Refrigerator with multi-zone ice maker
US11709008B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2700/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet with one or more food compartments and one or more doors closing the food compartments and an ice maker located in the cabinet to produce ice. The ice maker includes a mold body for forming ice, the mold body having multiple cups, where each cup has an opening for receiving water to be frozen within the cup. The mold body is divided into at least a first zone and a second zone and the ice maker including at least a first heater and a second heater configured to provide heat to the first and second zones of the mold body, respectively, and a controller configured to harvest ice from the first zone independently of the second zone by actuating the first heater to provide heat to the first zone of the mold body to facilitate a release of ice from the first zone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.