| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 062135000 | By congealed removable product condition | 36 |
| 20100218524 | DRIVE UNIT FOR AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER - 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. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20150143832 | CURD MAKER AND REFRIGERATOR HAVING THE SAME - A refrigerator having a curd maker to make curd directly disposed in a refrigerating compartment wherein curd is made by the curd maker disposed in the refrigerating compartment and is kept fresh. The refrigerator includes a curd maker provided in a refrigerating compartment to ferment milk into curd, wherein the curd maker includes a case including an outer case forming an external appearance of the case and an inner case provided in the outer case, an insulation member provided between the outer case and the inner case, a curd container received in the inner case to store milk, a heater provided between the inner case and the insulation member to heat the curd container, a fan to supply cool air from the refrigerating compartment to the curd container to cool the curd container, and a temperature sensor to measure temperature in the curd maker. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20160084557 | REFRIGERATOR WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL - An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160201967 | REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCES | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160249637 | A NEW ICE CREAM MACHINE WITH REDUCER TRANSMISSION | 09-01-2016 |
| 062136000 | By change of consistency, e.g., viscosity or overrun | 2 |
| 20090173089 | Refrigerator with an automatic compact fluid operated icemaker - An icemaker for a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigerated compartment and an unrefrigerated machine compartment includes a body portion formed with an inlet, an outlet and an opening. A flexible mold is positioned in the opening. A water supply is positioned to provide water to the flexible mold. A fluid supply circuit, including a pump mounted in the machine compartment, a first fluid conduit connected between the pump and the inlet, and a second fluid conduit connected to the outlet, provides warm fluid to the body portion. The icemaker forms ice during an ice production cycle and the fluid warmed in the machine compartment is used to partially melt and aid in releasing the ice which is then deposited in a ice storage bin during a harvest cycle. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20140208786 | Defrost Control For Multiple Barrel Frozen Product Dispensers - To defrost one barrel of a two barrel FCB dispenser, a refrigeration system defrosts the one barrel, while neither defrosting nor chilling the other barrel, for either a selected time or until a frozen beverage is drawn from the other barrel, whichever occurs first. Once the selected time or beverage draw occurs, the refrigeration system chills the other barrel until beverage within it is properly frozen, while neither defrosting nor chilling the one barrel. Once beverage in the other barrel is properly frozen, the refrigeration system resumes defrosting the one barrel, whereupon the foregoing cycle is repeated until defrost of the one barrel is complete, at which point the refrigeration system chills the one barrel to refreeze product in it. The arrangement keeps beverage in the other barrel properly frozen during defrosting of the one barrel. | 07-31-2014 |
| 062137000 | By accumulation of product | 29 |
| 20080256962 | ICE MAKING APPARATUS - An ice making apparatus is provided. When an ice full detecting arm is not returned to an initial position by being caught on ice filled in the ice bank, it is determined that the ice bank is fully filled with the ice. Since the ice full detecting arm does not rotate when it is caught by the ice of the ice bank, the damage of the ice full detecting arm can be prevented. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080264082 | Ice making device and refrigerator having the same - An ice making device and a refrigerator having the ice making device include an ice making tray having ice making grooves opened at upper sides thereof to receive water and a cool air flow channel disposed below the ice making grooves and along which cool air flows. Cool air is uniformly supplied from one side to the other side of the ice making tray along the cool air flow channel, and therefore, the ice making process is completed in a reduced time. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090000320 | Chilled Liquid Dispensers - The dispenser includes a bottle connector | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090031736 | Packable ice level sensing architecture - A packable ice level sensing architecture, mounted on an ice maker, for detecting an ice amount of the ice maker is disclosed. The packable ice level sensing architecture includes a sensing component and a limit structure linked to the sensing component. The sensing component is mounted at one side of the ice maker through a pivot, wherein the sensing component is foldable toward the ice maker through taking the pivot as an axle, so that the sensing component can have a sensing position and a packed position corresponding to the ice maker. The limit structure has a limit component linked to the pivot for limiting the sensing component at the sensing position or the packed position, and the sensing component can produce a pulling stroke, corresponding to the ice maker, for releasing a limiting relationship between the limit component and the pivot. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090145142 | Machine for the production and distribution of ice particles - A machine for the production and distribution of ice particles, having a frame comprising a refrigerator group evaporator and forming means for forming the ice particles, the machine further having a distributing device for distributing the ice particles and comprising a closed housing for storing the ice particles, wherein the distributing device is located outside of the frame. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090173090 | Down Flow Type Ice Making Machine - A down flow type ice making machine in which an ice storage detector is protected against damage and occurrence of failure can be suppressed. An ice storage bin ( | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090255282 | Icemaker - An icemaker including an icemaker control module comprises components including an insert molded circuit board assembly, a motor assembly, an ice level sensing system using a bail arm or a paddle, and a water fill system. Lance features in the circuit board connect switch and motor leads. The thermostat, ground member, and heater of the icemaker electrically couple to the insert molded circuit board when the icemaker control module is joined to the ice maker. Energy may be conserved by pausing rotation and turning off the heater. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090255283 | REFRIGERATOR AND ICE MAKER THEREOF - An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator the apparatus includes an ice maker, an ice container to collect ice made by the ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the ice container. The ice detecting sensor has a transmitter module provided on one side of the ice maker and a receiver module provided on another side of the ice maker. The transmitter module is separated by a prescribed distance from the receiver module. At least one of the transmitter module or receiver module includes at least one optical element and at least one heater, and the heater is made of an electroconductive heating material. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090314016 | ICE IMAGING SYSTEM - A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting multiple physical characteristics of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The system includes a digital image capture device coupled to a digital image analyzing system which captures digital images of the ice cube storage bin intermittently and compares the images to detect the presence of ice clumps. In addition, the digital image analyzing system evaluates the edges, ice size and/or image intensity of the ice cubes in the images in order to determine the presence of stale ice. An algorithm is utilized to estimate the volume of ice within the bin based on the number of pixels in an ice bin image, the number of pixels of the ice within the bin, and a known volume of the ice bin. Notifications for clumped ice, stale ice and ice volume within the bin are sent to a user interface. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100005818 | ICE MAKING DEVICE - An ice making device may include an ice tray for producing ice pieces, an ice storage part for storing the ice pieces, an ice discharging device for discharging the ice pieces from the ice tray to the ice storage part, an ice detecting lever having an ice abutting part for abutting with the ice pieces stored in the ice storage part, an ice detecting lever drive mechanism for driving the ice detecting lever toward the ice storage part, and a case body within which a drive source for the ice detecting lever drive mechanism is provided. The ice detecting lever drive mechanism may include a turning output member which transmits a rotational drive force of the drive source to an outer side of the case body, and a turning-linear conversion mechanism which is arranged on the outer side of the case body to convert turning of the turning output member into reciprocated linear-motion that is transmitted to the ice detecting lever. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100095692 | REFRIGERATOR AND/OR FREEZER - This invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer with an ice maker, wherein the appliance includes at least one fan associated to the ice maker, which is arranged such that cold air is supplied to the ice maker by means of the fan. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100107664 | REFRIGERATOR AND ICE MAKING ASSEMBLY THEREOF - An ice making assembly according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that the operation of the sensing lever for measuring the storage amount of ice is smoothly activated, and that the amount of ice stored in the container is accurately measured. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100139299 | REFRIGERATOR AND FULL ICE LEVEL SENSING APPARATUS THEREOF - A refrigerator and an ice level sensing apparatus are provided. The refrigerator may include a main body, and an ice level sensing apparatus including an optical element for sending or receiving a signal, and an alignment device for aligning and maintaining alignment of the optical element in a preset direction. The sensing apparatus may sense whether an ice storage container in which ice cubes made by an ice maker is at a full ice level. The optical element may be aligned at a preset position, thus preventing movement of the optical element, resulting in improved reliability of the sensing apparatus. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100175398 | Refrigerator and control method thereof - A refrigerator and a control method thereof to control a rotational direction of an ice making motor to detect an ice full state of an ice storage without separating the ice from the ice maker. The refrigerator includes an ice making tray making ice therein, an ejector separating the ice, an ice storage storing the separated ice, an ice full state sensing lever detecting the ice full state of the ice storage, an ice making motor driving the ejector and the ice full state sensing lever, and a controller detecting the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in an ice moving direction, and detecting release of the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in the opposite direction after the ice full state is detected. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100205985 | WEIGHING TYPE ICE VENDING MACHINE - A weighing type ice vending machine includes an ice cube formation device installed in a machine body for supplying a specific weight of ice cubes after coins are inputted, and a body composed of a storage bucket, an output device, a weight sensing module and a control loop. Pure water is put into an ice tray in the machine body and condensed into ice cubes which are gathered into a storage bucket for a cold storage. A user puts a user's container on a weighing scale of the weight sensing module at an outlet of the machine body outlet and inserts coins whose dollar amount information is displayed. The quantity of outputted ice cubes is calculated and outputted automatically, and then the ice supply is stopped. The quantity of remained ice cubes in the machine body is recorded automatically, such that the ice cube will be produced again timely and the supply of ice cubes will be stopped temporarily. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100212340 | GEAR MECHANISM, ICE MAKING DEVICE AND ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR GEAR MECHANISM - A gear mechanism may include a first gear for operating a first drive object a second gear for operating a second drive object in cooperation with the first drive object and a third gear connected with a drive source. The second gear may include a small gear part engaged with the first gear, and a large gear part engaged with the third gear. An end face of the second gear on the large gear part side may be formed with a flange part and the flange part is formed with a cutout part for allowing the large gear part to engage with the third gear. The gear mechanism may be preferably applied to an ice making device. An assembling method for the gear mechanism may utilize a previously formed mark part on the first gear for determining a position in a circumferential direction of the first gear with respect to the case body and a previously formed positioning recessed part in the small gear part of the second gear so that a positioning pin is capable of being engaged with the positioning recessed part. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100218525 | REFRIGERATOR - The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can precisely adjust and display not only an ice making and storing amount but also an ice dispensing amount. As an ice level sensing unit provided at an ice storage unit for storing ice senses the ice storage amount by light, it is possible to adjust and display the ice storage amount. Moreover, as an ice sensing unit provided at an ice guide unit for dispensing ice senses the ice dispensing amount by light, it is possible to adjust and display the ice dispensing amount. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100319373 | Ice-making unit and refrigerator having the same - Disclosed herein are an ice-making unit, which uses a cooling unit in which a refrigerant pipe is received, and a refrigerator having the same. The cooling unit includes a cooler for conduction of coldness, an inner surface of the cooler coming into direct contact with the refrigerant pipe, realizing a direct cooling type ice making operation. A rotatable tray is provided under the cooling unit, so that an ice-separating member attached to the cooling unit pushes ice upon rotation of the tray, allowing the ice to be discharged in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the tray. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110048045 | ICE MAKER AND REFRIGERATOR HAVING THE SAME - An ice maker comprises a tray accommodating water to make ice, a first control box ( | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110113799 | ICE LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM - An ice level sensing system for an appliance having a cavity with a cavity wall. An ice storage bin and an ice maker are disposed within the cavity. The ice storage bin is configured to hold ice discharged from the ice maker. The ice level sensing system includes a transmitter for transmitting a light beam and a detector for detecting the light beam. The transmitter and the detector are disposed on the cavity wall. A reflector is disposed relatively remote from the transmitter. The transmitter is operative to project the light beam toward the reflector. The transmitter and the detector are angled relative to each other so that the light beam reflected by the reflector is directed toward the detector. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110138828 | MEGA ICE BIN - An ice collection area is disposed inside the cabinet proximate an ice maker. An ice storage area is disposed inside the cabinet. A first relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The first relocatable ice bin is disposed in one of the ice collection area and the ice storage area. A second relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The second relocatable ice bin is disposed in the other of the ice collection area and the ice storage area. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110146312 | REFRIGERATOR - A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a refrigerator door opening and closing the storage compartment. The refrigerator door includes an ice compartment, an ice maker in the ice compartment, the ice maker generating ice cubes, an ice bin storing the ice cubes generated in the ice maker, and a cool air duct guiding cool air to the ice maker. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110214442 | DOOR MOUNTED ICE LEVEL DETECTION DEVICE - An ice level detection device of a refrigerator includes an ice level detection arm and an ice storage container detection arm, the ice level detection arm operatively connected to a mechanical motor for movement between an ice sensing position with the ice level detection arm extending at least partially into the ice storage container and an ice harvest position with the ice level detection arm being clear of the ice storage container, the ice storage container detection arm abutting the ice storage container while the ice storage container is mounted at the door. The ice level detection arm transitions from the ice sensing position to the ice harvest position for ice harvest by the ice maker. Opening the door disables ice harvest by the ice maker. Upon removal of the ice storage container the ice level detection arm transitions to the ice harvest position and disables ice harvest. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20120111041 | FLOAT-TYPE ICE MAKING ASSEMBLY AND RELATED REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE - An ice making assembly includes a reservoir holding water having a water level, at least one conductor extending into the reservoir below the water level, and a cooling device for cooling the conductor to a temperature sufficient to form an ice cube on the conductor. A heater heats the conductor to a temperature sufficient to harvest the ice cube from the conductor. A dispensing device removes harvested ice cubes from the water. Related refrigeration appliances are disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120186288 | ICE-HARVEST DRIVE MECHANISM WITH DUAL POSITION BAIL ARM - An ice-maker drive mechanism presents a housing having a frontward extending drive for an ice-harvester mechanism and left and right bail arm drive hubs. A bail arm that may drop into an ice bin collecting ice from the ice-maker to sense a height of ice cubes in a the ice bin may be attached to either of the left and right bail arm drive hubs providing a versatile ice-making mechanism that may be used in a variety of refrigerator designs. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120285187 | AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER - An automatic ice maker installed within a freezing compartment includes an ice tray arranged to hold water and make ice pieces; an ice ejecting mechanism arranged to eject the ice pieces made in the ice tray; an ice releasing heater arranged to melt surfaces of the ice pieces made in the ice tray; a thermostat arranged to detect a temperature of the ice tray and to operate at a specified temperature; and an ice storage amount detecting mechanism arranged to detect an amount of the ice pieces stored within an ice storage box. The automatic ice maker further includes a switch mechanism arranged to stop an operation of the ice releasing heater in conjunction with an operation of the ice ejecting mechanism. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20130219938 | REFRIGERATOR WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL - An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20160076803 | MULTI-PART ICEMAKER BAIL ARMS AND ICEMAKERS - Example multi-part icemaker bail arms are disclosed. An example multi-art icemaker bail arm includes a first member having a first end rotationally attached to the icemaker, and a second member attached to an opposite end of the first member, the second member moveable relative to the first member in response to a lateral force applied to the second member. An example icemaker includes a bail arm, a power source monitor to provide a signal representative of a power source state, a direct-current motor to retract the bail arm when the signal represents a power source interruption, and a battery to power the motor. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160131408 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ICE BUCKET ON DOOR - A refrigerator with a freezer compartment having a door to open and close the freezer compartment. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is mounted to the door for receiving ice from the ice maker. A cover is hinged to the ice marker. The cover is moveable between an unrestricting position in which ice is discharged when the door is in a closed position to a restricting position in which ice does not discharge when the door is in an open position. A sliding tray having sidewall enclosing an area behind the ice maker and extending the depth between the ice maker and a rear wall of the refrigerator, defines a storage chamber. | 05-12-2016 |
