JPH11237146A - Controller of ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dissolve the fear of early melting of ice or sticking among the fellow pieces of ice by providing a temperature controller for an ice making machine, which reserves, in an ice making-cum-reserving room, square ice being made by cutting plate-shaped ice created with an ice making plate with a heater or the like, with a proper control means which is not influenced by outside air temperature. SOLUTION: This controller is equipped with an in-refrigerator temperature detecting thermistor 33 which detects the temperature of an ice-making-cum- reserving room, an outside air temperature detecting thermistor 32 which detects the outside air temperature, a timer 29 which clocks time by the ON and OFF signal of an ice reservation switch 19, a processing unit 30A which compares the clocked time of this timer 29 with the preset specified time, and a control means 31 which operates or stops a compressor 7 by the signal from this processing unit 30A. Accordingly, this controller can control the interior of the ice making-cum-reserving room to a proper temperature, regardless of the level of outside air temperature, by this control means 31, and can dissolve the fear of the early melting of the ice reserved or the cling among the fellow pieces of ice.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature control device for an ice making machine for storing ice cubes obtained by cutting plate ice generated by an ice making plate with a heater or the like in an ice making and ice storage room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a control device for this type of ice making machine, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-86971.

Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to the drawings. 7 and 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the ice maker, and an outer box 2 and an inner box 3 are provided.
And a heat insulating material 4. The inside of the main body 1 is partitioned into an ice making and ice storage room 5 and a machine room 6. A hot gas introduction mechanism 10 including a compressor 7, a condenser 8, a fan motor 9, a solenoid valve 10A (not shown), and a bypass pipe 10B (not shown) constituting a cooling cycle is provided in the machine room 6. It is arranged.

[0004] An ice making plate 11 provided with an evaporator 11A for generating plate ice is mounted in the ice making and ice storage chamber 5 at an angle.
A sprinkling device 12 for letting ice-making water flow down above the ice making plate 11 and a water storage tank 13 for storing ice making water below the ice making plate 11.
Is provided. Further, in the water storage tank 13, an ice cutting device provided with a pump 14 for circulating ice making water to the water sprinkler 12, a heater 15 for cutting plate ice, and the like are provided.
16 is a water supply valve for supplying a predetermined amount of water to the water storage tank 13,
Reference numeral 17 denotes a connection pipe connected to a water supply valve 16 on one side and a hose (not shown) connected to water supply or the like on the other side, and is disposed on the back wall 18 of the main body 1. An ice storage switch 19 is installed on the lower side of the inner box 3 in the ice making / ice storage room 5.

A front panel 20 and a door 21 are provided on the front surface of the ice making and ice storage chamber 5, respectively, and the lower side and the upper side thereof are in contact with a cross rail 22 to be sealed.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a control device for controlling the operation of the ice making machine, which is provided in the machine room 6, and both ends of the compressor 7 are connected to a power source via a relay 24A as shown by an electric circuit in FIG. One end of the pump 14 and fan motor 9 connected in parallel is connected via a relay 24B connected to a power supply, and the other end is also connected to a power supply. Also,
One end of each of the solenoid valve 10A and the water supply valve 16 is connected to a relay 24.
C and 24D in series and connected to a power supply, and the other end of each is also connected to the power supply.

Further, one end of the heater 15 is connected to a transformer 25.
, And the other end is also connected to the secondary output of the transformer 25. And 26, an ice release thermistor for detecting ice release, 27, 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a float H and a float L for detecting a change in the water level of the ice storage tank 13 and sending a signal. Reference numeral 29 denotes a timer for counting time by receiving signals from the float H27, the float L28 and the ice storage switch 19, and reference numeral 30 denotes a set timer. An arithmetic processing unit 31 for performing comparison processing with reference data;
Control means for controlling the operation of the compressor 7, the pump 14, the fan motor 9, the solenoid valve 10A, the water supply valve 16 and the heater 15 by a signal from the
4A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 24E are controlled.

[0008] The operation of the ice maker having the above configuration will be described. First, a predetermined amount of ice-making water supplied from a water supply or the like from the water supply valve 16 flows into the water storage tank 13 and is stored therein. The stored water is pumped up by a pump 14 and the sprinkler 12
Flows down through the ice making plate 11, flows into the water storage tank 13, and is circulated by the pump 14. Then, the evaporator 11A integrally bonded to the ice making plate 11 is cooled, so that ice making is promoted and plate ice is generated. When plate ice of a certain thickness is generated, the valve (not shown) of the solenoid valve 10A is opened and the fan motor 9 is stopped at the same time, and the high-temperature high-pressure gas (hot gas) compressed by the compressor 7 is introduced into the hot gas. The plate-like ice flows continuously through the mechanism 10 to the evaporator 11A, separates from the ice making plate 11, and falls into the heater 15. The dropped plate-like ice is cut into a grid shape by the heater 15 and becomes ice cubes, and is stored in the ice making / ice storage room 5. When the ice making and ice separation are repeated as described above and the ice making and ice storage chamber becomes full of ice cubes, the ice storage switch 19 is operated (ON state), and the ice storage switch 1 is turned on.
The next ice making operation is stopped until 9 operates (off state), and the ice storage state is established.

Next, the operation of the control device of the ice making machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the ice making mode (ice making operation) of Step 1 is entered, the ice making operation time is set in Step 2 according to the ice thickness setting. In step 3, the heater energizing time for cutting the plate ice is set. Step 4
Starts the counting of the heater timer by the timer 29. In step 5, the compressor 7, the pump 14, the heater 1
5 is turned on and the solenoid valve 10A is turned off. When the water supply is completed, the water supply valve 16 is turned off and the ice making operation starts. When the float L28 is turned off in step 6, the counting of the ice making timer by the timer 29 is started in step 7. By the time the float L28 is turned off, Th (the ice release thermistor 2)
When the temperature of (6) falls below -20 ° C., the check lamp blinks, and the routine proceeds to step 7. When the ice making time is up in step 7, the ice making operation ends, and the mode shifts to the ice release mode.

FIG. 11 shows an ice release mode. In step 1, the pump 14 and the fan motor 9 are turned off, and the compressor 7, the water supply valve 16 and the heater 15 are turned on, and the solenoid valve 10A is turned on. Enter ice driving. On the other hand, at the same time as the ice releasing operation, the water supply operation is started. When the float H27 is turned on in Step 2, the process proceeds to Step 3, and the water supply time is read. If the float H27 is not turned on in step 2, the mode shifts to the water cutoff mode. The water supply time is set in step 4, the counting of the water supply timer by the timer 29 is started in step 5, and when the water supply time is up in step 6, the water supply valve 16 is turned off in step 7 and the water supply ends. On the other hand, when the ice separating thermistor 26 reaches a predetermined temperature in step 8, the mode is shifted to the ice making mode (ice making operation) again. If the ice release thermistor 26 does not reach the predetermined temperature within the predetermined time in step 8, the inspection lamp blinks.

FIG. 12 shows an ice storage mode. When an ice storage switch is turned on, an ice storage state is entered. In step 1, counting of a heater timer by the timer 29 is started.
In step 2, the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, and the pump 14 are stopped to stop the ice making device, and at the same time, the energization of the heater 15 is stopped. Ice storage switch 19 in step 3
When the off state is continued for 3 minutes or more, the mode shifts to the ice making mode. If the ice storage switch 19 does not continue to be in the OFF state for three minutes or more, the process proceeds to step 1 and the ice storage mode is continued.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the ice making device stops in the ice storage state,
Since the ice making and ice storage room is cooled only by the heat of melting of the stored ice, there is a risk that the ice will melt quickly especially at a high outside air temperature such as in summer.

In addition, low outside air temperature in winter (particularly 10 ° C.)
In the following case), the temperature of the ice making and ice storage room becomes too low, and the melted ice is re-frozen.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide a control device for an ice making machine for controlling the temperature of an ice making and ice storage room at an optimum ice storage temperature in both summer and winter. I do.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to operate and stop a compressor and a fan motor at a high outside air temperature as in summer, and to operate an ice at a low outside air temperature as in winter. Control means is provided to keep the ice storage state optimal by energizing and de-energizing the heater of the cutting device.

By the control means, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of the ice stored in the ice being melted early in summer and the possibility of melting of the ice due to re-freezing in winter.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a cooling apparatus in which a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator having an ice-making plate integrally bonded are sequentially connected. A hot gas introduction mechanism provided with an electromagnetic valve and a bypass pipe for switching between ice making and de-icing operation between the ice and the evaporator, an ice cutting device provided with a heater for cutting plate ice into ice cubes, An internal temperature detection thermistor for detecting the temperature of the ice storage room, an external air temperature detection thermistor for detecting the outside air temperature, an ice storage switch disposed in an inner box of the ice making and ice storage room, and an on / off signal of the ice storage switch A timer for counting the time in response to the signal, an arithmetic processing unit for comparing the counting time of the timer with a predetermined time, and operating / stopping the cooling device in an ice storage state according to a signal from the arithmetic processing unit. That and a control means to control the ice temperature optimum ice ice and the ice compartment temperature in Kogaiki temperature in summer, it is possible to eliminate the risk of premature dissolution of ice.

Further, a control means for controlling the heater of the ice cutting device to be turned on and off in response to a signal from the outside air temperature detecting thermistor in the ice storage state is provided, so that the temperature of the ice making and ice storage room at a low outside air temperature is optimized. By controlling the ice storage temperature, it is possible to eliminate the fear that the ice pieces are fused together in winter.

The apparatus further comprises control means for controlling the operation and stop of the cooling device and the turning on and off of the heater of the ice cutting device in accordance with a signal from the outside air temperature detecting thermistor. Controls the temperature of the ice making and storage compartment at the optimum temperature for ice storage and ice storage to prevent overcooling due to the operation of the compressor. This can be eliminated.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30A denotes an arithmetic processing unit for comparing with set reference data;
Is an outside air temperature detection thermistor that detects outside air temperature;
And a refrigerator internal temperature detecting thermistor for detecting the temperature in the ice making and ice storage chamber 5, 24F is a relay, one end of which is connected to a power supply, and the other end of which is connected to a power supply via a fan motor 9.

The operation of the above-described ice maker will be described. First, a predetermined amount of ice-making water supplied from a water supply or the like from the water supply valve 16 flows into the water storage tank 13 and is stored therein. The stored water is pumped up by a pump 14 and the sprinkler 12
Flows down to the ice making plate 11, further flows into the water storage tank 13, and the circulation is repeated by the pump 14. Then, the evaporator 11A integrally bonded to the ice making plate 11 is cooled to promote ice making, thereby generating plate ice. When plate ice of a certain thickness is generated, the valve (not shown) of the solenoid valve 10A is opened and the fan motor 9 is stopped at the same time, and the high-temperature high-pressure gas (hot gas) compressed by the compressor 7 is introduced into the hot gas. The plate-like ice flows continuously through the mechanism 10 to the evaporator 11A, separates from the ice making plate 11, and falls onto the heater 15. The dropped plate-like ice is cut into a grid shape by the heater 15 and becomes ice cubes, and is stored in the ice making / ice storage room 5. When the ice making and ice storage are repeated as described above and the ice making and ice storage chamber becomes full of ice cubes, the water storage switch 19 is operated (ON state), and the next ice making operation is stopped until the ice storage switch 19 is operated (OFF state). Ice storage condition.

Next, the operation of the control device of the ice making machine will be described. In FIG. 2, when the ice storage switch 19 is turned on, the ice storage state is entered, and in step 1, the timer 29 starts counting the heater timer. When the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the set detection temperature (20 ° C.) in step 2, the process proceeds to step 3. When the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 is lower than the set detection temperature (20 ° C.), the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, the heater 15, and the pump 14 are stopped. When the internal temperature detection thermistor 33 detects a temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature in step 3, the compressor 7 and the fan motor 9 start operating in step 4, and the power supply to the heater 15 and the pump 14 is stopped. If the temperature detection thermistor 33 in the refrigerator detects a temperature lower than the set temperature in Step 3,
The compressor 7, the fan motor 9, the heater 15, and the pump 14 are stopped. Next, in step 5, if the ice storage switch 19 is kept off for more than 3 minutes, the mode is shifted to the ice making mode. If the ice storage switch 19 does not continue to be in the OFF state for three minutes or more, the process proceeds to step 2 to continue the ice storage mode.

As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, when the ice is stored at a high outside air temperature, the control means 31 for operating the compressor 7 and the fan motor 9 may cause the ice in summer to melt quickly. Can be eliminated.

(Embodiment 2) In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30B denotes an arithmetic processing unit for performing comparison processing with set reference data;
Is an outside air temperature detection thermistor that detects outside air temperature;
Is a refrigerator internal temperature detecting thermistor for detecting the temperature in the ice making and ice storage chamber 5, 24E is a relay, one end of which is connected to the secondary output of the transformer 25, and the other end of which is connected to the transformer 2 through the heater 15.
5 is connected to the secondary output.

Next, a case where the apparatus is in the ice storage mode as shown in FIG. 4 will be described. When the ice storage switch 19 is turned on, an ice storage state is entered, and in step 1, the counting of the heater timer by the timer 29 is started. If the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 detects a temperature lower than the set detection temperature (10 ° C.) in step 2, the process proceeds to step 3. If the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 is higher than the set detection temperature (10 ° C.), the compressor 7
The fan motor 9, the heater 15, and the pump 14 stop. When the internal temperature detection thermistor 33 detects a temperature lower than the set temperature in step 3, the heater 15 is energized in step 4, and the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, and the pump 14
Stops. In step 3 the temperature detection thermistor 3
When 3 detects the temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature, the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, the heater 15, and the pump 14 are stopped. Next, in step 5, if the ice storage switch 19 is kept off for more than 3 minutes, the mode is shifted to the ice making mode. If the ice storage switch 19 has not been turned off for more than three minutes, the process proceeds to step 2 and the ice storage mode is continued.

As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, when the ice is stored at a low outside air temperature, the control means 31 for energizing the heater 15 of the ice cutting device causes the ice pieces in winter to fuse together. The fear can be eliminated.

(Embodiment 3) In FIG. 5, reference numeral 30C denotes an arithmetic processing unit for performing a comparison process with the set reference data;
Is an outside air temperature detection thermistor that detects outside air temperature;
Is a refrigerator temperature detecting thermistor for detecting the temperature in the ice making and ice storage chamber 5, 24E is a relay, one end of which is connected to the secondary side output of the transformer 25, and the other end of which is connected to the transformer 25 through the heater 15. Connected to secondary output.

Next, the ice storage mode will be described with reference to FIG. When the ice storage switch 19 is turned on, an ice storage state is entered, and in step 1, the counting of the heater timer by the timer 29 is started. When the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 detects the temperature within the range of the set detection temperature (10 ° C. to 20 ° C.) in step 2, the process proceeds to step 3. When the outside air temperature detection thermistor 32 is out of the set detection temperature (10 ° C. to 20 ° C.) range, the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, the heater 15, and the pump 14 are stopped. When the temperature detection thermistor 33 in the refrigerator detects the temperature equal to or lower than the set temperature in Step 3, the heater 15 is energized in Step 4, and the energization to the compressor 7, the fan motor 9, and the pump 14 is stopped. When the internal temperature detection thermistor 33 detects the temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature in step 3, the compressor 7 and the fan motor 9 are operated, and the power supply to the heater 15 and the pump 14 is stopped. Then step 5
Then, if the ice storage switch 19 is kept off for more than 3 minutes, the mode is shifted to the ice making mode. If the ice storage switch 19 has not been turned off for more than 3 minutes, the process proceeds to step 2, and
Continue ice storage mode.

As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, the compressor 7 and the fan motor 9 are operated and stopped when the ice is stored at the middle and outside air temperature, and the ice cutting device is operated while the compressor 7 is stopped. Since the control means for energizing the heater 15 is used, the temperature inside the ice making and ice storage chamber 5 is controlled to the optimum ice storage temperature, the supercooling by the operation of the compressor is prevented, and the ice in the spring or autumn under the outside air temperature is controlled. It is possible to eliminate the risk of early melting or melting of ice.

[0031]

As described above, in the ice making machine according to the present invention, the compressor, the condenser, the capillary tube, and the evaporator integrally bonded to the ice making plate for cooling the ice making water are sequentially connected. Ice cutting equipped with a device, a hot gas introduction mechanism composed of an electromagnetic valve and a bypass pipe for switching between ice making and deicing operation between the compressor and the evaporator, and a heater for cutting plate ice into ice cubes The equipment, an internal temperature detection thermistor that detects the temperature of the ice making and ice storage room, an outside air temperature detection thermistor that detects the outside air temperature, and an on / off switch for the ice storage switch attached to the inner box of the ice making and ice storage room A timer for counting the time in response to the signal, an arithmetic processing unit for comparing the counting time of the timer with a predetermined time, and a signal from the arithmetic processing unit for operating / stopping the cooling device. Control means and By providing, in which can be eliminated a fear that the ice in the ice storage state of summer melts quickly.

In addition, by providing a control means for turning on and off the heater of the ice cutting device based on a signal sent from the outside air temperature detecting thermistor, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that ice pieces will stick together in the ice storage state in winter. You can do it.

Further, according to a signal sent from the outside air temperature detecting thermistor, the operation of the cooling device is started and stopped, and
By providing control means for turning on and off the heater of the ice cutting device, the temperature of the ice making and ice storage room is controlled to the optimal ice storage temperature, and the supercooling due to the operation of the compressor is prevented, so that spring and autumn In the case where the ice is stored at a medium / outside air temperature as described above, the risk that the ice melts quickly or the ices stick to each other can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart at the time of ice storage.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device for an ice making machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart at the time of ice storage.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control device for an ice making machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart at the time of ice storage.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional ice making machine.

8 is a sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control device of the conventional ice making machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart at the time of ice making.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart at the time of ice separation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart at the time of ice storage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Inner box 5 Ice making and ice storage room 7 Compressor 8 Condenser 9 Fan motor 10 Hot gas introduction mechanism 10A Solenoid valve 10B Bypass pipe 11 Ice making plate 11A Evaporator 15 Heater 19 Ice storage switch 24F Relay 29 Timer 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Arithmetic processing unit 31 Control means 32 Outside air temperature detection thermistor 33 Inside temperature detection thermistor

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a cooling device in which a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator having an ice making plate integrally bonded thereto are sequentially connected, ice making and deicing operations are performed between the compressor and the evaporator. A hot gas introduction mechanism equipped with a solenoid valve for switching and a bypass pipe, an ice cutting device equipped with a heater that cuts plate ice into ice cubes, and an internal temperature detection thermistor that detects the temperature of the ice making and ice storage room An outside air temperature detection thermistor for detecting outside air temperature, an ice storage switch attached to an inner box of the ice making and ice storage room, a timer for counting time by receiving an ON / OFF signal of the ice storage switch, and the timer A control device for an ice making machine, comprising: a processing unit for comparing the counting time of the cooling device with a predetermined time set in advance; and control means for operating and stopping the cooling device based on a signal from the processing unit. 2. A control device for an ice making machine according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling on / off of a heater of the ice cutting device based on a signal from an outside air temperature detecting thermistor. 3. The control of the ice making machine according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the operation / stop of the cooling device and the ON / OFF of the heater of the ice cutting device based on a signal from the outside air temperature detecting thermistor. apparatus.