JPS62155484A - Deicing operating method of ice machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly to a method for deicing an inverted cell type ice maker in which deicing is performed using hot gas.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, the deicing operation of this type of ice maker was performed, for example, in the 1980s.
- As described in Publication No. 15089, when the water tray starts tilting upon completion of ice making, hot gas is circulated through the evaporation pipe to heat the cooler and de-ice the ice formed in the ice making compartment; For example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-13249, there is a system in which hot gas is circulated to the evaporator to de-ice the ice cubes formed in the ice-making chamber at the same time as the tilting of the water tray ends.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the former deicing operation, hot gas circulation is started at the same time as the water tray begins to tilt, so when the ambient temperature is high,
The condensation temperature becomes high and the temperature of the hot gas also becomes high.
The part of the ice cube that is in contact with the cooler melts in a short time, but the part of the ice cube that is in contact with the water tray does not melt easily, and as a result, when the water tray is tilted, the ice cubes In contrast to the normal operation in which the ice cubes are left in the cooler, the water tray first separates from the ice cubes, and then the ice cubes are removed from the cooler, the water tray tilts with the ice cubes still attached to the water tray, and in the worst case, this occurs. This has caused a problem in that the ice cubes attached to the water tray do not separate from the water tray.

On the other hand, in the latter deicing operation, hot gas circulation starts at the same time as the tilting of the water tray ends, so the drawbacks of the former are avoided, but on the other hand, the deicing time becomes longer, resulting in a decrease in ice making capacity, and the The cooling operation until the end of the plate tilting sometimes causes problems such as overcooling, which causes cracks in the ice cubes and induces a deterioration in quality.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the various problems of the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention cools the cooler with a low-temperature refrigerant that is circulated in the evaporation pipe, and cools the water tank in the water tank with a circulation pump. Water is spouted into the ice-making chamber from a fountain hole formed on the surface of the water tray to perform ice-making operation, and upon completion of the ice-making operation, the water tray starts tilting and hot gas is circulated through the evaporation pipe to heat the cooler. If the temperature of the cooler at the end of the ice-making operation is higher than the predetermined temperature, the ice-making machine performs the de-icing operation after the water tray starts tilting based on the end of the ice-making operation. This is a deicing operation method for an ice maker that starts circulating hot gas to the evaporator pipe midway through the process.

(E) Function According to the deicing operation method of the present invention, hot gas circulation is started at the same time as the tilting of the water tray starts, so that when there is a risk that the water tray will tilt with ice cubes attached to the water tray, i.e. ,
If the temperature of the cooler at the end of the ice-making operation is higher than the predetermined temperature, hot gas circulation to the evaporation pipe is started during the tilting after the water tray starts tilting. This leaves the ice cubes in the cooler and only the water tray tilts.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a partially cutaway side view of the ice maker of the present invention, which has a large number of ice maker compartments (IA) that open downward.
A cooler (1) with a refrigeration system evaporation pipe (2) installed on the outer surface of the earthen wall and each ice making room (IA) are closed from below with sufficient margin, and a surface corresponding to each ice making room (IA) is installed. A water tray (5) in which a fountain hole (3) and a return hole (4) are formed, and a water tank () fixed to the water tray (5) and communicating with the return hole (4)
6), a circulation pump (9) that circulates the water in the water tank (6) from the water fountain (3) to each ice making compartment (IA) via the water pipe <7> and the distribution pipe (8); A drive device (11) including a deceleration motor (10) capable of forward and reverse rotation for tilting and reciprocating the dish (5), and a water sprinkler that sprinkles water on the surface of the water dish (5) when the water supply valve (12) is opened. (13) and a water level detection device that operates a water level switch (14C) using a float (14B) in a float tank (14A) that communicates with the bottom of the water tank (6) to detect a predetermined water level in the water tank (6). (14) etc. constitute a so-called inverted cell type ice maker. Therefore, the mounting fixed to the support beam 15) is the plate (16).
First and second arms (17A) and (
A drive cam (17) having a drive cam (17B) is connected to the drive cam (17).
The other end of the coil spring (18) attached to the end of the first arm (17A) of ). (20) is the second arm (17B) of the drive cam (17) that rotates counterclockwise due to the forward rotation of the deceleration motor (10).
>, the deceleration motor (1o) is de-energized and the water tray (5) is stopped at a predetermined inclined open position;
It is switched by the first arm (17A) of the drive cam (17) which rotates clockwise due to the reverse rotation of the deceleration motor (10), and the power to the deceleration motor (10) is cut off and the water tray (5
) is a control switch for a set of seesaws that stops the motor at a predetermined horizontal closing position.

Next, the electric circuit of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. (
21) is an electric compressor for the refrigeration system, and (22) is a timer for controlling the end of the ice-making operation, which has a timer contact (22A) that closes the connection when a predetermined time has elapsed. (23)
is a deicing detection thermostat that detects the removal of ice by the temperature rise of the cooler (1), and when the temperature of the cooler (1> falls to a predetermined temperature), it switches to the L contact (23A), and when the temperature rises to the predetermined temperature. (24) is the first relay connected in series with the water storage switch (25) which closes the contact when a predetermined water storage amount is detected.
Relay contact (24A) and normally open first relay contact (24B)
). (26) is a second relay, which has normally closed second relay contacts (26A>, (26B) and (26C) and normally open second relay contacts (26D> and (26E)).
27> is the third relay, and the normally open third relay contact (27A
) and (27B>. (28) is the fourth relay,
It has a normally open fourth relay contact (28A) connected in series with the hot gas valve (31) and a self-holding contact (28B) of the fourth relay (28). (32) is a temperature detection device that detects the temperature of the cooler (1), and a low temperature contact (32A
), the high temperature contact (32B>) located when the temperature of the cooler (1) is higher than a predetermined temperature, and the cooler (1) shown in FIG.
It has a temperature sensing part (32C) fixed to , and the predetermined temperature can be set to, for example, about -20°C. (29) is a hot gas control timer connected to the high temperature contact (32B) side of the temperature detection device (32>), and the timer contact (29A) closes after a predetermined time while the water tray (5) is tilting.
). <12) is the water supply valve, (20A1) and (20A2) connected in series with the water level switch (14C).
) is the tilting contact of the control switch (20), (20B1
) and (20B2) are double acting contacts of the control switch (20). (10) is the deceleration motor (9) which rotates forward or reverse depending on the switching of the control switch (20);
) is the circulation pump, and (30) is the condenser air cooling fan. Note that the water level detection device (14) is mechanically provided with a differential to prevent water from being supplied during ice-making operation.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail. The water tray (5) is in a horizontal state with the ice making compartment (IA) closed, as shown by the solid line in Figure 1, and when the power is turned on, the normally closed first relay contact (24A)
In addition, the water supply valve (12>, which is energized via the water level switch (14C), opens, and water is sprinkled from the sprinkler (13) onto the surface of the water tray (5), mainly through the return hole (4), and then into the water tank ( 6).In addition, the electric compressor (21) operates to cool the cooler (1), and the normally closed first relay contact (24A), the tilting contact (20A1), and the normally closed The circulation pump (9) and the condenser air cooling fan (30) operate via the second relay contact (26A>) to start ice-making operation,
Thereafter, when the water level in the water tank (6) reaches a predetermined level, the contact of the water level switch (14C) is opened by the float (14B), cutting off the power to the water supply valve 12) and stopping water sprinkling. > ends the water supply operation.

The water in the water tank (6) passes through the water supply pipe (7) and the distribution pipe (8) and is sprayed from each water fountain (3) to each ice making compartment (IA). Excess water that does not freeze is returned through the return hole (
The water circulation operation from 4) to the water tank (6) is repeated. After the start of ice making, when the temperature of the cooler (1) falls to a predetermined temperature, the de-icing detection thermostat (23) switches the H contact (23B) to the mustard contact <23A> and starts the timer (22). When the predetermined time according to (22) has elapsed, the timer contact (22A) closes, the second relay leak 26) is energized, and the normally closed second relay contacts (26A), (26B) and <26C) open. The normally open second relay contacts (26D) and (26E) are closed. This allows the circulation pump (9) and fan (
28) stops and ends the ice making operation. The third relay (27), which is energized at this time, is intended to prevent the mid-operation from being stopped due to the closing of the water storage switch (25).

When the ice making operation is completed, the ice removal operation is started. That is, the deceleration motor (10) is energized through the timer contact (22A) and the tilting contact (20A2) to rotate forward, and the drive cam (17) rotates counterclockwise. Along with this, the water tray (5) separates from the lower surface of the ice cubes frozen in the ice making compartment (IA) and starts tilting.

By the way, when the ice making operation is finished, if the temperature of the cooler (1) has not reached the predetermined temperature, the temperature detection device (3
2) is located at the low temperature contact (32A), and at the same time as the ice making operation ends, the fourth relay (28) is energized and the normally open fourth relay
The relay contact (28A) closes and the hot gas valve (3
1), the valve (31) opens, and the evaporating vibe (
2), the cooler (1) is heated to de-ice the ice cubes frozen in the ice making compartment (IA).

On the other hand, when the ice making operation is finished, the cooler (1)
If the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the temperature detection device (3
2) is located at the high temperature contact <32B), and a timer (29) for hot gas control starts when the ice making operation ends, that is, when the timer contact (22A) closes.

When the timer (29) passes a predetermined time and the timer contact (29A) closes during the tilting of the water tray (5),
The fourth relay (28) is energized and the normally open fourth relay contact (
28A) is closed, the hot gas valve (31) is energized, the valve (31) opens, and the hot gas circulation to the evaporating vibrator (2) is started, heating the cooler (1) and cooling the ice making compartment (
IA) De-icing the frozen ice cubes.

In addition, while the water tray (5) is tilting, when some of the ice-making water left in the water tank (6) is drained, the water level switch (14C) is closed, the water supply valve (12) is energized, and the water sprinkler is turned on. Starting from (13), water spraying for cleaning is started on the surface of the water tray (5).

The second arm (17B) of the drive cam (17) then moves the control switch (20) to the tilting contacts (20A1) and (20A1)
0A2) to the double-acting contacts (20B1) and (20B2), the power to the deceleration motor (10) is cut off and the water tray (5) is switched to the ice making compartment (IA) as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 1.
) ends at the tilted position where it is released. In this state, water is left in the water tank (6) at a level as shown by the dotted line (X) in Figure 1, preventing dry operation when starting the circulation pump (9) in the next cycle. .

Therefore, each ice making compartment (
The ice detaches from the ice removal detection thermostat (23).
) senses the predetermined temperature rise of the cooler (1) and closes the L contact (
23A) to the H contact (23B), the timer (22) is de-energized and the timer contact (22A) returns to normal, and if the timer (29) is energized, it is de-energized. The timer contact (29A) returns to normal. Also, at this time, the excitation of the second relay (26) is released and the normally closed second relay contacts (26A), (26B) and (
26C) closes to normal and the normally open second relay contacts (26D) and (26E) open to normal, so the double acting contact (20B1'') of the control switch (20) and the normally closed second relay contact The deceleration motor (10) is energized via the motor (26B) and rotates in the reverse direction, the drive cam (17) rotates clockwise, and the water tray (5) starts to move backward.

The first arm (17A) of the drive cam (17) then controls the control switch (20) with the double-acting contacts (20B1) and (20B1).
0B2) to the tilting contacts (20A1) and (20A2), the deceleration motor (10) is de-energized and the water tray (5) returns to each ice making compartment (I) as shown by the solid line in Figure 1.
A) completes its double action and stops in the horizontal position where the chamber is closed, and at this time, the power to the real gas valve (31) is cut off, ending the de-icing operation, and cooling of the cooler (1) begins. The circulation pump (9) and fan (30) also operate to start the next cycle of ice-making operation. After that, when the water level of the water pump (6) reaches a predetermined water level, the float (14B) is
), the contact of the water level switch f (14C) is opened, the power supply to the water supply valve (12>) is cut off, and the water supply operation is completed.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention starts hot gas circulation at the same time as the water tray is tilted, thereby eliminating the risk of the water tray tilting with the bottom surface of the ice cubes in the ice maker stuck to the water tray. At some point, i.e.
Only when the temperature of the cooler at the end of ice making is higher than a predetermined temperature, hot gas circulation is started later than the start of tilting of the water tray, thereby tilting the water tray with the bottom surface of the ice stuck to the water tray. Therefore, there is an advantage that troubles in deicing operation can be solved.

In addition, when there is no risk of the water tray tilting with the bottom surface of the ice stuck to the water tray, that is, when the temperature of the cooler at the end of ice making is low and has not reached the specified temperature, the water tray starts tilting. Since hot gas circulation is started at the same time, hot gas circulation is not unnecessarily delayed, cranking caused by overcooling of the cooler can be prevented, and high quality ice can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an ice making machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the present invention. (1)...Cooler, (IA)...Ice making room, (2
)...Evaporation vibrator, (5)...Water dish, (29
)...Timer, (29A)...Timer contact, (
31)...hot gas valve, temperature detection device, (32A)...low temperature contact, (32B)...
・High temperature contact, (32C)...Temperature sensing part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cooler equipped with a refrigeration system evaporation pipe and partitioned into many ice-making compartments that open downward, a tiltable water tray that closes each ice-making compartment, and a water tank fixed to the water tray. , a fountain hole comprising a drive device for tilting and moving a water tray, and a circulation pump, the cooler being cooled by a low-temperature refrigerant circulated through the evaporation pipe, and water in the water tank formed on the surface of the water tray by the circulation pump; In an ice-making machine that performs ice-making operation by spraying water into an ice-making compartment, and upon completion of the ice-making operation, starts tilting the water tray and circulates hot gas through an evaporation pipe to heat a cooler to perform ice-removal operation. , when the temperature of the cooler at the end of the ice making operation is higher than the predetermined temperature,
After the water tray starts tilting based on the end of the ice making operation,
A method for deicing an ice maker, characterized in that hot gas circulation to the evaporation pipe is started during the tilting of the water tray.