| 20110000233 | CONTROL MODULE FOR AUTOMATIC ICE MAKERS - A control module for a refrigerator/freezer wherein the control module drives a rotatable ice ejector for removing ice bodies from a mold of an automatic ice maker in the freezer section of the refrigerator/freezer. The control module has a motor which drives a cam gear which drives the ice ejector. The cam gear comprises a circular gear with a first face and a second face. Once or more cam projections on at least one of the first and second faces are positioned to selectively interact with one or more switches fixedly supported within the control module housing to activate at least one feature of the control module or automatic ice maker rotation of the cam gear. The cam gear may also have at least one cam surface projecting from a face of the cam gear which interacts with a lever pivotally mounted within the housing and coupled to a wire bail arm extending into the freezer section, the lever also having a projecting cam which interacts when rotated with a switch mounted within the control module to prevent initiation of an ice ejection/water fill cycle when the wire bail arm and coupled lever are prevented from returning to their starting position by ice bodies in an ice receptacle in the freezer section. Features of the control module and ice maker, which may be activated, deactivated or sequentially controlled by the interacting cam projections and switches within the control module, include motor operation, activation and deactivation of thermostatically controlled motor initiation and mold heating element for ice bodies release, water fill and ice level detection. | 01-06-2011 |
