Ice maker and refrigerator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with leakages, deformation of components, and inefficient ice separation due to incomplete coupling of trays and excessive load on motor gear, leading to suboptimal ice production and increased risk of breaking during separation.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a mechanism where the lower tray is rotated further to secure coupling with the upper tray after motor operation stops, utilizing elastic members for tension and guide slots to prevent deformation, ensuring stable vertical movement and proper contact for efficient ice separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lower tray is rotated further after motor operation stops to secure coupling with the upper tray, then the coupling reliability is improved, but the operation time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The lower tray is pre-positioned and the coupling mechanism is pre-configured so that when the motor stops, the trays are already in a state ready for secure coupling. The elastic member is pre-tensioned to provide the necessary force for secure coupling without requiring additional rotation time after motor operation stops.
2Strength
If elastic members are used to prevent deformation of the lower tray, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic member in the form of a flexible plate-like structure is used to prevent deformation of the lower tray. This flexible element can elastically deform to accommodate the rotation and coupling movements while maintaining the structural integrity of the lower tray, avoiding the need for complex rigid support structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If guide slots are used to ensure stable vertical movement of the upper ejector, then the movement stability is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Guide slots are introduced as intermediary elements between the upper ejector and the upper tray. These slots provide a constrained path for the ejector's vertical movement, ensuring stability and proper alignment without requiring complex external guiding mechanisms or additional support structures.
4Productivity
If the lower tray is pressed by the lower ejecting pin assembly during rotation, then the ice separation is improved, but the load on the motor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing action of the lower ejecting pin assembly is applied periodically during specific phases of the lower tray's rotation, rather than continuously. The pin assembly presses the lower tray at key moments to facilitate ice separation, then releases to reduce the load on the motor during other phases of rotation.
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 the secure coupling of trays, prevents deformation, and ensures efficient ice separation with reduced risk of breaking, maintaining the integrity and shape of spherical ice cubes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member which applies elastic force to the lower tray so that contact between the upper tray and the lower tray is maintained
Implementation Method 2
a pair of guide slots which penetrate the upper tray in the vertical direction and in which the upper ejector is inserted so as to prevent deformation of the upper tray
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.