Refrigeration – Automatic control – By congealed removable product condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-11-13
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Automatic control
By congealed removable product condition
C062S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314745
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 optic control system for an ice making system for use in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator.
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. have several drawbacks. Firstly, these mechanical linkage type systems include many moving parts which are subject to failure—particularly in the relatively harsh environment of a freezer. Moving parts may readily become frozen under some circumstances causing the level sensing system to fail. Secondly, conventional ice level sensing systems 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. Unfortunately, the system disclosed by Sterling consumes a relatively large amount of energy. Moreover, the incandescent lamp, being continuously on, will have a relatively short life—requiring frequent bulb replacement.
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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a control system for an ice making system. The ice making system includes an ice maker, and an ice storage bin for receiving ice pieces formed by the ice maker. The control system controls the ice maker and includes optic elements for emitting and receiving a beam of light directed across the upper portion of the bin. The control system senses when the ice maker is ready to harvest ice pieces and then directs a beam of light or light signal from a first side of the ice storage bin, across the bin toward a second side of the ice storage bin. The control system senses for the light signal at the second side of the ice storage bin and if ice pieces block the path of the light signal, the control system prevents ice harvesting from the ice maker.
The optic elements of the control system include an emitter and a receiver element. If the light signal sensed by the receiver optic element indicates that the optic elements arc impaired due to ice or moisture build up, the optic elements are heated.
The present invention is further directed to a refrigerator which includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment and an ice making system located in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator. The ice making system including an ice maker and an ice storage bin for receiving ice pieces formed by the ice maker. A control system for the ice maker is provided including a microcontroller operatively associated with optic elements. The optic elements include a light emitting element for generating a light signal and a light receiving element for receiving the light signal emitted by the light emitting element. The light emitting element is supported by the freezer compartment for directing the light signal across an upper portion of the bin. The light receiving element is supported by the freezer compartment. The control system energizes the light emitting element when the ice maker is ready to harvest ice pieces such that a pulse of light is generated for forming the light signal. The ice maker is energized if the bin is not yet filled with ice pieces but is maintained de-energized if the bin is completely filled with ice pieces. If the optic elements are impaired due to ice or moisture build up, the optic elements are heated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3545217 (1970-12-01), Linstromberg
patent: 3635043 (1972-01-01), Sterling
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: 5694208 (1997-12-01), Ichikawa
patent: 6184511 (2001-02-01), Yamashita
Allgayer Husein
Janke Donald E.
Manson Larry J.
Markert Gregory J.
Nelson Mark H
Ali Mohammad M.
Tapolcai William E.
Whirlpool Corporation
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