A water receiving box position detection structure and an ice maker

Abstract

The application provides a water receiving box position detection structure, which comprises an ice making contact (2) and an ice pouring contact (3), a first conductor (4) is arranged on the water receiving box (1), the first conductor (4) rotates to the vicinity of the ice making contact (2) along with the water receiving box (1), the ice making contact (2) is in conduction with the first conductor (4) to form a first signal, the first signal is used for being transmitted to a control unit to make the control unit control the water receiving box (1) to stop rotating, the first conductor (4) rotates to the vicinity of the ice pouring contact (3) along with the water receiving box (1), the ice pouring contact (3) is in conduction with the first conductor (4) to form a second signal, the second signal is used for being transmitted to the control unit to make the control unit control the water receiving box (1) to stop rotating; the detection structure is low in cost and is beneficial to improving reliability; and an ice making machine adopting the water receiving box position detection structure is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automatic ice-making electrical appliances, specifically to a water receiving box position detection structure and an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] The water collection box of an ice maker is the core structure used for ice making. During ice making, the water collection box needs to switch between two positions: the ice-making position (usually horizontal) and the ice-pouring position (usually tilted). In the ice-making position, the cooling head (also called a condenser, heat exchanger, or evaporator) of the ice-making component is inserted into the water collection box, and the ice-making component operates to make ice. In the ice-pouring position, the ice cubes are poured out of the water collection box (usually this requires heating so that the inner surface of the ice cubes melts slightly before they fall smoothly into the ice collection box). In other words, in the ice-making position… The water collection box can hold water. The cooling head is inserted into the water, and the refrigeration system, including the compressor (not shown), operates to cool the ice. Because the cooling head is submerged in water, the water around it quickly condenses onto the cooling head to form ice. To collect the ice, the box is first rotated to the ice-collecting position, which is usually set to an inclined position. At this time, the refrigeration system, including the compressor (not shown), operates to heat the ice, causing the inner surface of the ice to melt slightly before it falls smoothly into the ice collection box. When the water collection box needs to be rotated back to its original position, the control drive mechanism rotates the water collection box in the opposite direction to the ice-making position, thus completing one ice-making cycle.

[0003] As mentioned above, the switching between the two positions determines the timing of the start of the different processes of refrigeration and heating, which is crucial for the normal and reliable operation of the ice maker. Therefore, to achieve automation, the switching between the two positions is implemented by an electronic control structure, which generally includes a drive unit (usually a motor) and a controller. In order for the controller to reliably know the specific position of the water inlet box to energize for ice making or melting, one type of water inlet box position detection structure adopts a contact-type position detection scheme. Specifically, the current contact-type position detection scheme requires two position switches (e.g., microswitches), namely a first position switch and a second position switch. The cost of each position switch is 70 cents RMB, totaling 1.4 RMB for both. In order to transmit the signal, a total of 5 wires are needed, with a cost of at least 50 cents RMB. Therefore, the total cost of the accessories alone is 1.9 RMB, not including labor installation costs. Besides the high cost, there is also the problem of low reliability. Specifically, the current detection principle is as follows: a swing arm is provided at one end of the water receiving box. The swing arm rotates with the water receiving box. The swing arm is used to press the first position switch and the second position switch at different positions. When the water receiving box reaches the ice-making position, the swing arm presses down and holds the first position switch. When the water receiving box rotates to the ice-pouring position, the swing arm rotates with the water receiving box. The swing arm first releases the first position switch, and then rotates to the second position switch to press down and hold the second position switch. This process is repeated to realize the automatic ice-making process. As can be seen from the above, the position switch needs to be pressed down and held to be triggered. Therefore, there is a problem of inaccurate detection caused by the position switch not being reliably triggered due to insufficient pressing, which leads to low reliability.

[0004] For existing position detection structures for water receiving boxes designed based on the contact principle, please refer to the Chinese patent publication text of the ice-making module and the ice-making water dispenser with authorization announcement number CN210532762U. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and propose a position detection structure for a water receiving box that is low in cost and improves reliability; an ice maker is also proposed that adopts the aforementioned position detection structure for a water receiving box.

[0006] Compared to existing technologies, this invention proposes a position detection structure for a water receiving box, including a water receiving box, an ice-making contact, an ice-pouring contact, and a first conductor driven by the water receiving box. The first conductor reciprocates with the water receiving box in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The ice-making contact and the ice-pouring contact are both arranged around the first conductor. When the water receiving box rotates to the ice-making position, the first conductor rotates with the water receiving box to the vicinity of the ice-making contact, and the ice-making contact conducts with the first conductor to form a first signal, while the ice-pouring contact disengages from the first conductor. This first signal is used to transmit to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box to stop rotating. When the water receiving box rotates from the ice-making position to the ice-pouring position, the first conductor rotates with the water receiving box to the vicinity of the ice-pouring contact, and the ice-pouring contact conducts with the first conductor to form a second signal, while the ice-making contact disengages from the first conductor. This second signal is used to transmit to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box to stop rotating.

[0007] As an improvement, the water receiving box is made of plastic parts, and the first conductor is set in the plastic parts as an insert.

[0008] As an improvement, a conductive contact is also included, which is disposed around the first conductor and is always in contact with the first conductor.

[0009] As an improvement, the conducting contact is an elastic conductor structure that can be elastically connected to the first conductor.

[0010] As an improvement, the ice-making contact, the conducting contact, and the ice-reversing contact are arranged sequentially around the first conductor.

[0011] As an improvement, both the ice-making contact and the ice-pouring contact are elastic conductor structures that can be elastically connected to the first conductor.

[0012] As an improvement, a first conductor is provided at the rotating end of the water receiving box.

[0013] As an improvement, it also includes a housing, with the water receiving box rotatably connected to the housing. The rotating shaft end is located on the outside of the housing. The outer side of the housing is provided with a first connecting seat corresponding to the ice-making contact and a second connecting seat corresponding to the ice-pouring contact. The first connecting seat and the second connecting seat are both arranged around the rotating shaft end. The ice-making contact is connected to the first connecting seat, and the ice-pouring contact is connected to the second connecting seat.

[0014] As an improvement, both the first and second connecting seats are designed to be axially engaged with the ice-making contact and the ice-pouring contact.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages after adopting the above structure: The solution disclosed in this invention does not have a position switch, but achieves signal change by whether it is on or off, that is, it has a first signal and a second signal. The signal change is used by the control unit to determine so that the control unit controls the water receiving box to stop rotating. With the minimum number of settings, that is, with one ice-making contact, one ice-pouring contact and one conducting contact, only 3 contacts and 3 wires are needed. The contacts are not switches, but simple conductor structures, such as spring contacts, spring contacts, etc. The cost of 3 contacts and 3 wires is much lower than that of the prior art. In addition, since it is a conducting design, there is no switch pressing action, so there is no situation where it is not pressed in place, and the reliability is also improved.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention also proposes an ice maker, including a refrigeration component, a drive component, and a control unit. The control unit is used to control the drive component to reciprocate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The drive component is connected to a water receiving box, and the drive component drives the water receiving box to reciprocate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The refrigeration head of the refrigeration component cooperates with the water receiving box. The ice maker adopts the aforementioned water receiving box position detection structure. The control unit controls the ice maker to automatically switch between ice making and ice pouring states based on the position of the water receiving box detected by the detection structure.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages when adopting the above structure: the solution disclosed herein has low cost and is conducive to improving reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a water receiving box position detection structure in the ice-making position.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a water receiving box position detection structure in the ice-pouring position.

[0020] Figure 3 A perspective view of a position detection structure for a water receiving box with a guide plate connected to it.

[0021] Figure 4 A perspective view of a water receiving box position detection structure that allows the water receiving box to be rotatably connected to the housing.

[0022] The attached diagram shows the following labels: 1-water receiving box, 2-ice making contact, 3-ice pouring contact, 4-first conductor, 5-conducting contact, 6-shaft end, 7-housing shell, 8-first connecting seat, 9-second connecting seat, 10-third connecting seat, 11-cooling head, 12-guide plate, 13-driving component. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following description is intended to disclose the present invention and enable those skilled in the art to implement it. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention defined in the following description can be applied to other embodiments, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and other technical solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0024] The present invention will now be described in further detail:

[0025] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this disclosure proposes a position detection structure for a water receiving box, including a water receiving box 1, an ice-making contact 2, an ice-pouring contact 3, and a first conductor 4 driven by the water receiving box 1. The first conductor 4 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise with the water receiving box 1. The ice-making contact 2 and the ice-pouring contact 3 are both arranged around the first conductor 4. When the water receiving box 1 rotates to the ice-making position, the first conductor 4 rotates with the water receiving box 1 to the vicinity of the ice-making contact 2, and the ice-making contact 2 conducts with the first conductor 4 to form a first signal, while the ice-pouring contact 3 disengages from the first conductor 4. This first signal is used to transmit to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box 1 to stop rotating. Figure 1 , 4 As shown; when the water receiving box 1 rotates from the ice-making position to the ice-pouring position, the first conductor 4 rotates with the water receiving box 1 to the vicinity of the ice-pouring contact 3, and the ice-pouring contact 3 and the first conductor 4 become conductive to form a second signal, while the ice-making contact 2 disengages from the first conductor 4. This second signal is used to send to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box 1 to stop rotating, i.e. Figure 2 As shown.

[0026] The first conductor 4 can rotate back and forth with the water receiving box 1 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. This can be because the first conductor 4 is mounted on or integrally set on the water receiving box 1 and rotates together, or the water receiving box 1 can be connected to the first conductor 4 through a transmission structure, such as a gear transmission structure.

[0027] The first conductor 4 can be a continuous whole conductor or a discontinuous one, that is, it can have multiple conductor segments, such as two conductor segments, corresponding to the ice-making position and the ice-pouring position respectively.

[0028] In this example, the water receiving box 1 is made of plastic, and the first conductor 4 is set in the plastic part as an insert. That is, the water receiving box 1 is manufactured using injection molding technology. At the same time, the first conductor 4, as an insert, is connected to the water receiving box 1 during injection molding. Injection molding technology is an existing technology. This design significantly improves production efficiency and reduces production costs.

[0029] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, it also includes a conductive contact 5, which is arranged around the first conductor 4 and is always in contact with the first conductor 4. This design achieves a simple structural solution to the problem of current conduction from the first conductor 4, greatly simplifying the structural design of the water receiving box 1. In other words, the structural design of the water receiving box 1 does not need to further consider the problem of current conduction from the first conductor 4. Through the conductive contact 5, the ice-making contact 2 conducts with the first conductor 4 to form a first signal, and the ice-pouring contact 3 conducts with the first conductor 4 to form a second signal. However, other structures can also be used to solve the problem of current conduction from the first conductor 4, not limited to the aforementioned structures. For example, the first conductor 4 can be directly connected to a wire, and the problem of current conduction from the first conductor 4 can be solved through the wire.

[0030] To further simplify assembly and improve assembly efficiency, such as Figure 3 , 4 As shown, the water receiving box 1 has a first conductor 4 on the rotating shaft end 6 and also includes a housing 7. The water receiving box 1 is rotatably connected to the housing 7. The rotating shaft end 6 is located outside the housing 7. The outer side of the housing 7 is provided with a first connecting seat 8 corresponding to the ice-making contact 2 and a second connecting seat 9 corresponding to the ice-pouring contact 3. The first connecting seat 8 and the second connecting seat 9 are both arranged around the rotating shaft end 6. The ice-making contact 2 is connected to the first connecting seat 8, and the ice-pouring contact 3 is connected to the second connecting seat 9.

[0031] like Figure 4 As shown, housing 7 can be the outer shell of the ice receiving box of the ice maker, thus simplifying the structure.

[0032] To further simplify assembly and improve assembly efficiency, such as Figure 4 As shown, both the first connecting seat 8 and the second connecting seat 9 are snap-fit ​​seats for axially snapping the ice-making contact 2 and the ice-returning contact 3. For further reliable fixation, screws can be added to tighten the ice-making contact 2 and the ice-returning contact 3. Similarly, a third connecting seat 10 is also provided, which is a snap-fit ​​seat for axially snapping the conducting contact 5.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the ice-making contact 2, the conducting contact 5, and the ice-reversing contact 3 are arranged sequentially around the first conductor 4, resulting in a compact structure.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the ice-making contact 2, the conducting contact 5, and the ice-returning contact 3 are all elastic conductor structures that can be elastically connected to the first conductor 4. With this design, the conductivity remains reliable during long-term use. Elastic conductor structures include spring contacts, spring contacts, etc. In this example, a spring contact is used.

[0035] It is understandable that the number of ice-making contacts 2 can be one or more, the number of conducting contacts 5 can be one or more, and the number of ice-discharging contacts 3 can be one or more. In this example, there is only one of each, which minimizes the cost.

[0036] An ice maker employing the aforementioned water collection box position detection structure offers a significant cost advantage compared to existing technologies and improves reliability. This ice maker typically includes a refrigeration assembly, a drive unit 13, and a control unit. The drive unit 13 utilizes an electric drive structure, such as a motor connected to a reducer. The control unit controls the drive unit 13 to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. The drive unit 13 is connected to the water collection box 1, causing it to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. The refrigeration head 11 of the refrigeration assembly engages with the water collection box 1, such as... Figure 3 , 4 As shown.

[0037] like Figure 4 The diagram shows the main structural components of the ice maker. In this example, the water receiving box 1 is connected to a guide plate 12, and the drive unit 13 is connected to the outside of the housing 7. The output shaft of the drive unit 13 is connected to the water receiving box 1, which is rotatably connected to the housing 7. The water receiving box 1 has a first conductor 4 at its shaft end 6, away from the drive unit 13. The cooling head 11 of the refrigeration assembly cooperates with the water receiving box 1. Specifically, the cooling head 11 extends from top to bottom into the water receiving box 1, and the water receiving box 1 reciprocates around its own shaft. In the ice-making position, the cooling head 11 is located in the water receiving box 1, and the water in the water receiving box 1 is supported by the water receiving box 1 to supply the cooling head 11 for ice making. Figure 4 As shown, at the ice-pouring position, as Figure 2 As shown, at this time, the water receiving box 1 is in the flipped position, and the ice on the cooling head 11 will fall off the cooling head 11 under heating, thereby obtaining ice.

[0038] When understanding this invention, the above structure may be referred to other appendices if necessary. Figure 1 And that is understood, so I will not elaborate further here.

[0039] The above description is merely an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes or modifications made to the structure, features, and principles described in the scope of protection of the present invention are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A position detection structure for a water receiving box, comprising a water receiving box (1), characterized in that, It also includes an ice-making contact (2), an ice-pouring contact (3), and a first conductor (4) driven by the water receiving box (1). The first conductor (4) rotates back and forth in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions with the water receiving box (1). The ice-making contact (2) and the ice-pouring contact (3) are both arranged around the first conductor (4). When the water receiving box (1) rotates to the ice-making position, the first conductor (4) rotates with the water receiving box (1) to the vicinity of the ice-making contact (2), and the ice-making contact (2) and the first conductor (4) conduct to form a first signal, while the ice-pouring contact (3)... The first conductor (4) is disconnected from the first conductor (4). The first signal is sent to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box (1) to stop rotating. When the water receiving box (1) rotates from the ice-making position to the ice-pouring position, the first conductor (4) rotates with the water receiving box (1) to the vicinity of the ice-pouring contact (3). The ice-pouring contact (3) and the first conductor (4) are connected to form a second signal. The ice-making contact (2) is disconnected from the first conductor (4). The second signal is sent to the control unit so that the control unit controls the water receiving box (1) to stop rotating.

2. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water receiving box (1) is made of plastic parts, and the first conductor (4) is set in the plastic parts in the form of an insert.

3. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It also includes a conductive contact (5) which is disposed around the first conductor (4) and is always in contact with the first conductor (4).

4. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The conducting contact (5) is an elastic conductor structure that can be elastically connected to the first conductor (4).

5. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The ice-making contact (2), the conducting contact (5), and the ice-reversing contact (3) are arranged in sequence around the first conductor (4).

6. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the ice-making contact (2) and the ice-returning contact (3) are elastic conductor structures that can be elastically connected to the first conductor (4).

7. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first conductor (4) is provided at the rotating end (6) of the water receiving box (1).

8. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a housing (7), a water receiving box (1) rotatably connected to the housing (7), a rotating shaft end (6) located outside the housing (7), and the outer side of the housing (7) is provided with a first connecting seat (8) corresponding to the ice-making contact (2) and a second connecting seat (9) corresponding to the ice-pouring contact (3). The first connecting seat (8) and the second connecting seat (9) are both arranged around the rotating shaft end (6). The ice-making contact (2) is connected to the first connecting seat (8), and the ice-pouring contact (3) is connected to the second connecting seat (9).

9. The position detection structure for the water receiving box according to claim 8, characterized in that, Both the first connecting seat (8) and the second connecting seat (9) are snap-fit ​​seats for axial snap-fit ​​of the ice-making contact (2) and for axial snap-fit ​​of the ice-returning contact (3).

10. An ice maker, comprising a refrigeration assembly, a drive component (13), and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the drive component (13) to rotate reciprocally in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the drive component (13) is connected to a water receiving box (1), and the drive component (13) drives the water receiving box (1) to rotate reciprocally in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and the refrigeration head (11) of the refrigeration assembly cooperates with the water receiving box (1), characterized in that, The device includes a water receiving box position detection structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, and the control unit controls the ice maker to automatically switch between ice making and ice pouring states based on the position of the water receiving box (1) detected by the detection structure.

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