JPH06313657A - Operation controller for icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention is to make the next ice making process of the process when the temperature of the refrigerant temperature sensor is predicted to cause ice biting, or when the temperature is predicted to be poor cooling. The purpose was to correct the ice-making time of the stroke and to avoid a supercooled state or a poor cooling state in the subsequent strokes. [Structure] An ice making unit 4 having a cooler 4B and supplying a refrigerant to the cooler 4B to perform an ice making process, and a cooler temperature sensor 2 provided in the cooler 4B for measuring a cooler temperature-2
0, and when the temperature measured by the cooler temperature sensor-20 becomes lower than a predetermined temperature during the ice making operation, hot gas is caused to flow into the ice making process and the ice making process in the next ice making process is performed. An operation control device for an ice making machine, characterized in that the operation is controlled by correcting the time to be short.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation control device for an ice making machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among conventional ice making machines, particularly an inverse cell type ice making machine, an ice making unit having a plurality of downwardly opening ice making chambers and a cooler for cooling the ice making chambers provided on an upper surface,
The water tank that holds the ice making water is fixed, and one side is rotatably supported, and a water tray that closes each ice making chamber with a surface that has a fountain port during ice making, so that the ice making part is opened when the ice making is completed. In addition to tilting the water tray, it also includes a drive mechanism including a deceleration motor that moves the water tray back so as to close the ice making unit when the ice removal is completed.

In such a reverse-cell type ice making machine, the water supply process to the water tank, the water tray is closed to perform the refrigeration cycle operation, and the ice making process is performed by repeating fountains in the ice making unit,
One ice-making cycle consists of an ice-breaking process in which hot gas is flown to open the water tray to remove ice from the ice-making section, and then the water tray is closed. Therefore, in the case of the reverse cell type ice making machine as described above, some problems occur. The problem at that time is ice bite that occurs when the water tray moves back.

That is, when the ice making process is completed and the ice making process is started, the water tray tilts and opens. At this time, ice fragments adhere to the surface of the water tray. Then, the falling ice may be caught on the ice pieces attached to the water tray. When the water tray moves back in this state, the ice is trapped between the ice making section and the water tray, which is a so-called ice biting state. Such ice bite imposes an extra load on the tilting drive mechanism of the water tray and, in the worst case, may damage the device. Further, if ice making is continued while the ice bites, the ice having a deformed shape will be formed and normal ice making will not be possible.

As a device for preventing such ice bite, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 56-175682 discloses an ice bite detection device for detecting ice bite and reopening a water tray when ice bite occurs. I try to drop the bitten ice.

[0006]

However, with this method, when ice biting still occurs during the next operation, the operation of opening and closing the water tray is repeated, and water for such ice biting is repeated. Frequent opening and closing of the plate reduces the efficiency of ice making. Further, in the above method, only when the ice bite occurs, only the countermeasure is taken to eliminate the ice bite. Therefore, the ice bite may occur thereafter.
That is, unless the length of the ice making time, which causes ice bite, is suppressed, the ice bite occurs in any supercooling state in any ice making process.

Further, no consideration is given to so-called poor cooling, in which the cooler temperature does not decrease. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and when the temperature of the refrigerant temperature sensor is predicted to be ice biting, or the temperature is predicted to be poor cooling, the next step of the process is performed. The present invention provides an operation control device for an ice making machine for the purpose of correcting the ice making time of the ice making process and avoiding a supercooled state or a poor cooling state in the subsequent steps.

[0008]

As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention is provided with a cooler, and an ice making section for supplying a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, and the cooler. A cooler temperature sensor that is provided to measure the cooler temperature is provided, and when the temperature measured by the cooler temperature sensor becomes lower than a predetermined temperature during the ice making operation, hot gas is caused to flow in to remove ice. Provided is an operation control device for an ice making machine, which shifts to a stroke and controls the operation by correcting the ice making time in the next ice making stroke to be short.

Further, an ice making section having a cooler for supplying a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, a cooler temperature sensor provided in the cooler for measuring a cooler temperature, and the cooler are provided. With a timer that starts measuring the ice making time when the ice cube temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature, and when the temperature measured by the cooler temperature sensor during the ice making operation becomes lower than the predetermined temperature, it is hot. (EN) An operation control device for an ice making machine, which controls the operation by injecting gas to shift to the ice removing process and correcting the preset temperature of the timer start of the next ice making process to a high value.

Further, an ice making section provided with a cooler for supplying a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, a cooler temperature sensor provided in the cooler for measuring the cooler temperature, and an ice making time When the temperature reached by the cooler temperature sensor at the end of the measurement of the timer is higher than the supercooling set temperature, the ice making operation is performed by correcting the time of the next ice making process to be long. An operation control device for a machine is provided.

Further, an ice making section having a cooler for supplying a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, a cooler temperature sensor provided in the cooler for measuring a cooler temperature, and the cooler are provided. When the temperature reached by the cooler temperature sensor at the end of the measurement is higher than the supercooling set temperature, The present invention provides an operation control device for an ice making machine, which controls the operation by correcting the timer-start temperature of the next ice making process to a low value.

[0012]

Function: The cooler is easily affected by the surroundings, and the temperature of cooling with respect to the ambient temperature is determined. Therefore, depending on the measured cooler temperature, it is determined whether or not the supercooled state is reached, and if the temperature is the supercooled state,
In the next ice making process, the ice making time is corrected to be shorter so that it will not be overcooled.

Further, it is judged from the measured cooler temperature whether or not the supercooled state is reached, and if the temperature is the supercooled state, the timer-start in the next ice making process is performed. The set temperature of is corrected to a high value so that it will not be overcooled. In addition, the measured cooler temperature is used to determine whether or not a cooling failure will occur, and if the temperature is such that a cooling failure occurs, the ice making time will be corrected longer in the next ice making process, and cooling failure will occur. Control not to be.

Further, it is judged from the measured cooler temperature whether or not the cooling failure will occur, and if the temperature is such that the cooling failure will occur, the timer-start in the next ice making process will be performed. The set temperature of is corrected to a low value so that cooling failure does not occur.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a so-called reverse cell type ice making device, and is provided by being supported by a supporting beam 2 on an upper part of an ice making chamber (not shown) formed in a main body (not shown) of a heat insulating structure.

An ice storage chamber (not shown) for storing the ice made by the ice making device 1 is provided in the main body separately from the ice making chamber. The ice making device 1 has a plurality of ice making chambers 4 which are opened downward.
A cooler 4B having A and having a meandering cooling pipe on the upper surface
An ice making unit 4 provided with a cooler temperature sensor-20 (hereinafter referred to as an ET sensor) provided on the ice making unit 4 for detecting the temperature of the cooler 4B, and one side of which is rotatably supported. The water tray 5 for closing the ice making chambers 4A from below, the water tank 6 fixed to the water tray 5, and the ice making water supplied in the water tank 6 from the fountain port formed on the surface of the water tray. A circulation pump 7 for spraying water on each ice-making unit 4A, and a drive mechanism 9 including a forward / reverse rotatable water tray opening / closing motor 8 for tilting and returning the water tray 5 rotatably supported. Has been done. Reference numeral 10 denotes a drain tray for the ice making water drained from the water tank 6 when the water tray 5 tilts as shown in FIG. Further, 11 is a water supply valve. The water tray opening / closing motor 8
An arm 12 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the coil 12, and the other end of the coil spring 13 attached to one end 12A of the arm 12 is connected to the side portion of the water tray 5. The arm 12 and the spring 13 are provided as a pair on the left and right of the water tray 5. Here, it is assumed that the water tray 5 is opened by the forward rotation of the water tray opening / closing motor 8 and is closed by the reverse rotation. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the water tray 5 is closed to perform ice making, and when the motor 8 is normally rotated and the water tray 5 is fully opened upon completion of ice making, the other arm 12 rotating counterclockwise is used. End side 12
A motor which is operated at B to stop energization of the motor 8 and switches the motor drive circuit to the reverse rotation state so that the next reciprocal movement is possible.
A control switch 14 for stopping the data is provided on the support beam 2. Therefore, when the ice removing process is started, the motor 8 reverses and the water tray 5
When closing, this time the arm 12 rotates clockwise,
One end side 12A of the hole 12 comes up as shown in FIG.
The motor stop control switch 14 is operated to switch and form the motor drive circuit so that the motor 8 can be stopped and the motor 8 can be rotated in the normal direction. By the way, whether or not there is ice bite is detected by the water tray closed state detection switch 17 which is closed when the water tray 5 is completely closed.

Next, the ice making device will be described. FIG. 3 shows a control flow chart when a normal ice making cycle without supercooling is executed. For the sake of convenience of description, the operations are separated and (1), (2),
The numbers (3), (11), (12), and (13) are displayed, and the flow will be described below in correspondence with each operation.

(1) When the power is turned on, the compressor,
When the water supply valve 11 and the pump motor are turned on (S21) and the water tray 5 is filled with water (YES in S22), the water supply process is terminated and the cleaning process is started. This operation is water supply for cleaning the ice making device only once prior to the first ice making cycle.

(2) In the cleaning process, the compressor, pump motor, and fan motor are turned on (S23), and the water supply valve 1
1. When the hot gas valve is OFF (S24), cleaning is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) (S25), and the judgment 25 is Y.
After cleaning with ES, move to ice removal (wash water drainage) process. (3) This ice removal process is for draining the wash water, and the water tray 5 is opened and the water tray 5 is closed immediately after draining, and the water supply process for entering the original ice making process is started.

The ice removing process is the same as the original ice removing process following the ice making process, and includes a compressor, a hot gas valve, a water supply valve ON (S26), a water supply valve,
After turning off the hot gas valve (S27), the water tray 5
Open and turn off the water supply valve (S28),
The temperature of the ice making unit 4 is detected by the ET sensor 20, and it is determined whether or not the temperature has reached the ice release completion detection temperature (S29). As a result of this determination, the water tray 5 is closed (S3).
0).

(4) The compressor, the water supply valve 11 and the pump motor are turned on (S31), the fan motor and the hot gas valve are turned off (S32), the water supply is continued until the water is full (S33), and when the water is full ( YES in S33) Move to the ice making process. (5) In the ice making process, the compressor, pump motor, and fan motor are turned on (S34), the water supply valve 11 and the hot gas valve are turned off (S35), and the ice making operation is performed.

(6) When entering the ice making cycle, a pre-cooling step of cooling the ice making unit 4 to a predetermined temperature is performed. That is, ET
The sensor 20 detects the temperature of the ice making unit 4 and determines whether or not the temperature has reached a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 ° C.) (S36). S3
When YES is reached at 6 and the predetermined temperature is reached, the ice making timer is started (S37). In this case, the circulation pump 7 may be driven at the same time as the ice making operation, and the ice making water may be circulated in the ice making chamber 4A to perform freezing, but the ice making section 4 is not sufficiently cooled at the beginning of the ice making operation start. This is a measure to reduce the ice making efficiency.

(7) The ice making timer is started, ice making is continued until the remaining time of the ice making timer elapses, and when the ice making timer counts up, the ice making process is started (S3).
8). (8) When moving to the ice removal process, the compressor and water supply valve 1
1, turn on the hot gas valve (S39), pump mode
And the fan motor are turned off (S40), and the water tray 5 is opened.

When the water tray 5 is opened and the ice making section 4 is heated by the hot gas, the ice begins to drop from the ice making chamber 4A. Further, the water flows on the water tray 5 to facilitate the sliding off of the dropped ice, and the ice is introduced into the ice storage part. (9) When the water tray 5 is opened, the water supply valve 11 is turned off (S41), and then the waiting water tray 5 is kept open until the ET sensor reaches the ice removal completion detection temperature (S42).

Here, if all the ice making parts 4 are de-iced, the temperature of the ice making parts 4 in the state of being heated by the hot gas rises. It ends. (10) When the ET sensor reaches the ice-free completion detection temperature, the water tray 5 is closed (S43).

(11) An ice storage sensor is provided in the ice storage unit to detect full ice (S44). Therefore, if the ice is not full, the water supply process of (4) is performed again, and then the operations of the ice making process and the ice removing process of (5) to (11) are repeated. That is, the ice making operation of the next cycle is performed. Then, if the ice is full, move to the ice storage step (12).

(12) If the ice is full, open the water tray 5 (S
45), the compressor, the water supply valve 11, the hot gas valve, the pump motor, and the fan motor are turned off and stopped (S46). (13) When the operation is temporarily stopped and the ice is taken out so that the ice is not full, the water tray 5 is closed (S48), and the water supply process of (4) is performed again.

The above is the normal ice making cycle. However, as described above, the supercooling phenomenon occurs every time. Here, various causes of supercooling can be considered, but the first conceivable reason is that when the ET sensor (6) detects a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 ° C.) in the normal cycle, ET is detected. Variations in the detection of the predetermined temperature occur due to the error of the sensor itself, the mounting error of the ET sensor, the influence of the outside air temperature, and the like. Ice-making timer-The temperature is almost constant depending on the outside air temperature, so the entire ice-making time may vary depending on the detection of the predetermined temperature. If the ice-making time varies to the longer side, ice fragments may stick to the water tray when opening the water tray in (8) just before supercooling, and the ice-made ice may get caught on the fragments. There is. In this state, move to (10),
When the water tray is closed, ice will be caught between the water tray and the ice making part. In this case, the ice making is performed only under supercooling, but it may be repeated many times unless the supercooling is eliminated.

Until now, when supercooling occurred, a strange shape of ice was formed and an extra load was applied to the equipment. Also,
Only supercooling was repeated. The present invention detects supercooling by a supercooling detection device, prevents supercooling, removes an excessive load from being applied to equipment, and automatically shortens the ice making time of the cycle following the cycle in which supercooling occurs. It is finely adjusted to the direction to prevent the supercooling from starting from the next cycle after the supercooling occurs.

If the temperature reached at the end of ice making is high due to variations in product units and the like, the finished ice holes may become large. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the ET sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature at the end of ice making, the ice making timer time is lengthened to prevent the generation of incomplete ice during the next ice making operation. Similarly, the start temperature of the ice making timer is corrected to a high value when it is in a supercooled state, and a low value is corrected when it is in an undercooled state to provide uniform ice. .

The control which is the gist of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. If the supercooling or the temperature reached by the ET sensor is high, after the end of the water supply process of the ice making cycle, the flow of * 1 in Figure 5 or * 2 in Figure 6
Execute the chart. First, the * 1 flow chart in Figure 5
The ET sensor waits for the temperature to reach 0 ° C. (S49). When the temperature reaches the 0 ° C., it is checked whether or not overcooling occurred during the previous ice making cycle (S50). The cooling flag "H") and the supercooling flag are cleared (supercooling flag "L") (S51), and (+1) adjustment is performed so that the set time of the ice making timer is shortened. On the other hand, if supercooling has not occurred in S50, it is checked whether the temperature reached by the ET sensor is high (S5
3) If the temperature reached by ET is high (ET reached high flag "H"), clear the ET reached high flag (ET reached high flag "L") (S54), and set the ice-making timer longer. (-1) is adjusted (S55). Then, the value obtained by subtracting the fine adjustment time from the ice making time data is set as the set time of the ice making timer (S56), and the ice making timer is started (S57). It is checked whether or not the ice making is finished, that is, whether or not the ice making timer is counted up (S5).
8) If the count is not up, check whether the temperature of the ET sensor is lower or higher than the supercooling set temperature (S5
9) If it has become low, the supercooling flag is set to "H" (S60), and the process is shifted to the ice removal process. If the ice-making timer counts up in S58, it is checked whether the temperature of the ET sensor is higher or lower than the supercooling set temperature + 5 ° C (S61). If it is lower than the supercooling set temperature +5, the process directly proceeds to the ice removal process, and if it is higher, the ET reached temperature high flag is set to "H" (S62) and the process proceeds to the ice removal process. As described above, the set time of the ice making timer is changed to cope with overcooling or insufficient cooling.

Next, the flow chart of * 2 in FIG. 6 will be described. It is checked whether or not supercooling has occurred in the previous ice making cycle (S63), and if supercooling has occurred (supercooling occurs). Flag "H") Clear the supercooling flag (supercooling flag "L") (S64) and start the ice making timer.
Adjust so that the set temperature of the printer becomes higher (+ 1 ° C). On the other hand, if supercooling has not occurred in S63, it is checked whether the temperature reached by the ET sensor is high (S6).
6) If the reached temperature of ET is high (ET reached high flag "H"), clear the ET reached high flag (ET reached high flag "L") (S67), and set temperature of start of ice making timer Is adjusted (-1 ° C) so that it becomes low (S6
8). Then, it waits until the temperature of the ET sensor becomes lower than the set temperature of the adjusted timer start (S69), and when it becomes lower, the ice making timer is started (S70).
It is checked whether or not the ice making is completed, that is, whether or not the ice making timer has counted up (S71). If not, it is checked whether the temperature of the ET sensor is lower or higher than the supercooling set temperature ( S72) If it has become low, the supercooling flag is set to "H" (S73), and the ice removal process is started. If the ice-making timer counts up in S71, it is checked whether the temperature of the ET sensor is higher or lower than the supercooling set temperature + 5 ° C (S7).
4). If it is lower than the supercooling set temperature +5, the ice-cooling process is directly performed.
As H "(S75), the process proceeds to the ice removal process. As described above, the set temperature of the ice making timer is changed to cope with overcooling or insufficient cooling.

By performing the control as described above, when the temperature lowers at which supercooling occurs, hot gas is caused to flow to shift to the ice removing step, and at the next ice making cycle,
To prevent overcooling, the start temperature of the ice making operation time or the ice making timer is corrected to eliminate the cause of the overcooling. If the temperature causes insufficient cooling, the ice-making time or the start set temperature of the ice-making timer is corrected to eliminate the cause of insufficient cooling in the next ice-making cycle. is there.

By controlling as described above, the ice making operation corresponding to the factors related to the ice making such as the place of installation, the season, the time, etc. can be performed, so that uniform ice can always be made.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the temperature becomes lower than the temperature at which supercooling occurs, hot gas is flowed to shift to the ice removing step, and at the next ice making cycle, ice making is prevented from occurring. Operating time or ice making timer
This is to correct the start set temperature of and remove the cause of supercooling.

If the temperature causes insufficient cooling, the start set temperature of the ice making time or the ice making timer is corrected to prevent insufficient cooling in the next ice making cycle so as not to cause insufficient cooling. To remove. By controlling as described above, the ice making operation corresponding to the factors related to the ice making such as the place of installation, the season, and the time can be performed, so that the optimum ice can always be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an essential part of an ice making device in a deicing stroke state in which a water tray is closed and deiced.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an essential part of the ice making device in a state where the water tray is closed and the ice making process is performed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of a normal ice making cycle without supercooling or undercooling.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another part of a normal ice making cycle without undercooling or undercooling.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing control when there is supercooling or insufficient cooling.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing control when there is supercooling or insufficient cooling.

[Explanation of reference symbols] 1 ice making device 4 ice making unit 4A ice making chamber 4B cooler 5 water tray 6 water tank 20 cooler temperature sensor-

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Minoru Okajima 2-18 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Masakazu Kurihara 2-18, Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ice making unit, which is provided with a cooler, supplies a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, and is provided in the cooler,
A cooler temperature sensor for measuring the cooler temperature is provided, and when the temperature measured by the cooler temperature sensor during the ice making operation becomes lower than a predetermined temperature, hot gas is caused to flow into the ice removing process. In addition, the operation control device for the ice making machine is characterized in that the ice making time in the next ice making step is corrected to be short and the operation is controlled. 2. An ice making unit, which is provided with a cooler and supplies a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process,
A cooler temperature sensor that measures the cooler temperature, and a timer that starts measuring the ice making time when the cooler temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature, and the cooler temperature sensor during the ice making operation When the temperature measured in step 2 is lower than the specified temperature, hot gas is introduced to shift to the ice removal process, and the set temperature of the timer start of the next ice making process is corrected to be high to control the operation. An operation control device for an ice maker. 3. An ice making section, which is provided with a cooler, supplies a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making step, and is provided in the cooler,
A cooler temperature sensor that measures the cooler temperature-and a timer that measures the ice making time are provided, and if the reached temperature of the cooler temperature sensor at the end of the timer measurement is higher than the supercooling set temperature, An operation control device for an ice making machine, which is characterized by correcting the operation time of the next ice making process for a long time. 4. An ice making section, which is provided with a cooler, supplies a refrigerant to the cooler to perform an ice making process, and is provided in the cooler,
A cooler temperature sensor that measures the cooler temperature, and a timer that starts measuring the ice making time when the cooler temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature, and a cooler at the end of the measurement of the timer When the temperature reached by the temperature sensor is higher than the supercooling set temperature, the operation control device for the ice making machine is characterized in that the operation is controlled by correcting the timer start temperature of the next ice making process to a low value.