Refrigerator Ice Bin Geometry for Complete Ice Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice supplying apparatuses face difficulties in discharging ice pieces from storage bins due to issues with horizontal transfer mechanisms and flat surfaces obstructing the discharge path, leading to ice pieces remaining in the bin and becoming aged or stuck together.
Innovation Solution
An ice supplying apparatus with an ice storage unit featuring a shrinking portion that inclines downward, creating a narrow space and an ice discharger unit positioned at the bottom, allowing ice pieces to be supported and easily discharged without obstruction, and a stirrer mechanism to guide ice pieces into the discharger unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a flat portion is provided on the bottom surface of the ice storage bin to support ice pieces, then ice pieces can be stored stably, but the flat portion obstructs the discharge path and prevents ice pieces from being discharged when the bin is nearly empty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flat bottom surface with a curved surface that slopes downward toward the discharge opening. This curved configuration eliminates the obstructing flat portion while providing continuous support for ice pieces, allowing them to naturally slide down to the discharge point due to gravity without being blocked by horizontal surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a sloped dimension to the bottom surface, transforming it from a two-dimensional flat plane to a three-dimensional inclined surface. This dimensional change creates a gradient that guides ice pieces toward the discharge opening, solving the contradiction between support stability and discharge ease by utilizing gravitational force along the slope.
2Ease of operation
If an auger is provided to rotate and guide ice pieces into the discharger portion, then ice pieces can be moved toward the discharge opening, but the rotating auger may push ice pieces away from the discharger portion instead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the auger mechanism entirely from the ice storage bin design. Instead of using a rotating component to move ice pieces, the invention relies on the curved sloped surface to naturally guide ice pieces to the discharge opening, eliminating the reliability issue of the auger pushing ice away while maintaining the ease of moving ice toward discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved bottom surface design allows ice pieces to move themselves toward the discharge opening through gravity acting on the sloped surface, without requiring an active mechanical device like an auger. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent and reliable ice discharge without the risk of pushing ice pieces away.
3Quantity of substance
If ice pieces remain in the ice storage portion for a long time due to discharge difficulties, then the storage bin appears full, but the ice pieces become aged and melt together into lumps that are even harder to discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The curved sloped bottom surface ensures that ice pieces continuously move toward the discharge opening rather than remaining stationary. This constant gentle movement prevents ice pieces from aging and melting together into lumps, maintaining their individual form and ease of discharge even when the storage bin contains a large quantity of ice.
Solution Approach 2:
The sloped surface design creates a continuous motion of ice pieces toward the discharge point, preventing stagnation. This continuous useful action ensures that ice pieces do not remain in the same position for extended periods, thereby preventing aging and lump formation that would hinder future discharge operations.
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
Enables efficient discharge of ice pieces from the storage unit, preventing them from remaining and becoming aged or stuck, ensuring continuous availability and freshness.
Implementation Method 1
a shrinking portion (111), which defines an interior space of the ice storage unit (110) as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface, among interior surfaces defining that interior space of the ice storage unit (110), for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower potion thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An ice supplying apparatus, being provided in a refrigerator, includes an ice maker unit, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by the ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit, which is provided within the ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion, which is provided in the ice storage unit and defines an interior space thereof as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface, among interior surfaces defining that interior space of the ice storage unit, for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower portion thereof, by a surface inclining to a horizontal direction, wherein the ice discharger unit is disposed in a lower portion of the shrinking portion.