Ice maker and method for controlling ice maker
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers produce opaque ice due to incomplete discharge of bubbles during the ice-making process, resulting in uneven transparency and quality.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring an upper tray and a lower tray with a control unit that variably controls the output of a lower heater to gather bubbles in the lowermost section during the ice-making process, ensuring uniform transparency of the ice by managing heat distribution and bubble movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If bubbles are discharged during ice making, then transparency of ice is improved, but bubble discharge is incomplete resulting in dispersed bubbles that make opaque ice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by gathering bubbles to the lowermost section before the final freezing stage completes. The control unit operates the lower heater to actively collect bubbles at the bottom of the ice chamber during the ice-making process, ensuring that when freezing completes, the bubbles are already concentrated and can be effectively discharged, thus improving transparency while ensuring complete bubble removal.
2Manufacturing precision
If lower heater output is increased to gather bubbles, then transparency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by variably controlling the output of the lower heater throughout the ice-making process. The control unit adjusts the heater's power level at different stages: operating it to gather bubbles during initial freezing, then modulating the output as freezing progresses. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform transparency is achieved while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption compared to continuous high-power operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If ice making process is extended to ensure complete bubble discharge, then transparency is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-gathering bubbles to the lowermost section during the ice-making process before final discharge. This proactive bubble collection eliminates the need for extended ice-making time, as bubbles are already positioned for efficient discharge when freezing completes. The process achieves complete bubble removal and high transparency within the standard ice-making cycle without requiring additional time.
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 the production of transparent ice with uniform transparency across each height of the ice, improving ice quality and user experience by minimizing contact area and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the ice cubes.
Implementation Method 1
a lower support configured to support the lower tray and on which a lower heater is mounted; and a control unit configured to operate the lower heater in an ice making process
Implementation Method 2
the control unit variably controls an output of the lower heater so that bubbles included in water in the ice chamber are gathered in a lowermost section in the ice making process
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker of the present invention comprises: an upper tray defining an upper chamber that is a portion of an ice chamber, wherein an upper opening is provided in an upper side of the upper tray; a lower tray defining a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber; a lower support supporting the lower tray and provided with a lower heater; and a control unit configured to operate the lower heater in an ice making process, wherein the control unit variably controls an output of the lower heater so that bubbles included in water in the ice chamber are gathered in a lowermost section in the ice making process.