EP4614090A1

EP4614090A1 - Control method and apparatus for ice-making system, and storage medium and refrigeration device

Info

Publication number: EP4614090A1
Application number: EP23934758.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zhaowei LIN; Zhijie REN; Xin QUAN; Zhichao Zhu
Original assignee: Hefei Hualing Co Ltd; Midea Group Co Ltd; Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hefei Hualing Co Ltd; Midea Group Co Ltd; Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-04-28
Filing date: 2023-06-27
Publication date: 2025-09-10
Also published as: CN118856701A; WO2024221581A1; EP4614090A4; CN118856701B

Abstract

A control method and apparatus for an ice-making system, and a refrigeration device. The ice-making system comprises an ice-moving apparatus (200), and an ice-making assembly (100) and an ice-taking assembly (300) connected thereto, the ice-making assembly (100) being used for conveying ice cubes to the ice-moving apparatus (200), and the ice-moving apparatus (200) comprising an ice-moving part (110), an ice-moving channel (120) and a main rotary member (130), wherein an ice-moving ice inlet (111), an ice-moving cavity (112) and an ice-moving ice outlet (113) in communication with each other are provided in the ice-moving part (110), and the main rotary member (130) is used for ejecting the ice cubes out from the ice-moving channel (120). The control method comprises: determining whether ice cube jamming has occurred, and if ice cube jamming has occurred, controlling the ice-making assembly (100) to stop feeding ice cubes for a first preset duration, and controlling the main rotary member (130) to clean the ice cubes.

Description

The present application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application No. 202310491480.5, filed on April 28, 2023 , and entitled "CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ICE PREPARING SYSTEM, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND REFRIGERATION DEVICE", contents of which are incorporated herein by its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of refrigeration devices, and more specifically, to a control method for an ice preparing system, a control apparatus for an ice preparing system, a storage medium, and a refrigeration device.

BACKGROUND

Refrigeration devices such as a refrigerator and a freezer are generally arranged with ice preparing systems. The ice preparing system may improve the convenience of ice usage for users. However, during the ice transfer process, ice jamming is prone to occur, and the accumulation of ice blocks due to the ice jamming may lead to malfunctions in the ice preparing system. Therefore, how to provide a control method for the ice preparing system that may promptly detect the ice jamming is an urgent problem to be solved.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a control method for an ice preparing system, a control apparatus for an ice preparing system, a storage medium, and a refrigeration device to solve the technical problem in the related art that ice jamming is prone to occur and the accumulation of ice blocks due to ice jamming may lead to malfunctions in an ice preparing system.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a control method for an ice preparing system. The ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel. The control method for the ice preparing system comprises: judging whether ice jamming occurs; and when the ice jamming occurs, controlling the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for a first preset duration and controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block.
In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a control apparatus of an ice preparing system. The ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel. The control apparatus of the ice preparing system comprises: a judgment module, configured to judge whether ice jamming occurs; and a control module, configured to, when the ice jamming occurs, control the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for a first preset duration and control the master rotation member to clear the ice block.
In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a refrigeration device. The refrigeration device comprises an ice preparing system and a controller. The ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly. The ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel. The controller is configured to perform operations of the control method for the ice preparing system mentioned above.
In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations of the control method for the ice preparing system mentioned above.
The technical effect of the present disclosure is as follows. The present disclosure provides a control method for an ice preparing system. The ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel. The control method for the ice preparing system comprises: judging whether ice jamming occurs; and when the ice jamming occurs, controlling the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for a first preset duration and controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block. In the control method for the ice preparing system provided by the present disclosure, whether ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system can be judged, when the ice jamming occurs, the ice preparing assembly is controlled to stop delivering ice to the ice transfer device and the ice block is cleared, effectively preventing accumulation of the ice block in the ice transfer cavity, which could cause system malfunctions and affect normal usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To more clearly illustrate technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings needed for describing the embodiments of the present disclosure will be briefly introduced in the following. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art may obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative work.

FIG. 1 is an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 2 is a partial structural schematic view of an embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 3 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 4 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 5 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 6 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 7 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 8 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an ice transfer portion of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 10 is another partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 11 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 12 is an exploded schematic view of an embodiment of an ice preparing assembly of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a control method for an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of judging whether ice circulation occurs in an ice transfer cavity in a control method for the ice preparing system according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 16 is a structural block diagram of a control apparatus of an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 17 an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 18 is another overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 19 is a structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 20 is another structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 21 is a structural schematic view of a second technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a door body of a second technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 23 is a structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 24 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion A shown in FIG. 23.
FIG. 25 is another structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 26 is a structural schematic view of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a door body of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described by referring to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of, not all of, the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments, which are obtained by any ordinary skilled person in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative work, shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Reference to "embodiment" in the present disclosure means that specific features, structures, or characteristics described an embodiment may be comprised in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The term used in various sections in the specification does not necessarily refer to one same embodiment nor an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Any ordinary skilled person in the art shall explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described in the present disclosure can be combined with other embodiments.
In the present disclosure, terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and shall not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features. Therefore, a feature defined by the "first" or the "second" may expressly or implicitly comprise one or more of the described features. In the present disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly and specifically limited.
In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, unless specified and limited, terms "install", "joint", and "connection" should be broadly understood. For example, they may be interpreted as fixed connection, detachable connection, integrated connection, mechanical connection, electrical connection, communication with each other, direct connection, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, internal connection between two components, or interaction relationship between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood in specific circumstances.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a control method for an ice preparing system. The ice preparing system may be applied to a refrigeration device 10 to achieve the function of ice preparing. The present disclosure does not limit the specific type of the refrigeration device 10. For example, the refrigeration device 10 may be a refrigerator, a freezer, or an ice maker. Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 17, FIG. 1 is an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. FIG. 17 an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. The ice preparing system may comprise an ice preparing assembly 200, an ice transfer device 100, and an ice extraction assembly 300. The ice transfer device 100 is connected between the ice preparing assembly 200 and the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice preparing assembly 200 is configured to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100. The ice transfer device 100 may comprise an ice transfer portion 110, an ice transfer channel 120, and a master rotation member 130. The ice transfer portion 110 defines an ice transfer inlet 111, an ice transfer cavity 112, and an ice transfer outlet 113 that are communicated with each other. The master rotation member 130 may be rotatably arranged inside the ice transfer cavity 112. The ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113 may be disposed at an outer periphery of the master rotation member 130. The master rotation member 130 may be rotatable in a first direction X and drive ice blocks, which enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet 113, towards the ice transfer channel 120. The control method for the ice preparing system may judge whether ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system. When ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system, the ice preparing assembly 200 is controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for a first preset duration, and the master rotation member 130 is controlled to clear the ice blocks, effectively preventing the technical problem of ice accumulation in the ice transfer cavity 112 caused by the ice preparing assembly 200 continuing to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100 after ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system.
The following provides a detailed introduction to the ice preparing system to which the control method of the present disclosure is applied.
When the refrigeration system is applied to the refrigeration device 10, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12, and the ice extraction assembly 300 may be disposed in the second refrigeration compartment 13. The ice transfer device 100 may transfer the ice blocks from the first refrigeration compartment 12 rapidly one by one to the ice extraction assembly 300 of the second refrigeration compartment 13. Since the ice transfer device 100 transfers the ice blocks to the ice extraction assembly 300 of the second refrigeration compartment 13 above the first refrigeration compartment 12, the user may take the ice blocks easily, improving the user experience. Furthermore, since the ice preparing assembly 200 is arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12, the ice preparing assembly 200 and the first refrigeration compartment 12 may share one cold source, a case of arranging the independent evaporator for preparing the ice blocks, caused by the ice preparing assembly 200 being arranged in the second refrigeration compartment 13, may be avoided. In this way, component costs and energy consumption costs may be saved, a space of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may not be occupied, such that a volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be improved. Since the master rotation member 130 rotates to drive the ice blocks to obtain the initial speed, the ice blocks may move quickly to the ice extraction assembly 300 and may move directly from the first refrigeration compartment 12 to the ice extraction assembly 300 of the second refrigeration compartment 13. The ice blocks may move at a high speed, such that a high ice extraction efficiency may be achieved, and the evaporator for keeping coldness for the ice blocks may not be arranged in the second refrigeration compartment 13, further improving the volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13.
It should be noted that the present disclosure does not limit the structure of the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice transfer device 100, and the ice extraction assembly 300 in the ice preparing system to which the control method is applied. The ice extraction assembly 300 defines an ice extraction port for users to place an ice extraction container. The ice preparing assembly 200 and the ice transfer device 100 are main modules of the ice preparing system. For detailed introduction to the ice preparing system, the following provides a detailed introduction to the ice preparing assembly 200 and the ice transfer device 100 of the ice preparing system.
The following provides a detailed introduction to the ice transfer device 100.
As shown in FIG. 17, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly 200, and the ice blocks may enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111. The master rotation member 130 may rotate the ice blocks in the first direction X and eject the ice blocks toward the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice blocks may have a certain initial speed and move from the ice transfer outlet 113 towards the ice transfer channel 120; and eventually the ice blocks may move along the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300. Since the master rotation member 130 may constantly rotate at a certain speed, the ice blocks originated from the ice preparing assembly 200 may be continuously and quickly ejected to the ice extraction assembly 300, the ice blocks may move quickly, an ice extraction efficiency may be high, such that fast and continuous ice extraction may be achieved. A user may not need to wait for a long time to take the ice blocks, and the ice blocks may not be easily melted. The ice blocks may be in high quality, and the ice blocks may not be stick to each other due to melting.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the ice transfer device 100 may further comprise a conveying channel 150. The conveying channel 150 may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity 112 via the ice transfer inlet 111. The conveying channel 150 may be communicated to an ice outlet end of the ice preparing assembly 200 to convey the ice blocks to the ice transfer cavity 112. An ice inlet end of the conveying channel 150 may be positioned higher than the ice transfer inlet 111. The ice blocks may move, under the gravity, along the conveying channel 150 into the ice transfer portion 110. Alternatively, the ice inlet end of the conveying channel 150 may be positioned at the same height as or positioned lower than the ice transfer inlet 111. The ice blocks may be driven by a power mechanism to move along the conveying channel 150 into the ice transfer cavity 112. Therefore, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be located at an upper portion, a lower portion, or any other location of the ice transfer cavity 112, and the ice blocks may enter the ice transfer cavity 112 and may be snapped into the master rotation member 130 based on the gravity or the power mechanism.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the ice transfer channel 120 may comprise an ice transfer section 121 and a guiding section 122. The ice transfer section 121 may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity 112 through the ice transfer outlet 113. The guiding section 122 may be communicated to the ice transfer section 121 and may be curved towards one side, so as to guide to the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice transfer section 121 may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity 112. When the ice blocks are moving through the ice transfer section 121, the ice blocks may rise for a sufficient distance along the ice transfer section 121. The guiding section 122 may be turned to be connect to the ice extraction assembly 300. When the ice blocks move to reach the guiding section 122, the ice blocks have risen sufficiently far, and the guiding section 122 may change a moving direction of the ice blocks towards the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition is formed between the ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122.
Specifically, the ice transfer section 121 may be extending along a vertical direction to shorten the distance that the ice blocks rise along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending along a direction having a smaller angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the ice transfer channel 120 may be curved in overall. The ice transfer channel 120 may extend from the ice transfer outlet 113 to the ice extraction assembly 300, ensuring that the ice blocks can be stably ascended and simply communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300.
Specifically, at an intersection between the guiding section 122 and the ice transfer section 121, an angle between an extension direction of the guiding section 122 and an extension direction of the ice transfer section 121 may be greater than 90° and less than 180°, preventing the ice blocks from falling back into the ice transfer section 121 due to turning from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122 being excessively sharp, and ensuring the ice blocks to move smoothly through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly 300.
Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a partial structural schematic view of an embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, the master rotation member 130 may comprise a master shaft 131 and a flexible member 132 disposed around a periphery of the master shaft 131. The flexible member 132 may enable the ice blocks to be snapped therein easily and carry the ice blocks to rotate. The master shaft 131 may be made of a rigid material. The flexible member 132 may be fixed to the master shaft 131 and rotate synchronously with the master shaft 131. Specifically, the master rotation member 130 may be a roller brush, and the flexible member 132 may be a flexible bristle. Alternatively, the master rotation member 130 may be an impeller, and the flexible member 132 may be flexible blades. The ice transfer device 100 may further comprise a drive member (not shown in the drawings), the driver member may be arranged at an outside of the ice transfer cavity 112. An output end of the drive member may pass through a side wall of the ice transfer portion 110 to be coaxially fixed with the master shaft 131. The driver member may control rotation of the master rotation member 130. Specifically, the drive member may control the master rotation member 130 to start or stop rotating; control a rotation direction of the master rotation member 130; and control a rotation speed of the master rotation member 130.
It should be noted that since the ice blocks may be in the form of blocks, when the master rotation member 130 rotates at a high speed, the ice blocks may not be brought in by the master rotation member 130, such that ice blockage may be caused at the ice transfer inlet 111. The ice preparing system to which the control method of the present disclosure is applied may solve this problem via the following solutions.
Please refer to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, a plurality of notches 1322, which may be spaced apart from each other, may be formed around an outer periphery of the flexible member 132. A size of each of the plurality of notches 1322 may be 1-3 times, such as 1 time, 1.5 times, 2 times, 2.5 times, or 3 times, of a size of each ice block. By forming the notches 1322, which are spaced apart from each other, at the outer periphery of the flexible member 132, as the master rotation member 130 rotates, the ice blocks may be easily brought into the plurality of notches 1322 during entering the ice transfer cavity 112 through the ice transfer inlet 111. In this way, an ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100 may be improved, preventing the ice blocks from being blocked at the ice transfer inlet 111.
As shown in FIG. 3, in other embodiments, the flexible member 132 may comprise a first flexible member 1323 and a second flexible member 1324 that are spaced apart from each other and are arranged along the outer periphery of the master shaft 131. A rigidity of the second flexible member 1324 may be lower than that of the first flexible member 1323. Since the rigidity of the second flexible member 1324 is lower than that of the first flexible member 1323, as the master rotation member 130 rotates, the ice blocks, during entering the ice transfer cavity 112 through the ice transfer inlet 111, may squeeze the first flexible member 1323 to make the first flexible member 1323 deformed, such that the ice blocks may be easily brought into the master rotation member 130. The second flexible member 1324 having the larger rigidity may carry the ice blocks to rotate to enhance the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100, preventing the ice blocks from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, a structure of the flexible member 132 may be optimized, enabling the ice blocks to be snapped into the master rotation member 130 easily. In some other embodiments, an auxiliary structure may be arranged to cooperate with the master rotation member 130 to facilitate the ice blocks to be snapped into the master rotation member 130, preventing the ice blocks from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
Please refer to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, the ice transfer portion 110 may further comprise a pressure plate 116. The pressure plate 116 may be arranged inside the ice transfer portion 110. The pressure plate 116 may be disposed between the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113. A shortest distance between an end portion of the pressure plate 116 facing towards the master rotation member 130 and a central axis of the master rotation member 130 may be less than a radius of the master rotation member 130. During rotation of the master rotation member 130, the flexible member 132 may contact the pressure plate 116 and may be deformed to form an opening 1321 at the ice transfer inlet 111. By pressing part of the flexible member 132 by the pressure plate 116, as the master rotation member 130 rotates, the ice blocks, during entering the ice transfer cavity 112 through the ice transfer inlet 111, may be easily brought into the master rotation member 130 at the opening 1321. In this way, the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100 may be improved, and the ice blocks may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
Please refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, the ice transfer portion 110 may further comprise a guide cavity 117 and a secondary rotation member 140. The guide cavity 117 may be communicated with the ice transfer cavity 112. The ice transfer inlet 111 may be disposed between the guide cavity 117 and the ice transfer cavity 112. The secondary rotation member 140 may be rotatably disposed in the guide cavity 117. The secondary rotation member 140 may rotate in a second direction Y. The second direction Y may be opposite to the first direction X. A shortest distance between the secondary rotation member 140 and the master rotation member 130 may be less than the size of the ice block. Since the rotation direction of the secondary rotation member 140 is opposite to the rotation direction of the master rotation member 130, and the ice transfer inlet 111 is disposed between the master rotation member 130 and the secondary rotation member 140, the ice blocks may be easily brought into the master rotation member 130 due to reverse movements of the two rotation members. In this way, the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100 may be improved, and the ice blocks may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111. A radius of the secondary rotation member 140 may be less than the radius of the master rotation member 130, reducing a size the ice transfer device 100 and enabling the ice blocks to be snapped into the master rotation member 130 more easily. An outer wall of the secondary rotation member 140 may extend along with a cavity wall of the guide cavity 117, and a rigidity of the secondary rotation member 140 may be higher than that of the flexible member 132, driving the ice blocks to be snapped into the master rotation member 130. The secondary rotation member 140 may be configured as a rotation structure, such as a roller brush or an impeller.
Please refer to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, the ice transfer device 100 may further comprise a transmission rotation member 151, the transmission rotation member 151 may be rotatably disposed in the conveying channel 150. A rotation speed of the transmission rotation member 151 may be lower than the rotation speed of the master rotation member 130. Therefore, the ice blocks may obtain a certain speed after being driven by the transmission rotation member 151 in the conveying channel 150, and the ice blocks having the certain speed may be snapped into the master rotation member 130 rotating at the high rotation speed, such that the ice blocks may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
It is to be noted that, in order to improve the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100 and prevent the ice blocks from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111, the above-described structural optimization of the flexible member 132 may be applied, or the secondary structure for cooperating with the master rotation member 130 may be arranged, or combination of the above technical features may be applied, such that the ice blocks may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
In addition, it should be noted that, when the ice preparing system adopts the above ice transfer device 100, the size of the ice block may be within a predetermined size range. The master rotation member 130 may rotate at a predetermined speed in the first direction X. Generally, the ice blocks may be carried smoothly from the ice transfer outlet 113 to enter the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice blocks may eventually move smoothly along the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300. However, in some cases, for example, sizes of the ice blocks vary greatly, or the ice blocks and the master rotation member 130 displace with respect to each other during the master rotation member 130 rotating and carrying the ice blocks, the ice blocks, when being ejected towards the ice transfer channel 120, do not obtain a desired initial speed from the master rotation member 130. In these cases, the ice blocks may not move smoothly along the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice blocks that do not reach the ice extraction assembly 300 may fall back into the ice transfer portion 110 along the ice transfer channel 120.
Please refer to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, in order to prevent the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer device 100 from being affected due to the ice blocks blocking the ice transfer inlet 111, the ice transfer cavity 112 may further comprise an ice transfer return port 119, and the ice transfer device 100 may further comprise an ice return channel 160. The ice return channel 160 may be communicated to the ice transfer return port 119. An ice outlet end 160a of the ice return channel 160 may be lower than the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120. The master rotation member 130 may rotate in the second direction Y and drive the ice blocks disposed in the ice transfer cavity 112 to move out from the ice transfer return port 119 to the ice return channel 160. The second direction Y may be opposite to the first direction X. By arranging the ice return channel 160, when the ice blocks which do not reach the ice extraction assembly 300 fall back along the ice transfer channel 120 to block the ice transfer portion 110, feeding of the ice blocks into the ice transfer portion 110 through the ice transfer inlet 111 may be stopped. The master rotation member 130 may rotate along the second direction Y to eject the ice blocks toward the ice return channel 160. Since the ice outlet end 160a of the ice return channel 160 is lower than the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120, the ice blocks may be discharged through the ice return channel 160 at a relatively low speed. The ice blocks are prevented from accumulating and blocking the ice transfer portion 110, ensuring the ice transfer device 100 to operate properly.
An ice inlet end of the conveying channel 150 may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly 200, and an ice outlet end of a conveying assembly may be communicated to the ice transfer portion 110. The ice blocks at the ice preparing assembly 200 may move to the ice transfer portion 110 through the conveying channel 150. The ice outlet end of the ice return channel 160 may be communicated to the conveying channel 150. The master rotation member 130 may rotate in the second direction Y to return the ice blocks that block the ice transfer portion 110 to the conveying channel 150, enabling the ice blocks to fall to the ice transfer portion 110 again. Alternatively, the ice outlet end of the ice return channel 160 may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly 200, and the master rotation member 130 may rotate in the second direction Y to move the ice blocks that block inside the ice transfer portion 110 back to the ice preparing assembly 200. Specifically, the ice return channel 160 may be communicated to an ice storage box of the ice preparing assembly 200.
As shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise an accumulating region 114. An inner wall of the accumulating region 114 may surround the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130. The master rotation member 130 may rotate in the first direction X to drive the ice blocks to move sequentially through the ice transfer inlet 111, the accumulating region 114, and the ice transfer outlet 113 to eventually enter the ice transfer channel 120. After the ice blocks enter the ice transfer inlet 111, since the inner wall of the accumulating region 114 surrounds the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, the master rotation member 130 may grasp the ice blocks securely and carry the ice blocks to rotate along the first direction X by a sufficient angle. In this way, the ice blocks may be sufficiently accelerated. When the ice blocks continue rotating out of the accumulating region 114 and reaching a position corresponding to the ice transfer outlet 113, the ice blocks may lose constraints applied from an outer peripheral of the ice blocks and may have a sufficient speed to move toward the ice transfer channel 120. The ice blocks may move along the ice transfer channel 120 to the ice extraction assembly 300. By arranging the accumulating region 114, the ice blocks may be accelerated sufficiently to obtain the sufficient initial speed, such that the ice blocks may move to pass through the ice transfer channel 120. It should be noted that the initial speed obtained by the ice blocks after passing through the accumulating region 114 can be changed by adjusting a range of the accumulating region 114 and the size and the rotation speed of the master rotation member 130. The ice block may pass through the ice transfer channel 120 at a suitable speed by adjusting various parameters, ensuring that the ice blocks may have the certain speed to move through the ice transfer channel 120 into the ice extraction assembly 300 and that the moving speed of the ice blocks may not be excessively large to cause collision noise. Similarly, when the ice blocks that do not reach the ice extraction assembly 300 fall back into the ice transfer portion 110 along the ice transfer channel 120, the master rotation member 130 may rotate in the second direction Y to drive the ice blocks to move from the accumulating region 114 through the ice transfer return port 119 to enter the ice return channel 160. By arranging the accumulating region 114, when the master rotation member 130 is rotating in the second direction Y, the ice blocks may obtain the certain initial speed to move through the ice transfer return port 119 toward the ice return channel 160.
The ice transfer inlet 111, the ice transfer return port 119, and the ice transfer outlet 113 are all located at the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130. Therefore, in order to enable the master rotation member 130 to rotate to eject the ice blocks toward the ice transfer outlet 113, instead of along the ice transfer return port 119, during the master rotation member 130 rotating in the first direction X; and in order to in order to enable the master rotation member 130 to rotate to eject the ice blocks toward the ice transfer return port 119, instead of along the ice transfer inlet 111, during the master rotation member 130 rotating in the second direction Y, in some embodiments, a vertical plane in which a rotation axis of the master rotation member 130 is located is a first plane Z, the ice transfer outlet 113 may be located on a side of the first plane Z, the ice transfer return port 119 may be located on the other side of the first plane Z, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be located between the first plane Z and the ice transfer return port 119 or between the first plane Z and the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice transfer outlet 113 and the ice transfer return port 119 are respectively located on two sides of the first plane Z. Therefore, when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the first direction X, the master rotation member 130 may rotate to eject the ice blocks to the ice transfer outlet 113 after the ice blocks obtaining the certain speed. When the master rotation member 130 rotates in the second direction Y, the master rotation member 130 may rotate to eject the ice blocks to the ice transfer return port 119 after the ice blocks obtaining the certain speed.
It should be noted that, during the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice blocks to rotate in the first direction X, the ice blocks entering the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111 may firstly pass through the ice transfer return port 119. However, at this moment, the ice blocks may rotate at a small angle as the master rotation member 130 rotate and may obtain a low speed, and therefore, the ice blocks may not be detached from the master rotation member 130 to be ejected toward the ice transfer return port 119. When the ice blocks continue rotating with the master rotation member 130 to correspond to the ice transfer outlet 119, the ice blocks may obtain the sufficient speed to be detached from the master rotation member 130 to be ejected toward the ice transfer outlet 113. Similarly, during the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice blocks to rotate in the second direction Y, the ice blocks may firstly pass through the ice transfer inlet 111. However, at this moment, the ice blocks may rotate at a small angle as the master rotation member 130 rotate and may obtain a low speed, and therefore, the ice blocks may not be detached from the master rotation member 130 to be ejected toward the ice transfer inlet 111. When the ice blocks continue rotating with the master rotation member 130 to correspond to the ice transfer outlet 119, the ice blocks may obtain the sufficient speed to be detached from the master rotation member 130 to be ejected toward the ice transfer outlet 119.
In order to enable the ice blocks to pass through the ice transfer channel 120 smoothly and to improve a rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks, in some embodiments, when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the first direction X, the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130 may be configured to define a first trajectory of the ice blocks. A tangent direction of an intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113 corresponding to the first trajectory may be located inside the ice transfer channel 120. Therefore, when the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice blocks rotates to the intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113, the ice blocks may be about to move out of the accumulating region 114 to move towards the ice transfer outlet 113. At this moment, a movement direction of the ice blocks may be located inside the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice blocks may smoothly move to the ice transfer channel 120 and smoothly move to the ice extraction assembly 300 through the ice transfer channel 120. In this way, the rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks may be high. Specifically, the tangent direction of the intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113 corresponding to the first trajectory may coincide with an extension direction of the ice transfer section 121 of the ice transfer channel 120. The ice blocks may be subjected to a reduced movement resistance when moving along the ice transfer section 121, and the master rotation member 130 may need to provide a reduced power to drive the ice blocks to pass through the ice transfer channel 120.
In order to enable the ice blocks to smoothly pass through the ice return channel 160 and to enhance the rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks, in some embodiments, when the master rotation member 130 rotates along the second direction Y, the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130 may be configured to define a second trajectory of the ice blocks. A tangent direction of an intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119 corresponding to the second trajectory may be located inside the ice return channel 160. Therefore, when the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice blocks rotates to the intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119, the ice blocks may be about to move out of the accumulating region 114 to move towards the ice transfer return port 119. At this moment, a movement direction of the ice blocks may be located inside the ice return channel 160, and the ice blocks may smoothly move to the ice return channel 160 and smoothly move to the ice preparing assembly 200 through the ice return channel 160. In this way, the ice transfer portion 110 may not be blocked. Specifically, the tangent direction of the intersection between the accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119 corresponding to the second trajectory may coincide with an extension direction of the ice return channel 160. The ice blocks may be subjected to a reduced movement resistance when moving along the ice return channel 160, and the master rotation member 130 may need to provide a reduced power to drive the ice blocks to pass through the ice return channel 160.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer device 100 may further comprise a first sensing member 171 and a second sensing member 172. The first sensing member 171 may be disposed at the ice transfer inlet 111 or the conveying channel 150. The first sensing member 171 may be configured to sense the ice blocks passing by, indicating that the ice blocks are entering the ice transfer cavity 112. The second sensing member 172 may be disposed at the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120. The second sensing member 172 may be configured to sense the ice blocks passing by, indicating that the ice blocks are moving smoothly through the ice transfer channel 120 to the ice extraction assembly 300.
Please refer to FIGS. 8 and 10, FIG. 8 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. FIG. 10 is another partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. The ice transfer portion 110 may further comprise a linking region 115 and a third sensing member 173. An inner wall of the linking region 115 may surround the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130. The linking region 115 may be connected to a side of the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113 away from the accumulating region 114. The third sensing member 173 may be disposed in the linking region 115. The third sensing member 173 may be configured to sense the ice blocks passing by. When the third sensing member 173 senses that the ice blocks are passing by, it is indicated that the master rotation member 130 does not eject the ice blocks towards the ice transfer outlet 113, and the ice blocks have to pass through the linking region 115. In this case, blocking may occur.
It should be noted that, since the ice blocks are moving at a high speed when being thrown, friction and collision may occur. Therefore, broken ice may be generated in the cavity and may not be ejected easily. As the broken ice accumulates, rotation of the master rotation member 130 may be affected.
Please refer to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an ice transfer portion of another embodiment of an ice transfer device of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, a bottom of the ice transfer portion 110 defines a via hole 118 communicating with the ice transfer cavity 112. The ice transfer device 100 may comprise a collection member 175 disposed below the ice transfer portion 110. The via hole 118 may allow the broken ice to pass through and may not allow any unbroken ice block to pass through. The collection member 175 may receive the broken ice falling through the via hole 118. The collection member 175 and the ice transfer portion 110 may be located in the first refrigeration compartment 12, and the user can remove and clean the collection member 175 by opening the first refrigeration compartment 12.
The following provides a detailed introduction to the ice preparing assembly 200.
Please refer to FIGS. 11 and 12, FIG. 11 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. FIG. 12 is an exploded schematic view of an embodiment of an ice preparing assembly of an ice preparing system to which a control method for an ice preparing system in the present disclosure is applied. In some embodiments, the ice preparing assembly 200 further comprises an ice storage box 210, an ice ejecting mechanism 220 arranged inside the ice storage box 210. The ice ejecting mechanism 220 may push the ice blocks to move from the ice storage box 210 through an ice outlet 261 of the ice preparing assembly 200 to the ice transfer inlet 111, such that the ice blocks are transferred to the ice transfer portion 110. When the user needs to take the ice blocks, under an action of the ice ejecting mechanism 220, the ice blocks in the ice storage box 210 may be transferred one by one to the ice transfer portion 110, and the ice blocks may be transferred to the ice extraction assembly 300 by the ice transfer portion 110. When taking the ice blocks needs to be stopped, the ice ejecting mechanism 220 may stop pushing the ice blocks in the ice storage box 210 and stops transferring the ice blocks to the ice transfer portion 110.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the ice preparing assembly 200 may further comprise an ice preparing member (not shown in the drawings). The ice preparing member may be disposed above the ice storage box 210. The ice preparing member prepares the ice blocks and then transfers the ice blocks to the ice storage box 210, such that the ice blocks are automatically supplied to the ice storage box 210. The ice preparing member may be an ice preparing lattice, an ice preparing screw, or any other ice preparing structure that can prepare ice, which is not limited herein. Of course, in some embodiments, the user may manually add ice blocks to the ice storage box 210.
In some embodiments, the ice ejecting mechanism 220 may comprise an ejecting rod 221 and an ejection driver member 222. The ejecting rod 221 may be rotatably arranged inside the ice storage box 210. The ejection driver member 222 may be configured to drive the ejecting rod 221 to rotate. Rotation of the ejecting rod 221 inside the ice storage box 210 may push the ice blocks to move toward the ice outlet 261 of the ice preparing assembly 200 and may stir the ice blocks inside the ice storage box 210. In this way, the ice blocks may be uniformly distributed inside the ice storage box 210, and the ice blocks are prevented from sticking to each other. Therefore, the ice outlet 261 may be arranged with a switch member for controlling the ice outlet 261 to be opened or closed. When the ice preparing assembly 200 needs to transfer ice blocks to the ice storage box 210, the switch member may be controlled to open the ice outlet 261 to transfer the ice blocks to the ice storage box 210. When the ice preparing assembly 200 does not need to transfer the ice blocks to the ice storage box 210, the switch member may be controlled to close the ice outlet 261. The ejecting rod 221 may intermittently rotate to stir the ice blocks in the ice storage box 210 to prevent the ice blocks from sticking to each other.
In some embodiments, the ejecting rod 221 may comprise a master rod 2211 and a plurality of guide members 2222. The master rod 2211 may be rotatably arranged in the ice storage box 210. An output end of the ejection driver member 222 may be connected to the master rod 2211. The plurality of guide members 2222 may be helically arranged around a periphery of the master rod 2211. The ejecting rod 221 drives the plurality of guide members 2222 to rotate synchronously, and the plurality of guide members 2222 drive the ice blocks to move towards the ice outlet 261.
Specifically, each of the plurality of guide members 2222 has a guiding surface 2223 inclined towards the ice outlet 261. As the guide member 2222 rotates, the guiding surface 2223 may push the ice blocks towards the ice outlet 261. The guide member 2222 may be in a bar shape, and the plurality of guide members 2222 may be spirally disposed around the periphery of the ejecting rod 221. Alternatively, the guide member 2222 may be in an L shape, and a corner of the L shaped guide member 2222 may be oriented towards the ice outlet 261, and the guiding surface 2223 may be inclined towards the ice outlet 261.
In some embodiments, the ice storage box 210 may have an ice storage outlet 211. The ice preparing assembly 200 further comprises an ice split wheel 240 and a split wheel driver member. The ice split wheel 240 may be rotatably disposed on a side of the ice storage box 210 having the ice storage outlet 211. The ice split wheel 240 may comprise a plurality of ice split blades 241 that are spaced apart from each other. An ice split opening 2411 may be formed between two adjacent ice split blades 241 of the plurality of ice split blades 241. A size of the ice split opening 2411 may be larger than the size of the ice block. When the ice split wheel 240 rotates, ice split openings 2411 may be alternately rotated to a position directly opposite the ice storage outlet 211. Since the ice blocks can pass between only the two adjacent ice split blades 241, and the ice splitting wheel 240 drives the ice split blades 241 to rotate to be disposed at the ice storage outlet 211, the ice blocks can only pass through the ice storage outlet 211 one by one, and any stuck ice blocks may be separated from each other. In this way, the ice blocks may be pushed out from the ice storage box 210 one by one and move towards the ice transfer device 100 one by one, preventing blockage caused by a plurality of ice blocks moving towards the ice transfer device 100 at the same time.
It should be noted that the present disclosure does not limit the specific structure of the split wheel driver member. In some embodiments, the ice split wheel 240 may be coaxially arranged with the ejecting rod 221, i.e., the ice split wheel 240 is connected to the end of the ejecting rod 221 away from the ejection driver member 222, allowing the ejection driver member 222 to drive the ice split wheel 240 to rotate. In some embodiments, the ice ejecting mechanism 220 further comprises a cover plate 260. The cover plate 260 covers an outside of the ice split wheel 240. The ice outlet 261 may be defined in the cover plate 260. The ice outlet 261 may be located in correspondence with the ice storage outlet 211. Since the cover plate 260 covers the outside of the ice split wheel 240 and is arranged on the ice storage box 210, a position of the cover plate 260 may be fixed. Defining the ice outlet 261 in the cover plate 260 allows the ice outlet 261 to be stably docked with the ice transfer device 100. The ice outlet 261 may be communicated to the ice transfer inlet 111 through an ice transfer channel. In order to facilitate the ice blocks to pass through the ice outlet 261, the size of the ice outlet 261 may be larger than the size of the ice block.
Based on the ice preparing system mentioned above, the following provides a detailed description of a control method for the ice preparing system provided by the present disclosure.
Please refer to FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a control method for an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure. The control method for the ice preparing system may comprise following operations.
An operation S101 may comprise: judging whether ice jamming occurs.
It should be noted that, during the operation of the ice preparing system, the ice preparing assembly 200 pushes ice blocks into the ice transfer device 100 through the ice transfer inlet 111. The master rotation member 130 in the ice transfer device 100 drives the ice blocks to rotate and ejects the ice blocks at the ice transfer outlet 113 toward the ice transfer channel 120. The ice blocks eventually move to the ice extraction assembly 300 through the ice transfer channel 120. However, during the actual ejection process of the master rotation member 130, due to various reasons, such as the position of the ice blocks in the master rotation member 130, friction and collision of the ice blocks in the ice transfer channel 120, and changes of the friction force applying to the master rotation member 130 during the rotation, etc., the ice blocks may fail to be ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120, and thus the ice blocks may fall back to the ice transfer outlet 113 and detain at the ice transfer outlet 113. In this case, when the ice preparing assembly 200 continues to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device and the fallen ice blocks are not promptly cleared, a large number of ice blocks may be jammed in the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice transfer device 100, causing ice jamming. When the ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system, the ice transfer device 100 fails, affecting normal ice taking by users and potentially damaging the ice preparing system.
In the control method for the ice preparing system provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, whether ice jamming occurs is judged, i.e., whether ice blocks have not been successfully ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120 and have fallen back to the ice transfer outlet 113 is judged. In this way, by promptly clearing such ice blocks that have not been successfully ejected out, avoiding system malfunctions caused by a plurality of ice blocks being jammed in the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice transfer device 100.
The present disclosure does not limit the method for judging whether ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the ice transfer device 100 may comprise a second sensing member 172. The second sensing member 172 is disposed at the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120 to sense the passage of ice blocks. That is, when the second sensing member 172 senses the passage of ice blocks, it indicates that ice blocks have been successfully ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120. Therefore, whether ice jamming occurs may be judged by sensing whether ice blocks pass through the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120 within a second preset duration. The second preset duration may be set based on the time interval between the ejection of adjacent two groups of ice blocks through the ice transfer channel 120, which is not limited in the present disclosure. When the second sensing member 172 does not sense ice blocks passing through within the second preset duration, ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system. When the second sensing member 172 senses ice blocks passing through during the second preset duration, no ice jamming occurs, and the timer for the second preset duration is reset after the second sensing member 172 senses the passage of ice blocks.
As shown in FIG. 10, in other embodiments, the ice transfer portion 110 of the ice transfer device 100 may comprise a linking region 115 and a third sensing member 173. An inner wall of the linking region 115 surrounds an outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, and is connected between the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice transfer portion 110 may comprise an accumulating region 114, the linking region 115 is connected to the sides of ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113 away from the accumulating region 114. The third sensing member 173 is configured to sense the passage of ice blocks. It should be noted that the second sensing member 172 and the third sensing member 173 may be microswitches or photoelectric sensors, which are not limited. When ice blocks are not successfully ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120, the ice blocks fall back along the ice transfer channel 120. At this time, the master rotation member 130 rotates in the first direction X, causing the ice blocks to be driven by the master rotation member 130 to pass through the linking region 115. Therefore, whether ice jamming occurs may be judged by sensing whether ice blocks pass through the linking region 115. When the third sensing member 173 senses ice blocks passing through the linking region 115, the ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system; otherwise, no ice jamming occurs.
An operation S102 may comprise: when ice jamming occurs, controlling the ice preparing assembly 200 to stop delivering ice block for a first preset duration and controlling the master rotation member 130 to clear ice block.
When it is determined that ice jamming occurs in the ice preparing system, the ice preparing assembly 200 is controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration, and the master rotation member 130 is controlled to clear ice blocks. It should be understood that the clearing of ice blocks by the master rotation member 130 should be performed within the first preset duration. The ice preparing assembly 200 is configured to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100. By controlling the ice preparing assembly 200 to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration, the delivery of ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100 may be paused, allowing the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks during the first preset duration. After the first preset duration, the ice preparing assembly 200 resumes normal operation. Thus, in the control method for the ice preparing system provided by the present disclosure, after ice jamming is determined, the ice preparing assembly 200 is controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration and clears the ice blocks within the first preset duration, effectively avoiding system malfunctions caused by the accumulation of a plurality of ice blocks in the ice transfer device 100.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ice preparing assembly 200 of the ice preparing system may comprise an ice storage box 210 and an ice ejecting mechanism 220 disposed in the ice storage box 210. The ice ejecting mechanism 220 pushes ice blocks from the ice storage box 210 to the ice transfer inlet 111 through the ice outlet 261 of the ice preparing assembly 200. Therefore, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration by controlling the ice ejecting mechanism 220 to stop working for the first preset duration. In other embodiments, the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed with a switch to control opening and closing of the ice outlet. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration by controlling the switch to close the ice outlet for the first preset duration.
It should be noted that the present disclosure does not limit the duration of the first preset duration, which may be determined based on the duration required for the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks.
The present disclosure does not limit the method for the master rotation member 130 to clear the fallen ice blocks. For example, the fallen ice blocks may be re-ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120 or returned to the ice preparing assembly 200.
As shown in FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the master rotation member 130 clears the fallen ice blocks by re-ejecting them out through the ice transfer channel 120. Controlling the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks comprises: controlling the master rotation member 130 to rotate at a first speed in the first direction X to re-eject the ice blocks, where the first speed is greater than the original speed of the master rotation member 130. The original speed refers to the speed of the master rotation member 130 before being adjusted to the first speed. For example, during normal operation of the ice preparing system, the rotation speed of the master rotation member 130 is V1. When ice blocks are not successfully ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120, the master rotation member 130 is controlled to rotate at speed V2 in the first direction X to re-eject the ice blocks. Here, V1 is the original speed of the master rotation member 130, and V2 is the first speed, and V2 is greater than V1. Of course, in some embodiments, in a case where the master rotation member 130 rotates at speed V2 in the first direction X, when the ice blocks are still not successfully ejected out through the ice transfer channel 120, ice jamming occurs again in the ice preparing system. The ice preparing assembly 200 is again controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration, and the master rotation member 130 is controlled to clear the ice blocks. During this the process of controlling the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks, the original speed of the master rotation member 130 is V2, the master rotation member 130 is controlled to rotate at the first speed in the first direction X, that is, the speed of the master rotation member 130 is adjusted from V2 to V3. At this time, the first speed of the master rotation member is V3, and V3 is greater than V2.
As shown in FIG. 8, in other embodiments, the ice transfer cavity 112 may comprise an ice transfer return port 119, and the ice transfer device 100 may comprise an ice return channel 160. The ice return channel 160 may be communicated to the ice transfer return port 119. The height of an ice outlet end 160a of the ice return channel 160 may be lower than that of the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120. The master rotation member 130 may rotate in the second direction Y and drive the ice blocks disposed in the ice transfer cavity 112 to eject from the ice transfer return port 119 to the ice return channel 160. The second direction Y may be opposite to the first direction X. In this embodiment, the fallen ice blocks may be cleared by returning ice blocks to the ice preparing assembly 200. Controlling the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks may comprise: controlling the master rotation member 130 to rotate in the second direction Y to eject the ice blocks toward the ice return channel 160. It should be noted that, since the height of the ice outlet end 160a of the ice return channel 160 is lower than that of the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120, the ice blocks may pass through the ice return channel 160 at a relatively lower speed and return to the ice preparing assembly 200, reducing the probability of ice blocks failing to be ejected out through the ice return channel 160.
It should be noted that, since the ice preparing assembly 200 delivers ice blocks continuously, when the first fallen ice block is detected by the ice preparing system, the ice preparing assembly 200 may have already delivered several ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100. Generally, the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice transfer device 100 has a maximum capacity, and the maximum capacity may be determined based on parameters such as the size of the ice blocks, the size of the ice transfer cavity 112, the size of the master rotation member 130, the hardness of the flexible member on the master rotation member 130, and the power of the driving member controlling the rotation of the master rotation member 130. For example, the number of ice blocks corresponding to the maximum capacity of the ice transfer cavity 112 is 5-8 ice blocks. When the number of ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112 does not exceed the number corresponding to the maximum capacity of the ice transfer cavity 112, the master rotation member 130 may eject out all the ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112. However, when the number of ice blocks exceeds the number corresponding to the maximum capacity of the ice transfer cavity 112 or the ice transfer channel 120 blocks, the ice blocks may circulate continuously in the ice transfer cavity 112, requiring manual troubleshooting and then resetting and restarting. Therefore, when ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice preparing system, manual troubleshooting is required.
Please refer to FIG. 14, FIG. 14 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the control method for the ice preparing system may comprise following operations.
An operation S201 may comprise: judging whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112.
When ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice preparing system, the second sensing member 172 and the third sensing member 173 may continuously detect ice jamming, causing the ice jamming signal to generated repeatedly. The second sensing member 172 judges whether ice jamming occurs by detecting whether ice blocks pass through the ice outlet end 120a of the ice transfer channel 120 within the second preset duration. The third sensing member 173 judges whether ice jamming occurs by detecting whether ice blocks pass through the linking region 115, i.e., whether ice blocks pass through the third sensing member 173. When a plurality of ice blocks circulate in the ice transfer cavity 112, they may sequentially pass through the third sensing member 173. The present disclosure takes the third sensing member 173 detecting whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112 as an example.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise a linking region 115 and a third sensing member 173. An inner wall of the linking region 115 surrounds the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, and is connected between the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113. The third sensing member 173 is disposed at the linking region 115 to sense the passage of ice blocks. Please refer to FIG. 15, FIG. 15 is a flowchart of judging whether ice circulation occurs in an ice transfer cavity in a control method for the ice preparing system according to the present disclosure. The operation S201 may comprise following operations.
An operation S211 may comprise: recording the number of ice jamming that occurs within a third preset duration.
When ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112, the frequency of the third sensing member 173 sensing ice blocks passing through increases. The ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112 are driven to rotate by the master rotation member 130. That is, the third sensing member 173 may sense a plurality of ice blocks passing through during the master rotation member 130 complete one rotation. The present disclosure does not limit the duration of the third preset duration, for example, the third preset duration may be set based on the duration required for the master rotation member 130 to complete one rotation. The duration for the master rotation member 130 to complete one rotation depends on its rotation speed, and the rotation speed may be adjusted during the clearing fallen ice blocks. Therefore, in some embodiments, the third preset duration may be updated as the rotation speed of the master rotation member 130 changes.
An operation S212 may comprise: judging whether the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds a preset value.
Whether the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds a preset value may be determined by comparing the cumulative number of ice blocks sensed by the third sensing member 173 within the third preset duration with the preset value. When ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112, the number of ice blocks passing through the third sensing member 173 during one rotation of the master rotation member 130 is equal to the number of ice blocks accumulated in the ice transfer cavity 112. Therefore, the preset value may be determined based on the third preset duration and the number corresponding to the maximum capacity of the ice transfer cavity 112.
An operation S213 may comprise: when the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds the preset value, determining that ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112.
When the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds the preset value, it is determined that ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112. Otherwise, no ice circulation occurs.
An operation S202 may comprise: when the ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112, controlling the master rotation member 130 to stop working.
When ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112 of the ice preparing system, the master rotation member 130 cannot automatically clear the ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112, manual clearing and troubleshooting is required. Therefore, the master rotation member 130 is required to be controlled to stop working to facilitate manual clearing of the accumulated ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112. Of course, in some embodiments, an alarm device in the ice preparing system or the refrigeration device 10 to which the ice preparing system is applied may be controlled to alert users to promptly clear the ice blocks in the ice transfer cavity 112.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, in the control method for the ice preparing system, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be controlled to immediately stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration and the master rotation member 130 is controlled to clear the ice blocks when the third sensing member 173 senses ice blocks passing through. The timer for the third preset duration and the counter for the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration may be started at the same time as the third sensing member 173 senses ice blocks passing through. When the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds the preset value, the master rotation member 130 is controlled to stop working. Otherwise, the timer and counter are reset, and the ice preparing system resumes normal operation after the first preset duration.
In some embodiments, in the control method for the ice preparing system, the timer for the third preset duration and the counter for the number of ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration may be started after the third sensing member 173 senses ice blocks passing through. When no ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112, the ice preparing assembly 200 is controlled to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration, and the master rotation member 130 is controlled to clear the ice blocks. When ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112, the master rotation member 130 is controlled to stop working, and the ice preparing assembly 200 is controlled to stop delivering ice blocks.
Please refer to FIG. 16, FIG. 16 is a structural block diagram of a control apparatus of an ice preparing system according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system. When the ice preparing system is applied to the refrigeration device 10, the control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system may be integrated into the controller of the refrigeration device 10. The control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system may comprise an ice preparing assembly 200, an ice transfer device 100, and an ice extraction assembly 300. The ice transfer device 100 is connected between the ice preparing assembly 200 and the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice preparing assembly 200 is configured to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device. The ice transfer device 100 may comprise an ice transfer portion 110, an ice transfer channel 120, and a master rotation member 130. The ice transfer portion 110 has an ice transfer inlet 111, an ice transfer cavity 112, and an ice transfer outlet 113 communicated with each other. The master rotation member 130 is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity 112, the ice transfer outlet 113 and the ice transfer inlet 111 are located on the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, and the master rotation member 130 may be rotatable in a first direction X and drive ice blocks, which enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet 113, towards the ice transfer channel 120. For detailed explanations of the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice transfer device 100, and the ice extraction assembly 300 in the ice preparing system, please refer to the embodiments of the ice preparing system to which the control method is applied, which will not be repeated here.
The control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system may comprise a judgment module 610 and a control module 620. The judgment module 610 is configured to judge whether ice jamming occurs. The control module 620 is configured to, when ice jamming is determined to occur, control the ice preparing assembly 200 to stop delivering ice blocks for a first preset duration and control the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks.
In other embodiments, the judgment module 610 is further configured to judge whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112. The control module 620 is further configured to control the master rotation member 130 to stop working. For example, the judgment module 610 may comprise a first judgment unit and a second judgment unit. The first judgment unit is configured to judge whether ice jamming occurs, and the second judgment unit is configured to judge whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity 112. The control module 620 may comprise a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit is configured to control the ice preparing assembly 200 to stop delivering ice blocks for the first preset duration and control the master rotation member 130 to clear the ice blocks. The second control unit is configured to control the master rotation member 130 to stop working.
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system provided by the present disclosure may be implemented as a computer program running on the controller of the refrigeration device 10. The controller may store various program modules constituting the control apparatus of the ice preparing system, such as the judgment module 610 and the control module 620 shown in FIG. 16. The computer program formed by these program modules causes the controller to perform the operations of the control method for the ice preparing system described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the controller of the refrigeration device 10 may perform the operation S101 through the first judgment unit of the judgment module 610 in the control apparatus 600 of the ice preparing system, perform the operation S201 through the second judgment unit of the judgment module 610, perform the operation S102 through the first control unit of the control module 620, and perform the operation S202 through the second control unit of the control module 620.
Please refer to FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is another overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigeration device 10 is provided. The refrigeration device 10 may comprise an ice preparing system and a controller. The ice preparing system may comprise an ice preparing assembly 200, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly 300. The ice transfer device 100 is connected between the ice preparing assembly 200 and the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice preparing assembly 200 is configured to deliver ice blocks to the ice transfer device 100. The ice transfer device 100 may comprise an ice transfer portion 110, an ice transfer channel 120, and a master rotation member 130. The ice transfer portion 110 has an ice transfer inlet 111, an ice transfer cavity 112, and an ice transfer outlet 113 communicated with each other. The master rotation member 130 is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity 112, the ice transfer outlet 113 and the ice transfer inlet 111 are located on the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, and the master rotation member 130 may be rotatable in a first direction X and drive ice blocks, which enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet 113, towards the ice transfer channel 120. For detailed explanations of the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice transfer device 100, and the ice extraction assembly 300 in the ice preparing system, please refer to the embodiments of the ice preparing system to which the control method is applied, which will not be repeated here. The controller is configured to perform the operations of any of the above control methods for the ice preparing system.
In some embodiments, the refrigeration device 10 comprises a device body 11, the first refrigeration compartment 12, the second refrigeration compartment 13, the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice extraction assembly 300, and the ice transfer device 100. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may be disposed in the device body 11, and the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a first door 14. The second refrigeration compartment 13 may be disposed in the device body 11, and the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be located above the first refrigeration compartment 12. The second refrigeration compartment 13 may comprise a second door 15 rotatably arranged in the device body 11. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The ice extraction assembly 300 may be disposed on the second door 15. The ice transfer device 100 may comprise the ice transfer channel 120, the ice transfer portion 110, and the ice transfer assembly 101. The ice transfer portion 110 may be disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The ice transfer channel 120 may extend from the first refrigeration compartment 12 to the second refrigeration compartment 13. The ice transfer portion 110 may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly 200, and the ice transfer assembly 101 may be disposed in the ice transfer portion 110 to drive the ice blocks to be transferred from the ice transfer portion 110 towards the ice transfer channel 120. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may be a freezer room, and the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be a chilling room. The ice transfer device 100 may transfer the ice blocks from the first refrigeration compartment 12 to the ice extraction assembly 300 of the second refrigeration compartment 13 located above the first refrigeration compartment 12. In this way, the user may easily take the ice blocks, improving the user experience. Since the ice preparing assembly 200 is arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12, the ice preparing assembly 200 and the first refrigeration compartment 12 may share one cold source, a case of arranging the independent evaporator for preparing the ice blocks, caused by the ice preparing assembly 200 being arranged in the second refrigeration compartment 13, may be avoided. In this way, costs may be saved, a space of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may not be occupied, such that a volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be improved. The refrigeration device 10 of the present embodiment may have an improved ice extraction efficiency, and space occupation of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be avoided.
The ice transfer device 100 may be configured as the ice transfer device 100 in any of the above embodiments, and an ice transfer assembly 101 may comprise the master rotation member 130 in any of the above embodiments or any other driver member that enables ice ejecting.
Docking between various mechanisms of the ice transfer device 100 may all be configured in a form of flared ports. An inner diameter of the ice transfer channel 120 may be larger than the size of the ice block, such that the ice blocks may be prevented from being stuck during being transferred.
The ice transfer channel 120 in the refrigeration device 10 of the present disclosure may be disposed inside the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or the second refrigeration compartment 13, or disposed on a side wall of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or a side wall of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or disposed on the door of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or the door of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or disposed on a rotation shaft of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or a rotation shaft of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or disposed at any other location in which the ice transfer channel 120 may be arranged. Various technical solutions showing a location of the refrigeration device 10 at which the ice transfer channel 120 may be arranged will be described in detail below.

<First technical solution>:

Please refer to FIGS. 19 and 20, FIG. 19 is a structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is another structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise a first portion 125, a second portion 126, and a third portion 127 that are connected with each other sequentially. The second portion 126 may be rotatably connected to the first portion 125 and/or the third portion 127. The first portion 125 may be disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12 or the first door 14. The first portion 125 may be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113 of the ice transfer portion 110. The second portion 126 may be disposed between the first door 14 and the second door 15. The third portion 127 may be disposed in the second door 15. The third portion 127 may be communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300. A rotation axis of the second door 15 may be disposed inside the second portion 126. The ice transfer assembly 101 may drive the ice blocks to move out from the ice transfer portion 110 towards the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice blocks may pass through the first portion 125, the second portion 126, and the third portion 127 sequentially and then enter the ice extraction assembly 300.
The second portion 126 is disposed between the first door 14 and the second door 15, and the rotation axis of the second door 15 is located inside the second portion 126. Therefore, during the second door 15 rotating to be opened and closed with respect to the device body, the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 may remain docked to each other at all times, and sealing performance of the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 may be proper, such that condensation due to poor docking may be avoided.
It is to be noted that the rotation axis of the second door 15 may coincide with a central axis of the second portion 126, ensuring that the third portion 127 always maintains proper docking with the second portion 126 during the second door 15 rotating. In practice, due to a cross sectional shape of pipes and any manufacturing and installation deviation, the rotation axis of the second door 15 may be deviated from the central axis of the second portion 126, however, the rotation axis of the second door 15 only needs to be located inside the second portion 126, and it is only required that rotation of the second door 15 does not affect the docking between the second portion 126 and the third portion 127 and does not affect the ice blocks passing through the second portion 126.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 20, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a top wall 19, a bottom wall, a rear wall 18, and a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17 that connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The first side wall 16 may be disposed near the second portion 126. The ice transfer portion 110 may be disposed in the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12. Specifically, the top wall 19 and the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may enclose to form a receiving space. The ice transfer portion 110 may be received in the receiving space and may be fixedly disposed on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. Similarly, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be received in the receiving space and may be fixedly disposed on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By disposing the ice preparing assembly 200 near the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that a height at which the ice blocks need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be shortened, a power needs to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, improving the rate of successively transfer the ice blocks.
The first portion 125 needs to extend to be connected with the second portion 126, and the second portion 126 is disposed between the first door 14 and the second door 15. Therefore, when the ice transfer portion 110 is disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12, the first door 14 defines an avoidance groove matching the first portion 125, providing space to allow the first portion 125 to extend outwardly from an inside of the first refrigeration compartment 12 to be connected with the second portion 126. At this moment, the ice transfer portion 110 may be fixed to the first refrigeration compartment 12, the first portion 125 may be communicated to the ice transfer portion 110 and the second portion 126. A position of the first portion 125 may be kept fixed. The first portion 125 may be relatively independent of the first door 14. The first door 14 may be rotatably arranged with the device body 11. Alternatively, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may further comprise a first drawer, and the first door 14 may be arranged with the first drawer, the first drawer may be pushable and pullable with respect to the device body 11.
Of course, As shown FIG. 19, the ice transfer portion 110 may alternatively be arranged in the first door 14. When the first door 14 is rotatably arranged with the device body 11, a rotation axis of the first door 14 may be disposed inside the second portion 126. The second portion 126 is disposed between the first door 14 and the second door 15, and the rotation axis of the first door 14 is disposed inside the second portion 126. Therefore, during the first door 14 rotating to be opened and closed with respect to the device body, the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may also remain docked to each other at all times. Sealing performance of the pipes of the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may be proper, and condensation due to poor docking or poor sealing may be avoided. It should be noted that at this moment, the ice transfer inlet 111 of the ice transfer portion 110 may be detached from the ice preparing assembly 200 as the first door 14 being opened. After the first door 14 is closed, the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may be communicated and docked to each other. Therefore, the ice preparing assembly 200 smoothly transferring the ice blocks to the ice transfer portion 110 may not be affected. The ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may comprise an ice outlet of the ice storage box of the ice preparing assembly 200 or the ice outlet of the conveying channel 150.
In order to realize relative rotation of the second door 15 and the device body 11 and achieve docking of various portions of the ice transfer channel 120, in some embodiments, the second refrigeration compartment 13 may comprise a first rotation shaft member (not shown in the drawings) and a second rotation shaft member that are coaxially arranged to each other. A side of the second door 15 away from the first door 14 may be rotatably connected to the device body 11 via the first rotation shaft member. The second rotation shaft member may be disposed on a side of the second door 15 near the first door 14. The second rotation shaft member may be the second portion 126. The first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may be fixedly connected or integrally formed with each other. The second portion 126 and the third portion 127 may be rotatably connected to each other. In this way, the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 always remain docked to each other. The second door 15 may rotate to drive the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 to synchronously rotate. Alternatively, the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may be rotatably connected to each other. The second portion 126 and the third portion 127 may be fixedly connected or integrally formed with each other. In this way, the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 always remain docked to each other. The second door 15 may rotate to drive the third portion 127 to rotate.
In some embodiments, the second refrigeration compartment 13 may comprise the first rotation shaft member and the second rotation shaft member that are coaxially arranged with each other. The side of the second door 15 away from the first door 14 may be rotatably connected to the device body 11 via the first rotation shaft member. The second rotation shaft member may be disposed on the side of the second door 15 near the first door 14. The second rotation shaft member may be the second portion 126. Two ends of the second portion 126 may respectively sleeve outside of or may be inserted into the third portion 127 and the first portion 125. Since the two ends of the second portion 126 may be rotatable with respect to the first portion 125 and the third portion 127 respectively, the second portion 126 may be stably docked with the first portion 125 and the third portion 127. Furthermore, by arranging the two ends of the second portion 126 to sleeve the outside of or to be inserted inside the third portion 127 and the first portion 125 respectively, it is ensured that the ice blocks can move smoothly through the first portion 125, the second portion 126, and the third portion 127 sequentially and then reach the ice extraction assembly 300. Specifically, the second portion 126 may be fixed with the device body 11, or the second portion 126 may be rotatably connected with the device body 11, which will not be limited herein.
Further, the third portion 127 may comprise an ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122. The ice transfer section 121 may be communicated to the second portion 126. The guiding section 122 may be communicated to the ice transfer section 121 and may be bent toward the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition is formed from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122. Specifically, the ice transfer section 121 may extend along the vertical direction to shorten the distance that the ice blocks rise along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending in a direction having a small angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the third portion 127 may be curved in overall to ensure that the ice blocks may rise stably and ensure that the third portion 127 is communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300.
Specifically, the angle of the intersection between the guiding section 122 and the ice transfer section 121 may be greater than 90° and less than 180°, so as to prevent the ice blocks from falling back into the ice transfer section 121 due to a turning angle from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122 being excessively sharp, ensuring the ice blocks to smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel 120 to move to the ice extraction assembly 300.

<Second technical solution>:

Please refer to FIGS. 21 and 22, FIG. 21 is a structural schematic view of a second technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a door body of a second technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise a first sub-channel 123 and a second sub-channel 124 that are sequentially communicated to each other. The second sub-channel 124 may be defined in the second door 15 and may be partially defined in a handle 1501. The second sub-channel 124 may be communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300, and the first sub-channel 123 may be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113 of the ice transfer portion 110. The ice transfer assembly 101 may drive the ice blocks to move out from the ice transfer portion 110 to the ice transfer channel 120. The ice blocks may pass through the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 sequentially and then enter the ice extraction assembly 300. By combining the handle 1501 with the second sub-channel 124, the handle 1501 may be configured as a hollow structure having a channel therein, and the second sub-channel 124 may be defined in the second door 15 and partially defined in the handle 1501. In this way, when opening and closing the second door 15, the handle 1501 may bear a load for opening the door 15; and when the ice blocks need to be taken, the ice blocks may be moved to the ice extraction assembly 300 through the second sub-channel 124. In this way, a volume in the second refrigeration compartment 13 to be occupied by the second sub-channel 124 may be reduced, and the volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be improved.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the top wall 19, the bottom wall, the rear wall 18, and the first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 that connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The first side wall 16 may be disposed near the second portion 126. The top wall 19 and the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may enclose to form the receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed in the receiving space, and the ice preparing assembly 200 may be fixedly disposed on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 near the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that the height at which the ice blocks need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be reduced, and the power that the ice transfer assembly 101 needs to provide may be reduced, and the rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks may be improved.
The second sub-channel 124 may comprise the ice transfer section 121, a linking section 128, and the guiding section 122. The ice transfer section 121 may be defined in the handle 1501. The linking section 128 may communicate the first sub-channel 123 with the ice transfer section 121. The guiding section 122 may be communicated to the ice transfer section 121 and may be bent toward the ice extraction assembly 300. The guiding section 122 may be disposed higher than the ice extraction assembly 300 to facilitate the ice blocks to fall from the guiding section 122 into the ice extraction assembly 300 based on the gravity. A smooth transition is formed between inner walls of the ice transfer section 121, the linking section 128, and the guiding section 122.
In order to ensure that the ice blocks can smoothly pass through the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 to enter the ice extraction assembly 300, the ice blocks form a moving trajectory during moving in the ice transfer channel 120. A tangent direction of each position of the moving trajectory has an angle of greater than 90° and less than or equal to 180° with respect to the direction of gravity. In this way, the ice blocks may rise smoothly along the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 and may be prevented from falling due to having an excessively sharp turning angle. Further, the angle between the tangent direction of each position of the moving trajectory and the direction of gravity may be greater than 135° and less than or equal to 180°. In this way, a path in which the ice blocks rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be smoother, the power required for driving the ice blocks may be smaller, fewer collisions may be caused, and noise during moving may be smaller, and therefore, the user experience may be improved.
It should be noted that the height of the guiding section 122 may be higher than that of the ice extraction assembly 300, and the guiding section 122 may be bent downwardly to be connected to the ice extraction assembly 300. When the ice blocks are falling along the guiding section 122, an angle between the moving direction of the ice blocks and the direction of gravity may be less than 90°. Therefore, the above moving trajectory may refer to an upwardly moving trajectory of the ice blocks in the ice transfer channel 120, and a moving trajectory in which the ice blocks fall towards the ice extraction assembly 300 after entering the guiding section 122 may be excluded.
Due to the ice transfer assembly 101, the ice blocks may quickly pass through the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice blocks may pass through the ice transfer section 121 defined in the handle 1501 in a short period of time, and an ambient temperature outside the refrigeration device 10 may have almost no effect on the ice blocks. However, in some embodiments, an outside of the handle 1501 may be wrapped by a temperature insulating layer. The temperature insulating layer may reduce a heat exchange between an interior of the handle 1501 and the ambient. In this way, quality of the ice blocks may not be affected due to the ambient temperature being excessively high, and condensation may be prevented from being formed on the handle 1501 due to the interior of the handle 1501 having an excessively low temperature, such that the user experience may be improved.
Since the ice transfer device 100 may usually be arranged in a refrigeration device 10 having double doors, the handle 1501 may usually be located far away from the rotation axis of the second door 15. In order to facilitate docking of the ice transfer portion 110 with the second sub-channel 124, the ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged in the first door 14, and the first sub-channel 123 may be defined in the first door 14. The ice transfer portion 110 may synchronously move as the first door 14 being opened or closed. When the first door 14 is closed on the device body 11, the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 may be docked to each other. Since the first sub-channel 123 is defined in the first door 14 and the second sub-channel 124 is defined in the second door 15, a certain gap may be formed between the first door 14 and the second door 15. In most cases, the gap may be small, the ice blocks may directly pass through the gap between the first door 14 and the second door 15. In some embodiments, an end of the linking section 128 near the first door 14 may protrude out of the second door 15, and the end of the linking section 128 near the first door 14 may be arranged directly opposite to the first sub-channel 123. The linking section 128 protruding out of the second door 15 may further reduce the gap between the linking section 128 and the first sub-channel 123, reducing dissipation of coldness.
Of course, in some single door refrigeration devices, the ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12, and the ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged on the second sidewall 17 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 near the handle 1501. The first sub-channel 123 may be defined the first compartment. A spacer layer 102 may be disposed between the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13. An intermediate channel 129 may be defined in the spacer layer 102 for connecting the first sub-channel 123 with the second sub-channel 124. In this case, the second door 15 may protrude toward the second refrigeration compartment 13 to facilitate the second sub-channel 124 to directly face and to be connected to the intermediate channel 129.
Further, the ice transfer portion 110 may have a reference plane. The reference plane of the ice transfer portion 110 may be parallel to the rear wall 18 of the first refrigeration compartment 12. An extended thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 perpendicular to the reference plane may be less than an extended thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 parallel to the reference plane. In this way, the ice transfer portion 110 may be embedded in the first door 14 in overall, and a volume of the first refrigeration compartment 12 occupied by the ice transfer portion 110 may be reduced.
In some embodiments, the first door 14 may be rotatably arranged with the device body 11. In other embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the first drawer, the first drawer may be slidably arranged with the device body 11, and the first door 14 may be fixed to the first drawer. When the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged in the first door 14, as the first door 14 is rotated or pushed and pulled to be opened or closed, the ice transfer portion 110 and the first sub-channel 123 may move accordingly. In this case, the first sub-channel 123 may be staggered with the second sub-channel 124 when the first door 14 is opened; and after the first door 14 is closed, the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 may directly face each other without affecting transfer of the ice blocks.
In addition, the ice transfer inlet 111 of the ice transfer portion 110 may be detached from the ice preparing assembly 200 as the first door 14 being opened. After the first door 14 is closed, the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may be communicated and docked to each other, without affecting proper operation of the ice transfer portion 110. In order to facilitate docking of the ice transfer inlet 111 with the ice preparing assembly 200, an opening diameter of the ice transfer inlet 111 may be larger than an opening diameter of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. When the first door 14 is closed to the device body 11, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be docked to an outside of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200, enabling the ice blocks to enter the ice transfer inlet 111 from the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. The ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may comprise the ice outlet of the ice storage box of the ice preparing assembly 200 or the ice outlet of the conveying channel 150.

< Third technical solution>:

Please refer to FIGS. 23 and 24, FIG. 23 is a structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 24 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion A shown in FIG. 23.
The ice transfer portion 110 may be disposed in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 that are communicated with each other sequentially. The second sub-channel 124 may be defined in the second door 15. The first sub-channel 123 may be defined in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The second sub-channel 124 may be communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300, and the first sub-channel 123 may be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113 of the ice transfer portion 110. The ice transfer assembly 101 may drive the ice blocks to move from the ice transfer portion 110 to the ice transfer channel 120. The ice blocks may pass through the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 sequentially and then enter the ice extraction assembly 300.
By defining the second sub-channel 124 in the second door 15, the internal space of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may not occupied. The volume ratio of the refrigeration device 10 may be improved, and no additional bump may be arranged to an outer appearance of the refrigeration device 10, such that aesthetic of the outer appearance may be improved.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the top wall 19, the bottom wall, the rear wall 18, and the first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 that connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The top wall 19 and the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may enclose to form the receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be received in the receiving space, and the ice preparing assembly 200 may be fixedly disposed on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 near the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, the height in which the ice blocks may rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be reduced, and the power that needs to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, such that the rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks may be improved.
Since the ice transfer portion 110 is located in the first refrigeration compartment 12, in order to facilitate docking between the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124, the device body 11 may further comprise the spacer layer 102. The spacer layer 102 may be disposed between the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13. The spacer layer 102 may define the intermediate channel 129, and the intermediate channel 129 may be communicated between the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124. In this case, the second door 15 may protrude towards the second refrigeration compartment 13, and the inlet end of the second sub-channel 124 may be directly opposite to the outlet end of the intermediate channel 129, facilitating the second sub-channel 124 to directly face and to be docked with the intermediate channel 129. During opening the second door 15, the second sub-channel 124 may be staggered with the intermediate channel 129; and when the second door 15 is closed on the device body 11, the second sub-channel 124 may be docked with the intermediate channel 129. By defining the first sub-channel 123 in the first refrigeration compartment 12 and docking the intermediate channel 129 with the second sub-channel 124, the entire ice transfer channel 120 may be arranged inside the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13, and the docking may be achieved more easily.
Specifically, the ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12.
Since the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged inside the first refrigeration compartment 12, in order not to affect a user in using the first refrigeration compartment 12, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise a reference plane, the reference plane of the ice transfer portion 110 may be perpendicular to the rear wall 18 of the first refrigeration compartment 12. The extension thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 perpendicular to the reference plane may be less than the extension thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 parallel to the reference plane. In this way, the entire ice transfer portion 110 may be attached to the first side wall 16, such that the ice transfer portion 110 may not affect the user in using the first refrigeration compartment 12.
Specifically, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed near the rear wall 18 with respect to the ice transfer port 110. The ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice transfer outlet 113 are oriented in a direction parallel to the reference plane. The ice transfer inlet 111 may face toward the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice transfer outlet 113 may face toward the second refrigeration compartment 13, and the first sub-channel 123 may be vertically extending to be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113.
In order to facilitate docking between the ice transfer channel 120 and the ice transfer portion 110 to enable the ice blocks ejected from the ice transfer portion 110 into the ice transfer channel 120 to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 more easily, the second sub-channel 124 of the ice transfer channel 120 may be disposed at a side of the ice extraction assembly 300 near the rotation axis of the second door 15. In this case, by considering a position of the ice transfer portion 110, the second sub-channel 124 and the first sub-channel 123 may be communicated to each other linearly, such that the ice blocks may move through the ice transfer channel 120 more easily to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Further, as shown in FIG. 25, FIG. 25 is another structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. The second sub-channel 124 may comprise the ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122. The ice transfer section 121 may be communicated to the first sub-channel 123. The guiding section 122 may be communicated to the ice transfer section 121 and bent towards the ice extraction assembly 300. The smooth transition is formed from the ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122. Specifically, the ice transfer section 121 may be extending in the vertical direction to shorten the distance that the ice blocks rise along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending along the direction having a small angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the second sub-channel 124 in overall may be curved to ensure that the ice blocks can stably rise to enter the ice extraction assembly 300.
Specifically, the angle between the guiding section 122 and the ice transfer section 121 may be greater than 90° and less than 180°, such that the ice blocks may be prevented from falling back into the ice transfer section 121, which may be caused by the ice blocks moving from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122 at an excessively sharp angle. In this way, it is ensured that the ice blocks can smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.

<Fourth technical solution>:

Please refer to FIGS. 26 and 27, FIG. 26 is a structural schematic view of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a door body of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged in the first door 14. The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 that are communicated to each other sequentially. The first sub-channel 123 may be defined in the first door 14, and the second sub-channel 124 may be defined in the second door 15. The second sub-channel 124 may be communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300, and the first sub-channel 123 may further be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113 of the ice transfer portion 110. The ice transfer assembly 101 may drive the ice blocks to move out of the ice transfer portion 110 to the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice blocks may pass through the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 sequentially and then enter the ice extraction assembly 300.
By defining the first sub-channel 123 in the first door 14 and defining the second sub-channel 124 in the second door 15, the inner space of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13 may not be occupied, such that the volume ratio of the refrigeration device 10 may be improved, and no additional protrusion is formed at the outer appearance of the refrigeration device 10. Therefore, aesthetics of the outer appearance of the refrigeration device 10 may be improved.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the top wall 19, the bottom wall, the rear wall 18, and the first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 that connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The top wall 19 and the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may enclose to form the receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be received in the receiving space, and the ice preparing assembly 200 may be fixedly disposed on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 near the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, the height in which the ice blocks may rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be reduced, and the power that needs to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, such that the rate of successfully transferring the ice blocks may be improved.
The ice transfer channel 120 may further comprise the intermediate channel 129. The intermediate channel 129 may be defined in the first door 14. The intermediate channel 129 may be communicated between the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124. Since the intermediate channel 129 is defined in the first door 14 and the second sub-channel 124 is defined in the second door 15, the gap may be defined between the first door 14 and the second door 15. The gap may be small, and the ice blocks may directly pass through the gap between the first door 14 and the second door 15. In some embodiments, an end of the second sub-channel 124 near the first door 14 may protrude out of the second door 15, and the end of the second sub-channel 124 near the first door 14 may face directly opposite to the intermediate channel 129. Since the second sub-channel 124 protrudes from the second door 15, the gap between the second sub-channel 124 and the intermediate channel 129 may be reduced, and dissipation of coldness may be reduced. During opening the first door 14 and/or the second door 15, the second sub-channel 124 may be staggered with the intermediate channel 129; and when the first door 14 and the second door 15 are closed on the device body 11, the second sub-channel 124 may be docked with the intermediate channel 129.
In addition, the ice transfer inlet 111 of the ice transfer portion 110 may be dis-communicated from the ice preparing assembly 200 when the first door 14 is opened. After the first door 14 is closed, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be docked and communicated with the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. In this way, proper operation of the ice transfer portion 110 may not be affected. In order to facilitate docking between the ice transfer inlet 111 and the ice preparing assembly 200, the opening diameter of the ice transfer inlet 111 may be larger than the opening diameter of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. When the first door 14 is closed on the device body 11, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be docked to the outside of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200, facilitating the ice blocks to enter the ice transfer inlet 111 through the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. The ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 may comprise the ice outlet of the ice storage box of the ice preparing assembly 200 or the ice outlet of the conveying channel 150.
In some embodiments, the first door 14 may be rotatably arranged with the device body 11. In other embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the first drawer, the first drawer may be pullably arranged with the device body 11, and the first door 14 may be fixed to the first drawer. When the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged in the first door 14, the ice transfer portion 110 and the ice transfer channel 120 defined in the first door 14 may move as the first door 14 is rotated or pushed and pulled to be opened or closed. At this moment, the first sub-channel 123 or the intermediate channel 129 may be staggered with the second sub-channel 124 as the first door 14 is opened. After the first door 14 is closed, the first sub-channel 123 or the intermediate channel 129 may be arranged opposite to the second sub-channel 124, such that passage of the ice blocks may not be affected.
Since the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged in the first door 14, in order not to affect the user in using the first refrigeration compartment 12, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise the reference plane, and the reference plane of the ice transfer portion 110 may be parallel to the rear wall 18 of the first refrigeration compartment 12. The extended thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 perpendicular to the reference plane may be less than the extended thickness of the ice transfer portion 110 parallel to the reference plane. In this way, the ice transfer portion 110 in overall may be embedded in the first door 14, reducing a volume of the first refrigeration compartment 12 occupied by the ice transfer portion 110. Specifically, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be disposed near the rear wall 18 with respect to the ice transfer port 110. The ice transfer inlet 111 may be oriented perpendicular to the reference plane, and the ice transfer outlet 113 may be oriented parallel to the reference plane. The ice transfer inlet 111 may face towards the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice transfer outlet 113 may face towards the second refrigeration compartment 13, and the first sub-channel 123 may be vertically communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113.
When the refrigeration device 10 is arranged with double doors, the second door 15 may comprise two second sub-doors. Each of the two second sub-door may be relatively narrow, the second sub-door may provide a limited location for arranging the ice extraction assembly 300. Since the ice preparing assembly 200 is arranged close to the first side wall 16 and the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged in the first door 14, in order to facilitate docking of the ice transfer channel 120 to enable the ice blocks ejected from the ice transfer portion 110 to the ice transfer channel 120 to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 more easily, the second sub-channel 124 of the ice transfer channel 120 may be disposed on a side of the ice extraction assembly 300 near the rotation axis of the second door 15. In this case, by considering the position of the ice transfer portion 110, the second sub-channel 124 may be linearly communicated to the first sub-channel 123, facilitating the ice blocks to move through the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Of course, in the refrigeration device having a single-door, the second door 15 may be one integral door. A width of the second door 15 may be large, and the second door 15 may have more space for arranging the ice extraction assembly 300. The second sub-channel 124 of the ice transfer channel 120 may be selectively arranged on a side of the ice extraction assembly 300 away from or near the rotation axis of the second door 15. In this case, by considering the position of the ice transfer portion 110, the second sub-channel 124 may be linearly communicated to the first sub-channel 123, facilitating the ice blocks to move through the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Further, the second sub-channel 124 may comprise the ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122. The ice transfer section 121 may be communicated to the first sub-channel 123. The guiding section 122 may be communicated to the ice transfer section 121 and bent towards the ice extraction assembly 300. The smooth transition is formed from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122. Specifically, the ice transfer section 121 may be extending in the vertical direction to reduce the distance that the ice blocks rise along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending in a direction having a small angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the second sub-channel 124 in overall may be curved to ensure that the ice blocks may rise stably to move to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Specifically, the angle between the guiding section 122 and the ice transfer section 121 may be greater than 90° and less than 180°, preventing the ice blocks from falling back into the ice transfer section 121 due to turning from the ice transfer section 121 to the guiding section 122 at an excessively sharp angle, and ensuring the ice blocks to move smoothly through the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
In the above embodiments, four technical solutions in which the ice transfer channel 120 is arranged at different positions of the refrigeration equipment 10. Of course, according to the structure of the device body 11 or positions of other components such as the ice transfer portion 110, the ice transfer channel 120 may be arranged at other positions of the refrigeration device 10, which will not be limited herein.
In another embodiment, the present disclosure further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program causes the processor to perform the operations of the control method for the ice preparing system described above.
Those skilled in the art can understand that all or some of the operations of the above control method for the ice preparing system may be implemented by a program instructing a relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
It should be noted that although the flowcharts of the embodiments of the present disclosure show the operations in a specific order indicated by arrows, these operations are not necessarily performed in the order indicated. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order limitation for these operations, and they may be performed in other orders. Moreover, at least some of the operations in each embodiment may comprise a plurality of sub-operations or stages, which are not necessarily performed at the same time but may be performed at different times. The performing order of these sub-operations or stages is not necessarily sequential but may alternate or overlap with at least parts of other operations or sub-operations or stages of other operations.
Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above embodiments may be implemented by a computer program instructing a relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it may comprise the processes of the above method embodiments. The references to memory, storage, databases, or other media in the embodiments provided herein may comprise a non-transitory memory and/or a transitory memory. The non-memory memory may comprise a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The memory may comprise a random access memory (RAM) or an external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in various forms, such as a static RAM (SRAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), a synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), a Rambus direct RAM (RDRAM), a direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and a Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM), etc.
The above provides only the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation performed based on the specification and the accompanying drawings of the present disclosure, applied directly or indirectly in other related technical fields, shall be comprised in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A control method for an ice preparing system, wherein the ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel;
wherein the control method for the ice preparing system comprises:
judging whether an ice jamming occurs; and

when the ice jamming occurs, controlling the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for a first preset duration and controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to claim 1, wherein the ice transfer device comprises a second sensing member, the second sensing member being disposed at an ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel and being configured to sense passage of the ice block;
the judging whether the ice jamming occurs comprises:
judging whether the ice block passes through the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel within a second preset duration;

when no ice block passes through the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel within the second preset duration, the ice jamming occurs; and

when the ice block passes through the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel within the second preset duration, no ice jamming occurs.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to claim 1, wherein the ice transfer portion comprises a linking region and a third sensing member, an inner wall of the linking region surrounding the outer periphery of the master rotation member and being connected between the ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet, and the third sensing member being disposed on the linking region and configured to sense passage of the ice block;
the judging whether the ice jamming occurs comprises:
judging whether the ice block passes through the linking region;

when the ice block passes through the linking region, the ice jamming occurs; and

when no ice block passes through the linking region, no ice jamming occurs.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block comprises:
controlling the master rotation member to rotate at a first speed in the first direction to re-eject the ice block, wherein the first speed is greater than an original speed of the master rotation member, and the original speed is a speed of the master rotation member before being adjusted to the first speed.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to claim 4, after the judging whether the ice jamming occurs, before or at the same time as the controlling the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for the first preset duration and controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block, the control method for the ice preparing system further comprising:
judging whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity;

when the ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity, controlling the master rotation member to stop working.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to claim 5, wherein the judging whether the ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity comprises:
recording a number of the ice jamming that occurs within a third preset duration;

judging whether the number of the ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds a preset value;

when the number of the ice jamming that occurs within the third preset duration exceeds the preset value, determining that the ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity.
The control method for the ice preparing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ice transfer cavity further comprises an ice transfer return port, and the ice transfer device further comprises an ice return channel, the ice return channel being communicated to the ice transfer return port, a height of an ice outlet end of the ice return channel being lower than a height of the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel; the master rotation member is configured to rotate in a second direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, in the ice transfer cavity, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer return port, toward the ice return channel; the second direction is opposite to the first direction;
wherein the controlling the master rotation member to clear the ice block comprises:
controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the second direction to be configured to eject the ice block toward the ice return channel.
A control apparatus of an ice preparing system, wherein the ice preparing system comprises an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel;
wherein the control apparatus of the ice preparing system comprises:
a judgment module, configured to judge whether an ice jamming occurs; and

a control module, configured to, when the ice jamming occurs, control the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for a first preset duration and control the master rotation member to clear the ice block.
The control apparatus of the ice preparing system according to claim 8, wherein the judgment module is configured to judge whether ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity, and the control module is configured to control the master rotation member to stop working.
The control apparatus of the ice preparing system according to claim 9, wherein the judgment module comprises:
a first judgment unit, configured to judge whether the ice jamming occurs; and

a second judgment unit, configured to judge whether the ice circulation occurs in the ice transfer cavity.
The control apparatus of the ice preparing system according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the control module comprises:
a first control unit, configured to, when the ice jamming occurs, control the ice preparing assembly to stop delivering the ice block for the first preset duration and control the master rotation member to clear the ice block;

a second control unit, configured to control the master rotation member to stop working.
A refrigeration device, comprising:
an ice preparing system, comprising an ice preparing assembly, an ice transfer device, and an ice extraction assembly; wherein the ice transfer device is connected between the ice preparing assembly and the ice extraction assembly, the ice preparing assembly is configured to deliver an ice block to the ice transfer device; the ice transfer device comprises an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel, and a master rotation member; an interior of the ice transfer portion defines an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet communicated with each other; the master rotation member is rotatably disposed in the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer inlet are located on an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is rotatable in a first direction, and is capable of driving the ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to be ejected out, through the ice transfer outlet, toward the ice transfer channel; and

a controller, configured to perform an operation of a control method for an ice preparing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A computer-readable storage medium, storing a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform an operation of a control method for an ice preparing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.