Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120125017 | METHOD OF OPERATING A REFRIGERATOR - A method for operating a refrigerator having a driving assembly and an ice storage bin. The driving assembly is releasably engageable with the ice storage bin. The driving assembly has a motor fork. The ice storage bin supports an axle, to which a coupler is secured. The method includes engaging the motor fork with the coupler secured, rotating the motor fork in a first direction based on a user's input, and rotating the motor fork in a second direction opposite to the first direction for a predetermined time or by a predetermined angle at the end of the user's input. | 05-24-2012 |
20120125018 | ICE DISPENSER SYSTEM FOR A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE, REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE, AND METHOD OF MAKING ICE - An ice dispenser system for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker located within the refrigeration appliance for making ice cubes. The ice maker has an ice making state and a paused state. An ice bucket is located within the refrigeration appliance located so as to receive the ice cubes from the ice maker. The ice bucket is removably securable in the refrigeration appliance in an ice-making position. A sensor is located within the refrigeration appliance, the sensor sensing and providing a signal as to whether the ice bucket is in the ice making position. The ice maker is placed in the ice making state only when the sensor provides a signal that the ice bucket is in the ice making position. A related refrigeration appliance and method of making ice are also disclosed. | 05-24-2012 |
20120304684 | Ice Bin Assembly - In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an ice bin assembly for a refrigerator is described. The ice bin assembly further includes an ice storage container having at least one upper guide element and at least one lower guide element. The upper guide element is located above a plane that intersects a center of mass of the ice storage container and the lower guide element is located below the plane that intersects the center of mass of the ice storage container. The upper guide element is configured to contact the upper docking element when the ice storage container is seated on the base and the lower guide element is configured to contact the lower docking element when the ice storage container is seated on the base. | 12-06-2012 |
20130104586 | REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH HOT WATER DISPENSER AND RELATED CONTROL SYSTEM | 05-02-2013 |
20130108249 | REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH HOT WATER DISPENSER | 05-02-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090166385 | APPARATUS FOR AN ICE DISPENSER - In an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator with an ice dispenser is shown. The ice dispenser has a user dispense panel. The user dispense panel comprises a dispense control and an ice outlet. A ice storage compartment defines a first interior volume. An ice chute flow connects the ice storage compartment and the ice outlet. The chute comprises a first end in flow communication with the ice storage compartment and a second end in flow communication with the ice outlet. A member is configured between the first and second ends. The member comprises an interior volume in flow communication with the first and second ends. A flow axis is formed from the first end to the second end. The member has a restriction. | 07-02-2009 |
20100044391 | ICE DISPENSER HAVING A SAFETY APPARATUS - An ice dispenser having a safety apparatus is disclosed. The ice dispenser includes a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute in communication with the bin; a device for at least one of crushing the ice and moving the ice from the bin to the chute; a controller for activating the device in response to a dispensing signal; and a safety apparatus configured to determine a presence of an object in the chute and to provide an indication responsive to the determined presence to the controller. The controller deactivates the device after receiving the indication. A refrigerator incorporating such an ice dispenser is also disclosed. | 02-25-2010 |
20110120152 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING ICE WITHIN A REFRIGERATOR - An apparatus and method for crushing ice within a refrigerator are disclosed. The apparatus includes an ice making, storage and dispensing compartment; an ice storage bin, an agitator, an axle, and a crusher. The crusher includes a plurality of fixed blades, a plurality of rotatable crusher arms affixed to the axle, a front wall having an opening vertically above the fixed blades, sidewalls sealing a portion of the front wall to a portion of the back wall, leaving a predetermined void and a motor for rotating the axle to drive the agitator and crusher. The method includes the steps of rotating an axle, in first direction and second directions to dispense whole ice cubes or crushed ice cubes, respectively, from the ice dispenser. | 05-26-2011 |
20120036881 | APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ICE CLUMPS - An apparatus for breaking ice clumps in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an ice storage bin, an axle rotatably supported by an ice storage bin, an actuator operatively coupled to the axle and an ice breaker operatively coupled to the actuator. The ice breaker moves in a reciprocal manner upon the driving of the axle and the actuator. Such reciprocal movement of the ice breaker breaks ice clumps in the storage bin. | 02-16-2012 |
20120043918 | REVERSING DISPENSER MOTOR WITH INTEGRAL RELAY - A dispensing motor apparatus includes a motor assembly for driving a dispenser, the motor assembly having a motor. The dispenser is driven by the motor. One or more relays having electrical contacts can be integrated with the motor assembly. The motor changes its direction of rotation when its polarity is switched by relay(s). Additionally, a controller can communicate with the relay(s) and the motor assembly, such that the controller permits the relay(s) to switch the position of the contacts of the relay(s) before power is turned on with respect to the motor through the electrical contacts and switch the position of the electrical contacts of the relay(s) to a default state after the power is removed from the motor through the electrical contacts. The relay(s) is subject to mechanical cycling without the contacts of relay(s) being required to perform a current switching duty. | 02-23-2012 |