JP7458054B2 - Ice maker and refrigerator with ice maker - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ice maker that freezes liquid to produce ice, and a refrigerator equipped with this ice maker.

Some ice makers that generate ice by freezing liquid have been proposed to make ice by cooling cooling protrusions immersed in liquid using the refrigerant of the refrigerator's cooling system (for example, patented (See Reference 1).

JP 2004-150785 A

However, in the ice maker described in Patent Document 1, since the cooling projections are simply cooled using the refrigerant of the refrigerator's cooling system, the temperature of the cooling projections reaches the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant at the maximum, and it is difficult to shorten the time until ice making. There is a limit.

In the ice-making machine described in Patent Document 1, water stored in the ice-making water groove is cooled by the cooling protrusion and becomes ice, which first freezes near the cooling protrusion and finally accumulates in the ice-making water groove. The entire water freezes. In this case, the ice that freezes at the beginning of the ice-making process becomes ice that contains few soluble or insoluble substances and is less cloudy, but near the end of the ice-making process, the ice that has been stored in the ice-making water groove There is a problem in that soluble or insoluble substances contained throughout the ice aggregate and the contained water freezes, producing cloudy ice.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an ice maker capable of producing ice with suppressed clouding, and a refrigerator equipped with this ice maker.

The ice maker of the present invention comprises:
a heat sink having a flow path through which a coolant flows;
a cooling section including a metal plate to which a metal rod-shaped member is attached so as to extend downward from a base end to a tip end, the cooling section cooling the rod-shaped member by the heat sink;
A liquid container capable of storing liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the liquid container;
a liquid removal unit that removes liquid remaining in the liquid container;
A control unit that controls the liquid supply unit and the liquid removal unit;
Equipped with
In the ice making process performed under the control of the control unit,
Step 1, in which the liquid supply unit supplies liquid into the liquid container;
a step 2 of immersing a predetermined area of the rod-shaped member from the tip end in the liquid supplied to the liquid container for a predetermined time;
a step 3 in which the liquid removal unit removes liquid remaining in the liquid container after the predetermined time has elapsed;
The ice making process is repeated multiple times.

According to the present invention, step 1 of supplying the liquid into the liquid container, step 2 of generating ice around the rod-shaped member for a predetermined period of time, and step 3 of removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container. Repeat the ice-making process multiple times. Therefore, in each ice-making process, a liquid containing a small amount of soluble or insoluble matter is always frozen, so that ice with suppressed clouding can be produced. As described above, it is possible to provide an ice making machine that can generate ice with suppressed cloudiness.

Furthermore, the ice maker of the present invention has the following features:
a heat sink having a flow path through which a refrigerant flows;
a cooling unit having a metal plate to which a metal rod-shaped member is attached so as to extend downward from a base end to a distal end, and in which the rod-shaped member is cooled by the heat sink;
a liquid container capable of storing liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the liquid container;
a liquid removal unit that removes liquid remaining in the liquid container;
a control unit that controls the liquid supply unit and the liquid removal unit;
Equipped with
In the ice making process carried out under the control of the control unit,
When N is an integer of 2 or more and n is an integer of 1 or more and N or less, repeat the ice-making process (1) to the ice-making process (N),
In the ice making process (n),
Step 1 in which the liquid supply unit supplies a liquid corresponding to the ice making process (n) into the liquid container;
a step 2 in which a predetermined area from the tip of the rod-shaped member is immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container for a time T corresponding to the ice-making process (n);
Step 3 in which the liquid removal unit removes the liquid remaining in the liquid container after the time T has elapsed;
It is characterized by carrying out.

According to the present invention, step 1 of supplying a liquid corresponding to the ice-making process (n) into a liquid container, and step 2 of generating ice around the rod-shaped member for a predetermined time corresponding to the ice-making process (n). , step 3 of removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container, and repeating the ice making process (n) N times. Therefore, in each ice-making process (n), a liquid containing less soluble or insoluble matter is always frozen, so that ice with suppressed clouding can be produced.

In addition to this, in each ice making process from 1 to N, different liquids can also be frozen for different times, thus producing ice with different thicknesses from layer to layer, different flavors and different colors from layer to layer. You can also do that. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ice making machine that can generate ice suitable for various uses and ice having various tastes and aesthetics.

In addition, the present invention further includes a Peltier element disposed between the heat sink and the metal plate, one surface of which contacts a surface of the heat sink and the other surface of which contacts a surface of the metal plate opposite to the surface to which the rod-shaped member is attached,
The rod-shaped member is further cooled by supplying power to the Peltier element so that the side of the Peltier element in contact with the heat sink becomes the heat dissipation side and the side in contact with the metal plate becomes the heat absorption side.

According to the present invention, the Peltier element absorbs heat from the metal plate having the rod-shaped member and dissipates it to the heat sink side, so in addition to the cooling by the heat sink having a flow path through which the refrigerant flows, the Peltier element also cools, making it possible to lower the temperature of the rod-shaped member of the metal plate to a temperature lower than the temperature when only a refrigerant is used. This allows ice to be generated around the rod-shaped member of the metal plate in a short period of time.

Moreover, the present invention
comprising a movement mechanism that relatively moves the cooling unit and the liquid container,
Under the control of the control section,
After the ice making process,
a moving step in which the moving mechanism relatively moves the cooling unit and the liquid container so that the liquid container does not exist below the rod-shaped member;
After the moving step, a deicing step of supplying power to the Peltier element so that the side of the Peltier element in contact with the heat sink becomes a heat absorption side and the side in contact with the metal plate becomes a heat radiation side;
It is characterized by doing the following.

According to the present invention, by reversing the direction of energization of the Peltier element in a state where there is no liquid container under the rod-shaped member, the temperature of the rod-shaped member can be quickly raised and ice removal can be achieved. This ensures a short ice-making cycle.

Moreover, the refrigerator of the present invention has
Equipped with the above ice maker,
It is characterized in that a refrigerant is branched from a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator and supplied to the heat sink of the ice maker.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator equipped with an ice maker that can generate ice with suppressed clouding in a short time using the refrigerant of the refrigerator's cooling system.

As described above, the present invention can provide an ice maker capable of producing ice with suppressed clouding, and a refrigerator equipped with this ice maker.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a planar shape of a heat sink and a cooling system connected to the heat sink as viewed from arrow AA in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of an ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing step 1 (liquid supply) in the ice making process (1) performed by the ice making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing step 2 (ice making) in the ice making process (1) performed by the ice making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing step 3 (liquid removal) in the ice-making process (1) performed in an ice-making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing step 1 (liquid supply) in the ice making process (n) performed by the ice making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing step 2 (ice making) in the ice making process (n) performed by the ice making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing step 3 (liquid removal) in the ice-making process (n) performed by the ice-making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a moving process performed by the ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing an ice removal process performed in an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram (photograph) showing an example in which an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention was manufactured and ice was actually made. It is a diagram (photograph) showing ice that is actually made. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing step 2 (ice making) in the ice making process (n) performed by the ice making machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the ice maker and refrigerator described below are for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and unless specifically stated, the present invention is not limited to the following. In each drawing, members having the same function may be designated by the same reference numerals. Although embodiments may be shown separately for convenience in order to explain the main points or facilitate understanding, partial substitution or combination of configurations shown in different embodiments is possible. The sizes, positional relationships, etc. of members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. In the following description and drawings, the vertical direction is shown assuming that the ice maker and refrigerator are installed on a horizontal surface.

(Ice maker according to one embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a planar shape of heat sink 10 as viewed from arrows A-A in Fig. 2 and a cooling system 80 connected to heat sink 10. First, an overview of ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

The ice maker 2 includes a cooling unit 40 that can freeze liquid to generate ice, a liquid container 50 that can store liquid, a moving mechanism 60 that relatively moves the cooling unit 40 and the liquid container 50, and a liquid container. 50. The ice maker 2 according to this embodiment is configured as an independent ice maker, and includes a cooling system 80 for supplying a refrigerant to the cooling unit 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described later, it may be incorporated into a refrigerator and the refrigerant may be supplied from the refrigerator's cooling system. The ice maker 2 further includes a control section 90 that controls the constituent devices of the ice maker 2.

<Cooling section>
The cooling unit 40 includes a heat sink 10, a Peltier element 30, and a metal plate 20 in this order from the upper side to the lower side. The metal plate 20 has a plurality of rod-shaped members 24 attached to the lower surface of a plate-shaped base portion 22 . The Peltier element 30 is arranged between the heat sink 10 and the metal plate 20, one surface (upper surface) is in contact with the surface (lower surface) of the heat sink 10, and the other surface (lower surface) is in contact with the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20. is in contact with the surface (top surface) opposite to the surface on which it is attached.
However, the cooling unit 40 is not limited to the above configuration; for example, the cooling unit 40 does not have the Peltier element 30 and is configured only with the heat sink 10 and the metal plate 20, and the metal plate 20 is cooled by the heat sink 10. There may be cases where it is done.

[heat sink]
The heat sink 10 has a flat plate shape and is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The heat sink 10 is provided with a flow path 12 in which a liquid or mist coolant flows. In FIG. 3, the flow of the refrigerant is indicated by dotted arrows. Although FIG. 3 shows a substantially M-shaped flow path 12 having three folded portions in plan view, the flow path 12 is not limited to this. Depending on the size of the heat sink 10, a channel with one folded portion or a channel with more than three folded portions may be used. Connecting pipes 14A and 14B are attached to both ends of the flow path 12.
Examples of the structure of the heat sink 10 include one in which a groove-shaped flow path is formed in a metal plate, and one in which a cooling pipe serving as a flow path is joined to a thin metal plate. In the latter case, the cooling pipe may be bonded to one side of the thin metal plate, or the thin metal plate may be bonded to cover the circumference of the cooling pipe. In consideration of heat conduction, it is preferable that the cooling pipe and the thin metal plate are in plane contact with each other. An example of the thickness of the thin metal plate is about 1 to 20 mm. The planar dimensions of the heat sink 10 are similar to the planar dimensions of the metal plate 20, which will be described later.

In the cooling system 80 according to the present embodiment, the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 82 releases heat in the condenser 84 and returns to a liquid state, and while passing through the capillary tube, the pressure is reduced and the boiling point is lowered, and the dryer 86 , and enters the flow path 12 of the heat sink 10 from the connecting pipe 14A. While passing through the flow path 12, the liquid or mist refrigerant absorbs heat from the surroundings and evaporates. The vaporized refrigerant passes through the piping of the cooling system 80 from the connecting pipe 14B, returns to the compressor 82, and is compressed again, repeating the cycle. Such a cooling cycle allows the heat sink 10 to be cooled to a temperature below freezing.

[Peltier element]
The Peltier element 30 is an element that utilizes the Peltier effect, in which heat is absorbed and released at the junction when two different types of metals or semiconductors are joined together and a current is passed through them. When a current is passed through the Peltier element 30 in a predetermined direction, one surface becomes a heat absorption side and the other surface becomes a heat radiation side. Then, when a current is applied to the Peltier element 30 in the opposite direction, the surface on the heat absorption side and the surface on the heat radiation side are reversed. In this embodiment, any known Peltier element can be used.
The width and depth of the Peltier element 30 according to this embodiment can be exemplified as approximately 20 to 100 m, and the thickness can be exemplified as approximately 2 to 20 mm. A plurality of Peltier elements 30 can also be arranged depending on the size of the heat sink 1 and the metal plate 20. FIG. 1 shows a case where two Peltier elements 30 are arranged.

[Metal plate]
The metal plate 20 is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The metal plate 20 includes a flat base portion 22 and a plurality of metal rod-like members 24 attached to the base portion 22. The rod-shaped member 24 is attached to the lower surface of the base portion 22 so as to extend downward from the base end 24A to the distal end 24B.

FIG. 1 shows a case where six rod-shaped members 24 are attached to the base portion 22. As shown in FIG. The rod-shaped member 24 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and has an outer diameter of about 5 to 20 mm and a length of about 30 to 80 mm, for example. FIG. 1 shows a case where six rod-shaped members 24 are attached to the base portion 22. As shown in FIG. The planar shape of the base portion 22 is determined by the size of the rod-like members 24 and the number of rod-like members 24 to be attached. The heat sink 10 also has a planar shape substantially similar to the base portion 22 of the metal plate 20. As for the planar dimensions of the heat sink 10 and the base portion 22 of the metal plate 20, the vertical and horizontal dimensions can be about 40 to 400 mm. An example of the thickness of the base portion 22 is about 2 to 10 mm.

In the metal plate 20 according to the present embodiment, a male screw is provided on the base end 24A side of the rod-shaped member 24, and is adapted to be screwed into a female screw formed in a hole provided in the base portion 22. . With such a structure, the rod-shaped member 24 can be easily replaced and attached. Although the rod-shaped member 24 according to the present embodiment has a circular cross-sectional shape, it is not limited to this, and may be replaced with a rod-shaped member having any cross-sectional shape including a polygon, a star shape, and a heart shape. can. Moreover, the rod-shaped member 24 can also be joined to the base part 22 by welding or brazing. Considering the cooling effect of the rod-shaped member 24, a solid rod-shaped member 24 is preferable, but a hollow rod-shaped member 24 can also be used in consideration of workability and the like.

[Fixed structure of cooling section]
The cooling unit 40 according to the present embodiment has a fixing structure such that both surfaces of the Peltier element 30 are in close contact with the surface of the heat sink 10 and the surface of the metal plate 20. For example, the heat sink 10 and the metal plate 20, which are arranged to sandwich the Peltier element 30, can be fixed to each other using fastening members such as bolts and nuts. By fastening so that tensile stress is applied to the bolt shaft, the lower surface of the heat sink 10 and the upper surface of the Peltier element 30 can be brought into close contact with each other, and the lower surface of the Peltier element 30 and the upper surface of the metal plate 20 can be brought into close contact with each other. However, the fixing method is not limited to this, and the fixing structure of the cooling unit 40 can be formed using any other fixing means.

<Liquid container>
The liquid container 50 is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a slightly flattened, substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The liquid container 50 has a liquid storage area consisting of a bottom and four sides surrounding the bottom. The upper part of the liquid storage area is open, and a predetermined area from the tip of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 is placed in the liquid storage area of the liquid container 50 through this opening. . Ice is generated in a predetermined area from the tip of the rod-shaped member 24 immersed in the liquid. An example of the predetermined area is about 8 to 40 mm from the tip of the rod-shaped member 24.

<Movement mechanism>
The moving mechanism 60 is configured to relatively move the cooling unit 40 and the liquid container 50. In the moving mechanism 60 according to the present embodiment, the liquid container 50 is connected to the moving mechanism 60 via the connecting portion 50A, and is rotatable around the point indicated by arrow C in FIG. (see double arrow). When the metal plate 20 is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees or more around the point indicated by the arrow C, the liquid container 50 does not exist below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20, as shown in FIG. Thereby, when ice generated around the rod-shaped member 24 is dropped, it can be stored in the ice storage container 54 disposed below without interfering with the liquid container 50.
On the other hand, from this state, by rotating the liquid container 50 counterclockwise around the point indicated by arrow C, the liquid can be returned to a state in which liquid can be stored in the liquid container 50 as shown in FIG.

The moving mechanism 60 can rotate the liquid container 50 clockwise or counterclockwise using, for example, the driving force of a motor. However, the moving mechanism is not limited to the above, and the moving mechanism 60 moves the liquid container 50 in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the liquid container 50 does not exist below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20. It can also be made into a state. Further, there may be a moving mechanism in which the liquid container 50 side is fixed and the cooling unit 40 side is moved, or there may be a moving mechanism in which both the liquid container 50 and the cooling unit 40 are moved.

<Liquid supply section 70, liquid removal section 70'>
The liquid supply unit 70 that supplies liquid to the liquid container 50 includes a storage container 74 that stores liquid, and a liquid supply/removal pump 72 that supplies the liquid in the storage container 74 to the liquid container 50. A liquid supply/removal port 52 is provided at the bottom of the liquid container 50 and is connected to an input/output port of a liquid supply/removal pump 72 via a liquid supply/removal channel 76 . The rotation shaft of the liquid supply/removal pump 72 is rotatable in both directions, and the liquid in the storage container 74 can be supplied to the liquid container 50 or the liquid in the liquid container 50 can be returned to the storage container 74.

Any liquid for producing ice can be stored in the storage container 74, including potable water. When supplying liquid to the liquid container 50 , the liquid supply/removal pump 72 is operated in the liquid supply direction to suck up the liquid in the storage container 74 and pass it through the liquid supply/removal channel 76 and the liquid supply/removal port 52 . , is supplied to the liquid container 50. On the other hand, when removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50, the liquid supply/removal pump 72 is operated in the liquid removal direction to remove the liquid from the liquid container 50 via the liquid supply/removal port 52 and the liquid supply/removal channel 76. The liquid inside is sucked out and returned to the storage container 74 side. At this time, a filter 78 is provided at the return path entrance of the storage container 74. After soluble or insoluble substances contained in the liquid returned from the liquid container 50 are removed by the filter 78 , the liquid is returned into the storage container 74 . The filtration function of the filter 78 suppresses an increase in the concentration of soluble or insoluble substances in the liquid in the storage container 74, thereby realizing the production of high-quality ice.

As described above, in this embodiment, the liquid supply unit 70 that supplies liquid to the liquid container 50 and the liquid removal unit 70' that removes the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 can be implemented by the same device. However, this is not limited to this, and the liquid supply unit and the liquid removal unit can also be implemented by different devices. For example, the liquid can be supplied from above the opening of the liquid container 50 by the liquid supply unit, and the liquid in the liquid container 50 can be drained by gravity or the suction force of the pump by the liquid removal unit that is composed of an automatic valve or a discharge pump connected to a discharge port provided at the bottom of the liquid container 50.
Furthermore, the moving mechanism 60 can function as a liquid removal unit 70' to cause the liquid in the liquid container 50 to flow out when the liquid container 50 is tilted. In this case, it is preferable to provide a drain flow path that receives the liquid flowing out of the liquid container 50 and directs it to a predetermined location.

(control unit)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the ice maker 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, the control configuration of the ice making machine 2 according to the present embodiment including the control unit 90 will be explained with reference to FIG. The control unit 90 controls the direction and magnitude of the electric power supplied to the Peltier element 30 to create a temperature difference between both surfaces so that one surface becomes a heat absorption side and the other surface becomes a heat radiation side. be able to. Further, the control unit 90 rotates the liquid container 50 by controlling the drive of the motor of the moving mechanism 60 to move between the ice making position (see FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 6A to 6C) and the ice removal position (see FIG. 7). It can be moved.

The control unit 90 can supply liquid to the liquid container 50 by controlling the liquid supply/removal pump 72 of the liquid supply unit 70 and operating it on the liquid supply side. Similarly, the control section 90 can return the liquid in the liquid container 50 to the storage container 74 by controlling the liquid supply/removal pump 72 of the liquid removal section 70' to operate on the liquid removal side.

As described above, the ice maker 2 according to this embodiment includes a heat sink 10 having a flow path 12 through which a refrigerant flows, a metal plate 20 to which a metal rod-shaped member 24 is attached so as to extend downward from a base end 24A to a tip end 24B, a cooling unit 40 having a Peltier element 30 arranged between the heat sink 10 and the metal plate 20, one side of which contacts the surface of the heat sink 10 and the other side of which contacts the surface of the metal plate 20 opposite to the surface to which the rod-shaped member 24 is attached, a liquid container 50 capable of storing liquid, a liquid supply unit 70 that supplies liquid to the liquid container 50, and a control unit 90 that controls the Peltier element 30, the liquid supply unit 70, etc., and a predetermined area from the tip end 24B of the rod-shaped member 24 is arranged within the liquid storage area of the liquid container 50.

In this type of ice maker 2, in addition to cooling by the heat sink 10 having the flow path 12 through which the refrigerant flows, cooling by the Peltier element 30 is also performed, so that cooling can be performed at a lower temperature than in a configuration in which the rod-shaped member 24 is cooled using only refrigerant, and ice can be produced around the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 in a short period of time. In addition, after ice is made, the direction of current flow to the Peltier element 30 can be reversed to raise the temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20, allowing the ice to be quickly removed. This makes it possible to provide an ice maker 2 that can achieve a short ice-making cycle.

In order to cause ice to fall from the rod-shaped member 24 by gravity, the rod-shaped member 24 is arranged so as to extend downward from the base end 24A to the distal end 24B. However, the rod-shaped member 24 is not limited to being arranged vertically, but may be arranged diagonally downward. The main surfaces of the heat sink 10, the Peltier element 30, and the base portion 22 of the metal plate 20 that constitute the cooling unit 40 are not limited to being arranged horizontally, but can be arranged so that the rod-shaped member 24 extends downward. , can be placed in any orientation.

(control processing)
Next, control processing by the control unit 90 will be explained. The control unit 90 executes an ice-making process to generate ice, a movement process to move the liquid container 50, and an ice-removal process to remove the generated ice. The ice making process includes step 1 of supplying liquid into the liquid container 50, step 2 of generating ice in the liquid container 50, and step 3 of removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50. Repeat multiple times.

<<Ice making process>>
First, an explanation will be given of an ice making process in which steps 1 to 3 are performed multiple times.
<Ice making process (1)>
[Step 1 (liquid supply)]
FIG. 5A is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing step 1 (liquid supply) in the ice-making process (1) performed by the ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5A, the flow of liquid is indicated by dotted arrows. Step 1 of supplying liquid to the liquid storage area of the liquid container 50 by the liquid supply unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A.

At the ice making position where liquid can be stored in the liquid container 50, the control unit 90 controls the drive motor of the liquid supply/removal pump 72 of the liquid supply unit 70 to drive in the liquid supply direction. This causes the liquid supply/removal pump 72 to suck up the liquid in the storage container 74 and supply the liquid to the liquid container 50 via the liquid supply/removal flow path 76 and the liquid supply/removal port 52. When the control unit 90 determines that the height of the liquid in the liquid container 50 has reached a predetermined height based on a signal from the liquid level sensor or the timing of the timer, it stops the operation of the liquid supply/removal pump 72. Figure 5A shows a stage in the middle of supplying liquid to the liquid container 50 by the liquid supply/removal pump 72.

[Step 2 (ice making)]
FIG. 5B is a side sectional view schematically showing step 2 (ice making) in the ice making process (1) performed by the ice making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Step 2 (ice making) in the first ice making process (1) for producing ice around the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5B.

By the above step 1 (water supply), a predetermined area L from the tip of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 is immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 50. In this state, under the control of the control unit 90, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 such that the side of the Peltier element 30 in contact with the heat sink 10 becomes a heat radiation side, and the side in contact with the metal plate 20 becomes a heat absorption side. As a result, in addition to cooling by the heat sink 10, which has reached a temperature below freezing due to the evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the internal flow path 12, the Peltier element 30 absorbs heat from the metal plate 20 side and radiates the heat to the heat sink 10 side. The temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 is lowered to a temperature lower than that when only the refrigerant is used.

Then, when it is determined by the timer that a predetermined time T has elapsed, the control unit 90 stops the supply of power to the Peltier element 30. For example, the time T can be 2 to 8 minutes. By continuing to supply electricity to the Peltier element 30 for the time T, as shown in FIG. 5B, a layer of ice can be generated so as to cover the periphery of a predetermined area L from the tip of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20.

In step 2 (ice making), the Peltier element 30 absorbs heat from the metal plate 20 side having the rod-shaped member 24 and radiates the heat to the heat sink 10 side, so in addition to the cooling by the heat sink 10, the cooling by the Peltier element 30 is added. The temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 becomes even lower than the temperature when only the refrigerant is used. Thereby, ice can be generated around the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 in a short time.

However, in step 2, ice can also be generated around the rod-shaped member 24 only by cooling by the heat sink 10. Even in that case, ice with suppressed cloudiness can be produced. Specifically, it is possible to use the cooling unit 40 that is configured only with the heat sink 10 and the metal plate 20, or in the cooling unit 40 that is configured with the heat sink 10, the Peltier element 30, and the metal plate 20, the Peltier element 30 is energized. There may be cases where this is not done.

[Step 3 (liquid removal)]
FIG. 5C is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing step 3 (liquid removal) in the ice-making process (1) performed by the ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5C, the flow of liquid is indicated by dotted arrows. Step 3 (liquid removal) for removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5C.

Under the control of the control unit 90, the drive motor of the liquid supply/removal pump 72 of the liquid removal unit 70' is driven in the liquid removal direction. Thereby, the liquid supply/removal pump 72 sucks out the liquid in the liquid container 50 through the liquid supply/removal port 52 and the liquid supply/removal channel 76 and returns it to the storage container 74 side. At this time, the liquid returning to the storage container 74 flows into the storage container 74 after being filtered by a filter 78 disposed at the return path entrance of the storage container 74 . Since the filter 78 removes soluble or insoluble substances contained in the liquid, even if ice is generated by being supplied to the liquid container 50 again, highly pure ice can be generated.
By such step 3 (liquid removal), new liquid can be supplied to the liquid container 50 and the next ice-making process can be started promptly.

This completes the first ice making process (1). In this case, only a small portion of the liquid newly supplied to the liquid container 50 freezes, and most of the liquid remains unfrozen, resulting in ice with less soluble or insoluble matter and reduced cloudiness.

<nth ice making process>
Repeat this ice-making process multiple times. FIGS. 6A to 6C are side sectional views schematically showing an ice-making process (n) performed by the ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows step 1 (liquid supply), FIG. 6B shows step 2 (ice making), and FIG. 6C shows step 3 (liquid removal). 6A to 6C show as an example the case where n=4, that is, the case of process (4) for generating the fourth layer of ice.

Similarly to the above, in step 1 (liquid supply), liquid is supplied into the liquid container 50. As a result, a predetermined area L from the tip end 24B of the rod-shaped member 24 is immersed in the supplied liquid. Then, in step 2 (ice making), power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 for a predetermined time T such that the side of the Peltier element 30 in contact with the heat sink 10 becomes the heat radiation side and the side in contact with the metal plate 20 becomes the heat absorption side. The predetermined time T can be set to the same time or different times in the ice making process (n) performed multiple times. Then, step 3 is performed in which the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 is removed by the liquid removing section 70'. This completes the n-th ice making process.
It is also possible for the control unit 90 to grasp the size of the generated ice using an optical sensor, an image sensor, a contact sensor, etc., rather than the passage of time T, and stop the power supply to the Peltier element 30. .

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, the n-th layer of ice is generated on top of the ice in which layers 1 to n-1 have been generated. In the case of the n-th layer of ice, like the first to n-1 layers of ice, only a small portion of the liquid newly supplied to the liquid container 50 freezes, and a large portion of the liquid remains unfrozen. , resulting in ice that contains less soluble or insoluble matter and suppresses clouding. The ice making process is completed by repeating such ice making process (n) 1 to n times. As a result, it is possible to produce ice in which 1 to n layers of ice are laminated, containing little soluble or insoluble matter, and with suppressed clouding.

<Moving process>
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically showing a moving process performed by the ice maker 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of a moving process of moving the liquid container 50 so that the liquid container 50 does not exist below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 after ice is generated in the ice-making process.
Under the control of the control unit 90, the motor of the moving mechanism 60 is driven to rotate the liquid container 50 clockwise to the ice release position where the liquid container 50 is not present below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 (one point). (See dashed arrow). At this time, an ice storage container 54 is arranged below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 to receive the fallen ice.

In the above, step 3 (liquid thinning) is performed by the liquid supply/removal pump 72, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the liquid container 50 is tilted by the moving mechanism 60, the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 is removed. It can also be removed by draining it from the liquid container 50. In that case, the moving mechanism 60 will function as the liquid removing section 70'.

<Icing process>
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view schematically showing an ice removal process performed by an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, a description will be given of an ice removal process in which, after the moving process, ice generated around the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 is removed from the rod-shaped member 24 and stored in the ice storage container 54.

Under the control of the control unit 90, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 such that the side of the Peltier element 30 in contact with the heat sink 10 becomes the heat absorption side, and the heat radiation side in contact with the metal plate 20 becomes the side. As a result, the temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20 rises rapidly, so that the ice in the area in contact with the rod-shaped member 24 melts. As a result, the ice falls off the rod-shaped member 24 due to gravity and is stored in the ice storage container 54 disposed below.
The supply of electricity to the Peltier element 30 can be stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed by counting with a timer, or a load sensor or the like is provided below the ice storage container 54 and the sensor is used to stop the supply of electricity to the ice storage container 54. It can also stop when it detects that ice is stored.

In the ice removal process, the temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 is quickly raised to remove the ice by reversing the direction of energization of the Peltier element 30 in a state where the liquid container 50 is not present below the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20. can be realized. This ensures a short ice-making cycle.
If a cooling unit 40 consisting of only a heat sink 10 and a metal plate 20 is used, the ice removal process can be performed by changing the temperature of the refrigerant flowing inside the heat sink 10 or by applying vibration to the rod-shaped member 24. Can be implemented.

As described above, in the ice making machine 2 according to the present embodiment, in the ice making process carried out under the control of the control section 90, the liquid supply section 70 supplies the liquid into the liquid container 50 in step 1 and the predetermined time T. , a step 2 in which a predetermined region L from the tip end 24B of the rod-shaped member 24 is immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container 50; and after a predetermined time T has elapsed, the liquid removing section 70' is immersed in the liquid container 50. step 3 of removing residual liquid;
Repeat the ice-making process multiple times.
As a result, in each step that is repeated, a liquid containing a small amount of soluble or insoluble matter is frozen, so that ice with suppressed clouding can be produced. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ice making machine that can generate ice with suppressed cloudiness. In particular, when cooling is performed using the Peltier element 30 in addition to cooling using the heat sink 10, ice with suppressed clouding can be produced in a shorter time.

(Example)
Fig. 9A is a diagram (photograph) showing an example in which ice was actually made by manufacturing an ice-making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9B is a diagram (photograph) showing ice that was actually made. With reference to Figs. 9A and 9B, an example in which ice was actually made by manufacturing an ice-making machine 2 having the following specifications will be described.

(1) Heat sink (a) Takagi Seisakusho P-200S
(b) Size: 120x120mm, thickness 10mm
(c) Recommended flow rate: 2-5L/min
(2) Peltier element (use two Peltier elements below)
(a) Size: 40x40mm, thickness 4mm
(b) Maximum endothermic amount (Qcmax): 51W
(c) Maximum temperature difference (ΔTmax): 66°C
(3) Metal plate (a) Material: Aluminum alloy (b) Number of rod-shaped members: 6 (c) Size of rod-shaped members: outer diameter 8 mm, length 40 mm
(4) Liquid for making ice: water

(4) Cooling cycle in ice-making process Ice-making process (n) in which steps 1 to 3 below are performed was repeated from ice-making process (1) to ice-making process (5).
Ice making process (n) (n is an integer from 1 to 5)
(a) Step 1 (liquid supply)
(b) Step 2 (ice making): Power supply time T = 5 minutes to the Peltier element 30 (c) Step 3 (liquid removal)

Ice is made with the ice making device 2 as shown in FIG. 9A, and it takes about 6 minutes to perform one ice making process (n), and it takes about 6 minutes to repeatedly perform the ice making process (1) to ice making process (5). 30 minutes have passed. Thereafter, a moving process and an ice removal process were performed, and in a total of about 40 minutes from the start, ice G with suppressed clouding as shown in FIG. 9B was able to be produced. The generated ice has a dome shape with a maximum diameter of about 25 mm and a height of about 18 mm, and has a recess corresponding to the outer shape of the rod-shaped member.
As described above, it has been demonstrated that the ice making machine 2 according to the above embodiment can generate ice in which clouding is suppressed in a short time.

(Ice maker according to other embodiments)
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view schematically showing step 2 (ice making) in the ice making process (n) performed by the ice making machine 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The ice making machine 2 according to the present embodiment is able to supply a different liquid to the liquid container 50 for each ice making process (n) in Step 2 of the ice making process (n) that is repeatedly performed. Different from the form.

FIG. 10 shows, as an example, a configuration in which five different types of liquid can be supplied to the liquid container 50. That is, the liquid supply section E includes five types of liquid containers 92(1) to 92(5) that contain liquids corresponding to ice making processes (1) to (5). FIG. 10 shows step 2 of the ice making process (n) when n=4. In other words, it shows that four layers of ice, G(1) to G(4), have been generated.
In step 1 of each ice making process (n), the liquid contained in the type liquid container 92 (n) corresponding to each ice making process (n) is transferred to the liquid container 50 by the switching valve 93 controlled by the control unit 90. Supplied. In this embodiment, the liquid flows down in the liquid supply path 94 due to gravity and flows into the liquid container 50 from above. However, the supply is not limited to this, and for example, it may be supplied by a pump.

In step 2 of each ice-making process (n), power is supplied to the Peltier element for a time T while a predetermined area L from the tip 24B of the rod-shaped member 24 is immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container 50. At this time, the time T for which electricity is supplied to the Peltier element 30 can also be changed in each process. In other words, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 for the time T corresponding to the ice-making process (n) so that the side of the Peltier element 30 in contact with the heat sink 10 becomes the heat dissipation side and the side in contact with the metal plate 20 becomes the heat absorption side.

In step 3 of each ice making process (n), after time T has elapsed, liquid removal unit F removes the liquid remaining in liquid container 50. In this embodiment, by changing on/off valve 96 controlled by control unit 90 from closed to open, the liquid remaining in liquid container 50 flows down liquid removal path 95 by gravity and into receiving container 97.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 can also be removed by a pump. In this case, the liquid can be returned to the original liquid container 92(n) via a filter. This allows the liquid from which the soluble and insoluble matter have been removed to be reused.

With such a configuration, for example, ice with a different taste or ice with a different color can be produced for each layer produced in each ice making process (n). This makes it possible to produce ice that changes flavor while a person licks it, or changes color while it melts. In addition, by making the color lighter from the lower ice layer to the upper ice layer, the color of the lower ice becomes visible from the outside, creating ice with a gradated appearance. You can also. In addition, the thickness of the ice layer can be arbitrarily changed by varying the ice making time T in each step (n).

As described above, in this embodiment, in the ice making process performed under the control of the control unit 90, where N is an integer of 2 or more and n is an integer of 1 to N, ice making process (1) to ice making process (N) are repeated, and in ice making process (n), step 1 is performed in which the liquid supply unit E supplies liquid corresponding to process (n) into the liquid container 50, step 2 is performed in which, with a predetermined area L from the tip 24B of the rod-shaped member 24 immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container 50, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 for a time T corresponding to process (n) so that the side of the Peltier element 30 in contact with the heat sink 10 becomes the heat dissipation side and the side in contact with the metal plate 20 becomes the heat absorption side, and step 3 is performed in which the liquid removal unit F removes the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50 after the time T has elapsed.

By making ice using a liquid corresponding to each ice-making process (n) for a time T corresponding to each ice-making process (n), it is possible to produce ice that is less cloudy and has different thicknesses and different flavors and colors for each layer. This makes it possible to provide an ice maker that can produce ice that is suitable for a variety of uses and has a variety of flavors and aesthetics.

(Refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the flow of the refrigerant is indicated by dotted arrows. A refrigerator 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11. Refrigerator 100 includes ice maker 2 according to the embodiment described above.

Refrigerator 100 includes a freezer compartment 102A and a refrigerator compartment 102B. Inlet flow paths 104A and 104B partitioned off by a partition plate 106 are provided on the back sides of the freezer compartment 102A and the refrigerator compartment 102B. An evaporator 140 is arranged in the inlet channel 104A on the side of the freezer compartment 102A, and a fan 170 is arranged above the evaporator 140. A compressor 110 communicating with an evaporator 140 is arranged in an external machine room on the back side of the freezer compartment 102A. The refrigerant (gas) compressed in the compressor 110 is liquefied in the condenser 120, and while passing through the capillary tube, the pressure is reduced and the boiling point is lowered, and the refrigerant passes through the dryer 130 and reaches the three-way valve 160. Although the dryer 130 is shown in the machine room in FIG. 11, it is actually located near the three-way valve 160.

The three-way valve 160 switches the refrigerant between a flow path that flows directly into the evaporator 140 of the refrigerator 100 and a flow path that flows through the heat sink 10 of the ice maker 2 and then flows into the evaporator 140. When ice making machine 2 is not making ice, the refrigerant flows directly into evaporator 140 . Then, the refrigerant is vaporized by removing heat from the gas inside the refrigerator in the evaporator 140, and the vaporized refrigerant is compressed again in the compressor 110, repeating the cycle. As described above, a refrigerator cooling system 150 is constructed in which the compressor 110, condenser 120, dryer 130, evaporator 140, etc. are connected.

When making ice with the ice maker 2, the refrigerant flows into the flow path 12 of the heat sink 10 via the connecting pipe 14A by switching the three-way valve 160. While passing through the flow path 12, a portion of the liquid or mist refrigerant absorbs heat from the surroundings and evaporates, and the vaporized refrigerant reaches the inlet side of the evaporator 140 via the connecting pipe 14B. Since the amount of refrigerant vaporized in the heat sink 10 is small compared to the volume of refrigerant circulating in the cooling system 150, the refrigerant remains generally in a liquid or mist state upon entering the evaporator 140. Therefore, the refrigerant is vaporized by removing heat from the gas inside the refrigerator in the evaporator 140, and the vaporized refrigerant is compressed again in the compressor 110, repeating the cycle.
It is also possible to always have a flow of refrigerant flowing directly into the evaporator 140 and a flow of refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 140 after passing through the heat sink 10, without switching with the three-way valve 160.

A damper 180 is disposed between the inlet channel 104A on the freezing compartment 102A side and the inlet channel 104B on the refrigerator compartment 102B side. In FIG. 11, the damper 180 is shown in a closed state.
When the damper 180 is closed, when the compressor 110 and the fan 170 are driven, the gas in the freezer compartment 102A flows, and the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 140 flows through the air outlet 106A provided in the partition plate 106 into the freezer compartment. 102A. As shown by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. 11, the gas that has flowed in circulates within the freezing chamber 102A and returns to the lower side of the evaporator 140 within the inlet flow path 104A. By circulating the cooled gas through the evaporator 140, the inside of the freezer compartment 102A can be cooled. When the damper 180 is open, cold air also circulates to the refrigerator compartment 102B side.

As described above, refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment is equipped with ice maker 2 according to the above embodiment, and can supply liquid or mist-like refrigerant to heat sink 10 of ice maker 2 by branching off from cooling system 150 for cooling the interior of the refrigerator.
In the ice maker 2, the control unit 90 of the ice maker 2 repeats the ice making process multiple times, which includes step 1 of supplying liquid into the liquid container 50, step 2 of producing ice around the rod-shaped member 24 for a predetermined time T, and step 3 of removing the liquid remaining in the liquid container 50.Therefore, in each ice making process, liquid containing less soluble or insoluble matter is always frozen, and ice with suppressed clouding can be produced.
In particular, when cooling by the Peltier element 30 is added to cooling by the heat sink 10 utilizing the cooling system 150 of the refrigerator 100, cooling can be performed at a lower temperature than when only a refrigerant is used, and ice can be produced in a short time around the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20. After ice is produced, the direction of current flow to the Peltier element 30 is reversed to raise the temperature of the rod-shaped member 24 of the metal plate 20, allowing the ice to be removed quickly. This allows a short ice-making cycle to be achieved.
As described above, a refrigerator 2 equipped with an ice maker capable of producing ice with suppressed clouding can be provided.

Although the embodiments and modes of implementation of the present invention have been described, the disclosed contents may vary in the details of the configuration, and changes in the combination and order of elements in the embodiments and modes of implementation may differ from the claimed invention. This can be realized without departing from the scope and philosophy of

2 Ice maker 10 Heat sink 12 Flow path 14A, 14B Connection pipe 20 Metal plate 22 Base portion 24 Rod-shaped member 24A Base end portion 24B Tip portion 30 Peltier element 40 Cooling portion 50 Liquid container 50A Connection portion 52 Liquid supply/removal port 54 Ice storage container 60 Movement mechanism 70 Liquid supply portion 70' Liquid removal portion 72 Liquid supply/removal pump 74 Storage container 76 Liquid supply/removal flow path 78 Filter 80 Cooling system 82 Compressor 84 Condenser 86 Dryer 90 Control portion 92(n) Type liquid container 93 Switching valve 94 Liquid supply path 95 Liquid removal path 96 On/off valve 97 Receiving container 100 Refrigerator 102A Freezer 102B Refrigerating chamber 104A, B Inlet flow path 106 Partition plate 106A Air outlet 110 Compressor 120 Condenser 130 Dryer 140 Evaporator 150 Cooling system 160 Three-way valve 170 Fan 180 Damper E Liquid supply section F Liquid removal section

Claims (5)

a heat sink having a flow path through which a refrigerant flows;
a cooling unit having a metal plate to which a metal rod-shaped member is attached so as to extend downward from a base end to a distal end, and in which the rod-shaped member is cooled by the heat sink;
a liquid container capable of storing liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the liquid container;
a liquid removal unit that removes liquid remaining in the liquid container;
a control unit that controls the liquid supply unit and the liquid removal unit;
Equipped with
In the ice making process carried out under the control of the control unit,
Step 1 in which the liquid supply unit supplies liquid into the liquid container;
a step 2 in which a predetermined region from the tip of the rod-shaped member is immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container for a predetermined time;
Step 3 in which the liquid removal unit removes the liquid remaining in the liquid container after the predetermined time has elapsed;
Repeat the ice-making process multiple times,
In the step 2, the ice maker is characterized in that the liquid surrounding the predetermined region whose temperature is below freezing freezes from the side that comes into contact with the predetermined region or ice formed around the predetermined region. a heat sink having a flow path through which a refrigerant flows;
a cooling unit having a metal plate to which a metal rod-shaped member is attached so as to extend downward from a base end to a distal end, and in which the rod-shaped member is cooled by the heat sink;
a liquid container capable of storing liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the liquid container;
a liquid removal unit that removes liquid remaining in the liquid container;
a control unit that controls the liquid supply unit and the liquid removal unit;
Equipped with
In the ice making process carried out under the control of the control unit,
When N is an integer of 2 or more and n is an integer of 1 or more and N or less, repeat the ice-making process (1) to the ice-making process (N),
In the ice making process (n),
Step 1 in which the liquid supply unit supplies a liquid corresponding to the ice making process (n) into the liquid container;
a step 2 in which a predetermined area from the tip of the rod-shaped member is immersed in the liquid supplied to the liquid container for a time T corresponding to the ice-making process (n);
Step 3 in which the liquid removal unit removes the liquid remaining in the liquid container after the time T has elapsed;
carried out ,
In the step 2, the ice maker is characterized in that the liquid surrounding the predetermined region whose temperature is below freezing freezes from the side that comes into contact with the predetermined region or ice formed around the predetermined region. further comprising a Peltier element disposed between the heat sink and the metal plate, one surface of which is in contact with the surface of the heat sink, and the other surface of which is in contact with a surface of the metal plate opposite to the surface to which the rod-like member is attached;
The rod-shaped member is further cooled by supplying electric power to the Peltier element so that the side of the Peltier element in contact with the heat sink becomes a heat radiation side, and the side in contact with the metal plate becomes a heat absorption side. The ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2. a moving mechanism for relatively moving the cooling unit and the liquid container;
Under the control of the control unit,
After the ice making process,
a moving step of the moving mechanism relatively moving the cooling unit and the liquid container so that the liquid container is not present below the rod-shaped member;
a de-icing step of supplying power to the Peltier element so that the side of the Peltier element in contact with the heat sink becomes a heat absorption side and the side of the Peltier element in contact with the metal plate becomes a heat dissipation side after the moving step;
4. The ice making machine according to claim 3, further comprising: Comprising the ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A refrigerator characterized in that a refrigerant is supplied to the heat sink of the ice maker by branching from a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator.

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