing ink and special printing ink. Among these, to achieve the object of the present invention most effectively, screen ink for paper,
Screen printing inks, such as plastic screen inks, glass screen inks, and fabric screen inks, are preferred.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment.
In this embodiment, balls 44 as a floating body are provided in a plurality of water storage tanks 22. The balls 44 and 44 are formed by hardening ceramics into a spherical shape having a diameter of about 3 to 15 mm. The specific gravity is formed smaller than that of water.
4 ‥ 44 is designed to float. A mixture containing a photocatalyst and an adsorbent is attached to the surfaces of the balls 44 and 44 by low-temperature spraying. If the mixture is attached to the floating body as in the present embodiment, the water for ice making dropped from the ice making section always comes into contact with the mixture, and sterilization and the like can be effectively acted. Further, more light can be received than in the case where it is arranged at the bottom of the tank, and the catalytic action can be exhibited effectively. Furthermore, a ball 44 ‥ as a floating body
Bacteria and algae are also prevented from adhering to 44 itself.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which a nonwoven fabric is used as an attachment in another embodiment. In this embodiment, a mounting rod 223 is connected to the upper ends of the opposed inner wall surfaces 221 and 221 of the water storage tank 22 so as to connect the inner wall surfaces 221 and 221. A plurality of nonwoven fabrics 45 ‥ 45 formed in a rectangular shape are suspended from the mounting rod 223. These nonwoven fabrics 45 # 45 have photocatalyst functional bodies attached to both surfaces thereof in order to secure a contact area with ice-making water. In order to prevent the nonwoven fabric from floating when the water for ice making flows into the water storage tank 22, weights 9 # 9 are suspended from the lower ends of these nonwoven fabrics 45 # 45. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nonwoven fabric 43 is provided on the entire bottom surface 222 of the water storage tank 22. A mixture containing a photocatalyst and an adsorbent is attached to the surfaces of these nonwoven fabrics 43 and 45 by thermal spraying, dipping, printing, or the like.

The nonwoven fabrics 43 and 45 and the balls 44 ‥ 4
4 is not limited to being used separately, and the nonwoven fabric 43 and the balls 44 and 44 may be used at the same time as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the photocatalyst unit 5 used for a pipe (see FIG. 2) connecting the water storage tank and the watering tank. The photocatalyst unit 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is used so as to connect the ends of the pipes 28, 28. The photocatalyst unit 5 includes a housing 50 formed of a transparent resin material in a cylindrical shape, and end plates 51 and 51 formed in a conical shape with both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50 closed. At both ends of the housing 50, flange portions 501 and 501 projecting outward in the radial direction are formed. End plate 5
Cylindrical insertion portions 512 and 512 to be inserted into the pipes 28 and 28 are formed at the distal ends of the pipes 3 and 53, and flange portions 511 and 511 projecting outward in the radial direction are formed at the rear ends of the divergent ends.
Are formed. The end plates 51, 51 are attached to the housing 50 such that the flange portions 511, 511 abut against the flange portions 501, 501 of the housing 50 and are screwed.

At both ends inside the housing 50, rectifying plates 52, 52 having a plurality of openings regularly arranged are provided. Inside the rectifying plate 52 on the inflow side of the ice making water, a relatively coarse mesh is formed. Filter plate 43
Is provided. Further, between the filter plate 53 and the rectifying plate 52 on the outflow side, a plurality of annularly formed nonwoven fabrics 46 # 46 as photocatalyst attachment bodies are accommodated in layers in the radial direction. In addition, spacers 54 to 54 formed by an annular coarse mesh are inserted into gaps between the adjacent inner and outer sides of the nonwoven fabrics 46 and 46. A mixture containing a photocatalyst and an adsorbent is adhered to the surface of the nonwoven fabric 46 by a method such as thermal spraying, dipping, or printing. The photocatalyst unit 5 decomposes bacteria and harmful substances contained in the ice making water while the ice making water is pumped from the water storage tank to the watering tank. The photocatalyst adhering body accommodated in the housing 50 is not limited to a nonwoven fabric, and other adhering bodies such as ceramic balls may be used.

In general, ceramics are excellent as a substance that emits far-infrared rays. However, the coating of the TiO2 powder, which is a photocatalyst functional body of the present invention, by a low-temperature spraying method has a radiation characteristic close to a black body. It also functions as a good far-infrared radiation coating. Therefore, if a photocatalytic film is formed on the surface of the ice making section, the speed of freezing and thawing of ice is increased. For far-infrared radiators, the ratio of anatase to rutile is not critical, and low-temperature sprayed coatings do not necessarily require apatite as an absorber and metal as an electrode in a photocatalyst. Since the photocatalytic functional body of the present invention uses a fine powder before radiation, a dense film can be obtained and a material having good surface roughness is formed, so that the actual radiation area is large and the emissivity is good. The large surface area of the coating and the large actual emission area mean that the photocatalyst functions as a favorable photocatalyst because contact with the object to be treated is required.

In the case of a photocatalyst, when the substrate is a metal plate, a metal as an electrode is not necessarily required.

In the above-described embodiment, a high voltage is applied to the water storage tank and the ice making section of the ice making machine to form an electrostatic field, and the photocatalyst is provided in the water storage tank and the like, but only the electrostatic field is formed. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in a mode in which only a photocatalyst is provided. Also, in order to effectively exert the catalytic action of the photocatalyst, a skylight or the like is provided in the housing of the ice making machine so that light is irradiated inside the housing, and the water storage tank and the water sprinkling tank also have good light irradiability to the inside. It is good to form with a member.

Further, the type of the ice making machine to which the present invention is applied is an ice making machine provided with an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water from a water storage tank for storing ice making water to an ice making part for making ice. It does not have to be an ice machine that circulates the ice making water itself.

[0063]

According to the invention of claims 1 to 7, bacteria and harmful substances contained in the ice making water used in the ice making machine can be decomposed, and not only can hygienic ice be made, but also the ice making water can be used. Deodorizes odors and makes ice without odors. In addition, the pH value of the ice making water can be increased by the action of the photocatalyst, and alkaline ice can be made, so that ice that is good for human health can be provided. Especially in ice machines that make ice by circulating ice making water,
Even if the ice making water in the circulation path remains for a long time without being consumed, sanitary ice can be made.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since a high voltage is applied to the ice making section or the water storage tank to form an electrostatic field, the water for ice making is cluster-condensed by the action of minute vibration by an alternating current to generate bubbles. And ice with high transparency can be made. Also, since the ph value of the ice-making water is increased and ionized, delicious ice can be made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of the refrigeration cycle mechanism and the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an ice making process by an ice making unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of ice made from ice.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a water storage tank.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a side surface of the water storage tank.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water storage tank in which a nonwoven fabric with a photocatalyst attached to a bottom surface is arranged.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water storage tank provided with a ball to which a photocatalyst is attached.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water storage tank provided with a nonwoven fabric in another mode different from the water storage tank of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water storage tank provided with both a nonwoven fabric and a ball to which a photocatalyst is attached.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the photocatalyst unit.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the photocatalytic unit of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a comparison between the effect of a conventional photocatalyst and that of the present invention as a photocatalyst.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice machine 21 Ice making part 22 Water storage tank 23 Water sprinkling tank 41 Photocatalytic film 43, 45, 46 Nonwoven fabric 44 Floating material (ball) 5 Photocatalytic unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Sasai Fukushima Kogyo Co., Ltd., 3-16-11 Moundoshima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Tsukasa Sakurada Ogatawara Morihara Ogiharagawa, Kami-gun, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture 1391 -3 Shinshu Ceramics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akinori Ito 5-19 Sachimachi, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa LF Laboratory Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ice making machine having an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water to an ice making part for making ice from a water storage tank for storing ice making water, wherein the ice making water contacts the photocatalyst in the ice making water circulation path. An ice maker characterized by being arranged so as to perform. 2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein said photocatalyst is sprayed on an inner wall of said water storage tank. 3. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the water storage tank has a floating substance floating in the ice making water, and the photocatalyst is attached to a surface of the floating substance. 4. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the water storage tank includes a nonwoven fabric, and the photocatalyst is attached to the nonwoven fabric. 5. The ice making water circulation path includes a photocatalyst unit that allows the ice making water to pass therethrough, and the photocatalyst unit accommodates a photocatalyst adhering body having a photocatalyst attached thereto. 4. The ice making machine according to any one of 4. 6. The ice making water circulation path is provided above the ice making part, and comprises a water spray tank for sprinkling ice making water in the ice making part, and a photocatalyst is provided in the water spray tank. The ice maker according to claim 1. 7. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is attached to a surface of the ice making section. 8. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein a high voltage is applied to said water storage tank from a high voltage transformer to form an electrostatic field. 9. An ice making machine having an ice making water circulation path for supplying ice making water to an ice making part for making ice from a water storage tank for storing ice making water, wherein a high voltage is supplied from a high voltage transformer to the water storage tank or the ice making part. An ice maker characterized in that an electrostatic field is formed by applying an electric field.