Horizontal Ice Bin Coupling to Prevent Spillage in Refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice making systems for refrigerators face difficulties in detaching the ice bank without spilling ice pieces and inefficient use of space in the freezing chamber, making it hard for users to manage ice storage and utilization.
Innovation Solution
An ice making system with a base member, icemaker, and a horizontally detachable ice bank that prevents ice spillage during detachment, enhances spatial utilization in the freezing chamber, and includes a semi-transparent front surface for easy ice monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice bank is detachably mounted to the refrigerator door in a vertical direction, then the ice bank can be removed for use, but the coupling requires precise alignment and ice pieces may spill during detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical detachment direction to a horizontal sliding direction. The ice bank now slides horizontally along guide rails rather than being vertically coupled and detached, which eliminates the need for precise vertical alignment and prevents ice spillage during the detachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide rails as an intermediary mechanism between the ice bank and refrigerator door. These guide rails facilitate smooth horizontal sliding and coupling while preventing ice pieces from spilling during the detachment operation.
2Ease of operation
If the ice bank is mounted vertically on the refrigerator door, then it can be detached, but the freezing chamber space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting dimension from vertical (conventional) to horizontal (novel). By sliding the ice bank horizontally along guide rails, the vertical space in the freezing chamber is preserved, allowing better utilization of the available volume while maintaining detachability for user convenience.
3Ease of operation
If the ice bank is detachably mounted, then ice pieces can be accessed easily, but ice pieces may spill during the detachment process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the detachment direction from vertical to horizontal sliding motion. This horizontal sliding along guide rails prevents ice pieces from spilling during detachment, as the motion is controlled and occurs in a direction that keeps ice pieces contained within the ice bank structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making system for a refrigerator, comprises: a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated. This prevents the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being discharged out of the ice bank.