JP5755504B2 - Ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ice making machine that produces ice such as chip ice.

  As this type of ice making machine conventionally used, for example, a configuration shown in Patent Document 1 can be exemplified. In other words, in the conventional device, ice produced by the ice making unit is stored in the ice storage, and the ice stored in the ice storage is released in response to the user operating the release operation unit, for example, pressing the release lever. It is comprised so that it may discharge | release by a part.

  When such an ice making machine is assembled at the factory, an inspection is performed to confirm whether or not the ice making operation of the ice making unit is normal. That is, when the worker appropriately operates the discharge operation unit at a predetermined timing, the ice produced by the ice making unit is discharged by the discharge unit during a predetermined test ice making time and stored in a container for measurement. If the amount of ice stored in the weighing container is within a certain range, it is determined that the ice making operation of the ice making unit is normal.

JP 2005-30719 A

  In the conventional ice making machine as described above, the discharge operation unit is manually operated in order to store the ice produced by the ice making unit in the weighing container for a predetermined test ice making time. For example, an error in the operation timing of the operation unit may cause an artificial error in the amount of ice stored in the container for measurement, which reduces the reliability of the inspection.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to avoid the occurrence of human error in the amount of ice stored in the container for weighing, and to improve the reliability of the inspection. It is to provide an ice machine that can be improved.

  An ice making machine according to the present invention controls an ice making unit for producing ice, an ice storage for storing ice produced by the ice making unit, a discharge unit for discharging ice stored in the ice storage, and a discharge operation of the discharge unit The operation mode of the release control unit includes a normal mode for controlling the release operation of the release unit and the operation of the release operation unit in accordance with the operation of the release operation unit by the user. And an inspection mode in which ice produced by the ice making unit is discharged to the discharge unit within a predetermined test ice making time by controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit according to the virtual discharge command generated by the discharge control unit. ing.

In addition, the discharge control unit in the inspection mode inputs a virtual discharge command to the discharge unit and empties the ice storage by discharging ice to the discharge unit, and then stops inputting the virtual discharge command. , It is determined whether or not a predetermined stop maintenance time has elapsed since the input of the virtual discharge command has been stopped, and when it is determined that the stop maintenance time has elapsed, the input of the virtual discharge command to the discharge unit is resumed At the same time, it is determined whether or not a predetermined input maintenance time has elapsed since the input of the virtual discharge command was resumed, and when it is determined that the input maintenance time has elapsed, the input of the virtual discharge command is stopped. The ice produced by the ice making unit is discharged to the discharge unit within the test ice making time composed of the stop maintenance time and the input maintenance time.
In addition, when the operation mode is switched to the inspection mode, the discharge control unit in the inspection mode stops the input of the virtual discharge command and a predetermined break-in operation time has elapsed since the switching to the inspection mode. If it is determined whether or not the break-in operation time has elapsed, a virtual discharge command is input to the discharge unit to empty the ice storage.
Further, the release control unit changes the length of the break-in operation time according to the operation by the user.
The ice making unit further includes an ice making control unit that controls an ice making operation of the ice making unit. The ice making unit includes an ice making water tank that stores ice making water from the outside, and water supply for controlling supply of the ice making water to the ice making water tank. It includes a valve, a water level sensor that detects the level of ice-making water in the ice-making water tank, and an ice-making unit body that produces ice from ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank. When the water level sensor detects that the water level of the ice making water in the tank is below the predetermined lower limit water level, the valve opening command is input to the water supply valve to supply ice making water to the ice making water tank, When the water level sensor does not detect that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank has reached the predetermined upper limit water level even if the predetermined water shutoff detection time has elapsed since the valve opening command was input to the water supply valve , So as to detect water outage abnormality Made which have controlled release unit during a test mode, when resuming the input virtual emission command to the emission regions, and sets the forced closing flag to disable the opening command of the ice-making controller.

  According to the ice making machine of the present invention, the operation of the discharge operation unit is invalidated, and the discharge operation of the discharge unit is controlled according to the virtual discharge command generated by the discharge control unit, so that the predetermined ice-making time is reached. The operation mode of the discharge control unit includes an inspection mode that discharges ice produced by the ice making unit to the discharge unit. By operating the discharge control unit in the inspection mode, the manual operation of the discharge operation unit is not involved. In addition, the ice produced by the ice making unit can be discharged to the discharge unit within the test ice making time. As a result, it is possible to avoid an artificial error in the amount of ice stored in the container for measurement and improve the reliability of the inspection.

It is a block diagram which shows the ice making machine by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the discharge | release control operation at the time of the test | inspection mode of the discharge | release control part of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an ice making machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, the ice making machine is provided with an ice making unit 1, an ice storage 2, an ice making control unit 3, a discharge unit 4, a discharge control unit 5, a discharge operation unit 6, and an operation mode switching operation unit 7.

  The ice making unit 1 is for producing ice such as chip ice. The ice making unit 1 includes an ice making water tank 10, a water supply valve 11, a water level sensor 12, an ice making unit main body 13, and an ice amount sensor 14. An external water system (not shown) is connected to the ice making water tank 10 through a water supply valve 11, and ice making water is supplied from the external water system. The water supply valve 11 switches whether or not to supply ice making water to the ice making water tank 10.

  The water level sensor 12 is constituted by a float sensor, for example, and detects the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 10. Specifically, the water level sensor 12 determines whether or not the ice making water level in the ice making water tank 10 has reached a predetermined upper limit water level, and the ice making water level in the ice making water tank 10 is below a predetermined lower limit water level. Detect whether or not.

  The ice making unit main body 13 is constituted by an ice making body such as an auger ice making machine, for example, and produces ice from ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 10. Ice produced by the ice making unit body 13 (ice making unit 1) is stored in the ice storage 2. The ice amount sensor 14 detects the amount of ice stored in the ice storage 2. Specifically, the ice amount sensor 14 detects whether or not the amount of ice stored in the ice storage 2 has reached a predetermined full ice amount.

  The ice making control unit 3 is constituted by a microcomputer or the like, for example, and controls the ice making operation of the ice making unit 1.

  Specifically, the ice making control unit 3 inputs the valve opening command 3a to the water supply valve 11 when the water level sensor 12 detects that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 10 is below the lower limit water level. Then, ice making water is supplied to the ice making water tank 10. Further, the ice making control unit 3 stops the input of the valve opening command 3a to the water supply valve 11 when the water level sensor 12 detects that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 10 has reached the upper limit water level. Then, supply of the ice making water to the ice making water tank 10 is stopped.

  Further, the ice making control unit 3 has reached the upper limit water level in the ice making water tank 10 even when a predetermined water break detection time has elapsed since the valve opening command 3a was input to the water supply valve 11. Is detected by the water level sensor 12, it detects a water outage abnormality. When the water making abnormality is detected by the ice making control unit 3, the operation of the entire ice making machine is stopped.

  Further, the ice making control unit 3 instructs the ice making unit main body 13 to make an ice making command 3b when the ice amount sensor 14 detects that the amount of ice stored in the ice storage 2 has not reached a predetermined full ice amount. To make the ice making unit body 13 produce ice. The ice making control operation of the ice making control unit 3 based on the detection state of the water level sensor 12 and the ice amount sensor 14 is always performed when the power of the ice making machine is turned on.

  The discharge part 4 is for discharging the ice stored in the ice storage 2. Although not shown, the discharge unit 4 includes a shutter that opens and closes an ice discharge port of the ice storage 2 and a solenoid valve that drives the shutter.

  The discharge control unit 5 is configured by a microcomputer, for example, and controls the discharge operation of the discharge unit 4. The release control unit 5 may be provided separately from the ice making control unit 3 or may be provided integrally with the ice making control unit 3 by, for example, one microcomputer.

  The operation modes of the discharge controller 5 include a normal mode and an inspection mode. The normal mode is an operation mode for controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit 4 in accordance with the operation of the discharge operation unit 6 by the user. The discharge operation unit 6 is constituted by, for example, an operation switch or an operation lever provided in the ice making machine.

  The inspection mode is an operation mode for confirming whether or not the ice making operation of the ice making unit 1 is normal when the ice making machine is assembled at the factory, and invalidates the operation of the discharge operation unit 6. An operation mode for causing the discharge unit 4 to discharge ice produced by the ice making unit 1 within a predetermined test ice making time by controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit 4 according to the virtual discharge command 5a generated by the discharge control unit 5. It is. The ice discharged by the discharge unit 4 when the discharge control unit 5 is operated in this inspection mode is stored in a weighing container prepared by an operator. If the amount of ice stored in the weighing container is within a certain range, it is determined that the ice making operation of the ice making unit is normal. The discharge control operation of the discharge controller 5 in the inspection mode will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

  The operation mode switching operation unit 7 is constituted by, for example, an operation switch provided in the ice making machine. When the operator operates the operation mode switching operation unit 7, the operation mode of the release control unit 5 is switched between the normal mode and the inspection mode. Note that the operation mode switching operation unit 7 may be provided separately from the discharge operation unit 6 or may be provided integrally with the discharge operation unit 6 by, for example, one operation switch.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a discharge control operation in the inspection mode of the discharge control unit 5 of FIG. In the figure, when the operation mode of the release control unit 5 is switched to the inspection mode in accordance with the operation of the operation mode switching operation unit 7 by the operator, the input of the virtual release command 5a is stopped (step S1). It is determined whether or not a predetermined break-in operation time has elapsed since the operation mode was switched to the inspection mode (step S2). At this time, if it is determined that the running-in time has elapsed, a virtual discharge command 5a is input to the discharge unit 4 for a predetermined time in order to empty the ice storage 2 (step S3).

  This break-in operation time is a time for stabilizing the ice making operation of the ice making unit 1 by delaying the time from when the operation mode of the discharge control unit 5 is switched to the inspection mode until the ice storage 2 is emptied. It is. The discharge controller 5 changes the length of the break-in operation time according to the operation by the user. Specifically, the release control unit 2 sets the length of the break-in operation time used for the release control operation in the inspection mode to any one of a plurality of preset time lengths according to the operation by the user. decide. The user's operation for changing the running-in time may be an operation performed before the operation mode is switched to the inspection mode, or may be an operation for switching the operation mode to the inspection mode. .

  When the virtual discharge command 5a is input to the discharge unit 4 for a predetermined time and the ice storage 2 is emptied (step S4), the input of the virtual discharge command 5a is stopped (step S5) and the virtual discharge command 5a is input. It is determined whether or not a predetermined stop maintenance time has elapsed since the stop of the operation (step S6). During the stop maintenance time, the discharge of the ice by the discharge unit 4 is stopped, and the ice manufactured by the ice making unit main body 13 is stored in the ice storage 2.

  When it is determined that the stop maintenance time has elapsed, the input of the virtual discharge command 5a to the discharge unit 4 is resumed (step S7), and the forced valve closing flag 5b for invalidating the valve opening command 3a of the ice making control 3 ( 1 is set (step S8), and it is determined whether or not a predetermined input maintaining time has elapsed since the input of the virtual release command 5a was resumed (step S9). During the input maintaining time, ice in the ice storage 2 is discharged by the discharge unit 4 while ice supply to the ice storage 2 by the ice making unit main body 13 is continued.

  When it is determined that the input maintenance time has elapsed, the input of the virtual discharge command 5a is stopped (step S10), and the discharge of ice by the discharge unit 4 is stopped. By the discharge control operation in the inspection mode, the ice produced by the ice making unit 1 is discharged by the discharge unit 4 within the test ice making time composed of the stop maintaining time and the input maintaining time.

  In step S9 described above, since the forced valve closing flag 5b that invalidates the valve opening command 3a of the ice making control 3 is set, even if the ice making control unit 3 inputs the valve opening command 3a to the water supply valve 11. The ice making water is not supplied to the ice making water tank 10. For this reason, when a certain amount of time has elapsed since the forced valve closing flag 5b was set, the ice making control unit 3 detects a water break abnormality, and the operation of the ice making machine as a whole is stopped.

  In such an ice making machine, the operation of the discharge operation unit 6 is invalidated, and the discharge operation of the discharge unit 4 is controlled in accordance with the virtual discharge command 5a generated by the discharge control unit 5, thereby making a predetermined test ice making time. Since the inspection mode in which the ice produced by the ice making unit 1 is discharged to the discharge unit 4 is included in the operation mode of the discharge control unit 5, the release control unit 5 is operated in the inspection mode, so that the manual discharge operation is performed. The ice produced by the ice making unit 1 can be discharged to the discharge unit 4 within the test ice making time without going through the operation of the unit 6. As a result, it is possible to avoid an artificial error in the amount of ice stored in the container for measurement and improve the reliability of the inspection.

  Further, the discharge control unit 6 in the inspection mode inputs a virtual discharge command 5a to the discharge unit 4 and causes the discharge unit 4 to discharge ice to empty the ice storage 2 and then the virtual discharge command 5a. Is stopped, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined stop maintenance time has elapsed since the input of the virtual release command 5a was stopped. When the input of the virtual release command 5a is resumed and it is determined whether or not a predetermined input maintenance time has elapsed since the input of the virtual release command 5a is resumed. By stopping the input of the virtual discharge command 5a, the ice produced by the ice making unit 1 is released to the discharge unit 4 within the test ice making time composed of the stop maintaining time and the input maintaining time, so that the test ice making time can be more reliably met. Ice making part 1 It can be released granulated ice release unit 4 can be more reliably improved reliability of the inspection.

  Furthermore, when the discharge control unit 5 in the inspection mode determines that the input of the virtual discharge command 5a is stopped and the break-in operation time has elapsed when the operation mode is switched to the inspection mode, the ice storage unit 5 Since the virtual discharge command 5a is input to the discharge unit 4 to empty the storage 2, the inspection can be performed with the amount of ice produced by the ice making unit 1 in a stable operation, and the reliability of the inspection Can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the discharge control unit 5 changes the length of the running-in operation time according to the operation by the user, the time for the running-in operation of the ice making unit 1 can be changed according to external conditions such as season (temperature). Thus, the inspection can be performed in a state in which the ice making operation of the ice making unit 1 is stabilized more reliably. Thereby, the reliability of inspection can be further improved.

  Further, the release control unit 5 in the inspection mode sets the forced valve closing flag 5b that invalidates the valve opening command 3a of the ice making control 3 when the input of the virtual release command 5a to the release unit 4 is resumed. Convenience of the inspection can be confirmed whether or not the water-breaking detection operation of the ice making control 3 is normally performed at the same time as performing the inspection for confirming whether or not the ice making operation of the ice making unit 1 is normal. Can be improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice making part, 2 ice storage, 3 ice making control part, 3a valve opening command, 4 discharge | release part, 5 discharge | release control part, 5a virtual discharge command, 5b forced valve closing flag, 6 discharge operation part, 10 ice making water tank, 11 water supply Valve, 12 Water level sensor, 13 Ice making body.

Claims (5)

An ice making unit that produces ice;
An ice storage for storing ice produced by the ice making unit;
A discharge part for discharging the ice stored in the ice storage;
A discharge control unit for controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit,
In the operation mode of the release control unit,
A normal mode for controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit according to the operation of the discharge operation unit by the user;
The ice making unit is manufactured within a predetermined test ice making time by invalidating the operation of the discharge operation unit and controlling the discharge operation of the discharge unit according to the virtual release command generated by the release control unit. And an inspection mode for discharging ice to the discharge section. The release control unit in the inspection mode is
The virtual discharge command is input to the discharge unit, and after the ice storage is emptied by discharging ice to the discharge unit, the input of the virtual discharge command is stopped and the virtual discharge command Determine whether a predetermined stop maintenance time has passed since the input was stopped,
When it is determined that the stop maintenance time has elapsed, the input of the virtual discharge command to the discharge unit is resumed, and whether a predetermined input maintenance time has elapsed since the input of the virtual discharge command was resumed Determine whether
When it is determined that the input maintenance time has elapsed, by stopping the input of the virtual release command, the ice making unit is manufactured within the test ice making time composed of the stop maintenance time and the input maintenance time. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein ice is discharged to the discharge section.   When the operation mode is switched to the inspection mode, the discharge control unit in the inspection mode stops the input of the virtual release command and performs a predetermined break-in from the time when the inspection mode is switched. It is determined whether or not the operating time has elapsed, and when it is determined that the break-in operating time has elapsed, the virtual discharge command is input to the discharge unit to empty the ice storage. The ice making machine according to claim 2.   The ice making machine according to claim 3, wherein the discharge control unit changes the length of the break-in operation time according to an operation by a user. An ice making control unit for controlling an ice making operation of the ice making unit;
In the ice making unit, an ice making water tank for storing ice making water from the outside, a water supply valve for controlling supply of ice making water to the ice making water tank, and a water level of ice making water in the ice making water tank are detected. And a water level sensor that manufactures ice from ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank,
The ice making control unit inputs a valve opening command to the water supply valve when the water level sensor detects that the ice making water level in the ice making water tank is below a predetermined lower limit water level. The ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making water tank, and the water level of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank is a predetermined level even if a predetermined water-off detection time has elapsed since the opening command was input to the water supply valve. When it is not detected by the water level sensor that the upper limit water level has been reached, the water level abnormality is detected,
The release control unit in the inspection mode sets a forced valve closing flag that invalidates the valve opening command of the ice making control unit when resuming input of the virtual release command to the discharge unit. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

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