US-12618601-B2 - Ice dispensing device, refrigerator door assembly, and refrigerator

US12618601B2US 12618601 B2US12618601 B2US 12618601B2US-12618601-B2

Abstract

An ice dispensing device includes an ice dispensing channel, which has an ice dispensing outlet, a cover assembly for opening and closing the ice dispensing outlet, a driving device that connects to the driving shaft of the cover assembly to drive the rotation of the cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a bracket and a sealing cover, and the bracket is connected to the sealing cover via a connecting shaft. The sealing cover is capable of swinging around the axis of the connecting shaft, and an elastic support element is provided between the sealing cover and the bracket. A contact position of the elastic support element with the sealing cover is located on the side of the sealing cover that is away from the driving shaft, with the connecting shaft positioned between the driving shaft and the contact position.

Inventors

Maozeng BAO
Yanqing Zhang
Qihai Du
Guoliang Mou

Assignees

QINGDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD
Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220920
Priority Date: 20210923

Claims (9)

1 . An ice dispensing device, comprising: an ice dispensing channel, which has an ice dispensing outlet; a cover assembly, for opening and closing the ice dispensing outlet; and a driving device, which connects to a driving shaft of the cover assembly to drive the rotation of the cover assembly, the driving device comprises a motor and a transmission component, wherein the cover assembly comprises a bracket and a sealing cover, wherein the bracket is connected to the sealing cover via a connecting shaft, wherein the connecting shaft is provided on the bracket, the sealing cover is provided with a connecting hole that matches the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft and the connecting hole are a clearance fit, and an elastic support element is provided between the sealing cover and the bracket, the elastic support element comprises an elastic support rib, a contact position of the elastic support element with the sealing cover is located on a side of the sealing cover that is away from the driving shaft, with the connecting shaft positioned between the driving shaft and the contact position, and wherein a center of gravity of the sealing cover is located between the contact position and the driving shaft.
2 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic support rib located on a free end side of the bracket, a free end of the elastic support rib is supported on the sealing cover.
3 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic support rib extends from the free end of the bracket towards a side close to the driving shaft.
4 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting shaft is provided on one of the bracket and the sealing cover, and the connecting shaft contacts a point on an other of the bracket and the sealing cover.
5 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 4 , wherein the sealing cover is capable of moving along an axial direction of the connecting shaft.
6 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 4 , wherein the other of the bracket and the sealing cover is provided with a support rib set at an angle to the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft is supported by the support rib.
7 . The ice dispensing device according to claim 6 , wherein the connecting shaft is perpendicular to the support rib, and a contact point between the connecting shaft and the support rib is located on a central axis of the sealing cover.
8 . A refrigerator door assembly, comprising a door and a dispenser provided on the door, wherein the door comprises a door shell and a door liner filled with insulating material between the door shell and the door liner, the dispenser comprises the ice dispensing device according to claim 1 , and the ice dispensing channel penetrates the door.
9 . A refrigerator, comprising a cabinet and a door for opening and closing the cabinet, wherein an ice-making device is set inside the refrigerator, an ice storage bucket and a dispenser are set on the door, the ice storage bucket is communicated with the dispenser, the dispenser comprises the ice dispensing device according to claim 1 , and the ice dispensing channel penetrates the door and communicates with the ice storage bucket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/CN2022/119932, filed Sep. 20, 2022, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111111813.4, filed Sep. 23, 2021, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present application refers to the field of Household appliances, specifically to an ice dispensing device, a refrigerator door assembly, and a refrigerator. BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In current home life, refrigerators have become indispensable household appliances, integrating an increasing number of functions. Some refrigerators are equipped with ice-making devices, to facilitate users in taking out ice, a dispenser is often installed on the refrigerator door. The refrigerator is equipped with an ice storage bin inside, and the ice in the storage bin is transported to the dispenser through an ice delivery channel. Ice can be dispensed from the ice dispenser's outlet. This allows users to take out the ice from the ice storage bin without opening the refrigerator door, using the dispenser. To prevent the leakage of cold air from the refrigerator's interior, the ice dispensing outlet is usually sealed with a sealing cover. However, the sealing cover can easily become misaligned during closure, creating gaps that lead to air leakage. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in US or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION To address the above problems, the present application provides an ice dispensing device, a refrigerator door, and a refrigerator wherein the sealing cover can swing around a connecting shaft, with an elastic support rib provided to support the sealing cover. The present application provides an ice dispensing device, comprising: an ice dispensing channel, which has an ice dispensing outlet;a cover assembly, for opening and closing the ice dispensing outlet;a driving device, which connects to the driving shaft of the cover assembly to drive the rotation of the cover assembly;the cover assembly comprises a bracket and a sealing cover, wherein the bracket is connected to the sealing cover via a connecting shaft; characterized in that, the sealing cover is capable of swinging around the axis of the connecting shaft, and an elastic support element is provided between the sealing cover and the bracket, a contact position of the elastic support element with the sealing cover is located on a side of the sealing cover that is away from the driving shaft, with the connecting shaft positioned between the driving shaft and the contact position. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that a center of gravity of the sealing cover is located between the contact position and the driving shaft. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that one end of the bracket is connected to the driving device, and the elastic support element comprises an elastic support rib located on a free end side of the bracket, the free end of the elastic support rib is supported on the sealing cover. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the elastic support rib extends from the free end of the bracket towards a side close to the driving shaft. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the connecting shaft is provided on one of the bracket and the sealing cover, and the connecting shaft contacts a point on an other of the bracket and the sealing cover. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the sealing cover is capable of moving along an axial direction of the connecting shaft. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the other of the bracket and the sealing cover is provided with a support rib set at an angle to the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft is supported by the support rib, and the connecting shaft is capable of swinging around the support rib. As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present application, characterized in that the connecting shaft is perpendicular to the support rib, and a contact point between the connecting shaft and the support rib is located on a central axis of the sealing cover. The present application provides a refrigerator door assembly, comprising a door and a dispenser provided on the door, wherein the door comprises a door shell and a door liner filled with insulating material between the door shell and the door liner, charact