ICE DISPENSING AND DETECTING APPARATUS

• US 20080134709A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: SCHWARTZ, MATTHEW RUSSEL, SIWEK, AMY LAUREN, BASHARK, LARRY THOMAS, JEFFERY, RANDELL LEE, MCCOLLUM, RYAN DEAN, CHASE, KEVIN MICHAEL, DAWSON, BRANDON MICHAEL, KOENIGSKNECHT, TONY LEE, FISCHER, MARCUS ROLAND, FOUNTAIN, JORDAN ROBERT
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/344
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/08 for different type of ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2500/08 Sticking or clogging of ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2600/04 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2700/08 Power to drive the auger motor of an auger type ice making machine
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/046 Ice-crusher machines
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/182 Ice bins therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/22 particularly adapted for household refrigerators

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

Claims

1. An ice dispenser apparatus comprising:

an ice storage bin;

a metering device; and

a sensing device for detecting ice pieces,

wherein actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces.

2. The ice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ice pieces are crescent shaped.

3. The ice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the metering device comprises:

a cylindrical hub having an opening in the center; and

a round disc surrounding said cylindrical hub with at least one opening along the perimeter.

4. The metering device of claim 3, wherein the disc has two openings and the surfaces adjacent to the openings are sloped downwardly towards the openings.

5. The ice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensing device does not come in contact with ice pieces.

6. The ice dispenser of claim 5, wherein the sensing device comprises at least one of the following:

an optical sensor, capacitive sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and weight sensor.

7. The ice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises at least one vibration sensor.

8. A refrigerator having an ice dispenser apparatus comprising:

an ice storage bin;

a metering device; and

a sensing device for detecting ice pieces,

wherein actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the ice dispenser further comprises:

a receptacle for crushing ice pieces;

an agitator operably connected to a motor; and

at least one dispensing chute through which ice pieces are dispensed.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the ice dispenser apparatus is mounted to a refrigerator closure member or door.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9, further comprising a second receptacle wherein at least one of the receptacles leads to a metering device.

12. A method of dispensing individual ice pieces comprising the steps of:

separating individual ice pieces;

dispensing individual ice pieces through a chute;

detecting ice pieces; and

stopping the dispensing of ice pieces when the ice pieces dispensed reaches the selected amount.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting ice pieces includes counting a number of ice pieces.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of ice pieces is counted by counting the number of times a beam of light is broken on an optical sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of ice pieces is counted by measuring the vibration of a vibration sensor when contacted by dispensed ice pieces.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of ice pieces is counted by measuring the change in capacitance as dispensed ice pieces pass by a capacitive sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of ice pieces is counted by measuring a change in pressure in a weight sensor when ice pieces are dispensed.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting ice pieces includes detecting a level of ice pieces dispensed by emitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic sensor and calculating the time between sending a wave and receiving a reflected wave.

19. A method of detecting partial ice pieces in a refrigerator with an ice crushing system having an agitator driven by a motor in communication with rotating ice crusher blades for crushing ice and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor, the method comprising the steps of:

selectively sampling the motor current at repeated time intervals;

comparing the current sample to a preset threshold current value; and

incrementing a counter if the current sample exceeds the threshold current value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the partial ice pieces comprise at least one of the following:

crushed ice pieces and shaved ice pieces.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of disregarding current samples during agitator motor startup.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of disregarding current samples for a preset period of time following the incrementing of the counter.