JP2010054071A - Ice making machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent a malfunction of arm operation control that occurs when an arm is slightly displaced from a predetermined closing position or opening position when closing or opening a water dish.
A magnet 7 is provided on an arm 6 that swings a water dish 2, and a hall element 4 that detects a magnetic force of the magnet 7 corresponding to a closed position CL and an open position OP of the water dish 2 is provided. The presence / absence of a position signal received by the Hall element 4 is detected at predetermined time intervals. By this detection, when the same position signal corresponding to each position CL, OP is continuously received 75 times, it is determined that the water pan 2 has reached the predetermined stop position, and the arm 6 stops swinging. To do. At the time of the stop, even when the arm 6 rotates in reverse due to the play of the gear of the gear motor 3 and the position signal cannot be received by the Hall element 4, the swing of the arm 6 is not immediately resumed. Thereby, the malfunction which repeats rocking | swiveling forever without stopping the arm 6 in a predetermined position can be prevented.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cell-type ice making machine that determines whether a water tray is closed or opened based on a position signal transmitted from a water tray position detecting means.

  An example of a main part of a general cell-type ice making machine will be described with reference to FIG. This ice making machine includes an ice tray 1 in which an ice making chamber opening downward is formed, a water tray 2 that opens and closes the ice making chamber by swinging with one end as a fulcrum, and a gear motor that swings the water tray 2 3 is provided. In the ice making process, the water tray 2 injects water from a nozzle provided in the water tray 2 while closing the ice making tray 1 cooled in a refrigeration cycle (not shown), and performs ice making in the ice making chamber.

  On the other hand, when ice making is completed, as shown in FIG. 3, the water tray 2 is swung downward to open the ice making chamber, and hot gas is circulated to the ice making plate 1 to make the ice making plate 1. The part in contact with is partially melted and iced, and stored in a storage space in the ice making machine.

In this series of ice making / draining processes, there is a possibility that ice is caught between the ice tray 1 and the water tray 2 during the sliding down, and the water tray 2 cannot be closed in the next ice making process. . In order to quickly grasp and deal with such trouble, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a water pan position detecting means 4 for detecting the swing of the water pan 2 is provided. An arrangement in which an abnormality in the oscillation of the water dish 2 is detected by a position signal from the means 4 is presented.
JP 2007-155160 A

  In this configuration, a magnet 7 is provided on an arm 6 (see FIG. 4) that rotates and swings together with the water pan drive shaft 5, and a printed wiring board provided with a Hall element 4 that detects the magnetic force of the magnet 7 is connected to the water pan 2. Are provided so as to face the closing position CL and the opening position OP. The arm 6 is driven by a gear motor 3 provided with a rotating cam 8, and the closing position CL and the opening position OP are substantially at both ends of the rotational swing range of the arm 6. When the water dish 2 swings and approaches the closed position CL or the open position OP, a position signal corresponding to the closed position CL or the open position OP is output from the Hall element 4 that detects the magnetic force of the magnet 7 provided on the arm 6. The position signal is emitted by the control means, and the swinging of the water tray 2 is stopped by the control of the control means.

  The gear motor 3 used in the above configuration is provided with a slight play between the gears constituting the gear motor 3 in order to drive the gear motor 3 smoothly. For this reason, when the oscillation of the water dish 2 stops, the arm 6 may reversely rotate (backlash) by the amount of play due to the reaction of the stoppage. When this reverse rotation occurs, the magnet 7 provided on the arm 6 deviates from the position facing the Hall element 4 (see FIG. 5B). The magnetic force detection range of the Hall element 4 is narrow, and if the positions of the magnet 7 and the Hall element 4 are thus shifted, the Hall element 4 cannot detect the magnetic force of the magnet 7.

  As a result, the control means of the gear motor 3 makes an erroneous determination that the closed position CL or the open position OP has not yet been reached, and the water tray 2 is almost at the predetermined stop position (the ice making / ice discharging function is impaired). The arm 6 resumes swinging toward the respective positions. Thereafter, the reverse rotation is repeated in the same manner, and there arises a problem that the arm 6 does not stop at the predetermined closing position CL or the opening position OP (repeated malfunction).

  In view of this, an object of the present invention is to prevent a malfunction in arm operation control that occurs when the arm is slightly deviated from a predetermined closing position or opening position when the water dish is closed or opened.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention receives a predetermined position signal (a signal for instructing stoppage of the water pan) and receives the position signal after the position signal when the driving means stops. Even if it becomes impossible, this drive means is not restarted immediately.
As a result, as described above, even if the arm rotates backward (backlash) due to gear play and slightly deviates from the predetermined closing / opening position, the swinging of the arm is resumed due to a misjudgment of the control means. Can be prevented.

  The “predetermined position signal” refers to a stop signal that can clearly distinguish between a normal position signal and an abnormal position signal. For example, in the configuration in which the position signal is transmitted from the Hall element as described above, the Hall element rarely generates a noise signal (an abnormal signal that is not the original position signal). In this case, if the driving unit immediately starts driving based on the signal transmitted from the Hall element, if the signal is a noise signal, the driving unit malfunctions.

  Such a noise signal does not occur so frequently, and its ratio is small compared to a normal position signal. For this reason, if the same position signal is received for a predetermined time, only a normal position signal can be clearly distinguished without being affected by a noise signal.

  In addition, the “when the position signal can no longer be received” refers to reverse rotation (backlash) when the arm is stopped, and the reverse rotation causes the arm to shift from the closed position or the open position. Even when the position signal (stop signal) can no longer be received, if the position signal is stopped immediately before the position signal is received, the stop state is maintained and the driving means is not restarted. .

  The structure of the ice making machine includes an ice making tray in which an ice making chamber opening downward is formed, a water tray that opens and closes the ice making chamber by swinging around one end, and a drive that swings the water tray. Means, a water pan position detecting means for detecting the closed position and the open position of the water dish and transmitting a position signal thereof, a position signal from the water dish position detecting means is stored, and based on the position signal And a control means for controlling the drive means, wherein the control means is configured such that if the same position signal transmitted from the water dish position detection means continues for a predetermined time, the water dish is It can be determined that the object is located in the closed position or the open position.

  The fixed time for receiving the same position signal can be appropriately set at the design stage of the ice making machine. By this setting, the position signal and the noise signal can be distinguished, and the arm stop position can be distinguished. Fine adjustment (adjustment of the swing angle from when the position signal is received until the arm stops) can also be performed.

  In addition, before the first swinging of the water pan immediately after the power is turned on, the position signal stored by the control means at that time is once erased, and the control means does not hold any position signal. It is also possible to issue a swing command to the water tray drive means.

  Immediately after the power is turned on, the microcomputer is initially set, and in the initial setting, a water pan position signal, temperature data, and the like are captured during a predetermined time. Further, in order to quickly start the ice making operation, the compressor is started at almost the same timing as the acquisition of the position signal. Since this compressor is fully driven immediately after the power is turned on, the vibration is large, and the vibration is transmitted to the water pan, and the position of the water pan may slightly fluctuate. Therefore, particularly when the water pan is at the end of the closed position or the open position, the position signal is received or not by the vibration, and the acquisition of the position signal is completed during the predetermined time. Therefore, the control means is in a state where the position of the water pan cannot be grasped (position indefinite state). If the process moves to the ice making process in such an indefinite state, the swinging of the water pan by the driving means may not be performed smoothly.

  Therefore, since the position signal stored as described above is once erased (the water pan is recognized as being in an intermediate position that is neither the closed position nor the open position), the position information of the water pan is determined, so that the ice making process The water dish is smoothly swung after the transition to (1).

  Further, in the above configuration, when the control means detects the position signal at a predetermined time interval and the position signal is continuously received for a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the predetermined time has been reached. You can also do it.

  This position signal may be continuous for a predetermined time as described above, or may be a short pulse. This is because even if this pulse-shaped one can be received continuously for a predetermined number of times, it can be handled in the same manner as received continuously for the predetermined time. As the number of continuous receptions of the position signal is increased, only normal position signals can be clearly distinguished. However, the number of receptions is appropriately determined in consideration of the arm swing speed, the stop position, and the like. .

  In addition, the time interval for signal detection is appropriately determined in consideration of the number of continuous receptions. As will be described later, the water pan position detecting means includes, for example, a magnetic sensor and a magnet disposed on the surface of an arm or the like so as to face the magnetic sensor. The magnetic force cannot be detected if it is removed for a short period of time. For this reason, when the rotational speed of the arm is high, it is necessary to shorten the time interval to ensure the number of continuous receptions.

  In each said structure, when the signal voltage of the said position signal exists in a predetermined range for a fixed time, it can be judged that the said water pan is located in the said obstruction | occlusion position or an open position.

  The position signal is generally an electric signal, and the position information is given by the voltage level of the electric signal. For example, if it is configured so that a low voltage is added as a position signal when the water pan (arm) is in the closed position and a high voltage is added as a position signal when it is in the open position, the control means detects any position signal (voltage). The position can be specified depending on whether or not. Also in this case, in order to remove the influence of the noise signal as much as possible, the position is determined only when the position signal is received continuously for a predetermined time.

  The water pan position detecting means includes a magnetic sensor provided corresponding to both the closed position and the open position of the water dish, and the magnetic sensor on the surface of the arm that swings the water dish at both positions. And a magnet arranged so as to face each other.

As this magnetic sensor, for example, a Hall element can be adopted. This Hall element is an element that generates an electric signal (generates a voltage) in response to a change in the magnetic flux density passing through the element when the magnet approaches. As this Hall element, one made of a III-V group compound semiconductor is known, and the generated voltage varies depending on the type of the compound semiconductor. Therefore, by disposing different types of Hall elements at both the closed and open positions, it is possible to specify at which position the stop has occurred from the voltage of the detected position signal.
The water pan position detecting means is not limited to the magnetic sensor, and a sensor capable of detecting the position / tilt of the water pan can be appropriately selected and used.

  In each of the above-described configurations, the control unit may continuously detect the presence / absence of a position signal from the water pan position detection unit during the ice making process.

  During this ice making process, a water dish swing abnormality due to ice clogging or the like is likely to occur. However, by continuously detecting the presence or absence of the position signal in this way, the rocking abnormality can be detected quickly. This detection is always performed while the ice maker is turned on, so that the water tray can behave abnormally outside the ice making process (such as when the water tray suddenly opens due to damage to parts, etc.). , That abnormality can be found quickly.

  Further, in each of the above configurations, when the control means receives both the position signal corresponding to the closed position and the open position at the same time, it is determined that an abnormal signal has been received, and the ice making process is stopped. be able to.

  As described above, since the arm closing / opening positions are located at almost both ends of the rotational swing range (see FIG. 4), a short circuit on the substrate on which the water pan position detecting means is mounted or transient noise is simply provided. The influence of the signal is unlikely, and there is a high possibility that an obvious abnormality (failure) has occurred in this device. For this reason, when the control means receives such an abnormal signal, the ice making process is immediately stopped to take measures to prevent the abnormality of the apparatus from expanding.

  Further, in each of the above configurations, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred when the control means does not receive any position signal of the closed position or the open position of the water pan even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The ice making process can also be stopped.

  This water dish is usually in either the closed position or the open position, and the movement to the opposite position is made within a short time (about several tens of seconds). For this reason, if the control means does not receive a position signal even after a predetermined time has elapsed after starting to move to the opposite side, as in the case described above, there is an obvious abnormality (the water pan stops halfway). Etc.) is likely to occur. For this reason, in this case, it is possible to take measures to prevent the abnormality of the apparatus from expanding by stopping the ice making process.

  In addition, at the time of the stop, the content of the abnormality that caused the failure can be displayed on a display panel provided in the ice making machine body.

  By displaying the contents of the abnormality in this way, it is possible to quickly cope with the repair or the like, so that the operation of the ice making machine can be resumed quickly.

  According to the present invention, when the water pan is stopped by receiving a predetermined position signal at the closed / open position, the arm is restarted even if the arm is slightly deviated from each position due to the reaction of the stop. Can be prevented. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that the arm does not stop indefinitely near the stop position even though the water tray is substantially at a predetermined position, and ice making / draining operations can be performed smoothly.

The apparatus configuration of the ice making machine according to the present invention is the same as that according to the prior art shown in FIGS.
A control system of the entire ice making machine will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. This ice making machine is supplied with power from the power supply AC provided on the power supply board PB, and the microcomputer board MB which receives power supply from the power supply board PB is provided with a display board DB and a hall element for displaying a set temperature and an abnormal state. A hall element mounting substrate HB for detecting the swing of the water tray, a condensing fan motor CFM, a water pump WP for supplying water to the water tray during the ice making process, a water supply valve WV for controlling the water supply, Temperature sensors TH1 and TH2 for detecting the temperature inside and outside the chamber, and a float switch FS for detecting the amount of water in the water pan are mounted or connected.

  Further, the microcomputer board MB is equipped with a plurality of output relays X1 to X4, and the control of these output relays X1 to X4 eliminates the compressor CPR constituting the refrigeration cycle and the overload state of the compressor CPR. Overload relay OLR, start relay ST. R, stock switch ST. S, the gear motor RM, and the hot gas valve HGV are driven. Further, by providing capacitors Cr and Cs in the circuit, the operation of each device is stabilized. The ice making function of the ice making machine itself is the same as that of the conventional one, and the description thereof is omitted.

  When the ice maker is turned on and started, its arm swings according to the control flow shown in FIG. First, immediately after the power is turned on, the control means receives the swing signal and starts swinging toward the open position (S1 in the figure). While the ice making machine is in the ice making process, this control means continuously detects the presence or absence of a position signal transmitted from the Hall element at a time interval of 2 milliseconds (S2 in the figure).

  The arm 6 that swings the water tray 2 of the ice making machine is driven by a gear motor 3 and has a gear ratio (reduction ratio) of 1: 375, a power supply frequency of 60 Hz, and a motor pole number of 24. In this specification, the arm 6 is swung at an angular velocity of 4.8 degrees / second. The number of continuous receptions of position signals, which will be described later, is 75. The time required for this reception is 0.15 seconds, during which the arm 6 swings 0.72 degrees.

  A magnet 7 is provided at the tip of the arm 6 in the same manner as described in the prior art, and the magnetic force of the magnet 7 is detected by the Hall element 4 provided on the substrate. The magnetic detection by the Hall element 4 is performed within the range where the overlapping with the magnets 7 arranged to face each other occurs (in the range of the double-headed arrow shown in FIG. 5A), and the arm 6 is positioned within this range. In this case, the Hall element 4 detects a position signal (in the case where the arm 6 is tilted to the left as shown in the figure), and transmits it to the control means. By adopting a Hall element 4 having a size larger than the swing angle, the arm 6 is always positioned within the range of the arrow shown in FIG. 5A during the swing. Can do. For this reason, the Hall element 4 can always detect the magnetism by the magnet 7.

  When this control means receives both the closing and opening position signals at the same time (S3 in FIG. 1), there is some abnormality (failure) such as an abnormal current occurring in the substrate that controls the operation of the ice making machine. It may have occurred. If the operation is continued in such a state, a fatal failure may occur in the ice making machine. Therefore, when the control mechanism receives such a position signal from the hall element 4, it issues a stop signal for operating the ice making machine and immediately stops the ice making process (S4 in the figure).

  In addition, when this control means does not receive any position signal after a predetermined time has elapsed (S5 in the figure), an abnormality (failure) such as the swinging of the water pan 2 stops halfway. May have occurred. In this case as well, an ice making machine operation stop signal is issued and the ice making process is immediately stopped (S4 in the figure).

  In this detection, when the same position signal (for example, the opening position signal in FIG. 5A) is continuously received a predetermined number of times (S6 in FIG. 1), the water dish 2 is brought to a predetermined position (for example, the opening position). Judging that there is, the swing of the arm 6 is stopped. The number of continuous receptions may be changed as appropriate in consideration of the time interval for detecting the position signal, the size of the Hall element 4, the position where the arm 6 is to be stopped, and the like.

  When the same position signal is continuously received and the water pan position is determined in this way, the process proceeds to a predetermined ice making / ice discharging process (S7 in FIG. 1). Further, when the ice making / ice discharging step is completed, the control means transmits a predetermined ice discharging or ice making signal to the gear motor 3 and proceeds to the next step (swing) (S8 in the figure).

  In this control flow, once stopped by the same position signal, the gear motor 3 is not driven until a control signal (ice discharge or ice making signal) for the next swing is issued. For this reason, even when the arm 6 is slightly reversely rotated by the reaction of the stop due to the play of the gear constituting the gear motor 3 as described above, the Hall element 4 and the magnet 7 are not overlapped. (Refer to FIG. 5B) It is possible to prevent the arm 6 from repeatedly swinging due to a malfunction.

  The main body of the ice making machine is provided with a display panel, and when the operation of the ice making machine is stopped due to each abnormality described above, the contents of the abnormality are displayed on the display board. . For this reason, the user can promptly take measures such as repairing the ice making machine according to the contents, and can quickly resume the operation of the ice making machine.

  In this embodiment, a magnet is provided on the arm to detect its swing, but a configuration in which a magnet is provided on the water dish and the swing is directly detected can also be employed. This is because the function of preventing the malfunction of the water pan and the arm can be exhibited similarly.

The figure which shows the control flow of the ice making machine which concerns on this invention The main part of a general cell type ice making machine is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a plan view. The side view which shows the state which open | released the water tray of the cell type ice maker shown in FIG. Side view showing arm swing It is a side view which shows the effect | action of a Hall element, (a) is in a magnetic detection range, (b) is out of a magnetic detection range. Diagram showing the control system of an ice machine

Explanation of symbols

1 Ice tray 2 Water tray 3 Gear motor 4 Water tray position detection means (Hall element)
5 Water pan drive shaft 6 Arm 7 Magnet 8 Rotating cam CL Closed position OP Open position

Claims (9)

An ice-making tray (1) having an ice-making chamber opened downward, a water tray (2) that opens and closes the ice-making chamber by swinging with one end as a fulcrum, and swings the water tray (2) A driving means, a water pan position detecting means (4) for detecting a closed position (CL) and an open position (OP) of the water pan (2) and transmitting a position signal thereof, and the water pan position detecting means ( 4) In the cell type ice making machine having the position signal from 4) and the control means for controlling the driving means based on the position signal,
When the same position signal transmitted from the water pan position detecting means (4) continues for a predetermined time, the control means is positioned at the closed position (CL) or the open position (OP). An ice making machine characterized in that it is judged to be a thing.   Before the first swinging of the water pan (2) immediately after the power is turned on, the position signal stored in the control means at that time is once erased, and the control means does not hold any position signal. 2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, wherein a swing command is issued to the driving means of the water tray (2).   The control means detects the position signal at a predetermined time interval, and determines that the predetermined time has been reached when the position signal is continuously received a predetermined number of times. The ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.   The control means determines that the water pan (2) is located at the closed position (CL) or the open position (OP) when the signal voltage of the position signal is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time. The ice making machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ice making machine is configured.   The water pan position detecting means (4) includes a magnetic sensor (4) provided corresponding to both the closed position (CL) and the open position (OP) of the water pan (2), and the water pan ( 2. A magnet (7) arranged on the surface of an arm that swings (2) so as to face the magnetic sensor (4) at both positions (CL, OP). The ice making machine according to any one of 1 to 4.   The ice making device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means continuously detects the presence or absence of a position signal from the water pan position detecting means (4) during the ice making process. Machine.   When the control means receives both the position signal corresponding to the closed position (CL) and the open position (OP) at the same time, it is determined that an abnormal signal has been received, and the ice making process is stopped. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   If the control means does not receive any position signal of the closed position (CL) or the open position (OP) of the water pan even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ice making process is stopped.   The ice making machine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the content of the abnormality that caused the stop is displayed on a display panel provided in the ice making machine body.

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