Ice maker

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of ice making equipment, and discloses an ice maker which comprises a shell assembly and a circulation assembly. The shell assembly comprises an inner container and outer partition plates, the outer partition plates are arranged on the outer side of the inner container at intervals, and filling layers are arranged between the outer partition plates and the inner container. The top of the liner is an ice-making area, the middle of the liner is connected with a water tank, the bottom of the liner is provided with a water collecting tank, and the bottom wall of the water collecting tank is provided with a first water outlet; the circulating assembly is arranged on the outer side of the shell assembly and comprises a water pump and a first pipeline, the water pump is arranged on the side, away from the inner container, of the outer partition plate and communicates with the first water outlet, and the first pipeline is connected with the water pump and the water tank. By means of the arrangement, the water suction pump can be far away from an ice making area, ice blocks and water flow collected in the water collecting tank are prevented from being polluted, recycling of the water flow can be achieved, and waste is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making equipment technology, and in particular to an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] An ice maker is a device that uses the principle of evaporation and heat absorption to produce solid ice. During the ice-making process, condensation droplets form in the ice-making area, and water drips to the bottom of the area as the ice melts. Excessive water can cause overflow and leakage. To solve this problem, current technology involves installing a water pump directly at the bottom of the ice-making area to remove the water. However, this design presents several drawbacks. First, routing the pump at the bottom of the ice-making area is difficult, leading to maintenance and repair issues. Second, the pump can contaminate the ice and the water collected at the bottom of the ice-making area, failing to meet food-grade hygiene requirements. Furthermore, it cannot effectively recycle the water for ice making, resulting in water waste. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides an ice maker that allows the water pump to be kept away from the ice-making area, preventing contamination of the ice and the water collected at the bottom, and enabling water recycling to reduce waste.

[0004] In a first aspect, one technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this application is: providing an ice maker, including a shell assembly and a circulation assembly. The shell assembly includes an inner liner and an outer partition, the outer partition being spaced apart on the outside of the inner liner, and a filling layer being provided between the outer partition and the inner liner; the top of the inner liner is an ice-making area, a water tank is connected to the middle of the inner liner, a water collection trough is provided at the bottom of the inner liner, and a first drain outlet is provided on the bottom wall of the water collection trough; the circulation assembly is disposed on the outside of the shell assembly, the circulation assembly includes a water pump and a first pipe, the water pump is disposed on the side of the outer partition away from the inner liner, the water pump is connected to the first drain outlet, and the first pipe is connected to the water pump and the water tank respectively.

[0005] In some embodiments, the inner liner is provided with a first sidewall surrounding the first drain outlet on the side opposite to the water collection tank. The outer side of the first sidewall abuts against the outer partition, and the inner side of the first sidewall encloses to form a first channel. One end of the first channel is connected to the first drain outlet, and the other end of the first channel is connected to the water pump.

[0006] In some embodiments, the outer partition is provided with a first notch for avoiding the first sidewall, and the outer side of the first sidewall is provided with an abutment plate that abuts against the side of the outer partition near the inner liner; and / or, the circulation assembly further includes a first seal, which is disposed at the other end of the first channel and is connected to the water pump and the first sidewall respectively.

[0007] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the water collection tank is provided with a second drain outlet;

[0008] The ice maker also includes a drainage assembly located on the outside of the housing assembly. The drainage assembly includes a second pipe and a drain switch. The second pipe connects to the second drain outlet and the outside. The drain switch is located on the second pipe to control the opening and closing of the second pipe.

[0009] In some embodiments, the inner liner is provided with a second sidewall surrounding the second drain outlet on the side opposite to the water collection tank. The outer side of the second sidewall abuts against the outer partition, and the inner side of the second sidewall encloses to form a second channel. One end of the second channel is connected to the second drain outlet, and the other end of the second channel is connected to the second pipe. The abutment plate connects the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

[0010] In some embodiments, a reinforcing rib is further connected between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The reinforcing rib includes a first part and a second part. The first part is located between the inner liner and the outer partition, and the second part is located on the side of the outer partition away from the inner liner. The water pump is fixed to the second part.

[0011] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a water level detector disposed in a water collection tank and electrically connected to a water pump and / or a drain switch.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a water plug assembly disposed in the inner liner and located in the water collection tank. The water plug assembly includes a first fixing member and a plug body. The first fixing member partially fixes the plug body to the inner liner. The plug body is used to block a first drain outlet or a second drain outlet.

[0013] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes an ice basket, an inner liner having a receiving cavity and an opening, the opening communicating with the receiving cavity and allowing the ice basket to enter and exit the receiving cavity, the receiving cavity communicating with a water collection tank, and the inner liner having a water-blocking wall along the opening.

[0014] In some embodiments, the bottom of the inner liner is provided with a guide slope, which is located between the water-blocking wall and the water collection trough, and the guide slope creates a first gap between the bottom wall of the ice basket and the bottom of the inner liner.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this application embodiment are as follows: The ice maker of this application embodiment includes a shell assembly and a circulation assembly. The shell assembly includes an inner liner and an outer partition, the outer partition being spaced apart on the outside of the inner liner, and a filling layer being provided between the outer partition and the inner liner; the top of the inner liner is the ice-making area, the middle of the inner liner is connected to a water tank, the bottom of the inner liner is provided with a water collection trough, and the bottom wall of the water collection trough is provided with a first drain outlet; the circulation assembly is located on the outside of the shell assembly, and the circulation assembly includes a water pump and a first pipe, the water pump being located on the side of the outer partition away from the inner liner, the water pump being connected to the first drain outlet, and the first pipe being connected to the water pump and the water tank respectively. Through the above arrangement, the water pump can be kept away from the ice-making area, preventing contamination of the ice and the water collected at the bottom, and enabling water recycling and reducing waste. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments will be briefly introduced below. In all the drawings, similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals. In the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an ice maker according to an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 The ice maker in this embodiment of the application is along Figure 1 Sectional view of AA;

[0019] Figure 3 The ice maker in this embodiment of the application is along Figure 1 Sectional view of BB;

[0020] Figure 4 The ice maker in this embodiment of the application is... Figure 3 A magnified view of part C in the middle;

[0021] Figure 5 The ice maker in this embodiment of the application is along Figure 1 A partial sectional view of DD. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. When an element is described as "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. The terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," etc., used in this specification indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0024] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0025] Please see Figure 1 This application provides an ice maker 100, which includes a housing assembly 10 and a circulation assembly 20. The housing assembly 10 includes an inner liner 11 and an outer partition 12. The outer partition 12 is spaced apart on the outside of the inner liner 11, and a filling layer (not shown) is provided between the outer partition 12 and the inner liner 11. The filling layer is used to reduce heat exchange between the inner liner 11 and the outside environment to ensure the cooling effect of the inner liner 11. As an example, the filling layer can be a foam layer.

[0026] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The top 111a of the inner liner 11 is an ice-making area and is connected to an ice-making component (not shown in the figure). The middle 111b of the inner liner 11 is connected to a water tank 13, which stores the water supplied to the ice-making component. The bottom 111c of the inner liner 11 is provided with a water collection trough 112, which is used to collect the water flow in the inner liner 11 during the ice-making process. The bottom wall of the water collection trough 112 is provided with a first drain outlet 1121. The circulation component 20 is located on the outside of the shell component 10. The circulation component 20 includes a water pump 21 and a first pipe 22. The water pump 21 is located on the side of the outer partition 12 away from the inner liner 11. The water pump 21 is connected to the first drain outlet 1121, and the first pipe 22 is connected to the water pump 21 and the water tank 13 respectively.

[0027] With the above structural design, the water collected in the water collection tank 112 can be pumped by the water pump 21 through the first drain outlet 1121 into the water tank 13 for continued ice making, reducing water waste. Furthermore, placing the water pump 21 on the outside of the inner liner 11 increases the space of the water collection tank 112, allowing it to collect more water. On the other hand, the water pump 21 will not contaminate the inner liner 11, meeting food-grade hygiene requirements. Moreover, the position of the water pump 21 does not interfere with the position of the filling layer, facilitating the wiring of the water pump 21 and subsequent disassembly and maintenance, reducing the difficulty of installation.

[0028] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The inner liner 11 has a first sidewall 113 surrounding the first drain outlet 1121 on the side opposite to the water collection tank 112. The outer side of the first sidewall 113 abuts against the outer partition 12, and the inner side of the first sidewall 113 forms a first channel 1131. One end of the first channel 1131 is connected to the first drain outlet 1121, and the other end of the first channel 1131 is connected to the water pump 21. By providing the first sidewall 113 extending towards the outer partition 12 on the inner liner 11 to form the first channel 1131 for drainage, the sealing of the bottom 111c of the inner liner 11 can be improved, preventing water leakage into the foam layer at the first drain outlet 1121. On the other hand, the partial extension of the first channel 1131 beyond the outer partition 12 facilitates the connection between the first channel 1131 and the water pump 21, reducing the difficulty of installation and disassembly. As an example, the first sidewall 113 and the inner liner 11 are integrally formed.

[0029] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The circulation assembly 20 also includes a first seal 23, which is disposed at the other end of the first channel 1131. The first seal 23 is connected to the water pump 21 and the first side wall 113 respectively to seal the gap between the water pump 21 and the first side wall 113, prevent water from leaking from the gap between them, and enhance the sealing performance.

[0030] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The outer partition 12 is provided with a first notch 121, which is used to avoid the first side wall 113, so that a part of the first side wall 113 can pass through the outer partition 12. During the assembly process, in order to facilitate the assembly of the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12, the size of the first notch 121 is generally larger than the diameter of the first side wall 113, that is, after the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12 are assembled, the first side wall 113 and the outer partition 12 are spaced apart (spaced out). Therefore, an abutment plate 1132 is provided on the outer side of the first sidewall 113. The abutment plate 1132 abuts against the side of the outer partition 12 near the inner liner 11. This allows the abutment plate 1132 to cover the gap between the first sidewall 113 and the outer partition 12, so that when the foam layer is filled between the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12, the foam layer will not overflow from the gap between the first sidewall 113 and the outer partition 12. At the same time, the abutment plate 1132 abutting against the outer partition 12 also helps to enhance the structural strength of the connection between the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12 and reduce the deformation of the bottom 111c of the inner liner 11.

[0031] In the above embodiments, after the water in the inner tank 11 collects in the water collection tank 112, it can be pumped back to the water tank 13 by the water pump 21 for continued use. However, when the water in the water collection tank 112 does not meet hygiene requirements, or when the inner tank 11 needs to be cleaned after a period of use, the wastewater in the water collection tank 112 needs to be discharged to the outside. To this end, the ice maker 100 in this embodiment of the application also includes a drainage component 30, which is connected to the water collection tank 112 to discharge the wastewater in the water collection tank 112 to the outside.

[0032] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The bottom wall of the water collection tank 112 is also provided with a second drain outlet 1122. The drainage component 30 is also located outside the shell component 10, that is, the drainage component 30 is located on the side of the outer partition 12 away from the inner liner 11. This avoids the drainage component 30 being installed in the foam layer, which would make it difficult to inspect, repair, and replace later. The drainage component 30 includes a second pipe 31 and a drain switch 32. The second pipe 31 connects the second drain outlet 1122 to the outside. The drain switch 32 is connected to the second pipe 31 and is used to control the opening and closing of the second pipe 31 to achieve the drainage and water storage functions. As examples, the drain switch 32 can be a solenoid valve, a pneumatic valve, or a manual valve.

[0033] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The inner liner 11 has a second sidewall 114 surrounding the second drain outlet 1122 on the side opposite to the water collection tank 112. The outer side of the second sidewall 114 abuts against the outer partition 12, and the inner side of the second sidewall 114 forms a second channel 1141. One end of the second channel 1141 is connected to the second drain outlet 1122, and the other end of the second channel 1141 is connected to the second pipe 31. By setting the second sidewall 114 on the inner liner 11 to form the second channel 1141, and by partially passing through the outer partition 12, it is convenient to connect the second pipe 31 to the second channel 1141, avoiding the need for the second pipe 31 to extend into the foam layer, which would make future maintenance and replacement difficult.

[0034] As an example, please refer to Figure 4The first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114 are arranged close to each other and spaced apart. The second sidewall 114 passes through the outer partition 12 through the first notch 121, and the second sidewall 114 and the outer partition 12 are spaced apart (without gaps). The abutment plate 1132 connects the first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114, and the abutment plate 1132 covers the gap between the second sidewall 114 and the outer partition 12 to prevent the filling layer from overflowing from the gap. In some embodiments, to further enhance the airtightness between the inner liner 11 and the second sidewall 114, the inner liner 11 and the second sidewall 114 are integrally formed, which can prevent water leakage at the connection between the second drain outlet 1122 and the second sidewall 114.

[0035] It is understood that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the first pipe 22 is a flexible hose, allowing the first pipe 22 to be partially bent to connect the first sidewall 113 and the water tank 13, which is beneficial for the layout of the first pipe 22 inside the ice maker 100. Similarly, at least a portion of the second pipe 31 is a flexible hose, allowing the second pipe 31 to be partially bent to connect the second sidewall 114 and the outside, or as... Figure 5 As shown, the second pipe 31 can be partially bent to connect the second sidewall 114 and the drain outlet 71 on the outer casing of the ice maker 100, which is beneficial to the layout of the second pipe 31 inside the ice maker 100.

[0036] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 A reinforcing rib 115 is also connected between the first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114 to enhance the structural strength of the first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114 and prevent them from deforming and causing leakage. As an example, the reinforcing rib 115 includes a first part 1151 and a second part 1152. The first part 1151 is located between the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12 to support the first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114 between the inner liner 11 and the outer partition 12, preventing deformation of the first sidewall 113 and the second sidewall 114 due to the force exerted by the filling layer when the filling layer is added. The second part 1152 is located on the side of the outer partition 12 away from the inner liner 11, that is, the second part 1152 of the reinforcing rib 115 extends out of the outer partition 12, and the water pump 21 can be fixed to the second part 1152 to complete the assembly. As some examples, the water pump 21 can be fixed to the second part 1152 by screws, or by any method such as snap-fit, fastening, or adhesive.

[0037] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3The ice maker 100 also includes a water level detector 40, which is located in the water collection tank 112. The water level detector 40 is used to detect the height of the water level in the water collection tank 112, and the water level detector 40 is electrically connected to the water pump 21 and / or the drain switch 32 so that the water in the water collection tank 112 can be drained in time to prevent the water from overflowing the water collection tank 112.

[0038] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The ice maker 100 also includes a water plug assembly 50, which is disposed in the inner tank 11 and located within the water collection tank 112. The water plug assembly 50 includes a first fixing member 51 and a plug body 52. ​​The first fixing member 51 partially fixes the plug body 52 to the inner tank 11, and the plug body 52 is used to block the first drain outlet 1121 or the second drain outlet 1122. By providing the water plug assembly 50 on the inner tank 11, the user can manually select the recycling mode and the drainage mode, which can prevent the water pump 21 and the drain switch 32 from being in standby mode for a long time, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the ice maker 100. Specifically, when the user blocks the first drain outlet 1121 with the plug 52, it is in drainage mode. The power supply to the water pump 21 can be cut off to reduce energy consumption. By controlling the start of the drain switch 32, the water in the collection tank 112 can be discharged from the ice maker 100 through the second pipe 31. When the user blocks the second drain outlet 1122 with the plug 52, it is in recycling mode. The power supply to the drain switch 32 can be cut off to reduce energy consumption. By controlling the start of the water pump 21, the water in the collection tank 112 can be pumped into the water tank 13 through the first pipe 22 for reuse.

[0039] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 The ice maker 100 also includes an ice basket 60. The inner liner 11 has a receiving cavity 111 and an opening 111d. The opening 111d communicates with the receiving cavity 111 and is used for the ice basket 60 to enter and exit the receiving cavity 111, so that the ice basket 60 can receive ice in the receiving cavity 111 or exit the receiving cavity 111 for the user to take ice. The receiving cavity 111 communicates with the water collection tank 112. To facilitate the movement of the ice basket 60 relative to the inner liner 11, the bottom wall of the inner liner 11 is inclined toward the opening 111d. In order to prevent water flowing on the bottom wall of the inner liner 11 from overflowing from the outlet, a water baffle 116 can be provided along the edge of the opening 111d in the inner liner 11.

[0040] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2The bottom 111c of the inner liner 11 is provided with a guide slope 117, which is located between the water-blocking wall 116 and the water collection tank 112, and the guide slope 117 is inclined toward the water collection tank 112. When the ice basket 60 is placed in the receiving cavity 111, the guide slope 117 creates a first gap between the bottom wall of the ice basket 60 and the bottom 111c of the inner liner 11. The water flow on the bottom wall of the inner liner 11 is blocked by the water-blocking wall 116, and can flow along the first gap into the water collection tank 112 to complete the water collection.

[0041] The ice maker 100 of this application embodiment includes a housing assembly 10 and a circulation assembly 20. The housing assembly 10 includes an inner liner 11 and an outer partition 12. The outer partition 12 is spaced apart on the outside of the inner liner 11, and a filling layer is provided between the outer partition 12 and the inner liner 11. The top 111a of the inner liner 11 is the ice-making area, the middle 111b of the inner liner 11 is connected to a water tank 13, and the bottom 111c of the inner liner 11 is provided with a water collection trough 112. The bottom wall of the water collection trough 112 is provided with a first drain outlet 1121. The circulation assembly 20 is located on the outside of the housing assembly 10. The circulation assembly 20 includes a water pump 21 and a first pipe 22. The water pump 21 is located on the side of the outer partition 12 away from the inner liner 11. The water pump 21 is connected to the first drain outlet 1121, and the first pipe 22 is connected to the water pump 21 and the water tank 13 respectively. With the above settings, the water pump 21 can be kept away from the ice-making area to prevent contamination of the ice and the water collected in the water tank 112, and the water can be recycled to reduce waste.

[0042] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: A shell assembly includes an inner liner and an outer partition, the outer partition being spaced apart on the outside of the inner liner, and a filling layer being provided between the outer partition and the inner liner; The top of the inner liner is an ice-making area, the middle of the inner liner is connected to a water tank, the bottom of the inner liner is provided with a water collection trough, and the bottom wall of the water collection trough is provided with a first drain outlet. A circulation assembly is disposed on the outside of the housing assembly. The circulation assembly includes a water pump and a first pipe. The water pump is disposed on the side of the outer partition away from the inner liner. The water pump is connected to the first drain outlet, and the first pipe is connected to the water pump and the water tank respectively.

2. The ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner has a first sidewall surrounding the first drain outlet on the side opposite to the water collection tank. The outer side of the first sidewall abuts against the outer partition, and the inner side of the first sidewall encloses to form a first channel. One end of the first channel is connected to the first drain outlet, and the other end of the first channel is connected to the water pump.

3. The ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer partition is provided with a first notch, which is used to avoid the first side wall. An abutment plate is provided on the outer side of the first side wall, and the abutment plate abuts against the side of the outer partition near the inner liner. And / or, the circulation assembly further includes a first seal disposed at the other end of the first channel, the first seal being connected to the water pump and the first sidewall respectively.

4. The ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the water collection tank is provided with a second drain outlet; The ice maker also includes a drainage assembly, which is located on the outside of the housing assembly. The drainage assembly includes a second pipe and a drain switch. The second pipe connects the second drain outlet to the outside, and the drain switch is located on the second pipe to control the opening and closing of the second pipe.

5. The ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner liner has a second sidewall surrounding the second drain outlet on the side opposite to the water collection tank. The outer side of the second sidewall abuts against the outer partition plate, and the inner side of the second sidewall encloses to form a second channel. One end of the second channel is connected to the second drain outlet, and the other end of the second channel is connected to the second pipe. The abutment plate connects the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

6. The ice maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, A reinforcing rib is also connected between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The reinforcing rib includes a first part and a second part. The first part is located between the inner liner and the outer partition, and the second part is located on the side of the outer partition away from the inner liner. The water pump is fixed to the second part.

7. The ice maker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a water level detector, which is disposed in the water collection tank and electrically connected to the water pump and / or the drain switch.

8. The ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes a water plug assembly, which is disposed in the inner liner and located in the water collection tank. The water plug assembly includes a first fixing member and a plug body. The first fixing member partially fixes the plug body to the inner liner, and the plug body is used to block the first drain outlet or the second drain outlet.

9. The ice maker according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ice maker also includes an ice basket, the inner liner has a receiving cavity and an opening, the opening is connected to the receiving cavity, the opening is used for the ice basket to enter and exit the receiving cavity, the receiving cavity is connected to the water collection tank, and the inner liner has a water baffle wall along the opening.

10. The ice maker according to claim 9, characterized in that, The bottom of the inner liner is provided with a flow guide slope, which is located between the water baffle wall and the water collection trough. The flow guide slope creates a first gap between the bottom wall of the ice basket and the bottom of the inner liner.

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