JP6124579B2 - Ice making equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making device, and more particularly to an ice making device capable of producing non-transparent ice.

  Ice is currently marketed at supermarkets and the like to cool beverages directly into beverages such as juice. Ice used in the above applications does not contain impurities such as minerals, and thus has high transparency and density, and is called transparent ice. On the other hand, attempts have been made to produce ice in which pigments, sweeteners, fruit juices, minerals and the like are uniformly dispersed (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6).

  In Patent Document 1, water that is uniformly flavored by dissolving a sweetener or the like is sprayed onto the surface of the ice making body that has been cooled to flow down the surface of the ice making body. Freezing at least a part of the water to form an ice layer on the surface of the ice making body, and then allowing the water to flow down on the surface of the ice layer so that at least a part of the water is in the ice layer. A method for producing ice is disclosed in which the ice is frozen on the surface, thereby producing thick ice.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an ice manufacturing method in which water containing minerals is instantaneously frozen, and small ice obtained is compression-molded to form large ice.

  Patent Document 3 discloses that ice containing minerals is sprayed on an ice plate kept at a low temperature, and the particle size of the sprayed water droplets is changed to form ice in which a cloudy layer and a transparent layer coexist. A manufacturing method is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 4, a raw material liquid containing sweeteners is allowed to flow down into a vertically installed cooling cylinder, and the raw material liquid is frozen and attached to the inner surface of the cooling cylinder to form an ice column, and then the ice column taken out from the cooling cylinder is crushed. An ice manufacturing method is disclosed in which ice pieces having a longest diameter of 20 mm or less are filled, and the ice pieces are filled in a container.

  In Patent Document 5, a raw material liquid is allowed to flow down on the surface of a plate-type cooling plate installed vertically, and the raw material liquid is frozen and attached to the surface of the cooling plate to form an ice plate. The ice plate is crushed and the longest diameter is 20 mm or less. A method for producing ice is disclosed in which the ice pieces are filled into a container.

  Patent Document 6 discloses that the liquid material is ejected intermittently toward the inner wall of the container body from a nozzle nozzle that is inserted into a container body placed in a low-temperature atmosphere and moves up and down. A method for producing ice is disclosed in which a thin layer is frozen in order and a large number of frozen layers are formed as a concentric laminate as a whole.

Japanese Patent No. 2740131 JP2003-4347 JP 2005-3346 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-8175 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-244874 JP-A-5-68487

  However, the above-mentioned patent document has a problem that it is difficult to make cloudy ice having a density comparable to that of transparent ice.

  In Patent Document 1, although thick ice can be formed, water is caused to flow down to the ice making body by spraying, so that the formed ice contains air, the density is low, and it does not become hard ice. There's a problem.

  In Patent Document 2, although the ice formed is instantaneously frozen, the formed ice contains minerals uniformly, but small ice is compression-molded into large ice. There is a problem in that air is contained in the joint portion of this and the density is low as a whole.

  In Patent Document 3, by changing the particle size of water droplets to be sprayed, ice in which white cloudy layers and transparent layers are alternately stacked can be formed, but “white cloudy ice contains bubbles in it, so There is a problem of “lightly” (Patent Document 3, “0023”) and low density.

  In Patent Documents 4 and 5, although the sweetness level is kept constant by keeping the concentration of the raw material liquid to be supplied constant, the sweetener which is a solute due to quick freezing of water as a solvent is a raw material that remains unfrozen. Since it remains in the liquid, it is difficult to efficiently take the solute into the ice, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to form white turbid ice by containing, for example, minerals.

  In Patent Document 6, although a laminated body in which a thin layer is laminated can be formed by intermittently injecting a liquid material toward a container body and freezing, the thin layer contains air, and thus high-density ice. There is a problem that it is difficult to make.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the ice making apparatus which can manufacture the non-transparent ice which has a density comparable as transparent ice.

  An ice making device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an ice making unit, a raw water supply unit that supplies raw water to the ice making unit, a raw water tank that stores the raw water, and the raw water from the raw water tank to the raw water supply unit. In an ice making device including an ice making pump that sends out, the raw water supplied from the raw water supply unit to the ice making unit is intermittently blocked, and a non-transparent layer is stacked on the surface of the ice making unit.

  According to claim 1 of the present invention, the ice making device supplies raw water intermittently by supplying raw water intermittently, such as supplying raw water to the ice making unit for a predetermined time and then stopping the supply of raw water for a predetermined time. By forming it, non-transparent ice can be produced.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the whole ice making device composition concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the ice making part of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the production processing procedure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the ice making process sequence of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the deicing process sequence of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the ice making part of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the water spray pipe of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the ice making process sequence of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the ice making process sequence of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the ice making process sequence of the cloudy ice of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the waste_water | drain processing procedure of the ice making apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First embodiment (overall configuration)
An ice making device 1A shown in FIG. 1 includes an ice making unit 2, a raw water supply unit 3A, a raw water tank 4, and an ice making pump 5, and the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is supplied to the raw water supply unit 3A by the ice making pump 5. The raw water 15 is fed to the ice making unit 2 from the raw water supply unit 3A, thereby forming non-transparent ice as ice on the surface of the ice making unit 2. The ice making device 1A according to the present embodiment can be applied as non-transparent ice, for example, to cloudy ice in which a plurality of cloudy layers as non-transparent layers are stacked. In addition, although this figure illustrated about the case where the ice making part 2 was one, this invention is not restricted to this, It is good also as providing the several ice making part 2. FIG.

In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making unit 2 is connected to a refrigeration apparatus (not shown in the figure), and is held in a state where the surface temperature is cooled to about 0 ° C. to −35 ° C. The raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A is arranged so that the raw water 15 can be supplied from the upper end of the ice making unit 2. The raw water tank 4 and the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A are communicated with each other through a raw water pipe 6. The raw water pipe 6 is provided with an ice making pump 5, and a first shutoff valve 7 is provided on the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5.

The raw water pipeline 6 is provided with a bypass pipeline 8 that communicates the primary side 5 _IN and the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5. A second shutoff valve 9 is provided in the bypass line 8.

  A raw water receiving part 10 is provided at the lower part of the ice making part 2. The raw water receiving unit 10 collects the raw water 15 that has not formed icing out of the raw water 15 supplied to the ice making unit 2. The raw water receiving part 10 communicates with the raw water tank 4. The raw water receiver 10 returns the recovered raw water 15 to the raw water tank 4. In addition, the raw water receiver 10 is provided with a water temperature sensor 12.

  The raw water tank 4 is provided with an overflow pipe 13 and a drain pipe 14. The overflow pipe 13 drains the raw water 15 in the raw water tank 4 when the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 exceeds a certain volume. One end of the drain pipe 14 communicates with the bottom of the raw water tank 4, the other end communicates with the overflow pipe 13, and a valve 11 is provided. The valve 11 is normally closed. When the raw water 15 in the raw water tank 4 is replaced, the drain pipe 14 discharges the raw water 15 by opening the valve 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A includes a pair of water spray pipes 18 having one end communicating with the raw water pipe 6 and the other end closed. The water spray pipe 18 has a plurality of through holes 19 in the longitudinal direction. The ice making unit 2 is formed by placing two plate-shaped ice plates 16 and their surfaces facing each other in parallel.

  The water spray pipe 18 is arranged so that the raw water 15 supplied from the raw water pipe 6 is supplied to the surface of the ice plate 16 through the through hole 19. In the case of the present embodiment, one sprinkling pipe 18 is provided on each surface of the icing plate 16 above the ice making unit 2. The water spray pipe 18 is parallel to the surface of the ice plate 16 and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is substantially horizontal.

  The raw water 15 supplied to the surface of the ice plate 16 through the through hole 19 of the water spray pipe 18 flows down on the surface of the ice plate 16, and a part of the surface of the ice plate 16 is frozen, and the remaining raw water 15 that has not been frozen. Is collected in the raw water receiving part 10.

  An ice removal water supply pipe 20 is provided at the upper part of the ice making unit 2. Although not shown in the figure, the deicing water supply pipe 20 supplies uncooled raw water 17 for deicing sent from the deicing pump to the back surface of each icing plate 16.

  Although not shown, the deicing water supply pipe 20 has a plurality of through holes 19 in the longitudinal direction. The deicing water supply pipe 20 is disposed between the freezing plates 16 and is disposed parallel to the back surface of the freezing plates 16 so that the longitudinal direction is substantially horizontal. The deicing raw water 17 supplied from the deicing pump is slightly cooled by the ice plate 16 and then introduced into the raw water tank 4 by the raw water receiving unit 10 to become the raw water 15 in the next production cycle.

(Circuit configuration of ice making equipment)
Next, the circuit configuration of the ice making device 1A will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The ice making device 1A includes a control unit 22 that comprehensively controls various functions of the ice making device 1A, an ice making pump 5, a first shut-off valve 7, a second shut-off valve 9, a de-icing pump 23, a timer 24, a water temperature sensor 12, A refrigeration apparatus 25 is connected via a control bus 26.

  The control unit 22 reads various programs such as a basic program, an ice making processing program, and a deicing processing program stored in advance, and controls the entire ice making device 1A according to these various programs.

The control unit 22 activates the refrigeration apparatus 25 and activates the ice making pump 5 to supply the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16. When supplying the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16, the control unit 22 opens the first cutoff valve 7 and closes the second cutoff valve 9. As a result, the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5 is supplied to the ice plate 16 from the through hole 19 formed in the sprinkling pipe 18 through the raw water pipe 6.

  The water temperature sensor 12 flows down the surface of the ice plate 16, measures the temperature of the raw water 15 collected in the raw water receiving unit 10, converts it into a measurement signal, and transmits it to the control unit 22.

When the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 is stopped, the control unit 22 closes the first cutoff valve 7 and opens the second cutoff valve 9. As a result, the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _{OUT of the} ice making pump 5 returns to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1A can hold the ice making pump 5 without stopping even while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped.

  The deicing pump 23 communicates with a tank that stores uncooled raw water 17 (not shown), but supplies the deicing raw water 17 to the back surface of the icing plate 16 at a predetermined timing.

  The timer 24 measures the time when the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, the time when the raw water 15 is supplied, the time when the refrigeration apparatus 25 is started, and the time when the deicing pump 23 is started. Each is converted into a time signal and transmitted to the control unit 22.

  The control part 22 starts supply of the raw | natural water 15 when the time which has stopped supply of the raw | natural water 15 to the icing board 16 has passed predetermined time. Moreover, the control part 22 stops supply of the raw | natural water 15, when the time which has supplied the raw | natural water 15 to the ice plate 16 passes predetermined time.

  The control unit 22 stops the refrigeration apparatus 25 and activates the deicing pump 23 when a predetermined time has elapsed for the refrigeration apparatus 25 to be activated. Moreover, the control part 22 stops the deicing pump 23, when the time which has started the deicing pump 23 passes predetermined time.

(Production processing procedure)
Next, an ice production processing procedure by the ice making device 1A will be described. The control unit 22 enters from the start step of the production process procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 4 according to the production process program and proceeds to step SP1. The controller 22 first initializes the timer 24 and proceeds to step SP2.

  In step SP2, the control unit 22 activates the refrigeration apparatus 25, and proceeds to step SP3. As a result, the ice plate 16 is cooled.

  In step SP3, the control unit 22 starts to supply the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16, and proceeds to the subroutine SRT1. In practice, the control unit 22 activates the ice making pump 5 with the first shut-off valve 7 and the second shut-off valve 9 closed, so that the sprinkling pipe 18 passes through the raw water pipe 6 to the ice plate 16. Raw water 15 is supplied.

  In the subroutine SRT1, the control unit 22 performs an ice making process for producing ice having a predetermined thickness, and proceeds to the subroutine SRT2. In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1A produces white cloudy ice in the ice making process.

  In the subroutine SRT2, the control unit 22 performs a deicing process for separating the cloudy ice having a predetermined thickness from the icing plate 16, and proceeds to step SP4.

  In step SP4, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined cycle has been completed. If a positive result is obtained in step SP4, this means that a predetermined number of cloudy ice has been manufactured, and at this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP5. In step SP5, the control unit 22 ends the production processing procedure.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the produced cloudy ice has not yet reached the predetermined number, and at this time, the control unit 22 returns to step SP1.

  Thereby, the control unit 22 repeats the subroutine SRT2 from step SP1 until the predetermined cycle is completed, that is, until a predetermined number of white cloudy ice is produced.

(Ice making procedure)
Next, an ice making process procedure when the control unit 22 forms cloudy ice on the ice plate 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In response to the call from the production processing procedure RT1, the control unit 22 starts the ice making processing subroutine SRT1 shown in FIG. 5 and proceeds to step SP10. In step SP10, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the temperature of the raw water 15 collected in the raw water receiving unit 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP10, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has been cooled to a temperature at which ice making can be started, and at this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP11.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP10, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has not yet been cooled to a temperature at which ice can be made. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP10, and the temperature of the raw water 15 is increased. Wait until the temperature falls below the specified temperature.

  In step SP11, the control unit 22 temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15, and proceeds to step SP12.

  In step SP12, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was stopped. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP12, this means that the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 has been stopped for a predetermined time, so that the ice plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled. At this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP13.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP12, this means that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, and the ice plate 16 has not yet been sufficiently cooled. Means that. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP12 and waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 is stopped.

  In step SP13, the control part 22 starts supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16, and moves to step SP14.

  In step SP14, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 was started. If a positive result is obtained in step SP14, this means that the raw water 15 has been sufficiently supplied to the ice plate 16, and at this time, the control unit 22 moves to step SP15.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP14, this means that the raw water 15 supplied to the ice plate 16 is not yet sufficient. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP14 to It waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of raw water 15 is started.

  In step SP15, the control part 22 stops supply of the raw water 15, and moves to step SP16.

  In step SP16, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the ice making procedure. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP16, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the ice plate 16 has reached a predetermined thickness, and at this time, the control unit 22 moves to step SP17. In step SP17, the control unit 22 ends this ice making processing subroutine SRT1, and returns to the original production processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP16, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 has not yet reached the predetermined thickness, and at this time, the control unit 22 returns to step SP12.

  As a result, the control unit 22 repeats steps SP12 to SP16 until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the ice making processing procedure, that is, until the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 reaches a predetermined thickness.

(Deicing procedure)
Next, a deicing process procedure in which the control unit 22 separates the cloudy ice formed on the ice plate 16 from the ice plate 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In response to the call from the production processing procedure RT1, the control unit 22 starts the deicing processing subroutine SRT2 shown in FIG. 6 and proceeds to step SP20. In step SP20, the control unit 22 stops the refrigeration apparatus 25, and proceeds to step SP21.

  In step SP21, the control unit 22 activates the deicing pump 23, starts supplying undeiced raw water 17 to the deicing water supply pipe 20, and proceeds to step SP22.

  In step SP22, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 17 for deicing was started. If a positive result is obtained in step SP22, this means that the raw water 17 for deicing has been sufficiently supplied, and the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 has been pulled away from the icing plate 16, at this time. The control unit 22 moves to step SP23.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP22, this means that the raw water 17 for deicing is not yet sufficiently supplied, and the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 is still pulled away from the icing plate 16. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP22 and waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of the raw water 17 for deicing is started.

  In step SP23, the controller 22 stops the deicing pump 23, moves to step SP24, ends the deicing processing subroutine SRT2, and returns to the production processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 4).

(Operation and effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the ice making device 1A according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the ice making device 1 </ b> A starts the refrigeration device 25 connected to the ice plate 16 to cool the ice plate 16. At the same time, the ice making pump 5 is started and the raw water 15 is caused to flow down from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A to the surface of the ice plate 16 through the raw water pipe 6. As a result, the raw water 15 is cooled in the ice plate 16. The ice making device 1A temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15 when the raw water 15 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 0.0 to 3.0 ° C.

  By temporarily stopping the supply of the raw water 15, the ice plate 16 is cooled, and many fine ice crystals are generated on the ice plate 16. By generating minute ice crystals on the ice plate 16 in this way, it is possible to prevent the cooled raw water 15 from being frozen suddenly and generating sloppy crystals (also referred to as “slash”). it can. Incidentally, when the slash is generated, not only the quality of the ice is deteriorated, but also the raw water 15 supplied to the freezing plate 16 is repelled by the slash, and the raw water 15 cannot be efficiently recovered by the raw water receiving portion 10. There is a problem.

  In the case of this embodiment, the ice making device 1 </ b> A stops the supply of the raw water 15 by closing the first cutoff valve 7. Incidentally, in the conventional ice making device for producing transparent ice, the supply of raw water is stopped by stopping the ice making pump. Therefore, there is a time difference between the stop of the ice making pump and the stop of the raw water flowing out from the sprinkler pipe to the ice plate.

  In contrast, the ice making device 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment can immediately stop the raw water 15 flowing out from the through hole 19 formed in the water spray pipe 18 by closing the first shutoff valve 7. Therefore, the ice making device 1 </ b> A can stop supplying the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 almost simultaneously with closing the first shutoff valve 7.

Further, the ice making device 1A discharges from the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5 by closing the first shut-off valve 7 and opening the second shut-off valve 9 while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped. The raw water 15 is returned to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8.

  Therefore, since the ice making apparatus 1A circulates the raw water 15 discharged from the ice making pump 5 around the ice making pump 5, even if the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, an extra load is applied to the ice making pump 5. Can be prevented. In this way, the ice making device 1A can stop the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 while the ice making pump 5 is activated.

  In order to sufficiently cool the surface of the icing plate 16, the supply of the raw water 15 is preferably stopped for a predetermined time, for example, 10 to 70 seconds. If the stop time of the raw water 15 supply is shorter than 10 seconds, the surface temperature of the ice plate 16 cannot be lowered sufficiently, so that the raw water 15 newly supplied on the ice plate 16 in the subsequent process is rapidly frozen. I can't let you. On the other hand, even if the stop time of the supply of the raw water 15 is longer than 70 seconds, the surface temperature of the ice plate 16 is less affected. In addition, the supply stop time of the raw water 15 can be determined as appropriate depending on how the ice plate 16 is cooled.

  The ice making device 1 </ b> A starts supplying the raw water 15 again after a predetermined time has elapsed after stopping the supply of the raw water 15. The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A flows down the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the icing plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the icing plate 16 freezes rapidly.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1A holds the ice making pump 5 in the activated state even while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped. By closing 9, raw water 15 is supplied to the ice plate 16.

  Incidentally, in a conventional ice making device for producing transparent ice, the supply of raw water that has been stopped is started by starting an ice making pump in a stopped state. Therefore, there is a time difference between the start of the ice making pump and the flow of raw water from the sprinkler pipe to the ice plate.

  On the other hand, the ice making device 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment can cause the raw water 15 to immediately flow out from the through hole 19 formed in the sprinkling pipe 18 by opening the first cutoff valve 7. Accordingly, the ice making device 1 </ b> A can start supplying the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 almost simultaneously with opening the first shutoff valve 7.

  As described above, the ice making device 1A according to the present embodiment can supply or stop the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 at almost the same timing as the opening and closing of the first shut-off valve 7, so that the raw water 15 It is possible to more accurately manage the supply time and the stop time.

  Further, in the case of the present embodiment, since a large number of fine ice crystals are formed on the ice plate 16, it is possible to prevent the cooled raw water 15 from generating sleet crystals. Therefore, the ice making device 1A can prevent the quality of ice from deteriorating and can collect the raw water 15 in the raw water receiving part 10 more reliably.

  The raw water 15 is preferably supplied for a predetermined time, for example, 1 to 30 seconds. If the supply time of the raw water 15 is shorter than 1 second, the raw water 15 does not reach the entire surface of the ice plate 16 and a cloudy layer having a predetermined thickness cannot be formed. On the other hand, if the supply time of the raw water 15 is longer than 30 seconds, the surface temperature of the cloudy layer rises, and the raw water 15 cannot be rapidly frozen, so that the mineral cannot be taken up efficiently. The supply time of the raw water 15 can be appropriately determined depending on how the ice plate 16 is cooled.

  The ice making device 1A temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15 again after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was started. Thereby, a cloudy layer is formed on the icing plate 16. By stopping the supply of the raw water 15 and holding the surface of the formed cloudy layer for a predetermined time in a state where the raw water 15 does not flow down, the surface temperature of the cloudy layer is sufficiently lowered. In addition, as above-mentioned, it is preferable for the stop time of the raw | natural water 15 in this case to be 10 to 70 second for the said reason.

  After the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the raw water 15 is started again. The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A flows down the surface of the cloudy layer formed on the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the white turbid layer is sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the white turbid layer rapidly freezes. As described above, the raw water 15 is preferably supplied, for example, for 1 to 30 seconds.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 is started, the supply of the raw water 15 is once again stopped. Thereby, a new cloudy layer is formed on the cloudy layer.

  In this way, the ice making device 1A repeats the supply and stop of the raw water 15, thereby successively laminating new cloudy layers on the cloudy layer. In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1A measures the time from the start of ice making, and determines that a predetermined number of cloudy layers have been stacked when the predetermined time has passed.

  Next, the ice making device 1 </ b> A supplies uncooled raw water 17 for cooling to the back surface of the ice plate 16, and the white cloudy ice formed on the ice plate 16 is separated from the ice plate 16, thereby forming 60 cloudy layers. Laminated plate-like cloudy ice can be obtained.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1A intermittently supplies the raw water 15 such that after the raw water 15 is supplied to the ice plate 16 for a predetermined time, the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped for a predetermined time. . Accordingly, the ice making device 1A rapidly freezes the raw water 15 on the surface of the ice plate 16 to form a cloudy layer, so that the mineral can be taken into the clouded layer more efficiently.

  Furthermore, since the ice making device 1A can sufficiently cool the white turbid layer formed on the surface of the ice plate 16 by intermittently supplying the raw water 15, the raw water 15 supplied onto the white turbid layer can be rapidly discharged. Can be frozen. Accordingly, the ice making device 1A as a whole can efficiently take in minerals from the raw water 15 to form a cloudy layer, and thus whiter cloudy ice can be produced.

  The ice making device 1A causes the raw water 15 to flow down to the surface of the ice plate 16 and rapidly freezes the raw water 15 on the ice plate 16 to form a cloudy layer. Thereby, the cloudy ice obtained by laminating a plurality of cloudy layers uniformly contains minerals, and has the property of being high in density and hard like normal transparent ice.

Incidentally, the density of water is 0.9998g / cm ^3, the density of the ice is 0.9168 g / cm ^3,. On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, ice containing bubbles formed by spraying has a lower density than normal ice, and is 0.7 g / cm ³ . On the other hand, the cloudy ice according to this embodiment has a density of 0.8 g / cm ³ or more, which is equivalent to normal ice.

  The ice making device 1A according to the present embodiment starts or stops the supply of the raw water 15 by opening or closing the first shut-off valve 7 regardless of whether the ice making pump 5 is turned on or off. Feeding can be started or stopped. Thus, the ice making device 1A can more accurately manage the time during which the raw water 15 is supplied and the time during which the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped. Therefore, since the ice making device 1A can make the thickness and whiteness of the formed cloudy layer constant, the quality of the cloudy ice can be improved.

  The raw water tank 4 needs to store raw water 15 having a sufficient capacity for producing cloudy ice, but the mineral concentration in the raw water tank 4 can be increased when the raw water 15 stored is smaller. The ice making device 1 </ b> A can form cloudy ice in which the mineral of the raw water 15 is more efficiently taken in by supplying the raw water 15 having a higher mineral concentration to the ice plate 16.

  In the ice making device 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment, the overflow pipe 13 is provided in the raw water tank 4, and the amount of raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is controlled below a certain level. As a result, the ice making device 1A can keep the mineral concentration in the raw water tank 4 high, and thus can form cloudy ice that more efficiently incorporates the minerals of the raw water 15.

  The raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is preferably cooled to 0.0 to 3.0 ° C. before forming the cloudy layer. The raw water 15 cooled to 0.0 to 3.0 ° C. rapidly freezes on the ice plate 16, so that minerals are more efficiently taken into the cloudy layer. Therefore, whiter cloudy ice can be obtained.

  The ice making device 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment measures the temperature of the collected raw water 15 by providing a water temperature sensor 12 in the raw water receiving unit 10. Thereby, since the ice making apparatus 1A can manage the temperature of the raw water 15, the cloudy ice can be obtained more reliably.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, an ice making device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ice making device 1B shown in FIG. 7 having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the raw water supply unit 3B.

  An ice making device 1B shown in FIG. 7 includes an ice making unit 2, a raw water supply unit 3B, a raw water tank 4, and an ice making pump 5. The ice making device 1B sends the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 to the raw water supply unit 3B by the ice making pump 5, and supplies the raw water 15 from the raw water supply unit 3B to the ice making unit 2, thereby forming ice on the ice making unit 2 surface. Forms cloudy ice. As shown in the figure, the ice making device 1 </ b> B does not include the bypass conduit 8.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> B includes a pair of watering pipes 31 having one end communicating with the raw water pipe 6 and the other end closed. A plurality of through holes 19 are formed in the water spray pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction, and the raw water 15 is supplied from the through holes 19 to the surface of the ice plate 16.

  The water sprinkling pipe 31 according to the present embodiment is provided so as to be retractable from a position where the raw water 15 can be supplied to the ice plate 16 to a position where the raw water 15 cannot be supplied to the ice plate 16. Actually, the water spray pipe 31 is provided in a frame (not shown). The frame body holds the water sprinkling pipe 31 so as to be movable relative to the ice plate 16 until the raw water 15 flowing out from the through hole 19 does not reach the ice plate 16.

  The ice making device 1 </ b> B configured as described above retracts the sprinkling pipe 31 to a position where the raw water 15 does not reach the freezing plate 16, so that the raw water 15 to the freezing plate 16 is allowed to flow out from the sprinkling pipe 31. Stop supplying. The raw water 15 flowing out of the water sprinkling pipe 31 in the retracted state is collected in the raw water receiving portion 10 by a frame body (not shown).

  The ice making device 1 </ b> B starts supplying the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 by returning the water sprinkling pipe 31 to the position where the raw water 15 reaches the ice plate 16.

  As described above, the ice making device 1B according to the present embodiment starts and stops the supply of the raw water 15 by the movement of the sprinkling pipe 31, and supplies the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 simultaneously with the movement of the sprinkling pipe 31. You can stop or stop. Furthermore, the ice making device 1B can stop the supply of the raw water 15 without stopping the ice making pump 5. Therefore, the ice making device 1B can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

  Since the ice making device 1B according to the present embodiment is configured to stop the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 while the raw water 15 is allowed to flow out from the water sprinkling pipe 31, the first shut-off valve 7 is not required and the bypass is further performed. Even if the pipe line 8 is not provided, no extra load is applied to the ice making pump 5. Accordingly, the ice making device 1B can omit the first shut-off valve 7 and the bypass conduit 8, and thus can simplify the configuration accordingly.

(3) Third Embodiment Next, an ice making device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ice making device according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the watering pipe.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 9, the water spray pipe 33 has an outer cylinder 34 and an inner cylinder 36 inserted through the outer cylinder 34. The outer cylinder 34 has one end communicating with the raw water pipe 6 and the other end closed, and a plurality of first through holes 35 are formed in a row in the longitudinal direction. The first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 opens toward the surface of the ice plate 16.

  Similarly, the inner cylinder 36 has one end communicating with the raw water pipe 6 and the other end closed, and a plurality of second through holes 37 are formed in a row in the longitudinal direction. The second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 is formed at a position corresponding to the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34. The inner cylinder 36 is connected to the raw water pipe 6 and is provided so as to be rotatable around the central axis in the longitudinal direction in the outer cylinder 34.

  Since it is configured as described above, the water spray pipe 33 includes a second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and a first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 while the inner cylinder 36 rotates once. Overlaps only once. In the water spray pipe 33, the raw water 15 supplied to the inner cylinder 36 flows out from the first through hole 35 only when the first through hole 35 and the second through hole 37 overlap.

  In the ice making device configured as described above, when the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 overlap, more specifically, the second through hole is formed. The raw water 15 is supplied to the surface of the ice plate 16 only between the beginning of the overlap of the hole 37 and the first through hole 35 until the end of the overlap. The position in the rotational direction of the inner cylinder 36 from the beginning to the end of the overlap between the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 is “initial rotation position”. Call it.

When the inner cylinder 36 rotates and the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 do not overlap, the raw water 15 is not supplied from the water spray pipe 33. . In this case, the ice making device opens the second shut-off valve 9 and returns the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _{OUT of the} ice making pump 5 to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the ice making device can hold the ice making pump 5 without being stopped while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped.

  The rotation speed of the inner cylinder 36 is set to coincide with the stop time of the raw water 15. The stop time of the raw water 15 can be set in the range of 10 to 70 seconds, for example, as described above. Therefore, the rotational speed of the inner cylinder 36 can be set in the range of 0.9 rpm to 6 rpm, for example. The inner cylinder 36 may be rotated at a constant rotation speed, may be rotated while appropriately changing the rotation speed, and may be stopped for a predetermined time.

(Ice making procedure)
Next, an ice making process procedure when the control unit 22 forms the cloudy ice on the ice plate 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the inner cylinder 36 of the water spray pipe 33 is in the initial rotation position at the start of the ice making treatment procedure.

  In response to the call from the production processing procedure RT1, the control unit 22 starts an ice making processing subroutine SRT3 shown in FIG. 10 and proceeds to step SP30. In step SP30, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the temperature of the raw water 15 collected in the raw water receiving unit 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP30, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has been cooled to a temperature at which ice making can be started, and at this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP31.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP30, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has not yet been cooled to a temperature at which ice can be made. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP30, and the temperature of the raw water 15 is increased. Wait until the temperature falls below the specified temperature.

In step SP31, the control unit 22 temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15, and proceeds to step SP32. In the case of this embodiment, the control unit 22 opens the second cutoff valve 9 and rotates the inner cylinder 36 of the water spray pipe 33. When the inner cylinder 36 rotates and deviates from the initial rotation position, the raw water 15 supplied from the water spray pipe 33 stops. At the same time, the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5 that has been started is returned to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8 by opening the second shut-off valve 9.

  In step SP32, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the inner cylinder 36 is in the initial rotation position. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP32, this means that the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 has been stopped for a predetermined time, and the ice plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled. At this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP33.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP32, this means that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, and the ice plate 16 has not yet been sufficiently cooled. Means that. At this time, the control unit 22 repeats step SP32 and waits until the inner cylinder 36 reaches the initial rotation position.

In step SP33, the control unit 22 closes the second shut-off valve 9, and proceeds to step SP34. Since the second shutoff valve 9 is closed, the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5 is supplied to the inner cylinder 36 through the raw water pipe 6. Since the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 overlaps the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34, the raw water 15 is supplied from the through hole 19 to the ice plate 16.

  In step SP34, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the inner cylinder 36 is not in the initial rotation position. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP34, this means that the raw water 15 is sufficiently supplied to the ice plate 16, the second through hole 37 and the first through hole 35 are not overlapped, and the raw water 15 from the sprinkling pipe 33 is present. The control part 22 moves to step SP35 at this time.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP34, this means that the raw water 15 supplied to the ice plate 16 is not yet sufficient, the second through hole 37 and the first through hole 35 are still overlapped, and the sprinkler pipe 33 The control unit 22 repeats step SP34 and waits until the second through hole 37 and the first through hole 35 do not overlap each other.

In step SP35, the controller 22 opens the second cutoff valve 9, and proceeds to step SP36. Thereby, the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _{OUT of the} ice making pump 5 returns to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8 by opening the second shutoff valve 9.

  In step SP36, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the ice making procedure. If a positive result is obtained in step SP36, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 has reached a predetermined thickness. At this time, the control unit 22 proceeds to step SP37.

  In step SP37, the control unit 22 stops the inner cylinder 36 at the initial rotation position, moves to step SP38, ends the ice making processing subroutine SRT3, and returns to the original production processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP36, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 has not yet reached the predetermined thickness, and at this time, the control unit 22 returns to step SP32.

  As a result, the control unit 22 repeats steps SP32 to SP36 until a predetermined time elapses after the start of the ice making processing procedure, that is, until the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 reaches a predetermined thickness.

(Operation and effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the ice making device according to the present embodiment will be described. Since the basic operation is the same as that in the first embodiment, the operation in the ice making process of the water spray pipe 33, which is a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment, will be described in detail.

  The ice making device starts the refrigeration device 25 connected to the ice plate 16 and cools the ice plate 16. At the same time, the raw water 15 is caused to flow down from the raw water supply unit to the surface of the ice plate 16. Thereby, the raw water 15 is cooled in the icing plate 16. The ice making device temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15 when the raw water 15 reaches a predetermined temperature.

  In the case of this embodiment, the ice making device manages the time for stopping the supply of the raw water 15 by rotating the inner cylinder 36 at a predetermined rotational speed. Therefore, the ice making device does not need the timer 24 for managing the time for stopping the supply of the raw water 15.

Further, the ice making device opens the second shutoff valve 9 while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped, so that the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _OUT of the ice making pump 5 is made into ice through the bypass pipe 8. because was configured to return the primary side 5 _iN of the pump 5, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first embodiment.

  The ice making device starts supplying the raw water 15 again after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was stopped. The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit flows down the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the icing plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the icing plate 16 freezes rapidly.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device holds the ice making pump 5 while the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped, and the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 is the outer cylinder. The raw water 15 can be supplied to the icing plate 16 by overlapping with the first through holes 35 formed in 34. Therefore, the ice making device can supply the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 at the same time when the inner cylinder 36 reaches the initial rotation position. Thereby, the ice making device can manage the time for supplying the raw water 15 more accurately.

  The ice making device once again stops the supply of the raw water 15 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was started. Thereby, a cloudy layer is formed on the icing plate 16. By stopping the supply of the raw water 15 and holding the surface of the formed cloudy layer for a predetermined time in a state where the raw water 15 does not flow down, the surface temperature of the cloudy layer is sufficiently lowered.

  In the case of this embodiment, the inner cylinder 36 rotates, and the inner cylinder 36 is rotated until the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 do not overlap. As a result, the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped. Therefore, the ice making device can stop the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 at the same time that the inner cylinder 36 is displaced from the initial rotation position. As a result, the ice making device can more accurately manage the time during which the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped.

  After the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the raw water 15 is started again. The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply part flows down the surface of the cloudy layer formed on the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the white turbid layer is sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the white turbid layer rapidly freezes.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 is started, the supply of the raw water 15 is once again stopped. Thereby, a new cloudy layer is formed on the cloudy layer.

  The ice making device according to the present embodiment has the raw water 15 according to the positional relationship between the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34 regardless of whether the ice making pump 5 is turned on or off. Therefore, the supply of the raw water 15 can be started or stopped immediately. Therefore, the ice making device can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

  Moreover, since the ice making apparatus intermittently supplies the raw water 15 by repeating the supply and stop of the raw water 15 by rotating the inner cylinder 36, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Can do.

  The ice making device starts or stops the supply of the raw water 15 depending on the positional relationship between the second through hole 37 formed in the inner cylinder 36 and the first through hole 35 formed in the outer cylinder 34. The valve 7 may be omitted.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the case where the inner tube 36 is rotatably held in the outer tube 34 has been described in the case of the water spray tube 33, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer tube 34 is in relation to the inner tube 36. It is good also as holding rotatably.

(4) Fourth Embodiment Next, an ice making device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(overall structure)
An ice making device 1D shown in FIG. 11 having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 includes an ice making unit 2, a raw water supply unit 3A, a raw water tank 4, and an ice making pump 5, and is stored in the raw water tank 4. The raw water 15 is sent to the raw water supply unit 3A by the ice making pump 5 and the raw water 15 is supplied from the raw water supply unit 3A to the ice making unit 2 to selectively form transparent ice and cloudy ice as ice on the ice making unit 2 surface. To do.

  The ice making device 1 </ b> D according to the present embodiment is provided with a second drain pipe 40 as a drain section that communicates the bypass pipe 8 and the overflow pipe 13 of the ice making pump 5. The second drain pipe 40 is provided with a third shut-off valve 41 that shuts off the raw water 15 flowing from the ice making pump 5 to the second drain pipe 40.

  The raw water pipe 6 is provided with a flow meter 52 for measuring the flow rate of the raw water 15 supplied to the ice plate 16 through the raw water pipe 6. The raw water tank 4 is provided with a water level sensor 53 that measures the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4.

  The ice making device 1D according to the present embodiment may have a cloudy ice selection button (not shown) for selecting the production of cloudy ice. In this case, the ice making device 1D produces white cloudy ice only when the white cloudy ice selection button is pressed, but otherwise produces normal transparent ice.

(Circuit configuration of ice making equipment)
Next, the circuit configuration of the ice making device 1D will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The ice making device 1 </ b> D includes a first control device 42 and a second control device 44. The ice making device 1D controls the operation only by the first control device 42 when producing transparent ice. However, if it is selected to produce cloudy ice as non-transparent ice, the ice making device 1D is controlled in addition to the first control device 42. 2 The controller 44 is also operated. The ice making device 1D according to the present embodiment may add the second control device 44 to the conventional ice making device including the first control device 42 for producing the conventional transparent ice.

  The first control device 42 includes a control unit 46 that controls various functions of the ice making device 1D, an ice making pump 5, a deicing pump 23, a timer 48, a water temperature sensor 12, a refrigeration device 25, and a communication unit 43. 49 is connected.

  The control unit 46 reads a basic program, an ice production program, and the like stored in advance, and controls the entire first control device 42 in accordance with these various programs. The timer 48 measures the time from the start of ice making, converts it into a time signal, and transmits it to the control unit 46.

  When the ice making is started, the control unit 46 generates an ice making start signal and notifies the second control device 44 via the communication unit 43. In addition, the control unit 46 generates a deicing start signal when starting deicing and notifies the second control device 44 via the communication unit 43.

  The second control device 44 includes a control unit 47, a communication unit 45, a timer 51, a first cutoff valve 7, a second cutoff valve 9, and a third cutoff valve 41 that collectively control various functions of the second control device 44. A flow meter 52 and a water level sensor 53 are connected via a control bus 50.

  The control unit 47 reads out various programs such as a basic program stored in advance and an ice making processing program for producing cloudy ice, and controls the entire second controller 44 according to these various programs.

  In addition to the ice making process for producing the cloudy ice described in the first embodiment, the second control device 44 uses the ice making pump 5 to forcibly when the amount of raw water 15 in the raw water tank 4 exceeds a predetermined amount. The waste water treatment for draining the raw water 15 in the raw water tank 4 is performed.

  The communication unit 45 receives the ice making start signal and the deicing start signal transmitted from the first control device 42 and transmits them to the control unit 47. When receiving the ice making start signal or the deicing start signal, the control unit 47 performs ice making processing and drainage processing, respectively.

  The ice making device 1D according to the present embodiment controls the whole using only the first control device 42 when producing transparent ice. In this case, the first cutoff valve 7 is opened, and the second cutoff valve 9 and the third cutoff valve 41 are closed. The first controller 42 produces transparent ice by starting and stopping the ice making pump 5 and starting and stopping the deicing pump 23.

  On the other hand, when producing the cloudy ice, the ice making device 1D operates the second control device 44 in addition to the first control device 42. The second control device 44 opens and closes the first shut-off valve 7, the second shut-off valve 9, and the third shut-off valve 41 individually to intermittently feed the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16. The raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is forcibly drained.

(Ice production procedure)
Next, an ice production processing procedure by the ice making device 1D will be described. The control unit 46 of the first control device 42 executes the production processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the control part 46 of the 1st control apparatus 42 differs in the ice-making process procedure from the said 1st Embodiment, this point is demonstrated with reference to FIG. The ice making procedure according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that transparent ice and cloudy ice can be selectively produced.

  In response to the call from the production processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 4), the control unit 46 starts the ice making processing subroutine SRT4 shown in FIG. 13 and proceeds to step SP40. In step SP40, the control unit 46 determines whether or not the temperature of the raw water 15 collected in the raw water receiving unit 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP40, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has been cooled to a temperature at which ice making can be started, and at this time, the control unit 46 proceeds to step SP41.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP40, this means that the temperature of the raw water 15 has not yet been cooled to a temperature at which ice can be made. At this time, the control unit 46 repeats step SP40, and the temperature of the raw water 15 is increased. Wait until the temperature falls below the specified temperature.

  In step SP41, the control unit 46 generates an ice making start signal and transmits it to the second control device 44, and proceeds to step SP42 and step SP51.

  In step SP42, the control part 46 stops supply of the raw water 15 by stopping the ice making pump 5, and moves to step SP43.

  In step SP43, the control unit 46 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If a positive result is obtained in step SP43, this means that the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 has been stopped for a predetermined time, so that the ice plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled. At this time, the control unit 46 proceeds to step SP44.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP43, this means that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, and the ice plate 16 has not yet been sufficiently cooled. Means that. At this time, the control unit 46 repeats step SP43 and waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped.

  In step SP44, the control unit 46 starts supplying the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 by starting the ice making pump 5, and proceeds to step SP45.

  In step SP45, the control unit 46 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If a positive result is obtained in step SP45, this means that the raw water 15 has been sufficiently supplied to the ice plate 16, and at this time, the control unit 46 proceeds to step SP46 and step SP56.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP45, this means that the raw water 15 supplied to the icing plate 16 is not yet sufficient. At this time, the control unit 46 repeats step SP45, It waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of raw water 15 is started.

  In step SP46, the control unit 46 generates a deicing start signal, transmits it to the second control unit 46, and proceeds to step SP47.

  In step SP47, the control unit 46 stops the ice making pump 5 and ends the ice making processing subroutine SRT4, and returns to the original production processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 4).

  As described above, the ice making processing subroutine SRT4 continues to supply for a predetermined time, and stops supplying the raw water 15 after the predetermined time has elapsed. In this way, in the ice making processing subroutine SRT4, the control unit 46 does not supply the raw water 15 intermittently, but slowly supplies the raw water 15 for a long time, thereby slowly freezing the raw water 15 on the ice plate 16. Therefore, the control unit 46 can produce transparent ice by executing only the ice making subroutine SRT4.

(Procedure for making white cloudy ice)
Next, an ice making process procedure for cloudy ice when production of cloudy ice is selected will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. As described above, when the production of cloudy ice is selected, the ice making device 1D operates both the first control device 42 and the second control device 44. That is, the ice making device 1D executes the ice making processing procedure SRT4 according to the present embodiment in the first control device 42 and simultaneously executes the ice making processing procedure RT2 for the cloudy ice described below in the second control device 44 in parallel. To do.

  When the production of cloudy ice is selected, the control unit 47 of the second control device 44 enters from the start step of the cloudy ice making procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 14 according to the ice making program, and proceeds to step SP50. The controller 47 opens the first shut-off valve 7 in the standby state, closes the second shut-off valve 9 and the third shut-off valve 41, and proceeds to step SP51.

  In step SP51, the control unit 47 determines whether or not the ice making start signal transmitted from the first control device 42 has been received.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP51, the controller 47 proceeds to step SP52. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP51, the control unit 47 repeats step SP51 and waits until an ice making start signal is received.

  In step SP52, the control unit 47 closes the first shut-off valve 7 and opens the second shut-off valve 9, stops the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16, and proceeds to step SP53.

  In step SP53, the control unit 47 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 was stopped. If a positive result is obtained in step SP53, this means that the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 has been stopped for a predetermined time, so that the ice plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled. At this time, the control unit 47 proceeds to step SP54.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP53, this means that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped, and the ice plate 16 has not yet been sufficiently cooled. Means that. At this time, the control unit 47 repeats step SP53 and waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 is stopped.

  In step SP54, the controller 47 opens the first shut-off valve 7 and closes the second shut-off valve 9 to start supplying the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16, and proceeds to step SP55.

  In step SP55, the control unit 47 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 to the ice plate 16 was stopped. If a positive result is obtained in step SP55, this means that the raw water 15 has been sufficiently supplied to the ice plate 16, and at this time, the control unit 47 moves to step SP56.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP55, this means that the raw water 15 supplied to the freezing plate 16 is not yet sufficient. At this time, the control unit 47 repeats step SP55 to return to the freezing plate 16. It waits until a predetermined time elapses after the supply of raw water 15 is started.

  In step SP56, the control unit 47 determines whether or not a deicing start signal is received from the first control device 42. If a positive result is obtained in step SP56, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the ice plate 16 has reached a predetermined thickness. At this time, the control unit 47 returns to step SP50 and at the same time, step SP60. Move on. That is, the control unit 47 puts the first shut-off valve 7, the second shut-off valve 9 and the third shut-off valve 41 into a standby state, and the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is below a predetermined height. The wastewater treatment procedure shown below is performed.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP56, this means that the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 has not yet reached the predetermined thickness. At this time, the control unit 47 returns to step SP52.

  As a result, the control unit 47 repeats steps SP52 to SP56 until a predetermined time elapses after the start of the ice making processing procedure, that is, until the cloudy ice formed on the icing plate 16 reaches a predetermined thickness.

  As described above, the ice making device 1D can produce the cloudy ice by executing the ice making processing procedure RT2 for the cloudy ice shown in FIG. 14 in addition to the ice making subroutine SRT4 shown in FIG.

(Wastewater treatment procedure)
Next, the wastewater treatment procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In step SP60, the control unit 47 of the second control device 44 determines whether or not the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is equal to or higher than a predetermined height.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP60, this means that a large amount of raw water 15 has been collected in the raw water tank 4 as a result of the deicing process, and the water level has increased with the passage of time. 47 moves to step SP61.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP60, this means that the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is still less than the predetermined height, and at this time, the control unit 47 repeats step SP60. Wait until the water level reaches a predetermined height.

  In step SP61, the control unit 47 opens the third shut-off valve 41, closes the first shut-off valve 7 and the second shut-off valve 9, and activates the ice making pump 5, thereby storing the raw shut-off tank 4 in the raw water tank 4. The raw water 15 is forcibly drained through the second drain pipe 40, and the process proceeds to step SP62.

  In step SP62, the control unit 47 determines whether or not the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is less than a predetermined height.

  If a positive result is obtained in step SP62, this means that the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 has been sufficiently drained, and at this time, the control unit 47 moves to step SP63.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP62, this means that the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 has not been sufficiently drained. At this time, the control unit 47 repeats step SP62, and the water level Wait until is less than the predetermined height.

  In step SP63, the control unit 47 closes the third shut-off valve 41, closes the second shut-off valve 9, opens the first shut-off valve 7, stops the ice making pump 5, and goes to step SP50 (FIG. 14). Return.

(Operation and effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the ice making device 1D according to the present embodiment will be described. Since the basic operation is the same as that in the first embodiment, the operation in the ice making process unique to this embodiment will be described in detail.

(basic action)
First, the basic operation of the ice making device 1D according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, the basic operation is an operation executed in the first control device, and is an operation common to both the case where transparent ice is produced and the case where white cloudy ice is produced.

  The ice making device 1 </ b> D starts the refrigeration device 25 connected to the ice plate 16 and cools the ice plate 16. At the same time, the raw water 15 is caused to flow down from the raw water supply unit 3A to the surface of the ice plate 16. As a result, the raw water 15 is cooled in the ice plate 16. The ice making device 1D temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15 when the raw water 15 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 0.0 to 3.0 ° C.

  When producing transparent ice, the ice making device 1 </ b> D stops the supply of the raw water 15 by stopping the ice making pump 5. Accordingly, there is a slight time difference between the stop of the ice making pump 5 and the stop of the raw water 15 flowing out from the sprinkling pipe 18 to the icing plate 16.

  When producing transparent ice, it is preferable to stop the supply of raw water 15 for about 10 to 30 seconds. In addition, the stop time of supply of raw | natural water 15 can be suitably determined by how to cool the ice plate 16.

  The ice making device 1D starts supplying the raw water 15 again after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was stopped. The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A flows down the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the icing plate 16 has been sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the icing plate 16 freezes rapidly.

  When producing transparent ice, the ice making device 1D starts supplying the raw water 15 that has been stopped by starting the ice making pump 5. Therefore, there is a slight time difference between the start of the ice making pump 5 and the flow of the raw water 15 from the water spray pipe 18 to the ice plate 16.

  The ice making device 1D can produce transparent ice having a desired thickness by supplying the raw water 15 for a predetermined time, for example, 30 to 70 minutes. The supply time of the raw water 15 can be appropriately determined depending on how the ice plate 16 is cooled.

  Next, the ice making device 1D supplies uncooled raw water 17 for deicing to the back surface of the ice plate 16 and separates the transparent ice formed on the ice plate 16 from the ice plate 16 to thereby obtain a plate having a predetermined thickness. Transparent ice can be obtained.

  As described above, the ice making apparatus can produce transparent ice by continuing to supply the raw water 15 for a long time and slowly freezing the raw water 15 on the ice plate 16. Therefore, the ice making device 1D can produce transparent ice by executing the basic operation.

(Operation when producing cloudy ice)
Next, the operation for producing cloudy ice will be described. The operation for producing the cloudy ice is executed in parallel in the first control device and the second control device. When it is selected to produce clouded ice, the ice making device 1D performs the following operation when the temperature of the raw water 15 reaches a predetermined temperature by starting the refrigeration device 25 and the ice making pump 5.

  That is, when the temperature of the raw water 15 becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the ice making device 1D stops the ice making pump 5 in the first control device 42 and simultaneously closes the first shut-off valve 7 in the second control device 44. By opening the shut-off valve 9, the supply of the raw water 15 to the icing plate 16 is stopped.

  Thus, when the production of cloudy ice is selected, the first shut-off valve 7 is closed, so that the raw water 15 flows out to the ice plate 16 as compared with the case where the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped only by stopping the ice making pump 5. The raw water 15 can be stopped instantaneously.

  When producing the cloudy ice, the time for stopping the supply of the raw water 15 is, for example, 10 to 70 seconds as described above, and is set longer than when producing transparent ice. If it does so, the 1st control apparatus 42 will start the ice-making pump 5 and the operation | movement which supplies the raw water 15 ahead of the 2nd control apparatus 44 which has stopped supply of the raw water 15.

On the other hand, since the 2nd control apparatus 44 has closed the 1st cutoff valve 7 until predetermined time passed since the raw water 15 was stopped, in the state which stopped supply of the raw water 15 to the icing board 16 Can be held. In addition, the second control device 44 is configured to open the second shut-off valve 9 and return the raw water 15 discharged from the secondary side 5 _{OUT of the} ice making pump 5 to the primary side 5 _IN of the ice making pump 5 through the bypass line 8. Thus, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, the ice making device 1D monitors the flow rate of the raw water 15 supplied to the ice plate 16 in the flow meter 52, and if the flow rate exceeds the threshold even once during the time when the supply of the raw water 15 is stopped, an abnormality is detected. Is determined to have occurred, and the entire operation is stopped.

  The second controller 44 opens the first shut-off valve 7 and closes the second shut-off valve 9 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was stopped. Then, since the ice making pump 5 has already been activated by the first control device 42, the raw water 15 is supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A to the ice plate 16 through the raw water pipeline 6 almost simultaneously with the opening of the first shutoff valve 7.

  The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A flows down the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the icing plate 16 is sufficiently cooled by temporarily stopping the supply of the raw water 15, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the icing plate 16 freezes rapidly.

  The ice making device 1D monitors the flow rate of the raw water 15 supplied to the icing plate 16 by the flow meter 52. If the flow rate falls below a certain amount, the ice making device 1D determines that an abnormality has occurred and stops the overall operation.

  The ice making device 1D temporarily stops the supply of the raw water 15 again by closing the first shut-off valve 7 and opening the second shut-off valve 9 after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the supply of the raw water 15. At this time, the ice making pump 5 maintains the state activated by the first control device 42.

  Thereby, a cloudy layer is formed on the icing plate 16. By stopping the supply of the raw water 15 and holding the surface of the formed cloudy layer for a predetermined time in a state where the raw water 15 does not flow down, the surface temperature of the cloudy layer is sufficiently lowered. In addition, as above-mentioned, it is preferable for the stop time of the raw | natural water 15 in this case to be 10 to 70 second for the said reason.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 was stopped, the first cutoff valve 7 is opened and the second cutoff valve 9 is closed. Then, as described above, since the ice making pump 5 is kept activated by the first control device 42, the raw water 15 is supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A through the raw water pipe 6 to the ice plate almost simultaneously with the opening of the first shutoff valve 7. 16 is supplied.

  The raw water 15 supplied from the raw water supply unit 3 </ b> A flows down the surface of the cloudy layer formed on the surface of the ice plate 16. Since the surface of the white turbid layer is sufficiently cooled because the supply of the raw water 15 has been temporarily stopped, the raw water 15 in contact with the surface of the white turbid layer rapidly freezes.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the raw water 15 is started, the supply of the raw water 15 is once again stopped. Thereby, a new cloudy layer is formed on the cloudy layer.

  As described above, the ice making device 1D repeats the supply and stop of the raw water 15 to successively stack new cloudy layers on the cloudy layer. In the case of the present embodiment, the ice making device 1D measures the time from the start of ice making in the first control device 42, and when the predetermined time has passed, the ice making device 1D determines that the cloudy ice of a predetermined thickness has been formed. To do.

  Next, the ice making device 1D supplies the uncooled raw water 17 for deicing to the back surface of the ice plate 16 and separates the cloudy ice formed on the ice plate 16 from the ice plate 16 to form 60 cloudy layers. Laminated plate-like cloudy ice can be obtained.

  Since the raw water 17 for deicing flows down from the freezing plate 16 and is recovered to the raw water tank 4, the water level of the raw water 15 in the raw water tank 4 becomes higher as time passes. When producing cloudy ice, the amount of raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is preferably not more than a predetermined amount as described above.

  When producing white cloudy ice is selected, the ice making device 1D sets the level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 to a level lower than a predetermined height while the raw water 17 for deicing is supplied. To monitor. When the water level exceeds a predetermined height, the ice making device 1D opens the third shut-off valve 41, closes the first shut-off valve 7 and the second shut-off valve 9, and starts the ice making pump 5. Thus, the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 is forcibly drained through the second drain pipe 40. Thus, the ice making device 1D can keep the water level of the raw water 15 stored in the raw water tank 4 below a predetermined height.

  As described above, the ice making device 1D performs the process for producing the transparent ice as it is in the first control device 42 from when the temperature of the raw water 15 reaches a predetermined temperature until the ice making is finished until the ice making is finished. In the second controller 44, processing for producing cloudy ice is performed simultaneously. Accordingly, the ice making device 1D can not only produce the cloudy ice simply by adding the second control device 44 according to this embodiment to the conventional device for producing transparent ice, but also produce the transparent ice as usual. You can also.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the case of producing cloudy ice as non-transparent ice has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to the production of non-transparent ice colored in red or blue other than white. it can.

1A: Ice making device 2: Ice making part 3A: Raw water supply part 4: Raw water tank 5: Ice making pump 5 _IN : Primary side 5 _OUT : Secondary side 6: Raw water pipe line 7: First shut-off valve 8: Bypass pipe line 9: Second shutoff valve 15: Raw water 33: Sprinkling pipe 34: Outer cylinder 35: First through hole 36: Inner cylinder 37: Second through hole 40: Second drain pipe (drainage section)
41: Third shut-off valve

Claims (4)

An ice making unit,
A raw water supply unit for supplying raw water to the ice making unit;
A raw water tank for storing the raw water;
In an ice making device comprising an ice making pump for sending the raw water from the raw water tank to the raw water supply unit,
A first shut-off valve provided in a raw water pipe connecting the raw water supply unit and the raw water tank, for blocking the raw water;
A bypass pipe line provided in the raw water pipe line and communicated with a primary side and a secondary side of the ice making pump;
A second shut-off valve provided in the bypass line;
Have
By closing the first shut-off valve and opening the second shut-off valve, the raw water supplied from the raw water supply unit to the ice making unit is intermittently shut off, and the surface of the ice making unit is not transparent. An ice making device characterized by laminating layers. An ice making unit,
A raw water supply unit for supplying raw water to the ice making unit;
A raw water tank for storing the raw water;
An ice making pump for sending the raw water from the raw water tank to the raw water supply unit;
In an ice making device comprising:
The raw water supply unit is provided so that the raw water flows down to the surface of the ice making unit and can be retracted to a position where the raw water is not supplied to the ice making unit ,
By retracting the raw water supply unit to a position where the raw water does not reach the surface of the ice making unit, the raw water supplied from the raw water supply unit to the ice making unit is intermittently blocked, and the surface of the ice making unit is not It characterized that you laminating a transparent layer made of icing system. The ice making device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a drainage unit that keeps the amount of the raw water stored in the raw water tank below a certain level. The ice making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein transparent ice and non-transparent ice can be selectively produced.

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