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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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ice maker assembly for a refrigerator, said ice maker assembly comprising an ice bucket, said ice bucket comprising:a bottom wall;opposing side walls extending from said bottom wall;a front wall;a back wall, said bottom wall, said side walls, said front wall, and said back wall defining an ice

1. An ice maker assembly for a refrigerator, said ice maker assembly comprising an ice bucket, said ice bucket comprising:a bottom wall;opposing side walls extending from said bottom wall;a front wall;a back wall, said bottom wall, said side walls, said front wall, and said back wall defining an ice collection cavity;a plurality of ribs extending from said bottom wall into said ice collection cavity; anda rotatable auger extending between said front and back walls, each said rib extends from a side wall towards said auger.2. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said rib is tapered from said side wall.3. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:an auger drive cup comprising a circular ring portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said drive cup positioned in an opening in said back wall, said outer surface rotatably coupled to said back wall, said auger drive cup operatively coupled to said auger; anda drive post extending radially from said inner surface of said ring portion, said drive post comprising a tapered surface facing away from said auger.4. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a drive fork operatively coupled to a drive motor, said drive fork comprising:a base portion having a first end and a second end;a first engagement tang extending from said first end of said base portion, said first engagement tang comprising a first tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a tip and a second tapered portion extending from a second side edge to said tip, said tip off centered; anda second tang extending from said second end of said base portion, said first tang longer than said second tang, said second tang comprising a tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a second side edge, an intersection of said tapered portion and said second side edge defining a tip of said second tang.5. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:a first and an opposing glide track; andfront slide nubins and rear slide nubins extending from said opposing side walls of said ice bucket, said front and rear slide nubins sized to slide in said glide tracks, each said glide tracks comprising a track stop that act as pivot points for tilting said ice bucket, and a tilt stop portion that engages said rear nubin to limit the amount of tilt and hold said ice bucket in place when tilted downward.6. An ice maker assembly for a refrigerator, said ice maker assembly comprising an ice bucket, said ice bucket comprising:a bottom wall;opposing side walls extending from said bottom wall;a front wall;a back wall, said bottom wall, said side walls, said front wall, and said back wall defining an ice collection cavity;a rotatable auger extending between said front and back walls;an auger drive cup comprising a circular ring portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said drive cup positioned in an opening in said back wall, said outer surface rotatably coupled to said back wall, said auger drive cup operatively coupled to said auger; anda drive post extending radially from said inner surface of said ring portion, said drive post comprising a tapered surface facing away from said auger.7. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a drive fork operatively coupled to a drive motor, said drive fork comprising:a base portion having a first end and a second end;a first engagement tang extending from said first end of said base portion, said first engagement tang comprising a first tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a tip and a second tapered portion extending from a second side edge to said tip, said tip off centered; anda second tang extending from said second end of said base portion, said first tang longer than said second tang, said second tang comprising a tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a second side edge, an intersection of said tapered portion and said second side edge defining a tip of said second tang.8. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from said bottom wall into said ice collection cavity.9. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein each said rib extends from a side wall towards said auger.10. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein each said rib is tapered from said side wall.11. An ice maker assembly in accordance with claim 6 further comprising:a first and an opposing glide track; andfront slide nubins and rear slide nubins extending from said opposing side walls of said ice bucket, said front and rear slide nubins sized to slide in said glide tracks, each said glide tracks comprising a track stop that act as pivot points for tilting said ice bucket, and a tilt stop portion that engages said rear nubin to limit the amount of tilt and hold said ice bucket in place when tilted downward.12. A refrigerator comprising:a fresh food compartment;a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion, said freezer compartment comprising a back wall;a first glide track and an opposing second glide track mounted in said freezer compartment; andan ice maker positioned within said freezer compartment, said ice maker comprising an ice bucket slidably mounted in said freezer compartment, said ice bucket tiltable to a downward slope from said back wall to permit access to an ice collection cavity of said ice bucket, said ice bucket comprising front slide nubins and rear slide nubins extending from a first side and an opposing second side of said ice bucket, said front and rear slide nubins sized to slide in said glide tracks, each said glide tracks comprising a track stop that act as pivot points for tilting said ice bucket, and a tilt stop portion that engages said rear nubin to limit the amount of tilt and hold said ice bucket in place when tilted downward; said ice bucket further comprising:a bottom wall;opposing side walls extending from said bottom wall;a front wall;a back wall, said bottom wall, side walls, front wall, and back wall defining said ice collection cavity;a plurality of ribs extending from said bottom wall into said ice collection cavity; anda rotatable auger extending between said front and back walls.13. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said rib extends from a side wall towards said auger.14. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 13 wherein each said rib is tapered from said side wall.15. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 12 further comprising:an auger drive cup comprising a circular ring portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, said drive cup positioned in an opening in said back wall, said outer surface rotatably coupled to said back wall, said auger drive cup operatively coupled to said auger; anda drive post extending radially from said inner surface of said ring portion, said drive post comprising a tapered surface facing away from said auger.16. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 15 wherein said ice bucket further comprising a drive fork operatively coupled to a drive motor, said drive fork comprising:a base portion having a first end and a second end;a first engagement tang extending from said first end of said base portion, said first engagement tang comprising a first tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a tip and a second tapered portion extending from a second side edge to said tip, said tip off centered; anda second tang extending from said second end of said base portion, said first tang longer than said second tang, said second tang comprising a tapered portion extending from a first side edge to a second side edge, an intersection of said tapered portion and said second side edge defining a tip of said second tang.