US20060032262A1 - Icemaker - Google Patents

Icemaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060032262A1
US20060032262A1 US11/165,242 US16524205A US2006032262A1 US 20060032262 A1 US20060032262 A1 US 20060032262A1 US 16524205 A US16524205 A US 16524205A US 2006032262 A1 US2006032262 A1 US 2006032262A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
ice cube
cube tray
ice
icemaker
ultrasonic vibrator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/165,242
Inventor
Kook-Jeong Seo
Jae-Seung Lee
Won-jae Yoon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. reassignment SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LEE, JAE-SEUNG, SEO, KOOK-JEONG, YOON, WON-JAE
Publication of US20060032262A1 publication Critical patent/US20060032262A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/18—Producing ice of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/18—Producing ice of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air
    • F25C1/20—Producing ice of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air by agitation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
    • F25C5/04—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws
    • F25C5/06—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws by deforming bodies with which the ice is in contact, e.g. using inflatable members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/10—Producing ice by using rotating or otherwise moving moulds
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2305/00—Special arrangements or features for working or handling ice
    • F25C2305/022—Harvesting ice including rotating or tilting or pivoting of a mould or tray
    • F25C2305/0221—Harvesting ice including rotating or tilting or pivoting of a mould or tray rotating ice mould

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an icemaker, and more particularly, to an icemaker having an improved structure of an ultrasonic vibrator.
  • an icemaker is used to freeze water into ice, and is widely employed in household appliances such as a refrigerator and a water purifier. Quality of the icemaker is determined according to transparency and strength of ice made thereby.
  • a conventional icemaker includes an ice cube tray, a water supply to supply water into the ice cube tray, and a driver to twist the ice cube tray to release the ice from the ice cube tray.
  • the conventional icemaker also includes an ice reservoir to receive the ice fallen from the ice cube tray and an air removing unit to remove air from water filled in the ice cube tray.
  • An icemaker which undulates the water filled in the ice cube tray includes a reciprocating unit to reciprocate the ice cube tray or an ultrasonic vibrator to directly vibrate the water.
  • the icemaker including the reciprocating unit and ultrasonic vibrator are disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos. 1995-18572 and 2001-26283, respectively.
  • a structure of the reciprocating unit is complicated and difficult to install. Also, efficiency of removing the air from water filled in the ice cube tray is not good.
  • the structure of the ultrasonic vibrator is relatively simple. However, ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator is not uniformly applied to the water filled in the ice cube tray and partitioned into a plurality of cubes. Thus, the efficiency of removing the air from water filled in the ice cube tray is not uniform.
  • the foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing an icemaker to freeze water into ice.
  • the icemaker includes an ice cube tray formed with cubes to be filled with the water, and an ultrasonic vibrator attached to the ice cube tray, to apply ultrasonic vibration to the ice cube tray to undulate the water filled in the cubes.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator is attached to an outer side of the ice cube tray.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator is detachably provided in the ice cube tray.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator is plurally provided in the ice cube tray.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an icemaker, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the icemaker of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of the icemaker of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of an ice cube tray of the icemaker of FIG. 2 .
  • an icemaker includes an ice cube tray 20 formed with a plurality of cubes 22 , a driver 30 coupled with the ice cube tray 20 , to rotate the ice cube tray 20 , and a stopper 40 cto contact one end of the rotated ice cube tray 20 to cause the ice cube tray 20 to be twisted.
  • the icemaker also includes a supporting bracket 50 to support the ice cube tray 20 and the driver 30 , an ice reservoir 60 placed under the ice cube tray 20 to receive ice released from the ice cube tray 20 , and an ultrasonic vibrator 70 coupled to the ice cube tray 20 , to vibrate the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the ice cube tray 20 has a rectangular shape, and its opposite sides thereof are provided with a driver coupling groove 24 to be coupled with a rotating shaft (not shown) of the driver 30 .
  • the ice cube tray 20 also includes a supporting shaft 26 to be stably and rotatably supported in the supporting bracket 50 .
  • the plurality of cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 are arranged along longitudinal and transverse directions, allowing the ice cube tray 20 to make a plurality of ice pieces. Ice may be released from the cube 22 when the driver 30 rotates and twists the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the driver 30 includes a motor (not shown) to generate a rotational force.
  • the driver 30 also includes the rotating shaft (not shown) to connect the motor with the driver coupling groove 24 and to transfer the rotational force from the motor to the ice cube tray 20 , rotating the ice cube tray 20 at a predetermined angle.
  • the driver 30 may be selected among well-known drivers.
  • the stopper 40 is provided in one side of the supporting bracket 50 , to stop one side of the ice cube tray 20 from rotating, twisting the ice cube tray 20 .
  • a shape and position of the stopper may vary as long as the ice cube tray 20 is supported and twisted.
  • the supporting bracket 50 is connected to the ice cube tray 20 and the driver 30 .
  • the supporting bracket 50 has a supporting shaft coupling groove 52 at one side to which the supporting shaft 26 of the ice cube tray 20 is coupled and supported.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator 70 vibrates the ice cube tray 20 and indirectly undulates water filled in the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 , discharging air from the water. Thus, the air is uniformly removed from the water filled in the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the ultrasonic vibrator 70 is attached to an outer side of the ice cube tray 20 .
  • a position of the ultrasonic vibrator may vary as long the ice cube tray vibrates. Further, the ultrasonic vibrator may be plurally provided as necessary.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator may be detachably provided in the ice cube tray 20 . Therefore, when the quality of the ice is not important, for example, when a shattered ice is needed, the ultrasonic vibrator may be detached from the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 is filled with water supplied from a water supply. Then, the water filled in the cubes 22 is frozen into the ice by driving a freezing unit (not shown). While the water is frozen into the ice, the ultrasonic vibrator 70 vibrates the ice cube tray 20 , discharging the air from the water.
  • the driver 30 drives the ice cube tray 20 in order to release the ice from the cubes 22 .
  • the ice cube tray 20 rotates at a predetermined angle and contacts the stopper 40 provided in one side of the supporting bracket 50 .
  • the driver 30 continues to drive the ice cube tray 20 to rotate in a state in which one side of the ice cube tray 20 is supported by the stopper 40 , one side of the ice cube tray 20 is stopped by the stopper 40 and the other side thereof continues to rotate, thereby twisting the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the ice is released from the cubes 22 and fallen into the ice reservoir 60 placed under the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the ultrasonic vibrator 70 is applied to the icemaker to twist the ice cube tray 20 and to release the ice from the ice cube tray 20 .
  • the ultrasonic vibrator may be applied to the icemaker including a heater and an ice releasing blade to release the ice from the ice cube tray.
  • the ultrasonic vibrator should be placed such that the ultrasonic vibrator is not affected by the heater.
  • the present invention provides an icemaker in which an ultrasonic vibrator is attached to an ice cube tray, so that the ultrasonic vibrator is easily installed and air is uniformly discharged from water filled in cubes of the ice cube tray, enhancing the transparency and the strength of the ice.

Abstract

An icemaker to freeze water into ice, includes an ice cube tray formed with cubes to be filled with the water. The icemaker also includes an ultrasonic vibrator attached to the ice cube tray, to apply ultrasonic vibration to the ice cube tray to undulate the water filled in the cubes. Thus, air included in water filled in cubes of an ice cube tray is uniformly removed.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-63617, filed on Aug. 12, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to an icemaker, and more particularly, to an icemaker having an improved structure of an ultrasonic vibrator.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Generally, an icemaker is used to freeze water into ice, and is widely employed in household appliances such as a refrigerator and a water purifier. Quality of the icemaker is determined according to transparency and strength of ice made thereby.
  • A conventional icemaker includes an ice cube tray, a water supply to supply water into the ice cube tray, and a driver to twist the ice cube tray to release the ice from the ice cube tray. The conventional icemaker also includes an ice reservoir to receive the ice fallen from the ice cube tray and an air removing unit to remove air from water filled in the ice cube tray.
  • When an icemaking process begins, the water is frozen at a surface thereof. Thus, the air included in the water cannot be discharged from the water. The air included in the ice deteriorates the transparency and the strength of the ice, thereby causing the ice to be easily broken when the ice is released from the ice cube tray. To solve this problem, there has been used a method of undulating the water filled in the ice cube tray. An icemaker, which undulates the water filled in the ice cube tray includes a reciprocating unit to reciprocate the ice cube tray or an ultrasonic vibrator to directly vibrate the water. The icemaker including the reciprocating unit and ultrasonic vibrator are disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos. 1995-18572 and 2001-26283, respectively.
  • A structure of the reciprocating unit is complicated and difficult to install. Also, efficiency of removing the air from water filled in the ice cube tray is not good.
  • The structure of the ultrasonic vibrator is relatively simple. However, ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator is not uniformly applied to the water filled in the ice cube tray and partitioned into a plurality of cubes. Thus, the efficiency of removing the air from water filled in the ice cube tray is not uniform.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an icemaker in which air included in water filled in cubes of an ice cube tray is uniformly removed.
  • Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
  • The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing an icemaker to freeze water into ice. The icemaker includes an ice cube tray formed with cubes to be filled with the water, and an ultrasonic vibrator attached to the ice cube tray, to apply ultrasonic vibration to the ice cube tray to undulate the water filled in the cubes.
  • According to an aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator is attached to an outer side of the ice cube tray.
  • According to an aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator is detachably provided in the ice cube tray.
  • According to an aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator is plurally provided in the ice cube tray.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings of which:
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an icemaker, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the icemaker of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of the icemaker of FIG. 1; and
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of an ice cube tray of the icemaker of FIG. 2.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
  • As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, an icemaker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ice cube tray 20 formed with a plurality of cubes 22, a driver 30 coupled with the ice cube tray 20, to rotate the ice cube tray 20, and a stopper 40 cto contact one end of the rotated ice cube tray 20 to cause the ice cube tray 20 to be twisted. The icemaker also includes a supporting bracket 50 to support the ice cube tray 20 and the driver 30, an ice reservoir 60 placed under the ice cube tray 20 to receive ice released from the ice cube tray 20, and an ultrasonic vibrator 70 coupled to the ice cube tray 20, to vibrate the ice cube tray 20.
  • The ice cube tray 20 has a rectangular shape, and its opposite sides thereof are provided with a driver coupling groove 24 to be coupled with a rotating shaft (not shown) of the driver 30. The ice cube tray 20 also includes a supporting shaft 26 to be stably and rotatably supported in the supporting bracket 50.
  • The plurality of cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 are arranged along longitudinal and transverse directions, allowing the ice cube tray 20 to make a plurality of ice pieces. Ice may be released from the cube 22 when the driver 30 rotates and twists the ice cube tray 20.
  • The driver 30 includes a motor (not shown) to generate a rotational force. The driver 30 also includes the rotating shaft (not shown) to connect the motor with the driver coupling groove 24 and to transfer the rotational force from the motor to the ice cube tray 20, rotating the ice cube tray 20 at a predetermined angle. The driver 30 may be selected among well-known drivers.
  • The stopper 40 is provided in one side of the supporting bracket 50, to stop one side of the ice cube tray 20 from rotating, twisting the ice cube tray 20. A shape and position of the stopper may vary as long as the ice cube tray 20 is supported and twisted.
  • The supporting bracket 50 is connected to the ice cube tray 20 and the driver 30. The supporting bracket 50 has a supporting shaft coupling groove 52 at one side to which the supporting shaft 26 of the ice cube tray 20 is coupled and supported.
  • The ultrasonic vibrator 70 vibrates the ice cube tray 20 and indirectly undulates water filled in the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20, discharging air from the water. Thus, the air is uniformly removed from the water filled in the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20.
  • The ultrasonic vibrator 70 is attached to an outer side of the ice cube tray 20. A position of the ultrasonic vibrator may vary as long the ice cube tray vibrates. Further, the ultrasonic vibrator may be plurally provided as necessary.
  • Also, the ultrasonic vibrator may be detachably provided in the ice cube tray 20. Therefore, when the quality of the ice is not important, for example, when a shattered ice is needed, the ultrasonic vibrator may be detached from the ice cube tray 20.
  • According to the configuration above, operations of the icemaker will be described hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 3.
  • First, the cubes 22 of the ice cube tray 20 is filled with water supplied from a water supply. Then, the water filled in the cubes 22 is frozen into the ice by driving a freezing unit (not shown). While the water is frozen into the ice, the ultrasonic vibrator 70 vibrates the ice cube tray 20, discharging the air from the water.
  • After the water is frozen in to the ice, the driver 30 drives the ice cube tray 20 in order to release the ice from the cubes 22. The ice cube tray 20 rotates at a predetermined angle and contacts the stopper 40 provided in one side of the supporting bracket 50.
  • The driver 30 continues to drive the ice cube tray 20 to rotate in a state in which one side of the ice cube tray 20 is supported by the stopper 40, one side of the ice cube tray 20 is stopped by the stopper 40 and the other side thereof continues to rotate, thereby twisting the ice cube tray 20. Thus, the ice is released from the cubes 22 and fallen into the ice reservoir 60 placed under the ice cube tray 20.
  • In the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic vibrator 70 is applied to the icemaker to twist the ice cube tray 20 and to release the ice from the ice cube tray 20. However, the ultrasonic vibrator may be applied to the icemaker including a heater and an ice releasing blade to release the ice from the ice cube tray. In this case, the ultrasonic vibrator should be placed such that the ultrasonic vibrator is not affected by the heater.
  • As described above, the present invention provides an icemaker in which an ultrasonic vibrator is attached to an ice cube tray, so that the ultrasonic vibrator is easily installed and air is uniformly discharged from water filled in cubes of the ice cube tray, enhancing the transparency and the strength of the ice.
  • Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (13)

1. An icemaker to freeze water into ice, comprising:
an ice cube tray formed with cubes to be filled with the water; and
an ultrasonic vibrator attached to the ice cube tray, to apply ultrasonic vibration to the ice cube tray to undulate the water filled in the cubes.
2. The icemaker according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is attached to an outer side of the ice cube tray.
3. The icemaker according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is detachably provided in the ice cube tray.
4. The icemaker according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is detachably provided in the ice cube tray.
5. The icemaker according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is plurally provided in the ice cube tray.
6. An icemaker, comprising:
an ice cube tray formed with a plurality of cubes to be filled with water;
a driver coupled to the ice cube tray, to rotate the ice cube tray;
a stopper to contact one end of the rotated ice cube tray, to cause the ice cube tray to be twisted;
a supporting bracket to support the ice cube tray and driver;
an ice reservoir placed under the ice cube tray, to receive ice released from the ice cube tray; and
an ultrasonic vibrator coupled to the ice cube tray, to vibrate the ice cube tray and undulate the water filled in the cubes.
7. The icemaker according to claim 6, further comprising:
a rotational shaft provided in the driver;
a driver coupling groove coupled with a rotational shaft of the driver; and
a motor provided in the driver, to generate a rotational force,
wherein the rotational shaft connects the motor with the driver coupling groove and transfers the rotational force from the motor to the ice cube tray, rotating the ice cube tray at a predetermined angle.
8. The icemaker according to claim 7, further comprising:
a supporting shaft stably and rotatably supported in the supporting bracket.
9. The icemaker according to claim 8, wherein the supporting bracket comprises:
a supporting shaft coupling groove at one side of the supporting bracket to which the supporting shaft is coupled and supported, the supporting bracket being connected to the ice cube tray and the driver.
10. The icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the stopper is provided in one side of the supporting bracket, to stop one side of the ice cube tray from rotating, twisting the ice cube tray.
11. The icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the driver drives the ice cube tray to rotate in a state in which one side of the ice cube tray is supported by the stopper, one side of the ice cube tray is stopped by the stopper, and an other side continues to rotate, twisting the ice cube tray.
12. The icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is detachably provided in the ice cube tray.
13. The icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is plurally provided in the ice cube tray.
US11/165,242 2004-08-12 2005-06-24 Icemaker Abandoned US20060032262A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR2004-63617 2004-08-12
KR1020040063617A KR20060014891A (en) 2004-08-12 2004-08-12 Ice manufacture apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060032262A1 true US20060032262A1 (en) 2006-02-16

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US11/165,242 Abandoned US20060032262A1 (en) 2004-08-12 2005-06-24 Icemaker

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US (1) US20060032262A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1626234A3 (en)
JP (1) JP2006052935A (en)
KR (1) KR20060014891A (en)
CN (1) CN1734219A (en)

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US20090178430A1 (en) * 2007-10-23 2009-07-16 Holger Jendrusch Ice-cube tray and refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having such an ice-cube tray
US20100101261A1 (en) * 2007-02-12 2010-04-29 Jong-Seok Yoon Ice making device and refrigerator
US20120023995A1 (en) * 2007-09-13 2012-02-02 Byoung-Jun Lee Power transmission assembly and ice-making assembly using the same
US20120047918A1 (en) * 2010-08-25 2012-03-01 Herrera Carlos A Piezoelectric harvest ice maker
US20130276468A1 (en) * 2012-04-20 2013-10-24 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Refrigerator and ice making device for producing and releasing clear ice, and method thereof
US20130291581A1 (en) * 2012-05-03 2013-11-07 Whirlpool Corporation Heater-less ice maker assembly with a twistable tray
US9759472B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2017-09-12 Whirlpool Corporation Clear ice maker with warm air flow
US9816744B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2017-11-14 Whirlpool Corporation Twist harvest ice geometry
US9890986B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2018-02-13 Whirlpool Corporation Clear ice maker and method for forming clear ice
US10047996B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2018-08-14 Whirlpool Corporation Multi-sheet spherical ice making
US10066861B2 (en) 2012-11-16 2018-09-04 Whirlpool Corporation Ice cube release and rapid freeze using fluid exchange apparatus
US10161663B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2018-12-25 Whirlpool Corporation Ice maker with rocking cold plate
US10174982B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2019-01-08 Whirlpool Corporation Clear ice maker
US10378806B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2019-08-13 Whirlpool Corporation Clear ice maker
US10605512B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2020-03-31 Whirlpool Corporation Method of warming a mold apparatus
US10690388B2 (en) 2014-10-23 2020-06-23 Whirlpool Corporation Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker
US10739053B2 (en) 2017-11-13 2020-08-11 Whirlpool Corporation Ice-making appliance
US10845111B2 (en) 2012-12-13 2020-11-24 Whirlpool Corporation Layering of low thermal conductive material on metal tray
US10907874B2 (en) 2018-10-22 2021-02-02 Whirlpool Corporation Ice maker downspout
CN112503815A (en) * 2020-11-18 2021-03-16 合肥美菱物联科技有限公司 Ice maker with ultrasonic-assisted freezing function and control method thereof
US11098939B2 (en) * 2017-07-10 2021-08-24 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance with an ejection unit and a twisting apparatus, domestic refrigeration appliance and method
US11378321B2 (en) * 2017-11-30 2022-07-05 Nidec Sankyo Corporation Ice making machine
US11378320B2 (en) * 2018-10-02 2022-07-05 Nidec Sankyo Corporation Ice maker

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NL1034074C2 (en) 2007-07-02 2009-01-05 Schoonen Beheer B V W Device and method for manufacturing ice cubes.
EP2807931A1 (en) 2013-05-28 2014-12-03 W. Schoonen Beheer B.V. Ice cube maker
CN105293612A (en) * 2015-10-17 2016-02-03 苏州路之遥科技股份有限公司 Bubble removing water tank with flow detecting function
KR102499060B1 (en) * 2022-05-11 2023-02-13 윤보민 Portable refrigerator with ice making function

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EP1626234A2 (en) 2006-02-15
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JP2006052935A (en) 2006-02-23
CN1734219A (en) 2006-02-15

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