A compact ice flaking machine

Abstract

The application discloses a compact ice crusher, comprising an outer box body, a storage ice bin and a refrigeration system are arranged in the outer box body from top to bottom, the upper part of the storage ice bin is open, an ice making module is arranged in the storage ice bin, the upper part of the ice making module is hung at the edge of the upper opening of the storage ice bin, and an ice outlet is arranged on the side of the ice making module, which is opposite to the hanging side, the internal structure of the ice crusher is vertically distributed, the longitudinal volume is reduced, and thus the overall ice crusher occupies less indoor space, the ice making module is hung in the storage ice bin, the freedom of ice particle accumulation is utilized to properly occupy the space in the storage ice bin, and the structural stability is ensured while the compactness is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice-making technology, specifically to a compact ice crusher / ice maker. Background Technology

[0002] An ice crusher is an ice-making device that produces irregularly shaped crushed ice based on the evaporator refrigeration principle. It cools water through a refrigeration system to form granular edible ice. The ice produced by this device can be cylindrical, square, or crescent-shaped. It is the smallest of common ice types and has the best resistance to melting. It is mainly used in commercial settings such as milk tea shops, restaurants, convenience stores, bars, and Western restaurants to provide a continuous and stable supply of ice.

[0003] However, existing ice makers have the following drawbacks: Currently, ice crushers on the market usually adopt a split structure, with ice making, refrigeration, and ice storage modules set up independently, resulting in a large overall size of the machine and easy to occupy a large amount of indoor space. For small and medium-sized restaurants or convenience stores with limited space, the installation and placement of traditional ice crushers are quite limited. Utility Model Content

[0004] One object of this application is to provide a compact ice crusher / ice maker with a small size.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: a compact ice crusher and ice maker, comprising an outer casing, wherein an ice storage chamber and a refrigeration system are arranged sequentially from top to bottom in the outer casing, the upper part of the ice storage chamber is open, an ice-making module is provided inside the ice storage chamber, the upper part of the ice-making module is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber, and an ice outlet is provided on the side of the ice-making module other than the attached side.

[0006] In some embodiments, the ice-making module is arranged along the first direction of the ice storage chamber, and the ice-making module is close to one side of the ice storage chamber in a second direction, so that the three sides of the ice-making module are engaged with the three sides of the ice storage chamber one by one.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ice-making module includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and an evaporator assembly. The edge of the lower housing is connected to the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment. The evaporator assembly is placed inside the lower housing. The upper housing is assembled above the evaporator assembly and connected to the lower housing.

[0008] In some embodiments, the length of the lower housing in a first direction is greater than the length in a second direction, the evaporator assembly is arranged on one side of the lower housing along the first direction, the upper housing is recessed on the other side of the lower housing along the first direction to form a water storage cavity, the evaporator assembly is connected to the bottom of the water storage cavity; a water injector is provided on the top of the outer casing, the lower end of the water injector extends into the water storage cavity; a connecting part is provided on the bottom of the lower housing, the connecting part is fitted to and fixed to the inner wall of the ice storage compartment.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bottom of the ice-making module and the bottom of the ice storage compartment are spaced apart.

[0010] In some embodiments, the upper opening of the ice storage compartment has a height difference structure, the ice-making module is attached to the higher side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment, and the lowest point of the ice-making module is higher than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment; the height of the ice outlet is not lower than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment.

[0011] In some embodiments, an isolation cover is provided inside the outer casing. The isolation cover is configured in conjunction with the ice storage compartment. The edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the isolation cover, and an isolation gap is formed between the isolation cover and the ice storage compartment.

[0012] In some embodiments, a first mounting gap is formed between the isolation cover and the front of the outer casing, the first mounting gap being adapted to accommodate a control panel.

[0013] In some embodiments, a connecting pipe is provided between the ice-making module and the refrigeration system, the rear part of the outer casing protrudes rearward and forms a second installation gap with the rear part of the ice storage compartment, and the connecting pipe is placed within the second installation gap.

[0014] In some embodiments, the interface of the refrigeration system extends from the non-protruding portion at the rear of the outer casing.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The ice crusher of this application adopts a three-dimensional stacked structure of upper layer (internal ice-making module) + middle layer (ice storage chamber) + lower layer (refrigeration system). The upper ice-making module and the middle ice storage chamber adopt an integrated design that combines and arranges them together, which can effectively reduce the vertical structural volume and save installation volume. Without affecting the ice-making efficiency and basically without affecting the ice storage capacity, the machine volume is reduced, thereby reducing the occupation of indoor space and making it more suitable for commercial scenarios with limited space. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1This is a side view of the internal arrangement of an ice maker according to a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a front view of the internal layout of an ice maker according to a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the ice storage compartment and the ice-making module according to a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 4 This is an assembly diagram of an ice-making module according to a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Outer casing; 11. First installation gap; 12. Second installation gap; 13. Control panel; 2. Ice storage compartment; 3. Refrigeration system; 4. Ice making module; 41. Ice outlet; 42. Upper shell; 421. Water storage chamber; 43. Lower shell; 431. Connecting part; 44. Evaporator assembly; 5. Water injector; 6. Isolation cover; 61. Isolation gap; 7. Connecting pipes. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0022] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation and 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. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this application.

[0023] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0024] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification and claims of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or device.

[0025] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates this application: like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this application provides a compact ice crusher, including an outer casing 1. An ice storage chamber 2 and a refrigeration system 3 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom on the outer casing 1. The upper part of the ice storage chamber 2 is open, and an ice-making module 4 is provided inside the ice storage chamber 2. The upper part of the ice-making module 4 is hung on the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2. An ice outlet 41 is opened on the side of the ice-making module 4 other than the hanging side. The ice blocks made by the ice-making module 4 can fall directly into the ice storage chamber 2 from the ice outlet 41. The way of arranging the ice-making module 4 inside the ice storage chamber 2 can effectively improve the space utilization rate inside the ice maker, thereby reducing the overall volume.

[0026] Understandably, the structure of the ice-making module 4 being attached to the ice storage compartment 2 allows for the reuse of the installation structure, thereby effectively reducing unnecessary installation structures. At the same time, due to the opening at the top of the ice storage compartment 2, the ice-making module 4 can be directly inserted into the ice storage compartment 2 from above for quick assembly. The structure of the ice storage compartment 2 is used to guide and position the installation of the ice-making module 4, thereby effectively reducing installation difficulty and improving installation efficiency.

[0027] like Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the upper edge of the ice-making module 4 and the upper opening edge of the ice storage compartment 2 both extend to a certain width. By stacking and hanging the upper edge of the ice-making module 4 to the upper opening edge of the ice storage compartment 2, stable support for the ice-making module 4 can be achieved.

[0028] like Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the ice-making module 4 is arranged along the first direction x of the ice storage chamber 2, and the ice-making module 4 is close to one side of the ice storage chamber 2 in the second direction y, so that the three sides of the ice-making module 4 are matched and hooked with the three sides of the ice storage chamber 2 one by one. This further reuses the structure of the ice-making module 4 and the ice storage chamber 2, so that the three sides of the ice-making module 4 can be effectively supported, thereby improving the structural stability and operational stability of the ice-making module 4 and reducing the probability of the ice-making module 4 falling.

[0029] In some embodiments, after the three sides of the ice-making module 4 are connected to the three sides of the ice storage chamber 2, they can be further tightened and reinforced using common fasteners such as threaded fasteners to limit the separation of the three sides of the ice-making module 4 from the three sides of the ice storage chamber 2, improve connection stability and structural stability, and ensure that the ice-making module 4 will not fall.

[0030] like Figure 4In the embodiment shown, the ice-making module 4 includes an upper housing 42, a lower housing 43, and an evaporator assembly 44. The edge of the lower housing 43 is connected to the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment 2. The evaporator assembly 44 is placed inside the lower housing 43. The upper housing 42 is assembled above the evaporator assembly 44 and connected to the lower housing 43.

[0031] Specifically, the lower housing 43 has a slot, and the upper housing 42 has a buckle on its periphery. The buckle is inserted into the slot, and then fixed by a universal fastener to achieve a mating connection between the upper housing 42 and the lower housing 43.

[0032] like Figure 3 and 4 In the embodiment shown, the assembly process of the ice-making module 4 and the ice storage chamber 2 is as follows: the evaporator assembly 44 is installed into the lower housing 43, the lower housing 43 is covered and fixed onto the lower housing 43, and finally the whole assembly is installed into the ice storage chamber 2.

[0033] When the ice maker is working, the compressor in the refrigeration system 3 works, and the refrigerant flows through the condenser to the evaporator assembly 44, cooling the water flowing through the evaporator assembly 44 into ice. The ice produced from the evaporator assembly 44 falls into the ice storage chamber 2 below through the ice outlet 41.

[0034] like Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, a connecting part 431 is provided at the bottom of the lower housing 43, and the connecting part 431 fits against the inner wall of the ice storage compartment 2 and is fixedly connected.

[0035] like Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the connecting part 431 and the ice storage compartment 2 are connected and fixed by a universal fastener. It is worth noting that in order to prevent the ice storage compartment 2 from leaking at the connection and affecting the operation of the refrigeration system 3 below, in addition to using a universal fastener, a sealing gasket and other components are also required to strengthen the seal between the connecting part 431 and the ice storage compartment 2.

[0036] In some embodiments, the connecting part 431 and the inner wall of the ice storage compartment 2 are connected and fixed by means of bonding or other methods, and this installation method has the least impact on the function of the ice storage compartment 2.

[0037] like Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment shown, the length of the lower housing 43 in the first direction x is greater than the length in the second direction y. The evaporator assembly 44 is arranged on one side of the lower housing 43 along the first direction x. The upper housing 42 is recessed on the other side of the lower housing 43 along the first direction x to form a water storage cavity 421. The bottom of the evaporator assembly 44 and the water storage cavity 421 are connected.

[0038] In this application, the first direction x generally refers to the left-right direction of the outer casing 1, and the second direction y generally refers to the front-back direction of the outer casing 1. Considering that the front side of the ice maker is generally the ice dispensing port, the ice making module 4 should not occupy the front space of the ice maker, that is, the front space of the ice storage compartment 2, to ensure smooth ice dispensing. Therefore, the ice making module 4 in this application is generally connected to the ice storage compartment 2 on the left and right sides and the rear side. At the same time, this design will give the ice making module 4 a larger space in the first direction x. Therefore, arranging the evaporator assembly 44 and the water storage cavity 421 along the first direction x can maximize space utilization and achieve a higher structural compactness.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 4 In the embodiment shown, a water injector 5 is provided on the top of the outer casing 1. The lower end of the water injector 5 extends into the water storage chamber 421. The ice maker can draw water from the outside through the water injector 5 and store it in the water storage chamber 421, thereby achieving continuous ice making.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment shown, the bottom of the ice-making module 4 and the bottom of the ice storage compartment 2 are spaced apart, which allows the bottom of the ice storage compartment 2 to hold more ice, while reducing the probability of contact between the ice-making module 4 and the ice, improving the stability of the operation of the ice-making module 4, and reducing dead corners for cleaning.

[0041] like Figure 1 and 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2 has a height difference structure. The ice-making module 4 is attached to the higher side of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2. The height of the ice outlet 41 is not lower than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2. The lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2 is generally the ice-receiving side. The height of the ice block accumulation in the ice storage chamber 2 is generally not higher than the lower side of its upper opening. Setting the relationship between the ice outlet 41 and the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage chamber 2 can effectively reduce the probability of ice blocks contacting the ice-making module 4 or even the ice outlet 41, reduce the contamination of the ice outlet 41, and improve the smoothness of ice dispensing from the ice outlet 41.

[0042] Furthermore, the lowest point of the ice-making module 4 can be higher than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment 2, thereby basically preventing ice from contacting the ice-making module 4 and the ice outlet 41.

[0043] like Figure 1In the embodiment shown, an isolation cover 6 is provided inside the outer casing 1. The shape, form, and arrangement of the isolation cover 6 are designed to match the shape, form, and arrangement of the ice storage compartment 2. The edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment 2 is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the isolation cover 6, providing support for the installation of the ice storage compartment 2, improving the load-bearing capacity of the ice storage compartment 2, and strengthening the structure. An isolation gap 61 is formed between the isolation cover 6 and the ice storage compartment 2. Insulation material can be installed in the isolation gap 61 to improve the ice storage performance of the ice storage compartment 2.

[0044] like Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, a first installation gap 11 is formed between the isolation cover 6 and the front of the outer casing 1. The first installation gap 11 is suitable for accommodating the control panel 13, making full use of the extra space and improving the overall structural compactness of the ice maker.

[0045] like Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, a connecting pipe 7 is provided between the ice-making module 4 and the refrigeration system 3. The rear part of the outer casing 1 protrudes rearward so that the rear part of the outer casing 1 is slightly away from the ice storage chamber 2 (isolation cover 6) and forms a second installation gap 12 between it and the rear part of the ice storage chamber 2. The connecting pipe 7 is placed in the second installation gap 12. The structure of the protruding part is fully utilized to realize the hidden arrangement of the connecting pipe 7 and improve the structural compactness.

[0046] like Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the interface of the refrigeration system 3 is led out from the non-protruding part at the rear of the outer casing 1. Considering that the interface needs to occupy a certain space, arranging the interface in the non-protruding part can enable the ice maker to be placed against the wall as much as possible, thereby saving placement space.

[0047] In summary, the ice crusher and ice maker of this application has a body size that is 10-20% smaller than that of traditional models with the same ice production capacity, which greatly saves installation space and is suitable for small commercial scenarios. Moreover, the ice production efficiency is the same as that of traditional models without size reduction, which can guarantee the ice production needs of commercial use.

[0048] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are only the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. All such changes and modifications fall within the scope of this application as claimed. The scope of protection claimed by this application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A compact ice crusher and ice maker, characterized in that: The device includes an outer casing, from top to bottom, an ice storage compartment and a refrigeration system. The ice storage compartment has an opening at the top, and an ice-making module is installed inside the ice storage compartment. The upper part of the ice-making module is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment, and the ice-making module has an ice outlet on its side other than the attachment side.

2. The compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-making module is arranged along the first direction of the ice storage compartment, and the ice-making module is close to one side of the ice storage compartment in the second direction, so that the three sides of the ice-making module are matched and hooked with the three sides of the ice storage compartment.

3. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-making module includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and an evaporator assembly. The edge of the lower shell is connected to the edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment. The evaporator assembly is placed inside the lower shell. The upper shell is assembled above the evaporator assembly and connected to the lower shell.

4. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The length of the lower housing in a first direction is greater than the length in a second direction. The evaporator assembly is arranged on one side of the lower housing along the first direction. The upper housing is recessed on the other side of the lower housing along the first direction to form a water storage cavity. The bottom of the evaporator assembly and the water storage cavity are connected. A water injector is provided on the top of the outer casing, and the lower end of the water injector extends into the water storage cavity. A connecting part is provided at the bottom of the lower housing, and the connecting part fits against and is fixed to the inner wall of the ice storage compartment.

5. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the ice-making module and the bottom of the ice storage compartment are spaced apart.

6. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The upper opening of the ice storage compartment has a height difference structure. The ice-making module is attached to the higher side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment, and the lowest point of the ice-making module is higher than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment. The height of the ice outlet is not lower than the lower side of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment.

7. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An isolation cover is provided inside the outer casing. The isolation cover is designed to work with the ice storage compartment. The edge of the upper opening of the ice storage compartment is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the isolation cover, and an isolation gap is formed between the isolation cover and the ice storage compartment.

8. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 7, characterized in that: A first mounting gap is formed between the isolation cover and the front part of the outer casing, and the first mounting gap is suitable for accommodating the control panel.

9. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting pipe is provided between the ice-making module and the refrigeration system. The rear part of the outer casing protrudes backward and forms a second installation gap with the rear part of the ice storage compartment. The connecting pipe is placed within the second installation gap.

10. A compact ice crusher and ice maker as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The interface of the refrigeration system extends from the non-protruding portion at the rear of the outer casing.

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