With Product Receiving And Storing Means Patents (Class 62/344)
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Patent number: 8312735Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. The door is operable between an open position and a closed position. An ice maker is adjacent to the interior side of the door when the door is in the closed position. A frame defines an aperture extending from the interior side to the exterior side. An ice bucket is disposed in the aperture and is operable between a lowered position, wherein a reservoir portion of the bucket is accessible when the door is closed, and a raised position, wherein the reservoir portion of the bucket is inaccessible when the door is closed. An ice dispenser is disposed below the ice bucket.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Timothy A. Fulton
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Publication number: 20120279247Abstract: A refrigerator has a compartment defined by a liner. A door is configured to provide access into the compartment. A sub-compartment is mounted in the door. The sub-compartment has an access door that opens to provide access into the sub-compartment. The access door includes an inner door panel, an outer door panel, and a vacuum insulation panel disposed between the inner and outer door panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Umakant Suresh Katu, Craig Robert Vitan, Steven D. Paul, Eric Lloyd Scalf
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Publication number: 20120272678Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body having a storage chamber, a door provided to the main body to selectively open or close the storage chamber, the door including an outer door defining a front external appearance of the door, and a door liner defining a rear external appearance of the door, the door liner including support steps vertically extending along both sides of the door liner, a liner plate interconnecting the support steps, and a seating step horizontally extending from the door liner, the support steps and the seating step defining an installation space, an ice bank removably located on the door liner, and an ice maker cover located above the ice bank.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Myung-Soo KIM, Yoo-Min PARK, Oh-Chul KWON, Bon-Young KOO, Young-Hoon GWAK, Hyeon-Po CHO
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Publication number: 20120255321Abstract: According to the present invention, a refrigerator comprises: a main body having a storage compartment; a refrigerating cycle apparatus for cooling the storage compartment; a quick cooling body which accommodates beverages inserted therein, and which has a plurality of jet-colliding holes for jet-colliding the cooling air in the storage compartment against the beverages; a quick cooling air blower which enables the cooling air in the storage compartment to flow toward the quick cooling body such that the cooling air in the storage compartment passes through the jet-colliding holes, is jet-collided against the beverages, and is then discharged to the storage compartment; and a quick cooling body moving mechanism mounted in the main body and connected to the quick cooling body to move the quick cooling body, thereby minimizing the quick cooling time of the beverages.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2010Publication date: October 11, 2012Inventors: Yeon Woo Cho, Yang Gyu Kim, Youn Seok Lee, Deul Re Min
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Patent number: 8281611Abstract: An automatic icemaker for a refrigerator is disclosed. The automatic icemaker includes an ice mold body having a front side, a back side, and a plurality of ice chambers for containing water therein for freezing into ice cubes, each ice chamber having a top opening having a frontal portion adjacent the front side; an ice stripper disposed along the front side and extending over the ice chambers, the ice stripper being configured to completely cover the frontal portion of the top opening of each ice chamber; and an ice rake disposed between the front side and the back side, the ice rake including a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of rake fingers extending outward from the shaft for moving ice cubes out of the respective ice chambers and onto the ice stripper.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Matthew William Davis, Stephen Bischoff, Darrell H. Kirby, Pranav Mittal
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Patent number: 8281610Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice maker for making ice, which is provided on a backside of a door of the refrigerator; and an ice maker cover for selectively opening or closing the ice maker. Fixing recesses are formed to be open downwardly on outsides of both sides of the ice maker cover, and receive fixing protrusions provided at corresponding positions on opposite sides of a pair of support steps that protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door by a predetermined length and are formed to be elongated in an up and down direction. Play prevention steps are provided at lower ends of both sides of the ice maker cover and are seated on play prevention ribs provided to be elongated in a horizontal direction at corresponding positions of the opposite sides of the support steps below the fixing protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoon-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
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Publication number: 20120240612Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigeration apparatus having improved access to ice comprising a freezer compartment, a freezer drawer occupying a portion of the freezer compartment and configured to open to an extended position, an ice bin moveable with the freezer drawer and occupying at least a portion of the freezer drawer, and a stationary ice maker attached to the freezer compartment and located above the portion of the freezer drawer, wherein when the freezer drawer is pulled opened to the extended position, access to the ice bin is unobstructed by the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: HAIER AMERICA REFRIGERATORS COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Edward P. Wuesthoff, Dongning Wang
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Publication number: 20120240613Abstract: An ice making device may include an ice tray; a drive part which is provided with an output shaft to which the ice tray is attached and in which the ice tray is turned by turning of the output shaft; and a frame body to which the drive part is attached. A twisting operation is applied to the ice tray during a turning operation for separating ice pieces from the ice tray. The drive part may include a drive side attaching part. The frame body may include a frame body side attaching part. The frame body side attaching part and the drive side attaching part are fitted to each other along a direction that is perpendicular to the output shaft, thereby attaching the drive part to the frame body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Shunji Saito, Haruhiko Wada
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Patent number: 8272232Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator with a water tank for supplying water to an ice tray by closing of a door. A refrigerator includes a cooling chamber for storing an article at a low temperature, an ice tray positioned in the cooling chamber and filled with water, for making ice, a water tank with a water supply hole for storing water and supplying water to the ice tray, and a valve for selectively opening and closing the water supply hole. In addition, a refrigerator includes a cooling chamber for storing an article at a low temperature, a main body for defining the cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber, an ice tray positioned inside the door and filled with water, for making ice, a water tank with a water supply hole for storing water and supplying water to the ice tray, and a valve for selectively opening and closing the water supply hole.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Dae-Yeon Kim, Seung-Jin Choi
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Publication number: 20120227434Abstract: Embodiments relate to a refrigerator. A refrigerator according to an aspect includes: a freezing compartment; a freezing compartment door; an ice bin mounted on the rear of the freezing compartment door and storing ice; and an operating unit mounted on the rear of the freezing compartment door and operates to discharge the ice from the ice bin.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Jong-Gon Kim, Chun-Hee Hong
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Publication number: 20120227421Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body provided with a refrigerating chamber at an upper section and with a freezing chamber at a lower section, an ice making tray disposed in an upper space of an ice making chamber defined in the refrigerating chamber, a first storage container disposed in a lower space of the ice making chamber to store ice falling down from the ice making tray, and a second storage container disposed in a freezing chamber to store ice transferred from the ice making tray. The main body includes a guide channel to guide, when the first storage container reaches an ice-full state, ice falling from the ice making tray to the second storage container in the freezing chamber. The size of the ice making chamber is greatly reduced while a sufficient amount of the ice may be stored, thus securing a larger available space in the refrigerating chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Do Hyung KIM, Jin JEONG, Sang Hyun PARK, Yong Sung YOON, KHANQASIM, Seung Ah JOO
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Patent number: 8261570Abstract: An ice supplying apparatus 100, being provided in a refrigerator 1, comprises: an ice maker unit 22, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit 110, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by the ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit 112, which is provided within the ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion 111, which is provided in the ice storage unit and defines an interior space thereof as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface 113, among interior surfaces defining that interior space 301 of the ice storage unit 110, for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower potion thereof, by a surface inclining to a horizontal direction, wherein the ice discharger unit 112 is disposed in a lower portion of the shrinking portion 111.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.Inventors: Katsutoshi Shinohara, Kenji Shiono, Shintaro Yamawaki, Taichiro Yamashita, Yasuo Kurihara
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Publication number: 20120222432Abstract: A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating liquid coolant. The ice making system includes a coolant loop and an air flow chamber on a portion of the loop. The air flow chamber includes channels formed by offset protrusions, which direct air back and forth over the portion of the cooling loop to cool ambient air within the ice making system. The cooled air is then directed by a fan and supply duct to an ice storage container to prevent ice cubes in the container from melting. Once the air has warmed in the container, it is directed by a return duct to the beginning of the air flow chamber to begin the process over once again, thus creating a recirculation of air within a refrigerator system to cool an ice storage container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, LORRAINE J. WESTLAKE
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Publication number: 20120222435Abstract: A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating coolant. The ice making system includes a cold air loop including a plurality of fins to cool ambient air adjacent the cold air loop in the ice making system. The cooled air is passed by a fan assembly through a supply duct into an ice storage container or compartment to cool the area within the ice storage compartment, thus preventing ice cubes in the compartment from melting. The ice making system also includes a return duct for directing warm air from the ice storage compartment to the cold air loop for re-cooling and recirculation. The cold air loop may generally be a heat exchange zone for cooling the ambient air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: LUIZ ANTONIO D. LOPES, LORRAINE J. WESTLAKE
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Patent number: 8240519Abstract: An ice dispenser including an ice supply container; a shaft extending into the supply container; a stirrer rotatable about the shaft which extends into the supply container, the stirrer being connectable to a rotation drive device that rotates the stirrer; an output chamber communicated with the supply container, the output chamber having an ice outlet opening; a slider rotatable in the output chamber, a rotation of the slider in a predetermined manner operating to bring the slider into moving engagement with ice located in the output chamber; and a coupling selectively disposable between an active coupling disposition in which the coupling operatively interconnects the stirrer and the slider to one another such that the slider rotates in correspondence with a rotation of the stirrer and a decoupling disposition in which the coupling does not operatively interconnect the stirrer and the slider to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Martin Buchstab, Irene Dumkow, Adolf Feinauer, Klaus Flinner, Bernd Heger, Helen Lewis, Peter Nalbach, Craig Duncan Webster, Nathan Wrench, Kasim Yazan
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Patent number: 8240156Abstract: An ice-making device that includes a duct through which ice is dispensed and a duct-covering part for opening and closing the duct. An ice conveying part conveys the ice dispensed through the duct. A driving speed of the ice conveying part increases for a previously set initial driving time when the dispensing of the ice starts, and the ice conveying part is driven at a previously set target speed when the initial driving time elapses.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Do Han, Ho Youn Lee, Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Sung Yong Shin
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Patent number: 8234880Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage space and a door selectively opening or closing the storage space. The ice-making device includes an ice maker installed on a backside of the door for making ice; a cold air duct provided in one side of the storage space and supplying the ice maker with a portion of cold air supplied to the storage space; an ice maker cover detachably installed on the backside of the door to selectively open or close the ice maker; and an ice bank detachably installed on the backside of the door below the ice maker, the ice bank storing ice made in the ice maker and transferring it to a dispenser provided on the door.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoo-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
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Publication number: 20120186276Abstract: An ice producing and dispensing machine for delivering ice on demand to a consumer with a housing containing an ice maker having a discharge outlet for discharging ice. An ice bin is disposed below the ice maker having an open top for receiving ice from the ice maker and a bottom opening for discharging ice therefrom; a substantially vertical tube in communication with the bottom opening for receiving discharged ice with an auger or the like in the tube for driving the ice directly vertically in the tube; and a discharge opening in communication with the tube for conveying the ice to the discharge outlet either in a bag or as free ice cubes. Melted water and ice chips from the ice production are recycled and used to cool the water that is fed to the ice maker.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Inventor: Kerry R. Seymour
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Publication number: 20120174601Abstract: Articulated water curtains for ice making machines are comprised of two portions, an upper portion hingedly connected to the upper portion of the machine, and a lower portion that includes a bottom edge of the two-piece water curtain and that is pivotally-mounted to a lower portion of the machine or to the lower portion of the water curtain. Ice making machines utilizing two-piece or portion articulated water curtains are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: SCOTSMAN GROUP LLCInventor: JAY MARTIN ALMBLAD
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Publication number: 20120167612Abstract: A mobile cooler having an ice maker includes: a main body having first and second spaces which are thermally blocked; a cooling device positioned at a lower portion of the main body and providing cooling air to the first and second spaces; a plurality of shelves installed in the first space; an ice tray installed in the second space; an ice bank positioned on a lower surface of the ice tray and detachably mounted in the main body; and a cover that covers an opening in which the ice bank is inserted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Namgi Lee, Sungil Park, Sangoh Kim
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Publication number: 20120167611Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compartment defined by a liner, with a door configured to provide access into the compartment. A sub-compartment is mounted in the door and extends into the compartment in the closed position of the door. A cold plate assembly is operably configured within the liner to supply cold air to the sub-compartment. A raised embossment is defined in a compartment side wall of the liner at a location opposite from the cold plate assembly. The embossment is defined by a circumferentially extending ridge and a front face that extends into the compartment in a plane that is spaced from a plane of the compartment side wall. A receiver is configured in a wall of the sub-compartment and seals around the embossment in a closed position of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kristin Marie Weirich, Robert Thomas Mills, Craig Robert Vitan, Ratnakar Sahasrabudhe
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Publication number: 20120167596Abstract: According to certain aspects of the disclosure, an ice and cold water dispensing assembly for a refrigeration appliance is disclosed including a reservoir holding water having a water level and an ice maker for making ice cubes to be held within the water within the reservoir. Structure is provided on the reservoir allowing the reservoir to be removably attached to the refrigeration appliance. A handle and a spout are attached to the reservoir and are configured for allowing manual dispensing of ice cubes or water from the reservoir when the reservoir is removed from the refrigeration appliance. An ice dispenser and a water dispenser are provided in the refrigeration appliance for dispensing ice cubes or water respectively from the reservoir when the reservoir is attached to the refrigeration appliance. Related refrigeration devices are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrew Reinhard Krause, Edward Philip Strauss
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Patent number: 8196419Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can precisely adjust and display not only an ice making and storing amount but also an ice dispensing amount. As an ice level sensing unit provided at an ice storage unit for storing ice senses the ice storage amount by light, it is possible to adjust and display the ice storage amount. Moreover, as an ice sensing unit provided at an ice guide unit for dispensing ice senses the ice dispensing amount by light, it is possible to adjust and display the ice dispensing amount.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Ki-Cheol Woo
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Patent number: 8191379Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigeration apparatus having improved access to ice comprising a freezer compartment, a slidable support occupying a portion of the freezer compartment and configured to open to an extended position, an ice bin moveable with the slidable support and occupying at least a portion of the slidable support, and a stationary ice maker attached to the freezer compartment and located above the portion of the slidable support, wherein when the slidable support is pulled opened to the extended position, access to the ice bin is unobstructed by the ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Haier America Refrigerators Company, LtdInventors: Edward P. Wuesthoff, Dongning Wang
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Patent number: 8186176Abstract: Disclosed is an ice bank for a refrigerator including: an inner case and an outer case forming one storage space having an opened top by being coupled to each other; and a coupling unit coupling the inner and outer cases to each other so that either one is relatively movable with respect to the other one so as for the capacity of the storage space to be variable. The ice bank for a refrigerator includes the inner and outer cases coupled to each other so that either one is relatively movable with respect to the other one, whereby accordingly the capacity of the ice bank is variable depending on the amount of ice that a customer needs, thereby enhancing the customer's product satisfaction. Further, when the customer needs a small amount of ice, the capacity of the ice bank can be reduced, accordingly enabling to effectively utilize the storage space of the refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Hyeon-Jin Kim
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Publication number: 20120125018Abstract: An ice dispenser system for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker located within the refrigeration appliance for making ice cubes. The ice maker has an ice making state and a paused state. An ice bucket is located within the refrigeration appliance located so as to receive the ice cubes from the ice maker. The ice bucket is removably securable in the refrigeration appliance in an ice-making position. A sensor is located within the refrigeration appliance, the sensor sensing and providing a signal as to whether the ice bucket is in the ice making position. The ice maker is placed in the ice making state only when the sensor provides a signal that the ice bucket is in the ice making position. A related refrigeration appliance and method of making ice are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Bipin Shaha, Arun Talegaonkar, Umakant Suresh Katu
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Patent number: 8181471Abstract: An ice maker comprises a tray (1), which has at least one compartment (4) for molding a piece of ice, a frame (15), in which the tray is mounted to be pivotable about an axis (14), and a motor (22) for driving the pivot movement of the tray, which motor is mounted at the frame (15) to be adjacent to the tray (1) and transversely offset relative to the axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Bernd Heger, Thomas St Quintin, Craig Duncan Webster, Nathan Wrench
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Patent number: 8181477Abstract: An ice making device may include an ice tray, a drive mechanism for moving the ice tray to a water-supply position and to an ice making position, two guide plates each of which is formed with a guide groove for guiding the ice tray to the water-supply position and to the ice making position, two engaging projections provided on the ice tray and each of which is engaged with the guide groove, and two cranks each of which is formed with a drive groove with which the engaging projection is engaged and is connected with the drive mechanism to be turned for moving the ice tray. The water-supply position is located at a position separated from the ice making position in a lateral direction, and the two engaging projections are provided on the ice tray so that their axial direction are substantially coincided with each other, and a gravity center position of the ice tray is located on a lower side of the two engaging projections.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell E. Watts, Hiroki Kuratani
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Publication number: 20120118001Abstract: An ice-making assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker for making ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin receives ice cubes from the ice maker. The ice cube storage bin is maintained at a temperature above the freezing temperature of water. A drain in communication with the ice cube storage bin for receives water melted from ice cubes located in the storage bin. A related refrigeration appliance is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Andrew Reinhard Krause
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Publication number: 20120111048Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a cabinet formed with a plurality of storage spaces divided; a first ice maker provided in any one of the plurality of storage spaces; a dispenser provided to a door, through which ice made in the first ice maker is discharged; a second ice maker provided in the storage space different from the storage space where the first ice maker is provided; and a water feeding passage branched such that it is possible to selectively supply water to the first ice maker and the second ice maker from a water supply source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Young-Nam Kim, Jong-Wook An, Chang-Woan Yang, Seong-Wook Kim
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Publication number: 20120111047Abstract: An icemaking compartment is provided in the refrigerator compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. An icemaker is within the icemaking compartment. A cold air duct supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaker. The cold air duct is formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator. A fan controls the flow of air through the cold air duct. A return air duct is provided to direct a portion of the air from the icemaker back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaker directs another portion of air into the refrigerator compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: KYLE B. VAN METER, DEAN A. MARTIN, XIAOYONG FU
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Publication number: 20120111049Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventors: Sung-Kyoung Kim, Dong-Wan Kim
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Patent number: 8171744Abstract: A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric K. Watson, Matthew William Davis, Omar Haidar, Ronald Scott Tarr, Joseph Waugh
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Publication number: 20120096890Abstract: An ice cube maker includes an ice-making compartment having side walls, at least one rod-shaped conductor extending distally into the compartment through one of the side walls, and a cooling device for cooling the conductor to a temperature sufficient to form ice on the conductor. A misting system includes a reservoir for water and a nebulizer for creating a liquid mist from water in the reservoir and introducing the liquid mist into the ice-making compartment so that a portion of the liquid mist freezes on the conductor to form a cup-shaped ice cube thereon. A return conduit connects a drain of the ice-making compartment and the reservoir for transferring liquid mist not freezing on the conductor to the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
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Publication number: 20120096872Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body provided with a storage chamber, a door to open and close the storage chamber, and an ice maker to make ice cubes, wherein the door includes a receiving chamber provided at a front surface of the door to receive the ice maker and an auxiliary door to open and close the receiving chamber. Accordingly, since the receiving chamber may be opened through the auxiliary door without opening of the door, the ice maker may be conveniently cleaned or repaired.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Min Cheong, Seok Uk Kim
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Patent number: 8161767Abstract: The ice making apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of ice trays are arranged in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions, and that the ice tray arranged in the front row and the ice tray arranged in the rear row are rotated to face each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Gue Sec Hwang
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Patent number: 8161766Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure for allowing ice, which is received in an ice-storing device provided in a refrigerating chamber door, to be in a frozen state without being melted. The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a main body including at least a refrigerating chamber, a door for opening or closing the refrigerating chamber, a container provided in the door to store ice therein, and a cold heat storage member surrounding the container. According to the refrigerator of the present invention constructed as above, even though an ice bank for storing ice is provided in a refrigerating chamber door, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon by which ice is melted and stuck together.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ju Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 8156748Abstract: A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The system includes a digital image capture device coupled to a digital image analyzing system which captures digital images of the ice cube storage bin intermittently. The digital images are processed to determine a centroid of the ice mass within the bin, and the centroid is analyzed to determine whether it is located outside a predetermined acceptable boundary. A centroid outside of the acceptable range indicates an ice clumping situation. Additionally, the digital images are analyzed to determine whether ice cubes are smaller than a predetermined minimal acceptable size in order to detect stale ice. The level of ice in the bin can also be determined from the images. Notifications for clumping, stale and/or low level ice are sent to a user interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kevin M. Chase, Brian P. Janke, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
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Patent number: 8151595Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a home-bar and a dispenser. The refrigerator includes a body in which storage compartments are formed, a body door selectively opening/closing the storage compartments, a home-bar door provided in the body door, and a dispenser located directly in the home-bar door.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Hyeong-Il Kim
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Patent number: 8151594Abstract: Provided is an ice bank joint. The ice bank joint swiftly delivers rotational force from a motor to a transferring shaft installed inside an ice bank performing a function of transferring ice received inside the ice bank. The ice bank joint includes a plate portion and a reinforcing member. The plate portion has a driving part bent on at least one position, and the reinforcing member has a support part protruding from a position corresponding to the driving part to contact the driving part, thereby reinforcing the plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Seong-Wook Kim
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Patent number: 8146379Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
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Patent number: 8122689Abstract: An apparatus for producing, bagging and dispensing ice has an ice supply station, an ice collection station, a film supply, a bag forming station, and an ice transport device to transport ice from the collection station to the bag forming station. A controller controls supply of two superimposed film layers to the bag forming station, bag forming, and ice supply to the bags. A bag is partially formed from the superimposed film layers by a sealing device at the bag forming station, and ice is transported from the ice collector into the partially formed bag. The remaining open portions of the bag are sealed when sufficient ice has been supplied to the bag, which is then separated from the film supply for discharge into a storage and freezer compartment. The preceding steps are repeated until the storage and freezer compartment is filled to a predetermined level with bags of ice.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Schur International A/SInventor: Henrik Pape
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Publication number: 20120042679Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator. With the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator provided with the freezing cycle is provided to be movable outdoors, making it possible to freshly preserve food outdoors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2009Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Su-Won Lee, Kee-Joo Kim, Sung-Eun Kim
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Patent number: 8117863Abstract: An icemaking compartment is provided in the refrigerator compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. An icemaker is within the icemaking compartment. A cold air duct supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaker. The cold air duct is formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator. A fan controls the flow of air through the cold air duct. A return air duct is provided to direct a portion of the air from the icemaker back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaker directs another portion of air into the refrigerator compartment.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kyle B. Van Meter, Dean A. Martin, Xiaoyong Fu
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Publication number: 20120036883Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water comprises: an ice making unit configured to make introduced water into ice cubes, and to store the ice cubes; a cold water unit configured to generate cold water by receiving the ice cubes made by the ice making unit; and a cooling unit configured to supply cold air to the ice making unit. Firstly, since cold water is generated by using ice cubes made by the ice making unit, may be solved the conventional problem that the ice cubes cling to each other due to contact with the cold water. Secondly, the ice making unit, the cold water unit, etc. may be installed so as to be stacked with each other in upper and lower directions, the apparatus for purifying water may have a slim configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2009Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Kyung-Han Jeong, Kwang-Ha Suh
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Publication number: 20120036882Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. Usability and efficiency of a storage space are improved in the refrigerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Sang-Ho Park, Dong-Jin Kim
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Patent number: 8109112Abstract: A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the ice level sensor functions in a standard manner, or a reflecting configuration wherein the sensing level is effectively lowered within the storage assembly. In the reflecting configuration, first and second mirrored inserts, supported by respective insert portions on the storage assembly, cooperate with first and second reflecting plates on the storage assembly to redirect light from the emitter in a circuitous path. A user may position the mirrored inserts at various angles, depending on the level of ice desired within the storage assembly. The storage assembly may be utilized alone, or as in insert within an ice bucket.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lindsey A. Smith, Timothy A. Fulton
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Publication number: 20120023999Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body including a freezing chamber positioned at a lower portion thereof and a refrigerating chamber positioned at an upper portion thereof; an ice maker and an ice bank positioned at an inner side of the freezing chamber; an ice dispenser positioned at an inner side of the refrigerating chamber; a transfer flow path extending from the ice bank to the ice dispenser; an ice input unit supplying ice stored in the ice bank to the interior of the transfer flow path; and a blower blowing air to allow the ice supplied to the interior of the ice transfer flow path toward the ice dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seunghwan OH, Seongjae KIM
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Publication number: 20120024002Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body including a freezing chamber positioned at a lower portion thereof and a refrigerating chamber positioned at an upper side of the freezing chamber; an ice maker positioned at a portion in any of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber; first and second ice banks storing ice made by the ice maker; an ice dispenser supplying ice stored in the first ice bank and positioned in the refrigerating chamber; and an ice transfer unit transferring ice between the first and second ice banks, wherein the first and second ice banks are installed in separate spaces which are thermally insulated and maintained at a different temperature, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seunghwan OH, Seongjae KIM
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Publication number: 20120024001Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an ice dispenser, and according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerator body having a freezing chamber located at a lower portion thereof and a refrigerating chamber located at an upper portion of the freezing chamber; an ice maker located in the freezing chamber; a first ice bank located in the freezing chamber to store ice made by the ice maker; an ice dispenser located at an inner side of the refrigerating chamber; and an ice transfer means configured to transfer the ice stored in the first ice bank to the ice dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seunghwan OH, Seongjae KIM