Patent Grant
11841181
An aspect of the invention relates ice maker comprising a specifically constructed flap adjustable into a closed position for dispensing of crushed ice and into an opened position for dispensing of uncrushed ice. A further aspect relates to a household refrigeration apparatus comprising such an ice maker.
Household refrigeration apparatuses are known in diverse configurations. In this context, it is also known that an interior container bounds a receiving space for a household refrigeration apparatus. This receiving space is usually a refrigerating compartment. A partial area is occupied by an ice maker in this receiving space. Thereto, it is known that the ice maker is separated from the remaining volume of the refrigerating compartment. In this context, it is provided that a housing area of the housing of the ice maker is formed by a separate wall element, which is attached to inner sides of walls of the interior container in the interior of the receiving space of the interior container.
From U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,355 B2, a household refrigeration apparatus with an ice maker is known. The ice maker occupies a partial area of the interior volume of a refrigerating compartment, which is a receiving space for food. The ice maker comprises a housing. A drive unit is arranged in this housing, by which a control means is to be actuated. An outlet of the housing is closed or opened by the control means. Ice can be output from the ice maker via this outlet. In the configuration of the ice maker, it is provided that this drive unit is arranged at the rearmost end of the housing viewed in depth direction of the household refrigeration apparatus. However, the control means is arranged at the frontmost end, where the opening is also formed. Thereby, it is required in this configuration to bridge a relatively long path, namely the entire length of this housing of the ice maker measured in depth direction, to provide a mechanical coupling between the drive unit and this control means. In this respect, it is provided that a thin rod drive is formed, which extends over this entire distance. Thereto, this relatively thin and delicate rod is mechanically fixed or suspended at multiple locations. Due to the different positions of the components, it comprises multiply bent areas to be able to allow the mechanical coupling to the drive unit on the one and to the control means on the other hand anyway. Therefore, the coupling distance is formed by a very long element, namely this connecting rod. By such a configuration, however, disadvantages exist to the effect that more space is required, movement transmission from the drive unit to the control means is very inaccurately effected on the other hand. Here, tolerances are given by the large path distance, by which the precision of the movement transmission, which is generated by the drive unit, and is then performed by the control means, is restricted and deviating, respectively. This also results in the fact that the movement of the control means becomes inaccurate and an open position or a closed position of this control means is only achieved to a limited extent. Thereby, problems in passing the ice can occur on the one hand, on the other hand, if this control means is not completely opened, jam of ice in the opening not completely unblocked can occur. Moreover, a loss of stability is also associated with this very thin and delicate connecting rod. This means that the long rod can also deform in itself, for example bend or twist, upon force effect by the drive unit. Thereby too, an insufficient and not complete or not direct transmission of the movement initiated by the drive unit to this control means can be effected. In the configuration of the ice maker from the prior art, a very expensive assembly process is also required due to the plurality of components and the individual positions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ice maker. Similarly, it is an object of the invention to provide a household refrigeration apparatus with such an ice maker.
This object is solved by an ice maker, a household refrigeration apparatus according to the independent claims.
An aspect relates to an ice maker for a household refrigeration apparatus, comprising a housing with an opening through which ice is dispensable from an interior of the housing out of the housing, a crushing device for crushing of ice provided at the opening, a flap movably arranged at the opening and switchable between a closed position for dispensing of crushed ice and an opened position for dispensing of uncrushed ice through the opening, a drive unit coupled to the flap by a coupling device for moving the flap, and wherein the flap having a pivot axis about which the flap pivots and from the pivot axis extends radially away a first flap arm which is coupled to the coupling device and a second flap arm which is movable relative to the opening.
A further aspect relates to a household refrigeration apparatus comprising an apparatus housing with a receiving space for food, and an ice maker for a household refrigeration apparatus, comprising a housing with an opening through which ice is dispensable from an interior of the housing out of the housing, a crushing device for crushing of ice provided at the opening, a flap movably arranged at the opening and switchable between a closed position for dispensing of crushed ice and an opened position for dispensing of uncrushed ice through the opening, a drive unit coupled to the flap by a coupling device for moving the flap; and wherein the flap having a pivot axis about which the flap pivots and from the pivot axis extends radially away a first flap arm which is coupled to the coupling device and a second flap arm which is movable relative to the opening.
Another aspect of the present disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first flap arm extends above of the crushing device in width direction of the ice maker and the second flap arm extends adjacent to the crushing device in height direction of the ice maker.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first flap arm and the second flap arm is formed in one part.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pivot axis is arranged above the crushing device.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the coupling device having a coupling rod which connects the flap and the drive unit and the coupling rod protrudes through a wall of a front cover of the ice maker.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the flap having an engagement slit at a first end portion of the first flap arm and in the engagement slit engages the coupling device.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an end part of the coupling rod is movable along the engagement slit.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second flap arm is located inside the opening in the closed position of the flap and outside of the opening in the opened position of the flap.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second flap arm having a shovel-like form and curved form.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the flap having a spring for returning the flap into the closed position.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a center portion of the spring is arranged at a rotation axis of the coupling device.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the spring having a first spring arm which extends radially away and downwardly from the center portion and the first spring arm is coupled with a protrusion of a wall a front cover of the ice maker.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the spring having a second spring arm which extends radially away and upwardly from the center portion and the second spring arm is coupled with an end part of the coupling device.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the spring is more tensed in the opened position than in the closed position of the flap.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the coupling device having a further end part that is coupled with the drive unit, and the further end part is angled away from the ice container.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the opening and the flap is provided inside a front cover of the housing, to which the ice container is integrally formed.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second flap arm is movable in and out of the opening.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the drive unit is formed as a separate module, wherein the entire module of the drive unit is arranged adjacent to the opening in the housing.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the ice container and the module of the drive unit is arranged laterally directly next to each other inside the housing.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the drive unit comprises a motor and an actuating element, which is coupled to the motor, wherein the actuating element is coupled to the flap.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the housing has a depth direction, and the opening is arranged in a front third of depth of the entire depth of the housing and the module of the drive unit is arranged in this front third of depth. Preferably, the housing has a depth direction, and the housing comprises a front flange, wherein the module is arranged adjacent to the front flange. Preferably, the housing has a depth direction, and the module is arranged in a front-side corner area of the interior of the housing with front-side view of the ice maker in this depth direction. Preferably, the module is arranged in a left lower, front-side corner area of the interior.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the ice maker comprises an ice container for ice form elements, wherein the ice container is arranged in the housing and the module of the drive unit is arranged laterally directly next to the ice container viewed in width direction of the ice maker.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the coupling device comprises a coupling rod, which is connected to the flap and to the module of the drive unit. In particular, the flap comprises an engagement slit at an end portion of the flap, with which the coupling rod engages. Preferably, the flap is formed shovel-like and curved. Preferably, the module of the drive unit comprises a module housing, which is non-destructively detachably arranged at the housing.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the module housing is fixed to the housing by a mechanical connection, which is a plug connection or a locking connection or a plug and locking connection. Preferably, the mechanical connection comprises at least one plug runner and one plug rail, which can be plugged together by a linear relative movement to each other.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the plug runner is formed integrally with the module housing and the plug rail is formed integrally with the housing.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the drive unit comprises a motor and an actuating element, which is coupled to the motor, wherein the actuating element is coupled to the flap.
Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, implementations and feature combinations are to be considered as disclosed, in particular by the implementations set out above, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set out in the relations of the claims.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an ice maker and a household refrigeration apparatus, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.
The indications “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “depth direction,” “width direction,” “height direction,” etc. specify the positions and orientations given in intended use and intended arrangement of the apparatus.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
In the embodiment, the interior container 4 bounds a receiving space 6 with its walls, which is formed for receiving food. Here, the receiving space 6 is in particular formed as a refrigerating compartment.
On the front side, the interior container 4 comprises a loading opening, via which food can be taken into or be removed from the receiving space 6. In the embodiment, the receiving space 6 is closable by two separate doors 7 and 8. The two doors 7 and 8 are pivotably arranged at the housing 2. The two doors 7 and 8 are arranged in the same height position viewed in height direction (y-direction) of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In width direction (x-direction) of the household refrigeration apparatus 1, they are arranged next to each other such that they collectively close the receiving space 6 on the front side in the closed state. In particular, these two doors 7 and 8 are arranged in a common plane in the closed state, which is spanned by the height direction and the width direction.
In
Advantageously, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises at least one further receiving space 9 for food. This further receiving space 9 is separated from the first receiving space 6. The further receiving space 9 can for example be a freezing compartment or a keep-fresh compartment or a further refrigerating compartment. Viewed in height direction, this further receiving space 9 is formed below the first receiving space 6. The further receiving space 9 is in particular bounded by further walls of an interior container, which can also be the interior container 4. Preferably, it is provided that the further receiving space 9 is bounded by a further door 10, which is shown in the closed state in
It can be provided that the household refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises multiple, separate further receiving spaces 9, and further such explained drawers are preferably formed in this context. They can adjoin to the further receiving space 9 towards the bottom viewed in height direction. They are in particular also formed within the housing 2.
Further, the door 10, in particular this front plate, is arranged in the same plane as the doors 7 and 8 in the closed state of the doors 7, 8 and 10. In particular, the doors 7, 8 and 10 are front-side vision components of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In particular, they are also, if they are closed, arranged without overlap with each other.
Moreover, the household refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises an ice maker 11. The ice maker 11 occupies a partial area of the volume of the receiving space 6 and is thermally insulated from the remaining volume of the receiving space 6. The ice maker 11 is formed to produce ice from water, which is supplied to the household refrigeration apparatus 1 via an external water supply line. In this context, ice form elements such as ice cubes or crushed ice can be produced.
Further, the ice maker 11 is a constituent of the dispenser unit 12 of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. In this advantageous implementation, the dispenser unit 12 comprises an output unit 13 in addition to the ice maker 11. This output unit 13 can preferably be formed at a door 7, 8. In the shown embodiment, the output unit 13 is arranged at the door 7. This is in particular advantageous because the ice maker 11 is arranged in the left upper corner area of the total volume of the receiving space 6 with front-side view of the household refrigeration apparatus 1. For outputting produced ice form elements, short paths are achieved by this local positioning. The output unit 13 is fixedly installed at the door 7. Moreover, the output unit 13 is separated from the ice maker 11 and also decoupled from it in this context. In the closed state of the door 7, ice form elements produced by the ice maker 11 can get into the output unit 13 and be output via a front side 14 of the door 7. Thereto, it is provided that a recess is formed on the front side 14, which faces away from the receiving space 6 in the closed state of the door 7. A vessel can be placed in this recess to be able to collect the output ice form elements.
Further, the dispenser unit 12 can also be formed for outputting liquid such as water or other drinks in addition to the output of ice form elements.
In
The interior container 4 comprises multiple walls, which bound the receiving space 6. For example, the interior container 4 is formed with a first vertical side wall, which is a first wall 15 in the example, an opposing second vertical side wall 16, a rear wall 17, which is a third wall in the example, a bottom wall 18 and a ceiling wall, which is a second wall 19 in the example.
The first vertical side wall for example represents a first wall 15 of the interior container 4. In an embodiment, the ceiling wall represents a second wall 19 of the interior container 4, which is arranged angled, in particular at an angle of 90°, to the first wall 15.
The ice maker 11 comprises a housing 20 (
Moreover, the receiving space 21 is bounded by a further wall area 24. This further wall area 24 is an integral constituent of the rear wall 17 of the interior container 4. The wall areas 22, 23 and 24 directly join to each other.
Moreover, the housing 20 comprises a wall unit 25 (
In
In the shown embodiment, the wall unit 25 also comprises an L-shaped positioning bracket 29. It is connected to the wall plate 28 on the one hand and to the wall plate 27 on the other hand with its ends. In depth direction (z-direction), this positioning bracket 29 is arranged in a front area and thus in a front end of this wall unit 25. It bounds a front-side opening of this wall unit 25 with the front area of the wall plates 27 and 28. The wall plates 27 and 28 are formed with an integral, L-shaped outer wall element 30 and an L-shaped and integral inner wall element 31 separate therefrom. In a clearance between the outer wall element 30 and the inner wall element 31, a thermally insulating material 32 is introduced. Thereby, the receiving space 21 of the ice maker 11 is thermally insulated from the remaining volume of the receiving space 6. A front-side, also L-shaped end flange 33 covers this clearance between the outer wall element 30 and the inner wall element 31 on the front side.
As is apparent in
Components of a mechanically, non-destructively detachable connection 35 are formed in the assembly area 34. The connection 35 can be formed to the effect that it is only formed for directly plugging components together. However, this plug connection can additionally also be formed as a locking connection and a locking can then additionally be provided besides simply plugging together. Thus, a locking connection is in particular also understood by a plug connection.
This connection 35 comprises mating plug elements 36 and 37. These mating plug elements 36 and 37 are in particular formed integrally with the inner wall element 31. The mating plug elements 36 and 37 are formed as plug rails in the embodiment. They are oriented parallel to each other and extend linearly in depth direction. Moreover, it is provided that the assembly area 34 is formed in the front area viewed in depth direction of the housing 21. In particular, this assembly area 34 and thus also the connection 35 to the mating plug elements 36 and 37 is formed in a front third of length of the wall unit 25. This means that these mating plug elements 36 and 37 are formed in a front third of length of this entire length of the wall unit 25 upon length view of the wall unit 25 in depth direction. In particular, the mating plug elements 36 and 37 are thus formed in a front third of length of the housing 21 and thus also of the entire ice maker 11.
In an implementation, it is provided that the mating plug elements 36 and 37 are formed in a corner area 38 with front-side view of the wall unit 25 and thus with view in depth direction. In particular, this corner area 38 is a left-side, lower corner area with this front-side view.
In
In
They are formed in a lower area of the module housing 41.
The drive unit or drive 39 moreover comprises an actuating element or actuator 45. The actuating element 45 is a separate component, which is movably arranged. Here, it is in particular linearly displaceable. Here, the actuating element 45 is arranged obliquely inclined and thus can be moved on an obliquely inclined linear guiding track relative to a retaining unit 46 of the drive unit 39. Here, the actuating element 45 is formed as a duct-like box, so that introduction of the end of the lever rod 58 into the actuating element 45 is simplified while closing of the front cover 50. Further, the end of the closing rod 58 is angled or curved in direction away from the container 56 in order to support guidance of the lever rod 58 into duct-like box of the actuating element 45 while closing of the front cover 50. The direction of movement of the actuating element 45 relative to the retaining unit 46 is shown by the arrow P1.
Further, the actuating element 45 comprises at least one engagement element 47, which is guided in a guiding groove 48 of the retaining unit 46. In particular, an upper engagement element 47 and a lower engagement element 47 as well as an upper guiding groove 48 and a lower guiding groove 48 are formed.
As is moreover apparent in
In
As is apparent in
Such a configuration would already be sufficient to allow the secure retention of the module 40 at the wall unit 25. In an advantageous implementation, it is provided that the element 43 is present in addition to these plug elements 42, 44 and the mating plug elements 36 and 37. It is preferably formed with a locking element 43a. This locking element 43a plunges into the receptacle 49 in the assembled state, as it is shown in
In that the element 43 is actuated at its front-side edge, in particular upward bent, this snapped or locked state can be detached and then the module 40 can be forward pulled by a movement linear viewed in depth direction.
In the assembly, thus, this module 40 is provided and the wall unit 25 is also provided. For assembling this drive unit 39 to the wall unit 25, this module 40 is displaced into the wall unit 25 coming from the front. Thereto, the plug elements 42 and 44 are coupled to the mating plug elements 36 and 37. Upon then guided linear displacement of the module 40 in depth direction to the rear, the plug elements 42 and 44 are moved until they have reached the stops 36a and 37a. Snapping of the locking element 43a in the receptacle 49 is then also automatically achieved on this movement path.
In
In
In this representation, the snapped state between the locking element 43a of the element 43 and the receptacle 49 is shown.
Moreover, it is also apparent that the drive unit 39 comprises a motor 51, which is arranged in the module housing 41. In the embodiment, it is provided that the drive unit 39 moreover comprises a cam 52. The cam 52 is coupled to the motor 51. On the other hand, the cam 52 is coupled to the actuating element 45. The cam 52 is set in a rotational movement by the motor 51. By this rotational movement, the actuating element 45 is actuated. Therein, the coupling between the cam 52 and the actuating element 45 is such that the rotational movement of the cam 52 is converted to a linear movement according to the arrow P1.
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As is in particular apparent in
In the representation according to
The flap 56 is opened or closed depending on need such that the ice form elements or the crushed ice can be output via the opening 57.
As is moreover apparent in
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In the installed state, the flap 56 extends around the crushing device 61, in particular extends a first flap arm 65 above the crushing device 61 in width direction of the ice maker 20 and a second flap arm 67 extends downwardly in height direction of the ice maker 20 along a right side, in front view of the ice maker 20, of the crushing device 61. This flap 56 comprises a pivot axis 66 between the first flap arm 65 and the second flap arm 67 about which the flap 56 rotates between the closed position to the opened position and vice versa. The pivot axis 66 is preferably provided above the crushing device 61 and from the pivot axis 66 extends horizontally away the first flap arm 65 of the flap 56 in direction of the coupling rod 58 or module 40 and the second flap arm 67 of the flap 65 extends downwardly away in direction of the opening 57. At the first flap arm 65 is provided a first end portion 62 of the flap 56 at which a receptacle 63, or engagement slit or elongated hole, is provided. In the installed state, the coupling rod 58 engages with the receptacle 63, in particular the end portion 581 of the coupling rod 58 protrudes into the elongated hole or engagement slit of the receptacle 63 and is movable therein. The first flap arm 65 is substantially formed straight. The second flap arm 67 of the flap 56 faces away from the module 40 and facing the opening 57. The second flap arm 67 is formed shovel-like and/or is curved and extending in height direction of the ice maker 11 from the pivot axis 66 around or along the container opening 571 in direction of the opening 57. The second flap arm 67 having a second end portion 68 of the flap 56 which rotates in or rotates out of the area of the opening 57. The arrangement of the pivot axis 66 enables a rocket function, so that a drive unit 39 can be provided with less power for causing the rotating movement of the flap 56. Further, the configuration of the flap 56 allows close arrangement of the drive unit 39 to the opening 57, so that the place inside the housing can be utilized optimally.
The coupling rod 58 or lever rod having a main part 583, a middle part 582 and an end part 581 which are formed from metal and formed in one part. The middle part 583 connects the end part 581 with the main part 583 and the middle part is provided orthogonally to the end part 581 and main part 583. The end part 581, middle part 582, and main part 583 having a U-shape and both the main part 583 and the end part 581 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 601 of the screw conveyor 60.
At the main part 583 of the coupling rod 58 is arranged a spring 70. This spring 70 is preferably a coil spring or spiral spring. The spring 70 having a center portion which is coiled around a rotating axis of the coupling rod 58. The center portion of the spring 70 is provided either loosely coiled around the main part 583 or a sleeve protruding from the wall of the cover 50 through which the lever rod 58 protrudes. From the center portion of the spring 70 extends radially away a first spring arm 71 and second spring arm 72. The first spring arm 71 extends downwardly in height direction of the ice maker 20 and is coupled with a protrusion 69 provided at a wall of the front cover 50. The first spring arm 71 may be disposed in a groove of the protrusion 69. The second spring arm 72 extends upwardly from the center portion to the first end part 581 and is coupled or in contact with the end part 581, in particular the second spring arm 72 is loosely coiled around the first end part 581 which protrudes out from the engagement slit on the side of the first flap arm facing ice container 59. In this representation, the coupling of the second spring arm 72 with the end part 581 is hidden by the flap 56. The spring 70 in this representation at least slightly pre-tensed, so that the flap 56 is always pressed with a specific force into the closed position. By the movement transmission of the movement of the cam 52 to the actuating element 45, the lever rod 58 coupled thereto is actuated, in particular rotated, such that by the coupling of the lever rod 58 to the flap 56, this flap 56 is moved between the closed and opened position. In particular, due to the scope of movement of the coupling rod 58 inside the actuation element 45 or inside the duct-like box of the actuating element 45 and small movement of the drive unit 39, the drive unit 39 does not facilitate the closed or at least a completely closed position of the flap 56, so that the return movement of the flap 56 from the opened position into the closed position is facilitated partly or completely by the spring 70.
In order to move the flap 56 into the opened position, the lever rod 58 is rotated clockwise by the drive unit 39 and by this movement the first flap arm 65 is pushed downwardly or in direction of the opening 57 by the coupling rod 58. Thereby, the end part 581 moves closer to the pivot axis 66 inside the elongated hole of the receptacle 63 and the second flap arm 67 rotates counter-clockwise away from the opening 57 about the pivot axis 66 until the lever rod 58 is in contact with the other end of the elongated slit of the receptacle 63 which is closer to the pivot axis 66 or the drive unit 39 has reached the stop position.
In
In order to rotate the flap 56 back to the closed position, the lever rod 58 is rotated counter-clockwise, driven by the drive unit 39 and/or the tensed spring 70, and the first flap arm 65 is pushed upwardly by the lever rod 58, which moves away from the pivot inside the elongated hole of the receptacle 63, and the second flap arm 67 moves clockwise about the pivot axis 66 relative to the opening 57 or into the opening 57 until the lever rod 58 is in contact with the end of the receptacle 63 which end of the elongated hole of the receptacle 63 is farther away from the pivot axis 66.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of patent application Ser. No. 16/203,026 filed Nov. 28, 2018; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3807193 | McKenney | Apr 1974 | A |
| 6135173 | Lee | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6880355 | Jung | Apr 2005 | B2 |
| 20150300718 | Bauriedl | Oct 2015 | A1 |
| 20210048235 | Bauriedl | Feb 2021 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200284490 A1 | Sep 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16203026 | Nov 2018 | US |
| Child | 16884264 | US |
