EP2626656B1 - Ice maker with a manually operable lever and domestic refrigeration appliance comprising such an ice maker - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an ice maker for producing pieces of ice, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a household refrigeration appliance with such an ice maker.

the EP 1 857 750 A1 describes a refrigeration device with a heat-insulating housing and an ice maker mounted in an interior space of the housing, which includes a frame and at least one container that can be pulled out of the frame. The frame is housed in a compartment in the interior that can be closed by a flap, and the flap has a recess through which the container can be pulled out when the flap is in the closed position. A rotary knob of the ice maker, which is used to rotate an ice mold container directly, is accessible through the recess of the flap when the flap is closed.

the WO 2007/091875 A1 describes an ice maker for a refrigerator. The ice maker is installed in a refrigerated goods drawer so that pieces of ice can be produced solely by the cold air circulating in the refrigerator. The ice maker includes a water tank provided on a receiving box of the ice maker. The water tank has a water storage space and at least one outlet via which the water can flow from the water storage space into a mold shell, so that the pieces of ice can be produced from the water that has flowed in. The water tank has two valve tappets, which each close or open one of the two outlets. The ice maker has two molds, each of which can be turned manually using a rotary knob.

U.S. 2011/0011116 A1 discloses an ice maker comprising first and second ice maker trays. The icemaker includes a rotary assembly for rotating and rotating the first and second ice maker trays. The rotary assembly is attached to an ice machine body and includes a manipulating lever and a plurality of gears. The gears include a drive gear and two driven gears, each driven gear being coupled to one of the ice maker trays. When the manipulation lever is rotated, the drive wheel is driven, which in turn drives the driven gears so that the ice maker bowls are rotated.

WO 2008/143451 A1 discloses an ice maker having a rotary lever connected to a drive wheel. The drive wheel is coupled to two driven gears, which in turn are each coupled to an ice maker tray. The ice maker bowls are twisted as soon as the rotation lever is operated.

WO 2009/072794 A1 discloses an ice maker having a lever connected to a power transmission unit. The power transmission unit includes a lever-side drive gear engaged with a connecting gear. The link gear is coupled to upper and lower ice maker bowl gears. The ice maker tray gears are in turn coupled to an upper and lower ice maker tray, respectively. The ice maker bowls are twisted as soon as the lever is operated.

U.S. 2007/0283714 A1 discloses an ice maker having a lever mounted on and driving a shaft of a lower ice maker bowl. A first connecting wheel is also arranged on the shaft and is in engagement with a second connecting wheel. The second link wheel is coupled to a third link wheel. The third link wheel is disposed on a shaft of an upper ice maker bowl. The ice maker bowls are twisted as soon as the lever is operated.

DE 10 2009 046 020 A1 discloses an ice maker with a tray that is suspended in at least one frame such that it can pivot and twist about an axis, the tray being coupled to a drive via a gear with a variable transmission ratio depending on the position.

The object of the invention is to specify an ice maker and a household refrigeration appliance with such an ice maker that can be used easily and reliably by a user in a manual manner.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims. Proposed is an ice maker for making ice cubes, having a

Device for producing the ice cubes, an ice cube mold tray mounted pivotably in the device between a filling position and an ejection position and having at least one ice cube mold recess, a water tank for filling the at least one ice cube mold recess with water, and a storage device for storing the ice cubes ejected from the ice cube mold tray, the ice maker has a lever to be operated manually and a gear which couples the lever to the pivotably mounted ice cube mold and which transmits a movement of the lever to the ice cube mold, the gear being designed so that the gear introduced by manual actuation of the lever rotates around an axis of rotation of the Lever-acting drive torque in a the ice piece mold shell pivoting to implement the pivot axis of the ice piece mold shell acting drive torque, characterized in that the lever about one of the pivot axis of the ice piece mold shell e deviating, in particular perpendicular to the pivot axis of the ice cube tray, is pivotably mounted.

The device for producing the ice cubes is essentially formed by a housing, a frame or a similar holding device on which the at least one ice cube mold tray is pivotably mounted. In the filling position of the at least one ice-piece mold shell, unfrozen water from the water tank can be filled into the ice-piece mold recesses, so that each ice-piece mold recess is filled with water. Since, in the preferred embodiment, the entire ice maker is located in a freezer compartment of the household refrigeration appliance, the water present in the ice cube mold recesses can freeze independently to form ice cubes simply because of the cold of well below zero degrees Celsius in the freezer compartment, without the ice maker requiring its own refrigeration device. In particular, the ice maker can be designed completely without an electric drive. The ice maker can be purely mechanical, so that it can be actuated solely by manual actuation by a person using it. In particular one According to the invention, the at least one ice cube mold is pivoted mechanically, ie manually by a user. Electric drives in particular are not necessary and/or not provided.

By means of the lever according to the invention, a user can pivot the at least one ice cube mold tray from its filling position into an ejection position in which the completely frozen ice cubes can fall out into the storage device for storage, or can be ejected. The ice cube mold shell can have an elasticity that allows the ice cube mold shell to be twisted by a necessary angular degree, so that the ice cube mold recesses deform accordingly in order to push out the frozen pieces of ice. The pieces of ice can then automatically fall down into the storage device under the influence of gravity.

The lever according to the invention is designed to be actuated manually by a user, with the transmission being designed to convert a movement of the lever into a pivoting movement of the ice cube mold tray. To this extent, the hand movement of the user then differs from the pivoting movement of the ice cube mold. In other words, the ice cube mold tray is not pivoted directly by the user's hand movement. Rather, at least one in particular separate coupling member is provided between the lever and the ice cube mold tray, which couples the lever to the pivotable ice cube mold tray. The at least one coupling element forms a gear. Depending on the desired embodiment, the gearing can be designed differently in order to be able to convert different types of movements of the lever into a pivoting movement of the ice cube mold tray. In particular, the lever should perform a movement other than a pure rotary movement. It can thus be more ergonomic for a user to carry out a simpler hand movement, such as a pure pulling movement or pushing movement, instead of turning a rotary knob, which puts a lot of strain on the user's wrist. In particular, a pulling or pushing movement can be useful when a high force is to be transferred to the lever. For example, a large number and/or large pieces of frozen ice can be ejected with little manual effort.

The lever can have at least one lever arm, in particular two lever arms. The length of the at least one lever arm enables a high torque to be generated with little effort for a user when actuating the lever. In particular, the lever can be pivoted about an axis of rotation, in the position of which the lever can be actuated by the user by means of a hand movement or arm movement leading essentially from top to bottom. By configuring the lever to be pulled down or pushed down by the user, the ice cube mold tray can be operated with little manual effort.

The gear can have at least one gear transmission element, which translates a pivoting angle of the lever into a different pivoting angle of the ice cube mold tray. The gear can in particular have at least one gear transmission element, which translates a small pivoting angle of the lever into a large pivoting angle of the ice cube mold tray. A small pivoting angle of the lever can be understood as meaning a pivoting angle whose angle is smaller than the pivoting angle of the ice cube mold tray. A large pivoting angle of the ice cube mold can be understood to be a pivoting angle whose angle is greater than the pivoting angle of the lever. In a special embodiment, the pivoting angle of the lever is 90 degrees and the pivoting angle of the ice cube mold is more than 90 degrees, in particular between 100 and 120 degrees, for example 110 degrees. The gearing can therefore not only be designed in such a way that the movement of the lever is transferred to the ice cube mold, but also be designed in such a way to realize a transmission, so that a short movement of the lever can, for example, also completely turn the ice cube mold from its filling position can be realized in the ejection position.

In general, the lever can not only be used to pivot the at least one ice cube mold tray from its filling position to the ejection position, but also to twist an elastic ice cube mold tray by an angular degree, so that the ice cube mold recesses deform accordingly in order to push out the frozen pieces of ice. In particular with regard to such a torsion of the elastic ice cube mold shell, a translation of the pivoting angle from the lever to the ice cube mold shell can be expedient. In that regard can also be provided that a large pivot angle of the lever in a small pivot angle Ice cube mold shell is translated in order to be able to exert a greater torque on the elastic ice cube mold shell.

In one embodiment, the transmission can have a first transmission transmission element, which carries a cam track, and a second transmission transmission element, which carries a cam track follower running along the cam track. To this extent, the gear can be designed as a cam gear. The contour and course of the cam track, in combination with the shape and position of the cam track follower, determines the type of torque transmission and transmission ratio.

The first gear ratio member may be connected to the lever. In particular, the first gear transmission element can be connected to the lever in a torque-proof manner. Alternatively or additionally, the cam track can have a surface that is provided with a slope. The gradient can be continuous in the direction of the axis of rotation of the lever. Alternatively or additionally, the cam track can extend in the shape of a circular arc at an angle around the axis of rotation of the lever. In particular, the cam track can extend continuously in the form of a circular arc at an angle around the axis of rotation of the lever at a distance from the axis of rotation of the lever. The cam track of the gear transmission member can thus be understood as a portion of a worm gear or thread. A changing torque curve and/or a changing translation can be realized via the shape of the cam track in relation to the executed pivoting angle of the lever. The torque curve and/or the translation can also be influenced or constructively controlled via the shape and position of the cam track follower.

The second gear transmission element can be connected to the ice cube tray, in particular non-rotatably connected to the ice cube tray, and have a disk that moves about the axis of rotation of the ice cube tray, from which the cam track follower extends in the direction of the axis of rotation of the ice cube tray at a distance from the axis of rotation of the ice cube tray . The distance of the cam track follower from the axis of rotation of the ice cube mold or the axis of rotation of the disk determines the lever length, which determines the torque acting on the ice cube mold.

The disk can have an elongated hole extending in the shape of a circular arc at an angle around the axis of rotation of the ice cube mold tray, and a pin engaging in the elongated hole can be rigidly fastened to the device. By means of the pin engaging in the elongated hole, the ice cube mold shell can be fixed in its vertical position with respect to a housing of the device. Since the disc rotates from the filling position to the ejection position or from the ejection position back to the filling position when the ice cube mold is pivoted, a circular hole that is adapted to the cross section of the spigot is not sufficient, but the elongated hole must extend over the Pivot angle of the ice cube mold shell extend away, so that the desired movement of the ice cube mold shell is not blocked by the pin.

In one embodiment, the lever can be mounted on the device, in particular on a front cap of the device, and connected to a restoring spring that is supported on the device and is designed to automatically move the lever, which has been manually pivoted into the ejection position of the ice cube tray, back to its starting position in which the ice cube tray is back in the filling position. By manually moving the lever from the filling position to the ejection position of the ice cube tray, the return spring is manually pretensioned. After the user has released the lever, the pretensioned return spring can act on the lever or the ice cube mold in such a way that the lever and the ice cube mold are automatically returned to the starting position, i.e. into the filling position of the ice cube mold, but in particular without the supply of external energy . The lever and/or the ice cube tray can be provided with a damping brake, which prevents the lever from kicking back quickly and undesirably.

The restoring spring can be designed as a torsion spring supported on the device, in particular on a rear wall or on the front cap of the device. For example, the ice cube mold tray can have an axle journal, which is mounted in a hole or a recess of a wall section, in particular a rear wall of a housing of the device, for the pivotable mounting of the ice cube mold tray in the device. The return spring can have a spring coil section and two spring legs. The spring legs can are formed by two protruding wire ends of the spring coil section. The spring coil section can be placed on the axle journal of the ice cube mold tray. One spring leg can be braced against the ice cube mold and the other spring leg can be braced against the housing, in particular a wall section of the device or the rear wall.

Alternatively or additionally, a restoring spring can be arranged between the housing of the device and the lever. In this embodiment, too, the restoring spring can have a spring coil section and two spring legs. The spring legs can also be formed by two protruding wire ends of the spring coil section. One spring leg can be supported against the lever and the other spring leg can be supported against the housing, in particular a wall section of the device or a receptacle of the lever.

As already mentioned, the device for producing the pieces of ice can have a housing with side walls. The water tank can be mounted on their upper edges. Alternatively or additionally, at least one side wall of the housing can be provided with an indentation to form a hand recess, which is designed to expose a bottom section of the water tank for its manual removal. Since a hand recess is formed in at least one side wall of the housing and extends to an upper edge of the housing, a bottom section of the water tank remains accessible despite the water tank being placed on the housing, so that the water tank can be accessed at the same time on its top side and on the exposed bottom section of opposite sides can be gripped manually. If the water tank has a handle, the recessed hand grip can be provided in the area of this handle, so that the handle can be gripped when the water tank is seated on the housing.

The water tank can have a housing that is provided with a reach-through opening. In particular, the water tank can have a housing that is provided with a reach-through opening that lies over an open-edged indentation in a side wall of the housing in a position of the water tank mounted on the upper edges of side walls of a housing of the device for producing the pieces of ice. The hand recess described is so far through the open-edged indentation educated. If the water tank has a handle in the form of a reach-through opening, the recessed hand grip can be provided in the region of this reach-through opening, so that the reach-through opening can be reached through when the water tank is seated on the housing.

For filling the at least one ice cube mold recess, the water tank can have a bottom wall with an opening which can be closed by a tilting valve pivotably mounted on the bottom wall. The water tank is arranged above the ice cube mold tray. The water tank can in particular be mounted on a housing of the ice maker. The water stored in the water tank can flow out of its own accord via the at least one opening due to gravity when the pivotable tilting valve is in its open position. In a closed position of the tilting valve, water is prevented from flowing out of the water tank. The water tank can have two or more openings instead of a single opening. In particular, the water tank can have as many openings as there are rows or columns of ice cube mold recesses in the ice cube mold shell. In one embodiment, the water tank has two openings, each of which can be closed by a separate tilting valve. The tipping valve can have a receiving plate in which an annular seal is mounted, which rests against a protruding edge of the opening in the closed position.

The tipping valve may include a rocker having at least one pivot pin retained in bearing lugs connected to the bottom wall of the water tank. The rocker can be pivoted onto the water tank using the bearing brackets on the water tank. This simplifies the assembly of the tipping valve. The rocker can have a first leg which, in the closed position, rests against the opening of the water tank. The rocker can have a second leg, in particular opposite the first leg. A spring, in particular a leaf spring or spring coil, can spread between the second leg and the bottom wall of the water tank.

The water tank and/or the tipping valve or rocker connected to the water tank can have a spring, in particular a leaf spring or spring coil, which moves the tipping valve, in particular the rocker, into a position that closes the opening biases. The spring, in particular the leaf spring, can be formed in one piece with the tilting valve or the rocker.

In a special embodiment, in other words, an ice cube mold can be rotatably mounted on end faces within the ice maker, with the lever mechanism according to the invention being able to be arranged in a first direction, for example in the area of the drawer front. In the opposite direction, for example in the area of the rear wall of the drawer, a first return spring, in particular a torsion spring, can be arranged, which returns the ice cube mold to an initial position due to a torsional force. A plastic wheel, such as a circular disc, can be arranged on the ice cube mold on the front side in the direction of the drawer front, with the plastic wheel having a nose or a projection and a slot. The elongated hole serves to secure the ice cube mold against snapping out upwards when the lever mechanism is actuated, since the storage of the ice cube mold is open at the top. The nose formed on the plastic wheel is functionally and positively connected to a correspondingly formed cam disk from the lever mechanism, whereby by actuating the lever mechanism the cam disk can move, for example, vertically in the direction of the water tank and the plastic wheel is set in rotation due to a corresponding design of the cam disk, whereby the ice cube mold moves to an end position. In the end position, the ice cube mold collides with a stop on the ice maker in the rear area. If the front area of the ice cube mold is turned further, the ice cube mold twists and the ice cubes are released from the mold and fall into the removal tray. The lever of the lever mechanism can be automatically returned to the starting position by a return spring, in particular a torsion spring.

The ice cube molds are filled via a tank. A drain valve with a leak guard prevents water from dripping out when transporting the water tank, for example from a kitchen faucet to the ice maker in the household refrigeration appliance. The lever mechanism with an inventive causes a deflection of the rotary motion to release the ice cubes from the mold. The ice cube maker is placed as a unit in a shell, such as a refrigerated goods drawer of the household refrigeration appliance. The ice cube maker can be designed to be completely removable by the user.

The lever mechanism allows more force to be exerted on the rotating mechanism of the ice cube mold, for example when there are a large number of ice cubes to be formed. The power transmission through the lever mechanism can be dampened, for example to avoid damage.

The invention also relates to an ice maker in which a modular, removable water tank is provided for filling the ice cube mold. The water tank can have locking lugs which are firmly connected to the ice maker by a snap-lock connection when the water tank is pushed into the slot provided, the snap-lock connections being designed to be detachable by applying appropriate pressure for removal.

The ice maker can have at least one valve between the water tank, in particular the water drainage opening, and the ice cube tray. The valve can be provided with leakage protection and/or sealing lips, which prevent water from leaking out during transport. The valves are arranged on the water tank and can be pivoted in a hook-like fixation. The valves can be kept closed by an integrated leaf spring or spring coil. A tilting mechanism of the valves can be triggered after insertion into the ice maker and the water in the tank can flow into the ice cube mold. The volume of the water tank can be adjusted to the capacity of the ice cube mold.

An embodiment of the invention is shown as an example in the attached schematic drawings.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines beispielhaften Haushaltskältegeräts mit Gefriergutschubladen,

Fig. 2a

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer beispielhaften Gefriergutschublade mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Eisbereiter vor einem Einsetzen des Eisbereiters in die Gefriergutschublade;

Fig. 2b

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Gefriergutschublade gemäß Fig. 2a mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Eisbereiter in einer in die Gefriergutschublade eingesetzten Position;

Fig. 3

eine explodierte Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Eisbereiters;

Fig. 4a

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Hebels des Eisbereiters gemäß Fig. 3 in einer der Befüllungslage der Eisstückeformschale entsprechenden Stellung;

Fig. 4b

eine perspektivische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Hebels des Eisbereiters gemäß Fig. 3 in einer der Auswurflage der Eisstückeformschale entsprechenden Stellung;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische, frei geschnittene Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Getriebes;

Fig. 6a

eine perspektivische, frei geschnittene Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Eisbereiters in der Befüllungslage der Eisstückeformschale;

Fig. 6b

eine perspektivische, frei geschnittene Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Eisbereiters in der Auswurflage der Eisstückeformschale;

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Wassertanks; und

Fig. 8

eine Querschnittsansicht des Wassertanks gemäß Fig. 7 mit einem Kippventil.

Show it:

1

a perspective view of an exemplary household refrigeration appliance with freezer drawers,

Figure 2a

a perspective view of an exemplary frozen goods drawer with an ice maker according to the invention before the ice maker is inserted into the frozen goods drawer;

Figure 2b

a perspective view of the freezer drawer according to FIG Figure 2a with the ice maker according to the invention in a position inserted into the frozen food drawer;

3

an exploded view of the icemaker according to the invention;

Figure 4a

a perspective view of a lever of the ice maker according to the invention 3 in a position corresponding to the filling level of the ice cube mold tray;

Figure 4b

a perspective view of the lever of the ice maker according to the invention 3 in a position corresponding to the ejection position of the ice cube mold tray;

figure 5

a perspective, cut-away view of a transmission according to the invention;

Figure 6a

a perspective, cut-away view of the ice maker according to the invention in the filling position of the ice cube mold tray;

Figure 6b

a perspective, cut-away view of the ice maker according to the invention in the ejection position of the ice cube mold tray;

7

a perspective view of a water tank according to the invention; and

8

a cross-sectional view of the water tank according to FIG 7 with a toggle valve.

the figure 1 shows an exemplary household refrigeration appliance 1 with a refrigerator 3 and a freezer 5. The freezer 5 is set up to cool stored items to a temperature below the freezing point of water, in particular down to a temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius. In the illustrated freezer compartment 5, three freezer drawers 7a, 7b, 7c are arranged as an example so that they can be pulled out.

In the Figure 2a an exemplary freezer drawer 7a is shown, which can be used in the freezer compartment 5 of the household refrigeration appliance 1 and which has a receiving area 9 for an ice maker 11 according to the invention. The freezer drawer 7a has a bottom wall 13, two side walls 15a, 15b, a rear wall 17 and a drawer front 19. The drawer front 19 has a grip strip 21 and a cutout 23 . The ice maker 11 inserted into the freezer drawer 7a is accessible from the front via the cutout 23 in the drawer front 19 of the freezer drawer 7a, as is shown in FIG Figure 2b is shown in more detail.

The ice maker 11 has, as in 3 shown, a device 25 for producing the pieces of ice. The device 25 includes, among other things, a housing 27 and at least one ice cube mold tray 29, which is pivotably mounted in the device 25 between a filling position and an ejection position Figure 6a shown. An example ejection position is in the Figure 6b shown. The housing 27 has three side walls 31a, 31b, 31c. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the side wall 29c has an indentation 33 which is open at the edge. As shown, the indentation 33 can be formed by a wall section of the side wall 31c that is tilted inwards. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the ice cube mold shell 29 has two rows of several ice cube mold recesses 35 . Each individual piece of ice mold recess 35 serves as a mold for producing an individual piece of ice. A storage device 37 serves to store the ice cubes ejected from the ice cube mold tray. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the storage device 37 is designed as a removable and/or pull-out drawer, which is mounted on the device 25 below the ice cube mold tray 29 .

A water tank 39 for filling the at least one ice cube mold recess 35 with water is mounted above the device 25 . The ice maker 11 has a lever 41 that can be operated manually. The lever 41 is pivotably mounted on a front cap 43 connected to the housing 27 of the device 25 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lever 41 is formed by two lever arms 45a and 45b, the free ends of which are connected by a handle bar 47. A hand recess 49 is formed in the front cap 43 behind the handle bar 47 . The recessed hand grip 49 can be designed in accordance with the shape and size of the handle strip 21 of the freezer drawer 7a. In a in the freezer drawer 7a used position of the ice maker 11, the hand recess 49 and the handle bar 21 of the freezer drawer 7a complement each other to form a visually consistent front appearance.

The ice maker 11 has a gear 51 which couples the lever 41 to the pivotably mounted ice cube mold tray 29 and which transmits a movement of the lever 41 to the ice cube mold tray 29, as is the case in the embodiment according to FIG figure 5 is shown as an example. The gear 51 has at least one first gear transmission element 51a and at least one second gear transmission element 51b.

As in Figure 4a shown, the first gear transmission element 51a has a cam track 53 . The first gear transmission element 51a is rigidly connected to the lever 41 . For this purpose, the first gear transmission element 51a has two brackets 55, each with a receiving opening 57, in each receiving opening 57 in each case a pivot pin 59 is engaged, which is connected to a respective lever arm 45a, 45b of the lever 41. To this extent, the cam track 53 is connected to the lever 41 in a rotationally fixed manner. The curved track 53 has a surface which is provided with a gradient running in the direction of the axis of rotation D of the lever 41 . The cam track 53 also extends in the shape of a circular arc at an angle about the axis of rotation D of the lever 41 at a distance from the axis of rotation D of the lever. If the lever 41 from the in Figure 4a shown filling position for the ice cube mold tray 29 is pivoted into the ejection position, the lever 41 and thus also the cam track 53 move into an in Figure 4b shown position, which corresponds to approximately half the total pivoting angle of the lever 41.

As can be seen from the overall view of the gearbox 51 in figure 5 As can be seen, the lever 41 is mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation D which is oriented differently from the pivot axis S of the ice cube mold tray 29 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lever 41 is mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation D aligned perpendicularly to the pivot axis S of the ice cube mold tray 29 . For this purpose, the gear 51 is designed to convert the drive torque introduced into the gear 51 by the manual actuation of the lever 41 and acting about the axis of rotation D of the lever 41 into a drive torque which pivots the ice cube mold 29 and acts about the pivot axis S of the ice cube mold 29.

So that the torque acting about the axis of rotation D can be transmitted to the ice cube mold tray 29, the first gear transmission element 51a is firmly connected to the lever 41. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first gear transmission element 51a has a supporting body 61 which is essentially designed as a circular cylinder segment. The supporting body 61 is designed in one piece with the lugs 55 . The tabs 55 act as pivoting levers, which rotate about the axis of rotation D and pivot the circular cylinder segment on a circular path. The cam track 53 is arranged on an outer surface of the circular cylinder segment. The surface of the cam track 53 always lies in a radial direction to the axis of rotation D. In addition, the surface of the cam track 53 winds helically around the axis of rotation D at a radial distance from the axis of rotation D. The second gear transmission element 51b slides on the cam track 53. The second gear transmission element 51b is firmly connected to the pivotable ice cube mold tray 29 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second gear transmission element 51b is designed as a cam track follower 63 . For this purpose, the curved track follower 63 is arranged on a surface of a disk 65 which is in particular circular and points towards the curved track 53 . The cam track follower 63 protrudes from the surface of the disc 65 toward the cam track 53 . The cam track follower 63 can be formed, for example, as shown, by a circular-cylindrical pin.

If the lever 41 from the in Figure 4a position shown in the in Figure 4b position shown is pivoted, the cam track 53 moves upwards. During this movement, the cam follower 63 slides from an in Figure 4a designated starting position 67 on the cam track 53 in a one in Figure 4a designated end position 69. The movement of the cam track follower 63 causes the disk 65 to rotate about the pivot axis S. Since the disk 65 is firmly connected to the ice cube mold tray 29, the ice cube mold tray 29 rotates from its filling position into its position due to its pivotable mounting in the housing 27 ejection position. the figure 5 shows a position of the disc 65 and a position of the ice cube mold tray 29 in a transitional position between the filling position and the ejection position. The original filling level is in Figure 6a shown closer. It can also be clearly seen here that the lever 41 is in an unactuated starting position. the Ejection position is in Figure 6b shown closer. It can be clearly seen here that the lever 41 is in an actuated end position.

As in 3 As can be clearly seen, the disc 65 in the exemplary embodiment also has a slot 71 extending in the form of a circular arc at an angle around the axis of rotation of the ice cube mold tray 29 . On a side wall 31a of the housing 27 with the other side wall 31c of the housing 27 connecting cross brace 73, a pin 75 is fixed or formed. To this extent, the pin 75 is rigidly connected to the device 25 . The pin 75 protrudes through the slot 71, as in 3 shown. By the pin 75 protruding through the slot 71, the disc 65 and thus the ice cube mold tray 29 is secured against a radially directed to the pivot axis S evasive movement. At the same time, due to the design as a slot 71, a rotation of the disk 65 and the ice cube mold tray 29 about the pivot axis S is possible without hindrance.

The lever 41 is mounted on the front cap 43 of the device 25 and is supported on the front cap 43 of the device 25 with a first return spring 77 ( Figure 4a ) connected, which is designed to automatically move the lever 41, which has been pivoted manually into the ejection position of the ice cube mold tray 29, back to its starting position, in which the ice cube mold tray 26 is again in the filling position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first return spring 77 is designed as a torsion spring which is supported on the front cap 43 and resets the lever 41 . In addition, the device 25 has a second return spring 79 ( Figure 6b ) which bears against the side wall 31b of the device 25. The second restoring spring 79 is designed to automatically move the ice cube tray 29, which has been pivoted manually into the ejection position, into its filling position Figure 6a move back. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second restoring spring 79 is designed as a torsion spring that is supported against the side wall 31b of the device 25 .

the 7 shows the water tank 39 on its own. The water tank 39 includes, among other things, a hollow body component 81, in the cavity of which the water is received. The hollow body component forms at least one water chamber, which is provided with a bottom opening 91 ( 8 ) Mistake. To this extent, the opening 91 is made in a bottom wall 89 of the water tank 39 . The bottom wall 89 is in the illustrated embodiment sloping in the direction of the opening 91, in particular in the form of a funnel, so that the water chamber can be emptied at least almost completely.

In the exemplary embodiment, two openings 91 are provided in the water tank 39, which can each be closed by a tilting valve 95. An embodiment of a tilt valve 95 is in 8 shown in more detail. The tilting valve 95 is pivotally mounted on the bottom wall 89 of the water tank 39 . For this purpose, the tilting valve 95 can have a rocker 97, as shown, which has at least one axle pin 99 which is held in bearing brackets 101 which are connected to the bottom wall 89 of the water tank 39.

A spring 103, in particular a spring coil, prestresses the tilting valve 95, i.e. the rocker 97 in the exemplary embodiment shown, into a position which closes the respective opening 91. The spring 103 can be formed in one piece with the tilting valve 95 or the rocker 97 .

The hollow body component 81 of the water tank 39 can, as in 7 shown, have a reach-through opening 105 . As in 3 indicated in more detail, the reach-through opening 105 can lie over the open-edged indentation 33 in a position of the water tank 39 resting on the upper edges of the side walls 31a, 31b, 31c of the housing 27 of the device 25 ( 3 ), so that the water tank 39 placed on the device 25 can be reached through the indentation 33 by a user's hand from below and removed from the device 25 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the water tank 39 has, as in 7 shown, also has a lid 107 which is pivotally mounted on the hollow body component 81 and which has a sealing section 109 which closes a water filling opening 111 of the water tank 39 in the closed position of the lid 107 . The lid 107 can also have a cutout 113, which is adapted in shape and size to the through-opening 105, so that when the lid 107 is closed, despite the through-opening 105 overlapping size of the lid 107, the through-opening 105 for reaching through with the fingers hand remains free.

REFERENCE LIST

1

domestic refrigeration appliance

3

fridge

5

freezer room

7a,7b,7c

freezer drawers

9

recording area

11

icemaker

13

bottom wall

15a,15b

side walls

17

back panel

19

drawer front

21

grip bar

23

cutout

25

contraption

27

Housing

29

ice cube mold tray

31a,31b,31c

side walls

33

indentation

35

ice piece mold recess

37

storage device

39

water tank

41

lever

43

front cap

45a,45b

lever arms

47

handle bar

49

hand recess

51

transmission

51a

first gear ratio element

51b

second gear ratio element

53

curved track

55

tab

57

intake opening

59

stub axle

61

body

63

cam follower

65

disc

67

initial position

69

final position

71

Long hole

73

cross brace

75

cones

77

first return spring

79

second return spring

81

hollow body component

89

bottom wall

91

opening

95

tilt valve

97

seesaw

99

axle pin

101

bearing tabs

103

Feather

105

access opening

107

lid

109

sealing section

111

water filling hole

113

cutout

Claims (14)

1. Ice maker for producing pieces of ice, having an apparatus (25) for producing the pieces of ice, a moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, mounted pivotably in the apparatus (25) between a filling position and an ejection position, with at least one moulded cut-out (35) for pieces of ice, a water tank (39) for filling the at least one moulded cut-out (35) for pieces of ice with water and a storage apparatus (37) for storing the pieces of ice ejected from the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, wherein the ice maker (11) has a lever (41) to be actuated manually and a drive (51) coupling the lever (41) with the pivotably mounted moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, which drive transmits a movement of the lever (41) onto the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, wherein the drive (51) is embodied to convert the drive torque introduced into the drive (51) by the manual actuation of the lever (41) and acting about an axis of rotation (D) of the lever (41) into a drive torque which pivots the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice and acts about the pivot axis (S) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice,
   characterised in that
   the lever (41) is mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation (D) which differs from the pivot axis (S) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice and is aligned in particular at right angles to the pivot axis (S) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice.
2. Ice maker according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive (51) has at least one drive transmission element (51a, 51b), which transmits a pivot angle of the lever (41) into a different pivot angle of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice.
3. Ice maker according to claim 2, characterised in that the drive (51) has a first drive transmission element (51a), which supports a curved path (53) and has a second drive transmission element (51b), which supports a curved path follower (63) running along the curved path (53).
4. Ice maker according to claim 3, characterised in that the first drive transmission element (51a) is connected, in particular in a torque-proof manner, to the lever (41), and the curved path (53) has a surface which is provided with a gradient which runs in the direction of the axis of rotation (D) of the lever (41) and the curved path (53) extends in the manner of an arc about an angle about the axis of rotation (D) of the lever (41) at a distance from the axis of rotation (D) of the lever (41).
5. Ice maker according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the second drive transmission element (51b) is connected, in particular in a torque-proof manner, to the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, with the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice and has a disc (65) which moves about the axis of rotation (D) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice, from which the curved path follower (63) extends in the direction of the axis of rotation (D) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice at a distance from the axis of rotation (D) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice.
6. Ice maker according to claim 5, characterised in that the disc (65) has an elongated hole (71) which extends in the manner of an arc about an angle about the axis of rotation (D) of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice and a pin (75) engaging into the elongated hole (71) is rigidly fastened to the apparatus (25).
7. Ice maker according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the lever (41) is mounted on the apparatus (25), in particular on a front cover (43) of the apparatus (25), and is connected to a reset spring (77, 79) which abuts the apparatus (25) or the front cover (43) and is embodied to move the lever (41) pivoted manually into the ejection position of the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice automatically back into its starting position, in which the moulded tray (29) for pieces of ice is located again in the filling position.
8. Ice maker according to claim 7, characterised in that the reset spring (77, 79) is embodied as a torsion spring abutting the apparatus (25), in particular a rear wall (17) or the front cover (43) of the apparatus (25).
9. Ice maker according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the apparatus (25) for producing the pieces of ice has a housing (27) with side walls (31a, 31b, 31c), on the upper edges of which the water tank (39) is mounted and at least one side wall (31a, 31b, 31c) of the housing (27) is provided for forming a hand recess (49) with a notch (33) which is embodied to expose a base section of the water tank (39) for its manual removal.
10. Ice maker according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the water tank (39) has a housing which is provided with a reach-through opening (105), in particular with a reach-through opening (105) which lies in a position of the water tank (39), mounted on upper edges of side walls (31, 31b, 31c) of a housing (27) of the apparatus (25) for producing the pieces of ice, above a notch (33), which is open at the edge, in one of the side walls (31a, 31b, 31c) of the housing (27).
11. Ice maker according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that, for filling the at least one moulded cut-out (35) for pieces of ice, the water tank (39) has a base wall (89) with an opening (91, 93) which can be closed by a tilt valve (95) mounted pivotably on the base wall (89).
12. Ice maker according to claim 11, characterised in that the tilt valve (95) has a rocker (97), which has at least one axial pin (99), which is held in the bearing lugs (101) which are connected to the base wall (89) of the water tank (39).
13. Ice maker according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the water tank (39) has a spring (103), in particular leaf spring or spring pendulum, which prestresses the tilt valve (95), in particular the rocker (97), into a position which closes the opening (91, 93).
14. Household refrigeration appliance having an ice maker (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

Images