US20100077774A1 - Abnormality detecting method for automatic ice making machine - Google Patents

Abnormality detecting method for automatic ice making machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100077774A1
US20100077774A1 US12/586,950 US58695009A US2010077774A1 US 20100077774 A1 US20100077774 A1 US 20100077774A1 US 58695009 A US58695009 A US 58695009A US 2010077774 A1 US2010077774 A1 US 2010077774A1
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Prior art keywords
ice
making
ice making
abnormality
time
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US12/586,950
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English (en)
Inventor
Tomohiro Takagi
Ryoji Morimoto
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Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
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Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd
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Assigned to HOSHIZAKI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment HOSHIZAKI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MORIMOTO, RYOJI, TAKAGI, TOMOHIRO
Publication of US20100077774A1 publication Critical patent/US20100077774A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/12—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
    • F25C2400/14—Water supply
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25C2500/08—Sticking or clogging of ice
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2600/00—Control issues
    • F25C2600/02—Timing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25C2700/04—Level of water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
    • F25C5/04—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws
    • F25C5/08—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws by heating bodies in contact with the ice
    • F25C5/10—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws by heating bodies in contact with the ice using hot refrigerant; using fluid heated by refrigerant
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18—Storing ice
    • F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
    • F25C5/187—Ice bins therefor with ice level sensing means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine, and, more particularly, to an abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine having a plurality of ice making units each of which circulates ice-making water stored in an ice-making water tank to an ice making part to produce ice blocks.
  • a down flow type automatic ice making machine (hereinafter “down flow type ice making machine”) that causes ice-making water to flow to an ice making part to produce ice blocks is known as an automatic ice making machine that is placed in a kitchen or the like in a restaurant to continuously produce ice.
  • Such down flow type ice making machines include one having a plurality of ice making units with an ice making part and an ice-making water tank, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-69181.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a conventional down flow type ice making machine 12 having two ice making units 10 , 10 .
  • An ice making part 14 in each ice making unit 10 is configured to have plural pairs of ice making plates 16 , 16 in parallel, each pair of ice making plates 16 , 16 being disposed opposite to each other, and an evaporation tube 18 extending from a freezing system (not shown) and disposed between the ice making plates 16 , 16 in a meandering fashion.
  • each ice making unit 10 Provided under each ice making unit 10 is an ice guide plate 20 tilting downward toward another ice making unit 10 .
  • the ice guide plate 20 has a plurality of return holes 22 formed therein to collect ice-making water which has been fed to the ice making part 14 but has not become frozen (unfrozen water) into an underlying ice-making water tank 24 via the return holes 22 .
  • the ice-making water tank 24 lying under the ice guide plate 20 is configured to be able to store a predetermined amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 .
  • a float switch 26 is provided inside the ice-making water tank 24 to be able to detect the amount of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 .
  • An ice-making water supply pipe 28 is connected to the ice-making water tank 24 to feed the ice-making water to the ice making part 14 via the supply pipe 28 .
  • the ice-making water supply pipe 28 is provided with a circulation pump 30 which pumps out the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 to the ice making part 14 .
  • the ice-making water supply pipe 28 is connected to an ice-making water spray pipe 32 extending above the ice making part 14 .
  • An ice storage room 34 open upward is provided under the ice-making water tanks 24 of both ice making units 10 , 10 , so that ice blocks produced by the ice making units 10 , 10 are discharged into the ice storage room 34 .
  • each ice storage detection means 36 which are triggered when the ice storage room 34 becomes full of ice blocks, are provided in the ice storage room 34 . That is, as shown in FIG. 4 , each ice storage detection means 36 is provided in the ice storage room 34 in such a way as to be positioned at the crest portion of a mountain-like bulk (see reference numeral “B” in FIG. 4 ) formed by deposition of the ice blocks produced by each ice making unit 10 , so that control means 38 provided at the down flow type ice making machine 12 stops the ice making operation when the ice storage detection means 36 detects ice blocks.
  • the ice-making water is sprayed onto the ice-making surface of each ice making plate 16 via the ice-making water spray pipe 32 by the circulation pump 30 , and a refrigerant is supplied to the evaporation tube 18 from the freezing system.
  • the ice-making water when flowing down on the ice-making surface cooled by the refrigerant, gradually starts being frozen on the ice-making surface, thereby producing ice blocks on the ice-making surface. Meanwhile, as ice blocks grow, the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 is reduced, so that the float of the float switch 26 moves downward.
  • the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 reaches an ice-making complete water level (see FIG. 4 ). Then, the float switch 26 detects the event, and sends a detection signal to the control means 38 .
  • the control means 38 decides that ice making is completed, terminating the ice making operation. That is, the control means 38 decides that ice making is completed when every float switch 26 , 26 detects the ice-making complete water level.
  • the control means 38 moves to a deicing operation, and feeds a hot gas to the evaporation tube 18 and feeds deicing water of normal temperature to the back side of the ice making plate 16 from a deicing water spray pipe (not shown).
  • a hot gas to the evaporation tube 18 and feeds deicing water of normal temperature to the back side of the ice making plate 16 from a deicing water spray pipe (not shown).
  • the ice making part 14 is heated by the hot gas and the deicing water, causing the ice blocks formed on the ice-making surface to be melted and fall down therefrom.
  • the ice blocks dropped from the ice making part 14 are received and guided by the ice guide plate 20 to be discharged into the ice storage room 34 .
  • a stain formed by deposition of a scale, an impurity or the like on the ice-making surface or the like of the ice making plate 16 may be adhered thereto. If a stain is adhered to one of the ice making plates 16 in one of the ice making units, for example, the stain reduces the heat exchange efficiency, making it difficult to form ice blocks on that ice making plate 16 . Then, the ice-making water to be frozen by the ice making plate 16 where an abnormality has occurred will be frozen by another ice making plate 16 , so that ice blocks larger than the normal size are produced on a normal ice making plate 16 .
  • the ice making unit 10 where the abnormality has occurred, therefore, the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 decreases gradually, so that the timing at which the float switch 26 detects the ice-making complete water level is delayed as compared with the normal case.
  • the ice making operation progresses normally, so that the time needed for completion of the ice making operation is not delayed.
  • jointed ice blocks (hereinafter called “connected ice”) are hard to be deiced in the deicing operation, so that the deicing operation may be terminated with the connected ice remaining on the ice making plate 16 . Then, the connected ice is subjected to ice making again in the ice making operation, resulting in double ice making. In this case, large connected ice is subjected to ice making, which significantly delays the ice making time due to the aforementioned reason.
  • the control means 38 in the conventional down flow type ice making machine 12 decides that an abnormality has occurred and terminates the ice making operation, when the time needed for every float switch 26 , 26 to detect the ice-making complete water level exceeds a preset time (hereinafter called “abnormal delay time”).
  • the conventional abnormality detecting method needs to set the abnormal delay time as large as possible in order to prevent a slight delay of the ice making time from being erroneously detected as an abnormality.
  • an abnormality is detected by the conventional method, therefore, large ice blocks or connected ice may often be produced at the ice making part 14 already, so that the recovery takes time, resulting in an increase in the maintenance cost.
  • ice blocks may deform or damage the ice making plate 16 or the like. That is, the conventional method has a shortcoming that an abnormality cannot be detected until production of abnormal ice blocks progresses considerably.
  • the ice blocks may be caught by the ice guide plate 20 . Then, in the ice making unit 10 where the abnormality has occurred, part of unfrozen water to be collected into the ice-making water tank 24 from the ice making part 14 flows down through the ice blocks on the ice guide plate 20 and falls down into the ice storage room 34 or the like, and may be collected into the ice-making water tank 24 .
  • the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 decreases sooner, so that the ice making unit 10 where the abnormality has occurred detects the ice-making complete water level in a short period of time.
  • the control means 38 does not make an abnormality decision unless the ice making time exceeds the abnormal delay time, and keeps performing the operation.
  • the conventional abnormality detecting method has a drawback that an abnormality which shortens the ice making time cannot be detected.
  • the invention addresses the foregoing inherent problems of the related art, and it is an object of the invention to provide an abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine that can detect an abnormality which delays or shortens the ice making time at an early stage.
  • an abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine comprising a plurality of ice making units each having an ice making part to be cooled by a refrigerant supplied from a freezing system, an ice-making water tank that stores ice-making water, a circulation pump that feeds the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank to the ice making part, and detection means provided at the ice-making water tank to detect an amount of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank, and configured to collect unfrozen water which has been fed to the ice making part but has not been frozen into the ice-making water tank, and control means deciding that ice making is completed when every detection means detects that the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank has reached an ice-making complete water level at a time of an ice making operation,
  • the control means decides that an abnormality has occurred.
  • the abnormality detecting method for an automatic ice making machine according to the invention can quickly detect an abnormality which delays or shortens the ice making time.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a down flow type ice making machine according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for the down flow type ice making machine
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for a down flow type ice making machine according to a modification
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a down flow type ice making machine according to the related art.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of a down flow type ice making machine 40 which executes the abnormality detecting method according to an embodiment.
  • the down flow type ice making machine 40 has a pair of ice making units 41 , 41 .
  • An ice making part 14 in each ice making unit 41 is configured to have plural pairs of ice making plates 16 , 16 , each pair of ice making plates 16 , 16 being disposed opposite to each other, and an evaporation tube 18 extending from a freezing system (not shown) and disposed between the ice making plates 16 , 16 in a meandering fashion.
  • An expansion valve 42 is intervened in each evaporation tube 18 on the inlet side of the ice making part 14 , so that a refrigerant expanded and vaporized through the expansion valve 42 cools down the ice making part 14 .
  • each ice making unit 41 Provided under each ice making unit 41 at a position below the ice making part 14 is an ice guide plate 20 tilting downward toward another ice making unit 41 .
  • the ice guide plate 20 has a plurality of return holes 22 formed therein to collect unfrozen water into an ice-making water tank 24 via the return holes 22 .
  • a float switch (detection means) 26 is provided inside the ice-making water tank 24 to be able to detect the amount of the ice-making water.
  • An ice-making water supply pipe 28 is connected to the ice-making water tank 24 to feed the ice-making water to the ice making part 14 via the supply pipe 28 .
  • the ice-making water supply pipe 28 is provided with a circulation pump 30 which pumps out the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 .
  • the ice-making water supply pipe 28 is connected to an ice-making water spray pipe 32 extending above the ice making part 14 to feed and spray the ice-making water onto the ice-making surface of each ice making plate 16 via the ice-making water spray pipe 32 .
  • the ice-making water tank 24 is provided with a discharge pipe 44 which discharges excessive ice-making water (excessive water) remaining in the ice-making water tank 24 upon completion of the ice making operation.
  • a discharge valve 46 which is normally urged in the direction of closing the discharge pipe 44 by urging means, such as a spring (not shown), is intervened in the discharge pipe 44 . That is, at a normal time, the discharge valve 46 is not naturally released by the pressure of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 , so that the ice-making water is not discharged.
  • the circulation pump 30 rotates reversely (in the direction opposite to the direction at the time of feeding the ice-making water)
  • the water pressure releases the discharge valve 46 against the urging force of the urging means, allowing the excessive water to be discharged outside.
  • An ice storage room 34 open upward is provided under the ice-making water tanks 24 , 24 of both ice making units 41 , 41 to store ice blocks produced by the ice making parts 14 , 14 of both ice making units 41 , 41 .
  • One ice storage detection means 36 which is triggered when the ice storage room 34 becomes full of ice blocks, is provided in the ice storage room 34 in such a way as to be positioned substantially the center of both ice making units 41 , 41 (on a middle line between the ice guide plates 20 ).
  • the ice storage detection means 36 detects an overlapping portion of the skirt portions of heaps of ice blocks deposited in the ice storage room 34 (see reference numeral “A” in FIG. 1 ).
  • the down flow type ice making machine 40 has control means 48 which performs the general operation control and determines an abnormality in the operation based on a detection signal from each float switch 26 .
  • the control means 48 incorporates two timers (first timer 50 and second timer 52 ) which will be described later, and controls the actuation of both timers 50 , 52 .
  • the control means 48 is electrically connected to each float switch 26 to receive a detection signal therefrom when the float switch 26 detects the ice-making complete water level.
  • the control means 48 is so set as to make a decision on the completion of the ice making operation when receiving the detection signal from every float switch 26 , 26 .
  • the control means 48 is also set so as to decide that an abnormality has occurred in any ice making unit 41 upon elapse of a preset first abnormality occurring time after reception of the detection signal from the float switch 26 which has detected the ice-making complete water level first, when the control means 48 has not received the detection signal (last detection of the ice-making complete water level) from the float switch 26 in the other ice making unit 41 (any one of the other ice making units 41 ). That is, the control means 48 makes an abnormality decision based on the difference between the ice making times of both ice making units 41 , 41 (hereinafter called “ice making time difference”). This ice making time difference is measured by the first timer 50 .
  • the first timer 50 starts operating to measure the ice making time difference when the control means 48 first receives the detection signal from any float switch 26 . Accordingly, when an abnormality occurs in one ice making unit 41 to increase the ice making time difference, the control means 48 makes an abnormality decision to be able to detect the abnormality. Further, the control means 48 evenly makes a decision on an abnormality when the time measured by the first timer 50 passes the first abnormality occurring time, so that even when an abnormality which disables detection of the ice-making complete water level (e.g., when the ice-making water does not decrease or the like due to disabled ice making) occurs in one ice making unit 41 , the control means 48 can quickly detect the abnormality.
  • an abnormality which disables detection of the ice-making complete water level e.g., when the ice-making water does not decrease or the like due to disabled ice making
  • the first abnormality occurring time is set according to the ice making performance, the site environment and so forth of the down flow type ice making machine 40 , and the set values can be freely changed through a control panel (not shown). According to the embodiment, the first abnormality occurring time is set to 5 minutes.
  • control means 48 is set so as to decide that abnormalities have occurred in both ice making units 41 , 41 at the same timing when the time from the initiation of the ice making operation to the reception of the detection signal from the last float switch 26 (ice-making completion time) lies within a preset second abnormality occurring time.
  • the ice-making completion time is measured by the second timer 52 .
  • the second timer 52 operates during the period from the initiation of the ice making operation to the last reception of the detection signal of the ice-making complete water level by the control means 48 to measure the ice-making completion time.
  • the second abnormality occurring time like the first abnormality occurring time, is adequately set according to the type of the ice making machine, and the set values can be freely changed through the control panel.
  • the second abnormality occurring time is set to 15 minutes.
  • the circulation pumps 30 , 30 of both ice making units 41 , 41 are actuated to feed the ice-making waters in the ice-making water tanks 24 , 24 to the ice-making surfaces of the individual ice making parts 14 via the ice-making water supply pipes 28 , 28 and the ice-making water spray pipes 32 , 32 .
  • a refrigerant is supplied to each evaporation tube 18 from the freezing system to cool down the ice making part 14 .
  • the control means 48 actuates the second timer 52 to start measuring the ice-making completion time upon initiation of the ice making operation (step S 1 ).
  • the ice-making water supplied to each ice making part 14 exchanges heat with the ice-making surface while flowing down on the ice-making surface, and starts being iced on the ice-making surface.
  • the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 decreases, causing the float of each float switch 26 to move downward.
  • the associated float switch 26 detects the event, and the control means 48 receives the detection signal from the float switch 26 (detection of the first ice-making complete water level; Yes in step S 2 ). Then, the control means 48 actuates the first timer 50 (step S 3 ) to measure the ice making time difference.
  • control means 48 determines whether the time measured by the first timer 50 has passed the first abnormality occurring time or not (step S 4 ). When the time measured by the first timer 50 has not passed the first abnormality occurring time (No in step S 4 ), the control means 48 determines whether the other ice making unit 41 has completed making ice (last ice-making complete water level) or not (step S 5 ).
  • the control means 48 stops the first timer 50 (OFF) (step S 6 ), and determines whether the time measured by the second timer 52 lies within the second abnormality occurring time or not (step S 7 ). Because the ice-making completion time is greater than the second abnormality occurring time (No in step S 7 ) in the normal operation, the control means 48 makes the normal decision and stops the second timer 52 (step S 8 ). Then, the control means 48 terminates the ice making operation and moves to the deicing operation (step S 9 , step S 10 ). Because the excessive water remaining in the ice-making water tank 24 when the ice making operation ice making operation is terminated has a condense impurity, the control means 48 discharges the excessive water before going to the deicing operation. Specifically, the control means 48 reversely rotates the circulation pump 30 of each ice making unit 41 to forcibly release the discharge valve 46 to discharge the excessive water outside.
  • the hot gas is fed to the evaporation tubes 18 , 18 of both ice making units 41 , 41 , and deicing water of normal temperature is fed to the back of the ice making plate 16 from an unillustrated deicing water spray pipe. Consequently, the ice making part 14 is heated by the hot gas and the deicing water, deicing the ice blocks formed on and iced with the ice-making surface, so that the ice blocks slide down on the ice-making surface.
  • the ice blocks dropped from the ice making part 14 are received and guided into the ice storage room 34 by the ice guide plate 20 . At this time, the ice blocks are deposited to form two heaps in the ice storage room 34 (see FIG.
  • the ice making operation and the deicing operation are repeated in a similar manner to carry out automatic ice making.
  • the ice storage detection means 36 detects ice blocks at the overlapping portion of the two heaps, and the control means 48 decides that the ice storage room 34 is full of ice blocks. Then, the control means 48 performs control to stop the ice making operation until the ice storage detection means 36 does not detect ice blocks.
  • the provision of the ice storage detection means 36 at the center position of both ice making units 41 , 41 eliminates the need to provide the ice storage detection means 36 for each ice making unit 41 , thus lowering the product cost.
  • control means 48 receives the detection signal on the first ice-making complete water level from the float switch 26 of the normal ice making unit 41 (Yes in step S 2 ). Then, the control means 48 actuates the first timer 50 (step S 3 ) to start measuring the ice making time difference.
  • the control means 48 decides that an abnormality has occurred in some ice making unit 41 , and stops the first timer 50 (step S 11 ). Then, the control means 48 terminates the ice making operation (step S 12 ), and then carries out abnormality-oriented termination of the operation of the down flow type ice making machine 40 after executing the deicing operation (step S 13 , step S 14 ).
  • the abnormality detecting method makes a decision on an abnormality based on the time elapsed from the detection of the first ice-making complete water level as apparent from the above, an abnormality can be detected at an early stage before ice blocks become large. This facilitates the recovery work for the down flow type ice making machine 40 , and prevents the ice making plate 16 from being deformed or damaged. Further, a decision on an abnormality is evenly made when the measured time passes the first abnormality occurring time, it is unnecessary to wait for a detection signal on the other ice-making complete water level and is possible to detect an abnormality quickly. Note that the factor to delay the ice making time is not limited to the one explained in the foregoing case.
  • an abnormality to delay the ice making time may occur even when the output of one circulation pump 30 drops due to a failure thereof, thereby reducing the amount of the ice-making water supplied to the ice making part 14 .
  • the ice making time may be delayed even when the ice-making water supply pipe 28 or the ice-making water spray pipe 32 in any ice making unit 41 is clogged with a foreign matter, and the ice making water is not supplied to part or all of the ice making plate 16 .
  • multiple ice making may form connected ice, and, what is more, the connected ice may drop from the ice making part 14 and be caught with the ice guide plate 20 in the deicing operation. Then, unfrozen water in the ice making operation may flow along the connected ice caught with the ice guide plate 20 to be discharged into the ice storage room 34 or the like, and may not be collected in the ice-making water tank 24 . As a result, the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 decreases quickly, and the float switch 26 of the ice making unit 41 where an abnormality has occurred detects the ice-making complete water level at an earlier timing than that in the normal case. In this case, the control means 48 receives the detection signal from the float switch 26 of the ice making unit 41 where an abnormality (connected ice) has occurred (Yes in step S 2 ), and actuates the first timer 50 (step S 3 ).
  • the ice making time difference between both ice making units 41 , 41 is large, so that the abnormal ice making unit 41 cannot receive a detection signal on the ice-making complete water level from the normal ice making unit 41 within the first abnormality occurring time after the detection of the first ice-making complete water level. That is, the time measured by the first timer 50 passes the first abnormality occurring time before the abnormal ice making unit 41 receives the detection signal on the ice-making complete water level from the normal ice making unit 41 (Yes in step S 4 ), the control means 48 decides that an abnormality has occurred in some ice making unit 41 (step S 11 ), and terminates the ice making operation (step S 12 ).
  • the control means 48 stops the operation of the down flow type ice making machine 40 after executing the deicing operation (step S 13 , step S 14 ). Hence, even when an abnormality to shorten the ice making time occurs, the abnormality detecting method according to the embodiment can detect the abnormality at an early stage.
  • the factor to shorten the ice making time is not limited to what has been mentioned in the foregoing case.
  • a foreign matter may enter the discharge valve 46 of the discharge pipe 44 provided at some ice-making water tank 24 , causing the discharge valve 46 to be always open.
  • the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 24 is naturally discharged via the discharge pipe 44 , so that the float switch 26 in this ice-making water tank 24 detects the ice-making complete water level at a very early stage.
  • the ice storage detection means 36 provided at the ice storage room 34 fails, the ice making operation/deicing operation continues even if the ice storage room 34 is full of ice blocks.
  • the ice blocks overflows to the ice guide plate 20 , thereby preventing unfrozen water from being collected into the ice-making water tank 24 in the ice making operation.
  • the ice-making water decreases faster, so that the float switch 26 detects the ice-making complete water level at a very early timing.
  • the control means 48 does not decide the occurrence of an abnormality in step S 4 . In this case, however, the control means 48 can detect an abnormality based on the time measured by the second timer 52 (ice-making completion time).
  • the control means 48 determines whether the ice-making completion time lies within the second abnormality occurring time or not (step S 7 ), and decides that abnormalities have occurred simultaneously in both ice making units 41 . 41 (step S 15 ) when the ice-making completion time is less than the second abnormality occurring time (Yes in step S 7 ). Then, the control means 48 terminates the ice making operation (step S 16 ), and stops the operation of the down flow type ice making machine 40 after executing the deicing operation (step S 17 , step S 18 ). Even if abnormalities to shorten the ice making time simultaneously occur in both ice making units 41 , 41 , therefore, the abnormality detecting method according to the embodiment can surely detect the abnormalities based on the time measured by the second timer 52 .
  • the abnormality detecting method according to the invention can be implemented even in an ice making machine having one ice making unit 41 or three or more ice making units 41 .
  • the abnormality detecting method in case of using three ice making units 41 will be briefly described referring to FIG. 3 .
  • the second timer 52 is actuated (step S 1 ) to measure the ice-making completion time.
  • the control means 48 actuates the first timer 50 (step S 3 ).
  • control means 48 determines whether the time measured by the first timer 50 passes the first abnormality occurring time or not (step S 4 ).
  • the detection of the (second) ice-making complete water level is carried out in another ice making unit 41 within the first abnormality occurring time (No in step S 4 , Yes in step S 5 ).
  • the control means 48 determines again whether the time measured by the first timer 50 passes the first abnormality occurring time or not (step S 6 ). If an abnormality to delay the ice making time has occurred in the remaining ice making unit 41 , the last (third) ice-making complete water level will not be detected within the first abnormality occurring time (Yes in step S 6 ), the control means 48 decides the occurrence of an abnormality, and then terminates the ice making operation (step S 8 , step S 9 ). Then, the control means 48 executes abnormality-originated termination of the ice making machine after executing the deicing operation (step S 10 , step S 11 ).
  • the control means 48 decides the occurrence of an abnormality (see steps S 12 to S 15 ).
  • step S 7 When every one of the ice making units 41 , 41 , 41 is normal (Yes in step S 7 ), the first timer 50 is stopped (step S 16 ), and then it is determined whether or not the time measured by the second timer 52 (ice-making completion time) lies within the second abnormality occurring time (step S 17 ), as per the embodiment. In the normal case (No. in step S 17 ), the control means 48 decides the operation as normal (steps S 18 to S 20 ). When abnormalities simultaneously occur in the three ice making units 41 , 41 , 41 , the time measured by the second timer 52 lies within the second abnormality occurring time (Yes in step S 17 ), so that the control means 48 decides the occurrence of abnormalities (steps S 21 to S 24 ).
  • the float switch 26 is used as detection means in the embodiment, another means, such as a water level sensor, which can detect the ice-making complete water level may be employed adequately.
  • a water level sensor which can detect the ice-making complete water level.
  • the abnormality detecting method according to the invention may be adapted to other automatic ice making machines, such as a spray type ice making machine having a plurality of ice making units.
  • a decision on an abnormality is carried out using the first timer 50 and the second timer 52 in the embodiment, the ice making time difference and the ice making time may be measured using a single timer.
  • the abnormality detecting method according to the embodiment may be combined with the above-described abnormality detecting method according to the related art to detect an abnormality. Specifically, even when the time when every float switch 26 detects the ice-making complete water level (ice-making completion time) exceeds a preset abnormality occurring time, the control means 48 may make a decision on an abnormality. Accordingly, even when abnormalities to delay the ice making time simultaneously occur in all the ice making units 41 , the abnormalities can be detected. Furthermore, a method of allowing the control means 48 to make a decision on an abnormality may be added when the time till the detection of the first ice-making complete water level after the start of the ice making operation lies within a predetermined time.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
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