Multifunction ice maker and refrigerator

Abstract

The application provides a multifunctional ice maker and refrigerator. The ice maker comprises a first shell, an ice making module, a controller, a first water path, a second water path and an ice crushing module. The ice making module, a first power pump of the first water path, a second power pump of the second water path, a motor of the ice crushing module and the controller are electrically connected. The first water path is connected with a water inlet, and the second water path is connected with the ice making module. After a refrigeration door is closed, a first air inlet on one side of the first shell overlaps with a second air inlet in a compartment. When ice is needed, a refrigeration mode is started, and the second power pump is started to provide ice water for ice making. When water is needed, the first power pump is started. When whole ice or crushed ice is needed, the ice making module is flipped, and the motor is controlled to run at a first rotating speed or a second rotating speed. The ice maker does not need to use a complex distributor, can realize separate water taking and ice taking, has a simple structure, can provide whole ice or crushed ice for users through the ice crushing module, and can solve the problems of complex structure and single function of the ice maker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator ice-making technology, and more particularly to a multi-functional ice maker and refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] To meet users' daily ice needs, some refrigerators are equipped with ice makers. To make it convenient for users to obtain ice and water, some ice makers are located in the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment. However, to save space, some side-by-side refrigerators place the ice maker on the freezer door, using a dispenser on the outside of the door to allow users to obtain ice and water from outside the door.

[0003] However, ice makers installed using the above methods have several problems. While convenient for obtaining ice and water when placed in the refrigerator compartment, the temperature inside the refrigerator is insufficient for freezing. To achieve ice production, the ice maker's structure becomes complex, resulting in it occupying more refrigerator space and impacting its usability. When the ice maker is installed on the freezer door, it allows for ice and water extraction from outside the door, but the external distributor disrupts the refrigerator's aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, the complex structure of ice makers with distributors leads to thicker freezer doors, reducing the standardization of door liner and shell. Additionally, these ice makers can only produce whole, frozen ice blocks, offering limited functionality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a multi-functional ice maker and refrigerator to solve the problem of ice makers having complex structures and limited functions.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a multi-functional ice maker, comprising: a first housing, an ice-making module, a controller, a first water circuit, a second water circuit, and an ice-crushing module; the ice-crushing module includes a motor and ice-crushing blades, the first water circuit includes a first power pump, and the second water circuit includes a second power pump; the ice-making module, the first power pump, the second power pump, and the motor are respectively electrically connected to the controller;

[0006] The first housing includes an ice-making area and a water supply area, wherein the ice-making area is disposed on top of the water supply area;

[0007] A first air inlet is provided on one side of the ice-making area. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first air inlet overlaps with the second air inlet inside the refrigerator room.

[0008] The ice-making module is located in the ice-making area; an ice-falling channel and a water inlet are provided in the middle of the first housing; an ice-crushing chamber is provided in the ice-making area, and an ice-falling outlet is provided at the bottom of the ice-crushing chamber, which is connected to the ice-falling channel; the water supply area is provided with a first water supply outlet and a second water supply outlet; the two ends of the first water path are detachably connected to the first water supply outlet and the water inlet, respectively; the two ends of the second water path are detachably connected to the second water supply outlet and the ice-making module, respectively.

[0009] The output shaft of the motor is detachably connected to the ice-crushing blade; the motor is located in the ice-making area, and the ice-crushing blade is located inside the ice-crushing cavity;

[0010] The motor includes a first speed and a second speed; the controller is configured to:

[0011] In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the refrigeration mode of the refrigerator compartment is activated.

[0012] The second power pump is controlled to start for a first duration so that ice water enters the ice-making module through the second water passage;

[0013] In response to the control command to activate the ice water extraction mode, the first power pump is activated so that ice water flows out through the first water path along the water inlet.

[0014] In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the ice-making module is controlled to flip so that the ice blocks inside the ice-making module fall into the ice-crushing chamber;

[0015] The motor is controlled to run at the first speed so that the ice block falls along the ice-falling channel;

[0016] In response to the control command to activate the ice crushing mode, the ice-making module is flipped so that the ice blocks inside the ice-making module fall into the ice crushing chamber.

[0017] The motor is controlled to operate at the second speed so that the ice fragments fall along the ice-falling channel.

[0018] Optionally, a first return air vent is also provided on one side of the ice-making area. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first return air vent overlaps with the second return air vent inside the refrigerator room.

[0019] Optionally, the first water path and the second water path further include water pipe connectors, the first water inlet and the second water inlet are disposed on the platform, the first water path is connected to the bottom surface of the first water storage device through the water pipe connectors and the first water inlet, and the second water path is connected to the bottom surface of the second water storage device through the water pipe connectors and the second water inlet.

[0020] Optionally, it also includes a second housing, which is snapped into the first housing; a hook is provided on one side of the second housing, which is used to snap the second housing into the side of the refrigerator door.

[0021] Optionally, cavities are formed on both sides of the first shell and the second shell, the first water passage and the second water passage are disposed in the cavities, and the cavities are filled with thermal insulation material.

[0022] Optionally, it also includes an ice maker door and a sealing strip; the ice maker door is hinged to the first housing, and the sealing strip is disposed on the side of the first housing near the ice maker door.

[0023] Optionally, it also includes an ice storage box, which is disposed in the ice-making area, and the highest point of the ice storage box is lower than the lowest point of the ice-making module; the ice crushing chamber is disposed inside the ice storage box.

[0024] Optionally, the ice crushing module also includes an ice-turning rod, which is connected to the output shaft of the motor. The ice-turning rod is located inside the ice storage box and has an L-shaped structure. The ice-turning rod is installed at an angle.

[0025] Secondly, this application provides a refrigerator, including: a cabinet, a refrigerator door, and the multi-functional ice maker provided in the first aspect, wherein the cabinet and the refrigerator door are hinged together; a refrigerator compartment is provided inside the cabinet, and the multi-functional ice maker is disposed on the side of the refrigerator door near the refrigerator compartment, and the multi-functional ice maker is detachably connected to the refrigerator door.

[0026] This application provides a multifunctional ice maker and refrigerator. The ice maker includes: a first housing, an ice-making module, a controller, a first water path, a second water path, and an ice-crushing module. The first water path includes a first power pump, the second water path includes a second power pump, and the ice-crushing module includes a motor. The ice-making module, the first power pump, the second power pump, the motor, and the controller are electrically connected. The first water path is connected to a water inlet, and the second water path is connected to the ice-making module. The ice maker is mounted on the refrigerator door, and when the refrigerator door is closed, a first air inlet on one side of the first housing overlaps with a second air inlet inside the refrigerator compartment. When ice making is needed, the cooling mode is activated, and the second power pump is simultaneously activated to provide ice water for ice making. When water needs to be dispensed, the first power pump is activated. When whole ice or crushed ice needs to be dispensed, the ice-making module flips and controls the power supply to operate at a first speed or a second speed. This ice maker can achieve separate water and ice dispensing without the need for a complex distributor. It has a simple structure, occupies less internal refrigerator space, and by setting up an ice-crushing module, it can provide users with whole ice or crushed ice, thus solving the problems of complex structure and single function of traditional ice makers. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a multifunctional ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a multifunctional ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the multifunctional ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the water pipe connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the first or second water storage device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the first waterway connection structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the second waterway connection structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the ice storage box structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the motor and ice storage box provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the motor installation position provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 11 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the multifunctional ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0039] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Illustration:

[0041] Among them, 1-box body; 2-refrigerated compartment; 21-second air inlet; 22-second return air inlet; 3-refrigerated door; 4-multi-functional ice maker; 401-first shell; 4011-first air inlet; 4012-first return air inlet; 4014-water inlet; 4015-platform; 4016-third placement platform; 4017-first placement platform; 4018-second placement platform; 402-second shell; 4021-hanging ear; 403-cavity; 404-ice maker door; 405-sealing strip; 406-ice making module ; 407-Baffle; 408-Ice storage box; 4081-Ice drop outlet; 4082-Ice crushing blade; 4083-Ice turning rod; 4084-First wing nut; 409-Motor; 4091-Second wing nut; 410-Second water reservoir; 411-First water reservoir; 4111-Spring water inlet; 4112-Sealing cap; 412-Second water passage; 4121-Second power pump; 413-First water passage; 4131-First power pump; 4132-Water pipe; 4133-Water pipe connector; 414-Ice drop channel. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described below do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. They are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the claims.

[0043] While placing an ice maker in the refrigerator compartment offers convenient ice and water access, the temperature inside the refrigerator doesn't reach the freezing point. To achieve ice production, the ice maker's structure becomes complex, resulting in it occupying more refrigerator space and impacting its usability. When the ice maker is placed on the freezer door, it allows for ice and water access from outside the door, but the external distributor disrupts the refrigerator's aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, the complex structure of ice makers with distributors leads to thicker freezer doors, reducing the standardization of door liner and shell components. Additionally, these ice makers can only produce whole, frozen ice blocks, limiting their functionality.

[0044] To address the issues of complex structure and limited functionality in ice makers, some embodiments of this application provide a multi-functional ice maker, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1-2 The ice maker includes: a first housing 401, an ice-making module 406, a controller, a first water circuit 413, a second water circuit 412, and an ice-crushing module. The first water circuit 413 includes a first power pump 4131, the second water circuit 412 includes a second power pump 4121, and the ice-crushing module includes a motor 409. The ice-making module 406, the first power pump 4131, the second power pump 4121, and the motor 409 are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0045] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application. The first housing 401 includes an ice-making area at the top and a water supply area at the bottom. In some embodiments, the ice-making area and the water supply area can be manufactured using an integral molding process. The ice-making area can be a rectangular tank structure, with outward-facing flanges at the top of the four sides of the ice-making area, and gaps left between the flanges and the side walls of the ice-making area tank. The water supply area can also be a rectangular tank structure, with outward-facing flanges at the top of both sides of the water supply area. The depth of the water supply area can be set to be less than the depth of the ice-making area. Since it is manufactured using integral molding, the flanges on both sides of the water supply area are coplanar with the flanges on both sides of the ice-making area. It can be understood that the flange height of the water supply area is less than the flange height of the ice-making area.

[0046] See Figure 12 The first housing 401 has a first air inlet 4011 on one side of the ice-making area, and the first air inlet 4011 is located near the side wall of the refrigerator compartment. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first air inlet 4011 overlaps with the second air inlet 21 inside the refrigerator compartment. After the refrigerator compartment is turned on in cooling mode, the cool air directly enters the ice-making area through the overlapping first air inlet 4011 and second air inlet 21, providing cooling capacity for ice making and causing the water in the ice-making area to freeze. By setting the overlapping first air inlet 4011 and second air inlet 21, cool air at a lower temperature can be directly provided to the ice-making area, eliminating the need for a complex ice-making structure.

[0047] An ice-making module 406 is disposed within the ice-making zone of the first housing 401. The ice-making module 406 is equipped with an ice grid; liquid water enters the ice grid and forms ice blocks at low temperatures to perform ice making. The ice-making module 406 is rotatably connected to the first housing 401 and can be flipped relative to the first housing 401. The ice-making zone and the water supply zone are connected at the middle of the first housing 401. An ice-falling channel 414 and a water inlet 4014 are provided at the middle of the first housing 401. In some embodiments, the ice-falling channel 414 can be a rectangular funnel structure, and the water inlet 4014 can be a circular tube structure. An ice-crushing chamber is also provided within the ice-making zone. The ice-crushing chamber can be a cylindrical cavity used to collect ice blocks falling from the ice-making module 406. The bottom of the ice-crushing chamber is provided with an ice-falling opening 4081, which can be a circular or square hole. The ice-falling opening 4081 is connected to the top of the ice-falling channel 414 so that ice blocks falling from the ice-making module 406 can fall through the ice-falling channel 414 for user use. It should also be noted that the ice-making module 406 is rotated to face the inside of the first housing 401 to reduce the probability of ice blocks falling out of the ice-crushing chamber.

[0048] The bottom of the first housing 401, i.e., the water supply area, is provided with a first water inlet and a second water inlet. The two ends of the first water passage 413 are detachably connected to the first water inlet and the water outlet 4014, respectively. The two ends of the second water passage 412 are detachably connected to the second water inlet and the ice-making module 406, respectively. A water tank can be installed on the side of the refrigerator door, and the water tank is connected to the first water inlet and the second water inlet via water pipes. Since the first water passage 413 is equipped with a first power pump 4131 and the second water passage 412 is equipped with a second power pump 4121, turning on the first power pump 4131 can transport ice water to the water outlet 4014 through the first water passage 413, and the user can then take water from the water outlet 4014. Turning on the second power pump 4121 can supply water to the ice-making module 406 through the second water passage 412 for ice making.

[0049] The motor 409 is located within the ice-making area, and can be positioned in the middle of the first housing 401. (See [reference]). Figure 9-10 The ice-crushing module also includes an ice-crushing blade 4082, which is detachably connected to the output shaft of the motor 409. Since the ice-crushing blade 4082 is used for crushing ice, it must be housed within the ice-crushing cavity, preventing direct connection between the blade and the motor's output shaft. Therefore, in some embodiments, a second wing nut 4091 can be installed on the output shaft of the motor 409, with a first wing nut 4084 at its top. The ice-crushing blade 4082 can be fixed to the first wing nut 4084 via a connecting shaft. When the motor 409 is turned on, the first and second wing nuts 4084 drive the ice-crushing blade 4082 to rotate around the output shaft, thus crushing the ice. Simultaneously, the ice-crushing cavity isolates the motor 409 from the ice, protecting it from falling ice.

[0050] The motor 409 includes a first speed and a second speed. It should be noted that the first speed is a low speed, and the second speed is a high speed. When the motor 409 operates at the first speed, the ice-crushing blade 4082 rotates slowly, accelerating the ice block's fall without breaking it, allowing it to enter the ice-falling channel 414. When the motor 409 operates at the second speed, the ice-crushing blade 4082 rotates rapidly, breaking the falling ice into smaller pieces that fall through the ice-falling channel 414. Therefore, in some embodiments, the controller is configured to:

[0051] In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the refrigeration mode of the refrigerator compartment is activated.

[0052] The second power pump 4121 is activated for a first duration so that ice water enters the ice-making module 406 through the second water passage 412.

[0053] In response to the control command to activate the ice water extraction mode, the first power pump 4131 is activated so that ice water flows out through the first water passage 413 and the water inlet 4014.

[0054] In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the ice-making module 406 is flipped so that the ice blocks inside the ice-making module 406 fall into the ice-crushing chamber.

[0055] The motor 409 is controlled to run at a first speed so that the ice blocks fall along the ice-falling channel 414;

[0056] In response to the control command to activate the ice crushing mode, the ice-making module 406 is flipped so that the ice blocks inside the ice-making module 406 fall into the ice crushing chamber.

[0057] The control motor 409 is operated at a second speed so that the ice fragments fall along the ice drop channel 414.

[0058] The ice maker of this application has a rectangular structure with a regular shape. By setting the first housing 401 as an upper and lower structure, space is rationally utilized, reducing the overall size of the ice maker and occupying less internal refrigerator space. By setting a first water channel 413 and a second water channel 412, connecting the first water channel 413 to the water inlet 4014 and the second water channel 412 to the ice-making module 406, the water intake line and the ice-making line can be separated. At the same time, by setting the ice-falling channel 414 and the water inlet 4014 in the middle of the first housing 401, water and ice can be dispensed separately without the need for a complex distributor, resulting in a simple structure. By setting an ice-crushing module in the ice-making area, the ice collected by the ice-falling channel 414 can be either whole ice or crushed ice, increasing the functionality of the ice maker and providing users with more options.

[0059] In some embodiments, a first return air vent 4012 is also provided on one side of the ice-making zone of the first housing 401. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first return air vent 4012 overlaps with the second return air vent 22 in the refrigerator compartment. In the cooling mode, after the cold air undergoes heat exchange in the ice-making zone, it returns to the refrigerator air duct via the first return air vent 4012 and the second return air vent 22.

[0060] See you again Figure 1In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a first water reservoir 411 and a second water reservoir 410. A platform 4015 is provided in the water supply area of ​​the first housing 401. The platform 4015 is a flat surface extending from the bottom of the first housing 401. The first water reservoir 411 and the second water reservoir 410 are detachably connected to the top surface of the platform 4015. Grooves are provided at the bottom of the first water reservoir 411 and the second water reservoir 410, allowing for the placement of a first placement platform 4017 and a second placement platform 4018 on the platform 4015, respectively, to limit the movement of the first water reservoir 411 and the second water reservoir 410. A third placement platform 4016 can also be provided on the top surface of the platform 4015 for placing a water cup when dispensing ice water.

[0061] See Figure 4-7 The bottom surfaces of both the first water reservoir 411 and the second water reservoir 410 are provided with spring-loaded water inlets 4111 and sealing caps 4112. When the first water reservoir 411 or the second water reservoir 410 leaves the platform 4015, the spring-loaded water inlets 4111 and sealing caps 4112 are used to seal the bottom surfaces of the first water reservoir 411 or the second water reservoir 410. The first water passage 413 and the second water passage 412 also include water pipe connectors 4133 and water pipes 4132. It can be understood that the first water inlet and the second water inlet are respectively located on the first placement platform 4017 and the second placement platform 4018. The first water passage 413 is connected to the bottom surface of the first water reservoir 411 through the water pipe connector 4133 and the first water inlet, and the second water passage 412 is connected to the bottom surface of the second water reservoir 410 through the water pipe connector 4133 and the second water inlet.

[0062] The spring-loaded water inlet 4111 and the sealing cap 4112 are used to seal the bottom of the first water reservoir 411 or the second water reservoir 410. The water pipe connector 4133 can be an automatic valve, which allows the first water reservoir 411 or the second water reservoir 410 to supply water automatically. For example, under the tension of the spring inside the spring-loaded water inlet 4111, the inner sealing cap 4112 seals the outlet, and the bottom of the first water reservoir 411 does not leak water. When the first water reservoir 411 is placed on the first placement platform 4017, the bottom push rod of the water pipe connector 4133 pushes up the spring inside the spring-loaded water inlet 4111. At this time, the sealing cap 4112 separates from the bottom of the first water reservoir 411, and ice water can flow into the water pipe 4132. By setting the first water reservoir 411, ice water can be stored and taken out as needed, which is convenient for users to take water. By setting the second water reservoir 410, ice water can be automatically provided to the ice-making module 406, while making reasonable use of the extra space in the water supply area.

[0063] See you again Figure 1 and Figure 12The ice maker also includes a second housing 402, with the first housing 401 snapped into it. A hanging ear 4021 is provided on one side of the second housing 402, used to attach the multi-functional ice maker 4 to the side of the refrigerator door. In some embodiments, the structure of the hanging ear 4021 can be the same as the hanging ear structure on both sides of the bottle frame on the refrigerator door. When the multi-functional ice maker 4 is needed, it is snapped into the side of the refrigerator door; when not in use, it can be removed, and the bottle frame is snapped into the refrigerator door. Simultaneously, by suspending the multi-functional ice maker 4 on the refrigerator door, refrigerator compartment space is saved, and ice and water can be retrieved without bending over, making operation convenient.

[0064] See you again Figure 3 After the first housing 401 and the second housing 402 are snapped together, cavities 403 are formed on both sides of the first housing 401 and the second housing 402 respectively. The water pipes 4132 of the first water passage 413 and the second water passage 412 are arranged in the cavities 403, thereby concealing the water pipes 4132. The cavities 403 are filled with thermal insulation material to form a heat insulation layer to keep the ice blocks in the ice-making module 406 warm.

[0065] See you again Figure 1 The ice maker also includes an ice maker door 404 and a sealing strip 405. The ice maker door 404 has a rectangular structure and is hinged to the first housing 401. The sealing strip 405 is located on the side of the first housing 401 near the ice maker door 404. By setting the sealing strip 405, the first housing 401 can be sealed after the ice maker door 404 is closed, thereby reducing the contamination of the ice by food.

[0066] See Figure 8 and Figure 11 The ice maker also includes an ice storage box 408, which is disposed in the ice-making area of ​​the first housing 401. The highest point of the ice storage box 408 is lower than the lowest point of the ice-making module 406 to facilitate the removal or placement of the ice storage box 408. The ice storage box 408 is used to store ice blocks that fall from the ice-making module 406, so that all the ice blocks can enter the ice storage box 408 without falling out of the first housing 401. In some embodiments, the ice storage box 408 may be a rectangular groove structure, with an ice-crushing chamber disposed inside the ice storage box 408. The ice-crushing chamber and the ice storage box 408 may be integrally formed. A partition may be provided in the middle of the ice storage box 408, and the top of the ice-crushing chamber is connected to the partition to divide the ice storage box 408 into an ice storage area and an ice-falling area. It can be understood that the ice-falling area is the space inside the ice-crushing chamber. An ice-receiving port is provided on the partition, and ice blocks that fall from the ice-making module 406 can fall into the ice-falling area through the ice-receiving port after falling into the ice storage area. Furthermore, the ice blocks are slowed down by the partition before entering the ice-falling area, which reduces the damage to the ice-crushing blade 4082 when the output shaft of the motor 409 is running at high speed.

[0067] See you again Figure 9 and Figure 11 In some embodiments, the ice-crushing module further includes an ice-tumbling rod 4083, which is connected to the output shaft of the motor 409. It is understood that the ice-tumbling rod 4083 is located at the top of the first wing nut 4084 and is housed within the ice storage box 408. The ice-tumbling rod 4083 may have an L-shaped structure. In some embodiments, the ice-tumbling rod 4083 can be plugged into the connecting shaft that fixes the ice-crushing blade 4082. When the motor 409 starts, it drives the ice-tumbling rod 4083 to rotate. In cases where a large amount of ice has fallen, this can agitate the ice, preventing it from accumulating and hindering the rotation of the ice-crushing blade 4082, thus protecting the motor 409.

[0068] In some embodiments, a groove can be provided in the middle of the first housing 401. The groove can have a triangular cross-section, allowing the motor 409 to be fixed on the inclined surface inside the groove for tilted installation. By fixing the motor 409 in the groove, the probability of water entering the motor 409 can be reduced. An inclined connecting surface can be provided on the partition to tilt the ice crushing chamber to the partition, and this connecting surface is parallel to the inclined surface of the groove in the first housing 401, so that the ice-turning rod 4083 and the ice-crushing blade 4082 can be tilted and installed with the motor 409. By tilting the ice-turning rod 4083, the impact force of the ice block on the ice-turning rod 4083 can be reduced when the ice block falls into the ice storage box 408. At the same time, the tilted connecting surface can also accelerate the falling speed of the ice block.

[0069] See you again Figure 1 In some embodiments, the ice maker also includes a baffle 407, which engages with the side of the ice-making module 406. The baffle 407 can reduce the probability that ice blocks falling from the ice-making module 406 will fall out of the ice storage box 408.

[0070] Understandably, the ice-making mode, whole ice dispensing mode, crushed ice dispensing mode, and ice water dispensing mode described above can be operated via buttons on the control panel. When a small amount of whole ice needs to be dispensed, press the whole ice dispensing button; the motor 409 drives the ice-tumbling rod 4083 to slowly agitate the ice, which then falls from the ice drop outlet 4081 into the ice drop channel 414 for removal. When a large amount of whole ice needs to be dispensed, the ice maker door 404 can be opened to remove the ice storage box 408. When crushed ice needs to be dispensed, press the crushed ice dispensing button; the motor 409 drives the ice-tumbling rod 4083 and the ice-crushing blade 4082 to quickly agitate the ice, which then falls from the ice receiving outlet. After being broken by the ice-breaking blade 4082, it continues to fall into the ice-falling channel 414 and is then retrieved. When a large amount of ice water is needed, the first water reservoir 411 can be lifted and ice water can be poured directly from the first water reservoir 411. When a small amount of ice water is needed, the ice water dispensing button is pressed, and the first power pump 4131 on the first water channel 413 draws the ice water from the first water reservoir 411 through the water pipe 4132. At this time, water can be dispensed through the water outlet 4014.

[0071] Some embodiments of this application also provide a refrigerator, see [link to relevant documentation] Figure 12 The refrigerator includes: a cabinet 1, a refrigerator door 3, and the multi-functional ice maker 4 provided in the above embodiment. The cabinet 1 and the refrigerator door 3 are hinged together. A refrigerator compartment 2 is provided inside the cabinet 1. The multi-functional ice maker 4 is located on the side of the refrigerator door 3 near the refrigerator compartment 2, and the multi-functional ice maker 4 is detachably connected to the refrigerator door 3. By placing the multi-functional ice maker 4 on the refrigerator door 3, ice and water can be obtained without bending over, which is convenient and saves space in the refrigerator compartment 3.

[0072] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of this application provide a multifunctional ice maker and refrigerator. The ice maker includes: a first housing 401, an ice-making module 406, a controller, a first water path 413, a second water path 412, and an ice-crushing module. The first water path 413 includes a first power pump 4131, the second water path 412 includes a second power pump 4121, and the ice-crushing module includes a motor 409 and an ice-crushing blade 4082. The ice-making module 406, the first power pump 4131, the second power pump 4121, and the motor 409 are electrically connected to the controller. The first water path 413 is connected to a water inlet 4014; the second water path 412 is connected to the ice-making module 406. The ice maker is installed on the refrigerator door. After the refrigerator door is closed, the first air inlet 4011 on one side of the first housing 401 overlaps with the second air inlet 21 inside the refrigerator compartment. When ice making is needed, the controller activates the cooling mode of the refrigerator compartment to provide cooling for the ice maker, and simultaneously activates the second power pump 4121 to supply ice water to the ice-making module 406. When water needs to be dispensed, the controller activates the first power pump 4131. When whole or crushed ice needs to be dispensed, the controller flips the ice-making module 406, and then controls the power supply 409 to operate at a first or second speed. By setting up the first water path 413 and the second water path 412, the water dispensing line and the ice-making line can be separated. Furthermore, by setting up a water inlet 4014 and an ice drop channel 414 in the first housing 401, separate water and ice dispensing can be achieved without the need for a complex distributor, resulting in a simple structure and minimal space occupation within the refrigerator. By incorporating the motor 409 and ice-crushing blade 4082, whole or crushed ice can be provided to the user, solving the problems of complex structure and limited functionality in traditional ice makers.

[0073] Similar parts between the embodiments provided in this application can be referred to mutually. The specific implementation methods provided above are only a few examples under the overall concept of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application. For those skilled in the art, any other implementation methods extended from the solution of this application without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A multi-functional ice maker, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a first housing (401), a second housing (402), an ice-making module (406), a controller, a first water channel (413), a second water channel (412), an ice storage box (408), an ice-turning rod (4083), and an ice-crushing module; the ice-crushing module includes a motor (409) and an ice-crushing blade (4082); the first water channel (413) includes a first power pump (4131); the second water channel (412) includes a second power pump (4121); the ice-making module (406), the first power pump (4131), the second power pump (4121), and the motor (409) are electrically connected to the controller. The first housing (401) includes an ice-making area and a water supply area, with the ice-making area located at the top of the water supply area; the first housing (401) is snapped into the second housing (402); a hook (4021) is provided on one side of the second housing (402), which is used to snap the second housing (402) into the side of the refrigerator door; cavities (403) are formed on both sides of the first housing (401) and the second housing (402), with the first water passage (413) and the second water passage (412) located in the cavities (403), and the cavities (403) are filled with insulation material; A first air inlet (4011) is provided on one side of the ice-making area. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first air inlet (4011) overlaps with the second air inlet (21) inside the refrigerator room. The ice-making module (406) is disposed in the ice-making area; the first housing (401) is provided with an ice-falling channel (414) and a water inlet (4014) in the middle; the ice-making area is provided with an ice-crushing chamber, and the bottom of the ice-crushing chamber is provided with an ice-falling outlet (4081), which is connected to the ice-falling channel (414); the water supply area is provided with a first water supply outlet and a second water supply outlet; the two ends of the first water passage (413) are detachably connected to the first water supply outlet and the water inlet (4014) respectively; the two ends of the second water passage (412) are detachably connected to the second water supply outlet and the ice-making module (406) respectively. The output shaft of the motor (409) is detachably connected to the ice crusher (4082); the motor (409) is located in the ice-making area, and the ice crusher (4082) is located inside the ice crushing chamber; The ice storage box (408) is provided with the ice crushing chamber. The ice storage box (408) is located in the ice making area, and the highest point of the ice storage box (408) is lower than the lowest point of the ice making module (406). The ice-turning rod (4083) is connected to the output shaft of the motor (409). The ice-turning rod (4083) is set inside the ice storage box (408). The ice-turning rod (4083) has an L-shaped structure and is installed at an angle. The motor (409) includes a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being a low speed and the second speed being a high speed; the controller is configured to: In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the refrigeration mode of the refrigerator compartment is activated. The second power pump (4121) is controlled to start for a first duration so that ice water enters the ice-making module (406) through the second water passage (412). In response to the control command to activate the ice water extraction mode, the first power pump (4131) is activated so that ice water flows out through the first water path (413) along the water inlet (4014); In response to the control command to activate the ice-making mode, the ice-making module (406) is controlled to flip so that the ice blocks in the ice-making module (406) fall into the ice-crushing chamber; The motor (409) is controlled to run at the first speed so that the ice block falls along the ice-falling channel (414); In response to the control command to activate the ice crushing mode, the ice-making module (406) is controlled to flip so that the ice blocks in the ice-making module (406) fall into the ice crushing chamber; The motor (409) is controlled to operate at the second speed so that the ice fragments fall along the ice drop channel (414).

2. The multifunctional ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first return air vent (4012) is also provided on one side of the ice-making area. When the refrigerator door is closed, the first return air vent (4012) overlaps with the second return air vent (22) in the refrigerator room.

3. The multifunctional ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first water storage unit (411) and a second water storage unit (410). A platform (4015) is provided at the bottom of the water supply area. The first water storage unit (411) and the second water storage unit (410) are detachably connected to the top surface of the platform (4015).

4. The multifunctional ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first waterway (413) and the second waterway (412) also include a water pipe connector (4133). The first water inlet and the second water inlet are located on the platform (4015). The first waterway (413) is connected to the bottom surface of the first water storage device (411) through the water pipe connector (4133) and the first water inlet. The second waterway (412) is connected to the bottom surface of the second water storage device (410) through the water pipe connector (4133) and the second water inlet.

5. The multifunctional ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an ice maker door (404) and a sealing strip (405); the ice maker door (404) is hinged to the first housing (401), and the sealing strip (405) is disposed on the side of the first housing (401) near the ice maker door (404).

6. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The device includes a housing (1), a refrigerator door (3), and a multi-functional ice maker (4) as described in any one of claims 1-5. The housing (1) is hinged to the refrigerator door (3). A refrigerator compartment (2) is provided inside the housing (1). The multi-functional ice maker (4) is located on the side of the refrigerator door (3) near the refrigerator compartment (2). The multi-functional ice maker (4) is detachably connected to the refrigerator door (3).

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