An ice maker

Abstract

This utility model discloses an ice maker, including an ice-making component, an ice-scooping bucket, and an ice storage box. It also includes an ice-distributing component, which divides the inlet of the ice storage box into at least two ice-dropping openings. Ice blocks falling from the ice-making component are propelled by the rotating ice-scooping bucket and fall onto the ice-distributing component, then fall into different distribution zones through the different ice-dropping openings. By setting an ice-distributing component at the inlet of the ice storage box, this utility model divides the inlet into ice-dropping openings on both sides of the component. Guided by the component, ice blocks fall from these openings, resulting in ice blocks entering the ice storage box and falling into different distribution zones. This disperses the ice blocks within the ice storage box, preventing the ice maker from stopping production due to false detection when the ice storage box is not full, and ensuring that the amount of ice produced per batch meets the user's needs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of ice-making equipment, specifically relating to an ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, ice has gradually become an indispensable ingredient in cold drinks. Ice brings a chilled taste to fruit drinks and alcoholic beverages. To ensure the rapid production and supply of ice, ice makers have gradually appeared in people's daily lives. When in use, the ice maker first completes the ice-making and de-icing operation through the ice-making component, and then pushes the ice block with the ice scoop to make the ice block fall into the ice storage box for storage, so that users can take it out.

[0003] Currently, in most ice makers on the market, the ice cubes do not spread evenly in the ice storage box when they fall into it. Instead, they accumulate in a concentrated area opposite the ice drop outlet. When the accumulation reaches a set height, it is detected by an infrared detector that checks for full capacity. This means that even if the actual number of ice cubes collected in the ice storage box is less than the set value (i.e., the ice storage box is not full), the control device has already stopped the ice-making component from producing ice cubes based on the infrared detector's detection result. In other words, false detections by the infrared detector are quite common, resulting in a smaller number of ice cubes produced by the ice maker at one time, which cannot meet the user's needs. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide an ice maker to solve the problem of false detection caused by the concentrated accumulation of ice blocks in certain areas of the ice storage box.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: an ice maker, including an ice-making component, an ice-scooping bucket disposed below the ice-making component, and an ice storage box, and further including an ice-distributing component disposed above the ice storage box. The ice-distributing component includes an ice-distributing element that divides the inlet of the ice storage box into at least two ice-dropping openings. The projection of the ice-distributing element on the bottom surface of the ice storage box divides the bottom surface of the ice storage box into a first ice-distributing area and a second ice-distributing area for receiving ice blocks. The ice-dropping opening on one side of the ice-distributing element corresponds one-to-one with the first ice-distributing area, and the ice-dropping opening on the other side of the ice-distributing element corresponds one-to-one with the second ice-distributing area. Ice blocks falling from the ice-making component are pushed by the rotating ice-scooping bucket, fall onto the ice-distributing element, and fall into different ice-distributing areas through different ice-dropping openings. This technical solution has the following technical effects:

[0006] This invention features an ice-dividing component at the inlet of the ice storage box, dividing the inlet into ice-falling openings on either side. When ice blocks are pushed to the ice-dividing component, they fall through these openings under its guidance. Since one ice-falling opening corresponds to a first ice-dividing zone, and the other corresponds to a second ice-dividing zone, ice blocks entering the ice storage box through different openings will fall into different ice-dividing zones, ensuring that the ice blocks fall into each zone. The ice blocks fall evenly into various areas within the ice storage box, achieving a dispersed falling effect. This allows ice blocks entering the ice storage box at the same time to be evenly distributed to the bottom surface of the box. In other words, the ice storage box can be filled with ice blocks before stopping ice making. This avoids a large accumulation of ice blocks below the ice storage box inlet, which could cause an abnormal rise in the ice block height inside the box. Furthermore, it prevents the ice maker from stopping ice making due to false detection when the ice storage box is not full, ensuring that the amount of ice made at one time meets the user's needs and improves the user experience.

[0007] In one type of ice maker, the ice-distributing component has ice-distributing inclined surfaces, with one of the ice-dropping openings on each side of the ice-distributing component corresponding to an ice-distributing inclined surface; or, the ice-distributing component has ice-distributing inclined surfaces corresponding one-to-one with each ice-dropping opening, with the ice-distributing inclined surfaces on both sides of the ice-distributing component forming different ice-guiding distances; the ice-distributing inclined surfaces are set at an angle, so that ice blocks fall at an angle into the ice storage box when passing through the ice-distributing inclined surfaces, thereby forming a first ice-distributing zone and a second ice-distributing zone that are not equidistant from the ice-distributing component. By setting ice-distributing inclined surfaces on one of the ice-dropping openings on each side of the ice-distributing component, when ice blocks fall from the ice-dropping opening on one side of the ice-distributing component with ice-distributing inclined surfaces, they slide along the ice-distributing inclined surfaces to fall at an angle, while when ice blocks fall from the ice-dropping opening on the ice-distributing component without ice-distributing inclined surfaces, they fall vertically, ensuring that ice blocks fall at different points when falling from the ice-dropping openings on both sides of the same section of the ice-distributing component, thus avoiding the concentrated accumulation of ice blocks in the ice storage box. By setting corresponding ice-dispersing ramps at each ice drop point, the ice blocks slide down the ice-dispersing ramps as they pass through, causing them to fall into the ice storage box at an angle. Because the ice-dispersing ramps on both sides of the ice-dispersing component form different ice-guiding distances, when the ice blocks fall from the ice drop points on the same section of the ice-dispersing component, the landing points are dispersed to both sides of the projection of the ice-dispersing component onto the bottom surface of the ice storage box, preventing the ice blocks from accumulating in the position directly opposite the ice drop point of the ice storage box. The structure is simple and has a good effect on dispersing ice blocks.

[0008] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice-distributing component includes an axially extending ice-distributing rod. Multiple ice-distributing plates are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the ice-distributing rod. These plates extend obliquely downwards to form an ice-distributing slope on the ice-distributing component. The multiple ice-distributing plates are inclined towards different areas of the bottom surface of the ice storage box to form multiple first and second ice-distributing zones on both sides of the ice-distributing rod. Different ice-distributing plates on one side of the ice-distributing rod correspond to different first ice-distributing zones, and different ice-distributing plates on the other side of the ice-distributing rod correspond to different second ice-distributing zones. This allows ice blocks sliding down each ice-distributing plate to fall into different areas, improving the dispersion effect and resulting in better ice distribution, thus assisting in the even distribution of ice blocks within the ice storage box.

[0009] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice-distributing component is provided with ice-distributing inclined surfaces corresponding to each ice drop outlet. The ice-distributing inclined surfaces on both sides of the ice-distributing component form different ice-guiding distances. The ice-distributing rod is also provided with ice-distributing short plates. The ice-distributing short plates and ice-distributing long plates are arranged coaxially. The ice-distributing short plates and ice-distributing long plates form staggered long-distance ice-distributing areas and short-distance ice-distributing areas on the same side of the ice-distributing component. By setting up alternating short and long ice-separating plates on the same side of the ice-separating component—that is, long ice-separating plates on both sides of the same short ice-separating plate and short ice-separating plates on both sides of the same long ice-separating plate—alternating far-distance and near-distance ice-separating zones are formed on the same side of the ice-separating component. This ensures that ice blocks can fall into both the far-distance and near-distance ice-separating zones simultaneously, thereby ensuring that ice blocks fall into the area on the bottom of the ice storage box away from the ice-separating component. It also prevents the area on the bottom of the ice storage box near the ice-separating component from being empty, improving the flatness of the ice blocks in the ice storage box. This allows the ice block accumulation height to rise steadily within the ice storage box, preventing concentrated accumulation of ice blocks.

[0010] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice-distributing assembly also includes a downwardly extending extension plate. The end of the ice-distributing component is fixed to the extension plate so that the top height of the ice-distributing component is lower than the top height of the ice storage box inlet. Because the top height of the ice-distributing component is not higher than the top height of the ice storage box inlet, when ice blocks fall, some ice blocks will enter the ice storage box inlet, and then fall into different ice drop openings under the action of the ice-distributing component. This prevents the ice blocks from being blocked by the ice-distributing component protruding from the ice storage box inlet and moving away from the ice drop opening, thus ensuring that all ice blocks can pass smoothly through the ice drop openings.

[0011] In the aforementioned ice maker, the projected width of the ice drop opening on the horizontal plane is M, and the width of the ice block is N, satisfying M ≥ 1.5N. Since the ice block is usually a cube or a sphere, its longest point is the diagonal of the cube or the diameter of the sphere. By setting the projected width M of the ice drop opening on the horizontal plane to be no less than 1.5 times the width N of the ice block, even if the ice block is a cube, the projected width of the ice drop opening on the horizontal plane can be greater than the longest point of the ice block. This allows the ice block to fall smoothly through the ice drop opening at any angle, preventing it from getting stuck.

[0012] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice-distributing assembly further includes an ice-guiding slope located on one side of the ice scoop bucket. The ice-guiding slope extends inclined towards the ice-distributing component so that when ice blocks leave the ice scoop bucket, they slide down the ice-guiding slope to the ice-distributing component. The ice-guiding slope can gather and guide the ice blocks leaving the ice scoop bucket, allowing all ice blocks to slide quickly towards the ice drop outlet, thus improving the ice-guiding effect.

[0013] In the aforementioned ice maker, multiple ice-releasing ribs are provided on the ice-guiding inclined surface. These ribs are spaced apart and extend along the sliding direction of the ice block. When the ice block slides on the ice-guiding inclined surface, the ice-releasing ribs reduce the contact area between the ice block and the ice-guiding inclined surface, making the ice block slide more smoothly. At the same time, when stuck ice blocks fall onto the ice-guiding inclined surface, the ice-releasing ribs protruding from the ice-guiding inclined surface can separate the stuck ice blocks, allowing the ice blocks to pass through the ice drop opening one by one, thus preventing multiple ice blocks from sticking together and getting stuck in the ice drop opening and unable to fall.

[0014] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice-distributing assembly includes a cover plate that fits over the ice storage box and an ice guide box mounted on top of the cover plate. The ice storage box inlet and the ice-distributing component are located on the cover plate. The ice scoop and the ice guide ramp are arranged side by side inside the ice guide box. The ice guide box also has an ice outlet located at the lower end of the ice guide ramp and aligned vertically with the ice-distributing component. By arranging the ice guide ramp side by side on one side of the ice guide box, the ice scoop can quickly push all the ice blocks onto the ice guide ramp by rotating. The ice outlet and the ice-distributing component are aligned vertically to guide the ice blocks, causing the ice blocks falling from the ice outlet to fall into the ice storage box through various ice drop outlets, thus quickly gathering the ice blocks at the ice drop outlets for distribution.

[0015] In the aforementioned ice maker, the ice guide box is further provided with an arc-shaped clearance surface. This clearance surface is located on the side of the ice guide slope facing the ice shovel bucket and is recessed on that side to allow the rotating ice shovel bucket to pass. When the ice shovel bucket rotates to push the ice block, the edge of the ice shovel bucket moves in an arc shape. The clearance surface, which is recessed on the ice guide slope, can just pass over the ice shovel bucket, thus preventing the clearance surface from obstructing the rotation of the ice shovel bucket.

[0016] The features and advantages of this utility model will be disclosed in detail in the following specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an ice maker according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of an ice maker according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 A 3D view of the ice guide box;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view of the cover plate;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the projection of the ice dispensing component onto the bottom surface of the ice storage box.

[0023] Figure label:

[0024] 100. Ice-making components;

[0025] 200. Ice shovel;

[0026] 300. Ice-separating component;

[0027] 400. Ice guide box; 410. Ice guide slope; 411. Ice loosening rib; 420. Ice outlet; 430. Clearance surface;

[0028] 500. Cover plate; 510. Ice separator; 511. Ice separator rod; 512. Long ice separator plate; 5121. Ice separator ramp; 513. Short ice separator plate; 520. Ice drop opening; 530. Extension plate;

[0029] 600. Ice storage box; 610. First ice-dividing zone; 620. Second ice-dividing zone. Detailed Implementation

[0030] This utility model proposes an ice maker, including an ice-making component, an ice-scooping bucket located below the ice-making component, and an ice storage box. It also includes an ice-distributing component located above the ice storage box. The ice-distributing component includes an ice-distributing element that divides the inlet of the ice storage box into at least two ice drop outlets. The projection of the ice-distributing element on the bottom surface of the ice storage box divides the bottom surface of the ice storage box into a first ice-distributing area and a second ice-distributing area for receiving ice blocks. The ice drop outlet on one side of the ice-distributing element corresponds one-to-one with the first ice-distributing area, and the ice drop outlet on the other side of the ice-distributing element corresponds one-to-one with the second ice-distributing area. The ice blocks falling from the ice-making component are pushed by the rotating ice-scooping bucket and fall onto the ice-distributing element, and then fall into different ice-distributing areas through different ice drop outlets. This invention features an ice-dividing component at the inlet of the ice storage box, dividing the inlet into ice-falling openings on either side. When ice blocks are pushed to the ice-dividing component, they fall through these openings under its guidance. Since one ice-falling opening corresponds to a first ice-dividing zone, and the other corresponds to a second ice-dividing zone, ice blocks entering the ice storage box through different openings will fall into different ice-dividing zones, ensuring that the ice blocks fall into each zone. The ice blocks fall evenly into various areas within the ice storage box, achieving a dispersed falling effect. This allows ice blocks entering the ice storage box at the same time to be evenly distributed to the bottom surface of the box. In other words, the ice storage box can be filled with ice blocks before stopping ice making. This avoids a large accumulation of ice blocks below the ice storage box inlet, which could cause an abnormal rise in the ice block height inside the box. Furthermore, it prevents the ice maker from stopping ice making due to false detection when the ice storage box is not full, ensuring that the amount of ice made at one time meets the user's needs and improves the user experience.

[0031] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present utility model and not all of them. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in the implementation methods without creative effort are all within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0033] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly defined.

[0034] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] An ice maker, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the ice maker includes an ice-making assembly 100, an ice-scooping bucket 200, and an ice storage box 600. The ice-making assembly 100 is used to prepare ice cubes. The ice-scooping bucket 200 is located below the ice-making assembly 100 to push the ice cubes prepared by the ice-making assembly 100 into the ice storage box 600 for storage. The ice maker also includes an ice-distributing assembly 300, which is located above the ice storage box 600. The ice-distributing assembly 300 includes an ice-distributing component 510 that divides the inlet of the ice storage box 600 into at least two ice-dropping openings 520. The number of ice-dropping openings 520 on both sides of the ice-distributing component 510 is the same. Figure 5As shown, the shaded area is the projection of the ice-distributing component 510 onto the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600. This projection divides the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600 into a first ice-distributing area 610 and a second ice-distributing area 620. The first ice-distributing area 610 and the second ice-distributing area 620 are located on both sides of the projection to receive ice blocks. The ice drop outlet 520 on one side of the ice-distributing component 510 corresponds one-to-one with the first ice-distributing area 610 below it, and the ice drop outlet 520 on the other side of the ice-distributing component 510 corresponds one-to-one with the second ice-distributing area 620 below it. That is, the number of ice drop outlets 520 and the first ice-distributing area 610 on the same side of the ice-distributing component 510 and its projection is the same and they are arranged vertically and vertically. When the ice maker is working, the ice blocks falling from the ice-making component 100 are pushed by the rotating ice scoop 200 and fall onto the ice-distributing component 510, and then fall into different ice-distributing areas through different ice drop outlets 520.

[0038] This invention, by setting an ice-distributing component 510 at the inlet of the ice storage box 600, divides the inlet of the ice storage box 600 into ice-falling openings 520 located on both sides of the ice-distributing component 510. When ice blocks are pushed to the ice-distributing component 510, under the guiding action of the ice-distributing component 510, the ice blocks fall from the ice-falling openings 520 on both sides of the ice-distributing component 510. Because the ice-falling openings 520 on one side of the ice-distributing component 510 correspond one-to-one with the first ice-distributing zone 610, and the ice-falling openings 520 on the other side of the ice-distributing component 510 correspond one-to-one with the second ice-distributing zone 620, ice blocks entering the ice storage box 600 through different ice-falling openings 520 will fall. The ice is distributed to different ice zones, allowing ice cubes to fall into various areas within the ice storage box 600, achieving a dispersed ice drop effect. This ensures that ice cubes entering the ice storage box 600 at the same time can be evenly distributed on the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600. In other words, the ice storage box 600 can be filled with ice cubes before stopping ice making, preventing a large amount of ice cubes from accumulating in the area below the inlet of the ice storage box 600 and causing an abnormal rise in the ice height inside the ice storage box 600. This also prevents the ice maker from stopping ice making due to false detection when the ice storage box 600 is not full, ensuring that the amount of ice made at one time meets the user's needs and improves the user experience.

[0039] The ice separator 510 may have one ice-falling opening 520 on each side, or it may have multiple (two or more) ice-falling openings 520 on each side. This embodiment will be described using the example of multiple ice-falling openings 520 on each side of the ice separator 510. Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the ice-distributing component 510 is provided with multiple ice-distributing inclined surfaces 5121. The number of ice-distributing inclined surfaces 5121 is the same as the number of ice-falling openings 520, so that each ice-falling opening 520 has an ice-distributing inclined surface 5121 on one side. The ice-distributing inclined surfaces 5121 are inclined so that when the ice blocks pass through the ice-distributing inclined surfaces 5121, they first slide down along the ice-distributing inclined surfaces 5121, so that the ice blocks fall into the ice storage box 600 at an angle. Figure 4As shown, the ice-separating component 510 can be divided into multiple sections along its axial direction. Each section has an ice-separating inclined surface 5121 on each side. The two ice-separating inclined surfaces 5121 in the same section are arranged opposite each other, and the ice-guiding distance L (i.e., the length of the ice block sliding along the ice-separating inclined surface 5121) of the two ice-separating inclined surfaces 5121 in the same section is different. This makes the distance between the first ice-separating area 610 and the second ice-separating area 620 corresponding to the section and the central axis distance of the projection of the ice-separating component 510 on the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600 different. As a result, when the ice block falls from the ice drop outlets 520 on the opposite sides of the same section of the ice-separating component 510, the landing point is dispersed to both sides of the projection of the ice-separating component 510 on the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600, preventing the ice block from accumulating in the position directly opposite the ice drop outlets 520 of the ice storage box 600. The structure is simple and has a good effect on dispersing the ice block.

[0040] In this embodiment, the ice-distributing component 510 includes an axially extending ice-distributing rod 511. The ice-distributing rod 511 extends horizontally, and multiple ice-distributing long plates 512 are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the ice-distributing rod 511. The ice-distributing long plates 512 extend obliquely downward to form an ice-distributing inclined surface 5121 on the top surface of the ice-distributing component 510. Each ice-distributing long plate 512 is inclined toward the ice-distributing area corresponding to its ice-falling opening 520, so that multiple first ice-distributing areas 610 and multiple second ice-distributing areas 620 are formed on both sides of the ice-distributing rod 511. That is, different ice-distributing long plates 512 on one side of the ice-distributing rod 511 correspond to different first ice-distributing areas 610, and different ice-distributing long plates 512 on the other side of the ice-distributing rod 511 correspond to different second ice-distributing areas 620, so that the ice blocks sliding down through each ice-distributing long plate 512 fall into different areas, improving the dispersion effect and the spreading effect of the ice blocks, thereby assisting the ice blocks to be spread evenly in the ice storage box 600. By setting the ice-separating rod 511, all ice-separating plates can be fixed, thereby increasing the strength of the ice-separating component 510.

[0041] In this preferred embodiment, an ice-splitting short plate 513 is also provided on the ice-splitting rod 511. The ice-splitting short plate 513 is coaxially arranged with the ice-splitting long plate 512. That is, the ice-splitting long plate 512 and the ice-splitting short plate 513 are respectively located on opposite sides of the same section of the ice-splitting rod 511. The ice-guiding distance of the ice-splitting short plate 513 is less than that of the ice-guiding distance of the ice-splitting long plate 512. This allows the ice block to fall from the ice-falling openings 520 on opposite sides of the same section of the ice-splitting component 510. After the ice block passes through the ice-falling opening 520 with the ice-splitting short plate 513, the landing point of the ice block is close to the ice-splitting component 510. After the ice block passes through the ice-falling opening 520 with the ice-splitting long plate 512, the landing point of the ice block is far away from the ice-splitting component 510. This ensures that the ice block falling through the ice-splitting openings 520 in the same section of the ice-splitting component 510 can land in the ice storage box 600 far away from the ice-splitting component 510. Position 10 can also fall on the ice storage box 600 near the ice-distributing component 510. On the same side of the ice-distributing component 510, the ice-distributing short plate 513 and the ice-distributing long plate 512 are staggered. That is, the axial sides of the same ice-distributing short plate 513 are the ice-distributing long plate 512, and the axial sides of the same ice-distributing long plate 512 are the ice-distributing short plate 513. This forms staggered far-distance ice-distributing areas and near-distance ice-distributing areas on the same side of the ice-distributing component 510, ensuring that ice blocks can fall into both the far-distance and near-distance ice-distributing areas at the same time. It also ensures that ice blocks can fall into the area on the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600 away from the ice-distributing component 510, and avoids leaving the area on the bottom surface of the ice storage box 600 near the ice-distributing component 510 empty. This improves the flatness of the ice blocks in the ice storage box 600, so that the height of the ice blocks piled up steadily increases in the ice storage box 600. To further improve the ice guiding effect of the ice separating component 510, the top of the ice separating rod 511 can be rounded to reduce the contact area between the ice block and the top of the ice separating rod 511. This makes it difficult for the ice block falling to the top of the ice separating rod 511 to maintain its center of gravity, and it falls quickly to the ice drop outlet 520, preventing the ice block from staying on the top of the ice separating rod 511.

[0042] To prevent ice blocks from getting stuck in the ice drop chute 520 and hindering their descent, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the projection width of the ice drop opening 520 on the horizontal plane is defined as M, and the width of the ice block is defined as N. In this embodiment, the projection width M of the ice drop opening 520 on the horizontal plane is set to be no less than 1.5 times the width N of the ice block. Since the ice block is usually a cube or a sphere, the longest part is the diagonal of the cube or the diameter of the sphere. By setting the projection width M of the ice drop opening 520 on the horizontal plane to be no less than 1.5 times the width N of the ice block, even if the ice block is a cube, the projection width of the ice drop opening 520 on the horizontal plane can be greater than the longest part of the ice block. This allows the ice block to fall smoothly through the ice drop opening 520 at any angle, preventing the ice block from getting stuck.

[0043] like Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, the ice-distributing component 300 also includes an ice-guiding inclined surface 410. The ice-guiding inclined surface 410 is located on one side of the ice scoop 200 and extends obliquely toward the ice-distributing component 510. That is, the end of the ice-guiding inclined surface 410 away from the ice-distributing component 510 is higher, and the end of the ice-guiding inclined surface 410 near the ice-distributing component 510 is lower. When the ice block leaves the ice scoop 200, it slides down to the ice-distributing component 510 through the ice-guiding inclined surface 410. The ice-guiding inclined surface 410 can gather and guide the ice block leaving the ice scoop 200, so that all the ice block slides quickly toward the ice drop opening 520, thereby improving the ice-guiding effect. To prevent ice blocks falling into the ice drop opening 520 from sticking together, this embodiment provides multiple ice-releasing ribs 411 on the ice guide slope 410. The ice-releasing ribs 411 extend along the sliding direction of the ice blocks and are spaced apart. When the ice blocks slide on the ice guide slope 410, the ice-releasing ribs 411 can reduce the contact area between the ice blocks and the ice guide slope 410, making the ice blocks slide more smoothly. At the same time, when the stuck ice blocks fall into the ice guide slope 410, the ice-releasing ribs 411 protruding from the ice guide slope 410 can separate the stuck ice blocks, so that the ice blocks pass through the ice drop opening 520 one by one, thus avoiding multiple ice blocks falling into the ice drop opening 520 from sticking together and getting stuck in the ice drop opening 520 and making it difficult to fall.

[0044] The ice-distributing assembly 300 in this embodiment includes a separate cover plate 500 and an ice guide box 400. During ice making, the cover plate 500 covers the ice storage box 600. The inlet of the ice storage box 600 and the ice-distributing component 510 are located on the cover plate 500. The ice guide box 400 is installed on the top of the cover plate 500. The ice scoop 200 is rotatably connected inside the ice guide box 400. The ice guide slope 410 is arranged side by side on one side of the ice scoop 200. The ice guide box 400 is provided with an ice outlet 420. The ice outlet 420 is located at the lower end of the ice guide slope 410. The ice outlet 420 and the ice-distributing component 510 are aligned in the vertical direction. By placing the ice guide slope 410 side by side on one side of the ice scoop bucket 200, the ice scoop bucket 200 can quickly push all the ice blocks onto the ice guide slope 410 by rotating. The ice outlet 420 and the ice separating component 510 are aligned vertically to guide the ice blocks, so that the ice blocks falling from the ice outlet 420 fall into the ice storage box 600 through each ice drop outlet 520, so that the ice blocks are quickly gathered into the ice drop outlet 520 for ice separation.

[0045] An arc-shaped clearance surface 430 is also provided inside the ice guide box 400. The clearance surface 430 is located on the side of the ice guide slope 410 facing the ice shovel 200 and is recessed on the side of the ice guide slope 410. When the ice shovel 200 rotates to push the ice block, the edge movement trajectory of the ice shovel 200 is arc-shaped. The clearance surface 430, which is recessed on the ice guide slope 410, can just avoid the ice shovel 200, so as not to obstruct the rotation of the ice shovel 200. Preferably, the gap between the ice shovel 200 and the clearance surface 430 is no more than 5mm. By reducing the gap between the ice shovel 200 and the clearance surface 430, ice blocks falling from the ice making component 100 are prevented from falling under the ice shovel 200 through the gap between the ice shovel 200 and the clearance surface 430 and preventing the ice shovel 200 from returning to its original position, thus ensuring the smooth rotation of the ice shovel 200.

[0046] The cover plate 500 is also provided with an extension plate 530, which extends downward from both sides of the inlet of the ice storage box 600. The two ends of the ice-distributing component 510 are fixed to the extension plate 530 so that the top height of the ice-distributing component 510 is lower than the top height of the inlet of the ice storage box 600. Because the top height of the ice-distributing component 510 is lower than the top height of the inlet of the ice storage box 600, when the ice cubes fall, some of the ice cubes will enter the inlet of the ice storage box 600, and then fall into different ice drop openings 520 under the action of the ice-distributing component 510. This prevents the ice cubes from being blocked by the ice-distributing component 510 protruding from the inlet of the ice storage box 600 and moving away from the ice drop opening 520, so as to ensure that all the ice cubes can pass smoothly through the ice drop opening 520.

[0047] Example 2:

[0048] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that, in this embodiment, an ice-separating slope is provided only on one of the ice-dropping openings on opposite sides of the ice-separating component. That is, only the long ice-separating plate of Embodiment 1 is retained, and the short ice-separating plate of Embodiment 1 is not provided. The position opposite to the short ice-separating plate is left empty, so that when the ice block falls from the ice-dropping opening with the ice-separating slope on one side of the ice-separating component, it slides along the ice-separating slope to fall at an angle. When the ice block falls from the ice-dropping opening without the ice-separating slope on the opposite side of the ice-separating component, it falls vertically. This ensures that when the ice block falls from the ice-dropping openings on opposite sides of the same section of the ice-separating component, the landing points are different, so as to avoid the ice block accumulating in the ice storage box.

[0049] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model. The protection scope of this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of this utility model's concept are protected. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of this utility model should also be considered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An ice maker comprising an ice making assembly, an ice scoop positioned below the ice making assembly, and an ice bin, wherein: It also includes an ice-distributing assembly located above the ice storage box. The ice-distributing assembly includes an ice-distributing component that divides the inlet of the ice storage box into at least two ice drop outlets. The projection of the ice-distributing component onto the bottom surface of the ice storage box divides the bottom surface of the ice storage box into a first ice-distributing area and a second ice-distributing area for receiving ice blocks. The ice drop outlet on one side of the ice-distributing component corresponds one-to-one with the first ice-distributing area, and the ice drop outlet on the other side of the ice-distributing component corresponds one-to-one with the second ice-distributing area. The ice blocks falling from the ice-making assembly are pushed by the rotating ice scoop and fall onto the ice-distributing component, and then fall into different ice-distributing areas through different ice drop outlets.

2. An ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-separating component is provided with an ice-separating inclined surface, and one of the ice-falling openings on both sides of the ice-separating component corresponds to one ice-separating inclined surface; or, the ice-separating component is provided with ice-separating inclined surfaces that correspond one-to-one with each ice-falling opening, and the ice-separating inclined surfaces on both sides of the ice-separating component form different ice-guiding distances. The ice-separating slope is inclined so that ice blocks fall into the ice storage box as they pass over the slope, forming a first ice-separating zone and a second ice-separating zone that are not equidistant from the ice-separating component.

3. An ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ice-splitting component includes an axially extending ice-splitting rod, and a plurality of ice-splitting plates are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the ice-splitting rod. The ice-splitting plates extend obliquely downward to form the ice-splitting slope on the ice-splitting component. The plurality of ice-splitting plates are inclined toward different areas of the bottom surface of the ice storage box to form a plurality of first ice-splitting areas and second ice-splitting areas on both sides of the ice-splitting rod.

4. An ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that: The ice-separating component has ice-separating inclined surfaces that correspond one-to-one with each ice drop opening. The ice-separating inclined surfaces on both sides of the ice-separating component form different ice-guiding distances. The ice-separating rod is also provided with ice-separating short plates. The ice-separating short plates and the ice-separating long plates are arranged coaxially. The ice-separating short plates and the ice-separating long plates form staggered long-distance ice-separating areas and short-distance ice-separating areas on the same side of the ice-separating component.

5. An ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that: The ice-distributing assembly is also provided with a downwardly extending extension plate, and the end of the ice-distributing component is fixed on the extension plate so that the top height of the ice-distributing component is lower than the top height of the ice storage box inlet.

6. An ice maker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The projection width of the ice drop opening on the horizontal plane is M, and the width of the ice block is N, satisfying that M≥1.5N.

7. An ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-splitting assembly also includes an ice-guiding slope disposed on one side of the ice shovel bucket. The ice-guiding slope extends obliquely toward the ice-splitting component so that when the ice block leaves the ice shovel bucket, it slides down the ice-guiding slope to the ice-splitting component.

8. An ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ice guide slope is provided with multiple ice-releasing ribs, which are spaced apart and extend along the sliding direction of the ice block.

9. An ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ice-distributing assembly includes a cover plate that covers the ice storage box and an ice guide box installed on top of the cover plate. The ice storage box inlet and the ice-distributing component are located on the cover plate. The ice scoop and the ice guide slope are arranged side by side in the ice guide box. The ice guide box is also provided with an ice outlet, which is located at the lower end of the ice guide slope and aligned vertically with the ice-distributing component.

10. An ice maker according to claim 9, characterized in that: The ice guide box is also provided with an arc-shaped avoidance surface, which is located on the side of the ice guide slope facing the ice shovel bucket and is recessed on the side of the ice guide slope to avoid the rotating ice shovel bucket.

Images