In-Door Ice Bin Latch And Rails For Spill-Resistant Harvesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic ice makers face inefficiencies in ice production and storage, often resulting in uneven ice distribution and potential spillage during harvesting, due to the reliance on heaters and manual handling of ice trays.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker assembly with a mounting plate, rail system, and a latch mechanism that allows for horizontal and vertical movement of an ice storage bin, enabling efficient ice transfer and storage without the need for heaters, and featuring an auger assembly for uniform ice dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heater is used to melt ice in the ice tray, then ice release from the tray is improved, but energy consumption increases and ice production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heater component from the ice making system entirely. Instead of using thermal energy to melt ice, the system relies on mechanical harvesting through rotation of the ice tray and gravity-driven ice release, eliminating the energy-consuming heating step while maintaining effective ice extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heater) with a mechanical field system. The ice tray rotation mechanism and gravity-based ice release replace the function of the heater, using mechanical motion and gravitational force instead of thermal energy to achieve ice release
2Device complexity
If manual handling of ice trays is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ice distribution uniformity and spillage prevention worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to automatically harvest and transfer ice without manual intervention. The ice tray rotation mechanism automatically positions ice for release, and the bin positioning system automatically receives and distributes ice uniformly, eliminating the need for manual handling while ensuring consistent ice distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including the rotating ice tray mechanism and the movable bin positioning system with latch. These dynamic components enable automatic ice harvesting and uniform distribution throughout the bin, replacing static manual handling with automated mechanical motion
3Device complexity
If the ice bin is fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but ice production rate and space utilization worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed ice bin into a dynamic, movable component. The bin can be positioned at different locations within the refrigerator space and adjusted vertically and horizontally through the latch mechanism and rails, enabling optimized space utilization and increased ice production capacity without excessive mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds multiple degrees of freedom to the bin positioning system. The bin can move vertically along rails, horizontally along the refrigerator wall, and be rotated for optimal positioning. This multi-dimensional mobility allows maximized space utilization and ice production rate while maintaining reasonable device complexity
4Ease of operation
If rotation of the ice bucket is used for harvesting, then manual operation is simplified, but ice loss or spillage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rotating ice bucket design and replaces it with a fixed bin position and rotating ice tray mechanism. Ice is harvested through controlled tray rotation that releases ice directly into the bin, eliminating the spillage-prone rotation of the entire bucket while maintaining simple harvesting operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism between the ice tray and the bin. The controlled rotation of the ice tray acts as an intermediary that precisely releases ice into the bin, preventing direct contact and potential spillage that would occur with rotating the entire bucket
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker assembly is provided that includes an ice maker. A mounting plate is positioned within an ice maker receiving space. The mounting plate defines a plurality of engagement features extending into the ice maker receiving space. A rail system is disposed on opposite sides of the ice maker receiving space. An ice storage bin is removably positioned within the ice maker receiving space. The ice storage bin comprises an ice bin wall positioned on an ice bin base. An auger assembly is disposed through the ice bin base. A latch is slidably disposed along a bottom surface of the ice bin base. The latch includes a plurality of retention features that cooperate with the engagement features. Horizontal movement of the latch causes vertical motion of the ice storage bin.