Ice making device and ice maker

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of ice making, and provides an ice-making device and an ice maker, the ice-making device comprises a box body, an ice-making mechanism and a limit switch, and the box body is provided with an ice-making water inlet; the ice-making mechanism is arranged in the box body, the ice-making mechanism comprises an ice-making box and a limiting piece, the ice-making box is rotatably installed in the box body, the ice-making box is communicated with the ice-making water inlet, and the limiting piece is fixedly connected with the ice-making box; the limiting switch is arranged on the box body and is in triggering fit with the limiting piece so as to control the running state of the ice making mechanism; wherein the box body is provided with a limiting structure, after the limiting piece triggers the limiting switch, at least one of the limiting piece and the ice making box is in abutting fit with the limiting structure so as to limit the rotating angle of the ice making box and stop the ice making box from rotating, and therefore it is determined that the rotating angle of the ice making box each time is accurate; therefore, the consistency of the ice making process and the quality of ice blocks are guaranteed, unnecessary excessive rotation can be avoided, the ice making mechanism can make ice normally, and normal operation of the ice maker is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making technology, and in particular to ice-making devices and ice makers. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, ice makers achieve ice-making functionality by equipping an ice-making mechanism above the water tank. This mechanism includes an ice-making box and an ice-making motor that is driven by the ice-making box. To precisely control the operation of the ice-making mechanism, limit switches are usually installed on the water tank to control the rotation of the ice-making box.

[0003] However, when the ice-making motor drives the ice-making box to rotate to the point where the limit switch is triggered, although the ice-making motor stops, there is still a certain rotational inertia, which causes the position of the ice-making box to deviate from the preset position, affecting the ice-making effect of the ice-making mechanism. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in related technologies. To this end, this invention proposes an ice-making device that facilitates the stopping of the ice-making box, allowing the ice-making mechanism to produce ice normally.

[0005] This utility model also proposes an ice maker.

[0006] An ice-making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0007] The housing is equipped with an ice-making water inlet;

[0008] An ice-making mechanism is provided in the housing. The ice-making mechanism includes an ice-making box and a limiting member. The ice-making box is rotatably installed in the housing. The ice-making box is connected to the ice-making water inlet. The limiting member is fixedly connected to the ice-making box.

[0009] A limit switch is provided in the housing and is triggered and cooperated with the limit component to control the operating state of the ice-making mechanism.

[0010] The housing is provided with a limiting structure. After the limiting component triggers the limiting switch, at least one of the limiting component and the ice maker abuts against the limiting structure to limit the rotation angle of the ice maker.

[0011] According to the ice-making device of this utility model embodiment, when the ice-making box rotates, the limiting member rotates with the ice-making box until the limiting member triggers the limit switch. After the ice-making box stops being driven, the ice-making box stops rotating by setting a limiting structure that abuts against one of the limiting member and the brake box. This ensures that the angle of rotation of the ice-making box is precise each time, thereby ensuring the consistency of the ice-making process and the quality of the ice. It can avoid unnecessary excessive rotation, thus enabling the ice-making mechanism to make ice normally and ensuring the normal operation of the ice maker.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting structure includes a first limiting part and a second limiting part, and the ice-making mechanism has an ice-making state and an ice-removing state;

[0013] In the ice-making state, the limiting member rotates forward to engage with the first limiting part;

[0014] In the de-icing state, the limiting member rotates in the opposite direction to engage with the second limiting part.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the box body is provided with a second shaft hole, the ice maker is provided with a second rotating shaft, and the second rotating shaft is inserted into and rotatably connected to the second shaft hole;

[0016] The limiting structure includes a boss formed on the outer wall of the housing, the boss being arranged around the second shaft hole, the first limiting part being a first step surface formed on one side of the boss, and the second limiting part being a second step surface formed on the other side of the boss.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting member includes a limiting body that is drivenly connected to the ice maker and a limiting protrusion that is connected to the limiting body; wherein, the limiting protrusion is used to abut against the limiting structure.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making mechanism includes an ice-making motor, which is mounted on the outer side wall of the housing, and the output shaft of the ice-making motor is connected to the limiting member in a transmission manner;

[0019] A limiting space is formed between the ice-making motor and the outer wall of the housing. The limiting switch is located within the limiting space, and the side of the limiting switch facing away from the housing abuts against the ice-making motor.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice-making mechanism includes an evaporator, at least a portion of which is located within the ice-making box;

[0021] The evaporator has a first positioning structure at one end and a second positioning structure at the other end. Both the first and second positioning structures are connected to the housing to limit the relative position of the evaporator and the ice box.

[0022] According to one embodiment of this utility model, the box body is provided with an ice receiving trough and an ice storage trough communicating with the ice receiving trough. The ice receiving trough is used to receive ice blocks made in the ice making box, and the ice storage trough is used to store the ice blocks transferred from the ice receiving trough.

[0023] An ice shovel is connected to the ice-making box. The ice shovel can rotate with the ice-making box to push the ice blocks in the ice receiving trough and transfer them to the ice storage trough.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the box body is provided with an ice outlet on one side corresponding to the ice storage tank;

[0025] The ice-making device further includes an ice dispensing box, an ice dispensing motor, and an ice stirring component. The ice dispensing box is located in the housing and has an ice dispensing channel communicating with the ice dispensing port. The ice dispensing motor is installed in the ice dispensing box. A portion of the ice stirring component is located in the ice storage tank, and another portion of the ice stirring component is connected to the output end of the ice dispensing motor through the ice dispensing port. The ice dispensing motor is used to drive the ice stirring component to rotate, thereby driving the ice block to move out of the ice dispensing port.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ice-stirring component is an auger.

[0027] An ice maker according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the ice-making apparatus described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ice-making device provided in this embodiment of the utility model.

[0031] Figure 2This is a first-view schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice-making device provided in this embodiment of the utility model.

[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the box body according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a second-view schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice-making device provided in this embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point B.

[0037] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point C.

[0038] Figure label:

[0039] 100. Housing; 110. Ice-making inlet; 120. Limiting structure; 121. First limiting part; 122. Second limiting part; 130. Room temperature water zone; 131. First level switch; 140. Cold water zone; 141. Second level switch; 150. Ice receiving tank; 160. Ice storage tank; 170. Ice outlet; 181. First shaft hole; 182. Second shaft hole;

[0040] 200. Ice-making mechanism; 210. Ice container; 211. First rotating shaft; 212. Second rotating shaft; 213. Ice shovel; 220. Limiting component; 221. Limiting body; 222. Limiting protrusion;

[0041] 230. Evaporator; 231. Ice maker; 232. First positioning structure; 233. Second positioning structure; 240. Ice-making motor; 300. Limit switch; 400. Lid;

[0042] 510. Positioning component; 520. Anti-foolproof component; 610. Sealing plug; 620. First foam layer; 630. Second foam layer; 710. Ice dispensing box; 711. Ice dispensing channel; 720. Ice dispensing motor; 730. Ice stirring component; 810. Ice baffle; 820. Drive component. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model.

[0044] In the description of the embodiments of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this utility model. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0045] In the description of the embodiments of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0046] In this embodiment of the utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0047] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0048] The following is combined Figures 1-8 The ice-making apparatus and ice maker according to embodiments of the present invention will be described. It is understood that, in embodiments of the present invention, the ice-making apparatus relates to structural components from the generation of ice blocks to the shedding of ice blocks, while the ice maker includes the ice-making apparatus and other structural components, such as a housing, compressor, and water tank.

[0049] Understandably, referring to Figures 1 to 4 In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-making device includes a housing 100, an ice-making mechanism 200, a limit switch 300, and a limit structure 120. The housing 100 is provided with an ice-making inlet 110. The ice-making mechanism 200 is disposed in the housing 100 and includes an ice-making box 210 and a limit member 220. The ice-making box 210 is rotatably installed inside the housing 100 and communicates with the ice-making inlet 110. The limit member 220... The ice maker 210 is fixedly connected to the ice container 210. The limit switch 300 is located on the housing 100. The limit switch 300 and the limit member 220 are triggered to cooperate to control the operating state of the ice maker 200. The housing 100 is provided with a limit structure 120. After the limit member 220 triggers the limit switch 300, at least one of the limit member 220 and the ice container 210 abuts against the limit structure 120 to limit the rotation angle of the ice container 210.

[0050] According to the ice-making device of this utility model embodiment, when the ice-making box 210 rotates, the limiting member 220 rotates with the ice-making box 210 until the limiting member 220 triggers the limit switch 300. After the ice-making box 210 stops being driven, the rotation of the ice-making box 210 is stopped by setting the limiting structure 120 to abut against one of the limiting member 220 and the brake box. This ensures that the angle of rotation of the ice-making box 210 is precise each time, thereby ensuring the consistency of the ice-making process and the quality of the ice. Unnecessary excessive rotation can be avoided, so that the ice-making mechanism 200 can make ice normally and ensure the normal operation of the ice maker.

[0051] It should be noted that, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment of the invention, the interior of the housing 100 is recessed to form a chamber with an opening at the top. A partition is installed within the chamber of the housing 100, forming a room temperature water zone 130 and a cold water zone 140. The room temperature water zone 130 overflows to replenish water to the cold water zone 140. Above the cold water zone 140 are an ice maker 210, an ice receiving trough 150, and an ice storage tank 160. Both the ice receiving trough 150 and the ice storage tank 160 are located below the ice maker 210. The ice receiving trough 150 is used to receive ice cubes made in the ice maker 210, and the ice storage tank 160 is used to receive ice cubes transferred from the ice receiving trough 150, for use by the user. With this structure, the cold water in the cold water zone 140 facilitates the creation of a low-temperature environment for the ice maker 210, the ice receiving trough 150, and the ice storage tank 160, making operation easier, the space arrangement more reasonable, and space-saving, thus simplifying the manufacture of the ice-making water dispenser. It should be noted that the ambient temperature water zone 130 is equipped with a first liquid level switch 131, and the cold water zone 140 is equipped with a second liquid level switch 141.

[0052] It should also be noted that, referring to Figure 1 In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-making device further includes a lid 400, which covers the opening of the chamber in the housing 100 and is detachably connected to the housing 100. With this structure, the chamber has an opening at the top, facilitating the arrangement and installation of components and improving operational convenience. Because the lid 400 is detachably connected to the housing 100, it can be easily opened for cleaning or maintenance, maintaining hygiene and good condition. This ensures a secure and reliable connection between the lid 400 and the housing 100, preventing accidental detachment or leakage.

[0053] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of this utility model, the connection between the cover 400 and the body 100 is a combination of snap-fit ​​connection and bolt connection; of course, in some embodiments, the connection between the cover 400 and the body 100 may be only a snap-fit ​​connection or only a bolt connection, etc., which is not limited here.

[0054] Specifically, refer to Figures 2 to 4 In this embodiment of the present invention, when the limiting member 220 abuts and engages with the limiting structure 120, the limiting structure 120 includes a first limiting part 121 and a second limiting part 122, and the ice-making mechanism 200 has an ice-making state and an ice-removing state; in the ice-making state, the limiting member 220 rotates forward to engage with the first limiting part 121; in the ice-removing state, the limiting member 220 rotates in the reverse direction to engage with the second limiting part 122.

[0055] With the above structure, in this embodiment of the invention, when the ice-making box 210 is driven to rotate forward, the limiting member 220 rotates forward to engage with the first limiting part 121, at which point the ice-making mechanism 200 is in the ice-making state; when the ice-making box 210 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the limiting member 220 rotates in the reverse direction to engage with the second limiting part 122, at which point the ice-making mechanism 200 is in the ice-removing state, thereby preventing the ice-making box 210 from rotating excessively at the preset rotation position and improving the stability of the ice-making box 210 in the corresponding state. The first limiting part 121 and the second limiting part 122 can restrict the movement of the ice-making box 210 in two different directions, thereby achieving bidirectional positioning and ensuring the accurate position of the ice-making box 210 in three-dimensional space. In addition, the clearly defined limiting structure 120 helps to quickly locate problems during maintenance, facilitates the inspection and replacement of related components, provides more flexibility, and makes the overall structure more compact and efficient.

[0056] Understandably, referring to Figure 4 , Figures 6 to 8 In this embodiment of the utility model, the box body 100 is provided with a first shaft hole 181 and a second shaft hole 182, and the ice box 210 is provided with a first rotating shaft 211 and a second rotating shaft 212. The first rotating shaft 211 is inserted into and rotatably connected to the first shaft hole 181, and the second rotating shaft 212 is inserted into and rotatably connected to the second shaft hole 182.

[0057] Specifically, it can be understood that, referring to Figure 6 and Figure 8 In this embodiment of the utility model, a sealing plug 610 is provided on the housing 100. The sealing plug 610 is inserted into the first shaft hole 181 and seals the first shaft hole 181. By inserting the sealing plug 610 into the first shaft hole 181, the gap between the mating part of the first shaft hole 181 and the first rotating shaft 211 is prevented from communicating with the outside of the housing 100.

[0058] Specifically, refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment of the utility model, the limiting structure 120 includes a boss 123 formed on the outer side wall of the housing 100. The boss 123 is arranged around the second shaft hole 182. The first limiting part 121 is a first step surface formed on one side of the boss 123, and the second limiting part 122 is a second step surface formed on the other side of the boss 123.

[0059] By adopting the above structure, the contact area between the limiting member 220 and the limiting structure 120 is further increased through the first step surface and the second step surface, which improves the stability of positioning, reduces the excessive rotation of the ice box 210 during operation, increases the overall strength of the box 100 structure, improves the durability of the equipment, and the compact structural design helps to optimize space, making the overall structure of the ice maker more compact.

[0060] Of course, in some embodiments, the limiting structure 120 may also include a first stop block disposed on the inner side wall of the housing 100 and a second stop block disposed on the outer side wall of the housing 100. When the ice maker 210 rotates forward until the upper part of the ice maker 210 abuts against the first stop block, the ice maker 210 is restricted from continuing to rotate forward, and the ice maker is in the ice-making state. When the ice maker 210 rotates in the reverse direction until the limiting member 220 abuts against the second stop block, the ice maker 210 is restricted from continuing to rotate in the reverse direction, and the ice maker is in the de-icing state.

[0061] Of course, it is also understandable that in some other embodiments, the first stop engages with the upper part of one end of the ice-making container 210, and the second stop engages with the lower part of the ice-making container 210. Similarly, when the ice-making container 210 rotates forward until the upper part of the ice-making container 210 abuts against the first stop, the ice-making container 210 is restricted from continuing to rotate forward, and the ice maker is in the ice-making state; when the ice-making container 210 rotates in the reverse direction until the lower part of the ice-making container 210 abuts against the second stop, the ice-making container 210 is restricted from continuing to rotate in the reverse direction, and the ice maker is in the ice-removing state.

[0062] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In this embodiment of the invention, the limiting member 220 includes a limiting body 221 that is pulsatorically connected to the ice maker 210 and a limiting protrusion 222 connected to the limiting body 221. The limiting protrusion 222 is used to abut against the limiting structure 120. Through this structure, the ice maker 210 and the limiting body 221 are linked and cooperate. When the limiting body 221 rotates, the limiting protrusion 222 rotates accordingly. The limiting protrusion 222 abuts against the first limiting part 121, or the limiting protrusion 222 rotates in the opposite direction to abut against the second limiting part 122, thereby stopping the ice maker 210. The structure is simple and has good stability.

[0063] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-making mechanism 200 further includes an evaporator 230 and an ice-making motor 240. At least a portion of the evaporator 230 is located within the ice-making box 210. The ice-making motor 240 is disposed on the outer wall of the housing 100. The output shaft of the ice-making motor 240 is connected to a limiting member 220. A limiting space is formed between the ice-making motor 240 and the outer wall of the housing 100. A limiting switch 300 is disposed within this limiting space, and one side of the limiting switch 300 facing away from the housing 100 abuts against the ice-making motor 240. It is understood that the second rotating shaft 212 is connected to the output shaft of the ice-making motor 240 via the limiting member 220.

[0064] With the above structure, the resulting limiting space can be understood as being specifically designed to accommodate and position the limit switch 300. The limit switch 300 is set within this limiting space, and the ice-making motor 240 presses the limit switch 300, so that the limit switch 300 does not need to be installed with screws or the like, further saving materials and processes; it can also provide a certain degree of protection for the limit switch 300, preventing external impurities or accidental collisions from damaging the switch, and can effectively utilize space, especially in space-constrained mechanical designs.

[0065] Understandably, referring to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-making water inlet 110 is located on one side of the housing 100, and the limit switch 300 is located on the opposite side of the housing 100. With this arrangement, the limit switch 300 can be positioned away from the ice-making water inlet 110, preventing it from approaching the high-humidity water inlet area and reducing the possibility of water vapor condensation on the switch surface. Therefore, this not only protects the limit switch 300 from water vapor damage and extends its service life, but also improves the overall performance and reliability of the ice maker, ensuring the stability of the ice maker during continuous operation and the convenience of user operation.

[0066] Of course, in some embodiments, the limit switch 300 can also be arranged on the same side as the ice-making water inlet 110, or the limit switch 300 and the ice-making water inlet 110 can be arranged on adjacent side walls of the housing 100 respectively. However, the limit switch 300 and the ice-making water inlet 110 need to be spaced at a certain distance to avoid the water vapor of the ice-making water inlet 110 affecting the limit switch 300.

[0067] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment of the invention, the limit switch 300 is inclinedly disposed on the outer side wall of the housing 100. This arrangement provides the limit switch 300 with a certain angle, preventing condensate from accumulating on its surface and allowing it to quickly slide off, thus preventing condensate from seeping in and corroding its internal components.

[0068] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment of the invention, a positioning member 510 is provided on the outer side wall of the housing 100, and the positioning member 510 is inserted into the limit switch 300. This insertion connection allows the limit switch 300 to be quickly installed and fixed to the outer side wall of the housing 100 via the positioning member 510, without requiring a complex fixing procedure, facilitating maintenance and replacement, and providing good stability.

[0069] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment of the invention, the positioning member 510 is a positioning post, and the limit switch 300 is provided with a positioning through hole. The positioning post is inserted into the positioning through hole to limit the position of the limit switch 300. Using this structure, by inserting the positioning post into the positioning through hole of the limit switch 300, it can be ensured that the mechanical component stops at a predetermined, precise position, thereby achieving high-precision position control. The positioning post can enhance the stability of the limit switch 300 and other related components, reducing vibration and shaking.

[0070] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the utility model, there are two positioning posts. The two positioning posts are connected to the housing 100 at a certain angle. The two positioning posts can provide dual-point positioning. Compared with a single positioning post, dual-point positioning can provide more stable support and more accurate alignment. It can reduce the overall positioning inaccuracy caused by single-point failure or deviation. It can also limit the movement of the limit switch 300 at the same time and provide better structural strength, especially under heavy load or dynamic load.

[0071] Understandably, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment of the invention, two positioning posts are connected to the housing 100 at a certain angle, with their center lines forming an oblique line, so that the limit switch 300 is tilted on the outer side wall of the housing 100. Of course, in some embodiments, there may be one, three, four, etc., positioning posts, which are not limited here. It should be noted that the positioning posts can be integrally formed posts with the housing 100, or positioning bolts, snap-fit ​​posts, etc., connected to the housing 100, which are not limited here.

[0072] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment of the invention, the outer wall of the housing 100 is provided with a foolproof anti-misoperation component 520, the upper surface of which abuts against the lower surface of the limit switch 300. This can be understood as the foolproof anti-misoperation component 520 being connected to the housing 100 at a preset angle. The angled abutment between the foolproof anti-misoperation component 520 and the limit switch 300 prevents the limit switch 300 from being installed incorrectly, reducing the probability of incorrect installation and improving production efficiency. It should be noted that the aforementioned foolproof anti-misoperation component 520 is a foolproof plate, which cooperates with the positioning post to achieve the tilted setting of the limit switch 300.

[0073] Of course, in some embodiments, the limit switch 300 can also be clamped and fixed to the outer side wall of the housing 100 by a clamping structure; or in some embodiments, it can also be snapped and fixed to the limit switch 300 by a buckle, which is not limited here.

[0074] Specifically, refer to Figures 5 to 8 It is understood that in this embodiment of the utility model, the outer wall of the housing 100 is covered with foam material, which can be fixed to the outer wall of the housing 100 by adhesive bonding to form a foam layer; correspondingly, it is understood that a first foam layer 620 is provided between the limit switch 300 and the outer wall of the housing 100, the aforementioned positioning post and anti-fooling component 520 are arranged through the first foam layer 620, and a second foam layer 630 is provided on the outer wall of the housing 100 corresponding to the sealing plug 610. The second foam layer 630 covers the sealing plug 610, which can not only limit the installation position of the sealing plug 610, but also further seal it, which is conducive to avoiding the formation of condensate. The structure is simple and the assembly is convenient.

[0075] Understandably, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment of the utility model, an ice shovel 213 is connected to the ice maker 210. The ice shovel 213 can rotate with the ice maker 210 to push the ice blocks in the ice receiving tank 150 and transfer them to the ice storage tank 160.

[0076] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator 230 is used to introduce refrigerant or high-temperature medium, and the ice maker is equipped with a corresponding compressor. In this embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator 230 has an ice-making column 231, which can contact the water in the ice box 210.

[0077] When making ice, the ice-making motor 240 drives the ice-making box 210 to rotate, and the limit component 220 triggers the limit switch 300, at which point the ice maker stops. Water is introduced into the ice-making box 210 through the ice-making water inlet 110, and the compressor is started to cool the ice. The refrigerant flows through the ice-making column 231 of the evaporator 230 and exchanges heat with the water in the ice-making box 210, and ice gradually forms on the surface of the ice-making column 231 that is not submerged in water. During the ice removal process, after the ice block is formed, the ice-making motor 240 drives the ice-making box 210 and the ice shovel 213 to rotate to a certain angle. This can be understood as ensuring that the ice block does not interfere with the ice-making box 210 and the ice shovel 213 when it falls off. The ice-making box 210 and the ice shovel 213 avoid the path of the ice block falling to the ice receiving tank 150. The high-temperature gas from the compressor is introduced into the ice-making column 231, and the contact surface between the ice block and the ice-making column 231 melts. The ice block falls from the ice-making column 231 to the ice receiving tank 150. The structure is reasonably designed, the transmission is reliable, and the ice-making efficiency is improved.

[0078] It should be noted that after the ice receiving tank 150 receives ice, i.e., after de-icing is completed, the ice-making motor 240 drives the ice-making box 210 to rotate forward through the limiting member 220. The limiting member 220 triggers the limit switch 300, and the limiting member 220 abuts against the first limiting part 121. At this time, the ice-making motor 240 stops, and the ice shovel 213 simultaneously pushes the ice blocks in the ice receiving tank 150 into the ice storage tank 160. At the same time, the ice-making mechanism 200 can resume ice-making. Of course, in some embodiments, the ice-making mechanism 200 can also simultaneously make ice and push the ice blocks in the ice receiving tank 150 into the ice storage tank 160, which is not limited here.

[0079] Understandably, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment of the utility model, one end of the evaporator 230 is provided with a first positioning structure 232, and the other end of the evaporator 230 is provided with a second positioning structure 233. Both the first positioning structure 232 and the second positioning structure 233 are connected to the housing 100 to limit the relative position of the evaporator 230 and the ice box 210 and improve the installation stability of the evaporator 230.

[0080] Specifically, in this embodiment of the present invention, the first positioning structure 232 is a pressure plate, which is fixedly connected to the housing 100 by means of snap-fit, screw-fit, etc., so that one end of the evaporator 230 is clamped and fixed between the pressure plate and the housing 100. The second positioning structure 233 is a support plate, which is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the end of the evaporator 230 away from the pressure plate. The support plate is fixedly connected to the housing 100 by means of snap-fit, screw-fit, etc., thereby positioning the relative position of the evaporator 230 and the ice box 210, preventing the evaporator 230 from rotating or shifting, and improving assembly stability.

[0081] Of course, in some embodiments, the first positioning structure 232 and the second positioning structure 233 may also be configured as buckles, clamps or other means to fix the evaporator 230 to the housing 100, which is not limited here.

[0082] Understandably, referring to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment of the present invention, the box 100 is provided with an ice outlet 170 on one side corresponding to the ice storage tank 160; the ice making device also includes an ice dispensing box 710, an ice dispensing motor 720 and an ice stirring component 730. The ice dispensing box 710 is located in the box 100 and has an ice dispensing channel 711 communicating with the ice outlet 170. The ice dispensing motor 720 is installed in the ice dispensing box 710. A part of the structure of the ice stirring component 730 is located in the ice storage tank 160, and another part of the structure of the ice stirring component 730 is connected to the output end of the ice dispensing motor 720 through the ice outlet 170. The ice dispensing motor 720 is used to drive the ice stirring component 730 to rotate so as to drive the ice block to move out of the ice outlet 170.

[0083] With the above structure, when ice accumulates in the ice storage tank 160, the ice dispensing motor 720 drives the ice churning component 730 to rotate. The rotating component 730 drags the ice blocks towards the ice outlet 170, where they fall through the ice outlet 170 along the ice dispensing channel 711. When ice dispensing stops, the ice dispensing motor 720 stops operating. During rotation, the ice churning component 730 keeps the ice blocks separate, preventing them from sticking together into large chunks during storage. This ensures that the ice blocks maintain an appropriate size and shape when passing through the ice outlet 170, preventing blockages. By reducing the probability of ice blocks getting stuck in the ice outlet 170, the use of the ice churning component 730 reduces the mechanical stress on the entire ice-making and dispensing system, thereby extending the overall service life of the equipment. The movement of the ice churning component 730 promotes the flow and distribution of cold air in the ice storage tank 160, helping the ice blocks cool evenly and improving their overall quality. In addition, the movement of the ice churning component 730 can help push the ice blocks near the bottom of the ice storage tank 160 toward the ice outlet 170, which can improve the speed and efficiency of ice dispensing.

[0084] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-stirring component 730 is an auger. The auger continuously stirs the ice blocks within the ice storage tank 160, preventing the ice blocks from sticking together and forming blocky ice. Through the continuous operation of the auger, not only are the ice blocks effectively stirred, but the circulation of cold air is also improved, which helps to evenly distribute the cold air within the ice storage tank 160, ensuring that all the ice blocks are fully frozen and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0085] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment of the utility model, the ice box 710 is provided with an ice baffle 810 and a driving member 820. The ice baffle 810 is located at the connection between the ice outlet 170 and the ice outlet channel 711, and the ice baffle 810 is movably connected to the ice box 710. The ice baffle 810 is also connected to the output end of the driving member 820 to drive the ice baffle 810 to move to the position that blocks or opens the ice outlet 170 and the ice outlet channel 711.

[0086] It should be noted that the ice baffle 810 and the ice dispensing box 710 can be rotatably or movablely connected. The aforementioned driving component 820 is a solenoid valve or a telescopic motor, etc. The corresponding driving method can be selected according to the connection method between the ice baffle 810 and the ice dispensing box 710, and no limitation is made here.

[0087] It should also be noted that, in this embodiment of the invention, the ice storage tank 160 is equipped with a full ice probe. When ice accumulates in the ice storage tank 160 and blocks the full ice probe, it is determined to be full, and ice making is stopped. This full ice probe can be understood as an infrared sensor or a displacement sensor, etc., and is not limited thereto.

[0088] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of the present utility model do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present utility model and should be covered within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An ice-making device, characterized in that, include: The housing is equipped with an ice-making water inlet; An ice-making mechanism is provided in the housing. The ice-making mechanism includes an ice-making box and a limiting member. The ice-making box is rotatably installed in the housing. The ice-making box is connected to the ice-making water inlet. The limiting member is fixedly connected to the ice-making box. A limit switch is provided in the housing and is triggered and cooperated with the limit component to control the operating state of the ice-making mechanism. The housing is provided with a limiting structure. After the limiting component triggers the limiting switch, at least one of the limiting component and the ice maker abuts against the limiting structure to limit the rotation angle of the ice maker.

2. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting structure includes a first limiting part and a second limiting part, and the ice-making mechanism has an ice-making state and an ice-removing state; In the ice-making state, the limiting member rotates forward to engage with the first limiting part; In the de-icing state, the limiting member rotates in the opposite direction to engage with the second limiting part.

3. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a second shaft hole, and the ice maker is provided with a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft is inserted into and rotatably connected to the second shaft hole. The limiting structure includes a boss formed on the outer wall of the housing, the boss being arranged around the second shaft hole, the first limiting part being a first step surface formed on one side of the boss, and the second limiting part being a second step surface formed on the other side of the boss.

4. The ice-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The limiting component includes a limiting body that is drivenly connected to the ice maker and a limiting protrusion that is connected to the limiting body; The limiting protrusion is used to abut against the limiting structure.

5. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making mechanism includes an ice-making motor, which is mounted on the outer side wall of the housing, and the output shaft of the ice-making motor is connected to the limiting member in a transmission manner. A limiting space is formed between the ice-making motor and the outer wall of the housing. The limiting switch is located within the limiting space, and the side of the limiting switch facing away from the housing abuts against the ice-making motor.

6. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making mechanism includes an evaporator, at least a portion of which is located within the ice-making container; The evaporator has a first positioning structure at one end and a second positioning structure at the other end. Both the first and second positioning structures are connected to the housing to limit the relative position of the evaporator and the ice box.

7. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box is equipped with an ice receiving trough and an ice storage trough communicating with the ice receiving trough. The ice receiving trough is used to receive ice blocks produced in the ice making box, and the ice storage trough is used to store ice blocks transferred from the ice receiving trough. An ice shovel is connected to the ice-making box. The ice shovel can rotate with the ice-making box to push the ice blocks in the ice receiving trough and transfer them to the ice storage trough.

8. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The box body is provided with an ice outlet on one side corresponding to the ice storage tank; The ice-making device further includes an ice dispensing box, an ice dispensing motor, and an ice stirring component. The ice dispensing box is located in the housing and has an ice dispensing channel communicating with the ice dispensing port. The ice dispensing motor is installed in the ice dispensing box. A portion of the ice stirring component is located in the ice storage tank, and another portion of the ice stirring component is connected to the output end of the ice dispensing motor through the ice dispensing port. The ice dispensing motor is used to drive the ice stirring component to rotate, thereby driving the ice block to move out of the ice dispensing port.

9. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ice-stirring component is an auger.

10. An ice maker, characterized in that, Includes the ice-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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