Nugget ice maker control method

Abstract

A control method for a nugget ice maker includes setting the nugget ice maker to an ice formation operating state, monitoring a speed of a motor in the ice formation operating state, and switching the nugget ice maker from the ice formation operating state to an ice production operating state in response to the monitored speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state dropping below an ice formation speed threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control method for a nugget ice maker, comprising:
 setting the nugget ice maker to an ice formation operating state;   operating a motor of the nugget ice maker to rotate an auger within a casing of the nugget ice maker in the ice formation operating state;   monitoring a speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state; and   switching the nugget ice maker from the ice formation operating state to an ice production operating state in response to the monitored speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state dropping below an ice formation speed threshold; and   operating the motor to rotate the auger within the casing in the ice production operating state,   wherein an average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state is less than the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state.   
     
     
         2 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state to the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state is no less than seventy hundredths and no greater than seventy-five hundredths. 
     
     
         3 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state is about two and three-quarters of rotations per minute, and the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state is about two rotations per minute. 
     
     
         4 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the ice formation speed threshold is about two and one-fifth rotations per minute. 
     
     
         5 . The control method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a temperature within the casing in the ice production operating state;   monitoring the speed of the motor in the ice production operating state;   switching the nugget ice maker from the ice production operating state to a fix operating state in response to one or both of the monitored temperature within the casing in the ice production operating state dropping below an ice production temperature threshold and the monitored speed of the motor in the ice production operating state dropping below an ice production speed threshold;   deactivating the motor in the fix operating state; and   operating a heater of the nugget ice maker to increase the temperature within the casing in the fix operating state.   
     
     
         6 . The control method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 operating a fan to circulate chilled air within the casing in the ice formation operating state and in ice production operating state; and   deactivating the fan in the fix operating state.   
     
     
         7 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the nugget ice maker is an air-cooled nugget ice maker. 
     
     
         8 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein the nugget ice maker is a refrigerant-cooled nugget ice maker. 
     
     
         9 . A nugget ice maker control unit configured to implement the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A control method for a nugget ice maker, comprising:
 setting the nugget ice maker to an ice formation operating state;   operating a motor of the nugget ice maker to rotate an auger within a casing of the nugget ice maker in the ice formation operating state;   monitoring a speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state;   switching the nugget ice maker from the ice formation operating state to an ice production operating state in response to the monitored speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state dropping below an ice formation speed threshold;   operating the motor to rotate the auger within the casing in the ice production operating state; and   monitoring a temperature within the casing in the ice production operating state,   wherein the ice formation speed threshold is about two and one-fifth rotations per minute.   
     
     
         11 . The control method of  claim 10 , wherein an average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state is less than the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state. 
     
     
         12 . The control method of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of the average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state to the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state is no less than seventy hundredths and no greater than seventy-five hundredths. 
     
     
         13 . The control method of  claim 11 , wherein the average speed of the motor in the ice production operating state is about two and three-quarters of rotations per minute, and the average speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state is about two rotations per minute. 
     
     
         14 . The control method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 monitoring the speed of the motor in the ice production operating state;   switching the nugget ice maker from the ice production operating state to a fix operating state in response to one or both of the monitored temperature in the ice production operating state within the casing dropping below an ice production temperature threshold and the monitored speed of the motor in the ice production operating state dropping below an ice production speed threshold;   deactivating the motor in the fix operating state; and   operating a heater of the nugget ice maker to increase the temperature within the casing in the fix operating state.   
     
     
         15 . The control method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 operating a fan to circulate chilled air within the casing in the ice formation operating state and in ice production operating state; and   deactivating the fan in the fix operating state.   
     
     
         16 . The control method of  claim 10 , wherein the nugget ice maker is an air-cooled nugget ice maker. 
     
     
         17 . The control method of  claim 10 , wherein the nugget ice maker is a refrigerant-cooled nugget ice maker.