Ice producing machine and method with gear motor monitoring
AssigneeScotsman Ice Systems
InventorsTim Bethuy, Randy Brian Palm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice producing machine that has a cylindrical evaporator, a compressor that circulates refrigerant supplied to the evaporator, an auger that removes ice from the evaporator and an ice bin for holding the ice. Potential damage to the machine that might result from abnormal loading of the motor that drive the auger is prevented by monitoring the motor current and turning off the motor and compressor before abnormal loading can cause damage. False ice bin not full interpretations are avoided by setting the threshold of a light detector that senses whether the ice bin is full or not full to slightly less than the voltage developed by the light detector when subjected to ambient light only.
Claims25
A method of controlling an ice producing machine that has a compressor, an evaporator, an auger that removes ice from the evaporator and a motor that drives the auger, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a parameter proportional to current flow through said motor;
- (b) if said parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, turning said motor off;
- (c) if said parameter exceeds said predetermined threshold, turning said compressor off;
- (d) if said parameter is below said predetermined threshold, performing normal ice making operations;
- and
- (e) subsequent to step (b) and after a predetermined time, turning said motor on;
- and (f) repeating steps (a), (b) and (e) until either step (d) is performed or step (e) is performed a predetermined number of times without step (d) being performed.
An ice producing machine that has a compressor, an evaporator, an auger that removes ice from said evaporator and a motor that drives said auger, said machine comprising:
- a microprocessor for controlling said evaporator, said compressor, said auger and said motor to perform an ice making operation;
- first means for performing a first operation that provides a parameter proportional to current flow through said motor;
- second means for performing a second operation that, if said parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, turns said motor off;
- third means for performing a third operation that, if said parameter exceeds said predetermined threshold, turns said compressor off;
- fourth means for performing a fourth operation that, if said parameter is below said predetermined threshold, performs said ice making operation;
- and
- fifth means for performing a fifth operation that a predetermined time after the second operation is performed turns said motor on;
- and
- wherein said first, second and fifth means repeat said first, second and fifth operations, respectively, until either said fourth means performs said fourth operation or said fifth means performs said fifth operation a predetermined number of times without said fourth means performing said fourth operation.
A method of controlling an ice producing machine that has a compressor, an evaporator, an auger that removes ice from said evaporator, a motor that drives said auger and an ice bin, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a parameter proportional to current flow through said motor;
- (b) if said parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, turning said motor off;
- (c) if said parameter exceeds said predetermined threshold, turning said compressor off;
- (d) if said parameter is below said predetermined threshold, performing a normal ice making operation, and wherein said normal ice making operation includes the steps of:
- (d1) providing an ambient light voltage proportional to ambient light incident on a light detector that detects whether said ice bin is full of ice;
- and
- (d2) setting a threshold for said light detector that is greater than 50% of said ambient light voltage.
An ice producing machine that has a compressor, an evaporator, an auger that removes ice from said evaporator and a motor that drives said auger, said machine comprising:
- a microprocessor for controlling said evaporator, said compressor, said auger and said motor to perform an ice making operation;
- light detecting means that provides an ambient light voltage proportional to ambient light in said ice bin;
- first means for performing a first operation that provides a parameter proportional to current flow through said motor;
- second means for performing a second operation that, if said parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, turns said motor off;
- third means for performing a third second operation that, if said parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold, turns said compressor off;
- fourth means for performing a fourth operation that, if said parameter is below said predetermined threshold, performs said ice making operation;
- and
- wherein said fourth means includes a threshold setting means that responds to said ambient light voltage to establish a threshold for said light detecting means that is greater than 50% of said ambient light voltage.
A method of controlling an ice producing machine that has an ice making assembly, an ice bin and a light detector for said ice bin that detects whether the ice bin is full or not full of ice, aid method comprising:
- (a) providing an ambient light voltage proportional to ambient light incident on said light detector;
- and
- (b) setting a threshold for said light detector that is greater than 50% of said ambient light voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.