Ice maker and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses an ice maker and refrigeration equipment, which comprises a frame body, an ice making box, an ice probing rod and a rotating piece, the ice making box is used for storing liquid to make ice, and the ice making box can rotate relative to the frame body so as to enable made ice blocks to fall off from the ice making box through overturning after the ice is made; the ice probing rod swings towards the lower part of the ice making box relative to the frame body; the rotating part is rotationally assembled on the frame body and has a blocking position and an unblocking position in the rotating process, in the blocking position, the rotating part and the ice probing rod are blocked so as to prevent the ice probing rod from swinging downwards, and in the unblocking position, the rotating part releases the blocking with the ice probing rod so as to enable the ice probing rod to swing downwards and detect the storage amount of the ice blocks after falling off. According to the ice maker disclosed by the utility model, the ice making process is controlled in a mode of mechanically controlling the ice probing rod, so that the condition that a control key or a signal port needs to be additionally arranged on a display panel or a main control panel is avoided, and the overall cost is favorably reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of refrigeration, in particular to an ice maker and a refrigeration device using the ice maker. Background Art

[0002] At present, the automatic ice maker of the refrigerator is usually equipped with an automatic switch control function. There are usually two ways to realize the automatic switch control function. The first way is to use the display panel buttons to transmit the switch signal to the main control panel to control ice making. The second way is to design a separate switch to directly feedback the control signal to the main control panel to control ice making. However, these two commonly used switch control methods for the automatic ice maker of the refrigerator must occupy the buttons of the display panel or increase the input signal port of the main control panel. When the resources of the display panel and the main control panel are tight, the control function can only be realized by increasing the display panel buttons or increasing the input signal port of the main control panel, which ultimately leads to an increase in product costs. Utility Model Content

[0003] The utility model aims to solve one of the technical problems in the related art at least to a certain extent.

[0004] To this end, an embodiment of the utility model proposes an ice maker, which controls the ice making process by mechanically operating an ice probe rod, avoiding the need to add control buttons or signal ports on the display panel or the main control panel, which is conducive to reducing overall costs.

[0005] The embodiment of the utility model further provides an ice-making device including the above-mentioned ice-making machine.

[0006] The ice making machine of the utility model embodiment comprises:

[0007] A frame and an ice box, wherein the ice box is used to store liquid for making ice, and the ice box is rotatable relative to the frame so that the ice cubes can be dropped from the ice box by turning over after making ice;

[0008] An ice-detecting rod, the ice-detecting rod swings relative to the frame toward the bottom of the ice-making box;

[0009] A rotating member is rotatably assembled on the frame and has a blocking position and an unlocking position during the rotation process. In the blocking position, the rotating member blocks the ice-detecting rod to prevent the ice-detecting rod from swinging downward. In the unlocking position, the rotating member releases the blocking with the ice-detecting rod to allow the ice-detecting rod to swing downward and detect the storage amount of the ice cubes after falling off.

[0010] The ice-making machine of the present utility model embodiment controls the ice-making process by mechanically operating the ice-probing rod, thereby avoiding the need to add control buttons or signal ports on the display panel or the main control panel, which is beneficial to reducing the overall cost.

[0011] In some embodiments, the rotating member includes a limiting portion. In the blocking position, the projection of the limiting portion in the vertical direction and the projection of the ice-detecting rod in the vertical direction at least partially overlap. In the disengaging position, the projection of the limiting portion in the vertical direction and the projection of the ice-detecting rod in the vertical direction are staggered.

[0012] In some embodiments, the limiting portion includes a baffle. In the blocking position, the baffle is horizontally arranged and used to cooperate with the ice-detecting rod. In the unlocking position, the baffle is vertically arranged and offset from the ice-detecting rod in the horizontal direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the limiting portion includes two baffles, which are arranged at an interval, and a clearance groove is limited between the two baffles, and the clearance groove is used for allowing the ice detection rod to pass through when the rotating member is switched to the disengaging position.

[0014] In some embodiments, the rotating member includes a shaft portion, one end of which is rotatably assembled with the frame, and the other end of which is connected to the limiting portion.

[0015] In some embodiments, the rotating member includes a driving portion, and one end of the shaft portion used for rotatably assembling with the frame passes through the frame and is connected to the driving portion.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ice-probing rod includes a first rod segment, a second rod segment and a third rod segment, the second rod segment is connected between the first rod segment and the third rod segment, and the second rod segment is arranged to intersect with the first rod segment and the third rod segment, and in the blocking position, the third rod segment cooperates with the rotating member to stop.

[0017] In some embodiments, the frame is provided with an avoidance groove, and the avoidance groove is used for at least part of the third rod segment to be embedded;

[0018] And / or, the first rod segment and the third rod segment are arranged in parallel.

[0019] In some embodiments, a driving assembly is included, wherein the driving assembly is disposed on the frame, one end of the ice box is rotatably assembled with the frame, and the other end of the ice box is connected to the driving assembly. The driving assembly is used to drive the ice box to rotate, and the ice detection rod is rotatably assembled with the driving assembly.

[0020] The refrigeration device of the embodiment of the utility model includes the ice maker as described in any of the above embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0022] Reference numerals:

[0023] Frame 1; avoidance groove 11;

[0024] Ice box 2; Ice tray 21;

[0025] Ice probe rod 3; first rod section 31; second rod section 32; third rod section 33;

[0026] Rotating member 4; limiting portion 41; baffle 411; clearance groove 412; shaft portion 42; driving portion 43;

[0027] Drive assembly 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to be used to explain the present invention, but cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the ice maker of the embodiment of the utility model comprises a frame 1, an ice box 2, an ice detection rod 3 and a rotating member 4.

[0030] The frame 1 can be generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and the material of the frame 1 can be plastic, etc., and the frame 1 can be formed by injection molding. The ice box 2 can be assembled in the frame 1, and the ice box 2 can rotate relative to the frame 1. For example, the ice box 2 can be rotatably assembled with the frame 1 through a structure such as a pivot, and the pivot generally extends in the left-right direction, so that the ice box 2 can rotate in the front-back direction.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the material of the ice box 2 can be plastic, and a plurality of ice cubes 21 can be integrally injection molded on the ice box 2. The ice cubes 21 are grooves that can store liquids such as water, so that the liquid is conveniently frozen and solidified in the corresponding ice cubes 21. When the liquid is frozen and solidified, the ice box 2 can be driven to rotate, so that the opening of each ice cube 21 can face downward, so that the frozen and solidified ice cubes can be easily dropped from the ice cubes 21.

[0032] The ice-detecting rod 3 can swing relative to the frame 1 and has a tendency to swing downward toward the ice-making box 2. Figure 1 As shown, the ice-probing rod 3 can be a rod-shaped structure as a whole, one end of the ice-probing rod 3 can be rotatably assembled with the frame 1, and elastic parts such as torsion springs can be installed between the ice-probing rod 3 and the frame 1. Under normal circumstances, the elastic part can always apply an elastic force to the ice-probing rod 3, and under this elastic force, the ice-probing rod 3 can always have a downward swinging movement tendency.

[0033] It should be noted that by adjusting the swing angle of the ice-detecting rod 3, the ice-detecting rod 3 can output a corresponding command signal. For example, ice cubes that fall off the ice box 2 can be stored below the ice box 2. When there are more ice cubes stored, the downward swing angle of the ice-detecting rod 3 will be smaller due to the blocking of the ice cubes. When there are fewer ice cubes stored, the overall height of the ice cubes is lower, and the downward swing angle of the ice-detecting rod 3 will be larger. By means of the different swing angles, the ice-detecting rod 3 can output a corresponding command signal, so that the ice-detecting rod 3 can detect the storage amount of ice cubes below the ice box 2.

[0034] In addition, by adjusting the swing amplitude of the ice-detecting rod 3, it is also possible to control the opening and closing operation of the ice-making operation of the ice-making machine. For example, when there are more ice cubes stored, the downward swing amplitude of the ice-detecting rod 3 is smaller. At this time, the ice-making machine can be turned off and the ice-making operation can be stopped, and the ice-making box 2 cannot pour the made ice cubes into the bottom by flipping the operation.

[0035] When there are more ice cubes stored, the ice probe 3 swings downwardly to a greater extent, and the ice maker can be started and ice-making can be performed at this time, and the ice box 2 can be turned over, so that the ice cubes on the ice box 2 can be poured downward for storage.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the rotating member 4 can be a rod-shaped structure, and the rotating member 4 is rotatably assembled on the frame 1 and has a blocking position and a disengaging position during the rotation process. When the rotating member 4 is rotated and switched to the blocking position, the rotating member 4 can be blocked below the ice-detecting rod 3. At this time, under the blocking action of the rotating member 4, the ice-detecting rod 3 can be kept in the position blocked by the rotating member 4, thereby avoiding the situation where the ice-detecting rod 3 swings downward by a large amplitude. By limiting the position of the ice-detecting rod 3, the ice-making operation of the ice-making machine can be controlled or the ice-making box 2 can be prevented from turning over.

[0037] When the rotating member 4 is switched to the disengaged position, the rotating member 4 will release the block with the ice detecting rod 3. At this time, the ice detecting rod 3 will only produce a corresponding swinging motion under the action of the elastic member. The ice detecting rod 3 can be used to detect the storage amount of ice cubes under the ice box 2 in real time.

[0038] It should be noted that, in the process of rotating the rotating member 4, the ice-detecting rod 3 can be manually reset to the top of the rotating member 4, and then the rotating member 4 can be switched to the blocking position and the ice-detecting rod 3 can be stopped. In some other embodiments, the rotating member 4 and the ice-detecting rod 3 can also be linked, for example, the ice-detecting rod 3 can be electrically connected to a control device, and when the rotating member 4 is rotated, the control device can automatically reset the ice-detecting rod 3 to the top of the rotating member 4 through a motor or the like.

[0039] The ice maker of the present invention controls the ice making process by mechanically operating the ice probe 3. Specifically, the ice maker can be stopped or started by rotating the rotating member 4, thereby avoiding the need to add control buttons or signal ports on the display panel or the main control panel in the prior art, which is beneficial to reducing the overall cost of switching the ice maker.

[0040] In some embodiments, the rotating member 4 includes a limiting portion 41, for example, Figure 1 As shown, the limiting portion 41 can be integrally formed at the right end of the rotating member 4, and the ice-detecting rod 3 can be located on the right side of the rotating member 4.

[0041] When the rotating member 4 switches to the blocking position, the projection of the limiting portion 41 in the vertical direction and the projection of the left end of the ice-detecting rod 3 in the vertical direction can overlap, that is, the limiting portion 41 can stop and limit the ice-detecting rod 3.

[0042] When the rotating member 4 is switched to the disengaged position, the projection of the limit portion 41 in the up-down direction and the projection of the left end portion of the ice detecting rod 3 in the up-down direction can be staggered in the front-to-back direction, that is, the limit portion 41 can release the blocking limit on the ice detecting rod 3, so that the ice detecting rod 3 can perform the normal function of detecting the storage amount of ice cubes.

[0043] In some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the limiting part 41 includes a baffle 411, which can be a rectangular plate. In the blocking position, the baffle 411 is arranged horizontally, and the projection area of ​​the baffle 411 on the horizontal plane is the largest, thereby fully meeting the use needs of the ice probe 3. In the unlocking position, the baffle 411 is arranged vertically, and the projection area of ​​the baffle 411 on the horizontal plane is the smallest, so that the baffle 411 and the ice probe 3 can be staggered in the front and rear directions, thereby facilitating the release of the blocking limit of the ice probe 3. As a result, the limiting part 41 can achieve the functions of blocking and releasing the blocking through a very simple structure, which is beneficial to reducing costs.

[0044] In some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the limiting part 41 includes two baffles 411, the two baffles 411 may have the same shape and specification and may be arranged in parallel and spaced apart. A clearance groove 412 is limited between the two baffles 411, and the clearance groove 412 may be a rectangular through groove.

[0045] When the rotating member 4 is switched to the blocking position, the two baffles 411 can be arranged horizontally, and the clearance groove 412 extends in the horizontal direction. At this time, the ice probe rod 3 can be stopped by one baffle 411. Figure 1As shown, the two baffles 411 can be arranged vertically, and the clearance groove 412 extends along the vertical direction. At this time, the ice detection plate can pass through the clearance groove 412 and can swing freely up and down in the clearance groove 412. Such a design can make the rotating member 4 have two blocking positions and two stopping positions, thereby improving the flexibility of the operation of the rotating member 4.

[0046] In some embodiments, the rotating member 4 includes a shaft portion 42, one end of the shaft portion 42 is rotatably assembled with the frame body 1, and the other end of the shaft portion 42 is connected to the limiting portion 41. Figure 1 As shown, the shaft 42 can be in the shape of a round rod, the left end of the shaft 42 can be rotatably assembled with the frame 1, and the stopper 41 can be integrally formed at the right end of the shaft 42. Thus, it is convenient to assemble and cooperate the rotating member 4 and the frame 1, and it is also helpful to reduce the overall material consumption and structural complexity, that is, only a part of the right end of the rotating member 4 can achieve the blocking use requirement.

[0047] In some embodiments, the rotating member 4 includes a driving portion 43, and one end of the shaft portion 42 for rotating with the frame 1 passes through the frame 1 and is connected to the driving portion 43. Figure 1 As shown, the left end of the shaft 42 can pass through the frame 1, and the driving part 43 can be fixed on the left end of the shaft 42. The driving part 43 can be a structural part such as a knob. When in use, the driving part 43 can be manually driven to rotate, thereby facilitating the rotation switching operation of the rotating member 4 at different positions.

[0048] In some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the ice-probing rod 3 includes an integrally formed first rod segment 31, a second rod segment 32 and a third rod segment 33, wherein the second rod segment 32 is connected between the first rod segment 31 and the third rod segment 33, wherein the first rod segment 31 can be located at the right end of the second rod segment 32, and the third rod segment 33 can be located at the left end of the second rod segment 32. When the rotating member 4 is switched to the blocking position, the third rod segment 33 of the ice-probing rod 3 can cooperate with the rotating member 4 to stop, thereby playing a role in limiting the ice-probing rod 3.

[0049] The second rod segment 32 is arranged to intersect with the first rod segment 31 and the third rod segment 33. For example, the ice probe 3 can be zigzag-shaped as a whole, and the angle between the first rod segment 31 and the second rod segment 32 can be an obtuse angle, and the angle between the third rod segment 33 and the second rod segment 32 can also be an obtuse angle. During assembly, the rotation connection of the ice probe 3 and the rotating member 4 are generally at the same level. After the ice probe 3 is reset, the bending design of the ice probe 3 can make the third rod segment 33 higher than the first rod segment 31, thereby avoiding and facilitating the overlap with the rotating member 4.

[0050] In some embodiments, Figure 1As shown, the frame 1 is provided with an avoidance groove 11, which can penetrate the frame 1 in the up-down direction, and the avoidance groove 11 can be directly above the limiter 41. When the ice probe 3 is stopped and limited by the limiter 41, the top of the third rod segment 33 can be embedded in the avoidance groove 11, and the avoidance groove 11 can play a role in avoiding the third rod segment 33, thereby avoiding the frame 1 and the ice probe 3 from contacting and interfering.

[0051] In some embodiments, the first rod segment 31 and the third rod segment 33 are arranged in parallel. Therefore, when the rotating member 4 is switched to the blocking position, the first rod segment 31 can be driven to switch to the horizontal position, and at this time, the third rod segment 33 is also switched to the horizontal position, so that the bottom side of the third rod segment 33 can fit with the surface of the limiting portion 41, which can increase the effective area of ​​the limiting portion 41 and the ice-detecting rod 3 and ensure the blocking effect.

[0052] In some embodiments, the ice maker includes a driving assembly 5, which is disposed on a frame 1, one end of an ice box 2 is rotatably assembled with the frame 1, and the other end of the ice box 2 is connected to the driving assembly 5, the driving assembly 5 is used to drive the ice box 2 to rotate, and the ice detection rod 3 is rotatably assembled with the driving assembly 5.

[0053] For example, Figure 1 As shown, the driving assembly 5 may include a housing, a motor, a gear and other components, the motor and the gear are assembled in the housing, the housing can be fixed in the frame 1, the pivot at the end of the ice box 2 can extend into the housing, the gear can be meshed with the pivot at the end of the ice box 2, when in use, the motor can drive the gear to rotate, and then the gear can drive the ice box 2 to rotate. The ice probe 3 can be pivotally assembled on the rear side of the housing.

[0054] The ice-making device according to the embodiment of the present utility model is described below.

[0055] The refrigeration equipment of the embodiment of the utility model includes an ice maker, which may be an ice maker as described in any of the above embodiments. The refrigeration equipment may be a freezer, a refrigerator, or other equipment having refrigeration and freezing functions.

[0056] Although the above embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be construed as limitations on the present invention. Changes, modifications, substitutions and variations of the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice making machine, characterized in that: include: A frame and an ice box, wherein the ice box is used to store liquid for making ice, and the ice box is rotatable relative to the frame so that the ice cubes can be dropped from the ice box by turning over after making ice; An ice-detecting rod, the ice-detecting rod swings relative to the frame toward the bottom of the ice-making box; A rotating member is rotatably assembled on the frame and has a blocking position and an unlocking position during the rotation process. In the blocking position, the rotating member blocks the ice-detecting rod to prevent the ice-detecting rod from swinging downward. In the unlocking position, the rotating member releases the blocking with the ice-detecting rod to allow the ice-detecting rod to swing downward and detect the storage amount of the ice cubes after falling off.

2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating member includes a limiting portion. In the blocking position, the projection of the limiting portion in the vertical direction and the projection of the ice-detecting rod in the vertical direction at least partially overlap. In the unlocking position, the projection of the limiting portion in the vertical direction and the projection of the ice-detecting rod in the vertical direction are staggered.

3. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting portion comprises a baffle. In the blocking position, the baffle is horizontally arranged and used to cooperate with the ice-detecting rod. In the unlocking position, the baffle is vertically arranged and misaligned with the ice-detecting rod in the horizontal direction.

4. The ice making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limiting portion includes two baffles, which are arranged at an interval, and a clearance groove is limited between the two baffles. The clearance groove is used for allowing the ice detection rod to pass through when the rotating member is switched to the unlocking position.

5. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotating member comprises a shaft portion, one end of which is rotatably assembled with the frame body, and the other end of which is connected with the limiting portion.

6. The ice making machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rotating member comprises a driving part, and one end of the shaft part used for rotationally assembling with the frame body passes through the frame body and is connected to the driving part.

7. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-probing rod includes a first rod segment, a second rod segment and a third rod segment. The second rod segment is connected between the first rod segment and the third rod segment, and the second rod segment is arranged to intersect with the first rod segment and the third rod segment. In the blocking position, the third rod segment cooperates with the rotating member to stop.

8. The ice making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The frame is provided with an avoidance groove, and the avoidance groove is used for at least part of the third rod segment to be embedded; And / or, the first rod segment and the third rod segment are arranged in parallel.

9. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: It includes a driving assembly, which is arranged on the frame, one end of the ice box is rotatably assembled with the frame, the other end of the ice box is connected to the driving assembly, the driving assembly is used to drive the ice box to rotate, and the ice detection rod is rotatably assembled with the driving assembly.

10. A refrigeration device, characterized in that: The invention comprises an ice making machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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