Drive unit for ice making device and ice making device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drive units for ice making devices are prone to distortion and malfunction due to reaction forces from the ice tray during reversing and ice separation operations, leading to a need for enhanced case strength.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit design featuring a case with a circuit board arrangement chamber and a drive chamber, separated by a partition member, with support posts that reinforce the case and prevent grease and water from reaching the circuit board, and a cam gear mechanism for ice tray operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drive mechanism and circuit board are disposed in an overlapped manner in a single case, then the device complexity is reduced, but the case strength is insufficient to withstand reaction forces during ice separation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into a first case member and a second case member that are disposed in an overlapped manner. The first case member includes a first end plate, second end plate, and first side plates, while the second case member includes a third end plate, fourth end plate, and second side plates. This segmentation allows the case to maintain structural strength while managing complexity through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is constructed using multiple case members (first and second case members) that are disposed in an overlapped manner and connected together. This composite structure increases the overall case strength to withstand reaction forces during ice separation operations while maintaining a manageable device complexity through systematic assembly.
2Device complexity
If the circuit board is disposed near the drive mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but grease and water from the drive mechanism can damage the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The case is segmented into first and second case members with distinct functional zones. The first case member houses the circuit board while the second case member houses the drive mechanism. This segmentation creates physical separation that prevents grease and water from the drive mechanism from reaching the circuit board, while maintaining overall structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is extracted from the drive chamber and disposed in a separate first case member, while the drive mechanism is placed in the second case member. This extraction eliminates the harmful interaction between grease/water from the drive mechanism and the circuit board, while the overlapped configuration maintains compact device complexity.
3Reliability
If the case is made stronger to withstand reaction forces, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The case is constructed as a composite structure with first and second case members disposed in an overlapped manner. This composite construction enhances the case strength and reliability to withstand reaction forces during ice separation operations, while the modular nature of the composite structure manages complexity through systematic assembly of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is segmented into multiple case members that work together to provide enhanced strength. The first case member with its end plates and side plates, combined with the second case member, creates a reinforced structure that improves reliability without requiring a completely redesigned complex case structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive unit for an ice making device includes a drive mechanism, a circuit board structured to perform at least one of power feeding to and control for the drive mechanism, and a case in which the drive mechanism and the circuit board are disposed on an inner side. The case comprises a first end plate part, a second end plate part which faces the first end plate part, and a partition member which sections a space between the first end plate part and the second end plate part. The circuit board is disposed in a circuit board arrangement chamber provided between the first end plate part and the partition member. The drive mechanism is disposed in a drive chamber provided between the second end plate part and the partition member, and a plurality of support posts is provided between the first end plate part and the partition member.