Abstract: An ice slurry generator includes: a heat exchanger configured to absorb heat energy while a refrigerant is evaporated; multiple heat exchange passages aligned horizontally within the heat exchanger and configured for heat exchange between flowing ice slurry and refrigerant; an inlet chamber that is connected to the heat exchange passages, through which the ice slurry is introduced; a discharge chamber that is connected to the heat exchange passages, through which the ice slurry is discharged from the ice slurry generator; scrapers, that each consist of a rod member with a blade wrapped in a spiral fashion around the outside of the rod member, that is inserted into the heat exchange passages and transports ice slurry from the inlet chamber toward the discharge chamber during rotation; and a driving unit that provides a rotational driving force to the scraper.

Abstract: Disclosed is the auger in an ice bin mounted in a refrigerator, and the like. The auger in the ice bin is configured to rotate a plurality of augers having spiral-shaped transfer blades and to dispose ice in each space between the transfer blades of the auger for transfer. Accordingly, a certain amount of ice can always be discharged without simultaneously discharging a great amount of ice, and a user may select the number of ice, thus to diversity functions of an ice dispenser. In addition, since the auger is made of a flexible material, the ice can be prevented from being crushed during transfer, thereby enhancing the reliability of the ice dispenser.

Abstract: A drilling system including a motor that produces a sonic, linear oscillatory motion is provided for removing a frozen biological sample from a stored frozen specimen and methods of use thereof without thawing the remainder of the specimen. The stator and slider assembly is operated by a servo controller which can communicate and be programmed through a port of a PC equipped with software.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice maker to make pieces of ice and an ice storage bin to receive the pieces of ice made by the ice maker. A plurality of blades is rotatably disposed at a bottom portion of the ice storage bin and an ice separating device to separate clumped pieces of ice discharged from the ice maker is disposed in the ice storage bin between the ice maker and the plurality of blades, where the ice separating device is disposed on at least a rear wall, a front wall, or a side wall of the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigeration appliance is provided that can deliver both crushed ice and whole or non-crushed ice. A rotating drum or cylinder carries one or more blades that can crush ice against non-rotating blades carried on an axis or rod that extends into the drum. The direction of rotation of the drum can be selected so as to determine whether crushed or non-crushed ice is dispensed. The dispensing system can be located on the door of the refrigerator. An ice maker can also be positioned with the ice dispenser on the door of the appliance or, optionally, can be located in a compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An ice dispensing apparatus and a refrigerator having the ice dispensing apparatus are provided. The ice dispensing apparatus includes a case provided with an ice inlet and an ice outlet, a conveying unit that is provided on a first side of the case to convey and discharge ice cubes through the ice outlet, an ice-crushing unit that is provided on a second side of the case to crush the ice cubes into ice pieces and discharge the crushed ice pieces through the ice outlet, and an ice delivery unit for delivering the ice cubes input through an input portion to the conveying unit or the ice-crushing unit.

Abstract: A fluidizer for an ice dispensing assembly of a cooling compartment. The fluidizer has at least one base member. At least one angular projection may be coupled with or integrally formed with a surface of the base member. Rotation of fluidizer fluidizes ice cubes located in the ice bucket. The ice cubes are fluidized when the at least one angular projection contacts the ice cubes and forces the ice cubes away from the at least one base member. The rotational kinetic enemy imparted by the fluidizer breaks up any fused ice cubes so that the influence of gravity can pull ice downwards for dispensing.

Abstract: An ice supplying apparatus, being provided in a refrigerator, includes an ice maker unit, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by the ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit, which is provided within the ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion, 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, among interior surfaces defining that interior space of the ice storage unit, 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 is disposed in a lower portion of the shrinking portion.

Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: An ice dispenser includes an ice storage bin with a drive shaft aperture and an ice dispensing aperture; an ice dispensing chute connected to the storage bin in proximity to the ice dispensing aperture; a paddlewheel inside the storage bin; and a drive mechanism, including a drive shaft passing through tile drive shaft aperture, for rotation of the paddlewheel. The drive shaft is connected to tile paddlewheel in such a fashion that the paddlewheel is prevented from disengaging from the drive shaft during normal operation of the ice dispensing apparatus, but the drive shaft can be disengaged from the paddlewheel in order to be able to remove the drive mechanism from the ice dispenser without accessing the ice storage bin.

Abstract: A refrigerator of the present invention comprises: a storage room in which a storage space is formed; a door for opening and shutting the storage room; an ice storage unit which is provided in the storage room or the door and in which an ice storage space is formed; a crushing member which is rotatably provided at the ice storage unit and crushes the ice stored in the ice storage space; a driving unit which provides rotational power for the crushing member and includes a rotary shaft to be rotated in a first direction; a first power transmission unit which is coupled with the rotary shaft and is rotated in a second direction; and a second power transmission unit which is separably coupled with the first power transmission unit and transmits the power of the first power transmission unit to the crushing member.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice storage bin, an opening provided in the ice storage bin through which ice is discharged, and a plurality of blades provided in the ice storage bin, such that the plurality of blades can rotate in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, to selectively discharge ice through the opening as whole ice or crushed ice, where gravity and the plurality of blades are the only forces exerted on the ice collected in the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes an ice bucket for containing ice cubes, with at least a first exit in the ice bucket for the ice cubes. An optional second exit may be provided in the ice bucket for crushed ice made from the ice cubes. One motor moves a rotatable member to move ice from the ice bucket through at least one of the exits. A second motor moves either a crush plate or counter rotating members to create crushed ice. The crushed ice may be dispensed though the first exit or the second exit. Related refrigeration appliances are disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An ice making and storing system which may be mounted in a refrigeration appliance. The ice making and storing system includes an ice making mechanism, a removable ice storage receptacle positioned adjacent to the ice making mechanism, an insulated cover for the ice making mechanism with a portion engageable with the ice storage receptacle to provide a thermally tight seal between the cover and the ice storage receptacle.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a separate cool air supply channel formed in an ice making chamber door so as to supply cool air to a crushing chamber formed in the ice making chamber door, which is connected to the front portion of an ice bank storing ice dropped from an ice making tray, to open and close an ice making chamber, thereby preventing ice remaining in the crushing chamber from melting.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a mold configured for forming an ice cube. The mold has a base, a side wall, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end above and outside of the mold, a distal end within the mold, and a central section between the distal end and the proximal end and extending through the opening. The auger further has a threaded portion configured for moving the ice cube out of the mold through the opening via rotation of the auger. A motor may be located above the mold and attached to the proximal end of the shaft for rotating the auger to lift the ice cube from the mold. The ice cubes may be formed with a gap and a splitter may split the ice cubes at the gap.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus, including: a fixed cylinder; a drive shaft mounted to the fixed cylinder and rotated by a drive unit; a lower rotational plate mounted to the drive shaft; an upper rotational plate provided with an ice dropping hole and mounted to the upper end of the drive shaft; a fixed gear mounted to the outer circumference of the fixed cylinder; a rotational gear externally engaged with the fixed gear; a rotational shaft mounted to the rotational gear and extending upward through the lower rotational plate to a position above the ice dropping hole; and a rotational cutter mounted to the upper end of the rotational shaft and rotated to cut dropping ice into pieces, wherein the pieces of ice drop through the ice dropping hole and are distributed to the outside of the ice making apparatus by a centrifugal force of the lower rotational plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking ice clumps in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an ice storage bin, an axle rotatably supported by an ice storage bin, an actuator operatively coupled to the axle and an ice breaker operatively coupled to the actuator. The ice breaker moves in a reciprocal manner upon the driving of the axle and the actuator. Such reciprocal movement of the ice breaker breaks ice clumps in the storage bin.

Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing flake ice from a liquid is proposed, which apparatus is equipped with a rotatably disposed evaporator roller, a shaft on the evaporator roller that transmits torque from a drive to the evaporator roller, at least two bearing bushings which are permanently disposed on the apparatus and in which the shaft is rotatably received and mounted, a scraper for stripping ice that has been formed from the liquid at the surface of the evaporator roller, a pan that is open at the top and receives the liquid to be frozen, wherein the pan is able to be inserted or slid in one piece onto the bearing bushings or onto additional coupling elements disposed on the shaft or onto the bearing bushings or directly onto the shaft, and is detachable therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and refrigerator for creating ice pellets is disclosed. The apparatus and refrigerator include a compartment, an ice storage bin positioned in the compartment and configured to store whole ice cubes therein, and a pellet ice dispenser. The pellet ice dispenser includes a first motor, a first axle drivingly connected to a shaft of the first motor, a first ice cube auger drivingly connected to the first axle, a blade downstream of the first ice cube auger and configured to shave whole ice cubes into ice pieces, and an ice pelleter. The ice pelleter includes an extrusion die disposed downstream of the blade, a shaved ice auger disposed between the blade and the extrusion die and configured to move and compress the ice pieces through the extrusion die to form pellet ice.

Abstract: A device for cooling a tissue sample on a microtome includes a cooling element (44), a first air channel (32), and a ventilation device (22). The cooling element (44) has a cold region facing the tissue sample and a hot region which faces away from the tissue sample and dissipates the heat generated in the cooling element (44) to the ambient environment. The first air channel (32) is provided for dissipating the heat released by the cooling element (44). The ventilation device (22) generates an air flow through the first air channel (32), said air flow absorbing and removing the heat released via the hot region of the cooling element (44).

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice storage bin at the door. The ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having a front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, an open top, and a cover mounted to the top. Insulation is provided between the cover and the front of the ice storage bin. The ice storage bin may be pivotally mounted to the door and configured to tilt open to allow for access to ice disposed within the ice storage bin. The ice storage bin may be removable. The ice storage bin may be accessed directly from within the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A gear motor assembly capable of operation in three modes and the method of operating the assembly in such modes, is disclosed herein. The assembly is generally comprised of a reversible motor having an input shaft, a gear train assembly coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft coupled to the gear train assembly, a power source, electrically coupled to the motor, for producing an operating voltage, and an input signal for directing the operating voltage from the power source through one of either a relay for switching the polarity of the operating voltage directed from the power source to the motor, thereby reversing the motor and a voltage control circuit for reducing the voltage to the motor. The motor is capable of operation, based on the input signal, at any one of a first speed in a clockwise direction, a first speed in a counter-clockwise direction, and a second speed.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice bank includes a rotation shaft to which a transfer unit for transferring ice pieces in the ice bank is connected, and having a coupling groove on an outer circumferential surface of the end thereof; a joint penetrated by the rotation shaft; a driving shaft connected to the joint, and transmitting a driving force of a motor to the joint; and a coupling ring coupled to the coupling groove of the rotation shaft penetrating the joint. Since the coupling ring is locked by the joint, the rotation shaft is prevented from being arbitrarily separated from the joint. The rotation shaft can be rotated in forward and backward directions. Furthermore, since the rotation shaft has a length shorter than a rotation shaft having screw threads and nuts, the motor can have a compact configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an icemaker of a refrigerator including an ice dispersing unit to disperse ice for uniform distribution of ice in an ice making container. The icemaker includes an ice making unit to make ice, and an ice making container to receive ice separated from the ice making unit. The icemaker further includes an ice dispersing unit arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container. The ice dispersing unit serves to guide the ice moving from the ice making unit to the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an icemaker (100) is disclosed, having an improved structure for supplying ice to a user of the outside through a dispenser (30) provided in a door (25), which includes a dispenser (30) provided in a door (25); an icemaker (100) for making ice by using a cool air of a freezer; a container (200) for receiving and storing the ice discharged from the icemaker; and a lifter (300) provided between the dispenser and the container, for lifting the ice stored in the container to the dispenser.

Abstract: An ice supply device and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The ice supply device includes an ice breaking unit having a breaker to break ice and a housing to house the breaker, an ice storage container removably coupled to the ice breaking unit and having a discharge hole to discharge ice, and a binding device to bind the ice storage container and the ice breaking unit. Accordingly, the ice storage container can be separated from the ice breaking unit, thereby facilitating handling of the ice storage container.

Abstract: An appliance including a module-receiving cavity disposed in the appliance. Also included is a removable module disposed in the module-receiving cavity, and at least one ice modification member disposed inside the removable module. A motor is operably connected with the removable module and includes an output shaft that extends into the removable module. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the at least one ice modification member, the impeller being operable between a first ice manipulating condition defined by a first directional rotation of the impeller, and a second ice manipulating condition defined by a second directional rotation of the impeller. An ice chute is located proximate the ice modification member for dispensing ice.

Abstract: An appliance including an ice manipulation reservoir capable of receiving ice having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, with the first level descending gradually to the second level. A first ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the first level of the base, and a second ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the plurality of ice modification members, with the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for crushing ice within a refrigerator are disclosed. The apparatus includes an ice making, storage and dispensing compartment; an ice storage bin, an agitator, an axle, and a crusher. The crusher includes a plurality of fixed blades, a plurality of rotatable crusher arms affixed to the axle, a front wall having an opening vertically above the fixed blades, sidewalls sealing a portion of the front wall to a portion of the back wall, leaving a predetermined void and a motor for rotating the axle to drive the agitator and crusher. The method includes the steps of rotating an axle, in first direction and second directions to dispense whole ice cubes or crushed ice cubes, respectively, from the ice dispenser.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet having at least one door, an ice dispenser operatively connected to one of the at least one door having an opening for dispensing ice, an ice storage receptacle for storing ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice crusher, an ice transfer mechanism for moving ice from the ice storage receptacle to the ice crusher, an ice chute for conveying ice from the ice crusher to the ice dispenser, and an intrusion barrier positioned within the ice chute to assist in preventing objects entering the ice chute through the ice dispenser from reaching the ice crusher without stopping ice flow through the ice chute. The ice dispenser may include a first switch and a second switch, the first switch being spaced apart from the second switch, and the ice dispenser adapted to require simultaneous activation of the first switch and the second switch to dispense ice.

Abstract: The embodiment relates to a refrigerator, a refrigerator according to the embodiment includes: a refrigerating compartment above the freezing temperature; a freezing compartment below the freezing temperature; a mullion that partitions the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment side by side; a cold air supplying portion that forms within the mullion and includes an evaporator and a cooling fan; and an ice making apparatus that is disposed at the mullion, the ice making apparatus making cold air supplying portion ice by receiving cold air generated by the evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an icemaker (100) is disclosed, having an improved structure for supplying ice to a user of the outside through a dispenser (30) provided in a door (25), which includes a dispenser (30) provided in a door (25); an icemaker (100) for making ice by using a cool air of a freezer; a container (200) for receiving and storing the ice discharged from the icemaker; and a lifter (300) provided between the dispenser and the container, for lifting the ice stored in the container to the dispenser.

Abstract: A safety system for an ice and liquid dispenser of a refrigerator is used to sense the presence of human skin in a dispensing well. The safety system includes a digital image capture device focused on a dispenser well for capturing images of objects, such as hands, in the dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device. The digital image analyzer evaluates the digital images captured by the digital image capture device to determine if human skin color is detected in the image of the object in the dispensing well. If human skin color is detected, thus indicating a hand in the dispensing area, any dispensing operation will be prevented and an alert will be provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice storage bin, an opening provided in the ice storage bin through which ice is discharged, and a plurality of blades provided in the ice storage bin, such that the plurality of blades can rotate in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, to selectively discharge ice through the opening as whole ice or crushed ice, where gravity and the plurality of blades are the only forces exerted on the ice collected in the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice maker, a refrigerator including the ice maker, and an ice making method are provided. The ice maker includes a tray having a predetermined length into which water is supplied to make ice. The ice maker is configured to mechanically separate the ice from the tray by using pistons which are driven by a motor. This permits the ice maker to have a reduced size, and occupy a small area, thereby implementing a slim configuration of a refrigerator. Furthermore, since an installation height of the ice maker is lowered, a path for supplying cool air may be shortened. This arrangement prevent loss of cool air being supplied to the ice making chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a device for ice discharging are disclosed. The device for ice discharging includes a case having an ice introduction opening and an ice discharge opening (312); a rotation member (320) rotatable in the case to transfer ice that is held in a predetermined amount to be discharged; and a discharge adjustment part (340) spaced apart a predetermined space from the rotation member (320) to adjust the number of the ices transferred by the rotation member, such that a fixed amount of the ice is substantially discharged. The refrigerator includes the device for ice discharging therein.

Abstract: An ice maker, a refrigerator including the ice maker, and an ice making method are provided. The ice maker includes a tray having a predetermined depth into which water is supplied to make ice. The ice maker includes an elevating unit to elevate a portion of the ice, and a cutting unit to cut off the elevated portion of the ice to be dispensed as ice pieces to a user. The ice maker has a slim configuration, and a compact size. The ice maker may be provided in the door of the refrigerator at a height approximately the same as the height of the dispenser located at the front side of the door. This arrangement permits a path for supplying cool air from a freezing compartment to the ice maker to be decreased.

Abstract: An ice bank of a refrigerator is provided. The ice bank includes an ice accommodation chamber storing ice pieces made by an ice maker, and an ice pressing unit circulating the ice pieces by pressing the ice pieces for preventing sticking of the ice pieces in the ice accommodation chamber.

Abstract: An ice bank of a refrigerator is provided. The ice bank includes an ice accommodation chamber storing ice pieces made by an ice maker, and an ice pressing unit circulating the ice pieces by pressing the ice pieces for preventing sticking of the ice pieces in the ice accommodation chamber.

Abstract: A method and a device for making pieces of ice, wherein water in a container (1) is frozen into ice. A helically threaded shaft (7) extends through the container (1), so that the ice (10) surrounds the shaft (7) and is engaged by the helical thread (18) of the shaft (7). The threaded shaft (7) is rotated with respect to the ice (10), so that the ice (10) is moved toward a cutting member (9) carried by the threaded shaft (7). Subsequently, the ice (10) is shaved by the cutting member (9).

Abstract: An ice making system for a refrigerator, comprises: a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated. This prevents the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being discharged out of the ice bank.

Abstract: An ice making device, a refrigerator having the ice making device, and a method for making ice are disclosed. Water is supplied to an ice making structure of an ice making device and frozen into ice. The ice is at least partially released from the ice making structure by supplying liquid water to the ice making structure to apply force to the ice in the ice making structure.

Abstract: An ice dispenser for dispensing ice that includes a housing having an inlet opening for introducing uncomminuted pieces of ice into the housing and an outlet opening for dispensing at least one of the uncomminuted pieces of ice or comminuted pieces of ice from the housing. The ice dispenser further includes an ice comminution device including a rotatable shaft supporting a blade arrangement and a counterblade arrangement operable to rotate along with the rotatable shaft, and a locking device, wherein based on a position of the locking device, the counterblade arrangement is operated to rotate along with the shaft or to be fixed with the housing. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one counterblade of the counterblade arrangement includes a catch for engaging with a counter-catch of the locking device. As such, an undesired release of the counter blade for the locking means may be prevented.

Abstract: An ice crusher is attached to an ice dispenser or to a combined ice and beverage dispenser. The ice crusher occupies minimal space in order to fit the dispenser into an existing space on a serving counter or in a beverage dispensing area. The ice crusher may also elevate the ice. In embodiments using this technique, the outlet of the ice from the ice crusher is higher than the ice inlet. As the ice flows from a source of ice, such as an ice bin, the ice is elevated while it is being crushed. The ice then flows from the outlet of the ice crusher down an ice chute or other outlet of the ice crusher, into a cup or container as desired. Other embodiments convey the ice without lifting it, and still other embodiments dispense either crushed or cubed ice, as the consumer may select. In one embodiment the selected crushed ice or cubed ice are both dispensed though the same ice dispensing chute.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a main body cabinet forming a storage compartment; a door operable to open and close the storage compartment; an ice tray provided in the door and capable of making ice cubes; and an ice storage container receiving the ice cubes made by the ice tray, and having an ice outlet formed in a lower part thereof and a rear wall surface forming an angle of inclination with respect to a level surface.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing beverages includes a brewing unit through which hot water can flow for extraction, a beverage dispenser coupled to the brewing unit to dispense a prepared beverage into a container, a cooling device to supply ice for cooling a beverage, and a dosage device for ice cubes to automatically dose ice during the beverage preparation.