JP2009121744A - Ice-making water supply means of flow type ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of slightly opaque ice or deformed ice by evenly supplying ice-making water to each ice-making area. <P>SOLUTION: In an ice-making water supply means 10 disposed above an ice-making section, a distribution pipe 32 supplied with the ice-making water is housed and arranged in the interior of a sprinkler 30. A plurality of distribution holes 46 are opened in the upper part of the distribution pipe 32, and the ice-making water supplied to the distribution pipe 32 flows in the interior of the sprinkler 30 through the respective distribution holes 46. At the bottom of the sprinkler 30, water spraying holes 42 are opened in the positions corresponding to the respective ice-making areas in the ice-making section, and the ice-making water is evenly sprayed from the water spraying holes 42 to the respective ice-making areas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making water supply means that is disposed above an ice making unit in a flow down type ice making machine that makes ice making water flow down and sprays the ice making water into the ice making unit.

  As an automatic ice maker that continuously produces ice, a flow-down type ice maker is known in which ice making water is generated by supplying ice making water to the front side (ice making surface) of an ice making unit arranged in the vertical direction ( For example, see Patent Document 1). The ice making part of the flow-down type ice making machine is basically composed of a pair of ice making plates opposed to each other in a substantially vertical posture, and a cooling pipe that is arranged between the ice making plates and is formed in a meandering shape and circulated and supplied with refrigerant. Configured. On the front side (ice making surface) of each ice making plate, a plurality of ice making regions where ice is generated are defined in the width direction by a plurality of partition members extending in the vertical direction. A sprinkler for supplying ice-making water from a circulation pump is provided above the ice-making unit, and a sprinkling hole for sprinkling ice-making water in the sprinkler to the ice-making unit is provided at the bottom of the sprinkler. A plurality of the ice making regions are provided apart from each other in the width direction.

  In the flow-down type ice maker, during the ice making operation, a circulation pump is operated to supply ice making water to the water sprinkler, and the ice making water is sprinkled into each ice making region through each water sprinkling hole. In addition, the ice-making water, which is circulated and supplied to the cooling pipe and sprinkled from the water sprinkler and flows down on the ice-making surface, is cooled at a portion in contact with the cooling pipe on the ice-making surface to generate ice.

In the flow-down type ice making machine, if the amount of ice making water supplied to each ice making region is insufficient or not evenly supplied, deformed ice having an incomplete shape or thickness, cloudy ice or the like may be generated. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a watering guide is provided at the lower part of the sprinkler so as to correspond to each ice making region, and a watering hole is provided at the bottom of the sprinkler so as to correspond to each watering guide. Thereby, the ice making water sprayed from the water sprinkling hole is sufficiently and evenly supplied to the ice making region by the water sprinkling guide.
Japanese Patent No. 2863078

  Since the ice making water is supplied from one end portion (ice making water supply end) in the longitudinal direction (ice width direction of the ice making plate) to the water sprinkler, depending on the opening position of each watering hole with respect to the ice making water supply end, Since the supply pressure of ice making water acting on the holes is different, the amount of ice making water sprayed from each water sprinkling hole changes. Therefore, even if the water sprinkling guide is provided, the actual situation is that the ice making water has not been supplied sufficiently and evenly to each ice making region. In addition, it is possible to adjust the quantity of the ice making water supplied to each watering guide by changing the number of watering holes and the hole diameter corresponding to a watering guide. However, the opening position of the watering hole is limited because it needs to correspond to the position of the watering guide, and there is a limit to the adjustment by changing the number of watering holes and the hole diameter.

  In addition, if foreign matter is mixed in the ice making water supplied to the water sprinkler, the foreign matter may clog the water sprinkling holes, so that the ice making water cannot be supplied uniformly to each ice making region, and deformed ice or cloudiness This was the cause of the generation of ice.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in order to solve this problem inherently in the ice making water supply means of the conventional flow-down type ice making machine, and the ice making water is evenly distributed to each ice making region of the ice making unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making water supply means for a flow-down type ice making machine that can prevent the formation of deformed ice or cloudy ice.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the ice making water supply means of the flow down type ice making machine according to the present invention comprises:
An ice-making water supply means of a flow-down type ice making machine that is disposed above an ice-making unit in which a plurality of ice-making regions are formed in the width direction and sprays ice-making water to each ice making region,
A water sprinkler extending in the width direction above the ice making section, and having a plurality of water sprinkling holes opened on the bottom side corresponding to each ice making area,
It is connected to a source of ice-making water, and is provided with a distribution pipe that is detachably disposed in the water sprinkler and extends in the width direction,
The distribution pipe is characterized in that a plurality of distribution holes for supplying ice making water supplied from a supply source to the water sprinkler are spaced apart in the width direction.
According to the invention of claim 1, since the ice making water once supplied to the distribution pipe is supplied to the sprinkler through the distribution hole of the distribution pipe, the influence of the supply pressure of the ice making water is alleviated. Thus, ice making water can be supplied uniformly from the water sprinkler to each ice making region. In addition, since the degree of freedom in designing the position where the distribution hole is opened with respect to the distribution pipe is great, it is possible to finely adjust the change in the ice making water supply amount due to the difference in the ice making water supply pressure.

The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is that the distribution hole is formed in the upper part of the distribution pipe.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the distribution hole is opened in the upper part of the distribution pipe, the foreign matter mixed in the ice making water supplied to the distribution pipe is precipitated in the distribution pipe, and the foreign substance is sprinkled from the distribution hole. Intrusion into the vessel can be prevented and clogging of the watering holes of the watering device can be prevented.

In the invention which concerns on Claim 3, while positioning part is provided in the inside of the sprinkler, the positioning part which can fit the positioning part of a sprinkler is provided in the exterior of the distribution pipe. And
According to the invention of claim 3, by fitting the positioning portion and the positioned portion, the distribution pipe can always be arranged in the same posture in the sprinkler, and the sprinkling from the distribution pipe by changing the posture. It is possible to prevent the supply of ice-making water to the vessel from changing.

The gist of the invention according to claim 4 is that the diameter of the distribution hole is set to be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the watering hole.
According to invention of Claim 4, when the foreign material mixed in the ice making water supplied to the distribution pipe is larger than the hole diameter of the water sprinkling hole, the foreign material is prevented from entering the water sprinkler from the distribution hole of the water distribution pipe. Since it can do, it can prevent clogging of the watering hole of a watering device.

  According to the ice making water supply means of the flow-down type ice making machine according to the present invention, the ice making water is evenly supplied to each ice making region of the ice making unit to prevent generation of deformed ice or cloudy ice. Can do.

  Next, the ice making water supply means of the flow down type ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an ice making water supply means 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an ice making unit 12 of a flow-down type ice making machine provided with the ice making water supply means 10. It is a schematic front view shown. The ice making unit 12 of the flow-down type ice making machine is composed of a pair of ice making plates 14 and 14 (see FIG. 4) arranged vertically. Between the opposing surfaces of both ice making plates 14, 14, a cooling pipe 16 that is repeatedly meandered so that the straight line portion extends in the width direction of the ice making portion 12 is disposed, and the straight line portion is formed between the two ice making plates. It contacts the back side of the plates 14 and 14. A plurality of partition members 18 extending in the vertical direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction on the ice making surface side (surface) of each ice making plate 14, and a plurality of ice making regions 20 are formed in the width direction by these partition members 18. Multiple defined. Further, above the ice making unit 12, the ice making water supply means 10 for supplying ice making water to the ice making region 20 of each ice making plate 14 during ice making operation, and deicing water to the back side of each ice making plate 14 during ice removing operation. A deicing water supply means 22 is disposed.

  Below the ice making unit 12, as shown in FIG. 2, an ice making water tank 24 for storing ice making water flowing down the ice making plates 14, 14 is disposed, and the ice making water tank 24 is connected via an ice making water supply pipe 26. And connected to the circulation pump 28. During the ice making operation, refrigerant is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 from a refrigeration system (not shown), and ice making water is supplied from the ice making water supply means 10 to each ice making region 20. Is generated. In the deicing operation, hot gas is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 by switching the refrigeration system valve, and deicing water is supplied from the deicing water supply means 22 to the back side of the ice making plates 14 and 14. In the embodiment, the ice making water tank 24, the ice making water supply pipe 26 and the circulation pump 28 constitute a supply source for supplying ice making water to the ice making water supply means 10.

  The ice making water supply means 10 includes a water sprinkler 30 for sprinkling internal ice making water to each ice making region 20 of both ice making plates 14, 14, and detachably accommodated inside the water sprinkler 30, and the length of the water sprinkler 30. And a distribution pipe 32 extending along the direction (the width direction of the ice making plate 14). As shown in FIG. 4, the sprinkler 30 includes a main body portion 34 formed in a rectangular tube shape having a substantially rectangular cross section, and a cylindrical fitting portion connected to each end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 34. 36,38. One of the first fitting portions 36 opens inward and outward with respect to the main body portion 34 to permit the insertion / removal of the distribution pipe 32, and the other second fitting portion 38 has a protruding end from the main body portion 34 closed. Has been.

  On the inner bottom portion of the main body 34 in the sprinkler 30, a convex portion (positioning portion) 40 projecting inward is provided along the longitudinal direction at the center in the short direction (opposite direction of the pair of ice making plates 14 and 14). It is formed (see FIG. 3). In addition, a plurality of water spray holes 42 are opened at the bottom of the main body 34 on both sides in the short direction across the convex portion 40 (see FIG. 1). The water sprinkling holes 42 are opened at positions corresponding to the ice making regions 20 in the ice making plate 14, and ice making water is sprinkled from the water sprinkling holes 42 to the corresponding ice making regions 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution pipe 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with one end closed, and is set to a size that can be inserted into and removed from the sprinkler 30 through the first fitting portion 36. . Further, large-diameter portions 32 a and 32 b are provided at both longitudinal ends of the distribution pipe 32, and the diameter of the first large-diameter portion 32 a provided on the open end side is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first fitting portion 36. In contrast, the diameter of the second large diameter portion 32b provided on the closed end side is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the second fitting portion 38. Then, when the distribution pipe 32 is inserted into the sprinkler 30 from the second large diameter portion side via the first fitting portion 36, the second large diameter portion 32 b is fitted to the second fitting portion 38. It has become. A flange 32 c is formed at the open end of the distribution pipe 32, and the longitudinal direction of the distribution pipe 32 with respect to the sprinkler 30 is determined by the flange 32 c coming into contact with the open end of the first fitting portion 36. . Further, an O-ring 44 as a sealing means is externally fitted to the first large-diameter portion 32a, and the O-ring 44 is in close contact with the inner surface of the first fitting portion 36 and is distributed to the sprinkler 30. 32 is configured to be watertight.

  The ice making water supply pipe 26 is connected to the open end of the distribution pipe 32. In addition, a plurality of distribution holes 46 are provided in the upper portion of the distribution pipe 32 so as to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and the ice making water supplied from the ice making water supply pipe 26 to the distribution pipe 32 is sprinkled from each distribution hole 46. 30 is configured to be supplied within. Further, a concave portion (positioned portion) 48 that opens downward is extended along the longitudinal direction at the bottom of the distribution pipe 32, and the concave portion 48 is fitted to the convex portion 40 of the water sprinkler 30. In the sprinkler 30, the distribution pipe 32 is configured to be positioned in a posture in which the distribution hole 46 opens upward. The number of distribution holes 46 provided in the distribution pipe 32 and the interval between the holes are set so that the ice making water supplied from the open end is evenly supplied to the sprinkler 30 in the longitudinal direction. . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the distribution hole 46, between the open end side, which is the supply side of the ice making water in the distribution pipe 32, and the intermediate position in the longitudinal direction, the interval between the holes is set to be narrow. Whereas the distribution holes 46 are present, between the intermediate position and the closed end side, the interval between the holes is set wide so that the number of distribution holes 46 is reduced.

  The concave portion 48 formed in the distribution pipe 32 is open to the closed end side as shown in FIG. 1, and when the distribution pipe 32 is inserted into the sprinkler 30 from the closed end side, On the other hand, the concave portion 48 is guided while being fitted.

(Operation of Example)
Next, the operation of the ice making water supply means of the flow down type ice making machine according to the embodiment will be described below. In the ice making operation, the coolant is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 and the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 24 is sent to the ice making water supply means 22 by the circulation pump 28. The ice making water sent from the circulation pump 28 flows into the distribution pipe 32 from the open end side. And if the inside of the distribution pipe 32 is filled with ice-making water, it will flow into the sprinkler 30 from each distribution hole 46 located in the upper part. As shown in FIG. 1, the number of distribution holes 46 in the distribution pipe 32 and the distance between the holes are changed according to the distance from the open end to which the ice making water is supplied. The ice making water flows into the sprinkler 30 evenly.

  In the distribution pipe 32 of the embodiment, the opening position of the distribution hole 46 can be freely set without being limited by the position of the partition member 18 for defining the ice making region 20 in the ice making plate 14. Ice making water can be uniformly supplied from the distribution pipe 32 to the sprinkler 30 in the longitudinal direction.

  The ice making water flowing into the water sprinkler 30 is sprinkled into each ice making region 20 from each water sprinkling hole 42 provided at the bottom of the water sprinkler 30. Since the ice making water once supplied to the distribution pipe 32 is supplied to the sprinkler 30, the supply pressure of the ice making water is higher than that when the ice making water is directly supplied from the supply sources 24, 26, 28. The influence is alleviated, and the ice making water is sprayed evenly from the water sprinkling holes 42 to the ice making regions 20, and the ice making regions 20 are produced with uniform thickness and high quality ice that is not clouded.

  Moreover, since the hole diameter of the distribution hole 46 in the distribution pipe 32 is set to be equal to or smaller than the hole diameter of the water spray hole 42 in the water sprinkler 30, when a foreign matter larger than the hole diameter of the water spray hole 42 is mixed in the ice making water. The foreign matter stays in the distribution pipe 32 without passing through the distribution hole 46 or stops at the distribution hole 46. That is, since the foreign matter having such a size as to clog the sprinkling hole 42 does not enter the sprinkler 30 from the distribution pipe 32, a part of the sprinkling hole 42 is clogged by the foreign matter, and water is sprinkled from the sprinkler 30. It is possible to prevent the amount of ice making water from becoming uneven in the longitudinal direction of the sprinkler 30. Therefore, the ice making water is evenly supplied to each ice making region 20 to prevent generation of deformed ice or cloudy ice. In addition, since the number of the distribution holes 46 opened in the distribution pipe 32 can be increased in consideration of clogging, even if some of the distribution holes 46 are clogged with foreign matter, the influence is exerted. Can be less.

  When detecting means (not shown) detects that ice having a predetermined thickness has been generated in the ice making region 20, the circulation pump 28 is stopped to stop supplying ice making water to the ice making water supplying means 10, and the ice making operation is finished. To do. When the deicing operation is switched, hot gas is supplied to the cooling pipe 16 and deicing water is supplied from the deicing water supply means 22 to the back side of the ice making plates 14 and 14. When the circulation pump 28 is stopped, ice-making water remains in the distribution pipe 32. Foreign matter mixed in the ice-making water settles on the inner bottom of the distribution pipe 32 and passes through the distribution hole 46 located at the top. It does not flow into the sprinkler 30. Further, since the distribution hole 46 is not clogged by the foreign matter accumulated on the inner bottom portion of the distribution pipe 32, the ice making water does not flow out from the distribution hole 46 to the sprinkler 30 in the next ice making operation.

  Since the distribution pipe 32 can be removed from the sprinkler 30, cleaning for removing foreign matter in the distribution pipe 32 is easy. Further, when the distribution pipe 32 after cleaning is disposed in the water sprinkler 30, the distribution pipe 46 is sprinkled with the posture in which the distribution hole 46 is located at the upper portion by fitting the convex portion 40 and the concave portion 48. It can be placed in the vessel 30. Therefore, the orientation and position of the distribution hole 46 change due to the change in the attitude of the distribution pipe 32 in the sprinkler 30, and the supply state of ice-making water from the distribution pipe 32 to the sprinkler 30 changes. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which foreign matter precipitated in the pipe 32 clogs the distribution hole 46.

(Example of change)
In the above-described embodiment, the ice making part is illustrated with the ice making plate standing substantially vertically. However, the ice making water supply means of the present invention can be used even if the ice making plate is inclined. . In the embodiment, the ice making unit is composed of a pair of ice making plates, but the ice making unit may be composed of one ice making plate. The sprinkler of the ice making water supply means in the embodiment has a rectangular cross section, but may have other shapes such as a circular cross section.

  In the embodiment, the positioning part of the sprinkler and the positioning part of the distribution pipe are the convex part and the concave part provided on the bottom side, but are not limited to this, and the position and shape can be arbitrarily set. And what is necessary is just to be able to make the attitude | position of distribution pipe constant by fitting a positioning part and a to-be-positioned part. Further, the positioning part and the positioned part may not be continuous in the longitudinal direction but may be constituted by a plurality of protrusions provided at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. In the embodiment, the number of distribution holes and the interval between the holes are changed in order to prevent the supply amount of the ice making water to the water sprinkler due to the supply pressure of the ice making water in the distribution pipe. However, the configuration for changing the hole diameter may be used alone or in combination.

It is a schematic perspective view shown from the lower surface side in the state which isolate | separated the sprinkler and distribution pipe of the ice-making water supply means which concern on an Example. It is a schematic front view which shows the whole flow-down type ice making machine by which the ice making water supply means based on an Example was arrange | positioned. It is a principal part schematic front view which longitudinally shows the ice-making water supply means which concerns on an Example. It is a principal part schematic side view which cuts and shows the ice making water supply means and ice making part which concern on an Example.

Explanation of symbols

12 ice making units, 20 ice making regions, 24 ice making water tanks (source)
26 ice making water supply pipe (supply source), 28 circulation pump (supply source), 30 sprinkler 32 distribution pipe, 40 convex part (positioning part), 42 sprinkling hole, 46 distribution hole 48 concave part (positioned part)

Claims (4)

The ice making water supply means of the flow-down type ice making machine is arranged above the ice making section (12) in which a plurality of ice making areas (20) are formed in the width direction and sprays ice making water into each ice making area (20). And
A water sprinkler (30) extending in the width direction above the ice making section (12) and having a plurality of water sprinkling holes (42) opened on the bottom side corresponding to each ice making area (20),
It is connected to a supply source of ice-making water (24, 26, 28), and is provided with a distribution pipe (32) that is detachably disposed in the sprinkler (30) and extends in the width direction,
In the distribution pipe (32), a plurality of distribution holes (46) for supplying ice-making water supplied from a supply source (24, 26, 28) to the water sprinkler (30) are opened apart in the width direction. An ice making water supply means for a flow-down type ice making machine.   The ice making water supply means of the flow down type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the distribution hole (46) is formed in an upper part of the distribution pipe (32).   A positioning portion (40) is provided inside the sprinkler (30), and a positioned portion (40) to which the positioning portion (40) of the sprinkler (30) can be fitted outside the distribution pipe (32) ( 48. The ice-making water supply means of the flow-down type ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 48) is provided.   The ice making water supply means of the flow down type ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a hole diameter of the distribution hole (46) is set to be equal to or smaller than a hole diameter of the water spray hole (42).

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