Abstract: An ice supplier includes a case configured to store ice from an ice maker. The case includes an outlet and a transfer unit configured to transfer ice pieces in the case to the outlet. A sensor is configured to sense ice pieces passing through the outlet and a controller is configured to control the transfer unit according to input from the sensor.

Abstract: An ice maker and ice bin are provided on the inside of a freezer door of a refrigerator. The ice maker is compact, and the bin is removably mounted to the door. Ice is made by the ice maker on the door, and discharged into the ice bin, which then feeds the ice to an ice dispenser when the dispenser is actuated by a person.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for dispensing ice, water and/or ice water in large quantities to large groups of people is provided. The apparatus includes a portable housing including a plurality of ice making machines disposed to dispense ice into an ice hopper. A plurality of finger members is movably disposed within the ice hopper to prevent ice from clumping. The hopper is adapted to dispense ice into a plurality of ice and water dispensing compartments. Each compartment is provided with an ice dispensing passageway and a water dispensing conduit that are preferably situated close to one another so that water and ice can be simultaneously dispensed into a container placed within a compartment. The apparatus includes an ice button and a water button for each compartment to control dispensing of ice and water. Pressing the ice button may also cause movement of the fingers members within the ice hopper.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. A water supply passage unit of the refrigerator is installed going around a freezing compartment but via an outer side of the main body. Therefore, the water supply passage unit is not frozen.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for circulating air within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator are disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating the icemaker, filling the ice cavities with water, and activating the fan after a predetermined time after the ice cavities are filled with water. The apparatus includes a food storage compartment, an access door operable to selectively close the food storage compartment, an icemaker compartment on the access door, an icemaker disposed in the icemaker compartment, the icemaker including an ice mold body defining a plurality of ice cavities, an ice storage bin disposed in the icemaker compartment, a fan for distributing cold air within the icemaker compartment, at least one heating element attached to the ice mold body, a coolant pump, and a controller for regulating the fan and the coolant pump.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a dispenser. The refrigerator has a chute that defines an ice flow passage through a door of the refrigerator, and an opening and closing member configured to open and close an outlet of the chute. A cross-sectional area of the outlet of the chute is less than or equal to a cross-sectional area of any other portion of the chute.

Abstract: An ice storage bin and an icemaker apparatus are disclosed. The ice storage bin has a body for defining an ice collection cavity and a channel surrounding at least a substantial portion of the body for permitting fluid flow through the channel. The icemaker apparatus is disposed in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. The icemaker apparatus has an ice maker, above the ice storage bin, and an icemaking compartment for accommodating the ice maker and the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An ice dispenser has a duct cap and a controller to control movement of the duct cap. The controller includes a guide, a first control surface, and a second control surface. A first frictional force between the guide and the first control surface is greater than a second frictional force between the guide and the second control surface. The first frictional force controls the duct cap to move at a first rate and the second friction force controls the duct cap to move at a second rate faster than the first rate.

Abstract: An ice making, and delivery apparatus for making and delivering ice to different ones of a plurality of receptacle units is provided, in which ice delivered via a conduit to a diverter valve mechanism, is diverted from alignment with one ice discharge line to another, depending upon sensors in ice receptacles recognizing a level of build-up of ice in any given receptacle, for computer control of a gearmotor for moving the diverter valve from one position to another. Various controls are provided for preventing ice build-up, and for operating the diverter valve during a “dwell” period of ice movement in the conduit, as distinguished from a “push” period of ice movement in the conduit to the diverter valve. A force multiplication technique is employed for moving the diverter valve notwithstanding the presence of ice therein.

Abstract: An ice storage and bagging system for automatically bagging ice and dispensing the bagged ice to a customer. The ice storage and bagging system generally includes a storage bin to store a plurality of ice cubes, an ice dispensing machine to transfer the plurality of ice cubes from the storage bin and a bagging system to receive the plurality of ice cubes from the ice dispensing machine to within a bag, wherein the bag is filled with a predetermined amount of the ice cubes. A delivery system transfers the filled bag of ice cubes from the bagging system to a customer and a purchasing system activates the ice dispensing machine to fill the bag with the plurality of ice cubes to be delivered to the customer in an automated manner. The ice may also be formed via a forming machine prior to being stored within the storage bin to completely automate the present invention.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a control method thereof to control a rotational direction of an ice making motor to detect an ice full state of an ice storage without separating the ice from the ice maker. The refrigerator includes an ice making tray making ice therein, an ejector separating the ice, an ice storage storing the separated ice, an ice full state sensing lever detecting the ice full state of the ice storage, an ice making motor driving the ejector and the ice full state sensing lever, and a controller detecting the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in an ice moving direction, and detecting release of the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in the opposite direction after the ice full state is detected.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a mixing box detachably provided on a refrigerator door. Due to the mixing box, a user can conveniently utilize a beverage having a slushy shape.

Abstract: An ice cube catcher is disclosed for positioning on a door of a refrigerator to catch ice cubes dispensed from an in-door dispenser. The catcher may include a body having a sloped portion and a pair of sidewalls. The sloped portion may include a top and a bottom edge and a pair of ends. The sidewalls may be positioned at each end of the sloped portion and include a flange portion. These flange portions may have a fastener that may operable to secure the body to a refrigerator door. Finally, a water retention portion such as ridge or dam or groove be provided proximate the bottom edge of the sloped portion to retain water from melting ice within the body of the catcher.

Abstract: An ice-cube complete filling detector and a refrigerator comprising the same comprise a cam, an arm lever rotated by the cam, a detector driving gear rotated by the arm lever, a detector driven gear rotated by the detector driving gear, and an ice-cube detection lever connected to the detector driven gear, so that the detector driven gear is rotated via gear engagement by the detector driving gear and the detector driven gear, and the ice-cube detection lever can be rotated in a large range of about 180 degrees, thereby ensuring high accuracy of detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a cabinet having a door that is openable by a user to provide access to a refrigeration compartment. A storage bin is located in the refrigeration compartment and accessible upon the opening of the cabinet door. A mounting system is arranged for the storage bin, supporting the storage bin for movement into and out of the refrigeration compartment. A latch is carried on the cabinet door to be selectively engaged by the user with a latch receiving portion of the storage bin. When the latch is engaged with the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will be pulled out of the refrigerator upon the opening of the cabinet door, and when the latch is disengaged from the latch receiving portion, the storage bin will remain in the refrigeration compartment, unless manually moved by the user.

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 system, configured to be disposed in a information technology equipment rack for providing ice thermal storage, includes a tank configured to hold water, a heat exchanger disposed in water in the tank and configured to convey a two-phase liquid and vapor refrigerant and to transfer heat between the water and the refrigerant, a first valve connected to a liquid and a vapor refrigerant line and configured to selectively connect the liquid refrigerant line to a first port and the vapor refrigerant line to a second port in a first mode and to connect the liquid refrigerant line to the second port and the vapor refrigerant line to the first port in a second mode, a thermostatic expansion valve connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger, and a liquid/vapor pump connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and to the second port of the first valve.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus to reduce or prevent bridging in an ice storage bin. In one embodiment, a storage bin for ice with an apparatus to reduce or prevent bridging within the ice storage bin is provided. The apparatus can include a probe hole positioned above an access door and opening, and also above an internal baffle. The probe hole can be sized to receive a probe used to break up bridges or clumps of ice within the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing and dispensing a flavored ice beverage and a method of using thereof. The apparatus includes at least one container for holding flavor ingredients, a blending unit including a blender container and a blending mechanism, an ice flakes supplying unit, a mechanism for transferring the flavor ingredients to the blender container and a computerized control unit for controlling one or more aspects of the process of producing the ice beverage. The flavor ingredients can be in grain form, powder form or in liquid form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice-making assembly for a refrigerator and a refrigerator including the same. According to the present invention, a freezing chamber door is provided with an ice-making assembly, and ice made by the ice-making assembly can be immediately drawn out to the outside by opening an exclusively used home-bar door. In addition, an ice-making case is coupled by a coupling means formed integrally with the freezing chamber door and the ice-making case without a coupling tool or operation. Moreover, according to the present invention, if a water bucket is installed to the ice-making case, a water supply hole of the lower end of the water bucket is opened by an opening and closing means, so that water in water bucket is automatically supplied to an ice tray. In addition, an ice-separating lever having a ‘?’ shape is provided to simultaneously rotating a plurality of ice trays.

Abstract: A refrigerator and an ice level sensing apparatus are provided. The refrigerator may include a main body, and an ice level sensing apparatus including an optical element for sending or receiving a signal, and an alignment device for aligning and maintaining alignment of the optical element in a preset direction. The sensing apparatus may sense whether an ice storage container in which ice cubes made by an ice maker is at a full ice level. The optical element may be aligned at a preset position, thus preventing movement of the optical element, resulting in improved reliability of the sensing apparatus.

Abstract: An ice dispenser includes a discharge mechanism (30) provided between an ice storage room (10) having an ice discharge opening (14) provided at a bottom portion, and a chute (20) for guiding ice received at a reception/delivery opening (22) arranged away from a position directly under the discharge opening (14). The discharge mechanism (30) includes a fixed member (32) extending from under the discharge opening (14) to an edge portion of the reception/delivery opening (22), and a moving member (36) which is reciprocated along the fixed member (32) by a drive section (40), and has a plurality of vertically penetrating holes (38) formed spaced apart in a moving direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to the filling of a frozen dessert product in a container, by performing the steps of: arranging at least one container to be filled on a slat conveyor, moving the container on the slat conveyor towards a dispensing nozzle, vertically displacing at least one slat supporting the container, and horizontally displacing the slat supporting the container in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the slat conveyor, while dispensing the product from the dispensing nozzle into the container.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency, including movement of the damper between open and closed positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator, in which the structure of an ice supply device is improved. The refrigerator includes a main body, in which at least one storage chamber is formed; a door opening and closing the at least one storage chamber; an ice making unit provided on a rear surface of the door to make ice; an ice storage container provided under the ice making unit to store the ice made by the ice making unit; and at least one receiving rack provided on at least one side of right and left sides of the ice making unit or the ice storage container.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency, including movement of the damper between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator housing, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice bin at the door, the ice bin having a window for viewing an ice level within the ice bin. An ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having an insulated front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, and an open top, and a first window pane and a second window pane positioned at the front of the ice storage bin to allow for viewing the ice level within the ice storage bin. There may be an air gap between the first window pane and the second window pane.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for a refrigerator, in which an ice bank stores ice and has an opening that discharges ice on its one side. An ejector opens and closes the opening and is rotatably provided at the opening to also eject ice from the ice bank. After completion of an ice discharging operation, a sensor senses a relative position of the ejector against the ice bank and the ejector is controlled to close the opening to the extent necessary.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a body having a storage room, an ice making chamber formed separately from the storage room, and a thermoelectric-module provided in the ice making chamber to generate cold air. The thermoelectric-module does not require a cold air duct to cool the ice making chamber. As a result, space utilization is improved and a capacity of the refrigerator is improved. In addition, energy efficiency may be enhanced because a heater is not required to remove the frost from a cold air duct.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a refrigerating chamber door positioned at the refrigerator main body and configured to open and close at least a portion of a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator further includes an ice chamber disposed at an inner surface of the refrigerating chamber door containing ice. In addition, the refrigerator includes a door basket configured to be attached to an outer surface of the ice chamber and having a non-contact to portion positioned at a surface facing the ice chamber.

Abstract: A device for sensing a level of ice stored in a bin of an automatic ice maker includes a bail arm and an actuator mechanism. The actuator mechanism is constituted by a shape memory alloy that, upon application of a voltage, contracts to move the bail arm to a raised position prior to initiation of an ice harvest cycle. After completion of the ice harvest cycle, the voltage is discontinued, allowing the shape memory alloy to relax, causing the bail arm to return to a lowered position. The bail arm includes a sensing member that extends into the bin and, depending upon the level of ice, prevents the bail arm from contacting a sensing switch, temporarily halting ice production.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and beverage dispenser on both the front and the back of the refrigerator improves efficiency and utilization of the refrigerator. Home floor plans include passageways through interior walls whereby a user can access a second dispenser of the kitchen refrigerator from an adjacent room, thus increasing access to the refrigerator.

Abstract: An ice making assembly according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that the operation of the sensing lever for measuring the storage amount of ice is smoothly activated, and that the amount of ice stored in the container is accurately measured.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a housing having at least one refrigerator compartment, a door for accessing the at least one refrigerator compartment, and an ice-dispensing assembly. The ice-dispensing assembly includes an insulated housing arranged within the at least one refrigerator compartment, an ice-making device arranged within the insulated housing and configured to produce ice, an ice-storage container arranged within the insulated housing, and a dispenser arranged within the door and communicating with the ice-storage container, wherein the dispenser is configured to transfer ice from the ice-storage container to an external portion of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed which enables the user to easily take ice out of an ice maker without causing a variation in the capacity of the refrigerator or a limitation on the position of a freezing compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body (100) which includes a freezing compartment (300) and a refrigerating compartment (200), an ice making compartment (500) which is arranged in the refrigerating compartment, to make ice, a heat exchange (310) which generates cold air for freezing food storing in the freezing compartment, and a cold air guiding device (600) which guides the cold air generated by the heat exchanger (310) to the ice making compartment (500), to enable the ice making compartment to make ice.

Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed which enables the user to easily take ice out of an ice maker without causing a variation in the capacity of the refrigerator or a limitation on the position of a freezing compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body (100) which includes a freezing compartment (300) and a refrigerating compartment (200), an ice making compartment (500) which is arranged in the refrigerating compartment, to make ice, a heat exchange (310) which generates cold air for freezing food storing in the freezing compartment, and a cold air guiding device (600) which guides the cold air generated by the heat exchanger (310) to the ice making compartment (500), to enable the ice making compartment to make ice.

Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed which enables the user to easily take ice out of an ice maker without causing a variation in the capacity of the refrigerator or a limitation on the position of a freezing compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body (100) which includes a freezing compartment (300) and a refrigerating compartment (200), an ice making compartment (500) which is arranged in the refrigerating compartment, to make ice, a heat exchange (310) which generates cold air for freezing food storing in the freezing compartment, and a cold air guiding device (600) which guides the cold air generated by the heat exchanger (310) to the ice making compartment (500), to enable the ice making compartment to make ice.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser. The dispenser includes an ice chute door actuated by an electric motor for reducing energy consumption over traditional solenoid activated doors.

Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.

Abstract: An ice guiding apparatus of a dispenser for a refrigerator is disclosed. The ice guiding apparatus of the dispenser for the refrigerator, in the dispenser provided in the refrigerator and outwardly provides ice pieces, comprises: a fixing guider formed at the dispenser; and a moving guider for guiding the ice pieces to be outwardly provided by moving along fixing guider. According to the ice guiding apparatus of the dispenser for the refrigerator, it is capable of preventing interference between an ice discharge opening and an ice container putted at the dispenser and precisely guiding the ice pieces into the ice container.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice storage container coupled to a mounting space of an inner wall of a freezing chamber door, and the ice storage container is attachable to and detachable from the mounting space by elastic lever units to maintain and release locking of the ice storage container with the mounting space, and elastic coupling units to maintain coupling of the ice storage container to the mounting space by elastic deformation and restrict movement of the ice storage container in the horizontal direction of the mounting space when the ice storage container is mounted on the mounting space, thereby preventing abrasion and breakdown of components due to user's ease in the assembly of the ice storage container and increase in the fixing force of the ice storage container.

Abstract: An ice-making system is adapted to operate within a section of a refrigeration appliance where the ice-making system and the ice made in the ice-making system are exposed to a temperature greater than zero degrees Centigrade. When installed in the fresh food compartment of a refrigerator that also has a freezer section compartment, the refrigeration system furnishes a cooling effect to the freezer compartment sufficient to maintain the freezer compartment at a temperature of zero degrees or less and separately furnish to the ice-making unit a cooling effect sufficient to freeze water for making ice in the ice-making unit of the ice-making system. The ice-making system can include a reservoir that is operatively associated with the ice-making unit of the ice-making system for delivering water to the ice-making unit and for receiving water returned from the ice-making unit.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated ice vending machine for delivering ice to consumers. The machine of the present invention includes an insulated enclosure, an ice manufacturing apparatus, a cooling unit, an ice inventory storage bin, an ice agitating device, an incline ice transport device, and a bagger assembly. The present invention also includes a method of vending ice to a consumer.

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: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice dispenser includes a spiral type time delay unit for controlling the opening and closing of an ice duct. A duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator. A rotating shaft of the time delay unit is operably connected to the duct cap. Foldaway catching members on a rotating shaft intersect with a threaded cylindrical body. The catching members fold back to allow a quick opening of the ice duct. The catching members then interact with the threaded cylindrical body as the ice duct closes to delay the closing process.