Method and device for stirring water during icemaking
First Claim
1. A method of making ice, comprising the steps of:
- advancing water into at least one ice forming compartment of an ice tray;
reducing temperature of said water within said at least one ice forming compartment;
stirring said water within said at least one ice forming compartment with a ejector member during said reducing step;
moving said ejector member to a stop position after said stirring step at which said ejector member is spaced apart from said water located in said at least one ice forming compartment; and
advancing said ejector member into contact with ice formed in said at least one ice forming compartment after said moving step so that said ice is urged out of said at least one ice forming compartment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray has at least one ice forming compartment and an ice ejector having at least one ejector member. The ice ejector is operable to (i) stir water located within the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a first mode, and (ii) urge ice out of the at least one ice forming compartment with the at least one ejector member during a second mode. A method of making ice comprises an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a first mode of operation step and an operating an ice ejector of an icemaker in a second mode of operation step. During the first mode of operation step, a plurality of ejector members of the ice ejector are respectively advanced through water located within a plurality of compartments of an ice tray of the ice maker during cooling of the water in the ice tray. In the second mode of operation step, the plurality of ejector members are respectively advanced into contact with ice formed within the plurality of ice forming compartments so that the ice is urged out of the plurality of ice forming compartments.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of making ice, comprising the steps of:
-
advancing water into at least one ice forming compartment of an ice tray; reducing temperature of said water within said at least one ice forming compartment; stirring said water within said at least one ice forming compartment with a ejector member during said reducing step; moving said ejector member to a stop position after said stirring step at which said ejector member is spaced apart from said water located in said at least one ice forming compartment; and advancing said ejector member into contact with ice formed in said at least one ice forming compartment after said moving step so that said ice is urged out of said at least one ice forming compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An icemaker assembly, comprising:
-
an ice tray having at least one ice forming compartment; and an ice ejector having at least one ejector member, said ice ejector being operable to (i) stir water located within said at least one ice forming compartment with said at least one ejector member during a first mode, and (ii) urge ice out of said at least one ice forming compartment with said at least one ejector member during a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of making ice, comprising the steps of:
-
operating an ice ejector of an ice maker in a first mode of operation in which a plurality of ejector members of said ice ejector are respectively advanced through water located within a plurality of compartments of an ice tray of said ice maker during cooling of said water in said ice tray; and operating said ice ejector in a second mode of operation in which said plurality of ejector members are respectively advanced into contact with ice formed within said plurality of ice forming compartments so that said ice is urged out of said plurality of ice forming compartments. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification