Ice Maker Cam-Driven Tray Flexing for Non-Tapered Cube Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators typically produce pyramidal or tapered ice cubes, which can be difficult to remove from the tray, limiting the ability to offer alternative ice cube shapes that are easily ejected.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray with an axially mounted cam having a convex surface that engages the tray's bottom surface, allowing ice cubes to be released through rotation of the cam, which flexes the tray and facilitates the removal of ice cubes of various shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pyramidal or tapered ice cube shapes are used, then ice cubes can be removed from the tray, but the ability to offer alternative ice cube shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ice tray is designed with flexible walls that can dynamically change shape during the ejection process. The cam mechanism applies force to flex the tray walls, allowing ice cubes of various shapes to be released without requiring the ice cubes themselves to have a specific tapered geometry. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction by enabling shape variety while maintaining easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the tray walls changes from rigid during freezing to flexible during ejection. By changing the mechanical properties of the tray walls through controlled flexibility, the system can accommodate different ice cube shapes while still enabling easy removal through the cam-driven flexing action.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-pyramidal ice cube shapes are used, then ice cube shape variety is improved, but ice cube removal from tray becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tray walls act as an intermediary between the ice cubes and the cam mechanism. Instead of requiring direct contact between the cam and ice cubes, the flexible walls transmit the cam's ejection force to ice cubes of any shape, resolving the contradiction by mediating the interaction between the ejection mechanism and diverse ice cube geometries.
3Ease of operation
If the cam mechanism is added to enable easy ejection, then ice cube removal ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism uses a curved convex surface that naturally translates rotational motion into linear ejection force. This geometric simplicity allows the cam to perform the ejection function with minimal complexity, resolving the contradiction by providing an elegant mechanical solution that is both effective and relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is integrated into the existing ice maker structure, combining the ejection function with the existing rotational drive system. By merging the ejection mechanism with the existing motor and drive train, the patent adds the ejection capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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
Enables the easy ejection of ice cubes from the tray, accommodating different shapes while maintaining the structural integrity and operational efficiency of the ice maker.
Implementation Method 1
an axially mounted, rotatable cam with a convex surface, the cam is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and positioned between the longitudinal axis and the bottom surface of the tray, so that the convex surface is engageable with the bottom surface of the tray. Ice cubes are released by rotation of the cam as the convex surface outwardly flexes the tray.
Implementation Method 2
a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray... Ice cubes are released by rotation of the cam as the convex surface outwardly flexes the tray.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has a longitudinal axis; a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray having an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes and a bottom surface, and the upper face and the bottom surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube; and an axially mounted, rotatable cam with a convex surface, the cam is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and positioned between the longitudinal axis and the bottom surface of the tray, so that the convex surface is engageable with the bottom surface of the tray. Ice cubes are released by rotation of the cam as the convex surface outwardly flexes the tray.