WO2018164428A1 - Icemaker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice maker capable of preventing slush from forming. The icemaker according to the present invention derives a control time point at which it is predicted that slush would be generated on the basis of the temperature of ice-making water in an ice-making water reservoir, thereby preventing slush from being generated or removing generated slush at the control time point.

Description

Ice maker

The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly to an ice maker that can prevent the formation of slush.

Ice makers are devices that continuously produce lumps of ice with a certain shape, and ice makers are widely used in homes, restaurants, and cafes. Ice makers that make ice are manufactured by supplying ice makers stored in ice makers to an evaporator through a pump and ice making ice makers in an evaporator.

When ice making is started by driving a pump, ice-making water is supplied to an evaporator. As a result, ice is adhered to the evaporator while ice-making water at room temperature gradually reaches a freezing point. At this time, the ice sticks to the initial evaporator, but the ice should be enlarged. In this case, slush occurs in the ice-water pool as it freezes instantaneously in the ice-water pool with the lowest kinetic energy. The slush generated as described above temporarily stops the flow of the ice-making water or interrupts the circulation of the ice-making water, thereby slowing the ice formation and lowering the ice ice quality and reducing the production of the ice maker.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can prevent the occurrence of slush in the ice making process or to immediately remove the slush generated to form a high-quality ice.

In order to solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the ice maker according to the present invention is an ice-making water storage in which ice-making water is stored therein; An evaporator receiving ice-making water stored in the ice-making water reservoir to ice ice-making water; A pump for moving the ice making water stored in the ice making water reservoir to the evaporator; A temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the ice making water in the ice making water reservoir; And deriving a control time point at which the slush is expected to occur in the ice making water reservoir based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor, and controlling to prevent the occurrence of slush in the ice making water reservoir at the control time. And a control unit controlling to remove slush generated in the ice-making water reservoir.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the invention, the control time point is such that when the temperature sensor reaches a first temperature and reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature within a first time period, When the second temperature is reached, when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses. Any one of a time point and when the second time elapses after the pump is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time after the pump is operated. Can be.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the controller may control to supply water to the ice maker reservoir at the control time.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the controller may control the water at room temperature to be supplied to the ice maker reservoir for several seconds.

In some embodiments of the icemaker according to the present invention, the vibrator positioned in the ice-making water reservoir to generate an ultrasonic wave, the control unit, the control unit, the ultrasonic wave in the ice-making tank through the vibrator at the control time point Can be controlled to occur.

In some embodiments of the icemaker according to the present invention, the heater is disposed inside the ice-making reservoir to increase the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making reservoir; wherein the control unit, the control point, the heater It can be controlled to increase the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the controller may stop the operation of the pump at the control time and control the evaporator to be supercooled.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., and the second temperature may be −1 ° C.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention, the controller is further configured to predict that a slush will occur in the ice maker after the control time, based on the temperature of the ice maker measured by the temperature sensor. A viewpoint can be derived.

In some embodiments of the ice maker according to the invention, the additional control time point is determined by the temperature sensor when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature within the first time. When the temperature is reached, when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and does not reach the second temperature within the first time, when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time has elapsed And when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point, the second time elapses from the control time point.

Due to the slush phenomenon that occurs during the deicing process using the existing ice maker, non-transparent ice is defrosted, ice is not formed in a part of the evaporator, or the ice making time is delayed, thereby reducing the yield. On the other hand, the ice maker according to the present invention measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir and supplies water at room temperature at the time of slush, generates ultrasonic waves using a vibrator, or uses a heater to adjust the temperature of the ice making water. By raising or stopping the pump and supercooling the evaporator to prevent the occurrence of slush or eliminating the slush immediately, it is possible to defrost the high quality transparent ice and increase production as ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator. Done.

1 is a view schematically showing a first embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of performing an ice maker according to the first embodiment to prevent slush from occurring.

3 is a view schematically showing a second embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of performing an ice maker according to a second embodiment to prevent slush from occurring.

5 is a view schematically showing a third embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of performing an ice maker according to a third embodiment to prevent slush from occurring.

7 is a view schematically showing a fourth embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of performing an ice maker according to a fourth embodiment to prevent slush from occurring.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following examples can be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is It is not limited to an Example. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

In the figures, for example, variations in the shape shown may be expected, depending on manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the specific shapes of the regions shown herein, but should include, for example, changes in shape resulting from manufacturing. Like numbers refer to like elements all the time. Furthermore, various elements and regions in the drawings are schematically drawn. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the relative size or spacing drawn in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to an ice maker capable of preventing the occurrence of slush in the ice-water reservoir or quickly removing the generated slush, for which the ice maker is expected to generate a slurry based on the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-water reservoir. And a control unit for deriving a control point and controlling the occurrence of slush at the control point or controlling the generated slush to be removed.

At this time, when the temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the ice-making water reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time, or when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, If the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time has elapsed, or the pump that moves the ice making water to the evaporator is operated. After that, when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time, the second time elapses after the pump is operated. Here, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

In addition, the control unit may derive an additional control point in which the slush is expected to occur in the ice-making water reservoir after the above-described control point, and may control to prevent the slush from occurring at the additional control point or to remove the generated slush. have. In this case, the additional control time may be a time when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature within the first time, or when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time If the second temperature has not been reached within a first time after the first temperature has elapsed after the temperature sensor has reached the first temperature, or if the temperature sensor has not reached the first temperature within a second time from the control time point, from the control time point It is the time elapsed. Here, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes. The controller may derive the additional control time one or more times to prevent the slush from occurring or to remove the generated slush.

The control point or additional control point at which the slurry is expected to occur in the ice-making water reservoir is derived through various experiments by the inventor of the present invention, and the control unit may prevent the occurrence of the slush or remove the generated slush. At the control or additional control point, water is supplied into the ice making tank, ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice making tank, a heater is used to raise the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank, or the ice making water is moved to the evaporator. The operation of the pump may be suspended and the evaporator may be subcooled.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the ice maker according to the present invention will be described with drawings.

(First embodiment)

1 is a view schematically showing a first embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ice maker 100 of the first embodiment includes an ice maker 110, an evaporator 120, a pump 130, an ice maker valve 140, a temperature sensor 150, and a controller 160. It is provided. In the ice maker 100 of the first embodiment, the flow of the ice making water is indicated by the arrow.

The ice making tank 110 has an accommodation space in which ice making water can be stored. Ice making water is water for ice making, ice making water is supplied into the ice making reservoir 110 through the ice making water supply pipe 115, the supply of ice making water is made through the ice making water supply valve 140. An upper limit sensor 170 and a lower limit sensor 175 are installed inside the ice maker 110, and an appropriate amount of ice maker may be used in the ice maker 110 using the detection sensors 170 and 175. To be supplied.

The evaporator 120 is disposed above the ice making tank 110 and ice-making water supplied from the ice making tank 110 through the pump 130. The evaporator 120 is formed with a cooling line through which the refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to ice the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 120. The evaporator 120 of the first embodiment has a plate shape, ice is adhered to the surface of the evaporator 120 when the ice-making water supplied to the surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 120 reaches a freezing point, and then the ice is gradually expanded to make ice This is done. And the ice-making water that is not iced is circulated to the ice-making water reservoir 110 which is located under the evaporator 120. The ice making water entering the ice making reservoir 110 is supplied to the evaporator 120 by the pump 130 again.

The pump 130 is located in the receiving space inside the ice-making reservoir 110, and supplies the ice-making water stored in the ice-making reservoir 110 to the evaporator 120 disposed above the ice-making reservoir 110. do.

The temperature sensor 150 is located in the accommodation space inside the ice making tank 110 and measures the temperature of the ice making water stored in the ice making tank 110.

The controller 160 controls to prevent slush from occurring in the ice-making water reservoir 110 or to quickly remove the slush generated. To this end, the controller 160 derives a control time point at which the slush is expected to occur in the ice making water reservoir 110, and the ice making water supply valve 140 so that water is supplied into the ice making water reservoir 110 at this control time. To control. At this time, the water may be water at room temperature, and when water at room temperature is supplied into the ice making tank 110, slush is generated in the ice making tank 110 by increasing the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 110. Prevented or generated slush is quickly removed.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 150. Here, the control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. . However, when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 150 does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time after the pump 130 operates, the time point when the second time elapses after the pump 130 operates is controlled. Corresponds to the time point. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, the control unit 160 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 to prevent the occurrence of slush or to quickly remove the generated slush. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of a method of preventing the slush from occurring or quickly removing the generated slush by the ice maker 100 according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the pump 130 is operated and the ice making water in the ice making tank 110 is stored by the upper limit sensor 170, an appropriate amount of ice making water is stored. Deicing is started in a state where water is not supplied into the ice making tank 110 (S210).

In order to prevent slush from occurring in the ice making tank 110 during ice making, first, the controller 160 measures the temperature through a temperature sensor 150 that measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 110. Check whether it reaches 0 ° C (S220). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 reaches 0 ° C., the controller 160 calculates a time elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S230). In addition, the controller 160 checks whether 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S240). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 has not passed 1 minute since reaching 0 ° C., the controller 160 measures the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 measuring the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir 110 and then measures -1. When the temperature reaches 150 ° C. (S250), if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 reaches −1 ° C. before 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C., the control unit 160 at that point in time determines the ice making water supply valve 140. It is controlled to be turned on (ON) to supply water in the ice making reservoir 110 (S260). In this case, the water to be supplied may be supplied to the water at room temperature for several seconds, preferably about 5 seconds.

However, if the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 does not reach −1 ° C. after 1 minute after the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 reaches 0 ° C. through steps S230 and S240, the controller 160 controls the temperature sensor ( When the temperature of 150 reaches 0 ° C. and one minute has elapsed, the ice-making water supply valve 140 is controlled to be turned on to supply water into the ice-making water reservoir 110 (S260). In this case, the water to be supplied may be supplied to the water at room temperature for several seconds, preferably about 5 seconds.

When defrosting is started by operating the pump 130, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 measured in step S220 does not reach 0 ° C., the controller 160 calculates an elapsed time after the pump 130 is operated. After that, it is checked whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S270), and when the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 does not reach 0 ° C. after 10 minutes has elapsed after the operation of the pump 130, the controller 160 controls the ice making water supply valve. The control unit 140 is turned on to supply water into the ice making tank 110 (S260). In this case, the water to be supplied may be supplied to the water at room temperature for several seconds, preferably about 5 seconds.

Through this process, by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 110, deriving a control time that is expected to generate slush and by supplying water at room temperature at this control time to prevent or generate slush Slush is quickly removed. Therefore, the slush-prevention effect is remarkably excellent compared to water supply by randomly selecting a specific time point. Through this, it is possible to make ice of high quality transparent ice, and since the ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 120, the yield increases.

In addition, after supplying water into the ice-making water reservoir 110 at the control time point through the process illustrated in FIG. 2 and described above, the controller 160 may derive an additional control time point that is expected to further generate slush. The controller 160 controls the ice making water supply valve 140 so that water is supplied into the ice making water reservoir 110 at this additional control point.

The additional control point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 150 similarly to the control point. Here, the additional control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. do. However, when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 150 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time, the time when the second time elapses from the control time corresponds to the additional control time. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As such, the controller 160 may derive a time point at which the slush is expected to occur several times, and prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at that time.

(2nd Example)

3 is a view schematically showing a second embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the ice maker 300 according to the second embodiment includes an ice maker 310, an evaporator 320, a pump 330, an ice maker valve 340, a temperature sensor 350, and a vibrator 355. And a control unit 360. In the ice maker 300 of the second embodiment, the flow of the ice making water is indicated by an arrow.

The ice making tank 310 has an accommodation space in which ice making water can be stored. Ice making water is water for making ice, ice making water is supplied into the ice-making reservoir 310 through the ice-making water supply pipe 315, and ice-making water is supplied through the ice-making water supply valve 340. An upper limit detection sensor 370 and a lower limit detection sensor 375 are installed inside the ice making reservoir 310, and an appropriate amount of ice making water is stored in the ice making reservoir 310 using the detection sensors 370 and 375. To be supplied.

The evaporator 320 is disposed above the ice making tank 310, and ice-making water supplied from the ice making tank 310 through the pump 330. The evaporator 320 is provided with a cooling line through which the refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to ice the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 320. The evaporator 320 of the second embodiment has a plate shape. When the ice making water supplied to the surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 320 reaches a freezing point, ice adheres to the surface of the evaporator 320, and then the ice is gradually enlarged to make ice. This is done. The ice-making water that has not been de-iced is circulated to the ice-making water reservoir 310 positioned below the evaporator 320. The ice making water entering the ice making reservoir 310 is supplied to the evaporator 320 by the pump 330 again.

The pump 330 is located in the receiving space inside the ice making tank 310, and supplies the ice making water stored in the ice making reservoir 310 to the evaporator 320 disposed above the ice making reservoir 310. do.

The temperature sensor 350 is located in the receiving space inside the ice making tank 310, and measures the temperature of the ice making water stored in the ice making reservoir 310.

The vibrator 355 is positioned below the receiving space inside the ice making tank 310 and generates ultrasonic waves in the ice making tank 310 through the vibrator 355.

The controller 360 serves to prevent the slush from occurring in the ice-making water reservoir 310 or to quickly remove the slush generated. To this end, the controller 360 derives a control time point at which the slush is expected to occur in the ice making water reservoir 310, and controls the vibrator 355 to generate an ultrasonic wave in the ice making water reservoir 310 at this control time. . When ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice making tank 310 through the vibrator 355, the kinetic energy of the ice making water in the ice making tank 310 is increased to prevent the occurrence of slush in the ice making tank 310 or the generated slush is prevented. Quickly removed.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 350. Here, the control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. . However, when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 350 does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time after the pump 330 operates, the time point when the second time elapses after the pump 330 operates is controlled. Corresponds to the time point. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, the control method for preventing the slush from occurring or the controller swiftly removing the slush will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of a method of preventing the slush from occurring or quickly removing the slush caused by the ice maker 300 according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the pump 330 operates and the ice making water in the ice making tank 310 is stored by the upper limit sensor 370, an appropriate amount of ice making water is stored in the ice making water supply valve 340. De-icing is started in a state in which water is not supplied into the ice-making water reservoir 310 (S410).

In order to prevent slush from occurring in the ice making tank 310 during ice making, first, the controller 360 measures the temperature through a temperature sensor 350 that measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 310. Check whether it reaches 0 ° C (S420). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 reaches 0 ° C., the controller 360 calculates a time elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S430). In addition, the controller 360 checks whether 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S440). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 has not passed 1 minute since reaching 0 ° C., the controller 360 measures the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 measuring the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir 310 and then -1. When the temperature reaches 350 ° C. (S450), if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 reaches −1 ° C. before 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C., the controller 360 controls the vibrator 355 at that time. Ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice making tank 310 (S460).

However, if the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 does not reach −1 ° C. after 1 minute after the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 reaches 0 ° C. through steps S430 and S440, the control unit 360 controls the temperature sensor ( When the temperature of 350 reaches 0 ° C. and one minute has elapsed, the vibrator 355 is controlled to generate ultrasonic waves in the ice making tank 310 (S460).

And when the deicing is started by the operation of the pump 330, if the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 measured in step S320 does not reach 0 ℃, the controller 360 calculates the time elapsed after the operation of the pump 330 After that, it is checked whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S470), and when the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 does not reach 0 ° C. after 10 minutes has elapsed after the operation of the pump 330, the controller 360 controls the vibrator 355. By controlling the to generate an ultrasonic wave in the ice-making reservoir 310 (S460).

Through this process, by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making reservoir 310, it specifies the moment when the slush occurs and at this moment by generating ultrasonic waves in the ice-making reservoir 310 through the vibrator 355 The occurrence is prevented or the generated slush is quickly removed. Therefore, the slush-prevention effect is remarkably excellent compared to water supply by randomly selecting a specific time point. Through this, it is possible to make ice of high quality transparent ice, and since the ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 320, the yield increases.

In addition, after the controller 360 generates ultrasonic waves in the ice making tank 310 through the vibrator 355 at the control point through the process illustrated and described with reference to FIG. 4, the controller 360 derives an additional control point in which an additional slush is expected to be generated. can do. In addition, the controller 360 controls the vibrator 355 so that ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice making tank 310 at this additional control point.

The additional control point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 350 similarly to the control point. Here, the additional control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. do. However, when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 350 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time, the time when the second time elapses from the control time corresponds to the additional control time. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As described above, the controller 360 may derive the time point at which the slush is expected to occur several times, and prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at that time.

(Third Embodiment)

5 is a view schematically showing a third embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the ice maker 500 of the third embodiment may include an ice maker 510, an evaporator 520, a pump 530, an ice maker valve 540, a temperature sensor 550, and a heater 555. And a control unit 560. In the ice maker 500 of the third embodiment, the flow of the ice making water is indicated by the arrow.

The ice making tank 510 has an accommodation space in which ice making water can be stored. Ice making water is water for making ice, ice making water is supplied into the ice-making water reservoir 510 through the ice-making water supply pipe 515, and the ice-making water is supplied through the ice-making water supply valve 540. An upper limit sensor 570 and a lower limit sensor 575 are installed inside the ice maker 510, and an appropriate amount of ice maker is used in the ice maker 510 using the sensors 570 and 575. To be supplied.

The evaporator 520 is disposed above the ice making tank 510 and ice-making water supplied from the ice making tank 510 through the pump 530. The evaporator 520 is formed with a cooling line through which the refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to ice the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 520. The evaporator 520 of the third embodiment is in the form of a plate. When the ice making water supplied to the surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 520 reaches a freezing point, ice adheres to the surface of the evaporator 520, and then the ice is gradually expanded to make ice. This is done. The ice-making water that is not iced is circulated to the ice-making water reservoir 510 located under the evaporator 520. The ice making water entering the ice making reservoir 510 is again supplied to the evaporator 520 by the pump 530.

The pump 530 is located in an accommodation space inside the ice making tank 510 and supplies the ice making water stored in the ice making tank 510 to the evaporator 520 disposed above the ice making tank 510. do.

The temperature sensor 550 is located in the accommodation space inside the ice making tank 510 and measures the temperature of the ice making water stored in the ice making tank 510.

The heater 555 is located in the receiving space inside the ice making tank 510 and raises the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 510 through the heater 555.

The controller 560 serves to prevent the slush from occurring in the ice-making water reservoir 510 or to quickly remove the slush generated. To this end, the controller 560 derives a control time point at which the slush is expected to occur in the ice making water reservoir 510, and at this control time, the heater 555 to raise the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making water reservoir 510. To control. When the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making water reservoir 310 is increased through the heater 555, slush is prevented from occurring in the ice making water reservoir 510 or the generated slush is quickly removed.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 550. Here, the control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. . However, when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 550 does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time after the pump 530 operates, the time point when the second time elapses after the pump 530 operates is controlled. Corresponds to the time point. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, the controller 560 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6 to prevent the occurrence of slush or to quickly remove the generated slush. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of a method of preventing the slush from occurring or quickly removing the slush generated by the ice maker 500 according to the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the pump 530 is operated and the deicing water in the ice making tank 510 is stored by the upper limit sensor 570, the ice making water supply valve 540 is turned off. De-icing is started in a state in which water is not supplied into the ice-making water reservoir 510 (S610).

In order to prevent slush in the ice-making water reservoir 510 during ice making, first, the controller 560 measures the temperature through a temperature sensor 550 that measures the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 510. Check whether it reaches 0 ° C (S620). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 reaches 0 ° C., the controller 560 calculates a time that has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S630). The controller 560 checks whether 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S640). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 is less than 1 minute after reaching 0 ° C., the controller 560 measures the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 that measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir 510 and then measures -1. Check whether the temperature reaches (° C.) (S650). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 reaches -1 ° C. before 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C., the controller 560 operates the heater 555 at that time. The temperature of the ice making water in the ice making storage 510 is increased (S660).

However, if the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 does not reach −1 ° C. after 1 minute after the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 reaches 0 ° C. through steps S630 and S640, the control unit 560 controls the temperature sensor ( When the temperature of 550 reaches 0 ° C. and 1 minute has elapsed, the heater 555 is operated to increase the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir 510 (S660).

When deicing is started by operating the pump 530, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 measured in step S620 does not reach 0 ° C., the controller 560 calculates an elapsed time after the pump 530 is operated. After that, it is checked whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S670), and when the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 does not reach 0 ° C. after 10 minutes has elapsed after the operation of the pump 530, the controller 560 is connected to the heater 555. Operate to increase the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making reservoir (510) (S660).

Through this process, the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 510 is measured, and the instant of slush is generated and the heater 555 is operated at this moment to operate the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 510. By raising the slush is prevented or the generated slush is removed quickly. Therefore, the slush-prevention effect is remarkably excellent compared to water supply by randomly selecting a specific time point. Through this, it is possible to make ice of high quality transparent ice, and since the ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 520, the yield increases.

Further, after the controller 560 raises the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 510 through the heater 555 at the control point through the process illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 560 additionally predicts that slush will be generated. A viewpoint can be derived. The controller 560 controls the heater 555 such that the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making water reservoir 510 is increased at this additional control point.

The additional control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 550 similarly to the control time point. Here, the additional control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. do. However, when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and the first time elapses is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 550 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time, the time when the second time elapses from the control time corresponds to the additional control time. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As such, the controller 560 may derive a time point at which the slush is expected to occur several times, and may prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at that time.

(Example 4)

7 is a view schematically showing a fourth embodiment of an ice maker according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the ice maker 700 according to the fourth embodiment includes an ice maker 710, an evaporator 720, a pump 730, an ice maker valve 740, a temperature sensor 750, and a controller 760. It is provided. In the ice maker 700 of the fourth embodiment, the flow of the ice making water is indicated by the arrow.

The ice making tank 710 has an accommodation space in which ice making water can be stored. Ice making water is water for making ice, ice making water is supplied into the ice-making water reservoir 710 through the ice-making water supply pipe 715, and ice-making water is supplied through the ice-making water supply valve 740. An upper limit detection sensor 770 and a lower limit detection sensor 775 are installed inside the ice making reservoir 710, and an appropriate amount of ice making water in the ice making reservoir 710 using the detection sensors 770 and 775. To be supplied.

The evaporator 720 is disposed above the ice making tank 710 and ice-making water supplied from the ice making tank 710 through the pump 730. The evaporator 720 is provided with a cooling line through which the refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to ice the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 720. The evaporator 720 of the fourth embodiment has a plate shape. When the ice making water supplied to the surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 720 reaches a freezing point, ice adheres to the surface of the evaporator 720, and then the ice is gradually enlarged to make ice. This is done. The ice-making water that has not been de-iced is circulated to the ice-making water reservoir 710 located under the evaporator 720. The ice making water entering the ice making reservoir 710 is again supplied to the evaporator 720 by the pump 730.

The pump 730 is located in the receiving space inside the ice making tank 710, and supplies the ice making water stored in the ice making tank 710 to the evaporator 720 disposed above the ice making tank 710. do.

The temperature sensor 750 is located in the receiving space inside the ice making water reservoir 710 and measures the temperature of the ice making water stored in the ice making water reservoir 710.

The control unit 760 serves to prevent the occurrence of slush in the ice-making water reservoir 710 or to quickly remove the generated slush. To this end, the controller 760 derives a control time point at which the slush is expected to occur in the ice making water reservoir 710, suspends the operation of the pump 730 at this control time, and supercools the evaporator 720. . The evaporator 720 may be subcooled using a cooling line. When the operation of the pump 730 is stopped and the evaporator 720 is subcooled, most of the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 720 adheres to ice, and the ice making falls from the evaporator 720 and circulates to the ice making tank 710. As the number decreases, the slush is prevented from occurring in the ice making tank 710 or the generated slush is quickly removed. In addition, the controller 760 temporarily stops the operation of the pump 730 at the control time, supercools the evaporator 720, and controls the ice making water supply valve 740 so that water is supplied into the ice making tank 710. can do. The water at this time may be water at room temperature. As such, the operation of the pump 730 is temporarily suspended, the evaporator 720 is supercooled, and when water at room temperature is supplied into the ice making tank 710, the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 710 increases. The effect of preventing the slush from generating in the ice-water reservoir 710 is further increased or the generated slush is removed more quickly.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 750. Here, the control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. . However, when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point at which the first time elapses after the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 750 does not reach the first temperature within a second time longer than the first time after the pump 730 is operated, the time point at which the second time elapses after the pump 730 is operated is controlled. Corresponds to the time point. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, a control method for preventing the slush from occurring or quickly removing the slush will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8. 8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process of a method of preventing the slush from occurring or quickly removing the slush generated by the ice maker 700 according to the fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the pump 730 is operated and an appropriate amount of ice making water in the ice making water reservoir 710 is stored by the upper limit sensor 770, the ice making water supply valve 740 is turned off. Deicing is started in a state where water is not supplied into the ice making tank 710 (S810).

In order to prevent slush from occurring in the ice making tank 710 during ice making, first, the controller 760 measures the temperature through a temperature sensor 750 that measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making tank 710. Check whether it reaches 0 ° C (S820). When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 750 reaches 0 ° C., the controller 760 calculates a time elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S830). In addition, the controller 760 checks whether 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C. (S840). If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 750 is less than 1 minute after reaching 0 ° C., the controller 760 measures the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 that measures the temperature of the ice making water in the ice making reservoir 710 and then measures -1. If the temperature reached by the temperature sensor 750 reaches -1 ° C before 1 minute has elapsed since reaching 0 ° C (S850), the controller 760 stops the operation of the pump 730 at that time. Suspend and supercool the evaporator 720 (S860). Although not shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 760 may additionally supply water at room temperature to the ice making reservoir 710 at this time.

However, if the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 does not reach −1 ° C. after 1 minute after the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 reaches 0 ° C. through steps S830 and S840, the control unit 760 controls the temperature sensor ( When the temperature of 750 reaches 0 ° C. and 1 minute has elapsed, the operation of the pump 730 is suspended, and the evaporator 720 is supercooled (S860). Although not shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 760 may additionally supply water at room temperature to the ice making reservoir 710 at this time.

When deicing is started due to the operation of the pump 730, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 measured through step S820 does not reach 0 ° C., the controller 760 calculates an elapsed time after the operation of the pump 730. After that, it is checked whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S870), and when the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 does not reach 0 ° C. after 10 minutes has elapsed after the operation of the pump 730, the control unit 760 pumps 730. Suspends the operation of the evaporator 720 to supercool (S860). Although not shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 760 may additionally supply water at room temperature to the ice making reservoir 710 at this time.

Through this process, by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir 710, by specifying the moment when the slush occurs, at the moment to suspend the operation of the pump 730 and supercool the evaporator 720, Since most of the ice making water supplied to the evaporator 720 adheres to the ice, the ice making water falling from the evaporator 720 and circulated to the ice making reservoir 710 is reduced, thereby preventing slush from occurring in the ice making reservoir 710. Or generated slush is quickly removed. At this point, when the water at room temperature is supplied together with the ice making tank 710, the slush is removed more quickly. Therefore, the slush-prevention effect is remarkably excellent compared to water supply by randomly selecting a specific time point. Through this, it is possible to ice the transparent ice of good quality, since the ice is formed in the entire portion of the evaporator 720, the yield is increased.

In addition, after the control unit 760 suspends the operation of the pump 730 and supercools the evaporator 720 at the control time point through the process illustrated and described with reference to FIG. can do. At this additional control point, the controller 760 again suspends the operation of the pump 730 and supercools the evaporator 720.

The additional control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor 750 similar to the control time point. Here, the additional control point corresponds to the point in time when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature within the first time. do. However, when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, the time point at which the first time elapses after the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature is set in advance. Corresponds to the time point. When the temperature sensor 750 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time, the time when the second time elapses from the control time corresponds to the additional control time. In this case, the first temperature may be 0 ° C., the second temperature may be −1 ° C., the first time may be 1 minute, and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As such, the control unit 760 may derive a time point at which the slush is expected to occur several times, and temporarily suspend the operation of the pump 730 at that time and prevent the slush from occurring by supercooling the evaporator 720. The generated slush can be removed quickly.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to the specific scope of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and such changes are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (11)

An ice-making water reservoir for storing ice-making water therein; An evaporator receiving ice-making water stored in the ice-making water reservoir to ice ice-making water; A pump for moving the ice making water stored in the ice making water reservoir to the evaporator; A temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the ice making water in the ice making water reservoir; And Based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor to derive a control point in which the slush is expected to occur in the ice-water storage, and control to prevent the occurrence of slush in the ice-water storage at the control time, And a controller for controlling the slush generated in the ice-making water reservoir to be removed. The control point of time, When the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches a first temperature and reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature within a first time, the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature And when the second temperature is not reached within the first time, when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time has elapsed and after the pump is operated, a second time longer than the first time. Ice maker, characterized in that any one of the time when the second time elapses after the pump is operated if the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within. The method of claim 1, The control unit, Ice making machine, characterized in that for controlling the water supply to the inside of the ice-making reservoir at the time of the control. The method of claim 2, The control unit, Ice maker, characterized in that for controlling the supply of water at room temperature for several seconds in the ice-making reservoir. The method of claim 1, And a vibrator positioned inside the ice-making water reservoir to generate ultrasonic waves. The control unit, Ice maker, characterized in that for controlling the ultrasonic wave is generated in the ice-making water reservoir through the vibrator at the control time. The method of claim 1, A heater disposed in the ice-making reservoir to increase the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making reservoir; The control unit, Ice making machine, characterized in that for controlling the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water reservoir to rise through the heater at the time of the control. The method of claim 1, The control unit, Ice maker, characterized in that to stop the operation of the pump at the control time, and to control the evaporator to be supercooled. The method of claim 6, The control unit, Ice making machine, characterized in that for controlling the water supply to the inside of the ice-making reservoir at the time of the control. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The first temperature is 0 ° C., and the second temperature is −1 ° C. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The first time is one minute and the second time is ten minutes. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The control unit, And an additional control time point for estimating that a slush will occur in the ice water reservoir after the control time point based on the temperature of the ice making water measured by the temperature sensor. The method of claim 10, The additional control time point, When the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and reaches the second temperature within the first time, when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first temperature When the second temperature is not reached within one hour, the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature within the second time from the time point when the first time passes and the control time when the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature. If it does not reach, the ice maker, characterized in that any one of the time when the second time has elapsed from the control time.

Images