ICEMAKER

Abstract

Provided is an ice-making machine, and more particularly, an ice-making machine capable of preventing slush from being formed. The ice-making machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an ice-making water storage for storing ice-making water therein; an evaporator for making the ice-making water into ice by receiving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage; a pump for moving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage to the evaporator; a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage; and a control unit for controlling water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at a predetermined time point after the pump is operated, wherein the predetermined time point is any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature, a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and a time point at which a second time passes after the pump is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump is operated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0028315, filed on Mar. 6, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates to an ice-making machine, and more particularly, to an ice-making machine capable of preventing slush from being formed.

BACKGROUND

An ice-making machine is a device that continuously produces ice cubes having a certain shape, and is widely used in homes, restaurants, cafes, and the like. The ice-making machine that produces ice supplies ice-making water stored in an ice-making water storage to an evaporator through a pump, and makes ice from the ice-making water in the evaporator.

When the pump is operated to start ice-making, the ice-making water is supplied to the evaporator, and thus as the ice-making water at room temperature slowly reaches a freezing point, the ice is adhered to the evaporator to make ice. Here, the ice should be enlarged as the ice is initially adhered to the evaporator. However, when the ice is not adhered to the evaporator according to an evaporator temperature, surface tension of the evaporator, an ice-making water temperature, an ice-making water supply amount, and the like, and subcooled ice-making water is circulated and returned to the ice-making water storage, instantaneous freezing occurs in the ice-making water storage, which has the smallest kinetic energy, and slush is generated in the ice-making water storage. The thus-generated slush temporarily stops flow of the ice-making water or interrupts the circulation of the ice-making water, thereby slowing ice formation, and thus ice quality is deteriorated and a production amount of the ice-making machine is reduced.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to providing an ice-making machine capable of preventing slush from being generated or removing the generated slush immediately in an ice-making process to form ice with good quality.

In one general aspect, an ice-making machine includes: an ice-making water storage for storing ice-making water therein; an evaporator for making the ice-making water into ice by receiving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage; a pump for moving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage to the evaporator; a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage; and a control unit for deriving a control time point at which slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured in the temperature sensor and for controlling to prevent slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage or to remove the slush generated in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

In some embodiments, the control time point may be any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature, a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and a time point at which a second time passes after the pump is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump is operated.

In some embodiments, the control unit may control water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

In some embodiments, the control unit may control water at room temperature to be supplied into the ice-making water storage for a few seconds.

In some embodiments, the ice-making machine of the present invention may further comprise a vibrator positioned inside the ice-making water storage and generating ultrasonic waves, wherein the control unit controls the vibrator to generate the ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

In some embodiments, the ice-making machine of the present invention may further comprise a heater positioned inside the ice-making water storage to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage, wherein the control unit controls the heater to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

In some embodiments, the control unit may pause an operation of the pump at the control time point, and control the evaporator to be subcooled.

In some embodiments, the control unit may control water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

In some embodiments, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature −1° C.

In some embodiments, the first time may be 1 minute and the second time 10 minutes.

In some embodiments, the control unit may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage after the control time point based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured in the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the further control time point may be any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a first embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a fourth embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine according to the fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to more fully describe the present disclosure to those skilled in the art, and the following Examples can be modified in various ways, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following Examples. Rather, these Examples are provided in order to make the present disclosure more thorough and complete and completely transfer ideas of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, for example, variations in the shape shown may be expected depending on manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances. Accordingly, Examples of the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to any particular shape of the regions illustrated herein, including, for example, changes in shape resulting from manufacturing. Like reference numerals denote like elements at all times. Further, various elements and regions in the drawings are schematically drawn. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited by relative size or spacing depicted in the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure relates to an ice-making machine capable of preventing slush from being generated in an ice-making water storage or removing the generated slush quickly. To this end, the ice-making machine includes a control unit for deriving a control time point at which slush is predicted to be generated based on a temperature of an ice-making water in the ice-making water storage and for controlling to prevent slush from being generated or to remove the generated slush at the control time point.

Here, the control time point is a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature, or a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, or a time point at which a second time passes after a pump for moving the ice-making water to an evaporator is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump is operated. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Further, the control unit may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage after the above-described control time point and may control to prevent slush from being generated or to remove the generated slush at the further control time point. Here, the further control time point may be a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, or a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, or a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes. Further, the control unit may derive the further control time point at least once to prevent generation of the slush or remove the generated slush.

The control time point or the further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage is derived from various experiments by the inventor of the present disclosure. At the control time point or the further control time point described above, the control unit may supply water to the inside of the ice-making water storage, or may generate ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage, or may raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage by using a heater, or may pause an operation of the pump for moving the ice-making water to the evaporator and subcool the evaporator in order to prevent the slush from being generated or to remove the generated slush.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the ice-making machine according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ice-making machine 100 of the first embodiment includes an ice-making water storage 110, an evaporator 120, a pump 130, an ice-making water supply valve 140, a temperature sensor 150, and a control unit 160. The flow of ice-making water in the ice-making machine 100 of the first embodiment is indicated by arrows.

The ice-making water storage 110 has a receiving space in which the ice-making water is capable of being stored. The ice-making water is water for ice-making, and is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 through an ice-making water supply pipe 115. The supply of the ice-making water is performed through the ice-making water supply valve 140. The ice-making water storage 110 is provided with an upper limit detection sensor 170 and a lower limit detection sensor 175, and these detection sensors 170 and 175 allow an appropriate amount of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making water storage 110.

The evaporator 120 is disposed above the ice-making water storage 110, and forms ice from the ice-making water supplied from the ice-making water storage 110 through the pump 130. The evaporator 120 is provided with a cooling line through which a refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to make ice from the ice-making water supplied to the evaporator 120. The evaporator 120 of the first embodiment is in the form of a plate. When the ice-making water supplied to a surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 120 reaches a freezing point, the ice is adhered to the surface of the evaporator 120, and after that, the ice is gradually enlarged to perform ice-making. The ice-making water that has not been made into ice falls and circulates to the ice-making water storage 110 positioned below the evaporator 120. The ice-making water entering the ice-making water storage 110 is supplied to the evaporator 120 by the pump 130 again.

The pump 130 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 110 and supplies the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 110 to the evaporator 120 disposed above the ice-making water storage 110.

The temperature sensor 150 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 110, and measures the temperature of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 110.

The control unit 160 controls to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 110, or to quickly remove the generated slush therefrom. To this end, the control unit 160 derives a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage 110 and controls the ice-making water supply valve 140 so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 at this control time point. The water at this time may be water at room temperature, and when the water at room temperature is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110, the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 110 is raised to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 110, or to quickly remove the generated slush.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 150. Here, the control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 150 reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. In addition, a time point at which the second time passes after the pump 130 is operated when the temperature sensor 150 does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump 130 is operated, corresponds to the control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, a control method of the control unit 160 for preventing the slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine 100 according to the first embodiment or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the pump 130 is operated and an appropriate amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 110 is stored by the upper limit detection sensor 170, ice-making is started in a state where no more water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 by turning the ice-making water supply valve 140 off (S210).

In order to prevent generation of slush in the ice-making water storage 110 during the ice-making, the control unit 160 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 150 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 110 and confirms whether the temperature has reached 0° C. (S220). Then, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 has reached 0° C., the control unit 160 calculates a time elapsed after reaching 0° C. (S230). Next, the control unit 160 confirms whether the time elapsed after reaching 0° C. has passed 1 minute (S240). When the time has not passed 1 minute since the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 reached 0° C., the control unit 160 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 150 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 110 and confirms whether the temperature has reached −1° C. (S250). When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 has reached −1° C. before 1 minute has passed since 0° C. was reached, the control unit 160 controls the ice-making water supply valve 140 to be turned on at this time point so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 (S260). Here, the water to be supplied may be water at room temperature and may be supplied for several seconds, preferably for about 5 seconds.

However, when the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 has not reached −1° C. over 1 minute since the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 reached 0° C. in steps S230 and S240, the control unit 160 controls the ice-making water supply valve 140 to be turned on so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 at a time point when 1 minute has passed since the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 reached 0° C. (S260). Here, the water to be supplied may be water at room temperature and may be supplied for several seconds, preferably for about 5 seconds.

In addition, when the ice-making is started by operating the pump 130, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 measured in step S220 has not reached 0° C., the control unit 160 calculates the time elapsed after operating the pump 130, and confirms whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S270). At a time point at which the temperature of the temperature sensor 150 has not reached 0° C. but 10 minutes has elapsed since the pump 130 was operated, the control unit 160 controls the ice-making water supply valve 140 to be turned on so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 (S260). Here, the water to be supplied may be water at room temperature and may be supplied for several seconds, preferably for about 5 seconds.

Through this process, the control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated is derived by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 110, and water at room temperature is supplied at this control time point, thereby preventing slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush. Therefore, the slush prevention effect is remarkably excellent as compared with a case where water is supplied by arbitrarily selecting a specific time point. As a result, it is possible to make transparent ice with good quality, and ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 120, thereby increasing the production amount.

Further, the control unit 160 may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be further generated after water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 at the control time point through the process illustrated and described in FIG. 2. Further, the control unit 160 controls the ice-making water supply valve 140 so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 110 at this further control time point.

The further control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 150 similar to the control time point. Here, the further control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 150 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, within the first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 150 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. Further, a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor 150 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point, corresponds to the further control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As described above, the control unit 160 may derive a time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated several times, and may prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at the corresponding time.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, an ice-making machine 300 of the second embodiment includes an ice-making water storage 310, an evaporator 320, a pump 330, an ice-making water supply valve 340, a temperature sensor 350, a vibrator 355, and a control unit 360. The flow of ice-making water in the ice-making machine 300 of the second embodiment is indicated by arrows.

The ice-making water storage 310 has a receiving space in which the ice-making water is capable of being stored. The ice-making water is water for ice-making, and is supplied into the ice-making water storage 310 through an ice-making water supply pipe 315. The supply of the ice-making water is performed through the ice-making water supply valve 340. The ice-making water storage 310 is provided with an upper limit detection sensor 370 and a lower limit detection sensor 375, and these detection sensors 370 and 375 allow an appropriate amount of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making water storage 310.

The evaporator 320 is disposed above the ice-making water storage 310, and the ice-making water supplied from the ice-making water storage 310 is made into ice through the pump 330. The evaporator 320 is provided with a cooling line through which a refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to make ice from the ice-making water supplied to the evaporator 320. The evaporator 320 of the second embodiment is in the form of a plate. When the ice-making water supplied to a surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 320 reaches a freezing point, the ice is adhered to the surface of the evaporator 320, and after that, the ice is gradually enlarged to perform ice formation. The ice-making water that has not been made into ice falls and circulates to the ice-making water storage 310 positioned below the evaporator 320. The ice-making water entering the ice-making water storage 310 is supplied to the evaporator 320 by the pump 330 again.

The pump 330 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 310 and supplies the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 310 to the evaporator 320 disposed above the ice-making water storage 310.

The temperature sensor 350 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 310, and measures the temperature of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 310.

The vibrator 355 is positioned at a lower part of the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 310 and generates ultrasonic waves within the ice-making water storage 310.

The control unit 360 controls to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 310, or to quickly remove the generated slush. To this end, the control unit 360 derives a control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage 310 and controls the vibrator 355 so as to generate ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage 310 at this control time point. When ultrasonic waves are generated within the ice-making water storage 310 through the vibrator 355, the kinetic energy of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 310 is increased to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 310 or to quickly remove the generated slush.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 350. Here, the control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 350 reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. In addition, a time point at which the second time passes after the pump 330 is operated when the temperature sensor 350 does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump 330 is operated, corresponds to the control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, a control method of the control unit 360 for preventing the slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine 300 according to the second embodiment or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the pump 330 is operated and an appropriate amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 310 is stored by the upper limit detection sensor 370, ice-making is started in a state where no more water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 310 by turning the ice-making water supply valve 340 off (S410).

In order to prevent generation of slush in the ice-making water storage 310 during the ice-making, the control unit 360 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 350 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 310 and confirms whether the temperature has reached 0° C. (S420). Then, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 has reached 0° C., the control unit 360 calculates a time elapsed after reaching 0° C. (S430). Next, the control unit 360 confirms whether the time elapsed after reaching 0° C. has passed 1 minute (S440). When the time has not passed 1 minute since the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 reached 0° C., the control unit 360 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 350 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 310 and confirms whether the temperature has reached −1° C. (S450). When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 350 has reached −1° C. before 1 minute has passed since 0° C. was reached, the control unit 360 controls the vibrator 355 at that time point to generate ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage 310 (S460).

However, when the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 has not reached −1° C. over 1 minute since the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 reached 0° C. in steps S430 and S440, the control unit 360 controls the vibrator 355 to generate ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage 310 at a time point when 1 minute has passed since the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 reached 0° C. (S460).

In addition, when the ice-making is started by operating the pump 330, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 measured in step S320 has not reached 0° C., the control unit 360 calculates the time elapsed after operating the pump 330, and confirms whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S470). At a time point at which the temperature of the temperature sensor 350 has not reached 0° C. but 10 minutes has elapsed since the pump 330 was operated, the control unit 360 controls the vibrator 355 to generate ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage 310 (S460).

Through this process, the moment when the slush is generated is specified by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 310, and at this moment, the ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice-making water storage 310 through the vibrator 355, thereby preventing slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush. Therefore, the slush prevention effect is remarkably excellent as compared with a case where water is supplied by arbitrarily selecting a specific time point. As a result, it is possible to make transparent ice with good quality, and ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 320, thereby increasing the production amount.

Further, the control unit 360 may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be further generated after the ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice-making water storage 310 through the vibrator 355 at the control time point as illustrated and described in FIG. 4. Further, the control unit 360 controls the vibrator 355 so that ultrasonic waves are generated in the ice-making water storage 310 at this further control time point.

The further control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 350 similar to the control time point. Here, the further control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 350 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, within the first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 350 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. Further, a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor 350 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point, corresponds to the further control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes. As described above, the control unit 360 may derive a time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated several times, and may prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at the corresponding time.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, an ice-making machine 500 of the third embodiment includes an ice-making water storage 510, an evaporator 520, a pump 530, an ice-making water supply valve 540, a temperature sensor 550, a heater 555, and a control unit 560. The flow of ice-making water in the ice-making machine 500 of the third embodiment is indicated by arrows.

The ice-making water storage 510 has a receiving space in which the ice-making water is capable of being stored. The ice-making water is water for ice-making, and is supplied into the ice-making water storage 510 through an ice-making water supply pipe 515. The supply of the ice-making water is performed through the ice-making water supply valve 540. The ice-making water storage 510 is provided with an upper limit detection sensor 570 and a lower limit detection sensor 575, and these detection sensors 570 and 575 allow an appropriate amount of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making water storage 510.

The evaporator 520 is disposed above the ice-making water storage 510, and the ice-making water supplied from the ice-making water storage 510 is made into ice through the pump 530. The evaporator 520 is provided with a cooling line through which a refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to make ice from 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 a surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 520 reaches a freezing point, the ice is adhered to the surface of the evaporator 520, and after that, the ice is gradually enlarged to perform ice formation. The ice-making water that has not been made into ice falls and circulates to the ice-making water storage 510 positioned below the evaporator 520. The ice-making water entering the ice-making water storage 510 is supplied to the evaporator 520 by the pump 530 again.

The pump 530 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 510 and supplies the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 510 to the evaporator 520 disposed above the ice-making water storage 510.

The temperature sensor 550 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 510, and measures the temperature of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 510.

The heater 555 is positioned in a receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 510 and raises the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 through the heater 555.

The control unit 560 controls to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 510, or to quickly remove the generated slush. To this end, the control unit 560 derives a control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage 510 and controls the heater 555 so as to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 at this control time point. When the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 is raised through the heater 555, the slush is prevented from being generated in the ice-making water storage 510 or the generated slush is quickly removed therefrom.

The control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 550. Here, the control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 550 reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. In addition, a time point at which the second time passes after the pump 530 is operated when the temperature sensor 550 does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump 530 is operated, corresponds to the control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, a control method of the control unit 560 for preventing the slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine 500 according to the first embodiment or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the pump 530 is operated and an appropriate amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 is stored by the upper limit detection sensor 570, ice-making is started in a state where no more water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 510 by turning the ice-making water supply valve 540 off (S610).

In order to prevent generation of slush in the ice-making water storage 510 during the ice-making, the control unit 560 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 550 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 and confirms whether the temperature has reached 0° C. (S620). In addition, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 has reached 0° C., the control unit 560 calculates a time elapsed after reaching 0° C. (S630). Next, the control unit 560 confirms whether the time elapsed after reaching 0° C. has passed 1 minute (S640). When the time has not passed 1 minute since the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 reached 0° C., the control unit 560 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 550 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 and confirms whether the temperature has reached −1° C. (S650). When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 550 has reached −1° C. before 1 minute has passed since 0° C. was reached, the control unit 560 operates the heater 555 at that time point to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 (S660).

However, when the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 has not reached −1° C. over 1 minute since the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 reached 0° C. in steps S630 and S640, the control unit 560 operates the heater 555 to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage at a time point when 1 minute has passed since the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 reached 0° C. (S660).

In addition, when the ice-making is started by operating the pump 530, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 measured in step S620 has not reached 0° C., the control unit 560 calculates the time elapsed after operating the pump 530, and confirms whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S670). At a time point at which the temperature of the temperature sensor 550 has not reached 0° C. but 10 minutes has elapsed since the pump 530 was driven, the control unit 560 operates the heater 555 to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 (S660).

Through this process, the moment when the slush is generated is specified by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510, and at this moment, the heater 555 is operated to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510, thereby preventing slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush. Therefore, the slush prevention effect is remarkably excellent as compared with a case where water is supplied by arbitrarily selecting a specific time point. As a result, it is possible to make transparent ice with good quality, and ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 520, thereby increasing the production amount.

Further, the control unit 560 may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be further generated after the heater is operated to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 at the control time point as illustrated and described in FIG. 6. In addition, the control unit 560 controls the heater 555 so as to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 510 at this further control time point.

The further control time point is derived based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured by the temperature sensor 550 similar to the control time point. Here, the further control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 550 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, within the first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 550 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. Further, a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor 550 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point, corresponds to the further control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may is be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As described above, the control unit 560 may derive a time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated several times, and may prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by supplying water at room temperature at the corresponding time.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a fourth embodiment of an ice-making machine according to the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, the ice-making machine 700 of the fourth embodiment includes an ice-making water storage 710, an evaporator 720, a pump 730, an ice-making water supply valve 740, a temperature sensor 750, and a control unit 760. The flow of ice-making water in the ice-making machine 700 of the fourth embodiment is indicated by arrows.

The ice-making water storage 710 has a receiving space in which the ice-making water is capable of being stored. The ice-making water is water for ice-making, and is supplied into the ice-making water storage 710 through an ice-making water supply pipe 715. The supply of the ice-making water is performed through the ice-making water supply valve 740. The ice-making water storage 710 is provided with an upper limit detection sensor 770 and a lower limit detection sensor 775, and these detection sensors 770 and 775 allow an appropriate amount of ice-making water to be supplied to the ice-making water storage 710.

The evaporator 720 is disposed above the ice-making water storage 710, and the ice-making water supplied from the ice-making water storage 710 is made into ice through the pump 730. The evaporator 720 is provided with a cooling line through which a refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circulates through the cooling line to make ice from the ice-making water supplied to the evaporator 720. The evaporator 720 of the fourth embodiment is in the form of a plate. When the ice-making water supplied to a surface of the plate-shaped evaporator 720 reaches a freezing point, the ice is adhered to the surface of the evaporator 720, and after that, the ice is gradually enlarged to perform ice formation. The ice-making water that has not been made into ice falls and circulates to the ice-making water storage 710 positioned below the evaporator 720. The ice-making water entering the ice-making water storage 710 is supplied to the evaporator 720 by the pump 730 again.

The pump 730 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 710 and supplies the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 710 to the evaporator 720 disposed above the ice-making water storage 710.

The temperature sensor 750 is positioned in the receiving space inside the ice-making water storage 710, and measures the temperature of the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage 710.

The control unit 760 controls to prevent the slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 710, or to quickly remove the generated slush therefrom. To this end, the control unit 760 derives a control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage 710, pauses an operation of the pump 730, and allows the evaporator 720 to be subcooled. The evaporator 720 may be subcooled using a cooling line. When the operation of the pump 730 is paused and the evaporator 720 is subcooled, most of the ice-making water supplied to the evaporator 720 is adhered to ice and falls from the evaporator 720, resulting in reduction in ice-making water circulating to the ice-making water storage 710, thereby preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 710 or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom. In addition, the control unit 760 may control the ice-making water supply valve 740 so that water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 710, together with pausing of the operation of the pump 730 and subcooling of the evaporator 720 at the control time point. The water at this time may be water at room temperature. When the water at room temperature is supplied into the ice-making water storage 710 together with pausing of the operation of the pump 730 and subcooling of the evaporator 720 as described above, the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 710 is raised, and thus the prevention of slush generation in the ice-making water storage 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 time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 750 reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. In addition, a time point at which the second time passes after the pump 730 is operated when the temperature sensor 750 does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump 730 is operated, corresponds to the control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

Hereinafter, a control method of the control unit 760 for preventing the slush from being generated or quickly removing the generated slush will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of a process for preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making machine 700 according to the fourth embodiment or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the pump 730 is operated and an appropriate amount of ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 710 is stored by the upper limit detection sensor 770, ice-making is started in a state where no more water is supplied into the ice-making water storage 710 by turning the ice-making water supply valve 740 off (S810).

In order to prevent generation of slush in the ice-making water storage 710 during the ice-making, the control unit 760 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 750 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 710 and confirms whether the temperature has reached 0° C. (S820). In addition, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 750 has reached 0° C., the control unit 760 calculates a time elapsed after reaching 0° C. (S830). Next, the control unit 760 confirms whether the time elapsed after reaching 0° C. has passed 1 minute (S840). When the time has not passed 1 minute since the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 750 reached 0° C., the control unit 760 measures the temperature through the temperature sensor 750 measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 710 and confirms whether the temperature has reached −1° C. (S850). When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 750 has reached −1° C. before 1 minute has passed since 0° C. was reached, the control unit 760 pauses an operation of the pump 730 and subcools the evaporator 720 at that time point (S860). In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 8, at this time point, the control unit 760 may further supply water at room temperature into the ice-making water storage 710. However, when the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 has not reached −1° C. over 1 minute since the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 reached 0° C. in steps S830 and S840, the control unit 760 pauses an operation of the pump 730 and subcools the evaporator 720 at a time point when 1 minute has passed since the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 reached 0° C. (S860). In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 8, at this time point, the control unit 760 may further supply water at room temperature into the ice-making water storage 710.

In addition, when the ice-making is started by operating the pump 730, but the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 measured in step S820 has not reached 0° C., the control unit 760 calculates the time elapsed after operating the pump 730, and confirms whether 10 minutes have elapsed (S870). At a time point at which the temperature of the temperature sensor 750 has not reached 0° C. but 10 minutes has elapsed since the pump 730 was driven, the control unit 760 pauses an operation of the pump 730 and subcools the evaporator 720 (S860). In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 8, at this time point, the control unit 760 may further supply water at room temperature into the ice-making water storage 710.

Through this process, the moment when the slush is generated is specified by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage 710, and at this moment, the operation of the pump 730 is paused and the evaporator 720 is subcooled, and thus most of the ice-making water supplied to the evaporator 720 is adhered to ice and falls from the evaporator 720, resulting in reduction in ice-making water circulating to the ice-making water storage 710, thereby preventing slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage 710 or quickly removing the generated slush therefrom. Further, at this time, when water at room temperature is supplied together into the ice-making water storage 710, the slush is removed more quickly. Therefore, the slush prevention effect is remarkably excellent as compared with a case where water is supplied by arbitrarily selecting a specific time point. As a result, it is possible to make transparent ice with good quality, and ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator 720, thereby increasing the production amount.

Further, the control unit 760 may derive a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be further generated after the operation of the pump 730 is paused and the evaporator 720 is subcooled at the control time point as illustrated and described in FIG. 6. In addition, at this further control time point, the control unit 760 pauses the operation of the pump 730 and subcools the evaporator 720 again.

The further 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 further control time point corresponds to a time point at which the temperature sensor 750 reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, within the first time after reaching the first temperature. However, a time point at which the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor 750 reaches the first temperature but does not reach the second temperature within the first time, corresponds to the predetermined time point. Further, a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor 750 does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point, corresponds to the further control time point. Here, the first temperature may be 0° C. and the second temperature may be −1° C., and the first time may be 1 minute and the second time may be 10 minutes.

As described above, the control unit 760 may derive a time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated several times, and may prevent the slush from being generated or quickly remove the generated slush by pausing the operation of the pump 730 and subcooling the evaporator 720 at the corresponding time.

In the ice-making machine according to the related art, due to the slush phenomenon generated during the ice-making process using the existing ice-making machine, non-transparent ice is made, and the ice is not formed in a part of the evaporator, or time for ice-making is delayed, resulting in a decrease in production amount. On the other hand, in the ice-making machine according to the present disclosure, it is possible to supply water at room temperature or generate ultrasonic waves using the vibrator or raise the temperature of the ice-making water using the heater, or pause the pump and subcool the evaporator at the time point when the slush is generated by measuring the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage, thereby preventing the slush from being generated or removing the generated slush, resulting in forming transparent ice with good quality, and increasing a production amount since the ice is formed in all parts of the evaporator.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments but may be variously modified by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure claimed in the claims. Thus, these modifications should also be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An ice-making machine comprising:

an ice-making water storage for storing ice-making water therein;

an evaporator for making the ice-making water into ice by receiving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage;

a pump for moving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage to the evaporator;

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage; and

a control unit for deriving a control time point at which slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured in the temperature sensor and for controlling to prevent slush from being generated in the ice-making water storage or to remove the slush generated in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

wherein the control time point is any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature,

a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and

a time point at which a second time passes after the pump is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump is operated.

2. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

3. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls water at room temperature to be supplied into the ice-making water storage for a few seconds.

4. The ice-making machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibrator positioned inside the ice-making water storage and generating ultrasonic waves,

wherein the control unit controls the vibrator to generate the ultrasonic waves in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

5. The ice-making machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a heater positioned inside the ice-making water storage to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage,

wherein the control unit controls the heater to raise the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

6. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit pauses an operation of the pump at the control time point, and controls the evaporator to be subcooled.

7. The ice-making machine of claim 6, wherein the control unit controls water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at the control time point.

8. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is 0° C. and the second temperature is −1° C.

9. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein the first time is 1 minute and the second time is 10 minutes.

10. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit derives a further control time point at which the slush is predicted to be generated in the ice-making water storage after the control time point based on the temperature of the ice-making water measured in the temperature sensor.

11. The ice-making machine of claim 10, wherein the further control time point is any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature,

a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and

a time point at which the second time passes from the control time point when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time from the control time point.