Ice making device and ice maker

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of drinking water equipment, and provides an ice making device and an ice maker, the ice making device comprises a water tank, an ice making mechanism and an ice storage component, the water tank is provided with a normal temperature water area and a cold water area; the ice making mechanism is arranged in the water tank and located above the cold water area. The ice storage component is arranged in the water tank and located above the cold water area, the ice outlet end of the ice making mechanism is communicated with the ice storage component, and water generated in the ice making mechanism and water generated in the ice storage component can flow back to the cold water area; wherein the bottom end of the normal-temperature water area is higher than the upper end of the cold water area. Cold air of the ice making mechanism and the ice storage component sinks, cold water can be obtained, work is facilitated, the relevance of the components is improved, space is reasonably arranged, space is saved, the ice maker is easy to prepare, the temperature channeling problem of normal-temperature water and cold water is avoided, and meanwhile the water inlet speed and the water outlet speed are controlled through the water level height difference.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of drinking water equipment, in particular to an ice making device and an ice making machine. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a device that can provide people with direct drinking water. In the related art, an ice maker is usually provided with a plurality of relatively independent components, and the spatial layout of the plurality of independent components is unreasonable when arranged, and there is a temperature-crossing phenomenon, which makes the preparation of the ice maker relatively complicated. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the related art. To this end, the present invention provides an ice-making device, the ice-making device has a reasonable spatial layout, which makes the preparation of the ice-making machine simple and helps to avoid the temperature-conducting phenomenon.

[0004] The invention also provides an ice making machine.

[0005] An ice-making device according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises: A water tank, wherein the water tank is provided with a normal temperature water area and a cold water area; An ice-making mechanism is disposed in the water tank, and the ice-making mechanism is located above the cold water area; An ice storage component is arranged in the water tank, and the ice storage component is located above the cold water area, and the ice outlet end of the ice making mechanism is connected to the ice storage component; Wherein, the bottom end of the normal temperature water zone is higher than the upper end of the cold water zone.

[0006] According to the ice-making device of the embodiment of the present invention, the above structure is adopted, a normal temperature water zone and a cold water zone are provided through a water tank, an ice-making mechanism and an ice storage component are provided above the cold water zone, cold air of the ice-making mechanism and the ice storage component sinks, which is conducive to obtaining cold water, and the cold water in the cold water zone is also conducive to forming a low temperature environment for the ice-making mechanism and the ice storage component, which is convenient for work; the ice-making mechanism and the ice storage component are not independently arranged outside the water tank, and the above structure reduces a large number of independent components, improves the correlation of components and reasonable spatial arrangement, saves space, and makes the preparation of the ice-making machine simpler; at the same time, the bottom end of the normal temperature water zone is higher than the upper end of the cold water zone, so that there is a staggered height between the normal temperature water zone and the cold water zone, which conforms to the principle of hot air going up and cold air going down, not only avoiding the problem of temperature crossover between normal temperature water and cold water, but also controlling the water inlet speed and water outlet speed by the water level height difference.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice storage component is provided with an ice receiving trough and an ice storage trough, the ice receiving trough is communicated with the ice storage trough, the ice receiving trough is used to receive the ice cubes made in the ice making mechanism, and the ice storage trough is used to store the ice cubes transferred by the ice receiving trough; Wherein, along the horizontal direction, the ice-making mechanism is located between the ice storage tank and the normal temperature water area.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one full ice sensor module is provided on the water tank, and the full ice sensor module is provided on the side wall of the ice storage tank and is located around the connection point between the ice receiving tank and the ice storage tank.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water zone and the cold water zone are arranged with their orthographic projections on the horizontal plane staggered.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water zone is connected to the cold water zone, so that water is replenished to the cold water zone through the normal temperature water zone.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water tank is provided with a partition, and the partition is provided between the normal temperature water area and the cold water area; Wherein, an overflow groove is provided at the top of the partition plate, so that the water in the normal temperature water area overflows to the cold water area through the overflow groove.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water tank is provided with a condensation groove, and the overflow groove is provided at an end of the partition away from the condensation groove.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the water tank is provided with a cold water outlet, the cold water outlet is communicated with the interior of the cold water zone, and the overflow groove is arranged away from the cold water outlet.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water tank is provided with a cold water drain pipe and a first filter structure, the cold water drain pipe is connected to the cold water drain port, and the first filter structure is located between the cold water drain port and the cold water drain pipe.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first filtering structure is a first grid plate connected to the water tank, and a plurality of first grid holes are provided on the first grid plate.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water tank is provided with a normal temperature water outlet and the normal temperature water pipe, the normal temperature water outlet is connected with the inside of the normal temperature water zone and the normal temperature water pipe, and a second filtering structure is provided between the normal temperature water pipe and the normal temperature water outlet.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second filtering structure is a second grid plate connected to the water tank, and a plurality of second grid holes are provided on the second grid plate.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water outlet is located on the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone, and a blocking structure is provided on the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone, the blocking structure is located on one side of the second filter structure, and the blocking structure is provided with a blocking spacing, and the width of the blocking spacing is smaller than the width of the second filter structure.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blocking structure includes two baffles, the ends of the two baffles facing away from each other are respectively connected to the two opposite side walls of the normal temperature water zone, and the two baffles are spaced apart to form the blocking distance.

[0020] An ice-making machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises the ice-making device described in the first embodiment.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a box body of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another embodiment of the box of the ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the interior of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the limiting structure of the ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a water circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the ice maker has a hot tank.

[0029] Reference numerals: 100, water tank; 110, normal temperature water area; 111, normal temperature water outlet; 112, second grid hole; 113, first flow guide groove; 114, blocking structure; 1141, blocking distance; 1142, baffle; 120, cold water area; 121, cold water outlet; 122, first grid hole; 123, second guide groove; 130, partition; 131, overflow groove; 140, condensation tank; 141, overflow channel; 142, flow guide structure; 143, steam inlet pipe; 151, first axial hole; 152, second axial hole; 161, box body; 162, box cover; 171, first foaming layer; 172, second foaming layer; 180. Full ice sensor module; 200, ice-making mechanism; 210, ice-making box; 211, first rotating shaft; 212, second rotating shaft; 213, ice shovel; 220, evaporator; 221, ice-making column; 230, ice-making motor; 240, limit member; 240, limit switch; 260, limit structure; 261, first limit part; 262, second limit part; 300, ice storage component; 310, ice receiving trough; 320, ice storage trough; 400, ice discharging mechanism; 410, ice discharging box; 411, ice discharging channel; 420, ice discharging motor; 430, ice stirring element; 440, ice blocking plate; 450, driving element; 500, water bucket; 600, hot tank; 700, diaphragm pump; 810, first liquid level switch; 820, second liquid level switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0031] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0033] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above" and "above" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below" and "below" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0034] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0035] Combine the following Figure 1-Figure 6 The ice making device and ice making machine of the embodiment of the present invention are described. It can be understood that in the embodiment of the present invention, the ice making machine includes the above-mentioned ice making device. The above-mentioned ice making device involves structural components from the generation of ice cubes to the shedding of ice cubes, and the ice making machine includes the above-mentioned ice making device and other structural components, and the other structural components include, for example, a housing, a compressor, a water bucket 500, a hot tank 600, and a diaphragm pump 700.

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 6According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ice-making device comprises a water tank 100, an ice-making mechanism 200 and an ice storage component 300. The water tank 100 is provided with a normal temperature water zone 110 and a cold water zone 120. The ice-making mechanism 200 is arranged in the water tank 100, and the ice-making mechanism 200 is located above the cold water zone 120. The ice storage component 300 is arranged in the water tank 100, and the ice storage component 300 is located above the cold water zone 120. The ice outlet end of the ice-making mechanism 200 is connected to the ice storage component 300. The bottom end of the normal temperature water zone 110 is higher than the upper end of the cold water zone 120.

[0037] According to the ice-making device of the embodiment of the present invention, the above structure is adopted, the water tank 100 is provided with a normal temperature water area 110 and a cold water area 120, and an ice-making mechanism 200 and an ice storage component 300 are provided above the cold water area 120. The cold air of the ice-making mechanism 200 and the ice storage component 300 sinks downward, which is conducive to obtaining cold water, and the cold water in the cold water area 120 is also conducive to forming a low temperature environment for the ice-making mechanism 200 and the ice storage component 300, which is convenient for work; the ice-making mechanism 200 and the ice storage component 300 are not independent The structure is arranged outside the water tank 100, and reduces a large number of independent components, improves the correlation of components and reasonable spatial arrangement, saves space, and makes the preparation of the ice maker simpler; at the same time, the bottom of the normal temperature water zone 110 is higher than the upper end of the cold water zone 120, so that there is a height offset between the normal temperature water zone 110 and the cold water zone 120, which conforms to the principle of hot air going up and cold air going down, not only avoiding the problem of temperature crossover between normal temperature water and cold water, but also controlling the water inlet speed and water outlet speed through the water level difference.

[0038] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, water generated in both the ice-making mechanism 200 and the ice storage component 300 can flow back to the cold water area 120, thereby improving the water circulation utilization rate, so that there is a connection between the ice-making mechanism 200, the ice storage component 300 and the cold water area 120 of the water tank 100.

[0039] Reference Figure 1In some embodiments of the present invention, the water tank 100 includes a box body 161 and a box cover 162. The box body 161 is recessed to form a chamber with an upper opening. The chamber of the box body 161 forms a normal temperature water area 110 and a cold water area 120 through a partition 130. Referring to the figure, in an embodiment of the present invention, the box cover 162 is set at the chamber opening of the box body 161, and the box cover 162 is detachably connected to the box body 161. With the above structure, the chamber is an upper opening structure, so that the operator can easily arrange the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and install the components, which improves the convenience of operation; because the box cover 162 is detachably connected to the box body 161, the operator can easily open the box cover 162 for cleaning or maintenance operations, keep the box body 161 of the water tank 100 hygienic and in good condition, ensure that the connection between the box cover 162 and the box body 161 is firm and reliable, and avoid problems such as accidental falling off or water leakage.

[0040] Specifically, in some embodiments of the present invention, the connection method between the above-mentioned box cover 162 and the box body 161 is a combination of a snap connection and a bolt connection; of course, in some embodiments, the connection method between the box cover 162 and the box body 161 can also be only a snap connection, or only a bolt connection, etc., which is not limited here.

[0041] It should also be noted that, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, after the ice-making mechanism 200 completes ice making, the ice is transported to the ice storage component 300, and the water generated in the ice-making process of the ice-making mechanism 200 and the water generated in the ice storage component 300 are returned to the cold water area 120 under the action of gravity, thereby improving the water circulation utilization rate.

[0042] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the ice storage component 300 is provided with an ice receiving groove 310 and an ice storage groove 320. The ice receiving groove 310 is communicated with the ice storage groove 320. The ice receiving groove 310 is used to receive the ice cubes made in the ice making mechanism 200, and the ice storage groove 320 is used to store the ice cubes transferred by the ice receiving groove 310. In the horizontal direction, the ice making mechanism 200 is located between the ice storage groove 320 and the normal temperature water area 110.

[0043] Through the above arrangement, when both the ice storage part 300 and the ice making mechanism 200 are in use, the normal temperature water area 110 and the ice storage tank 320 of the ice storage part 300 are separated by the ice making mechanism 200 and kept away from each other, which is conducive to preventing the normal temperature water from exchanging heat with the stored ice cubes. With the above structure, the cold water in the cold water area 120 is conducive to forming a low temperature environment for the ice making mechanism 200, the ice receiving tank 310 and the ice storage tank 320, which is convenient for work, and the space is reasonably arranged, saving space, making the preparation of the ice making machine relatively simple.

[0044] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the water generated in both the ice receiving trough 310 and the ice storage trough 320 can flow back to the cold water area 120, so as to improve the water circulation utilization rate, so that there is a connection between the ice receiving trough 310, the ice storage trough 320 and the cold water area 120 of the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and they are not independently arranged outside the box body 161 of the water tank 100. The above structure reduces a large number of independent components, improves the correlation of components and the reasonable spatial arrangement, saves space, and makes the preparation of the ice maker relatively simple.

[0045] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 4 The ice storage component 300 is a box body, and the box body is integrally formed with an ice receiving groove 310, an ice storage groove 320 and an ice inlet connecting the two. The one-piece molding design simplifies the assembly process, reduces the number of parts and assembly gaps, and improves the overall stability and durability. Of course, in some embodiments, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 can also be provided with a first shell and a second shell that are split and adjacently arranged, the first shell is formed with an ice receiving groove 310, and the second shell is formed with an ice storage groove 320, which is not limited here. Specifically, referring to the figure, in an embodiment of the present invention, the ice inlet is opened along the length direction of the box body.

[0046] It is understandable that the ice inlet is opened along the length direction of the box body to ensure that the newly made ice cubes can be evenly distributed in the entire ice storage tank 320 to avoid local accumulation.

[0047] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water area 110 and the cold water area 120 are arranged in a staggered arrangement on the horizontal plane. Through the staggered arrangement, the space can be fully utilized and the convenience of use can be improved under the premise of ensuring the stability of the water tank 100.

[0048] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water zone 110 is connected to the cold water zone 120, so that water is replenished to the cold water zone 120 through the normal temperature water zone 110. Through the above structure, the water replenishment of the cold water zone 120 is realized through the normal temperature water zone 110, so that the water replenishment pipeline of the normal temperature water zone 110 and the cold water zone 120 is the same, less materials, low cost, and simple procedures.

[0049] It should also be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water area 110 and the cold water area 120 are arranged adjacent to each other, so that the water replenishment of the cold water area 120 is simpler and faster, the water replenishment efficiency is improved, the spatial layout is reasonable, and space is saved.

[0050] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, a partition 130 is provided in the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and the partition 130 is provided between the normal temperature water zone 110 and the cold water zone 120; wherein, an overflow groove 131 is provided at the top of the partition 130, so that the water in the normal temperature water zone 110 overflows to the cold water zone 120 through the overflow groove 131. With the above structure, the partition 130 separates the normal temperature water zone 110 and the cold water zone 120, providing physical isolation to ensure that the normal temperature water and the cold water will not be directly mixed; and the presence of the overflow groove 131 enables the full water in the normal temperature water zone 110 to flow into the cold water zone 120 through the partition 130, thereby realizing the water replenishment of the cold water zone 120; at the same time, the design of the partition 130 also helps to improve the structural stability and strength of the water tank 100. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the normal temperature water zone 110 can also replenish water to the cold water zone 120 by siphoning, water pumping, etc.

[0051] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, a condensation groove 140 is provided on the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and an overflow groove 131 is provided on the partition 130 at one end away from the condensation groove 140. It can be understood that the above design is adopted to prevent the water from exchanging heat with the medium in the condensation groove 140, and to avoid the temperature crossing that causes the normal temperature water to overflow to the cold water area 120 with too high a temperature, which is not conducive to the user to take cold water and the ice maker to make ice.

[0052] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker further comprises a water bucket 500 and a hot tank 600. The water bucket 500 delivers normal temperature water to the normal temperature water area 110 of the water tank 100 through a diaphragm pump 700, and replenishes water to the cold water area 120 through the overflow of the normal temperature water area 110. The water inlet end of the hot tank 600 is connected to the normal temperature water area 110 to provide hot water to the user. The cold water area 120 delivers cold water to the user or to the ice making mechanism 200 through a cold water pump. The steam generated by the hot tank 600 flows back to the condensation tank 140. After the steam in the condensation tank 140 is condensed, the excess condensed water overflows to the normal temperature water area 110, enriching the function, improving the practicality, and being able to recycle water and save resources. Of course, referring to the figure, in some embodiments, the ice maker may also only include the water bucket 500, which is not limited here.

[0053] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with an overflow channel 141, and the overflow channel 141 is located between the condensation tank 140 and the normal temperature water zone 110. The condensation tank 140 is connected to the normal temperature water zone 110 through the overflow channel 141. With the above arrangement, the existence of the overflow channel 141 enables liquid communication between the condensation tank 140 and the normal temperature water zone 110. When the liquid level in the condensation tank 140 is too high, the excess condensed water will flow into the normal temperature water zone 110 through the overflow channel 141 to achieve liquid level adjustment and balance.

[0054] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, one end of the overflow channel 141 is connected to a side wall of the normal temperature water zone 110, and the other end of the overflow channel 141 is connected to a side wall of the condensation tank 140, wherein the bottom wall of the overflow channel 141 is lower than the upper edge of the other side walls of the condensation tank 140. With the above structure, since the bottom wall of the overflow channel 141 is lower than the upper edge of the other side walls of the condensation tank 140, the overflow direction is defined, and the condensed water can flow along the overflow channel 141 to the normal temperature water zone 110, and the condensed water is guided to enter the normal temperature water zone 110, which can effectively remove the condensed water and prevent it from being retained in the condensation tank 140, which helps to improve the stability in terms of structure.

[0055] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the normal temperature water area 110 is provided with a guide structure 142, and the guide structure 142 is connected with the overflow channel 141 to guide the liquid into the normal temperature water area 110. With the above design, the condensed water flows into the normal temperature water area 110 through the overflow channel 141 and the guide structure 142. Through the guide path of the guide structure 142, the liquid can be guided to the normal temperature water area 110 in an orderly manner, ensuring that the liquid can enter the required position. In addition, the mixing of the liquid and the normal temperature water can also be promoted.

[0056] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, the guide structure 142 is a guide channel, and the width of the guide channel is adapted to the width of the overflow channel 141. Through the above design, since the width of the guide channel is adapted to the width of the overflow channel 141, the condensed water can smoothly flow into the normal temperature water area 110 through the guide channel without excessive resistance, and the uniform distribution of the liquid can be achieved, which is conducive to ensuring that the liquid maintains a certain speed and direction during the flow process.

[0057] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the condensation tank 140 is disposed outside the normal temperature water zone 110, which is beneficial to avoid heat exchange between the condensation tank 140 and the normal temperature water zone 110 and realize spatial separation.

[0058] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, a normal temperature water outlet 111 is provided at the bottom of the normal temperature water zone 110, and the condensation tank 140 is located at the upper part of the normal temperature water zone 110, wherein the condensation tank 140 is arranged far away from the normal temperature water outlet 111. With the above structure, since the steam in the condensation tank 140 has a certain amount of heat when entering, in order to better provide normal temperature water to the user, the condensation tank 140 is arranged at a position far away from the normal temperature water outlet 111 to prevent the normal temperature water temperature from being affected by the heat of the steam in the condensation tank 140.

[0059] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, a steam inlet pipe 143 is provided on the side wall of the condensing tank 140, and the steam inlet pipe 143 is connected to the inside of the condensing tank 140, wherein the steam inlet pipe 143 is located on the side of the condensing tank 140 away from the normal temperature water area 110. The above structure avoids the situation where the steam, the normal temperature water in the normal temperature water area 110, and the condensed water overflowing from the overflow channel 141 are in temperature contact.

[0060] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, one side wall of the condensation tank 140 is a vertical side wall, and the center line of the steam inlet pipe 143 is perpendicular to the vertical side wall. With the above design, it is convenient to connect one end of the connecting pipe to the steam outlet end of the hot water tank, and the other end to the steam inlet pipe 143, thereby improving assembly convenience and production efficiency.

[0061] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the longitudinal section of the condensation groove 140 is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, so that the condensation groove 140 can be relatively easy to demold. The contact area between the condensation groove 140 and the mold is small, which reduces the resistance during demolding and reduces the possible risk of damage or deformation. The longitudinal cross-sectional shape that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom has certain advantages in the manufacturing process, which can reduce the use of materials, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve production efficiency.

[0062] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is integrally constructed with the condensation tank 140, which can reduce the connections and interfaces between various structures, make the entire structure more compact, help save space, and simplify the assembly and installation process.

[0063] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with a cold water drain port 121, the cold water drain port 121 is connected to the inside of the cold water area 120, and the overflow groove 131 is arranged away from the cold water drain port 121. Through the above design, when the normal temperature water overflows and replenishes water to the cold water area 120 through the overflow groove 131, since the overflow groove 131 is at a certain distance from the position of the cold water drain port 121, it takes a certain time for the overflow replenishment water of the normal temperature water to flow to the cold water drain port 121, and there is a mixing process between the normal temperature water and the cold water in the cold water area 120, which not only prevents the normal temperature water from flowing out directly through the cold water drain port 121, but also prevents the water temperature from being too high when the user uses the cold water function, thereby improving the user experience.

[0064] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with a cold water drain pipe and a first filter structure, the cold water drain pipe is connected to the cold water drain port 121, and the first filter structure is located between the cold water drain port 121 and the cold water drain pipe. The above structure is provided with a first filter structure, which can prevent foreign matter (such as bolts, debris, etc.) during production and assembly or fine molten ice from falling into the cold water drain pipe during use, thereby affecting the water output effect of cold water.

[0065] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the cold water in the cold water zone 120 is only transported to the water use area of ​​the ice maker and to the ice-making mechanism 200 for ice making through the cold water sewer pipe. It is spatially separated from the normal temperature water zone 110, which can effectively prevent heat exchange.

[0066] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the first filter structure is a first grid plate connected to the water tank 100, and the first grid plate is provided with a plurality of first grid holes 122. Through the above arrangement, the existence of the first grid plate can enhance the strength and stability of the entire structure, can withstand external forces and vibrations, has a simple structure, and is easy to manufacture.

[0067] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the cold water outlet 121 is located at the bottom wall of the cold water area 120, and the first filter structure is also provided at the bottom wall of the cold water area 120. The first filter structure, i.e., the first grid plate, is an integrated structure with the box body 161 of the water tank 100. Of course, in some embodiments, the first grid plate can also be fixedly connected to the box body 161 of the water tank 100 by means of a snap connection or the like, or the first filter structure is a filter net, which is not limited here.

[0068] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3In some embodiments of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with a normal temperature water outlet 111 and a normal temperature water outlet pipe, the normal temperature water outlet 111 is connected with the inside of the normal temperature water area 110 and the normal temperature water outlet pipe, and a second filter structure is provided between the normal temperature water outlet pipe and the normal temperature water outlet 111. With the above structure, the second filter structure is provided to prevent foreign matter (such as bolts, debris, etc.) in the production and assembly process or in the use process from falling into the normal temperature water outlet pipe, thereby affecting the water discharge effect of the normal temperature water.

[0069] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the second filtering structure is a second grid plate connected to the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and the second grid plate is provided with a plurality of second grid holes 112. Through the above arrangement, the existence of the second grid plate can enhance the strength and stability of the entire structure, can withstand external forces and vibrations, has a simple structure, and is easy to manufacture.

[0070] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the normal temperature drain outlet 111 is located at the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone 110, and a blocking structure 114 is provided on the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone 110. The blocking structure 114 is located on one side of the second filter structure. The blocking structure 114 is provided with a blocking spacing 1141, and the width of the blocking spacing 1141 is smaller than the width of the second filter structure. With the above design, in the design of this embodiment, the width of the blocking spacing 1141 is smaller than the width of the second filter structure, so as to prevent foreign matter from flowing to the location of the second filter structure. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the blocking spacing 1141 is smaller than the head of the bolt member. When a foreign matter, such as a bolt member, passes through the blocking structure 114, the head of the bolt member abuts against the blocking structure 114 to prevent the bolt member from continuing to move, and cooperates with the second filter structure to further block the flow of foreign matter into the normal temperature drain pipe.

[0071] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the blocking structure 114 includes two baffles 1142, and the ends of the two baffles 1142 that are separated from each other are respectively connected to the two opposite side walls of the normal temperature water zone 110, and the two baffles 1142 are arranged at intervals to form a blocking interval 1141. Through the above structure, the two sides of the head of the bolt member are respectively abutted against the two baffles 1142 to limit the movement of the bolt member, and the structure is simple and easy to manufacture.

[0072] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned normal temperature water outlet 111 is located at the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone 110, and the second filter structure is also arranged at the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone 110. The second filter structure, i.e., the second grid plate and the box body 161 of the water tank 100 are an integrated structure, which can reduce the connection and interface between components, make the whole structure more compact, help save space, and simplify the assembly and installation process. Of course, in some embodiments, the second grid plate can also be fixedly connected to the box body 161 of the water tank 100 by means of a snap connection, or the above-mentioned second filter structure is a filter screen, which is not limited here.

[0073] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the two baffles 1142 are arranged at an angle, and the distance between the two baffles 1142 on opposite sides along the length direction gradually decreases toward the second filter structure, so that the normal temperature water flows to the second filter structure, playing a guiding role. Similarly, it should be noted that the two baffles 1142 and the box body 161 of the water tank 100 are an integrated structure, which can reduce the connection and interface between components, make the entire structure more compact, help save space, and simplify the assembly and installation process.

[0074] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone 110 is provided with a first guide groove 113 in a trapezoidal shape, and the opposite ends of the first guide groove 113 are respectively connected to the blocking distance 1141 and the normal temperature water outlet 111; the bottom wall of the cold water zone 120 is provided with a second guide groove 123 in a trapezoidal shape, and the end of the second guide groove 123 is connected to the cold water outlet 121.

[0075] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the water replenishment tank 100 further includes a first liquid level switch 810 and a second liquid level switch 820. The first liquid level switch 810 is arranged in the normal temperature water area 110, and the second liquid level switch 820 is arranged in the cold water area 120. Reasonable selection and installation of the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 can be helpful to control the liquid level state, control the water replenishment operation, and avoid overflow of the cold water area 120 or water leakage of both the normal temperature water area 110 and the cold water area 120.

[0076] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the first liquid level switch 810 for detecting the full water high liquid level state of the normal temperature water zone 110 is lower than the bottom wall of the overflow groove 131, so that when the normal temperature water zone 110 is full of water, the diaphragm pump 700 continues to work, so that the normal temperature water zone 110 replenishes water to the cold water zone 120.

[0077] In the embodiment of the present invention, the normal temperature water area 110 is provided with at least two first liquid level switches 810, which are arranged in parallel, and the cold water area 120 is provided with at least two second liquid level switches 820, which are arranged in parallel.

[0078] With the above structure, when at least one of the two liquid level switches is triggered, it is determined that the liquid level in the corresponding area has reached the preset high threshold, and a full water signal is output; when the two liquid level switches are in or restored to an untriggered state, it is determined that the liquid level in the corresponding area is at the preset low threshold, and a water replenishment signal is output.

[0079] Therefore, it can be seen that the arrangement of two liquid level switches in both the normal temperature water area 110 and the cold water area 120 can reduce the risk of overflow of the water tank body 161 caused by failure of a single liquid level switch, which is beneficial to ensure the normal use of the ice maker and avoid affecting the user experience.

[0080] Of course, in some embodiments, the two first liquid level switches 810 are arranged with a height difference, the two second liquid level switches 820 are arranged with a height difference, the cold water area 120 is provided with at least two second liquid level switches 820, and the two second liquid level switches 820 are arranged flush or with a height difference.

[0081] It can be understood that the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 located at a lower position are both used to determine whether the area needs water replenishment, and the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 located at a higher position are both used as backup judgment when the liquid level switch at the lower position fails. With the above structure, the two liquid level switches in the corresponding area are in or restored to an untriggered state, and it is determined that the liquid level height in the corresponding area is at a preset low threshold, and a water replenishment signal is output; when the liquid level heights of the normal temperature water area 110 and the cold water area 120 reach the preset high threshold, the liquid level switch at the lower position in the corresponding area is triggered, and the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 at the lower position output a full water signal; when the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 at the lower position fail, the normal temperature water area 110 continues to replenish water, and the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 at the higher position in the corresponding area are triggered, and the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 at the higher position output a second full water signal.

[0082] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned liquid level switches are all configured as float type liquid level switches.

[0083] It is understandable that the float type liquid level switch can monitor the liquid level intuitively. The float type liquid level switch detects the liquid level through the contact between the float and the liquid. The float moves up and down with the change of the liquid level, thereby intuitively reflecting the liquid level. The float type liquid level switch usually has a mechanical structure, which can accurately trigger the switch to achieve the control of the liquid level. It is not only simple in structure, but also easy to install and maintain. Of course, the above liquid level switch can also be a capacitive liquid level switch, etc.

[0084] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the electrical circuits between the two first liquid level switches 810 and between the two second liquid level switches 820 may be independent or may share the same electrical circuit.

[0085] In an embodiment of the present invention, taking the case where the electrical circuits between the two first liquid level switches 810 are independent as an example, the normal temperature water area 110 of the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with two electrical connection circuits, the first liquid level switch 810 located at a lower position is electrically connected to one of the electrical connection circuits, and the first liquid level switch 810 located at a higher position is electrically connected to the other electrical connection circuit, and the second liquid level switch 820 in the cold water area 120 is the same, which means that each liquid level switch can send signals independently without interfering with each other.

[0086] In other embodiments of the present invention, taking the case where the electrical circuit between the two first liquid level switches 810 shares one as an example, an electrical connection circuit is provided at the normal temperature zone of the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and two contacts are provided on the electrical connection circuit, and the two first liquid level switches 810 are electrically connected to the two contacts of the electrical connection circuit in a one-to-one correspondence. With the above structure, the two liquid level switches in the corresponding areas share one electrical connection circuit, so the circuit design is more concise, so that the two first liquid level switches 810 or the two second liquid level switches 820 form a two-in-one liquid level switch assembly, reducing the required wiring and wiring, and can reduce material and installation costs. If replacement or maintenance is required, only one circuit needs to be processed, which simplifies the work.

[0087] It should be noted that, specifically, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, a limit switch 240 is provided on the water tank 100, and the ice-making mechanism 200 is triggered to cooperate with the limit switch 240 to control the operation state of the ice-making mechanism 200. An isolation structure is provided between the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and the limit switch 240 to isolate the two.

[0088] By adopting the above structure, an isolation structure is provided between the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and the limit switch 240 to avoid contact between the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and the limit switch 240, which is beneficial to prevent condensation water from accumulating on the limit switch 240, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the limit switch 240, and ensuring the normal use of the ice-making mechanism 200 and the ice-making machine, thereby avoiding affecting the user experience.

[0089] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the limit switch 240 is a trigger switch, and the ice-making mechanism 200 cooperates with the trigger switch to control the operation state of the ice-making mechanism 200 and improve reliability. Of course, in some embodiments, the limit switch 240 can also be an inductive switch, such as an inductive inductive switch, etc., which is not limited here.

[0090] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the isolation structure is a first foaming layer 171 , and the first foaming layer 171 is coated on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100 that cooperates with the limit switch 240 .

[0091] By adopting the above structure, a first foam layer 171 is formed by using a foam material as an isolation structure, and the first foam layer 171 is coated on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100. This not only avoids direct contact between the limit switch 240 and the box body 161 of the water tank 100, but also the first foam layer 171 isolates the direct contact between the low temperature inside the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and the relatively warm air outside, thereby reducing the possibility of condensation water forming in the area where the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and the limit switch 240 cooperate.

[0092] Of course, in some embodiments, the isolation structure is configured as a heat insulation board layer or a vacuum layer, etc., which is not limited here.

[0093] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making mechanism 200 includes an ice-making box 210, an evaporator 220 and an ice-making motor 230. The ice-making box 210 is rotatably disposed in the box body 161 of the water tank 100. At least part of the structure of the evaporator 220 is located in the ice-making box 210. The ice-making motor 230 is installed on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100.

[0094] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, an ice shovel 213 is connected to the ice making box 210221, and the ice shovel 213 can rotate with the ice making box 210 to push the ice cubes in the ice receiving groove 310 and transfer them to the ice storage groove 320.

[0095] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator 220 has an ice column 221, and the ice column 221 can contact the water in the ice box 210. When making ice, the ice motor 230 drives the ice box 210 to rotate, and the limit member 240 triggers the limit switch 240, and the ice maker stops at this time; water is introduced into the ice box 210 through the ice water inlet, and the compressor is started for refrigeration, and the refrigerant flows through the ice column 221 of the evaporator 220 to exchange heat with the water in the ice box 210, and ice cubes are gradually formed on the surface of the ice column 221 immersed in water. When defrosting, after the ice cubes are formed, the ice-making motor 230 drives the ice box 210 and the ice shovel 213 to rotate to a certain angle. It can be understood that the ice cubes do not interfere with the ice box 210 and the ice shovel 213 when falling off. The ice box 210 and the ice shovel 213 avoid the path of the ice cubes falling to the ice receiving trough 310. The high-temperature gas of the compressor is introduced into the ice column 221, and the contact surface between the ice cubes and the ice column 221 melts, and the ice cubes fall from the ice column 221 to the ice receiving trough 310. The structural design is reasonable, the transmission is reliable, and the ice-making efficiency is improved.

[0096] In the embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The ice-making mechanism 200 also includes a limit member 240, which is fixedly connected to the ice-making box 210; a limit switch 240 is provided on the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and the limit switch 240 is triggered and cooperated with the limit member 240 to control the operating state of the ice-making mechanism 200; wherein, a limit structure 260 is provided on the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and after the limit member 240 triggers the limit switch 240, at least one of the limit member 240 and the ice-making box 210 abuts and cooperates with the limit structure 260 to limit the rotation angle of the ice-making box 210.

[0097] With the above structure, the ice box 210 rotates, and the limit member 240 rotates along with the ice box 210 until the limit member 240 triggers the limit switch 240. After the ice box 210 stops being driven, the limit structure 260 is arranged to abut against one of the limit member 240 and the brake box to stop the rotation of the ice box 210, thereby ensuring that the angle of each rotation of the ice box 210 is accurate, thereby ensuring the consistency of the ice-making process and the quality of the ice cubes, and avoiding unnecessary excessive rotation, so that the ice-making mechanism 200 can make ice normally and the normal operation of the ice maker is guaranteed.

[0098] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5In the embodiment of the present invention, when the limiting member 240 is in abutment with the limiting structure 260, the limiting structure 260 includes a first limiting portion 261 and a second limiting portion 262, and the ice-making mechanism 200 has an ice-making state and an ice-removing state; in the ice-making state, the limiting member 240 rotates forward to be in a limiting position with the first limiting portion 261; in the ice-removing state, the limiting member 240 rotates reversely to be in a limiting position with the second limiting portion 262.

[0099] With the above structure, in the embodiment of the present invention, the ice box 210 is driven to rotate forward, and the limit member 240 rotates forward to cooperate with the first limit portion 261, and the ice making mechanism 200 is in the ice making state; the ice box 210 is driven to rotate reversely, and the limit member 240 rotates reversely to cooperate with the second limit portion 262, and the ice making mechanism 200 is in the ice removing state, thereby preventing the ice box 210 from excessively rotating in the rotation preset position, improving the stability of the ice box 210 in the corresponding state, and the first limit portion 261 and the second limit portion 262 can limit the movement of the ice box 210 in two different directions respectively, thereby realizing two-way positioning and ensuring the accurate position of the ice box 210 in three-dimensional space; in addition, the clear limit structure 260 helps to quickly locate problems during maintenance, facilitates the inspection and replacement of related components, provides more flexibility, and makes the overall structure more compact and efficient.

[0100] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with a first shaft hole 151 and a second shaft hole 152, and the ice box 210 is provided with a first rotating shaft 211 and a second rotating shaft 212. The first rotating shaft 211 is inserted into and rotatably connected to the first shaft hole 151, and the second rotating shaft 212 is inserted into and rotatably connected to the second shaft hole 152.

[0101] Reference Figure 5 In an embodiment of the present invention, the limiting structure 260 includes a boss formed on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100, the boss is arranged around the second axial hole 152, the first limiting portion 261 is a first step surface formed on one side of the boss, and the second limiting portion 262 is a second step surface formed on the other side of the boss.

[0102] By adopting the above structure, the contact area between the limit member 240 and the limit structure 260 is further increased through the first step surface and the second step surface, thereby improving the positioning stability, reducing the excessive rotation of the ice box 210 during operation, increasing the overall strength of the box body 161 structure of the water tank 100, and improving the durability of the equipment. The compact structural design helps to optimize the space, making the overall structure of the ice maker more compact.

[0103] It should be noted that the above-mentioned limiting member 240 is a limiting cam, and the convex part structure of the limiting cam abuts and cooperates with the first limiting portion 261 or the second limiting portion 262.

[0104] Of course, in some embodiments, the limiting structure 260 may also include a first stopper provided on the inner wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100 and a second stopper provided on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100. The ice box 210 rotates forward until the upper part of the ice box 210 abuts against the first stopper, thereby limiting the ice box 210 from continuing to rotate forward, and the ice maker is in the ice-making state; the ice box 210 rotates reversely until the limiting member 240 abuts against the second stopper, thereby limiting the ice box 210 from continuing to rotate reversely, and the ice maker is in the ice-removing state.

[0105] Of course, it can also be understood that, in other embodiments, the first stopper cooperates with the upper end of the ice box 210, and the second stopper cooperates with the lower end of the ice box 210. Similarly, the ice box 210 rotates forwardly until the upper end of the ice box 210 abuts and cooperates with the first stopper, thereby limiting the ice box 210 from continuing to rotate forwardly, and the ice maker is in the ice making state; the ice box 210 rotates reversely until the lower end of the ice box 210 abuts and cooperates with the second stopper, thereby limiting the ice box 210 from continuing to rotate reversely, and the ice maker is in the ice removing state.

[0106] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the output shaft of the ice-making motor 230 is in driving connection with the limiter 240, wherein a limited space is formed between the ice-making motor 230 and the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100, the limit switch 240 is arranged in the limited space, and a side of the limit switch 240 that is away from the box body 161 of the water tank 100 abuts against the ice-making motor 230. It can be understood that the second rotating shaft 212 is in driving connection with the output shaft of the ice-making motor 230 through the limiter 240.

[0107] By adopting the above structure, through the limit space formed, it can be understood that this limit space is specially designed to accommodate and position the limit switch 240. The limit switch 240 is set in this limit space, and the ice-making motor 230 presses the limit switch 240, so that the limit switch 240 does not need to be installed using screws, etc., further saving materials and processes; it can also provide a certain protection for the limit switch 240 to prevent external impurities or accidental collisions from damaging the switch, and can effectively utilize space, especially in mechanical designs with limited space.

[0108] Specifically, refer to Figure 4In the embodiment of the present invention, the limit switch 240 is obliquely arranged on the outer wall of the box body 161 of the water tank 100. With the above arrangement, the limit switch 240 has a certain inclination, which prevents condensed water from gathering on the surface of the limit switch 240, and can quickly slide off the condensed water, which is beneficial to prevent the condensed water from penetrating and corroding its internal components.

[0109] Reference Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 is provided with a blocking structure, and the blocking structure is used to block the first axial hole 151.

[0110] The above-mentioned arrangement is adopted to avoid the formation of condensed water in the gap at the fitting point of the first axial hole 151 and the first rotating shaft 211, so a sealing structure is used to seal the first axial hole 151, thereby blocking the gap from being connected to the outside of the water tank 100; the limit switch 240 is arranged on the side of the water tank 100 close to the second axial hole 152, and because the output end of the brake motor cooperates with the second rotating shaft 212, there is no need to seal the second axial hole 152 by a sealing structure. Of course, in some embodiments, the gap between the second axial hole 152 and the second rotating shaft 212 may also be sealed by a sealing structure, which is not limited here.

[0111] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 In an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing structure includes a sealing plug and a second foam layer 172. The sealing plug is inserted into the first axial hole 151 and seals the first axial hole 151. The second foam layer 172 is arranged on the outer wall of the water tank 100, and the second foam layer 172 is coated on the outer wall of the sealing plug.

[0112] By adopting the above structure, a sealing plug is inserted into the first axial hole 151 to prevent the gap between the first axial hole 151 and the first rotating shaft 211 from communicating with the outside of the water tank 100. A second foaming layer 172 is added on the basis of the sealing plug, which can not only limit the installation position of the sealing plug, but also further seal, which is beneficial to avoid the formation of condensed water. The structure is simple and the assembly is convenient.

[0113] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned sealing plug is a silicone plug. The elastic material of the silicone plug enables it to fit tightly to the inner surface of the second shaft hole 152, effectively preventing the leakage of liquid, gas, etc., and preventing the formation of condensed water; and the silicone plug has good flexibility and resilience, can adapt to holes of different sizes and shapes, provide reliable sealing, easy assembly, save installation time and labor, and have good stability. Of course, in some embodiments, the sealing plug can also be a plastic part, a metal part, and of course it can also be made of a composite material, such as a rubber-metal composite, which combines the elasticity of rubber and the strength of metal, which is not limited here.

[0114] It should also be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, the outer wall of the water tank 100 is coated with a foam material, and the foam material can be fixed to the outer wall of the water tank 100 by bonding; the foam material, in addition to avoiding the corresponding component perforation requirements, is manufactured to be able to completely cover the outer wall of the water tank 100, and the foam material forms a first foam layer 171 and a second foam layer 172, which can be understood as the first foam layer 171 and the second foam layer 172 are an integrated structure or a split structure, which is not limited here. Correspondingly, it can be understood that the above-mentioned positioning member and foolproof member are arranged through the first foam layer 171.

[0115] In the embodiment of the present invention, an ice inlet is formed at the connection between the ice receiving trough 310 and the ice storage trough 320, and at least one full ice sensor module 180 is provided on the box body 161 of the water tank 100. The full ice sensor module 180 is provided on the wall of the ice storage trough 320 and is located at the connection between the ice receiving trough 310 and the ice storage trough 320, i.e., the surrounding side of the ice inlet, so that the sensor can directly detect the height of the ice layer, and the accumulation height of ice cubes in the ice storage trough 320 is monitored in real time through the full ice sensor module 180. When the ice cubes in the ice storage trough 320 reach a certain amount, the sensor can send a signal in time to notify the ice maker to stop making ice, thereby preventing new ice cubes from continuing to be generated and blocking the connection between the ice receiving trough 310 and the ice storage trough 320, ensuring the smooth ice making process and protecting the internal components of the ice maker. In this way, through the real-time monitoring and response mechanism, it can be ensured that the ice maker only works when needed, reducing unnecessary ice making cycles, helping to save energy, and extending the service life of the ice maker.

[0116] It is conceivable that, referring to Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the full ice sensor module 180 includes a transmitting probe and a receiving probe, which are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the ice storage tank 320 to form a stable detection area. When ice cubes accumulate in this area, they will block or change the signal sent by the transmitting probe, and the receiving probe can accurately capture this change, thereby realizing accurate detection of the accumulation height of ice cubes.

[0117] Specifically, refer to Figure 4In the embodiment of the present invention, the installation height of the full ice sensor module 180 is higher than the bottom surface of the ice inlet where the ice receiving trough 310 and the ice storage trough 320 are connected. It can be understood that this embodiment can ensure that when the ice cubes are close to full capacity, the sensor can detect and stop ice making in time by installing the sensor at a position higher than the lower edge of the ice inlet, so as to avoid the continued generation of new ice cubes and block the ice inlet. The sensor is installed at a higher position, which can more accurately detect the height of the ice cubes and avoid misjudgment caused by local accumulation or uneven distribution of ice cubes. At the same time, installing the sensor at a position higher than the lower edge of the ice inlet can make full use of the space of the ice storage trough 320 and avoid affecting the storage and removal of ice cubes due to improper sensor installation position. It can also avoid the sensor being mistakenly triggered by a small amount of ice cubes or ice chips, causing the ice maker to stop or restart prematurely.

[0118] It should be noted that, refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, a box body is provided in the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and the box body is integrally formed with an ice receiving groove 310, an ice storage groove 320, and an ice inlet connecting the two. The integral molding design simplifies the assembly process, reduces the number of parts and assembly gaps, and improves the overall stability and durability. Of course, in some embodiments, the box body 161 of the water tank 100 may also be provided with a first shell and a second shell that are split and adjacently arranged, respectively, the first shell is formed with an ice receiving groove 310, and the second shell is formed with an ice storage groove 320, which is not limited here. Specifically, referring to the figure, in the embodiment of the present invention, the ice inlet is opened along the length direction of the box body.

[0119] It is understandable that the ice inlet is opened along the length direction of the box body to ensure that the newly made ice cubes can be evenly distributed in the entire ice storage tank 320 to avoid local accumulation.

[0120] This embodiment can achieve comprehensive monitoring of ice accumulation by arranging the transmitting probe and the receiving probe on opposite sides of the ice storage tank 320. No matter where the ice accumulates in the ice storage tank 320, it can be detected by the sensor in time. It can also reduce the detection error caused by uneven shape, size or distribution of ice. Because the sensors can cover a wider area, they can capture the changes in ice accumulation more accurately.

[0121] In some embodiments, there are multiple full ice sensor modules 180 , and the multiple full ice sensor modules 180 are arranged at intervals along the height direction or the horizontal direction of the ice storage tank 320 .

[0122] It is understandable that a plurality of full ice sensor modules 180 are configured in the ice storage tank 320. The plurality of full ice sensor modules 180 can be arranged in an interval manner in the height direction (i.e., vertical direction) or horizontal direction of the ice storage tank 320. Each full ice sensor module 180 has the ability to monitor the degree of ice accumulation in the ice storage tank 320.

[0123] This embodiment can cover a larger range in the ice storage tank 320 by having multiple sensor modules working simultaneously, thereby more accurately reflecting the situation of ice cubes in the ice storage tank 320. It helps to avoid misjudgment caused by failure or error of a single sensor. The sensor modules can be arranged at intervals along the height direction or the horizontal direction, that is, the position and number of sensors can be adjusted according to actual needs. To adapt to ice storage tanks 320 of different sizes and shapes, as well as different types of ice cubes. Through real-time monitoring of multiple sensor modules, the accumulation of ice cubes in the ice storage tank 320 can be discovered in time. When the ice cubes accumulate to a certain extent, the ice discharging mechanism can be started in time or the ice making operation can be stopped, thereby avoiding the problem of too much or too little ice cubes. Multiple sensor modules working simultaneously can improve the reliability of the entire system. Even if one or several sensors fail, other sensors can still continue to work to ensure the normal operation of the system.

[0124] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 4 In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making device further includes an ice-discharging mechanism 400, which is disposed in the box body 161 of the water tank 100. The ice-discharging mechanism 400 is used to transfer ice cubes to the ice outlet of the ice-making machine and to make the ice cubes leave the ice outlet.

[0125] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present invention, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 4 An ice discharging hole is provided on one side wall of the ice storage tank 320, and the ice discharging mechanism 400 includes an ice discharging box 410, an ice discharging motor 420 and an ice stirring member 430. The ice discharging box 410 is provided in the box body 161 of the water tank 100, and the ice discharging box 410 is provided with an ice discharging channel 411 connected with the water discharging hole and the ice discharging hole of the ice storage tank 320. The ice discharging motor 420 is installed on the ice discharging box 410, and another part of the structure of the ice stirring member 430 is transmission-connected with the output end of the ice discharging motor 420 through the ice discharging hole. The ice discharging motor 420 is used to drive the ice stirring member 430 to rotate, so as to drive the ice cubes to move out of the ice discharging hole and fall through the ice discharging channel 411 and the ice discharging port.

[0126] Specifically, refer to Figure 4In the embodiment of the present invention, an ice-blocking plate 440 and a driving member 450 are provided on the ice-discharging box 410. The ice-blocking plate 440 is located at the connecting portion of the ice-discharging hole and the ice-discharging channel 411, and the ice-blocking plate 440 is movably connected to the ice-discharging box 410. The ice-blocking plate 440 is transmission-connected to the output end of the driving member 450 to drive the ice-blocking plate 440 to move to a position that blocks or connects the ice-discharging hole and the ice-discharging channel 411.

[0127] It should be noted that it can be understood that the ice-blocking plate 440 is rotatably or movably connected to the ice-dispensing box 410, and the above-mentioned driving member 450 is a solenoid valve or a telescopic motor, etc. The corresponding driving mode can be selected according to the connection mode between the ice-blocking plate 440 and the ice-dispensing box 410, and is not limited here.

[0128] In the embodiment of the present invention, the working process of the above ice making machine is as follows: Initially, the first liquid level switch 810 of the water tank 100 detects the liquid level in the normal temperature water zone 110 and the second liquid level switch 820 detects the liquid level in the cold water zone 120. The first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 sense a low liquid level (the circuits of the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 can be either on or off in their initial states). The diaphragm pump 700 is started to pump water from the water bucket 500 to the normal temperature water zone 110 of the water tank 100. The water level continues to rise until the normal temperature liquid level switch senses a high liquid level (the circuit of the first liquid level switch 810 changes from off to closed or from closed to off), and the diaphragm pump 700 continues to work. The water level in the normal temperature water area 110 continues to rise to the overflow groove 131 at the top of the partition 130, and the replenished water overflows to the cold water area 120, until the second liquid level switch 820 in the cold water area 120 senses a high liquid level (the circuit of the second liquid level switch 820 changes from off to closed or from closed to off), and the diaphragm pump 700 is stopped; When cold water or normal temperature water (without the heat tank 600) or hot water is discharged, the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 sense that the liquid level in the corresponding responsible area drops (the circuits of the first liquid level switch 810 and the second liquid level switch 820 change from off to closed or from closed to off), and the diaphragm pump 700 is started to replenish water; When the water extracted from the cold water area 120 is released to the ice making mechanism 200 for consumption in ice making, the second liquid level switch 820 of the cold water area 120 senses a drop in liquid level (the circuit of the second liquid level switch 820 changes from off to closed or from closed to off), and the diaphragm pump 700 is started to replenish water; When there is no water or ice making, the diaphragm pump 700 works for more than the set time, and the control system of the ice maker determines that there is a water leak or no water in the water bucket 500, stops the diaphragm pump 700, and an alarm is displayed. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, regarding the water leakage judgment: for example, when no normal temperature water is taken, the flow rate of the diaphragm pump 700 is constant, and the volume of the normal temperature water zone 110 is constant. Therefore, the volume of the normal temperature water zone 110 is the ratio of the sum of the flow rate of the diaphragm pump 700 and the residual volume. The ratio is the working setting time of the diaphragm pump 700. Therefore, when the diaphragm pump 700 exceeds the working setting time, the first liquid level switch 810 has not yet prompted the high liquid level state, and it can be judged that there is a water leakage in the normal temperature water zone 110 or bucket 500; or, when the cold water zone 120 does not take cold water or does not take cold water to make ice, the flow of the diaphragm pump 700 is constant, and the volume of the cold water zone 120 is constant. Therefore, the volume of the cold water zone 120 is in the ratio of the sum of the flow of the diaphragm pump 700 and the surplus. The ratio is the set working time of the diaphragm pump 700. Therefore, when the diaphragm pump 700 exceeds the set working time, the second liquid level switch 820 has not yet reminded the high liquid level state, and it can be judged that there is a leak in the cold water zone 120 or the water bucket 500 is dry.

[0129] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various combinations, modifications or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of the present invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and should all be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice-making device, characterized in that: include: A water tank, wherein the water tank is provided with a normal temperature water area and a cold water area; An ice-making mechanism is disposed in the water tank, and the ice-making mechanism is located above the cold water area; An ice storage component is arranged in the water tank, and the ice storage component is located above the cold water area, and the ice outlet end of the ice making mechanism is connected to the ice storage component; Wherein, the bottom end of the normal temperature water zone is higher than the upper end of the cold water zone.

2. The ice-making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice storage component is provided with an ice receiving trough and an ice storage trough, the ice receiving trough is communicated with the ice storage trough, the ice receiving trough is used to receive the ice cubes made in the ice making mechanism, and the ice storage trough is used to store the ice cubes transferred by the ice receiving trough; Wherein, along the horizontal direction, the ice-making mechanism is located between the ice storage tank and the normal temperature water area.

3. The ice-making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least one full ice sensor module is disposed on the water tank. The full ice sensor module is disposed on the side wall of the ice storage tank and is located at the peripheral side of the connection point between the ice receiving tank and the ice storage tank.

4. The ice-making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The normal temperature water zone and the cold water zone are arranged with their orthographic projections on the horizontal plane staggered.

5. The ice-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The normal temperature water zone is communicated with the cold water zone so as to replenish water to the cold water zone through the normal temperature water zone.

6. The ice-making device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water tank is provided with a partition, and the partition is arranged between the normal temperature water area and the cold water area; Wherein, an overflow groove is provided at the top of the partition plate, so that the water in the normal temperature water area overflows to the cold water area through the overflow groove.

7. The ice-making device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The water tank is provided with a condensation groove, and the overflow groove is arranged on an end of the partition away from the condensation groove.

8. The ice-making device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The water tank is provided with a cold water outlet, the cold water outlet is communicated with the inside of the cold water zone, and the overflow groove is arranged away from the cold water outlet.

9. The ice-making device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The water tank is provided with a cold water drain pipe and a first filtering structure. The cold water drain pipe is communicated with the cold water drain port, and the first filtering structure is located between the cold water drain port and the cold water drain pipe.

10. The ice-making device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first filtering structure is a first grid plate connected to the water tank, and a plurality of first grid holes are provided on the first grid plate.

11. The ice-making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water tank is provided with a normal temperature water outlet and the normal temperature water pipe, the normal temperature water outlet is communicated with the inside of the normal temperature water zone and the normal temperature water pipe, and a second filtering structure is provided between the normal temperature water pipe and the normal temperature water outlet.

12. The ice-making device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The second filtering structure is a second grid plate connected to the water tank, and a plurality of second grid holes are provided on the second grid plate.

13. The ice-making device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The normal temperature water outlet is located at the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone, and a blocking structure is provided on the bottom wall of the normal temperature water zone. The blocking structure is located on one side of the second filtering structure. The blocking structure is provided with a blocking spacing, and the width of the blocking spacing is smaller than the width of the second filtering structure.

14. The ice-making device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The blocking structure includes two baffles, and the ends of the two baffles facing away from each other are respectively connected to the two opposite side walls of the normal temperature water zone, and the two baffles are arranged at an interval to form the blocking distance.

15. An ice making machine, characterized in that: The ice-making device comprises the ice-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

Images