Abstract:
A refrigeration device has an ice maker with an ice cube container in which a conveying device for conveying the ice cubes is disposed. The conveying device is connected by way of a coupling to a drive of the ice maker for transmitting drive forces. The coupling is configured to transfer the drive forces of the drive to transform them partially into forces that are oriented towards the drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance having an ice maker, which features an ice cube container, in which a conveying device for conveying ice cubes is arranged, the conveying device being connected to a drive of the ice maker by means of a coupling in such as manner as to transmit drive forces. 
     Refrigeration appliances, in particular refrigeration appliances configured as domestic appliances, are known and are used for household management in domestic situations or in the catering sector, in order to store perishable food and/or beverages at defined temperatures. 
     Such refrigeration appliances can feature an ice maker, which allows the preparation and dispensing of water ice cubes and/or crushed ice. The ice supplied by the ice maker is collected in an ice cube container, which is supported in a removable manner in an ice cube container holder of the ice maker. A coupling therefore connects a drive of the ice maker to a conveyor screw in the interior of an ice cube container, which can be used to convey ice cubes out of the interior of the ice cube container. However this can give rise to the problem that drive forces of the drive bring about a separation of the coupling, with the result that the ice cube container is pushed out of the ice cube container holder, thereby also causing the refrigeration appliance door of the refrigeration appliance to be opened in some instances. Humps which engage in the base of the ice cube container however require the ice cube container to be raised in order to be able to remove the ice cube container from the ice cube container support. 
     It is therefore the object of the invention to create a remedy for this. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION. 
     This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features as claimed in the independent claim. Advantageous developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. 
     The present invention is based on the knowledge that a self-securing configuration of the coupling can prevent the ice cube container being pushed out of the ice cube container holder. 
     According to one aspect the inventive object is achieved by a refrigeration appliance, in which the coupling is configured to convert drive forces of the drive to be transmitted partially to forces directed toward the drive. This has the technical advantage that tensile forces are generated by the coupling during the transmission of drive forces, said tensile forces ensuring that the coupling remains connected in such a manner as to transmit drive forces and no forces can act which act in the direction of a separation of the coupling and thus push the ice cube container out of the ice cube container holder. 
     A refrigeration appliance refers in particular to a domestic appliance, in other words a refrigeration appliance used for household management in domestic situations or in the catering sector, which serves in particular to store food and/or beverages at defined temperatures, for example a refrigerator, a freezer cabinet, a combined refrigerator/freezer, a chest freezer or a wine chiller cabinet. 
     In one advantageous embodiment a first contact surface of the coupling has a downward gradient, which is directed toward the drive in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drive. This has the technical advantage that the configuration of the contact surface with a downward gradient means that drive forces of the drive are partially converted to forces directed toward the drive. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the first contact surface is configured as a flat surface. This has the technical advantage that the same proportion of drive force to be transmitted is converted to force directed toward the drive regardless of the contact point on the first contact surface. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the downward gradient is at an angle of 3° to 5° to the axis of rotation. This has the technical advantage that the main proportion of the drive forces of the drive is transmitted by the coupling and only a minor proportion of the drive forces of the drive is used to secure the coupling, so the energy efficiency of the drive remains virtually unchanged. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment a second contact surface of the coupling has an upward gradient, which is directed toward the drive in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drive. This has the technical advantage that the second contact surface also converts drive forces and in the direction of the drive. Interaction of the first contact surface and the second contact surface can therefore improve the securing action of the coupling. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the second contact surface is configured as a flat surface. This also has the advantage that the second contact surface converts the same proportion of the drive force of the drive to forces directed toward the drive regardless of the contact point. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the upward gradient is at an angle of 3° to 5° to the axis of rotation. For example the downward gradient can be at the same angle as the upward gradient, so that, if the first contact surface and the second contact surface are configured as flat surfaces, the first contact and the second contact surface make full contact with one another, thereby ensuring particularly efficient force transmission. This has the technical advantage of providing an efficient coupling with compact dimensions. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the coupling has a lead-in chamfer. This has the technical advantage that it is easy for a user to couple in the coupling as an ice cube container is inserted into an ice cube container holder. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the lead-in chamfer is at an angle of 35° to 55°, in particular 40° to 50°, to the axis of rotation. This has the technical advantage of ensuring that it is particularly easy to establish the connection to the coupling when the ice cube container is introduced into the ice cube container holder of the ice maker. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the coupling has two contact surface pairs. This has the technical advantage that two contact surface pairs, each consisting of two contact surfaces making contact, are available in a manner that transmits forces, so a particularly efficient and also compact coupling is provided. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the contact surface pairs are arranged at equal distances in the peripheral direction of the axis of rotation. This has the technical advantage that the contact surface pairs, consisting of two contact surfaces, can come into contact alternately with the one or other contact surface respectively, so that it is easier to establish a coupling connection by introducing an ice cube container into the ice cube container holder of an ice maker. 
     In one advantageous embodiment a drive-side coupling segment of the coupling is made of a first material and a conveyor screw-side coupling segment of the coupling is made of a second material, both materials being different. This has the technical advantage that the coupling can operate particularly quietly as a result of the choice of the different materials. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment the drive-side coupling segment is made of metal and the conveyor screw-side coupling segment is made of plastic. For example the drive-side coupling segment can be made of steel and the conveyor screw-side coupling segment can be made of a thermoplastic, for example polyoxymethylene (POM). This has the technical advantage that both the drive-side coupling segment and the conveyor screw-side coupling segment can be made of materials that are readily available and easy to process. 
     According to a second aspect the inventive object is achieved by an ice maker for such a refrigeration appliance. This has the technical advantage that tensile forces are generated by the coupling during the transmission of drive forces, said tensile forces ensuring that the coupling remains connected in such a manner as to transmit drive forces and no forces can act which act in the direction of a separation of the coupling. 
     According to a third aspect the inventive object is achieved by a coupling for such a refrigeration appliance or for such an ice maker. This has the technical advantage that tensile forces are generated by the coupling during the transmission of drive forces, said tensile forces ensuring that the coupling remains connected in such a manner as to transmit drive forces and no forces can act which act in the direction of a separation of the coupling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       Further exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a refrigeration appliance, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective representation of an ice maker, 
         FIG. 3  shows a section through a coupling of the ice maker, and 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective representation of a drive-side coupling segment of the coupling. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a refrigeration appliance  100  in the form of a refrigerator, having a right refrigeration appliance door  102  and a left refrigeration appliance door  104  on its refrigeration appliance front face. The refrigerator serves for example to chill food and comprises a refrigerant circuit having an evaporator (not shown), a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown) and a throttle device (not shown). 
     The evaporator is configured as a heat exchanger, in which after expansion the liquid refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from the medium to be cooled, in other words air in the interior of the refrigerator. 
     The compressor is a mechanically driven component, which takes in refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and ejects it to the condenser at a higher pressure. 
     The condenser is configured as a heat exchanger, in which after compression the evaporated refrigerant is condensed by emitting heat to an external cooling medium, in other words the ambient air. 
     The throttle device is an apparatus for constantly reducing the pressure by cross section reduction. 
     The refrigerant is a fluid used for heat transmission in the cold-generating system, which absorbs heat when the fluid is at low temperatures and low pressure and emits heat when the fluid is at a higher temperature and higher pressure, with state changes of the fluid generally being included. 
     The right refrigeration appliance door can be used to open a right refrigeration compartment  106 , which is configured as a refrigeration compartment in the present exemplary embodiment. The left refrigeration appliance door  104  can be used to open a left refrigeration compartment  108 , which is configured as a chiller compartment in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     Arranged in the right refrigeration compartment  106  is an ice maker  110 , which in the present exemplary embodiment prepares ice cubes from water and also supplies crushed ice. Ice cubes and/or crushed ice can be dispensed through the right refrigeration appliance door  102  at the refrigeration appliance front face without the right refrigeration appliance door  102  having to be opened. 
       FIG. 2  shows the ice maker  110 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment the ice maker  110  features an ice cube container  202 , in which ice cubes are collected. In the present exemplary embodiment the ice cube container  202  is made of plastic. The ice cube container  202  is inserted into an ice cube container holder  218  of the ice maker  110 . 
     Arranged in the interior space  204  of the ice cube container  202  is a conveying device  206 , which can be used to convey the ice cubes in the interior of an ice cube container  202  to a dispensing opening  220  of the ice cube container  202 . In the present exemplary embodiment the conveying device  206  is configured as a conveyor screw. A drive  200  is provided to drive the conveying device  206 , being formed by an electric motor in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The action of the conveying device  206  allows ice cubes to be supplied to an ice crusher  214  through the dispensing opening  220 , said ice crusher  214  crushing the ice cubes so that crushed ice can also be dispensed through the ice dispensing opening  216 . 
     The ice cube container  202  is supported in a removable manner in the ice cube container holder  218 . A coupling  208  is provided, which connects the drive  200  to the conveying device  206  to transmit drive forces of the drive  200  to the conveying device  206  and allows separation of the drive  200  from the conveying device  206  when the ice cube container  202  is removed from the ice cube container holder  218 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment the coupling  208  comprises a drive-side coupling segment  210  and a conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment the drive-side coupling segment  210  is made of metal, e.g. steel, while the conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212  is made of a thermoplastic, for example polyoxymethylene (POM). 
       FIG. 3  shows the coupling  208  with the drive-side coupling segment  210  and the conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212  in cross section. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment the drive-side coupling segment  210  has a first contact surface  300 , which is configured as a flat surface  308  in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment the flat surface  308  has a downward gradient  304  in the representation shown in  FIG. 3 , running at an angle  314  to the axis of rotation D of the drive  200  in the present exemplary embodiment. The angle  314  can be within a range from 3° to 5° for example. In the present exemplary embodiment the angle  314  is 4°. 
     The drive-side coupling segment  210  in the present exemplary embodiment also has a lead-in chamfer  306 . In the present exemplary embodiment the lead-in chamfer  306  runs at an angle  318  to the axis of rotation D. The angle  318  can be within a range from 35° to 55° for example, in particular in a range from 40° to 50°. In the present exemplary embodiment the angle  318  is 45°. 
     The conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212  has a second contact surface  302 , which is also configured as a flat surface  310  in the present exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment the flat surface  310  runs at an angle  316  to the axis of rotation D of the drive  200 . The angle  316  can be within a range from 3° to 5° for example. In the present exemplary embodiment the angle  316  is 4°. 
     Therefore in the present exemplary embodiment the flat surface  308  and the flat surface  310  are at the same angle to the axis of rotation D and make full contact with one another as a result of their flat configuration. 
     They therefore form one of two contact surface pairs  320  in the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The downward gradient angle  314  of the first contact surface  300  or the upward gradient angle  316  of the second contact surface  302  means that when the coupling  208  is closed, part of the drive force of the drive  200  is converted to a force which draws the conveyor-side coupling segment  212  in the direction of the drive  200 . The coupling  208  therefore secures itself automatically during operation, thereby preventing the ice cube container  202  being pushed away from the ice cube container holder  218  of the ice maker  110  along the direction of extension of the axis of rotation D by the drive  200 , with the result that the ice cube container  202  pushes the right refrigeration appliance door  102 . 
       FIG. 4  shows that the drive-side coupling segment  210  has two first contact surfaces  300  and two lead-in chamfers  306  in each instance. The two first contact surfaces  300  in each instance in the present exemplary embodiment are at equal distances in the peripheral direction of the axis of rotation D. Therefore in each instance only a 180° rotation of the drive-side coupling segment  210  or of the conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212  is required to couple in the coupling  208 , thereby simplifying coupling in. 
     Thus in the present exemplary embodiment the two first contact surfaces  300  of the drive-side coupling segment  210  and two second contact surfaces  302  of the conveyor screw-side coupling segment  212 , which are also at equal distances in the peripheral direction of the axis of rotation D, form the two contact surface pairs  320  and thereby ensure reliable transmission of the drive forces of the drive  200  to the conveying device  206 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           100  Refrigeration appliance 
           102  Right refrigeration appliance door 
           104  Left refrigeration appliance door 
           106  Right refrigeration compartment 
           108  Left refrigeration compartment 
           110  Ice maker 
           200  Drive 
           202  Ice cube container 
           204  Interior space 
           206  Conveying device 
           208  Coupling 
           210  Drive-side coupling segment 
           212  Conveyor screw-side coupling segment 
           214  Ice crusher 
           216  Ice dispensing opening 
           218  Ice cube container holder 
           220  Dispensing opening 
           300  First contact surface 
           302  Second contact surface 
           304  Downward gradient 
           306  Lead-in chamfer 
           308  Flat surface 
           310  Flat surface 
           312  Upward gradient 
           314  Angle 
           316  Angle 
           318  Angle 
           320  Contact surface pair 
         D Axis of rotation