Ice Bucket Auger and Agitator Assembly With Single-Motor Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs with ice makers on doors complicate the assembly of augers and agitators, increase the number of parts, and make it difficult to attach and detach the ice bucket efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design where the auger and agitator are driven by a single motor, with integrated transfer and gear units formed through injection molding, and a dual fixing device for easy attachment and detachment of the ice bucket, featuring latches and catches for secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the auger and agitator are driven by separate motors, then the operational control is independent, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate motors into a single motor that drives both the auger and agitator through a differential mechanism. This merging reduces the number of motors from two to one, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the ability to independently control both components through the differential's inherent mechanical properties
2Device complexity
If the auger and agitator are driven by one motor, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operational control becomes less independent
Solution Approach 1:
The differential mechanism serves as an intermediary between the single motor and the two driven components (auger and agitator). It translates the single motor's rotation into two independent rotational outputs, allowing each component to operate independently while being driven by a single motor source
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ice bucket is fixed securely to the door, then the stability is improved, but the attachment and detachment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: locked and unlocked. When locked, the ice bucket is securely fixed to the door; when unlocked, it can be easily removed. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to provide both secure fixation and easy attachment/detachment as needed
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator includes an auger including a transfer unit transferring ice in an ice bucket and a driving gear unit formed at the end of the transfer unit and transmitting rotary force and an agitator including an agitation unit agitating the ice in the ice bucket and a driven gear unit combined with the end of the agitation unit. The auger is formed integrally and thus, the number of parts of the auger is reduced and the assembled structure of the auger is simplified. The ice bucket is fixed in the upward, downward, and horizontal directions by a dual fixing device and is easily attached to and detached from a door of the refrigerator.