Ice Maker Transporter Design for Mid-Body Bucket and Upper Dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bottom-mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerators equipped with an ice maker, the inefficient space utilization and inconvenience caused by the placement of the ice maker room and the need for a low-positioned ice dispenser are not adequately addressed by existing designs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an ice maker with an ice bucket and a transporter system that includes a rotationally arranged auger and a blade unit to transport ice from the bucket to a dispenser located above, allowing for efficient space use and user convenience by independently rotating auger and blade units with different shafts, and a mechanism to crush and discharge ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the ice maker room is partitioned off from the fridge at the upper corner, then the ice maker can be arranged in the ice maker room, but the fridge fails to be cube-shaped which causes inefficient space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the traditional ice maker room and relocated to the freezer compartment. The ice bucket is positioned in the middle of the main body, separating the ice making function from the storage space, allowing the fridge to maintain its cube shape and maximize storage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The ice bucket is positioned in the middle of the main body rather than in the upper corner, changing the spatial dimension of ice maker arrangement. This allows the ice maker to be located at a different position that does not compromise the cube shape of the fridge
2Volume of moving object
If the ice maker room is arranged in the freezer, then space utilization is improved, but the dispenser for providing ice needs to be located in a low position causing inconvenience to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making system is segmented into three independent components: the ice making unit in the freezer, the ice bucket in the middle of the main body, and the dispenser in the door. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned for its function, with the dispenser located at a convenient height in the door
3Volume of moving object
If the ice bucket is positioned below the ice maker, then space utilization is enhanced, but a transporter system is needed to transport ice to a dispenser above
Solution Approach 1:
The transporter acts as an intermediary mechanism between the ice bucket and dispenser. It includes a first transporter (auger) that rotates to transport ice horizontally, and a second transporter (blade) that rotates to transport ice vertically to the dispenser, enabling efficient ice delivery without manual intervention
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 solution enhances space utilization in refrigerators by allowing the ice bucket to be positioned below the ice maker, enabling the ice to be transported efficiently to a dispenser above, improving user convenience and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first transporter configured to be rotationally arranged inside the ice bucket to transport the ice in a direction of a rotation shaft
Implementation Method 2
a second transporter including a blade to crush the ice transported by the first transporter by rotation, and configured to transport the ice to a top of the ice bucket as the blade rotates
Implementation Method 3
a first settler arranged on one side of the blade and configured to settle the ice in order for the ice to be transported to the top of the ice bucket while rotating along with the blade
Data Source
AI summary
In an ice maker according to the present disclosure, transporter configured to supply ice to a dispenser, at least a part of which is located above an ice bucket located in the middle of the main body, may transport the ice upward to help the user take the ice conveniently even with the ice bucket located in the middle of the main body. So a refrigerator including the ice maker, according to the present disclosure, includes a storeroom to store groceries with increased utilization of the storeroom.