Liquid storage tank and ice maker including the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid storage tank capable of reliably preventing liquid from flowing out into a liquid container located below due to a siphon phenomenon, and an ice maker including the liquid storage tank. A liquid storage tank (50) and an ice maker (2) including the liquid storage tank (50) are provided. The liquid storage tank (50) is connected to the liquid container (2) located below via a flow path (9), and comprises a main tank (56) for storing liquid, a first valve (70) located below the main tank (56), and an auxiliary tank (58) located below the first valve (70) and connected to a flow path (90). By opening and closing the first valve (70), the amount of liquid to be supplied to the liquid container (20) is supplied from the main tank (56) to the auxiliary tank (58).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid storage tank for storing liquid supplied to a liquid container and an ice making machine including the liquid storage tank. Background Art

[0002] Ice-making machines that freeze liquid to produce ice are widely used. Among these ice-making machines, one proposed includes an easily detachable water supply tank, an ice tray located below the water supply tank, and a pump that directs water from the water supply tank to the ice tray. (For example, see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-77371) Summary of the Invention

[0003] Problems to be solved by the present invention

[0004] The ice maker described in Patent Document 1 reverses the pump's rotation to prevent water from siphoning from the water supply tank into the ice tray below. However, to produce transparent ice, flowing water must contact a cooled rod-shaped component to form impurity-free ice crystals. Therefore, the liquid container is connected to the water supply tank, and the remaining water, which may contain a large amount of impurities, must eventually be sucked out of the liquid container. Therefore, the pump cannot be reversed to prevent siphoning during the ice-making process.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a liquid storage tank that can reliably prevent liquid from siphoning out into a liquid container located below, and an ice maker including the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage tank that can ultimately discard residual liquid that may contain a large amount of impurities, and an ice maker including the same.

[0006] Solutions for solving problems

[0007] The liquid storage tank of the present invention is connected to a liquid container disposed below via a flow path, and is characterized by comprising:

[0008] a main body tank, which stores liquid;

[0009] a first valve disposed at a lower portion of the main body box;

[0010] an auxiliary tank, which is arranged on the lower side of the first valve and connected to the flow path;

[0011] The amount of liquid supplied to the liquid container is supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank by opening and closing the first valve.

[0012] According to the present invention, the main tank storing liquid is not directly connected to the liquid container. Instead, the liquid to be supplied to the liquid container is supplied from the main tank to a sub-tank connected to the liquid container via a flow path. Consequently, after the liquid is supplied from the sub-tank to the liquid container, no liquid remains in the sub-tank that could have flowed into the liquid container due to siphoning.

[0013] Therefore, it is possible to provide a liquid storage tank that can reliably prevent liquid from flowing into a liquid container located below due to a siphon phenomenon.

[0014] In addition, the liquid storage tank of the present invention is characterized in that:

[0015] It also includes a second valve, which is arranged at the lower part of the auxiliary tank and connected to the drainage part at the lower side.

[0016] The liquid supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank is supplied from the auxiliary tank to the liquid container via the flow path, and then finally returns to the auxiliary tank from the liquid container via the flow path. By opening the second valve, the liquid returned to the auxiliary tank, which may contain a large amount of impurities, is discharged to the drain portion.

[0017] According to the present invention, liquid supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank can be supplied from the auxiliary tank to the liquid container. After the liquid, which may contain a large amount of impurities, is finally returned from the liquid container to the auxiliary tank, it can be discharged through the second valve. This allows the liquid, which may contain a large amount of impurities, to be discharged from the liquid container. Therefore, in the next step, the liquid container can be filled with the liquid from the main tank, which contains fewer impurities.

[0018] In addition, the liquid storage tank of the present invention is characterized in that:

[0019] The system further comprises a rack extending in the transverse direction and having a convex portion on the upper portion, wherein the convex portion pushes up the movable portions of the first valve and the second valve to change the movable portions from the closed state to the open state.

[0020] By lateral movement of the rack, the following states are switched:

[0021] A state in which the protrusion is not located below the first valve and the second valve and the first valve and the second valve are closed;

[0022] A state in which the convex portion is located on a lower side of the first valve and the first valve is open and the second valve is closed;

[0023] The convex portion is located on the lower side of the second valve, and the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened.

[0024] According to the present invention, simply by moving the rack equipped with the protrusion, it is possible to easily and reliably establish a state in which the first and second valves are closed, a state in which the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and a state in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is open. Therefore, simply by controlling the movement of the rack, the first and second valves can be reliably opened and closed.

[0025] In addition, the liquid storage tank of the present invention is characterized in that:

[0026] Also includes a sensor for detecting the liquid level in the main body box,

[0027] The amount of liquid supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank via the first valve is calculated based on the change in the liquid level detected by the sensor.

[0028] According to the present invention, the amount of liquid supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank can be accurately detected based on changes in the liquid level detected by the sensor, and thus the amount of liquid supplied to the liquid container can be reliably supplied.

[0029] In addition, the ice making machine of the present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0030] the liquid storage tank;

[0031] the liquid container;

[0032] The flow path;

[0033] A rod-shaped component to be cooled;

[0034] a liquid supply / drainage pump disposed on the path of the flow path; and

[0035] a control unit that controls the first valve, the second valve, and the liquid supply / drainage pump;

[0036] Under the control of the control unit, the following steps are implemented:

[0037] an auxiliary tank liquid supply step, in which the amount of liquid required for one ice-making process is supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank by controlling the first valve in an open state and returning it to a closed state;

[0038] a liquid container supplying step, in which the liquid in the auxiliary tank is supplied to the liquid container by controlling the liquid supply / drainage pump to operate on the liquid supply side;

[0039] an intermittent ice-making step in which a predetermined area of the rod-shaped member from the top end is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container and a predetermined area is not immersed in the liquid is repeatedly formed;

[0040] a liquid container draining step, in which the liquid in the liquid container is returned to the auxiliary tank by controlling the supply / drainage pump to operate on the draining side;

[0041] An auxiliary tank draining step is performed in which the liquid returned from the liquid tank in the auxiliary tank is drained to a drain portion by controlling the second valve in an open / closed state.

[0042] According to the present invention, after the liquid container supply step, which supplies the entire amount of liquid required for one ice-making cycle from the auxiliary tank to the liquid container, an intermittent ice-making step is performed, in which a predetermined region of the rod-shaped member is repeatedly immersed in and not immersed in the liquid in the liquid container. This prevents liquid from the liquid storage tank from flowing into the liquid container due to siphoning, thereby enabling the production of transparent ice. Furthermore, after the intermittent ice-making step, an auxiliary tank drain step is performed to drain liquid containing impurities that has returned to the auxiliary tank, thereby enabling ice-making to always be made using fresh liquid from the main tank.

[0043] As described above, the present invention provides a liquid storage tank that can reliably prevent liquid from siphoning into a liquid container located below, and an ice maker including the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage tank that can ultimately discard residual liquid that may contain a large amount of impurities, and an ice maker including the same. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1A The figure schematically shows the ice-making process of the ice-making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a liquid container in an ice-making position.

[0045] Figure 1B The figure schematically shows the ice-making process of the ice-making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a state where the liquid container is located in a non-ice-making position.

[0046] Figure 1C The figure schematically shows the ice making process of the ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a state where the liquid container is in the retracted position.

[0047] Figure 2A This is a diagram schematically showing an ice maker including a typical liquid storage tank consisting of only one chamber.

[0048] Figure 2B This is a diagram schematically showing an ice maker including a liquid storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 3A This is a diagram schematically showing a liquid storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a state in which the first valve is open.

[0050] Figure 3B This is a diagram schematically showing a liquid storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a state in which the second valve is open.

[0051] Figure 4A This is a diagram showing a state in which a detachable portion including a main tank and an auxiliary tank is being mounted on a fixed portion in a reservoir tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 4B This is a diagram showing a state in which a detachable portion including a main tank and an auxiliary tank is attached to a fixed portion in a reservoir tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing an example of a control structure of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 6 This is a flowchart showing an example of a control process of the ice maker according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the liquid storage tank and ice maker described below are devices for concretizing the technical ideas of the present invention, and unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to the following devices. In the various drawings, components with the same functions are sometimes marked with the same reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, the size and positional relationship of the components shown in the various drawings are sometimes exaggerated. In the following descriptions and drawings, it is assumed that the liquid storage tank and ice maker are set on a horizontal plane, and the up and down directions are shown. The liquid levels in the liquid storage tank and the liquid container shown in the drawings are oriented horizontally in the drawings.

[0056] (Ice Maker According to One Embodiment)

[0057] Figures 1A to 1C Schematically shows an ice making process of an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1A Shows the liquid container in the ice making position. Figure 1B The liquid container is shown in the non-ice making position. Figure 1C The liquid container is shown in the retracted position.

[0058] First, refer to Figures 1A to 1C An outline of the ice making machine 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0059] The ice maker 2 of this embodiment includes a cooling unit 10 capable of freezing liquid to form ice; a liquid container 20 capable of storing liquid; a moving mechanism 22 for rotating the liquid container 20; a liquid storage tank 50 storing liquid; and a flow path 90 having a supply / drain pump 92 for supplying liquid from the liquid storage tank 50 to the liquid container 20 and returning the liquid from the liquid container 20 to the liquid storage tank 50. The liquid storage tank 50 is located above the liquid container 20.

[0060] The ice maker 2 of this embodiment is set in the refrigerator box, for example, and supplies cold air generated by the refrigerator's cooling system. The ice maker 2 also includes a control unit 100 (see FIG. 1 ) that controls the components of the ice maker 2. Figure 5 ). The liquid used for freezing to generate ice can be any liquid represented by drinking water.

[0061] <Cooling Section>

[0062] The cooling unit 10 comprises, from top to bottom, cooling fins 12, a metal plate 14, and rod-shaped members 16. The cooling unit 10 has a structure in which a plurality of cooling fins 12 are vertically mounted on the metal plate 14, and the plurality of cooling fins 12 are arranged substantially parallel to each other at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, a plurality of rod-shaped members 16 are attached to the lower surface of the plate-shaped metal plate 14.

[0063] Cold air generated by the refrigerator's cooling system flows between the cooling fins 12 of the cooling unit 10, cooling the cooling unit 10. The cooling fins 12 cool the metal plate 14 through heat conduction, thereby cooling the rod-shaped members 16 mounted on the metal plate 14 to a temperature below freezing. The cooling fins 12, metal plate 14, and rod-shaped members 16 that comprise the cooling unit 10 are all formed from a metal with a high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper. The cooling fins 12 are thin plate-shaped members having a generally rectangular planar shape. The metal plate 14 is a plate-shaped member having a generally rectangular planar shape. Multiple rod-shaped members 16 are mounted on the lower surface of the metal plate 14, extending downward from the base end to the tip end.

[0064] <Liquid Container>

[0065] The liquid container 20 is formed of, for example, an elastic resin material. The liquid container 20 has a liquid storage area R surrounded by a bottom portion and a side wall portion erected from the bottom portion. The top of the liquid storage area R is open. The liquid container 20 is rotated by the moving mechanism 22 and can be placed in a Figure 1A Ice making position shown, Figure 1B Non-ice position shown and Figure 1C The setback position shown.

[0066] When performing the ice making process, first, a liquid container supply step is performed in which the liquid in the liquid storage tank 50 is supplied to the liquid container 20 by the liquid supply / drainage pump 92. Figure 1A When the liquid container 20 is in the ice making position, the rod-shaped member 16 of the cooling unit 10 is inserted into the liquid storage area R through the upper opening of the liquid container 20. As a result, a predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16 from the top end is immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20. As a result, ice is formed around the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16. After a predetermined ice making time has passed, the moving mechanism 22 is driven to move the liquid container 20 to the ice making position. Figure 1B As a result, the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16 is exposed from the liquid in the liquid container 20 (not immersed). Then, the moving mechanism 22 is driven again to return the liquid container 20 to the non-ice making position. Figure 1A Ice making position shown.

[0067] By repeatedly performing the intermittent ice-making step of controlling the movement of the liquid container 20 between the ice-making position and the non-ice-making position, ice is formed while impurities are squeezed out from the inside by direct cooling of the rod-shaped member 16. This makes it possible to produce transparent ice free of impurities.

[0068] When a series of intermittent ice making steps are completed, a liquid container draining step is performed in which the liquid in the liquid container 20 is returned to the liquid storage tank 50 by the liquid supply / drain pump 92. Then, the moving mechanism 22 is driven to make the liquid container 20 return to the liquid storage tank 50. Figure 1C The liquid container 20 shown has moved to a retracted position. In this retracted position, there is no liquid container below the rod-shaped member 16. In this retracted position, the ice-removing heater 18 located within the rod-shaped member 16 is operated. This melts the portion of ice that has come into contact with the rod-shaped member 16, causing the ice to fall from the rod-shaped member 16. This ice-removing process allows the ice to be stored in the ice storage container located below the rod-shaped member 16. This completes one ice-making process.

[0069] (liquid storage tank)

[0070] Figure 2A This is a diagram schematically showing an ice maker 2 ′ including a normal liquid storage tank TA consisting of only one chamber. Figure 2B 1 is a diagram schematically showing an ice maker 2 including a liquid storage tank 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] In the illustrated ice maker 2 (2'), a liquid storage tank 50 (TA) and a liquid container 20 (20') located below the liquid storage tank 50 (TA) are connected via a flow path 90 (90'). Liquid in the liquid storage tank 50 (TA) is supplied to the liquid container 20 (20') via a liquid supply / discharge pump 92 (92'). This height difference allows for efficient supply of liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 50 (50') to the liquid container 20 (20'). Furthermore, it prevents liquid in the liquid container 20 (20') from flowing back into the liquid storage tank 50 (50') due to siphoning during use.

[0072] At this time, including Figure 2A In the case of the conventional liquid storage tank TA consisting of only one chamber, since the flow path 90' is filled with liquid, even if the supply / drain pump 92' is not in operation, the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank TA will flow into the liquid container 20' due to the siphon principle (see Figure 2A dashed arrow).

[0073] To address this problem, Figure 2B As shown, the liquid storage tank 50 of this embodiment includes a main tank 56 storing liquid; a first valve 70 disposed at the bottom of the main tank 56; and an auxiliary tank 58 disposed below the first valve 70 and connected to a flow path 90 via a liquid supply / drain pipe 74. Of the liquid stored in the main tank 56, only the amount of liquid stored in the main tank 56 to be supplied to the liquid container 20 during a single ice-making cycle is supplied from the main tank 56 to the auxiliary tank 58 by opening and closing the first valve 70 during a single ice-making cycle. In this state, by operating the liquid supply / drain pump 92 on the liquid supply side, the liquid in the auxiliary tank 58 is supplied to the liquid container 20 via the flow path 90.

[0074] Since the end of the liquid supply / drain pipe 74, which is mounted on the auxiliary tank 58 and communicates with the flow path 90, opens near the bottom of the auxiliary tank 58, most of the liquid supplied from the main tank 56 can be supplied to the liquid container 20. Therefore, after the liquid supply / drain pump 92 stops, the liquid does not flow from the auxiliary tank 58 to the liquid container 20 via the flow path 90. Since the main tank 56 and the liquid container 20 are not directly connected, the liquid stored in the main tank 56 does not flow out into the liquid container 20.

[0075] As described above, in the liquid storage tank 50 of this embodiment, the main tank 56 storing the liquid is not directly connected to the liquid container 20, but the liquid to be supplied to the liquid container 20 is supplied from the main tank 56 to the auxiliary tank 58 connected to the liquid container 20 via the flow path 90. Therefore, after the liquid is supplied to the liquid container 20, no liquid flowing into the liquid container due to the siphon phenomenon will remain in the auxiliary tank 58.

[0076] Therefore, it is possible to provide the liquid storage tank 50 that can reliably prevent the liquid from flowing out to the liquid container 20 located below due to the siphon phenomenon.

[0077] (Structure of a Liquid Reservoir According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention)

[0078] Figure 3A 1 is a diagram schematically showing the reservoir tank 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a state in which the first valve 70 is in an open state. Figure 3B This is a diagram schematically showing the reservoir tank 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and in particular, a diagram showing a state in which the second valve 72 is in an open state. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The structure of the reservoir tank 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0079] In addition to the main tank 56 and the auxiliary tank 58 connected via a first valve 70, the liquid storage tank 50 also includes a second valve 72 disposed below the auxiliary tank 58. The lower side of the second valve 72 is connected to a liquid drain. When liquid is supplied from the main tank 56 to the auxiliary tank 58 and then from the auxiliary tank 58 to the liquid container 20, ice is generated through the intermittent ice-making process described above. After the intermittent ice-making process ends, the unfrozen liquid returns from the liquid container 20 to the auxiliary tank 58.

[0080] In the liquid storage tank 50 of this embodiment, the liquid returned to the auxiliary tank 58 can be drained to the drain portion by opening the second valve 72. This allows the liquid returned from the liquid container 20, which may contain a large amount of impurities, to be drained. Therefore, in the subsequent ice-making process, the liquid container 20 can be filled with the liquid in the main tank 56, which has fewer impurities.

[0081] The structure of the reservoir tank 50 of this embodiment will be described in more detail. The main body tank 56 , the auxiliary tank 58 , the first valve 70 , the second valve 72 , and the supply / drain pipe 74 constitute the detachable portion 52 corresponding to the upper member of the reservoir tank 50 .

[0082] The movable portion 70A of the first valve 70 and the movable portion 72A of the second valve 72 are each biased downward from above by a spring to be closed. The movable portion 70A of the first valve 70 and the movable portion 72A of the second valve 72 extend to the lower portion of the detachable portion 52 .

[0083] A fixed portion 54, corresponding to the lower portion of the fluid reservoir 50, is provided below the detachable portion 52. The fixed portion 54 includes a drive motor 60 and a laterally extending rack 62. The rack 62 is laterally movable by the drive motor 60. More specifically, a pinion 60A is mounted on the drive shaft of the drive motor 60, and rack teeth 64 are formed below the rack 62. The rack-and-pinion mechanism formed by the pinion 60A and rack teeth 64 enables the rack 62 to move left and right using the driving force of the drive motor 60.

[0084] The rack 62 has a convex portion 62A and a concave portion 62B at its upper portion, and a link is formed between the convex portion 62A and the concave portion 62B and between the convex portion 62A and the distal end of the rack 62 , connected by an inclined portion. Figure 3A The figure shows a state where the protrusion 62A of the rack 62 is located below the first valve 70. The protrusion 62A pushes the movable portion 70A of the first valve 70 upward via the movable portion 70B provided on the fixed portion 54. As a result, the first valve 70, which was closed by the spring force, overcomes the spring force and becomes open.

[0085] When the rack 62 is driven by the driving motor 60 Figure 3A When the state shown is moved to the right side in the figure, the concave portion 62B is located below the first valve 70, and the convex portion 62A is located between the first valve 70 and the second valve 72. The first valve 70, which was pushed upward by the convex portion 62A and opened, returns to the closed state due to the biasing force of the spring.

[0086] At this time, since the rack 62 does not exist below the second valve 72 , the second valve 72 is maintained in a closed state by the urging force of the spring.

[0087] In addition, when the driving motor 60 moves the rack 62 to the right in the figure, as shown in FIG. Figure 3B As shown, the protrusion 62A is located below the second valve 72. Thus, the protrusion 62A pushes the movable portion 72A of the second valve 72 upward via the movable portion 72B provided on the fixed portion 54. As a result, the second valve 72, which was closed by the spring force, overcomes the spring force and becomes open.

[0088] At this time, since the recessed portion 62B is maintained at the lower side of the first valve 70 , the first valve 70 is maintained in a closed state by the biasing force of the spring.

[0089] By reversing the drive motor 60, the opened second valve 72 can be closed and the closed first valve 70 can be opened. When the rack 62 is moved, the movable portions 70A, 70B, 72A, and 72B move up and down along the inclined surface connecting the recessed portion 62B, the raised portion 62A, and the top end of the rack 62. This allows for smooth opening and closing of the first and second valves 70 and 72.

[0090] As described above, by driving the motor 60 to move the rack 62 laterally, it is possible to switch between a state in which the protrusion 62A is located on the lower side of the first valve 70 and the first valve 70 is open and the second valve 72 is closed, a state in which the protrusion 62A is not located on the lower side of the first valve 70 and the second valve 72 and the first valve 70 and the second valve 72 are closed, and a state in which the protrusion 62A is located on the lower side of the second valve 72 and the first valve 70 is closed and the second valve 72 is open.

[0091] Therefore, the first valve 70 and the second valve 72 can be reliably opened and closed simply by controlling the movement of the rack 62 .

[0092] A stepper motor capable of detecting rotational position can be used as the drive motor 60. By controlling the rotation of the stepper motor, the position of the rack 62, which moves laterally via a rack-and-pinion mechanism, can be easily controlled, thereby easily controlling the opening and closing of the first valve 70 and the second valve 72. However, the use of a stepper motor as the drive motor 60 is not limited to that of a stepper motor. For example, if a sensor capable of detecting the position of the rack 62 is included, a conventional motor can also be used.

[0093] (Sensor for detecting liquid level)

[0094] Figure 4A 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the detachable portion 52 including the main tank 56 and the auxiliary tank 58 is being mounted on the fixed portion 54 in the reservoir tank 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4B 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a detachable portion 52 including a main tank 56 and an auxiliary tank 58 is attached to a fixing portion 54 in a reservoir tank 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] like Figure 4A and Figure 4B As shown, the liquid storage tank 50 of this embodiment has: a fixed portion 54 on the lower side, which is provided with a drive motor 60 that requires wiring; and a detachable portion 52 on the upper side, which is mainly composed of a main box 56 and an auxiliary box 58 and does not require wiring. The fixed portion 54 is fixed to the lower surface of the refrigerator compartment. On the other hand, the detachable portion 52 is mounted on the fixed portion 54 so as to be freely detachable relative to the fixed portion 54. Therefore, when the liquid in the main box 56 is insufficient, the detachable portion 52 can be removed from the fixed portion 54, and the liquid in the main box 56 can be easily replenished. It should be noted that in order to detach and install the detachable portion 52, it is necessary to detach and install the supply / drain pipe 74 included in the liquid storage tank 50 and the hose that constitutes a part of the flow path 90. For example, by installing a quick connector at the end of the supply / drain pipe 74 and the end of the hose, the two can be easily detached and installed.

[0096] In this embodiment, a liquid level sensor 80 based on electrostatic capacitance is included, and an electrode portion 82 of the liquid level sensor 80 is mounted on a fixed bracket 86 via a hinge portion 84. A torsion spring is included on the hinge portion 84, and the electrode portion 82 applies a force in the clockwise direction in the drawing relative to the fixed bracket 86. As a result, when the detachable portion 52 is pushed to the left in the drawing to slide on the upper surface of the fixed portion 54 (see FIG. 1 ), the detachable portion 52 is pulled away from the fixed bracket 86. Figure 4A ), the detachable portion 52 is fixed to the fixed position of the fixing portion 54 (see Figure 4B ), the electrode portion 82 of the liquid level sensor 80 is arranged along the outer surface of the main box 56 and is tightly attached to the outer surface of the main box 56 by the force of the torsion spring.

[0097] In such a liquid level sensor 80, when liquid enters the main tank 56, the capacitance of the electrode portion 82 changes. By detecting this change, the liquid level in the main tank 56 can be accurately detected. Therefore, based on the change in the liquid level in the main tank 56 detected by the liquid level sensor 80, the amount of liquid flowing from the main tank 56 to the auxiliary tank 58 via the first valve 70 can be accurately detected. Consequently, the amount of liquid to be supplied to the liquid container 20 can be accurately supplied.

[0098] When using the supply / drainage pump to detect whether the water supply tank is empty as in the past, if there is water in the auxiliary tank but no water in the main water tank, the main water tank cannot be detected in time because the detection of the main water tank being empty is performed after the auxiliary tank becomes empty.

[0099] However, if the liquid level sensor 80 is provided, it is possible to reliably detect that the liquid in the main body tank 56 is empty or that the remaining amount of liquid in the main body tank 56 is significantly reduced.

[0100] However, the liquid level sensor 80 is not limited to the electrostatic capacitance type. For example, a component with a magnet can be placed in the main body case 56. When liquid is introduced or withdrawn, the outer magnet tracks the up and down movement of the float, and the magnetic force of the magnet moves a potentiometer for detection. Alternatively, the liquid level can be detected using reflected light.

[0101] (Control Department)

[0102] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing an example of a control structure of the ice maker 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 The control unit 100 of the ice maker 2 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0103] The control unit 100 controls the liquid supply / drain pump 92 to drive it toward the liquid supply side, thereby supplying liquid from the liquid tank 50 to the liquid container 20. Similarly, the control unit 100 controls the liquid supply / drain pump 92 to drive it toward the liquid discharge side, thereby returning liquid from the liquid container 20 to the liquid tank 50.

[0104] The controller 100 controls the motor of the moving mechanism 22 to rotate the liquid container 20, thereby moving the liquid container 20 to an ice-making position, a non-ice-making position, and a retreat position. The controller 100 controls the power supply to the de-icing heater 18 to operate (generate heat) and stop the de-icing heater 18. Furthermore, the controller 100 controls the drive motor 60 of the liquid storage tank 50 to open and close the first valve 70 and the second valve 72.

[0105] (Control Processing)

[0106] Figure 6 This is a flowchart showing an example of control processing in the ice maker 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The control process performed by the control unit 100 of the ice maker 2 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0107] Here, the first valve 70 and the second valve 72 are closed, and the liquid container 20 is in the ice-making position, which is the initial state. First, the control unit 100 drives the drive motor 60 of the liquid storage tank 50, moving the rack 62 and opening the closed first valve 70. Then, when the amount of liquid required for one ice-making cycle flows from the main tank 56 into the auxiliary tank 58 through the first valve 70, the drive motor 60 is driven to close the open first valve 70 (step S2). This executes the auxiliary tank liquid supply step.

[0108] The timing of closing the first valve 70 after opening the first valve 70 can be determined based on the change in the liquid level of the main tank 56 detected by the liquid level sensor 80. Alternatively, the timing of closing the first valve 70 can be determined by managing the time of opening the first valve 70.

[0109] Assuming that the number of rod-shaped members 16 is N, the weight of ice generated by one rod-shaped member 16 is M, and the unfrozen portion ultimately discharged is 30%, the amount of liquid X required for one ice-making process can be calculated as X = N × M × (1 + 0.3).

[0110] The rod-shaped member 16 directly cools the liquid, squeezing out impurities from the inside and forming ice. Furthermore, the liquid in the unfrozen portion that has not yet become ice contains a large amount of impurities. Finally, the second valve 72 is opened to discharge the remaining liquid.

[0111] Next, the liquid container supply step begins by controlling the liquid supply pump 92 to operate on the liquid supply side. This involves supplying the liquid container 20 with the amount X of liquid required for one ice-making cycle from the auxiliary tank 58. At this point, the liquid container 20 is supplied with the full amount of liquid that can be drawn into the liquid supply / drain pipe 74, which opens near the bottom of the auxiliary tank 58. The liquid supply / drain pump 92 is then stopped (step S4). This results in a state where the cooled rod-shaped member 16, from its tip, is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container 20 in the ice-making position. This state is maintained until time T has elapsed (step S6).

[0112] During this time, ice forms around the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16. Then, after time T has elapsed, the moving mechanism 22 is activated to move the liquid container 20 from the ice-making position to the non-ice-making position (step S8). This causes the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16 to be exposed from the liquid contained in the liquid container 20.

[0113] Next, the moving mechanism 22 is operated again, moving the liquid container 20 from the non-ice-making position to the ice-making position (step S10). This returns the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16 to the liquid contained in the liquid container 20. The process then returns to step S6, where the waiting time T has elapsed. This control from step S6 to step S10 is repeated n times. This intermittent ice-making step is thus implemented, in which the predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16, starting from the tip, is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container 20 for the predetermined time T, and the predetermined area is not immersed in the liquid.

[0114] After the intermittent ice making step is completed, the liquid supply / drain pump 92 is controlled to operate on the drain side, thereby performing a liquid container draining step in which the liquid in the liquid container 20 is returned to the auxiliary tank 58. At this time, all the liquid within the range of the liquid supply / drain pipe 90A, which opens near the bottom of the liquid container 20, is returned to the auxiliary tank 58, and the operation of the liquid supply / drain pump 92 is stopped (step S12).

[0115] Next, the drive motor 60 of the liquid storage tank 50 is driven, moving the rack 62 and opening the closed second valve 72. This allows the remaining liquid that has not frozen during the intermittent ice-making process and has returned to the auxiliary tank 58 to be drained to the drain. This completes the auxiliary tank draining step. After a sufficient amount of time has passed for draining, the drive motor 60 is driven again, closing the opened second valve 72 (step S14).

[0116] After the liquid in liquid container 20 returns to auxiliary tank 58 in step S12, moving mechanism 22 is activated to move liquid container 20 from the ice-making position to the retreat position (step S16). This results in a state where liquid container 20 is no longer located below rod-shaped member 16. Next, deicing heater 18 provided within rod-shaped member 16 is activated. This initiates the deicing step, whereby the portion of ice produced that is in contact with rod-shaped member 16 melts, causing the produced ice to fall from rod-shaped member 16. This deicing step allows the ice to be stored in the ice storage container provided below rod-shaped member 16. This completes one ice-making process.

[0117] As described above, after the liquid container supply step, which supplies the entire amount of liquid required for one ice-making cycle from the auxiliary tank 58 to the liquid container 20, is performed, an intermittent ice-making step is performed, which repeatedly maintains a state in which a predetermined area of the rod-shaped member 16 is immersed in and not immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20. This prevents liquid from the liquid storage tank 50 from flowing into the liquid container 20 due to siphoning, allowing for the production of transparent ice. Furthermore, after the intermittent ice-making step, the auxiliary tank drain step is performed to drain liquid containing impurities that has returned to the auxiliary tank 58. This allows ice-making to always be made using fresh liquid from the main tank 56.

[0118] (Other embodiments)

[0119] In the above embodiment, liquid is supplied to and discharged from the liquid container 20 via a single flow path 90 having a supply / drain pump 92, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, separate flow paths having a supply / drain pump and a flow path having a supply / drain pump may be provided.

[0120] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid container 20 is moved by the moving mechanism 22 to establish a state in which a predetermined region of the rod-shaped member 16 is immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20 and a state in which it is not immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the state in which a predetermined region of the rod-shaped member 16 is immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20 and a state in which it is not immersed in the liquid can be established by moving the rod-shaped member 16, or by moving both the liquid container 20 and the rod-shaped member 16.

[0121] Moreover, the liquid container 20 and the rod-shaped component 16 do not move, and liquid is supplied from the liquid storage tank 50 to the liquid container 20, so that a predetermined area of the rod-shaped component 16 is immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20. The liquid is returned from the liquid container 20 to the liquid storage tank 50, so that a predetermined area of the rod-shaped component 16 is not immersed in the liquid in the liquid container 20.

[0122] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the disclosure may be varied in details of the configuration, and the embodiments, combinations of elements in the embodiments, changes in order, etc. may be implemented without departing from the scope and concept of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A liquid storage tank, which is connected to a liquid container disposed below through a flow path, characterized in that: include: Main body box, storing liquid; a first valve, disposed at the lower portion of the main body box; as well as An auxiliary tank is provided on the lower side of the first valve and is connected to the flow path. supplying the amount of liquid supplied to the liquid container from the main tank to the auxiliary tank by opening and closing the first valve; It also includes a second valve, which is arranged at the lower part of the auxiliary tank and connected to the drainage part at the lower side. The liquid supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank is supplied from the auxiliary tank to the liquid container via the flow path, and then finally returns to the auxiliary tank from the liquid container via the flow path. By opening the second valve, the liquid returned to the auxiliary tank, which may contain a large amount of impurities, is discharged to the drain part.

2. The liquid storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system further comprises a rack extending in the transverse direction and having a convex portion on the upper portion, wherein the convex portion pushes up the movable portions of the first valve and the second valve to change them from a closed state to an open state. By lateral movement of the rack, the following states are switched: The protrusion is not located below the first valve and the second valve, and the first valve and the second valve are in a closed state; A state in which the convex portion is located on a lower side of the first valve and the first valve is open and the second valve is closed; The convex portion is located on the lower side of the second valve, and the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened.

3. The liquid storage tank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also includes a sensor for detecting the liquid level in the main body box, The amount of liquid supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank via the first valve is calculated based on the change in the liquid level detected by the sensor.

4. The liquid storage tank according to claim 3, characterized in that: The liquid storage tank includes a fixed part located at the lower side and a detachable part located at the upper side. The main box, auxiliary box, first valve, second valve and supply / drain pipe constitute the detachable part of the liquid storage tank, and the detachable part is detachably installed on the fixed part.

5. The liquid storage tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid level sensor includes an electrode portion. The fixing portion is provided with a hinge portion and a fixing bracket. The electrode portion is mounted on the fixing bracket via the hinge portion.

6. The liquid storage tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The hinge portion is provided with a torsion spring. When the detachable part slides on the upper surface of the fixing part and is fixed to the fixing position of the fixing part, the electrode part is arranged along the outer surface of the main body box and is tightly attached to the outer surface of the main body box by the force of the torsion spring.

7. The liquid storage tank according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fixing portion further includes a driving motor and the rack extending in the transverse direction, and the rack is moved in the transverse direction by the driving motor.

8. The liquid storage tank according to claim 7, characterized in that: A pinion is mounted on the drive shaft of the drive motor, and rack teeth are formed at the lower portion of the rack. The rack can be moved left and right by the driving force of the drive motor through a rack and pinion mechanism composed of the pinion and rack teeth.

9. An ice making machine, characterized in that: include The liquid storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 8; the liquid container; The flow path; A rod-shaped component to be cooled; a liquid supply / drainage pump disposed on the path of the flow path; and a control unit that controls the first valve, the second valve, and the liquid supply / drainage pump; Under the control of the control unit, the following steps are implemented: an auxiliary tank liquid supply step, in which the amount of liquid required for one ice-making process is supplied from the main tank to the auxiliary tank by controlling the first valve in an open state and returning it to a closed state; a liquid container supplying step, in which the liquid in the auxiliary tank is supplied to the liquid container by controlling the liquid supply / drainage pump to operate on the liquid supply side; an intermittent ice-making step in which a predetermined area of the rod-shaped member from the top end is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container and a state in which the predetermined area is not immersed in the liquid is repeatedly formed; a liquid container draining step, in which the liquid in the liquid container is returned to the auxiliary tank by controlling the supply / drainage pump to operate on the draining side; An auxiliary tank draining step is performed in which the liquid returned from the liquid tank in the auxiliary tank is drained to a drain portion by controlling the second valve in an open / closed state.

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