An ice maker and a refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses an ice maker and a refrigerator. The ice maker comprises an ice making mechanism, a first ice storage box and an ice transporting mechanism. The ice making mechanism is used for making and outputting ice cubes. The first ice storage box is used for storing the ice cubes. The ice transporting mechanism comprises a first driving assembly, a carrier and an ice blocking member. The first driving assembly drives the carrier to move between the ice making mechanism and the first ice storage box, so that the carrier carries the ice cubes output by the ice making mechanism and transports the ice cubes to the first ice storage box. The carrier is provided with a first ice outlet for discharging the carried ice cubes. The ice blocking member is movably connected with the carrier to open or close the first ice outlet. The ice maker can prevent the ice cubes from falling during the transportation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of home appliances, and in particular relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerators are common household appliances used in daily life, mainly for keeping fruits, vegetables and other foods fresh at low temperatures.

[0003] In related technologies, refrigerators also include ice makers to produce ice for users. The ice produced by the ice maker often needs to be transported through multiple mechanisms to reach the user. However, ice cubes are prone to accidentally falling during transport within the ice maker, thus affecting the user's normal ice-retrieving process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an ice maker and a refrigerator, which makes it less likely for ice cubes to fall accidentally during the transport process within the ice maker.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an ice maker, comprising:

[0006] An ice-making machine, used to produce and output ice blocks;

[0007] The first ice storage box is used to store ice; and

[0008] An ice transport mechanism includes a first drive assembly, a carrier, and an ice-blocking component. The first drive assembly drives the carrier to move between the ice-making mechanism and the first ice storage box, so that the carrier carries the ice blocks output by the ice-making mechanism and transports them to the first ice storage box. The carrier is provided with a first ice outlet for discharging the ice blocks it carries. The ice-blocking component is movably connected to the carrier to open or close the first ice outlet.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a refrigerator, including an ice maker as described above.

[0010] In this embodiment, the ice transport mechanism opens or closes the first ice outlet of the vehicle by means of an ice-blocking component. During the transportation of ice blocks, the first ice outlet can be closed by the ice-blocking component to prevent the ice blocks carried on the vehicle from falling off accidentally. The first ice outlet can also be opened when the vehicle needs to output ice blocks to the first ice storage box, so that the ice blocks of the ice transport mechanism are less likely to fall off accidentally during the transportation operation. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The technical solution and its beneficial effects will become apparent from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of this application, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The refrigerator shown is a cross-sectional view along the AA direction.

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of some parts of the ice maker.

[0015] Figure 4 for Figure 3 The diagram shows the ice conveying mechanism of the ice maker moving to different positions on the casing.

[0016] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first ice storage box of the ice maker shown.

[0017] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the carrier of the ice maker shown.

[0018] Figure 7 for Figure 2 The image shows an exploded view of the ice conveying mechanism and part of the casing of the ice maker.

[0019] Figure 8 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the water supply device for the ice maker shown.

[0020] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the water tank of the water supply device shown.

[0021] Figure 10 for Figure 8 The diagram shows the installation structure of the first water pipe on the outer surface of the tank.

[0022] Figure 11 for Figure 3 An exploded view of the outer casing of the ice maker shown.

[0023] Figure 12 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part X of the ice maker shown.

[0024] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A schematic diagram of some parts of the dispenser of the ice maker shown.

[0025] Figure 14 for Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of some parts of the dispenser along the CC direction.

[0026] Figure 15 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the refrigerator along the BB direction. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] This application provides an ice maker, which can be used in refrigerators, other household appliances, or industrial equipment. The ice maker can also be used independently; this application does not limit its use in this regard. Taking the ice maker's application in a refrigerator as an example, the refrigerator can be a double-door refrigerator, a single-door refrigerator, or a three-door refrigerator; this application does not limit its use in this regard.

[0029] Below, we will take the application of an ice maker to a refrigerator as an example to give a general explanation and description of the refrigerator.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 for Figure 1 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator along the AA direction. The refrigerator may include a body 100 and a door 200. The body 100 has refrigeration compartments 11, such as a freezer compartment 111, a refrigerator compartment 112, or a wide-range variable temperature compartment. The door 200 is rotatably mounted on the body 100 to open or close the refrigeration compartments 11. In this case, the ice maker 300 may be located inside the refrigeration compartment 11, or it may be located on the door 200. Alternatively, the ice maker 300 may be partially located inside the refrigeration compartment 11 and partially located on the door 200. Of course, the ice maker 300 may also be externally located on the surface of the body 100; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0031] Below, we will continue to provide examples of some structures of the ice maker 300 in the embodiments of this application to further explain and illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 for Figure 2The diagram shows a partial structural diagram of an ice maker. The ice maker 300 may include an ice-making mechanism 31, a first ice storage box 32, and an ice-transporting mechanism 33. The ice-making mechanism 31 is used to produce and output ice cubes. The first ice storage box 32 is used to store ice cubes. The ice-transporting mechanism 33 includes a first drive assembly 331, a carrier 332, and an ice-blocking member 333. The first drive assembly 331 drives the carrier 332 to move between the ice-making mechanism 31 and the first ice storage box 32, so that the carrier 332 carries the ice cubes output by the ice-making mechanism 31 and transports them to the first ice storage box 32. The carrier 332 has a first ice outlet 3321 for discharging the carried ice cubes. The ice-blocking member 333 is movably connected to the carrier 332 to open or close the first ice outlet 3321.

[0033] Understandably, by transferring the ice blocks output from the ice-making mechanism 31 through the ice-transporting mechanism 33, the placement of the first ice storage box 32 becomes more flexible, allowing the various components within the ice maker 300 to be arranged more flexibly according to actual needs. Furthermore, the ice-transporting mechanism 33 carries the ice blocks via the carrier 332, and the ice-blocking component 333 opens or closes the carrier 332. During the transport of ice blocks by the carrier 332, the ice-blocking component 333 can close the first ice outlet 3321 to prevent the ice blocks carried on the carrier 332 from accidentally falling off. Conversely, when the carrier 332 needs to output ice blocks to the first ice storage box 32, the ice-blocking component 333 opens the first ice outlet 3321, making the ice transport operation of the ice-transporting mechanism 33 more stable and reliable.

[0034] For example, the ice-blocking component 333 can be configured such that when the vehicle 332 is located at the first ice storage box 32, the ice-blocking component 333 moves to open the first ice outlet 3321. When the vehicle 332 moves away from the first ice storage box 32, the ice-blocking component 333 moves to close the first ice outlet 3321. Thus, on the one hand, during the movement of the vehicle 332 towards the first ice storage box 32, the ice-blocking component 333 can close the first ice outlet 3321 to prevent the ice blocks carried on the vehicle 332 from accidentally falling; on the other hand, when the vehicle 332 moves to the first ice storage box 32, the ice-blocking component 333 can open the first ice outlet 3321 so that the ice blocks in the vehicle 332 can be output into the first ice storage box 32.

[0035] The ice-blocking component 333 and the carrier 332 can be slidably connected in various ways. For example, the ice-blocking component 333 and the carrier 332 can be slidably connected, or they can be rotatably connected. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0036] Taking the sliding connection between the ice-blocking component 333 and the carrier 332 as an example, the ice-blocking component 333 can be slidably installed on the carrier 332 along a first direction, which is parallel to the direction of the ice-making mechanism 31 toward the first ice storage box 32. Taking the first direction as a vertical direction as an example, the ice-making mechanism 31 and the first ice storage box 32 cause the ice maker 300 to occupy a large space in the vertical direction. In this case, the ice-blocking component 333 can be slidably installed on the carrier 332 in the vertical direction, which can make reasonable use of the space occupied by the ice maker 300 in the vertical direction, so that the ice maker 300 can be made narrower in the horizontal direction. Alternatively, when the width of the ice maker 300 in the horizontal direction is fixed, the ice-blocking component 333 can be slidably installed on the carrier 332 in the vertical direction, so that the width of the first ice storage box 32 can be made larger to increase its own volume. Of course, the first direction can also be a horizontal direction, or the first direction can be inclined to the vertical direction. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 for Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the movement of the ice conveying mechanism of the ice maker to different positions on the housing. The ice-blocking component 333 may include a blocking portion 3331 and a sliding portion 3332. The blocking portion 3331 is used to open or close the first ice outlet 3321. Each end of the blocking portion 3331 is provided with a sliding portion 3332, which is slidably connected to the carrier 332, allowing the blocking portion 3331 to slide to open or close the first ice outlet 3321. It can also be understood that the slidable connection between both ends of the blocking portion 3331 and the carrier 332 makes the ice-blocking component 333 more stable and reliable during sliding.

[0038] In some embodiments, the shielding part 3331 may be provided with a hollow structure, which can reduce the contact area between the shielding part 3331 and the ice block carried by the carrier 332, thereby reducing the probability of the ice block sticking to the shielding part 3331, and also reducing the weight of the ice blocking part 333.

[0039] The ice transport mechanism 33 may also include an elastic element 334. The elastic element 334 is mounted on the carrier 332 and drives the ice-blocking element 333 to move in the direction of closing the first ice outlet 3321. Thus, the elastic element 334 enables the automatic ice-blocking element 333 to automatically close the first ice outlet 3321. Specifically, the elastic element 334 may be a tension spring, compression spring, torsion spring, etc., and this embodiment does not limit its application to this type.

[0040] At this point, the ice-blocking member 333, as described above, includes a blocking portion 3331 and a sliding portion 3332. The ice-blocking member 333 may also include an abutting portion 3333. Each sliding portion 3332 is connected to an abutting portion 3333, and each abutting portion 3333 also abuts against an elastic member 334. This allows the elastic member 334 to apply a force to the ice-blocking member 333 through the abutting portion 3333, thereby driving the ice-blocking member 333 to move.

[0041] Taking the elastic element 334 as a torsion spring as an example, the carrier 332 is also provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The annular part of the torsion spring is fitted onto the first protrusion for fixation. One elastic arm of the torsion spring abuts against the abutment part 3333 of the ice-blocking element 333, and the other elastic arm of the torsion spring abuts against the second protrusion. When the ice-blocking element 333 moves in the direction of opening the first ice outlet 3321, the torsion spring is compressed so that the torsion spring has an elastic restoring force that drives the ice-blocking element 333 to move in the direction of closing the first ice outlet 3321.

[0042] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 5 , Figure 5 for Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the first ice storage box of the ice maker. A blocking member 321 may be protruding from the surface of the first ice storage box 32. When the carrier 332 moves to the first ice storage box 32, the blocking member 321 can abut against the ice-blocking member 333 to drive the ice-blocking member 333 to open the first ice outlet 3321. It is understood that compared to setting up additional power sources to drive the ice-blocking member 333, the ice maker 300 of this embodiment has a simpler structure, smaller overall size, and lower manufacturing cost.

[0043] The replaceable ice-blocking component 333 is driven by a motor, electric actuator, hydraulic cylinder, or other means.

[0044] Alternatively, the ice-blocking component 333 is gravity-driven, moving in the direction of closing the first ice outlet 3321. For example, the upper end of the ice-blocking component 333 along the direction of gravity can be rotatably connected to the carrier 332. When the ice-blocking component 333 is not subjected to external force, it flips downward under its own weight to close the first ice outlet 3321. When ice blocks on the carrier 332 are discharged from the first ice outlet 3321, the ice blocks push the ice-blocking component 333 upward to open the first ice outlet 3321.

[0045] The above is an explanation of the ice conveying mechanism 33 in the embodiments of this application. The following will continue to illustrate some other structures of the ice maker 300 in the embodiments of this application.

[0046] The ice maker 300 also includes a housing 34 having an ice-making cavity 341. The ice-making mechanism 31, the first ice storage box 32, and the ice-transporting mechanism 33 are housed within the ice-making cavity 341. Furthermore, the housing 34 provides some protection for the ice-making mechanism 31, the first ice storage box 32, and the ice-transporting mechanism 33, while also reducing heat exchange between the inside and outside of the ice-making cavity 341, thus preventing the ice from melting and sticking together.

[0047] Specifically, the inner wall of the outer shell 34 includes a first side wall 347 for mounting and fixing the ice transport mechanism 33, the ice making mechanism 31 and the first ice storage box 32 are both located on the side of the ice transport mechanism 33 facing away from the first side wall 347, and the ice blocking member 333 is installed on the side of the carrier 332 away from the first side wall 347.

[0048] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 6 , Figure 6 for Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the carrier of the ice maker. The carrier 332 may include an ice conveying plate 3322 and a wing plate 3323. The ice conveying plate 3322 has a bearing surface for carrying ice. Each end of the bearing surface is provided with a wing plate 3323, and the end of the wing plate 3323 away from the first side wall 347 forms a first ice outlet 3321 with the bearing surface. Furthermore, when the ice baffle 333 closes the first ice outlet 3321, the ice baffle 333, the wing plate 3323, the ice conveying plate 3322, and the first side wall 347 can form an upward-opening ice storage cavity, and the ice blocks output by the ice making mechanism 31 can fall directly into the ice storage cavity.

[0049] The ice conveying plate 3322 may include a connecting portion 33221 and a plurality of strip-shaped portions 33222. The plurality of strip-shaped portions 33222 protrude from the connecting portion 33221 on the side opposite to the first ice storage box 32, and are arranged horizontally such that a slot 33223 is formed between adjacent strip-shaped portions 33222. Furthermore, the slot 33223 reduces the contact area between the ice conveying plate 3322 and the ice, allowing the ice pusher 335 to more easily push the ice out of the ice conveying plate 3322.

[0050] The upper surface of the strip-shaped portion 33222 can be an uneven curved surface to reduce the contact area between the ice conveying plate 3322 and the ice, thereby making it easier for the ice pusher 335 to push the ice out of the ice conveying plate 3322. Of course, the upper surface of the strip-shaped portion 33222 can also be a flat surface, and this embodiment does not limit this. In addition, the uneven curved surface of the upper surface of the strip-shaped portion 33222 can also prevent the formation of steps on the upper surface of the strip-shaped portion 33222, which would prevent the ice from being pushed out properly.

[0051] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 7, Figure 7 for Figure 2 The image shows an exploded view of the ice conveying mechanism and part of the housing of the ice maker. The ice maker 300 may also include an ice pusher 335. The ice pusher 335 can be connected to the housing 34, and the ice pusher 335 is used to push the ice blocks carried by the carrier 332 into the first ice storage box 32.

[0052] For example, the ice pusher 335 is mounted on the side of the housing 34 near the first ice storage box 32, or in other words, the ice pusher 335 is mounted on the top of the housing 34 along the direction of gravity. The ice pusher 335 may include at least one ice pusher portion 3351. Each ice pusher portion 3351 is disposed opposite to a slot 33223, such that the ice pusher portion 3351 can be inserted into the corresponding slot 33223 during the movement of the carrier 332 from the ice making mechanism 31 toward the first ice storage box 32, and the ice pusher portion 3351 can be disengaged from the corresponding slot 33223 during the movement of the carrier 332 from the first ice storage box 32 toward the ice making mechanism 31. Along the downward direction of gravity, the ice pusher portion 3351 is inclined away from the first ice storage box 32.

[0053] Therefore, during the upward movement of the ice conveying plate 3322, the ice pushing part 3351 can be regarded as a guide component that guides the ice blocks on the ice conveying plate 3322. Furthermore, after the ice conveying plate 3322 moves upward to the point where the ice pushing part 3351 is inserted into the slot 33223, if the ice conveying plate 3322 continues to move upward, the ice pushing part 3351 will push the ice blocks on the ice conveying plate 3322 toward the first ice storage box 32, so as to push the ice blocks from the ice conveying plate 3322 into the first ice storage box 32.

[0054] The ice-pushing part 3351 can be straight or curved, and this application embodiment does not limit it in this way.

[0055] The ice-pushing component 335 may also include a mounting body 3352. The mounting body 3352 is connected and fixed to the outer casing 34, and the ice-pushing part 3351 is connected and fixed to the mounting body 3352 to achieve the installation and fixation of the ice-pushing part 3351. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the mounting body 3352 may also be installed on the first ice storage box 32, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0056] The ice-pushing part 3351 and the mounting body 3352 can be integrally formed, such as by injection molding, milling, die casting, stamping, etc. Alternatively, the ice-pushing part 3351 can also be detachably mounted to the mounting body 3352, such as by snap-fit, screw connection, etc. Of course, in some other embodiments, the ice-pushing part 3351 can also be fixed to the mounting body 3352 by welding, fusion, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0057] The connection between the mounting body 3352 and the outer shell 34 can be varied, such as snap-fit ​​or screw-fit, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0058] Optionally, in some other embodiments, the outer casing 34 or the ice transport mechanism 33 may also be provided with an electric ice pushing component, which is used to push the ice blocks on the carrier 332 into the first ice storage box 32 when the carrier 332 moves to the first ice storage box 32. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0059] The first drive component 331 can be a lead screw drive component, a gear and rack drive component, or a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric push rod, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0060] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first drive assembly 331 may include a guide rail 3311 and a drive unit 3312. The guide rail 3311 is mounted on the housing 34, and the carrier 332 is slidably mounted on the guide rail 3311. The drive unit 3312 is drive-connected to the carrier 332 to move the carrier 332 between a first position and a second position, with the ice-making mechanism 31 and the first ice storage box 32 located between the first position and the second position.

[0061] Specifically, the lower end of the guide rail 3311 is the first position, located below the ice-making mechanism 31. The upper end of the guide rail 3311 is the second position, located above the ice-making mechanism 31. When the carrier 332 moves to the first position, or rather, when the carrier 332 moves below the ice-making mechanism 31, the ice blocks discharged from the ice-making mechanism 31 can fall onto the carrier 332 under their own weight. Then, the carrier 332 can transport the ice blocks to the second position, so that the ice-pushing component 335 can push the ice blocks on the carrier 332 into the first ice storage box 32.

[0062] The guide rail 3311 can be installed in various ways. For example, the guide rail 3311 can be detachably connected to the housing 34 by means of snap-fit, screw-fit, magnetic fixation, etc.

[0063] The drive unit 3312 may be mounted on the housing 34 of the ice-making device and driven through the carrier 332. Alternatively, the drive unit 3312 may be mounted on the guide rail 3311 and driven through the carrier 332. Or, the drive unit 3312 may be mounted on the carrier 332 and driven through the guide rail 3311 or the housing 34 of the ice-making device. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the embodiment.

[0064] The drive unit 3312 may consist of a first motor and a first gear and rack transmission assembly, a first lead screw transmission assembly, or a first synchronous belt transmission assembly driven by the first motor. The first motor can then drive the carrier 332 to slide via the first gear and rack transmission assembly, the first lead screw transmission assembly, or the first synchronous belt transmission assembly. Of course, the drive unit 3312 may also be a first electric push rod, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0065] like Figure 6 As shown, the drive unit 3312 may include an ice-carrying motor 33121 and a first gear 33122. The ice-carrying motor 33121 can be mounted and fixed to the carrier 332. The output shaft of the ice-carrying motor 33121 is connected to the first gear 33122 to drive the first gear 33122 to rotate. The guide rail 3311 is formed with a rack 33111, and the first gear 33122 meshes with the rack 33111. Therefore, when the ice-carrying motor 33121 drives the first gear 33122 to rotate, the carrier 332 can slide along the guide rail 3311.

[0066] In some embodiments, in order to make the movement of the vehicle 332 more stable and smooth, the number of guide rails 3311 can be multiple, such as two, three, four, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0067] For example, the guide rail 3311 may include two rails, with each end of the carrier 332 slidably connected to one guide rail 3311. The drive unit 3312 may further include a transmission shaft 33123 and a second gear 33124. The first gear 33122 and the second gear 33124 are connected by the transmission shaft 33123 so that the first gear 33122 and the second gear 33124 can rotate synchronously. The first gear 33122 meshes with the rack 33111 of one guide rail 3311, and the second gear 33124 meshes with the rack 33111 of the other guide rail 3311. Thus, through the first gear 33122 and the second gear 33124, the moving speeds of both ends of the carrier 332 can be made consistent, ultimately making the movement of the carrier 332 smoother.

[0068] like Figure 5As shown, the first ice storage box 32 may also be equipped with an ice-discharging screw 322, an ice-discharging motor 323, and an ice-discharging wheel 324. The ice-discharging motor 323 can be installed in the outer casing 34. The output shaft of the ice-discharging motor 323 is connected to one end of the ice-discharging screw 322, so that the ice-discharging screw 322 can be driven to rotate by the ice-discharging motor 323. The ice-discharging screw 322 is disposed inside the first ice storage box 32, so that the ice-discharging screw 322 can drive the ice blocks inside the first ice storage box 32 to move during rotation. The ice-discharging wheel 324 is connected to the other end of the ice-discharging screw 322, so that the ice-discharging screw 322 can push the ice blocks inside the first ice storage box 32 to the ice-discharging wheel 324, and that the rotation of the ice-discharging screw 322 can drive the ice-discharging wheel 324 to rotate at the same time. The ice-discharging wheel 324 can rotate to lift the ice blocks to a specific height and discharge them from the ice outlet of the first ice storage box 32.

[0069] The ice-making mechanism 31 may include an ice tray for holding water and freezing it into ice cubes. The ice-making mechanism 31 may also include a torsion motor that drives the ice tray to rotate, allowing the ice tray to rotate and empty the ice cubes formed in the receiving compartment. Alternatively, the ice-making mechanism 31 may also include a fork that can rotate to push the ice cubes formed in the receiving compartment out. It is understood that the embodiments of this application do not limit the method of discharging ice cubes from the ice tray.

[0070] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 8 , Figure 8 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the water supply device for the ice maker. The ice maker 300 may also include a water supply device 35. Both the outer casing 34 and the water supply device 35 are located within the refrigeration chamber 11, and the water supply device 35 is installed on the ice-making unit. The water supply device 35 is used to connect to an external water source. The water supply device 35 also interfaces with the ice-making mechanism 31 to supply the ice-making mechanism 31 with the water required for making ice.

[0071] Understandably, compared to separating the water supply device 35 and the outer casing 34, the internal structure of the cabinet 100 in this embodiment is more compact, thus saving storage space in the refrigeration compartment 11. Furthermore, because the water supply device 35 and the outer casing 34 are closer together, the water supply pipeline between the water supply device 35 and the ice-making mechanism 31 can be shorter or even eliminated altogether, making the water wiring in the refrigeration compartment 11 simpler and reducing the difficulty of refrigerator installation. In addition, by installing the water supply device 35 and the outer casing 34 within the refrigeration compartment 11, the water in the water supply device 35 can be pre-cooled within the refrigeration compartment 11, thereby increasing the ice-making speed of the ice-making mechanism 31.

[0072] To facilitate users in obtaining ice and / or water, the refrigerator may also include a dispenser 36. The dispenser 36 is installed on the door 200 and connected to a water supply device 35, enabling it to dispense water supplied by the water supply device 35. The dispenser 36 is also movably connected to a first ice storage box 32, allowing it to dispense ice blocks supplied by the first ice storage box 32. Thus, without opening the cooling compartment 11, users can directly obtain water, ice, or both simultaneously through the dispenser 36 on the door 200. Furthermore, since the water on the dispenser 36 is supplied by the water supply device 35, which is located within the cooling compartment 11 for pre-cooling, users can directly obtain ice water (i.e., liquid water at a low temperature but not yet frozen) through the dispenser 36.

[0073] For example, the water supply device 35 may include a water valve 351 and a water tank 352. The water valve 351 includes a first inlet 3511, a first outlet 3512, and a second outlet 3513. The first inlet 3511 is used to connect to an external water source. The first outlet 3512 is connected to an ice-making mechanism 31 to supply water to the ice-making mechanism 31. The water tank 352 is connected to the second outlet 3513 to contain the water supplied by the water valve 351, and the water tank 352 is connected to a distributor 36 to supply water to the distributor 36.

[0074] Then, tap water and other domestic water can be injected into the water supply device 35 through the first water inlet 3511. Then, the water valve 351 distributes the domestic water to the ice-making mechanism 31 or the water tank 352, so that the ice-making mechanism 31 can make ice or the distributor 36 can supply water.

[0075] It is also understandable that the water tank 352 can hold a certain amount of water and place it in the refrigeration room 11 for a sufficient time to form ice water. The ice-making mechanism 31 does not need to obtain the ice water from the water tank 352. This can prevent the ice-making mechanism 31 from drawing away the ice water in the water tank 352 when making ice, thus avoiding the situation where there is not enough ice water in the water tank 352 for the user to obtain from the distributor 36.

[0076] Alternatively, in some other embodiments of the water supply device 35, which includes a water tank 352 and a water valve 351, the water tank 352 may be connected to an external water source, and the inlet of the water valve 351 may be connected to the water tank 352. The water valve 351 is used to supply water to the ice-making mechanism 31 and the distributor 36. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0077] The number of inlets of water valve 351 can be one. The number of inlets of water valve 351 can also be multiple, such as two, three or four, but this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0078] When there is only one water inlet in the water valve 351, the first water inlet 3511 mentioned above is the only inlet of the water valve 351.

[0079] Taking the case where the water valve 351 has multiple inlets as an example, multiple first inlets 3511 can serve as the inlets of the water valve 351, allowing the water valve 351 to be connected to multiple different water sources to obtain different types of water. Alternatively, the inlets of the water valve 351 can also include a first inlet 3511 and a second inlet (not shown in the figure). The first inlet 3511 is connected to an external water source, while the second inlet is connected to the water circulation system inside the refrigerator (not shown in the figure), so that some of the water inside the refrigerator can be recycled. For example, the water circulation system can be used to collect some of the water that did not freeze successfully to form ice during the ice-making process of the ice-making mechanism 31.

[0080] The number of first outlets 3512 can be one. The number of first outlets 3512 can also be multiple, such as two, three or four, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0081] Taking a single first water outlet 3512 as an example, the number of ice-making mechanisms 31 can also be single, in which case one first water outlet 3512 corresponds to one ice-making mechanism 31. Alternatively, the number of ice-making mechanisms 31 can also be multiple. In this case, one first water outlet 3512 injects ice-making water into the ice-making chamber 341, and the guiding structure inside the ice-making chamber 341 guides the water injected by one first water outlet 3512 and distributes it to multiple ice-making mechanisms 31.

[0082] The connection method between the water valve 351 and the ice-making device can be varied. For example, the water valve 351 can be detachably installed on the housing 34 by means of screwing, snap-fitting, etc.

[0083] The above are some illustrative examples of the water valve 351 in the embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The following will continue to illustrate some structures of the water tank 352 in the embodiments of this application.

[0084] The water tank 352 includes a third inlet 3521 and a third outlet 3522. The third inlet 3521 is connected to the second outlet 3513. The third outlet 3522 is connected to the distributor 36, so that the water in the water tank 352 can be output to the distributor 36.

[0085] The number of third outlets 3522 can be one. The number of third outlets 3522 can also be multiple, such as two, three or four, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0086] When there are multiple third water outlets 3522, the distributor 36 can also be equipped with multiple water inlets, each connected to one third water outlet 3522, so that each water inlet can be used to obtain different types of water. For example, some of the water output from the third water outlets 3522 can be processed by heating, magnetizing, or mixing with powder before being output to the corresponding water inlet on the distributor 36, thereby meeting the diverse water needs of users.

[0087] In some embodiments, at least one of the third inlet 3521 and the third outlet 3522 is positioned upwards along the direction of gravity. Therefore, when the water valve 351 injects water into the water tank 352, the air inside the water tank 352 is easily expelled. Otherwise, air in the water tank 352 may remain inside, further causing water and air to be simultaneously expelled from the distributor 36 when the user takes water, ultimately leading to irregular splashing of water at the outlet of the distributor 36, or leakage at the outlet of the distributor 36 after each water draw.

[0088] Specifically, it may be that only the third inlet 3521 is set upward in the direction of gravity, or only the third outlet 3522 is set upward in the direction of gravity, or both the third inlet 3521 and the third outlet 3522 are set upward in the direction of gravity. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0089] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 9 , Figure 9 for Figure 8 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the water tank of the water supply device. The water tank 352 may include a first side 3523 and a second side 3524 arranged opposite each other along the direction of gravity. A third inlet 3521 and a third outlet 3522 are both located on the first side 3523. Since at least one of the third inlet 3521 and the third outlet 3522 is arranged upwards along the direction of gravity, it can be understood that both the third inlet 3521 and the third outlet 3522 are located on the upper side of the water tank 352. The water tank 352 may include a water flow channel 3525. One end of the water flow channel 3525 forms the third inlet 3521, and the other end forms the third outlet 3522. The water flow channel 3525 is arranged in a tortuous manner between the first side 3523 and the second side 3524. Furthermore, the water that enters the water tank 352 first will be closer to the outlet of the water tank 352. In other words, the water that is closer to the outlet of the water tank 352 stays in the cooling room 11 for a longer time and the temperature is lower. This makes it easier for users to take away the cooler ice water in the water tank 352 first through the distributor 36.

[0090] The water flow channel 3525 may form at least one bend 35251 near the first side 3523. In this case, the water tank 352 may also include an exhaust channel 3526. The exhaust channel 3526 is located on the first side 3523, with one end connected to the second outlet 3513 and the other end connected to the third inlet 3521. The exhaust channel 3526 is also connected to the bend 35251. Furthermore, air in the middle portion of the water flow channel 3525 can be discharged through the bend 35251 into the exhaust channel 3526, and ultimately discharged along the exhaust channel 3526 from either the third inlet 3521 or the third outlet 3522.

[0091] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 10 , Figure 10 for Figure 8 The diagram shows the installation structure of the first water pipe on the outer surface of the refrigerator body. In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a first water pipe 37 connecting the water tank 352 and the distributor 36. Water in the water tank 352 can then be transported to the distributor 36 via the first water pipe 37. In some embodiments, the first water pipe 37 may penetrate the refrigerator body 100 and extend from the outer surface of the refrigerator body 100 to the door 200, and be embedded within the door 200 to extend into the distributor 36.

[0092] The outer surface of the enclosure 100 includes a connected rear wall 12 and a top wall 13. The rear wall 12 is located on the side of the enclosure 100 facing away from the opening of the refrigeration compartment 11, and the top wall 13 connects the rear wall 12 and the opening of the refrigeration compartment 11. At this time, the first water pipe 37 passes through the rear wall 12 of the enclosure 100 and extends along the rear wall 12 and the top wall 13 to the door 200.

[0093] The first water pipe 37 may include a first segment 371, a second segment 372, and a third segment 373 connected sequentially by rounded corners. The first segment 371 is attached to the rear wall surface 12. The planes where the first segment 371 and the second segment 372 are located are parallel to the rear wall surface 12, and the planes where the second segment 372 and the third segment 373 are located are parallel to the top wall surface 13. The third segment 373 is attached to the top wall surface 13. Furthermore, the bends of the first water pipe 37 can be rounded to facilitate smoother water flow within the first water pipe 37. Moreover, compared to the first water pipe 37 having a large-angle rounded corner at the junction of the top wall surface 13 and the rear wall surface 12, the first water pipe 37 in this embodiment protrudes less from the cabinet 100. Furthermore, compared to embedding the first water pipe 37 into the foam layer of the cabinet 100, this embodiment can reduce the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the refrigerator.

[0094] Please refer to the figure below, which is a structural schematic diagram of the first fixing member for fixing the first water pipe 37 shown in the figure. The refrigerator may also include the first fixing member. The first fixing member is connected to the cabinet 100 to fix the first section 371, the second section 372, and the third section 373.

[0095] Specifically, the first fixing member may include a cover that at least covers the top wall surface 13 and the rear wall surface 12. A first wiring groove is formed within the cover to mate with the first segment 371, the second segment 372, and the third segment 373. The first segment 371, the second segment 372, and the third segment 373 are embedded in the first wiring groove for fixation. Of course, in some other embodiments, the first fixing member may also be a set of clips for securing the first segment 371, the second segment 372, and the third segment 373; this application does not limit this aspect.

[0096] The first fastener can be detachably connected to the housing 100, such as by snapping, screwing, or magnetically fixing the first fastener to the housing 100, thereby facilitating the disassembly and maintenance of the first fastener and the first water pipe 37.

[0097] In some embodiments, the water supply device 35 can be located on the side of the outer casing 34 facing away from the opening of the refrigeration chamber 11, so that the water supply device 35 can be blocked by the outer casing 34, so that the interior of the refrigeration chamber 11 is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing after the door 200 is opened.

[0098] like Figure 2 As shown, the outer shell 34 and the inner surface of the housing 100 also form a closed mounting cavity 342, which is independent of the ice-making cavity 341. The water supply device 35 is housed within the mounting cavity 342.

[0099] On the one hand, the low-temperature air in the refrigeration chamber 11 can exchange heat with the outer shell 34 and the mounting cavity 342 to a certain extent, thereby cooling the water supply device 35 in the mounting cavity 342. At the same time, it can prevent the cold air in the refrigeration chamber 11 from blowing directly onto the water supply device 35, which would cause the water in the water supply device 35 to freeze and thus affect the normal operation of the ice maker and the distributor 36. On the other hand, in order for the water in the ice-making mechanism 31 to freeze into ice, the air temperature in the ice-making cavity 341 is usually extremely low. At this time, by making the mounting cavity 342 independent from the ice-making cavity 341, it can also prevent the air in the ice-making cavity 341 from blowing directly onto the water supply device 35, which would then cause the water in the water supply device 35 to freeze.

[0100] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 11 , Figure 11 for Figure 3The diagram shows an exploded view of the outer casing of the ice maker. The casing 34 may include a main body 344 with an insulating layer and a baffle 345 without an insulating layer. The main body 344 encloses an ice-making cavity 341, and the baffle 345 protrudes from the main body 344. The side of the main body 344 facing away from the refrigeration chamber 11, the baffle 345, and the inner wall of the refrigeration chamber 11 enclose an installation cavity 342. Furthermore, the insulating layer of the main body 344 can reduce heat exchange between the ice-making cavity 341 and the outside environment, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency of the ice-making mechanism 31. At the same time, the baffle 345 does not have an insulating layer, so that the cold air in the refrigeration chamber 11 can appropriately cool the water supply device 35 in the installation cavity 342.

[0101] The main body 344 may include a first housing 3441 and a second housing 3442, which are joined together to form an ice-making cavity 341. The first housing 3441 and the second housing 3442 can be detachably connected by means of screwing, snap-fitting, or magnetic fixation. Correspondingly, the heat insulation layer includes a first heat insulation layer disposed on the first housing 3441 and a second heat insulation layer disposed on the second housing 3442.

[0102] For example, the first housing 3441 may include a first outer shell 34411 and a first inner shell 34412, which together form a cavity. The first insulation layer is a heat-insulating foam layer formed within the cavity by foaming. In this case, the baffle 345 may be integrally formed on the first housing 3441.

[0103] The first outer shell 34411 is located on the outer surface of the main body 344, while the first inner shell 34412 is located on the inner surface of the main body 344. The first inner shell 34412 may be provided with a first injection port, allowing foaming material to be injected from the first injection port into the cavity formed by the first outer shell 34411 and the first inner shell 34412 for foaming. It is understood that by placing the first injection port in the first inner shell 34412, the appearance of the first outer shell 34411 can be made more aesthetically pleasing.

[0104] The second housing 3442 may include a second outer shell 34421 and a second inner shell 34422. The second outer shell 34421 and the second inner shell 34422 enclose a cavity, and the second heat insulation layer is a heat-insulating foam layer formed in the cavity by foaming.

[0105] The second outer shell 34421 is located on the outer surface of the main body 344, while the second inner shell 34422 is located on the inner surface of the main body 344. Both the second inner shell 34422 and the second outer shell 34421 can be provided with a second injection port, allowing foaming material to be injected from the second injection port into the cavity formed by the second outer shell 34421 and the second inner shell 34422 for foaming. In practical use, the second outer shell 34421 can be attached to the inner wall of the refrigeration chamber 11 to conceal the second injection port.

[0106] A thermal insulation sealing strip can be provided at the joint between the second housing 3442 and the first housing 3441 for sealing. The thermal insulation sealing strip can be made of thermal insulation foam or other materials, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0107] In addition, as shown in the figure, the refrigerator may also include a second water pipe 38. The second inner shell 34422 may have a second wiring groove through which the second water pipe 38 passes. One end of the second wiring groove is connected to the mounting cavity 342. The bottom wall of the second wiring groove is provided with at least one through hole that connects to the ice-making cavity 341, so that the second water pipe 38 can extend along the second wiring groove to a preset position and then be inserted into the ice-making cavity 341 through the through hole to supply water.

[0108] To ensure a more stable installation of the second water pipe 38, a second fixing member can be provided on the side of the first outer shell 34411 facing away from the opening of the refrigeration chamber 11. The second fixing member is used to fix the second water pipe 38. The second fixing member can be integrally formed with the first outer shell 34411 or separately formed from the second outer shell 34421. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0109] The second water pipe 38 may be fitted with a heat insulation sleeve to prevent the low-temperature air in the ice-making cavity 341 from exchanging heat with the second water pipe 38 through the second inner shell 34422 and ultimately causing the water in the second water pipe 38 to freeze.

[0110] As shown in the figure, the refrigeration compartment 11 includes a refrigerator compartment 112 and a freezer compartment 111. The outer shell 34 is disposed inside the refrigerator compartment 112. On one hand, the cabinet 100 is provided with a first channel 14 connecting the freezer compartment 111 and the ice-making cavity 341, so that the refrigerator can directly blow the freezing air in the freezer compartment 111 into the ice-making cavity 341, so that the water carried by the ice-making mechanism 31 in the ice-making cavity 341 freezes to form ice blocks. On the other hand, the first channel 14 is misaligned with the mounting cavity 342, so as to prevent the freezing air in the freezer compartment 111 from blowing into the mounting cavity 342, thereby preventing the water in the water supply device 35 in the mounting cavity 342 from freezing.

[0111] In some implementations, such as Figure 2As shown, the freezer compartment 111 is located below the refrigerator compartment 112 along the direction of gravity. The refrigerator may also include a second ice storage box 39. The second ice storage box 39 is disposed inside the freezer compartment 111 and its opening faces the first channel 14, so that the ice blocks discharged by the ice-making mechanism 31 can fall directly into the second ice storage box 39 along the first channel 14 under their own gravity. At the same time, due to the low temperature inside the freezer compartment 111, the ice blocks in the second ice storage box 39 can also be prevented from melting by the low temperature inside the freezer compartment 111.

[0112] The second ice storage box 39 may include a drawer disposed in the freezer compartment 111, allowing the user to pull the drawer out of the freezer compartment 111 to retrieve ice during use. Alternatively, the second ice storage box 39 may also automatically discharge ice via a screw or other component; this embodiment does not limit this approach.

[0113] The second ice storage box 39 may further include a second sensor, which is used to detect ice cubes inside the second ice storage box 39 to determine whether the second ice storage box 39 is full. The second sensor may include at least one of an infrared sensor, a laser rangefinder sensor, and a weight sensor, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0114] At this time, the first ice storage box 32 can be set above the ice making mechanism 31. When the vehicle 332 moves up to the side of the first ice storage box 32, the ice blocks discharged by the ice making mechanism 31 can fall directly into the second ice storage box 39. When the vehicle 332 moves down to the lower side of the ice making mechanism 31, the ice blocks of the ice making mechanism 31 can be discharged onto the vehicle 332 and transported by the vehicle 332 to the first ice storage box 32.

[0115] The first ice storage box 32 may further include a first sensor, which is used to detect ice cubes inside the first ice storage box 32 to determine whether the first ice storage box 32 is full. The first sensor may include at least one of an infrared sensor, a laser rangefinder sensor, and a weight sensor, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0116] Understandably, the structure of two ice storage boxes can greatly increase the ice storage capacity of the refrigerator. On the other hand, different ice storage boxes can be used to process ice in different ways. For example, the second ice storage box 39 can be used to store a large amount of ice for direct use, and the first ice storage box 32 can be used to dock with the dispenser 36 so that the ice produced by the ice making device can be supplied to the dispenser 36 through the first ice storage box 32.

[0117] Meanwhile, with the cooperation of the second sensor and the first sensor, when the ice storage in the second ice storage box 39 reaches the preset value, the ice transport mechanism 33 transports the ice discharged by the ice making mechanism 31 to the first ice storage box 32; when the ice storage in the first ice storage box 32 reaches the preset value, the ice discharged by the ice making mechanism 31 falls directly into the second ice storage box 39.

[0118] The structure of the distributor 36 in this embodiment will be further illustrated below.

[0119] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 12 , Figure 12 for Figure 2 A partial enlarged view of section X of the ice maker is shown. The dispenser 36 may include a third housing 361 and an ice-crushing mechanism 362. The third housing 361 may include a first inner wall surrounding and forming an ice-crushing chamber 3611. The first inner wall includes a first annular wall 3612, the centerline of which is parallel to the direction of gravity, or in other words, the first annular wall 3612 is vertically arranged. A second ice outlet 3613 is provided on the side of the first inner wall facing the door 200, and the second ice outlet 3613 is at least partially disposed in the first annular wall 3612. The ice-crushing mechanism 362 includes a rotating shaft 3621 and an ice blade assembly 3622 housed within the ice-crushing chamber 3611. The rotating shaft 3621 is arranged along the direction of gravity and can drive the ice blade assembly 3622 to push the ice blocks in the ice-crushing chamber 3611 to rotate around the axial direction of the rotating shaft 3621 and discharge them through the second ice outlet 3613. At this time, since the second ice outlet 3613 is at least partially located on the first ring wall 3612, it can prevent the ice blocks in the ice crushing chamber 3611 from being pushed by the ice blade assembly 3622 to form a centrifugal force and rotate around the first ring wall 3612 under the action of the centrifugal force, thus preventing them from being discharged.

[0120] The dispenser 36 may also include a fourth housing 363. The fourth housing 363 has an ice dispensing channel 3631 communicating with the second ice outlet 3613. The door 200 includes a first end 21 rotatably connected to the housing 100 in the horizontal direction. The distance from the outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631 to the first end 21 is greater than the distance from the inlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631 to the first end 21, so that the user can take ice from a position closer to the center of the door 200, thereby facilitating ice retrieval.

[0121] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 13 and Figure 14 , Figure 13 for Figure 12 A schematic diagram of some parts of the dispenser of the ice maker shown. Figure 14 for Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of some parts of the dispenser along the CC direction.

[0122] Specifically, the distance from the outlet of the ice outlet channel 3631 to the first end 21 is greater than the distance from the inlet of the ice outlet channel 3631 to the first end 21. This can be understood as the distance from the centerline of the outlet of the ice outlet channel 3631 to the first end 21 being greater than the distance from the centerline of the inlet of the ice outlet channel 3631 to the first end 21. Furthermore, it can also be understood that, along the direction from the inlet to the outlet of the ice outlet channel 3631, the ice outlet channel 3631 is inclined from the first end 21 of the box door 200 towards the middle of the box door 200, so that the user can take ice from a position closer to the middle of the box door 200.

[0123] Specifically, to allow users to operate the dispenser 36 from the door 200 to retrieve ice, the door 200 also has an ice-retrieval groove 22 with an opening on its outer surface. The outlet of the dispenser 36 and the control component 364 are located inside the ice-retrieval groove 22, allowing users to retrieve ice from within the groove. However, if the outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631 is too close to the first end 21 of the door 200, the outlet of the dispenser 36 will also be too close to the outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631. Consequently, the distance between the inner wall of the ice-retrieval groove 22 near the first end 21 and the outlet of the dispenser 36 will decrease, making it inconvenient for users to reach their hands into the ice-retrieval groove 22, or making it inconvenient to place larger containers such as glass bottles directly below the outlet of the dispenser 36. Therefore, it can be seen that by tilting the ice outlet channel 3631 towards the middle of the horizontal direction of the door 200, the user can more conveniently take ice through the dispenser 36 provided on the door 200.

[0124] For example, the dispenser 36 may further include a dispensing channel 365, an ice dispensing valve 366, and a water supply component. The dispensing channel 365 passes through the side wall of the door 200 forming the ice collection trough 22, such that the outlet of the dispensing channel 365 is located within the ice collection trough 22, thus forming the outlet of the dispenser 36. The outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631 faces the inlet of the dispensing channel 365, allowing ice blocks within the ice dispensing channel 3631 to slide into and out of the dispensing channel 365. The ice dispensing valve 366 is rotatably disposed at the outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631 to open or close the outlet of the ice dispensing channel 3631. The outlet of the water supply component is located within the dispensing channel 365, allowing the water supply component to also supply water to the ice collection trough 22 through the dispensing channel 365. Finally, the control component 364 can be an electronic control component that controls the operation of the ice discharge valve 366 and the water supply component via electrical signals, or it can be a mechanical transmission structure that controls the operation of the ice discharge valve 366 and the water supply component via mechanical transmission. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0125] The water supply component can be formed by inserting the first water pipe 37 into the end of the distributor 36.

[0126] The ice skate assembly 3622 may include a moving ice skate and a fixed ice skate arranged at intervals along the direction of gravity. The moving ice skate is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 3621, one end of the fixed ice skate is fixed to the first inner wall, and the other end of the fixed ice skate is sleeved on the rotating shaft 3621.

[0127] Taking the initial ice block in the ice-crushing chamber 3611 as an example, when the rotating shaft 3621 rotates clockwise or in the first direction, the moving ice blade can directly discharge the whole ice from the second ice outlet 3613 of the first annular wall 3612, so that the ice blade assembly 3622 can discharge the whole ice from the ice-crushing chamber 3611. When the rotating shaft 3621 rotates counterclockwise or in the second direction, the moving ice blade can first push the whole ice towards the fixed ice blade, so that the moving ice blade and the fixed ice blade work together to cut the whole ice into ice fragments, and then the moving ice blade continues to push the ice fragments, so that the ice fragments are discharged from the second ice outlet 3613 of the first annular wall 3612. Thus, through the cooperation of the moving ice blade and the fixed ice blade, the function of discharging whole ice when the rotating shaft 3621 rotates clockwise and discharging ice fragments when the rotating shaft 3621 rotates counterclockwise can be realized to meet the different ice-retrieving needs of users.

[0128] To facilitate the smooth discharge of ice from the ice outlet channel 3631, the ice outlet channel 3631 is inclined downwards in the direction of gravity, with its inlet facing the outlet. This allows whole or crushed ice from the ice crushing chamber 3611 to slide out under its own weight when entering the ice outlet channel 3631, preventing ice from accumulating and becoming difficult to discharge. Ultimately, this makes it easier for users to retrieve ice.

[0129] The second ice outlet 3613 mentioned above may be at least partially disposed in the first ring wall 3612, or the second ice outlet 3613 may be entirely disposed in the first ring wall 3612, or the second ice outlet 3613 may be partially disposed in the first ring wall 3612 and partially disposed in other areas. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0130] For example, the first inner wall also includes a first bottom wall 3614 located on the lower side of the first annular wall 3612 along the direction of gravity. The first bottom wall 3614 is horizontally arranged, and the second ice outlet 3613 is partially disposed on the first bottom wall 3614. Furthermore, some ice blocks that are pushed and rotated on the first bottom wall 3614 by the ice blade assembly 3622 can be discharged from the portion of the second ice outlet 3613 located on the first bottom wall 3614, thereby preventing some ice blocks from being unable to be discharged from the ice crushing chamber 3611 or even causing blockage.

[0131] The ice-crushing mechanism 362 also includes an ice-crushing motor 3623 that drives the rotating shaft 3621 to rotate. The ice-crushing motor 3623 may be directly connected to the rotating shaft 3621. Alternatively, the ice-crushing motor 3623 may drive the rotating shaft 3621 to rotate via a transmission mechanism; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0132] The third housing 361 also forms an ice inlet channel 3615, the outlet of which is located on the first annular wall 3612 to connect to the ice crushing chamber 3611. Along the direction from the inlet to the outlet of the ice inlet channel 3615, the ice inlet channel 3615 is inclined downwards in the direction of gravity. Consequently, ice blocks within the ice inlet channel 3615 can smoothly slide into the ice crushing chamber 3611 under their own gravity, reducing the amount of ice accumulating within the ice inlet channel 3615 and ultimately facilitating ice dispensing by the user via the dispenser 36.

[0133] The distance between the outlet of the ice inlet channel 3615 and the first end 21 is greater than the distance between the inlet of the ice inlet channel 3615 and the first end 21. Therefore, when the outer shell 34 is closer to the first end 21 of the door 200, the ice crushing chamber 3611 can shift towards a position closer to the center of the door 200. Alternatively, when the outer shell 34 is closer to the first end 21 of the door 200, the ice inlet channel 3615 allows the ice to slide into the ice crushing chamber 3611, completing a first shift from the first end 21 of the door 200 towards the center of the door 200. The ice outlet channel 3631 allows the ice to exit the ice crushing chamber 3611, completing a second shift from the first end 21 of the door 200 towards the center of the door 200, thus making it easier for the user to retrieve ice from the center of the door 200.

[0134] It is understood that the ice inlet channel 3615 can be curved or straight, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0135] It is also understood that, depending on the radial cross-section of the ice inlet channel 3615, the ice inlet channel 3615 can be a circular tube or a square tube, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0136] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 15 , Figure 15 for Figure 1 The refrigerator is shown in a cross-sectional view along the BB direction. Taking the outer shell 34 disposed on the cabinet 100 as an example, the outer shell 34 is located on the side of the refrigeration compartment 11 near the first end 21. The outer shell 34 has a third ice outlet 346 for discharging ice. Specifically, the ice outlet of the first ice storage box 32 can be exposed from the third ice outlet 346. When the cabinet door 200 is rotated to close the refrigeration compartment 11, the inlet of the ice inlet channel 3615 is connected to the third ice outlet 346 to guide the ice produced by the ice-making device into the ice crushing chamber 3611.

[0137] It is understandable that if the ice-making device is located in the exact center of the refrigeration chamber 11, it will divide the refrigeration chamber 11 into two smaller sub-chambers, making it inconvenient to place larger items in each of the smaller sub-chambers. Therefore, in this embodiment, on the one hand, the ice-making device is located at the edge of the refrigeration chamber 11, allowing the refrigeration chamber 11 to conveniently store larger items; on the other hand, the user can conveniently retrieve ice from the center of the door 200.

[0138] The distributor 36 may also include a sealing ring. The sealing ring is disposed on the distributor 36. When the cabinet door 200 closes the refrigeration chamber 11, the sealing ring is compressed between the distributor 36 and the ice-making device and is disposed around the inlet of the ice inlet channel 3615 and the third ice outlet 346, and the sealing ring partially abuts against the inner wall of the refrigeration chamber 11 adjacent to the ice-making device.

[0139] Therefore, the sealing ring can be deformed by the pressure of the distributor 36, the ice-making device and the inner wall of the refrigeration chamber 11, thereby forming a good seal between the distributor 36 and the ice-making device, effectively preventing the cold air in the ice-making device from leaking out from the joint between the inlet of the ice inlet channel 3615 and the third ice outlet 346.

[0140] It should also be noted that in order to achieve a sealing effect, vertical beams need to be installed on the inner wall of the ice-making device and the refrigeration chamber 11 to supplement the sealing. However, this application improves the sealing effect by setting a sealing ring and having the sealing ring contact and deform with both the ice-making device and the inner wall of the refrigeration chamber 11. As a result, it is not necessary to set up vertical beams, which increases the space of the refrigeration chamber to a certain extent, and thus the ice-making space of the ice-making device can be made larger.

[0141] The sealing ring can be a rubber sealing ring to improve the sealing effect. It can also be understood that by setting the sealing ring, heat exchange between the ice inlet channel 3615 and the outside can be reduced, thus preventing the ice blocks in the ice inlet channel 3615 from melting and sticking together, and preventing the stuck ice blocks from clogging the ice inlet channel 3615. This allows the dispenser 36 to more easily discharge the ice, ultimately making it easier for the user to obtain ice.

[0142] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0143] The ice maker 300 and refrigerator provided in the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: An ice-making machine, used to produce and output ice blocks; The first ice storage box is used to store ice cubes; and An ice transport mechanism includes a first drive assembly, a carrier, and an ice-blocking component. The first drive assembly drives the carrier to move between the ice-making mechanism and the first ice storage box, so that the carrier carries the ice blocks output by the ice-making mechanism and transports them to the first ice storage box. The carrier is provided with a first ice outlet for discharging the ice blocks it carries. The ice-blocking component is movably connected to the carrier to open or close the first ice outlet. The ice transport mechanism further includes an elastic element, which is installed on the carrier and is used to drive the ice-blocking element to move in the direction of closing the first ice outlet; The ice-blocking component includes: a blocking portion for opening or closing the first ice outlet; a sliding portion, each end of the blocking portion being provided with the sliding portion, the sliding portion being slidably connected to the carrier; and an abutting portion, each of the sliding portions being connected to an abutting portion, and each of the abutting portions abutting against an elastic member.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-blocking component can be slidably mounted on the carrier along a first direction, which is parallel to the direction of the ice-making mechanism toward the first ice storage box.

3. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-blocking component is configured as follows: When the vehicle is located at the first ice storage box, the ice-blocking component moves to open the first ice outlet; When the vehicle moves away from the first ice storage box, the ice-blocking component moves to close the first ice outlet.

4. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding part is provided with a hollow structure.

5. The ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The surface of the first ice storage box is provided with a blocking member. When the vehicle moves to the first ice storage box, the blocking member can abut against the ice blocking member to drive the ice blocking member to open the first ice outlet.

6. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a housing with an ice-making cavity. The ice-making mechanism, the first ice storage box, and the ice-transporting mechanism are housed within the ice-making cavity. The inner wall of the housing includes a first side wall for mounting and fixing the ice-transporting mechanism. The ice-making mechanism and the first ice storage box are both located on the side of the ice-transporting mechanism facing away from the first side wall. The ice-blocking component is installed on the side of the carrier away from the first side wall.

7. The ice maker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vehicle includes: Ice-carrying boards are used to carry ice blocks; and A wing plate protrudes from one side surface of the ice transport plate used to carry ice blocks, and the wing plate and the ice transport plate surround each other to form the first ice outlet.

8. A refrigerator, characterized in that, It includes an ice maker as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images