Operation - How It Works - Hoshizaki FM-170AFE Service Manual

2. OPERATION - How it works

Potable water flows from the external supply tap and enters the water inlet on the machine,
passes through an electrically operated Water Valve before flowing into the Reservoir Tank.
From the Tank, water flows by gravity into the bottom of the Evaporator to completely surround
the Auger and fill the Evaporator with water to the same level as in the Reservoir Tank.
Water leakage at the bottom of the Evaporator is prevented by the use of a mechanical seal.
The Evaporator serves to change the water into ice by using a heat exchange process in
conjunction with the Compressor/Condenser assembly.
As water is used and turned into ice, the level in the Evaporator and the Reservoir Tank will
fall. At a pre-determined level, a dual action Float Switch fitted to the Reservoir Tank electrically
commands the Water Valve to open and refill the Tank. This system functions therefore to
maintain a constant water level inside the Evaporator assembly.
The Auger, which is located inside the Evaporator is driven by an external Gear Motor
assembly. The rotating Auger carries the ice upwards where it is pressed against the Extruding
Head at the top of the Evaporator to remove excess water, before finally being extruded and
broken into irregular shapes and sizes of ice by the Flake/Nugget Cutter or into cubelet ice.
The continuous flow of ice is then pushed into the Ice Spout and falls by gravity into the Storage
Bin below.
Moving the Operation Switch, located on the Control Box, to the "ON" position starts an
automatic and continuous icemaking process. When the Storage Bin has filled with ice, the
Bin Control Switch, located at the top of the Storage Bin, stops the icemaking process. When
ice is removed from the Storage Bin, the Bin Control Switch will automatically reset and
restart the icemaking process.
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