ICE PROCESSING DEVICE AND APPARATUS
An ice processing device and ice processing apparatus are provided. The ice processing device includes a housing and an auger. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber. The housing includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall, in which the first inner wall forms a raised surface and the second inner wall forms a smooth surface. The housing includes an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall. The outlet opening is configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber. The auger includes an auger wall. The auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall. The auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing. A plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall.
The present subject matter relates generally to icemaker appliances, and more particularly to ice processing devices.
BACKGROUNDIce crusher devices, such as food processors, ice choppers, blenders, or other food processing appliances, may include rotating blades used to process ice into soft ice or slush. However, chunks of ice, or processed ice, may become stuck or lodged in cavities or between blades at the ice crusher device. When stuck in such devices, some ice may prevent other ice from being processed. Such devices may result in some ice being processed and other ice remaining as relatively larger chunks.
Slush making devices may require a cooling system, such as a freezer appliance or heat exchanger, to make slush. However, freezer appliances and heat exchangers may be complex and inhibit users from acquiring slush making devices.
Accordingly, devices and methods for ice processing are desired and would be advantageous. Furthermore, devices and methods for processing ice into slush are desired and would be advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONAspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an ice processing device. The ice processing device includes a housing and an auger. The housing includes a side wall and a bottom wall. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing. The housing includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall. The first inner wall includes a raised surface and the second inner wall includes a smooth surface. The housing includes an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall. The outlet opening is configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber. The auger includes an auger wall. The auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall. The auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing. A plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an ice processing apparatus. The ice processing apparatus includes an ice processing device including a housing and an auger. The housing includes a side wall and a bottom wall. The housing includes an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing. The housing includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall. The first inner wall includes a raised surface and the second inner wall includes a smooth surface. The housing includes an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall. The outlet opening is configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber. The auger includes an auger wall. The auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall. The auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing. A plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall. An auger drive shaft is coupled to the auger and is configured to transmit torque to rotate the auger.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin (i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value). In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction (e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, such as, clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V).
Embodiments of an ice processing device 100, an ice processing apparatus 50, and an appliance 10 are provided. Embodiments provided herein provide structures and devices configured to execute ice processing methods for processing ice into slush. Referring now to the drawings,
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In an exemplary embodiment of a method for operation, a user or the appliance 10 provides ice to the container 20. In some embodiments, the ice is soft ice, such as, but not limited to, nugget ice, pellet ice, or chewable ice. Ice egresses the container 20 into the ice processing device 100. For instance, ice may egress from the container 20 through the channel 204 at the drive unit 200 through the inlet opening 106 into the ice processing chamber 108 at the ice processing device 100. In still some embodiments, ice may egress directly from the container 20 through the inlet opening 106 into the ice processing chamber 108. The auger drive shaft 104 receives a motive force or torque (e.g., from the appliance 10) to rotate the auger 120. The auger blade 124 moves the ice from the top portion 126 toward the bottom portion 128, such as in a helical or spiral configuration. The conical or frustoconical extension of the auger wall 122 pushes the ice toward an ice crushing surface (e.g., raised surfaces) at the first inner wall 112 at the first processing zone 101. The auger wall 122 further pushes, mashes, or squeezes the crushed ice toward the second inner wall 114 at the second processing zone 102. The slush or mashed ice egresses from the second processing zone 102 through the outlet opening 116.
Some embodiments of the appliance 100 and ice described herein may form or generate soft ice. For instance, nugget, pellet, chewable, or other soft icemaking appliances may contrast with other icemaking devices (e.g., refrigerator appliances), such as by an absence of trays of water configured to retain water until ice is frozen. One skilled in the art will appreciate that such differences in structure of ice may patentably separate soft ice, soft icemaking appliances, and ice processing devices from other icemaking and ice processing devices.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims
1. An ice processing device, comprising:
- a housing comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing, the housing comprising a first inner wall and a second inner wall, wherein the first inner wall comprises a raised surface and the second inner wall comprises a smooth surface, and wherein the housing comprises an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall, the outlet opening configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber;
- an auger comprising an auger wall, wherein the auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall, and wherein the auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing; and
- a plurality of members extending from the housing toward the auger wall.
2. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the raised surface at the first inner wall comprises one or more of a wedge, a ridge, a protrusion, a tooth, or a castellation.
3. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the first inner wall is positioned above the second inner wall along a height of the housing.
4. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the first inner wall extends from a top portion of the housing toward a bottom portion of the housing, and wherein the second inner wall extends from the first inner wall toward the bottom portion.
5. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the first inner wall forms a crushing zone, and wherein the second inner wall forms a mashing zone.
6. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the auger wall comprises a conical or frustoconical geometry.
7. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of members comprises a brush.
8. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of members comprises a silicone material.
9. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is positioned through the bottom wall of the housing.
10. The ice processing device of claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is positioned through the side wall of the housing.
11. The ice processing device of claim 1, comprising:
- an auger drive shaft coupled to the auger, wherein the auger drive shaft is configured to transmit torque to rotate the auger.
12. An ice processing apparatus, comprising:
- an ice processing device comprising a housing and an auger, wherein the housing comprises a side wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening configured to receive ice into an ice processing chamber within the housing, the housing comprising a first inner wall and a second inner wall, wherein the first inner wall comprises a raised surface and the second inner wall comprises a smooth surface, and wherein the housing comprises an outlet opening positioned proximate to the second inner wall, the outlet opening configured to egress ice from the ice processing chamber, and wherein the auger comprises an auger wall, wherein the auger is positioned within the housing to form the ice processing chamber between the housing and the auger wall, and wherein the auger is configured to direct ice to the first inner wall and the second inner wall at the housing, and wherein a plurality of members extends from the housing toward the auger wall; and
- an auger drive shaft coupled to the auger, wherein the auger drive shaft is configured to transmit torque to rotate the auger.
13. The ice processing apparatus of claim 12, comprising:
- a drive unit comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the drive unit forms a channel between the outer wall and the inner wall, the channel configured to direct ice through the inlet opening at the ice processing device.
14. The ice processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive unit forms a cavity, and wherein the auger drive shaft extends into the cavity.
15. The ice processing apparatus of claim 14, comprising:
- a power drive shaft extending into the cavity, wherein the power drive shaft and the auger drive shaft are operably coupled together at a transmission interface within the cavity.
16. The ice processing apparatus of claim 15, comprising:
- an appliance comprising a power unit, wherein the power drive shaft is operably couplable to the power unit to receive power to rotate the auger.
17. The ice processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the auger drive shaft extends downward through the bottom wall of the housing to form a transmission interface below the ice processing device.
18. The ice processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the raised surface at the first inner wall comprises one or more of a wedge, a ridge, a protrusion, a tooth, or a castellation.
19. The ice processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the auger wall comprises a conical or frustoconical geometry.
20. The ice processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of members comprises a silicone material.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 9, 2022
Publication Date: May 9, 2024
Inventors: Jaebong Lee (Seongnam-si), Dongsoo Shin (Seoul), Youn-Ki Min (Yongin-si)
Application Number: 17/983,962