Ice Dispensing Assembly with Rotatable Drum to Prevent Clumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice clumping in storage containers within refrigerator ice dispensing systems leads to inefficiencies, waste, and reduced storage capacity, as ice sublimation causes bonding and clumping, preventing effective dispensing and requiring users to discard clumped masses.
Innovation Solution
An ice dispensing assembly featuring a rotatable drum with a motor, agitator bridge, and rotatable blade that can switch between crusher and agitator positions to prevent clumping by agitating ice and maintaining its flow, allowing for efficient dispensing and increased storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ice is stored in a container for extended periods, then ice dispensing is enabled, but ice sublimation causes clumping that prevents dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic agitation of stored ice using a rotating drum mechanism that periodically tumbles and redistributes ice pieces in the storage container. This periodic action prevents ice sublimation bonds from forming and persisting, thereby preventing clumping while maintaining reliable dispensing operation over extended storage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating drum creates mechanical motion and vibration that agitates stored ice pieces, preventing them from settling and bonding together through sublimation. This mechanical agitation disrupts the formation of clumps before they can interfere with dispensing operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ice is crushed using a blade mechanism, then ice dispensing versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating drum serves multiple functions: it agitates stored ice to prevent clumping, positions ice for dispensing, and works with the blade to crush ice when needed. This multi-functionality provides versatile ice dispensing options (whole or crushed) while avoiding the complexity of separate dedicated mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the agitation function and crushing function into a single integrated mechanism system. The rotating drum that prevents clumping also positions ice for the blade to crush, merging what could be separate systems into one cohesive mechanism that reduces overall device complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If storage container volume is increased, then ice storage capacity is improved, but space available for food storage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating drum mechanism enables efficient ice storage by continuously agitating and redistributing ice pieces, allowing the container to be filled to higher levels without clumping. This dynamic agitation maximizes the usable storage capacity of the available volume, increasing ice quantity without requiring additional freezer space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and arrangement of stored ice through continuous agitation, transforming static piled ice into dynamically redistributed ice that packs more efficiently. This parameter change in ice arrangement increases storage capacity within the same physical volume, maximizing space utilization without expanding the container size.
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
The solution effectively prevents ice clumping, ensuring continuous operation of the ice maker and increasing the volume of ice that can be stored by maintaining ice in a non-clumped state, enhancing user convenience and appliance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the rotatable blade may be in selective rotational engagement with the rotatable drum
Implementation Method 2
An ice dispensing assembly featuring a rotatable drum with a motor, agitator bridge, and rotatable blade that can switch between crusher and agitator positions to prevent clumping by agitating ice and maintaining its flow
Data Source
AI summary
An ice dispensing assembly, as provided herein, may include a container, a rotatable drum, a motor, an agitator bridge, and a rotatable blade. The container may define an opening for passing ice. The rotatable may be positioned below the container. The rotatable drum may define an inner channel from a first arc point to a second arc point. The rotatable blade may be housed within the rotatable drum between the first arc point and the second arc point. The rotatable drum may be movable between a crusher position and an agitator position. The crusher position may include the rotatable blade in engagement with the rotatable drum at the first arc point while being circumferentially spaced apart from the second arc point. The agitator position may include the rotatable blade in engagement with the rotatable drum at the second arc point while being circumferentially spaced apart from the first arc point.