Abstract: An ice maker comprising a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes a controller comprising a processor and a water level sensor. The water level sensor is adapted to externally sense a capacitance corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level.

Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.

Abstract: An automatic descale and sanitize process for an ice maker which requires less user intervention and time. During descaling, a main water reservoir of an ice maker sump is filled with water to a descale water level and mixes with a cleaner placed in the main water reservoir. The water/cleaner mixture is pumped through the ice maker to descale the water system and freeze plate. During sanitizing, the sump is filled with water to a sanitize water level, above the descale water level, and mixes with sanitizer placed in a sanitizer reservoir of the sump. The water/sanitizer mixture is pumped through the ice maker to sanitize the water system and freeze plate. During descaling, the sanitizer placed in the sanitizer reservoir does not come into contact with the water in the main water reservoir. After the descale and sanitize process, the ice maker can return to making ice.

Abstract: An ice making machine having a refrigeration system and a water system, the water system having a water reservoir located below a freeze plate adapted to hold water, and a sprayer assembly located below the freeze plate for spraying water from the water reservoir toward the pockets. An inclined ice slide is positioned below the freeze plate and above the sprayer assembly directing fallen ice toward an opening. A divider assembly separating the water system from the ice storage bin includes a plurality of dividers, wherein the dividers may rotate outwardly away from the opening to allow formed ice to fall into the ice storage bin. Each divider is formed from a generally rectangular body having a front face with a triangular-shaped thickness and an extension flap extending away from the body opposite the front face.

Abstract: An illuminating display window has a window pane and a graphic element including fluorescent material. The graphic element has a major surface facing forward and a perimeter surface extending transverse to the major surface. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to the perimeter surface of the graphic element. The radiation includes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a non-visible spectrum. The graphic element fluoresces in response to the non-visible radiation to transmit visible light to an observer in front of the window pane. To form the graphic element, fluorescent ink can be deposited on a panel in a predefined pattern or a fluorescent panel could be shaped to have a predefined shape.

Abstract: An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system and a controller. The refrigeration system includes a freeze plate in which ice is formed and a hot gas valve for harvesting the ice therefrom. A harvest sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the ice is harvested from the freeze plate and at least one temperature sensor measures a temperature that indicates that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate. The temperature sensors may include a temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator outlet, the refrigerant temperature at the evaporator inlet, and/or the temperature of the freeze plate. The controller closes the hot gas valve in response from the triggering of the harvest sensor and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor(s) indicating that all of the ice has been harvested from the freeze plate.

Abstract: A refrigerated food preparation table that includes a food item storage pan with a lid that is allowed to fully close and is held in a partially open position and in a fully open position and hinge brackets or apparatuses for holding a lid in a partially opened position and a fully opened position that include a slot, a surface, and an indentation that each engage pins on the lid. In various embodiments, the slot receives one such pin, the surface guides another pin on the lid as the lid is opened from a fully closed position to the partially opened position, the indentation receives the second pin when the lid is in the partially opened position, and the slot contains the first pin and the second pin when the lid is fully open. The food preparation table can be used to prepare pizza, for example.

Abstract: A door for a refrigeration unit having a transparent panel assembly having an outer transparent panel and an inner transparent panel. The outer transparent panel has an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges and the inner transparent panel has an outer side, an inner side and top, bottom, left, and right edges. A decorative design is applied to the inner side of the outer transparent panel. A population of light sources are positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel and are capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel, such that the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources.

Abstract: This top hung door assembly (10) for a merchandiser includes a pair of doors 12, 14 each having an upper frame member (20) including a metal reinforcing member (22). An upper track member (16) is provided including depending flange members (36) and (38) each having a roller mounting portion (48). A pair of spaced wheel assemblies (60) is provided including a bracket (50) having a lower portion (54) connected to the upper door frame and an upper portion (52) carrying a pair of rollers (60) received by the roller mounting portion (46). The upper track member (16) includes associate track members (46) having spaced notches (49) to facilitate mounting the doors. Also the flange members have flexible tips (44) facilitating the sealing and mounting of the doors.

Abstract: A gravity feed dispenser (50) for containers, in which the dispenser (50) carrying the containers includes a pair of longitudinally extending stringers (80) engaging with shelf rack (20) in snap-fitting relation to secure the dispenser (50) to the rack (20). In another embodiment, the dispenser (50) has sidewalls (52) of transparent plastic for product visibility and is provided with a glide strip (100) which is attached to the floor (54) of the dispenser (50) by hooks (102) temporarily, and permanently by fusion of the glide strip (100) to the dispenser (50) as by sonic welding.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a refrigeration unit comprising a cabinet and a door. The cabinet contains a plurality of items to be cooled or frozen. The refrigerator also includes an audio playback device having a memory and a speaker. The audio playback device is adapted to store a recorded audio soundtrack on the memory and play the recorded audio soundtrack through an audio speaker.

Abstract: This self-closing, sliding door assembly is used for a cabinet having a front opening and a pair of doors each mounted for movement in upper and lower tracks. A counterweight is attached to each door by a sash-line having a vertical length attached to the counterweight and a horizontal length attached to an associated door. The sash-line is guided from the vertical to the horizontal by a pair of pulley bracket assemblies one being mounted to a cabinet wall in a vertical plane and the other being mounted to a cabinet wall in a horizontal plane. The sash-line is retained on the pulleys by the pulley brackets during movement of the counterweight to guard against slip off the pulleys.

Abstract: A refrigerator unit with a lighted door including a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening. The refrigerator further includes a door including a door frame mounted to the cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior. Finally, provided is a lighting assembly attached to at least one of the top framing member, a bottom framing member and opposed side framing members. The lighting assembly includes a channel for maintaining a plurality of LEDs. The channel is disposed at an angle to direct light from the LED either parallel to the glass plane or at an oblique angle thereto. The system may reduce the intensity of the light when the door is opened. A method for operating a refrigerator is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cooler having a front side defining an opening for allowing retrieval of product from the cooler and a first, right exterior side and a second, left exterior side. A grill is located below the door opening having openings for allowing air to pass through. A light is located behind and adjacent to the louvers for casting light downwardly onto the flooring in front of the cooler to create a visual effect.

Abstract: This cleaning system includes a compressor driven by a motor, a condenser; a cooling fan for directing an air stream at the condenser during normal operation, a motor drive system for driving the fan, and a timing device for reversing the rotational direction of the fan motor to direct the stream of cooling air away from the condenser to remove debris collected on the condenser and clean the condenser during a cleaning cycle. The fan is driven by drive system having a solid state commutated motor or a drive system having a reversible permanent split capacitor motor. The timing device includes a timer for controlling the time periods during the normal operation (cooling) cycle and during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: This cleaning system includes a compressor driven by a motor, a condenser; a cooling fan for directing an air stream at the condenser during normal operation, a motor drive system for driving the fan, and a timing device for reversing the rotational direction of the fan motor to direct the stream of cooling air away from the condenser to remove debris collected on the condenser and clean the condenser during a cleaning cycle. The fan is driven by drive system having a solid state commutated motor or a drive system having a reversible permanent split capacitor motor. The timing device includes a timer for controlling the time periods during the normal operation (cooling) cycle and during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A merchandiser dispensing assembly for bottles having a cap and an integral neck flange, the assembly including a track having opposed rails receiving the neck flange in suspended sliding relation and a bottle engageable stop portion at the front end. A gate member is pivotally mounted at the front end adjacent one of the rails of the track to retain a rearward group of bottles in spaced relation from the first bottle. Removal of the first bottle permits the gate member to move out of the path of the group and allow the first bottle of the group to move into the position occupied by the removed bottle. The track includes hangers holding the rails apart and being attachable to forward and rearward transverse supports to hold the track in an inclined position to permit gravity feed of the bottles.