Ice maker

Abstract

The invention provides an ice maker, which can reduce the magnetic resistance and is not easy to fail in fixation. The ice maker provided by the invention comprises a driving device, an ice tray and an ice probing rod part, the ice probing rod part comprises a magnet, the driving device comprises a driving shell, and the driving shell comprises a bottom wall and a side wall arranged around the bottom wall; a detection element is further arranged in the driving shell, and the detection element and the magnet are arranged on the inner side and the outer side of the side wall respectively.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The ice maker includes a driving device and an ice tray. When the ice tray has finished making ice, the driving device will drive the ice tray to rotate so that the ice tray rotates to the opening of the ice tray and pours out the ice cubes. However, when the ice storage box has enough ice, there is no need to pour out the ice cubes. Therefore, the ice maker is also provided with an ice-probing rod, which rotates with the ice tray. If the ice storage box has enough ice, the ice-probing rod cannot rotate due to the obstruction of the ice in the ice storage box, and the driving device will stop driving the ice tray to rotate and no longer pour out the ice cubes. If the ice is insufficient, the ice-probing rod can continue to rotate, and the driving device can continue to drive the ice tray to rotate until it reaches a position where the ice cubes can be poured out, and then reset in the reverse direction.

[0003] The ice-detecting rod rotates without being restricted by the ice in the ice storage box. This is sensed by the Hall element arranged in the driving device. A control circuit board is arranged outside the driving device housing, and the Hall element is mounted on the control circuit board. A magnet is arranged on the ice-detecting rod, and the magnet is located on the back side of the control circuit board. In this way, the distance between the Hall element and the magnet is relatively long, which can reach 9 to 10 mm. Triggering the Hall element requires a magnet with a larger surface magnetic strength. Therefore, the magnet needs to use a magnet with higher magnetic properties such as neodymium iron boron, which is more expensive. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide an ice maker which can reduce the risk of magnet failure and is not prone to fixation failure.

[0005] The present application provides an ice maker, comprising a driving device, an ice tray and an ice-probing rod component, wherein the ice-probing rod component comprises a magnet, and the driving device comprises a driving housing, wherein the driving housing comprises a bottom wall and a side wall arranged around the bottom wall; a detection element is also arranged in the driving housing, and the detection element and the magnet are respectively arranged on the inner and outer sides of the side wall.

[0006] In the present application, the detection element is arranged in the driving housing of the driving device, and the detection element and the magnet are arranged on the inner and outer sides of the side wall of the driving housing respectively. The detection probe of the detection element can be arranged toward the magnet. Compared with the magnet mentioned in the background technology being arranged on the back side of the Hall element, the arrangement method in the present application can reduce the distance between the magnet and the detection element, thereby reducing the requirements for the magnet material or the accuracy of the detection element, and requiring a smaller surface magnetic strength of the magnet. In this way, the use of magnets with lower magnetic properties such as ferrite can also meet the detection requirements, thereby reducing costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 This is an exploded schematic diagram of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present application;

[0008] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of another perspective of the ice machine;

[0009] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present application, illustrating the end of the ice maker;

[0010] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of the middle H area;

[0011] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the middle drive device;

[0012] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of the middle M part;

[0013] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the middle drive device from another perspective;

[0014] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of the N part;

[0015] Fig. 9 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a drive housing of a central drive device;

[0016] Fig.10 This is a side view of the ice maker in the embodiment of the present application, where the ice maker is in an initial state and the ice tray has not yet rotated;

[0017] Fig.11 for Fig.10 Middle AA section view;

[0018] Fig.12 for Fig.10 Middle DD section view;

[0019] Fig.13 for Fig.11 Middle CC section view;

[0020] Fig.14 It is a side view of the ice maker in the embodiment of the present application, at which the ice maker is in the state of not being full of ice, and the ice tray is rotated at a certain angle;

[0021] Fig.15 for Fig.14 Middle BB section view;

[0022] Fig.16 for Fig.14 Middle EE section view;

[0023] Fig.17 for Figure 1 Magnified view of the middle P site. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 , Figure 1 This is an exploded schematic diagram of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the ice machine from another perspective.

[0026] The ice making machine in this embodiment includes a frame 10, an ice tray 30, a temperature sensor component 40, a driving device 20 and an ice probe component 50. The driving device 20 is Figure 1 The ice tray 30 has a plurality of ice grids 301, and the ice grids 301 are used to hold water to freeze. Figure 1 As shown, the cold air flow flows from front to back to cool the water in the ice tray, so this article defines the front and back of the ice maker based on the flow direction of the cold air flow. Figure 1 , 2 The middle ice tray 30 is specifically provided with two rows of ice cubes 301 .

[0027] The frame 10 includes two ends and two sides that are oppositely arranged in the front-to-back direction. The two ends and the two sides are surrounded to form a frame opening. The ice tray 30 is installed in the frame opening of the frame 10 of the ice maker. One end of the frame 10 is also provided with a receiving portion 101. Figure 1 The end of the rear side of the middle frame 10 is provided with a receiving portion 101, the receiving portion 101 is formed with a receiving cavity, the opening of the receiving cavity is toward the rear side, the receiving cavity is used to install and fix the driving device 20, the driving device 20 may include a motor, and the driving device 20 is provided with an output shaft 201, such as Figure 1 As shown, the rear end of the ice tray 30 is provided with a cam portion 308, and the cam portion 308 is provided with an axis hole 306. The output shaft 201 can cooperate with the axis hole 306 on the ice tray 30, thereby driving the ice tray 30 to rotate. In addition, the front end of the ice tray 30 is also provided with an axis 307, and the frame 10 is provided with an axis hole 102 at the corresponding end. The axis 307 cooperates with the axis hole 102 on the frame 10, so that the ice tray 30 can be installed on the frame 10 and can rotate around the axis 307.

[0028] In order to monitor whether ice making is completed in the ice tray 301, the ice maker in this embodiment further includes a temperature sensor component 40, which includes a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the ice tray 301, and then determine whether the water in the ice tray 301 is frozen. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor is arranged behind the ice tray 301 on the rear side, and at least part of the temperature sensor is attached to the rear surface of the ice tray 301 on the rear side to sense and detect the temperature of the ice tray 301 on the rear side. In this arrangement, the temperature sensor will not affect the flow of cold air from front to back, and the water in the ice tray 301 can be cooled and frozen as quickly as possible to increase the ice making speed.

[0029] The ice maker also includes an ice-probing rod component 50, on which there are a convex portion 501, an axis 502, an axis 503, a magnet 504, a spring 505, and a crossbeam 506, wherein the axis 502, the axis 503 cooperate with the holes on the frame 10 (not shown in the figure) to be rotatable, and the convex portion 501 is in contact with the cam portion 308 of the ice tray 30. When the ice tray 30 rotates, the ice-probing rod component 50 is in contact with the cam portion 308 under the action of the spring 505, and then rotates together.

[0030] In this embodiment, the driving device 20 of the ice maker is provided with a detection element 2021, which can be a Hall sensor, or other types of sensors. The Hall sensor has a high detection accuracy. The detection element 201 can detect the magnet 504 on the ice probe component 50. The working principle of the ice maker is as follows:

[0031] An appropriate amount of water is added to the ice tray 30 of the ice maker through the solenoid valve or water pump in the refrigerator, and the water will be distributed to each ice grid 301. The cold capacity of the refrigerator is used to freeze the water in the ice grid 301 into ice. When the temperature sensor component 40 detects that the temperature is lower than the set value, ice making is completed, and the driving device 20 is powered on to drive the ice tray 30 to rotate, and at the same time drives the ice probe component 50 to rotate. If the magnet 504 of the ice probe component 50 can rotate to the detection element 2021 close to the driver component 50, it means that the crossbeam 506 of the ice probe component 50 can rotate to a certain extent, and the ice in the ice storage box 30 below the ice tray does not block the crossbeam 506, which means that the amount of ice below the ice tray 30 is insufficient, and the ice storage box (not shown in the figure) below the ice tray 30 is not full of ice, and the amount of ice needs to be increased. The driving device 50 will continue to drive the ice tray 30 to rotate and run to a predetermined position. At the predetermined position, the ice tray stopper (not shown in the figure) of the ice maker abuts against the frame stopper (not shown in the figure) and twists. The current of the driving device 50 increases due to the stall, and the power is cut off when the set value is reached. At this time, the ice cubes in the ice tray 30 can also fall into the ice storage box below under the action of gravity, and then the driving device 50 is powered on in the reverse direction and reset. This is the ice detection and ice removal process of the ice maker.

[0032] It can be seen that in the operation of the ice maker in this embodiment, the magnet 504 of the ice-detecting rod component 50 and the detection element 2021 need to cooperate to detect ice and control the rotation of the ice tray 30 to remove ice.

[0033] You can continue to refer to Figure 3-9 understand, Figure 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present application, illustrating the end of the ice maker; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of the middle H area; Figure 5 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the middle drive device 20; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of the middle M part; Figure 7 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the middle driving device 20 from another perspective; Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of the N part; Fig. 9 for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the drive housing 201 of the drive device 20.

[0034] In this embodiment, the driving device 20 includes a driving housing 204. The driving housing 204 is specifically a gear box in this embodiment, which is used to load the gear 203. The gear 203 can achieve the purpose of speed change to adjust the rotation speed of the output shaft 201. The driving housing 204 includes a bottom wall 2044 and a side wall arranged around the bottom wall 2044. In this embodiment, the driving housing 204 is roughly rectangular, and its side wall includes a first side wall 2041 close to the ice probe component 50. The bottom wall 2044 of the driving housing 204 is a wall away from the ice tray 30. One side of the driving housing 204 is open, and the opening faces the ice tray 30. The opening is opposite to the bottom wall 2044. Figure 1 From the perspective, the bottom wall 2044 is located at the rear side, and the opening is facing the front side, that is, the openings of the bottom wall 2044 and the drive housing 204 are distributed along the rear and front directions. At this time, the detection element 2021 is arranged on the inner side of the first side wall 2041, the side close to the inside of the drive housing 201 is the inner side, and the opposite side is the outer side. Figure 4 As shown, the magnet 504 of the ice-detecting rod component 50 is located on the outside of the first side wall 2041, and the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021 are respectively located on the inside and outside of the first side wall 2041. When the ice storage box is insufficient in ice, the ice-detecting rod component 50 can be rotated to a predetermined angle, and the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021 can be as close as possible.

[0035] In this way, theoretically, the shortest distance between the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021 can be only the thickness of the first side wall 2041. Of course, based on the requirements of processing, assembly, rotation range limitation of the detection element 2021, and reduction of contact wear, the inner surface of the detection element 2021 and the inner surface of the first side wall 2041, and the outer surface of the magnet 504 and the first side wall 2041 can have a certain gap, but the gap can be as small as possible to minimize the distance between the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021. Compared with the distance of 9 to 10 mm in the background technology, in this embodiment, the distance between the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021 can be shortened to 4 to 5 mm. Of course, depending on the specific model and size, the range of the distance will vary to a certain extent, but it is obvious that the setting method of this embodiment can reduce the distance between the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021, thereby reducing the requirements for the material of the magnet 504 or the accuracy of the detection element 2021, and requiring a smaller surface magnetic strength of the magnet 504. In this way, the use of magnets with lower magnetic properties such as ferrite can also meet the detection requirements, thereby reducing costs.

[0036] In this embodiment, the detection element 2021 is arranged on the inner side of the first side wall 2041 so that the detection element 2021 can contact or approach the first side wall 2041. It can be seen that the detection element 2021 can be arranged on the wall of the magnet 504 facing the ice probe component 50. When the shape of the driving housing 204 changes, it is not necessarily possible to limit the shape of the first side wall 2041. Fig. 9 The first side wall 2041 shown has a clear boundary separation. For example, if the drive housing 204 is circular, the side wall facing the magnet 504 is an arc-shaped side wall. The detection element 201 is set at a position where the distance between the magnet 504 and the detection element 2021 is the shortest when the magnet 504 needs to be detected.

[0037] Please continue to combine Figure 3 , 57. It is understood that in the present embodiment, a circuit board 202 is arranged in the drive housing 204, and a detection element 2021 is arranged on the circuit board 202. One side surface of the circuit board 202 faces the first side wall 2041, and the side surface is defined as the first side surface 2022. The circuit board 202 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 2044, that is, the thickness direction of the circuit board 202 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2044; a control circuit board (not shown in the figure) is arranged on the outer side of the drive housing 204 opposite to the bottom wall 2044, that is, a control circuit board is arranged at the rear of the drive housing 204, and at this time, the circuit board 202 and the control circuit board are connected through the lead 205. The detection element 2021 is arranged on the inner side of the drive housing 204 and on the circuit board 202. On the one hand, the circuit board 202 supports the detection element 201, and on the other hand, it is simpler and less costly to connect to the control circuit board through the lead 205 to obtain the detection signal of the detection element 2021. It can be seen that the circuit board 202 may not be provided, and the detection element 2021 may be directly connected to the control circuit board through leads.

[0038] like Figure 8 As shown, a row of columns 2042 can also be set in the drive housing 204, and the circuit board 202 is provided with multiple leads 205, and a portion of each lead 205 is clamped between two adjacent columns 2042. A row of multiple columns 2042 can constrain the position of the lead 205 to achieve the purpose of arranging and positioning the lead 205.

[0039] like Figure 6 As shown, the drive housing 204 in this embodiment is provided with a mounting groove 2043, the circuit board 202 is plugged into the mounting groove 2043, the circuit board 202 includes a first side surface 2022 facing the first side wall 2041, and the detection element 2021 is arranged on the first side surface 2022, that is, the detection element 2021 is directly arranged toward the first side wall 2041. Specifically, the mounting groove 2043 in this embodiment is a card slot, the drive housing 204 is provided with two card slots at the position of the first side wall 2041, and the notches of the two card slots are opposite, the circuit board 202 includes front and rear sides and two ends, and the two ends of the circuit board 202 are respectively inserted into the two card slots to achieve positioning. It can be seen that the mounting groove 2043 is not limited to the following Figure 5 , 6 The arrangement shown in the figure is also possible, for example, a groove with a notch facing the ice tray 30 is arranged on the bottom wall 2044 as the installation groove, and the rear side of the circuit board 202 can be completely inserted into the groove. Here, two card slots are arranged as the installation slots 2043, which can reliably card the circuit board 202 and not easily interfere with the electronic components on the circuit board 202.

[0040] like Figure 6As shown, the inner surface of the first side wall 2041 of the driving shell 204 is also provided with at least one boss 2046 protruding inward, and the boss 2045 is in contact with the first side surface 2022 of the circuit board 202 or has a predetermined gap, so that the boss 2045 can support and isolate the circuit board 202 and the first side wall 2041 to reliably isolate the space and ensure the accommodation space for the detection element 2021.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, the ice-detecting rod component 50 has two sides in the rotation direction of the ice tray 30, and a magnet 504 is provided on the side facing the ice tray 30, that is, the magnet 504 is provided on the side of the ice-detecting rod component 50, so that the detection element 2021 is distributed on both sides of the first side wall 2041 to minimize the distance between the two during sensing.

[0042] Please continue to refer to Figure 10-16 understand, Fig.10 It is a side view of the ice maker in the embodiment of the present application, at which time the ice maker is in an initial state, and the ice tray 30 has not yet rotated; Fig.11 for Fig.10 Middle AA section view; Fig.12 for Fig.10 Middle DD section view; Fig.13 for Fig.11 Middle CC section view;

[0043] Fig.14 It is a side view of the ice maker in the embodiment of the present application, at which the ice maker is in the state of not being full of ice, and the ice tray 30 is rotated by a certain angle; Fig.15 for Fig.14 Middle BB section view; Fig.16 for Fig.14 EE section view.

[0044] like Fig.13 As shown, in this embodiment, the ice probe component 50 is provided with a mounting portion 507 extending toward the ice tray 30, and the mounting portion 507 has a receiving groove at one end facing the drive housing 204, and the magnet 504 is installed in the receiving groove. The mounting portion 507 extending toward the drive housing 204 can further reduce the distance from the first side wall 2041 of the drive housing 204, and then shorten the distance from the detection element 2021, and the receiving groove itself can protect the magnet 504. Figure 3 , 4A partition 1011 is also provided on the inner side of the accommodating portion 101 of the frame 10. The partition 1011 is projected along the front-to-back direction and is roughly L-shaped. Part of the partition 1011 is arranged opposite to the first side wall 2041. The partition 1011 has an opening 1011a. The partition 1011 can play a certain role in limiting and protecting the drive housing 204 installed in the accommodating portion 101.

[0045] like Fig.17 As shown, Fig.17 for Figure 1 Magnified view of the middle P site.

[0046] The side wall of the accommodating portion 101 facing the ice-detecting rod component 50 has a notch 1012 to reserve space for the installation and rotation of the ice tray 30 and the ice-detecting rod component 50. During the rotation of the ice-detecting rod component 50, its mounting portion 507 can enter the accommodating portion 101, and the magnet 504 at its end can pass through the opening 1011a of the partition 1011 to approach the first side wall 2041, so that the two are separated only by the first side wall 2021. In this embodiment, the extended mounting portion 507 is a columnar structure, which is more conducive to passing through the opening 1011a. It can be seen that the purpose of setting the opening 1011a in the accommodating portion 101 is to meet the requirements of the supporting strength of the accommodating portion 101 and isolation from the outside, and to allow the magnet 504 to pass over the accommodating portion 101 and get as close to the detection element 2021 as possible.

[0047] contrast Fig.11 , Fig.15 , and contrast Fig.12 , Fig.16 It can be seen that in the initial state, the ice-detecting rod component 50 has not yet rotated with the ice tray 30, and the magnet 504 has a certain distance from the detection element 2021 on the inner side of the first side wall 2041. The ice tray 30 starts to rotate and under the action of the spring 505, the convex portion 501 and the cam 308 fit each other, thereby driving the ice-detecting rod component 50 to rotate synchronously. When the ice storage box is not full of ice, the ice-detecting rod component 50 can rotate a certain angle to reach Fig.16 The magnet 504 is close to the first side wall 2041 , and the detection element 2021 can sense the magnet 504 .

[0048] Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application, and the description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and core ideas of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, without departing from the principles of the present application, several improvements and modifications can be made to the present application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An ice making machine, characterized in that: It includes a driving device, an ice tray and an ice-probing rod component, wherein the ice-probing rod component includes a magnet, and the driving device includes a driving shell, wherein the driving shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall arranged around the bottom wall; a detection element is also arranged in the driving shell, and the detection element and the magnet are respectively arranged on the inner and outer sides of the side wall.

2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A circuit board is arranged in the driving housing, and the detection element is arranged on the circuit board; the driving device also includes a control circuit board, and the circuit board and the control circuit board are connected through leads.

3. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: A row of columns is arranged in the driving housing, a plurality of leads are arranged on the circuit board, and a portion of each lead is clamped between two adjacent columns.

4. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive housing is provided with a mounting groove, the circuit board is plugged into the mounting groove, the circuit board includes a first side surface facing the side wall, and the detection element is arranged on the first side surface.

5. The ice making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mounting slot is a card slot, the drive housing is provided with two card slots, and the two ends of the circuit board are respectively inserted into the two card slots.

6. The ice making machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner surface of the side wall is further provided with at least one convex column protruding inwards, and the convex column is in contact with the first side surface of the circuit board or has a predetermined gap therebetween.

7. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The magnet is arranged on one side of the ice-detecting rod component facing the ice tray in the rotation direction.

8. The ice making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ice-probing rod component is provided with a mounting portion extending toward the ice tray, and the end of the mounting portion facing the driving housing has a receiving groove, and the magnet is installed in the receiving groove.

9. The ice making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The ice maker includes a frame, a receiving portion is formed at one end of the frame, the receiving portion has a receiving cavity, the drive housing is located in the receiving cavity, the receiving portion has an opening, the opening of the receiving portion is arranged toward the detection element, and the extension portion can pass through the opening to approach the detection element.

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