JP2008298414A - Operation method of automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To positively supply meltwater to a water tray even when the deicing operation time is short. <P>SOLUTION: When a transfer switch S detects that the water tray 33 has reached an open position before a water supply standby time T1 has passed from the start of deicing operation, a water supply valve 52 is controlled to open without waiting for the passage of the water supply standby time T1, and supply of meltwater to the water tray 33 is started. Further, when the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened, when an ice compartment temperature measuring means 60 detects that deicing in an ice compartment 31 has been completed, control for closing the water supply valve 52 is performed at the point where a delay time T3 has passed since the transfer switch S detects that the water tray 33 has reached the open position, and the supply of meltwater to the water tray 33 is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for operating an automatic ice maker, and more specifically, when power is turned on, first, a deicing operation is performed to open a water tray toward an open position and supply melted water onto the water tray. The present invention relates to a method of operating an automatic ice making machine.

  A spray-type automatic ice maker that continuously produces block-shaped ice cubes (ice blocks) by supplying ice-making water from below to a large number of ice-making chambers that open downward in the ice-making chamber is widely used. Has been. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, this type of automatic ice making machine 10 is configured such that the interior of a substantially box-shaped housing 11 is vertically divided into an ice storage chamber 12 on the upper side and a machine chamber 13 on the lower side. . The ice storage chamber 12 is provided with an ice making mechanism 30 above the inside, and the ice cube R generated in the ice making chamber 31 of the ice making mechanism 30 falls and is stored in the ice storage chamber 12. . In the machine room 13, components such as a compressor 21, a condenser 22, a cooling fan motor 23, and expansion means (not shown) constituting the refrigeration mechanism 20 are disposed, and an evaporation pipe constituting the refrigeration mechanism 20. 25 is arranged on the upper surface of the ice making chamber 31.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ice making mechanism 30 includes the ice making chamber 31 having a large number of ice making chambers 32 opened downward, a water tray 33, and an ice making water tank 34 disposed below the water tray 33. The water tray 33 and the ice-making water tank 34 are configured by a water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 that tilts integrally. In the water tray 33, a support arm 36 attached to the left end portion in FIG. 6 is pivotally supported via a pivot shaft 38 on a bracket 37A of an attachment member 37 installed on the housing 11, and the right end portion in FIG. The vicinity is connected via a coil spring 40 to a cam arm 39 constituting the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35. The ice making water tank 34 stores the ice making water supplied from the water supply unit 50, and supplies the ice making water to each ice making small chamber 32 of the ice making chamber 31 through the injection holes 43 provided in the water tray 33. Is disposed on the left front wall, which is the deepest part of the ice making water tank 34.

  The cam arm 39 of the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is attached to the rotation shaft of the actuator motor 41 fixed to the attachment member 37, and the first arm 39A to which the coil spring 40 is locked, and the first arm across the rotation shaft. The second arm 39 </ b> B extends in the opposite direction from the arm 39 </ b> A, and has a generally “H” shape. The cam arm 39 is actuated by the actuator motor 41 in a first posture in which the first arm 39A extends upward (shown by a solid line in FIG. 6) and a second posture in which the second arm 39B extends upward (in FIG. 6). It rotates between two-dot chain lines). When the cam arm 39 rotates to the first position, the water tray 33 arrives at the closing position and closes the ice making chamber 31, and when the cam arm 39 rotates to the second position, the water tray 33 moves to the front right side. The ice making chamber 31 is opened when it reaches an open position inclined at about 30 degrees. Reference numeral S is a changeover switch as a water pan open detection means, and when the cam arm 39 is rotated to the first posture, the first arm 39A operates the changeover switch S, and the cam arm 39 is the second switch. The second arm 39B is configured to actuate the changeover switch S when rotated to a posture.

  The water supply unit 50 is disposed above the front portion of the left wall of the housing 11 and is connected to a water supply source such as a water supply (not shown), and is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 51 and is not shown. The water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened and closed by the control means, and the outlet of the water supply pipe 51 faces above the water tray 33 (ice-making water tank 34). When the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened during the ice making operation, tap water from the water supply pipe 51 is supplied as ice making water. When the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened during the deicing operation, tap water from the water supply pipe 51 is supplied as melted water. The

  In the automatic ice making machine 10 configured as described above, when the automatic ice making machine 10 is started by turning on the power, the deicing operation is first executed. The first reason for performing the deicing operation when the power is turned on is that there is a case where the timing of stopping the operation of the automatic ice making machine 10 is during the ice making operation. That is, when the operation of the automatic ice making machine 10 is stopped during the ice making operation, the water tray 33 stops at the closed position and the ice making water is stored in the ice making water tank 34. When the machine 10 is started, the ice removal operation is first performed to discharge all the old ice making water in the ice making water tank 34, and ice making is performed while freshly supplied fresh tap water is supplied as ice making water. It is to make it. The second reason for performing the deicing operation is that if the operation of the automatic ice making machine 10 is stopped during the ice making operation, the ice blocks being generated or the ice cubes that have been generated in the ice making chambers 32 of the ice making chamber 31 are generated. Since R is present, when the automatic ice maker 10 is started next, the deicing operation is performed first, and the ice block or the ice cube R is deiced, so that the deformed ice block (ice block of a shape other than the square shape) is obtained. This is to prevent the generation of.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically showing the contents of the deicing operation in the operation method of the conventional automatic ice making machine. When the automatic ice making machine 10 is started by turning on the power, the deicing operation is first started by a control means (not shown) (step S1). With the start of the deicing operation, the compressor 21 in the refrigeration mechanism 20 is activated, and a hot gas valve (not shown) in the refrigeration mechanism 20 is opened to supply hot gas to the ice making chamber 31. Further, the actuator motor 41 of the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is operated to open the water tray 33 that has closed the ice making chamber 31 from below toward the open position from the closed position. Further, the timer means starts counting in order to measure a water supply waiting time T1 and a water supply time T2, which will be described later.

  Then, when a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as “water supply waiting time T1”) has elapsed since the start of the deicing operation (step S2), the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened and melted water (tap water) is supplied onto the water tray 33. (Step S3), the ice pieces adhering to the water tray 33 are removed while melting. Next, when a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as “water supply time T2”) has elapsed since the opening control of the water supply valve 52 (step S4), the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be closed and the supply of the melted water to the water tray 33 is stopped ( Step S5). Thereafter, when all ice cubes R have been released from the ice making chamber 31 heated by the hot gas and deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed (step S6), the deicing operation is completed and the process proceeds to ice making operation. (Step S7). And if ice cube R is produced | generated in each ice making chamber 32 of the ice making chamber 31 by ice making operation, it will return to step S1 and deicing operation will be performed.

Here, the reason for setting the water supply waiting time T1 in the deicing operation is to supply the melted water onto the water tray 33 that is inclined toward the open position. That is, when the ice making operation is completed and the deicing operation is started, the water pan 33 is in the closed position and is close to the ice making chamber 31. Therefore, if the melting water is supplied simultaneously with the start of the deicing operation, the melting is performed. The inconvenience that ice water adheres to the ice cube R occurs. Therefore, when the water tray 33 starts to move from the closed position toward the open position and is appropriately separated from the ice making chamber 31, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the ice melt water adheres to the ice cube R. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for operating such an automatic ice making machine.
JP 62-84275 A

  By the way, in the case of (a) power outage, (b) when the operation is stopped for a long time after turning off the power, (c) when the operator accidentally turns off the power, etc., the automatic ice making machine 10 is operated. The timing to stop is not constant, and may stop during the ice making operation described above, or may stop during the deicing operation. That is, when the operation of the automatic ice making machine 10 is stopped by turning off the power, it is unclear at which position of the closed position, the middle opening position, or the opened position the water tray 33 stops. Therefore, when the automatic ice maker 10 is started up next time when the power is turned on, the water pan 33 moves from the position where it was stopped when the previous operation was stopped to the open position. The time until the water tray 33 reaches the open position is different each time the automatic ice making machine 10 is started. In other words, if it is stopped at the middle of opening near the closed position, it takes longer to reach the opening position from the start of deicing operation, and if it is stopped at the middle of opening near the open position, The time from the start of the deicing operation until reaching the open position is shortened.

  However, in the conventional operation method of the automatic ice making machine, the stop position of the water tray 33 at the time of turning on the power (at the time of starting the deicing operation) is not considered. That is, the water supply waiting time T1 and the water supply time T2 are set in consideration of a normal deicing operation (the water tray 33 faces the closed position at the start of the deicing operation) executed after the ice making operation. It was. For this reason, when the water tray 33 has stopped at the middle of opening or the open position, the water tray 33 may reach the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 elapses. However, in the conventional operation method of the automatic ice making machine, even if the water tray 33 reaches the open position before the water supply standby time T1 elapses, the supply of the melted water is not executed until the water supply standby time T1 elapses. It was.

  On the other hand, since the ice cube R generated in the ice making chamber 31 is spontaneously melting while the automatic ice maker 10 is stopped, the water tray 33 reaches the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 elapses. In some cases, the ice cube R may be released before the supply of the melted water. In such a case, since the ice pieces that have not been removed by the melted water are attached to the water dish 33, the released ice cubes R may be caught by the ice pieces and remain on the water dish 33. In addition, when the ice cube R is released, the ice making chamber 31 rapidly rises to the deicing completion temperature, so that the ice removal operation is completed with the ice cube R remaining on the water tray 33. Accordingly, when the deicing operation is shifted to the ice making operation, the actuator motor 41 reversely operates and the cam arm 39 rotates from the second posture to the first posture, thereby causing the water dish 33 to be displaced to the closed position. However, there is a possibility that the ice making mechanism 30 may be broken due to the occurrence of “ice biting” in which the ice cube R caught on the upper surface of the water tray 33 is sandwiched between the water tray 33 and the ice making chamber 31. .

  Further, for example, when the automatic ice maker 10 is stopped when the water tray 33 is stopped at the open position, and the power is turned on after being stopped for a long time, the ice making chamber is started simultaneously with the start of the deicing operation. The deicing operation at 31 is completed and the deicing operation is completed, and the old tap water that has stopped in the water supply pipe 51 of the water supply unit 50 is shifted to the ice making operation without being supplied as melted water. Become. That is, when the water tray 33 is stopped at the open position and the ice making operation is substantially performed without performing the deicing operation, the old tap water in the water supply pipe 51 is supplied as ice making water and Inconvenience for the generation of ice R occurs.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the problems inherent in the above-described conventional technology, it has been proposed to suitably solve this problem. When performing the deicing operation when the automatic ice making machine is started, the deicing operation is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method of an automatic ice making machine that reliably supplies melted water to a water tray even when the time is short.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem and achieve the intended purpose, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides:
An ice making chamber having an ice making chamber that opens downward, and a water tray that can be opened and closed from below are opened. When the power is turned on, deicing operation is first performed to direct the water tray to an open position. In the operation method of the automatic ice making machine, the water supply valve is controlled to open when the water supply waiting time has elapsed from the start of the deicing operation, and the melted water is supplied onto the water dish over the water supply time.
When the water tray opening detecting means detects that the water tray has reached the open position before the water supply waiting time has elapsed since the start of the deicing operation, the water supply valve is controlled to open without waiting for the water supply waiting time to elapse. The gist is that the melted ice water is supplied onto the water dish.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the deicing operation that is executed after the automatic ice making machine is started, the melted water is supplied when the water pan reaches the open position regardless of the stop position of the water pan at the time of startup. Even if ice blocks are generated in the ice making chamber, the ice pieces adhering to the water dish can be melted and removed before the ice blocks are released. . Therefore, it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of “ice biting” in which ice blocks are sandwiched between the water tray and the ice making chamber, and it is possible to prevent a failure of the automatic ice making machine due to the ice biting.

In the invention according to claim 2, when the deicing completion detecting means detects that the deicing in the ice making chamber is completed at the time when the water supply valve is controlled to be opened, the water pan is set to the open position. The gist is that the closing control of the water supply valve is performed when the delay time has elapsed since the arrival.
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, even when the water tray is stopped at the open position and the deicing in the ice making chamber is completed when the automatic ice making machine is started, the delay time elapses. Since the melted ice water is supplied, the tap water stopped in the water supply section can be discharged, and fresh tap water is always used as ice making water for the formation of ice blocks. In addition, when the automatic ice maker is started after the operation has been stopped for a long time, tap water supplied as melted water is supplied to the upper surface of the water tray or the ice making water tank. The water tank is cleaned.

  According to the operation method of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention, when performing the deicing operation when the automatic ice maker is activated, it is possible to reliably supply the melted water to the water dish even when the deicing operation time is short. Therefore, inconveniences such as ice biting can be suitably prevented.

  Next, the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment. The basic configuration of the main part of the automatic ice making machine 10 of the embodiment is the same as that of the conventional automatic ice making machine 10 shown in FIGS. Therefore, for convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the automatic ice maker 10 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and only the components related to the operation method of the automatic ice maker 10 will be described. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic ice making machine 10 according to the embodiment includes an ice making mechanism 30 that generates ice cubes (ice blocks) R, and a refrigeration mechanism 20 that cools and heats the ice making chamber 31 of the ice making mechanism 30. The whole ice making machine is controlled by the control means C shown in FIG. The refrigeration mechanism 20 includes a refrigeration circuit 26 in which a compressor 21, a condenser 22, a cooling fan motor 23, expansion means 24, and the evaporation pipe 25 are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe 27, and further to the evaporation pipe 25 during a deicing operation. A bypass circuit 28 for supplying hot gas is provided. The bypass circuit 28 closes the hot gas valve 29A during the ice making operation to close the bypass pipe 29 and opens the hot gas valve 29A during the deicing operation to open the bypass pipe 29. It is configured to open and allow the hot gas to flow from the compressor 21 to the evaporation pipe 25.

  An ice making chamber temperature measuring means (deicing completion detecting means) 60 for detecting the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 is disposed at a required position of the ice making chamber 31 in the ice making mechanism 30. The automatic ice making machine 10 according to the embodiment is configured to determine completion of ice making and deicing based on the temperature of the ice making chamber 31. That is, when the ice making chamber 31 is lowered to a predetermined temperature, the generation of ice cubes R in each ice making chamber 32 of the ice making chamber 31 is completed, and this temperature is set as the ice making completion temperature H1. Further, when the ice making chamber 31 rises to a predetermined temperature, the deicing (release) of the ice cube R from the ice making chamber 31 is completed, so this temperature is set as the deicing completion temperature H2. The ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 can be suitably implemented by existing ones that are put to practical use, such as a thermistor, a platinum resistance temperature detector, and a thermocouple.

  As described above, the water pan opening / closing mechanism 35 has a changeover switch (water pan open detecting means) S for detecting that the cam arm 39 attached to the rotation shaft of the actuator motor 41 has reached the first posture or the second posture. It is arranged. Since the water tray 33 faces the closed position when the cam arm 39 is in the first posture, the water tray 33 is closed when the changeover switch S outputs the detection signal of the first arm 39A. You have reached the position of completion. Similarly, since the water tray 33 faces the open position when the cam arm 39 faces the second posture, the water tray 33 when the changeover switch S outputs the detection signal of the second arm 39B. Has reached the open position. The changeover switch S is of a mechanically operated lever type, but is not limited to this as long as it can properly identify and detect which of the first arm 39A and the second arm 39B has arrived. In addition, a first detection unit that detects only the first arm 39A and a second detection unit that detects only the second arm 39B may be provided separately.

  The water supply unit 50 can supply ice making water to the ice making water tank 34 by controlling the water supply valve 52 disposed in the middle of the water supply pipe 51 connected to an external water supply source by the control means C to be opened. It is configured as follows. As the water supply valve 52, an electromagnetic valve, an electric valve, or the like is preferably employed, but other water supply valves may be used as long as the water supply pipe 51 can be opened and closed by the control of the control means C. The water supply pipe 51 is provided with water temperature measuring means 62 for detecting the temperature of the supplied tap water.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control means C includes a power switch 64 installed at a required position of the automatic ice making machine 10, the ice making room temperature measuring means 60 provided in the ice making room 31, and a water tray opening / closing mechanism 35. The switch S, disposed in the water supply, the water supply standby time T1, the water supply time T2 and the timer means 66 for measuring the delay time T3 to be described later, and various measuring means and detection means provided in the automatic ice making machine 10 are predetermined. Signal is input. Further, the control means C is based on input signals from various measurement means and detection means, various setting conditions inputted from a control panel (not shown), etc., and various devices such as the compressor 21 and the hot gas valve 29A in the refrigeration mechanism 20, The operation of each device such as the actuator motor 41 of the water tray opening and closing mechanism 35 in the ice making mechanism 30 and the water pump 46 and the operation of each device such as the water supply valve 52 in the water supply unit 50 are comprehensively controlled.

  In the automatic ice making machine 10 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, on the premise of the required opening time T required for the water tray 33 to open from the closed position to the open position, the above-described water supply waiting time T1 and A water supply time T2 is set. The water supply waiting time T1 is set to about ½ of the required opening time T. For example, when the required opening time T is about 40 seconds, the water supply waiting time T1 is set to about 15 to 20 seconds.

  The water supply time T2 is changed according to the temperature of tap water supplied as melted water from the water supply unit 50, as will be described later. That is, a reference water temperature (for example, 13 ° C.) is set in advance, and when the temperature of the melted ice water (tap water) at the start of the deicing operation is equal to or higher than the reference water temperature, the water supply time T2 is set to the short first water supply mode. When the temperature of the melted ice water at the start of the deicing operation is equal to or lower than the reference water temperature, the water supply time T2 is set to the second water supply mode longer than that in the first water supply mode. This is because when the temperature of the tap water supplied as melted ice water is high, the ice pieces adhering to the upper surface of the water tray 33 can be efficiently melted, so that the water supply time T2 can be set short. When the required opening time T is about 40 seconds and the water supply standby time T1 is about 15 to 20 seconds, the water supply time T2 in the first water supply mode is about 7 seconds, and the water supply time T2 in the second water supply mode is 15 Set to about seconds.

  Further, in the automatic ice making machine 10 of the embodiment, when the power is turned on by the power switch 64, the deicing operation is first executed. Then, as will be described later, when the changeover switch S detects that the water tray 33 has reached the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 has elapsed since the start of the deicing operation, it does not wait for the water supply waiting time T1 to elapse. The water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened, and melted ice water is supplied onto the water tray 33. That is, when the deicing operation is started after the power is turned on, the water tray 33 is stopped in the middle of opening or the open position, and the water tray 33 reaches the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 elapses. In this case, when the changeover switch S detects that the water tray 33 has reached the open position via the cam arm 39, the melted water is supplied onto the water tray 33 even if the water supply waiting time T1 has not elapsed. Be controlled. Therefore, even when the deicing operation time is short, the melted water is supplied onto the water tray 33 that has reached the open position, and the ice cube R released from the ice making chamber 31 falls before dropping onto the water tray 33. It is possible to melt and remove the ice pieces adhering to the water dish 33.

  Further, in the automatic ice making machine 10 according to the embodiment, as described later, when the ice feed water is supplied onto the water tray 33 by opening the water supply valve 52, the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed. When the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 detects that the water tray 33 has reached the open position, the water supply valve 52 is closed when a predetermined delay time T3 has elapsed since the water tray 33 reached the open position. The supply of the melted ice water on 33 is stopped. Therefore, for example, when the water tray 33 is stopped at the open position and the power is turned on in a state where the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 has risen to the deicing completion temperature H2 or more due to the stop for a long time, the water supply valve Even if the deicing operation is completed at the same time as the ice melt water is supplied onto the water tray 33 by the opening control of 52, the supply of the ice melt water is continued at least until the delay time T3 elapses. Therefore, when the deicing operation is completed immediately after the power is turned on, melted water is supplied until at least the delay time T3 elapses. Therefore, the water supply pipe 51 of the water supply unit 50 is stopped while the automatic ice making machine 10 is stopped. The tap water that has stopped inside is discharged from the water supply pipe 51. As described above, since the tap water stopped in the water supply pipe 51 is always discharged when the automatic ice making machine 10 is started up, the upper surface of the water tray 33 can be washed prior to the ice making operation, and a new water supply unit 50 is added. The fresh tap water supplied to the water tray 33 is supplied to the ice making water tank 34 through the return hole of the water tray 33 after the water tray 33 reaches the closed position, and is used for generating ice cubes R as ice making water. . In addition, when the automatic ice making machine is started after the operation has been stopped for a long time, tap water supplied as melted water is supplied to the upper surface of the water tray 33 or the ice making water tank 34, and these water dishes. 33 and the ice making water tank 34 can be cleaned.

(Operation of Example)
Next, the operation of the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the timing chart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the automatic ice maker 10 according to the embodiment is turned on by the power switch 64 and the automatic ice maker 10 is activated, the control means C shown in FIG. Step S10). With the start of the deicing operation, the compressor 21 in the refrigeration mechanism 20 is activated, and the hot gas valve 29A is opened to supply hot gas to the ice making chamber 31. Further, the actuator motor 41 of the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is operated to open the water tray 33 that has closed the ice making chamber 31 from below toward the open position from the closed position. Further, the timer means 66 starts counting to measure a water supply waiting time T1, a water supply time T2, and a delay time T3, which will be described later.

  Next, the temperature of the tap water (melted ice water) supplied to the water supply unit 50 is measured by the water temperature measuring means 62 (step S11). If the water temperature of the tap water (melted ice water) is higher than the reference water temperature (for example, 13 ° C.), the process proceeds to step S12, and the water supply time T2 is set short (about 7 seconds in the embodiment) to the first water supply mode. When the water temperature is lower than the reference water temperature, the process proceeds to step S21, where the water supply time T2 is long (about 13 seconds in the embodiment), and the second water supply mode is set. Then, it is determined whether or not the water supply standby time T1 has elapsed based on the count value of the timer means 66 (step S13). If the water supply standby time T1 has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S31 and the second arm of the cam arm 39 is reached. The detection signal of the changeover switch S for 39B is confirmed, and it is determined whether or not the water tray 33 has reached the open position. If the water pan 33 has not reached the open position, the process returns to step S13, and it is determined again whether the water supply waiting time T1 has passed by the count value of the timer means 66.

  In the process of repeating Step S13 and Step S31, when the water supply waiting time T1 has elapsed before the water pan 33 reaches the open position (before the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). Then, the process proceeds to step S14, and the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened to start supplying the melted water to the water tray 33. And if supply of melted ice water is started, it will transfer to step S15, it will be determined whether the water supply time T2 based on the water supply aspect determined in step S11 passed, and when the water supply time T2 has not passed, Then, the process proceeds to step S22, the detection signal of the changeover switch S for the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39 is confirmed, and it is determined whether or not the water pan 33 has reached the open position. If the water tray 33 has not reached the open position, the process returns to step S15, and it is determined again whether the water supply time T2 has elapsed.

  If the water supply time T2 elapses before the water pan 33 reaches the open position (before the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39) in the process of repeating Step S15 and Step S22, Step S16 Then, the water supply valve 52 is closed and the supply of the melted water to the water tray 33 is stopped. And it transfers to step S17, the detection signal of the changeover switch S with respect to the 2nd arm 39B of the cam arm 39 is confirmed, it is determined whether the water tray 33 reached | attained the open position, and the water tray 33 reached the open position. Then, it transfers to step S18 and the actuator motor 41 in the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is stopped. Next, the process proceeds to step S19, where it is determined whether or not the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 that measures the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 detects the deicing completion temperature H2, and the ice making chamber 31 reaches the deicing completion temperature H2. In this case, the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 has been completed, so that the process proceeds to step S20 and the water pan 33 reaches the open position (the changeover switch S switches the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). It is determined whether or not the delay time T3 has elapsed after detection). When the delay time T3 has elapsed in step S20, the ice removal operation similar to the conventional one is started because the deicing operation has been completed.

  On the other hand, if the changeover switch S detects that the water pan 33 has reached the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 has elapsed in the process of repeating the above-described steps S13 and S31, the process proceeds to step S32. The actuator motor 41 in the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is stopped, and the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened to start supplying ice melt water onto the water tray 33. That is, when the water tray 33 reaches the open position before the water supply standby time T1 has elapsed since the start of the deicing operation, the water supply valve 52 is controlled to open without waiting for the water supply standby time T1 to elapse. Supply of the melted ice water on the dish 33 is started.

  And if supply of melted ice water is started, it will transfer to Step S24, it will be judged whether water supply time T2 based on the water supply mode determined in Step S11 passed, and when water supply time T2 has not passed, Proceeding to step S25, the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 determines whether or not the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 has reached the deicing completion temperature H2. If the ice making chamber 31 has not reached the deicing completion temperature H2, step S24 is performed. Return to. In the process of repeating step S24 and step S25, if the ice making chamber 31 reaches the deicing completion temperature H2 before the water supply time T2 elapses, deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed. Then, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is determined whether or not the delay time T3 has elapsed after the water pan 33 reaches the open position (after the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). When the delay time T3 has elapsed in step S26, the process proceeds to step S27, where the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be closed and the supply of the melted water onto the water tray 33 is stopped. Thereby, since the said deicing operation is completed, the same ice making operation as the conventional one is started.

  On the other hand, in the process of repeating step S24 and step S25, when the water supply time T2 has passed before the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 reaches the deicing completion temperature H2, the process proceeds to step S28, and the closing control of the water supply valve 52 is performed. The supply of the melted ice water to the water tray 33 is stopped by this. Then, the process proceeds to step S29, where it is determined whether or not the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 has reached the deicing completion temperature H2 by the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60, and when the ice making chamber 31 has reached the deicing completion temperature H2. Since the ice removal in the ice making chamber 31 is completed, the process proceeds to step S30, and after the water pan 33 reaches the open position (after the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). It is determined whether or not the delay time T3 has elapsed. When the delay time T3 elapses in step S30, the ice removal operation similar to the conventional one is started because the deicing operation is completed.

  In the process of repeating Step S15 and Step S22 described above, when the water pan 33 reaches the open position before the water supply time T2 elapses (when the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). In Step S23, the actuator motor 41 in the water tray opening / closing mechanism 35 is stopped. And it transfers to step S24, it determines whether the water supply time T2 based on the water supply aspect determined in step S11 passed, and when the water supply time T2 has not passed, it transfers to step S25, and after that. The flow of paragraph [0035] and paragraph [0036] is performed.

  When the deicing operation is completed based on the above-described operation method, the process proceeds to the ice making operation. However, since the ice making operation in the operation method of the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment is the same as the conventional one, the description regarding the ice making operation is omitted here. When a predetermined ice making operation is executed, ice cubes R are generated in each ice making chamber 32 of the ice making chamber 31, and the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 detects that the temperature of the ice making chamber 31 has dropped to the ice making completion temperature H1, The ice making operation is switched to the deicing operation described above, and the above deicing operation is performed.

  In the operation method of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the water pan 33 is in the closed position at the start of the deicing operation, the water supply waiting time T1 is repeated in the process of repeating Step S13 and Step S31. Since the water tray 33 does not reach the open position before the time elapses, when the water supply waiting time T1 elapses, the process proceeds to step S14 to start supplying the melted water. And since water tray 33 does not reach an open position before water supply time T2 passes in the process of repeating Step S15 and Step S22, when water supply time T2 passes, it will transfer to Step S16 and supply of melted ice water. Stop. That is, in the deicing operation that is performed when the water tray 33 is in the closed position when the automatic ice making machine 10 is activated and the deicing operation that is performed after the ice making operation, step S13 → step S15 → step after step S13. After being executed in the order of S16 → Step S17 → Step S18 → Step S19 → Step S20, the deicing operation is completed.

  Further, in the operation method of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the water tray 33 is in the middle of opening at the start of the deicing operation, the water supply waiting time T1 is longer than the required opening time T. In the case where it is short, since the water tray 33 reaches the open position before the water supply waiting time T1 elapses in the process of repeating Step S13 and Step S31, supply of the melted water starts when the water tray 33 reaches the open position. . When the ice removal in the ice making chamber 31 is completed before the water supply time T2 elapses and the delay time T3 elapses, the supply of the melted water is stopped and the deicing operation is completed. Further, when the water supply time T2 elapses before the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed, the supply of the melted water is stopped, and when the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed and the delay time T3 has elapsed, the deicing operation is completed. To do.

  In the operation method of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the water tray 33 is in the open position at the start of the deicing operation, step S13 and step S31 are not repeated. The process proceeds from S31 to Step S32, and the supply of melted ice water is started. And it moves to step S24-> step S25-> step S26, and if delay time T3 passes in step S26, supply of melted water will be stopped and deicing operation will be completed. That is, when the water tray 33 is in the open position at the start of the deicing operation, the supply of the melted water is started simultaneously with the start of the deicing operation even before the water supply waiting time T1 has elapsed. When deicing in the ice making chamber 31 has been completed at the time when the deicing operation is disclosed (when the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 has detected the deicing completion temperature H2), until the delay time T3 elapses. The deicing operation is completed by continuing the supply of the melted water and stopping the supply of the melted water when the delay time T3 has elapsed.

  Therefore, the operation method of the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment has the following effects. That is, in the deicing operation performed after the automatic ice making machine 10 is started, the melted water is supplied when the water tray 33 reaches the open position regardless of the stop position of the water tray 33 at the time of startup. Therefore, even if the ice cube R is generated in the ice making chamber 31, the ice pieces adhering to the water dish 33 before the ice cube R is released can be melted and removed. . Therefore, when the ice cube R is released, no ice pieces are attached to the water tray 33, so that the ice cube R does not get caught on the water tray 33. The occurrence of “ice biting” in which the ice cubes R are sandwiched therebetween can be suitably prevented. And since ice biting of the ice cube R does not occur, failure of the ice making mechanism 30 due to ice biting can be prevented.

  When the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed when the water supply valve 52 is controlled to open (when the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 detects the deicing completion temperature H2), the water supply standby Without waiting for the elapse of time T1, the water supply valve 52 is controlled to be opened to supply the melted water, and the melted water is supplied until the delay time T3 elapses after the water tray 33 reaches the open position. I made it. Therefore, when the automatic ice making machine 10 is started, even if the water tray 33 is stopped at the open position and the deicing in the ice making chamber 31 is completed, the melted water is supplied over the delay time T3. Therefore, the tap water stopped in the water supply unit 50 can be discharged, and fresh tap water is used as ice making water for the generation of the ice cube R. In addition, when the automatic ice making machine is started after the operation has been stopped for a long time, tap water supplied as melted water is supplied to the upper surface of the water tray 33 or the ice making water tank 34, and these water dishes. 33 and the ice-making water tank 34 can be cleaned.

(Change example)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the delay time T3 is set is illustrated. However, after detecting that the water pan 33 has reached the open position (after the changeover switch S detects the second arm 39B of the cam arm 39). ) If the time required to detect that the ice making chamber 31 reaches the deicing completion temperature H2 by the ice making chamber temperature measuring means 60 is equal to or longer than the delay time T3, the delay time T3 is set. May be omitted.

  In the operation method of the above embodiment, the required opening time T is about 40 seconds and the water supply waiting time T1 is about 15 to 20 seconds. However, the required opening time T of the water tray 33 differs depending on the type of automatic ice making machine. Therefore, the numerical values of the required opening time T and the water supply waiting time T1 are not limited to this.

  In the operation method of the above-described embodiment, the case where the reference water temperature of the melted ice water, which is the setting reference for the first water supply mode and the second water supply mode, is set to 13 ° C., but the reference water temperature is not limited to this. Moreover, although the case where the water supply time T2 in the 1st water supply mode was 7 second and the water supply time T2 in the 2nd water supply mode was 15 seconds was illustrated, the length of the water supply time T2 in these 1st water supply modes and the 2nd water supply mode Is not limited to this.

  The operation method of the automatic ice making machine of the present application is intended for an automatic ice making machine configured to generate ice blocks by circulatingly supplying ice making water stored in an ice making water tank to an ice making chamber.

It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic ice making machine which enforces the operating method of an Example. It is a control block diagram of the automatic ice making machine of an Example. It is a flowchart figure which shows the content of the deicing operation in the operating method of the automatic ice making machine of an Example. It is a time chart which shows the content of the deicing operation in the operation method of the automatic ice maker of an Example, (a) shows deicing operation in case a water tray is in a closed position at the time of deicing operation start. (B) shows the deicing operation when the water pan is in the middle of opening at the start of the deicing operation, and (c) is the deicing operation when the water pan is in the open position at the start of the deicing operation. Indicates driving. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows schematic structure of an injection type automatic ice making machine. It is the schematic of the ice making mechanism of the automatic ice making machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the content of the deicing operation in the operation method of the conventional automatic ice making machine.

Explanation of symbols

31 ice making chamber, 32 ice making chamber, 33 water tray, 52 water supply valve 60 ice making chamber temperature measuring means (deicing completion detecting means), S changeover switch (water dish open detecting means)
T1 water supply waiting time, T2 water supply time, T3 delay time

Claims (2)

An ice making chamber (31) having an ice making chamber (32) that opens downward, and a water tray (33) that closes the ice making chamber (31) so as to be openable and closable from below. The water pan (33) is opened toward the open position, and when the water supply waiting time (T1) has elapsed from the start of the deicing operation, the water supply valve (52) is controlled to be opened over the water supply time (T2). In the operation method of the automatic ice maker that supplies the melted water on the water tray (33),
When the water tray open detection means (S) detects that the water tray (33) has reached the open position before the water supply standby time (T1) has elapsed since the start of the deicing operation, the water supply standby time (T1) The operation method of the automatic ice making machine is characterized in that the ice feed water is supplied onto the water tray (33) by controlling the opening of the water supply valve (52) without waiting for the elapse of time.   When the deicing completion detecting means (60) detects that the deicing is completed in the ice making chamber (31) at the time when the water supply valve (52) is controlled to open, the water pan (33 The automatic ice maker operating method according to claim 1, wherein closing control of the water supply valve (52) is performed when a delay time (T3) elapses after the) reaches the open position.

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