Ice Maker Water Box with Quick-Connect Removal for Easy Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers require cumbersome and time-consuming disassembly and reassembly for cleaning and maintenance due to the fixed connection of the water tank, making it inconvenient to access and clean the inner scaling of the water tank.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design featuring a movable water box with a connector system that allows for easy insertion and removal from the ice making body, enabling separate cleaning and filling without disassembling the housing, along with a separate ice collection box and a makeup water tank for increased convenience and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the water tank is fixedly connected in the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of operation for cleaning and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is separated from the housing structure, allowing it to be independently removed for cleaning while the housing remains stable. The tank becomes a separate removable component rather than a fixed integral part.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank transitions from a fixed static connection to a dynamic removable connection. The tank can be inserted and removed from the housing as needed, providing flexibility for maintenance while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
2Ease of operation
If the housing is disassembled to access the water tank, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is designed as a separate removable module that can be accessed without disassembling the housing. This segmentation allows direct access to the tank for cleaning while keeping the housing structure intact and simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank is extracted as an independent removable component from the housing assembly. Users can remove the tank directly for cleaning without needing to disassemble any housing parts, significantly simplifying the maintenance process.
3Reliability
If the water tank is fixedly connected, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for water refilling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the water tank and housing transitions from fixed to dynamically removable. The tank can be easily taken out for refilling and reinserted to maintain sealing, combining operational convenience with reliable sealing when in use.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector or interface mechanism serves as an intermediary between the water tank and housing. This intermediary allows for easy removal and reattachment while maintaining reliable sealing during operation, bridging the need for both accessibility and integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an ice maker which comprises: an ice making body in which an ice making assembly and a water pump configured to supply water to the ice making assembly are mounted, wherein a first accommodating cavity is provided in the ice making body; a first connector; a water box; and a second connector; when the water box is inserted into the first accommodating cavity, the second connector is matingly spliced with the first connector to bring into communication so that the water box is in communication with the water inlet end of the water pump; and when the water box is detached from the first accommodating cavity, the first connector and the second connector are simultaneously in a closed state. The ice maker of the present technical solution enables the water box to be easily disassembled and cleaned, and enables mounting to be simple and convenient.