Ice Maker Dual Control Box Layout for Higher Cell Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers have limited size and cell capacity, leading to increased demands for a structure that can accommodate more cells and prevent ice from getting stuck during ejection due to space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker is designed with a dual control box system, where the mechanism unit is divided between a first control box near the tray and a second control box, which can be installed outside the ice-making chamber, including a driving assembly for ice ejection and an ejecting guide with a gentle curvature to prevent ice from sticking, allowing for increased tray length and cell number.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ice maker is provided in the refrigerator with limited space, then the size of the ice maker is constrained, but the number of cells that can be accommodated is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is divided into two separate control boxes: a first control box accommodating part of the mechanism unit (ejector, driving assembly) and a second control box accommodating the other part (control circuit, sensor). This segmentation allows the mechanism unit to be distributed around the tray, maximizing the tray length and cell number within the limited ice maker volume.
2Productivity
If the number of cells is increased to produce more ice, then the ice production capacity is improved, but the space for ice ejection is reduced causing ice to get stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The second control box is positioned outside the ice-making chamber or on/under the tray, utilizing vertical or lateral space rather than horizontal space. This dimensional reorganization creates sufficient room for both increased cell capacity and proper ice ejection path, preventing ice from getting stuck.
Solution Approach 2:
An ejecting guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the tray and the ejection path. The guide has a gentle curvature that facilitates smooth ice ejection, preventing ice from getting stuck even when space is constrained due to the dual control box configuration.
3Device complexity
If a single control box is used to accommodate the mechanism unit, then the structure is simple, but the space utilization is insufficient for increasing cell number
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is segmented into two control boxes with distinct functions: the first control box near the tray accommodates the ejector and driving assembly, while the second control box accommodates the control circuit and sensor. This segmentation optimizes space utilization by placing components in the most suitable locations, enabling increased tray length and cell number.
Solution Approach 2:
The second control box is installed outside the ice-making chamber or on/under the tray, utilizing space in dimensions other than the horizontal plane. This approach maximizes the available volume within the refrigerator, allowing for a longer tray with more cells without increasing the overall ice maker footprint.
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 enhances space utilization, increases the amount of ice produced per unit time by 25%, and effectively prevents ice from sticking during ejection by using an ejecting guide with a gentle curvature.
Implementation Method 1
An inner surface of the ejecting guide may have a gentle curvature
Implementation Method 2
a heating device installed adjacent to the tray to heat the tray such that the ice may be ejected
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker comprises a tray accommodating water to make ice, a first control box (200) installed at a side of the tray, the first control box (200) accommodating a predetermined part of a mechanism unit driving the ice maker; and a second control box (300) accommodating the other part of the mechanism unit which is electrically connected with the part of the mechanism unit accommodated in the first control part.