JPH06257920A - Ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effect a judgement of abnormal state easily and accurately by a method wherein in the case that an ice storing amount sensing means does not detect it for a predetermined period of time that an ice storing amount within an ice storing device is decreased lower than a predetermined amount. CONSTITUTION:An ice making machine 1 is comprised of an ice making device 1 having a cooler 4 stored in a cooling device and for generating ice, and an ice storing device 13 for use in storing manufactured ice. In addition, there are provided an ice storing amount sensing means 23 comprised of an infrared ray emitting element 21 and an infrared ray receiving element 22 for use in detecting an ice storing amount within the ice storing device 13 and a control means for controlling an ice making operation in response to a detected ice storing amount. In this case, the ice making operation is stopped under a control of the control means when the ice storing amount reaches a predetermine amount and at the same time the ice making operation is started again when the ice storing amount is decreased lower than the predetermined amount. In turn, in the case that the reduction of the ice storing amount than the predetermined amount is not detected over a predetermined period of time, an abnormal state of the ice storing amount sensing means 23 is judged and a predetermined alarm is generated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making machine for storing ice produced by an ice making device in an ice storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ice making machines of this type have been used, for example, in the actual Kaisho 60.
No. 151068 (F25C5 / 18), ice produced by an ice making device is stored in an ice storage,
It is configured so that the ice can be taken out from the ice storage at any time and used. Further, the ice making operation by the ice making device is performed until a predetermined amount of ice is stored in the ice storage, the ice making operation is stopped when the predetermined ice storage amount is reached, and the ice storage amount in the ice storage is reduced by removing the ice. When the ice storage amount is less than the predetermined ice storage amount, the ice making operation is restarted so that a predetermined amount of ice can be constantly stored in the ice storage.

By the way, the detection of the predetermined ice storage amount in the ice storage is usually performed by an ice storage switch composed of an infrared sensor as disclosed in the above publication, and the ice stored in the ice storage. The height of the infrared sensor rises to a position (a predetermined amount of ice storage) that blocks the optical path between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the infrared sensor, and the light from the light emitting element does not reach the light receiving element, When the ice making operation is stopped and the height of the ice drops to a position where it does not block the optical path, and the light from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element, the ice making operation is restarted based on this light receiving signal. there were.

[0004]

However, when the light emitting element or the light receiving element of the ice storage switch has water stains or water drops on the surface of the ice storage switch, the amount of ice stored in the ice storage is less than a predetermined value. The light from the light emitting element does not reach the light receiving element, which causes the ice making machine to stop the ice making operation. That is, the ice amount is reduced by the consumption of ice or by the melting of the ice due to the heat intrusion from the outside, and the ice making operation is stopped even though the ice storage amount in the ice storage has not reached the predetermined value. Therefore, there is a problem that the user mistakenly recognizes that the ice making device is out of order and is forced to perform unnecessary inspection.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and provides an ice making machine capable of detecting an abnormality occurring in the ice storage amount detecting means for detecting the ice storage amount in the ice storage. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

That is, an ice making machine I according to the invention of claim 1 has an ice making device 1 having a cooler 4 included in a cooling device to produce ice, and an ice making device 1 An ice storage 13 for storing the stored ice, an ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch) 23 for detecting the amount of ice storage in the ice storage 13, and a control means (microcomputer) 26 for controlling the ice making operation in the ice making device 1. Based on the output of the ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch) 23, the control means (microcomputer) 26 makes the ice making device 1 in the ice making device 1 when the ice storage amount in the ice storage 13 reaches a predetermined ice amount. The operation is stopped, and the ice making operation is restarted when the ice amount falls below the predetermined ice amount, and the ice storage amount detecting means (ice storage switch) 23 detects that the ice storage amount in the ice storage 13 falls below the predetermined ice amount for a predetermined period. do not do Expediently, and executes a predetermined alarm operation determines that an abnormality of the ice storage amount detecting means (ice switch) 23.

In the above, the ice making machine I of the invention of claim 2 is a temperature detecting means (CT sensor) for detecting the temperature of the condenser 16 of the cooling device or the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I.
18, the control means (microcomputer) 26 changes the predetermined period based on the output of the temperature detection means (CT sensor) 18. Further, in the ice making machine I of the invention of claim 3, in the above claim 1, the control means (microcomputer) 26 has a time measuring means for measuring the time required for the ice making operation, and the time measuring means measures the time. The predetermined period is changed based on the ice making operation time.

[0008]

Although the ice in the ice storage 13 of the ice making machine I varies depending on the season, it is usually used at a predetermined rate per fixed time, and is melted and reduced at a fixed rate due to heat intrusion from the outside. go. Therefore, when the ice storage amount detecting means (ice storage switch) 23 does not detect the decrease of ice for a certain long time after the amount of ice storage in the ice storage 13 reaches the predetermined ice amount, the ice storage amount detecting means (ice storage switch) It is considered that the above-mentioned abnormality has occurred in 23.

According to the ice making machine I of the first aspect of the present invention, when the ice storage amount detecting means (ice storage switch) 23 does not detect that the ice storage amount in the ice storage 13 is lower than the predetermined ice amount, Since the control means (microcomputer) 26 judges that the ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch) 23 is abnormal and executes a predetermined alarm operation, the user does not have a failure of the ice making device 1, but the ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch). It is possible to easily determine that the switch 23 is abnormal, and it is possible to take prompt action.

The amount of ice used and the amount of ice melted vary depending on the season as described above, and the amount of ice used increases in the summer when it is hot. Therefore, the period until the amount of ice reaches the predetermined amount decreases and the amount of ice decreases in the winter. On the contrary, the amount of ice becomes smaller, and therefore, the period until the amount of ice becomes lower than the predetermined amount of ice becomes longer. According to the ice making machine I of the second aspect of the present invention, the control means (microcomputer) 26 determines the abnormality of the ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch) 23 depending on the temperature of the condenser 16 of the cooling device or the ambient temperature. Since it is possible to quickly detect an abnormality, it is possible to avoid the execution of an unnecessary alarm operation, and it is possible to improve the abnormality detection accuracy of the ice storage amount detection means (ice storage switch) 23.

Further, the time required for the ice making operation of the ice making machine I becomes long when it is hot in the summer and, conversely, becomes short when it is cold in the winter. According to the ice making machine I of the third aspect of the invention, the control means (microcomputer) 26 is based on the ice making operation time measured by the time measuring means for measuring the time required for the ice making operation.
Changes the predetermined period for determining an abnormality of the ice storage amount detecting means (ice storage switch) 23, so that it is possible to avoid an unnecessary alarm operation while similarly detecting an abnormality quickly, and the ice storage amount detecting means ( The accuracy of detecting an abnormality of the ice storage switch 23 can be improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a control device 20 of the ice making machine I of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the ice making machine I. An ice making machine I as an embodiment includes a so-called reverse cell type ice making device 1 installed in an upper part of a main body formed by a heat insulating wall, and a freezer compartment 3 having a plurality of divided ice making parts 2 opening downward. When,
A cooler 4 of a cooling device provided on the upper wall of the freezing compartment 3, a flat plate-shaped water tray 5 that closes the freezing compartment 3 from below, and a tilting movement together with the water tray 5 that is fixed to the water tray 5. Water tank 6 and a fountain (not shown) formed in the water tray 5 corresponding to each ice making section 2.
A water supply solenoid valve 7 for supplying water to the water tank 6 by connecting to an external water source, and a circulation pump 8 for making the ice making water supplied to the water tank 6 into each ice making section 2 through a fountain port. It is composed by.

Reference numeral 9 is an ET for detecting the temperature of the cooler 4.
A sensor, 10 is a WT sensor for detecting the water temperature of the ice making water supplied to the water tank 6. Also,
Below the ice making device 1, there is a tray 12 which receives the residual water in the water tank 6 and drains it from a drain pipe 11, and an ice storage 13 is formed in front of the water tray 5 inclining. Further, in the machine room 14, a compressor 15, a condenser 16 and a condenser cooling fan 17 of a cooling device are arranged. Reference numeral 18 is a CT sensor for detecting the temperature of the condenser 16. Furthermore, ice storage 1
When the amount of ice stored in 3 reaches a predetermined amount of ice, an infrared light emitting element 21 and an infrared light receiving element 22 which face each other are formed on the inner surface of the ice storage 13 which becomes the height of the ice at the upper end thereof. An ice storage switch 23 as an ice storage amount detecting means is attached.

Next, in the control device 20 of FIG. 1, the output of the ET sensor 9, the output of the WT sensor 10, the output of the ice storage switch 23, and the water tray are input to the input of the general-purpose microcomputer 26 as the control means. The output of the water tray position detection switch 27 for detecting the position of 5 is connected,
The water supply solenoid valve 7 is provided at the output of the microcomputer 26.
, A compressor 15 and a condenser cooling fan 17 are connected, a reduction motor 28 for tilting the water tray 5 is connected via a forward / reverse circuit 29, and the circulation pump 8 is connected. Is also connected. Further, the output of the microcomputer 26 is connected to a hot gas solenoid valve 31 for causing the high-temperature refrigerant (hot gas) from the compressor 15 to directly flow into the cooler 4 instead of the condenser 16, and the microcomputer 26 A display device 32 composed of a two-digit 7-segment LED is provided on the substrate.

Next, the operation of the ice making machine I of the present invention will be described based on the flowchart showing the program of the microcomputer 26 of FIG. After the power is turned on, the ice making machine I first executes an ice making process in step S1. During this ice making process, the microcomputer 26 causes the compressor 15 and the condenser cooling fan 17 to operate with the water tray 5 blocking the freezer compartment 3.
The water supply solenoid valve 7 is opened to supply water to the water tank 6, and when the water is full, the water supply solenoid valve 7 is closed to end the water supply, and the hot gas solenoid valve 31 is closed to close the compressor 15
After the refrigerant discharged from the condenser is radiatively condensed by the condenser 16, the refrigerant is decompressed and supplied to the cooler 4, and evaporated to start the pre-cooling operation.

As a result, the freezing chamber 3 is cooled, the circulation pump 8 is operated, and the ice making water in the water tank 6 is pumped up and sprayed from the fountain port to the ice making unit 2. The spouted water falls from the ice making unit 2 and is collected in the water tank 6 through a return hole (not shown) of the water tray 5. Further, the microcomputer 26 determines the temperature detected by the WT sensor 10, and when the detected temperature becomes lower than a set temperature such as + 3 ° C. (the water temperature in the water tank 6 becomes approximately 0 ° C.), the pre-cooling is performed. The operation is finished, and the ice-making timer having the function is integrated to start the ice-making operation.

In this ice making operation, the water sprayed from the water tray 5 freezes on the inner wall surface of the ice making unit 2, and ice is gradually generated. When the ice making progresses and the integration of the ice making timer is finished, the microcomputer 26 finishes the ice making operation (ice making process), proceeds to step S2, and shifts to the ice removing process. Incidentally, it is assumed that the microcomputer 26 integrates the time required for the ice making process by a timer as a time measuring means having its function when the ice making process is completed.

In the ice removing process, the microcomputer 26 stops the condenser cooling fan 17 and the circulation pump 8, and the forward / reverse circuit 29 causes the deceleration motor 28.
Is started to tilt the water tray 5, and at the same time, the hot gas solenoid valve 31 is opened to allow hot gas to flow through the cooler 4 to heat the freezer compartment 3. Further, when the water tray 5 is tilted to a predetermined tilt open position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2 by such tilting, the microcomputer 26 detects it by the water tray position detection switch 27 and stops the deceleration motor 28.

The freezer 3 is heated by the cooling device 4
The temperature rises and the surface of the ice in the ice making unit 2 melts, so that the ice falls from the ice making unit 2 into the ice storage 13 and is stored therein. When the temperature of the cooler 4 reaches a predetermined deicing end temperature (+ 9 ° C. or the like), the microcomputer 26 detects the deicing end temperature of the cooler 4 by the ET sensor 9, and the ice from the ice making unit 2 is detected. When it is determined that the water drop has ended, the forward / reverse circuit 29 causes the deceleration motor 28 to rotate in the reverse direction to start the return movement of the water tray 5. Further, the hot gas solenoid valve 31 is closed, and the reduced pressure refrigerant is supplied to the cooler 4 to start cooling the freezer compartment 3.

When the water tray 5 returns to the predetermined horizontal closed position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and closes the freezer compartment 3, the microcomputer 26 detects it by the water tray position detection switch 27 and the deceleration motor. 28 is stopped, the return movement of the water tray 5 is stopped, and the ice removal process is completed. When the ice making process and the ice removing process are thus completed, the microcomputer 26 proceeds to step S3 to block the infrared light path from the infrared light emitting element 21 of the ice storage switch 23 to the infrared light receiving element 22 by the ice in the ice storage 13. If it is determined that the ice storage amount in the ice storage 13 has not reached the predetermined ice amount, the process returns to step S1 and the ice making process and the ice removing process are repeated.

When the amount of ice in the ice storage 13 reaches the predetermined amount of ice storage, the ice at the upper end of the ice storage switch 23 blocks infrared rays from the infrared light emitting element 21 to the infrared light receiving element 22. , Microcomputer 2
Step 6 proceeds from step S3 to step S4, and the operation of the compressor 15, the condenser cooling fan 17, the circulation pump 8 and the speed reduction motor 28 is stopped to shift to the ice storage step in which the ice making operation is stopped and the ice storage step is started. From the point of time of transition, integration of the ice storage timer, which has the function, is started, and the temperature of the condenser 16 at the start of the ice storage process is taken in by the CT sensor 18.

Next, the microcomputer 26 proceeds to step S5, and again determines whether the infrared rays from the infrared light emitting element 21 of the ice storage switch 23 to the infrared light receiving element 22 are blocked by the ice in the ice storage 13. If it is shut off, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether the integrated value of the ice storage timer has reached a predetermined period TS.

The predetermined period TS is, for example, 12 hours as a standard, and the integrated value of the ice storage timer in step S6, that is, when the elapsed time of the ice storage process has not reached the predetermined period TS, the process returns to step S5 to return to the ice storage switch 23. Continue to monitor ice storage. During this time ice is used, or
When the amount of ice melts due to heat intrusion from the outside and the amount of ice falls below the predetermined amount of ice, the infrared rays from the infrared light emitting element 21 of the ice storage switch 23 to the infrared light receiving element 22 are no longer blocked, so the microcomputer 26 causes the microcomputer 26 to perform step S5.
Then, the process returns to step S1 to restart the ice making process.

Here, if water stains or water drops adhere to the infrared light emitting element 21 or the light receiving element 22 of the ice storage switch 23 and block the optical path between them, the ice actually falls below a predetermined amount of ice. Nevertheless, step S5 is stopped and step S1 is stopped, and step S5 and step S6 are repeated. If the length of the ice storage process continues for 12 hours due to such a situation, the microcomputer 26
Advances from step S6 to step S7, it is determined that the ice storage switch 23 is abnormal, the operation of the ice making machine I is stopped at step S8, and the ice storage switch 2 is displayed on the display device 32.
It is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in 3.

The user will perform an inspection because the ice machine I has stopped operating. At this time, the display device 32
Since the abnormality of the ice storage switch 23 is displayed as an alarm, it is possible to immediately recognize that the ice storage switch 23 is abnormal, not the malfunction of the ice making device 1, and to quickly remove the scale and the like. . It should be noted that the amount of ice used and the amount of ice melted in the ice storage 13 vary depending on the season, and increase in the summer when the amount of ice is large. On the contrary, the amount of ice becomes smaller, and therefore the period until the amount of ice becomes lower than the predetermined amount of ice becomes longer.

Therefore, the microcomputer 26 is shown in FIG.
In step S9 of the flowchart of FIG.
It is judged whether the temperature of the condenser 16 at the start of the ice storage process, which has been taken in by, is, for example, + 45 ° C. or higher, and
If the temperature is lower than 45 ° C, it is determined in step S10 whether the temperature of the condenser 16 is + 15 ° C or lower. Step S when the temperature of the condenser 16 is lower than + 45 ° C and higher than + 15 ° C
11, the predetermined period TS is set to the standard 12 hours.

However, when the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I rises and the temperature of the condenser 16 becomes + 45 ° C. or higher in the summer, etc.,
The microcomputer 26 advances from step S9 to step S13 to shorten the predetermined period TS to 6 hours. In the summer, the ice reduction rate is also high as described above, and therefore it is abnormal even for 6 hours. This makes it possible to detect the abnormality of the ice storage switch 23 more quickly.

On the other hand, when the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I decreases and the temperature of the condenser 16 becomes + 15 ° C. or lower in winter, the microcomputer 26 causes the microcomputer 26 to perform steps S10 to S12.
Proceed to and extend the predetermined period TS to 24 hours. In the winter, the rate of ice reduction is also low as described above, so it is not considered to be abnormal until about 24 hours have passed, thereby preventing useless alarm display and improving the accuracy of detecting the abnormality of the ice storage switch 23. Will be able to.

Here, although the predetermined period TS is changed according to the temperature of the condenser 16 in FIG. 4, the present invention is not limited to this, and an outside air temperature sensor for directly detecting the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I is provided and based on the output of the sensor. The predetermined period TS may be changed. In that case, when the outside air temperature is, for example, + 20 ° C., the predetermined period TS is set to standard 12 hours, and the outside air temperature is + 35 ° C.
For 6 hours, and for + 5 ° C for 24 hours.

Further, FIG. 5 shows another flowchart relating to the change control of the predetermined period TS, in which case the microcomputer 26 in step S14 calculates the time required for the ice making process, for example, 3 times.
If it is less than 38 minutes, it is determined in step S15 whether the time of the ice making process is 20 minutes or less. When the ice making process time is shorter than 38 minutes and longer than 20 minutes, the process proceeds to step S16, and the predetermined period T
Let S be the standard 12 hours.

However, when the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I rises in the summer, etc., the time required for the ice making process becomes longer, and
When the number of minutes or more is reached, the microcomputer 26 proceeds from step S14 to step S18 and shortens the predetermined period TS to 6 hours. Since the decrease rate of ice is high in the summer as described above, it is abnormal even for 6 hours, which makes it possible to detect the abnormality of the ice storage switch 23 more quickly in the same manner.

On the other hand, when the ambient temperature of the ice making machine I decreases in the winter and the like, the time required for the ice making process also becomes shorter, and when the time becomes 20 minutes or less, the microcomputer 26 proceeds from step S15 to step S17 to set the predetermined period TS for 24 hours. Extend to. In winter, the rate of ice reduction will be low as mentioned above. 2
It is considered that the abnormality has not occurred until about four hours have passed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the useless alarm display from occurring and improve the abnormality detection accuracy of the ice storage switch 23.

Here, in FIG. 5, the time required for the ice making process is set as the ice making operation time, and the predetermined period TS is changed accordingly. However, the time is not limited to this, and the predetermined period TS is made according to the ice making time of the entire cycle including the ice making process. May be changed. In that case, when the ice making time is, for example, 30 minutes, the predetermined period TS is set to a standard 12 hours, and when the ice making time is 40 minutes, 6 hours,
When 25 minutes, it is 24 hours.

In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called reverse cell type ice making machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, a so-called downflow type ice making machine for producing small disk-shaped ice, and an auger for producing chip ice. The present invention is also effective for a type of ice making machine. Further, the various times and temperatures shown in the examples are not limited to those, and may be appropriately set according to the capacity and capacity of the ice making machine I.

[0035]

As described above in detail, according to the invention of claim 1, when the ice storage amount detecting means does not detect that the ice storage amount in the ice storage is lower than the predetermined ice amount for a predetermined period, the control means Since a predetermined alarm operation is executed upon determining that the ice storage amount detecting means is abnormal, the user can easily determine that the ice storage amount detecting means is abnormal, not the malfunction of the ice making device, and prompt action is taken. By applying the above, it becomes possible to prevent a decrease in the ice making capacity of the ice making machine.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to this, the control unit changes the predetermined period for determining the abnormality of the ice storage amount detecting unit according to the temperature of the condenser of the cooling device or the ambient temperature. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the execution of the unnecessary alarm operation while detecting the abnormality, and it is possible to improve the abnormality detection accuracy of the ice storage amount detecting means. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to claim 1, the control means determines the abnormality of the ice storage amount detecting means based on the ice making operation time timed by the time measuring means for measuring the time required for the ice making operation. Since the predetermined period is changed, similarly, it is possible to quickly detect an abnormality, avoid unnecessary use of the alarm operation, and improve the abnormality detection accuracy of the ice storage amount detecting means. .

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an ice making machine.

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

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

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a program of the same microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 I Ice maker 1 Ice maker 4 Cooler 13 Ice storage 18 CT sensor 20 Control device 21 Infrared light emitting element 22 Infrared light receiving element 23 Ice storage switch 26 Microcomputer 32 Display device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Kurosawa, 2-18 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuhiro Takahashi 2-18, Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Within the corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice making device that has a cooler included in a cooling device to produce ice, an ice storage that stores ice produced by the ice making device, and an amount of ice storage in the ice storage is detected. In an ice making machine equipped with an ice storage amount detection means and a control means for controlling an ice making operation in the ice making device, the control means is configured such that the ice storage amount in the ice storage is a predetermined ice based on the output of the ice storage amount detection means. When the amount of ice is reached, the ice making operation in the ice making device is stopped, and when the amount of ice becomes lower than the predetermined ice amount, the ice making operation is restarted, and the amount of ice stored in the ice storage is lower than the predetermined amount of ice. When the ice storage amount detecting means does not detect for a predetermined period, it is determined that the ice storage amount detecting means is abnormal and a predetermined alarm operation is executed. 2. A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the condenser of the cooling device or the ambient temperature of the ice making machine is provided, and the control means changes the predetermined period based on the output of the temperature detecting means. The ice making machine according to claim 1. 3. The control means comprises a clocking means for clocking the time required for the ice making operation, and the predetermined period is changed based on the ice making operation time clocked by the clocking means. Ice machine.