Spherical Ice Tray Rotation Design to Prevent Leakage and Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face challenges in efficiently forming and separating spherical ice pieces without water leakage and ice sticking, requiring complex mechanisms and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker design includes an upper tray with hemispherical cells and a lower tray with corresponding hemispherical cells, connected by a rotation shaft, using a pressing mechanism to form spherical ice and a heating mechanism to separate ice, with curved rotation guides to facilitate rotation without linear motion, simplifying the driving mechanism and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used to form and separate spherical ice pieces, then the ice making reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is divided into an upper tray with hemispherical cells and a lower tray with corresponding hemispherical cells. The spherical ice is formed by the combination of these segmented hemispherical portions, allowing reliable spherical ice formation without complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanisms to push ice out of the tray, the invention inverts the approach by using ejecting pins that protrude into the cells from the upper tray to separate the ice. The ice is separated by the pins pressing into the hemispherical cells rather than by complex ejection mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If traditional ice making mechanisms are used, then ice separation is achieved, but water leakage and ice sticking problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cells in both the upper and lower trays are designed with hemispherical curvature. This spherical geometry prevents water from pooling and leaking while also preventing ice from sticking to the tray surfaces, as the curved surfaces facilitate clean separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Ejecting pins are introduced as an intermediary element between the upper and lower trays. These pins protrude into the hemispherical cells and facilitate ice separation by pressing into the ice, preventing direct contact and sticking between the ice and tray surfaces.
3Productivity
If a pressing mechanism is used to form spherical ice, then the ice making speed is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper tray and lower tray are merged in operation to form complete spherical ice. The hemispherical cells of both trays come together during the ice making process, allowing spherical ice formation without requiring complex pressing mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining productivity.
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 allows for efficient formation and separation of spherical ice pieces with reduced water leakage and manufacturing costs, enabling faster ice production and simplified mechanism design.
Implementation Method 1
the ice maker is configured to separate the made ice from the ice tray in a heating or twisting manner
Implementation Method 2
the lower tray is rotatably connected to the upper tray... rotating the lower tray away from the upper tray
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an ice maker, which includes an upper tray, a lower tray, and a rotation shaft. Upper cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the upper tray. Lower cells of hemispherical shapes are arrayed in the lower tray that is rotatably connected to the upper tray. The rotation shaft is connected to a rear end of the lower tray and a rear end of the upper tray to rotate the lower tray relative to the upper tray. A rotation guide part rounded with a predetermined curvature is disposed in a region where the lower tray contacts the upper tray while the lower tray is rotated.