WO2025136284A1 - A cooling device comprising a ice making unit - Google Patents

A cooling device comprising a ice making unit Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2025136284A1
WO2025136284A1 PCT/TR2024/050844 TR2024050844W WO2025136284A1 WO 2025136284 A1 WO2025136284 A1 WO 2025136284A1 TR 2024050844 W TR2024050844 W TR 2024050844W WO 2025136284 A1 WO2025136284 A1 WO 2025136284A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ice
pieces
cooling device
cells
water film
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.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/TR2024/050844
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Emre KARAAGAC
Nihat Gunduz
Huseyin CURA
Cem Berk TUZCU
Mesut Faruk COMERT
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.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
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 Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of WO2025136284A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025136284A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Pending 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
    • 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
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/045—Air flow control arrangements
    • 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
    • F25C2305/024—Rotating rake
    • 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
    • F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25C2500/08—Sticking or clogging of 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
    • F25C2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • 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
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice
    • F25C5/22—Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooling device comprising an ice making unit.
  • Cooling devices such as refrigerators, are frequently used to meet the need to keep food and beverages cold as well as to make ice.
  • the cooling devices comprises an ice making unit to provide ready-made ice pieces to users effortlessly.
  • an ice cell is filled with water, which then turns into ice piece. After the water is converted into ice piece, the ice piece is transferred to an ice storage unit. The user can use the ready-made ice pieces in the ice storage unit whenever needed.
  • the ice pieces stick to the ice cells.
  • the ice cell is heated by means of a heater.
  • the heated ice cell melts the surface of the ice piece, thus enabling the ice piece to be separated from the ice cell.
  • an ice scraper enables the ice pieces in the ice cells to be transferred to the ice storage unit and stored.
  • this cycle in the ice making units is repeated to enable the cooling device to always serve ready-made ice pieces to the users.
  • a water film forms on the ice surface as the ice piece is melted and separated from the ice cell.
  • This water film causes the ice pieces to be transferred to the ice storage unit while it is wet.
  • Wet ice pieces stored in the ice storage unit may stick to each other, to the ice storage unit and/or to the ice dispensing units in the ice storage unit.
  • This causes the ice pieces to merge and become unusable.
  • this may cause the user to injure himself/herself while trying to separate the ice pieces from each other.
  • the plastic components in the ice dispensing units may break and reach the ice pieces and from the ice pieces to the user's beverages. If this situation is not noticed by the user, it can cause serious injuries.
  • an ice maker which can selectively produce ice pieces with different transparency levels.
  • the ice maker comprises an ice making chamber having an ice making container which receives the ice making water; a cooling unit for providing cold air to the ice making chamber so as to cool the ice making water; an ice making fan for circulating the cold air to be supplied; an ice making heater unit which provides heat to the ice making water while cooling the ice making water, and a control unit which controls at least one of the cooling unit, the ice making fan and ice making heater unit to contain any type of ice among the different types.
  • the aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein ice pieces which are dry and without a water film thereon are stored by being transferred to the ice storage unit.
  • a cooling device is realized, which eliminates the problems of user dissatisfaction and injury as a result of ice pieces sticking to each other and/or surrounding components.
  • the cooling device of the present invention comprises an ice making unit having a body, a plurality of ice cells on the body to turn the water therein into ice pieces, at least one ice heater which is provided under the ice cells and an ice scraper.
  • the ice scraper has a scraping shaft, scraping claws which are provided on the scraping shaft, which can rotate in the ice cells and which separate the ice pieces from a surface of the ice cells; and an actuator which provides rotational movement to the scraping shaft.
  • the cooling device further comprises at least one ice storage unit; an evaporator; and a cooling fan which provides the circulation of the air in the ice making unit to ensure the formation of ice pieces.
  • the processing unit is configured to operate the cooling fan for a selected period of time to freeze the water film on the ice pieces and to rotate the scraping shaft by means of the actuator to move the ice pieces into the ice storage unit after the water film freezes at the end of the selected time. Since this embodiment does not require a sensor, a less costly cooling device is realized. However, since some environmental conditions are unknown, such as the freezing time of the ice film being different due to the difference in the density of the water used for ice making, the selected time may be longer than necessary. If the selected time is longer than the time required for the ice film to freeze, the ice-making speed of the cooling device may decrease. In a variation of this embodiment of the present invention, the selected time is between 1 minute and 15 minutes. It has been observed that the water film can be frozen according to the variables in a selected period between 1 minute and 15 minutes.
  • Figure 2 - is the perspective view of an exemplary ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, where the ice pieces are in the ice cells, in the cooling device of the present invention.
  • Figure 6 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in the ice cell while rotating in the ice cell.
  • Figure 7 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in an exemplary where the ice piece is lifted off a surface of the ice cell.
  • Figure 8 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in an exemplary where the ice pieces are transferred into the ice storage unit.
  • Figure 9 - is the isometric view of the ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
  • Figure 12 - is the isometric cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising an ice making unit (2) having a body (3), a plurality of ice cells (4) on the body (3) to turn the water inside into ice pieces (B), at least one ice heater (5) which is provided under the ice cells (4) and an ice scraper (6) having a scraping shaft (6.1), scraping claws (6.2) which are provided on the scraping shaft (6.1), which can rotate in the ice cells (4) and which separate the ice pieces (B) from a surface of the ice cells (4); and an actuator (6.3) which provides rotational movement to the scraping shaft (6.1); at least one ice storage unit (7); an evaporator (E); and a cooling fan (8) which provides the circulation of the air in the ice making unit (2) to 0 ensure the formation of ice pieces (B).

Description

DESCRIPTION
A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A ICE MAKING UNIT
The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising an ice making unit.
Cooling devices, such as refrigerators, are frequently used to meet the need to keep food and beverages cold as well as to make ice. The cooling devices comprises an ice making unit to provide ready-made ice pieces to users effortlessly. In the ice making units, an ice cell is filled with water, which then turns into ice piece. After the water is converted into ice piece, the ice piece is transferred to an ice storage unit. The user can use the ready-made ice pieces in the ice storage unit whenever needed.
When the water turns into ice, the ice pieces stick to the ice cells. To separate the stuck ice piece from the ice cell without any damage, the ice cell is heated by means of a heater. The heated ice cell melts the surface of the ice piece, thus enabling the ice piece to be separated from the ice cell. Then, an ice scraper enables the ice pieces in the ice cells to be transferred to the ice storage unit and stored. As the amount of ready-made ice pieces in the ice storage unit decreases as a result of use, this cycle in the ice making units is repeated to enable the cooling device to always serve ready-made ice pieces to the users.
In the state of the art cooling devices having an ice making unit, a water film forms on the ice surface as the ice piece is melted and separated from the ice cell. This water film causes the ice pieces to be transferred to the ice storage unit while it is wet. Wet ice pieces stored in the ice storage unit may stick to each other, to the ice storage unit and/or to the ice dispensing units in the ice storage unit. This causes the ice pieces to merge and become unusable. Moreover, this may cause the user to injure himself/herself while trying to separate the ice pieces from each other. Furthermore, there is a risk that the plastic components in the ice dispensing units may break and reach the ice pieces and from the ice pieces to the user's beverages. If this situation is not noticed by the user, it can cause serious injuries.
In the state of the art International Patent Document No. WO2019143087A1, an ice maker is disclosed, which can selectively produce ice pieces with different transparency levels. The ice maker comprises an ice making chamber having an ice making container which receives the ice making water; a cooling unit for providing cold air to the ice making chamber so as to cool the ice making water; an ice making fan for circulating the cold air to be supplied; an ice making heater unit which provides heat to the ice making water while cooling the ice making water, and a control unit which controls at least one of the cooling unit, the ice making fan and ice making heater unit to contain any type of ice among the different types.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein ice pieces which are dry and without a water film thereon are stored by being transferred to the ice storage unit. Thus, a cooling device is realized, which eliminates the problems of user dissatisfaction and injury as a result of ice pieces sticking to each other and/or surrounding components.
The cooling device of the present invention comprises an ice making unit having a body, a plurality of ice cells on the body to turn the water therein into ice pieces, at least one ice heater which is provided under the ice cells and an ice scraper. The ice scraper has a scraping shaft, scraping claws which are provided on the scraping shaft, which can rotate in the ice cells and which separate the ice pieces from a surface of the ice cells; and an actuator which provides rotational movement to the scraping shaft. The cooling device further comprises at least one ice storage unit; an evaporator; and a cooling fan which provides the circulation of the air in the ice making unit to ensure the formation of ice pieces. The cooling device further comprises a processing unit configured to heat the ice cell by means of the ice heater to ensure the separation of the ice pieces from the ice cells, to rotate the scraping shaft at a selected angle by means of the actuator to prevent the ice pieces from contacting the ice cells such that the scraping claws lift the ice pieces, to turn on the cooling fan to freeze a film of water on the ice pieces, and to rotate the scraping shaft by means of the actuator to move the ice pieces into the ice storage unit after the water film freezes. Freezing the water film on the ice pieces before being transferred to the ice storage unit prevents the ice pieces from sticking to each other, the ice storage unit and/or the ice dispensing unit provided in the ice storage unit. Thus, the cooling device serves as many separate ice pieces as requested to the user. The user does not waste time and energy to separate the sticking ice pieces from each other. Moreover, the risk of injury to the user which may be caused by the cutting tools that the user may use to separate the sticking ice pieces from each other is eliminated. Moreover, the sticking ice pieces are prevented from damaging the ice storage unit and/or ice dispensing unit. Thus, the risk of pieces breaking off from the ice storage unit and/or ice dispensing unit and mixing with ice pieces or the user's food is eliminated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the selected angle is an angle between 90°- 270°. The selected angles between 90°-270° prevent the contact between the ice pieces and the ice cells and enable the same to be lifted by and remain on the scraping claws.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit is configured to operate the cooling fan for a selected period of time to freeze the water film on the ice pieces and to rotate the scraping shaft by means of the actuator to move the ice pieces into the ice storage unit after the water film freezes at the end of the selected time. Since this embodiment does not require a sensor, a less costly cooling device is realized. However, since some environmental conditions are unknown, such as the freezing time of the ice film being different due to the difference in the density of the water used for ice making, the selected time may be longer than necessary. If the selected time is longer than the time required for the ice film to freeze, the ice-making speed of the cooling device may decrease. In a variation of this embodiment of the present invention, the selected time is between 1 minute and 15 minutes. It has been observed that the water film can be frozen according to the variables in a selected period between 1 minute and 15 minutes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a water film freezing sensor for detecting the freezing of the water film on the ice pieces. Thus, as soon as the water film freezes, the ice pieces are moved into the ice storage unit and the water taken into the ice cells is cooled to start the ice making process. Thus, high ice making speeds can be achieved without wasting extra time.
In a variation of this embodiment of the present invention, the water film freezing sensor has a light source for illuminating the surface of the lifted ice pieces and a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the ice piece surface. In this embodiment, the processing unit is configured to detect that the water film is frozen when the light sensor detects a value above/below a selected detection value. The light sensor can detect the wavelength and/or light intensity of the reflected light. The wavelength-detecting light sensor provides more precise and reliable detection values. The light sensor which detects light intensity provides less accurate and less reliable detection values than the light sensor which detects wavelength, but offers a more economical solution for detecting the freezing of the water film.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the body is manufactured from metal. By means of the high heat conduction of metal, heat transfer between the air flow and the water in the ice cells occurs at a high level.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice storage unit comprises an ice dispensing unit to discharge the ice pieces from the ice storage unit. Thus, the user is enabled to easily access the ice pieces in the ice storage unit. The ice dispensing unit is in the form of a screw conveyor.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of an exemplary ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the sideways isometric cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, where the ice pieces are in the ice cells, in the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 6 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in the ice cell while rotating in the ice cell.
Figure 7 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in an exemplary where the ice piece is lifted off a surface of the ice cell. Figure 8 - is the front cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit, which shows a position of the scraping claw in an exemplary where the ice pieces are transferred into the ice storage unit.
Figure 9 - is the isometric view of the ice making unit in the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 10 - is the bottom isometric view of the ice making unit shown in Figure 5.
Figure 11 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit.
Figure 12 - is the isometric cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice making unit.
Figure 13 - is the isometric cross-sectional view of an exemplary ice scraper.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
1. Cooling device
2. Ice making unit
3. Body
4. Ice cell
5. Ice heater
6. Ice scraper
6.1. Scraping shaft
6.2 Scraping claw
6.3 Actuator
7. Ice storage unit
7.1 Ice dispensing unit
8. Cooling fan
E. Evaporator
B. Ice piece
HA. Air flow The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises an ice making unit (2) having a body (3); a plurality of ice cells (4) on the body (3) to turn the water inside into ice pieces (B); at least one ice heater (5) which is provided under the ice cells (4) and an ice scraper (6). The ice scraper (6) has a scraping shaft (6.1), scraping claws (6.2) which are provided on the scraping shaft (6.1), which can rotate in the ice cells (4) and which separate the ice pieces (B) from a surface of the ice cells (4); and an actuator (6.3) which provides rotational movement to the scraping shaft (6.1) (Figure 13). The cooling device (1) further comprises at least one ice storage unit (7); an evaporator (E); and a cooling fan (8) which provides the circulation of the air in the ice making unit (2) to ensure the formation of ice pieces (B).
The cooling device (1) further comprises a processing unit configured to heat the ice cell (4) by means of the ice heater (8) to ensure the separation of the ice pieces (B) from the ice cells (4), to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) at a selected angle by means of the actuator (6.3) to prevent the ice pieces (B) from contacting the ice cells (4) such that the scraping claws (6.2) lift the ice pieces (B), to turn on the cooling fan (8) to freeze a film of water on the ice pieces (B), and to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3) to move the ice pieces (B) into the ice storage unit (7) after the water film freezes.
The cooling device (1) of the present invention is operated as follows: After the water in the ice cells (4) is converted into ice pieces (B), in other words, when the ice making unit (2) makes ice pieces (B), the ice pieces (B) are in the ice cells (4) and stick to the inner surface of the ice cells (4). To make new ice pieces (B) and to store the ready-made ice pieces (B) by taking them to the ice storage unit (7), the ice pieces (B) in the ice cells (4) must be removed from the ice cells (4). Therefore, first the processing unit heats the ice cells (4) by means of the ice heater (5). As a result of heating the ice cells (4), the ice pieces (B) in the ice cells (4) melt to some extent and thus the sticking of the ice pieces (B) to the inner surface of the ice cells (4) is eliminated. Afterwards, the ice pieces (B) in the ice cells (4) are started to be lifted by means of the ice scraper (6). For this lifting process, the processing unit starts to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3). As the scraping shaft (6.1) rotates, the scraping claws (6.2) start to rotate and move towards the ice pieces (B) in the ice cells (4) (Figure 5 and Figure 6). The processing unit rotates the scraping shaft (6.1) until the contact of the ice pieces (B) with the ice cells (4) is broken (Figure 7). The contact of the ice pieces (B) with the ice cells (4) is broken by rotating the scraping shaft (6.1) at the selected angle. In this position, the ice pieces (B) do not contact the ice cells (4). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice pieces (B) are on the scraping claws (6.2). Moreover, in this position, there is a water film on the ice pieces (B). The ice film is formed as a result of the heating process applied to eliminate the previous sticking situation and of the ice pieces (B) melting to some extent. In this position, the processing unit operates the cooling fan (8) to freeze the water film. After the water film on the ice pieces (B) freezes, the processing unit again starts to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3). By means of the rotation of the scraping shaft (6.1), the ice pieces (B) are transferred into the ice storage unit (7) (Figure 8). Thus, the ice pieces (B) are stored in the ice storage unit (7) without sticking to each other or to the ice storage unit (7).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the selected angle is an angle between 90°- 270°.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice cell (4) is semicircular. The preferred angle for the semicircular ice cell (4) is approximately 180° (Figure 5 and Figure 7). The nearly 180° rotation of the scraping shaft (6.1) enables the ends of the scraping claws (6.2) to make a 180° radial movement. During this radial movement, the scraping claws (6.2) push the semicircular ice pieces (B) from one corner and take the same from the semicircular ice cells (4). When the scraping claws (6.2) complete their 180° radial movement, the semicircular ice pieces (B) are kept fixed on the scraping claws (6.2) such that the flat surface thereof is on the scratching claw (6.2) (Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit is configured to operate the cooling fan (8) for a selected period of time to freeze the water film on the ice pieces (B) and to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3) to move the ice pieces (B) into the ice storage unit (7) after the water film freezes at the end of the selected time. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the water film on the ice pieces (B) freezes after the selected time. In a variation of this embodiment, the selected time is between 1 minute and 15 minutes. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a water film freezing sensor for detecting the freezing of the water film on the ice pieces (B). In a variation of this embodiment, the water film freezing sensor has a light source for illuminating the surface of the lifted ice pieces (B) and a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the ice piece surface. In this embodiment, the processing unit is configured to detect that the water film is frozen when the light sensor detects a value above/below a selected detection value. In this embodiment, the freezing of the water film on the ice pieces (B) is detected by means of the fact that the ice piece (B) surfaces with and without a water film reflect light differently. The water film forms a light-reflecting layer on the ice piece (B) surface. Therefore, the ice piece (B) surface without a water film absorbs light more than the ice piece (B) surface with a water film. Thus, the light reflected from the ice piece (B) surface is detected by the light sensor. The light sensor can detect the wavelength or light intensity of the reflected light. The processing unit may be configured to assume that the water film on the ice piece (B) is frozen when the light sensor detects a light intensity above a selected light intensity. Alternatively, the processing unit may be configured to assume that the water film on the ice piece (B) is frozen when the light sensor detects light at a wavelength within a selected range or at a wavelength above/below a selected wavelength.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the body (3) is manufactured from metal. In this embodiment, the body (3) is preferably manufactured from aluminum or copper due to its high thermal conductivity. Thus, the heat transfer to the water in the ice cells (4) is carried out with high efficiency and the ice making speed of the cooling device (1) is increased.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice storage unit (7) comprises an ice dispensing unit (7.1) to discharge the ice cubes (B) from the ice storage unit (7). Thus, the user is enabled to easily access the ice cubes (B) in the ice storage unit (7). In a variation of this embodiment, the ice dispensing unit (7.1) is in the form of a screw conveyor.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) comprising an ice making unit (2) having a body (3), a plurality of ice cells (4) on the body (3) to turn the water inside into ice pieces (B), at least one ice heater (5) which is provided under the ice cells (4) and an ice scraper (6) having a scraping shaft (6.1), scraping claws (6.2) which are provided on the scraping shaft (6.1), which can rotate in the ice cells (4) and which separate the ice pieces (B) from a surface of the ice cells (4); and an actuator (6.3) which provides rotational movement to the scraping shaft (6.1); at least one ice storage unit (7); an evaporator (E); and a cooling fan (8) which provides the circulation of the air in the ice making unit (2) to ensure the formation of ice pieces (B), characterized by a processing unit which is configured
- to heat the ice cell (4) by means of the ice heater (8) to ensure the separation of the ice pieces (B) from the ice cells (4),
- to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) at a selected angle by means of the actuator (6.3) to prevent the ice pieces (B) from contacting the ice cells (4) such that the scraping claws (6.2) lift the ice pieces (B),
- to turn on the cooling fan (8) to freeze a film of water on the ice pieces (B), and
- to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3) to move the ice pieces (B) into the ice storage unit (7) after the water film freezes.
2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the selected angle is an angle between 90°-270°.
3. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a processing unit which is configured to operate the cooling fan (8) for a selected period of time to freeze the water film on the ice pieces (B) and to rotate the scraping shaft (6.1) by means of the actuator (6.3) to move the ice pieces (B) into the ice storage unit (7) after the water film freezes at the end of the selected time.
4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the selected time is between 1 minute and 15 minutes.
5. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by a water film freezing sensor for detecting the freezing of the water film on the ice pieces (B).
6. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the water film freezing sensor having a light source for illuminating the surface of the lifted ice pieces (B) and a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the ice piece surface, and a processing unit which is configured to detect that the water film is frozen when the light sensor detects a value above/below a selected detection value.
7. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the body
(3) which is metal.
8. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ice storage unit (7) comprising an ice dispensing unit (7.1) to discharge the ice cubes (B) from the ice storage unit (7).
PCT/TR2024/050844 2023-12-20 2024-07-18 A cooling device comprising a ice making unit Pending WO2025136284A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR2023/017777 2023-12-20
TR2023/017777A TR2023017777A1 (en) 2023-12-20 2023-12-20 A COOLING APPLIANCE WITH AN ICE-MAKING UNIT

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WO2025136284A1 true WO2025136284A1 (en) 2025-06-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/TR2024/050844 Pending WO2025136284A1 (en) 2023-12-20 2024-07-18 A cooling device comprising a ice making unit

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WO (1) WO2025136284A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100672392B1 (en) * 2006-01-27 2007-01-24 엘지전자 주식회사 Ice making device, cooling device using same, and control method thereof
JP2013234810A (en) * 2012-05-10 2013-11-21 Panasonic Corp Ice making device and refrigerator
WO2023160681A1 (en) * 2022-02-28 2023-08-31 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 Refrigeration appliance

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100672392B1 (en) * 2006-01-27 2007-01-24 엘지전자 주식회사 Ice making device, cooling device using same, and control method thereof
JP2013234810A (en) * 2012-05-10 2013-11-21 Panasonic Corp Ice making device and refrigerator
WO2023160681A1 (en) * 2022-02-28 2023-08-31 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 Refrigeration appliance

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