Abstract: An ice making and ice delivery system is provided, whereby nuggets of ice are formed from scraped ice in the ice making apparatus, which is cooled by an evaporator in a refrigeration cycle, with the evaporator being provided with refrigerant from a closed circuit compressor/condenser refrigerant system, with the evaporator and its associated ice making apparatus being capable of being disposed at a location remote from the condenser unit, for delivery of ice from one or more such evaporator/ice making apparatus to one or more ice storage units, which units can likewise be located spaced apart form the evaporator/ice making units, and with one or more ice delivery conduits providing for delivery of ice from the ice making unit(s) to the storage unit(s) by means other than gravity.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an ice bucket that has a bottom wall, opposing side walls extending from the bottom wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The bottom wall, side walls, front wall, and back wall define an ice collection cavity. The ice bucket also includes a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom wall into the ice collection cavity, and a rotatable auger extending between the front and back walls.

Abstract: An ice-bagging apparatus that provides an establishment with the ability to automatically and expeditiously produce, bag and store bags of ice, thus maintaining a desired supply of bagged ice and eliminating conventional methods of manual ice-bagging and reducing the likelihood of unwanted bridging of the ice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure for dispensing ice in a refrigerator, in which an automated ice-making device and an ice bank are installed at a door of a freezing chamber to thereby make its space utilization effectively. The structure of the present invention includes: an ice-making device installed in a door of a freezing chamber; an ice bank storing pieces of ice provided from the ice-making device; an ice transfer unit for transferring the pieces of the ice stored in the ice bank in a width direction; and an ice crushing part for crushing the pieces of the ice transferred by the ice transfer unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice feeding unit allows an outlet control unit which opens or closes an outlet of an ice container, to be quietly operated. The refrigerator with the ice feeding unit includes an ice container in an ice storage compartment. A control member is installed at a position around an outlet of the ice container to open or close the outlet of the ice container. A connection rod is rotatably installed at a predetermined position of the ice container to operate the control member. A first eccentric part is provided at a first end of the connection rod which is in contact with the control member, to be eccentric from a center of rotation of the connection rod, and a second eccentric part is provided at a second end of the connection rod which is opposite to the first end of the connection rod, to be eccentric from the center of rotation of the connection rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for a countertop ice dispenser or ice and beverage dispenser is made from a single piece plastic ice bin. Parts for the dispenser are assembled into sub-assemblies before final assembly. The ice bin may be made by a rotomolding process. This uses relatively inexpensive molds with reasonable control over the thickness of the resulting bin, while allowing up to 0.005? of variation per inch of length in the overall size of the ice bin. The resulting ice bin has hollow walls that can be filled with insulating foam. An attractive dispenser may be assembled from such an ice bin, with metal panels and a plastic base. If a combined ice/beverage dispenser is desired, a cold plate and dispensing valve may be included. The plastic base and a plastic drain pan have integral attachments that mate for assembly. The dispenser may also be easily disassembled for repair.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment having a freezer door, an ice maker in communication with an ice dispensing system, the ice dispensing system has an ice delivery conduit extending through the freezer door, and a heating element positioned proximate to the ice dispensing system to provide heat to the ice dispensing conduit. The refrigerator further includes a controller operationally coupled to the heating element, the controller providing variable wattage to the heating element.

Abstract: An ice bank of an ice-making device for a refrigerator is disclosed, for smooth crush and discharge of ice, which includes a housing for storing ice made in an icemaker, and provided rotatably to apply the power to the stored ice at a rotation direction; an ice discharger having at least one hole through which the ice is discharge to the external; a crusher provided in the inside of the housing, the crusher guiding the stored ice to the hole of the ice discharge and crushing the ice as a predetermined size before discharging the ice to the hole according to a user's select; and rotating means for rotating the housing. Also, the crusher includes fixed crushing means fixed to the inside of the housing, and rotation crushing means rotated for being synchronized with the housing so as to crush the ice before discharging the ice to the external according to a user's select.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment separated from the fresh food compartment by a mullion, a water dispenser coupled to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, a user interface coupled to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and a controller operationally coupled to the water dispenser. The controller is configured to receive a signal representative of a user desired amount of water, and dispense an amount of water equal to the desired amount.

Abstract: A machine mounting adapter accommodates mounting of a variety of differently dimensioned machines on top of a standard sized base machine, and in particular enables any one of a number of differently sized ice machines to be mounted on top of a given ice dispenser. The adapter includes both a specially configured cover that replaces a standard cover normally found on the ice dispenser and a pair of rigid bars that together with the specially configured cover are supported on a top perimeter edge defined around an open upper end of an ice retaining bin of the ice dispenser. An ice machine mounts on top of the cover with an ice drop hole in the cover providing access for ice made by the ice machine to enter the bin.

Abstract: A method of operating an auger ice-making machine having a refrigeration casing, an auger screw rotatably disposed inside the casing and feeding, while scraping, the ice frozen on an inner wall surface of the casing, a stocker for storing/retaining the ice fed, the stocker being formed with an ice discharge port of the stocker in order to discharge the ice to an exterior of the machine by being opened, and a stored-ice detector for detecting a high level, and a low level, of a quantity of ice stored within the stocker, wherein: when the stored-ice detector detects the high level, a controller is activated to stop ice-making operation, and when the quantity of ice stored decreases below the low level by a required quantity, the controller restarts the ice-making operation; and when the controller judges, during a stopped state of the ice-making operation, that a block of ice has occurred in the stocker, the controller restarts the ice-making operation, provided that the stored-ice detector has detected the low

Abstract: An ice-maker for producing transparent ice cubes has a refrigerating assembly, an ice cube making tub, and a feeding tank for filling the ice cube making tub in a common housing. The ice cube making tub is movable between a first position, wherein cooling fingers of the refrigerating assembly engage into the ice cube making tub, and a second position away from the cooling fingers.

Abstract: An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.

Abstract: Vacuum pneumatic conveying apparatus and method are described to provide for a simple, economical, convenient (and preferably automatic) system for conveying ice on an as-required basis from a source such as an ice maker to one or more receptors at locations remote from that source. The system can be configured such that dispensing locations can be added or eliminated from the system or temporarily taken “off line” from the system without the need to change the basic system configuration or the central ice providing apparatus. The apparatus in various embodiments includes an ice source, a conveying conduit from the source to the receptor, a vacuum pump for moving the ice through the conduit by vacuum, and the receptor to collect the conveyed ice. The receptor may be an ice/beverage dispenser, an accumulator for retention and discharge to further devices, an intermediate storage dispenser, or an air lock device from where the ice can be projected over significant distances.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator with an improved structure for supplying ices at an outside of a dispenser provided at a door. The refrigerator includes a supplementary freezer, a cavity, an icemaker and a dispenser. The supplementary freezer is provided in a cooling chamber of the refrigerator. The cavity is provided in the door and is connected with the supplementary freezer when the door is closed. The icemaker produces ices using cool air in the cooling chamber. The dispenser is connected with the cavity provided at the door. In this case, the icemaker is provided in the supplementary freezer or in the cavity.

Abstract: An icemaker for an ice supply system for preventing water from overflowing from the ice tray by vibration and/or shaking of the surrounding structure includes an icemaker, a container provided at a lower part of the icemaker and an ice chute for supplying the ice stored in the ice container. An ejector in the ice tray of the icemaker and a dropper device having an inclined upper surface at a side of the open top of the ice tray are provided for dropping the ice discharged upwardly by the ejector. An overflow prevention device is provided at another side of the open top of the ice tray for preventing water filled in the ice tray from overflowing. The overflow prevention device includes a panel extending upward from the ice tray and a cover coupled with the hinge at the top of the ice tray.

Abstract: The present invention includes an ice and beverage dispenser having an icemaker associated therewith. The icemaker has a refrigeration system that includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. A refrigerant line exiting the condenser is routed through a drip tray of the dispenser before returning to an expansion valve for release of refrigerant into the evaporator. The refrigerant exiting the condenser is at a temperature of from about 100° to 140° F. and provides sufficient heat energy, as it passes through the drip tray, to melt any ice in the drip tray. The additional cooling of the refrigerant as it melts the ice prior to expansion of the refrigerant into the evaporator improves the cooling performance and efficiency of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An ice-bagging apparatus for automatically and continuously producing, bagging and storing bags of ice without the occurrence of bridging between the ice particles/cubes, and without the need for manual labor and/or continuous monitoring of the machinery, wherein a bag identification mechanism is utilized to ensure the use of only a select type or brand of bag within the ice-bagging apparatus.

Abstract: An ice/beverage dispenser is characterized by an ice/beverage dispensing machine having an integral ice making capacity. An icemaker of the dispenser and the ice and beverage dispensing portion share an evaporator that that is utilized both for chilling beverage water for dispensing and for making ice. The evaporator is efficiently utilized in that one side of it is used for making ice and both sides of it are used for chilling water. The present invention uses a processor based control circuit that operates the refrigeration system between ice-making and water chilling modes in such manner as to ensure that cold beverages will always be served. The ice/beverage dispenser also includes a system for quickly combining and separating the ice making and beverage dispensing water supply, water drain and electrical functions.

Abstract: A pair of claw portions that may be elastically deformed are formed at both ends of a top surface of a base body of a detecting plate base. A circular arc portion and a switch holding portion are formed between the pair of claw portions. A recessed portion is formed on the lower surface side of the base body by the circular arc portion so that a detecting plate, which is mounted on the detecting plate base, may be rotated. A lead switch is attachably and detachably mounted on the switch holding portion. An apparatus for detecting an amount of stored ice is attachably and detachably fitted from the interior of the ice storing chamber to an opening portion formed in the top plate of the ice storing chamber by the claw portions of the detecting plate base.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice feeding unit allows an outlet control unit which opens or closes an outlet of an ice container, to be quietly operated. The refrigerator with the ice feeding unit includes an ice container in an ice storage compartment. A control member is installed at a position around an outlet of the ice container to open or close the outlet of the ice container. A connection rod is rotatably installed at a predetermined position of the ice container to operate the control member. A first eccentric part is provided at a first end of the connection rod which is in contact with the control member, to be eccentric from a center of rotation of the connection rod, and a second eccentric part is provided at a second end of the connection rod which is opposite to the first end of the connection rod, to be eccentric from the center of rotation of the connection rod.

Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.

Abstract: An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.

Abstract: An ice-making machine has a substantially vertical ice-forming mold for freezing cubes of ice, a water distributor for distributing water so as to cascade over a front surface of said ice-forming mold and a hinged water curtain with a bottom edge for directing said cascading water into a sump, with the hinge allowing the water curtain to swing out of the way so that ice cubes harvested from the mold may fall past the sump and into an ice collecting bin. The water curtain has an inside surface adjacent to a front surface of the ice-forming mold configured such that as a slab of ice cubes is released from the mold during a harvest cycle, the front of the slab of ice contacts said inside surface and forces the water curtain to open to a point where the bottom of the falling slab of ice cubes will not contact the bottom edge of the water curtain.

Abstract: A portable ice storage and dispensing device has a portable container for housing the ice to be dispensed. An opening is formed on the portable insulated container. The opening is used for dispensing the ice out of the portable insulated container. An ice dispenser is located internal to the portable insulated container and extends partially out of the portable insulated container. The ice dispenser is used for moving and directing the ice out of the opening.

Abstract: An ice making machine having a main body and an auxiliary table which is separable from the main body, wherein the main body of the ice making machine comprises a freezing unit for making ice pieces by freezing water separated into discrete cells; a cooling system connected to the freezing unit; an ice bin for storing ice pieces made by the freezing unit; a first water supply pipe for supplying water to the freezing unit; and a first drain pipe for discharging water remaining unfrozen in the freezing unit. The auxiliary table comprises a feed water receptacle and a drain receptacle, both having a space for containing a predetermined level of water; a second water supply pipe selectively connected to the first water supply pipe to supply water contained in the feed water receptacle to the freezing unit; and a second drain pipe selectively connected to the first drain pipe to direct water discharged from the freezing unit to flow to the drain receptacle.

Abstract: A split ice making and delivery system which includes a condenser and compressor sub-assembly which compresses and condenses refrigerant and a compact remote ice making sub-assembly. The remote ice making assembly may be integrated with an ice storage bin. The system further includes a refrigerant delivery sub-assembly coupled to the condenser and compressor sub-assembly and the remote ice making sub-assembly for delivering therebetween the refrigerant. The refrigerant delivery sub-assembly has a length sufficient to reach a upper level of a marine vessel, a remote room, or remote location to reach the remote ice making sub-assembly remote from the condenser and compressor sub-assembly.

Abstract: A portable ice making unit including a housing adapted for stacking with cargo containers for land or sea transport. The housing is also capable of being to be attached to the bed of an over land transporter. The ice making unit may be 100% self contained requiring no on site water or electric power. The ice making unit may dispense ice on call or on cash demand.

Abstract: A compact rooftop air conditioning unit for a vehicle, said unit having an evaporator coil located in front of a condenser coil. At least one cylindrical blower is mounted adjacent the evaporator coil and is arranged to provide conditioned the blower and a condensate pump is secured to the shaft for pumping condensate generated by the evaporator coil back over the condenser coil. An electrically driven compressor is housed within the unit and is arranged so that no refrigerant lines pass outside of the unit. An inverter is also housed within the unit and provides a regulated input to the compressor and the blower drive motor. The heat exchanger coils are mounted in the form of two tube sheets take over the function of a housing, with the drip pan closing the bottom and the unit lid closing the top to form the completed unit.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly, including at least one support arm, a shelf arranged atop the support arm, a bin slidably mounted to the support arm beneath the shelf, and an ice maker unit adapted to develop ice to be stored in the bin, is adapted to be selectively, vertically adjustable within a freezer compartment of a refrigerator. The entire ice maker assembly is preferably suspended from a pair of spaced, vertically extending support rails arranged on the back wall of the freezer compartment. The shelf preferably includes a transparent platform which visually exposes the bin.

Abstract: An ice making machine has a water system, including a pump, an ice-forming mold and interconnecting lines therefore; a refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator in thermal contact with the ice-forming mold, and a receiver. The receiver has an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to the expansion device and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, two interconnected receivers are used. A cabinet housing the evaporator is preferably less than 18 inches deep. The pump is preferably mounted so that the pump motor is located outside of the water compartment, but can still be removed from the front of the machine.

Abstract: In an ice discharging mechanism of an ice storage box according to the present invention, a swinging solenoid 24 is mounted by means of a swing shaft 23 fixed onto arm portions 22 of a bracket 21. A support plate 27 is welded onto a lower part of the bracket 21. One end of a plunger 33 and one end of a link member 34 are coupled with each other by means of a coupling shaft 31 inserted through a long hole 29 of the support plate 27. In a lower end portion of the bracket 21, a pivoting plate 37 that forms an opening/closing door is pivotably mounted to a fulcrum shaft 35 that is provided parallel to the swing shaft 23. A moving shaft 41 provided to the other end of the link member 34 is inserted through the pivoting plate 37 whereby the plunger 33 and the pivoting plate 37 are connected with each other.

Abstract: An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and be lightweight packages for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has an evaporator package, a separate compressor package and a separate condenser package. Each of these packages has a weight that can generally by handled by one or two installers for ease of installation. The noisy compressor and condenser packages can be located remotely of the evaporator package. The maximum height distance between the evaporator package and the condenser package is greatly enhanced by the three package system. A pressure regulator operates during a harvest cycle to limit flow of refrigerant leaving the evaporator, thereby increasing pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and assisting in defrost thereof.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispensing assembly having a service zone recessed in an outer portion of the freezer door, an ice passage formed in a freezer door, and a chute member arranged at the service zone. The ice passage is aligned with an outlet of an ice maker unit and leads to the service zone for delivering ice pieces from the ice maker unit to the service zone. Further, the chute member is movable between a first position, wherein ice pieces delivered from the ice maker are directed into the service zone, and a second position, wherein ice piece delivered from the ice maker are diverted away from the freezer door and outside of the service zone to enhance the filling of oversized containers. The dispensing assembly also includes a drip tray for collecting excess water droplets, with the drip tray being substantially hidden within the freezer door.

Abstract: A high throughput, short batch cycle commercial ice making machine produces commercial ice which resists melting in convenient sizes for mobile food carts, market produce, or fish displays. The machine introduces super-cooled water, that is in a liquid state while exposed to a temperature below freezing, into a batch of pre-formed hollow molds of one or more horizontally oriented ice forming freezing trays oriented horizontally. Using vapor compression refrigeration, the machine produces a plurality of supercooled ice segments in pockets within the freezing tray. The supercooled ice segments are rapidly subjected to a short, temporary contact with a high heat source from a sleeve integral with the freezing tray compartments, along a peripheral bottom surface of the ice segment accommodating freezing tray molds. This temporarily melts a bottom surface of each ice segment, lubricating it and loosening it.

Abstract: An apparatus for a countertop ice dispenser or ice and beverage dispenser is made from a single piece plastic ice bin. Parts for the dispenser are assembled into sub-assemblies before final assembly. The ice bin may be made by a rotomolding process. This uses relatively inexpensive molds with reasonable control over the thickness of the resulting bin, while allowing up to 0.005″ of variation per inch of length in the overall size of the ice bin. The resulting ice bin has hollow walls that can be filled with insulating foam. An attractive dispenser may be assembled from such an ice bin, with metal panels and a plastic base. If a combined ice/beverage dispenser is desired, a cold plate and dispensing valve may be included. The plastic base and a plastic drain pan have integral attachments that mate for assembly. The dispenser may also be easily disassembled for repair.

Abstract: An ice bucket assembly includes an ice bucket container and a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a housing and a cover. The housing includes a plurality of tabs configured to engage a plurality of openings disposed within the ice bucket container. The cover includes a plurality of tabs which permit a user to grasp the cover during removal or installation of the cover. When installed, the housing assembly is positioned above a dispensary opening at a front of the ice bucket container. As a result, crushed ice is immediately dispensed from the ice bucket container.

Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes: an ice making vessel having a plurality of cavities; an ejector for separating ice formed in the cavity from the ice making vessel and discharging the ice to a storage container; a driving unit for driving the ejector; a heater disposed at a lower side of the ice making vessel and heating the ice making vessel; a temperature sensor disposed at one side of the ice making vessel and sensing a temperature of the ice making vessel; a full ice detecting unit for generating an electric signal when the storage container is full of ice; and a control unit for receiving the electric signal outputted from the full ice detecting unit and the temperature sensor so as to control an operation of the driving unit and the heater, and turning on/off an input power supply according to the electric signal outputted from the full ice detecting unit.

Abstract: An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically shifting a bail arm of an automatic ice maker upon repositioning an ice storage bin carried by a slidable freezer drawer or basket includes a wedge member arranged just above a rear wall of the bin, preferably between the bin and a rear wall of the basket. The wedge member defines a frontal wedge portion that generally tapers laterally and rearwardly from a wide section to a narrow section. As the bin is shifted out of the freezer compartment, the bail arm initially engages the wide section of the frontal wedge portion, then rides up the frontal wedge portion, and subsequently rides along an opposing, rear wedge portion of the wedge member. This action is reversed upon sliding the bin back into place beneath the ice maker to gently repositioned the bale arm over the ice bin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ice cube catcher that is attachable to a refrigerator door to catch ice cubes dispensed from the outlet of the dispenser. Preferably, the ice cube catcher includes a body that has a lower integral portion and two end portions. The integral portion and ends contact the refrigerator once the catcher is mounted on the refrigerator door. The body may be a single piece construction or be constructed of two body members that are joined together in a telescopic fashion such that the length of the catch can be adjusted to accommodate different size ice cube dispensers. The ends of the body have flanges or protrusions upon which are secured magnets or other types of attachment fixtures for mounting the catcher onto the refrigerator.

Abstract: An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and be lightweight packages for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has an evaporator package, a separate compressor package and a separate condenser package. Each of these packages has a weight that can generally by handled by one or two installers for ease of installation. The noisy compressor and condenser packages can be located remotely of the evaporator package. The maximum height distance between the evaporator package and the condenser package is greatly enhanced by the three package system. A pressure regulator operates during a harvest cycle to limit flow of refrigerant leaving the evaporator, thereby increasing pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and assisting in defrost thereof.

Abstract: An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and be lightweight packages for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has an evaporator package, a separate compressor package and a separate condenser package. Each of these packages has a weight that can generally by handled by one or two installers for ease of installation. The noisy compressor and condenser packages can be located remotely of the evaporator package. The maximum height distance between the evaporator package and the condenser package is greatly enhanced by the three package system. A pressure regulator operates during a harvest cycle to limit flow of refrigerant leaving the evaporator, thereby increasing pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and assisting in defrost thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker for making ice which is installed within a refrigerator. In the ice maker 30 of the present invention, one end of an ice-making container 34 is supported by a frame 32, while the other end thereof is supported by a case 51 of a drive unit 50. The ice-making container 34 is made of metal, and a ground terminal 80 is electrically connected with the ice-making container 34 by a screw 75 for fastening the ice-making container 34 to the case 51, thereby establishing grounding therebeween. The ice maker is provided with a front face plate 42 for connecting the frame 32 and the drive unit 50 in the longitudinal direction along one side of the ice-making container 34. The front face plate 42 is formed with cold air passing-holes for guiding cold air within a freezing chamber of the refrigerator to the ice-making container 34. The cold air passing-holes 45 are provided with louvers 47 for more smoothly guiding the cold air to the air passing-holes, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pneumatic ice transport system having a primary ice reservoir and a blower connected to a venturi. The ice reservoir includes an ice dispensing mechanism for dispensing of ice there from into an ice flow tube. The venturi suction intake is connected by a tube to the discharge end of the ice chute. The outlet of the venturi is connected to a tube for directing the ice to a remote location. In operation, the blower provides a large volume of relatively low pressure air to the venturi. A heat exchanger can be connected between the outlet of the blower and the air inlet of the venturi. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger uses forced air and melt water from the primary storage bin to cool the air stream produced by the blower. The heat exchanger serves to lower the temperature of that air to at or below ambient.

Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.

Abstract: An ice and water dispenser for refrigerator doors is provided that includes an ice dispensing actuator pad that causes dispenser to deliver ice when activated. The dispenser also includes a water dispensing lever that causes the dispenser to deliver water when pushed. The ice and water dispenser includes a control panel that allows the user to control the dispensing operation, such as whether to dispense crushed or cube ice. Because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can insert a glass into the dispensing cavity and dispense both ice and water simultaneously. Further, because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can fill oversize cups, water bottles, or pitchers without having to awkwardly reach around the cup to manually activate the water dispensing lever or push the ice dispensing actuator.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for production of ice and maintenance of an ice conveyance free of microbial contamination. Ozone is incorporated into water from which the ice is made, so that significant ozone content is present in the ice. This ice may be recovered for human consumption. The ice manufactured in the ice maker is conveyed through a conveyance system to one or more locations remote from the ice maker, where the ice is to be used. Ozone gas is evolved as the ice melts, sublimes or is abraded. The evolved ozone evolved penetrates into all areas of the system and kills substantially all microbial materials which are within the system. Cleanliness is thereafter maintained since passage of more ice and water though the system causes the evolution of additional ozone, which in turn kills any microbial contamination which may subsequently get into the system.

Abstract: A modular cabinet for an ice maker or other refrigeration appliance, having a frame formed from a base, a tub resting on the base, and a pair of opposing side panels affixed to opposing sides of side tub and base assembly and a top panel. The refrigeration appliance has a refrigerated compartment defined by the tub, the top panel and the door. A door hingedly mounted to the frame sealingly closes the refrigerated compartment.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker of the open-cell type including a housing composed of a pair of spaced side wall panels and front and rear wall panels jointed at their opposite ends to the side wall panels, a water storage tank mounted to the bottom of the housing, a sprinkler mounted within the bottom portion of the housing and having a plurality of nozzles for spouting upward ice making water supplied from the water storage tank, a cooling pipe mounted within an ice making chamber formed in an upper portion of the housing, a plurality of ice making cell casings horizontally mounted in the ice making chamber and located above the nozzles of the sprinkler to be supplied with the ice making chamber spouted therefrom and to be cooled by refrigerant supplied into the cooling pipe, and an ice chute in the form of a lattice placed in a forwardly inclined condition between the sprinkler and the ice making cell casings to permit the ice making water spouted into the cell casings therethrough from the nozzles of the sprinkler