U.S. patent application number 15/093234 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-13 for flow-down type ice making machine and operation method therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to SOICHIRO INAMORI. The applicant listed for this patent is REIJIRO INAMORI, SOICHIRO INAMORI. Invention is credited to Tadao MATSUMOTO.
Application Number | 20160298894 15/093234 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54784377 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160298894 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MATSUMOTO; Tadao |
October 13, 2016 |
FLOW-DOWN TYPE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREFOR
Abstract
An ice making machine includes a freezing cycle in which a
compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing valve, an evaporator,
and the compressor are successively coupled, and a melting cycle in
which the compressor, the evaporator, and the compressor are
coupled through hot-gas introduction tubes, and the freezing cycle
and the melting cycle are switchable therebetween. The ice making
machine includes at least two ice making racks arranged in series
on evaporation coils of the evaporator, the ice making racks
including ice molds, ice making water flow-down portions connected
to upper parts of the ice making racks, the ice making water
flow-down portions causing ice making water to flow down to the ice
making racks, and ice cube release members releasing ice cubes
formed on the ice molds, and the hot-gas introduction tubes are
coupled to the evaporation coils, respectively, in front of the ice
making racks.
Inventors: |
MATSUMOTO; Tadao; (Nagoya,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INAMORI; SOICHIRO
INAMORI; REIJIRO |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
INAMORI; SOICHIRO
Tokyo
JP
INAMORI; REIJIRO
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
54784377 |
Appl. No.: |
15/093234 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 47/022 20130101;
F25C 1/12 20130101; F25B 5/04 20130101; F25C 5/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/10 20060101
F25C005/10; F25C 5/04 20060101 F25C005/04; F25C 1/04 20060101
F25C001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 12, 2015 |
JP |
2015-081319 |
Claims
1. An operation method for a flow-down type ice making machine, the
flow-down type ice making machine including: a freezing cycle in
which a compressor (53), a condenser (55), a pressure reducing
valve (57), an evaporator (52), and the compressor (53) are
successively coupled; and a melting cycle in which the compressor
(53), the evaporator (52), and the compressor (53) are coupled
through hot-gas introduction tubes (63, 65) having valves (61, 67)
interposed respectively in the gas introduction tubes, the freezing
cycle and the melting cycle being switchable therebetween, the
flow-down type ice making machine further including: at least two
ice making racks (11a, 11b) arranged in series on evaporation coils
(13a, 13b) of the evaporator (52), the ice making racks (11a, 11b)
including ice molds; ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b)
connected to upper parts of the ice making racks (11a, 11b), the
ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) causing ice making
water to flow down to the ice making racks; and ice cube release
members (21) configured to release ice cubes formed on the ice
molds, the hot-gas introduction tube (65) being connected on the
upstream side from the ice making rack (11a) disposed on the
upstream side of the evaporator (52), on the downstream side from
the pressure reducing valve (57), the hot-gas introduction tube
(63) being connected on the upstream side from the ice making rack
(11b) disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator (52), on
the downstream side from the evaporation coil (13a), the method
comprising successively repeating: forming ice cubes on the ice
molds of the ice making racks (11a, 11b) after causing ice making
water to flow down from the ice making water flow-down portions
(17a, 17b) to the ice making racks (11a, 11b), and causing a
refrigerant to successively pass the compressor (53), the condenser
(55), the pressure reducing valve (57), the evaporator (52), and
the compressor (53); stopping ice making water flowing down after
formation of the ice cubes; and introducing hot gas from the
hot-gas introduction tube (65) to the evaporation coil (13a), after
introducing the hot gas only to the evaporation coil (13b) from the
hot-gas introduction tube (63).
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a flow-down type ice making
machine causing ice making water to flow down to ice making racks
to form ice cubes in the ice making racks. In particular, the
present invention relates to a configuration for releasing ice
cubes formed on ice molds of the ice making machine.
[0002] The flow-down type ice making machine is an apparatus
causing ice making water to continuously flow down to ice making
racks for making ice cubes, and for example, an apparatus disclosed
in WO 2014/105838 is known as the flow-down type ice making
machine. In general, the flow-down type ice making machine is
configured so that around a refrigerant tube in which a refrigerant
is circulated, ice molds are arranged including the refrigerant
tube to bring ice making water into contact with an outer
peripheral side of the refrigerant tube having the ice molds
thereon, for freezing.
[0003] For release of ice cubes formed on the ice molds, a
configuration is generally employed in which ice near a boundary
with the refrigerant tube is slightly melted. For melting ice, a
method for circulating hot water in a pipe for melting ice provided
near the refrigerant tube, or a method for circulating, in the
refrigerant tube, hot gas generated by compressing the refrigerant
can be employed.
[0004] However, conventional methods require a long time to melt
all ice cubes to be released from the ice molds. Moreover, long
time heat treatment causes excessive melting of ice cubes formed on
the upstream side of the refrigerant tube into a reduced size, thus
disadvantageously providing ice cubes of non-uniform size.
SUMMARY
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a flow-down
type ice making machine which can release ice cubes formed on ice
molds for a short time.
[0006] The present inventors improved a process for introduction of
hot-gas, in an ice making machine configured to circulate hot gas
in a refrigerant tube to partially melt ice cubes formed on an
outer periphery of the refrigerant tube and release the ice cubes
from the refrigerant tube, thus providing the present
invention.
[0007] The present invention is configured as follows.
[0008] [1] A flow-down type ice making machine (100) including a
freezing cycle in which a compressor (53), a condenser (55), a
pressure reducing valve (57), an evaporator (52), and the
compressor (53) are successively coupled, and
[0009] a melting cycle in which the compressor (53), the evaporator
(52), and the compressor (53) are coupled through hot-gas
introduction tubes (63, 65),
[0010] the freezing cycle and the melting cycle being switchable
therebetween,
[0011] the flow-down type ice making machine (100) including
[0012] at least two ice making racks (11a, 11b) arranged in series
on evaporation coils (13a, 13b) of the evaporator (52), the ice
making racks (11a, 11b) including ice molds,
[0013] ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) connected to
upper parts of the ice making racks (11a, 11b), the ice making
water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) causing ice making water to
flow down to the ice making racks, and
[0014] ice cube release members (21) configured to release ice
cubes formed on the ice molds,
[0015] the hot-gas introduction tubes (63, 65) being coupled to the
evaporation coils (13a, 13b), respectively, in front of the ice
making racks (11a, 11b).
[0016] [2] An operation method for a flow-down type ice making
machine using the flow-down type ice making machine (100) according
to [1], the method including successively repeating
[0017] forming ice cubes on the ice molds of the ice making racks
(11a, 11b) by causing ice making water to flow down from the ice
making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) to the ice making racks
(11a, 11b), and causing a refrigerant to successively pass the
compressor (53), the condenser (55), the pressure reducing valve
(57), the evaporator (52), and the compressor (53),
[0018] stopping ice making water flowing down after formation of
the ice cubes,
[0019] introducing hot gas to the evaporation coil (13b) from the
hot-gas introduction tube (63) connected in front of the ice making
rack (11b) of the evaporation coil (13b) disposed on the downstream
side of the evaporator (52), and
[0020] introducing the hot gas from the hot-gas introduction tube
(65) connected in front of the ice making rack (11a) of the
evaporation coil (13a) disposed on the upstream side of the
evaporator (52).
[0021] The flow-down type ice making machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention can introduce the hot gas for
each of the evaporation coils supporting plurality of ice making
racks, respectively. Thus, the ice cubes formed on the ice molds
can be melted and released for a short time. Moreover, the formed
ice cubes have a substantially uniform size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a freezing
cycle and a melting cycle of a flow-down type ice making machine
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a configuration of an ice
making unit of the flow-down type ice making machine;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of a portion of an ice making rack;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of an ice making water flow-down portion;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of ice cube release members; and
[0027] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of an ice making unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] An example of the present invention will be described in
detail below with reference to the drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of a flow-down type ice making machine (100)
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the
flow-down type ice making machine (100), a compressor (53), a
condenser (55), a pressure reducing valve (57), an evaporator (52),
and the compressor (53) are successively coupled to constitute a
freezing cycle. The compressor (53), the evaporator (52), and the
compressor (53) are further coupled through hot-gas introduction
tubes (63, 65) bypassing the condenser (55) and the pressure
reducing valve (57) to constitute a melting cycle. The freezing
cycle and the melting cycle are switchable therebetween by a
switching device not illustrated.
[0030] In FIG. 1, reference sign (10) denotes an ice making unit.
The ice making unit (10) has the evaporator (52) including
evaporation coils (13a, 13b), a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) ice
making racks (11a, 11b) respectively mounted to the evaporation
coils (13a, 13b), ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b,
not illustrated in FIG. 1) respectively mounted to upper parts of
the ice making racks (11a, 11b), and ice cube release members (21,
not illustrated in FIG. 1) configured to release ice cubes formed
on ice molds of the ice making racks. The ice making unit (10) is
normally housed in a box-shaped case, and the temperature in the
case is maintained at a low temperature.
[0031] Valves (61, 67) are interposed respectively in the hot-gas
introduction tubes (63, 65) to open/close hot-gas flow paths. The
hot-gas introduction tube (63) is connected to a hot-gas
introduction port (63a) formed on the upstream side from the
evaporation coil (13b). Moreover, the hot-gas introduction tube
(65) is connected to a hot-gas introduction port (65a) formed on
the upstream side from the evaporation coil (13a).
[0032] In other words, the ice making machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention is configured so that in the
freezing cycle, the ice making racks are connected in series, but
in the melting cycle, the ice making racks are connected in
parallel.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a configuration of the ice
making racks (11a, 11b) of the flow-down type ice making machine
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ice making
racks (11a, 11b) are supported on the evaporation coils (13a, 13b).
The evaporation coils (13a, 13b) have outer peripheral portions on
which the ice molds (15) are formed, respectively. The ice cube
release members (21) are fitted to the ice making racks (11a, 11b),
respectively. The ice cube release members (21) are coupled to an
arm (23) driven by a motor (25). The ice cube release members (21)
respectively have axes parallel with axes of the evaporation coils
(13a, 13b), and about the axes, the ice cube release members (21)
are turned. The ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) are
connected to the upper parts of the ice making racks (11a, 11b). An
ice making water supply tube, not illustrated, is connected to the
ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b).
[0034] FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion (range denoted by
reference sign 12 in FIG. 2) of one of the ice making racks (11a,
11b). The ice making rack (11a) and the ice making rack (11b) have
an identical configuration. A plurality of partition walls (18) are
formed in the ice making rack (11a), and the partition walls (18)
partitions the ice making rack (11a). A coil support portion (14)
configured to support the evaporation coil (13a) is formed in the
ice making rack (11a). The ice molds (15) are formed along the coil
support portion (14), in the ice making rack (11a). Each of the ice
mold (15) is partially cut off to form an ice cube release
member-fitting portion (19) configured to fit each of the ice cube
release members (21).
[0035] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of one of the ice making water flow-down portions
(17a, 17b). The ice making water flow-down portion (17a) and the
ice making water flow-down portion (17b) have an identical shape.
An ice making water supply tube-connecting hole (33) is formed in
each of the ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b) having a
box shape, and the ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b)
each have a bottom surface in which a plurality of holes (31) are
formed. Ice making water supplied from the ice making water supply
tube-connecting holes (33) flows down to the ice making racks (11a,
11b) through the holes (31).
[0036] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of the ice cube release members (21). The ice cube
release members (21) are fixed on a turning shaft (22), and the
turning shaft (22) is connected to the arm (23) driven by the
motor. The arm (23) driven by the motor turns the ice cube release
members (21) about the axes thereof parallel with the axes of the
evaporation coils (13a, 13b). Thus, ice cubes formed on the ice
molds (partially melting) are released and dropped.
[0037] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a
configuration of the ice making unit (10). Operation of the
flow-down type ice making machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention will be described below using FIG. 6.
[0038] First, the freezing cycle will be described. During ice
making, a refrigerant compressed by the compressor (53) and
condensed by the condenser (55) is supplied to the evaporation
coils (13a, 13b) of the evaporator 52 through the pressure reducing
valve (57). The evaporation coils (13a, 13b) are cooled by
vaporization heat. The refrigerant in the evaporation coils (13a,
13b) is collected in the compressor (53), and this cycle is
repeated.
[0039] The cooled evaporation coils (13a, 13b) are used for ice
making. First, ice making water is supplied into the boxes of the
ice making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b). The supplied ice
making water flows down to the ice making racks (11a, 11b) through
the holes (31). Part of the ice making water flowing down to the
ice making racks (11a, 11b) is frozen on contact with the outer
peripheral portions of the evaporation coils (13a, 13b) in which
the refrigerant is circulated, and remaining ice making water
further flows down to the lower sides of the evaporation coils
(13a, 13b). Thus, ice cubes are formed on the outer peripheral
portions of the evaporation coils (13a, 13b), along the shape of
the ice molds (15). In FIG. 6, reference sign (40) denotes an ice
cube formed on one of the ice making racks (11a, 11b). The ice cube
is formed on all of the ice molds (15) formed in the ice making
racks (11a, 11b), but only one is illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0040] When ice cubes formed on the outer peripheral portions of
the evaporation coils (13a, 13b) grow to a predetermined size,
circulation of the refrigerant is cut off in the evaporation coils
(13a, 13b), and supply of ice making water is stopped from the ice
making water flow-down portions (17a, 17b).
[0041] Then, hot gas is circulated in the evaporation coils (13a,
13b) to partially melt ice cubes adhering to outer peripheral walls
of the evaporation coils (13a, 13b).
[0042] An operation method for an ice making machine according to
an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by a
process of circulating the hot gas upon partially melting ice cubes
adhering to the outer peripheral walls of the evaporation coils
(13a, 13b). The process is carried out as described below.
[0043] First, the refrigerant (hot gas) compressed by the
compressor (53) is supplied not to the condenser (55) but to the
hot-gas introduction tubes (63, 65). This switching is performed by
a switching device not illustrated. The hot gas is supplied from
the hot-gas introduction port (63a) formed in front of the ice
making rack (11b), to the evaporation coil (13b) supporting the ice
making rack (11b), through the hot-gas introduction tube (63)
having the valve (61) interposed therein. Upon supplying the hot
gas, the valve (67) is closed to prevent supply of the hot gas to
the hot-gas introduction tube (65). Thereby ice cubes adhering to
the outer peripheral wall of the evaporation coil (13b) are
partially melted in the ice making rack (11b). After the ice cubes
adhering to the outer peripheral wall of the evaporation coil (13b)
are melted to an extent that the ice cubes can be released by the
ice cube release members (21), the hot-gas flow path is switched.
That is, the hot gas is supplied from the hot-gas introduction port
(65a) formed in front of the ice making rack (11a), to the
evaporation coil (13a) corresponding to the ice making rack (11a),
through the hot-gas introduction tube (65) having the valve (67)
interposed therein. The hot gas having been supplied to the
evaporation coil (13a) is supplied to the compressor (53) through
the evaporation coil (13b). Thus, the ice cubes adhering to the
outer peripheral wall of the evaporation coil (13a) are melted to
the extent that the ice cubes can be released by the ice cube
release members (21). The hot gas circulated in the evaporation
coil (13b) may melt ice cubes formed on the ice making rack (11b),
but the hot gas is reduced in temperature due to heat exchange upon
melting the ice cubes formed on the ice making rack (11a), and very
few ice cubes formed on the ice making rack (11b) are melted.
[0044] The hot gas is introduced successively from an ice making
rack disposed in the most downstream position in a circulation
direction of the refrigerant. After melting of the ice cubes formed
on the ice making rack disposed in the most downstream position,
melting of the ice cubes formed on the ice making rack in the
second from the most downstream position is performed. Finally,
melting of the ice cubes on the ice making rack disposed in the
most upstream position is performed.
[0045] Next, the ice cube release members (21) are turned about the
axes thereof parallel with the axes of the evaporation coils (13a,
13b), as indicated by arrows in FIG. 6, to release and drop down
the ice cubes from the ice molds (15). The dropped ice cubes are
stocked under the ice making racks (11a, 11b).
[0046] The ice making racks (11a, 11b) are made of a resin
material. The resin material is not particularly limited, as long
as the resin material employs a resin conforming to the Food
Sanitation Act. For example, polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC),
EBS, PP can be employed.
[0047] The evaporation coils (13a, 13b) each have a metal pipe
having a circular or oval cross-section. The metal pipe uses a
metal material having high heat conductivity such as stainless
steel, copper, aluminum, tin, nickel, or an alloy thereof. The
evaporation coils (13a, 13b) have a metal surface with which ice
making water makes direct contact. That is, the metal surfaces are
not covered with a resin or the like. A combination of the resin
material (ice making rack) and the metal material (evaporation
coil) achieves both of superior ice cube holdability of the ice
making rack during making ice cubes, and superior ice cube
releasability upon releasing the ice cubes.
[0048] An ice making water-collecting portion configured to collect
ice making water flowing down from the ice making racks (11a, 11b)
may be connected to lower parts of the ice making racks (11a,
11b).
[0049] The ice making unit (10) is disposed in an ice making
chamber kept at a low temperature. The ice making chamber can be
cooled by circulating the refrigerant in the evaporation coils
(13a, 13b) or by a cooling system additionally provided.
[0050] A time required for circulation of the hot gas differs
depending on the size of the ice making rack or temperature of the
hot gas, but is 0.5 to 10 minutes for each ice making rack, and
preferably is 1 to 3 minutes. The hot-gas flow path is preferably
switched when an outlet temperature of the hot gas in the
evaporation coil reaches 0 to 10.degree. C.
[0051] The freezing cycle and the melting cycle may be manually
switched therebetween, or may be automatically switched using a
detection signal from a temperature sensor or weight sensor
suitably disposed.
[0052] Two ice making racks are arranged in series in FIG. 6, but
the number of ice making racks is not limited to this description,
and approximately two to ten ice making racks can be arranged. The
number of ice making racks to be coupled can be suitably changed
according to a capacity of a freezing system. That is, in the
flow-down type ice making machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention, the number of ice making racks to be coupled can
be changed to freely change the ice making capacity. The ice making
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention
includes the plurality of ice making racks, and the hot gas being
heated can be introduced to each of the ice making racks. Thus, a
time required for melting ice cubes can be reduced, and part of the
ice cubes is prevented from being excessively melted. Thus, the
formed ice cubes have a substantially uniform size.
[0053] The ice molds formed in the ice making racks may have an
identical shape, or may have different shapes. Coupling ice molds
of different shapes allows simultaneous formation of ice cubes of a
plurality of shapes. Moreover, a time required for circulation of
the hot gas for melting the ice cubes can be adjusted for each of
the ice making racks.
EXAMPLE
[0054] The present invention will be described in detail below by
way of an example.
Example 1
[0055] An ice making apparatus including the freezing cycle and the
melting cycle illustrated in FIG. 1 was used to melt ice cubes
formed on the ice making racks (11a, 11b). First, the hot gas was
introduced from the hot-gas introduction tube (63) to the
evaporation coil (13b). The outlet temperature of the hot gas in
the evaporation coil (13b) exceeded 5.degree. C., after 60 seconds
from the introduction of the hot gas. At this moment, the hot-gas
flow path was switched to the evaporation coil (13a). The outlet
temperature of the hot gas in the evaporation coil (13a) exceeded
5.degree. C. (Table 1), after 60 seconds from switching of the
hot-gas flow path. Then, the release members were turned to release
all of the ice cubes formed on the ice making racks (11a, 11b).
Thus obtained ice cubes had little variation in mass (variation
coefficient 0.02).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Time(s) Example 1 0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105
120 135 150 evaporation inlet temperature (.degree. C.) -18.9 -5.3
-4.8 -4.2 -3.4 18.7 34.3 35.3 36.9 38.8 41.0 coil (13a) outlet
temperature (.degree. C.) -18.8 -5.1 -4.9 -4.7 -4.4 -0.8 0.2 3.3
5.2 7.0 9.0 evaporation inlet temperature (.degree. C.) -19.0 29.3
43.8 49.6 52.1 -0.5 7.7 5.2 7.2 9 10.9 coil (13b) outlet
temperature (.degree. C.) -18.6 -4.6 0.1 4.1 7.7 -0.8 0.1 0.5 0.9
1.5 2.0
Comparative Example 1
[0056] The ice making apparatus including the freezing cycle and
the melting cycle illustrated in FIG. 1 was used to melt ice cubes.
The hot-gas introduction tube (63) was not used. First, the hot gas
was introduced successively to the evaporation coil (13a) and the
evaporation coil (13b). After the introduction of the hot gas, the
outlet temperature of the hot gas in the evaporation coil (13b)
reached approximately 5.degree. C., after 300 seconds from the
introduction of the hot gas (Table 2). Then, the release members
were turned to release the ice cubes. Thus obtained ice cubes had a
large variation in mass (variation coefficient 0.09).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Time(s) Comparative Example 1 0 30 60 90 120
150 180 210 240 270 300 evaporation inlet temperature (.degree. C.)
-21.4 29.2 44.1 37.5 33.1 35.0 40.6 44.1 45.4 46.3 48.2 coil (13a)
outlet temperature (.degree. C.) -21.2 -6.0 1.1 4.3 6.2 8.3 11.2
14.3 15.9 17.1 17.7 evaporation inlet temperature (.degree. C.)
-21.4 -5.0 2.3 6.3 8.3 10.4 13.6 15.8 17.6 18.6 19.2 coil (13b)
outlet temperature (.degree. C.) -19.9 -8.9 -4.6 -2.5 -1.2 -0.1 0.5
1.6 2.5 3.6 4.5
* * * * *