Ice full control device for ice maker

Abstract

An ice fullness control device for an ice maker includes an ice fullness control assembly disposed between an ice storage bucket and an ice maker. The ice full control assembly comprises an ice guide frame, an ice full plectrum assembly and a sensing device. The ice guide frame comprises an ice guide frame main body, side plates and a rotating shaft mounting groove. And the full-ice plectrum assembly comprises a rotating shaft and a full-ice plectrum. The ice full shifting piece is contained between the two side plates, and the rotating shaft comprises a rotating shaft body and a limiting baffle. The induction device comprises an induction device body and an induction groove. When the ice maker is not started, the ice full shifting piece is vertically arranged in the ice guide frame, and the limiting baffle is contained in the induction groove. According to the ice fullness control device for the ice maker, direct contact between ice blocks and the control switch is avoided, the detection stability is improved, and the service life is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of ice making machines, in particular to an ice fullness control device for ice making machines. Background Art

[0002] An ice maker is a refrigeration device that generates ice by passing water through an evaporator, where the refrigerant in the refrigeration system evaporates and absorbs heat. The refrigeration principle of an ice maker is a cyclic refrigeration process based on thermodynamics and the principles of phase change. First, water or a liquid is injected into the evaporator. The refrigerant inside the evaporator lowers the temperature to below freezing, gradually turning the water or liquid into ice cubes. Then, a defrost valve directs the hot refrigerant into the evaporator to remove the ice. Finally, the ice cubes fall into an ice storage bin for storage and reuse.

[0003] For example, a Chinese patent application for an ice maker with an ice-full detection device, application number CN201920745079.9, includes a chassis, a refrigeration mechanism, a heat dissipation mechanism, an ice-full detection device, and a main control circuit board. The ice-full detection device is installed at the top of the chassis. When ice cubes accumulate in the chassis and reach a movable metal sheet, the movable metal sheet is pushed open, causing it to contact a metal sensor. The metal sensor sends a signal to the main control circuit board, which controls the refrigeration mechanism to stop after receiving the signal. However, during use, the movable metal sheet is easily damaged or failed due to water vapor corrosion, low temperatures, and ice cubes falling and damaging it, causing the ice-full detection device to fail frequently. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the utility model provides an ice fullness control device for an ice maker, which can increase the service life and meet industrial needs.

[0005] An ice full control device for an ice maker includes an ice full control assembly disposed between the ice storage bucket and the ice making device. The ice full control assembly includes an ice guide disposed between the ice making device and the ice storage bucket, an ice full paddle assembly disposed on the ice guide, and a sensing device disposed on the outer wall of the ice guide. The ice guide includes an ice guide body, two side panels symmetrically disposed on either side of the ice guide body, and at least two shaft mounting slots, respectively disposed on the side panels. The ice full paddle assembly includes a rotating shaft accommodated in the shaft mounting slot and an ice full paddle fixedly connected to the rotating shaft. The ice full paddle is accommodated between the two side panels, and the rotating shaft includes a rotating shaft body accommodated in the shaft mounting slot and two limit baffles, respectively disposed at both ends of the rotating shaft body. The sensing device includes a sensing device body fixedly connected to the side panels and a sensing slot disposed on the sensing device body. When the ice maker is not turned on, the full ice paddle is vertically arranged in the ice guide rack, and the limit baffle is accommodated in the sensing groove. When the ice maker is turned on and the ice storage bucket is not full of ice, the ice cubes in the ice maker flow toward the ice guide rack, and the ice cubes hit the full ice paddle and rotate. The sensing groove can be separated from the limit baffle, and the ice making device continues to make ice.

[0006] Furthermore, the rotating shaft further includes at least two annular limiting protrusions provided on the rotating shaft body. When the rotating shaft body is mounted on the ice guide rack, the two annular limiting protrusions respectively abut against the two side plates.

[0007] Furthermore, an extension direction of the limiting baffle and an extension direction of the full ice pick are perpendicular to each other.

[0008] Furthermore, the outer contour of the rotating shaft mounting groove is U-shaped.

[0009] Furthermore, the ice-filled paddle includes a paddle body fixedly connected to the rotating shaft body, and a bent section obliquely arranged at one end of the paddle body.

[0010] Furthermore, the plectrum body and the bent section are integrally formed.

[0011] Furthermore, the length of the rotating shaft body is greater than the distance between the two side plates.

[0012] Furthermore, the ice guide frame body and the side panels are integrally formed.

[0013] Furthermore, the ice full control assembly also includes an upper cover arranged on the top of the ice guide rack.

[0014] Compared to the prior art, the ice-full control device for an ice maker provided by the present invention controls the flow of ice from the ice-making device to the ice storage bucket via the ice-full control assembly. The ice-full control assembly includes an ice guide disposed at one end of the ice-making device, an ice-full paddle assembly disposed on the ice guide, and a sensing device disposed on the outer wall of the ice guide. The ice guide includes an ice guide body, two side panels symmetrically disposed on either side of the ice guide body, and at least two shaft mounting slots respectively disposed on the side panels. The ice-full paddle assembly includes a shaft received in the shaft mounting slot and an ice-full paddle fixedly connected to the shaft. The full ice paddle is housed between the side panels. Limit baffles are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft body within the rotating shaft. A sensing groove is provided on the sensing device body within the sensing device. When the ice maker is turned on and the ice storage bucket is not full, ice cubes within the ice maker flow toward the ice guide rack and strike the full ice paddle, causing it to rotate. This in turn drives the rotating shaft, allowing the sensing groove to separate from the full ice paddle, allowing the ice maker to continue making ice. When the ice storage bucket is full, the ice cubes within the ice storage bucket abut against the side of the full ice paddle facing away from the ice maker, preventing the full ice paddle from rotating. The full ice paddle remains vertically positioned, and the limit baffles are housed within the sensing groove. After the limit baffles remain within the sensing groove for a predetermined period of time, the ice maker stops making ice. This indicates that the full ice control device for an ice maker prevents direct contact between ice cubes and the control switch, improving detection stability and extending service life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the ice full control device for an ice maker provided by the utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of an ice full control assembly in an ice full control device for an ice maker.

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the ice fullness control component without the upper cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following is a further detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the description of the embodiments of the present invention herein is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] like Figures 1 to 3FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice full control device for an ice maker provided by the present invention. The ice full control device for an ice maker includes an ice storage bucket 1 for storing ice cubes, an ice making device 2 disposed on one side of the ice storage bucket 1, and an ice full control assembly 10 disposed on the ice storage bucket 1. The ice full control device for an ice maker also includes other functional modules, such as assembly components and electrical connection components, which are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0020] The ice storage bucket 1 is used to accommodate ice cubes, and the ice making device 2 is a device that converts water into ice cubes. The ice making device 2 transfers the ice cubes to the ice storage bucket 1 through the ice full control component 10. The ice storage bucket 1 and the ice making device 2 are both existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0021] The ice full control assembly 10 includes an ice guide rack 11 arranged at one end of the ice making device 2, an ice full paddle assembly 12 arranged on the ice guide rack 11, a sensing device 13 arranged on the outer wall of the ice guide rack 11, and an upper cover 14 arranged on the top of the ice guide rack.

[0022] The ice guide rack 11 is used to connect the ice making device 2 with the ice storage bucket 1 so that the ice cubes in the ice making device 2 flow into the ice storage bucket 1. The ice guide rack 11 is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0023] The ice guide frame 11 includes an ice guide frame body 111 , two side panels 112 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the ice guide frame body 111 , and at least two rotation shaft mounting grooves 113 respectively arranged on the side panels 112 .

[0024] The ice guide rack body 111 and the side panels 112 are integrally formed. The side panels 112 are arranged on both sides of the ice guide rack body 111, so that a "U"-shaped frame structure is formed between the side panels 112 and the ice guide rack body 111, so that ice cubes can enter the ice storage bucket 1 along the ice guide rack body 111. The side panels 112 prevent ice cubes from flowing out from both sides of the ice guide rack body 111. The ice guide rack body 111 and the side panels 112 are both existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0025] The shaft mounting groove 113 is used to limit the position of the following shaft 121 on the side plate 112. The outer contour of the shaft mounting groove 113 is U-shaped. The shaft mounting groove 113 is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0026] The full ice pick assembly 12 includes a rotating shaft 121 received in the rotating shaft mounting groove 113 and a full ice pick 122 fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 121 .

[0027] The rotating shaft 121 includes a rotating shaft body 1211 accommodated in the rotating shaft installation groove 113 , two limiting baffles 1212 respectively provided at both ends of the rotating shaft body 1211 , and at least two annular limiting protrusions 1213 provided on the rotating shaft body 1211 .

[0028] The rotating shaft body 1211 is accommodated in the rotating shaft mounting groove 113, and the rotating shaft mounting groove 113 supports the rotating shaft 121, thereby enabling the rotation of the rotating shaft 121. The length of the rotating shaft body 1211 is greater than the distance between the two side plates 112. It is conceivable that the two limiting baffles 1212 are both provided on the side of the side plate 112 facing away from the ice guide rack body 111. The limiting baffles 1212 are used to limit the ends of the rotating shaft body 1211 and can also maintain the balance of the rotating shaft body 1211.

[0029] The limit baffle 1212 is used to limit the position of the two end ends of the rotating shaft body 1211, and at least one of the limit baffles 1212 cooperates with the limit baffle 1212. The sensing device 13 determines whether the ice is full by sensing the position of the limit baffle 1212. The limit baffle 1212 will be described in detail in conjunction with the sensing device 13.

[0030] The two annular limiting protrusions 1213 are used to limit the position between the rotating shaft 121 and the side plate 112. When the rotating shaft body 1211 is installed on the ice guide rack 11, the two annular limiting protrusions 1213 respectively abut against the two side plates 112 to prevent the rotating shaft 121 from moving left and right.

[0031] The full ice paddle 122 includes a paddle body 1221 fixedly connected to the rotating shaft body 1211 and a bent section 1222 obliquely disposed at one end of the paddle body 1221. The full ice paddle 122 is accommodated between the two side panels 112, thereby blocking the passage of the ice guide rack 11. As ice cubes slide along the ice guide rack 11, they inevitably contact the full ice paddle 122, causing the ice cubes to collide with the full ice paddle 122. The extension direction of the limiting baffle 1212 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the full ice paddle 122, that is, the rotation angle of the full ice paddle 122 is 90 degrees.

[0032] The paddle body 1221 and the bent section 1222 are integrally formed to ensure the structural stability between the paddle body 1221 and the bent section 1222. In addition, the bent section 1222 is tilted at one end of the paddle body 1221. The bent section 1222 contacts the ice cube in advance, so that the entire ice-full paddle 122 rotates, and the bent section 1222 increases the grip of the ice cube, ensuring the triggering of ice-full.

[0033] The sensing device 13 includes a sensing device body 131 fixedly connected to the side plate 112 and a sensing slot 132 provided on the sensing device body 131 .

[0034] The sensing device body 131 is a device capable of detecting the position of an object and converting it into an electrical signal. The sensing device body 131 is any one of an optical sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a piezoresistive sensor, and a position sensor. The sensing device body 131 is a prior art. The sensing device body 131 is interconnected with the ice-making device 2. The sensing device body 131 processes the sensing signal and transmits it to the ice-making device 2 to control the ice-making device 2 to turn on or off. The connection structure between the sensing device body 131 and the ice-making device 2 is a prior art and will not be further described here.

[0035] The sensing slot 132 is the detection position of the sensing device body 131 , and the sensing slot 132 is used to accommodate the limit baffle 1212 . The sensing slot 132 is set in the rotation path of the limit baffle 1212 , so that the limit baffle 1212 rotates into the sensing slot 132 .

[0036] When the ice maker 2 is not turned on, the full ice paddle 122 is vertically arranged in the ice guide rack 11 by its own gravity, and the limiting baffle 1212 is accommodated in the sensing groove 132. The full ice paddle 122 blocks the passage of the ice guide rack 11 so that the ice cubes can hit the full ice paddle 122.

[0037] When the ice maker 2 is turned on and the ice storage bucket 1 is not full of ice, the ice cubes in the ice maker 2 flow toward the ice guide rack 11, and the ice cubes hit the ice full paddle 122 and rotate, the sensing groove 132 can be separated from the limit baffle 1212, and the ice making device 2 continues to make ice.

[0038] When the ice storage bucket 1 is full of ice, the ice cubes in the ice storage bucket 1 abut against the side of the full ice paddle 122 facing away from the ice maker 2, so that the full ice paddle 122 cannot rotate. The full ice paddle 122 remains vertically arranged, and the limit baffle 1212 is accommodated in the sensing groove 132. After the limit baffle 1212 is accommodated in the sensing groove 132 for a certain period of time, the ice making device 2 stops making ice.

[0039] The upper cover 14 is arranged on the top of the ice guide rack 11, that is, the upper cover 14 is arranged on the side of the side plate 112 facing away from the ice guide rack body 111. The upper cover 14 cooperates with the ice guide rack 11 to form an ice guide channel, so that ice cubes can flow stably from the ice full control assembly 10 to the ice storage bucket 1. The upper cover 14 is connected to the two side plates 112. The connection structure between the upper cover 14 and the side plates 112 is a prior art and will not be repeated here.

[0040] Compared to the prior art, the ice-full control device for an ice maker provided by the present invention controls the flow of ice from the ice-making device 2 to the ice storage bucket 1 via the ice-full control assembly 10. The ice-full control assembly 10 includes an ice guide 11 disposed at one end of the ice-making device 2, an ice-full paddle assembly 12 disposed on the ice guide 11, and a sensing device 13 disposed on the outer wall of the ice guide 11. The ice guide 11 includes an ice guide body 111, two side panels 112 symmetrically disposed on either side of the ice guide body 111, and at least two shaft mounting slots 113 respectively disposed on the side panels 112. The ice-full paddle assembly 12 includes a shaft 121 received in the shaft mounting slot 113, and an ice-full paddle 122 fixedly connected to the shaft 121. The full ice paddle 122 is accommodated between the side panels 112, and limit baffles 1212 are provided at both ends of the shaft body 1211 in the shaft 121. A sensing groove 132 is provided on the sensing device body 131 in the sensing device 13. When the ice maker 2 is turned on and the ice storage bucket 1 is not full of ice, the ice cubes in the ice maker 2 flow toward the ice guide rack 11, and the ice cubes hit the full ice paddle 122 to rotate, thereby driving the shaft 121 to rotate, so that the sensing groove 132 can be separated from the full ice paddle 122, and the ice making device continues to make ice. When the ice storage bucket 1 is full, the ice cubes in the ice storage bucket 1 abut against the side of the full ice paddle 122 facing away from the ice maker 2, preventing the full ice paddle 122 from rotating. The full ice paddle 122 remains vertically positioned, and the limit baffle 1212 is accommodated in the sensing groove 132. After the limit baffle 1212 remains in the sensing groove 132 for a certain period of time, the ice maker 2 stops making ice. It can be seen from this that the full ice control device for an ice maker prevents direct contact between ice cubes and the control switch, improves detection stability, and extends service life.

[0041] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements or improvements within the spirit of the present invention are included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice fullness control device for an ice maker, characterized by: The ice full control device for the ice maker includes an ice full control assembly arranged between the ice storage bucket and the ice making device, the ice full control assembly includes an ice guide rack arranged between the ice making device and the ice storage bucket, an ice full paddle assembly arranged on the ice guide rack, and a sensing device arranged on the outer wall of the ice guide rack, the ice guide rack includes an ice guide rack body, two side plates symmetrically arranged on both sides of the ice guide rack body, and at least two shaft mounting grooves respectively arranged on the side plates, the ice full paddle assembly includes a rotating shaft accommodated in the rotating shaft mounting groove, an ice full paddle fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the ice full paddle accommodates the ice full paddle. Placed between the two side plates, the rotating shaft includes a rotating shaft body accommodated in the rotating shaft mounting groove, and two limit baffles respectively arranged at the two end ends of the rotating shaft body, the sensing device includes a sensing device body fixedly connected to the side plate, and a sensing groove arranged on the sensing device body; when the ice maker is not turned on, the ice full paddle is vertically arranged in the ice guide rack, and the limit baffle is accommodated in the sensing groove; when the ice maker is turned on and the ice storage bucket is not full of ice, the ice cubes in the ice maker flow to the ice guide rack, and the ice cubes hit the ice full paddle and rotate, the sensing groove is separated from the limit baffle, and the ice making device continues to make ice.

2. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The rotating shaft further includes at least two annular limiting protrusions provided on the rotating shaft body. When the rotating shaft body is mounted on the ice guide rack, the two annular limiting protrusions respectively abut against the two side plates.

3. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: An extending direction of the limiting baffle is perpendicular to an extending direction of the full ice pick.

4. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The outer contour of the rotating shaft installation groove is U-shaped.

5. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The ice-filled paddle includes a paddle body fixedly connected to the rotating shaft body, and a bent section obliquely arranged at one end of the paddle body.

6. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plectrum body and the bent section are integrally formed.

7. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the rotating shaft body is greater than the distance between the two side plates.

8. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The ice guide frame body and the side panels are integrally formed.

9. The ice full control device for an ice maker according to claim 1, wherein: The ice full control assembly further includes an upper cover arranged on the top of the ice guide rack.

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