Ice making machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ice making machines with water supply pipes located above the ice tray require additional installation space to avoid interference during the ice tray's turning motion, increasing the overall height and width of the machine.
Innovation Solution
The ice making machine design includes a water supply passage within the frame, allowing the water supply port to be positioned on the side of the ice tray's turning locus, with a water pouring part that overlaps with the ice tray during its turning motion, ensuring efficient water flow and reducing the machine's installation space by eliminating the need for an upper separation of the water supply port from the turning locus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the water supply pipe is disposed on an upper side with respect to the ice tray, then water can be directly poured into the ice tray, but the water supply pipe must be separated from the turning locus of the ice tray to an upper side, increasing the installation space in the upper and lower direction
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply passage is repositioned from a vertical upper location to a horizontal side location relative to the ice tray's turning locus. This dimensional change allows the water supply port to be located at the side of the turning locus rather than above it, reducing the installation space in the upper and lower direction while maintaining water pouring functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A water pouring part is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges the water supply passage and the ice tray. This water pouring part is positioned to overlap with the ice tray during turning motion, ensuring uninterrupted water flow while allowing the water supply port to be located at the side rather than above the turning locus
2Area of stationary object
If the water supply port is located on the side of the turning locus, then installation space is reduced, but water flow must be ensured during ice tray turning motion
Solution Approach 1:
The water pouring part is preliminarily positioned to overlap with the ice tray's turning path before the turning motion begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that as the ice tray turns, the water pouring part maintains alignment with the water storage recessed part, guaranteeing continuous water flow throughout the turning motion
Solution Approach 2:
The water pouring part serves as a mediator that maintains the water flow connection between the water supply passage and the ice tray during turning. By positioning this intermediary component to overlap with the turning ice tray, reliable water flow is ensured even though the water supply port is located at the side rather than above the turning locus
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making machine may include an ice tray comprising a water storage recessed part in which water supplied from a water supply pipe is stored, a drive part structured to reverse the ice tray around an axial line passing the ice tray between a water storage position where the water storage recessed part faces an upper side and an ice separation position where the water storage recessed part faces a lower side, and a frame which supports the ice tray and the drive part. The frame includes a frame portion which is separated to a side from a turning locus formed by turning of the ice tray, and a water pouring part which is protruded from the frame portion to a side of the turning locus.