JP4518875B2 - Deicing operation method of automatic ice maker - Google Patents

Description

  In this deicing operation, hot gas is circulated to an evaporator disposed in the ice making unit, and deicing water is supplied from the deicing water supply means to heat the ice making unit, thereby generating the ice making unit. The present invention relates to a deicing operation method of an automatic ice maker that removes the ice block.

An automatic ice maker that automatically produces a large amount of ice blocks is equipped with an evaporator derived from a refrigeration system equipped with a compressor, a condenser, etc., in an ice making unit and forcibly cooled by a refrigerant circulated to the evaporator. Ice making water is supplied to the ice making unit to generate ice blocks, and the resulting ice blocks are peeled off and released by falling. This automatic ice making machine is provided with an ice making water tank for storing a required amount of ice making water below the ice making unit. During ice making operation, the ice making water in the ice making water tank is pumped by a circulation pump to the ice making surface of the ice making unit. The ice making water that has been supplied and has not been frozen is collected in an ice making water tank and then sent out again toward the ice making unit. Then, when the ice making operation is continued and a predetermined time elapses, it is determined that the ice making is completed, the ice making operation is shifted to the deicing operation, and the hot gas discharged from the compressor by switching the hot gas valve of the refrigeration apparatus ( High-temperature and high-pressure vaporized refrigerant) is supplied to the evaporator, and tap water from an external water source is sprinkled and supplied to the back of the ice making unit as deicing water to melt the ice surface with the ice block, thereby making the ice block ice-free. It is made to detach | leave from a part (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP-A-5-45031

  In such an automatic ice making machine, the ice making operation may be shifted to the ice making operation without removing all the ice blocks during the deicing operation. In this case, there is a problem that ice blocks are newly generated on the ice blocks remaining in the ice making unit, and deformed ice called double ice is formed. As a result, the ice making unit is frozen due to supercooling. Therefore, by setting a longer setting time of the deicing completion detection means such as a timer for determining completion of deicing of the ice block from the ice making unit, the system is operated with a margin so that the ice block can be completely deiced. . For this reason, the deicing time becomes long and the difficulty that ice making efficiency deteriorates is pointed out.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in the deicing operation method of the automatic ice maker according to the prior art, and reliably removes the ice block from the ice making unit. Another object is to provide a deicing operation method for an automatic ice making machine that can improve ice making efficiency.

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the deicing operation method of the automatic ice maker according to the present invention is:
During the ice making operation, a refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator of the ice making unit to cool the ice making unit , and ice making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice making unit through a circulation pump to generate ice blocks. supplies the hot gas to the vessel, deicing water to the definitive ice surface ice making section from the supply means to supply the deicing water to the back surface of the opposite, an automatic ice maker of the vibration which is adapted to disengage the ice blocks from the ice making section In the ice driving method,
That the temperature of the evaporator in the deicing during operation reaches to a Jo Tokoro set temperature from the detected temperature detecting means, it is shorter than the time required for the arrival time of the set temperature to the deicing operation completion During the deicing operation after the first set time has elapsed, the circulating pump that has been stopped is driven to start supplying ice-making water to the ice- making surface of the ice- making unit. To do.

According to the deicing operation method of the automatic ice maker according to claim 1 of the present invention, during the deicing operation, hot gas and deicing water are supplied to the evaporator to increase the temperature of the ice making unit, and the temperature of the evaporator is increased. The removal after the first set time set shorter than the time required from the time when the set temperature is reached until the deicing operation is completed after the temperature detecting means detects that the predetermined set temperature has been reached. During ice operation , the circulation pump is driven to start supplying ice-making water to the ice making unit during the deicing operation, so the deicing time can be shortened, and the amount of deicing water required can be reduced. , Ice making efficiency can be improved. According to the invention of claim 2, the ice making water to the ice making surfaces of more ice making section to drive the circulation pump and at the same time starts supplying, by stopping the supply of the deicing water from the deicing water supplying means, the amount of water deicing water It can be reduced more. According to the invention of claim 3, that the temperature of the evaporator reaches the set temperature from the detected temperature detecting means, the second set time elapses after the set in a shorter time than the first set time Supply of deicing water from the deicing water supply means during the deicing operation and before starting to supply ice making water to the ice making surface of the ice making unit by driving the circulation pump performed according to the passage condition of the first set time By stopping the operation, the amount of deicing water can be further reduced.

  Next, the deicing operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a flow-down type automatic ice maker as an automatic ice maker according to Embodiment 1, and a refrigeration apparatus 30 described later is provided on the back surface of an ice making unit 10 disposed substantially vertically in an ice making chamber. The tubular evaporator 14 that is led out from the side and meanders in the lateral direction is closely fixed, and the ice making unit 10 is forcibly cooled by circulating the refrigerant during the ice making operation. An ice-making water tank 20 for storing a predetermined amount of ice-making water is disposed below the ice-making unit 10, and the ice-making water tank 20 is connected to the ice-making surface of the ice-making unit 10 via the circulation pump PM during ice making operation. Ice-making water is supplied. In addition, a guide plate 18 is disposed immediately below the ice making unit 10 so as to guide the ice block M, which is melted and separated from the ice making unit 10 by the deicing operation, to the stocker 16 disposed below. The guide plate 18 has many through holes (not shown), and ice making water supplied to the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 during the ice making operation passes through the through holes of the guide plate 18. And is collected and stored in an ice making water tank 20 located below.

  Above the ice making section 10, an ice making watering device 24 connected to an ice making water supply pipe 22 led out from the ice making water tank 20 through a circulation pump PM is disposed. A large number of sprinkling holes (not shown) are formed in the ice sprinkler 24, and ice making water pumped from the ice making water tank 20 during ice making operation is supplied from the sprinkling holes to the freezing temperature of the ice making unit 10. The ice is cooled down to the ice making surface and sprayed down to generate an ice mass M on the ice making surface.

  Above the ice making unit 10, a deicing sprinkler (deicing water supply means) 28 to which tap water is supplied through a water supply pipe 26 connected to an external water source is disposed. The water supply pipe 26 is provided with a water supply valve (deicing water supply means) WV capable of opening and closing the pipe so as to be openable and closable. The deicing water is supplied to the deicing water sprinkler 28, and the deicing water can be sprayed to the back surface of the ice making unit 10 through a small hole (not shown) formed in the deicing sprinkler 28. The deicing water supplied to the back surface of the ice making unit 10 heats the ice making unit 10 cooled in the ice making operation, and is collected and stored in the ice making water tank 20 to be used as ice making water in the next ice making operation. . The deicing water that has flowed down to the ice making water tank 20 is discharged from the overflow pipe 21 in excess of the stored water amount. When the deicing operation is started and the temperature detecting means TH described later detects that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has reached the predetermined set temperature T1, the first set time before the deicing operation is completed has elapsed. Later, the circulation pump PM is driven and ice making water is supplied from the ice making water sprinkler 24 to the ice making unit 10, and further detachment of the ice mass M is promoted.

The refrigeration apparatus 30 that cools the ice making unit 10 includes a compressor CM, a condenser CD, and expansion means EV disposed in a machine room (not shown), and an evaporator 14 disposed on the back surface of the ice making unit 10. Is basically composed (see FIG. 1). In the refrigeration apparatus 30, each device is arranged so that the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor CM, the condenser CD, the expansion means EV, and the evaporator 14, and each device is connected in communication by a refrigerant pipe 34. That is, the vaporized refrigerant compressed by the compressor CM is supplied to the condenser CD through the refrigerant pipe 34 and is condensed and liquefied, then depressurized by the expansion means EV, and flows into the evaporator 14 where The ice making unit 10 expands and evaporates all at once, and heat exchanges with the ice making unit 10 to forcibly cool the ice making unit 10 to below the freezing point. The vaporized refrigerant evaporated and heat-exchanged in the evaporator 14 repeats a cycle of returning to the compressor CM via the refrigerant pipe 34. The refrigeration apparatus 30 includes a bypass pipe 36 that directly supplies hot gas (high-temperature / high-pressure vaporized refrigerant) from the compressor CM to the evaporator 14 without passing through the condenser CD and the expansion means EV. The bypass pipe 36 is inserted with a hot gas valve HV that closes the pipe so as to be openable and closable. In the deicing operation, the hot gas valve HV is opened to make ice by the hot gas supplied to the evaporator 14. The part 10 can be heated. In FIG. 1, symbol FM indicates a fan motor, which is driven during the ice making operation and functions to cool the condenser CD.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the compressor CM, the fan motor FM, the hot gas valve HV, and other devices, the circulation pump PM, and the water supply valve WV that constitute the refrigeration apparatus 30 perform predetermined operations by the control means C. Be controlled. The control means C includes a timer TM and counts a predetermined value (1 in the first embodiment) by interlocking with the timer TM. The water supply counter WI manages the water supply status in the deicing operation, and supplies water in the deicing operation. Manages the timing of completion, manages the water supply completion counter WF that closes the water supply valve WV, the circulation pump counter PS that manages the driving timing of the circulation pump PM in the deicing operation, and manages the timing of completion of the deicing operation , A deicing counter FD as a deicing completion detection means for closing the water supply valve WV and the hot gas valve HV, and a backup counter for emergency closing the water supply valve WV and the hot gas valve HV in order to avoid a deicing operation abnormality Various counters such as BU are provided. That is, in the control means C, every time the timer TM measures a predetermined time, the “timer interrupt program” is interrupted and executed, and the water supply count value WICT of the water supply counter WI, the backup count value BUCT of the backup counter BU, The water supply completion count value WFCT of the completion counter WF, the deicing count value FDCT of the deicing counter FD, and the circulating pump count value PSCT of the circulating pump counter PS are incremented by “1”, and the count value of each counter is set in advance. When the set value is reached, each corresponding device is caused to perform a predetermined operation.

  The refrigerant pipe 34 connected to the outlet side of the evaporator 14 is provided with temperature detecting means TH for monitoring the temperature of the evaporator 14 by detecting the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 34 ( (See FIG. 1). In this temperature detecting means TH, the melting state of the ice block M in the deicing operation is determined by detecting the temperature of the evaporator 14. The temperature detection result by the temperature detection means TH is input to the control means C. When the temperature detection result is equal to or higher than the set temperature T1, counting by the deicing counter FD and the circulation pump counter PS is started, and the circulation pump After the first set time has elapsed since the detection of the set temperature T1 by the temperature detecting means TH, which is the time when the count value PSCT reaches the set value CT101, the circulating pump PM is driven, and ice making water is sprayed on the ice making unit 10. Is done. Thereafter, when the deicing count value FDCT reaches the set value CT4, the dewatering operation is stopped by closing the water supply valve WV and the hot gas valve HV. Note that the set temperature T1 at the ice making unit 10 heated by the supply of hot gas and deicing water begins to melt the ice mass M on the ice making surface, and the temperature near the outlet of the evaporator 14 hardly changes (saturation). The temperature immediately before (for example, about 9 ° C.). Further, the set value CT4 of the deicing count value FDCT is set larger than the set value CT101 of the circulating pump count value PSCT.

  In the control means C, a temperature detection flag TFGL is set. The temperature detection flag TFGL is a switching unit that sets a conditional branch for advancing or repeating the deicing operation based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit TH that detects the temperature of the evaporator 14.

[Operation of Example 1]
Next, the operation of the deicing operation method for the automatic ice maker according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the ice making operation of the automatic ice maker according to the first embodiment is started, the ice making unit 10 is forcibly cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant circulating in the evaporator 14, and is made from the ice making water tank 20 through the circulation pump PM. The ice making water supplied to the surface gradually begins to freeze. Here, the ice making water falling from the ice making surface without icing is collected in the ice making water tank 20 through the through hole of the guide plate 18 and supplied again to the ice making unit 10 by the circulation pump PM. When the ice making operation proceeds and the ice block M is completely generated on the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10, the ice making operation is stopped and the deicing operation is started. At this time, the compressor CM remains driven, and the fan motor FM is stopped (step S1).

  When the deicing operation is started, the circulation pump PM is stopped, and the supply of ice making water from the ice making water sprinkler 24 to the ice making unit 10 is stopped. Moreover, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator 14 by opening the hot gas valve HV, and deicing water is supplied from the deicing sprinkler 28 to the back surface of the ice making unit 10 by opening the water supply valve WV. Then, the ice making unit 10 is heated (step 2). Thereby, the icing surface of the ice block M frozen on the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 is gradually melted. Further, the backup count value BUCT of the backup counter BU, the water supply count value WICT of the water supply counter WI, and the water supply completion count value WFCT of the water supply completion counter WF are reset and set to “0”, and the temperature detection flag TFGL is initialized. After the value is switched to “0” (step S3), the process proceeds to step S4. Each counter WI, WF, BU counts up each count value WICT, WFCT, BUCT by “1” every time the timer TM measures a predetermined time.

  In step S4, the backup count value BUCT of the backup counter BU has a sufficient time (for example, about 20 minutes) more than the time required for all the ice blocks M to be detached from the ice making unit 10 in the normal deicing operation. It is determined whether or not the set value CT2 is equal to or greater than the set value CT2. When the backup count value BUCT is smaller than the set value CT2, the process proceeds to determination of the water supply count value WICT of the water supply counter WI (step S5). On the other hand, when the backup count value BUCT is greater than or equal to the set value CT2, the hot gas valve HV is closed to stop the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 14, and the water supply valve WV is closed. By stopping the supply of deicing water from the deicing sprinkler 28 to the ice making unit 10, the deicing operation is stopped urgently (step 13). At this time, the controller C may be set to issue an alarm or the like. Thus, if it takes too much time to complete the deicing so that the backup count value BUCT reaches the set value CT2 or more, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred and the deicing operation is stopped. In addition, the deicing water is not wasted, and the load on the compressor CM can be reduced.

  Next, the amount of deicing water supplied from the deicing sprinkler 28 to the back surface of the ice making unit 10 is determined (step S5). In this step S5, the water supply count value WICT of the water supply counter WI is a value corresponding to the time (for example, about 3 minutes) required to fill the ice making water tank 20 with the amount of ice making water required in the next ice making operation. By determining whether or not the set value CT6 is equal to or greater than the set value CT6, the amount of deicing water stored in the ice making water tank 20 is determined. That is, if the water supply count value WICT is equal to or greater than the set value CT6, the process proceeds to the determination of the water supply completion count value WFCT (step S6) of the water supply completion counter WF that manages the timing of completion of the supply of deicing water. If the water supply count value WICT is smaller than the set value CT6, the process returns to step S4, and the processes of steps S4 and S5 are repeated.

  In step S6, by determining whether or not the water supply completion count value WFCT of the water supply completion counter WF is equal to or larger than a preset set value CT3, the deicing water is not excessively supplied to the ice making unit 10, The amount of deicing water is reduced. That is, in step S5 which is the previous process of step S6, the deicing water is stored in the ice making water tank 20 to some extent, so that the deicing operation time becomes longer due to the ambient temperature, the deicing water temperature, etc. The excessive portion of the deicing water is discharged from the overflow pipe 21. In step S6, if the water supply completion count value WFCT is equal to or greater than the set value CT3, it is determined that the deicing water supply time has become abnormally long, and the water supply valve WV is closed to thereby remove the deicing watering device 28. After stopping the supply of deicing water from (step S61), since the process proceeds to step S7, excessive supply of deicing water can be prevented. When the water supply completion count value WFCT is smaller than the set value CT3, the process proceeds to step S7 with the water supply valve WV open. The set value CT3 of the water supply completion count value WFCT is set to be larger than the set value CT6 of the water supply count value WICT, for example, a value corresponding to about 6 minutes.

  In step S7, the condition branches depending on the value of the temperature detection flag TFLG switched according to the temperature detection of the evaporator 14. If the value of the temperature detection flag TFLG is "0" which is the initial value, the temperature detection means TH. It moves to the temperature detection process (step S8) of the evaporator 14 by. In step S8, if the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means TH is equal to or higher than the set temperature T1, the deicing count value FDCT of the deicing counter FD and the circulating pump count value PSCT of the circulating pump counter PS are reset to “0”. After that, the count is started and the temperature detection flag TFGL is switched from “0” to “1” (step S9), and the process returns to step S4. On the other hand, when the evaporator 14 has not reached the set temperature T1, the process proceeds to step S4 without starting the deicing counter FD and the circulation pump counter PS without going through step S9. Until the detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1, steps S4 to S8 are repeated. The activated deicing counter FD and the circulating pump counter PS are incremented by “1” every time the timer TM measures a predetermined time. The solid lines (1), (2), and (3) in FIG. 3 are connected corresponding to the solid lines (1), (2), and (3) in FIG.

  When the temperature detection means TH detects that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has risen to the set temperature T1, the temperature detection flag TFLG switches to “1”, so the process proceeds from step S7 to step S10. The deicing operation further proceeds. That is, when the temperature of the evaporator 14 is raised to the set temperature T1, it can be determined that the icing state between the ice making unit 10 and the ice surface of the ice block M has been released to some extent, and the next process proceeds. Is acceptable. In step S10, the timing of spraying ice making water from the ice making water sprinkler 24 to the ice making unit 10 is determined. That is, when the first set time in which the circulating pump count value PSCT of the circulating pump counter PS that has started counting after the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1 has exceeded the set value CT101 has passed, By driving the circulation pump PM (step S11), ice making water is pumped from the ice making water tank 20, and ice making water is supplied from the ice making water sprinkler 24 to the ice making unit 10. The ice making water flowing down the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 together with the warming of the ice making unit 10 by hot gas and deicing water further promotes the detachment of the ice block M from the ice making unit 10. The separated ice block M is guided by the guide plate 18 and stored in the stocker 16. On the other hand, when the circulating pump count value PSCT is smaller than the set value CT101, the process returns to step S4, and the process of steps S4 to S7 is repeated to continue the deicing operation.

  The deicing operation is completed when the deicing count value FDCT of the deicing counter FD that has started counting after the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1 reaches the set value CT4 (step S12). That is, after the ice making unit 10 is heated and reaches the set temperature T1, when a predetermined time has elapsed when the deicing count value FDCT becomes the set value CT4, it is determined that all the ice blocks M have detached from the ice making unit 10. The water supply valve WV is closed to stop the supply of deicing water, and the hot gas valve HV is closed to stop the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 14 (step 13). Heating to is stopped. On the other hand, when the deicing count value FDCT has not reached the set value CT4, the process returns to step S4, and the processes of steps S4 to S7 and step S10 are repeated. The set value CT4 of the deicing count value FDCT is set to a value larger than the set value CT101 of the circulating pump count value PSCT (a value corresponding to about 1 minute), and the ice making water is set before the end of the deicing operation. Can be supplied to the ice making unit 10. Then, the automatic ice making machine goes through the required operation such as the drainage operation and then shifts to the ice making operation again, and repeats the cycle in which the ice block M is generated.

  Thus, in the deicing operation, after the first set time has elapsed since the temperature detecting means TH detected the set temperature T1, the circulation pump PM is driven and the ice making unit is connected via the ice making sprinkler 24. By operating to supply ice making water to the 10 ice making surfaces, the icing surface of the ice mass M frozen on the ice making surface is directly melted, so that the timing of detachment of the ice mass M can be further advanced. That is, since the set value CT4 of the deicing count value FDCT can be reduced, the time from when the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1 until the deicing operation is completed can be shortened. Therefore, since the time required for the entire deicing operation is shortened after the ice block M is reliably detached from the ice making unit 10, the amount of deicing water required can be reduced and the ice making efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, if ice making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 in the state immediately after the transition from the ice making operation to the deicing operation, there is a possibility that the ice making water may freeze. Since the ice making water is supplied in a state where the ice making unit 10 for detecting T1 is warmed to some extent, freezing of the ice making water can be avoided and the detachment of the ice block M can be preferably promoted. Moreover, since the ice making water is supplied from the ice making water sprinkler 24 disposed above the ice making unit 10, the ice mass M is preferably urged to be detached by the water flow of the ice making water flowing down the ice making surface. Furthermore, in the process in which the ice mass M is melted and separated from the ice making unit 10, the ice mass M may slightly melt at a portion between the ice mass M and the ice making surface, and it may be difficult to fall due to the surface tension of the ice melt water. Since ice-making water having a temperature higher than M is sprayed directly on the ice block M, deicing can be promoted by reducing the surface tension.

  The set value of each counter and the time measured by the timer TM can be arbitrarily set according to environmental conditions such as the ambient temperature or the deicing water temperature. In particular, by changing the time measured by the timer TM, Since the count value can be changed at once, the setting can be easily changed. As described above, since the operating conditions can be easily changed, the deicing operation can always be performed under the optimal operating conditions, so that the ice making efficiency can be improved.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the deicing operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the second embodiment. Solid lines (1), (2), (3) in FIG. 5 are solid lines (1) in FIG. , (2), (3) corresponding to the connection. That is, in the second embodiment, the first half of the deicing operation is the same as the first half of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as that of Example 1, only a different part is demonstrated.

  In the second embodiment, the ice making water is supplied to the ice making unit 10 by driving the circulation pump PM after the first set time has elapsed since the temperature detecting means TH detects that the evaporator 14 has reached the set temperature T1. The supply of deicing water from the deicing sprinkler 28 is stopped by closing the water supply valve WV. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the temperature detecting means TH detects that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has reached the set temperature T1 (step S8), it is determined that the melting of the ice mass M has progressed to some extent. Thus, the deicing count value FDCT and the circulating pump count value PSCT are started to be counted by the deicing counter FD and the circulating pump counter PS as deicing completion detecting means (step S9). In step S9, the temperature detection flag TFLG is switched to “1”, and the progress to step S10 is allowed in step S7. When the first set time for the circulating pump count value PSCT of the circulating pump counter PS to reach the set value CT101 has elapsed (step S10), the circulating pump PM is driven and the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 is used for ice making. The ice making water is sprayed from the sprinkler 24 and the water supply valve WV is closed to stop the spraying of the deicing water from the deicing sprinkler 28 (step S11a). Further, when a predetermined time elapses after the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1 and the deicing count value FDCT becomes the set value CT4, it is determined that the ice block M has completely detached from the ice making unit 10 (step S12). ) When the hot gas valve HV is closed and the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 14 is stopped (step S13a), the heating to the ice making unit 10 is stopped.

  In the deicing operation method of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects shown in the first embodiment, the amount of deicing water used in the deicing operation can be further reduced as compared with the first embodiment. That is, the ice making water supplied from the ice making water tank 20 to the ice making unit 10 through the circulation pump PM circulates inside the automatic ice making machine, whereas the deicing water supplied from the external water source is the ice making water tank 20. If the amount of storage exceeds this amount, there is a problem that it is discharged to the outside through the overflow pipe 21. Therefore, when supplying the ice making water to the ice making unit 10 by driving the circulation pump PM, the amount of deicing water discharged can be reduced by stopping the supply of the deicing water. Moreover, compared to the deicing water sprayed on the back surface of the ice making unit 10 and indirectly heating the ice block M through the ice making unit 10, it is sprayed on the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10 to form the ice block M. Since the ice making water in direct contact is superior in deicing efficiency, deterioration of the deicing efficiency due to stopping the supply of the deicing water is avoided.

  FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the automatic ice making machine according to the third embodiment. The control means C2 of the third embodiment is similar to the control means C described in the first embodiment after the temperature detection means TH detects the set temperature T1. The dewatering water supply stop counter WS for managing the timing of stopping the supply of deicing water is added. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the deicing operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the third embodiment. The solid lines (1), (2), (3) in FIG. 7 are solid lines (1 ), (2), and (3). That is, in the third embodiment, the first half process of the deicing operation is the same as the first half process in the deicing operation of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. Since these parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, only different parts will be described.

  In the third embodiment, after the first set time has elapsed since the temperature detecting means TH detects that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has reached the set temperature T1, the ice making unit 10 is driven by driving the circulation pump PM. While supplying ice-making water, the supply of the deicing water from the deicing watering pipe 28 is stopped by closing the water supply valve WV after the second set time after the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1. It is configured to Here, the second set time is set shorter than the first set time, and the supply of deicing water is stopped before the circulation pump PM is driven. As shown in FIG. 7, when the temperature detecting means TH detects that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has reached the set temperature T1 (step S8), it is determined that the melting of the ice block M has progressed to some extent, The deicing counter FD, the circulation pump counter PS and the water supply valve counter WS as the deicing completion detection means start counting the deicing count value FDCT, the circulation pump count value PSCT and the water supply valve count value WSCT (step S9a). In step S9a, the temperature detection flag TFLG is switched to “1”, and the progress of the deicing operation (transition to step S102) is allowed in step S7. When the second set time for the water supply valve count value WSCT of the water supply valve counter WS to reach the set value CT102 elapses (step S102), the water supply valve WV is closed and the deicing sprinkler 28 The spraying of deicing water is stopped (step S111), and the process proceeds to step S10. When the first set time for the circulation pump count value PSCT of the circulation pump counter PS to reach the set value CT101 has passed (step S10), the circulation pump PM is driven and an ice making watering device is formed on the ice making surface of the ice making unit 10. Ice making water is sprayed from 24 (step S112), and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, when a predetermined time has elapsed from when the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1 until the deicing count value FDCT becomes the set value CT4, it is determined that all the ice blocks M have detached from the ice making unit 10. When the hot gas valve HV is closed and the supply of hot gas to the evaporator 14 is stopped (step S13a), the heating to the ice making unit 10 is stopped.

  In the deicing operation method of the third embodiment, in addition to the operational effects shown in the first or second embodiment, the supply of deicing water is stopped at an early timing after the temperature detecting means TH detects the set temperature T1. Therefore, the amount of water used for the deicing operation can be further reduced as compared with Example 2.

1 is a schematic view showing an automatic ice making machine according to a preferred embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the automatic ice making machine according to the first embodiment. In the automatic ice maker of Example 1, it is a flow chart figure showing the first half process of deicing operation. In the automatic ice maker of Example 1, it is a flow chart figure showing the latter half process of deicing operation. In the automatic ice maker of Example 2, it is a flowchart figure which shows the latter half process of deicing operation. It is a control block diagram of the automatic ice maker of Example 3. In the automatic ice maker of Example 3, it is a flowchart figure which shows the latter half process of deicing operation.

Explanation of symbols

10 ice making units, 14 evaporators, 28 deicing sprinklers (deicing water supply means), PM circulation pumps,
WV water supply valve (deicing water supply means), TH temperature detection means, T1 set temperature, M ice block

Claims (3)

During ice making operation, a refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator (14) of the ice making unit (10) to cool the ice making unit (10) , and ice making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice making unit (10) via a circulation pump (PM). the supplies to produce ice blocks (M), together with the time of the deicing operation to supply hot gas to the evaporator (14), and the ice making surface definitive the ice making unit (10) from deicing water supplying means (28, WV) In the deicing operation method of the automatic ice maker, the ice block (M) is detached from the ice making unit (10) by supplying deicing water to the reverse side .
It from the detection temperature sensing means (TH) is the reaching the temperature Jo Tokoro set temperature of the evaporator in the deicing during operation (14) (T1), divided from the arrival time of the set temperature (T1) during the first set the deicing operation after time has elapsed that is shorter than the time required until the ice operation completed, the ice making unit by driving the circulation pump that has been stopped (PM) (10) An ice removing operation method for an automatic ice making machine, characterized in that supply of ice making water to an ice making surface is started. The circulation pump and at the same time more ice making section to drive the (PM) the ice-making water to the ice making surfaces (10) starts supplying, claims and to stop the supply of the deicing water from the deicing water supplying means (28, WV) Item 2. The deicing operation method of the automatic ice maker according to Item 1. From the evaporator (14) temperature sensing means (TH) that the temperature has reached the set temperature (T1) of senses, the second set time set in a shorter time than the first set time a the deicing during operation after the lapse of the ice-making water starts supplied to the ice making surfaces of the ice making unit (10) by driving the circulation pump is performed with the passage conditions of the first set time (PM) The deicing operation method for an automatic ice making machine according to claim 1 , wherein the deicing water supply from the deicing water supply means (28, WV) is stopped before.

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