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US 2008/0156823 A1Published application
Ice supplier
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsYong Su KIM, Seong Jae KIM, Nam Gi LEE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice supplier includes a case configured to store ice from an ice maker. The case includes an outlet and a transfer unit configured to transfer ice pieces in the case to the outlet. A sensor is configured to sense ice pieces passing through the outlet and a controller is configured to control the transfer unit according to input from the sensor.
Claims25
An appliance comprising:
- a dispenser including an ice dispensing chute;
- an ice storage bin configured to store ice pieces, the ice storage bin including an opening configured to communicate with the ice dispensing chute, and an ice flow path extending at least partially from the ice storage bin to an outlet of the dispenser;
- a transfer mechanism configured to transfer ice pieces from the ice storage bin along the ice flow path;
- a sensor configured to sense ice pieces passing along the ice flow path;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine a volume of ice per unit time passing along the ice flow path based on input from the sensor, and
- control the transfer mechanism based on the determined volume of ice per unit time.
5 more elements
An appliance comprising:
- a dispenser including an ice dispensing chute;
- an ice storage bin configured to store ice pieces, the ice storage bin including an opening configured to communicate with the ice dispensing chute, and an ice flow path extending at least partially from the ice storage bin to an outlet of the dispenser;
- a transfer mechanism configured to transfer ice pieces from the ice storage bin along the ice flow path;
- a sensor configured to sense ice pieces passing along the ice flow path, the sensor including:
- a plurality of senders each of which is configured to send a signal, the plurality of senders being positioned such that a spacing between adjacent senders is less than a predetermined amount, and
- a plurality of receivers each of which is configured to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of senders, the plurality of receivers being positioned such that a spacing between adjacent receivers is less than the predetermined amount;
- and
- a controller configured to control the transfer mechanism based on a result of the sensor.
5 more elements
An appliance comprising:
- a dispenser including an ice dispensing chute;
- an ice storage bin configured to store ice pieces, the ice storage bin including an opening configured to communicate with the ice dispensing chute, and an ice flow path extending at least partially from the ice storage bin to an outlet of the dispenser;
- a transfer mechanism configured to transfer ice pieces from the ice storage bin along the ice flow path;
- a sensor positioned at the opening of the ice storage bin and configured to sense ice pieces passing through the opening of the ice storage bin and into the ice dispensing chute;
- and
- a controller configured to control the transfer mechanism based on input from the sensor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.