EP3857142A1

EP3857142A1 - A cooling appliance having an anti-sticking ice storage mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3857142A1
Application number: EP19752135.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ozkan ORSALIR; Mert Tosun; Mustafa Altintas
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-09-24
Filing date: 2019-07-31
Publication date: 2021-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-31
Also published as: EP3857142B1; WO2020064181A1; PL3857142T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a freezer compartment (2) having an automated ice making unit (3) wherein the ice cubes are formed, a container (4) having an open top, placed underneath the ice making unit (3) to store ice cubes which are ejected upon rotation of the ice making unit (3), a level arm (5) pivotally attached to the ice making unit (3) to detect the ice level inside the container (4) and deactivate the ice making unit (3) if the ice level inside the container (4) reaches a predetermined value.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] A COOLING APPLIANCE HAVING AN ANTI-STICKING ICE STORAGE MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance, in particular to a cooling appliance having an automated ice making unit.
In cooling appliances, having automated ice making units, the motor of the ice making unit is configured to rotate the ice making unit on predetermined time intervals and according to preset algorithms, therefore filling the container provided below or in close vicinity of the ice making unit with ice cubes. The ice making unit is provided with a level arm actuated by the motor and is actuated on predetermined time intervals reaching towards the inside of the container to detect the presence and level of the ice. Upon reaching a certain level of ice inside the container, the ice making unit will be deactivated. The ice inside the ice making unit is emptied by rotating the ice making unit which causes the problem of stacking of the ice cubes in a certain area, whereas most of the volume inside the container remains empty therefore causing uneven distribution of the ice inside the container. As a result, the level arm contacts the ice cubes at a level, higher than the real level. Therefore, the ice making unit is deactivated before the container is fully filled.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US3514964A among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having an ice making unit comprising a partition used to divide the container.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US5119639A among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising an ice making unit and a level arm.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US8196419B2 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance comprising an ice making unit and a level arm.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cooling appliance having an ice making unit wherein the ice cubes are formed and a container wherein the ice cubes are evenly distributed.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims comprises a cooling appliance having a fresh food and a freezer compartment. Inside the freezer compartment an ice making unit is placed so as to utilize cold air to freeze the water inside to form ice cubes. The ice making unit is placed onto a container which is used to store ice cubes. The ice making unit is agitated via a motor, rotating the ice making unit therefore freeing the ice cubes and storing the ice cubes inside the container. The ice making unit has a level arm attached to its side surface in a pivotable manner. After rotation of the ice making unit via the motor, the motor rotates the level arm, extending the level arm inside the container. As the level arm contacts the ice cubes inside the container, electrical current drawn increases therefore the presence and height of the ice cubes inside the container is detected. The ice cubes tend to stack together inside the container creating a pile which effects the way the level arm operates. The level arm contacts the tip of the ice pile, therefore the container is considered to be full but whereas most of the container remains empty. A separator is placed inside the container and is configured to extend longitudinally along the container, dividing the container into two smaller sub volumes. The separator is located underneath and beside the ice making unit and is configured to intercept the incoming ice cubes from the ice making unit, dividing the ice cubes into respective sub volumes. Therefore stacking of ice cubes inside the container is prevented.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator is detachable from the container. A pair of slits are formed on reciprocal walls of the container wherein the separator is slidably inserted.
In an embodiment of the invention, an opening is formed upon insertion of the separator inside the container. The opening is below the separator and is used for connecting the sub volumes to each other. Therefore the ice cubes may move inside the container flattening the ice cube level which improves ice level detection of the level arm.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator has a triangular cross section.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator has a diamond shaped cross section.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator has a convex shaped cross section.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator is made from or covered with a hydrophobic material so as to minimize sticking of the ice onto the separator.
In an embodiment of the invention, the separator surface is covered with protrusions so as to minimize sticking of the ice onto the separator.
A major advantageous effect of the invention is that the separator provides even distribution of the ice inside the container therefore preventing stacking of ice which causes the level arm to contact the ice surface at a higher level thus causing deactivation of the ice making unit before the container is completely filled.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.
Figure 1 – is a front view of the cooling appliance.
Figure 2 – is a perspective view of the ice making unit and the container.
Figure 3 – is a perspective view of the ice making unit and the container.
Figure 4 – is a perspective view of the container.
The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

Cooling appliance
Freezer compartment
Ice making unit
Container
Level arm
Separator
Opening
Protrusions

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) comprising; a freezer compartment (2) having an automated ice making unit (3) wherein the ice cubes are formed, a container (4) having an open top, placed underneath the ice making unit (3) to store ice cubes which are ejected upon rotation of the ice making unit (3), a level arm (5) pivotally attached to the ice making unit (3) to detect the ice level inside the container (4) and deactivate the ice making unit (3) if the ice level inside the container (4) reaches a predetermined value.
The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) further comprising; a separator (6) extending longitudinally and inside the container (4), dividing the said container (4) into two different sub volumes wherein the bigger volume is located underneath the ice making unit (3) and wherein the separator (6) is configured to intercept and divert the ice cubes towards the said sub volumes. The ice making unit (3) is placed inside the freezer compartment (2) of the cooling appliance (1) so as to freeze the water to form the ice cubes. A shaft is passing through the ice making unit (3) and is connected to a motor. The motor, after a predetermined time following the intake of water is activated and rotates the ice making unit (3) around the shaft axis. The ice cubes are freed from the ice making unit (3) and drops down to the container (4). The level arm (5) extends inside the container (4). The level arm (5) is pivotable connected to the ice making unit (3) and pivots on predetermined time intervals reaching inside the container (4). Therefore a precise measurement of the level of the ice is determined and if the ice level reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, the ice making unit (3) is deactivated. The separator (6) extends inside the container (4) and is parallel to the ice making unit (3). The container (4) is in the shape of a rectangular prism and the separator (6) is extending along the length of the container (4) and is located so as to coincide with the falling pieces of ice upon rotation of the ice making unit (3). Therefore, incoming ice cubes are intercepted before they reach the bottom of the container (4) and are forced to be divided to both sides of the separator (6). The distance between the separator and the side walls of the container (4) is configured to divert the incoming ice cubes to two sub volumes formed by the presence of the separator (6). By this means, the ice cubes are distributed inside the container (4) evenly, forming an almost flat ice level surface which helps the level arm (5) to determine the amount of ice cubes inside the container (4) in an accurate manner. Therefore the ice making unit (3) will be kept active till the container (4) is completely filled with ice cubes. Another advantage of using the separator (6) is that the localized stacking of ice cubes is prevented which may cause bridging between the ice cubes thus creating a solid piece of ice which may physical damage the ice making unit (3) upon rotation.
In another embodiment, the separator (6) is detachable from the container (4). The separator (6) is slidably inserted inside the slits provided on opposing walls. Therefore the user may easily remove the separator (6) for cleaning the container (4).
In another embodiment, an opening (7) is formed in between the separator (6) and the bottom of the container (4) upon attachment of the separator (6) inside the container (4). The opening (7) provides passage for ice cubes between the sub volumes created by the insertion of the separator (6).
In another embodiment, the separator (6) has a triangular cross section. The separator (6) has a triangular cross section therefore the incoming ice cubes encounter with the tip of the separator (6) and are forced towards the respective sub volumes. Another advantageous effect of the shape of the separator (6) is that it helps to break down the ice cubes that are ejected from the ice making unit (3) adherent.
In an alternative embodiment the separator (6) has a diamond shaped cross section. The separator (6) has a diamond shaped cross section therefore the incoming ice cubes encounter with the tip of the separator (6) and are forced towards the respective sub volumes. Another advantageous effect of the shape of the separator (6) is that it helps to break down the ice cubes that are stuck together both during loading and unloading of the ice cubes from the container (4).
In an alternative embodiment, the separator (6) having a convex shaped cross section. The separator (6) has a convex shaped cross section therefore the incoming ice cubes encounter with the tip of the separator (6) and are forced towards the respective sub volumes. Another advantageous effect of the shape of the separator (6) is that it helps to break down the ice cubes that are stuck together both during loading and unloading of the ice cubes from the container (4) and directs them towards the respective sub volumes gently.
The distance between the separator (6) and the closest side wall of the container (4) is configured to be bigger than the width of the ice cubes, therefore eliminating the possibility of the ice cubes being stuck in between.
In another embodiment, the separator (6) is produced from or covered with a hydrophobic material. Therefore, the ice cubes are obstructed to stick on to the surface of the separator (6).
In another embodiment, the separator (6) has a plurality of protrusions (8). The protrusions (8) may be formed in the shape of a cylindrical protrusion or a linear protrusion perpendicular to the direction the separator (6) is extending inside the container (4). By means of the protrusions (8) the ice cubes are obstructed to stick on to the surface of the separator (6).
By means of this invention, a cooling appliance (1) having an automated ice making unit (3) which upon rotation ejects the ice cubes to be stored inside the container (4) is explained. By use of the separator (6) inside the container (4) the incoming ice cubes are divided and diverted to sub volumes thereby preventing the localized stacking of ice cubes which in turn prevents the level arm (6) to contact the ice cubes at a position higher than the average ice level inside the container (4) is achieved. As a result, premature deactivation of the ice making unit (3) is prevented.

Claims

A cooling appliance (1) comprising;

A freezer compartment (2) having an automated ice making unit (3) wherein the ice cubes are formed,

a container (4) having an open top, placed underneath the ice making unit (3) to store ice cubes which are ejected upon rotation of the ice making unit (3),

a level arm (5) pivotally attached to the ice making unit (3) to detect the ice level inside the container (4) and deactivate the ice making unit (3) if the ice level inside the container (4) reaches a predetermined value,

characterized by a separator (6) extending longitudinally and inside the container (4), dividing the said container (4) into two different sub volumes wherein the bigger volume is located underneath the ice making unit (3) and wherein the separator (6) is configured to intercept and divert the ice cubes towards the said sub volumes.
A cooling appliance according to claim 1, characterized by the separator (6) being detachable from the container (4).
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an opening (7) formed in between the separator (6) and the bottom of the container (4) upon attachment of the separator (6) inside the container (4).
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the separator (6) having a triangular cross section.
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the separator (6) having a diamond shaped cross section.
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the separator (6) having a convex shaped cross section.
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the separator (6) produced from or covered with a hydrophobic material.
A cooling appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the separator (6) having a plurality of protrusions (8).