초록 ▼

A water cooler having a container with a reservoir for storing water has a thermoelectric module operable to cool a conductor plate and form ice in the reservoir. A temperature sensor connected to the plate senses the temperature of the plate and activates a timer when the temperature is below the t

A water cooler having a container with a reservoir for storing water has a thermoelectric module operable to cool a conductor plate and form ice in the reservoir. A temperature sensor connected to the plate senses the temperature of the plate and activates a timer when the temperature is below the temperature at which water freezes. The timer operates a selected period of time to allow a block of ice to be formed on the plate. A photoelectric sensor operable to sense a selected size of the block of ice functions to actuate a switching device that changes the polarity of the electric power supplied to the thermoelectric module to supply heat energy to the plate to release the block of ice from the plate. The released block of ice floats in the water in the reservoir and cools the water.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A water cooler for producing ice to cool water comprising: a container having a side wall and bottom wall providing a reservoir for storing water, a cup-shaped member mounted on the bottom wall, said cup-shaped member having a bottom wall and an upper end open to the reservoir whereby the cup-sha

1. A water cooler for producing ice to cool water comprising: a container having a side wall and bottom wall providing a reservoir for storing water, a cup-shaped member mounted on the bottom wall, said cup-shaped member having a bottom wall and an upper end open to the reservoir whereby the cup-shaped member accommodates water, a heat conducting member mounted on the bottom wall of the cup-shaped member, said heat conducting member having a top surface exposed to the water in the cup-shaped member and a bottom surface spaced from the top surface, a thermoelectric module having a first surface located in engagement with the bottom surface of the heat conducting member and a second surface spaced from the first surface, control means operably connected to the thermoelectric module for reversing the polarity of electric power supplied to the thermoelectric module whereby when a first polarity of electric power is supplied to the thermoelectric module the first surface is cooled, thereby cooling the heat conducting member to form ice adjacent the top surface of the heat conducting member and when a second polarity opposite the first polarity is supplied to the thermoelectric module the first surface is heated thereby heating the heat conducting member to melt ice adjacent the top surface of the heat conducting member to allow the remaining ice to float in the water in the reservoir, said control means including means for sensing the temperature of the heat conducting member and causing a signal when the heat conducting member has attained a selected temperature for forming ice, timer means responsive to said signal causing the electric power supplied to the thermoelectric modules to have a first polarity for a selected period of time whereby a block of ice is produced adjacent the top surface of the heat conducting member said timer means being operable after a selected period of time to change the polarity of the electric power to the second polarity thereby heating the heat conducting member to partly melt the ice adjacent the heat conducting member allowing the remaining ice to float in the water in the reservoir and cool the water in the reservoir, sensing means for sensing the size of the block of ice formed on the heat conducting member, said sensing means including a photo optical sensor mounted on the cup-shaped member for generating a light beam located above the heat conducting member and projected across the water in the cup-shaped member, said light beam being broken by a block of ice of a selected size, said control means including means responsive to the broken light beam to change the polarity of the electric power to the second polarity prior to the selected period of time established by the timer means thereby heating the heat conducting member allowing the remaining ice to float in the water in the reservoir and cool the water in the reservoir.