JP7548841B2 - Ice maker - Google Patents

Description

This technology relates to ice makers.

Conventionally, it is known that in ice makers, a cleaning operation is performed after a specified ice-making operation time, and an example of this is described in Patent Document 1. In the ice maker described in Patent Document 1, an automatic descaling and disinfection process is started when a user presses a "clean" button. This process includes a step in which the user temporarily suspends the process in order to add a detergent for descaling to the main water tank of the water reservoir. After adding the detergent, the user presses a button on the control panel or the like to resume the process. Patent Document 1 also describes a technology in which disinfectant in a disinfectant tank is automatically added to the main water tank when the water level in the main water tank reaches the disinfection water level.

Patent No. 6506408

In the ice maker of Patent Document 1, the user must manually add detergent and then press a button to proceed with the process after the detergent is added. In addition, the entire amount of disinfectant is poured into the main water tank, so the user must refill the disinfectant tank with disinfectant every time the disinfectant is added.

Therefore, if the entire process of the washing operation could be automated, it would be possible to reduce the user's efforts and improve work efficiency. In addition, if the washing operation were to be started automatically after a specified ice-making operation time or number of ice-making operations, it would be possible to ensure that the washing operation would be performed regularly without the user having to perform a start operation.

However, if the entire washing operation, from start to execution, is automated, there is a concern that ice shortages may occur because new ice is not produced during the washing operation. Specifically, if the washing operation starts automatically during periods of high demand for ice (for example, during the busy season for a store that uses an ice maker) when there is little ice remaining in the ice storage, ice will not be replenished even when users use it, which could result in an ice shortage. Since the washing operation generally takes 30 minutes or more, users will have to wait a long time with a shortage of ice until the washing operation ends and ice making resumes.

The technology described in this specification was developed based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to realize an ice maker that can automatically perform a cleaning operation while preventing ice shortages.

The ice making machine according to the technology described in this specification comprises an ice making unit that produces ice, a cooling device that cools the ice making unit, a water tank that stores water to be supplied to the ice making unit, an ice storage bin that stores the ice produced by the ice making unit, an ice storage sensor that detects the amount of ice stored in the ice storage bin, a circulation pump that circulates water through a running water path that includes the ice making unit and the water tank on the path, and a control unit capable of controlling the cooling device and the circulation pump, and performs an ice making operation that produces ice in the ice making unit by operating at least the cooling device, and a cleaning operation that cleans the running water path by stopping the cooling device and operating the circulation pump. The device is equipped with a control unit that executes the operation, an operation unit that allows the user to select stopping the ice-making operation, and a timer unit that measures the passage of time, and the control unit starts the cleaning operation when a first standby time has elapsed in the timer unit after the ice-making operation, and starts a timer count of a second standby time, which is a value smaller than the first standby time, in the timer unit when the ice storage sensor detects a predetermined upper limit value within the first standby time or when the stop is selected in the operation unit, and starts the cleaning operation without waiting for the first standby time to elapse if the second standby time elapses before the first standby time elapses.

In this way, the washing operation will be automatically started and executed when the first standby time (e.g., 5 hours) has elapsed after the ice-making operation. This can save the user time and improve work efficiency, and ensure that the washing operation is executed reliably. In addition, if the user selects to stop the ice-making operation, or if the ice storage sensor detects a predetermined upper limit (e.g., full ice), the washing operation will be automatically started and executed when the second standby time (e.g., 1 hour) has elapsed, without waiting for the first standby time. If the user selects to stop the ice-making operation, it can be said that the user does not need new ice and there is a low possibility of an ice shortage. In addition, if the ice storage sensor detects the upper limit, it can be said that the ice storage is full of ice and there is a low possibility of an ice shortage occurring soon. Therefore, if the washing operation is started and executed early during this time, it is possible to prevent a situation in which ice shortage occurs during the washing operation. In addition, if the washing operation is completed early, it is possible to execute the ice-making operation immediately when ice production is required.

Furthermore, if the stop is changed from selected to unselected on the operation unit during the second waiting time, the control unit stops the timer counting of the second waiting time in the timing unit. If the user changes the stop to unselected on the operation unit during the second waiting time, it can be said that the user is in a situation where he or she needs new ice. For this reason, if the washing operation is started early, there is a concern that there will be a shortage of ice during the washing operation. Therefore, if the timer counting of the second waiting time is stopped in such a case and the timing of the passage of the second waiting time is stopped, it is possible to avoid starting the washing operation early and prevent a situation where there is a shortage of ice.

Furthermore, if the stop is selected again on the operation unit within the first waiting time after the timer count of the second waiting time has been stopped, the control unit starts the timer count of the second waiting time using the timing unit, and if the second waiting time elapses before the first waiting time elapses, starts the washing operation without waiting for the first waiting time to elapse. In this way, if the user selects stop again on the operation unit within the first waiting time, it can be said that the user does not need new ice again. In other words, it can be said that the situation is such that the possibility of an ice shortage occurring again is low. Therefore, if the washing operation is started and executed early during this time, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an ice shortage occurs. Furthermore, if the washing operation is completed early, it becomes possible to execute the ice making operation immediately when ice production becomes necessary.

The device also includes a storage unit capable of storing the cumulative number of times the ice-making operation has been performed, and the control unit starts a timer count for the first waiting time in the timing unit when the cumulative number of times the ice-making operation has been performed reaches a predetermined value after the ice-making operation has been performed. In this way, the timer count for the passage of the first waiting time is performed when the cumulative number of times the ice-making operation has been performed reaches a predetermined number. This makes it possible to periodically perform a cleaning operation every predetermined number of ice-making operations.

The cleaning device further includes a detergent supply device for supplying detergent to the water tank, the detergent supply device including a detergent container for storing detergent, a detergent supply pipe for supplying the detergent from the detergent container, the detergent supply pipe having one end connected to the detergent container and the other end inserted into the water tank, a detergent discharge pipe connected to the detergent supply pipe for discharging the liquid in the detergent supply pipe to the outside, and a detergent transport pump provided on the path of the detergent supply pipe for transporting the detergent in the detergent supply pipe, and the control unit operates the detergent transport pump in a first rotation direction in the cleaning operation so that the detergent is transported from the detergent supply pipe to the water tank, and operates the detergent transport pump in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction so that the liquid in the detergent supply pipe is discharged to the detergent discharge pipe. In this way, the detergent (e.g., citric acid) is automatically supplied in the cleaning operation, improving the cleaning effect. In addition, by changing the rotation direction of the detergent transport pump, not only the detergent can be supplied, but also liquid such as the detergent adhering to the detergent supply pipe can be discharged from the detergent discharge pipe.

In addition, during the washing operation, the control unit executes a water washing process in which the running water path is washed with tap water without operating the detergent transport pump, and a detergent washing process in which the detergent transport pump is operated to wash the running water path with diluted detergent water. In this way, the washing effect can be improved, and the detergent can be washed away by performing the water washing process after the detergent washing process.

The detergent is an acidic substance. By using an acidic substance (e.g., citric acid) as a detergent, scale (limescale) can be effectively removed. As a result, abnormal ice production caused by scale in the ice making unit is suppressed, making it possible to produce hygienic ice even in areas with poor water quality.

The detergent container has a storage section in which the detergent is stored, and a joint section provided at the opening of the storage section for connecting the one end of the detergent supply pipe, the joint section being provided with an internal hose extending from the opening into the storage section, a hollow cylindrical cap into which the internal hose is inserted, a part of which is inserted into the opening, and a nut provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cap for tightening and fixing the cap. When the extension direction of the internal hose is the vertical direction and the opening side of the vertical direction is the top, the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the cap forms a tapered surface that tapers toward the upward direction, and a part of the outer peripheral surface other than the tapered surface has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the inner peripheral surface of the nut, and the protruding length of the protruding portion is uniform. By providing the protruding portion on the cap in this way, when the cap is tightened and fixed by the nut, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the protruding portion is deformed by the harder nut, causing the detergent to leak. Also, by providing a tapered surface on the cap in this way, it becomes easier to insert the upper end of the cap into the nut when the cap is pressed into the nut from below during manufacturing.

The ice making section has an ice making plate that freezes flowing water to produce ice, the water tank is disposed below the ice making plate and is capable of recovering unfrozen water supplied to the ice making section from its upper opening, and the ice making machine includes a separation member disposed between the ice making plate and the water tank and having a plurality of passage holes formed therein that allow water to pass but not allow ice produced by the ice making plate to pass. In this way, a flow-down type ice making machine that produces ice with a low concentration of impurities can be realized by freezing the water flowing down the ice making plate.

The separating member is arranged to cover the upper opening of the water tank and is configured to be slidable so that at least a portion of the upper opening is open. In this way, a user can slide the separating member to form an inlet through which detergent can be added from outside into the water tank. As a result, detergent can be manually supplied into the water tank.

The technology described in this specification makes it possible to realize an ice maker that can automatically perform a cleaning operation while preventing ice shortages.

Schematic diagram of an ice maker according to embodiment 1. Top view of cube guide and water tank Top view showing the cube guide sliding Cube Guide Perspective View Perspective view of the water tank A cross-sectional view of line A-A in FIG. A perspective view of the ice maker with the front panel removed. BB line cross-sectional view of FIG. Perspective view of a scoop A plan view of the ice maker as seen from the ice storage side (line CC in FIG. 8). FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the scoop holder of FIG. 8 . Exploded perspective view of electrical box FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the operation panel and the electrical box of FIG. 8 . Longitudinal cross-section of detergent container FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the joint portion of FIG. 14 . Cross-sectional view showing how the cap is pressed into the nut FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a joint portion of a detergent container according to Comparative Example 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the detergent supply device of FIG. 1 ; Flowchart showing automatic start control of cleaning operation Flowchart showing the outline of the cleaning operation process Flowchart showing preliminary cleaning process Flowchart showing detergent cleaning process Flowchart showing second rinsing process A front view of an ice maker according to another embodiment with the front panel removed. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the operation panel of an ice maker according to another embodiment;

<Embodiment 1>
A flow-down type ice-making machine 10 (an example of an ice-making machine) according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 23. Figures 2 to 8 and parts of Figures 10 to 13 show an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis, and each axis direction is drawn so as to be a common direction in each figure. The X-axis direction is the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction is the front-rear direction, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ice maker 10 comprises an ice making section 11 which produces ice I by freezing water, a cooling device 40 for cooling the ice making section 11 (more specifically, each ice making plate 12 provided in the ice making section 11), a water tank 13 for storing water supplied to the ice making section 11, an ice storage tank 14 for storing ice produced in the ice making section 11, a circulation pump 15 capable of circulating water between the ice making section 11 and the water tank 13, and a detergent supplying device 90 for automatically supplying detergent to the water tank. The ice maker 10 also includes a first water pipe 18 that connects the ice making section 11 and the circulation pump 15, a drain pipe 20 that is pulled out from the middle section 19 of the first water pipe 18 and is used to drain the water in the water tank 13 to the outside, a drain valve 21 that opens and closes the drain pipe 20, a water supply pipe 29 that is connected to a water pipe, a water supply valve 30 that opens and closes the water supply pipe 29, a second water pipe 32 that connects the drain pipe 20 and the water supply pipe 29, and a water valve 34 that opens and closes the second water pipe 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling device 40 includes a compressor 41, a condenser 42, an expansion valve (capillary tube) 43, and an evaporation tube 44, which are connected by a refrigerant tube 45 to form a known vapor compression refrigeration circuit (refrigeration cycle). The cooling device 40 also includes a condenser fan 46 for air-cooling the condenser 42, and a dryer 47 for removing moisture that has entered the refrigeration circuit. The evaporation tube 44 is brazed in a serpentine shape between the multiple ice-making plates 12, and the liquid refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 43 is vaporized to cool the ice-making plates 12. An ice-making section temperature sensor 16 (e.g., a thermistor) for detecting the temperature of the ice-making plates 12 is provided near the outlet of the evaporation tube 44 in the refrigerant tube 45.

The cooling device 40 further includes a bypass pipe 49 for supplying the refrigerant gas (hot gas) compressed by the compressor 41 to the evaporation pipe 44, and a hot gas valve 50, which is an electromagnetic valve provided on the bypass pipe 49. By opening the hot gas valve 50, the refrigerant gas (hot gas) can be supplied from the compressor 41 to the evaporation pipe 44, thereby heating the evaporation pipe 44.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making unit 11 includes ice making plates 12, a first water sprinkler pipe 24 and a water sprinkler guide 25 for sprinkling water for ice making onto the ice making plates 12, and a second water sprinkler pipe 23 capable of sprinkling water to melt ice. A plurality of ice making plates 12 (for example, two in this embodiment) are provided with their plate surfaces hanging down. The two ice making plates 12 are arranged opposite each other, with the non-opposing outer surfaces serving as ice making surfaces. Water sent from the circulation pump 15 is sprinkled evenly onto each ice making surface by the first water sprinkler pipe 24 and the water sprinkler guide 25 provided above the ice making plates 12, and flows down the ice making surfaces.

The second sprinkler pipe 23 is provided at the top between the two ice-making plates 12 and is connected to a water pipe via a water supply pipe 29 and a water supply valve 30. By opening the water supply valve 30, water is sprayed from the second sprinkler pipe 23, and the sprayed water flows down the back surface (opposite surface, the surface opposite the ice-making surface) of the ice-making plate 12 and is supplied to the water tank 13. The second sprinkler pipe 23 also has the function of heating the ice-making plate 12 with tap water and the water supply function of supplying tap water to the water tank 13.

As shown in Figure 1, the water tank 13 is disposed below the ice-making plate 12, and unfrozen ice that flows down the ice-making plate 12 is stored in the water tank 13. This allows water to be circulated between the water tank 13 and the ice-making unit 11 by operating the circulation pump 15. The water tank 13 and the ice-making unit 11 are included on the paths of two water flow paths (first water flow path, second water flow path), and the circulation pump 15 can circulate water in each water flow path. The first water flow path is a path that passes from the water tank 13 through the circulation pump 15, the first water pipe 18, the first water sprinkler pipe 24, and the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate 12, and returns to the water tank 13. The second water flow path is a path that passes from the water tank 13 through the circulation pump 15, the first water pipe 18, the drain pipe 20, the second water pipe 32, the water supply pipe 29, the second water sprinkler pipe 23, and the back surface of the ice-making plate 12, and returns to the water tank 13. The first water flow path and the second water flow path can be switched by opening and closing the water valve 34. The second water flow path may be simply configured so that the water that flows down to the water tank 13 through the water supply pipe 29, the second water sprinkler pipe 23, and the back surface of the ice-making plate 12 in order is circulated through the same route as the first water flow path, without providing the second water flow path 32 and the water valve 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water tank 13 comprises a box-shaped tank body 26 with an opening at the top, and a lid 27 that partially covers the opening at the top of the tank body 26. The part of the tank body 26 that is not covered by the lid 27 is disposed at a position where water falls from the ice-making plate 12, and a cube guide 28 (an example of a separating member) is interposed between this part and the ice-making plate 12. The cube guide 28 is a grate-like member with multiple through holes, and the water that flows down from the ice-making plate 12 passes through the cube guide 28 and is collected in the water tank 13. Meanwhile, the ice that falls from the ice-making plate 12 slides down the cube guide 28 and is thrown into the ice storage 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 27 is fixed with a circulation pump 15 and a water level sensor 17 for detecting the water level in the tank body 26. The circulation pump 15 is equipped with a motor 15A with a variable rotation speed as a power source, and the water is circulated by driving the motor 15A, and the amount of water circulated can be changed by the rotation speed of the motor 15A. The water level sensor 17 is a float switch equipped with a float (float 17A). When the float 17A is displaced up and down by buoyancy according to the water level in the tank body 26, the displacement turns on and off a reed switch included in the body of the water level sensor 17. The water level sensor 17 is capable of detecting two predetermined water levels (lower reference water level L1, upper reference water level L2) by means of two reed switches.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tank body 26 is configured to be able to drain water that exceeds the overflow level L3 to the outside of the water tank 13 when the water in the tank body 26 exceeds a predetermined overflow level L3. More specifically, the tank body 26 is provided with an overflow space A2 adjacent to the water storage space A1 in which water is stored. The overflow space A2 has the function of draining water that overflows from the water storage space A1. The tank body 26 is provided with a vertical wall 36 as an overflow barrier that determines the overflow level L3, and when the water level in the water storage space A1 exceeds the overflow barrier 36 (overflow level L3), the water flows into the overflow space A2 and is drained. The upper reference water level L2 that can be detected by the water level sensor 17 is set to a value smaller than the overflow level L3, and the relationship is L3>L2>L1.

2, 3 and 5, the tank body 26 has a substantially L-shaped planar shape. A cube guide 28 is arranged at a position corresponding to one side of the L shape in the tank body 26, covering the upper opening of the tank body 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the cube guide 28 is divided into a plurality of cube guides in the left-right direction (for example, divided into two in this embodiment), and each divided cube guide (left cube guide 28L and right cube guide 28R in this embodiment) is configured to be able to slide. For example, when the right cube guide 28R is slid rightward to the state shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, a part of the upper opening of the tank body 26 is opened to form an inlet G1 for adding detergent, and thus detergent can be manually added to the water tank 13. The ice maker 1 has a function of automatically supplying detergent to the water tank 13 by the detergent supply device 90, but in addition to this, detergent can be manually supplied to the water tank 13 depending on the situation. In addition, the cube guide 28 is located in a front position (above the ice storage compartment 14) that is easily reachable by the user when the door 2 described below is opened (Figure 8), making it easy to open the inlet G1 and add detergent.

As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the cube guide 28 is formed so that it has an apex directly below the ice making plate 12 and slopes downward toward the front and rear, and a number of legs 28A are provided at a predetermined interval on both the front and rear sides of the lower part. As shown in Figure 5, the upper part of the side wall of the tank main body 26 is formed with a mounting part 26A, a first protrusion 26B, and a second protrusion 26C. The mounting parts 26A are formed on both the front and rear sides, extending in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the upper part of the side wall of the tank main body 26, so that the legs 28A of the cube guide 28 can be placed on them.

5 and 6, the first protrusion 26B is a rail-shaped protrusion extending in the left-right direction, and is formed on both the front and rear sides so as to be above the leg 28A when the leg 28A is placed on the placement part 26A. When a part of the cube guide 28 is slid apart and moved, the leg 28A comes into contact with the first protrusion 26B, thereby restricting the upward movement of the cube guide 28. This allows the cube guide 28 to slide while being maintained in a state of being placed on the top of the tank main body 26. The second protrusion 26C is a protrusion formed in a straight line so as to extend in the up-down direction, and one is formed at a position lower than the first protrusion 26B on the front side. The protrusion height H26C of the second protrusion 26C is smaller than the protrusion height H26B of the first protrusion 26B. By providing the second protrusion 26C, the side of the leg 28A of the cube guide 28 (more specifically, the right cube guide 28R) comes into contact with the second protrusion 26C. As a result, when a manual force is applied, the right cube guide 28R slides, but when no force is applied, the right cube guide 28R does not slide and the input port G1 remains closed (Figure 2).

As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the ice storage bin 14 is provided below the water tank 13 so that ice that slides down the cube guides 28 falls and is stored therein. Ice that falls into the ice storage bin 14 is stored by piling up from the bottom 14A of the ice storage bin 14. An ice storage sensor 33 is provided at the top of the ice storage bin 14 to detect the amount of ice stored in the ice storage bin 14. The ice storage sensor 33 is an ice storage switch equipped with a flap plate 33A, and when ice piles up in the ice storage bin 14 and it becomes full (an example of the upper limit amount), the flap plate is pushed upward by the ice, and full ice is detected.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ice maker 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a downward-opening door 2 is provided on the upper front side for opening and closing the ice storage 14 to take out ice. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner surface 2A1 of the door 2 (the surface facing the ice storage 14) is provided with a scoop holder 3 for inserting and storing a scoop 1 (FIG. 9) used to take out ice. The scoop holder 3 is plate-shaped and is attached to the inner surface 2A1 of the door 2 with screws 4 as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The scoop 1 is stored by inserting the side wall of the surrounding wall portion 1A for scooping ice into the gap G2 between the inner surface 2A1 and the scoop holder 3. The scoop holder 3 is provided on the inner surface 2A1 at an inclination angle of about 20° with respect to the horizontal direction, so that condensation water adhering to the scoop holder 3 flows down along the inclination, and dirt adhering to the scoop holder 3 during use can be suppressed. In addition, when storing, the scoop 1 can be prevented from falling out of the scoop holder 3 due to its own weight (the weight of the handle). Furthermore, when the door 2 is opened, the handle of the scoop 1 is positioned forward of the surrounding wall portion 1A, making it easier for the user to grasp the scoop 1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the screw 4 that secures the scoop holder 3 is attached so that its threads are not exposed from the inner surface 2A1 of the door 2. More specifically, the threads of the screw 4 are disposed between the two opposing plate-like members 2A, 2B that make up the door 2, and are not exposed on the ice storage chamber 14 side. In this way, if the screw 4 becomes loose, it will fall between the plate-like members 2A, 2B, preventing it from falling into the ice storage chamber 14 and becoming mixed in with the ice.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ice maker 10 has an operation panel 7A2 below the door 2 on the front side. The operation panel 7A2 has an operation section 5A with various operation buttons, and a display section 5B that displays information. The user operates the operation section 5A to give instructions such as starting and stopping the ice-making operation. The current operation mode and various messages are displayed on the display section 5B. Note that FIG. 7 shows the state in which the front panel (decorative panel) that covers the lower front side of the ice maker 10 has been removed. When the front panel is attached, the front panel will cover most of the area other than the operation panel 7A2.

As shown in FIG. 8, behind the operation panel 7A2, the control board 6, which is electrically connected to each part of the ice maker 10, is arranged in an electrical box 7 (control box). The control board 6 includes a control unit that controls each part of the ice maker 10, a memory unit that stores the control program and each setting value related to the operation of the ice maker 10, and a timer that counts the passage of time.

The electrical box 7 is box-shaped, and as shown in FIG. 12, the base 7A that constitutes the bottom and front of the box body and the dome portion 7B that constitutes the ceiling and side of the box body are assembled in such a way that they engage with each other. The front surface 7A1 of the base 7A is provided with an operation panel 7A2 that protrudes forward. The front surface of the dome portion 7B is provided with a guide portion 7B1 that protrudes forward in an inverted U-shape in plan view. The left-right extending portion of the guide portion 7B1 protrudes diagonally upward as shown in FIG. 13. By providing the guide portion 7B1 in this way, even if water leaks and drips through the gap between the door 2 and the ice storage 14, the dripping water is received by the guide portion 7B1 and is guided downward along the guide portion 7B1 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. This prevents dripping water from wetting the operation panel 7A2 (and thus the operation unit 5A and display unit 5B) and prevents water from entering the electrical box 7 through gaps between the base 7A and the dome unit 7B.

As shown in FIG. 13, the protruding end 7B2 of the guide portion 7B1 is bent downward. This prevents the dripping water from flowing around the protruding end 7B2 to the underside of the guide portion 7B1 and reaching the front surface of the dome portion 7B. Furthermore, on the front surface 7A1 of the base 7A, the portion 7A3 directly above the portion where the operation panel 7A2 protrudes protrudes upward. This more reliably prevents dripping water from reaching the operation panel 7A2. If the electrical box 7 is provided below the door 2 (the front lower portion of the ice storage 14), the space at the front lower portion of the ice storage 14 can be effectively utilized, but there is a concern that water leaking from the gap between the door 2 and the ice storage 14 may reach the operation panel 7A2 or the electrical box 7. With the above configuration, such a situation can be effectively prevented.

Next, the detergent supply device 90 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the detergent supply device 90 includes a detergent container 91 that contains detergent, a detergent supply pipe 92 for supplying detergent from the detergent container 91, a detergent transport pump 94 for transporting the detergent in the detergent supply pipe 92, and a detergent discharge pipe 95 that is connected to the detergent supply pipe 92 and for discharging the liquid in the detergent supply pipe 92 (the detergent and water remaining in the detergent supply pipe 92) to the outside.

Detergents can be used according to the purpose, such as acidic substances, alkaline substances, and disinfecting/antibacterial agents. For example, if citric acid is used as a detergent, scale (limescale) can be effectively removed without harming the human body. If scale precipitates (adheres) to the ice-making section 11, it will not only be unsanitary, but it may also clog the first watering pipe 24, causing water to flow unevenly down the ice-making surface of the ice-making plate 12 and producing irregularly shaped ice, or irregularly shaped ice that is larger than designed and cannot be de-iced even by heating the ice-making plate 12, resulting in multiple ice production. Depending on the area where the ice-making machine 1 is used (water quality of tap water), the scale components are originally large, and the scale components contained in the water are difficult to freeze on the ice-making plate 12, so the scale components in the water increase as ice production is repeated. Therefore, the ice maker 1 automatically supplies detergent with a descaling effect to the water tank 13 using the cleaning supply device 90 (or, as already mentioned, the cube guide 28 is slid to manually supply detergent to the water tank 13), and the circulation pump 15 circulates the water mixed with detergent, cleaning the running water path and addressing problems caused by scale. Details of the cleaning operation will be described later.

14, the detergent container 91 includes a bag-shaped storage section 91A in which detergent is stored, and a joint section 98 that is provided at the opening 91A1 of the storage section 91A and is used to connect the detergent supply pipe 92. The detergent supply pipe 92 is connected to the joint section 98 of the detergent container 91 via a coupling section 99 provided at the tip. The joint section 98 includes an in-container hose 98A extending from the opening 91A1 into the storage section 91A, a hollow cylindrical cap 98B into which the in-container hose 98A is inserted, and a hollow cylindrical nut 98C provided on the outer circumferential surface side of the cap 98B. The in-container hose 98A extends vertically within the storage section 91A (note that although the detergent container 91 is arranged lying down as shown in FIG. 7, the extension direction of the in-container hose 98A is the same vertical direction as the paper surface of FIG. 14). The nut 98C is formed with a higher hardness than the cap 98B, and tightens and fixes the cap 98B. As shown in FIG. 15, the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the nut 98C protrudes toward the cap 98B, and the inner diameter is small.

The lower part of the cap 98B is inserted into the opening 91A1. The connection part between the coupling part 99 and the in-container hose 98A (the lower end of the coupling part 99 and the upper end of the in-container hose 98A) is fixed inside the cap 98B. The upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the cap 98B is formed to form a tapered surface 98B1 that tapers upward. In addition, a protrusion 98B2 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cap 98B. The protrusion 98B2 protrudes in an annular shape toward the inner circumferential surface 98C1 of the nut 98C, and is formed so that the protrusion length L98B2 is uniform. In the manufacturing process, the cap 98B is pressed into the nut 98C from below, as shown in FIG. 16.

If the length of the protrusion 998B2 is not uniform as in Comparative Example 1 shown in FIG. 17 and there are portions of the protrusion 998B2 that are thin in the vertical direction, when the cap 98B is tightened by the high-hardness nut 98C, the tightening torque applied to the protrusion 998B2 may cause the protrusion 998B2 to deform and tilt, which may result in detergent leakage. However, if we consider that the cap 998B is pressed into the nut 98C from above (the opposite direction to the downward direction in FIG. 16) during the manufacturing process, there is no choice but to form portions of the protrusion 998B2 that are thin in the vertical direction to facilitate the press-in.

In contrast, if the cap 98B is pressed into the nut 98C from below during the manufacturing process as in this embodiment, the cap 98B does not need to pass through the upper end of the nut 98C, which has a small inner diameter, and deformation of the protruding portion 98B2 during press-fitting can be avoided. In addition, since it is no longer necessary to form a portion of the protruding portion 98B2 with a small vertical thickness to facilitate press-fitting, the protruding length L98B2 of the protruding portion 98B2 is made uniform and the thickness in the vertical direction is increased, thereby improving the load resistance against the tightening torque and preventing deformation of the protruding portion 98B2. Furthermore, the tapered surface 98B1 makes it easier to press the cap 98B into the nut 98C from below.

As shown in FIG. 18, one end of the detergent supply pipe 92 is connected to the detergent container 91, and the tip 92A of the other end is inserted into the water tank 13, connecting the detergent container 91 to the water storage space A1 of the water tank 13. The detergent transport pump 94 is provided on the path of the detergent supply pipe 92. The detergent transport pump 94 is a tube roller type pump, and includes multiple rollers 94A, a tube 94B whose both ends communicate with the detergent supply pipe 92, and a motor 94C as a driving means. The detergent transport pump 94 crushes the elastic tube 94B with the roller 94A, and pushes out and transports the liquid (detergent, etc.) in the tube. In addition, the detergent transport pump 94 can change the rotation direction to forward rotation (first rotation direction) or reverse rotation (second rotation direction) by switching the polarity of the voltage applied to the motor 94C.

18, the detergent discharge pipe 95 connects the detergent supply pipe 92 and the overflow space A2 of the water tank 13. The detergent discharge pipe 95 serves as a flow path for discharging the liquid in the detergent supply pipe 92 to the outside. In the detergent supply pipe 92, the connection portion 92B with the detergent discharge pipe 95 is located between the detergent container 91 and the detergent conveying pump 94. In addition, a first check valve 96 is provided between the connection portion 92B and the detergent container 91 in the detergent supply pipe 92, and a second check valve 97 is provided in the detergent discharge pipe 95. The first check valve 96 allows a flow from the detergent container 91 to the detergent conveying pump 94 and regulates a flow from the detergent conveying pump 94 to the detergent container 91. The second check valve 97 allows a flow from the detergent conveying pump 94 to the overflow space A2 of the water tank 13 and regulates a flow from the overflow space A2 to the detergent conveying pump 94. The end of the detergent discharge pipe 95 may be connected to the drain pipe 20 instead of the overflow space A2 of the water tank 13.

According to the configuration of the detergent supply device 90 described above, when the detergent transport pump 94 rotates forward, the detergent in the detergent container 91 is sucked by the detergent transport pump 94 and supplied through the detergent supply pipe 92 into the tank body 26 of the water tank 13, as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 18. On the other hand, when the detergent transport pump 94 rotates reversely, the water in the tank body 26 is sucked into the detergent supply pipe 92 from the tip 92A of the detergent supply pipe 92, as shown by the hollow arrow in FIG. 18, and is discharged into the overflow space A2 through the detergent discharge pipe 95 branching off from the detergent supply pipe 92. By changing the rotation direction of the detergent transport pump 94 to reverse rotation, the liquid in the detergent supply pipe 92 is discharged from the detergent discharge pipe 95, and the detergent adhering to the inside of the detergent supply pipe 92 can be rinsed away.

Next, the operation method of the ice maker 10 described above will be described. The ice making operation is performed when the ice making operation start is instructed on the operation unit 5A (specifically, the ice making execution button is ON) and the ice storage sensor 33 does not detect that the ice storage 14 is full of ice. When the ice making operation is started, the control board 6 (control unit) operates the cooling device 40 to cool the ice making plate 12 to a predetermined ice making temperature. In addition, the water supply valve 30 is opened to supply water to the water tank 13, and the circulation pump 15 is operated to flow water from the water tank 13 down to the ice making surface of the ice making plate 12. Water is supplied to the water tank 13 for a predetermined time after the water level sensor 17 detects the upper reference water level L2, until the water in the water tank 13 overflows into the overflow space A2 (until the overflow water level reaches L3). Ice I is produced mainly at the part where the evaporator tube 44 is in contact with the back surface of the ice-making plate 12, and the degree of production is monitored by the water level sensor 17 detecting the water level in the water tank 13, which drops as ice is produced.

When the water level sensor 17 detects the lower reference water level L1, the control board 6 opens the hot gas valve 50 and the water supply valve 30 to flow water from the second watering pipe 23 to the back of the ice making plate 12. This warms the ice making plate 12, defrosts the ice, and causes it to fall. The ice that falls from the ice making plate 12 slides down the cube guide 28 and is thrown into the ice storage 14. The ice falling is detected by the ice making section temperature sensor 16 detecting the temperature rise of the ice making plate 12. In addition, while the flow-down type ice maker 1 can produce ice with a low impurity concentration, the water that is not frozen in the ice making plate 12 and passes through the cube guide 28 to be collected in the water tank 13 is concentrated water with a high concentration of impurities such as scale components. Therefore, when the water level sensor 17 detects the lower reference water level L1, the control board 6 opens the drain valve 21 for a predetermined time while keeping the circulation pump 15 operating, and discharges the water in the water tank 13 into the drain pipe 20.

In the ice-making operation, the above-mentioned ice-making, de-icing, and draining processes are repeatedly executed until the ice storage sensor 33 detects that the ice storage 14 is full of ice. The number of ice-making processes (ice-making cycles) that have been executed is cumulatively counted and stored in the memory of the control board 6 as the cumulative execution cycle number N1 (an example of the cumulative number of executions of ice-making operations). When the next ice-making process (ice-making cycle) is started after the de-icing and draining processes are performed, the cumulative execution cycle number N1 is incremented by one. When the ice storage sensor 33 detects that the ice storage 14 is full or when an instruction to stop the ice-making operation is given on the operation unit 5A (specifically, when the ice-making stop button is turned ON), the control board 6 stops the cooling device 40 (specifically, the compressor 41 and the condenser fan 46) and stops the ice-making operation.

Next, the cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIG. 19 to FIG. 23. The control board 6 performs the ice making operation described above, and as shown in FIG. 19, when the cumulative execution cycle number N1 reaches a predetermined number (e.g., 20, 40, 60, etc.) (YES in S10), the operation proceeds to a standby process (S14 and onward) for transitioning to the cleaning operation. If the cumulative execution cycle number N1 has not reached the predetermined number (NO in S10), the operation does not transition to the cleaning operation (S12). In the standby process for transitioning to the cleaning operation (S14 and onward), first, the timer of the timing unit of the control board 6 starts counting a predetermined first standby time (e.g., 5 hours) (S14). When the first standby time has elapsed (YES in S16), the operation transitions to the cleaning operation (S30).

On the other hand, if the operation unit 5A is selected to stop the ice making operation (specifically, the ice making stop button is turned ON) after the timer count for the first waiting time has started but before the first waiting time has elapsed (YES in S18), or if the ice storage sensor 33 detects that the ice storage tank is full (YES in S20), the timer unit of the control board 6 starts counting for a predetermined second waiting time (e.g., one hour) (S22). The second waiting time is set to a value smaller than the first waiting time. When the second waiting time has elapsed (YES in S28), the operation proceeds to cleaning operation without waiting for the first waiting time to elapse (S30). In other words, steps S18 to S28 can be considered a process for shortening the waiting time for transitioning to cleaning operation from the first waiting time to the second waiting time.

However, if the stop of ice-making operation is changed from selected to unselected (specifically, the ice-making stop button is turned OFF) in the operation unit 5A (NO in S24) after the timer count for the second waiting time has started (S22) and before the second waiting time has elapsed (S28), the timer count for the second waiting time is stopped, timing of the elapsed second waiting time is stopped (S26), and the process is repeated again from step S18.

According to the above control flow, after the ice making operation is performed a predetermined number of times, when the first waiting time (e.g., 5 hours) has elapsed (YES in S16), the operation is switched to the washing operation and the washing operation is automatically started (S30). This saves the user time and improves work efficiency, and the washing operation is reliably performed. Also, if the user selects to stop the ice making operation (YES in S18), or if the ice storage sensor 33 detects a predetermined upper limit value (e.g., full ice) (YES in S20), when the second waiting time (e.g., 1 hour) has elapsed (YES in S28), the operation is switched to the washing operation without waiting for the first waiting time to elapse, and the washing operation is automatically started (S30). If the user selects to stop the ice making operation, it can be said that the user does not need new ice and there is a low possibility of ice shortage. Also, if the ice storage sensor 33 detects the upper limit value, it can be said that the ice storage 14 is full of ice and there is a low possibility of ice shortage immediately. Therefore, if the washing operation is started and performed early during this time, it is possible to prevent a shortage of ice during the washing operation. Also, if the washing operation is completed early, it becomes possible to immediately perform the ice making operation when ice production becomes necessary.

However, depending on the user, even if they select to stop the ice-making operation (YES in S18), the situation may change within the second waiting time (e.g., one hour) to one in which new ice is needed, and they may change the selection to stop the ice-making operation from selected to not selected (NO in S24). In this case, if the waiting time for switching to the washing operation is shortened from the first waiting time to the second waiting time and the washing operation is started early, there is a concern that there may be a shortage of ice during the washing operation. Therefore, by stopping the timer count of the second waiting time and ceasing the measurement of the passage of the second waiting time (S26), it is possible to prevent such a situation. Then, if the user subsequently selects to stop the ice-making operation again (YES in S18), the situation has changed to one in which the user does not need new ice again, and the process of shortening the waiting time for switching to the washing operation to the second waiting time is executed again.

In this way, for example, if the user chronologically changes the stopping of ice-making operation from selected to unselected to selected again (the ice-making stop button is changed from ON to OFF to ON), the timer counting of the second waiting time will start when the ice-making stop button is finally turned ON. Also, the timer counting of the second waiting time is stopped (S26) when the user changes the stopping of ice-making operation from selected to unselected (NO in S24), but is not stopped due to an event such as the ice storage sensor 33 detecting a full ice tank after the user selects stopping ice-making operation (YES in S18).

When the cleaning operation is automatically started by the above-mentioned control flow, as shown in FIG. 20, the processes of drainage, preliminary cleaning (one example of a water cleaning process), detergent cleaning, first rinsing cleaning (another example of a water cleaning process), and second rinsing cleaning are automatically performed in order. In the drainage process S31, the circulation pump 15 is operated for a predetermined time and the drain valve 21 is opened, and any remaining water in the water tank 13 is drained into the drain pipe 20. In the preliminary cleaning process S32, the running water path is pre-washed with tap water (clean water). In the detergent cleaning process S33, the running water path is cleaned with water in which the detergent has been diluted. In the first rinsing cleaning process S34, the running water path to which the detergent has adhered is rinsed with tap water. In the second rinsing cleaning process S35, the detergent supply pipe 92 to which the detergent has adhered is rinsed with tap water. In this way, the cleaning effect can be improved by performing preliminary cleaning with clean water and then detergent cleaning with diluted detergent water. In addition, after the detergent cleaning process S33, the first rinsing process S34 rinses the running water path, and the second rinsing process S35 rinses the detergent supply pipe 92, thereby washing away and removing the detergent.

The water flow path cleaned in the preliminary cleaning process S32, the detergent cleaning process S33, and the first rinse cleaning process S34 is the first water flow path that includes at least the ice making surface of the ice making plate 12 on the path, but the second water flow path may also be cleaned by opening and closing the water passage valve 34. As mentioned above, if the second water passage pipe 32 and the water passage valve 34 are not provided, the second water flow path does not need to be cleaned because it is difficult for dirt to adhere to it.

As shown in FIG. 21, the control flow of the preliminary cleaning process S32 is as follows: the water supply valve 30 is opened (S40); when the water level sensor 17 of the water tank 13 detects the upper reference water level L2 (S42), the water supply valve 30 is closed (S44), and the circulation pump 15 is operated (S46). This causes the running water path to be circulated and cleaned by tap water. When the circulation pump 15 is operating, the rotation speed can be increased or decreased to repeatedly switch between high and low speeds, thereby improving the cleaning effect. After operating the circulation pump 15 to perform circulatory cleaning for a certain period of time, the drain valve 21 is opened for a specified period of time (S48), the water in the water tank 13 is drained, and the circulation pump 15 is stopped (S49).

As shown in FIG. 22, the control flow of the detergent washing process S33 is as follows: the water supply valve 30 is opened (S50), and when the water level sensor 17 of the water tank 13 detects the upper reference water level L2 (S52), the water supply valve 30 is closed (S54). Next, the circulation pump 15 is operated for a predetermined time and the drain valve 21 is opened (S56), the water in the water tank 13 is drained, and the water in the water tank 13 is reduced to a predetermined amount of water. Then, the washing transport pump 94 is operated in a forward rotation for a predetermined time (S58) to supply detergent from the detergent container 91 to the water tank 13 (solid arrow line in FIG. 18). The detergent is diluted with the water stored in the water tank 13. Since the water in the water tank 13 is adjusted to a predetermined amount of water in step S56, the amount of detergent according to the desired dilution level is added depending on the operating time of the washing transport pump 94. Next, when the circulation pump 15 is operated (S60), the running water path is circulated and washed with diluted detergent water. When the circulation pump 15 is operating, the rotation speed can be increased or decreased to repeatedly switch between high and low speeds, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect. After operating the circulation pump 15 to perform circulation cleaning for a certain period of time, the drain valve 21 is opened for a specified period of time (S62), the dilution water in the water tank 13 is drained, and the circulation pump 15 is stopped (S64).

The basic control flow of the first rinse cleaning process S34 is basically the same as that of the preliminary cleaning process S32 shown in FIG. 21, but unlike the preliminary cleaning process S32, the water supply, circulation cleaning, and drainage from steps S40 to S49 are repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., four times). By repeating the process a predetermined number of times, detergent adhering to the running water path can be reliably removed.

As shown in FIG. 23, the control flow of the second rinsing process S35 is as follows: the water supply valve 30 is opened (S70), and when the water level sensor 17 of the water tank 13 detects the upper reference water level L2 (S72), the water supply valve 30 is closed (S74). Next, the cleaning transport pump 94 is operated in reverse rotation for a predetermined time (S76), and the water in the tank body 26 is sucked into the detergent supply pipe 92 and discharged into the overflow space A2 via the detergent discharge pipe 95 (white arrow in FIG. 18). This allows the detergent adhering to the detergent supply pipe 92 to be rinsed away. After the cleaning transport pump 94 is operated in reverse rotation for a certain time, the circulation pump 15 is operated (S78), and the drain valve 21 is opened for a predetermined time (S80), the water in the water tank 13 is drained, and the circulation pump 15 is stopped (S82).

After the cleaning operation is performed in this manner, the operation automatically transitions to ice-making operation. Although the above shows a control flow (Figure 19) in which the cleaning operation is started automatically, the cleaning operation may also be started by manual operation by the user. For example, a cleaning execution button may be provided on the operation unit 5A, and when the control unit of the control board 6 detects that the cleaning execution button is ON, each process of the cleaning operation shown in Figure 20 may be executed. In this case, depending on the timing when the cleaning execution button is turned ON, ice may be attached to the ice-making plate 12. In such a case, a de-icing process or the like is first performed, and then each process of the cleaning operation shown in Figure 20 is executed.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) Guide portion 7B1 of dome portion 7B constituting electrical box 7 may have other shapes (for example, an inverted V shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 24) as long as it can prevent water leaking from gaps between door 2 and ice storage 14 from reaching operation panel 7A2 or electrical box 7. In addition, operation panel 7A2 may be provided with a slanted front as shown in FIG. 25. This provides a measure against water leaking from gaps between door 2 and ice storage 14 and makes operation panel 7A2 easier to see from above.

(2) The ice storage sensor 33 and the water level sensor 17 may be other types of sensors, such as distance sensors that use ultrasonic waves.

(3) The order and combination of the drainage, pre-wash, detergent wash, first rinse wash, and second rinse wash processes during the wash operation are merely examples and can be changed as appropriate.

(4) The cleaning supply device 90 may be configured to supply two or more types of detergent separately.

(5) This technology is not limited to flow-down ice makers, but can also be applied to other types of ice makers (e.g., auger type) that have a water tank and an ice making section.

5A...operation unit, 6...control board (control unit, memory unit, timing unit), 10...ice maker, 11...ice making unit, 12...ice making plate, 13...water tank, 14...ice storage, 15...circulation pump, 17...water level sensor, 28...cube guide (separating member), 33...ice storage sensor, 40...cooling device, 90...detergent supply device, 91...detergent container, 91A...storage unit, 91A1...opening, 92...detergent supply pipe, 94...detergent transport pump, 95...detergent discharge pipe, 98...joint, 98A...container hose, 98B...cap, 98C...nut, 98B1...tapered surface, 98B2...protrusion

Claims (10)

An ice making unit for producing ice;
A cooling device that cools the ice making unit;
a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the ice making unit;
an ice storage compartment for storing ice produced by the ice making unit;
an ice storage sensor for detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice storage;
a circulation pump for circulating water through a running water path including the ice making unit and the water tank;
a control unit capable of controlling the cooling device and the circulating pump, the control unit executing at least an ice making operation for producing ice in the ice making unit by operating the cooling device, and a cleaning operation for cleaning the running water path by stopping the cooling device and operating the circulating pump;
An operation unit that allows a user to select stopping of the ice making operation;
A timing unit that measures the passage of time,
The control unit is
After the ice making operation, when a first waiting time has elapsed in the timer unit, the cleaning operation is started.
If the ice storage sensor detects a predetermined upper limit value during the first waiting time, or if the stop is selected on the operation unit,
The ice making machine starts a timer count of a second waiting time, which is a value smaller than the first waiting time, in the timing unit, and starts the cleaning operation without waiting for the first waiting time to elapse if the second waiting time elapses before the first waiting time elapses. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the timer count of the second standby time in the timer unit when the stop is changed from selected to unselected in the operation unit during the second standby time. The ice maker according to claim 2, wherein the control unit, after stopping the timer count of the second standby time, starts the timer count of the second standby time by the timing unit when the stop is selected again on the operation unit within the first standby time, and starts the cleaning operation without waiting for the first standby time to elapse if the second standby time elapses before the first standby time elapses. A memory unit capable of storing a cumulative number of executions of the ice making operation,
The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit starts timer counting of the first waiting time in the timing unit when the cumulative number of executions after the ice making operation reaches a predetermined value. a detergent supply device for supplying a detergent to the water tank,
The detergent supply device includes:
A detergent container for storing a detergent;
a detergent supply pipe for supplying the detergent from the detergent container, the detergent supply pipe having one end connected to the detergent container and the other end inserted into the water tank;
a detergent discharge pipe connected to the detergent supply pipe for discharging liquid in the detergent supply pipe to the outside;
a detergent conveying pump provided on the detergent supply pipe for conveying the detergent in the detergent supply pipe;
The control unit, in the cleaning operation,
5. An ice making machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detergent transfer pump is operated in a first rotational direction so that the detergent is transported from the detergent supply pipe to the water tank, and the detergent transfer pump is operated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction so that liquid in the detergent supply pipe is discharged to the detergent discharge pipe. The ice making machine according to claim 5, wherein the control unit executes, during the washing operation, a water washing process in which the running water path is washed with tap water without operating the detergent transport pump, and a detergent washing process in which the detergent transport pump is operated to wash the running water path with diluted detergent water. The ice maker according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the detergent is an acidic substance. The detergent container comprises:
A storage section in which the detergent is stored;
a joint portion provided at an opening of the storage portion for connecting the one end of the detergent supply pipe,
The joint portion is
an internal hose extending from the opening into the housing;
a hollow cylindrical cap into which the internal hose is inserted, the cap being partially inserted into the opening;
A nut is provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the cap and tightens and fixes the cap,
When the extension direction of the hose inside the container is the up-down direction and the opening side in the up-down direction is the upper side, the cap is
The upper end of the outer circumferential surface forms a tapered surface that tapers upward,
A protrusion protruding toward an inner peripheral surface of the nut is provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface other than the tapered surface,
The ice making machine according to claim 5 , wherein the protrusions have a uniform protrusion length. The ice making unit has an ice making plate that freezes flowing water to produce ice,
The water tank is disposed below the ice making plate and is capable of recovering unfrozen water from an upper opening of the water tank that is supplied to the ice making unit;
The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a separating member disposed between the ice making plate and the water tank, the separating member having a plurality of passage holes formed therein, the passage holes allowing the passage of water but not allowing the passage of ice produced by the ice making plate. The ice maker according to claim 9, wherein the separating member is arranged to cover the upper opening of the water tank and is configured to be slidable so that at least a portion of the upper opening is open.

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