EP1865276B1 - Ice maker - Google Patents

Ice maker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1865276B1
EP1865276B1 EP06115099.1A EP06115099A EP1865276B1 EP 1865276 B1 EP1865276 B1 EP 1865276B1 EP 06115099 A EP06115099 A EP 06115099A EP 1865276 B1 EP1865276 B1 EP 1865276B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
making container
cover
ice maker
maker according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP06115099.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1865276A1 (en
Inventor
Roberto Riccardi
Armando Solis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to EP06115099.1A priority Critical patent/EP1865276B1/en
Priority to PL06115099T priority patent/PL1865276T3/en
Priority to BRPI0712057-5A priority patent/BRPI0712057A2/en
Priority to MX2008015672A priority patent/MX2008015672A/en
Priority to PCT/EP2007/055243 priority patent/WO2007141170A2/en
Priority to US12/303,631 priority patent/US20100229590A1/en
Publication of EP1865276A1 publication Critical patent/EP1865276A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1865276B1 publication Critical patent/EP1865276B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/04—Producing ice by using stationary moulds
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2305/00—Special arrangements or features for working or handling ice
    • F25C2305/024—Rotating rake
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25C2500/06—Spillage or flooding of water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigeration appliance. More particularly, it relates to an ice maker comprising a frame adapted to be mounted in the refrigeration appliance, an ice-making container supported by the frame, and an ice-releasing system for separating the formed ice from the ice-making container.
  • US2006/086135 A1 describes an ice maker for refrigerators provided with a cover hinged to water container, which is forced to an open position when water is filled and which rests in a closed position until ice is formed. When the cover is closed the ice maker becomes a water tight container.
  • Ice makers are well known in the technical field of domestic refrigeration appliances. They are usually installed on a wall of a freezing chamber of the refrigerator (freezer) and therefore they are not subject to movement which could cause spill of water when ice is not already formed in the ice-making container or ice tray.
  • This traditional construction has the drawback of requiring means for conveying ice cubes from the ice maker in the freezing chamber into a storage container in the door of the refrigerator where the user can collect ice from the outside through an ice dispenser.
  • the traditional location of ice makers requires an automatic water supply device which increases the overall cost of the appliance.
  • No appliance producer has up to now proposed a mounting of the ice maker in a door of the freezer, mainly because the movement of the door during opening and closing thereof could cause water spill from the ice maker when the ice is not already formed.
  • the base 12 contains a drive unit and can be mounted in a cantilevered way to a wall of a door of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator (not shown).
  • the ice-making container 14, which is fixed to the base 12, has an a semi-circular or half moon cross section and is formed of metal or polymeric material.
  • the cover 16 has a semi-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the ice-making container 14, and it is rotatably mounted on the ice-making container so that it can assume a first configuration (shown in figure 1 ) where it covers in a water-tight manner the ice-making container 14, and, by rotation along the arrow R in figure 1 , a second configuration below the ice-making container 14, so that ice cubes can be removed from the ice-making container 14.
  • the rotation of the cover 16 can be done either manually by the user or it can be driven by the drive unit in the base 12.
  • ice-releasing lever 18 Coaxially with the semi-cylindrical ice-making container 14, it is rotatably mounted an ice releasing lever 18 for releasing ice from the ice-making container 14.
  • the ice-releasing lever 18 has one end connected with the drive unit and the other hand supported by the ice-making container 14; it is formed with a plurality of ice releasing arms 18a spaced apart at a predetermined interval from one another.
  • the cover 16 is fixed to the lever or auger 18 so that they rotate simultaneously.
  • the cover 16 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 16a which is useful for loading water in the ice-making container 14 and for allowing circulation of cold air under the cover 16 for allowing a quicker formation of the ice cubes having a cross section in the form of a half moon.
  • any movement of the ice maker 10 caused by the movement of the door where it is preferably installed does not cause any spill of water since the internal surface of the tile-shaped cover 16 is in contact with the edges of the tile-shaped container 14.
  • the cover 16 is rotated along arrow R, under the ice-making container, and the lever 18 is rotated as well in order to remove ice cubes from the container 14.
  • the movement of the lever 18 and of the cover 16 can be made independent one from the other as well.
  • the cover 16 is intended to house ice tray and provides a seal so that if non-iced water is present when the icemaker is moved, no water spill occurs.
  • the shape of the cover 16 ensures that when it rotates, any ice formation due to water sprinkled by movement is removed from the housing.
  • the ice maker cover 16 is designed so that ice maker can be placed in areas where it can be subject to movement (for example in the door).
  • figure 3 is shown a modification of the ice maker of figures 1-2 , in which the movement of the ice-releasing lever 18 is driven manually by a knob 20.
  • the cilyndrical shape of the ice maker according to the embodiment shown in figures 1-3 is particuarly useful for a mounting in a reduced space as in a counter-door of a freezer compartment.
  • the base 112 is integral with the cover 116 and contains a drive unit 115.
  • the ice-making container 114 is rotatably mounted below the cover 116 and presents a plurality of half moon shaped cavities 117 for forming ice cubes.
  • the ice-making container 114 is made of flexible material so that it can be warped in order to cause the detachment of ice cubes.
  • FIG 7 it is shown a configuration of the ice maker 110 in which the edges of the ice-making container 114, rindicated with reference numerals 114a, are in a water-tight contact with a cilyndrical internal surface 116b of the cover 116.
  • the cover 116 is intended to serve as support for ice maker components and to provide a seal so that if non iced water is present when the icemaker is moved, the water will not come out of the ice-making container.
  • FIG 8 it is shown a second configuration of the ice maker 110 in which the drive unit 115 has caused a predetermined rotation of the ice-making container 114.
  • the drive unit 115 has caused a predetermined rotation of the ice-making container 114.
  • an end of the container 114 opposite to the drive unit abuts a corresponding end portions of the cover 116 so that any further rotation of the drive unit 115 causes a warp or twist of the ice-making container as shown in dotted lines in figure 8 .
  • This warping of the container causes the fall of ice cubes from the ice-making container 114.
  • the ice maker 110 can also have a knob 120 ( figure 6 ) for rotating the ice-making container and warping it in order to discharge ice cubes.
  • the realization of the ice maker according to the invention is flexible enough to provide fixation points to be placed anywhere inside a refrigerated compartment or to be part of a sub-assembly in order to facilitate fixation.

Description

  • The present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigeration appliance. More particularly, it relates to an ice maker comprising a frame adapted to be mounted in the refrigeration appliance, an ice-making container supported by the frame, and an ice-releasing system for separating the formed ice from the ice-making container.
  • US2006/086135 A1 describes an ice maker for refrigerators provided with a cover hinged to water container, which is forced to an open position when water is filled and which rests in a closed position until ice is formed. When the cover is closed the ice maker becomes a water tight container.
  • Ice makers are well known in the technical field of domestic refrigeration appliances. They are usually installed on a wall of a freezing chamber of the refrigerator (freezer) and therefore they are not subject to movement which could cause spill of water when ice is not already formed in the ice-making container or ice tray. This traditional construction has the drawback of requiring means for conveying ice cubes from the ice maker in the freezing chamber into a storage container in the door of the refrigerator where the user can collect ice from the outside through an ice dispenser. Moreover the traditional location of ice makers requires an automatic water supply device which increases the overall cost of the appliance. Moreover it is clear that the installation in the cavity of the freezer of the ice maker reduces the space for storing frozen food. No appliance producer has up to now proposed a mounting of the ice maker in a door of the freezer, mainly because the movement of the door during opening and closing thereof could cause water spill from the ice maker when the ice is not already formed.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an ice maker of the type mentioned at the beginning of the description which can be installed within the door of the appliance without any water spill problems. Another object is to provide an ice maker having a low cost since it does not need automatic and costly water supply devices. A further object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker which can easily work either with an automatic or manual drive system for removing ice from the ice-making container.
  • The above objects are reached thanks to the features listed in the appended claims.
  • The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • figure 1 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to a first embodiment of the invention;
    • figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the ice maker of figure 1;
    • figure 3 is a perspective view similar to figure 2 and shows a variant of the ice maker of figures 1-2;
    • figure 4 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to a second embodiment of the invention;
    • figure 5 is a partially exploded view of the ice maker of figure 5;
    • figure 6 is a perspective view similar to figure 4 and shows a variant of the ice maker of figure 4-5;
    • figure 7 is a cross sectional view along line VII-VII of figure 4; and
    • figure 8 is a cross sectional view similar to figure 7 and shows the ice maker in a configuration in which the ice is discharged from the ice maker.
  • With reference to figure 1, with 10 is indicated an ice maker having a base 12, an ice-making container 14 and a cover 16. According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the base 12 contains a drive unit and can be mounted in a cantilevered way to a wall of a door of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator (not shown). The ice-making container 14, which is fixed to the base 12, has an a semi-circular or half moon cross section and is formed of metal or polymeric material. The cover 16 has a semi-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the ice-making container 14, and it is rotatably mounted on the ice-making container so that it can assume a first configuration (shown in figure 1) where it covers in a water-tight manner the ice-making container 14, and, by rotation along the arrow R in figure 1, a second configuration below the ice-making container 14, so that ice cubes can be removed from the ice-making container 14. The rotation of the cover 16 can be done either manually by the user or it can be driven by the drive unit in the base 12.
  • Coaxially with the semi-cylindrical ice-making container 14, it is rotatably mounted an ice releasing lever 18 for releasing ice from the ice-making container 14. The ice-releasing lever 18 has one end connected with the drive unit and the other hand supported by the ice-making container 14; it is formed with a plurality of ice releasing arms 18a spaced apart at a predetermined interval from one another. The cover 16 is fixed to the lever or auger 18 so that they rotate simultaneously.
  • The cover 16 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 16a which is useful for loading water in the ice-making container 14 and for allowing circulation of cold air under the cover 16 for allowing a quicker formation of the ice cubes having a cross section in the form of a half moon.
  • Once the ice-making container 14 has been filled with water, any movement of the ice maker 10 caused by the movement of the door where it is preferably installed does not cause any spill of water since the internal surface of the tile-shaped cover 16 is in contact with the edges of the tile-shaped container 14. Once the ice is formed, the cover 16 is rotated along arrow R, under the ice-making container, and the lever 18 is rotated as well in order to remove ice cubes from the container 14. Of course the movement of the lever 18 and of the cover 16 can be made independent one from the other as well. The cover 16 is intended to house ice tray and provides a seal so that if non-iced water is present when the icemaker is moved, no water spill occurs.
  • The shape of the cover 16 ensures that when it rotates, any ice formation due to water sprinkled by movement is removed from the housing. The ice maker cover 16 is designed so that ice maker can be placed in areas where it can be subject to movement (for example in the door).
  • In figure 3 is shown a modification of the ice maker of figures 1-2, in which the movement of the ice-releasing lever 18 is driven manually by a knob 20.
  • The cilyndrical shape of the ice maker according to the embodiment shown in figures 1-3 is particuarly useful for a mounting in a reduced space as in a counter-door of a freezer compartment.
  • In figures 4 and 5 it is shown a second embodiment of the ice maker according to the invention. Similar components of such embodiment are indicated with the same reference numerals of the first embodiment incremented by 100. According to figures 4 and 5, the base 112 is integral with the cover 116 and contains a drive unit 115. The ice-making container 114 is rotatably mounted below the cover 116 and presents a plurality of half moon shaped cavities 117 for forming ice cubes. The ice-making container 114 is made of flexible material so that it can be warped in order to cause the detachment of ice cubes. In figure 7 it is shown a configuration of the ice maker 110 in which the edges of the ice-making container 114, rindicated with reference numerals 114a, are in a water-tight contact with a cilyndrical internal surface 116b of the cover 116. In this configuration, which allows a water loading through the longitudinal slot 116a, any movement of the ice maker 110 does not cause any water spill. The cover 116 is intended to serve as support for ice maker components and to provide a seal so that if non iced water is present when the icemaker is moved, the water will not come out of the ice-making container. The shape of the cover 116 ensures that when the ice tray rotates, any ice formation due to water sprinkled by movement is removed from the housing. In figure 8 it is shown a second configuration of the ice maker 110 in which the drive unit 115 has caused a predetermined rotation of the ice-making container 114. In this configuration an end of the container 114 opposite to the drive unit abuts a corresponding end portions of the cover 116 so that any further rotation of the drive unit 115 causes a warp or twist of the ice-making container as shown in dotted lines in figure 8. This warping of the container causes the fall of ice cubes from the ice-making container 114.
  • Instead of having a drive unit, the ice maker 110 according to the second embodiment of the invention can also have a knob 120 (figure 6) for rotating the ice-making container and warping it in order to discharge ice cubes.
  • The realization of the ice maker according to the invention is flexible enough to provide fixation points to be placed anywhere inside a refrigerated compartment or to be part of a sub-assembly in order to facilitate fixation.

Claims (9)

  1. Ice maker adapted to be mounted a refrigeration appliance, comprising an ice-making container (14, 114) and an ice-releasing system (18, 18a, 20, 115, 120) for separating the formed ice from the ice-making container (14, 114), the ice-making container (14, 114) is provided with a substantially water-tight cover (16, 116) for preventing a water spill when ice is not already formed in the ice-making container (14, 114). characterised in that the cover (16) has a semi-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the ice-making container (14), the cover 16 is also provided with a longitudinal slot (16a,116a) allowing a quicker formation of the ice cubes having a cross section in the form of a half moon.
  2. Ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (16) is rotatably mounted on the ice-making container, the ice-releasing system comprises an ice release lever (18, 18a) the ice releasing lever (18,18a) is rotatably mounted coaxially with the semi-cylindrical ice-making container (14) and the cover (16) is fixed to the lever (18) so that they rotate simultaneously.
  3. Ice maker according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cover (16) is adapted to assume by rotation a closed configuration in which the ice-making container (14) and the cover (16) form a cylindrical assembly and an open configuration in which the cover (16) is substantially under the ice-making container (14).
  4. Ice maker according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the ice maker comprises a drive unit (12) for providing power for driving the ice release lever (18, 18a) and/or for driving the rotating cover (16).
  5. Ice maker according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the ice release lever (18, 18a) comprises a knob-shaped end (20) for manually rotating the lever (18, 18a).
  6. Ice maker according to claim 1, characterised in that the ice releasing system comprises a movable and deformable ice-making container (114).
  7. Ice maker according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a drive unit (115) for providing power for driving of the ice-making container (114)
  8. Ice maker according to claim 6, characterised in that the movable and deformable ice-making container (114) is adapted to be rotated manually.
  9. Ice maker according to any of claims 6-8, characterised in that the ice-making container (114) can be rotated between a first horizontal position and a second position in which one end of the container (114) abuts a corresponding portion of a supporting frame (112) and the other end is driven by a predetermined torque so that the ice-making container (114) undergoes a predetermined degree of warping.
EP06115099.1A 2006-06-07 2006-06-07 Ice maker Not-in-force EP1865276B1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06115099.1A EP1865276B1 (en) 2006-06-07 2006-06-07 Ice maker
PL06115099T PL1865276T3 (en) 2006-06-07 2006-06-07 Ice maker
BRPI0712057-5A BRPI0712057A2 (en) 2006-06-07 2007-05-30 ice maker
MX2008015672A MX2008015672A (en) 2006-06-07 2007-05-30 Ice maker.
PCT/EP2007/055243 WO2007141170A2 (en) 2006-06-07 2007-05-30 Ice maker
US12/303,631 US20100229590A1 (en) 2006-06-07 2007-05-30 Ice Maker

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06115099.1A EP1865276B1 (en) 2006-06-07 2006-06-07 Ice maker

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1865276A1 EP1865276A1 (en) 2007-12-12
EP1865276B1 true EP1865276B1 (en) 2013-09-04

Family

ID=37074185

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06115099.1A Not-in-force EP1865276B1 (en) 2006-06-07 2006-06-07 Ice maker

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20100229590A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1865276B1 (en)
BR (1) BRPI0712057A2 (en)
MX (1) MX2008015672A (en)
PL (1) PL1865276T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2007141170A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101622595B1 (en) * 2008-11-19 2016-05-19 엘지전자 주식회사 Ice maker and refrigerator having the same and ice making method thereof
KR101659006B1 (en) * 2009-10-26 2016-09-30 엘지전자 주식회사 Ice maker for refrigerator and refrigerator having the same
WO2011105791A2 (en) * 2010-02-23 2011-09-01 Lg Electronics Inc. Ice maker, refrigerator having the same, and method for supplying ice thereof
CN102353193B (en) * 2011-09-02 2013-07-03 合肥美的荣事达电冰箱有限公司 Ice maker and refrigerator
DE102017211714A1 (en) * 2017-07-10 2019-01-10 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Ice maker for a domestic refrigerator with a Ausschiebeeinheit and a twisting device, and household refrigeration appliance and method
CN111336730A (en) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-26 青岛海尔股份有限公司 Ice maker and refrigerator with same
CN111336729A (en) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-26 青岛海尔股份有限公司 Ice maker and refrigerator with same
US11002476B2 (en) * 2019-04-01 2021-05-11 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Ice maker having a splash cover

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100202064B1 (en) * 1996-08-31 1999-06-15 전주범 Ice tray removing apparatus of ice maker
US5992167A (en) * 1998-04-07 1999-11-30 Varity Automotive Inc. Ice maker
KR100389389B1 (en) * 2000-08-07 2003-06-27 주식회사 엘지이아이 The ice-making unit for refrigerators
EP1482261B1 (en) * 2003-05-28 2014-01-01 LG Electronics, Inc. Ice supply system
US7628030B2 (en) * 2004-10-26 2009-12-08 Whirlpool Corporation Water spillage management for in the door ice maker
US7437885B2 (en) 2004-10-26 2008-10-21 Whirlpool Corporation Water spillage management for in the door ice maker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007141170A3 (en) 2008-04-03
EP1865276A1 (en) 2007-12-12
MX2008015672A (en) 2009-01-12
BRPI0712057A2 (en) 2011-12-20
PL1865276T3 (en) 2013-12-31
WO2007141170A2 (en) 2007-12-13
US20100229590A1 (en) 2010-09-16

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