JP6397767B2 - How to operate an automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of operating an automatic ice making machine that supplies water to the surface of a water dish whose ice making chamber is opened in a deicing operation to remove ice adhering to the surface of the water dish.

  As shown in FIG. 8, an automatic ice maker that continuously generates ice blocks I is an injection type that supplies ice making water from below to a large number of ice making chambers 12A that open downward in the ice making chamber 12. There is. The ice making mechanism 10 of the automatic ice making machine includes the ice making chamber 12 disposed horizontally in the main body, a water tray 14 pivotally supported via a support shaft 16 below the ice making chamber 12, An ice making water tank 18 is provided integrally with the lower part of the water tray 14 and stores a predetermined amount of ice making water therein. On the upper surface of the ice making chamber 12, an evaporator EP forming a part of a refrigeration mechanism 30 including a compressor CM, a condenser CD, an expansion valve EV, a cooling fan FM, and the like is disposed in a meandering manner. ing.

  The refrigeration mechanism 30 includes a refrigeration circuit 32 that supplies the refrigerant from the compressor CM to the evaporator EP through a condenser CD and an expansion valve EV that are cooled by a cooling fan FM, and a high-temperature refrigerant (hot gas) from the compressor CM. ) Through the bypass pipe 36 to the evaporator EP. A hot gas valve HV is provided in the middle of the bypass pipe 36. The refrigeration mechanism 30 closes the hot gas valve HV during the ice making operation so that the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration circuit 32. In the ice making operation, the vaporized refrigerant compressed by the compressor CM is condensed and liquefied by the condenser CD, depressurized by the expansion valve EV, and heat is exchanged with the ice making chamber 12 by the evaporator EP. It is cooling. At this time, in the ice making mechanism 10, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 18 is supplied to the cooled ice making chamber 12A while the water tray 14 is held at a position where the ice making chamber 12A is closed from below. The ice lump I is generated in each ice making chamber 12A by being supplied by injection from the injection hole. The ice making water that has not been frozen in the ice making chamber 12A is recovered from the return hole provided in the water tray 14 to the ice making water tank 18 and again supplied to the ice making chamber 12A.

  The refrigeration mechanism 30 opens the hot gas valve HV during the deicing operation so that the hot gas circulates in the bypass circuit 34. In the deicing operation, hot gas from the compressor CM is supplied to the evaporator EP, and heat is exchanged with the ice making chamber 12 by the evaporator EP to heat the ice making chamber 12. At this time, the ice making mechanism 10 operates the opening / closing mechanism 22 to tilt the water tray 14 obliquely downward about the support shaft 16 to open the ice making chamber 12A. Then, the icing portion of the ice block I with the ice making chamber 12A is melted, and the ice block I is detached from the ice making chamber 12A by its own weight, slides down on the water dish 14 and is stored in the stocker 38. Switching between the ice making operation and the deicing operation is performed based on temperature detection of the operation switching means 40 such as a thermistor disposed in the ice making chamber 12.

  In the deicing operation, when the ice tray 14 is lowered and the ice making chamber 12A is opened, a part of the ice block I generated in the ice making chamber 12A may be peeled off and remain on the surface (upper surface) of the water tray 14. is there. Therefore, in the automatic ice making machine, normal temperature water (hereinafter sometimes referred to as melted water) is supplied (sprinkled) to the surface of the water tray 14 from the water supply mechanism 26 connected to an external water source such as a water supply in the deicing operation. A cleaning step is performed to melt and remove the ice pieces adhering to the surface of the water dish 14. The water supply mechanism 26 is set to start supplying ice melt water to the water tray 14 while the water tray 14 is lowered by the opening / closing mechanism 22 after switching from the ice making operation to the deicing operation, and continues for a predetermined time. To supply. In the automatic ice making machine, when the temperature detected by the operation switching means 40 reaches the deicing completion temperature for completion of deicing, the water tray 14 is raised by the opening / closing mechanism 22.

  The water supply mechanism 26 supplies tap water introduced from an external water source as melted water to the water tray 14 at room temperature without particularly adjusting the temperature. That is, since the temperature of the melted ice supplied from the water supply mechanism 26 is low in the winter, the ice pieces are not sufficiently removed from the surface of the water dish 14 in the winter when the time of the washing process is set in accordance with the summer. There is a fear. In this case, when the water dish 14 is closed, the ice pieces remaining between the ice making chamber 12 and the water dish 14 are bitten and give a load to the water dish 14, the opening / closing mechanism 22, etc. Inconvenience is generated. On the other hand, when the time for the cleaning process is set in accordance with the winter season, waste of ice melt water being excessively supplied from the water supply mechanism 26 occurs regardless of the ice pieces being completely removed in the summer season.

  Therefore, in the automatic ice making machine of Patent Document 1, the ice piece adhering to the water tray 14 when the temperature of the melted water is low is changed by changing the time (number of intermittent feeds) of supplying the melted water according to the temperature of the melted water. In addition, it is possible to prevent excessive supply of the melted ice water when the temperature of the melted ice water is high.

JP 2008-175463 A

  In the automatic ice making machine, the time for supplying the melted water is changed in accordance with the temperature of the melted ice water. The ice lump I is detached from the ice making chamber 12A, and the melted ice water adheres to the ice lump I guided on the surface of the inclined water dish 14. That is, it is pointed out that the ice block I may be deformed by melting the ice melt water, or the ice block I may be deformed, or the ice blocks attached with the melt water may be frozen by the stocker 38, or the bonded ice block I may cause adverse effects such as arching. .

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the prior art, and is based on the water supplied to the water tray in the deicing operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation method of an automatic ice making machine that can remove ice pieces adhering to a water dish without adversely affecting an ice block that separates from an ice making unit.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, an operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to claim 1 of the present application is as follows:
An ice making section that defines an ice making chamber that opens downward; a water pan that tilts between a closed position that closes the ice making chamber and an open position that opens the ice making chamber; and the water tray is closed The ice making operation is performed to generate ice blocks in the ice making chamber while being held in the formation position, and when the operation switching means detects the completion of the ice making operation, the water pan is tilted from the closed position to the open position to remove the ice blocks from the ice making chamber. In the automatic ice making machine that performs the deicing operation and removes the ice adhering to the surface of the water dish by supplying water from the water supply mechanism to the surface of the water dish based on the detection of the completion of the ice making operation of the operation switching means ,
When the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism is higher than the determination reference temperature, the supply of water from the water supply mechanism is started based on the detection of the completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means, and the deicing operation is started. The supply of water from the water supply mechanism is stopped by the passage of the high temperature supply time shorter than the time from the start until the ice block begins to leave the ice making chamber,
When the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism is lower than the determination reference temperature , the supply of water from the water supply mechanism is started based on detection of completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means, and the deicing operation is started . stopping the supply of water from the water supply mechanism ice blocks from the start with the lapse of the ice compartment or et away leaving to the first low temperature feed time shorter than the time to start, the second after withdrawal of ice blocks from the ice making unit Supply water from the water supply mechanism to the surface of the water dish over the low temperature supply time ,
The second low temperature supply time is the first low temperature supply time from the low temperature total supply time that can remove ice adhering to the surface of the water dish when water having a temperature lower than the determination reference temperature is continuously supplied. The gist is that it is set to the remaining time after subtracting the time .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the water supply control for removing ice on the surface of the water dish is switched depending on the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism , the ice on the surface of the water dish is removed by the change in the water temperature. It is possible to prevent the water from being supplied or excessive. In addition, when the water temperature is lower than the judgment reference temperature , water is supplied to the surface of the water tray separately before and after the timing at which the ice mass is detached from the ice making unit, so that water adheres to the ice mass detached from the ice making unit and blocking or The occurrence of harmful effects such as arching can be prevented.

In the invention according to claim 2,
When the operation switching means detects completion of the deicing operation after water is supplied from the water supply mechanism for the second low temperature supply time after the ice block from the ice making part is detached, the water dish The gist of the present invention is to change the deicing operation to the ice making operation by tilting from the open position to the closed position .

In the invention according to claim 3,
In the initial stage of the ice making operation, the temperature of the ice making unit to which water is supplied from the water tray is measured by the operation switching means, thereby indirectly acquiring the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism, While comparing the acquired water temperature with the determination reference temperature to determine the level of the water temperature ,
A temperature obtained by adding a correction value, which is a value that increases the temperature of the ice making unit during the deicing operation during the second low temperature supply time, to the temperature of the ice making unit from which the ice block has been detached by the deicing operation, The operation switching means is set as the deicing completion temperature for detecting the completion of the deicing operation, and the water pan is opened based on the fact that the operation switching means detects that the temperature of the ice making part has reached the deicing completion temperature. Set to tilt from the position toward the closed position,
The supply of water from the water supply mechanism after the ice block is detached from the ice making unit is the operation switching that the temperature of the ice making unit has reached the supply restart temperature obtained by subtracting the correction value from the deicing completion temperature. The gist is that it is started when the means detects.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, since the temperature of the water supplied to the surface of a water tray from a water supply mechanism is acquired based on the temperature of the ice-making part to which water is supplied from a water tray, the temperature for detecting a water temperature There is no need to provide detection means, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the water temperature is acquired during the operation of the automatic ice maker, the operation of the automatic ice maker can be controlled according to the actual state of the automatic ice maker.

The present application includes the following technical ideas.
In the deicing operation, when the amount of temperature change per unit time by the temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the ice making unit is equal to or greater than the determination change amount, it is assumed that the ice block has detached from the ice making chamber, The gist is that the time from the start of water supply from the water supply mechanism to the time when it is considered that the ice block has been detached is used as the first supply time in the next deicing operation.
According to this , since the time acquired based on the ice lump detachment timing obtained from the temperature change amount of the ice making chamber is used as the first supply time in the next deicing operation, the automatic ice maker is automatically operated. It can be controlled according to the actual condition of the ice making machine.

  According to the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention, the ice pieces adhering to the water dish can be removed without adversely affecting the ice blocks separated from the ice making unit by the melted water.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows a part of automatic ice making machine used for the operating method which concerns on an Example. It is a control block diagram of the automatic ice making machine of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of each apparatus at the time of driving | operating the automatic ice maker of an Example. It is a timing chart figure which shows operation states, such as an opening-and-closing mechanism, a water supply valve, and a hot gas valve, in an automatic ice making machine of an example, and is a case where it is judged that melting ice water is higher than judgment standard temperature. It is a timing chart figure which shows operation states, such as an opening-and-closing mechanism, a water supply valve, and a hot gas valve, in an automatic ice making machine of an example, and is a case where it is judged with melting ice water being lower than judgment standard temperature. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of each apparatus at the time of driving | operating an automatic ice maker based on the driving | operation method which concerns on another Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the deicing determination process in the driving | operation method which concerns on another Example. It is a schematic block diagram of the ice making mechanism and freezing mechanism in the conventional automatic ice making machine.

  Next, the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements as those of the automatic ice making machine shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic ice maker according to the embodiment includes an ice making mechanism 10 having an ice making chamber 12 as an ice making unit, and a refrigeration mechanism 30 having an evaporator EP for cooling and heating the ice making chamber 12. Yes. In the automatic ice making machine, each device constituting the ice making mechanism 10 and the refrigeration mechanism 30 is controlled by the control means 46 on the basis of an operation switching means 40, a time measuring means 42, a changeover switch 44, and the like, which will be described later. The operation cycle is repeated alternately.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making mechanism 10 is provided with a large number of ice making chambers 12 </ b> A opening downward, an ice making chamber 12 disposed horizontally in the main body, and a spindle 16 below the ice making chamber 12. A water tray 14 pivotally supported via a water tray 14, an ice making water tank 18 that is integrally provided at a lower portion of the water tray 14 and stores a predetermined amount of ice making water therein, and a lower portion of the ice making water tank 18. A pump motor 20 that circulates and supplies ice-making water and an opening / closing mechanism 22 that tilts the water tray 14 and the ice-making water tank 18 integrally are provided. An evaporator EP forming a part of the refrigeration mechanism 30 is disposed in close contact with the upper surface of the ice making chamber 12 in a meandering manner. The ice making chamber 12 is cooled by the evaporator EP during the ice making operation and heated during the deicing operation.

  The water tray 14 and the ice making water tank 18 fixed to the water tray 14 are tilted so as to approach and separate from the ice making chamber 12 around the support shaft 16 by driving the opening / closing motor 24 of the opening / closing mechanism 22. . The water tray 14 is held in the closed position for closing the opening of the ice making chamber 12A in the ice making operation. When the deicing operation is started, the opening of the ice making chamber 12A is opened by driving the opening / closing motor 24. It is configured to tilt downward about the support shaft 16 so as to be in the open position. Further, the water tray 14 is configured to be tilted upward about the support shaft 16 to be in the closed position by driving the opening / closing motor 24 when the deicing is completed. The opening / closing motor 24 is driven by the control means 46 and is controlled to stop when the changeover switch 44 detects arrival of the water tray 14 at the open position and the closed position. The ice making water tank 18 opens upward and is supplied with water (ice making water and melted ice water) from a water supply mechanism 26 connected to an external water source. In the ice making operation, by driving the pump motor 20, ice making water is jetted and supplied from the fountain hole (not shown) of the water tray 14 provided so as to correspond to each ice making chamber 12A to the ice making chamber 12A. . In addition, the ice making water that has not been frozen in the ice making chamber 12A is collected in the ice making water tank 18 through a return hole (not shown) provided in the water tray 14 and reused as ice making water. The ice making chamber 12 is provided with operation switching means 40 for detecting the temperature of the ice making chamber 12, and the ice making operation and the deicing operation in the automatic ice making machine are switched based on the temperature detection result of the operation switching means 40. In the automatic ice making machine, the operation switching means 40 is controlled by the control means 46 so as to be switched to the deicing operation when the ice making completion temperature is detected in the ice making operation, and to the ice making operation when the deicing completion temperature is detected in the ice removing operation. The The water supply mechanism 26 includes a water supply pipe 28 that is connected to an external water source and has an outlet opening on the surface (upper surface) side of the water tray 14, and a water supply valve WV provided in the water supply pipe 28. The water supply valve WV is controlled to be opened and closed by the control means 46, so that water (ice-making water or melted water) is supplied to the surface of the water dish. The water supplied to the surface of the water dish is collected in the ice making water tank 18 through the injection hole and the return hole. In the embodiment, the operation switching means 40 has a function as a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the ice making chamber 12.

  The refrigerating mechanism 30 includes a compressor CM, a condenser CD, a cooling fan FM that cools the condenser CD, an expansion valve EV, and an evaporator EP provided on the upper surface of the ice making chamber 12 connected by piping. 32 is configured. In the refrigeration circuit 32, during the ice making operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor CM is condensed and liquefied by the condenser CD, decompressed by the expansion valve EV, supplied to the evaporator EP, and returned to the compressor CM. This refrigerant cools the ice making chamber 12 by exchanging heat with the ice making chamber 12 in the evaporator EP. Further, the refrigeration mechanism 30 includes a bypass circuit 34 that supplies hot gas from the compressor CM to the evaporator EP during the deicing operation. The bypass circuit 34 has a bypass pipe 36 that connects the outlet side of the compressor CM and the inlet side of the evaporator EP. A hot gas valve HV that opens and closes the conduit of the bypass pipe 36 is provided in the middle of the bypass pipe 36. In the deicing operation, the hot gas valve HV is opened (ON), whereby the refrigerant is circulated in the bypass circuit 34, and the hot gas from the compressor CM does not pass through the condenser CD and the expansion valve EV, and is bypassed. 36 directly to the evaporator EP. This hot gas heats the ice making chamber 12 by exchanging heat with the ice making chamber 12 in the evaporator EP. The hot gas valve HV is set to be kept open during the deicing operation, and the refrigerant is circulated through the refrigeration circuit 32 by closing the hot gas valve HV during the ice making operation. The cooling fan FM is driven simultaneously with the start of the ice making operation, and is stopped simultaneously with the start of the deicing operation.

  Here, the deicing completion temperature of the embodiment is set to a temperature obtained by adding a correction value α to the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 when all the ice blocks I are detached from the ice making chamber 12 heated by the deicing operation. ing. In other words, when the ice making chamber 12 reaches a temperature obtained by subtracting the correction value α from the deicing completion temperature, all ice blocks I are detached from the ice making chamber 12. In the embodiment, the temperature of [deicing completion temperature−correction value α] is referred to as a melted water supply resumption temperature described later (see FIG. 5). The correction value α is set to a value at which the ice making chamber 12 is expected to rise in temperature during the deicing operation during the second low temperature supply time in which the melted water is supplied in the low temperature mode to be described later.

(About supply control of melted water)
In the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, in the deicing operation, normal temperature water (hereinafter also referred to as melted water) may be supplied from the water supply mechanism 26 to the surface of the water tray 14, so that the surface of the water tray 14. It is configured to melt and remove ice pieces (ice) adhering to. Further, in the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, the temperature of the melted water is detected (acquired) directly or indirectly, and the control means 46 compares the melted water temperature with a preset reference temperature, In the deicing operation, a control mode for determining operating conditions of each mechanism such as the refrigeration mechanism 30, the opening / closing mechanism 22, and the water supply mechanism 26 is set. Specifically, if the melted ice water temperature is higher than the determination reference temperature (in the embodiment, when it is equal to or higher than the determination reference temperature), the control unit 46 determines that the melted water is at a high temperature and performs a refrigeration mechanism in the high temperature mode. 30, the opening / closing mechanism 22, the water supply mechanism 26, and the like (see FIG. 4). If the melted ice water temperature is lower than the determination reference temperature (in the embodiment, less than the determination reference temperature), the control means 46. However, it is determined that the melted ice water is at a low temperature and controls the refrigeration mechanism 30, the opening / closing mechanism 22, the water supply mechanism 26, and the like in the low temperature mode (see FIG. 5). In addition, in the Example, it is comprised so that the temperature of ice-melt water may be indirectly detected (measured), but the measuring method of this temperature is mentioned later.

  In the automatic ice making machine, after the operation switching means 40 detects the ice making completion temperature and the deicing operation is started, the melted water from the water supply mechanism 26 is passed after a preset waiting time (for example, 20 seconds). Is set to start (the water supply valve WV is opened) (see FIGS. 4 and 5). That is, the melted water that melts the ice pieces on the surface of the water dish is configured to start supplying upon detection of completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means 40. In addition, since the water tray 14 is in the closed position or in a state slightly spaced downward from the ice making chamber 12 at the initial stage of the deicing operation, it is returned to the surface of the water tray simultaneously with the detection of the completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means 40. When the supply of the melted ice water is started, the melted water supplied to the surface of the water tray 14 may adhere to the lower surface of the ice block I generated in the ice making chamber 12 (the ice block before leaving the ice making chamber 12). There is. Therefore, by providing the waiting time, it is possible to prevent the melted ice from adhering to the ice block I generated in the ice making chamber 12 and to prevent the ice block I from re-freezing in the stocker 38. That is, the waiting time is an angle at which the tilt angle of the water tray 14 that starts tilting from the closed position is such that the melted ice water supplied to the surface of the water tray does not adhere to the ice block I generated in the ice making chamber 12. It is set to be longer than the time required to become. The supply of the melted water may be started on the condition that the changeover switch 44 detects the open position of the water tray 14.

(Control in high temperature mode)
In the high temperature mode control performed when the temperature of the melted ice water is equal to or higher than the determination reference temperature, as shown in FIG. 4, when the standby time has elapsed after the start of the deicing operation, the control means 46 The water supply valve WV of the water supply mechanism 26 is controlled to be opened (ON) to start supplying the melted water. Then, when a preset high-temperature supply time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses, the control means 46 closes the water supply valve WV (OFF) to stop the supply of the melted water. That is, when the temperature of the melted ice water is higher than the determination reference temperature, the melted ice water is continuously supplied to the surface of the water dish during the high temperature supply time. This high-temperature supply time is such that when ice melt water having a temperature higher than the judgment reference temperature is supplied to the surface of the water dish, the ice block I is removed from the ice making chamber 12 (the first ice block I is released) before It is a time during which ice pieces can be removed (a time shorter than the time from the start of the deicing operation until the ice lump I starts to be detached), and the supply time at the high temperature is obtained by experiments. That is, the time obtained by the experiment is set and stored in the control means 46 as the high temperature supply time. In the high temperature mode, after the supply time at high temperature has elapsed, all the ice blocks I are detached from the ice making chamber 12 and the operation switching means 40 detects the deicing completion temperature, so that the control means 46 performs the deicing operation. It is set to control each mechanism so as to end the process and start the ice making operation.

(Control in low temperature mode)
In the low temperature mode control performed when the temperature of the melted ice water is lower than the determination reference temperature, as shown in FIG. 5, when the standby time elapses after the deicing operation is started, the control means 46 The water supply valve WV of the water supply mechanism 26 is controlled to be opened (ON) to start supplying the melted water. When the first low temperature supply time (first supply time, for example, 40 seconds) elapses, the control means 46 closes the water supply valve WV (OFF) to turn off the melted water. The supply is temporarily stopped. Thereafter, when the deicing operation proceeds and the operation switching means 40 detects the supply resumption temperature, the control means 46 controls the opening of the water supply valve WV (ON) to resume the supply of the melted water, and is preset. When the second low temperature supply time (second supply time, for example, 55 seconds) elapses, the control means 46 closes the supply valve WV (OFF) to stop the supply of the melted water. . In the low temperature mode, if the operation switching means 40 detects the deicing completion temperature (temperature equal to or higher than the deicing completion temperature) after the second low temperature supply time has elapsed, the control means 46 ends the deicing operation. Then, each mechanism is set to be controlled so as to start the ice making operation.

  Here, the first low temperature supply time is the time until the ice block I is detached from the ice making chamber 12 (the first ice block I is detached) when the low-temperature melted water lower than the determination reference temperature is supplied to the surface of the water dish. This time is shorter than this time, and this time is determined by experiment. That is, the time obtained by the experiment is set and stored in the control means 46 as the first low temperature supply time. Then, when low-temperature melted ice water below the reference temperature is continuously supplied to the surface of the water dish, the time during which the ice pieces on the surface of the water dish can be removed is experimentally determined as the low-time total supply time. The remaining time obtained by subtracting the first low temperature supply time obtained by experiment from the supply time is set and stored in the control means 46 as the second low temperature supply time. The first low-temperature supply time is specifically a time shorter than the time from when ice melt I (the first ice block I) is detached from the ice making chamber 12 after supply of low-temperature melted water to the surface of the water dish is started. Set to (a few seconds shorter). Further, the supply resumption temperature when all the ice blocks I have fallen from the ice making chamber 12 due to the progress of the deicing operation can also be obtained by experiments. That is, in the low temperature mode, after the deicing operation is started, before the ice block I is detached from the ice making chamber 12 and after all the ice blocks I are separated from the ice making chamber 12, the melted water is supplied to the surface of the water dish. It is supposed to be.

(About temperature measurement of melted water)
The automatic ice making machine of the embodiment is configured to indirectly detect (measure) the temperature of melted water, and a method for measuring the temperature will be described. The automatic ice making machine is configured to use room-temperature water supplied from the water supply mechanism 26 and stored in the ice making water tank 18 during ice removal operation as ice making water for the next ice making operation. By measuring the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 which exchanges heat with the normal temperature ice making water supplied to the ice making chamber 12 in the (initial stage), the temperature of the melted water (normal temperature water) can be indirectly known. . Therefore, in the ice making operation, a control means that uses a temperature detected by the operation switching means 40 (measured temperature) after a predetermined water temperature measurement time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed from the start of operation of the pump motor 20 as the temperature of the melted ice water. 46, and the control means 46 compares the stored melted ice water temperature (measured temperature) with the determination reference temperature to determine whether the water temperature is high or low, and controls the next deicing operation based on the determination result. The mode is set. Specifically, the measured temperature of the melted ice water is obtained by conducting an experiment in advance on the relationship between the detected temperature of the operation switching means 40 after the elapse of the water temperature measurement time from the start of operation of the pump motor 20 and the actual temperature of the melted water. The control means 46 stores data in which the relationship is tabulated in advance. In actual operation of the automatic ice making machine, the control means 46 acquires the measured temperature of the melted water from the detected temperature of the operation switching means 40 based on the data stored in the control means 46 in advance. Yes. The temperature of the melted water is measured every ice making operation, and in the embodiment, it is determined whether the control mode is set to the high temperature mode or the low temperature mode for each deicing operation (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as mode determination). doing. In addition, the temperature and mode determination of melted water are not performed for each operation cycle, but a counter for counting the operation cycle is provided, and the operation cycle when the set number (for example, several hundred) set by the counter is counted. It is possible to update the measured temperature and the set control mode. In addition, the daily temperature can be used to update the measured temperature and the set control mode once a month.

  Here, in the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, the temperature of the melted water is measured in the initial stage of the ice making operation, and the control mode is determined by determining the level of the melted water based on the measured temperature. In the first operation cycle that has not undergone the ice making operation and the deicing operation (the deicing operation started when the power is turned on), the level of the melted water cannot be determined, and the control mode cannot be set. Therefore, in the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, the low temperature mode is set during the first deicing operation. However, the high temperature mode may be set in summer when the temperature of the melted water is predicted to be higher than the determination reference temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic ice making machine is provided with a time measuring means 42 for measuring the supply time of the melted water from the water supply mechanism 26. The timing means 42 starts timing when the water supply valve WV of the water supply mechanism 26 is controlled to be opened. And the control means 46 carries out closing control of the water supply valve WV, when the time measuring means 42 times the said high temperature supply time, the 1st low temperature supply time, and the 2nd low temperature supply time. The time counting means 42 is reset when the water supply valve WV is controlled to close. The time measuring means 42 measures various times such as the standby time and the water temperature measuring time used in the automatic ice making machine, and the control means 46 controls each mechanism corresponding to the time measured by the time measuring means 42. It is configured to Note that the standby time, the water temperature measurement time, and the like may be timed by another time measuring means.

  Next, the operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The automatic ice maker of the embodiment is configured to start the deicing operation when the power is turned on, but in the following explanation, after the ice making operation is performed, the deicing operation is started from the time when the deicing operation is started. The flow will be described.

  When the automatic ice maker starts the deicing operation (step S10), the compressor CM is driven, the hot gas valve HV is opened, the ice making chamber 12 is heated, and the opening / closing motor 24 is driven. The water tray 14 is lowered by the opening / closing mechanism 22. When the standby time elapses from the start of the deicing operation (step S11), the control unit 46 determines whether or not the temperature (measured temperature) of the melted water measured in the initial stage of the ice making operation is lower than the determination reference temperature ( Step S12).

(Control in high temperature mode)
When step S12 is negative, the control means 46 controls the deicing operation in the high temperature mode shown in FIG. That is, the supply of the melted water to the surface of the water tray 14 is started by controlling the opening of the water supply valve WV in step S13. In the high temperature mode, when the time counting means 42 that has started timing by the opening control of the water supply valve WV times the supply time at the high temperature (step S14), the control means 46 controls the water supply valve WV to close (step S15), and the water tray The supply of melted water to the surface is stopped.

  When the melted ice water is hot (when the temperature is higher than the criterion temperature), the ice block I is detached from the ice making chamber 12 by continuously supplying the melted ice water to the surface of the water dish during the high temperature supply time (the first The ice pieces adhering to the surface of the water dish can be removed before the ice block I is detached). That is, after the supply of the melted ice water in the high temperature mode is stopped, the ice block I begins to leave the ice making chamber 12 heated by the hot gas valve HV, and all the ice blocks I leave the ice making chamber 12, When the operation switching unit 40 detects the deicing completion temperature (Yes in step S16), the control unit 46 ends the deicing operation, proceeds to step S17, and starts the ice making operation.

  In the ice making operation, the control means 46 drives the open / close motor 24 to raise the water tray 14 and simultaneously closes the hot gas valve HV and drives the cooling fan FM to cool the ice making chamber 12. Be started. Further, the water supply valve WV is controlled to be opened while the water tray 14 is raised (step S18), and water at room temperature is supplied from the water supply mechanism 26 to the surface of the water tray, and the water is made through the fountain hole and the return hole. The water is stored in a water tank and used as the next ice making water.

  When the changeover switch 44 detects the closed position of the water tray 14, the pump motor 20 is driven (step S19), ice making water is jetted and supplied from the water tray 14 to the ice making chamber 12A, and ice blocks I are generated in the ice making chamber 12A. Is done. Further, simultaneously with the start of operation of the pump motor 20 (start of supply of ice making water to the ice making chamber 12), the time measuring means 42 starts measuring time. Then, when the time measuring means 42 measures the water temperature measurement time (step S20), the control means 46 acquires the detected temperature (measured temperature) of the operation switching means 40 (step S21), and uses the detected temperature for the next deicing. This is stored as the temperature of melted ice water used for mode determination during operation. Note that the water supply valve WV that is controlled to open to store the ice making water in the ice making water tank 18 is closed and controlled by the control means 46 with the passage of a preset ice making water supply time (step S22) (step S22). S23). When the ice making operation proceeds and the operation switching means 40 detects the ice making completion temperature (Yes in step S24), the control means 46 controls each mechanism to end the ice making operation and shift to the deicing operation. To do.

(Control in low temperature mode)
If step S12 is positive, the control means 46 controls the deicing operation in the low temperature mode shown in FIG. That is, the supply of the melted water to the surface of the water tray 14 is started by controlling the opening of the water supply valve WV in step S25. In the low temperature mode, when the time counting means 42 that has started timing by the opening control of the water supply valve WV times the first low temperature supply time (step S26), the control means 46 performs the closing control of the water supply valve WV (step S27). Temporarily stop (suspend) the supply of melted water to the surface of the water dish. When the deicing operation proceeds and the operation switching means 40 detects the supply resumption temperature (Yes in step S28), the control means 46 opens the water supply valve WV again (step S29) and returns to the water dish surface. Restart supply of melted water.

  When the time counting means 42 that has started timing by the opening control of the water supply valve WV in step S29 measures the second low temperature supply time (step S30), the control means 46 controls the water supply valve WV to close (step S31). Stop supplying the melted water to the surface of the water dish. Moreover, the control means 46 transfers to step S17 and starts ice making operation. The flow from step S18 to step S24 is as described above. In the low temperature mode, the ice making chamber 12 is kept in the deicing operation (hot gas) even after the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 reaches the supply restarting temperature that is the temperature when all the ice blocks I are detached from the ice making chamber 12. As described above, the deicing completion temperature is higher than the supply resumption temperature by the correction value α corresponding to the rise of the ice making chamber 12 that rises during the second low temperature supply time in the low temperature mode. Therefore, the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 when switching to the ice making operation in the high temperature mode and the low temperature mode is substantially the same.

  According to the operation method of the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, since the control mode of the ice melt water is switched according to the temperature of the ice melt water, the ice lump I is supplied from the ice making chamber 12 regardless of the conditions. The iced water is not supplied to the surface of the water dish when it falls on the surface of the dish, and it prevents the melted ice from adhering to the ice lump I and re-freezing with the stocker 38, thereby causing problems such as blocking and arching. Can do. Further, according to the operation method of the automatic ice making machine of the embodiment, in the initial stage of the ice making operation, the melted ice water is detected from the detected temperature in the operation switching means 40 that detects the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 to which the normal temperature ice making water is supplied. The temperature of the melted ice water is measured and the temperature of the melted ice water (measurement temperature) is compared with the judgment reference temperature to determine whether the melted ice water is high or low, so a dedicated temperature detection means is provided to detect the temperature of the melted ice water. This is not necessary and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Moreover, since the level of the melt water is determined based on the temperature of the melt water measured during the actual operation of the automatic ice maker, the operation of the automatic ice maker can be controlled according to the actual state of the automatic ice maker.

  Here, in the embodiment, the deicing completion temperature that triggers the switching from the deicing operation to the ice making operation is set as a temperature obtained by adding the correction value α to the temperature when all the ice blocks I are detached from the ice making chamber 12. In addition, the supply resumption temperature that triggers the resumption of the supply of the melted water in the low temperature mode is set as a temperature obtained by subtracting the correction value α from the deicing completion temperature. Thereby, in the high temperature mode and the low temperature mode, the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 when the ice making operation is started is made substantially the same. Therefore, even if the temperature of the ice melt obtained from the temperature of the ice making chamber 12 in the initial stage of the ice making operation is switched from the deicing operation controlled in any control mode to the ice making operation, the actual ice melting water is used. The temperature can correspond to the temperature, and the control mode in the next deicing operation can be set appropriately.

[Another Example]
Next, an operation method of the automatic ice making machine according to another embodiment will be described. In another embodiment, the deicing determination process for acquiring the timing (time) at which the ice block I begins to leave the ice making chamber 12 is performed during the operation of the automatic ice making machine, and the next low temperature is determined based on the acquired timing (time). The first low temperature supply time in the mode is set. In addition, about the driving | running method of another Example, a different part from an Example shall mainly be demonstrated.

(About deicing judgment processing)
In the deicing determination process of another embodiment, in the low temperature mode, the time measuring means 42 measures the time when the standby time elapses from the start of the deicing operation (simultaneously with the start of the supply of the melted water from the water supply mechanism 26). Start. Further, the temperature change amount per unit time of the ice making chamber 12 by the operation switching means 40 is monitored, and it is considered that the ice block I starts to leave the ice making chamber 12 when the temperature change amount is equal to or larger than the determination change amount. The control means 46 stores the time measured by the time measuring means 42 until the temperature change amount of the ice making chamber 12 becomes equal to or greater than the determination change amount as the first low temperature supply time. Specifically, when the supply of melted water to the surface of the water dish is started, the control unit 46 acquires the detected temperature T1 of the operation switching unit 40 and operates after a unit time (for example, after 2 seconds). The detected temperature T2 of the switching means 40 is acquired again. And the control means 46 determines whether the temperature change amount (temperature gradient) of T2-T1 is more than the determination change amount t, and unit until the temperature change amount of the ice making chamber 12 becomes the determination change amount t or more. The process of comparing the temperature change amount per time with the determination change amount t is repeated, and the time measured by the time measuring means 42 when the temperature change amount of the ice making chamber 12 becomes equal to or greater than the determination change amount t is the de-icing time β Remember as. The measured deicing time β is used as the first low-temperature supply time in the mode determination in the next deicing operation, as will be described later, and the deicing time β is the start of supplying the melted water. Then, it may be stored as a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value (for example, 2 seconds) from the measured ice-breaking time β so as to be shorter than the time until the ice lump I leaves. It should be noted that an appropriate value may be obtained as the correction value through experiments or the like.

  Here, in the low-temperature mode of another embodiment, the low-temperature total supply time in which the ice pieces adhering to the surface of the water tray 14 can be completely removed by supplying ice-melt water having a water temperature lower than the determination reference temperature ( For example, 90 seconds) R is stored in the control means 46, and the time obtained by subtracting the deicing time β (first low temperature supply time) measured in the deicing determination process from the low temperature total supply time R is the first time. 2 It is used as the supply time at low temperature.

  In another embodiment, when the operation of the automatic ice making machine is started, since an appropriate value of the first low temperature supply time used in the low temperature mode is not known, the initial low temperature supply time γ is the initial value. As a value, γ = 0 is set. In the deicing operation, control is performed in a low temperature mode that differs depending on whether the first low temperature supply time γ is γ = 0 and γ ≠ 0. Specifically, when γ = 0, it is assumed that the melted ice water was supplied to the surface of the water dish at the timing when the ice block I was detached from the ice making chamber 12 during the previous deicing operation, and is supplied at an appropriate first low temperature. In order to obtain time, a process for controlling each mechanism is performed. When γ ≠ 0, the melted water is not supplied to the surface of the water dish at the timing when the ice block I is detached from the ice making chamber 12 in the previous deicing operation. As a thing, the process which controls each mechanism in order to obtain the 1st low temperature supply time according to the actual condition is performed. In the following description, the low temperature mode when γ = 0 is sometimes referred to as the first low temperature mode, and the low temperature mode when γ ≠ 0 is sometimes referred to as the second low temperature mode. Further, in the first low temperature mode, the deicing determination processing is not performed in the previous deicing operation, and an appropriate supply time at the first low temperature is not known. The supply of the melted ice water is performed over the low temperature total supply time R without dividing the supply of water.

  Next, an operation method of the automatic ice maker according to another embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The case where the first low temperature supply time γ is γ = 0 in the previous operation cycle will be described (step C10).

  When the automatic ice maker starts the deicing operation (step C11), the compressor CM is driven, the hot gas valve HV is opened, the ice making chamber 12 is heated, and the open / close motor 24 is driven. The water tray 14 is lowered by the opening / closing mechanism 22. When the standby time elapses from the start of the deicing operation (step C12), the control unit 46 determines whether or not the temperature of the melted ice measured in the initial stage of the ice making operation is lower than the determination reference temperature (step C13). .

(Control in high temperature mode)
If step C13 is negative, the control means 46 controls the deicing operation in the high temperature mode. That is, by controlling the opening of the water supply valve WV in step C14, the supply of the melted water to the surface of the water tray 14 is started. In the high temperature mode, when the time counting means 42 that has started timing by opening control of the water supply valve WV times the supply time at high temperature (step C15), the control means 46 controls the water supply valve WV to close (step C16), and the water tray The supply of melted water to the surface is stopped. Further, the control means 46 stores the value of the first low temperature supply time γ as γ = 0 (step C17). That is, in the high temperature mode, the first low temperature supply time γ is not updated. In addition, when the control in the low temperature mode is performed before the control in the high temperature mode and the value of the first low temperature supply time γ is γ ≠ 0, it is rewritten as γ = 0. When the operation switching means 40 detects the deicing completion temperature (Yes in Step C18), the control means 46 proceeds to Step C19 and starts the ice making operation. The control of each mechanism in the ice making operation is the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

(Control in low temperature mode)
When step C13 is positive, the control means 46 controls the deicing operation in the low temperature mode. In the low temperature mode, in step C20, it is determined whether or not the value of the first low temperature supply time γ is γ = 0. If the step C20 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step C21 and the first The deicing operation is controlled in the low temperature mode. On the other hand, when the said step C20 is negative, it transfers to step C26 and deicing operation is controlled by 2nd low temperature mode.

(Ice-free judgment processing)
Here, the deicing determination process executed in parallel in the deicing operation controlled in the first low temperature mode and the second low temperature mode will be described with reference to FIG. In the deicing determination processing, when the supply of melted water to the surface of the water dish described later is started in each low temperature mode, the control means 46 acquires the detected temperature T1 of the operation switching means 40 and the unit time. When the time has elapsed, the detected temperature T2 of the operation switching means 40 is acquired again (steps D10 to D12). And the control means 46 determines whether the temperature variation | change_quantity of T2-T1 is more than the determination variation | change_quantity t in step D13. If step D13 is negative, steps D10 to D13 are repeated. And if step D13 is affirmed, the control means 46 will be that the temperature change amount of the said time measuring means 42 which started time measurement by the supply start of melted water (opening of the water supply valve WV) is more than the determination change amount t. The measured time at the time of determination is stored as the ice removal time β (step D14).

(Control in the first low temperature mode)
In the first low-temperature mode, the control means 46 controls the opening of the water supply valve WV in step C21 to start the supply of melted water to the surface of the water tray 14. The control means 46 closes the water supply valve WV (step C23) when the time measuring means 42, which has started the time measurement by controlling the opening of the water supply valve WV, measures the low temperature total supply time R (step C22), and the water tray Stop supplying melted water to the surface. Further, the control means 46 stores (rewrites) the deicing time β stored in the deicing determination process as the value of the first low temperature supply time γ (γ = β) (step C24). When the deicing operation proceeds and the operation switching unit 40 detects the deicing completion temperature (Yes in step C25), the control unit 46 proceeds to step C19 and starts the ice making operation.

(Control in the second low temperature mode)
Next, when step C20 is negative, that is, when the value of the first low temperature supply time γ is rewritten to the ice removal time β measured by the ice removal determination process in the previous ice removal operation (γ = β In this case, the control means 46 proceeds to Step C26 and controls the deicing operation in the second low temperature mode. The controller 46 controls the opening of the water supply valve WV in step C26 to start supplying the melted water to the surface of the water tray 14. Then, the time measuring means 42 that has started measuring time by the opening control of the water supply valve WV in step C26 is the first low temperature supply that is the deicing time measured by the previous deicing determination process stored in the control means 46. When the time γ (= β) is timed (step C27), the control means 46 controls to close the water supply valve WV (step C28), and temporarily stops (interrupts) the supply of the melted water to the surface of the water dish. When the deicing operation proceeds and the operation switching means 40 detects the deicing completion temperature (Yes in Step C29), the control means 46 opens the water supply valve WV again (Step C32) and returns to the surface of the water dish. Restart the supply of melted ice water. Also in the second low temperature mode, in the deicing determination process that is executed in parallel with the deicing operation, the time counting that has started to be timed by the start of supply of melted water (opening of the water supply valve WV) in step C26. The control means 46 stores the time measured when the temperature change amount per unit time of the ice making chamber 12 is determined to be equal to or greater than the determination change amount t as the new ice removal time β (step D14). ).

  The time measuring means 42 that has started the time measurement by the opening control of the water supply valve WV in step C30, the second low temperature supply time (R) obtained by the low temperature total supply time R-first low temperature supply time γ (= β). When -β) is counted (step C31), the control means 46 controls the water supply valve WV to close (step C32), and stops the supply of the melted water to the surface of the water dish. Further, the control means 46 updates the deicing time β stored by the deicing determination process in the second low temperature mode as the new first low temperature supply time γ (γ = β) (step C33). ), The ice making operation is started (step C19). In the subsequent deicing operation, when the control in the low temperature mode continues (Yes in Step C13), the result in Step C20 is negative, so the processing in Step C26 to Step C33 is performed, and the second low temperature mode. The value of the first low temperature supply time γ (= β) is updated each time the deicing operation controlled in step 1 is performed.

  According to the operation method of another embodiment, the supply time at the first low temperature and the second low temperature are based on the timing (ice removal time β) at which the ice block I begins to leave the ice making chamber 12 acquired during the operation of the automatic ice making machine. Since the supply time is set, the supply control of the ice melt water in the low temperature mode can be performed according to the actual state of the actual machine, and the ice block I can be prevented from adhering to the ice block I and solidifying in the stocker. In addition, since the value of the first low temperature supply time γ is updated to the deicing time β measured in the deicing determination process for each deicing operation in the low temperature mode, the followability of the temperature change of the melted water is good. Highly accurate ice water control can be performed. Furthermore, since the first low temperature supply time γ (= β) is acquired during the operation of the automatic ice making machine, it is not necessary to perform experiments in advance to acquire the first low temperature supply time, saving labor. it can.

[Example of change]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as follows.
(1) In the embodiment, the temperature of the melted ice water is acquired from the detected temperature of the operation switching means, but the temperature of the melted ice water is acquired from the detected temperature of the sensor that detects the temperature of the condenser and the sensor that detects the outside air temperature. You may do it. Further, the temperature of the melted ice water may be directly detected by a temperature sensor instead of acquiring the temperature of the melted ice water from the temperature of another factor.
(2) In the low temperature mode, after supplying ice melt water for the first low temperature supply time triggered by the start of the deicing operation, the ice melting water supply is stopped until the operation switching means detects the deicing completion temperature. The melted ice water may be supplied for the second low temperature supply time after the ice completion temperature is reached.
(3) The removal time required until the last ice block is released after the first ice block is released from the ice making chamber is experimentally determined. In the low temperature mode, only the supply time at the first low temperature is melted at the start of the deicing operation. After supplying the ice water, the supply of the melted water may be stopped during the detachment time, and the melted water may be supplied for the second low temperature supply time as the detachment time elapses.

(4) In the embodiment, after the supply of the melted water during the second low temperature supply time is stopped, the deicing operation is switched to the ice making operation, but the water tray is moved from the open position to the closed position. When the supply time at the second low temperature is shorter than the required recovery time, the deicing operation can be switched to the ice making operation during the supply of the melted water at the second low temperature supply time.
(5) Regarding the high temperature supply time in the high temperature mode, the relationship between the temperature of the melted ice water and the time during which the ice pieces can be melted and removed from the surface of the water dish is obtained in advance by experiment, and the data in which the relationship is tabulated is stored in advance. You may make it memorize | store in the control means 46 and change the length of the supply time at the time of high temperature according to the temperature of melted ice water.
(6) The temperature of the melted ice is affected by the ambient temperature, and the time from the start of deicing to the start of detachment of ice blocks in the deicing operation may vary depending on the ambient temperature. Therefore, for the first low temperature supply time in the low temperature mode, the relationship between the ambient temperature (melted water temperature) and the time from the start of deicing to the time when the ice block begins to separate is obtained in advance by experiment, and the relationship is tabulated. The data may be stored in the control means 46 in advance, and the length of the first low temperature supply time may be changed according to the ambient temperature (melted water temperature).
(7) In the embodiment, the temperature of the ice making chamber (ice making section) is detected by the operation switching means to switch between the ice making operation and the deicing operation. However, the operation switching means may use a timing means such as a timer. it can. That is, the ice making operation and the deicing operation can be switched by the time measuring means (operation switching means) measuring a preset ice making completion time or deicing completion time.
(8) In the embodiment, the supply of melted water is started after the standby time has elapsed after the operation switching means detects the completion of the ice making operation (detection of the ice making completion temperature). You may make it start supply of melted water simultaneously with the detection of an operation completion.

12 Ice making room (ice making part)
14 Water tray 26 Water supply mechanism 40 Operation switching means (temperature measuring means)
I ice block

Claims (3)

Tilt between an ice making section (12) that defines an ice making chamber (12) that opens downward, a closed position that closes the ice making chamber (12), and an open position that opens the ice making chamber (12) An ice making operation for generating ice blocks (I) in the ice making chamber (12) in a state where the water tray (14) is held in the closed position, and an operation switching means (40) is provided. When the completion of the ice making operation is detected, the water tray (14) is tilted from the closed position to the open position to perform the deicing operation for detaching the ice block (I) from the ice making chamber (12), and the operation switching means (40 In the automatic ice making machine that removes ice adhering to the surface of the water dish by supplying water from the water supply mechanism (26) to the surface of the water dish (14) based on detection of completion of the ice making operation of
When the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism (26) is higher than the determination reference temperature, the water supply mechanism (26) supplies water based on the detection of the completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means (40). The supply of water from the water supply mechanism (26) is started when the high temperature supply time is shorter than the time from the start of the deicing operation until the ice block (I) starts to separate from the ice making chamber (12). Stop,
When the temperature of the water supplied from the water supply mechanism (26) is lower than the determination reference temperature, the water supply mechanism (26) supplies water based on the detection of the completion of the ice making operation by the operation switching means (40). starting from the start of the deicing operation ice blocks (I) is the ice-making chamber (12) with the passage of the short first low temperature feed time than the time until either et away starts to de from the water supply mechanism (26) Water supply is stopped, and water is supplied from the water supply mechanism (26) to the surface of the water dish over the second low temperature supply time after the ice block (I) is detached from the ice making section (12) .
The second low temperature supply time is the first low temperature supply time from the low temperature total supply time that can remove ice adhering to the surface of the water dish when water having a temperature lower than the determination reference temperature is continuously supplied. A method for operating an automatic ice maker, characterized in that the time is set to the remaining time minus time . After water is supplied from the water supply mechanism (26) over the second low temperature supply time after the ice block (I) is detached from the ice making section (12), the operation switching means (40) is deiced. The method of operating an automatic ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein when completion is detected, the water tray (14) is tilted from the open position toward the closed position to switch from the deicing operation to the ice making operation. . In the initial stage of the ice making operation, the temperature is supplied from the water supply mechanism (26) by measuring the temperature of the ice making unit (12) to which water is supplied from the water tray (14) by the operation switching means (40). The temperature of the water to be obtained is indirectly acquired, and the acquired water temperature is compared with the determination reference temperature to determine whether the water temperature is high or low ,
The temperature of the ice making section (12) rises in the deicing operation during the second low temperature supply time with respect to the temperature of the ice making section (12) from which the ice block (I) has been detached by the deicing operation. The temperature obtained by adding the correction value (α) is set as the deicing completion temperature at which the operation switching means (40) detects the completion of the deicing operation, and the temperature of the ice making part (12) becomes the deicing completion temperature. Based on the fact that the operation switching means (40) has detected that is set to tilt the water pan (14) from the open position toward the closed position,
The supply of water from the water supply mechanism (26) after the ice block (I) is detached from the ice making unit (12) is such that the temperature of the ice making unit (12) is changed from the deicing completion temperature to the correction value (α The operation method of the automatic ice maker according to claim 2 , wherein the operation is started when the operation switching means (40) detects that the supply resumption temperature is reduced .

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