Refrigeration – Automatic control – By congealed removable product condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-09-11
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Automatic control
By congealed removable product condition
C062S344000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286324
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ice making system for a refrigerator and more particularly to an ice level sensing system for an ice maker.
2. Description of Related Art
Automatic ice making systems for use in a home refrigerator are well known. Typically, ice making systems include an ice maker mounted within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and an ice storage receptacle or bin supported beneath the ice maker for receiving the formed ice from the ice maker. The ice maker is commonly mounted within the freezer compartment adjacent the side or rear wall of the freezer compartment such that water and power can be readily supplied to the ice maker. The ice storage receptacle is supported by a shelf structure beneath the ice maker within the freezer compartment. The ice storage receptacle generally extends across the freezer compartment and has a front end adjacent the freezer door. U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,979, to Linstromberg et al. is an example of a prior art ice making system.
In the design of ice maker systems for refrigerators, it is recognized that a control system must be provided for sensing the level of ice disposed in the ice storage bin such that ice pieces are produced when insufficient ice is in the storage bin and ice pieces are not produced when the ice storage bin is filled. A typical ice level sensing system, illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,094, to Willis et al., includes an ice maker which employs a bail arm which is periodically lowered into the ice storage bin and then raised back out of the ice storage bin. If the presence of ice pieces interferes with the bail arm being lowered into the ice storage bin, the ice maker is deenergized such that more ice pieces are not produced.
Conventional ice level sensing systems such as the one disclosed by Willis et al. are not easily applied to a refrigerator ice making system having a door mounted ice storage bin. Door mounted ice storage bins offer several advantages—including making more space available for freezer shelving. However, if a conventional bail arm type ice level sensing system is used with a door mounted ice storage bin, damage may readily occur to the bail arm if the refrigerator door is opened when the bail arm is being lowered into the ice storage bin.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,043, to Sterling, is directed to a refrigeration system including a door mounted ice storage receptacle. Sterling discloses having a photoelectric system—employing an incandescent lamp
54
and a photocell
55
—for sensing the level of ice in the door mounted bin. The lamp
54
is continuously on and shines a light beam across an ice storage bin. When the beam of light is interrupted by accumulated ice, ice harvesting is prevented.
One problem that exists with door mounted ice storage bins is untimely dispensing of ice pieces when the freezer door is open. Accordingly, for door mounted ice bin systems, some means must be provided for preventing the discharge of ice pieces when the freezer door is opened.
Another issue, common to all ice makers used in refrigerators, is the provision of a convenient on/off switch. It is desirable to have a convenient on/off switch such that the ice making system can be disabled during long periods of non-use.
Accordingly, there is a need for robust and effective ice maker control system which may be conveniently employed to sense the level of ice in an ice storage receptacle. In particular, there is a need for a simple and effective ice level sensing system for use with a door mounted ice storage bin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to door mounted ice storage bin systems for use in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and in particular to a system for ensuring that ice pieces are not dispensed when the door of the refrigerator is open.
The present invention is more particularly directed to a refrigerator including a freezer compartment having top wall, opposite side walls and an access opening. A door is provided for closing the access opening. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment adjacent the top wall for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is removably mounted to the door below the ice maker for receiving ice pieces from the ice maker. An emitter element, supported on a side wall of the freezer, emits a beam of light across the upper portion of the bin. A receiver element, supported on a freezer side wall opposite the emitter element, receives the beam of light wherein beam of light travels between the emitter element and the receiver element along a line of sight path. A paddle is rotatably supported on a freezer side wall for blocking the line of sight when the door is open.
In addition, a movable member may be provided, supported on a freezer side wall opposite the paddle, which may be selectively movable between an ON position and an OFF position wherein in the OFF position the movable member blocks the line of sight.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3545217 (1970-12-01), Linstromberg
patent: 3635043 (1972-01-01), Sterling
patent: 4649717 (1987-03-01), Tate, Jr. et al.
patent: 4756165 (1988-07-01), Chestnut et al.
patent: 4920336 (1990-04-01), Meijer
patent: 4984462 (1991-01-01), Hass, Jr. et al.
patent: 5160094 (1992-11-01), Willis et al.
patent: 5272888 (1993-12-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 5361602 (1994-11-01), Furukawa et al.
Harmon Daryl Lee
Janke Donald E.
Nelson Mark H.
Pastryk Jim J
Ali Mohammad M
Krefman Stephen D.
McDermott Corrine
Rice Robert O.
Van Winkle Joel M.
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