US3913350A - Ice maker including improved rake assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved icemaker of a household refrigerator has a mold, mold cavities, injector means and a rake assembly for moving the rake across the mold cavities for forcing the ice pieces away from the mold. The rake assembly comprises improved linkage for selectively imparting either substantially uniform sweep or fliptype movement to the rake.

Description

United States Patent Alvarez Oct. 21, 1975 3,398,553 8/1968 Latter et al. 62/71 X [75] Inventor: Robert J. Alvarez, Louisville, Ky. Primary Examiner wimam Wayer [73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: May 31, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT 21 A l. N 474 896 1 pp 0 An improved icemaker of a household refrigerator has a mold, mold cavities, injector means and a rake as- [52] U.S. Cl. 62/353 embly for moving the rake across the mold cavities [51] Int. Cl. F25C 1/04 for forcing the ice pieces away from the mold. The Fleld of Search fake assembly comprises improved linkage for selee. tively imparting either substantially uniform sweep or [56] References Cited flip-type movement to the rake.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,397,553 8/1968 Crowe et al. 62/353 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 40 2o 30 h 46 l u n H H I 2 l H II u I :1 II I II I j J Q? t u I i U.S. Patent 0321,1975 3,913,350

52 FIG, 2

ICE MAKER INCLUDING IMPROVED RAKE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic icemaker for use in household refrigerators, said icemaker being of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,017Baker et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,018Shaw. An icemaker of this type comprises a mold including at least one cavity in which an ice piece or preferably pieces are formed, motor-driven ejecting means including a pad normally positioned in the lower portion of the cavity and movable to a position above the top of the cavity for ejecting ice from the cavity and a pivotal sweep or rake element actuatable after the ice has been raised to its upper position for movement across the top of the mold cavity to remove the ice from the pad and sweep it into an ice storage receptacle positioned below and to one side of the mold. The sweep means disclosed in the aforementioned patents moves about a pivot axis above the cavity from a normal position rearward of the cavity through an arcu ate path to a point above the cavity. The sweep is driven by the same motor driving the ejecting means and, in order to provide sufficient force to assure separation of the ice from the pad, the drive connection includes a gear reduction with the result that the sweep moves at a relatively slow speed.

Due to the low speed at which the sweep means moves across the mold, the ice is only swept over the edge of the mold with the result that substantially all of the ice collects in a pile immediately adjacent the mold rather than being distributed throughout the receptacle.

The rack assembly was subsequently improved as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,553Crowe et al. wherein the ice-maker of the above type was provided with a rake assembly which had energy storing means operable for imparting sufficient velocity to an ice piece to propel the ice beyond the adjacent front edge of the mold.

Although this rake assembly provided the desired force on the ice pieces, it was subsequently discovered that the linkage could be more efficiently constructed. Further, it was desirable to provide a linkage that is of a reduced number of elements and of elements which could be easily manipulated to change the action of the rake between substantially uniform sweep movement and the flip-type movement.

By so providing an assembly whereby the type of rake movement could easily be changed, the icemaker assembly could be easily converted for use with ice receptacles-dispensing systems of different construction and placement.

One type ice receptacle-dispensing system functions most efficiently when associated with a substantially uniform sweep type rake movement wherein the ice pieces are deposited in a generally uniform location in the dispenser. Another ice receptacle-dispensing system functions most effectively when associated with a flip-type rake with which the ice pieces are randomly deposited in the dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention therefore resides in an icemaker of a household refrigerator which has a mold, mold cavities, ejector means for selectively moving ice pieces from the mold cavities, a rake assembly movable across the mold cavities for forcing ice pieces away from the mold, and power means connected to the ejector means and the rake. The rake has first and second end portions. The first end portion has first and second openings and a slot extending therethrough. The second end portion is pivotally connected to support means. A drive shaft of the power means rotatably extends through the first opening of the rake and is removably, fixedly attached to a dog which has a drive arm extending outwardly therefrom. The dog is movable between a first position at which the drive arm extends through the second opening and the second position at which the drive arm extends through the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, frontal view in partial section of an icemaker having the apparatus of this invention for providing generally uniform sweep of the ice rake;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, side view in partial section of a portion of the rake assembly of this invention with the rake located at a first position and having a biasing spring for providing a flip-type sweep of the ice rake; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, side view in partial section of a portion of the rake assembly of this invention with the rake located at a second position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a household refrigerator 10 has an automatic icemaker 12 positioned in the freezer compartment thereof. The icemaker 12 has a mold 14, mold cavities l6, ejector means 18 for selectively moving ice pieces (not shown) from the mold cavities 16, a rake 20 selectively movable across the mold cavities 16 for forcing ice pieces away from the mold 14, and power means 22 connected to the ejector means 18 and the rake 20 for the operation thereof. These elements are known in the art as set forth above.

With reference to FIGS. l-3, the rake 20 has first and second end portions 24, 26. The rake 20 extends along the length of the mold 14 and is positioned adjacent and at a higher elevation than the mold 14 for pivotal movement across the upper surface thereof.

The first end portion 24 of the rake extends outwardly from the rake body to form a rake flange 28. The rake flange 28 has first and second openings 30, 32 and a slot 34 formed therethrough. A third opening 36 can be provided for attaching a hereafter more fully described biasing means 38 to the rake 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

A shaft 40 of the power means 22 extends through the first opening 30 and is rotatable therein. The shaft 40 forms a support for and about which the rake 20 pivots during the operation thereof. The second end portion 26 of the rake 20 is pivotally connected to support means 42 (see FIG. 1).

The openings 30, 32 and 36 and the slot 34 are spaced one from the other and are relatively located for preselected control of the rake 20. It is noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the first and second openings 30, 32 and the slot 34 generally lie on a common plane with the third opening 36 being spaced from the plane and adjacent the second opening 32 with a line connecting the second and third openings 32, 36 forming an acute angle with the common plane. The width W of the rake is also directed in generally the same direction as the common plane.

A dog 44 has a drive arm 46 extending outwardly therefrom. The dog 44 is releasably, fixedly attached to the drive shaft 40 for movement therewith.

The dog is positionable on the shaft at one of first or second positions relative to the rake flange 28. FIG. 1 shows the dog at the first position with the drive arm 46 extending through the second opening 32 of the rake flange 28 for fixing the rake 20 to the dog 44 for movement therewith. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the dog 44 at the second position with the drive arm 46 extending into the slot 34 of the rake flange 28 for delayed, controllable movement of the rake 20 relative to the dog 44 and the drive shaft 40. At the first position of the dog 44, the rake 20 is connected to the shaft 40 to provide substantially uniform pivotal movement of the rake 20. At the second position, the rake 20 is connected to the shaft 40 to provide a flip-type movement of the rake 20.

In the second position of the dog 44, a biasing means is connected to the rake 20 at a location, for example the third opening 36, for selectively exerting a biasing force on the rake.

The biasing means 38 is preferably connected to the first end portion 24 of the rake 20 to avoid placing torsional forces on the rake body between the first and second end portions 24, 26. The biasing means 38 is preferably a helically coiled spring having first and second arms 48, 50 that form an acute angle one with the other. The first arm 48 is connected to the rake 20 and the second arm is connected to a support structure 52 which can be a portion of the mold 14.

It should be understood, however, that the biasing means 38 can be of other construction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shaft 40 can be releasably affixed to the dog 44 by providing a non-circular shaft in the first opening 30.

In operation of the apparatus, the ejector means is actuated to push ice pieces upwardly out of the mold cavities 16. At about the uppermost extension of the ice pieces, the rake is actuated to pivotally move across the mold and displace the ice pieces from the mold 14 into an adjacent ice receptacle. The rake is thereafter pivotally moved back over the mold 14 to its original position and another ice-making cylce is initiated.

Where the drive arm 46 of the dog 44 is positioned in the second opening 32 of the rake flange 28, the rake 20 is affixed to the drive shaft 40 and moves therewith to provide a substantially uniform pivotal movement of the rake 20 across the mold cavities 16. At this position of the dog 44, the rake causes the ice pieces to be generally uniformly deposited in the adjacent receptacle.

Where it is desirable to move the ice pieces greater relative distances from the mold during rake operations, the drive arm 46 of the dog 44 is positioned in the slot 34 of the rake flange 28 and the biasing means 38 is attached to the rake 20.

Upon initiation of raking operations, the drive shaft 40 rotates and moves the drive arm 46 through the slot 34 from the first position A shown in FIG. 2 to the intermediate position B shown by broken lines in FIG. 2. Continued rotation of the drive shaft 40 causes the drive arm 46 to contact the rake flange 28, thereby causing rake 20 to pivot from the first position of the rake 20 (FIG. 2) across the mold cavities 16.

At a location between the intermediate position B of the drive arm and the second position of the drive arm and rake, as shown in FIG. 3, the rake flange 28 is moved to a position at which the biasing means 38 exerts a force on the rake 20 that has a moment relative to the shaft 40. The full spring force thus is placed on the rake in a direction complementary with the power means and causes the movement of the rake to accelerate toward and to the second position shown in FIG. 3, thereby flipping or driving contacting ice pieces outwardly from the molds 14.

Acceleration of the rake 20 in response to the biasing force is provided by the fact that the rake flange is fixed to shaft 40 through the drive arm 46 of the dog 44with the shaft 40 rotating freely within the rake flange slot 34. The full biasing force is therefore imparted to the rake 20 for acceleration of the rake.

During the acceleration portion of the rake movement, the rake pivots freely about shaft 40 owing to the fact that the drive arm 46 of the dog 44 is within the slot 34 and not contacting the rake flange 28. At the initiation of the acceleration portion of rake movement, the drive arm 46 is at position B relative to the slot 34 and at the termination of the acceleration portion of rake movement the drive arm 46 is at position A relative to the slot 34.

At the termination of the acceleration portion of rake movement, the dog can continue to move, thereby driving the drive arm 46 of the dog 44 through the slot 34 from position A to position B and continue to rotate if further rake movement is desired, or the rake can be immediately returned to the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 for initiation of a new cycle. FIG. 3 shows the drive arm 46 returned to position B and rake 20 further pivoted in response to further rotation of the drive arm 46 in contact with the rake flange 28.

The arcuate length of the acceleration portion of the rake movement is dependent upon the width of the slot 34. The slot width can be easily determined by one skilled in the art after the sizes of the associated equipment have been established. One embodiment of this. invention effectively utilizes a slot width sufficient for that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

What is claimed is: 1. In an icemaker of a household refrigerator having a mold, mold cavities, ejector means for selectively moving ice pieces from the mold cavities, a rake selectively movable across the mold cavities for forcing ice pieces away from the mold, and power means connected to the ejector means and the rake, the improvement comprising:

said rake having first and second end portions, said first end portion having first and second openings and a slot extending therethrough, said second end portion being pivotally connected to support means, and said first opening having a drive shaft of the power means extending therethrough and being rotatably movable therein; and

a dog having a drive arm extending outwardly therefrom, said dog being releasably, fixedly attached to the drive shaft and being positionable at one of a first position at which the drive arm extends through the second opening or a second position at 5 which the drive arm extends through the slot of the first end portion of the rake. 2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dog is at the second position and including biasing means connected to the rake at a location for selectively exerting a biasing force on the rake in a direction for moving the rake across the mold cavities at a preselected location of the rake on its pathway across the mold cavities. v

3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the biasing means is connected to the first end portion of the rake.

4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the biasing means is a helically coiled spring having a first arm connected to the rake and a second arm connected to a support structure.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first arm is connected to the first end portion of the rake.

Claims (5)

1. In an icemaker of a household refrigerator having a mold, mold cavities, ejector means for selectively moving ice pieces from the mold cavities, a rake selectively movable across the mold cavities for forcing ice pieces away from the mold, and power means connected to the ejector means and the rake, the improvement comprising: said rake having first and second end portions, said first end portion having first and second openings and a slot extending therethrough, said second end portion being pivotally connected to support means, and said first opening having a drive shaft of the power means extending therethrough and being rotatably movable therein; and a dog having a drive arm extending outwardly therefrom, said dog being releasably, fixedly attached to the drive shaft and being positionable at one of a first position at which the drive arm extends through the second opening or a second position at which the drive arm extends through the slot of the first end portion of the rake.

2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dog is at the second position and including biasing means connected to the rake at a location for selectively exerting a biasing force on the rake in a direction for moving the rake across the mold cavities at a preselected location of the rake on its pathway across the mold cavities.

3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the biasing means is connected to the first end portion of the rake.

4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the biasing means is a helically coiled spring having a first arm connected to the rake and a second arm connected to a support structure.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first arm is connected to the first end portion of the rake.

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