Patent Application
20250085041
The present subject matter relates generally to ice making appliances, and more particularly to stand-alone ice making appliances.
Stand-alone ice making appliances are separate appliances from refrigerator appliances and provide independent ice supplies. Generally, liquid water is added to the stand-alone ice makers, and the ice maker operates to freeze the liquid water and form ice. Ice making appliances have many components that are regular points of contact for users. Users frequently add tap water to the stand-alone ice making appliance. Tap water can be different types of water that flow through the ice making appliance, particularly hard water and soft water. Generally, over time, the tap water will generate scale deposits inside the ice making appliance, leading to performance and ice making issues. It can be difficult for a user to know when the ice making appliance needs descaled or cleaned.
Accordingly, improved stand-alone ice making appliances are desired in the art. In particular, stand-alone ice making appliances that alert a user when to perform cleaning processes would be advantageous.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one example embodiment, a method of operating a stand-alone ice making appliance includes performing a plurality of ice making operations in the stand-alone ice making appliance, whereby ice is produced in the stand-alone ice making appliance. The method further includes monitoring a count of the plurality of ice making operations performed and illuminating an indicator light of a plurality of indicator lights on a user interface of the stand-alone ice making appliance upon reaching a predetermined count of the ice making operations performed. The indicator light indicates a suggested process. The method may further include receiving an input indicative of the suggested process. The suggested process is one or both of descaling and sanitizing one or more of a flexible tubing, an ice maker, and an extruder of the stand-alone ice making appliance.
In another example embodiment, a method of operating an ice making appliance includes performing a plurality of ice making operations in the stand-alone ice making appliance, whereby ice is produced in the stand-alone ice making appliance. The method further includes monitoring a count of the plurality of ice making operations performed and illuminating an indicator light of a plurality of indicator lights on a user interface of the stand-alone ice making appliance upon reaching a predetermined count of the ice making operations performed. The indicator light indicates a suggested process.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin.
Referring now to
A container 14 of appliance 10 is also illustrated. Container 14 defines a first storage volume 16 for the receipt and storage of ice 18 therein. A user of the appliance 10 may access ice 18 within the container 14 for consumption or other uses, as described in detail below. Container 14 may include multiple walls, including one or more sidewalls 20 and a base wall 22, which may together define the first storage volume 16. In example embodiments, at least one sidewall 20 may be formed in part from a clear, see-through (i.e., transparent, or translucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic, such that a user can see into the first storage volume 16 and thus view ice 18 therein. For instance, at least one sidewall 20 may include a separate external panel and internal panel formed from a clear, see-through (i.e., transparent, or translucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic. In some example embodiments, container 14 may include a handle 17. In general, handle 17 may advantageously improve accessibility to ice 18 within container 14. Further, in example embodiments, container 14 may be removable, such as from the outer casing 12, by a user. This facilitates advantageous easy access by the user to ice within the container 14, as discussed below. In general, a user interface 15 may be positioned on casing 12 above container 14. The user interface 15 may generally include input selectors to be selected (e.g., by a user) for controlling the appliance 10.
Referring briefly to
Appliances 10 in accordance with the present disclosure are advantageously stand-alone appliances, and thus are not connected to refrigerators or other appliances. Additionally, in example embodiments, such appliances are not connected to plumbing or another water source that is external to the appliance 10, such as a refrigerator water source. Rather, in example embodiments, water is initially supplied to the appliance 10 manually by a user, such as by pouring water into water tank 24 and/or an auxiliary reservoir 100. Optionally, in example embodiments, water tank 24 may be removable, such as from the outer casing 12, by a user. This facilitates advantageous easy access by the user to water tank 24 (e.g., in order to easily fill water tank 24), as discussed below.
Notably, appliances 10 as discussed herein include various features which allow the appliances 10 to be affordable and desirable to typical consumers. For example, the stand-alone feature reduces the cost associated with the appliance 10 and allows the consumer to position the appliance 10 at any suitable desired location, with the only requirement in some embodiments being access to an electrical source. In example embodiments, such as those shown in
As discussed herein, appliance 10 is configured to perform an ice making operation in order to make ice pieces, such as ice cubes. In some embodiments, the ice making appliance may be configured to make ice pieces in the form of nugget ice, which is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. Ice 18 may be nugget ice or any other suitable form of ice pieces. Generally, ice 18 is maintained or stored, e.g., in first storage volume 16 of container 14, at a temperature greater than the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the container 14 may be at a temperature greater than the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. In some embodiments, such temperature may be greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit, greater than fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or greater than sixty degrees Fahrenheit, but generally less than room temperature, e.g., about seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit.
Still referring to
As discussed, in example embodiments, water is provided to the water tank 24 for use in forming ice. Accordingly, appliance 10 may further include a pump 32. Pump 32 may be in fluid communication with the second storage volume 26. For example, water may be flowable from the second storage volume 26 through a fluid outlet 31 defined in the water tank 24, such as in a sidewall 28 thereof, and may flow through a conduit to and through pump 32. Pump 32 may, when activated, be operable to actively flow water from the second storage volume 26 therethrough and from the pump 32.
Water actively flowed from the pump 32 may be flowed (e.g., through a suitable conduit) to a reservoir 34. For example, reservoir 34 may define a third storage volume 36. In some embodiments, third storage volume 36 is defined by one or more sidewalls 38 and a base wall 40. Third storage volume 36 may, for example, be in fluid communication with the pump 32 and may thus receive water that is actively flowed from the water tank 24, such as through the pump 32. During operation, water may be flowed into the third storage volume 36 through an opening 44 defined in the reservoir 34.
Referring again to
Ice maker 50 generally receives water, such as from reservoir 34, and freezes the water to form ice 18. In example embodiments, ice maker 50 is a nugget ice maker, and in particular is an auger-style ice maker, although other suitable styles of ice makers and/or appliances are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. As shown, ice maker 50 may include a casing 52 into which water from third storage volume 36 is flowed. Casing 52 is thus in fluid communication with third storage volume 36. For example, casing 52 may include one or more sidewalls 54 which may define an interior volume 56, and an opening may be defined in a sidewall 54. Water may be flowed from third storage volume 36 through the opening (such as via a suitable conduit) into the interior volume 56.
As illustrated, an auger 60 may be disposed at least partially within the casing 52. During operation, the auger 60 may rotate. Water within the casing 52 may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system as discussed herein. The at least partially frozen water may be lifted by the auger 60 from casing 52. Further, in example embodiments, the at least partially frozen water may be directed by auger 60 to and through an extruder 62. The extruder 62 may extrude the at least partially frozen water to form ice, such as nuggets of ice 18.
Formed ice 18 may be provided by the ice maker 50 to container 14, and may be received in the first storage volume 16 thereof. For example, ice 18 formed by auger 60 and/or extruder 62 may be provided to the container 14. In example embodiments, appliance 10 may include a chute 70 for directing ice 18 produced by the ice maker 50 towards the first storage volume 16. For example, as shown, chute 70 is generally positioned above container 14 along the vertical direction V. Thus, ice can slide off of chute 70 and drop into storage volume 16 of container 14. Chute 70 may, as shown, extend between ice maker 50 and container 14, and may include a body 72, which defines a passage 74 therethrough. Ice 18 may be directed from the ice maker 50 (such as from the auger 60 and/or extruder 62) through the passage 74 to the container 14. In some embodiments, for example, a sweep 64, which may be connected to and rotate with the auger, may contact the ice emerging through the extruder 62 from the auger 60 and direct the ice 18 through the passage 74 to the container 14.
As discussed, water within the casing 52 may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system. In example embodiments, ice maker 50 may include a sealed refrigeration system 80. The sealed refrigeration system 80 may be in thermal communication with the casing 52 to remove heat from the casing 52 and interior volume 56 thereof, thus facilitating freezing of water therein to form ice. Sealed refrigeration system 80 may, for example, include a compressor 82, a condenser 84, a throttling device 86, and an evaporator 88. Evaporator 88 may, for example, be in thermal communication with the casing 52 in order to remove heat from the interior volume 56 and water therein during operation of sealed system 80. For example, evaporator 88 may at least partially surround the casing 52. In particular, evaporator 88 may be a conduit coiled around and in contact with casing 52, such as the sidewall(s) 54 thereof.
It should additionally be noted that, in example embodiments, a controller 200 may be in operative communication with the sealed system 80, such as with the compressor 82 thereof, and may activate the sealed system 80 as desired or required for ice making purposes.
Controller 200 may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements or non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory devices, magnetic disks, or other suitable memory devices (including combinations thereof). These memory devices may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. In addition, these memory devices may store information or data accessible by one or more processors, including instructions that may be executed by the one or more processors. It should be appreciated that the instructions may be software written in any suitable programming language or may be implemented in hardware. Additionally, or alternatively, the instructions may be executed logically or virtually using separate threads on one or more processors.
For example, controller 200 may be operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with an operating cycle of appliance 10. In this regard, the instructions may be software or any set of instructions that when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations, such as running one or more software applications, displaying a user interface, receiving user input, processing user input, etc. Moreover, it should be noted that controller 200 as disclosed herein is capable of and may be operable to perform any methods, method steps, or portions of methods as disclosed herein. For example, in some embodiments, methods disclosed herein may be embodied in programming instructions stored in the memory and executed by controller 200.
In example embodiments, controller 200 is in operative communication with the pump 32. Such operative communication may be via a wired or wireless connection, and may facilitate the transmittal and/or receipt of signals by the controller 200 and pump 32. Controller 200 may be configured to activate the pump 32 to actively flow water. For example, controller 200 may activate the pump 32 to actively flow water therethrough when, for example, reservoir 34 requires water. A suitable sensor(s), for example, may be provided in the third storage volume 36. The sensor(s) may be in operative communication with the controller 200 and may be configured to transmit signals to the controller 200, which indicate whether or not additional water is desired in the reservoir 34. When controller 200 receives a signal that water is desired, controller 200 may send a signal to pump 32 to activate pump 32.
As shown in
Auxiliary water reservoir 100 may be in fluid communication with a water tank within casing 12 such that water within auxiliary water reservoir 100 is flowable to the water tank. For example, a flexible tubing conduit, or a supply line 102, may extend from auxiliary water reservoir 100 to water tank 24, and water from within auxiliary water reservoir 100 may flow from auxiliary water reservoir 100 into second storage volume 26 via supply line 102. It will be understood that appliance 10 may be plumbed in any other suitable manner to deliver water from auxiliary water reservoir 100 into casing 12 for use with ice maker 50 in alternative example embodiments.
Now that the construction of appliance 10 and the configuration of controller 200 according to example embodiments have been presented, an example method (e.g., method 500) of operating an ice making appliance will be described. Although the discussion below refers to the example method 500 of operating appliance 10, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the example method 500 is applicable to the operation of a variety of other appliances, such as clear ice making appliances or ice making appliances including a mold body, e.g., which form ice cubes, among other possible variations in the ice making appliances. In example embodiments, the various method steps as disclosed herein may be performed (e.g., in whole or part) by controller 200, or another, separate, dedicated controller.
Referring now to
At (520), method 500 may generally include monitoring a count of times the plurality of ice making operations are performed. In general, monitoring the count of times the ice making operation is performed may include comparing the measured amount of time compressor 82 is ON to a threshold amount of time compressor 82 is ON. In other words, the threshold amount of time compressor 82 is ON may be relative to the count of times the plurality of ice making operations are performed, e.g., during each ice making operation of the plurality of ice making operations, controller 200 of appliance 10 measures the amount of time compressor 82 is ON and may compare the amount of time compressor 82 is ON to the threshold amount of time compressor 82 is ON, whereby upon reaching the threshold amount of time method 500 may continue to step (530) explained hereinbelow. Furthermore, in some example embodiments, method 500 may further include measuring an amount of time of operation of appliance 10. For example, the count of the ice making operations performed may be indicative of the amount of time of operation of the stand-alone ice making appliance. As such, monitoring the count of the ice making operations performed may include comparing the measured amount of time of operation of appliance 10 to a threshold amount of time of operation of appliance 10. For example, the count of the ice making operations performed may be indicative of a general amount of time of operating appliance 10, and the general amount of time of operating appliance 10 may be measured by controller 200. As such, controller 200 may then compare the measured amount of time of operation of appliance 10 to a threshold amount of time of operation of appliance 10, whereby upon reaching the threshold amount of time method 500 may continue to step (530) explained hereinbelow.
At (530), method 500 may generally include illuminating an indicator light of the plurality of indicator lights 150 on user interface 15 of appliance 10 upon reaching a predetermined count of times the ice making operation is performed. In example embodiments, the predetermined count of times the ice making operation is performed may be relative to the threshold amount of time compressor 82 is ON, and/or the threshold amount of time of operation of appliance 10. In general, the indicator light 150 may indicate a suggested process. For example, step (530) may include illuminating the descale indicator light 152, indicating a suggested descaling process. In another example, illuminating the indicator light may include illuminating the sanitize indicator light 154 upon reaching the threshold amount of time of operation of appliance 10, whereby illuminating the sanitize indicator light 154 indicates a suggested sanitizing process. As stated above, one of the plurality of indicator lights 150 may be descale indicator light 152, and another one of the plurality of indicator lights 150 may be sanitize indicator light 154, e.g., the suggested process may include one or both processes of descaling and sanitizing one or more of flexible tubing 102, ice maker 50, and extruder 62 of the appliance 10. The flexible tubing 102, ice maker 50, and extruder 62 of the appliance 10 are provided for example purposes only, and one of skill would understand the plurality of indicator lights 150 may include one or both processes of descaling and sanitizing additional or alternative components of appliance 10.
Particularly regarding the plurality of indicator lights 150, as seen in
At (540), method 500 may generally include receiving an input indicative of the suggested process. In general, the input indicative of the suggested process may include a user input on user interface 15 of the appliance 10. For example, the user may select a process or operation on user interface 15 in response to the plurality of indicator lights 150, such as descale indicator light 152 or sanitize indicator light 154. In one example, the descale indicator light 152 may illuminate when the suggested process is descaling, and the user may provide a user input on user interface 15 of the appliance 10 to initiate or start the descaling process. In some example embodiments, method 500 may further include performing the suggested process, and, after performing the suggested process, unilluminating one or more of the plurality of indicator lights 150.
Moreover, one of skill in the art would understand the appliance 10 described herein is by way of example only. Particularly, the present disclosure may be used with any suitable ice making appliance, i.e., ice making appliance 10 may be any stand-alone ice making appliance, such as any countertop ice making appliance. For example, the nugget ice making system, e.g., including the auger and the cylinder, is provided by way of example only and aspects of the present disclosure may also be used with other ice makers such as clear ice makers or ice makers including a mold body, e.g., which form ice cubes, among other possible variations in the ice making appliance according to the present disclosure.
As may be seen from the above, an ice making appliance in accordance with the present disclosure may be a countertop ice maker with descale and sanitize indicator lights. Indicator lights on a user interface may indicate to a user when to sanitize and/or descale the ice maker of the ice making appliance. The indicators may light up based on the software information tracking the overall ice making, e.g., the compressor ON time. Based on the obtained information, the user interface may display each light accordingly. Once the appliance is operated through the sanitizing and/or descaling process, the indicator light may turn off.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
