Refrigerator Ice Maker Guide Structure for Jam-Free Ejection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with ice making devices, ice can become lodged between the ejector and the fixing bracket due to a small distance between the ice making tray and the fixing bracket, disrupting the rotation of the ejector and preventing the ice making device from operating effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of blocking members and a guide member above the ice making tray to prevent ice from returning to the grooves and guide it away from the ejector and fixing bracket, ensuring ice is directed towards blocking members, thus preventing insertion between the ejector and the fixing bracket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the distance between the fixing bracket and ice making tray is reduced to provide a compact design, then the device becomes more compact, but ice may be inserted between the ejector and fixing bracket disrupting operation
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the ice making tray and the ejector. This guide member directs the movement of ice blocks during ejection, ensuring they follow a controlled path that prevents insertion between the ejector and fixing bracket, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact design and reliable operation
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed to preemptively counteract the potential harmful action of ice blocks deviating from the intended ejection path. By providing a predetermined guidance structure, the system prevents ice from entering the space between the ejector and fixing bracket before the problem can occur
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body which forms an external appearance and has a storage chamber to be opened at a front side, and an ice making device which is disposed in the storage chamber to make ice. The ice making device includes an ice making tray which has ice making grooves for making ice, an ejector which rotates and separates the ice made in the ice making grooves, blocking members which are disposed at an upper portion of one side of the ice making grooves to prevent the ice separated from the ice making grooves through the other side of the ice making grooves from returning to the ice making grooves, and a guide member which is disposed above the other side of the ice making tray to guide the ice separated from the other side of the ice making grooves by the ejector toward the blocking members.