US3163017A - Ice cube maker having bin control - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1964 c. F. BAKER ETAL 3,163,017

ICE CUBE MAKER HAVING BIN CONTROL Filed July 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 raz/@722107150 de De 29, 1964 c. F. BAKER E'rAl.

1cm CUBE MAKER HAVING BIN CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1961 fnvenlzns@ d m@ @MQ Dec- 29, 1964 c. F. BAKER ETAL ICE CUBE MAKER HAVING BIN CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24. 1961 @@lyle f." jL-czw @M/ W Dec. 29, 1964 c. F. BAKER ETAL 3,163,017

ICE CUBE MAKER HAVING BIN CONTROL Filed July 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O 3,163,017 ICE CUBE lViAiCEi HAVING BIN CGNTRL Clyde F. Baker, Muskegon Heights, and Romeo Bougie and Lyie F. Shaw, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Borg- Warner lorporation, Chicago, ill., a corporation of Illinois Fiied .italy 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,195 14 Claims. (LCE. 62-1137) This invention relates to an ice maker and more particularly to an automatic ice cube maker of the type adapted to be installed in a refrigerator.

An object of the invention is to provide an ice maker for automatically making ice cubes and for ejecting the ice cubes from the ice maker.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic ice maker having provision of a mold structure for forming one or more ice cubes, heating means for freeing the ice cubes from the mold, and means for ejecting the ice cubes from the mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic ice maker in which an ice cube-forming mold structure having molds for ice cubes, the molds having interconnecting passages for flow of duid consecutively to the molds, the passages also providing guides for ejector pistons forming the bottoms of the mold ice-cube cavities and mechanically connected for simultaneously raising and ejecting the ice cubes from the molds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanical control `arrangement for raising and ejecting the ice cubes from the mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel control arrangement including a lever mechanism controlled by a cam mechanism operative to move the lever mechanism to raise the ice cubes from the mold and thereafter to sweep the raised ice cubes from the mold.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational view of a refrigerator provided with an automatic ice cube maker embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the ice maker;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the ice maker illustrating the ice cube-forming mold structure, the ice cube-raising and ejector lever mechanism, cam mechanism, and the fluid supply, together with elecrical components for operation of the mechanisms and liuid supply, said section being taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ice maker showing the cam and lever mechanisms, and electrical control components, said section being taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line o o of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating the ejector lever mechanism, and also a feeler for controlling operation of the ice maker;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the ice mold structure, a lever-operated raker, and an electric heater coil, said section being taken on line -S of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating the lever and cam mechanism during their ice-cube ejection positions;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control arrangement for the ice maker.

Briefly, the ice maker illustrated in the drawings, cornprises an ice cube-forming mold structure having a plurality of pistons, defining the bottoms of the ice cube-forming cavities in the mold structure, operated by ya lever arrangell? Patented Bec. 29, 1964 ment to eject the ice cubes from the mold upon heating of the mold by a heater to free the ice cubes from the mold, the pistons being simultaneously actuated by a lever mechanism controlled by a cam mechanism operated by an electric motor energizable by a thermostat responsive to the freezing temperature of the ice mold, the cam mechanism also being instrumental to cause motion of a raker to sweep the ice cubes from their raised positions into a receptacle and being further effective to control liuid supply to the molds for ice cube formation, all of the various functions of the ice maker being thermostatically, electrically, and cam controlled.

Referring to FIG. l, the refrigeratOr illustrated is of a well-known type and comprises a thermally insulated cabinet 10 having `a frozen food compartment 1.1 provided with an evaporator or a cooling unit in the form of cooling refrigerant passages 12 (FIG. 2) in the liner 13 of the compartment to cool the air within the compartment 11 and thereby to freeze foods and water placed in the compartment. As it will be observed, the automatic ice cube maker of the invention, generally indicated at 15, is mounted in the compartment 11 in a manner to be described.

Details of the construction of the ice cube maker are more clearly shown in FIGS. 2-9, inclusive. The ice cube maker comprises an aluminum mold block or structure E6 of rectangilar box-like configuration having one side secured by bolts 17 passing through the mold and the liner 13 into the cabinet 16 to support the ice maker on the refrigerator as shown in FIG. 2 and for intimate heat exchanging Contact with the liner 13 for thermal conduction relation to the mold structure 16 to insure freezing of water within the mold structure by the absorption of heat therefrom by the vaporizable refrigerants circulated through the evaporator passages 12 of the liner 13.

As seen in FIG. 2, the iiat side Wall 18 of the ice mold structure or block is spaced from the liner by a pair of spaced thermal-conductive pads 19 and also three thermalinsulating pads 20, disposed between the pads 19 and at opposite ends of the pads 19, the pads being engaged with the aluminum mold structure to space the mold structure from the liner. This arrangement is important as the thermal-conducting pads are located to conduct heat from the central cavity or mold 21 and the adjacent cavities or molds .22 and 23 to cause freezing of the iiuid in these cavities into cubes prior to conducting heat from the end molds 24 and 25 to form ice cubes in the end molds, i.e. fluid in the central and its adjacent molds 21, 22, and 23 will freeze into ice cubes prior to the freezing of the water in the end molds 24 and 25 so that ice cubes will be formed in all of the molds to close a thermostatic switch, located in proximity to the mold 24 to` energize a motor and a heater as will later be described. It will be seen that pads 19 are positioned between the block and the liner and disposed in parallel vertical planes respectively extending between the central mold 21 and two molds 22 and 23 so that the adjacency of the heatconducting pads to these molds will cause the water to be frozen into ice cubes prior to the ice cubes being formed in the end molds 24 and 25. This safety factor insures the thermostatic switch closing only when all of the ice cubes are formed in the molds.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mold structure 16 is provided with each of its ice cube-forming molds being provided by vertical cylindrical pockets with each pocket being enlarged diametrically in cross-section from the bottom to the top thereof to provide the individual molds with an inverted frusto-conical shape for forming an ice cube of maximum size while permitting easy ejection of the cubes from the molds. As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8,

' the walls 27 between and separating adjacent molds are interrupted by aligned vertical passages 2.3 for permitting iluid entering the mold from a trough Z9 mounted on the right end or" :the mold structure, as shown in FGS. 2 and 3, the fluid ilowing into the mold :and thence through the connecting passages 23 consecutively to the molds 23, 2l, 22 and 24. The entry of Water into the molds is controlled by a valve 39 having a solenoid 3l which, when energized, opens the valve to permit iiuid to enter the trough and the molds.

As shown in FIGS, 2, 3, 6, and 3, the molds 22, 223, 24, and 25 have their bottoms closed by a plurality of piston-like pilates 32 formed integral with the top oi a thin elongate horizontal bar 33 received within the passages 2S of the mold structure and an elongate slot 34 in the block, and the central mold has its bottom closed by a solid piston 3S formed integral with the bar, so that the molds 2li-25 and pasages 23 are closed at their bottom ends. It may be noted that the passages 2S not only provide for theconsecutive illing of the molds from right to left from the trough but also provide guides for the vertical movement of the bar 33 during raising and lowering of the ice-cube ejector assembly comprising the bar 33 and thepistons 32 and 35. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pitson 35 oi the ejector asesmbly has an opening extending vertically therethrough for receiving the reduced end 36 of the upper portion of a cylindrical pilot rod 37 of the ejector assembly, the rod having a shoulder abutting the bottom of the piston for supporting the pistons and bar for conjoint movement, the top of the rod 37 being attened to provide a rivet 3S to secure the rod 37 to the piston 35. The rod extends through and is slidably supported in a cylindrical opening 39 in the mold structure and through a boss 39 eX- tending downwardly of the mold, the upper end of the opening 3% being enlarged to receive a seal assembly 4l surrounding and slidably engaging the rod 37.

lt will be apparent that, in the position of the ejector assembly shown in FIG. l, Water entering from the trough 29 will ow into the mold 2S and consecutively into the molds 23, 21, 22 and 24 until the molds are lied with a predetermined quantity of liuid for freezing into ice cubes by the heat exchange relation of the mold and the liner 1l and that, when the ice cubes are formed, movement of the rod 37 upwardly will raise the bar 33 and ists pistons 32 and 35 to eject the ice cubes from the molds.

A lever mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the ejector assembly and comprises a lever 42 having an arm 43 received Within a slot i4 in the pilot rod 3? as shown in FIG. 3, the lever 42 being pivoted intermediate its ends by a pin 45 positioned on and extending through parallel ears de, 46 of an end Wall A?? of the kcasing i8 supporting the lever mechanism. The lever is adapted to rotate about the pin 45 by having its arm i9 operated by a cam mechanism, generally indicated at Sil, eflective to control such movement of the lever to raise the ejector assembly to raise the ice cubes and to thereafter lower the ejector assembly as shown in FIGS. 9 and 4, respectively.

The cam mechanism is instrumental in controllingwith a thermostatic control, the various functions of the ice cube maker. More particularly, the cam mechanism comprises a rotatable cam 5l connected to the driven shaft 52 of transmission gearing (not shown) which, in turn, is connected to the shaft of an electric motor 53 mounted on plate 54 connected by screws 55 and to the casing Walls 57 and 47, the gearing being adapted to provide a ratio of 3400zl for rotating the shaft S2. As seen in FIG. 4, a headed threaded pin S3 secured to one side of the cam in spaced relation. to the rotational axis of the cam and extends-Within an elongate slot 59 in the arm i9 of the lever 42 so that rotation of the cam will cause the pin 5S to travel along the slot 59 on the lever to move the lever about its pivot pin d5 to raise and lower the ejector assembly.

Referring to HCS. 6 and 8, the mold block lo has parallel grooves 623 formed in the bottom thereof for receiving the legs of a U-shaped aluminum sheathed electrical coil 6l capable of 3G() Watts at llS volts to provide o heater for heating the body of the mold block so that heat conducted through the mold block to the ice cubes will melt the frozen bond between the ice cubes and the walls of the molds. As shown in FiGS. 3, d, and 6, the ends of the coil extend through and are supported by, as at 621, the Wall s? of the casing.

einen application of heat to :the mold block by the heater coil, the heat v@vill be conducted uniformly to all of the molds 2l to 25 to Substantially simultaneously free the cubes from the mold and, due .to the location of the thermal-insulating pads Ztl, very little heat Will llovv to and he conducted through the small area of -the thermal-conductive pads l@ to the liner i3. Accordingly, it will requite very little exertion or action by the ejector and cam mechanism and the motor to raise the cubes out of the mold.

Referring again to the cam mechanism, the cam mechanism also comprises means for actuating a lever 63 having at one end oted by a pin ed on plate 5d of the casing and having its other end provided with an opening for receiving the lower laterally projecting end of a rod 65 for extending vertically upwardly and having its upper end also laterally offset to extend Within an opening in fthe arm o6 of a lever The body oi the lever 67 is also provided with opening for receiving one end 68 of an elongate ralte or sweep 69, the cylindrical end 68 of the ralie being imurled to conform to and tightly t into the opening in the lever body to insure that rotation of lever will also rotaie the rake. The end 63 and the other end 7G of the ralte 69 are offset from the body of the rake and extend respectively Within openings in the Wall i? ot the casing 45% and the wall "il oi the trough 2Q to position the ralte body in radially' spaced relation to the pivotal axis of the taire as provided by the opposite mounted ends or" the rake, to thus position the rake above and to one side of the mold so that the rake will not interfere with the upper eiecting movement or" the ice cubes from the molds but the ralte can rotate to sweep the raised cubes from the mold and into the basket '72 shown in flG. l.

The lever o3 is adapted to be rotated in a counterclock- Wise direction about its pivotal support 6i,- by a pin 73 (FEGS. 6 and 9) projecting from the side of the cam and engaging .a semi-circular surface l-iof the lever being concentric to the axis of rotation of tbe lever and terminating at one end in a chordal surface 'S of a projecting ncrtion o? the lever, the surface 75 being spaced from the axis of the semi-circular surface and tangential to an arc struck from said airis, the other end of the surface 'i5 being `.paced relation to the adjacent end of Athe surface 'M to define an opening between the projecting portion o of the lever and the body of the lever. lt will be apparentI pon rotation ot the cam, that the pin 73 will ride the surface of 'the lever `without actuating the lever but, upon the pin 73 engaging the surface T15. the pin raise the lever to move the rod 65 to rotate the lever in a clocl"vise direction tFiG. 5) and thereby the rake to cause the body of the rake to pivot about its ends to sweep the raised cubes `from the molds.

Referring new to FGS. 4, 5, 6, the lever 67 has an 7d disposed substantially at a right angle to the ra lie-operating arm 6545, the arm 78 having an opening for receiving th offset end of arcuately-shaped actuating '.79 so that rotation of the lever d? will cause the rod to be actuated. The other end ot rod 79 is also otiset -ior reception within, is normally disposed at one end of, an elongated slot SG in an arm 3l of a lever 82. The lever has an opening receiving a. lmurled end S3 of a eeier 81E for conjoint movement of the eeler and lever, the end 33 extending through and being rotatably mounted, as shown, in the Wall t7 of the casing offset end of the rod '79 is normally' maintained at the end of the slot in lever S2, as shown, by a spring 85 having one end connected to the other offset end of the rod 79, and the other end of the spring is connected to a downwardly extending crank pin 86 of the lever S2, the crank pin being radially offset from the rotational axis of the lever, so that the spring is eective, in the position of fthe part shown in FIG. 6 to normally maintain the end of the rod 79 at one end of the elongate Islot 8'0 in the arm 81 of lever 82.

The feeler 84 is bent vertically downwardly from its arm S3 from its rotative mounting in the casing wall 47 and is further bent horizontally at its lower extremity to provide a feeler arm 87 extending above the ice cube-receiving receptacle or basket. It will be apparent that, upon rotation of the cam, the pin 'i3 of the cam will engage the ilat surface 75 of the lever 63 to rotate the lever upwardly to raise the rod 65 to rotate lever 67 so that its arm 78 will move rod 79 in an arcuate path to posi-tion the feeler arm 87 in front of the mold structure and above and at one side ofthe basket so that, at this time, the cubes, swept from the mold structure, can freely fall into the basket without being impeded by the feeler arm 87. It will be seen that, as the otset end of rod 79 is disposed within and positioned at the end of ythe slot 80 in arm 81 of lever 82 so tha-t, this end of the rod can move along the -slot md relative to the lever 82 by this lost motion connection between the rod 79 and lever 82, the spring 85 normally functioning only to position the arm 31 of lever 82 to engage the end of rod 79 with the end of the slot when the feeler arm 87 is above and over the ice cube-receiving opening in the basket.

The arm 31 of lever 82 is also provided with a flat portion 88 disposed at a right angle to its crank pin S6 and engageable with the pushbutton of a stop switch 89 to open the normally closed contacts of this switch. It may be noted that the switch 39 is mounted on and secured to the wall 47 of the casing in a position to permit actuation of its pushbuttonupon rotational movement of lever 63 to actuate rod 79. In the event the receptacle is lled with ice cubes to an extent that the feeler arm 87 is raised by the cubes, the lever 82 will no-t return to its normal position as shown but will be held, by the engagement of the teeler Sii with the ice cubes, in a position to continue operation of the pushbutton of the switch `89 to open the switch contacts, and despite operation of the spring S to return the lever 82 to its normal position as shown. It may be observed that, although the lever 67 can return to its normal position, that the end of the rod 79 will be disposed between the ends of the slot in the lever 32,.

Upon removal of a sutlicient amounttof the ice cubes from the receptacle, the feeler S4 will be rotated to its normal position above the basket by the action of spring S5 rotating lever 32 to its normal position shown to release engagement of the flat portion 83 of the lever S2 with the pusnbutton of switch `S9 to permit its contacts to close, this movement of the lever also causing the lever to be rotated to engage the offset end of rod 79 with the end of the slot in lever SZ. The stop switch 89 is effective to provide a circuit to energize the electric motor to rotate the cam and, accordingly, when lthe contacts of switch 78 are open, the electric motor is deenergized under certain conditions to be later described with reference to the operation of the ice cube maker and the electrical control diagram of FIG. l0.

Referring to FIG. 6, the cam control mechanism is further instrumental in sequentially actuating switches 90 and 91, the switch 9i) being effective to con-trol an energizing circuit for the electric motor, and the switch 91 being operative to control energization of the solenoid 31 of the water-till valve 39. More particularly, the switches 9G and 91 are consecutively closed during rotation of the cam, the switches being provided by a plurality of contacts formed as an assembly generally indicated 92 mounted on the wall 54 of the housing, two

of the contacts of respective switches being connected by an insulating stud 94 for unitary movement to engage the other contacts of the switches, as shown in FIG. 6. A ilexible actautor arm 96 of the assembly is connected by an insulating pin to the stud 94 and extends downwardly therebeyond for reception within a recess 9S of the cam (FIG. 6). The end of arm 96 is adapted to move out from the cam recess to engage the side of the recessdening portion of the earn and to ride upon the concentric periphery of the cam to close switch to energize the motor. The cam periphery is also provided with a tab 1d@ projecting outwardly therefrom to engage the arm 96 to additionally close switch 91 to energize solenoid 31 of valve 39 during rotataion of the cam. As seen in FIG. 4, the tab 19d is adjustably positioned on the cam by a screw extending through an elongate slot in the tab and permitting adjustment of the tab on the cam to a position determinative of the time of occurrence of the energization of the water lill solenoid. It will be noted that the tab 16th of the cam, when the cam is rotated in counterclockwise direction (FIG. 6), will engage the arm 96 just prior to its entry into the recess 9S or" the cam so that, when the tab 101i closes switch 91, the ice cubes will have been previously ejected from the molds and the ejector assembly returned to the bottom of the molds to insure the molds being filled with water during operation of the tab to close switch 91 to energize solenoid 31 of valve 3i?, After the arm 96 has released its engagement with the tab 19t), the motorenergizing switch 9d remains closed to rotate the cam until the arm 96 is positioned within recess 95 of the cam when both switches are opened toy stop operation of the ice maker until the water in the molds -form ice cubes. At lthis time, the motor is energized to operate the cam and lever mechanism to effect ejection of the cubes from the molds and into the basket. For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the mold is provided with a thermostatic switch 191 located in a cavity 102 in the end of the mold adjacent to but spaced from the mold 2d by a comparatively thin wall 103, defining a portion of the end mold 24 of the mold structure. The switch 191 is held with its thermostatically-responsive, contact-closing portion in engagement with this wall by a spring 1M compressed between the thermostatic switch and the wall 47 of casing 48. The switch contacts are adapted to open at `30" F. and to close at 5 F. The control thermostatic switch 191 is in a circuit to control energization of the electric motor in a manner to be later described.

As a safety factor, a thermostatic switch 195 is mounted on the wall 47 of the casing 4S so that should an undesirable high temperature of the aluminum mold structure and wall i7 be had, during abnormal heating by the heater coil 6I. in the event of malfunctioning of the control thermostatic switch 191, the switch will open its contacts to interrupt all circuits, including the heater coil circuit. The thermostat is effective to close its contacts below, and at 40 F. and to open its contacts at a temperature rise to 60 F. This function of the switch will be amplitied in the description of the operation of the ice maker. v

In the operation of the ice cube maker, it will be assumed that the mechanical and electrical components of vthe ice cube maker are in the positions shown in FIGS. 1 8 and also referring `to the electrical control diagram of FIG. l0. In addition, it will be assumed the molds have been lled with water and the water frozen into ice cubes conforming to the frusto-conical shape of the molds. At this time, the contacts of the safety thermostatic switch 1(55 are closed and, `as the temperature oi the wall i7 of the casing is at or below 5 F., the 'contacts of the control thermostatic switch 161 have closed to provide a circuit to simultaneously energize the motor 53 and also the heater coil 61 so that the motor rotates the cam to cause arm 96 of the switch assembly 92 to close switch 99 to establish a circuit to maintain lthe motor energized, upon opening of the contacts of the control switch lul at or above 30 l1. by heat conducted to the mold structure and casing wall i? by energization of the heater.

Referring to the electrical control diagram of Fi-G. l0, it will be apparent that a circuit is completed including line L1, closed contacts of the safety switch N5, the closed contacts of the control switch lili, conductor Cl, closed contacts of the stop switch 89, conductors C2 and C3, winding of the motor 53, conductor Cd, to line LZ. A circuit is simultaneously established to energize the heater coil 61 including conductors C2 and C5, the heater coil 61, conductor C4 to line if'.

As the heat penetrates the mold block, the control switch lill opens its contacts at or above 36 but, at this time, the cam has been rotated by the motor to actuate arm 96 of the switch assembly 92 to close switch 9d to continue establishment of circuits to maintain the motor and electric coil energized during the entire operation of the machine. The motor-energizing circuit includes line Ll, closed contacts of switch conducto-r C6, closed contacts of switch 9i), conductors C7, C2, C3, winding of motor 53, conductor C4 tto line L2. At the same time, the switch 9i? also establishes a circuit to the heater coil including line Li, conductor Cd, switch 9i?, conductor C7, conductor C2, conductor C5, heater coil 6l, conductor Cd to line L2.

Due to the frozen bond between lthe ice cubes and the sides of the molds, operation of the ejector mechanism does notoccur and, accordingly, the motor will stall until a predetermined period of time has elapsed during which the 'temperature of the block rises to free the ice cubes from their bond with the molds. At this time, the motor renews operation to cause the cam to rotate to move pin 58 along the slot 59 in lever 49 to slowly move the lever in a clockwise direction (FIG. 6) about its pivot pin 45 to raise 'the arm 42 of the lever and thereby the pilot rod 37 and thereby the pistons upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in FG. 3 to remove the loosened ice cubes from the molds. This movement of the cubes takes a 50 second time period, and the cubes are held in their raised position for approximately l to 20 seconds so that water on the outer surfaces of the cubes will be frozen to prevent congealing connections of the cubes to each other when they are swept into the basket by the rake o9.

At the conclusion of this time, the motor rotates the cam to the position shown in FIG. 9 in which its pin T3 is engaged with the ilat chcrdal .surface 75 of the lever 63 so as to raise the free end of the lever, by rotation of the lever in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 9), to move the rod 65 Vto rotate lever o7 to cause the body of the ralre to pivot'about its ends to sweep the'icc cubes from the mold structure and into the basket.

During actuation of the rake and prior to engagement of the rake with the cubes, the lever e7 operates rod '79 which, in turn, rotates lever 82 to move the fecler Se, from its normal position above and over the basket, rearwardly of the basket so that the ice cubes may fall freely into the basket when the raker is operative to remove the raised ice cubes Vfrom the mold structure. When the pin 73 of the cam is Apositioned within the space between the portion 37 and the body of the lever, the pin 58 of the cam has been eiective to rotate lever 4Z to move the eiector mechanism, including the piston, their supporting bar, and the pilot rod, to 'the lowered positions shown in FlGS. 1 8.

As the cam continues to rotate, the tab tot?, projecting outwardly of the periphery of the cam, will engage arm @o of the switch assembly 92 to continue closing the contacts of switch 9G for energizing the motor and, in addition, will close the contacts of switch 91 to effect energization of the solenoid 31 of the water valve 3i@ to cause water to flow into trough Z9 and into the molds for an amount of time determined by the engagement of the tab lo@ with the arm 96 to lill the molds with water. As th tab liliof the cam releases its engagement with the arm $6 of the switch assembly, the arm 9e of this assembly will continue to engage the periphery of the cam e3 to continue energization of the motor and heater coil until the arm 9o is positioned within the recess in the cam to open the switch Std and thereby effect deenergization of the motor and the heater coil. The motor for energizing the water valve solenoid 3l includes line Li, the closed contacts of the safety thermostat switch, conductor Cid, closed contacts of switch 9d, closed contacts of switch 9i, conductor C3, the winding of the water valve solenoid 3l, conductor C4 to line L2.

in the event the receptacle should be filled with ice cubes to an extent that the tceler fails `to return from its raised positions to its lowered position above and over the baslrct, the contacts of the stop switch 89 will remain open, as previously described, so that, at the end of the normal cycle of operation of the machine when the switch 3@ is opened, freezing of the ice cubes and closing of contacts of thermostatic switch mi will not establish a circuit to the motor and heater coil as this circuit requires the contacts of the stop switch 89 to be closed.

An additional safety factor has been previously mentioned in the form of the safety thermostatic switch MP5 which as shown in FG. l0 is directly connected to the line Ll so that in the event of the temperature rise during the heating of the mold block lo by the heater coil 6l, the safety switch will operate to open its contacts to immediately interrupt any circuits energizing the motor or any of 'the electrical components of the machine. This safety factor is of considerable value in preventing continued operation of the heater coil, for example, when the temperature of the mold rises to an extent that any ice cubes in the molds may be substantially melted, or the water in the molds may be vaporized.

it may be noted that a distinct advantage resides in the provision of the heater coii being energized during the water till of the molds and ejection of the ice cubes as any water, entering between the pistons and mold walls and also into the elongate seat in the mold structure for the piston-supporting bar, it" frozen to provide an ice bond between the mold and these described components of the ejector mechanism, will again be converted into water upon energization of the heater coil and conduction of heat into the mold structure so that no remnants or siivers of ice remain to impede the movements of the ejector mechanism.

While we have described a specific embodiment of the ice cube maker forming the invention, it is to be clearly understood that modications may be made of the varions mechanical and electrical arrangements of the ice cube maker and which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

what is claimed is:

l. In an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member extending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprccable in said cavity; means, including cam means, for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of Said mold cavity and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; and a raiter element controlled byvsaid reciprocating means and actuatahle by said cam means for movement across the top of said mold for sweeping the ice piece from the top of said when raised by said member.

2. ln ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member eX- tending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity, means for reciprocating said member to raise the icc piece above the top of said mold cavity and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; an elongate raker eiement pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof above said molti and normally positioned at one side of said cavity therein during said ice piece-raising moveif? ment of said member; and mechanical means, including cam means, controlling reciprocating movement of said member and pivotal movement of said raker element and operable to move said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said cavity and to move said raker element to sweep the raised ice piece from the top of said mold.

3. in an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member eX- tending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the Iice piece above the top of said mold cavity and toreturn said member to its cavity bottom-closing position and including a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having one end engaging said member to reciprocate said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; a ralcer element pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof above said mold to said support and normally positioned at one side of said cavity during ice-piece raising movement of said member; and cam means engaging the other end of said lever to reciprocate said member and being connected to one end of said element for rotating said element to sweep the raised ice piece from the top of said mold.

4. ln an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice-piece-forming cavity therein; a member eX- tending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold cavity and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position including a rst lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having one end engaging said member to reciprocate said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said Imold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; a raker element pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof above said mold to said support and normally positioned at one side of said cavity during ice piece-raising movement of said member; and means for operating said first lever and said element including a rotatable cam having a pin received Within a slot in the other end of said first lever for rotating said first lever to reciprocate said member, and a second lever connected to one end of said raker element and also connected to said cam and operative by said cam to rotate said element to sweep the raised ice piece from the top of the mold.

5. In an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member extending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold cavity and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position including a first lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having one end engaging said member to reciprocate said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; a raker element pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof above said mold to said support and normally positioned at one side of said cavity during ice piece-raising movement of said member; and means for operating said iirst lever and said element including a rotatable cam having a pin received within a slot in the other end of said first lever for rotating said first lever to reciprocate said member, and a second lever fixed to one end of said raker element `and having an arm connected to said cam and movable thereby to rotate said second lever and thereby said raker element to sweep the raised ice piece from the top of said mold.

6. In an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member eX- tending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold cavity and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position including a first lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having one end engaging said member to reciprocate said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position; a raker element pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof .above said mold to said support and normally positioned at one side of said cavity during the ice piece-raising movement of said member; and means for operating said first lever and said element including a rotatable cam having a pin received within a slot in the other end of said first lever for rotating said first lever to reciprocate said member, and a second lever fixed to one end of said raker element and having an arm movable thereby to rotate said second lever and thereby said raker element to sweep the raised ice piece from the top of said mold, and a third lever connected to said arm of said second lever and operable by said cam to actuate said arm of said second lever to rotate said second lever.

7. in an ice making machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said third lever has one end connected to said support and its other end -to said arm of said second lever, and said third lever having a semi-circular surface concentric to the axis of rotation of said cam and a flat chordal surface at one end of said semi-circular surface and tangential to an arc concentric to said cam axis, and said cam is provided with a pin at one side thereof engaging said surfaces and operable upon engagement with said chordal surface to rotate said `third lever to actuate said arm of said second lever to rotate said second lever and thereby said raker element.

8. in an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member extending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position including a lever pivotally connected to said support and to said member; a receptacle for ice pieces; means for effecting movement 0f said raised ice piece from the top of said mold into said receptacle; a feeler element pivotally connected to said support and normally positioned above said receptacle and rotatable to one side of said receptacle prior to movement of said ice piece into said receptacle; cam means connected to and continuously operative on said lever, said cam means being also connected to said feeler element, said cam means being operable to move said member to raise said ice piece to the top of said mold for movement of said ice piece into said receptacle, and for rotating said feeler element to one side of said receptacle; means operative for actuating said cam means; and means for rendering said cam-actuating means inoperable to move said feeler element including means connecting said cam means to said feeler element when said feeler element is disposed at the side of said receptacle and movement of said feeler element to its normal position over said receptacle is impeded by the ice pieces in said receptacle.

9. in an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member extending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; means for reciprocating said member to raise *the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return the member to its cavity bottom-defining position including a support, a first lever pivotally connected between its ends to said support and having one end connected to said member; an ice piecestorage receptacle below said mold; means operative to displace the raised ice piece from the top of the mold into said receptacle; a feeler element pivotally connected move said feeler element to position said portion of said feeler element over said receptacle when such movement or" said feeler element is impeded by the ice pieces in said receptacle; and means for rotating said second and third levers including a fourth lever having one end pivotally connected to said support and its other end connected to the other of said arms of said second lever, and a cam rotatably mounted on said support and having a projection extending outwardly of the periphery thereof and instrumental in effecting operation of said fluid supply means, said fourth lever having a semi-circular surface concentric to the axis of said cam and a fiat chordal surface at one end of said semi-circular surface and tangential to an aro concentric to said cam axis, said cam having first and second pins projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof with said first pin being received Within a slot in the other end of said rst lever for reciprocating said piston assembly, and said second pin being engageable with the surfaces of said fourth lever to rotate said fourth lever and thereby said second and third levers, said projection and pins on said cam being located and arranged to actuate -said iirst lever to raise said piston assembly and thereby said ice pieces to the top. of said mold7 to rotate said fourth, third and second levers and thereby said raker to move the raised ice pieces from the top of said mold and into said receptacle while rotating said feeler element to position its portion to one side of said receptacle; means operative to rotate said cam; and means for rendering said last-mentioned means inoperative including said lost-motion connection, said last mentioned means being operable by the other arm of said third lever upon rotation of said third lever when said feeler element portion is disposed at one side of said receptacle and movement of said feeler element is impeded by the ice pieces in said receptacle.

14. 1n an ice making machine, a freezer mold provided with an ice piece-forming cavity therein; a member extending into said cavity and closing the bottom of said cavity and being reciprocable in said cavity; a support; means for reciprocating said member to raise the ice piece above the top of said mold and to return said member to its cavity bottom-closing position including a first lever pivotally connected to said support and to said member; a receptacle for ice pieces; means for effecting movement of said raised ice piece from the top of said mold into said receptacle; a feeler element pivotally connected to said support and normally positioned above said receptacle and rotatable to one side of said receptacle prior to movement of said ice piece into said receptacle; a second lever fixed to said feeler element and provided with an arm movable to rotate said feeler element to its positions over and at one side of said receptacle; a cam means including a rotatable cam connected to said first lever and to said feeler element and operable to move said member to raise said ice piece to the top of said mold for movement of said ice piece into said receptacle, and for rotating said feeler element to one side of said receptacle; means operative for actuating said cam means; and means for rendering said cam-actuating means inoperable to move said feeler element including a lost motion connection between said cam and the arm of said second lever for etfecting actuation of said second lever by rotation of said cam to rotate the second lever to one side of said receptacle and to prevent rotation of said lever upon rotation of said cam to return the feeler element to its position over the receptacle when ice pieces in the receptacle impede return movement of the feeler element to its position over the receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,066 10/41 Gaston 62-135 2,571,506 10/51 Watt 62-353 X 2,697,918 12/54 Comstock 62-344 X 2,9 69,651 1/61 Bauerlein 62-135 2,981,079 4/61 Fink 62-137 2,987,895 6/61 LoeWenthal 62-135 2,999,372 9/61 Bailif 62-353 3,012,410 12/ 61 Hubacher 62-135 3,027,733 4/ 62 Hubacker 62-353 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. 8. IN AN ICE MAKING MACHINE, A FREEZER MOLD PROVIDED WITH AN ICE PIECE-FORMING CAVITY THEREIN; A MEMBER EXTENDING INTO SAID CAVITY AND CLOSING THE BOTTOM OF SAID CAVITY AND BEING RECIPROCABLE IN SAID CAVITY; A SUPPORT; MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID MEMBER TO RAISE THE ICE PIECE ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID MOLD AND TO RETURN SAID MEMBER TO ITS CAVITY BOTTOM-CLOSING POSITION INCLUDING A LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT AND TO SAID MEMBER; A RECEPTACLE FOR ICE PIECE; MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID RAISED ICE PIECE FROM THE TOP OF SAID MOLD INTO SAID RECEPTACLE; A FEELER ELEMENT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT AND NORMALLY POSITIONED ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE AND ROTATABLE TO ONE SIDE OF SAID RECEPTACLE PRIOR TO MOVEMENT OF SAID ICE PIECE INTO SAID RECEPTACLE; CAM MEANS CONNECTED TO AND CONTINUOUSLY OPERATIVE ON SAID LEVER, SAID CAM MEANS BEING ALSO CONNECTED TO SAID FEELER ELEMENT, SAID CAM MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID MEMBER TO RAISE SAID ICE PIECE TO THE TOP OF SAID MOLD FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID ICE PIECE INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, AND FOR ROTATING SAID FEELER ELEMENT TO ONE SIDE OF SAID RECEPTACLE; MEANS OPERATIVE FOR ACTUATING SAID CAM MEANS; AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID CAM-ACUTATING MEANS INOPERABLE TO MOVE SAID FEELER ELEMENT INCLUDING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CAM MEANS TO SAID FEELER ELEMENT WHEN SAID FEELER ELEMENT IS DISPOSED AT THE SIDE OF SAID RECEPTACLE AND MOVEMENT OF SAID FEELER ELEMENT TO ITS NORMAL POSITION OVER SAID RECEPTACLE IS IMPEDED BY THE ICE PIECES IN SAID RECEPTACLE.

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