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Operation method for automatic ice maker

an automatic ice maker and operation method technology, applied in the field of automatic ice maker operation, can solve the problems of reducing shortening increasing the time needed for deicing operation, so as to shorten the deicing time and improve the ice making efficiency

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-09-11
HOSHIZAKI ELECTRIC CO LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome the inherent problem of the conventional operation method for an automatic ice maker, and provide an operation method for an automatic ice maker capable of surely removing ice cubes from an ice-making unit to prevent double ice, and shortening the deicing time to improve the ice making efficiency.

Problems solved by technology

In this case, new ice cubes are produced on ice cubes remaining at the ice-making unit, undesirably forming deformed ice cubes called “double ice cubes”.
It is however pointed out that in this case, the deicing time becomes longer, thus lowering the ice making efficiency.
In this case, however, it is pointed out that the time needed for the deicing operation becomes longer, lowering the ice making performance per day becomes and thus increasing the amount of deicing water consumed.

Method used

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  • Operation method for automatic ice maker
  • Operation method for automatic ice maker
  • Operation method for automatic ice maker

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

Operation of First Embodiment

[0054]An operation method for the automatic ice maker according to the first embodiment will be described below referring to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the automatic ice maker starts the ice-making operation, the ice-making unit 10 exchanges heat with the refrigerant circulating in the evaporator 14 to be forcibly cooled. The ice-making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice-making unit 10 from the ice-making water tank 20 by the circulation pump PM, and gradually starts being frozen on the ice making surface. The ice-making water which has not being frozen is collected into the ice-making water tank 20 via the through holes of the guide plate 18, and is supplied again to the ice-making unit 10 by the circulation pump PM. When completely producing ice cubes M on the ice making surface of the ice-making unit 10, the automatic ice maker stops the ice-making operation and shifts to the deicing operation. At this time, the compre...

second embodiment

[0068]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for an automatic ice maker according to the second embodiment. Solid lines (1), (2) and (3) in FIG. 5 connect to solid lines (1), (2) and (3) in FIG. 3, respectively. The first half part of the deicing operation of the second embodiment is similar to the first half part of the deicing operation of the first embodiment explained referring to FIG. 3. That is, the fundamental portion of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, so that only different portions will be described.

[0069]The automatic ice maker of the second embodiment supplies ice-making water to the ice-making unit 10 by driving the circulation pump PM after the first set time elapses since detection by the temperature detecting unit TH that the temperature of the evaporator 14 has reached the set temperature T1. At the same time, the water supply valve WV is closed to stop supplying the deicing water from the deicing water sprinkler 28. ...

third embodiment

[0072]FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of an automatic ice maker according to the third embodiment. A controller C2 of the third embodiment has a water supply valve counter WS added to the controller C described in the foregoing description of the first embodiment. The water supply valve counter WS manages the timing for stopping supplying the deicing water after the temperature detecting unit TH detects the set temperature T1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for the automatic ice maker according to the third embodiment. Solid lines (1), (2) and (3) in FIG. 7 connect to solid lines (1), (2) and (3) in FIG. 3, respectively. The first half part of the deicing operation of the third embodiment is similar to the first half part of the deicing operation of the first embodiment explained referring to FIG. 3. That is, the fundamental portion of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, so that only different portions will be described.

[0073]Th...

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PUM

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Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic ice maker which surely removes ice cubes from an ice-making unit and improves an ice-making efficiency. When the automatic ice maker starts a deicing operation, a hot gas is supplied to an evaporator and deicing water is supplied to the ice-making unit from a deicing water sprinkler to turn the frozen state at the frozen surfaces between the ice-making unit and ice cubes to a liquefaction state. When the deicing operation makes some progression and a temperature detecting unit detects that the temperature of the evaporator has reached a set temperature, a circulation pump is driven after elapse of the first set temperature to supply ice-making water to the ice-making unit from an ice-making sprinkler, promoting further separation of the ice cubes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an operation method for an automatic ice maker.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]An automatic ice maker that automatically makes a lot of ice cubes has an ice-making unit provided with an evaporator which sticks out of a refrigeration apparatus having a compressor, a condenser and the like. The automatic ice maker produces ice cubes by supplying ice-making water to the ice-making unit forcibly cooled by a refrigerant circulating in the evaporator, and separates and collects the produced ice cubes from the ice-making unit. The automatic ice maker has an ice-making water tank provided below the ice-making unit to store a needed amount of ice-making water. The ice-making water is supplied to the ice making surface of the ice-making unit by pumping the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank by a circulation pump at the time of performing an ice-making operation. The ice-mak...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F25C1/00
CPCF25C1/12F25C2600/04F25C2400/14F25C5/10
Inventor WAKATSUKI, YUJINOMURA, TOMOHITOSUGIE, HIROYUKIMIZUTANI, YASUKIMATSUO, KAZUNORI
Owner HOSHIZAKI ELECTRIC CO LTD