Ice Maker Water-Drainage Control for Consistent Ice Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers reduce water supply time due to drainage time, leading to insufficient water in the reservoir and smaller ice production, as they do not account for drainage time during water supply cycles.
Innovation Solution
A controller increases the standby time of the ice making part after reaching a predetermined temperature, extending the ice separation time to allow for complete drainage and re-supply of water, maintaining ice size and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is drained from the water reservoir per predetermined number of ice making cycles, then water contamination is prevented, but water supply time is reduced and ice size decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller extends the ice separation time in advance before water drainage occurs, ensuring that the water reservoir has sufficient time to be completely drained and refilled. This preliminary time extension prevents the water supply shortage that would otherwise occur during drainage cycles, maintaining consistent ice size while still achieving water contamination prevention through periodic drainage.
2Ease of manufacture
If water supply time is kept the same as before drainage, then water supply process is simple, but water is not sufficiently supplied to the water reservoir during drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the ice separation time based on whether water drainage is currently occurring. When drainage is detected, the separation time is automatically extended to compensate for the排水 period. This dynamic adjustment maintains simple overall control logic while ensuring sufficient water supply to the reservoir during drainage cycles.
3Reliability
If ice separation time is extended to account for drainage time, then water can be completely drained and re-supplied, but ice making cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller extends the ice separation time specifically during drainage periods, allowing water to be completely drained and the reservoir refilled without interrupting the overall ice making process. This continuous adjustment ensures that the water supply system remains adequate throughout the drainage cycle while minimizing the impact on total ice making cycle time by only extending separation time when necessary.
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 solution ensures consistent ice size and sanitary production by efficiently managing water supply and drainage, preventing contamination and maintaining ice quality post-drainage.
Implementation Method 1
water supplied from a water reservoir through a pump is cooled by an evaporator to produce ice in an ice making part
Implementation Method 2
water supplied from a water reservoir through a pump
Implementation Method 3
a first predetermined time is set for heating the ice making part to reach a predetermined temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A system of controlling an ice maker. The system includes: an ice making part producing ice; a water reservoir to store water supplied from outside and provide the water to the ice making part or drain the water; and a controller to control the ice making part to perform an ice separation process, supply the water to the water reservoir during an ice separation time, and drain the water in the water reservoir when an accumulated number of ice making cycles of the ice making part reaches a predetermined number of ice making cycles. In particular, when the accumulated number of ice making cycles reaches the predetermined number of ice making cycles and the water in the water reservoir is drained, the controller increases the ice separation time, drains the water in the water reservoir for the increased ice separation time, and re-supplies the water to the water reservoir after draining the water.