WO2014102042A1

WO2014102042A1 - An ice dispensing unit comprising a cutting means

Info

Publication number: WO2014102042A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/075503
Authority: WO
Inventors: Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Kadir Ridvan Celik; Omer Alper MIRZA; Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Ergin Kaplan
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-12-26
Filing date: 2013-12-04
Publication date: 2014-07-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice dispensing unit (1) suitable for being disposed in a cooling device, comprising an upper casing (2), a container (4) which is disposed into the upper casing (2) and has an opening (3) providing water to be filled therein to form an ice mass, a lower casing (5) which is mounted to the upper casing (2) so as to move over one another and a heater (6) which is disposed onto the container (4) and provides that the ice mass is removed from the container (4) and passes into the lower casing (5) through the opening (3) by being operated when ice cubes are desired to be received.

Description

AN ICE DISPENSING UNIT COMPRISING A CUTTING MEANS

The present invention relates to an ice dispensing unit comprising cutting means.

In the state of the art, ice cubes formed by means of the ice dispensing unit located inside a cooling device are accumulated in a container located inside the cooling device, and are transferred from there to a service tray in order to be served. However, crumbling or breaking occurs in the ice cubes transferred from the ice dispensing unit to the container and from the container to the service tray. Ice cubes ready to be served in service trays melt rapidly at room temperature and stick to each other. Furthermore, in order that the ice cubes in the service trays are served, service elements such as spoon, a pair of tongs, etc. are needed.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US3306567, an ice dispensing unit is explained, which allows desired number of ice cubes to be received by being taken out of the cooling device without requiring the ice cubes to be transferred to the service tray.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of an ice dispensing unit which provides ice cubes to be formed by being disposed in the cooling device and ice cubes to be served easily without the need of external service elements by being taken out of the cooling device when desired.

The ice dispensing unit realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an upper casing and a lower casing that can move over one another, a container having an opening which provides the water disposed in the upper casing to be filled therein, and a heater which prevents the ice mass formed inside the container from sticking to the container. The ice dispensing unit of the present invention furthermore comprises a cutting means located on the lower casing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit furthermore comprises a cutting means which is activated by moving the lower casing over the upper casing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutting means is shaped as a spring. In this embodiment, the length of the cutting means extends by heating up when the cutting means is activated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the container has two positions. In the first position, water addition and ice formation steps are realized and in the second position, the process of transferring the ice cubes out of the ice dispensing unit is realized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, two lids are located on the lower casing. The lids have open and closed positions. When the lids are in the open position, water can be added to the ice dispensing unit and ice cubes can be taken. When the lids are in the closed position, the ice formation process is realized.

In a derivative of this embodiment, when the lids are in the closed position, the cutting means is inactive. The lids change to the open position by the activation of the cutting means.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the upper casing comprises a protrusion which keeps the lids open when moved over the lower casing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heater is activated when the ice dispensing unit is in the second position. This situation is detected by the ice dispensing unit by means of a gravity sensor.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heater surrounds the container all around. Thus, the ice mass is heated in a balanced manner.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit comprises an energy source which activates the heater and the cutting means. The connection of the energy source with the heater and the cutting means is realized by means of an energy transmission line.

By means of the present invention, ice cubes formed inside the ice dispensing unit can be served without the need of external service elements by taking the ice dispensing unit out of the cooling device, and this increases customer satisfaction.

The model embodiments relating to an ice dispensing unit realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the first position and the lids are in the open position.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the first position and the lids are in the closed position.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the second position and the lids are in the open position.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the second position and the lids are in the closed position.

Figure 5 – is the partial view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the second position and the lids are in the closed position in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the partial view of an ice dispensing unit when the container is in the second position and the lids are in the open position in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the perspective view of the container and the heater in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Ice dispensing unit
Upper casing
Opening
Container
Lower casing
Heater
Cutting means
Energy source
Lid
Protrusion
Energy transmission line

An ice dispensing unit (1) suitable for being disposed in a cooling device comprises an upper casing (2), a container (4) which is disposed into the upper casing (2) and has an opening (3) providing water to be filled therein to form an ice mass, a lower casing (5) which is mounted to the upper casing (2) so as to move over one another and a heater (6) which is disposed onto the container (4) and provides that the ice mass is removed from the container (4) and passes into the lower casing (5) through the opening (3) by being operated when ice cubes are desired to be received (Figure 5, Figure 6).

The ice dispensing unit (1) of the present invention comprises a cutting means (7) which is situated on the lower casing (5) and removes the ice mass portion, projecting from the container (4) to the lower casing (5), from the ice mass (Figure 5, Figure 6).

The ice dispensing unit (1) is positioned such that the opening (3) faces upwards and the container (4) is filled with water. While in this position, the ice dispensing unit (1) is disposed inside the cooling device and ice mass formation inside the container (4) is provided. When ice cubes are desired to be taken from the ice dispensing unit (1), the ice dispensing unit (1) is taken out of the cooling device and turned upside down so that the lower casing (5) is at the lower side. The heater (6) is activated in the meantime and provides the ice mass to be removed from the container (4) and seated onto the lower casing (5) by heating the ice mass. At that moment, one portion of the ice mass is inside the container (4) and the other portion thereof, the length of which is as much as the length of the lower casing (5), is on the lower casing (5). By the activation of the cutting means (7), an ice cube is obtained. By means of the insulation of the ice dispensing unit (1), the ice mass can be kept at room temperature for a long time without melting (Figure 3, Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises a cutting means (7) which is activated by moving the lower casing (5) over the upper casing (2). The ice dispensing unit (1) dispenses an ice cube with each movement of the lower casing (5) over the upper casing (2). Thus, the user can obtain as much ice cubes as desired from the ice dispensing unit (1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises a spring-shaped cutting means (7) which heats up and extends when activated. The spring-shaped cutting means (7), two of which are positioned on one side of the lower casing (5) and the other two on the opposite side thereof, join with the lower casing (5) being moved over the upper casing (2) and form a resistance against the movement of the lower casing (5). Thus, the lower casing (5) returns to its previous position automatically without being moved (Figure 6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises a container (4) which has a first position wherein the lower casing (5) is positioned so as to be over the upper casing (2) and wherein the water addition and ice formation processes are realized, and a second position to which the ice dispensing unit (1) is changed to by being turned upside down so that the lower casing (5) is under the upper casing (2) after the ice formation process and wherein the process of transferring the ice cubes out of the lower casing (5) is realized. In this embodiment, the user adds water to the container (4) when the container (4) is in the first position and places the ice dispensing unit (1) into the cooling device in this position. When the user desires to take ice cubes from the ice dispensing unit (1), he/she brings the container (4) to the second position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises two lids (9) that are placed on the lower edges of the lower casing (5) across from one another and that have a closed position wherein the lids (9) prevent the ice mass from projecting from the lower casing (5) by extending towards each other in the horizontal plane, and an open position wherein the lids (9) provide the ice cube leaving the ice mass to be transferred out of the lower casing (5) by extending towards under the lower casing (5) in the vertical plane. The water addition process is realized when the container (4) is in the first position and the lids (9) are in the open position, the ice formation process is realized when the container (4) is in the first position and the lids (9) are in the closed position and the ice cube receiving process is realized when the container (4) is in the second position and the lids (9) are in the open position.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the lids (9) change to the open position by the activation of the cutting means (7). Thus, ease of utilization is provided.

In a derivative of this embodiment, the upper casing (2) comprises a protrusion (10) which provides the lids (9) to be brought from the closed position to the open position by pushing the lids (9) when the lower casing (5) is moved over the upper casing (2). When the lower casing (5) is compressed towards the upper casing (2), the lids (9) move together with the lower casing (5). The protrusion (10) pushes and enables the lids (9) to remain in the open position (Figure 6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises a heater (6) which is activated when the container (4) is brought from the first position to the second position. When the ice dispensing unit (1) is in the second position and the lids (9) are in the closed position, the ice dispensing unit (1) is ready to serve (Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises a heater (6) wrapped around the container (4). Thus, the container (4) is provided to be heated homogeneously (Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ice dispensing unit (1) comprises an energy source (8) which is located inside the upper casing (2) and provides energy to the heater (6) and the cutting means (7) by means of an energy transmission line (11).

By means of the present invention, the ice cubes taken out of the cooling device can be kept at ambient temperature for a long time without melting and the user can obtain as much ice cubes as desired from inside the ice dispensing unit (1). Thus, water saving is provided by preventing the utilization of redundant ice cubes.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

An ice dispensing unit (1) suitable for being disposed in a cooling device, comprising

- an upper casing (2),

- a container (4) which is disposed into the upper casing (2) and has an opening (3) providing water to be filled therein to form an ice mass,

- a lower casing (5) which is mounted to the upper casing (2) so as to move over one another and

- a heater (6) which is disposed onto the container (4) and assures that the ice mass is removed from the container (4) and passes into the lower casing (5) through the opening (3) by being operated when ice cubes are desired to be received,

characterized by

- a cutting means (7) which is situated on the lower casing (5) and removes the ice mass portion, projecting from the container (4) to the lower casing (5), from the ice mass.
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cutting means (7) which is activated by moving the lower casing (5) over the upper casing (2).
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the spring-shaped cutting means (7) which heats up and extends when activated.
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the container (4) which has a first position wherein the lower casing (5) is positioned so as to be over the upper casing (2) and wherein the water addition and ice formation processes are realized, and a second position to which the ice dispensing unit (1) is changed by being turned upside down so that the lower casing (5) is brought under the upper casing (2) after the ice formation process and wherein the process of transferring the ice cube out of the lower casing (5) is realized.
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by two lids (9) that are disposed on the lower edges of the lower casing (5) across from one another and that have a closed position wherein the lids (9) prevent the ice mass from projecting from the lower casing (5) by extending towards each other in the horizontal plane, and an open position wherein the lids (9) provide the ice cube leaving the ice mass to be transferred out of the lower casing (5) by extending towards under the lower casing (5) in the vertical plane.
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the lids (9) which change to the open position by the activation of the cutting means (7).
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 or 6, characterized by the upper casing (2) having a protrusion (10) which provides the lids (9) to be brought from the closed position to the open position by pushing the lids (9) when the lower casing (5) is moved over the upper casing (2).
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the heater (6) which is activated when the container (4) is brought from the first position to the second position.
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the heater (6) wrapped around the container (4).
The ice dispensing unit (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an energy source (8) which is located inside the upper casing (2) and provides energy to the heater (6) and the cutting means (7) by means of an energy transmission line (11).