JPS62245062A - Controller for 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 Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ice making machine that generates sheet ice by circulating ice making water in a water storage tank through ice making members constituting a refrigeration system using a circulation pump device, and particularly relates to an ice making machine that generates sheet ice by circulating ice making water in a water storage tank through ice making members constituting a refrigeration system. This relates to control from the time the power is turned on until the ice making cycle begins.

An example of a conventional ice making machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 shows the structure of a conventional ice maker, and Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of its operation. 1 is the main body of the ice maker formed by a heat insulating wall, an ice making compartment 1 and a machine compartment 3. It is formed from.

In the ice making chamber 2, an ice making member 6 including an evaporator 4 is installed at an angle. The ice making member 6 is also equipped with a water sprinkler 4a for uniformly flowing water.

A water storage tank 6 for storing ice-making water and a circulation pump 7 are installed in the water storage tank e, and together with the ice-making member 5, a running water circulation type ice-making system is constructed.

An ice-off detection device 23 is attached to the ice-making member 6 in close contact with the ice-making member 6 to detect ice-off by detecting a predetermined temperature of the ice-making member 6. Further, below the ice making member 6, there is provided an ice storage chamber 8 and an ice plate cutting heater device 9 for cutting the ice cubes into ice cubes of a predetermined size after being removed. Also machine room 3
An electric compressor 1o that forms a refrigeration circuit together with an evaporator 4 is installed.
and a condenser 11 are arranged. Reference numeral 12 denotes an air cooling fan for the condenser 11 and its motor. Further, reference numeral 13 denotes a water storage detection device having a temperature sensing part for detecting a predetermined amount of water in the water storage chamber 8, and is set to detect water storage by sensing the contact temperature of ice cubes. A water supply valve 14 serves as a water supply device that electrically opens and closes a water supply pipe 15 connected to a water source to introduce ice-making water into the water storage tank e. Inside the water storage tank e, there is a drain pipe 16 that maintains a predetermined water level, an upper water level detection device 18 that detects an upper level water level 17, and a lower level water level 19.
A lower water level detection device 20 is provided to detect the lower water level.

21 is an evaporator 4 used to remove ice generated in the ice making member 5;
This is a solenoid valve that electrically controls the hot gas flowing from the electric compressor 1o.

Next, its operation will be explained. After installation, the power is turned on with the operation switch 22 and the ice making cycle starts immediately, but at that time there is no ice making water in the water storage tank 6 and the ice making operation starts in an empty state. Since there is no ice-making water in the water storage tank 6 and it is empty, it is detected by the lower water level detection device 20, and the ice-making cycle is stopped and switched to the ice-removal cycle. When ice making is started when the water storage tank 6 is filled with ice making water, the ice making water sent out by the circulation pump 7 installed in the water storage tank θ is passed through the circulation hose 24 to the water sprinkler 4.
Guide to a. The ice-making water guided to the water sprinkler 4a flows out into the evaporator 4 and is collected into the water storage tank 6.

As ice is generated in the ice making member 5, the water level in the water storage tank 6 decreases, and when it reaches the lower level water level 19 set to a predetermined ice thickness, it is detected by the lower water level detection device 20, and the ice making cycle is stopped and released. Switch to ice cycle. In the ice removal cycle, hot gas flows into the evaporator 4 by switching the electromagnetic valve 21 to release ice sheets formed on the ice making member 5, and ice making water is supplied to the water storage tank 6 by the water supply valve 14.

When the ice-making water reaches the upper water level 17 of the water storage tank 6, it is detected by the upper water level detection device 18 and an overflow timer 28 is activated.
operates, and after a certain amount of ice-making water overflows, the supply is stopped. At this time, the water level in the water storage tank 6 is maintained at a constant level through the drain pipe 16. This constant water level serves as a reference for the predetermined ice thickness. When the ice sheet is removed from the ice making member 6 and the ice making member 6 reaches a predetermined temperature, the ice removal detection device 23 is operated to stop the ice removal and switch to the ice making cycle. The released ice sheet is cut by an ice sheet cutting heater device 9 provided at the bottom of the ice making member 6 and stored in the water storage chamber 8. When a predetermined amount of ice cubes is stored in the water storage chamber 8, it is detected by the water storage detection device type, and after completing ice making and ice removal for that cycle, only the ice sheet cutting heater device 9 is energized, and the rest are all stopped. . Immediately after the detection by the water storage detection device 13 is released, the ice making cycle is started.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the ice making machine having the above configuration, after installation, the power is turned on using the operation switch and the ice making cycle is immediately started, but the surface of the ice making member dries out and the water does not absorb.
It is difficult to obtain a uniform flow of water on the surface of the ice making member.

In the worst case, it has the disadvantage that water leaks and ice blocks of a constant thickness cannot be obtained.

Means to Solve the Problems In the present invention to solve the above problems, after the power is turned on with the operation switch, the water supply valve and the circulation pump are operated, and the upper water level detection device detects water accumulation. After that, the water supply valve and circulation pump are operated for a certain period of time, and then the water supply valve and circulation pump are stopped for a certain period of time, and the ice making cycle is started.

According to the above-described configuration, the present invention does not immediately start the ice-making cycle after turning on the power with the operation switch, but first operates the water supply valve and circulation pump to prevent water from blending in with the surface of the ice-making member. Even if a water leak occurs, the upper water level detection device will detect
When water is detected at the water level detection position, by continuing to operate the water supply valve and the circulation pump for a certain period of time, ice-making water continues to flow on the surface of the ice-making member to improve water absorption. Next, in order to prevent the ice thickness from increasing due to the amount of circulating water, the water supply valve and circulation pump are stopped for a certain period of time to stabilize the stored water at a certain water level.

Therefore, during the ice-making cycle, the surface of the ice-making member becomes more compatible with water, preventing uneven water flow and water leakage, and making it possible to obtain ice cubes with a constant ice thickness.

Embodiment Hereinafter, a control device for an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the configuration of the main body of the ice maker except for the control device is the same as the conventional one, so a description thereof will be omitted. 1st
2 and 2 are block diagrams and flowcharts showing a control device for an ice maker according to the present invention, the main part of which is constituted by a microcomputer 26. This microcomputer 26 stores a well-known program for the ice maker (water supply → ice making → ice removal operations), and the upper water level detection device 1
A first timer 26 that operates after the upper water level 17 is detected at 8 and a second timer 27 that operates after the first timer 26 ends are provided. Next, its operation will be explained. After turning on the power with the operation switch 22, first operate the water supply valve 14 and circulation pump 7, and then operate the upper water level detection device 1.
After the upper water level 17 is detected at 8, the first timer 26
The water supply valve 14 and the circulation pump 7 continue to operate for a certain period of time until the first timer 26 counts up, and after the first timer 26 counts up, the water supply valve 15 and the circulation pump 7 are operated again.
Stops the timer for the time set. By this stop, the circulating water returns to the water storage tank 6 and is blown out from the drain pipe 16, so that the ice-making water reaches a predetermined amount. It is then transferred to the ice making cycle.

Therefore, during the ice making cycle, the surface of the ice making member 4 becomes more compatible with water, preventing uneven water flow and water leakage, and making it possible to obtain ice cubes with a constant ice thickness.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the ice making machine of the present invention has the following effects:
After turning on the stain source with the operation switch, the ice making cycle is not immediately started, but the water supply valve and circulation pump are first operated, and a certain period of time has passed after the upper water level is detected by the upper water level detection device. The water supply valve and circulation pump continue to operate until the end of the cycle, and then the water supply valve and circulation pump are stopped for a predetermined period of time before moving on to the ice-making cycle. This improves the water familiarity with the surface of the ice-making component, which prevents uneven water flow and water leaks. This has the effect of preventing its occurrence.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device, and Fig. 3 is a conventional ice maker. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional ice maker. 6...Ice making components, 6...-Water storage/reservoir,
7... Circulation pump, 14... Water supply valve,
17...Upper water level, 18...Upper water level detection device, 22...Operation switch, 26...
...1st timer, 27...2nd timer/8
-11 Upper Eiya detection arrival I 22--1 operation switch 26--1st timer 27--2nd timer Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ice-making member that generates sheet ice, a circulation pump device that circulates ice-making water to the ice-making member, a water storage tank that stores ice-making water, and an upper water level detection device that is installed in the water storage tank and detects a water level at an upper level. and a water supply valve that supplies ice-making water from the tap water to the water storage tank, and an operation switch that starts and stops the ice maker, and after turning on the power with the operation switch, operates the water supply valve and the circulation pump. a first timer that starts operating after the upper water level is detected by the upper water level detection device and continues to operate the water supply valve and the circulation pump for a certain period of time; A control device for an ice maker, comprising a second timer for stopping an hourly water supply valve and a circulation pump, and moving to an ice making cycle after these operations are completed.