Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is die cast over-molded inside an ice maker tray portion to form a one piece unit, such that the evaporator cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; a clear ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make clear ice pieces; and an ice bucket configured to store the clear ice pieces made by the clear ice maker assembly. The clear ice maker assembly includes an ice maker tray portion having a plurality of cavities for forming clear ice pieces; a water distribution assembly configured to distribute a non-pressurized, even flow of water to each of the cavities of the ice maker tray portion; a water reservoir tank and a pump for supplying water to the water distribution assembly; and a water collection and return duct that is disposed below and extends along an edge of the ice maker tray portion to collect and return excess water to the water reservoir tank.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An automatic spherical ice maker includes an upper stationary ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape, and a lower rotatable ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape and corresponding to the ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold, so that together the at least one ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold and the at least one cavity of the lower rotatable ice mold form at least one spherical mold which is configured to produce at least one substantially spherical ice ball at a time. The upper stationary ice mold has a first heating element and the lower rotatable ice mold has a second heating element, thereby to facilitate release of the at least one spherical ice ball from the at least one spherical mold.

Abstract: A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.

Abstract: A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an upper tray portion with at least one cavity for forming ice, a lower portion with at least one fin, and an evaporator cooling tube which is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion, such that the evaporator cooling tube is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is die cast over-molded inside an ice maker tray portion to form a one piece unit, such that the evaporator cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in at least one of the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment. The ice maker and the ice bucket are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction within the ice compartment.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly is disposed in the ice compartment of a refrigerator, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with an ice maker tray portion, and a tray temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the ice maker tray portion. A controller is configured to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance based on the temperature sensed by the tray temperature sensor. The tray temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance. Alternatively, an additional temperature sensor can be disposed inside an ice maker assembly gear box for sensing a temperature of a housing of the gear box. In that case, the tray temperature sensor and the additional temperature sensor are the only temperature sensors used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment for storing food items. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment and includes a removable ice bin having an internal cavity. A front cover closes a front open end of the ice bin. The front cover includes a front face oriented toward a front of the freezer compartment, a rear face, and a recess formed in the rear face. The rear face of the front cover is disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge portion of the ice maker when the removable ice bin is disposed within the ice maker wherein the recess defines a gap between the front cover and the horizontal edge portion that fluidly communicates with the internal cavity of the removable ice bin. A plurality of ribs is disposed within the gap for directing air exiting the internal cavity of the removable ice bin into a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment for storing food items. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment and includes a removable ice bin having an internal cavity. A front cover closes a front open end of the ice bin. The front cover includes a front face oriented toward a front of the freezer compartment, a rear face, and a recess formed in the rear face. The rear face of the front cover is disposed adjacent to a horizontal edge portion of the ice maker when the removable ice bin is disposed within the ice maker wherein the recess defines a gap between the front cover and the horizontal edge portion that fluidly communicates with the internal cavity of the removable ice bin. A plurality of ribs is disposed within the gap for directing air exiting the internal cavity of the removable ice bin into a predetermined direction.