Dispensers, refrigerators and methods for dispensing objects
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKIRK W. GOODWIN, VIKAS MALHOTRA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example dispensers, refrigerators and methods to dispense objects are disclosed. A disclosed example dispenser includes a discharging lever to turn on/off discharge of the objects, a discharging shutter to open a discharging hole through which the objects are discharged, a discharge shutter driving part to operate the discharging shutter, a discharge driving part to discharge the objects, and a controller to sense a feedback signal from the discharge shutter driving part, and control the discharge driving part in response to the sensed feedback signal.
Claims18
A dispenser to discharge objects, comprising:
- a discharging lever to turn on/off discharge of the objects;
- a discharging shutter to open a discharging hole through which the objects are discharged;
- a discharge shutter driving part to operate the discharging shutter;
- a discharge driving part to discharge the objects;
- and
- a controller to sense a feedback signal from the discharge shutter driving part, and control the discharge driving part in response to the sensed feedback signal.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main cabinet including at least one storage compartment having a front opening;
- a door opening and closing the front opening of the storage compartment;
- and
- a dispenser to discharge objects, the dispenser including a discharging lever to turn on/off discharge of the objects, a discharging shutter to open a discharging hole through which the objects are discharged, a discharge shutter driving part to operate the discharging shutter, a discharge driving part to discharge the objects, and a controller to sense a feedback signal from the discharge shutter driving part, and control the discharge driving part in response to the sensed feedback signal.
A method of controlling a discharging lever to turn on/off discharge of objects, a discharging shutter to open a discharging hole through which the objects are discharged, a discharge shutter driving part to operate the discharging shutter, a discharge driving part to discharge the objects, and a controller to control the discharge driving part and the discharge shutter driving part, wherein the operation of the discharge driving part is coupled to the operation of the discharging shutter driving part, comprising:
- sensing whether the discharging lever is turned on or off;
- sensing a feedback signal from the discharge shutter driving part;
- and
- controlling the discharge driving part response to the sensed feedback signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.