Ice maker and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice makers with coupled trays face issues due to ice formation in the water supply guide and sealing surfaces, leading to operational inefficiencies, such as blocked water supply and increased load on the driving unit during uncoupling, and compromised sealing during re-coupling.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a first and second heater positioned adjacent to the sealing surface and water supply guide, respectively, with the first heater extending along the sealing surface to facilitate ice removal before water supply, ensuring smooth operation and tight sealing during ice-making and re-coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ice-making is performed in a sealed state with coupled trays, then ice-making efficiency is improved, but ice adheres to the sealing surface and increases coupling force excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is activated before the trays are uncoupled to melt ice on the sealing surface in advance. This preliminary action prevents excessive ice adhesion during the sealing phase while ensuring easy separation during uncoupling, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strong sealing and enabling easy separation.
2Strength
If ice adheres to the sealing surface, then coupling force between trays increases, but excessive load is applied to the driving unit during uncoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The heater melts ice on the sealing surface before uncoupling occurs, reducing the force required to separate the trays. This preliminary melting action prevents the driving unit from experiencing excessive load while maintaining strong coupling during the ice-making phase.
3Strength
If ice adheres to the sealing surface, then coupling force increases, but perfect sealing is not achieved during re-coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The heater eliminates ice adhesion on the sealing surface before re-coupling occurs. This preliminary ice removal ensures that when the trays are re-coupled, the sealing surface is clean and free of ice, enabling perfect sealing without excessive coupling force.
4Productivity
If ice is generated in the water supply guide, then water supply function is improved, but water supply guide is blocked by generated ice
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is activated before water supply to melt any ice that may have formed in the water supply guide during the ice-making process. This preliminary heating action prevents blockage and ensures smooth water supply operation.
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 removes residual ice from the sealing surface and water supply guide, preventing operational delays and ensuring efficient ice production and storage by reducing the load on the driving unit and maintaining a tight seal during re-coupling.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater provided adjacent to or in the ice-making container... At least a portion of the first heater is provided along the sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
a second heater provided adjacent to or in the ice-making container... provided at a position that is different than a position of the first heater
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes an ice-making container that includes a first tray and a second tray coupled to each other at a sealing surface between the first tray and the second tray. The ice maker may include a water supply guide including one end connected to the ice-making container, the water supply guide being configured to supply water to the ice-making container. The ice maker may include a first heater provided adjacent to or in the ice-making container; and a second heater provided adjacent to or in the ice-making container, and provided at a position that is different than a position of the first heater. The first heater may be provided closer to the sealing surface than the second heater.