Ice maker and refrigerator

Abstract

This utility model relates to an ice-making device and a refrigerator. The ice-making device includes: a housing with a top cover and a lower channel for connecting to a cold source; an ice-making component disposed inside the housing; and a first heating element disposed inside the cover. The first heating element actively heats the top area of ​​the ice-making component, which slows down the freezing rate of the liquid at the top of the ice-making component. Simultaneously, the lower part of the housing has a channel for connecting to the cold source, allowing the ice condensation process to proceed from the bottom upwards, forming a bottom-up directional crystallization pattern. During this process, the top layer of liquid water remains unfrozen for a longer period, providing a continuous channel for dissolved gases in the water to escape, allowing bubbles to fully dissipate, thereby significantly reducing the bubble content inside the ice and improving the transparency and visual quality of the ice.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ice-making technology, and in particular to an ice-making device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As an indispensable household appliance in modern homes, the ice-making function of refrigerators is receiving increasing attention from consumers. However, during the ice-making process, ice usually condenses from the outside of the liquid inwards, causing air bubbles to be blocked by the outer ice film and unable to escape. This results in a large number of air bubbles inside the ice cube, reducing its transparency and affecting its appearance and quality. Utility Model Content

[0003] Some embodiments of this utility model propose an ice-making device and a refrigerator for improving the quality of ice produced by the ice-making device.

[0004] In one aspect of this utility model, an ice-making apparatus is provided, comprising:

[0005] The housing includes a cover plate at the top and a channel at the bottom for connecting to a cold source;

[0006] An ice-making component is disposed inside the housing; and

[0007] The first heating element is located inside the cover plate.

[0008] In some embodiments, the cover plate includes:

[0009] Outer cover plate; and

[0010] An inner cover plate is disposed on the side of the outer cover plate adjacent to the ice-making component, and the first heating component is disposed between the outer cover plate and the inner cover plate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first heating element is configured as a sheet.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cover plate is provided with a detection element configured to detect the icing state within the ice-making component.

[0013] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0014] Top plate; and

[0015] Two side plates are connected to the top plate and extend downward from the top plate. The housing is located below the top plate and between the two side plates. The housing and the two side plates are movably connected back and forth.

[0016] In some embodiments, the front end of the housing is provided with a rotatable lever, and the top plate is provided with a limiting part adapted to the lever. The lever is configured to rotate to limit or disengage from the limiting part, so as to limit or release the housing from the cover plate.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0018] A power unit, located inside the housing and driven by the ice-making component, is provided. The bottom of the housing is configured as an open structure. The power unit is configured to drive the ice-making component to rotate relative to the housing so that ice cubes inside the ice-making component are poured out downwards.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first end of the ice-making component is detachably connected to the power output end of the power component, and the second end of the ice-making component is detachably connected to the rear end of the housing via a rotating shaft.

[0020] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with a movable limiting member located below the rotating shaft, the limiting member being configured to move relative to the housing to limit or release the connection between the rotating shaft and the housing.

[0021] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0022] roof;

[0023] Two side plates are connected to the top plate and extend downwards from the top plate; the housing is located below the top plate and between the two side plates; and

[0024] A drawer, which can slide back and forth between the two side panels and is located below the housing, is configured to hold ice cubes made by the ice maker.

[0025] In some embodiments, the two sides of the drawer are slidably connected to the two side panels one-to-one by a slide rail, and each slide rail is provided with a damper on its side.

[0026] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0027] The power component is located within the housing; and

[0028] An ice detector is connected to the power unit, and the detection end of the ice detector is configured to extend into the drawer under the drive of the power unit to detect the amount of ice stored in the drawer.

[0029] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0030] The water supply pipe has its first end connected to a water injection hole provided on the cover plate, and its second end configured to be connected to a water supply component.

[0031] In some embodiments, the ice-making apparatus further includes:

[0032] The outer pipe is fitted around the outer periphery of the water supply pipe; and

[0033] The second heating element is located between the water supply pipe and the outer pipe.

[0034] In one aspect of this utility model, a refrigerator is provided, including the ice-making device described above.

[0035] Based on the above technical solution, this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0036] In some embodiments, a first heating element is disposed above the ice-making component, and the top area of ​​the ice-making component is actively heated by the first heating element. This heating method can slow down the freezing rate of the liquid at the top of the ice-making component. At the same time, the lower part of the shell is provided with a channel for connecting to the cold source, which can promote the freezing process of the ice from the bottom to the top, forming a bottom-up directional crystallization mode. During this process, the top layer of liquid water remains unfrozen for a longer period of time, providing a continuous channel for dissolved gases in the water to escape, allowing bubbles to be fully discharged, thereby significantly reducing the bubble content inside the ice and improving the transparency and visual quality of the ice. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice-making device provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 Explosion diagrams of ice-making apparatus provided in some embodiments of this utility model;

[0040] Figure 3 Explosion-proof diagrams of the casing provided for some embodiments of this utility model;

[0041] Figure 4 A first-view structural schematic diagram of the housing provided for some embodiments of this utility model;

[0042] Figure 5 A second-view structural schematic diagram of the housing provided for some embodiments of this utility model;

[0043] Figure 6Schematic diagrams of the structure of the bracket provided in some embodiments of this utility model;

[0044] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the housing mounted on the bracket according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice detector in the first detection state according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the ice-detecting component in a second detection state according to some embodiments of this utility model;

[0047] Figure 10 A first-view structural schematic diagram of the limiting member in a limiting state according to some embodiments of the present utility model;

[0048] Figure 11 A second-view structural schematic diagram of the limiting member in a limiting state according to some embodiments of the present utility model;

[0049] Figure 12 A first-view structural schematic diagram of the limiting member in a non-limiting state according to some embodiments of the present utility model;

[0050] Figure 13 A second-view structural schematic diagram of the limiting member in a non-limiting state according to some embodiments of the present utility model;

[0051] Figure 14 The present invention provides structural schematic diagrams of a refrigerator according to some embodiments.

[0052] The labels in the attached diagram are explained as follows:

[0053] 1-Housing; 11-Cover plate; 111-Outer cover plate; 1111-Allowing part; 112-Inner cover plate; 12-Channel; 13-Pulley; 14-Knob; 15-Limiting part; 16-Water inlet hole; 17-Detection hole; 18-Mounting bracket; 19-Mounting component;

[0054] 2-Ice-making component; 21-Spindle;

[0055] 3-First heating element;

[0056] 41-Detection element; 42-Ice detection element; 43-Terminal;

[0057] 5-Bracket; 51-Top plate; 52-Side plate; 521-First mounting part; 522-Second mounting part; 53-Limiting part; 54-Mounting plate; 55-Cable routing port; 56-Air inlet; 57-Air outlet; 58-Air duct; 59-Cover plate;

[0058] 6-Power components;

[0059] 7-Drawer;

[0060] 8-Water supply components; 81-Water supply pipe; 82-Outer pipe; 83-Second heating element;

[0061] 9-Slide rail assembly; 91-Slide rail; 92-Damper.

[0062] 100 - Box body; 101 - First chamber; 102 - Second chamber; 200 - Divider; 300 - Ice making device.

[0063] It should be understood that the dimensions of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Furthermore, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. Detailed Implementation

[0064] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided to make the present invention thorough and complete, and to fully express the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the composition of materials, numerical expressions, and values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limiting.

[0065] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. Words such as "including" or "comprising" mean that the element preceding the word encompasses the element listed after it, and do not exclude the possibility of encompassing other elements as well. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0066] In this invention, when a specific device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, an intermediary device may or may not exist between the specific device and the first or second device. When a specific device is described as being connected to other devices, the specific device may be directly connected to the other devices without an intermediary device, or it may not be directly connected to the other devices but may have an intermediary device.

[0067] All terms used in this invention (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant art, and not as idealized or highly formalized, unless expressly defined herein.

[0068] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, they should be considered part of the specification.

[0069] In this embodiment of the utility model, the normal operating state of the refrigerator is used as the orientation reference. The front-back direction is consistent with the front-back direction of the refrigerator, which is the depth direction of the refrigerator; the width direction is consistent with the width direction of the refrigerator; and the up-down direction and the height direction are consistent with the height direction of the refrigerator.

[0070] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of some embodiments of the ice-making device 300 according to the present invention.

[0071] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 includes a housing 1, an ice-making component 2, and a first heating component 3.

[0072] The housing 1 includes a cover plate 11 at the top and a channel 12 at the bottom for connecting to a cold source, see reference. Figures 3 to 5 .

[0073] The ice-making component 2 is located inside the housing 1 and is used to hold water and form ice blocks.

[0074] The first heating element 3 is located inside the cover plate 11.

[0075] In some related technologies, ice typically condenses from the outside in, preventing dissolved gases in the water from effectively escaping and forming bubbles inside the ice. This affects the transparency of the ice and thus reduces its appearance quality.

[0076] Based on this, this embodiment of the invention actively heats the top area of ​​the ice-making component 2 by providing a first heating element 3 inside the cover plate 11. This heating method can slow down the freezing rate of the liquid at the top of the ice-making component 2. Simultaneously, the lower part of the shell 1 is provided with a channel 12 for connecting to a cold source, enabling the ice condensation process to proceed from the bottom upwards, forming a bottom-up directional crystallization pattern. During this process, the top layer of liquid water remains unfrozen for a relatively long time, providing a continuous channel for dissolved gases in the water to escape, allowing bubbles to be fully discharged, thereby significantly reducing the bubble content inside the ice and improving the transparency and visual quality of the ice.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first heating element 3 includes an aluminum foil heater.

[0078] In some embodiments, the ice maker 2 includes an ice tray.

[0079] refer to Figures 3 to 5 In some embodiments, the channel 12 is disposed in the lower part of the side wall of the housing 1. The channel 12 includes a plurality of strip holes, each strip hole being arranged sequentially along the front-back direction of the ice-making device 300. The length extension direction of each strip hole is consistent with the height direction of the ice-making device 300.

[0080] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cover plate 11 includes an outer cover plate 111 and an inner cover plate 112.

[0081] The inner cover plate 112 is located on the side of the outer cover plate 111 adjacent to the ice-making component 2, and the first heating component 3 is located between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the first heating element 3 is disposed in the interlayer space between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112. By placing the first heating element 3 between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112, uniform heating of the entire cover plate 11 can be achieved, while avoiding direct contact between the first heating element 3 and water or ice, thus improving structural safety and service life. In addition, this arrangement facilitates assembly and maintenance, and is beneficial to improving the overall ice-making efficiency and thermal control performance.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first heating element 3 is configured as a sheet.

[0084] In the above embodiment, by setting the first heating element 3 as a thin sheet and arranging it inside the cover plate 11, uniform heating of the top area of ​​the ice-making component 2 can be achieved, effectively slowing down the freezing rate of the liquid at the top of the ice-making component 2, allowing the ice to gradually condense from the bottom up, forming a directional crystallization process; during this process, the top layer of liquid water remains open for a long time, providing a continuous channel for dissolved gases in the water to escape, thereby significantly reducing the bubble content inside the ice and improving the transparency and appearance quality of the ice.

[0085] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments, the cover plate 11 is provided with a detection element 41, which is configured to detect the icing state inside the ice-making component 2.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the detection element 41 is used to detect the freezing state inside the ice-making component 2, for example, to detect whether the ice blocks inside the ice-making component 2 are fully formed or have reached a preset freezing degree, so as to obtain the freezing process inside the ice-making component 2.

[0087] In some embodiments, the detection element 41 is electrically connected to the control system of the ice-making device 300 to acquire status information during the ice-making process in real time, thereby enabling real-time perception and feedback of the freezing process within the ice-making component 2.

[0088] When the system detects that the ice in the ice-making component 2 is fully formed or has reached the preset freezing level, it can automatically stop the refrigeration or heating operation to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and improve ice-making efficiency. Therefore, by introducing the detection element 41, intelligent control of the ice-making process is realized.

[0089] In some embodiments, the detection element 41 includes an infrared detector.

[0090] In some embodiments, the detection element 41 is disposed on the outside of the cover plate 11, and the detection end of the detection element 41 passes through the cover plate 11 and is located inside the housing 1.

[0091] Since the cover plate 11 includes an outer cover plate 111 and an inner cover plate 112, the first heating element 3 is disposed in the interlayer space between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112. The detection end of the detection element 41 needs to pass through the cover plate 11 and extend into the interior of the housing 1 to monitor the icing state inside the ice-making component 2. Therefore, detection holes 17 are provided on the outer cover plate 111, the inner cover plate 112, and the first heating element 3 located therebetween to allow the detection end of the detection element 41 to pass through.

[0092] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 further includes a support 5, which includes a top plate 51 and two side plates 52.

[0093] Two side plates 52 are connected to the top plate 51 and extend downward from the top plate 51. The housing 1 is located below the top plate 51 and between the two side plates 52. The housing 1 is movably connected to the two side plates 52, so that the housing 1 can slide or be pulled out in the front-back direction within the range defined by the two side plates 52.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the support structure including the top plate 51 and two side plates 52 provides a stable mounting base and guiding support for the housing 1. This structure not only improves the overall rigidity and stability of the entire ice-making device 300, but also gives the housing 1 a degree of freedom of displacement, facilitating assembly, maintenance, and operation in conjunction with other components.

[0095] In the above embodiment, by configuring the housing 1 to be movably connected to the two side plates 52, the housing 1 can be pulled out from the front end of the bracket 5 when needed, so as to facilitate the inspection and replacement of the internal ice-making component 2 and related components, thereby improving the maintainability and ease of use of the equipment.

[0096] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the front end of the housing 1 is provided with a rotatable lever 13, and the top plate 51 is provided with a limiting part 53 adapted to the lever 13. The lever 13 is configured to rotate to limit or disengage from the limiting part 53, so as to limit or release the housing 1 and the cover plate 11.

[0097] In the above embodiment, since a rotatable paddle 13 and a corresponding limiting part 53 are provided, the locking or unlocking between the housing 1 and the bracket 5 can be achieved by rotating the paddle 13.

[0098] When the lever 13 is rotated to limit the mutual position with the limiting part 53, a limit is formed between the housing 1 and the bracket 5, and the housing 1 cannot be moved off the bracket 5; when the lever 13 is rotated to disengage from the limiting part 53, the limit between the housing 1 and the bracket 5 is released, so the housing 1 can be moved out of the receiving space of the bracket 5 in the front-back direction, realizing the detachable connection of the housing 1 relative to the bracket 5, which makes it easy for the user to disassemble the ice maker 2 and improves the convenience of cleaning the ice maker 2.

[0099] In some embodiments, the limiting portion 53 extends downward from the top plate 51, and the lever 13 rotates and extends to the inside of the limiting portion 53, thereby forming a limiting position with the limiting portion 53.

[0100] In some embodiments, the limiting part 53 may also be provided with a slot or other structure that limits the movement of the lever 13.

[0101] refer to Figure 2In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 further includes a power unit 6. The power unit 6 is located inside the housing 1 and is driven to the ice-making component 2. The bottom of the housing 1 is configured as an open structure. The power unit 6 is configured to drive the ice-making component 2 to rotate relative to the housing 1 so that the ice cubes inside the ice-making component 2 are poured out downwards.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the power component 6 is configured to drive the ice-making component 2 to rotate relative to the housing 1. After the ice cubes in the ice-making component 2 are formed, the power component 6 drives the ice-making component 2 to rotate, so that the top of the ice-making component 2 faces downward, so that the ice cubes in the ice-making component 2 are poured out from the open structure of the housing 1, thereby realizing the automatic demolding function.

[0103] In the above embodiment, since a power component 6 is provided to drive the ice-making component 2 to rotate, the ice can be automatically poured out after the ice is frozen, without the need for manual intervention or manual pouring, thus improving the ice-making efficiency and ease of use.

[0104] In some embodiments, the power component 6 includes a motor.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first end of the ice-making component 2 is detachably connected to the power output end of the power component 6, and the second end of the ice-making component 2 is detachably connected to the rear end of the housing 1 via a rotating shaft 21.

[0106] In the above embodiments, since the two ends of the ice-making component 2 are detachably connected, when cleaning or replacement is required, the user can easily remove the ice-making component 2 from the power component 6 and the housing 1 without using complicated tools or performing destructive disassembly, which improves the product's maintenance convenience and ease of cleaning.

[0107] refer to Figures 8 to 11 In some embodiments, the housing 1 is provided with a movable limiting member 15, which is located below the rotating shaft 21. The limiting member 15 is configured to move relative to the housing 1 to limit or release the connection between the rotating shaft 21 and the housing 1.

[0108] In the above embodiment, when the limiting member 15 moves relative to the housing 1 to limit the rotating shaft 21, the rotating shaft 21 cannot be disengaged from the housing 1, and the ice-making component 2 cannot be removed from the housing 1. When the limiting member 15 moves to avoid the rotating shaft 21, the limitation on the rotating shaft 21 is released, and the rotating shaft 21 can be removed from the housing 1. Therefore, the ice-making component 2 can be removed from the housing 1, which facilitates the cleaning of the ice-making component 2, realizes quick and tool-free disassembly and assembly, and improves the convenience of cleaning and maintenance.

[0109] According to the description of the above embodiment, when it is necessary to clean the ice maker 2, firstly, rotate the lever 13 to disengage the lever 13 from the limiting part 53, release the limiting between the housing 1 and the bracket 5, and the housing 1 can be moved out of the receiving space of the bracket 5. Then, move the limiting part 15 to avoid the rotating shaft 21, and release the limiting between the rotating shaft 21 and the housing 1. Then the ice maker 2 can be removed from the housing 1, which makes it easy for the user to disassemble the ice maker 2 and improves the convenience of cleaning.

[0110] The aforementioned lever 13 and limiting member 15 constitute a two-stage quick-release mechanism: first, rotating the lever 13 unlocks the entire housing 1; then, moving the limiting member 15 releases the rotating shaft 21, thereby completing the tool-free disassembly and assembly of the ice-making component 2. This two-stage quick-release mechanism solves the problems of the ice-making component's fixed structure and difficulty in disassembly and cleaning, preventing the accumulation of dirt in the ice-making component during long-term use due to difficulty in cleaning, which affects ice-making hygiene and equipment lifespan.

[0111] In some embodiments, the limiting member 15 is configured as a strip structure. The limiting member 15 moves relative to the rear end of the housing 1. When the limiting member 15 moves below the rotating shaft 21, it locks the rotating shaft 21 through a limiting and blocking action, preventing the rotating shaft 21 from being removed from the housing 1, thereby locking the ice-making component 2. When the limiting member 15 moves further relative to the rear end of the housing 1, avoiding the position of the rotating shaft 21, the rotating shaft 21 is no longer restricted by the limiting member 15. At this time, the rotating shaft 21 can be easily removed from the housing 1, thereby realizing the overall disassembly of the ice-making component 2. Because of the aforementioned movable limiting member 15, the locking or releasing of the rotating shaft 21 can be achieved in different states, making the operation simple and the structure reliable.

[0112] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 also includes a support 5 and a drawer 7.

[0113] The bracket 5 includes a top plate 51 and two side plates 52. The two side plates 52 are connected to the top plate 51 and extend downward from the top plate 51. The housing 1 is located below the top plate 51 and between the two side plates 52.

[0114] Drawer 7 is slidably disposed between the two side panels 52 and located below the housing 1. Drawer 7 is configured to hold ice cubes made by the ice maker 2.

[0115] In the above embodiment, drawer 7 is located below housing 1 and is used to hold ice cubes made by ice maker 2. Drawer 7 is slidably connected to support 5. Therefore, when ice cubes are needed, drawer 7 can be pulled out for use, which is convenient for taking out ice cubes and cleaning and maintaining drawer 7.

[0116] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 further includes a slide rail assembly 9, which includes a slide rail 91 and a damper 92.

[0117] The two sides of the drawer 7 are slidably connected to the two side panels 52 by a slide rail 91, and each slide rail 91 is equipped with a damper 92 on its side.

[0118] In the above embodiment, the double slide rail 91 structure between the drawer 7 and the support 5 effectively improves the guidance and load-bearing capacity of the drawer's movement, making it smoother and more stable during opening and closing. Simultaneously, the damper 92 on the side of the slide rail 91 adjusts the movement speed of the drawer 7 and absorbs vibration energy, significantly reducing the shaking or impact of the drawer 7 during sliding. This improves the stability and smoothness of drawer operation and effectively prevents ice cube breakage or deformation caused by violent shaking, thus ensuring the integrity and appearance quality of the ice cubes. Furthermore, the damper 92, combined with the slide rail 91 structure, reduces operating noise, improving the overall comfort and user experience of the ice-making device 300.

[0119] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 further includes a power unit 6 and an ice-detecting unit 42.

[0120] The power component 6 is located inside the housing 1.

[0121] Ice detector 42 is connected to power unit 6. The detection end of ice detector 42 is configured to extend into drawer 7 under the drive of power unit 6 to detect the amount of ice stored in drawer 7.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the ice detector 42 is connected to the power unit 6 and can move under its drive, so that the detection end of the ice detector 42 extends into the inside of the drawer 7 to detect the amount of ice stored in the drawer 7. Therefore, it is possible to automatically detect the height of the ice stack in the drawer 7.

[0123] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 may further include a controller electrically connected to an ice detector 42. The ice detector 42 can send the detected ice storage amount to the controller. The controller can determine the current ice storage status in the drawer 7 based on the signal fed back by the ice detector 42, and dynamically adjust the ice-making rhythm or stop the ice-making operation to avoid energy waste caused by ice accumulation and overflow or repeated ice making. Therefore, by accurately detecting the ice height, the problems of not being able to monitor the ice status in real time and the difficulty in flexibly adjusting the ice-making process can be solved, thereby improving the automation level and ease of use of the equipment.

[0124] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 further includes a water supply assembly 8, which includes a water supply pipe 81. A first end of the water supply pipe 81 is connected to a water inlet 16 provided on the cover plate 11, and a second end of the water supply pipe 81 is configured to be connected to a water supply component.

[0125] In the above embodiment, since the first end of the water supply pipe 81 is connected to the water injection hole 16 on the cover plate 11 and the second end of the water supply pipe 81 is connected to the water supply component, water can be automatically delivered to the ice-making component 2 at the beginning of the ice-making cycle, ensuring that the water injection process is efficient and accurate, avoiding the inconvenience of manual water addition, realizing the full-process automated control from water injection to ice making and then to ice dispensing, and improving the intelligence level and ease of use of the equipment.

[0126] In some embodiments, the water supply assembly 8 further includes an outer pipe 82 and a second heating element 83.

[0127] The outer pipe 82 is installed around the water supply pipe 81.

[0128] The second heating element 83 is located between the water supply pipe 81 and the outer pipe 82.

[0129] In the above embodiment, the second heating element 83 is configured to heat or insulate the water flow in the water supply pipe 81, preventing the water inside the water supply pipe 81 from freezing in low-temperature environments, thus preventing pipe blockage or damage and affecting the water supply to the ice-making element 2. Furthermore, the outer pipe 82 is sleeved around the outer periphery of the water supply pipe 81, providing good mechanical support and positional fixation for the water supply pipe 81; the outer pipe 82 also provides isolation and protection for the water supply pipe 81, effectively reducing the impact of the external environment on the water supply pipe.

[0130] In some embodiments, the second heating element 83 includes a heating wire or a heating film.

[0131] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cover plate 11 is also provided with a detection hole 17, and the detection end of the detection element 41 extends into the detection hole 17 to detect the ice-making status inside the ice-making component 2.

[0132] Since the top plate 51 of the bracket 5 is located on the top of the housing 1, the water supply pipe 81 supplies ice-making water from the outside of the bracket 5 to the ice-making component 2 inside the housing 1. Therefore, the corresponding top plate 51 is provided with a through hole through the water supply pipe 81, and the detection element 41 is located on the bracket 5.

[0133] In some embodiments, the bracket 5 is provided with a cover plate 59 and a mounting plate 54. The mounting plate 54 is used to mount the detection element 41, and the mounting plate 54 is provided with a through hole allowing the water supply pipe 81 to pass through, and a through hole allowing the detection end of the detection element 41 to pass through. The cover plate 59 is located outside the mounting plate 54 and is used to cover the mounting plate 54 and the detection element 41 and other components inside.

[0134] In some embodiments, the cover plate 11 includes an outer cover plate 111 and an inner cover plate 112. The first heating element 3 is disposed in the interlayer space between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112; and since the water supply pipe 81 needs to pass through the cover plate 11 to supply water to the interior of the ice-making component 2, the detection end of the detection element 41 also needs to pass through the cover plate 11 to monitor the freezing state inside the ice-making component 2; therefore, corresponding through holes are provided on the outer cover plate 111, the inner cover plate 112 and the first heating element 3 located therebetween: a water injection hole 16 that allows the water supply pipe 81 to pass through, and a detection hole 17 that allows the detection end of the detection element 41 to pass through.

[0135] In some embodiments, a first mounting portion 521 and a second mounting portion 522 are respectively provided on the two side plates 52. On the same side plate 52, the first mounting portion 521 is located above the second mounting portion 522. Mounting members 19 are provided on both sides of the housing 1, and the mounting members 19 cooperate with the first mounting portions 521 on the two side plates 52. The first mounting portion 521 supports the entire housing 1 by supporting the mounting members 19, and guides the mounting members 19 during the back-and-forth movement of the housing 1 relative to the bracket 5, thereby ensuring the stability of the housing 1 and the accuracy of its movement trajectory during the sliding process.

[0136] The second mounting section 522 is used to install the slide rails 91, which are located on both sides of the drawer 7 and are slidably connected to the drawer 7. This slide rail structure guides the drawer 7 below the housing 1 to achieve smooth sliding in and out of the drawer 7, improving the convenience of user operation and the reliability of the whole machine operation.

[0137] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the top plate 51 of the bracket 5 is also provided with a wiring port 55 for routing wires into the device and connecting them to the terminal 43 and the power component 6, etc., to ensure the realization of the power supply function.

[0138] In some embodiments, the top plate 51 of the bracket 5 is further provided with an air inlet 56 and an air outlet 57, which are arranged opposite to each other to form an airflow path. An air duct 58 is also provided inside the bracket 5 to guide airflow. After entering through the air inlet 56, cold air is guided to the lower part of the housing 1 through the air duct 58, and then enters the interior of the housing 1 through the channel 12 at the bottom of the housing 1, acting on the ice-making component 2 to provide the required low-temperature environment for the ice-making process. Subsequently, the cold air flows from bottom to top inside the housing 1 and is finally discharged through the air outlet 57. Due to the cooling air circulation structure composed of the air inlet 56, air outlet 57, and air duct 58, effective control of the internal temperature field of the housing 1 can be achieved, ensuring that the cold air evenly covers the ice-making component 2, thereby improving cooling efficiency and icing speed.

[0139] In some embodiments, the air outlet 57 on the top plate 51 may also be located at the front end of the top plate 51.

[0140] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1 to 13 Some specific embodiments of the ice-making device 300 are described in detail.

[0141] The ice-making device 300 includes a housing 1, an ice-making component 2, a first heating component 3, a detection element 41, an ice-detecting component 42, a bracket 5, a power component 6, a drawer 7, a water supply component 8, and a slide rail component 9.

[0142] In some specific embodiments, the bracket 5 includes a top plate 51 and two oppositely arranged side plates 52. The two side plates 52 are connected to both sides of the top plate 51 and extend downward from the top plate 51 to form a stable support frame.

[0143] Each side plate 52 is provided with a first mounting part 521 and a second mounting part 522, wherein the first mounting part 521 is located above the second mounting part 522, forming a vertically distributed structural layout. Mounting members 19 are provided on both sides of the housing 1, and the mounting members 19 cooperate with the first mounting parts 521 on the side plates 52 to achieve movable assembly of the housing 1 on the bracket 5. This cooperation structure not only provides stable support for the housing 1, but also plays a guiding role during its back-and-forth sliding process, improving the smoothness of movement and assembly accuracy.

[0144] The second mounting section 522 is used to install the slide rails 91, which are located on both sides of the drawer 7 and are slidably connected to the drawer 7 to enable smooth entry and exit of the drawer. A damper 92 is also provided on the side of the slide rails 91 to buffer and control the sliding process of the drawer, preventing shaking and impact, and improving operational stability and user comfort.

[0145] An air inlet 56 and an air outlet 57 are provided on the top plate 51, arranged opposite each other. An air duct 58 is also provided inside the support 5. Cold air enters through the air inlet 56, is guided through the air duct 58 to the lower part of the housing 1, and then enters the interior of the housing 1 through the channel 12 at the bottom of the housing 1, acting on the ice-making component 2 to provide it with the required low-temperature environment. Subsequently, the cold air flows from bottom to top inside the housing 1 and is discharged through the air outlet 57. This ventilation structure helps to improve cooling efficiency, optimize temperature field distribution, and enhance the overall ice-making performance.

[0146] The bracket 5 is also equipped with a cover plate 59 and a mounting plate 54. The mounting plate 54 is used to mount the detection element 41 and has through holes for the water supply pipe 81 to pass through and for the detection end of the detection element 41 to pass through. The cover plate 59 is located outside the mounting plate 54 and is used to cover the mounting plate 54 and its components, including the detection element 41, providing protection and aesthetics. The detection element 41 is used to monitor the ice layer status of the ice-making component 2 in real time.

[0147] The top plate 51 is also provided with a wiring port 55, which facilitates the introduction of wires from the outside into the device and to connect them to electrical components such as the terminal 43 and the power component 6, so as to realize the orderly wiring of power supply and signal transmission.

[0148] A water supply assembly 8 is also connected to the top of the support frame 5. The water supply assembly 8 includes a water supply pipe 81, an outer pipe 82, and a second heating element 83. The water supply pipe 81 is installed inside the outer pipe 82 and is used to supply water for ice making to the ice-making component 2. The outer pipe 82 provides support, positioning, and protection for the water supply pipe 81. The water supply assembly 8 is set at an angle of 8° to 15° relative to the top plate 51, meaning one end is connected to the support frame 5 at a lower position, and the other end is connected to the water supply component at a higher position. This inclined setting not only facilitates smooth water flow but also makes it easy to disassemble the entire support frame 5 and the water supply assembly 8 when maintenance or replacement is needed, improving maintenance efficiency and operational convenience. A second heating element 83 is provided between the water supply pipe 81 and the outer pipe 82. The second heating element 83 can be in the form of a heating wire or a heating film, arranged around the water supply pipe 81, and its heating can be controlled by a control system. This heating method can prevent the water in the water supply pipe 81 from freezing in low-temperature environments, thus preventing pipe blockage or damage and ensuring the stable operation of the water supply system.

[0149] In some specific embodiments, the housing 1 is located below the top plate 51 and between the two side plates 52. Mounting members 19 are provided on both sides of the housing 1, and the mounting members 19 cooperate with the first mounting portions 521 on the side plates 52 to achieve movable assembly of the housing 1 on the bracket 5. This mating structure not only provides stable support for the housing 1 but also plays a guiding role during its back-and-forth sliding process, improving the smoothness of movement and assembly accuracy.

[0150] The housing 1 includes a cover plate 11, which is located on the top of the housing 1. The cover plate 11 is further divided into an outer cover plate 111 and an inner cover plate 112. A first heating element 3 is disposed in the space between the outer cover plate 111 and the inner cover plate 112. The first heating element 3 is used to ensure that the top of the water in the ice-making component 2 remains liquid when it freezes during the initial start-up process of ice making, so as to facilitate the escape of air bubbles and improve the transparency of the ice.

[0151] The outer cover plate 111, the inner cover plate 112, and the first heating element 3 located therebetween are respectively provided with a water injection hole 16 and a detection hole 17. The water injection hole 16 allows the water supply pipe 81 to pass through and supply water for ice making to the ice making element 2; the detection hole 17 allows the detection end of the detection element 41 to pass through to detect the ice making status of the ice making element 2.

[0152] The bottom of the housing 1 is constructed as an open structure, and a channel 12 is provided in the lower part of the housing 1. After the cold air enters from the air inlet 56 of the bracket 5, it is guided to the lower part of the housing 1 through the air duct 58, and enters the interior of the housing 1 through the channel 12 in the lower part of the housing 1, acting on the ice-making component 2 to provide it with the required low temperature environment.

[0153] The housing 1 includes a front plate at the front end and a rear plate at the rear end. The front plate has a lever 13 and a knob 14 for locking and limiting the housing 1 to the bracket 5. The lever 13 is located on the inner side of the front plate, and a groove is located on the outer side of the front plate. The knob 14 is located within the groove and is connected to the lever 13, causing the lever 13 to rotate. The front end of the cover plate 11, specifically the front end of the outer cover plate 111, has a clearance portion 1111. When the knob 14 rotates the lever 13, the lever 13 passes through the clearance portion 1111 and is limited by a limiting portion 53 on the bracket 5, thus creating a limitation between the housing 1 and the bracket 5, preventing the housing 1 from being removed from the bracket 5. When the lever 13 rotates to disengage from the limiting portion 53, the limitation is released, allowing the housing 1 to be moved out of the receiving space of the bracket 5 in the front-back direction, achieving a detachable connection between the housing 1 and the bracket 5.

[0154] A limiting member 15 is provided on the rear plate of the housing 1 to achieve a limiting lock between the ice-making component 2 and the housing 1. The limiting member 15 is located below the rotating shaft 21 of the ice-making component 2 and is configured to move relative to the housing 1 to selectively limit or release the connection between the rotating shaft 21 and the housing 1. Optionally, a strip-shaped hole is provided on the rear plate, with the length direction of the strip-shaped hole consistent with the width direction of the housing 1. The limiting member 15 is constructed as a strip block and is located on the inner side of the rear plate, while a lever is provided on the outer side of the rear plate. The lever passes through the strip-shaped hole and is fixedly connected to the limiting member 15 on the inner side. By moving the lever, the limiting member 15 can be slid along the strip-shaped hole, switching it between the limiting state and the unlocked state.

[0155] Limiting state: When the limiting member 15 moves to the position directly below the rotating shaft 21, it limits the rotating shaft 21, making it impossible to disassemble the rotating shaft 21 and remove the ice-making component 2 from the housing 1.

[0156] Unlocked state: When the limiting member 15 slides along the strip hole and avoids the rotating shaft 21, the limiting of the rotating shaft 21 is released. At this time, the ice maker 2 can be taken out from the housing 1, realizing the quick disassembly of the ice maker 2.

[0157] The housing 1 also includes a mounting bracket 18, which is located at the front end of the housing 1 and behind the front panel and the lever 13, for mounting the power unit 6. The power output end of the power unit 6 is connected to the ice maker 2, and the rear of the ice maker 2 is rotatably connected to the rear panel of the housing 1 via a pivot 21. The main functions of the power unit 6 may include driving the ice maker 2 to flip and unload ice, and driving the ice probe 42 to rotate and descend to measure the height of ice blocks in the drawer 7, thereby improving the automation control of the ice-making process.

[0158] The ice detector 42 is located on one side of the ice-making component 2 and can rotate and extend downward under the drive of the power component 6. Specifically, the detection end of the ice detector 42 is configured to extend downward into the interior of the drawer 7 under the drive of the power component 6 to detect the amount of ice stored in the drawer 7 in real time.

[0159] Optionally, the ice detector 42 is electrically connected to the controller. The controller can determine whether the ice in the drawer has reached its full capacity based on the data fed back by the ice detector 42. When the system detects that the height of the ice in the drawer 7 is close to the set upper limit, it will automatically pause or delay the current ice-making process to avoid overflow, jamming, or energy waste caused by excessive ice accumulation. After the ice is partially removed and the space is freed up, the system can restart the ice-making operation, thereby achieving intelligent control and precise management of the ice-making process.

[0160] Drawer 7 is located between the two side panels 52 and below the housing 1. A double slide rail 91 and a double damper 92 are fitted between the bracket 5 and drawer 7. The slide rail 91 allows drawer 7 to be pulled out smoothly, while the damper 92 reduces wobbling and improves the user experience.

[0161] Based on the description of the specific embodiments above, the ice-making component 2 in the ice-making device 300 is easy to disassemble, allowing for timely cleaning, replacement, or maintenance. This disassembly function is achieved collaboratively by the knob 14, the lever 13, and the limiting member 15, forming a two-stage unlocking mechanism. The disassembly process of the ice-making component 2 consists of two steps:

[0162] Step 1: Unlock and remove housing 1

[0163] The knob 14 is located on the outer side of the front panel of the housing 1 and can be manually rotated from the initial position of 0° to 90°, causing the paddle 13 to rotate synchronously. When the knob 14 is at 0°, the paddle 13 passes through the clearance part 1111 on the cover plate 11 and cooperates with the limiting part 53 on the bracket 5 to achieve a locking connection between the housing 1 and the bracket 5, so that the housing 1 and the bracket 5 are fixed as a whole and in a locked state; when the knob 14 is rotated to 90°, the paddle 13 disengages from the clearance part 1111 and the limiting part 53, releasing the lock between the housing 1 and the bracket 5, and the housing 1 enters the unlocked state. At this time, the housing 1 can be pulled forward in the front-back direction to remove it from the receiving space of the bracket 5.

[0164] Step 2: Disassembly of ice-making component 2

[0165] A left-right movable limiting member 15 is provided on the rear plate at the rear end of the housing 1. Its initial position is used to limit the rotating shaft 21 of the ice maker 2 inside the housing 1 to ensure the stable operation of the ice maker 2. When the limiting member 15 is moved to the other end, the restriction on the rotating shaft 21 is released. At this time, the ice maker 2 can be taken out from the bottom of the housing 1 to complete the disassembly operation.

[0166] This utility model embodiment improves the transparency, user experience, and convenience of ice cubes by optimizing the ice-making process and adding automated control functions.

[0167] refer to Figure 14 Some embodiments of this application also provide a refrigerator that includes the ice-making device 300 described above.

[0168] In the above embodiments, the refrigerator uses the ice-making device provided in this utility model embodiment, and accordingly has the beneficial effects of the ice-making device.

[0169] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a cabinet 100 and a partition 200, which divides the internal space within the cabinet 100 into a first chamber 101 and a second chamber 102. The first chamber 101 is located above the second chamber 102, and the ice-making device 300 is located below the partition 200.

[0170] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 is located in the ice-making chamber below the partition 200.

[0171] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 300 may be configured with a separate refrigeration system.

[0172] In some embodiments, the first chamber 101 may be a refrigerator compartment. The second chamber 102 may be a freezer compartment. An ice-making device 300 is located in the second chamber 102.

[0173] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a water supply assembly for supplying water for ice making to the ice-making device 300. Optionally, the water supply assembly is embedded within the partition 200.

[0174] Based on the descriptions of the above embodiments, the ice-making apparatus 300 provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0175] The first heating element 3 in the ice-making device 300 heats the ice-making element 2 from the top, which can slow down the freezing speed of the liquid at the top. At the same time, the lower part of the shell 1 is provided with a channel 12 for connecting to the cold source, which can promote the freezing process of the ice from the bottom to the top, forming a bottom-up directional crystallization mode, so that the air bubbles can be fully discharged, thereby significantly reducing the air bubble content inside the ice and improving the transparency and visual quality of the ice.

[0176] The ice-making component 2 in the ice-making device 300 is easy to disassemble and clean.

[0177] The drawer 7 in the ice maker 300 is connected to the support 5 via the slide rail 91, which improves the buffering and stability between the drawer 7 and the support 5, reduces the squeezing or collision of the ice, and prevents the ice from breaking or deforming.

[0178] The ice-making device 300 has intelligent control functions, and the ice-making process can be flexibly adjusted according to actual conditions to solve the problem of ice accumulation.

[0179] Based on the above embodiments of the present invention, in the absence of explicit denial or conflict, the technical features of one embodiment can be advantageously combined with one or more other embodiments.

[0180] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ice-making device, characterized in that, include: The housing (1) includes a cover plate (11) at the top and a channel (12) at the bottom for connecting to a cold source; An ice-making component (2) is disposed inside the housing (1); and The first heating element (3) is located inside the cover plate (11).

2. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate (11) includes: Outer cover plate (111); and An inner cover plate (112) is disposed on the side of the outer cover plate (111) adjacent to the ice-making component (2), and the first heating component (3) is disposed between the outer cover plate (111) and the inner cover plate (112).

3. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heating element (3) is constructed as a sheet.

4. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate (11) is provided with a detection element (41), which is configured to detect the icing state inside the ice-making component (2).

5. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Top plate (51); as well as Two side plates (52) are connected to the top plate (51) and extend downwards from the top plate (51). The housing (1) is located below the top plate (51) and between the two side plates (52). The housing (1) is movably connected to the two side plates (52).

6. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The front end of the housing (1) is provided with a rotatable lever (13), and the top plate (51) is provided with a limiting part (53) adapted to the lever (13). The lever (13) is configured to rotate to limit or disengage from the limiting part (53) to achieve limiting or releasing the housing (1) and the cover plate (11).

7. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A power unit (6) is located inside the housing (1) and is driven to the ice-making component (2). The bottom of the housing (1) is constructed as an open structure. The power unit (6) is configured to drive the ice-making component (2) to rotate relative to the housing (1) so that the ice cubes inside the ice-making component (2) are poured out downwards.

8. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first end of the ice-making component (2) is detachably connected to the power output end of the power component (6), and the second end of the ice-making component (2) is detachably connected to the rear end of the housing (1) via a rotating shaft (21).

9. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The housing (1) is provided with a movable limiting member (15), which is located below the rotating shaft (21). The limiting member (15) is configured to move relative to the housing (1) to limit or release the connection between the rotating shaft (21) and the housing (1).

10. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Top plate (51); Two side plates (52) are connected to the top plate (51) and extend downwards from the top plate (51). The housing (1) is located below the top plate (51) and between the two side plates (52). A drawer (7) is slidably disposed between the two side panels (52) and located below the housing (1). The drawer (7) is configured to hold ice blocks made by the ice maker (2).

11. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The two sides of the drawer (7) are slidably connected to the two side panels (52) one by one via a slide rail (91), and each slide rail (91) is provided with a damper (92) on its side.

12. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, Also includes: The power component (6) is disposed inside the housing (1); as well as An ice detector (42) is connected to the power unit (6). The detection end of the ice detector (42) is configured to extend into the drawer (7) under the drive of the power unit (6) to detect the amount of ice stored in the drawer (7).

13. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A water supply pipe (81) has its first end connected to a water injection hole (16) provided on the cover plate (11), and its second end configured to be connected to a water supply component.

14. The ice-making apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, Also includes: The outer pipe (82) is fitted around the outer periphery of the water supply pipe (81); as well as The second heating element (83) is located between the water supply pipe (81) and the outer pipe (82).

15. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the ice-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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