US20090026349A1 - Ice-making tray - Google Patents
Ice-making tray Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090026349A1 US20090026349A1 US12/278,171 US27817107A US2009026349A1 US 20090026349 A1 US20090026349 A1 US 20090026349A1 US 27817107 A US27817107 A US 27817107A US 2009026349 A1 US2009026349 A1 US 2009026349A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- heater
- ice
- tray
- making
- guide
- 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
Links
Images
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
- 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
- F25C5/08—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws by heating bodies in contact with the ice
-
- 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
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/04—Producing ice by using stationary moulds
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an ice-making tray, arranged in a freezing compartment of a household refrigerator or the like, for making ice by supplying water and cooling the same.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray used in a conventional fridge-freezer.
- FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 8 .
- Ice-making tray 1 is formed by die cast molding an aluminum alloy, which is a metal having high thermal conductivity. Ice-making tray 1 includes plural cells 2 for temporarily retaining water, and attachment part 5 for fixing to the wall face of a refrigerator or the like, with screws. Cell 2 and attachment part 5 are integrally molded. Adjacent cells 2 are connected with groove 3 . As shown in FIG. 9 , heater 4 is closely attached and fixed to the lower surface of ice-making tray 1 with caulking, screw, and the like.
- ice-making tray 1 configured as above will be described below.
- water When water is supplied to ice-making tray 1 , water spreads entirely through groove 3 , so that all cells 2 are filled with water.
- One cell 2 can contain about 15 ml of water, and thus about 105 ml of water is supplied to ice-making tray 1 with seven cells 2 .
- the water supplied to ice-making tray 1 radiates heat and the temperature thereof gradually lowers by heat conduction from the water surface, and heat conduction or radiation from the wall surface of ice-making tray 1 , and eventually freezes thereby making ice.
- the ice melts at the portion contacting ice-making tray 1 , and the formed ice is discharged from ice-making tray 1 by an ice discharge nail (not shown).
- attachment part 5 to the refrigerator or the like, and sites etc. for fixing heater 4 are arranged in ice-making tray 1 formed by aluminum die cast molding.
- the thickness of ice-making tray 1 is thus uneven.
- Heater 4 is, for example, caulking fixed to ice-making tray 1 at four locations. When current flows to heater 4 after ice is made in ice-making tray 1 , heat is transmitted from a caulked part to the ice. However, a caulking state is not necessarily always the same.
- the transmission of heat to all cells 2 of ice-making tray 1 thus becomes non-uniform due to unevenness in the thickness of ice-making tray 1 and unevenness in caulking.
- the ice thus cannot be reliably separated unless ice-making tray 1 is heated to more than necessary. That is, the current-flowing time to heater 4 needs to be long.
- the temperature of cell 2 differs depending on the location, and the time from supply of water to ice-making tray 1 to formation of ice or the next ice-making cycle becomes long.
- Patent Document 1 Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-272146
- the present invention relates to an ice-making tray capable of shortening the heater current-flowing time by evening the transmission of heat from the heater, and enabling the temperature, after the termination of current flow to the heater, to easily lower by reducing the temperature difference of each part to speed up the next ice-making cycle.
- the ice-making tray of the present invention includes an attachment part; a tray part made of metal; a heater for heating the tray part; and at least one heater guide.
- the tray part is formed as a separate body from the attachment part.
- the heater guide is made of metal and comes into contact with the heater and the tray part.
- the heater guide is attached to the attachment part and holds the heater, and transmits the heat of the heater to the tray part.
- the tray part can be manufactured by press work, and the thickness becomes substantially even.
- the heat is transmitted to the tray part from a site where the heater is closely attached to the tray part by the heater guide and a site where the heater guide and the tray part are closely attached.
- heat is transmitted from a great number of sites.
- the heat is evenly transmitted to the tray part in a short period of time. The speed of the next ice-making cycle becomes faster.
- the heater current flow can be reduced, and the ice-making cycle can be shortened.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 1 seen from below.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice-making device including the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heater guide in the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from below.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another ice-making tray according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from below.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional ice-making tray.
- FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown in FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-making tray seen from below
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice-making device including the ice-making tray.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heater guide in the ice-making tray
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray.
- Ice-making tray 11 includes attachment part 12 for fixing ice-making tray 11 to a refrigerator or the like, metal tray part 13 formed as a separate body from attachment part 12 , heater 14 , and heater guide 15 .
- Tray part 13 has bottom surface 13 A of semicircular cross section, and, for example, six partition plates 13 D coupled to bottom surface 13 A.
- Partition plate 13 D divides the interior of tray part 13 into seven cells 13 B for temporarily retaining water.
- Groove 13 C enabling water to move in and move out between cells 13 B is formed in partition plate 13 D.
- Tray part 13 is formed by press drawing work, and partition plate 13 D is formed by press extracting work.
- Attachment part 12 includes fixing portion 12 A for fixing to the wall surface of the refrigerator or the like, with screws or the like, and water pouring port 12 B for pouring water from a water supply valve (not shown).
- U-shaped heater 14 for heating tray part 13 is arranged at the lower surface of tray part 13 .
- Heater 14 is held by heater guide 15 , and is fixed to attachment part 12 by screw 16 so as to closely contact tray part 13 . That is, heater guide 15 comes into contact with heater 14 and tray part 13 , and is attached to attachment part 12 to hold heater 14 .
- the material constituting tray part 13 and heater guide 15 is metal having high thermal conductivity, and is constituted, for example, with aluminum or an alloy thereof.
- Attachment part 12 is made of resin such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin.
- the automatic ice-making device is configured by ice-making tray 11 , an ice discharge mechanism, and ice-making mechanism 17 including a temperature sensor, an ice storage detection mechanism, and a control circuit of tray part 13 .
- the water supplied to cell 13 B is cooled by heat conduction from tray part 13 , and ice-making is completed in a short period of time. After ice-making is completed, current flows to heater 14 , tray part 13 is warmed, and the ice is separated from tray part 13 . Thereafter, the ice of tray part 13 is discharged by an ice discharge nail (not shown).
- Ice-making tray 11 is configured by attachment part 12 and tray part 13 formed as a separate body from attachment part 12 .
- the shape is thus simplified.
- Tray part 13 can be molded by press working, and can be thinned and evened in thickness by die cast molding, so that the material cost is reduced and the durability of the die is enhanced.
- the heat of heater 14 transmits to the ice through tray part 13 .
- This heat transmits to tray part 13 from a site where heater 14 is closely attached to tray part 13 by heater guide 15 , and a site where heater guide 15 is closely attached to tray part 13 . Since the thickness of tray part 13 is substantially even, the heat is uniformly transmitted to tray part 13 in a short period of time.
- An appropriate temperature detection becomes possible irrespective of the position on tray part 13 of the temperature sensor in ice-making mechanism 17 .
- an appropriate control for melting the ice at minimum can be performed. That is, the current-flowing time of heater 14 can be reduced and power consumption of heater 14 can be reduced.
- Press worked tray part 13 is not suitable for fixing heater 14 by caulking.
- the method of fixing heater guide 15 to attachment part 12 by screw 16 is suitable for tray part 13 .
- the portion contacting heater 14 of heater guide 15 preferably has a circular arc shape so as to lie along the shape of heater 14 .
- the close attachment between heater 14 and heater guide 15 is ensured by this shape.
- the heat is more easily transmitted to tray part 13 from the site closely attached to tray part 13 of heater 14 and the site closely attached to tray part 13 of heater guide 15 . That is, heat conduction efficiency from heater 14 to tray part 13 is more enhanced.
- tray part 13 Since tray part 13 is thinned and evened in thickness, the temperature of the entire tray part 13 lowers compared to the case where attachment part 12 and tray part 13 are configured with an integral die cast molded article. Thus, the time for lowering the temperature of tray part 13 after current-flow to heater 14 is terminated becomes faster, and the time from supply of water to tray part 13 to formation of ice or the next ice-making cycle can be reduced.
- Raised portion 15 A is preferably projected towards the side facing tray part 13 of heater guide 15 .
- Raised portion 15 A is preferably formed to come into contact with tray part 13 in a bent manner when heater guide 15 is fixed to attachment part 12 .
- Raised portion 15 A is, for example, arranged at three locations on each side surface side of heater guide 15 and at four locations near bottom surface 13 A. That is, raised portion 15 A is arranged at ten locations per one heater guide 15 .
- Raised portion 15 A bends by contacting tray part 13 when heater guide 15 is assembled to attachment part 12 .
- close attachment of heater guide 15 and tray part 13 is more ensured even when dimension varies in heater guide 15 .
- heat conductivity from heater 14 to tray part 13 enhances.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the present embodiment seen from below.
- plural fins 15 B extending in a direction opposite to tray part 13 is arranged at heater guide 15 .
- Six fins 15 B are arranged per heater guide 15 in FIG. 6 as an example.
- the surface area for heat exchanging with cold air at the periphery of heater guide 15 increases by arranging fin 15 B on heater guide 15 .
- the heat exchange is promoted by turbulence enhancement and front edge effect, so that the temperature of heater guide 15 lowers in a short period of time. As the temperature of heater guide 15 rapidly lowers, the time for lowering the temperature of tray part 13 becomes faster, and the time for next ice-making cycle becomes shorter.
- the heat exchange is further promoted by arranging plural fins 15 B on one heater guide 15 , whereby the temperature of heater guide 15 can be more rapidly lowered.
- Heater guide 15 is preferably arranged at a position substantially equally dividing the longitudinal direction of tray part 13 . That is, plural heater guides 15 are preferably arranged at positions equally dividing tray part 13 in an axial direction extending along heater 14 of tray part 13 . In the present embodiment, heater guide 15 are arranged at a total of three locations, i.e., the middle of heater 14 , the basal side of heater 14 , and the distal side of heater 14 . According to such configuration, the heat transmission from heater 14 to tray part 13 becomes more uniformed without being influenced by the length of tray part 13 . The heat transmission of heater 14 can be uniformed by increasing or decreasing the number of heater guides 15 according to the length of tray part 13 .
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the present embodiment seen from below.
- three heater guides 15 K, 15 L, 15 M are arranged from the basal side towards the distal side of heater 14 .
- the width dimension thereof is such that the basal side of heater 14 is larger than the distal side of heater 14 . That is, the length in the axial direction extending along heater 14 of heater guide 15 K, which is a first heater guide arranged at the basal side of heater 14 , is larger than the length of heater guide 15 L which is a second heater guide arranged at the distal side of heater 14 .
- the width dimension of heater guide 15 M is the same as the width dimension of heater guide 15 L.
- the temperature does not easily rise at the basal side of heater 14 due to the presence of a caulked part of a heater line (not shown) and a lead wire terminal (not shown).
- the width dimension of heater guide 15 K at the basal side of heater 14 is preferably made large. The heat transmission thus becomes large, and the heat transmission to tray part 13 becomes uniform without increasing the entire length of heater 14 .
- the ice-making tray according to the present invention enhances heat transmission efficiency from the heater to the metal tray part, shortens current-flowing time to the heater, and shortens the ice-making cycle, and thus can be applied as an ice-making tray for the fridge-freezer.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an ice-making tray, arranged in a freezing compartment of a household refrigerator or the like, for making ice by supplying water and cooling the same.
- An ice-making tray arranged in a freezing component of a fridge-freezer is entirely formed by aluminum die cast molding, for example. Such the ice-making tray is disclosed in
Patent Document 1. A conventional ice-making tray will be described below with reference to the drawings.FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray used in a conventional fridge-freezer.FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 8 . - Ice-making
tray 1 is formed by die cast molding an aluminum alloy, which is a metal having high thermal conductivity. Ice-makingtray 1 includesplural cells 2 for temporarily retaining water, andattachment part 5 for fixing to the wall face of a refrigerator or the like, with screws.Cell 2 andattachment part 5 are integrally molded.Adjacent cells 2 are connected withgroove 3. As shown inFIG. 9 ,heater 4 is closely attached and fixed to the lower surface of ice-makingtray 1 with caulking, screw, and the like. - The operation of ice-making
tray 1 configured as above will be described below. When water is supplied to ice-makingtray 1, water spreads entirely throughgroove 3, so that allcells 2 are filled with water. Onecell 2 can contain about 15 ml of water, and thus about 105 ml of water is supplied to ice-makingtray 1 with sevencells 2. - The water supplied to ice-making tray 1 radiates heat and the temperature thereof gradually lowers by heat conduction from the water surface, and heat conduction or radiation from the wall surface of ice-making
tray 1, and eventually freezes thereby making ice. When current flows toheater 4, the ice melts at the portion contacting ice-makingtray 1, and the formed ice is discharged from ice-makingtray 1 by an ice discharge nail (not shown). - As described above,
attachment part 5 to the refrigerator or the like, and sites etc. for fixingheater 4 are arranged in ice-makingtray 1 formed by aluminum die cast molding. The thickness of ice-makingtray 1 is thus uneven. -
Heater 4 is, for example, caulking fixed to ice-makingtray 1 at four locations. When current flows toheater 4 after ice is made in ice-makingtray 1, heat is transmitted from a caulked part to the ice. However, a caulking state is not necessarily always the same. - The transmission of heat to all
cells 2 of ice-makingtray 1 thus becomes non-uniform due to unevenness in the thickness of ice-makingtray 1 and unevenness in caulking. The ice thus cannot be reliably separated unless ice-makingtray 1 is heated to more than necessary. That is, the current-flowing time toheater 4 needs to be long. The temperature ofcell 2 differs depending on the location, and the time from supply of water to ice-makingtray 1 to formation of ice or the next ice-making cycle becomes long. - Patent Document 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-272146
- The present invention relates to an ice-making tray capable of shortening the heater current-flowing time by evening the transmission of heat from the heater, and enabling the temperature, after the termination of current flow to the heater, to easily lower by reducing the temperature difference of each part to speed up the next ice-making cycle. The ice-making tray of the present invention includes an attachment part; a tray part made of metal; a heater for heating the tray part; and at least one heater guide. The tray part is formed as a separate body from the attachment part. The heater guide is made of metal and comes into contact with the heater and the tray part. The heater guide is attached to the attachment part and holds the heater, and transmits the heat of the heater to the tray part.
- In such configuration, the tray part can be manufactured by press work, and the thickness becomes substantially even. When the current flows to heater, the heat is transmitted to the tray part from a site where the heater is closely attached to the tray part by the heater guide and a site where the heater guide and the tray part are closely attached. Thus heat is transmitted from a great number of sites. Taking also into consideration that the thickness of the tray part is even, the heat is evenly transmitted to the tray part in a short period of time. The speed of the next ice-making cycle becomes faster. Thus, by enhancing the heat transmission efficiency from the heater to the tray part by the heater guide, the heater current flow can be reduced, and the ice-making cycle can be shortened.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 1 seen from below. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice-making device including the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heater guide in the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from below. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another ice-making tray according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from below. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional ice-making tray. -
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray shown inFIG. 8 . -
- 11 Ice-making tray
- 12 Attachment part
- 12A Fixing portion
- 12B Water pouring port
- 13 Tray part
- 13A Bottom surface
- 13B Cell
- 13C Groove
- 13D Partition plate
- 14 Heater
- 15, 15K, 15L, 15M Heater guide
- 15A Raised portion
- 15B Fin
- 16 Screw
- 17 Ice-making mechanism
- Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice-making tray according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-making tray seen from below, andFIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic ice-making device including the ice-making tray.FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heater guide in the ice-making tray, andFIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the ice-making tray. Ice-makingtray 11 includesattachment part 12 for fixing ice-makingtray 11 to a refrigerator or the like,metal tray part 13 formed as a separate body fromattachment part 12,heater 14, andheater guide 15. -
Tray part 13 hasbottom surface 13A of semicircular cross section, and, for example, sixpartition plates 13D coupled tobottom surface 13A.Partition plate 13D divides the interior oftray part 13 into sevencells 13B for temporarily retaining water.Groove 13C enabling water to move in and move out betweencells 13B is formed inpartition plate 13D.Tray part 13 is formed by press drawing work, andpartition plate 13D is formed by press extracting work. -
Attachment part 12 includes fixingportion 12A for fixing to the wall surface of the refrigerator or the like, with screws or the like, andwater pouring port 12B for pouring water from a water supply valve (not shown). -
U-shaped heater 14 forheating tray part 13 is arranged at the lower surface oftray part 13.Heater 14 is held byheater guide 15, and is fixed toattachment part 12 byscrew 16 so as to closely contacttray part 13. That is, heater guide 15 comes into contact withheater 14 andtray part 13, and is attached toattachment part 12 to holdheater 14. - The material constituting
tray part 13 and heater guide 15 is metal having high thermal conductivity, and is constituted, for example, with aluminum or an alloy thereof.Attachment part 12 is made of resin such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the automatic ice-making device is configured by ice-makingtray 11, an ice discharge mechanism, and ice-makingmechanism 17 including a temperature sensor, an ice storage detection mechanism, and a control circuit oftray part 13. - The operation and the effect of the ice-making tray configured as above will be described below. When water is supplied from a water supply valve (not shown) to
cell 13B adjacent to water pouringport 12B throughwater pouring port 12B, water spreads to allcells 13B throughgroove 13C. In the present embodiment, about 105 ml of water is supplied so that about 15 ml of water is filled in onecell 13B. - The water supplied to
cell 13B is cooled by heat conduction fromtray part 13, and ice-making is completed in a short period of time. After ice-making is completed, current flows toheater 14,tray part 13 is warmed, and the ice is separated fromtray part 13. Thereafter, the ice oftray part 13 is discharged by an ice discharge nail (not shown). - Ice-making
tray 11 is configured byattachment part 12 andtray part 13 formed as a separate body fromattachment part 12. The shape is thus simplified.Tray part 13 can be molded by press working, and can be thinned and evened in thickness by die cast molding, so that the material cost is reduced and the durability of the die is enhanced. - When current flows to
heater 14 after the ice is made intray part 13, the heat ofheater 14 transmits to the ice throughtray part 13. This heat transmits totray part 13 from a site whereheater 14 is closely attached totray part 13 byheater guide 15, and a site where heater guide 15 is closely attached totray part 13. Since the thickness oftray part 13 is substantially even, the heat is uniformly transmitted totray part 13 in a short period of time. An appropriate temperature detection becomes possible irrespective of the position ontray part 13 of the temperature sensor in ice-makingmechanism 17. Thus, an appropriate control for melting the ice at minimum can be performed. That is, the current-flowing time ofheater 14 can be reduced and power consumption ofheater 14 can be reduced. - Press worked
tray part 13 is not suitable for fixingheater 14 by caulking. Thus, the method of fixingheater guide 15 toattachment part 12 byscrew 16 is suitable fortray part 13. - The
portion contacting heater 14 of heater guide 15 preferably has a circular arc shape so as to lie along the shape ofheater 14. The close attachment betweenheater 14 and heater guide 15 is ensured by this shape. Thus, the heat is more easily transmitted totray part 13 from the site closely attached totray part 13 ofheater 14 and the site closely attached totray part 13 ofheater guide 15. That is, heat conduction efficiency fromheater 14 totray part 13 is more enhanced. - Since
tray part 13 is thinned and evened in thickness, the temperature of theentire tray part 13 lowers compared to the case whereattachment part 12 andtray part 13 are configured with an integral die cast molded article. Thus, the time for lowering the temperature oftray part 13 after current-flow toheater 14 is terminated becomes faster, and the time from supply of water totray part 13 to formation of ice or the next ice-making cycle can be reduced. - As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , plural raisedportions 15A is preferably projected towards the side facingtray part 13 ofheater guide 15. Raisedportion 15A is preferably formed to come into contact withtray part 13 in a bent manner when heater guide 15 is fixed toattachment part 12. Raisedportion 15A is, for example, arranged at three locations on each side surface side ofheater guide 15 and at four locations nearbottom surface 13A. That is, raisedportion 15A is arranged at ten locations per oneheater guide 15. - Raised
portion 15A bends by contactingtray part 13 when heater guide 15 is assembled toattachment part 12. Thus, close attachment ofheater guide 15 andtray part 13 is more ensured even when dimension varies inheater guide 15. In other words, heat conductivity fromheater 14 totray part 13 enhances. - Further preferred ice-making tray according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
FIG. 6 .FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the present embodiment seen from below. In this configuration,plural fins 15B extending in a direction opposite totray part 13 is arranged atheater guide 15. Sixfins 15B are arranged perheater guide 15 inFIG. 6 as an example. - The surface area for heat exchanging with cold air at the periphery of heater guide 15 increases by arranging
fin 15B onheater guide 15. The heat exchange is promoted by turbulence enhancement and front edge effect, so that the temperature ofheater guide 15 lowers in a short period of time. As the temperature of heater guide 15 rapidly lowers, the time for lowering the temperature oftray part 13 becomes faster, and the time for next ice-making cycle becomes shorter. The heat exchange is further promoted by arrangingplural fins 15B on oneheater guide 15, whereby the temperature of heater guide 15 can be more rapidly lowered. -
Heater guide 15 is preferably arranged at a position substantially equally dividing the longitudinal direction oftray part 13. That is, plural heater guides 15 are preferably arranged at positions equally dividingtray part 13 in an axial direction extending alongheater 14 oftray part 13. In the present embodiment, heater guide 15 are arranged at a total of three locations, i.e., the middle ofheater 14, the basal side ofheater 14, and the distal side ofheater 14. According to such configuration, the heat transmission fromheater 14 totray part 13 becomes more uniformed without being influenced by the length oftray part 13. The heat transmission ofheater 14 can be uniformed by increasing or decreasing the number of heater guides 15 according to the length oftray part 13. - Another further preferred ice-making tray according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
FIG. 7 .FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another ice-making tray according to the present embodiment seen from below. In this configuration, three heater guides 15K, 15L, 15M are arranged from the basal side towards the distal side ofheater 14. The width dimension thereof is such that the basal side ofheater 14 is larger than the distal side ofheater 14. That is, the length in the axial direction extending alongheater 14 ofheater guide 15K, which is a first heater guide arranged at the basal side ofheater 14, is larger than the length ofheater guide 15L which is a second heater guide arranged at the distal side ofheater 14. The width dimension ofheater guide 15M is the same as the width dimension ofheater guide 15L. - The temperature does not easily rise at the basal side of
heater 14 due to the presence of a caulked part of a heater line (not shown) and a lead wire terminal (not shown). Thus, the width dimension ofheater guide 15K at the basal side ofheater 14 is preferably made large. The heat transmission thus becomes large, and the heat transmission totray part 13 becomes uniform without increasing the entire length ofheater 14. - The ice-making tray according to the present invention enhances heat transmission efficiency from the heater to the metal tray part, shortens current-flowing time to the heater, and shortens the ice-making cycle, and thus can be applied as an ice-making tray for the fridge-freezer.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2006-108468 | 2006-04-11 | ||
JP2006108468A JP2007278662A (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2006-04-11 | Ice tray |
PCT/JP2007/057740 WO2007116961A1 (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2007-04-06 | Ice-making tray |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090026349A1 true US20090026349A1 (en) | 2009-01-29 |
Family
ID=38581241
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/278,171 Abandoned US20090026349A1 (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2007-04-06 | Ice-making tray |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090026349A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007278662A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101375118A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007116961A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2010115682A3 (en) * | 2009-04-06 | 2011-02-24 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigeration device, comprising ice cube tray for an ice maker |
WO2015056977A1 (en) * | 2013-10-16 | 2015-04-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Ice-making tray and refrigerator comprising same |
EP2610562A3 (en) * | 2011-12-30 | 2018-04-18 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Refrigerator and ice making apparatus |
WO2020091388A1 (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-05-07 | 주식회사 대창 | Heater, ice maker including heater, and refrigerator including ice maker |
CN113167522A (en) * | 2018-11-16 | 2021-07-23 | Lg电子株式会社 | Refrigerator with a door |
CN114719513A (en) * | 2021-01-04 | 2022-07-08 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Ice making assembly and refrigerator |
US11441829B2 (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2022-09-13 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker |
US11874045B2 (en) * | 2018-11-16 | 2024-01-16 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice maker and refrigerator |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8655663B2 (en) | 2007-10-26 | 2014-02-18 | D&M Holdings, Inc. | Audio signal interpolation device and audio signal interpolation method |
US11408661B2 (en) * | 2019-06-19 | 2022-08-09 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Single cord ice press assembly |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4833894A (en) * | 1988-05-02 | 1989-05-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice maker with overtemperature protection |
US4923494A (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1990-05-08 | Eaton Corporation | Making ice in a refrigerator |
US5056321A (en) * | 1990-11-20 | 1991-10-15 | Mid-South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US5056322A (en) * | 1991-01-04 | 1991-10-15 | Mid-South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US5212955A (en) * | 1992-08-07 | 1993-05-25 | Mid South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US20050012602A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2005-01-20 | Michael Knoop | Method and device for preventing collision of vehicles |
US20050126202A1 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2005-06-16 | Masatoshi Shoukyuu | Ice tray and ice making machine, refrigerator both using the ice tray |
US20060266067A1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2006-11-30 | Maytag Corporation | Refrigerator with improved icemaker having air flow control |
USD605208S1 (en) * | 2007-06-06 | 2009-12-01 | Panasonic Corporation | Ice tray |
US20100043458A1 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2010-02-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | Water spillage management for in the door ice maker |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS4637172Y1 (en) * | 1968-05-09 | 1971-12-22 | ||
JPS476295Y1 (en) * | 1970-04-20 | 1972-03-04 | ||
JPH1163758A (en) * | 1997-06-13 | 1999-03-05 | Hoshizaki Electric Co Ltd | Reservoir type automatic ice machine |
JP4407439B2 (en) * | 2004-09-07 | 2010-02-03 | パナソニック株式会社 | Ice tray |
-
2006
- 2006-04-11 JP JP2006108468A patent/JP2007278662A/en active Pending
-
2007
- 2007-04-06 WO PCT/JP2007/057740 patent/WO2007116961A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-04-06 CN CNA2007800038454A patent/CN101375118A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-04-06 US US12/278,171 patent/US20090026349A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4833894A (en) * | 1988-05-02 | 1989-05-30 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice maker with overtemperature protection |
US4923494A (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1990-05-08 | Eaton Corporation | Making ice in a refrigerator |
US5056321A (en) * | 1990-11-20 | 1991-10-15 | Mid-South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US5056322A (en) * | 1991-01-04 | 1991-10-15 | Mid-South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US5212955A (en) * | 1992-08-07 | 1993-05-25 | Mid South Industries, Inc. | Half crescent shaped ice piece maker |
US20050012602A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2005-01-20 | Michael Knoop | Method and device for preventing collision of vehicles |
US20050126202A1 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2005-06-16 | Masatoshi Shoukyuu | Ice tray and ice making machine, refrigerator both using the ice tray |
US20100043458A1 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2010-02-25 | Whirlpool Corporation | Water spillage management for in the door ice maker |
US20060266067A1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2006-11-30 | Maytag Corporation | Refrigerator with improved icemaker having air flow control |
USD605208S1 (en) * | 2007-06-06 | 2009-12-01 | Panasonic Corporation | Ice tray |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2010115682A3 (en) * | 2009-04-06 | 2011-02-24 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigeration device, comprising ice cube tray for an ice maker |
EP2610562A3 (en) * | 2011-12-30 | 2018-04-18 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Refrigerator and ice making apparatus |
KR101981680B1 (en) | 2013-10-16 | 2019-05-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Ice making tray and refrigerator having the same |
EP3059526A4 (en) * | 2013-10-16 | 2017-09-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice-making tray and refrigerator comprising same |
KR20150044308A (en) * | 2013-10-16 | 2015-04-24 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Ice making tray and refrigerator having the same |
US10072885B2 (en) | 2013-10-16 | 2018-09-11 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice-making tray and refrigerator comprising same |
WO2015056977A1 (en) * | 2013-10-16 | 2015-04-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Ice-making tray and refrigerator comprising same |
US10775087B2 (en) | 2013-10-16 | 2020-09-15 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice-making tray and refrigerator comprising same |
US11441829B2 (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2022-09-13 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker |
US11808507B2 (en) | 2014-10-23 | 2023-11-07 | Whirlpool Corporation | Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker |
WO2020091388A1 (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-05-07 | 주식회사 대창 | Heater, ice maker including heater, and refrigerator including ice maker |
CN113167522A (en) * | 2018-11-16 | 2021-07-23 | Lg电子株式会社 | Refrigerator with a door |
US11874045B2 (en) * | 2018-11-16 | 2024-01-16 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice maker and refrigerator |
US11874047B2 (en) | 2018-11-16 | 2024-01-16 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator comprising fixing part |
CN114719513A (en) * | 2021-01-04 | 2022-07-08 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Ice making assembly and refrigerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN101375118A (en) | 2009-02-25 |
JP2007278662A (en) | 2007-10-25 |
WO2007116961A1 (en) | 2007-10-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20090026349A1 (en) | Ice-making tray | |
US7152424B2 (en) | Ice tray and ice making machine, refrigerator both using the ice tray | |
JP4983364B2 (en) | Ice tray | |
JP2007198644A (en) | Ice making tray | |
US20090165486A1 (en) | Refrigeration device comprising a defrost heater | |
KR20080026737A (en) | A heat exchanger | |
US7659110B2 (en) | DNA amplification device | |
EP4030126A1 (en) | Evaporator assembly for ice-making apparatus | |
JP5402224B2 (en) | Cooler and article storage device | |
JP2006194461A (en) | Ice-making tray | |
JP4407439B2 (en) | Ice tray | |
WO2006121103A1 (en) | Cooler with defroster and refrigerator having cooler with defroster | |
CN105790028A (en) | Bus making cooling device | |
JP2008304101A (en) | Ice making tray | |
CN209755992U (en) | Heat dissipation core for injection mold | |
CN100453932C (en) | Ice tray and ice making machine, refrigerator both using the ice tray | |
JP2005180794A (en) | Ice-making tray | |
CN217686034U (en) | Ice tray with novel refrigerant channel | |
CN209794425U (en) | Point advances gluey formula many die cavities front mould benevolence of formula | |
CN217484775U (en) | Device for realizing constant temperature control of multi-tube biochemical samples | |
CN220373846U (en) | Temperature control injection mold | |
CN220183382U (en) | Laser cladding equipment with heating function | |
CN212179297U (en) | Ice slurry generator barrel | |
KR19990036171U (en) | Defrost Heater in Refrigerator | |
JP2011163638A (en) | Heat exchanger and article storage device with the same |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHOUKYUU, MASATOSHI;TSUJIMOTO, AKINORI;REEL/FRAME:021434/0318 Effective date: 20080619 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:022363/0306 Effective date: 20081001 Owner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION,JAPAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:022363/0306 Effective date: 20081001 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |