JP2005188867A - Ice-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use hot water as cleaning water when cleaning a water circulation system in an ice-making machine. <P>SOLUTION: When ice removing mode is finished in the flow-down type ice-making machine, hot cleaning water is supplied in an ice-making water tank 40 by a water supply pump 40j. When the cleaning water is pressure-fed to a sprinkler 30 by a water supply pump 40f, the sprinkler 30 sprinkles the cleaning water to each ice making panel 20. Ice-making water thus sprinkled re-circulates into the ice-making water tank 40 while cleaning each ice-making panel 20, a slope 10b and its drainage 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine such as a flow-down type ice making machine.

Conventionally, there is a flow-down type ice making machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this ice making machine, when the washing mode is selected by operating the changeover switch, the ice making water in the ice making water tank flows as washing water along the water circulation system such as the ice making plate and the evaporator so as to wash the water circulation system. It has become.
Japanese Patent No. 3067175

  By the way, in the flow-down type ice making machine, as described above, the ice making water in the ice making water tank is used as washing water for the water circulation system.

  However, the ice making water in the ice making water tank repeatedly flows along the ice making surface of the ice making plate and is collected in the ice making water tank for ice making during the ice making mode. Therefore, the ice making water in the ice making water tank is naturally dirty. Even when such dirty ice-making water is used as cleaning water, the water circulation system cannot be cleaned sufficiently.

  In view of the above, the present invention has an object to use warm water as washing water in an ice making machine for washing its water circulation system.

In solving the above problems, an ice making machine according to the present invention is as described in claim 1.
An ice making water tank (40) for containing ice making water, an ice making body (20) standing above the ice making water tank, and water sprinkling means for sprinkling ice making water in the ice making water tank onto the ice making surface of the ice making body ( 40f, 30, 140) and ice making water in the ice making water tank during the ice making mode is sprinkled on the ice making surface of the ice making body by the watering means, and flows down along the ice making surface and returns to the ice making water tank. Ice making means (20, 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 100) for making ice on the ice making surface, and deicing means for removing ice produced by the ice making means from the ice making surface of the ice making body in the deicing mode (20, 50a, 50d, 50f, 200).

In the ice making machine, a hot water tank (60),
Water supply means (40d, 610c) for supplying cleaning water into the hot water tank;
Commonly provided in the ice making means and the deicing means so as to have a pipe (52) for extending at least a part (52a) in the hot water tank and a compressor (50a) for discharging high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant in the pipe. Refrigeration means (50),
Cleaning water supply means (40j, 610) for supplying the cleaning water in the hot water tank to the ice making water tank,
The refrigeration means is configured to warm the wash water in the hot water tank as hot water by compressed refrigerant flowing into the at least part of the pipe from the compressor,
The watering means is characterized in that washing water, which is warm water in the ice making water tank, is sprinkled on the ice making body.

  According to this, even if the ice making water is contaminated by circulating through the ice making water tank, the water sprinkling means and the ice making body, the washing water supplied into the ice making water tank is sprinkled on the ice making body by the water sprinkling means. The washing water circulates in the ice making body, the ice making water tank and the water sprinkling means, so that the ice making body, the ice making water tank and the water sprinkling means are cleaned. Therefore, the dirt of the ice making body, ice making water tank and watering means of the ice making machine can be removed cleanly.

  Here, since the washing water is warm water, the ice-making body, the ice-making water tank, and the sprinkling means can be very cleanly cleaned. Further, since the washing water in the hot water tank is heated as hot water using the thermal energy of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor of the ice making machine into the intermediate part of the pipe, a heating device such as a heater is separately provided. It is not necessary to adopt.

  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. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an industrial downflow type large ice making machine according to the present invention, and the ice making machine includes an ice making body B and an electric control circuit E. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making machine body B includes a housing 10, and the housing 10 includes a housing body 10a and a cylindrical slope 10b. The slope 10b extends from the lower end opening 11 of the housing body 10a in an inclined manner as shown in FIG. 1, and the slope 10b introduces ice making water, washing water, or debris from the inside of the housing body 10a. And serve as a guide.

  In addition, the ice making machine main body B includes a plurality of aluminum ice making plates 20 (only four ice making plates 20 are shown for convenience in FIG. 1), and these ice making plates 20 are parallel to each other in the housing main body 10a. It is housed and supported so as to stand upright. Each ice making plate 20 has both ice making surfaces on both sides.

  In addition, each ice making plate 20 has a plurality of flow paths (not shown), and each of the plurality of flow paths is in the ice making plate 20 along the lateral direction for each ice making plate 20. The ice making plate 20 is formed in parallel with each other from the upper edge portion to the lower edge portion. Here, for each ice making plate 20, a plurality of flow paths are serially connected in series with appropriate U-shaped tubes so as to form one refrigerant flow path from the upper edge side flow path to the lower edge side flow path of the ice making plate. It is connected. In addition, one evaporator (described later) is configured by the refrigerant flow path of all ice making plates 20.

  The ice making machine includes a sprinkler 30 and a crusher 30a. As shown in FIG. 1, the sprinkler 30 is supported in the housing body 10 a directly above the plurality of ice making plates 20, and the sprinkler 30 sprinkles ice making water or washing water from each of the water sprinkling nozzles 31. And flow down along each ice making surface of the plurality of ice making plates 20.

  The crusher 30a is accommodated in the cylindrical slope 10b of the housing 10, and this crusher 30a is rotatably supported by an axis perpendicular to the axis in the slope 10b. As a result, the crusher 30a is driven and rotated by the electric motor as the driving source, and crushes the plate-shaped ice making falling from the plurality of ice making plates 20 into the ice making slope 10b as will be described later in the deicing mode. Drop into (not shown) and store ice.

  The ice making machine includes an ice making water tank 40 and a refrigeration circuit 50. The ice making water tank 40 is disposed directly under the housing 10, and in this ice making water tank 40, salt water from a salt water supply source (not shown) passes through the salt water supply pipe 40a and the salt water supply pipe 40a. It is supplied as ice making water through a normally closed salt water supply valve 40b. In the ice making water tank 40, ice making water or cleaning water or waste ice introduced into the slope 10b from the housing body 10b is also discharged from the discharge passage 12 provided in the slope 10b. The discharge path 12 extends from the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the slope 10b toward the ice making water tank 40. The salt water supply source supplies sea water as salt water.

  Further, the ice making water or the washing water in the ice making water tank 40 passes through the water supply pipe 40e, and is supplied to the sprinkler 30 by the water supply pump 40f interposed in the water supply pipe 40e, and also passes through the water distribution pipe 40g. It drains with the drainage pump 40h interposed in the distribution pipe 40g.

  The refrigeration circuit 50 includes a compressor 50a, and the compressor 50a has an outflow end portion (hereinafter referred to as an upper edge side flow passage) of the refrigerant flow passage of each ice making plate 20 through a pipe 51 at the suction hole portion. , Referred to as the outflow end of the evaporator). Thus, the compressor 50a sucks and compresses the refrigerant from the evaporator through the outflow end portion and the pipe 51, and discharges it to the condenser 50b through the pipe 52 as a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant.

  The condenser 50b condenses the compressed refrigerant from the compressor 50a and flows into the gas-liquid separator 50c through the pipe 53 as a condensed refrigerant. The gas-liquid separator 50c gas-liquid separates the condensed refrigerant from the condenser 50b and flows the liquid-phase refrigerant into the normally closed line electromagnetic valve 50d via the pipe 54. The line electromagnetic valve 50d causes the liquid-phase refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator 50c to flow into the expansion valve 50e via the pipe 55 by opening the valve. The line solenoid valve 50d shuts off the inflow of the liquid-phase refrigerant into the expansion valve 50e by closing the valve. The expansion valve 50e converts the liquid-phase refrigerant from the line solenoid valve 50d into a low-temperature and low-pressure circulating refrigerant according to the heating degree of the refrigerant in the vicinity of the outlet end portion of the evaporator in the pipe 51, and connects the pipe 56. Each of the ice making plates 20 flows into the lower edge side of the refrigerant channels from the respective inflow ends (hereinafter referred to as the inflow end of the evaporator).

  The evaporator cools each ice making plate 20 based on the circulating refrigerant from the expansion valve 50e and returns the circulating refrigerant to the compressor 50a via the pipe 51. Further, the evaporator warms each ice making plate 20 based on hot gas from a normally closed hot gas valve 50f (described later) and recirculates the hot gas to the compressor 50a via a pipe 51.

  The hot gas valve 50f is interposed in an intermediate portion of the branch pipe 57 connected between the intermediate portions of both the pipes 52 and 56. The hot gas valve 50f is opened from the compressor 50a by opening the valve. The compressed refrigerant is caused to flow from the inflow end portion into the evaporator as hot gas through the upstream portion of the pipe 52, the downstream portion of the branch pipe 57 and the pipe 56. The hot gas valve 50f closes the inflow of hot gas to the evaporator by closing the valve.

  The hot water tank 60 is supplied through tap water supply pipe 40c and a normally closed tap water supply valve 40d formed by interposing tap water from a tap water supply source (not shown) into the tap water supply pipe 40c. . In the hot water tank 60, the intermediate part 51 a of the pipe 51 and the intermediate part 52 a of the pipe 52 are both bent in a zigzag shape and extend through the opening of the hot water tank 60. Thus, the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant flowing from the compressor 50a into the intermediate portion 52a of the pipe 52 warms the tap water in the hot water tank 60 to warm water. Further, the circulating refrigerant flowing from the evaporator into the intermediate portion 51a of the pipe 51 is warmed by the hot water and evaporated. Therefore, the circulating refrigerant is prevented from returning to the compressor 50a in the liquid phase.

  The hot water in the hot water tank 60 is supplied as washing water into the ice making water tank 40 through the water supply pipe 40i and the water supply pump 40j interposed in the water supply pipe 40i.

  Next, the configuration of the electric control circuit E will be described with reference to FIG. The electric control circuit E includes an operation switch 70, which is operated when starting the operation of the ice making machine. The water level sensor 70 a detects the water level (liquid level) of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40. Under the control of the microcomputer 80, the timer 70b starts measuring time by reset activation.

  The microcomputer 80 executes a computer program according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and during this execution, based on the outputs of the water level sensor 70a and the timer 70b, the drive circuits 90, 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, Control crusher 30a, salt water supply valve 40b, tap water supply valve 40d, feed water pump 40f, drainage pump 40h, compressor 50a, line solenoid valve 50d, hot gas valve 50f and feed water pump 40j through 90e, 90f, 90g and 90h. The processing required for this is performed. The microcomputer 80 operates in accordance with the operation of the operation switch 70 (operation start of the ice making machine), and starts executing the computer program. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 80.

  The drive circuit 90 rotates the crusher 30a counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1 under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90a is driven to open or close the salt water supply valve 40b under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90 b is driven to open or close the tap water supply valve 40 d under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90c drives or stops the feed water pump 40f under the control of the microcomputer 80.

  The drive circuit 90d drives or stops the drain pump 40h under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90e drives or stops the compressor 50a under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90f drives the line electromagnetic valve 50d to open or close under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90g is driven to open or close the hot gas valve 50f under the control of the microcomputer 80. The drive circuit 90h drives or stops the feed water pump 40j under the control of the microcomputer 80.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the operation switch 70 is operated, the microcomputer 80 starts the execution of the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. In the ice making processing routine 100, the line electromagnetic valve 50d is opened in step 110 of FIG. Along with this processing, the line electromagnetic valve 50d is driven by the drive circuit 90f to open.

  After the process of step 110, the hot gas valve 50f is closed in step 120. Along with this, the hot gas valve 60f maintains the closed state under the drive of the drive circuit 90g. Next, in step 130, the compressor 50a is driven. Along with this, the compressor 50a is driven by the drive circuit 90e, compresses the circulating refrigerant flowing back from the evaporator through the pipe 51, and flows it into the condenser 50b via the pipe 52 as a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant.

  Then, the compressed refrigerant is condensed by the condenser 50b and then gas-liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator 50c. Thereafter, when the liquid-phase refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator 50c flows into the expansion valve 50e via the line electromagnetic valve 50d, the liquid-phase refrigerant is converted into a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant by the expansion valve 50e, and the above-mentioned evaporation is performed as a circulating refrigerant. It flows into the vessel from its inflow end. For this reason, the evaporator cools each ice making plate 20 based on the inflowing circulating refrigerant and returns the circulating refrigerant to the compressor 50a.

  After the process of step 130, the drive process of the feed water pump 40f is performed in step 140. Accordingly, the water supply pump 40f is driven by the drive circuit 90c to pump out the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 and pump it to the sprinkler 30 through the piping 40e. For this reason, the water sprinkler 30 sprinkles the ice making water from the water supply pump 40 f on the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 with each water spray nozzle 31. Accordingly, the ice making water sprayed on the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 flows down along each ice making surface and returns to the ice making water tank 40 through the discharge path 12 of the slope 10b.

  As described above, the ice making machine is put into the ice making mode, and the ice making water flowing down along the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 is cooled as ice by cooling each ice making plate 20 by the evaporator. It grows on the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20. In this way, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 decreases as the ice grows.

  Thereafter, when the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 falls below the predetermined lower limit water level, YES is determined in step 100a (see FIG. 3) based on the water level detected by the water level sensor 70a. Along with this, the ice making mode ends, and the computer program shifts to the deicing processing routine 200 (see FIG. 5).

  In this deicing process routine 200, in step 210, the feed water pump 40f is stopped. Along with this processing, the water supply pump 40f is stopped by the drive circuit 90c to stop the pumping of the ice making water from the ice making water tank 40 to the sprinkler 30.

  After step 210, in step 220, the hot gas valve 50f is opened, and in step 230, the line solenoid valve 50d is closed. When the hot gas valve 50f is opened as described above, the hot gas valve 50f is driven by the drive circuit 90g to open. When the line solenoid valve 50d is closed as described above, the line solenoid valve 50d is driven and closed by the drive circuit 90f to shut off the refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator 50c from the expansion valve 50e. .

  For this reason, the compressed refrigerant from the compressor 50a passes through the hot gas valve 50f as hot gas and flows into the evaporator from its inflow end. Then, ice grown as salt water ice on the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 is melted by the inflowing hot gas by the evaporator, and separated from each ice making surface and falls into the slope 10b.

  In addition, after the process in step 230, the crusher 30a is driven in step 240. Accordingly, the crusher 30a is driven and rotated by the drive circuit 90. For this reason, the ice falling into the slope 10b as described above is crushed by the crusher 30a and stored in an ice storage (not shown).

  As described above, the ice making machine is in the deicing mode, and the ice grown on the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 is stored in the ice storage. Thereafter, when the temperature of the refrigerant in the portion near the outflow end of the evaporator in the pipe 51 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined deicing completion temperature, YES is determined in step 200a based on the temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown). Is done. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the vicinity of the outflow end portion of the evaporator in the pipe 51.

  Thus, if it is determined as YES in step 200a, the stop process of the compressor 50a and the drive process of the drain pump 40h are performed in step 300. With this process, the drain pump 40h is driven by the drive circuit 90d with the compressor 50a stopped, and the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 (the remaining ice making water after the ice making mode) is drained to the outside. . Therefore, when the detected water level of the water level sensor 70a becomes the lowest water level, it is determined YES in Step 300a because the drainage is completed. Accordingly, in step 300b, the drainage pump 40h is stopped. Then, the drain pump 40h stops and the drainage of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 stops.

  Next, in step 400, the count data C is added and updated as C = C + 1 = 1 based on the count data C = 0 in step 700. This is because, after the count data C = 0 is cleared in step 700, the processing of the ice making routine 100 to step 300b is performed once, that is, the ice making mode, the deicing mode and the ice making water are both discharged. It means that it was made.

  At this stage, since the count data C is less than the predetermined number of times Co, NO is determined in step 500. Accordingly, in step 800, the salt water supply valve 40b is opened. Based on this processing, the salt water supply valve 40b is driven by the drive circuit 90a to open, and salt water from the salt water supply source is supplied into the ice making water tank 40 as ice making water through the salt water supply pipe 40a.

  Thus, when the ice making water level in the ice making water tank 40 is equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit water level, YES is determined in step 800a based on the detected water level of the water level sensor 70a, and the salt water supply valve 40b is closed in step 800b. The For this reason, the salt water supply valve 40b is closed, and the supply of salt water into the ice making water tank 40 is stopped.

  Thereafter, the ice making mode, the deicing mode, the drainage of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 and the supply of the ice making water into the ice making water tank 40 are repeated as described above. Such repeated processing is performed during the determination of NO in step 500, and salt water ice is stored in the ice storage in order.

  Here, every time the deicing mode ends, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 is drained and new salt water is supplied into the ice making water tank 40 as ice making water. Therefore, in the ice making mode following the deicing mode, The ice is always made with new ice making water. Therefore, ice produced in this way is always obtained as clean salt water ice.

  Thereafter, when the count data C updated in step 400 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined number Co, it is determined YES in step 500, and the computer program proceeds to the cleaning processing routine 600 (see FIG. 6).

  In the cleaning processing routine 600, the feed water pump 40j is driven in step 610 (see FIG. 6). Along with this, the feed water pump 40j is driven by the drive circuit 90h to supply the hot water in the hot water tank 60 as the wash water into the ice making water tank 40 via the hot water supply pipe 40i. Thus, when the water level of the cleaning water in the ice making water tank 40 is equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit water level, it is determined YES in Step 610a, and the water supply pump 40j is stopped in Step 610b. Along with this, the water supply pump 40j is stopped by the drive circuit 90h, and the supply of the washing water into the ice making water tank 40 is stopped.

  After the processing in step 610b, the tap water supply valve 40c is opened in step 610c. Along with this, the tap water supply valve 40c is driven by the drive circuit 90b to open for a predetermined time, and tap water from the tap water supply source is supplied into the hot water tank 60 via the tap water supply pipe 40c. Then, the tap water in the hot water tank 60 is warmed as described above to become hot water.

  After the process of step 610c, in step 620, the drive process of the feed water pump 40f is performed. Based on this process, the water supply pump 40f is driven by the drive circuit 90c to pump the cleaning water in the ice making water tank 40 to the water sprinkler 30 through the water supply pipe 40e. Then, the water sprinkler 30 sprinkles the wash water from the water supply pump 40 f from each water spray nozzle 31 toward the top of each ice making plate 20. Along with this, the washing water sprayed toward the upper part of each ice making plate 20 passes through the discharge passage 12 and cleans the ice making water tank 40 while washing the water circulation system such as the ice making surface of each ice making plate 20 and the inner surface of the slope 30b. To reflux. Here, since the washing water is warm water as described above, the water circulation system is well washed.

  When the process in step 620 is completed as described above, the timer 70b starts the time measurement process in step 620a. Along with this, the timer 70b is reset and starts measuring time. The determination of NO is repeated in step 620b until the predetermined cleaning time has elapsed after the start of timing, and each ice making plate 20 is cleaned with cleaning water under the drive of the water supply pump 40f.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined cleaning time has elapsed, in step 620b, a determination of YES is made based on the time measured by the timer 70b, and in step 620c, the water supply pump 40f is stopped. Along with this, the feed pump 40f is stopped by the drive circuit 90c, and the pumping of the wash water from the ice making water tank 40 to the sprinkler 30 is stopped.

  After the process in step 620c, the drain pump 40h is driven in step 630. Along with this, the drainage pump 40h is driven by the drive circuit 90d, and the wash water returned to the ice making water tank 40 is drained to the outside through the drain pipe 40g. Therefore, when the water level of the washing water in the ice making water tank 40 is lowered to the lowest water level, the drainage is completed, and therefore, in step 630a, YES is determined based on the water level detected by the water level sensor 70a. In step 630b, the drainage pump 40h is stopped. For this reason, the drainage pump 40h is stopped by the drive circuit 90d, and the drainage of the washing water in the ice making water tank 40 is stopped.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in washing in the ice making machine, after the ice making water in the ice making water tank 40 is drained, the hot water in the hot water tank 60 is washed into the ice making water tank 40 by the water supply pump 40j. The washing water supplied in this manner was sprayed to each ice making plate 20 via the water supply pump 40f and the water sprinkler 30.

  Therefore, the water circulation system such as the sprinkler 30, the outer surface of each ice making plate 20, the inner surface of the slope 10 b, the inner surface of the discharge path 12, and the ice making water tank 40 is not the ice making water already supplied into the ice making water tank 40, but a new one. It will be washed with warm water. For this reason, even if the salt content in the salt water which is ice making water adheres to the water circulation system by repeating the ice making mode, the salt content can be cleaned well with warm water. Here, as the number of ice-making modes before washing increases, the adhesion of salt to the water circulation system becomes worse. Even in such a case, by setting the predetermined washing time appropriately, the attached salt becomes hot water. It can be cleaned neatly. As a result, the water circulation system is not corroded by salt in the ice making water.

  Further, since the tap water supplied into the hot water tank 60 is warmed as hot water as washing water by the high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant flowing into the intermediate part 2a of the pipe 52 from the compressor 50a, a heating device such as a heater is separately provided. It is not necessary to adopt.

  Further, since the processing of the cleaning processing routine 600 is performed every time YES is determined in step 500, the water circulation system is automatically cleaned every time YES is determined in step 500. Therefore, there is no need to perform the cleaning work.

  When the process of the cleaning process routine 600 is completed as described above, the coefficient data C is cleared to C = 0 in step 700 (see FIG. 3). Thereafter, the processing of Step 800 to Step 800b is performed in the same manner as in the case where NO is determined in Step 500. For this reason, salt water is supplied to the ice making water tank 40 through the salt water supply pipe 40a by the salt water supply valve 40b as ice making water up to the predetermined upper limit water level. Thereafter, the ice making mode by the ice making processing routine 100 is started.

  As described above, since the ice making mode is started after washing the water circulation system, the ice making mode after washing is automatically started. Therefore, there is no need to bother to perform an operation for placing the ice making machine in the ice making mode after washing the water circulation system.

  During the operation of the ice making machine as described above, the hot water in the hot water tank 60 is warmed by the compressed refrigerant flowing from the compressor 50a into the intermediate portion 52a of the pipe 52. Therefore, even if the refrigerant returning from the evaporator to the compressor 50a via the pipe 51 is in a liquid phase, the refrigerant is warmed by the hot water in the hot water tank 60 via the intermediate portion 51a of the pipe 51 and evaporated. To do. Therefore, a situation in which the refrigerant recirculates to the compressor 50a in a liquid phase and damages the compressor does not occur.

  In carrying out the present invention, in the above-described embodiment, the washing water may be one obtained by warming clean water, and may be one obtained by warming groundwater, for example, not tap water.

  In the above embodiment, the stop timing of the ice making water and the washing water in the ice making water tank 40 is determined by the detection water level of the water level sensor 70a. In some cases, the washing water is not sufficiently drained. In such a case, even after the water level detected by the water level sensor 70a reaches the minimum water level, the drainage by the drainage pump 40h is continued for a certain period of time so that the ice making water and the washing water are completely discharged from the ice making water tank 40. You may make it drain. The elapsed time after the detected water level of the water level sensor 70a becomes the minimum water level is measured by the timer 70b, and the drain pump 40h may be stopped when the measured time reaches the above-mentioned fixed time.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the ice making board 20 is formed with the aluminum which is hard to corrode with salt, the ice making board 20 is formed with copper or stainless steel presupposing washing | cleaning of the above water circulation systems. Even if it is done, corrosion due to salt can be sufficiently prevented.

  In carrying out the present invention, in the above embodiment, the completion of ice storage may be adopted as the determination criterion in step 500 instead of the predetermined number of times Co. In this case, when the ice storage in the ice storage is a predetermined amount (for example, full), the cleaning processing routine 600 is performed when it is detected by the ice storage detection switch. According to this, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the ice making machine for cleaning.

  In carrying out the present invention, the operation of the cleaning switch may be employed as the determination criterion in step 500 instead of the predetermined number of times Co. In this case, when the cleaning switch is operated, the processing of the cleaning processing routine 600 is performed. According to this, the washing switch may be operated when the ice making machine needs to be washed, which is convenient for maintenance and inspection of the ice making machine.

  In implementing the present invention, the ice making machine is not limited to a large one, but may be a small one as long as it is a flow-down ice making machine using salt water as ice making water.

  Moreover, in carrying out the present invention, the flow-down type ice making machine is not limited to one using salt water as ice making water, and for example, tap water may be used as ice making water. Even in such an ice making machine, the water circulation system of the ice making machine can be cleanly cleaned by removing dirt from the ice making plate, the guide member, and the ice making water tank with washing water that is warm water.

  In implementing the present invention, the present invention may be applied not only to a flow-down type ice maker but also to a cell type ice maker, for example. Here, the ice making chamber of the cell type ice making machine and the inner surface of each cell correspond to the ice making plate and the ice making surface. The ice making chamber or the ice making plate may be grasped as an example of an ice making body.

It is the schematic of the ice making machine main body of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the electric control circuit of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the microcomputer of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the ice making process routine of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the deicing process routine of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the washing process routine of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Ice making plate, 30 ... Sprinkler, 40 ... Ice making water tank, 40d ... Tap water supply valve,
40f, 40j ... water supply pump, 40h ... drainage pump, 50 ... refrigeration equipment,
50a ... Compressor, 50b ... Condenser, 50c ... Gas-liquid separator, 50d ... Line solenoid valve,
50e ... expansion valve, 50f ... hot gas valve, 52 ... piping, 52a ... intermediate part,
60 ... warm water tank, 80 ... microcomputer.

Claims (1)

An ice making water tank for containing ice making water, an ice making body standing above the ice making water tank, water sprinkling means for sprinkling the ice making water in the ice making water tank to the ice making surface of the ice making body, and during ice making mode In the process of ice making water in the ice making water tank being sprinkled on the ice making surface of the ice making body by the water sprinkling means, flowing down along the ice making surface and returning to the ice making water tank, the ice making water is made on the ice making surface. In an ice making machine comprising ice making means for making ice, and deicing means for removing ice made by the ice making means from the ice making surface of the ice making body in the deicing mode,
A hot water tank,
Water supply means for supplying cleaning water into the hot water tank;
Refrigeration means provided in common to the ice making means and the deicing means so as to have a pipe extending at least a part in the hot water tank and a compressor for discharging a high-temperature and high-pressure compressed refrigerant in the pipe;
Wash water supply means for supplying the wash water in the hot water tank into the ice making water tank,
The refrigeration means is configured to warm wash water in the hot water tank as hot water by compressed refrigerant flowing into the at least part of the pipe from the compressor,
An ice making machine characterized in that the water sprinkling means sprays washing water, which is warm water in the ice making water tank, onto the ice making body.

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