Refrigerator and / or freezer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling and / or freezing appliance, comprising a cooled interior space bounded by an inner container, on the side of which facing away from the cooled interior space there is thermal insulation, as well as an ice unit comprising an evaporator and means for producing ice for a user of the appliance, and a water drain for removing water from the ice unit, wherein a fastening unit is arranged in the thermal insulation, comprising a section of the water drain or the entire water drain as well as fastening means or part of fastening means for fixing the ice unit in the cooled interior space.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer, having a cooled interior space defined by an inner container, on the side of which facing away from the cooled interior space there is thermal insulation, as well as having an ice unit having an evaporator and means for producing ice for a user of the appliance, as well as having a water drain for discharging water from the ice unit.

[0002] Such devices are known from the prior art. The ice unit typically comprises an evaporator and other means for producing ice, such as, in particular, a water inlet, a tray or the like for holding the water to be frozen, a drive unit for rotating the tray, and a container for collecting the ice from the tray.

[0003] It is also known from the prior art to provide a drain for water from the ice unit in the area of ​​the ice unit.

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of developing a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the manufacturing effort and in particular the manufacturing time of the refrigerator and / or freezer are reduced compared to previously known devices.

[0005] This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer having the features of claim 1.

[0006] According to this, a fastening unit is arranged in the thermal insulation, which has a section of the water drain or the entire water drain as well as fastening means or a component of fastening means for fastening the ice unit in the cooled interior. The functions of "water drain" and "fastening the ice unit" are thus achieved by means of one and the same part, namely the fastening unit. This combination of several functions in a single component reduces the manufacturing effort and thus also the manufacturing costs of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention, since the fastening of the ice unit and the water drainage do not have to be achieved by separate parts.

[0007] Rather, it is intended that the above-mentioned tasks are solved by a common element, i.e. by the fastening unit.

[0008] The terms "water drain" and "fastening means" are to be understood broadly and encompass both a design in which the entire water drain and / or the entire fastening means are components of the fastening unit, as well as a design in which only part of the water drain and / or the fastening means is part of the fastening unit. For example, it is conceivable that the fastening unit only has one receptacle for the end of screws, which is therefore considered a fastening means within the scope of the invention.

[0009] The term “fastening of the ice unit” is also to be interpreted broadly and also includes designs in which the entire ice unit or only a part of it, such as individual components of the ice unit, are fixed by means of the fastening unit.

[0010] The thermal insulation is preferably foamed, especially PU foam.

[0011] However, the invention also covers any other thermal insulation means, such as vacuum insulation panels and / or full vacuum insulation, possibly in combination with a lining.

[0012] The thermal insulation material extends between the inner container and an outer wall or a wall of the device that is inwardly disposed in front of the outer wall.

[0013] The foaming has the advantage that the fastening unit is fixed by the foaming after the foaming has hardened.

[0014] The water drain is preferably arranged to drain water from the ice unit's evaporator. This water is preferably condensate.

[0015] Production is particularly simple if the fastening unit is made in one piece.

[0016] Preferably, there are fixing means for fixing the fixing unit to the inner container between the fixing unit and the side of the inner container facing the heat insulation.

[0017] This could, for example, be an adhesive connection, preferably double-sided adhesive tape. It is also conceivable that no separate fixing means are provided, but that the fastening unit is secured by the foam itself.

[0018] The ice unit may include a first section of water drainage.

[0019] Furthermore, the fastening unit can have a second section of the water drain, ie according to the invention the fastening unit does not have to form the entire water drain.

[0020] Both sections are fluidly connected to each other for the purpose of water drainage from the ice unit.

[0021] In one embodiment, it is provided that the ice unit is fixed to the inner container and to the fastening unit by means of screws, wherein it is preferably provided that the fastening unit has reinforced areas for receiving a portion of the screws which serve as fastening means.

[0022] The screws are preferably screwed in the direction from the ice unit to the inner container, ie the ends of the screws facing away from the screw head are preferably located in the fastening unit and not the screw head, although the latter is also conceivable and encompassed by the invention.

[0023] Preferably, it is further provided that the fastening unit is located completely within the thermal insulation.

[0024] This has the advantage that the inner container does not need to have any openings for one or more elements of the fastening unit.

[0025] The fastening unit is preferably plate-shaped. It is preferably provided that the fastening unit runs parallel to the wall of the inner container behind which it is arranged.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be provided that the inner container has one or more projections on its side facing the thermal insulation for the positive arrangement of the fastening unit on the inner container wall.

[0027] Preferably, the fastening unit lies directly on the outside of the inner container wall.

[0028] Preferably, the ice unit is directly or indirectly attached to the inside of the inner container wall, separated only by adhesive.

[0029] The ice unit and the fastening unit are preferably arranged on or behind the rear wall of the inner container. However, an arrangement on any other wall of the inner container, such as the side wall, is conceivable and encompassed by the invention.

[0030] It should be noted here that the terms "a" and "an" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also encompasses several of the elements in question.

[0031] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0032] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0033] They show: Fig. 1: an exploded view of the assembly with fastening unit, inner container (in section) and ice unit, Fig. 2: a perspective view of the fastening unit with a drain pipe arranged thereon and Fig. 3: a sectional view through the arrangement with fastening unit, inner container and ice unit.

[0034] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates the function of the invention. A single foamed part, i.e., the mounting unit 1, serves both as an outlet for draining condensate from the evaporator of the ice unit and as an element for securing the ice unit.

[0035] The reference number 5 shows the inner container wall.

[0036] On the left side of the inner container wall is the thermal insulation (not shown), which is preferably made of foam.

[0037] The ice unit is located on the right side of the inner container wall, i.e., on the side facing the refrigerated interior. The ice unit is therefore located within the refrigerated interior.

[0038] The ice unit comprises the evaporator 4, the drive unit 6 for rotating the ice tray and / or for driving a conveyor screw for transporting the produced ice and the housing 7.

[0039] Furthermore, the ice unit includes the ice pack shown in the sectional view of the Fig. 3 shown drain nozzle 2 for condensate.

[0040] The fastening unit 1 (see Fig. 1) has means 3 (cf. Fig. 3) for further conduction of water, whereby these means are connected to the drain nozzle 2 (cf. Fig. 3) of the ice unit cooperate in such a way that the condensate runs from the drain outlet 2 into the means 3.

[0041] From there, the condensate flows through the foamed pipe 3 into Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 in Fig. 3 to a collecting container.

[0042] The fastening unit also serves as a fastening reinforcement, i.e. as a fastening means for fixing the evaporator 4, the drive 6 and the assembly 7 or the housing of the ice unit.

[0043] Before foaming, the foamed part 1 (see Fig. 3) with double-sided adhesive tape 2 (cf. Fig. 1) is attached to the side of the inner container wall facing the thermal insulation and the drain pipe 3 is connected to the drain of the fastening unit 1.

[0044] After foaming, the evaporator 4, the drive 6 and the assembly 7, ie the entire ice unit, are attached to the inner container with screws in this order.

[0045] The screws are made from Fig. 1 visible on reinforced parts 1 (cf. Fig. 2) of the foamed part, ie the fastening unit 1 (cf. Fig. 1) so that they have a secure hold and can support the ice unit.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows that the fastening unit is essentially designed as a plate and has a water drain 2. Furthermore, Fig. 2 alignment buttons 4 can be seen on the outside of the inner container, which serve to align the foamed part in the correct position when it is mounted on the inner container wall.

[0047] Fig. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembly.

[0048] Out of Fig.3 shows that the drain 2 of the ice unit protrudes into the water drain 3 of the fastening unit and through an opening in the inner container wall.

[0049] The water drain 3 of the fastening unit has a nozzle on its underside onto which the drain pipe 4 is attached.

[0050] The water drain is therefore designed in several parts: a first section is formed by the drain of the ice unit, a second section by the fastening unit and a third section by the foamed drain pipe.

[0051] It should be noted that, in addition to the screw connection shown in the figures, any other connection technique is conceivable in which the fastening unit partially or completely has the function of fixing the ice unit.

Claims

[1] A refrigerator and / or freezer, comprising a cooled interior defined by an inner container, on the side of which facing away from the cooled interior there is thermal insulation, and an ice unit comprising an evaporator and means for producing ice for a user of the appliance, as well as a water drain for discharging water from the ice unit, characterized by that a fastening unit is arranged in the thermal insulation, which has a section of the water drain or the entire water drain and fastening means or a part of fastening means for fastening the ice unit in the cooled interior. [2] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized by that the thermal insulation is foamed. [3] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the water drain is arranged in such a way that it drains water away from the evaporator of the ice unit. [4] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening unit is designed as a single piece and / or that the fastening unit is designed as a plastic part. [5] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that there are fixing means for fixing the fixing unit between the fixing unit and the side of the inner container facing the heat insulation. [6] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 5, characterized by that the fixing means are an adhesive bond, preferably double-sided adhesive tape. [7] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the ice unit has a first section of water drainage and that the fastening unit has a second section of water drainage and that both sections are fluidly connected to one another for the purpose of water drainage. [8] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ice unit is fixed to the inner container and to the fastening unit by means of screws, wherein it is preferably provided that the fastening unit has reinforced areas for receiving a portion of the screws. [9] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening unit is completely within the thermal insulation and / or is plate-shaped. [10] Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the inner container has one or more projections on its side facing the heat insulation for the positive arrangement of the fastening unit.

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