Ice crushing mechanism and ice making apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to an ice crushing mechanism and an ice making apparatus. The ice crushing mechanism comprises an ice crushing box, a first electric motor, a stirring paddle, a mounting bracket and an ice crushing blade. The ice crushing box is provided with an ice outlet for discharging crushed ice; the stirring paddle is accommodated within the ice crushing box and connected to an output shaft of the first electric motor; the mounting bracket is detachably connected to the outer side wall of the ice crushing box; and the ice crushing blade is connected to the mounting bracket, the ice crushing blade passing through the ice outlet and extending into the ice crushing box. When a user needs to replace the ice crushing blade, the user can detach the mounting bracket, which is directly exposed on the outer side wall of the ice crushing box, from the ice crushing box, so as to remove the ice crushing blade together therewith; and then the user simply connects the mounting bracket, which has a new ice crushing blade mounted thereon, to the outer side wall of the ice crushing box, thus completing the entire operation process of replacing the ice crushing blade. The described ice crushing mechanism has the beneficial effects of facilitating replacement of the ice crushing blade by users and meeting diverse user requirements for ice crushing.

Description

Ice crushing mechanism and ice making equipment Technical Field

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

[0002] An ice crusher is an ice processing device that breaks ice blocks into crushed ice. Some ice crushers work by using a motor to drive a paddle to rotate, causing the ice block to collide with a fixed crushing blade. The blade then cuts and breaks the ice block into crushed ice. Currently, the crushing blades of ice crushers are usually located inside the machine casing, making it inconvenient for users to replace them to meet different ice processing needs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an ice crushing mechanism, which includes an ice crushing box, a first motor, a stirring blade, a mounting bracket, and an ice crushing blade; the ice crushing box is provided with an ice outlet for discharging crushed ice; the stirring blade is housed inside the ice crushing box and connected to the output shaft of the first motor; the mounting bracket is detachably connected to the outer wall of the ice crushing box; the ice crushing blade is connected to the mounting bracket, and the ice crushing blade passes through the ice outlet and extends into the interior of the ice crushing box.

[0004] This application also provides an ice-making device, which includes a housing, an ice-making mechanism, and the aforementioned ice-crushing mechanism. The housing has a mounting cavity, the ice-making mechanism is disposed within the mounting cavity, and the ice-crushing mechanism is disposed within the mounting cavity. Attached Figure Description

[0005] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments 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 from these drawings without creative effort.

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an ice-crushing device with an ice-crushing mechanism in some embodiments of this application.

[0007] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ice-crushing mechanism in the ice-crushing device shown in Figure 1.

[0008] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 2.

[0009] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the mounting bracket and the ice-crushing blade in the structure shown in Figure 2.

[0010] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure shown in Figure 4 from another perspective.

[0011] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

[0012] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ice-making device in some embodiments of this application.

[0013] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the remaining part of the ice-making equipment shown in Figure 7 after the top plate of the outer shell has been removed.

[0014] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the remaining structure of the ice-making equipment shown in Figure 7 after removing the top and side plates of the outer shell.

[0015] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ice-making equipment shown in Figure 7.

[0016] Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ice-making equipment shown in Figure 7 from another perspective.

[0017] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of part B in Figure 11.

[0018] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship between the evaporation assembly, the compression condensation assembly and the piping assembly in some embodiments of this application.

[0019] Labeling Explanation: 100, Ice Crushing Equipment; 10, Shell; 101, Receiving Cavity; 102, Mounting Port; 11, Ice Discharge Pipe; 111, First Ice Discharge End; 112, Second Ice Discharge End; 12, Ice Crushing Mechanism; 121, Ice Crushing Box; 1211, Ice Discharge Port; 122, Stirring Blade; 1221, Base; 1222, Stirring Blade; 123, First Motor; 124, Ice Crushing Blade; 1241, Ice Penetrating Hole; 1242, Mounting Base; 1243, Blade Head; 125, Mounting Bracket; 126 1261. Mounting plate; 1262. Main body; 1263. Mounting part; 127. Holding part; 1271. Holding part; 1272. Actuating part; 1273. Limiting part; 1274. Guide part; 128. Elastic part; 129. Mating part; 1291. Insertion groove; 130. Positioning part; 131. First positioning plate; 1311. First clearance opening; 132. Second positioning plate; 1321. Second clearance opening; 133. Ice piercing opening; 14. First ice filling tube; 15. First top cover; 200. Ice-making equipment; 20. Outer shell; 201. Mounting cavity; 202. Top plate; 203. Side plate; 204. Bottom plate; 21. Ice-making mechanism; 211. Ice box; 212. Evaporation assembly; 2121. First evaporator tube; 2122. Second evaporator tube; 213. Compression and condensation assembly; 2131. Condenser; 2132. Compressor; 214. Inner liner; 2141. Inner cavity; 2142. Ice-making area; 2143. Ice storage area; 2144. Water storage area; 215. Second motor; 216. Ice shovel; 217. Pipeline assembly; 2171. First pipe; 2172. Second pipe; 2173. Third pipe; 23. Ice basket; 231. Drain hole; 24. Water pump; 25. Water tank; 26. Ice discharge pipe; 261. First end of ice discharge; 262. Second end of ice discharge; 17. Second ice filling bucket; 18. Second top cover. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] Please refer to Figures 1, 2, and 3. An embodiment of this application provides an ice-crushing mechanism 12 capable of crushing ice blocks to produce crushed ice or shaved ice. The ice-crushing mechanism 12 can be installed on other equipment, enabling the equipment equipped with it to perform ice-crushing functions.

[0022] The ice-crushing mechanism 12 includes an ice-crushing box 121, a stirring blade 122, a first motor 123, an ice-crushing blade 124, and a mounting bracket 125. The ice-crushing box 121 is a container used by the ice-crushing mechanism 12 to hold ice blocks to be crushed, and is generally cylindrical. The ice-crushing box 121 has an ice outlet 1211 for discharging crushed ice; the outlet 1211 can be any shape, such as roughly rectangular or circular, and is not limited thereto. The stirring blade 122 is housed within the ice-crushing box 121 and connected to the output shaft of the first motor 123. The stirring blade 122 is driven to rotate by the first motor 123, causing the ice blocks inside the ice-crushing box 121 to collide with the ice-crushing blade 124 to achieve the ice-crushing effect. The first motor 123 is connected to the outer bottom wall of the ice crushing box 121. The output shaft of the first motor 123 is arranged approximately vertically, passes through the bottom wall of the ice crushing box 121, and is inserted into the ice crushing box 121 to connect with the stirring blade 122. The mounting bracket 125 is used to detachably connect the ice crushing blade 124 to the ice crushing box 121. The mounting bracket 125 is detachably connected to the outer side wall of the ice crushing box 121, and the ice crushing blade 124 is connected to the mounting bracket 125. The ice crushing blade 124 passes through the ice outlet 1211 and extends into the interior of the ice crushing box 121.

[0023] In some embodiments, the stirring blade 122 includes a connected base 1221 and stirring blades 1222. The base 1221 is generally a horizontally arranged disc-shaped structure. The base 1221 covers the inner bottom surface of the ice crusher 121 and is connected to the output shaft of the first motor 123. The stirring blades 1222 are generally plate-shaped structures curved toward the output shaft of the first motor 123. The stirring blades 1222 are disposed on the side of the base 1221 opposite to the first motor 123 and protrude relative to the base 1221. Multiple stirring blades 1222 are provided, and the multiple stirring blades 1222 are spaced apart from each other. As a specific example, in this embodiment, there are two stirring blades 1222. In other embodiments, there may be three, four, or any other number of stirring blades 1222.

[0024] With the above configuration, when the ice crushing mechanism 12 is working, the first motor 123 drives the stirring blade 122 to rotate at high speed. When the user adds ice cubes into the ice crushing box 121, the ice cubes will fall onto the base 1221 and be stirred by the stirring blade 1222. Under the action of centrifugal force and the stirring action of the stirring blade 1222, the ice cubes will hit the ice crushing blade 124 set on the side wall of the ice crushing box 121, thereby breaking the ice cubes to generate ice crushing. Under the action of centrifugal force, the ice crushing passes through the ice outlet 1211 to be discharged from the ice crushing box 121.

[0025] Referring to Figures 3 to 6, in some embodiments, the mounting bracket 125 includes a mounting plate 126, a retaining member 127, and an elastic member 128. The mounting plate 126 is the main structure of the mounting bracket 125. The retaining member 127 is a specific structure used to retain the ice crusher 121 to achieve a retaining connection between the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121. The elastic member 128 is a structure used to provide retaining force to the retaining member 127. The elastic member 128 can be a spring, sheet metal, or other elastic and stretchable structure. One end of the elastic member 128 abuts against the retaining member 127, and the other end abuts against the mounting plate 126. The ice crushing mechanism 12 also includes a mating member 129 disposed on the ice crusher 121. The mating member 129 is used to engage with the retaining member 127 to achieve a retaining connection between the ice crusher 121 and the mounting bracket 125. At least a portion of the retaining member 127 is inserted into the mating member 129 under the support of the elastic member 128, so that the mounting plate 126 is detachably connected to the ice crusher 121. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the mating member 129 is a block-shaped structure fixedly connected to the outer wall of the ice crusher 121. The mating member 129 is provided with an insertion groove 1291. At least a portion of the retaining member 127 is inserted into the insertion groove 1291 under the support of the elastic member 128 and abuts against the inner bottom wall of the insertion groove 1291.

[0026] With the above configuration, since the retaining member 127 elastically engages with the mating member 129 under the action of the elastic member 128, when the retaining member 127 is inserted into the mating member 129, the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121 can be connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. When the retaining member 127 is removed from the mating member 129, the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121 can be disassembled and separated. This configuration enables a detachable connection between the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121, and the connection and disassembly operations are very simple and convenient for users.

[0027] In some embodiments, the mounting plate 126 includes a body portion 1261 and a mounting portion 1262. The body portion 1261 is the main structure of the mounting plate 126, and is generally arc-shaped. The curvature of the body portion 1261 is adapted to the curvature of the side wall of the ice crusher 121 so that the mounting plate 126 can fully fit against the side wall of the ice crusher 121. The mounting portion 1262 is disposed on the body portion 1261. Specifically, the mounting portion 1262 is disposed on the side of the body portion 1261 opposite to the ice crusher 121, and protrudes away from the body portion 1261 in a direction away from the ice crusher 121. The end of the elastic member 128 away from the retaining member 127 abuts against the mounting portion 1262. Two mounting portions 1262 are provided, and the two mounting portions 1262 are spaced apart. Two elastic members 128 are provided and are respectively connected to the two mounting portions 1262. Two retaining members 127 are provided and connected to two elastic members 128 respectively, and the two retaining members 127 are arranged opposite to each other. Two mating members 129 are provided and are respectively arranged corresponding to the two retaining members 127. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the two mounting parts 1262 are arranged in a generally vertical direction. In other embodiments, the two mounting parts 1262 may also be arranged in a generally horizontal direction or in any other direction.

[0028] With the above configuration, since there are two of each of the mounting part 1262, elastic element 128, retaining element 127 and mating element 129, the two retaining elements 127 and the two mating elements 129 can respectively retain and cooperate to further improve the stability of the connection between the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crushing box 121, so as to ensure that the ice crushing blade 124 can stably crush the ice.

[0029] In some embodiments, the retaining member 127 includes a connected retaining portion 1271 and a toggle portion 1272. The retaining portion 1271 is a specific structure for the retaining member 127 to engage with the mating member 129. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the retaining portion 1271 is generally cylindrical. The retaining portion 1271 extends along the extension direction of the elastic member 128, and at least a portion of the retaining portion 1271 is inserted into the mating member 129. The toggle portion 1272 is a structure for the retaining member 127 to be toggleed by a user to move the retaining portion 1271 into or out of the mating member 129. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the toggle portion 1272 is generally plate-shaped. The toggle portion 1272 extends in a direction away from the mounting plate 126. With the above settings, when the user needs to connect the mounting bracket 125 to the ice crusher 121, the user first moves the holding part 1271 closer to the mounting part 1262 by the actuating part 1272 to compress the elastic member 128. Then, the user moves the mounting bracket 125 to align the holding part 1271 with the insertion slot 1291 on the mating member 129. Finally, the user releases the actuating part 1272. Under the action of the elastic member 128, the holding part 1271 moves and inserts into the insertion slot 1291 to achieve the snap-fit ​​engagement between the holding part 1271 and the mating member 129, thereby achieving the connection between the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121. When the user needs to remove the mounting bracket 125 from the ice crusher 121, simply move the actuating part 1272 away from the mating part 129 to completely remove the retaining part 1271 from the insertion slot 1291, and then the mounting bracket 125 can be removed from the ice crusher 121. The operation is simple and convenient.

[0030] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 125 further includes a positioning member 130, which is detachably connected to the mounting plate 126 and covers the elastic member 128. The positioning member 130 and the mounting plate 126 can be directly connected by threaded fasteners such as screws and bolts, or they can be connected by snap-fitting with buckles and slots. This embodiment does not limit the specific form of the detachable connection between the positioning member 130 and the mounting plate 126. The holding part 1271 is movably inserted through the positioning member 130, and the actuating part 1272 is movably inserted through the positioning member 130. Through the above arrangement, the positioning member 130 covers the elastic member 128, which can protect the elastic member 128 and facilitate the stable extension and retraction of the elastic member 128 to drive the holding member 127.

[0031] In some embodiments, the positioning member 130 includes a first positioning plate 131, which is a plate-like structure and is generally perpendicular to the extension and retraction direction of the elastic member 128. The first positioning plate 131 has a first clearance opening 1311, through which the retaining portion 1271 passes. The retaining member 127 also includes a limiting portion 1273 connected to the retaining portion 1271. The limiting portion 1273 is located between the mounting plate 126 and the first positioning plate 131, specifically between the mounting portion 1262 and the first positioning plate 131. One end of the elastic member 128 away from the mounting plate 126 abuts against the limiting portion 1273, and the limiting portion 1273 elastically abuts against the first positioning plate 131. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the limiting portion 1273 is a plate-like structure and is generally parallel to the first positioning plate 131. In other embodiments, the limiting part 1273 can also be a block structure, rod structure, or any other shape. With the above configuration, since the limiting part 1273 is located between the mounting plate 126 and the first positioning plate 131 and abuts against the first positioning plate 131, the limiting part 1273 can prevent the retaining part 1271 from fully extending out of the first positioning plate 131. That is, the limiting part 1273, in conjunction with the first positioning plate 131, can limit the retractable movement of the retaining part 1271 within a specified range, which is beneficial for the stable engagement of the retaining part 1271 with the mating member 129.

[0032] In some embodiments, the positioning member 130 further includes a second positioning plate 132, which is a plate-like structure. The second positioning plate 132 is connected to the side of the first positioning plate 131 facing away from the mounting plate 126, and is located on the side of the first positioning plate 131 facing the mounting portion 1262. The second positioning plate 132 is provided with a second clearance opening 1321, and the extension and retraction direction of the elastic member 128 is parallel to the second positioning plate 132. The holding member 127 further includes a guide portion 1274 connected to the actuating portion 1272. The guide portion 1274 is located between the mounting plate 126 and the second positioning plate 132, specifically between the body portion 1261 and the second positioning plate 132, and is fitted to the second positioning plate 132. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the guide portion 1274 is a plate-like structure and is arranged substantially parallel to the second positioning plate 132. In other embodiments, the guide portion 1274 can also be a block structure, rod structure, or any other shape. With the above configuration, since the guide portion 1274 is located between the mounting plate 126 and the second positioning plate 132 and is attached to the second positioning plate 132, when the elastic member 128 drives the retaining member 127 to move, the guide portion 1274 will slide along the surface of the second positioning plate 132 to guide the extension and retraction direction of the elastic member 128 and the movement direction of the retaining member 127. This allows the retaining member 127 to move stably along the extension and retraction direction of the elastic member 128, which facilitates the smooth insertion of the retaining portion 1271 of the retaining member 127 into or out of the mating member 129.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 3, 4, and 5. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 125 is provided with an ice-piercing opening 133 communicating with the ice outlet 1211. The ice-piercing opening 133 is specifically provided on the body portion 1261 of the mounting plate 126. As a specific example, in this embodiment, the ice-piercing opening 133 is generally rectangular. In other embodiments, the ice-piercing opening 133 can also be any shape such as circular or polygonal. The ice-crushing blade 124 includes a mounting base 1242 and a blade head 1243. The mounting base 1242 is the specific structure for connecting the ice-crushing blade 124 to the mounting bracket. The mounting base 1242 is generally an arc-shaped plate structure. The mounting base 1242 is connected to the side of the mounting bracket 125 facing the ice crushing box 121. The mounting base 1242 is provided with an ice-piercing through hole 1241, which communicates with the ice-piercing opening 133. It should be noted that the mounting base 1242 and the mounting bracket 125 can be fixedly connected (e.g., welded or glued) or detachably connected (e.g., snap-fit ​​or connected with screws or other threaded fasteners). If the mounting base 1242 and the mounting bracket 125 are fixedly connected, the user needs to replace both the ice crusher 124 and the mounting bracket 125 when replacing the ice crusher 124. If the mounting base 1242 and the mounting bracket 125 are detachably connected, the user only needs to remove the ice crusher 124 from the mounting base 1242 when replacing the ice crusher 124, without needing to replace the mounting bracket 125. The blade 1243 is located on the side of the mounting base 1242 opposite to the mounting bracket 125. The blade 1243 protrudes from the surface of the mounting base 1242, passes through the ice outlet 1211, and extends into the interior of the ice crushing box 121. The blade 1243 is elongated and vertically oriented, and the blade is located on the side of the blade 1243 away from the mounting base 1242.

[0034] With the above settings, when the ice cube rotates inside the ice crushing box 121, the ice cube will hit the blade head 1243 of the ice crushing blade 124. The blade head 1243 will cut and break the ice cube to form ice crushing. Under the action of centrifugal force, the ice crushing can be discharged from the ice crushing box 12 through the ice penetration hole 1241, the ice outlet 1211, and the ice penetration hole 133.

[0035] In some embodiments, the ice-piercing holes 1241 are elongated and vertically arranged, and multiple ice-piercing holes 1241 are provided, spaced apart. Multiple blades 1243 are provided, spaced apart, and the multiple blades 1243 and multiple ice-piercing holes 1241 are alternately arranged. With this arrangement, when ice blocks collide with the blades 1243 to produce ice fragments, the ice fragments, under the action of centrifugal force, will directly enter the ice-piercing holes 1241 adjacent to the blades 1243, and eventually be discharged from the ice-crushing box 12. This arrangement can improve the efficiency of ice fragments being discharged from the ice-crushing box 121.

[0036] In some embodiments, the ice crusher 124 is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket 125. For example, the ice crusher 124 can be welded or bonded to the mounting bracket 125. Multiple mounting brackets 125 are configured, and one of them is selectively mounted on the outer wall of the ice crusher box 121. The configuration parameters of the ice crusher 124 on each mounting bracket 125 are different, including at least one of the following parameters: the spacing between the multiple blades 1243, the shape of the blades 1243, and the height of the blades 1243 protruding from the surface of the mounting base 1242. Through the above configuration, the configuration parameters of the ice crusher 124 on each mounting bracket 125 are different, therefore the ice crushing effect of each ice crusher 124 on the mounting bracket 125 is also different; that is, the size and shape of the ice crushed particles obtained after different ice crushers 124 crush the ice are different. Therefore, when using the ice crushing mechanism 12, the user can select the mounting bracket 125 with the appropriate ice crushing blade 124 as needed, and install the mounting bracket 125 onto the ice crushing box 121 to obtain the ideal state of ice crushing that meets the requirements.

[0037] In some other embodiments, the ice crusher 124 is detachably connected to the mounting bracket 125. For example, the ice crusher 124 can be snapped onto the mounting bracket 125 or connected by threaded fasteners such as screws. Multiple ice crushers 124 are configured, and each ice crusher 124 is selectively mounted on the mounting bracket 125. Each ice crusher 124 has different configuration parameters, which include at least one of the following: the spacing between the multiple blades 1243, the shape of the blades 1243, and the height of the blades 1243 protruding from the surface of the mounting base 1242. Because the configuration parameters of each ice crusher 124 are different, the ice crushing effect of each ice crusher 124 is also different; that is, the size and shape of the ice fragments obtained after different ice crushers 124 crush the ice are different. Therefore, when using the ice crushing mechanism 12, the user can select the appropriate ice crushing blade 124 to install on the mounting bracket 125 as needed, and install the mounting bracket 125 on the ice crushing box 121 to obtain the ideal state of ice crushing that meets the requirements.

[0038] In other embodiments, the mounting bracket 125 and the ice crusher 121 can also be detachably connected by fasteners. For example, the fasteners can be any type such as screws, bolts, or pins. With the above configuration, the mounting bracket 125 is detachably connected to the side wall of the ice crusher 121 directly by fasteners, which also allows the user to disassemble and replace the ice crusher blade 124, and simplifies the structure of the mounting bracket 125, making it easier to manufacture.

[0039] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the ice-crushing mechanism 12 further includes a first ice-filling bucket 14 and a first top cover 15. The first ice-filling bucket 14 is disposed above the ice-crushing box 121, and its bottom end is connected to the top end of the ice-crushing box 121 to achieve communication between the two. The first top cover 15 is connected to the top end of the first ice-filling bucket 14 and covers the top opening of the first ice-filling bucket 14. With the above configuration, when the user needs to crush ice, they need to first open the first top cover 15, and then add the ice to be crushed into the first ice-filling bucket 14. Under the action of gravity, the ice falls from the first ice-filling bucket 14 into the ice-crushing box 121 for crushing. Because of the first ice-filling bucket 14, the user's hand can be prevented from being hit by the high-speed rotating stirring blade 122 when it is put into the ice-crushing box 121, thus improving the safety of the user when adding ice to the ice-crushing box 121 and further improving the user experience.

[0040] In summary, the embodiments of this application provide an ice-crushing mechanism 12. When a user needs to replace the ice-crushing blade 124 of the ice-crushing mechanism 12, the user can remove the mounting bracket 125, which is directly exposed on the outer wall of the ice-crushing box 121, from the ice-crushing box 121, thereby removing the ice-crushing blade 124 along with it. Then, the user connects the mounting bracket 125 with the new ice-crushing blade 124 to the outer wall of the ice-crushing box 121, thus completing the entire process of replacing the ice-crushing blade 124. With the above-mentioned configuration, when the ice-crushing blade 124 becomes damaged after long-term use, the user can replace it with a new ice-crushing blade 124, or the user can replace it with ice-crushing blades of different specifications to achieve different ice-crushing effects (e.g., changing the size of the ice particles, changing the shape of the ice). Therefore, the above-mentioned ice-crushing mechanism 12 has the beneficial effect of facilitating the replacement of the ice-crushing blade 124 by the user and meeting the diverse ice-crushing needs of the user.

[0041] Please refer to Figures 1, 2, and 3. An embodiment of this application also provides an ice-crushing device 100, which includes a housing 10, an ice outlet pipe 11, and the aforementioned ice-crushing mechanism 12. The ice-crushing device 100 is capable of crushing ice blocks to produce crushed ice or shaved ice.

[0042] The housing 10 is the main frame structure of the ice crushing device 100. The housing 10 has a receiving cavity 101 and a mounting port 102 communicating with the receiving cavity 101. The mounting bracket 125 is arranged opposite to the mounting port 102. The receiving cavity 101 is used to receive other structures of the ice crushing device 100 located inside the housing 10. The mounting port 102 is used to communicate the receiving cavity 101 with the outside of the housing 10. When the ice crushed by the ice crushing mechanism 12 is discharged from the housing 10, it needs to pass through the mounting port 102.

[0043] The ice outlet pipe 11 is a conduit that guides the ice crushing mechanism 12 to discharge from the housing 10. The ice outlet pipe 11 is detachably connected to the housing 10 and communicates with the receiving cavity 101 through the mounting port 102. For example, one end of the ice outlet pipe 11 can pass through the mounting port 102 and extend into the receiving cavity 101. The ice outlet pipe 11 and the housing 10 can be detachably snapped together by providing a buckle and a slot, or they can be detachably connected directly by threads. This embodiment does not limit the specific connection method for the detachable connection between the ice outlet pipe 11 and the housing 10.

[0044] It should be noted that "the mounting bracket 125 is set opposite to the mounting port 102" means that the projection of the mounting bracket 125 in the direction perpendicular to the plane where the mounting port 102 is located can fall completely into the mounting port 102. That is, when the ice outlet tube 11 is removed from the housing 10, the mounting bracket 125 can be exposed through the mounting port 102 so that the staff can disassemble and replace the mounting bracket 125.

[0045] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the ice outlet pipe 11 is an arc-shaped pipe with an ice outlet first end 111 and an ice outlet second end 112. The ice outlet first end 111 passes through the mounting port 102 and extends to the outside of the crushed ice box 121, with its opening surrounding the ice outlet 1211. The ice outlet first end 111 can be threaded or snap-fitted to the housing 10 to achieve a detachable connection between the ice outlet pipe 11 and the housing 10. The ice outlet second end 112 is located outside the housing 10, with its opening pointing vertically downwards, and its height is lower than that of the ice outlet first end 111.

[0046] With the above configuration, when the ice crushing mechanism 12 is working, the ice crushed in the ice crushing box 121 falls into the ice discharge pipe 11 after passing through the ice discharge port 1211. The ice crushed in the ice discharge pipe 11 slides along the inner wall of the ice discharge pipe 11 from the first ice discharge end 111 to the second ice discharge end 112 and is finally discharged from the ice discharge pipe 11. The user can place a container below the second ice discharge end 112 of the ice discharge pipe 11 to collect the ice crushed discharged from the ice discharge pipe 11. The ice discharge pipe 11 can guide the ice crushed discharged from the ice crushing box 121 to be discharged from the housing 10 more smoothly.

[0047] Referring to Figures 7, 8, and 9, embodiments of this application also provide an ice-making device 200, which can make ice cubes using water as raw material and can also crush the ice cubes to make crushed ice. The ice-making device 200 includes a housing 20 and an ice-crushing mechanism 12. The housing 20 is the main frame structure of the ice-making device 200, and the housing 20 has a mounting cavity 201 for accommodating other structures of the ice-making device 200 disposed inside the housing 20. The ice-crushing mechanism 12 is a mechanism of the ice-making device 200 used to crush ice cubes to obtain crushed ice or slush. The ice-crushing mechanism 12 is disposed within the mounting cavity 201.

[0048] Referring to Figures 8, 9, and 10, in some embodiments, the ice-making device 200 further includes an ice-making mechanism 21, which is a mechanism used by the ice-making device 200 to produce ice cubes. The ice-making mechanism 21 includes an ice-making box 211, an evaporation assembly 212, a compression condensation assembly 213, and a piping assembly 217 (see Figure 13). The ice-making box 211 is a container used by the ice-making mechanism 21 to make ice cubes, and it can hold water for making ice cubes. The evaporation assembly 212 is housed within the ice-making box 211. The coolant inside the evaporation assembly 212 evaporates and absorbs heat, thereby turning the water inside the ice-making box 211 into ice cubes. The piping assembly 217 is a component used to connect the evaporation assembly 212 and the compression condensation assembly 213. The piping assembly 217 includes several pipes and connects between the evaporation assembly 212 and the compression condensation assembly 213 to form an evaporative cooling loop, allowing the coolant to circulate between the evaporation assembly 212 and the compression condensation assembly 213. The coolant can be refrigerant R134a, refrigerant R404A, refrigerant R410A, refrigerant R407C, etc.

[0049] Referring to Figure 7, in some embodiments, the housing 20 includes a top plate 202, a bottom plate 204, and multiple side plates 203. The top plate 202 is generally horizontally positioned and located at the top of the housing 20. The bottom plate 204 is spaced apart from the top plate 202 and located at the bottom of the housing 20. The side plates 203 are generally vertically positioned and connected between the top plate 202 and the bottom plate 204. The multiple side plates 203 together enclose and, together with the top plate 202 and the bottom plate 204, constitute the housing 20 and form a mounting cavity 201. The top plate 202 and the side plates 203 can be fixedly connected (e.g., welded or glued) or detachably connected (e.g., snap-fit ​​or connected with screws or other threaded fasteners). The side plates 203 and the bottom plate 204 can also be fixedly connected (e.g., welded or glued) or detachably connected (e.g., snap-fit ​​or connected with screws or other threaded fasteners).

[0050] Referring to Figures 9, 10, and 13, in some embodiments, the compression-condensation assembly 213 includes a condenser 2131 and a compressor 2132. Both the condenser 2131 and the compressor 2132 are located directly below the ice-making container 211. The piping assembly 217 includes a first pipe 2171, a second pipe 2172, and a third pipe 2173. The first pipe 2171 connects the evaporation assembly 212 and the compressor 2132 to establish communication between them. The second pipe 2172 connects the evaporation assembly 212 and the condenser 2131 to establish communication between them. The third pipe 2173 connects the condenser 2131 and the compressor 2132 to establish communication between them. With the above configuration, the coolant can circulate and undergo phase changes among the evaporator 212, condenser 2131, and compressor 2132, allowing the evaporator 212, located within the ice-making container 211, to absorb heat from the water inside the container to make ice. Furthermore, since the condenser 2131 and compressor 2132 are both located directly below the ice-making container 211, the routing lengths of the first pipe 2171, second pipe 2172, and third pipe 2173 can be minimized, thereby saving material costs and reducing the overall size of the refrigeration equipment.

[0051] Referring to Figures 8 and 10, in some embodiments, the evaporation assembly 212 includes a first evaporator tube 2121 and a second evaporator tube 2122. One end of the first evaporator tube 2121 is connected to the compressor 2132, and the other end is connected to the condenser 2131. At least a portion of the structure of the first evaporator tube 2121 is located within the ice-making container 211, and the portion of the first evaporator tube 2121 within the ice-making container 211 is substantially at the same horizontal plane. One end of the second evaporator tube 2122 is closed, and the other end is connected to the first evaporator tube 2121. The second evaporator tube 2122 is arranged substantially vertically and housed within the ice-making container 211. The second evaporator tube 2122 is located between the first evaporator tube 2121 and the inner wall of the ice-making container 211. Water in the ice-making container 211 submerges at least a portion of the structure of the second evaporator tube 2122 and does not contact the first evaporator tube 2121. With the above settings, when the ice-making mechanism 21 of the ice-making device 200 is working, the water in the ice-making box 211 that comes into contact with the second evaporation tube 2122 will freeze first to form ice. As time goes by, under the action of gravity, ice blocks in the shape of bullets will form on the second evaporation tube 2122, and eventually the ice blocks will fall off the second evaporation tube and fall into the ice-making box 211 for temporary storage.

[0052] Referring to Figures 8, 9, and 10, in some embodiments, the ice-making mechanism 21 further includes an inner liner 214, which is a structure for connecting and mounting other components of the ice-making mechanism 21. The inner liner 214 has an open top and a closed bottom.

[0053] The inner liner 214 has an inner cavity 2141, which includes a communicating ice-making area 2142 and an ice-storage area 2143. It should be noted that both the ice-making area 2142 and the ice-storage area 2143 are part of the inner cavity 2141, and may be separated by partitions or other structures, or there may be no clear boundary between them. The ice-making area 2142 is the area within the inner cavity 2141 where the ice-making process takes place, and the ice-storage area 2143 is the area within the inner cavity 2141 used to store the ice. The ice-making box 211 is located within the ice-making area 2142 and is rotatably connected to the inner liner 214. The ice-making device 200 also includes an ice basket 23, which is generally drawer-shaped and detachably disposed within the ice-storage area 2143. As a specific example, the ice basket 23 is slidably inserted through the outer shell 20 and the inner liner 214 and extends into the ice-storage area 2143. The ice-making mechanism 21 also includes a second motor 215 and an ice shovel 216. The ice shovel 216 is generally plate-shaped and is connected to the edge of the opening of the ice-making box 211. The ice shovel 216 is located between the ice-making box 211 and the water storage area 2144. The second motor 215 is located on the outer wall of the inner liner 214. The output shaft of the second motor 215 is generally horizontal and is connected to the ice-making box 211. The second motor 215 is used to drive the ice-making box 211 to rotate the ice shovel 216 so that the ice blocks produced in the ice-making box 211 fall into the ice basket 23 by the action of the ice shovel 216.

[0054] With the above setup, after a period of ice making, the ice container 211 stores a certain amount of ice. At this time, the second motor 215 can drive the ice container 211 to rotate the ice shovel 216, causing the ice in the ice container 211 to roll onto the ice shovel 216. Then, the second motor 215 drives the ice container 211 to rotate the ice shovel 216, causing the ice shovel 216 to push the ice on itself into the ice storage area 2143. Under the action of gravity, the ice will automatically fall into the ice basket 23 for storage. When the user needs to use the ice, the ice basket 23 can be removed from the outer shell 20 to retrieve the ice from the ice basket 23.

[0055] In some embodiments, the inner cavity 2141 further includes a water storage area 2144 communicating with the ice storage area 2143. It should be noted that the water storage area 2144 is also part of the inner cavity 2141. The water storage area 2144 and the ice storage area 2143 may be separated by the bottom wall of the ice basket 23, or there may be no clear boundary. The water storage area 2144 is located below the ice basket 23. The ice basket 23 is provided with a drain hole 231, which connects the ice basket 23 and the water storage area 2144, thereby connecting the ice storage area 2143 and the water storage area 2144. With this configuration, some of the ice stored in the ice basket 23 will melt after a long period of storage. The water produced by the melting can flow through the drain hole 231 into the water storage area 2144 for storage. Therefore, the water storage area 2144 collects the water after the ice melts. Furthermore, timely drainage of the water from the ice basket 23 can slow down the melting rate of the ice in the ice basket 23.

[0056] Please refer to Figures 8, 9, and 10. In some embodiments, the ice-making device 200 further includes a water pump 24 and a water delivery pipe (not shown in the figures). The water pump 24 is disposed in the inner tank 214 and communicates with the water storage area 2144. One end of the water delivery pipe is connected to the water pump 24, and the other end is connected to the ice-making box 211. The water pump 24 is used to deliver water from the water storage area 2144 into the ice-making box 211 through the water delivery pipe. With the above configuration, after enough water is stored in the water storage area 2144 of the inner tank 214, the water pump 24 can extract the water from the water storage area 2144 and deliver it into the ice-making box 211 through the water delivery pipe for ice making, which can improve water utilization and reduce water waste.

[0057] Referring to Figure 10, in some embodiments, the ice-making device 200 further includes a water tank 25 and a connecting pipe (not shown in the figure). The water tank 25 is located outside the outer shell 20 and has a water inlet (not shown in the figure). The water tank 25 is connected to the water storage area 2144 of the inner cavity 2141 via the connecting pipe. With the above configuration, the user adds water to the water tank 25 through the water inlet. The water in the water tank 25 flows through the connecting pipe into the water storage area 2144 of the inner cavity 2141 of the inner liner 214 for storage. The water in the water storage area 2144 can be pumped out by the water pump 24 (see Figure 3) and sent into the ice-making box 211 through the water delivery pipe for ice making. Therefore, the user does not need to add water directly to the ice-making box 211 located inside the outer shell 20, but can add water to the ice-making box 211 inside the outer shell 20 by adding water to the water tank 25 located outside the outer shell 20. This facilitates the user in adding water to the ice-making box 211 and improves the user experience.

[0058] Please refer to Figures 11 and 12. In some embodiments, the ice-making device 200 further includes a second ice-filling container 17 and a second top cover 18. The second ice-filling container 17 passes through the top plate 202 of the outer casing 20 and is located above the ice crushing box 121. The bottom end of the second ice-filling container 17 is connected to the top end of the ice crushing box 121 to achieve communication between the second ice-filling container 17 and the ice crushing box 121. The top end of the second ice-filling container 17 extends outside the outer casing 20 and protrudes relative to the top plate 202 of the outer casing 20. The second top cover 18 is connected to the top end of the second ice-filling container 17 and covers the top opening of the second ice-filling container 17. With the above setup, when a user needs to crush ice, they need to first open the second top cover 18, and then add ice cubes into the second ice-filling tub 17. Under the action of gravity, the ice cubes fall from the second ice-filling tub 17 into the ice-crushing box 121 for crushing. Because of the second ice-filling tub 17, the user's hands can be prevented from being hit by the high-speed rotating stirring blades 122 when they put them into the ice-crushing box 121. Therefore, the safety of the user when adding ice cubes into the ice-crushing box 121 can be improved, further enhancing the user experience.

[0059] In some embodiments, the ice-making device 200 further includes an ice-discharging pipe 26, which is an arc-shaped pipe with a first ice-discharging end 261 and a second ice-discharging end 262. The first ice-discharging end 261 penetrates the outer casing 20 and extends to the outside of the crushed ice box 121, with its opening surrounding the ice outlet 1211. The first ice-discharging end 261 can be welded, threaded, or snap-fitted to the outer casing 20 to achieve connection and installation between the ice-discharging pipe 26 and the outer casing 20. The second ice-discharging end 262 is located outside the outer casing 20, with its opening pointing vertically downwards, and its height is lower than that of the first ice-discharging end 261.

[0060] With the above configuration, when the ice crushing mechanism 12 is working, the ice crushed in the ice crushing box 121 falls into the ice discharge pipe 26 after passing through the ice outlet 1211. The ice crushed in the ice discharge pipe 26 slides along the inner wall of the ice discharge pipe 26 from the first ice discharge end 261 to the second ice discharge end 262 and is finally discharged from the ice discharge pipe 26. The user can place a container below the second ice discharge end 262 of the ice discharge pipe 26 to collect the ice crushed discharged from the ice discharge pipe 26. The ice discharge pipe 26 serves to guide the ice crushed discharged from the ice crushing box 121 out of the outer casing 20.

[0061] In summary, the embodiments of this application provide an ice-making device 200, which can use an ice-making mechanism 21 to make ice cubes and an ice-crushing mechanism 12 to crush ice cubes. The ice-making mechanism 21 and the ice-crushing mechanism 12 can operate independently or simultaneously. Therefore, the ice-making device 200 can meet diverse ice-making and ice-crushing needs of users, greatly improving the user experience. Furthermore, when a user needs to replace the ice-crushing blade 124, the ice-exhausting pipe 26 must first be removed from the outer casing 20. At this time, the mounting bracket 125 will be exposed through the mounting port 102. The user can pass through the mounting port 102 to remove the mounting bracket 125 from the ice-crushing box 121, thereby removing the ice-crushing blade 124 along with it. Then, the user connects the mounting bracket 125 with the new ice-crushing blade 124 to the outer wall of the ice-crushing cylinder. Finally, the ice-exhausting pipe 26 is reconnected to the outer casing 20, completing the entire process of replacing the ice-crushing blade 124. With the above-described configuration, when the ice crusher blade 124 becomes damaged after long-term use, the user can replace it with a new one, or the user can replace it with ice crusher blades of different specifications to achieve different ice-crushing effects (such as changing the size of the ice particles, changing the shape of the ice crushers, etc.). In summary, the ice-making equipment 200 also has the beneficial effect of facilitating the replacement of the ice crusher blade 124 by the user and meeting the diverse ice-crushing needs of the user.

[0062] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

An ice-crushing mechanism, comprising: An ice crusher, wherein the ice crusher is provided with an ice outlet for discharging crushed ice; First motor; A stirring blade is housed within the ice crusher and connected to the output shaft of the first motor; Mounting bracket, detachably connected to the outer wall of the ice crusher; as well as An ice crusher blade is attached to the mounting bracket, passing through the ice outlet and extending into the interior of the ice crushing box. The ice crushing mechanism of claim 1, wherein The mounting bracket includes a mounting plate, a retaining member, and an elastic member. One end of the elastic member abuts against the retaining member, and the other end abuts against the mounting plate. The ice crushing mechanism also includes a mating member disposed on the ice crushing box. At least a portion of the retaining member is inserted into the mating member under the support of the elastic member, so that the mounting plate is detachably connected to the ice crushing box. The ice crushing mechanism of claim 2, wherein The mounting plate includes a body and a mounting portion. The mounting portion is disposed on the body. The end of the elastic member away from the retaining member abuts against the mounting portion. There are two mounting portions. There are two elastic members and they are respectively connected to two mounting portions. There are two retaining members and they are respectively connected to two elastic members. The two retaining members are disposed opposite to each other. There are two mating members and they are respectively disposed corresponding to the two retaining members. The ice crushing mechanism of claim 2, wherein The retaining member includes a retaining portion and a toggle portion connected together. The retaining portion extends along the extension and retraction direction of the elastic member. At least a portion of the retaining portion is inserted into the mating member. The toggle portion extends away from the mounting plate. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 4, wherein, The mounting bracket further includes a positioning element, which is detachably connected to the mounting plate and covers the elastic element. The holding part is movably inserted through the positioning element, and the actuating part is movably inserted through the positioning element. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 5, wherein, The positioning member includes a first positioning plate, on which a first clearance opening is provided, and the holding part passes through the first clearance opening; the holding member also includes a limiting part connected to the holding part, the limiting part being located between the mounting plate and the first positioning plate, and the end of the elastic member away from the mounting plate abutting against the limiting part, the limiting part elastically abutting against the first positioning plate. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 5 or 6, wherein, The positioning component further includes a second positioning plate, which has a second clearance opening, and the extension and retraction direction of the elastic component is parallel to the second positioning plate; the holding component further includes a guide portion connected to the actuating portion, which is located between the mounting plate and the second positioning plate, and is fitted to the second positioning plate. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The mounting bracket is provided with an ice-piercing port communicating with the ice outlet; the ice crusher includes a mounting base and a blade head, the mounting base is connected to the side of the mounting bracket facing the ice crusher box, the mounting base is provided with an ice-piercing hole, the ice-piercing hole communicating with the ice-piercing port; the blade head is located on the side of the mounting base away from the mounting bracket, the blade head protrudes relative to the surface of the mounting base, the blade head passes through the ice outlet and extends into the interior of the ice crusher box. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 8, wherein, The ice-penetrating holes are provided in multiple ways, and the ice-penetrating holes are provided in multiple ways, with the multiple cutting heads also being provided in multiple ways, and the multiple cutting heads and the multiple ice-penetrating holes being arranged alternately in sequence. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 9, wherein, Multiple mounting brackets are configured, and one of the multiple mounting brackets is selectively mounted on the outer wall of the ice crusher. The configuration parameters of the ice crushing blades on each mounting bracket are different, and the configuration parameters include at least one of the following parameters: the spacing between the multiple blades, the shape of the blades, and the height of the blades protruding from the surface of the mounting base. The ice-crushing mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein, The stirring blade includes a connected base and stirring blades. The base covers the inner bottom surface of the ice crusher and is connected to the output shaft of the first motor. The stirring blades are located on the side of the base away from the first motor and protrude relative to the base. There are multiple stirring blades, which are spaced apart from each other. An ice-making device, comprising: The outer casing has a mounting cavity; An ice-making mechanism is disposed within the mounting cavity; as well as The ice-crushing mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the ice-crushing mechanism is disposed within the mounting cavity. The ice-making apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein, The ice-making mechanism includes an ice-making box, an evaporation component, a compression and condensation component, and a piping assembly. The evaporation component is housed within the ice-making box, and the piping assembly is connected between the evaporation component and the compression and condensation component to form an evaporation cooling loop, so that the coolant circulates between the evaporation component and the compression and condensation component. The ice-making apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein, The ice-making mechanism further includes an inner liner with an inner cavity. The inner cavity includes a communicating ice-making area and an ice-storage area. The ice-making box is located within the ice-making area and is rotatably connected to the inner liner. The ice-making device also includes an ice basket, which is detachably disposed within the ice-storage area. The ice-making mechanism further includes a second motor and an ice shovel. The ice shovel is connected to the opening edge of the ice-making box. The output shaft of the second motor is connected to the ice-making box. The second motor is used to drive the ice-making box to rotate the ice shovel so that the ice blocks produced in the ice-making box fall into the ice basket through the action of the ice shovel. The ice-making apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein, The compression condensation assembly includes a condenser and a compressor, both of which are located directly below the ice maker; the piping assembly includes a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe, the first pipe connecting the evaporation assembly and the compressor, the second pipe connecting the evaporation assembly and the condenser, and the third pipe connecting the compressor and the condenser.

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