JP5061690B2 - Ice making system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making system having a water reservoir of a beverage supply device for preparing and selling beverages.

  Conventionally, in a cup-type vending machine (beverage supply device) that prepares beverages from hot or cold water and sells cup beverages, water that stores drinking water supplied through a water inlet valve provided in a water supply pipe directly connected to the water supply A control unit based on a switch signal provided with a reservoir, provided with a float in the drinking water stored in the water reservoir, and a rod standing up from the float moving up and down as the water surface moves up and down Opens and closes the water inlet valve, opens the water inlet valve when the water level falls to the lower limit water level, starts water supply, closes the water inlet valve to stop water supply when the upper water level is reached, and supplies water to the water reservoir, The drinking water stored in the water reservoir is kept at a water level within a predetermined range.

It also has an auger type ice maker that makes ice pieces to be used when preparing cold beverages. The auger type ice maker uses auger (auger () to make the drinking water supplied from the water reservoir icing on the inner wall surface of the ice making cylinder. An ice making unit that makes a piece of ice by rotating and pushing up a screw-type rotary cutting blade), and an ice storage unit that stores the ice piece that has been made into ice on a spider.
The ice making unit includes a drive motor, an auger connected via a speed reducer that reduces and transmits the rotation of the drive motor, an ice making cylinder through which the auger is inserted, and a refrigeration cycle wound around the outer peripheral surface of the ice making cylinder An ice pipe, an extrusion head for compressing ice provided above the auger, and an insulating material that surrounds the ice making cylinder and the evaporation pipe. A water inlet is provided at the lower part of the ice making cylinder. Connected to the water reservoir by a tube.

  The ice storage part is provided with an ice storage chamber composed of a heat insulating wall having a circular cross section in the upper part of the ice making part, and inside thereof an agitator for stirring ice pieces attached on the axis of a rotating shaft coaxial with the auger, It is equipped with a spider for placing ice pieces (also has a function of draining melted water in which ice pieces have melted) disposed between the agitator and the bottom of the ice storage chamber. A drainage outlet is provided, and the drainage outlet communicates with a water inlet at the bottom of the ice making cylinder through a drainage pipe.

Since the auger type ice maker does not have a water level adjustment function by itself, the water level in the ice cylinder that freezes drinking water is the same as the water level of the water reservoir connected by the water supply pipe. When the water level of the stored water drops to the lower limit water level, the water inlet valve is opened to supply water, and when the upper limit water level is reached, the water inlet valve is closed to stop water supply, and the water level is appropriate for making good quality ice pieces. It is always kept within the range between the upper and lower water levels. In this way, in order to make high quality ice pieces with an auger type ice machine, it is desirable that the water level in the ice making cylinder is always kept at a substantially constant level, and if the water level in the ice making cylinder is too high, it is soft and spilled. If it is too low, it becomes too hard and generates abnormal noise in the ice making cylinder, and the drive motor is overloaded (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-4950

  However, such an ice making system using the auger type ice making machine of the cup type vending machine is in a state where the ice beverage is not sold and the ice is not consumed for a long time, and the ice amount detection switch of the ice storage unit is turned ON / OFF. Depending on how the ice melts, the timing of water supply from the water supply to the water reservoir, and the timing of periodic stirring, a large amount of melted water in the ice storage section of the auger ice making machine returns to the water reservoir. The waste water bucket fills up sooner than expected due to the melted water in the ice storage section overflowing from the water reservoir, and the waste water bucket full detection switch works to prevent water leakage. There was a problem that the vending machine was discontinued and missed the opportunity to sell cup beverages.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making system having a water reservoir capable of reducing drainage of a cup type vending machine.

In order to achieve the above object, an ice making system according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a water reservoir storing drinking water at a predetermined level, and an ice making unit for drinking water supplied from the water reservoir. In an ice making system equipped with an auger type ice making machine that stores ice pieces in an ice storage part,
When it is detected that the drinking water stored in the water reservoir has reached a predetermined water level, an overflow suppression detection switch that outputs an overflow suppression signal, and when the overflow suppression detection switch outputs an overflow suppression signal , ice making is started. And a control unit for rotating the agitator provided in the ice storage unit for a predetermined time.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the overflow suppression detection switch that outputs an overflow suppression signal upon detecting that the drinking water stored in the water reservoir has reached a predetermined water level, and the overflow suppression detection switch outputs the overflow suppression signal. When output, an ice amount detection switch (by rotating the agitator and breaking the stuck ice by providing a control unit that rotates the agitator provided in the ice storage unit for a predetermined time without starting ice making. It is possible to detect a decrease in the ice amount of the ice making start switch) and to start ice making based on the detection signal of the ice amount detecting switch. When ice making starts, drinking water is consumed, the water level in the water reservoir drops, and overflowing from the water reservoir will no longer be drained into the waste water bucket. The number of operations at the installation destination for wastewater disposal can be reduced, and the operation efficiency can be improved.

Exemplary embodiments of an ice making system having a water reservoir according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a water circuit diagram of a cup-type vending machine (beverage supply device) provided with an ice making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cup-type vending machine 1 includes a water inlet valve 9 that opens and closes a valve to supply and stop drinking water, and a water reservoir that stores drinking water supplied by opening the water inlet valve 9 10. Water pump 51 for pumping drinking water stored in water reservoir 10 to various places in the machine, cold water for iced beverage, cooling water tank 52 for cooling carbonated water and syrup, and carbonator 53 for producing and storing carbonated water , A cold water nozzle 54 for pouring cold water into the cup C, a carbonated water nozzle 55 for pouring carbonated water into the cup C, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 56 for storing carbon dioxide, a syrup tank 57 for storing syrup, and a syrup into cup C The syrup nozzle 58 that exits, the auger type ice making machine 20 that makes ice pieces with drinking water supplied from the water reservoir 10, and the coffee beans supplied from the canister 61 are warmed into the ground beans that are ground by the mill 62. Coffee beverage 64 by extracting coffee liquid by pouring hot water supplied from tank 63, powder raw materials such as sugar and cream supplied from canister 65, and coffee liquid supplied from coffee brewer 64 are stirred and mixed. Are provided with a mixing bowl 66 and a coffee nozzle 67 for pouring a coffee drink into the cup C.

  FIG. 2 is a partially broken side view showing an auger type ice making machine 20 having a water reservoir 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water reservoir 10 detects the position of the float 11 that moves up and down as the water level of the stored water changes, and when the stored water falls to the water supply start water level (A1), a water supply start switch 12 that outputs a water supply start signal, Is provided with a water supply stop switch 13 that outputs a water supply stop signal when the water reaches the water supply stop water level (A2), and an overflow suppression detection switch 14 that outputs an overflow suppression signal when the stored water rises to the pre-overflow water level (A3). When the water level rises to a position exceeding A4), the drinking water in the water reservoir 10 is drained into a waste water bucket (not shown).

  When the float 11 moves up and down as the water level of the water stored in the water reservoir 10 changes and the water supply start switch 12 outputs a water supply start signal, the control unit 90 (see FIG. 3) opens the water inlet valve 9. When water is supplied to the water reservoir 10 and the water supply stop switch 13 outputs a water supply stop signal, the controller 90 closes the water inlet valve 9 to stop water supply. The water reservoir 10 storing the drinking water supplied in this way communicates with the auger ice making machine 20 through the water supply pipe T1, and the refrigeration cycle 70 (see FIG. 3) is operated to drive the auger ice making machine 20. Then, the drinking water stored in the water reservoir 10 is supplied from the water supply pipe T1 to the auger type ice making machine 20 for ice making. Further, when the water pump 51 is driven by communicating with the water pump 51 through the water supply pipe T4, the drinking water stored in the water reservoir 10 is supplied from the water supply pipe T4 to the carbonator 53 and the hot water tank 63.

The auger type ice making machine 20 includes an ice making unit 21 for making ice pieces by rotating and pushing out thin ice that has landed on the inner wall surface of an ice making cylinder, and an ice storage unit 30 for storing the produced ice pieces on a kite child. It is composed of
The ice making unit 21 includes a drive motor 22, an auger (screw-shaped rotary cutting blade) 23 connected via a speed reducer (not shown) that decelerates and transmits the rotation of the drive motor 22, and an auger 23. The ice making cylinder 24 to be inserted, the evaporation pipe 25 of the refrigeration cycle 70 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the ice making cylinder 24, the ice compression extrusion head 26 provided above the auger 23, the ice making cylinder 24 and the evaporation cylinder A heat insulating material 27 surrounding the pipe 25 is provided. The lower part of the ice making cylinder 24 is connected to the water reservoir 10 from the water inlet 28 via the water supply pipe T1.

  The ice storage unit 30 is provided with an ice storage chamber 31 composed of a heat insulating wall having a circular cross section in the upper part of the ice making unit 21, and an ice piece agitation mounted on the axis of a rotating shaft 23 a coaxial with the auger 23 is provided therein. An agitator 32 for use with ice, and a spider for placing ice pieces (having the role of draining melted water in which ice pieces are melted) 33 disposed between the agitator 32 and the bottom 31a of the ice storage chamber 31. I have. Further, an ice carrying door 35 that is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism 34 is provided on the side wall of the ice storage chamber 31. When the opening / closing mechanism 34 is driven to open the ice carry-out door 35, the ice pieces placed on the cage 33 and stirred by the agitator 32 are supplied from the ice hose 36 to the cup C placed on a bend stage (not shown). The Furthermore, an ice amount detection disk 38 is provided on the upper cover 37 of the ice storage chamber 31, and an ice making start switch 39 for outputting an ice making start signal when the ice amount decreases and the ice amount detection disk 38 falls to the ice storage amount lower limit position; An ice making stop switch 40 that outputs an ice making stop signal when an ice making operation advances and the ice amount detection disk 38 is pushed up to the ice making stop position, and a full ice detection switch 41 described later are provided.

The bottom 31a of the ice storage chamber 31 is provided with a drain port 42 for draining melted water. The drain port 42 is connected to the water reservoir 10 from the water inlet 28 provided at the lower part of the ice making cylinder 24 by the drain pipe T2 through the water supply pipe T1. It is connected. Further, the drain pipe T2 communicates with the water pump 51 through the communication pipe T3, and communicates with the water reservoir 10 through the water supply pipe T4.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the cup type vending machine 1. As shown in the figure, in addition to the controller 90, a memory 91, a timer 92, and the like are attached. The control unit 90 includes a predetermined command signal stored in the memory 91, a timer 92, a water supply start switch 12, a water supply stop switch 13, an overflow suppression detection switch 14, an ice making start switch 39, an ice making stop switch 40, and a full ice detection switch. Based on the input signal from 41, the water inlet valve 9 is opened and closed to keep the water stored in the water reservoir 10 at a predetermined water level, the drive motor 22 of the auger type ice making machine 20 is driven and the refrigeration cycle 70 is controlled. To do.

  With this configuration, when the refrigeration cycle 70 is operated and the drive motor 22 is driven, the drinking water flowing from the water reservoir 10 through the water supply pipe T1 and supplied from the water inlet 28 to the ice-making cylinder 24 evaporates in the refrigerant of the evaporation pipe 25. The ice is cooled in the ice-making cylinder 24 that is cooled by heat, and thin ice is deposited on the inner wall surface, and is pushed out by the rotating auger 23 toward the extrusion head 26 for ice compression. The extruded flake-shaped ice is compressed by the extrusion head 26 and protrudes in a state of being solidified in a columnar shape. The protruding ice is cut at the tip of the extrusion head 26 to become a chip-shaped ice piece, and the spider 33 Placed on top and stored in ice. An agitator 32 that rotates in conjunction with the auger 23 agitates the ice pieces stored in the ice storage chamber 31 to prevent the ice pieces from sticking to a large ice block.

  When the ice making operation proceeds and the ice amount detection disk 38 is pushed up to the ice making stop position, the ice making stop switch 40 outputs an ice making stop signal to the control unit 90, stops the drive motor 22 and the refrigeration cycle 70, and interrupts the ice making operation. . When an ice piece take-out command is given to the auger type ice making machine 20 in conjunction with the selling operation of the cup type vending machine 1, the drive motor 22 is driven to rotate the agitator 32, and at the same time, the controller 90 opens and closes the opening / closing mechanism 34. A signal is output to open the ice carry-out door 35 for a predetermined time, and the ice pieces carried out from the ice carry-out door 35 by the rotation of the agitator 32 are supplied from the ice hose 36 to the cup C placed on a bend stage (not shown). When the ice storage amount is reduced and the ice amount detection disk 38 is lowered to the ice storage amount lower limit position, the ice making start switch 39 outputs an ice making start signal to the control unit 90 to restart the ice making operation.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the water reservoir 10 storing drinking water at a predetermined level, and the ice pieces obtained by making the drinking water supplied from the water reservoir 10 in the ice making unit 21 are stored in ice. In an ice making system comprising an auger type ice making machine 20 that stores ice in the section 30, an overflow suppression detection that outputs an overflow suppression signal when it is detected that the drinking water stored in the water reservoir 10 has reached a predetermined water level When the switch 14 and the control unit 90 that rotates the agitator 32 provided in the ice storage unit 30 for a predetermined time when the overflow suppression detection switch 14 outputs an overflow suppression signal, the agitator 32 is rotated and fixed. The ice amount detection disk 38 is lowered to the ice storage amount lower limit position by breaking the ice soul, and the ice making start switch 12 can detect the ice amount decrease. It can be allow ice start control of the control unit 90 based on the ice making start signal ice start switch 12 outputs. When ice making starts, drinking water is consumed, so the level of the water stored in the water reservoir 10 is lowered, and the drinking water overflows from the water reservoir 10 and is not drained into the waste water bucket. It is possible to reduce the number of operations of the installation destination for the suspension of sales and wastewater disposal of wastewater buckets, and to improve the operation efficiency.

Further, when the overflow suppression detection switch 14 outputs an overflow suppression signal, the control unit 90 forcibly causes the auger type ice making machine 20 to make ice until the full ice detection switch 41 outputs a full ice signal. Drinking water can be consumed to prevent overflow, and drainage from the water reservoir 10 to the waste water bucket can be prevented.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the control unit 90. If the ice stored in the ice storage section 30 of the auger type ice making machine 20 melts in a fixed state, the ice amount detection disk 38 cannot descend to the ice storage amount lower limit position, so the ice making start switch 39 does not output an ice making start signal. Therefore, since the operation control of the refrigeration cycle 70 for making ice with the auger type ice making machine 20 and the drive control of the drive motor 22 are not performed by the control unit 90, ice melting does not start and only a large amount of melted water is discharged. When the water level of the stored water in the reservoir 10 exceeds the overflow water level (A4), the water overflows and is discharged into the waste water bucket.

  The ice making system having the water reservoir 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the overflow suppression detection switch 14 that outputs an overflow suppression signal when the water stored in the water reservoir 10 rises to the position before the overflow (A3). When the overflow suppression detection switch 14 outputs an overflow suppression signal (step S101), the control unit 90 confirms that the door of the cup type vending machine 1 is closed (step S102), and switches the drive motor 22 on. Drive (step S103) and drive at t1 (for example, 1 minute) (step S104). When the ice amount detection disk 38 is lowered to the ice storage amount lower limit position by driving the drive motor 22 and rotating the agitator 32 of the ice storage unit 30 by t1 to break the stuck ice soul, the ice making start switch 39 starts ice making. The control unit 90 outputs a signal to the control unit 90. When the control unit 90 operates the refrigeration cycle 70 based on the ice making start signal and drives the drive motor 22 to start ice making, water stored in the water reservoir 10 is consumed. Since the water level of the reservoir 10 is lowered and the overflow from the water reservoir 10 to the waste water bucket does not occur, the sales stop due to the waste water bucket full, the number of operations of the installation destination for waste water disposal of the waste water bucket Can be reduced and the operation efficiency is improved. When the ice making operation proceeds and the ice amount detection disk 38 is pushed up to the ice making stop position, the ice making stop switch 40 outputs an ice making stop signal to the control unit 90, stops the drive motor 22 and the refrigeration cycle 70, and interrupts the ice making operation. (Step S <b> 105) When waiting for t <b> 2 (for example, 30 minutes), periodic agitation of rotating the agitator 32 is performed to prevent the ice stored in the ice storage unit 30 from sticking to each other.

It is a water circuit diagram of a cup type vending machine provided with an ice making system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partially broken side view which shows the water reservoir and auger type ice making machine shown in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the control system of the cup type vending machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows control of the control part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Cup vending machine (beverage supply equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Water inlet valve 10 Water reservoir 11 Float 12 Water supply start switch 13 Water supply stop switch 14 Overflow suppression detection switch 20 Auger type ice making machine 21 Ice making part 22 Drive motor 23 Auger 24 Ice making cylinder 30 Ice storage part 31 Ice storage room 32 Agitator 33 Eggplant 39 Ice making Start switch 40 Ice making stop switch 41 Full ice detection switch 90 Control unit C cup

Claims (1)

A water reservoir that holds drinking water at a predetermined level, and an auger type ice making machine that stores ice pieces obtained by making iced drinking water supplied from the water reservoir in an ice storage unit. In ice making system,
When it is detected that the drinking water stored in the water reservoir has reached a predetermined water level, an overflow suppression detection switch that outputs an overflow suppression signal, and when the overflow suppression detection switch outputs an overflow suppression signal , ice making is started. ice system, characterized in that the agitator provided in the ice storage unit is provided and a control unit for rotating a predetermined time without.

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