Ice maker and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to an ice maker and a control method thereof, and aims to solve the technical problems of low ice making energy efficiency, difficulty in accurately controlling ice making time and non-uniform ice block size caused by neglect of water temperature control and low energy efficiency in the conventional like products. The ice maker is characterized in that the bottom and the inner side of a water tank in a machine body of the ice maker are provided with an inner support for separating a refrigerating system on one side of the bottom in the machine body, a pipeline for connecting a compressor of the refrigerating system with an evaporator is provided with a pressure sensor, and the other pipeline is provided with a two-way electromagnetic valve; a pipeline on one side of the condenser of the capillary tube is provided with a drying filter; a pipeline between the drying filter and the condenser is provided with an NTC temperature sensor; a rotating shaft extending out of the right support at one end of the ice-making box respectively triggers an upper limiting microswitch or a lower limiting microswitch fixed on the outer side of the right support at the side when swinging, and a water level sensor is arranged at a water inlet hole at a water pipe of the left support above the ice-making box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a small ice maker, in particular to an ice maker and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a refrigeration mechanical device that generates ice by cooling water through an evaporator with the refrigerant of the refrigeration system. It uses a refrigeration system and water as a carrier to make ice by passing it through a certain device under power-on. Among them, the working principle of a small ice maker is mainly to make ice through the four steps of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation of the refrigeration cycle, using the phase change of the refrigerant, and complete the ice making and defrosting cycle through an automatic control system; when making ice, water freezes on the surface of the evaporator, and when the set thickness is reached, the ice maker enters the defrosting mode; when defrosting, the ice cubes fall off the evaporator and fall into the ice storage box by heating or stopping the refrigeration; and then the cycle is repeated, and the ice cubes in the ice storage box gradually accumulate for users to use. There are such small ice-making machine products, such as the application number 201710222192.4 disclosed in the Chinese patent literature, the application publication date 2017.06.13, the invention name "automatic drainage ice-making machine"; another example is the application number 201920897236.8 disclosed in the Chinese patent literature, the authorization announcement date 2020.04.03, the invention name "a small ice-making machine"; but the above small ice-making machines and similar products have the following problems: 1. Control ignores water temperature: In the control process, the temperature sensor mainly relies on the feedback of the ambient temperature to determine the ice-making time. Such a control method ignores the water temperature and is relatively rough in control, which will cause the ice cubes to be different in size each time. For example, if the time is increased during the first ice-making, the water temperature and the temperature of the whole machine will be relatively high during the first ice-making. 2. Low energy efficiency: When the water temperature is low, a longer ice-making time is not required. The ice cubes are like an insulation layer. The thicker the ice cubes, the more difficult it is to transfer heat. Therefore, in order to improve the refrigeration efficiency, the thickness of the ice cubes must be controlled within a reasonable range. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to overcome the above shortcomings, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an ice maker and a control method thereof to the art, so as to solve the technical problems of similar products in the prior art that the water temperature is ignored in the control and the energy efficiency is low, resulting in low energy efficiency of ice making, difficulty in accurately controlling the ice making time, and uneven size of ice cubes each time. The purpose is achieved through the following technical solution.

[0004] An ice maker is provided with a refrigeration system, a water system and a motion mechanism in the body of the ice maker. The refrigeration system includes an evaporator, a compressor, a pressure sensor, an NTC temperature sensor, a capillary tube, a two-way solenoid valve and a condenser. An ice box is provided below the evaporator fixed to one side of the top of the body through a water tank and a support. The ice cubes made in the ice box of the motion mechanism are swung and transported to an ice basket on the other side of the top of the body symmetrically through a synchronous motor on one side of the ice box. The water in the ice basket in the box opening above the water tank returns to the water tank through the drain hole of the ice basket. The water tank returns to the inlet on the upper side of the ice box through the water outlet hole on one side of the bottom of the water tank and the water pump and water pipe of the water system. The ice is circulated through the water holes; the left support and the right support of the motion mechanism on one side of the water tank above the refrigeration system are fixedly arranged on the inner walls on both sides of the box opening in the water tank; at the same time, the motion mechanism is arranged below the water inlet hole of the water pipe of the water system; the water inlet hole of the water pipe is fixedly arranged on one side of the left support above the ice-making box; the rotating shafts at both ends of the ice-making box are respectively inserted into the axial holes of the left and right supports on both sides; the synchronous motor is arranged on the rotating shaft of the left support extending out of one end of the ice-making box; a flap for taking out the ice basket in the water tank is provided on one side of the top of the body above the ice basket on the other side of the water tank; a cover with a control panel is provided on the other side of the top of the body symmetrical to the flap; a base is provided at the bottom of the body; and a filter cover is provided at the water outlet hole in the water tank. The key points of its structural design are that the bottom and inner side of the water tank in the machine body are provided with an inner bracket separating the refrigeration system on one side of the bottom of the machine body, the inner bracket is fixedly arranged on the base, the inner wall of the machine body, and the bottom and inner outer diameter of the water tank, and the base, the machine body, the water tank and the inner bracket are connected as a whole; a pipeline connecting the compressor and the evaporator of the refrigeration system is provided with a pressure sensor, another pipeline connecting the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser is provided with a two-way solenoid valve, a fan is provided on one side of the condenser, and the two ends of the capillary tube are respectively connected to the evaporator and the condenser, and the condenser side of the capillary tube is provided with a dry pipe The drying filter, the pipeline between the drying filter and the condenser is provided with an NTC temperature sensor; the rotating shaft of the right support extending from the other end of the ice making box triggers the upper limit micro switch or the lower limit micro switch fixed to the outer side of the right support on this side when swinging, the lower limit micro switch, the upper limit micro switch, the fan, the capillary, the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, the NTC temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, the two-way solenoid valve, and the synchronous motor and the water pump are connected to the control panel in the cover through the line, the water pump is fixed on the inner bracket, and the compressor and the condenser are fixed on the base. Thus, the pressure sensor, the corresponding NTC temperature sensor and the lower water level sensor cooperate to control the corresponding components to accurately judge the size of the ice cubes to meet the ice making requirements; the ice making box is a U-shaped groove plate.

[0005] The water inlet hole of the water pipe of the left support is provided with a water level sensor, which is L-shaped, and the head of the water level probe at one end of the water level sensor passes through the convex edge of the left support and is located in front of the water inlet hole, and the ring at the other end of the water level sensor is fixed to the mounting hole of the left support through a wiring gasket and a screw, and the water level sensor is connected to the control panel in the cover through a line. The above water level sensor is easy to assemble and install, and to judge whether there is water outflow.

[0006] The NTC temperature sensor is arranged on a metal strip at one end corner of the compressor of the refrigeration system in the machine body, and the two ends of the metal strip are respectively fixed to the inner bracket and the base, and the NTC temperature sensor is close to the pipeline between the drying filter and the condenser. The above structure facilitates the adjustment of the installation position of the NTC temperature sensor and the temperature monitoring of the condenser and the compressor.

[0007] A crank arm is provided at the rotating shaft of the right support where the other end of the ice box extends out. The rotating shaft of the ice box is triggered by a protrusion at one end of the crank arm against an upper limit micro switch set on the right support. A lower limit micro switch is provided below the right support corresponding to the upper limit micro switch. After the ice box swings, the crank arm disconnects the upper limit micro switch and triggers the lower limit micro switch. The movable reed of the upper limit micro switch and the movable reed of the lower limit micro switch are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees. The above is a specific structural embodiment of the upper limit micro switch and the lower limit micro switch.

[0008] The groove in the ice box is U-shaped, and a limit block is provided in the positioning groove on one side of the left support above the rotating shaft of the ice box. The limit block limits the swing position of the notch of the ice box, and fixes one end of the circular tube of the evaporator above the ice box through an L-shaped plate. A hinged swinging guide plate is provided at the edge of the notch on one side of the ice basket of the ice box. The above structure facilitates the transportation of ice cubes obtained by ice making to the ice basket through swinging.

[0009] A drainage hole is arranged on one side of the bottom of the water tank, a water blocking plug is arranged in the drainage hole, and a through hole for inserting the water blocking plug is arranged in the base below the drainage hole. The above structure is convenient for draining and cleaning the water tank.

[0010] When the pressure sensor detects that the pressure in the pipeline is greater than MPa and lasts for L seconds, a round of ice making is completed, and then the ice box flips downward, and the two-way solenoid valve switches the channel for dehydration. After the dehydration is completed, the ice box flips upward; at the same time, after the ice box flips into place, the water pump works and starts a new round of ice making; MPa is an absolute pressure of 0.079 MPa, the corresponding temperature is -18 degrees, and L seconds is 10 seconds.

[0011] When the NTC temperature sensor detects that the temperature at the compressor and condenser is greater than 42 degrees, it reports high temperature and the whole machine stops working.

[0012] When the water level probe of the water level sensor fails to detect water for more than 3 seconds, the whole machine will stop working in case of water shortage. At the same time, when the water level probe of the water level sensor continues to detect water for N seconds, the water pump will stop working; the N seconds is 27-30 seconds.

[0013] The invention has reasonable structural design, convenient production and assembly, accurate water temperature control and ice making time control, high energy efficiency, fast ice making, and uniform ice cube size; it is suitable for use as an ice making machine and its control method, as well as a structural improvement of similar products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 2 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the dotted line in the figure is a shell structure.

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the water tank and the inner bracket, the outer shell structure is omitted in the figure, and the dotted lines are the water tank and the inner bracket.

[0016] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the side structure.

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A side view structural diagram of the invention, in which the dotted line represents the internal structure of the shell.

[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the exploded structure, in which the body, flip cover and cover are omitted.

[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the side structure.

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the refrigeration system structure.

[0021] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the water system and motion mechanism connection structure Figure 1 , Part A and Part B are framed in the figure.

[0022] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 Enlarged view of part A.

[0023] Fig.10 yes Figure 8 Enlarged view of part B.

[0024] Fig.11 yes Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the water level sensor amplification structure.

[0025] Fig.12 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the water system and motion mechanism connection structure Figure 2 .

[0026] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the circuit working principle structure of the present invention.

[0027] Fig.14 It is a schematic diagram of the control method flow block structure of the present invention.

[0028] Serial number and name of the accompanying drawings: 1. Machine body, 2. Flip cover, 3. Cover plate, 4. Base, 5. Water tank, 501. Water outlet, 502. Drain hole, 6. Ice basket, 7. Left support, 701. Limit block, 8. Guide plate, 9. Right support, 10. Evaporator, 11. Ice box, 12. Compressor, 13. Pressure sensor, 14. NTC temperature sensor, 15. Capillary, 16. Two-way solenoid valve, 17. Filter cover, 18. Condenser, 19. Fan, 20. Inner bracket, 21. Upper limit micro switch, 22. Lower limit micro switch, 23. Crank arm, 24. Water pipe, 25. Water pump, 26. Water level sensor, 27. Water inlet, 28. Synchronous motor. Implementation

[0029] Now, the structure and use of the present invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1-Figure 13 As shown, the ice maker is provided with a refrigeration system, a water system and a motion mechanism in its body, wherein the refrigeration system comprises an evaporator 10, a compressor 12, a pressure sensor 13, an NTC temperature sensor 14, a capillary tube 15, a two-way solenoid valve 16 and a condenser 18. An ice box 11 is provided below the evaporator fixed to one side and a water tank 5 at the top of the body 1. The ice cubes obtained by ice making in the ice box of the motion mechanism are swung and transported to an ice basket 6 at the other side of the top symmetrically of the body through a synchronous motor 28 at one side of the ice box. The water in the ice basket in the box opening above the water tank returns to the water tank through the drain hole of the ice basket. The water in the water tank returns to the ice box through the water outlet 501 at one side of the bottom of the water tank and the water pump 25 and the water pipe 24 of the water system. The water inlet hole 27 on one side above the box is used for circulating ice making; the left support 7 and the right support 9 of the motion mechanism on one side of the water tank above the refrigeration system are fixedly arranged on the inner walls on both sides of the box opening in the water tank. At the same time, the motion mechanism is arranged below the water inlet hole at the water pipe of the water system, and the water inlet hole of the water pipe is fixedly arranged on one side of the left support above the ice-making box. The rotating shafts at both ends of the ice-making box are respectively inserted into the axial holes of the left and right supports on both sides. The synchronous motor is arranged on the rotating shaft of the left support extending out of one end of the ice-making box. A flap 2 for taking out the ice basket in the water tank is provided on one side of the top of the body above the ice basket on the other side of the water tank, and a cover plate 3 with a control panel is provided on the other side of the top of the body symmetrical to the flap. A base 4 is provided at the bottom of the body, and a filter cover 17 is provided at the water outlet in the water tank.

[0030] The bottom and inner side of the water tank in the above-mentioned machine body are provided with an inner bracket 20 for separating the refrigeration system on one side of the bottom of the machine body. The inner bracket is fixedly arranged on the base 4, the inner wall of the machine body, and the bottom and inner outer diameter of the water tank. The base, the machine body, the water tank and the inner bracket are connected as a whole. A pressure sensor 13 is provided on a pipeline connecting the compressor and the evaporator of the refrigeration system, and a two-way solenoid valve is provided on another pipeline connecting the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser. A fan 19 is provided on one side of the condenser. Both ends of the capillary tube 15 are respectively connected to the evaporator and the condenser. At the same time, a drying filter is provided on the condenser side of the capillary tube. The pipe between the drying filter and the condenser is provided with an NTC temperature sensor 14; the rotating shaft of the right support extending from the other end of the ice box triggers the upper limit micro switch 21 or the lower limit micro switch 22 fixed to the outer side of the right support on this side when swinging, the lower limit micro switch, the upper limit micro switch, the fan, the capillary tube, the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, the NTC temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, the two-way solenoid valve, the synchronous motor and the water pump are connected with the control panel in the cover through the line, the water pump is fixedly arranged on the inner bracket, and the compressor and the condenser are fixedly arranged on the base.

[0031] A water level sensor 26 is provided at the water inlet of the water pipe of the above-mentioned left support. The water level sensor is L-shaped. The head of the water level probe at one end of the water level sensor passes through the convex edge of the left support and is located in front of the water inlet. The ring at the other end of the water level sensor is fixed to the mounting hole of the left support through a wiring gasket and a screw. The water level sensor is connected to the control panel in the cover through a line. The NTC temperature sensor is set on the metal strip at the end corner of one side of the compressor of the internal refrigeration system of the machine body. The two ends of the metal strip are respectively fixed to the inner bracket and the base. The NTC temperature sensor is close to the pipeline between the dry filter and the condenser. A crank arm 23 is provided at the rotating shaft of the right support extending out of the other end of the ice box. The rotating shaft of the ice box is triggered by the protrusion at one end of the crank arm against the upper limit microswitch arranged on the right support. A lower limit microswitch is provided at the lower side of the right support corresponding to the upper limit microswitch. After the ice box swings, the crank arm disconnects the upper limit microswitch and triggers the lower limit microswitch. The moving reed of the upper limit microswitch and the moving reed of the lower limit microswitch are set at an angle of 90 degrees.

[0032] The groove in the ice box is U-shaped, and a limit block 701 is provided in the positioning groove on one side of the left support above the rotating shaft of the ice box. The limit block limits the swing position of the notch of the ice box, and fixes one end of the circular tube of the evaporator above the ice box through an L-shaped plate. A hinged swinging guide plate 8 is provided at the edge of the notch on one side of the ice basket of the ice box. A drainage hole 502 is provided on one side of the bottom of the water tank, and a water plug is provided in the drainage hole. A through hole for inserting the water plug is provided in the base below the drainage hole.

[0033] According to the above structure and circuit working principle, if Fig.14As shown, when the pressure sensor detects that the pressure in the pipeline is greater than M Pa and lasts for L seconds, a round of ice making is completed, and then the ice box flips down, and the two-way solenoid valve switches the channel for dehydration. After dehydration is completed, the ice box flips upward; at the same time, after the ice box flips into place, the water pump works and starts a new round of ice making; the M Pa is an absolute pressure of 0.079 MPa, the corresponding temperature is -18 degrees, and L seconds is 10 seconds. When the NTC temperature sensor detects that the temperature at the compressor and condenser is greater than 42 degrees, it reports high temperature and the whole machine stops working. When the water level probe of the water level sensor does not detect water for more than 3 seconds, it reports water shortage and the whole machine stops working. At the same time, when the water level probe of the water level sensor continues to detect for N seconds, the water pump stops working; the N seconds is 27-30 seconds.

[0034] In summary, the compressor of the refrigeration system in the ice maker provides power to compress the high-temperature refrigerant to the condenser, the condenser cools the refrigerant, and then reduces the refrigerant pressure through the throttling device to allow the refrigerant to evaporate. The evaporated low-temperature refrigerant cools the evaporator, and then cools the water through the evaporator; the above-mentioned throttling device cooperates with the pressure sensor, water level sensor, and NTC temperature sensor to control the work of the water pump, compressor, and condenser, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency. The water system transports water from the water tank to the ice box through the water pump, and the motion mechanism transports the ice cubes to the ice basket after ice making is completed through the rotation of the synchronous motor, and the water in the ice basket returns to the water tank; the above-mentioned water pump then transports water from the water tank to the ice box for the next round of ice making.

Claims

1. An ice maker, wherein a refrigeration system, a water system and a motion mechanism are provided in a body of the ice maker, the refrigeration system comprising an evaporator (10), a compressor (12), a pressure sensor (13), an NTC temperature sensor (14), a capillary tube (15), a two-way solenoid valve (16) and a condenser (18); an ice box (11) is provided below the evaporator fixed to one side and through a water tank (5) at the top of the body (1); ice cubes made in the ice box of the motion mechanism are swung and transported to an ice basket (6) at the other side of the top of the body by a synchronous motor (28) at one side of the ice box; water in the ice basket in the box opening above the water tank returns to the water tank through a drain hole of the ice basket; the water in the water tank is discharged through a water outlet hole (501) at one side of the bottom of the water tank and a water pump (25) and a water pump of the water system. The tube (24) returns to the water inlet hole (27) on the upper side of the ice box for circulating ice making; the left support (7) and the right support (9) of the motion mechanism on the upper side of the water tank of the refrigeration system are fixedly arranged on the inner walls on both sides of the box opening of the water tank, and the motion mechanism is arranged below the water inlet hole of the water pipe of the water system, and the water inlet hole of the water pipe is fixedly arranged on one side of the left support above the ice box, and the rotating shafts at both ends of the ice box are respectively inserted into the shaft holes of the left support and the right support on both sides, and the synchronous motor is arranged on the rotating shaft of the left support at one end of the ice box. A flap (2) for taking out the ice basket in the water tank is provided on one side of the top of the machine body above the ice basket on the other side of the water tank, and a cover plate (3) with a control panel is provided on the other side of the top of the machine body symmetrical to the flap, and a base (4) is provided at the bottom of the machine body, and a filter cover (17) is provided at the water outlet hole in the water tank; it is characterized in that The bottom and inner side of the water tank (5) in the machine body (1) are provided with an inner bracket (20) for separating the refrigeration system from the inner bottom side of the machine body. The inner bracket is fixedly arranged on the base (4), the inner wall of the machine body, and the bottom and inner outer diameter of the water tank. The base, the machine body, the water tank and the inner bracket are connected as a whole. A pressure sensor (13) is provided on a pipeline connecting the compressor (12) of the refrigeration system with the evaporator (10), and a two-way solenoid valve (16) is provided on another pipeline connecting the compressor with the evaporator and the condenser (18). A fan (19) is provided on one side of the condenser. The two ends of the capillary tube (15) are respectively connected to the evaporator and the condenser. The capillary tube on the condenser side is provided with a A drying filter, wherein an NTC temperature sensor (14) is provided in a pipeline between the drying filter and the condenser; the rotating shaft of the other end of the ice making box (11) extending out of the right support (9) triggers an upper limit micro switch (21) or a lower limit micro switch (22) fixed to the outer side of the right support on that side when swinging; the lower limit micro switch, the upper limit micro switch, the fan, the capillary tube, the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, the NTC temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, the two-way solenoid valve, the synchronous motor (28) and the water pump (25) are connected to the control panel in the cover plate (3) through a line; the water pump is fixedly arranged on the inner support, and the compressor and the condenser are fixedly arranged on the base.

2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that A water level sensor (26) is provided at the water inlet (27) at the water pipe (24) of the left support (7). The water level sensor is L-shaped. The head of the water level probe at one end of the water level sensor passes through the convex edge of the left support and is located in front of the water inlet. The ring at the other end of the water level sensor is fixed to the mounting hole of the left support by means of a wiring gasket and screws. The water level sensor is connected to the control panel in the cover plate (3) through a circuit.

3. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The NTC temperature sensor (14) is arranged on a metal strip at an end corner of a compressor (12) of a refrigeration system in the machine body (1), and the two ends of the metal strip are respectively fixed to the inner bracket (20) and the base (4), and the NTC temperature sensor is close to the pipeline between the drying filter and the condenser (18).

4. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that A crank arm (23) is provided at the rotation axis of the right support (9) extending out from the other end of the ice box (11). The rotation axis of the ice box is triggered by a protrusion at one end of the crank arm against an upper limit micro switch (21) arranged on the right support. A lower limit micro switch (22) is provided below the right support corresponding to the upper limit micro switch. After the ice box swings, the crank arm disconnects the upper limit micro switch and triggers the lower limit micro switch. The movable reed of the upper limit micro switch and the movable reed of the lower limit micro switch are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees.

5. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The groove in the ice box (11) is U-shaped, and a limit block (701) is provided in the positioning groove on one side of the left support (7) above the rotating shaft of the ice box. The limit block limits the swing position of the notch of the ice box and fixes one end of the circular tube of the evaporator (10) above the ice box through an L-shaped plate. A hinged swinging guide plate (8) is provided on the edge of the notch on one side of the ice basket (6) of the ice box.

6. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that A drainage hole (502) is provided on one side of the bottom of the water tank (5), the drainage hole is provided with a water plug, and a base (4) below the drainage hole is provided with a through hole for receiving the water plug.

7. The ice making machine control method according to claim 1, characterized in that When the pressure sensor (13) detects that the pressure in the pipeline is greater than M Pa and lasts for L seconds, a round of ice making is completed, and then the ice box (11) is turned downward, and the two-way solenoid valve (16) switches the channel for dehydration. After the dehydration is completed, the ice box is turned upward; at the same time, after the ice box is turned into place, the water pump (25) works and starts a new round of ice making. M Pa is an absolute pressure of 0.079 MPa, corresponding to a temperature of -18 degrees, and L seconds is 10 seconds.

8. The ice making machine control method according to claim 7, characterized in that When the NTC temperature sensor (14) detects that the temperature at the compressor (12) and the condenser (18) is greater than 42 degrees, it reports high temperature and the entire machine stops working.

9. The ice making machine control method according to claim 8, characterized in that When the water level probe of the water level sensor (26) fails to detect water for more than 3 seconds, it reports water shortage and the whole machine stops working. At the same time, when the water level probe of the water level sensor continues to detect water for N seconds, the water pump (25) stops working; the N seconds is 27-30 seconds.

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