Ice Machine Extruder Gap Design to Reduce Ice Cube Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice machines face inefficiencies in ice cube transfer due to blockages on the side of the extruder away from the ice storage bin, leading to reduced transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The ice machine design includes an ice guide channel with a gap on the side of the extruder away from the storage bin, allowing ice cubes to climb over and directly slide into the storage bin, along with a push mechanism to improve output efficiency when blockages occur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ice cubes are output from the output through holes, then ice cubes are transported to the ice storage bin, but ice cubes on the side away from the ice storage bin are prone to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The output compartment is divided into multiple output through holes arranged circumferentially, allowing ice cubes to be distributed and discharged from multiple locations simultaneously, preventing blockage on any single side
Solution Approach 2:
The extruder is designed with a cylindrical structure and rotated horizontally, changing the discharge from a single-direction linear path to a multi-directional radial pattern, enabling ice cubes to be discharged from all circumferential directions toward the storage bin
2Ease of operation
If the extruder is rotated to transport ice cubes upward, then ice cubes are moved to the output compartment, but ice cubes spread outward along the axis causing blockage on the far side
Solution Approach 1:
The extruder is designed to rotate horizontally rather than remain fixed, dynamically adjusting the discharge position to continuously present ice cubes toward the storage bin and prevent accumulation on the far side
Solution Approach 2:
The output compartment serves as an intermediary chamber between the extruder and storage bin, providing a transition zone where ice cubes can be redistributed before final discharge, preventing direct blockage in the transport path
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
This design reduces the probability of ice cube blockages and enhances the transfer efficiency by allowing ice cubes to directly enter the storage bin, while the push mechanism ensures continuous output even when blockages happen.
Implementation Method 1
an ice machine is a refrigeration machine that does work by compressing or expanding liquid refrigerant to produce high-temperature and high-pressure gas (steam), such that the liquid can quickly evaporate and be vaporized
Implementation Method 2
After the water condenses into ice through the refrigeration assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An ice machine includes a casing, a refrigeration assembly, an ice conveying assembly, an ice storage bin and an ice guide channel are provided in the casing, the ice conveying assembly includes an ice-making drum in connection with the refrigeration assembly, an ice conveying screw rotatably provided in the ice-making drum, a motor configured to drive the ice conveying screw to rotate, and an extruder on the ice-making drum, the ice guide channel is configured with an output compartment configured for outputting ice cubes, the output compartment is arranged corresponding to the extruder, the output compartment is configured with a gap on a side of the extruder away from the ice storage bin, and the gap is configured for the ice cubes to climb over a top of the extruder.