Whole-plate independent ice taking and conveying mechanism and method for square ice machine

Abstract

The invention discloses a whole-plate independent ice taking and conveying mechanism and method for a square ice maker, the whole-plate independent ice taking and conveying mechanism for the square ice maker is provided with an ice receiving plate, a driving mechanism and a conveying belt assembly, the ice receiving plate receives whole-plate square ice, and the driving mechanism drives the ice receiving plate to move back and forth between the square ice maker and the conveying belt assembly to complete ice receiving and unloading actions. The invention further discloses an ice taking and conveying method using the mechanism. The ice taking and conveying method comprises the steps of receiving ice in place, receiving the whole plate of ice, horizontally moving out, overturning and unloading the ice, sliding and conveying, resetting the mechanism and the like. According to the square ice machine, the ice taking and conveying process of the whole-plate square ice of the square ice machine can be independently completed, stable bearing, transferring and conveying of the whole-plate square ice are achieved, and the effects of ice taking and conveying efficiency and stability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice making, and in particular to a mechanism and method for independently conveying ice from a whole plate in an ice cube machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the ice-making industry, square ice is widely used due to its regular shape, ease of storage and use. Square ice machines are ice-making equipment widely used in catering, hotels, cold chain logistics, and other fields. They primarily use a refrigeration system to form solid square ice blocks on an ice maker. The main components include a refrigeration system, multiple ice makers, an ice-making water circulation system, an ice storage hopper, and a screw conveyor. Each ice maker consists of a set of parallel metal plates, with the gaps between each plate forming multiple ice trays. The openings of the ice trays are slightly tilted downwards for easy ice removal later. (The back of the ice maker...) Equipped with heat exchange copper pipes, the ice-making water circulation system evenly sprays ice-making water onto the ice grids of the ice maker through a water distributor. The refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat inside the heat exchange copper pipes, and the ice-making water flowing through the ice grids is cooled by the metal plate, causing the ice-making water to freeze inside the ice grids. This continues until all the ice grids on both sides are frozen and connected into one block. The refrigeration system then switches to the de-icing mode. Hot air passes through the heat exchange copper pipes and the metal plate to melt the ice blocks in contact with the ice grids, thus demolding the ice blocks. The detached ice blocks fall from the front of the ice mold and drop vertically into the ice storage hopper below. They are then conveyed to the ice outlet by a screw conveyor at the bottom of the ice storage hopper.

[0003] The existing conveying method involves the ice cubes falling directly into the ice storage bin and being temporarily stored there. When needed, they are conveyed to the ice outlet by a screw conveyor component below. The screw conveyor component mainly consists of a conveying screw, a conveying trough, and a conveying motor. The conveying screw is a round tube with spiral blades arranged on it, which is then installed in the conveying trough. The conveying motor drives the round tube to rotate, and the spiral blades convey the ice cubes in the conveying trough to the ice outlet in one direction.

[0004] Regarding the aforementioned technologies, the applicant believes that the following defects exist: the ice cubes fall directly into the ice storage hopper by free fall, and the ice maker is at a certain height from the bottom of the ice storage hopper. When the ice cubes, which are connected as a whole plate, fall and hit the metal plate at the bottom of the ice storage hopper, the ice cubes will break and damage their integrity. At the same time, during the conveying process by the screw conveyor, the ice cubes are also conveyed in a stirring-like manner, which will further compress and break the ice cubes during the conveying process, further damaging their integrity. The ice cubes produced by the above method are not only unsightly, but also produce a lot of broken ice, and the ice cubes' melt resistance will also be reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To improve the integrity of the entire ice block, this application provides an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for an ice block machine.

[0006] The technical solution provided in this application for an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism and method for a whole ice block in an ice machine is as follows: An independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a block ice machine includes an ice-receiving plate, a driving mechanism, and a conveyor belt assembly. The ice-receiving plate faces the front of the ice-making mold and includes an ice-supporting section at the bottom, which extends to the bottom of the ice-making mold and is used to receive the block ice that falls vertically from the corresponding ice-making mold. The conveyor belt assembly is located on one side of the block ice machine and is used to convey the block ice. The driving mechanism drives the ice-receiving plate back and forth between the block ice machine and the conveyor belt assembly to connect the ice-receiving and ice-unloading actions. After the ice-receiving plate completes the ice-receiving action, it moves out of the block ice machine under the horizontal propulsion of the driving mechanism until it moves above the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly. Under the rotation of the driving mechanism, the ice-receiving plate flips towards the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly until the end of the ice-receiving plate tilts downward toward the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly. The block ice at the ice-receiving plate slides down onto the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly under its own gravity and the guiding action of the ice-receiving plate.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the ice receiving plate directly receives the whole plate of ice cubes falling from the ice-making mold, avoiding the breakage problem caused by the free fall of ice cubes colliding with the bottom of the ice storage hopper, thus ensuring the integrity of the ice cubes. The drive mechanism drives the ice receiving plate to move and rotate smoothly between the ice cube machine and the conveyor belt assembly, realizing the lossless transfer of the whole plate of ice cubes from the ice receiving point to the conveying point. This replaces the traditional ice storage hopper and screw conveyor components, fundamentally eliminating the secondary breakage of ice cubes caused by screw stirring and extrusion, significantly improving the integrity and aesthetics of the produced ice cubes, while reducing the generation of broken ice.

[0008] Preferably, the ice receiving plate further includes a straight section and a bend section, and the straight section, the bend section and the ice-supporting section are connected in sequence.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the sequential connection of the straight section, the angled section, and the ice-supporting section forms an ice-receiving plate with a specific shape. This allows the ice-receiving plate to effectively act as a baffle covering the front of the ice-making mold inside the ice cube machine, and also as a guide plate at the conveyor belt assembly to guide the ice cubes as they slide down. This structure ensures the smooth switching of the ice-receiving plate's function at different workstations. The ice-supporting section reliably receives the ice cubes, while the angled and straight sections together form a smooth guiding path during ice unloading, utilizing the ice cubes' own gravity to achieve efficient and low-impact transfer, further maintaining the integrity of the ice cubes.

[0010] Preferably, when the ice receiving plate is in place inside the ice cube machine, the straight section serves as a baffle and covers the front of the ice-making mold; when the ice receiving plate is in place at the conveyor belt assembly, the straight section serves as a guide plate tilted downward toward the conveyor belt assembly.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the specific functions of the ice-receiving plate in different positions are clarified. When positioned inside the ice cube machine, the straight section acts as a baffle covering the front of the ice-making mold, which may play a certain role in heat preservation or dust prevention during the ice-making process. When moving to the conveyor belt assembly, the straight section tilts downward as a guide plate, working in conjunction with the corner section and the ice-supporting section to create a controlled sliding track for the entire plate of ice cubes, preventing the ice cubes from rolling or colliding during unloading, ensuring smooth conveying and the integrity of the ice cubes.

[0012] Preferably, the driving mechanism includes a rotating shaft guide rail, a transmission nut, a transmission screw, an ice-receiving rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft motor. The rotating shaft motor is coaxially and fixedly connected to the transmission screw. The transmission screw extends along the length direction of the rotating shaft guide rail. The transmission nut is threadedly engaged with the transmission screw. The ice-receiving rotating shaft is connected to the transmission nut and to the lower end of the ice-receiving plate. A slider is provided in the front half of the ice-receiving rotating shaft. A straight groove and a spiral groove are provided in the rotating shaft guide rail. The length direction of the straight groove is consistent with the length direction of the transmission screw and extends straight towards the conveyor belt assembly. The spiral groove is connected to the end of the straight groove and extends forward in a rotating manner towards the conveyor belt assembly. The slider is slidably connected to the straight groove and the spiral groove. The rotating shaft motor drives the transmission screw to rotate, which in turn moves the transmission nut along the length of the transmission screw. The transmission nut pushes the ice-receiving rotating shaft to move, thereby moving the ice-receiving plate. When the slider of the ice-receiving rotating shaft slides within the guide range of the straight groove, the ice-receiving plate moves horizontally out or in at the ice machine. When the slider of the ice-receiving rotating shaft slides within the guide range of the spiral groove, the ice-receiving plate swings down or flips up on the conveyor belt assembly.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the combination of the rotating shaft guide rail, transmission screw, transmission nut, ice-receiving rotating shaft, and rotating shaft motor constitutes a precise linear and rotary composite motion mechanism. The linear groove on the rotating shaft guide rail ensures that the ice-receiving plate can be smoothly moved horizontally out of or into the ice cube machine, while the spiral groove guides the ice-receiving plate to complete a precise downward or upward swinging motion above the conveyor belt assembly. This design serializes and mechanizes the horizontal movement and flipping motion of the ice-receiving plate, making the motion trajectory controllable and avoiding the impact and vibration that may be caused by manual operation or simple mechanisms. Thus, it provides the highest level of protection for the ice cubes throughout the entire process of ice collection and unloading.

[0014] Preferably, the rotating shaft guide rail is a hollow cylindrical structure, the straight groove and the spiral groove are opened on the outside of the rotating shaft guide rail, and the transmission screw and the front half of the ice-receiving rotating shaft are both inserted inside the rotating shaft guide rail.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotating shaft guide rail is designed as a hollow cylindrical structure, housing the transmission lead screw and the front half of the ice-receiving rotating shaft inside. This makes the entire drive mechanism compact, effectively utilizing space while protecting the internal transmission components from external environmental interference (such as ice water and dust), thus improving the reliability and service life of the mechanism. The straight grooves and screw grooves on the outside of the rotating shaft guide rail serve as clear guide paths, ensuring the accuracy of the slider's movement.

[0016] Preferably, a reinforcing rib is provided between the back side of the ice-receiving plate and the rear half of the ice-receiving shaft.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, reinforcing ribs are installed between the back side of the ice-receiving plate and the rear half of the ice-receiving shaft, significantly enhancing the structural rigidity and strength of the connection between the ice-receiving plate and the drive component. This enables the ice-receiving plate to effectively resist deformation and vibration when bearing the weight of the entire ice block and when subjected to torque during movement and flipping, ensuring the stability of the ice-receiving plate and further ensuring the safety of the ice blocks during transfer.

[0018] A method for independently collecting and conveying ice from a whole ice tray in a cube ice machine, employing an independent ice collection and conveying mechanism for the whole ice tray, includes the following steps: S1: Ice receiving plate in place: The drive mechanism drives the ice receiving plate to move to the working position inside the ice cube machine, so that the ice-supporting section of the ice receiving plate extends to the bottom of the ice-making mold, and the straight section of the ice receiving plate acts as a baffle to cover the front of the ice-making mold. S2: Receiving a whole plate of ice: After the ice-making mold is thawed, the whole plate of square ice falls vertically and is smoothly received by the ice-receiving plate's ice-supporting section. S3: Horizontal movement: When the drive mechanism is working, the slider on the ice-receiving shaft slides in the linear groove of the shaft guide rail, driving the ice-receiving plate to carry the whole plate of square ice and move horizontally out of the ice machine. S4: Reversing and Unloading Ice: When the ice-receiving plate moves above the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly, the slider of the ice-receiving shaft enters the spiral groove from the straight groove. Guided by the spiral groove, the ice-receiving plate reverses towards the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly until the end of the ice-receiving plate tilts downwards; S5: Sliding Conveying: The entire ice block slides smoothly onto the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly under its own gravity and the guiding action of the ice receiving plate; S6: Mechanism Reset: After the ice is unloaded, the drive mechanism reverses its movement. Guided by the spiral groove and the straight groove, the ice receiving plate first flips upward and then moves horizontally back to its initial position inside the ice machine, ready for the next ice receiving cycle.

[0019] By adopting the above-mentioned technical solution, the traditional passive method of "free fall and spiral extrusion" is replaced with an "active receiving and smooth transfer" approach. This effectively addresses the critical issue of ice cubes being fragile, improves the quality and appearance of the produced ice cubes, and its automation also enhances the efficiency and reliability of ice cube transfer.

[0020] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. The ice receiving plate directly receives the whole plate of ice cubes that fall from the ice mold, preventing the ice cubes from falling freely and colliding with the bottom of the ice storage container and breaking, thus ensuring the integrity of the ice cubes; 2. The drive mechanism drives the ice receiving plate to move and rotate smoothly between the ice block machine and the conveyor belt assembly, realizing the lossless transfer of the whole plate of ice blocks from the ice receiving point to the conveying point. This eliminates the secondary breakage of ice blocks caused by screw stirring and extrusion, improves the integrity and aesthetics of the produced ice blocks, and reduces the generation of broken ice. 3. The straight section, the angled section, and the ice-supporting section of the ice-receiving plate are connected in sequence, serving as a baffle and a guide plate in different work positions, respectively, to ensure smooth conversion of the ice-receiving plate function. It utilizes the weight of the ice cubes to achieve efficient and low-impact transfer, maintaining the integrity of the ice cubes. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a square ice machine according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between a single ice-making mold, an ice-making plate, a drive mechanism, and a conveyor belt assembly in an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a square ice machine according to an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism in an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a square ice machine according to an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged diagram of point A in the middle.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Conveyor belt assembly; 2. Frame; 3. Ice-making mold; 4. Ice receiving plate; 41. Straight section; 42. Angle section; 43. Ice-supporting section; 5. Drive mechanism; 51. Transmission screw; 52. Transmission nut; 53. Rotary shaft motor; 54. Ice receiving shaft; 55. Ice receiving guide rail; 551. Straight groove; 552. Screw groove; 56. Slider; 57. Reinforcing rib. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1-4 This application will be described in further detail.

[0027] This application discloses an independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice plate of a cube ice machine, referring to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The system includes an ice-receiving plate 4, a drive mechanism 5, and a conveyor belt assembly 1. The ice-receiving plate 4 faces the front of the ice-making mold 3. The drive mechanism 5 drives the ice-receiving plate 4 back and forth between the ice cube machine and the conveyor belt assembly 1. The conveyor belt assembly 1 is located on one side of the ice cube machine, which helps to prevent the ice cubes from breaking due to free fall and agitation, thus ensuring the integrity of the ice cubes. This is because the ice-receiving plate 4 directly receives the ice cubes, avoiding collisions between the ice cubes and the bottom of the ice storage hopper. The drive mechanism 5 can smoothly move and flip the ice-receiving plate 4 and the ice cubes to the conveyor belt assembly 1, reducing the impact and compression on the ice cubes.

[0028] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 Specifically, the ice-receiving plate 4 includes an ice-supporting section 43, a straight section 41, and a corner section 42 located at the bottom, with the straight section 41, corner section 42, and ice-supporting section 43 connected sequentially. The ice-supporting section 43 is a flat plate structure, which can be made of stainless steel, a corrosion-resistant material with a smooth surface that facilitates the support and sliding of ice cubes. Alternatively, aluminum alloy can be used, as its light weight reduces the overall weight of the ice-receiving plate 4. The ice-supporting section 43 extends to the bottom of the ice-making mold 3, allowing it to accurately catch entire plates of ice cubes that fall vertically from the mold 3. The straight section 41 is also a flat plate structure. When the ice-receiving plate 4 is in place inside the ice cube machine, it acts as a baffle covering the front of the ice-making mold 3, potentially providing some insulation or dust protection during the ice-making process. Its material can also be stainless steel or aluminum alloy. When the ice-receiving plate 4 is positioned at the conveyor belt assembly 1, the straight section 41 acts as a guide plate, tilting downwards towards the conveyor belt assembly 1 to guide the ice cubes as they slide down. The angled section 42 is the transition connecting the straight section 41 and the ice-supporting section 43. It is bent at a certain angle, giving the ice-receiving plate 4 a specific shape to facilitate different functions at different workstations. The angled section 42 is made of the same material as the ice-supporting section 43 and the straight section 41, and its bending angle is designed according to the actual positional relationship between the ice maker and the conveyor belt assembly 1, generally between 120° and 150°. The angled section 42 is connected to the straight section 41 and the ice-supporting section 43 by welding. This connection method is strong and reliable, ensuring the overall structural stability of the ice-receiving plate 4.

[0029] The structural design of the ice receiving plate 4 enables the ice-supporting section 43 to reliably support the ice cubes. The angled section 42 and the straight section 41 together form a smooth guide path during ice unloading, utilizing the weight of the ice cubes themselves to achieve efficient and low-impact transfer, further maintaining the integrity of the ice cubes.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 4Specifically, the drive mechanism 5 includes a rotating shaft guide rail 55, a transmission nut 52, a transmission screw 51, an ice-receiving rotating shaft 54, and a rotating shaft motor 53. The rotating shaft motor 53 is a common electric motor that provides power to the entire drive mechanism 5. Its power is selected based on factors such as the weight of the ice-receiving plate 4 and the ice cubes, as well as the moving speed. The rotating shaft guide rail 55 and the rotating shaft motor 53 are fixed on the frame 2 of the ice cube machine and located to the side of the ice-making mold 3. The transmission screw 51 is a threaded metal rod, usually made of carbon steel, which has high strength and wear resistance. The transmission screw 51 extends along the length of the rotating shaft guide rail 55 and is coaxially fixedly connected to the rotating shaft motor 53. When the rotating shaft motor 53 rotates, it drives the transmission screw 51 to rotate synchronously. The transmission nut 52 is threadedly engaged with the transmission screw 51. It is a metal block with internal threads, and its material can be a copper alloy. Copper alloys have good wear resistance and self-lubricating properties, which can reduce friction between the nut 52 and the transmission screw 51. This causes the transmission nut 52 to move along the length of the transmission screw 51 when the transmission screw 51 rotates. The ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​is a metal shaft that is connected to the transmission nut 52 and the lower end of the ice-receiving plate 4. The front half of the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​is equipped with a slider 56, which is a block structure made of plastic or metal, and is fixedly connected to the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​by bolts. The shaft guide rail 55 is provided with a straight groove 551 and a screw-in groove 552. The length direction of the straight groove 551 is consistent with the length direction of the transmission screw 51 and extends linearly towards the conveyor belt assembly 1. The screw-in groove 552 is connected to the end of the straight groove 551 and extends forward in a rotating manner towards the conveyor belt assembly 1. The slider 56 is slidably connected to the straight groove 551 and the screw-in groove 552.

[0031] There are two ways to connect the ice-receiving rotating shaft 54 ​​and the transmission nut 52. One way is that the ice-receiving rotating shaft 54 ​​and the transmission nut 52 are rotatably connected through a rotating shaft bearing, while the transmission nut 52 is slidably connected to the rotating shaft guide rail 55 through a guide block. The transmission nut 52 maintains linear motion under the action of the screw drive and pushes the ice-receiving rotating shaft 54 ​​forward. The ice-receiving rotating shaft 54 ​​can rotate under the guidance of the slider 56 and the screw groove 552. The transmission nut 52 plays the role of pushing and pulling the ice-receiving rotating shaft 54.

[0032] Another method is to directly fix the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​and the transmission nut 52 with bolts. The ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​and the transmission nut 52 are integrated. The slider 56 directly acts as a guide block for the transmission nut 52 and slides with the straight groove 551 and the screw groove 552 to achieve the purpose of pushing and rotating the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​without the need to add any additional guide blocks and guide grooves.

[0033] Both the rotating shaft guide rail 55 and the ice-catching rotating shaft 54 ​​are hollow cylindrical structures. A straight groove 551 and a screw-in groove 552 are formed on the outside of the rotating shaft guide rail 55. The transmission screw 51 and the front half of the ice-catching rotating shaft 54 ​​are both inserted inside the rotating shaft guide rail 55, while the transmission screw 51 is inserted inside the ice-catching rotating shaft 54. This design makes the entire drive mechanism 5 compact, effectively utilizing space, while protecting the internal transmission components from external environmental interference (such as ice water and dust), thus improving the reliability and service life of the mechanism.

[0034] When the rotating shaft motor 53 drives the transmission screw 51 to rotate, it causes the transmission nut 52 to move along the length of the transmission screw 51. The transmission nut 52 pushes the ice-collecting rotating shaft 54 ​​to move, thereby moving the ice-collecting plate 4. When the slider 56 of the ice-collecting rotating shaft 54 ​​slides within the guide range of the straight groove 551, the ice-collecting plate 4 moves horizontally out or in at the ice-collecting machine. When the slider 56 of the ice-collecting rotating shaft 54 ​​slides within the guide range of the screw groove 552, the ice-collecting plate 4 swings down or flips up on the conveyor belt assembly 1. This design serializes and mechanizes the horizontal movement and flipping motion of the ice-collecting plate 4, making the movement trajectory controllable. It avoids the impact and vibration that may be caused by manual operation or simple mechanisms, thus providing the highest level of protection for the ice throughout the entire process of ice collection and unloading.

[0035] In addition, reinforcing ribs 57 are provided between the back side of the ice-receiving plate 4 and the rear half of the ice-receiving shaft 54. The reinforcing ribs 57 are triangular metal plates, made of the same material as the ice-receiving plate 4, typically stainless steel or aluminum alloy. The reinforcing ribs 57 are welded between the back side of the ice-receiving plate 4 and the rear half of the ice-receiving shaft 54, significantly enhancing the structural rigidity and strength of the connection between the ice-receiving plate 4 and the drive component. This allows the ice-receiving plate 4 to effectively resist deformation and vibration when bearing the weight of the entire ice block and experiencing torque during movement and flipping, ensuring the stability of the ice-receiving plate 4 during operation and further ensuring the safety of the ice blocks during transfer.

[0036] Conveyor belt assembly 1 is a common belt conveyor device, consisting of a conveyor belt, drive roller, driven roller, and motor. The conveyor belt is generally made of rubber, with a certain degree of friction on its surface to ensure that the ice cubes do not slip during transport. The drive roller is driven by the motor to rotate, thereby driving the conveyor belt to circulate and transport the ice cubes to the designated position.

[0037] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism of the ice cube machine directly receives the whole plate of ice cubes falling from the ice-making mold 3 through the ice-receiving plate 4, avoiding the problem of ice cubes breaking due to free fall and collision with the bottom of the ice storage hopper. The design of the drive mechanism 5 enables the ice-receiving plate 4 to smoothly move back and forth between the ice cube machine and the conveyor belt assembly 1, realizing the lossless transfer of the whole plate of ice cubes from the ice-receiving point to the conveying point. The special structural design of the ice-receiving plate 4, including the ice-supporting section 43, the straight section 41, and the angled section 42, as well as the setting of the reinforcing ribs 57, ensures the stability and reliability of the ice-receiving plate 4 in operation. The conveyor belt assembly 1 can smoothly transport the ice cubes to the designated position. The entire mechanism replaces the traditional ice storage hopper and screw conveying components, fundamentally eliminating the secondary breakage of ice cubes caused by screw stirring and extrusion, significantly improving the integrity and aesthetics of the produced ice cubes, while reducing the generation of broken ice, improving the melt resistance of the ice cubes, and making a great improvement and contribution to the existing technology.

[0038] The method for independently extracting and conveying whole ice plates in an ice machine provided in this application includes the following steps: S1: Ice Receiving Position: The drive mechanism 5 moves the ice receiving plate 4 to its working position inside the ice cube machine. During this process, the shaft motor 53 starts, driving the transmission screw 51 to rotate. The transmission nut 52 moves along the transmission screw 51, pushing the ice receiving shaft 54 ​​to move, thereby moving the ice receiving plate 4. Ultimately, the ice-supporting section 43 of the ice receiving plate 4 extends directly below the bottom of the ice-making mold 3, and the straight section 41 of the ice receiving plate 4 acts as a baffle covering the front of the ice-making mold 3. This step requires ensuring the accurate positioning of the ice receiving plate 4 to guarantee smooth ice receiving later. During operation, precise control is needed based on the size of the ice maker and the movement trajectory of the ice receiving plate 4. The main equipment used is the drive mechanism 5, including the shaft motor 53, transmission screw 51, transmission nut 52, and ice receiving shaft 54.

[0039] S2: Receiving the Whole Ice Plate: After the ice-making mold 3 completes the ice removal process, the refrigeration system switches to the ice removal mode. Hot air passes through the heat exchange copper pipes and the metal plate to melt the ice blocks in contact with the ice tray, thus removing the ice cubes from the mold. The whole ice plate falls vertically and is smoothly received by the ice-supporting section 43 of the ice-receiving plate 4. During this process, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the ice-receiving plate 4 to prevent the ice cubes from breaking due to impact during the receiving process.

[0040] S3: Horizontal Removal: The drive mechanism 5 operates, and the slider 56 on the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​slides within the linear groove 551 of the shaft guide rail 55. The shaft motor 53 continues to rotate, driving the transmission screw 51 to rotate, causing the transmission nut 52 to move along the transmission screw 51. The ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​moves accordingly, driving the ice-receiving plate 4, carrying the entire plate of ice cubes, to move horizontally out of the ice-making machine. During this process, it is essential to ensure that the ice-receiving plate 4 moves smoothly to prevent the ice cubes from breaking due to shaking. The equipment for this step is still the drive mechanism 5, and it is also necessary to ensure that the surface of the linear groove 551 of the shaft guide rail 55 is smooth to reduce the resistance when the slider 56 slides.

[0041] S4: Ice Removal by Tilting: When the ice-receiving plate 4 moves above the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly 1, the slider 56 of the ice-receiving shaft 54 ​​enters the spiral groove 552 from the straight groove 551. Guided by the spiral groove 552, the ice-receiving plate 4 rotates towards the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly 1 until the end of the ice-receiving plate 4 tilts downward. During this process, the spiral groove 552 must be designed reasonably to ensure that the ice-receiving plate 4 can rotate according to a predetermined angle and trajectory, preparing for the sliding of the ice cubes.

[0042] S5: Sliding Conveying: Under its own weight and the guiding action of the ice receiving plate 4, the entire ice block smoothly slides onto the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt assembly 1. The conveyor belt of the conveyor belt assembly 1 must maintain a certain operating speed to ensure that the ice block can be smoothly conveyed to the designated position. At the same time, the surface friction of the conveyor belt must be appropriate to ensure the conveying of the ice block without causing damage to it.

[0043] S6: Mechanism Reset: After ice unloading is completed, the drive mechanism 5 reverses its movement. The rotating shaft motor 53 reverses, driving the transmission screw 51 to rotate in the opposite direction, the transmission nut 52 to move in the opposite direction, and the ice-receiving rotating shaft 54 ​​to move in the opposite direction as well. Guided sequentially by the screw groove 552 and the straight groove 551, the ice-receiving plate 4 first completes the upward movement, and then moves horizontally back to its initial position inside the ice machine, ready for the next ice-receiving cycle. During this process, it is essential to ensure that the ice-receiving plate 4 accurately returns to its initial position to prepare for the next ice-receiving cycle.

[0044] It should be noted that when multiple ice-making molds 3 are arranged side by side to make ice at the same time, each ice-making mold 3 corresponds to a set of ice-receiving plates 4 and a drive mechanism 5. After the ice is removed, in order to ensure that the ice-receiving plates 4 do not interfere with each other during the process of flipping and unloading ice, the several ice-receiving plates 4 arranged side by side need to be sent out in batches. Each batch is spaced three sets apart (such as the 1st, 4th and 6th ice-receiving plates 4 being sent out and flipped to unload ice at the same time). This ensures that there is enough space for the ice-receiving plates 4 to operate smoothly, and also helps to improve the ice block conveying efficiency of the ice cube machine.

[0045] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: This method replaces the traditional passive method of "free fall and spiral extrusion" with an "active receiving and smooth transfer" approach. By precisely controlling the movement and flipping of the ice receiving plate 4, the entire plate of ice cubes is transferred without damage from the ice-making mold 3 to the conveyor belt assembly 1, effectively addressing the critical issue of the fragility of ice cubes and improving the quality and aesthetics of the produced ice. Its automated operation process improves the efficiency and reliability of ice cube transfer.

[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A whole-plate independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a cube ice machine, characterized in that: The system includes an ice-receiving plate (4), a drive mechanism (5), and a conveyor belt assembly (1). The ice-receiving plate (4) faces the front of the ice-making mold (3). The ice-receiving plate (4) includes an ice-supporting section (43) located at the bottom, which extends to the bottom of the ice-making mold (3) and is used to receive whole plates of square ice that fall vertically from the corresponding ice-making mold (3). The conveyor belt assembly (1) is located on one side of the ice machine and is used to transport whole plates of square ice. The drive mechanism (5) is used to drive the ice-receiving plate (4) back and forth between the ice machine and the conveyor belt assembly (1) to connect the ice-receiving action and the unloading action. Ice-catching action: After the ice-catching plate (4) completes the ice-catching action, the ice-catching plate (4) moves out of the ice machine under the horizontal propulsion action of the drive mechanism (5) until it moves above the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1). Under the rotation action of the drive mechanism (5), the ice-catching plate (4) flips towards the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1) until the end of the ice-catching plate (4) tilts downward toward the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1). The whole plate of ice at the ice-catching plate (4) slides down onto the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1) under its own gravity and the guiding action of the ice-catching plate (4).

2. The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice block in a cube ice machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice receiving plate (4) also includes a straight section (41) and a bend section (42), which are connected in sequence.

3. The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice plate of an ice cube machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ice receiving plate (4) is in place inside the ice cube machine, the straight section (41) serves as a baffle and covers the front of the ice-making mold (3); when the ice receiving plate (4) is in place at the conveyor belt assembly (1), the straight section (41) serves as a guide plate tilted downward toward the conveyor belt assembly (1).

4. The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice block in a cube ice machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism (5) includes a rotating shaft guide rail (55), a transmission nut (52), a transmission screw (51), an ice-receiving rotating shaft (54), and a rotating shaft motor (53). The rotating shaft motor (53) is coaxially and fixedly connected to the transmission screw (51). The transmission screw (51) extends along the length of the rotating shaft guide rail (55). The transmission nut (52) is threadedly engaged with the transmission screw (51). The ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) is connected to the transmission nut (52). The ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) is connected to the ice-receiving plate (4) below. The ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) is connected to the end of the shaft. The front half of the shaft is provided with a slider (56). The rotating shaft guide rail (55) is provided with a straight groove (551) and a spiral groove (552). The length direction of the straight groove (551) is consistent with the length direction of the transmission screw (51) and extends straight towards the conveyor belt assembly (1). The spiral groove (552) is connected to the end of the straight groove (551) and extends forward in a rotating manner towards the conveyor belt assembly (1). The slider (56) is slidably connected to the straight groove (551) and the spiral groove (552). The rotating shaft motor (53) drives the transmission screw (51) to rotate, and at the same time drives the transmission nut (52) to move along the length direction of the transmission screw (51). The transmission nut (52) pushes the ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) to move, thereby driving the ice-receiving plate (4) to move. When the slider (56) of the ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) slides within the guide range of the straight groove (551), the ice-receiving plate (4) moves out or in at the ice machine in a horizontal direction. When the slider (56) of the ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) slides within the guide range of the spiral groove (552), the ice-receiving plate (4) swings down or flips up on the conveyor belt assembly (1).

5. The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice plate of an ice cube machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating shaft guide rail (55) is a hollow cylindrical structure. The straight groove (551) and the spiral groove (552) are opened on the outside of the rotating shaft guide rail (55). The transmission screw (51) and the front half of the ice-receiving rotating shaft (54) are both inserted inside the rotating shaft guide rail (55).

6. The independent ice-collecting and conveying mechanism for a whole ice block in a cube ice machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: A reinforcing rib (57) is provided between the back side of the ice receiving plate (4) and the rear half of the ice receiving shaft (54).

7. A method for independently conveying a whole ice plate in an ice cube machine, comprising the ice-conveying mechanism for independently conveying a whole ice plate in an ice cube machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: S1: Ice receiving position: The drive mechanism (5) drives the ice receiving plate (4) to move to the working position inside the ice cube machine, so that the ice-supporting section (43) of the ice receiving plate (4) extends to the bottom of the ice-making mold (3), and the straight section (41) of the ice receiving plate (4) covers the front of the ice-making mold (3) as a baffle. S2: Receiving a whole plate of ice: After the ice-making mold (3) completes the ice removal, the whole plate of square ice falls vertically and is smoothly received by the ice-supporting section (43) of the ice-receiving plate (4); S3: Horizontal movement out: The drive mechanism (5) works, and the slider (56) on the ice receiving shaft (54) slides in the straight groove (551) of the shaft guide rail (55), driving the ice receiving plate (4) to carry the whole plate of square ice to move horizontally out of the ice machine. S4: Reversing to unload ice: When the ice-receiving plate (4) moves above the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1), the slider (56) of the ice-receiving shaft (54) enters the spiral groove (552) from the straight groove (551). Guided by the spiral groove (552), the ice-receiving plate (4) reverses towards the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1) until the end of the ice-receiving plate (4) tilts downward; S5: Sliding Conveying: The whole plate of ice slides smoothly onto the conveying surface of the conveyor belt assembly (1) under its own gravity and the guiding action of the ice receiving plate (4). S6: Mechanism Reset: After the ice is unloaded, the drive mechanism (5) reverses its action. Under the guidance of the spiral groove (552) and the straight groove (551), the ice receiving plate (4) first completes the upward movement, and then moves horizontally back to the initial position inside the ice machine to prepare for the next ice receiving cycle.

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