Ice maker
US7013657B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C5/185
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ice maker is capable of efficiently making and removing ice cubes. The ice maker includes first and second pulleys which are installed to be spaced apart from each other. A drive unit rotates the first and second pulleys. An ice making conveyor is wrapped around the first and second pulleys, and has a plurality of ice making parts which are concavely formed to contain water therein. An ice storage tray is provided under the ice making conveyor to store ice cubes dropping from the ice making parts. An ice level sensing unit functions to sense a level of the ice cubes stored in the ice storage tray, thus shutting off electricity. When the level of the ice cubes stored in the ice storage tray exceeds a predetermined level, an operation of the ice maker is stopped, thus preventing an excessive number of ice cubes from being stored in the ice storage tray.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.