Ice machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making and dispensing devices face challenges in efficiently packaging and dispensing ice, leading to potential ice loss and increased maintenance due to fluid buildup and complex component arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A free-standing ice machine design featuring a cabinet with a hinge-coupled door, an offset frame supporting a hopper with an ice dispensing interface, and a chute system that includes a container hanging assembly and attachment rod, allowing for easy access and reduced fluid buildup, while maintaining efficient ice retention and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex component arrangement is used for ice dispensing, then ice retention during dispensing is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice dispensing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a hopper for ice storage, a chute for ice transport, and a container hanging assembly for ice collection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability for ice retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The container hanging assembly utilizes vertical space by hanging containers from the chute structure rather than placing them on horizontal surfaces. This dimensional change improves ice retention by positioning containers directly in the ice dispensing path while simplifying the overall component arrangement through efficient space utilization.
2Reliability
If a complex component arrangement is used for ice dispensing, then ice retention during dispensing is improved, but ease of repair worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows individual components (hopper, chute, container hanging assembly) to be accessed and repaired independently. The offset frame structure provides clear access paths to each component, improving ease of repair while maintaining the complex arrangement needed for ice retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The container hanging assembly is designed as a separate, extractable unit that can be removed from the chute for maintenance or replacement without disassembling the entire ice dispensing system. This extraction capability improves ease of repair while maintaining the reliable ice retention function.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the frame is positioned at the lateral compartment centerline, then structural symmetry is improved, but ice dispensing efficiency worsens due to suboptimal component placement
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is deliberately positioned in an offset arrangement rather than at the lateral compartment centerline. This asymmetric placement optimizes the component arrangement for ice dispensing efficiency, allowing the hopper, chute, and container hanging assembly to be positioned in their optimal locations for efficient ice flow and collection.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice machine is provided herein that includes a cabinet having a cabinet door coupled thereto through a hinge assembly. A frame is positioned within the cabinet and includes a base portion and a support portion. A hopper is supported by the support portion of the frame. The hopper includes an ice dispensing interface. A housing is operably coupled with the cabinet door and defines an ice harvesting chamber. A chute is coupled with the housing and is in communication with the ice dispensing interface. A container hanging assembly is operably coupled with the chute. An attachment rod is coupled to the housing and is positioned on an opposing side of the chute from the container hanging assembly. A drain is defined by a bottom portion of the housing.