By Congealed Removable Product Condition Patents (Class 62/135)
  • Patent number: 11898784
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing clear ice products is provided. The system includes a freezing module, a demolding module, and a converting station. The freezing module includes a frame comprising a plurality of levels, a plate freezer provided at each level, and at least one mold provided for placement on each plate freezer and suitable for receiving water. A control frame is provided associated with each plate freezer and is movable from an elevated position to fill position. In the fill position, the control frame is at least partially disposed within the mold. One or more circulation pumps are associated with each control frame for circulating water in the mold to release air bubbles as the water freezes. The demolding module removes the mold from the freezing module and removes formed ice from the mold. The converting station converts the formed ice into a clear ice product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MINNESOTA ICE SCULPTURES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert E. Harrell
  • Patent number: 11841180
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a first tray assembly defining a portion of an ice making cell and a second tray assembly defining another portion of the ice making cell. The one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies may include a first portion that defines at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11747071
    Abstract: A method of detecting ice within an automatic ice maker includes capturing an image of an ice mold within the ice maker, analyzing the image using a machine learning image recognition process, determining one or more characteristics of the ice maker, and implementing a responsive action to control the ice maker accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11703263
    Abstract: A refrigerator according the present disclosure includes a first tray configured to form a portion of an ice making cell, a second tray configured to form another portion of the ice making cell and capable of moving relative to the first tray, a driver configured to move the second tray, a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell, and a controller configured to control the driver, in which when it is determined that the water in the ice making cell is in a supercooled state based on the temperature measured by the tray temperature sensor, the controller may operate the driver to move the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11612173
    Abstract: A system for automatically cleaning and washing an ice cream machines includes a liquid container for storing raw materials; a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through a cleaning pathway; a water tank for storing rinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a detergent tank for storing detergents to clean and wash the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the raw material, the rinse water or the detergent; and a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Lingyu Dong
  • Patent number: 11460232
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the ice storage compartment, a circulation system arranged within the first reservoir, an ice maker provided within the first reservoir to dispense ice into the ice storage compartment, a second reservoir connected to the ice storage compartment, a return line conduit connected to the second reservoir and the first reservoir to direct melt water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir, a second pump provided at the second reservoir to pump melt water through the return line conduit, and a cleanout line having a first end connected to the second reservoir and a second end exposed outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11441829
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an interior volume and a door for accessing the interior volume. An ice maker is disposed within the interior volume harvesting ice. The ice maker includes a frame and a motor. An ice tray includes a first end engaged with the motor, a second end engaged to the frame and a plurality ice wells defined by a plurality of weirs including first and second sets of weirs positioned proximate the first and second ends respectively, and interior weirs positioned therebetween. Each of the first and second sets of weirs and the internal weirs include a passage bifurcating each weir into first and second weir portions. Each of the passages defined by the first and second sets of weirs have a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of any one of the passages defined by the internal weirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Becker, Marcus R. Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
  • Patent number: 11419348
    Abstract: A system for automatically cleaning and washing an ice cream machines includes a liquid container for storing raw materials; a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through a cleaning pathway; a water tank for storing rinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a detergent tank for storing detergents to clean and wash the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the raw material, the rinse water or the detergent; and a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Lingyu Dong, Charles Dong
  • Patent number: 11337549
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TAYLOR COMMERCIAL FOODSERVICE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 11237576
    Abstract: A building management system includes a communications interface connected to HVAC devices, a device identifier configured to identify the HVAC devices, a fault detector configured to detect a fault condition in the identified devices, and a causal relationship template retriever configured to retrieve a fault causation template of system parameters specific to the fault condition. The building management system further includes a status requestor configured to retrieve operating data from the identified devices and a user interface generator. The user interface generator is configured to populate the system parameters of the fault causation template with the retrieved operating data and transmit a signal to display a user interface with the populated fault causation template on a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Kirk H. Drees, Vivek V. Gupta, Mark T. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11125484
    Abstract: An ice-maker provides a reversible AC motor whose direction is changed at a first and second stop positioning the tray in a filling position and an ice cubes discharging position, respectively. A bail arm may introduce an additional stop preventing discharge of ice when an ice bin is full. User controls may allow the user to set a water fill time based on local water pressure conditions. An ice tray incorporating an ice sensor may releasably connect to the ice-making machine for ready replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Chatelle, Juan Barrena
  • Patent number: 11033043
    Abstract: A system for automatically cleaning and washing an ice cream machines includes a liquid container for storing raw materials; a freezing cylinder connected with the liquid container through a cleaning pathway; a water tank for storing rinse water to rinse the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a detergent tank for storing detergents to clean and wash the freezing cylinder and the cleaning pathway; a pump arranged on the cleaning pathway to selectively pump the raw material, the rinse water or the detergent; and a control panel adapted to control an on/off and cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Lingyu Dong
  • Patent number: 11035601
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes a main body, an ice-making chamber formed inside the main body, an ice-making tray to store ice-making water and generate ice, and a refrigerant pipe installed so that at least a part thereof is in contact with the ice-making tray, wherein a refrigerant flows in the refrigerant pipe, wherein the ice-making tray includes an ice-making cell that stores ice-making water, and a temperature sensor accommodation portion that accommodates a temperature sensor that measures temperature of water or ice stored in the ice-making cell, and the temperature sensor accommodation portion includes an accommodation portion that is formed in a groove shape, and has an open upper side so that the temperature sensor moves in or out, and a fixing portion which is coupled to a wire connected to a part of the temperature sensor or to the temperature sensor and fixes a position of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Yong Sung Yoon, Chang Uo Hong, Bong Su Son, Young Il Song, Min Seob Yook, Do Yun Jang, Moon Gyo Jung
  • Patent number: 10907873
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice tray, a motor configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray, an ejector configured to cause rotation of an ice piece, the ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, a heater configured to selectively supply heat to the ice tray, and a first sensor unit configured to detect a rotation angle of the protrusion pin about an axis of the rotary shaft. The first sensor unit is further configured to, before discharge of the ice piece from the ice tray, detect whether the protrusion pin has rotated by a predetermined angle about the axis of the rotary shaft, and the heater is further configured to be turned off based on the first sensor unit detecting that the protrusion pin has rotated by the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 10890368
    Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Knatt, Steven Lee Trulaske, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10890367
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold body with two rows of mold cavities defined in the mold body. The ice maker also includes an ejector assembly having a plurality of ejector pads corresponding to the mold cavities. The ejector pads are movable between a low position proximate to the floor of a corresponding mold cavity and a high position proximate the opening of each corresponding mold cavity. The ejector pads are operable to eject ice from the mold cavities when the ejector assembly moves from the low position to the high position. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, John Keith Besore, Samuel Vincent DuPlessis
  • Patent number: 10794623
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heating control method, a heating control device, and an ice maker. The heating control method comprises: determining that the ice maker is in an ice-making operation state; acquiring a first heating strategy of a target part of the ice maker according to a preset first heating strategy acquisition rule, based on ambient parameter information of an ambient in which the target part of the ice maker is located; and heating the target part based on the first heating strategy. Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, the problem that the deicing heating control technology of the ice maker in the prior art has high energy consumption is solved, and the beneficial effect of precise and low-energy deicing heating control on the ice-prone parts of the ice maker is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jingyu Zhang, Yu Li, Deming Wei
  • Patent number: 10775092
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan G. Tarrant, Ryan D. Schuchart, Mauro M. Oliveira, Alvin V. Miller, Brent A. Koppenhaver, Carl J. Franken, Nelson J. Ferragut, II, Tim L. Coulter, Greg Berardi, Thomas Carl Anell
  • Patent number: 10753665
    Abstract: An ice making device is provided. In an ice making device, a convex part reflecting the shape of a recessed part for water storage is formed on a bottom surface of the ice making tray. A temperature sensor is in contact with a side wall of the convex part. The temperature sensor is covered with a flexible member. In addition, a cover member pressing the temperature sensor against the ice making tray is fixed to the bottom surface of the ice making tray through the flexible member. In the temperature sensor, a sealing coating layer is provided to cover a temperature detection chip, but an exterior case is not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Saito, Satoshi Tanimura
  • Patent number: 10655907
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a first type of food item added to a first compartment of a refrigerator, determining an ideal storage temperature associated with the type of food item added to the first compartment, adjusting an ambient storage temperature in the first compartment to substantially match the ideal storage temperature associated with the first type of food item, detecting a second type of food item added to a second compartment of the refrigerator, determining an ideal storage temperature associated with the second type of food item added to the second compartment, and adjusting an ambient storage temperature in the second compartment to substantially match the ideal storage temperature associated with the second type of food item. The ideal storage temperature associated with the first type of food item is different than the ideal storage temperature associated with the second type of food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Inseok Hwang, Su Liu, Eric J. Rozner, Chungkuk Yoo
  • Patent number: 10641535
    Abstract: An ice-maker system may be operable in an ice-making mode and in an ice-harvesting mode and may include a working-fluid circuit and an ice mold. The working-fluid circuit may include a compressor, an expansion device, and an ice-making heat exchanger. The expansion device is disposed downstream of the compressor. The ice-making heat exchanger is disposed between the expansion device and the compressor along the working-fluid circuit. The ice mold includes a plurality of pockets configured to receive water from a water-supply conduit when the system is operating in the ice-making mode. The ice mold may be in a heat-transfer relationship with the ice-making heat exchanger. The ice mold may define a channel that receives a warming fluid from a warming-fluid-supply conduit when the system is operating in the ice-harvesting mode. The warming fluid is fluidly isolated from working fluid circulating through the working-fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haithem Murgham, David Myszka, Kyaw Wynn
  • Patent number: 10602877
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10605493
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a sealed system with a first evaporator connected in series with a first capillary tube and a second evaporator connected in series with second and third capillary tubes such that the second evaporator is between the second and third capillary tubes. The first capillary tube is sized such that the chilled air at the first evaporator is a first temperature during operation of the sealed system. The second capillary tube is sized such that the chilled air at the second evaporator is a second, different temperature during operation of the sealed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Anoop Singh, Ashutosh Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10595674
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10602643
    Abstract: A cooling system and associated method may be used to perform cooling using the hydrothermal energy of supply water stored in a supply water tank that is to be complementarily supplied to a cooling tower of a freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Naver Business Platform Corp.
    Inventors: Jeongbeom Ko, Ji Hyun Koo, Sang Min Roh, Hun Nam Ji, Eun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10595673
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10595672
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10595676
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10595675
    Abstract: A self-contained system is provided for cleaning a food flow path in a food processor. The system can be operably engaged without requiring disassembly and reassembly of the food processor or can be operably engaged after a partial disassembly of the food processor. The system includes a control assembly for directing passage of a solution through the food processor without requiring constant operator oversight. The system can employ available positive pressure water supply, such as public utility water pressure to selectively and automatically push solutions, including rinses, backwards or forwards through a food flow path in the food processor, though typically countercurrent to the normal processing food flow. A manifold assembly includes an intake manifold and a distribution manifold, with an induction port and/or access port in the distribution manifold for introducing additives or agents into a controlled motive stream passing through the manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Idea Boxx, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tuchrelo, Jeffrey Cahoon, Richard T. Aab, Alfred S. Mustardo, Nathan E. Smith, Jacob R. Parisi, Edward F. Ruppel, III, Gary M. Russotti, William Salminen
  • Patent number: 10571179
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an icemaker having a mold body that defines an ice cavity. The ice cavity is defined at least in part by a bottom wall positioned at a bottom portion of ice cavity and a back wall positioned at a rear portion of the ice cavity. First and second bottom wall segments are positioned and oriented such that an upper surface of the first bottom wall segment defines a first angle with a front surface of the back wall and such that an upper surface of the second bottom wall segment defines a second angle with the front surface of the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Anoop Singh, Ashutosh Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10480844
    Abstract: An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
  • Patent number: 10309706
    Abstract: A cooling or freezing device includes an ice-making tray having a plurality of ice-piece-producing cavities distributed over at least two rows of cavities running parallel to one another. The device further includes a cold air supply system which provides a cold air stream which flows beneath the ice-making tray along the rows of cavities. There is additionally provided a temperature sensor unit which is inserted into a gap formed on the underside of the tray between a pair of adjacent ice-piece-producing cavities. The pair of cavities is formed by two ice-piece-producing cavities which, as seen in the direction of flow of the cold air stream, are the last ice-piece-producing cavities of two adjacent rows of cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Roland Schroedel, Manfredi Signorino, Josef Bauriedl, Thomas Baierl, Michael Koch
  • Patent number: 10281187
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber below the fresh food chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes an ice maker disposed within the cabinet outside of the freezer chamber and proximate to the fresh food chamber. The ice maker is in thermal communication with a freezer evaporator via a fan, a supply duct, and a return duct. The ice maker includes a harvest heater and the freezer evaporator is deactivated while the harvest heater is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10260789
    Abstract: An ice piece making assembly and a refrigeration appliance containing the ice piece making assembly is disclosed. The ice making assembly produces ice pieces by directional freezing and includes: an ice piece forming tray having a motor engaging end, a distal end, a first side, a second side and a bottom surface, a plurality of ice piece making compartments divided by divider walls, and a plurality of heat sinks engaged to the bottom surface of the ice making compartments and deliver defrost water to a drain or defrost water catch tray positioned at at least one of the distal end and the motor engaging end; and an ice piece forming tray canopy spaced a distance above the ice piece forming tray wherein the ice piece forming tray canopy comprises a heater and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed Alshourbagy, Arivazhagan Chandrashekaran, Kylie M. McCollum, Nicholas L. Pohl, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi, Andrew M. Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 10228176
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a casing that defines a chamber. The casing extends between a top portion and a bottom portion. An extruder die is mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. A motor is positioned above the extruder die. An auger is disposed within the chamber of the casing. The auger is coupled to a shaft of the motor with a threaded connection such that the auger is rotatable with the motor along a rotational direction within the chamber of the casing. The threaded connection between the auger and the shaft of the motor is wound opposite the rotational direction of the auger. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Bart Andrew Nuss, Ansuraj Seenivasan
  • Patent number: 9982939
    Abstract: A dispenser on refrigerator including a touch pad-type of lever for dispensing water supplied from a water purifier. The dispenser includes a main body, an ice discharge port, an ice guide, an ice discharge lever and a water discharge port. A PCB substrate is mounted on the front side of the ice guide. The touch pad-type lever is mounted on the PCB substrate and configured to receive a user request for discharging water and accordingly control a state of the water discharge port. The refrigerator also ice maker coupled to the dispenser, and detectors for detecting the amount of ice and water contained in the ice maker and the water purifier respectively. The touch pad on the touch pad-type of lever can display the amount of ice and water contained in the ice maker and the water purifier respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 9945598
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ice utilize self-demolding ice molds. Responsive to freezing of water in the mold into ice, an ejection apparatus is compressed. Via a force arising from the compression, the ejection apparatus ejects the ice from the mold. Ice machines may utilize multiple molds, and water filling a first mold may be utilized to at least partially melt ice in a second mold to facilitate ejection of the ice from the second mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Jonathan Sherbeck, Nicholas Fette
  • Patent number: 9890987
    Abstract: An ice-making assembly for installation in a domestic refrigerator or freezer is provided. The ice-making assembly comprises: a frame structure; and first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that is larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Roland Schroedel, Josef Bauriedl
  • Patent number: 9823006
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a water tray member receiving raw water for ice-making from a water tank, an ice making unit cooling the raw water received in the water tray member and forming ice, a heating unit heating the raw water received in the water tray member, and a control unit controlling an operation of the heating unit such that the raw water received in the water tray member is heated before the ice making unit cools the raw water in the water tray member. According to the ice maker, the temperature of the raw water received in an ice-making water tray is raised to a preset temperature at the initial stage of an ice making process, thereby preventing the formation of an opaque layer in the central portion of ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Conway Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Se-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9644879
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed in the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller including a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: John Allen Broadbent
  • Patent number: 9612048
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus of a refrigerator and a method for assembling such an ice making apparatus are provided. The ice making apparatus may include an ice tray, a sensor installed on a lower portion of the ice tray, a sensor wire connecting the sensor to a controller of the refrigerator, a driver provided at a first end of the ice tray, a driving shaft provided at the first end of the ice tray, a support device provided at a second end of the ice tray, and a support shaft provided at the second end of the ice tray and inserted into a rotational shaft hole of the support device, the support shaft having a through hole allowing the sensor wire to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Bumseup Kim
  • Patent number: 9593874
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice tray extending along a longitudinal axis. The ice tray includes a first section disposed at a longitudinal first end of the ice tray, the first section including a plurality of first cavities projecting into the ice tray. The ice tray further includes a second section disposed at a longitudinal second end of the ice tray that is opposite from the longitudinal first end. The second section includes an elongated second cavity extending in a direction that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ice tray. The second cavity has a shape that is longer in length than a length of each of the first cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Brown, Nilton Carlos Bertolini
  • Patent number: 9568219
    Abstract: A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the condenser and the evaporator for cooling the output from the condenser before entering the evaporator, hereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven John Kuehl, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 9557088
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement, particularly for a household refrigeration appliance, has a flap that is rotatable between a first and a second distribution position and a motor which actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotational disk to be connected to a motor shaft, a piston rod and a rotating transfer element. The latter is rotatable a first and second position such that the flap in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is in the first distribution position and in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is in the second distribution position. The rotating transfer element has a coupling element. The piston rod couples a motor shaft-eccentric point of the rotating disk to the coupling element of the rotating transfer element to rotate the transfer element between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH, EMZ-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventors: Josef Bauriedl, Albert Dirnberger
  • Patent number: 9527301
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprises: a supply passage through which liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source to a liquid ejecting unit; a filter housing portion provided in the supply passage, a first filter being provided inside the filter housing portion; a circulation passage forming portion, one end of which is connected to a space portion located closer to the liquid supply source than the first filter is, the other end of which is connected on the supply passage to a position closer to the liquid supply source than the first filter is, thereby forming a circulation passage; a foreign object separation unit that works with a flow pump, which is a pump for circulation of the liquid through the circulation passage, to cause a foreign object to come off from the first filter; and a second filter that is detachably provided on the circulation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenori Nakagawa, Keiji Matsumoto, Toshinobu Yamazaki, Masahiko Sato, Makoto Otsuki
  • Patent number: 9423169
    Abstract: Disclosed is a defrosting system and a defrosting method of a refrigerator, the system including an evaporator configured to reduce an ambient temperature by heat exchange through movement of refrigerant, a frost monitoring camera by photographing a state of frost adhered to the evaporator, a controller configured to grasp changes of an image captured by the frost monitoring camera to determine a defrosting start time, and a heat-generating unit configured to emit heat in response to a signal applied from the controller to remove the frost, whereby an unnecessary operation of a heat-generating unit is prevented by appropriately coping with an environment that flexibly changes according to an inner situation of a refrigerator and by accurately determining, by the controller, a start time and a completion time of defrosting operation for removing frost adhered to the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seoyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9273892
    Abstract: Disclosed is an icemaker for a refrigerator, comprising: a tray for containing water to make the water into ice pieces having a predetermined shape; a water supply unit installed at one side of the tray, for supplying water to the tray; a drive unit installed to face the water supply unit with the tray being interposed therebetween; an ice separating lever rotatably assembled between the drive unit and the water supply unit to be rotated by a motor installed in the drive unit; and an ice separating heater for applying heat to the tray so that ice pieces are separated from the tray. The drive unit includes a drive unit housing, a driving motor having a driving gear, a slave gear having a rotary cam and a first magnet and coupled to a rotary shaft of the ice separating lever, a cantilever having a second magnet and rotated by the rotary cam, and first and second Hall elements corresponding to the first and second magnets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung Owan Lee
  • Patent number: 9095167
    Abstract: A supercooling system includes a cooling apparatus and a supercooling apparatus. The cooling apparatus includes a storing unit storing an object, a cooling unit, and a main control unit controlling the cooling unit to maintain the temperature in the storing unit at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid. The supercooling apparatus includes an independent storage room having a storing space, a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the independent storage room, a temperature control unit mounted in the independent storage room and controlling the internal temperature and a sub-control unit controlling the temperature control unit based on the sensed temperature from the temperature sensing unit to store the liquid in a supercooled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hoon-Bong Lee
  • Patent number: 9074813
    Abstract: An automated plate freezer assembly apparatus includes a hopper mounted above at least one freezer plate unit with the hopper able to pass food material from the hopper to the freezer plate unit. The freezer plate unit has a cooling device for freezing the food material and a heating device so that, upon the completion of freezing, frozen blocks of material are able to be gravitationally removed from the plate freezer assembly apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Simon Staughton
  • Publication number: 20150143832
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a curd maker to make curd directly disposed in a refrigerating compartment wherein curd is made by the curd maker disposed in the refrigerating compartment and is kept fresh. The refrigerator includes a curd maker provided in a refrigerating compartment to ferment milk into curd, wherein the curd maker includes a case including an outer case forming an external appearance of the case and an inner case provided in the outer case, an insulation member provided between the outer case and the inner case, a curd container received in the inner case to store milk, a heater provided between the inner case and the insulation member to heat the curd container, a fan to supply cool air from the refrigerating compartment to the curd container to cool the curd container, and a temperature sensor to measure temperature in the curd maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin JEONG, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Jeong Min Jeon, Yeon Woo cho