Refrigerator Icemaker Drive for Accurate Ice-Full Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional icemaker driving apparatuses face issues with accurately sensing the ice-full state due to interference with ice cubes, leading to potential misinterpretation and cessation of ice cube production, and suffer from durability problems and imprecise rotation forces due to torque transfer and torsion spring placement.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus rotates the ejector in a reverse direction to sense the ice-full state, mounts a first torsion spring to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to minimize torque transfer, and positions the second torsion spring's axial center to apply a constant minimum moment to the ice-detecting lever, preventing interference and enhancing durability and precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the ejector is rotated in the normal direction to sense the ice-full state, then the ice-full state can be detected, but the ejector interferes with ice cubes present in the icemaker leading to inaccurate sensing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice-full state sensing accuracyVSAvoidinterference with ice cubes

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the inversion principle by rotating the ejector in the reverse direction (opposite to the normal ice-ejecting direction) when sensing the ice-full state. This reverse rotation allows the ice-detecting arm to contact ice cubes and prevent further rotation, providing accurate ice-full detection without the ejector interfering with ice cubes in the icemaker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If torque is transferred to components such as the ice-detecting lever, then the sensing function is achieved, but the durability of components decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoidtorque transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a first torsion spring as an intermediary element mounted on the ice-detecting lever. This torsion spring acts as a buffer that absorbs and reduces the torque transferred from the cam gear to the ice-detecting lever and other components, thereby increasing component durability while maintaining the sensing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the torsion spring is positioned away from the ice-detecting lever, then the sensing mechanism is simpler, but the rotation force becomes imprecise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation force precisionVSAvoidtorsion spring placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the local quality principle by positioning the axial center of rotation of the second torsion spring at a specific location that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever. This precise positioning allows a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied to the ice-detecting lever, ensuring precise rotation force while maintaining a relatively simple sensing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 approach allows accurate ice-full state sensing, increases the durability of components, and provides a precise rotation force, preventing erroneous ice-full state detection and maintaining icemaker efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Implementation Method 2

the axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring biasing the ice-detecting lever to elastically contact the cam surface of the cam gear is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic contact: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10139146B2Apparatus and method for driving icemaker of refrigerator

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 SCD CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied.