TWI652438B - Ice tray and ice making unit - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice-making tray 110 is provided. The ice-making tray 110 includes: an ice-making dish 111 for generating ice; and left and right side walls 112L and 112R extending upward from each of left and right end portions of the ice-making dish 111. The outer periphery of each of the left and right side walls 112L, 112R is formed along a shape of a circle C, which is provided with the center of the left and right sides of the ice tray 111 as a center.

Description

Ice tray and ice making unit

The present invention relates to a technology for placing or mounting an ice-making tray and an ice-making unit on a refrigerator or the like.

Ice making units are known for making ice. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-112676 (Patent Document 1) discloses a refrigerator. According to Patent Document 1, an ice-making dish and an overflow prevention body for preventing water from overflowing from the ice-making dish are provided. A cold air guide for guiding cold air is provided from the cold air supply port to the inside of the overflow prevention body. Blow out the cold air from the cold air outlet of the cold air guide to the inside of the overflow prevention body. The cold air is not interrupted by the anti-overflow body, but freezes the water in the ice tray. The ice-making dish is separated from the anti-overflow body. While separating the anti-overflow body, tilt the ice-making dish. The ice is not blocked by the anti-overflow body and is taken out of the ice tray.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-112676

According to the technology described in the previous literature, the anti-overflow body is set separately from the ice-making dish. If used for a long period of time, a gap may be formed between the ice-making dish and the anti-spill body, and water may overflow from the gap. In addition, the technology described in the previous literature does not consider the overflow of water from the ice maker due to the door opening and closing operation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice-making tray or an ice-making unit that is more resistant to water overflow and has high convenience.

In accordance with a certain aspect of the present invention, an ice-making tray is provided. The ice-making tray includes: an ice-making dish for generating ice; and left and right side walls extending from above each of the left and right end portions of the ice-making dish. The outer peripheries of the left and right side walls are formed along a circle centered on the left and right centers of the ice tray.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ice-making tray or an ice-making unit having high convenience and preventing water from overflowing.

100‧‧‧ Ice Making Unit

110‧‧‧ ice tray

111‧‧‧ Iceware

112L‧‧‧ cover member (side wall)

112R‧‧‧ Cover member (side wall)

115‧‧‧Rotating lever

116‧‧‧ abutment member

117‧‧‧Front component

118‧‧‧ rear component

119L‧‧‧Left member

119R‧‧‧Right component

120‧‧‧ Ice Box

121L‧‧‧left opening

121R‧‧‧Right opening

121X‧‧‧ opening

122‧‧‧ Ice storage box body

123‧‧‧ Upper cover

200‧‧‧ gate

1110‧‧‧ horizontal dividing wall

1111‧‧‧The first horizontal dividing wall

1111X‧‧‧slot

1112‧‧‧Second horizontal dividing wall

1112X‧‧‧slot

1113‧‧‧First vertical dividing wall

1113X‧‧‧slot

1114‧‧‧Second vertical dividing wall

1115‧‧‧wall

1116‧‧‧wall

1121L‧‧‧ Lower member

1121R‧‧‧ Lower member

1122L‧‧‧ Upper member

1122R‧‧‧ Upper member

1211L‧‧‧ Cover

1211R‧‧‧ Cover

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice-making unit 100 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ice-making unit 100 mounted on the refrigerator door 200 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the left side of the ice-making unit 100 attached to the refrigerator door 200 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the ice-making unit 100 mounted on the refrigerator door 200 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram showing the ice-making unit 100 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an ice-making dish 111 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing an ice-making dish 111 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view showing the ice-making dish 111 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an ice-making tray 110 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing an ice-making tray 110 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a front sectional view showing an ice-making tray 110 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a front sectional view showing an ice making unit 100 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an ice-making dish 111 according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing an ice-making dish 111 according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing an ice-making dish 111 according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a front sectional view showing an ice making unit 100 according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a front sectional view showing an ice making unit 100 according to a sixth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same symbols are assigned to the same members. These names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>

<Overall Structure of Ice Making Unit>

First, the configuration of the ice-making unit 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Referring to FIG. 1, the ice-making unit 100 according to this embodiment includes an ice-making tray 110 for making a plurality of ices, and an ice-making case 120 accommodating the ice-making tray 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the ice-making unit 100 of this embodiment can be installed on the refrigerator door 200 on the back side, for example, on the right side. In addition, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-making unit 100 mounted on the refrigerator door 200. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the ice-making unit 100 mounted on the refrigerator door 200. FIG. 4 is a front view of the ice-making unit 100 installed on the refrigerator door 200. In addition, the ice-making unit 100 may be installed not only on the refrigerator door 200 but also on a floor or a floor of the refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 5, the ice-making unit 100 of this embodiment is used by inserting an ice-making tray 110 into an ice-making box body 120. An upper cover body 123 is mounted on the ice making box body 120. The central part of the upper cover body 123 is opened to become a water inlet for ice making. The lower part of the ice-making case 120 is attached with the ice-storing case 122 from the left. The ice generated from the ice making tray 110 is dropped to the ice storage box body 122.

The opening portion 121X is formed on the front surface of the upper portion of the ice making case 120. The ice making tray 110 is inserted into the opening 121X from the front. The ice-making tray 110 is composed of an ice-making tray 111, cover members 112L and 112R, a rotation mechanism with the ice-making tray 111, and the like. In this embodiment, it has the following structure: an ice tray The tray 110 is installed on the ice-making box body 120. When the ice-making is completed, the user rotates the rotation lever 115 and the ice-making plate 111 on the ice-making tray 110 to drop the ice to the ice-storing box body 122.

Next, an ice-making dish 111 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. In addition, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ice-making dish 111 of this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the ice-making dish 111 according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the ice-making dish 111 according to this embodiment. The ice-making dish 111 is formed by alternately forming a plurality of first horizontal partition walls 1111 for separating water injected into the ice-making dish 111 in the front-rear direction.

In addition, the ice-making dish 111 is formed by alternately forming a first vertical partition wall 1113 for separating water injected into the ice-making dish 111 in the left-right direction and a second vertical partition wall 1114. That is, in this embodiment, the plurality of first horizontal partition walls 1111 and the plurality of second horizontal partition walls 1112 are formed in two rows with the first vertical partition wall 1113 and the second vertical partition wall 1114 interposed therebetween. In more detail, it is formed at the front and the bottom of the ice-making dish 111, and a plurality of second vertical partition walls 1114, 1114, ... are formed therebetween.

A groove 1111X is formed on the upper part of the first horizontal partition wall 1111 from the inner side of the ice dish 111. A groove 1112X is formed on the upper part of the second horizontal partition wall 1112 outside the ice tray 111. A groove 1113X is formed on the upper portion of the first vertical partition wall 1113. No groove is formed in the upper part of the second vertical partition wall 1114.

In this way, since the grooves 1111X, 1112X, and 1113X are formed in the ice-making dish 111, even if water is supplied from any position, the water quickly diffuses into all the partition walls through the grooves 1111X, 1112X, and 1113X.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the positions of the grooves 1111X and 1112X formed by the first horizontal partition wall 1111 and the second horizontal partition wall 1112 facing each other are different from each other, for example, when the door 200 is opened or closed, As a result, a telecentric force or a sliding force is applied to the water in the ice making dish 111, and the water can also be prevented from passing through the grooves 1111X, 1112X, and 1113X at one stroke. That is, even if the telecentric force of the rotation of the door 200 is lost, the water passing through the groove 1111X is lost in the groove where the second horizontal partition wall 1112 is not formed. The potential of overflow at 1112X, because the water passing through the groove 1112X overflows at the groove 1111X where the first horizontal partition wall 1111 is not formed, so the possibility of water splashing from the front end or the rear end of the ice tray 111 can be reduced .

In addition, a wall surface 1115 is formed at the front end portion of the ice-making dish 111 so that water cannot escape to the outside. A wall surface 1116 is also formed at the rear end portion of the ice-making dish 111 in such a manner that water is difficult to overflow to the outside. With such a configuration, for example, the possibility of water splashing from the front end or the rear end of the ice tray 111 due to the telecentric force when the door 200 is opened or closed can be reduced. In addition, a cover member described later can be attached to the right end portion or the left end portion of the ice making dish 111.

Next, an ice-making tray 110 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. In addition, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ice-making tray 110 according to this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the ice-making tray 110 according to this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view of the ice-making tray 110 according to this embodiment. The ice making tray 110 is connected by a front member 117 and a rear member 118, a right member 119R and a left member 119L. That is, the front member 117, the right member 119R, the rear member 118, and the left member 119L constitute a rectangular frame. The ice-making tray 110 holds an ice-making dish 111 inside the frame.

Then, the ice tray 111 is rotatably held by the front member 117 and the rear member 118. In more detail, the back surface of the rotation lever 115 rotatably held in the front member 117 is connected to the front part of the ice tray 111. After the supplied water becomes a plurality of ices, the user rotates the rotation lever 115 to rotate the ice-making dish 111 to drop the ice to the ice storage box 122.

More specifically, the abutment member 116 is installed at the rear of the ice tray 111. When the user rotates the ice tray 111 by 180 °, the abutment member 116 hits the rear member 118, and the back of the ice tray 111 becomes unable to rotate. move. In this way, the ice-making dish 111 is distorted, and the ice of the ice-making dish 111 is separated from the ice-making dish 111 and falls to the ice storage box body 122.

In particular, a lid member 112R facing upward is attached to the upper surface of the right end portion of the ice making dish 111 in this embodiment. An upper lid member 112L is also attached to the upper surface of the left end portion of the ice making dish 111. With the cover members 112L and 112R, the water supplied to the ice-making tray 111 is difficult to spill in the left-right direction of the ice-making tray 110.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the cover members 112L and 112R are such that the cover member 112L does not collide with the inside of the ice-making case 120 when the ice-making vessel 111 rotates. The outer periphery of 112R is formed in the shape of a circle C along the axis of rotation of the ice tray 111 as the center O, and the distance to the right or left end of the ice tray 111 is a radius C.

Therefore, the size of the ice-making box body 120 is not increased, and the spillage of water from the ice-making dish 111 can be reduced.

In addition, the outer periphery of each of the front and rear wall surfaces 1115 and 1116 may have a shape along the circle C. At this time, the outer peripheries of the front and rear wall surfaces 1115 and 1116 are formed along the circle C to a height substantially the same as the height of the adjacent cover members 112L and 112R. The height of the cover members 112L and 112R may be The shape where the higher part is cut horizontally. Thereby, the spillage of water from the ice-making dish 111 is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the ice-making dish 111 from being easily twisted.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cover members 112L and 112R are composed of lower members 1121L and 1121R and upper members 1122L and 1122R. Then, the upper members 1122L and 1122R are composed of members that are softer than the ice tray 111. For example, the ice-making dish 111 is formed of polypropylene, and the upper members 1122L and 1122R are formed of polystyrene. Alternatively, the cover members 112L and 112R may be formed thinner than the ice tray 111. Therefore, when the ice-making dish 111 and the cover members 112L and 112R are rotated and twisted after the ice is formed, the ice will not be caught by the upper members 1122L and 1122R, and will fall smoothly to the ice storage box body 122.

Alternatively, the lower members 1121L and 1121R are made of softer members than the ice tray 111. Further, the upper members 1122L and 1122R may be made of members that are softer than the lower members 1121L and 1121R. Alternatively, the lower members 1121L, 1121R may be formed thinner than the ice tray 111, and the upper members 1122L, 1122R may be formed thinner than the lower members 1121L, 1121R. Therefore, when the ice-making dish 111 and the cover members 112L and 112R are rotated and twisted after the ice is formed, the ice will not be caught by the upper members 1122L and 1122R, and will fall smoothly to the ice storage box body 122.

In addition, it is preferable that the cover members 112L, 112R and the ice-making dish 111 are separate members. Thereby, the cover members 112L and 112R and the ice-making dish 111 can use appropriate members, respectively. In addition, even if the cover members 112L and 112R are deformed or deteriorated due to long-term use, only the cover members 112L and 112R can be easily replaced.

Then, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the left opening 121L is formed on the left side of the ice-making tray 110, the ice-making tray 111, or the cover members 112L and 112R on the left-side wall of the ice-making box body 120. Therefore, introduction of cold air into the ice-making box body 120 is facilitated, and the ice-making dish 111 is configured to be easily cooled.

Then, a lid body 1211L is formed on the upper portion of the left opening 121L toward the inside of the ice making box 120 and diagonally downward. Therefore, when water is supplied to the ice-making dish 111, it is comprised so that this water may not splash out from the left opening part 121L.

Similarly, a right opening 121R is formed on the right side of the ice-making tray 110, the ice-making tray 111, or the cover members 112L and 112R on the right-side wall of the ice-making box body 120. Therefore, the ice-making dish 111 is comprised so that it may be cooled easily.

Then, a lid body 1211R is formed on the upper part of the right opening 121R inside the ice-making box 120 and diagonally downward. Therefore, when water is supplied to the ice-making dish 111, it is comprised so that this water may not splash out from the right opening part 121R.

<Second Embodiment>

The first horizontal partition wall 1111 and the second horizontal partition wall 1112 of the ice-making dish 111 of the first embodiment are formed alternately, and a groove 1112X is formed on the outer side close to the entire upper surface of the second horizontal partition wall 1112.

However, as shown in FIG. 13, a horizontal partition wall 1110 without a groove may be formed in any part of the first horizontal partition wall 1111 and the second horizontal partition wall 1112 and adjacent to the horizontal partition wall 1110. A vertical partition wall 1113 formed by the groove 1113X is formed. For example, there are only a maximum of about three in the front-rear direction, and two kinds of grooves 1111X and 1112X are alternately formed, and the left-right direction is communicated by the groove 1113X of the vertical partition wall 1113 in front of the horizontal partition wall 1110.

Therefore, although the diffusion speed of the supplied water becomes slow, for example, it is possible to prevent water from passing through the grooves 1111X, 1111X, and 1111X at one stroke due to telecentric force and the like when the door 200 is opened and closed. That is, since the potential that the water passing through the groove 1111X hits the second horizontal partition wall 1112 is lost, the possibility of water splashing from the front end or rear end of the ice tray 111 can be reduced.

<Third Embodiment>

The ice-making dish 111 of the first embodiment is formed by the first horizontal partition wall 1111 and the second horizontal partition wall 1112 alternately.

However, as shown in FIG. 14, the first horizontal partition wall 1111 formed by a plurality of grooves 1111X may be formed continuously closer to the inside. Then, the second horizontal partition wall 1112 formed by the groove 1112X may be formed only when the front and rear central portions of the ice making dish 111 are closer to the outside. Although the diffusion speed becomes slower, because the water passing through the groove 1111X loses the potential to hit the second horizontal partition wall 1112 due to, for example, a telecentric force when the door 200 is opened or closed, water can be reduced from the front end or the rear end of the ice tray 111 Possibility of splashing.

Conversely, a plurality of second partition walls 1112 forming the grooves 1112X may be continuously formed closer to the outside. Then, the center portion may be closer to the outer side only before and after the ice dish 111 A first horizontal partition wall 1111 forming a groove 1111X. Although the diffusion speed becomes slower, because the water passing through the groove 1112X loses the potential to hit the first horizontal partition wall 1111 due to the telecentric force when the door 200 is opened or closed, for example, water can be reduced from the front or rear end of the ice tray 111 Possibility of splashing.

<Fourth Embodiment>

The first vertical partition wall 1113 of the formation groove 1113 of the ice-making dish 111 of the first embodiment is formed at the front and rear of the ice-making dish 111 one by one.

However, as shown in FIG. 15, three or more first vertical partition walls 1113 may be formed. Then, a groove may be formed in the upper part of any one of the horizontal partition walls adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. In other words, the left side of the ice-making dish 111 may be alternately formed in sequence from the rear as follows: a horizontal partition wall 1111 forming a groove 1111X in the upper part and a horizontal partition wall 1110 not forming a groove in the upper part. Then, on the right side of the ice-making dish 111, a horizontal partition wall 1110 in which a groove is not formed in the upper part and a horizontal partition wall 1111 in which a groove 1111X is formed in the upper part may be formed alternately in sequence from the rear. Therefore, although the diffusion speed of the supplied water becomes slow, for example, the water passing through the groove 1111X due to the telecentric force when the door 200 is opened and closed loses the potential to hit the horizontal partition wall 1110, so that water can be reduced from the front end of the ice making 111 Or the possibility of splashes at the rear end.

As in the above first to fourth embodiments, if the partition walls of any one of the plurality of partition walls of the ice making 111 are offset, the positions of the slots of each of the opposing partition walls are offset, or any of the opposing partition walls are any An unformed groove, for example, when the door 200 opens and closes due to telecentric force, water passing through the first groove loses the potential to hit the second partition wall, so the possibility of water splashing from the front or rear end of the ice tray 111 can be reduced Sex.

<Fifth Embodiment>

In the first embodiment, the cover members 112L and 112R are composed of lower members 1121L and 1121R and upper members 1122L and 1122R.

However, as shown in FIG. 16, the cover members 112L and 112R may be a single member. Then, the lid members 112L and 112R may be formed of a member that is softer than the ice tray 111. For example, the ice-making dish 111 is formed of polypropylene, and the lid members 1122L and 1122R are formed of polystyrene. Alternatively, the lid members 112L and 112R may be formed thinner than the ice tray 111. Therefore, when the ice making dish 111 and the cover members 112L and 112R are rotated and twisted after the ice is completed, the ice will not be caught by the cover members 112L and 112R, and will fall smoothly to the ice storage box body 122.

<Sixth Embodiment>

In the first embodiment, left and right opening portions 121L and 121R are formed on the side walls at the same height as the ice tray 110, ice tray 111, or cover members 112L and 112R of the ice box body 120. However, as shown in FIG. 17, the right opening portion 121R may be formed at a position higher than the ice tray 110, the ice tray 111, or the cover members 112L and 112R of the right side wall of the ice box body 120. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the configuration that facilitates cooling of the ice tray 111 after the introduction of cold air into the ice box body 120 is promoted. Furthermore, by directly sinking the cold air with a specific gravity from a high position to the water in the ice-making dish 111, the water in the ice-making dish 111 can become ice more quickly.

In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the right opening 121R is inside the box body 120 and faces obliquely upward to form a box body 1212R. Therefore, when water is supplied to the ice-making dish 111, it is comprised so that the water which has bounced back from the ice-making dish 111 may not splash out from the right opening part 121R.

In addition, the left opening 121L may be formed on the left side wall of the ice making box 120 at a position higher than the ice making tray 110, the ice making dish 111, or the cover members 112L and 112R. Therefore, it is comprised so that the ice-making dish 111 may cool easily, or the water in the ice-making dish 111 becomes ice earlier.

Then, a cover may be formed below the left opening 121L, inside the ice-making box 120 and facing obliquely upward. Therefore, when water is supplied to the ice-making dish 111, the water which has bounced back from the ice-making dish 111 does not splash out from the left opening part 121L.

<Summary>

In the above-mentioned first to sixth embodiments, an ice-making tray 110 is provided. The ice-making tray 110 includes: an ice-making dish 111 for generating ice; and left and right side walls 112L and 112R, from the left and right of the ice-making dish 111. Each of the end portions extends upward. The outer peripheries of the left and right side walls 112L and 112R are formed along the shape of a circle C, and the circle C is set at the center O on the left and right sides of the ice tray 111.

Preferably, the ice-making dish 111 and the left and right side walls 112L and 112R are different members from each other. The left and right side walls 112L and 112R are softer than the ice tray 111.

It is preferable that each of the left and right side walls 112L and 112R is configured to be softer than the upper portions 1122L and 1122R than the lower portions 1121L and 1121R.

Alternatively, an ice-making unit 100 is provided, which includes the ice-making tray 110 and a box 120 that can be installed on the refrigerator door 200 and holds the ice-making dish 111 so as to be rotatable about the center O of the circle C.

Preferably, the ice-making tray 110 further includes wall surfaces 1115 and 1116 extending forward and backward from each of the front and rear end portions of the ice-making dish 111.

It is preferable that each outer periphery of the front and rear wall surfaces 1115 and 1116 is formed in a shape along a circle C centered on the left and right centers of the ice making dish.

Preferably, a plurality of partition walls 1111, 1112, and 1110 are formed on the ice-making dish 111 to divide the supplied water into a plurality of positions in the direction of the rotation axis. A groove 1111X (1112X) is formed above the first partition wall 1111 (1112) of the plurality of partition walls 1111, 1112, and 1110. In the second partition wall 1112 (1111) opposite to the first partition wall 1111 (1112), no groove is formed at a position opposite to the groove 1111X (1112X) in 1110.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative in all respects, that is, they are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not expressed by the above description, but is expressed by the scope of patent application. And it is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the scope of the patent application and all changes within the scope. In addition, the structures obtained by combining the structures of the different embodiments described in this specification with each other are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

An ice-making tray includes: an ice-making dish for generating ice; and left and right side walls extending upward from each of the left and right end portions of the ice-making dish and fixed to the ice-making dish, characterized in that: the left and right Each outer periphery of the side wall has a shape along a circle centered on the left and right centers of the ice making dish, and the ice making dish and the side wall are fixed to be rotatable around the center. For example, the ice-making tray of the first patent application scope, wherein the ice-making dish and the left and right side walls are different from each other, and the left and right side walls are softer than the ice-making dish. For example, the ice-making tray of the first or second scope of the patent application, wherein each of the left and right side walls is softly composed of an upper part and a lower part. An ice-making unit, comprising: an ice-making tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3; a box body that can be installed on a refrigerator door, and the ice-making dish can be maintained at the center of the circle Turn it around. For example, the ice-making unit of claim 4 in the patent application scope, wherein the ice-making tray further includes front and rear wall surfaces extending upward from each of the front and rear end portions of the ice-making dish. For example, the ice-making unit of the fifth item of the patent application, wherein each outer periphery of the front and rear wall surfaces is formed in a shape along a circle centered on the left and right centers of the ice-making dish. For example, the ice-making unit according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a plurality of partition walls are formed on the ice-making dish to divide the supplied water into a plurality of positions in the direction of the rotation axis; A groove is formed on the upper part of the first partition wall among the plurality of partition walls; a second partition wall opposite to the first partition wall is not formed at a position opposite to the groove.