Ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance with an ejection unit and a twisting apparatus, domestic refrigeration appliance and method

Abstract

An ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance has an ice tray with at least one cavity for holding and freezing liquids to form a shaped ice element. An ejection unit ejects the shaped ice element from the cavity. A drive apparatus performs a relative rotational movement between the ice tray and the ejection unit to eject the shaped ice element from the cavity. The ice maker has a twisting apparatus that is coupled to the ice tray and that can be used to twist the ice tray around to release a frozen shaped ice element in the cavity. There is also described a domestic refrigeration appliance with the ice maker and a method for ejecting shaped ice elements from the ice tray.

Claims

1. A method for producing a shaped ice element with an ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance, the method which comprises: providing the ice maker with an ice tray having a first end and a second end located longitudinally opposite the first end, and mounting the first end of the ice tray to be rotated about an axis; in the ice maker, producing a shaped ice element in a cavity of the ice tray of the ice maker by freezing a liquid in the cavity; in the ice maker, twisting the ice tray by applying a rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in a fixed position by at least one stop to twist the first end of the ice tray relative to the second end of the ice tray and thereby release the shaped ice element in the cavity; after twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, ejecting the shaped ice element, which is frozen, from the cavity with at least one rake blade of the ice maker; and after twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, rotating the ice tray back from a twisted position to a non-twisted basic position prior to ejecting the shaped ice element from the cavity.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, prior to twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, checking whether the liquid in the cavity has frozen to form a shaped ice element.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, when twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, twisting the ice tray through an azimuth angle of at least 10°.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, when twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, twisting the ice tray through an azimuth angle of between 10° and 80°.

5. A method for producing a shaped ice element with an ice maker for a domestic refrigeration appliance, the method which comprises: providing the ice maker with an ice tray having a first end and a second end located longitudinally opposite the first end, and mounting the first end of the ice tray to be rotated about an axis; in the ice maker, producing a shaped ice element in a cavity of the ice tray of the ice maker by freezing a liquid in the cavity; in the ice maker, twisting the ice tray by applying a rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in a fixed position by at least one stop to twist the first end of the ice tray relative to the second end of the ice tray and thereby release the shaped ice element in the cavity; after twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, ejecting the shaped ice element, which is frozen, from the cavity by rotating at least one rake blade through an azimuth angle between 90° and 180° about a rotation axis of the ice tray in a first rotation direction; and rotating the at least one rake blade back in a second rotation direction, opposite the first rotation direction, after the shaped ice element has been ejected.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises, prior to twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, checking whether the liquid in the cavity has frozen to form a shaped ice element.

7. The method according to claim 5, which comprises, when twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, twisting the ice tray through an azimuth angle of at least 10°.

8. The method according to claim 5, which comprises, when twisting the ice tray by applying the rotational movement to the first end of the ice tray while holding the second end of the ice tray in the fixed position, twisting the ice tray through an azimuth angle of between 10° and 80°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of an ice maker according to the invention with an ice tray in the non-twisted basic position;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the ice maker according to FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of the ice maker according to FIG. 2 with a twisted ice tray;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a perspective diagram of components of the ice maker according to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 with the ejection unit of the ice maker in its basic position;

(6) FIG. 6 shows the diagram according to FIG. 5, with the ejection unit shown in an ejection position; and

(7) FIG. 7 shows a perspective diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of an inventive domestic refrigeration appliance.

(8) Structurally and functionally identical elements are identified with identical reference characters throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a perspective diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a domestic refrigeration appliance 1. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is configured to store and conserve food. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is a combined refrigerator/freezer appliance. It may, however, just be a refrigerator.

(10) The illustrated domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has an external housing 2. A first chamber for holding food is configured in the external housing 2, in this instance a chiller compartment 3. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 also has a second chamber for holding food, in this instance a freezer compartment 4, which is separate from the first chamber. As shown, in the embodiment illustrated here the chiller compartment 3 and freezer compartment 4 are arranged one above the other in the heightwise direction (y-direction) of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1. The freezer compartment 4, which is arranged further below, can be closed by a door 5. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the door 5 is a front wall of a drawer, which can be moved linearly in the depthwise direction (z-direction) of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1. The chiller compartment 3 can be closed at the front by two separate doors 6 and 7, shown in the opened state in FIG. 1. The two separate doors 6 and 7 can be pivoted by way of pivot axes, which are oriented vertically, and are arranged on the external housing 2. The two doors 6 and 7 are arranged next to one another in the widthwise direction (x-direction) and extend in a front plane in the closed state. In particular the door 5 also extends in the same plane in the closed state as the one in which the two doors 6 and 7 extend in the closed state.

(11) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 also has a dispenser unit 10, which is configured to output shaped ice elements or crushed ice. The dispenser unit 10 can also be configured optionally to output a beverage. The dispenser unit 10 has an ice maker 8 or ice maker unit. In the illustrated embodiment the ice maker 8 is arranged within the chiller compartment 3. This means that the ice maker 8 is configured and arranged to be thermally insulated from the chiller compartment 3 but can only be accessed and reached by way of the loading opening of the chiller compartment 3. That is, the ice maker 8 can only be made accessible when at least the door 6 is opened.

(12) In addition to the ice maker 8 the dispenser unit 10 also has an output unit 9. In this instance the output unit 9 is integrated in the door 6 by way of example. A recess, into which a vessel can be inserted, and into which the shaped ice elements or crushed ice can then be output by way of the output unit 9, is disposed on an outer face of the door 6 facing away from the chiller compartment 3 and thus forming a front face.

(13) When the door 6 is in the closed state, the output unit 9 is coupled to the ice maker 8 so that shaped ice elements or crushed ice can pass from the ice maker 8 to the output unit 9 by way of an ice chute 11 configured here in the output unit 9.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the ice maker 8. It has an ice tray 12. In the present exemplary embodiment a number of depressions are configured as cavities 13 in said ice tray 12, it being possible for liquid to be introduced therein to be frozen to form shaped ice elements. Said ice maker 8 also has a separate ejection unit 14, which can be used to eject shaped ice elements in the cavities 13 from said cavities 13. The ejection unit 14 here is configured in the manner of a rake, having a number of rake blades 15 or tines 15. The ice maker 8 also has a drive apparatus 16, which can be used to rotate the ejection unit 14 about a rotation axis A, so that the rake blades 15 rotate. Provision is made here in particular for a rotation angle between 90° and 180° to be possible. There is no provision for a complete rotation.

(15) A relative rotational movement between the ice tray 12 and the ejection unit 14 allows the shaped ice elements to be ejected from the cavities 13.

(16) In one advantageous embodiment the ice maker 8 also has a further unit, which is a twisting apparatus 17. The twisting apparatus 17 allows the ice tray 12 to be twisted around. The ice tray 12 has a longitudinal axis B, about which twisting takes place.

(17) As shown schematically in FIG. 2, a front end 12a, which is a first end, of the ice tray 12 is connected to a rotating unit 18 of the twisting apparatus 17. A second end 12b of the ice tray 12 located opposite in the direction of the longitudinal axis B is connected to a holding unit 19 of the twisting apparatus 17. In particular this second end 12b is held, in particular tensioned, in a fixed position on the holding unit 19, which is also arranged in particular in a fixed position. When the first end 12a is twisted about the axis B relative to the second end 12b, the ice tray 12 is twisted around.

(18) The ice maker 8 preferably has at least one detection unit 20, in particular a temperature sensor, to detect the temperature of the ice tray 12. It can then be determined whether the liquid in the cavities 13 is already frozen and therefore ejectable shaped ice elements are present.

(19) It is thus first checked from the production and ejection of the shaped ice elements whether the shaped ice elements have already frozen sufficiently. It is only once this has been determined, by a control unit of the ice maker 8 or a control unit of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, that the ice tray 12 is then twisted. Twisting is performed in such a manner that the ice tray 12 is twisted from a non-connected basic position and then moved back into the basic position. It is only when this basic position is reached again that the ejection unit 14 is actuated. In particular, the rake blades 15 are rotated so as to engage in the cavities 13 and to eject the released shaped ice elements therefrom.

(20) The ice maker 8 is configured without a heating facility for heating the ice tray 12, so the shaped ice elements in the ice tray 12 are not melted before being ejected.

(21) During ejection said ejection unit 14 is rotated from a basic position through an azimuth angle about the axis A between 90° and 180°. After all the shaped ice elements are ejected from the cavities 13 in this process, the unit is rotated back to the basic position in the counter direction about the axis A.

(22) FIG. 2 also shows a container 21 of the ice maker 8 simply by way of example, this being arranged below the ice tray 12, the ejected shaped ice elements being introduced therein. The stored shaped ice elements are then conveyed out of the container 21 as required, in particular with a spiral conveyor, and then conveyed by way of the ice chute 11 to the output unit 9.

(23) FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the ice maker 8 according to FIG. 2. The rake blades 15 are shown here, tapering in particular toward a free end and away from a rotating bar 22. The cavities 13 here are configured in particular as cylinder segment volumes so a shaped ice element is a cylinder segment. As also shown in FIG. 3, in one advantageous embodiment provision is made for the holding unit 19 to have at least one first stop 23. Preferably, a second stop 24 is also provided. In particular said second end 12b of the ice tray 12 is tensioned between said stops 23 and 24. Provision can thus be made for the first stop 23 to rest against an upper face of said second end 12b and for the second stop 24 to rest against a lower face of the ice tray 12 in the region of the second end 12b. As the stops 23 and 24 are in a fixed position and the holding unit 19 is also in a fixed position, but the first end 12a can be rotated about the axis B using the rotating unit 18, the ice tray 12 is twisted around.

(24) In particular twisting takes place here from the basic position through an azimuth angle about the axis B between 10° and 80°.

(25) FIG. 4 shows the diagram according to FIG. 2 but with the ice tray 12 shown in the twisted position, as opposed to the non-twisted basic position shown in FIG. 2.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of components of the ice maker 8. It shows the ejection unit 14 with the rake blades 15 in a basic position, in which the rake blades 15 do not yet engage in the cavities 13 of the ice tray 12. The holding unit 19 is not shown in the diagram in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows the diagram according to FIG. 5 but with the ejection unit 14 pivoted out of the basic position and the rake blades 15 engaging in the cavities 13, in particular in such a position that the shaped ice elements therein are all ejected from the cavities 13. From this in particular further maximum pivot position of the rake blades 15 they are then pivoted back into the basic position according to FIG. 5 in the counter direction.

(27) FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a domestic refrigeration appliance 1, in which in contrast to FIG. 1 the ice maker 8 is arranged in a freezer compartment 4, which is configured here in particular below a chiller compartment 3. Provision can also be made for other positions of a freezer compartment and chiller compartment in a domestic refrigeration appliance 1.

(28) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 1 Domestic refrigeration appliance 2 External housing 3 Chiller compartment 4 Freezer compartment 5 Door 6 Door 7 Door 8 Ice maker unit 9 Output unit 10 Dispenser unit 11 Ice chute 12 Ice tray 12a First end 12b Second end 13 Cavity 14 Ejection unit 15 Rake blades 16 Drive apparatus 17 Twisting apparatus 18 Rotating unit 19 Holding unit 20 Detection unit 21 Container 22 Rotating bar 23 Stop 24 Stop A Rotation axis B Longitudinal axis