Ice Dispenser Optical Shutoff for Jam and Foreign Object Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern refrigeration mechanisms with electrically powered actuators lack automatic protection to prevent damage from ice jams or foreign objects in the dispensing chute, requiring manual intervention and risking system damage.

Innovation Solution

An optical sensing system is integrated into the refrigeration mechanism to detect the presence of objects in the ice dispensing chute, using a light energy emitter and detector to generate a signal when an object blocks the beam, triggering a controller to automatically disable the actuator if the object remains for a predetermined time, thus preventing unwanted conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual operation of the dispensing motor is allowed without automatic protection, then the user can control dispensing operation, but the system is vulnerable to damage from ice jams or foreign objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem protectionVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an optical sensing system that uses light beams and photodetectors to automatically detect objects in the dispensing chute. This substitution provides reliable automatic protection while maintaining relatively simple device architecture by using non-contact optical fields instead of complex mechanical sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an optical intermediary (light beam) between the controller and the dispensing chute to detect the presence of objects. The light beam acts as a mediator that carries information about object presence to the controller, enabling automatic protection without direct mechanical contact or complex sensing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If contact-based sensors are used to detect objects in the dispensing chute, then object detection can be achieved, but the sensors may be damaged by ice or foreign objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsensor damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces contact-based mechanical sensors with non-contact optical sensors that detect objects using light beams. This substitution eliminates the harmful effect of physical contact between sensors and objects (ice or foreign bodies) while maintaining accurate detection capability through optical field interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses light beams as an intermediary medium to detect objects without physical contact. The optical field serves as a safe mediator that can penetrate or reflect off objects in the dispensing chute without being damaged by them, providing reliable detection while protecting the sensing system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the dispensing motor runs continuously upon actuation, then ice can be dispensed efficiently, but ice jams or foreign objects can back up and damage the system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem damage from jams

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where optical sensors continuously monitor the dispensing chute for objects, and the controller adjusts the dispensing motor operation based on sensor signals. When an object is detected, the controller automatically stops the motor, providing real-time feedback protection that maintains high productivity during normal operation while preventing damage from jams or foreign objects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary detection of objects in the dispensing chute before they can cause damage. The optical sensing system is positioned to detect objects early in the dispensing process, allowing the controller to prevent motor operation that would lead to ice jams or system damage before the harmful condition develops

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents damage by automatically stopping the actuator when an unwanted object is detected, differentiating between normal operation and jamming or foreign objects, ensuring robustness and efficiency without physical contact, and maintaining system integrity in varying temperatures and moisture levels.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption/blockage detection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9182162B2Apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an actuator in a refrigeration device upon detection of an unwanted condition

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.