IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0285122
(2011-10-31)
|
등록번호 |
US-8794023
(2014-08-05)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
15 |
초록
▼
An ice dispenser for a refrigeration appliance is provided that can deliver both crushed ice and whole or non-crushed ice. A rotating drum or cylinder carries one or more blades that can crush ice against non-rotating blades carried on an axis or rod that extends into the drum. The direction of rota
An ice dispenser for a refrigeration appliance is provided that can deliver both crushed ice and whole or non-crushed ice. A rotating drum or cylinder carries one or more blades that can crush ice against non-rotating blades carried on an axis or rod that extends into the drum. The direction of rotation of the drum can be selected so as to determine whether crushed or non-crushed ice is dispensed. The dispensing system can be located on the door of the refrigerator. An ice maker can also be positioned with the ice dispenser on the door of the appliance or, optionally, can be located in a compartment of the refrigerator.
대표청구항
▼
1. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising: a container for the receipt of ice, said container having a bottom defining an opening for the passage of ice from said container;a drum comprising a rotatable cylinder configured for receipt of ice from said container, said cylinder positi
1. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising: a container for the receipt of ice, said container having a bottom defining an opening for the passage of ice from said container;a drum comprising a rotatable cylinder configured for receipt of ice from said container, said cylinder positioned below said container at the opening defined by the bottom of the container; said cylinder having a wad and defining a diameter, said rotatable cylinder including one or more rotatable blades connected to the wall of the cylinder and extending along the diameter said cylinder having a top end and a bottom end;at least one tine extending from the top end of said cylinder;an axis extending into said rotatable cylinder, said axis carrying one or more non-rotatable blades extending between the axis and the wall of the cylinder; anda motor in mechanical communication with said rotatable cylinder and configured to selectively cause said rotatable cylinder to rotate about said axis. 2. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a housing extending from the bottom of said container and at least partially enclosing said rotatable cylinder, said axis supported by said housing. 3. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said housing defines at least one aperture for the passage of ice from said rotatable cylinder. 4. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said rotatable cylinder has a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the bottom end is configured with gear teeth positioned along a circumference of said rotatable cylinder and in mechanical communication with said motor. 5. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 4, wherein at least one tine is positioned along the top end of said cylinder for contacting ice from said container. 6. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said at least one tine comprises a pair of tines extending from the top end of said cylinder. 7. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 6, wherein said pair of tines are connected by an extension connected near the top of said pair of tines. 8. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the container is sloped towards the opening defined by the bottom. 9. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said motor causes said rotatable cylinder to rotate in one direction for crushed ice and to rotate in an opposite direction for non-crushed ice. 10. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a cover positioned at the top end of said rotatable cylinder, said cover defining an aperture for the passage of ice from said container and into said rotatable cylinder. 11. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a cover positioned at the top end of said rotatable cylinder, said cover defining a first aperture for the passage of ice from said container and into said rotatable cylinder; and,a housing extending from the bottom of said container and at least partially enclosing said rotatable cylinder, said axis supported by said housing, said housing defining, a second aperture for the passage of ice from said rotatable cylinder. 12. The ice dispensing assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one or more rotatable blades are each configured with a cutting edge that is positioned towards a cutting edge of said one or more non-rotatable blades. 13. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet;a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, or both;an ice maker;an ice dispensing assembly, comprising: a container for the receipt of ice from said ice maker, said container having a bottom;a rotatable drum positioned at the bottom of said container for the receipt of ice from said container;at least one tine extending away from said drum and into said container, said at least one tine configured for stirring ice during rotation of said drum;a rotatable blade extending along a diameter of the drum and attached to the drum;an axis positioned within said drum, said axis extending through an opening defined by said rotatable blade whereby said rotatable blade may rotate around said axis; anda non-rotatable blade attached to the axis;wherein said drum is rotatable about said axis in both a clockwise and counter clockwise direction. 14. The refrigerator as in claim 13, further comprising a motor in mechanical communication with said drum and configured for rotating said drum about said axis. 15. The refrigerator as in claim 14, further comprising at least one processing device in communication with said motor and configured for controlling said motor so as to determine the direction of rotation of said drum depending upon whether the dispensing of ice or crushed ice has been selected by a user. 16. The refrigerator as in claim 13, wherein said drum has a top end and a bottom end, and further comprising a cover positioned at the top end of said drum, said cover defining an aperture for the passage of ice from said container into said rotatable drum. 17. The refrigerator as in claim 13, further comprising a housing that encloses at least a portion of said drum, said housing defining an aperture fix the passage of ice from said drum. 18. The refrigerator as in claim 13, wherein the bottom of said container defines an opening for the passage of ice, and wherein the bottom is sloped towards the opening so as to assist in directing the flow ice towards the opening. 19. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising: a container for the receipt of ice, said container having a bottom defining an opening for the passage of ice from said container;a drum comprising a rotatable cylinder having a top end that is open for the receipt of ice into the cylinder through the opening of said container, the cylinder positioned below said container and at the opening defined by the bottom of the container, said cylinder having a wall and defining a diameter, said rotatable cylinder including one or more rotatable blades connected to the wall of the cylinder and extending along the diameter;an axis extending into said rotatable cylinder, said axis carrying one or more non-rotatable blades extending between the axis and the wall of the cylinder; anda motor in mechanical communication with said rotatable cylinder and configured to selectively cause said rotatable cylinder to rotate about said axis. 20. The ice dispensing assembly of claim 19, further comprising at least one tine extending from the top end of said cylinder.
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