Door-Mounted Ice Maker and Bank to Maximize Freezer Storage Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 and ice banks within the freezing chamber, affecting storage efficiency and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
An ice-making device is configured with an ice maker and ice bank installed on the backside of the door, utilizing a cold air duct system that efficiently directs cold air to the ice maker while minimizing odor transfer, using a detachable ice maker cover and ice bank that can be easily accessed for ice dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and ice bank are 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 and ice bank are extracted from the freezing chamber and relocated to the door assembly. The ice maker is mounted on the inner surface of the door, while the ice bank is positioned in a dedicated compartment within the door structure. This extraction eliminates the occupation of freezing chamber volume by these components, thereby maximizing the storage capacity for food items while maintaining the ice making functionality as an integrated feature of the refrigerator system.
2Device complexity
If the ice maker is installed in the freezing chamber, then the ice making process is simple, but food odors can permeate the ice
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the freezing chamber environment and relocated to the door assembly, creating a physically separated ice making zone. This extraction prevents direct contact between the ice and food items stored in the freezing chamber, thereby eliminating the pathway for odor permeation. The ice maker remains simple in operation, utilizing cold air supplied through a dedicated duct from the freezing chamber, while the separation architecture solves the contamination issue.
Solution Approach 2:
A cold air duct acts as an intermediary between the freezing chamber and the ice maker. The duct selectively transports cold air from the freezing chamber to the ice maker through controlled openings, enabling the ice making process to receive necessary cooling without direct exposure to food odors. This intermediary mechanism maintains the simplicity of the ice making process while providing odor isolation through controlled air flow pathways.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ice bank is provided in the freezing chamber, then the ice storage is integrated, but the accessible volume for food storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bank is extracted from the freezing chamber and relocated to a dedicated compartment within the door assembly. This extraction frees up the entire freezing chamber volume for food storage while maintaining integrated ice storage functionality. The ice bank compartment is designed to receive ice from the ice maker and provide easy access through the door, eliminating the trade-off between ice storage integration and food storage accessibility.
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 maximizes storage capacity and prevents food odors from contaminating ice, ensuring efficient and hygienic ice production.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air duct which supplies the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space
Implementation Method 2
an ice maker which is supplied with cold air through the cold air duct and makes ice
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention provides a refrigerator having an ice-making device, including: a main body (100) having a storage space; a door (131) selectively opening or closing the storage space, the door including a pair of support steps (135) and a seating step (136), the ice-making device comprising: an ice maker (161) installed on a backside of the door and making ice; and an ice bank (181) detachably installed on the backside of the door below the ice maker, the ice bank storing ice made in the ice maker and transferring it to a dispenser provided on the door; a seating member (151) installed in a space, which is defined by the backside of the door, side surfaces of the pair of support steps facing each other and the seating step, the support steps being formed to protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door by a predetermined length and to extend vertically, the seating step being formed to extend from side to side in such a manner that a portion of the backside of the door between the support steps protrudes rearward by a predetermined length, the seating member being provided with an installation space (151S) in which the ice maker and the ice bank are installed; at least one catching recess (184) formed in an underside of the ice bank; at least one catching protrusion (157C) is provided on a bottom side of the installation space; the at least one catching protrusion (157C) is inserted in the catching recesses (114), when the ice bank is installed.