Freezing Surface Mounted For Movement During Freezing Patents (Class 62/345)
  • Patent number: 11512894
    Abstract: A storage system for a house entrance includes an entrance refrigerator, a first storage disposed above the entrance refrigerator, and a second storage disposed below the entrance refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Boan Kwon, Minkyu Oh, Daewoong Kim
  • Patent number: 11353253
    Abstract: An ice maker includes: an upper assembly comprising a plurality of upper chambers recessed upward to define an upper portion of an ice chamber in which water is filled and ice is made, and having an intake opening by being open on a top, and a vertical extension part formed to protrude upward around the intake opening; a lower assembly comprising a plurality of lower chambers recessed downward to define a lower portion of the ice chamber, and rotatably connected to the upper assembly; and a water supply part that is recessed downward from an upper side of the water supply part and configured to receive therein water for making ice, the water supply part being removably coupled to the vertical extension part and configured to guide the received water into the intake opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Seunggeun Lee, Seungjin Choi
  • Patent number: 11253430
    Abstract: A system for freezing, storing, transporting, and thawing biopharmaceutical product, the system including a stationary equipment and one or more movable pallet, each pallet being configured to carry one or more container units, each containing biopharmaceutical product, the stationary equipment including a gas circulating unit configured to cause a circulation of cold gas and/or warm gas, from a pull inlet toward a blow outlet, wherein there is provided at least a first side plenum having one or more gas conveying channel therein, configured to be fluidly coupled to the blow outlet of the gas circulating unit, the first side plenum having a plurality of outlet ports directed toward an interior volume of the pallet, wherein the gas circulates substantially in a horizontal direction in the interior volume of the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SARTORIUS STEDIM NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Cutting, Marc Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11191287
    Abstract: Provided is a cooling chamber, cooling system and an appliance for producing cooled edible products, such as ice cream, sorbets, frozen yogurt, foamed cooled drinks, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SOLO GELATO LTD.
    Inventors: Barak Beth Halachmi, Jacob Rand, Eynav Kliger, Ilan Dabelsteen, Adi Atlas, Bilal Saudi
  • Patent number: 10907876
    Abstract: A flow-type ice maker including substrate, an ice-making part configured by a refrigerant pipe connected to a refrigerator and through which a refrigerant circulates in an airtight manner, an ice-making rack supporting the refrigerant pipe and including an ice mold formed along an outer periphery of the refrigerant pipe, an ice-making water flow part joined to an upper part of the ice-making rack and allowing ice-making water to flow into the ice-making rack, and an ice-separating member to rotating around a direction parallel to the axis center of the refrigerant pipe to separate ice formed in the ice mold, and an ice-making water feed pipe feeding ice-making water to the ice-making water flow part. The refrigerant pipe has a curved part; and an outer periphery of a pipe made of any one of copper and aluminum is covered with stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: OXEN, INC.
    Inventors: Reijiro Inamori, Soichiro Inamori
  • Patent number: 10794622
    Abstract: A water pocket with an open top side is filled with water, mounted in a regular position on a supporting frame, and tilts to supply the water stored in the water pocket to an ice making tray, thereby easily supplying a required amount of water to the ice making tray. A refrigerator includes an ice making tray provided to linearly move with rotation when ice of the ice making tray is separated, or includes a holding preventing member which prevents the ice from being caught by a lower ice making tray, thereby improving a forward-and-backward width of an ice maker. It is possible to easily withdraw ice stored in an ice bucket by pushing an ice discharge button in a state in which the ice bucket is not separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Yoon Young Kim, Yong Jong Park, Moon Gyo Jung, Kook Jeong Seo
  • Patent number: 10760843
    Abstract: Device and method for making ice cubes, comprising a supplying device for supplying a liquid substance to at least one elongated mould (1) and a refrigerating device for freezing said liquid substance, which at least one mould defines a space for an ice column which is at least substantially closed at least while said liquid substance is being refrigerated. The at least one mould comprises two mould halves (1a, 1b) which are movable relative to each other, so that the mould halves can be moved apart once the ice column has been formed. Method for making ice cubes, comprising the steps of a) supplying a liquid substance to a mould, b) freezing the liquid substance in the mould, and c) removing the ice cubes thus formed from the mould, wherein the liquid substance is supplied in step a) to a mould comprising an at least substantially closed space. Metering device for ice cubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: W. SCHOONEN BEHEER B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Franciskus Schoonen
  • Patent number: 9739516
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a freezing compartment door opening or closing the freezing compartment, and an ice making device disposed on a rear surface of the freezing compartment door. The ice making device includes a case disposed on the freezing compartment door, an ice tray rotatably disposed inside the case, the ice tray making an ice therein, a knob exposed to the outside of the case, the knob being connected to a rotation shaft of the ice tray and rotated by being manipulated from the outside, and an elastic member disposed on the rotation shaft of the ice tray, the elastic member providing an elastic force into the ice tray so that the ice tray is rotated to an original position. Thus, a structure for rotating the ice tray may be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gyuyeon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9038411
    Abstract: An ice maker has an ice-making vessel having a cylindrical shape, a cooling means, a block ice making mold which is placed inside, and an agitator. The mold includes a main mold body having a plurality of connected L-shaped plates projected radially outward from the central axis; a base plate which is joined to each L-shaped plate, and the top side of the L-shaped plates form a screw insertion part of the mold body such that the agitator fits between the L-shaped plates at a second end of the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventors: Soichiro Inamori, Reijiro Inamori
  • Publication number: 20150107276
    Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDERSON BORTOLETTO, KEVIN M. CHASE, TONY L. KOENIGSKNECHT, RONALD L. VOGLEWEDE, MATTHEW E. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20150082812
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. BOARMAN, Brian K. CULLEY, Gregory Gene HORTIN
  • Patent number: 8984907
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Maja-Maschinenfabrik Hermann Schill GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Schill
  • Patent number: 8904816
    Abstract: Ice maker comprising a mould (10, 110) forming at a number of mould cavities (11, 111a, 11b) for receiving water and forming a respective piece of ice (41, 42,141), which number of mould cavities are arranged in at least one column defining a longitudinal direction; a first (2, 102) and a second shaft (3, 103); an endless conveyor (100), which is arranged to convey the mould in the longitudinal direction around at least the first shaft; and drive means (8) connected to at least one of the first and second shafts for driving the conveyor. The mould (10, 110) is formed of an elastic material and arranged to be elastically deformed as the mould passes over the first shaft (2, 102). Longitudinal communication channels (13a, 113a) are arranged between consecutive mould cavities (11, 111a) arranged in one column, for allowing water to flow between mould cavities in one column. A method of fabricating pieces of ice is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Anders Bergqvist, Per Wedby, Björn Flemsäter, Jan Rickman, Ingemar Hallin
  • Patent number: 8820109
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, a base that has been sufficiently aerated, and at least one flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate. The scraper blade is directed opposite the direction of rotation of the freeze plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Khoo, William A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8813508
    Abstract: A high capacity, continuous production blast freezer includes an insulated enclosure, a refrigeration system supplying cold air to the enclosure and a plurality of trays containing comestibles to be frozen. A tray advancement or pusher mechanism advances a first tray into the enclosure and then advances a second tray into the enclosure, pushing the first tray further into the enclosure. Gradually a first level of the enclosure is filled with trays. An elevator mechanism at both ends of the enclosure allows the trays reaching the end of the enclosure to advance to a second level, and the tray advancement mechanism advances the tray out of the elevator onto the second level. Eventually, as additional trays are pushed into the enclosure, the second level and then optionally further levels of the enclosure are filled with trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Burn
  • Patent number: 8783046
    Abstract: An ice display device includes a chill tube and a piston that slides within the chill tube providing a fluidtight seal against the interior. The tube is filled with water and cooled to form an ice column. A shutter may selectively close the upper end of the chill tube with a fluidtight seal while the ice column is formed. The tube is warmed and the piston is lifted to an upper end of the tube to display the ice column. A plurality of water nozzles may selectively discharge streams of high pressure water inwardly to sculpt the ice column. An armature may extend upwardly from the piston to support and cool an interior of the ice column. The tube and armature may be cooled and warmed by a thermal transfer fluid. A device may be provided to induce turbulence in the thermal transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: WET Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James Doyle, Mark Fuller, Karl Nettmann
  • Publication number: 20140165600
    Abstract: A clear ice maker having an ice tray with a thermally conductive cold plate, where the cold plate has a top surface and a bottom surface, with a thermoelectric cooling device thermally coupled to the bottom surface. Water is dispensed onto the top surface, and the bottom surface is cooled such that a portion of the water adjacent the top surface is frozen, to form a layer of ice. Then the ice tray is oscillated about a transverse axis of the ice tray, such that the water freezes in successive layers from the top surface of the cold plate upwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
  • Publication number: 20140165621
    Abstract: An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
  • Publication number: 20140165605
    Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for an appliance includes an ice tray rotatably coupled with a housing and horizontally suspended within an interior volume of the housing. The ice tray includes a metallic ice forming plate with a bottom surface, a substantially planar top surface and an edge portion. A containment wall extends upward from the top surface along the edge portion. A grid having at least one dividing wall extends across the top surface between the containment walls. A fluid line extends into the housing and supplies water to the top surface of the ice tray to be retained by the containment wall and the grid. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The containment wall and the grid have a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the ice forming plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY
  • Publication number: 20140165604
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly includes an ice forming plate and a cooling source thermally engaged to a bottom surface of the ice forming plate. The cooling source is configured to freeze water coming into contact with a top surface of the ice forming plate. A containment wall surrounds the top surface of the ice forming plate to define an ice tray that is configured to retain water. An electrical drive body is rotatably coupled to the ice tray and is configured to oscillate the ice-forming plate in a rocking cycle about a transverse axis of the ice tray. A median wall divides the ice tray along the transverse axis into a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The rocking cycle causes water to repeatedly move over the median wall to form layers of an ice piece within each reservoir of the ice tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PATRICK J. BOARMAN, BRIAN K. CULLEY, ANDREW D. LTICH, MARK E. THOMAS
  • Patent number: 8726686
    Abstract: An ice-making device and a refrigerator having the ice-making device are provided. The ice-making device includes an ice-making housing defining a predetermined ice-making space therein, an ice tray rotatably installed in the ice-making space and provided with a plurality of ice-making grooves, and a protruding rib that is formed on the ice tray to prevent water from being splashed out of the ice-making grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong-Seok Yoon, Byeong-Gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 8707725
    Abstract: An ice making device with a manually removable water tank is provided. When mounted, this tank has a system for opening a valve that allows dispensing water into an ice making tray of the ice making device. The ice making tray is rotatable so that the ice cubes formed in the tray can be removed. The ice making tray may be rotated by a pair of gears, one of them holds the ice making tray in position and transmits a rotation force to the tray; this gear has a preload spring which generates an appropriate return force. The other gear is part of the lever, giving torsion to the tray and may be operated by a user. When rotating the tray, the ice cubes may fall directly into an ice bucket which can be removed from the system to externally serve ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mabe, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Alan Federico Camacho Velázquez
  • Patent number: 8677774
    Abstract: Ice making portions of an ice making machine have a pair of ice making plates disposed vertically and an evaporation tube disposed between back faces of the ice making plates. A plurality of vertically extending projected rims are formed at predetermined intervals widthwise on a surface of each ice making plate to define a plurality of ice making regions. The ice making plates facing the ice making regions are provided with consecutive vertical steps of inclined portions inclined from a back side towards a front side as directed downwardly, and contact horizontal extensions of the evaporation tube at a vertically intermediate position on a back face of each inclined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Yuji Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 8661841
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a support and a mold rotatably mounted to the support configured for forming an ice cube therein. The mold has a base, a side wall attached to the base, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end fixed to the base of the mold, a distal end outside of the mold, and a central section between the proximal end and the distal end and extending through the opening. The auger also has a threaded portion. An inner mold is non-rotatably fixed to the support and extends into the mold. The inner mold defines an outer shape of the ice cube. The inner mold has at least one wall non-concentric with reference to a center line of the auger. A motor rotates the mold and auger relative to the support and inner mold. The inner mold is configured to prevent the ice cube from rotating with the mold and auger, the auger thereby moving the ice cube out of the mold and the inner mold via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Kevin Farrelly Nolan
  • Patent number: 8584474
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8578721
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker including a mold with two or more cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A bracket defines a track establishing a range of travel of the mold during an ice making cycle and a removable pin projects outwardly from the mold, extending into the track defined by the bracket to support the mold within the ice maker. The mold can be provided with a partition separating the cavities, the partition including an aperture for establishing a substantially-even water level in the cavities below the partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David R. Ducharme, Gerald Maxie
  • Patent number: 8534087
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice maker positioned in the refrigerator and configured to make ice. The refrigerator also includes a plate positioned at an open side of the ice making tray and configured to reduce water overflow. The refrigerator further includes a cool air inlet passage configured to allow cool air to be introduced to an area inside of the plate. In addition, the refrigerator includes a cool air outlet passage that is separate from the cool air inlet passage, and configured to allow release of cool air from the area inside of the plate to an exterior of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Lee, Dong-Hoon Lee, Tae-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8528356
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Russell James Fallon, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8499571
    Abstract: A drive unit for an automatic ice maker may include a drive part provided with a motor for driving an ice tray and an ice detecting member, a position detecting device for detecting positions of the ice tray and the ice detecting member, a control section for controlling drive of the motor on the basis of detection signals of the position detecting device, and a unit case in which the control section, the drive part, the position detecting device are accommodated. The automatic ice maker may be installed in an ice making compartment of a refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Saito
  • Patent number: 8495892
    Abstract: Frozen aerated products are produced by providing two forming elements, providing at least one open cavity on a surface of each forming element, providing filling means for filling said cavities with a frozen aerated material at a temperature higher than the temperature of the forming elements, filling two cavities, one on each forming element, with a frozen aerated material having an overrun of between 10% and 130%, allowing the frozen aerated material to expand outside its cavity and moving the two cavities opposite one another so that the frozen aerated material in each cavity is pressed against the frozen aerated material in the other cavity. A stick is placed between the two filled cavities before the frozen aerated material in each cavity is pressed against the frozen aerated material in the other cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Cheney, Leonie Martine Diks-Warmerdam, Paul Michael Doehren, Stephen John Dyks, Jonkheer Theodoor Hendrik van de Poll
  • Patent number: 8459057
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Kim, Jin Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8443619
    Abstract: An ice making unit and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes an ice making unit to make ice pieces. The ice making unit includes a plurality of ice making trays to form ice pieces, a lever part connected to the ice making trays to simultaneously rotate the ice making trays, and a stopper to prevent one of a pair of rotating shafts of each of the ice making trays from being rotated at a predetermined angle or more so that the ice making trays get twisted when the ice making trays are rotated. Accordingly, ice pieces can be separated from the ice making trays by operation of a single lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 8434321
    Abstract: An ice making assembly for a refrigerator and a method for controlling the ice making assembly are provided. The ice making assembly and the method of controlling the ice making assembly provides a constant amount of water supply for each ice making cycle regardless of environmental conditions such as the varying water supply pressure of different installation locations. Furthermore, overflowing can be prevented during water supply with the use of a capacitance water level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8402783
    Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator, which is designed to separate ice through a simple process is provided. The ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice tray defining an ice-making space, an ice core member that is partly received in the ice-making space to make ice at an end thereof, a driving unit moving and rotating at least one of the ice tray and the ice core member, and a power transmission unit for transferring power from the driving unit to the ice core member. The ice on the ice core member starts being separated in a state where the ice is spaced apart from an outer surface of the ice tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8402782
    Abstract: An ice-making device designed to make and separate ice from an ice tray through a simple process is provided. The ice-making device includes an ice tray defining an ice-making space, a freezing core that is partly received in the ice-making space to make ice at an end thereof, a driving unit moving and rotating the freezing core, and a power transmission unit for transferring power from the driving unit to the freezing core. The power transmission unit including a cam unit rotatably connected to the driving unit and a moving member that moves in vertical and rotational direction by a driving force of a motor transferred by the cam unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Hong Hee Park, Ho Youn Lee, Joon Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8375737
    Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic appliance comprises an ice tray, a water feed line which can be used to fill the ice tray with water, a water filter which is arranged in the water feed line such that it can be replaced, and a monitoring unit for calculating a value which is representative of the degree of wear of the filter. The monitoring unit has means for changing the representative value by a first fixed step width each time the ice tray is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Hausmann, Peter Nalbach
  • Patent number: 8353178
    Abstract: An ice making housing which is mounted in a refrigerator door and forms an ice making chamber including an ice making tray which has a rotational shaft to be rotatably accommodated in the ice making housing, and an ice generating unit to freeze supplied water; an ice separating unit which is mounted in the ice making housing and separates ice cubes from the ice making tray; an overflow preventing member which is rotatably coupled to the ice making housing along a lengthwise direction of the ice making tray and prevents overflow of water accommodated in the ice making tray; and a driving unit which is provided in the ice making tray and the overflow preventing member and allows the overflow preventing member to reciprocate between an ice separating position separating ice cubes from the ice generating unit and a cover position covering the ice generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Kim, Young-gwi Park
  • Patent number: 8316661
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ice making device for a refrigerator, which is installed in a storage space of the refrigerator to make ice by cold air circulating through the storage space. The ice making device comprises a water tank which is installed within an ice making space provided in a receiving box installed to be introduced into and taken out from the storage space, and has a water-storing space for storing water to be used in making ice and at least one water-supplying hole for use in supplying the water stored in the water-storing space; and at least one ice tray installed in the ice making space and provided with at least one ice making recess for use in making ice by receiving the water stored in the water-storing space. The water stored in the water tank is supplied to the ice tray when the water tank is mounted in the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 8215124
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, a base that has been sufficiently aerated, and at least one flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Tim P. Hogan, John J. Hsing, Brian R. Hill
  • Patent number: 8161767
    Abstract: The ice making apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of ice trays are arranged in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions, and that the ice tray arranged in the front row and the ice tray arranged in the rear row are rotated to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gue Sec Hwang
  • Patent number: 8132424
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an ice machine has the form of a cylinder. In some embodiments, the cylinder is made from an extrusion of a metal such as an aluminum alloy. The heat exchanger includes inner and outer cylindrical walls and one or more refrigeration passages positioned between the inner and outer walls. The inner and outer walls are separated from each other by connecting structures defining the refrigeration passages. The heat exchanger can be extruded as a rectangular panel and subsequently formed into a cylindrical form. Alternatively, the heat exchanger can be extruded as a cylinder, or as an arcuate cylindrical segment in which several of such segments are subsequently joined together (as by welding) into a cylinder. Ice machines that feature ice formation on both the inner and outer walls of the cylinder are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Integrated Marine Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Burn
  • Patent number: 8109113
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Takata, Brian R. Hill, Christopher K. Khoo, Timothy P. Hogan, John J. Hsing, Sam J. Ford, Tim J. DeGroot, William A. Miller, James Martin, Christopher E. Peters
  • Patent number: 8104304
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice-making device for a refrigerator. The ice-making device of the present invention comprises a water tank detachably installed to a rear surface of a refrigerator door for selectively opening or closing a storage space, first and second ice trays rotatably installed to the rear surface of the door to make ice using water supplied from the water tank, and an ice bank installed to the rear surface of the door to store therein the ice made in the first and second ice trays. According to the present invention, ice can be more simply and easily taken out while minimizing the leakage of cold air circulating in the storage space. Further, ice can be stored in a more sanitary way while minimizing the contamination of the storage space in the process of making ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong-Gyu Kang, Young-Woo Kim, Jae-Youl Lee, Hwal-Kyun Lee, Jong-Seok Yoon, Sang-Ho Park
  • Publication number: 20110314842
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for ice maker systems are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises the steps of: heating an ice mold body to separate ice formed in the ice mold body from the ice mold body; releasing the separated ice from the ice mold body; and contacting at least a portion of the ice mold body with a heat transfer fluid to cool the ice mold body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Carlos A. Herrera, Russell James Fallon, Ronald Gary Foster, William Newton
  • Publication number: 20110265498
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes an apparatus for producing ice comprising a reservoir that contains water, at least one freezing member, a power source, and at least one fin located on the reservoir. The at least one freezing member is located at least partially in the reservoir. The at least one freezing member is configured for forming ice by freezing the water along the periphery of the at least one freezing member. The power source is configured to move the reservoir to create a movement of the water about the at least one freezing member. The at least one fin located on the reservoir is configured for enhancing the movement of the water about the at least one freezing member and for restricting a splashing of water from the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: David L. Hall
  • Publication number: 20110259037
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold and a sweeping element. The ice mold includes a plurality of cavities and is configured to be rotatable about an axis that is spaced apart from the cavities and extends longitudinally with respect to the ice mold. The sweeping element is configured to be rotatable about the axis and includes a shaft with a plurality of fingers radially extending from the shaft. Each of the fingers is configured to extend into a corresponding one of the cavities upon rotation of the shaft about the axis. During a harvesting step, the ice mold is configured to rotate in a first direction about the axis while the sweeping element is configured to rotate in a second direction about the axis that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Woodrow McCollough, Edward M. Young, Aaron Arvia
  • Publication number: 20100326118
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. The ice maker includes an ice making tray including a plurality of ice making cells, a driving unit to rotate the ice making tray, a plurality of blades corresponding to the plurality of ice making cells to block the ice cubes made in the ice making cells and thus twist the ice making tray while removing the ice cubes from the ice making cells when the ice making tray is rotated, and a protrusion formed on the ice making tray to assist the removal of the ice cubes from the ice making cells. The ice maker removes the ice cubes from the ice making tray by a twisting-type deicing process using the plurality of blades and the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Young Shik Shin, Sang Hyun Park, Qasim Khan
  • Publication number: 20100236273
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice-making device for a refrigerator. The ice-making device of the present invention comprises a water tank detachably installed to a rear surface of a refrigerator door for selectively opening or closing a storage space, first and second ice trays rotatably installed to the rear surface of the door to make ice using water supplied from the water tank, and an ice bank installed to the rear surface of the door to store therein the ice made in the first and second ice trays. According to the present invention, ice can be more simply and easily taken out while minimizing the leakage of cold air circulating in the storage space. Further, ice can be stored in a more sanitary way while minimizing the contamination of the storage space in the process of making ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeong-Gyu Kang, Young-Woo Kim, Jae-Youl Lee, Hwal-Kyun Lee, Jong-Seok Yoon, Sang-Ho Park
  • Publication number: 20100229590
    Abstract: An ice maker adapted to be mounted a refrigeration appliance comprises an ice-making container (14) and an ice-releasing system (18, 18a) for separating the formed ice from the ice-making container. The ice-making container is provided with a substantially water-tight cover (16) for preventing a water spill when ice is not already formed in the ice-making container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roberto Riccardi, Armando Solis
  • Publication number: 20100218542
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas W. McCollough, Russell Watts, David L. Hall, Cornel Comsa, Dennis Schenk, Marcelo Candeo, Dennis Carl Hansen