An ice maker

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of ice makers, and discloses an ice maker which comprises an inner container, an ice tray assembly, a first stirrer and a second stirrer. The first stirrer comprises a first rotating shaft and first stirring blades arranged on the first rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft penetrates through the front wall of the inner container, extends from front to back and upwardly to the inside of the inner container. The second stirrer comprises a second rotating shaft and second stirring blades arranged on the second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft extends from the top wall of the inner container to the inside of the inner container along the vertical direction downwardly. The lowest point of the revolution track of the second stirring blades is higher than the lowest point of the revolution track of the first stirring blades. The ice maker is arranged in a space complementary manner of the first stirrer and the second stirrer, the full inner container space is stirred without dead angle, the ice bridge or local dead zone is effectively prevented from being formed in the inner container, the stirrer is prevented from being stuck and blocked by the ice, and the ice storage capacity and the rated ice making capacity of the ice maker are remarkably improved under the same product size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice maker technology, and specifically to an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, some ice makers have a stirrer installed in the ice storage tank. The rotation of the stirrer disperses the ice stored in the tank to prevent it from clumping and to assist in conveying the ice to the outlet. However, the stirrer's range of motion is limited. The arrangement and coverage of the stirring blades are constrained by the direction and length of the rotating shaft, making it difficult to cover the entire tank space. As the amount of ice increases, the ice in the upper part of the stirring area and the ice far from the stirrer cannot be effectively stirred, easily forming "ice bridges" or local dead zones in the tank. This can cause the stirrer to become stuck and blockage. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the ice production capacity of the ice maker to prevent the stirrer from getting stuck and blocking. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides an ice maker to solve the problems of limited stirring range of existing ice makers, ice blocks easily forming "ice bridges" or local dead zones in the inner tank, causing the stirrer to jam and stop rotating, and the resulting limited ice storage capacity and reduced ice making efficiency.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an ice maker, comprising: The inner liner is used to store ice. The ice tray assembly, located at the upper rear of the inner liner, is used to make ice cubes; The first agitator includes a first rotating shaft and a first agitating blade disposed on the first rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft passes through the front wall of the inner liner and extends from front to back and upwards into the interior of the inner liner. The second agitator includes a second rotating shaft and a second agitator blade disposed on the second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft extends vertically downward from the top wall of the inner liner into the interior of the inner liner. The lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second agitator blade is higher than the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first agitator blade.

[0005] Beneficial effects: Through the complementary spatial layout of the first and second stirrers, the entire space from the bottom to the upper middle part of the inner tank is covered by the sweeping range of the stirrers, achieving no dead angle stirring of the entire inner tank space. This effectively prevents ice from forming "ice bridges" or local dead zones in the inner tank, avoids the stirrers from being blocked by ice, and significantly improves the ice storage capacity and rated ice volume of the ice maker within the same product size.

[0006] In one optional embodiment, the distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade to the lowest point of the inner liner is L1, 10mm≤L1≤20mm; the distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade to the lowest point of the inner liner is L2, 30mm≤L2≤40mm.

[0007] Beneficial effects: By setting the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade to 10mm to 20mm from the lowest point of the inner liner, the sweeping surface of the first stirring blade is in close contact with the bottom of the inner liner, which can effectively stir up the ice blocks accumulated at the bottom of the inner liner and eliminate the dead zone of ice stirring at the bottom; by setting the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade to 30mm to 40mm from the lowest point of the inner liner, the stirring areas of the two stirrers form a layered layout in the height direction that is connected vertically rather than overlapping and interfering, thus achieving effective coverage of the entire inner liner space.

[0008] In one optional embodiment, the first stirrer further includes a first drive motor, which is drivenly connected to the first rotating shaft and is used to drive the first rotating shaft to rotate in a first direction; the second stirrer further includes a second drive motor, which is drivenly connected to the second rotating shaft and is used to drive the second rotating shaft to rotate in a second direction. The first direction is opposite to the second direction.

[0009] Beneficial effects: By having two stirrers rotate in opposite directions, the lower and upper layers of ice are subjected to stirring forces in opposite directions, resulting in relative motion. This effectively avoids the problem of all ice blocks rotating as a whole and not being able to be broken up under the same stirring force, enhances the shearing and tumbling effect, and improves ice stirring efficiency.

[0010] In one optional embodiment, the ice maker further includes an ice conveying impeller, which is disposed on the first rotating shaft and located axially between the first stirring blade and the front wall of the inner liner. An ice outlet is arranged above the front wall of the inner liner.

[0011] Beneficial effects: The ice conveying impeller and the first stirrer are arranged coaxially and driven by the same drive motor, realizing the integration of ice stirring and ice conveying functions. There is no need to set up an additional independent ice conveying drive mechanism, which simplifies the overall structure and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment, the first rotating shaft is inclined upward in a direction away from the front wall, and the angle of elevation between the first rotating shaft and the horizontal plane is α, where 15°≤α≤20°.

[0013] Beneficial effects: By setting the angle between the first rotating shaft and the horizontal plane to 15°-20°, an optimal balance is achieved between the ice-stirring coverage area and the ice-pushing direction. This ensures that the first stirring blade has a sufficient vertical ice-stirring range while also taking into account the forward and upward pushing force of the ice-pushing impeller, thus improving the smoothness of ice discharge.

[0014] In one optional embodiment, the minimum distance between the first stirring blade and the second stirring blade is L3, where 50mm≤L3≤60mm.

[0015] Beneficial effects: By setting the minimum distance between the first and second stirring blades to 50mm-60mm, sufficient safety clearance is ensured during the rotation of the two stirrers, avoiding mechanical interference. At the same time, the stirring areas of the two stirrers are closely connected in space, eliminating the stirring blind zone caused by excessive distance.

[0016] In one alternative implementation, the ice maker further includes: An ice level detector, installed inside the liner, is used to detect the amount of ice inside the liner; The controller, electrically connected to the ice quantity detector, is used to control the start of the first stirrer and / or the second stirrer based on the ice quantity detected by the ice quantity detector.

[0017] Beneficial effects: The ice volume detector monitors the ice volume in the inner tank in real time. The controller automatically selects to start the first stirrer or start the first and second stirrers simultaneously based on the ice volume. This achieves adaptive matching between the ice stirring mode and the current ice volume, saving energy when the ice volume is small and providing sufficient stirring power when the ice volume is large, thus achieving a balance between energy efficiency and performance.

[0018] In one alternative implementation, the ice quantity detector is a weighing device located at the bottom of the inner liner, used to detect the weight of the ice blocks inside the inner liner.

[0019] Beneficial effects: The weighing device directly measures the weight of the ice, and the test results are not affected by factors such as the shape, color, and transparency of the ice. It has the advantages of high accuracy and good stability. In addition, the weighing device is set at the bottom of the inner tank and does not occupy the internal space of the inner tank.

[0020] In one alternative implementation, the controller is configured as follows: When the amount of ice in the inner liner is less than the first preset threshold, the first stirrer is activated. When the amount of ice in the inner liner is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold, the first stirrer and the second stirrer are started simultaneously, and the first stirrer and the second stirrer rotate in opposite directions.

[0021] Beneficial effects: By judging the amount of ice, graded control is achieved. A single stirrer works when the ice volume is small, and two stirrers work together when the ice volume is large. This not only ensures the stirring effect under different ice volumes, but also achieves energy-saving operation.

[0022] In one alternative implementation, the first preset threshold is 2 / 5 of the maximum ice capacity of the inner liner.

[0023] Beneficial effects: The second stirrer intervenes before the ice pile height exceeds the effective stirring range of the first stirrer, avoiding the formation of a stable "ice bridge" structure between the upper and lower ice blocks. It also avoids the energy waste caused by the second stirrer starting too early when the ice volume is too low.

[0024] In one alternative implementation, the inner liner includes: The front wall extends downward from front to back, and the first stirring blade extends in a direction parallel to the front wall, and the first stirring blade is arranged close to the front wall. The bottom wall slopes downward from back to front, and a drainage hole is provided at the junction of the bottom wall and the front wall. The rear wall extends vertically, and an ice tray assembly is installed at the top of the rear wall; The top wall extends horizontally, and the second stirring blade is spaced apart from the top wall and located below the highest ice level line.

[0025] Beneficial effects: The inclined design of the front wall, combined with the arrangement of the first stirring blade close to the front wall, allows the first stirring blade to move closely against the front and bottom walls when rotating, eliminating the ice-stirring blind zone near the front wall; the inclined design of the bottom wall allows the melted ice water to flow to the drain hole and be discharged, preventing water from accumulating in the inner liner; the arrangement of the ice tray assembly at the top of the rear wall allows ice blocks to fall directly into the inner liner after falling off, shortening the drop path.

[0026] In one alternative embodiment, the second rotating shaft is positioned at the center of the horizontal cross-section of the inner liner.

[0027] Beneficial effects: The centrally positioned second shaft allows the sweeping surface of the second stirring blade to cover the horizontal cross-section of the inner liner in the most uniform way, avoiding the problem of over-stirring on one side and under-stirring on the other side due to the off-center arrangement. At the same time, the centrally positioned arrangement complements the inclined first stirrer, producing an enhanced stirring effect in the intersection area.

[0028] In one alternative embodiment, the length of the first rotating shaft extending within the inner liner is less than the radial dimension of the first stirring blade, and the length of the second rotating shaft extending within the inner liner is greater than the radial dimension of the second stirring blade.

[0029] Beneficial effects: The "short shaft, large blade" structure of the first stirrer allows it to have a large stirring coverage area in the limited space near the bottom, resulting in high stirring efficiency; the "long shaft, short blade" structure of the second stirrer allows it to penetrate vertically from the top to the lower middle part of the inner liner, effectively stirring the ice blocks in the middle and upper layers. The two structures complement each other in space, avoiding the stirring overlap or blind spots caused by having to use the same type of stirrer due to space limitations.

[0030] In one alternative embodiment, the outline of the bottom of the front wall of the inner liner is adapted to the shape of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade.

[0031] Beneficial effects: By matching the contour design of the bottom of the front wall with the rotation trajectory shape of the first stirring blade, the gap between the two is kept uniform in the circumferential direction, avoiding the risk of ice-stirring dead zones and interference caused by uneven gaps. At the same time, the arc transition at the bottom of the front wall eliminates sharp corners, preventing ice blocks from getting stuck at sharp corners. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the diagram; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of an inner liner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an inner liner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice tray assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1000. Ice maker; 10. Inner liner; 11. Front wall; 110. Ice outlet; 12. Bottom wall; 120. Drain hole; 13. Rear wall; 14. Top wall; 20. Ice tray assembly; 30. First agitator; 31. First rotating shaft; 32. First stirring blade; 33. First drive motor; 34. Ice conveying impeller; 40. Second stirrer; 41. Second rotating shaft; 42. Second stirring blade; 43. Second drive motor. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 5The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker 1000 is provided, comprising: an inner liner 10, an ice tray assembly 20, a first stirrer 30, and a second stirrer 40.

[0038] The inner liner 10 is used to store ice cubes. The ice tray assembly 20 is located above the rear side of the inner liner 10 and is used to make ice cubes. The first stirrer 30 includes a first rotating shaft 31 and a first stirring blade 32 disposed on the first rotating shaft 31. The first rotating shaft 31 passes through the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10 and extends from front to back and upwards into the interior of the inner liner 10. The second stirrer 40 includes a second rotating shaft 41 and a second stirring blade 42 disposed on the second rotating shaft 41. The second rotating shaft 41 extends vertically downwards from the top wall 14 of the inner liner 10 into the interior of the inner liner 10. The lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 is higher than the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32. This application forms a layered and coordinated ice-making mechanism of "large-area stirring in the lower layer and auxiliary tumbling in the upper layer" through the complementary spatial arrangement of the two stirrers in the inner liner 10, so as to meet the ice-making needs under large ice volume.

[0039] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 After ice blocks fall from the ice tray assembly 20, they tend to clump together and accumulate at the bottom of the inner liner 10. As the ice-making process progresses, the ice blocks gradually accumulate upwards. The first stirring blade 32 is positioned close to the bottom of the inner liner 10, and it is responsible for stirring the ice blocks accumulated in the lower layer of the inner liner 10. As the ice volume accumulates and the ice block height increases, the second stirring blade 42 assists in turning over the ice blocks in the upper layer of the inner liner 10. This ensures that the ice blocks located in the upper part of the stirring area and those far from the stirrer are effectively turned over, preventing the formation of "ice bridges" or local dead zones in the inner liner 10, and preventing the stirrer from being jammed or blocked by the ice blocks. The first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 form a layered complementary structure in space, effectively covering ice blocks of different accumulation heights and ensuring that all ice blocks are stirred.

[0040] The second rotating shaft 41 extends vertically downwards from the top wall 14 of the inner liner 10, effectively penetrating the upper ice layer of the inner liner 10 vertically, preventing the upper ice layer from forming "ice bridges" or local dead zones due to lack of agitation. The lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 is higher than that of the first stirring blade 32, ensuring that the stirring areas of the two stirrers are vertically connected rather than overlapping and interfering. The first stirrer 30 stirs the lower ice layer close to the bottom, while the second stirrer 40 vertically penetrates and stirs the upper ice layer. The two work in layers in coordination, preventing a large amount of ice from accumulating in a certain stirring area, which could cause the stirring blade to be jammed due to excessive force. This application employs a complementary layout where the first stirrer 30 is inclined close to the bottom of the inner liner 10 and the second stirrer 40 extends vertically downward from the top. This ensures that the entire space from the bottom to the upper middle part of the inner liner 10 is covered by the sweeping range of the stirrers, effectively eliminating the defect that a single stirrer cannot cover the far end. This achieves stirring without dead angles throughout the entire space of the inner liner 10, expands the ice-stirring coverage area, and eliminates ice-stirring dead zones.

[0041] The first rotating shaft 31 extends from front to back and upwards into the inner liner 10. Compared to a vertical or horizontal arrangement, the first agitator 30 is arranged at an angle, occupying a larger height range in the vertical direction and a larger area in the horizontal direction. This allows the first stirring blade 32 to rotate close to the bottom of the inner liner 10 with a larger radial dimension, forming a sweeping range that covers a large area of ​​the bottom of the inner liner 10.

[0042] Simultaneously, the inclined arrangement causes the first stirring blade 32 to throw the ice blocks at the bottom of the inner liner 10 upwards and diagonally when it rotates, while the vertically arranged second stirring blade 42 penetrates and stirs the upper layer of ice blocks, continuously replenishing the upper layer of ice blocks downwards, forming an up-and-down circulation of ice blocks within the inner liner 10. The upper and lower layers of ice blocks generate relative motion under the action of stirring forces in opposite directions, promoting thorough tumbling and dispersion of the ice blocks, making the ice stirring more uniform and efficient.

[0043] In addition, the upward tilt forms an angle with the direction of gravity, which can both scoop up and turn the ice at the bottom, and also allow the ice to move downward under the action of gravity during the stirring process.

[0044] In summary, this application, through the spatial arrangement of the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40, forms a regional and layered collaborative ice-stirring mechanism. This fundamentally solves the problem of insufficient stirring range and easy blockage of the stirrer when storing large amounts of ice. The ice maker 1000 can maintain stable ice output during continuous ice making, avoiding interruptions caused by blockages and improving the user experience. Furthermore, because the layered collaborative arrangement of the dual stirrers can effectively stir all the ice blocks with a larger ice volume, the amount of ice that can be stored in the inner liner 10 is greatly increased, significantly improving the ice storage capacity and rated ice capacity of the ice maker 1000 within the same product dimensions.

[0045] Furthermore, the arrangement of the first stirrer 30 extending obliquely from the front wall 11 and the second stirrer 40 extending vertically from the top wall 14 makes full use of the space that is usually not occupied at the front and top of the inner liner 10, avoids structural interference caused by multiple stirrers being arranged in the same direction, and achieves a reasonable layout of the two stirrers within the limited space of the inner liner 10.

[0046] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3The distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 to the lowest point of the inner liner 10 is L1, 10mm≤L1≤20mm; the distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 to the lowest point of the inner liner 10 is L2, 30mm≤L2≤40mm.

[0047] The lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 is set 10mm-20mm from the lowest point of the inner liner 10, so that its sweeping surface is in close contact with the bottom of the inner liner 10, specifically responsible for stirring the ice blocks accumulated in the lower layer of the inner liner 10; the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 is set 30mm-40mm from the lowest point of the inner liner 10, so that its sweeping surface is located in the lower middle part of the inner liner 10, responsible for assisting in turning over the ice blocks in the middle and upper layers of the inner liner 10. The two blades form a clear division of labor in the height direction: the first stirring blade 32 mainly targets the bottom ice blocks, and the second stirring blade 42 assists in stirring the middle and upper layers of ice blocks, thereby achieving effective coverage of ice blocks of different accumulation heights.

[0048] The value of L1 ranges from 10mm to 20mm, ensuring that the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 is as close as possible to the lowest point of the inner liner 10, while maintaining a reasonable gap between it and the wall of the inner liner 10. If L1 is less than 10mm, ice cubes will have difficulty entering the gap between the stirring blade and the bottom, thus reducing the ice-stirring effect. If L1 is greater than 20mm, the gap between the first stirring blade 32 and the bottom is too large, and the ice cubes at the bottom cannot be effectively stirred, easily forming a dead zone at the bottom of the inner liner 10, leading to uneven force on the stirrer and increasing the risk of blockage. Therefore, 10mm ≤ L1 ≤ 20mm can achieve the best bottom ice-stirring effect while ensuring a safe gap.

[0049] The value of L2 is 30mm-40mm, so that the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 is higher than the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32, and at the same time, the sweeping surface of the second stirring blade 42 is located in the lower middle part of the inner liner 10. The height difference between L2 and L1 is 10mm-30mm, which ensures that the stirring areas of the two stirrers are connected vertically rather than overlapping and interfering.

[0050] If the height difference between L2 and L1 is too small, the stirring areas of the two agitators will overlap excessively, not only wasting stirring efficiency but also potentially causing safety hazards due to interference between the two agitator blades. If the height difference is too large, a blind zone for ice stirring will appear in the middle of the inner liner 10, affecting the overall ice stirring effect. Therefore, a height difference of 30mm-40mm for L2 allows for a reasonable division of labor and coordinated operation between the two agitators in the height direction.

[0051] Based on the premise that the distance L1 from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 to the lowest point of the inner liner 10 is 10mm-20mm, and the distance L2 from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade 42 to the lowest point of the inner liner 10 is 30mm-40mm, the specific values ​​of L1 and L2 can be adjusted according to the specific size and shape of the inner liner 10. For example, for an inner liner 10 with a larger height, L2 can be larger to further increase the stirring position of the second stirrer 40 and better cover the middle and upper layers of ice; for an inner liner 10 with a smaller height, L2 can be set smaller to avoid the stirring position of the second stirrer 40 being too high and unable to effectively act on the ice.

[0052] For example, L1 can be 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm or 20mm, and L2 can be 30mm, 33mm, 35mm, 38mm or 40mm.

[0053] In other embodiments, L1 and L2 may not be fixed absolute values, but are determined based on the total height of the inner liner 10 and the width of the ice block.

[0054] In one embodiment, refer to Figures 1-4 The first stirrer 30 further includes a first drive motor 33, which is connected to the first rotating shaft 31 for driving the first rotating shaft 31 to rotate in a first direction; the second stirrer 40 further includes a second drive motor 43, which is connected to the second rotating shaft 41 for driving the second rotating shaft 41 to rotate in a second direction; wherein, the first direction and the second direction are opposite, that is, the rotation directions of the two stirrers are opposite.

[0055] When the first stirrer 30 rotates in the first direction and the second stirrer 40 rotates in the opposite second direction, the lower layer of ice blocks, under the action of the first stirrer 30, tends to move in the first direction, while the upper layer of ice blocks, under the action of the second stirrer 40, tends to move in the second direction. The two layers of ice blocks, moving in opposite directions, create relative motion, generating shear force and tumbling torque, causing the ice blocks to undergo complex tumbling motion within the inner liner 10. This tumbling motion effectively prevents the ice blocks from rotating as a whole in the same direction.

[0056] When the two mixers rotate in the same direction, all the ice may rotate with the mixers and not be effectively broken up. However, when the mixers rotate in opposite directions, the ice blocks will squeeze, collide and rub against each other, which will promote the dispersion of the ice particles.

[0057] Since the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 are driven by independent motors, when the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 is small, only the first drive motor 33 can be activated to drive the first stirrer 30 to work, which can meet the ice-making needs. When the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 increases to a preset threshold, the first drive motor 33 and the second drive motor 43 can be activated at the same time to drive both stirrers to work simultaneously. Since the two motors are independent of each other, the second stirrer 40 can rotate in the opposite direction to the first stirrer 30, realizing flexible switching between the two modes of single stirrer operation and dual stirrer collaborative operation, which can save energy while meeting the ice-making needs under different amounts of ice.

[0058] Furthermore, when either the first mixer 30 or the second mixer 40 experiences an abnormal operating condition, such as localized ice blockage, foreign object jamming, or excessively dense ice accumulation, resulting in a sharp increase in load, only the drive motor corresponding to the mixer with the abnormal load needs to perform an overload protection action to control the motor to decelerate or stop, while the other drive motor under normal load continues to operate without being disturbed or interrupted by the overload protection action.

[0059] During this process, the normally operating agitator continuously stirs the ice blocks in the inner liner 10, causing them to move continuously. This continuous movement causes collisions and relative displacement between the moving ice blocks, helping to loosen and disperse the originally densely packed ice blocks, thereby improving the overall ice distribution in the inner liner 10. Simultaneously, after the overload protection action is activated due to the abnormally stuck agitator, the ice blocks around it change position and redistribute under the continuous agitation of the other agitator, thus eliminating or weakening the original stuck stress points. In other words, the continuous agitation of the normally operating agitator actively improves the ice accumulation state in the inner liner 10, creating conditions for restarting the overloaded agitator. When the controller determines that the overload condition has been resolved, for example, after a preset waiting time or based on feedback from the continuous operation of the other agitator, it can control the drive motor that activated the overload protection to restart, restoring the coordinated operation of the two agitators.

[0060] This design allows the ice maker 1000 to actively improve the ice condition of the inner tank 10 without shutting down both agitators when encountering localized abnormal operating conditions. This enables self-recovery from faults and avoids the problem of the entire machine shutting down due to localized abnormalities. Furthermore, because the two motors are driven independently, the controller's overload protection strategy is more flexible. When only one motor is overloaded, only that motor is protected against current limiting or power failure, while the other motor continues to operate normally, without affecting the overall ice-making process. This enhances the ice maker 1000's fault tolerance and continuous operating capability under abnormal operating conditions.

[0061] In another embodiment, the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 can be driven by the same drive motor, and the two stirrers rotate in opposite directions through a gear transmission mechanism. This embodiment is suitable for the compact, cost-sensitive ice maker 1000 product.

[0062] In another embodiment, a speed reduction transmission mechanism is provided between the first drive motor 33 and the first rotating shaft 31 and / or between the second drive motor 43 and the second rotating shaft 41. By providing the speed reduction transmission mechanism, the high speed of the motor can be converted into the low speed and high torque output of the stirrer, which meets the high torque requirements of the stirrer when the ice volume is large, while avoiding the ice cubes from splashing due to the excessive speed of the stirrer.

[0063] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The ice maker 1000 also includes an ice conveying impeller 34, which is located on the first rotating shaft 31. The ice conveying impeller 34 is located axially between the first stirring blade 32 and the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10. An ice outlet 110 is arranged above the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10.

[0064] The ice-feeding impeller 34 and the first stirring blade 32 are driven to rotate by the same first rotating shaft 31, realizing the integration of ice stirring and ice conveying functions. After the first stirring blade 32 breaks up the ice in the inner liner 10, the ice-feeding impeller 34 pushes the scattered ice forward and upward, and discharges it from the ice outlet 110 located above the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10. The ice-feeding impeller 34 is positioned between the first stirring blade 32 and the front wall 11, so that the ice can be stirred and broken up by the first stirring blade 32 before it gets close to the ice-feeding impeller 34. After the ice is broken up, it is easier for the ice-feeding impeller 34 to receive and push it, avoiding the ice from getting stuck between stirring and conveying.

[0065] In addition, the design of the first rotating shaft 31 extending from front to back and upward tilting makes the radial direction of the ice conveying paddle wheel 34 tilted in the vertical direction, generating a pushing force backward and upward when rotating, which further promotes the smooth conveying of ice blocks along the ice outlet direction.

[0066] The ice conveying impeller 34 is arranged coaxially with the first stirrer 30 and driven by the same drive motor. There is no need to set up an additional independent ice conveying drive mechanism, which simplifies the overall structure and reduces manufacturing costs. The ice blocks after being stirred are more conducive to being received by the ice conveying impeller 34 and pushed forward to the ice outlet 110, which reduces the difficulty of conveying ice blocks and improves ice dispensing efficiency.

[0067] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The first rotating shaft 31 is inclined upwards in a direction away from the front wall 11. Based on this inclined arrangement, when the first stirring blade 32 rotates with the first rotating shaft 31, its rotation trajectory extends simultaneously in both the front-back and vertical directions. In the front-back direction, the sweeping range of the first stirring blade 32 extends from the front to the middle of the inner liner 10; in the vertical direction, the sweeping range of the first stirring blade 32 extends from the top region to the bottom region of the inner liner 10. That is, the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 forms an inclined elliptical or circular sweeping surface in the longitudinal section. This sweeping surface simultaneously covers the horizontal range from the front to the middle of the inner liner 10 and the vertical range from the top to the bottom, achieving a large-scale coverage of a single stirrer in both the front-back and vertical dimensions.

[0068] Meanwhile, since the first stirring blade 32 is inclined from top to bottom and backward, the projected component of its radial dimension in the vertical direction increases. Compared with the horizontally arranged stirring blade, which can only sweep in the horizontal plane, the first stirring blade 32, which is inclined, has a larger projected area of ​​its sweeping surface in the horizontal plane during rotation. This allows the first stirring blade 32 to cover a larger bottom area of ​​the inner liner 10, effectively eliminating the bottom stirring blind zone.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first stirrer 30 extends obliquely from the front wall 11 to the rear and upward via the first rotating shaft 31, so that the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 is in an oblique posture. When the first stirring blade 32 rotates, the first stirring blade 32 close to the bottom of the inner liner 10 applies tangential and axial forces to the bottom ice blocks, pushing the bottom ice blocks from front to back and from bottom to top along the oblique working surface of the first stirring blade 32.

[0070] During this process, because the first stirring blade 32 is tilted, the direction of the driving force it applies to the ice block forms a certain angle with the vertical direction. When the ice block moves upward along the tilted working surface under the driving force of the first stirring blade 32, its gravity can be decomposed into a normal component perpendicular to the tilted working surface and a tangential component parallel to the tilted working surface. Among them, the normal component balances the supporting force of the tilted working surface, and the tangential component is the sliding resistance that hinders the ice block from moving upward along the tilted working surface. Therefore, the resistance required to drive the ice block to move upward along the tilted working surface is only the sliding friction force on the tilted surface (i.e., the product of the normal component and the coefficient of friction), without having to directly overcome the entire gravity of the ice block. Compared with the vertical lifting method, the tilting pushing method significantly reduces the driving force required to drive the ice block upward.

[0071] In other words, the inclined first stirring blade 32 utilizes the principle of labor saving on an inclined plane to transform the vertical lifting requirement into a pushing requirement along the inclined direction. This significantly reduces the driving torque required by the first drive motor 33 when stirring the ice blocks at the bottom and pushing them obliquely upwards. This not only reduces the torque requirement of the first drive motor 33, allowing for the use of a smaller and lower-cost motor, but also reduces the risk of the stirring blades stalling due to excessive load during stirring.

[0072] Furthermore, the elevation angle design also takes into account the pushing direction of the ice conveying paddle wheel 34, which helps to push the ice blocks toward the ice outlet 110 arranged above the front wall 11.

[0073] Reference Figure 2 The angle between the first rotating shaft 31 and the horizontal plane is α. If the angle is less than 15°, the projection area of ​​the sweeping surface of the first stirring blade 32 on the horizontal plane is not large enough, and its ability to cover the ice at the bottom is limited. The area near the rear wall 13 at the bottom of the inner liner 10 is prone to forming a blind zone for stirring ice. The ice in this area will accumulate for a long time without being stirred, increasing the risk of blockage.

[0074] In addition, a small tilt angle also causes the ice blocks to have to overcome greater gravity when the first stirring blade 32 rotates, and the motor needs to provide greater driving force. Otherwise, the ice blocks at the bottom cannot be effectively pushed from front to back and from bottom to top, and the ice blocks in the inner liner 10 cannot form an effective up-and-down exchange cycle, which reduces the overall ice stirring efficiency.

[0075] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 2 The minimum distance between the first stirring blade 32 and the second stirring blade 42 is L3, 50mm ≤ L3 ≤ 60mm. This minimum distance refers to the shortest spatial distance between the rotational trajectories of the first stirring blade 32 and the second stirring blade 42. Setting L3 to 50mm-60mm aims to ensure that the two stirrers do not mechanically interfere with each other during their respective rotations, while maintaining an appropriate degree of proximity so that the stirring areas of the two stirrers are effectively connected in space rather than disconnected.

[0076] If L3 is less than 50mm, the gap between the two stirring blades is too small, which poses a risk of collision and interference during their rotation. It may even prevent ice from passing through the gap between the two blades, and the stirring blades may deform due to the load of ice. If L3 is greater than 60mm, the gap between the stirring areas of the two stirrers is too large, and a stirring blind zone will appear in the inner liner 10. Ice may accumulate in the blind zone without being touched by any stirrer, reducing the overall ice-making effect.

[0077] An appropriate spacing also allows the opposing turbulent flows generated by the two agitators to fully converge in the area between them, creating a more intense shearing and tumbling effect.

[0078] In one embodiment, the ice maker 1000 further includes an ice quantity detector and a controller. The ice quantity detector is disposed in the inner tank 10 and is used to detect the amount of ice in the inner tank 10. The controller is electrically connected to the ice quantity detector and is used to control the first stirrer 30 and / or the second stirrer 40 to start according to the amount of ice detected by the ice quantity detector.

[0079] The amount of ice in the inner liner 10 increases dynamically as the ice-making process progresses, and the required stirring power varies depending on the amount of ice. When the amount of ice is small, only the first stirrer 30 needs to be activated to break up the ice in the inner liner 10; when the amount of ice increases to a certain extent, a single stirrer is no longer sufficient to effectively stir all the ice, and the second stirrer 40 needs to be activated to work in conjunction. The ice amount detector monitors the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 in real time, and the controller automatically selects to activate the first stirrer 30 or simultaneously activate the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40, achieving adaptive matching between the ice-making mode and the current ice amount. This saves energy when the ice amount is small and provides sufficient stirring power when the ice amount is large, achieving a balance between energy efficiency and performance.

[0080] In another embodiment, the ice volume detector is one or more pressure sensors disposed at the bottom of the inner liner 10, which indirectly characterize the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 by detecting the pressure of the ice on the bottom of the inner liner 10. Multiple pressure sensors are disposed at different locations on the bottom of the inner liner 10, and the controller combines the detection values ​​from multiple pressure sensors to improve the accuracy of ice volume detection.

[0081] In another embodiment, the ice level detector consists of an infrared emitting tube and an infrared receiving tube disposed on opposite sides of the sidewall of the inner liner 10. The infrared emitting tube emits infrared light, and the infrared receiving tube receives the infrared light passing through the interior of the inner liner 10. When the ice level in the inner liner 10 increases, the degree to which the infrared light is blocked by ice increases, and the intensity of the light received by the infrared receiving tube decreases. The controller determines the ice level in the inner liner 10 based on the change in the received light intensity.

[0082] In another embodiment, the ice volume detector is an ultrasonic sensor disposed on the top wall 14 of the inner liner 10. The ultrasonic sensor emits ultrasonic waves downwards and receives the echoes reflected from the ice surface. The controller calculates the height of the ice surface based on the time difference between the emission and reception of the ultrasonic waves, thereby determining the amount of ice in the inner liner 10.

[0083] In another implementation, the ice volume detector is a camera or image sensor located inside or above the inner liner 10. The controller analyzes the acquired images of the inner liner 10 using an image recognition algorithm to identify the ice accumulation area, accumulation height, and distribution pattern, thereby determining the amount of ice in the inner liner 10, as well as various information such as the degree of ice caking.

[0084] In one embodiment, the ice quantity detector is a weighing device located at the bottom of the inner liner 10, used to detect the weight of the ice blocks inside the inner liner 10. The weight of the ice blocks in the inner liner 10 of the ice maker 1000 is directly proportional to its ice quantity. By detecting the total weight of the inner liner 10 and subtracting its own weight, the weight of the ice blocks in the inner liner 10 can be accurately determined, thus indirectly representing the ice quantity. The weighing device directly detects the weight of the ice blocks, and the detection result is not affected by factors such as the shape, color, and transparency of the ice blocks, resulting in high accuracy and good stability.

[0085] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to: control the first stirrer 30 to start when the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 is less than a first preset threshold; and control the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 to start simultaneously when the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold, with the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 rotating in opposite directions.

[0086] When the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 is small, the ice blocks are loosely piled up at the bottom of the inner liner 10, with a low pile height. At this time, the first stirrer 30, which is set on the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10 and extends inclined close to the bottom, is sufficient to effectively stir all the ice blocks, breaking up the whole plate or clump of ice blocks into individual granules. There is no need to start the second stirrer 40, thus saving energy and reducing mechanical wear.

[0087] When the amount of ice in the inner liner 10 gradually increases and reaches or exceeds the first preset threshold, the height of the ice accumulation exceeds the effective stirring range of the first stirrer 30. At this point, if only the first stirrer 30 is working, the upper layer of ice will not be effectively stirred, easily forming "ice bridges" or dead zones in the upper part of the inner liner 10, which will lead to increased load on the stirrer or even blockage. Therefore, when the amount of ice reaches or exceeds the preset threshold, the controller simultaneously starts the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40, so that the two work together.

[0088] Simultaneously, when both stirrers are working, the controller controls the first stirrer 30 and the second stirrer 40 to rotate in opposite directions. The opposite rotation causes the two layers of ice to move in opposite directions, creating a shearing and tumbling effect, effectively preventing the ice from rotating as a whole or piling up in a specific direction, ensuring the ice-stirring effect even with a large volume of ice.

[0089] This application uses ice volume to control the agitator in stages. At low ice volumes, a single agitator operates; at high ice volumes, both agitators work in tandem. This ensures effective ice mixing at different ice volumes while achieving energy-efficient operation. The opposite rotation directions create shear force when the two agitators work together, effectively preventing agitator blockage at high ice volumes.

[0090] In another implementation, the controller is configured to not only control the start of the stirrer based on the amount of ice, but also to make a comprehensive judgment based on time parameters. In yet another implementation, the controller may also be configured with multiple preset thresholds to achieve multi-level control.

[0091] In one embodiment, the first preset threshold is 2 / 5 of the maximum ice capacity of the inner liner 10. That is, when the ice capacity in the inner liner 10 reaches 40% of the maximum ice capacity, the controller controls the second stirrer 40 to start and work in conjunction with the first stirrer 30. This threshold avoids the energy waste caused by the second stirrer 40 starting too early when the ice capacity is too low.

[0092] In the inner liner 10 of the ice maker 1000, ice blocks initially accumulate at the bottom of the inner liner 10 after falling from the ice tray assembly 20. As the ice-making process progresses, the ice blocks gradually accumulate from bottom to top. When the ice volume reaches 2 / 5 of the maximum ice capacity, the ice blocks at the bottom of the inner liner 10 have accumulated to a certain height. At this point, the height of the ice block accumulation is close to or reaches the upper limit of the effective stirring range of the first stirrer 30. If the first stirrer 30 continues to operate alone, as the amount of ice blocks increases further, an "ice bridge" structure is easily formed between the upper and lower layers of ice blocks. This structure will cause the lower layer of ice blocks to be compacted, increasing the stirring resistance of the first stirrer 30 and increasing the risk of blockage.

[0093] Therefore, the first preset threshold is set to 2 / 5 of the maximum ice capacity, allowing the second stirrer 40 to intervene before the ice accumulation height exceeds the effective stirring range of the first stirrer 30. The second stirrer 40 extends vertically downwards from the top wall 14 of the inner liner 10 into the interior of the inner liner 10, and its stirring area covers the upper and middle parts of the inner liner 10. When the second stirrer 40 is activated, its vertically arranged stirring blades continuously stir the ice in the upper and middle parts, keeping the upper layer of ice loose and constantly replenishing it downwards, thus preventing the formation of a stable "ice bridge" structure between the upper and lower layers of ice. At the same time, the continuous movement of the upper layer of ice creates a downward disturbance on the lower layer of ice, assisting the first stirrer 30 in stirring the bottom ice and keeping the stirring resistance of the first stirrer 30 at a low level.

[0094] In other embodiments, the first preset threshold can be selected between 1 / 3 and 1 / 2 of the maximum ice capacity. The specific value can be flexibly determined according to the specific size of the inner liner 10, the vertical ice-stirring range of the first stirrer 30, and the expected usage scenario of the ice maker 1000. For an inner liner 10 with a larger vertical dimension, the threshold can be appropriately increased; for an inner liner 10 with a smaller vertical dimension, the threshold can be appropriately decreased.

[0095] In other embodiments, the first preset threshold is not a relative proportion, but an absolute weight value, such as 4KG. This scheme is applicable to a fixed model of ice maker 1000, where the controller directly compares the weight of the ice detected by the weighing device with 4KG to determine whether to start the second stirrer 40.

[0096] In one embodiment, refer to Figures 1-3 The inner liner 10 includes a front wall 11, a bottom wall 12, a rear wall 13, and a top wall 14. The front wall 11 extends downward from front to back. The first stirring blade 32 extends in a direction parallel to the front wall 11 and is arranged close to the front wall 11. The bottom wall 12 extends downward from back to front. A drainage hole 120 is provided at the junction of the bottom wall 12 and the front wall 11. The rear wall 13 extends vertically. An ice tray assembly 20 is provided on the top of the rear wall 13. The top wall 14 extends horizontally. The second stirring blade 42 is spaced apart from the top wall 14 and is located below the highest ice level line.

[0097] The inclined design of the front wall 11, combined with the arrangement of the first rotating shaft 31 of the first stirrer 30 extending inclinedly into the front wall 11, makes the extension direction of the first stirring blade 32 parallel to the front wall 11 and arranged close to the front wall 11. This allows the first stirring blade 32 to move closely to the front wall 11 and the bottom wall 12 when rotating, effectively eliminating the ice-stirring blind zone near the front wall 11.

[0098] The bottom wall 12 extends downwards from back to front, allowing water and melted ice water at the bottom of the inner liner 10 to flow naturally towards the front wall 11 and converge at the drain hole 120 at the junction of the bottom wall 12 and the front wall 11 to drain out, effectively preventing water accumulation and melted ice water from stagnating in the inner liner 10.

[0099] An ice tray assembly 20 is provided at the top of the rear wall 13, so that the ice blocks made by the ice tray assembly 20 can fall directly into the inner liner 10.

[0100] The top wall 14 extends horizontally, and the second stirring blade 42 is spaced apart from the top wall 14 and located below the highest ice level line to ensure that the second stirring blade 42 as a whole stirs the ice.

[0101] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 1 The second rotating shaft 41 is positioned at the center of the horizontal cross-section of the inner liner 10. By centrally arranging the second rotating shaft 41, the stirring coverage of the second stirring blade 42 within the inner liner 10 is maximized. When the second stirring blade 42 rotates around the center position, its sweeping surface can cover the horizontal cross-section of the inner liner 10 in the most uniform manner, avoiding the problem of excessive stirring on one side and insufficient stirring on the other side due to offset arrangement.

[0102] Meanwhile, the centrally located second rotating shaft 41 and the inclined first stirrer 30 are misaligned in the horizontal projection, and the sweeping surfaces of the two stirrers partially overlap in the horizontal direction, forming a cross-stirring area, which further enhances the stirring intensity of the area.

[0103] In another embodiment, the second rotating shaft 41 is not arranged in the center, but is arranged at a position slightly behind the horizontal cross section of the inner liner 10, so as to fully stir the stirring blind area of ​​the first stirrer 30 behind the inner liner 10, and form a larger span of space complement to the first stirrer 30 extending from the front wall 11, so as to better cover the front and rear ends of the inner liner 10.

[0104] In one embodiment, refer to Figures 1-3 The length of the first rotating shaft 31 extending in the inner liner 10 is less than the radial dimension of the first stirring blade 32, and the length of the second rotating shaft 41 extending in the inner liner 10 is greater than the radial dimension of the second stirring blade 42.

[0105] Specifically, the first rotating shaft 31 is a "short shaft" with a shorter length extending into the inner liner 10, but the radial dimension of the first stirring blade 32 installed on it is much larger than the shaft length, forming a "short shaft, large blade" structure; the second rotating shaft 41 is a "long shaft" with a longer length extending into the inner liner 10, but the radial dimension of the second stirring blade 42 installed on it is smaller than the shaft length, forming a "long shaft, short blade" structure.

[0106] The "short-shaft, large-blade" structure allows the first agitator 30 to agitate within a small space close to the bottom of the inner liner 10 with a large sweeping area of ​​agitators. Due to the short shaft, the cantilever length of the rotating shaft is short, resulting in good rigidity and low deflection, enabling it to withstand large torque and impact loads. Due to the large blades, a single rotation can cover a large bottom area, resulting in high agitation efficiency. The "long-shaft, short-blade" structure allows the second agitator 40 to penetrate deep into the inner liner 10 from the top. Due to the long shaft, the agitators can reach the lower middle part of the inner liner 10, effectively acting on the ice blocks accumulated in the upper middle part. Due to the short blades, it is less likely to interfere with the inner liner 10 wall and other components when rotating in a narrow vertical space.

[0107] The "short-shaft, large-blade" of the first stirrer 30 and the "long-shaft, short-blade" of the second stirrer 40 complement each other. The former stirs efficiently by covering a large area close to the bottom, while the latter stirs the middle and upper layers of ice by penetrating deeply.

[0108] The "short-shaft, large-blade" structure of the first stirrer 30 allows it to have a large stirring coverage area within the limited space near the bottom, resulting in high stirring efficiency. The "long-shaft, short-blade" structure of the second stirrer 40 allows it to penetrate vertically from the top to the lower middle part of the inner liner 10, effectively stirring the upper and middle layers of ice. The two structures complement each other spatially, avoiding the overlapping or blind spots caused by using the same type of stirrer due to space constraints.

[0109] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 3 The outline of the bottom of the front wall 11 of the inner liner 10 is adapted to the shape of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32.

[0110] Specifically, the junction of the front wall 11 and the bottom wall 12 has an arc-shaped transition. The outline of the arc-shaped transition area matches the shape of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32, and the gap between the arc-shaped transition area and the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32 remains consistent along the direction of the arc-shaped outline.

[0111] The first stirring blade 32 rotates close to the front wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. If the bottom of the front wall 11 has a sharp angle or a right angle transition, there will be local gaps that are too large or too small between the rotation trajectory of the stirring blade and the bottom of the front wall 11. In areas with excessively large gaps, ice is prone to accumulate and form dead zones, while in areas with excessively small gaps, the stirring blade may interfere with the front wall 11. By designing the contour line of the bottom of the front wall 11 to match the shape of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade 32, the gap between the two is kept uniform in the circumferential direction, avoiding ice-stirring dead zones and interference risks caused by uneven gaps.

[0112] Furthermore, the arc-shaped transition at the bottom of the front wall 11 eliminates sharp corners, preventing ice from getting stuck at the sharp corners, and the uniform gap design reduces the risk of interference and collision between the stirring blades and the front wall 11.

[0113] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined in this application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: Inner liner (10), used to store ice; An ice tray assembly (20) is disposed on the upper rear side of the inner liner (10) for making ice blocks; The first stirrer (30) includes a first rotating shaft (31) and a first stirring blade (32) disposed on the first rotating shaft (31). The first rotating shaft (31) passes through the front wall (11) of the inner liner (10) and extends from front to back and upwards into the interior of the inner liner (10). The second stirrer (40) includes a second rotating shaft (41) and a second stirring blade (42) disposed on the second rotating shaft (41). The second rotating shaft (41) extends vertically downward from the top wall (14) of the inner liner (10) into the interior of the inner liner (10). The lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade (42) is higher than the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade (32).

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade (32) to the lowest point of the inner liner (10) is L1, 10mm≤L1≤20mm; the distance from the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the second stirring blade (42) to the lowest point of the inner liner (10) is L2, 30mm≤L2≤40mm.

3. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first stirrer (30) further includes a first drive motor (33), which is connected to the first rotating shaft (31) for driving the first rotating shaft (31) to rotate in a first direction; the second stirrer (40) further includes a second drive motor (43), which is connected to the second rotating shaft (41) for driving the second rotating shaft (41) to rotate in a second direction; Wherein, the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

4. The ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes an ice conveying impeller (34), which is located on the first rotating shaft (31). The ice conveying impeller (34) is located in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft (31) between the first stirring blade (32) and the front wall (11) of the inner liner (10). An ice outlet (110) is arranged above the front wall (11) of the inner liner (10).

5. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first rotating shaft (31) is inclined upward in a direction away from the front wall (11), and the angle between the first rotating shaft (31) and the horizontal plane is α, 15°≤α≤20°.

6. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The minimum distance between the first stirring blade (32) and the second stirring blade (42) is L3, 50mm≤L3≤60mm.

7. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An ice volume detector is installed in the inner liner (10) to detect the amount of ice inside the inner liner (10); The controller, electrically connected to the ice quantity detector, is used to control the start of the first stirrer (30) and / or the second stirrer (40) according to the ice quantity detected by the ice quantity detector.

8. The ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ice quantity detector is a weighing device, which is set at the bottom of the inner liner (10) and is used to detect the weight of the ice blocks inside the inner liner (10).

9. The ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The controller is configured as follows: When the amount of ice in the inner liner (10) is less than the first preset threshold, the first stirrer (30) is started. When the amount of ice in the inner liner (10) is greater than or equal to the first preset threshold, the first stirrer (30) and the second stirrer (40) are controlled to start simultaneously, and the first stirrer (30) and the second stirrer (40) rotate in opposite directions.

10. The ice maker according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first preset threshold is 2 / 5 of the maximum ice capacity of the inner liner (10).

11. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner (10) includes: The front wall (11) extends downward from front to back, the first stirring blade (32) extends in a direction parallel to the front wall (11), and the first stirring blade (32) is arranged close to the front wall (11). The bottom wall (12) extends downward from back to front, and a water leakage hole (120) is provided at the junction of the bottom wall (12) and the front wall (11). The rear wall (13) extends vertically and the ice tray assembly (20) is provided on the top of the rear wall (13). The top wall (14) extends horizontally, and the second stirring blade (42) is spaced apart from the top wall (14) and located below the highest ice level line.

12. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second rotating shaft (41) is located at the center of the horizontal cross-section of the inner liner (10); And / or, the length of the first rotating shaft (31) extending in the inner liner (10) is less than the radial dimension of the first stirring blade (32), and the length of the second rotating shaft (41) extending in the inner liner (10) is greater than the radial dimension of the second stirring blade (42); And / or, the outline of the bottom of the front wall (11) of the inner liner (10) is adapted to the shape of the rotation trajectory of the first stirring blade (32).

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