JPH09210523A - Protecting apparatus for auger type icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protecting apparatus for an auger type icemaker having high operation reliability without stopping an icemaking mechanism due to a temporary malfunction. SOLUTION: The auger type icemaker cools icemaking water in a refrigerating casing 10a by a refrigerant from a compressor CM to generate ice, scrapes out the ice by an auger driven by a geared motor GM and discharges it from an ice discharge passage above the casing. A spouting switch 20 detects the full charge of the ice in the passage to operate. A controller is electrically connected to the switch, compressor and motor. The controller has a timer mechanism for counting the operating time of the switch and a comparing function for comparing the operating time counted with a set time. The controller holds the compressor and motor in a conducting state when the operating time is shorter than the set time and hold them in a non-conducting state when it is longer than the set time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for cooling ice-making water in a freezing casing with a refrigerant from a compressor to generate ice on the inner peripheral surface of the freezing casing and driving the ice with a driving device. The present invention relates to an auger-type ice making machine that scrapes off with an auger and discharges from an ice discharge passage arranged above a freezing casing via a pressure head or not, and particularly detects an ice clogging in the ice discharge passage. The present invention relates to a protection device for protecting an auger type ice making machine from damage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Unlike a continuous automatic ice making machine such as an auger type ice making machine, unlike the intermittent type ice making machine, the ice making operation is continuously carried out, the produced ice is continuously sent out, and an ice discharging passage is formed. It is released from the chute into the ice storage via the chute. An ice storage device is generally provided at a predetermined level inside the chute, and when the released ice reaches this predetermined level, the ice storage detection device operates and determines that the ice is full. , The operation of the auger type ice maker is stopped. However, if there is a failure in the ice storage detection device itself, or if there is a problem in its electric circuit,
There is a possibility that the operation of the auger type ice maker will not be stopped even when the ice is full. In that case, the ice not only fills the ice storage, but also fills the ice discharge passage, and if the ice making is further continued in such a situation, the auger type ice making machine is damaged.

Therefore, various techniques for protecting the auger type ice making machine from such damage have been proposed.
For example, in the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 64-5724,
When the load of the auger increases due to ice clogging in the ice discharge passage or overfreezing in the freezing casing as described above, the rotation speed of the auger decreases, so pulses are generated in response to the rotation of the auger. When the decrease in the rotational speed of a predetermined value or more is detected by measuring the time interval of the pulse generation, the operation of the auger type ice making machine is stopped to protect it. In addition, an ice guide body with an inclined surface that guides the ice to the ice discharge passage side on the lower side is provided in the extension of the freezing casing of the ice making mechanism so that it can move up and down, and the spring protects the guide body by pressing it downward. There is also a device (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-25109). According to this protection device, when the internal pressure of the ice discharge passage rises, the ice guide body moves upward to operate the microswitch to stop the ice making operation.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the former Jitsuko Sho6
Since the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-5724 is a method of detecting a speed change based on a time interval between pulses generated by rotation of the auger, when a temporary speed fluctuation occurs in the auger. However, it was easy to judge that it was abnormal and lacked reliability in operation. Further, the latter one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-25109 discloses a method of detecting that the ice discharge passage is filled with ice and the internal pressure thereof is higher than the pressing force of the spring. Great force is applied to the passages and detectors and other related parts, not only requiring additional mechanical strength, but also causing trouble and contributing to an increase in manufacturing costs. Was there. Moreover, even when normal ice making operation is performed, under conditions such as low ambient temperature and low ice making water temperature,
In some cases, the ice-making mechanism may exert excessive ice-making ability, and in some cases, the freezing casing may be temporarily clogged with ice. There is a problem similar to that described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S64-5724 that the ice making operation is stopped by moving to the position. Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a protection device for an auger type ice making machine, which does not stop the ice making mechanism part due to a temporary abnormality and has high operation reliability.

[0005]

To achieve this object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a protection device cools ice-making water in a refrigerating casing by a refrigerant from a compressor to cool the refrigerating casing. In the auger type ice making machine, which produces ice on the inner peripheral surface, scrapes the ice with an auger driven by a driving device, and releases it from an ice releasing passage arranged above the freezing casing, And an ice storage detecting device which is installed in the ice discharging passage and operates by detecting that the ice discharging passage is filled with ice, and electrically connected to the ice storage detecting device and electrically connected to the compressor and the drive device. And a control means for comparing the timed operation time of the ice storage detection device with a set time. The comparison means is the product Time is adapted to hold the compressor and the driving device in a conductive state when shorter than the set time. Then, the comparing means holds the compressor and the drive device in a non-conductive state when the operating time is longer than the set time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the protection device cools the ice making water in the freezing casing with the refrigerant from the compressor to generate ice on the inner peripheral surface of the freezing casing, In an auger type ice maker that scrapes ice with an auger driven by a driving device and discharges it through a chute from an ice discharge passage arranged above the freezing casing, the ice discharge machine is provided in the vicinity of the discharge opening of the ice discharge passage. A first ice storage detecting device for detecting that the upper part of the chute is filled with ice, and a second ice storage detecting device provided in the ice discharging passage for operating to detect that the ice discharging passage is filled with ice. And a control device electrically connected to the first and second ice storage detection devices and electrically connected to the compressor and the drive device, the control device including the second ice storage device. Operating time of detector Included is a clocking means for timing and a comparing means for comparing the clocked operating time with a set time, wherein the comparing means includes the compressor and the drive unit when the operating time is shorter than the set time. Is held in a conductive state.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention, that is, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. In the following description, the present invention is described as applied to the protective device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-32977, but the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the entire structure of an auger type ice making machine incorporating a protection device according to the present invention in a partial cross section. In the auger type ice making machine shown in this figure, an ice making mechanism portion 1 provided near an ice storage (not shown)
0 has a freezing casing 10a as is well known, and the freezing casing 10 is driven by a geared motor (driving device) GM.
The ice scraped off by the auger (not shown) rotated in a passes through the pressing head to become ice particles, and the frozen casing 10
Through the ice discharge passage 11 that extends laterally from the upper end of a,
It is fed to the chute 14 and falls from there into the above-mentioned ice storage. A heat insulating cover 17 is provided around the chute 14 except for the upper and lower ends of the chute 14.
It is fixed by.

An ice storage detecting device (first ice storage detecting device) 15 is provided at an upper portion in the chute 14 and when the amount of ice in the ice storage increases and the above-mentioned portion is stored, the ice storage is performed. The detection plate 15c of the detection device 15 is pushed and rocked by the ice particles from the ice discharge passage 11, and the detection switch 15d is operated to stop the operation of the ice making mechanism unit 10. Further, when the ice storage detecting device 15 does not operate for some reason, the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice particles, as described at the beginning of this specification.
Eventually, there is a possibility that the ice-making mechanism 10 will be damaged, so a spout switch that detects that the ice discharge passage 11 is filled with ice particles is provided at a position outside the upper portion of the freezing casing 10a. An ice storage detection device) 20 is provided.

The ice storage detecting device 15 includes the detecting plate 15c described above.
Further, in addition to the detection switch 15d, it has a support plate 15a and a bracket 15b. A bracket 15b is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 15a, and the detection plate 15c is pivotally supported by this bracket. Further, the above-mentioned detection switch 15d is provided above the support plate 15a so as to be operated by swinging of the detection plate 15c. Both sides of the detection plate 15c are bent in an L shape toward the ice discharge passage 11 side, and the ice fed to the chute 14 from the ice discharge passage 11 does not go around to the back side of the detection plate 15c. On both sides of the inner surface of the chute 14, a pair of baffle plates 16 extending toward the bent side of the detection plate 15c is provided at the connection portion with the ice discharge passage 11.

Ice storage detecting device 15 and spout switch 2
0 may have a structure as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-32977 mentioned above. Spout switch 20
The detailed structure of is shown in FIGS. The outline of the spout switch 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
An opening 12 is formed in the ice discharge passage 11 at a position above the position just above the freezing casing 10a, and the spout switch 20 is detachable so as to cover the opening 12 with a certain distance. And a cover plate 25 attached to the ice discharge passage 11, and the opening 12 is movably vertically movable under the cover plate and at least a part of the outer bottom surface is in the lowered position.
An actuator 21 supported by the ice discharge passage 11 so as to slightly project inward of the ice, and a switch unit 30 provided between the actuator 21 and the cover plate 25 and operated by the movement of the actuator toward the cover plate. Become the main.

In the lowered position of the actuator 21, bent flanges 21a formed outward on most of both side edges of the actuator 21 are in contact with the upper surface of the ice discharge passage 11. Four actuating protrusions 22 for actuating the switch unit 30 are provided in the middle of the upper surface of the actuator 21, as will be described later.
And two positioning protrusions 23 and 24 for holding the switch unit 30 at both ends of the upper surface.
Are formed.

A pair of strip-shaped projections 13, 13 are integrally formed on the upper surface of the ice discharge passage 11 in parallel with both side edges of the opening 12.
Both side portions of each strip-shaped projection 13 are formed into boss portions 13a which are bent inward toward each other to form screw holes. The above-mentioned cover plate 2 in which a downward flange is formed on the entire circumference
5 is placed on the strip-shaped projections 13 and 13 and is detachably attached by a mounting screw 26 that is screwed into the screw hole of each boss portion 13a. The switch unit 30 includes an elastic cover 31 formed by extruding a flexible elastic body such as rubber into a flat tubular shape and cutting the molded product into a predetermined length. Although not shown, a pair of electrode plates that communicate with the lead wires 35 are provided inside the elastic cover 31, and when the operating projection 22 hits the elastic cover 31 by the pressure of ice and pushes it, the electrode plate becomes conductive. Then, it is determined that the ice discharge passage 11 is in the full ice state. Also for this switch unit 30,
The details are described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-32977 mentioned above.

Returning to FIG. 1, the ice storage detecting device 15 described above.
And the spout switch 20 is connected to the controller 50 according to the invention. The control device 50 is connected to the geared motor GM and the compressor CM, and when the operating time of the spout switch 20 indicating that the ice discharge passage 11 is full of ice is shorter than a set time, as will be described later. The compressor and the geared motor are held in a conductive state, and when the operating time is longer than the set time, the compressor and the geared motor are held in a non-conductive state. Next, the control circuit of the above-described control device 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 4, but before that, although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG.
The outline of the ice making operation procedure of the auger type ice making machine will be described in order to facilitate understanding of various devices or elements included in the control circuit of FIG. Please refer to FIG. 4 for devices or elements denoted by reference numerals not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

That is, the auger type ice maker has an ice making water tank which is in fluid communication with the inside of the freezing casing 10a, and when the ice making switch 42 is turned on, the compressor CM and the geared motor GM which is a drive device of the auger are driven. As a result, ice is continuously generated in the frozen casing 10a. The generated ice passes through the ice discharge passage 11 having the spout switch 20 and drops from the chute 14 having the ice storage detecting device 15 into the ice storage. As a result, when the ice making water in the freezing casing 10a is consumed and the water level is lowered, the ice making water is supplied from the ice making water tank into the freezing casing 10a by that much. A water level detecting device such as a float type switch FS is provided in the ice making water tank to detect the upper limit water level and the lower limit water level of the ice making water. When the lower limit water level is detected, the water supply valve WV ₁ opens. The ice making water is supplied into the ice making water tank, and the water supply valve WV ₁ is closed when the upper limit water level is reached. The auger type ice maker continuously produces ice while repeating such a water supply cycle.

In such an auger type ice making machine, when the power switch 41 is turned on and the ice making switch 42 is turned on (contact S ₁₁ is closed), the relay X ₅ is excited via the normally closed contact X ₁₂ which is closed, The contact point X ₅₁ is closed.
On the other hand, the contact TM ₁₁ of the cleaning timer 43 and the relay contact X ₃₁
The water supply valve 44 (WV ₁ ) is excited and opened via the, and ice making water is supplied into the ice making water tank. Water is continuously increased water level in the tank, it is excited when it reaches the upper water level limit water level detection switch FS2 of the float switch FS is a relay X ₃ is closed and the water supply normally closed contact X ₃₁ is then opened The valve 44 is demagnetized (closed) and the normally open contacts X ₃₂ , X ₃₃
Closes. By closing the contact X _33, the terminals cd of the timer board 47, which may be a microcomputer having a timekeeping function and a comparing function, are closed, and the electronic timer (timekeeping / comparing means) built in the timer board is activated. Starting, the relays X ₁ and X ₂ are excited in this order, and the contacts X ₁₁ and X ₂₁
Is closed to excite the electromagnetic switches MS ₁ and MS ₂ , and the geared motor GM and the compressor CM are activated in this order to start ice-making operation. Also, the contact X ₁₂ is opened and the relay X ₅ is demagnetized,
This relay X ₅ is open during the ice making operation. The cleaning timer 43 operates, for example, every 12 hours for 15 minutes, and when 15 minutes have elapsed after the operation, the contact TM ₁₁
Is opened, the contact TM ₁₂ is closed, and the drain valve 49 is opened.

When the ice making operation is continued and the ice storage is filled with ice particles and accumulated up to the upper part of the chute 14, the ice particles discharged from the ice discharge passage 11 rotate the detection plate 15c of the ice storage detecting device 15. Move the detection switch 15d (S ₂ )
Is opened, the terminals ef of the timer board 47 are opened, and the above-mentioned electronic timer in the timer board 47 starts timing, and when a preset time of, for example, 6 seconds is reached, the relays X ₁ , X ₂ The electromagnetic switches MS ₁ and MS ₂ are demagnetized, the ice making operation is stopped, the contact X ₁₂ is closed, the relay X ₅ is excited, and the contact X ₅₁ is closed.

When the ice particles in the ice storage are used and the detection switch 15d of the ice storage detection device 15 returns, the terminals ef of the timer board 47 are closed to operate the electronic timer in the timer board 47, The ice making operation is restarted by exciting the relays X ₁ and X ₂ in this order. At the same time, the contact X ₁₂ is opened, the relay X ₅ is demagnetized, and the contact X ₅₁ is opened.

On the other hand, the transportation state of the ice particles in the ice discharging passage 11 during the ice making operation is discharged upward from the freezing casing 10a generated in the ice making mechanism portion 10 to the bottom wall 11a of the ice discharging passage 11. To go to the shoot 14 along,
The ice level in a state where ice particles have accumulated in the ice discharge passage 11 to some extent is high at a portion just above the freezing casing 10a and becomes lower as it approaches the chute 14, as indicated by a chain line L1 in FIG. However, immediately before the detection plate 15c is actuated, immediately after the detection plate 15c is returned, and the like, ice particles are present in the vicinity of the ice outlet 11b of the ice discharge passage 11, so the resistance when the ice particles are sent from the ice discharge passage 11 is increased. Will increase.

Particularly, immediately after the detection plate 15c is activated and the operation of the ice making mechanism 10 is stopped, and immediately after the detection plate 15c is returned to its original position, depending on the length of the operation stop time and the ambient temperature. However, there is a possibility that the ice particles at the ice outlet 11b of the ice discharge passage 11 may combine with each other to form a block-shaped ice block, in which case the resistance for pushing out the ice particles becomes very large. Therefore, the ice level in the ice discharge passage 11 is
Although it is a short time, the level exceeds the level L2, reaches the level L3, and activates the spout switch 20 (S ₃ ).

When the spout switch 20 is actuated, the relay X ₄ is excited and its normally open contact X ₄₁ is closed.
Since the normally open contact X ₅₁ of the relay X ₅ is opened, the self-holding circuit of the relay X ₄ is not formed. On the other hand, the normally-closed contact X ₄₂ is opened and the terminal ef of the timer board 47 is opened, the electronic timer in the same timer board starts timing, and the contact is made before the time is up (6 seconds in the embodiment). if X ₄₂ is them closed, the ice-making operation is continued. That is, if the operation of the spout switch 20 is temporary, the ice making operation is not stopped. However, if the ice making mechanism 10 is not stopped even if the chute 14 is full due to a malfunction of the ice storage detecting device 15, the spout switch 20 (S ₃ ) is activated and the relay X4 is excited to normally close. contact X ₄₂ is opened, the contact point X ₄₁ is closed, if the inter-terminal e-f of the timer board 47 is open, to follow the state of the ice level L3 shown in FIG. 1 or 6 seconds, even spout switch 20 The operating state is continued for 6 seconds or more, and the electronic timer in the timer board 47 reaches the set time. Therefore, the relays X ₁ and X ₂ are demagnetized to stop the ice making operation, and the self-holding circuit of the relay X ₄ is formed, so that the ice making operation is performed even if the ice melts and the spout switch 20 returns to the open state. Will not resume. During this time,
Maintenance and inspection of the ice storage detection device 15 and the like can be performed.

The ice making operation is restarted by turning off the power switch 41, eliminating the self-holding circuit of the relay X ₄ , and then turning on the power switch 41 again in the same procedure as at the start of the operation. be able to.

The invention and the various advantages associated with it will be understood from the above description. It is also evident that the forms, structures and arrangements may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing the significant advantages of the invention, and the forms disclosed in this specification may be modified. Is merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
For example, the auger type ice maker to which the protection device of the present invention is applied may be of a type that does not have the chute 14 or may have no pressing head, and as described above, it may be used as an actual flat blade. It is not limited to the one described in JP-A-6-32977.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention of claims 1 to 3, even if the ice storage detecting device (spout switch) is operated for a short time, the operation of the ice making mechanism (compressor, geared motor) is stopped. Since it does not perform, there is no operation stop due to malfunction,
A highly reliable protection device can be provided. Therefore, as the ice storage detection device, a device with high sensitivity that can operate with a small force can be used, so it is possible to reliably detect an abnormality before damage to the ice making mechanism part and provide operation, and at the same time flake-shaped Even if the top surface of the accumulated ice group has a wavy contour (~), which is difficult to detect, such as ice, it is possible to reliably detect the abnormality. Furthermore, even during normal ice making operation, under conditions such as low ambient temperature and low ice making water temperature, the ice making mechanism part may exert an excessive ice making capacity, and temporarily in the freezing casing. However, according to the present invention, the ice making operation is not stopped even if the ice guide body moves upward due to the collectively rising ice in such a case. Further, according to the present invention described in claim 3,
Immediately after the first ice storage detecting device returns to its original position after the ice storage detecting device is activated to stop the operation of the ice making mechanism,
Depending on the length of downtime and the ambient temperature, when the ice particles at the ice outlet of the ice discharge passage combine with each other to form a block of ice blocks, the resistance to push out the ice particles becomes extremely large, and If the ice level in the discharge passage temporarily rises, the second ice storage detecting device does not operate to stop the operation of the ice making mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an auger type ice making machine incorporating a protection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an ice discharge passage in the auger type ice making machine of FIG. 1 partially broken.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a spout switch provided in the ice discharge passage.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a control device forming a part of the protection device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ice making mechanism part, 11 ... Ice discharge passage, 11b ... Ice outlet, 14 ... Chute, 15 ... 1st ice storage detection device, 20 ...
Spout switch (second ice storage detection device), 47 ... timer board, 50 ... controller, CM ... compressor, GM ... geared motor (driving device), X ₄ ... relay, X ₄₂ ... relay X ₄
Normally closed contact.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice making water in a freezing casing is cooled by a refrigerant from a compressor to generate ice on an inner peripheral surface of the freezing casing, and the ice is scraped off by an auger driven by a driving device, In an auger type ice making machine for discharging from an ice discharging passage arranged above the freezing casing, an ice storage detecting device which is provided in the ice discharging passage and operates by detecting that the ice discharging passage is filled with ice, A control device electrically connected to the ice storage detecting device and electrically connected to the compressor and the driving device, for controlling the operating time of the ice storage detecting device. And a comparing means for comparing the measured operating time with a set time, the comparing means bringing the compressor and the driving device into a conducting state when the operating time is shorter than the set time. Hold on Protective device. 2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the comparison means holds the compressor and the drive device in a non-conductive state when the operating time is longer than the set time. 3. An ice making water in a freezing casing is cooled by a refrigerant from a compressor to produce ice on an inner peripheral surface of the freezing casing, and the ice is scraped off by an auger driven by a drive device. In an auger type ice making machine that discharges through a chute from an ice discharging passage arranged above the freezing casing, it is provided near the discharge port of the ice discharging passage and detects that the upper part of the chute is filled with ice. First
An ice storage detection device, a second ice storage detection device that is provided in the ice discharge passage and operates by detecting that the ice discharge passage is filled with ice, and is electrically connected to the first and second ice storage detection devices. And a control device electrically connected to the compressor and the drive device, the control device including the second device.
A time measuring means for measuring the operating time of the ice storage detecting device,
Comparing means for comparing the timed operating time with a set time is included, and the comparing means holds the compressor and the drive device in a conducting state when the operating time is shorter than the set time. Protective device.