JP2654261B2 - Operation control device for ice machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation control device for an ice maker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ice making machine that cools an ice making member having a large number of ice making chambers and circulates ice making water through the ice making member to make ice is widely used. In general, this type of ice making machine uses an ice making cycle (stroke) in which ice making water is frozen on ice making members and ice making is performed. After the ice making, the temperature of the ice making members is increased by hot gas or the like, and the produced ice is removed from the ice making members. The ice release cycle (stroke) is repeated as one ice making operation cycle to continue the ice making operation. In this case, the ice making capacity largely depends on the environmental conditions in which the ice making machine operates. The most notable is the ambient temperature outside the ice machine. For example, in summer, ice formed within a fixed ice making time has a smaller thickness than in winter. Accordingly, the present applicant has proposed an ice maker in which the ice making time can be automatically varied by a timer device based on the temperature of the outside world so that ice can be made with a constant ice thickness. (JP-B-59-36175).

[0003]

By the way, in the control device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, when ice making progresses normally,
The ice-making timer is shifted to the ice-removal process by the time-up of the ice-making timer.However, if the ice-making timer is cleared due to a power failure or the like during operation, the ice-making timer will start counting again from the beginning after the power failure is restored. When the time is up, it will be longer than the regular time and it will be in a supercooled state, and at the time of ice removal, for example, in the case of an inverted cell type ice maker, the load on the drive unit due to the increase of the water tray peeling force increases, Residual ice chips remain on the surface of the dish, resulting in bad results such as hindering the falling of ice.

Accordingly, the present invention monitors the cooling temperature of an ice-making member, and when the temperature falls below a certain value, controls to shift to a de-icing process even during the ice-making so that ice of uniform ice quality can be surely produced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation control device for an ice making machine.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a refrigerating system cooler having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers, and an ice making water jetting hole on the surface, and the cooler is closed or opened from below. A water tray that tilts so as to perform water spraying, and a water sprayer that sprays water on the surface of the water tray when the water tray is tilted in the opening direction. An ice making machine for repeatedly making ice as a cycle of a de-icing step of heating a vessel with hot gas or the like and de-icing from an ice-making chamber; and a condensation sensor for detecting the condensation temperature or pressure of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit. Ice making time is automatically adjusted and set according to ice making conditions based on the detection output of the condensation sensor, and the adjusted ice making time is measured, and at the end of the ice making, control is performed to shift from the ice making process to the ice separating process. Timer and ice making A supercooling detection sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler to monitor whether the cooler is in a supercooling state, and a condition in which the temperature of the cooler is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature value is detected by the supercooling detection sensor. And a control means for controlling to forcibly shift to the ice-removing process even during the ice-making process by the ice-making timer, and to control the watering to be extended even after the end of the tilting of the water tray. It is an operation control device of an ice machine.

[0006]

[Action] If the ice making timer clears due to a power outage or the like while the ice making time is being measured, and then returns, if the ice making operation proceeds with the cleared ice making timer, the ice making time before the clearing is completed. In addition, the ice making time becomes longer and the ice becomes overcooled, which may hinder de-icing operation.However, in such a case, since the ice making time is long, the low temperature of the cooler causes Therefore, control for interrupting the ice making process and shifting to the ice removing process is performed by the control means before the supercooling is performed. In addition, the watering process, which sprays water on the surface of the water tray tilted during the ice removal process, continues watering even after the tilting of the water tray, and when overcooling, it strongly adheres to the surface of the water dish and slides down into the ice storage. This effectively removes the remaining ice pieces that interfere with the ice.

[0007] This prevents the drawback of increasing the load on the drive unit during ice making, and the ice making machine operates smoothly.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to an inverted cell type ice making machine shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, in FIG. 1, the ice making machine has a large number of ice making chambers 1A opening downward, a cooler 1 having a refrigeration system evaporating pipe 2 arranged on the outer surface of an upper wall, and each ice making chamber 1A being lowered. A water tray 5 having a fountain hole 3 and a return hole 4 corresponding to each ice making chamber 1A on the surface thereof, and a water tank 6 fixed to the water plate 5 and communicating with the return hole 4; A circulating pump 9 for circulating the water in the water tank 6 from the fountain hole 3 to each ice making chamber 1A via a water supply pipe 7 and a distribution pipe 8; and a forward / reverse rotatable deceleration motor 10 for tilting and returning the water tray 5 A water level switch 14C is actuated by a driving device 11 including: a water sprayer 13 that sprays water on the surface of the water tray 5 when the water supply valve 12 is opened; and a float 14B in a float tank 14A that communicates with the bottom of the water tank 6. Water for detecting a predetermined water level in the water tank 6 It is constituted by detector 14 and the like. A drive cam 17 having first and second arms 17A and 17B extending in opposite directions is connected to an output shaft of the deceleration motor 10 supported on a mounting plate 16 fixed to a support beam 15, The other end of the coil spring 18 attached to the end of the first arm 17A of the cam 17 is connected to the side of the water tray 5, and the rear part of the water tray 5 is supported by a rotating shaft 19. Reference numeral 20 denotes a second arm 17 of the drive cam 17 which rotates counterclockwise by the forward rotation of the drive motor 10 having the speed reduction mechanism.
B, the power supply to the drive motor 10 is cut off, the water tray 5 is stopped at a predetermined inclined open position, and the drive cam 17 is rotated clockwise by the reverse rotation of the drive motor 10.
This is a seesaw type changeover switch which is switched by the first arm 17A to stop the water tray 5 in which the power supply to the drive motor 10 is cut off to a predetermined horizontal closed position. Numeral 30 denotes a thermostat type water temperature detecting device which is connected to the water supply pipe 31 and detects water sprinkling temperature. Further, when the water tank 6 is tilted, the level line of the water remaining therein is indicated by X. The ice maker has the following components, not shown, in addition to the components described above. That is, a refrigeration unit including a compressor, a fan motor (FM) for cooling the ice making chamber 1A, and a condenser, and a hot gas valve (HG) for supplying and stopping hot gas (HG) for warming the ice making chamber during deicing. HG valve).

Incidentally, the ice making operation of the ice making machine having the above-described configuration basically repeats the ice making process and the ice removing process as one cycle. An ice making timer for controlling the ice making process is provided, and the timer is controlled so as to shift from the ice making process to the ice removing process.

Strictly speaking, a water supply step is performed before the ice making step, and a pre-cooling step for cooling the ice making chamber to a low temperature (for example, to about + 2 ° C.) is incorporated at the beginning of the ice making step. The counting operation of the ice making timer is started after the end of the precooling process.

Here, since the ice making time required for uniformly forming ice in the ice making chamber 1A is affected by the temperature of the outside world or the refrigerating capacity of the ice making machine, an ice making timer which can set and adjust the ice making time is used. Is done. For example, in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, a cooler, and the like, a sensor (referred to as a condenser sensor for convenience) that detects a condensation temperature or pressure is provided on a surface of a refrigerant outlet pipe of the condenser,
An ice making timer that adjusts the time when the operation of the compressor motor is stopped or the like based on the detection output of this sensor and controls the ice making time can be considered. Also, the end detection of the pre-cooling process
Although not shown, the cooling is performed by a cooling sensor that is mounted on the surface of the cooler 1 and measures the temperature of the cooler 1. When the cooling sensor detects + 2 ° C., the ice making timer counts.

Further, a supercool detection sensor is provided for detecting the surface temperature of the cooler 1 and detecting a supercool state in which the temperature becomes abnormally low. When the supercooling detection sensor detects a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined value (for example, -25 ° C.), the operation of the ice maker is forcibly shifted from the ice making process to the ice removing process irrespective of the operation of the ice making timer. Perform control. This allows the ice making timer to be cleared due to a power outage or the like during ice making, so that in ice making after the recovery from the power outage, the ice making time is prolonged and the supercooling state may be shifted to the ice removal process. The same ice can be made and it does not hinder the operation of the ice maker. The supercooling detection sensor can also serve as the cooler sensor.

The ice making operation is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Next, the flow will be described with reference to FIG.

When the water tray 5 is opened and ice falls from the ice making chamber 1A and the water tray 5 moves back and closes the lower part of the ice making chamber 1A,
The next ice making starts (process 40). Next, the ice making timer is cleared (step 41), the water supply valve 12 is opened, the circulation pump 9 is driven, and the water in the water tank 6 goes around the fountain hole 3 → the ice making chamber 1A → the return hole 4 → the water tank 6. Performs circulating water supply, and simultaneously operates the compressor motor, and the fan motor (F
M) is rotated to cool the cooler 1A (Process 4)
2). Next, it is determined whether the water tank 6 is full (decision 43),
When the water is full (the result of determination 43 is YES), the water supply valve 12
Is closed (process 44). Thereafter, the temperature of the cooler 1 is detected by the cooler sensor, and it is determined whether the temperature is equal to or lower than a set value (for example, + 2 ° C.) (determination 45). The ice making timer is started (step 46). Next, the supercooling detection sensor determines whether or not supercooling has occurred (determination 47). During normal operation without a power failure or the like, the determination 47 is NO, and it is determined whether the ice making time by the ice making timer is up. (Decision 48). However, if there is a power outage, the ice making timer will be cleared,
After recovery from the power failure, the time is counted from the beginning again, and the time for the ice making timer to time up is longer than the regular time. However, a constant value (for example, -2)
When a temperature of 5 ° C. or less is detected (determination 47), it is determined that the supercooling has occurred, and the supercooling is stored and set (processing 4).
9).

If the ice making timer determines that the time is up or supercooling, the process proceeds to the ice removing process. That is, the circulation pump 9 is stopped, and the fan motor (FM) is stopped (process 50). Subsequently, the hot gas valve (HG valve) is opened, the water supply valve 12 is opened (process 51), and the water tray 5 is tilted downward and opened (process 52). In process 51, the hot gas valve is opened, the ice making chamber 1A is heated, the ice cubes are dropped from the ice making chamber 1A, and the water supply valve 12 is opened and water is sprinkled on the water tray 5 from the water sprinkler 13 to form a water tray. 5 is to keep the ice from remaining.

On the other hand, in the process 52, when the water tray 5 is fully opened by the drive motor 10 and the changeover switch 29 is switched, the operation of stopping the water tray 5 is maintained. Then, at the time of judgment 47, it is judged whether or not the supercooling set is stored (judgment 53). If NO, the water supply valve 12 is closed to stop watering (process 54).
In this case, the timing of stopping watering is at the end of the water tray tilting. However, if there is a supercooling set (processing 53
Is YES), watering is not stopped, watering is continued, and the next determination of ice falling is made, and then watering is stopped. Here, whether or not the ice fall has been completed is determined by detecting the temperature of the cooler 1. That is, the ice making chamber 1A of the water tray 5 heated with hot gas.
When the ice finishes falling, the temperature of the cooler 1 rises rapidly. Therefore, this temperature is measured using the cooler sensor, and if it is detected, for example, at 9 ° C. or more, it is determined that the ice drop has been completed (decision 55). Therefore, if there is no supercooling set, watering is stopped first (step 54), and if YES in the judgment 55, the closing of the water supply valve in the step 56 has already been performed, so that it is omitted and the drive motor 10 Is reversed to close the water tray 5 (process 57). This water dish 5
When is closed, the ice removal process ends.

However, if there is supercooling, after the determination 55, a process 56 for closing the water supply valve 12 is performed. In other words, when the process shifts to the deicing process due to supercooling, watering is continued even after tilting the water tray. When the supercooled state occurs, ice chips often remain on the surface of the water tray 5. Therefore, water spray is continued to wash out the water, and ice cubes fall from the cooler 1 and are continued until the water tray 5 starts to return. Then, the water tray is moved back (processing 5).
7) Prepare the next ice making operation.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the manner in which the operation of the water supply valve described above is changed and controlled between normal time and supercooling in relation to each process during ice making.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
During the ice-making process, a condition where the ice-making timer is temporarily cleared due to some cause, for example, a power outage, recovers, and then returns, and the ice-making timer starts counting from the beginning again. Even if the time is long, the supercooling state that appears due to the long ice making time can be detected, and the process can be shifted to the ice-removing process, so that ice that is the same as the normal time can be produced. In addition, water is sprayed on the surface of the tilted water tray so that the ice can easily fall through the tilted water tray when ice is released.However, the water spray is performed only during the normal tilting of the water tray. Since it is made to continue even afterwards, the residual ice pieces strongly adhered to the surface of the water dish due to the supercooling are also washed away, and the deicing process can be smoothly performed.

In addition, it is possible to prevent an increase in the driving load at the time of de-icing, to reduce the failure rate, and to obtain an effect that the ice maker can ensure a stable ice-making operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an inverted cell type ice making machine to which an ice making operation control device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of the ice making operation control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the water supply valve in relation to a state in which the ice making process is supercooled during a normal operation of the ice making machine, a power failure, and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cooler 1A ice making room 32 cooler sensor (supercool detection sensor)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A refrigeration system cooler having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers, and a water tray having a surface for discharging ice making water on its surface and tilting to open or close the cooler from below. A water sprinkler for spraying water on the surface of the water tray when the water tray is tilted in the opening direction, an ice making process for circulating ice for making ice in the ice making chamber of the cooler and freezing, and heating the cooler with hot gas or the like. In an ice making machine that repeatedly makes an ice with a de-icing process of de-icing from an ice-making room as one cycle, a condensation sensor that detects a condensation temperature or a condensation pressure of a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration circuit and a detection output of the condensation sensor. An ice making time that is automatically adjusted and set in accordance with ice making conditions, an ice making timer that performs control to time the adjusted ice making time and shift from the ice making process to a de-icing process at the end of the time, and the cooling during the ice making. The vessel is supercooled A supercooling detection sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler to monitor whether the temperature of the cooler is below a certain temperature value. Control to forcibly shift to the de-icing process even during
An operation control device for an ice making machine, comprising control means for controlling water spraying to be extended even after the end of tilting of a water tray.