JPH0543949B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention prevents overcooling of the ice-making compartment and reduces the power The present invention relates to an abnormal cooling prevention device for an automatic ice maker that can prevent waste of water.

BACKGROUND ART In various industrial fields, automatic ice making machines that continuously produce large quantities of dice-shaped ice cubes, ice sheets of a required thickness, and ice flakes are suitably used depending on the application. For example, as an ice maker for producing ice cubes, a large number of cube-shaped ice-making compartments are defined downward in the ice-making compartment, which can be opened and closed from below by a water tray, and ice-making water is poured into each compartment from the water tray. There is a so-called closed cell method in which water is injected into an ice making chamber to gradually form ice cubes in the ice making chamber, and ice making water is directly supplied to a number of cube-shaped ice making chambers that open downward to form ice cubes. A so-called open cell system is known in which ice is formed in the ice making compartment. In addition, ice makers that continuously produce sheet ice or fine-grained crushed ice, and auger-type ice makers that continuously produce ice flakes are also in use.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, most of the ice produced by various conventional ice making machines are cube-shaped ice cubes, ice sheets, other flaky ice pieces, and crushed ice. Only the above-mentioned ice cubes have the required shape and can be floated on drinks or used as a cooling bed for various foodstuffs (board ice also has a shape, but (Usually cannot be used with the same dimensions.)

However, in recent years, coffee shops, restaurants, and other eating and drinking establishments have been making strenuous efforts to differentiate themselves from other companies in order to gain an advantage over similar businesses in various ways and attract customers. As part of this, for example, there is a trend to use ball-shaped (spherical) ice cubes instead of the more widely popular ice cubes, thereby providing customers with immediate new changes.

However, since this spherical ice is widely used for eating and drinking, its commercial value will decrease unless it is a clear, transparent block of ice that does not become cloudy due to aeration. It is also necessary to be able to produce large quantities of ice, but there has been no automatic ice-making machine for producing spherical ice that satisfies this type of requirement. Therefore, the inventor of the present application engaged in the development of an ice making machine capable of producing a large amount of transparent and clear spherical ice, and having obtained a mechanism that fully satisfies the above requirements, the inventor developed the basic concept in January 1988. On the 29th, he filed a patent application for his invention, an "automatic ice maker." (Refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 196477/1999) The ice making machine according to the earlier application defines a number of first ice making compartments that open downward, and includes a first ice making compartment equipped with an evaporator on the back side, and a first ice making compartment that opens upward. Basically, it is equipped with a second ice-making chamber in which a number of second ice-making chambers are defined, and during ice-making operation, both ice-making chambers close correspondingly to define a space inside which forms irregularly shaped ice such as spheres. It is something to do. After performing ice-making operation with the ice-making machine according to this basic structure and generating ice blocks such as spherical ice in the space, it is necessary to shift to de-icing operation and remove the ice blocks from both ice-making compartments.

Therefore, the second ice-making compartment, which closes the first ice-making compartment from below, is forcibly separated from the first ice-making compartment, but at this time, the ice cubes themselves are removed from the first and second ice-making compartments.
Since the inner surface of the ice-making chamber is firmly frozen, the order in which the ice is released from both ice-making chambers is important. When the lid is closed and the first and second ice-making compartments are heated simultaneously, the ice blocks that have been thawed from both ice-making compartments fall all at once as the second ice-making compartment is forcibly removed. In this case, there are inconveniences such as ice blocks getting caught and remaining in the second ice-making compartment, which is recessed in the second ice-making compartment and open upward, or preventing the ice blocks from falling smoothly into the ice storage.

Therefore, when the second ice-making compartment is forcibly separated from the first ice-making compartment during deicing operation, the resulting ice cubes are not dropped all at once, but instead are transferred to the first ice-making compartment. On December 6, 1985, we filed a patent application for an invention titled ``Deicing Control Method for Automatic Ice Maker'' regarding a method for controlling deicing operations to ensure that ice remains in the ice. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2-154962.) This method is
When the completion of ice making is detected, the second ice making compartment is heated by the heating means while the first ice making compartment continues to be cooled, thereby first melting the frozen surfaces of the second ice making compartment and the ice blocks. Therefore, even if the second ice-making compartment is forcibly removed from the first ice-making compartment, the ice cubes do not fall all at once as the second ice-making compartment is removed, but remain attached to the first ice-making compartment. Next, by heating the first ice making compartment, the ice cubes smoothly fall into the ice storage.

However, if the second ice-making compartment takes a long time to heat up or is not heated due to a malfunction of the heating means of the second ice-making compartment, cooling of the first ice-making compartment continues and both ice-making compartments become overcooled. This poses a serious problem of damaging the ice making compartment and ice making mechanism. Also,
This results in a disadvantage that power is wasted and running costs increase.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems to suitably solve the problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel abnormal cooling prevention device for an automatic ice making machine that can prevent the above problems and prevent power consumption.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and suitably achieve the intended purpose, the present invention provides a first ice-making chamber that is provided with a large number of first ice-making chambers that open downward, and that has an evaporator on the back side. A second ice-making chamber is provided with a large number of second ice-making chambers that open upwardly, and is arranged so that the first ice-making chamber can be closed from below.
an ice-making compartment; a heating means for heating the second ice-making compartment during deicing operation; and a compressor for circulating refrigerant to an evaporator disposed in the first ice-making compartment;
and an automatic ice-making machine configured to detect the formation of ice blocks in a space defined by a second ice-making compartment and heat the second ice-making compartment by the heating means while continuing to supply refrigerant to the evaporator. , a normally closed contact of a timer that detects the completion of ice making and starts its operation is connected in series with the compressor, and when the relay that operates the heating means continues to be energized for a predetermined set time, the compressor starts operating. It is characterized by being configured to stop power supply to the machine.

Embodiments Next, a preferred embodiment of the abnormal cooling prevention device for an automatic ice maker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition to the spherical ice 1 shown in FIG. 14a, the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention can also produce diamond-cut polyhedral ice 2 as shown in FIG. 14b.

(Regarding the first and second manufacturing process chambers) FIG. 1 schematically shows an ice-making mechanism in which the abnormal cooling prevention device according to the present invention is suitably implemented, in an ice-making state. The ice-making compartment 10 to be manufactured is basically composed of a first ice-making compartment 11 arranged horizontally, and a second ice-making compartment 12 that can be freely opened and closed from below. That is, inside and above the ice maker housing (not shown),
The first rectangular shape is made of metal with good thermal conductivity.
The ice making compartment 11 is arranged and fixed horizontally, and the first ice making compartments 13 are arranged in a required alignment pattern.
1 has many recesses facing downward. Each first ice-making chamber 13 is formed as a hemispherical recess, and is set to have a diameter of 3 cm and a depth of 1.5 cm, for example. 1st
An evaporator 14 derived from a refrigeration system (described later) shown in FIG. 10 is tightly fixed on the top surface of the ice-making compartment 11 in a meandering manner, and heat exchange of the vaporized refrigerant in the evaporator 14 is promoted by operation of the refrigeration system. Then, the first ice making chamber 11 is cooled down to below freezing point.

Immediately below the first ice making chamber 11, a second ice making chamber 12 made of a metal with good heat conductivity such as copper is provided so as to be tiltable as described below. The first ice making chamber 11 can be closed from below, and the first ice making chamber 11 can be opened during deicing operation. That is, the second ice-making compartment 12 has a second ice-making compartment 13, which is also made of a hemispherical recess, corresponding to the first ice-making compartment 13 recessed in the first ice-making compartment 11.
A large number of ice-making chambers 15 are recessed upward in a required alignment pattern. The diameter of this second ice making chamber 15 is also 3 cm, as an example, and the depth of the recess is 1.5 cm.
is set to . Therefore, when the second ice-making compartment 12 is closed from below with respect to the first ice-making compartment 11, the ice-making compartments 13 and 15 correspond to each other, and a spherical space with a diameter of 3 cm is defined within each compartment.

As described above, the second ice making chamber 12 is constructed as a block body made of a heat conductive metal such as copper, and the water tray 38 for injecting and supplying ice making water to each of the second ice making chambers 15 is connected to the second ice making chamber 12. It is integrally fixed to the outer bottom of the ice making chamber 12 via bolts 60 shown in FIG. Second ice making compartment 1 in this second ice making compartment 12
As shown in FIG. 9, grooves 71 are formed on the surface opposite to the surface on which ice cubes 5 are formed (the surface facing the water tray 38) between the adjacent second ice-making compartments 15. That is, each of the second ice-making compartments 15 is surrounded by a groove 71 on the bottom surface, and during deicing operation to be described later, tap water supplied via the water supply valve WV is defined between the groove 71 and the surface of the water tray. The ice-making chamber 15 is filled with the groove passage 72 to promote heating of the second ice-making chamber 15.

A support 73 having the same depth as the groove 71 is provided at a predetermined position of the groove 71 in the second ice making chamber 12, and the bolt 60 is inserted into a hole 73a provided in the support 73. . The second ice making chamber 12 is connected to the tip of the support 73 and through hole 12a, which will be described later.
The bolt is fixed to the water tray 38 with the perforated portion thereof in contact with the surface of the water tray 38.

The water tray 38 has a rear end raised at a right angle to form a rear portion 64, and the open end of the rear portion 64 is attached to a fixed portion of an ice maker housing (not shown) so as to be tiltable and pivotable by a pivot 16. The second ice making compartment 12 is
It is also urged to rotate. That is, if it is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 6, the second ice-making chamber 12, which is integrally fixed to the water tray 38, opens the first ice-making chamber 13, and if it is rotated counterclockwise, the second ice-making chamber 12, which is integrally fixed to the water tray 38, opens the first ice-making chamber 13. As shown in the figure, the second ice making compartment 12 closes the first ice making compartment 13. On the back side of the water tray 38, each second ice making compartment 15 is provided.
Fountain holes 25 communicating with the water tray 38 are correspondingly bored, and a distribution pipe 24 for supplying ice-making water to these fountain holes 25 is also arranged in a meandering manner on the back surface of the water tray 38. Further, below the water tray 38, an ice-making water tank 19 for supplying ice-making water to the distribution pipe 24 is integrally provided.

As shown in the figure, each second ice maker in the second ice making compartment 12
A through hole 12a is bored in the bottom of the small ice making chamber 15, and when the water tray 38 and the second ice making chamber 12 are fixed,
Each fountain hole 25 is dimensioned to correspond to the through hole 12a. And this through hole 12a
During the ice making operation described later, both ice making compartments 13,
It functions to supply ice-making water to the ice-forming space defined by 15 and to appropriately discharge ice-making water that has not yet frozen in the space (hereinafter referred to as "unfrozen water"). In addition, each fountain hole 25 of the water tray 38
A return hole 26 is bored adjacent to the through hole 12.
The unfrozen water discharged from a is returned to the ice-making water tank 19 through the return hole 26.

(About the water pan tilting mechanism and water circulation system) Actuator motor that tilts the water pan 38
AM is equipped with a reducer, and a cam lever is attached to the rotating shaft.
7 and a lever piece 37 are fixed so as to extend in the radial direction, and a coil spring 1 is installed between the tip 17a of the cam lever 17 and the front end of the water tray 38.
8 is elastically attached. The cam lever 1
The cam surface 17b formed at the base of the water tray 38 is dimensioned so as to be able to engage with the upper surface of the side portion 61 of the water tray 38. Further, a changeover switch _S2 is disposed at a fixed portion that supports the first ice making chamber 11, and when the lever piece 37 rotates due to the rotation of the motor AM accompanying the deicing operation, the changeover switch _S2 is turned off. Switching is made from the contacts a-b to the contacts a-c shown in FIG. 11, the motor AM is stopped, and the water tray 38 is stopped in a tilted state. It also functions to switch the refrigeration system valve and circulate hot gas to the evaporator 14.

A water supply pipe 21 led out from the bottom side of the ice-making water tank 19 communicates with a pressure chamber 23 provided on the side of the tank via a water supply pump 22.
The pipe 24 is connected to the distribution pipe 24. Therefore, the ice-making water pumped from the ice-making water tank 19 via the pump 22 flows through each of the water fountain holes 25 formed in the distribution pipe 24 and the through hole 1 formed in the second ice-making chamber 12.
The ice is injected into each of the second ice making chambers 15 through the ice making chambers 2a. In addition, during the ice-making operation described later, unfrozen water that has not frozen in both ice-making chambers 13 and 15 can be returned to the ice-making water tank 19 through the return hole 26 formed in the through hole 12a and the water tray 38. It's becoming like that.

Further, in front of the water basin 38, a damming part 62 is provided which is set lower than the side part 61 by a predetermined dimension, and both ends of this damming part 62 are connected to both sides 61,
It is closely attached to 61. Further, a drainage hole 63 of a required diameter is bored in the water tray 38 between the front end of the second ice making chamber 12 and the damming part 62. As a result, the inner surface of the water tray 38 has both side portions 61 and 6.
1. A water reservoir portion 65 surrounded by the dam portion 62 and the rear portion 64 is formed. And the water reservoir part 65
The water stored in the second ice-making compartment 12 is filled with the groove passage 72 defined around the second ice-making compartment 12 and heats each of the second ice-making compartments 15. Further, a part of the water stored in the water reservoir 65 flows down from the drain hole 63 to the ice-making water tank 19, and the other water overflows from the upper end of the dam 62 and flows from the front side of the water tray 38. It is arranged to flow into the tank 19. Note that water is supplied to the ice-making water tank 19 by opening the water supply valve WV of the water supply pipe 27 connected to the external water supply system.

(About the temperature sensing mechanism) An ice-making detection thermometer is installed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the first ice-making compartment 11, and functions as an ice-making completion detection means.
A Th ₁ temperature sensing part (probe) is installed. This ice-making detection thermo _Th1 closes the contact c-a shown in FIG. 11 and opens the contact c-b during the ice-making operation, and when the ice-making operation ends, the contact c-a
It is set so that it can open the contact point c-b and close the contact point c-b. In addition, a temperature sensing part of a deicing detection thermometer Th ₂ which functions as a deicing completion detection means is arranged at a different position on _the top surface of the first ice making chamber. The contacts are set to open only when the ice making compartment 13 is in a cooling state, and to close when ice is released from the ice making compartment 13 and the temperature rises.

Furthermore, a temperature-sensing part of a thermostat Th ₃ is disposed at a required side part of the second ice-making compartment 12 , and the main body of the thermostat Th ₃ that emits an electric signal is located at the rear part 64 of the water tray 38 .
installed on. This temperature sensing thermo Th ₃
functions to monitor the temperature of the second ice making compartment 12. In addition, in the temperature detection thermometer _Th3 , when the temperature of the second ice making compartment 12 exceeds a predetermined value, contacts a-c close and contacts a-b open, and when the temperature falls below a predetermined value, contacts a-c open. The setting is such that contacts a and b are closed.

(Regarding the ice guide plate) A drain tray 69 is provided below the ice-making water tank 19 to catch residual ice-making water and discharge it to the outside of the machine. An ice guide board 67 is facing. This ice guide plate 67 is
During the ice-making operation, it is positioned by coming into contact with a positioning member 70 that extends and hangs down from the fixed part of the housing, and is stopped at a position close to the open end of the tank 19, as shown in FIG. In this state, when the ice-making water in the tank 19 overflows, this water flows down along the back surface of the ice guide plate 67 and then flows into the drain tray 69, as shown in FIG.
is ejected from the aircraft. Also, during deicing operation,
As shown in FIG. 6, when the shaft 68 to which the ice guide plate 67 is fixed is driven counterclockwise by a driving means (not shown), the ice guide plate 67 is in a tilted state (described later). It collapses onto the top surface of the chamber 12 and blocks each of the second ice-making chambers 15. As shown in FIG. 7, the spherical ice falling from the first ice making compartment 11 is slid down on this ice guide plate 67 and smoothly guided to an ice storage (not shown).

Note that when the water tray 38 (second ice making chamber) returns to its original position, the ice guide plate 67 is pressed by the water tray 38 returning to the horizontal state and rotates clockwise, as shown in FIG. , comes into contact with the positioning member 70 and stops. This ice guide plate 67 is tilted by moving the center of gravity using the shaft 68 as a fulcrum.

(About the refrigeration system) Fig. 10 shows a schematic configuration of the refrigeration system in the ice maker. The vaporized refrigerant compressed by the compressor CM passes through the discharge pipe 34, is condensed and liquefied in the condenser 28, and is then transferred to the dryer. After being dehumidified in step 29, the pressure is reduced in the capillary reach tube 30, and it flows into the evaporator 14 where it expands and evaporates all at once, exchanging heat with the first ice making chamber 11, and forming the first ice making chamber 11. 13 is cooled to below freezing. The vaporized refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 14 and the unevaporated liquefied refrigerant flow into the accumulator 31 in a gas-liquid mixed phase state, where they are separated into gas and liquid. The gas phase refrigerant then returns to the compressor CM through the suction pipe 32, and the liquid phase refrigerant is stored in the accumulator 31.

Furthermore, a hot gas pipe 33 is branched from the discharge pipe 34 of the compressor CM, and this hot gas pipe 33 is communicated with the inlet side of the evaporator 14 via a hot gas valve HV. This hot gas valve HV is controlled to open only during deicing operation and close during ice making operation. In other words, during deicing operation, the hot gas valve
When the HV is opened, the high temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor CM is sent to the evaporator 1 via the hot gas pipe 33.
4 and heat each first ice-making chamber 13, the circumferential surface of the spherical water generated inside the chamber is melted, and each ice block is caused to fall by its own weight. Further, the high temperature refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator 14 flows into the accumulator 31, heats and evaporates the liquid phase refrigerant staying in this accumulator 31, and returns it to the compressor CM from the suction pipe 32 as a gas phase refrigerant. let Note that the symbol FM in the figure indicates a fan motor for the condenser 28.

(Regarding the electrical control circuit) FIG. 11 shows an example of an electrical control circuit diagram of the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment. In the figure, a fuse F and an ice accumulation detection switch _S1 are provided in series between the power supply line R and the connection point D.
The normally closed contact T-b of the timer T and the compressor CM are connected in series between the power supply line T and the power supply line T. In addition, during deicing operation, the second ice making chamber 12
Terminal a of changeover switch _S2 is energized by the tilting of
is connected to connection point D, and a fan motor FM is connected between switching contact b of this switching switch _S2 and line T.
is connected. Furthermore, the changeover contact b of the changeover switch _S2 is connected to the contact c of the ice-making detection thermometer _Th1 .

A drive motor PM of the pump 22 is connected between the contact a of the ice-making detection thermometer Th ₁ and the line T, and the contact b of the ice-making detection thermometer Th ₁ is connected to the temperature detection thermometer Th 1.
It is connected to the contact a of Th ₃ , and the thermo Th ₃
A timer T and a relay X are connected in parallel between the switching contact b and the line T. Note that this timer T starts operating when the ice-making detection thermometer Th ₁ detects the completion of ice-making (the contact of the ice-making detection thermometer Th ₁ switches from the c-a side to the c-b side), and then operates at a predetermined time. The normally closed contact T-b is configured to open when a set time has elapsed.

The other switching contact c of the temperature detection thermometer Th ₃
is connected to the tilt drive terminal m of the motor AM. Further, the terminal k of the motor AM is connected to the line T, and its return drive terminal n is connected to the changeover contact c of the changeover switch _S2 via the contact of the de-icing detection thermometer _Th2 . Furthermore, the changeover switch
A hot gas valve is installed between contact c of _S2 and line T.
HV is connected.

A water supply valve WV is connected between the connection point D and the line T via a normally open contact X-a with the relay X. In addition, the water supply valve WV is connected to the relay
is connected to the changeover contact c of the changeover switch _S2 via the normally closed contact X-b.

Effects of the Example Next, the effects of the abnormal cooling prevention device according to the example will be explained. During ice-making operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the second ice-making chamber 12 closes the first ice-making chamber 11 from below, makes each first ice-making chamber 13 and each second ice-making chamber 15 correspond to each other, and internally It defines a space for ice formation. In this state, turn on the power to the automatic ice maker. At this time, since no ice cubes are stored in the ice storage, the ice storage detection switch _S2 is closed, and the changeover switch _S2 is connected to the contact a-b side. Also the first
Since the temperature of the ice-making chamber 11 is maintained at about room temperature, the ice-making detection thermometer _Th1 is connected to the contact ca side. Therefore, when the power is turned on, the compressor
Power to the CM, fan motor FM, and pump motor PM starts, and ice-making operation begins. As a result, the refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporator 14 provided in the first ice-making compartment 11, and the first ice-making compartment 11 is cooled.
In addition, the ice making water from the ice making water tank 19 is distributed to the distribution pipe 24.
is pumped to each fountain hole 25 of the distribution pipe 24.
The ice is then injected through the through hole 12a of the second ice-making chamber 12 into the spherical space defined by both the small ice-making chambers 13 and 15.

The injected ice-making water contacts the inner surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 and is cooled, moistens the second ice-making chamber 15 located below, and then is discharged from the spherical space through the through hole 12a. This unfrozen water is transferred to the ice-making water tank 1 through the return hole 26 formed in the water tray 38.
9 and subjected to circulation again. As the circulation of the ice-making water is repeated, the temperature of the entire ice-making water stored in the tank 19 gradually decreases, and the temperature of the second ice-making chamber 15 also gradually decreases.

First, a portion of the ice-making water freezes on the inner wall surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 and an ice layer begins to form (see Fig. 2), and the unfrozen water flows through the through hole 12a and the return hole 26.
During the repeated operation of returning from the ice to the tank 19, the growth of the ice layer further progresses, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
As shown in the figure, spherical ice 1 is finally generated in the spherical spaces formed in both ice-making chambers 13 and 15.
If the ice-making operation is ended at the timing when the ice-making state shown in FIG. 2 is reached, hollow spherical ice 1 as shown in FIG. 14c is obtained. The hollow ice obtained in this way can stimulate new demand for ice by filling the inner space with food such as cherry blossoms, beverages such as youth, and ornamental materials such as flower petals. Furthermore, a perforated part of this hollow ice (a part corresponding to the fountain hole 25 and the return hole 26)
It can also be used as a flute (ice flute) by placing it against the lower lip and blowing, giving it a unique feel.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the production of spherical ice is completed and the temperature of the first ice-making chamber 11 falls to the required temperature range, the ice-making detection thermo Th ₁ detecting this drops to the contact point c.
The contact is switched from the -a side to the contact c-b side, the power supply to the pump motor PM is stopped, and the circulating supply of ice-making water is stopped (see the timing chart in FIG. 12).
Note that since the compressor CM and the fan motor FM continue to be energized, the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator 14 continues. Furthermore, since the temperature in the second ice making chamber 12 has dropped below the required temperature due to the generation of the spherical water 1, the temperature detection thermometer _Th3 is connected to the contact a-b side, and therefore the relay X is energized and energized. Then, the normally open contact X-a that cooperates with this closes, and the water supply valve WV
to open. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, water starts to be supplied from the water supply pipe 27 connected to the external water supply system to the water reservoir 65 defined on the surface of the water tray 38.

Further, the timer T is energized and starts counting the required set time period. Then, the timer T
Until the count up, the compressor CM connected in series to the normally closed contact is energized to continue cooling the first ice making chamber 11.

On the other hand, since the amount of tap water supplied via the water supply valve WV is large compared to the amount flowing down from the drain hole 63 to the tank 19, the water level in the water reservoir 65 gradually rises, and finally the weir of the water tray 38 This results in overflow from the stopper portion 62. By setting the water surface level of the water reservoir 65 at the time of overflow to be near the upper end of the second ice making chamber 12,
Tap water at normal temperature can be mainly heated in the second ice making chamber 12. In addition, normally closed contact X- of relay
Since b is open, the hot gas valve HV is closed.

Here, since the first ice-making compartment 11 is being continuously cooled, the first ice-making compartment 11 is maintained near the ice-making completion temperature, and the ice-making detection thermometer Th ₁ is connected to the contact c-
Connected to the b side. In addition, the ice cubes generated in the first ice making chamber 11 and the ice forming space are
The ice making compartment 12 is also cooled, but since the heat capacity of the water stored in the water reservoir 65 is greater than the cooling capacity of the ice blocks, the temperature of the second ice making compartment 12 gradually rises.

The overflow water from the dam 62 is
The water flows down from the tip of the water dish 38 into the tank 19. The water flowing from the tip of this water tray and the drain hole 63
The water level in the tank 19 gradually rises due to the water flowing down from the tank 19, and in a short time it overflows from the tip of the tank and is discharged from the drain tray 69 to the outside of the machine along the ice guide plate 67 in the standby position.

The second ice making chamber 12 includes a water reservoir 65 and a groove passage 7.
It is heated by the tap water stored in 2 and the temperature rises,
The freezing force between the wall surface of the second ice-making chamber 15 and the ice balls is reduced. Furthermore, the adhesion force of the ice formed on the surface adjacent to the first ice making chamber 11 is also weakened. Here, the timer T
continues counting, but if the thermometer _Th3 detects a temperature rise in the second ice making compartment 12 before the timer T counts up, the contacts a-b
Switch to contacts a-c side. As a result, the power supply to the timer T is cut off, and the timer T returns to its initial state without opening its normally open contact T-b. Further, relay X is deenergized to open normally open contact X-a and close normally closed contact X-b, thereby closing water supply valve WV as shown in the timing chart of FIG. Furthermore, electricity is supplied through the tilting drive terminal m of the actuator motor AM, and the motor AM
By driving the cam lever 17, the cam lever 17 starts rotating counterclockwise in FIG.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the cam lever 1
A cam surface 17b formed at the base of the water tray 7 forcibly presses the upper surface of the side portion 61 of the water tray 38 downward. As already mentioned, the second ice making compartment 12 is heated by tap water and the adhesion force between the first ice making compartment 11 and the spherical ice 1 is reduced, so the water tray 38 and the second ice making compartment 12 are It is forcibly separated from the first ice making chamber 11 and begins to tilt diagonally downward. By tilting the water tray 38 and the tank 19, the ice-making water in the tank 19 and the water in the water reservoir are disposed of to the outside.

Here, assuming that tap water, which is the heating means for the second ice making compartment 12, is not supplied to the water reservoir 65 during the deicing operation due to a water outage or the like, the temperature of the second ice making compartment 12 does not rise. Therefore, as _shown in the timing chart of FIG.
-b remains closed, and the timer T continues counting. Then, when the required set time period has elapsed and the timer T counts up, the normally closed contact T-b of the timer T is opened to stop the power supply to the compressor CM. As a result, cooling of the first ice-making compartment 11 is continued without the temperature of the second ice-making compartment 12 rising, and the second ice-making compartment 12 and the water tray 38 that come into contact with the first ice-making compartment 11 are not overcooled. .

Note that the predetermined time limit of timer T is for both ice making compartments 11,
12 or the water tray 38 are supercooled, for example, the water tray 38
There is a risk that the ice-making water remaining in the distribution pipe 24 disposed at It is set to time up before the occurrence of the error.

Thereafter, when the water cutoff is resolved and tap water is supplied to the water reservoir 65, the second ice making chamber 12 is heated, and when the thermometer _Th3 detects this temperature rise, the contacts a and b are connected to the contacts a and c. switch to the side. This cuts off the power to timer T, and its normally closed contact T-
b is closed and compressor CM resumes operation. Then, the first ice-making chamber 11 is cooled, and the adhesion force between the first ice-making chamber 13 and the spherical ice 1 is prevented from decreasing. Also, electricity is supplied through the tilt drive terminal m of the actuator motor AM, and by driving the motor AM, the second ice making chamber 12 is tilted through the cam lever 17 thereof. In this way, even if the heating time of the second ice making compartment 12 becomes longer, normal deicing operation can be continued without overcooling both ice making compartments 11, 12, the water tray 38, etc. can.

During the tilting of the water tray 38, by pushing a reversing lever (not shown) integrally provided on the shaft 68 with a part of the water tray assembly, the ice guide plate 67 is reversed, and the water tray 38 is rotated. Tilt while leaning on. At the timing when the water tray 38 is tilted to the maximum, the lever piece 37 presses and biases the changeover switch _S2 , switching its contacts a-b to the contacts a-c side. As a result, the motor AM stops its rotation and the tilting of the water tray 38 is stopped. The ice guide plate 67 is
As mentioned above, the upper surface of the second ice making chamber 12 is covered to provide a smooth surface for sliding ice cubes down.

Furthermore, by switching the switch _S2 , the condenser fan motor FM is stopped, the hot gas valve HV is opened, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator 14, the first ice making compartment 11 is heated, and the first ice making chamber 11 is heated.
The frozen surface between the inner surface of the ice-making chamber 13 and the spherical ice 1 begins to melt. In addition, the water supply valve WV is opened to clean the water tray 38 and the second ice making compartment 12, which are not tilted.

As mentioned above, the first ice making chamber 11 has a water tray 38.
Cooling continues until the tip is opened, so
The freezing force (adhesion force) between the spherical ice 1 and the inner surface of the first ice-making chamber 13 is strong, and when the second ice-making chamber 12 is opened, the spherical ice 1 sticks to the first ice-making chamber 1 as shown in FIG.
It's stuck at 3. However, since hot gas has been circulating in the evaporator 14 since a while ago, the temperature in the first ice making chamber 11 is rising. When the first ice making chamber 13 is heated to a certain degree, as shown in FIG. 7, the spherical ice 1 is unfrozen from the chamber wall and falls under its own weight, causing the ice guide plate, which is waiting to be tilted, to It lands on the surface of ice cube 67 and is collected by sliding into an ice storage (not shown). Note that since the de-icing detection thermo Th ₂ maintains its open state, the actuator motor AM
A reinstatement order has not yet been issued.

In this way, all the spherical ice 1 is stored in the first ice making chamber 13.
(See Figure 8), the first ice making compartment 11
The temperature rises all at once due to the hot gas circulating in the evaporator 14. When the de-icing detection thermo Th ₂ detects this temperature rise, the thermo Th ₂ closes and the return drive terminal n of the actuator motor AM is energized, and the motor AM reversely rotates and the cam lever 17 to drive. Therefore, the lever 17
The coil spring 18 elastically engaged between the water tray 38 and the water tray 38 rotates the water tray 38 and the ice-making water tank 19 counterclockwise and returns them to the horizontal state. The ice making chamber 11 is closed again from below. Note that tap water supplied onto the water tray 38 and stored in the water reservoir 65 flows through the drain hole 6.
3 into the ice-making water tank 19, and is supplied as new ice-making water to the tank 19 whose water level has decreased.

Next, due to the reverse rotation of the motor AM, the cam lever 17 is also rotated in the reverse direction, pressing and energizing the changeover switch _S2 to switch its contacts ac to the ab side. This allows the water supply valve WV and hot gas valve to
The HV is closed and the supply of ice making water and hot gas is stopped. Then, the ice making operation is resumed by returning to the initial state, and the above-described operations are repeated. When the ice making operation and the ice removal operation are repeated and a predetermined amount of spherical ice is stored in the ice storage, the ice storage detection switch _S1 is opened and the operation of the ice maker is stopped.

Although the illustrated example uses external tap water as the heating means, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a heater may be embedded in the second ice-making compartment, and the heater may be heated with electricity during the deicing operation. Further, heating of the second ice making compartment may be accelerated by using tap water and a heater together, or by immersing a high temperature part of a refrigeration system in the water reservoir to warm the tap water.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the abnormal cooling prevention device according to the present invention, a first ice-making compartment including a first ice-making compartment that opens downward and a second ice-making compartment that opens upward are defined. In relation to an ice maker that basically includes a second ice maker and generates ice blocks in an ice forming space defined internally by closing both ice maker compartments, the second ice maker is heated during deicing operation. If the cooling does not end even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, cooling of the first ice-making compartment is stopped, and overcooling of the ice-making mechanism such as the ice-making compartment and the water tray can be prevented. Furthermore, since the cooling operation of the first ice-making chamber does not continue for longer than necessary, it is possible to prevent power consumption and reduce running costs. Although the explanation has been given regarding the production of spherical ice, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it can also be implemented to produce polyhedral water having other shapes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 are vertical cross-sectional views showing the schematic structure of an ice making mechanism in an automatic ice making machine in which the abnormal cooling prevention device according to the present invention is suitably implemented, respectively.
The figure shows the initial state when the second ice-making compartment is closed to the first ice-making compartment and ice-making operation has started. Figure 2 shows the state in which hollow spherical ice is formed in both ice-making compartments as ice-making progresses. Figure 3 shows a state where almost solid spherical ice is formed in both ice-making chambers and the water level of the ice-making water in the tank is decreasing as the ice-making process approaches completion. Figure 4 shows a state in which ice making is approximately completed and solid spherical ice is formed in both ice making chambers, and Figure 5 shows a state in which ice making is completed and the water supply valve is opened, and the water level rises in the water reservoir and the weir is closed. The water that overflows from the stop part flows down along the back surface of the ice guide plate and is discharged from the drain tray to the outside of the machine. Figure 6 shows the state in which the actuator motor is energized and the second ice making compartment is opened. The ice guide plate is tilted clockwise to open, and the ice guide plate falls onto the upper surface of the second ice-making compartment to block each of the second ice-making compartments. Figure 8 shows the state in which the ice guide plate located slanted directly below the ice slides down, and when the ice removal is completed, the second ice maker begins to rotate counterclockwise and returns to its original position, and the ice guide plate also returns to its original position. The states to be returned are shown respectively, and the ninth
The figure is a schematic perspective view of the second ice-making compartment shown in Figure 1 viewed from the back side in a longitudinally sectional state, Figure 10 is a circuit diagram of a general refrigeration system in an automatic ice-making machine, and Figure 11 is an example. FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an ice-making control circuit that controls the operation of an ice-making machine; FIG. 12 is a timing chart when the ice-making apparatus according to the embodiment is controlled by the ice-making control circuit shown in FIG. 11;
The figure is a timing chart when the operation of the ice making device according to the embodiment is controlled by the ice making control circuit shown in FIG. 11 when the tap water is temporarily cut off, and FIG. 14 a is an explanatory diagram showing spherical ice. , FIG. 14b is an explanatory diagram showing multifaceted ice, and FIG. 14c is an explanatory diagram showing hollow spherical ice. 11...First ice making room, 12...Second ice making room, 1
3...First ice making compartment, 14...Evaporator, 15...
2nd ice making compartment, CM...compressor, T...timer,
T-b...normally closed contact, X...relay.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first ice-making chamber 11 equipped with a large number of first ice-making chambers 13 that open downward and an evaporator 14 on the back side.
and a large number of second ice-making chambers 15 that open upward,
a second ice-making compartment 12 disposed to be able to close the first ice-making compartment 11 from below; a heating means for heating the second ice-making compartment 12 during deicing operation; and an evaporator disposed in the first ice-making compartment 11. A compressor CM that circulates and supplies refrigerant to the evaporator 14 detects the formation of ice blocks in the space defined by the first and second ice-making compartments 13 and 15, and controls the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator 14. 2nd ice making compartment 1 while continuing
In an automatic ice maker configured to heat ice 2 by the heating means, a normally closed contact T-b of a timer T that starts operating upon detecting completion of ice making is connected in series with the compressor CM, and the heating means is heated by the compressor CM. An abnormal cooling prevention device for an automatic ice maker, characterized in that the power supply to the compressor CM is stopped when the energization of the activated relay X continues beyond a predetermined set time.