Ice making method and ice making equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to the technical field of ice making equipment, in particular to an ice making method and ice making equipment. The ice making method comprises the steps that the controller controls the water supply assembly or the vacuum pump to inject ice making water into the ice making bin; the target ice block hardness is obtained, and the target vacuum degree corresponding to the target ice block hardness is determined; controlling a vacuum pump to adjust the air pressure in the ice-making bin to a target vacuum degree; and the negative pressure state in the ice making bin is maintained in the ice making process. The negative pressure environment is established and maintained in the ice-making bin, so that the volume of the micro gas nucleus dissolved in the ice-making water is expanded under the action of low pressure, and then the pore structure with the controllable size is formed in the frozen ice block. By adjusting the vacuum degree, the volume proportion of air holes in the ice block is changed, and therefore the overall density and structural strength of the ice block can be adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and in particular to an ice-making method and ice-making equipment. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, their demands for edible ice are becoming increasingly diverse, especially regarding the personalized requirements for ice hardness. Existing ice-making technologies mainly adjust ice hardness by controlling the freezing time; however, this method has a limited controllable range, making it difficult to significantly alter the physical texture of the ice and thus failing to meet users' needs for ice with different textures.

[0003] In addition, although there are existing technologies that use carbon dioxide gas to form bubble water in ice-making water to produce ice cubes that are porous, loose, and have low hardness, such ice-making equipment requires components such as a high-pressure gas tank to contain liquid carbon dioxide and a high-pressure bubble water tank, resulting in a complex overall equipment structure, large size, and high cost. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide an ice-making method and ice-making equipment to solve the technical problem in the prior art that it is difficult to make large-scale personalized adjustments to the hardness of ice.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an ice-making method applied to an ice-making device, the ice-making device including an ice-making chamber, a water supply component, a refrigeration component, a vacuum pump, and a controller, wherein the water supply component, the refrigeration component, and the vacuum pump are electrically connected to and controlled by the controller, and the method includes: The controller controls the water supply component to inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, either alone or in combination with the vacuum pump and the water supply component. Obtain the hardness of the target ice block and determine the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice block; The vacuum pump is controlled to adjust the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber to the target vacuum level; The refrigeration component is controlled to start and freeze the water in the ice-making chamber, and during the freezing process, the vacuum pump is controlled to maintain a negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber.

[0006] Optionally, obtaining the hardness of the target ice cube includes: The controller receives a selection instruction for any one of at least two ice hardnesses, wherein the target ice hardness is the ice hardness corresponding to the selection instruction.

[0007] Optionally, controlling the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state inside the ice-making chamber during the freezing process includes one of the following methods: During the freezing process, the vacuum pump is controlled to operate continuously; or Once the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber reaches the target vacuum level, the valve connecting the ice-making chamber and the vacuum pump is closed, and the vacuum pump stops working.

[0008] Optionally, the ice-making device further includes a pressure sensor for detecting the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber, the pressure sensor being electrically connected to the controller, and adjusting the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber to the target vacuum level including: The controller obtains the air pressure value in the ice-making chamber in real time through the air pressure sensor, and controls the working state of the vacuum pump according to the air pressure value until the air pressure value reaches the target vacuum level.

[0009] Optionally, controlling the refrigeration component to start and freeze the water in the ice-making chamber, and controlling the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber during the freezing process, includes: In the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a first degree of negative pressure in the ice-making chamber to begin forming ice blocks; In the second freezing stage, which follows the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a second vacuum pressure different from the first vacuum pressure in the ice-making chamber, so as to complete the freezing of the remaining part of the ice block and make the formed ice block have a hardness gradient inside.

[0010] Optionally, when the first vacuum negative pressure is lower than the second vacuum negative pressure, the portion of the ice block formed under the first vacuum negative pressure has a higher hardness than the portion formed under the second vacuum negative pressure; or When the first vacuum negative pressure is higher than the second vacuum negative pressure, the ice block formed under the first vacuum negative pressure has a lower hardness than the ice block formed under the second vacuum negative pressure.

[0011] Optionally, after controlling the refrigeration component to end freezing, the method further includes: Control the vacuum pump to depressurize the ice-making chamber to relieve the negative pressure state; The temperature of the refrigeration component is controlled to cause the ice to fall off.

[0012] Optionally, the water supply assembly includes a water pump and a water valve. The water pump is connected to a water source, and the water valve is located between the water pump and the water inlet of the ice-making chamber. The water pump and the water valve are respectively connected to and controlled by the controller. The controller controls the water supply component to individually inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the water pump is controlled to run for a first preset water injection time to inject the required amount of ice-making water into the ice-making chamber. Alternatively, the ice-making equipment may further include a water level sensor or a weighing sensor disposed within the ice-making chamber, the water level sensor or the weighing sensor being electrically connected to the controller, the controller controlling the water supply assembly to separately inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the water pump is controlled to run; When the water level sensor or the weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber has reached the required amount, the water pump is controlled to stop filling the chamber.

[0013] Optionally, the controller controls the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to cooperate in injecting ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: The vacuum pump and the water supply assembly are controlled to work together to create a negative pressure in the ice-making chamber, which draws the water for ice making into the ice-making chamber.

[0014] Optionally, the water supply assembly includes a water valve disposed between the water source and the water inlet of the ice-making chamber. The water valve is connected to and controlled by the controller. The controller coordinates the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to create a negative pressure within the ice-making chamber to draw ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is closed, the vacuum pump is controlled to stop working after forming the third vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber, so that when the water valve is reopened, the third vacuum negative pressure can be used to draw in the required amount of ice-making water. Alternatively, the water supply assembly includes a water valve positioned between the water source and the inlet of the ice-making chamber. The ice-making equipment also includes a water level sensor or a weighing sensor disposed within the ice-making chamber. The water valve, the water level sensor, or the weighing sensor are electrically connected to the controller. The controller coordinates the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to create a negative pressure within the ice-making chamber to draw ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a fourth degree of negative vacuum in the ice-making chamber; When the water level sensor or the weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber has reached the required amount, the vacuum pump is controlled to release the negative pressure state or the water valve is controlled to close.

[0015] Optionally, the ice-making device further includes an optical sensor, which is disposed on the side wall of the ice-making chamber and electrically connected to the controller for real-time detection of the light transmittance of the ice. The step of controlling the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state within the ice-making chamber during the freezing process includes: The real-time light transmittance of the ice blocks inside the ice-making chamber is obtained through the optical sensor. The target vacuum level is corrected based on the real-time light transmittance. The corrected target vacuum degree is used to control the vacuum pump to adjust and maintain the negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber during the current ice-making cycle, or the corrected target vacuum degree is used as the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice block in the next ice-making cycle.

[0016] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application provide an ice-making apparatus, comprising: Ice maker; Water supply assembly for supplying water to the ice-making chamber; A refrigeration unit for freezing the water in the ice-making chamber; A vacuum pump is used to regulate the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber; The controller is connected to the water supply component, the cooling component, and the vacuum pump, respectively. The controller is used to execute the ice-making method as described in any of the above.

[0017] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: By establishing and maintaining a negative pressure environment within the ice-making chamber, the tiny gas nuclei dissolved in the ice-making water expand in volume under low pressure, thereby forming a controllable pore structure inside the frozen ice. As the vacuum level is adjusted, the volume ratio of the pores inside the ice changes, thus adjusting the overall density and structural strength of the ice. This allows for continuous and quantifiable adjustment of the ice hardness without relying on complex mechanical structures, simply by changing the physical environment's air pressure, thus meeting users' personalized needs for ice with different textures. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a first structural schematic diagram of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second structure of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of block ice prepared by an ice-making device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of bullet ice prepared by an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a square ice mold prepared by an ice-making device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a third structure of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth structure of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 A schematic flowchart of an ice-making method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] It should be noted that, unless there is a conflict, the various features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, all of which are within the protection scope of this application. Furthermore, although functional modules are divided in the device schematic diagram and a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in a different order than the module division in the device or the order in the flowchart. Moreover, the terms "first," "second," and "third" used in this application do not limit the data or execution order, but only distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect.

[0022] In related technologies, ice-making equipment mainly adjusts the hardness of ice by controlling the freezing time. However, this method has a small controllable range, making it difficult to significantly change the physical texture of the ice and failing to meet users' needs for ice with different textures.

[0023] In addition, although there are existing technologies that use carbon dioxide gas to form bubble water in ice-making water to produce ice cubes that are porous, loose, and have low hardness, such ice-making equipment requires components such as a high-pressure gas tank to contain liquid carbon dioxide and a high-pressure bubble water tank, resulting in a complex overall equipment structure, large size, and high cost.

[0024] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides an ice-making device. The ice-making device can be a stand-alone ice maker or an ice-making module integrated into other household appliances such as refrigerators and water dispensers. It can control the hardness of ice cubes by adjusting the air pressure of the ice-making environment.

[0025] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 Specifically, the ice-making equipment 100 includes an ice-making chamber 10, a water supply component 20, a refrigeration component 30, a vacuum pump 40, and a controller 50.

[0026] The ice-making chamber 10 is a sealed space for making ice. In this embodiment, it can be formed by the snap-fitting of an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12, with a sealing ring at the joint to ensure good airtightness during vacuuming. Exemplarily, the ice-making device 100 also includes a motor connected to the lower shell 12, which can be driven by the motor to rotate or open and close, so that after ice making is completed, it can be opened to drain any remaining water and allow the ice blocks 200 to be released.

[0027] Please refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 3 The water supply assembly 20 is used to inject water for ice making into the ice-making chamber 10. In one embodiment, the water supply assembly 20 includes a water tank, a water pump 22, and a water valve 23. The water tank stores water for ice making, and the water pump 22 pumps water from the water tank into the ice-making chamber 10 via the water valve 23 connected to the controller 50. The controller 50 can precisely control the amount of water injected into the ice-making chamber 10 by controlling the preset operating time of the water pump 22. In another embodiment, the water supply assembly 20 may not include the water pump 22, but instead uses the negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump 40 to draw water from the water tank into the ice-making chamber 10 through a pipe. In this case, the water injection volume can be controlled by controlling the negative pressure vacuum degree, or by using a water level sensor or a weighing sensor. Exemplarily, the water valve 23 can be a solenoid valve, etc., and there is no limitation here.

[0028] Please refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 6 The refrigeration unit 30 is used to freeze the water in the ice-making chamber 10 to form ice blocks 200. Generally, the refrigeration unit 30 is a conventional vapor compression refrigeration system, including a compressor 32, a condenser, a throttling mechanism 33 (e.g., a capillary tube), and an evaporator 31. The evaporator 31 is the part that directly exchanges heat with the water in the ice-making chamber 10; its surface temperature rapidly drops below zero degrees Celsius when the refrigeration system is operating, causing the water to condense into ice on its surface. The structure of the evaporator 31 can vary; for example, it can be... Figure 2 and Figure 5 The cooling column shown is used to make bullet ice; it can also be... Figure 4 and Figure 6The square mold shown is used to make cube ice, etc.

[0029] Vacuum pump 40 is connected to ice-making chamber 10 via suction pipe and is controlled by controller 50. It is used to pump the air pressure inside ice-making chamber 10 to a predetermined negative pressure state (i.e., target vacuum degree) according to ice-making requirements. By adjusting the air pressure inside ice-making chamber 10 (e.g., within a vacuum range of 0 to -70 kPa), the size of the bubbles formed by the gas dissolved in water during freezing can be controlled, thereby macroscopically adjusting the hardness of the final ice block 200. For example, at higher vacuum degrees (e.g., -70 kPa, -50 kPa), the gas dissolved in water is more likely to form larger bubbles, resulting in a relatively loose structure and relatively low hardness of ice block 200; while at lower vacuum degrees (e.g., -30 kPa) or normal pressure (0 kPa), the bubbles are relatively smaller, resulting in a relatively dense structure and relatively high hardness of ice block 200.

[0030] The ice-making device 100 may also include a pressure sensor, which is installed inside the ice-making chamber 10 or on its connecting pipe and electrically connected to the controller 50. The controller 50 can monitor the pressure value inside the ice-making chamber 10 in real time through the pressure sensor, thereby realizing closed-loop precise control of the vacuum degree and ensuring that the pressure can stably reach and be maintained at the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice block 200.

[0031] The controller 50 is electrically connected to components such as the water supply assembly 20, the refrigeration assembly 30, the vacuum pump 40, and the pressure sensor. The controller 50 receives user commands, such as those sent via the operation panel on the ice-making equipment 100 or a remote terminal. Based on these commands and sensor feedback, it executes the corresponding ice-making steps, coordinating the actions of each component to complete the entire process from water injection, vacuuming, ice making, to ice removal. For example, the controller 50 determines a target vacuum level based on the user-selected ice cube hardness 200, then controls the vacuum pump 40 to operate while monitoring the pressure sensor readings. Once the target vacuum level is reached in the ice-making chamber 10, the refrigeration assembly 30 is activated to begin ice making.

[0032] Please refer to the following: Figure 7 and Figure 8 During the de-icing stage, the controller 50 can also control the motor to drive the lower shell 12, and the push plate 61 connected to the lower shell 12 can push the detached ice blocks 200 into the ice storage container (the ice storage basket 70 shown in the figure) to complete a complete ice making and collection cycle.

[0033] Optionally, the controller 50 can be a microcontroller, a programmable logic controller, or an embedded system. The controller 50 internally stores preset programs and parameters, such as the correspondence between the hardness of different ice cubes 200 and the target vacuum level, water injection time, and cooling time. The controller 50 is also equipped with input / output interfaces to receive commands from the user and signals from sensors, such as signals from a pressure sensor, water level sensor, and temperature sensor. Simultaneously, the controller 50 sends control signals to each actuator through its output interface.

[0034] The water supply assembly 20 is electrically connected to and controlled by the controller 50 to provide a measured amount of water for ice making to the ice-making chamber 10. The water supply assembly 20 may include a water tank, a water valve 23, and may further include a water pump 22. The controller 50 performs the water filling operation by controlling the start and stop of the water pump 22 or the opening and closing of the water valve 23. The water filling volume can be controlled based on time, for example, controlling the water pump 22 to run for a first preset water filling time. The water filling volume can also be based on sensor feedback, for example, using a water level sensor or a weighing sensor to determine whether the water volume has reached a preset value.

[0035] The refrigeration unit 30 is also electrically connected to and controlled by the controller 50, responsible for providing cooling capacity for the ice-making process. The refrigeration unit 30 typically includes components such as a compressor 32, a condenser, and an evaporator 31. The controller 50 controls the start and end of the refrigeration cycle by starting or stopping the compressor 32. When de-icing is required, the controller 50 can also control, for example, a four-way reversing valve or a hot gas bypass valve, to reverse the refrigeration system or introduce high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant into the evaporator 31 to heat the evaporator 31, thereby separating the ice 200 from the surface of the evaporator 31.

[0036] Vacuum pump 40 is electrically connected to controller 50. The suction port of vacuum pump 40 is connected to ice-making chamber 10 through a pipe. Controller 50 can determine a target vacuum level by querying the corresponding relationship stored internally based on the target ice hardness 200 set by the user. Then, controller 50 starts vacuum pump 40 to evacuate air from the sealed ice-making chamber 10.

[0037] To precisely control the vacuum level, the device also includes a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is installed at a location capable of detecting the internal air pressure of the ice-making chamber 10 and feeding back the detected real-time pressure value to the controller 50. The controller 50 compares this real-time pressure value with a preset target vacuum level. When the pressure reaches the target vacuum level, the controller 50 can maintain the negative pressure state in two ways: one is to stop the vacuum pump 40 and close the extraction pipe through a valve to prevent leakage; the other is to allow the vacuum pump 40 to operate continuously or intermittently at a lower power to dynamically compensate for possible leaks, thereby maintaining the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber 10 stable near the target vacuum level.

[0038] Understandably, through the coordinated operation of the aforementioned components, the following ice-making process can be achieved: First, the target vacuum level is determined based on the user's hardness selection. Then, the water supply component 20 is controlled to inject water. Next, the vacuum component is controlled to establish and maintain the target vacuum level within the ice-making chamber 10. Finally, the refrigeration component 30 is activated to freeze the ice. Throughout the freezing process, the negative pressure environment within the ice-making chamber 10 alters the physical properties of the water, resulting in the final ice block 200 containing air bubbles of varying volumes, thus effectively regulating the hardness of the ice block 200.

[0039] Please see Figure 9 This application provides an ice-making method applied to the ice-making device 100 described in the previous embodiment, which adjusts the hardness of the ice cubes 200 by controlling the vacuum level during the ice-making process. This ice-making method can be accomplished by a controller 50 in the ice-making device 100 in conjunction with various actuators. The ice-making method includes: S91, the controller 50 controls the water supply component 20 alone or controls the vacuum pump 40 and the water supply component 20 together to inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber 10.

[0040] At the start of the ice-making process, an appropriate amount of water needs to be added to the ice-making chamber 10.

[0041] S92. Obtain the target ice block hardness of 200 and determine the target vacuum degree corresponding to the target ice block hardness of 200.

[0042] After water injection is completed, or while water injection is in progress, controller 50 needs to determine the target hardness for this ice-making process.

[0043] In some embodiments, step S92 includes: S921, the controller 50 receives a selection command for the hardness of any one of at least two ice cubes 200, wherein the target ice cube 200 hardness is the ice cube 200 hardness corresponding to the selection command.

[0044] Users can select the desired ice cube hardness 200 via an interactive interface (such as buttons, knobs, or a touchscreen) on the ice-making device 100, such as "soft ice," "hard ice," or other hardness options. Upon receiving the user's selection command, the controller 50 retrieves the target vacuum level value matching the selected ice cube 200 hardness from a pre-stored "hardness-vacuum" correspondence table. For example, "soft ice" might correspond to a vacuum level of -70 kPa, while "hard ice" might correspond to a vacuum level of -30 kPa. This correspondence is pre-set based on experimental data: the higher the vacuum level (the greater the negative pressure), the larger the bubbles formed when dissolved gases in the water freeze, the more porous the ice cube 200, and the lower its overall hardness.

[0045] S93, control vacuum pump 40 to adjust the air pressure in ice chamber 10 to the target vacuum level.

[0046] After determining the target vacuum level, the controller 50, under the control of the vacuum pump 40, evacuates the water-filled and sealed ice-making chamber 10. Simultaneously, the controller 50 monitors the pressure changes inside the chamber in real time via a pressure sensor connected to the ice-making chamber 10. The controller 50 compares the real-time pressure value fed back by the sensor with the determined target vacuum level. The vacuum pump 40 continues to operate until the pressure inside the chamber decreases to the target vacuum level.

[0047] S94. Control the refrigeration component 30 to start to freeze the water in the ice chamber 10, and control the vacuum pump 40 to maintain the negative pressure state in the ice chamber 10 during the freezing process.

[0048] Once the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber 10 reaches and stabilizes at the target vacuum level, the controller 50 controls the refrigeration component 30 to enter the ice-making process, and the surface temperature of the evaporator 31 drops rapidly, starting to freeze the water inside the ice-making chamber 10.

[0049] In some embodiments, a negative pressure state must be maintained within the ice-making chamber 10 throughout the entire ice-making process. This can be achieved in step S94 through the following two methods: The first method is to control the vacuum pump 40 to work continuously during the freezing process to dynamically compensate for any possible gas leakage.

[0050] The second method is to close the valve connecting the vacuum pump 40 and the ice chamber 10 after the target vacuum level is reached, and then stop the vacuum pump 40 from working, relying on the sealing of the ice chamber 10 to maintain the negative pressure.

[0051] In some embodiments, the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber 10 may rise slightly during the ice-making process. This usually does not affect the expansion of bubbles within the formed ice cube, thus preventing the formation of ice cubes with the desired hardness. If the air pressure sensor detects a significant rise in air pressure, the controller 50 can also briefly restart the vacuum pump 40 for supplemental evacuation. By completing freezing under a specific negative pressure environment, the tiny bubbles in the water maintain a volume corresponding to the target vacuum level, thereby determining the internal structure and hardness of the final ice cube 200.

[0052] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 further includes a pressure sensor for detecting the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber 10, the pressure sensor being electrically connected to the controller 50. Step S93 includes: S931, the controller 50 obtains the air pressure value in the ice-making chamber 10 in real time through the air pressure sensor, and controls the working state of the vacuum pump 40 according to the air pressure value until the air pressure value reaches the target vacuum level.

[0053] Please refer to the following: Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, step S94 includes: S941. In the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump 40 is controlled to create a first vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10 to begin forming ice blocks 200. S942. In the second freezing stage immediately following the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump 40 is controlled to form a second vacuum negative pressure different from the first vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10, so as to complete the freezing of the remaining part of the ice block 200, so that the formed ice block 200 has a hardness gradient inside.

[0054] Understandably, in order to create ice cubes 200 with special textures, such as hard on the outside and soft on the inside or soft on the outside and hard on the inside, the vacuum level can be adjusted in stages during the freezing process. By controlling the vacuum level at different stages, a hardness gradient can be created inside the resulting ice cubes 200.

[0055] Specifically, when the first vacuum pressure is lower than the second vacuum pressure, for example, when the first vacuum pressure is -30 kPa and the second vacuum pressure is -50 kPa, the portion of ice cube 200 formed under the first vacuum pressure is harder than the portion formed under the second vacuum pressure. Alternatively, when the first vacuum pressure is higher than the second vacuum pressure, the portion of ice cube 200 formed under the first vacuum pressure is harder than the portion formed under the second vacuum pressure.

[0056] Please see Figure 4 Taking the production of square ice cube 200 as an example, the square ice cube 200 is formed on a square mold. In the first freezing stage, the controller 50 controls the vacuum pump 40 to create a first vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10, allowing the outer layer of the ice cube 200 to form first, that is, the ice cube 200 structure to be formed first on the wall of the square mold. In the subsequent second freezing stage, the controller 50 adjusts the vacuum degree to a different second vacuum negative pressure to complete the freezing of the remaining part inside the ice cube 200. For example, if the first vacuum negative pressure is lower than the second vacuum negative pressure, the outer layer of the ice cube 200 will be harder and the inner layer will be softer.

[0057] For example, see also Figure 5 Taking the production of bullet ice as an example, the evaporator 31 is equipped with a cooling column, on which the bullet ice is formed. In the first freezing stage, the controller 50 controls the vacuum pump 40 to create a first vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10, allowing the inner layer of the ice block 200 to form first, that is, the ice block 200 structure to form first on the wall of the cooling column; in the subsequent second freezing stage, the controller 50 adjusts the vacuum degree to a different second vacuum negative pressure to complete the freezing of the remaining outer part of the ice block 200. If the first vacuum negative pressure is lower than the second vacuum negative pressure, the inner layer of the ice block 200 is harder and the outer layer is softer.

[0058] In other embodiments, the suction speed of the vacuum pump 40 is adjustable from the first freezing stage to the second freezing stage. For example, a faster suction speed of the vacuum pump 40 results in a faster change from the first vacuum level to the second vacuum level, leading to a larger difference in hardness between the inner and outer layers of the ice cube 200 and a more pronounced difference in texture. Alternatively, a slower suction speed of the vacuum pump 40 results in a slower change from the first vacuum level to the second vacuum level, causing a gradual change in hardness between the inner and outer layers of the ice cube 200 and a gradual change in texture.

[0059] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 further includes an optical sensor disposed on the side wall of the ice-making chamber 10 and electrically connected to the controller 50, for real-time detection of the light transmittance of the ice block 200. The controller 50 can obtain the light transmittance of the ice block 200 in the ice-making chamber 10 based on the optical sensor, determine whether the ice block 200 has reached a preset light transmittance threshold during the ice-making process, and control the vacuum pump 40 to adjust the vacuum level in the ice-making chamber 10 if the preset light transmittance threshold has not been reached. Optionally, the optical sensor may be an infrared photodiode or the like.

[0060] In one embodiment, a thin layer of ice first forms in the area of ​​the ice-making chamber 10 near the cold source, i.e., near the evaporator 31. During the ice-making process, an optical sensor detects the light transmittance of the thin layer of ice in this area, and the controller 50 confirms whether the light transmittance of the thin layer of ice in this area reaches a preset light transmittance threshold. If the light transmittance of the thin layer of ice in this area does not reach the preset light transmittance threshold, the vacuum pump 40 is controlled to further increase the vacuum level in the ice-making chamber 10, thereby reducing the light transmittance of a portion of the subsequently formed ice block 200 structure; if the light transmittance of the thin layer of ice in this area reaches the preset light transmittance threshold, the target vacuum level in the ice-making chamber 10 is maintained. For example, the controller 50 sets a compensation value for the target vacuum level of the ice-making chamber 10, and controls the vacuum pump 40 to make the air pressure in the ice-making chamber 10 reach the sum of the target vacuum level and the compensation value, thereby reducing the light transmittance of a portion of the subsequently formed ice block 200 structure.

[0061] In another embodiment, at the end of the ice-making process, an optical sensor detects the light transmittance of the intact ice block 200, and the controller 50 confirms whether the light transmittance of the intact ice block 200 has reached a preset light transmittance threshold. If the intact ice block 200 has not reached the preset light transmittance threshold, the vacuum pump 40 is controlled to increase the vacuum level in the ice-making chamber 10 in the next ice-making cycle, thereby reducing the light transmittance of the intact ice block 200 in the next ice-making cycle; if the light transmittance of the intact ice block 200 has reached the preset light transmittance threshold, the target vacuum level in the ice-making chamber 10 is maintained. For example, the controller 50 sets a compensation unit value for the target vacuum degree of the ice chamber 10. In the previous ice-making cycle, if the light transmittance of the whole ice block 200 does not reach the preset light transmittance threshold, the controller controls the vacuum pump 40 to make the air pressure in the ice chamber 10 reach the sum of the target vacuum degree and the compensation unit value, so that the light transmittance of the whole ice block 200 in this ice-making cycle is reduced. If the light transmittance of the whole ice block 200 in this ice-making cycle still does not reach the preset light transmittance threshold, the compensation unit value is increased again in the next ice-making cycle until the light transmittance of the whole ice block 200 reaches the preset light transmittance threshold.

[0062] In some embodiments, the ice-making method is applied to the ice-making device 100 in the above embodiments, and S94 of the ice-making method includes: S943. The real-time light transmittance of the ice blocks in the ice-making chamber 10 is obtained through an optical sensor; S944. Correct the target vacuum level based on the real-time transmittance.

[0063] The corrected target vacuum degree is used to control the vacuum pump 40 to adjust and maintain the negative pressure state in the ice chamber 10 during the current ice-making cycle, or the corrected target vacuum degree is used as the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice in the next ice-making cycle.

[0064] In some embodiments, the corrected target vacuum level is used to control the vacuum pump 40 to adjust and maintain the negative pressure state within the ice-making chamber 10 during the current ice-making cycle, and after step S944, the following is included: S945a. During a preset detection period after the water in the ice-making chamber 10 begins to freeze, the real-time light transmittance of the thin ice area formed in the ice-making chamber 10 is obtained. S946a. Determine whether the real-time transmittance is higher than the preset transmittance threshold. S947a If so, then determine that the hardness of the currently formed ice block 200 is higher than the hardness of the target ice block 200, and control the vacuum pump 40 to increase the vacuum degree in the ice-making chamber 10 to reduce the light transmittance of the subsequently formed ice block 200. S948a If not, control the vacuum pump 40 to maintain the current vacuum level.

[0065] In other embodiments, the corrected target vacuum degree is used as the target vacuum degree corresponding to the target ice hardness in the next ice-making cycle. Following step S944, the following is included: S945b: At the end of the current ice-making cycle, obtain the overall light transmittance of the formed complete ice block 200; S946b. Determine whether the overall light transmittance is higher than the preset light transmittance standard. S947b If so, then determine that the hardness of the ice block 200 formed in the current ice-making cycle is higher than the hardness of the target ice block 200, and adjust the target vacuum degree corresponding to the next ice-making cycle to improve the vacuum degree in the ice-making chamber 10 in the next ice-making cycle.

[0066] Understandably, by installing optical sensors on the sidewall of the ice chamber 10 to detect the light transmittance of the ice block 200, and utilizing the correlation between the density of microbubbles inside the ice block 200 and the light transmittance, the actual microstructural state of the currently generated ice block 200 can be quantitatively characterized. To address the issue that differences in dissolved gas content from different water sources 21 may lead to varying bubble nucleation rates under the same vacuum level, the controller 50 dynamically compensates or periodically corrects the operating parameters of the vacuum pump 40 based on the light transmittance feedback signal. For example, when the light transmittance of the ice layer is detected to be higher than a preset standard, the vacuum level is automatically increased to promote bubble expansion, thereby changing the ice-making control from an open-loop to a closed-loop system. This eliminates the interference of water quality and environmental factors on the bubble formation process, ensuring that the hardness of the final ice block 200 consistently meets the user's preset requirements.

[0067] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 100 performs a de-icing operation after the complete ice block 200 has been formed. Specifically, after step S95, the ice-making method further includes: S96. Control the vacuum pump 40 to depressurize the ice-making chamber 10 to relieve the negative pressure state; S97. Control the refrigeration component 30 to increase the temperature so that the ice cube 200 falls off.

[0068] When the controller 50 determines that ice making is complete, for example, based on a preset ice making time or feedback from a temperature sensor, the controller 50 first controls the vacuum pump 40 to depressurize the ice-making chamber 10, restoring it to normal pressure. Then, the controller 50 controls the refrigeration component 30 to enter the de-icing mode (e.g., by heating the evaporator 31 through hot gas bypass), causing the formed ice blocks 200 to fall off the surface of the evaporator 31. Finally, the controller 50 can control the mechanical structure to collect the ice blocks 200 into the ice storage basket 70, completing one complete ice-making cycle. For example, flipping the lower shell 12 causes the ice blocks 200 to fall into the transfer chamber 60, and activating the pusher plate 61 pushes the ice blocks 200 in the transfer chamber 60 into the ice storage basket 70.

[0069] This application provides at least two feasible water injection methods. In some embodiments, the water supply assembly 20 includes a water pump 22 and a water valve 23. The water pump 22 is connected to a water source 21, and the water valve 23 is disposed between the water pump 22 and the water inlet of the ice-making chamber 10. The water pump 22 and the water valve 23 are respectively connected to and controlled by the controller 50. Step S91 includes: When the water valve 23 is opened, the water pump 22 is controlled to run for a first preset water injection time to inject the required amount of water for ice making into the ice making chamber 10.

[0070] For example, the controller 50 can start a water pump 22 connected to a water tank and open the corresponding water valve 23 to allow water to flow into the ice-making chamber 10. By precisely controlling the running time of the water pump 22 (i.e., the first preset water injection duration), a predetermined amount of water can be injected.

[0071] In other embodiments, the ice-making chamber 10 may be equipped with a water level sensor or a weighing sensor. When the sensor detects that the water level or weight has reached a preset threshold, the controller 50 controls the water pump to stop filling with water. Step S91 includes: When water valve 23 is opened, control water pump 22 to run; When the water level sensor or weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber 10 has reached the required amount, the water pump 22 is controlled to stop filling the water.

[0072] In some other embodiments, the water supply assembly 20 includes a water valve 23, which is located between the water source 21 and the water inlet of the ice-making chamber 10. The water valve 23 is connected to and controlled by the controller 50, which controls the vacuum pump 40 to inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber 10. Step S91 includes: The vacuum pump 40 is controlled to operate to create a negative pressure inside the ice-making chamber 10, so as to use the negative pressure to draw ice-making water into the ice-making chamber 10.

[0073] In the first embodiment, step S91 specifically includes: When the water valve 23 is closed, the control vacuum pump 40 stops working after forming a third vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10, so that when the water valve 23 is reopened, the required amount of ice-making water can be drawn in using the third vacuum negative pressure.

[0074] Understandably, the third vacuum negative pressure needs to be sufficient to draw water from the water tank through the water supply pipe to the ice-making chamber 10. Its value depends on the volume of the ice-making chamber, the required water volume, and the specific physical structure of the ice-making equipment, such as the maximum vertical height difference between the water tank and the ice-making chamber 10, the length, inner diameter, number of bends, and required water flow velocity of the connecting pipe. In principle, the minimum required value should be able to overcome the static pressure of the water column generated by the height difference and all resistance to fluid flow in the pipe. For example, the third vacuum negative pressure can be greater than -50 kPa.

[0075] In the second embodiment, the ice-making device 100 further includes a water level sensor disposed within the ice-making chamber 10, the water level sensor being electrically connected to the controller 50, and step S91 specifically includes: When water valve 23 is opened, vacuum pump 10 is controlled to work to form a fourth vacuum negative pressure in ice chamber 10. When water level sensor detects that the water level in ice chamber 10 has reached the preset water level, it is determined that the water injection has reached the required amount, and vacuum pump 40 is controlled to release the negative pressure state or water valve 23 is controlled to close.

[0076] In the third embodiment, the ice-making device 100 further includes a weighing sensor for detecting the weight inside the ice-making chamber 10. The weighing sensor is electrically connected to the controller 50. Step S91 specifically includes: When the water valve 23 is opened, the vacuum pump 10 is controlled to work to create a fourth degree of vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber 10; When the weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber 10 has reached the preset weight, it determines that the required water volume has been reached, and controls the vacuum pump 40 to release the negative pressure state or controls the water valve 23 to close.

[0077] Similarly, the fourth vacuum level can be greater than -50 kPa (e.g., -1 kPa to -5 kPa, or other vacuum levels greater than -50 kPa; theoretically, only a small amount of negative pressure is needed to introduce water into the ice-making chamber). The specific setting can be determined based on the expected water injection rate, the relative position of the water tank and water supply pipeline to the ice-making chamber, etc.

[0078] Understandably, the water injection volume can be determined by controlling the vacuum pressure created by the vacuum pump 40 within the ice-making chamber 10, or by using a water level sensor / weighing sensor for monitoring. This method eliminates the need for the water pump 22, simplifying the equipment structure.

[0079] See Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The computer device 1000 can be the controller 50 of the ice-making device 100 described above. The computer device 1000 includes one or more processors 1001 and a memory 1002. The memory 1002 is connected to one or more processors 1002, for example, connected to the processor 1001 via a bus 1003.

[0080] Processor 1001 is configured to support the computer device 1000 in performing the corresponding functions in the methods described in the above method embodiments. Processor 1001 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a hardware chip, or any combination thereof. The aforementioned hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The aforementioned PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0081] The memory 1002 is used to store program code, etc. The memory 1002 may include volatile memory (VM), such as random access memory (RAM); the memory 1002 may also include non-volatile memory (NVM), such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD); the memory 1002 may also include a combination of the above types of memory.

[0082] The memory 1002 can be used to store non-volatile software programs, non-volatile computer-executable programs, and modules, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the ice-making method in the embodiments of this application. The processor executes various functional applications and data processing of the ice-making method and control device by running the non-volatile software programs, instructions, and modules stored in the memory, thereby realizing the ice-making method provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0083] The memory 1002 may include a program storage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function. The data storage area may store data created based on the use of the controller, etc. In some embodiments, the memory may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor, which can be connected to the controller via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0084] One or more modules are stored in memory 1002. When executed by one or more processors, they perform the ice-making method in any of the above method embodiments. For example, they perform the method steps described in the above method embodiments to realize the functions of the modules described in the above device embodiments.

[0085] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0086] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the methods described above. The storage medium can be a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or read-only memory (ROM), or it can be a volatile computer-readable storage medium, such as random access memory (RAM).

[0087] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Therefore, any equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of this application shall still fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for making ice, characterized in that, An ice-making device is applied to an ice-making apparatus, the ice-making apparatus including an ice-making chamber, a water supply component, a refrigeration component, a vacuum pump, and a controller. The water supply component, the refrigeration component, and the vacuum pump are electrically connected to and controlled by the controller. The method includes: The controller controls the water supply component to inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, either alone or in combination with the vacuum pump and the water supply component. Obtain the hardness of the target ice block and determine the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice block; The vacuum pump is controlled to adjust the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber to the target vacuum level; The refrigeration component is controlled to start and freeze the water in the ice-making chamber, and during the freezing process, the vacuum pump is controlled to maintain a negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber.

2. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of obtaining the hardness of the target ice block includes: The controller receives a selection instruction for any one of at least two ice hardnesses, wherein the target ice hardness is the ice hardness corresponding to the selection instruction.

3. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of controlling the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state inside the ice-making chamber during the freezing process includes one of the following: During the freezing process, the vacuum pump is kept running continuously; or Once the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber reaches the target vacuum level, the valve connecting the ice-making chamber and the vacuum pump is closed, and the vacuum pump stops working.

4. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment also includes a pressure sensor for detecting the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber. The pressure sensor is electrically connected to the controller. Adjusting the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber to the target vacuum level includes: The controller obtains the air pressure value in the ice-making chamber in real time through the air pressure sensor, and controls the working state of the vacuum pump according to the air pressure value until the air pressure value reaches the target vacuum level.

5. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the refrigeration component to start freezing the water in the ice-making chamber, and the control of the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber during the freezing process, includes: In the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a first degree of negative pressure in the ice-making chamber to begin forming ice blocks; In the second freezing stage, which follows the first freezing stage, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a second vacuum pressure different from the first vacuum pressure in the ice-making chamber, so as to complete the freezing of the remaining part of the ice block and make the formed ice block have a hardness gradient inside.

6. The ice-making method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the first vacuum negative pressure is lower than the second vacuum negative pressure, the part of the ice cube formed under the first vacuum negative pressure is harder than the part formed under the second vacuum negative pressure. or When the first vacuum negative pressure is higher than the second vacuum negative pressure, the ice block formed under the first vacuum negative pressure has a lower hardness than the ice block formed under the second vacuum negative pressure.

7. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After controlling the refrigeration component to end freezing, the method further includes: Control the vacuum pump to depressurize the ice-making chamber to relieve the negative pressure state; The temperature of the refrigeration component is controlled to cause the ice to fall off.

8. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water supply assembly includes a water pump and a water valve. The water pump is connected to a water source, and the water valve is located between the water pump and the water inlet of the ice-making chamber. The water pump and the water valve are respectively connected to and controlled by the controller. The controller controls the water supply component to individually inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the water pump is controlled to run for a first preset water injection time to inject the required amount of ice-making water into the ice-making chamber. or, The ice-making equipment further includes a water level sensor or a weighing sensor installed in the ice-making chamber. The water level sensor or the weighing sensor is electrically connected to the controller. The controller controls the water supply component to separately inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the water pump is controlled to run; When the water level sensor or the weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber has reached the required amount, the water pump is controlled to stop filling the chamber.

9. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller controls the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to work together to inject ice-making water into the ice-making chamber, including: The vacuum pump and the water supply assembly are controlled to work together to create a negative pressure in the ice-making chamber, which draws the water for ice making into the ice-making chamber.

10. The ice-making method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The water supply assembly includes a water valve positioned between the water source and the inlet of the ice-making chamber. The water valve is connected to and controlled by the controller. The controller coordinates the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to create a negative pressure within the ice-making chamber, drawing ice-making water into the chamber. This includes: When the water valve is closed, the vacuum pump is controlled to stop working after forming the third vacuum negative pressure in the ice-making chamber, so that when the water valve is reopened, the third vacuum negative pressure can be used to draw in the required amount of ice-making water. or, The water supply assembly includes a water valve positioned between the water source and the inlet of the ice-making chamber. The ice-making equipment also includes a water level sensor or a weighing sensor installed within the ice-making chamber. The water valve, the water level sensor, or the weighing sensor are electrically connected to the controller. The controller coordinates the vacuum pump and the water supply assembly to create a negative pressure within the ice-making chamber to draw ice-making water into the chamber, including: When the water valve is opened, the vacuum pump is controlled to create a fourth degree of negative vacuum in the ice-making chamber; When the water level sensor or the weighing sensor detects that the water level in the ice-making chamber has reached the required amount, the vacuum pump is controlled to release the negative pressure state or the water valve is controlled to close.

11. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment also includes an optical sensor, which is disposed on the side wall of the ice-making chamber and electrically connected to the controller for real-time detection of the light transmittance of the ice. The step of controlling the vacuum pump to maintain a negative pressure state within the ice-making chamber during the freezing process includes: The real-time light transmittance of the ice blocks inside the ice-making chamber is obtained through the optical sensor. The target vacuum level is corrected based on the real-time light transmittance. The corrected target vacuum degree is used to control the vacuum pump to adjust and maintain the negative pressure state in the ice-making chamber during the current ice-making cycle, or the corrected target vacuum degree is used as the target vacuum degree corresponding to the hardness of the target ice block in the next ice-making cycle.

12. An ice-making device, characterized in that, include: Ice maker; Water supply assembly for supplying water to the ice-making chamber; A refrigeration unit for freezing the water in the ice-making chamber; A vacuum pump is used to regulate the air pressure inside the ice-making chamber; The controller is connected to the water supply component, the cooling component, and the vacuum pump, respectively. The controller is used to perform the ice-making method as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

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