Ice bin having a gear assembly therein and a refrigerator appliance with such an ice bin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice bin assemblies in refrigerator appliances face difficulties such as obscured ice visibility, cumbersome ice bin removal, and challenges with rotating agitators or sweeps due to ice melting and refreezing, which complicate access and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a transparent bin body with a gear assembly and ice sweep positioned below the storage volume, allowing easy access and visibility, a retractable handle for simplified removal, and a sealing system to manage water from melted ice, along with a locking mechanism for secure attachment to the refrigerator door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating agitator or sweep is provided within the ice bin to move ice to the dispenser, then ice delivery functionality is improved, but the ice bin becomes difficult to remove and manage due to the rotating mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bin assembly is divided into separable components: the bin body can be removed independently from the rotating agitator mechanism. The agitator remains mounted in the refrigerator while the bin detaches, allowing easy bin removal while maintaining ice delivery functionality when the bin is installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating agitator mechanism is extracted from the ice bin itself and repositioned as a separate component mounted in the refrigerator. This extraction allows the ice bin to be freely removable while the agitator continues to perform its ice-moving function independently.
2Reliability
If the top opening of the ice bin is kept relatively small to support the sweep or agitator, then the rotating mechanism can be properly supported, but user access to the ice bin is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator mechanism is taken out from within the ice bin structure and mounted separately in the refrigerator. This allows the ice bin to have a large open top opening for easy user access while the agitator maintains its support and rotating functionality in its separate mounted position.
3Productivity
If a motor and agitator connection are arranged within the ice bin, then the rotating sweep can be driven, but access to the ice bin and user ability to remove the bin is further restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Both the motor and the agitator connection are extracted from the ice bin and repositioned as separate components mounted in the refrigerator. This allows the ice bin to be freely removable and accessible while the motor-driven agitator system continues to function independently in its separate location.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive system is segmented into separate components (motor, transmission mechanism, agitator) distributed between the ice bin and the refrigerator mounting structure, allowing the bin to be removed without the drive components while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance (100) and ice bin assembly (200) therefore are provided. The ice bin assembly (200) includes a bin body (210), an ice sweep (232), a sweep gear (244), and a drive gear (245). The bin body (210) defines a storage volume (222) to receive ice therein. The ice sweep (232) is positioned below the storage volume (222). The sweep gear (244) is rotatable about a sweep axis (X). The drive gear (245) is positioned in mechanical communication with the sweep gear (244). The drive gear (245) is rotatable about a drive axis (E), the drive axis (E) is extending along a non-parallel angle relative to the sweep axis (X).