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
  • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
  • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
• • 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
  • F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
  • F25C2400/02—Freezing surface state

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ice tray and an ice maker with the same, and more particularly, to an ice tray having improved thermal transfer characteristics to achieve an enhancement in ice-making speed and an increase in the amount of ice produced within a given time, and an ice maker equipped with the ice tray.
• an appliance having an ice making function such as a refrigerator, a water purifier, or a vending machine (hereinafter, referred to as a refrigerator) uses an ice tray and an ice maker to produce ice by cooling water contained in a certain container below the freezing point of the water.
• the developed ice maker uses a system in which water is automatically supplied to an ice tray equipped in a refrigerator or the like, to make ice in the ice tray, and a heater is arranged adjacent to the ice tray, to heat the ice tray, and thus to separate the ice from the ice tray.
• the material thereof is limited to a plastic material because the ice tray should have characteristics capable of being twisted and then recovered to an original state.
• the plastic ice tray exhibits a very low ice making speed and a long ice making time, so that it is impossible to produce a desired amount of ice or more within a given time.
• the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a twist type ice tray having an enhanced thermal conductivity to achieve an enhancement in ice-making speed, a reduction in ice-making time, and an increase in the amount of ice produced within a given time, and an ice maker equipped with the ice tray.
• the object of the present invention can be achieved by providing an ice tray comprising: a body including a plurality of cavities each defining a space to produce ice, the body being made of a thermally non-conductive material and having a predetermined elasticity such that the body can be twisted and then recovered; and a thermal conductor partially or completely formed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the body, to achieve an enhancement in thermal conductivity, the thermal conductor comprising at least one layer.
• the body may be made of a polypropylene-based plastic material or a polyethylene-based plastic material.
• the thermal conductor may be made of a metal or a thermally-conductive non- metal, and may be coated on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the body in the form of at least one layer.
• the thermal conductor may be made of a thermally-conductive coating material, and may be coated on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the body in the form of at least one layer.
• the ice tray may further comprise a plurality of fins provided around the cavities or formed directly on the body, to promote a thermal transfer to the cavities.
• the fins may be made of a thermally -conductive metal or non-metal.
• an ice tray comprises: a body including a plurality of cavities each defining a space to produce ice; and a plurality of fins provided around the cavities or formed directly on the body, to promote a thermal transfer to the cavities.
• an ice maker comprises: an ice tray comprising a body including a plurality of cavities each defining a space to produce ice, the body being made of a thermally non-conductive material and having a predetermined elasticity such that the body can be twisted and then recovered, and a thermal conductor partially or completely formed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the body, to achieve an enhancement in thermal conductivity, the thermal conductor comprising at least one layer; and a twister coupled to opposite ends of the ice tray, to twist the ice tray by a predetermined angle, for separation of ice from the ice tray.
• the thermal conductor may be made of a metal or a thermally-conductive non- metal, and may be coated on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the body in the form of at least one layer.
• the thermal conductor may be made of a thermally-conductive coating material, and may be coated on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the body in the form of at least one layer.
• the ice maker may further comprise a plurality of fins provided around the cavities or formed directly on the body, to promote a thermal transfer to the cavities.
• the twister may comprise a drive motor coupled to one end of the ice tray, to rotate the ice tray, and a rotation restrainer coupled to the other end of the ice tray, to prevent the ice tray from rotating over a predetermined angle so that the ice tray is twisted.
• an ice maker comprises: a case defined with a space for receiving ice, and opened at a top of the case; and an ice tray mounted to the top of the case, the ice tray comprising a body including a plurality of cavities each defining a space to produce ice, and a plurality of fins provided around the cavities or formed directly on the body, to promote a thermal transfer to the cavities.
• the ice tray according to the present invention and the ice maker equipped with the ice tray can achieve an enhancement in ice-making speed and a reduction in ice- making time, and can produce a sufficient amount of ice within a short period of time because the ice tray is of a twist type having improved thermal transfer characteristics.
• FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to the present invention and an embodiment of an ice maker equipped with the ice tray;
• FIGs. 2 to 4 are views illustrating operations of the ice tray of FIG. 1 according to the present invention and the ice maker equipped with the ice tray;
• FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to the present invention and an embodiment of an ice maker equipped with the ice tray.
• FIGs. 2 to 4 are views illustrating operations of the ice tray of FIG. 1 according to the present invention and the ice maker equipped with the ice tray.
• FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an ice tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• the ice maker aaaording to the present invention includes a case 400 defined with a space having a certain size to receive ice, an ice tray 100 mounted to the top of the case 400, and a twister mounted to opposite ends of the ice tray 100, to cause the ice tray 100 to be twisted.
• the case 400 is opened at the top thereof, to allow ice made in the ice tray 100 to be introduced into the case 400 after being separated from the ice tray 100.
• the ice tray 100 includes rotating shafts 113 rotatably coupled to the top of the case 400 at opposite ends of the case 400, respectively.
• An outlet 420 is formed through the bottom of the case 400 at one side of the case 400, to allow the ice received in the case 400 to be discharged out of the case 400.
• Cavities 120 having a certain size are formed in the ice tray 100, to contain water and thus to form ice in the form of ice cubes. Details of the ice tray 100 will be described later with reference to FIGs. 5 and 6.
• the twister includes a drive motor 200 coupled to one end of the ice tray 100, and a rotation restrainer 300 coupled to the other end of the ice tray 100.
• the twister has been illustrated as including the drive motor 200 and rotation restrainer 300, it may be configured by other constituent elements, in place of the drive motor 200 and rotation restrainer 300.
• motors which are rotatable in the same direction by different angles, may be coupled to the opposite ends of the ice tray, respectively.
• the rotation restrainer 300 may be configured by any means, as long as the means has a function capable of preventing the rotating shaft 113 at the other end of the ice tray 100 from rotating over a predetermined angle. That is, when the ice tray 100 rotates by the drive motor 200, the rotation restrainer 300 allows the rotating shaft 113 at the other end of the ice tray 100 to rotate by the predetermined angle, but restrains a rotation of the rotating shaft 113 over the predetermined angle. On the other hand, the drive motor 200 rotates over the predetermined angle, thereby causing the ice tray 100 to be twisted. As a result, ice present in the cavities 120 is separated from the ice tray 100, and is then introduced into the case 400.
• the rotation restrainer 300 may comprise a motor rotating by a predetermined angle in the same direction as the drive motor 200.
• the ice tray 100 is twisted as the drive motor 200 and rotation restrainer 300 rotate in the same direction.
• a stopper (not shown) may be provided at the rotating shaft 113 coupled to the other end of the ice tray 100.
• a step (not shown) is provided at an inside of the rotation restrainer 300 such that the stopper is engaged with the step as the rotating shaft 113 rotates, thereby restraining the rotation of the rotating shaft 113.
• a stopper (not shown) may be provided at the rotation restrainer 300, and a step (not shown) may be provided at an outer surface of the case 400.
• a stopper (not shown) may be provided at the rotation restrainer 300, and a step (not shown) may be provided at an outer surface of the case 400.
• a stopper (not shown) may be provided at one side of the ice tray 100, and a step (not shown) is formed at an inner surface of the case 400 adjacent to the other end of the ice tray 100. In this case, as the ice tray 100 rotates, the stopper is engaged with the step, thereby restraining the rotation of the ice tray 100.
• an ice feeder 520 is arranged in the case 400.
• An ice processor 530 is also arranged at one end of the ice feeder 520.
• a driver 510 for driving the ice feeder 520 and ice processor 530 is arranged at the outside of the case 400.
• An opening/closing member 540 is also provided to open or close the outlet 420. This configuration is only for an illustrative purpose.
• the ice maker according to the present invention may have any configuration, as long as it includes the ice tray 100 and twister.
• the cavities 200 of the ice tray 100 are maintained to be upwardly directed, as shown in FIG. 2.
• the drive motor 200 operates to rotate the ice tray 100.
• the ice tray 100 reaches a state shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the above- described process. That is, the ice tray 100 is twisted, thereby separating ice received in the cavities 120 from being separated from the ice tray 100. The separated ice is introduced into the case 400.
• the ice tray 100 includes a body 110 formed with cavities 120, and thermal conductors 130 formed over an inner surface 111 of the body 110 and/or an outer surface 112 of the body 110.
• the body 110 of the ice tray 100 is made of a thermally non-conductive material.
• the body 110 is made of a plastic material exhibiting superior properties in terms of twisting and recovering after the twisting.
• the body 110 is made of a polypropylene (PP)-based plastic material or a polyethylene (PE)-based plastic material.
• PP polypropylene
• PE polyethylene
• the polypropylene (PP)-based plastic material or polyethylene (PE)-based plastic material is advantageous in terms of environment in that it has excellent moldability and requires no addition of a plast ⁇ zer (producing an environmental hormone) for softening the material in a molding process.
• a plast ⁇ zer producing an environmental hormone
• the thermal conductors 130 contain a metal or non-metal material having a thermal conductivity higher than the material of the body 110.
• the thermal conductors 130 may be formed by coating a metal or non-metal having an excellent thermal conductivity over at least one of the inner and outer surfaces 111 and 112 of the body 110, or coating a thermally -conductive paint, a powder paint containing thermally-conductive particles, a thermally-conductive paste containing metal powder, or a silver paste containing silver powder.
• Each thermal conductor 130 may have a multilayer structure.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the case in which the thermal conductors 130 are formed over the inner and outer surfaces 111 and 112, respectively, such that each of the thermal conductors 130 has a single layer structure
• the thermal conductors 130 may be formed such that the thermal conductor 130 formed over the inner surface 111 has a multilayer structure, and the thermal conductor 130 formed over the outer surface 112 has a single layer structure.
• one thermal conductor 130 having a multilayer structure is formed only over the inner surface 111.
• thermal conductors 130, each having a multilayer structure may be formed over the inner and outer surfaces 111 and 112, respectively.
• each thermal conductor 130 When each thermal conductor 130 has a multilayer structure, it exhibits enhanced thermal conductivity, but may have problems in that the manufacturing costs increase, and the thermal conductor 130 may be damaged during the twisting process. To this end, each thermal conductor 130 must have a multilayer structure having an appropriate number of layers, taking into consideration the above-described problems.
• thermal conductors 130 are formed using a coating process
• electroplating electroless plating, physical vacuum deposition, chemical vacuum deposition, etc. may be used for the coating process.
• electroplating electrical energy is externally supplied to the body
• the body 110 which is made of a plastic material, under the condition in which the body 110 is dipped in a metal salt solution or the like, such that a metal coating is plated over the inner surface 111 and/or outer surface 112 of the body 110.
• the body 110 is dipped in a metal salt solution.
• a reducing agent is used to reduce metal ions contained in the metal salt solution in a self -catalyzing manner, thereby plating a metal coating over the inner surface 111 and/or outer surface 112 of the body 110.
• the electroless plating process is more preferable than the electroplating process.
• the conductors 130 formed by the electroless plating process have an increased density and a more uniform thickness, as compared to those formed by the electroplating process.
• the thermal conductors 130 may be formed using a physical vacuum deposition process or a chemical vacuum deposition process.
• the body 110 is exposed to a gas containing metal ions.
• the gas is deposited in a solid phase over the inner and outer surfaces 111 and 112 of the body 110 in aoaordance with a physical or chemical change thereof, thereby forming a desired coating.
• Metal nano particles may be nano-coated over the body 110, to implement a twist type ice tray having a high thermal conductivity.
• the conductors 130 may be formed by coating a coating material (a paint or a paste) having a high thermal conductivity.
• the coating material which has a high thermal conductivity, may include a paint or a powder paint containing metal powder or particles, a metal paste containing metal particles, or the like.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the ice tray 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
• the ice tray 100 includes a body 110 formed with cavities 120, and fins 140 provided at an outer surface 112 of the body 110 around the cavities 120, to enhance a thermal conductivity of the cavities 120, and thus to achieve an enhancement in ice-making speed.
• the fins 140 are made of a metal or non-metal material having a high thermal conductivity.
• the fins 140 may be formed directly on the body 110, which is made of a plastic material. However, the fins 140 may also be formed on the outer surface 112 of the ice tray on which the conductor 130 shown in FIG. 5 is formed. In this case, it is possible to obtain a higher thermal conductivity. [64] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
• the ice tray according to the present invention and the ice maker equipped with the ice tray have an industrial applicability in that it is possible to improve the thermal conductivity of the ice tray, and thus to achieve an enhancement in ice-making speed, a reduction in ice-making time, and an increase in the amount of ice produced within a given time.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
• Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (22)

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Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2006
  • 2006-11-10 KR KR1020060111301A patent/KR100830461B1/ko active IP Right Grant
• 2007
  • 2007-11-09 WO PCT/KR2007/005646 patent/WO2008056957A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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