JP2005156002A - Ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice machine enhancing deicing capacity to adjust actual time required for deicing to appropriate deicing time even under the action of ambient temperature variation or disturbance of an attachment or the like to an ice making body. <P>SOLUTION: Based on data showing the relation of deicing time-deicing water temperature, and a reference deicing water temperature Ts, the target deicing water temperature T of deicing water in a deicing water tank 41 is computed from the deicing time of a preceding cycle. If the deicing water temperature is less than the target deicing water temperature T, a heat exchange pump 52 installed near the peripheral wall of the deicing water tank 41 is driven to force-feed deicing water to a heat exchanger 54, and the deicing water heated by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 54 is returned into the deicing water tank 41 to raise the temperature of deicing water in the deicing water tank 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine.

Conventionally, as this type of ice making machine, there is a flow-down type ice making machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. When the ice making machine is put into the ice making mode, the ice making water flowing down along the ice making surfaces of both ice making plates is cooled by the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flowing through the evaporation pipe provided between the ice making plates. Grows as ice on top. Thereafter, when the ice making machine is put into the deicing mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant from the compressor flows through the evaporation pipe, and the deicing water flows down between the ice making plates. Thereby, the ice grown on each ice making surface is deiced. The deicing water used for deicing is used as ice making water in the next ice making mode.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-248321

  By the way, in the above ice making machine, from the viewpoint of improving ice making efficiency, the sum of the time required for ice making in the ice making mode and the time required for deicing in the ice removing mode, that is, the cycle operating time of the ice making machine is: It is desirable to be as short as possible.

  However, when disturbances such as fluctuations in the ambient temperature and deposits on the ice making plate act on the ice making machine in the deicing mode, the time required for deicing fluctuates. For example, if the time required for deicing becomes long, as a result, the one-cycle operation time becomes long, resulting in a decrease in ice making efficiency.

  Therefore, in order to deal with the above, the present invention adjusts the actual deicing time to an appropriate deicing time even if the ambient temperature fluctuates or disturbances such as deposits on the ice making body act. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice making machine having an increased deicing capability.

  In solving the above-mentioned problems, an ice making machine according to the present invention is, according to claim 1, an ice making body (10), a refrigeration means (30) provided with evaporation means provided on the ice making body, and an ice making machine. An ice making water supply means (20) for supplying water to the ice making body, an ice removing means (40) for removing ice produced by supplying ice making water to the ice making body in the ice making mode in the ice removing mode, Deicing time calculation means (110d, 300, 600, 700) for calculating the deicing time in the mode, and the deicing that operates so that the deicing time in the deicing mode is set to an appropriate deicing time based on the calculated deicing time. Ice capacity improvement means (51 to 55, P1, 270 to 272).

  According to this, the deicing capability improving means increases the deicing capability so as to adjust the deicing time in the deicing mode to an appropriate deicing time based on the deicing time.

  For this reason, the deicing time is adjusted to an appropriate deicing time even if the ambient temperature fluctuates or a disturbance such as a deposit on the ice making body acts. As a result, the deicing time is properly maintained, and the ice making efficiency of the ice making machine is appropriately maintained.

  According to claim 2, the ice making machine according to the present invention comprises an ice making body (10), a refrigeration means (30) provided with evaporation means provided on the ice making body, and a removal means for storing deiced water. An ice water tank (41), ice making water supply means (20) for supplying ice making water to the ice making body, and ice produced by supplying ice making water to the ice making body in the ice making mode are removed from the deicing water tank in the deicing mode. Deicing means (40) for deicing with ice water, deicing time calculating means (110d, 300, 600, 700) for calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode, and calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode Heating means (51 to 55, P1, 270 to 272) for heating the deicing water in the deicing water tank so as to adjust to an appropriate deicing time based on the time is provided.

  Thus, the deicing water in the deicing water tank may be heated by the heating means so that the deicing time in the deicing mode is adjusted to an appropriate deicing time based on the deicing time. It is possible to achieve the same effect as the invention described in (1).

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the ice making machine has the ice making body (10) and the evaporation means (36) provided on the ice making body, and the evaporation means has a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant. Alternatively, refrigeration means (30 to 35, 37) in which low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant obtained by reducing the pressure of this high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant, and ice-making water supply means (20) for supplying ice-making water to the ice-making body are removed. There is a deicing water tank (41) for storing ice water, and deicing water sprinkling means (40) for sprinkling the deicing water in the deicing water tank to the ice making body, and deicing capability improving means (51-55, P1, 270- 272).

  In the ice making mode, the ice making water supplied to the ice making body by the ice making water supplying means is cooled by the evaporating means based on the low-temperature and low pressure refrigerant to grow as ice, and in the deicing mode following the ice making mode, the deicing water sprinkling means In this way, the deicing water from the deicing water tank is sprinkled on the ice making body to melt the ice that has grown on the ice making body, and the deicing water sprayed on the ice making body is used in the subsequent ice making mode.

  The ice making machine includes deicing time calculation means (110d, 300, 600, 700) for calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode following the ice making mode. Further, the deicing capability improving means increases the deicing capability so as to adjust the deicing time in the deicing mode to an appropriate deicing time based on the calculated deicing time.

  Thus, even if the deicing ability is improved so that the deicing time in the deicing mode is adjusted to an appropriate deicing time based on the deicing time by means of the deicing capacity improving means, Effects similar to those of the described invention can be achieved.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, the present invention provides the ice maker according to claim 3, wherein the water temperature detecting means (110e) for detecting the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank and the ice making mode are provided. The deicing water supply means (46, 47, 250) for supplying the deicing water into the deicing water tank, and the temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank is lowered or raised as the deicing time increases or decreases. Based on the determined deicing time-deicing water temperature data, estimated deicing water temperature determining means (800) for estimating the deicing water temperature according to the calculated deicing time and determining the estimated deicing water temperature (Tp); Target deicing water temperature determining means (900) for subtracting the difference between the estimated deicing water temperature and the reference deicing water temperature from the deicing water standard deicing water temperature (Ts) and determining the subtraction result as the target deicing water temperature (T). With.

  The deicing capability improving means is a heating means for heating the deicing water according to the detected water temperature so as to adjust the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank to the target deicing water temperature in the ice making mode. And

  According to this, the target deicing water temperature is determined based on the estimated deicing water temperature calculated from the deicing time-deicing water temperature data based on the predetermined deicing water temperature and the deicing time in the deicing mode.

  Therefore, in the ice making mode performed after the target deicing water temperature is determined, the deicing water is heated by the heating means so that the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank maintains the target deicing water temperature. . As a result, in the deicing mode subsequent to the ice making mode, even if a disturbance acts on the ice making machine, the deicing time is maintained appropriately, and the operational effect of the invention according to claim 3 can be further improved.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a flow-down ice making machine according to the present invention, and this ice making machine includes two ice making plates 10, a supply device 20, a freezing device 30, and a watering device 40.

  Both ice making plates 10 are installed vertically in parallel with a space between each other. A catchment basin 11 is installed directly below the ice making plates 10, and the catchment basin 11 opens toward the guide portions 10 a of the ice making plates 10 at the opening 11 a.

  The ice-making water supply device 20 includes an ice-making water tank 21 that stores ice-making water. The ice making water tank 21 is located below the water collecting tank 11 and collects and stores the ice making water or deicing water collected by the water collecting tank 11 through an outflow portion (not shown) provided in the water collecting tank 11.

  The supply device 20 includes a circulation pump 23 and a sprinkler 25. The circulation pump 23 pumps out the ice making water in the ice making water tank 21 through the water supply pipe 22 by the operation of the built-in electric motor, and pumps it to the sprinkler 25 through the water supply pipe 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the water sprinkler 25 is installed above both ice making plates 10, and ice making water from the water supply pipes 24 is supplied to the surfaces of the ice making plates 10 (hereinafter referred to as “the water making plates 25”). , The ice making surface 10b).

  The refrigeration apparatus 30 includes a compressor 31, and the compressor 31 sucks and compresses the refrigerant flowing into the pipe P6 from the evaporation pipe 36 by the operation of the built-in electric motor, and the pipe P1 serves as a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant. And discharged into the condenser 32.

  The condenser 32 condenses the inflowing compressed refrigerant and causes the condensed refrigerant to flow into the dryer 33 through the pipe P2. The dryer 33 gas-liquid separates the inflow condensed refrigerant and causes the liquid phase refrigerant to flow into the line electromagnetic valve 34 through the pipe P3.

  The line solenoid valve 34 is a normally closed solenoid valve, and the line solenoid valve 34 causes the refrigerant from the pipe P3 to flow into the expansion valve 35 through the pipe P4 by opening the line solenoid valve 34. The expansion valve 35 depressurizes the inflowing liquid phase refrigerant, and causes the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant to flow into the above-described evaporation pipe 36 through the pipe P5.

  The evaporation pipe 36 is provided between the two ice making plates 10. The evaporation pipe 36 cools both ice making plates 10 based on the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flowing from the expansion valve 35 through the pipe P5, and causes the refrigerant to flow out into the pipe P6.

  The hot gas valve 37 is a normally closed solenoid valve, and the hot gas valve 37 opens the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant discharged from the compressor 31 through the upstream portion of the pipe P1 and the pipe P7. It flows into the evaporation pipe 36 through the downstream portions of the pipe P8 and the pipe P5.

  The deicing water sprinkler 40 includes a deicing water tank 41 for storing deicing water. The deicing water tank 41 is connected to an external water supply source (not shown) through a water supply pipe 46 and a water supply valve 47 interposed in the water supply pipe 46. The water supply valve 47 supplies the water from the external water supply source to the deicing water tank 41 as deicing water by opening the valve.

  In addition, the watering device 40 includes a supply pump 43 and a watering device 45. The supply pump 43 pumps the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 through the supply pipe 42 by the operation of the built-in electric motor, and pumps it to the sprinkler 45 through the supply pipe 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the water sprinkler 45 is interposed between the upper ends of both ice making plates 10, and the water sprinkler 45 removes deiced water from the supply pipe 44 through the water sprinkling holes 45a. Water is sprayed between the plates 10.

  Here, a configuration for enhancing the deicing capability of the ice making machine by heating the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 will be described. The heat exchange pump 52 is installed in the vicinity of the peripheral wall of the deicing water tank 41. The heat exchange pump 52 pumps the deicing water in the ice making water tank 41 through the pipe 51 by the operation of the built-in electric motor, and pumps it to the heat exchanger 54 through the pipe 53. The heat exchanger 54 heats the deicing water fed into the inside thereof with the thermal energy of the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant flowing through the pipe P <b> 1, and recirculates the deicing water into the deicing water tank 41 through the pipe 55.

  Next, the electric control circuit E for the ice making machine will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The operation switch 110a is operated when starting the ice making machine. The water level sensor 110 b is installed in the ice making water tank 21, and the water level sensor 110 b detects the water level (liquid level) of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 21. The temperature sensor 110c is provided at the upstream end of the pipe P6 (the vicinity of the refrigerant outlet of the evaporation pipe 36), and the temperature sensor 110c detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the upstream end of the pipe P6.

  The timer 110d starts timing or ends the timing under the control of the microcomputer 120. The temperature sensor 110e is provided in the deicing water tank 41, and the temperature sensor 110e detects the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41.

  The microcomputer 120 is supplied with power from a power source (not shown) when the operation switch 110a is closed, and executes the computer program according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. During this execution, the microcomputer 120 performs various processes for the operation of the ice making machine based on the detection outputs of the water level sensor 110b, the temperature sensor 110c, and the temperature sensor 110e and the timing output of the timer 110d. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 120 so as to be readable.

  The drive circuit 130 a drives the built-in electric motor of the circulation pump 23 under the control of the microcomputer 120. The drive circuit 130b drives the built-in electric motor of the compressor 31 under the control of the microcomputer 120. The drive circuit 130 c drives the line electromagnetic valve 34 under the control of the microcomputer 120.

  The drive circuit 130 d drives the hot gas valve 37 under the control of the microcomputer 120. The drive circuit 130e drives the built-in electric motor of the water supply pump 43 under the control of the microcomputer 120. The drive circuit 130f drives the water supply valve 47 under the control of the microcomputer 120. The drive circuit 130g drives the built-in electric motor of the heat exchange pump 52 under the control of the microcomputer 120.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the microcomputer 120 is supplied with power from a power source (not shown) when the operation switch 110a is closed, and repeatedly executes the computer program according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Suppose you are going. In this state, when the computer program reaches the ice making routine 200 (see FIG. 4), the ice making routine 200 performs ice making for the ice making machine. Accordingly, the ice making machine is put into an ice making mode.

  In this ice making mode, the line electromagnetic valve 34 is opened in step 210 of FIG. Along with this, the line electromagnetic valve 34 is driven by the drive circuit 130c to open, and the pipes P3 and P4 are communicated.

  Next, in step 220, the hot gas valve 37 is closed. Accordingly, the hot gas valve 37 is driven by the drive circuit 130d to close and shuts off both pipes P7 and P8.

  Then, in step 230, a drive process for the built-in motor of the compressor 31 is performed. Accordingly, the compressor 31 is driven and operated by the drive circuit 130b with the built-in electric motor, and the refrigerant in the pipe P6 is sucked and compressed and discharged as a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant. With the valve closed, the refrigerant flows into the condenser 32 through the pipe P1.

  Accordingly, the condenser 32 condenses the inflowing refrigerant and causes the refrigerant to flow into the dryer 33 through the pipe P2 as the condensed refrigerant. Then, the dryer 33 gas-liquid separates the inflow condensed refrigerant, and causes the liquid phase refrigerant to flow into the expansion valve 35 through the pipe P3, the line electromagnetic valve 34, and the pipe P4. The refrigerant flowing in this way is decompressed by the expansion valve 35 and flows into the evaporation pipe 36 through the pipe P5 as a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. Accordingly, the evaporation pipe 36 cools both ice making plates 10 with the inflowing refrigerant.

  Next, in step 240, a drive process for the built-in motor of the circulation pump 23 is performed. Along with this, the circulation pump 23 is driven by the drive circuit 130 a by the built-in electric motor, pumps out the ice making water in the ice making water tank 21 through the supply pipe 22, and sprinklers 25 through the supply pipe 24. To pump.

  Then, this pressure-fed ice-making water is sprinkled by the sprinkler 25 from each water sprinkling hole 25a toward each ice-making surface 10b. The ice making water sprayed in this way flows down along each ice making surface 10b and each guide part 10a, is recovered from the opening 11a in the water collecting tank 11, and enters the ice making water tank 21 through the outflow part of the water collecting tank 11. Collected and stored.

  Thus, in the process in which the refrigerant from the expansion valve 35 flows through the evaporation pipe 36 and the ice-making water from the water sprinkler 25 flows down along the ice-making surfaces 10b as described above, the ice-making water is separated by both the evaporation pipes 36. It is cooled through the ice making plate 10 and begins to grow on each ice making surface 10b as ice.

  Next, in step 250, the water supply valve 47 is opened. Accordingly, the water supply valve 47 is driven and opened by the drive circuit 130f, and supplies a predetermined amount of water from the external supply source through the water supply pipe 46 to the deicing water tank 41 as deicing water.

  Then, in step 260, when the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 detected by the temperature sensor 110e is input to the microcomputer 120, in step 270, the water temperature of the deicing (hereinafter referred to as deicing water temperature). Is less than a target deicing water temperature T (described later).

  When the deicing water temperature is lower than the target deicing water temperature T, YES is determined in step 270, and in step 271, the internal motor of the heat exchange pump 52 is driven. Accordingly, the heat exchange pump 52 is driven by the drive circuit 130g by the built-in electric motor, pumps the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 through the pipe 51, and exchanges heat through the pipe 53. Pump to container 54.

  Then, the heat exchanger 54 heats the deicing water fed into the inside thereof with the thermal energy of the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant flowing through the pipe P <b> 1, and recirculates it into the deicing water tank 41 through the pipe 55. As a result, the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 rises due to the heat of the reflux deicing water. As a result, the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 approaches the target deicing water temperature T.

  On the other hand, when the deicing water temperature is equal to or higher than the target deicing water temperature T, NO is determined in step 270, and in step 272, the built-in electric motor of the heat exchange pump 52 is stopped. Accordingly, the heat exchange pump 52 is stopped by the drive circuit 130g. Thus, when the deicing water temperature is equal to or higher than the target deicing water temperature T, the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is not heated by driving the heat exchange pump 52.

  After the processing in the ice making processing routine 200 as described above, in step 200a, it is determined based on the detected water level of the water level sensor 110b whether or not the water level in the ice making water tank 21 is a predetermined lower limit water level. If the water level in the ice making water tank 21 has not dropped to the predetermined lower limit water level at the present stage, it is determined NO in step 200a, and the ice making process routine 200 is performed again. Thereafter, the process of circulating through the ice making process routine 200 and step 200a is repeated until the determination in step 200a is YES. During this repeated process, ice making water grows as ice on both ice making plates 10.

  Thereafter, when the water level in the ice making water tank 21 is lowered to the predetermined lower limit water level, YES is determined in step 200a based on the detected water level of the water level sensor 110b. Thereby, the ice making mode of the ice making machine is completed.

  If YES is determined in step 200a as described above, in step 300, timer 110d is reset and starts measuring time. Accordingly, in the deicing process routine 400, the ice making machine is put into the deicing mode.

  In this deicing mode, in step 410 in FIG. Accordingly, the circulation pump 23 is stopped by the drive circuit 130a and stops pumping out the ice making water from the ice making water tank 21. Along with this, watering of ice making water from the water sprinkler 25 is stopped.

  Next, in step 420, the hot gas valve 37 is opened. Accordingly, when the hot gas valve 37 is opened by the drive circuit 130d, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant from the compressor 31 flows into the upstream portion of the pipe P1, the pipe P7, the hot gas valve 37, the pipe P8, and the pipe P5. It passes through the downstream portion and flows into the evaporation pipe 36.

  Then, in step 430, the line electromagnetic valve 34 is closed. Along with this, the line electromagnetic valve 34 is closed by the drive circuit 130 c and the refrigerant inflow from the dryer 33 to the expansion valve 35 is stopped.

  Thereafter, in step 440, the driving process of the built-in electric motor of the water supply pump 43 is performed. Accordingly, the water supply pump 43 is driven by the drive circuit 130e with its built-in electric motor, pumps the deiced water in the deiced water tank 41 through the supply pipe 42, and sprinklers 45 through the supply pipe 44. To pump. Then, the pressure-fed deicing water is sprinkled between the ice making plates 10 from the water sprinkling holes 45 a by the water sprinkler 45, and flows down along the ice making plates 10.

  As described above, under the condition that the line electromagnetic valve 34 is closed and the circulation pump 23 is stopped, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant from the hot gas valve 37 flows as the hot gas through the evaporation pipe 36 and the deicing water is supplied to both ice plates 10. When flowing down, the ice grown on both ice making plates 10 is warmed by the evaporation pipe 36 and the deicing water and begins to melt. It should be noted that the deicing water flowing down between the two ice making plates 10 is collected from the opening 11 a in the water collecting tank 11 and stored as ice making water in the ice making water tank 21 through the outflow part of the water collecting pot 11.

  After the process in the deicing process routine 400 as described above, in step 400a, it is determined based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 110c whether or not the temperature of the refrigerant in the upstream end of the pipe P6 has increased to the deicing completion temperature. . At the present stage, if the temperature of the refrigerant in the upstream end of the pipe P6 has not reached the deicing completion temperature, it is determined NO in Step 400a, and the process of the deicing process routine 400 is performed again. Thereafter, the deicing process routine 400 and the process of circulating through step 400a are repeated until the determination in step 400a becomes YES. During this repeated process, the grown ice is melted on both ice making plates 10.

  Thereafter, when the temperature of the refrigerant in the upstream end of the pipe P6 rises to the deicing completion temperature, YES is determined in step 400a based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 110c. Accordingly, the deicing mode of the ice making machine is finished.

  If it is determined YES in step 400a as described above, the computer program performs a stop process for the built-in motor of supply pump 43 in step 500 of FIG. Accordingly, the supply pump 43 is stopped by the drive circuit 130e and stops pumping the deicing water from the deicing water tank 41. Along with this, watering of deicing water from the water sprinkler 45 is stopped.

  Next, in step 600, when the timer 110d finishes timing, in step 700, the deicing time in the deicing mode is calculated based on the timer 110d timing start and timing output.

  Then, in step 800, an estimated deicing water temperature Tp (described later) is calculated. In this process, the estimated deicing water temperature Tp is calculated based on the calculated deicing time by the regression line f shown in FIG.

  Here, the grounds for introducing the regression line f will be described. In the deicing mode, an experiment was conducted on how the deicing time varies depending on the variation of the deicing water temperature. The following results were obtained. However, in this experiment, the ice making plate was not contaminated as an experimental condition, and only the temperature of the deicing water was changed.

  According to the above experiment, how the deicing time varies in relation to the variation of the deicing water temperature was obtained as plot data shown in FIG. By processing the plot data thus obtained as regression data, a regression line f as shown in FIG. 6 was obtained as deicing time-deicing water temperature data. According to this deicing time-deicing water temperature data, it can be seen that the deicing time has an inversely proportional relationship to the water temperature of the deicing water under the above experimental conditions.

  In this embodiment, if the water temperature of the deicing water (reference deicing water temperature Ts) is determined in relation to the deicing time (optimum deicing time) corresponding to the maximum ice making efficiency known in advance using the regression line f, The reference deicing water temperature Ts is as shown in FIG. The regression line f is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 120 together with the reference deicing water temperature Ts.

  Therefore, in step 800, the water temperature of the deicing water is estimated as the estimated deicing water temperature Tp according to the calculated deicing time based on the regression line f.

  Next, in step 900, the target deicing water temperature T is calculated. In this process, the target deicing water temperature T is calculated based on the estimated deicing water temperature Tp and the reference deicing water temperature Ts using the following equation (1).

T = Ts− (Tp−Ts) (Equation 1)
Here, the grounds for introducing Equation 1 will be described. Even if the deicing time is adjusted so that the deicing water temperature approaches the reference deicing water temperature Ts, it is difficult to maintain the deicing time as an appropriate deicing time depending on the disturbance acting on the ice making machine. For example, if foreign matter adheres to the ice making plate as the disturbance, the degree of heat transfer from the evaporation pipe 36 to the ice making plate 10 is reduced. As a result, even if the water temperature of the deicing water is the same, the time required for deicing becomes long. Therefore, there is a case where an appropriate deicing time cannot be ensured by merely bringing the deicing water temperature close to the reference deicing water temperature Ts.

  Therefore, the present inventor obtains the temperature of the deicing water corresponding to the deicing time measured in consideration of the case where adhering foreign matter is present on the ice making plate as the disturbance as described above, and estimates the deicing water temperature Tp from the regression line f. It was. Then, if the target deicing water temperature T is calculated so as to cancel the temperature difference ΔT between the estimated deicing water temperature Tp and the reference deicing water temperature Ts, and the water temperature of the deicing water is adjusted to the target deicing water temperature T, the above adhesion It was found that fluctuations in deicing time due to the influence of foreign matter can be suppressed. Therefore, the present inventor introduced the formula 1 below.

  As described above, when the target deicing water temperature T is calculated in step 900, the ice making machine is put into the ice making mode again in step 200. In this ice making mode, the deicing water is supplied into the deicing water tank 41 by opening the water supply valve 47 in step 250 as described above, and in step 260, the temperature sensor 110e is used to store the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41. The water temperature of the deicing water is detected.

  Thereafter, as described above, in step 270, it is determined whether or not the deicing water temperature is lower than the target deicing water temperature T calculated in step 900. Based on this determination, the processing of step 271 or step 272 is performed. Originally, the heat exchange pump 52 repeats driving or stopping so that the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 approaches the target deicing water temperature T.

  Thereafter, when it is determined YES in Step 200a and the ice making mode is finished, in Step 300, the timer 110d is reset and starts measuring time. Accordingly, in the deicing process routine 400, the ice making machine is put into the deicing mode.

  In this deicing mode, the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is driven by the feed pump 43 with the circulation pump 23 stopped, the hot gas valve 37 opened, and the line electromagnetic valve 34 closed as described above. Then, the water is sprayed between the ice making plates 10 from the water spray holes 45a by the water sprinkler 45. Since the water temperature of the deicing water is adjusted so that the water temperature approaches the target deicing water temperature T as described above, the time required for deicing is the optimum deicing time even if adhering foreign matter exists on the ice making plate. Adjusted to time. Therefore, since the ice making efficiency of the ice making machine is properly maintained, the ice making machine can always continue to operate stably and highly efficiently.

  In addition, since the deicing time is adjusted to the optimum deicing time as described above, in the deicing mode, the deicing time becomes abnormally long and each ice making surface 10b is dried. In addition, it is possible to prevent dirt from adhering to each ice making surface 10b. Furthermore, by adjusting to the optimum deicing time, the resin parts provided in the vicinity of both ice making plates 10 in the ice making machine are not heated more than necessary, thereby preventing the resin parts from cracking. be able to.

In carrying out the present invention, the following various modifications are possible without being limited to the above embodiment.
(1) The temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is adjusted by adjusting the pumping amount by the heat exchange pump 52 when the heat exchange pump 52 is driven, for example, without driving or stopping the heat exchange pump 52. The water temperature may be adjusted.

Further, the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 may be adjusted by adjusting the pumping amount by the heat exchanging pump 52 by continuously driving the heat exchanging pump 52.
(2) The adjustment of the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is not limited to the heating configuration for the deicing water described in the above embodiment, and for example, the following heating configuration may be adopted.

  The pipe 53 described in the above embodiment is connected to the upstream part of the pipe P1 at its inflow end, the pipe 55 is connected to the downstream part of the pipe P1 at its outflow end, and the heat exchanger 54 is While supporting in the deicing water tank 41, an electrical switching valve is provided in the connection part of the piping 53 and piping P1. Note that the pipe 51 and the heat exchange pump 52 are eliminated.

  Under such a configuration, the electrical switching is performed so that the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant discharged into the upstream portion of the pipe P1 flows into the pipe 53 in accordance with the determination of YES in Step 270 (see FIG. 4). Switch the valve. By switching the electrical switching valve, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger 54 through the pipe 53. As a result, the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is heated by heat exchange with the inflowing compressed refrigerant.

  On the other hand, when it is determined NO in step 270, the electrical switching valve is switched so that the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant discharged into the upstream portion of the pipe P1 does not flow into the pipe 53. By this switching of the electrical switching valve, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant does not flow into the heat exchanger 54, so the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is not heated.

In this way, the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank 41 is adjusted so as to approach the target deicing water temperature T.
(3) The present invention is not limited to the flow-down type ice making machine, and may be adopted, for example, in the following cell type ice making machine.

  This cell-type ice making machine includes an ice making chamber having a plurality of cells, and an ice making water sprinkler provided below the ice making chamber.

  In the ice making mode of this ice making machine, the ice making water sprayed upward from each nozzle of the water sprinkler is cooled by an evaporation pipe provided on the ice making chamber in the process of flowing down into each cell and then flowing into a block shape. Grows as ice making. Thereafter, when the ice making machine is in the deicing mode, the ice making generated in each cell of the ice making chamber is deiced by flowing high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant through the evaporation pipe and sprinkling deicing water over the ice making chamber. This deicing water is used as ice making water in the ice making mode of the next cycle.

In such a cell type ice making machine, the water temperature of the deicing water is adjusted so as to approach the target deicing water temperature by repeating heating or stopping the heating in the same manner as in the above embodiment. As a result, the deicing time in the deicing mode of the next cycle is adjusted to the optimum deicing time, and the ice making efficiency is maintained appropriately.
(4) The configuration for increasing the deicing ability of the ice making machine is not limited to the configuration in which the deicing water is heated by the heat exchanger 54 in the ice making mode. For example, a heater is provided in the vicinity of the ice making plate 10, You may employ | adopt the structure which heats the ice-making board 10 at the time of deicing mode with a heater.
(5) The two ice making plates 10 are not limited to one set, and a plurality of sets of ice making plates may be adopted.
(6) The circulation pump stop process in step 410 of FIG. 5 is not limited to being performed in the deicing process routine 400, and may be performed immediately before the start of timer timing in step 300, for example.

It is a schematic structure figure showing one embodiment of an ice making machine concerning the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric control circuit of this invention. It is a part of flowchart which shows the effect | action of the microcomputer of FIG. It is a part of flowchart which shows the effect | action of the microcomputer of FIG. It is a part of flowchart which shows the effect | action of the microcomputer of FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between deicing time and deicing water temperature.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice plate, 20 ... Supply apparatus, 30 ... Refrigeration apparatus, 31 ... Compressor, 32 ... Condenser, 33 ... Dryer, 34 ... Line solenoid valve, 35 ... Expansion valve, 36 ... Evaporation pipe, 37 ... Hot gas valve 40 ... Watering device, 41 ... Deicing water tank, 46 ... Water supply pipe, 47 ... Water supply valve, 51 ... Pipe, 52 ... Heat exchange pump, 53 ... Pipe, 54 ... Heat exchanger, 55 ... Pipe, P1 ... Pipe.

Claims (4)

An ice making body, and a refrigeration means including an evaporation means provided on the ice making body,
Ice making water supply means for supplying ice making water to the ice making body;
Deicing means for deicing in the deicing mode ice produced by supplying the ice making water to the ice making body in the ice making mode;
Deicing time calculating means for calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode;
An ice making machine comprising: a deicing capability improving unit that operates so that a deicing time in the deicing mode is an appropriate deicing time based on the calculated deicing time. An ice making body, and a refrigeration means including an evaporation means provided on the ice making body,
A deicing water tank for storing deicing water,
Ice making water supply means for supplying ice making water to the ice making body;
Deicing means for deicing ice produced by supplying the ice making water to the ice making body in the ice making mode with the deicing water in the deicing water tank in the deicing mode;
Deicing time calculating means for calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode;
An ice making machine comprising heating means for heating the deicing water in the deicing water tank so as to adjust the deicing time in the deicing mode to an appropriate deicing time based on the calculated deicing time. An ice making body and an evaporating means provided on the ice making body, and a high temperature and high pressure compressed refrigerant or a low temperature and low pressure refrigerant obtained by reducing the pressure of the high temperature and pressure compressed refrigerant into the evaporating means;
Ice making water supply means for supplying ice making water to the ice making body;
A deicing water tank for storing deicing water, and deicing water sprinkling means for sprinkling the deicing water in the deicing water tank to the ice making body;
With a deicing capability improvement means,
In the ice making mode, the ice making water supplied to the ice making body by the ice making water supply means is cooled based on the low temperature and low pressure refrigerant by the evaporating means to grow as ice,
In the deicing mode subsequent to the ice making mode, the deicing water sprinkling means sprays deicing water from the deicing water tank onto the ice making body to melt and deice the ice grown on the ice making body, and An ice making machine in which the deicing water sprayed on the ice making body is used in a subsequent ice making mode,
Deicing time calculation means for calculating the deicing time in the deicing mode following the ice making mode,
The deicing capability improving means increases the deicing capability so as to adjust the deicing time in the deicing mode to an appropriate deicing time based on the calculated deicing time. Water temperature detecting means for detecting the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank;
Deicing water supply means for supplying the deicing water into the deicing water tank in the ice making mode;
Based on the deicing time-deicing water temperature data determined so that the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank decreases or increases according to the increase or decrease of the deicing time, An estimated deicing water temperature determining means for estimating the deicing water temperature and determining the estimated deicing water temperature;
A target deicing water temperature determining means for subtracting a difference between the estimated deicing water temperature and the reference deicing water temperature from a predetermined deicing water standard deicing water temperature and determining the subtraction result as a target deicing water temperature;
The deicing capability improving unit is a heating unit that heats the deicing water according to the detected water temperature so as to adjust the water temperature of the deicing water in the deicing water tank to the target deicing water temperature in the ice making mode. The ice making machine according to claim 3.

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