JPH0467102B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an ice making machine, and in particular, the present invention relates to an ice making machine, and in particular, a reversible circulation pump obtains ice making water supply and draining or cleaning operations, and removes ice making water left in a water tank. This invention relates to a new improvement for preventing the concentration of impurities contained in ice from increasing and efficiently draining the remaining water from ice making.

b. Prior Art Various configurations have been adopted and proposed for this type of ice maker that has been used in the past.
Representative ones among them are shown in Figures 6 and 7, although the literature names are not disclosed here.
The configuration shown in the figure can be mentioned.

First, in FIG. 6, the reference numeral 1 indicates an ice-making member that is arranged almost vertically as a whole, and an ice-making surface 1a is formed on one side of the ice-making member 1, and an ice-making surface 1b is formed on the other side. An evaporator 2 for guiding a refrigerant supplied from a refrigeration system (not shown) is arranged in a spiral tube shape.

An ice-making water sprinkler 3 for supplying ice-making water and a de-icing water sprinkler 4 for supplying de-icing water are provided above the ice-making member 1. The ice-making water sprinkling holes 3a are formed to supply ice-making water to the ice-making surface 1a side, and the de-icing water sprinkling holes 4a provided in the de-icing water sprinkler 4 are formed to supply de-icing water to the other surface 1b side. configured to supply.

An ice-making water supply pipe 5 connected to the ice-making water sprinkler 3 is connected to a discharge port 7a of a circulation pump 7 connected to a water tank 6 disposed below the ice-making member 1. The deicing water sprinkler 4 is
A water supply pipe 9 having an electromagnetic valve 8 is connected to an external water supply (not shown). Therefore, the ice-making water supply pipe 5, the ice-making water sprinkler 3, and the circulation pump 7 constitute an ice-making water circulation system A.

Further, between the ice making member 1 and the water tank 6, an ice guide plate 10 having a plurality of water guide holes 10a is installed at an angle, and an overflow pipe 11 is installed at the bottom 6a of the water tank 6. The water level in the water tank 6 is regulated by the upper end position of the overflow pipe 11.

A conventional ice making machine is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.

When refrigerant is supplied into the evaporator 2 by a refrigeration system (not shown), the ice making member 1 is cooled, and at the same time,
When the circulation pump 7 starts operating, the ice-making water in the water tank 6 passes through the ice-making water circulation system A and is circulated and supplied onto the ice-making surface 1a from the ice-making water sprinkling hole 3a, and the ice 12 gradually forms on the ice-making surface 1a. grow up.

When the ice 12 reaches the required thickness and completion of ice making is detected by a timer (not shown), temperature detection, water level detection, etc., the operation of the circulation pump 7 is stopped, and the ice is transferred to the evaporator 2 by the refrigeration system. Hot gas is sent.

At the same time, when the deicing cycle is started, the electromagnetic valve 8 opens, and the water supply pipe 9 and the deicing water sprinkling hole 4a are opened.
Then, deicing water is supplied to the other surface 1b, and due to the synergistic effect of this deicing water and hot gas, the ice 12
The surface in contact with the ice-making surface 1a melts, and the ice 12 falls by its own weight through the ice guide plate 10 into an ice storage (not shown) and is stored therein.

The above-mentioned deicing water flows down along the other surface 1b, passes through the water guide hole 10a of the ice guide plate 10, is stored in the water tank 6, and is kept at the highest water level regulated by the overflow pipe 11. drooping

Further, in the case of another example of the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 7, a branch port 5a is provided at an intermediate position of the ice-making water supply pipe 5, and a connecting pipe 14 connected to this branch port 5a and having a drain electromagnetic valve 13, Overflow pipe 1
1 and is connected to a drain pipe 15 forming a drainage path.

Incidentally, since the other constituent parts are completely the same as the structure shown in FIG. 6, the corresponding same parts are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Another conventional ice making machine is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. The same operations as those explained in FIG. 6 will be omitted, and only the different operations will be explained. During the ice-making cycle, the drain electromagnetic valve 13 is closed, and the ice-making water in the water tank 6 is The circulation pump 7 circulates water between the ice making member 1 and the water tank 6 via the ice making water circulation system A. When the ice making cycle ends and the deicing cycle begins, the drain electromagnetic valve 13 opens and the water in the water tank 6 is circulated. The circulation pump 7 continues to operate for a predetermined period of time until the ice-making residual water is drained through the drain pipe 15.

Next, when the circulation pump 7 stops, the electromagnetic valve 8 opens and water is supplied to the water tank 6 from the external water supply.

c. Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since the conventional ice making machine was configured as described above, there were various problems as described below.

(1) First, in the case of an example of the conventional configuration shown in Fig. 6,
The ice-making residual water that remains at the bottom of the water tank is not drained, so its impurity concentration is extremely high, and as the ice-making and de-icing cycles proceed, the concentration increases, resulting in precipitation of impurities, clogging of watering holes, and incomplete watering. This led to the formation of ice, making normal operation impossible.

(2) In addition, in the case of another example of the conventional configuration shown in Fig. 7, the ice-making residual water is supplied to the ice-making member even during drainage by the circulation pump in the de-icing cycle, which prevents the melting of formed ice and , very water-rich ice is sent into the ice storage, resulting in
This caused a decrease in ice making efficiency and ice storage efficiency.

Furthermore, since drainage is controlled by a drainage electromagnetic valve, condensation occurs due to the passage of low-temperature ice-making residual water, which poses a risk of electrical leakage.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in particular, a reversible circulation pump is used to supply and drain water for ice making, or to perform washing operations, and to remove residual ice water in the water tank. To provide an ice maker which prevents the concentration of impurities from increasing and efficiently drains residual ice water.

d Means for Solving Problems The ice making machine according to the present invention includes an ice making member having an evaporator connected to a refrigeration system, an ice making water sprinkler for supplying ice making water to the ice making member, and an ice making water sprinkler for supplying ice making water to the ice making member. a reversible pump having a first discharge port connected to a water sprinkler; a second discharge port provided in the reversible circulation pump; and a water tank connected to an inlet of the reversible circulation pump. , and a drainage or cleaning pipe connected to the second discharge port.

e Effect In the ice making machine according to the present invention, when the reversible circulation pump is rotated in one direction during the ice making cycle, ice making water is sent from the first discharge port to the ice making member via the ice making water circulation system; Since the discharge port faces in a circumferential direction opposite to that of the first discharge port, the rotation direction of the reversible circulation pump is opposite to that of the first discharge port, and the pump efficiency of the second discharge port is extremely poor, and the head and flow rate are suppressed.

Next, when the de-icing cycle begins and the reversible circulation pump reverses, the first
The pump efficiency of the discharge port decreases and the water supply to the ice making component is stopped, and the efficiency of the second discharge port increases and sufficient water is supplied to the drainage system path or cleaning system path connected to the second discharge port. As a result, the ice-making residual water in the water tank is drained or washed.

Therefore, by simply rotating the reversible circulation pump in the forward or reverse direction, the supply of ice-making water and the draining or cleaning of the water tank can be extremely easily performed.

f. Embodiments Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Note that the same or equivalent parts as in the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

1 to 5 are for showing an ice making machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment. The figure is a perspective view showing a reversible circulation pump, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views of FIG. 3.

First, in FIG. 1, what is indicated by the reference numeral 1 is an ice making member that is disposed almost vertically as a whole, and an ice making surface 1a is formed on one side of the ice making member 1, and an ice making surface 1b is formed on the other side. An evaporator 2 for guiding a refrigerant supplied from a refrigeration system (not shown) is arranged in a spiral tube shape.

An ice-making water sprinkler 3 for supplying ice-making water and a de-icing water sprinkler 4 for supplying de-icing water are provided above the ice-making member 1. The ice-making water sprinkling holes 3a are formed to supply ice-making water to the ice-making surface 1a side, and the de-icing water sprinkling holes 4a provided in the de-icing water sprinkler 4 are formed to supply de-icing water to the other surface 1b side. configured to supply.

An ice-making water supply pipe 5 connected to the ice-making water sprinkler 3 is connected to a first outlet of a two-lift reversible circulation pump 7 connected to a water tank 6 disposed below the ice-making member 1. Connected to exit 7a,
The deicing water sprinkler 4 is connected to an external water supply (not shown), and a water supply pipe 9 having an electromagnetic valve 8 is connected thereto. Therefore, the ice-making water supply pipe 5, the ice-making water sprinkler 3, and the circulation pump 7 constitute an ice-making water circulation system A.

Further, the suction portion 7g of the reversible circulation pump 7 is connected to the water tank 6, and a second discharge port 7b is provided in the circumferential direction opposite to the first discharge port 7a. A pressure valve 17 having an operable valve body 16 is connected to the outlet 7b, and a drain pipe 18 is connected to the discharge port 17a of the pressure valve 17.

The valve body 16 is always urged downward by a spring 19 provided in the pressure valve 17.
An inlet 17b of the pressure valve 17 is kept closed, and a stopper protrusion 20 is formed in the pressure valve 17 to prevent the valve body 16 from operating.

Further, between the ice making member 1 and the water tank 6, an ice guide plate 10 having a plurality of water guide holes 10a is installed at an angle, and an overflow pipe 11 is installed at the bottom 6a of the water tank 6. The water level in the water tank 6 is regulated by the upper end position of the overflow pipe 11.

The reversible circulation pump 7 is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
It is configured as shown in the figure, and is composed of a motor section 7c and a pump section 7d, and the pump section 7d has the above-mentioned first discharge port 7a and second discharge port 7b in mutually opposite circumferential directions. They are arranged at predetermined intervals.

Inside this pump section 7d, a screw 7e is rotatably provided which is rotatably driven by a motor section 7c.
It is integrally supported by a pump shaft 7h.

The ice making machine according to the present invention is configured as described above, and its operation will be explained below.

First, when a power source (not shown) is turned on, a de-icing cycle is started.
Water is supplied into the water tank 6 through the other surface 1b of the ice-making member 1, and overflow water is discharged to the outside from the overflow pipe 11, thereby maintaining the inside of the water tank 6 at the highest water level.

When the ice-making cycle starts after the above-mentioned deicing cycle ends, the electromagnetic valve 8 closes, the reversible circulation pump 7 starts operating in the first rotation direction (for example, forward rotation direction) 7A, and the water tank The ice-making water in 6 is supplied from the ice-making water sprinkling hole 3a onto the ice-making surface 1a through the first outlet 7a, the ice-making water supply pipe 5, and the ice-making water sprinkler 3, and this ice-making surface 1a is connected to a freezing system (not shown). The ice-making water flowing down on the ice-making surface 1a is gradually cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 2.

During this ice-making cycle, the reversible circulation pump 7 continues to operate in the first rotation direction 7A, and the pump efficiency with respect to the second discharge port 7b is significantly reduced, and the water pressure applied to the valve body 16 of the pressure valve 17 is , is smaller than the pressure exerted by the spring 19, and the valve body 16 maintains the inlet 17b in a closed state and blocks water flow to the drain pipe 18.

As the ice making cycle described above progresses, the ice making surface 1a
Ice 12 gradually begins to grow on the top, and the ice-making water that has not turned into ice flows through the water guide hole 10 of the ice guide plate 10.
a and returns to the water tank 6, and the ice-making water circulates through the ice-making water path including the ice-making member 1, the reversible circulation pump 7, the water tank 6, etc. during the ice-making cycle,
As the ice 12 grows, the water level in the water tank 6 gradually decreases.

When ice 12 of the required length grows on the ice-making surface 1a, and completion of ice-making is detected by a timer, temperature sensor, water level detector, etc. (not shown), the ice-making cycle ends and the next ice-making cycle begins. The cycle begins.

Next, when entering the deicing cycle again, the reversible circulation pump 7 stops operating in the first rotational direction 7A and starts operating in the second rotational direction 7B, which is the reverse direction.

The screw 7e of this reversible circulation pump 7
However, when it rotates in the second rotation direction 7B, the pump efficiency of the second discharge port 7b provided in the circumferential forward direction increases, the pressure applied to the valve body 16 of the pressure valve 17 increases, and the pressure of the spring 19 increases. Once the pressure is overcome, the pressure valve 17 is opened, and the remaining ice-making water in the water tank 6 is discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 18 and the overflow pipe 11.

Furthermore, due to the operation of the reversible circulation pump 7 in the second rotation direction 7B, the pump efficiency of the first discharge port 7a is reduced, and the water supply to the ice making surface 1a via the ice making water circulation system A is stopped, and the water removal is stopped. Generated ice 12 generated by water supply to the ice making surface 1a during the ice cycle
This effectively prevents the surface from melting.

Note that switching the rotational direction of the reversible circulation pump 7 described above switches the energization to each winding (not shown) called the main winding and auxiliary winding of the capacitor motor employed in the motor section 7c. This can be achieved very easily.

Further, in the deicing cycle described above, as described above, deicing water is supplied from the deicing water sprinkler 4 to the other surface 1b, and hot gas is sent to the evaporator 2 from the refrigeration system (not shown). As a result, the ice making member 1 is heated, the contact surface of the ice 12 with the ice making surface 1a is melted, and the ice 12 falls due to its own weight.
The ice is guided by the ice guide plate 10 and stored in an ice storage (not shown).

Further, as described above, the deicing water that has flowed down along the other surface 1b of the ice making member 1 is stored in the water tank 6, and overflow water is discharged to the outside from the overflow pipe 11.

Therefore, the generated ice 12 is guided to the ice storage,
When the water tank 6 reaches its highest water level, a timer, temperature detector, etc. (not shown) detects the completion of deicing, and the deicing cycle ends, and the next ice making cycle and deicing cycle are repeated.

Next, in the case of the second embodiment shown in FIG. An ice-making completion float switch 23 is provided in the sub-tank 21 to detect the completion of ice-making.

In addition, since the other parts are the same as the configuration in Figure 1,
The same reference numerals are given, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

In the above configuration, the second
To describe the case where the ice making machine according to the embodiment is operated, in the deicing cycle, the reversible circulation pump 7 is reversed in the second rotation direction 7B, and the ice making water in the water tank 6 is supplied to the second outlet 7b and the pressure valve 17
When the water is supplied to the drain pipe 18 through the overflow pipe 11, water is drained from the overflow pipe 11, and is also supplied into the sub-tank 21 through the branch port 18a and the cleaning pipe 22, and water flows from the sub-tank 21 into the water tank 6.

By the above-mentioned operation, the water in the sub-tank 21 where ice-making residual water accumulates and impurities tend to precipitate is replaced, the precipitated impurities are washed away, and the ice-making completion float switch 23 disposed in the sub-tank 21 is cleaned. , it is possible to obtain a normal de-icing cycle and ice-making cycle without causing malfunctions due to sediments.

Incidentally, in the above-described operation description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted to avoid duplication.

Further, the configuration of each part described above is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the same effects can be obtained even if the shape is slightly changed. Furthermore, although the pressure valve 17 has been described only in the case where it is provided at the second discharge port 7b, the same effect can be achieved also when it is provided at the second discharge port 7b and the first discharge port 7a.

g Effects of the Invention Since the ice making machine according to the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, it can obtain various effects as described below.

(1) Ice-making water in the water tank can be supplied to the ice-making components simply by changing the rotation direction of the reversible circulation pump, and the remaining ice-making water can be automatically removed at every de-icing cycle. It is possible to drain water, prevent an increase in the concentration of impurities contained in ice-making residual water, and prevent impurities from adhering to the water circuit.

Therefore, it is possible to completely prevent the normal operation of the ice maker from being inhibited due to a decrease in ice making capacity, clogging of the water spray holes, etc., and extremely highly efficient ice making operation can be performed.

(2) After the ice making cycle and during the deicing cycle,
Since the supply of water to the ice-making surface, which is carried by the circulation pump, is stopped, it is possible to completely prevent the surface of the formed ice from melting, which is caused by the supply of water to the ice-making surface during the de-icing cycle.

(3) Furthermore, since the rotational direction of the reversible circulation pump is switched by extremely simple electrical switching, the water supply route can be easily switched, and a water supply route switching configuration can be obtained at a very low cost. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 are for showing the ice making machine according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing the second embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a reversible circulation pump;
4 and 5 are sectional views showing the pump section of FIG. 3, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing the conventional structure. 1 is an ice making member, 2 is an evaporator, 3 is an ice making water sprinkler, 4 is a deicing water sprinkler, 6 is a water tank, 7 is a reversible circulation pump, 7a is a first discharge port, 7b is a second
7g is a suction port, 7h is a pump shaft, 17 is a pressure valve, 18 is a drain pipe, and 22 is a cleaning pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ice-making member 1 having an evaporator 2 connected to a refrigeration system, an ice-making water sprinkler 3 for supplying ice-making water to the ice-making member 1, and the ice-making water sprinkler 3.
A reversible circulation pump 7 having a first discharge port 7a connected to the reversible circulation pump 7, a second discharge port 7b provided in the reversible circulation pump 7, and a suction port 7g of the reversible circulation pump 7 connected to the reversible circulation pump 7. The reversible circulation pump 7 is provided with a water tank 6 and a drainage or cleaning pipe (18 or 22) connected to the second discharge port 7b. An ice making machine characterized in that the tank 6 can be drained or washed. 2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein the reversible circulation pump 7 is configured to have two lifts. 3. The first discharge port 7a and the second discharge port 7b are
The ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ice making machine is provided facing in a circumferential direction opposite to the pump shaft 7h. 4. Ice making according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a pressure valve 17 is provided in one or both of the first discharge port 7a and the second discharge port 7b. Machine. 5. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second discharge port 7b is connected to a drain pipe 18 of the water tank 6. 6. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second discharge port 7b is connected to the cleaning pipe 22 of the sub tank 21 of the ice tank 6. 7. According to any one of claims 1 to 6, the ice making member 1 is supplied with deicing water from a deicing water sprinkler 4 connected to an external water supply. ice maker.