JPH0255699B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a. Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an automatic ice maker, and particularly to an automatic ice maker in which a water storage section is divided into a first water storage section and a second water storage section.

b. Prior Art Conventionally, the present applicant has proposed a first water storage section that supplies ice-making water to an ice-making section where ice is produced and stores the unfrozen ice-making water again, and a system that combines this first water storage section with a liquid. a second water storage part that communicates with the first water storage part and replenishes ice-making water in the first water storage part when the ice-making water in the first water storage part is supplied to the ice-making part; and a partition part above the second water storage part. An application has already been filed for an automatic ice making machine equipped with an ice storage section that is formed through the ice making section and stores the ice produced in the ice making section (Japanese Patent Application No. 59-231169). In the case of this product, during the ice-making cycle, the ice-making water is circulated between the first water storage section, which has a small amount of water storage, and the ice-making section, and the ice-making water is cooled and frozen in a short time, improving ice-making capacity. It had

By the way, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional automatic ice making machine, the ice-melting water in the water storage section flows down to the second water storage section through the hole formed in the partition plate. Since the amount of this ice-melting water was small compared to the amount of ice-making water in the second water storage section, it was not possible to significantly lower the temperature of the ice-making water in the second water storage section. Then, the ice-melting water lowers the temperature of the ice-making water in the second water storage part little by little, and the ice-making water is maintained at a constant temperature that reaches equilibrium with the heat of the outside air. In this way, the ice-melting water near the freezing temperature is not immediately used for ice-making, and is only used to slightly lower the ice-making water in the second water storage section.

c. Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, conventional automatic ice making machines have a problem in that ice-melting water near the freezing temperature is not effectively utilized.

d Means for Solving the Problems In the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the bottom of the ice storage section 17 is formed by a partition plate that partitions the ice storage section 17 and the second water storage section 18b, and the partition plate is configured to separate the ice storage section 17 from the second water storage section 18b. 18a
The water guide section 3 is inclined toward the direction and provided at the lower end of the slope
The melted ice water in the ice storage section 17 is guided through the ice storage section 8 into the first water storage section 18a.

e Function In this invention, as the ice making cycle and the deicing cycle are repeated, ice is accumulated in the ice storage section 17, and the stored ice is melted by heat from the surroundings. This melting water is poured into the bottom 3
4 and collects in the first water storage section 18a. This ice-melting water, which is close to the freezing temperature, is immediately sent to the ice-making section 15 and used for ice-making.

f Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which an outer box 11 houses an inner box 13 around which a heat insulating material 12 is provided, and a compressor, condenser, etc. (not shown). The refrigerator compartment 14 is divided into two parts. Inside the inner box 13, there is an ice-making water tank 16 in which an ice-making unit 15 that generates ice is housed, an ice storage unit 17 that stores ice generated in the ice-making unit 15,
It is formed below this ice storage section 17 and is defined by a water storage section 18 that stores ice-making water.

The ice-making water tank 16 has a flange 16a that is connected to the outer box 1.
1 with bolts 19, and is installed in the inner box 13. Ice making water tank 1
A fixing plate 20 having an L-shaped cross section and a fixing plate 21 having a square cross-section, which fix the ice making section 15, are fixed to the side wall of 6. An outer edge 22a of a heat insulating plate 22 is fixed to the fixing plates 20 and 21. Heat insulation board 2
The inner edge 22b of 2 is clamped between the flange 23a of the ice making chamber 23 constituting the ice making section 15 and the flange 24a of the cutting frame 24 that reliably cuts the ice cubes. The ice making chamber 23 is a small ice making chamber 2 defined in a square shape.
5, and an evaporation pipe 26, which together with the ice making chamber 23 constitutes the ice making section 15, is attached to the upper part of the ice making chamber 23. A refrigerant flows into the evaporation pipe 26, and this refrigerant cools and freezes the ice-making water fountained and supplied into the ice-making chamber 25. A cut frame 24 located directly below the ice making chamber 23 is defined by a partition plate 27 in the form of a square, and a hot gas pipe 28 is attached to the peripheral wall of the cut frame 24. A hot gas refrigerant flows into the hot gas pipe 28, and this hot gas refrigerant reliably separates the ice cubes produced in the ice making chamber 25.

Immediately below the ice making section 15, one end is an ice making water tank 1.
An ice guide plate 29 is provided which is fixed to the side wall of the ice making water tank 6 and whose other end is fixed to the bottom wall of the ice making water tank 16. On the upper surface of this ice guide plate 29, an ice making compartment 25 is provided.
The ice produced falls and is discharged from the ice outlet hole 30 formed in the ice-making water tank 16 to the ice storage section 17. A plurality of holes 31 are formed in the ice guide plate 29. A fountain pipe 32 is arranged below the ice guide plate 29.
The position of the fountain hole 33 formed in the hole 31 is opposite to the hole 31.

At the lower part of the inner box 13, a bottom part 34 of the ice storage section 17, which is made up of a partition plate shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is removably provided. An ice storage section 17 is formed above the bottom 34, and a water storage section 18 is formed below. The bottom part 34 is the ice outlet hole 3
An ice storage section 17 that can receive ice discharged from the ice storage section 17
ice is stored in The bottom portion 34 has a U-shaped cross section, and includes a flat portion 34a and leg portions 34b, 34.
c, 34d, and 34e. When comparing the sizes of the legs 34b, 34c, 34d, and 34e using the symbols shown in the figure, A>B>
The inclined state of the plane portion 34a formed in this way, where C>D, is the door 4 for taking out the ice.
It is elevated on the 5th side.

The portion surrounded by the leg portion 34e having an L-shaped cross section is the first portion.
The water storage portion 18a is formed, and the leg portions 34b, 34c,
The portion surrounded by 34d forms the second water storage portion 18b. The amount of ice-making water necessary for one ice-making cycle is stored in the first water storage section 18a. This ice-making water is supplied as a fountain to the ice-making chamber 25, and the ice-making water that has not frozen there is returned to the first water storage section 18a through the return pipe 36. The first water storage portion 18a is in fluid communication with the second water storage portion 18b via a communication hole 40 formed in the leg portion 34e. Through this communication hole 40, the second
The ice-making water in the water storage section 18b is stored in the first water storage section 18.
It is replenished within a. Further, the first water storage section 18a is filled with melted ice water from the ice in the ice storage section 17 that is stored in the flat surface section 3.
It flows down along 4a and is inflowed.

Above the first water storage portion 18a, a shrouding plate 37 having an L-shaped cross section surrounds the return pipe 36.
It is fixed to the inner box 13. A water guide portion 38 having a gap is formed between the lower end of the shroud plate 37 and the plane portion 34a, and the ice-melting water flows into the first water storage portion 18a through the water guide portion 38.

An outlet pipe 42 is led out into the refrigerator compartment 14 from the bottom of the first water storage section 18a. This outlet pipe 42 is connected to the fountain pipe 32 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In the middle of the outlet pipe 42,
The refrigerator compartment 14 is provided with a liquid feed pump 43 in which a rotary pressure booster and a motor are integrated, and this liquid feed pump 43 allows the ice-making water in the first water storage portion 18a to be transferred from the fountain pipe 32 to the ice-making small chamber. Fountain on 25th
Supplied.

A drain valve 51 is attached to the end of the water level detection pipe 50 branched from the outlet pipe 42. A pressure tank 5 is located in the middle of the water level detection piping 50.
2 is provided. This pressure tank 52 has
Due to pressure fluctuations in the pressure tank 52, the water storage section 18
A water level detection device 53 is connected to detect the amount of ice-making water inside. The compressor is operated and stopped in response to a signal emitted from the water level detection device, thereby controlling the operation of the automatic ice maker.
Note that the reference numeral 44 in FIG. 1 is a curtain for preventing ice-making water from scattering.

Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker having the above configuration will be explained. First, water is supplied into the water storage section 18 such that the amount of water stored in the first water storage section 18a becomes an amount suitable for one ice making cycle. Then turn on the power and
When the compressor in the refrigerator compartment 14 is operated and ice-making operation is started, the ice-making compartment 23 is cooled by the cooling action of the refrigerant passing through the evaporation pipe 26.

Simultaneously with the start of the ice-making operation, the liquid sending pump 43 is also activated, and the ice-making water in the first water storage section 18a flows upward from the fountain hole 33 of the fountain pipe 32 through the outlet pipe 42 and into each ice-making chamber 25. Supplied.
This ice-making water is cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the evaporation pipe 26, then flows down through the surface of the ice guide plate 29, and passes from the bottom of the ice-making water tank 16 through the return pipe 36 to the first water storage section. 18a. The water for ice making is supplied to the first water storage section 18a.
Then, the liquid is sent to the ice making chamber 25 again by the action of the liquid feeding pump 43.

In this way, the first water storage section 18a and the ice making compartment 25
As the ice-making water circulates between the ice-making water and the ice-making water, the temperature of the ice-making water gradually decreases, and when the temperature reaches nearly 0° C., a portion of the ice-making water that has been fountained and supplied into the ice-making chamber 25 begins to freeze.

Furthermore, as the supply of ice-making water to the ice-making compartment 25 continues, the ice in the ice-making compartment 25 further grows, and just before ice-making is completed, the ice in the adjacent ice-making compartment 25
The pieces of ice within 5 are connected to each other and reach the cutting frame 24. As a result, the temperature of the cutting frame 24 drops rapidly, and the detection unit (not shown) that detects this temperature issues a signal indicating the completion of ice making, the supply of ice making water to the ice making chamber 23 is stopped, and the ice making cycle begins. ends. Subsequently, a hot gas valve (not shown) opens and hot gas flows into the hot gas pipe 28.
and the evaporator pipe 26 to enter the de-icing cycle.

When the deicing cycle begins, the ice making compartment 23 is gradually heated by the high temperature gas and the temperature rises, causing the ice making compartment 23 to rise.
The ice in the cut frame 24 melts at its contact surface and gradually starts to fall under its own weight, and the connected ice is melted and cut by the partition plate 27 of the cut frame 24 heated by the heat from the hot gas pipe 28. This produces well-shaped, transparent ice cubes with low air content and good quality. This ice cube slides down along the ice guide plate 29 and falls into the ice storage section 17 from the ice outlet hole 30. The fallen ice cubes are stored at the bottom 34 of the first water storage section 1.
8a, it slides on the flat surface 34a and stops against the shroud 37, where it is stored. When the ice in the ice making compartment 23 has finished falling,
Since the temperature of the ice making chamber 23 rises rapidly, the detection section detects the temperature and closes the hot gas valve, and the liquid feeding pump 43 is operated again to enter the ice making cycle.

Ice cubes are manufactured as described above, the internal volume ratio of the first water storage section 18a and the second water storage section 18b is determined by the bottom section 34, and the first water storage section 18
The amount of ice making water in a is the amount required for one ice making cycle. Since this ice-making water circulates between the first water storage section 18a and the ice-making chamber 23, the ice-making water is cooled to about 0° C. in a short time.
In addition, the amount of water in the first water storage section 18a decreases with the amount of ice made, but the shortage is compensated for by the communication hole 40.
It is replenished by the ice-making water from the second water storage section 18b that enters through the water storage section 18b.

As the ice making cycle and deicing cycle described above are repeated, ice cubes are accumulated in the ice storage section 17, but the stored ice cubes are melted by heat from the surroundings. This ice-melting water flows down toward the first water storage section 18a along the upper surface of the flat section 34a, and flows directly into the first water storage section 18a from the water guide section 38. Then, this melted ice water close to the freezing temperature is immediately transferred to the ice making chamber 2 by the action of the liquid feed pump 43.
The ice is then sent to the factory and used to make ice.

Further, when the ice in contact with the bottom part 34 and the shroud plate 37 melts, the entire stored ice moves to the back side of the door 45 along the inclined plane part 34a of the bottom part 34. Therefore, on the door 45 side, there is a relatively new
Well-shaped ice cubes are stored, and when the consumer opens the door 45 to take out the ice cubes, he or she can take out the unmelted, well-shaped ice cubes and use them.

As the ice making cycle and deicing cycle progress, water storage section 1
Most of the water for ice making in 8 becomes ice, and the water storage part 18
When the water for ice making becomes low, the compressor is stopped by a signal from the water level detection device 53. Even when the ice maker is stopped, the ice stored in the ice storage section 17 melts, but this ice-melting water flows from the water guide section 38 to the first
The water flows into the second water storage section 18a, and further flows into the second water storage section 18b from the communication hole 40. When the amount of melted ice water in the water storage section 18 exceeds a certain level, the compressor is activated by a signal from the water level detection device 53, the operation of the automatic ice maker is restarted, and the ice making cycle is started again. The ice-making water at this time is ice-melting water and is cold from the beginning, so the ice-making cycle is completed in a shorter time than a normal ice-making cycle.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the injection type automatic ice maker of the above embodiment, but each ice making chamber is formed into a cup shape by a separate member, and the ice making chamber is placed in an ice tray with its opening facing down. It can also be applied to a so-called open cell type automatic injection ice maker, a drip type automatic ice maker in which ice making water flows down and freezes on the surface of a plate-shaped ice plate. Further, the water storage section 18 does not have to be integrated with the downward direction of the water storage section 17, and may be provided at a separate location as a water storage section. In this case, as in the previous embodiment, the water storage section is divided into a first water storage section and a second water storage section, and the melted ice water in the ice storage section is guided to the first water storage section to which the circulation pump is connected. do it.

g. Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, the water guide part 38 is provided in the bottom part 34 of the ice storage part 17 to guide the melting water of the ice in the ice storage part 17 into the first water storage part 18a. By providing this, ice-melting water close to the freezing temperature is immediately sent to the ice-making section 15 and used for ice-making, thereby shortening the ice-making cycle and improving ice-making ability. In addition, the fact that melted ice water is used for ice making at a state close to the freezing temperature has the effect of helping to reduce the refrigeration load.

Further, the partition plate is inclined toward the first water storage section 18a, and the melted ice water in the ice storage section 17 flows through the water guide section 38 provided at the lower end of the slope to the first water storage section 18a.
Since the ice-melting water is guided inward, the ice-melting water does not stay in the ice-storing part 17, and the ice-melting water does not melt the ice in the ice-storing part 17 and deform the ice. In addition, the melting water is cooled in the atmosphere inside the ice storage section 17 and re-frozen, and the formation of bridges between ice cubes does not occur.

Furthermore, when the door 45 is provided on the opposite side to the first water storage section 18a as in the above embodiment, the door 45
Since new ice is stored on the 5 side, when the door 45 is opened to take out ice, new, well-shaped ice can be taken out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom and the shroud shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom shown in FIG. 1. 15...Ice making section, 17...Ice storage section, 18a...
First water storage section, 18b...Second water storage section, 34...
...Bottom, 38...Water conduction section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first water storage section 18a that supplies ice-making water to the ice-making section 15 where ice is generated, and in which unfrozen ice-making water is stored again; a second water storage section 18 that is communicated with and replenishes ice-making water in the first water storage section 18a when the ice-making water in the first water storage section 18a is supplied to the ice-making section 15;
b, and an ice storage section 17 for storing ice produced in the ice making section 15,
The bottom part 34 of the ice storage section 17 is connected to the ice storage section 17 and the second
It is formed by a partition plate that partitions the water storage part 18b of
The partition plate is inclined toward the first water storage section 18a,
An automatic ice making machine characterized in that melting water of ice in the ice storage section 17 is guided into the first water storage section 18a through a water guide section 38 provided at the lower end of the slope. 2. The automatic ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the door 45 for taking out the ice stored in the ice storage section 17 is provided on the opposite side from the first water storage section 18a.