Abstract: An air treatment appliance having an external body at least partially constructed of a translucent material. An air inlet and an air outlet in the external body permit airflow through the device. A fan inside the body is operable to draw in air through the air inlet and to expel it through the air outlet and the air may be passed through a filter mechanism in the device. At least some components of the interior of the air treatment appliance having a condition capable of visibly changing during an operation of the appliance, such as the filter mechanism and the fan, are visible from the exterior through the translucent material of the external body such that the condition is visible from the exterior of the external body through the translucent material. The translucent material may be clear, colored, or a predetermined combination of colors.

Abstract: A microwave oven for heating foodstuffs, comprising an oven cavity (4), a loading zone for the foodstuffs arranged in the oven cavity, a microwave unit for feeding microwaves to the oven cavity, and a browning device (13) having a radiation means (17) for generating infrared (IR) radiation. The browning device also comprises a reflector (16) adapted to reflect IR radiation essentially towards the loading zone. At least a surface layer of the reflector is made of a non-metallic, reflective and heat-resisting material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the drying cycle of a dryer by utilizing fuzzy logic control. Control is accomplished by first monitoring the moisture level of a clothes load in the dryer. From the monitored moisture information, variables such as the elapsed time from the start of the drying cycle to a point when no significant moisture is detected for a specified time period and the number of times higher moisture registrations occur during another specified time period are determined. Based on the determined variables, fuzzy logic is used to determine characteristics particular to the clothes load being dried, such as size of the load. Using the determined characteristics in conjunction with user settings more accurate control of the time of drying heat application, reduced drying heat application and cool down time can be accomplished.

Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator door having a water delivery port. The dispenser includes a base mounted to the door for forming a compartment enclosing the water delivery port. The base has an aperture for accessing the interior of the compartment and the water delivery port. A cover is pivotably supported by the base and is biased for closing the aperature. The cover pivots inwardly into the e compartment for accessing the water delivery port.

Abstract: A removable ice bucket for an ice making system for a refrigerator and more particularly a removable ice bucket disposable in a refrigerator for receipt of ice pieces from an ice maker disposed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. The ice bucket has a base and a plurality of upwardly extending side walls cooperating to form a storage bin. A first handle is formed in an upper portion of a first side walls and a second handle is formed in a lower portion of a second of said side walls. A spout is formed above the first handle. The handles facilitate quick and sanitary removal of the ice bucket from the freezer and dispensing of the ice pieces.

Abstract: A mesh bag for holding small items in a dishwasher. The bag preferably includes a top frame having a resilient front rail member and a resilient rear rail member. Each rail member has opposite ends. The rail members are pivotably joined at their ends such that the rail members are disposed adjacent each other. A mesh body depends from the top frame and has a substantially flat, rectangular shape. The mesh body includes a first mesh side wall and a second mesh side wall joined together along opposite side edges and a bottom edge. The top edge of the first mesh side wall is connected to the front rail member and the top edge of the second mesh side wall is connected to the rear rail such that the frame forms a closure mechanism for the bag.

Abstract: An ice level sensing system for use on a refrigerator including a freezer compartment having top wall, opposite side walls and an access opening. A door is provided for closing the access opening. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment adjacent the top wall for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is removably mounted to the door below the ice maker for receiving ice pieces from the ice maker. An emitter element, supported on a side wall of the freezer, emits a beam of light across the upper portion of the bin. A receiver element, supported on a freezer side wall opposite the emitter element, receives the beam of light wherein beam of light travels between the emitter element and the receiver element along a line of sight path. A paddle is rotatably supported on a freezer side wall for blocking the line of sight when the door is open.

Abstract: A device for rapidly defrosting a refrigerator compartment, such as a freezer compartment or the like, said compartment comprising a plurality of adjacent walls, in correspondence with at least one of said walls there being arranged a hairpin coil evaporator for a static refrigerator, or a part of an evaporator of forced-air type, within a refrigeration circuit comprising a motor-compressor unit, said device comprising heating means arranged in correspondence with at least one of said walls and/or with the evaporator, said heating means being electrically powered via an electrical supply circuit associated with the refrigerator; the heating means are at least one resistance element of PTF (polymer thin/thick film) type.

Abstract: In a common casing, a domestic appliance comprises an oven (60) and a ventilator device (20). The ventilator device (20) has a ventilating duct (21) extending between at least one inlet opening (23) and at least one outlet opening (24, 25) on the outside of the casing (50). A ventilator (22) arranged in the ventilating duct (21) is stationarily mounted in the casing (50) spaced from the outlet opening (24, 25). A flow control means (30) is arranged in the casing (50) downstream of the ventilator (22) for adjusting the duct (21) to lead out at any one of at least two outlet locations (16, 17, 18). A suitable flow control means (30) has an elongated control means housing (39) and comprises an outlet opening (32) and an inlet opening (31). The outlet opening (32) is arranged along a long side and the inlet (31) opening is arranged along another side and has a smaller opening area than the outlet opening (32).

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an oven during preheating wherein the oven includes an oven cavity having an interior with at least one heating element for raising the temperature within the oven cavity and a temperature sensor provided for sensing the temperature within the oven cavity. The method of the present invention includes the steps of sensing the temperature within the oven cavity a plurality of times during the preheating period of the oven cycle, calculating the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period, and cycling the at least one heating element on and off during the preheating period such that the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period is controlled to match a predetermined temperature rise slope.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided having a wash pump and soil collection system. The wash pump may be a volute type pump having a horizontal axis and includes a casing surrounding a wash impeller. The casing has a main outlet and a secondary outlet. The wash impeller draws wash liquid from the dishwasher sump region and pumps the wash liquid through the main outlet and the secondary outlet. The wash liquid pumped through the main outlet is provided to a wash arm device such that wash liquid is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber. The wash liquid pumped through the secondary outlet is directed to flow into a soil collector. The soil collector includes a soil separation channel which receives the flow from the secondary outlet and includes at least one filter screen panel for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil separation channel and accumulate within a soil accumulator region.

Abstract: A device for controlling a physical quantity set by a user, such as temperature or humidity, in a household electrical appliance such as an oven, a refrigerator or a washing-drying machine comprises, for measuring this physical quantity, at least one member operationally connected to control means for this quantity which operate on means for regulating this quantity, such as at least one electrical heating resistance element, a compressor of a refrigeration circuit or the like. The measuring member is connected to means for generating a square wave electrical signal the period of which is proportional to the value of the measured physical quantity, said electrical signal being evaluated by the control means which, on the basis of its frequency, determine a final value for said signal.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet forming a freezer compartment having an access opening. A closure member is hingedly connected to the cabinet for closing the access opening and an ice maker is mounted on the closure member. An ice bucket or storage receptacle is mounted to the closure member below the ice maker. A support rail is provided along the inner surface of the closure member wherein the ice maker is vertically movable along the support rail. The ice maker has an ice level sensor and the amount of ice supplied to the ice bucket is controlled by the vertical position of the ice maker. The ice bucket is pivotably mounted to the closure member and can be pivoted between an orientation wherein the ice bucket is positioned adjacent the closure member substantially under the ice maker and an orientation wherein the ice bucket is pivoted away from the closure member. The ice bucket is a pitcher-like receptacle having a handle and is removable from the closure member.

Abstract: A door switch assembly for a refrigerator. The door switch assembly includes a housing mounted to one of the walls of the refrigerator and further has an electrical circuit for switching on or off electrical equipment mounted within the refrigerator. The door switch includes a ball retractably mounted in the housing and biased to project partially outward from the at least one wall for engagement with the door. A pusher is slidably mounted adjacent the ball and biased to remain in contact with the ball. A flexible strip contact element is supported within the housing which is moved by the pusher in such a way as to open or close the electrical circuit. The housing includes a projecting portion which extends through an opening provided in the at least one wall, the projection portion includes a deformable flange.

Abstract: A method for operating an automatic dishwasher in a manner to minimize the deposition of contaminants or filming on the dishes is provided. The present invention contemplates that objectionable filming on washed dishes or dishware items may occur if residual water left on the dishes at the end of the final drain step is not given a chance to drip off or drain from the dishware. The present invention provides for a drip period following the final drain step in the dishwashing cycle. The drip period provides an opportunity for gravity assisted draining or "drip-off" of residual water from the dishware items prior to evaporation such that the minute particles which are suspended in the residual water are not deposited onto the dishes. During the drip period, rapid evaporation of residual liquid from the dishware items is prevented.

Abstract: A self-regulating device for controlling refrigerating appliances, such as refrigerators or freezers, preferably domestic, which comprise a refrigerating circuit with compressor, evaporator, condenser and controlling means of the compressor with a temperature sensor placed in contact with the evaporator, where said means of controlling the compressor is a microprocessor device which records and processes the temperature of the evaporator and at least one of the following two parameters: the compressor functioning time and the time during which the compressor is inactive and compares said time(s) with one or more tabulated values, in order to ensure that the disconnection time (t.sub.r) of the compressor reaches and maintains, by self-regulation, a constant predetermined tabular value (t.sub.r1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a crockery basket for a dishwashing machine with a supporting frame into which adapted inserts may be introduced for various items such as cutlery, crockery and similar. An optimal, flexibly constructable fitting out of the crockery basket with crockery items is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the supporting frame is designed as a wire crockery basket, that all the inserts have a uniformly sized surface area with a base width and a base depth and that the wire crockery basket forms a right-angled receiving means for the inserts, the width of which corresponds to an x-multiple of the base width and the depth of which corresponds to a y-multiple of the base depth of the inserts.