Door-Mounted Ice Storage Bin to Recover Freezer Shelf Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice making systems in refrigerators occupy a significant amount of freezer space due to the design of the ice storage bin, which extends across the compartment, limiting available shelf and storage space for consumers.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an ice maker within the freezer compartment, a rotatable cover hinged to the ice maker, and an ice storage unit removably mounted to the door, with a bail arm to sense ice levels and inhibit ice production when the storage unit is full, allowing the storage unit to be positioned under the ice maker and a slidable tray behind the ice maker for additional storage without interfering with the ice making process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the ice storage bin extends across the freezer compartment, then the ice storage capacity is sufficient, but the available shelf and storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage bin is extracted from the main freezer compartment and relocated to the door assembly. This separation allows the freezer compartment to maintain full storage capacity while the ice bin provides dedicated ice storage without occupying shelf space. The door-mounted bin is supported by the door structure rather than the freezer compartment structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the ice storage bin is relocated to the door, then the freezer compartment space is increased, but the ice maker assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage bin is nested within the door assembly structure, utilizing the door's internal space. The bin is supported by the door structure itself, and the cover assembly integrates with the door-mounted bin. This nesting approach consolidates multiple functions (storage, support, access control) into a compact door-mounted configuration without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bail arm assembly provides dynamic ice level sensing and automatic control of the ice maker. The bail arm moves in response to ice level changes and automatically controls the ice maker operation, eliminating the need for complex electronic sensors and control systems. This mechanical dynamic system simplifies the overall assembly while providing intelligent ice level management.
3Extent of automation
If a bail arm is added to sense ice levels, then automatic ice production control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bail arm assembly provides self-service automatic control of ice production. The bail arm mechanically responds to ice level changes and automatically controls the ice maker operation without requiring external sensors, control electronics, or user intervention. The system serves itself by using the physical state of the ice level to directly control the ice making process through the bail arm's mechanical movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber.