Reversible Ice Mover With Tandem Bins for Bottom-Mount Refrigerators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bottom mount refrigerators pose challenges in designing door-mounted ice dispensers due to the low location of the freezer compartment, making it difficult to orient ice makers and dispensers for efficient ice conveyance, and also complicate access to food items stored in the fresh food compartment.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a tandem arrangement of storage bins and a reversible ice mover that can move ice in two directions, allowing for an externally-accessible ice dispenser that is removable, and improved access to food items through an icemaking console extending into the fresh food compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a door-mounted ice dispenser is installed in a bottom mount refrigerator, then ice dispensing is provided, but the dispenser cannot be positioned at a convenient height and ice conveyance becomes inefficient due to the low location of the freezer compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage system is divided into two separate bins: a first ice storage bin in the freezer compartment and a second ice storage bin in the fresh food compartment. This segmentation allows the ice maker to remain in the freezer while providing ice storage and dispensing access in the fresh food compartment at a convenient height, resolving the height positioning issue without complicating the ice maker orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
A portable bin serves as an intermediary between the freezer compartment ice maker and the fresh food compartment dispenser. The bin can be removed from the fresh food compartment and positioned in the freezer compartment to receive ice, then returned to the fresh food compartment for dispensing. This intermediary solution enables efficient ice conveyance while maintaining convenient dispenser height.
2Volume of stationary object
If the freezer compartment is placed at the bottom to provide a large fresh food compartment, then fresh food storage space is improved, but access to food items becomes difficult and ice dispenser orientation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage function is segmented into two separate locations: the first bin in the freezer compartment for ice production and the second bin in the fresh food compartment for convenient access. This allows the fresh food compartment to maintain its full volume and depth for food storage while providing easy access to ice and frequently used items through the front-accessible second bin.
3Device complexity
If ice is stored in a single bin in the freezer compartment, then ice storage is simple, but the dispenser cannot be externally accessible and convenient ice dispensing without opening doors is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage system is divided into two bins located in different compartments. The second bin in the fresh food compartment is positioned to allow external access for ice dispensing without requiring the door to be opened, while the first bin in the freezer compartment stores additional ice. This segmentation achieves convenient external accessibility while maintaining simple storage structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable bin serves multiple functions: it can be stored in the fresh food compartment for convenient ice dispensing, removed and placed in the freezer compartment to receive ice from the ice maker, and used to bridge the gap between the two compartments. This multi-functionality enables external ice dispensing access without complicating the overall storage system.
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
Enables convenient and efficient ice dispensing without opening doors and provides better access to food items by using a reversible ice mover and removable storage bins, addressing the challenges of low freezer compartment placement in bottom mount refrigerators.
Implementation Method 1
Most ice dispensers rely at least in part on gravity to convey ice from an ice maker mold to a storage receptacle and/or to convey ice from the storage receptacle to an exit chute for the ice dispenser
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.