With Product Receiving And Storing Means Patents (Class 62/344)
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Patent number: 11933532Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Marcelo C. Candeo, Lokesha Kodigenahalli Chinnappa Reddy, Thomas McCollough
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Patent number: 11913700Abstract: Provided is an ice maker including an upper tray and a lower tray made of an elastic material, wherein a plurality of upper chambers defined in the upper tray and a plurality of lower chambers defined in the lower tray are in contact with each other to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, respectively, each ejector-receiving opening opened to each of the plurality of upper chambers, each opening-defining wall extending upward along a circumference of each ejector-receiving opening, an upper ejector configured to pass through the ejector-defining wall and vertically move to remove each ice from each ice chamber, and a driver for pivoting the lower tray to open and close the upper tray and the lower tray, wherein the upper tray includes a horizontal extension forming a top face of the upper tray, wherein the upper chamber is positioned below the horizontal extension such that the opening-defining wall is formed at a vertical level equal to or lower than a vertical level of the opening-defining wall.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park
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Patent number: 11892244Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of solidification and melting of a heat storage material in a heat storage material unit, a heat storage material covered with a coating material is accommodated in a metal accommodating container having a high thermal conductivity, and the heat storage material unit is embedded in a thermal insulation panel in such a way that the accommodating container is exposed inside a merchandise accommodating compartment, thereby enabling a surface of the heat storage material that is embedded in the thermal insulation panel also to exhibit an action equivalent to that if the accommodating container is exposed in the merchandise accommodating compartment as a heat transfer element, thereby improving the efficiency of solidification (heat storage) and melting (heat dissipation) of the heat storage material.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANYInventors: Yuji Ishino, Yiguang Zhang, Yasuo Nakazato, Yasuhiro Yamazaki, Takashi Nishiyama
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Patent number: 11874048Abstract: An ice maker includes an upper tray defining an upper chamber that is a portion of an ice chamber, a lower tray rotatable relative to the upper tray and defining a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber, wherein the lower chamber is disposed under the upper chamber, an upper heater disposed around the upper tray, for providing heat to the upper chamber, and a lower heater disposed around the lower tray, for providing heat to the lower chamber, wherein in an ice making position, a distance from a horizontal central line passing a contact surface of the upper tray and the lower tray to the upper heater is shorter than a distance from the horizontal central line to the lower heater.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park
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Patent number: 11846462Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Marcelo C. Candeo, Thomas McCollough
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Patent number: 11828514Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, and an evaporator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first ice maker provided in the door, a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured to be covered by the door when the door is closed, a first cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the first ice maker, and a second cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the second ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jinil Hong, Nayoung Kim, Ayoung Choo
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Patent number: 11808511Abstract: An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2023Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: REDDY ICE LLCInventor: Henrik Pape
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Patent number: 11739999Abstract: A refrigerator including an ice making tray in which ice is generated, an ice bucket to store ice separated from the ice making tray, a full ice detection lever to rotate toward the ice bucket to detect whether the ice bucket is fully filled with ice, a manipulation lever manipulated outside the ice maker to move between a first position and a second position, and a stopper to rotate in conjunction with the movement of the manipulation lever and interfere with the rotation of the full ice detection lever.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kyoungki Park, Jin Jeong
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Patent number: 11732945Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or ice supply, as provided herein, may include an ice maker, an ice bucket, and a shutter. The ice maker may include a mold body defining a discrete first compartment and second compartment within which water freezes. The ice bucket may define a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber may be separated from the first chamber. The ice bucket may further define an outlet opening having a first portion in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second portion in fluid communication with the second chamber. The shutter may be disposed at the outlet opening and movable between a first position and a second position. The first position may include the shutter covering the second portion and spaced apart from the first portion. The second position may include the shutter covering the first portion and spaced apart from the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Qianmao Zhou, Yayu Song, Bo Yan, Jianwu Li, Xiaoyang Jiang, Lixin Zhou, Jun Teng, Zhongyang Sun
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Patent number: 11703264Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes walls, a door, an ice container, a magnet, and a sensor. The walls define an internal storage chamber. The door has an outer panel and a door liner disposed between the outer panel and the internal storage chamber. The door liner defines a receptacle. The ice container is removably positioned within the receptacle. The magnet is secured to the ice container. The sensor is disposed between the outer panel and the door liner. The sensor is configured to align with and detect a presence of the magnet through the door liner and to detect an absence of the magnet. The presence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is positioned within the receptacle. The absence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is not positioned within the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Chethan Shivappa Thenehalli, Omar Israel Suarez Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11674729Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Thomas W. McCollough
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Patent number: 11674730Abstract: The present invention comprises: a first tray for forming a portion of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming the other portion of the ice-making cell, and capable of moving relative to the first tray; an ice bin for storing ice separated from the first and second trays; and a full-ice sensing lever for moving together with the second tray in a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Donghoon Lee, Sunggyun Son, Wookyong Lee
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Patent number: 11629902Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an ice-making assembly, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a dispenser recess having a transverse opening extending vertically from a top recess end to a bottom recess end and laterally from a first recess side to a second recess side. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice-making assembly may be attached to the cabinet. The ice storage bin may include a bin body defining a storage cavity. The bin body may be selectively mounted to the door within the dispenser recess to receive ice from the dispensing assembly. The bin body may extend vertically from the top recess end to the bottom recess end and laterally from the first recess side to the second recess side.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Lauren Nicole Platts, Louis A. Wantland, Jarvis Ward, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Michael C. Watanabe
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Patent number: 11624540Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an ice making room, a cool air supply duct connecting the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, an ice maker, a cool air guide duct that guides cool air from the ice making room toward the ice maker, and an ice bin below the ice maker to store ice. The ice maker includes an ice tray including cool air guide ribs, and an ice separating guide covering a front surface of the ice tray and a portion of a top surface thereof in which the cool air guide ribs extend from one side of the ice tray toward the other side and are spaced apart from a front surface of a tray body toward a rear surface, and bottom parts of the cool air guide ribs are spaced apart from a bottom part of the cool air guide duct.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
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Patent number: 11608258Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-purpose hydration station for dispensing different kinds of beverages, soft ice, ice, hot water and non-heated water. More specifically, the multi-purpose hydration station features a hot water dispenser unit, a non-heated water dispenser unit, a beverage dispenser unit, a soft ice dispenser unit and an ice maker for dispensing the user's requested item and eliminates the need to use separate dispensing machines to dispense different kinds of beverages or items. Additionally, the hydration station features a refrigeration and a non-refrigeration storage area to allow the users to store their items as per their requirements. The hydration station offers a convenient solution for setting up a hydration station that saves space, energy and expenses of the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Inventor: Shanette Jenkins
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Patent number: 11573042Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, an ice maker configured to make spherical ice, and an ice bin for storing the ice. The ice maker includes an upper assembly including a plurality of hemispherical upper chambers, a lower assembly disposed below and pivotably coupled to the upper assembly, wherein the lower assembly includes a plurality of hemispherical lower chambers that are configured to come in contact with the plurality of hemispherical upper chambers to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, a driver configured to pivot the lower assembly, and an ice-full state detection lever that is coupled to and configured to be pivoted by the driver, wherein the ice-full state detection lever is configured to pivot in the same direction as the lower assembly to detect whether the ice bin is in an ice-full state.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park
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Patent number: 11573041Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
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Patent number: 11519652Abstract: An ice maker has a bottom wall with a sensor opening. A time-of-flight sensor is supported in relation to the bottom wall such that the time-of-flight sensor can an optical pulse signal through the sensor opening toward the ice bin and subsequently detect a photon of the optical pulse signal that returns to the time-of-flight sensor through the sensor opening after reflecting off of one of a floor of the ice bin and ice in the ice bin. The time of flight sensor is configured to determine a duration between the emission of the optical pulse and the detection of the reflected photon(s). Based on the determined duration, the time-of-flight sensor or another processor can determine an amount of ice in the ice bin. The ice maker can be configured so that the time-of-flight sensor is removable, allowing a window pane of the time-of-flight sensor to be periodically cleaned.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.Inventor: Kevin Knatt
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Patent number: 11493252Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Jose Carlos Trejo Olvera, Matthew Edge, Marcello Machado, Thomas McCollough
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Patent number: 11486625Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11466913Abstract: An ice maker for mounting into a household cooling appliance, the ice maker includes an ice producer for producing ice; a storage container for storing ice; a driving unit for driving the storage container, the driving unit having a drive housing; and an air duct formed in the drive housing. The air duct has an air duct outlet configured in a front wall of the drive housing which faces towards the storage container and an air duct inlet provided in a side wall of the drive housing which faces towards the ice producer. A fan is arranged in the air duct. The fan generates an air stream from the ice producer to the storage container through the air duct.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Mathias Sigl, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez, Julio Cesar Schmidt, Marco Marques
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Patent number: 11419447Abstract: A drink maker (100) includes a body (110); a fluid system in the fluid system (147) disposed in the body; a control unit (180) to control the fluid system (147) for preparation of a beverage and a beverage container placement area (115); a recess (160) introduced in the body (110), being externally accessible and with at least one boundary wall (161, 162); a dispensing device (120) for dispensing the prepared beverage which is disposed in the recess (160); and an illumination device (170) for illuminating the recess (160). The illumination device (170) features a flat lighting body (171) disposed in the recess (160) for emitting light into the recess (160) and a light source (172) which can emit light into the lighting body (171).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KGInventor: Michael Wüstefeld
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Patent number: 11421927Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food compartment, an ice storage compartment within the fresh food compartment and insulated from the fresh food compartment, a sealed system configured to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigerant conduit; an ice maker positioned in the fresh food compartment and being in direct thermal communication with the sealed system, and an insulated door configured to open and close the ice storage compartment to selectively allow ice from the icemaker to enter the ice storage compartment. Methods of using the refrigerator appliance are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
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Patent number: 11408667Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Josh Hanson
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Patent number: 11378319Abstract: An ice maker for mounting into a household cooling appliance, comprising: a storage container for ice comprising a rear wall and an opening, which is accessible from the top, a coupling extension, which is arranged on the rear wall and extends towards the rear, a driving unit comprising a drive housing and a closing aid arranged in the drive housing for locking of the storage container in a closed end position, wherein the drive housing comprises a front wall, at which an insertion opening of the closing aid is arranged so that upon inserting of the coupling extension into the insertion opening the coupling extension couples with the closing aid and by the closing aid viewed in the depth direction of the ice maker said coupling extension is pulled into the locking position towards the rear.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Mathias Sigl, Robert Stahl, Josef Bauriedl
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Patent number: 11243017Abstract: A plumbing system for an ice maker may include a supply line extending to a dispense point and a dispense valve coupled to the supply line. An ice maker is coupled to the recirculation line, and a pump is also coupled to the recirculation line. The pump is operable to recirculate liquid through the ice maker via the recirculation line. The plumbing system also include features for draining water from the recirculation line.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
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Patent number: 11226146Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a machine compartment positioned proximate the freezer compartment. An icemaker assembly is positioned within the freezer compartment. A fill tube extends from the machine compartment into the icemaker assembly. A first solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube. A second solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are positioned within the machine compartment. A controller is configured to independently open and close the first and second solenoid valves.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Vishal B. Chauhan, Giulia Marinello, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Kevin Y. Zhang
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Patent number: 11221169Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a water supply to supply an ice-making water. The ice maker also includes an ice making container to be filled with the ice-making water. The ice maker further includes a cooler to provide a chill to the ice-making water. The ice maker additionally includes a water supplying-ice separator including at least one ice separating rod and a water supplying shaft. The water supplying shaft includes a water passage therein and a plurality of outlets wherein the ice-making water is discharged through the plurality of outlets to the ice making container. The at least one ice separating rod is provided on the water supplying shaft. The ice maker also includes a driver configured to rotate the water supplying-ice separator. The ice maker additionally includes a controller to control the driver so that the at least one ice separating rod separates the ice.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Moongyo Jung
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Patent number: 11199352Abstract: A countertop appliance, as provided herein, may include a dispenser casing, a water path, a water filter, a dispenser valve, an output storage tank, an internal storage valve, and an ice maker. The dispenser casing may define an interior cavity. The water path may be enclosed within the interior cavity. The water path may define a water inlet and an assembly water outlet. The output storage tank may be disposed along the water path to hold a preset volume of water upstream from the assembly water outlet. The internal storage valve may be disposed along the water path and configured to maintain the preset volume of water within the output storage tank. The ice maker may be downstream from the output storage tank to receive water therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Samuel Vincent DuPlessis
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Patent number: 11150004Abstract: A dispenser assembly for a refrigerator door. The dispenser assembly including a superjacent housing having an open front and an ice chute extending from a rear of the superjacent housing. The ice chute has a proximal end integrally attached to the rear of the superjacent housing and an open distal end. A subjacent housing has an upper end attachable to a lower end of the superjacent housing. The subjacent housing has an open front defining a cavity for receiving a container. The lower end of the superjacent housing is configured to sealingly engage with the upper end of the subjacent housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Sandeep Kumar, Cory Dale Simpson
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Patent number: 11137187Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and an evaporation chamber, a first door, a housing in the first door, an ice making room defining a cool air inflow hole and a cool air discharge hole, a chiller room defining a cool air discharge hole, a second door connected to the first door, a partition wall defining the ice making room, the chiller room, and a communication hole, a damper opening and closing the communication hole, a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber and the cool air inflow hole to supply cool air of the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, and a cool air return duct having a first inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the ice making chamber and a second inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the chiller room.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
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Patent number: 11060782Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes an ice dispenser closure that is actuated in response to separation of a separable portion of a passageway that communicates ice from an ice dispensing mechanism to a dispenser outlet to restrict external access to the ice dispensing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
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Patent number: 11022359Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is generally directed to an ice making appliance that includes: an ice making compartment and an ice maker including an ice mold having a total water capacity. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice wells and is configured to release the ice cubes without the use of a heater and by twisting the ice mold. The ice wells are typically no more than about 12.2 mm in depth from a top surface of the ice mold and have a volume of about 20 mL or less. The ice maker is capable of producing at least about 3.5 lbs. of ice or more in a 24 hour span.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Arivazhagan Chandrashekaran, Andrew M. Tenbarge
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Patent number: 11009277Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an icemaker, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a bin opening and a dispenser recess. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice storage bin may define a storage cavity. The ice storage bin may be slidably mounted to the door to move through the bin opening between a mounted position and a removed position. The ice storage bin may include an insulated front wall positioned across the bin opening in the mounted position. The storage cavity may be in communication with the icemaker in the mounted position to receive ice therefrom. The storage cavity may further be in communication with the dispensing assembly in the mounted position to direct ice to the ice delivery passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
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Patent number: 10969157Abstract: A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body, an air duct assembly and a branched air supply apparatus; the air duct assembly has an accommodating cavity, air passages, and air supply ports opening forward; the air passages comprise a first air passage and a plurality of second air passages; the branched air supply apparatus is installed in the accommodating cavity and has a peripheral wall portion; the peripheral wall portion defines a plurality of air outlets, the plurality of air outlets comprising a first air outlet and a plurality of second air outlets; the first air passage is communicated with the first air outlet and a first storage space; each second air passage is communicated with one second air outlet and one or more air supply ports, and each of the second air outlets communicates with at least one second air passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.Inventors: Xueli Cheng, Bin Fei, Yazhou Shang, Dengqiang Li
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Patent number: 10921035Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is generally directed to an ice making appliance that includes: an ice making compartment and an ice maker including an ice mold having a total water capacity. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice wells and is configured to release the ice cubes without the use of a heater and by twisting the ice mold. The ice wells are typically no more than about 12.2 mm in depth from a top surface of the ice mold and have a volume of about 20 mL or less. The ice maker is capable of producing at least about 3.5 lbs. of ice or more in a 24 hour span.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Arivazhagan Chandrashekaran, Andrew M. Tenbarge
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Patent number: 10900704Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a refrigerator having a separate ice-making system, comprising: a refrigerating compartment and an ice-making chamber disposed inside the refrigerating compartment, wherein an ice maker is arranged inside the ice-making chamber, the ice-making chamber is supplied with cold air by an ice-making refrigeration system including an ice-making evaporator, an ice-making air supply duct, an ice-making fan and an ice-making air return duct, the ice-making air supply duct and the ice-making air return duct are arranged in parallel, the ice-making evaporator is disposed inside the refrigerating compartment and outside the ice-making chamber, and the ice-making evaporator is communicated with the ice maker through the ice-making air supply duct and the ice-making air return duct to form a refrigerating circulation loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Inventors: Ying Jia, Zengqiang Si, Dongxian Liu, Xuezai Zheng, Fei Lu, Yu Li, Deming Wei
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Patent number: 10890365Abstract: A solid-production system for producing a solid on demand is provided herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a conveying mechanism; a fluid-dispensing mechanism; a pressure plate arranged to urge the fluid mold into interaction with a cooling block to form a solid; a solid-dispensing mechanism arranged to dispense the solid loosened by a solid ejector to a user; and processing circuitry configured to implement a master state machine, and slave state machines for respective ones of the fluid-dispensing mechanism, conveying mechanism, pressure plate and solid-dispensing mechanism, wherein the master state machine is configured to send commands to the slave state machines based on states of the slave state machines, and the slave state machines are configured to execute the commands to control the respective ones of the conveying mechanism, fluid-dispensing mechanism, pressure plate, and solid-dispensing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Priyanka Monil Neema, George Marshall Horne, Stephen Smith, Thomas Josefsson, Vasantha K. Chitta
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Patent number: 10859301Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin assembly or ice bin may be removably received within the chilled chamber. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, and a gear assembly. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned within the ice bin. The gear assembly may be positioned within the ice bin below the ice sweep in mechanical communication with the ice sweep to motivate rotation of the ice sweep.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Gaurav Sanjay Katre, Lauren Nicole Platts
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Patent number: 10852046Abstract: A refrigerator combines an externally-accessible door-mounted fluid or water dispenser outlet with an externally-accessible case-mounted ice dispenser outlet and/or an externally-accessible case-mounted fluid dispenser control.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
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Patent number: 10837688Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for making ice and ejecting the ice from an ice formation cell. In one example, a system includes an ice formation cell, a refrigerant tube, and an ejector. The refrigerant tube is disposed within the ice formation cell. A portion of the water stream can freeze on the refrigerant tube to generate the ice piece. The ejector rotates about an axis. When rotating, the ejector pries an ice piece away from the refrigerant tube disposed the ice formation cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Oxen, Inc.Inventor: Milaim Hoti
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Patent number: 10816255Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice bucket with a simple structure. The refrigerator may include a main body and an ice bucket provided to supply ice, wherein the ice bucket includes an ice bank provided with an ice storage space therein and an opening, an auger rotatably disposed in the ice bank to rotate about a rotating shaft to transfer ice, and a guide lever rotatably installed in the ice bank to open or close the opening and configured to open the opening by being pushed by ice being transferred in a direction of the rotating shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Il Song, Jae Koog An
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Patent number: 10808980Abstract: An ice-maker/ice storage box assembly and a refrigerator having the ice-maker/ice storage box assembly are provided. The ice-maker/ice storage box assembly has an ice storage box. The ice storage box is provided with a rotary shaft and a separation mechanism. An outer end of the rotary shaft is provided with a rotary-shaft connector. The rotary-shaft connector is connected to a transmission connector of an ice dispensing motor. The separation mechanism is used to axially separate the transmission connector from the rotary-shaft connector. The ice-maker/ice storage box assembly enables the ice storage box to be conveniently removed without damaging a connection part between the ice dispensing motor and the ice storage box, and the ice storage box does not have to be removed in a fixed direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignees: Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd., Media Group Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zengqiang Si, Yang Shao, Zhengguang Lv, Hao Wang
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Patent number: 10782058Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Nilton Bertolini, Cetin Abdullah Celik, Silas Patrick Mallon, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
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Patent number: 10775088Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice bucket with an agitator rotatably mounted within the ice bucket. The agitator may be rotated by a dispenser motor. The agitator may be coupled to the dispenser motor via a fork connected to the motor and a socket connected to the agitator. The fork is selectively engagable with the socket, and the fork transfers torque from the dispenser motor to the agitator via the socket when the fork engages the socket. The ice making assembly may be provided in a refrigerator appliance.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
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Patent number: 10775087Abstract: An ice-making tray according to the concept of the present invention is capable of making ice at high speed and improving the transparency of ice by providing a second tray having ice cells for storing ice-making water to be coupled, in an overlapping manner, to the upper surface of a first tray which is in contact with a refrigerant pipe. The first tray may be formed of an aluminum material, the second tray may be formed of a plastic material, and the first tray formed of an aluminum material can efficiently function as a heat exchanger of an ice-making space due to having high thermal-conductivity. In the second tray, a fixing part for fixing the ice-making tray inside the ice-making space, a shaft accommodating part for accommodating the rotation shaft of an ejector, a temperature sensor accommodating part for accommodating a temperature sensor, and an air insulating part for insulating the ice-making tray and an ice separating motor may be formed integrally.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong su Son, Do Yun Jang, Jae Min Lee
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Patent number: 10746454Abstract: A household refrigeration appliance has a housing in which there is formed at least one receiving space for food, and an icemaker. The icemaker has an external housing formed from a plurality of separate constituent parts. Wherein one of the constituent parts is a one-piece bottom tray that has a bottom wall and side walls that are integrally formed in one piece thereon.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Prashantagouda Hosamani, Hans Gerd Keller, Robert Stahl
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Patent number: 10697687Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having at least one dispensing unit for liquid and/or solid substances such as ice or water, wherein at least one actuation element is provided that is configured such that on its actuation, the dispensing unit is moved from a lowered position into a moved out position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERATE LIENZ GMBHInventors: Dominik Lercher, Hannes Stocker, Markus Kofele
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Patent number: 10690388Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert B. Becker, Marcus R. Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
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Patent number: 10677504Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporator for an ice maker including: a refrigerant pipe having a circular cross-section, with refrigerant flowing therethrough; and a pair of ice making plates disposed on opposite sides of the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pipe is disposed between inner side surfaces of the ice making plates facing each other, and rounded parts are provided by being formed outwards at a place where the refrigerant pipe is located such that the rounded parts cover both sides of the refrigerant pipe by being in close contact therewith.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: DAEYEONG E&B CO., LTD.Inventor: Doo Ha Kim