Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes a removable ice bin for storing the ice pieces produced by the ice maker. A rotatable auger is positioned within the removable ice bin and configured to drive the ice pieces out of the removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A motor is configured to rotate the auger. A drive bar is coupled to the motor and is configured to apply a resisting force to the removable ice bin along a second direction generally opposed to the first direction sufficient to counteract the driving force, wherein the resisting force is less than a removal force applied by a user to remove the removable ice bin from the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a fresh food compartment with an interior wall, an opening, and a door movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the fresh food compartment via the opening; a cold plate mounted in the interior wall with an evaporator in contact with the cold plate; a chilled component movably mounted on the door adjacent the cold plate, the chilled component includes a heat transfer plate on a side of the chilled component for thermal communication with the cold plate, and a biaser moves the chilled component into thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed. The chilled component may be: an ice maker, a liquid/drink cooler, a vegetable cooler, a meat cooler, and/or a wine cooler. The biaser may include the following for moving the chilled component: a spring, an inclined plane, a pulley and weights, and/or a hydraulic piston.

Abstract: A food preservation system including a refrigerator and a freezer, wherein the refrigerator and freezer are independent from each other; the refrigerator comprising a fresh food compartment; the freezer including an icemaker and means for receiving filtered water; a water filter located in the fresh food compartment; a water supply line leading into an inflow side of the water filter; a refrigerator inlet valve connected to an inlet side of the water filter and a water distribution valve, wherein the water distribution valve comprises an auxiliary icemaker water valve, the distribution valve connected to an outflow side of the water filter; tubing connecting an outflow side of the auxiliary icemaker water valve to the icemaker; and a refrigerator main controller, wherein the refrigerator main controller is in operable communication with the refrigerator inlet valve and the auxiliary icemaker water valve is provided, Methods to make ice with filtered water are also provided.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker (125) includes an ice maker housing (126), an ice making unit (156) for making the ice pieces, a removeable ice bin (135) receiving the ice pieces, and an ice dispenser having a rotatable auger (170) that drives the ice pieces out of the removable ice bin to a bin aperture (168) at the ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A latching assembly is provided at least partially at each of the removeable ice bin and the ice maker housing, and is configured to apply a resisting force to the ice bin at least along a second direction opposite the first direction. The removable ice bin is selectively removable from the ice maker housing by the user applying a removal force greater than the driving force to the ice bin in the first direction.

Abstract: An ice bin for a refrigerator appliance, the ice bin includes a storage body. An auger, rotatably driven by an auger motor, extends within the storage body and has first and second ends. The auger is rotatably driven about a first axis. A first crusher roller is disposed at the second end of the auger and is coupled thereto to rotate together with the auger about the first axis. A second crusher roller is disposed on an axle extending along a second axis, the second crusher roller is freely rotatable about the axle. The second crusher roller is movable between a first position and a second position. When the second crusher roller is in the first position, the first crusher roller and the second crusher roller are spatially arranged and configured to grind the produced ice pieces into crushed ice.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes a removable ice bin for storing the ice pieces produced by the ice maker. A rotatable auger is positioned within the removable ice bin and configured to drive the ice pieces out of the removable ice bin via a driving force applied in a first direction. A motor is configured to rotate the auger. A drive bar is coupled to the motor and is configured to apply a resisting force to the removable ice bin along a second direction generally opposed to the first direction sufficient to counteract the driving force, wherein the resisting force is less than a removal force applied by a user to remove the removable ice bin from the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an ice packer assembly including an enclosure with a rotatable door, and an ice mold slidably supported by the enclosure. The ice mold is configured to translate between a first position and a second position. The door is configured to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation as the ice mold is translated from the first position to the second position. The enclosure defines a pass-through opening therethrough. The door opens up the pass-through opening when rotated to the first orientation, and closes the pass-through opening and defines a platform for receiving crushed ice thereon when it is rotated to the second orientation.

Abstract: A cooling device including a liner defining a freezer compartment, a shelf positioned within the freezer compartment, and an ice maker assembly secured to the shelf. The ice maker assembly including an ice maker configured to produce ice pieces, and an ice maker support frame that supports the ice maker. The ice maker support frame includes a fill cup and an air plenum, the air plenum defining a channel therein and extends between first and second walls of the ice maker support frame. A fan is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame at a location corresponding to the air plenum. The fill cup is configured to receive water from a water fill tube and direct the water to an ice tray of the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a fresh food compartment with an interior wall, an opening, and a door movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the fresh food compartment via the opening; a cold plate mounted in the interior wall with an evaporator in contact with the cold plate; a chilled component movably mounted on the door adjacent the cold plate, the chilled component includes a heat transfer plate on a side of the chilled component for thermal communication with the cold plate, and a biaser moves the chilled component into thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed. The chilled component may be: an ice maker, a liquid/drink cooler, a vegetable cooler, a meat cooler, and/or a wine cooler. The biaser may include the following for moving the chilled component: a spring, an inclined plane, a pulley and weights, and/or a hydraulic piston.

Abstract: An ice maker for producing and storing ice pieces. The ice maker is mountable to a liner of a fresh food compartment at an intersection of a top wall and a lateral side wall of the liner. The ice maker includes an ice tray for forming ice pieces. An ice bin receives and stores ice pieces produced by the ice tray. A housing contains the ice tray and ice bin. The housing has a first side, a second side, a bottom and a top. A first cavity is formed in the first side and a second cavity is formed in the bottom. A thermal insulation is disposed in the first cavity and the second cavity. The second side of the ice maker housing does not include thermal insulation.

Abstract: A food preservation system including a refrigerator and a freezer, wherein the refrigerator and freezer are independent from each other; the refrigerator comprising a fresh food compartment; the freezer including an icemaker and means for receiving filtered water; a water filter located in the fresh food compartment; a water supply line leading into an inflow side of the water filter; a refrigerator inlet valve connected to an inlet side of the water filter and a water distribution valve, wherein the water distribution valve comprises an auxiliary icemaker water valve, the distribution valve connected to an outflow side of the water filter; tubing connecting an outflow side of the auxiliary icemaker water valve to the icemaker; and a refrigerator main controller, wherein the refrigerator main controller is in operable communication with the refrigerator inlet valve and the auxiliary icemaker water valve is provided, Methods to make ice with filtered water are also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment therein, a door that provides selective access to the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided in the door. An air duct directs a flow of air from an insulated chamber to the ice maker. An air cooling system cools air inside the insulated chamber and comprises a first non-evaporative heat exchanger positioned independent of and adjacent to an evaporator, a second non-evaporative heat exchanger provided within the insulated chamber, and a fluid line that directs a circulation of fluid between the first and second non-evaporative heat exchangers. The first non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the evaporator to cool the fluid positioned in the first non-evaporative heat exchanger, and the second non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the air inside the insulated chamber to cool the air therein.

Abstract: A cooling device including a liner defining a freezer compartment, a shelf positioned within the freezer compartment, and an ice maker assembly secured to the shelf. The ice maker assembly including an ice maker configured to produce ice pieces, and an ice maker support frame that supports the ice maker. The ice maker support frame includes a fill cup and an air plenum, the air plenum defining a channel therein and extends between first and second walls of the ice maker support frame. A fan is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame at a location corresponding to the air plenum. The fill cup is configured to receive water from a water fill tube and direct the water to an ice tray of the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction.

Abstract: A modular water storage tank, for a refrigerator, includes a hollow storage body comprising a first body member having first and second open ends, the first open end comprising a first male extension having a first connection member on an outer surface thereof. A female end cap comprises a second connection member on an inner surface thereof that is configured to engage with the first connection member to secure the female end cap to the first open end. A male end cap comprises a second male extension having a third connection member on an outer surface thereof that is configured to engage with a fourth connection member disposed on an inner surface at the second open end of the first body member to secure the male end cap to the second open end of the first body member.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment therein, a door that provides selective access to the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided in the door. An air duct directs a flow of air from an insulated chamber to the ice maker. An air cooling system cools air inside the insulated chamber and comprises a first non-evaporative heat exchanger positioned independent of and adjacent to an evaporator, a second non-evaporative heat exchanger provided within the insulated chamber, and a fluid line that directs a circulation of fluid between the first and second non-evaporative heat exchangers. The first non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the evaporator to cool the fluid positioned in the first non-evaporative heat exchanger, and the second non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the air inside the insulated chamber to cool the air therein.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An ice maker with an ice mold is disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. A refrigeration system includes a system evaporator and an ice maker evaporator dedicated to cooling the ice mold. A frame rotatably supports the ice mold within the fresh food compartment between an ice-forming position and an ice-harvesting position. The frame supports the ice maker evaporator at a stationary position that serves as a pivot axis for the ice mold so the ice mold can rotate around the ice maker evaporator between the ice-forming position and the ice-harvesting position, while the ice maker evaporator remains stationary. In one example, a heater is rotatable with the ice mold, and a drip tray is located underneath ice mold and rotatable with the ice mold.

Abstract: A modular water storage tank, for a refrigerator, includes a hollow storage body comprising a first body member having first and second open ends, the first open end comprising a first male extension having a first connection member on an outer surface thereof. A female end cap comprises a second connection member on an inner surface thereof that is configured to engage with the first connection member to secure the female end cap to the first open end. A male end cap comprises a second male extension having a third connection member on an outer surface thereof that is configured to engage with a fourth connection member disposed on an inner surface at the second open end of the first body member to secure the male end cap to the second open end of the first body member.

Abstract: An ice maker for producing and storing ice pieces. The ice maker is mountable to a liner of a fresh food compartment at an intersection of a top wall and a lateral side wall of the liner. The ice maker includes an ice tray for forming ice pieces. An ice bin receives and stores ice pieces produced by the ice tray. A housing contains the ice tray and ice bin. The housing has a first side, a second side, a bottom and a top. A first cavity is formed in the first side and a second cavity is formed in the bottom. A thermal insulation is disposed in the first cavity and the second cavity. The second side of the ice maker housing does not include thermal insulation.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker disposed in a fresh food compartment. An air handler assembly conveys cooling air through the ice maker. An insulated air duct is disposed between an evaporator and a fan for preventing the migration of ice from the evaporator to the fan. The insulated duct has an opening extending from an end adjacent the evaporator to an end adjacent the fan. A lower inner wall of the air duct has a first ramped portion on the end adjacent the evaporator. In another example, the icemaker includes a sensor assembly positioned to detect a level of ice in the ice bin. The sensor assembly includes an emitter for sending photons along a predetermined path, and a receiver for detecting the photons when the photons are reflected off an object disposed in the predetermined path.