Ice Agitator Hook Mechanism for Breaking Up Stuck Ice Cubes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ice cubes in ice makers often stick together, making it difficult to dispense them consistently or preventing dispensation altogether due to the existing auger systems' inefficiency in handling stuck ice.

Innovation Solution

An ice agitation system comprising an adaptor and an ice agitator with a hook and arm mechanism that mounts to the auger shaft, allowing for rotational motion perpendicular to the auger's axis, breaks up stuck ice cubes by translating along a plane perpendicular to the auger's rotation axis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an auger system is used to dispense ice, then ice can be pushed toward the dispensing aperture, but ice cubes stick together making dispensation inconsistent or impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice dispensation consistencyVSAvoidice dispensation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ice agitator performs preliminary action by breaking up stuck ice cubes before the auger attempts to dispense them. The agitator's hook and arm mechanism translates along a plane perpendicular to the auger's rotation axis, proactively separating ice cubes that have adhered together, thereby preparing the ice for consistent and reliable dispensation by the auger system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the auger rotates to push ice, then ice movement toward aperture is achieved, but stuck ice cubes prevent effective pushing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice pushing efficiencyVSAvoidice dispensation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ice agitator serves as an intermediary between the auger and the stuck ice cubes. Mounted to the auger shaft via an adaptor, the agitator's hook and arm mechanism translates perpendicular to the auger's rotation axis, mediating the force application to break up ice cubes that the auger cannot push effectively, thereby enabling the auger to resume its ice-moving function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a simple auger mechanism is used, then device complexity is low, but it cannot handle stuck ice cubes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauger system structureVSAvoidhandling stuck ice capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the ice agitator mechanism with the existing auger system by mounting the agitator to the auger shaft through an adaptor. This combination allows the simple auger mechanism to gain the additional capability of handling stuck ice cubes, as the agitator's hook and arm translate perpendicular to the auger's rotation to break up adhered ice, thereby enhancing versatility without requiring a completely new system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8959943B2Ice agitator

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 SUB-ZERO

AI summary

An ice agitation system includes an adaptor and an ice agitator. The adaptor includes a disk portion and an auger mounting channel. The auger mounting channel is configured to mount to a shaft of an auger such that the adaptor rotates with the shaft of the auger. The auger mounting channel extends in a direction parallel to and offset from a center axis of a disk formed by the disk portion. The ice agitator includes a hook and an arm that extends from the hook away from the center axis of the disk. The hook is mounted to the disk.