Ice dispenser and crusher for a refrigerator appliance
First Claim
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1. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, the ice dispensing assembly comprising:
- an ice bucket defining a cavity for stowing ice and defining an opening;
a dispenser crusher mechanism, comprising;
a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber in communication with the opening of the ice bucket for receipt of ice;
a horizontal coupling assembly defining a horizontal axis and operatively coupled with a drive motor along the horizontal axis, the horizontal coupling assembly comprising;
a horizontal shaft rotatable about the horizontal axis;
a horizontal transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the horizontal shaft;
a vertical drive assembly received within the first chamber of the housing and defining a first vertical axis, the vertical drive assembly comprising;
a vertical shaft rotatable about the first vertical axis;
a vertical transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft and in mechanical engagement with the horizontal transmission gear of the horizontal coupling assembly;
a drive gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft;
a drum assembly defining a second vertical axis, the drum assembly comprising;
a drum received within the second chamber and rotatable about the second vertical axis, the drum in mechanical engagement with the drive gear;
an upper bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis;
a lower bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis;
a main shaft extending along the second vertical axis, the upper and lower bridges each coupled with the main shaft;
at least one rotating blade coupled with the main shaft and with the upper and lower bridges, the upper and lower bridges configured to rotate the at least one rotating blade about the second vertical axis; and
at least one non-rotating blade coupled with the main shaft.
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Abstract
An ice dispensing assembly is provided that can be mounted within an appliance, such as a refrigerator appliance. The ice dispensing assembly includes an ice dispenser crusher mechanism having features that facilitate dispensing and crushing of ice. The construction of dispenser crusher mechanism provides a horizontal axis motor coupling with a vertical axis agitator and crusher for dispensing and crushing ice.
20 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, the ice dispensing assembly comprising:
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an ice bucket defining a cavity for stowing ice and defining an opening; a dispenser crusher mechanism, comprising; a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber in communication with the opening of the ice bucket for receipt of ice; a horizontal coupling assembly defining a horizontal axis and operatively coupled with a drive motor along the horizontal axis, the horizontal coupling assembly comprising; a horizontal shaft rotatable about the horizontal axis; a horizontal transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the horizontal shaft; a vertical drive assembly received within the first chamber of the housing and defining a first vertical axis, the vertical drive assembly comprising; a vertical shaft rotatable about the first vertical axis; a vertical transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft and in mechanical engagement with the horizontal transmission gear of the horizontal coupling assembly; a drive gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft; a drum assembly defining a second vertical axis, the drum assembly comprising; a drum received within the second chamber and rotatable about the second vertical axis, the drum in mechanical engagement with the drive gear; an upper bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis; a lower bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis; a main shaft extending along the second vertical axis, the upper and lower bridges each coupled with the main shaft; at least one rotating blade coupled with the main shaft and with the upper and lower bridges, the upper and lower bridges configured to rotate the at least one rotating blade about the second vertical axis; and at least one non-rotating blade coupled with the main shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An appliance defining a vertical direction, comprising:
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a cabinet defining one or more chilled chambers; an ice dispensing assembly, comprising; a drive motor having an output shaft rotatable about a horizontal axis; an ice bucket defining a cavity for stowing ice and defining an opening; a dispenser crusher mechanism, comprising; a housing defining a chamber, the chamber in communication with the opening of the ice bucket for receipt of ice; a horizontal coupling assembly, comprising; a coupling operatively coupled with the output shaft of the drive motor; a horizontal shaft coupled with the coupling and rotatable about the horizontal axis; a horizontal transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the horizontal shaft, the horizontal transmission gear rotatable with the horizontal shaft in unison; a vertical drive assembly received within the chamber and defining a first vertical axis substantially orthogonal to the horizontal axis, the vertical drive assembly comprising; a vertical shaft rotatable about the first vertical axis; a vertical transmission gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft and in mechanical engagement with the horizontal transmission gear of the horizontal coupling assembly; a drive gear mounted to or integrally formed with the vertical shaft; a drum assembly defining a second vertical axis, the drum assembly comprising; a drum received within the chamber and rotatable about the second vertical axis, the drum in mechanical engagement with the drive gear; an upper bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis; a lower bridge carried by the drum and rotatable about the second vertical axis; a main shaft extending along the second vertical axis, the upper and lower bridges each coupled with the main shaft, the upper bridge coupled with the main shaft above where the lower bridge is coupled with the main shaft along the vertical direction; at least one rotating blade coupled with the main shaft and with the upper and lower bridges, the upper and lower bridges configured to rotate the at least one rotating blade about the second vertical axis; and at least one non-rotating blade coupled with the main shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification