US20180202699A1 - Ice making apparatus - Google Patents
Ice making apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20180202699A1 US20180202699A1 US15/873,497 US201815873497A US2018202699A1 US 20180202699 A1 US20180202699 A1 US 20180202699A1 US 201815873497 A US201815873497 A US 201815873497A US 2018202699 A1 US2018202699 A1 US 2018202699A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ice
- ice making
- main body
- water
- refrigerant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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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
- F25C1/04—Producing ice by using stationary moulds
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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
- F25C1/08—Producing ice by immersing freezing chambers, cylindrical bodies or plates into water
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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
- F25C1/04—Producing ice by using stationary moulds
- F25C1/06—Producing ice by using stationary moulds open or openable at both ends
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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
- F25C1/16—Producing ice by partially evaporating water in a vacuum
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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
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting 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
- 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
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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
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/18—Storing ice
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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
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B47/00—Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
- F25B47/02—Defrosting cycles
- F25B47/022—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting
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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
- F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
- F25C2400/04—Ice guide, e.g. for guiding ice blocks to storage tank
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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
- F25C2600/00—Control issues
- F25C2600/04—Control means
-
- 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
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
- Y02P60/80—Food processing, e.g. use of renewable energies or variable speed drives in handling, conveying or stacking
- Y02P60/85—Food storage or conservation, e.g. cooling or drying
Definitions
- the disclosure relates to an ice making apparatus.
- the ice making apparatus includes an ice maker and a water spurting unit.
- the ice maker includes an ice making chamber unit and an evaporation pipe.
- the ice making chamber unit is structured in such a manner that a plurality of ice making sub-chambers referred to as so-called cells are arranged in front-and-back directions and left-and-right directions, each of the sub-chambers having an opening in the downward direction.
- the evaporation pipe is provided so as to be thermally connected to a top plate of the ice making chamber unit.
- the evaporation pipe is configured to structure a refrigeration cycle, together with a compressor that compresses refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and an expansion mechanism that causes an adiabatic expansion by decompressing the refrigerant condensed by the condenser.
- the evaporation pipe cools the ice making chamber unit to a temperature below freezing, as a result of passing and evaporating of the refrigerant which was caused to have the adiabatic expansion by the expansion mechanism.
- the water spurting unit is configured to spurt water that has been stored in a cooled state in a water storage, toward each of the ice making sub-chambers.
- the ice making chamber unit when the ice making process performed in the ice making chamber unit is completed, the ice making chamber unit is heated by the refrigerant (hot gas) going through the evaporation pipe, the refrigerant having been compressed by the compressor with the use of a bypass pipeline structuring the refrigeration cycle.
- the ice blocks formed in the ice making sub-chambers fall down with predetermined timing and are supplied to an ice storage chamber used for storing ice therein.
- an ice making apparatus includes: a water storage configured to cool and store therein water supplied to the water storage; an ice maker configured to make ice from the water stored in the water storage; and an ice conveyer configured to convey the ice made by the ice maker to an ice storage used for storing ice in the ice storage.
- the ice maker is configured to cool a part of the water stored in the water storage that is positioned in an upper section to make the ice.
- an ice making apparatus includes: a water storage configured to cool and store therein water supplied to the water storage; an ice maker configured to make ice from the water stored in the water storage; and an ice conveyer configured to convey the ice made by the ice maker to an ice storage used for storing ice in the ice storage.
- the ice maker includes: an ice making main body including a hollow part; and a refrigerant pipe including a refrigerant passage, the refrigerant pipe connecting with the ice making main body thermally.
- the ice maker is configured to cool water that has entered the hollow part of the ice making main body to make the ice when refrigerant passes through the refrigerant passage.
- the ice conveyer includes a pusher member configured to reciprocate between a first position at which the pusher member substantially closes a lower face opening of the hollow part and a second position at which the pusher member having gone through the hollow part protrudes above an upper face opening of the hollow part.
- the pusher member is arranged at the first position in a normal state, whereas when a convey command is issued, the pusher member is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position and be subsequently moved to the first position.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that schematically illustrates an ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an enlarged view of a relevant part of the ice making apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice maker illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice conveyer in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an enlarged view of an upper wall part of the ice storage in FIGS. 1 and 2 ;
- FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a relevant part of the ice making apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating contents of processing in an ice making control process performed by a controlling unit in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 8 is another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 9 is yet another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 10 is yet another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a relevant part of an ice making apparatus according to a modification example of the embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a relevant part of an ice making apparatus according to another modification example of the embodiment of the disclosure.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to yet another modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating, while omitting the case on the upper side, an internal structure of a driving unit included in the ice conveyer in FIG. 13 ;
- FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer in FIGS. 13 and 14 ;
- FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer in FIGS. 13 and 14 ;
- FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the relevant part in FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an conveyer according to the modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure
- FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer illustrated in FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to the modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure.
- FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the relevant part of the ice conveyer illustrated in FIG. 20 .
- FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that schematically illustrates an ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
- An ice making apparatus 10 illustrated in the drawing is configured so as to include a water storage 20 , an ice maker 30 , and an ice conveyer 40 .
- the water storage 20 is placed on a base 11 and is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that has, in an upper wall part 21 , a plurality of (eight) upper wall openings 21 a (see FIG. 5 ) arranged in a row in the left-and-right direction.
- the water storage 20 has, in a right wall part 22 , an inlet port 22 a that is connected to a water supply line 50 via the inlet port 22 a.
- the water supply line 50 is a passage used for supplying water to the water storage 20 .
- a water supply pump 51 is provided somewhere in the middle of the water supply line 50 .
- the water supply pump 51 is configured to be driven according to a command issued from a controlling unit 1 .
- the water supply pump 51 structures a water supply unit for supplying water to the water storage 20 via the water supply line 50 when being driven.
- the water storage 20 is provided with a cooling unit (not illustrated) for cooling the stored water. The stored water is cooled by the cooling unit to approximately 4° C.
- the controlling unit 1 is a controller for controlling, in an integrated manner, operations of functional units of the ice making apparatus 10 according to a computer program and data stored in a memory (not illustrated).
- the controlling unit 1 may be realized by causing a processing apparatus such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to execute a computer program, i.e., realized with software, or may be realized with hardware such as an Integrated Circuit (IC).
- the controlling unit 1 may be realized by using both software and hardware.
- the ice maker 30 is configured to include an ice making main body 31 and a refrigerant pipe 32 .
- the ice making main body 31 is formed by using aluminum.
- the ice making main body 31 is structured in such a manner that a plurality of (eight) tubular bodies 31 a are continuous with one another while being arranged in a row in the left-and-right direction, each tubular body 31 a having a hollow part 311 extending in the up-and-down direction.
- the ice making main body 31 is installed as being placed on the upper wall part 21 in such a manner that each lower face opening 311 a (see FIG. 3 , etc.) of the hollow parts 311 corresponds to a different one of the upper wall openings 21 a to communicate with one another.
- the width in the front-and-back direction and the width in the left-and-right direction of each of the hollow parts 311 are substantially equal to the width in the front-and-back direction and the width in the left-and-right direction of each of the upper wall openings 21 a.
- the ice maker 30 is provided with a water level sensor 33 .
- the water level sensor 33 is configured to detect whether or not the level of the water that has entered the hollow parts 311 has reached an upper limit. When the water level has reached the upper limit, the water level sensor 33 is configured to send a signal to the controlling unit 1 to indicate that the water level has been reached the upper limit.
- the refrigerant pipe 32 is formed by using aluminum, similarly to the ice making main body 31 described above. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the refrigerant pipe 32 is configured with a flat-shaped multi-hole pipe in which a plurality of refrigerant passages 321 are arranged in a row.
- the refrigerant pipe 32 is provided in the surroundings of the ice making main body 31 while the internal faces thereof are thermally connected to the front face and the rear face of the ice making main body 31 .
- the refrigerant pipe 32 has, at one end thereof, an entrance header 32 a communicating with the refrigerant passages 321 and has, at the other end thereof, an exit header 32 b communicating with the refrigerant passages 321 .
- the refrigerant pipe 32 structures a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor 61 , a condenser 62 , and an expansion mechanism 63 .
- the refrigeration cycle is structured by sequentially connecting the compressor 61 , the condenser 62 , the expansion mechanism 63 , and the refrigerant pipe 32 , with a refrigerant pipeline 64 .
- the refrigeration cycle has a refrigerant circuit 60 having refrigerant enclosed therein.
- a suction unit of the compressor 61 is connected to the exit header 32 b via the refrigerant pipeline 64 .
- the compressor 61 is configured to be driven when a drive command is issued from the controlling unit 1 . When being driven, the compressor 61 is configured to suck in and compress the refrigerant from the refrigerant pipe 32 and to discharge the compressed refrigerant via a discharge unit.
- the entrance of the condenser 62 is connected to the discharge unit of the compressor 61 via the refrigerant pipeline 64 .
- the condenser 62 is configured to condense the refrigerant discharged by the compressor 61 , by performing a heat exchange process with ambient air.
- a first valve 65 is provided somewhere in the middle of the refrigerant pipeline 64 connecting the compressor 61 and the condenser 62 to each other.
- the first valve 65 is a valve member that opens and closes in response to a command issued from the controlling unit 1 . While in an open state, the first valve 65 is configured to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 61 to pass toward the condenser 62 . In contrast, while in a closed state, the first valve 65 is configured to regulate the passing, toward the condenser 62 , of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 61 .
- the expansion mechanism 63 is structured by using a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, and the like, for example.
- the entrance side of the expansion mechanism 63 is connected to the exit of the condenser 62 via the refrigerant pipeline 64 . Further, the exit side of the expansion mechanism 63 is connected to the entrance header 32 a via the refrigerant pipeline 64 .
- the expansion mechanism 63 is configured to cause an adiabatic expansion by decompressing the refrigerant condensed by the condenser 62 and to supply the resulting refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe 32 .
- a bypass pipeline 66 is provided so as to branch, on the upstream side of the first valve 65 , from the refrigerant pipeline 64 connecting the compressor 61 and the condenser 62 to each other and so as to merge with the refrigerant pipeline 64 somewhere in the middle thereof, the refrigerant pipeline 64 connecting the expansion mechanism 63 and the entrance header 32 a to each other.
- a second valve 67 is provided somewhere in the middle of the bypass pipeline 66 .
- the second valve 67 is a valve member that opens and closes in response to a command issued from the controlling unit 1 . While in an open state, the second valve 67 is configured to allow the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 61 to pass toward the entrance header 32 a via the bypass pipeline 66 . In contrast, while in a closed state, the second valve 67 is configured to regulate the passing, through the bypass pipeline 66 , of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 61 .
- the refrigerant pipe 32 is configured to cool or heat the ice making main body 31 that is thermally connected thereto, with the passing of the refrigerant through the refrigerant passages 321 , the refrigerant having flowed into the refrigerant pipe 32 via the entrance header 32 a.
- the refrigerant pipe 32 cools the ice making main body 31 to a temperature below freezing as a result of evaporation of the refrigerant.
- the refrigerant pipe 32 heats the ice making main body 31 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice conveyer 40 in FIG. 1 .
- the ice conveyer 40 is configured to include pusher members 41 and a driving unit 42 .
- a plurality of (eight in the illustrated example) pusher members 41 are provided.
- Each of the pusher members 41 corresponds to a different one of the tubular bodies 31 a (the hollow parts 311 ) of the ice making main body 31 .
- Each of the pusher members 41 is structured by integrally forming a base part 411 and an upper end part 412 together.
- the base part 411 is a long member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction. As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in a rear end section of the base part 411 , the base part 411 is provided with a projection piece 411 a projecting in the left-and-right direction in the base part 411 . Further, in a front end part of the base part 411 , the base part 411 is provided with a base gear part 411 b including a plurality of teeth.
- the projection piece 411 a of the base part 411 has entered a groove part 23 a that is formed in the water storage 20 so as to be continuous with the upper wall part 21 at a rear wall part 23 . As a result, the pusher members 41 that are movable in the up-and-down directions are provided in the water storage 20 .
- the upper end part 412 is provided so as to be continuous with an upper end section of the base part 411 and so as to be protrude more forward than the front end of the base part 411 .
- the upper end part 412 has such a dimension that the width thereof in the front-and-back direction is slightly smaller than the width of a corresponding one the upper wall openings 21 a in the front-and-back direction and the width of a corresponding one of the hollow parts 311 in the front-and-back direction.
- the upper end part 412 has such a dimension that the width thereof in the left-and-right direction is slightly smaller than the width of a corresponding one of the upper wall openings 21 a in the left-and-right direction and the width of a corresponding one of the hollow parts 311 in the left-and-right direction. Further, an upper face 412 a of the upper end part 412 is sloped gradually downward toward the front thereof.
- the driving unit 42 is configured to include a motor 421 and a transmitting unit 422 .
- the motor 421 is a driving source that performs a driving operation in response to a command issued from the controlling unit 1 .
- the rotation of the motor 421 may be reversible where, when a normal rotation drive command is issued from the controlling unit 1 , the motor 421 performs a normal rotation driving operation, whereas when a reverse rotation drive command is issued from the controlling unit 1 , the motor 421 performs a reverse rotation driving operation.
- the transmitting unit 422 is configured to transmit the rotation drive of the motor 421 to a shaft part 43 .
- the shaft part 43 is provided on the inside of the water storage 20 so as to be rotatable on the central axis thereof between the right wall part 22 and a left wall part 24 .
- the shaft part 43 has a plurality of (eight) transmission parts 44 attached thereto, the transmission parts 44 being positioned at intervals at which the pusher members 41 are arranged.
- Each of the transmission parts 44 is a circular cylindrical member attached to the shaft part 43 so as to protrude toward the radially outside of the shaft part 43 .
- Each of the transmission parts 44 has a transmission gear part 44 a formed on the circumferential surface thereof, the transmission gear part 44 a being structured with a plurality of teeth. A part of each of the transmission gear parts 44 a is engaged with a part of a corresponding one of the base gear parts 411 b.
- the transmitting unit 422 is provided with a pusher position detecting unit 422 a, such as an encoder for example, that is configured to detect the positions of the pusher members 41 on the basis of a rotation drive force applied from the motor 421 to the shaft part 43 .
- a pusher position detecting unit 422 a such as an encoder for example, that is configured to detect the positions of the pusher members 41 on the basis of a rotation drive force applied from the motor 421 to the shaft part 43 .
- the pusher position detecting unit 422 a is configured to send information indicating that the pusher members 41 are positioned at the lower end position to the controlling unit 1 as a detection signal.
- the pusher position detecting unit 422 a When detecting that the pusher members 41 are positioned at an upper end position (a second position) serving as an upper limit, the pusher position detecting unit 422 a is configured to send information indicating that the pusher members 41 are positioned at the upper end position to the controlling unit 1 as a detection signal. With these arrangements, the pusher members 41 are capable of moving along the up-and-down directions between the lower end position and the upper end position. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , when the pusher members 41 are arranged at the lower end position, each of the upper end parts 412 substantially closes the lower face opening 311 a of a corresponding one of the hollow parts 311 .
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating contents of processing in the ice making controlling process performed by the controlling unit 1 in FIG. 1 .
- the first valve 65 is in the open state, while the second valve 67 is in the closed state, that the water stored in the water storage 20 is cooled to approximately 4° C., and that the water in the water storage 20 has reached the upper limit water level and entered the hollow parts 311 . Further, it is assumed that the pusher members 41 are arranged in the lower end position.
- the controlling unit 1 sends a drive command to the compressor 61 and starts clocking time by using a built-in clock (step S 101 ; step S 102 ). Accordingly, in the refrigerant circuit 60 , the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 61 is condensed by the condenser 62 and, after being caused to have an adiabatic expansion by the expansion mechanism 63 , the refrigerant passes through the refrigerant passages 321 in the refrigerant pipe 32 . As a result of evaporation of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant passages 321 , the ice making main body 31 is cooled to a temperature below freezing.
- the controlling unit 1 repeatedly performs the process of driving the water supply pump 51 by sending a drive command thereto and stopping the driving of the water supply pump 51 by sending a drive stop command thereto, until an ice making time period determined in advance elapses (step S 103 ; step S 104 ; step S 105 : No).
- step S 101 above in the locations near the inner wall surfaces of the hollow parts 311 of the ice making main body 31 , water gets frozen so that ice is made and gradually grows as illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- the controlling unit 1 and the water supply pump 51 structure a water flowing unit for moving the water provided in the ice maker 30 to flow during making ice by the ice maker 30 .
- step S 105 when the time started being clocked at step S 102 has reached the ice making time period, ice blocks are formed, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , in the hollow parts 311 of the ice making main body 31 . Accordingly, when the ice making time period has elapsed (step S 105 : Yes), the controlling unit 1 ends the clocking of time using the clock and sends a close command to the first valve 65 . Also, the controlling unit 1 sends an open command to the second valve 67 (step S 106 ; step S 107 ).
- the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 61 passes through the bypass pipeline 66 and passes through the refrigerant passages 321 of the refrigerant pipe 32 as hot gas.
- the ice making main body 31 is heated, and boundary portions of the ice blocks that are in contact with the inner wall surfaces of the hollow parts 311 are melted.
- the controlling unit 1 that has performed the process at step S 107 sends a normal rotation drive command to the motor 421 (step S 108 ).
- the motor 421 performs a normal rotation driving operation in this manner, the rotation drive force thereof is transmitted to the shaft part 43 via the transmitting unit 422 , and the shaft part 43 turns clockwise as viewed from the left.
- the shaft part 43 turning clockwise as viewed from the left
- the transmission parts 44 also turning clockwise as viewed from the left
- the pusher members 41 engaged with the transmission parts 44 move upward from the lower end position and go through the hollow parts 311 .
- the pusher members 41 have moved upward in this manner, it is possible to press and move the ice blocks upward, the ice blocks being formed in the hollow parts 311 and having the boundary portions thereof with the ice making main body 31 melted.
- step S 109 When the pusher position detecting unit 422 a issues a detection signal indicating that the pusher members 41 are arranged at the upper end position where the pusher members 41 are protruding above an upper face openings 311 b of the hollow parts 311 as illustrated in FIG. 10 (step S 109 : Yes), the controlling unit 1 sends a reverse rotation drive command to the motor 421 (step S 110 ).
- the ice blocks that have moved upward together with the pusher members 41 follow the slopes formed by the upper faces 412 a of the upper end parts 412 of the pusher members 41 , move along forward, and are put and stored, as ice, into an ice storage 70 used for storing ice therein.
- the ice conveyer 40 conveys the ice made by the ice maker 30 to the ice storage 70 .
- step S 111 When the pusher position detecting unit 422 a issues a detection signal indicating that the pusher members 41 are arranged at the lower end position where the upper end parts 412 substantially close the lower face openings 311 a of the hollow parts 311 as illustrated in FIG. 6 (step S 111 : Yes), the controlling unit 1 sends a drive stop command to the motor 421 (step S 112 ) to stop the driving of the motor 421 .
- the ice conveyer 40 moves the pusher members 41 from the lower end position to the upper end position and subsequently moves the pusher members 41 from the upper end position to the lower end position.
- the controlling unit 1 Having sent the drive stop command to the motor 421 , the controlling unit 1 sends an open command to the first valve 65 and also sends a close command to the second valve 67 (step S 113 ), so as to cool the ice making main body 31 . Subsequently, the controlling unit 1 sends a drive command to the water supply pump 51 , and stands by until a signal indicating that the water level has reached the upper limit is input thereto from the water level sensor 33 (step S 114 ; step S 115 ).
- step S 115 When a signal indicating that the water level has reached the upper limit is issued from the water level sensor 33 (step S 115 : Yes), the controlling unit 1 sends a drive stop command to the water supply pump 51 (step S 116 ).
- the controlling unit 1 After that, until an ice making stop command is issued from the superordinate device, the controlling unit 1 repeatedly performs the processes at steps S 102 through S 116 (step S 117 : No). Accordingly, the process of making ice is repeatedly performed by cooling, in a concentrated manner, such a part of the water stored in the water storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section.
- step S 117 When an ice making stop command is issued from the superordinate device (step S 117 : Yes), the controlling unit 1 sends a drive stop command to the compressor 61 (step S 118 ), subsequently returns the procedure to the start, and end the process at this time.
- the ice maker 30 makes the ice by cooling such a part of the water stored in the water storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section. It is therefore possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, the water that is nearly frozen and has small density. Accordingly, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in the water storage 20 to a nearly freezing temperature. As a result, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy.
- the ice making main body 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 structuring the ice maker 30 are each formed by using aluminum, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs and to enhance heat transfer capability.
- the ice making main body 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 are joined together by using the same type of metal, there is no possibility that a galvanic corrosion or the like may occur, which is regarded as a problem in a conventional method where mutually-different types of metals such as copper and stainless steel are joined together.
- the ice making main body 31 is formed in such a manner that the plurality of tubular bodies 31 a are continuous with one another, while the refrigerant pipe 32 has a flat shape in which the plurality of refrigerant passages 321 are arranged in a row. Accordingly, the thermal connection between the ice making main body 31 and the refrigerant pipe 32 is realized with surface contact. It is therefore possible to enhance the heat transfer efficiency by increasing the heat transfer area.
- the upper end parts 412 substantially close the lower face openings 311 a of the hollow parts 311 in the ice making main body 31 .
- the upper end parts 412 substantially close the lower face openings 311 a of the hollow parts 311 in the ice making main body 31 .
- the upper faces 412 a of the upper end parts 412 of the pusher members 41 are sloped gradually downward toward the front, it is possible to put the ice into the ice storage 70 , by simply arranging the pusher members 41 to be at the upper end position where the pusher members 41 protrude above from the upper face openings 311 b of the hollow parts 311 . It is therefore sufficient to simply move the pusher members 41 in the up-and-down directions. Consequently, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the device.
- the pusher members 41 are engaged with the shaft part 43 provided in common thereto, via the transmission parts 44 , and are driven by the motor 421 serving as the driving source provided in common thereto. It is therefore possible to decrease the number of component parts, compared to the situation where a driving source is individually connected to each of the pusher members 41 . It is therefore possible to reduce manufacturing costs.
- the water in the ice maker 30 is moved to flow, by the raising and the lowering of the level of the water stored in the water storage 20 , as a result of the controlling unit 1 repeatedly driving and stopping the driving of the water supply pump 51 until the ice making time period elapses. It is therefore possible to eliminate air bubbles that may be contained in the water when the water gets frozen, by varying the flowing speed of the water in the ice maker 30 . Consequently, it is possible to make clear ice.
- the plurality of transmission parts 44 are attached to the shaft part 43 while being positioned at the intervals at which the pusher members 41 are arranged.
- a transmission part 45 provided in common to the pusher members 41 is engaged therewith.
- FIG. 12 yet another arrangement is also acceptable in which the lower end parts of the pusher members 41 are linked together by a linking member 46 so as to be integrally formed, while a transmission part 47 attached to the shaft part 43 is engaged with any one of the pusher members 41 .
- each of the pusher members may be configured to move in the up-and-down directions by individually having applied thereto a drive force from a driving unit.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to yet another modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure. Some of the constituent elements that are the same as those in the embodiment described above will be referred to by using the same reference characters, and the explanations thereof will be omitted.
- An ice conveyer 40 ′ in the present example is configured so as to include a driving unit 80 and a pusher member 41 ′.
- the driving unit 80 is configured so as to include a mechanism main body 90 , an output member 100 , and an engagement member 110 .
- the mechanism main body 90 is a casing member structured by joining together a pair made up of upper and lower cases 91 and 92 . As illustrated in FIG. 14 , the mechanism main body 90 has a housing space 93 on the inside thereof. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the mechanism main body 90 has formed therein a main body through bore that penetrates in the up-and-down direction.
- the output member 100 is configured by using resin such as plastic, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the output member 100 includes an output main body unit 101 and an output transmitting unit 102 .
- the output main body unit 101 is a circular cylindrical member of which the central axis extends in the up-and-down direction.
- the output transmitting unit 102 is provided in an upper end section of the output main body unit 101 so as to protrude radially outward.
- the output transmitting unit 102 is an annular member of which the outside diameter is larger than the output main body unit 101 .
- an output gear part 102 a structured with a plurality of teeth is formed on the lateral circumferential surface of the output transmitting unit 102 .
- the output member 100 configured as described above is provided for the mechanism main body 90 in such a manner that the output main body unit 101 is inserted through the main body through bore while the central axis thereof is aligned with the central axis of the main body through bore and that the output transmitting unit 102 is installed in the housing space 93 .
- the output member 100 configured as described above is linked, via a gear unit 94 , to an output shaft 95 a of a motor 95 serving as a driving source and being installed in the housing space 93 , as a result of the output gear part 102 a of the output transmitting unit 102 being engaged with a linkage gear 94 a structuring the gear unit 94 .
- the output member 100 is configured to turn on the central axis counterclockwise as viewed from above, as a drive force from the motor 95 is applied thereto.
- the engagement member 110 is configured by using resin such as plastic, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the engagement member 110 is configured so as to include an engagement main body unit 111 and an engagement regulating unit 112 .
- the engagement main body unit 111 is a circular cylindrical member of which the central axis extends in the up-and-down direction.
- the outside diameter of the engagement main body unit 111 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of a hollow part 101 a of the output main body unit 101 .
- the engagement main body unit 111 has a cut-out part 111 a formed therein and also has formed a locking hook part 111 b extending the cut-out part 111 a downward.
- a plurality of engagement projections 111 c are formed in a part of a front-end outer circumferential part of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the engagement regulating unit 112 is integrally formed with the engagement main body unit 111 so as to close the upper face opening of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the engagement regulating unit 112 is a disc-shaped member larger than the inside diameter of the main body through bore described above.
- the engagement regulating unit 112 has formed, in a central section thereof, a circular opening 112 a of which the center is aligned with the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the inside diameter of the circular opening 112 a is equal to the inside diameter of a hollow part 111 d of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the engagement member 110 configured as described above is attached to the output member 100 as a result of: the engagement main body unit 111 entering the hollow part 101 a of the output main body unit 101 from above; the engagement projections 111 c being fitted into engagement recesses 101 b formed in an upper-end-side inner part of the output main body unit 101 ; and a tip end part of the locking hook part 111 b being locked with a part of a lower edge part of the output main body unit 101 .
- the engagement member 110 is attached to the output member 100 in such a manner that the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 is aligned with the central axis of the output main body unit 101 . With these arrangements, the engagement member 110 turns on the central axis thereof, integrally with the output member 100 .
- the engagement member 110 when the motor 95 is performing a driving operation, the engagement member 110 is configured to turn on the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 (the central axis of the main body through bore and the central axis of the output main body unit 101 ) counterclockwise as viewed from above, together with the output member 100 .
- the pusher member 41 ′ corresponds to the tubular bodies 31 a (the hollow part 311 ) of the ice making main body 31 .
- the pusher member 41 ′ is structured by integrally forming a base part 411 ′ and an upper end part 412 that is continuous with an upper end section of the base part 411 ′ and that protrudes forward farther than the front end of the base part 411 ′.
- the base part 411 ′ is a long member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction. As illustrated in FIG. 13 , the base part 411 ′ has a Napier screw part 121 formed therein.
- the Napier screw part 121 is a primary constituent element of the base part 411 ′.
- the Napier screw part 121 is a long circular columnar member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction.
- the outside diameter of the Napier screw part 121 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the hollow part 111 d of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- a screw groove 121 a is formed in a lateral part of the Napier screw part 121 .
- the screw groove 121 a is structured by forming a first groove part 121 a 1 spirally extending in one direction and a second groove part 121 a 2 spirally extending in the other direction that are each centered on a central axis L of the base part 411 ′, while the first groove part 121 a 1 and the second groove part 121 a 2 are continuous with each other.
- the regulating piece 413 is a plate-like member of which the width dimension in the direction orthogonal to the central axis L of the base part 411 ′ is larger than the inside diameter of the hollow part 111 d of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the base part 411 ′ configured as described above has entered the hollow part 111 d of the engagement main body unit 111 in such a manner that the central axis L of the base part 411 ′ is aligned with the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the central axis of the main body through bore, the central axis of the output main body unit 101 , the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 , and the central axis L of the base part 411 ′ are aligned with one another.
- the engagement member 110 includes an engagement operating unit 113 .
- the engagement operating unit 113 is provided by being pressed, from the outside, into a support bore 111 e formed in a lateral part of the engagement main body unit 111 .
- the engagement operating unit 113 is provided with a boat-shaped engagement piece 113 a.
- the engagement piece 113 a has entered the screw groove 121 a formed in the base part 411 ′.
- the engagement member 110 turns on the central axis L of the base part 411 ′ in the one direction.
- the pusher member 41 ′ reciprocates in the up-and-down directions along the direction of the central axis L.
- the water in the ice maker 30 is moved to flow by the raising and the lowering of the level of the water stored in the water storage 20 , as a result of the controlling unit 1 repeatedly driving and stopping the driving of the water supply pump 51 until the ice making time period elapses; however, another arrangement is acceptable in which, the water in the ice maker 30 is moved to flow, by causing the pusher members 41 to reciprocate in the up-and-down directions during making the ice by the ice maker 30 . With this arrangement also, it is possible to eliminate air bubbles that may be contained in the water when the water gets frozen and to thus make clear ice. Further, it is also acceptable to raise and lower the water level by opening and closing a drainage port formed in the water storage by using a drainage valve, while the water supply pump 51 is being driven.
- the ice maker makes the ice by cooling such a part of the water stored in the water storage that is positioned in the upper section, it is possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, water that is nearly frozen and has low density. Accordingly, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in the water storage to a nearly freezing temperature. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to also decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, an advantageous effect is achieved where it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy.
- the pusher members structuring the ice conveyer substantially close the lower face openings of the hollow parts of the ice making main body while being arranged at the first position, it is possible to separate the part of water that has entered the hollow parts from another part of water that is stored in the water storage.
Abstract
Description
- The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-007650 filed in Japan on Jan. 19, 2017, Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-038260 filed in Japan on Mar. 1, 2017 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-038468 filed in Japan on Mar. 1, 2017.
- The disclosure relates to an ice making apparatus.
- In the related art, an ice making apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2016-217549 has been well known. The ice making apparatus includes an ice maker and a water spurting unit.
- The ice maker includes an ice making chamber unit and an evaporation pipe. The ice making chamber unit is structured in such a manner that a plurality of ice making sub-chambers referred to as so-called cells are arranged in front-and-back directions and left-and-right directions, each of the sub-chambers having an opening in the downward direction. The evaporation pipe is provided so as to be thermally connected to a top plate of the ice making chamber unit. The evaporation pipe is configured to structure a refrigeration cycle, together with a compressor that compresses refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and an expansion mechanism that causes an adiabatic expansion by decompressing the refrigerant condensed by the condenser. The evaporation pipe cools the ice making chamber unit to a temperature below freezing, as a result of passing and evaporating of the refrigerant which was caused to have the adiabatic expansion by the expansion mechanism.
- When a drive command is issued, the water spurting unit is configured to spurt water that has been stored in a cooled state in a water storage, toward each of the ice making sub-chambers.
- In the ice making apparatus configured as described above, as a result of a part of the water spurted by the water spurting unit getting frozen in the ice making sub-chambers, ice blocks are formed in the ice making sub-chambers and gradually grow. Another part of water that was spurted toward the ice making sub-chambers by the water spurting unit but did not get frozen in the ice making sub-chambers falls down and is collected into the water storage and spurted again by the water spurting unit.
- Further, in the ice making apparatus described above, when the ice making process performed in the ice making chamber unit is completed, the ice making chamber unit is heated by the refrigerant (hot gas) going through the evaporation pipe, the refrigerant having been compressed by the compressor with the use of a bypass pipeline structuring the refrigeration cycle. The ice blocks formed in the ice making sub-chambers fall down with predetermined timing and are supplied to an ice storage chamber used for storing ice therein.
- In the ice making apparatus described above, because the water stored in the water storage is spurted toward the ice making sub-chambers in the ice making chamber unit cooled to a temperature below freezing, it is necessary to sufficiently cool the water stored in the water storage also, to a nearly freezing temperature. In other words, it is necessary to sufficiently cool not only the water with which the ice blocks are actually formed, but all of the water stored in the water storage. As a result, a large heat loss occurs, which leads to a degradation of cooling efficiency.
- In view of the circumstances described above, it is desirable to provide an ice making apparatus capable of improving cooling efficiency and saving energy.
- It is an object of the disclosure to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology.
- In some embodiments, an ice making apparatus includes: a water storage configured to cool and store therein water supplied to the water storage; an ice maker configured to make ice from the water stored in the water storage; and an ice conveyer configured to convey the ice made by the ice maker to an ice storage used for storing ice in the ice storage. The ice maker is configured to cool a part of the water stored in the water storage that is positioned in an upper section to make the ice.
- In some embodiments, an ice making apparatus includes: a water storage configured to cool and store therein water supplied to the water storage; an ice maker configured to make ice from the water stored in the water storage; and an ice conveyer configured to convey the ice made by the ice maker to an ice storage used for storing ice in the ice storage. The ice maker includes: an ice making main body including a hollow part; and a refrigerant pipe including a refrigerant passage, the refrigerant pipe connecting with the ice making main body thermally. The ice maker is configured to cool water that has entered the hollow part of the ice making main body to make the ice when refrigerant passes through the refrigerant passage. The ice conveyer includes a pusher member configured to reciprocate between a first position at which the pusher member substantially closes a lower face opening of the hollow part and a second position at which the pusher member having gone through the hollow part protrudes above an upper face opening of the hollow part. The pusher member is arranged at the first position in a normal state, whereas when a convey command is issued, the pusher member is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position and be subsequently moved to the first position.
- The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that schematically illustrates an ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an enlarged view of a relevant part of the ice making apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ice maker illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ice conveyer inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an enlarged view of an upper wall part of the ice storage inFIGS. 1 and 2 ; -
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a relevant part of the ice making apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating contents of processing in an ice making control process performed by a controlling unit inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 8 is another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 9 is yet another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 10 is yet another vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the relevant part of the ice making apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a relevant part of an ice making apparatus according to a modification example of the embodiment of the disclosure; -
FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a relevant part of an ice making apparatus according to another modification example of the embodiment of the disclosure; -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to yet another modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure; -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating, while omitting the case on the upper side, an internal structure of a driving unit included in the ice conveyer inFIG. 13 ; -
FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer inFIGS. 13 and 14 ; -
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer inFIGS. 13 and 14 ; -
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the relevant part inFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an conveyer according to the modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure; -
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the ice conveyer illustrated inFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to the modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure; and -
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the relevant part of the ice conveyer illustrated inFIG. 20 . - Exemplary embodiments of an ice making apparatus of the disclosure will be explained in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that schematically illustrates an ice making apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Anice making apparatus 10 illustrated in the drawing is configured so as to include awater storage 20, anice maker 30, and anice conveyer 40. - As illustrated in
FIG. 2 , thewater storage 20 is placed on abase 11 and is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that has, in anupper wall part 21, a plurality of (eight)upper wall openings 21 a (seeFIG. 5 ) arranged in a row in the left-and-right direction. Thewater storage 20 has, in aright wall part 22, aninlet port 22 a that is connected to awater supply line 50 via theinlet port 22 a. - The
water supply line 50 is a passage used for supplying water to thewater storage 20. Awater supply pump 51 is provided somewhere in the middle of thewater supply line 50. Thewater supply pump 51 is configured to be driven according to a command issued from a controllingunit 1. The water supply pump 51 structures a water supply unit for supplying water to thewater storage 20 via thewater supply line 50 when being driven. Thewater storage 20 is provided with a cooling unit (not illustrated) for cooling the stored water. The stored water is cooled by the cooling unit to approximately 4° C. - The controlling
unit 1 is a controller for controlling, in an integrated manner, operations of functional units of theice making apparatus 10 according to a computer program and data stored in a memory (not illustrated). For example, the controllingunit 1 may be realized by causing a processing apparatus such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to execute a computer program, i.e., realized with software, or may be realized with hardware such as an Integrated Circuit (IC). Alternatively, the controllingunit 1 may be realized by using both software and hardware. - The
ice maker 30 is configured to include an ice makingmain body 31 and arefrigerant pipe 32. The ice makingmain body 31 is formed by using aluminum. The ice makingmain body 31 is structured in such a manner that a plurality of (eight)tubular bodies 31 a are continuous with one another while being arranged in a row in the left-and-right direction, eachtubular body 31 a having ahollow part 311 extending in the up-and-down direction. The ice makingmain body 31 is installed as being placed on theupper wall part 21 in such a manner that eachlower face opening 311 a (seeFIG. 3 , etc.) of thehollow parts 311 corresponds to a different one of theupper wall openings 21 a to communicate with one another. In this situation, the width in the front-and-back direction and the width in the left-and-right direction of each of thehollow parts 311 are substantially equal to the width in the front-and-back direction and the width in the left-and-right direction of each of theupper wall openings 21 a. - The
ice maker 30 is provided with awater level sensor 33. Thewater level sensor 33 is configured to detect whether or not the level of the water that has entered thehollow parts 311 has reached an upper limit. When the water level has reached the upper limit, thewater level sensor 33 is configured to send a signal to the controllingunit 1 to indicate that the water level has been reached the upper limit. - The
refrigerant pipe 32 is formed by using aluminum, similarly to the ice makingmain body 31 described above. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , therefrigerant pipe 32 is configured with a flat-shaped multi-hole pipe in which a plurality ofrefrigerant passages 321 are arranged in a row. Therefrigerant pipe 32 is provided in the surroundings of the ice makingmain body 31 while the internal faces thereof are thermally connected to the front face and the rear face of the ice makingmain body 31. Therefrigerant pipe 32 has, at one end thereof, anentrance header 32 a communicating with therefrigerant passages 321 and has, at the other end thereof, anexit header 32 b communicating with therefrigerant passages 321. - The
refrigerant pipe 32 structures a refrigeration cycle together with acompressor 61, acondenser 62, and anexpansion mechanism 63. The refrigeration cycle is structured by sequentially connecting thecompressor 61, thecondenser 62, theexpansion mechanism 63, and therefrigerant pipe 32, with arefrigerant pipeline 64. Also, the refrigeration cycle has arefrigerant circuit 60 having refrigerant enclosed therein. A suction unit of thecompressor 61 is connected to theexit header 32 b via therefrigerant pipeline 64. Thecompressor 61 is configured to be driven when a drive command is issued from the controllingunit 1. When being driven, thecompressor 61 is configured to suck in and compress the refrigerant from therefrigerant pipe 32 and to discharge the compressed refrigerant via a discharge unit. - The entrance of the
condenser 62 is connected to the discharge unit of thecompressor 61 via therefrigerant pipeline 64. Thecondenser 62 is configured to condense the refrigerant discharged by thecompressor 61, by performing a heat exchange process with ambient air. Afirst valve 65 is provided somewhere in the middle of therefrigerant pipeline 64 connecting thecompressor 61 and thecondenser 62 to each other. - The
first valve 65 is a valve member that opens and closes in response to a command issued from the controllingunit 1. While in an open state, thefirst valve 65 is configured to allow the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 61 to pass toward thecondenser 62. In contrast, while in a closed state, thefirst valve 65 is configured to regulate the passing, toward thecondenser 62, of the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 61. - The
expansion mechanism 63 is structured by using a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, and the like, for example. The entrance side of theexpansion mechanism 63 is connected to the exit of thecondenser 62 via therefrigerant pipeline 64. Further, the exit side of theexpansion mechanism 63 is connected to theentrance header 32 a via therefrigerant pipeline 64. Theexpansion mechanism 63 is configured to cause an adiabatic expansion by decompressing the refrigerant condensed by thecondenser 62 and to supply the resulting refrigerant to therefrigerant pipe 32. - Incidentally, in the
refrigerant circuit 60, a bypass pipeline 66 is provided so as to branch, on the upstream side of thefirst valve 65, from therefrigerant pipeline 64 connecting thecompressor 61 and thecondenser 62 to each other and so as to merge with therefrigerant pipeline 64 somewhere in the middle thereof, therefrigerant pipeline 64 connecting theexpansion mechanism 63 and theentrance header 32 a to each other. Asecond valve 67 is provided somewhere in the middle of the bypass pipeline 66. - The
second valve 67 is a valve member that opens and closes in response to a command issued from the controllingunit 1. While in an open state, thesecond valve 67 is configured to allow the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 61 to pass toward theentrance header 32 a via the bypass pipeline 66. In contrast, while in a closed state, thesecond valve 67 is configured to regulate the passing, through the bypass pipeline 66, of the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 61. - The
refrigerant pipe 32 is configured to cool or heat the ice makingmain body 31 that is thermally connected thereto, with the passing of the refrigerant through therefrigerant passages 321, the refrigerant having flowed into therefrigerant pipe 32 via theentrance header 32 a. In other words, when the refrigerant caused to have the adiabatic expansion by theexpansion mechanism 63 is passing through therefrigerant passages 321, therefrigerant pipe 32 cools the ice makingmain body 31 to a temperature below freezing as a result of evaporation of the refrigerant. In contrast, when the refrigerant compressed and discharged by thecompressor 61 has flowed therein via the bypass pipeline 66 and is passing through therefrigerant passages 321, therefrigerant pipe 32 heats the ice makingmain body 31. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating theice conveyer 40 inFIG. 1 . As illustrated inFIG. 4 , theice conveyer 40 is configured to includepusher members 41 and a drivingunit 42. - A plurality of (eight in the illustrated example)
pusher members 41 are provided. Each of thepusher members 41 corresponds to a different one of thetubular bodies 31 a (the hollow parts 311) of the ice makingmain body 31. Each of thepusher members 41 is structured by integrally forming abase part 411 and anupper end part 412 together. - The
base part 411 is a long member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction. As illustrated inFIG. 5 , in a rear end section of thebase part 411, thebase part 411 is provided with aprojection piece 411 a projecting in the left-and-right direction in thebase part 411. Further, in a front end part of thebase part 411, thebase part 411 is provided with abase gear part 411 b including a plurality of teeth. Theprojection piece 411 a of thebase part 411 has entered agroove part 23 a that is formed in thewater storage 20 so as to be continuous with theupper wall part 21 at arear wall part 23. As a result, thepusher members 41 that are movable in the up-and-down directions are provided in thewater storage 20. - The
upper end part 412 is provided so as to be continuous with an upper end section of thebase part 411 and so as to be protrude more forward than the front end of thebase part 411. Theupper end part 412 has such a dimension that the width thereof in the front-and-back direction is slightly smaller than the width of a corresponding one theupper wall openings 21 a in the front-and-back direction and the width of a corresponding one of thehollow parts 311 in the front-and-back direction. Also, theupper end part 412 has such a dimension that the width thereof in the left-and-right direction is slightly smaller than the width of a corresponding one of theupper wall openings 21 a in the left-and-right direction and the width of a corresponding one of thehollow parts 311 in the left-and-right direction. Further, anupper face 412 a of theupper end part 412 is sloped gradually downward toward the front thereof. - The driving
unit 42 is configured to include amotor 421 and a transmittingunit 422. Themotor 421 is a driving source that performs a driving operation in response to a command issued from the controllingunit 1. The rotation of themotor 421 may be reversible where, when a normal rotation drive command is issued from the controllingunit 1, themotor 421 performs a normal rotation driving operation, whereas when a reverse rotation drive command is issued from the controllingunit 1, themotor 421 performs a reverse rotation driving operation. - The transmitting
unit 422 is configured to transmit the rotation drive of themotor 421 to ashaft part 43. In the present example, theshaft part 43 is provided on the inside of thewater storage 20 so as to be rotatable on the central axis thereof between theright wall part 22 and aleft wall part 24. Theshaft part 43 has a plurality of (eight)transmission parts 44 attached thereto, thetransmission parts 44 being positioned at intervals at which thepusher members 41 are arranged. Each of thetransmission parts 44 is a circular cylindrical member attached to theshaft part 43 so as to protrude toward the radially outside of theshaft part 43. Each of thetransmission parts 44 has atransmission gear part 44 a formed on the circumferential surface thereof, thetransmission gear part 44 a being structured with a plurality of teeth. A part of each of thetransmission gear parts 44 a is engaged with a part of a corresponding one of thebase gear parts 411 b. - Further, the transmitting
unit 422 is provided with a pusherposition detecting unit 422 a, such as an encoder for example, that is configured to detect the positions of thepusher members 41 on the basis of a rotation drive force applied from themotor 421 to theshaft part 43. When detecting that thepusher members 41 are positioned at a lower end position (a first position) serving as a lower limit, the pusherposition detecting unit 422 a is configured to send information indicating that thepusher members 41 are positioned at the lower end position to the controllingunit 1 as a detection signal. When detecting that thepusher members 41 are positioned at an upper end position (a second position) serving as an upper limit, the pusherposition detecting unit 422 a is configured to send information indicating that thepusher members 41 are positioned at the upper end position to the controllingunit 1 as a detection signal. With these arrangements, thepusher members 41 are capable of moving along the up-and-down directions between the lower end position and the upper end position. Further, as illustrated inFIG. 6 , when thepusher members 41 are arranged at the lower end position, each of theupper end parts 412 substantially closes thelower face opening 311 a of a corresponding one of thehollow parts 311. - In the
ice making apparatus 10 configured as described above, when an ice making command is issued from a superordinate device (not illustrated), the controllingunit 1 performs an ice making controlling process.FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating contents of processing in the ice making controlling process performed by the controllingunit 1 inFIG. 1 . - As a premise of an explanation of the ice making controlling process, it is assumed that the
first valve 65 is in the open state, while thesecond valve 67 is in the closed state, that the water stored in thewater storage 20 is cooled to approximately 4° C., and that the water in thewater storage 20 has reached the upper limit water level and entered thehollow parts 311. Further, it is assumed that thepusher members 41 are arranged in the lower end position. - In the abovementioned ice making controlling process, the controlling
unit 1 sends a drive command to thecompressor 61 and starts clocking time by using a built-in clock (step S101; step S102). Accordingly, in therefrigerant circuit 60, the refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 61 is condensed by thecondenser 62 and, after being caused to have an adiabatic expansion by theexpansion mechanism 63, the refrigerant passes through therefrigerant passages 321 in therefrigerant pipe 32. As a result of evaporation of the refrigerant passing through therefrigerant passages 321, the ice makingmain body 31 is cooled to a temperature below freezing. When the ice makingmain body 31 has cooled to a temperature below freezing in this manner, such a part of the water stored in thewater storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section and has entered thehollow parts 311 is cooled. It is known that water has lower density in a solid state than in a liquid state. It is therefore considered that such a part of the water stored in thewater storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section has lower density. Further, the density of the water cooled by the ice makingmain body 31 is further lowered and thus concentrates in the upper section. - Having performed the processes at steps S101 and S102, the controlling
unit 1 repeatedly performs the process of driving thewater supply pump 51 by sending a drive command thereto and stopping the driving of thewater supply pump 51 by sending a drive stop command thereto, until an ice making time period determined in advance elapses (step S103; step S104; step S105: No). As a result of repeatedly driving and stopping the driving of thewater supply pump 51 until the ice making time period elapses in this manner, the level of the water stored in thewater storage 20 becomes higher and lower, and the water in theice maker 30 moves to flow. Accordingly, as a result of step S101 above, in the locations near the inner wall surfaces of thehollow parts 311 of the ice makingmain body 31, water gets frozen so that ice is made and gradually grows as illustrated inFIG. 8 . In this situation, because the flowing speed of the water changes, it is possible to eliminate air bubbles that may be contained in the water during the freezing process. In other words, the controllingunit 1 and thewater supply pump 51 structure a water flowing unit for moving the water provided in theice maker 30 to flow during making ice by theice maker 30. - Further, when the time started being clocked at step S102 has reached the ice making time period, ice blocks are formed, as illustrated in
FIG. 9 , in thehollow parts 311 of the ice makingmain body 31. Accordingly, when the ice making time period has elapsed (step S105: Yes), the controllingunit 1 ends the clocking of time using the clock and sends a close command to thefirst valve 65. Also, the controllingunit 1 sends an open command to the second valve 67 (step S106; step S107). - Accordingly, the refrigerant compressed by the
compressor 61 passes through the bypass pipeline 66 and passes through therefrigerant passages 321 of therefrigerant pipe 32 as hot gas. As a result, the ice makingmain body 31 is heated, and boundary portions of the ice blocks that are in contact with the inner wall surfaces of thehollow parts 311 are melted. - Meanwhile, the controlling
unit 1 that has performed the process at step S107 sends a normal rotation drive command to the motor 421 (step S108). When themotor 421 performs a normal rotation driving operation in this manner, the rotation drive force thereof is transmitted to theshaft part 43 via the transmittingunit 422, and theshaft part 43 turns clockwise as viewed from the left. As a result of theshaft part 43 turning clockwise as viewed from the left, and thetransmission parts 44 also turning clockwise as viewed from the left, thepusher members 41 engaged with thetransmission parts 44 move upward from the lower end position and go through thehollow parts 311. When thepusher members 41 have moved upward in this manner, it is possible to press and move the ice blocks upward, the ice blocks being formed in thehollow parts 311 and having the boundary portions thereof with the ice makingmain body 31 melted. - When the pusher
position detecting unit 422 a issues a detection signal indicating that thepusher members 41 are arranged at the upper end position where thepusher members 41 are protruding above anupper face openings 311 b of thehollow parts 311 as illustrated in FIG. 10 (step S109: Yes), the controllingunit 1 sends a reverse rotation drive command to the motor 421 (step S110). - When the
pusher members 41 are arranged at the upper end position, the ice blocks that have moved upward together with thepusher members 41 follow the slopes formed by the upper faces 412 a of theupper end parts 412 of thepusher members 41, move along forward, and are put and stored, as ice, into anice storage 70 used for storing ice therein. In other words, theice conveyer 40 conveys the ice made by theice maker 30 to theice storage 70. - When the
motor 421 has performed the reverse rotation driving operation, the rotation drive force is transmitted to theshaft part 43 via the transmittingunit 422, and theshaft part 43 turns counterclockwise as viewed from the left. As a result of theshaft part 43 turning counterclockwise as viewed from the left and thetransmission parts 44 also turning counterclockwise as viewed from the left, thepusher members 41 engaged with thetransmission parts 44 move downward from the upper end position. - When the pusher
position detecting unit 422 a issues a detection signal indicating that thepusher members 41 are arranged at the lower end position where theupper end parts 412 substantially close thelower face openings 311 a of thehollow parts 311 as illustrated in FIG. 6 (step S111: Yes), the controllingunit 1 sends a drive stop command to the motor 421 (step S112) to stop the driving of themotor 421. In other words, when a convey command is issued, theice conveyer 40 moves thepusher members 41 from the lower end position to the upper end position and subsequently moves thepusher members 41 from the upper end position to the lower end position. - Having sent the drive stop command to the
motor 421, the controllingunit 1 sends an open command to thefirst valve 65 and also sends a close command to the second valve 67 (step S113), so as to cool the ice makingmain body 31. Subsequently, the controllingunit 1 sends a drive command to thewater supply pump 51, and stands by until a signal indicating that the water level has reached the upper limit is input thereto from the water level sensor 33 (step S114; step S115). - When a signal indicating that the water level has reached the upper limit is issued from the water level sensor 33 (step S115: Yes), the controlling
unit 1 sends a drive stop command to the water supply pump 51 (step S116). - After that, until an ice making stop command is issued from the superordinate device, the controlling
unit 1 repeatedly performs the processes at steps S102 through S116 (step S117: No). Accordingly, the process of making ice is repeatedly performed by cooling, in a concentrated manner, such a part of the water stored in thewater storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section. - When an ice making stop command is issued from the superordinate device (step S117: Yes), the controlling
unit 1 sends a drive stop command to the compressor 61 (step S118), subsequently returns the procedure to the start, and end the process at this time. - As explained above, in the
ice making apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, theice maker 30 makes the ice by cooling such a part of the water stored in thewater storage 20 that is positioned in the upper section. It is therefore possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, the water that is nearly frozen and has small density. Accordingly, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in thewater storage 20 to a nearly freezing temperature. As a result, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy. - In the
ice making apparatus 10 described above, because the ice makingmain body 31 and therefrigerant pipe 32 structuring theice maker 30 are each formed by using aluminum, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs and to enhance heat transfer capability. In addition, because the ice makingmain body 31 and therefrigerant pipe 32 are joined together by using the same type of metal, there is no possibility that a galvanic corrosion or the like may occur, which is regarded as a problem in a conventional method where mutually-different types of metals such as copper and stainless steel are joined together. - In the
ice making apparatus 10 described above, the ice makingmain body 31 is formed in such a manner that the plurality oftubular bodies 31 a are continuous with one another, while therefrigerant pipe 32 has a flat shape in which the plurality ofrefrigerant passages 321 are arranged in a row. Accordingly, the thermal connection between the ice makingmain body 31 and therefrigerant pipe 32 is realized with surface contact. It is therefore possible to enhance the heat transfer efficiency by increasing the heat transfer area. - Further, in the
ice making apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, when thepusher members 41 structuring theice conveyer 40 are arranged at the lower end position, theupper end parts 412 substantially close thelower face openings 311 a of thehollow parts 311 in the ice makingmain body 31. As a result, it is possible to separate the water that has entered thehollow parts 311 from another part of water that is stored in thewater storage 20. Accordingly, it is possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, the water that has entered thehollow parts 311. Thus, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in thewater storage 20 to a nearly freezing temperature. With these arrangements, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy. - In the
ice making apparatus 10 described above, because the upper faces 412 a of theupper end parts 412 of thepusher members 41 are sloped gradually downward toward the front, it is possible to put the ice into theice storage 70, by simply arranging thepusher members 41 to be at the upper end position where thepusher members 41 protrude above from theupper face openings 311 b of thehollow parts 311. It is therefore sufficient to simply move thepusher members 41 in the up-and-down directions. Consequently, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the device. - In the
ice making apparatus 10 described above, thepusher members 41 are engaged with theshaft part 43 provided in common thereto, via thetransmission parts 44, and are driven by themotor 421 serving as the driving source provided in common thereto. It is therefore possible to decrease the number of component parts, compared to the situation where a driving source is individually connected to each of thepusher members 41. It is therefore possible to reduce manufacturing costs. - Further, in the
ice making apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the water in theice maker 30 is moved to flow, by the raising and the lowering of the level of the water stored in thewater storage 20, as a result of the controllingunit 1 repeatedly driving and stopping the driving of thewater supply pump 51 until the ice making time period elapses. It is therefore possible to eliminate air bubbles that may be contained in the water when the water gets frozen, by varying the flowing speed of the water in theice maker 30. Consequently, it is possible to make clear ice. - Some preferred embodiments of the disclosure have thus been explained; however, the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. It is possible to apply various modifications thereto.
- In the embodiment described above, the plurality of
transmission parts 44 are attached to theshaft part 43 while being positioned at the intervals at which thepusher members 41 are arranged. However, as illustrated inFIG. 11 , another arrangement is also acceptable in which atransmission part 45 provided in common to thepusher members 41 is engaged therewith. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 12 , yet another arrangement is also acceptable in which the lower end parts of thepusher members 41 are linked together by a linkingmember 46 so as to be integrally formed, while atransmission part 47 attached to theshaft part 43 is engaged with any one of thepusher members 41. - In the disclosure, as explained below, each of the pusher members may be configured to move in the up-and-down directions by individually having applied thereto a drive force from a driving unit.
-
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant part of an ice conveyer according to yet another modification example included in an ice making apparatus of the disclosure. Some of the constituent elements that are the same as those in the embodiment described above will be referred to by using the same reference characters, and the explanations thereof will be omitted. Anice conveyer 40′ in the present example is configured so as to include a drivingunit 80 and apusher member 41′. - The driving
unit 80 is configured so as to include a mechanismmain body 90, anoutput member 100, and anengagement member 110. The mechanismmain body 90 is a casing member structured by joining together a pair made up of upper andlower cases main body 90 has a housing space 93 on the inside thereof. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the mechanismmain body 90 has formed therein a main body through bore that penetrates in the up-and-down direction. - The
output member 100 is configured by using resin such as plastic, for example. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , theoutput member 100 includes an outputmain body unit 101 and anoutput transmitting unit 102. The outputmain body unit 101 is a circular cylindrical member of which the central axis extends in the up-and-down direction. - The
output transmitting unit 102 is provided in an upper end section of the outputmain body unit 101 so as to protrude radially outward. Theoutput transmitting unit 102 is an annular member of which the outside diameter is larger than the outputmain body unit 101. On the lateral circumferential surface of theoutput transmitting unit 102, anoutput gear part 102 a structured with a plurality of teeth is formed. - The
output member 100 configured as described above is provided for the mechanismmain body 90 in such a manner that the outputmain body unit 101 is inserted through the main body through bore while the central axis thereof is aligned with the central axis of the main body through bore and that theoutput transmitting unit 102 is installed in the housing space 93. - The
output member 100 configured as described above is linked, via agear unit 94, to anoutput shaft 95 a of amotor 95 serving as a driving source and being installed in the housing space 93, as a result of theoutput gear part 102 a of theoutput transmitting unit 102 being engaged with alinkage gear 94 a structuring thegear unit 94. - Further, the
output member 100 is configured to turn on the central axis counterclockwise as viewed from above, as a drive force from themotor 95 is applied thereto. - The
engagement member 110 is configured by using resin such as plastic, for example. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , theengagement member 110 is configured so as to include an engagementmain body unit 111 and anengagement regulating unit 112. - The engagement
main body unit 111 is a circular cylindrical member of which the central axis extends in the up-and-down direction. The outside diameter of the engagementmain body unit 111 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of ahollow part 101 a of the outputmain body unit 101. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , the engagementmain body unit 111 has a cut-outpart 111 a formed therein and also has formed alocking hook part 111 b extending the cut-outpart 111 a downward. In addition, a plurality ofengagement projections 111 c are formed in a part of a front-end outer circumferential part of the engagementmain body unit 111. - The
engagement regulating unit 112 is integrally formed with the engagementmain body unit 111 so as to close the upper face opening of the engagementmain body unit 111. Theengagement regulating unit 112 is a disc-shaped member larger than the inside diameter of the main body through bore described above. Theengagement regulating unit 112 has formed, in a central section thereof, acircular opening 112 a of which the center is aligned with the central axis of the engagementmain body unit 111. The inside diameter of thecircular opening 112 a is equal to the inside diameter of ahollow part 111 d of the engagementmain body unit 111. - As for the
output member 100, theengagement member 110 configured as described above is attached to theoutput member 100 as a result of: the engagementmain body unit 111 entering thehollow part 101 a of the outputmain body unit 101 from above; theengagement projections 111 c being fitted intoengagement recesses 101 b formed in an upper-end-side inner part of the outputmain body unit 101; and a tip end part of thelocking hook part 111 b being locked with a part of a lower edge part of the outputmain body unit 101. In this situation, theengagement member 110 is attached to theoutput member 100 in such a manner that the central axis of the engagementmain body unit 111 is aligned with the central axis of the outputmain body unit 101. With these arrangements, theengagement member 110 turns on the central axis thereof, integrally with theoutput member 100. - In the driving
unit 80 configured as described above, when themotor 95 is performing a driving operation, theengagement member 110 is configured to turn on the central axis of the engagement main body unit 111 (the central axis of the main body through bore and the central axis of the output main body unit 101) counterclockwise as viewed from above, together with theoutput member 100. - The
pusher member 41′ corresponds to thetubular bodies 31 a (the hollow part 311) of the ice makingmain body 31. Thepusher member 41′ is structured by integrally forming abase part 411′ and anupper end part 412 that is continuous with an upper end section of thebase part 411′ and that protrudes forward farther than the front end of thebase part 411′. - The
base part 411′ is a long member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction. As illustrated inFIG. 13 , thebase part 411′ has aNapier screw part 121 formed therein. - The
Napier screw part 121 is a primary constituent element of thebase part 411′. TheNapier screw part 121 is a long circular columnar member of which the lengthwise direction corresponds to the up-and-down direction. The outside diameter of theNapier screw part 121 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of thehollow part 111 d of the engagementmain body unit 111. Ascrew groove 121 a is formed in a lateral part of theNapier screw part 121. - The
screw groove 121 a is structured by forming afirst groove part 121 a 1 spirally extending in one direction and asecond groove part 121 a 2 spirally extending in the other direction that are each centered on a central axis L of thebase part 411′, while thefirst groove part 121 a 1 and thesecond groove part 121 a 2 are continuous with each other. - To a lower end section of the
base part 411′, a regulatingpiece 413 is attached. The regulatingpiece 413 is a plate-like member of which the width dimension in the direction orthogonal to the central axis L of thebase part 411′ is larger than the inside diameter of thehollow part 111 d of the engagementmain body unit 111. - The
base part 411′ configured as described above has entered thehollow part 111 d of the engagementmain body unit 111 in such a manner that the central axis L of thebase part 411′ is aligned with the central axis of the engagementmain body unit 111. Thus, the central axis of the main body through bore, the central axis of the outputmain body unit 101, the central axis of the engagementmain body unit 111, and the central axis L of thebase part 411′ are aligned with one another. - Further, in addition to the configuration elements described above, the
engagement member 110 includes anengagement operating unit 113. As illustrated inFIG. 15 , theengagement operating unit 113 is provided by being pressed, from the outside, into asupport bore 111 e formed in a lateral part of the engagementmain body unit 111. Theengagement operating unit 113 is provided with a boat-shapedengagement piece 113 a. As illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17 , theengagement piece 113 a has entered thescrew groove 121 a formed in thebase part 411′. - In the
ice conveyer 40′ configured as described above, in the state illustrated inFIG. 13 or 16 , when theengagement member 110 turns, with the driving of themotor 95, on the central axis L of thebase part 411′ counterclockwise as viewed from above together with theoutput member 100, theengagement piece 113 a relatively moves along thefirst groove part 121 a 1 of thescrew groove 121 a. As a result, thebase part 411′ moves downward as indicated with the solid arrows inFIGS. 18 and 19 . - Further, as a result of the turning of the
engagement member 110, when theengagement piece 113 a has reached the upper end part of thefirst groove part 121 a 1 as illustrated inFIGS. 20 and 21 , theengagement piece 113 a relatively moves along thesecond groove part 121 a 2. As a result, thebase part 411′ moves upward as indicated with the single-dot chain arrows inFIGS. 20 and 21 . When theengagement member 110 keeps turning in this manner, theengagement piece 113 a relatively moves along thesecond groove part 121 a 2. As a result, thebase part 411′ moves upward as indicated by the single-dot chain arrows inFIGS. 18 and 19 , and returns to the state illustrated inFIG. 13 . - As explained above, in the
ice conveyer 40′, when the drive force of themotor 95 is applied to theengagement member 110, theengagement member 110 turns on the central axis L of thebase part 411′ in the one direction. As a result, thepusher member 41′ reciprocates in the up-and-down directions along the direction of the central axis L. - Accordingly, by using this configuration, it is possible to cause the
pusher member 41′ to move in the up-and-down directions and to put the generated ice into theice storage 70, by simply causing themotor 95 to rotate in the one direction, without the need to have themotor 95 rotate in the normal and the reverse directions. - In the embodiment described above, the water in the
ice maker 30 is moved to flow by the raising and the lowering of the level of the water stored in thewater storage 20, as a result of the controllingunit 1 repeatedly driving and stopping the driving of thewater supply pump 51 until the ice making time period elapses; however, another arrangement is acceptable in which, the water in theice maker 30 is moved to flow, by causing thepusher members 41 to reciprocate in the up-and-down directions during making the ice by theice maker 30. With this arrangement also, it is possible to eliminate air bubbles that may be contained in the water when the water gets frozen and to thus make clear ice. Further, it is also acceptable to raise and lower the water level by opening and closing a drainage port formed in the water storage by using a drainage valve, while thewater supply pump 51 is being driven. - According to some embodiments, because the ice maker makes the ice by cooling such a part of the water stored in the water storage that is positioned in the upper section, it is possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, water that is nearly frozen and has low density. Accordingly, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in the water storage to a nearly freezing temperature. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to also decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, an advantageous effect is achieved where it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy.
- Further, according to some embodiments, because the pusher members structuring the ice conveyer substantially close the lower face openings of the hollow parts of the ice making main body while being arranged at the first position, it is possible to separate the part of water that has entered the hollow parts from another part of water that is stored in the water storage. With this arrangement, it is possible to make the ice by cooling, in a concentrated manner, the water that has entered the hollow parts. Accordingly, there is no need to cool all of the water stored in the water storage to a nearly freezing temperature. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the heat loss and to also decrease the electric power consumption required by the cooling of the water. Consequently, an advantageous effect is achieved where it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency and to save energy.
- Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (7)
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2017-007650 | 2017-01-19 | ||
JP2017007650A JP2018115726A (en) | 2017-01-19 | 2017-01-19 | Reciprocation device |
JP2017-038468 | 2017-03-01 | ||
JP2017-038260 | 2017-03-01 | ||
JP2017038260A JP2018146125A (en) | 2017-03-01 | 2017-03-01 | Ice making device |
JP2017038468A JP2018146131A (en) | 2017-03-01 | 2017-03-01 | Ice making device |
Publications (1)
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US20180202699A1 true US20180202699A1 (en) | 2018-07-19 |
Family
ID=62840741
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US15/873,497 Abandoned US20180202699A1 (en) | 2017-01-19 | 2018-01-17 | Ice making apparatus |
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US (1) | US20180202699A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN108332466A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10422564B2 (en) * | 2017-03-06 | 2019-09-24 | Ice Castles, Llc | Apparatus and methods for constructing ice structures |
US11243018B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2022-02-08 | James Youngstrom | Method for creating ice structures |
US11486623B2 (en) * | 2020-04-13 | 2022-11-01 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Ice making assembly for receiving interchangeable mold assemblies |
US11885552B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2024-01-30 | James Youngstrom | Method for creating ice structures |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP7469789B2 (en) * | 2019-12-25 | 2024-04-17 | アクア株式会社 | Ice maker and refrigerator equipped with ice maker |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3861163A (en) * | 1973-12-10 | 1975-01-21 | Walter H Carpenter | Method and apparatus for making block ice |
US4137724A (en) * | 1974-04-22 | 1979-02-06 | Armalite, Inc. | Apparatus for producing ice |
JPS60176375U (en) * | 1984-05-01 | 1985-11-22 | サンデン株式会社 | Heat exchanger |
US6082121A (en) * | 1999-04-02 | 2000-07-04 | Group Dekko Services, Llc. | Ice maker |
KR20100110183A (en) * | 2009-04-02 | 2010-10-12 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same and ice making method thereof |
KR101564260B1 (en) * | 2009-05-15 | 2015-11-06 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same and ice making method thereof |
KR101688132B1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2016-12-20 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same and ice making method thereof |
KR101775403B1 (en) * | 2011-01-10 | 2017-09-07 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same |
US20130065477A1 (en) * | 2011-09-12 | 2013-03-14 | Mattel, Inc. | Playset with Dynamic Transfer |
-
2018
- 2018-01-17 US US15/873,497 patent/US20180202699A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2018-01-18 CN CN201810048308.1A patent/CN108332466A/en active Pending
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10422564B2 (en) * | 2017-03-06 | 2019-09-24 | Ice Castles, Llc | Apparatus and methods for constructing ice structures |
US11243018B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2022-02-08 | James Youngstrom | Method for creating ice structures |
US11846461B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2023-12-19 | James Youngstrom | Method for creating ice structures |
US11885552B2 (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2024-01-30 | James Youngstrom | Method for creating ice structures |
US11486623B2 (en) * | 2020-04-13 | 2022-11-01 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Ice making assembly for receiving interchangeable mold assemblies |
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CN108332466A (en) | 2018-07-27 |
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