JP2021113624A - Ice-making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve cleanliness of a drain pan in an ice-making machine.SOLUTION: An ice-making machine 1 includes: a water storage tank 30 for storing water to be used for making ice; a leading-out pipe 40 for leading out the water stored in the water storage tank 30; and a drain pan 50 receiving and draining drainage to the outside. The drain pan 50 is cleaned by water led out from the leading-out pipe 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an ice machine.

Patent Document 1 describes an ice maker that uses water stored in a water storage tank to generate ozone and uses the ozone to clean the inside of the water storage tank.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-9833

The ice maker described above is provided with a drain pan that receives the drainage and discharges it to the outside. Since the drain pan is contaminated by drainage or the like, cleaning work is regularly performed by an operator. On the other hand, since the drain pan may be visible to the user, there is a demand for improving the cleanliness of the drain pan.

The present disclosure aims to improve the cleanliness of the drain pan in an ice maker.

In order to achieve the above object, the ice maker in the present disclosure includes a water storage tank for storing water used for ice making, a lead-out pipe for drawing out the water stored in the water storage tank, and a drain for receiving the drainage and discharging it to the outside. With a pan, the drain pan is washed with water drawn from the outlet tube.

According to the ice maker of the present disclosure, the cleanliness of the drain pan can be improved.

It is external perspective view of the ice making machine which concerns on embodiment of this disclosure. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the ice making machine shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the ice making machine shown in FIG. It is a top view of the drain pan shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of AA shown in FIG. It is a partially enlarged view of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. It is a partially enlarged sectional view of the drain pan of the ice machine which concerns on the modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the ice maker of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the ice machine 1. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, the upper side and the lower side in FIG. 1 are the upper side and the lower side of the ice maker 1, respectively, and the left side and the right side are the left side and the right side of the ice maker 1, respectively, and the front side of the paper. And the back side of the paper surface will be described as the front side and the rear side of the ice maker 1, respectively.

The ice maker 1 is a push button type ice dispenser. In the ice maker 1, the housing 1a is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A mounting portion 1b, an ice releasing portion 1c, and a push button 1d are provided on the front side portion of the housing 1a.

The mounting portion 1b is provided at the bottom of the ice maker 1. The mounting portion 1b is provided so that a container C (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) such as a cup into which the user puts ice is placed on the upper surface. A drain pan 50, which will be described later, is arranged below the mounting portion 1b. The upper wall of the mounting portion 1b is formed in a slatted shape so that drainage can be performed toward the lower portion of the mounting portion 1b. The water discharged from the upper surface to the lower part of the mounting portion 1b is received by the drain pan 50 and discharged to the outside.

The ice release unit 1c discharges the ice produced inside the ice maker 1 toward the placement unit 1b. The push button 1d is provided so as to be pressable by the user. When the push button 1d is pressed, a predetermined amount of ice is released from the ice release unit 1c.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ice maker 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the ice maker 1. The ice machine 1 includes a refrigerant cycle unit 10, an ice making unit 20, a water storage tank 30 for storing water, a discharge pipe 40, a drain pan 50, and a control device 60. The refrigerant cycle unit 10, the ice making unit 20, the water storage tank 30, the outlet pipe 40, the drain pan 50, and the control device 60 are housed in the housing 1a.

The refrigerant cycle unit 10 cools the water supplied from the water storage tank 30 by the refrigeration cycle to produce ice. The refrigerant cycle unit 10 includes a compressor 11 (compressor), a condenser 12 (condenser), an expansion valve 13, a cooler 14 (evaporator), and a pipe 15 through which the refrigerant flows in this order, and constitutes a refrigeration cycle. Is what you do.

A dry core 15a for removing water in the refrigerant is arranged in the pipe 15 connecting the condenser 12 and the expansion valve 13. Further, in the vicinity of the condenser 12, a blower 12a that blows air toward the condenser 12 is arranged. The cooler 14 constitutes a part of the ice making section 20 for producing ice.

The ice making section 20 manufactures ice. The ice making section 20 includes a cooling cylinder 21, a cooler 22 (14), an auger 23, a driving device 24, a hopper 25, a shooter 26, a shutter 27, and an ice sensor 28.

The cooling cylinder 21 is formed of stainless steel in a cylindrical shape. A tubular cooler 22 through which the refrigerant flows is wound around the outer circumference of the cooling cylinder 21. Inside the cooling cylinder 21, an auger 23 (rotary blade) is arranged coaxially with the cooling cylinder 21 and rotatably relative to the cooling cylinder 21.

The lower end of the auger 23 is rotatably supported by the lower bearing 23a. On the other hand, the upper end portion of the auger 23 is rotatably supported by the upper bearing 23b. The drive device 24 rotates the auger 23.

The hopper 25 stores ice. The hopper 25 is formed in a hollow box shape. The upper bearing 23b is held at the bottom of the hopper 25. The upper bearing 23b is provided with a passage (not shown) that connects the inside of the cooling cylinder 21 and the inside of the hopper 25 and compresses the passing ice.

The water stored in the water storage tank 30 is supplied to the inside of the cooling cylinder 21 and cooled by the cooler 22, so that ice is generated on the inner peripheral surface of the cooling cylinder 21. This ice is scraped off by the auger 23 that is driven by rotation, and is transferred from the lower side to the upper side. Further, the ice is compressed as it passes through the passage of the upper bearing 23b, so that ice pieces are generated. This ice piece is led out and stored in the hopper 25.

The shooter 26 is formed in a tubular shape and releases ice stored in the hopper 25. The shooter 26 constitutes the ice release unit 1c described above.

The shutter 27 is provided between the shooter 26 and the hopper 25. When the shutter 27 is in the open state, the ice stored in the hopper 25 is released via the shooter 26. When the shutter 27 is closed, the release of ice stored in the hopper 25 is restricted. The shutter 27 is driven by the solenoid 27a.

The ice sensor 28 detects the amount of ice stored in the hopper 25.

The water storage tank 30 stores water. The water storage tank 30 is an open-air tank. The water storage tank 30 includes a tank portion 31, a float switch 32, and a pair of electrodes 33.

The tank portion 31 is formed in a box shape that can be opened to the atmosphere and stores water. A weir portion 31a is provided inside the tank portion 31. Water is stored at a height lower than the height of the weir portion 31a (details will be described later). The water is tap water.

The first end of the water supply pipe 41 is connected to the upper wall of the tank portion 31. A water pipe (not shown) is connected to the second end of the water supply pipe 41 via a water tap 41a. A normally closed type first solenoid valve 41b is arranged in the water supply pipe 41.

When the first electromagnetic valve 41b is turned on and opened, the water in the water pipe is supplied to the tank portion 31 via the water supply pipe 41. The energized state of the first solenoid valve 41b is controlled by the control device 60. The tank portion 31 includes a water supply portion 31b and a drainage portion 31c.

The water supply unit 31b supplies the water stored in the tank unit 31 to the ice making unit 20. Specifically, the water supply portion 31b is an opening that opens to the bottom of the tank portion 31. The first end of the first connecting pipe 31b1 is connected to the water supply unit 31b. The second end of the first connecting pipe 31b1 is connected to the cooling cylinder 21 below the water storage tank 30 and the cooler 22.

Further, the first end of the second connecting pipe 31b2 is connected to the cooling cylinder 21 at a position facing the second end of the first connecting pipe 31b1. The second end of the second connecting pipe 31b2 opens toward the drain pan 50. A normally closed type second solenoid valve 31b3 is arranged in the second connecting pipe 31b2.

When the second solenoid valve 31b3 is energized and opened, the water stored in the tank portion 31 passes through the water supply portion 31b, the first connecting pipe 31b1, the cooling cylinder 21, and the second connecting pipe 31b2. , Is discharged to the drain pan 50. On the other hand, when the second solenoid valve 31b3 is in the closed state, the water level on the tank portion 31 side and the water level on the cooling cylinder 21 side are the same via the first connecting pipe 31b1. The energized state of the second solenoid valve 31b3 is controlled by the control device 60.

The drainage portion 31c is an opening that opens upward at the height of the weir portion 31a inside the tank portion 31. The first end 40a of the outlet pipe 40 is connected to the drainage portion 31c. The second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 opens toward the drain pan 50. The second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 is an example of “one end of the lead-out pipe”.

When the water level of the tank portion 31 becomes higher than the height of the weir portion 31a, the water stored in the tank portion 31 gets over the weir portion 31a and flows out from the drainage portion 31c. The water flowing out from the drainage section 31c is led out to the drain pan 50 via the outlet pipe 40. In this way, the outlet pipe 40 derives the water stored in the water storage tank 30.

Further, the first end of the third connecting pipe 42 is connected to the lead-out pipe 40. The second end of the third connecting pipe 42 is connected to the bottom of the hopper 25. The water generated by melting the ice stored in the hopper 25 is led out from the third connecting pipe 42 and thus the outlet pipe 40 to the drain pan 50.

The float switch 32 detects the water level of the tank portion 31. The water level detected by the float switch 32 (hereinafter referred to as the detected water level) is output to the control device 60. When the detected water level is equal to or lower than the first water level lower than the height of the weir portion 31a, the control device 60 energizes the first solenoid valve 41b. As a result, the first solenoid valve 41b is opened, so that water is supplied to the tank portion 31.

When the detected water level becomes higher than the second water level by supplying water to the tank portion 31, the control device 60 de-energizes the first solenoid valve 41b. As a result, the first solenoid valve 41b is closed, so that the water supply to the tank portion 31 is stopped. The second water level is set to be higher than the first water level and lower than the height of the weir portion 31a.

When the pair of electrodes 33 are energized, ozone water is generated using the water stored in the tank portion 31. One of the pair of electrodes 33 is an electrode constituting the anode, and for example, the base is provided with titanium (Ti), the coating layer is provided with platinum, and tantalum (Ta). The other of the pair of electrodes 33 is an electrode that constitutes a cathode, and is made of platinum, carbon, stainless steel, or the like as an inert electrode.

When the pair of electrodes 33 are energized, the water stored in the tank portion 31 is electrolyzed to generate ozone. Ozone water is generated by dissolving this ozone in the water stored in the tank portion 31. The pair of electrodes 33 is an example of an "ozone water generating unit". When ozone water is generated in the tank portion 31, the outlet pipe 40 derives ozone water (details will be described later).

The drain pan 50 receives the drainage and discharges it to the outside. The drain pan 50 is washed with water led out from the outlet pipe 40 (details will be described later). FIG. 4 is a top view of the drain pan 50. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

The drain pan 50 is formed in a box shape that opens upward. The drain pan 50 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The drain pan 50 includes a storage section 51 and a water receiving section 52.

The storage unit 51 stores the water led out from the lead-out pipe 40. The storage portion 51 is formed in a box shape that opens upward. Specifically, the storage portion 51 is formed in a concave shape on the right side of the bottom wall of the drain pan 50. The storage portion 51 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 is arranged so as to face the bottom surface of the storage portion 51. As a result, the water led out from the outlet pipe 40 is stored in the storage unit 51.

The water receiving portion 52 is continuously formed from the storage portion 51 and receives drainage. The water receiving portion 52 is formed on the left side of the storage portion 51. Specifically, the water receiving portion 52 is formed so as to extend from the entire left end of the storage portion 51 toward the left along the left-right direction. The water receiving portion 52 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above.

The boundary portion KB between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is chamfered in an arc shape in cross section (FIGS. 5 and 6). The boundary portion KB is a portion including a left end portion of the storage portion 51 and a right end portion of the water receiving portion 52. The radius of the arc is set to a relatively small radius in consideration of the workability of the cleaning worker and the flow of water described later.

Specifically, the radius of the arc is preferably set between a radius of 0.5 mm and a radius of 2 mm. Further, it is more desirable that the radius of the arc is set between the radius of 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. In this embodiment, the radius of the arc is set to 1 mm.

Further, the boundary line KL between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is arranged on the same horizontal plane. The boundary line KL is specifically a boundary line between the left end of the storage portion 51 and the right end of the water receiving portion 52. The boundary portion KB between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is formed so that the boundary line KL is a straight line along the front-rear direction on the same horizontal plane. Further, the storage portion 51 is formed below the boundary line KL. As a result, the height of the horizontal plane including the boundary line KL becomes the upper limit of the water level of the storage portion 51 (see the broken line in FIG. 6).

The second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 is arranged below the boundary line KL and facing the bottom surface of the storage unit 51. As a result, when the water level of the storage unit 51 is higher than the second end 40b of the outlet pipe 40, the second end 40b of the outlet pipe 40 is blocked by the water of the storage unit 51, thereby forming a water seal.

Further, the water receiving portion 52 is formed below the boundary line KL. Specifically, the water receiving portion 52 is formed so as to incline from the upper side to the lower side in the direction from the boundary line KL to the left along the left-right direction. A discharge path 52a is provided at the left end of the water receiving portion 52. The discharge path 52a discharges the water received by the water receiving portion 52 to the outside.

The control device 60 controls the ice machine 1 in an integrated manner. The control device 60 periodically (for example, every 24 hours) performs cleaning control for cleaning the drain pan 50. The cleaning control is a control in which ozone water is taken out from the outlet pipe 40 after ozone water is generated in the water storage tank 30.

In the cleaning control, first, the pair of electrodes 33 are energized for the first predetermined time while the water level of the tank portion 31 is the second water level.

Next, the first solenoid valve 41b is energized for the second predetermined time from the time when the first predetermined time elapses. At this time, the first solenoid valve 41b is energized regardless of the detected water level output from the float switch 32. The second predetermined time is a time during which the amount of ozone water led out from the drainage section 31c and the out-out pipe 40 exceeds the amount that can be stored in the storage section 51 after passing over the dam section 31a, and the ozone water reaches the water receiving section 52. The time is set to flow for a third predetermined time or more at a predetermined ozone concentration. The flow rate of ozone water per unit time in the washing control, the predetermined ozone concentration described above, and each predetermined time are set so that the drain pan 50 is sufficiently washed.

Next, the operation of the ice maker 1 when the above-mentioned cleaning control is executed will be described from the state where the water level of the tank unit 31 is the second water level and the storage unit 51 is full. First, ozone water is generated in the tank portion 31 by energizing the pair of electrodes 33 for the first predetermined time.

Subsequently, the first solenoid valve 41b is energized, so that the first solenoid valve 41b is opened. As a result, water is continuously supplied from the water supply pipe 41 to the tank portion 31, so that the water level of the tank portion 31 rises, and ozone water passes over the weir portion 31a and flows into the drainage portion 31c. The ozone water that has flowed into the drainage section 31c is led out to the storage section 51 through the lead-out pipe 40.

Since the storage section 51 is full, the ozone water led out to the storage section 51 overflows from the storage section 51 to the water receiving section 52 (see the thick arrows in FIGS. 4 and 6). In other words, the ozone water gets over the boundary line KL from the storage unit 51 toward the water receiving unit 52. At this time, since the boundary line KL is arranged in the same horizontal plane, the ozone water gets over the entire boundary line KL at about the same time.

Subsequently, ozone water flows from the entire boundary line KL to the left in the width direction (front-back direction) of the water receiving portion 52 along the left-right direction (see the thick arrow in FIG. 4). As a result, ozone water flows uniformly over the entire water receiving portion 52. Therefore, the entire water receiving portion 52 is washed with ozone water. The ozone water that has reached the left end of the water receiving portion 52 is discharged to the outside from the discharge passage 52a. Further, at this time, since the ozone water is continuously led out from the outlet pipe 40 to the storage unit 51, the storage unit 51 is washed with the ozone water.

When the second predetermined time elapses from the time when the first solenoid valve 41b is energized, the energization of the first solenoid valve 41b is stopped. As a result, the derivation of ozone water from the outlet pipe 40 is stopped, and the cleaning of the drain pan 50 is completed.

According to the ice maker 1 of the above-described embodiment, the water storage tank 30 for storing the water used for ice making, the outlet pipe 40 for leading out the water stored in the water storage tank 30, and the drain for receiving the drainage and discharging it to the outside. It is equipped with bread 50. The drain pan 50 is washed with water led out from the outlet pipe 40.

According to this, since the water stored in the water storage tank 30 is led out from the outlet pipe 40 to the drain pan 50, the drain pan 50 is washed with this water. Therefore, in the ice maker 1, the cleanliness of the drain pan 50 can be improved.

Further, the drain pan 50 is formed in a box shape that opens upward, and is formed in succession with a storage unit 51 that stores water led out from the outlet pipe 40 and a water receiving unit 52 that is continuously formed from the storage unit 51 and receives drainage. And have. Water is supplied from the outlet pipe 40 to the storage section 51, and the water receiving section 52 is washed by the water overflowing from the storage section 51.

According to this, the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 constituting the drain pan 50 can be reliably washed with the water stored in the tank portion 31.

Further, the boundary portion KB between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is chamfered in an arcuate cross section.

According to this, as compared with the case where the boundary line KL is formed in a square cross section, it is possible to prevent the cleaning worker from being injured when cleaning the drain pan 50, so that the workability of the cleaning worker can be improved. Can be improved.

Further, the boundary line KL between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is arranged on the same horizontal plane. Further, the water receiving portion 52 is formed below the boundary line KL.

According to this, the water gets over from the storage portion 51 toward the water receiving portion 52 at about the same time from the entire boundary line KL. Therefore, since water can be uniformly flowed over the entire water receiving portion 52, the entire water receiving portion 52 can be washed.

Further, the second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 is arranged below the boundary line KL so as to face the bottom surface of the storage unit 51.

According to this, since the second end 40b of the outlet pipe 40 can be blocked by the water stored in the storage portion 51, the outside air flows into the tank portion 31 from the second end 40b of the outlet pipe 40. Can be suppressed.

Further, an ozone water generating unit that generates ozone water by using the water stored in the water storage tank 30 is further provided. The lead-out pipe 40 is configured to lead out the ozone water generated by the ozone water generation unit. The drain pan 50 is washed with ozone water led out from the outlet pipe 40.

According to this, since the drain pan 50 is washed with ozone water, the washing power is improved as compared with the case where the drain pan 50 is washed with tap water.

Although the ice maker according to one or more aspects has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. As long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art are applied to the present embodiment, and a form constructed by combining components in different embodiments is also within the scope of one or more embodiments. May be included within.

In the above-described embodiment, ozone water is derived from the outlet pipe 40, but instead, ozone-free water (for example, tap water) may be derived from the outlet pipe 40. In this case, the cleaning control is executed without energizing the pair of electrodes 33. Cleaning control performed without energizing the pair of electrodes 33 is particularly referred to as storage unit refresh control. This storage unit refresh control is executed periodically (for example, every two hours). The water stored in the storage unit 51 is replaced by the storage unit refresh control.

Specifically, in the storage unit refresh control, the first solenoid valve 41b is energized for a second predetermined time from the state where the water level of the tank unit 31 is the second water level. At this time, the first solenoid valve 41b is energized regardless of the detected water level output from the float switch 32. As described above, the second predetermined time is set to a time during which the amount of water that goes over the weir portion 31a and is led out from the drainage portion 31c and thus the outlet pipe 40 is equal to or greater than the amount that can be stored in the storage portion 51. Therefore, the water stored in the storage section 51 is replaced by the water led out from the lead-out pipe 40.

Subsequently, the second solenoid valve 31b3 is energized from the time when the second predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, the water stored in the tank portion 31 is led out to the drain pan 50 via the first connecting pipe 31b1 and the second connecting pipe 31b2, and the water level of the tank portion 31 is lowered. Further, when the detected water level reaches the second water level, the second solenoid valve 31b3 is de-energized. As a result, the derivation of water from the tank unit 31 is stopped, and the storage unit refresh control is completed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, ozone water is generated by energizing the pair of electrodes 33, but instead, ozone may be generated by the ozone water generator 270 shown in FIG. The ozone water generator 270 is arranged in a pipe through which water flows, and when energized, the water flowing through the pipe is electrolyzed to generate ozone water.

For example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the ozone water generator 270 and the third solenoid valve 290 may be arranged in the fourth connecting pipe 280 connecting the first connecting pipe 31b1 and the outlet pipe 40. The third solenoid valve 290 is a normally closed type solenoid valve. In this case, in the cleaning control, the third solenoid valve 290 and the ozone water generator 270 are energized. As a result, the third solenoid valve 290 is opened, so that the water stored in the tank portion 31 is led out to the storage portion 51 via the first connecting pipe 31b1, the fourth connecting pipe 280, and the outlet pipe 40. At this time, the ozone water generated by the ozone water generator 270 is led out from the fourth connecting pipe 280 to the outlet pipe 40 and thus to the drain pan 50. Alternatively, an ozone water generator may be arranged in the outlet pipe 40.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the boundary portion KB between the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52 is formed in an arc shape in cross section, but instead of this, it may be formed in a square cross section (FIG. 7). ).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the storage section 51 is formed on the right side of the drain pan 50, but instead, as in the drain pan 150 shown in FIG. 7, a water receiving section is formed around the storage section 151. 152 may be formed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drain pan 50 includes the storage unit 51 and the water receiving unit 52, but instead of this, the storage unit 51 may not be provided. In this case, it is desirable that the second end 40b of the lead-out pipe 40 is arranged so as to face the highest height portion of the water receiving portion 52.

Further, within a range not deviating from the gist of the present disclosure, the shape of the storage portion 51 and the water receiving portion 52, the position, size and range of the storage portion 51 with respect to the water receiving portion 52, the chamfered shape of the boundary portion KB, and the boundary line KL. The shape and the arrangement of the lead-out pipe 40 may be changed.

The present invention is widely available in ice machines.

1 Ice maker 10 Refrigerant cycle part 20 Ice making part 30 Water storage tank 40 Outlet pipe 50 Drain pan 51 Storage part 52 Water receiving part 52a Discharge channel 60 Control device KB Boundary part KL Boundary line

Claims (6)

A water storage tank that stores water used for ice making,
A lead-out pipe that draws out the water stored in the water storage tank,
Equipped with a drain pan that receives drainage and discharges it to the outside,
An ice maker in which the drain pan is washed with the water drawn from the outlet pipe. The drain pan is
A storage unit that is formed in a box shape that opens upward and stores the water that is led out from the outlet pipe.
It is provided with a water receiving portion that is continuously formed from the storage portion and receives the drainage.
The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the water receiving portion is washed by the water that overflows from the reservoir when the water is supplied from the outlet pipe to the reservoir. The ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the boundary portion between the storage portion and the water receiving portion is chamfered in an arc shape in cross section. The boundary line between the storage portion and the water receiving portion is arranged on the same horizontal plane.
The ice maker according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the water receiving portion is formed below the boundary line. The ice maker according to claim 4, wherein one end of the lead-out pipe is arranged below the boundary line and facing the bottom surface of the storage portion. An ozone water generating unit for generating ozone water using the water stored in the water storage tank is further provided.
The outlet pipe is configured to derive the ozone water generated by the ozone water generator.
The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drain pan is washed with the ozone water led out from the outlet pipe.

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