JP3176760B2 - Automatic 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 automatic ice making machine for continuously producing alkali ice or acid ice by circulating and supplying alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water generated by electrolysis to an ice making section. In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic ice maker provided with an electrolyzed water generator for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic ice making machine that has been widely used has been provided with an ice making cycle operation in which water supplied from an external water supply or a well is used as ice making water and cooled in an ice making section to make ice. Ice of a predetermined size and shape is automatically produced by alternately performing a deicing cycle operation of removing ice from an ice making unit and sending the ice to an ice storage. The raw material water used in the automatic ice making operation is generally tap water or well water as described above, and there is no example of performing a special treatment.

[0003] In recent years, alkaline ionized water, which is easily produced by electrolysis of water, has been widely consumed as an effective means for maintaining and promoting health, and has been mixed for cooling drinking water and other liquid beverages. As the ice to be used, it has been proposed to use alkali ice obtained by freezing alkali ion water. The alkaline water used for the production of the alkaline ice is, for example, by supplying tap water to an electrolytic cell, applying a voltage between a positive electrode and a negative electrode in the electrolytic tank, and electrolyzing the tap water. Manufactured on the negative electrode side. By using the electrolyzed water generator for a long time, scales such as calcium in tap water are deposited and deposited on the electrode surface on the cathode side where alkaline water is produced. The polarity of the voltage is reversed and applied to the electrode to remove scale from the negative electrode.

By the way, as an example of an automatic ice making machine, for example, an ice block formed on the surface of an ice making plate extending in a vertical direction is used.
2. Description of the Related Art An automatic ice maker is known in which hot gas flows into an evaporating tube attached to the back surface of an ice making plate and deicing water flows down the back surface to heat the ice making plate to remove ice. Also, as another example,
During the ice making cycle, the ice generated in the ice making compartment is closed with the water tray, and the ice generated in the ice making compartment is tilted to remove the ice from the ice making compartment. There is known an automatic ice maker which removes ice adhering to a water dish by flowing down washing water.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned automatic ice making machine, when the electrolyzed water generated by the electrolyzed water generator is used for the deicing water and the washing water, the amount of the electrolyzed water consumed increases. There was a problem that the life of the electrode was shortened, scale was deposited on the electrode surface on the negative electrode side in a short time, the electrode had to be cleaned frequently, and the ice making ability was reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice making machine capable of extending the life of an electrode, reducing the frequency of washing the electrode and improving the ice making capacity. With the goal.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic ice making machine, wherein the ice making water is branched from an ice making water supply system at a location before the ice making water flows into the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, and the ice making water is supplied to the back surface of the ice making part. , And during the deicing cycle, the ice making water that has not been electrolyzed in the electrolytic generator is guided to the back surface of the ice making section via the deicing water pipe.

[0008] The automatic ice making machine according to claim 2 of the present invention comprises:
It has a washing water pipe that branches from the ice making water supply system at the point before the ice making water flows into the electrolyzed water generator and guides the ice making water to the ice making section. The ice making water is guided to the ice making section via a washing water pipe, and the ice chips attached to the surface of the ice making section are washed.

An automatic ice maker according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
During the deicing cycle, the application of the electrolytic voltage to the electrolyzed water generator is stopped, and the unprocessed ice making water that has passed through the electrolyzed water generator is guided to the ice making section, and ice chips attached to the surface of the ice making section. Is to be washed.

[0010]

In the automatic ice making machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
During the deicing cycle, the electrolyzed unprocessed ice making water is led to the back surface of the ice making section via the deicing water pipe, the ice is removed from the ice making section, and the electrolyzed water is not used as deicing water.

In the automatic ice making machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, during the deicing cycle, the electrolyzed untreated ice making water is led to the ice making section via the washing water pipe, and the ice chips attached to the ice making section are removed from the ice making section. It is removed by the treated water, and the electrolytic treated water is not used as the washing water.

In the automatic ice making machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the application of the electrolytic voltage to the electrolyzed water generator is stopped during the deicing cycle, and the unprocessed ice making water that has passed through the electrolyzed water generator is removed. The ice chips guided to the ice making unit and adhered to the ice making unit are removed by the untreated water, and the electrolytically treated water is not used as washing water.

[0013]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, wherein 1 is an ice making water tank, 2 is an ice making plate disposed above the ice making water tank 1, 3
Is an evaporation pipe constituting a part of a refrigeration circuit attached to the back surface of the ice making plate 2, 4 is a circulation pump provided in the vicinity of the ice making water tank 1, and 5 is a dispersion pump whose base end is connected to the circulation pump 4. A water pipe 6 is a drain valve attached to the ice making water tank 1. The ice making section is constituted by the ice making plate 2 and the evaporating pipe 3.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a water supply pipe as an ice making water supply system;
Is a water supply valve attached to the water supply pipe 11 and incorporating a flow controller (not shown); 13 is a water purifier attached to the water supply pipe 11; 14 is a sealed electrolytic cell made of a resin such as vinyl chloride; Is a permeable diaphragm that divides the inside of the electrolytic cell 14 into two parts and defines a negative electrode chamber 16 and a positive electrode chamber 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a negative electrode disposed in the negative electrode chamber 16.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a positive electrode disposed in the positive electrode chamber 17, reference numeral 20 denotes a drain pipe extending from the top of the positive electrode chamber 17, and reference numeral 21 denotes a negative electrode chamber 1.
6, an ice making water pipe extending from the uppermost part and guiding the alkaline ionized water generated in the negative electrode chamber 16 into the ice making water tank 1.
Reference numeral 22 denotes a deicing water pipe branched from the water supply pipe 11, and reference numeral 23 denotes a deicing water valve attached to the deicing water pipe 22. The electrolytic cell 14, the diaphragm 15, the negative electrode chamber 16, the positive electrode chamber 17, the negative electrode 18, and the positive electrode 19 constitute an electrolyzed water generator.

In the above-mentioned automatic ice making machine, at the time of the ice making cycle operation, the alkaline ionized water, which is the ice making water generated in the negative electrode chamber 16 and stored in the ice making water tank 1 through the ice making water pipe 21, is supplied to the water sprinkling pipe 5 by the circulation pump 4. From the ice making plate 2. The alkaline ionized water is cooled by cold heat from the evaporation pipe 3 while flowing down the ice making plate 2. As the alkaline ionized water circulates between the ice making water tank 1 and the ice making plate 2, the alkali ionized water approaches the freezing point, and ice 8 is gradually generated on the ice making plate 2. Then, when ice of a predetermined size is formed on the ice making plate 2, an ice making completion detection sensor (not shown) operates, the operation of the circulation pump 4 stops, and the ice making cycle ends.

In the deicing cycle, when hot gas flows into the evaporating pipe 3, the water supply valve 12 is closed and the deicing water valve 23 is opened, and tap water as deicing water is made through the deicing water pipe 22. The ice making plate 2 is heated down the back surface of the plate 2. The deicing water is discharged out of the machine together with the alkaline ionized water remaining in the ice making water tank 1 from the drain valve 6. When the heating of the ice making plate 2 progresses and the ice 8 on the ice making plate 2 is completely melted and falls, the slow ice completion detecting sensor (not shown) operates and the deicing water valve 23 is closed. Then, when all the tap water in the ice making water tank 1 is discharged, the drain valve 6 closes, and the deicing cycle operation ends.

Thereafter, the water supply valve 12 is opened, and the electrodes 18 and
19 is applied, and the alkaline ionized water is supplied to the ice making water pipe 2.
When a predetermined amount of alkaline ionized water is supplied to the ice making water tank 1 through 1, the voltage application to the electrodes 18 and 19 is stopped. This alkaline ionized water is used as ice making water in the next ice making cycle. Note that the ice making time in the ice making cycle is shortened by flowing the refrigerant through the evaporating pipe 3 and cooling the ice making plate 3 in advance from this time.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the automatic ice maker according to claim 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a use mode of the automatic ice maker of FIG.
31 is an ice making water tank, 32 is a water tray disposed above the ice making water tank 31 and is rotatable around a spindle 33, 34 is a plurality of injection holes formed in the water tray 32, 35 is an ice making water tank 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a circulation pump, 36 is an ice making chamber whose opening is closed by a water tray 32, and 37 is an evaporating pipe attached to the upper surface of the ice making chamber 36. The ice tray is constituted by the water tray 32, the ice making chamber 36 and the evaporating pipe 37.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a water supply pipe, 42 denotes a water supply valve attached to the water supply pipe 41 and incorporates a flow controller (not shown), 43 denotes a water purifier attached to the water supply pipe 41,
Reference numeral 44 denotes a closed electrolytic cell made of a resin such as vinyl chloride. Reference numeral 45 denotes an inner part of the electrolytic cell 44 which is divided into two parts.
A cathode electrode disposed in the cathode chamber 46; a cathode electrode 49 disposed in the cathode chamber 47; and a cathode electrode chamber 50. A drain pipe 51 extends from the uppermost part of the 47, and a drain pipe 51 extends from the uppermost part of the negative electrode chamber 46 so that the alkaline ionized water generated in the negative electrode chamber 46 flows through the inlet 38 of the water tray 32 into the ice making water tank 31. Is a washing water pipe branched from the water supply pipe 41, and 53 is a washing water valve attached to the washing water pipe 52. The electrolytic cell 44, the diaphragm 45, the negative electrode chamber 46, the positive electrode chamber 47, the negative electrode 48, and the positive electrode 49 constitute an electrolyzed water generator.

In the above-mentioned automatic ice making machine, when the ice making cycle operation is started, the operation of a refrigeration system having a refrigerant compressor, a condenser cooling fan and the like (not shown) is started, and the circulation pump 35 is also operated. The alkaline ionized water w in the ice making water tank 31 is sent to the injection pipe 39 and is injected from the injection hole 34 toward the ice making chamber 36. At the same time, the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporating pipe 37 to remove heat from the outside (the ice making chamber 3).
6 and the alkaline ionized water are evaporated), and when the formation of the ice 40 in the ice making chamber 36 is completed, the operation of the circulation pump 35 is stopped, and the operation shifts to the deicing cycle operation.

In the deicing cycle operation, a well-known hot gas valve (not shown) of the refrigeration system is opened, and hot gas, that is, non-condensed compressed refrigerant gas is supplied to the evaporating pipe 37. Simultaneously with the opening of the hot gas valve, the water tray 32 tilts about the support shaft 33 and tilts to the position shown in FIG. afterwards,
The washing water valve 53 is opened, and tap water as deicing water is sprinkled from the washing water pipe 52 to the water tray 32. Many small pieces of ice adhere to the water dish 32, and the pieces of ice are melted and removed by the tap water. After the ice chips are melted and removed, the washing water valve 53
Is closed. After all the ice 40 has smoothly slid off the ice tray 36 along the water tray 32 without being disturbed by the ice chips,
The deicing completion detection sensor is activated, and the water tray 32 starts to return.

Simultaneously with the rotation of the water tray 32, the water supply valve 42 is opened, and a positive electrolytic voltage is applied to the negative electrode 48 and the positive electrode 49.
Water is sprayed from 1 onto a water tray 32, stored in an ice making water tank 31 through an inflow hole 38, and provided for ice making in the next ice making cycle. When it is confirmed that the water tray 32 has returned to the horizontal position, the water supply valve 42 is closed, and at the same time, the application of the positive electrolytic voltage to the negative electrode 48 and the positive electrode 49 is stopped.

The cleaning of the negative electrode 48 and the positive electrode 49 is performed as follows.
This is performed by applying an electrolysis voltage of opposite polarity to the negative electrode 48 and the positive electrode 49. This is performed by opening the water supply valve 42 for a time until the cleaning of the electrodes 48 and 49 is completed at the start of the deicing cycle operation. Then, the cleaning water valve 53 is closed.
As soon as the cleaning of the electrodes 48 and 49 is completed, the water supply valve 42
Is closed, the washing water valve 53 is opened, and the acidic ionized water adhering to the surfaces of the water tray 32 and the ice making water tank 31 flows out of the machine by tap water.

Embodiment 3 FIG. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment only in that the washing water pipe 52 of the second embodiment is removed. In the deicing cycle, the application of the electrolysis voltage to the electrolyzed water generator is stopped, and the electrolysis is stopped. The non-electrolyzed ice making water that has passed through the water generator is led to the ice making section, and ice chips attached to the ice making section are removed by the untreated water.
Although the first, second and third embodiments have been described with respect to the automatic ice maker for converting the alkaline ionized water into ice, the present invention is also applicable to an automatic ice maker for producing acidic ice. Of course. Further, the invention according to claims 2 and 3 can also be applied to an automatic ice making machine in which ice formed on the surface of the inclined ice making plate is removed by heat from the evaporation tube on the back surface of the ice making plate. Of course.

[0025]

As described above, according to the automatic ice making machine of the first aspect of the present invention, during the deicing cycle, the unprocessed ice making water is applied to the back surface of the ice making part via the deicing water pipe. As the ice is removed from the ice making section, it is not necessary to use electrolyzed water as deicing water, the life of the electrode is prolonged, and the frequency of electrode cleaning is reduced,
There is an effect that the ice making ability is improved.

According to the automatic ice making machine of the second aspect of the present invention, during the deicing cycle, the ice making water that has not been electrolyzed is guided to the ice making part via the washing water pipe, and the ice adhering to the ice making part. Since the pieces are removed by the untreated water, there is no need to use the electrolytically treated water as cleaning water, and the life of the electrodes is extended, the frequency of cleaning the electrodes is reduced, and the ice making ability is improved. This has the same effect as the first aspect.

According to the automatic ice making machine of the third aspect of the present invention, untreated electrolyzed water that has passed through the electrolyzed water generator during the deicing cycle is guided to the ice making section and adheres to the ice making section. Since the removed ice chips are removed by the untreated water, there is no need to use the electrolytically treated water as the washing water, and the same effect as in claim 1 can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an automatic ice making machine according to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing one use mode of the automatic ice maker of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... ice making water tank, 2 ... ice making plate, 3 ... evaporation pipe, 4 ...
Circulating pump, 8: ice, 11: water supply pipe, 12: water supply valve, 18: negative electrode, 19: positive electrode, 21: ice water pipe, 2
2 deicing water pipe, 23 deicing water valve, 31 ice making water tank, 32 water tray, 35 circulation pump, 36 ice making room, 4
0: ice, 41: water supply pipe, 42: water supply valve, 48: negative electrode, 49: positive electrode, 51: ice water pipe, 52: washing water pipe.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25C 1/12 C02F 1/46 F25C 1/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An ice making section for making ice water supplied from an ice making water supply system; an ice making water tank provided below the ice making section for storing ice making water not frozen in the ice making section;
An electrolyzed water generating device having a negative electrode and a positive electrode and attached to the ice making water supply system and electrolyzing the ice making water into alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, the ice making section and the ice making water tank, An ice making cycle in which ice is generated in the ice making part by circulating the ice making water between the ice making part, and ice produced on the surface of the ice making part is heated by supplying deicing water to the back side of the ice making part to heat the ice making part. In the automatic ice making machine in which a de-icing cycle of removing ice from the ice making section is repeated, the ice making water is branched from the ice making water supply system at a point before the ice making water flows into the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, and the ice making water is supplied to the ice making section. A deicing water pipe leading to the back surface of the ice making section, and at the time of the deicing cycle, the ice making water that has not been subjected to electrolysis in the electrolytic generation device is guided to the back surface of the ice making section via the deicing water pipe. Is characterized by having Ice machine. 2. An ice making unit for making ice water supplied from an ice making water supply system, an ice making water tank provided below the ice making unit and storing ice making water that is not frozen in the ice making unit.
An electrolyzed water generating device having a negative electrode and a positive electrode and attached to the ice making water supply system and electrolyzing the ice making water into alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, the ice making section and the ice making water tank, An ice making cycle in which an ice making cycle in which ice is generated in the ice making part by circulating the ice making water between the ice making part and a deicing cycle in which the ice making part is heated to remove ice from the ice making part is repeated. A washing water pipe branched from the ice making water supply system at a point before water flows into the electrolyzed water generating apparatus and leading ice making water to the ice making section, and at the time of the deicing cycle, The automatic ice making machine is characterized in that the non-electrolyzed ice making water is guided to the ice making section through the washing water pipe to wash ice chips attached to the surface of the ice making section. 3. An ice making unit for making ice water supplied from an ice making water supply system, an ice making water tank provided below the ice making unit and storing ice making water that is not frozen in the ice making unit.
An electrolyzed water generating device having a negative electrode and a positive electrode and attached to the ice making water supply system and electrolyzing the ice making water into alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, the ice making section and the ice making water tank, An ice making cycle in which ice is generated in the ice making section by circulating the ice making water between the ice making section and an ice making cycle in which the ice making section is heated to remove ice from the ice making section is repeated. During the ice cycle, the application of the electrolytic voltage to the electrolyzed water generator is stopped, and the unprocessed ice making water that has passed through the electrolyzed water generator is guided to the ice making section, and the ice adhered to the surface of the ice making section. An automatic ice maker characterized by washing pieces.