Refrigerator Door Ice Maker Layout to Prevent Odor Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice-making devices in refrigerators reduce storage capacity and allow food odors to permeate ice due to the installation of ice makers within the freezing chamber.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making device is installed on the backside of the refrigerator door, with a detachable ice maker cover and an ice bank that uses a cold air duct to supply cold air, minimizing odor transfer and optimizing storage space by relocating ice-making components outside the main freezing chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker is installed inside the freezing chamber, then the ice making function is integrated, but the storage capacity of the freezing chamber is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the freezing chamber and installed on the backside of the door. This separates the ice making function from the food storage space, allowing the freezing chamber to provide maximum storage capacity while the ice maker operates independently on the door structure.
2Device complexity
If the ice maker is installed inside the freezing chamber, then the structure is simplified, but food odors can permeate the ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the freezing chamber environment and positioned on the door backside. This physical separation prevents volatile compounds and odors from food stored in the freezing chamber from contaminating the ice during the ice making process, while the ice maker remains integrated into the refrigerator system through shared mounting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The door backside serves as an intermediary space between the freezing chamber and the external environment. By positioning the ice maker in this intermediate zone, the system allows ice making to occur without direct exposure to food odors from the freezing chamber, effectively using the door structure as a protective barrier.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maintains storage capacity, prevents food odors from contaminating ice, enhances product durability, and ensures cleaner operation by isolating ice production from food storage.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air duct provided at one side of the storage space so as to supply the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an ice-making device for a refrigerator. An ice- making device for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an ice maker 161 for making ice, which is provided on a backside of a door 131 of the refrigerator; and an ice maker cover 171 for selectively opening or closing the ice maker 161. Fixing recesses 173 are formed to be open downwardly on outsides of both sides of the ice maker cover 171, and receive fixing protrusions 135a provided at corresponding positions on opposite sides of a pair of support steps 135 that protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door 131 by a predetermined length and are formed to be elongated in an up and down direction. Play prevention steps 179 are provided at lower ends of both sides of the ice maker cover 171 and are seated on play prevention ribs 135c provided to be elongated in a horizontal direction at corresponding positions of the opposite sides of the support steps 135 below the fixing protrusions 135a. According to the present invention, there are advantages in that a storage capacity of a refrigerator can be used to the full extent, smell of food can be prevented from permeating ice in a process of making ice, and it is possible to prevent the ice maker cover from playing.