Ice Tray Refill Cartridge for Spill-Free Refrigerator Ice Making
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making apparatuses in refrigerators require manual and laborious water replenishment, often resulting in incorrect water amounts and spills, which degrade the ice making process.
Innovation Solution
A portable refillable cartridge with a rotatable port above the ice tray allows for easy water refilling without spills, featuring a guide that supports the cartridge between upper and lower positions for controlled water dispensing into the ice tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual water replenishment is used by pouring from a container, then the ice making apparatus can be refilled, but water spills and incorrect water amounts occur degrading the ice making process
Solution Approach 1:
A cartridge is introduced as an intermediary component between the water source and the ice tray. The cartridge includes a nozzle that interfaces with the ice tray, controlling water flow directly into the tray. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for manual pouring and prevents spills by providing a dedicated water delivery path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed to be self-positioning through a guide mechanism that automatically aligns the nozzle with the ice tray when the cartridge is inserted. This self-alignment feature eliminates the need for manual positioning adjustments and ensures reliable water delivery without user intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user demounts the ice tray to refill it at a remote place, then refilling can be done, but water spillage occurs before remounting
Solution Approach 1:
The water replenishment function is segmented into a separate, removable cartridge that can be filled independently at a remote location. The cartridge design includes a lid that can be opened for refilling, allowing users to fill it at a sink or other convenient location without removing the ice tray from the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge serves as an intermediary container that decouples the refilling operation from the ice tray. Users fill the cartridge separately, then insert it into the apparatus where it automatically positions itself to deliver water to the ice tray, eliminating the need to handle water near the ice tray during refilling.
3Device complexity
If a fixed water outlet structure is used, then the structure is simple, but the cartridge cannot be easily removed and repositioned
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed with dynamic positioning capability through a guide mechanism that allows the cartridge to be easily inserted and removed. The guide includes alignment features that automatically position the cartridge correctly during insertion, and the nozzle is designed to detach cleanly from the ice tray during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide mechanism creates an equipotential insertion path where the cartridge naturally aligns with the ice tray at all positions along the insertion trajectory. This ensures that the cartridge can be easily removed and repositioned without requiring precise manual alignment, reducing operational complexity.
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
Ensures reliable and correct water replenishment, improving usability and reducing the effort required for maintaining the ice making process, allowing the apparatus to be easily cleaned and maintained.
Implementation Method 1
a guide for rotatably supporting the cartridge between a released position where the opening of the cartridge is located at an upper level and a mounted position where the opening of the cartridge is located at a lower level
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an ice making apparatus (1) suitable for use in a refrigerator (2) comprising a freezer compartment (3). The ice making apparatus (1) comprises a casing (4) which includes an ice tray (5) for forming ice, wherein the ice tray (5) has one or more than one pocket (6) for filling with water. The ice making apparatus (1) according to the present invention further comprises a portable refillable cartridge (7) which has an opening (8) for dispensing water into the ice tray (5) and a port (9) for releasably mounting the cartridge (7).