Ice making method and ice maker

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ice making, in particular to an ice making method and an ice maker. According to the ice making method, ice is made through the ice maker, the ice maker comprises a water box assembly, a disturbance part, a water pump and a first evaporator assembly, and a water inlet cavity is formed in the water box assembly; the first evaporator assembly and the water box assembly define a first ice making cavity, the first ice making cavity communicates with the water inlet cavity through the turbulent flow hole, the water pump communicates with the water inlet cavity through the water inlet and outlet, and the ice making method comprises the steps that the water pump is controlled to pump ice making water into the water inlet cavity. The disturbance component drives ice making water in the water inlet cavity to flow, so that the ice making water in the water inlet cavity and the ice making water in the first ice making cavity mutually flow, and in the process that the water forms ice, gas and impurities in the water can be taken away by continuously flowing liquid water and cannot be sealed in ice crystals, so that the ice making effect is improved. Finally, it is ensured that the manufactured ice blocks are free of bubbles inside and crystal clear, and the quality of the ice blocks is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice-making technology, and more particularly to ice-making methods and ice-making machines. Background Technology

[0002] With the significant improvement in modern living standards, people's pursuit of quality of life has become increasingly refined. This has led to ice makers, or refrigerators with integrated ice-making functions, becoming indispensable equipment in homes and commercial establishments. These devices operate on a relatively uniform principle: rapidly cooling water in a mold through a first evaporator component, causing it to freeze into ice to meet various needs such as daily drinking, food preservation, and commercial cocktail making. However, in practical applications, most ice-making machines using these technologies often produce ice cubes containing a large number of air bubbles. This is because during the rapid freezing process, air dissolved in the water is trapped within the ice crystal structure before it can escape. These bubbles cause the ice cubes to appear cloudy, have low transparency, and lack a crystal-clear aesthetic. Ultimately, the problem of air bubbles in the ice cubes results in poor ice quality. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in related technologies. To this end, this invention proposes an ice-making method that produces ice blocks that are free of internal air bubbles, crystal clear, and significantly improve the quality of the ice blocks.

[0004] The present invention also proposes an ice maker.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ice-making method is performed by an ice maker, the ice maker including an ice-making device and a water pump, the ice-making device including a water box assembly, a disturbance component, and a first evaporator assembly, the water box assembly having a water inlet chamber inside; the first evaporator assembly and the water box assembly forming a first ice-making chamber, the first ice-making chamber communicating with the water inlet chamber through a disturbance hole, and the water pump communicating with the water inlet chamber through an inlet and outlet, the ice-making method comprising: The water pump is controlled to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber; The disturbance component is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber flow to each other; The first evaporator assembly is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber into ice cubes.

[0006] According to the ice-making method of the present invention, the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber is driven to flow by the disturbance component, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber flow to each other. During the process of water freezing into ice, the gas and impurities in the water are carried away by the continuously flowing liquid water and are not trapped in the ice crystals. This ensures that the ice block produced is bubble-free and crystal clear, which significantly improves the quality of the ice block.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker further includes a drain valve, the drain valve being connected to the inlet and outlet water ports; after the step of controlling the first evaporator assembly to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber into ice cubes, the method further includes: The drain valve is opened to discharge the remaining ice-making water in the inlet chamber through the inlet and outlet ports at the top.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the step of opening the control drain valve to discharge the remaining ice-making water in the water inlet chamber through the upper inlet and outlet, the method further includes: The water pump is controlled to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber, the method further includes: The first evaporator assembly is controlled to heat the side of the ice block closest to the first evaporator assembly, so that the ice block separates from the first evaporator assembly.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber, the method further includes: The drain valve is opened to discharge the melted ice water in the inlet chamber through the upper and lower inlets and outlets.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the ice-melting water when it is injected into the first ice-making cavity is greater than the temperature of the ice-making water when it is injected into the first ice-making cavity.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the disturbance component includes a driving mechanism and a disturbance mechanism. The driving mechanism is disposed outside the water inlet cavity, and the disturbance mechanism is disposed inside the water inlet cavity. The driving mechanism is connected to the disturbance mechanism.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the step of controlling the disturbance component to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber to flow includes: The drive mechanism is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism to rotate forward or in the opposite direction until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber is frozen into ice blocks.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the step of controlling the disturbance component to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber to flow includes: The drive mechanism is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism to rotate forward for a first predetermined time; Control the drive mechanism to close for a second predetermined time; The drive mechanism is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism to rotate in the opposite direction for a first predetermined time. Repeat the above steps in sequence until the rotation time of the disturbance mechanism reaches the third predetermined time.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the steps of repeating the above steps in sequence, the method further includes: The drive mechanism is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism to rotate forward for a second predetermined time, wherein the second predetermined time is less than the first predetermined time; The drive mechanism is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism to rotate in the opposite direction for a second predetermined time. Repeat the above steps until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber freezes into ice blocks.

[0016] An ice maker according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: Water tank assembly, agitator components, water pump, and first evaporator assembly; A controller, electrically connected to the water pump, performs ice-making by executing the ice-making method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

[0017] An electronic device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the ice-making method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided thereon storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the ice-making method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0019] A computer program product according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the ice-making method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the ice-making method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a top view of the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line CC.

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle.

[0027] Figure 6 It is along Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line BB.

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point B in the middle.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the water box assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the first evaporator assembly and support provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 10 This is a top view of the water box assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 11 It is along Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line DD.

[0033] Figure 12 It is along Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the section line EE.

[0034] Figure 13This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the water-air connection seat provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the disturbance component provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 15 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the disturbance mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the disturbance mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 17 It is along Figure 16 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line AA.

[0039] Figure 18 This is one of the three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of the ice-making device provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 19 This is a top view of the ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 20 It is along Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line FF.

[0042] Figure 21 It is along Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure made along section line GG.

[0043] Figure 22 This is the second three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the ice-making device provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 23 This is a schematic diagram of the physical structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure label: 10. First evaporator assembly; 11. First housing; 12. Second housing; 13. Welding filler metal composite plate; 14. Medium inlet; 15. Medium outlet; 20. Water box assembly; 210. Water box body; 211. Water inlet chamber; 212. Water inlet and outlet; 213. Overflow port; 214. Baffle; 215. Bracket; 220. Inner shell; 221. First ice-making chamber; 222. Baffle hole; 230. Pressing mechanism; 231. Pressing element; 232. Elastic element; 233. Guide sleeve; 234. Handle; 235. Sealing ring; 236. Positioning groove; 237. Contact part; 238. Pressing part; 240. Water-air connection seat; 241. Overflow connection port; 242. Water inlet / outlet connection port; 243. First annular sealing gasket; 244. Second annular sealing gasket; 30. Disturbing component; 310. Drive mechanism; 320. Disturbing mechanism; 321. Connecting rod; 322. Baffle plate; 323. Connecting rod body; 324. Insert rod; 325. Rotating sleeve; 326. Limiting ring; 330. First magnetic attraction mechanism; 331. Second magnet; 332. Rotating seat body; 333. Connecting piece; 340. Second magnetic attraction mechanism; 341. Mounting base; 342. First magnet; 40. Outer shell; 41. Cover; 410. Support base; 420. Spray evaporator; 421. Ice-making chamber; 422. Ice outlet port; 423. Cooling medium flow channel; 424. Cooling medium inlet; 425. Cooling medium outlet; 426. Flow channel unit; 430. Spray component; 431. Combination channel; 433. Drainage channel; 434. Drain outlet; 435. Nozzle; 436. Guide groove; 440. Baffle; 441. Baffle frame; 442. Shielding component. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They 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 device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0049] In embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0050] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, a first aspect of the present invention provides an ice-making method. The ice-making method uses an ice maker to make ice. The ice maker includes an ice-making device and a water pump. The ice-making device includes a water box assembly 20, a disturbance component 30, and a first evaporator assembly 10. The water box assembly 20 has a water inlet chamber 211 inside. The first evaporator assembly 10 and the water box assembly 20 form a first ice-making chamber 221. The first ice-making chamber 221 is connected to the water inlet chamber 211 through a disturbance hole 222. The water pump is connected to the water inlet chamber 211 through an inlet / outlet 212. Specifically, the ice-making... The machine also includes a pure water tank 6, inlet and outlet water pipes 3, drain valve 4, and water addition switching valve 5. The first end of the inlet and outlet water pipe 3 is connected to the inlet and outlet water port 212, the drain valve 4 is connected to the second end of the inlet and outlet water pipe 3, and the outlet of the drain valve 4 is connected to the cold water tank 17. The pure water tank 6 is suitable for storing pure water. The first inlet of the pure water tank 6 is connected to the first interface of the water addition switching valve 5. The inlet of the water pump 7 is connected to the outlet of the pure water tank 6, the outlet of the water pump 7 is connected to the second interface of the water addition switching valve 5, and the third interface of the water addition switching valve 5 is connected to the second end of the inlet and outlet water pipe 3.

[0052] The ice-making method includes: Step S100: Control the water pump to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber 211; In step S200, the disturbance component 30 is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 flow to each other. In step S300, the first evaporator assembly 10 is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 into ice blocks.

[0053] According to the ice-making method of the present invention, the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 is driven to flow by the disturbance component 30, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 flow to each other. During the process of water freezing into ice, the gas and impurities in the water are carried away by the continuously flowing liquid water and are not trapped in the ice crystals. This ensures that the ice blocks produced are free of bubbles and are crystal clear, which significantly improves the quality of the ice blocks.

[0054] It is understood that the ice maker also includes a drain valve, which is connected to the inlet / outlet 212; after the step of controlling the first evaporator assembly 10 to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 into ice cubes, the following is also included: In step S400, the drain valve is opened to discharge the remaining ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 through the upper inlet / outlet 212.

[0055] Because the remaining ice-making water in the inlet chamber 211 is at a low temperature, this portion of the low-temperature remaining ice-making water is pre-discharged by opening the drain valve before pumping the melting water. This effectively prevents the low-temperature ice-making water from mixing with the subsequently entering high-temperature melting water. This ensures that the melting water entering the inlet chamber 211 maintains a higher temperature level, allowing it to melt the ice in the inlet chamber 211 more quickly and efficiently using its higher heat. This provides favorable conditions for the subsequent de-icing process and significantly improves the melting efficiency of the entire ice-making cycle.

[0056] Understandably, after the step of controlling the drain valve to open so as to drain the remaining ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 through the upper inlet / outlet 212, the following steps are also included: In step S400, the water pump is controlled to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber 211 to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber 211.

[0057] The temperature of the melting water injected into the first ice-making chamber 221 is higher than that of the ice-making water. By using melting water at a higher temperature than the ice-making water, the larger temperature difference between the two enhances heat transfer, allowing heat to be transferred to the ice more quickly, effectively accelerating the melting process and shortening the de-icing time in the ice-making cycle. The melting water can be at room temperature, or, for higher efficiency, a heater can be added between the water pump and the inlet chamber 211 to actively heat the melting water. This design ensures that the melting water has a higher temperature when entering the inlet chamber 211, thus eliminating dependence on ambient temperature and making the melting process more stable, efficient, and controllable. When the high-temperature de-icing water is pumped into the water inlet chamber 211, it first melts the ice remaining in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice in the turbulence hole 222 connecting the first ice-making chamber 221 and the water inlet chamber 211. This can accurately melt the key parts connecting the finished ice and the water box assembly 20 (inner shell 220), greatly improving the success rate and reliability of de-icing.

[0058] Understandably, after the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the inlet chamber 211 to melt the ice in the inlet chamber 211, the following steps are also included: In step S500, the first evaporator assembly 10 is controlled to heat the side of the ice block near the first evaporator assembly 10 so that the ice block separates from the first evaporator assembly 10.

[0059] Although the ice block near the inner shell 220 has been melted by the de-icing water in the above steps, solving the problem of ice block adhesion to the inner shell 220, the ice block is still connected to the first evaporator assembly 10, preventing it from being completely detached. Therefore, it is necessary to also de-ice the side of the ice block near the first evaporator assembly 10. Specifically, by controlling the opening of the refrigerant solenoid valve in the refrigeration system, the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor is directly introduced into the internal flow channel of the first evaporator assembly 10. This allows for the rapid and direct use of the high-temperature medium generated by the system's own operation as a heat source, eliminating the need for additional heating components and energy consumption, thus achieving efficient and energy-saving heat transfer. When the high-temperature refrigerant flows through the first evaporator, it rapidly raises the surface temperature of the ice block in contact with it, melting only a very thin layer of ice into a water film. This maximizes the integrity and low-temperature state of the ice block, preventing a decline in ice quality due to excessive melting.

[0060] Understandably, after the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the inlet chamber 211 to melt the ice in the inlet chamber 211, the following steps are also included: In step S410, the drain valve is opened to discharge the melted ice water in the water inlet chamber 211 through the upper and lower inlet / outlet 212.

[0061] After the ice in the inlet chamber 211 melts, the residual ice in the bottom inlet / outlet 212 also melts, ensuring that the bottom inlet / outlet 212 is restored to its open state. When the drain valve is opened, the melted water in the inlet chamber 211, which has completed its melting task, can be discharged simultaneously through both the upper and lower inlet / outlet 212. Using the lower inlet / outlet 212, located at the lowest point, for drainage allows gravity to completely drain any remaining water from the chamber, effectively preventing hygiene problems caused by water accumulation.

[0062] It should be noted that step S410 is executed after step S400 and before step S500.

[0063] It is understood that the disturbance component 30 includes a drive mechanism 310 and a disturbance mechanism 320. The drive mechanism 310 is located outside the water inlet chamber 211, and the disturbance mechanism 320 is located inside the water inlet chamber 211. The drive mechanism 310 is connected to the disturbance mechanism 320.

[0064] Specifically, the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320 can be directly connected or connected by magnetic attraction. When the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320 are directly connected, the water box body 210 is provided with a connection hole, the connecting shaft of the drive mechanism 310 passes through the connection hole and is connected to the disturbance mechanism 320, the drive mechanism 310 is adapted to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to move, and the disturbance mechanism 320 is adapted to drive the water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow. When the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320 are connected by magnetic attraction, the disturbance component 30 also includes a first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and a second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. The drive mechanism 310 and the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 are both located outside the water box assembly 20. The drive mechanism 310 is connected to the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330. The disturbance mechanism 320 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 are both located inside the water inlet cavity 211. The disturbance mechanism 320 is connected to the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. The first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 are magnetically attracted to each other.

[0065] It is understandable that the steps of controlling the disturbance component 30 to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow include: The drive mechanism 310 drives the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate in the forward or reverse direction until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 is frozen into ice blocks.

[0066] It is understandable that the steps of controlling the disturbance component 30 to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow include: Step S210: Control the drive mechanism 310 to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate forward for a first predetermined time; Step S220: Control the drive mechanism 310 to close for the second predetermined time; Step S230: Control the drive mechanism 310 to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate in the opposite direction for a first predetermined time; Step S240, until the rotation time of the disturbance mechanism 320 reaches the third predetermined time.

[0067] The third predetermined time is less than the time it takes for the water in the first ice-making chamber 221 and the water inlet chamber 211 to freeze into ice. By driving the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate forward for the first predetermined time, a strong unidirectional water flow can be generated, which powerfully washes the inner walls of the first ice-making chamber 221 and the water inlet chamber 211 as well as the surface of the ice layer that is forming, forcibly peeling off the bubbles that have been attached or are about to be attached. Then, the second predetermined time is stopped. This brief period of stillness is not completely still, but uses the inertia of the water flow to create ripples and turbulence. This not only disrupts the regular attachment trend of the bubbles, but also provides a time window for the tiny bubbles suspended in the water to float or gather. Then, the driving mechanism 310 drives the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate in the opposite direction for the first predetermined time, generating a strong water flow in the opposite direction to the previous one, which performs a second reverse wash on the bubbles that were not effectively removed in the previous stage or that re-gathered during the stillness period. This alternating motion, along with the pauses in between, creates a highly efficient periodic disturbance, causing the water flow direction within the cavity to change repeatedly. This simulates a highly efficient "oscillating cleaning" effect, ensuring that the water remains in a dynamic and unstable state throughout the entire ice-making process. This makes it extremely difficult for air bubbles to remain at the solid-liquid interface or stay still in the water, thus effectively expelling them from the ice-making area and ultimately obtaining highly transparent, bubble-free ice.

[0068] It is understandable that after repeating the above steps in sequence, the following steps are also included: Step S250: Control the drive mechanism 310 to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate forward for a second predetermined time, wherein the second predetermined time is less than the first predetermined time; Step S260: Control the drive mechanism 310 to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate in the opposite direction for a second predetermined time; Step S270: Repeat the above steps in sequence until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 is frozen into ice blocks.

[0069] By driving the agitation mechanism 320 to rotate forward for a short second predetermined time, the rapid and brief agitation generates an instantaneous water flow impact, which disturbs the solidifying ice-water interface, thereby breaking the critical stable state where bubbles reside. Immediately following, the agitation mechanism 320 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction for the same second predetermined time. This rapid reverse action generates a reverse instantaneous impact, which can further remove bubbles that were not promptly dispelled or pushed to other corners in the previous action. Since the second predetermined time is significantly shorter than the first predetermined time used to achieve water circulation, this rapid switching between forward and reverse directions forms a high-frequency commutation rotation mode. This mode generates continuous micro-oscillations and turbulence in the water near the ice surface, effectively "scraping" the surface of the ice layer at high frequency. This causes the micro-bubbles in the water to be continuously pushed away by the dynamic water flow before they are "captured" by the ice crystals, greatly reducing the probability of bubbles solidifying at the solid-liquid interface, thus significantly improving the transparency and purity of the final ice product.

[0070] like Figures 2 to 3 As shown, a second aspect of the present invention provides an ice maker, which includes an ice-making device, a water pump, and a controller. The ice-making device includes a water box assembly 20, a disturbance component 30, and a first evaporator assembly 10. The controller performs the ice-making method described in any of the above embodiments to make ice.

[0071] It is understandable that, such as Figures 4 to 8 As shown, the water box assembly 20 includes a water box body 210, an inner shell 220, and a pressing mechanism 230. The inner shell 220 and the first evaporator assembly 10 form a first ice-making chamber 221. The water box body 210 is disposed on the side of the inner shell 220 away from the first evaporator assembly 10, and the water box body 210 and the inner shell 220 form a water inlet chamber 211. The inner shell 220 is provided with a turbulence hole 222 that connects the water inlet chamber 211 and the first ice-making chamber 221. The inner shell 220 is made of a flexible material. The pressing mechanism 230 is disposed on the water box body 210. The pressing mechanism 230 is adapted to squeeze the inner shell 220 to deform during de-icing so that the ice block is separated from the inner shell 220.

[0072] According to the ice-making apparatus provided by the present invention, since the inner shell 220 is made of a flexible material, it can easily undergo recoverable deformation under external force. During the ice removal process, by pressing the pressing mechanism 230 by hand, the pressing mechanism 230 further compresses the flexible inner shell 220 under pressure, causing it to deform locally or entirely. This method of separating ice blocks through compression and deformation simplifies the overall mechanical structure, reducing manufacturing costs and achieving higher reliability and longer service life due to the reduction of moving parts. Throughout the entire ice removal process, the pressing mechanism 230 always acts on the outer wall of the inner shell 220, avoiding direct contact between the pressing mechanism 230 and the ice blocks inside the inner shell 220, thus ensuring the food-grade hygiene of the ice blocks.

[0073] It is understandable that the first ice-making cavity 221 is spherical, and the inner shell 220 is hemispherical, so the ice block produced is spherical ice. Of course, the first ice-making cavity 221 can also be an ellipsoid, an animal shape, or other shapes, and the shape of the inner shell 220 can be adjusted according to the shape of the first ice-making cavity 221.

[0074] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the first evaporator assembly 10 includes a first evaporator. A first receiving cavity is provided on the side of the first evaporator facing the water box assembly 20 (i.e., the upper side of the first evaporator). A second receiving cavity is provided on the side of the inner shell 220 facing the first evaporator assembly 10. Both the first and second receiving cavities are hemispherical. When the inner shell 220 is in contact with the top of the first evaporator, the first and second receiving cavities communicate to form a spherical first ice-making cavity 221. In this embodiment, the first evaporator has two first receiving cavities, which are spaced apart along the length of the first evaporator.

[0075] The first evaporator includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12, both made of metal. A first receiving cavity is located on the side of the first housing 11 facing away from the second housing 12, forming a protrusion on the side of the first housing 11 facing the second housing 12. A clearance recess is provided on the side of the second housing 12 facing the first housing 11, with the protrusion located within the clearance recess. The edges of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are welded together and sealed. A certain distance is spaced between the protrusion and the clearance recess to form a medium flow channel. One end of the second housing 12 is provided with a medium inlet 14, and the other end is provided with a medium outlet 15, both of which are connected to the medium flow channel. When the ice maker is working, the cooling medium flows into the medium flow channel through the medium inlet 14 and fills the medium flow channel. The cooling medium exchanges heat with the water in the first ice-making chamber 221 in the medium flow channel, causing the water to freeze into ice cubes. After heat exchange, the medium flows out of the medium flow channel through the medium outlet 15.

[0076] Furthermore, the first evaporator also includes a brazing filler plate 13, which has a hollow structure and is fitted around the outer periphery of the protrusion. The edge of the first shell 11 is welded to the edge of the second shell 12 through the brazing filler plate 13.

[0077] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the water tank body 210 is provided with a mounting hole located on the top of the water tank body 210, so as to facilitate operation directly after opening the lid 41 of the ice maker. Of course, the location of the mounting hole is not limited to this and can also be provided in other locations on the water tank body 210.

[0078] The pressing mechanism 230 includes a pressing member 231 and an elastic member 232. The pressing member 231 is vertically arranged, and its first end is movably inserted through a mounting hole. The pressing member 231 is located above the inner housing 220. The number of pressing members 231 and the number of inner housings 220 are the same, and each pressing member 231 corresponds to one inner housing 220. The elastic member 232 is connected to the pressing member 231. The elastic member 232 can store energy and release it after the external force is removed, so that the pressing member 231 automatically returns to its initial position after pressing the inner housing 220. This achieves automatic reset after pressing, eliminating the need for manual reset by the user and improving the convenience of operation and the efficiency of continuous use. The elastic member 232 is suitable for switching between an initial state and a deformed state. In the initial state, the first end of the pressing member 231 is separated from the inner housing 220. In the deformed state, by applying external force to the pressing member 231, its first end abuts against the inner shell 220 and squeezes the flexible inner shell 220 to deform it. The deformation of the flexible inner shell 220 is used to break the adhesion between the ice and the shell surface, thereby allowing the ice to separate from the inner shell 220, achieving an easy and convenient ice removal effect. This method is not only simple and labor-saving to operate, but also effectively avoids the problems of ice breaking or mold damage caused by traditional knocking and twisting methods.

[0079] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the elastic element 232 includes a compression spring, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the pressing element 231. The coaxial arrangement of the compression spring and the pressing element 231 makes the overall structure compact and occupies little space, while ensuring that the pressing element 231 is subjected to uniform force during movement, thereby achieving stable and smooth reciprocating motion. The first end of the compression spring abuts against the outer side of the water box body 210, and the second end of the pressing element 231 is provided with a pressing part 238. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressing part 238 is larger than that of the compression spring, and the second end of the compression spring abuts against the pressing part 238. The pressing part 238 not only provides a larger contact area, improving the user's comfort and ease of operation when pressing, but also serves as the limiting and force-bearing end of the spring, ensuring the smooth transmission of pressure and spring force. Of course, the specific type of the elastic element 232 is not limited to this; it can also be a tension spring or other types of springs.

[0080] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, a guide sleeve 233 is provided on the outer side of the water box body 210. The guide sleeve 233 provides precise guidance for the reciprocating motion of the pressing part 231, ensuring that the pressing part 231 always moves stably along the predetermined path, thereby avoiding shaking or deflection during the movement. The pressing part 231 is located inside the guide sleeve 233, and the guide sleeve 233 and the pressing part 231 are coaxially arranged. The compression spring is located between the guide sleeve 233 and the pressing part 231, and the spring is housed inside the guide structure, which not only protects the spring from contamination or damage by external impurities, but also makes the overall structure cleaner and more compact. The pressing part 238 slides in conjunction with the guide sleeve 233. Through the sliding contact between the upper end of the pressing part 238 and the inner wall of the guide sleeve 233, the smoothness of the entire pressing stroke is ensured, improving the operating feel and the reliability of the mechanism.

[0081] It is understandable that, such as Figure 8 As shown, the ice-making device also includes a handle 234 and at least two guide sleeves 233. The handle 234 is connected to two of the guide sleeves 233. The handle 234 facilitates the removal of the water tank assembly 20 from the mounting cavity of the bracket 215. Preferably, two guide sleeves 233 are provided, spaced apart along the length of the water tank body 210 on the top of the water tank body 210. One end of the handle 234 is connected to one guide sleeve 233, and the other end of the handle 234 is connected to the other guide sleeve 233, thus forming a complete handle 234 structure, which allows the user to easily and smoothly remove or place the entire ice-making device with one hand. The handle 234 and the guide sleeves 233 are integrally formed, reducing the number of parts, simplifying the production process and reducing manufacturing costs. At the same time, the integrated structure also ensures the strength and durability of the connection, avoiding loosening problems that may occur after long-term use.

[0082] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the pressing mechanism 230 also includes a sealing ring 235, which is sleeved on the first end of the pressing member 231 and seals with the pressing member 231. In the initial state, the sealing ring 235 abuts against and seals with the edge of the mounting hole near the water inlet chamber 211 to prevent water in the water inlet chamber 211 from flowing out through the gap between the pressing member 231 and the mounting hole. In the deformed state, the sealing ring 235 separates from the edge of the mounting hole near the water inlet chamber 211.

[0083] The pressing mechanism 230 also includes a sealing ring 235, which is sleeved on the first end of the pressing member 231 and seals against it. In the initial state, the elastic force of the elastic member 232 causes the sealing ring 235 to abut against the edge of the mounting hole near the water inlet chamber 211 and form a sealing fit, thereby forming a waterproof barrier to prevent water in the water inlet chamber 211 from flowing out through the gap between the pressing member 231 and the mounting hole after water is injected, thus improving the sealing performance of the water box assembly 20. In the deformed state, when the pressing member 231 is pressed down, the sealing ring 235 moves downward and separates from the edge of the mounting hole. At this time, since the water in the water inlet chamber 211 has been discharged, no water will flow out even though there is a gap between the pressing member 231 and the mounting hole.

[0084] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, a positioning groove 236 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first end of the pressing member 231. The positioning groove 236 is annular, and the sealing ring 235 is embedded in the positioning groove 236. By setting the positioning groove 236, the sealing ring 235 is effectively prevented from axially moving or falling off during the frequent reciprocating motion of the pressing member 231, which greatly improves the stability and reliability of the sealing structure and ensures the long-lasting effectiveness of the sealing effect.

[0085] Understandably, a sealing bevel is provided on the edge of the mounting hole near the water inlet chamber 211. This bevel extends circumferentially along the mounting hole, forming a complete conical sealing surface, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the seal and preventing any leakage points. In the initial state, under the pre-tightening force of the elastic element 232, the sealing ring 235 tightly abuts against the sealing bevel, forming a sealing fit. This bevel contact method decomposes the axial spring pressure into a larger positive pressure perpendicular to the bevel, thus achieving a good sealing effect with only a small amount of elastic force. Simultaneously, by setting the sealing bevel, the contact area between the water box body 210 and the sealing ring 235 is increased, further improving the sealing reliability of the water box assembly 20.

[0086] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the first end of the pressing member 231 is provided with a contact portion 237, the cross-sectional area of ​​which is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the rod portion of the pressing member 231. This design aims to increase the contact area between the pressing member 231 and the inner shell 220, thereby effectively dispersing the pressure acting on the flexible inner shell 220 when pressure is applied. This avoids the risk of the pressing member 231 tip piercing or damaging the inner shell 220 due to excessive stress concentration, significantly improving the durability and reliability of the mechanism. Simultaneously, the larger contact area allows the pressure to be transmitted more evenly to the inner shell 220, causing it to deform more gently and over a wider range, thus more efficiently breaking the adhesion between the ice and the shell, making the de-icing operation easier and more thorough.

[0087] Understandably, a positioning sleeve is provided on the side of the inner housing 220 facing the pressing member 231. When the pressing member 231 moves downward, its first end is inserted into the positioning sleeve, providing precise positioning for the pressing member 231. Then, the pressing member 231 continues to move downward, deforming the inner housing 220 connected to the positioning sleeve by pressing it. Because the pressing position is precisely positioned, it ensures that each press acts on the most effective deformation area of ​​the inner housing 220, thereby achieving efficient and reliable de-icing. The positioning sleeve can position the lower end of the pressing member 231, fundamentally preventing the lower end of the pressing member 231 from shifting due to uneven force or gap tolerance. This avoids local damage to the inner housing 220 or de-icing failure due to misaligned pressing, greatly improving the product's durability and the success rate of user operation.

[0088] Understandably, there are multiple turbulence holes 222. By setting multiple turbulence holes 222 as connecting channels, the redundancy and efficiency of water flow are ensured. Even if some turbulence holes 222 are slightly blocked due to freezing, the remaining turbulence holes 222 can still maintain normal water exchange, ensuring the stability of the ice-making process. Multiple turbulence holes 222 are evenly distributed in the inner shell 220, ensuring that water can flow in every part of the first ice-making chamber 221. This establishes a uniform temperature field and flow field in the first ice-making chamber 221, allowing the water in the water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the water in the first ice-making chamber 221 to flow and circulate fully. During the slow process of water freezing, the gas and impurities in the water are carried away by the continuously flowing liquid water and are not trapped in the ice crystals. Ultimately, this ensures that the ice blocks produced are bubble-free and crystal clear, significantly improving the quality of the ice blocks.

[0089] It is understandable that, such as Figures 14 to 17As shown, the ice-making device also includes a disturbance component 30. The water box assembly 20 is rectangular and has a water inlet chamber 211 inside. The first evaporator assembly 10 and the water box assembly 20 form a first ice-making chamber 221, which is connected to the water inlet chamber 211 through a disturbance hole 222. The disturbance component 30 includes a drive mechanism 310, a disturbance mechanism 320, a first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, and a second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. The drive mechanism 310 and the first magnetic attraction mechanism... All 330 are located outside the water box assembly 20. The drive mechanism 310 is connected to the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330. The disturbance mechanism 320 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 are both located inside the water inlet chamber 211. The disturbance mechanism 320 is connected to the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. The first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 are magnetically attracted to each other. The drive mechanism 310 is adapted to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate. The disturbance mechanism 320 is adapted to drive the water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow.

[0090] The ice-making apparatus provided by this invention, such as Figure 14 As shown, the connection between the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320 is achieved through the magnetic attraction of the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. This allows the drive mechanism 310 to drive the disturbance mechanism 320 to rotate through the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. There is no need to open a hole in the water box assembly 20 to connect the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320, thus avoiding water leakage and simplifying the structure of the ice maker.

[0091] By placing the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 outside the water tank assembly 20 and connecting it to the drive mechanism 310, and placing the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 inside the water tank assembly 20 and connecting it to the disturbance mechanism 320, power transmission is achieved through the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. This ultimately achieves a non-contact connection between the drive mechanism 310 and the disturbance mechanism 320, allowing the rotating magnetic field generated by the external drive mechanism 310 to penetrate the side wall of the water tank assembly 20 when it rotates. This magnetic force stably drives the disturbance mechanism 320 inside the water tank to rotate synchronously. In this way, the entire power transmission process does not require any through holes in the water tank assembly 20 for installing the drive shaft, avoiding the need for seals in mechanical transmission methods where the drive shaft passes through the water tank assembly 20. This prevents leakage problems that may occur due to aging, wear, or improper installation of seals, greatly improving the safety and durability of the product. Furthermore, by eliminating the complex sealing structure, the overall structure of the ice maker is simplified, reducing the number of parts and production costs, making the assembly process more convenient and efficient.

[0092] It is understandable that, such as Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the water box assembly 20 includes a water box body 210 and an inner shell 220. The first evaporator assembly 10 and the inner shell 220 form a first ice-making chamber 221. The water box body 210 is located on the side of the inner shell 220 away from the first evaporator assembly 10. The water box body 210 and the inner shell 220 form a water inlet chamber 211. A turbulence hole 222 is provided on the inner shell 220. The turbulence hole 222 serves as a channel connecting the water inlet chamber 211 and the first ice-making chamber 221. It not only ensures a continuous supply of water required for ice making, but more importantly, it guides the water flow to circulate between the two chambers in a preset manner. In conjunction with the operation of the turbulence mechanism 320, it effectively removes the air dissolved in the water, generating crystal clear, bubble-free, high-quality ice cubes.

[0093] Understandable Figure 15 As shown, the agitation mechanism 320 includes a connecting rod 321 and a baffle plate 322. The connecting rod 321 is disposed in the water inlet chamber 211 and is horizontally arranged along the width direction of the water box assembly 20. The connecting rod 321 is connected to the water box body 210 and is adapted to provide an installation base for the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. The second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 is rotatably sleeved on the first end of the connecting rod 321. The baffle plate 322 is adapted to drive the water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow. The baffle plate 322 is fixedly connected to the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340, so that the rotational torque transmitted from the external driving force can be directly and without loss transmitted to the baffle plate 322, thereby efficiently agitating the water in the water inlet chamber 211, forming a continuous flow, accelerating the discharge of dissolved air in the water, and making the water temperature in the water inlet chamber 211 uniform, which helps to produce high-quality ice cubes with fewer bubbles and greater purity and transparency.

[0094] It is understandable that, such as Figure 17 As shown, the connecting rod 321 includes a connecting rod body 323 and a plug-in rod 324. A retaining seat is provided on the side wall of the water inlet cavity 211 away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, and a locking slot is provided on the upper part of the retaining seat. By providing a retaining seat on the side wall of the water inlet cavity 211 away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and providing a locking slot on its upper part, the first end of the connecting rod body 323 can be directly locked into the retaining seat through the locking slot, realizing quick installation and positioning without tools, greatly simplifying the assembly steps, improving production efficiency, and also providing great convenience for possible subsequent maintenance or cleaning. The second end of the connecting rod body 323 is provided with a plug-in hole, and the first end of the plug-in rod 324 is inserted into the plug-in hole. The cross-section of the plug-in rod 324 is a non-circular cross-section, which ensures that the plug-in rod 324 and the connecting rod body 323 are coaxially arranged and there is no relative rotation between them. This arrangement not only reduces the injection molding difficulty of a single slender part, but more importantly, it makes it possible to complete the installation of the transverse support rod in a closed cavity, ensuring that the assembled rod has good overall rigidity and torque transmission capability.

[0095] On the other side of the water inlet chamber 211, near the side wall of the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, a blind hole is correspondingly provided. The second end of the plug rod 324 is inserted into this blind hole, thereby fixing both ends of the connecting rod 321. The blind hole provides a stable support point for the connecting rod 321 while maintaining the closed integrity of the water box wall. Preferably, the inner diameter of the blind hole gradually increases in the direction away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, thus forming a tapered guide opening. This plays a guiding role in the assembly process, allowing the end of the plug rod 324 to be easily and accurately aligned and inserted into the blind hole, significantly reducing the assembly difficulty, avoiding component damage caused by misalignment or jamming, and further improving the convenience and reliability of installation.

[0096] It is understandable that, such as Figure 17 As shown, the connecting rod 321 also includes a rotating sleeve 325, which is rotatably fitted onto the insertion rod 324. The second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 is fitted onto the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve 325. The rotating sleeve 325 is rotatably fitted onto the insertion rod 324, which serves as a fixed shaft, thus forming a dedicated sliding bearing structure between the fixed insertion rod 324 and the rotating component. By concentrating the rotational friction entirely between the inner surface of the rotating sleeve 325 and the outer surface of the insertion rod 324, a self-lubricating material with a lower coefficient of friction can be used to manufacture the rotating sleeve 325, significantly reducing rotational resistance. This makes the start-up and operation of the entire disturbance mechanism 320 smoother and more stable, and greatly improves the durability and service life of the rotating component. The second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 is fitted onto and fixedly connected to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve 325, so that the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 itself no longer needs to directly rotate relative to the fixed insertion rod 324, extending the service life of the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340.

[0097] It is understandable that, such as Figure 17 As shown, a limiting ring 326 is integrally formed or fixedly provided on the outer circumferential surface of the plug rod 324, providing a rigid limiting mechanism for the axial movement of the rotating sleeve 325, so that the first side of the rotating sleeve 325 forms a limiting engagement with the end face of the limiting ring 326. Based on this, by simultaneously forming a limiting engagement with the end face of the second end of the connecting rod body 323 on the other side of the rotating sleeve 325, the rotating sleeve 325 is precisely "clamped" and constrained within a predetermined working area between the two. This bidirectional limiting structure effectively prevents any unnecessary axial movement or drift of the rotating sleeve 325 during rotation, ensuring that the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 fixed thereon always maintains the optimal magnetic coupling distance and alignment position with the external first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, thereby ensuring the high efficiency and stability of power transmission. It also avoids collisions and friction between the rotating component and the inner wall of the water cavity or other components due to axial movement, ensuring the smooth operation of the equipment.

[0098] It is understandable that, such as Figure 17 As shown, the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 includes a mounting base 341 and a first magnet 342. The mounting base 341 has a central hole, allowing it to be directly fitted onto and fixed to the outer circumference of the rotating sleeve 325. A baffle plate 322 is positioned on the side of the mounting base 341 away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330. This arrangement effectively separates the magnetic coupling area responsible for power transmission from the fluid action area responsible for agitating the water flow, providing physical isolation to the sidewall of the water box body 210. This ensures that the first magnet 342 and the second magnet 331 are as close as possible to each other to achieve maximum magnetic torque, while avoiding interference with the magnetic field during rotation of the baffle plate 322. This optimizes both power transmission and fluid agitation functions. The first magnet 342 is mounted on the mounting base 341, which provides a mounting foundation for the first magnet 342, ensuring that all first magnets 342 are evenly and firmly distributed around the circumference.

[0099] Understandably, by providing four circumferentially spaced first grooves on the side of the mounting base 341 away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, a mounting base is provided for the four first magnets 342, ensuring that all the first magnets 342 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, thereby achieving good dynamic balance performance, significantly reducing vibration and noise during rotation, and making the disturbance mechanism 320 operate more smoothly; at the same time, by embedding the four first magnets 342 one by one into the four grooves, it is ensured that the first magnets 342 will not shift under high-speed rotation and magnetic force, ensuring the stability and reliability of torque transmission.

[0100] A limiting step is provided on the edge of the central hole away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, and the baffle 322 is fitted onto the limiting step. By providing a limiting step on the edge of the central hole of the mounting base 341 away from the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330, a fixed foundation is provided for the installation of the baffle 322, enabling rapid installation of the baffle 322. After installation, the baffle 322 also covers the opening of the first groove. On the one hand, the baffle 322 itself acts as a cover plate, completely encapsulating the first magnet 342 in the dry groove cavity. This encapsulation effectively prevents the magnet from directly contacting water, ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the ice-making water. On the other hand, it also uses the limiting step of the mounting base 341 to fix itself, greatly reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process.

[0101] It is understood that the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 includes a rotating seat and a second magnet 331. The rotating seat is connected to the connecting shaft of the drive mechanism 310. The second magnet 331 is disposed on the rotating seat and magnetically engages with the first magnet 342.

[0102] It is understandable that, such as Figure 14 As shown, the rotating seat includes a rotating seat body 332 and a connecting piece 333. The rotating seat body 332 is disc-shaped, which ensures uniform mass distribution during rotation, facilitating dynamic balance and ensuring smooth rotation, effectively reducing vibration and noise during operation. Four second grooves are provided on the side of the rotating seat body 332 opposite to the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340. These four grooves are equidistantly arranged circumferentially. This equidistant layout ensures uniform distribution of the weight and magnetic force of the subsequently installed second magnets 331, avoiding rotational instability or uneven magnetic force caused by eccentricity. There are four second magnets 331, each correspondingly embedded in one of the four second grooves. The number of second grooves is not limited to this and is determined based on the number of second magnets 331. The connecting piece 333 is disc-shaped and is sleeved on the connecting shaft of the drive mechanism 310, achieving a reliable connection between the rotating seat and the external drive source. The connecting piece 333 is located on the side of the rotating seat body 332 away from the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340 and covers the opening of the second groove.

[0103] Understandably, the number of first magnets 342 is the same as the number of second magnets 331, and the positions of the first magnets 342 and the second magnets 331 correspond one-to-one. This arrangement ensures a stable and balanced magnetic field coupling between the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 and the second magnetic attraction mechanism 340, thereby maximizing the efficiency of magnetic force transmission and ensuring that power can be transmitted from the drive mechanism to the baffle plate 322 without loss and with high efficiency. The four first magnets 342 are arranged symmetrically in pairs. This symmetrical arrangement gives the first magnetic attraction mechanism 330 excellent dynamic balance performance when rotating, effectively avoiding vibration and noise caused by uneven mass distribution, and ensuring the smoothness and quietness of equipment operation. The magnetic poles of adjacent first magnets 342 are set oppositely. Through the alternating arrangement of N and S poles, a rapidly changing magnetic field gradient is formed between adjacent magnets. This layout can generate a stronger magnetic force during rotation, whether it is an attractive or repulsive force, thus providing a strong driving torque for rotation and ensuring reliable synchronous rotation. The magnetic pole of the end of the first magnet 342 near the second magnet 331 is the same as the magnetic pole of the end of the second magnet 331 near the first magnet 342. When the first magnet 342 on the driving side rotates, the repulsive force it generates will "push" the second magnet 331 on the driven side to rotate synchronously, realizing non-contact torque transmission. This repulsive coupling method transmits power.

[0104] It is understood that one of the connecting piece 333 and the rotating seat body 332 is provided with multiple latches, which are arranged circumferentially at intervals. The other of the connecting piece 333 and the rotating seat body 332 is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​holes, which are also arranged circumferentially at intervals. The multiple latches pass through the multiple snap-fit ​​holes one by one and then snap onto the edge of the snap-fit ​​holes. This connection method, which uses elastic latches and snap-fit ​​holes to cooperate, allows the assembly process to be completed simply by aligning and applying pressure, making the operation extremely simple. This enables a quick connection between the connecting piece 333 and the rotating seat body 332, simplifying the assembly method of the connecting piece 333 and the rotating seat body 332. This tool-free and additional fastener (such as screws) assembly mode shortens the assembly time on the production line, reduces the skill requirements for operators, and improves production efficiency, ultimately directly translating into reduced manufacturing costs and increased product capacity. Of course, the connection method between the connecting piece 333 and the rotating seat body 332 is not limited to this; other detachable connection methods can also be used.

[0105] It is understandable that, such as Figures 8 to 13 As shown, at least two inlet / outlet ports 212 communicating with the inlet chamber 211 are provided on the side wall of the water box body 210, and the at least two inlet / outlet ports 212 are spaced apart in the vertical direction. By providing at least two inlet / outlet ports 212 communicating with the inlet chamber 211 on the side wall of the water box body 210, multiple water flow channels are provided. Compared with the design of a single inlet / outlet port 212, the redundancy and reliability of the pipeline are improved, avoiding the risk of the entire de-icing process failing due to blockage of a single pipeline. By arranging at least two inlet / outlet ports 212 spaced apart in the vertical direction, even if the lower inlet / outlet port 212 is blocked by ice, the higher inlet / outlet port 212 remains unobstructed and can serve as a backup channel, ensuring that the remaining cold water in the inlet chamber 211 can be discharged smoothly, providing conditions for subsequent injection of de-icing water. Subsequently, high-temperature melting water can be efficiently injected into the inlet chamber 211 through the unobstructed upper inlet / outlet 212 (or through both inlets after the lower inlet is unsealed). This rapidly and evenly heats and melts the ice in the chamber, effectively solving the problem that traditional single-outlet designs are prone to ice blockage and interruption during de-icing. This ensures the success rate of de-icing operations and the continuity and stability of the entire ice-making device, guaranteeing the normal progress of de-icing.

[0106] It is understandable that, such as Figure 8As shown, an overflow port 213 is also provided on the side wall of the water box body 210. When water is injected into the water inlet chamber 211, the overflow port 213 provides a smooth discharge channel for the air in the water inlet chamber 211, effectively avoiding the problem of poor water injection or insufficient water injection caused by back pressure generated by the formation of a closed air chamber in the water inlet chamber 211. The overflow port 213 is located on one side of the upper water inlet and outlet 212. The overflow port 213 is suitable for discharging air and / or excess water in the water inlet chamber 211. By limiting the highest liquid level in the water inlet chamber 211 through its specific height position, it can automatically discharge water exceeding the standard water volume, thereby achieving precise control of the amount of water for each ice making.

[0107] It is understandable that, such as Figure 12 As shown, the water box assembly 20 also includes a baffle 214, which is vertically disposed on the inner side wall of the water box body 210. The baffle 214 covers the overflow port 213, and a flow channel communicating with the overflow port 213 is formed between the baffle 214 and the side wall of the water box body 210. This flow channel provides a dedicated and stable channel for air and excess water that is relatively isolated from the main water chamber, ensuring smooth air venting and drainage. Both the upper and lower ends of the baffle 214 are provided with connection ports communicating with the flow channel. Specifically, the height of the upper port of the baffle 214 is greater than the height of the overflow port 213, ensuring that the upper port mainly serves as a high-level venting channel. During water injection, it can efficiently expel the compressed air in the cavity, avoiding air resistance that could affect the water injection speed and accuracy. At the same time, the height of the lower port of the baffle 214 is less than the height of the overflow port 213. During de-icing, even if the lower port of the baffle 214 is temporarily blocked by ice or ice-water mixture due to its proximity to the bottom of the water body, the upper port, which is much higher than the ice-sealed area, remains unobstructed and can serve as a reliable pressure relief and venting channel. This provides an outlet for the air displaced or water vapor generated during subsequent injection of de-icing water, thus completely solving the potential failure point of poor venting and inability to inject de-icing water smoothly due to a blocked single channel. Venting can also be carried out through the upper port, greatly improving the de-icing success rate and operational reliability of the equipment under complex working conditions.

[0108] It is understandable that there are two inlet and outlet ports 212, and the two inlet and outlet ports 212 are on the same vertical line. The height of the overflow port 213 is less than or equal to the height of the upper inlet and outlet port 212.

[0109] Understandably, the baffle 214 is provided with multiple flow holes, which are directly connected to the flow channel, thereby increasing the total flow area for air discharge and effectively improving the efficiency and speed of air discharge. Furthermore, the multiple flow holes are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, so that no matter the water level in the flow channel, at least one flow hole is always above the water surface, which can smoothly discharge the air accumulated in the upper layer. This avoids the problem that some air is trapped in the flow channel due to water level changes and cannot be discharged, thus ensuring the stability of the exhaust effect.

[0110] It is understandable that, such as Figure 9 As shown, the ice-making device also includes a bracket 215, which has an internal mounting cavity that provides an integrated mounting space for the first evaporator assembly 10 and the water box assembly 20, making the entire device more compact and providing effective support and protection for the internal components. The top of the bracket 215 has an opening that communicates with the mounting cavity, allowing installers to easily insert or remove core components such as the first evaporator assembly 10 and the water box assembly 20 from above, simplifying assembly and subsequent maintenance processes and improving production and maintenance efficiency. The first evaporator assembly 10 and the water box assembly 20 are stacked sequentially in the mounting cavity from bottom to top.

[0111] It is understandable that, such as Figure 9 and Figure 13 As shown, the ice-making device also includes a water-gas connection seat 240. A positioning groove is provided on the side wall of the bracket 215, and the water-gas connection seat 240 is embedded in the positioning groove. The positioning groove provides a precise installation position for the water-gas connection seat 240, ensuring that it can be installed quickly and accurately in the predetermined position. The embedded method ensures the stability and reliability of the connection between the two, avoiding loosening or misalignment caused by factors such as equipment vibration. The water-gas connection seat 240 is centrally provided with an overflow connection port 241 and at least two inlet and outlet water connection ports 242. By integrating multiple fluid interfaces into this independent modular component, the structure of the bracket 215 body is simplified, eliminating the need to open multiple water channels, thereby significantly reducing the processing complexity and manufacturing cost of the bracket 215. The water-gas connection seat 240 fits against the side wall of the water box body 210 so that the inlet and outlet water connection ports 242 and the inlet and outlet water ports 212 can be connected one-to-one, and the overflow connection port 241 is connected to the overflow port 213.

[0112] Understandably, the inner diameter of the inlet / outlet connection 242 is larger than the inner diameter of the inlet / outlet 212. By making the inner diameter of the inlet / outlet connection 242 larger than the inner diameter of the inlet / outlet 212, even if there is a certain vertical or horizontal alignment deviation in the water box assembly 20 during installation, as long as the outline of the inlet / outlet 212 falls within the outline of the inlet / outlet connection 242, an effective flow passage can still be formed between the two, thus ensuring the continuity of the water circuit. This greatly reduces the installation accuracy requirements of the water / air connector 240.

[0113] Understandably, the edge of the inlet / outlet connection 242 is provided with a first annular sealing gasket 243. The first annular sealing gasket 243 uses its own elasticity to fill the tiny gaps between the connection surfaces. The first annular sealing gasket 243 seals with the edge of the inlet / outlet 212, ensuring that water will not leak from the interface during water intake or drainage. Similarly, the edge of the overflow connection 241 is also provided with a second annular sealing gasket 244. The second annular sealing gasket 244 seals with the edge of the overflow port 213, effectively preventing overflowing water or exhaust air from leaking into the equipment from the interface, avoiding the risk of possible electrical short circuits or component corrosion. Preferably, the sidewall of the bracket 215 or the sidewall of the water tank body 210 is inclined. When the water tank body 210 is installed downwards, the water tank body 210 will be subjected to the horizontal component of the inclined sidewall of the bracket 215, thereby pressing it tighter and tighter against the first annular sealing gasket 243 and the second annular sealing gasket 244. This self-locking design utilizes the weight of the components themselves and the installation action to continuously apply and enhance the sealing pressure, which greatly improves the long-term reliability and sealing performance of the connection. Even if the sealing gasket wears material after long-term use, this structure can compensate to a certain extent.

[0114] Understandably, the ice-making device also includes inlet and outlet water pipes, which are interconnected with each inlet and outlet water connection 242. The dispersed interfaces are integrated through a main pipeline to form an integrated water distribution pipeline, thereby simplifying the water system layout of the entire device. Ultimately, all inlet and outlet water connections 242 share a single inlet and outlet water pipe, allowing the entire ice-making device to complete all water inlet and outlet operations with only one external interface. This not only simplifies the installation of external pipelines and reduces the number of joints and potential leakage risks, but also reduces material costs and installation space requirements.

[0115] Understandably, the ice maker also includes a housing 40, which is hollow inside. The ice-making device is located inside the housing 40. An ice-dispensing opening is provided on the top of the housing 40, and the position of the ice-dispensing opening corresponds to the position of the opening of the bracket 215 to facilitate the removal of the water box assembly 20. The ice-dispensing opening is provided with a cover 41, which is hinged to the housing 40.

[0116] It is understandable that, such as Figures 18 to 22 As shown, the ice maker also includes a cube ice-making device, which includes a support base 410, a spray evaporator 420, a spray element 430, and a partition 440. The spray evaporator 420 is located on the upper part of the support base 410, and has multiple ice-making chambers 421 inside. The bottom of the spray evaporator 420 has multiple ice outlet ports 422 that correspond one-to-one with each ice-making chamber 421. The spray element 430 is located inside the support base 410 and is adapted to spray water into the ice-making chambers 421 through the ice outlet ports 422. The spray evaporator 420 is adapted to freeze the water in the ice-making chambers 421 into ice. The partition 440 is located at at least one ice outlet port 422, and the thermal conductivity of the partition 440 is lower than that of the spray evaporator 420.

[0117] The ice-making device provided by this invention uses a partition 440 made of insulating material between adjacent ice outlet ports 422. Since the thermal conductivity of the partition 440 is lower than that of the spray evaporator 420, while the spray evaporator 420 efficiently cools and rapidly freezes the water flowing over its surface into ice, the water in contact with the partition 440 is unable to reach its freezing point due to the obstruction of heat transfer. Thus, it remains liquid and flows downwards due to gravity, eventually flowing into the water circulation system for reuse. The partition 440 establishes a static thermal barrier between adjacent ice-making areas, effectively preventing "ice bridge" adhesion during ice formation and growth. This ensures that each ice block can be formed independently and completely without any subsequent mechanical separation, greatly improving the convenience of ice dispensing and the integrity of the ice blocks. Meanwhile, because this solution uses a top-down spraying method for ice making, water is evenly sprayed onto the inner surface of the low-temperature ice-making chamber 421 through the spray nozzle 430. During this process, the water is constantly flowing. This dynamic freezing process makes it difficult for air and tiny impurities in the water to be "locked" in the ice crystal structure due to the agitation of the water. Instead, they are carried away with the unfrozen water flow, ensuring that the final ice block has a dense internal structure and is free of air bubbles, thus obtaining a crystal-clear, high-quality ice block.

[0118] It is understandable that, such as Figure 19As shown, the ice-making chamber 421 is rectangular, and the ice outlet 422 is rectangular, thus producing ice cubes with uniform shape and sharp edges. The spray evaporator 420 is designed as a compact cuboid, with six independent ice-making chambers 421 integrated inside, and six ice outlets 422 correspondingly opened at the bottom of the spray evaporator 420. These six ice outlets 422 are arranged in a two-row, three-column array. This highly integrated matrix layout allows the device to simultaneously produce multiple ice cubes within a very limited physical space, greatly improving the ice production quantity per unit time and overall work efficiency. To further ensure the uniformity of product quality, the dimensions of each ice outlet 422 are designed to be completely equal. This ensures that each ice cube produced from different chambers has the same specifications, meeting the requirements for standardized and quantitative use of ice cubes in commercial applications. By independently setting a rectangular frame-shaped partition 440 at each ice outlet 422, the frame structure not only physically isolates the area of ​​each ice outlet 422, but more importantly, it forms an effective heat barrier between adjacent ice blocks that are forming, fundamentally eliminating the phenomenon of "ice bridges" sticking between ice blocks caused by cold diffusion, and ensuring that all ice blocks can fall off smoothly in an independent and complete individual form.

[0119] Understandably, multiple independent baffles 440 are integrated into a single baffle frame 441 using a one-piece molding process. This ensures that the relative positions of each baffle 440 are fixed, allowing for precise alignment with the ice outlet port 422 array at the bottom of the spray evaporator 420 during installation. This eliminates the need for tedious individual adjustments to each baffle 440, improving assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the baffle frame 441 is designed for detachable connection to the spray evaporator 420, simplifying subsequent cleaning and maintenance. Users or maintenance personnel can easily remove the entire baffle frame 441, providing a thorough cleaning of the frame itself, the surface of the spray evaporator 420 it covers, and the inner wall of the ice outlet port 422. This effectively removes scale or biofilm that may accumulate over long-term use, ensuring the hygiene and safety of ice production.

[0120] It is understandable that, such as Figure 18As shown, an ice outlet is provided on one side of the support base 410, providing a unified discharge channel for all produced ice blocks, facilitating efficient docking with the ice storage box or conveyor below. Multiple baffles 442 are arranged at intervals along the length of the spray evaporator 420 on the lower side of the partition frame 441 near the ice outlet. These baffles form a barrier that effectively intercepts and guides water that might otherwise fly directly towards the ice outlet when the spray nozzle 430 sprays water upwards, causing it to fall back onto the upper surface of the spray nozzle 430. This not only avoids water waste but also ensures the dryness and cleanliness of the exterior of the ice maker and the ice outlet channel. Simultaneously, the baffles 442 prevent water from splashing onto the ice outlet and forming ice clings at its edges, ensuring the ice outlet channel remains unobstructed and allowing ice blocks to slide out smoothly without clogging.

[0121] It is understandable that, such as Figure 21 As shown, the spray component 430 has a confluence channel 431 inside. The spray component 430 is equipped with a water inlet and multiple sets of nozzles. The water inlet is suitable for supplying water to the confluence channel 431, and the nozzles are suitable for spraying water into the ice-making chamber 421. Both the water inlet and the multiple sets of nozzles are connected to the confluence channel 431. This connection method allows the water flow from the water inlet to be collected and stabilized in a centralized chamber, ensuring that the water flow reaches a stable pressure state before being distributed to each nozzle, guaranteeing that each nozzle receives a nearly identical water supply. A support member is provided at the bottom of the spray component 430 to create a certain distance between the bottom of the spray component 430 and the bottom of the support base 410, thus forming a drainage channel 433 between them. This eliminates the need for additional complex drainage pipes, effectively optimizing the internal space layout and reducing manufacturing costs. The bottom of the support base 410 is provided with a drain outlet 434 that communicates with the drainage channel 433. The drain outlet 434 is rectangular.

[0122] During operation, water first enters the manifold 431 through the inlet, and then is distributed to each nozzle mechanism through the manifold 431. The water is then sprayed onto the ice-making chamber 421 above through each nozzle mechanism. The water that has not frozen into ice flows back to the surface of the spray element 430 under the action of gravity, and then gathers and flows into the drain channel 433. Finally, the water flows out through the drain outlet 434 at the bottom of the support base 410, which is connected to the drain channel 433. After flowing out of the drain outlet 434, the water flows back to the cold water tank through the pipeline under the action of gravity for reuse.

[0123] It is understandable that, such as Figure 21As shown, the upper surface of the spray element 430 faces the ice outlet and is inclined downwards. This downward inclination of the spray element 430 has two advantages: First, during the ice-making process, unfrozen water droplets flowing down from the ice-making chamber 421 naturally collect along the inclined surface and are guided into the drainage channel 433, effectively preventing water accumulation on the surface of the spray element 430 and improving the efficiency of the entire water circulation system. Second, when ice making is complete and the de-icing stage begins, the ice blocks that fall off the spray evaporator 420 can smoothly slide downwards along the inclined surface and be accurately guided to the single ice outlet, ultimately reliably sliding into the ice storage chamber below. This avoids the accumulation and blockage of ice blocks inside the machine, ensuring the smooth operation of the continuous ice-making process.

[0124] It is understood that three sets of nozzle mechanisms are provided in this embodiment. Of course, the number of nozzle mechanisms is not limited to this, and is determined according to the number and arrangement of the ice-making chambers 421. The three sets of nozzle mechanisms are arranged at intervals along the length of the spray evaporator 420 on the upper surface of the spray component 430. Each set of nozzle mechanisms includes two nozzles 435. The nozzles 435 in the same set are arranged at intervals along the width of the spray evaporator 420, and the nozzles 435 are set one-to-one with the ice-making chambers 421. This point-to-point spraying method ensures that each ice-making chamber 421 can obtain an independent water supply source, fundamentally ensuring that the amount of water received by all ice blocks during the forming process is equal and stable. This not only greatly improves the efficiency of water resource utilization, but also ensures that the size, weight and shape of the produced ice blocks are highly consistent.

[0125] Understandably, multiple guide channels 436 are provided between adjacent sets of nozzle mechanisms. These guide channels 436 are arranged at intervals along the length of the spray evaporator 420, forming a guiding area on the upper surface of the spray element 430. This effectively guides the return water within the entire length of the spray evaporator 420, preventing local water accumulation. Adjacent guide channels 436 are parallel to each other and extend along the width of the spray evaporator 420, i.e., along the inclined direction of the upper surface of the spray element 430. This allows the return water to flow smoothly and quickly into the guide channels 436 and be discharged, greatly improving drainage efficiency and reducing the residence time of water on the surface of the spray element 430. The upper and lower ends of the longer guide channels 436 are connected to the drainage channel 433, as are the upper and lower ends of the shorter guide channels 436. When the water in the ice-making chamber 421 flows back to the upper surface of the spray element 430, it can be guided by these guide grooves 436 into the drainage channel 433. This effectively prevents the backflow water from crossing or colliding with the water flow normally sprayed from the nozzle 435, ensuring that the water flow path sprayed towards the ice-making chamber 421 is undisturbed and the flow rate is stable. This, in turn, ensures the uniformity and integrity of the ice block formation, ultimately improving ice-making efficiency and ice block quality.

[0126] It is understandable that the spray element 430 is detachably connected to the support base 410 to facilitate the installation and removal of the spray element 430, thereby facilitating the cleaning and maintenance of the spray element 430.

[0127] It is understandable that, such as Figure 21As shown, the spray evaporator 420 has a cooling medium flow channel 423 inside. By placing both the cooling medium flow channel 423 and the ice-making chamber 421 inside the spray evaporator 420, the cold energy transfer path is shortened, thereby improving the overall heat exchange efficiency. The cooling medium flow channel 423 is located above the ice-making chamber 421, allowing the cold energy to evenly cover the entire ice-making chamber 421 from top to bottom, forming an ideal counter-current heat exchange with the water sprayed from below, ensuring that the refrigeration energy is used most effectively in the freezing process. The side wall of the spray evaporator 420 is provided with a cooling medium inlet 424 and a cooling medium outlet 425 communicating with the cooling medium flow channel 423. During ice making, the cooling medium enters the cooling medium flow channel 423 through the cooling medium inlet 424. Within the cooling medium flow channel 423, it undergoes efficient heat exchange with the water in the ice-making chamber 421 via the inner wall of the spray evaporator 420. This rapidly lowers the temperature of the inner surface of the ice-making chamber 421 below the freezing point, causing the water sprayed onto it to quickly freeze into ice blocks within the ice-making chamber 421. This significantly shortens the time required for a single ice-making cycle and effectively increases the ice production per unit time. After heat exchange, the cooling medium, having absorbed heat and vaporized, experiences a temperature increase and flows out through the cooling medium outlet 425, entering the condenser for heat dissipation and liquefaction, thus forming a complete and sustainable refrigeration cycle.

[0128] It is understandable that, such as Figure 22 As shown, the cooling medium flow channel 423 includes two sets of heat exchange channels. By dividing the complete flow channel into two sets, the flow path of the cooling medium can be planned more flexibly, making it easier to achieve full coverage of the entire surface of the spray evaporator 420. The two sets of heat exchange channels are arranged at intervals along the width direction of the spray evaporator 420. Each set of heat exchange channels includes multiple flow channel units 426. The multiple flow channel units 426 in the same set are connected sequentially along the length direction of the spray evaporator 420. The flow channel units 426 are U-shaped. In one set of heat exchange channels, the first flow channel unit 426 is connected to the cooling medium inlet 424, and the last flow channel unit 426 is connected to the first flow channel unit 426 in the other set of heat exchange channels. In the other set of heat exchange channels, the last flow channel unit 426 is connected to the cooling medium outlet 425. This series connection method constructs a complete, ultra-long "S"-shaped or serpentine flow channel that runs through the core area of ​​the spray evaporator 420, ensuring that the incoming low-temperature cooling medium can fully flow within the spray evaporator 420 and absorb heat, thus maximizing the utilization of the cooling capacity carried by the cooling medium. By using multiple U-shaped flow channel units 426 connected in series, the effective flow path and heat exchange area of ​​the cooling medium within the cooling medium flow channel 423 are increased, ensuring sufficient and efficient heat exchange between the cooling medium and the spray evaporator 420. This significantly improves the heat exchange efficiency and the overall cooling effect of the spray evaporator 420, ultimately resulting in faster ice-making speed and lower energy consumption.

[0129] Understandably, the ice maker also includes a compressor, a refrigerant solenoid valve, a condenser, a dryer filter, and a capillary tube. The compressor outlet is connected to the condenser inlet and the first interface of the refrigerant solenoid valve, while the condenser outlet is connected to the dryer filter inlet. The spray evaporator 420 can be connected in series or in parallel with the first evaporator.

[0130] When the spray evaporator 420 is connected in series with the first evaporator, the inlet of the capillary tube is connected to the outlet of the dryer filter, the outlet of the capillary tube and the second interface of the refrigerant solenoid valve are both connected to the cooling medium inlet 424 of the spray evaporator 420, the cooling medium outlet 425 of the spray evaporator 420 is connected to the medium inlet 14 of the first evaporator, and the medium outlet 15 of the first evaporator is connected to the inlet of the compressor.

[0131] When the spray evaporator 420 is connected in parallel with the first evaporator, the ice maker also includes a three-way reversing valve, and there are two capillary tubes. The inlet of the three-way reversing valve is connected to the outlet of the dryer filter. One outlet of the three-way reversing valve is connected to the cooling medium inlet 424 of the spray evaporator 420 through a capillary tube. The other outlet of the three-way reversing valve is connected to the medium inlet 14 of the first evaporator through another capillary tube. The second port of the refrigerant solenoid valve is connected to the cooling medium inlet 424 of the spray evaporator 420 and the medium inlet 14 of the first evaporator. The cooling medium outlet 425 of the spray evaporator 420 and the medium outlet 15 of the first evaporator are both connected to the inlet of the compressor.

[0132] The spray evaporator 420 and the first evaporator serve both freezing and heating / de-icing functions during the ice-making process. During ice making, the refrigerant solenoid valve is closed, and both the spray evaporator 420 and the first evaporator are used for refrigeration to freeze the water in their respective ice-making chambers into ice cubes. During de-icing, the refrigerant solenoid valve is open, and the high-temperature, high-pressure medium output from the compressor directly enters the interior of the spray evaporator 420 and the first evaporator. The increased temperature of the spray evaporator 420 and the first evaporator melts the surface of the ice cubes, causing them to separate from the spray evaporator 420 or the first evaporator, thus achieving de-icing.

[0133] like Figure 23 As shown, the electronic device may include a processor 810, a communications interface 820, a memory 830, and a communication bus 840, wherein the processor 810, the communications interface 820, and the memory 830 communicate with each other via the communication bus 840. The processor 810 can call logical instructions in the memory 830 to execute the following methods: Step S100: Control the water pump to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber 211; In step S200, the disturbance component 30 is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 flow to each other. In step S300, the first evaporator assembly 10 is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 into ice blocks.

[0134] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 830 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to related technologies, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0135] On the other hand, embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer program product, the computer program product including a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program including program instructions, and when the program instructions are executed by a computer, the computer can perform the methods provided in the above-described method embodiments, such as including: Step S100: Control the water pump to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber 211; In step S200, the disturbance component 30 is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 flow to each other. In step S300, the first evaporator assembly 10 is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 into ice blocks.

[0136] In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention also provide a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, is implemented to perform the transmission methods provided in the above embodiments, including, for example: Step S100: Control the water pump to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber 211; In step S200, the disturbance component 30 is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber 211 and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 flow to each other. In step S300, the first evaporator assembly 10 is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber 221 into ice blocks.

[0137] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0138] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the parts that contribute to the related technology, can be embodied in the form of software products. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments or some parts of the embodiments.

[0139] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only for illustrating the present invention and not for limiting the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand 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 be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for making ice, characterized in that, The ice-making method uses an ice maker to make ice. The ice maker includes an ice-making device and a water pump. The ice-making device includes a water box assembly (20), a disturbance component (30), and a first evaporator assembly (10). The water box assembly (20) has an inlet chamber (211) inside. The first evaporator assembly (10) and the water box assembly (20) form a first ice-making chamber (221). The first ice-making chamber (221) is connected to the inlet chamber (211) through a disturbance hole (222). The water pump is connected to the inlet chamber (211) through an inlet / outlet port (212). The ice-making method includes: Control the water pump to pump ice-making water into the water inlet chamber (211); The disturbance component (30) is controlled to drive the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber (211) to flow, so that the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber (211) and the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber (221) flow to each other; The first evaporator assembly (10) is controlled to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber (221) into ice blocks.

2. The ice-making method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice maker further includes a drain valve connected to the inlet / outlet (212); after the step of controlling the first evaporator assembly (10) to freeze the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber (221) into ice cubes, the method further includes: The drain valve is opened to discharge the remaining ice-making water in the inlet chamber (211) through the upper inlet / outlet (212).

3. The ice-making method according to claim 2, characterized in that, After the step of opening the control drain valve to drain the remaining ice-making water in the water inlet chamber (211) through the upper inlet / outlet (212), the method further includes: The water pump is controlled to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber (211) to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber (211).

4. The ice-making method according to claim 3, characterized in that, After the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber (211) to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber (211), the method further includes: The first evaporator assembly (10) is controlled to heat the side of the ice block near the first evaporator assembly (10) to separate the ice block from the first evaporator assembly (10).

5. The ice-making method according to claim 3, characterized in that, After the step of controlling the water pump to pump de-icing water into the water inlet chamber (211) to melt the ice in the water inlet chamber (211), the method further includes: The drain valve is controlled to open so that the melted ice water in the water inlet chamber (211) can be discharged through the upper water inlet and outlet (212) and the lower water inlet and outlet (212).

6. The ice-making method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The temperature of the melting water injected into the first ice-making chamber (221) is greater than the temperature of the ice-making water injected into the first ice-making chamber (221).

7. The ice-making method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The disturbance component (30) includes a drive mechanism (310) and a disturbance mechanism (320). The drive mechanism (310) is located outside the water inlet cavity (211), and the disturbance mechanism (320) is located inside the water inlet cavity (211). The drive mechanism (310) is connected to the disturbance mechanism (320).

8. The ice-making method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of the control disturbance component (30) driving the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber (211) to flow includes: The drive mechanism (310) is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism (320) to rotate in the forward or reverse direction until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber (221) is frozen into ice blocks.

9. The ice-making method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of the control disturbance component (30) driving the ice-making water in the water inlet chamber (211) to flow includes: The drive mechanism (310) is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism (320) to rotate forward for a first predetermined time; Control the drive mechanism (310) to close for a second predetermined time; The drive mechanism (310) is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism (320) to rotate in the opposite direction for a first predetermined time; Repeat the above steps in sequence until the rotation time of the disturbance mechanism (320) reaches the third predetermined time.

10. The ice-making method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Following the steps of repeating the above steps in sequence, the method further includes: The drive mechanism (310) is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism (320) to rotate forward for a second predetermined time, wherein the second predetermined time is less than the first predetermined time; The drive mechanism (310) is controlled to drive the disturbance mechanism (320) to rotate in the opposite direction for a second predetermined time; Repeat the above steps in sequence until the ice-making water in the first ice-making chamber (221) is frozen into ice blocks.

11. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: Ice-making equipment and water pumps; A controller, electrically connected to the water pump, performs ice-making by executing the ice-making method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the program, it implements the ice-making method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the ice-making method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the ice-making method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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