Mold-type ice chip maker

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mold-type ice chip maker capable of rapidly mass-producing ice chips at a lower cost which are bulky, solid, and hard such that same are not easily broken by external impacts or quickly melted. The mold-type ice chip maker comprises: a vertical ice-making mold cooled by a refrigerant pipe through which a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows, the vertical ice-making mold having a plurality of ice-making grooves on the left and right sides thereof; and a water spraying nozzle for spraying water to the ice-making grooves of the ice-making mold. Ice made in the ice-making grooves is naturally separated from the ice-making grooves as a high-temperature / low-pressure refrigerant flows inside the refrigerant pipe. The ice-making mold has an assembly structure in which an ice-making mold body and left / right ice-making plates are separately configured.

Description

Ice maker for mold-type ice cubes

[0001] The present invention relates to a mold-type ice maker for crushed ice, and more particularly, to a mold-type ice maker for crushed ice that is large in volume and filled internally to be solid and does not break easily or melt quickly due to external impact, and that can be mass-produced quickly and at a lower cost.

[0002]

[0003] Generally, large fishing vessels engaged in deep-sea fishing are equipped with refrigeration equipment on the vessel itself, but small fishing vessels operating in coastal waters are not equipped with refrigeration equipment on the vessel itself.

[0004] Accordingly, small fishing boats use crushed ice to freeze and transport the caught fish, and crushed ice is also used to maintain the freshness of the fish in fish markets at each port where the caught fish is sold on consignment.

[0005] Additionally, bulky ice cubes are needed to maintain the freshness of oysters and seafood for a long time during delivery.

[0006] Fig. 7 shows an example of a conventional ice cube. In a typical ice maker for ice cubes, a number of vertical refrigerant pipes are installed in a tank, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipes, and then water is sprayed into the tank. When the sprayed water comes into contact with the refrigerant pipes cooled by the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant, it freezes and sticks to the refrigerant pipes, thereby producing ice.

[0007] In this state, when high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipe, the contact surface of the ice rod with the refrigerant pipe melts, the ice rod is separated from the refrigerant pipe, the ice rod moves downward along the vertical refrigerant pipe, and the cutter cuts the ice rod moving downward at regular intervals and lengths, thereby creating a tube-shaped piece of ice (100).

[0008] However, the tubular ice produced in this way cannot increase in volume due to the limited diameter of the refrigerant pipe, and the inside remains empty, so the inside and outside melt simultaneously, causing the entire product to melt quickly. This causes the ice to melt and disappear during long-distance shipping of oysters and seafood, which reduces the freshness of the product.

[0009] In addition, conventional tubular ice makers require a number of refrigerant pipes to be installed in a tank with a limited space and a separate cutting device to cut the ice bars created in the refrigerant pipes, which inevitably increases the cost of purchasing the ice maker, resulting in an economic burden for manufacturing and purchasing the device, and a problem in that the production volume is low compared to the unit price of the device, resulting in inefficiency in ice making.

[0010]

[0011] Prior patent document 1: Republic of Korea Utility Model Registration No. 20-0280249 (announced on June 29, 2002)

[0012]

[0013] Accordingly, the present invention has been created to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a mold-type ice maker for crushed ice that can be mass-produced quickly and at a lower cost by making crushed ice that is large in volume and filled internally and thus hard and does not break easily or melt quickly due to external impact.

[0014]

[0015] In order to achieve the purpose of the mold-type ice maker for cube ice, one type of mold-type ice maker according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a vertical ice-making mold cooled by a refrigerant pipe through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows and having a plurality of ice-making grooves on the left and right sides, a water spray nozzle for spraying water into the ice-making grooves of the ice-making mold is provided, and ice produced in the ice-making grooves is configured such that the high-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows inside the refrigerant pipe so that the ice inside the ice-making grooves is naturally separated from the ice-making grooves, and the ice-making mold is configured to have an assembly structure that is separated into an ice-making mold body and left and right ice-making plates.

[0016]

[0017] As described above, the present invention enables the rapid mass production of large-volume, internally filled, solid ice cubes that do not easily break or melt due to external impact at a lower cost, thereby further increasing the efficiency of production and use, and further increasing economic feasibility by reducing the cost of production.

[0018]

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 are a front view and a side view schematically showing the overall configuration of a mold type ice maker for making ice cubes according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an ice mold of an ice maker for mold-type ice cubes according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 is a front view showing the separated state of the ice mold of Figure 3.

[0022] Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the ice mold of Figure 3.

[0023] Figure 6 is a front view showing the state of the ice mold combination of Figure 3.

[0024] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional piece of ice.

[0025]

[0026] Advantages and features of embodiments of the present invention, and methods for achieving them, will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

[0027] However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and these embodiments are provided only to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to fully inform a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

[0028] In describing embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0029] In addition, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the embodiments of the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

[0030] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a mold type ice maker for making ice cubes according to the present invention will be described in detail according to an embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are front and side views schematically showing the overall configuration of a mold-type ice maker for making crushed ice according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an ice mold of a mold-type ice maker for making crushed ice according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the separated state of the ice mold of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the ice mold of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing the combined state of the ice mold of FIG. 3.

[0032] As shown here, the present invention is provided with a vertical ice-making mold (1) that is cooled by a refrigerant pipe (31) and has a plurality of ice-making grooves (25) on the left and right sides.

[0033] This ice-making mold (1) fills the ice-making grooves (25) by freezing the water supplied to each ice-making groove (25) through continuous cooling in a cooling environment inside the ice-making room (not shown).

[0034] For this purpose, a water spray nozzle (41) is installed inside the ice making room, and the water spray nozzle (41) receives water from a water tank (43) by a pump (42) and sprays it onto the ice making mold (1).

[0035] The ice produced in the ice mold (1) is configured to be naturally separated from the ice mold (1) as the ice room changes from a low-temperature cooling environment to a room-temperature heating environment.

[0036] A plurality of ice making rooms can be provided, and it is possible to manufacture ice alternately by creating a cooling environment in one ice making room to perform ice making and creating a heated environment in the other ice making room after completing ice making to perform ice separation. This alternating operation can contribute to improving efficiency and productivity by shortening ice making time.

[0037] Meanwhile, the ice-making mold (1) is composed of an ice-making mold body (10) and left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) that are assembled to form the ice-making mold (1).

[0038] The ice mold body (10) is formed integrally with a plurality of left and right curved wings (14)(15) spaced vertically apart around a vertical intermediate support (11), and the left and right curved wings (14)(15) form a symmetrical structure of the same shape.

[0039] Here, the left and right curved wings (14)(15) have a semi-elliptical cross-sectional structure, but are not limited to this, and any cross-sectional structure in which the upper and lower curved surfaces (14a)(15a) are symmetrical to each other may be used.

[0040] In addition, the middle support (11) of the ice mold body (10) is formed with square-shaped pipe cooling holes (12) and pipe penetration holes (13) alternately and repeatedly formed along the vertical direction of the middle support (11), and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the refrigerant pipe (31) is installed in the inside of the ice mold (1) in a zigzag manner while passing through the pipe cooling holes (12) of the middle support (11).

[0041] At this time, the aforementioned left and right curved wings (14)(15) are integrally formed on both sides of the pipe penetration hole (13) of the intermediate support (11), and an ice-making plate assembly space (16) is formed between the vertical left and right curved wings (14)(15), and the pipe cooling hole (12) has a convex and concave portion (12a) on both inner sides.

[0042] The uneven convex portion (12a) helps to ensure that the pipe cooling hole (12) and the refrigerant pipe (31) can be brought into close contact with each other without a gap between them, and increases the contact area, thereby enabling the cold air emitted from the refrigerant pipe (31) to be quickly transferred to the ice-making plate assembly space (16) on both sides of the pipe cooling hole (12).

[0043] The ice mold body (10) is provided with a plurality of unit modules as shown, and the vertical length can be increased or decreased as needed.

[0044] The unit module of the ice mold body (10) has an assembly structure in which the lower curved surfaces (15a) of the left and right curved wings (14)(15) are positioned at the upper part of the ice mold body (10), and the upper curved surfaces (14a) of the left and right curved wings (14)(15) are positioned at the lower part of the ice mold body (10), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the unit module can be joined and separated by fitting together by the grooves (17a) and protrusions (17b) that constitute the attachment / detachment portion (17).

[0045] The left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) have the same shape and are assembled to the ice-making mold body (10) in a symmetrical direction, so the description of the structure of the right ice-making plate (20b) will be omitted and only the structure of the left ice-making plate (20a) will be described in detail.

[0046] The left ice-making plate (20a) has a plurality of ice-making grooves (25) that are divided horizontally and vertically by vertical bulkheads (21) and upper and lower curved support brackets (22)(23) and form a square groove shape with a front opening that is blocked at the back.

[0047] The upper and lower curved support protrusions (22)(23) are formed to protrude in a shape corresponding to the left and right curved wings (14)(15) of the ice mold body (10), and the opposite sides of the upper and lower curved support protrusions (22)(23) have curved wing insertion grooves (24) into which the left and right curved wings (14)(15) are inserted, and the ice grooves (25) between the curved wing insertion grooves (24) have a protruding shape corresponding to the ice plate assembly space (16) of the ice mold body (10), thereby forming an assembly structure inserted into the ice plate assembly space (16).

[0048] The present invention, configured as described above, is installed in the ice-making mold (1) while the refrigerant pipe (31) passes through the pipe cooling hole (12) of the ice-making mold body (10) in a zigzag manner, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

[0049] At this time, the uneven convex portion (12a) of the pipe cooling hole (12) allows the pipe cooling hole (12) and the refrigerant pipe (31) to be in close contact with each other without a gap between them, and as the contact area expands, the cold air of the refrigerant pipe (31) can be quickly transferred to the ice-making groove (25) of the left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) inserted into the ice-making plate assembly space (16) of the ice-making mold body (10).

[0050] The inside of the refrigerant pipe (31) is configured with a cooling device (30), i.e., a compressor (32), a condenser (33), an evaporator (34), etc., and a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows according to the principle of a refrigeration cycle. The low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant takes away the heat of the ice mold (1) and cools it, thereby cooling the refrigerant pipe (31) for the ice mold (1). Water supply to the ice-making grooves (25) of the left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) is achieved by a water supply device (40), i.e., a pump (42) supplying water from a water tank (43) to a water spray nozzle (41), and the water spray nozzle (41) spraying water toward the ice-making grooves (25).

[0051] Accordingly, the inside of the ice-making grooves (25) of the left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) is gradually formed by continuous contact with water, filling the inside of the ice-making grooves (25) to form ice fragments, and the ice formed in this way is naturally separated and dropped from the ice-making grooves (25) of the left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b) by allowing high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to flow inside the refrigerant pipe (31), so that the ice can be collected.

[0052] Meanwhile, the present invention is divided into one in which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows through a refrigerant pipe (31) and one in which a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows through a refrigerant pipe (31), and, as shown in FIG. 2, a compressor (33), a condenser (33), an expansion valve (35), and an evaporator (34) are provided to supply a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant or a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe (31).

[0053] And, valve A (V1) is installed on the refrigerant supply path A (37a) between the refrigerant pipe inlet (31a) and the expansion valve (35).

[0054] In addition, a branch (36) is formed between the refrigerant supply line B (37b) between the compressor (32) and the condenser (33) and the refrigerant supply line A (37a), and a valve B (V2) is installed on the branch line (36).

[0055] Accordingly, when valve A (V1) is opened and valve B (V2) is closed, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant sent from the expansion valve (35) flows inside the refrigerant pipe (31) to cool the ice-making mold (1) of the present invention, thereby making ice. When valve A (V1) is closed and valve B (V2) is opened, the space between the expansion valve (35) and the refrigerant pipe (31) is blocked, so that the supply of the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe (31) is stopped, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant sent from the compressor (32) to the condenser (33) is supplied to the refrigerant pipe (31) through the branch line (36) and the refrigerant supply line A (37a), so that the ice-making mold (1) of the present invention is heated, so that the contact surface of the ice formed in the ice-making mold (1) melts, allowing the ice to be naturally separated and dropped from the ice-making mold (1). (Fig. 2) reference.)

[0056] In this way, the present invention can not only increase the efficiency of production and use by enabling the rapid mass production of large-volume, internally filled, solid ice cubes that do not break easily or melt quickly due to external impact, but also increase economic feasibility by reducing the cost of production.

[0057] Although the mold type ice maker for crushed ice according to the present invention has been specifically described above, this only describes the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and its scope is determined and limited by the appended claims.

[0058] In addition, it will be clear that anyone with ordinary knowledge in this technical field can make various modifications and imitations based on the description of the specification of the present invention, but this does not go beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0059]

[0060] [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1: Ice mold

[0062] 10: Ice mold body

[0063] 11: Middle support 12: Pipe cooling hole

[0064] 12a: Convex and concave portion 13: Pipe penetration hole

[0065] 14,15: Left and right curved wings 14a,15a: Upper and lower curved wings

[0066] 16: Ice plate assembly space 17: Removable part

[0067] 17a: Dovetail protrusion 17b: Dovetail groove

[0068] 20a, 20b: Left and right ice plates

[0069] 21: Bulkhead 22,23: Upper and lower curved support brackets

[0070] 24: Curved wing insertion groove 25: Ice-making groove

[0071] 30: Cooling device

[0072] 31: Refrigerant pipe 31a, 31b: Refrigerant pipe inlet and outlet

[0073] 32: Compressor 33: Condenser

[0074] 34: Evaporator 35: Expansion valve

[0075] 36: Branch V1, V2: Valve A, B

[0076] 40: Water supply device

[0077] 41: Water spray nozzle 42: Pump

[0078] 43: Water tank

Claims

1. A vertical ice-making mold (1) is provided, which is cooled by a refrigerant pipe (31) through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows and has a plurality of ice-making grooves (25) on the left and right sides, and a water spray nozzle (41) for spraying water on the ice-making grooves (25) of the ice-making mold (1), and ice made in the ice-making grooves (25) is configured such that the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows inside the refrigerant pipe (31) so that the ice inside the ice-making grooves (25) is naturally separated from the ice-making grooves (25), and the ice-making mold (1) is configured to have an assembly structure that is separated into an ice-making mold body (10) and left and right ice-making plates (20a) (20b). The above ice-making mold body (10) is formed integrally with a plurality of left and right curved wings (14)(15) spaced vertically apart with a vertical intermediate support (11) as the center, and an ice-making plate assembly space (16) is formed between the vertical left and right curved wings (14)(15), and the left and right ice-making plates (20a)(20b) have upper and lower curved support protrusions (22)(23) that are formed protruding in a shape corresponding to the vertical bulkhead (21) and the left and right curved wings (14)(15) of the ice-making mold body (10), and are configured to be assembled in a structure that fits into the ice-making plate assembly space (16) of the ice-making mold body (10). The above ice mold body (10) is provided with a plurality of unit modules so that the length can be increased or decreased in the vertical direction as needed, and the unit modules of the ice mold body (10) are characterized by an assembly structure in which the lower curved surfaces (15a) of the left and right curved wings (14) (15) are located at the upper part of the ice mold body (10), and the upper curved surfaces (14a) of the left and right curved wings (14) (15) are located at the lower part of the ice mold body (10), and the mold type ice maker for piece ice is combined and separated by fitting them together by a detachable part (17).

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