Ice maker and refrigerator including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with unintended deformation of structures other than the ice chamber during the ice removal process, leading to inaccurate deformation and potential ice removal failure. Additionally, unequal deformation amounts among multiple ice chambers and the use of separate fastening members can cause instability and loosening over time.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker incorporates an upper tray with upper chambers and a lower tray with lower chambers, where the lower tray and lower supporter are fixed using a unique fixing structure. This structure includes an insertion protrusion on the lower tray that passes through a slot in the lower supporter, ensuring uniform fixation across the ice tray without the need for separate fastening members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a separate fastening member such as a screw is used to secure the ice tray, then the ice tray can be fixed, but the fastening member may loosen during long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fastening function directly into the ice tray structure by forming protrusions on the ice tray that engage with recesses in the supporting plate. This merging of the ice tray and fastening components eliminates separate fastening members like screws, preventing loosening while maintaining secure fixation throughout long-term use.
2Ease of operation
If the ice chamber is deformed to remove ice, then ice can be removed from the ice chamber, but structures other than the ice chamber may be unintendedly deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deformation action by providing dedicated deformation portions on the supporting plate that are spatially separated from other structures. When the ice chamber is deformed for ice removal, only the deformation portions move, leaving other structures undisturbed. This segmentation ensures precise deformation control and prevents unintended deformation of adjacent components.
3Productivity
If multiple ice chambers are deformed simultaneously, then multiple ices can be made, but deformation amounts may not be equal leading to ice-removal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing individually configured deformation portions for each ice chamber location. Each deformation portion can be independently adjusted or designed with specific geometric characteristics to ensure uniform deformation amounts across all ice chambers, even when deformed simultaneously. This localized optimization ensures consistent ice removal performance for multiple ices.
4Strength
If a fixing structure provides strong fixation force, then the ice tray is securely fixed, but the ice tray made of soft material may be difficult to deform uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces deformation portions as intermediary elements between the ice tray and the fixing structure. These deformation portions act as compliant zones that allow controlled deformation of the soft ice tray material while maintaining strong overall fixation. The intermediaries enable uniform deformation by distributing stress evenly across the ice tray surface during the ice removal process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Each of an ice maker and a refrigerator has a fixing structure disposed between lower chambers adjacent to each other and constructed to fasten a lower tray and a lower supporter to each other. Thus, even when an ice chamber is deformed, unintended deformation of structures other than the ice chamber is minimized, and deformation amounts respectively applied to the ice chambers are substantially equal to each other, thereby reducing ice-removal failure.