Ice block leading-out structure and ice maker
By introducing a tray and an ice cube outlet structure on a slope into the ice maker, the problem of difficulty in separating ice chips and ice cubes in the ice maker is solved, smooth outlet and efficient storage of ice cubes are achieved, and the convenience of using the ice maker and the recycling of ice cubes are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422755352.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-11-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing ice makers easily produce excess ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice when making ice, which affects the output and storage of ice cubes. Moreover, the ice cubes need to accumulate to a certain amount before they can reach the ice outlet. The ice cubes near the inside are difficult to take out, resulting in inconvenience in use.
An ice cube outlet structure is adopted, including a tray and a slope. The tray has an ice cube outlet and an ice chip outlet. The slope guides the ice cubes to move in the ice outlet direction. The ice chip outlet is designed as a long groove to separate the ice chips. The surface of the tray adopts a curved structure to reduce friction. The width of the ice chip outlet is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice cube to filter the ice chips.
The ice cubes can be smoothly discharged, ice chips can be prevented from accumulating, the turnover rate of ice cubes can be improved, the friction resistance of ice cubes moving can be reduced, the ice cubes can be conveniently taken out by users, and ice chips and cold water can be recycled.
Smart Images
Figure CN223435323U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of ice making, in particular to an ice cube outlet structure and an ice making machine. Background Art
[0002] An ice maker is a device specifically used to make ice cubes. It is widely used in restaurants, hotels, bars, supermarkets, hospitals, laboratories and other places. The ice maker can cool water through a refrigeration system, condense it into ice cubes, and quickly produce ice cubes for users to use.
[0003] Ice makers can use ice molds to make ice cubes of different shapes, such as square, rectangular, cylindrical or spherical. After the ice cubes are formed in the ice molds, they will fall out of the molds and be output to the ice outlet for users to take directly, or they will be stored inside the ice maker to serve as ice storage. However, when the ice molds are formed in existing ice makers, it is easy for excess ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice to appear after forming due to the gap between the parting surfaces of the ice molds. When the ice cubes are ejected, these ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice will fall with the ice cubes, affecting the output or storage of ice cubes. When the ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice accumulate to a certain extent, it will also affect the ice discharging efficiency and smooth ice discharging, making it inconvenient for users to use.
[0004] In addition, when ice cubes fall out of the existing ice maker, they tend to accumulate in the ice storage location or space. A certain amount of ice cubes must be accumulated before they can be removed to the ice outlet. Users cannot enter the ice storage location to directly use them. The initial waiting time is too long, and the ice cubes accumulated near the ice are difficult to remove, resulting in a long period of idleness, which is not conducive to the turnover of ice cubes and inconvenient for users.
[0005] In view of the above shortcomings, we need to develop an ice cube export structure and ice making machine to meet the needs of the majority of users. Utility Model Content
[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems that the existing ice maker easily produces excess ice chips during ice making, thereby affecting the output and storage of ice cubes, the ice cubes need to accumulate to a certain amount before they can reach the ice outlet, and the ice cubes close to the ice outlet are difficult to remove, the technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve the technical problems is:
[0007] An ice cube discharge structure includes a tray for contacting ice cubes, the tray having an ice cube outlet located near the ice discharge direction and an ice chip outlet passing through the top and bottom, and the tray having a slope for guiding the ice cubes to move in the ice discharge direction, the slope being inclined from a position away from the ice discharge direction toward a position near the ice discharge direction.
[0008] Further, the ice crumb outlet extends in a long groove shape from a position away from the ice outlet direction to a position close to the ice outlet direction.
[0009] Further, the width dimension of the ice crumb outlet is smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the ice block.
[0010] Further, a plurality of the ice crumb outlets are arranged at intervals from the middle of the tray to the lateral direction of the tray.
[0011] Further, the ice crumb outlet extends a reinforcing rib structure towards the bottom of the tray.
[0012] Further, the surface of the slope portion adopts a curved surface structure, the curved surface structure has a contact surface for smooth movement of the ice block, and the curved surface structure is arranged in a concave shape towards the position close to the ice block outlet.
[0013] An ice maker comprises an ice making module and an ice outlet, an ice block guide structure is located between the ice making module and the ice outlet, and an ice block outlet is located at a position of the tray close to the ice outlet.
[0014] Further, an ice outlet module is further included, the ice block guide structure is located between the ice making module and the ice outlet module, and the ice block outlet is located at a position of the tray close to the input end of the ice outlet module.
[0015] Further, a cold water tank is further included below the ice block guide structure, and the ice crumb outlet corresponds to the inlet position of the cold water tank.
[0016] Further, the ice making outlet of the ice making module is higher than the tray, the ice block generated by the ice making module falls from the ice making outlet towards the slope portion, the ice crumb outlet is located in the inclined range of the slope portion, and the falling height of the ice block is greater than the outer diameter dimension of a single ice block.
[0017] The beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:
[0018] 1、The present utility model adopts the slope portion capable of guiding the ice block to move towards the ice outlet direction on the tray, so that the ice block can move towards the ice block outlet along the slope portion without accumulation, all the ice blocks can smoothly reach the ice block outlet along the slope portion, the ice blocks are prevented from being idle for a long time, the turnover of the ice blocks is improved, and the ice crumb outlet is arranged on the tray for ice crumb separation and discharge.
[0019] 2、The curved surface structure recessed towards the ice block outlet is adopted for the slope part, after the ice block is formed and falls out, falls into the slope part of the tray piece, is guided by the recessed curved surface structure and moves towards the ice block outlet, the curved surface structure can provide a smooth contact surface for the movement of the ice block, so that the moving resistance of the ice block is smaller, and the movement is more smooth, the recessed curved surface structure towards the ice block outlet can make the ice block more concentrated in the middle part of the ice block outlet, avoid the ice block scattered in other positions of the tray piece, and facilitate the user to take.
[0020] 3、The ice block outlet is extended in a long groove shape towards the position close to the ice outlet direction, so that the falling ice block can move to the ice block outlet along the long groove-shaped slot, plays a guiding role of the moving direction of the ice block, reduces the contact friction resistance of the ice block, the long groove-shaped ice block outlet can pass the ice block with larger volume, on this basis, the width of the ice block outlet is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice block, so that the ice block outlet only passes the ice block but leaves the ice block, plays a filtering role of the ice block, in addition, the reinforcing rib structure is arranged at the bottom of the ice block outlet, strengthens the ability of the tray piece to bear the impact of the falling ice block, and strengthens the elastic deformation resetting ability of the tray piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of an ice block guide-out structure of the utility model.
[0022] Figure 2 It is a perspective cut view of an ice block guide-out structure of the utility model.
[0023] Figure 3 It is a front view cut view of an ice block guide-out structure of the utility model.
[0024] Figure 4 It is a perspective view of an ice maker of the utility model.
[0025] Figure 5 It is a perspective cut view of an ice maker of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The embodiments of the utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
[0027] Optionally, in some embodiments, the tray piece 100 can be made of one of metal, plastic, rubber and other materials with certain hardness and resilience, preferably hard rubber, the chemical corrosion resistance of rubber is better, the cost is lower, and it is easy to form, convenient for batch production and maintenance replacement, and the noise caused by the impact of the falling ice block is smaller, convenient for the user to use.
[0028] Optionally, in some embodiments, the ice cubes produced by the ice-making module 200 can be a three-dimensional structure with a cross-sectional shape enclosed by straight lines and / or curves, such as square, rectangular, elliptical, spherical, or cylindrical. Preferably, a spherical shape is used as the three-dimensional structure of the ice cube. The spherical shape can facilitate the mold to be ejected and dropped and rolled, and the contact surface with the object is smaller than that of other three-dimensional structures, so the moving friction generated is smaller, which facilitates the movement of the ice cubes during output. In addition, due to the small contact area, the degree of heat absorption affected by the contact object is also smaller, and the ice cubes will not melt easily, which helps to store the ice cubes for a long time.
[0029] Example 1:
[0030] like Figures 1 to 3 An ice cube outlet structure shown includes a tray member 100 for contacting ice cubes. The tray member 100 can be installed inside an ice maker and is mainly used to support ice cubes produced by the ice maker. More specifically, the tray member 100 has an ice cube outlet 11 located near the ice outlet direction, which is toward the ice outlet of the ice maker. The ice cube outlet 11 can be set at a position on the tray member 100 corresponding to the ice outlet of the ice maker to facilitate the movement of ice cubes to a position for users to take them.
[0031] More specifically, in order to further facilitate the separation of ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice away from the storage position of ice cubes, the tray part 100 has an ice chip outlet 12 that runs through the top and bottom directions. More specifically, the opening width of the ice chip outlet 12 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice cube, so that the ice chip outlet 12 only allows ice chips to pass through and discharge but leaves the ice cubes, which plays the role of filtering ice chips and preventing ice cubes from getting stuck or slipping out of the ice chip outlet 12. After the ice cubes produced by the ice maker fall into the tray part 100, the ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice are affected by the vibration of falling and break away from the ice cubes. The separated ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice fall into the ice chip outlet 12 due to gravity and are discharged to the outside world, thereby achieving the effect of separating ice chips from ice cubes.
[0032] More specifically, in order to further facilitate guiding the ice cubes toward the ice cube outlet 11 close to the ice discharging direction, the tray part 100 has a slope portion 13 for guiding the ice cubes to move toward the ice discharging direction. The slope portion 13 is inclined from top to bottom from a position away from the ice cube outlet 11 to a position close to the ice cube outlet 11, so that after the ice cubes produced by the ice maker fall into the tray part 100, they slide or roll toward the ice cube outlet 11 due to the natural weight and the inclined setting, thereby achieving the effect of naturally guiding out the ice cubes.
[0033] More specifically, the slope portion 13 can form an inclination angle G in the range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, preferably an inclination angle G of 20 degrees. In addition to ensuring smooth sliding out of the ice, it does not take up too much space at height and has better practicality.
[0034] In this embodiment, the tray 100 for supporting and contacting ice cubes adopts a slope 13 that can guide the ice cubes to move toward the ice outlet direction, so that the ice cubes can move along the slope 13 toward the ice outlet 11 without accumulating a certain amount, and all ice cubes can smoothly reach the ice outlet 11 along the slope 13, avoiding the ice cubes from being idle for a long time and improving the turnover of ice cubes. At the same time, the tray 100 is also provided with an ice chip outlet 12 for separating and discharging ice chips. When the ice cubes fall into the tray 100, the ice chips are separated from the ice cubes due to the vibration generated by the fall, and the broken ice chips naturally fall into the ice chip outlet 12. The remaining intact ice cubes move along the slope 13 toward the ice outlet 11. There is no need to worry about ice chips accumulating and affecting the movement and storage of ice cubes, which is convenient for users to take.
[0035] As another embodiment 101 of embodiment 1, the ice chip outlet 12 extends in a long groove shape from a position away from the ice discharge direction toward a position close to the ice discharge direction. The ice chip outlet 12 adopts a long groove structure and is used in combination with the slope portion 13, so that the fallen ice cubes can move along the long groove-shaped notch to the ice cube outlet 11, guiding the movement direction of the ice cubes and reducing the contact friction resistance of the ice cubes. The long groove-shaped ice chip outlet 12 can allow larger ice chips, ice flakes or crushed ice to be discharged to the outside through ice falling.
[0036] As another embodiment 102 of embodiment 1, a plurality of ice chip outlets 12 are arranged at intervals from the middle of the pallet member 100 toward the side of the pallet member 100. The plurality of ice chip outlets 12 are arranged at intervals to form a plurality of channels for discharging ice chips. On a larger pallet member 100, it is possible to prevent ice cubes from falling out of the ice chip outlets 12 while expanding the space for ice cubes to fall, store or move, thereby accommodating more ice cubes.
[0037] On the basis of Example 101 and Example 102, Figure 1 In the embodiment 103, a plurality of ice chip outlets 12 in the form of elongated grooves are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other from the middle of the tray 100 toward the sides of the tray 100, forming a Figure 1 The parallel distribution and arrangement structure shown, in which the plurality of ice chip outlets 12 in the form of elongated grooves are spaced apart and arranged in parallel, helps guide the ice cubes to slide and move more smoothly toward the ice cube outlets 11 , thereby improving the ice guiding effect of the tray 100 .
[0038] As another embodiment 104 of embodiment 1, the pallet component 100 of this embodiment adopts a thin-walled shell structure, and the overall thickness is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice cube. In order to further strengthen the pallet component 100 to withstand the instantaneous impact force of falling ice cubes, the ice chip outlet 12 extends a reinforcing rib structure 121 toward the bottom of the pallet component 100. The reinforcing rib structure 121 is arranged along the edge of the ice chip outlet 12. When ice cubes fall onto the pallet component 100, the reinforcing rib structure 121 can strengthen the elastic reset ability and impact resistance of the pallet component 100, and the pallet component 100 will not be easily damaged by the impact of ice cubes, thereby improving the durability of the pallet component 100.
[0039] On the basis of Example 103 and Example 104, Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment 105, a plurality of ice chip outlets 12 in the form of long grooves extend toward the bottom of the pallet 100 with a reinforcing rib structure 121, which can further enhance the elastic reset capability and impact resistance of the pallet 100, thereby preventing the pallet 100 from being easily damaged by the impact of ice cubes and improving the durability of the pallet 100.
[0040] Example 2:
[0041] Based on any of the above embodiments, Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated ice cube outlet structure, the surface of the slope portion 13 adopts a curved surface structure 131. The curved surface structure 131 is a curved surface formed by smoothly connecting a number of arc surfaces with a certain arc radius. The curved surface structure 131 has a contact surface for smooth movement of the ice cubes. The smooth contact surface reduces the resistance to movement of the ice cubes, and the ice cubes move more smoothly. The curved surface structure 131 is recessed toward the position close to the ice cube outlet 11. The recessed position toward the position close to the ice cube outlet 11 can further guide the ice cubes to move toward the ice cube outlet 11, and can make the ice cubes more concentrated in the middle of the ice cube outlet, thereby preventing the ice cubes from being scattered in other positions of the tray and making it easier for users to take them.
[0042] Example 3:
[0043] Based on any of the above embodiments, Figures 1 to 5An ice maker is shown, comprising an ice-making module 200 and an ice outlet 400, wherein the ice cube outlet structure is located between the ice-making module 200 and the ice outlet 400, wherein the ice-making module 200 is a functional module of the ice maker for cooling and condensing water into ice, and the ice outlet 400 is an ice outlet for the ice maker to discharge ice cubes for users to take out. The ice-making module 200 comprises a refrigerator 22 for cooling and cooling and a refrigeration mold 23 for shaping the ice cubes. After the ice cubes are formed, they escape from the ice-making outlet 21 of the refrigeration mold 23 and fall onto the tray 100. The ice cubes slide or roll toward the ice outlet 11 due to the natural weight and the tilt setting. The ice outlet 11 is located on the tray 100 near the ice outlet 400. The ice outlet 11 corresponds to the position of the ice outlet 400 and is connected to the ice outlet 400 to achieve the ice cube outlet effect.
[0044] More specifically, the refrigeration mold 23 has a spherical mold cavity for making spherical ice cubes and a mold cover that can automatically flip open the spherical mold cavity. The refrigeration mold 23 can make spherical ice cubes through the spherical mold cavity. After the mold cover is opened, the spherical ice cubes can fall toward the position where the tray 100 is located, and the spherical ice cubes are more conducive to natural rolling and falling sliding.
[0045] More specifically, the direction of the ice outlet structure toward the ice outlet 400 is the ice outlet direction.
[0046] As another embodiment 301 of embodiment 3, the ice maker further includes an ice discharging module 300, which is used to block or bring ice cubes to the ice outlet 400. The ice cube outlet structure is located between the ice making module 200 and the ice discharging module 300, and the ice cube outlet 11 is located on the tray 100 near the input end of the ice discharging module 300.
[0047] More specifically, the ice discharging module 300 includes an ice discharging paddle 31 for discharging ice cubes to the ice discharging port 400 and a driving motor 32 for driving the ice discharging paddle. When ice is needed, the driving motor 32 drives the ice discharging paddle 31 to rotate. The ice discharging paddle 31 has inclined blades to move the ice cubes in the ice discharging direction, thereby achieving the effect of automatically discharging ice in quantity. When ice is not needed, the driving motor 32 stops the rotation of the ice discharging paddle 31. The ice discharging paddle 31 has inclined blades to block the ice cubes so that the ice cubes stop moving, thereby achieving the effect of blocking the movement of ice cubes and storing ice cubes.
[0048] As another embodiment 302 of embodiment 3, a cold water tank 500 is further included, which is located below the ice cube outlet structure. The ice chip outlet 12 corresponds to the inlet position of the cold water tank 500. More specifically, the cold water tank 500 is used to collect the frozen water formed by the melting of ice cubes and the fallen ice chips. After the ice cubes fall, the ice chips are affected by the impact of the falling ice cubes and fall off the ice cubes. They pass through the ice chip outlet 12 and fall into the cold water tank 500. The melted cold water and fallen ice chips are stored in the cold water tank 500. These cold water and ice chips can also be provided to the refrigeration module 200 for secondary ice making and recycling, thereby preventing the melted cold water and fallen ice chips from polluting the surrounding environment. It can also achieve the environmentally friendly utilization effect of secondary ice making and facilitate user use.
[0049] As another embodiment 303 of embodiment 301, the ice making outlet 21 of the ice making module 200 is higher than the tray part 100, and the ice cubes produced by the ice making module 200 fall toward the slope part 13 through the self-made ice outlet 21, and the ice chip outlet 12 is located within the inclination range of the slope part 13. More specifically, when the setting position of the ice making module 200 is higher than the tray part 100 by a certain height, the falling impact force of the ice cubes can be increased, which is beneficial to the effect of ice chips falling off due to the impact of the ice cubes, forming an ice cube shape with a better contour shape. Preferably, the falling height of the ice cubes is greater than the outer diameter of a single ice cube, resulting in a better falling effect, and can also shake some of the residual ice chips remaining on the slope part 13 out of the ice chip outlet 12, thereby playing an auxiliary effect of cleaning the ice chips. When the falling height of the ice cubes is less than the outer diameter of a single ice cube, the falling effect produced is difficult to shake the ice chips, which is convenient for users to use.
[0050] Example 4:
[0051] Based on any of the above embodiments, Figures 1 to 5 The ice making machine shown in the figure has an ice making module 200, an ice discharging module 300, a cold water tank 500 and the ice cube outlet structure. After the ice making module 200 uses the refrigerator 22 to produce ice cubes through the ice making mold 23, the ice cubes escape from the ice making mold 23 and fall onto the tray 100. Under the influence of natural weight, the ice cubes move and gather along the curved surface structure 131 of the slope 13 toward the ice cube outlet 11. The impact force generated by the natural fall breaks the ice cubes. The ice chips fall into the cold water tank 500 through the ice chip outlet 12, and the cold water produced by the natural melting of the ice cubes also flows into the cold water tank 500 through the ice chip outlet 12. The ice chips and cold water can be collected and recycled for secondary ice making by the ice making module 200. The ice cubes moving and gathered toward the ice cube outlet 11 can be transferred to the ice outlet 400 by the ice discharging module 300, or temporarily stored on the tray 100 due to the obstruction of the ice discharging module 300, thereby realizing the effect of automatic ice making and discharging.
[0052] The above only further illustrates the technical content of the utility model with examples, so that the reader can more easily understand, but does not represent that the embodiment of the utility model is limited to this, and any technical extension or re-creation made according to the utility model is protected by the utility model. The protection scope of the utility model is subject to the patent claim.
Claims
1. An ice cube outlet structure, characterized in that: The tray (100) comprises an ice cube tray (100) for contacting ice cubes, the tray (100) having an ice cube outlet (11) located close to an ice discharging direction and an ice chip outlet (12) passing through the top and bottom, the tray (100) having a slope (13) for guiding the ice cubes to move toward the ice discharging direction, the slope (13) being arranged to be inclined from a position away from the ice discharging direction toward a position close to the ice discharging direction.
2. The ice cube outlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice chip outlet (12) extends in a long groove shape from a position away from the ice discharge direction toward a position close to the ice discharge direction.
3. The ice cube outlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The width of the ice chip outlet (12) is smaller than the outer diameter of the ice cube.
4. The ice cube outlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of ice chip outlets (12) are arranged at intervals from the middle of the tray member (100) toward the side of the tray member (100).
5. The ice cube outlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ice chip outlet (12) extends a reinforcing rib structure (121) toward the bottom of the tray (100).
6. The ice cube outlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the slope portion (13) adopts a curved surface structure (131), the curved surface structure (131) has a contact surface for smooth movement of ice cubes, and the curved surface structure (131) is arranged in a concave shape toward a position close to the ice cube outlet (11).
7. Ice maker, characterized by: The invention comprises an ice making module (200) and an ice outlet (400), wherein the ice cube outlet structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is located between the ice making module (200) and the ice outlet (400), the ice cube outlet (11) is located at a position of the tray (100) close to the ice outlet (400), and the direction of the ice cube outlet structure toward the ice outlet (400) is the ice outlet direction.
8. The ice making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes an ice discharging module (300), the ice cube outlet structure is located between the ice making module (200) and the ice discharging module (300), and the ice cube outlet (11) is located at a position of the tray (100) close to the input end of the ice discharging module (300).
9. The ice making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes a cold water tank (500) located below the ice cube outlet structure, and the ice chip outlet (12) corresponds to the inlet position of the cold water tank (500).
10. The ice making machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ice making outlet (21) of the ice making module (200) is higher than the tray member (100), the ice cubes produced by the ice making module (200) fall toward the slope (13) through the self-made ice outlet (21), the ice chip outlet (12) is located within the inclined range of the slope (13), and the falling height of the ice cubes is greater than the outer diameter of a single ice cube.