EP3809068A1

EP3809068A1 - A cooling device comprising an ice maker

Info

Publication number: EP3809068A1
Application number: EP20199400.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Burhan SAHIN; Ibrahim Canigur; Aysun CALKAYA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2019-10-14
Filing date: 2020-09-30
Publication date: 2021-04-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice maker (2) which is suitable to be used in cooling devices (1), comprising at least one receptacle (3) wherein the ice cubes are stored; at least one ice cube tray (4) which is placed so as to rotate on the first pin and the second pin (10 and 11) arranged in the same horizontal axis on the receptacle (3) and which has a plurality of cells; an arm (5) which rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4); and an intermediate member (7) which is L-shaped and which transfers the movement of the arm (5) to the first pin (10) which forms the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising an ice maker which is used for making ice cubes.
Ice makers are generally disposed in the freezing compartment. The ice makers are actuated from the front wall of the ice maker so as to be almost aligned with the eye level of the user and the ice cubes are turned upside down in the ice cube tray.
The ice makers used for making ice cubes in the cooling devices comprise ice cube trays containing ice cubes and various actuation mechanisms such as knobs, rotating arms, gears etc., enabling the ice cubes in the ice cube tray to be taken out with the actuation thereof. Thus, when the ice cube trays in the ice makers are actuated by means of a mechanism, all the ice cubes in the ice cube trays are taken out. In the state of the art ice makers, the ice cube trays are twisted by being rotated approximately by 160° and the ice cubes in the ice cube trays are enabled to be taken out. In such embodiments, the ice cube trays are actuated by means of a knob located at the upper part of the ice maker. The gears disposed at the lower part of the knob are moved by means of a gear located on the ice maker during the rotation of the knob by the user and enable the ice cubes contained in the ice maker to be taken out. However, problems are encountered in the synchronous movement of the knob and the gears mounted to the knob and in the stable positioning of the components with respect to each other.
In some of the state of the art embodiments, the actuation mechanism comprises a motor. Especially when two ice cube trays are twisted by means of a single motor to enable the ice cubes to fall down, an excessive load acts on the motor pin, which results in the damaging of the motor pin. In such embodiments, using two separate motors makes the control difficult, complicates the ice maker structure and increases the number of parts and the cost.
In the state of the art, it is disclosed that the ice cube trays are driven by means of a single driving mechanism.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2019129406 , a cooling device comprising a ice maker is disclosed, wherein the ice maker is moved in two different ways. In this embodiment, the cooling device comprises an actuation mechanism which moves only the first ice cube tray with the first movement and which, with the second movement, returns the first ice cube tray to the initial position and moves the second ice cube tray.
Another state of the art embodiment is explained in the Chinese Patent Application No. CN103712390 . This document discloses the actuation of two ice cube trays at a single point, which are connected to each other by means of gears.
Another state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the Chinese Patent Application No. CN202066269 . This document discloses the actuation of the ice cube trays simultaneously by means of the gears provided on the driving arm.
In the state of the art Chinese Patent Applications No. CN201503177 and CN102230705 , a cooling device is disclosed, having an ice maker wherein the ice cubes contained therein is taken out by means of a knob.
In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No. CN202166250 , the ice cube trays are connected to two gears and said gears are actuated by means of a rack-pinion mechanism.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising an ice maker which provides ease of use.
The ice maker realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is an ice maker which is suitable to be used in cooling devices and comprises an arm which rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray, and an L-shaped intermediate member which transfers the movement of the arm to the first pin which forms the rotational axis of the ice cube tray when pulling motion is performed around the first bearing. In this embodiment, when pulled by the user, the arm rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray. The intermediate member attached to the arm, thanks to the L-shaped structure thereof, transfers this movement to the first pin on the rotational axis of the ice cube tray and enables the ice cube tray to be rotated around the horizontal axis on which the first and the second pins forming the rotational axis of the same are provided. By means of the present invention, the ice cubes are enabled to be taken out of the ice maker more easily. Thus, by performing the twisting action by means of a separate mechanism, the ice cube tray is enabled to be twisted by the user with a smaller force and the ice maker can be used more effectively.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker comprises a first bearing which is provided on the arm; a transmission member which is attached to the first bearing; a movement pin to which the intermediate member is attached; and a main bearing wherein the intermediate member connected to the transmission member at one end and to the movement pin at the other end and having 90 degrees of angle between two ends thereof and the movement pin are borne and attached to the first pin.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the transmission member is L-shaped and borne in the first bearing on the arm from one end and the portion thereof which extends parallel to said end is connected to an end of the intermediate member. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission member rotates downwards around the first bearing when the user pulls the arm towards him/her.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement pin is L-shaped and attached onto one end of the intermediate member. The movement pin is attached to the first pin from the center thereof via the main bearing and the movement pin which starts to rotate as a result of the movement of the intermediate member transfers this rotational movement to the ice cube tray via the first pin.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker comprises a fixing member which enables the arm to be attached to the transmission member via the first bearing.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker comprises a stopper which extends towards the ice cube tray from a point near the rear edge of the receptacle and that the ice cube tray hits while rotating around the horizontal axis. The ice cube tray which hits the stopper is twisted around the rotational axis thereof and the ice cubes in the ice cube tray are enabled to separate from the ice cube tray easily and quickly and fall into the receptacle.
By means of the present invention, an ice maker is realized, which is enabled to be used ergonomically by the user, comprising an intermediate member and an arm which enable the ice cube tray to be actuated effectively when moved by the user.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the front view of a cooling device.
Figure 2 - is the exploded perspective view of the ice maker.
Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the ice maker in the first position.
Figure 4 - is the view of the ice maker while switching from the first position to the second position.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device
2. Ice maker
3. Receptacle
4. Ice cube tray
5. Arm
6. Transmission member
7. Intermediate member
8. Movement pin
9. Stopper
10. First pin
11. Second pin
12. Main bearing
13. First bearing
14. Fixing member

The ice maker (2) which is suitable to be used in cooling devices (1) comprises at least one receptacle (3) wherein the ice cubes are stored; at least one ice cube tray (4) which is placed so as to rotate on the first pin and the second pin (10 and 11) arranged in the same horizontal axis on the receptacle (3) and which has a plurality of cells; an arm (5) which rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4); and an intermediate member (7) which is L-shaped and which transfers the movement of the arm (5) to the first pin (10) which forms the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4). In this embodiment, when pulled by the user, the arm (5) rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4). The intermediate member (7) attached to the arm (5), thanks to the L-shaped structure thereof, transfers this movement to the first pin (10) on the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4) and enables the ice cube tray (4) to be rotated around the horizontal axis on which the first and the second pins (10 and 11) forming the rotational axis of the same are provided (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
By means of the present invention, the ice cubes are enabled to be taken out of the ice maker (2) more easily by applying a smaller amount of force. Thus, by performing the twisting action by means of a separate mechanism, the ice maker (2) is enabled to be used by the user more effectively by applying a smaller amount of force.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker (2) comprises a first bearing (13) which is provided on the arm (5); a transmission member (6) which is attached to the first bearing (13); a movement pin (8) to which the intermediate member (7) is attached; and a main bearing (12) wherein the intermediate member (7) connected to the transmission member (6) at one end and to the movement pin (8) at the other end and having 90 degrees of angle between two ends thereof and the movement pin (8) are borne and attached to the first pin (10).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the arm (5) performs the pulling action around the first bearing (13).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the transmission member (6) is L-shaped and borne in the first bearing (13) on the arm (5) from one end and the portion thereof which extends parallel to said end is connected to an end of the intermediate member (7). In this embodiment of the present invention, the transmission member (6) rotates downwards around the first bearing (13) when the user pulls the arm (5) towards him/herself.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement pin (8) is L-shaped and attached onto one end of the intermediate member (7). The movement pin (8) is attached to the first pin 10) from the center thereof via the main bearing (12) and the movement pin (8) which starts to rotate as a result of the movement of the intermediate member (7) transfers this rotational movement to the ice cube tray (4) via the first pin (10).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker (2) comprises a fixing member (14) which enables the arm (5) to be attached to the transmission member (6) via the first bearing (13).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker (2) comprises a stopper (9) which extends towards the ice cube tray (4) from a point near the rear edge of the receptacle (3) and that the ice cube tray (4) hits while rotating around the horizontal axis. The ice cube tray (4) which hits the stopper is twisted around the rotational axis thereof and the ice cubes in the ice cube tray (4) are enabled to separate from the ice cube tray (4) easily and quickly and fall into the receptacle (3).
The ice cube tray (4) is attached onto the receptacle (3) via the first and second pins (10 and 11). In this case, the ice cube tray (4) can rotate around the horizontal axis on which the first and second pins (10 and 11) are provided. Said horizontal axis forms the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4). The movement pin (8) is borne on the main bearing (12) so as to be in the same axis with the first pin (10) and connected to the same. One ends of the intermediate member (7) is attached to the movement pin (12) which is borne on the main bearing (8) so as to be in the same axis with the first pin (10). The other end of the L-shaped intermediate member (7) which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4) is attached to the transmission member (6). The transmission member (6) is connected to the arm (5) via the first bearing (13) by means of the fixing member (14). In the first position, the ice cube tray (4) is in a balanced position and supports the ice cubes (Figure 3).
When the ice cubes are needed to be taken from the ice maker (2), the arm (5) is pulled by the user towards him/her and brought to the second position in order to enable the ice cubes in the ice cube tray (4) to fall into the receptacle (3). When the arm (5) is pulled by the user, the transmission member (6) which is attached to the arm (5) via the first bearing (13) rotates downwards around the axis of the first bearing (13) and the intermediate member (7) moves downwards during this rotational movement. As a result of said movement of the intermediate member (7), the end of the intermediate member (7) which is attached to the movement pin (8) rotates the movement pin (8) around the main bearing (12) and as a result of this movement, the first pin (10) is enabled to rotate around the main bearing (12) and the ice cube tray (4) is enabled to rotate around the horizontal axis formed by the second pin (11) and the first pin (10). During this rotational movement, the opposite end of the ice cube tray (4) hits the stopper (9), enabling the ice cube tray (4) to be twisted around rotational axis thereof The ice cube tray (4) is enabled to be brought to the second position be rotating the arm (5) 160°. The ice cube tray (4) hits the stopper (9) at around 120°, and starts to be twisted. Since this twisting movement continues until the rotational movement reaches 160°, the twisting movement continues for 40°. Thus, the ice cubes in the ice cube tray (4) are enabled to separate from the ice cube tray (4) easily and quickly and fall into the receptacle (3).
By means of the present invention, an ice maker (1) is realized, which is enabled to be used ergonomically by the user, comprising an intermediate member (7) and an arm (5) which enable the ice cube tray (4) to be actuated effectively when moved by the user.

Claims

An ice maker (2) which is suitable to be used in cooling devices (1), comprising at least one receptacle (3) wherein the ice cubes are stored and at least one ice cube tray (4) which is placed so as to rotate on the first pin and the second pin (10 and 11) arranged in the same horizontal axis on the receptacle (3) and which has a plurality of cells, characterized by an arm (5) which rotates around an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4) and an intermediate member (7) which is L-shaped and which transfers the movement of the arm (5) to the first pin (10) which forms the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4).
An ice maker (2) as in Claim 1, characterized by the arm (5) which rotates around the axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ice cube tray (4) when pulled by the user.
An ice maker (2) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a first bearing (13) which is provided on the arm (5); a transmission member (6) which is attached to the first bearing (13); a movement pin (8) to which the intermediate member (7) is attached; and a main bearing (12) wherein the intermediate member (7) connected to the transmission member (6) at one end and to the movement pin (8) at the other end and having 90 degrees of angle between two ends thereof and the movement pin (8) are borne and attached to the first pin (10).
An ice maker (2) as in Claim 3, characterized by the transmission member (6) which is L-shaped and which is borne in the first bearing (13) on the arm (5) from one end and wherein the portion thereof which extends parallel to said end is connected to an end of the intermediate member (7).
An ice maker (2) as in Claim 3, characterized by the L-shaped movement pin (8) which is attached to one end of the intermediate member (7).
An ice maker (2) as in Claim 3 and Claim 5, characterized by the movement pin (8) which is attached to the first pin (10) from the center thereof via the main bearing (12), which starts to rotate with the movement of the intermediate member (7) and which transfers this rotational movement to the ice cube tray (4) via the first pin (10).
An ice maker (2) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a stopper (9) which extends towards the ice cube tray (4) from a point near the rear edge of the receptacle (3) and that the ice cube tray (4) hits while rotating around the horizontal axis.