refrigerator

Abstract

This application belongs to the technical field of refrigeration and freezing equipment, and provides a refrigerator, including a cabinet, an ice maker, and a refrigeration system. The ice maker is located inside the cabinet. The ice maker includes an ice maker, an ice storage box, an ice guiding assembly, a return channel, and a water pump. The refrigeration system provides cooling capacity to the ice maker. The ice storage box stores the ice produced by the ice maker. The ice guiding assembly connects the ice maker and the ice storage box, guiding the ice produced by the ice maker to the ice storage box. A first drain hole is provided at the bottom of the ice storage box, through which melted ice water in the ice storage box is discharged. One end of the return channel is connected to the first drain hole to receive melted ice water. The water pump is located in the return channel and drives the melted ice water to flow to the ice maker or a component connected to it. A second drain hole is also provided at the bottom of the ice guiding assembly, through which melted ice water discharged from the second drain hole flows to the ice maker or a component connected to it. This application solves the problem that melted ice water cannot be drained from the ice storage box when a commercial chewing ice maker is integrated into a refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of refrigeration and freezing equipment, and particularly relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Commercial chewing ice makers are typically designed with an open ice storage space, allowing melted ice water to drain directly to the outside using gravity or a simple drainage structure. However, when a commercial chewing ice maker is integrated into a traditional refrigerator, the ice storage box inside the maker is placed in a closed, low-temperature, and space-constrained environment.

[0003] Chewable ice, being soft and easily melted, produces a significant amount of melted water. Because refrigerators need to balance insulation with a compact layout, ice storage trays are often located high or deep within the refrigerator body. This prevents the melted water from draining smoothly by gravity and makes it difficult to connect it to the existing refrigerator drainage system. Furthermore, this large amount of melted water cannot be reused, leading to waste.

[0004] Furthermore, to maintain a low-temperature environment and reduce ineffective ice production, the ice storage box needs to maintain precise temperature control. However, if the melt water accumulated inside the ice storage box cannot be drained in time, this melt water may refreeze, causing ice blockage, affecting ice removal efficiency, and even interfering with the operation of the temperature sensor, leading to misjudgments in the control system and increased energy consumption. In addition, in scenarios where users frequently remove ice, the melt water that is not effectively drained may also leak into other storage areas inside the refrigerator, contaminating food, breeding bacteria, affecting usability, and posing hygiene and safety issues.

[0005] Therefore, how to effectively drain the melted water in the ice storage box without affecting the overall structure and refrigeration performance of the refrigerator has become one of the bottlenecks that urgently need to be overcome in the optimization of refrigerator structure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide a refrigerator to solve the technical problem that when a commercial chewing ice maker is integrated into a refrigerator, the ice storage box cannot effectively drain melted water because it is in a closed, low-temperature environment.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide a refrigerator, comprising: Box; An ice maker is disposed within the housing; the ice maker includes an ice maker capable of turning water into ice. A refrigeration system, located inside the housing, is capable of providing cooling capacity to the ice maker; The ice maker also includes an ice storage box, an ice guiding assembly, a return channel, and a water pump; The ice storage box is used to store the ice made by the ice maker; The ice guiding component connects the ice maker and the ice storage box, and the ice produced by the ice maker can be guided to the ice storage box through the ice guiding component. The bottom of the ice storage box is provided with a first drain hole, through which the melted ice water in the ice storage box can be discharged. One end of the return channel is connected to the first drain hole so as to receive the ice melt water; The water pump is located in the return channel and is used to drive the ice melt water to the ice maker or a component connected to the ice maker. The bottom of the ice guiding assembly is also provided with a second drain hole, through which the melted ice water flows to the ice maker or a component connected to the ice maker.

[0008] The beneficial effects of the refrigerator provided in this application are as follows: Compared with the prior art, in the refrigerator of this application, the ice maker is set inside the refrigerator body. The ice maker opens a first drain hole at the bottom of the ice storage box and a second drain hole on the ice guiding component, so that the melted ice water can be discharged from these drain holes. The melted ice water is received through the return channel and driven by a water pump, or the melted ice water is directly returned to the ice maker or a component connected to the ice maker for secondary use. This solves the problem that the ice storage box cannot effectively drain melted water because it is in a closed low-temperature environment.

[0009] The ice maker of this application utilizes an internal structure comprising an ice maker, an ice guiding component, an ice storage box, a return channel, and a water pump. By creating a first drain hole at the bottom of the ice storage box and a second drain hole on the ice guiding component, melted ice water can be received through the return channel or directly returned to the ice maker or components connected to it, thus forming a circulating water system within the ice maker. This facilitates adaptation to the sealed environment of a refrigerator, eliminating the need for major modifications to the refrigerator's overall structure. It allows for an efficient and reliable integration of commercial chewing ice technology with a household refrigerator platform, effectively improving overall machine performance.

[0010] For the components connected to the ice maker, the components connected to the ice maker include a main water tank, which is connected to both the water supply source on the refrigerator and the ice maker.

[0011] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The main water tank is connected to the refrigerator's water supply to collect water used for ice making.

[0012] In one embodiment, the main water tank and the ice maker are connected by a connecting pipe, with both ends of the connecting pipe connected to the bottom of the main water tank and the bottom of the ice maker respectively to form a U-shaped pipe structure, so that the liquid level in the main water tank is the same as the liquid level in the ice maker.

[0013] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: This eliminates the need for additional control valves or pumps and provides a highly stable and repeatable injection volume.

[0014] In one embodiment, the main water tank is equipped with a first liquid level sensor, which is used to detect the liquid level height in the main water tank.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The first liquid level sensor is used to detect the liquid level in the main water tank and trigger the water pump to start and replenish the main water tank.

[0016] The structure of the ice guiding component is improved, wherein the ice guiding component is inclined towards the ice storage box, the ice guiding component is positioned above the main water tank, and the second drain hole on the ice guiding component is located within the upper opening range of the main water tank.

[0017] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The ice guiding component is tilted towards the ice storage box so that the ice produced by the ice maker can naturally slide into the ice storage box, achieving an automatic dispensing effect. The second drain hole on the ice guiding component is located within the opening range above the main water tank, allowing melted ice water to fall directly into the main water tank through the second drain hole with the shortest path, realizing the immediate reuse of water resources.

[0018] For the components connected to the ice maker, the components connected to the ice maker also include an auxiliary water tank, the other end of the return channel is connected to the auxiliary water tank, and the water pump is connected between the main water tank and the auxiliary water tank through a pipe.

[0019] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: To prevent freshly melted water from mixing directly with the water stored in the main tank, a physical buffer zone is created between the new and recycled water. The auxiliary tank, acting as a buffer container for melted water, can smoothly receive the ice melt and can replenish the main tank as needed using a water pump.

[0020] In one embodiment, the auxiliary water tank is further provided with a second liquid level sensor, which is used to detect whether there is water in the auxiliary water tank.

[0021] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The amount of meltwater collected in the auxiliary water tank is detected using a second liquid level sensor to ensure effective pumping.

[0022] The structure of the ice storage box is improved, and the ice storage box also includes a water receiving tray, which is used to collect the melted ice water discharged from the first drain hole. One end of the return channel that is connected to the first drain hole is connected to the water receiving tray.

[0023] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The design allows meltwater to drip directly into the receiving tray under gravity. This compact layout reduces the risks of meltwater exposure, splashing, or spreading along other surfaces during transfer, ensuring a high meltwater recovery rate from a physical structure perspective and facilitating subsequent recycling.

[0024] In one embodiment, the water receiving tray is detachably mounted on the ice storage box, and the output end of the water receiving tray connected to the return channel is provided with a connecting valve to prevent ice melt water from leaking out when the water receiving tray is disassembled.

[0025] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The connecting valve on the water receiving pan automatically seals when the water receiving pan is removed separately, preventing the melt water received on the water receiving pan from leaking from the output end of the water receiving pan.

[0026] For components connected to the ice maker, the components connected to the ice maker also include a sterilization device, which is used to sterilize the water flowing to the ice maker.

[0027] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The sterilization device is used to sterilize the water supplied to the ice maker, effectively ensuring the hygiene and safety of the entire closed-loop water system. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, 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 these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal circulating water system of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the main water tank and the ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the connection structure of the main water tank, auxiliary water tank, and water pump provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ice maker provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 ; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the ice guiding component and the main water tank provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the internal circulation flow of an ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the water receiving tray and ice storage box provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the water receiving tray and the return channel provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the sterilization device and the main water tank provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the internal partial structure of an ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an ice maker provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] The following are the labeling elements in the figure: 100 - Cabinet; 200 - Ice maker; 300 - Refrigeration system; 1-Ice maker; 11-Insulation component; 2-Ice storage box; 21-First drain hole; 22-Water tray; 23-Connecting valve; 231-Resilient plug; 3-Ice guiding assembly; 30-Slide track; 31-Second drainage hole; 4-Return channel; 41-Top; 5-Water pump; 6-Main water tank; 61-First liquid level sensor; 62-Mounting base; 63-Dispensing channel; 631-Opening and closing door; 7-Auxiliary water tank; 71-Second liquid level sensor; 8-Sterilization device; 9-Water quality testing device. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0032] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0033] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] For making chewing ice in refrigerators, the ice maker is usually installed as a separate module inside the refrigerator. To avoid interfering with the internal temperature and storage environment of the refrigerator, the melted water in the ice storage tray of the ice maker cannot be drained separately, nor can it be connected to the refrigerator's existing drainage system. Therefore, currently, the melted water can only be removed when the ice storage tray is disassembled for cleaning, resulting in the long-term accumulation of melted water inside the ice storage tray. This residual melted water is prone to refreezing, forming ice clumps that can cause blockages, and can also interfere with the detection accuracy of temperature sensors, leading to problems such as misjudgments in the control system and increased energy consumption.

[0036] Therefore, this application provides a novel refrigerator with a built-in ice maker for making chewing ice. The ice maker is equipped with a special return channel for collecting melted water, which can guide the melted water back into the ice maker, thereby constructing a closed-loop water circulation system to realize the automatic recycling and reuse of melted water. This effectively solves the problem that when commercial chewing ice makers are integrated into refrigerators in the past, the ice storage box cannot effectively drain melted water due to the sealed low-temperature environment. The details are described below.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 The refrigerator includes a cabinet 100, an ice maker 200 disposed inside the cabinet 100, and a refrigeration system 300. In this embodiment, the cabinet 100 of the refrigerator includes at least a refrigerator compartment, and the ice maker 200 can preferably be disposed inside the refrigerator compartment.

[0038] Please see Figure 2 The ice maker 200 includes an ice maker 1, an ice storage box 2, an ice guiding assembly 3, a return channel 4, and a water pump 5.

[0039] Ice maker 1 is capable of turning water into ice, and refrigeration system 300 is used to provide cooling capacity for ice maker 1.

[0040] Ice storage box 2 is used to store ice made by ice maker 1. A first drain hole is provided on the bottom of ice storage box 2 so that the melted ice water in ice storage box 2 can be discharged from the first drain hole.

[0041] One end of the return channel 4 is connected to the first drain hole on the ice storage box 2, and the return channel 4 can receive the melted ice water discharged from the first drain hole.

[0042] The water pump 5 is located in the return channel 4 and is used to drive the melted ice water to flow into the ice maker 1 or a component connected to the ice maker 1.

[0043] The ice guiding assembly 3 connects the ice maker 1 and the ice storage box 2, allowing the ice produced by the ice maker 1 to flow into the ice storage box 2 through the ice guiding assembly 3. The bottom of the ice guiding assembly 3 is also provided with a second drain hole, through which the melted ice water flows into the ice maker 1 or a component connected to the ice maker 1.

[0044] As can be seen, in the ice maker 200 of this application embodiment, as Figure 2 As shown ( Figure 3 (The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of the circulation). Ice produced by ice maker 1 is output to ice storage box 2 through ice guiding assembly 3. Melted water on ice storage box 2 can be discharged through the first drain hole, received through return channel 4, and driven back to ice maker 1 by water pump 5. In addition, the melted water on ice guiding assembly 3 can flow back to ice maker 1 through the second drain hole, so that the melted water collected in the above two loops can be reused, thus forming a closed internal circulation ice-making water circuit.

[0045] Compared with the prior art, the refrigerator provided in this application embodiment has an ice maker 200 installed inside the refrigerator body 100. The ice maker 200 allows melted ice water to drain from the bottom of the ice storage box 2 and a second drain hole on the ice guiding assembly 3. The melted ice water is then received through the return channel 4 and driven by the water pump 5, or it can be directly returned to the ice maker 1 or a component connected to the ice maker 1. This avoids the accumulation and refreezing of melted ice water in the ice storage box 2, thereby eliminating the risk of blockage caused by refreezing and forming ice lumps. This helps ensure the accuracy of the working environment of the temperature sensor in the ice maker 200, effectively preventing the control system from making misjudgments due to temperature inaccuracies, and thus improving the reliability and stability of the ice-making control system.

[0046] The ice maker 200 of this application embodiment collects meltwater and returns it to the ice maker 1 for secondary use via the return channel 4 or directly. In particular, the ice on the ice guiding component 3 is prone to melting during the ice-discharging process due to ambient temperature or physical friction. This meltwater can be directly discharged through the second drain hole on the ice guiding component 3 and returned to the ice maker 1 for reuse. This constitutes an efficient closed-loop water resource system, solving the problem that the ice storage box 2 cannot effectively drain meltwater due to its sealed, low-temperature environment.

[0047] The ice maker 200 installed inside the refrigerator in this embodiment utilizes an internal structure consisting of an ice maker 1, an ice guiding component 3, an ice storage box 2, a return channel 4, and a water pump 5. By creating a first drain hole at the bottom of the ice storage box 2 and a second drain hole on the ice guiding component 3, melted ice water can be received through the return channel 4 or directly returned to the ice maker 1 or components connected to the ice maker 1, thus forming a circulating water system inside the ice maker 200. This facilitates the adaptation of the ice maker 200 to the sealed environment inside the refrigerator without requiring major modifications to the overall refrigerator structure, enabling an efficient and reliable integration of commercial chewing ice technology with the household refrigerator platform, effectively improving the overall performance of the machine.

[0048] Regarding the components connected to the ice maker 1, please refer to one embodiment of this application. Figure 3 The component connected to the ice maker 1 includes a main water tank 6, which is connected to the water supply source on the refrigerator and the ice maker 1.

[0049] In this way, the main water tank 6 is connected to the refrigerator's water supply to collect water for ice making. The refrigerator's water supply can be a drinking water supply channel connected to the refrigerator from the outside, or a branch channel in the refrigerator's internal water system that is connected to drinking water; no specific limitation is made here.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4The main water tank 6 and the ice maker 1 are connected by a connecting pipe. The two ends of this pipe are connected to the bottom 6a of the main water tank 6 and the bottom 1a of the ice maker 1, forming a U-shaped tube structure. Based on the principle of communicating vessels, this ensures that the liquid level in the main water tank 6 is the same as the liquid level in the ice maker 1. This means that when water is injected into the main water tank 6, water will simultaneously be injected into the ice maker 1.

[0051] This eliminates the need for additional control valves or pumps and provides a highly stable and repeatable injection volume.

[0052] Please see Figure 5 The main water tank 6 is equipped with a first liquid level sensor 61, which is used to detect the liquid level in the main water tank 6. In this embodiment, the first liquid level sensor 61 preferably includes a float and two reed switches. One reed switch is set at a preset position at the highest liquid level in the main water tank 6, and the other reed switch is set at a preset position at the lowest liquid level in the main water tank 6. The float changes height with the liquid level, thereby triggering each reed switch at the highest or lowest liquid level, and sending a signal to the refrigerator's main control system in a timely manner, which is beneficial for the refrigerator's main control system to control the water replenishment of the main water tank 6.

[0053] Thus, a connection structure similar to a communicating vessel is formed between the main water tank 6 and the ice maker 1, and combined with the liquid level control of the first liquid level sensor 61 installed in the main water tank 6, the stability and controllability of the ice-making water supply are effectively ensured.

[0054] For the structure of the ice guiding component 3, please refer to one embodiment of this application. Figure 6 and Figure 7 The ice guiding component 3 is inclined towards the ice storage box 2 and is located above the main water tank 6. The second drain hole 31 on the ice guiding component 3 is located within the upper opening range of the main water tank 6.

[0055] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 As shown, the ice guiding assembly 3 is attached to the top of the main water tank 6 by a detachable structure. It also forms the top cover of the main water tank 6, which effectively optimizes the layout of the compact internal space of the ice maker 200, reduces the number of parts, and lowers the complexity of the structure and assembly cost.

[0056] The second drain hole 31 on the slide is located at the top opening of the main water tank 6. The ice in the ice guiding component 3 flows through the meltwater, especially the ice sliding on the ice guiding component 3, which melts easily after friction with the surface of the ice guiding component 3. This meltwater can fall directly into the main water tank 6 through the second drain hole 31 on the ice guiding component 3 with the shortest path, so that the meltwater can quickly merge into the water stored in the main water tank 6, realizing the immediate reuse of water resources.

[0057] In this embodiment, the ice guiding component 3 includes a slide 30 that is inclined toward the ice storage box 2. One end of the slide 30 is connected to the ice outlet on the top of the ice maker 1, and the other end of the slide 30 extends inclined toward the ice storage box 2, so that the ice produced by the ice maker 1 can slide naturally into the ice storage box 2 through the slide 30 to achieve an automatic discharge effect.

[0058] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the slide 30 has multiple second drain holes 31, which are arranged in a straight line on the slide 30 and located within the upper opening range of the main water tank 6. The shape of the second drain holes 31 can preferably be an elongated hole, a round hole, or an elliptical hole, etc., and is not specifically limited here.

[0059] Regarding the components connected to the ice maker 1, please refer to one embodiment of this application. Figure 5 ( Figure 5 The arrow in the diagram indicates the direction of the collected ice melt water flow. The component connected to the ice maker 1 also includes an auxiliary water tank 7. The other end of the return channel 4 is connected to the auxiliary water tank 7. The water pump 5 is connected between the main water tank 6 and the auxiliary water tank 7 through a pipe. The water pump 5 can pump the water in the auxiliary water tank 7 to the main water tank 6.

[0060] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the main water tank 6 and the auxiliary water tank 7 are integrated together and can be divided into two chambers by a partition structure. One chamber serves as the main water tank 6, and the other as the auxiliary water tank 7, and they are connected to the water pump 5 via pipes. Preferably, the volume of the main water tank 6 is larger than that of the auxiliary water tank 7 to store more ice-making water, with the auxiliary water tank 7 serving as a secondary water storage space. In practical applications, the water pump 5 can be activated as needed to pump the reflux meltwater collected in the auxiliary water tank 7 back to the main water tank 6 for reuse.

[0061] This avoids the newly recovered meltwater from mixing directly with the water stored in the main water tank 6, physically isolating them and establishing a buffer zone between the new and recycled water. The auxiliary water tank 7, as a buffer container for meltwater, can smoothly receive ice meltwater and can replenish the main water tank 6 as needed using the water pump 5.

[0062] On the one hand, the water pump 5 can be activated according to the liquid level of the main water tank 6 or the ice-making needs of the system to pump water from the auxiliary water tank 7 to the main water tank 6, effectively avoiding the direct and uncontrollable impact of the return water on the liquid level and temperature of the main water tank 6, and ensuring the stability of the liquid level and temperature of the main water tank 6.

[0063] On the other hand, this design ensures that the recycled meltwater can be efficiently reused, rather than being discharged and wasted as in traditional methods, effectively reducing the frequency and volume of replenishment from external water sources. Furthermore, since the replenished water is typically hotter and requires more energy to cool, this meltwater recycling design improves overall energy efficiency from both water-saving and energy-saving perspectives.

[0064] In the embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 5 The auxiliary water tank 7 is also equipped with a second liquid level sensor 71, which is used to detect whether there is water in the auxiliary water tank 7.

[0065] In this embodiment, the second liquid level sensor 71 in the auxiliary water tank 7 can preferably be a single sensor set at a preset height, in order to detect whether there is enough meltwater in the auxiliary water tank 7 to be pumped by the water supply pump 5.

[0066] Therefore, the second liquid level sensor 71 is used to detect the amount of melt water collected in the auxiliary water tank 7 to ensure the effective pumping of the water pump 5.

[0067] In practical applications, when the liquid level of the main water tank 6 reaches the minimum level and needs to be replenished, and the second liquid level sensor 71 of the auxiliary water tank 7 detects that the amount of melted water in the auxiliary water tank 7 is sufficient, the refrigerator's control system can prioritize starting the water pump 5 to pump the melted water in the auxiliary water tank 7 into the main water tank 6 for secondary use.

[0068] In other embodiments, the detection status of the second liquid level sensor 71 can also serve as a parameter for evaluating the operating status of the refrigerator system. For example, if the second liquid level sensor 71 fails to detect water in the auxiliary water tank 7 for an extended period, it may indicate an abnormality in the ice-making or melt water recovery process. The refrigerator system can then issue prompts to the user, such as "The circulation system is not working" or "Please check the ice-making function," which helps improve the maintainability of the refrigerator and the user experience.

[0069] For the structure of the ice storage box 2, please refer to one embodiment of this application. Figure 8 and Figure 9 The ice storage box 2 also includes a water receiving tray 22, which is used to collect the melted ice water discharged from the first drain hole 21. One end of the return channel 4 that is connected to the first drain hole 21 is connected to the water receiving tray 22.

[0070] In this embodiment, the first drain hole 21 at the bottom of the ice storage box 2 can preferably be a mesh hole composed of multiple drain holes, which helps to block solid ice blocks and isolate the ice from the melt water, thereby keeping the ice inside the ice storage box 2 and effectively ensuring the quality of the ice and the convenience of ice retrieval. The shape of the first drain hole 21 can also preferably be an elongated hole, a round hole, or an elliptical hole, etc., and is not specifically limited here.

[0071] In this way, the meltwater can drip directly into the water receiving tray 22 under the action of gravity. This compact layout helps to reduce the risks of meltwater exposure, splashing or flowing along other surfaces during the transfer process, and ensures the recovery rate of meltwater from a physical structure perspective, which is conducive to subsequent recycling.

[0072] As can be seen, in the ice maker 200 of this application embodiment, as Figure 8 As shown ( Figure 8 (The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of the circulation). Ice maker 1 produces ice and outputs it to ice storage box 2 through ice guiding component 3. Melted water on ice storage box 2 can be discharged through first drain hole 21, allowing water receiving tray 22 to receive the melted water, and then the received melted water is returned to auxiliary water tank 7 through return channel 4. Water pump 5 is used to pump the melted water collected in auxiliary water tank 7 to main water tank 6 to replenish main water tank 6. Main water tank 6 supplies ice-making water to ice maker 1, thus forming a closed internal circulation ice-making water circuit, allowing the collected ice melted water to be reused.

[0073] Preferably, the ice storage box 2 and the water tray 22 are detachably mounted on the ice maker 200. On the one hand, by making the water tray 22 and the ice storage box 2 a detachable module, users can easily remove the two most important parts to be cleaned at the same time during daily cleaning and maintenance with a simple operation, avoiding the trouble of disassembling, aligning and installing them separately, effectively simplifying the user's operation process and improving the user experience.

[0074] On the other hand, the first drain hole 21 on the ice storage box 2 is precisely aligned with the receiving inlet of the water receiving tray 22, thereby forming a local and controlled drainage channel. This effectively prevents the melt water from shifting, splashing or leaking during the process of dripping from the ice storage box 2 to the water receiving tray 22, ensuring the sealing and reliability of the melt water recovery path.

[0075] In one embodiment of this application, please refer to the following: Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 The water receiving tray 22 is detachably mounted on the ice storage box 2. The output end of the water receiving tray 22, which is connected to the return channel 4, is provided with a connecting valve 23 to prevent ice melt water from leaking out when the water receiving tray 22 is disassembled. In this embodiment, a connecting valve 23 is provided on the output end of the water receiving tray 22. The connecting valve 23 includes an elastic plug 231, which is used to seal the output end of the water receiving tray 22 when it is removed. The return channel 4 is connected to the connecting valve 23. A push head 41 is provided on the connecting end of the return channel 4. The push head 41 is used to push open the elastic plug 231 when connected to the output end of the water receiving tray 22, thereby opening the output end of the water receiving tray 22.

[0076] In actual operation, when the water receiving tray 22 is installed in place, the top head 41 will automatically push open the elastic plug 231 on the output end of the water receiving tray 22 to form a smooth flow channel; when the water receiving tray 22 is disassembled, the top head 41 separates from the elastic plug 231, and the elastic plug 231 automatically resets under its own deformation to complete the sealing, so that the connecting valve 23 is closed.

[0077] Therefore, by utilizing the elastic plug 231 of the connecting valve 23 on the output end of the drip tray 22, the drip tray 22 can automatically seal when removed separately, preventing melted water on the drip tray 22 from leaking from the output end of the drip tray 22. This facilitates cleaning of the drip tray 22 and ensures that water leakage from the drip tray 22 when removed separately does not affect the hygiene of the inside of the refrigerator.

[0078] Furthermore, the reliable sealing connection between the connecting valve 23 on the output end of the water tray 22 and the return channel 4 helps prevent external air and pollutants from being drawn back into the circulating water system of the ice maker 200 during non-maintenance periods, effectively maintaining a clean environment in the circulating water system. Simultaneously, it ensures that melted water can be completely recovered to the auxiliary water tank 7, avoiding water waste caused by leaks at the interface and potential problems such as dampness and frost inside the refrigerator 100, thereby maintaining the stability and reliability of the internal working environment of the refrigerator.

[0079] Regarding the components that communicate with ice maker 1, please refer to another embodiment of this application. Figure 11 The component connected to the ice maker 1 also includes a sterilization device 8, which is used to sterilize the water flowing to the ice maker 1 to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of the water used for ice making, so that the ice produced by the ice maker 1 can be used for chewing.

[0080] In this embodiment, as Figure 11 As shown, the sterilization device 8 can preferably be an ultraviolet sterilizer. The main water tank 6 also has a mounting base 62 for installing the sterilization device 8, so that the sterilization device 8 can be installed on the outside of the main water tank 6. This avoids the problems of complex sealing, space occupation, and light efficiency attenuation caused by integrating UV lamps inside the main water tank 6 or pipes, making the internal structure of the ice maker 200 more compact. At the same time, when the sterilization device 8 needs maintenance or replacement, it can be removed or replaced independently without disassembling or draining the water in the entire internal water system of the ice maker 200, effectively improving maintainability.

[0081] Ultraviolet (UV) sterilization can directly destroy the DNA / RNA of microorganisms in the water, rendering them inactive. It does not introduce any chemical residues into the water, perfectly meeting the high hygiene requirements of chewing ice for direct consumption, effectively ensuring the quality of water used for ice making, and making the ice produced by ice maker 1 healthy.

[0082] In this way, the sterilization device 8 is used to sterilize the ice-making water supplied to the ice maker 1, effectively ensuring the hygiene and safety of the entire closed-loop water system.

[0083] Regarding the components that communicate with ice maker 1, please refer to another embodiment of this application. Figure 12 The component connected to the ice maker 1 also includes a water quality detection device 9, which is electrically connected to the main control unit of the refrigerator.

[0084] In this embodiment, the water quality detection device 9 is installed on the connecting pipe between the main water tank 6 and the sterilization device 8. The water quality detection device 9 detects the impurity content in the water, and when it exceeds the safe value, it promptly issues an alarm through the main control unit of the refrigerator.

[0085] Preferably, such as Figure 12 As shown, the main water tank 6 is also equipped with a dispensing channel 63 for dispensing descaling agent, and the dispensing channel 63 is connected to the main water tank 6. In this embodiment, the dispensing channel 63 is installed on the top of the main water tank 6 and extends outward. The inlet of the dispensing channel 63 is equipped with a manual opening and closing door 631, so that the user can dispense descaling agent into the main water tank 6 from the dispensing channel 63 in a timely manner according to the usage needs, and thoroughly clean the internal circulation water circuit of the entire ice maker 200.

[0086] Therefore, the water quality testing device 9 is used to monitor the water used for ice making, and can promptly detect water quality degradation caused by increased circulation frequency or changes in external water sources. When the value exceeds the safety threshold, it can proactively send an alarm to the user through the main control system in the refrigerator, ensuring the safety baseline of the water used for ice making.

[0087] The descaling agent dispensing channel 63 on the main water tank 6 allows users to directly and accurately add descaling agent to the main water tank 6 without disassembling any parts. This facilitates a thorough chemical cleaning of the entire circulating water circuit, effectively removing scale deposits on the main water tank 6, the heat exchange surface of the ice maker 1, and the inner walls of the pipes. This allows the entire ice maker 200 to restore its ice-making efficiency, reduce system energy consumption, and extend its service life.

[0088] The water quality monitoring device 9 and the descaling agent dosing function complement each other, forming a complete maintenance loop. The data from the water quality monitoring device 9 can not only be used for alarms, but also, through settings on the refrigerator's main control system, can be used to intelligently remind users when to perform cleaning and maintenance. This creates a healthy ecosystem for the entire ice-making system that is visible, maintainable, and recoverable, fundamentally solving the industry problem of internal hygiene and performance degradation in closed-loop systems during long-term operation.

[0089] Regarding the structure of the ice maker 1, please refer to one embodiment of this application. Figure 13An insulation component 11 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the ice maker 1. The insulation component 11 can preferably be made of insulating foam, so that the insulation component 11 completely wraps around the outer periphery of the ice maker 1.

[0090] In this way, the insulation component 11 is used to prevent the temperature from leaking out of the ice maker 1, thereby avoiding the impact of this cold air on the internal environment of the ice maker 200 and the normal operation of the electrical components.

[0091] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: Box; An ice maker is disposed within the housing; the ice maker includes an ice maker capable of turning water into ice. A refrigeration system, located inside the housing, is capable of providing cooling capacity to the ice maker; The ice maker also includes an ice storage box, an ice guiding assembly, a return channel, and a water pump; The ice storage box is used to store the ice made by the ice maker; The ice guiding component connects the ice maker and the ice storage box, and the ice produced by the ice maker can be guided to the ice storage box through the ice guiding component. The bottom of the ice storage box is provided with a first drain hole, through which the melted ice water in the ice storage box can be discharged. One end of the return channel is connected to the first drain hole so as to receive the ice melt water; The water pump is located in the return channel and is used to drive the ice melt water to the ice maker or a component connected to the ice maker. The bottom of the ice guiding assembly is also provided with a second drain hole, through which the melted ice water flows to the ice maker or a component connected to the ice maker.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The component connected to the ice maker includes a main water tank, which is connected to both the water supply source on the refrigerator and the ice maker.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main water tank and the ice maker are connected by a connecting pipe. The two ends of the connecting pipe are respectively connected to the bottom of the main water tank and the bottom of the ice maker to form a U-shaped pipe structure, so that the liquid level in the main water tank is the same as the liquid level in the ice maker.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main water tank is equipped with a first liquid level sensor, which is used to detect the liquid level in the main water tank.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ice guiding assembly is inclined toward the ice storage box and is located above the main water tank. The second drain hole on the ice guiding assembly is located within the upper opening range of the main water tank.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The component connected to the ice maker also includes an auxiliary water tank. The other end of the return channel is connected to the auxiliary water tank, and the water pump is connected between the main water tank and the auxiliary water tank via a pipe.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that: The auxiliary water tank is also equipped with a second liquid level sensor, which is used to detect whether there is water in the auxiliary water tank.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice storage box also includes a water receiving tray, which is used to collect the melted ice water discharged from the first drain hole. One end of the return channel that is connected to the first drain hole is connected to the water receiving tray.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that: The water receiving tray is detachably mounted on the ice storage box, and the output end of the water receiving tray connected to the return channel is provided with a connecting valve to prevent ice melt water from leaking out when the water receiving tray is disassembled.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The component connected to the ice maker also includes a sterilization device for sterilizing the water flowing into the ice maker.

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