Ice-making apparatus

Abstract

An ice-making apparatus for a household appliance includes a housing and at least one mould element which is suitable and intended for moulding a piece of ice. At least one mould holding device is provided, in which the at least one mould element is arranged. The at least one mould holding device is pivotable about a first pivot axis relative to the housing from a first position into an ejection position. A pivoting into the ejection position actuates an ejection mechanism acting on the at least one mould element in such a way that in the ejection position the piece of ice emerges from the mould element.

1 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) for a household appliance ( 100 ), comprising a housing ( 2 ) and at least one mould element ( 3 ), which is suitable and intended for moulding a piece of ice, at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) is provided, in which the at least one mould element ( 3 ) is arranged, wherein the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) is pivotable about a first pivot axis(S) relative to the housing ( 2 ) from a first position ( 5 ) into an ejection position ( 6 ), wherein pivoting into the ejection position ( 6 ) actuates an ejection mechanism ( 7 ) acting on the at least one mould element ( 3 ) in such a way that the piece of ice emerges from the mould element ( 3 ) in the ejection position ( 6 ). 
     
     
         2 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one drive and/or transmission device ( 8 ) is provided, which is operatively connected to the mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein the drive and/or transmission device ( 8 ) drives the pivoting of the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) or provides a force transmission for pivoting the mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein the drive and/or transmission device ( 8 ) is arranged in or on the housing ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  further comprising a first coupling element ( 9 ) arranged fixedly on the housing ( 2 ), wherein the first coupling element ( 9 ) is of circular cylindrical design, wherein the first coupling element ( 9 ) is arranged on the housing ( 2 ) in such a way that the first pivot axis(S) extends centrally through the first coupling element ( 9 ). 
     
     
         4 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 3  further comprising a connection arrangement ( 10 ) that provides an operative connection between the at least one drive and/or transmission device ( 8 ) and the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein the connection arrangement ( 10 ) extends through a bore ( 11 ) in the first coupling element ( 9 ), wherein the bore ( 11 ) is arranged centrally in the first coupling element ( 9 ). 
     
     
         5 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 3  further comprising a second coupling element ( 12 ) operatively connected to the first coupling element ( 9 ), wherein the second coupling element ( 12 ) is of circular cylindrical design, wherein a rotary shaft element ( 13 ) is arranged on the second coupling element ( 12 ), wherein the rotary shaft element ( 13 ) is rotatably mounted on the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein when the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) is pivoted about the first pivot axis(S), the second coupling element ( 12 ) rolls on the first coupling element ( 9 ), so that the second coupling element ( 12 ) and the rotary shaft element ( 13 ) move along an outer circumference ( 9   a ) of the first coupling element ( 9 ); wherein, when the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) is pivoted about the first pivot axis(S), the rotary shaft element ( 13 ) is both pivoted about the pivot axis(S) and rotates about an axis of rotation (D). 
     
     
         6 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 5  further comprising at least one third coupling element ( 14 ) arranged on the rotary shaft element ( 13 ) in a rotationally fixed manner, the at least one third coupling element ( 14 ) being operatively connected to at least one pusher element ( 15 ), wherein a rotation of the at least one third coupling element ( 14 ) causes a linear movement of the at least one pusher element ( 15 ), wherein the linear movement of the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) along an ejection direction (A) causes the piece of ice to be ejected. 
     
     
         7 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 5  wherein the first coupling element ( 9 ) is designed as a first gear wheel ( 16 ), wherein the second coupling element ( 12 ) is designed as a second gear wheel ( 17 ), wherein the second gear wheel ( 17 ) meshes with the first gear wheel ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one third coupling element ( 14 ) is designed as at least one third gear wheel ( 18 ), wherein the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) has a rack section ( 19 ) which meshes with the at least one third gear wheel ( 18 ). 
     
     
         9 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 . wherein the at least one mould element ( 3 ) is arranged in a holding device ( 20 ), wherein the holding device ( 20 ) is integrated in the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein the at least one mould element ( 3 ) consists of an elastic material and is arranged in a holding device ( 20 ) of the mould holding device ( 4 ), wherein at least one retaining element ( 21 ) is provided, which is arranged on the at least one mould element ( 3 ) or is formed by a wall element ( 3   a ) of the at least one mould element ( 3 ), wherein the at least one retaining element ( 21 ) is connected to at least one mating retaining element ( 22 ) of the holding device ( 20 ) in a positive and/or non-positive manner. 
     
     
         10 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one mould element ( 3 ) is connected to the at least one pusher element ( 15 ), wherein during the linear movement of the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) along the ejection direction (A), the at least one mould element ( 3 ) is deformed by the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) in such a way that the piece of ice emerges from the at least one mould element ( 3 ), wherein during a linear movement of the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) against the ejection direction (A), the at least one mould element ( 3 ) is pulled into its original shape by the at least one pusher element ( 15 ). 
     
     
         11 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one heating device ( 24 ) for at least partially heating the at least one mould element ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 6  further comprising at least two mould elements ( 3 ) arranged next to one another along a width axis (Y) in the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ), at least two third coupling elements ( 14 ) and at least two pusher elements ( 15 ) being provided, one pusher element ( 15 ) being assigned to each mould element ( 3 ). 
     
     
         13 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 10  further comprising a temperature sensor ( 23 ) integrated in the connection between the at least one pusher element ( 15 ) and the at least one mould element ( 3 ) for detecting a temperature of the liquid located in the at least one mould element  3 . 
     
     
         14 . A household appliance ( 100 ) comprising an ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . Ice-making apparatus ( 1 ) for a household appliance ( 100 ), comprising:
 a housing ( 2 );   at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) pivotable about a first pivot axis(S) relative to the housing ( 2 ) from a first position ( 5 ) into an ejection position ( 6 ); and   at least one mould element ( 3 ) arranged in the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) and configured for moulding a piece of ice, wherein in response to pivoting into the ejection position ( 6 ) the at least one mould holding device ( 4 ) actuates an ejection mechanism ( 7 ) that acts on the at least one mould element ( 3 ) in such a way that the piece of ice emerges from the mould element ( 3 ) in the ejection position ( 6 ).