Ice making module and ice making apparatus

Abstract

The application provides an ice making module and an ice making device. The ice making module can be flexibly replaced and applied to the ice making device. The ice making device comprises a main machine for providing a cold source and ice making water. The ice making module comprises a shell, a mold and a water supply assembly. The shell is a cuboid as a whole. The mold is arranged in the shell, an ice making cavity is formed in the mold, the mold is made of a heat conductive material, and the mold has a heat conductive surface for contacting the cold source, and the heat conductive surface is arranged on a first side surface of the shell. The water supply assembly is used for supplying ice making water to the ice making cavity, and the water supply assembly comprises a first water inlet arranged on the first side surface of the shell and a second water inlet arranged on a second side surface of the shell, the first side surface is adjacent to the second side surface, and the first water inlet and the second water inlet are communicated with the ice making cavity through a water inlet pipeline. The ice making module of the application can be placed in multiple directions and is suitable for different ice making device models.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Existing ice-making equipment often produces fixed ice shapes when making larger, transparent ice blocks. A single ice-making machine can only produce a fixed shape, preventing users from flexibly changing the ice shape according to their actual needs. If users need to produce multiple ice shapes, they need to purchase multiple machines, increasing purchase and storage costs and causing inconvenience. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, it is necessary to propose an ice-making module and ice-making equipment that allows the ice-making module to be replaced, thereby making it convenient for users to change the ice shape.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an ice-making module, the ice-making module comprising: a housing, generally rectangular in shape; a mold disposed within the housing, the mold forming an ice-making cavity, the mold being made of a heat-conducting material and having a heat-conducting surface for contacting the cold source, the heat-conducting surface being disposed on a first side of the housing; and a water supply assembly for supplying ice-making water to the ice-making cavity, the water supply assembly including a first water inlet disposed on the first side of the housing and a second water inlet disposed on a second side of the housing, the first side and the second side being adjacent, the first water inlet and the second water inlet being connected to the ice-making cavity via a water supply pipe.

[0005] Optionally, the water supply assembly further includes one-way valves respectively located at the first water inlet and the second water inlet.

[0006] Optionally, at least a portion of the thermally conductive surface protrudes beyond the housing, or at least a portion of the thermally conductive surface constitutes part of the outer surface of the housing.

[0007] Optionally, the mold includes a first mold and a second mold, which are fastened together to form the ice-making cavity. The first mold is provided with a water inlet and a return outlet. The water supply pipe supplies water to the ice-making cavity through the water inlet and returns the water from the ice-making cavity through the return outlet. The heat-conducting surface is provided on the bottom surface of the second mold.

[0008] Optionally, the water supply pipeline includes an injection pipe connected to the injection port and a return pipe connected to the return port; or the water supply pipeline includes: a water tank disposed within the housing, the water tank being connected to the injection port via an injection pipe, connected to the return port via a return pipe, connected to the first water supply interface via a first water supply pipe, and connected to the second water supply interface via a second water supply pipe; at least one set of communicating vessels, each set of communicating vessels including ribs disposed within the water tank and spaced parallel to the inner wall of the water tank, each of the two ends of the ribs having a through hole to allow the internal space of the water tank to be connected through the through hole; and a water pump connected to the water tank via a water pump interface and connected to the ice-making chamber via the injection pipe, for pumping the ice-making water from the water tank to the ice-making chamber.

[0009] Optionally, the water tank is provided with three sets of communicating vessels arranged orthogonally to each other.

[0010] Optionally, it further includes a water level detection unit disposed inside the water tank and corresponding to the communicating vessel. The water level detection unit includes a first water level sensor and a second water level sensor, which are spaced apart along the length of the rib.

[0011] Optionally, the ice-making module further includes one or more first power contacts disposed on the housing, the plurality of first power contacts being located on different sides of the housing respectively, and electrically connected to the water pump and / or the water level sensor to supply power to the water pump and / or the water level sensor.

[0012] Optionally, the ice-making module further includes at least two vents, which are located on at least two sides of the housing.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides an ice-making device, which includes a main unit and the aforementioned ice-making module, wherein the main unit and the ice-making module are detachably combined. The main unit includes: a body for providing a cold source and ice-making water; a mounting part disposed on the main body for detachably combining the ice-making module with the main body, wherein the mounting part is provided with a water inlet connector on one or more sides, and when the ice-making module is combined with the main unit, one of the water inlet connectors is adapted to and connected to the first water inlet or the second water inlet of the ice-making module; and a cold source disposed on the bottom or side of the mounting part, wherein when the ice-making module is combined with the main unit, the cold source is in contact with the heat-conducting surface of the ice-making module.

[0014] The aforementioned ice-making module and ice-making equipment achieve flexible configuration of ice-making function through modular design. Users only need to replace different modules to produce transparent ice of various geometric shapes on the same ice-making equipment. The ice-making module can be placed in multiple directions to adapt to different ice-making equipment main units and meet diverse usage needs. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a first configuration implementation of the ice-making equipment provided in this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a front cross-sectional view of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 4a This is a first three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 4b This is a second three-dimensional structural diagram of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in this application.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the optimized structure of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a top cross-sectional view of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the left cross-sectional structure of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the left cross-sectional structure of the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in this application.

[0027] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making equipment provided in this application.

[0028] Figure 12a This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the ice-making module provided in the embodiment of this application, placed in the first direction.

[0029] Figure 12b This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the ice-making module provided in the embodiment of this application, placed in the second direction.

[0030] Figure 12c This is a schematic diagram of the ice-making module provided in the embodiments of this application, placed in a third-party orientation.

[0031] Figure 12d This is a schematic diagram showing the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application positioned in the fourth direction.

[0032] Figure 12e This is a schematic diagram showing the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application positioned in the fifth direction.

[0033] Figure 12f This is a schematic diagram showing the ice-making module provided in an embodiment of this application positioned in the sixth direction.

[0034] Figure 13a A schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in this application.

[0035] Figure 13b A schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in this application.

[0036] Figure 13c A schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the water supply component of the ice-making module provided in this application.

[0037] Figure 14a This is a schematic diagram of a second configuration implementation of the ice-making equipment provided in this application.

[0038] Figure 14b This is a schematic diagram of a second configuration implementation of the ice-making equipment host provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0039] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of a third configuration implementation of the ice-making equipment provided in this application.

[0040] Figure Labels

[0041] Ice making module-100 Water injection pipe-422

[0042] Housing-1 Return Pipe-423

[0043] First hull-11 Water tank-424

[0044] Second shell-12 Communicating vessel-425

[0045] Clip-on structure - 13 Water tank inner wall - 4251

[0046] First side view - 14 ribs - 4252

[0047] Second side -15 via -4253

[0048] First power contact -16 First via -4253a

[0049] Cover-17 Second Through Hole-4253b

[0050] Ice-making chamber-2, water pump-426

[0051] First ice-making chamber - 21, water outlet - 43

[0052] Second ice-making chamber - 22 Water level detection unit - 44

[0053] Mold-3 First Water Level Sensor-44a

[0054] First mold-31 Second water level sensor-44b

[0055] Water inlet - 311, air vent - 45

[0056] Return port -312 External vent -451

[0057] Second mold - 32 Internal vent - 452

[0058] Thermal conductive surface-321 Transparent ice-5

[0059] Water supply components - 4 Main unit - 900

[0060] Water inlet interface-41 Main body-91

[0061] First water inlet - 411 Installation position - 92

[0062] Second water inlet - 412 Reception tank - 921

[0063] One-way valve-413, water inlet connector-922

[0064] Water supply pipe-42 Second power contact-923

[0065] Water inlet pipe - 421; Water outlet - 924

[0066] First water supply pipe - 421a Cold source - 93

[0067] Second water supply pipe - 421b Ice making equipment - 1000

[0068] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0069] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", 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 application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0070] 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 application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0071] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; 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; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0072] To provide a clearer and more accurate understanding of the contents of this application, a detailed description will now be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate examples of embodiments of this application, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same elements. It is to be understood that the scale shown in the accompanying drawings is not the actual scale of this application, and is for illustrative purposes only, and is not a drawing based on the original dimensions.

[0073] Please refer to the following: Figure 1This illustration shows a schematic diagram of the ice-making module provided in the first embodiment of this application applied to an ice-making device. The ice-making module 100 is applied to the ice-making device 1000. The ice-making device 1000 also includes a main unit 900 detachably combined with the ice-making module 100. The main unit 900 is used to provide the ice-making module 100 with energy such as cooling capacity, heating capacity, water for ice making, and power supply. The ice-making module 100 makes ice using the energy provided by the main unit 900. That is, in this embodiment, the ice-making module 100 is an independent component, thereby enabling the ice-making module 100 to be replaced. The ice-making device 1000 can be a device dedicated to ice making, including household and commercial countertop ice makers, under-counter ice makers, and freestanding ice makers; or other devices with ice-making functions, such as refrigerators and water purifiers.

[0074] Please refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the internal structure of the ice-making module 100 provided in the first embodiment of this application. The ice-making module 100 includes a housing 1, an ice-making cavity 2, a mold 3, and a water supply assembly 4. The mold 3 is disposed within the housing 1, and the ice-making cavity 2 is formed inside the mold 3. When the ice-making module 100 is combined with the main unit 900, ice-making water is injected into the water supply assembly 4 and flows into the ice-making cavity 2. The mold 3 is made of a thermally conductive material to conduct cold energy to the ice-making cavity 2, causing the ice-making water in the ice-making cavity 2 to condense and form ice blocks of the corresponding shape.

[0075] Please refer to Figure 2The housing 1 is generally rectangular and includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 that are detachably assembled. The first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are detachably connected by a snap-fit ​​structure 13 located at the housing joint. The snap-fit ​​structure 13 not only facilitates the user to quickly open the ice-making module 100 to obtain the formed transparent ice 5, but also ensures the airtightness of the ice-making module 100 in the closed state and maintains the structural stability during the ice-making process. In this embodiment, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are placed vertically. It can be understood that the number of ice-making chambers 2 can be set to at least one or more as needed. In this embodiment, it is only shown that the ice-making module 100 has two ice-making chambers 2, but it is not a limitation on the number of ice-making chambers 2. Furthermore, the shape of the ice-making chamber 2 corresponds to the shape of the ice block to be prepared. By replacing modules with different shapes of ice-making chamber 2, the user can prepare transparent ice 5 of various geometric shapes, such as spheres or cubes, on the host 900 of the same ice-making device. The housing 1 is also provided with a cover 17, which is disposed on the first housing 11 and can be opened or closed relative to the first housing 11. Both the housing 1 and the cover 17 have external vent holes 451 at their respective positions for allowing gas discharged from the ice-making chamber 2 to pass through. The external vent holes 451 consist of multiple micropores, the size of which is designed based on the liquid surface tension effect, so that under normal operating pressure conditions, they can block the permeation of liquid water while allowing gas molecules to pass through smoothly.

[0076] Please refer to Figure 3 The mold 3 includes a first mold 31 and a second mold 32, both made of materials with high thermal conductivity, such as metal. In this embodiment, the first mold 31 and the second mold 32 are respectively disposed on the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, and the first mold 31 and the second mold 32 are fastened together to form an ice-making cavity 2. Specifically, the first mold 31 is recessed to form a first ice-making cavity 21, and the second mold 32 is recessed to form a second ice-making cavity 22, with the first ice-making cavity 21 and the second ice-making cavity 22 being disposed opposite to each other. When the first mold 31 and the second mold 32 are fastened together, the first ice-making cavity 21 and the second ice-making cavity 22 together form the ice-making cavity 2. It can be understood that the ice-making cavity 2 is surrounded by the first mold 31 and the second mold 32. The water used for ice making will have a large contact area with the mold 3 in the ice-making cavity 2, thereby achieving efficient energy conduction and ensuring that the corresponding cold and heat are quickly conducted to various parts of the ice-making cavity 2 during the ice-making and de-icing stages. The cooling and heating are provided by the cold source 93 of the main unit 900 (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown). In this embodiment, the cold source 93 is an evaporator.

[0077] The heat-conducting surface 321 is located on the bottom surface of the second mold 32, away from the first mold 32. Simultaneously, the heat-conducting surface 321 is also located on the first side surface 14 of the housing 1. The heat-conducting surface 321 is planar, at least partially protruding from the housing 1, or at least partially forming part of the outer surface of the housing 1. That is, the heat-conducting surface 321 is exposed outside the housing 1, so that when the ice-making module 100 is combined with the main unit 900, it can directly contact the cold source 93, achieving heat conduction between the cold source 93 and the ice-making module 100. The planar nature of the heat-conducting surface 321 allows the ice-making module 100 to fit snugly against the surface of the cold source 93, further enhancing the heat conduction efficiency between the cold source 93 and the ice-making module 100. Thus, the heat or cold provided by the cold source 93 is transferred through the heat-conducting surface 321, and can be evenly transferred to the inner wall of the ice-making cavity 2, thereby facilitating the production and demolding of transparent ice. In other words, the cold source 93 can provide both a cold source and a heat source. Specifically, during ice making, the cold source 93 can provide cooling to the ice making module 100; when ice needs to be removed after ice making, the cold source 93 can switch to providing heat to the ice making module 100.

[0078] The first mold 31 is provided with a water inlet 311 and a return outlet 312, and the water inlet 311 and the return outlet 312 are located at the far end away from the second mold 32. The water supply assembly 4 supplies water to the ice-making chamber 2 through the water inlet 311 and returns the water from the ice-making chamber 2 through the return outlet 312. By setting the water inlet 311 and the return outlet 312, during the ice-making process, the water used for ice making generates a vortex and circulates in the ice-making chamber 2, carrying away air bubbles on the ice surface to obtain higher quality transparent ice.

[0079] Understandably, this application achieves physical separation between the water inlet 311 and the return outlet 312 by concentrating them on the upper part of the first mold 31 and setting the main heat-conducting surface 321 at the bottom of the second mold 32. This layout allows the heat-conducting surface 321 to form a complete and flat plane on the second mold 32 with the maximum area, thereby enabling the ice-making module 100 to fit tightly against the cold source 93 of the host 900 with the maximum area, minimizing heat conduction loss and ensuring efficient cooling performance.

[0080] Please refer to the following: Figure 4a , Figure 4b and Figures 5-7This illustration shows the specific structure of the water supply assembly 4 according to the first embodiment of this application. The water supply assembly 4 includes a first water inlet 411 disposed on a first side 14 of the housing 1, a second water inlet 412 disposed on a second side 15 of the housing 1, and a water supply pipe 42 disposed within the housing 1. The first side 14 and the second side 15 are arranged adjacent to each other, meaning that the first water inlet 411 and the second water inlet 412 are located on different sides of the housing 1. The first water inlet 411 and the second water inlet 412 are connected to the ice-making chamber 2 via the water supply pipe 42. In this way, regardless of whether the ice-making module 100 is connected to the corresponding water inlet connector 922 on the main unit 900 via its first side 14 or its second side 15, the water supplied by the main unit 900 for ice making can be independently and reliably guided to the water tank 424 through the water inlet interface 41 that is in the connected state and through the dedicated water inlet pipe 42. This ensures that the ice-making module 100 can achieve fast and accurate connection and water supply in the main unit 900 with different structural layouts such as front-opening and top-opening doors, thus guaranteeing the versatility and water supply reliability of the ice-making module 100 in different application scenarios.

[0081] In embodiments of this application, the water supply pipe 42 may further include a water tank 424 disposed within the housing 1, at least one set of connectors 425, a water pump 426, a water inlet pipe 422 connecting the water tank 424 and the water inlet 311, a return pipe 423 connecting the water tank 424 and the return outlet 312, a first water inlet pipe 421a connecting the first water inlet 411 and the water tank 424, and a second water inlet pipe 421b connecting the second water inlet 412 and the water tank 424. The water tank 424 is used to temporarily store the ice-making water provided by the host 900, and the water pump 426 is used to pump the ice-making water from the water tank 424 to the ice-making chamber 2. By setting the water tank 424, the amount of water injected into the ice-making chamber 2 and returned from the ice-making chamber 2 during the ice-making process is kept small (i.e., only the water in the water tank 424 participates in the water injection-return cycle), thereby reducing cold loss and accelerating the ice-making speed.

[0082] In this embodiment, the water tank 424 is positioned corresponding to the cover 17, and the water tank 424 can be maintained by opening the cover 17. Additionally, the water tank 424 is connected to the first water inlet 411 via a first water inlet pipe 421a, and to the second water inlet 412 via a second water inlet pipe 421b. This structure forms a bidirectional complementary external water supply path within the ice-making module 100.

[0083] Please refer to the following: Figure 7 and Figure 8Each water inlet 41 is equipped with a one-way valve 413 for sealing or closing the water inlet 41. In this example, both the first water inlet 411 and the second water inlet 412 are equipped with one-way valves 413. When the ice-making module 100 is separated from the main unit 900, the one-way valve 413 seals the water inlet 41 to prevent residual water inside the ice-making module 100 from leaking out during removal. When the ice-making module 100 is assembled back into the main unit 900, the one-way valve 422 opens the water inlet 41, allowing ice-making water to be injected into the water supply assembly 4.

[0084] In this embodiment, the water tank 424 is connected to the water inlet 311 via the water inlet pipe 422 and to the return outlet 312 via the return pipe 423. The water inlet pipe 422 forms an active water supply path from the water tank 424 to the ice-making chamber 2. The return pipe 423 establishes a circulating return channel between the return outlet 312 and the water tank 424.

[0085] Please refer to it again. Figure 6 The water supply component 4 can also be provided with an internal vent 452, which is located at the position corresponding to the water inlet 31 on the water inlet pipe 422. This vent is used to expel air accumulated in the water supply pipe 42 during the water injection process, preventing air blockage and ensuring smooth water supply. In this embodiment, the water supply component 4 can adopt a dual-interface design, with an outlet 43 located adjacent to the water inlet 41. The outlet 43 facilitates venting, effectively removing residual gas from the system. The internal vent 452 consists of multiple micropores, the size of which is designed based on the surface tension effect of liquid, allowing it to block the penetration of liquid water under normal operating pressure while maintaining the smooth passage of gas molecules.

[0086] Please refer to the following: Figure 4a , Figure 4b , Figure 8 and Figure 9 In this embodiment, the water pump 426 is installed on the water injection pipe 422. It is responsible for pressurizing the ice-making water temporarily stored in the water tank 424 and driving the water flow through the water injection pipe 422 and the water inlet 311 to inject it directly into the ice-making chamber 2 in a controllable manner. The water pump 426 can precisely start or maintain the water circulation in the ice-making chamber according to the needs of the ice-making cycle, providing key power for achieving an efficient and controllable ice-making process.

[0087] In this embodiment, at least one set of communicating vessels 425 is provided. The communicating vessel 425 includes ribs 4252 disposed within the water tank 424 and spaced parallel to the inner wall 4251 of the water tank. Each of the two ends of the ribs 4252 has a through hole 4253, allowing the spaces separated by the ribs 4252 in the water tank 424 to communicate with each other through the through holes 4253, thereby forming a water level communication channel between the water tank 424 and the water pump 426. By providing the communicating vessel 425, the water pump 426 can pump as much water as possible from the water tank 424, even at a relatively high position relative to the bottom of the water tank 424. In other words, only a small amount of water in the water tank 424 is needed for the water pump 426 to operate and for the water flow in the entire ice-making module 100 to circulate, thus reducing water consumption.

[0088] Rib 4252 extends along a direction perpendicular to the first side surface 14 of housing 1, and each end of rib 4252 is provided with a first through hole 4253a and a second through hole 4253b, respectively. The first through hole 4253a is located in the upper region of rib 4252, and the second through hole 4253b is located in the lower region of rib 4252. Based on this structure, the ice-making module 100 includes at least a first placement direction with the first through hole 4253a facing upward and a second placement direction with the second through hole 4253b facing upward. When housing 1 is in the first placement direction, the water level balance between water tank 424 and water pump 426 is maintained through the first through hole 4253a; when housing 1 is in the second placement direction, the water level balance between water tank 424 and water pump 426 is maintained through the second through hole 4253b.

[0089] In the vertical direction of water pump 426 (e.g.) Figure 8 and Figure 9 A first water level sensor 44a and a second water level sensor 44b are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the ice-making module 100 (as shown in the diagram), with the first water level sensor 44a positioned above the second water level sensor 44b. After the main unit 900 begins filling the ice-making module 100 with water, it continuously monitors the triggering status of the two water level sensors. If both the first water level sensor 44a and the second water level sensor 44b are triggered, the system determines that the ice-making module 100 is in the first placement orientation and that the water tank 424 is full. At this time, the system stops filling water and starts the water pump 426. If the system detects that only the first water level sensor 44a is triggered while the second water level sensor 44b is not triggered, it determines that the ice-making module 100 is in the second placement orientation. In this case, the system continues filling water until the first water level sensor 44a is triggered, and then starts the water pump 426. By recognizing the difference in the vertical position and triggering sequence of the two water level sensors, the first water level sensor 44a and the second water level sensor 44b can accurately identify the actual placement of the ice-making module 100 and automatically adjust the corresponding control water pump 426 to ensure a stable water supply effect under different placement conditions.

[0090] In this embodiment, when the water supply component 4 is working, water enters the water tank 424 through the water inlet 41 via the first water inlet pipe 421a or the second water inlet pipe 421b. The water level detection unit 46 monitors the water level in real time and controls the working mode of the water pump 426 according to the orientation of the ice-making module 100. The water pump 426 delivers ice-making water to the ice-making chamber 2 through the water inlet pipe 422, while the return pipe 423 guides the water in the ice-making chamber 2 back to the water tank 424, thereby forming a circulating flow. Through the internal vent 452 and the external vent 451, the smooth passage of gas is maintained, achieving a balance of internal and external air pressure in the system. This integrated design allows the system to automatically adapt to different placement orientations and maintain stable water supply performance. In this embodiment, the ice-making water is supplied by the main unit 900; in some feasible embodiments, the ice-making water can also be supplied by an external water tank.

[0091] Please refer to the following: Figure 10 and Figure 11 The diagram illustrates the specific structure of the water supply assembly 4 according to the second embodiment of this application. The water supply assembly 4 includes a water inlet 41 and a water outlet 43 disposed on the housing 1, and a water supply pipe 42 disposed within the housing 1. The water inlet 41 and the water outlet 43 are connected to the ice-making chamber 2 via the water supply pipe 42. Correspondingly, the ice-making device 900 is provided with a water inlet connector 922 that mates with the water inlet 41 of the ice-making module 100, and a water outlet 924 that mates with the water outlet 43 of the ice-making module 100. More specifically, in this embodiment, the water supply pipe 42 includes a water inlet pipe 422 and a return pipe 423. The first end of the water inlet pipe 422 is connected to the water inlet interface 41, and the second end of the water inlet pipe 422 is connected to the water inlet 311. The first end of the return pipe 423 is connected to the water outlet 43, and the second end of the return pipe 423 is connected to the return port 312. This allows the water inlet interface 41 to be connected to the ice-making chamber 2 through the water supply pipe 42. Water for ice making can flow from the water tank of the main unit 900 (not shown) through the water inlet connector 922, the water inlet interface 41, the water inlet pipe 422, the water inlet 311, and the water outlet 924 into the water tank of the main unit 900 in sequence; and then flow out of the ice-making chamber 2 through the return port 312, the return pipe 423, and the water outlet 43 in sequence. In other words, in this embodiment, the water tank 424 and water pump 426 can be omitted, and the water for making ice can be directly injected into the ice-making chamber 2 from the outside through the water supply pipe 42. This can expand the capacity of the ice-making chamber 2 to meet the needs of making large ice blocks; or the ice-making module 100 can be miniaturized as a whole to meet the needs of small equipment.

[0092] Please refer to the following: Figures 12a-12f ,as well as Figures 13a-13cThis diagram illustrates the placement and combination of the ice-making module 100 along multiple orientations. The housing 1 can be placed in the main unit 900 in six different orientations. These six orientations correspond to six placement states of the housing 1. From left to right, the placement states of the ice-making module 100 in the diagram are: the first orientation with the heat-conducting surface horizontally upright; the second orientation with the heat-conducting surface horizontally inverted; the third orientation with the heat-conducting surface vertically upright; the fourth orientation with the heat-conducting surface vertically inverted; the fifth orientation with the heat-conducting surface vertically upright; and the sixth orientation with the heat-conducting surface vertically inverted. This multi-directional placement capability allows the same ice-making module 100 to be adapted to main units 900 with different structural designs.

[0093] To ensure the ice-making module 100 can be placed in multiple directions, the water supply assembly 4 includes three communicating vessels 425, three water pumps 426, and three sets of water level sensors 44a and 44b. The three sets of communicating vessels 425 are orthogonally arranged. Specifically, the first set of communicating vessels 425 is arranged along the front-to-back direction of the ice-making module 100, the second set along the left-to-right direction, and the third set along the vertical direction, forming a water level balance network covering all spatial dimensions. This application constructs a redundant hydraulic connection system inside the water tank 424 through a spatially orthogonal layout design. Furthermore, each set of communicating vessels 425 is equipped with an independent water pump 426 and water level sensors 44a and 44b. When the ice-making module 100 is placed with any plane as its base, at least two sets of communicating vessels 425 will operate collaboratively. Specifically, one set of communicating vessels 425 is parallel to the bottom surface, while the other set of communicating vessels 425 is perpendicular to the bottom surface. This design effectively eliminates water level differences caused by changes in posture, ensuring that the water level near the suction port of the water pump 426 is always stable, thereby achieving adaptation and reliable water supply in all six basic placement orientations.

[0094] Furthermore, to facilitate the omnidirectional water level balance achieved by the three sets of communicating vessels 425, the vents 45 working in conjunction with them are arranged diagonally. Specifically, one vent 451 is located in one corner of the bottom area of ​​the water tank, and another vent 451 is located diagonally in the top area of ​​the water tank. This arrangement ensures that, in any of the six placement orientations mentioned above, the ice-making module 100 always has a vent above the liquid surface to achieve the venting function.

[0095] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 , Figure 14a , Figure 14b and Figure 15This illustrates the configuration of the ice-making module 100 placed in other directions and combined with the main unit 900. When the ice-making module 100 is pushed horizontally into the main unit 900 from the front, the first water inlet 411 of the first side 14 connects to the water pipe of the ice-making main unit 900; when the ice-making module 100 is placed horizontally from top to bottom into the main unit 900, the second water inlet 412 of the second side 15 connects to the water pipe of the main unit 900; when the ice-making module 100 is pushed vertically into the main unit 900 from the front, the second water inlet 412 of the second side 15 connects to the water pipe of the main unit 900. In this embodiment, the two water inlets 41 are arranged on adjacent sides of the housing 1, and all the water inlets 41 can be concentrated in a corner area of ​​the module. This layout minimizes the crossing and detour of the water pipes 421 inside the ice-making module 100, saving internal space, reducing flow resistance, and improving water supply efficiency. In addition, when the two interfaces are located on adjacent sides, the user only needs to rotate the ice-making module 100 90° around the axis to switch the docking direction with the host 900. This allows the ice-making module 100 to be compatible with various structural forms of ice-making host 900, such as front-opening and top-opening types, greatly improving ease of use and host compatibility.

[0096] Please refer to it again. Figure 4a and Figure 4b In this embodiment, the ice-making module 100 further includes one or more first power contacts 16 disposed on and exposed in the housing 1. The multiple first power contacts 16 are located on different sides of the housing 1 and are electrically connected to the water pump 426 and / or the water level sensor 46 to supply power to the water pump 426 and / or the water level detection unit 44. When the ice-making module 100 is combined with the host 900, the first power contacts 16 are adapted to the host 900 for electrical connection. When the ice-making module 100 is detached from the host 900, the first power contacts 16 are disconnected from the host 900. For example, when there are multiple first power contacts 16, the multiple first power contacts 16 are respectively disposed on different sides of the housing 1, and one of the first power contacts 16 is adapted to the host 900. In this embodiment, when there is only one first power contact 16, the first power contact 16 is disposed on the second side 15 of the housing 1. Furthermore, the first power contact 16 adopts a waterproof design to ensure electrical safety in humid environments. Understandably, in some feasible embodiments, if all the electrical components required for the operation of the ice-making module 100 are implemented in the host 900, the first power contact 16 can be omitted.

[0097] Please refer to the above again. Figure 1 , Figure 14a , Figure 14b and Figure 15The diagram illustrates an ice-making device 1000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The ice-making device 1000 includes a main unit 900 and an ice-making module 100 detachably assembled with the main unit 900. The main unit 900 and the ice-making module 100 are two independent components. The specific structure of the ice-making module 100 is described above and will not be repeated here.

[0098] The main unit 900 includes a main body 91 and a mounting section 92. The main body 91 is used to provide a cold source and water for ice making. The mounting section 92 is disposed on the main body 91 and is used for the ice making module 100 to be detachably assembled into the main body 900.

[0099] The mounting section 921 includes a receiving slot 921, a water inlet connector 922, and a second power contact 923. The receiving slot is disposed on the surface of the main body 91, and the shape of the receiving slot 921 is adapted to the ice-making module 100. The mounting section 921 has a water inlet connector 921 on one or more sides, so that the mounting section has one or more water inlet connectors 921. When the ice-making module 100 is combined with the main unit 900, one of the water inlet connectors 921 is adapted to connect with the first water inlet interface 411 or the second water inlet interface 412 of the ice-making module, for injecting ice-making water provided by the main unit 900 into the ice-making chamber 2 of the ice-making module 100. The cold source 93 is disposed on the bottom or side of the mounting section 921, and when the ice-making module 100 is combined with the main unit 900, the cold source 93 is in contact with the heat-conducting surface 321 of the ice-making module 100. The mounting section 92 also has a second power contact 923 on one or more sides, giving the mounting section 92 one or more second power contacts 923. One of the second power contacts 923 is adapted to the ice-making module 100 to establish an electrical connection between the ice-making module 100 and the host 900, providing the ice-making module 100 with the power required for operation. In this embodiment, a cold source 93 is also provided on the inner surface of the receiving groove 921, allowing the cold source to fully contact the mold 3 and provide the ice-making module 100 with the cold or heat required for ice making.

[0100] Furthermore, the mounting part 91 can be located on any surface of the main unit 900. In this embodiment, the main unit 900 is designed in a cuboid shape, and the ice-making module 100 can be installed on the front, top, left, or right side of the main unit 900.

[0101] In the above embodiments, this application achieves flexible configuration of the ice-making function through modular design, allowing users to prepare ice cubes of various shapes by replacing different modules. The mold is made of thermally conductive material, maintaining good heat transfer during both ice making and de-icing processes, thus ensuring ease of use. The design of multiple connecting vessels allows the ice-making modules to be placed in multiple directions, adapting to ice-making equipment with different structural layouts and effectively improving the product's versatility. The overall design not only simplifies ice-making operations but also effectively reduces system energy consumption.

[0102] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

[0103] The above-listed embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Therefore, any equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of this application shall still fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. An ice-making module for use in an ice-making device, the ice-making device comprising a main unit for providing a cold source and water for ice making; characterized in that, The ice-making module includes: The shell is rectangular in shape overall; A mold is disposed within the housing, the interior of which forms an ice-making cavity, and the mold is made of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting surface for contacting the cold source, the heat-conducting surface being disposed on a first side of the housing; A water supply assembly is used to supply ice-making water to the ice-making chamber. The water supply assembly includes a first water inlet on a first side of the housing and a second water inlet on a second side of the housing. The first side and the second side are adjacent to each other. The first water inlet and the second water inlet are connected to the ice-making chamber through a water supply pipe.

2. The ice-making module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water supply assembly also includes one-way valves respectively located at the first water inlet and the second water inlet.

3. The ice-making module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the thermally conductive surface protrudes from the housing, or at least a portion of the thermally conductive surface constitutes part of the outer surface of the housing.

4. The ice-making module as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The mold includes a first mold and a second mold, which are fastened together to form the ice-making cavity. The first mold is provided with a water inlet and a return outlet. The water supply pipe supplies water to the ice-making cavity through the water inlet and returns the water from the ice-making cavity through the return outlet. The heat-conducting surface is provided on the bottom surface of the second mold.

5. The ice-making module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The water supply pipeline includes a water injection pipe connected to the water inlet and a return pipe connected to the return outlet; or the water supply pipeline includes: A water tank is installed inside the housing. The water tank is connected to the water inlet through a water inlet pipe, to the return outlet through a return pipe, to the first water inlet through a first water inlet pipe, and to the second water inlet through a second water inlet pipe. At least one set of communicating vessels, each set of communicating vessels including ribs disposed within the water tank and spaced parallel to the inner wall of the water tank, each rib having a through hole at its two ends to allow communication between the internal space of the water tank and the water tank; and A water pump, connected to the water tank via a water pump interface and to the ice-making chamber via a water injection pipe, is used to pump the water for ice making from the water tank to the ice-making chamber.

6. The ice-making module as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The water tank contains three sets of communicating vessels arranged orthogonally to each other.

7. The ice-making module as described in claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a water level detection unit disposed inside the water tank and corresponding to the communicating vessel. The water level detection unit includes a first water level sensor and a second water level sensor, which are spaced apart along the length of the rib.

8. The ice-making module as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The ice-making module also includes one or more first power contacts disposed on the housing. The plurality of first power contacts are respectively located on different sides of the housing and are electrically connected to the water pump and / or the water level sensor for supplying power to the water pump and / or the water level sensor.

9. The ice-making module as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ice-making module also includes at least two vents, which are located on at least two sides of the housing.

10. An ice-making device, characterized in that, The ice-making device includes a main unit and an ice-making module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the main unit includes: Main body used to provide cold source and ice-making water; A mounting section, disposed on the main body, is used for detachably assembling the ice-making module to the main body. The mounting section has a water inlet connector on one or more sides. When the ice-making module is assembled with the main unit, one of the water inlet connectors is adapted to connect with either the first or second water inlet of the ice-making module. A cold source is located on the bottom or side of the mounting section. When the ice-making module is combined with the main unit, the cold source comes into contact with the heat-conducting surface of the ice-making module.

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