JP5329332B2 - Ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine including a pump for supplying ice making water from an ice making water tank to an ice making unit.

  The ice making machine includes an ice making water tank capable of storing ice making water sufficient for one ice making in the ice making unit, and supplies a necessary amount of ice making water from a water supply means connected to a water source such as a water supply prior to the start of ice making operation. It is like that. The ice making water tank is provided with an overflow, and more ice making water than the required amount exceeding the upper limit water level defined by this overflow is discharged to the outside.

  For example, in a relatively large ice making machine, a float switch is provided inside the ice making water tank, and when the float switch detects that the water level in the ice making water tank has risen to a predetermined value, water supply by the water supply means is stopped. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). However, the water supply control based on the water level detection has a problem that it is difficult to secure a space for installing the float switch in the ice making water tank in a relatively small ice making machine, and the cost of the float switch is high.

  In another ice making machine, the required amount for the ice making water tank is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve provided in the water supply path of the water supply means based on the passage of a preset time set in a timer that is cheaper than a float switch. The structure that supplies ice-making water is adopted. In this case, since the water pressure in the water supply path varies depending on the area and location where the ice maker is installed, the timer setting time exceeds the required amount even when the water supply per unit time is small, assuming an area where the water pressure is relatively low. The ice making water is set to be supplied. As described above, the water supply control based on the set time is based on the case where the amount of water supply per unit time is small, so when an ice making machine is installed in an area where the water pressure is high, most of the ice-making water supplied excessively overflows. As a result, there is a problem that ice making water is consumed wastefully. In addition, in the water supply control based on the set time, the necessary amount of ice making water cannot be secured in an area that is significantly smaller than the reference water supply amount per unit time, which causes a shortage of ice making water in ice making operation. If the ice making water supplied to the ice making unit is insufficient in the ice making operation, the size and shape of the obtained ice are deteriorated and the ice becomes cloudy.

  Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which a pressure sensor is provided in the water supply path of the water supply means, and the set time from the start of water supply to the stop is adjusted according to the water pressure of the water supply path detected by the pressure sensor (e.g., patent document). 2). When the water supply pressure of the water supply path is lower than a predetermined value, the ice making machine of Patent Literature 2 determines that the flow rate of the water supply path is lower than the reference flow rate that is the calculation reference of the set time, and is set in the water supply timer. The set time is extended for a certain time. Thereby, even when the amount of water supply per unit time of the water supply means is smaller than expected, shortage of water supply to the ice making water tank on the route is avoided. Moreover, in the ice making machine of patent document 2, what has a flow rate adjustment function is used as a water supply electromagnetic valve that is inserted in a water supply path and can open and close the path, and when the flow rate exceeds the reference flow rate, The flow rate is reduced. As a result, even when the amount of water supply per unit time of the water supply means is larger than expected, excessive water supply to the ice making water tank is avoided, and wasteful discharge of ice making water is suppressed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-102067 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-71848

  The ice making machine of Patent Document 2 requires a pressure sensor and a flow rate adjustment valve or an electromagnetic valve having a flow rate adjustment function in addition to a water supply timer as a device responsible for water supply control. There is a drawback that costs increase.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in the ice making machine according to the prior art, and the amount of water supplied from the water supply means is changed while suppressing an increase in cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making machine that can minimize waste of ice making water.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, an ice making machine according to claim 1 of the present application provides:
In an ice making machine configured to supply ice making water stored in an ice making water tank to an ice making part by a pump having a suction port connected to the bottom of the ice making water tank,
Supplying ice-making water to the ice-making water tank by the water-supplying means over a reference water supply time set in advance in the time measuring means to supply an amount of ice-making water that is less than the full capacity of the ice-making water tank,
Drive the pump that can control the rotation speed by changing the voltage, set the additional water supply time in the time measuring means according to the voltage or rotation speed of the pump detected by the adjustment means,
The ice making water is additionally supplied to the ice making water tank by the water supply means over the additional water supply time set in the time measuring means.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the amount of water supply per unit time from the water supply means changes, the total amount of water supply can be adjusted according to the change, so that the ice making water discharged from the ice making water tank can be adjusted. Can be minimized. In addition, since the voltage or rotation speed of the pump that supplies ice making water from the ice making water tank to the ice making unit is used as an index for adjustment, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

In the invention according to claim 2, the adjusting means drives the pump while controlling the voltage so as to become the specified rotational speed, detects the voltage at the specified rotational speed, and increases or decreases the voltage. The gist is to set the proportional additional water supply time in the time measuring means.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, even if the amount of water supply per unit time of a water supply means changes by setting the additional water supply time using the rotation speed of a pump as a parameter | index, the total amount of water supply to an ice-making water tank is changed. Can be adjusted appropriately.

In the invention according to claim 3, the adjusting means detects the rotational speed at the specified voltage by driving the pump at a specified voltage, and supplies the additional water supply time in inverse proportion to the rotational speed to the time measuring means. The gist is to set.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, even if the amount of water supply per unit time of a water supply means changes by setting the additional water supply time using the voltage of a pump as a parameter | index, the total amount of water supply to an ice-making water tank is appropriate Can be adjusted.

  According to the ice making machine of the present invention, waste of ice making water can be minimized even if the amount of water supplied from the water supply means changes while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is the schematic which shows the ice making machine which concerns on suitable Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a control block diagram of an ice making machine according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the water storage amount of an ice making water tank, and the voltage of an ice making water pump. It is a flowchart figure which shows water supply control in the ice making machine of Example 1. FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the amount of water storage of an ice-making water tank, and the rotation speed of an ice-making water pump. It is a flowchart figure which shows the water supply control in the ice making machine of Example 2. FIG.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making machine 10 according to the first embodiment is a so-called closed cell type. The ice making machine includes an ice making mechanism 11 that generates ice blocks (square ice), a refrigeration mechanism 30 that cools the ice making mechanism 11, and control means C (see FIG. 2) such as a microcomputer that controls each device. Ice blocks are produced by repeating the operation and the deicing operation. The ice making mechanism 11 includes an ice making chamber (ice making unit) 12 in which a large number of ice making chambers 14 opened downward, a water tray 16 disposed below the ice making chamber 12 and capable of opening and closing the ice making chamber 14, An ice-making water tank 18 disposed in the lower part of the water tray 16 and a water-plate opening / closing mechanism 20 that tilts the water tray 16 and the ice-making water tank 18 together are configured. An evaporation pipe 32 constituting the refrigeration mechanism 30 is meandered on the upper surface of the ice making chamber 12, and the ice making chamber 12 is cooled or heated by heat exchange with a refrigerant or hot gas flowing through the evaporation pipe 32. ing.

  The water tray 16 is supported such that one side end portion thereof is swingable with respect to the ice making machine body via a support shaft 16a, and the other side end portion is attached to a cam arm 22 constituting the water tray opening / closing mechanism 20. It is connected via a coil spring 24 (see FIG. 1). The water pan 16 rotates the cam arm 22 forward and backward by an opening / closing motor 26, thereby closing the ice making chamber 12 in the ice making operation and opening the posture inclined downward from the ice making chamber 12 in the ice removing operation. The posture can be changed. The open / close motor 26 is electrically connected to the control means C and is driven and controlled by the control means C (see FIG. 2).

  The ice-making water tank 18 is a box-like body that is formed to be slightly larger than the water tray 16 and opens upward. The ice-making water tank 18 is fixed to the water tray 16 in a state in which the water tray 16 is accommodated inside the water tray 16. The posture is displaced as the posture is displaced. The ice making water tank 18 is formed so that the region on the side of the support shaft 16a of the water tray 16 is deep in a closed posture with the lower part of the ice making chamber 14 closed (see FIG. 1), and the bottom of this deeply formed portion The suction port of the ice making water pump (pump) PM is connected to. In addition, the ice making water tank 18 is provided with a drain outlet (not shown) on the side of the open end side of the water tray 16, and the ice making water tank 18 has an inside depending on the position of the drain outlet in the closed position. The upper limit level of ice-making water that can be stored is specified. That is, in the ice making water tank 18, a necessary amount of ice making water sufficient for ice making for one ice making operation is stored between the bottom portion and the drain outlet in a closed posture, and excess ice making water overflows from the drain outlet to the outside. It comes to discharge. In the ice making operation in the closed position, the ice making water tank 18 did not freeze in the return hole (not shown) penetratingly formed in the water dish 16 or the ice making chamber 12 flowing down from the outer edge of the water dish 16. Ice-making water (ice-making residual water) is collected. The ice making water tank 18 is configured to discharge the ice making residual water from the drain outlet in an open posture in which the water tray 16 is tilted away from the opening of the ice making chamber 14.

  The ice making mechanism 11 pumps ice making water from the ice making water tank 18 to the water tray 16, and supplies ice making water to the ice making chamber 14 through an injection hole (not shown) of the water tray 16. And a water supply means 28 for supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank 18 (see FIG. 1). The ice making water pump PM sucks ice making water from a suction port communicating with the inside of the ice making water tank 18. In the ice making operation, the ice making water sprayed and supplied to each ice making chamber 14 freezes in the ice making chamber 14 when the ice making chamber 12 is cooled, and the ice making water that has not been frozen is collected in the ice making water tank 18 to make ice. Recirculated by water pump PM. The ice making water pump PM is electrically connected to the control means C and is driven and controlled by the control means C (see FIG. 2). The ice making water pump PM is basically driven in the ice making operation and stopped in the deicing operation. However, the ice making water pump PM is also temporarily driven (determination drive) in the water supply operation for supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank 18. The

  The ice making water pump PM employs a non-volumetric pump having a blade-like rotor. Further, as the ice making water pump PM of the embodiment, a pump using a direct current (DC) motor whose input voltage and rotation speed uniquely correspond to a driving source is used. The ice making machine 10 includes the voltage control means 40 for adjusting the voltage (control voltage) applied to the ice making water pump PM under the control of the control means C, and the rotation speed of an encoder or the like that can detect the rotation speed of the ice making water pump PM. And detecting means 42 (see FIG. 2). That is, in the ice making machine 10, the voltage applied to the ice making water pump PM can be appropriately controlled by the voltage control means 40 to change the rotation speed of the ice making water pump PM. For example, during the ice making operation, the ice making water pump Operation control such as preventing air from being caught by lowering the rotational speed of PM is performed. Further, the ice making machine 10 feeds back the rotation speed of the ice making water pump PM detected by the rotation speed detecting means 42 to the voltage control means 40, and stabilizes the rotation speed by adjusting the control voltage of the ice making water pump PM. can do. In the first embodiment, the voltage control means 40 is incorporated as a part of the control means C, and the rotational speed detection means 42 is incorporated as a part of the ice making water pump PM. There may be. The rotation speed detection means 42 of the first embodiment detects the rotation speed by detecting the motor rotation pulse of the ice making water pump PM, and the detection result is input to the control means C (voltage control means 40). ing.

  The water supply means 28 is provided at a water supply pipe 28a connected to a water source such as a water supply or a storage tank, a water supply valve WV disposed in the middle of the water supply pipe 28a, and an outlet end of the water supply pipe 28a. 16 and a water supply portion 28b installed on the upper side of the support shaft 16a (see FIG. 1). The water supply means 28 opens and closes the water supply valve WV at a predetermined timing under the control of the control means C, and supplies ice-making water from the water supply part 28 b to the upper surface of the water tray 16. For example, the ice making machine 10 supplies ice-making water from the water supply means 28 (water supply operation) while returning the water tray 16 from the closed position or the open position to the closed position at the end of the deicing operation. The ice making water flowing down to the ice making water tank 18 through the return hole is used in the ice making operation. In addition, the ice making machine 10 supplies ice making water from the water supply means 28 with the water tray 16 in the closed posture at the end of the ice making operation, thereby releasing the ice state between the ice block generated in the ice making chamber 14 and the water tray 16. ing. Further, the ice making machine 10 supplies ice-making water from the water supply means 28 in the open posture of the water dish 16 at the initial stage of the deicing operation, thereby washing away ice pieces and the like adhering to the upper surface of the water dish 16.

  As the water supply valve WV, a valve that can open and close the pipe of the water supply pipe 28a under the control of the control means C such as an electromagnetic valve or an electric valve is adopted, such as a gate valve or a needle valve that does not have a flow rate adjusting function. Those having a simple opening / closing structure can be adopted. The water supply means 28 of the first embodiment closes the pipe of the water supply pipe 28a by the water supply valve WV to stop the supply of the ice making water, and the water supply valve WV opens the pipe of the water supply pipe 28a, and the ice making water is supplied to the ice making water. The tank 18 (water tray 16) is supplied. Here, the water supply means 28 is affected by the water pressure or the like from the water source, the water supply amount per unit time from the water supply means 28 is determined, and when the water source water pressure is low, the water supply amount decreases, while the water source water pressure When is high, the amount of water supply increases.

  In the ice making machine 10, a water supply operation for supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank 18 is performed prior to the start of the ice making operation. In the embodiment, the water supply operation is started at the timing when the water dish 16 is returned to the closed position at the end of the deicing operation when the ice block is detached from the ice making chamber 14 or at the middle of returning from the open position to the closed position. ing. In the ice making machine 10, the end of the water supply operation is controlled by time, and the water supply valve WV is controlled by the control means C on the basis of the count by the time measuring means TM (see FIG. 2) such as a timer electrically connected to the control means C. Is controlled to open and close. In the time measuring means TM, a reference water supply time is set in advance, and counting of the reference water supply time is started after the water supply valve WV is opened and the water supply operation is started. In addition, although the example which provides the time measuring means TM independently of the control means C is given in the embodiment, the time measuring means TM may be incorporated in the control means C. In the ice making machine 10, when the time measuring means TM counts the reference water supply time from the start of the water supply operation, the water supply valve WV is closed by the control means C, and the reference water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is temporarily stopped. Here, the reference water supply time is set so that the ice-making water tank 18 does not become full when water is supplied from the water supply means 28 to the ice-making water tank 18 over the time, for example, 50 to 80% of the water amount when the water is full. It is watered to become. The reference water supply time is set assuming that the amount of water supplied from the water supply means 28 is large (when the water pressure is high), and even if water is supplied from the water supply means 28 to the ice making water tank 18 over the reference water supply time. It is designed not to overflow.

  The ice making machine 10 includes an adjusting unit that determines the amount of water supplied during the reference water supply time in the water supply operation and determines the amount of water to be additionally supplied in the water supply operation. The adjustment means includes a voltage control means 40 for controlling the voltage applied to the ice making water pump PM, a rotation speed detection means 42 for detecting the rotation speed of the ice making water pump PM, and a control voltage and a rotation speed detection means for the voltage control means 40. The control means C basically determines the additional water supply time according to the rotational speed detected at 42. The ice making machine 10 sets the additional water supply time determined by the control means C to the time measuring means TM after the reference water supply, starts counting the additional water supply time by the time measuring means TM, and opens the water supply valve WV to make the ice making water. Additional water is supplied to the tank 18. Then, the ice making machine 10 counts the additional water supply time by the time measuring means TM so that the water supply valve WV is closed by the control means C, the additional water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is stopped, and the water supply operation is finished. Composed.

  The adjusting means of the first embodiment drives the ice making water pump PM under the control of the voltage by the voltage control means so that the specified speed is reached after the completion of the reference water supply, and the control voltage at the specified speed is set. Is detected by the rotation speed detecting means, and the additional water supply time proportional to the magnitude of the control voltage is set in the time measuring means TM by the control means C. Since the ice making water pump PM is configured to suck ice making water from a suction port provided at the bottom of the ice making water tank 18, the load on the rotor changes according to the amount of ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 18. That is, when the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 18 is large, the water pressure applied to the suction port is increased, so that the rotation of the ice making water pump PM is assisted by the water pressure and the load is reduced. On the other hand, when the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 18 is small, the water pressure applied to the suction port is reduced, so that the rotation of the ice making water pump PM is not assisted by the water pressure and the load is increased. The adjusting means according to the first embodiment is configured such that when the ice making water pump PM is voltage-controlled so as to have a constant specified rotation speed, the control voltage when the ice making water pump PM is stabilized at the specified rotation speed is the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply. (See FIG. 3). When the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is large, the load on the ice making water pump PM is reduced, so that the control voltage at the specified rotational speed is low, and the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is low. When the number is small, the load on the ice making water pump PM becomes large, so that the control voltage at the specified rotational speed tends to increase.

  Thus, since the level of the control voltage at the specified rotational speed is inversely proportional to the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply (see FIG. 3), the adjusting means of the first embodiment is at the specified rotational speed. The length of the additional water supply time is determined in a relationship proportional to the level of the control voltage. That is, when the control voltage at the specified rotation speed is high, the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is small, so that the additional water supply time is set longer, whereas the control voltage at the specified rotation speed is low. Since the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is large, the additional water supply time is set short. The additional water supply time is the amount of water supplied per unit time of the water supply means 28 obtained from the relationship between the control voltage and the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 based on the reference water supply. It is set so that the difference from the amount can be supplied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration mechanism 30 includes a compressor CM, a condenser CD, a cooling fan FM that cools the condenser CD, an expansion valve EV, and an evaporation pipe 32. The compressor CM, the condenser CD, The refrigerating circuit 36 is configured by sequentially connecting the expansion valve EV and the evaporation pipe 32 through a refrigerant pipe 34. The vaporized refrigerant compressed by the compressor CM is condensed and liquefied by the condenser CD via the refrigerant pipe 34, then depressurized by the expansion valve EV, flows into the evaporation pipe 32, and expands and evaporates there. By exchanging heat with 12, the ice making chamber 12 is forcibly cooled below the freezing point. In addition to the refrigeration circuit 36, the refrigeration mechanism 30 includes a bypass circuit 38 that directly supplies high-temperature refrigerant (hot gas) from the compressor CM to the evaporation pipe 32 without passing through the condenser CD and the expansion valve EV during the deicing operation. I have. The bypass circuit 38 includes a bypass pipe 39 that connects the discharge side of the compressor CM and the suction side of the evaporation pipe 32, and a hot gas valve that is disposed in the middle of the bypass pipe 39 and controlled to be opened and closed by the control means C. HV. During the ice making operation, the hot gas valve HV is closed and the refrigerant is circulated through the refrigeration circuit 36. On the other hand, during the deicing operation, the hot gas valve HV is opened and the hot gas is circulated through the bypass circuit 38. It has become.

(Operation of Example 1)
Next, the operation of the ice making machine 10 according to the first embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When the water supply operation is started (step S1), the water supply valve WV is opened (WV: open), and the reference water supply to the ice-making water tank 18 is started. At the same time, the reference water supply time is counted by the time measuring means TM. Started (TM: ON). When the reference water supply time elapses after the reference water supply is started by the water supply means 28 (step S2: YES), the water supply valve WV is closed by the control means C (WV: closed), and the reference to the ice making water tank 18 is made. Water supply is stopped. At this time, the ice making water tank 18 is supplied with an amount of ice making water that is less than full (about 50 to 80% when full).

  In the ice making machine 10, the ice making water pump PM is driven (step S3), and the water supply amount is determined. At this time, the ice making water pump PM is driven by the voltage control means 40 to control the voltage to be applied to the ice making water pump PM, so that the control means C has a predetermined rotational speed set in advance (step S4). ). The ice making machine 10 is subjected to feedback control in which the voltage is controlled by the voltage control means 40 so that the rotation speed approaches the specified rotation speed based on the rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detection means 42. For example, the rotation speed detection means 42 counts the number of rotation pulses per second with an interrupt of 1 ms, discards the old value every 1 second and inserts a new value, and sets the minimum value of the total of 6 values. The average of the four values excluding the maximum is used as the rotational speed data, and the voltage control means 40 repeatedly controls the voltage according to the difference between the current rotational speed and the specified rotational speed. Then, in the ice making machine 10, the control voltage by the voltage control means 40 when the ice making water pump PM is stabilized at the specified rotation speed (step S5: YES) is used as a criterion for determining the amount of water supply in the reference water supply (step S6). ).

  The control means C compares the control voltage serving as a determination criterion with the preset control voltage and the correlation data of the water level of the ice making water tank 18 to determine the additional water supply time. That is, the control means C sets the additional water supply time longer when the amount of water supplied by the reference water derived from the correlation data is small corresponding to the control voltage serving as the determination reference, and when the amount of water supplied by the reference water is large. Set the additional water supply time short. Thus, the control means C sets the additional water supply time in the additional water supply to the time measuring means TM according to the amount of ice making water actually supplied to the ice making water tank 18 in the reference water supply (step S7). The ice making water pump PM is stopped when the additional water supply time is determined.

  In the ice making machine 10, in the water supply operation, the water supply valve WV is opened again (WV: open), and additional water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is started, and at the same time, counting of the additional water supply time is started by the time measuring means TM. (Step S8, TM: ON). When the additional water supply time elapses after the additional water supply is started by the water supply means 28, the water supply valve WV is closed and controlled by the control means C (step S9: YES), and the additional water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is stopped. . At this time, the ice making water tank 18 is filled with a difference between the full water amount and the reference water supply amount or a water amount slightly exceeding this difference. Then, the ice making machine finishes the water supply operation (step S10, WV: closed), and the ice making operation is started.

  According to the ice making machine 10 of the first embodiment, when the water pressure of the water supply means 28 is low, the additional water supply time is set to be long, and the ice making water tank 18 is filled up by supplementing the water supply amount that was small in the reference water supply with the additional water supply. The Further, when the water pressure of the water supply means 28 is high, the additional water supply time is set to be short, and the additional water supply is reduced in consideration of the amount of water supplied in the reference water supply, thereby filling the ice making water tank 18 with water. That is, since the ice making machine 10 determines the amount of the actual water supply amount in the reference water supply from the magnitude of the control voltage and determines the amount of additional water supply, the ice making water supplied to the ice making water tank 18 in the water supply operation is determined. The amount is always substantially constant regardless of the water pressure of the water supply means 28 (water supply amount per unit time). Therefore, the ice making machine 10 can save water by preventing the ice making water from being discharged from the ice making water tank 18 during the water supply operation, and can also save electricity by eliminating unnecessary water supply. As described above, the ice making machine 10 according to the first embodiment keeps the water supply amount in the water supply operation substantially constant without requiring the user's adjustment in response to the water pressure fluctuation of the water supply means 28 depending on the installation area, the installation place, and the like. be able to.

  The ice making machine 10 uses the voltage control means 40 and the rotation speed detection means 42 of the ice making water pump PM of the type that can control the rotation speed by changing the voltage, and the actual water supply amount by the water supply means 28. Therefore, it is possible to cope with fluctuations in the water pressure of the water supply means 28 with a simple configuration without increasing the number of equipment and sensors involved in the water supply operation. In addition, the ice making machine 10 does not require a separate measuring device such as a water level sensor such as a float switch, a pressure sensor, or a water temperature sensor, and can cope with fluctuations in the water pressure of the water supply means 28 without using a relatively expensive measuring device. obtain. That is, the ice making machine 10 can suppress an increase in cost even if a mechanism corresponding to fluctuations in the water pressure of the water supply means 28 is provided, and it is not necessary to secure an installation space for measuring equipment such as a water level sensor. The degree of freedom of arrangement and shape of equipment can be increased.

  As the rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detection means 42, the average rotation speed per unit time obtained by detecting the motor rotation pulse of the ice making water pump PM within a certain time is used. Highly stable detection is possible without being affected by fluctuations in the number. Further, the control load of the voltage control means C can be reduced.

  Next, an ice making machine according to Embodiment 2 will be described. In the first embodiment, the control voltage is used as an index in the water supply amount determination based on the reference water supply. In the second embodiment, the rotation speed is used as an index in the water supply amount determination based on the reference water supply. That is, since the basic configuration of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, different parts will be mainly described.

  The adjusting means of the second embodiment drives the ice making water pump PM at a specified voltage after the reference water supply is completed, detects the rotation speed at the specified voltage, and sets an additional water supply time inversely proportional to the rotation speed. The time measuring means TM is configured to be set. Since the ice making water pump PM is configured to suck ice making water from the suction port provided at the bottom of the ice making water tank 18 as described above, the load applied to the rotor according to the amount of ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 18. Changes. In the adjusting means of the second embodiment, when the ice making water pump PM is driven at a constant specified voltage, the rotational speed when it is stabilized changes according to the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply (see FIG. 5). ). When the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is large, the load on the ice making water pump PM is reduced, so the number of rotations at the specified voltage increases, and the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is small. In this case, since the load on the ice making water pump PM increases, the rotational speed at the specified voltage tends to decrease.

  Thus, since the amount of rotation at the specified voltage is proportional to the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply, the adjusting means of the second embodiment is inversely proportional to the amount of rotation at the specified voltage. Therefore, the length of the additional water supply time is determined. That is, when the number of rotations at the specified voltage is small, the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is small, so that the additional water supply time is set long, whereas when the number of rotations at the specified voltage is large, Since the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 by the reference water supply is large, the additional water supply time is set short. The additional water supply time is the amount of water supplied per unit time of the water supply means 28 obtained from the relationship between the rotational speed and the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 18 based on the reference water supply. It is set so that the difference from the amount can be supplied.

(Operation of Example 2)
Next, the operation of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When the water supply operation is started (step S11), the water supply valve WV is opened (WV: open), and the reference water supply to the ice-making water tank 18 is started. At the same time, the reference water supply time is counted by the time measuring means TM. Started (TM: ON). When the reference water supply time elapses after the reference water supply is started by the water supply means 28 (step S12: YES), the water supply valve WV is closed by the control means C (WV: closed), and the reference to the ice making water tank 18 is made. Water supply is stopped. At this time, the ice making water tank 18 is supplied with an amount of ice making water that is less than full.

  In the ice making machine, the ice making water pump PM is driven (step S13), and the water supply amount is determined. At this time, the ice making water pump PM is driven by controlling the voltage applied to the ice making water pump PM by the voltage control means 40 so as to become a specified voltage (step S14). And in the ice making machine 10, when the rotation speed of the ice making water pump PM is stabilized (step S15: YES), the rotation speed is detected by the rotation speed detection means 42 (step S16), and this rotation speed is the reference water supply. Used as a criterion for determining the amount of water supply. Note that the ice making machine 10 of the second embodiment may acquire the average rotational speed in the same manner as in the first embodiment when detecting the rotational speed by the rotational speed detecting means 42.

  The control means C compares the rotation speed serving as a determination criterion with the correlation data of the rotation speed set in advance and the water level of the ice making water tank 18 to determine the additional water supply time. That is, the control means C sets the additional water supply time longer when the amount of water supplied by the reference water derived from the correlation data is small corresponding to the number of revolutions serving as the criterion, and when the amount of water supplied by the reference water is large. Set the additional water supply time short. Thus, the control means C sets the additional water supply time in the additional water supply to the time measuring means TM according to the amount of ice making water actually supplied to the ice making water tank 18 in the reference water supply (step S17). The ice making water pump PM is stopped when the additional water supply time is determined.

  In the ice making machine 10, in the water supply operation, the water supply valve WV is opened again (WV: open), and additional water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is started, and at the same time, counting of the additional water supply time is started by the time measuring means TM. (Step S18, TM: ON). When the additional water supply time elapses after the additional water supply is started by the water supply means 28, the control means C controls the closing of the water supply valve WV (step S19: YES), and the additional water supply to the ice making water tank 18 is stopped. . At this time, the ice making water tank 18 is filled with a difference between the full water amount and the reference water supply amount or a water amount slightly exceeding this difference. Then, the ice making machine finishes the water supply operation (step S20, WV: closed), and starts the ice making operation.

  Thus, even with the ice making machine of the second embodiment, the same operational effects as the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the ice making machine according to the second embodiment does not require feedback control when the ice making water pump PM is driven for determination, and thus has an advantage that the control can be simplified.

(Example of change)
The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and can be modified as follows.
(1) In Examples 1 and 2, a closed cell type ice maker was taken as an example, but it is applicable if ice making water is supplied from an ice making water tank to an ice making unit using an open cell type or a flow-down type pump. it can.
(2) The setting of the additional water supply time is not limited to a linear correspondence relationship with the detected voltage or rotation speed, but a relationship in which the additional water supply time corresponds step by step for each detected voltage or rotation speed range. It may be.
(3) Although a DC motor has been mentioned as the drive source for the ice making water pump, any type of stepping motor or the like that can control the rotational speed by voltage can be used.
(4) The ice making machine may set the additional water supply time from the voltage or the number of rotations every time the water supply operation is performed, but the water supply operation at a specific timing sets the additional water supply time from the voltage or the rotation number, and other water supply In operation, water supply may be continuously performed over a time obtained by combining the previously set additional water supply time and the reference water supply time without driving the ice making water pump. Here, the specific timing refers to the first water supply operation performed after turning on the power of the ice making machine, the first water supply operation performed after changing the conditions such as the reference water supply time and the specified voltage on the control panel, or For example, a ratio of one to the appropriate number of times of water supply operation (for example, several tens of times) can be given. Since the water pressure of ice making water supplied from the water supply means does not fluctuate frequently, setting the additional water supply time from the voltage or rotation speed is sufficient for the water supply operation at a specific timing, and setting the additional water supply time Can reduce the time it takes to minimize the impact on ice making capacity.

12 ice making room (ice making part), 18 ice making water tank, 28 water supply means,
PM ice-making water pump (pump), TM timing means

Claims (3)

In an ice making machine configured to supply ice making water stored in an ice making water tank (18) to an ice making part (12) by a pump (PM) having a suction port connected to the bottom of the ice making water tank (18),
By supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank (18) by the water supplying means (28) over a reference water supply time preset in the time measuring means (TM), the ice making water tank (18) is fully filled. Supply less ice-making water,
Drive the pump (PM) whose rotation speed can be controlled by changing the voltage, set the additional water supply time in the time measuring means (TM) according to the voltage or rotation speed of the pump (PM) detected by the adjusting means,
An ice making machine characterized in that ice making water is additionally supplied to the ice making water tank (18) by the water supply means (28) over the additional water supply time set in the time measuring means (TM).   The adjusting means drives the pump (PM) while controlling the voltage so as to become a specified rotational speed, detects a voltage at the specified rotational speed, and the additional water supply proportional to the magnitude of this voltage. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the time is set in the time measuring means (TM).   The adjusting means drives the pump (PM) with a specified voltage, detects the rotation speed at the specified voltage, and sets the additional water supply time in inverse proportion to the rotation speed to the time measuring means (TM). The ice making machine according to claim 1.

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