Ice maker and refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with inefficient ice separation due to localized pressing, deformation of components, and increased load on motors, leading to incomplete ice removal and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker design includes a lower ejector with a curved lower ejecting pin that applies force to the center of the lower tray, ensuring smooth ice separation while distributing the load over time, preventing interference with supports, and minimizing motor strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a local portion of the lower tray is pressed by the lower ejecting pin, then the ice may separate from the lower tray, but the pressing force is insufficient and ice does not separate completely
Solution Approach 1:
The lower ejecting pin is divided into multiple pressing portions (first pressing portion, second pressing portion, third pressing portion) that press different regions of the lower tray sequentially or simultaneously. This segmentation allows the pressing force to be distributed across multiple points rather than concentrated at a single location, ensuring complete ice separation while preventing component deformation.
2Reliability
If the lower ejecting pin presses the lower tray with high load, then ice separation may be achieved, but deformation of the lower ejecting pin assembly occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the pressing function into multiple pressing portions along the lower ejecting pin, the total load required for ice separation is distributed across multiple contact points. This reduces the stress concentration on any single portion of the pin and assembly, preventing deformation while maintaining effective ice separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressing portion is positioned to press a specific region of the lower tray (different radial or axial positions), creating localized pressing actions. This allows the force to be applied where most needed while distributing the overall mechanical load, preventing deformation of the ejecting pin assembly.
3Reliability
If the lower tray is pressed at a single location, then the structure is simple, but ice does not separate completely due to insufficient pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The lower ejecting pin incorporates multiple pressing portions (first, second, and third pressing portions) that contact different regions of the lower tray. This segmented approach achieves complete ice separation by pressing multiple locations simultaneously or sequentially, while maintaining a relatively simple single-pin structure rather than requiring multiple separate ejecting components.
4Productivity
If multiple ices are removed at the same time, then productivity increases, but the load on the motor rotating the lower tray increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lower ejecting pin performs preliminary pressing action on the lower tray to separate ice from the tray before the tray is rotated. By pre-separating the ice at the molding position using the multiple pressing portions, the motor only needs to rotate the tray with minimal resistance, reducing the power required even when multiple ices are removed simultaneously.
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
The solution enables efficient, damage-free ice separation with reduced motor load, ensuring complete ice removal and improved performance by distributing the load effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a lower ejector for pressing the lower tray to separate ice from the lower tray
Implementation Method 2
the tray body is formed of a plastic material having a ductility, so that an outer face thereof may be changed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided is an ice maker, for a home appliance, in particular for a refrigerator or freezer, including an upper assembly including an upper tray having at least one upper chamber part; a lower assembly (200) including a lower support and a flexible lower tray (250) separably supported thereon and having at least one lower chamber part, and a lower ejector (400) including at least one lower ejecting pin (420), wherein the lower assembly is movable with respect to the upper assembly between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the lower chamber part and the upper chamber part form at least one ice chamber in which ice is to be formed, wherein the lower support has at least one lower opening corresponding respectively to the at least one lower chamber part, and wherein the lower ejector (400) is arranged such that in the open position, the lower ejecting pin (420) is configured to penetrate through the lower opening in the lower support and to partially separate the lower tray from the lower support for removing ice from the lower chamber part.