Power control structure for ice makers

Abstract

A power control structure for ice makers includes a control box to control an ice making process and a transmission means located in the control box. The transmission means has a movement range within which an ON/OFF switch is located. A retrievable ice collection tray is provided which has an actuation wall. The transmission means is coupled with an actuation arm extended to a loading/unloading displacement of the actuation wall. When the ice collection tray is unloaded the actuation wall pushes the actuation arm to drive the transmission means to trigger the ON/OFF switch to suspend the ice making process. When the ice collection tray is reloaded the actuation wall pushes the actuation arm again to drive the transmission means to trigger the ON/OFF switch a second time to trigger the ON/OFF switch to start the ice making process of the ice maker.

1 . A power control structure for ice makers, comprising:
 an ice maker which has an ice making tray and a control box to provide an ice making process for the ice making tray, the control box having a transmission means located inside that has a movement range which has an ON/OFF switch located therein; and   a retrievable ice collection tray located below the ice making tray to store ice cubes produced by the ice making tray after the ice making process is finished;   wherein the ice collection tray has an actuation wall, the transmission means being coupled with an actuation arm extended to a loading/unloading displacement of the actuation wall to drive the transmission means to trigger the ON/OFF switch to suspend the ice making process while the ice collection tray is in an unloading condition; the ice collection tray being reloadable to allow the actuation wall to push the actuation arm to drive the transmission means so that the ON/OFF switch is triggered again to start the ice making process.   
   
   
       2 . The power control structure of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission means includes a transmission member, a crank element driven by the transmission member and a driven member coupled on the crank element; the crank element having an axis portion, a first lever coupled with the transmission member and a second lever coupled with the driven member, the first lever being driven by the transmission member to turn about the axis portion so that the second lever generates an eccentric displacement to drive the driven member. 
   
   
       3 . The power control structure of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation arm is coupled on the driven member through a transmission shaft, the driven member having an axis to couple with the transmission shaft, the driven member and the second lever having respectively a moving slot and a stub located in the moving slot, the transmission shaft having another end fastened to an ice level detection arm. 
   
   
       4 . The power control structure of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission member is coupled on a motor which has a first gear to output driving power, the transmission member having a second gear engaging with the first gear and an eccentric boss to drive the first lever while the second gear is turning. 
   
   
       5 . The power control structure of  claim 4 , wherein the second gear has a hub to couple with an axle which is extended in the ice making tray and coupled with an ice sweeping blade, the ice sweeping blade being driven by the second gear to generate an ice sweeping displacement. 
   
   
       6 . The power control structure of  claim 2 , wherein the crank element further has a third lever turnable about the axis portion to generate a second eccentric displacement while the first lever is moving to trigger the ON/OFF switch. 
   
   
       7 . The power control structure of  claim 6 , wherein the third lever has a pressing portion and an elastic ON/OFF reed corresponding to the ON/OFF switch at a proximate location thereof, the third lever further having a positioning boss at one end and coupling with a retaining element, the control box having a detent lug corresponding to the positioning boss, the retaining element forcing the positioning boss returning to a regular position on the detent lug. 
   
   
       8 . The power control structure of  claim 2 , wherein the axis portion is coupled with a return element to force the crank element to return to a regular position. 
   
   
       9 . The power control structure of  claim 8 , wherein the return element is a spring to store and release an elastic force. 
   
   
       10 . A power control structure for ice makers, comprising:
 an ice maker which has an ice making tray and a control box to provide an ice making process for the ice making tray, the control box having a transmission means located inside that has a movement range which has an ON/OFF switch located therein; and   a retrievable ice collection tray located below the ice making tray to store ice cubes produced by the ice making tray after the ice making process is finished;   wherein the ice collection tray has an actuation wall, the transmission means being coupled with an actuation arm extended to a loading/unloading displacement of the actuation wall, the actuation arm having a first contact portion and a second contact portion, the actuation wall pushing the second contact portion while the ice collection tray is in an unloading condition to drive the transmission means to trigger the ON/OFF switch to suspend the ice making process; the ice collection tray being reloadable to allow the actuation wall to push the first contact to drive the transmission means so that the ON/OFF switch is triggered again to start the ice making process.   
   
   
       11 . The power control structure of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission means includes a transmission member, a crank element driven by the transmission member and a driven member coupled on the crank element; the crank element having an axis portion, a first lever coupled with the transmission member and a second lever coupled with the driven member, the first lever being driven by the transmission member to turn about the axis portion so that the second lever generates an eccentric displacement to drive the driven member. 
   
   
       12 . The power control structure of  claim 11 , wherein the actuation arm is coupled on the driven member through a transmission shaft, the driven member having an axis to couple with the transmission shaft, the driven member and the second lever having respectively a moving slot and a stub located in the moving slot, the transmission shaft having another end fastened to an ice level detection arm. 
   
   
       13 . The power control structure of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission member is coupled on a motor which has a first gear to output driving power, the transmission member having a second gear engaging with the first gear and an eccentric boss to drive the first lever while the second gear is turning, the second gear having a hub to couple with an axle which is extended in the ice making tray and coupled with an ice sweeping blade, the ice sweeping blade being driven by the second gear to generate an ice sweeping displacement. 
   
   
       14 . The power control structure of  claim 11 , wherein the crank element further has a third lever turnable about the axis portion to generate a second eccentric displacement while the first lever is moving to trigger the ON/OFF switch. 
   
   
       15 . The power control structure of  claim 14 , wherein the third lever has a pressing portion and an elastic ON/OFF reed corresponding to the ON/OFF switch at a proximate location thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The power control structure of  claim 14 , wherein the third lever has a positioning boss at one end, the control box having a detent lug corresponding to the positioning boss. 
   
   
       17 . The power control structure of  claim 16 , wherein the third lever is coupled with a retaining element to force the positioning boss returning to a regular position on the detent lug. 
   
   
       18 . The power control structure of  claim 11 , wherein the axis portion is coupled with a return element to force the crank element to return to a regular position. 
   
   
       19 . The power control structure of  claim 18 , wherein the return element is a spring to store and release an elastic force.