Abstract:
The disclosure shows a device and method for automating the cleaning/sanitizing of the water and ice making system on a blended ice machine. The method eliminates the need to disassemble the unit in order to gain system access points to introduce cleaning and or sanitizing solutions. The method also automates the sequence of events required to insure cleaning is done according to a proven method.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/579,431, filed on Dec. 22, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to a method and device for cleaning an ice making machine and, in particular, a blended ice making machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The closed water supply system of a blended ice machine may contain ice making, rinsing and water dispensing sub-systems that require periodic cleaning, de-scaling and sanitizing. These systems normally require the disassembly of components in order to perform the required tasks to properly clean and sanitize the system. 
     There is a need for cleaning a blended ice making machine without disassembling components of the machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A blended ice making machine according to the present disclosure comprises a gas inlet, a water inlet, a refrigerant circuit, and a cleaning device. The refrigerant circuit comprises an evaporator and a water circuit. The water circuit comprises a water reservoir, a drain pan and connections that interconnect the water reservoir, the drain pan and the water inlet to provide water to the evaporator. The cleaning device comprises a gas driven pump and a source of cleansing liquid and connections that connect the gas driven pump and the source of cleansing liquid to the water inlet to provide the cleansing liquid to the water circuit. A controller activates a cleaning sequence through a user-interface that prompts the user to perform a series of steps. The controller also controls the flow of the cleansing liquid from the source of cleansing liquid through the water circuit and the refrigerant circuit to clean and purge the water circuit and the refrigerant circuit. 
     In one embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure, the ice machine comprises a refrigerant circuit, a water circuit interconnected with the refrigerant circuit and a cleaning device that comprises a pump. A controller (a) activates a cleaning operation through a user-interface, (b) prompts a user to perform one or more of a series of steps of the cleaning operation and (c) controls the pump to provide a cleansing liquid through the water circuit to clean and purge the water circuit and the refrigerant circuit. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure, an ice bin is provided. One of the steps prompts the user to remove ice from the ice bin. The cleansing liquid is provided to the ice bin after the ice is removed. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure connections connect the water circuit and the ice bin with the cleaning device and one or more valves that the controller controls to provide the cleansing liquid to the water circuit and the ice bin. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure the controller during the cleaning operation further controls the refrigerant circuit to make ice with the cleansing liquid for a predetermined time. The series of steps comprise (a) connecting and disconnecting of the cleaning device and the water circuit with the water source, connecting and disconnecting the ice bin with the cleaning device, the water inlet and the gas inlet, (b) draining or purging of water from the water circuit, and (c) removing from the ice bin any ice made during the predetermined time. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure one of the steps prompts the user to provide a supply of the cleansing liquid to be pumped by the pump to the water circuit. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure the cleaning device has a location selected from the group consisting of: inside the ice making machine and outside the ice making machine. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure the cleansing liquid is selected from the group consisting of: a descaler, sanitizer, wash solution and clean water and a combination thereof. 
     In one embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, an ice machine that comprises a refrigerant circuit and a water circuit interconnected with the refrigerant circuit, the method comprises: 
     activating a cleaning operation through a user-interface; prompting a user to perform one or more of a series of steps of the cleaning operation; and 
     controlling a pump to provide a cleansing liquid through the water circuit to clean and purge the water circuit and the refrigerant circuit. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the ice making machine further comprises an ice bin, and the method further comprises: 
     prompting the user with one of the steps to remove ice from the ice bin; and 
     providing the cleansing liquid to the ice bin after the ice is removed. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the ice making machine further comprises an ice bin. The method further comprises: 
     prompting the user with one of the steps to remove ice from the ice bin, and 
     providing the cleansing liquid to the ice bin after the ice is removed. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the method further comprises: 
     controlling one or more connections that connect the water circuit and the ice bin with the cleaning device and one or more valves to provide the cleansing liquid to the water circuit and the ice bin. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the method further comprises: 
     during the cleaning operation further controlling the refrigerant circuit to make ice with the cleansing liquid for a predetermined time; 
     connecting and disconnecting of the cleaning device and the water circuit with the water source; 
     connecting and disconnecting the ice bin with the cleaning device, the water inlet; 
     draining or purging of water from the water circuit; and 
     removing from the ice bin any ice made during the predetermined time. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, one of the steps prompts the user to provide a supply of the cleansing liquid to be pumped by the pump to the water circuit. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the cleansing liquid is selected from the group consisting of: a descaler, sanitizer, wash solution and clean water and a combination thereof. 
     In another embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the method further comprises: presenting on a display of the user interface messages corresponding to the steps. 
     In another embodiment of the ice machine according to the present disclosure, the user interface comprises a display and the controller presents on the display messages corresponding to the steps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a blended ice machine with a cleaning device according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the controller and control panel of the blended ice machine with cleaning device of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the blended ice machine. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     It is contemplated that the device and method of the present disclosure can be implemented in a standalone ice making machine or in any machine that requires ice making. By way of example, the device and method of the present disclosure will be described herein for a blended ice making machine in which an ice making capability is implemented in a beverage blending machine. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a blended ice machine  20  comprises a refrigerant circuit  22 , a water circuit  50 , a cleaning device  80  and an ice bin  76 . Refrigerant circuit  22  comprises a compressor  24 , a pressure switch  25 , a condenser  26 , a drier  32 , an expansion valve  36  and an evaporator  38  interconnected by piping  40  as shown. A motor  30  drives a fan  28  to provide cooling air to condenser  26 . 
     Water circuit  50  comprises a water reservoir  52 , a water inlet  54 , a control valve  56 , a float switch  58 , an overflow pipe  60  and a drain pan  64 . A connection  71  connects a water supply  74  to water inlet  54  via a valve  73 . Valve  73  is open during an ice making operation to provide water to water circuit  50  for making ice. Valve  73  is closed during cleaning operations. 
     A gas inlet  70  is connectable to a source  72  of pressurized gas such as air or carbon dioxide. 
     Cleaning device  80  is connectable via connection  92  and connection  71  to water inlet  54  to clean the water circuit components and evaporator  38  with a cleansing liquid  98 . A valve  75  is disposed in connection  92  and is open during cleaning operations and closed during ice making operations. 
     Cleansing liquid  98  may comprise a cleaning, sanitizing or a rinsing solution. For example, cleansing liquid  98  may contain a descaler, sanitizer, wash solution, clean water, or any other fluid used to remove contaminates. The cleansing liquid may also be a combination of any of these fluids. 
     Cleaning device  80  comprises a gas driven liquid or beverage pump  86  having a gas inlet  94 , a liquid inlet  96  and a liquid outlet  93 . An air pressure regulator  84  is connected via a connection  85  to gas input  94  of pump  86 . Air regulator  84  is connected via connection  83  to a gas inlet  82  to receive pressurized gas from gas source  72 . Liquid inlet  96  is connected directly to a hose  90 , which can be connected directly to or submerged into a container  95  that holds cleansing liquid  98 , which is capable of cleaning, sanitizing or rinsing. Liquid outlet  93  is connected via connection  92  and valve  75  to water inlet  54  of blended ice machine  20 . Connection  92  may be a hose with a quick connected or other connection directly to water inlet  54 . Connections  71 ,  79 ,  83 ,  85  and  92  may be conduits made of a suitable material, e.g., metal, plastic, rubber and the like. 
     A controller  100  controls refrigerant circuit  22  and water circuit  50  to make ice for storage in ice bin  76 . Controller  100  also controls cleaning device  80  to provide a pressurized flow of cleansing liquid for in-place cleaning, sanitizing and rinsing of water circuit  50 , refrigerant circuit  50  and ice bin  76 . A control panel  120  allows a user to interact with blended ice machine  20  to initiate the cleaning sequence. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , controller  100  comprises a processor  102 , an Input/Output (/O) interface  104  and a memory  106  interconnected via a bus  108 . I/O interface  100  is connected to control panel  120  and to various components of blended ice making machine  20  for making ice. A cleaning program  110  is stored within memory  106 . Processor  102  executes cleaning program  110  for cleaning water circuit  50  of blended ice making machine. 
     The execution of cleaning program  110  provides a method of several steps that interactively with a user introduces the cleansing liquid  98  for cleaning, sanitizing and/or rinsing water circuit  50  and refrigerant circuit  22  and then flushes cleansing liquid  98  from water circuit  50  and refrigerant circuit  22  in order to resume normal ice making, rinsing and dispensing functions. The method is accomplished in conjunction with user interface  120 , which comprises a user entry location  122  and a display  130 . In some embodiments, the user entry may be by touch screen activators on display screen  130 . 
     Cleaning program  110  provides a series of messages on display  130  that require user interaction and/or other action. For example, the messages can be presented sequentially on a single screen or on sequentially presented screens or one or more on sequentially presented screens. The cleaning method can be activated by the user entering a command or activating a cleaning button (not shown) in user entry location  122 . Alternately, cleaning program  110  can initiate the method with a message on display  130  that prompts the user to activate the cleaning method from user entry location  122 . For a preferred embodiment, an exemplary series of messages is set forth below, which are presented in an area  136  of display  130  by controller  100  after initiation of a cleaning operation.
         1. Message 1: Prompt the user to disconnect water inlet  54  from water supply  74  and gas inlet  70  from gas source  72 . When this has been accomplished, the user can enter a done confirmation from user interface  120  and/or controller  100  can sense the disconnection of water inlet  54  and gas inlet  70 .   2. Message 2. Prompt the user to drain water reservoir  52 , which may be done by either user operation or solenoid activation of flush water valve  62 . In either case, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that water has been drained from water reservoir  52 .   3, Message 3: Prompt the user to connect outlet  93  of pump  86  to water inlet  54  of water circuit  50  with hose  92 . When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that the connection has been achieved.   4. Message 4: Prompt the user to insert hose  90  into cleansing liquid  98 . When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that hose  90  is submerged in cleansing liquid  98 .   5. Message 5: Prompt the user to connect gas inlet  82  to gas source  72  and pump device  86  via regulator  84 . When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that the connection has been achieved.   6. Message 6: Informs the user that controller  100  is operating blended ice machine  20  to make ice for a predetermined time interval. The time interval is predetermined to successfully clean and/or sanitize the ice machine. During this time interval dispense and rinse functions may be activated to flow the cleansing solution through water circuit  50  to cleanse, sanitize and/or rinse water reservoir  52 , evaporator  38  drain pan  64  and purge the lines that interconnect these components.   7. Message 7: Prompt the user to disconnect gas inlet  82  from gas source  72  and then disconnect hose  92  from water inlet  54 . When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that these actions have been achieved.   8. Message 8: Prompt the user through user interface  120 , to dispense and dispose of the ice made during step  7  from an ice bin (not shown). When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that this action has been taken.   9. Message 9: Prompt the user to reconnect water inlet  54  to water supply  74  and gas inlet  70  to gas source  72 . When done, the user may enter from user interface  120  a done confirmation that this action has been taken. Then controller  100  may resume ice making operation.       

     In an alternate embodiment, controller  100  may execute a cleaning cycle by controlling appropriate valves, e.g., valves  73 ,  75  and  77 , the connections  71 ,  79  and  92  of pump  86  with water circuit  50  and ice bin  76  to provide appropriate cleansing liquid to clean, descale and or rinse them. In this embodiment the series of messages would be mostly informative with one or more that require active participation by the user. For example, the user would be prompted to fill bucket  95  with an appropriate cleaning fluid prior to a cleaning mode and to empty it at the conclusion of the cleaning mode and to remove ice from the ice bin. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in another alternate embodiment, cleaning device  80  is located within blended ice making machine  20 . Bucket  95  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) may be located either outside or inside blended ice making machine  20 . 
     The present disclosure having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.