Ice-making assembly control method and device, ice-making assembly and ice maker

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ice machines, and provides a control method and device of an ice-making assembly, the ice-making assembly and an ice machine. The control method of the ice making assembly comprises the steps of overturning, judging and ice unloading correction. And an overturning step: controlling the ice-making box to perform an overturning action, and obtaining the duration of the overturning action. And a judgment step: determining that the overturning state is abnormal based on the condition that the duration is not in the preset interval. And a deicing correction step: determining abnormal icing of the ice-making assembly based on the overturning state abnormity, and executing the corrected deicing operation. According to the control method of the ice-making assembly provided by the embodiment of the invention, the abnormal icing of the ice-making assembly can be detected through the overturning step, the judging step and the ice unloading correction step, the ice unloading correction is executed, and the situation that the ice-making assembly cannot be normally used due to the abnormal icing is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice maker technology, and more particularly to a control method, device, ice-making component, and ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] An ice maker is a device that uses a refrigeration system to freeze water onto an evaporator and removes the ice through a defrosting process. In a typical ice-making cycle, after ice production is complete, the ice maker performs a defrosting procedure to separate the ice from the evaporator surface. However, current ice maker control systems often lack effective anomaly detection mechanisms. When defrosting fails due to factors such as scaling on the evaporator surface, excessively low water temperature, abnormal refrigerant pressure, or mechanical malfunction, ice remains on the evaporator. The ice maker cannot recognize this "defrosting failure" anomaly and continues with the next ice-making cycle according to the pre-set program. This leads to the accumulation and freezing of ice on the evaporator, creating an abnormal state. This abnormal state severely degrades the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigeration system, causing a sharp increase in energy consumption, prolonged high-load operation of the refrigeration compressor, and even damage. Ultimately, this causes the ice maker to completely lose its ice-making ability, requiring manual intervention for cleaning and resetting, significantly impacting equipment reliability and user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the related art. To this end, this application proposes a control method for an ice-making component, which, through a flipping step, a judgment step, and a corrective de-icing step, can detect abnormal icing of the ice-making component and perform corrective de-icing to prevent abnormal icing from causing the ice-making component to malfunction.

[0004] This application also proposes a control device for an ice-making assembly.

[0005] This application also proposes an ice-making component.

[0006] This application also proposes an ice maker.

[0007] This application also proposes an electronic device.

[0008] This application also proposes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0009] This application also proposes a computer program product.

[0010] The control method for an ice-making assembly according to the first aspect of this application includes: Flipping step: Control the ice container to flip, and obtain the duration of the flipping action; Judgment step: Based on the fact that the duration is not within the preset range, it is determined that the flipping state of the ice maker is abnormal; Corrected de-icing procedure: Based on the abnormal flipping state, it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, and a corrected de-icing operation is performed.

[0011] According to the control method of the ice-making component in the embodiments of this application, by means of a flipping step, a judgment step, and a correction and de-icing step, abnormal icing of the ice-making component can be detected and corrected and de-iced to prevent abnormal icing from causing the ice-making component to become unusable.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, determining that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration not being within a preset range includes: If the time taken for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position exceeds a first preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. If the time taken for the ice-making box to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position is less than the second preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. After driving the ice maker to flip, if the ice maker is detected to have been in the ice-making position for a period of time exceeding a third preset time threshold, it is determined that the flipping state is abnormal.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard time required for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position is T; The first preset duration threshold is T1, where T1 = 2.5T; The second preset duration threshold is T2, where T2 = 0.5T; The third preset duration threshold is T3, where T3 = 10T.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Based on the abnormal flipping state, the ice-making component is controlled to flip again until the number of consecutive abnormal flipping states of the ice-making component reaches a preset number n, at which point it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally frozen, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. Entering the active de-icing operation includes: activating the de-icing device of the ice-making component to perform de-icing action until the de-icing time continues for a first preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip; The process of repeating the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrective de-icing step continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard duration for normal de-icing operation is T4, and the first preset recovery duration is T5, where T5 = n * T4.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this application, the step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of the active de-icing operation; When the number of consecutive occurrences of the active de-icing operation reaches a preset number m, the natural de-icing operation is initiated, including: natural heating and de-icing until the de-icing time lasts for a second preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip. The process of repeating the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrective de-icing step continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0017] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard duration for natural warming and de-icing is T6, and the second preset recovery duration is T7, where T7 = m * T6.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this application, the step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of the natural melting operation; When the number of consecutive occurrences of the natural melting operation reaches a preset number p, the ice-making component is determined to have entered an irreversible fault state.

[0019] A control device for an ice-making assembly according to a second aspect of this application includes: The first control module is used to control the ice maker to perform a flipping action and to obtain the duration of the flipping action; The detection module is used to determine that the flipping state is abnormal based on the fact that the duration is not within a preset range; The second control module is used to determine that the ice-making component is abnormally frozen based on the abnormal flipping state, and to perform a corrected de-icing operation.

[0020] An ice-making assembly according to a third aspect of this application includes: An ice maker with an ice-making section and an ice-removing section; A driving component, connected to the ice-making box, is used to drive the ice-making box to flip between the ice-making position and the ice-removing position; A position detection component is used to detect whether the ice maker is in the ice-making position; A controller, electrically connected to the drive component and the position detection component, is configured to perform the control method of the ice-making component described above.

[0021] An ice maker according to a fourth aspect of this application includes the ice-making components described above.

[0022] An electronic device according to a fifth aspect of this application includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that the processor executes the above-described control method for the ice-making component when executing the program.

[0023] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to a sixth aspect of this application stores a computer program thereon, characterized in that the computer program, when executed by a processor, performs the above-described control method for the ice-making component.

[0024] A computer program product according to a seventh aspect of this application includes a computer program, characterized in that, when the computer program is executed by a processor, it performs the above-described control method for the ice-making component.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of this application 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 this application. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or related technologies of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of the control method for the ice-making component provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control device for the ice-making assembly provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0029] Figure 3 This is one of the internal structural schematic diagrams of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 This is the second schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is one of the schematic diagrams of ice-making related components in the ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 6 This is the second schematic diagram of the ice-making related components in the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box in the ice-making position in the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box in the de-icing position of the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making box in the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the ice storage box in the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit connection of the ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 13 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the ice-making water tank in the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 14 This is the second schematic diagram of the ice-making water tank in the ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 15 This is one of the schematic diagrams showing the orientation of the water outlet end of the water supply pipe in the ice maker provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 16 This is the second schematic diagram showing the orientation of the water outlet end of the water supply pipe in the ice maker provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0043] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0044] Figure label: 100. Ice-making water tank; 110. Return inner wall; 111. First vertical wall; 112. Inclined wall; 113. Second vertical wall; 120. First rib; 121. First guide channel; 130. First high water level detection device; 200. Ice-making box; 210. Water outlet structure; 220. Water baffle; 221. Second rib; 230. Second guide channel; 300. Water replenishment assembly; 310. Water replenishment pump; 320. Water replenishment pipe; 400. Ice storage box; 410. Storage end; 420. Discharge end; 500. Tilting motor; 600. Housing; 6 10. Ice inlet; 620. Water inlet; 700. Ice conveying assembly; 710. Screw conveyor; 720. Conveyor motor; 800. Refrigeration assembly; 810. Compressor; 820. Reversing valve; 830. Evaporator; 900. Raw water tank; 910. Low water level detection device; 1000. Filter assembly; 1010. Filter element; 1020. Reverse osmosis unit; 1100. Pure water tank; 1110. Second high water level detection device; 1200. Heating device; 1300. Photoelectric detection device; 1310. Emitter; 1320. Receiver; 81. Processor; 82. Communication interface; 83. Memory; 84. Communication bus; 93. First control module; 94. Acquisition module; 95. Second control module. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of this application, 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 this application 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 this application. 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.

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of this application, 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 fixed connections or detachable connections, wherein a fixed connection can include an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0048] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly 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.

[0049] 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 embodiments of this application. 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.

[0050] Reference Figure 1 The control method for an ice-making component proposed in the embodiments of this application includes: a flipping step, a judgment step, and a correction de-icing step.

[0051] Flipping Step: Control the ice container to flip, and obtain the duration of the flipping action.

[0052] During the flipping step, a control drive component (such as a motor) drives the ice container to perform a complete flipping motion. Throughout this process, the actual duration of each flipping motion from start to finish is monitored and recorded in real time.

[0053] The tumbling time can be recorded by a position sensor mounted on the ice maker or by a main control unit connected to the motor controller. A complete tumbling action can be defined as: the process of the ice maker rotating from the initial ice-making position to a preset ice-removing position, and then returning to the initial position.

[0054] Judgment steps: Based on the fact that the duration is not within the preset range, the flip state is determined to be abnormal.

[0055] If the duration of the reaction is not within the preset range during the judgment process, the flipping state is considered abnormal. If the duration is within the preset range, it indicates that the ice removal was successful, there is no residual ice in the ice-making box, and the system can proceed to the next normal ice-making cycle.

[0056] Corrected de-icing procedure: Based on the abnormal flipping state, it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, and the corrected de-icing operation is performed.

[0057] In the corrective de-icing step, based on the judgment step's determination of an abnormal flipping state, it is further determined that there is abnormal icing in the ice-making component. Abnormal icing includes some ice blocks failing to detach successfully and adhering to the ice-making container, causing an increase or decrease in flipping resistance. At this time, the system does not directly enter the next ice-making cycle, but instead initiates a corrective de-icing operation. The corrective de-icing operation differs from the conventional single de-icing operation and aims to resolve the abnormal icing problem. Its specific implementation methods may include, but are not limited to, the active melting operation and natural melting operation mentioned later.

[0058] After the corrective de-icing operation is completed, the system can return to the flipping step and perform the flipping and judgment again to verify whether the anomaly has been eliminated.

[0059] According to the control method of the ice-making component in the embodiments of this application, by means of a flipping step, a judgment step, and a correction and de-icing step, abnormal icing of the ice-making component can be detected and corrected and de-iced to prevent abnormal icing from causing the ice-making component to become unusable.

[0060] Understandably, the judgment process can be further refined into at least one of the following judgment methods to more accurately diagnose anomalies in the flipping state. According to one embodiment of this application, determining an abnormal flipping state based on a duration that is outside a preset range includes: If the time taken for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position exceeds the first preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. If the time taken for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position is less than the second preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. After the ice maker is driven to flip, if the ice maker is detected to have been in the ice-making position for a period of time exceeding the third preset time threshold, it is determined that the flipping state is abnormal.

[0061] After the ice maker completes one full rotation cycle—from leaving the initial ice-making position, performing ice removal, and finally returning to the ice-making position—the duration of this cycle is recorded. If the duration exceeds a first preset time threshold, the rotation is considered abnormal. This usually indicates excessive rotation resistance, likely due to large, unremoved ice pieces on the ice maker, which increases the motor load and slows down the rotation speed.

[0062] If the time taken is less than the second preset time threshold, the flipping state is determined to be abnormal. This situation usually indicates that the flipping process is completed unexpectedly quickly, which may be due to the ice breaking and falling off prematurely, the transmission mechanism slipping, or the detection sensor malfunctioning, causing the flipping action to be completed too quickly without the expected resistance.

[0063] After the ice maker starts to flip, its position is monitored in real time. When the ice maker is detected to have returned to the ice-making position, a position timer is started to continuously monitor the duration of the ice maker's stay in that position. If the duration of the ice maker's stay in the ice-making position exceeds a third preset time threshold, the flipping state is considered abnormal. This situation usually indicates that the ice maker failed to be reliably locked or positioned in the ice-making position after completing the flip, but is in an unstable stuck state, which can be considered as a possible icing abnormality.

[0064] The above-mentioned judgment methods can be used individually or in combination. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the system simultaneously performs total duration judgment and location dwell time judgment. As long as any abnormal condition is met, the correction and de-icing operation in step S103 is triggered, thereby greatly improving the sensitivity and reliability of anomaly detection.

[0065] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard time taken for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position is T; The first preset time threshold is T1, which is used to determine the threshold of excessively slow flipping. In a preferred embodiment, T1 = 2.5T. When the actual time of a complete flip exceeds 2.5 times the standard time T, the system determines that the flipping resistance is too large and there is an "abnormal flipping state" caused by large ice formation.

[0066] The second preset time threshold is T2, which is used to determine the threshold of excessively fast flipping. In a preferred embodiment, T2 = 0.5T. When the actual time of a complete flip is less than half of the standard time T, the system determines that the flipping process is abnormally fast, which may be due to mechanical transmission failure or abnormal breakage and detachment of ice, and is also determined to be "abnormal flipping state".

[0067] The third preset time threshold is T3, which is used to determine the threshold for staying in the ice-making position for too long. In a preferred embodiment, T3 = 10T. If the ice container stays in the ice-making position for more than 10 times the standard time T after it has been flipped, it indicates that it has not been successfully locked or is stuck, and is judged as "abnormal flipping state".

[0068] It should be noted that the above-mentioned proportional relationship is an optimal solution verified through extensive testing, which can ensure reliability while avoiding misjudgment. In other embodiments of this application, the ratio can be adjusted within a certain range according to the specific model, motor power, and mechanical structure. For example, T1 can be in the range of (2.0T to 3.0T), T2 can be in the range of (0.3T to 0.7T), and T3 can be in the range of (8T to 15T). These adjustments and variations all fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0069] According to one embodiment of this application, based on an abnormal flipping state, if it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, a corrected de-icing operation is performed, including: Based on the abnormal flipping state, the ice-making component is controlled to flip again until the number of consecutive abnormal flipping states of the ice-making component reaches a preset number n, at which point it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally frozen, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. Entering active de-icing operation includes: activating the de-icing device of the ice-making component to perform de-icing action until the de-icing time continues for the first preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip; The process of repeating the flipping step, judging the process, and correcting the de-icing process continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0070] Understandably, the system does not immediately conclude that a serious "abnormal icing" has occurred upon first detecting an abnormal flipping state. Instead, it enters a confirmation and self-recovery attempt phase. The system controls the ice-making component to perform a complete flipping action again, re-evaluates the situation, and records the number of consecutive abnormal flipping state occurrences. When the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences reaches a preset threshold n (n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2), it is finally confirmed that the ice-making component has experienced "abnormal icing" requiring intervention.

[0071] Preferably, setting n≥2 can effectively eliminate misjudgments caused by transient interference (such as temporary jamming of a small amount of ice fragments or brief fluctuations in grid voltage), improving the accuracy of system judgment. If only a transient interference causes an anomaly, the system can automatically recover to normal in subsequent flips, avoiding unnecessary active ice melting and improving efficiency.

[0072] When the number of consecutive abnormal occurrences reaches n, confirming "abnormal icing," the system initiates an active de-icing operation. This operation includes: controlling the de-icing device of the ice-making assembly (e.g., a heater located near the ice container, or a solenoid valve used to switch the refrigeration circuit) to begin heating the ice container. The de-icing device continues to operate for a first preset recovery time. This time is sufficient to melt the interface layer between the stuck ice and the evaporator, but not enough to completely melt the ice; the aim is to loosen the ice rather than melt it into water. In one embodiment, the first preset recovery time is 60 to 180 seconds of continuous heating. After the active de-icing reaches the first preset recovery time, the de-icing device is stopped, and the ice-making assembly is controlled again to perform a flipping action, attempting to detach the loosened ice.

[0073] After performing the above-mentioned active ice melting and flipping attempts, the system repeatedly executes the aforementioned flipping step, judgment step, and corrective ice removal step. When the duration of a flipping operation falls within the normal preset range, it indicates that the abnormal ice formation has been cleared, the ice removal is successful, the system exits this corrective loop, and resumes the normal ice-making process.

[0074] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard duration for normal de-icing operation is T4, and the first preset recovery duration is T5, where T5 = n * T4.

[0075] In active de-icing operations, the standard time required for a normal de-icing operation (i.e., the ice container completing one flip in a normal icing state) is defined as T4. The first preset recovery time T5 for active de-icing is related to the normal de-icing standard time T4 and the number of anomaly confirmations n. The longer the anomaly lasts (n consecutive failures), the longer the required recovery de-icing time will be.

[0076] It is understood that the control method provided in the above embodiments of this application, by setting a closed-loop control logic that includes the number of abnormal confirmations n and the active ice melting time T5 associated with n, realizes a dynamic fault recovery strategy and brings significant technical advantages.

[0077] One of the core design principles of this method is to always attempt to restore the system to normal operation with minimal cost and in the shortest possible time. When an anomaly is detected for the first time (n=2), the system first attempts to resolve the issue through a brief period of active de-icing (T5=2*T4).

[0078] When the initial recovery attempt fails, the system does not blindly repeat ineffective operations. Instead, it intelligently escalates the response level (for example, increasing the required number of anomaly confirmations from n=2 to n=3, thereby extending the de-icing time T5 to 3*T4). This "step-by-step" or "gradual" response strategy allows the system to adapt to the severity of the fault. For minor icing, it resolves the issue quickly; for severe icing, it applies stronger and longer-lasting recovery measures, thus ensuring effectiveness while adhering to the principle of "minimal intervention."

[0079] According to one embodiment of this application, based on an abnormal flipping state, if it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, a corrected de-icing operation is performed, including: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of active de-icing operations; When the number of consecutive occurrences of the active de-icing operation reaches a preset number m, the natural de-icing operation is initiated, including: natural heating and de-icing until the de-icing time lasts for a second preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip. The process of repeating the flipping step, judging the process, and correcting the de-icing process continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0080] Understandably, while the system performs active ice-melting operations, a counter is operated to record the number of consecutive active ice-melting operations (denoted as m times). When the number of consecutive active ice-melting operations reaches a preset threshold m (m is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1), the system determines that the single active heating ice-melting method is ineffective and may have encountered a more complex abnormal icing state. At this point, the system will upgrade its strategy and enter the natural ice-melting operation phase.

[0081] Natural ice melting operations include: The refrigeration system is controlled to pause operation, allowing the ice container and the ice on it to warm up naturally and slowly using ambient temperature and heat from a circulating fan (if available). This process avoids energy waste or the risk of overheating that can result from continuous heating. In one embodiment, the de-icing device (such as a heater) of the ice-making assembly is also controlled to stop operating.

[0082] This state is maintained for a predetermined second preset recovery time T6. The duration of T6 is usually much longer than the active melting time T5 (for example, T6 can be set to 10-30 minutes) to provide sufficient time for natural melting. After the natural melting reaches the second preset recovery time T6, the ice-making component is controlled to perform a flipping action again.

[0083] Afterward, the system continues to cycle through the flipping, judgment, and correction / de-icing steps to verify whether normal operation has been restored. When the duration of a flip falls within the normal preset range, it indicates that the abnormal icing has been cleared, the system exits the correction loop, and resumes normal ice making.

[0084] According to one embodiment of this application, the standard duration for natural temperature rise and de-icing is T6, and the second preset recovery duration is T7, where T7 = m * T6.

[0085] In natural de-icing operations, a baseline natural warming and de-icing time T6 is defined. This time can be understood as the approximate time required for minor abnormal ice formation to loosen naturally at typical ambient temperatures. A second preset recovery time T7 for this natural de-icing operation is associated with the baseline natural de-icing time T6 and the number of failed active de-icing attempts m.

[0086] Similarly, this method always attempts to restore the system to normal operation with minimal cost and in the shortest time. When an anomaly is detected for the first time (m=1), the system first attempts to resolve the issue through a brief period of active de-icing (T7=1*T6).

[0087] When the initial recovery attempt fails, the system does not blindly repeat ineffective operations. Instead, it intelligently escalates the response level (for example, increasing the required number of anomaly confirmations from m=1 to m=2, thereby extending the de-icing time T7 to 2*T6). This "step-by-step" or "gradual" response strategy allows the system to adapt to the severity of the fault. For minor icing, it resolves the issue quickly; for severe icing, it applies stronger and longer-lasting recovery measures, thus ensuring effectiveness while adhering to the principle of "minimal intervention."

[0088] According to one embodiment of this application, based on an abnormal flipping state, if it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, a corrected de-icing operation is performed, including: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of natural melting operation; When the number of consecutive occurrences of natural ice melting reaches a preset number p, the ice-making component is determined to have entered an unrecoverable fault state.

[0089] While the system performs the natural ice-melting operation, another counter is operated to record the number of consecutive occurrences of the natural ice-melting operation (denoted as p times). When the number of consecutive natural ice-melting operations reaches a preset threshold p (p is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1), the system determines that the abnormal ice formation cannot be eliminated even after the two-level upgrade process of "active ice-melting" and "natural ice-melting".

[0090] At this point, the system makes a final judgment: the ice-making component has entered an irreversible fault state.

[0091] Upon determining that an unrecoverable fault state has been entered, the system performs the following safety actions: Stop all recovery attempts: Immediately stop any current recovery operations such as melting ice, flipping, etc.

[0092] Trigger final alarm: Activate the final fault alarm indication, for example, control the alarm indicator light to light up at a specific frequency (such as flashing rapidly), and / or trigger the buzzer to sound continuously, clearly prompting the user that immediate manual intervention is required.

[0093] In one embodiment, the ice-making component is completely stopped until the user manually resets it by powering off or pressing the reset button, in order to prevent the device from continuing to operate in a faulty state, which could lead to increased energy consumption or component damage.

[0094] Reference Figure 2 A control device for an ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of this application includes: The first control module 93 is used to control the ice maker to perform a flipping action and to obtain the duration of the flipping action; Detection module 94 is used to determine that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration being outside the preset range; The second control module 95 is used to determine that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and to perform a corrected de-icing operation.

[0095] According to the control method of the ice-making component in the embodiments of this application, the first control module 93, the detection module 94 and the second control module 95 can detect abnormal icing of the ice-making component and perform corrective de-icing to prevent abnormal icing from causing the ice-making component to become unusable.

[0096] In one embodiment, the detection module 94 is used to drive the ice box to complete a flip from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position. If the time taken exceeds a first preset time threshold, the flip state is determined to be abnormal.

[0097] In one embodiment, the detection module 94 is used to drive the ice maker to complete a flip from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position. If the time taken is less than a second preset time threshold, the flip state is determined to be abnormal.

[0098] In one embodiment, the detection module 94 is used to detect that the ice maker has been in the ice-making position for a longer period of time than a third preset time threshold after driving the ice maker to flip, and to determine that the flipping state is abnormal.

[0099] In one embodiment, the second control module 95 is used to control the ice-making component to flip again based on the abnormal flipping state until the number of consecutive occurrences of the abnormal flipping state of the ice-making component reaches a preset number n, and then determine that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; and enter the active de-icing operation, including: starting the de-icing device of the ice-making component to perform de-icing action until the de-icing time lasts for a first preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip; and cyclically repeating the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrected de-icing step until the flipping time is within a preset range, then the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0100] In one embodiment, the second control module 95 is used to count the number of consecutive occurrences of active de-icing operation; when the number of consecutive occurrences of active de-icing operation reaches a preset number m, natural de-icing operation is initiated, including: natural heating and de-icing until the de-icing time lasts for a second preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip; the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrected de-icing step are cycled until the flipping time is within a preset range, then the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

[0101] In one embodiment, the second control module 95 is used to count the number of consecutive occurrences of natural ice melting operations; When the number of consecutive occurrences of natural ice melting reaches a preset number p, the ice-making component is determined to have entered an unrecoverable fault state.

[0102] An ice-making assembly according to an embodiment of this application includes: Ice maker 200 has an ice-making position and an ice-removing position; The drive unit 500 is connected to the ice maker and is used to drive the ice maker to flip between the ice-making position and the ice-removing position. Position detection component, used to detect whether the ice maker is in the ice-making position; The controller, electrically connected to the drive unit and the position detection unit, is configured to perform the control method of the ice-making assembly described above.

[0103] An ice maker according to a fourth aspect of this application includes the ice-making components described above.

[0104] See Figures 3 to 8 As shown, the ice maker provided in this embodiment of the invention includes: an ice-making water tank 100, an ice-making box 200, an ice storage box 400, and a drive component 500.

[0105] The ice-making water tank 100 is used to store water for ice making; the ice-making container 200 is rotatably connected to the ice-making water tank 100 at both ends along the first direction, and the ice-making container 200 is provided with an ice outlet (e.g., Figure 7The top opening shown in the figure) and the water outlet structure 210 are connected to the ice-making water tank 100. The water outlet structure 210 is located on one side of the ice-making box 200 along the first direction and is adjacent to the return inner wall 110 of the ice-making water tank 100, so that when the ice-making box 200 is rotated to a set angle, the water outlet of the water outlet structure 210 flows back to the ice-making water tank 100 along the return inner wall 110; the ice storage box 400 is disposed inside the ice-making water tank 100 and is located below the ice-making box 200; the output shaft of the drive component 500 is connected to the ice-making box 200 for transmission, so that the ice storage box 400 is driven to switch between the ice-making position and the ice-removing position under the action of the drive component 500. In the ice-removing position, the ice outlet faces the ice storage box 400.

[0106] It should be noted that the "first direction" referred to in the embodiments of the present invention can be found in [the relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The arrow direction shown can be understood as the length direction of the ice container 200. The return inner wall 110 of the ice water tank 100 specifically refers to the inner wall surface of the ice water tank 100 that is adjacent to the water outlet end of the water outlet structure 210 and is used to guide the return water to flow down the wall.

[0107] Understandably, after the ice cubes are prepared in the ice maker 200, the ice maker 200 is usually heated appropriately to slightly melt the surface of the ice cubes and form a water film on the mold cavity wall, reducing adhesion. This allows the ice cubes to smoothly detach and fall intact into the ice storage box 400 under the drive of the drive component 500, avoiding ice fragments and subsequent cleaning troubles. During this process, a small amount of melted ice water will be generated in the ice maker 200.

[0108] The ice maker provided by this invention, by setting up an ice-making water tank 100, an ice-making box 200, an ice storage box 400, and a driving component 500, allows the ice-making box 200 to rotate relative to the ice-making water tank 100 when ice making is complete. This causes the ice outlet of the ice-making box 200 to face the ice storage box 400, pouring the ice into the ice storage box 400. Furthermore, because the water outlet structure 210 of the ice-making box 200 is adjacent to the return inner wall 110 of the ice-making water tank 100, during the process of tilting and pouring the ice, a small amount of melted water generated during heating and demolding in the ice-making box 200 can flow back to the ice-making water tank 100 through the water outlet structure 210 along the return inner wall 110, instead of falling into the ice storage box 400 with the ice. This effectively prevents melted water from dripping onto the surface of the ice in the ice storage box 400, preventing the ice from sticking together or forming water droplets on the surface, thereby significantly improving the quality, dryness, and user experience of the ice.

[0109] In addition, the reflux inner wall 110 can also guide and buffer the water flow, reduce impact noise and shorten the reflux time, thus achieving both efficient de-icing and clean ice storage.

[0110] The ice-making location of ice maker 200 can be found in [reference]. Figure 5As shown, at this time, the ice outlet of the ice maker 200 is positioned directly upwards. The ice removal position of the ice maker 200 can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 6 As shown, at this time, the ice outlet of the ice maker 200 is set towards the ice storage box 400. It can be directly facing the ice storage box 400, or it can be tilted at an appropriate angle towards the ice storage box 400, as long as it can be used to pour the ice cubes in the ice maker 200 into the ice storage box 400.

[0111] Specifically, the ice-making water tank 100 is used to store water for ice making and to provide rotational support for the upper ice-making box 200. One or more inner walls of the ice-making water tank 100 can serve as return inner walls 110 to guide meltwater back into the tank.

[0112] The ice-making container 200 is used to hold and cool ice-making water to form ice cubes. After demolding, the ice cubes are poured into the ice storage container 400 located below by inverting. Its water outlet structure 210 can guide the melted water to the return inner wall 110 of the ice-making water tank 100 during rotation, and finally return it to the ice-making water tank 100. The ice-making container 200 is usually provided with a mold cavity for ice cube forming, so that the injected ice-making water is cooled and condensed into ice cubes of the desired shape within the mold cavity.

[0113] The drive unit 500 is used to output torque, and drives the ice box 200 to rotate at a fixed point between the ice-making position in the ice-making position and the ice-dispensing position in the flipped state through the output shaft, so as to realize the tilting and resetting of the ice cubes.

[0114] See Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the water used for ice making in the ice-making container 200 can be replenished by a water replenishment component 300. The water replenishment component 300 includes a water replenishment pipe 320 and a water replenishment pump 320. The water replenishment pump 320 is connected to the ice-making water tank 100, and the inlet end of the water replenishment pipe 320 is connected to the circulation pump 310, while the outlet end is connected to the ice-making container 200. During replenishment, the water replenishment pump 320 pumps water from the ice-making water tank 100 into the ice-making container 200 through the water replenishment pipe 320, thus achieving automatic replenishment of the water used for ice making.

[0115] In addition, by setting up the water replenishment component 300, the ice maker can also achieve two modes of ice making: ordinary ice and transparent ice, by controlling the operation of the water replenishment pump 320. Specifically, when making ordinary ice, the water replenishment pump 320 injects a sufficient amount of ice-making water into the ice-making box 200 at once and then stops, allowing the water to freeze under static conditions to form regular white ice cubes. When making transparent ice, the water replenishment pump 320 slowly replenishes water in a continuous trickle manner, and excess water can be continuously discharged from the water outlet structure 210 of the ice-making box 200, allowing the unfrozen circulating water to continuously flush and remove dissolved air in the water, causing ice crystals to grow unidirectionally from the bottom up, thereby reducing air bubbles and cracks in the ice, and finally obtaining highly transparent ice cubes. This achieves the function of switching between ordinary ice and transparent ice making modes with the same water replenishment component 300. At this time, the water outlet structure 210 of the ice box 200 preferably adopts an overflow water outlet structure 210, which enables the water level in the ice box 200 to automatically and smoothly overflow to the ice water tank 100 when the water level exceeds the overflow edge. This can maintain the circulation of fresh water without additional pumping, simplify the system and reduce energy consumption. At the same time, the overflow can carry away floating air bubbles, improving the transparency and surface smoothness of the ice cubes.

[0116] Understandably, the water supply pipe 320 should be positioned to ensure that it does not interfere with the ice maker 200 when it rotates within a set angle range.

[0117] See Figure 5 and Figure 9 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the water outlet end of the water supply pipe 320 is located at one end of the ice maker 200 along the first direction, and the water outlet structure 210 is located at one end of the ice maker 200 away from the water outlet end of the water supply pipe 320 along the first direction.

[0118] By arranging the water outlet of the water supply pipe 320 at one end of the ice box 200 along the first direction and setting the water outlet structure 210 at the other end, the circulating water can be made to flow through the entire mold cavity before overflowing and being discharged, thus forcing the formation of a stable laminar flow throughout the entire cavity, extending the heat exchange and bubble discharge time, and improving the uniformity of transparent ice.

[0119] See Figure 7 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the water outlet structure 210 is an overflow water outlet structure, and the ratio of the length of the water outlet structure 210 along the second direction to the length of the ice box 200 along the second direction is greater than or equal to 1 / 3.

[0120] By setting the water outlet structure 210 as an overflow water outlet structure and making its length along the second direction greater than or equal to the length of the ice box 200 in the same direction greater than or equal to 1 / 3, it can overflow synchronously over a wide range, ensuring that the overflow water in the ice storage box 200 can be discharged quickly, avoiding local water level rise that could cause water flow turbulence or splashing, maintaining laminar flow, and improving the quality of transparent ice forming.

[0121] As an example, in this embodiment, the ratio of the length of the water outlet structure 210 along the second direction to the length of the ice box 200 along the second direction is approximately 1 / 2, ignoring the length occupied by the rotating shaft.

[0122] See Figure 5 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice maker further includes: a refrigeration assembly 800, which includes a compressor 810, a condenser (not shown in the figure), a reversing valve 820 and an evaporator 830 connected in sequence to form a circuit. The reversing valve 820 is used to switch the refrigerant flow direction. In the ice-making position, the evaporator 830 is located inside the ice-making box 200. The vertical distance between the lowest point of the water outlet structure 210 and the evaporator 830 is greater than or equal to 10 mm.

[0123] By setting up a refrigeration assembly 800 that includes a compressor 810, a condenser, a reversing valve 820, and an evaporator 830 connected in sequence to form a circuit, ice can be made quickly by directly absorbing latent heat when the evaporator 830 is immersed in the water in the ice box 200 in the ice-making position. During the de-icing stage, the reversing valve 820 switches the refrigerant flow direction to switch the evaporator 830 to the condenser to release heat, causing the ice surface to slightly melt and form a release water film, realizing one-button cold and hot reversal and completing rapid de-icing. No additional heating device is required, simplifying the structure and reducing energy consumption. At the same time, it avoids external heat sources from disturbing the temperature of the ice storage area, keeping the ice dry and the ice storage environment stable.

[0124] Meanwhile, the vertical distance between the lowest point of the water outlet structure 210 and the evaporator tube 830 is greater than or equal to 10 mm. This prevents the evaporator tube 830 from directly cooling the water outlet structure 210 and forming ice bridges or ice nodules, ensuring smooth water discharge, preventing blockage of the water outlet structure 210, and maintaining stable circulation and the quality of transparent ice formation. Specifically, because water has a certain surface tension, when it exits through the water outlet structure 210, the highest point will be about 2 mm higher than the lowest point of the water outlet structure 210. Therefore, maintaining a distance of greater than or equal to 10 mm between the evaporator tube 830 and the lowest point of the water outlet structure can maintain a safe cold air gap of greater than or equal to 8 mm even after the water surface tension increases by 2 mm.

[0125] See Figures 6 to 9 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice storage box 400 has a gap between the side near the reflux inner wall 110 and the reflux inner wall 110.

[0126] By setting a gap between the side of the ice storage box 400 near the return inner wall 110 and the return inner wall 110, an isolation cavity can be further formed to block the channel for return water to splash along the wall to the ice storage box 400, so that the ice blocks remain dry and prevent them from frosting or sticking together again due to splashing water.

[0127] Specifically, this spacing can be achieved by forming a protruding water-blocking rib or a recessed clearance groove on the corresponding side wall of the ice storage box 400, so that it maintains a set distance of isolation gap with the return inner wall 110, thereby both blocking splashing water droplets and forming an airflow channel.

[0128] The size of the spacing can be determined according to the water flow of the water outlet structure 210 of the ice box 200. For example, when the water flow is rapid and the splash range is large, the spacing can be increased accordingly, and when the water flow is slow, the spacing can be reduced appropriately. This can prevent splashed water droplets from entering the ice storage box 400 and avoid unnecessary occupation of internal space, keeping the whole machine compact.

[0129] See Figures 5 to 8 as well as Figure 14 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the reflux inner wall 110 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending first ribs 120 at intervals along the second direction, and a first guide groove 121 is formed between adjacent first ribs 120. The side of the ice storage box 400 near the reflux inner wall 110 is connected to the first ribs 120 to form a gap.

[0130] By providing multiple vertically extending first ribs 120 at intervals along the second direction on the inner wall 110 of the return flow, and through the first guide grooves 121 formed between adjacent first ribs 120, the return water can be orderly divided into multiple thin-walled water films along the vertical direction, reducing the splash height and accelerating the return flow speed against the wall. At the same time, the side wall of the ice storage box 400 is positioned by only lightly touching the top of the ribs, and the thickness of the ribs naturally leaves a gap that runs through the top and bottom, which can prevent water droplets from splashing laterally into the box, keeping the ice dry and reducing condensation dripping, thereby maintaining the low temperature and low humidity environment of the ice storage box 400, extending the storage time and preventing the ice shape from deteriorating.

[0131] It should be noted that the "second direction" referred to in the embodiments of the present invention can be found in [the relevant documentation]. Figure 5 The direction of the arrow shown can be understood as the width direction of the ice-making water tank 100.

[0132] The number and position of the first ribs 120 can be correspondingly set to the water outlet structure 210 of the ice box 200. For example, the ribs can be concentrated in the lower area of ​​the water outlet structure 210 to segment and buffer the concentrated water flow in that area. The first ribs 120 are preferably integrally set with the ice water tank 100 and formed in one piece during injection molding without additional assembly.

[0133] See Figures 6 to 8 as well as Figure 13As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the reflux inner wall 110 includes a first vertical wall 111, an inclined wall 112, and a second vertical wall 113 connected in sequence. The inclined wall 112 is inclined from bottom to top toward the side away from the ice storage box 400, and a first rib 120 extends from the first vertical wall 111 to the inclined wall 112 to form a support portion on the inclined wall 112 for supporting the ice storage box 400.

[0134] By configuring the return inner wall 110 as a structure consisting of a first vertical wall 111, an inclined wall 112, and a second vertical wall 113 connected in sequence, a support portion can be formed by extending the first protruding rib 120 on the inclined wall 112, which slopes upwards towards the side away from the ice storage box 400. This provides stable support for one end of the ice storage box 400 and simplifies the assembly of the ice storage box 400 (it can be directly placed into the ice-making water tank 100), achieving both structural compactness and functional integration. Furthermore, installation space can be created between the inclined wall 112 and the second vertical wall 113 and the ice maker's housing 600 for arranging related components of the refrigeration assembly 800 (such as the reversing valve 820, refrigerant pipes, etc.), further optimizing the compactness of the ice maker's internal layout.

[0135] The ice storage box 400 can be provided with an outwardly protruding overlapping ear on one side corresponding to the support part. The shape of the bottom surface of the overlapping ear matches the support part on the inclined wall 112, so that when the ice storage box 400 is inserted, it automatically slides and positions itself along the inclined wall 112 and is supported by the support part, preventing the box from sinking or tipping over.

[0136] See Figure 5 and Figure 9 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice box 200 is provided with a water-blocking groove 220 on one side along the second direction, and the water-blocking groove 220 is connected to the water outlet structure 210.

[0137] By providing a water-blocking groove 220 communicating with the water outlet structure 210 on one side of the ice-making box 200 along the second direction, at least part of the melted ice water can be confined within the water-blocking groove 220 when the driving component 500 drives the ice-making box 200 to rotate, thus preventing the melted ice water from pouring out from the side of the ice-making box 200 and splashing onto the ice storage box 400 or the ice cubes, thereby keeping the ice cubes dry.

[0138] The water-blocking groove 220 can preferably adopt a U-shaped cross-section with closed ends, with its open side facing the ice-making container 200, so as to block the melted ice water when the ice-making container 200 is flipped. Moreover, the water-blocking groove 220 is preferably integrally set with the ice-making container 200, so as to be formed in one piece during injection molding without additional assembly. This can not only ensure the continuous sealing between the groove and the container wall and prevent side leakage, but also reduce the number of parts and assembly errors.

[0139] Understandably, the location of the water-retaining groove 220 can be determined based on the direction in which the ice container 200 flips when pouring ice, for example, see Figure 5 and Figure 9 As shown, the ice box 200 tilts clockwise when the ice is poured out. The water baffle 220 is located on the right side of the ice box 200 along the second direction (the direction shown in the figure), that is, the side that tilts down first when it is tilted, so that at least part of the melted ice water can flow into the water baffle 220 under the action of gravity and flow out along its guide to the water outlet structure 210, thus preventing water from overflowing from other side edges.

[0140] See Figure 15 As shown, in some embodiments, when a water replenishment component 300 is included, the water outlet of the water replenishment pipe 320 of the water replenishment component 300 can be positioned toward the water baffle 220.

[0141] By setting the outlet of the water supply pipe 320 toward the water baffle 220, when making transparent ice, the circulating water can first impact the water baffle 220 and then slowly flow into the ice-making chamber of the ice storage box 400, thus avoiding the high-speed water flow from directly scouring the water surface or ice surface and causing irregularities (such as ripples) on the surface of the ice block.

[0142] Specifically, the outlet end of the water supply pipe 320 is positioned towards the water baffle 220, and can be positioned towards the upper side wall, lower side wall, or bottom wall of the water baffle 220, without any particular limitation. For example, in this embodiment, the outlet end of the water supply pipe 320 is positioned towards the bottom wall of the water baffle 220, which allows the water flow to first vertically impact the bottom wall and consume kinetic energy, and then slowly flow into the ice-making cavity of the ice-making box 200 under its own gravity.

[0143] See Figure 16 As shown, in some embodiments, when a water replenishment component 300 is included, the water outlet of the water replenishment pipe 320 is positioned toward the bottom of the ice maker 200, and the bottom of the ice maker 200 has a concave arc-shaped surface.

[0144] By setting the water outlet of the water supply pipe 320 toward the bottom of the ice box 200 and forming a concave arc surface at the bottom of the ice box 200, the circulating water can spread evenly from the center of the bottom to the surrounding area, forming a stable upward flow, which can prevent the ice blocks from becoming irregularly shaped when making transparent ice.

[0145] See Figure 9 and Figure 15 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of second ribs 221 for blocking ice blocks are provided at intervals along a first direction in the water-blocking groove 220.

[0146] By providing multiple second ribs 221 spaced apart along the first direction within the water-blocking groove 220, ice blocks can be prevented from entering the water-blocking groove 220 and causing blockage when pouring ice after ice making. The ice blocks can then flow smoothly out along the guide of the water-blocking groove 220, avoiding water accumulation or ice block jamming. Simultaneously, when the outlet end of the water supply pipe 320 faces the water-blocking groove 220, the second ribs 221 can also block the circulating water, preventing it from flowing directly back into the ice-making water tank 100 via the guide channel, thus ensuring stability when making transparent ice.

[0147] It should be noted that the protrusion height of the second rib 221 and the spacing between adjacent second ribs 221 can be set according to the size of the ice block. Ensuring that the protrusion height of the second rib 221 is less than the width of the water-blocking groove 220 and the spacing between adjacent second ribs 221 is less than the minimum side length of the ice block effectively intercepts the ice block to prevent it from getting stuck in the groove, while also ensuring smooth water flow and preventing water overflow.

[0148] See Figure 9 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice box 200 is provided with a second guide groove 230 on the outer wall of the side wall where the water outlet structure 210 is located, and the second guide groove 230 is connected to the water outlet structure 210.

[0149] By providing a second guide channel 230 on the outer wall of the ice box 200 located on the side wall where the water outlet structure 210 is located, which is connected to the water outlet structure 210, the water discharged from the water outlet structure 210 can be guided by the second guide channel 230 and flow into the ice water tank 100 along the wall. This prevents the circulating water from flowing out of the water outlet structure 210 of the ice box 200 and flowing to other positions on the outer wall of the ice box 200, causing local freezing and frost.

[0150] See Figure 10 and Figure 12 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice maker further includes: a photoelectric detection device 1300, which includes an emitter 1310 and a receiver 1320.

[0151] The ice storage box 400 includes a storage end 410 and a discharge end 420 connected to each other. The discharge end 420 is inclined in the ice-making water tank 100 along a first direction, and the height of the discharge end 420 gradually increases along the direction away from the return inner wall 110. The emitter 1310 and the receiver 1320 are disposed opposite to each other on the inner wall of the ice-making water tank 100 along a second direction and are located above the ice storage box 400.

[0152] By placing the ice storage box 400 inside the ice-making water tank 100 as described above, the ice blocks in the ice-making box 200 can be poured into the ice storage box 400 and concentrated at the storage end 410. The ice blocks can then be conveyed to the ice inlet 610 on the ice maker housing 600 via the inclined discharge end 420. At this time, the ice blocks will... Figure 10 As shown in the diagram, when ice blocks accumulate to a certain amount, a spike tends to form on the side near the storage end 410. In this case, by setting up a photoelectric detection device 1300 with its emitter 1310 and receiver 1320 facing each other on the inner wall of the ice-making tank 100 and above the ice storage box 400, it is possible to prevent the spike from accidentally blocking the light path between the emitter 1310 and receiver 1320 when ice blocks accumulate, thus preventing the photoelectric detection device 1300 from being falsely triggered. This allows the photoelectric detection device 1300 to be triggered only after storing a larger amount of ice blocks, increasing the ice storage capacity of the ice maker. In other words, ice blocks can continue to accumulate on the side away from the spike along the first direction, increasing the ice storage capacity.

[0153] It should be noted that in the prior art, the emitter 1310 and receiver 1320 of the photoelectric detection device 1300 are typically disposed opposite each other along the first direction on the inner wall of the ice-making water tank 100. In this case, when the ice blocks are arranged according to... Figure 10 When stacked as shown, the tip of the stack can easily block the optical path between the emitter 1310 and the receiver 1320. As a result, even when there is still a large ice storage space between the ice storage box 400 and the ice making box 200, it is mistakenly judged that the ice is full, which means that the actual ice storage space of the ice maker cannot be fully utilized.

[0154] See Figure 6 and Figure 11 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, it further includes: a housing 600 and an ice conveying assembly 700; an ice-making water tank 100, an ice-making box 200, a driving component 500, and an ice storage box 400 are all disposed within the housing 600, and the housing 600 is provided with an ice inlet 610, which communicates with the outlet end of the ice storage box 400; the ice conveying assembly 700 includes a spiral conveyor 710 and a conveying motor 720, the output shaft of the conveying motor 720 is connected to the spiral conveyor 710 for transmission, and the working end of the spiral conveyor 710 is located inside the ice storage box 400.

[0155] By fixing the conveying motor 720 of the ice conveying assembly 700 to the housing 600 and drivingly connecting it to the spiral conveyor 710 extending into the ice storage box 400, and with the ice inlet 610 of the housing 600 connected to the outlet of the ice storage box 400, the conveying motor 720 can be activated to drive the spiral conveyor 710 to rotate when ice needs to be dispensed. This continuously pushes the loose ice blocks in the ice storage box 400 axially to the ice inlet 610 for discharge, achieving quantitative ice dispensing. Simultaneously, the spiral conveyor provides a slight stirring effect on the ice blocks, preventing them from sticking together and clumping after prolonged static storage, maintaining the looseness of the ice blocks and smooth dispensing, thus improving user convenience.

[0156] See Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 12 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice maker further includes: a raw water tank 900, a filter assembly 1000, and a pure water tank 1100; the raw water tank 900 is used to store tap water; the inlet end of the filter assembly 1000 is connected to the raw water tank 900; the pure water tank 1100 is connected to the outlet end of the filter assembly 1000, the pure water tank 1100 is provided with an overflow port, the ice-making water tank 100 is provided with an inlet, and the overflow port is located above the inlet.

[0157] By sequentially connecting the raw water tank 900, the filter assembly 1000, and the pure water tank 1100, tap water can first be temporarily stored in the raw water tank 900, and then impurities are removed by the filter assembly 1000 before entering the pure water tank 1100. Since the overflow port of the pure water tank 1100 is higher than the inlet of the ice-making water tank 100, when the water level in the pure water tank 1100 reaches the overflow port height, the purified water overflows to the ice-making water tank 100 by gravity, achieving automatic water replenishment and reducing the use of a pump, thereby simplifying the structure of the ice maker and reducing costs.

[0158] As an example, the filter assembly 1000 includes a filter element (such as a PCB filter element) and a reverse osmosis device 1020 for filtering solid impurities and ions such as calcium and magnesium from tap water.

[0159] See Figure 12 As shown, in some embodiments, the raw water tank 900 is equipped with a low water level detection device 910, which is used to remind the user to add water when the water level in the raw water tank 900 is low, or to control the corresponding valve to open and add water via the main control device. The ice-making water tank 100 is equipped with a first high water level detection device 130, which is used to remind the user when the water level in the ice-making water tank 100 reaches a certain height, or to control the corresponding valve to close and stop adding water via the main control device. The pure water tank 1100 is equipped with a second high water level detection device 1110, which is used to remind the user when the water level in the pure water tank 1100 reaches a certain height, or to control the corresponding valve to close and stop adding water via the main control device.

[0160] See Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, in some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a heating device 1200, which is connected to a pure water tank 1100. The ice maker's casing 600 has a water inlet 620. When the user needs hot water, water in the pure water tank 1100 can be pumped into the heating device 1200 and heated to a set temperature, then discharged through the water inlet 620. Of course, when the user needs room temperature water, the heating device 1200 can be turned off, allowing pure water to flow through the heating device 1200 and discharge from the water inlet 620.

[0161] See Figure 5 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the ice maker further includes a refrigeration assembly 800, which includes a compressor 810, a condenser, a reversing valve 820 and an evaporator 830 connected in sequence to form a circuit. The reversing valve 820 is used to switch the direction of refrigerant flow. In the ice-making position, the evaporator 830 is located inside the ice-making box 200.

[0162] By setting up a refrigeration assembly 800 that includes a compressor 810, a condenser, a reversing valve 820, and an evaporator 830 connected in sequence to form a circuit, ice can be made quickly by directly absorbing latent heat when the evaporator 830 is immersed in the water in the ice box 200 in the ice-making position. During the de-icing stage, the reversing valve 820 switches the refrigerant flow direction to switch the evaporator 830 to the condenser to release heat, causing the ice surface to slightly melt and form a release water film, realizing one-button cold and hot reversal and completing rapid de-icing. No additional heating device is required, simplifying the structure and reducing energy consumption. At the same time, it avoids external heat sources from disturbing the temperature of the ice storage area, keeping the ice dry and the ice storage environment stable.

[0163] Figure 17 An example is a schematic diagram of the physical structure of an electronic device, such as... Figure 17 As shown, the electronic device may include a processor 81, a communication interface 82, a memory 83, and a communication bus 84. The processor 81, communication interface 82, and memory 83 communicate with each other via the communication bus 84. The processor 81 can call logical instructions in the memory 83 to execute the control methods for the ice-making component provided in the above embodiments. For example, the method includes: a flipping step: controlling the ice-making container to perform a flipping action and obtaining the duration of the flipping action; a judgment step: determining that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration not being within a preset range; and a corrected de-icing step: determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation.

[0164] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 83 can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, and can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, 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 of the various embodiments of this application. 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.

[0165] On the other hand, this application discloses a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by the computer, the computer can execute the control method of the ice-making component provided in the above embodiments. For example, the method includes: a flipping step: controlling the ice-making box to perform a flipping action and obtaining the duration of the flipping action; a judgment step: determining that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration not being in a preset range; and a corrected de-icing step: determining that the ice-making component is abnormally iced based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation.

[0166] In another aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon. When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the control method for the ice-making component provided in the above embodiments, including, for example, a flipping step: controlling the ice-making box to perform a flipping action and obtaining the duration of the flipping action; a judgment step: determining that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration not being in a preset range; and a corrected de-icing step: determining that the ice-making component is abnormally iced based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation.

[0167] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and 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.

[0168] 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. Such computer software products can be stored in computer-readable storage media, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disks, optical disks, etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods of various embodiments or some parts of embodiments.

[0169] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application 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 this application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application and should be covered within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an ice-making component, characterized in that, include: Flipping step: Control the ice container to flip, and obtain the duration of the flipping action; Judgment step: Based on the fact that the duration is not within the preset range, it is determined that the flipping state of the ice maker is abnormal; Corrected de-icing procedure: Based on the abnormal flipping state, it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally icing, and a corrected de-icing operation is performed.

2. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining that the flipping state is abnormal based on the duration not being within the preset range includes: If the time taken for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position exceeds a first preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. If the time taken for the ice-making box to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position is less than the second preset time threshold, the rotation state is determined to be abnormal. After driving the ice maker to flip, if the ice maker is detected to have been in the ice-making position for a period of time exceeding a third preset time threshold, it is determined that the flipping state is abnormal.

3. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The standard time T is the time required for the ice maker to complete one rotation from leaving the ice-making position to returning to the ice-making position. The first preset duration threshold is T1, where T1 = 2.5T; The second preset duration threshold is T2, where T2 = 0.5T; The third preset duration threshold is T3, where T3 = 10T.

4. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Based on the abnormal flipping state, the ice-making component is controlled to flip again until the number of consecutive abnormal flipping states of the ice-making component reaches a preset number n, at which point it is determined that the ice-making component is abnormally frozen, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. Entering the active de-icing operation includes: activating the de-icing device of the ice-making component to perform de-icing action until the de-icing time continues for a first preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip; The process of repeating the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrective de-icing step continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

5. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The standard duration for a normal de-icing operation is T4, and the first preset recovery duration is T5, where T5 = n * T4.

6. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of the active de-icing operation; When the number of consecutive occurrences of the active de-icing operation reaches a preset number m, the natural de-icing operation is initiated, including: natural heating and de-icing until the de-icing time lasts for a second preset recovery time, and controlling the ice-making component to flip. The process of repeating the flipping step, the judgment step, and the corrective de-icing step continues until the flipping time is within the preset range, at which point the ice-making component has completed the normal de-icing operation.

7. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The standard time for natural warming and de-icing is T6, and the second preset recovery time is T7, where T7 = m * T6.

8. The control method for the ice-making component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The step of determining that the ice-making component is abnormally icing based on the abnormal flipping state and performing a corrected de-icing operation includes: Count the number of consecutive occurrences of the natural melting operation; When the number of consecutive occurrences of the natural melting operation reaches a preset number p, the ice-making component is determined to have entered an irreversible fault state.

9. A control device for an ice-making assembly, characterized in that, include: The first control module is used to control the ice maker to perform a flipping action and to obtain the duration of the flipping action; The detection module is used to determine that the flipping state is abnormal based on the fact that the duration is not within a preset range; The second control module is used to determine that the ice-making component is abnormally frozen based on the abnormal flipping state, and to perform a corrected de-icing operation.

10. An ice-making assembly, characterized in that, include: An ice maker with an ice-making section and an ice-removing section; A driving component, connected to the ice-making box, is used to drive the ice-making box to flip between the ice-making position and the ice-removing position; A position detection component is used to detect whether the ice maker is in the ice-making position; A controller, electrically connected to the drive component and the position detection component, is configured to perform a control method for the ice-making assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. An ice maker, characterized in that, Includes the ice-making assembly as described in claim 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 performs the control method for the ice-making component as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it performs the control method of the ice-making component as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

14. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it performs the control method for the ice-making component as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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