JPH01123969A - Ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make an ice block of substantially perfect sphere easily and surely by providing a hemispherical ice making cup and a set of two ice making covers. CONSTITUTION: A spherical face of small radius is formed through combination of spring charged ice making covers 15, 15, and an ice making cup 14. Cold water ejected by an ejector 10 from a lower hole 17 adheres to the inner surface of the cup 14 and the covers 15, 15 to form a thin layer which grows gradually to produce a spherical ice having solid deep layer. Since the spherical ice adheres the cup 14 tightly, the covers 15, 15 are held in closed state. When an ice ball of specified shape is formed, it is separated from the cup 14 and the weight thereof is applied to the covers 15, 15 which is thereby opened while prevailing over the spring force imparted thereto thus dropping the ice ball.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an ice making machine capable of making nearly spherical ice cubes.

(Conventional technology) In places such as restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops, and bars that require large amounts of small ice cubes to be used in cold drinks, so-called "cut ice" is made by crushing large ice cubes. Recently, there has been a tendency for ice makers to be used since they are extremely inefficient, and for example, there is a known ice making machine as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 17767/1983.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, all of the known conventional ice cubes produce rectangular parallelepiped ice cubes, and the ice used seems to be uniform. Although it has not become widespread,
The production of ice cubes in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped was unavoidable due to the convenience of ice removal, and machines that can produce ice cubes of unusual shapes are still being proposed due to technical difficulties. The reality is that it has not been done.

In response to this fact, the present invention has been proposed by repeatedly improving the apparatus in order to realize the production of small spherical ice, which was considered impossible in the conventional technology, and is novel. The idea is to not only arouse the enthusiasm of customers with its unique shape, but also to improve its image by being resistant to melting and having a long lifespan.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As will be clear from the examples, the present invention provides a substrate in which a plurality of hemispherical metal ice-making cups 0a are arranged in a downward-opening bowl shape. The cooling pipe (4) is attached to the surface of the ice making cup (10), and two ice making covers 051.
(151 can form a hemispherical surface for each other and a spherical surface for the ice making cup (14), and can be closed and opened in a closed state without the hemispherical surface and in an expanded state in which it opens by separating. Each ice-making cover 05) is pivotably supported on the base plate 06) and is provided with a spring force capable of maintaining the closed state during ice-making.

0ω has a water injection hole 0η at the bottom where it butts.
The ice making machine is constructed by cutting out the ice making machine, and adding a water fountain device αG) that injects water into the ice making cup (14) in the direction of the hole α force.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the spring force applied to the ice-making covers (09, 05) cannot compete with the total weight of the ice balls in the ice-making cup αa and the ice-making covers a and a when ice is removed. In a preferred embodiment, the strength is strong enough to expand the axes.

(Function) A spherical surface with a small radius is formed by the combination of the ice-making covers α5) and (15) to which spring force is applied and the ice-making cup αO, and cold water is injected from the lower part 607) by the fountain device (10). The ice cup (14) and the ice cover (151,
By adhering to the inner surface of the ice cube and forming a thin layer of ice, the ice is gradually made thicker, and finally spherical ice with a solid deep layer is formed.

At this time, since the spherical ice (water sphere) is in close contact with the ice making cup (14), the weight of ice is not added to the ice making cover 0ω, 0tsu, and therefore the ice making cover (15), αω, is in the closed state. keeping.

When an ice ball of a predetermined shape is generated, the mode is switched to ice-releasing, but since the water ball separates from the ice-making cup (14) by ice-releasing, its weight is transferred to the ice-making cover 051. (15), and thus the water ball falls in order to overcome the spring force applied to the ice making cover (15) and expand the ice making cover (15).

After the ice ball falls, the ice making cover 0 and αω are restored to the closed state by the spring force.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 show the structure of main parts according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 shows an outline of the overall structure, respectively, including a compressor (1), an air-cooled condenser, (2), an expansion valve (3), a cooler (4) that acts as an evaporator, an accumulator (5), refrigerant piping that cyclically connects these devices, and a solenoid valve for ice removal (7) are installed. and have
A refrigeration system having an ice removal bypass circuit (6) connected in parallel to a series circuit of a condenser (2) and an expansion valve (3), a water tank (8), and a water tank (8). a water pump (9) that sucks up and pressure-feeds the stored raw water; a water fountain device GO that injects the raw water sucked up by the water pump (9) into an ice making cup (14) of an ice making unit (described later); (1
0) For example, a raw water supply device consisting of a first nozzle, a water supply pipe αυ, and a water supply solenoid valve (2) interposed in the middle of the water supply pipe αυ.

A second nozzle 0 (to), 0 connected to the feeding end side of the water supply pipe aυ and spraying water onto the ice making cover 05) and αω of the ice making section.
3) and the ice making section constitute an ice making machine, as shown in FIG. 4.

The ice-making section is a part that simultaneously generates a plurality of water balls, and includes a plurality of ice-making cups (14), (14), and two ice-making cups (14) as a set for each ice-making cup (14). the ice-making cover (Is), (one and the substrate α6), the first nozzle αOL GO), and the cooling pipe (4);
It is composed of a second nozzle 0□□□.

The ice-making cups 04) are formed into hemispherical surfaces with a predetermined diameter using metal plates such as aluminum or stainless steel, and are arranged in multiple rows and multiple rows in a downward-opening bowl state, and are connected by, for example, a substrate 06) made of the same material. Tighten and secure in place.

Then, a cooling pipe is installed on the surface of the ice making cup 00 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
As illustrated in the figure, it is attached in the shape of a headband.

On the other hand, the ice making cover a is made of a metal plate or synthetic resin plate made of the same material as the ice making cup a, and is formed into an A spherical surface made by equally dividing a hemisphere of the same shape as the ice making cup αa.
The ice making covers a9 are made into a set and are pivotably supported on the lower surface side of the substrate 0e via a hinge αω in correspondence with the ice making cup (14). In this case, the ice making covers a9 are each semispherical, The ice-making cup (substrate 06) is pivotally supported so as to maintain a spherical relationship with respect to the ice-making cup 10.

The hinge (2) is fixed to the center part of the horizontal semicircular edge, which is the attachment part of the ice-making cover 09, by making a U-shaped piece with a pin hole protrude like an ear. (The plate piece protruding at the corresponding position of 10 and the U-shaped piece are engaged, and
There is a structure in which pins are inserted into pin holes provided in both pieces, and by doing this, the ice-making covers α and a are brought into contact with each other, forming a hemispherical surface directly below the ice-making cup. By moving in the hanging direction and separating from each other from this state, the hemisphere can be opened and closed into an expanded state in which the hemispherical surface collapses and opens.

Above ice making cover 051. Q is further provided with a semicircular water injection hole 6aη having an appropriate diameter cut in the lowermost central part of the vertical semicircular end edges that are butted together, and in the closed state where they are butted together. A circular hole is formed at the bottom.

Also, the ice making cover (+51.α is the hinge α9)
A spring, for example a coil spring, is attached to the part,
A spring force is applied to the ice making cover 05) and 0ω so that the closed state is maintained throughout the ice making operation.

The spring force of the spring α8) has a predetermined value as will be clarified in the explanation of the function described later.

Next, the first nozzle (10) and the second nozzle α3), the former is for injecting raw water into the ice making cup circle, and the latter is for spraying the outer surface of the ice making cover (151.QS) during ice removal. Therefore, the first nozzle (10) has its nozzle tip directed toward the hole Q7),
On the other hand, the second nozzles (13) are respectively disposed diagonally below the ice making covers a so that their nozzle tips are directed toward the center of the outer surface of the ice making covers 05), 05) in the closed state.

In addition, the ice making cover α (607) is as shown in Figure 5.
It goes without saying that the hole may have a short cylindrical portion in the direction of the six wheels.

Next, the mode of ice-making operation will be explained with further reference to FIG. 6.

Ice-making operation is started by operating the refrigeration system (driving the compressor (1) and condenser (2) fan) and operating the ice-phase raw water supply device by driving the water pump (9).

The ice-making cup αa is cooled to a low temperature by the cooling pipe (4), while raw water for water is spouted from the first nozzle QO) and is injected into the ice-making cup aO through the first nozzle QO) (see Fig. 6). b) see).

The raw water for this water is an ice making cup CL41 and an ice making cover α.

After the diffusion cloth is spread on the inner surface of the water pump (QS), it falls through the hole αη and is collected in the water tank (8), where the temperature decreases and the water pump (9
).

It is injected into the ice making cup 00 through the first nozzle (10).

In this way, an ice layer is formed before the inner surface of the ice-making cup (10), and an ice layer is also formed later on the ice-making covers (15), (15). The ice layer becomes thicker, and ice gradually becomes nearly spherical (see Figure 6 (0)).

After that, when the ice grows close to the hole α'O and a block of ice that is close to a perfect sphere is formed, the condenser (2) fan and water pump (9) are activated by a command from a detector that detects this.
Stop the ice removal solenoid valve (7) and the water supply solenoid valve (turn).
Open the valve.

The hot gas thus discharged from the compressor fl) passes through the ice-removing bypass circuit (6) and flows into the cooling pipe (4), raising the temperature of the ice-making cup 04), while flowing from the second nozzle (+3) to the ice-making cover 09, Room temperature water is sprayed toward 0ω (see Figure 6 (c)).

Therefore, water polo has until now been played with an ice cup (10.Ice cover α).
9. The ice that was stuck to α9 will be released as the stuck surface melts.

Due to this ice release, the weight of the water polo is reduced to a pair of ice-making covers αη, α
As a result of distributing the load to η, the water ball begins to fall, overcoming the spring force of the spring α, and the ice making cover 051, (15
) expands, the water balls completely separate from the ice cup (14) and the ice cover 〇ω, 051, fall, and then accumulate in the water receiving tank (not shown) (see Figure 6 (d)). .

By the way, the spring force that spring α8) has is shown in Figure 6 (a).
It is strong enough not only to prevent the ice-making covers 〇ω and α from opening even under the influence of jet water in the state of Needless to say, it is necessary to set the strength to a certain level.

On the other hand, regarding the ice making cover α, either a synthetic resin mold or a drawn metal such as aluminum may be used, but if it is made of synthetic resin, the ice making efficiency is poor in the part of the cover that is the lower half of the spherical surface. Although there is a problem that the time tends to be long, and the ice removal using water by the second nozzle a is inefficient in a low water temperature range, there is an advantage that a perfect sphere can be easily obtained.

On the other hand, if it is made of metal, the operating efficiency for ice making and ice removal is good, but if the hole aη is made small, the hole αD will close up first during the ice growth process, creating a cavity in the spherical core. Therefore, it is preferable to set 6αη larger than that of synthetic resin.

As described above, spherical ice with the smallest surface area per weight can be easily produced.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention includes a hemispherical ice making cup αa and two 1 Mi ice making covers a'9. By using α, it is possible to easily and reliably generate ice blocks that are close to perfect spheres.

Furthermore, since it opens from below and water is supplied from below, ice can be generated rationally, and switching to ice removal and ice removal are also smooth.

In addition, the present invention is a block of ice that is close to a true sphere, which is novel and interesting, and because it has a spherical shape that has the minimum surface area per ice weight, it does not melt easily and maintains its shape stably. You have the advantage of gaining.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are longitudinal cross-sectional views, obliquely downwardly viewed slope views, and obliquely upwardly viewed sloped views of the main parts of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure, and FIG. The main part perspective views and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) according to the example of the present invention are explanatory diagrams showing the ice making and ice removal process. (4)...Cooling pipe, QO)...Fountain device, 0 minutes.
... Ice making cup, a... Ice making cover, a...
Substrate, aη...hole. reef

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of hemispherical metal ice-making cups (14) are arranged in a downward-opening bowl shape and connected by a substrate (16), and a cooling pipe (4) is connected to the ice-making cup. (14
), while two ice-making covers (14) are attached to the surface of the ice-making cup (14), each having a spherical surface formed by equally dividing a hemispherical surface of the same type as the ice-making cup (14).
15) and (15), each with a hemispherical surface and an ice cup (1
4) are pivoted to the base plate (16) so as to be able to form spherical surfaces, respectively, and to be able to swing between a closed state forming a hemispherical surface and an expanded state opening when separated. At the same time, a spring force is applied to maintain the closed state during ice making, and each ice making cover (15) is provided with a water injection hole (17) at the bottom where they meet. An ice-making machine characterized in that the ice-making machine is further equipped with a fountain device (10) that directs water into the ice-making cup (14) and injects water into the ice-making cup (14). 2. The spring force applied to the ice-making covers (15), (15) cannot compete with the total weight of the ice balls inside the ice-making cup (14) and the ice-making covers (15), (15) at the time of water separation. (15) The ice making machine according to claim 1, which is strong enough to expand the ice maker.