Ice Maker Ice-Separating Time Control Based on Ice-Making Duration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice makers face inefficiencies in ice-separating time control, leading to incomplete ice removal and increased energy consumption due to temperature changes and mechanical issues, which affect the quality and quantity of ice production.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that dynamically adjusts the ice-separating time based on the consumed ice-making time using a controller, setting a target ice-separating time longer or shorter than a reference time depending on the ice-making duration to ensure clean ice separation and prevent malfunctions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a predetermined temperature level and delay time are set for ice-separating process, then ice can be cleanly removed under severe surrounding environment, but additional time is unnecessarily consumed and energy is wasted when surrounding temperature increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice-separating cleanlinessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The ice-separating time is dynamically adjusted based on the actual ice-making time and surrounding temperature conditions. The control device modifies the ice-separating time parameter in real-time according to detected temperature and ice-making duration, rather than using a fixed predetermined time, thereby optimizing energy consumption while ensuring complete ice removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the ice-separating time parameter based on detected surrounding temperature and actual ice-making time. When temperature increases or ice-making time varies, the ice-separating time is相应ly adjusted, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and avoid unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If ice-making time is shortened to increase productivity, then ice production efficiency improves, but ice may not be completely removed in the ice-separating process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice-making speedVSAvoidice-separating completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback from the actual ice-making time detection to adjust the ice-separating time. By monitoring how long ice-making actually takes and comparing it to standard values, the system calculates and applies the appropriate ice-separating time to ensure complete ice removal regardless of variations in ice-making duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system preliminarily determines the ice-separating time based on detected surrounding temperature and actual ice-making time before the ice-separating process begins. This preliminary calculation ensures that the ice-separating process is properly configured to handle the specific batch of ice being produced, preventing incomplete removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If ice-separating time is extended to ensure complete ice removal, then ice separation reliability improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice-separating completenessVSAvoidice-separating time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ice-separating time is dynamically adjusted based on actual operating conditions rather than using a fixed extended time. The control device calculates the precise ice-separating time needed based on detected temperature and ice-making duration, ensuring complete ice removal while minimizing unnecessary time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the ice-separating time parameter according to detected surrounding temperature and actual ice-making time. This parameter adjustment allows the system to use shorter ice-separating times when conditions permit, reducing time loss while maintaining reliable ice separation through adaptive parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach ensures clean ice separation and prevents malfunctions by adapting ice-separating time to changes in ice-making time, optimizing energy use and ice quality across varying temperatures and mechanical conditions.

Implementation Method 1

ice starts to be made by heat exchange with the water flowing down on the evaporator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the temperature of the evaporator increases and the surface of the ice that is in contact with the surface of the evaporator starts to melt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11506439B2System and method for controlling ice-making and ice-separating of ice maker

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 BLUENIX CO LTD

AI summary

A system and method for controlling ice-making and ice-separating of an ice maker is proposed. In the ice maker that is configured to change an ice-separating time so that ice is cleanly separated in accordance with a changed required icing when the required icing time is changed, the system and method count a consumed ice-making time when ice-making is performed, set a target ice-separating time longer than a predetermined reference ice-separating time when the consumed ice-making time is out of a reference time range, and control the ice maker to perform ice-separating for the set target ice-separating time by means of the controller.