Ice ball making box
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice block making tools are inefficient and unstable in molding, demolding, and storing multiple spherical ice balls, as they lack a one-step demolding method and are not designed for simultaneous and synchronous processing.
Innovation Solution
An ice ball making box with multiple ice-making and storage layers, featuring a spherical ice ball mold with press-demolding parts, flexible press walls, and a return rebound structure, allowing for efficient and stable molding and storage of multiple ice balls in one step.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing ice block making tools are used, then ice blocks can be made, but they cannot efficiently and stably mold multiple spherical ice balls simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is divided into multiple independent ice ball cavities arranged in different layers, with each cavity capable of forming one ice ball. This segmentation allows simultaneous molding of multiple ice balls while maintaining stable spherical shapes through standardized cavity designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a multi-layer nested structure where ice ball cavities are arranged across upper, middle, and lower layers. The press-demolding mechanism is nested within the mold structure, allowing it to penetrate through multiple layers simultaneously to demold all ice balls in one action.
2Ease of operation
If conventional demolding methods are used, then ice blocks can be released, but one-step simultaneous demolding of multiple ice balls cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple demolding actions into a single operation by designing a unified press-demolding mechanism that simultaneously acts on all ice ball cavities across multiple layers. Pressing the demolding part once releases all ice balls at the same time, combining what would otherwise require multiple separate demolding steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of releasing ice balls from each cavity separately through individual actions, the patent inverts the approach by applying a single pressing force that propagates through the entire mold structure, causing all ice balls to be demolded simultaneously through the inverted logic of one action affecting all cavities.
3Productivity
If press-demolding is used, then demolding can be achieved, but the structure becomes complex with multiple layers and components
Solution Approach 1:
The press-demolding mechanism serves multiple functions: it presses the flexible press walls during molding, maintains pressure during freezing, and simultaneously demolds all ice balls across multiple layers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, simplifying the overall structure despite the multi-layer configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible press walls made of elastomeric materials that can deform under pressure and then return to their original shape. These flexible components replace complex rigid mechanisms, allowing the mold to adapt to pressure changes and facilitate easy demolding without requiring intricate release mechanisms for each layer.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple ice-making layers are used, then multiple ice balls can be made, but the device becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The mold cavities are pre-configured in a multi-layer structure with predetermined positions and orientations. The flexible press walls are pre-positioned to engage with the ice balls at the correct locations. This preliminary arrangement allows the user to simply add water and apply pressure without needing to manually adjust or reposition components during the molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible press walls automatically perform multiple functions through their elastic properties: they conform to the cavity shapes during molding, maintain sealing during freezing, and automatically push ice balls out during demolding when pressure is applied. This self-service behavior eliminates the need for complex manual operations or additional mechanisms to manage multiple layers.
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 ice ball making box enables efficient, stable, and effort-saving molding and storage of multiple ice balls by using a press-demolding mechanism and return rebound structure, ensuring complete functionality and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the first ice mold body comprises a press wall wrapping the top of an ice ball, the press wall is made of a flexible material that can return to its original state after being pressed to deform
Implementation Method 2
a return rebound structure is arranged between the first ice-making layer and the second ice-making layer. the return rebound structure comprises guide posts on the first ice-making layer and positioning tubes on the second ice-making layer, and return springs are placed in the positioning tubes
Implementation Method 3
water is filled into the ice ball mold cavity from the first ice-making layer via a water inlet passage of the first ice mold body
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an ice ball making box, including a first ice-making layer, a second ice-making layer, a third ice-making layer, an ice storage layer and an ice ball mold. The ice ball mold includes first ice mold bodies, second ice mold bodies arranged in the first ice-making layer and third ice mold bodies arranged in the third ice-making layer in sequence. Press-demolding parts are arranged in the first ice-making layer. The first ice mold body, the second ice mold body and the third ice mold body together form a spherical ice ball mold cavity. Water is filled into the ice ball mold cavity from the first ice-making layer via a water inlet passage of the first ice mold body. The ice ball making box can simultaneously mold and release a plurality of ice balls by pressing and store them together in the ice storage layer.