Ice Maker Tray Coupling and Ejector Motion for Leak-Free Ice Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with leakages, deformation, and inefficient ice separation due to incomplete coupling of trays and increased load on motor gears, leading to incomplete ice separation and potential damage to components.
Innovation Solution
The design enhances the coupling of upper and lower trays by using an elastic member and a connection unit with links, allowing stable vertical movement of the upper ejector and preventing deformation, ensuring secure coupling and reduced load on motor gears, and includes a longer lower ejecting pin for proper pressing force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the upper tray and lower tray are coupled using a rigid connection, then the coupling strength is improved, but the device complexity increases and deformation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic member (flexible element) to connect the upper tray and lower tray, replacing rigid connections. This flexible connection allows the trays to maintain secure coupling while accommodating dimensional variations and preventing deformation, thereby reducing device complexity compared to rigid mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the elastic member to dynamically adjust the coupling between trays. The elastic member can deform within its elastic limit to accommodate dimensional changes during operation, maintaining optimal coupling strength without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If the motor gear tolerance is reduced to improve positioning precision, then the ice separation completeness is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic member as an intermediary element between the motor-driven lower tray and the upper tray. This elastic member compensates for motor gear tolerance by providing elastic deformation that ensures complete ice separation, thereby maintaining high positioning precision without requiring expensive high-precision motor gears.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member provides beforehand cushioning by pre-compressing or pre-extending to absorb dimensional variations and tolerance accumulations before they affect the ice separation process. This ensures that even with standard tolerance motor gears, the system achieves complete ice separation.
3Productivity
If the lower ejecting pin assembly presses the lower tray harder to improve ice separation, then the ice separation completeness is improved, but the deformation risk of the ejecting pin assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid lower ejecting pin assembly with a flexible elastic member that presses the lower tray. The elastic member can exert sufficient pressing force for complete ice separation while deforming elastically to avoid permanent deformation or damage, unlike rigid pins that are prone to deformation under high load.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member's pressing force can be optimized by selecting appropriate material properties and dimensions. The member maintains high contact pressure for effective ice separation while staying within its elastic limit, preventing permanent deformation. The force parameter is dynamically adjusted through the elastic deformation of the member.
4Productivity
If the upper ejector moves in horizontal directions to improve ice separation, then the ice separation effectiveness is improved, but the reliability of the ejector insertion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the ice separation function into vertical movement of the upper ejector (for reliable insertion and ejection) and rotational movement of the lower tray (for horizontal ice separation). This segmentation allows each component to perform its function reliably without requiring the upper ejector to move horizontally, which would compromise insertion reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic coordination between the vertically moving upper ejector and the rotating lower tray. The lower tray's rotation provides the horizontal separation action while the upper ejector maintains simple vertical motion for reliable insertion and ejection, optimizing both effectiveness and reliability.
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 design ensures reliable ice-making and separation, minimizes deformation, and maintains the structural integrity of the ice maker components, preventing leaks and ensuring efficient ice production.
Implementation Method 1
a second elastic member extending from the first link in an opposite direction to the first direction, the second elastic member having a second end that is connected to the lower supporter
Implementation Method 2
an upper ejecting pin assembly which is connected to the pair of links, respectively, with both ends fitted to the link guide portion and is lifted and lowered together with the link
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker includes an upper assembly provided with an upper tray which has an upper chamber recessed upwardly to define an upper side of an ice chamber in which water is filled to generate ice, a lower assembly provided with a lower tray which has a lower chamber recessed downwardly to define a lower side of the ice chamber, and a lower supporter which supports a lower side of the lower tray, in which the lower assembly is rotatably connected to the upper assembly. The ice maker also includes an upper ejector provided with an upper ejecting pin which separates ice from the upper tray after ice-making is completed, in which the upper ejector is connected to the lower assembly to be interlocked with each other, such that when the lower assembly is rotated, the upper ejector is lifted and lowered.