Ice Maker Tray Assembly for Complete Ice Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with secure coupling of trays, deformation during ice formation, and inefficient ice separation due to gaps and increased load on components, leading to incomplete ice separation and potential motor overload.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker design includes a securely coupled upper and lower tray assembly with an elastic member to maintain tray alignment, an extended lower ejecting pin for proper force transmission, and a vertical guide system to prevent deformation and ensure smooth ice separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lower tray is rotated for ice separation, then the ice can be separated from the trays, but the upper tray and lower tray may not be completely coupled, causing leaks and making spherical ice production difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-installed between the upper tray and lower tray to maintain their coupled state before ice separation occurs. This preliminary coupling ensures that when the lower tray rotates for ice separation, the trays remain properly aligned and coupled, preventing leaks and ensuring spherical ice production while still allowing the necessary rotation for separation.
2Ease of operation
If the lower ejecting pin assembly presses the lower tray to separate ice, then ice separation is achieved, but the load on the lower ejecting pin assembly increases causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The ice separation function is divided between two independent ejecting pin assemblies: an upper ejecting pin assembly that presses the upper tray and a lower ejecting pin assembly that presses the lower tray. This segmentation distributes the separation load, preventing deformation of either individual ejecting pin assembly while achieving complete ice separation from both trays.
3Productivity
If multiple pieces of ice are separated at the same time, then productivity is improved, but the load on the motor to rotate the lower tray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice separation process is segmented into two independent actions: the upper ejecting pin assembly separates ice from the upper tray while the lower ejecting pin assembly separates ice from the lower tray. This segmentation allows multiple pieces of ice to be separated simultaneously without requiring the motor to overcome the combined friction and resistance of rotating the lower tray against all ice pieces at once, thereby reducing motor load while maintaining high productivity.
4Ease of operation
If the upper ejecting pin assembly is lifted and lowered to separate ice, then ice separation is achieved, but the upper ejecting pin may not be properly inserted into the air hole, causing incomplete separation
Solution Approach 1:
The ice separation mechanism is segmented into two independent ejecting pin assemblies positioned at opposite sides of the spherical ice. The upper ejecting pin assembly targets air holes in the upper tray while the lower ejecting pin assembly targets air holes in the lower tray. This segmentation ensures that each ejecting pin only needs to travel a short distance and insert into a specific air hole, improving insertion accuracy and ensuring complete ice separation without requiring precise coordination of a single pin across the entire ice sphere.
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 enhances the secure coupling of trays, prevents deformation, and ensures complete ice separation with reduced load on components, improving the efficiency and reliability of the ice-making process.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member to maintain tray alignment
Implementation Method 2
an extended lower ejecting pin for proper force transmission
Implementation Method 3
a vertical guide system to prevent deformation and ensure smooth ice separation
Implementation Method 4
an upper ejecting pin assembly that 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.