EP2318789A1

EP2318789A1 - Refrigeration device having an ice-cube maker

Info

Publication number: EP2318789A1
Application number: EP08803418A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Howe; Songtao Lu; Alexander Rupp; Lisheng Zhang
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2008-08-26
Filing date: 2008-08-29
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Also published as: CN102132113A; US20100050677A1; US20110138843A1; WO2010022794A1; CN101660856A; DE102008041568A1; CN102132113B

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device (1), in particular for domestic use, having an ice-cube maker (9), comprising a collection container (10) for the pieces of ice produced, which collection container can be removed from the refrigeration device (1), and an ice-cube production apparatus (14) which is associated with the collection container (10). In order to provide a refrigeration device (1) having a wider range of possible uses, the invention proposes arranging a cover (16), which blocks access to the ice-cube production apparatus (14) at the front, such that it is offset toward the rear in relation to a panel (15) of the collection container (10). The cover (16) which is offset toward the rear and a support surface (20) which is arranged in front of the cover (16) and is situated above the collection container (10) create, in particular, a freely accessible storage space (19) for additional products to be refrigerated.

Description

Refrigerating appliance with an ice cube maker

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigerating appliance with an ice cube maker, comprising a removable container for ice pieces produced from the refrigerating appliance and an ice cube generating device associated with the collecting container.

From EP 1 798 500 A2 an ice cube maker of a refrigerator for household purposes is known. The local ice cube maker has a collecting container for finished pieces of ice. The collecting container is designed substantially cuboid with a bottom, two side walls, and a front end wall and a rear end wall. The opposite the bottom free edges of the side walls and end walls limit frame-like a rectangular throw opening can fall over the pieces of ice from an ice cube maker into the receptacle. The ice cube generating device is arranged substantially above the collecting container, or above the plane of the insertion opening. The ice cube generating device extends substantially along the free edge of the rear end wall and protrudes partially from the rear end wall to the insertion opening towards the front and from the rear end wall to the rear.

As can be seen from KR 2003-0087852 A, a known ice cube maker on a front panel, which is integrally formed and front of the ice cube maker both on the front side end of the collection container, as well as in the plane of the front end side of the collection container. extends at a considerable distance in front of the ice cube maker.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration device with extended utilization options.

The object is achieved by a refrigeration device with the features of claim 1.

By a front of the access to the ice cube generating device obstructing cover is set back relative to a diaphragm of the collecting container, an unused aggregate space of the refrigerator is accessible to a user, so that the aggregate space is a utility space. Without restrictions for the functionality onsfähigkeit the refrigerator is thereby increases the usable refrigerator. Due to the recessed arrangement of the cover of the ice cube generating device, the collecting container or the aperture of the collecting container clearly against their environment ie against the cover of the ice cube maker and the inner container of the refrigerator from, so that a visually improved appearance is achieved and improves accessibility to the collecting container is. An observer can better perceive the collecting container and access the collecting container more intuitively, for example in order to open it for removing ice pieces and to remove it completely from the refrigerating appliance, for example, for cleaning purposes.

A compact design of the ice cube maker increases the useful volume in the interior of the refrigerator. The inventive recessed arrangement of the access to the ice cube generating device front obstructing cover against the diaphragm of the collecting container an additional usable space is created. Such an additional useful space is not present or usable in refrigeration systems according to the state of the art, since a cover arranged in the usual way at the front obstructs the free space behind the cover and thus leaves it unused. In addition, results from the inventive recessed arrangement of the cover, a favorable visual appearance. This is based on the fact that the collecting container or the aperture in front of the collecting container, due to the set-back cover, stands out optically from the housing of the refrigerating appliance in a particularly delimited manner.

An allocation of the ice cube generating device to the collecting container is effected by the spatial arrangement of the ice cube generating device in the region of the rear end face of the collecting container in a plane lying above the collecting container. The ice cube generating device extends substantially along a free edge of the rear end wall of the collecting container and protrudes partially from the rear end wall to an insertion opening towards the front and from the rear end wall to the rear and partially downwards.

In connection with the invention is to be understood as a front side a local situation, which faces the refrigerator door. At the back is one of them repellent local

Able to understand, namely a remote from the refrigerator door position, ie a Rear wall of the refrigerator facing side. The rear wall of the refrigerator is usually associated with a condenser device of the refrigeration cycle.

The fact that the cover is arranged set back relative to a diaphragm of the collecting container can be understood to mean that the cover can be set back out of the plane of a flat diaphragm of the collecting container, in particular set back into a parallel plane.

The ice cube maker may optionally produce whole ice cubes or smaller pieces of ice. Ice cubes are also understood to mean pieces of ice which have a shape deviating from the cube shape, such as, for example, a spherical, hemispherical, disk-shaped or semicircular disk-shaped shape.

Due to the set-back cover and a front side of the cover arranged and lying over the collecting tray surface can be created a freely accessible storage space for refrigerated goods. It has been found that a zurückversetzen the cover is possible because the pieces of ice produced by the ice cube making fall into a very narrow rear portion of the throw opening into the receptacle and the vast majority, especially the front part of the insertion opening of the collecting container during operation The ice pieces are not needed at all. So that the ice cubes are not in the collecting container with an open throw-in opening, the section of the throw-in opening which becomes freely accessible due to the return movement of the cover is covered by a depositing surface. The shelf can be formed by an upper wall of a drawer-like receiving housing for the drawer-like collecting container. Alternatively, the shelf can be formed by a simple flat lid, which is, for example, placed on the receptacle. Despite the staggered arrangement of the cover with respect to the diaphragm of the collecting container, the cover with the diaphragm can be formed in one piece. The one-piece design may also include the shelf. Thus, the cover can be formed, for example, of a doubly angled plate together with the panel and the shelf. This shaped plate can be formed, for example, by a plastic component with two L-shaped rectangular and step-like designed moldings. The cover can also be formed separately from the aperture and storage surface. For this purpose, between the storage surface and an upper container wall of the refrigeration device, a channel can be limited, over which the cover of the ice cube maker can be removed and used. The collecting container or the drawer-like receiving housing for the drawer-like collecting container is arranged at such a distance from the inner container of the refrigerating appliance, so that a freely accessible channel is formed, through which the cover can be removed and inserted. The removal of the cover may, for example, be made for cleaning purposes of the ice cube making device or be necessary for reasons of repair or maintenance of the ice cube generating device. The ice cube maker is only accessible by hand after the cover has been removed. With the cover inserted, the existence of which should be ensured during the operation of the refrigerator, intervention in the ice cube maker with the hand of a user is reliably prevented. Instead of being completely removable and reusable, the cover can also be opened and closed, for example by a door-like pivoting mounting of the cover in the channel between the storage surface and the upper container wall of the refrigerator.

The storage surface can be connected on the one hand for common removal with the collecting container with this. For this purpose, the storage area together with the cover and the aperture form a one-piece component. This means that the storage area is at least connected to the panel is thus removed when removing the panel together with the collecting container. Alternatively, the storage surface may be provided directly on the collecting container. For this purpose, the storage surface can be fixedly mounted on the collecting container or, for example, be pivotably mounted on this. The storage surface then forms a cover for the insertion opening of the collecting container.

On the other hand, the storage surface can be firmly installed in the refrigeration device and the collecting container can be removed from the refrigeration device and used separately from the storage surface. Thus, the storage area can be formed together with cover as a one-piece component, without including the aperture of the collecting container with. Such a one-piece component of storage surface and cover can be mounted or stored on the inner container of the refrigerator. However, the shelf can also be part of a drawer-like receiving housing for a drawer-like receptacle. It can the storage surface may be formed by an upper wall of the drawer-like receiving housing or the storage surface may be placed on top of the upper wall.

In all embodiments, the storage surface can be formed by a heat-insulating wall section. This heat-insulating wall section may, for example, have a layer of foamed polystyrene, polyurethane or even a vacuum insulation panel. The heat-insulating wall section can also be formed in a simple manner only by two spaced-apart walls, which include one or more hollow chambers. The embodiments of the storage surface as a heat-insulating wall section prevents warm air, which penetrates into the interior of the refrigerator after opening the refrigerator door, can get into the receptacle and there could possibly melt the stored ice cubes.

Alternatively, in all embodiments, the support surface can be formed by a heat-conducting, in particular metallic wall section. Due to the configurations of the storage surface as a heat-conducting wall portion, the cold can be passed from the collecting container to the top of the storage surface, so that a particularly good cooling of goods can be ensured, which are placed on the storage surface of the inventively created storage space.

In general, the cover which closes off the front side of the access to the ice cube production device can be designed as a cover component which is separate from the cover of the collecting container.

In the embodiment as a separate cover component, the cover component can be held on retaining tabs of two opposite side walls of a drawer-like receiving housing of the collecting container.

The separate cover component can, for example, be fastened or mounted on two opposite retaining straps. The retaining tabs may be attached to two opposite side walls of a drawer-like receptacle housing for a drawer-like receptacle. The retaining tabs protrude beyond the top of the drawer-like receiving housing. The retaining tabs carry fastening means for fixing the cover. The fastening means can be, for example, latching elements on the retaining tabs which, in cooperation with counter-latching elements on the cover, ensure attachment or storage of the cover. Instead of a rigid attachment, the cover may also be movable, in particular pivotally mounted on the sheath pockets.

The cover can also be held on inner walls of the refrigerator, in particular on walls of the inner container. With such a mounting or mounting of the cover component, the cover component can be held in the same construction as in the retaining tabs of a drawer-like receiving housing on inner walls of the refrigerator, in particular on walls of the inner container. This is particularly useful if the collecting container is not performed in a drawer-like receiving housing, but in simple rails in the refrigerator.

In the other embodiment as a separate cover component, the cover can be held on the collecting container and be removed and used with this. Thus, the side walls of the collecting container in the form of retaining tabs can be further pulled up and the cover, as described, attached to these retaining tabs of the collection container or stored.

An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to an ice cube maker exemplified in the figures in a refrigerator for household purposes. From the detailed description of the specific embodiment, there are also other general features and advantages of the present invention.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance for household use with an ice cube maker;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the refrigeration appliance for household purposes

Fig. 1 with an ice cube maker according to the invention and a set back, the access to the ice cube generating device front obstructing cover; Figure 3 shows a section through the perspective partial view of the refrigerator after

Fig. 2 with the ice cube maker according to the invention and the set back, the access to the ice cube generating device front obstructing cover;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ice cube maker of Figure 3 in isolation.

5 shows a sectional view of the ice cube maker according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

A refrigerator 1 according to FIG. 1 has a thermally insulated housing cabinet 2, which is divided by means of a partition wall 3 into a refrigerator 4 shown on the right in the figure and into a freezer compartment 5 shown on the left in the figure. The refrigerator 4 is closed by a first door 6 and the freezer compartment 5 by a second door 7. The second door 7 of the freezer compartment 5 has an output unit 8 for optionally whole ice cubes or crushed pieces of ice or ice snow. The ice cubes are produced in an ice cube maker 9, which is arranged above in the interior of the freezer compartment 5 and ejects finished ice cubes on a lower side of the ice cube maker 9. The ice cubes fall from above an ice cube making device 14 into a collecting container 10 for temporary storage. If necessary, the ice cubes can be conveyed out of the collecting container 10 at a lower opening 11 of the collecting container 10 located at the front and fall outward via a discharge chute 12 provided on the inside of the second door 7 on the front side of the second door 7. In particular, for cleaning purposes, the collecting container 10 from a receiving housing 13 of the freezer compartment 5 from the refrigeration device 1 can be removed. The collecting container 10 is front panel 15 associated with an aperture. The ice cube maker 14 is associated with a cover 16.

2, the panel 15 and the cover 16 are shown in a perspective partial view of the refrigeration appliance 1 for household purposes according to FIG. 1 with an ice cube maker 9 according to the invention and a set-back cover 16, the access to the ice cube maker 14 (FIG. 3) at the front , The complete ice cube maker 9 is arranged between an outer wall 17 of the housing cabinet 2 and the partition wall 3 at an upper position in the refrigeration device 1. The collecting container 10 is covered by the front panel 15. The aperture 15 is as a flat plate with rectangular contour formed. From the plane of the diaphragm 15 inwards, that is offset into the plane of the drawing, the cover 16 is shown partially concealed. The cover 16 is provided with narrow opening slots 18. Due to the illustrated recessed arrangement of the cover 16, a storage space 19 is created on the one hand and, on the other hand, a storage area 20 is created on which refrigerated goods can be stored freely accessible. The storage surface 20 is formed by a ceiling surface of the receiving housing 13. By an upper container wall 21 of the housing cabinet 2 between the outer wall 17 and the partition wall 3 and the support surface 20, a channel 22 is limited, over which the cover 16 can be removed from its rear offset position by hand. With the cover 16 removed, the ice cube maker 14 is accessible from the outside via the channel 22.

In Fig. 3, the position of the ice cube maker 14 behind the cover 16 is clearly shown. Shown is a section through the perspective partial view of the refrigerator 1 according to FIG. 2 with the ice cube maker 9 according to the invention and the rearwardly arranged cover 16, which obstructs access to the ice cube maker 14 at the front. The ice cube maker 9 has the receiver 10 for ready-made pieces of ice. The collecting container 10 is designed substantially parallelepiped with a bottom 10a, two side walls 10b and 10c, and a front end wall 10d and a rear end wall 10e. The free edges of the side walls 10b, 10c and end walls 10d, 10e, which are opposite the bottom 10a, can frame-likely define a rectangular insertion opening 23 to fall into the collecting container 10 via the ice pieces from an ice cube forming device 14. The ice cube generating device 14 is arranged substantially above the collecting container 10, or above the plane of the throw-in opening 23. The ice cube maker 14 extends substantially along the free edge of the rear end wall 10e and protrudes partially from the rear end wall 10e to the insertion opening 23 towards the front and from the rear end wall 10e to the rear. The ice cubes fall in an area between the front side of the ice cube generating device 14 and the back of the cover 16 via the throw-in opening 23 into the collecting container 10. The collecting container 10 carries the front panel 15. The drawer-like collecting container 10 is guided in a drawer-like receiving housing 13. In Fig. 3, the cover 16 with the two narrow opening slots 18 is shown more clearly. 4, the ice cube maker 9 is shown in FIG. 3 in isolation. The Einwürfelbereiter 9 has the drawer-like receiving housing 13. The receiving housing 13 is cuboid shaped with a front-side, protruding from the plane of the drawing front opening 24 with a rectangular cross-section. About the front opening 24 of the collecting container 10 is drawer-like inserted into the receiving housing 13. The front-side end wall 10d of the collecting container 10 carries the panel 15. The receiving housing 13 has on its two side walls 13b, 13c in each case an attachment point 25 on which the receiving housing 13 on the outer wall 17 and the partition wall 3 of the housing cabinet 2 (FIG. to attach. The attachment point 25 are formed as a dome-like projecting female threaded bushes, which as shown, can be made in one piece with the receiving housing 13 made of plastic by injection molding. On each of the two side walls 13b, 13c, a retaining tab 26a, 26b is respectively secured to the receiving housing 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining tabs 26a, 26b are integrally formed directly on the receiving housing 13 made of plastic one piece. The retaining tabs 26a, 26b project upwardly in a fin-like manner over the support surface 20. The retaining tabs 26a, 26b are formed as thin wall portions of the receiving housing 13, which extend in the plane of the side walls 13b, 13c perpendicular to the top and tapered at their upper ends wedge-shaped. At the end portion in the region of the tip of the wedge-shaped tapering ends of the retaining tabs 26a, 26b, a respective latching element 27a, 27b is provided. The cover 16 has the counter-locking elements 28. The counter-latching elements 28 are arranged on opposite edges of the cover 16. The counter-latching elements 28 engage in the corresponding latching element 27a, 27b and thereby hold the cover 16 in its position on the receiving housing 13 in front of the ice cube generating device 14 and set back relative to the diaphragm 15, ie offset in the plane of the drawing back inside. The latching element 27a, 27b and the counter-latching elements 28 form a fastening means on the retaining tabs 26a, 26b, which ensure an attachment or storage of the cover 16 in a relation to the diaphragm 15 back staggered position.

In Fig. 5, the mutual positions of the cover 16 and aperture 15 are again illustrated in a sectional view of the ice cube maker of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in the installed state. The ice cube production device 14 is predominantly behind, that is, in FIG. 5, placed predominantly to the left of the rear end wall 10e of the collecting container 10. At the same time, the ice cube maker 14 is predominantly above the level of the insertion opening 23 of the collecting container 10 is placed. Furthermore, a spout 29 can be formed on the collecting container 10, which widen the insertion opening 23 below the ice cube forming device 14. The predominantly front part, shown on the right in FIG. 5, the insertion opening 23 of the collecting container 10 is covered by the storage surface 20. The storage surface 20 may be formed like a hollow chamber. Between the storage surface 20 and the upper container wall 21 of the housing cabinet 2, the channel 22 is formed. Set back from the plane of the diaphragm 15 inwardly, so set back in Fig. 5 from a right side of the diaphragm 15 in a central region of Fig. 5, the cover 16 is arranged. The cover 16 is detachably attached to the retaining tabs 26a, 26b, for example. The opening slots 18 are formed by gill-like deep-drawn wall portions of the cover 16. The opening slots 18 can be made by stamping a sheet metal part or by molding in the course of injection molding of a plastic part. Through the opening slots 18, an air circulation between the ice cube maker 14 and storage space 19 is made possible. Between the aperture 15 and receptacle 10, a crushing device 30 and the lower opening 11 may be arranged for ejection of whole ice cubes or crushed pieces of ice.

Claims

claims

1. Refrigeration appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance with an ice cube maker (9), comprising a removable from the refrigerator (1) collecting container (10) for pieces of ice produced and the collecting container (10) associated with ice cube generating device (14), one of the access to the ice cube maker (14) front side obstructing cover (16) opposite to a diaphragm (15) of the collecting container (10) is set back.

2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that by the recessed cover (16) and a front side of the cover (16) arranged and over the collecting container (10) lying storage area (20) limits a freely accessible storage space (19) for refrigerated goods becomes.

3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that between the storage surface (20) and an upper container wall (21) of the refrigeration device (1) a channel (22) is limited, via which the cover (16) of the Eiswürfelerzeugungsvorrich- device ( 14) can be taken and used.

4. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the storage surface (20) for common removal with the collecting container (10) is connected thereto.

5. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the depositing surface (20) fixedly installed in the refrigeration device (1) and the collecting container (10) separated from the storage surface (20) from the refrigeration device (1) to remove and insert is.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the support surface (20) is formed by a heat insulating wall section.

7. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the support surface (20) is formed by a heat-conducting, in particular metallic wall section.

8. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the access to the ice cube generating device (14) front closing cover (16) as one of the aperture (15) of the collecting container (10) separate cover member is formed.

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover member to retaining tabs (26 a, 26 b) of two opposite side walls (13 b, 13 c) of a drawer-like receiving housing (13) of the collecting container (10) is held.

10. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (16) held on the collecting container (10) and can be removed and used with this.