Heating Ice Tray Ejection With Water Overflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating type ice makers face issues with ice ejection reliability due to excessive water generation and melting, leading to water accumulation in the ice bank, which complicates automatic ice dispensing and reduces the appliance's reliability.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker with an ice-making tray, a heat source, a driving controller, and an auxiliary ejecting device that includes a torsion spring and a switch to ensure complete ice ejection, along with a water-falling-preventing bracket to collect and redirect excess water, preventing it from falling outside.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heater heats the ice-making tray enough to eject the ice, then the ice can be separated from the tray, but excessive water is generated causing ice to stick together in the ice bank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameters by controlling the heater to operate at lower temperatures for shorter durations. The driving controller manages the heating cycle to melt only the interface between ice and tray surface, rather than heating the entire tray extensively, thus reducing excessive water generation while maintaining effective ice ejection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary mechanical action through the auxiliary ejecting device before thermal action. The ejector rotates the ice-making tray to a predetermined angle, using gravity to initially separate the ice, and then the heater is activated only to melt the remaining interface, reducing the overall heating requirement and water generation
2Reliability
If the ice-making tray is heated too much, then ice can be ejected, but water falls into the ice bank making ice stuck together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful factor (excessive water) by providing a water receiving portion that collects water during ice ejection and prevents it from falling into the ice bank. This separation of water collection function protects the ice bank from water contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The water receiving portion acts as an intermediary structure between the ice-making tray and the ice bank. It intercepts water that would otherwise fall directly into the ice bank, and provides a drainage path to guide water away from the ice storage area
3Reliability
If the ice-making tray is rotated after heating, then ice can be ejected by weight, but insufficient heating causes ice to fail separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mechanical action by rotating the ice-making tray to a predetermined angle before applying heat. This initial rotation uses gravity to separate the ice from the tray, reducing the amount of heating energy required to complete the ejection process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by controlling the heater to operate in short, timed intervals rather than continuous heating. The driving controller activates the heater for specific durations during the tray rotation cycle, optimizing energy usage while ensuring effective ice separation
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
The solution enhances ice ejection reliability and minimizes water overflow, ensuring efficient ice dispensing by securely ejecting ice and collecting excess water, thereby improving the overall performance of the ice maker.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source configured to heat the ice-making tray to eject the ice from the ice-making tray
Implementation Method 2
the heater heats an ice-making tray to melt an interface between ice cubes and an ejector
Implementation Method 3
an elastic member configured to restitute the auxiliary ejecting member after ejecting the ice
Implementation Method 4
an auxiliary ejecting device configured to press the ice to help the ice ejecting when the ice-making tray heated by the heat source is rotated to eject the ice
Implementation Method 5
one of the heating type ice makers rotates the ice-making tray by a predetermined angle after heating the ice-making tray, and it allows ice to be dropped by its weight to eject the ice
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker including a heating type ice-making tray capable of securing ice ejecting and a refrigerator including the ice maker are disclosed. According to a refrigerator including the ice maker, the ice may be securely ejected from the ice-making tray. As a result, reliability of ice ejecting may be improved. The water generated when the ice is ejected in the ice maker may be prevented from falling to an ice container efficiently.