Storage container for storing ice cubes and for preventing or reversing ice cube clumping

Abstract

A refrigeration device, a freezer device, or a device having both, with a cooled interior space and with a storage container for ice cubes located in this interior space. The device includes an ice cube maker that produces ice cubes. The ice cubes are received in the storage container. A pulse generation is provided, in which one or multiple pulses are applied to the storage container.

Claims

1. A device comprising a refrigeration device, a freezer device, or both, the device comprising a cooled interior space, and a storage container for ice cubes located in the interior space, wherein the device comprises an ice cube maker, wherein the ice cubes produced in the ice cube maker are received in the storage container, wherein a pulse generation means is present, which is arranged to apply one or more pulses to the storage container, and the pulse generation means comprises a motor connected to the storage container via a connection element, the motor is configured to rotate the connection element to engage with the storage container, which results in a twisting or other stress generation of the storage container, and the pulse generation means comprises a trigger configured to abruptly release the connecting element from the storage container, thereby releasing the twisting or other stress generation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generation means is further configured to emit a temporally-limited pulse or pulses in the form of a vibration.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is configured to cause the motor to keep rotating in such a way that the connection element no longer connects the motor to the storage container, or is configured in such a way to remove the connection element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a closure element for closing the cooled interior space or a part thereof, and that the pulse generation means further comprises a lifting device, which faces the cooled interior space and which is configured to lift the storage container when the closure element is being closed, wherein it is provided that the lifting device is an oblique plane that engages under the storage container.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generation means further comprises an electromagnet which cooperates with the storage container, wherein a controller is provided, which is configured to switch the electromagnet on and subsequently off.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a spring mechanism is present, which comprises a spring connected with a closure element in such a way that the spring is tensioned when opening or closing the closure element once or multiple times, and that the spring mechanism is configured to release the spring force for the purpose of pulse generation upon a further opening or closing of the closure element.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generation means further comprises a vibrator, which acts upon the storage container in such a way that vibrations are transmitted on to this container.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is further configured to cause the storage container to vibrate, wherein it is provided that the motor is the motor of the ice cube maker.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein components that produce vibrations during operation are coupled to the storage container in such a way that the container is also induced to vibrate.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the components comprise or are a compressor and/or a ventilator.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein a controller is provided, which is configured to activate the pulse generation means at regular or irregular intervals or dependent upon at least one parameter.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the parameter is the filling level of the storage container and/or the time span since the last production of ice cubes and/or since the last removal of ice cubes and/or since the last activation of the pulse generation means.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the type of pulse generation and/or the pulse intensity.

14. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a user interface for controlling the controller by a user.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in detail by means of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

(2) The drawings show in:

(3) FIG. 1: schematic variants of pulse generation,

(4) FIG. 2: a first embodiment of the pulse generation means with storage container,

(5) FIG. 3: a second embodiment of the pulse generation means with storage container,

(6) FIG. 4: a third embodiment of the pulse generation means with storage container, and

(7) FIG. 5: a perspective view of an ice cube manner with storage container.

(8) In the exemplary embodiment described in the following, an ice cube maker 120 is arranged in the cooled interior space of the device in accordance with FIG. 5, which ice cube maker comprises an ice cube tray 100, into which the water to be frozen is filled, as well as a motor 110 for ejecting the ice cubes through a rotation of the ice cube tray 100. Reference character 130 relates to a filling level measuring device for determining the filling level of the ice cubes in the storage container 120 arranged below the ice cube maker 120, which is generally preferably configured as a drawer.

(9) In order to prevent ice cubes in the storage container 120 from freezing together, or at least minimize this, according to the invention provision is made for a pulse generation means which is arranged and configured to apply one or multiple pulses to the storage container.

(10) According to FIG. 1 (upper drawing), it is possible to apply a strong pulse, then not to apply a pulse over a time span, and subsequently optionally output another pulse, etc. In this illustration, the force acting on the storage contained is plotted against time.

(11) According to another approach according to FIG. 1 (lower drawing), the introduction of multiple weaker pulses in the form of a vibration is conceivable. In this representation, the amplitude of the vibration is plotted against time.

(12) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment with a controller and a motor 1 that generates a rotary movement around a rotary axis standing vertically with respect to the drawing plane. The motor 1 serves to rotate and twist the ice cube tray 100, whereby the ice cubes 30 fall into the storage container 20.

(13) Reference character 10 generally relates to a means for building-up stress, which in this example is formed by the catch 11 and by a region of the storage container 20 that cooperates with the catch.

(14) The catch 11, which rotates along with the motor, cooperates with the peripheral region 12 of the storage container 20, namely in such a way that the storage container is put into a stressed state by the rotation. The built-up of stress occurs until the point “rotation till here=build-up of stress” shown in FIG. 2. If the motor 1 is rotated further, contact between the catch 11 and the storage container ends abruptly, which causes the required pulse. The same applies if the catch is suddenly removed.

(15) This release can occur with the rotation end of the ice cube tray 100, or prior to or after the ejection of the ice cubes into the storage container 20. The mentioned pulse can occur at every ejection, or at regular intervals, or after the filling level measuring device 130 registers that no ice cubes have been removed.

(16) The likewise shown position “rotation till here=ejection of ice cubes” indicates the position of the motor where an ejection of the ice cubes from the ice cube tray 100 into the storage container 20 occurs.

(17) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment, in which a wedge or another oblique plane 60 is arranged at the inner side of the door 50, which cooperates with the storage container 20 in such a way that the storage container is lifted when closing the door. This can occur through the door, or also through another moveable element, e.g. through a drawer neighboring the storage container 20, etc.

(18) When opening the door, the storage container 20 falls back into its initial position, so that a corresponding pulse is generated.

(19) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment, in which a spring mechanism is tensioned in multiple stages. It is thus conceivable that the spring mechanism, which can include one or multiple springs, is tensioned further in a stepwise manner, and the storage container is lifted thereby every time the door, or another closing element of the device, is opened or closed, or a drawer etc. is opened or closed. At a certain count, e.g. closing or opening the door etc. for the third time, the spring mechanism is relaxed abruptly, which results in that the storage container 20 falls back into its original position so that a pulse is triggered as well.