Ice making machine

Abstract

Provided is a device for cooling a condenser of an ice making machine. Water and air are simultaneously supplied to the surface of the condenser, and heat of vaporization absorbed during evaporation of the water is used, thereby maximizing cooling performance on the condenser just with a small amount of water. In addition, power consumption for operating a blower fan, and a noise from the blower fan can be decreased. In addition, since cool water generated from ice stored in a storing compartment is sprinkled to the condenser, the condenser can be more effectively cooled. In addition, since meltwater is used, water consumption for cooling can be significantly reduced.

1 . An ice making machine comprising:
 an ice making compartment accommodating an ice making unit for making ice, and storing the ice;   a machine compartment disposed under the ice making compartment, and accommodating a cool air generating unit including a compressor, a condenser, and a blower fan;   a water collecting plate disposed between the ice making compartment and the machine compartment, and collecting water generated from ice melted in the ice making compartment;   a sprinkling barrel disposed over the condenser, and communicating with the water collecting plate to sprinkle cooling water to the condenser; and   the blower fan forcibly moving air for cooling the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the water collecting plate is provided with a discharge tube for discharging water collected in the sprinkling barrel, and
 the discharge tube is provided with a valve for selectively discharging the collected water.   
     
     
         3 . The ice making machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sprinkling barrel is provided with a level sensor that measures a level of water in the sprinkling barrel to open and close the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a water collecting barrel is disposed under the condenser to store water flowing along an outer surface of the condenser. 
     
     
         5 . The ice making machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the water collecting barrel is provided with a discharge tube for discharging the stored water. 
     
     
         6 . The ice making machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the water collecting barrel is provided with a level sensor, and
 the discharge tube is provided with a valve that is opened and closed by the level sensor to selectively discharge the water from the water collecting barrel.   
     
     
         7 . The ice making machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the water collecting barrel is connected to the sprinkling barrel through a circulation tube, and
 the circulation tube is provided with a circulation pump.   
     
     
         8 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkling barrel has a length corresponding to a width of the condenser, and is disposed on a vertical upper side of the condenser. 
     
     
         9 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkling barrel includes holes that are arrayed in a width direction of the condenser to sprinkle water to an outer surface of the condenser. 
     
     
         10 . The ice making machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the blower fan operates when the valve is opened. 
     
     
         11 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkling barrel is disposed at a position that is horizontally spaced apart from a vertical upper side of the condenser. 
     
     
         12 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkling barrel is opposite to the blower fan with respect to the condenser. 
     
     
         13 . The ice making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the condenser comprises a refrigerant tube that has a vertical long oval shape in a cross-section thereof.