JP4121592B2 - Descale method for auger type ice machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a scale removal method for an auger type ice making machine that produces flake ice and chip ice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the auger type ice making machine, an evaporation pipe is wound around the outer circumference of a metal cylinder, thereby supplying water from below to the inside of the cylinder while cooling the cylinder, thereby forming an ice layer on the inner surface of the cylinder. Then, the ice thus formed has a cylindrical shape, and is transferred upward while being scraped by rotating an auger having a spiral ridge on the surface thereof in the cylinder, and is pressed and hardened to obtain flake ice or chip ice. make.
[0003]
Incidentally, as a conventional document relating to such an auger type ice making machine, there is, for example, JP-A-5-332649 (F25C 1/14).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such an auger type ice maker, when used for a long time, due to minerals contained in ice making water (tap water), scales such as calcium carbonate adhere to the inner surface of the cylinder and the auger. . If the scale is still attached to the inner surface of the cylinder or the auger, the auger motor that drives the auger will be overloaded, making it impossible to make ice, or the auger or cylinder will be deformed and replaced. I have to do it.
[0005]
Conventionally, the ice making machine is periodically disassembled and the scale is manually removed. However, there is a problem that the work is very troublesome.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to remove scales without taking such trouble.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the scale removal method of the auger type ice making machine of the present invention includes a metal cylinder, a metal auger having a spiral protrusion on the surface and rotating coaxially in the cylinder, An evaporation pipe provided outside the cylinder, a condensing unit for supplying refrigerant to the evaporation pipe, a plastic water storage tank for storing ice making water, and supplying ice making water from the water storage tank into the cylinder A method for removing scale of an auger type ice maker comprising a plastic water supply pipe, wherein a first electrode is provided in the ice making water of the water storage tank and is electrically connected to the cylinder and the auger. the electrode is provided, the auger and based on the current auger motor for rotationally driving exceeds a predetermined value, a constant direct current through the water of the ice machine from the first electrode to the second electrode With flow while, then, it is characterized by repeated predetermined number of times the water supply and switching control to drain the water supply valve and the drain valve wash out scale.
[0008]
In this way, since the scale can be removed by electrolysis, the removal can be performed without taking the trouble of disassembling the ice making machine and manually removing the scale. When the scale adheres to a predetermined amount or more and the load on the auger motor increases, the scale removal process can be automatically started.
[0009]
Further, after the electrolysis of scale, since the water supply and drainage water supply valve and the drain valve opening and closing control to repeatedly a predetermined number of times wash out the scale, we are possible to wash the scales precipitated by electrolyzing clean.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cylinder, 2 is an auger, 3 is an auger motor, 4 is a gear unit, 5 is a rotating shaft, 6 is a bearing, 7 is a bearing holding bracket, 8 is an agitator, 9 is a shooter, 10 is a water pipe, 11 Is a water supply tank, 12 is a water storage tank, 13 is a float switch, 14 is a water supply pipe, 15 and 17 are drain pipes, 16 is a drain valve, 20 is a compressor, 21 is a condenser, 22 is a dryer, 23 is an expansion valve, and 24 is An evaporation pipe, 30 is a direct current power source, and 31 and 32 are electrodes.
[0011]
The cylinder 1 is made of metal, and an evaporation pipe 24 is wound around the outer periphery thereof. Refrigerant is supplied to the evaporation pipe 24 from a condensing unit comprising a compressor 20, a condenser 21, a dryer 22, an expansion valve 23, etc., and the cylinder 1 is cooled by evaporating it in the evaporation pipe 24. On the other hand, tap water is stored in the water storage tank 12 through the water pipe 10 and the water supply valve 11, and then water for ice making is supplied into the cylinder 1 through the water supply pipe 14, and the water is cooled through the cylinder 1. Then, an ice layer is formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 1.
[0012]
On the other hand, in the cylinder 1, a metal auger 2 having spiral ridges formed around it is driven by an auger motor 3 and a gear unit 4 to rotate coaxially with the cylinder 1. While scraping off the ice layer formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 1 by the spiral protrusion, the scraped ice is transferred upward and pressed to make flake ice or chip ice. The flake ice or chip ice thus produced is pushed by the agitator 8 and discharged from the shooter 9 to an ice storage (not shown), where a certain amount of ice is stored.
[0013]
An electrode 31 is provided in the water storage tank 12 of such an auger type ice making machine, and it is immersed in the water in the water storage tank 12. An electrode 32 is connected to the outer surface of the cylinder 1. When removing the scale attached to the cylinder 1 and the auger 2, the positive electrode of the DC power supply 30 is connected to the electrode 31 and the negative electrode of the DC power supply 30 is connected to the electrode 32. As a result, a direct current flows from the electrode 31 to the cylinder 1 and the auger 2 through the water storage tank 12, the water supply pipe 14 and the water in the cylinder 1.
[0014]
Since the water storage tank 12 and the water supply pipe 14 are made of plastic, no current flows through them. In addition, since the cylinder 1 and the auger 2 are electrically connected through the bearing holding bracket 7 and the bearing 6, a current flows through both the cylinder 1 and the auger 2.
[0015]
In this manner, when a direct current flows from the electrode 31 to the cylinder 1 and the auger 2 through the water in the storage tank 12, the water supply pipe 14, and the cylinder 1, electrolysis causes CaCO3 + 2H ++ 2OH-> Ca (OH) 2 + H2O + CO2. Reaction occurs. As a result, the calcium carbonate adhering to the inner surface of the cylinder 1 and the surface of the auger 2 as a scale is decomposed into calcium hydroxide and carbon dioxide gas, and the carbon dioxide gas dissolves into water near the positive electrode 31 of the water storage tank 12. At the same time, calcium hydroxide dissolves into the water between the cylinder 1 and the auger 2 electrically connected to the negative electrode 32, and calcium hydroxide that cannot be completely dissolved precipitates when there is a large amount of scale.
[0016]
At that time, the voltage of the DC power supply 30 is adjusted so that the current value becomes 1 to 2 A, and the current is allowed to flow for a predetermined time. When a current is passed for a certain time, the drain valve 16 is opened to wash away the dissolved scale. However, since it cannot be washed away by itself, the water supply valve 11 is opened and water is supplied again. When the water is full, the auger motor 3 is operated and stirred. After stirring for a certain time, drainage is performed again by opening the drain valve 16. This water supply and drainage operation is repeated several times until the water is clean.
[0017]
Also, depending on the area, due to the water quality of the water supply, it may not be possible to sufficiently reduce the scale simply by adding water. In such a case, a tank for storing oxalic acid or citric acid is provided near the water storage tank 12, and oxalic acid or citric acid is stored in the water storage tank 12 during the first water supply when entering the scale removal process. To be added to. In this way, if oxalic acid or citric acid is added to water and an electric current is passed, electrolysis is promoted and the scale removal effect is improved.
[0018]
There are the following methods for determining the timing for performing such scale removal. One of them is a method in which a timer capable of counting the integrated operation time of the ice making machine is provided, and the scale is removed when the integrated operation time exceeds a certain time since the previous scale removal. The other method is a method of determining scale removal timing based on the fact that when the scale is accumulated, the auger 2 is difficult to rotate and the load on the auger motor 3 is increased. In other words, a current sensor is provided in the power supply circuit of the auger motor 3, and when the current value exceeds a certain value, it is determined that the scale adhesion amount has become a predetermined amount or more, and scale removal is performed. In this way, the scale removal process can be automatically performed.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0020]
The scale removal method for an auger type ice making machine according to the present invention includes inserting a first electrode into water in a water storage tank, connecting a second electrode to the cylinder and the auger, and connecting the second electrode from the first electrode to the second electrode. A direct current was passed through the water in the ice making machine, and the scale was removed by electrolysis. Accordingly, it is possible to remove the scale without taking the trouble of disassembling the ice making machine and manually removing the scale.
[0021]
Further, since the scale adhesion state can be detected based on the fact that the current of the auger motor exceeds a predetermined value, the scale removal process can be automatically started. In addition, after the scale is electrolyzed, the drain valve and the water supply valve are controlled to open and close, and the scale is washed away by repeating drainage and water supply a predetermined number of times.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cylinder 2 ... Auger 3 ... Auger motor 11 ... Water supply valve 12 ... Water storage tank 14 ... Water supply pipe 16 ... Drain valve 20 ... Compressor 21 ... Condenser 22 ... Dryer 23 ... Expansion valve 24 ... Evaporation pipe 30 ... DC power supply 31, 32 ... electrode

Claims (1)

A metal cylinder, a metal auger having a spiral ridge on the surface and rotating coaxially in the cylinder, an evaporation pipe provided outside the cylinder, and supplying a refrigerant to the evaporation pipe A scale removal method for an auger type ice making machine comprising a condensing unit, a plastic water storage tank for storing ice making water, and a plastic water supply pipe for supplying ice making water from the water storage tank into the cylinder. The first electrode is provided in the ice making water of the water storage tank, the second electrode electrically connected to the cylinder and the auger is provided, and the current of the auger motor that rotationally drives the auger exceeds a predetermined value. Based on the above, a direct current is allowed to flow from the first electrode to the second electrode through the water in the ice making machine for a certain period of time. Descaling method of the auger type ice making machine, characterized in that flushing the scale repeated several.

Images