Control method of ice-making apparatus and ice-making apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, specifically providing a control method and an ice-making device to solve the problems of long ice-making time and limited functionality in existing ice-making equipment. To this end, the ice-making equipment of this invention includes a water supply device and an ice-making device interconnected. The water supply device supplies water to the ice-making device, and the ice-making device is equipped with an overflow port that guides overflowing water back to the water supply device to form a circulating water flow. The ice-making equipment has multiple ice-making modes. The control method of this invention includes: controlling the operation of the water supply device during ice-making operation; controlling the operation of the ice-making device; and selectively shutting off the water supply device before water overflows from the ice-making device, depending on the ice-making mode. This configuration enables both static and dynamic water ice-making, improving ice-making speed or ice transparency, meeting diverse user needs, and simultaneously reducing energy consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, specifically providing a control method for ice-making equipment and ice-making equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With technological advancements and improved living standards, the culture of cold drinks has become increasingly popular, leading to a growing acceptance of ice among users and greatly promoting the rapid development and widespread adoption of household ice-making equipment.

[0003] To ensure sufficient ice production, existing ice-making equipment is becoming increasingly larger in capacity and power, enabling the mass production of ice blocks.

[0004] However, existing ice-making equipment has a long ice-making time and relatively simple functions, which cannot meet the diverse needs of users.

[0005] Accordingly, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, that existing ice-making equipment has a long ice-making time and relatively simple functions, which cannot meet the diverse needs of users.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for an ice-making device, the ice-making device including a water supply device and an ice-making device interconnected thereto, the water supply device being capable of supplying water to the ice-making device, the ice-making device being provided with an overflow port, the overflow port being capable of guiding overflowing water back to the water supply device to form a circulating water flow, the ice-making device having multiple ice-making modes, and the control method of the present invention including: controlling the operation of the water supply device when the ice-making device is running; controlling the operation of the ice-making device; and selectively controlling the water supply device to shut off before water overflows from the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "selectively controlling the water supply device to shut off before water overflows from the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode" specifically includes: if the ice-making mode is a fast ice-making mode, then controlling the water supply device to shut off before water overflows from the ice-making device; and / or if the ice-making mode is a standard ice-making mode, then controlling the water supply device to remain in operation.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the ice-making device has multiple different cooling intensities, and the step of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically includes: determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device; and controlling the ice-making device to operate at the determined cooling intensity.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the ice-making device has a first cooling intensity and a second cooling intensity, wherein the first cooling intensity is greater than the second cooling intensity. The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device" specifically includes: if the ice-making mode is a rapid ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity; and / or if the ice-making mode is a standard ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity according to the water temperature.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the water temperature" specifically includes: comparing the water temperature with a preset water temperature; and determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the comparison result.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the comparison result" specifically includes: if the water temperature is less than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the second cooling intensity; and / or if the water temperature is not less than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the ice-making device further has a third cooling intensity, which is less than the second cooling intensity. The ice-making device also has a water-making mode. The control method of the present invention further includes: controlling the water supply device to maintain operation in the water-making mode; and controlling the ice-making device to operate at the third cooling intensity.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the ice-making device includes a heat exchange component and an ice-making box. The top of the ice-making box has an opening. The heat exchanger of the heat exchange component is installed above the ice-making box and extends downward into the ice-making box through the opening. An overflow port is formed on the ice-making box and is lower than the opening. The step of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically includes: controlling the operation of the heat exchange component to make the heat exchanger cool to make ice. After ice making is completed, the control method of the present invention further includes: controlling the operation of the heat exchange component to make the heat exchanger heat to make de-icing.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the ice-making equipment further includes a driving device and an ice storage box. The driving device can drive the ice storage box to rotate to the side or above the heat exchanger and turn the overflow port to the bottom of the ice storage box. The return port of the ice storage box is located below the heat exchanger, and the return port of the water supply device is located below the overflow port. Before "controlling the operation of the heat exchange component to make the heat exchanger heat up", the control method of the present invention further includes: if the water supply device is still running, controlling the water supply device to shut down; controlling the driving device to turn the ice storage box to the side or above the heat exchanger.

[0016] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an ice-making apparatus, the ice-making apparatus including a controller configured to perform the control method described above.

[0017] With the above technical solution adopted, the ice-making equipment of the present invention includes a water supply device and an ice-making device connected to each other. The water supply device can supply water to the ice-making device, and the ice-making device is provided with an overflow port, which can guide the overflowing water back to the water supply device to form a circulating water flow. The ice-making equipment has multiple ice-making modes. The control method of the present invention includes: controlling the operation of the water supply device when the ice-making equipment is running; controlling the operation of the ice-making device; and selectively controlling the water supply device to shut off before the water overflows from the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode. Through this setting, on the one hand, multiple ice-making modes are provided to meet the diverse ice-making needs of users; on the other hand, by matching the corresponding water volume and water flow state to different ice-making modes, i.e., static water ice-making or dynamic water ice-making, the ice-making speed or the transparency of the ice cubes can be improved according to different user needs, while also reasonably controlling the overall energy consumption of the equipment.

[0018] Furthermore, the step of "selectively shutting off the water supply device before water overflows from the ice-making device, depending on the ice-making mode" specifically includes: if the ice-making mode is a fast ice-making mode, shutting off the water supply device before water overflows from the ice-making device; and / or if the ice-making mode is a standard ice-making mode, keeping the water supply device operational. Controlling the water volume and keeping the water static can increase the ice-making speed; dynamic water ice-making can prevent air bubble formation and improve the transparency of the ice.

[0019] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention has multiple different cooling intensities. The step of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically includes: determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device based on the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device; and controlling the ice-making device to operate at the determined cooling intensity. Through this setting, the cooling intensity of the ice-making device can be dynamically adjusted according to the ice-making mode and water temperature, further improving ice-making efficiency and reducing overall energy consumption.

[0020] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention has a first cooling intensity and a second cooling intensity, wherein the first cooling intensity is greater than the second cooling intensity. The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device based on the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device" specifically includes: if the ice-making mode is a rapid ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity; and / or if the ice-making mode is a standard ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the water temperature. This allows for further improvement of ice-making efficiency by increasing the cooling intensity of the ice-making device during rapid ice-making; and for dynamically adjusting the cooling intensity according to changes in water temperature when rapid ice-making is not required, thus balancing ice-making efficiency and equipment energy consumption.

[0021] Furthermore, the step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be either the first or second cooling intensity based on the water temperature" specifically includes: comparing the water temperature with a preset water temperature; and determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be either the first or second cooling intensity based on the comparison result. The preset water temperature allows for the determination of the optimal water temperature range during the ice-making process, providing a basis for adjusting the cooling intensity.

[0022] Furthermore, the step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device as the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the comparison results" specifically includes: if the water temperature is lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the second cooling intensity; and / or if the water temperature is not lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity.

[0023] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention also has a third cooling intensity, which is less than the second cooling intensity. The ice-making device also has a water-making mode. The control method of the present invention further includes: in the water-making mode, controlling the water supply device to maintain operation; and controlling the ice-making device to operate at the third cooling intensity. Through this setting, a separate ice-water production mode is provided, which can achieve ice-water production even when ice making is not required, making the operation mode more flexible and diverse.

[0024] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention includes a heat exchange component and an ice-making box. The top of the ice-making box has an opening. The heat exchanger of the heat exchange component is installed above the ice-making box and extends downwards into the ice-making box through the opening. An overflow port is formed on the ice-making box and is lower than the opening. The step of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically includes: controlling the operation of the heat exchange component to cool the heat exchanger for ice making; after ice making is completed, the control method of the present invention further includes: controlling the operation of the heat exchange component to heat the heat exchanger for ice removal. With this configuration, water can be cooled to make ice, and the ice layer connected to the heat exchanger on the ice block after it is formed can be melted, achieving automatic detachment of the ice block and facilitating its collection and use.

[0025] Furthermore, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a driving device and an ice storage box. The driving device can drive the ice storage box to rotate to the side or above the heat exchanger and turn the overflow port to the bottom of the ice storage box. The recovery port of the ice storage box is located below the heat exchanger, and the return port of the water supply device is located below the overflow port. Before "controlling the operation of the heat exchange components to make the heat exchanger heat up", the control method of the present invention also includes: if the water supply device is still running, controlling the water supply device to shut down; controlling the driving device to rotate the ice storage box to the side or above the heat exchanger. With this setting, on the one hand, the residual water can be discharged into the water supply device by flipping the ice storage box to realize the recovery of residual water, and then the ice cubes can be separated from the heat exchanger and fall into the ice storage box; on the other hand, the recovery paths of residual water and ice cubes are independent and do not interfere with each other, realizing the separate recovery of the two, avoiding residual water falling into the ice storage box and causing the ice cubes to stick together, and also avoiding ice cubes falling into the water supply device and affecting the normal water supply.

[0026] Furthermore, the ice-making device provided by this invention, based on the aforementioned control method, possesses the technical effects of the aforementioned control method. Compared to the ice-making device before the improvement, the ice-making device of this invention has multiple operating modes, realizes rapid production of ice cubes and ice water, improves the speed of ice making and the transparency of ice cubes, meets the diverse usage needs of users, and at the same time takes into account the energy consumption of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of the ice-making device of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of the ice-making device of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box of the present invention in the ice-making state; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box of the present invention in the de-icing state; Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the control method for the ice-making equipment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the control method for the ice-making equipment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the control method for the ice-making equipment of the present invention.

[0028] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Pure water tank; 2. Heating pipeline; 21. Sterilization pipeline; 22. Hot water pipeline; 3. Heating device; 4. Water supply pipeline; 5. Cold water pipeline; 61. Cold water tank; 62. Circulation pipeline; 63. Circulation pump; 71. Heat exchange assembly; 711. Compressor; 712. Condenser; 713. Evaporator; 714. De-icing pipeline; 715. Normally closed valve; 72. Ice maker; 721. Overflow port; 8. Drive unit; 9. Ice storage box; 10. Water intake pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications.

[0030] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," etc., which indicate directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for the convenience of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0031] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or a detachable connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] Based on the background art, existing ice-making equipment suffers from long ice-making times and limited functionality, failing to meet diverse user needs. This invention provides a control method and equipment for ice-making, achieving two ice-making modes—static water and dynamic water—by adjusting the water volume and flow state within the device. This improves ice-making speed and ice transparency respectively, satisfying diverse user requirements.

[0033] Specifically, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention includes a water supply device and an ice-making device that are interconnected. The water supply device can supply water to the ice-making device, and the ice-making device is provided with an overflow port 721, which can guide the overflowing water back to the water supply device to form a circulating water flow.

[0034] For example, such as Figures 1 to 5As shown, the water supply device includes a cold water tank 61 and a circulation pipe 62, etc., and the ice-making device includes a heat exchange component 71 and an ice-making box 72. The two ends of the circulation pipe 62 are connected to the cold water tank 61 and the ice-making box 72 respectively, which can guide the water in the cold water tank 61 into the ice-making box 72 for ice making. In some preferred embodiments, the water supply device also includes a circulation pump 63 connected to the circulation pipe 62, which can pump water into the ice-making box 72. The overflow port 721 of the ice-making device is located in the upper middle part of the ice-making box 72. When the water level in the ice-making box 72 rises to the height of the overflow port 721, the water will overflow through the overflow port 721. The overflow port 721 is designed to guide the water flow back to the cold water tank 61. Preferably, the overflow port 721 is located above the cold water tank 61 so that the overflowing water flow can fall into the cold water tank 61, thereby circulating the water flow between the cold water tank 61, the circulation pipe 62 and the ice-making box 72. Therefore, by controlling the start and stop of the circulation pump 63, the amount of water in the ice container 72 and the water flow status in the ice container 72 can be controlled.

[0035] The heat exchange component 71 is connected to or suspended inside the ice container 72 for heat exchange. It absorbs heat to reduce the temperature of the water inside the ice container 72, thereby producing ice cubes and ice water.

[0036] The ice-making device of the present invention has multiple ice-making modes, such as a rapid ice-making mode and a standard ice-making mode, preferably, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the control method provided by the present invention based on the above structure includes: S1000: Controls the operation of the water supply device when the ice-making equipment is running; S2000: Controls the operation of the ice-making device; S3000: Depending on the ice-making mode, selectively controls the water supply to shut off before water overflows from the ice-making unit.

[0037] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the step of "selectively shutting off the water supply device before water overflows from the ice-making unit, depending on the ice-making mode" specifically includes: S3100: If the ice-making mode is quick ice-making mode, the water supply device will be shut off before the water overflows from the ice-making device. S3200: If the ice-making mode is the standard ice-making mode, the water supply device is kept running.

[0038] For example, when rapid ice making is required, especially when the equipment is first started, the water in the cold water tank 61 is at room temperature, and it takes a long time to freeze, affecting the user's ice-making experience. At this time, the rapid ice-making mode can be executed. By controlling the water supply device to inject a small amount of water into the ice box 72, it is ensured that the water in the ice maker will not overflow from the overflow port 721, thus preventing the formation of a circulating water flow. On the one hand, since the amount of water in the ice maker is small, preferably only enough to meet the water consumption of a batch of ice cubes (0.4 to 1L), the amount of cold energy required for the water to freeze is limited. On the other hand, since the water in the ice maker is static, there is no loss of cold energy compared to flowing water, thereby effectively increasing the speed of ice making and greatly reducing the ice-making time.

[0039] When rapid ice making is not required, the standard ice-making mode can be executed, keeping the water supply device running to continuously inject water from the cold water tank 61 into the ice-making device. At the same time, the water in the ice-making device will flow back into the water supply device through the overflow port 721 to form a circulating water flow, keeping the water in the ice-making device in a slow-flowing state. This can promptly carry away the air bubbles agitated at the water inlet, preventing the air bubbles from accumulating in the water and freezing into the ice, thus improving the transparency of the ice.

[0040] The system meets diverse ice-making needs by offering multiple ice-making modes. By matching different water volumes and flow conditions to different ice-making modes—either static or dynamic water ice-making—the system can increase the speed of ice making or improve the transparency of ice cubes according to different user requirements, while also reasonably controlling the overall energy consumption of the equipment.

[0041] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention has multiple different cooling intensities, and the step of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically includes: S2100: Determine the cooling capacity of the ice-making device based on the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device; S2200: Controls the ice-making unit to operate at a defined cooling intensity.

[0042] Preferably, the ice-making device of the present invention has a first cooling intensity and a second cooling intensity, wherein the first cooling intensity is greater than the second cooling intensity. The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device" specifically includes: S2110: If the ice-making mode is the rapid ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity; S2120: If the ice-making mode is the standard ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the water temperature.

[0043] More preferably, the step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be a first cooling intensity or a second cooling intensity based on the water temperature" specifically includes: S2121: Compare the water temperature with the preset water temperature; S2122: Based on the comparison results, determine the cooling intensity of the ice-making device as either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity.

[0044] The steps of "determining whether the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the comparison results" specifically include: S2123: If the water temperature is lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the second cooling intensity; S2124: If the water temperature is not lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity.

[0045] In the rapid ice-making mode, in order to further improve the ice-making speed, the system will control the heat exchange component 71 to always operate at a higher power. In the standard ice-making mode, there is no high requirement for the ice-making speed. At this time, in order to balance energy consumption, the system will flexibly adjust the operating power of the heat exchange component 71 according to the change of water temperature to achieve the adjustment of cooling intensity.

[0046] This configuration allows the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be dynamically adjusted according to the ice-making mode and water temperature. During rapid ice-making, the cooling intensity of the ice-making device can be increased to further improve the ice-making speed. When rapid ice-making is not required, the cooling intensity still needs to be reasonably controlled. That is, the optimal water temperature range during the ice-making process is calibrated by setting a preset water temperature, which provides a basis for adjusting the cooling intensity. This allows the cooling intensity to be dynamically adjusted according to changes in water temperature, while taking into account both ice-making efficiency and equipment energy consumption. In this application, the preset water temperature is preferably set to 5°C, and the cooling intensity is adjusted by adjusting the power of the heat exchange components in the ice-making device.

[0047] Regarding the cooling intensity, it is characterized by the temperature of the heat exchange component on the ice-making device. Preferably, under the first cooling intensity, the temperature of the heat exchange component is -10°C to -15°C, and under the second cooling intensity, the temperature of the heat exchange component is -5°C to -10°C.

[0048] It should be noted that in standard ice-making mode, as the circulating water is continuously cooled, the water temperature in the cold water tank 61 gradually decreases. Based on this, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a drinking water function, such as... Figure 3 As shown, by setting up a cold water pipe 5 and a water intake pipe 10, the two ends of the cold water pipe 5 are connected to the cold water tank 61 and the water intake pipe 10 respectively, so that the ice water in the cold water tank 61 can be directly exported for users to use at any time.

[0049] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making device also has a separate water-making mode, that is, it can produce ice water separately even when ice making is not required. Specifically, the ice-making device also has a third cooling intensity, which is less than the second cooling intensity. Preferably, under the third cooling intensity, the temperature of the heat exchange component 71 can be set to 0°C to -5°C. Within this temperature range, the temperature of the circulating water will drop to close to 0°C, but it is impossible to form a fixed ice block on the heat exchange component 71 or in the ice box 72.

[0050] Preferably, the control method of the present invention further includes: In water production mode, the water supply device is kept running. The ice-making device is controlled to operate at the third cooling intensity.

[0051] That is, by continuously operating the water supply device, the water flow continuously circulates between the cold water tank 61 and the ice box 72. By controlling the temperature of the heat exchange component 71 between 0°C and -5°C, the circulating water flow is reduced to a lower temperature, but will not freeze.

[0052] This provides a separate mode for producing ice water, enabling the production of ice water even when ice making is not required, thus making the operating mode more flexible and diverse.

[0053] Regarding the specific structure and working principle of ice-making devices, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention includes a heat exchange assembly 71 and an ice-making box 72. The top of the ice-making box 72 is provided with an opening. The heat exchanger of the heat exchange assembly 71 is installed above the ice-making box 72 and extends downward into the ice-making box 72 through the opening. It can not only cool but also heat. The heat exchanger is preferably cylindrical. During ice making, the heat exchanger is controlled to cool. As the water level in the ice-making box 72 rises, the lower part of the cylindrical heat exchanger is submerged in water. When the temperature drops below the freezing point, the water around the heat exchanger freezes on the heat exchanger, forming a hollow cylindrical ice block (i.e., bullet ice). After the ice block is formed, it needs to be removed. At this time, the heat exchanger can be controlled to heat to melt the ice at the point where the inner layer of the ice block adheres to the heat exchanger, so that the ice block separates from the heat exchanger.

[0054] Preferably, such as Figure 8 As shown, the specific steps for "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" include: S2300: Controls the operation of the heat exchange components to cool the heat exchanger for ice making; After ice making is completed, the control method of the present invention further includes: S6000: Controls the operation of the heat exchange components to heat the heat exchanger for de-icing.

[0055] For example, this application can detect whether the ice cubes have reached the preset shape and size by installing infrared sensors or vision devices, and then determine whether ice making is complete.

[0056] By switching the heat exchanger between cooling and heating, it can both cool water to make ice and melt the ice layer that adheres to the heat exchanger after the ice is formed, thus achieving automatic detachment of the ice and facilitating its collection and use.

[0057] Regarding the type of heat exchange component 71, this application preferably uses a heat pump cycle component or a semiconductor heat exchange component 71, etc., to meet the cooling and heating needs of the heat exchanger in the ice box 72.

[0058] More preferably, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the heat exchange component 71 of the present invention is configured as a heat pump circulation component, including a compressor 711, a condenser 712 and an evaporator 713, which are connected by a refrigerant pipeline to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The evaporator 713 is installed above the ice box 72 and extends downward into the ice box 72 through an opening. The evaporator 713 is preferably configured as multiple ice columns.

[0059] During ice making, heat exchange is achieved through the circulation of refrigerant, allowing the evaporator 713 to absorb heat and cool the ice box 72 and the water flow. The compressor 711 adopts a variable frequency mechanism, and the cooling intensity of the evaporator 713 can be adjusted by regulating the frequency of the compressor 711. This structure makes the ice making device cool quickly and the temperature is precisely controllable, facilitating the realization of various ice making modes.

[0060] The switching between cooling and heating modes for the evaporator 713 can be achieved by changing the direction of refrigerant circulation, similar to the switching between cooling and heating modes in an air conditioner, and will not be elaborated upon here. Alternatively, an additional de-icing pipe 714 can be added, preferably, as shown below. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the heat pump circulation assembly of the present invention also includes a de-icing pipe 714 and a normally closed valve 715 disposed on the de-icing pipe 714. The inlet of the de-icing pipe 714 is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor 711, and the outlet of the de-icing pipe 714 is connected to the inlet of the evaporator 713. When ice making is completed and de-icing is required, the normally closed valve 715 is opened to directly connect the exhaust port of the compressor 711 with the air inlet of the evaporator 713, so that the high-temperature gas discharged by the compressor 711 is directly introduced into the evaporator 713 to raise the temperature of the evaporator 713, thereby melting the ice layer at the connection between the ice and the heat exchanger, realizing the automatic detachment of the ice, and facilitating the collection and use of the ice.

[0061] Preferably, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the ice-making device of the present invention also includes a drive device 8 and an ice storage box 9. The ice storage box 72 is rotatably connected to the upper part of the ice-making device, the ice storage box 9 is located in the middle of the ice-making device, and the recovery port of the ice storage box 9 is located below the heat exchanger. The cold water tank 61 is located in the lower part of the ice-making device, and the return port of the cold water tank 61 is located below the overflow port 721. More preferably, the bottom of the ice storage box 72 is configured as a semi-shell structure, and the top is an open structure with an opening. The overflow port 721 is formed on one side edge of the opening, and the height of the overflow port 721 is lower than the height of other parts on the edge of the opening, so that the water can flow out from the overflow port 721 first after the water level rises.

[0062] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the drive device 8 can drive the ice maker 72 to rotate to the side or top of the heat exchanger, and rotate the overflow port 721 to the bottom of the ice maker 72. During the rotation, the water flowing out of the overflow port 721 can fall directly into the cold water tank 61 below, and the ice blocks that fall off the heat exchanger can fall directly into the ice storage box 9 below without being blocked by the ice maker 72. Based on this, as Figure 8 As shown, before "controlling the operation of heat exchange component 71 to heat the heat exchanger", the control method of the present invention further includes: S4000: If the water supply device is still running, control the water supply device to shut down; S5000: Controls the drive unit to rotate the ice box to the side or top of the heat exchanger.

[0063] Specifically, if the quick ice-making mode is executed, the system will shut off the water supply device in advance. If the standard water-making mode is executed, the water supply device will be running continuously. Therefore, when the ice-making is finished, the system will shut off the water supply device and stop supplying water to the ice box 72.

[0064] After ensuring the water supply device is shut off, the system first discharges the residual water into the cold water tank 61 of the water supply device by flipping the ice box 72, thus recovering the residual water. Then, the ice blocks are separated from the heat exchanger and fall into the ice storage box 9, thus recovering the ice blocks. The recovery paths of residual water and ice blocks are independent and do not interfere with each other, thus achieving separate recovery of the two. This can prevent residual water from falling into the ice storage box 9 and causing the ice blocks to stick together, and it can also prevent ice blocks from falling into the water supply device and affecting the normal water supply.

[0065] Furthermore, the ice-making equipment provided by this invention, based on the aforementioned control method, possesses the technical effects of the aforementioned control method. Compared to the ice-making equipment before the improvement, the ice-making equipment of this invention has multiple operating modes, realizing static water ice making and dynamic water ice making respectively, improving the ice-making speed or the transparency of ice cubes, meeting the diverse usage needs of users, and taking into account the energy consumption of the equipment.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the ice-making equipment also includes a pure water tank 1, a water supply pipeline 4, a heating pipeline 2, a heating device 3, and a sterilization pipeline 21. The inlets of the water supply pipeline 4 and the heating pipeline 2 are both connected to the pure water tank 1, and the outlet of the water supply pipeline 4 is connected to the cold water tank 6 to guide water flow into the cold water tank 6. The outlet of the heating pipeline 2 is connected to the cold water tank 6 through the sterilization pipeline 21. The heating device 3 is installed on the heating pipeline 2 and can be set as a thick film heater or an electric heating tube, etc., to heat the water flow and then guide it into the cold water tank 6 for high-temperature sterilization, thereby forming two parallel water paths between the water source and the cold water tank 6.

[0067] For example, both the heating pipe 2 and the water supply pipe 4 are equipped with on / off valves, which can control the on / off state of their respective pipes. When the ice-making mode is executed, the water supply pipe 4 can be connected and the heating pipe 2 can be disconnected. Room temperature water is delivered to the cold water tank 6 through the water supply pipe 4. When the water level in the cold water tank 6 reaches the preset water level, the ice-making device 7 is controlled to operate so as to introduce the room temperature water in the cold water tank 6 into the ice-making device 7 for ice making.

[0068] When the sterilization mode is activated, the water supply line 4 can be disconnected, the heating line 2 can be connected, and the heating device 3 can be turned on. High-temperature water is supplied to the cold water tank 6 through the heating line 2 and the sterilization line 21. The temperature of the water is preferably controlled between 70°C and 100°C. When the water level in the cold water tank 6 reaches the preset level, the ice-making device 7 is activated to introduce the high-temperature water from the cold water tank 6 into the ice-making device 7, thus achieving high-temperature sterilization of both the cold water tank 6 and the ice-making device 7. The preset water level in the cold water tank is preferably set to half of the maximum water level.

[0069] Preferably, such as Figure 2As shown, the ice-making equipment also includes a hot water pipe 22, the inlet of the cold water pipe 5 is connected to the cold water tank 6, and the outlet of the cold water pipe 10 is connected to the water intake pipe 10, which can export cold water or room temperature water through the water intake pipe 10 to meet the user's demand for cold water or room temperature water; the inlet of the hot water pipe 22 is connected to the outlet of the heating pipe 2, and the outlet of the hot water pipe 22 is connected to the water intake pipe 10, which can export heated water through the water intake pipe 10, forming a parallel structure of the hot water pipe 22 and the sterilization pipe 21, which can achieve high-temperature sterilization while also meeting the user's demand for hot water or warm water.

[0070] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an ice-making device, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment includes a water supply device and an ice-making device that are interconnected. The water supply device can supply water to the ice-making device. The ice-making device is provided with an overflow port (721), which can guide the overflowing water back to the water supply device to form a circulating water flow. The ice-making equipment has multiple ice-making modes. The control method of the present invention includes: When the ice-making equipment is running, the water supply device is controlled to operate; Control the operation of the ice-making device; According to the ice-making mode, the water supply device is selectively shut off before water overflows from the ice-making device.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of "selectively shutting off the water supply device before water overflows from the ice-making device according to the ice-making mode" specifically includes: If the ice-making mode is the quick ice-making mode, the water supply device is shut off before the water overflows from the ice-making device; and / or If the ice-making mode is the standard ice-making mode, then the water supply device is controlled to remain in operation.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making device has multiple different cooling intensities, and the steps of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically include: The cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined based on the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device. The ice-making device is controlled to operate at a determined cooling intensity.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The ice-making device has a first cooling intensity and a second cooling intensity, wherein the first cooling intensity is greater than the second cooling intensity. The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device based on the ice-making mode and / or the water temperature in the water supply device" specifically includes: If the ice-making mode is a rapid ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity; and / or If the ice-making mode is the standard ice-making mode, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the water temperature.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the water temperature" specifically includes: Compare the water temperature with the preset water temperature; Based on the comparison results, the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of "determining the cooling intensity of the ice-making device to be either the first cooling intensity or the second cooling intensity based on the comparison results" specifically includes: If the water temperature is lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the second cooling intensity; and / or If the water temperature is not lower than the preset water temperature, then the cooling intensity of the ice-making device is determined to be the first cooling intensity.

7. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ice-making device also has a third cooling intensity, which is less than the second cooling intensity. The ice-making device also has a water-making mode. The control method of the present invention further includes: In the water production mode, the water supply device is kept in operation. The ice-making device is controlled to operate at the third cooling intensity.

8. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The ice-making device includes a heat exchange assembly (71) and an ice-making box (72). The top of the ice-making box (72) has an opening. The heat exchanger of the heat exchange assembly (71) is installed above the ice-making box (72) and extends downwards into the ice-making box (72) through the opening. An overflow port (721) is formed on the ice-making box (72) and is lower than the opening. The steps of "controlling the operation of the ice-making device" specifically include: Controlling the operation of the heat exchange assembly (71) to cool the heat exchanger for ice making; After ice making is completed, the control method of the present invention further includes: Control the operation of the heat exchange assembly (71) to heat the heat exchanger for de-icing.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment also includes a drive device (8) and an ice storage box (9). The drive device (8) can drive the ice storage box (72) to rotate to the side or above the heat exchanger and rotate the overflow port (721) to the bottom of the ice storage box (72). The recovery port of the ice storage box (9) is located below the heat exchanger, and the return port of the water supply device is located below the overflow port (721). Before "controlling the operation of the heat exchange component (71) to make the heat exchanger heat", the control method of the present invention further includes: If the water supply device is still operating, then control the water supply device to shut down; Control the drive device (8) to rotate the ice box (72) to the side or above the heat exchanger.

10. An ice-making device, characterized in that, The ice-making device includes a controller configured to perform the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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