JPH06137728A - Ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ice making machine which has trouble-shooted disadvantages caused by a wrong operation of a water tray position detection switch in terms of a 'reverse-cell' type ice making machine. CONSTITUTION:A control device 20 controls a tilt and return drive of a slowing- down motor 10 based on a reversing motion of a switch ASW for water tray position detection service, which is reversed by the movement of a water tray and detects a specified tilting release position and horizontal closing position. The control device 20 returns the water tray to an original state prior to the start of the movement in the case when the water tray position detection switch ASW is reversed within a specified period since the water trays started the movement and controls the slowing-down motor 10 so that it may start the movement again.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called reverse cell type ice making machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of ice making machine is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32715 (F25C1 / 04), a tiltable water tray is provided below a cooler that defines a large number of downwardly opening ice making compartments, and the water tray closes the ice making compartment. At the horizontal closing position, water is sprayed from the fountain holes formed on the surface of the water tray to each ice making chamber to perform the ice making operation, and hot water is flown into the cooler at the inclined open position where the water tray opens the ice making chamber and heated. It is configured to perform a deicing operation. The tilting movement of the water tray is realized by a forward / reverse deceleration motor. However, in order to stop the deceleration motor when the water tray reaches a predetermined tilt open position and horizontal closing position, the water tray of the water tray is moved. A water tray position detection switch that is reversed by movement is provided.

This water tray position detecting switch is usually composed of an actuator switch composed of a switch portion and an actuator portion, and an arm which rotates together with the water tray comes into contact with and pushes the actuator portion, whereby the switch portion is moved. It has a structure that opens and closes. The arm presses the actuator portion when the water tray reaches a predetermined tilt open position and horizontal closed position, whereby the deceleration motor is stopped based on the open / closed state of the switch portion being reversed. Has been done.

[0004]

However, in this type of ice making machine, a deceleration motor having a high gear ratio is used in order to secure the peeling force between the cooler and the water tray when shifting to the deicing operation. Therefore, the movement of the water tray must be very slow, and therefore the overrun of the arm after the switch of the water tray position detection switch is reversed is very small.

Here, the actuator portion and the switch portion of the water tray position detecting switch each usually have a snap action characteristic, and since there is almost no arm overrun as described above, the arm pushes the actuator portion. Even after the switch portion is reversed by the snap action, the snap action of the actuator portion does not work, which may cause the arm to stop at a halfway position.

In such a state, the actuator portion of the switch for detecting the position of the water tray is very unstable. Therefore, when the water tray next moves in the opposite direction from the previous time, the water tray becomes normal due to vibration or shock. There is a risk that the actuator unit moves by snap action before the arm reaches the position of (1) and presses the actuator unit to reverse the switch unit and stop the deceleration motor. Therefore, the water tray is stopped at a position other than the normal tilt open position or the horizontal closed position, and as a result, de-icing operation or ice-making operation is performed, resulting in poor de-icing or impossibility, or imperfect ice-making. There was a problem that caused various inconveniences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, and provides a so-called reverse cell type ice making machine which eliminates the inconvenience caused by the malfunction of the water tray position detecting switch. With the goal.

[0008]

An ice making machine I according to the present invention comprises a cooler 1 having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers 1A defined therein, and a tiltable water tray 5 for closing each ice making chamber 1A. The water tray 5 is provided with a water fountain hole 3 formed on the surface of the water tray 5 to perform an ice making operation by spraying water into each ice making chamber 1A and heating the cooler 1 to perform a deicing operation. 5 is reversed by the deceleration motor 10 that tilts and drives 5 and the water tray 5,
A water tray position detecting switch ASW for detecting a predetermined tilt open position and a horizontal closed position of the water tray 5, and a controller 20 for controlling the deceleration motor 10 based on the reversing operation of the water tray position detecting switch ASW. The control device 20 includes a water tray 5 when the water tray position detection switch ASW is reversed within a predetermined short period of time after the water tray 5 starts moving.
Is restored to the state before the movement is started, and the deceleration motor 10 is controlled so as to start the movement again.

[0009]

When the malfunction of the water tray position detecting switch ASW as described above occurs immediately after the movement of the water tray 5, the water tray 5 is operated.
However, the ice making operation is performed in a state where the ice making chamber 1A of the cooler 1 is not opened, or conversely, the ice making operation is performed before closing the ice making chamber, which is a very serious problem. Further, it takes a long period of about 50 seconds for the deceleration motor 10 to move from the predetermined tilt open position to the horizontal closed position (or vice versa), so that the water tray can be moved within a short period from the start of the movement. When the detection switch ASW is inverted, it can be regarded as a malfunction thereof. Based on such a fact, in the present invention, when the water tray position detection switch ASW is reversed within a predetermined short period after the water tray 5 starts to move, it is regarded as a malfunction of the water tray detection switch ASW and the control device. 20 controls the deceleration motor 10 to return the water tray 5 to the state before starting the movement,
Since the movement is started again after that, the water tray 5 stops at a position other than the predetermined inclined open position or the horizontal closed position, and the inconvenience that the deicing operation or the ice making operation is performed in that state is prevented beforehand. become able to.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a control device 20 of the ice making machine I of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the ice making machine I. Ice machine I
Is a so-called reverse cell type ice making machine, which has a large number of downwardly opening ice making chambers 1A, a cooler 1 in which an evaporation pipe 2 of a refrigeration system is provided on an outer surface of an upper wall, and a predetermined horizontal direction. At the closing position, each ice making chamber 1A is closed from below with a sufficient margin, and a water tray 5 having a fountain hole 3 and a return hole 4 corresponding to each ice making chamber 1A on the surface and a water tray 5 fixed to the water tray 5 are provided. A water tank 6 communicating with the hole 4, a circulation pump 9 for circulating the water in the water tank 6 from the fountain hole 3 to the respective ice making chambers 1A through the water supply pipe 7 and the distribution pipe 8, and the water tray 5 is tilted and returned. A driving device 11 including a reduction gear motor 10 having a high gear ratio capable of rotating forward and backward, a sprinkler 13 that sprinkles water on the surface of the water tray 5 when the water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened, and a bottom portion of the water tank 6 are in communication. Water level switch WL by float 14B in float tank 14A W activated and is configured by the water level detector 14 for detecting a predetermined level of the water tank 6.

The mounting plate 16 fixed to the support beam 15
A drive cam 17 having first and second arms 17A and 17B extending in mutually opposite directions is connected to the output shaft of the reduction motor 10 supported by the drive cam 17, and the end of the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17 is connected. The other end of the coil spring 18 attached to the portion is connected to the side portion of the water tray 5, and the rear portion of the water tray 5 is supported by the rotating shaft 19. Further, the ASW is switched and reversed by the second arm 17B of the drive cam 17 which rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the forward rotation of the speed reduction motor 10, and the power supply to the speed reduction motor 10 is cut off to open the water tray 5 at a predetermined inclination. Stop it in position,
When the deceleration motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction, the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17 that rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 switches and inverts the deceleration motor 10 so that the deceleration motor 10 is turned off and the water tray 5 is stopped at the horizontal closed position. It is a switch for detecting the position of the water tray.

The water dish position detecting switch ASW is a seesaw type actuator switch composed of an actuator portion laterally protruding from the support beam 15 and a switch portion opened and closed by the actuator portion.
The first and second arms 17A and 17B of the drive cam 17 come into contact with and press against both side surfaces of the actuator portion, so that the actuator portion is switched and inverted. Further, both the actuator portion and the switch portion have a predetermined snap action characteristic, and after being pressed to a certain position, they are switched and inverted by themselves.

Next, in the controller 20 of FIG. 1, the compressor 21 constituting the refrigeration system is connected in series with the relay R1, and the condenser cooling fan 22 for cooling the condenser (not shown) of the refrigeration system is the relay. It is connected in series with R2. The circulation pump 9 is connected in series with the relay R3, and the hot gas solenoid valve 23 for controlling the supply of hot gas (high temperature / high pressure gas refrigerant) to the evaporation pipe 2 of the cooler 1 is connected in series with the relay R7. At the same time, the water supply solenoid valve 12 is connected in series with the relay R4. The deceleration motor 10 is connected in series with a relay R5 and a switching relay R6. The switching relay R6 is closed to the contact a side to be in the OFF state, the deceleration motor 10 is normally rotated, and is switched to the contact b side to be in the ON state to reverse the deceleration motor 10.

These relays R1 to R7 are controlled by a general-purpose microcomputer 25. The water level switch WLSW and the water tray position detection switch ASW are connected to the input of the microcomputer 25, and an ice storage switch BSW that closes the contacts when a predetermined amount of ice storage in an ice storage (not shown) is detected is connected. . A sensor 26 for detecting the temperature of the cooler 1 is connected to the input of the microcomputer 25, and a monitor 27 is connected to the output of the microcomputer 25.

Next, the operation of the ice making machine I of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts showing the programs of the microcomputer 25 shown in FIGS. First, the water tray 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown by the solid line, the ice making chamber 1A is closed at a predetermined horizontal closing position, and when the power is turned on, the microcomputer 25 closes the relay R1 in step S1 (shown as ON in FIGS. 3 and 4; the same applies hereinafter). Start the compressor 21.
Next, in step S2, the relay R2, the relay R3, and the relay R4 are closed to operate the condenser cooling fan 22, and the circulation pump 9 is operated to move the water in the water tank 6 from the fountain holes 3 to the respective ice making holes. The water supply solenoid valve 1
2 is opened to sprinkle water from the sprinkler 13 onto the surface of the water tray 5, and water is mainly supplied to the water tank 6 through the return hole 4 to start the ice making operation.

At the same time, based on the temperature of the cooler 1 taken in by the sensor 26, the microcomputer 25 determines the integrated time T1 (ice making time) of the ice making timer TM1 having its function, and resets the ice making timer TM1 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 3). In FIG. 4, it is indicated as REST. The same applies to the following.) And counting is started (indicated as START in FIGS. 3 and 4; the same applies hereinafter). Also, in step S3, the water level switch WLS
When W is closed, a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 6, and when the water level switch WLSW detects and closes the predetermined water level, the process proceeds to step S4 to open the relay R4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Is OFF. The same applies hereinafter) The water supply solenoid valve 12 is closed to stop the water supply.

By the ice making operation, the ice making chamber 1 of the cooler 1
Ice is gradually generated in A, and when the integrated value of the ice making timer TM1 reaches the above T1 in step S5 and the time is up, the process proceeds to step S6 to open the relays R2 and R3 to cool the condenser cooling fan. 22 and circulation pump 9
To stop the ice making operation, and at the same time, the microcomputer 25 sets 0 to the counter C having its function. Next, in step S7, the relays R5 and R7 are closed, and the monitoring timer TM2 that the microcomputer 25 has as its function is reset and the counting is started. Further, since the relay R6 is turned off and closed to the contact a side, the reduction motor 10 is normally rotated by the relay R5 being closed, the water tray 5 starts tilting, and the hot gas solenoid valve 23 is opened and the evaporation pipe 2 is opened. The hot gas is circulated to heat the cooler 1 and the ice-free chamber 1A is frozen, and the frozen ice is removed. Further, the drive cam 17 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 due to the normal rotation of the reduction motor 10.

When the water tray 5 tilts to a predetermined tilt open position as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 after about 50 seconds have elapsed from the start of the deicing operation, the second arm 17B of the drive cam 17 moves to the water tray position. Since the actuator part of the detection switch ASW is pressed to invert the switch part to the closed (ON) state, the microcomputer 25 proceeds from step S8 to step S9 to open the relay R5, stop the deceleration motor 10, and The tilting of the plate 5 is stopped. Then, in step S10, if the integrated value of the monitoring timer TM2 has passed a short period T2 of, for example, 15 seconds, step S11.
Then, it is judged whether the temperature ET of the cooler 1 taken in by the sensor 26 is higher than the deicing end temperature TP such as + 9 ° C., and if it is higher, the counter C is set to 0 in step S12. In step S13, the relay R5 is closed and the relay R6 is closed to the contact b in the ON state to reset the monitoring timer TM2 and start counting. When the relay R6 closes to the contact b, the deceleration motor 10 reversely rotates and the water tray 5 starts returning to the upper direction. The drive cam 17 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 as the deceleration motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction.

About 50 seconds after the start of the backward movement, when the water tray 5 returns to a predetermined horizontal closed position as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17 detects the water tray position. Since the actuator part of the switch ASW is pressed to reverse the switch part to the open (OFF) state, the microcomputer 25 proceeds from step S20 to step S21 to open the relays R5 and R7 and turn off the relay R6. The hot gas solenoid valve 23 is closed and the deceleration motor 10 is stopped to stop the return movement of the water tray 5. Then, in step S22, the monitoring timer TM
When the integrated value of 2 has passed the short period T2 of 15 seconds or the like, the process proceeds to step S23, and the ice storage switch BSW
Determine whether is closed. When a predetermined amount of ice is stored in the ice storage (not shown), the process proceeds to step S24, the relays R1 and R7 are opened, the operation of the compressor 21 is stopped, and the ice storage process is started. Is maintained until the ice storage switch BSW is closed.
When the predetermined amount of ice is not stored in the ice storage in step S23, the process returns to step S2 and the ice making operation is repeated.

Here, the water tray position detecting switch AS
The actuator portion of W is stopped at the unstable position as described above, and the short term of 15 seconds from the start of tilting due to vibration when the deceleration motor 10 rotates normally and the water tray 5 starts tilting or due to some shock. It is assumed that the switch portion of the water dish position detection switch ASW is inverted to the closed (ON) state before the time T2 elapses. In this state, the water tray 5 has not moved to the predetermined tilt open position, of course, and the second arm 1
Since 7B is not in contact with the water dish position detecting switch ASW, it is an apparent malfunction.

However, in the present invention, the monitoring timer TM2 monitors and integrates the time after the deceleration motor 10 starts the normal rotation in step S7, and the water tray position detection switch ASW is closed in step S8. If the time until it has not reached T2, the process proceeds from step S10 to step S14 via step S9. Step S1
In 4, the counter C is incremented by 1, and in step S15, it is determined whether or not the count of the counter C is more than N times such as 5 times. If it is N times or less, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S17 and the relay R
5 and the relay R6 are closed to the contact b in the ON state. When the relay R6 closes to the contact b, the deceleration motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction, the water tray 5 starts returning to the upper side, and the reverse rotation of the deceleration motor 10 causes the drive cam 17 to rotate clockwise in FIG. Then, when the water tray 5 returns to a predetermined horizontal closed position, the first arm 17A of the drive cam 17 is
Presses the actuator portion of the water dish position detection switch ASW to invert the switch portion to the open (OFF) state. Due to this reversal, the microcomputer 25 proceeds from step S18 to step S19 to open the relay R5 and turn off the relay R6, stop the deceleration motor 10 to stop the return movement of the water tray 5, and then return to step S7 to return again. The deceleration motor 10 is normally rotated to start the tilting of the water tray 5.

That is, when the water tray position detecting switch ASW malfunctions immediately after the water tray 5 starts tilting, the microcomputer 25 once returns the water tray 5 to the horizontal closing position before the tilting starts. After that, since the tilting is started again, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the water tray 5 stops at a position other than the predetermined tilt open position and the deicing operation is performed in that state. When the count of the counter C exceeds N times (5 times) in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16, the relays R1 and R7 are opened to stop the compressor 21, the hot gas solenoid valve 23 is closed, and the monitor 27 is activated. Display the abnormality. That is, when the malfunction of the water dish position detection switch ASW occurs 6 times or more in a row, the function of the ice making machine I is stopped as an unrecoverable failure.

Similarly, a switch AS for detecting the position of the water tray is also provided.
The actuator portion of W stops at the unstable position as described above, and the vibration occurs when the deceleration motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction and the water tray 5 starts returning, or due to some shock, 15 seconds after the start of returning. It is assumed that the switch portion of the water dish position detection switch ASW is inverted to the open (OFF) state before the short period T2 has elapsed. In this state as well, the water tray 5 has not moved to the predetermined horizontal closed position, and the first arm 1 does not move.
Since 7A is not in contact with the water dish position detecting switch ASW, it is an apparent malfunction.

However, in the present invention, step S13
The monitor timer TM2 monitors and integrates the time after the deceleration motor 10 starts reverse rotation at, and the time until the water tray position detection switch ASW is opened in step S20 has not reached T2. In this case, the process proceeds from step S22 to step S25 via step S21. In step S25, 1 is added to the counter C, and in step S2
At 6, it is judged whether or not the count of the counter C is more than N times such as 5 times. If it is N times or less, the process proceeds from step S26 to step S28 to close the relays R5 and R7 and turn off the relay R6.
Close the contact a in the F state. When the relay R6 is closed to the contact a, the deceleration motor 10 rotates in the normal direction, the water tray 5 starts tilting downward, and the rotation of the deceleration motor 10 also rotates the drive cam 17 counterclockwise in FIG. . Then, when the water tray 5 returns to the predetermined tilt open position, the drive cam 1
The second arm 17B of No. 7 has a water tray position detection switch AS.
The actuator part of W is pressed to reverse its switch part to the closed (ON) state. By such reversal, the microcomputer 25 proceeds from step S29 to step S30 to open the relay R5, stops the deceleration motor 10 to stop the tilting of the water tray 5, and returns to step S13 to reverse the deceleration motor 10 again to reverse the water. Start returning the dish 5.

That is, when a malfunction of the water tray position detection switch ASW occurs immediately after the water tray 5 starts returning, the microcomputer 25 once moves the water tray 5 to the tilt open position before the start of returning. After returning to the original position, the backward movement is started again, so that it is possible to prevent the disadvantage that the water tray 5 stops at a position other than the predetermined horizontal closed position and the ice making operation is performed in this state. When the count of the counter C exceeds N times (5 times) in step S26, the process proceeds to step S27, the relays R1 and R7 are opened to stop the compressor 21, the hot gas solenoid valve 23 is closed, and the monitor 27 is activated. Display the abnormality. That is, when the malfunction of the water dish position detection switch ASW occurs 6 times or more in a row, the function of the ice making machine I is stopped as an unrecoverable failure.

The various times and number of times shown in the embodiments are not limited to those, and may be set appropriately according to the capacity and capacity of the ice making machine I.

[0027]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the water tray position detecting switch is reversed within a predetermined short period after the tilting movement of the water tray is started, the control device causes the deceleration motor to operate. Is controlled so that the water tray returns to the state before the movement was started, and then the movement is restarted.Therefore, the water tray position detection switch malfunctions due to vibration or shock, and the water tray is placed in the predetermined tilt open position. Or, it prevents the various problems such as the ice making operation that occurs when the vehicle stops at a position other than the horizontal closed position, and the ice making operation or the ice making operation is performed in that state, or the failure or failure of the deicing. Therefore, stable ice making can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a control device for an ice making machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the ice making machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a program of a microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program of a microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 ASW Water tray position detection switch I Ice maker 1 Cooler 1A Ice maker 2 Evaporation pipe 3 Fountain hole 5 Water tray 10 Deceleration motor 17 Drive cam 20 Controller 25 Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cooler having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers defined therein, and a tiltable water tray for closing each ice making chamber, wherein each ice making machine is formed from a fountain hole formed on the surface of the water tray. In an ice-making machine that performs ice-making operation by spraying water into the chamber and heating the cooler to perform de-icing operation, the deceleration motor that tilts and drives the water tray and the water tray is reversed to move the water. A water tray position detecting switch for detecting a predetermined inclined open position and a horizontal closed position of the tray, and a control device for controlling the deceleration motor based on a reversing operation of the water tray position detecting switch, When the switch for detecting the position of the water tray is reversed within a predetermined short period from the start of the movement of the water tray, the control device returns the water tray to the state before the start of movement,
An ice maker, wherein the deceleration motor is controlled to start moving again.