Apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an actuator in a refrigeration device upon detection of an unwanted condition

An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be acc...

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Hauptverfasser: BOARMAN PATRICK J, CULLEY BRIAN KEITH, VOGLEWEDE RONALD L, JEFFERY RANDELL L
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.