IP Library Granted Patent US 9,890,987
Granted Patent B2
US 9,890,987 · App. 15/046,617 · Granted Feb 13, 2018

Ice-making assembly for a refrigerator or freezer

Inventors: Albert Dirnberger (Neunburg v.W., DE); Roland Schroedel (Reichenschwand, DE); Josef Bauriedl (Neunburg v.W., DE)
Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
F25C1/24F25C5/06F25C2400/06F25D2317/061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,890,987
App. No.
15/046,617
Granted
Feb 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ice-making assembly for installation in a domestic refrigerator or freezer is provided. The ice-making assembly comprises: a frame structure; and first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that is larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.

Claims (21)

1. An ice-making assembly for installation in a domestic refrigerator or freezer, the ice-making assembly comprising:

a frame structure;

first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that s larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis;

a wall structure delimiting a channel in which the first and second ice-making trays are accommodated, a duct space being defined between the wall structure and the first and second ice-making trays to allow cold air to be blown into the duct space and flow in the duct space in a longitudinal tray direction underneath the first and second ice-making trays from one to the other of the first and second ice-making trays across an area between the first and second ice-making trays,

wherein one of the following conditions (i) and (ii) is met:

(i) the wall structure includes a separate first wall member in relation to each of the first and second ice-making trays, each first wall member being arranged for joint rotation with one of the first and second ice-making trays relative to the frame structure; and

(ii) the wall structure is a unitary construction formed as an integral part of a channel member delimiting the channel, each of the first and second ice-making trays being arranged for joint rotation with the channel member about the rotational axis relative to the frame structure.

2. The ice-making assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotary drive device supported on the frame structure for causing rotation of the first and second ice-making trays about the rotational axis, the rotary drive device including a drive motor disposed adjacent to a first longitudinal end of one of the first and second ice-making trays, wherein the other of the first and second ice-making trays is disposed adjacent to a second longitudinal end of the one of the first and second ice-making trays opposite the first longitudinal end.

3. The ice-making assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wall structure further includes a second wall member interposed between the first wall members and arranged fixedly relative to the frame structure.

4. The ice-making assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel member is supported on the frame structure for rotation with respect to the frame structure about the rotational axis, and the first and second ice-making trays are supported on the channel member.

5. The ice-making assembly of claim 4 , wherein the channel member includes opposite channel end walls and an intermediate support wall, the first ice-making tray being arranged between, and supported on, a first of the channel end walls and the intermediate support wall, the second ice-making tray being arranged between, and supported on, the intermediate support wall and a second of the channel end walls.

6. The ice-making assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second ice-making trays is arranged for twisting relative to the channel member about a twist axis extending parallel to the rotational axis.

7. A domestic refrigerator or freezer, comprising:

an ice-making assembly comprising:

a frame structure;

first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that is larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis;

a wall structure delimiting a channel in which the first and second ice-making trays are accommodated, a duct space being defined between the wall structure and the first and second ice-making trays to allow cold air to be blown into the duct space and flow in the duct space in a longitudinal tray direction underneath the first and second ice-making trays from one to the other of the first and second ice-making trays across and area between the first and second ice-making trays,

wherein one of the following conditions (i) and (ii) is met:

(i) the wall structure includes a separate first wall member in relation to each of the first and second ice-making trays, each first wall member being arranged for joint rotation with one of the first and second ice-making trays relative to the frame structure; and

(ii) the wall structure is a unitary construction formed as an integral part of a channel member delimiting the channel, each of the first and second ice-making trays being arranged for joint rotation with the channel member about the rotational axis relative to the frame structure; and

a container arranged under the first and second ice-making trays to collect ice discharged from the first and second ice-making trays.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2016
From: DIRNBERGER, ALBERT; SCHROEDEL, ROLAND; BAURIEDL, JOSEF
To: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 038180/0509 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 002 424 · Feb 26, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160252287A1 · Sep 1, 2016