Ice Bucket Auger Mechanism to Prevent Curdled Ice Ejection Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice cubes stored in an ice bucket for a long time often become frozen in a curdled state, preventing the ice ejecting member from functioning properly and requiring external force to break them into pieces for ejection.
Innovation Solution
An ice bucket with an ice curdling unlaying member featuring a rotational shaft and augers that rotate to break curdled ice cubes into individual pieces, allowing for smooth ejection by the ice ejecting member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If ice cubes are stored in the ice bucket for a long time, then the ice storage function is maintained, but the ice cubes become frozen in a curdled state and cannot be properly ejected
Solution Approach 1:
The auger performs preliminary action by rotating to unlay and separate curdled ice cubes before the ejection process. This preliminary mechanical action breaks the frozen curdled state of ice cubes, converting them into separable pieces that can then be properly ejected by the blade assembly, thus maintaining ejection reliability after long-term storage
Solution Approach 2:
The auger acts as an intermediary mechanism between the stored curdled ice cubes and the ejection blade. It mediates the transition by mechanically breaking down the curdled ice structure into manageable pieces that the blade can then eject, solving the contradiction between long storage and reliable ejection
2Ease of operation
If the ice ejecting member rotates to eject ice cubes, then ice ejection is enabled, but the blades make idle rotation when ice cubes are frozen in a curdled state
Solution Approach 1:
Before the ejection operation occurs, the auger performs preliminary unlaying action on the curdled ice cubes. This ensures that when the blade assembly rotates for ejection, the ice cubes are already in a separable state, preventing idle rotation and ensuring productive ejection operation
Solution Approach 2:
The auger performs preliminary anti-action by breaking down the curdled ice structure that would otherwise cause the ejection blades to rotate idle. This preliminary counter-action prevents the harmful effect of idle rotation by eliminating the frozen mass that causes it
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 the ejection of ice cubes from a frozen, curdled state without external force, enhancing convenience and operational efficiency by preventing mis-operation of the ice ejecting mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
augers that rotate to break curdled ice cubes into individual pieces
Data Source
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AI summary
This specification relates to a refrigerator comprising an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling, capable of facilitating ice cubes to be drawn out by unlaying ice cubes, which are frozen in a curdled state due to being left for a long time at an upper portion within the ice bucket of an ice dispensing apparatus, which is disposed in a refrigerator or a water purifier having an ice maker to allow ice cubes to be ejected piece by piece. The ice bucket includes a case main body forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof, an ice ejecting member rotatably disposed at one side of the main body and having a motor rotation shaft, a blade mounting shaft, and a plurality of blades protruding from the blade mounting shaft in a radial direction and disposed in a circumferential direction with spaced distances, and an ice curdling unlaying member configured to prevent ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member from being frozen in a curdled state.