JPH0151751B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly to a method for cleaning a water tray in a so-called inverted cell type ice maker.

(B) Prior art In general, in this type of ice maker, when ice forms in the ice maker, the water tray tilts to open the ice maker, and the ice removed from the ice maker during the deicing operation flows onto the surface of the slanted water tray. It is constructed so that it slides down and falls into the ice storage room. As a result, there was a problem that at the end of ice making, the bottom surface of the ice frozen in the ice making compartment was in close contact with the surface of the water tray, and even after the water tray was tilted, a thin layer of ice adhered to the surface of the water tray, blocking the water fountain hole. .

Therefore, it is necessary to spray water on the surface of the water tray to wash away the thin ice layer adhering to the surface of the water tray before the next ice making starts.

Conventional water dish cleaning methods have been simple in that water is always sprinkled on the surface of the water dish for a fixed period of time, regardless of the watering temperature. Therefore, in general, if the ambient temperature is low and the watering temperature is low, the watering time is insufficient and the thin ice layer cannot be completely washed away, whereas if the ambient temperature is high and the watering temperature is high, the watering time is generally not enough to completely wash away the thin ice layer. To wash away the thin ice layer, watering time was left over, and the watering during this time was completely wasted.

(c) Purpose of the Invention The present invention provides a water dish cleaning method that performs appropriate water sprinkling depending on the water sprinkling temperature in order to reliably wash away the thin ice layer adhering to the water dish and prevent unnecessary water sprinkling.

(d) Structure of the invention The present invention is a so-called inverted cell type ice maker, which operates at least between the end of ice making and the start of the next ice making.
During the first predetermined period, the water supply valve is opened to sprinkle water on the water tray regardless of the water supply temperature, and during the second predetermined period that is continuous before or after the first predetermined period, water is supplied when the water supply temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature. A water tray cleaning method for an ice maker in which a valve is closed to stop water sprinkling to the water tray, and when the water sprinkling temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the water supply valve is opened to spray water to the water tray. be.

(E) Embodiment Figure 1 shows a partially cutaway side view of the ice maker of the present invention, showing a large number of ice maker compartments 1 that open downward.
A, the cooler 1 has a refrigeration system evaporation pipe 2 arranged on the outer surface of the upper wall, each ice making compartment 1A is closed off from below with sufficient margin, and a fountain corresponding to each ice making compartment 1A is installed on the surface. Water tray 5 with holes 3 and return holes 4 formed
, a water tank 6 fixed to the water tray 5 and communicating with the return hole 4, and a circulation pump that circulates the water in the water tank 6 from the water fountain 3 to each ice making compartment 1A via a water supply pipe 7 and further a distribution pipe 8. 9, a drive device 11 including a deceleration motor 10 capable of forward and reverse rotation for tilting and reciprocating the water tray 5, a water sprinkler 13 that sprinkles water on the surface of the water tray 5 when the water supply valve 12 is opened, and a water tank 6. Float 14 in float tank 14A communicating with the bottom of
The water level switch 14C is actuated by the water level switch 14C, and the water level detection device 14, which detects a predetermined water level in the water tank 6, constitutes a so-called inverted cell type ice maker. Then,
A drive cam 17 having first and second arms 17A and 17B extending in opposite directions is connected to the output shaft of the deceleration motor 10 supported on a mounting plate 16 fixed to the support beam 15. The other end of the coil spring 18 attached to the end of the first arm 17A is connected to the side of the water tray 5, and the rear part of the water tray 5 is supported on a rotating shaft 19. Further, 20 is switched by the second arm 17B of the drive cam 17 which rotates counterclockwise due to the forward rotation of the deceleration motor 10, and the power supply to the deceleration motor 10 is cut off to move the water tray 5 to a predetermined inclined open position. The deceleration motor 10 is stopped at
This is a seesaw-type control switch that is switched by the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17, which rotates clockwise due to the reverse rotation of be. 30 is a thermostatic water temperature detection device connected to the water supply pipe 31 to detect the water temperature.

Next, the electric circuit of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 21 is an electric compressor of the refrigeration system, and 22 is a timer for controlling the end of the ice-making operation, which has a timer contact 22A that closes the contact when a predetermined time has elapsed. 23 is a deicing end detection thermostat that controls the end of the deicing operation, and when the temperature of the cooler 1 falls to a predetermined temperature, it switches to the L contact 23A, and when the temperature rises to the predetermined temperature, it switches to the H contact 23B. 2
A first relay 4 is connected in series with an ice storage switch 25 that closes a contact when a predetermined amount of stored ice is detected, and has a normally closed first relay contact 24A and a normally open first relay contact 24B. 26 is the second relay,
Normally closed second relay contacts 26A, 26B and 26C
and normally open second relay contacts 26D, 26E and 26.
It has F. A third relay 27 has a normally closed third relay contact 27A and normally open third relay contacts 27B and 27C. 12 is the water supply valve, which has a normally closed third relay contact 27A and a normally closed second relay contact 2.
6C and the series circuit of the water level switch 14C.

20A1 and 20A2 are the control switches 20
The tilting contacts 20B1 and 20B2 are the reciprocating contacts of the control switch 20. Reference numeral 10 designates the deceleration motor which rotates forward or reverse depending on the switching of the control switch 20, 9 the circulation pump, 28 the condenser air cooling fan, and 29 the hot gas valve. 30 is the water temperature detection device, which has a high temperature contact 30A that is located when the temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, and a low temperature contact 30B that is located when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. In addition,
The water level detection device 14 is mechanically provided with a differential to prevent water from being supplied during ice making operation.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. Water dish 5 is the first
As shown by the solid line in the figure, the ice making compartment 2 is in a horizontal state with it closed, and when the power is turned on, the normally closed first relay contact 24A, the normally closed third relay contact 27A, the normally closed second relay contact 26C, and Water level switch 14C
The water supply valve 12, which is energized via the
Water is sprinkled onto the surface of the water tray 5 from the water tray 5, and water starts to be supplied to the water tank 6 mainly through the return hole 4. In addition, the electric compressor 21 operates to cool the cooler 1, and the normally closed first relay contact 24A, the tilting contact 20A1,
Furthermore, the circulation pump 9 and the condenser air cooling fan 28 are operated via the normally closed second relay contact 26A to start ice making operation, and then, when the water level in the water tank 6 reaches a predetermined water level, the ice making operation is started by the float 14B. The contact of the water level switch 14C is opened, cutting off the power to the water supply valve 12, stopping water sprinkling, and ending the water supply operation to the water tank 6.

Thus, the water in the water tank 6 passes through the water pipe 7 and the distribution pipe 8 and is sprayed from each water fountain 3 into each ice making compartment 2.
The remaining water that does not freeze in the ice making chamber 2 is returned to the water tank 6 from the return hole 4, and the water circulation operation is repeated.
During this process, when the temperature of the cooler 1 drops to a predetermined temperature, the deicing completion detection thermostat 23 activates the H contact 23.
The timer 22 is started by switching from B to L contact 23A, and when the predetermined time set by the timer 22 has elapsed, the timer contact 22A closes and the second
The relay 26 is energized and the second relay contact 26 is normally closed.
A, 26B, and 26C are opened, and normally open second relay contacts 26D, 26E, and 26F are closed. As a result, the circulation pump 9 and the fan 28
stops and ends the ice-making operation, the third relay 27 is energized to open the normally closed third relay contact 27A, close the normally open third relay contacts 27B and 27C, and open the hot gas valve 29. Then, the cooler 1 is heated with hot gas and the operation for deicing the ice formed in the ice making compartment 2 is started. Further, at this time, the deceleration motor 10 is energized via the timer contact 22A and the tilting contact 20A2 to rotate forward, and the drive cam 17 rotates counterclockwise. Along with this, the water tray 5 starts tilting, and when a portion of the ice-making water remaining in the water tank 6 is drained during the tilting of the water tray 5, the water level switch 14C closes, and the supplied water at this time is An energizing circuit for the water supply valve 12 is formed regardless of the contact state of the detection device 30. That is, when the water temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the normally closed first relay contact 24A, the L contact 23A of the de-icing completion detection thermostat 23, and the timer contact 22
A, the water supply valve 12 is energized via the tilting contact 20A2, the high temperature contact 30A of the water temperature detection device 30, the normally open second relay contact 26F, and the water level switch 14C, and when the water temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, it is normally closed. The water supply valve 12 is energized via the first relay contact 24A of the water temperature detection device 30, the low temperature contact 30B of the water temperature detection device 30, the normally open second relay contact 26F, and the water level switch 14C, and the water supply valve 12 opens and water is discharged from the sprinkler 13 to the water tray. Start cleaning by sprinkling water on the surface of step 5. By this,
Thin ice adhering to the surface of the water tray 5 is cleanly washed away. Thus, the second arm 1 of the drive cam 17
7B switches the control switch 20 from the tilting contacts 20A1 and 20A2 to the double-acting contacts 20B1 and 20B2, the power to the deceleration motor 10 is cut off and the water tray 5 moves to the ice making compartment 2 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The tilting ends and stops at the tilted position where the lever is released.

Here, when the water spray temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the contact of the water temperature detection device 30 is located at the high temperature contact 30A, and the tilting contact of the control switch 20 is located at the 20A.
1 is switched to the double-acting contact 20B2, the power supply to the water supply valve 12 is cut off, and the sprinkling of water to the water tray 5 is temporarily stopped. In this way, when the water sprinkling temperature is high, the surface of the water tray 5 can be sufficiently cleaned by sprinkling water until the water tray 5 finishes tilting, so that unnecessary cleaning is not continued and water is saved. It is. On the other hand, when the water spray temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the contact point of the water temperature detection device 30 is the low temperature contact 3.
0B, the water supply valve 12 continues to be energized even when the water tray 5 has finished tilting and is in a stopped state, and watering to the water tray 5 is continued. In this manner, when the water sprinkling temperature is low, water sprinkling until the water tray 5 finishes tilting is insufficient, and water sprinkling is continued in order to reliably clean the surface of the water tray 5. In addition, when the water tray 5 is at the inclined stop position, water is left in the water tank 6 at a level as shown by the dotted line X in FIG. 1 to prevent dry operation when the circulation pump 9 is started in the next cycle.

When the ice leaves each ice making compartment 2 and the deicing completion detection thermostat 23 detects a predetermined temperature rise in the cooler 1 and switches from the L contact 23A to the H contact 23B, the timer 22 is energized. is cut off, and the timer contact 22A returns to normal. As a result, the second relay 26 is de-energized, the normally closed second relay contacts 26A, 26B and 26C are closed, and the normally open second relay contacts 26D, 26E and 2 are closed.
6F is opened, even when the water sprinkling temperature is low, the power to the water supply valve 12 is cut off at this point and water sprinkling to the water tray 5 is stopped. On the other hand, the deceleration motor 10 is energized via the double-acting contact 20B1 of the control switch 20 and the normally closed second relay contact 26B to rotate in the reverse direction, and the drive cam 17 rotates clockwise. Along with this, the water tray 5 starts to move backward, and when the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17 switches the control switch 20 from the backward movement contacts 20B1 and 20B2 to the tilting contacts 20A1 and 20A2, the deceleration motor 10 is deenergized. After being cut off, the water tray 5 again completes its return movement and stops at the horizontal position where the ice making chamber 2 is closed, as shown by the solid line in FIG. When the operation ends, the excitation of the third relay 27 is also released and the normally closed third relay contact 27A is closed, so the water supply valve 12 opens in the same way as when the power is turned on, and the water tray 5 is discharged from the sprinkler 13. Water is sprinkled on the surface and water is supplied to the water tank 6. At the same time, cooling of the cooler 1 is started, and the circulation pump 9 and fan 28 are also operated to start the next cycle of ice-making operation. Thereafter, when the water level in the water tank 6 reaches a predetermined water level, the contact of the water level switch 14C is opened by the float 14B as described above, and the power supply to the water supply valve 12 is cut off, thereby ending the water supply operation to the water tank 6.

In the cleaning of the water tray 5 in the embodiment of the present invention, water is sprinkled on the water tray 5 for a predetermined period from when the water level switch 14C closes until the water tray 5 finishes tilting, regardless of the watering temperature, and then Although watering is carried out in accordance with the height of the watering temperature during a predetermined period from when the successive water trays 5 finish tilting to when the water trays 5 start backward movement, other embodiments of the present invention From the time when the water tray 5 starts to move back, the water tray 5
Water is sprinkled on the water tray 5 regardless of the watering temperature during a predetermined period until the water tray 5 finishes its return motion, and before this, the water tray 5 that continues
Water may be sprinkled in accordance with the level of the watering temperature during a predetermined period from when the water tray 5 finishes its tilting movement to when the water tray 5 starts its backward movement.

In addition, regardless of the watering temperature, the predetermined period for sprinkling water on the water tray 5 starts from when the water tray 5 starts tilting.
It may be set before the end of the tilting movement.

(F) Effects of the Invention The present invention shortens the time for watering the water tray under conditions of high ambient temperature and high watering temperature, and lengthens the time for watering the water tray under low ambient temperature conditions where the watering temperature is low. Since this method is a water dish washing method, it can save a large amount of water under high temperature conditions, and under low temperature conditions it has the extremely excellent advantage of being able to reliably wash away thin water adhering to the water dish.

Furthermore, since the existing device of the ice maker is effectively utilized without using a timer to set the operating period of the water supply valve, the present invention also has the advantage of simplifying the circuit configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an ice making machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the present invention. 5... Water dish, 6... Water tank, 12... Water supply valve, 30
...Water temperature detection device, 30A...High temperature contact, 30B...Low temperature contact.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cooler having a number of divided ice-making chambers that open downward, a water tray that closes each ice-making chamber from below, a water tank fixed to the water tray, and a drive device that tilts the water tray. , in an ice maker equipped with a water sprinkler that sprinkles water on the surface of the water tray when the water supply valve is opened, and a circulation pump that circulates the water in the water tank to each of the ice making compartments, at least from the end of ice making to the time when the next ice making starts. During the first predetermined period, the water supply valve is opened and water is sprayed on the water tray regardless of the water spray temperature, and the first predetermined period is
During the second predetermined period that is continuous before or after the predetermined period, when the water supply temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the water supply valve is closed to stop water sprinkling to the water tray, and when the water supply temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. A method for cleaning a water tray of an ice maker, characterized in that a water supply valve is opened and water is sprinkled onto the water tray.