An ice maker

Abstract

This invention provides an ice maker, including an ice-making box and a water tank. An ice-making component is correspondingly disposed above the ice-making box, which is located above the water tank. It also includes a lifting drive mechanism, which is tractively connected to the ice-making box. The lifting drive mechanism is used to move the ice-making box up and down so that the ice-making box can access the liquid in the water tank. By moving the ice-making box downwards to below the liquid level in the water tank through the lifting drive mechanism, the liquid in the water tank can naturally enter the ice-making box, thereby enabling the access of the liquid in the water tank. This eliminates the need for a liquid infusion assembly connecting the water tank and the ice-making box, simplifying the structure and effectively solving the problem of cleaning the liquid infusion assembly when making flavored ice.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making technology, and specifically to an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] An ice maker is a refrigeration machine that cools water through an evaporator using a refrigerant in a refrigeration system to produce ice. A typical ice maker includes a casing, a compressor connected within the casing, a condenser, an evaporator, a water tank, an ice-making container, and a water pump. The water pump draws water from the tank into the ice-making container, and the evaporator cools the water in the container to produce ice.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent CN219889818U discloses an ice maker, including an ice storage box; a refrigeration device including an ice-making column located above the ice storage box; an ice-making box disposed above the ice storage box and capable of pivoting relative to the refrigeration device to switch between an ice-making state and an ice-removing state; a water storage box connected to the refrigeration device, the ice-making box being pivotally connected to the water storage box; and a liquid delivery assembly connecting the water storage box and the ice-making box, the liquid delivery assembly further including a liquid delivery pump disposed on a liquid delivery tube. The above-mentioned ice maker requires the liquid delivery pump to draw water from the water storage chamber into the ice-making box, its structure is relatively complex, and the liquid delivery assembly is difficult to clean when using beverage or syrup-based ingredients to make flavored ice.

[0004] Therefore, existing technologies still need to be improved and developed. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an ice maker that addresses the shortcomings and deficiencies of existing technologies.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] This utility model provides an ice maker, including an ice maker and a water tank. An ice-making component is correspondingly arranged above the ice maker, and the ice maker is located above the water tank. It also includes a lifting drive mechanism, which is connected to the ice maker and is used to drive the ice maker to move up and down so that the ice maker can take liquid from the water tank.

[0008] By using a lifting drive mechanism to move the ice-making box downwards to below the liquid level in the water tank, the liquid in the water tank can naturally enter the ice-making box, thus enabling the liquid in the water tank to be used. There is no need to set up an infusion component to connect the water tank and the ice-making box, which simplifies the structure and effectively solves the problem of the infusion component being difficult to clean when making flavored ice.

[0009] According to the above scheme, the ice-making assembly includes an evaporator and multiple ice-making columns, with the multiple ice-making columns disposed on the bottom surface of the evaporator and connected to the evaporator.

[0010] During ice making, an ice maker extends into the ice container and comes into contact with the liquid inside. Energy is transferred between the ice maker and the liquid, causing the liquid inside the ice container to condense into ice and solidify on the ice maker.

[0011] According to the above scheme, the ice-making box has multiple cylindrical grooves that correspond one-to-one with the multiple ice-making columns.

[0012] With the above settings, the cylindrical grooves correspond to the shapes of the corresponding ice-making columns. In this way, each ice-making column only needs to exchange heat with a small amount of liquid in the corresponding cylindrical groove to freeze, which greatly reduces unnecessary cold loss and improves the efficiency of ice making.

[0013] According to the above scheme, the diameter of the cylindrical groove is set to be at least 4 mm larger than the diameter of the bullet-shaped ice block formed on the ice-making column.

[0014] The above settings effectively prevent the formed bullet-shaped ice blocks from sticking to the sidewalls of the cylindrical groove. Understandably, if the user wants to quickly produce single 16mm diameter bullet-shaped ice blocks per round, the diameter of the cylindrical groove should be set to 20mm or more.

[0015] According to the above scheme, the depth of the cylindrical groove is set to be at least 2mm greater than the depth to which the bottom end of the ice-making column extends into the cylindrical groove during ice making.

[0016] By setting the diameter and depth of the cylindrical groove, bullet-shaped ice blocks are prevented from sticking to the sidewalls and bottom of the groove. It is understood that if the bottom of the ice-making column extends 28mm into the cylindrical groove during ice making, then the depth of the cylindrical groove should be set to 30mm or more.

[0017] According to the above scheme, it also includes an ice guide plate and a rotary drive mechanism. The rotary drive mechanism is used to drive the ice guide plate to switch between an ice guiding position and an avoidance position. When the ice guide plate is in the ice guiding position, the ice guide plate is located between the ice making component and the ice making box. When the ice guide plate is in the avoidance position, the ice guide plate will not obstruct the up and down movement of the ice making box.

[0018] When the ice guide plate is in the ice guiding position, ice blocks falling on the ice guide plate can be guided out along the ice guide plate; when the ice guide plate is in the avoidance position, it can prevent the ice guide plate from interfering with the movement path of the ice making box.

[0019] According to the above scheme, it also includes a base plate and a storage refrigerator, wherein the storage refrigerator is placed on the base plate and located in front of the water storage tank; when the ice guide plate is in the ice guide position, the ice guide plate is tilted toward the storage refrigerator.

[0020] The above setup allows ice blocks falling onto the ice guide plate to enter the ice storage refrigerator; by removing the ice storage refrigerator, the ice blocks can be easily retrieved.

[0021] According to the above solution, the lifting drive mechanism includes a slider, and the ice maker is detachably fixed to the slider. This design facilitates the removal of the ice maker for cleaning.

[0022] According to the above scheme, the lifting drive mechanism also includes a lifting telescopic motor, and the output shaft of the lifting telescopic motor is fixedly connected to the slider.

[0023] By controlling the extension and retraction of the output shaft of the lifting and telescopic motor, the slider moves up and down, which in turn moves the ice maker up and down.

[0024] According to the above scheme, it also includes a compressor and a condenser, which are sequentially and cyclically connected together. The refrigerant flows through the compressor and condenser to the ice-making assembly, allowing the ice-making assembly to cool the liquid in the ice container into ice cubes.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0026] This invention features a lifting drive mechanism connected to the ice-making box. The lifting drive mechanism moves the ice-making box up and down so that it can access the liquid in the water tank. By moving the ice-making box downwards to below the liquid level in the water tank, the liquid in the water tank naturally enters the ice-making box, thus enabling access to the liquid in the water tank. This eliminates the need for a liquid infusion assembly connecting the water tank and the ice-making box, simplifying the structure and effectively solving the problem of cleaning the liquid infusion assembly when making flavored ice. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ice guide plate of the ice maker described in this utility model being in an avoidance position;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the ice guide plate of the ice maker described in this utility model in the ice guiding position;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making box described in this utility model.

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Water tank; 2. Ice maker; 21. Cylindrical groove; 3. Ice-making assembly; 31. Evaporator; 32. Ice column; 4. Ice guide plate; 41. Rotary drive mechanism; 5. Base plate; 6. Refrigerator; 7. Compressor; 8. Condenser. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution of this utility model will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] like Figure 1-3 As shown, this utility model provides an ice maker, including a water tank 1 and an ice maker 2. An ice-making component 3 is correspondingly arranged above the ice maker 2, and the ice maker 2 is located above the water tank 1. It also includes a lifting drive mechanism (not shown in the figure), which is connected to the ice maker 2. The lifting drive mechanism is used to drive the ice maker 2 to move up and down so that the ice maker 2 can take liquid from the water tank 1.

[0033] The lifting drive mechanism moves the ice-making box 2 downwards to below the liquid surface of the water tank 1, allowing the liquid in the water tank 1 to naturally enter the ice-making box 2. This enables the liquid in the water tank 1 to be used without the need for an infusion assembly to connect the water tank 1 and the ice-making box 2. This simplifies the structure and effectively solves the problem of cleaning the infusion assembly when making flavored ice.

[0034] Furthermore, the ice-making assembly 3 includes an evaporator 31 and a plurality of ice-making columns 32, the plurality of ice-making columns 32 being disposed on the bottom surface of the evaporator 31 and communicating with the evaporator 31; the ice-making box 2 has a plurality of cylindrical grooves 21 corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of ice-making columns 32.

[0035] During ice making, the ice-making column 32 extends into the ice-making container 2 and comes into contact with the liquid inside. Energy is transferred between the ice-making column 32 and the liquid, causing the liquid in the ice-making container 2 to condense into ice and solidify on the ice-making column 32. The cylindrical groove 21 corresponds to the shape of the corresponding ice-making column 32, so that each ice-making column 32 only needs to exchange heat with a small amount of liquid in its corresponding cylindrical groove 21 to freeze, greatly reducing unnecessary cold loss and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0036] Furthermore, the diameter of the cylindrical groove 21 is set to be at least 4 mm larger than the diameter of the bullet-shaped ice block formed on the ice-making column 32; the depth of the cylindrical groove 21 is set to be at least 2 mm larger than the depth to which the bottom end of the ice-making column 32 extends into the cylindrical groove 21 during ice making. In this embodiment, the user wants to quickly produce a single bullet-shaped ice block with a diameter of 16 mm in each round, so the diameter of the cylindrical groove 21 is set to 22 mm. During ice making, the bottom end of the ice-making column 32 extends into the cylindrical groove 21 to a depth of 28 mm, so the depth of the cylindrical groove 21 is set to 32 mm.

[0037] By setting the diameter and depth dimensions of the cylindrical groove 21, bullet-shaped ice blocks are prevented from sticking to the sidewalls and bottom surface of the cylindrical groove 21.

[0038] Furthermore, it also includes an ice guide plate 4 and a rotary drive mechanism 41. The rotary drive mechanism 41 is used to drive the ice guide plate 4 to switch between an ice guiding position and an avoidance position. When the ice guide plate 4 is in the ice guiding position, the ice guide plate 4 is located between the ice making component 3 and the ice making box 2. When the ice guide plate 4 is in the avoidance position, the ice guide plate 4 will not obstruct the up and down movement of the ice making box 2.

[0039] When the ice guide plate 4 is in the ice guiding position, the ice blocks falling on the ice guide plate 4 can be guided out along the ice guide plate 4; when the ice guide plate 4 is in the avoidance position, it can prevent the ice guide plate 4 from interfering with the movement path of the ice making box 2.

[0040] Furthermore, it also includes a base plate 5 and a refrigerator 6, the refrigerator 6 being placed on the base plate 5 and located in front of the water tank 1; when the ice guide plate 4 is in the ice guide position, the ice guide plate 4 is tilted toward the refrigerator 6.

[0041] With the above settings, the ice blocks falling on the ice guide plate 4 fall into the storage refrigerator 6 through the ice guide plate 4; by removing the storage refrigerator 6, the ice blocks can be easily retrieved.

[0042] Furthermore, the lifting drive mechanism includes a slider and a lifting telescopic motor, and the ice box 2 is detachably fixed to the slider; the output shaft of the lifting telescopic motor is fixedly connected to the slider.

[0043] By controlling the extension and retraction of the output shaft of the lifting and telescopic motor, the slider moves up and down, thereby moving the ice maker 2 up and down. The ice maker 2 is detachably fixed to the slider, making it easy to remove the ice maker 2 for cleaning.

[0044] Furthermore, it also includes a compressor 7 and a condenser 8, which are sequentially and cyclically connected to the ice-making assembly 3. The refrigerant flows through the compressor 7 and condenser 8 into the ice-making assembly 3, allowing the ice-making assembly 3 to cool the liquid in the ice-making box 2 into ice cubes.

[0045] When using the ice maker described in this utility model, a certain amount of liquid (which can be pure water or liquid needed to make flavored ice) is added to the water tank 1. The ice guide plate 4 is rotated to a clearance position by the rotary drive mechanism 41. Then, the output shaft of the lifting and telescopic motor is extended downward, thereby moving the ice maker 2 downward until it is below the liquid surface in the water tank 1. The liquid in the water tank 1 naturally enters the cylindrical groove 21 on the ice maker 2 until it is full. The output shaft of the lifting and telescopic motor is retracted upward, thereby moving the ice maker 2 upward until the ice column 32 extends into the cylindrical groove 21. At this time, the overflowing liquid falls back into the water tank 1. The compressor 7 and condenser 8 are turned on, and the refrigerant flows through the compressor 7, condenser 8 and evaporator 31 to... The ice column 32 cools the liquid in the cylindrical groove 21, causing the liquid to form bullet-shaped ice blocks on the ice column 32. After ice making is completed, the compressor 7 and condenser 8 are turned off. Then, the output shaft of the lifting and telescopic motor is controlled to extend downward, thereby moving the ice box 2 downward to be immersed below the liquid surface of the water tank 1 to prepare for the next ice making. The rotating drive mechanism 41 drives the ice guide plate 4 to rotate to the ice guide position. At this time, the ice guide plate 4 is located between the ice making component 3 and the ice box 2 and is tilted towards the refrigerator 6. The bullet-shaped ice blocks on the ice column 32 fall onto the ice guide plate 4 under the action of gravity and fall into the refrigerator 6 along the ice guide plate 4. After all the bullet-shaped ice blocks on the ice column 32 have fallen off, the refrigerator 6 is taken out and the bullet-shaped ice blocks can be used.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. Therefore, all equivalent changes or modifications made to the structure, features and principles described in the claims of the present utility model patent application are included in the scope of the present utility model patent application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising a water tank (1) and an ice-making container (2), wherein an ice-making assembly (3) is correspondingly disposed above the ice-making container (2), and the ice-making container (2) is disposed above the water tank (1), characterized in that, It also includes a lifting drive mechanism, which is connected to the ice box (2) for transmission. The lifting drive mechanism is used to drive the ice box (2) to move up and down so that the ice box (2) can take liquid from the water tank (1).

2. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein, The ice-making assembly (3) includes an evaporator (31) and a plurality of ice-making columns (32), the plurality of ice-making columns (32) being disposed on the bottom surface of the evaporator (31) and communicating with the evaporator (31).

3. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein, The ice box (2) has a plurality of cylindrical grooves (21) that correspond one-to-one with the plurality of ice columns (32).

4. The ice maker of claim 3, wherein, The diameter of the cylindrical groove (21) is set to be at least 4 mm larger than the diameter of the bullet-shaped ice block formed on the ice column (32).

5. The ice maker of claim 4, wherein, The depth of the cylindrical groove (21) is set to be at least 2 mm greater than the depth to which the bottom end of the ice-making column (32) extends into the cylindrical groove (21) during ice making.

6. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein, It also includes an ice guide plate (4) and a rotary drive mechanism (41), the rotary drive mechanism (41) being used to drive the ice guide plate (4) to switch between an ice guiding position and an avoidance position; When the ice guide plate (4) is in the ice guiding position, the ice guide plate (4) is located between the ice making component (3) and the ice making box (2); when the ice guide plate (4) is in the avoidance position, the ice guide plate (4) will not block the ice making box (2) from moving up and down.

7. The ice maker of claim 6, wherein, It also includes a base plate (5) and a refrigerator (6), the refrigerator (6) being placed on the base plate (5) and located in front of the water tank (1); When the ice guide plate (4) is in the ice guiding position, the ice guide plate (4) is tilted toward the refrigerator (6).

8. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein, The lifting drive mechanism includes a slider, and the ice box (2) is detachably fixed on the slider.

9. The ice maker according to claim 8, characterized in that, The lifting drive mechanism also includes a lifting telescopic motor, the output shaft of which is fixedly connected to the slider.

10. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a compressor (7) and a condenser (8), which are connected in a cycle.

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