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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.