US3659827A - Storage receptacle and agitator for refrigerator ice making machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator ice piece storage receptacle for use with an automatic ice making machine having a rotatable agitating means to continuously move the ice pieces in the container to prevent their sticking together when stored at temperature below or above freezing. The agitating means comprise a plurality of canted discs continuously revolving on a common agitator rod within the container. Coupling means are provided wherein the agitator rod is separably drivingly connected to a refrigerator drive shaft when the receptacle is located in a compartment of a refrigerator. Drain valve means are provided in the bottom of the receptacle to drain the same of melting ice water wherein said valve automatically closes when the receptacle is removed from the refrigerator for placement on a countertop surface.

Description

United States Patent Fogt [ 1 STORAGE RECEPTACLE AND AGITATOR FOR REFRIGERATOR ICE MAKING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Thomas H. Fogt, West Carrollton, Ohio [73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[221 Filed: Jan. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,430

[52] U.S. C1. ..259/l10, 259/10, 259/D1G. 32 [51] Int. Cl ..B0lf 7/10, F250 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..259/9, 10, 25, 26, 45, 46,

259/109, 110, DIG. 32, DIG. 33; 222/236; 221/220,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [4 1 May 2, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 455,399 2/1950 Italy ..259/1 10 [5 7] ABSTRACT A refrigerator ice piece storage receptacle for use with an automatic ice making machine having a rotatable agitating means to continuously move the ice pieces in the container to prevent their sticking together when stored at temperature below or above freezing. The agitating means comprise a plurality of canted discs continuously revolving on a common agitator rod within the container. Coupling means are provided wherein the agitator rod is separably drivingly connected to a refrigerator drive shaft when the receptacle is located in a compartment of a refrigerator. Drain valve means are provided in the bottom of the receptacle to drain the same of melting ice water wherein said valve automatically closes when the receptacle is removed from the refrigerator for placement on a countertop surface.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,827

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lwuvmR. flames Hfogi ATTORI lEY STORAGE RECEPTACLE AND AGITATOR FOR REFRIGERATOR ICE MAKING MACHINES This invention pertains to storage receptacles for automatic liquid freezers for household refrigerators and particularly to a removable ice piece storage receptacle for receiving and agitating ice pieces from the liquid freezer while they are being stored in the receptacle to maintain the ice pieces in a separated condition to insure that they are available for use at any time.

Many of the present day domestic refrigerators have automatic ice making apparatus including a collecting or storage receptacle in which the ice pieces are stored in the refrigerator for removal by the user. Examples of prior art automatic ice making apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,030 issued Mar. 18, 1969 to J. W. Jacobs and U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,413 issued Dec. 9, 1969 to L. J. Mann et al., both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application. Various types of storage receptacles providing ice cube agitation means have been proposed in the prior art such as the storage receptacle of U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,994 issued Jan. 21, 1969 to R. J. Alvarez. These prior art receptacles do not disclose means whereby ice pieces having a variety of shapes such as cylindrical sphere and cube for example may be stored in a refrigerator compartment at temperatures in excess of 32 F. while preventing the formation of ice clusters by rotating agitation disc means.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved inexpensive storage receptacle having rotatable ice piece agitation means for preventing the formation of ice clusters by continually agitating the ice pieces, including canted revolving discs which require a minimum of driving power while preventing the ice pieces from becoming jammed between the discs and the walls of the receptacle.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved ice piece storage receptacle for a refrigerator having agitating means including a rotatable agitator rod assembly incorporating coupling means associated therewith providing an axially separable driving connection between a drive shaft mounted in a cabinet of the refrigerator and the agitator driven rod for easy removal and replacement of the receptacle in the refrigerator cabinet.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a removable ice piece storage receptacle for a refrigerator automatic liquid freezer such that the receptacle has swash plate type agitator canted discs which continually agitates ice pieces therein including a valve arrangement located in the bottom member of the receptacle to drain the same of melting ice water whereby the valve automatically moves to closed position when the receptacle is removed from the refrigerator and cooperating means in the refrigerator to automatically open the valve upon placement of the receptacle below the liquid freezer.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the Drawings:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of the ice dispensing means of the present invention incorporated in the above freezing compartment of a household refrigerator showing the storage receptacle of the present invention located therebeneath;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the storage receptacle taken on the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the receptacle illustrating certain features of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the coupling portion of a drive shaft extending from the back wall of the refrigerator cabinet;

FIG. 4A is an elevational view of the face of coupling portion ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the lines 55 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing the receptacle valve in its raised open position taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top elevation of the cage portion of the valve of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 6 showing the valve stopper in its lowered closed position.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the upper cabinet portion 14 of a household refrigerator 20 separated by a support shelf 16 from lower food storage area 18. An automatic liquid freezer or icemaker 24 is shown installed in the refrigerator above freezing compartment 14 from which the frozen liquid is discharged into a collecting receptacle or bin 26 located beneath it. The icemaker 24 could be any one of the well known types and preferably an ice maker such as disclosed in the above-mentioned Mann et al., patent.

Icemakers of the Mann et al., type have a plurality of al., rod shaped spindle members (not shown) positioned above a collecting receptacle indicated generally at 26. The spindle members are immersed in water in a trough and are cooled by suitable means such as an expansion coil connected to a motor compressor and condenser unit (not shown). When the frozen liquid freezes into the lower portion of the spindle members the ice formations are released so that they drop into the collecting receptacle 26 in a manner disclosed by the Mann et a1. patent to provide a completed ice pellet or cylinder a plurality of which are indicated at 28 in the container shown in FIG. 2. As explained in the aforementioned patent the method of freezing minimizes the clouding effect of dissolved air in the water in a manner similar to an icicle and thereby improves the clarity of the ice formed. It is to be understood, however, that the receptacle to be described may be used to store ice pieces of various other configurations such as ice cubes or blocks without departing from the scope of the invention.

Because applicants receptacle is designed for various icemakers including the icemaker of U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,413 which requires the use of a trough containing liquid water it is essential that the receptacle and its agitation means function at temperatures in excess of 32 F. to insure that the trough water does not become frozen. Suitable electric switch means (not shown) may be associated with the ice storage receptacle 26, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,146,601 and 3,264,844 both of which are assigned to the same assignee as the present application, for controlling the operation of the ice making in accordance with the weight of the ice present in the receptacle 26. This switch means disconnects the ice cube formation process to prevent the energization of the system to stop further ice making until some or all of the ice pieces 28 are removed from the container.

The receptacle 26 is preferably made of an A.B.S. plastic material of a one piece or integral construction. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the receptacle or bin 26 is generally rectangular in configuration having an arcuate shaped bottom wall 30 merging with vertical side walls 32 and 34 and substantially rectangular upright or vertical front and rear walls 36 and 38 respectively. In the form disclosed the receptacle has an overall length of about 14 in. and a width of about 7.5 in. It will be noted that the front and rear walls terminate in horizontal bottom edges 40 and 42 which support the receptacle on the shelf 16 when in the refrigerator and on a work surface such as a countertop when removed from the refrigerator to leave a space 43 between the bottom wall 30 and the support surface or refrigerator shelf 16. A handle means is provided on the front wall 36 by having a horizontal rim 44 and a cooperating depending flange 45 to allow the user to grip the receptacle for easy removal from the refrigerator.

A horizontally disposed agitator assembly 46 including an agitator rod 47 is supported longitudinally within the receptacle 26 by extending through aligned centrally located apertures 48 and 50 in the front and rear walls 36 and 38, respectively. The front end of the agitator rod 47 projects through front wall aperture 48 for journalled reception in cup-shaped bearing member 52. Mounted on the agitator rod 47 are a plurality of intermediate discs 54 and end discs 56, 57 canted in a common direction with their principal horizontal diameters positioned normal to and intersecting the principal axis 55 of rod 47. The discs are mounted in swashplate fashion each of which is preferably integrally molded with the agitator rod 47 at axially spaced equal intervals along the same. The intermediate discs 54 lie in parallel planes oriented transverse to the axes 55 of the agitating rod 47 such that each intermediate disc is canted at an angle A" (FIG. 2) of approximately 20 from the vertical while each end disc is canted at an angle 8" of approximately 12 for reasons to be explained.

The agitator rod intermediate discs 54 are planar in section and circular in shape and in the preferred form have a diameter of about 2.8 in. and are spaced a minimum vertical distance of about 0.30 in. from the bottom wall 30. The rod and canted discs are preferably made of a plastic material of a one-piece construction so as to be an integral molding of plastic material preferably having the characteristics of glassfilled A.B.S. plastic. It is to be noted, however, that alternate designs could be provided wherein the agitator assembly 46 could be a metallic shaft formed from extruded aluminum or the like having separate canted discs of molded plastic material suitably affixed to the rod. While the agitator rod 47 of the preferred embodiment is shown as circular in cross section other shapes could be provided such as a square shaped rod for example and still be within the scope of the present inven tion.

The endmost circular canted discs 56 and 57 of the agitator assembly 46 are formed with cylindrical end walls or barrels 58, 59 extending axially about the periphery of the end discs toward their associated adjacent front or rear walls 36, 38 having their free continuous circular edges 60, 62 tapered such that they lie in a transverse plane normal to the axis 55 of the rod 47 so as to be parallel with their adjacent vertical walls 36, 38. A clearance of about 0.30 in. is provided between the rear wall 38 and its associated disc edge 62 while a clearance of about 0.15 is provided between the front wall 36 and its associated disc edge 60 to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator assembly. The cylindrical walled discs 56 and 57 thus prevent ice pieces from possibly becoming lodged between discs 56, 57 and their associated end wall which could result in jamming and stoppage of the rotating agitator assembly 46.

The end disc 57 has an integrally molded hollow hub 64 of circular cross section journalled in cup-shaped bearing 66 which is suitably afiixed in rear wall aperture 50 such as by a sliding key 68 and snap fingers 69 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, respectively. The snap finger arrangement allows the bearing 66 to be positioned in sequence after the rod assembly is in place in counterdistinction to bearing 52 being positioned prior to placement of the rod assembly. The rear wall bearing 66 has a conforming opening 70 therein concentric with axial recess 72 of hub 64. An axially separable driving connection is provided in the form of jaw type coupling means indicated at 76 in FIG. 4 which allows axial entry of the front end portion of drive shaft 74 into hub recess 72. The drive shaft 74 extends forwardly of the rear wall 77 of the compartment and is driven by suitable motive means (not shown) at a speed of about 1 RPM. As best seen in FIG. 4 drive shaft 74 has coupling means 76 with diametrically opposed driving lugs 80 on the front face of clutch plate 82 for coupling with diametrically opposed cogs 78 formed integrally on the back sloping wall 83 of hub recess 72 as seen in dashed lines in FIG. 4A providing the axially separable driving connection between the drive shaft 74 and the driven agitator assembly 46.

The clutch means 76 is slidably and elastically coupled on the drive shaft 74 by a central bore 84 extending through integral neck portion 86 which has a slot 87 and shaft pin 89 sliding arrangement controlled by helical compression spring 88. In this way the clutch plate 82 is resiliently biased outwardly from the refrigerator back wall 77 such that when clutch plate 82 is received in hub recess 72 the elastic coupling will allow the receptacle 26 to be inserted fully in the cabinet regardless of whether the driving lugs are initially in driving engagement with driven cogs 78. Upon proper rotation of the drive shaft 74, which is shown counterclockwise in the disclosed form, the lugs 80 will be in spring biased contact with the outer face of the cogs 78 if in alignment therewith until offset driving engagement is achieved whereupon the spring 88 will urge the clutch plate 82 outwardly to the driving position indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4A allowing positive rotation of the driven rod 47 in a counterclockwise direction.

In accordance with this invention outlet means such as a drain valve generally indicated at 90 is located in the cylindrically shaped bottom wall 30 of the receptacle on the longitudinal center line of the receptacle. The valve 90 preferably is in the form of an annular shaped downwardly depending ring member 92 integrally molded with the receptacle having an inwardly directed valve flange 94 defining a drain outlet or opening 96. The flange 94 has an upwardly tapered peripheral ridge 98 forming an annular valve seat 100 to make sealing engagement about the shoulder portion of horizontal flange 102 of a cylindrical valve stopper or plug 104 preferably formed of rubber. A valve cage member 106 preferably molded from a plastic material is suitably secured such as by epoxy cement to valve ring member 92 by a plurality of equally spaced projections 108 extending downwardly in a curved manner from the planar surface 109 of the cage member. The projections 108 in the present form are eight in number and rest on valve flange 94 defining a series of spaced slotted ports 1 10 for fluid passage from the receptacle 26 to a drain pan portion 111 of shelf 16 and thence by gravity flow to an evaporator pan in the refrigerator machine compartment (not shown). When the bin 26 is inserted in the refrigerator compartment or drain pan portion 111 of shelf 16 a raised pad, indicated at 112 in FIG. 2 having a sloped ram 113 (FIG. 6) is located on the drain pan 1 11 to slidably engage the plug 104 of the drain valve 90 and elevate the plug vertically to a height where its upper surface 114 engages downwardly extending stop members 116 symmetrically located on the underside of cage member 106, to thereby open the discharge outlet 96 allowing drain water from the ice pieces to flow by gravity out of the receptacle. The stop members 116 prevent the top of the stopper 96 from sticking to the bottom of the cage 106 when the parts are in a wetted condition.

After the pin 26 is removed from the cabinet the stopper automatically falls to its lower closed position as seen in FIG. 6. When placed on a work surface such as a kitchen-counter top the receptacle 26 is supported by front and rear wall edges 40 and 42 below the level of bottom wall 30 allowing the stopper 104 to remain in its lower closed position. By virtue of this arrangement the valve cage 106 prevents ice pieces from contacting the valve stopper 104 and interfering with the operation of the drain valve. It will be noted that a notched window 120 is provided in the rear wall 38 to allow for clearance of raised pad 1 12 when the receptacle is slid to its rearmost position of HG. 2. Also, suitable means such as guide rails 122 located in shelf 1 16 to insure proper alignment of the receptacle with the driving clutch mechanism 76.

A feature of the invention is the use of canted discs 54, 56 and 57 rather than conventional agitation means such as helical coils, screw dries, radial blades or the like taught by the prior art as exemplified by the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,422,994. While applicants device is equally useful at temperatures either above or below freezing it was found that for use at temperatures above 32 F. the least amount of agitation of the ice pieces was necessary to reduce the degree of frictional contact between the ice pieces to a minimum to inhibit the melting thereof. By means of the canted disc arrangement disclosed applicant is able to achieve the required substantially continuous movement of the ice pieces while minimizing frictional contact therebetween accomplishing the object of preventing their sticking together. In addition the canted disc or swashplate design requires reduced torque from the electric motor resulting in a minimal amount of power to drive the agitation assembly 46 while preventing the jamming of the ice pieces against the bottom, side or end walls of the receptacle 26.

It should be noted that while the intermediate discs 54 are shown canted at an angle A of approximately 20 and the end discs 56, 58 at an angle B of approximately 12 it is within the scope of the invention to have all the discs 54, 56 and 58 canted at a common or uniform angle which is preferably in the range of to 20. The choice of angle depends upon the amount of agitation required by the ice pieces with a lesser angle A providing a minimum of agitation together with a minimum of motor torque. In the disclosed form the end discs 56, 57 are canted at a lesser angle to reduce the longitudinal dimension of the edges 60 and 62 of the cylindrical end walls 58, 59 respectively, to a minimum and thereby reduce material requirements while increasing the stiffness of the end discs. It will be appreciated that normally the receptacle will contain a quantity of ice pieces 28 that substantially fill the receptacle and load or engage the major portion of the canted disc surfaces wherein the loading and drive forces can become appreciable.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces having a generally arcuate shaped bottom wall member merging with upstanding side walls and closed at each end by front and rear walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin, an agitator assembly in said receptacle including an agitator rod, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of circular discs mounted on said rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said discs oriented in parallel planes canted at an angle between about 10 and about 20 inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment, and coupling means providing a separable driving connection between the drive shaft and the rear end portion of said agitator rod whereby minimal torque is required by said drive shaft to agitate the ice pieces.

2. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptable having a generally arcuate shaped bottom wall merging with upstanding side walls and closed at each end by front and rear vertical walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin for receiving and collecting ice pieces, said front and rear walls terminating in horizontal bottom edges disposed beneath the level of said bottom wall and which are adapted to engage a horizontal supporting surface to provide a space between said bottom wall and the support surface, outlet means located in said bottom wall spaced from the support surface for flow of drain water from said receptacle, said outlet means having a regulating valve therein automatically movable to a downward closed position when said receptacle is removed from the refrigerator compartment, means in said refrigerator for automatically moving said valve to an upward open position upon insertion of said receptacle in the refrigerator compartment for allowing the flow of ice piece drain water out of said receptacle, an agitator assembly including an agitator rod in said receptacle, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said receptacle front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of discs mounted on said rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said discs oriented in parallel transverse planes canted at an angle within the range of approximately 10 to 20 inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment, and coupling means providing an axially separable driving connection between the drive shaft and said agitator rod whereby minimal torque is required by said drive shaft to rotate said agitator assembly to provide substantially continuous agitation of the ice pieces.

ice piece storage receptacle and agitator for a domestic refrigerator ice making machine comprising, an open top generally rectangular receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces, said receptacle having a generally cylindrically shaped bottom wall merging with a pair of upstanding side walls, a pair of substantially rectangular vertical front and rear walls integrally formed with said bottom wall and said side walls, said front and rear walls terminating in a horizontal bottom edge disposed beneath the level of the lowest point of said bottom wall whereby said front and rear wall edges are adapted to engage a horizontal supporting surface to leave a space between said bottom wall and the support surface, said front and rear walls having centrally located apertures therethrough, an elongated agitator assembly including an agitator rod in said receptacle, said agitator rod having its ends rotatably journalled in said wall apertures, a plurality of intermediate circular discs mounted on said agitator rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said intermediate discs lying in parallel transverse planes canted at an angle between about 10 and about 20 inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment having a driving plate on the free end thereof, an endmost circular disc adjacent said rear wall having an integrally molded axially aligned hub of circular cross section journalled in bearing means carried in said rear wall aperture, said hub forming an axial recess having coupling means therein, said hub recess receiving said driving plate therein providing an axially separable driving connection between said driving plate and said hub coupling means, said drive shaft adapted to transmit torque between motive means and said agitator rod whereby rotation of said agitator rod rotates said discs to provide substantially continuous agitation of the ice pieces in said receptacle to prevent their sticking together while being stored in the refrigerator compartment.

4. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces having a generally arcuate shaped bottom member merging with upstanding side walls and vertical front and rear walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin, an agitator assembly in said receptacle including including an agitator rod, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of circular intermediate discs mounted on said rod at axially spaced intervals along the same, said intermediate discs oriented transverse to the axis of said rod with said discs canted in a common direction having an inclined angle within the range of approximately 10 to 20 from the vertical, a pair of front and rear circular discs mounted on said agitator rod adjacent said front and rear walls respectively, said front and rear discs canted at an angle of about 12 from the vertical, each of said front and rear discs having an integrally molded continuous peripheral cylindrical barrel extending from its outwardly directed canted face toward its adjacent front or rear wall, the principal axis of each of said cylindrical barrels being common with the axis of said agitator rod, the free edge of each of said cylindrical barrels defining a vertical plane substantially parallel to said vertical front and rear walls to provide a relatively narrow space between said front and rear discs and their associated front and rear walls whereby wedging of the ice pieces therebetween is prevented, driving means in the refrigerator compartment and connection means adapted to transmit torque between the driving means and said agitator rod whereby rotation of said agitator rod rotates said intermediate discs and said front and rear discs to substantially continuously agitate the ice pieces in said receptacle with a minimal amount of power.

Claims (4)

1. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces having a generally arcuate shaped bottom wall member merging with upstanding side walls and closed at each end by front and rear walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin, an agitator assembly in said receptacle including an agitator rod, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of circular discs mounted on said rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said discs oriented in parallel planes canted at an angle between about 10* and about 20* inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment, and coupling means providing a separable driving connection between the drive shaft and the rear end portion of said agitator rod whereby minimal torque is required by said drive shaft to agitate the ice pieces.

2. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptable having a generally arcuate shaped bottom wall merging with upstanding side walls and closed at each end by front and rear vertical walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin for receiving and collecting ice pieces, said front and rear walls terminating in horizontal bottom edges disposed beneath the level of said bottom wall and which are adapted to engage a horizontal supporting surface to provide a space between said bottom wall and the support surface, outlet means located in said bottom wall spaced from the support surface for flow of drain water from said receptacle, said outlet means having a regulating valve therein automatically movable to a downward closed position when said receptacle is removed from the refrigerator compartment, means in said refrigerator for automatically moving said valve to an upward open position upon insertion of said receptacle in the refrigerator compartment for allowing the flow of ice piece drain water out of said receptacle, an agitator assembly including an agitator rod in said receptacle, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said receptacle front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of discs mounted on said rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said discs oriented in parallel transverse planes canted at an angle within the range of approximately 10* to 20* inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment, and coupling means providing an axially separable driving connection between the drive shaft and said agitator rod whereby minimal torque is required by said drive shaft to rotate said agitator assembly to provide substantially continuous agitation of the ice pieces.

3. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator for a domestic refrigerator ice making machine comprising, an open top generally rectangular receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces, said receptacle having a generally cylindrically shaped bottom wall merging with a pair of upstanding side walls, a pair of substantially rectangular vertical front and rear walls integrally formed with said bottom wall and said side walls, said front and rear walls terminating in a horizontal bottom edge disposed beneath the level of the lowest point of said bottom wall whereby said front and rear wall edges are adapted to engage a horizontal supporting surface to leave a space between said bottom wall and the support surface, said front and rear walls having centrally located apertures therethrough, an elongated agitator assembly including an agitator rod in said receptacle, said agitator rod having its ends rotatably journalled in said wall apertures, a plurality of intermediate circular discs mounted on said agitator rod in swashplate fashion at axially spaced intervals along the same, said intermediate discs lying in parallel transverse planes canted at an angle between about 10* and about 20* inclined from the vertical, a drive shaft mounted in the refrigerator compartment having a driving plate on the free end thereof, an endmost circular disc adjacent said rear wall having an integrally molded axially aligned hub of circular cross section journalled in bearing means carried in said rear wall aperture, said hub forming an axial recess having coupling means therein, said hub recess receiving said driving plate therein providing an axially separable driving connection between said driving plate and said hub coupling means, said drive shaft adapted to transmit torque between motive means and said agitator rod whereby rotation of said agitator rod rotates said discs to provide substantially continuous agitation of the ice pieces in said receptacle to prevent their sticking together while being stored in the refrigerator compartment.

4. An ice piece storage receptacle and agitator assembly for a domestic refrigerator compartment comprising, a receptacle for receiving and collecting ice pieces having a generally arcuate shaped bottom member merging with upstanding side walls and vertical front and rear walls enclosing an upwardly opening bin, an agitator assembly in said receptacle including including an agitator rod, means for rotatably supporting the ends of said agitator rod on said front and rear walls, said agitator assembly including a plurality of circular intermediate discs mounted on said rod at axially spaced intervals along the same, said intermediate discs oriented transverse to the axis of said rod with said discs canted in a common direction having an inclined angle within the range of approximately 10* to 20* from the vertical, a pair of front and rear circular discs mounted on said agitator rod adjacent said front and rear walls respectively, said front and rear discs canted at an angle of about 12* from the vertical, each of said front and rear discs having an integrally molded continuous peripheral cylindrical barrel extending from its outwardly directed canted face toward its adjacent front or rear wall, the principal axis of each of said cylindrical barrels being common with the axis of said agitator rod, the free edge of each of said cylindrical barrels defining a vertical plane substantially parallel to said vertical front and rear walls to provide a relatively narrow space between said front and rear discs and their associated front and rear walls whereby wedging of the ice pieces therebetween is prevented, driving means in the refrigerator compartment and connection means adapted to transmit torque between the driving means and said agitator rod whereby rotation of said agitator rod rotates said intermediate discs and said front and rear discs to substantially continuously agitate the ice pieces in said receptacle with a minimal amount of power.

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