EP4621324A1

EP4621324A1 - Ice moving device and refrigeration apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4621324A1
Application number: EP23909070.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zhaowei LIN; Zhijie REN; Xin QUAN; Yuan SUN
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: 2022-12-29
Filing date: 2023-06-29
Publication date: 2025-09-24
Also published as: EP4621324A4; CN118274516A; WO2024139126A1; CN118274516B

Abstract

An ice transfer apparatus (100) and a refrigeration device may be provided. The ice transfer apparatus(100) may include: an ice transfer portion (110), with an ice transfer inlet (111), an ice transfer cavity (112) and an ice transfer outlet (113), being formed in the ice transfer portion (110); an ice transfer channel (120), which is in communication with the ice transfer cavity (112) by means of the ice transfer outlet (113) and is configured to be in communication with an ice extraction assembly (300); and a master rotation member (130), wherein the master rotation member (130) is rotationally arranged in the ice transfer cavity (112), the ice transfer inlet (111) and the ice transfer outlet (113) are located at the periphery of the master rotation member (130), and the master rotation member (130) can rotate in a first direction and carry ice block to the ice transfer outlet (113).

Description

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211741741.6, filed on December 29, 2022 , and entitled "ice transfer apparatus and refrigeration device", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of refrigeration devices, and more particularly to an ice transfer apparatus and a refrigeration device.

BACKGROUND

Existing ice extraction or ice-taking technologies may be typically implemented through manual ice extraction process or may achieve automatic ice extraction at a position below an ice storage box by utilizing gravity. To enhance convenience and enable ice extraction at a suitable height, for some refrigerator configurations, a convenient ice extraction function may be designed to be performed on an upper refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator. The ice extraction from the refrigerating compartment door may require two ice preparing machines, especially one arranged in the refrigerating compartment. However, ice preparation and ice storage in the refrigerating compartment have problems of high energy consumption and large space occupation for thermal insulation. To solve this problem, some refrigeration devices may consider making ice in a freezing compartment and moving an ice block to a refrigerating compartment. However, how to move the ice block efficiently is an urgent problem to be solved.

SUMMARY

An ice transfer apparatus and a refrigeration device are provided in the present disclosure, so as to solve a technical problem of difficulty in efficiently moving an ice block.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a technical solution adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an ice transfer apparatus. The ice transfer apparatus may comprise an ice transfer portion, an ice transfer channel and a master rotation member. The ice transfer portion may define an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet that are communicated with each other. The ice transfer channel may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer outlet, and be configured to communicate to an ice extraction assembly. The master rotation member may be rotatably arranged inside the ice transfer cavity. The ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet may be defined at an outer periphery of the master rotation member. The master rotation member may be rotatable in a first direction, carry an ice block, which enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, and project the ice block through the ice transfer outlet towards the ice transfer channel.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, another technical solution adopted in the present disclosure is to provide a refrigeration device comprising the above-mentioned ice transfer apparatus.
The advantages of the present disclosure are as follows. In the ice transfer apparatus of the present disclosure, the master rotation member may carry the ice block to rotate in a first direction and project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet. The ice block may have a certain initial velocity, move from the ice transfer outlet to the ice transfer channel, and finally move along the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. Since the master rotation member may continuously rotate at a certain velocity, the ice block moves out from the ice preparing assembly may be continuously and rapidly projected to the ice extraction assembly. The ice block may move quickly, resulting in high ice extraction efficiency, realizing fast and continuous ice taking or ice extraction. The waiting time for users to extract ice may be shortened, and the ice blocks are not easy to melt, with high quality, and are less likely to stick together due to melting.

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 apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 is a partial structural schematic view of an embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 3 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 4 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 5 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 6 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 7 is an overall structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 8 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an ice transfer portion of another embodiment of an ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 11 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 13 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 14 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 15 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 16 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a control method for a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 17 is a schematic framework diagram of an embodiment of a storage medium according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 18 is an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 19 is another overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 20 is a structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 21 is another structural schematic view of a first technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 22 is a structural schematic view of a second technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional schematic structural view of a door of a second technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 24 is a structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 25 is an enlarged schematic structural diagram of a portion A illustrated in Fig. 24.
Fig. 26 is another structural schematic view of a third technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 27 is a structural schematic view of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional schematic structural view of a door of a fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and understandable, the following provides a detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure in combination with the accompanying drawings. The specific embodiments described herein are intended for explaining the present disclosure only, and are not intended for limiting the present disclosure. For ease of description, only part of the structure relevant to the present disclosure, but not all of it, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. All other embodiments by a person of ordinary skills in the art based on embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts should all be within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
In the present specification, unless expressly stipulated and defined otherwise, "the first feature is above or below the second feature" may comprise cases where the first feature directly contacts with the second feature, or cases where the first feature and the second feature do not contact directly but contact through another feature therebetween. Further, the first feature is on, above or at an upper side of the second feature may comprise cases where the first feature is directly or obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicate that the first feature has an elevational height that is greater than that of the second feature. The first feature is under or below the second feature may comprise cases where the first feature is directly or obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicate that the first feature has an elevational height that is less than that of the second feature.
In description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise definitely specified and limited, the terms "mount", "interconnect", "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, they may be fixed connections or detachable connections, or integrally connected. In some embodiments, they may be mechanical connections, electrical connections or communicational connection. In some embodiments, they may be direct connections or indirect connections through intermediate mediums, and they may be the internal connection between two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skills in the art, the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the present disclosure may be understood according to specific circumstances.
An ice transfer apparatus 100 may be provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 1 is an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus of the present disclosure. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may comprise an ice transfer portion 110, an ice transfer channel 120, and a master rotation member 130. The ice transfer portion 110 may define an ice transfer inlet 111, an ice transfer cavity 112, and an ice transfer outlet 113 that may be communicated with each other. The ice transfer channel 120 may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity 112 through the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice transfer channel 120 may further be configured to communicate to an ice extraction assembly 300 (as illustrated in Fig. 10). 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 arranged 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 an ice block, which may enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111, to be projected out, through the ice transfer outlet 113, towards the ice transfer channel 120.
The ice transfer portion 110 of the ice transfer apparatus 100 in the present disclosure may be arranged in a first refrigeration compartment 12 as illustrated in Fig. 10). The ice extraction assembly 300 may be arranged in a second refrigeration compartment 13 above the first refrigeration compartment 12 (as illustrated in Fig. 10). The ice transfer channel 120 may extend from the first refrigeration compartment 12 to the second refrigeration compartment 13. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may be a freezing compartment or a freezing room. The second refrigeration compartment 13 may be a chilling room or a refrigerated compartment. The ice transfer inlet 111 may be communicated to an ice preparing assembly 200 (as illustrated in Fig. 10). The ice block may enter the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111. The master rotation member 130 may carry the ice block to rotate in the first direction X and project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice block may have a certain initial velocity, move from the ice transfer outlet 113 to the ice transfer channel 120, and finally move along the ice transfer channel 120 to the ice extraction assembly 300 (as illustrated in Fig. 10). Since the master rotation member 130 may continuously rotate at a certain velocity, the ice block moving out from the ice preparing assembly 200 may be continuously and rapidly projected to the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice block may move quickly, resulting in high ice extraction efficiency, realizing fast and continuous ice taking or ice extraction. Waiting time for users to extract ice may be shortened, and the ice blocks are not easy to melt, with high quality, and are less likely to stick together due to melting.
By adopting a refrigeration device 10 of the ice transfer apparatus 100 in the present disclosure, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12, and the ice extraction assembly 300 may be arranged in the second refrigeration compartment 13. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may transfer the ice block 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 apparatus 100 transfers the ice block to the ice extraction assembly 300 of the second refrigeration compartment 13 above the first refrigeration compartment 12, the user may be able to take the ice block easily, thereby improving the user's 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 an independent evaporator for preparing the ice block, 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, an occupied space of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be reduced, such that a volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be increased. Since the master rotation member 130 rotates to drive the ice block to obtain the initial velocity, the ice block 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 block may move at a high velocity, such that the high ice extraction efficiency may be achieved. The evaporator for keeping coldness for the ice block may not be arranged in the second refrigeration compartment 13, further increasing the volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13.
The ice transfer apparatus 100 of the present disclosure may have an increased ice extraction efficiency, the problems of inconvenient ice-taking for users and space occupation of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be avoided.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the ice transfer apparatus 100 may further define 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 block 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 block may move, under the action of 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 block may be driven by a drive 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 half portion, a lower half portion, or any other location of the ice transfer cavity 112, and the ice block may enter the ice transfer cavity 112 and may be snapped into the master rotation member 130 under the action of gravity or by an aid of another drive mechanism.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the ice transfer channel 120 may comprise the ice transfer section 121 and the 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 block is moving through the ice transfer section 121, the ice block 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 block moves to reach the guiding section 122, the ice block has risen sufficiently far distance. The guiding section 122 may change a moving direction of the ice block towards the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition may be 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 block rises along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending along a direction having a relatively small 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 block may be stably ascended and simply move 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°, thereby preventing the ice block 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 block to move smoothly through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly 300.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a partial structural schematic view of an embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus of the present disclosure. The master rotation member 130 may comprise a master shaft 131 and a flexible member 132 arranged around an outer periphery of the master shaft 131. The flexible member 132 may enable the ice block to be snapped therein easily and carry the ice block 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 a flexible blade. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may further comprise a drive member (not illustrated in the figures). 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 rotation of the master rotation member 130 may be controlled by the drive member. 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 velocity of the master rotation member 130.
Since the ice block may be in the form of a block, when the master rotation member 130 rotates at a high velocity, the ice block may not be brought in by the master rotation member 130, such that a phenomenon of an ice blockage may be caused at the ice transfer inlet 111. The present disclosure may solve this problem via the following solutions.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 2, 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 block 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, the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus 100 may be improved, thereby preventing the ice block from being blocked at the ice transfer inlet 111.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 3 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus of the present disclosure. The flexible member 132 may comprise a first flexible member 1323 and a second flexible member 1324. The first flexible member 1323 and the second flexible member 1324 may be spaced apart from each other and be arranged along the outer periphery of the master shaft 131. A rigidity of the second flexible member 1324 may be less than that of the first flexible member 1323. Since the rigidity of the second flexible member 1324 is less than that of the first flexible member 1323, as the master rotation member 130 rotates, the ice block, 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 block may be easily brought into the master rotation member 130. The second flexible member 1324 having the greater rigidity may carry the ice block to rotate to increase the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus 100, thereby preventing the ice block from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
In the above-mentioned solution, a structure of the flexible member 132 may be optimized, enabling the ice block to be snapped into the master rotation member 130 easily. In some other embodiments, an auxiliary structure may be further arranged to cooperate with the master rotation member 130 to facilitate the ice block to be snapped into the master rotation member 130, thereby preventing the ice block from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 4, Fig. 4 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure. 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 arranged 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 a clearance opening 1321 at the ice transfer inlet 111. By pressing a portion of the flexible member 132 by the pressure plate 116, as the master rotation member 130 rotates, the ice block, 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 clearance opening 1321. In this way, the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus 100 may be improved, thereby preventing the ice block from being blocked at the ice transfer inlet 111.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 5, Fig. 5 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus of the present disclosure. 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 defined between the guide cavity 117 and the ice transfer cavity 112. The secondary rotation member 140 may be rotatably arranged 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 a 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 defined between the master rotation member 130 and the secondary rotation member 140, the ice block 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 apparatus 100 may be improved, thereby preventing the ice block from being blocked at the ice transfer inlet 111. A radius of the secondary rotation member 140 may be less than that of the master rotation member 130, thereby reducing a volume or space occupied by the ice transfer apparatus 100 and enabling the ice block 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 greater than that of the flexible member 132, thereby driving the ice block to be snapped into the master rotation member 130. The secondary rotation member 140 may also be configured as a rotation structure, such as a roller brush or an impeller.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 6, Fig. 6 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may further comprise a transmission rotation member 151. The transmission rotation member 151 may be rotatably arranged in the conveying channel 150. A rotation velocity of the transmission rotation member 151 may be less than the rotation velocity of the master rotation member 130. Since the rotation velocity of the transmission rotation member 151 is less than that of the master rotation member 130, the ice block may obtain a certain velocity after being driven by the transmission rotation member 151 in the conveying channel 150 and enter the ice transfer cavity 112. The ice block having the certain velocity may be snapped into the master rotation member 130 rotating at a high rotation velocity, such that the ice block may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
In order to increase the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus 100 and prevent the ice block from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111, the above-described structural optimization solution of the flexible member 132 may be applied, or the above-mentioned additionally arranged secondary structure for cooperating with the master rotation member 130 may be arranged, or combination of at least two of the above-mentioned technical features may be applied, such that the ice block may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet 111.
When the ice transfer apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is adopted, the size of the ice block may be within a predefined size range. The master rotation member 130 may rotate at a predefined velocity in the first direction X. Generally, the ice block may be carried smoothly from the ice transfer outlet 113 to be projected into the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice block may eventually move smoothly along the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300. However, in some special cases, for example, sizes of the ice block may vary greatly, or the ice block and the master rotation member 130 may displace with respect to each other during the master rotation member 130 rotating and carrying the ice block, the ice block, when being projected towards the ice transfer channel 120 by the master rotation member 130, may not obtain the desired initial velocity from the master rotation member 130. In these cases, the ice block may not move smoothly along the ice transfer channel 120 to reach the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice block that does not reach the ice extraction assembly 300 may fall back into the ice transfer portion 110 along the ice transfer channel 120. In order to prevent the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus 100 from being affected due to the ice block blocking the ice transfer inlet 111, some embodiments may be provided as illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an overall structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure. The ice transfer cavity 112 may further comprise an ice transfer return port 119. The ice transfer apparatus 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 of the ice return channel 160 may be lower than the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel 120. The master rotation member 130 may further rotate in the second direction Y and drive the ice block located in the ice transfer cavity 112 to be projected out from the ice transfer return port 119 towards the ice return channel 160. The second direction Y may be opposite to the first direction X. By providing the ice return channel 160, when the ice block which does not reach the ice extraction assembly 300 falls back along the ice transfer channel 120 to block the ice transfer portion 110, feeding of the ice block 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 project the ice block towards the ice return channel 160. Since the ice outlet end of the ice return channel 160 is lower than the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel 120, the ice block may be discharged through the ice return channel 160 at a relatively low velocity. The ice block is prevented from accumulating and blocking the ice transfer portion 110, thereby ensuring a proper operation of the ice transfer apparatus 100.
The ice inlet end of the conveying channel 150 may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly 200. An ice outlet end of a conveying channel 150 may be communicated to the ice transfer portion 110. The ice block 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 block that blocks the ice transfer portion 110 to the conveying channel 150, enabling the ice block 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 blocked ice 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 case of the ice preparing assembly 200.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise an energy accumulating region 114. An inner wall of the energy 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 block to move sequentially through the ice transfer inlet 111, the energy accumulating region 114, and the ice transfer outlet 113 to eventually enter the ice transfer channel 120. After the ice block enters the ice transfer inlet 111, since the inner wall of the energy accumulating region 114 surrounds the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130, the master rotation member 130 may grasp the ice block securely and carry the ice block to rotate along the first direction X by a sufficient angle. In this way, the ice block may be sufficiently accelerated. When the ice block continues to rotate until leaving the energy accumulating region 114 and reaching a position corresponding to the ice transfer outlet 113, the ice block may lose constraints applied from an outer peripheral of master rotation member 130, and the ice block may have a sufficient velocity to move towards the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block may move along the ice transfer channel 120 to the ice extraction assembly 300. By providing the energy accumulating region 114, the ice block may be accelerated sufficiently to obtain the sufficient initial velocity, such that the ice block may move to pass through the ice transfer channel 120. The initial velocity obtained by the ice block after passing through the energy accumulating region 114 may be changed by adjusting a range of the energy accumulating region 114 and the size and the rotation velocity of the master rotation member 130. The ice block may be enabled to pass through the ice transfer channel 120 at a suitable velocity by adjusting various parameters, ensuring that the ice block may have the certain velocity to move through the ice transfer channel 120 into the ice extraction assembly 300 and that the moving velocity of the ice block may not be excessively large to cause collision noise. Similarly, when the ice block that does 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 block to move from the energy accumulating region 114 through the ice transfer return port 119 to enter the ice return channel 160. By providing the energy accumulating region 114, when the master rotation member 130 is rotating in the second direction Y, the ice block may obtain the certain initial velocity, and then be projected out through the ice transfer return port 119 towards 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. In order to enable the master rotation member 130, when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the first direction X, to rotate with the ice block and to project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet 113, instead of projecting the ice block towards the ice transfer return port 119; and in order to enable the master rotation member 130, when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the second direction Y, to rotate with the ice block and to project the ice block towards the ice transfer return port 119, instead of projecting the ice block towards the ice transfer inlet 111, some embodiments are provided. In these 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 located on respective 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 with the ice block, and to project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet 113 after the ice block has obtained the certain velocity. When the master rotation member 130 rotates in the second direction Y, the master rotation member 130 may rotate with the ice block, and to project the ice block towards the ice transfer return port 119 after the ice block has obtained the certain velocity.
During a process of the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice block to rotate in the first direction X, the ice block entering the ice transfer cavity 112 from the ice transfer inlet 111 may firstly pass the ice transfer return port 119. However, at this moment, the ice block may rotate with the master rotation member 130 by a small angle, and may obtain a low velocity, such that the ice block may not be able to separate from the master rotation member 130 and be projected towards the ice transfer return port 119. When the ice block continues rotating with the master rotation member 130 to a position corresponding to the ice transfer outlet 113, the ice block may obtain the sufficient velocity to separate from the master rotation member 130 and be projected towards the ice transfer outlet 113. Similarly, during a process of the master rotation member 130 carrying the ice block to rotate in the second direction Y, the ice block may firstly pass the ice transfer inlet 111, however, at this point, the ice block may rotate with the master rotation member 130 by a small angle, and may obtain a low velocity, such that the ice block may not be able to separate from the master rotation member 130 and be projected towards the ice transfer inlet 111. When the ice block continues rotating with the master rotation member 130 to a position corresponding to the ice transfer return port 119, the ice block may obtain the sufficient velocity to separate from the master rotation member 130 and be projected towards the ice transfer return port 119.
In order to enable the ice block to pass through the ice transfer channel 120 smoothly and to increase a successful rate of transferring the ice block, some embodiments are provided, in which when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the first movement direction X, the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130 may be configured to define a first movement trajectory of the ice block. A tangent direction of an intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113 for the first movement trajectory may be located inside the ice transfer channel 120. Therefore, when the master rotation member 130 carries the ice block and rotates to the intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113, the ice block may be about to move out of the energy accumulating region 114 and move towards the ice transfer outlet 113. At this point, a movement direction of the ice block may be located inside the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block 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 projecting the ice block by the ice transfer apparatus 100 may be great. Specifically, the tangent direction of the intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer outlet 113 for the first movement trajectory may coincide with an extension direction of the ice transfer section 121 of the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block may be subjected to a reduced movement resistance when moving along the ice transfer section 121. A driving force required by the master rotation member 130 to drive the ice block to pass the ice transfer channel 120 may be less.
In order to enable the ice block to pass through the ice return channel 160 smoothly and to increase a successful rate of projecting the returned ice block, some embodiments are provided, in which when the master rotation member 130 rotates in the second movement direction Y, the outer periphery of the master rotation member 130 may be configured to define a second movement trajectory of the ice block. A tangent direction of the intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119 for the second movement trajectory may be located inside the ice return channel 160. Therefore, when the master rotation member 130 carries the ice block and rotates to the intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119, the ice block may be about to move out of the energy accumulating region 114 and move towards the ice transfer return port 119. At this point, a movement direction of the ice block may be located inside the ice return channel 160. The ice block 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, blockage of the ice transfer portion 110 may be avoided. Specifically, the tangent direction of the intersection between the energy accumulating region 114 and the ice transfer return port 119 for the second movement trajectory may coincide with an extension direction of the ice return channel 160. The ice block may be subjected to a reduced movement resistance when moving along the ice return channel 160. A driving force required by the master rotation member 130 to drive the ice block to pass the ice return channel 160 may be less.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer apparatus 100 may further comprise a first sensing member 171 and a second sensing member 172. The first sensing member 171 may be arranged at the ice transfer inlet 111 or the conveying channel 150. The first sensing member 171 may be configured to sense passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is entering the ice transfer cavity 112. The second sensing member 172 may be arranged at the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel 120. The second sensing member 172 may be configured to sense passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is currently moving smoothly through the ice transfer channel 120 to the ice extraction assembly 300.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 8, Fig. 8 is a partial structural schematic view of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure. 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 energy accumulating region 114. The third sensing member 173 may be arranged in the linking region 115. The third sensing member 173 may be configured to sense passage of an ice block. When the third sensing member 173 senses the passage of the ice block, it is indicated that, the master rotation member 130 does not project the ice block out towards the ice transfer outlet 113. The ice block may have to pass the linking region 115. At this point, an ice blockage fault may occur. After the third sensing member 173 has sensed the passage of an ice block, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be controlled to stop ice preparation, the master rotation member 130 may be controlled to rotate along the second direction Y simultaneously. Therefore, the ice block that is blocked in the ice transfer cavity 112 may be projected out towards the ice return channel 160, thereby avoiding a case of ice blockage.
Since the ice blocks are moving at a high velocity when being projected, friction and collision may occur. Therefore, broken ice may be generated in the cavity and may not be projected out easily. As the broken ice accumulates, rotation of the master rotation member 130 may be affected. In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 9, Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the ice transfer portion of another embodiment of the ice transfer apparatus according to the present disclosure. a bottom of the ice transfer portion 110 may define a via hole 118 communicating with the ice transfer cavity 112. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may comprise a collection member 175. The collection member 175 may be arranged below the ice transfer portion 110. The via hole 118 may allow 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. The user may take out and clean the collection member 175 by opening the first refrigeration compartment 12.
As illustrated in Fig. 10, Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control method for the refrigeration device may be provided. The refrigeration device may comprise the ice preparing assembly, the ice transfer apparatus, the ice extraction assembly and a control apparatus. The ice transfer apparatus may adopt the ice transfer apparatus of any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The control apparatus may be configured to control implementation of the control method of any embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, the ice transfer apparatus may comprise the ice transfer portion, the ice transfer channel, and the master rotation member. The ice transfer portion may define the ice transfer inlet, the ice transfer cavity, and the ice transfer outlet that are communicated with each other. The ice transfer inlet may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly. The ice transfer channel may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer outlet. The ice transfer channel may further be configured to communicate to the ice extraction assembly. The master rotation member may be rotatably arranged inside the ice transfer cavity. The master rotation member may be rotatable in the first direction and carry the ice block, which may enter the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, to project the ice block through the ice transfer outlet, towards the ice transfer channel.
In some embodiments, the control method for the refrigeration device may comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 10.
The operation at block S11: obtaining an ice extraction instruction.
The ice extraction instruction may be obtained. The ice extraction instruction may be generated by a user's operation. The ice extraction instruction may comprise starting ice extraction and a target ice extraction quantity. Specifically, the control apparatus of the refrigeration device may generate the ice extraction instruction by obtaining an operation of the user on an operation interface of the refrigeration device. Alternatively, the ice extraction instruction may also be generated by the operation of the user on an application program of a mobile terminal. The control apparatus of the refrigeration device may obtain the ice extraction instruction.
The operation at block S12: controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at a first velocity.
The master rotation member may be controlled to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity. The first velocity may be a rotation velocity of the master rotation member. The first velocity may be adapted to the size of the ice block prepared by the ice preparation assembly and to the height of the ice extraction assembly. Under normal circumstances, after the ice block prepared by the ice preparation assembly has entered the ice transfer portion, the master rotation member may carry the ice block to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity, and project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet. The ice block may have a certain initial velocity, move from the ice transfer outlet to the ice transfer channel, and finally move along the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly.
The operation at block S13: controlling the ice preparation assembly to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion, so that the ice block sequentially passes through the ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet and enters the ice transfer channel.
Since the master rotation member maintains the first velocity to rotate in the first direction, the master rotation member may stably project the ice block towards the ice extraction assembly. The ice preparation assembly may be controlled to continuously convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion. The master rotation member may continuously rotate at the first velocity. The ice block moves out from the ice preparing assembly may be continuously and rapidly projected to the ice extraction assembly. The ice block may move quickly, resulting in high ice extraction efficiency, realizing fast and continuous ice extraction.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer portion may further comprise the guide cavity and the secondary rotation member. The guide cavity may be communicated with the ice transfer cavity. The ice transfer inlet may be defined between the guide cavity and the ice transfer cavity. The secondary rotation member may be rotatably arranged in the guide cavity. The shortest distance between the secondary rotation member and the master rotation member may be less than the size of the ice block. Specifically, the outer wall of the secondary rotation member may extend along with the cavity wall of the guide cavity. The rigidity of the secondary rotation member may be greater than that of the flexible member, thereby driving the ice block to be snapped into the master rotation member.
Before controlling the ice preparing assembly to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion, the control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise: controlling the secondary rotation member to rotate in the second direction. The second direction may be opposite to the first direction. Since the rotation direction of the secondary rotation member is opposite to the rotation direction of the master rotation member, and the ice transfer inlet is defined in the master rotation member and the secondary rotation member, the ice block may be easily brought into the master rotation member due to reverse movements of the two rotation members. In this way, the ice transfer efficiency of the ice transfer apparatus may be improved, thereby preventing the ice block from being blocked at the ice transfer inlet. After obtaining the ice extraction instruction, the operation of controlling the secondary rotating member to rotate in the second direction may be started synchronously with the operation of controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity, or the two operations may have a sequential order, which is not limited herein.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer apparatus may further comprise the conveying channel and the transmission rotation member. The conveying channel may be communicated to both the ice preparing assembly and the ice transfer inlet. The transmission rotation member may be rotatably arranged in the conveying channel. The ice block may be conveyed to the master rotation member by the transmission rotation member.
Before controlling the ice preparing assembly to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion, the control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise: controlling the secondary rotation member to rotate at the second velocity, so as to transfer the ice block to the master rotation member through the master rotation member. The second velocity may be less than the first velocity. Since the rotation velocity of the transmission rotation member is less than that of the master rotation member, the ice block may obtain the certain velocity after being driven by the transmission rotation member in the conveying channel and enter the ice transfer cavity. The ice block having the certain velocity may be snapped into the master rotation member rotating at the high rotation velocity, such that the ice block may be prevented from blocking the ice transfer inlet.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer apparatus may further comprise the first sensing member. The first sensing member may be arranged at the ice transfer inlet or the conveying channel. In a case where the first sensing member is arranged inside the conveying channel, the first sensing member may be arranged at the inlet end of the conveying channel, at the outlet end of the conveying channel, or at any position between the inlet end and the outlet end. The first sensing member may be configured to sense passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is entering the ice transfer cavity.
As illustrated in Fig. 11, Fig. 11 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 11.
The operation at block S141: obtaining ice entry information of an ice block through the first sensing member. The ice entry information may comprise a time duration of a time interval between entries of two adjacent ice blocks.
The first sensing member may be configured to sense passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is entering the ice transfer cavity. The ice entry information of the ice block may be obtained by the first sensing member. The ice entry information may be generated when an ice block passes the first sensing member. The ice entry information may further comprise the time interval between entries of two adjacent ice blocks. Specifically, the passage of each ice block may be sensed by the first sensing member. The passage time of each ice block may be recorded. Time interval between entries of two adjacent ice blocks may be obtained based on the passage time of the two adjacent ice blocks.
The operation at block S142: determining whether the time duration of the interval between ice entries is less than a first time duration of time interval.
The first time duration of time interval may be a preset parameter. Generally, when the time duration of time interval between ice entries is greater than or equal to the first time duration of time interval, it is indicated that, the velocity at which the ice block enters the ice transfer cavity may be within a normal range. When the master rotation member rotates in the first direction at the first velocity, the ice block may be normally projected through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. It is determined whether the time duration of the interval between ice entries is less than the first time duration of time interval.
The operation at block S143: in a case where the time duration of time interval between ice entries is less than a first interval time duration, controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at a third velocity. The third velocity may be greater than the first velocity.
In a case where the time duration of time interval between ice entries is less than the first time duration of time interval, it is indicated that, at this point, the velocity at which the ice block enters the ice transfer cavity may be increased, and the master rotation member may carry more ice blocks to rotate simultaneously. Therefore, in order to ensure that each ice block has sufficient velocity to smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel, the master rotation member may be controlled to rotate in the first direction at the third velocity. The third velocity may be greater than the first velocity.
The operation at block S144: in a case where the time interval between ice entries is greater than or equal to the first time duration of time interval, controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity.
In a case where the time duration of time interval between ice entries is greater than or equal to the first time duration of time interval, it is indicated that, the velocity at which the ice block enters the ice transfer cavity is within a preset normal range. When the master rotation member rotates in the first direction at the first velocity, the ice block may be normally projected through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. The process may proceed to return to monitor whether the time duration of time interval between ice entries is less than the first time duration of time interval.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer apparatus may further comprise the second sensing member. The second sensing member may be arranged at the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel. The second sensing member may be configured to sense passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is currently moving smoothly through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly.
As illustrated in Fig. 12, Fig. 12 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 12.
The operation at block S151: determining whether the second sensing member obtains ice-exiting information of the ice block within a preset time after obtaining the ice entry information.
To determine whether the master rotation member has normally projected the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly, it is determined whether the second sensing member has obtained the ice-exiting information of the ice block within the preset time after obtaining the ice entry information. The ice-exiting information is generated when the second sensing member senses the passage of an ice block.
The operation at block S152: in a case where the second sensing member does not obtain the ice-exiting information of the ice block, controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at a fourth velocity. The fourth velocity may be greater than the first velocity.
Under normal circumstances, the master rotation member should have projected the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly within the preset time after the first sensing member obtains the ice entry information due to passage of the ice block. The second sensing member should be able to obtain the ice-exiting information of the ice block. However, in a case the second sensing member does not obtain the ice-exiting information of the ice block within the preset time after the ice entry information of the ice block has been obtained, there may be an ice blockage. Therefore, the master rotation member may be controlled to rotate in the first direction at the fourth velocity. The fourth velocity may be greater than the first velocity. By increasing the rotation velocity of the master rotation member, a greater driving power may be provided to the ice block. The ice block may thus be enabled to smoothly pass the ice transfer channel and reach the ice extraction assembly.
The operation at block S153: in a case where the second sensing member obtains the ice-exiting information of the ice block, controlling the master rotation member to maintain a current operating state.
In a case where the second sensing member obtains the ice-exiting information of the ice block, it is indicated that, the master rotation member may normally project the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. The master rotation member may be controlled to maintain the current operating state. The process may proceed to return to monitor whether the second sensing member has obtained the ice-exiting information of the ice block within the preset time after the ice entry information has been obtained.
In some embodiments, the ice entry information may further comprise an ice entry quantity. The ice entry quantity may comprise the number of passages of the ice blocks sensed by the first sensing member, after the current ice extraction instruction is obtained.
As illustrated in Fig. 13, Fig. 13 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 13.
The operation at block S161: determining whether the ice entry quantity reaches a target ice extraction quantity.
It is determined whether the ice entry quantity detected by the first sensing member reaches the target ice extraction quantity in the ice extraction instruction.
The operation at block S162: in a case where the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity, controlling the ice preparation assembly to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and controlling the master rotation member to stop rotating after a preset time duration.
In a case where the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity, the ice preparation assembly no longer needs to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion. The ice preparation assembly may be controlled to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and the master rotation member may be controlled to stop rotating after the preset time duration. During the preset time duration, the master rotation member may continue rotating, so as to project all remaining ice blocks in the ice transfer portion into the ice extraction assembly, thereby preventing these ice blocks from remaining in the ice transfer cavity.
During the process in which the ice preparing assembly conveys the ice block to the ice transfer portion, some ice blocks may have entered the conveying channel but are not detected by the first sensing member, but these ice blocks would eventually also enter the ice transfer portion. Therefore, the final ice extraction quantity may slightly exceed the target ice extraction quantity but remains within a reasonable ice extraction quantity range. To ensure an accurate ice extraction quantity, the first sensing member may be arranged at the ice inlet end of the conveying channel.
The operation at block S163: in a case where the ice entry quantity does not reach the target ice extraction quantity, controlling the ice preparing assembly and the master rotation member to maintain their current operating states, and returning to the operation of determining whether the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity.
In some embodiments, after the ice entry quantity has reached the target ice extraction quantity, the ice preparation assembly may be controlled to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and the master rotation member may be controlled to stop rotating after the preset time duration. In some other embodiments, the ice extraction process may also be stopped by other means. As illustrated in Fig. 14, Fig. 14 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. the control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 14.
The operation at block S171: obtaining an ice-extraction-pause instruction.
The ice-extraction-pause instruction may be generated by a user operation. Specifically, the control apparatus of the refrigeration device may generate the ice-extraction-pause instruction by obtaining an operation of the user on the operation interface of the refrigeration device. Alternatively, the ice-extraction-pause instruction may also be generated by the operation of the user on the application program of the mobile terminal. The control apparatus of the refrigeration device may obtain the ice-extraction-pause instruction.
The operation at block S172: controlling the ice preparation assembly to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and controlling the master rotation member to stop rotating after the preset time duration.
The ice preparation assembly may be controlled to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and the master rotation member may be controlled to stop rotating after the preset time duration. During the preset time duration, the master rotation member may continue rotating, so as to project all remaining ice blocks in the ice transfer portion into the ice extraction assembly, thereby preventing these ice blocks from remaining in the ice transfer cavity.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control method for the refrigeration device may be provided. The refrigeration device may comprise the ice preparing assembly, the ice transfer apparatus, the ice extraction assembly and the control apparatus. The ice transfer apparatus may adopt the ice transfer apparatus of any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The control apparatus may be configured to control implementation of the control method of any embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, the ice transfer apparatus may comprise the ice transfer portion, the ice transfer channel, the ice return channel, and the master rotation member. The ice transfer portion may define the ice transfer inlet, the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer outlet and the ice transfer return port that are communicated with each other. The ice transfer inlet may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly. The ice transfer channel may be communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer outlet. The ice transfer channel may further be configured to communicate to the ice extraction assembly. The ice return channel may be communicated to the ice transfer return port. The ice outlet end of the ice return channel may be lower than the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel. The master rotation member may be rotatably arranged inside the ice transfer cavity.
As illustrated in Fig. 15, Fig. 15 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The control method of the present disclosure may comprise the following operations at blocks as illustrated in Fig. 15.
The operation at block S21: obtaining the ice extraction instruction.
The ice extraction instruction may be obtained. The ice extraction instruction may be generated by the user's operation. The ice extraction instruction may comprise starting ice extraction and the target ice extraction quantity. Specifically, the control apparatus of the refrigeration device may generate the ice extraction instruction by obtaining an operation of the user on the operation interface of the refrigeration device. Alternatively, the ice extraction instruction may also be generated by the operation of the user on the application program of the mobile terminal.
The operation at block S22: controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity.
The master rotation member may be controlled to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity. The first velocity may be the rotation velocity of the master rotation member. The first velocity may be adapted to the size of the ice block prepared by the ice preparation assembly and to the height of the ice extraction assembly. Under normal circumstances, after the ice block prepared by the ice preparation assembly has entered the ice transfer portion, the master rotation member may carry the ice block to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity, and project the ice block towards the ice transfer outlet. The ice block may have a certain initial velocity, move from the ice transfer outlet to the ice transfer channel, and finally move through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly.
The operation at block S23: determining whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel.
If the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel, it may be indicated that, the ice transfer apparatus operates properly, and the master rotation member may project the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. If the ice block does not pass through the ice transfer channel, it may be indicated that, the master rotation member has not projected the ice block out towards the ice transfer outlet or the ice block has fallen after moving a certain distance along the ice transfer channel. The ice block may block the ice transfer cavity, and corresponding cleaning measures may need to be implemented.
There are various technical solutions to determine whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel. The embodiments of the present disclosure may specifically disclose the following technical solutions.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer apparatus may further comprise the conveying channel and the first sensing member. The conveying channel may be communicated to both the ice preparing assembly and the ice transfer inlet. The first sensing member may be arranged at the ice transfer inlet or the conveying channel. In a case where the first sensing member is arranged inside the conveying channel, the first sensing member may be arranged at the inlet end of the conveying channel, at the outlet end of the conveying channel, or at any position between the inlet end and the outlet end. The first sensing member may be configured to sense the passage of the ice block, indicating that the ice block is entering the ice transfer cavity. The second sensing member may be arranged at the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel. The second sensing member may be configured to sense the passage of an ice block, indicating that the ice block is currently entering through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly. Before the operation of determining whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel, the control method of the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations: obtaining the ice entry information of the ice block through the first sensing member. The ice entry information may be generated when the ice block enters the ice transfer channel through the ice transfer inlet or through the conveying channel; obtaining the ice-exiting information of the ice block through the second sensing member. The ice-exiting information may be generated when an ice block passes the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel.
A first technical solution is as follows.
The first sensing member is a quantity sensor, and the second sensing member is a quantity sensor. The ice entry information may comprise the ice entry quantity. Whenever the first sensing member senses the passage of an ice block, the ice entry quantity may increase. The ice-exiting information may comprise a quantity of exited ice blocks. Whenever the second sensor detects the passage of an ice block, the quantity of exited ice blocks may increase. The determining whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel may comprise: determining whether the quantity of exited ice blocks increases synchronously within the first predefined time after the ice entry quantity increases.
Under normal circumstances, the master rotation member should have projected the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly within the first predefined time after the first sensing member obtains the ice entry information, that is, within the first predefined time after the ice entry quantity increases. The second sensing member should be able to obtain the ice-exiting information of the ice block. The quantity of exited ice blocks may increase accordingly. By the operation of determining whether the quantity of exited ice blocks increases synchronously within the first predefined time after the ice entry quantity increases, it may be determined whether the ice block has passed through the ice transfer channel. In a case where the quantity of exited ice blocks increases synchronously within the first predefined time after the ice entry quantity increases, the ice block has passed through the ice transfer channel. In a case where the quantity of exited ice blocks does not increase synchronously within the first predefined time after the ice entry quantity increases, the ice block has not passed through the ice transfer channel.
A second technical solution is as follows.
The first sensing member and the second sensing member may all be proximity sensors. The first sensing member may generate the ice entry information when sensing the passage of an ice block. The second sensing member may generate the ice-exiting information when sensing the passage of an ice block. The determining whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel may comprise: determining whether the second sensing member senses the ice-exiting information within a second predefined time after the first sensing member senses the ice entry information.
Under normal circumstances, the master rotation member should have projected the ice block through the ice transfer channel to the ice extraction assembly within the second predefined time after the first sensing member obtains the ice entry information. The second sensing member should be able to obtain the ice-exiting information of the ice block. By the operation of determining whether the second sensing member senses the ice-exiting information within the second predefined time after the first sensing member senses the ice entry information, it may be determined whether the ice block has passed through the ice transfer channel. In a case where the second sensing member senses the ice-exiting information within the second predefined time after the first sensing member senses the ice entry information, the ice block has passed through the ice transfer channel. In a case where the second sensing member does not sense the ice-exiting information within the second predefined time after the first sensing member senses the ice entry information, the ice block has not passed through the ice transfer channel.
A third technical solution is as follows.
In some embodiments, the ice transfer portion may comprise the energy accumulating region, the linking region and the third sensing member. The inner wall of the energy accumulating region may surround the outer periphery of the master rotation member. The master rotation member may rotate in the first direction to drive the ice block to move sequentially through the ice transfer inlet, the energy accumulating region, and the ice transfer outlet to eventually enter the ice transfer channel. The inner wall of the linking region may surround the outer periphery of the master rotation member. The linking region may be connected to a side of the ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet away from the energy accumulating region. The third sensing member may be arranged in the linking region. The determining whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel may comprise: determining whether the third sensing member detects the passage of an ice block.
Under normal circumstances, the ice block may enter the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer inlet, move through the energy accumulating region, and then move from the ice transfer outlet into the ice transfer channel. The third sensing member located in the linking region would not detect the passage of the ice block. In a case where the third sensing member detects the passage of an ice block, it is indicated that, the master rotation member has failed to project the ice block out towards the ice transfer outlet, or the ice block has fallen after moving a certain distance along the ice transfer channel. In this case, the ice block does not pass through the ice transfer channel and may be forced to pass through the linking region, which may lead to the ice blockage fault. By determining whether the third sensing member detects the passage of the ice block, it may be determined whether the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel. If the third sensing member detects the passage of the ice block, it may be indicated that, there is an ice block that has not passed through the ice transfer channel. If the third sensing member does not detect the passage of the ice block, it may be indicated that, all ice blocks have passed through the ice transfer channel, and the ice transfer apparatus may operate normally.
The operation at block S24: in a case where the ice block does not pass through the ice transfer channel, controlling the ice preparing assembly to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the second direction, and to carry the ice block in the ice transfer cavity to project the ice block from the ice transfer return port to the ice return channel. The first direction may be opposite to the second direction.
In a case where the ice block does not pass through the ice transfer channel, the ice preparing assembly may be controlled to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and the master rotation member may be controlled to rotate in the second direction. The second direction may be opposite to the first direction. The master rotation member may carry the ice block in the ice transfer cavity to project the ice block from the ice transfer return port to the ice return channel. Since the ice outlet end of the ice return channel is lower than the ice outlet end of the ice transfer channel, the ice block may be discharged through the ice return channel at a relatively low velocity. The ice block is prevented from accumulating and blocking the ice transfer portion, thereby ensuring a proper operation of the ice transfer apparatus.
The master rotation member may rotate in the second direction at a fifth velocity. Under normal circumstances, the master rotation member rotating in the second direction at the fifth velocity may project the ice block through the ice return channel. The fifth velocity may be less than or equal to the first velocity.
The operation at block S241: in a case where the ice block passes through the ice transfer channel, controlling the ice preparing assembly and the master rotation member to maintain the current operating state.
The ice inlet end of the conveying channel may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly. The ice outlet end of a conveying channel may be communicated to the ice transfer portion. The ice block at the ice preparing assembly may move to the ice transfer portion through the conveying channel. The ice outlet end of the ice return channel may be communicated to the conveying channel. The master rotation member may rotate in the second direction to return the ice block that blocks the ice transfer portion to the conveying channel, enabling the ice block to fall to the ice transfer portion again. Alternatively, the ice outlet end of the ice return channel may be communicated to the ice preparing assembly, and the master rotation member may rotate in the second direction to re-transfer the ice block blocked inside the ice transfer portion back to the ice preparing assembly. Specifically, the ice return channel may be communicated to the ice storage box of the ice preparing assembly.
To determine whether the ice block smoothly passes through the ice return channel, in some embodiments, the refrigeration device may further comprise a fourth sensing member. The fourth sensing member may be arranged at the ice outlet end of the ice return channel. The fourth sensing member may be configured to detect whether the ice block passes through the ice outlet end of the ice return channel. After controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the second direction, the control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations.
The operation at block S25: determining whether the fourth sensing member detects the passage of the ice block within a third predefined time after the master rotation member rotates in the second direction.
Under normal circumstances, the master rotation member rotating in the second direction may have discharged the ice block blocked in the ice transfer portion through the ice return channel within the third predefined time. By determining whether the fourth sensing member detects the passage of the ice block, it may be determined whether the master rotation member has successfully projected the ice block in the ice transfer cavity through the ice return channel. Whether the fourth sensing member detects the passage of the ice block may serve as a basis for whether the ice blockage problem in the ice transfer cavity has been resolved.
The operation at block S26: in a case where the fourth sensing member does not detect the passage of the ice block, issuing a fault message.
If the fourth sensing member does not detect the passage of the ice block, it may be indicated that, the ice block has not smoothly passed through the ice return channel within the third predefined time and may still be blocked in the ice transfer cavity. The rotation velocity of the master rotation member may be controlled to increase, and the master rotation member may continue to rotate in the second direction to attempt to project the ice block through the ice return channel. Another detecting process may be performed. If the passage of the ice block is still not detected, the fault message may be issued. Alternatively, the fault message may be directly sent to the user without attempting to increase the rotation velocity of the master rotation member. The fault message may be configured to prompt the ice blockage in the ice transfer cavity.
If the fourth sensing member detects the passage of the ice block, it may be indicated that, the ice block has smoothly passed through the ice return channel, and the ice block that is blocked in the ice transfer cavity has been cleaned, allowing the system to resume normal operation. The process then may return to the operation of controlling the master rotation member to rotate in the first direction at the first velocity.
In some embodiments, the ice entry information may further comprise the ice entry quantity. The ice entry quantity may comprise the number of passages of the ice blocks sensed by the first sensing member, after the current ice extraction instruction is obtained. As illustrated in Fig. 16, Fig. 16 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. the control method for the refrigeration device in the present disclosure may further comprise the following operations as illustrated in Fig. 16.
The operation at block S271: determining whether the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity.
It is determined whether the ice entry quantity detected by the first sensing member reaches the target ice extraction quantity in the ice extraction instruction.
The operation at block S272: in a case where the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity, controlling the ice preparation assembly to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and controlling the master rotation member to stop rotating after a preset time duration.
In a case where the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity, the ice preparation assembly no longer needs to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion. The ice preparation assembly may be controlled to stop conveying the ice block to the ice transfer portion, and the master rotation member may be controlled to stop rotating after the preset time duration. During the preset time duration, the master rotation member may continue rotating, so as to project all remaining ice blocks in the ice transfer portion into the ice extraction assembly, thereby preventing these ice blocks from remaining in the ice transfer cavity.
During the process in which the ice preparing assembly conveys the ice block to the ice transfer portion, some ice blocks may have entered the conveying channel but are not detected by the first sensing member, but these ice blocks would eventually also enter the ice transfer portion. Therefore, the final ice extraction quantity may slightly exceed the target ice extraction quantity but remains within a reasonable ice extraction quantity range. To ensure an accurate ice extraction quantity, the first sensing member may be arranged at the ice inlet end of the conveying channel.
The operation at block S273: in a case where the ice entry quantity does not reach the target ice extraction quantity, continuing to maintain the current operating states of the ice preparing assembly and the master rotation member, and returning to the operation of determining whether the ice entry quantity reaches the target ice extraction quantity.
As is further shown in Fig. 17, Fig. 17 is a schematic framework diagram of an embodiment of a storage medium according to the present disclosure.
A storage medium 20 may be provided according a further embodiment of the present disclosure. The storage medium 20 may store program data. The program data, when being executed by a processor, may implement the control method for the refrigeration device according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments.
In the embodiments provided in the present disclosure, the disclosed method and apparatus may be embodied in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of modules or units may only be a logical function division, and there may be other division manners in actual embodiments. For example, units or components may be combined or integrated into another system. Or some features may be ignored or not implemented. In addition, the illustrated or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communicating connection may be indirect coupling or communicating connection through some interfaces, apparatuses or units, and may be electrical, mechanical or of other forms.
The units illustrated as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components illustrated as units may or may not be physical units. The units may be located in one place or may be distributed on network units. Some or all of the units may be selected as per actual needs to fulfill the object of the present disclosure.
In addition, each functional unit in embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or may be physically separate units, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated units may be embodied in the form of hardware or software functional unit.
If the integrated units are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent product, then they could be stored in a computer-readable storage medium 20. Based on such kind of understanding, the technical solution of the present disclosure essentially or a part contributing to the related art or part or all of the technical solution may be embodied in the form of software products. A computer software product may be stored in the storage medium 20. The computer software product may comprise several instructions, which may enable a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device etc.) or a processor (processor) to implement all or a part of the operations of the method according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure. The afore-mentioned storage medium 20 may comprise: a U disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk and other medium that is capable of storing program codes.
As further illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, Fig. 18 is an overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 19 is another overall structural schematic view of an embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The refrigeration device 10 may be provided according to another embodiment according to the present disclosure. The refrigeration device 10 may comprise a case 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 apparatus 100. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may be arranged in the case body 11. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a first door 14. The second refrigeration compartment 13 may be arranged in the case body 11. 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. The ice preparing assembly 200 may be arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The ice extraction assembly 300 may be arranged on the second door 15. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may comprise the ice transfer channel 120, the ice transfer portion 110, and an ice transfer assembly 101. The ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged 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. The ice transfer assembly 101 may be arranged in the ice transfer portion 110, so as to drive the ice block to move from the ice transfer portion 110 out towards the ice transfer channel 120. The first refrigeration compartment 12 may be a freezing compartment or a freezing room. The second refrigeration compartment 13 may be a chilling compartment or a refrigerated compartment. The ice transfer apparatus 100 may transfer the ice block 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 out the ice block, thereby increasing 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 block, 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, the occupied space of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be reduced, such that the volume ratio of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be increased. The refrigeration device 10 of the present disclosure may have an increased ice extraction efficiency, the problems of inconvenient ice-taking for users and space occupation of the second refrigeration compartment 13 may be avoided.
The ice transfer apparatus 100 may adopt the ice transfer apparatus 100 of any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The 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 projecting.
Docking between various mechanisms of the ice transfer apparatus 100 may all be configured in a form of flared ports. An inner diameter of the ice transfer channel 120 may be greater than the size of the ice block, such that the ice block may be prevented from being stuck during being transferred.
The first door 14 and the second door 15 may be arranged on the case body 11 by rotation, sliding or other means according to actual needs.
The ice transfer channel 120 in the refrigeration device 10 of the present disclosure may be arranged inside the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or the second refrigeration compartment 13, or arranged on a side wall of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or a side wall of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or arranged on the door of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or the door of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or arranged on a rotation shaft of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and/or a rotation shaft of the second refrigeration compartment 13, or arranged at any other location in which the ice transfer channel 120 may be arranged. The following will specifically illustrate several technical solutions for configuring the ice transfer channel 120 at various locations of the refrigeration device 10 may be described in detail below respectively.

As illustrated in Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, Fig. 20 is a structural schematic view of the first technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 21 is another structural schematic view of the first technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The second door 15 may be rotatably arranged on the case body 11. 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 arranged 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 arranged between the first door 14 and the second door 15. The third portion 127 may be arranged 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 arranged inside the second portion 126. The ice transfer assembly 101 may drive the ice block to move from the ice transfer portion 110 out towards the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block 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 may be arranged between the first door 14 and the second door 15, and the rotation axis of the second door 15 may be located inside the second portion 126. Therefore, during the second door 15 rotating to be opened and closed with respect to the case body 11, the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 may remain docked to each other all times. Pipeline sealing performances of the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 may be proper, such that condensation problem due to poor docking sealing may be avoided.
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 may always maintain proper docking with the second portion 126 when the second door 15 is rotating. During actual usage, due to a cross-sectional shape of pipes and any manufacturing and/or installation deviation, the rotation axis of the second door 15 may be deviated from the central axis of the second portion 126. However, only the rotation axis of the second door 15 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 block passing through the second portion 126.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 21, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a top wall 19, a bottom wall, a rear wall 18, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 may be configured to connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The first side wall 16 may be arranged proximate to the second portion 126. The ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged at 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 define a receiving space. The ice transfer portion 110 may be received in the receiving space, and may be fixedly arranged at the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. Similarly, the ice preparing assembly 200 may also be received in the receiving space, and may be fixedly arranged on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 at a position proximate to the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that a height at which the ice block need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be shortened. A driving power required to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, thereby increasing the successful rate of transferring the ice block.
The first portion 125 may need to extend to be connected with the second portion 126, and the second portion 126 may be arranged between the first door 14 and the second door 15. Therefore, when the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12, the first door 14 may define a clearance 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 point, 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 case body 11. Alternatively, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may further comprise a first drawer. The first door 14 may be arranged with the first drawer, the first drawer may be pushable and pullable with respect to the case body 11.
Of course, as illustrated in Fig. 20, the ice transfer portion 110 may also be provided in the first door 14. When the first door 14 is rotatably arranged within the case body 11, a rotation axis of the first door 14 may be arranged inside the second portion 126. The second portion 126 may be arranged between the first door 14 and the second door 15, and the rotation axis of the first door 14 may be located inside the second portion 126. Therefore, during the first door 14 rotating to be opened and closed with respect to the case body 11, the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may remain docked to each other all times. Pipeline sealing performances of the first portion 125 and the second portion 126 may be proper, such that condensation problem due to poor docking sealing may be avoided. It should be noted that, at this time, 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 buckled and docked to each other. Therefore, smoothly transferring, by the ice preparing assembly 200, the ice block 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 case 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 case body 11 and to achieve docking of various portions of the ice transfer channel 120, some embodiments are provided, in which the second refrigeration compartment 13 may comprise a first rotation shaft member (not illustrated in the figures) 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 case body 11 via the first rotation shaft member. The second rotation shaft member may be arranged on a side of the second door 15 proximate to 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 may always remain docked to each other. The second door 15 may rotate to drive the third portion 127 and the second portion 126 to rotate synchronously. 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 may 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 a first rotation shaft member and a second rotation shaft member that are coaxially arranged to each other. The side of the second door 15 away from the first door 14 may be rotatably connected to the case body 11 via the first rotation shaft member. The second rotation shaft member may be arranged on a side of the second door 15 proximate to the first door 14. The second rotation shaft member may be the second portion 126. Two ends of the second portion 126 may be respectively sleeved 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 block may 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 case body 11, or the second portion 126 may be rotatably connected with the case body 11, which will not be limited herein.
Further, the third portion 127 may comprise the 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 towards the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition may be formed between the ice transfer section 121 and the guiding section 122. Specifically, the ice transfer section 121 may be extending along the vertical direction to shorten the distance that the ice block rises 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 as a whole may be curved in shape, so as to ensure that the ice block may rise stably and to 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 block 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 block to smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel 120 to move to the ice extraction assembly 300.

As further illustrated in Fig. 22 and Fig. 23, Fig. 22 is a structural schematic view of the second technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional schematic structural view of a door of the second technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise a first a sub-channel 123 and a second sub-channel 124 that are connected with each other sequentially. 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. 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 block to move from the ice transfer portion 110 out towards the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block 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. When the ice block needs to be taken, the ice block 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 increased.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a top wall 19, a bottom wall, a rear wall 18, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 may be configured to connect the top wall 19 with the bottom wall. The first side wall 16 may be arranged proximate to the second portion 126. The top wall 19 and the first side wall 16 of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may enclose to define a receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may also be received in the receiving space, and may be fixedly arranged on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 at a position proximate to the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that a height at which the ice block need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be shortened. A driving power required to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, thereby increasing the successful rate of transferring the ice block.
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 towards the ice extraction assembly 300. The guiding section 122 may be arranged higher than the ice extraction assembly 300 to facilitate the ice block to fall from the guiding section 122 into the ice extraction assembly 300 under the action of gravity. A smooth transition is formed among inner walls of the ice transfer section 121, the linking section 128, and the guiding section 122.
In order to ensure that the ice block may smoothly pass through the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 to enter the ice extraction assembly 300, the ice block may form a moving trajectory during moving in the ice transfer channel 120. An angle formed by or between a tangent direction of each position of the moving trajectory and the gravity direction may be greater than 90° and less than or equal to 180°. In this way, the ice block may rise smoothly along the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124 and may be prevented from falling due to an excessively sharp turning angle. Further, an angle formed by or between a tangent direction of each position of the moving trajectory and the gravity direction may be greater than 135° and less than or equal to 180°. In this way, a path in which the ice block rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be smoother, the driving force required for driving the ice block may be less, fewer collisions may be caused, and noise during moving may be smaller. Therefore, the user experience may be increased.
The height of the guiding section 122 may be greater than that of the ice extraction assembly 300. The guiding section 122 may need to be bent downwardly to be connected to the ice extraction assembly 300. When the ice block is falling along the guiding section 122, an angle between the moving direction of the ice block and the gravity direction may be less than 90°. Therefore, the above-mentioned moving trajectory may refer to an upwardly moving trajectory of the ice block in the ice transfer channel 120, and a moving trajectory in which the ice block falls towards the ice extraction assembly 300 after entering the guiding section 122 may be excluded.
Due to an action of the ice transfer assembly 101, the ice block may quickly pass through the ice transfer channel 120, and the ice block may pass through the ice transfer section 121 defined in the handle 1501 in a short period of time. An ambient temperature outside the refrigeration device 10 may have almost no effect on the ice block. However, in some embodiments, an outside of the handle 1501 may be wrapped by a thermal insulating layer. The thermal insulating layer may reduce a heat exchange between an interior of the handle 1501 and the ambient. In this way, quality of the ice block may not be affected due to an excessively high ambient temperature, and condensation may be prevented from being formed on the handle 1501 due to the handle 1501 having an excessively low temperature, such that the user experience may be increased.
Since the ice transfer apparatus 100 may usually be arranged in the refrigeration device 10 having double doors, the handle 1501 may usually be located at a position 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 also 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 case 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 defined between the first door 14 and the second door 15. In most cases, the gap may be relatively small, the ice block 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 proximate to the first door 14 may protrude out of the second door 15, the end of the linking section 128 proximate to the first door 14 may be arranged directly facing 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, thereby reducing dissipation of coldness.
Of course, in some single door refrigeration devices, the ice transfer portion 110 may also 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 proximate to the handle 1501. The first sub-channel 123 may be defined in the first compartment. A spacer layer 102 may be arranged between the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13. An intermediate channel 129 may be defined in the spacer layer 102. The intermediate channel may be configured to connect the first sub-channel 123 with the second sub-channel 124. In this case, the second door 15 may protrude towards an interior of the second refrigeration compartment 13, so as to facilitate the second sub-channel 124 to directly face and to communicate with the intermediate channel 129.
Further, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise 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 as a whole embedded in the first door 14, 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 case body 11. In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the first drawer. the first drawer may be pushable and pullable with respect to the case body 11. 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. At this point, the first sub-channel 123 may be staggered with the second sub-channel 124 when the first door 14 is opened. 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 block.
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 buckled and docked to each other. Proper operation of the ice transfer portion 110 may not be affected. 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 greater than an opening diameter of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. When the first door 14 is closed to the case body 11, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be buckled to an outside of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200, enabling the ice block 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 an ice outlet of the ice storage case of the ice preparing assembly 200 or the ice outlet of the conveying channel 150.

As further illustrated in Fig. 24 and Fig. 25, Fig. 24 is a structural schematic view of the third technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 25 is an enlarged schematic structural diagram of a portion A illustrated in Fig. 24.
The ice transfer portion 110 may be arranged in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise a first a sub-channel 123 and a second sub-channel 124 that are connected 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. 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 block to move from the ice transfer portion 110 out towards the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block 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 increased, and no additional bump may be added to an outer appearance of the refrigeration device 10, thereby optimizing aesthetic of an outer appearance.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a top wall 19, a bottom wall, a rear wall 18, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 may be configured to 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 define a receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may also be received in the receiving space, and may be fixedly arranged on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 at a position proximate to the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that a height at which the ice block need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be shortened. A driving power required to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, thereby increasing the successful rate of transferring the ice block.
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 case body 11 may further comprise the spacer layer 102. The spacer layer 102 may be arranged between the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13. An intermediate channel 129 may be defined in the spacer layer 102. The intermediate channel 129 may be connected between the first sub-channel 123 and the second sub-channel 124. In this case, the second door 15 may protrude towards an interior of the second refrigeration compartment 13, the inlet end of the second sub-channel 124 may directly face the outlet end of the intermediate channel 129, so as to facilitate the second sub-channel 124 to directly face and to communicate with the intermediate channel 129. During the process of opening the second door 15, the second sub-channel 124 may be staggered with the intermediate channel 129. When the second door 15 is closed on the case 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 have more advantages.
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 usage of the first refrigeration compartment 12 by the user, 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 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 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 arranged at a position proximate to 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 the ice preparing assembly 200. The ice transfer outlet 113 may face towards the second refrigeration compartment 13. 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 block projected 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 arranged at a side of the ice extraction assembly 300 proximate to the rotation axis of the second door 15. At this point, by considering an arranged 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 block may move through the ice transfer channel 120 more easily to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Further, as illustrated in Fig. 26, Fig. 26 is another structural schematic view of the third technical solution of another embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. the second sub-channel 124 may comprise an ice transfer section 121 and a 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 may be bent towards the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition may be 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 block rises along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending along a direction having a relatively small angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the second sub-channel 124 as a whole may be curved in shape, so as to ensure that the ice block may rise stably and to 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 block 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 block to smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel 120 to move to the ice extraction assembly 300.

<Fourth technical solution>:

As further illustrated in Fig. 27 and Fig. 28, Fig. 27 is a structural schematic view of the fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional schematic structural view of a door of the fourth technical solution of another embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the present disclosure.
The ice transfer portion 110 may also be provided on the first door 14. The ice transfer channel 120 may comprise a first a sub-channel 123 and a second sub-channel 124 that are connected with each other sequentially. The first sub-channel 123 may be defined in the first door 14. 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. 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 block to move from the ice transfer portion 110 out towards the ice transfer channel 120. The ice block 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 by defining the second sub-channel 124 in the second door 15, the internal spaces of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and the second refrigeration compartment 13 may not occupied. The volume ratio of the refrigeration device 10 may be increased, and no additional bump may be added to an outer appearance of the refrigeration device 10, thereby optimizing aesthetic of an outer appearance.
In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise a top wall 19, a bottom wall, a rear wall 18, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 may be configured to 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 define a receiving space. The ice preparing assembly 200 may also be received in the receiving space, and may be fixedly arranged on the top wall 19 or the first side wall 16. By arranging the ice preparing assembly 200 at a position proximate to the top wall 19, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be closer to the second refrigeration compartment 13, such that a height at which the ice block need to rise along the ice transfer channel 120 may be shortened. A driving power required to be provided by the ice transfer assembly 101 may be reduced, thereby increasing the successful rate of transferring the ice block.
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 connected 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, a certain gap may be defined between the first door 14 and the second door 15. In most cases, the gap may be relatively small, the ice block 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 proximate to the first door 14 may protrude out of the second door 15, and an end of the second sub-channel 124 proximate to the first door 14 may be arranged directly facing the intermediate channel 129. The second sub-channel 124 protruding out of the second door 15 may further reduce the gap between the second sub-channel 124 and the intermediate channel 129, thereby reducing dissipation of coldness. During the process of opening the first door 14 and/or the second door 15, the second sub-channel 124 may be staggered with the intermediate channel 129. When the first door 14 and the second door 15 are closed on the case 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 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 buckled and docked to each other. Proper operation of the ice transfer portion 110 may not be affected. 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 greater than an opening diameter of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200. When the first door 14 is closed to the case body 11, the ice transfer inlet 111 may be buckled to an outside of the ice outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200, enabling the ice block 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 an ice outlet of the ice storage case 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 case body 11. In some embodiments, the first refrigeration compartment 12 may comprise the first drawer. the first drawer may be pushable and pullable with respect to the case body 11. 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 ice transfer channel 120 of the first door 14 may move accordingly. At this point, the first sub-channel 123 or the intermediate channel 129 may be staggered with the second sub-channel 124 when the first door 14 is opened. After the first door 14 is closed, the second sub-channel 124 may directly face the first sub-channel 123 or directly face the intermediate channel 129 without affecting transfer of the ice block.
Since the ice transfer portion 110 is arranged inside the first door 14, in order not to affect usage of the first refrigeration compartment 12 by the user, the ice transfer portion 110 may comprise 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 as a whole embedded in the first door 14, and a volume of the first refrigeration compartment 12 occupied by the ice transfer portion 110 may be reduced. Specifically, the ice preparing assembly 200 may be arranged at a position proximate to the rear wall 18 with respect to the ice transfer port 110. The ice transfer inlet 111 may be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane. The ice transfer outlet 113 may be oriented in a direction parallel to the reference plane. The ice transfer inlet 111 may face the ice preparing assembly 200. The ice transfer outlet 113 may face towards the second refrigeration compartment 13. The first sub-channel 123 may be vertically extending to be communicated to the ice transfer outlet 113.
When the refrigeration device 10 is configured with double doors, the second door 15 may comprise two second sub-doors. Each of the double second sub-doors may be relatively narrow, the second sub-door may provide limited few locations for arranging the ice extraction assembly 300. The ice preparing assembly 200 is arranged at a position proximate 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, so as to enable the ice block projected 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 arranged at a side of the ice extraction assembly 300 proximate to the rotation axis of the second door 15. At this point, by considering an arranged 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 block may move through the ice transfer channel 120 more easily 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 greater, 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. At this point, by considering an arranged 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 block may move through the ice transfer channel 120 more easily to reach the ice extraction assembly 300.
Further, the second sub-channel 124 may comprise an ice transfer section 121 and a 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 may be bent towards the ice extraction assembly 300. A smooth transition may be 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 block rises along the ice transfer section 121. Of course, the ice transfer section 121 may alternatively be extending along a direction having a relatively small angle with respect to the vertical direction. Alternatively, the second sub-channel 124 as a whole may be curved in shape, so as to ensure that the ice block may rise stably and to 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 block 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 block to smoothly pass through the ice transfer channel 120 to move to the ice extraction assembly 300.
In the above-mentioned 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 case 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 some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 25, to maintain the temperature of the first refrigeration compartment 12 and avoid cooling capacity loss, the refrigeration device 10 may further comprises a sealing assembly 500. The sealing assembly 500 may be movably arranged at the first door 14. The first door 14 may be configured to close or open the ice transfer channel 120 defined in the first refrigeration compartment 12. In other words, the first door 14 may be configured to close or open the first portion 125, the intermediate channel 129, or the first sub-channel 123. When the ice transfer channel 120 is required for an ice transfer process, the sealing assembly 500 may movably open the ice transfer channel 120 defined in the first refrigeration compartment 12. When the ice transfer channel 120 is not required for the ice transfer process, the sealing assembly 500 may movably close the ice transfer channel 120 defined in the first refrigeration compartment 12. The temperature of the first refrigeration compartment 12 may be relatively low. By arranging the sealing assembly 500, heat dissipation from the first refrigeration compartment 12 may be avoided. Additionally, a problem may be prevented that the second refrigeration compartment 13 is affected by cooling capacity, resulting in excessively low temperature and affecting the quality of stored items.
In some embodiments, the ice preparing assembly 200 may further comprise an ice storage box (not illustrated in the figures) and an ice pushing mechanism (not illustrated in the figures) arranged inside the ice storage box. The ice pushing mechanism may push the ice block to move from the ice storage box through the ice preparation outlet of the ice preparing assembly 200 to ice transfer inlet 111, so as to convey the ice block to the ice transfer portion 110. The ice preparing assembly 200 may further comprise an ice preparing member. The ice preparing member may be arranged above the ice storage box. After the ice block is made by the ice preparing member, the ice block may be conveyed into the ice storage box.
To meet different ice usage needs of users, as illustrated in Fig. 26, the ice preparing assembly 200 may further comprise an ice-crushing assembly 400. The ice-crushing assembly 400 may be arranged above the ice extraction assembly 300, and may be configured to crush the ice block. The ice transfer channel 120 may be communicated to the ice extraction assembly 300 through the ice-crushing assembly 400. The ice-crushing assembly 400 may switch between a whole-ice mode and an ice-crushing mode, so as to meet users' needs for whole ice or crushed ice.
The above are only implementations of the present disclosure, and do not limit the patent scope of the present disclosure. Any equivalent changes to the structure or processes made by the description and drawings of this application or directly or indirectly used in other related technical field are comprised in the protection scope of this application.

Claims

An ice transfer apparatus, comprising:
an ice transfer portion, defining an ice transfer inlet, an ice transfer cavity, and an ice transfer outlet that are communicated with each other;

an ice transfer channel, communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer outlet, and configured to communicate to an ice extraction assembly; and

a master rotation member, rotatably arranged inside the ice transfer cavity, wherein the ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet are defined at an outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member is configured to be rotatable in a first direction, carry an ice block that enters the ice transfer cavity from the ice transfer inlet, and project the ice block towards the ice transfer channel through the ice transfer outlet.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the ice transfer cavity comprises an energy accumulating region; an inner wall of the energy accumulating region surrounds the outer periphery of the master rotation member; the master rotation member rotates in the first direction to drive the ice block to move sequentially through the ice transfer inlet, the energy accumulating region, and the ice transfer outlet to enter the ice transfer channel.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the ice transfer channel comprises:
an ice transfer section, communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer outlet; and

a guiding section, communicated to the ice transfer section, curved towards one side, and configured to guide to the ice extraction assembly.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the master rotation member comprises a master shaft and a flexible member, the flexible member is arranged around an outer periphery of the master shaft.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the ice transfer portion further comprises a pressure plate; the pressure plate is arranged inside the ice transfer portion, and is arranged between the ice transfer inlet and the ice transfer outlet; a shortest distance between an end portion of the pressure plate facing the master rotation member and a central axis of the master rotation member is less than a radius of the master rotation member; during rotation of the master rotation member, the flexible member contacts the pressure plate and is deformed, and forms an clearance opening at the ice transfer inlet.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein
a plurality of notches, which are spaced apart from each other, and are formed around an outer periphery of the flexible member; a size of the plurality of notches is 1 to 3 times of a size of the ice block.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein
the flexible member comprises a first flexible member and a second flexible member; the first flexible member and the second flexible member are spaced apart from each other and arranged along the outer periphery of the master shaft; a rigidity of the second flexible memberis less than a rigidity of the first flexible member.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the ice transfer portion further comprises:
a guide cavity, communicated to the ice transfer cavity, the ice transfer inlet is defined between the guide cavity and the ice transfer cavity; and

a secondary rotation member, rotatably arranged in the guide cavity; the secondary rotation member is configured to rotate in a second direction; the second direction is opposite to the first direction; a radius of the secondary rotation member is less than a radius of the master rotation member; a shortest distance between the secondary rotation member and the master rotation member is less than a size of the ice block.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a conveying channel, wherein
the conveying channel is communicated to the ice transfer cavity through the ice transfer inlet, and is configured to be communicated to an ice outlet end of an ice preparing assembly, to convey the ice block to the ice transfer cavity; an ice inlet end of the conveying channel is positioned higher than the ice transfer inlet; the ice block moves, under an action of gravity, along the conveying channel into the ice transfer portion.
The ice transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a transmission rotation member, wherein
the transmission rotation member is rotatably arranged in the conveying channel; a rotation velocity of the transmission rotation member is less than a rotation velocity of the master rotation member; the ice block is conveyed to the master rotation member by the transmission rotation member.
A refrigeration device comprising an ice transfer apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10.