JPS62248974A - 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] Industrial Application Field 2 / 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. In particular, it relates to control after water storage, from canceling the water storage detection operation to entering the ice making cycle.

2. Description of the Related Art 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 ice maker main body formed of a heat insulating wall, an ice making compartment 2 and a machine compartment 3.
is formed from.

In the ice making chamber 2, an ice making member 5 including an evaporator 4 is installed at an angle. A water sprinkler 4a is attached to the ice making member 5 to uniformly flow water to the ice making member 6. Further, a water storage tank 6 for storing ice-making water and a circulation pump 7 are installed in the water storage tank 6, and together with the ice-making member 6, a running water circulation type ice-making system is constructed. An ice-off detection device 23 is attached to the ice-making member 5 in close contact with the ice-making member 5 to detect ice-off by detecting a predetermined temperature of the ice-making member 50. Further, below the ice making member 5, there is provided an ice storage chamber 8 and an ice sheet cutting heater device 9 for cutting the ice sheets after ice removal into blocks of ice of a predetermined size. An electric compressor 1° and a condenser 11, which together with an evaporator 4 form a refrigeration circuit, are arranged in the empty machine room 3. Reference numeral 12 denotes an air cooling fan for the condenser 11 and its motor. Reference numeral 13 denotes a water storage detection device having a temperature sensing part for detecting a predetermined amount of ice 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 16 connected to a water source to introduce ice-making water into the water storage tank 6. Inside the water storage tank 6 is a drainage pipe 16 that maintains a predetermined water level.
An upper water level detection device 18 for detecting the throne level water level 17 and a lower water level detection device 20 for detecting the lower level water level 19 are provided.

21 is the evaporator 4 when separating the ice generated in the ice making member 6;
This is a solenoid valve that electrically controls hot gas flowing from the electric compressor 10.

Next, its operation will be explained. Operation switch 2 after installation
At step 2, the power is turned on 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 2o,
Stop the ice making cycle and switch to the ice removal cycle. When ice making is started after 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 e is passed through the circulation hose 24 to the water sprinkler 4a.
I will guide you to. 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 the lower level water level 19 is set to a predetermined ice thickness.
When the water level reaches this level, it is detected by the lower water level detection device 2o, and the ice making cycle is stopped and switched to the ice removal cycle. In the water removal cycle, hot gas flows to the evaporator 4 by switching the electromagnetic valve 21 to release the 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 2 is detected.
8 is activated, 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 by 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 5 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 5 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 13, and after completing the ice making and ice removal for that cycle, only the ice sheet cutting heater device 9 is energized and the rest are completely stopped. . Immediately after the detection by the water storage detection device 13 is released, the cycle is switched to the ice making cycle.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the ice maker having the above configuration, after water storage, the water storage detection device deactivates and immediately starts the ice making cycle, but if the operation stop time during water storage is long. As the surface of the ice-making member dries, water compatibility deteriorates, making it difficult to obtain a uniform flow of water over the surface of the ice-making member during restart. In the worst case, it has the disadvantage that water leaks and ice blocks of a constant thickness cannot be obtained.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention operates the water supply valve and the circulation pump for a certain period of time after the operation of the water storage detection device is deactivated, and then stops the water supply valve and the circulation pump for a certain period of time to stop the ice making cycle. It's like moving to.

Function: With the above-described configuration, even if the surface of the ice-making member dries during the water storage cycle, the water compatibility of the ice-making member deteriorates, and water leakage occurs, the amount of water leakage is compensated for and the water leakage is compensated for when the next ice-making starts. A certain amount of water is stored in the water storage tank, and a circulation pump continues to flow ice-making water onto 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 ice, the water supply valve and circulation pump are stopped for a certain period of time and the water is stored.
Stabilize at a constant water level. Then transfer it to an ice cube.

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 ice maker main body except for the control device is the same as the conventional one, so a description thereof will be omitted.

1 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 composed of a microphone computer 26. FIG. This microcomputer 25 contains a well-known program (
a first timer 26 that stores the operation of water supply → ice making → ice removal → ice storage, and operates after the operation of the water storage detection device 13 is canceled during the water storage mode; and the first timer 26
A second timer 27 is provided that operates after the end of the second timer 27.

Next, its operation will be explained.

During the water storage cycle, the water storage detection device 13 continues to operate the water supply valve 14 and the circulation pump 7 for a certain period of time at which the first timer 26 counts up after the water storage operation is canceled;
After the first timer 26 counts up, the water supply valve 14 and the circulation pump 7 are stopped for the time set by the second timer.

Due to this stop, the circulating water returns to the water storage tank 6 and overflows 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 does not shift to the ice making cycle immediately after the water storage detection device is deactivated during the water storage cycle, but first waits for a certain period of time after the water storage detection device deactivates. The water supply valve and the circulation pump continue to operate until the time has passed, and then the water supply valve, the circulation pump, and the circulation pump are stopped for a predetermined period of time, and then the ice making cycle is started. This has the effect of preventing water flow and water leakage.

[Brief explanation of 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 flow chart showing the operation of the same control device, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional ice maker, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional ice maker. 5...Ice making components, 6...Water storage tank, 7
...Circulation pump, 13...Ice storage detection device,
14... Water supply valve, 26... First timer, 27
...Second timer〇 Name of agent Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person13
---Ice storage detection device 26---First timer 27---Second timer Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 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, a water supply valve that supplies ice-making water from a tap to the water storage tank, and the water storage An upper water level detection device installed in a tank to detect an upper water level and an ice storage detection device to detect a predetermined amount of ice are provided, and when the ice storage detection device detects a predetermined amount of ice, the ice making machine is stopped and the ice is stored. mode, and a first timer that operates the water supply valve and circulation pump for a certain period of time when the operation of the ice storage detection device is canceled, and a first timer that starts operation after the first timer ends and stops the water supply valve and circulation pump for a certain period of time. A control device for an ice maker, comprising a second timer that causes the ice maker to operate, and after these operations, moves to an ice making cycle.