Refrigerator Ice Bank Assembly for Horizontal Spill-Free Removal
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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 freezing chamber space, making it hard for users to manage ice storage and enhance spatial utilization.
Innovation Solution
An ice making system with a base member, icemaker, and a horizontally detachable ice bank that uses a detachable mounting unit and ice crusher assembly, allowing for easy coupling and decoupling in a horizontal direction, preventing ice spillage, and enhancing freezing chamber space utilization.
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 changes the detachment direction from vertical to horizontal. The ice bank is coupled to the refrigerator door through a coupling part that enables horizontal detachment, eliminating the need for vertical lifting that causes ice spillage. The coupling part includes a coupling protrusion and coupling groove that guide horizontal movement, allowing easy removal without spilling ice pieces.
2Ease of operation
If the ice bank is mounted vertically to the refrigerator door, then it can be detached, but the freezing chamber space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the ice bank from a vertical mounting on the refrigerator door to a horizontal insertion into the base member within the freezing chamber. This dimensional change allows the ice bank to be detached horizontally without occupying vertical space on the door, thereby maximizing freezing chamber space utilization while maintaining detachability for ice dispensing.
3Reliability
If the coupling part requires precise alignment for vertical detachment, then the mounting is secure, but the detachment operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redesigns the coupling mechanism to operate in the horizontal dimension rather than vertical. The coupling protrusion and coupling groove are positioned to engage horizontally, eliminating the need for precise vertical alignment. Users can easily detach the ice bank by simple horizontal pulling motion, improving operational ease while maintaining secure mounting through the horizontal engagement mechanism.
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.