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: In a method for controlling an ice maker, a motor rotates an ejector finger relative to an ice tray in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction to discharge ice from the ice tray. When an error condition occurs, the ice maker enters a first error mode, during which an ice maker heater is turned on until the temperature of the ice tray reaches a predetermined temperature or until an ice maker heater error correction time elapses. When the ejector finger is at a home position, the motor rotates in the second direction until the ejector finger is not at the home position or for a first predetermined number of steps, whichever occurs first, and then rotates in the first direction until the ejector finger is at the home position.

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 water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.

Abstract: An ice maker apparatus includes an ice mold having first and second ends spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the ice mold via opposite, first and second lateral sides. A first recess is formed in the first lateral side of the ice mold. A first thermally insulative cover has a first depression formed therein and is removably attached to the ice mold and disposed adjacent to the first lateral side thereof. The first recess and the first depression collectively define a first passage therebetween. An ice maker evaporator is provided and has a first leg. The first leg is disposed within the first passage.

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 tray assembly disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice tray assembly 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 and a cover having a water fill cup integrated into the cover and an outlet aligned with an inlet of the ice mold.

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: An ice maker for a refrigeration appliance, the ice maker including an ice maker frame and an ice tray housed within the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein. An air handler is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame and an ice maker fan is disposed within the air handler and is configured to direct cooled airflow out of the air handler and into the ice maker frame. A controller is configured to operatively control the ice maker during an ice making cycle. The ice maker is operable in a first mode and a second mode. When the ice maker is operated in the second mode, the ice maker fan is cycled on and off during predetermined time intervals in order to produce clear ice pieces.

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 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 water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.

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 water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an ice maker, a motor rotates an ejector finger relative to an ice tray in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction to discharge ice from the ice tray. When an error condition occurs, the ice maker enters a first error mode, during which an ice maker heater is turned on until the temperature of the ice tray reaches a predetermined temperature or until an ice maker heater error correction time elapses. When the ejector finger is at a home position, the motor rotates in the second direction until the ejector finger is not at the home position or for a first predetermined number of steps, whichever occurs first, and then rotates in the first direction until the ejector finger is at the home position.

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 tray assembly disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice tray assembly 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 and a cover having a water fill cup integrated into the cover and an outlet aligned with an inlet of the ice mold.

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 tray assembly disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice tray assembly 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 and a cover having a water fill cup integrated into the cover and an outlet aligned with an inlet of the ice mold.

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 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.