JPH0460361A - Operation method for ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent impurities from depositing, musty smell from rising, and ice from remaining in cooling devices by a method wherein the cyclic ice-making operation is suspended while stored ice detected reaches a specified level before the start of the ice making following the return of a water pan to its starting position and a water pan-driving mechanism is kept operating until the water pan is fully cleared. CONSTITUTION:When a water pan 5 is in its horizontal position, the compressor and a fan motor are set operating; water supplied from a feed valve 12 to a water tank 6 is started flowing in circulation of ice-making water through nozzles 3, an ice-making chamber 1A, and return holes 4 and then to the water tank 6; when the water in the water tank 6 reaches a specified level, a water level, detector 14 acts to turn off the supply of water; after a specified length of time, an environment pump 9 is stopped from operating and the ice-making process is completed; the water pan 5 is tilted downward by a drive motor 10 and the ice-making chamber 1A is heated by hot gas so that ice cubes separate from the ice-making chamber 1A; at the same time water is sprinkled on the water pan 5 from a water sprinkler 13 so as not to leave ice in the water. The production of ice and the removal of ice are repeated in a cycle; when a stored ice detector 21 detects storage of ice to a specified level before the succeeding ice-making cycle, the operation is suspended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a so-called inverted cell type ice maker, and particularly relates to an ice maker operating method related to an ice storage detection device that detects the ice storage level in an ice storage. be.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, as a method of operating this type of ice maker, for example,
Publication No. 6-110861 discloses that the mechanical ice storage switch is equipped with a mechanical ice storage switch that detects a predetermined amount of stored ice in the ice storage and outputs an ice storage completion signal, and a changeover switch that detects the raised and lowered positions of the water tray. When the signal from the ice storage switch through the delay circuit indicates a predetermined ice storage amount and the signal from the changeover switch indicates the lowered position of the water tray, power to the ice making mechanism drive circuit that energizes the freezing circuit is cut off. A fully automatic ice-making control device is disclosed.

(8) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The fully automatic ice-making control device of the above-mentioned prior art detects a predetermined amount of stored ice when the changeover switch detects the lowered position of the water tray. I tried to cut off one source. This is done by keeping the water tray in the lowered position.
This is done to solve problems such as the accumulated water becoming moldy, the build-up of limescale on the inner surface of the water tank, and the corrosion of the bearings of the circulation pump. However, since the power to the ice-making mechanism drive circuit is cut off during the ice-making process, there is a problem in that ice remains in the cooler.

As with the prior art, the present invention not only prevents various problems such as the adhesion of water scale and the generation of mold odors, and provides a sanitary ice maker, but also prevents ice from remaining in the cooler. Provide instructions on how to operate an ice maker.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cooler having a plurality of divided ice-making compartments that open downward, a water tray that closes each ice-making compartment from below, A water tank fixed to the water tray, a drive device that tilts and moves the water tray, a circulation pump that circulates water in the water tank to each of the ice making compartments, and an ice storage detector that detects the ice storage level in the ice storage. In an ice making machine that is equipped with an ice storage detecting device and repeatedly performs an ice making process and an ice making process as a -cycle until the ice storage detecting device detects a predetermined ice storage level, whether or not the ice storage detecting device detects a predetermined ice storage level. This judgment is made between the time when the water tray completes its double movement and the time when the ice making process of the next cycle is started, and when the predetermined ice storage level is detected, the operation of the cycle is stopped and the This is a method of operating an ice maker in which the driving device is operated until the water tray is fully opened.

(f) Function According to the present invention, since the water tray is held in a fully open position during the ice storage process, all ice making water in the water tank is drained.
Even if ice is stored for a long time, it is possible to prevent water scale build-up and mold odor from occurring.

Moreover, since the ice storage detection device determines whether or not it has detected the predetermined ice storage level after the water tray completes its double movement and before the next cycle of ice making process starts, the cooler No ice remains inside.

(F) Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a partially cutaway side view of an ice maker implementing the present invention.
FIG. 2 similarly shows a partially cutaway perspective view of the ice maker, and has a number of ice maker chambers (IA) that open downward.
A cooler (1) with a refrigeration system evaporation pipe (2) installed on the outer surface of the earthen wall and each ice making room (IA) are closed off from below with sufficient margin, and a surface corresponding to each ice making room (IA) is installed. A water tray (5) in which a fountain hole (3) and a return hole (4) are formed, a water tank (6) fixed to the water tray (5) and communicating with the return hole (4), and a water tank black The water is sent to each ice making room (LA) from the fountain hole (3) through the water pipe (7) and the distribution pipe (8).
), and a drive motor (10) that can rotate forward and backward to tilt and move the water tray (5).
a drive device (11) including a water supply valve (12), 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 level detection device ( 14)
A so-called inverted cell ice maker is constructed. Further, a first arm (17A) and a second arm (17B> extending in opposite directions are connected to the output shaft of the drive motor (10), and attached to the end of the first arm (17A). The other end of the coil spring (18) is connected to the side of the water dish (5), and the rear part of the water dish (5) is supported on the rotation shaft (19). (20
) is switched by the second arm (17B>) which rotates counterclockwise due to the forward rotation of the drive motor (10) with a speed reduction mechanism, and the power to the drive motor (10) is cut off.
5) is stopped at a predetermined full tilt position, and the drive motor (10) is switched by the first arm (17A) which rotates clockwise due to the reverse rotation of the drive motor (10).
This is a seesaw type changeover switch that cuts off the power to the water tray (5) and stops the water tray (5) at a predetermined horizontal closed position.

In addition to the above-mentioned components, the ice maker includes the following device parts (not shown). That is, during the ice-making process, low-temperature liquid refrigerant is circulated through the evaporation pipe (2) to cool the cooler (1), and during the ice-making process, high-temperature gas refrigerant is circulated through the evaporation pipe (2) to cool the cooler (1). ), and a hot gas valve that supplies and stops the high temperature gas refrigerant.

Next, FIG. 3 is a time chart of the control process related to the operating method of the present invention implemented in the ice maker having the above configuration, and FIG. 4 is the operation flow of the control process. Normally, the ice making operation of the ice maker is The process and the ice making process are repeated as one cycle.

Now, to explain in relation to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, in the ice making process, when the water tray (5) is in a horizontal state with the bottom of the ice making compartment (IA) open, the compressor and fan motor are in operation. At the same time, the water supply valve (12) is also energized and starts supplying water to the water tank (6). After ice making starts, there is a delay (t,
), the circulation pump (9) is energized, and the water tank (6)
The water inside flows from the fountain hole <3> → ice making compartment (IA) → return hole (4)
→ Start circulating the ice-making water through the water tank (6).

When the water supply reaches the predetermined water level in the water tank (6), the water level detection device (14) turns off the power to the water supply valve (12) and completes the water supply (time t, when water supply is completed). (9) continues to operate and stops after 18 hours, completing the ice making process.

During this time, ice is grown in the ice making compartment (IA) by circulating water. The total ice making time Ta depends on the ice making capacity, but is usually 20
It takes between 30 minutes and 30 minutes.

On the other hand, in the ice-making process, the circulation pump (9) is stopped, and after the ice-making process with the circulation water supply stopped, the water tray (5) is moved by the drive motor (1).
0) to open it by tilting it downward, and at the same time open the hot gas valve to heat the ice making compartment (IA). This results in
Ice cubes begin to fall out of the ice making compartment (IA). At the same time, open the water supply valve (12) and place the sprinkler (13) on the water tray (5).
Sprinkle more water to prevent ice from remaining in the water tray (5) and allow the ice cubes to slide down smoothly.

Then, when the water tray (5) is fully opened, watering is stopped and the drive motor (10) is stopped at -1° point).
, when all the ice is removed from the cooler (1) (at time ta)
Then, rotate the drive motor (10) in the opposite direction again to remove the water tray (
5) Return to the original horizontal state (as of tm),
Hot gas is supplied until the time ts when the water tray (5) starts to move back. The time Tb of this ice making step is approximately 3 to 4 minutes, although it depends on the ice making capacity. Although the compressor continues to operate during this ice-making process, the fan motor and circulation pump (9) are stopped.

As described above, the ice-making operation is usually repeated as one cycle consisting of the ice-making process of 20 to 30 minutes and the ice-making process of 3 to 4 minutes, and the produced ice cubes are stored in the ice storage (22). It will be done. Ice is stored in the ice storage (22).
Ice accumulation detection device (
21> is provided.

Accordingly, the present invention makes it possible to determine whether or not the ice storage detection device (21) detects a predetermined ice storage level using the water tray (21).
5) is carried out between the end of the return operation and the start of the ice making process of the next cycle, and when the predetermined ice storage level is detected, the operation of the cycle is stopped and the water tray 5) is The drive motor (10) is operated until it is fully opened. Specifically, when the ice accumulation detection device (21) detects a predetermined amount of water during the cycle, the cycle being executed at that time is terminated. In other words, a water dish (5)
When the ice-making process ends and the ice-making process starts, the ice-making operation is stopped and only the drive motor (10) is allowed to operate, the water tray (5) is tilted, and during the ice storage process, the water tray (5) is tilted fully open. It can be held in place and prevents ice-making water from remaining inside the water tank.

Such an operation will be explained along the operation flow of the control process shown in FIG. First, when the source switch is turned on (step 32), the compressor is turned on (step 33), and then the water supply valve (12) is turned on (step 34). after that,
Although not shown in the flow, the circulation pump (9) and fan motor start operating (step 35) after about 10 seconds. Water is supplied to the water tank (6), and water is supplied until the water level detection device (14) is turned off, and the water supply valve (12) is turned off (step 37). After that, ice is gradually generated in the cooler (1) and continues until ice making is completed.When ice making is completed (step 38), the circulation pump (9> and fan motor are turned off (step 39)). , the hot gas valve and water supply valve (12) are turned on (step 40), the cooler (1) is heated by the hot gas, and the ice making process begins. About 3 seconds have passed since the ice making process started. The drive motor (1o) is turned on (step 41), and the water tray (5) is tilted.Then, when the changeover switch (20) is switched by the second arm (17B) (step 42), the drive motor (10) ) to 0FFL and a water dish (
5) is stopped at a predetermined tilted fully open position, and the water supply valve (12) is turned OFF (step 43).

During the ice making process, the ice in the cooler (1) is gradually melted and ice is made from the cooler (1) by its own weight.

Then, the sensor detects that all the ice has fallen by a predetermined temperature rise of the cooler (1) (step 44).
Then, the drive motor (10) is turned on to move the water tray (5) back and the hot gas valve is closed (step 4).
5). After that, the changeover switch (20) switches the first arm (
17A> (step 46),
The drive motor (10) is turned off, the water tray (5) stops at a predetermined horizontal closed position, and the ice making process is completed.

Therefore, in the next step after the changeover switch (20) detects the predetermined horizontal closed position of the water tray (5), it is determined whether the ice storage detection device (21) has detected the predetermined ice storage level ( If step 48) is performed and the predetermined ice storage level is not detected, the process returns to step 34 to execute the ice making process, but if it is determined that the predetermined ice storage level is reached, normal cycle operation is performed. is stopped and the ice storage process begins.

In other words, the compressor is stopped (step 49), only the drive motor (10) is turned on (step 50), and the water tray <5> is turned on (step 50).
), and the selector switch (20) switches to the second arm (
17B) (step 51),
The drive motor (10) is turned off (step 52), and the water tray (5) stops at a predetermined tilted fully open position. After that, the ice storage process is carried out with the water tray (5) open.

When the predetermined ice storage level is broken by taking out the ice in the ice storage (22), the ice storage detection device (21) detects this (step 53), and only the drive motor (10) is operated (step 54). ) to move the water tray (5) back, and when the selector switch (20) is switched by the second arm (17A) (step 55), the drive motor (10) is turned OFF (step 56) and again, Proceeding to step 33, the compressor is turned on and the ice making process is executed.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention allows the water tray to be held in the fully open position during the ice storage process, so no ice-making water remains in the water tank, and even if ice is stored for a long time, it will not cause water stains or mold. Not only can it prevent the occurrence of odors and provide clear and sanitary ice at all times, but it also allows the water tray to operate reciprocally to determine whether or not the ice storage detection device has detected the predetermined ice storage level. By doing this between the end of the ice-making process and the start of the next cycle's ice-making process, the ice-storage process can be started without any ice remaining in the cooler, and the ice-making process can be restarted without any trouble after returning to ice storage. can do.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side screen of an ice maker embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cut away perspective view of the ice maker, and Fig. 3 is a control process related to the operating method of the present invention. It shows the time chart and operation flow. (1)...Cooler, (IA)...Ice making room, (6>
...water tank, (9>...circulation pump, dynamic motor, (20)...changeover switch, ice detection device, (
22)...Ice storage. Figure 4 shows the control process (5)...water tray, (10)...driving (21)...storage.

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 that tilts the water tray. a circulation pump that circulates water in a water tank to each of the ice making compartments, and an ice storage detection device that detects the ice storage level in the ice storage, until the ice storage detection device detects a predetermined ice storage level. In an ice maker that repeats the ice making process and the ice making process as one cycle, it is determined whether or not the ice storage detection device has detected a predetermined ice storage level after the water tray has completed its double movement before making ice for the next cycle. The step is carried out before the start of the process, and when a predetermined ice storage level is detected, the operation of the cycle is stopped and the drive device is operated until the water tray is fully opened. How to operate an ice maker.