Ice dispenser duct door mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDwight William Jacobus, Wilbur C. Bewley, Bob D. Merryman, Diane M. Dehli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling a dispenser duct door, including positioning an upper side of the door, in a closed position, in a door-opening direction, and rotating a bottom end of the door to a partially open position vertically under the upper side of the door in response to an opening signal. The bottom end of the door is rotated further in the door-opening direction in response to ice hitting a rear of the door and is returned to the partially open position. After a predetermined delay, the bottom end of the door is returned to the closed position.
Claims19
A method of controlling a dispenser door comprising the steps of:
- biasing the door toward a first closed position by a first magnetic force;
- applying a second magnetic force to urge the door to a second partially open position;
- maintaining the door yieldably in the second position until contacted by a dispensed item;
- moving the door to a third position more open than the second position in response to the dispensed item contacting the door;
- and
- releasing the second magnetic force and closing the door responsive to the first magnetic force.
A method of controlling an outlet door of a dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an upper side of the door, in a closed position, in a door-opening direction;
- rotating a bottom end of the door to a partially open position vertically under the top of the upper side in response to an opening signal;
- rotating the bottom of the door further in the door-opening direction in response to ice hitting a rear of the door;
- returning the bottom end of the door to the partially open position;
- and
- returning the bottom end of the door to the closed position after a predetermined delay period following return of the door to the partially open position.
A dispenser door control mechanism comprising:
- an upper side of the door, in a closed position, tilted in a door-opening direction relative to a bottom end of the door;
- a first magnet constantly biasing the door toward said closed position;
- a pivot allowing said bottom end of the door to move to and past a partially open position in response to opening forces;
- a second magnet adapted to selectively apply, in response to a signal, a door opening force to the door to sufficient to overcome the bias of the first magnet;
- and
- a delay mechanism for maintaining a door opening force of a magnet for a preset limited time following discontinuance of said signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.