Ice maker and refrigerator
By introducing flexible sections into the ice maker's ice detection rod, the problem of damage caused by collision between the ice detection rod and the ice storage box is solved, and the effect of protecting the ice detection rod and the ice storage box is achieved, and it is helpful to the miniaturization design of the refrigerator.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202323542858.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-12-25
AI Technical Summary
The existing ice maker's ice probe rods and ice storage boxes are easily damaged when they collide, resulting in low space utilization and making it difficult to achieve a miniaturized refrigerator design.
Design an ice detection rod, including rigid sections and flexible sections. The flexible section extends into the ice storage box when the ice detection rod is detected, and avoids collisions through elastic deformation when the user takes the ice storage box, and does not affect the exploration after restoration. Ice rod detection function.
Effectively protect the ice detection rod and ice storage box, avoid damage, and reduce the volume of the equipment, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the ice maker and refrigerator.
Smart Images
Figure CN222504451U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to an ice maker and a refrigerator. Background Art
[0002] The ice maker in the refrigerator usually uses an ice probe to determine whether the ice storage box is full of ice. The ice probe is usually made of pp (polypropylene) material and has a certain strength. A collision with the ice storage box may cause damage to the ice probe or the ice storage box. Therefore, an avoidance design is required for the ice storage box. For example, a guide structure is used in the ice probe structure, but the guide structure increases the size of the ice probe, and the corresponding opening size of the ice storage box will also be larger. During actual use, the space utilization rate is not high, resulting in a waste of limited space in the refrigerator, which is not conducive to the miniaturization design of the refrigerator. Utility Model Content
[0003] The utility model aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the related art. To this end, the utility model proposes an ice maker, which is provided with a flexible section, and when the user suddenly takes the ice storage box at the detection position, the flexible section is deformed when in contact with the ice storage box, and will not cause damage to the ice storage box or the ice detection rod, and there is no need to design a guide structure to avoid the ice storage box, which is conducive to the miniaturization design of the ice detection rod.
[0004] The utility model also provides a refrigerator.
[0005] The ice making machine according to the first embodiment of the utility model comprises:
[0006] An ice making assembly, suitable for preparing ice cubes;
[0007] An ice storage box, suitable for storing ice cubes;
[0008] An ice-detecting rod comprises a rigid section and a flexible section, wherein the rigid section is suitable for driving the flexible section to move away from one end of the rigid section, so that the ice-detecting rod can switch between a detection position and an avoidance position.
[0009] According to the ice maker of the embodiment of the utility model, the ice-probing rod is provided with a flexible section. When the ice-probing rod moves from the avoidance position to the detection position, only the flexible section extends into the ice storage box. When the user takes the ice storage box, the flexible section collides with the side wall of the ice storage box to produce elastic deformation, and recovers after the ice storage box is taken out of the ice maker, which does not affect the next detection of the ice-probing rod, thereby achieving the effect of protecting the ice-probing rod and the ice storage box. There is no need to design a guide structure on the ice-probing rod to avoid the ice storage box, which effectively reduces the volume of the ice-probing rod and the ice storage box, which is beneficial to the miniaturized design of the ice maker. When the ice maker is installed in a refrigerator, it is also beneficial to the miniaturization of the refrigerator.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the flexible section is provided with a first corner, and the opening of the first corner faces the ice-making assembly;
[0011] The flexible section includes a detection position, and the detection section is located on a side of the first corner away from the rigid section.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the utility model, at the detection position, the center of the detection section is located on the vertical bisector of the ice storage box.
[0013] and / or,
[0014] At the detection position, the detection section is parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, the detection section is connected to the crossbeam section, and the detection section is coplanar with the crossbeam section.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the flexible section is provided with a second corner at one end close to the rigid section, the opening of the second corner faces the ice storage box, and in the detection position, the second corner avoids the ice storage box.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the rigid section is provided with a third corner, the opening of the third corner faces the ice-making assembly, and in the avoidance position, the third corner avoids the ice-making assembly.
[0018] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the ice-making assembly includes a motor, which is suitable for driving the ice tray of the ice-making assembly to move; the rotating shaft of the motor is fixedly connected to one end of the rigid section, and is suitable for driving the flexible section to swing up and down away from one end of the rigid section.
[0019] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the rigid section is detachably connected to the flexible section, one of the rigid section and the flexible section is provided with a connecting column, and the other is correspondingly provided with a connecting groove.
[0020] According to an embodiment of the utility model, one of the connecting column and the connecting groove is provided with a buckle, and the other is provided with a slot, and the buckle cooperates with the slot.
[0021] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the utility model comprises the ice maker as described above.
[0022] The technical effect of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the utility model corresponds to the technical effect of the ice maker in the embodiment of the first aspect of the utility model, and will not be repeated here.
[0023] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the following description, or will be learned through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.
[0025] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an ice-making machine provided by an embodiment of the utility model, in which the ice-detecting rod is located in an avoidance position;
[0026] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an ice detection rod of an ice maker provided by an embodiment of the utility model being located at a detection position;
[0027] Figure 3 is a top view of the ice maker provided by the embodiment of the utility model;
[0028] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of an ice-detecting rod of an ice-making machine provided by an embodiment of the utility model;
[0029] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the rigid section of the ice maker provided by the embodiment of the utility model;
[0030] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the flexible section of the ice maker provided by the embodiment of the utility model.
[0031] Reference numerals:
[0032] 100, ice making assembly; 110, motor; 200, ice storage box;
[0033] 300, ice probe; 310, rigid section; 311, third corner; 320, flexible section; 321, first corner; 332, detection section; 333, beam section; 334, second corner; 340, connecting column; 341, buckle; 342, limiting surface; 350, connecting groove; 351, clamping groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The following is a further detailed description of the implementation of the present utility model in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present utility model, but cannot be used to limit the scope of the present utility model.
[0035] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0036] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.
[0037] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above" and "above" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below" and "below" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.
[0038] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the utility model embodiment. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.
[0039] Combination Figures 1 to 6The ice making machine according to the first embodiment of the utility model comprises: an ice making assembly 100, an ice storage box 200 and an ice detection rod 300. The ice making assembly 100 is suitable for preparing ice cubes; the ice storage box 200 is suitable for storing ice cubes; the ice detection rod 300 comprises a rigid section 310 and a flexible section 320, and the rigid section 310 is suitable for driving the flexible section 320 to move away from one end of the rigid section 310, for example, the rigid section 310 drives the flexible section 320 to move up and down or swing away from one end of the rigid section 310, so that the ice detection rod 300 switches between the detection position and the avoidance position.
[0040] In the ice-making machine of the present embodiment of the utility model, the ice cubes prepared by the ice-making assembly 100 fall into the ice storage box 200 for storage, and the ice-detecting rod 300 gradually moves from the avoidance position to the detection position. If it hits the ice cubes during the movement and cannot continue to move to the detection position, it means that the ice cubes in the ice storage box 200 exceed the rated ice-making amount, and the ice-making assembly 100 does not need to continue making ice; when the ice-detecting rod 300 reaches the detection position and can still continue to move, it means that the ice cubes in the ice storage box 200 have not reached the rated ice-making amount, and the ice-making machine controls the ice-making assembly 100 to continue making ice.
[0041] When the ice probe 300 moves from the avoidance position to the detection position, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the flexible section 320 of the ice-detecting rod 300 gradually extends into the ice storage box 200 . When the ice-detecting rod 300 is partially located in the ice storage box 200 , the user takes the ice storage box 200 , and the side wall of the ice storage box 200 collides with the ice-detecting rod 300 .
[0042] According to the ice making machine of the embodiment of the present invention, by arranging the ice probing rod 300 with the flexible section 320, when the ice probing rod 300 moves from the avoidance position to the detection position, only the flexible section 320 extends into the ice storage box 200. When the user takes out the ice storage box 200, the flexible section 320 collides with the side wall of the ice storage box 200 to produce elastic deformation, and recovers after the ice storage box 200 is taken out of the ice making machine, which does not affect the next detection of the ice probing rod 300, that is, the effect of protecting the ice probing rod 300 and the ice storage box 200 is achieved, and there is no need to design a guide structure on the ice probing rod 300 to avoid the ice storage box 200, which effectively reduces the volume of the ice probing rod 300 and the ice storage box 200, which is conducive to the miniaturization design of the ice making machine. When the ice making machine is installed in a refrigerator, it is also conducive to the miniaturization of the refrigerator.
[0043] In this embodiment, the rigid section 310 is connected to the flexible section 320, which is beneficial to improve the overall strength of the ice probe 300. The flexible section 320 can be made of silicone, which has a certain strength and can contact with ice cubes to limit the ice probe 300 from moving further to achieve the detection effect. The silicone also has good elastic deformation ability, which does not limit the movement of the ice storage box 200 while ensuring the restoration of the shape.
[0044] According to one embodiment of the utility model, combined Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the flexible section 320 is provided with a first corner 321, the first corner 321 is close to one end of the flexible section 320 away from the rigid section 310, and the opening of the first corner 321 faces the ice-making assembly 100; the flexible section 320 includes a detection section 332, and the detection section 332 is located on the side of the first corner 321 away from the rigid section 310.
[0045] In this embodiment, the first corner 321 causes the detection section 332 on the flexible section 320 to deviate in a direction away from the ice storage box 200 , so that when the ice detection rod 300 moves from the avoidance position to the detection position, the deviated detection section 332 can effectively avoid the side wall of the ice storage box 200 .
[0046] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at the detection position, the center of the detection section 332 is located on a vertical bisector of the ice bank 200 .
[0047] It should be noted that the ice cubes of the ice-making assembly 100 fall into the ice storage box 200 and accumulate to form an ice pile. The center of the upper surface of the ice pile is usually higher than the surrounding area. Therefore, in order to ensure the accuracy of the ice depth measurement, the detection position of the ice detection rod 300 needs to be set as close to the center of the ice storage box 200 as possible. However, the ice detection rod 300 set at the center of the ice storage box 200 is also located directly below the ice falling path of the ice-making assembly 100. It will interfere with the ice during the ice falling process, causing damage to the ice or the ice detection rod 300.
[0048] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the center of the detection section 332 is located on the vertical bisecting plane of the ice storage box 200 (the dotted line in the figure), ensuring that the ice detection rod 300 avoids falling ice while being as close to the center of the ice storage box 200 as possible, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the ice detection rod 300.
[0049] In this embodiment, the "center of the detection section 332" refers to the center position of the entire measuring surface of the detection section 332 that contacts the ice cube. For example, if the detection section 332 is a long strip, this center position is located at the center of the long strip; when the ice probe 300 uses one end of the flexible section 320 for detection, it can be the center of the end.
[0050] Of course, considering the actual product structure, such as Figure 3 The center of the long strip detection segment 332 is not absolutely located on the vertical bisector. It is only necessary to ensure that at least part of the detection surface of the detection segment passes through the vertical bisector.
[0051] In the present embodiment, "located on the vertical bisector of the ice storage box 200", for an ice storage box 200 whose side walls are centrally symmetrically distributed (such as a cube or a pyramid) or has a center of rotation (such as a cylinder or a cone), the bisector may refer to a median plane between two opposite side walls of the ice storage box 200 or a symmetrical dividing plane of the side walls as a whole; for an irregularly shaped ice storage box 200, the bisector is a plane that passes through the highest point of ice accumulation and divides the ice equally when ice is stored inside the ice storage box 200.
[0052] In one embodiment, at the detection position, the detection section 332 is parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box 200. Compared with the detection using the end of the flexible section 320, it is more conducive to increasing the detection area of the ice detection rod 300 when detecting ice, and reducing the possibility of inaccurate detection due to uneven accumulation of ice cubes in the ice storage box 200.
[0053] Of course, the opening of the first corner 321 may also be arranged to face the ice storage box 200 , so as to ensure that the detection section 332 is parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box 200 at the detection position.
[0054] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the end of the detection section 332 is connected to the cross beam section 333, and the detection section 332 and the cross beam section 333 are coplanar; in the detection position, the cross beam section 333 is parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box 200. The cross beam section 333 can increase the detection surface area between the ice probe 300 and the ice cubes in the detection position, thereby improving the measurement accuracy.
[0055] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 3 As shown, the beam section 333 can be set in the extension direction of the arrow in the figure, perpendicular to the detection section 332; in other embodiments, the angle between the beam section 333 and the detection section 332 can also be changed to ensure that they are coplanar and parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box 200 when in the detection position.
[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible section 320 has a second corner 334 at one end close to the rigid section 310 , and the opening of the second corner 334 faces the ice storage box 200 . In the detection position, the second corner 334 avoids the ice storage box 200 .
[0057] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the second corner 334 allows the flexible section 320 extending in a straight line to effectively avoid the side wall of the ice storage box 200 under the same rotation angle; and increases the insertion depth of the flexible section 320 in the ice storage box 200, that is, increases the detection height range of the detection section 332, effectively improving the adaptability of the ice detection rod 300 to ice storage boxes 200 of different specifications.
[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rigid section 310 is provided with a third corner 311, the opening of the third corner 311 faces the ice-making assembly 100, and in the avoidance position, the third corner 311 avoids the ice-making assembly 100. Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the rigid section 310 effectively improves the strength of the ice probe 300 itself, and at the same time, by avoiding the ice-making assembly 100 through the third corner 311, effectively improves the internal space utilization of the ice-making machine, which is conducive to the miniaturized design of the ice-making machine.
[0059] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the ice-making assembly 100 includes a motor 110, which is suitable for driving the ice tray of the ice-making assembly 100 to move, so that ice cubes fall from the ice-making assembly 100 into the ice storage box 200; the rotating shaft of the motor 110 is fixedly connected to one end of the rigid section 310, and is suitable for driving the flexible section 320 to swing up and down away from the end of the rigid section 310.
[0060] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 1 As shown, the motor 110 is used to drive the ice tray and the ice probe 300 at the same time, which improves the reuse rate of the internal components of the ice maker and is conducive to the miniaturization design of the ice maker. Of course, a driving component can also be provided to drive the ice probe 300 to move.
[0061] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rigid section 310 and the flexible section 320 are detachably connected, and the flexible section 320 can be replaced separately, thereby reducing the use cost of the ice maker.
[0062] In one embodiment, one of the rigid section 310 and the flexible section 320 is provided with a connecting column 340, and the other one is provided with a connecting groove 350. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the connection column 340 is provided on the rigid section 310 to improve the strength of the connection column 340 itself. The connection column 340 is inserted into the connection groove 350 of the flexible section 320, and the two are fixedly connected by interference fit.
[0063] In one embodiment, a slot can be opened in the wall of one of the rigid segment 310 and the flexible segment 320 , the slot extending from the contact surface of the rigid segment 310 and the flexible segment 320 , and the other one is provided with a plug correspondingly, and the two cooperate to prevent relative rotational movement between the rigid segment 310 and the flexible segment 320 .
[0064] According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the connecting column 340 and the connecting groove 350 is provided with a buckle 341 , and the other is provided with a slot 351 , and the slot 351 cooperates with the buckle 341 .
[0065] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the connection column 340 is symmetrically provided with two protrusions as buckles 341 in the radial direction, and the buckles 341 are inserted into the slots 351 to prevent the connection column 340 and the connection slot 350 from rotating relative to each other. Of course, the positions of the buckles 341 and the slots 351 can also be interchanged.
[0066] The protrusion is provided with an inclined surface which gradually tilts outward along the insertion direction of the connecting column 340. The inclined surface acts as a guide to facilitate the insertion of the buckle 341 into the slot 351. The end of the inclined surface forms a limiting surface 342 with the connecting column 340. The limiting surface 342 abuts against the slot wall of the slot 351 to prevent the buckle 341 from falling out of the slot 351.
[0067] Of course, the buckle 341 can also be set in the connecting groove 350 , and the buckle 351 can be set on the connecting column 340 accordingly.
[0068] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the utility model includes an ice maker as described in the above embodiment.
[0069] The technical effect of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the utility model corresponds to the technical effect of the ice maker in the embodiment of the first aspect of the utility model, and will not be repeated here.
[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the above implementation modes are only used to illustrate the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the embodiments, a person skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications or equivalent replacements of the technical solutions of the present invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. An ice making machine, characterized in that: include: An ice making assembly, suitable for preparing ice cubes; An ice storage box, suitable for storing ice cubes; An ice-detecting rod comprises a rigid section and a flexible section, wherein the rigid section is suitable for driving the flexible section to move away from one end of the rigid section, so that the ice-detecting rod can switch between a detection position and an avoidance position.
2. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible section is provided with a first corner, and the opening of the first corner faces the ice-making assembly; The flexible section includes a detection section, and the detection section is located at a side of the first corner away from the rigid section.
3. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: At the detection position, the center of the detection section is located on the vertical bisector of the ice storage box. and / or, At the detection position, the detection section is parallel to the bottom of the ice storage box.
4. The ice making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The detection section is connected to the crossbeam section, and the detection section is coplanar with the crossbeam section.
5. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible section has an end close to the rigid section and is provided with a second corner, the opening of the second corner faces the ice storage box, and at the detection position, the second corner avoids the ice storage box.
6. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid section is provided with a third corner, the opening of the third corner faces the ice-making assembly, and in the avoidance position, the third corner avoids the ice-making assembly.
7. The ice making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-making assembly includes a motor, which is suitable for driving the ice tray of the ice-making assembly to move; the rotating shaft of the motor is fixedly connected to one end of the rigid section, and is suitable for driving the end of the flexible section away from the rigid section to swing up and down.
8. The ice making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The rigid section is detachably connected to the flexible section, one of the rigid section and the flexible section is provided with a connecting column, and the other is correspondingly provided with a connecting groove.
9. The ice making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: One of the connecting column and the connecting groove is provided with a buckle, and the other is provided with a slot, and the buckle cooperates with the slot.
10. A refrigerator, characterized in that: The invention comprises an ice-making machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.