JPH0674626A - Flowing down type ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a size of an entire ice making machine by a method wherein an effective amount of stored water in an ice making water tank is less than one ice making amount and a capacity of an ice making water tank is made low. CONSTITUTION:Every time a water level sensing means detects that a water level of ice making water within an ice making tank 9 becomes an upper water level during an ice making cycle, water is supplied into the ice making water tank 9 through a water supplying valve 31 until the water level sensing means releases the sensing of the upper water level. As a first timer for counting a first predetermined time until a predetermined amount of ice making is accomplished counts the predetermined time, water supplying into the ice making water tank 9 through the water supplying valve 31 is prohibited and then the ice making is carried out only with the ice making water left within the ice making water tank 9. Accordingly, it also becomes possible to decrease a capacity of the ice making water tank 9 to a value less than 50% of an amount of ice making in one ice making cycle, for example. With such an arrangement, it is possible to make an entire small-sized ice making machine and to prevent an ice making efficiency from being decreased.

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, and more particularly to an ice making machine which can provide ice easily and stably throughout commercial and industrial use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been proposed for supplying water to an ice making water tank in an ice making machine as follows.
First, in the example shown in FIG. 8 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-25101), an ice making machine including an ice making chamber 102, an ice storage chamber 103 and a machine room 104 is disclosed. An ice making member 106 having an evaporator 105 is installed in an inclined manner in the ice making chamber 102, and a water storage tank 107 for storing ice making water is provided below the ice making member 106.
And a pump device 109 having a pump driving electric motor 108 are installed in the tank 107 to form a running water circulation type ice making system. In front of the lower edge of the ice making member 106, a plate ice cutting heater device 110 that is located above the ice storage chamber 103 and that receives the deiced plate ice and cuts it into ice blocks of a predetermined size is arranged. Further, in the machine room 104, the electric compressor 11 forming a refrigerant circuit together with the evaporator 105.
1, a condenser 112 and a condenser cooling fan 113 are arranged. Water is supplied to the water storage tank 107 by a water supply valve 115 provided in the middle of the water supply pipeline 106 connected to the water source.

The switching control between the ice making operation and the deicing operation in this ice making machine is performed by a control thermostat which detects the temperature on the outlet side of the evaporator 105. FIG. 9 shows a control circuit of the ice making machine configured as described above. The primary winding 1 is connected between the power supply lines 118 and 119 via the temperature switch 114b of the normally closed water storage amount detection device 114.
20 is connected, and the fuse 122 and the plate ice cutting heater device 110 are connected to the secondary winding 121 side. Further, the electric compressor 111 is connected via the temperature switch 114b, and the parallel circuit of the pump driving electric motor 108 and the fan 113 is connected in parallel to the electric compressor 111 to perform the ice making operation or the electric compressor 111. The hot water valve 123 and the water supply valve 115 are connected in parallel to perform deicing operation, and at the time of the deicing operation, the operation for supplying the ice making water of the next cycle to the water storage tank 107 is switched. The control switch 124 of the thermostat is connected via the temperature switch 114b.

In the normal operation, if the ice storage amount detecting device 114 does not detect the predetermined ice amount in the ice storage chamber 103 after the power is turned on, the temperature switch 114b is closed,
The compensation relay 125 is in an excited state, and its contact is located on the one contact 125a side. As a result, the ice making operation is started, and when the plate ice grows on the ice making plate member 106 with a lapse of time and reaches a predetermined thickness, the control thermostat 124 detects a predetermined low temperature at the outlet of the evaporator 105 and makes ice. The side contact 124a is switched to the deicing side contact 124b, the hot gas valve 123 is opened to start the deicing operation by hot gas, the water supply valve 115 is energized and the water supply pipe line 116 is opened to store ice making water for the next cycle. Water is supplied to the tank 107. When the ice storage chamber reaches a predetermined amount of ice in this way, the ice storage amount detection device 114 operates and the temperature switch 1
When 14b opens, the compensation relay 125 is also demagnetized and its contact is switched to the contact 125b side. When the temperature-sensing thermostat 126 detects a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature such as a low temperature in a cold region, the contact is closed, so that the pump driving motor 108 is driven to form a guarantee circuit. That is, the heat generated by the pump driving motor 108 is controlled by the temperature sensing portion 114a of the ice storage amount detecting device 114.
Conduct it in the vicinity. Therefore, even in a cold region where the outside air temperature may be abnormally low, the ice storage amount detecting device 11
There is nothing that 4 does not return. Therefore, the water supply to the water storage tank of the ice making machine in this ice making machine is configured such that the ice making water necessary for the next one ice making cycle is supplied to the water storage tank during the deicing or deicing cycle.

The ice-making machine shown in FIG. 10 uses a high-pressure refrigerant and defrost brine together in the deicing or deicing process (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-10904). In the figure, reference numeral 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ice plate in which a refrigerant passage and a defrost brine passage are formed. A water sprinkling head 202 is arranged above the freezing plate 201, while a skew plate 203 and a raw material water tank 204 following the oblique plate 203 are arranged below the water sprinkling head 202. A crusher 205 driven by a motor 206 is provided near the inlet of the raw water tank 204 at the lower end of the skew plate 203. Refrigerant liquid from a supply source (not shown) is supplied from the inlet 207 to the liquid solenoid valve strainer 2
08, liquid solenoid valve 209, expansion valve 210
01, and is led out of the refrigerant gas outlet 211
Leading to. An ice making operation pressure adjusting valve 212 and a deicing defrost pressure adjusting valve 213 are connected in parallel on the way. The raw water introduced from the raw water inlet 214 to the raw water tank 204 is pumped by the pump 215.
It is designed to be ejected from 02 toward the ice plate 201. In the defrost brine system, the brine is supplied from the brine tank 216 to the brine pump 217.
It has a pipe line which leads to the freezing plate 201 via the and returns from the freezing plate 201 to the brine tank 216. Reference numeral 21
8 is a brine agitation pump, 219 is a brine heater, and 220 is a brine tank level gauge.
As a normal operation of this ice making machine, while the refrigerant is sent to the ice-making plate 201 to keep the surface of the ice-making plate 201 at a low temperature, the raw water is guided from the raw water tank 204 to the sprinkling head 202 by the pump 215, and jetted by this. Let ice cube 20
Freezing on top of 1. During this freezing operation, the pressure control valve 21
2 is used, the ice control plate 212 is closed at the time of deicing, and the pressure control valve 213 is operated to operate the freezing plate 1.
De-icing is facilitated by raising the internal pressure, raising the temperature of the refrigerant, and operating the defrost / brine system. The ice that has been deiced and has fallen on the skew plate 203 is crushed by the crusher 205 and taken out to a predetermined place. The raw water in the raw water tank 204 is always kept at a constant water level by a ball tap even during freezing or ice making.

The example shown in FIG. 11 (Shokaisho 64-287)
No. 69) is an ice machine in which deicing water and hot gas are used together during deicing to improve the efficiency of deicing. The refrigeration system in this ice maker is a compressor 31
3, condenser 318, condenser cooling fan 317, expansion valve 3
19, an evaporation pipe or a cooling pipe 303b, and a discharge pipe 314, a connection pipe 316, and a suction pipe 312 that sequentially connect these. In the ice making unit 303, the ice making plate 303a sandwiching the cooling pipe 303b and the ice making water sprinkler 3 in the upper portion thereof are provided.
08 and deicing water sprinkler 309
10 are provided. The ice making water sprinkler 308 is connected to the ice making water tank 3 via the circulation pipe 301 and the circulation pump 307.
I have contacted 05. A drainer plate 304 is arranged above the ice making water tank 305 having the overflow pipe 306. On the other hand, the deicing water sprinkler 309 communicates with the deicing water tank 311 via a deicing water pipe 302 having a deicing water pump 329, and the open upper part of the deicing water tank 311 is connected to an unillustrated external water source. The valve 327 faces. A heat exchanger (heating device) 322 is arranged in the deicing water tank 311 and communicates with the discharge pipe 314 through an inlet pipe 323 and an outlet pipe 324 thereof.
An electromagnetic bypass valve 315 is provided between these connection points, and the opening and closing of the bypass valve 315 is performed by the temperature detector 325a,
It is controlled by the detection unit 326a. The discharge pipe 314
The hot gas pipe 321 extending from the pipe part 321a.
Has bypass pipes 321b arranged in parallel with each other, and they are provided with opening / closing valves or hot gas valves 320a and 320b. Of these, the hot gas valve 320b communicates with the deicing water temperature detector 325b and the detector 326b.

During the ice making operation, when it is detected by the deicing water temperature detection unit 326a that the deicing water 311a which is full in the deicing water tank 311 is below a predetermined temperature, it is passed through a control circuit (not shown). The electromagnetic bypass valve 315 is closed so that the high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant in the discharge pipe 314 passes through the heat exchanger 322 to heat the deicing water. After the completion of ice making, when the deicing cycle is entered, the circulation pump 307 and the cooling fan 317 are stopped, the deicing water pump 329 is activated instead, and the hot gas valve 320a is opened. If another deicing water temperature detector 325b detects that the temperature of the deicing water 311a is lower than the set value, the hot gas valve 320b is also opened. In this way, the ice making plate 303a is heated by both the deicing water and the hot gas from the back surface, and the ice 330 separates and falls. The deicing water 311a that has flowed on the back surface of the ice making plate 303a is appropriately cooled and then drained plate 30
Pass through 4 and enter the ice making water tank 305. Therefore, the ice making water in the ice making water tank in this case is a method of storing de-icing water from the ice making water tank in an amount necessary for the next ice making cycle.

Next, FIG. 12 shows an ice making machine to which an abnormal ice making prevention device for detecting the water level of an ice making water tank at the beginning of the ice making cycle and controlling the operation is applied (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-4).
No. 028). This ice maker has a compressor 401 and a condenser 40.
The ice making water in the ice making water tank 409 is supplied by the circulation pump 410 from the first water sprinkling head 407a to the ice making plate 407 having the refrigerant circuit including the expansion means 405 and the evaporator 406. The ice-making water that has flowed down the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate 407 passes through the water collecting trough 408 and then the ice-making water tank 4
A circulation system of ice making water is constituted by refluxing to 09. A deicing water tank 413 is provided below the ice making water tank 409, the ice making water tank 409 and the deicing water tank 413 are interconnected by an overflow pipe 412, and the deicing water tank 4 by the circulation pump 416 is provided.
The deicing water in 13 is supplied from the second sprinkling head 407b to the ice making plate 4
The water is sprinkled inside 07 and returned to the ice making water tank 409 through the water collecting gutter 408. Reference numeral 415 is an overflow pipe that discharges the water in the deicing water tank 413 to the outside when the water exceeds the specified upper limit water level, and 417 is a ball tap that supplies water when the water in the deicing water tank is below the specified water level,
Reference numeral 402 denotes a circulation pump 414 that is driven by the operation of the temperature detection element 418 when the deicing water temperature drops below a predetermined temperature.
The deicing water heat exchange tank heats the deicing water by exchanging heat with the high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. In particular, reference numeral S2 in the ice making water tank 409 is a liquid level detection device, and according to the detection result of this liquid level detection device,
Prevents double ice making. Therefore, also in this ice making machine, the ice making water in the ice making water tank has a structure in which the deicing water is stored in the ice making water tank in an amount necessary for the next ice making cycle, and the excess deicing water is returned to the deicing tank by the overflow pipe 412. ing.

The example shown in FIG. 13 (Actual Publication No. Sho 59-38689)
No.) discloses control of drainage of residual ice making water after completion of ice making in an ice making machine. Water is supplied to the ice making water tank 504 here by the deicing water circulating pump 508 after the deicing process before the ice making process or after the power switch is turned on. It is continuously supplied to the back surface of the ice making plate 502 through the portion 509, and is further guided to the ice making water tank 504 through a guide gutter. However, when the ice making water supplied to the ice making water tank 504 exceeds a predetermined water level, the ice making water is returned to the deicing water tank 506 via an overflow pipe 507 connecting the ice making water tank 504 and the deicing water tank 506. When a predetermined time has passed after the start of the deicing process, the deicing water circulation pump 508 is stopped, and the ice making water in the ice making water tank 504 is continuously supplied to the ice making plate through the ice making water delivery pipe and the ice making water sprinkling unit 503. Therefore, the ice making water circulation pump is operated and the compressor or the like in the refrigeration system (not shown) is started to start the ice making process. Therefore, ice-making water stores de-iced water in the ice-making water tank in an amount necessary for the next ice-making cycle,
The surplus deicing water is returned to the deicing water tank 506 via the overflow pipe 507.

[0010]

As described above, the ice-making water in the conventional ice-making machine, except for the example shown in FIG. 10, contains all the ice-making water necessary for one ice-making cycle during the deicing cycle. It is a method of storing water all at once. Therefore,
The ice-making water tank has a large volume even in an ice-making machine that uses hot gas for de-icing like the models shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and also in an ice-making machine that has particularly large ice-making capacity and uses de-icing water as ice-making water. In a model that also uses the deicing water tank, the outer size of the ice maker becomes particularly large when considering the positional relationship between the ice making plate and the deicing water tank. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 10, the raw material water in the raw material water tank (ice making water tank) 204 is supplied by the ball tap even during freezing or during ice making, and the constant water level is always maintained in the tank 204. In this method, particularly when the outside temperature is high, high-temperature water may be supplied to the raw material water tank or the ice making tank 204. Therefore, as the ice grows on the ice making plate in the latter half of the ice making cycle, the heat conduction from the ice making plate to the surface of the ice making water flows down, and the temperature of the ice making water flowing down the surface of the ice becomes high. In this case, it becomes more difficult for ice to form, which causes a decrease in ice making efficiency.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in particular, the volume of ice-making water tank is made equal to or less than the amount of ice-making water for one ice-making cycle, and the size of the entire ice-making machine is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a downflow type ice making machine capable of effectively controlling opening / closing of a water supply valve to prevent a decrease in ice making efficiency.

[0012]

A downflow type ice making machine according to the present invention comprises an ice making section having a refrigerating evaporator including a compressor,
An ice making water tank for storing ice making water, an ice making water pump for supplying the ice making water of the ice making water tank to the ice making section, a water level defining means for defining an upper limit water level in the ice making water tank, and an upper limit of the ice making water tank In the ice making cycle, a water level detecting means capable of detecting various water levels below the water level, a water supply valve capable of supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank, and a timer means which operates when a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the ice making cycle are provided. The water level detecting means and the water level detecting means and the water level detecting means for causing the ice making water tank to perform predetermined water supply each time the water level detecting means detects an upper water level below the upper limit water level of the ice making water tank. The water supply valves are electrically connected to each other, and the timer means electrically connects the water supply valves so that the water supply to the ice making water tank can be prohibited when a first predetermined time has elapsed. It includes a first timer which is continued, the first after a predetermined time has elapsed is configured to perform ice only remaining ice-making water to the ice making water tank.

The ice making machine further comprises drainage means capable of draining the ice making water tank, and the timer means is provided by the ice making water pump when the second predetermined time after the first predetermined time has elapsed. The drainage means is electrically connected to the ice making water pump so as to stop the ice making water supply from the ice making water tank to the ice making part, and the draining means electrically discharges the ice making water tank. Including a second timer connected to, the water level detection means can detect a lower limit water level below the upper water level in the ice making water tank, and reach the lower limit water level by the water level detection means, Configure to complete the ice making cycle.

When the ice making machine further comprises drainage means capable of draining the ice making water tank, the water level detecting means detects a lower water level and a lower water level below the upper water level in the ice making water tank. In such a way that the water level detection means detects the lower water level thereof and the ice making water supply from the ice making water tank to the ice making part is stopped by the ice making water pump, and the draining means is activated, When the water level detecting means detects the lower limit water level, the drainage means is deactivated and the ice making cycle is ended.

[0015]

In the flow-down type ice making machine according to the present invention, the water level detecting means detects that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank reaches the upper level during the ice making cycle. Water is supplied to the inside of the ice making water tank through the water supply valve until the detection of the water level is released, and the first timer that counts the first predetermined time until the predetermined amount of ice making is achieved is When the predetermined time is counted, water supply to the ice making water tank by the water supply valve is prohibited, and ice making is performed only with the ice making water in the ice making water tank. As a result, the capacity of the ice making water tank can be reduced to, for example, 50% of the ice making amount of one ice making cycle.
It is also possible to:

Further, when the second timer for counting the second predetermined time after the first predetermined time, which indicates that the ice making is completed, measures the predetermined time, the ice making water to the ice making section by the ice making pump. When the supply is stopped, the drainage means is activated to drain the ice-making water tank. When the water level detecting means detects that the ice making water in the ice making water tank reaches the lower limit water level together with the drainage, the ice making cycle is ended and the deicing cycle is started. Instead of the second timer, the same operation can be obtained by controlling the water level detecting means by detecting that the ice making water in the ice making water tank is below a predetermined lower water level.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a downflow type ice making machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram including a partial cross section of an ice making machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This ice maker has a refrigerant circuit including a compressor 1, a condenser 3, an expansion means 5 and an evaporator 6, and an ice making plate 7 equipped with the evaporator 6 includes an ice making water sprinkling pipe 7a to an ice making water tank 9 therein. The ice making water is supplied by a circulation pump (ice making water pump) 10. The ice making water that has flowed down the ice making surface of the ice making plate 7 is returned to the ice making water tank 9 through the water collecting gutter 8 to form a circulation system of the ice making water. On the other hand, a deicing water tank 13 is provided below the ice making water tank 9, is connected to the ice making water tank 9 by an overflow pipe 12, and is circulated by a circulation pump (deicing water pump) 16 in the deicing water tank 13. Is sprayed from the deicing water sprinkling pipe 7b to the inside of the ice making plate 7 and returns to the ice making water tank 9 through the water collecting trough 8. on the other hand,
An overflow pipe 15 is also provided in the deicing water tank 13 to drain excess water to the outside.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 is a water supply valve which is controlled to supply ice making water when the water level of the ice making water tank 9 becomes lower than the upper water level FL _U. Further, reference numeral 32 is a drainage pump of the ice making water tank 9, reference numeral 33 is a drainage solenoid valve, and these provide the drainage means of the present invention for draining the ice making residual water in the ice making water tank 9. . Reference numeral 17 is a ball tap for supplying water when the water in the deicing water tank 13 is below a prescribed water level, and reference numeral 2 is a circulating pump 14 driven by the operation of a temperature detector 18 when the deicing water falls below a predetermined temperature. This is a deicing water heat exchange tank that receives supply of heat and heats it by exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant. Further, reference numeral 11 is a filter member for filtering water flowing down from the ice making plate 7, reference numeral 20 is a heater for directly heating the deicing water relating to the deicing water tank 13, and reference numeral 21 is a deicing water tank. It is a water level detector in 13. Further, reference numeral 30 is a water level detector for the ice making water tank 9, and the support member 30
a, a lever member 30b, and a float 30c. Since the water level detector 30 moves up and down according to the water level in the ice making water tank 9, the lever member 30b thereof defines the upper water level FL _U and the lower water level FL _L , and the upper water level switch FS _U and the lower water level switch FS. _By engaging with _L , each water level is detected.

The control circuit of the ice making machine configured as described above is as shown in FIG. 2, which will be described in detail below. It is assumed that the deicing water tank 13 has been previously supplied with water by the ball tap 17. When the power source S ₁ is turned on, the relay X ₂ is excited through the closed relay contacts X ₆₂ and X ₃₂ to close the contacts X ₂₁ and X ₂₃ to form a self-holding circuit and the timer contact tm _32. The electromagnetic switch MS ₃ is excited via the motor and the deicing water pump 16 is driven. The deicing water is sprinkled on the back surface of the ice making plate 7 from the water sprinkling pipe 7b, fills the ice making water tank 9 through the water collecting trough 8, and the excess ice making water is returned to the deicing water tank 13 from the overflow pipe 12 to start the deicing cycle. To be done. On the other hand, the timer TM ₃ which starts timing at the same time as the start of the deicing cycle is activated after a set time (for example, 2 to 3 minutes), the contact tm ₃₂ is opened, the electromagnetic switch MS ₃ is demagnetized, and the deicing water pump 16 operates. Stop and contact tm
₃₁ is closed and relay X ₃ is excited via contact X ₄₁ .

Since the relay X ₁ is not energized during the deicing cycle at the start of the operation, the compressor 1, the ice breaking motor 22, the hot gas valve (HV) 23, etc. are stopped or closed. . In addition, there is no ice in the ice storage and the ice storage detector S
2 is closed, and if the ice making switch S ₃ is closed, relay X ₄
Is in the excited state. During the deicing cycle, the ice making water tank 9 is supplied with water up to the upper limit water level at the upper edge of the overflow pipe 12, and the upper water level switch FS of the water level detector 30 is supplied.
_{Both U} and the lower limit water level switch FS _L are closed, and the relays X ₅ and X ₆ are excited so that the ice making cycle standby state is secured. When the relay X ₃ is excited, the contact X ₃₂ is opened and the relay X ₂ is demagnetized, and the contact X ₂₃ is opened and the deicing cycle ends.

On the other hand, by closing the contacts X ₂₂ , X ₂₄ , the relay X ₁ is excited via the contacts X ₅₁ , X ₀₂ and the pressure switch PS, and the contacts X ₁₁ , X ₁₃ , X ₁₅ are closed. do it,
An ice making cycle is started in which the electromagnetic switch MS ₁ is excited and the compressor 1 is driven while forming a self-holding circuit. At this time, the electromagnetic switch MS ₂ , the refrigerant solenoid valve GV, and the timers TM ₀ and T as timer means are connected via the contact X _22.
M ₁ and TM ₂ are excited, the ice making water pump 10 is driven, the electromagnetic valve GV is opened, and the ice making water supplied from the water sprinkling pipe 7 a is the surface of the ice making plate 7 cooled by the refrigerant and the ice making water tank 9. The ice gradually grows on the surface of the ice making plate 7 while circulating between the ice and the ice. As shown in FIG. 3, the process in which ice grows on the surface of the ice making plate 7 is the cooling process (or cooling time) of the ice making water at the beginning of the ice making cycle. This cooling time of ice making water depends on the amount of ice making water (the ice making water tank 9 at the start of ice making).
Therefore, if the amount of ice making water in the ice making water tank 9 in this embodiment is less than or equal to half the amount of ice making made in one ice making cycle, the freezing start time at the ice making plate 7 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in time a (about 2-3 from the start of the ice making cycle)
Minutes), which is shorter than the conventional freezing start time.

In the first embodiment, ice on the surface of the ice making plate 7 is about 1/5 to 1/4 of the ice thickness in the ice making amount obtained in one ice making cycle (depending on the volume of the ice making water tank 9). in the upper water level FL _U of the ice tank 9 when the frozen state (corresponding to time b in FIG. 3), the upper level switch FS _U of the water level detector 30 is set to open. Since the relay X ₅ is demagnetized by opening the upper water level switch FS _U , the contact X ₅₄ is closed and the water supply valve (WV) 31 is opened through the contact tm ₂₂ to turn the ice making water into the upper water level switch. F
So that substantially constant water level is ensured by supplying water to the ice making water tank 9 to the S _u is closed. Therefore, ice making water tank 9
Each time the upper water level switch FS _U is opened in accordance with the consumption of ice-making water, the water is supplied to the ice-making water tank 9 via the water supply valve 31.

The water flow rate of the water supply valve 3 is preferably slightly larger than the water quantity consumed (freezing) at the maximum ice making capacity (at low temperature). In addition, ON / OFF of the upper water level switch FS _u
It is preferable that the water level difference is 1/10 or more of the amount of ice made at one time. As the ice making operation continues, ice grows on the surface of the ice making plate 7, the amount of freezing increases, and the ice becomes thicker, the heat conduction from the ice making plate 7 decreases, and the ice forming ability of the ice surface decreases, so that Ice thickness tc
(For example, from 1/2 of the ice thickness in one ice making cycle
It is about 3/5 and depends on the amount of water stored in the ice making water tank 9) Time tm2 (1/2 of one ice making time tm1)
TM _{2 which} is set to 3/5) operates and contacts tm ₂₂
Is opened, the circuit to the water supply valve (WV) 31 is cut off, and subsequent opening of the water supply valve 31 is prohibited. After that, the ice making operation is continued by circulating only the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 9.

The set time tm1 of the timer TM ₁ (about 27-
After 30 minutes), the timer TM ₁ operates and the contact point tm
₁₂ is opened to demagnetize the electromagnetic switch MS ₂ to stop the ice making water pump 10 (the operation can be continued for the purpose of protecting the pump), and the contact tm ₁₁ is closed to cause the drainage pump 32 and the drainage solenoid valve 33. To excite and drain the residual ice making water. When the water level in the ice making water tank 9 is lowered and the lower limit water level switch FS _L is activated, the relay X ₆ is demagnetized and the contact X ₆₁ is opened, the drainage pump 32 and the solenoid valve 33 are demagnetized, and the drainage process is completed. X ₆₂ closes and relay X ₂ via contact X ₃₂
There is excited, and open the contacts X _{2 2,} and terminates the ice making cycle and closes the refrigerant solenoid valve GV. On the other hand, the contacts X ₂₁ , X
By closing ₂₃ , a self-preserving circuit is formed, and at the same time, the timer TM ₃ , the electromagnetic switches MS ₃ , MS ₄ and the hot gas valve (HV) are excited to start the deicing cycle.

As described above, in this embodiment, the effective storage amount of the ice making water tank is, for example, 50% or less of the amount of ice making at one time, and the capacity of the ice making water tank is made small, so that the size of the entire ice making machine is made small. Therefore, the cost of the product, packaging, and transportation can be reduced. Further, in the ice making method of sprinkling ice making water on the surface of the ice making plate, returning the flown ice making water to the ice making water tank and growing ice on the surface of the ice making plate while circulating the ice making water, only pure water is frozen and About 9 of various substances (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.) contained in
At around 0%, freezing does not occur and the concentration of various substances in the residual ice making water becomes high, which causes clogging of water passages including sprinkling pipes, a decrease in ice making capacity, and problems such as cloudy ice. In this embodiment, since the drainage means including the drainage pump 32 and the drainage solenoid valve 33 is used to drain the ice-making residual water having a high concentration of various substances from the ice-making water tank in each ice-making cycle, in the next step. Do not carry over the residual ice-making water as ice-making water in the ice-making cycle. The purpose of installing the timer TM ₀ is to cope with the abnormal water level drop in the ice making water tank 9 immediately after the start of the ice making cycle. That is, the water level of the ice making water tank 9 is lowered to the upper water level FL _U before the operation of the timer TM ₀ which sets the time before and after the ice making cycle is started and before the ice formation on the surface of the ice making plate 7 is started. In this case, since the upper water level switch FS _U operates, the relay X ₅ is demagnetized,
The contact X ₅₂ is closed, the relay X ₀ is excited via the contact tm ₀ , and the contact X ₀₁ forms a self-holding circuit, and the contact X
₀₂ opens and demagnetizes the relay X ₁ , and the ice making operation is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to detect a defect in the ice making water circuit (for example, generation of abnormal ice) and prevent damage to the ice making mechanism. Incidentally, in the control circuit of FIG. 2, Th ₁ is a contact point for closed when deicing water temperature is electrically connected to the deicing water temperature detector 18 is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, the code FS ₃ above except A contact point that is electrically connected to a water level detector 21 that detects the water level in the ice water tank 13 and that is closed when the deicing water tank 13 is at a predetermined water level, and the reference numeral PM ₃ is the circulation pump 14.
Reference numeral H is the deicing water heater 20. Therefore, when the deicing water tank 13 is above the predetermined water level and the deicing water temperature is below the predetermined temperature, the relays X ₈ and X ₇ are excited respectively, and the contacts X ₈₃ and X ₇₃ are closed to remove the deicing water. The heater 20 is driven. During the ice making cycle, the contacts X ₈₁ and X ₇₁ are also closed to drive the circulation pump 14 (PM ₄ ) to heat the deicing water also by the heat exchange tank 2.

Next, a downflow type ice making machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a downflow type ice making machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a control circuit thereof. The difference of the second embodiment from the configuration of the first embodiment is that in FIG. 4, the water level detector 30 includes the upper water level switch FS _U and the lower water level switch FS _L.
In addition to the above, there is a lower water level switch FS _M below the upper water level but above the lower water level. Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in the control circuit of FIG. 5, the timer TM ₁ of the timer means in the first embodiment for controlling the stop of the ice making water pump and the excitation of the drainage means is It is replaced by this lower water level switch FS _M and relay X ₉ . The control of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. From the turning on of the power source S _{1 to} the prohibition of the opening of the water supply valve (WV) 31 and the subsequent ice making operation by circulating the ice making water only in the ice making water tank 9, the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. They are almost the same. However, during the deicing cycle, the upper water level switch FS _U , the lower water level switch FS _M , and the lower water level switch FS _L are closed when the water is supplied to the upper limit water level at the upper edge of the overflow pipe 12 in the ice making water tank 9. Be present.

In the control operation of the second embodiment, the water level in the ice making water tank 9 is lowered to the lower water level FL _{M as the} ice making operation is continued by circulating only the ice making water in the ice making water tank 9. As a result, the lower water level switch FS
_M operates (opens) to demagnetize relay X ₉ , contacts X ₉₁ open to stop ice making water pump 10 (however, operation can be continued for the purpose of pump protection), and contact X
_{When 92} is closed, the drainage pump 32 and the drainage solenoid valve 33 are excited to drain the residual ice-making water. After that, when the water level of the ice making water tank 9 drops to the lower limit water level FL _L , the lower limit water level switch FS _L operates (opens) and the relay X ₆ is demagnetized and the contact point X _61.
Is opened, the drainage pump 32 and the solenoid valve 33 are demagnetized to end the drainage process, and the contact X ₆₂ is closed to contact X.
Relay X ₂ is excited via ₃₂ and contact X ₂₂ is opened,
The refrigerant solenoid valve GV is closed to end the ice making cycle.

On the other hand, by closing the contacts X ₂₁ and X ₂₃ , a self-holding circuit is formed and a timer TM ₃ , an electromagnetic switch MS ₃ (de-icing water pump), MS ₄ (ice breaking motor).
And, the hot gas valve HV is excited to start the deicing cycle. It should be noted that FIGS. 4 and 5 are shown in FIGS.
Drain pump 32 and solenoid valve 3 in the embodiment shown in FIG.
Instead of 3, solenoid valves 34a, 34b are provided in the ice making water circulation circuit.
Is provided. In this case, when the water level in the ice-making water tank 9 is lowered, the lower water level switch FS _M is operated (opened), the relay X ₉ is demagnetized, the contact X ₉₃ is opened, the electromagnetic valve 34a is closed, and the contact X ₉₄ is opened. The circuit is closed to open the drainage solenoid valve 34b. Therefore, according to this method, even if the ice-making residual water is drained by the ice-making water pump 10, the same effect as that of the configuration of FIGS. 4 and 5 can be obtained. Similar to the first embodiment, also in the case of the second embodiment, the effective water storage amount of the ice making water tank is set to, for example, 50% or less of the ice making water amount of one time, and the capacity of the ice making water tank is made small. The size of the entire ice making machine can be reduced. In addition, since the ice-making residual water having a high concentration of various substances is discharged from the ice-making water tank for each ice-making cycle, the ice-making residual water is not carried over to the ice-making cycle in the next step as ice-making water. Further, since the ice making water pump is not idled, damage to the ice making water pump can be prevented.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the upper water level located below the upper limit water level (upper part of the overflow pipe) of the ice making water tank is detected, and the ice making water to the ice making water tank is detected. It controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve that supplies the water, prohibits water supply to the ice making water tank after a predetermined set time, and thereafter continues the ice making operation by circulating only the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank. If the lower limit water level is detected while the ice making water pump is stopped by draining the ice making residual water by operating the timer that counts the predetermined time indicating the completion of ice making or by detecting the lower water level in the ice making water tank Control is performed so that the ice making cycle is completed and the deicing process is started. Therefore, even if the capacity of the ice making water tank is drastically reduced, the ice making capacity is deteriorated by the ice making water heated by the water supply to the ice making water tank at the initial stage of freezing and the latter half of the ice making cycle due to the melting of ice or a decrease in heat conduction. It can be prevented. Further, in particular, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the end of the ice making cycle is controlled by the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank, so that the amount of ice making (thickness of ice) once per season is constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent variations in ice thickness and defective deicing due to forgetting to adjust the ice making completion timer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a downflow type ice making machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit of the downflow type ice making machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a comparative characteristic diagram of the ice making time versus the ice making amount when the ice making control according to the present invention is followed and the ice making time versus the ice making amount when the conventional ice making method is followed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a downflow type ice making machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a control circuit of the downflow type ice making machine shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram when a part of the downflow type ice making machine according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is changed.

FIG. 7 is a control circuit of the downflow type ice making machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first conventional ice making machine.

9 is a control circuit of the ice maker shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second conventional ice making machine.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a third conventional ice making machine.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth conventional ice making machine.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fifth conventional ice making machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Compressor, 2 ... Heat exchange tank, 3 ... Condenser, 5 ...
Expansion means, 6 ... evaporator, 7 ... ice making plate, 8 ... water collecting gutter,
9 ... Ice making water tank, 10 ... Ice making pump, 12 ... Overflow pipe (water level regulating means), 13 ... De-icing water tank, 14 ... Circulation pump, 16 ... De-icing water pump, 17 ...
・ Ball tap, 18 ... Water temperature detector, 20 ... Heater,
21 ... Water level detector (de-icing water), 23 ... Hot gas valve,
30 ... Water level detector (ice making water), 31 ... Water supply valve, 32 ...
・ Drainage pump, 33 ... Drainage valve, 34a ... Solenoid valve, 34
b ... Solenoid valve, TM ₀ , TM ₁ , TM ₂ , TM ₃ ... Timer.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice making section having a refrigerating evaporator including a compressor, an ice making water tank for storing ice making water, an ice making water pump for supplying the ice making water of the ice making water tank to the ice making section, and the ice making section. Water level regulation means for regulating the upper water level in the water tank, water level detection means capable of detecting various water levels below the upper water level of the ice making water tank, a water supply valve capable of supplying ice making water to the ice making water tank, and ice making And a timer means that operates when a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the cycle, and in the ice making cycle, the water level detecting means transfers to the ice making water tank each time the water level detecting means detects an upper water level below the upper limit water level of the ice making water tank. The water level detection means and the water supply valve are electrically connected to each other so that predetermined water supply is performed via the water supply valve, and the timer means is configured to operate when the first predetermined time has elapsed. A first timer electrically connected to the water supply valve to prohibit water supply to the ice water tank is included, and after the first predetermined time has elapsed, ice making is performed only with the ice making water remaining in the ice making water tank. A downflow type ice making machine characterized by being configured so that it can be operated. 2. The ice making water by the ice making water pump is further provided with drainage means capable of draining the ice making water tank, and the timer means when the second predetermined time after the first predetermined time has elapsed. It is electrically connected to the ice making water pump so as to stop the supply of ice making water from the tank to the ice making unit, and is electrically connected to the draining means so that the draining means drains the ice making water tank. The second water level detecting means, the water level detecting means can detect a lower limit water level below the upper water level in the ice making water tank. The flow down type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the flow down type ice making machine is configured to be terminated. 3. A drainage means for draining the ice making water tank is further provided, and the water level detecting means is capable of detecting a lower water level and a lower water level below the upper water level in the ice making water tank, Upon detecting the lower water level of the water level detection means, the ice making water supply from the ice making water tank to the ice making part is stopped by the ice making water pump, and the drainage means is activated, and the lower limit water level of the water level detection means is detected. The flow-down type ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the drainage means is deactivated upon detection and the ice making cycle is ended.