TW201413198A - Connection assembly for a base and a cabinet assembly of an ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection assembly is disclosed for an ice maker that includes a base having a rail and a cabinet assembly having a glide. The glide slides onto the rail to removably connect the base and the cabinet assembly while aligning the cabinet assembly vertically and horizontally relative to the base. Preferably, the rail and glide have complementary geometries wherein the base and rail fit together such that the complementary geometries limit the relative vertical and horizontal movement of the rail and the glide to each other. In alternative configurations, the base may have a glide and the cabinet may have a rail. The connection assembly may also include a stop limiting the relative linear movement between the rail and the glide, further assuring proper alignment of the cabinet and the base. The connection assembly may also include a locking mechanism limiting relative linear movement of the base and the cabinet.

Description

Connection base of ice machine base and casing assembly Application cross reference

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/670,327, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of invention

The invention relates to a connecting assembly for combining a base and a casing of an ice making machine. The invention further relates to combining an ice maker and an ice bucket assembly with an easily removable assembly to permit direct contact and usable components. The present invention also provides a module assembly for a casing assembly that improves the flexibility of manufacture. The invention further relates to a connection assembly for combining a base of a ice machine and a casing assembly such that the base and the casing are suitably vertically and horizontally aligned.

Background of the invention

The ice maker basically has a freezing system, and a water distribution system that distributes water on an ice forming surface that is connected to the freezing system that forms the ice. The refrigeration system performs a water vapor compression cycle as in the prior art to cool in an ice formation cycle and heat in an ice generation cycle to release ice from the ice forming surface and store the ice in an ice bucket. . Freezing system, The ice bucket and water distribution system are in a substantially insulated housing.

The current ice maker housing is not equipped with removable components to facilitate the maintenance of the refrigeration system, ice bucket and water distribution system. In addition, the removable components of the housing may become misaligned when reassembled after repairs are completed. Conventional ice machine components also have a fixed configuration and therefore are not elastic in production.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a connection assembly for assembling a base and a housing assembly of an ice maker to allow direct contact and serviceable components, the base and the housing assembly to be adapted. Alignment, and the modular assembly of the improved housing assembly for improved production.

Summary of invention

The present invention provides a connection assembly for an ice maker that includes a base having a slide rail and a housing assembly having a slider. The slider slides over the slide rail to allow the base and housing assembly to be coupled and removed, and the housing assembly is vertically and horizontally aligned relative to the base.

The present invention is directed to a connection assembly for an ice maker, which in one embodiment includes a slide rail of a base having a geometry and a slider of a housing, the slider having a geometry in which the geometry of the slide is complementary to the geometry of the slider such that the geometry of the slide matches the geometry of the slider to provide vertical and horizontal stability of the base and housing Align.

In one embodiment, the geometry of the slide rail is a solid geometric configuration, and the geometry of the slider is an open geometric configuration. The solid configuration of the slide rail is accommodated in the open geometric configuration of the slider. The solid geometric configuration of the slide rail and the open geometric configuration of the slider are sufficiently complementary to each other such that the relative vertical and horizontal movement of the slide rail and the slider are limited, thereby causing the base and the casing to be vertical and horizontal. Stability and alignment.

Exemplary solid geometries for the rail include L-shaped, croquet and cylindrical shapes, squares, rectangles, triangles, 〝X〞, 〝T〞, and other shapes familiar to those skilled in the art after reading this specification. . The illustrated open geometry of the slider includes a geometry that is complementary to the solid geometry of the slide rail described above.

Alternatively, the geometry of the slide rails may be open, and the geometry of the sliders may be solid geometries as described above, or those familiar to those skilled in the art after reading this specification. In the latter case, the geometry of the rails and sliders is preferably sufficiently complementary that the horizontal movement of the rails and sliders is limited, thereby providing vertical and horizontal stability and alignment of the base and the casing.

Preferably, the slide rail and the slider are provided with a stop block so that the linear movement of the slide rail relative to the slide member or the slide member relative to the slide rail is restricted, and the linear movement of the cabinet relative to the base is limited. Ensure that the linear alignment of the casing and base is correct and prevents linear misalignment between the rails and the slides.

Preferably, the housing and/or the base are provided with a locking mechanism such that once the housing and the base are positioned, they are not substantially movable in a linear direction. This ensures proper alignment of the casing and base and also prevents the casing from And when the pedestal is in use, or accidentally unable to align when the ice machine can move, such as when cleaning around or under the ice maker, or to move the position in an environment where the ice maker is being used.

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the <RTIgt;

10‧‧‧ ice machine

12‧‧‧Connected assembly

14‧‧‧ pedestal

16‧‧‧Cabinet assembly

18‧‧‧ top wall

20‧‧‧First side wall

22‧‧‧ second side wall

24‧‧‧ front wall

28‧‧‧ Doors

30‧‧‧door opening

32‧‧‧

34‧‧‧User Interface

36‧‧‧ front grille

38‧‧‧foot

40‧‧‧ openings

42‧‧‧ side wall

43‧‧‧ side wall

44‧‧‧ bottom wall

46‧‧‧Evaporator support structure

48‧‧‧Compressor

50‧‧‧Condenser

52‧‧‧Evaporator

56‧‧ ‧block

58‧‧‧stop element

60‧‧‧ length

62‧‧‧ length

64‧‧‧Front

66‧‧‧ front wall

68‧‧‧Fixed parts

70‧‧‧ Direction

100‧‧‧Sliding parts

102‧‧‧ vertical components

104‧‧‧Upper horizontal components

106‧‧‧ Lower horizontal components

108‧‧‧Outer vertical components

110‧‧‧ length

112‧‧‧ length

116‧‧‧Aperture

118‧‧‧ gap

120‧‧‧ holes

122‧‧‧ horizontal part

124‧‧‧Vertical part

200‧‧‧rails

202‧‧‧ horizontal part

204‧‧‧Vertical part

302‧‧‧screw

400‧‧‧ arrow

402‧‧‧ arrow

A‧‧‧ arrow

B‧‧‧ arrow

1 is a front perspective view of an ice maker having an embodiment for combining a base of a ice maker and a casing, and the base of the ice maker is coupled to the machine The shell assembly is in a closed position.

2 is a front perspective view of the base attached to the support structure of FIG. 1.

3 is a front perspective view of a slider of FIG. 1.

4 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the base attached to the housing of FIG. 1 with the insulation of the housing assembly removed.

5 is a side perspective view of one of the ice machines of FIG. 1 with a front grille of the ice maker removed and a base coupled to the housing assembly such that the housing assembly is movable relative to the base.

Figure 6 is a partial front perspective view of the slider of Figure 4 coupled to the base of Figure 1 such that the slider can be moved over the base.

Figure 7 is a partial front elevational view of the housing assembly attached to the base of Figure 1, wherein the base is coupled to the housing assembly in a closed position and the insulating layer of the housing assembly is removed.

Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the ice maker of Figure 1, wherein the front grille is removed, and a locking mechanism is coupled to the base and the housing assembly in a closed position Set it down.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an ice maker 10 in accordance with the present invention in use, which is an exemplary embodiment having a coupling assembly, designated as designated 12. The connecting assembly 12 is coupled to a base 14 and a housing assembly 16 in a closed position. The connector assembly 12 has two sliders 100 coupled to opposite sides of the housing assembly 16, and two rails 200 (shown in Figure 2) formed on opposite sides of the base 14. The base 14 and housing assembly 16 houses an ice bucket of the ice maker 10, a refrigeration system, and a water distribution system. The water distribution system distributes water to a refrigeration system that is connected to the ice that forms into the ice bucket. The refrigeration system performs a conventional water vapor compression cycle that is heated in an ice formation cycle and in an ice generation cycle.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the housing assembly 16 has a top wall 18, a first side wall 20 corresponding to a second side wall 22, a front wall 24, and a door wall 28. The top wall 18, the first side wall 20, the second side wall 22, and the front wall 24 are each a metal having a foam insulation layer on the inner side. The door wall has a door opening 30 that is covered by a door 32. The door 32 is coupled to the door wall 28 such that the door 32 can be rotated from a closed position to an open position that does not cover the door opening 30 as shown in FIG. 1, to access the interior of the ice maker 10. The door wall 28 is coupled to a user interface 34 to allow a user to transmit a controller (not shown) that is input to the ice maker 10.

The base 14 is coupled to a front grill 36 and a leg 38 that supports the base 14. The front grill 36 has an opening 40 such that the interior of the ice maker 10 can be atmosphered The environment is connected.

Referring to Figure 2, the base 14 has side walls 42, 43 that are coupled to a bottom wall 44. The side walls 42, 43 are connected to an evaporator support structure 46. Each of the side walls 42, 43 is formed on a rail 200 on a top portion of the side walls 42, 43. The susceptor 14 supports a compressor 48 and a condenser 50 of the refrigeration system of the ice maker 10. The evaporator support structure 46 supports an evaporator 52 of the refrigeration system of the ice maker 10 that is coupled to an ice forming surface (not shown).

Referring to Figure 3, the slider 100 has an inner vertical member 102 coupled to an upper horizontal member 104 and a lower horizontal member 106. Upper horizontal member 104 is coupled to an outer vertical member 108. The lower horizontal element 106 and the inner vertical element 102 have a length 110 that is shorter than the length 112 of the upper horizontal element 104 and the outer vertical element 108. The upper horizontal member 104 has an aperture 106 such that a holder can pass the upper horizontal member 104 and a portion of one of the side walls 20, 22 connects the slider 100 to the housing assembly 16. The housing assembly 16 has a gap 118. When the base 14 is coupled to the housing assembly 16, the gap 118 allows the slide rail 200 to be accessed via the lower horizontal member 106. The inner vertical member 102, the upper horizontal member 104, the lower horizontal member 106 and the outer vertical member 108 form a hole (or opening shape 〞) 120 having an inverted L shape. The aperture 120 has a horizontal portion 122 and a vertical portion 124.

The slider 100 can be made of plastic or metal, such as aluminum, and/or a metal having a polymer coating. The inventors of the present invention have found that when the slider 100 is plastic, the side walls 42, 43 are metal, and the slider 100 is metal, and the side walls 42, 43 are metal, and no lubricant is required at an interface therebetween. Achieve the desired relatively slidable movement.

Referring to FIG. 4, the side wall 20 of the housing assembly 16 can be secured between the slider 100 and the housing assembly 16 by a side wall 20, a screw 302 of the aperture 116 of the upper horizontal member 104, and a capture screw 302. One of the connected squeezing turns through the inner hole 304 and is connected to the slider 100. The slider 100 can have a recess or counterbore such that a head on the screw 302, that is, an opposite end of one end of the screw 302 extending through the side wall 20, does not extend beyond the slider 100.

The slide rail 200 forms an inverted L-shape that is complementary to the aperture 120 of the slider 100. The slide rail 200 has a horizontal portion 202 and a vertical portion 204. The slide rail 200 is fixed in the hole 120 of the slider 100 to connect the casing assembly 16 and the base 14. The horizontal portion 202 of the slide rail 200 is secured in the horizontal portion 122 of the aperture 120 in the slider 100, while the vertical portion 204 of the slide rail 200 is secured in the vertical portion 124 of the aperture 120 in the slider 100. The upper horizontal wall 104 and the lower horizontal wall 106 are positioned above and below the horizontal portion 202 of the slide rail 200 to maintain alignment of the housing assembly 16 in alignment with the vertical direction on the base 14. As indicated by arrow A. The inner vertical portion 102 and the outer vertical portion 108 are positioned on opposite sides of the vertical portion 204 and the horizontal portion 202 of the slide rail 200 to maintain the horizontal alignment of the cabinet assembly 16 on the base 14. As indicated by arrow B.

The second side wall 22 of the cabinet assembly 16 is connected to the other slider 100 in the same configuration as the first side wall 20 is coupled to the slider 100, and the other slider 100 connected to the second side wall 22 is connected. The slider 100 to the first side wall 20 corresponds. The slide rail 200 of the side wall 42 of the base 14 corresponds to the slide rail 200 of the side wall 43. The connection of the slide rail 200 of the side wall 42 to the other slider 100 connected to the second side wall 22 is the same as the connection of the slider 100 of the first side wall 20 and the slide rail 200 of the side wall 42.

Referring to Figure 5, when each of the slide rails 200 is inside one of the sliders 100, the cabinet assembly 16 can be moved forward in the direction indicated by the arrow 400 and moved rearwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 402 so that the respective sliders 100 are respectively Each of the slide rails 200 slides.

Referring to Figure 6, each side wall 42, 43 of the base 14 has a stop 56. The stop 56 extends from each of the side walls 42, 43 such that the inner vertical member 102 and the lower horizontal member 106 abut against the stop 56, thus preventing rearward movement as indicated by arrow 402 in FIG. Referring to Figure 6, the stop 56 includes a stop member 58 that extends vertically downward from the horizontal portion 202 of the slide rail 200. The stop element 58 is on a rear portion of the side wall 43 and extends a length that is less than the length 62 of the side wall 43. The stop 56 on the side wall 42 corresponds to the stop 56 on the side wall 43.

Referring to Figure 7, the housing assembly 16 is slidable on the base 14 in a rearward direction as indicated by arrow 402 in Figure 5 until the housing assembly 16 and the inner vertical member 102 abut the stop 56. When the lower horizontal member 106 and the inner vertical member 102 abut the stop 56, the upper horizontal member 104 and the outer vertical member 108 extend the entire length of the side wall 43. The lower horizontal member 106 and the inner vertical member 102 have a length 110 (see FIG. 3), and the stop 58 has a length 60 such that the lower horizontal member 106 and the inner vertical member 102 abut against the stop 56, as shown in FIG. The housing assembly 16 is laterally aligned on the base 14 to be aligned in the closed position.

Referring to Figure 8, the housing assembly 16 is maintained by a flange 64 or locked in a closed position. The flange 64 is coupled to a front wall 66 that is coupled to one of the side walls 43 of the base 14 by a fastener 68. The flange 64 is rotatable about the fixing member 68 such that the flange 64 covers the slider 100 in a fixed position, as shown in FIG. 8, and is rotated from the fixed position to the exposed slider as shown by reference numeral 70. 100 open The position, as shown in Figure 8, is to allow the housing assembly 16 to move over the base 14. The other flange can be coupled to a front wall that is coupled to the side wall 42 of the base 14 by a fastener that is configured the same as the flange 68. The limiting action can be accomplished by a bushing and fastener, or other similar structure.

The fully insulated and assembled housing assembly 16 can be moved from the base 14 and the evaporator support structure 46 by rotating the fixture 68 to expose the slider 100 and sliding the housing assembly 16 forwardly. open. The slider 100 is in contact with a metal-to-metal contact such that the housing assembly 16 slides away from the base 14 to produce less friction. The alignment means on the slider 100 engages the slide rails 200 on the base 14 to ensure alignment of the housing assembly 16 and the side walls 42, 43 of the base 14. When the housing assembly 16 is on the base 14, additional means on the slider 100 can act as a front stop to ensure proper alignment between the housing assembly 16 and the evaporator support structure 46. When the casing assembly 16 is removed, all of the serviceable components, whether the product of the present invention is constructed independently or in a housing, can be easily accessed.

The modular structure of the joining assembly 100 allows the semi-assembled or component combination manufacturing method to be easily used to maximize the market's self-manufacturing rate. Component combination/semi-combination is a vocabulary used to describe the ability to transport a component/unit in a partial combination, thus reducing the grounding area (reducing empty space) as much as possible, or allowing the components to be nested together to reduce Grounding area, which in turn reduces transportation costs based on square miles. In this way, by customizing the content of the assembly to meet market needs, it is easy to enter a market with trade barriers related to self-control rates. This object is achieved by the modular nature of the evaporator support structure 46, the susceptor 14 and the housing assembly 16 of the present invention. This reduces the amount of disassembly and reassembly required to reach and erect the main components.

It should also be noted that the words "first", "second", "third", "upper", "lower" are used herein to describe different elements. These statements, unless specifically mentioned, do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order of the elements.

The invention has been described in connection with one or several exemplary embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the disclosed elements may be replaced by other elements. In addition, the present invention may be modified to suit a particular situation, or material, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed in the present invention, and the invention includes all embodiments within the scope of the invention.

10‧‧‧ ice machine

12‧‧‧Connected assembly

14‧‧‧ pedestal

16‧‧‧Cabinet assembly

18‧‧‧ top wall

20‧‧‧First side wall

22‧‧‧ second side wall

24‧‧‧ front wall

28‧‧‧ Doors

30‧‧‧door opening

32‧‧‧

34‧‧‧User Interface

36‧‧‧ front grille

38‧‧‧foot

40‧‧‧ openings

100‧‧‧Sliding parts

Claims (10)

A connecting assembly for an ice making machine, comprising: a base having a sliding rail, and a casing assembly having a sliding member, the sliding member sliding on the sliding rail to be removable The base and the housing assembly are grounded such that the housing assembly is vertically aligned with respect to the base and horizontally aligned. A connecting assembly for an ice maker, comprising: a base having a slide rail having a first geometric shape; and a casing having a sliding member, the sliding member having a second A geometry wherein the geometry of the rail is complementary to the geometry of the slider. The joint assembly of claim 2, wherein the first geometry of the slide rail is a solid geometric configuration and the second geometry of the slide member is an open geometric configuration. The connection assembly of claim 3, wherein the solid geometric configuration of the slide rail is received in the open geometry of the slider. The connection assembly of claim 4, wherein the solid geometric configuration of the slide rail and the open geometrical configuration of the slider form a relative vertical and horizontal movement between the slide rail and the slider. The connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the limited vertical and horizontal movement between the slide rail and the slider provides vertical and horizontal stability and alignment of the base and the housing. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the slide rail and the slider are provided with a stopper, the stopper restricting linear movement between the slide rail and the slider, so as to limit the casing relative to the base Linear movement. The connection assembly of claim 2, wherein the slide rail and the slider are provided with a stopper that limits linear movement between the slide rail and the slider to limit the casing relative to the base Linear movement. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the casing and/or the base is provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the casing and the base from moving substantially in a linear direction relative to each other. The connection assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing and/or the base is provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the housing and the base from moving substantially in a linear direction relative to each other.