JP4194153B2 - Auger ice machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auger type ice making machine that continuously manufactures ice pieces (chip ice).
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a prior art prior to the present invention, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-65834 (F25C 1/14), the inside of a refrigeration casing (hereinafter referred to as a cooling cylinder) provided with a cooling pipe (cooler) is provided. An auger is inserted into the cooling cylinder, and water for ice making is supplied from a float tank (hereinafter referred to as a water storage tank) through a water supply hose (hereinafter referred to as a water supply pipe), and the auger is driven to rotate by a motor. Then, the ice produced on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder is scraped and transferred upward and compressed to continuously produce ice pieces.
[0003]
In addition, the water tank is equipped with a float-type full water level switch that detects the full water level and low water level. The water supply valve is opened at the low water level to supply ice-making water (tap water) to the water tank. By closing the water supply valve at the full water level and stopping the water supply, the water level in the water storage tank was constantly maintained between the full water level and the low water level.
[0004]
On the other hand, such ice-making water contains impurities such as calcium and magnesium, and as ice making operation continues, they become scales and gradually deposit on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder. When such scale adheres to the inner wall of the cooling cylinder, the load applied to the auger, the motor, the bearing, etc. is increased, abnormal noise is generated, and finally, there is a problem that leads to failure.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, a drain pipe having a drain valve interposed in the lower part of the cooling cylinder is continuously connected, the drain valve is periodically opened to discharge water in the cooling cylinder, and a water pipe or a water supply is supplied from the water storage tank. By supplying new ice-making water into the cooling cylinder through a valve, the cooling cylinder is cleaned.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the drain valve breaks down, the water level in the water storage tank rapidly decreases, so that water for ice making is supplied to the water storage tank frequently or constantly.
[0007]
On the other hand, since the amount of water supplied to the cooling cylinder per unit time is usually set to be larger than the amount of drainage, ice-making water in the cooling cylinder is temporarily secured. Therefore, although ice making is continued, the user cannot notice the abnormality until the bill for the water charge comes, and there has been a problem that wasteful consumption of water continues until then.
[0008]
In addition, even if the water supply valve breaks down, water is always supplied to the water storage tank, so that there is a problem that wasteful consumption of water continues as described above.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has an object to quickly detect a water leak abnormality of a drain valve or a water supply valve, and to minimize the consumption of unnecessary ice making water. Provides an auger ice machine.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As means for achieving the above object, in claim 1 of the present invention, a cooling cylinder provided with a cooler on the outer wall, a water storage tank for storing ice-making water, and water supply for controlling water supply to the water storage tank A valve, a water supply pipe for supplying water from the water storage tank into the cooling cylinder, a drain pipe for discharging ice-making water in the cooling cylinder, a drain valve for controlling drainage from the drain pipe, and the cooling cylinder An auger inserted concentrically therein and an auger motor for rotating the auger, and the ice formed on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder is scraped by the auger, transferred upward, and compressed to continuously In the auger type ice making machine that generates ice pieces, when the auger motor is stopped, if the water level switch of the water storage tank is not at the full water level detection, the drain valve is closed and the water supply valve is detected at the full water level. Open, when detecting the low water level from full level within a predetermined time, the controller determines that the drain valve water leakage defects provided, the drain valve leak failure detection, for each of the water supply valve leak detecting failure fall ice step An auger type ice maker that makes alternate judgments is provided.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling cylinder provided with a cooler on the outer wall, a water storage tank for storing ice making water, a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the water storage tank, and the cooling from the water storage tank. A water supply pipe for supplying water into the cylinder, a drain pipe for discharging ice-making water in the cooling cylinder, a drain valve for controlling drainage from the drain pipe, and an auger inserted concentrically in the cooling cylinder And an auger motor for rotating the auger, the auger type ice making machine that continuously generates ice pieces by scraping the ice generated on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder with the auger, transferring it upward and compressing it When the auger motor is stopped, if the water level switch of the water storage tank is not at a low water level, the water supply valve is closed, the drain valve is opened until a low water level is detected, and the water level is changed from a low water level to a full water level within a predetermined time. Once it is known, provided with a control device for determining the water supply valve of water leakage defects, and drain valve leak failure detection, for each of the water supply valve leak detecting failure entering the ice storage step, to provide an auger type ice making machine to determine alternate .
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention , when the ice storage process is completed before the predetermined time elapses, the water leakage failure of the same valve is detected again in the next ice storage process. Provide a machine.
[0014]
In this way, if the time to decrease from the full water level to the low water level is within a predetermined time, it is determined that the drain valve is not leaking properly, and if the time from the low water level to the full water level is within the predetermined time, water supply Judged as water leakage failure of the valve.
[0015]
This is performed alternately every time the ice storage process is started, and when the ice storage process is completed before the predetermined time has elapsed, the water leakage failure detection of the same valve is performed again, so that either the drain valve or the water supply valve is defective. Even if this occurs, it can be detected quickly.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the auger type ice making machine according to any one of the first to third aspects , wherein an alarm signal is output when it is determined that the water supply valve water leakage is defective or the drain valve water leakage is defective.
[0017]
In this way, when it is determined that the water leakage of the water supply valve or the drain valve is defective, an alarm signal is output.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
1 is a longitudinal side view of an auger type ice making machine IM of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the auger type ice making machine IM of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the present invention. . The auger type ice making machine IM has an ice storage configured in a heat insulating box and stores ice produced in the ice storage. It can be used not only as an ice making machine but also in vending machines. The
[0020]
The auger type ice making machine IM alternately and repeatedly performs an ice making process and an ice storage process for stopping ice making when a predetermined amount of ice produced by the ice making process is stored in an ice storage.
[0021]
This auger type ice making machine IM includes an ice making unit 1 having a cooler 2 for making ice, a condenser 3 constituting a refrigeration cycle together with the cooler 2 of the ice making unit 1, a compressor (hereinafter referred to as a compressor) 4, The expansion valve 5 and the dehydrator 6 are connected by refrigerant piping. Reference numeral 7 denotes a condenser cooling fan for cooling the condenser 3. In addition, in order to supply water to the ice making unit 1, a water storage tank (hereinafter referred to as “systern”) 9 is provided which is connected to a water pipe 8 and a water supply valve WV 2 and stores tap water. In addition, an overflow pipe 10 is connected, and a water level detection device including a full water level switch 22 and a low water level switch 23 is provided in the cistern 9.
[0022]
Further, the water stored in the cistern 9 is introduced into the ice making unit 1 through a water supply pipe 12, and unnecessary water is discharged through a drain pipe 13. The drain pipe 13 is connected to the overflow pipe 10 via a drain valve WV1. In the ice making unit 1, an auger 16 is inserted concentrically into a stainless steel cooling cylinder 15 whose inner wall has a smooth cylindrical inner surface, and the pipe-shaped cooler 2 is spirally formed on the outer wall of the cooling cylinder 15. It is configured to be tightly wound around. In addition, solder is injected into the gap between the cooling cylinder 15 and the cooler 2 for the purpose of combining the two and improving the heat transfer performance.
[0023]
The auger 16 is pivotally supported by a lower bearing 17 at the lower part and an upper bearing 18 constituting an ice compression path at the upper part. Further, the ice compressed by the upper bearing 18 is led out to an ice storage (not shown) from an ice lead-out portion 19 (shooter) provided on the top. Further, a driving device 20 including an auger motor 45 for rotating the auger 16 is connected to the lower portion of the cooling cylinder 15 via a speed reduction device 21.
[0024]
Next, a circuit diagram will be described below with reference to FIG. K is a control board (control device) to which a limit sensor 30, a condenser sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the condenser, a cooler sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the cooler, and an ice storage sensor 33 are connected. Is getting power from. In addition to the sensors 30, 31, 32, 33, the operation board 35, the display board 36, the high voltage switch 37, the full water level switch 22, and the low water level switch 23 are connected to the control board K.
[0025]
Reference numeral 38 denotes an operation switch for starting the operation of the auger type ice making machine IM. The operation switch 38 is connected in series with a compressor relay 40 for turning on and off the compressor motor 39 of the compressor 4, a start capacitor 41 and an operation capacitor 42, a compressor motor start relay 43, and a compressor motor overload relay 44. ing.
[0026]
Further, the control board K is connected between the compressor motor start relay 43 and the compressor motor overload relay 44. The control board K includes a relay R4 connected to the auger motor 45 and the operating capacitor 46, a relay R3 connected to the condensing fan motor 7A and the compressor relay RL, and a relay R2 connected to the drain valve WV1. And a relay R1 connected to the water supply valve WV2. The compressor relay RL turns the compressor relay 40 on and off, and 47 is an overload relay for the auger motor 45.
[0027]
Further, the control board K is provided with an integration means for measuring and integrating the energization time to the auger motor 45. The operation board 35 is provided with a mode switch 48, a reset switch 49, a feed switch 50, a drain switch 51, and a drain lamp 52, respectively.
[0028]
Further, the display board 36 includes a check lamp 53 and a stop lamp 54 as alarm means, and has a structure capable of negative display, that is, negative display. The alarm means may be a buzzer in addition to the inspection lamp 53. In the structure described above, the operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0029]
When the ice making process is shifted to the ice storing process, the fan motors of the compressor 4 and the condenser cooling fan 7 are turned off (step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not 90 seconds have passed (step S2). When 90 seconds have passed (YES), the auger motor 45 is turned off (step S3).
[0030]
Next, it is determined whether or not the water leak detection flag of the water supply valve WV2 is “H” (step S4). If the flag is not “H” (NO), the water supply valve is turned on (step S5), and the water level Water is supplied until the switch 22 detects the full water level (step S6).
[0031]
When the full water level is detected in step S6 (YES), the water supply valve WV2 is turned off (step S7), and it is determined whether 15 minutes have passed (step S8).
[0032]
If 15 minutes have not elapsed in step S8 (NO), it is determined whether or not the low water level switch 23 is turned on (step S9). If the low water level switch 23 is on (YES), the drain valve WV1 is turned on. A defective alarm signal is output and an alarm is displayed (step S10).
[0033]
Next, it is determined whether or not less than 150 seconds have passed (step S11). If not (NO), the process returns to step S8.
[0034]
If 15 minutes have passed in step S8 (YES), the water supply valve water leakage flag is set to “H” (step S12), and the process proceeds to step S11. Further, if the low water level switch is not turned ON in step S9 (NO), the process proceeds to step S11.
[0035]
The determination of “less than 150 seconds?” In step S11 is a time for protecting the compressor 4.
[0036]
If less than 150 seconds have elapsed in this step S11 (YES), as shown in FIG. 4, the auger motor 45, the drain valve WV1, and the fan motor of the condenser cooling blower 7 are first turned on (step S13), and 10 seconds have elapsed. (Step S14).
[0037]
When 10 seconds have elapsed in step S14 (YES), the drain valve WV1 is turned OFF, the water supply valve WV2 is turned ON (step S15), and it is determined whether or not the full water level switch 22 is ON (step S16).
[0038]
When the full water level switch 22 detects the full water level (YES), the water supply valve WV2 is turned off, the compressor 4 is turned on (step S17), and the process proceeds to the ice making process.
[0039]
If the water leak detection flag of the water supply valve WV2 is “H” in step S4 (YES), the drain valve WV1 is turned on (step S18), and it is determined whether or not the low water level switch 23 is turned on (step S19). Continue until low water level is detected.
[0040]
If the low water level switch 23 is turned on in step S19 (YES), the drain valve WV1 is turned off (step S20), and it is determined whether 15 minutes have passed (step S21).
[0041]
If 15 minutes has not elapsed in step S20 (NO), it is determined whether or not the full water level switch 22 is ON (step S22). If the full water level switch 22 is ON (YES), an alarm of a failure of the water supply valve WV2 is determined. A signal is output and an alarm is displayed (step S23).
[0042]
Next, it is determined whether or not less than 150 seconds have passed (step S24). If not (NO), the process returns to step S20.
[0043]
If 15 minutes have passed in step S21 (YES), the water supply valve water leakage flag is set to “L” (step S25), and the process proceeds to step S24. Furthermore, when the full water level switch 22 is not ON in step S22 (NO), the process proceeds to step S24.
[0044]
If less than 150 seconds have elapsed in step S24 (YES), the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, if the time to decrease from the full water level to the low water level is within a predetermined time, it is determined that the drain valve has a poor water leak, and the time from the low water level to the full water level is predetermined. If it is within the time, it is determined that the water supply valve has a water leak failure, an alarm signal is output, and the user can be informed that one of the valves is defective.
[0046]
Furthermore, the drain valve failure detection or the water supply valve failure detection is alternately performed every time the ice storage process is started, and when the ice storage process is completed before the predetermined time elapses, the water leak failure detection of the same valve is performed again. Even if a failure occurs in any of the drain valve and the water supply valve, it can be detected quickly.
[0047]
Therefore, even if the drain valve or the water supply valve is defective, unnecessary consumption of ice making water can be minimized, and the reliability of the ice making machine can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of an auger type ice making machine IM of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an auger type ice making machine IM of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
IM auger type ice making machine WV1 drain valve WV2 water supply valve 2 cooler 9 cis turn (water storage tank)
12 Water supply pipe 13 Water distribution pipe 15 Cooling cylinder 16 Auger 22 Full water level switch 23 Low water level switch 45 Auger motor 53 Inspection lamp

Claims (4)

A cooling cylinder provided with a cooler on the outer wall, a water storage tank for storing ice-making water, a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the water storage tank, and a water supply pipe for supplying water from the water storage tank into the cooling cylinder A drain pipe for discharging ice making water in the cooling cylinder, a drain valve for controlling drainage from the drain pipe, an auger inserted concentrically in the cooling cylinder, and an auger motor for rotating the auger An auger type ice making machine that continuously generates ice pieces by scraping the ice generated on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder with the auger, transferring it upwards and compressing, when the auger motor is stopped, When the water level switch of the water storage tank is not full water level detection, the drain valve is closed, the water supply valve is opened until the full water level is detected, and if the low water level is detected from the full water level within a predetermined time, the drain valve An auger type ice making machine characterized in that a control device for judging a water leak failure is provided and a drain valve water leak failure detection and a water supply valve water leak failure detection are alternately judged each time the ice storage process is entered . A cooling cylinder provided with a cooler on the outer wall, a water storage tank for storing ice-making water, a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the water storage tank, and a water supply pipe for supplying water from the water storage tank into the cooling cylinder A drain pipe for discharging ice making water in the cooling cylinder, a drain valve for controlling drainage from the drain pipe, an auger inserted concentrically in the cooling cylinder, and an auger motor for rotating the auger The auger type ice making machine that continuously generates ice pieces by scraping the ice generated on the inner wall of the cooling cylinder with the auger, transferring it upwards and compressing, when the auger motor is stopped, When the water level switch of the water storage tank is not low, the water supply valve is closed, the drain valve is opened until the low water level is detected, and if the full water level is detected from the low water level within a predetermined time, the water supply valve will not leak. A control device for determining provided with a drain valve leak defect detection, and a water supply valve leak failure detection for each entering the ice storage step, the auger type ice making machine, characterized in that to determine alternately.   3. The auger type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein when the ice storage process is completed before a predetermined time elapses, water leakage failure detection of the same valve is performed again in the next ice storage process.   The auger type ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an alarm signal is output when it is determined that the water supply valve water leak is defective or the drain valve water leak is defective.

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