Ice maker and its control method

Abstract

This application relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and discloses an ice maker and its control method. The ice maker includes: an ice mold; a water spraying device; and a controller configured to: in response to entering the ice-making stage, control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a first impact force; when the ice-making process reaches a first preset progress, control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a second impact force, the second impact force being greater than the first impact force. This application can improve the ice cracking problem of large-format ice makers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, specifically to an ice maker and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] In large-format ice makers, the ice mold opening faces downwards, and water is sprayed upwards into the mold, gradually freezing into ice on the inner wall. After ice making, the ice is removed, causing it to fall into an ice storage container below the mold. Existing large-format ice makers commonly suffer from ice cracking, resulting in low yield and easily broken ice, failing to meet the needs of commercial storage and transportation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an ice maker and its control method to solve the ice block cracking problem existing in the prior art of large-format ice makers.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the embodiments of this application, an ice maker is provided, including: an ice mold; a water spraying device; and a controller configured to: in response to entering an ice-making stage, control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a first impact force; and when the ice-making process reaches a first preset progress, control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a second impact force, wherein the second impact force is greater than the first impact force.

[0005] In some embodiments, the water spraying device includes a spray nozzle and a first water pump, wherein the first water pump sprays water into the ice-making mold through the spray nozzle when operating; when the controller is configured to control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a first impact force, it is specifically configured to control the first water pump to operate with a first driving voltage; when the controller is configured to control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force, it is specifically configured to control the first water pump to operate with a second driving voltage, wherein the second driving voltage is greater than the first driving voltage.

[0006] In some embodiments, the value of the first driving voltage ranges from 40% to 95% of the maximum driving voltage of the first water pump.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a refrigeration system; the first preset progress is determined according to at least one of the following conditions: the refrigeration system cools to a preset temperature and continues for a first preset duration; the temperature of the ice mold reaches a first preset temperature condition and continues for a second preset duration; the ice layer thickness reaches a preset thickness value.

[0008] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a refrigeration system; the controller is further configured to: in response to the completion of the ice-making stage, control the refrigeration system to switch to a hot air de-icing state, and simultaneously control the first water pump to continue operating, spraying water to conduct heat to the ice blocks through the spray nozzle, so as to enter the de-icing stage; or, the controller is further configured to: in response to the completion of the ice-making stage, control the refrigeration system to stop refrigeration, and control the first water pump to stop operating, so as to enter the warm-up stage; in response to the completion of the warm-up stage, control the refrigeration system to switch to a hot air de-icing state, so as to enter the de-icing stage.

[0009] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a first water tank and a second water pump, and the water spraying device further includes a second water tank; the first water tank is used to store water for ice making; the second water tank is used to store water to be sprayed, and the first water pump draws water from the second water tank when it is running; the controller is also configured to: during the warming phase, control the second water pump to pump water from the first water tank into the second water tank.

[0010] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: in response to the completion of the de-icing stage, control the refrigeration system to switch from a hot gas de-icing state to a refrigeration state, and control the drive voltage of the first water pump to return to the first drive voltage.

[0011] In some embodiments, the completion of the warming phase is determined according to the following conditions: the warming phase continues for a third preset duration after entering the warming phase; and / or the completion of the de-icing phase is determined according to at least one of the following conditions: the de-icing phase continues for a fourth preset duration after entering the de-icing phase; the evaporator temperature of the refrigeration system reaches a second preset temperature condition and continues for a fifth preset duration.

[0012] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: when the ice-making process reaches a second preset progress, control the first water pump to operate at a third driving voltage, wherein the second preset progress is greater than the first preset progress, and the third driving voltage is greater than the second driving voltage.

[0013] In some embodiments, at least two adjacent inner wall surfaces of the ice-making mold have an arc-shaped transition.

[0014] In some embodiments, the arc transition is a circular arc transition, and the radius of the circular arc ranges from 5 mm to 25 mm.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of this application, a control method for an ice maker is provided, the ice maker including an ice mold and a water spraying device; the method includes: in response to entering an ice-making stage, controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a first impact force; when the ice-making process reaches a first preset progress, controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a second impact force, the second impact force being greater than the first impact force.

[0016] In some embodiments, the water spraying device includes a spray nozzle and a first water pump, wherein the first water pump sprays water into the ice-making mold through the spray nozzle when operating; controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a first impact force includes: controlling the first water pump to operate with a first driving voltage; controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force includes: controlling the first water pump to operate with a second driving voltage, wherein the second driving voltage is greater than the first driving voltage.

[0017] In this embodiment, the water pump is controlled by different driving voltages at different stages of the ice-making process. In the early stage of ice making, the water pump is driven by a smaller voltage, resulting in a relatively low water flow rate and a relatively small water impact force, which is beneficial for forming a uniform basic ice shell on the inner wall of the ice mold. When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the driving voltage is increased to increase the water flow rate and the impact force, thereby compacting the ice layer and accelerating the release of gas in the ice layer, making the internal structure of the ice block more compact and dense, and improving the cracks in the ice block.

[0018] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working logic of an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an ice maker in the ice-making stage according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of an ice maker in the de-icing stage according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of the controller in some embodiments of this application; Figure 6 This is a partial perspective structural diagram of an ice-making mold according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of an ice-making control method according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the complete ice-making cycle workflow according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the complete ice-making cycle workflow according to other embodiments of this application.

[0020] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows: 100-Ice maker; 110-First water tank; 120-Ice mold; 130-Water spray device; 140-Refrigeration system; 150-Ice storage container; 160-Controller; 170-Second water pump; 131-Water spray nozzle; 132-First water pump; 133-Second water tank; 134-Opening and closing mechanism; 162-Processor; 164-Memory; 166-Computer program. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0023] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0024] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0025] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, representing any combination of the listed objects. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three possibilities: A exists, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] Large ice cube makers, also known as large-shaped ice makers, generally refer to ice makers that produce ice cubes approximately 50mm in size. Large ice cubes are typically produced using a spray-type ice-making process: the ice mold opening faces downwards, and a water pump sprays ice-making water upwards into the mold. The refrigeration system freezes the water on the inner wall of the mold. After ice making is complete, the refrigeration system uses hot air to defrost the ice, heating the ice mold to release the ice cubes.

[0030] Currently, ice makers from Dafangbing commonly suffer from ice cracking issues. During the hot air de-icing process, the drastic temperature change causes the outer surface of the ice to expand rapidly, while the interior remains at an extremely low temperature and is in a contracted state. This huge difference in the expansion rates of the inside and outside generates extremely strong tensile stress inside the ice. Once the stress exceeds the structural limits of the ice, it causes the ice to shatter instantly, forming cracks. In addition, the inventors also discovered that the uneven structure of the ice itself and insufficient internal structural strength during the ice-making process are also major causes of ice cracking. Dafangbing ice makers typically use a single, fixed spray mode during the ice-making stage. The water pump operates at a constant voltage, and the water flow rate remains constant, resulting in a fixed water spray impact force. In this spraying method, during the initial stage of ice making, the surface of the mold has no ice layer or the ice layer is very thin. The impact force of the large water flow may damage the newly formed ice shell. In the middle and later stages of ice making, as the ice layer gradually thickens, the efficiency of cold energy transfer from the mold wall to the interior of the ice layer decreases. If the water spraying impact force is insufficient, the gas in the water cannot be effectively driven out and will remain in the ice layer in the form of bubbles, forming a loose and porous microstructure, resulting in uneven internal structure of the ice block and reduced strength.

[0031] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an ice maker that increases the water jet driving voltage in stages as the ice layer thickens to increase the water flow impact force, thereby improving the structural strength of the ice block, preventing cracking, and obtaining dense, compact, and highly transparent large blocks of ice.

[0032] The ice maker provided in this application is mainly used in ice-making scenarios that require the production of large blocks of ice, such as commercial catering, hotels, food processing, medical refrigeration, beverage shops, homes, or offices. The ice maker can be a stand-alone ice maker or an ice-making device integrated into other household appliances such as refrigerators and water dispensers.

[0033] Figure 1 The structure of an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application is schematically shown. Figure 2 The working logic of an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application is illustrated schematically.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2This application provides an ice maker 100, including a first water tank 110, an ice mold 120, a water spraying device 130, a refrigeration system 140, an ice storage container 150, and a controller 160. The first water tank 110 supplies water to the water spraying device 130; the ice mold 120 performs the ice-making operation; the water spraying device 130 sprays water onto the ice mold 120; the refrigeration system 140 includes a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, providing cooling for the ice-making process of the ice mold 120 and also providing heat for de-icing; the ice storage container 150 receives the ice produced by the ice mold 120; and the controller 160 executes predetermined control logic. The ice maker 100 typically also includes a housing to house the aforementioned components.

[0035] Those skilled in the art should understand that the ice maker 100 may also include other components, such as a display panel, operation buttons, various pipes and valves, etc. The figures shown are merely examples, and this application does not limit them.

[0036] The first water tank 110 is the main water storage container for the entire ice maker 100, also known as a water storage tank or large water tank. It has a large volume and is used to store water for ice making. The first water tank 110 can be located at the bottom of the ice maker 100.

[0037] The ice mold 120 is the core component for forming ice cubes. It has multiple cavities inside, with the cavity openings facing downwards. The ice mold 120 is typically made of a metal material with good thermal conductivity, such as copper or stainless steel.

[0038] The water spraying device 130 is used to spray water into the ice mold 120 during the ice-making process. The water spraying device 130 includes a water spray nozzle 131, a first water pump 132, and a second water tank 133.

[0039] The second water tank 133 serves as the water storage space for the spray device 130. Its smaller capacity stores water for spraying and directly provides water to the ice-making mold 120 during the ice-making process. A water pipe, a second water pump 170, and a valve can be installed between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 133. When ice making is required, the controller 160 opens the valve and activates the second water pump 170, pumping water from the first water tank 110 into the second water tank 133. When the water level in the second water tank 133 reaches a threshold, the controller can close the valve and the second water pump 170, stopping the pumping of water into the second water tank 133.

[0040] The water spray nozzle 131 is located above the second water tank 133 and below the ice-making mold 120. Since the ice-making mold 120 has multiple cavities, multiple water spray nozzles 131 are also provided corresponding to each cavity, with each nozzle 131 corresponding vertically to a specific cavity to spray water into each cavity. The first water pump 132 is connected to the second water tank 133 and the water spray nozzle 131. When the first water pump 132 is running, it draws water from the second water tank 133, and the water flows through the water spray nozzle 131 to spray water into the cavity of the ice-making mold 120. Therefore, the first water pump 132 can also be called a water spray pump. Water pipes can be used to connect the first water pump 132 to the second water tank 133, and also to the first water pump 132 and the water spray nozzle 131.

[0041] The first water pump 132 is driven by a voltage (the driving voltage of the first water pump) which is a DC voltage. Within the rated voltage range, the rotational speed of the first water pump 132 is positively correlated with its driving voltage: the higher the driving voltage, the faster the pump speed. The pump speed affects the water flow velocity (the instantaneous velocity of the water flow when it exits the nozzle 131). With a fixed cross-sectional area of ​​the nozzle 131, the water flow rate (the volume of water ejected through the nozzle 131 per unit time) is proportional to the water flow velocity. The water flow velocity, in turn, affects the water impact force (the total force exerted by the water flow on the ice surface). The impact force is positively correlated with the pressure (the impact force per unit area) generated when the water flow impacts the ice surface and the effective impact area of ​​the water flow, where the pressure is positively correlated with the water flow velocity. Therefore, with a fixed cross-sectional area of ​​the nozzle 131, the faster the rotational speed of the first water pump 132, the greater the water flow rate ejected per unit time from each nozzle 131, the higher the water flow velocity, and the greater the water impact force.

[0042] The refrigeration system 140 is used to cool or heat the ice mold 120. The refrigeration system 140 includes components such as a compressor, condenser, and evaporator, which are connected in series via refrigerant piping to form a refrigeration cycle. The evaporator is in thermal contact with the ice mold 120; for example, the refrigerant piping of the evaporator is coiled around the upper surface of the ice mold 120. The refrigeration system 140 also includes a hot gas solenoid valve (or de-icing solenoid valve) used to switch the flow direction of the refrigerant. During the ice-making stage, the hot gas solenoid valve is closed, the refrigerant flows according to the normal refrigeration cycle, the evaporator absorbs heat, and the ice mold 120 is cooled. During the de-icing stage, the hot gas solenoid valve opens, and the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor bypasses to the evaporator, heating the ice mold 120 and achieving hot gas de-icing.

[0043] Ice blocks produced by ice-making mold 120 are fed into ice storage container 150 for storage. Ice storage container 150 can be an ice storage basket, ice storage box, ice storage cup, ice bucket, or other type of container. Ice storage container 150 has a drainage section located at the bottom or side wall of ice storage container 150 to drain water from inside ice storage container 150. The water can be generated by melting ice blocks or water used for rinsing. When ice storage container 150 is an ice storage box, ice storage cup, ice bucket, etc., the drainage section can be a drain valve (such as a one-way valve) located at the bottom of ice storage container 150, or several guide holes opened at the bottom of ice storage container 150; when ice storage container 150 is an ice storage basket, the bottom and / or side wall of ice storage basket have a large number of mesh or grids (perforated structure), and these perforated structures themselves constitute the drainage section.

[0044] The first water tank 110 can be located below the ice storage container 150. It not only initially stores water for ice making, but also collects ice water produced in the ice storage container 150 due to the melting of ice.

[0045] During the ice-making stage, water that fails to freeze on the inner wall of the ice mold 120 flows back to the lower second water tank 133, forming a circulating water path. Therefore, the second water tank 133 can also be called a circulating water tank, and the first water pump 132 can also be called a circulating water pump. In some embodiments, the water spraying device 130 may further include a rotatable opening and closing mechanism 134. The opening and closing mechanism 134 is rotatably connected to the frame or housing of the ice maker via a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is driven by a motor to rotate, thereby causing the opening and closing mechanism 134 and the second water tank 133 to flip together. Those skilled in the art should understand that the specific structure and working principle of the opening and closing mechanism 134 can be referred to the prior art, and this application will not elaborate on them.

[0046] Figure 3 This schematically illustrates an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present application in the ice-making stage. Figure 4 The diagram schematically illustrates an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application in the de-icing stage. A single solid arrow indicates the direction in which the opening / closing mechanism 134 drives the second water tank 133 to rotate, and a hollow arrow indicates the direction of ice falling. Figure 3 As shown, upon entering the ice-making stage, the opening and closing mechanism 134 drives the second water tank 133 to flip upwards. At this time, the second water tank 133 is in a horizontal position, and the water spray nozzle 131 faces upwards (towards the cavity of the ice-making mold 120). After the first water pump is turned on, the water spray nozzle 131 sprays water into the ice-making mold 120; as shown... Figure 4 As shown, when entering the de-icing stage, the opening and closing mechanism 134 flips downwards and opens, and the second water tank 133 flips accordingly, making room for the ice falling channel below the ice making mold 120. After the ice blocks separate from the ice making mold 120, they fall into the ice storage container 150 under the action of gravity.

[0047] The controller 160 is an electronic control unit capable of receiving input signals, processing them according to a preset program, and outputting control signals (such as controlling the start and stop of water pumps and valves). It can be a microcontroller unit (MCU), programmable logic controller (PLC), digital signal processor (DSP), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), system-on-chip (SoC), etc. The controller 160 is electrically connected to the first water pump 132, the second water pump 170, the refrigeration system 140, valves, etc., and is used to control the operation of these components to execute ice-making control logic.

[0048] Figure 5 The structure of a controller 160 according to some embodiments of this application is schematically illustrated. Figure 5 As shown, the controller 160 may include a processor 162 and a memory 164.

[0049] The memory 164 is used to store the computer program 166. The memory 164 may include high-speed RAM memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device. The computer program 166 may include computer-executable instructions.

[0050] The processor 162 is used to execute the computer program 166 to implement the control method of the ice maker according to the embodiments of this application.

[0051] Processor 162 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of this application. Controller 160 includes one or more processors, which may be processors of the same type, such as one or more CPUs; or they may be processors of different types, such as one or more CPUs and one or more ASICs.

[0052] In response to entering the ice-making stage, the controller 160 controls the first water pump 132 to operate at a first driving voltage, spraying water into the ice-making mold 120 through the spray nozzle 131. At this time, the first driving voltage is relatively low, the rotational speed of the first water pump 132 is relatively low, the water flow rate is relatively gentle, and the water flow impact force is relatively small. The gentle water flow is conducive to forming a uniform and dense basic ice shell on the inner wall surface of the mold, avoiding excessive water flow impact from damaging the initial ice layer formation.

[0053] When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the controller 160 controls the first water pump 132 to operate at a second driving voltage, which is greater than the first driving voltage. Due to the increased voltage, the rotational speed of the first water pump 132 increases, the water spray velocity increases accordingly, and the water flow impact force is enhanced. The strong water flow continuously impacts the surface of the forming ice layer, which on the one hand can drive out the unfrozen gas in the ice layer, accelerate the gas overflow, reduce the retention of air bubbles, and improve the transparency and purity of the ice; on the other hand, it can compact some of the originally loose ice crystal structure, causing it to refreeze into a dense ice layer, improving the compactness and overall structural strength of the ice.

[0054] Through the aforementioned phased voltage control, the first water pump 132 is driven with a smaller voltage in the early stage of ice making, resulting in a relatively low water spray velocity and a relatively small water spray impact force, which is conducive to forming a uniform basic ice shell on the inner wall of the ice mold 120. When the ice making process reaches the first preset progress, the driving voltage is increased, which increases the water spray velocity and the impact force, thereby compacting the ice layer and accelerating the overflow of gas in the ice layer, making the internal structure of the ice block more compact and dense, preventing the ice block from cracking. At the same time, the accelerated overflow of gas can also improve the transparency of the ice block.

[0055] The first driving voltage and the second driving voltage can be set as a percentage of the maximum driving voltage of the first water pump 132. The maximum driving voltage of the first water pump 132 refers to the rated operating voltage or full-power operating voltage of the first water pump 132. In some embodiments, the value of the first driving voltage can range from 40% to 95% of the maximum driving voltage of the first water pump 132. In this way, a uniform ice shell is formed by relatively gentle spraying in the early stage of ice making; after the ice making process reaches the first preset progress, the ice layer is compacted by stronger spraying, which is greater or reaches full power, further improving the structural strength of the ice block and enhancing the crack resistance.

[0056] In some embodiments, the value of the first driving voltage can be 73% to 93% of the maximum driving voltage of the first water pump 132.

[0057] In some embodiments, if the first water pump 132 maintains the second driving voltage until ice making is completed after the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the value range of the second driving voltage can be greater than 95% of the maximum driving voltage or greater than 93% of the maximum driving voltage.

[0058] Taking a DC water pump with a maximum driving voltage of 12V as an example, in a preferred embodiment, the first driving voltage can be 10V (approximately 83% of the maximum driving voltage), and the second driving voltage can be 12V (the maximum driving voltage).

[0059] In this embodiment, the ice-making stage is divided into a first stage (from the start of ice-making until the ice-making process reaches a first preset progress) and a second stage (from the time the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress until ice-making is completed). The first preset progress is used to distinguish the time point from the first stage to the second stage. For example, the first stage may correspond to the initial stage of ice-making (0%-30%), and the second stage may correspond to the middle and late stages of ice-making (30%-100%), then the first preset progress corresponds to 30% of the ice-making process. Of course, the first stage and the second stage can also be divided according to other ice-making progress, and the first preset progress can also correspond to other ice-making processes, such as 10%, 50%, 70%, etc. of the ice-making process.

[0060] The controller 160 can determine whether the ice-making process has reached the first preset progress in a variety of ways. For example, it can determine whether the evaporator temperature of the refrigeration system 140 has reached a preset temperature (e.g., ≤-5℃) and has remained at that temperature for a first preset duration (e.g., 5-10 minutes). The ice maker 100 is equipped with a temperature sensor to detect the evaporator temperature. When the evaporator temperature of the refrigeration system 140 reaches the preset temperature, the controller 160 starts a timer. When the preset temperature is reached and the state is maintained for a first preset duration, it is determined that the ice-making process has reached the first preset progress. For example, the determination can be made based on whether the temperature of the ice mold 120 reaches a first preset temperature condition (the temperature of the ice mold 120 is generally a few degrees higher than the evaporator temperature, for example, the first preset temperature condition can be ≤-2℃) and remains there for a second preset time (e.g., 5-10 minutes): The ice maker 100 is equipped with a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the ice mold 120. When the temperature of the ice mold 120 reaches the first preset temperature condition, the controller 160 starts a timer. When this temperature condition is maintained for the second preset time, the ice-making process is determined to have reached the first preset progress. The first preset temperature condition can be a specific temperature value or a temperature range, for example, the temperature of the ice mold 120 drops below -2℃. Another example is whether the ice layer thickness reaches a preset thickness value: The ice layer thickness can be measured directly by an ice thickness sensor or indirectly by optical detection, ultrasonic detection, etc. When the ice layer thickness reaches a preset thickness value (e.g., when the size of a large block of ice is 50mm, the preset thickness value is less than 50mm, for example, it can be 15mm), the first preset progress is determined to have been reached. The three methods described above can be used individually or in combination with any of the conditions. When used in combination, the first preset progress can be considered reached if at least one of the conditions is met, or the first preset progress can be considered reached only if at least two or all three conditions are met.

[0061] The above is an example of dividing the ice-making stage into two stages. In some embodiments, the ice-making stage may also include a third stage. After the ice-making process reaches a first preset progress, it is further determined whether the ice-making process has reached a second preset progress. When the ice-making process reaches the second preset progress, the controller 160 controls the first water pump 132 to operate at a third driving voltage. The second preset progress is greater than the first preset progress (i.e., the time to reach the second preset progress is after the time to reach the first preset progress), and the third driving voltage is greater than the second driving voltage. Because the thicker the ice layer, the lower the efficiency of cold energy transfer from the mold wall to the interior of the ice layer, a larger water flow impact is needed to compact the deep ice after reaching the second preset progress. By progressively increasing the driving voltage and water spray velocity, the compactness of the ice layer can be further improved, and internal cracks can be further reduced.

[0062] For example, the ice-making process is divided into three stages. The first preset progress corresponds to 30% of the ice-making process, and the second preset progress corresponds to 70%. In the first stage (initial ice-making, 0%-30% ice-making process), the first water pump 132 operates with the first driving voltage; in the second stage (mid-ice-making, 30%-70% ice-making process), the first water pump 132 operates with the second driving voltage; and in the third stage (late ice-making, 70%-100% ice-making process), the first water pump 132 operates with the third driving voltage. The voltage values ​​of the three stages increase sequentially. For example, the first driving voltage is 80% of the maximum voltage, the second driving voltage is 90%, and the third driving voltage is 100%. The driving voltage of each stage can be flexibly set according to the specific configuration of the ice maker and the ice block specifications. The increment method can be equal step increment or non-equal step increment, as long as the driving voltage of the later stage is greater than the driving voltage of the previous stage.

[0063] Although this document describes an example of the division of the ice-making stage, it should be understood that the ice-making stage can be divided into more stages, and this application does not limit this.

[0064] In addition to increasing the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 to increase the water flow impact force, in some embodiments, under the premise that the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 is fixed, the water flow impact force can also be increased by adjusting the structure of the nozzle 131 or adjusting the length of the pipeline.

[0065] For example, two nozzles can be configured: a conventional nozzle and a converging nozzle. The converging nozzle has a smoothly transitioned flared shape inside, which eliminates eddies generated inside the nozzle, increases the flow coefficient (Cv value), and produces a larger, faster, and more concentrated water flow, thus increasing the impact force. A three-way valve is installed between the first water pump 132 and the two types of nozzles to switch between them. During the ice-making stage, water is sprayed through the conventional nozzle (the three-way valve is connected to the conventional nozzle by default). When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the system switches to spraying water through the converging nozzle.

[0066] For example, two pipelines can be configured, with the second pipeline being shorter than the first. A three-way valve can be installed between the two pipelines for switching. During the ice-making stage, the water flows through the first pipeline (the three-way valve is connected to the first pipeline by default). Once the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, it switches to the shorter second pipeline. Using the second pipeline reduces the water flow distance, thus reducing losses caused by pipeline resistance and converting more energy into the flow rate and velocity of the spray nozzle, thereby increasing the flow rate and impact force.

[0067] The examples above are merely illustrations. Any method that increases the water flow impact force at the nozzle 131 after the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress falls within the scope of protection of this application. It should be understood that increasing the impact force in this document can refer to increasing both flow rate and pressure, or increasing pressure while maintaining the same flow rate, or increasing flow rate while maintaining the same pressure. An increase in either flow rate or pressure can improve the compactness and overall structural strength of the ice, thereby mitigating cracking.

[0068] After the ice-making stage is completed, the de-icing stage begins. The de-icing method is described below.

[0069] In the first de-icing method, ice blocks are detached from the ice-making mold by hot gas de-icing. In response to the completion of the ice-making stage, the controller 160 controls the refrigeration system 140 to switch to the hot gas de-icing state, that is, controls the hot gas solenoid valve to open, so that the high-temperature refrigerant discharged by the compressor bypasses to the evaporator, and heats up the ice-making mold 120.

[0070] The first method of de-icing is simple to implement, but it is prone to causing ice to break due to thermal stress. After de-icing begins, the outer surface of the ice block in contact with the mold expands rapidly due to heat, while the core inside the ice block remains at an extremely low temperature and is in a contracted state. This huge difference in the rate of expansion between the inside and outside generates extremely strong tensile stress inside the ice block. As a brittle crystalline material, ice's tensile strength is far lower than its compressive strength. Once the tensile stress exceeds the structural limit of the ice, it will cause the ice block to break instantly from the inside.

[0071] This application provides a second de-icing method. Besides using hot air to detach the ice from the ice-making mold, it further utilizes a water spraying device to spray water onto the ice to conduct heat. In response to the completion of the ice-making stage, the controller 160, in addition to controlling the refrigeration system 140 to switch to the hot air de-icing state, can also control the first water pump 132 to remain running, spraying water onto the ice through the spray nozzle 131 for heat conduction. Since the first water pump 132 is already running during the ice-making stage, the controller 160 does not need to perform any additional operations to maintain the operation of the first water pump 132. As mentioned earlier, since ice is a poor conductor of heat, if only the heat conduction from the mold wall in the hot air de-icing method is relied upon, the speed at which heat is conducted from the outer surface of the ice to the inside is slow, easily resulting in a thermally uneven state with high external temperature and low internal temperature, thus generating significant thermal stress. The second de-icing method involves heating the ice mold 120 while continuously spraying water onto the ice block through the spray nozzle 131. The sprayed water directly contacts the surface of the ice block, utilizing the high thermal conductivity and fluidity of water to quickly and evenly transfer heat to the interior of the ice block through forced convection. This accelerates the homogenization of the overall temperature of the ice block, reduces the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the ice block, effectively reduces thermal stress, and prevents the ice block from cracking during de-icing.

[0072] During the de-icing stage, the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 can be the same as the driving voltage during the ice-making stage, such as the first driving voltage or the second driving voltage, or other voltages. It can also be flexibly selected according to the size of the ice block. For example, a larger driving voltage (such as the second driving voltage) can be used for larger ice blocks to ensure sufficient heat conduction, while a smaller driving voltage (such as the first driving voltage) can be used for smaller ice blocks to avoid excessive melting.

[0073] When the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 during the de-icing stage is the same as the second driving voltage, the controller 160 does not need to switch the driving voltage. If the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 during the de-icing stage is different from the second driving voltage, the controller 160 needs to adjust the driving voltage of the first water pump 132 from the second driving voltage to the driving voltage required for the de-icing stage.

[0074] In the third de-icing method, the ice is allowed to stand still before de-icing to allow it to warm up in the air, and then hot air de-icing is performed. In response to the completion of the ice-making stage, the controller 160 controls the refrigeration system 140 to stop refrigeration, i.e., the compressor stops or the refrigeration cycle is interrupted by other means; simultaneously, the first water pump 132 stops operating, leaving the ice in the ice-making mold 120 in static air, allowing it to naturally and slowly warm up. This stage is referred to as the warming-up stage. During the warming-up stage, the surface temperature of the ice gradually rises, and through the ice's own heat conduction, the internal temperature also gradually rises, naturally reducing the temperature difference between the inside and outside. The completion of the warming-up stage can be determined by the duration of a third preset time after entering the warming-up stage. The value of the third preset time can range from 1 minute to 3 minutes (e.g., 1.5 minutes). This time can be set according to the size of the ice; a relatively longer third preset time can be set for larger ice sizes, and vice versa.

[0075] Upon completion of the warm-up phase, controller 160 controls the refrigeration system 140 to switch to hot gas de-icing mode, entering the de-icing stage. Since the internal temperature of the ice has risen after the resting warm-up period, the temperature difference between the inside and outside has naturally decreased. Therefore, performing hot gas de-icing at this time significantly reduces the thermal shock, thus lowering the risk of ice breakage caused by directly performing hot gas de-icing after ice making. Simultaneously, the first water pump 132 is no longer activated to spray water onto the ice, avoiding the problem of ice weight loss due to accelerated melting. It should be understood that this embodiment, by adding a warm-up phase, extends the duration of each ice-making cycle.

[0076] During the warm-up phase, since the first water pump 132 is stopped and the ice-making cycle is paused, this time can be used to fill the second water tank 133. The controller 160 can control the second water pump 170 to operate during the warm-up phase, pumping water from the first water tank 110 into the second water tank 133 to replenish the water for the next round of ice making. The water filling time is usually only a few seconds, much shorter than the warm-up time, so the water filling can be completed within the warm-up phase without additional time being taken up in the ice-making cycle. Thus, although the warm-up phase is longer, by simultaneously performing the water filling operation of the second water tank 133 during the warm-up phase, utilizing the warm-up waiting time to complete the water filling operation that would otherwise require separate time, the impact of the warm-up phase on the overall ice-making cycle can be partially offset, shortening the interval between adjacent ice-making cycles.

[0077] After entering the warming stage, the controller 160 can first control the opening and closing mechanism 134 to rotate the second water tank 133 to open the ice-falling channel, and then replenish the second water tank 133 with water until it is full. After that, the second water tank 133 maintains its rotated position until the end of this round of ice removal, and then returns to the horizontal position after the next round of ice making.

[0078] The de-icing methods listed above are merely examples. This application may also employ other known de-icing methods, such as mechanical de-icing and natural de-icing, which will not be described in detail here.

[0079] After de-icing is complete, all components in the ice maker need to be reset to the ice-making state. In response to the completion of the de-icing stage, the controller 160 controls the refrigeration system 140 to switch from the hot gas de-icing state to the refrigeration standby state. Specifically, the controller 160 can control the hot gas solenoid valve to reset and close, restoring the refrigerant passage of the refrigeration system 140 to the normal refrigeration cycle mode. Simultaneously, the controller 160 controls the drive voltage of the first water pump 132 to return to the first drive voltage. The ice maker then begins the next ice-making cycle.

[0080] The completion of the de-icing stage can be determined by whether it lasts for a fourth preset duration after entering the stage. This fourth preset duration can range from 30 to 150 seconds, depending on the size of the ice and the ambient temperature. Alternatively, it can be determined by whether the evaporator temperature (or mold temperature) reaches the second preset temperature condition (e.g., evaporator temperature between 20°C and 40°C, with the mold temperature slightly lower, around 15°C to 37°C) and remains there for a fifth preset duration (e.g., 30 to 150 seconds). The second preset temperature condition can be a specific temperature value or a temperature range, such as the evaporator temperature rising above 25°C. For example, timing begins when the evaporator temperature reaches 25°C; if the evaporator temperature remains above 25°C for 60 seconds, de-icing is considered complete. This dual determination based on temperature conditions and duration effectively avoids misjudgments caused by short-term temperature fluctuations, improving accuracy. The completion of the de-icing stage can also be determined by whether ice blocks fall, for example, if an ice block triggers an infrared sensor or microswitch. For example, after the refrigeration system 140 enters the de-icing stage, if an ice block falling signal is detected after 10 seconds (such as an ice block falling trigger switch), then the de-icing is considered complete. Alternatively, the completion of the de-icing stage can be determined by combining the temperature signal with the ice block falling signal. For example, if the evaporator temperature reaches the second preset temperature condition and remains there for 10 seconds, and then an ice block falls to trigger a microswitch, then even if the preset 60-second duration has not yet been reached, the de-icing can be considered complete.

[0081] Figure 6 A partial three-dimensional structure of an ice-making mold in an ice maker according to some embodiments of this application is schematically shown. Please refer to... Figure 6In this embodiment, the adjacent inner wall surfaces of the ice-making mold 120 are connected by a rounded transition. Traditional ice-making molds have right angles between their inner wall surfaces, meaning the inner wall surfaces are joined by right-angled edges. During the de-icing and heating process, due to the abrupt change in geometry, stress concentration occurs at the unavoidable corners, where thermal stress reaches its peak, easily causing the ice to crack from the corners. In this embodiment, the adjacent inner wall surfaces of the ice-making mold 120 are connected by a rounded transition, with a smooth transition at the corners, dispersing the thermal stress generated during de-icing and heating, thus reducing stress concentration.

[0082] The radius of the arc can range from 5mm to 25mm, such as 5mm, 10mm, 18mm, and 25mm. Within the radius range of 5mm to 25mm, stress concentration can be effectively alleviated without excessively altering the regular appearance of the large ice cube, achieving a good balance between functionality and aesthetics.

[0083] In the embodiment shown in the figure, any two adjacent inner wall surfaces of the ice-making mold 120 have a circular arc transition. It is understood that in other embodiments, only some adjacent inner wall surfaces may have a circular arc transition. The transition between adjacent inner wall surfaces can also be a curve shape with a non-constant radius of curvature, such as an elliptical arc or a parabolic arc.

[0084] Based on the ice maker 100 described above, this embodiment provides a control method for the ice maker. This method can be executed by the aforementioned controller 160, or it can be implemented through hardware logic circuits. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the method includes the following steps: S701: In response to entering the ice-making stage, control the first water pump 132 to operate with the first drive voltage; S702: When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, control the first water pump 132 to run with the second driving voltage, which is greater than the first driving voltage.

[0085] The method may also include various control operations performed by the controller 160 in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be elaborated here, but can be referred to the above description.

[0086] Figure 8 The diagram schematically illustrates a complete ice-making cycle workflow using a second de-icing method according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 9 The complete ice-making cycle workflow using a third de-icing method is illustrated schematically according to some embodiments of this application.

[0087] Please see Figure 8After powering on, the system enters the ice-making stage. The refrigeration system cools the ice mold (S801). The first water pump starts with a 10V drive voltage, continuously spraying water onto the mold. The water gradually freezes into ice on the low-temperature mold (S802). The system then checks if the ice-making process is ≥30% (S803). If yes, the voltage of the first water pump is increased to 12V to continuously spray water onto the mold (S804), thereby increasing the impact of the water flow on the ice. If not, the system continues to operate with a 10V drive voltage (S802). Next, the system checks if the ice-making process has reached 100% (S805). If yes, ice-making is considered complete, and the system proceeds to the next step. In the de-icing stage (S806), the de-icing solenoid valve of the refrigeration system switches to the hot gas de-icing state. The first water pump operates with a 12V drive voltage, continuously spraying water to conduct heat to the ice blocks, and the opening and closing mechanism flips downward to open the ice falling channel (S807). If not, it continues to operate with a 12V drive voltage (S804). Then, it is determined whether the de-icing process has reached 100% (S808). If yes, the opening and closing mechanism flips upward to reset, the de-icing solenoid valve resets, and the first water pump resumes a 10V drive voltage (S809). This round of ice making ends, and the next round of ice making begins. If not, de-icing continues (S807).

[0088] Please see Figure 9 The embodiments shown in the figure are similar to Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment follows the same workflow during the ice-making stage (steps S901 to S905 are the same as steps S801 to S805), which will not be described in detail here. The difference lies in the processing after ice-making is completed. When the ice-making process reaches 100%, it is determined that ice-making is complete and the system enters the warming stage (S906). At this time (S907), it is determined whether the warming process has reached 100% (S908). If so, the system enters the de-icing stage. At this time, the de-icing solenoid valve of the refrigeration system switches to the hot air de-icing state, and the first water pump does not work (S909), relying solely on hot air for de-icing. It is determined whether the de-icing process has reached 100% (S910). If so, the opening and closing mechanism flips upward and resets, the de-icing solenoid valve resets, and the first water pump resumes its 10V drive voltage (S911). This round of ice-making ends, and the next round of ice-making begins. If not, de-icing continues (S909).

[0089] Based on the ice maker 100 described above, this embodiment also provides a control method for the ice maker. This method can be executed by the aforementioned controller 160 or implemented through hardware logic circuitry. The method includes the following steps: S1001: In response to entering the ice-making stage, the water spraying device 130 is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold 120 with a first impact force; S1002: When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the water spraying device 130 is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold 120 with a second impact force, and the second impact force is greater than the first impact force.

[0090] This method can increase the impact force by controlling the driving voltage of the first water pump 132, or by adjusting the structure of the spray nozzle 131 or adjusting the length of the pipeline as described above. These methods will not be elaborated here, but can be referred to the previous description.

[0091] It should be noted that all the above parameters (such as the driving voltage of the first water pump, preset temperature, preset temperature conditions, preset duration, preset thickness value, etc.) can be determined in advance through experimental calibration or theoretical calculation and stored in the non-volatile memory inside the controller 160.

[0092] The numerical values ​​in the embodiments of this application are all illustrative examples, and those skilled in the art can adjust them according to actual needs. For example, the maximum driving voltage is not limited to 12V, and can be 24V, 36V, etc., depending on the water pump specifications; the voltage percentage of each stage is not limited to the above examples, as long as the control logic that the second driving voltage is greater than the first driving voltage is satisfied; the progress judgment threshold and duration parameters of each stage can also be flexibly set according to factors such as ice size and ambient temperature.

[0093] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the control method for the ice maker described above.

[0094] This application also provides a computer program that can be executed by a processor to implement the ice maker control method described in the above embodiments.

[0095] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the control method for the ice maker described above.

[0096] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: Ice molds; Water spray device; as well as The controller is configured as follows: In response to entering the ice-making stage, the water spraying device is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold with a first impact force; When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the water spraying device is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force, the second impact force being greater than the first impact force.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water spraying device includes a water spray nozzle and a first water pump. When the first water pump is running, it sprays water into the ice-making mold through the water spray nozzle. When the controller is configured to control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a first impact force, it is specifically configured to: control the first water pump to operate with a first drive voltage. When the controller is configured to control the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force, it is specifically configured to: control the first water pump to operate with a second driving voltage, wherein the second driving voltage is greater than the first driving voltage.

3. The ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The value of the first driving voltage ranges from 40% to 95% of the maximum driving voltage of the first water pump.

4. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a refrigeration system; the first preset progress is determined according to at least one of the following conditions: The refrigeration system cools to a preset temperature and maintains it for a first preset duration; The temperature of the ice-making mold reaches a first preset temperature condition and remains at a second preset time. The ice layer thickness has reached the preset thickness value.

5. The ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a refrigeration system; The controller is also configured to: in response to the completion of the ice-making stage, control the refrigeration system to switch to a hot air de-icing state, and simultaneously control the first water pump to continue operating, spraying water through the spray nozzles to conduct heat to the ice blocks, thus initiating the de-icing stage; or, The controller is also configured to: in response to the completion of the ice-making stage, control the refrigeration system to stop refrigeration and control the first water pump to stop running to enter the warm-up stage; in response to the completion of the warm-up stage, control the refrigeration system to switch to the hot gas de-icing state to enter the de-icing stage.

6. The ice maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a first water tank and a second water pump, and the water spraying device also includes a second water tank; the first water tank is used to store water for ice making; the second water tank is used to store water to be sprayed, and the first water pump draws water from the second water tank when it is running; the controller is also configured to: during the warming phase, control the second water pump to pump water from the first water tank into the second water tank.

7. The ice maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: in response to the completion of the de-icing stage, control the refrigeration system to switch from a hot gas de-icing state to a refrigeration state, and control the drive voltage of the first water pump to return to the first drive voltage.

8. The ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The completion of the warming phase is determined based on the following conditions: After entering the warm-up phase, it continues for a third preset duration; and / or The completion of the de-icing stage is determined based on at least one of the following conditions: After entering the de-icing phase, it will continue for the fourth preset duration; The evaporator temperature of the refrigeration system reaches the second preset temperature condition and remains there for the fifth preset duration.

9. The ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: when the ice-making process reaches a second preset progress, control the first water pump to operate at a third driving voltage, wherein the second preset progress is greater than the first preset progress, and the third driving voltage is greater than the second driving voltage.

10. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The ice-making mold has an arc-shaped transition between at least two adjacent inner wall surfaces.

11. The ice maker according to claim 10, characterized in that, The arc transition is a circular arc transition, and the radius of the circular arc ranges from 5mm to 25mm.

12. A control method for an ice maker, characterized in that, The ice maker includes an ice mold and a water spraying device; the method includes: In response to entering the ice-making stage, the water spraying device is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold with a first impact force; When the ice-making process reaches the first preset progress, the water spraying device is controlled to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force, the second impact force being greater than the first impact force.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The water spraying device includes a water spray nozzle and a first water pump. When the first water pump is running, it sprays water into the ice-making mold through the water spray nozzle. The method of controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice mold with a first impact force includes: controlling the first water pump to operate with a first drive voltage; The method of controlling the water spraying device to spray water into the ice-making mold with a second impact force includes: controlling the first water pump to operate with a second driving voltage, wherein the second driving voltage is greater than the first driving voltage.

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