JP7657115B2 - Ice maker - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an ice-making machine that circulates ice-making water stored in an ice-making water tank between the ice-making water tank and an ice-making section to produce ice in the ice-making section.

Jet-type ice makers (see, for example, Patent Document 1), which spray ice-making water from below into multiple ice-making chambers that open downward to produce ice blocks in the ice-making chambers, are used favorably in facilities such as coffee shops and restaurants, as well as other kitchens. The general configuration of an ice maker is as follows: an ice-making section is arranged horizontally within a housing, and multiple ice-making chambers that open downward are defined in a checkerboard pattern, and an evaporator that constitutes the refrigeration mechanism is closely arranged in a serpentine pattern on the top surface of the ice-making section. A water tray is pivoted via a support shaft below the ice-making section so that it can tilt, and an ice-making water tank that stores a predetermined amount of ice-making water is integrally provided below the water tray.

In the ice making machine, while the water tray is held in the closed position that closes the ice making chamber from below during the ice making process, the refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporator to forcibly cool the ice making chamber, and the ice making water in the ice making water tank is sent to the water tray by the circulation pump, and the ice making water is sprayed from the water tray to the ice making chamber. During the ice making process, part of the ice making water freezes in the ice making chamber, and the remaining ice making water (unfrozen water) is collected in the ice making water tank through the return hole of the water tray and is supplied again to the ice making chamber as ice making water. Then, when ice blocks are produced in the ice making chamber, the process moves from the ice making process to the de-icing process, and hot gas is circulated and supplied to the evaporator to heat the ice making section, and the water tray is tilted by the opening and closing mechanism to an open position diagonally downward about the support shaft, opening the ice making chamber. When the ice making process is completed, almost all of the ice making water remaining in the ice making water tank (referred to as residual ice making water when specifically distinguished) is discharged to the outside as the ice making water tank tilts together with the water tray during the deicing process. In the deicing process, the frozen portion between the ice making chamber and the ice block melts due to the circulating supply of hot gas, and the ice block falls from the ice making chamber under its own weight, sliding down the water tray in the open position and being discharged into the ice storage chamber. When the ice block falls from the ice making section, the process transitions from the deicing process to the ice making process, and the water tray returns to the closed position.

JP 2017-58115 A

In the ice making machine, the residual ice making water remaining in the ice making water tank at the completion of the ice making process is cooled to nearly 0°C during the ice making process, and it would be a waste of energy to discharge almost all of the residual ice making water during the de-icing process. Therefore, the ice making water tank is provided with a discharge port that opens to the outside at a position above the lowest position in the closed and open positions of the ice making water tank, which correspond to the closed and open positions of the water tray, and the upper limit water level of the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank in the closed position is determined by the discharge port, while in the open position, only a portion of the residual ice making water is discharged from the discharge port so that a predetermined amount of residual ice making water remains in the ice making water tank, and the remaining residual ice making water is reused as ice making water for the next time.

However, repeated reuse of residual ice-making water can lead to the formation of impurities such as scale caused by the concentration of minerals such as magnesium and calcium in the ice-making water. These impurities can adhere to the circulation path of the ice-making water, such as the circulation pump, the water tray's spray holes and return holes, causing problems such as blockages.

In other words, the present invention has been proposed in consideration of the problems inherent in the above-mentioned conventional technology, and aims to provide an ice maker that can reuse the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank when the ice-making process is completed, and that can discharge almost all of the liquid stored in the ice-making water tank.

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the first means comprises:
An ice making machine including an ice making section defining an ice making chamber that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber and an open position for opening the ice making chamber and that has an ice making water tank capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid in the ice-making water tank and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank when the ice-making water supply unit is in an open position;
a siphon means having an inlet communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank and an outlet opening outside the ice-making water tank, capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank by a siphon action;
and introducing means for introducing liquid into the siphon means,
The siphon means is configured so that, when the ice-making water supply section is in an open position, no siphon action occurs when no liquid is introduced by the introduction means, and so that a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means.
In this configuration , a siphon means is provided that can discharge the liquid in the ice-making water tank, and the siphon action is generated or not generated depending on whether or not the liquid is introduced into the siphon means by the introduction means, so that the ice-making water can be left in the ice-making water tank up to the discharge port when the ice-making process is completed, and the ice-making water can be reused as ice-making water for the next ice-making process. In addition, by introducing liquid into the siphon means by the introduction means to generate the siphon action, the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank can be almost entirely discharged, so that the occurrence of problems such as clogging caused by impurities such as scale can be prevented. In other words, the ice-making water can be reused and completely discharged, so that the occurrence of problems such as clogging caused by impurities can be prevented while suppressing the waste of energy.

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the second means is:
An ice making machine including an ice making section defining an ice making chamber that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber and an open position for opening the ice making chamber and that has an ice making water tank capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid in the ice-making water tank and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank when the ice-making water supply unit is in an open position;
a siphon means having an inlet communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank and an outlet opening outside the ice-making water tank, capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank by a siphon action;
and introducing means for introducing liquid into the siphon means,
The inlet of the siphon means opens at a position lower than the outlet of the ice making water supply unit when the ice making water supply unit is in an open position,
The siphon means has a working liquid level at which a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means, which is set higher than the liquid level in the ice-making water tank defined by the outlet when the ice-making water supply section is in the open position.
In this configuration , a siphon means capable of discharging the liquid in the ice-making water tank is provided, and the operating liquid level at which the siphon action occurs in the siphon means is set to a position higher than the liquid level in the ice-making water tank defined by the discharge port when the ice-making water supply unit is in the open position, so that the ice-making water can be left in the ice-making water tank up to the discharge port when the ice-making process is completed, and the ice-making water can be reused as ice-making water for the next ice-making process. In addition, by introducing liquid into the siphon means by the introduction means to generate the siphon action, the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank can be almost entirely discharged, so that the occurrence of problems such as clogging caused by impurities such as scale can be prevented. In other words, the reuse of the ice-making water and the total discharge in which almost all the ice-making water is discharged can be switched, so that the occurrence of problems such as clogging caused by impurities can be prevented while suppressing the waste of energy.

The third means is
The siphon means has a working liquid level at which a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means, which is set higher than the liquid level in the ice-making water tank defined by the outlet when the ice-making water supply section is in the closed position.
In this configuration , during the ice making process in which the ice making water supply section is positioned in the closed position, the ice making water can be stored in the ice making water tank at a water level determined by the discharge port.

The fourth means is
The introduction means is a water supply means for supplying water to the ice making water tank,
The present invention is characterized in that the amount of water discharged per unit time from the discharge port is configured to be smaller than the amount of water supplied per unit time from the water supply means.
In this configuration , the water supply means supplies water to the ice-making water tank to raise the liquid level in the tank to a level at which siphon action occurs, so there is no need to change the height of the outlet or the structure of the ice-making water tank itself, and manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced.

The fifth means is
The inlet of the siphon means is configured to open at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank when the ice-making water supply section is in a closed position.
In this configuration , the liquid stored in the ice-making water tank in the closed position can be almost entirely discharged by the siphon means, so that, for example, the step of tilting the ice-making water tank to discharge the chemical liquid and rinse water in the ice-making water tank each time cleaning and rinsing are performed during chemical cleaning can be omitted, and the time required for cleaning and rinsing operations can be shortened. Also, in a configuration in which the ice-making water tank is tilted to discharge the chemical liquid in the ice-making water tank, there is a possibility that the chemical liquid adhering to the opened ice-making section will drip into the ice storage chamber, but in the fifth means , the chemical liquid can be discharged while the ice-making water tank is in the closed position, so that the chemical liquid adhering to the ice-making section can be received in the ice-making water tank (ice-making water supply section), and it is possible to prevent the chemical liquid from dripping into the ice storage chamber.

The sixth means is
The introducing means is a water supplying means for supplying water to the inside of the siphon means,
The gist of the present invention is that the water supply means supplies water to the inside of the siphon means, thereby causing the siphon means to generate a siphon action.
In this configuration , water is supplied directly to the siphon means to generate the siphon action, so the amount of water required to generate the siphon action can be reduced. Also, regardless of the position of the ice-making water supply unit or the water level of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank, the ice-making water can be discharged in any state.

The seventh means is
The present invention is characterized in that the siphon means is provided with a drain valve capable of opening and closing a passage through which the liquid in the siphon means flows.
In this configuration , unintended siphoning by the siphon means can be prevented.

The ice maker of the present invention can switch between reusing ice-making water and completely discharging almost all of the ice-making water, thereby minimizing energy waste and preventing problems such as clogging caused by impurities.

1 is a schematic front view showing an ice making mechanism of an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a water tray in a closed position. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an ice making mechanism of an ice making machine according to a first embodiment with a water tray in an open position; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing an ice making water tank, an overflow pipe, and a siphon tube according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the ice making machine according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment with the water tray in a closed position. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment with the water tray in an open position. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of an ice making water tank in an ice making machine according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of an ice-making mechanism in an ice-making machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a longitudinal section. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice maker according to the third embodiment with the water tray in a closed position. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a main part of an ice making mechanism of an ice making machine according to a third embodiment, showing the ice making mechanism in a longitudinal section with the water tray in a closed position. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine according to the third embodiment with the water tray in an open position. 13 is a schematic side view of a main portion of an ice making mechanism of an ice making machine according to a third embodiment, showing the ice making mechanism in a longitudinal section with the water tray in an open position. FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a siphon means and an introduction means according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine according to the fourth embodiment with the water tray in a closed position. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine according to the fourth embodiment with the water tray in an open position. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a main part showing an ice making water tank and a siphon means of a fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a main part showing an ice making water tank and a siphon means of a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a siphon means according to a fourth embodiment. 13 is a schematic front view of an ice making mechanism of an ice maker according to another embodiment, showing the water tray in a closed position. FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of an ice making mechanism of an ice making machine according to another embodiment, showing the water tray in an open position. FIG.

Next, the ice-making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings, showing a preferred embodiment. In the embodiment, the ice-making machine will be described as a jet-type ice-making machine equipped with a so-called closed-cell type ice-making mechanism.

1 and 2, the ice maker of the first embodiment has an ice storage chamber 10a defined inside the box 10, which is the main body of the ice maker, and an ice making mechanism 14 consisting of an ice making section 11, a water tray 12, an ice making water tank 13, etc., disposed in the upper part of the inside of the box 10. Specifically, the ice making section 11, which defines a number of ice making chambers (ice making chambers) 11a that open downward (to one side), is fixedly supported below a mounting member 15 horizontally disposed on the top of the box 10. An evaporator 16, which constitutes a refrigeration mechanism, is disposed in a serpentine manner in close contact with the upper surface of the ice making section 11, and is configured to circulate a refrigerant to forcibly cool the ice making section 11 (ice making chambers 11a) during the ice making process, and to circulate a high-temperature refrigerant (hot gas) to heat the ice making section 11 (ice making chambers 11a) during the de-icing process. In addition, a water tray 12 is disposed below the ice making section 11, and an ice making water tank 13 for storing ice making water is disposed integrally below this water tray 12. Although not shown, the box 10 has an outlet that opens forward for removing ice blocks (ice) from the ice storage chamber 10a, and a door for opening and closing this outlet. In the following description, the side with the door is the front side, and the front-rear direction is referred to, and the left-right direction is the left-right direction when the ice making machine is viewed from the front in FIG. 1.

The refrigeration mechanism is configured so that the refrigerant circulates through the compressor, condenser, expansion valve (expansion means), and evaporator 16 in that order. During the ice-making process, the vaporized refrigerant compressed by the compressor is condensed and liquefied in the condenser, then reduced in pressure by the expansion valve and flows into the evaporator 16, where it expands and evaporates all at once, and exchanges heat with the ice-making section 11 to forcibly cool the ice-making section 11 to below freezing. The vaporized refrigerant that has evaporated and exchanged heat in the evaporator 16 then returns to the compressor, repeating this cycle. During the ice-making process, the refrigeration mechanism is configured so that the hot gas valve is switched to supply hot gas to the evaporator 16, heating the ice-making section.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the water tray 12 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 17 extending in the front-rear direction relative to a support portion 15a provided at a position offset to the left side of the mounting member 15. In the water tray 12, at positions corresponding to each ice-making chamber 11a, there are spray holes 12a for spraying the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 to each ice-making chamber 11a of the ice-making section 11, and return holes 12b for returning ice-making water (unfrozen water) that is supplied to the ice-making section 11 but does not freeze to the ice-making water tank 13 (partially shown in Figure 3).

1 and 2, a water supply pipe 22 that communicates with a water source (not shown) is provided above the water tray 12, and a water supply valve 23 is inserted in the water supply pipe 22. By opening the water supply valve 23, room temperature water is supplied from the water supply pipe 22 to the surface of the water tray 12. The water supplied to the surface of the water tray is stored in the ice-making water tank 13 via the return hole 12b provided in the water tray 12, and is used as ice-making water, etc. A circulation pump 19 is provided in the ice-making water tank 13 to supply the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 to the water tray 12, and the ice-making water supplied to the water tray 12 by the circulation pump 19 is sprayed from the spray hole 12a provided in the water tray 12 to each ice-making chamber 11a of the ice-making section 11. The ice-making water that is not frozen in the ice-making unit 11 is collected in the ice-making water tank 13 through the return hole 12b and is circulated again. In the first embodiment, the ice-making water tank 13, the ice-making unit 11, the water tray 12, and a pipe (not shown) that connects the ice-making water tank 13 and the water tray 12 via a circulation pump 19 and through which the ice-making water flows form a circulation path through which the ice-making water circulates between the ice-making water tank 13 and the ice-making unit 11. In addition, a chemical injection port 13a is provided on the front side of the ice-making water tank 13 for injecting a chemical solution for cleaning the ice-making water circulation path in a cleaning mode described later. In addition, a drain pan 24 is provided below the ice-making mechanism 14 to receive wastewater (residual ice-making water, overflow water, condensation water, etc.) flowing down from the ice-making mechanism 14, and the wastewater received in the drain pan 24 is discharged outside the machine.

The ice-making mechanism 14 is provided with a tilting mechanism 18 on the opposite side (right side) to the pivot side of the water tray 12 for opening and closing (tilting) the ice-making water supply section consisting of the water tray 12 and the ice-making water tank 13 relative to the ice-making unit 11. In the ice-making mechanism 14, the water tray 12 of the ice-making water supply section is held in a closed position blocking the bottom of each ice-making chamber 11a of the ice-making unit 11 by the tilting mechanism 18 during the ice-making process, as shown in FIG. 1, and the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 is sprayed from the water tray 12 by the circulation pump 19 to each ice-making chamber 11a cooled by the evaporator 16, producing ice blocks (ice) in the ice-making chamber 11a. In the ice making mechanism 14, the water tray 12 of the ice making water supply unit is held in an open position in the de-icing process in a tilted position that allows ice blocks to be released from the ice making chamber 11a by the tilting mechanism 18, as shown in FIG. 2, and ice blocks that are released from the ice making chamber 11a heated by the evaporator 16 are guided to the tilted upper surface of the water tray 12 and fall into the ice storage chamber 10a. The tilting mechanism 18 tilts the ice making water supply unit to change its position between the closed position and the open position, but in the following description, it is simply referred to as tilting the water tray 12, and the closed and open positions of the water tray 12.

The tilting mechanism 18 is equipped with a cam member (not shown) that rotates in a forward or reverse direction by a motor (driving means) 20 such as a geared motor, and by rotating the cam member in a forward or reverse direction, the water tray 12 is displaced between the closed position and the open position. The tilting mechanism 18 is provided with a detection means 21 (see FIG. 4) that detects when the water tray 12 has been tilted from the closed position to the open position, and detects when the water tray 12 has been tilted from the open position to the closed position. The detection means 21 detects the open or closed position of the water tray 12 and stops the motor 20, thereby holding the water tray 12 in the open or closed position.

The ice-making water tank 13 is provided with an overflow pipe 25 that can discharge liquids such as ice-making water and chemicals stored in the tank. As shown in FIG. 3, the overflow pipe 25 is a cylindrical member that connects a first cylindrical portion 26 and a second cylindrical portion 27 in an L-shape, and an inlet 26a is formed at the open end of the first cylindrical portion 26, and an outlet (discharge port) 27a is formed at the open end of the second cylindrical portion 27. The overflow pipe 25 is attached to the ice-making water tank 13 with the inlet 26a communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank 13 by inserting the first cylindrical portion 26 into the through hole 28a of an attachment portion 28 that is provided on the ice-making water tank 13 and has a through hole 28a penetrating in the inward and outward directions, and the outlet 27a opens outside the ice-making water tank 13. The overflow pipe 25 is configured to be easily attached and detached to the ice-making water tank 13 without using tools by a fixing means 38 such as a knob bolt. The liquid discharged from the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 is received in the drain pan 24.

The through hole 28a of the attachment portion 28 is connected to the inside of the ice-making water tank 13 at a position a predetermined height above the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 that is in a closed position when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, and at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 that is in an open position when the water tray 12 is in the open position, on the opposite side to the pivot side of the water tray 12. That is, the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25, with the first cylindrical portion 26 inserted into the through hole 28a, is connected to the inside of the tank at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 that is in an open position when the water tray 12 is in the open position. The second cylindrical portion 27 of the overflow pipe 25 attached to the attachment portion 28 via the first cylindrical portion 26 extends toward the pivot side of the water tray 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In addition, second cylindrical portion 27 is configured so that when water tray 12 is in the closed position (closed posture of ice-making water tank 13), it is substantially horizontal or has outlet 27a facing slightly diagonally upward, and when water tray 12 is in the open position (open posture of ice-making water tank 13), outlet 27a extends in an inclined posture facing diagonally upward at a greater angle than when in the horizontal posture. In other words, outlet 27a of overflow pipe 25 is located a predetermined height above the lowest position in ice-making water tank 13 in the closed posture and open posture in both the closed position and open position of water tray 12, and is configured so that a predetermined amount of ice-making water, etc. can be stored in ice-making water tank 13 up to lower end 27b of outlet 27a. In other words, overflow pipe 25 functions as a storage amount determining means for determining the amount of ice-making water stored in the tank at the start of the ice-making process with water tray 12 held in the closed position, and for determining the amount of ice-making water (residual ice-making water) to remain in the tank during the de-icing process with water tray 12 held in the open position. In the first embodiment, with water tray 12 held in the closed position, ice-making water is stored in ice-making water tank 13 up to a first specified water level L1 determined by lower end 27b of outlet 27a, and with water tray 12 held in the open position, residual ice-making water is left in ice-making water tank 13 up to a second specified water level L2 determined by lower end 27b of outlet 27a. In addition, the amount of liquid such as ice-making water discharged per unit time from the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 is set to be less than the amount of water supplied (water supply amount) per unit time from the water supply pipe 22 (water supply means), and the water level (liquid level) in the ice-making water tank 13 can be raised above the lower end position of the outlet 27a by supplying water from the water supply pipe 22 while discharging ice-making water from the outlet 27a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pipe-shaped connection part 29 extending outward is provided in correspondence with the connection part between the first cylindrical part 26 and the second cylindrical part 27 of the overflow pipe 25. The overflow pipe 25 and the siphon tube 31 are connected in communication with each other by connecting one end of the siphon tube 31 described later to the connection part 29. A holder 30 supporting the siphon tube 31 is provided at the outlet end of the second cylindrical part 27 of the overflow pipe 25, and the holder 30 is configured to support the first pipe part 33 described later of the siphon tube 31, one end of which is connected to the connection part 29.

The ice-making water tank 13 is provided with a siphon means SF1 that can discharge the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 during the de-icing process by siphon action. The siphon means SF1 in the first embodiment is composed of one siphon tube 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the siphon tube 31 is a member formed in a substantially V-shape, and includes a first pipe section 33 extending in one direction from a bent section 32, a second pipe section 34 extending in the other direction from the bent section 32, and a covering section 35 provided on the extended end side of the first pipe section 33 and detachably attached to the connection section 29 of the overflow pipe 25. The siphon tube 31 is made of a soft synthetic resin or rubber, and the siphon tube 31 is connected to the overflow pipe 25 in a communicating state by covering the covering section 35 to the connection section 29 of the overflow pipe 25. The siphon tube 31 has an end opening on the side of the covering portion 35 of the first pipe portion 33 which serves as an inlet (inlet of the siphon means SF1) 31a through which liquid flows into the tube, and an end opening on the side of the second pipe portion 34 which is away from the bent portion 32 which serves as an outlet (outlet of the siphon means SF1) 31b through which the liquid in the tube flows out. That is, when the covering portion 35 is covered by the connection portion 29, the siphon tube 31 has an inlet 31a which communicates with the inside of the ice-making water tank 13 via the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25, and an outlet 31b which opens outside the ice-making water tank 13 so that the ice-making water and the like stored in the ice-making water tank 13 can be discharged by siphon action. In addition, when the attachment portion 35 is attached to the connection portion 29, the siphon tube 31 is configured so that the bent portion 32 is located on the outlet side of the second tubular portion 27, and the bent portion side of the first tubular portion 33 is supported by the holder 30, and the first tubular portion 33 extends approximately parallel to the second tubular portion 27. The inner diameter of the siphon tube 31 is set according to the required discharge capacity of ice-making water, etc.

1, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the inlet 31a of the siphon tube 31 communicates with the ice-making water tank 13 at the same position as the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25, the first pipe section 33 extends horizontally or slightly inclined upward toward the bent section 32, and the second pipe section 34 connected to the bent section 32 extends downward. In other words, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the bent section 32 is configured to be located at the highest position in the siphon tube 31. The inner upper end (the highest position in the siphon tube 31) of the bent section 32 when the water tray 12 is in the closed position is set to be located above the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 (the first specified water level L1 defined by the outlet 27a). In other words, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, if the level of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 is lower than the first specified water level L1, the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 will not flow into the siphon tube 31, and the tube will be filled with ice-making water, causing a siphon effect and preventing the ice-making water from being discharged.

2, in the open position of the water tray 12, the inlet 31a of the siphon tube 31 communicates with the inside of the tank at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 in the open position, and the first pipe portion 33 extends in an upwardly inclined position toward the bent portion 32, while the second pipe portion 34 connected to the bent portion 32 extends downward. That is, in the open position of the water tray 12, the siphon tube 31 is in a mountain-shaped position with the bent portion 32 at the top, and the bent portion 32 is configured to be located at the highest position in the siphon tube 31. In addition, the inlet 31a of the siphon tube 31 in the open position of the water tray 12 opens so as to communicate with the ice-making water tank 13 at a position lower than the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25, and the outlet 31b of the siphon tube 31 opens at a position lower than the inlet 31a. The inner upper end of the bent portion 32 (the highest position in the siphon tube 31) in the open position of the water tray 12 is set to be located above the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a in the overflow pipe 25 and at a position higher than the second specified water level L2 defined by the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a in the ice-making water tank 13 in the open position. The inner upper end of the bent portion 32 in the siphon tube 31 of the first embodiment is set to be located at a position higher than the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a in the overflow pipe 25 (the first specified water level L1 and the second specified water level L2 of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 defined by the outlet 27a) in both the closed position and the open position of the water tray 12.

The ice maker of Example 1 is equipped with an introduction means IC1 for introducing water (liquid) into the inside of the siphon tube 31 when the water tray 12 is in the open position, filling the inside of the siphon tube 31 with water to generate a siphon action. The introduction means IC1 of Example 1 is a water supply means consisting of the water supply pipe 22 and water supply valve 23 that supply water to the ice making water tank 13, and is configured to generate a siphon action in the siphon tube 31 by opening the water supply valve 23 when the water tray 12 is in the open position to supply water from the water supply pipe 22 into the ice making water tank 13 and raising the water level in the tank to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L3 that is equal to or higher than the upper inner end of the bent portion 32. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the water tray 12 is in the open position, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 22 to the residual ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13. When the level of the residual ice-making water rises to the operating water level L3, the residual ice-making water in the tank flows (introduced) into the siphon tube 31, filling the tube with the residual ice-making water, causing a siphon action, and making it possible to discharge almost all of the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13. That is, in the siphon tube (siphon means SF1) 31 of the first embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the open position and water is not supplied from the water supply pipe 22 into the tank, the level of the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 does not exceed the operating water level L3, so no siphon action occurs even if the residual ice-making water is introduced into the siphon tube 31. However, when water is supplied from the water supply pipe 22 into the tank, the level of the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 reaches the operating water level L3, and the siphon action occurs when the tube is filled with the residual ice-making water introduced into the siphon tube 31. The residual ice-making water discharged from the outlet 27a of the siphon tube 31 is received in the drain pan 24.

The control means 36 of the ice maker is electrically connected to the devices constituting the refrigeration mechanism, as well as the circulation pump 19, the motor 20 of the tilting mechanism 18, the water supply valve 23, the detection means 21, etc., as shown in Figure 4, and controls the refrigeration mechanism and the ice making mechanism 14 in an integrated manner. When a detection signal is input from the detection means 21, the control means 36 outputs a stop signal to the motor 20 to stop the motor 20 and hold the water tray 12 in the closed or open position. The control means 36 is provided with a water supply timer 37 that counts the water supply time through the water supply valve 23 and the water supply pipe 22, and various timers (not shown) that count the washing time and rinsing time in the washing mode described below. The control means 36 is configured to start water supply through the water supply pipe 22 and start counting with the water supply timer 37 when shifting from the deicing process to the ice making process, and to control the water supply valve 23 to close and stop water supply when the water supply timer 37 counts the first water supply time T1 during which the level of ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 13 with the water tray 12 in the closed position becomes the first specified water level L1 specified by the overflow pipe 25 (outlet 27a). Note that the first water supply time T1 is set to a time during which ice making water can be stored in the ice making water tank 13 with the water tray 12 in the closed position up to the first specified water level L1, on the premise that ice making water remains in the ice making water tank 13 up to the second specified water level L2 in the deicing process. In addition, when the water tray 12 is in the open position and there is residual ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13, the control means 36 starts the water supply through the water supply pipe 22 and starts counting with the water supply timer 37, and is configured to control the water supply valve 23 to close and stop the water supply when the water supply timer 37 counts the second water supply time T2 at which the level of the residual ice-making water diluted with newly supplied water reaches the operating water level L3.

The ice making machine of the first embodiment is configured such that, in the ice making process, when a temperature sensor (not shown) arranged in the ice making unit 11 detects the ice making completion temperature, the control means 36 determines that ice blocks of a predetermined size have been produced in the ice making chamber 11a, stops the circulation pump 19, completes the ice making process, and transitions to the de-icing process. In addition, in the ice making machine, when the temperature sensor detects the de-icing completion temperature in the de-icing process, the control means 36 determines that all ice blocks have been released by heating the ice making unit 11, stops the heating of the ice making unit 11 by the evaporator 16, and reverses the motor 20 to return the water tray 12 from the open position to the closed position, completing the de-icing process.

Here, the ice-making water supplied to the ice-making water tank 13 contains various minerals such as calcium and magnesium, and by repeatedly performing the ice-making cycle consisting of the ice-making process and the de-icing process, impurities such as scale and limescale, which are concentrated minerals, will adhere to the ice-making unit 11, piping, and other ice-making water circulation paths. Therefore, the ice-making machine of the first embodiment is configured to be able to select between an ice-making mode in which the ice-making cycle is repeated, and a cleaning mode in which the ice-making mechanism 14 cleans the ice-making water circulation path with a chemical solution. In the cleaning mode, after the cleaning process in which a chemical solution is circulated through the circulation path, a rinsing process is performed in which the circulation path is rinsed with water (tap water). In the cleaning process, the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 is almost entirely discharged through the siphon tube 31 in the same manner as when discharging the residual ice-making water, and then the water tray 12 is held in the closed position, and the chemical liquid is supplied to the ice-making water tank 13 through the chemical liquid inlet 13a provided in the ice-making water tank 13, and then the circulation pump 19 is operated for the cleaning time to circulate the chemical liquid stored in the ice-making water tank 13 through the circulation path. Then, when the cleaning time has elapsed, the circulation pump 19 is stopped, the water tray 12 is tilted to the open position by the tilting mechanism 18, and almost the entire amount of the chemical liquid in the ice-making water tank 13 is discharged through the siphon tube 31, and then the water tray 12 is returned to the closed position by the tilting mechanism 18, and the cleaning process is completed.

In the rinsing process, the water supply valve 23 is opened for a predetermined water supply time to supply a predetermined amount of rinsing water (tap water) to the ice-making water tank 13. The circulation pump 19 is then operated for the rinsing time to circulate the rinsing water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 through the circulation path to rinse the circulation path. When the rinsing time has elapsed, the circulation pump 19 is stopped, the tilting mechanism 18 tilts the water tray 12 to the open position, and after substantially all of the rinsing water in the ice-making water tank 13 is discharged through the siphon tube 31, the tilting mechanism 18 returns the water tray 12 to the closed position, completing the rinsing process. The rinsing process is repeated a preset number of times, and when the set number of rinsing times is reached, operation in the cleaning mode is terminated.

[Operation of Example 1]
Next, the operation of the ice making machine according to the first embodiment will be described.

[If residual ice making water remains in the ice making water tank]
During the ice-making process of the ice maker, the water tray 12 is in a closed position to close the ice-making section 11 from below, and the ice-making water tank 13 is held in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the inner upper end of the bent portion 32 of the siphon tube 31 is located at a position higher than the first specified water level L1 of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 defined by the overflow pipe 25. Therefore, the siphon tube 31 is not filled with ice-making water to cause a siphoning action, and the ice-making water is stored in the ice-making water tank 13 up to the first specified water level L1 defined by the overflow pipe 25 at the start of the ice-making process. The ice-making process is performed with water tray 12 facing the closed position, and when the temperature sensor detects that ice blocks have been produced in ice-making chamber 11a, the ice-making process is terminated and the process moves to the de-icing process, and water tray 12 is tilted toward the open position by tilting mechanism 18, and when detection means 21 detects that water tray 12 is in the open position, tilting mechanism 18 stops, and water tray 12 is stopped and held in the open position as shown in Fig. 2. When water tray 12 tilts from the closed position to the open position, the ice-making water in ice-making water tank 13 is drained into drain pan 24 via overflow pipe 25, and when water tray 12 is in the open position, ice-making water (residual ice-making water) remains in ice-making water tank 13 up to the second specified water level L2. Furthermore, when the water tray 12 is in the open position, the inner upper end of the bent portion 32 in the siphon tube 31 is located at a position higher than the second specified water level L2 of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 defined by the overflow pipe 25. Therefore, the inside of the siphon tube 31 is not filled with residual ice-making water to cause a siphon action, and the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 is not discharged to the outside by the siphon tube 31.

While the water tray 12 is stopped in the open position, the de-icing process proceeds, and the ice blocks removed from each ice making chamber 11a slide down the top surface of the water tray 12 and are discharged toward the ice storage chamber 10a. When the temperature sensor detects that all the ice blocks have fallen from the ice making section 11, the tilting mechanism 18 tilts the water tray 12 toward the closed position. When the water tray 12 starts to tilt from the open position toward the closed position, the control means 36 opens the water supply valve 23 to supply water to the ice making water tank 13 as ice making water to be used in the next ice making process, and starts counting the water supply timer 37. When the detection means 21 detects the closed position of the water tray 12, the tilting mechanism 18 stops, the water tray 12 is stopped and held in the closed position, and the ice making process begins again. When the water supply timer 37 counts the first water supply time T1, the control means 36 closes the water supply valve 23 to stop water supply. As a result, the ice making process is carried out with ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 13 of the ice making mechanism 14 up to the first specified water level L1.

[When there is no remaining ice making water in the ice making water tank]
In the ice making machine of the first embodiment, if a predetermined amount of ice making residual water remains in the ice making water tank 13 during the deicing process and the ice making residual water is repeatedly reused as ice making water for the next time, problems due to impurities will occur, so after the ice making cycle is repeated a preset number of times, a full discharge deicing process is executed in which almost all of the ice making residual water is discharged. That is, in the full discharge deicing process, the control means 36 opens the water supply valve 23 to supply water from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice making water tank 13 while the water tray 12 is held in the open position. When water is supplied to the ice making water tank 13, the water level in the tank rises, and when it exceeds the second specified water level L2, the ice making residual water is discharged to the outside from the overflow pipe 25, but since the amount of ice making residual water discharged from the overflow pipe 25 per unit time is less than the amount of water supplied from the water supply pipe 22 per unit time, the water level in the ice making water tank 13 rises beyond the second specified water level L2. When the water level in the ice-making water tank 13 rises to the operating water level L3, the inside of the siphon tube 31 is filled with residual ice-making water, and a siphon action occurs, causing the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 to be discharged to the outside through the siphon tube 31.

In the full discharge deicing process, when the water supply timer 37, which starts counting when the water supply from the water supply pipe 22 starts, counts the second water supply time T2, the control means 36 closes the water supply valve 23 to stop the water supply. Even if the water supply is stopped, the discharge of the remaining ice-making water continues due to the siphon action of the siphon tube 31. Since the inlet 31a of the siphon tube 31 is connected to the inside of the tank at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 in the open position, the remaining ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 is almost all discharged by the siphon tube 31. When transitioning from the full discharge deicing process to the ice-making process, the water supply time is set so that the amount of water supplied from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice-making water tank 13 is greater than the amount in the normal deicing process in which the remaining ice-making water remains in the ice-making water tank 13, and the ice-making water is stored in the ice-making water tank 13 at the first specified water level L1 at the start of the ice-making process after the full discharge deicing process.

In the ice making machine of Example 1, in the washing process and rinsing process in the washing mode, as in the full discharge de-icing process, water is supplied to the ice making water tank 13 while the water tray 12 is held in the open position, and the water level (liquid level) in the tank is raised to the operating water level L3, so that almost all of the chemical solution and rinsing water remaining in the ice making water tank 13 can be discharged through the siphon tube 31. In addition, in the ice making machine of the first embodiment, when starting up after a long machine stop, or when detecting that the ice storage chamber 10a is full and stopping the ice making cycle by the ice making mechanism 14, water is supplied to the ice making water tank 13 while the water tray 12 is held in the open position, as in the full discharge deicing process, and the water level (liquid level) in the tank is raised to the operating water level L3, and the ice making residual water remaining in the ice making water tank 13 is discharged almost entirely through the siphon tube 31. This prevents the ice making residual water that has been stored in the ice making water tank 13 for a long time from being discharged, and prevents the ice making cycle from stopping with the ice making residual water remaining in the ice making water tank 13, which is hygienic. The full discharge control that discharges almost all of the ice making residual water remaining in the ice making water tank 13 may be performed when the full state of the ice storage chamber 10a is resolved and the ice making cycle by the ice making mechanism 14 is resumed.

In the ice making machine of Example 1, the overflow pipe 25 is configured to leave a predetermined amount of ice making residual water in the deicing process for reuse, and the siphon tube 31 is configured to discharge the ice making residual water almost entirely, so that the ice making residual water cooled to nearly 0°C in the ice making process is reused to suppress energy waste, while preventing problems such as clogging caused by impurities caused by continuing to reuse the ice making residual water. In addition, the existing water supply pipe 22 and water supply valve 23 are used as the introduction means IC1 that generates a siphon action in the siphon tube 31, so the number of parts does not increase, the configuration does not become complicated, and the manufacturing cost does not increase.

Here, if a detection means, such as a float type or electrode type, whose detection unit contacts the ice-making water is used as a means for controlling the water supply valve 23 to raise the water level in the ice-making water tank 13 to the operating water level L3, impurities will adhere to the detection unit over time, causing malfunctions, etc., resulting in problems such as false detection or inability to detect the water level in the ice-making water tank 13. In contrast, in Example 1, the water supply valve 23 is controlled by the water supply timer 37, so there is no problem with a configuration using a float type or electrode type detection means. In addition, since the water supply timer 37 is an existing timer that is provided to store a predetermined amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 during the ice-making process, there is no increase in manufacturing costs due to the provision of a dedicated part for control. In addition, in the ice maker of Example 1, the ice-making water tank 13 can be configured to discharge almost all of the remaining ice-making water, etc., without changing the structure of the ice-making water tank 13, by simply changing the overflow pipe 25 to a configuration that can connect the siphon tube 31, so that the increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed. In addition, the siphon tube 31 can be attached and detached from the overflow pipe 25 by simply attaching the attachment part 35 to the connection part 29, so the siphon tube 31 can be easily removed without using tools when cleaning or replacing the siphon tube 31. In addition, when the ice maker is installed in a restaurant or the like, the function of discharging almost all of the residual water from ice making can be easily added by simply replacing the overflow pipe 25 on-site.

Here, in the ice maker of the first embodiment, in order to reduce the amount of ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 during the de-icing process, the posture of the overflow pipe 25 may be changed from the state shown in FIG. 1 to a low-residual posture in which the outlet 27a faces downward. In this state, when the water tray 12 is tilted to the open position, the overflow pipe 25 in the open position has the outlet 27a facing upward as in the first embodiment, and the bent portion 32 is located at the highest position of the siphon tube 31, so that ice-making water remains in the ice-making water tank 13 at a water level determined by the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a, and the operating water level at which the siphon action occurs in the siphon tube 31 is higher than the water level determined by the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a. In contrast, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 faces downward, and the level of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 in the closed position is determined by the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25. In this case, the inlet 31a of the siphon tube 31 is located at the highest position in the siphon tube 31, and the inlet 31a is located at a position higher than the inner lower end of the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25. In other words, when the overflow pipe 25 is in the low residual position, the operating water level (operating liquid level) above the inner upper end of the inlet 31a at which the siphon action occurs in the siphon tube 31 is located at a position higher than the water level in the ice-making water tank 13 determined by the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25. In other words, the operating water level (operating liquid level) at which the siphon action occurs in the siphon tube 31 needs to be equal to or higher than the liquid level in the ice-making water tank 13, which is determined by the outlet 27a and inlet 26a, which function as outlets that determine the water level of the ice-making residual water that remains in the ice-making water tank 13, regardless of the position of the overflow pipe 25.

Next, other embodiments of the ice maker (embodiments 2 to 4 and other embodiments) will be described, focusing only on the parts that differ from the configuration of embodiment 1. Note that the same members as in embodiment 1 will be given the same reference numerals.

5 to 8 show the ice-making mechanism of the ice-making machine according to the second embodiment. The siphon means SF2 of the second embodiment is composed of a first siphon tube 41 connected to the overflow pipe 25 and disposed outside the ice-making water tank 13, and a second siphon tube 42 connected to the first siphon tube 41 and disposed inside the ice-making water tank 13. The first siphon tube 41 is different from the siphon tube 31 of the first embodiment only in the shape of the second pipe portion 34, and the other configurations are the same. The second pipe portion 34 is formed so as to extend downward from the bent portion 32 and then bent toward the pivot side of the water tray 12 so as to extend approximately along the outer bottom surface of the ice-making water tank 13. The second siphon tube 42 is configured so that one end in the extending direction is inserted into the connection portion 29 of the overflow pipe 25 and communicates with the first siphon tube 41. In the siphon means SF2 of the second embodiment, the inlet 42a, which is the end opening on the other end side of the second siphon tube 42, serves as the inlet of the siphon means SF2, and the outlet 31b of the second tube section 34 of the first siphon tube 41 serves as the outlet of the siphon means SF2.

5 and 6, the ice-making water tank 13 is formed so that the pivot side of the water tray 12 is the deepest when the water tray 12 is in the closed position (closed posture of the ice-making water tank 13), and the suction port 39 (see FIG. 8) of the circulation pump 19 that sends ice-making water to the water tray 12 is provided at this deepest part. The bottom of the ice-making water tank 13 is formed so that it slopes downward from the side opposite the pivot side toward the deepest part when in the closed position, and the through hole 28a of the attachment part 28 opens close to the inner bottom surface 40 on the upper end side of the slope of the bottom. The second siphon tube 42 extends along the inner bottom surface 40 of the ice-making water tank 13, and is positioned so that the inlet 42a faces the deepest part of the ice-making water tank 13. That is, the inlet 42a of the second siphon tube 42 (the inlet of the siphon means SF2) opens at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank 13 when the water tray 12 is in the closed position. Also, the outlet 31b of the first siphon tube 41 is set to be located at a lower position than the inlet 42a of the second siphon tube 42 when the water tray 12 is in the closed position (closed posture of the ice-making water tank 13). Both the first siphon tube 41 and the second siphon tube 42 are made of soft synthetic resin or rubber, and are configured to be easily attached and detached to the connection part 29 of the siphon tubes 41 and 42. Also, the inner diameter of the second siphon tube 42 is set according to the required discharge capacity of ice-making water, etc.

[Function of Example 2]
Next, the operation of the ice making machine according to the second embodiment, which differs from that of the first embodiment, will be described in detail.

In the ice making machine of Example 2, the positional relationship between the bent portion 32 of the first siphon tube 41 and the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 in the closed and open positions of the water tray 12 is the same as in Example 1. That is, in the ice making machine of Example 2, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, ice making water can be stored in the ice making water tank 13 up to the first specified water level L1 to perform the ice making process, and when the water tray 12 is tilted to the open position in the de-icing process, residual ice making water can remain in the ice making water tank 13 up to the second specified water level L2.

In the ice maker of the second embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position (the ice making water tank 13 is in the closed position), substantially all of the ice making water can be discharged from the ice making water tank 13. That is, when transitioning from the de-icing process to the ice making process, the amount of water supplied from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice making water tank 13 is controlled, and as shown in FIG. 5, while the water tray 12 is held in the closed position, the water level in the ice making water tank 13 is raised to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L4 (higher than the first specified water level L1 specified by the overflow pipe 25) that is equal to or higher than the inner upper end of the bent portion 32 in the first siphon tube 41, thereby generating a siphon action in the siphon means SF2. Since the inlet 42a of the siphon means SF2 in the second embodiment faces the deepest part of the ice-making water tank 13 in the closed position, the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 after the water supply from the water supply pipe 22 is stopped can be almost entirely discharged by the siphon action of the siphon means SF2. The amount of water supplied to the ice-making water tank 13 can be easily controlled by setting the water supply time counted by the water supply timer 37.

In the ice-making machine of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the ice-making machine of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
When the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the ice-making water and the like stored in the ice-making water tank 13 can be almost entirely discharged, so that the process of tilting the water tray 12 between the closed position and the open position to discharge the chemical solution and the rinsing water in the ice-making water tank 13 during each washing step and rinsing step in the washing mode can be omitted, and the time required for the washing mode can be shortened. That is, after the washing time in the washing step or the rinsing time in the rinsing step has elapsed, the circulation pump 19 is stopped and the water tray 12 is held in the closed position, and the water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice-making water tank 13 until the water level (liquid level) in the tank reaches the operating water level L4, and then the water supply valve 23 is stopped. As a result, the chemical solution and the rinsing water in the ice-making water tank 13 can be almost entirely discharged by the siphon action of the siphon means SF2.

In addition, in the cleaning mode, when the water tray 12 is tilted to the open position to drain the chemical liquid in the ice-making water tank 13, there is a possibility that the chemical liquid adhering to the opened ice-making unit 11 may drip into the ice storage chamber 10a. However, in the ice maker of Example 2, the chemical liquid can be drained while the ice-making unit 11 is closed by the water tray 12, so that the chemical liquid adhering to the ice-making unit 11 can be prevented from dripping into the ice storage chamber 10a. In addition, since the ice-making water tank 13 is not tilted, there is no risk of the chemical liquid splashing into the ice storage chamber 10a from the tilting ice-making water tank 13. In addition, in the second embodiment, the operating water level (operating liquid level) at which the siphon action occurs when the overflow pipe 25 is in the low residual position may be set higher than the liquid level in the ice making water tank 13 defined by the inlet 26a of the overflow pipe 25 at the part located at the highest position of the siphon tube 31 (the connection between the first siphon tube 41 and the second siphon tube 42 in the second embodiment).

9 to 13 show the ice making mechanism of the ice making machine of the third embodiment. The siphon means SF3 of the third embodiment is composed of a first siphon tube 43 arranged outside the ice making water tank 13, a second siphon tube 44 connected to the first siphon tube 43 and partly arranged inside the ice making water tank 13, and a connecting pipe 45 connecting both siphon tubes 43, 44. The connecting pipe 45 is a T-shaped tee made of a first pipe body 45a extending linearly and a second pipe body 45b extending outward from the middle of the first pipe body 45a in the extending direction. One end of the first siphon tube 43 in the extending direction is connected to one end of the first pipe body 45a, and one end of the second siphon tube 44 in the extending direction is connected to the other end of the first pipe body 45a. The siphon means SF3 of the third embodiment is attached to the ice-making water tank 13 with the second siphon tube 44 extending from the connecting pipe 45 inserted into the ice-making water tank 13 through the chemical inlet 13a. As in the second embodiment, the second siphon tube 44 is configured so that the portion located inside the tank extends along the inner bottom surface 40 of the ice-making water tank 13 toward the deepest part, and the inlet 44a, which is the end opening on the other end side, opens at the deepest part. That is, the inlet 44a of the second siphon tube 44 opens at the lowest position inside the ice-making water tank 13 when the water tray 12 is in the closed position.

9, the first siphon tube 43 is formed so that it extends downward from the connecting pipe 45 and then bent toward the pivot side of the water tray 12 to extend approximately along the outer bottom surface of the ice making water tank 13, and the outlet 43a, which is the end opening on the other end side of the first siphon tube 43, is configured to open at a lower position than the inlet 44a of the second siphon tube 44. In the siphon means SF3 of the third embodiment, the inlet 44a of the second siphon tube 44 is the inlet of the siphon means SF3, and the outlet 43a of the first siphon tube 43 is the outlet of the siphon means SF3. In addition, the siphon means SF3 of the third embodiment is configured so that the connecting pipe 45 is located at the highest position in the siphon means SF3, and is located above the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 (the first specified water level L1 and the second specified water level L2 defined by the overflow pipe 25) in both the closed and open positions of the water tray 12. The first siphon tube 43 and the second siphon tube 44 are both made of soft synthetic resin or rubber, and the siphon tubes 43, 44 are configured so that they can be easily attached and detached from the connecting pipe 45.

As shown in Figures 9 to 13, the siphon means SF3 of the third embodiment is connected to an introduction means IC2 that introduces liquid into the siphon means SF3 and fills the inside with liquid to generate a siphoning effect. The introduction means IC2 is a water supply means consisting of a water valve 46 whose inlet 46a is connected to a water source (not shown) and a water supply tube 47 whose one end is connected to the outlet 46b of the water valve 46 and whose other end is connected to the second pipe body 45b of the connection pipe 45, and is configured to supply water from the water source to the inside of the siphon means SF3 by opening the water valve 46. The inner diameter and length of the first siphon tube 43 and the second siphon tube 44 are set so that the inside of the siphon means SF3 is filled with water when water is supplied from the water supply tube 47. The water supply tube 47 is made of soft synthetic resin or rubber, and is movable relative to the water valve 46 that is fixed to the mounting member 15, following the tilting movement of the ice making water tank 13 between the closed position and the open position.

In the ice making machine according to the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 11, the siphon means SF3 is filled with water when the water tray 12 is in the open position, and the water level in the siphon means SF3 is set to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L5 that is equal to or higher than the inner upper end of the first pipe body 45a, thereby enabling the siphon action to be generated in the siphon means SF3. Also, as shown in Fig. 9, the siphon means SF3 is filled with water when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, and the water level in the siphon means SF3 is set to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L6 that is equal to or higher than the inner upper end of the first pipe body 45a, thereby enabling the siphon action to be generated in the siphon means SF4. In a configuration in which the inner diameter and length of each siphon tube 43, 44 are set so that the inside is filled with water when water is supplied, as in Example 3, water is filled from top to bottom when water is supplied from the water supply tube 47, and there is no upward water surface in the siphon means SF3, but in Example 3, the position of the water at the inner upper end of the first tube 45a is designated as the operating water levels L5, L6 that generate the siphon action. The operating water levels L5, L6 are set to be located above the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 (the liquid level in the ice making water tank 13 determined by the overflow pipe 25).

Next, we will explain in detail the operation of the ice maker in Example 3, which differs from Examples 1 and 2.

In the ice making machine of the third embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, the connection pipe 45 of the siphon means SF3 in the closed and open positions of the water tray 12 is located at a position higher than the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25. Therefore, in the ice making machine of the third embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, ice making water can be stored in the ice making water tank 13 up to the first specified water level L1 to perform the ice making process, and when the water tray 12 is tilted to the open position in the de-icing process, residual ice making water can remain in the ice making water tank 13 up to the second specified water level L2.

In the ice maker of the third embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position and the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 13 is to be discharged almost entirely, the water valve 46 is opened and water is supplied to the siphon means SF3. When the inside of the siphon means SF3 is filled with the supplied water up to the operating water level L6, the siphon action occurs. Since the outlet 43a of the first siphon tube 43 is located lower than the inlet 44a of the second siphon tube 44, when the water valve 46 is closed to stop the supply of water, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 13 is discharged through the siphon means SF3 by the siphon action. When the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the inlet 44a of the second siphon tube 44 opens at the deepest part of the ice making water tank 13, so that the ice making water in the ice making water tank 13 can be discharged almost entirely.

When the water tray 12 is in the open position and residual ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 is to be discharged, the water valve 46 is opened to supply water to the siphon means SF3, in the same way as when substantially all of the ice-making water in the tank is discharged in the closed position. When the inside of the siphon means SF3 is filled up to the operating water level L5 with the supplied water, a siphon action occurs, and substantially all of the residual ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 can be discharged by the siphon means SF3.

In the ice making machine of the third embodiment, the water valve 46 is opened to supply water to the siphon means SF3 to generate the siphon action, so that the ice making water, the remaining ice making water, or the chemical solution and rinsing water in the ice making water tank 13 can be discharged at any time, regardless of the attitude of the ice making water tank 13 or the amount of ice making water or remaining ice making water in the tank. In addition, since the chemical solution and rinsing water in the ice making water tank 13 can be discharged almost entirely when the ice making water tank 13 is in the closed attitude, the tilting process of the water tray 12 in the cleaning mode can be omitted, as in the ice making machine of the second embodiment, and the chemical solution can be prevented from splashing into the ice storage chamber 10a. In addition, since the siphon action is generated by supplying water directly to the siphon means SF3, the amount of water required to generate the siphon action can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the water level in the ice making water tank 13 is set to the operating water level.

Figures 14 to 18 show the ice-making mechanism of the ice-making machine of Example 4. The siphon means SF4 of Example 4 is composed of a first siphon tube 48 arranged outside the ice-making water tank 13, a second siphon tube 49 arranged inside the ice-making water tank 13, and a drain valve 50 that connects the first and second siphon tubes 48, 49. The drain valve 50 has an inlet portion 50a that is inserted from the outside into the connection portion 29 of the overflow pipe 25, and one end of the second siphon tube 49 in the extending direction is connected to the inlet portion 50a inside the overflow pipe 25. The second siphon tube 49 extends along the inner bottom surface 40 of the ice-making water tank 13 toward the deepest part, as in Example 2, and is configured so that the inlet 49a, which is the end opening on the other end side, opens at the deepest part.

One end of the first siphon tube 48 in the extending direction is connected to the outflow portion 50b of the drain valve 50, and the first siphon tube 48 is formed to extend from the connection portion with the outflow portion 50b so as to approximately follow the outer bottom surface of the ice making water tank 13 as shown in FIG. 14. Also, the outlet 48a, which is the end opening on the other end side of the first siphon tube 48, is configured to open at a lower position than the inlet 49a of the second siphon tube 49. In the siphon means SF4 of the fourth embodiment, the inlet 49a of the second siphon tube 49 is the inlet of the siphon means SF4, and the outlet 48a of the first siphon tube 48 is the outlet of the siphon means SF4. The first siphon tube 48 and the second siphon tube 49 are both made of soft synthetic resin or rubber, and the siphon tubes 48, 49 are configured to be easily attached and detached to the drain valve 50.

The drain valve 50 opens and closes the passage 50c through which liquid such as ice-making water flows between the inlet 49a and the outlet 48a of the siphon means SF4, and is configured to generate a siphoning action in the siphon means SF4 when the passage 50c is open by the drain valve 50. The siphon means SF4 of the fourth embodiment is configured so that the passage 50c connecting the two siphon tubes 48, 49 in the drain valve 50 is located at the highest position in the siphon means SF4. In the ice maker of the fourth embodiment, the water supply pipe 22, the water supply valve 23, and the drain valve 50 constitute an introduction means IC3 that introduces liquid such as ice-making water into the inside of the siphon means SF4.

In the ice making machine of Example 4, as shown in FIG. 14, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the internal upper end of the passage 50c, which is the highest position in the siphon means SF4, is located at a position higher than the first specified water level L1 defined by the overflow pipe 25 (outlet 27a in the illustrated example) in the closed position, and when the passage 50c is opened by the drain valve 50, the water level of the ice making water, etc. in the ice making water tank 13 is raised to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L8 that is above the internal upper end of the passage 50c, thereby generating a siphon action in the siphon means SF4. In the ice making machine according to the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, when the water tray 12 is in the open position, the inner upper end of the passage 50c, which is the highest position in the siphon means SF4, is located at a position lower than the second specified water level L2 defined by the overflow pipe 25. By closing the passage 50c with the drain valve 50, the inside of the siphon means SF4 is filled with the ice making residual water in the ice making water tank 13, and the siphon action does not occur. However, by opening the passage 50c with the drain valve 50, the inside of the siphon means SF4 can be filled with the ice making residual water to generate the siphon action. In other words, the siphon means SF4 of the fourth embodiment is configured such that when the water tray 12 is in the open position, when the passage 50c is closed by the drain valve 50 and liquid such as ice making residual water is not introduced, the siphon action does not occur, and when the passage 50c is opened by the drain valve 50 and liquid such as ice making residual water is introduced, the siphon action can be generated.

Next, we will explain in detail the operation of the ice maker in Example 4, which differs from Examples 1 and 2.

In the ice maker of Example 4, by closing passage 50c with drain valve 50, ice making water can be stored in ice making water tank 13 up to a first specified water level L1 when water tray 12 is in the closed position, and the ice making process can be carried out, and when water tray 12 is tilted to the open position during the de-icing process, residual ice making water can remain in ice making water tank 13 up to a second specified water level L2.

In the ice making machine of the fourth embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 14, to drain almost all of the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank 13, the drain valve 50 opens the passage 50c, and the water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water from the water supply pipe 22 to the ice making water tank 13. When the water level in the ice making water tank 13 exceeds the operating water level L8, the inside of the siphon means SF4 is filled with water and a siphon action occurs, so if the water supply is stopped, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 13 is drained almost entirely through the siphon means SF4.

When the water tray 12 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 15, the operating water level L7 that generates the siphon action in the siphon means SF4 is lower than the second specified water level L2 defined by the overflow pipe 25. Therefore, when draining almost all of the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 in the open position, simply by opening the passage 50c with the drain valve 50, the inside of the siphon means SF4 is filled with the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 at the second specified water level L2, generating the siphon action, and almost all of the ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank 13 is drained through the siphon means SF4.

In the ice making machine of the fourth embodiment, the drain valve 50 is configured to open and close the passage 50c to switch between a state in which the siphoning action can be generated by the siphon means SF4 and a state in which the siphoning action cannot be generated. Therefore, in either the closed position (closed position of the ice making water tank) or the open position (open position of the ice making water tank) of the water tray 12, the amount of water supplied to the ice making water tank 13 and the opening and closing control of the drain valve 50 can be used to switch between the normal ice making process and a full discharge in which almost all of the ice making water and residual ice making water are discharged. In addition, since almost all of the chemical solution and rinsing water in the ice making water tank 13 can be discharged when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, as in the ice making machine of the second embodiment, the tilting process of the water tray 12 in the cleaning mode can be omitted and the chemical solution can be prevented from splashing into the ice storage chamber 10a.

During the ice-making process, unfrozen water that has not frozen in the ice-making chamber 11a falls from the return hole 12b into the ice-making water tank 13, causing the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water tank 13 to ripple. In this case, the level of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13, particularly at the beginning of the ice-making process, is located near the passage 50c of the drain valve 50 (the uppermost part of the siphon means SF4), so there is a risk that the ripples will cause the ice-making water to flow from the second siphon tube 49 to the first siphon tube 48, causing a siphoning effect. However, in the ice-making machine of Example 4, if the passage 50c is closed by the drain valve 50, the siphoning effect in the siphon means SF4 can be prevented. Therefore, even if the water level near the passage 50c rises due to rippling of the ice-making water at the beginning of the ice-making process, the inside of the siphon means SF4 will not be filled with ice-making water and a siphon effect will not occur, and it is possible to prevent the ice-making water from being unintentionally discharged from the ice-making water tank 13.

Figures 19 and 20 show the ice-making mechanism of an ice-making machine according to another embodiment. The siphon means SF5 of the other embodiment has the same structure as that of the fourth embodiment, but the position of the siphon means SF5 relative to the ice-making water tank 13 is different. That is, the siphon means SF5 of the other embodiment is configured so that the second siphon tube 49 connected to the inlet 50a of the drain valve 50 arranged on the outside (front side) of the ice-making water tank 13 is inserted into a hole drilled in the wall of the ice-making water tank 13 and drawn into the tank. The position of the passage 50c in the drain valve 50 arranged in the ice-making water tank 13 is set to be located below the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a of the overflow pipe 25 when the water tray 12 is in the open and closed positions.

In the ice maker according to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, when the water tray 12 is in the open position, the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 13 is raised to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L9 above the inner upper end of the passage 50c, so that the siphon action can be generated in the siphon means SF5. Also, as shown in FIG. 19, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 13 is raised to an operating water level (operating liquid level) L10 above the inner upper end of the passage 50c, so that the siphon action can be generated in the siphon means SF5. And, the operating water levels L9 and L10 are both set to be located below the lower end 27b of the outlet 27a in the overflow pipe 25 (the first specified water level L1 and the second specified water level L2 defined by the overflow pipe 25).

In the ice maker of the other embodiment, when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the operating water level L10 is set to a position lower than the first specified water level L1 defined by the overflow pipe 25, so that when the ice making water, etc. stored in the ice making water tank 13 is stored up to the first specified water level L1, the drain valve 50 opens the passage 50c, filling the inside of the siphon means SF5 with ice making water, causing a siphoning action, and allowing the ice making water, etc. in the ice making water tank 13 to be discharged in its entirety. In addition, in the washing process and rinsing process of the washing mode, if the liquid levels of the chemical solution and rinsing water in the ice making water tank 13 are set to be higher than the operating water level L10 when the water tray 12 is in the closed position, the chemical solution and rinsing water can be discharged in its entirety by the siphon means SF5 without tilting the water tray 12, and the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained. In addition, when the water tray 12 is in the open position, the operating water level L9 is set lower than the second specified water level L2 defined by the overflow pipe 25, so that the siphon means SF5 can drain almost all of the remaining ice-making water without supplying water to the ice-making water tank 13, simply by opening the passage 50c with the drain valve 50.

In an ice making machine, the size of ice to be produced may be changed, and conventionally, an overflow pipe 25 was arranged in the ice making water tank 13 so that an amount of ice making water suitable for producing large-sized ice could be stored during the ice making process. For this reason, when producing small-sized ice, there was a problem that a large amount of ice making water was discharged from the overflow pipe 25 during the de-icing process. In the ice making machine of another embodiment, the passage 50c of the siphon means SF5 is located at a position lower than the first specified water level L1 defined by the overflow pipe 25, so that by opening the passage 50c with the drain valve 50, the amount of ice making water that can be stored in the ice making water tank 13 during the ice making process can be changed. That is, the first specified water level L1 determined by the overflow pipe 25 is set to the amount of ice-making water stored when large-sized ice is produced, and the third specified water level L11, which can be determined at the lower end of the passage 50c of the siphon means SF5, is set to the amount of ice-making water stored when small-sized ice is produced, and the amount of water supplied from the water supply pipe 22 during the ice-making process is set to an amount appropriate for each size.

In another embodiment, large-sized ice can be produced by closing the passage 50c with the drain valve 50 and storing ice-making water in the ice-making water tank 13 up to the first specified water level L1. Also, small-sized ice can be produced by opening the passage 50c with the drain valve 50 and performing the ice-making process with the water level in the ice-making water tank 13 set to the third specified water level L11. That is, by simply opening and closing the passage 50c with the drain valve 50, an amount of ice-making water corresponding to the size of the ice to be produced can be stored in the ice-making water tank 13. Therefore, if the amount of water supplied to the ice-making water tank 13 during the ice-making process is set to an appropriate amount according to the size of the ice, the amount of ice-making water discharged from the overflow pipe 25 when small-sized ice is produced can be prevented from becoming too large, and water can be saved.

[Example of change]
The present application is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and other configurations may be appropriately adopted. In addition, the following modified examples may be combined with each other.
(1) In medium-sized and large-sized ice-making machines, the ice-making water tank is large, so impurities tend to remain in a position far away from the outlet of the overflow pipe installed in the ice-making water tank. In the de-icing process, a dilution and discharge process is performed in which water is supplied from the water supply pipe to the ice-making water tank while the water tray is held in the open position, and the impurities are diluted and discharged. The water supply time in this dilution and discharge process is set to a time when the water level in the ice-making water tank does not reach the operating water level, but a configuration can be adopted in which the water level in the ice-making water tank can be raised to the operating water level by extending this time, thereby discharging all of the remaining ice-making water. In addition, in small-sized ice-making machines, the dilution and discharge process is not performed, but the dilution and discharge process may be performed and all of the remaining ice-making water may be discharged.
(2) In the first, second and third embodiments, the siphon means is attached to the overflow pipe. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the siphon means is attached to a location other than the overflow pipe, for example, by drilling a hole in the wall of the ice-making water tank and attaching the siphon means directly to the tank.
(3) In the second embodiment, the first siphon tube and the second siphon tube are separate bodies. However, the two siphon tubes may be integrated into one body.
(4) In the third embodiment, the first siphon tube is drawn into the tank from the chemical injection port provided in the ice-making water tank, but the first siphon tube may be drawn into the tank at a different location. For example, a through hole may be provided in the upper wall of the water tray where the return hole is provided, and the first siphon tube may be drawn into the tank from the through hole.
(5) The configurations of the individual embodiments may be combined with each other within the scope of the present invention.

11 Ice making section, 11a Ice making chamber (ice making chamber), 12 Water dish (ice making water supply section)
13 Ice making water tank (ice making water supply section), 22 Water supply pipe (introduction means, water supply means)
23 Water supply valve (introduction means, water supply means), 27a Outlet (discharge port), 31a Inlet 31b Outlet, 42a Inlet, 43a Outlet, 46 Water valve (water supply means)
47 Water supply tube (water supply means), 48a Inlet, 49a Outlet, 50 Drain valve 50c Passage, SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 Siphon means IC1, IC2, IC3 Introduction means L3, L4, L5, L6, L8 Operating water level (operating liquid level)

Claims (8)

An ice making machine including an ice making section (11) defining an ice making chamber (11a) that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section (12, 13) that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber (11a) and an open position for opening the ice making chamber (11a) and that has an ice making water tank (13) capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port (27a) that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid within the ice-making water tank (13) and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position;
siphon means (SF1, SF2) having an inlet (31a, 42a, 44a, 49a) communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank (13) and an outlet (31b, 43a, 48a) opening outside the ice-making water tank (13) and capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank ( 13) by siphon action;
and an introduction means (IC1 ) for introducing a liquid into the inside of the siphon means (SF1, SF2 ) ,
the siphon means (SF1, SF2 ) are configured such that, when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position, no siphon action occurs when no liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1 ) , but a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1 ) ;
The introduction means (IC1) is a water supply means (22, 23) for supplying water to the ice-making water tank (13),
The amount of water discharged per unit time through the discharge port (27a) is configured to be smaller than the amount of water supplied per unit time through the water supply means (22, 23).
The ice maker is characterized by: An ice making machine including an ice making section (11) defining an ice making chamber (11a) that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section (12, 13) that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber (11a) and an open position for opening the ice making chamber (11a) and that has an ice making water tank (13) capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port (27a) that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid within the ice-making water tank (13) and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position;
siphon means (SF2, SF3, SF4) having an inlet (42a , 44a, 49a) communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank (13) and an outlet (31b, 43a, 48a) opening outside the ice-making water tank (13) and capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank ( 13) by siphon action;
and an introduction means (IC1, IC2, IC3) for introducing a liquid into the inside of the siphon means (SF2 , SF3, SF4),
the siphon means (SF2 , SF3, SF4) are configured such that, when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position, no siphon action occurs when no liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1, IC2, IC3), and a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1, IC2, IC3) ;
The inlets (42a, 44a, 49a) of the siphon means (SF2, SF3, SF4) are configured to open at the lowest position in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply parts (12, 13) are in the closed position.
The ice maker is characterized by: An ice making machine including an ice making section (11) defining an ice making chamber (11a) that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section (12, 13) that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber (11a) and an open position for opening the ice making chamber (11a) and that has an ice making water tank (13) capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port (27a) that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid within the ice-making water tank (13) and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position;
a siphon means ( SF4) having an inlet ( 49a) communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank (13) and an outlet (48a) opening outside the ice-making water tank (13) and capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank ( 13) by siphon action;
An introduction means (IC1 , IC3 ) for introducing liquid into the inside of the siphon means (SF4 );
a drain valve (50) provided in the siphon means (SF4) and capable of opening and closing a passage (50c) through which liquid in the siphon means (SF4) flows ,
The siphon means (SF4 ) is configured such that, when the ice-making water supply sections (12, 13) are in an open position, no siphon action occurs when no liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1 , IC3 ), and a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1 , IC3 ). An ice making machine including an ice making section (11) defining an ice making chamber (11a) that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section (12, 13) that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber (11a) and an open position for opening the ice making chamber (11a) and that has an ice making water tank (13) capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port (27a) that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid within the ice-making water tank (13) and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position;
siphon means (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4) having an inlet (31a, 42a, 44a, 49a) communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank (13) and an outlet (31b, 43a, 48a) opening outside the ice-making water tank (13) and capable of discharging liquid in the ice-making water tank (13) by siphon action;
and introducing means (IC1, IC2, IC3) for introducing liquid into the inside of the siphon means (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4),
The inlets (31a, 42a, 44a, 49a) of the siphon means (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4) open at a position lower than the discharge opening (27a) when the ice making water supply parts (12, 13) are in an open position,
The siphon means (SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4) is characterized in that an operating liquid level (L3, L5) at which a siphon action occurs when liquid is introduced by the introduction means (IC1, IC2, IC3) is set higher than a liquid level (L2) of the liquid in the ice-making water tank (13) defined by the outlet (27a) when the ice-making water supply section (12, 13) is in an open position. The introduction means (IC1) is a water supply means (22, 23) for supplying water to the ice-making water tank (13),
5. The ice making machine according to claim 4 , wherein an amount of water discharged per unit time through said discharge port (27a) is smaller than an amount of water supplied per unit time by said water supply means (22, 23). 6. The ice making machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the inlets (42a, 44a, 49a) of the siphon means (SF2, SF3, SF4) are configured to open at the lowest position in the ice making water tank (13) when the ice making water supply sections (12, 13) are in a closed position. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a drain valve (50) provided in the siphon means (SF4) and capable of opening and closing a passage (50c) through which liquid in the siphon means (SF4) flows. An ice making machine including an ice making section (11) defining an ice making chamber (11a) that opens on one side, and an ice making water supply section (12, 13) that can be changed in position between a closed position for closing the ice making chamber (11a) and an open position for opening the ice making chamber (11a) and that has an ice making water tank (13) capable of storing ice making water,
a discharge port (27a) that is provided so as to be able to discharge liquid within the ice-making water tank (13) and that allows a predetermined amount of ice-making water to remain in the ice-making water tank (13) when the ice-making water supply unit (12, 13) is in an open position;
a siphon means ( SF3 ) having an inlet ( 44a ) communicating with the inside of the ice-making water tank (13) and an outlet (43a) opening outside the ice-making water tank (13) and capable of discharging liquid within the ice-making water tank ( 13 ) by siphon action;
and water supply means (46, 47) connected to the siphon means (SF3) for directly supplying water to the inside of the siphon means ( SF3 ),
When the ice- making water supplying section (12, 13) is in a closed position or an open position, water is supplied to the inside of the siphon means (SF3) by the water supplying means (46, 47), so that a siphon action can be generated in the siphon means (SF3).
The ice maker is characterized by:

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