JPH02306074A - Automatic ice making machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the ice making machinery to always receive new water to produce sanitary ice even if ice making operation is interrupted by power stoppage, interruption of electric service and the like by providing a water level detection part in a water- reserved part of a circulation water sauser and allowing the ice making machinery to start ice making operation after the water of the circulation water sauser is drained. CONSTITUTION:Water dropped from an ice making board 13 is reserved in a water- reserved part 17b of a circulation water sauser 17. When the water reaches a specified quantity to put on a water level detection float switch 19, a water circulation pump 18 is supplied with electricity to perform suction of the water into a sprinkler 8 so as to spray on the ice making board 13 again. During ice making operation, in the case where power stoppage is performed or a power source is turned off, circulation water is in a condition to remain reserved in the water-reserved part 17b. In this case, when a power stoppage state is released or the power source is turned on, the water level detection float switch 19 is put on the supply a solenoid valve 20 for drainage with the electricity so as to drain the water in a drain sauser 22 through a drain pipe 21 and when a water level is equal to or less than the specified quantity, the water level detection float switch 19 is put off to block the solenoid valve 20 for drainage so as to start ice making operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention has an evaporator for directly making ice by a flowing water method in an insulated box, and a circulating water receiver for ice making water. The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker that makes ice while circulating ice through the ice.

(Prior art) This type of automatic ice maker has an evaporator disposed inside an insulated box that serves as the main body, and water for ice making is supplied to the evaporator to directly make ice using a flowing water method.
During ice making, water dripping from the evaporator is pumped up by a pump or the like through a circulating water tray and then supplied to the evaporator again. As a result, ice is gradually formed on the surface of ice-making water while being cooled by an evaporator, and after growing until it reaches a predetermined size, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator to release the ice, and the ice is removed from the bottom of the main body. The water is stored in a water storage chamber.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, with the conventional structure as described above, if the ice making operation is interrupted or a power outage occurs, if this condition continues for a long time, the circulating water Since the water left in the saucer gets dirty with dust, etc.,
If the ice-making operation is restarted, the water will be used for ice-making, and as a result, the ice produced will also become dirty, which is undesirable from a sanitary standpoint.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to produce clean and sanitary ice during ice making even if water for ice making is left stored in the circulating water tray. There is an automatic ice maker on offer.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is directed to an automatic ice making machine in which an evaporator for directly making ice by a flowing water method is disposed in an insulated box body, A circulating water saucer for receiving and circulating water for use, and water level detection means for outputting a detection signal when the water stored in the circulating water saucer is above a predetermined water level are provided, and the evaporator starts making ice. The present invention is characterized in that when a detection signal is output from the water level detection means, the ice making operation is started after the water in the circulating water tray is drained.

(Function) According to the automatic ice maker of the present invention, when ice making water is stored in the circulating water tray at the start of ice making, the water level detection means outputs a detection signal, and based on this, the ice making water is circulated. Start the ice making operation after draining the water from the water tray. As a result, fresh clean water is supplied from the water supply side when making ice, so for example, ice can be made from a situation where water has been stored in the circulating water tray for a long time due to a power outage or a power outage caused by the user. Even if the process is started, water that is contaminated with clumps or the like is no longer used, and as a result, clean and sanitary ice is always produced.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to an automatic ice making machine using a water tank system will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 1, which shows a cross section of the general overall configuration,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body which is a rectangular heat-insulating box with a heat-insulating member disposed inside the outer peripheral wall. is provided with a door 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flat rectangular water supply tank that is removably installed on the upper surface of the main body 1, and has an opening for water injection. ! 5a is attached to the upper surface of the main body 1 as shown in the figure. In this case, the lid 5a has a well-known constant water level water supply mechanism including a valve device.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a water supply tray having a flat rectangular shape with an open upper surface, and is disposed so as to be located below M5a of the water supply tank 5 in the installed state. In addition, the inside of this water supply tray 6 is divided into a chamber A and a chamber B by a partition plate 6a having a notch (not shown) in the upper edge. A valve device included in the lid 5a is operated by a protrusion 6b provided on the bottom surface.

As a result, the water in the water tank 5 is supplied into the room A up to a constant water level, and when the water level in the room A exceeds the notch in the partition plate 6a, water is supplied into the room B. There is.

7 is a float switch for detecting water supply disposed on the upper part of the ice making section 2;
It is set to turn on when water is being supplied to a predetermined level. Reference numeral 8 denotes a water sprinkler, which sprays water from the water supply tray 6 to the ice-making evaporator 9 as described later, and is connected to the chamber B of the water supply tray 6 by a water supply pipe 10. The amount of water supplied is controlled by a solenoid valve 11 disposed in the flow path.

The evaporator 9 is disposed within the ice making section 2 of the main body 1 and constitutes a cooling cycle 12, and includes an ice making plate 13 and a cooling coil disposed inside the ice making plate 13 at a predetermined interval. It consists of 14. The water from the sprinkler 8 drips down the ice-making plate 13. The cooling cycle 12 includes a compressor 15. which is disposed behind the evaporator body 1. This is a well-known configuration including a capacitor 16 and the like. This cooling cycle 12 is provided with a solenoid valve (not shown) for supplying hot gas, so that high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor 15 is diverted to the evaporator 9. 17 is a saucer for circulating water, which is
This is to receive the water dripping from the ice-making plate 13 and circulate it again to the water sprinkler 8. A drainboard-shaped sorting mechanism 17a is disposed at the lower part of the ice-making evaporator 9. The water dripped from the ice-making evaporator 9 is guided to the lower water storage section 17b, and the produced ice falls. In some cases, the water is led to the water storage chamber 3. Reference numeral 18 denotes a water circulation pump that pumps up water accumulated in the water storage portion 17b of the circulating water saucer 17 and supplies it to the water sprinkler 8. 19 is a float switch for detecting the water level of circulating water, which is a water level detecting means; this is a float switch for detecting the water level of circulating water;
7 outputs a detection signal when the water accumulated in the water storage part 17b reaches a predetermined water level. 20 is a drainage solenoid valve, which is connected to the water storage part 17a of the circulating water saucer 17. It is arranged in the flow path of the pipe 21.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a flat rectangular drainage tray that is removably housed at the bottom of the main body 1, and is connected to the water storage section 17b through the drainage pipe 21.
Water from the area is stored. 23 is a water storage amount detection mechanism provided in the water storage chamber 3;
It consists of an ice storage detection lever 24 that is provided to rotate when pushed by the upper end of the ice accumulated inside, and a microswitch 25 that is turned on when the amount of rotation of this water storage detection lever 24 reaches a predetermined value. There is.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described according to FIG. 26
is a power-on signal output circuit composed of transistors, capacitors, resistors, etc., and its output terminal 26a outputs an "H" level signal when the power is turned on, and the output terminal 26b outputs an "H" level signal when the power is turned on. Above output terminal 26
It is set to output an rHJ level signal later than the output of a. 27 is a first D-type flip-flop circuit, its input terminal is connected to the DC power supply terminal VCC, its clock input terminal CK is connected to the output terminal 26b of the power-on signal output circuit 16, and its output terminal Q1 is connected to the output terminal 26b of the power-on signal output circuit 16. It is connected to one input terminal of the AND circuit 28. Further, the output terminal of an AND circuit 29 is connected to the reset terminal R1 of the flip-flop circuit 27, and one input terminal of the AND circuit 29 is connected to the output terminal 26a of the power-on signal output circuit 26. Reference numeral 30 denotes a solenoid valve drive circuit, which energizes the drainage solenoid valve 20 when an rHJ level signal is applied to its input terminal, and its input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 28. Reference numeral 31 denotes a circulating water level detection circuit which inverts the output from rHJ level to rLJ level in response to turning on of the water level detection float switch 19, and its output terminal is connected to the other input of the AND circuits 28 and 29 via an inverter circuit 32. terminal and one input terminal of the AND circuit 33. The output terminal of the AND circuit 33 is connected to one input terminal of an AND circuit 34, and the output terminal of the AND circuit 34 is connected to the input terminal of a pump drive circuit 35. The pump drive circuit 35 is configured to energize the water circulation pump 18 when an rHJ level signal is applied to its input terminal. 36 is a water supply level detection circuit that inverts the output from rHJ level to rLJ level in response to turning on of the water supply detection float switch 7, and its output terminal is connected to one input terminal of an AND circuit 38 via an inverter circuit 37. ing. The other input terminal of the AND circuit 38 is connected to the output terminal 26b of the power-on signal output circuit 26. 39 is a second D-type flip-flop circuit, its input terminal D2 is connected to the DC power supply terminal VCC, its clock input terminal CK2 is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 38, and its output terminal Q2 is connected to the AND circuit 40. Connected to one input terminal. Further, the reset input terminal R2 of the flip-flop circuit 39 is connected to the output terminal of an AND circuit 41, and one input terminal of the AND circuit 41 is connected to the output terminal 26a of the power-on signal output circuit 26. 42 is a counter circuit SE, which starts counting the clock signal applied to the clock input terminal CK when a rHJ level signal is applied to the reset input terminal K, and when the count value reaches a predetermined number of times, the output terminal Q starts counting the clock signal applied to the clock input terminal CK. The output state of the circuit is inverted from the rHJ level to the rLJ level. And this counter circuit 42
The reset input terminal R is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 40, the output terminal Q is connected to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 41, and the clock input terminal CK is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 43.
It is connected to the. The other input terminal of the AND circuit 40 is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 33 via an inverter circuit 44, and the output terminal is connected to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 33 via an inverter circuit 45. It is also connected to one input terminal of the AND circuit 46. The other input terminals of the AND circuits 46 and 34 are connected to the AND circuit 2 through an inverter circuit 47.
It is connected to the output terminal of 8. 48 is a solenoid valve drive circuit, which energizes the water supply solenoid valve 11 when an rHJ level signal is applied from the AND' circuit 46, and its input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the AND circuit 46. ing.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 as well.

First, when ice is to be made, water for P ice making is stored in the water supply tank 5. In this case, the water tank 5 is connected to the main body 1.
After removing the lid 5a and injecting water from the opening, the lid 5a is attached to the upper part of the main body 1.

As a result, the lid 5a of the water supply tank 5 comes into contact with the protrusion 6b of the water supply tray 6, and water is supplied into the chamber A of the water supply tray 6. Then, when the water level in the chamber A reaches the height of the notch in the partition plate 6a, water is supplied into the chamber B through this.

At this time, since the ice-making operation has not yet started, the water supply electromagnetic valve 10 is closed, and the water in the water supply tray 6 is stored at a constant water level. Further, the water supply detection float switch 7 is turned on because the water level has reached a predetermined level due to the above-mentioned state. On the other hand, the water level detection float switch 19 is turned off because water is not yet supplied to the water storage portion 17b of the circulating water saucer 17.

In the above state? I [When the switch is turned on, ice making operation starts. In this case, first, rHJ level signals are sequentially output from the output terminals 26a, 26b of the puff-on signal output circuit 26, and the AND circuits 29, 38, 41.
A first D-type flip-flop circuit 27 is provided. At this time, since the water supply detection float switch 7 is on, the supply water level detection circuit 36 is connected to the inverter circuit 3.
A signal at the rHJ level is applied to the AND circuit 38 via the circuit 7, and therefore, a signal at the rHJ level is output from the AND circuit 38. As a result, the second D-type flip-flop circuit 39 outputs a signal at the rHJ level from the output terminal Q2 and supplies it to the AND circuit 40. At this point, the float switch 19 for water level detection is turned off and the inverter circuit 32 outputs a signal at the rLJ level, so the AND circuit 33' outputs a signal at the rLJ level, and the other circuit of the AND circuit 40 outputs a signal at the rLJ level. A signal at the rHJ level is applied to the input terminal of the inverter circuit 44 through the inverter circuit 44. Therefore, the AND circuit 40 begins to output a signal at the rHJ level, the counter circuit 42 starts counting, and the solenoid valve drive circuit 48 is activated. As a result, the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is driven and opened, and water in the water supply tray 6 is thereby supplied to the sprinkler 8.

During this water supply, when the water in chamber B of the water supply tray 6 becomes low and the float switch 7 is turned off, the water supply solenoid valve 11 is turned off.
When water is supplied from chamber A to chamber B and the float switch 7 is turned on again, the solenoid valve 11 is energized and water supply starts. Then, when the count number of the counter circuit 42 reaches a predetermined number of times, that is, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of water supply, the flip-flop circuit 39 is reset and the power is cut off, and the water supply to the water sprinkler 8 is stopped. .

While water is being supplied to the sprinkler 8 in this way, the cooling cycle 1
2, the operation of the compressor 15 is started and the cooling operation of the evaporator 9 is started. As a result, when the water sprayed from the sprinkler 8 flows through the cooling coil 14 of the ice-making plate 13, a portion of the water forms ice around the cooling coil 14.

Furthermore, water that drips from the ice-making plate 13 without forming ice on the cooling coil 14 is stored in the water storage section 17b via the sorting mechanism 17a of the circulating water saucer 17. When the water stored in the water storage section 17b reaches a predetermined amount and the water level detection float switch 19 is turned on, the pump drive circuit 35 energizes the water circulation pump 18 based on this. As a result, water storage section 1
The water in 7b is pumped up to the water sprinkler 8 by the water circulation pump 18, and is again sprayed onto the ice making plate 13 from the water sprinkler 8. In this way, ice grows around the cooling coil 14 and, for example, when it grows to a predetermined size, this is detected by a detection means (not shown), and the spraying of water from the sprinkler 8 is stopped and the cooling cycle 12 is stopped. Stop the cooling operation. After this, in the cooling cycle 12, the high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor 14 is directly distributed as hot gas to the evaporator 9 via a solenoid valve for hot gas supply (not shown), and the refrigerant grows in the cooling coil 14. The ice that has been removed will break away. At this time, the ice falls onto the circulating water tray 17, but does not enter the tray 17 and the sorting mechanism 1
The water is sorted by 7a and falls into the water storage chamber 3.

In this way, when one cycle of ice-making operation is completed,
Thereafter, the ice making operation is performed in the same manner as described above. The ice stored in the water storage chamber 3 can be taken out through a door 4 at the bottom of the main body 1.

However, if a power outage occurs or the power is forcibly turned off by the user during ice making operation in this way, the circulating water during ice making will be drained from the circulating water tray 1.
There may be cases where the water remains accumulated in the water storage portion 17b of No. 7. In this case, when the power outage is restored or the power is turned on again by the user, the water remaining in the water storage portion 17b is drained as follows.

That is, at this time, since the water level detection float switch 19 is turned on and outputs a detection signal when the power is turned on, the circulating water level detection circuit 31 detects the rHJ level via the inverter circuit 32, as shown in FIG. Outputs the signal. On the other hand, the first D-type flip-flop circuit 27 also outputs a signal at the rHJ level from the output terminal Q when the power is turned on.

As a result, the electromagnetic valve drive circuit 30 is given an rHJ level signal from the AND circuit 28, and the drain electromagnetic valve 20 is energized. As a result, the water accumulated in the water storage portion 17b is discharged to the drain receiver 22 via the drain pipe 21. After this,
When the water in the water storage section 17b falls below a predetermined water level, the water level detection float switch 19 is turned off and there is no detection signal.
The first D-type flip-flop circuit 27 is reset.

As a result, the drain electromagnetic valve 20 is cut off and closed. After this, the ice making operation is performed in the same manner as described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, the float switch 19 for detecting the water level of circulating water is installed in the water storage portion 17b of the circulating water saucer 17.
When the water in the water storage part 17b is above a predetermined water level and the float switch 19 is on when the power is turned on, the drain electromagnetic valve 20 is energized to drain the water into the drain tray 22. From this point on, even if the ice making operation is interrupted for a long time due to a power outage or a power outage caused by the user, and the water accumulated in the water storage part 17b becomes dirty, this water will be drained when the power is turned on, so that In the ice making operation of
Ice is always produced using fresh water supplied from the water supply tank 5, and therefore sanitary ice can be produced.

In addition, since the water level detection float switch 19 is also used to detect the circulating water level while the power is on, if there is no water in the water storage section 17b based on this signal, the operation of the water circulation pump 18 is stopped. Therefore, there is no need to run the water circulation pump 18 idly.

In the above embodiment, the water level detection float switch 19 was used as the water level detection means, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a sensor circuit that detects a change in electrical resistance due to contact with water may be used.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes a case in which the present invention is applied to an automatic ice maker that supplies water from a water supply tank, the present invention is not limited to this, but is applicable to any automatic ice maker that makes ice while circulating water using a running water system. It can be applied to

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, a water level detection means is provided which outputs a detection signal when the water stored in the circulating water tray is above a predetermined water level, and When the water level detection means outputs a detection signal at the start of ice making, the ice making operation is started after the water in the circulating water tray is drained. Even if the water stored in the circulating water tray becomes dirty when the ice-making operation is interrupted, new water is always supplied when the ice-making operation is started. This has the excellent effect of producing sanitary water.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the overall configuration, Fig. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram for water supply and drainage control, and Fig. 3 shows the operating states of a float switch and a solenoid valve. It is an action explanatory diagram. In the drawing, 1 is the main body (insulated box), 2 is the ice making section, 3 is the water storage chamber, 5 is the water supply tank, 7 is the float switch for detecting water supply, 9 is the evaporator, 11 is the solenoid valve for water supply, and 12 is the cooling cycle. , 17 is a circulating water saucer, 17b is a water storage part, 18
19 is a water circulation pump, 19 is a water level detection float switch (water level detection means), 20 is a drainage electromagnetic valve, 22 is a drainage tray, 23 is a water storage amount detection mechanism, 26 is a power-on signal output circuit, and 27.39 is a water level detection device. The first and second D-type flip-flop circuits and 42 are counter circuits.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic ice maker in which an evaporator for directly making ice using a flowing water method is disposed inside an insulated box, a circulating water tray for receiving and circulating water for ice making when the evaporator makes ice, and this circulating water and water level detection means that outputs a detection signal when the water stored in the water tray is above a predetermined water level, and when the water level detection means outputs the detection signal when the evaporator starts making ice, the circulation starts. An automatic ice maker characterized by starting ice making operation after draining water in a water tray.