Quiet icemaker and dispenser
View Patent ↗An icemaker of the type that dispenses ice through an opening in the front of a domestic refrigerator-freezer produces precisely formed crystal clear ice cubes and gently dispenses them one-at-a-time at a totally predictable rate. The ice cubes are formed in separate molds where they cannot touch each other or get stuck together. As each cube is pushed out of its mold, it slides directly into the dispensing chute. Thus, the ice cubes do not rattle around in a noisy plastic bin and there is no need for a whirling rotary hammer to smash the ice apart. As the ice gradually freezes, a miniature conveyor system moves the molds from where they get filled with water to where they get dispensed as ice. During operation, the system is barely audible.
1 . An ice maker and dispenser for use in a compatible refrigerator-freezer, said ice maker comprising:
a. an array of individual flexible molds to form ice of a controlled shape and size,
b. a transport mechanism to move said molds along a continuous horizontal serpentine path,
c. an ejection location along said serpentine path where said ice shall be ejected from said molds,
d. said serpentine path arranged in several straight rows to fit within a rectangular housing configured to slide into said compatible refrigerator-freezer,
e. an array of hangers, each of said hangers having an upper portion attached to said transport mechanism and a lower portion attached to one of said molds,
f. a horizontal plate positioned between said transport mechanism and said molds to support said transport mechanism above said molds,
g. said plate having a serpentine slot directly below said transport mechanism to allow said hangers to slide along said serpentine slot in unison with said transport mechanism,
h. an array of rotatable wheels to support and guide said transport mechanism along said serpentine path,
i. an electric motor mechanically coupled to one of said wheels causing it to rotate propelling said transport mechanism along said serpentine path,
j. a top cover mounted above said transport mechanism and attached to said horizontal plate in multiple locations to bridge across said serpentine slot and to cover and protect said transport mechanism,
k. a bottom cover mounted below said molds to protect them from interference as they move along said serpentine path,
l. An array of vertical guide walls extending from said bottom cover to said horizontal plate and located between said rows to keep said molds from interfering with each other as they move along said serpentine path,
m. means to eject said ice from one mold at a time as each mold is moved to said ejection location, said means including a first specially formed guide to tip said molds from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation and a second specially formed guide to push against said molds to force said ice out of said mold,
n. a supply line to deliver potable flowing water to refill each mold after it passes said ejection location, said water having a temperature above freezing
o. at least one valve to control the flow of said water,
p. a first electric heater thermally coupled to said supply line to prevent said water from freezing therein,
q. a first temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of said water,
r. said horizontal plate having an electrically heated underside with a temperature above freezing to prevent frost from forming,
s. a second temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of said heated underside of said horizontal plate,
t. a third temperature sensor to monitor each mold as it approaches said ejection location to determine when the mold is frozen,
u. at least one position sensor to monitor each mold as it is being refilled,
v. an electrical connector selected to mate with said compatible refrigerator-freezer,
w. a plumbing connector selected to mate with said compatible refrigerator-freezer, and
x. an electronic control panel capable of responding to user inputs, monitoring all sensors, and controlling all functions of said icemaker and dispenser.
2 . The ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein said transport mechanism is a timing belt, and said rotatable wheels are toothed timing pullies.
3 . The ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein said transport mechanism is a timing chain, and said rotatable wheels are sprockets.
4 . The ice maker according to claim 1 , the dispense comprising
a. a discharge chute to catch said ice as it is ejected from a mold in said icemaker and to deposit said ice into a user receptacle,
b. a sensor configured to detect the presence of said user receptacle and to send a signal to said control panel to cause said icemaker to dispense ice,
c. ice crushing means mounted in said discharge chute and configured to crush said ice as it passes through said discharge chute when directed to do so by said control panel, said ice crushing means comprising a pair of toothed wheels driven by a second electric motor.
5 . A method for forming ice cubes in an array of individual molds, comprising filling said molds with water at a first position, moving said molds from said first position to said second position via an indirect path which allows enough time for said water to freeze, and dispensing said ice cubes one at a time at said second position.