Ice making system, method, and component apparatus
AssigneeNartron Corporation
InventorsTodd R. Newman, David Shank, Ronald L. Ballast
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ice making machine controller system includes methods and components for making commercial quantities of ice pieces includes adaptive controls responsive to input sensors, output actuators, adaptive ice making control algorithms, adaptive ice harvesting control algorithms, diagnostics for operation cycle monitoring and communicating, and reprogrammable, expanded controller memory for reliable and efficient operation under diverse conditions.
Claims83
A controller system and apparatus for at least one fully automatic electronic-controlled ice making machine comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a controller memory linked for communication with said microprocessor;
- at least one diagnostics program in one of said memory and said microprocessor for determining a response to a plurality of inputs;
- a communication interface;
- a sensor detecting at least one water reservoir temperature and generating a first input to said processor;
- a sensor detecting an amount of ice on ice molds and generating a second input to said processor;
- a sensor detecting harvested ice and generating a third input to said microprocessor;
- a circulator for delivering water over ice making molds at a mass rate significantly greater than the mass rate of ice production, said circulator including at least one water control valve and a pump driven by a motor in said circulator;
- a control for energization of said at least one water control valve in response to a first determined response from said operation diagnostics program;
- a control for energization of said motors in said circulator;
- and
- a control for energization of at least one refrigerant control valve in response to at least one of said first, second and third inputs.
The controller system according to claim 30 wherein said sensor detecting a level of harvested ice includes at least one curtain that swings out of position.
A controller system and apparatus for at least one fully automatic electronic-controlled ice making machine comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a controller memory linked for communication with said microprocessor;
- at least one diagnostics program in one of said memory and said microprocessor for determining a response to a plurality of inputs;
- a communication interface;
- a sensor detecting at least one water reservoir temperature and generating a first input to said processor;
- a sensor detecting an amount of ice on ice molds and generating a second input to said processor;
- a sensor detecting harvested ice and generating a third input to said microprocessor;
- a circulator for delivering refrigerant to ice making molds including at least one pump driven by a motor and a refrigerant control valve;
- a water circulation system for passing water over said ice making molds having at least one water control valve;
- a control for energization of said at least one water control valve in response to a first determined response from said operation diagnostics program;
- a control for energization of said motor in said circulator;
- and
- a control for energization of at least one refrigerant control valve in response to at least one of said first, second and third inputs.
A method for controlling at least one fully automatic electronic-controlled ice making machine comprising:
- detecting a signal calling for ice production;
- determining that the ice bin is not sensed to be full;
- supplying water to fill a water reservoir until determining said water reservoir is at a predetermined level;
- determining if the compressor motor is not already energized, then energizing a refrigeration compressor motor, waiting a preprogrammed, adaptive time delay or until said motor comes up to a preset speed;
- and
- pumping water from said water reservoir to at least one ice mold at a mass flow rate substantially greater than the mass rate of ice production.
The invention as described in claim 71 wherein said shunting comprises shunting refrigerant from the compressor output to the evaporator.
The invention as described in claim 71 wherein said shunting comprises shunting refrigerant from the compressor output to the compressor input.
The invention as described in claim 71 and further comprising deenergizing a compressor motor for a predetermined time duration whereby compressor output pressure is empirically correlated with the time duration after the compressor motor is deenergized.
The invention as described in claim 71 wherein said energizing a refrigeration compressor motor comprises switching a solid state relay energizing a run coil of the compressor motor.
The invention as described in claim 71 wherein said energizing a compressor motor comprises switching a solid state relay energizing a start coil of the compressor motor.
The invention as described in claim 71 and further comprising coupling a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor in series with a start coil of said compressor motor to limit maximum motor start coil temperatures by reducing power applied to said start coil.
The invention as described in claim 71 and comprising switching a solid state switch energizing a fan motor.
The invention as described in claim 72 and comprising sensing ice mold temperature.
The invention as described in claim 76 wherein said refilling comprises adapting the number of times the water reservoir is refilled to the amount of ice produced per ice making cycle.
The invention as described in claim 77 wherein said sensing at least one water quality indicator comprises flowing water through a turbidity sensor.
The invention as described in claim 77 wherein said sensing at least one water quality indicator comprises flowing water past a dielectric property capacitive sensor.
The invention as described in claim 77 wherein said sensing at least one water quality indicator comprises flowing water past an electroconductivity sensor.
The invention as described in claim 78 wherein said sensing completion of ice making comprises sensing of reservoir water level.
The invention as described in claim 78 wherein said sensing completion of ice making comprises sensing of ice thickness on the ice molds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.