U.S. patent application number 11/401053 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-10 for ice maker for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Molex Incorporated. Invention is credited to Joseph D. Comerci, Timothy R. Gregori, Kirk R. Stevens.
Application Number | 20060174646 11/401053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36097480 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060174646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Comerci; Joseph D. ; et
al. |
August 10, 2006 |
Ice maker for refrigerator
Abstract
An ice maker for a refrigerator/freezer having a control module
for more reliably driving a rotatable ice ejector for removing ice
bodies from a mold of the ice maker and for refilling mold cavities
with water. The control module has an ice ejector drive with a
drive coupling that includes a gear wheel and an ejector shaft
section, both made of hard plastic material, preferably a polymide
resin, for transmitting higher torque to the rotary ice ejector
without failure of the plastic drive components. In one embodiment,
a drive sleeve on the gear wheel and a drive shaft section have a
spline coupling for more effectively distributing driving forces in
the drive coupling. In another embodiment, a metallic collar is
tightly positioned over the gear wheel sleeve for enhancing torque
transmission in the drive coupling. The control module further is
operable for refilling the ice maker mold cavities to a
predetermined level during each cycle of operation notwithstanding
slight alterations in positioning of water fill switching contact
due to manufacturing tolerances or forces to which the ice maker is
subjected during shipping, handling or installation.
Inventors: |
Comerci; Joseph D.;
(Elmhurst, IL) ; Gregori; Timothy R.; (Lockport,
IL) ; Stevens; Kirk R.; (Lincoln, NE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOLEX INCORPORATED
2222 WELLINGTON COURT
LISLE
IL
60532
US
|
Assignee: |
Molex Incorporated
|
Family ID: |
36097480 |
Appl. No.: |
11/401053 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10950062 |
Sep 24, 2004 |
|
|
|
11401053 |
Apr 10, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 ;
62/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/187 20130101;
F25C 5/02 20130101; F25C 2400/14 20130101; F25C 2600/04 20130101;
F25C 1/04 20130101; F25C 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/340 ;
062/353 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00; F25C 1/22 20060101 F25C001/22 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An ice maker comprising: a mold in which water is frozen to
form ice bodies; a rotatable ejector having a central ejector shaft
and plurality of radial arms for ejecting ice bodies from said
mold; a drive for rotatably driving said ice ejector, said drive
including a drive motor and a plastic gear wheel rotatably driven
by said drive motor; and a drive coupling between said gear wheel
and ejector shaft that includes a plastic sleeve and a plastic
shaft section, said shaft section having an end positionable into
said sleeve and mechanically coupled thereto for transmitting
torque therebetween as an incident to rotary driven movement of
said gear wheel, and a metallic collar positionable in tight
fitting relation over said sleeve for enhancing torque transmission
through said drive coupling without damage to said plastic sleeve
and plastic shaft section.
12. The ice maker of claim 11 in which said sleeve is formed with a
plurality of torques transmitting lugs, and said shaft section is
formed with a plurality of recesses for receiving said torque
transmitting lugs.
13. The ice maker of claim 12 in which said torque transmitting
lugs extend axially from an end of said sleeve.
14. The ice maker of claim 111 in which said sleeve is integrally
formed on said gear wheel.
15. The ice maker of claim 14 in which said shaft section has a
pair of legs that extend from end thereof through said sleeve into
engaging relation to a side of said gear wheel opposite said
sleeve.
16. The ice maker of claim 111 including a storage container for
storing ice bodies ejected from said mold, a sensing arm having a
free end for sensing the level of ice in said storage container,
and said shaft section is a cam shaft separate from said ejector
shaft, said cam shaft having a vertical cam for actuating movement
of said sensing arm, said cam shaft having an end opposite the end
positionable into said sleeve mechanically coupled in coaxial
relation to said ejector shaft for transmitting torque
therebetween.
17-49. (canceled)
50. An ice maker comprising: a mold in which water is frozen to
form ice bodies; a rotatable ejector having a central ejector shaft
and plurality of radial arms for ejecting ice bodies from said
mold; a drive for rotatably driving said ice ejector, said drive
including a drive motor and a plastic gear wheel rotatably driven
by said drive motor; and a drive coupling between said gear wheel
and ejector shaft that includes a plastic sleeve and a plastic
shaft section, said shaft section having an end positionable into
said sleeve and mechanically coupled thereto for transmitting
torque therebetween as an incident to rotary driven movement of
said gear wheel, and a collar positionable in tight fitting
relation over said sleeve for enhancing torque transmission through
said drive coupling without damage to said plastic sleeve and
plastic shaft section.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to ice makers, and
more particularly, to an improved drive and control module for ice
makers used in refrigerators and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ice makers are known for use in refrigerator/freezers, such
as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,248, which include a mold in which
water is frozen to form cube or other shaped ice bodies and a
rotatable ice ejector having a plurality of radial ice ejector
arms. A drive module is provided for rotating a shaft of the
ejector, which includes a drive motor that drives the periphery of
a gear wheel having an axial sleeve that receives and drives a
vertical cam shaft, the rotation of which in turn rotates the
ejector during an ejection cycle, as well as control rotation of an
ice level sensing arm.
[0003] During the ejection cycle, ice bodies sometimes can become
lodged between the ejector arms and the strippers so as to impede
or interrupt rotation of the ejector. In an effort to overcome such
obstructions, drive motors with increased torque have been employed
for the ice ejector. Because the drive train between the drive
motor and the ejector shaft include plastic parts, including the
gear wheel and the vertical cam shaft, when rotation of the ice
ejector shaft is interrupted by a jammed ice body, the larger
powered drive motor can cause such high torque between the gear
wheel and vertical cam shaft that fracture or breakage of the
plastic drive components can result.
[0004] A further problem with such ice makers concerns the water
fill cycle of the ice maker. To control operation of the water
refill cycle, an electrical water fill contact of the control
module will periodically contact a relatively moveable
circumferential track of a face cam circuit mounted on the gear
wheel. In order to selectively adjust the fill cycle time (and
hence the water depth in the ice maker mold) the contact is
radially positionable by means of an adjustment screw and the start
up location is determined by an angled groove in the rotatable
circuit track.
[0005] To establish the proper fill level, the adjustment screw for
the water fill contact must be precisely set. This typically
requires a multiplicity of assembly inspections and a water fill
check procedure. Furthermore, after the contact position has been
properly determined, shipping and handling of the ice maker, as
well as subsequent installation in a refrigerator/freezer, can
alter the radial position of the contact and hence cause unwanted
changes in the water refill time. Moreover, since the contact
adjustment screw can protrude from the device, it can impede
packaging and be subject to breakage or damage during handling of
the ice maker. Thus, while heretofore the adjustable positioning of
the water refill contact relative to the gear contact track was
intended to enable a precise fill level in the mold, it has
resulted in uncertainty and water fill cycle problems in the
field.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice
maker having a drive control module that is simpler in design and
more reliable in operation.
[0007] Another object is to provide an ice maker as characterized
above which has an ice body ejector drive that is less susceptible
to fracture or failure in the event of an ice cube jam during an
ejection cycle.
[0008] A further object is to provide an ice maker of the foregoing
type having a control module that can be assembled with the ice
maker to precisely control the water fill cycle without factory
testing.
[0009] Still another object is to provide an ice maker of the above
kind that has a control module in which the water fill cycle is
substantially unaffected by alterations in the radial position of a
water fill control relative to a rotatable face cam circuit track
of the control. Yet a further object is to provide such an ice
maker in which the control module has a water fill contact the
position of which is less susceptible to alternation during
shipping and handling of the ice maker, or during installation in a
refrigerator/freezer.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
reference to the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a refrigerator ice
maker in accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the
illustrated ice maker taken in the plane of line 2-2 in FIG. 1,
with certain parts removed for clarity;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective of one embodiment
of an ice ejector drive coupling in accordance with the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a drive
sleeve of the gear wheel shown in FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectioned perspective of the drive coupling
shown in FIG. 3 in assembled condition;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of an alternative
embodiment of ice ejector drive coupling in accordance with the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a drive
sleeve of the gear wheel shown in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a face cam electrical
circuit of the control of the illustrated ice maker;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section and side
elevational view of a side plate of the control module of the
illustrated ice maker, also taken in the plane of line 2-2 in FIG.
1, with certain parts removed for illustrating the electrical
control;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the water
fill contact shown in FIG. 8; and
[0021] FIGS. 10-13 are enlarged fragmentary sections of the water
fill contact and its mounting in the illustrated control, taken in
the planes of line 10-10, 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13, respectively in
FIG. 9.
[0022] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments
thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed,
but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings,
there is shown an illustrative ice maker 10 in accordance with the
invention. It will be understood that the basic construction and
operation of the ice maker is disclosed in the afore-referenced
U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,248, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference and need not be repeated in detail.
[0024] The illustrated ice maker, as depicted in FIG. 1, includes a
mold 11 in which ice bodies are formed from water delivered to the
mold 11 by a fill dispenser 12 fluidically connected to a solenoid
valve 14 by a water supply line 15. The solenoid valve 14 in turn
is connectable to a suitable pressurized water supply. The ice
maker 10 further includes a control module 18 disposed at the front
of the mold 11 and arranged to operate an ice ejector 20, which
upon completion of a freezing cycle of water in the mold 11,
removes the ice bodies from the mold. The ice ejector 20 has a
plurality of radial ejector arms 21 that rotatably engage and carry
ice out of the mold 11, which is stripped by strippers 22 and drop
into an adjacent collecting bin 24. A pivotably mounted ice level
sensing arm 25 extends downwardly above the collecting bin 24 to
sense the level of ice bodies in the bin 24. The illustrated mold
20 includes a plurality of partition walls 28 extending
transversely across the mold 20 to define a plurality of cavities
in which a corresponding plurality of ice bodies are formed. The
partition walls 28 may be formed with appropriate recesses 29
communicating between the cavities to permit the flow of water from
cavity to cavity during a water fill cycle operation. It will be
understood that removal of the ice bodies from the mold cavities
may be facilitated by heating the underside of the mold 11 to free
the ice bodies for ejection from the cavities by the ejector
20.
[0025] The control module 18 includes a motor 30 having an output
pinion 31 that drives the periphery of a relatively larger gear
wheel 32 mounted on a front side of a side plate 34 of the control
module 18. The gear wheel 32 in turn drives a vertical cam shaft
35, which in turn drives a central shaft 36 of the ice ejector 20.
The vertical cam shaft 35 in this case has a D-shaped opening 37
that receives the ice ejector shaft 36 for rotation therewith. The
vertical cam shaft 35 carries a cam 38, referred to in the art as a
vertical cam, having a cam surface that cooperates with a lever
mechanism 39 for controlling positioning of the ice level sensing
arm 25 in a conventional manner in response to rotation of the cam
38. The lever mechanism 39 in this case includes a lever arm 40
having a cam follower surface engageable with the cam 38 and being
pivotal in response rotation of the cam shaft 35 for pivoting an
actuator 41 to which the sensing arm 35 is fixed.
[0026] To reduce manufacturing costs, it is known to make various
parts of the ice maker control module 18 of molded plastic,
including the gear wheel 32, vertical cam shaft 35, level arm 40,
and actuator 41. As indicated previously, in the event of an ice
jam between the ejector arms 21 and the strippers 22 during an ice
ejection cycle, large stresses can be imparted on the drive
components by the drive motor 30 that can cause fracture or
breakage of the plastic drive components, including particularly
the gear wheel and/or cam shaft.
[0027] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the drive
gear and vertical cam shaft have a splined connection which more
effectively distributes driving forces and substantially reduces
the risk of fracture or part failure. In the illustrated
embodiment, the gear wheel 32 has a central rearwardly extending
sleeve 45 formed with an enlarged diameter cylindrical counter bore
section 46 which defines an annular locating ledge 47, and which
communicates with a smaller diameter bore 48 that extends through a
forward side of the gear wheel 32. The vertical cam shaft 35 has a
forward end that includes a cylindrical section 50 that is
positionable within the cylindrical counter bore section 48 of the
gear wheel-sleeve 45 and projecting locking legs 51 that extend
forwardly through the central smaller diameter bore 48 of the gear
wheel 32. The locking legs in this case have tapered end surfaces
52 for camming the legs 51 together during forceful insertion
through the gear wheel bore 48 and outwardly directed locking
ledges 54 for lockingly engaging a forward side of the gear wheel
32.
[0028] In keeping with the invention, the cylindrical counter-bore
section 46 of the gear wheel sleeve 45 and the cylindrical section
50 of the vertical cam shaft 35 are formed with longitudinally
extending, circumferentially spaced splines 55, 56, respectively
which are adapted for inter fitting, radial force transmitting
engagement with each other. The splines 55, 56 in this case each
have complimentary general V-shapes with peaks 58 and valleys 59
that may be rounded or squared. It will be understood that the
splines 55, 56 of the gear wheel 32 and cam shaft 35 can be
positioned longitudinally into assembled relation to each other for
providing radial force transmission as an incident to operation of
the drive motor 30 and rotation of the gear wheel 32. Indeed, the
spline connection has been found to permit transmission of
substantially greater torque, up to 30% or more, through the drive
train without failure of plastic drive components. While the theory
of operation is entirely understood, it is believed that the
increased surface area attributed to the engaging splines 55, 56
minimizes the magnitude of transmitted stresses between the gear
wheel and vertical cam shaft that occur during high torquing, such
as during temporary jamming of ice body between the mold and
ejector arms during an ejection cycle.
[0029] It will be understood that while in the illustrated
embodiment the gear wheel 32 drives the cam shaft 35, which in turn
is mechanically coupled to the ejector shaft 36 alternatively, the
cam shaft 35 could be an integrated part of the ejector shaft 36.
For purposes herein, reference to a shaft section being operatively
coupled to the ejector shaft is intended to mean a shaft section
that is mechanically coupled to the ejector shaft or integral
therewith.
[0030] An alternative embodiment of drive connection between the
gear wheel 32 and vertical cam shaft 35 for improving torque
transmission through the plastic drive components of the drive
module 18 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein items similar to those
described above have been given similar reference numerals. In this
embodiment, the vertical cam shaft 35 again has a pair of locking
legs 51 that are positionable through a central bore of the gear
wheel 32 into locking engagement with a forward side thereof. For
transmitting torque between the gear wheel 32 and vertical cam
shaft 35, in this case the cylindrical drive sleeve 50 of the gear
wheel 32 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed rearwardly
extending drive lugs 60 at its end that are positionable into inter
fitting relation with opposed recesses in an axial end face of the
cam shaft 35 adjacent opposite sides of the locking legs 51. Upon
assembly of the gear wheel 32 and cam shaft 35, it can be seen that
the drive lugs 60 will transmit rotational torque to the cam shaft
32 as an incident to operation of the drive motor 30.
[0031] In carrying out this embodiment of the invention, an annular
metal collar 61 is positionable in tight fitting relation about the
cylindrical drive sleeve 50 of the gear wheel 32. The metal collar
61, which preferably is made of steel and press fit onto the gear
wheel sleeve 50, unexpectedly has been found to enhance torque
transmission between the gear wheel 32 and vertical cam shaft 35
without fracture or cracking of the plastic drive components. The
metal collar 61 is believed to reinforce the drive connection and
thereby permit substantially greater torque transmission without
part failure.
[0032] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
plastic drive components of the drive module 18, and particularly
the gear wheel 32 and vertical cam shaft 35, are formed of a stress
resistant material that further enhances torque transmission
through the drive module to the ejector 20 without cracking or
other failure of the plastic parts. To this end, in the illustrated
embodiment, the plastic drive components are made from a polyamide
resin. The resin can be any suitable polyamide resin, but
preferably the resin is a nylon resin. Suitable nylon resins
include, but are not limited to, nylon 6 (e.g., polycaprolactam),
nylon 6/6 (e.g., poly(hexamethylene adipamide)), and nylon 6/12,
(e.g., poly(hexamethylene dodecanediamide)), copolymers thereof,
and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the polyamide resin is nylon 6/6
(e.g., poly(hexamethylene adipamide)), which typically is made via
the polycondensation of hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid. In
order to further increase the mechanical strength of the polyamide
resin from which the drive components are made, the polyamide resin
preferably further comprises a reinforcing filler, such as glass
fibers. The polyamide resin can comprise any suitable amount of
reinforcing filler. For example, when the reinforcing filler is a
glass fiber, the polyamide resin preferably comprises about 20% to
about 30% (e.g., about 25%) by weight glass fiber based on the
total weight of the resin and reinforcing filler. Suitable
commercially available resin/filler blends include, but are not
limited to, the nylon 6/6 resins marketed by DuPont under the
trademark Zytel.RTM., such as Zytel.RTM. FR50HF NC010 nylon 6/6
resin, and the nylon 6/6 resins marketed by Solutia under the
trademark VYDYNE.RTM., such as VYDYNE.RTM. 909 nylon 6/6 resin.
[0033] For controlling operation of electrically responsive
functions of the ice maker 10, a face cam circuit 65 is mounted on
a rear side of the gear wheel 32 of the control module 18. As known
in the art, the face cam circuit 65, as depicted in FIG. 7, may
define a plurality arcuate face cam circuit tracks of electrically
conductive material. Rotation of the gear wheel 32 and face cam
surface 65 in the counter-clockwise direction from a zero degree
home position will sequentially move the arcuate tracks into
electrical contact in relation with respective contacts mounted on
the side plate 34 of the module 18 at radial positions
corresponding to face cam circuit tracks for operating the
electrically activated functions of the ice maker.
[0034] The water fill cycle of the illustrated ice maker 10 in
which water is directed to the fill dispenser 12 for filling the
compartments of the mold 11 is controlled by a track A of the face
cam circuit 65. As an incident to operation of the drive motor 30
and rotation of the gear wheel 32, track A is movable into contact
with a water fill contact 66. The face cam circuit track A in this
case is the most radially outwardly disposed face cam circuit
track, as is the water fill contact 66. Heretofore, as indicated
above, it has been difficult to factory install such water fill
contact for filling the mold cavities to a predetermined level
without selective adjustable positioning of the water fill contact
and factory testing of the water fill cycle. The setting of the
water fill contact also can be altered during subsequent shipping,
handling, or installation of the ice maker in a
refrigerator/freezer resulting in unwanted changes in the water
fill level.
[0035] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
face cam circuit track A and water fill contact 66 can be
efficiently factory installed and assembled for establishing a
predetermined water fill level in the mold and the water fill level
will not be affected by slight alterations in the radial position
of the water fill contact 66 during handling or shipping of the ice
maker 10. The water fill contact 66 in this instance has a
generally elongated configuration comprising a first elongated
section 68 having a contact head 69 extending transversely in a
direction parallel to the circumferential line of movement of the
face cam circuit track A past the contact 66. The contact head 69
in this case has split fingers 70 that can be biased into engaging
relation with the face cam circuit track A of an incident to
circumferential movement of the face cam circuit A track passed the
contact. Alternatively, it will be understood that the contact 66
can be in the form of a brush similarly oriented parallel to the
line circumferential movement of the face cam circuit track. The
illustrated water fill contact 66 in this case has a second
elongated section 70 laterally offset from the first elongated
section 68, with a transverse leg 71 at the end thereof that is
electrically connected to the control circuitry for the ice maker
in a known manner.
[0036] The illustrated water fill contact 66 is mounted in
channel-like recesses in the rear side of the module side plate 34
with the contact head 69 extending through an opening 72 in the
side plate 34 into adjacent relation to the rear side of the gear
wheel 32. The first elongated section 68 of the water fill contact
66 is mountable in a channel recess defined by parallel walls 74,
75 and is formed with side wings 76 for biased engagement with the
side walls 74, 75 for retaining the contact 66 in fixed relation
between the walls. For retaining opposite longitudinal ends of the
water fill contact 66, and hence the radial position of the contact
head 69 relative to the face cam circuit track A, the side plate 34
is formed with ribs 78, 79 between which opposite elongated ends of
the water fill contact 66 abut.
[0037] During operation of the ice maker drive motor 30 and
rotation of the gear wheel 32 and face cam circuit 65 from the zero
position shown in FIG. 7, the water fill contact head 66 will
initially be disposed in closely spaced relation to the rear face
of the gear wheel 32. Continued circumferential advancement of the
face cam circuit track A will move and an inclined ramp 82 of an
initial section 84 of the face cam circuit track A into engagement
with the water fill contact 66 causing the fingers 70 of the
contact head 69 to ride up the ramp 82 and be forced into biased
engaging relation with the initial section 84 of the face cam
circuit track A. Since in the illustrated embodiment, the initial
section 84 of the face cam circuit track A is not electrically
connected to the control circuitry for the ice maker 10, it serves
only to raise and bias the contact head finger 70 into sliding
engagement with the track.
[0038] Continued circumferential movement of the cam face circuit
track A will cause a gap 85 defined between a trailing edge 86 of
the initial track section 84 of the face cam circuit track A and a
leading edge 88 of a further operative section 89 of the face cam
circuit track A to move under the water fill contact head 66, with
the edges 86, 88 defined by the gap 85 cleaning any foreign matter
that may have accumulated on the contact fingers 70. Engagement of
the leading edge 88 of the operative section 89 of the face cam
circuit track A with the water fill contact 66 will close an
electrical circuit effective for energizing and opening the
solenoid water supply valve 14. The water supply valve 14 remains
open during the period of circumferential movement of the operative
section 89 of the face cam circuit track A passed the water fill
contact 66 and is closed by de-enerization of the solenoid valve 14
when a trailing edge 90 of the operative section 89 of the face cam
circuit track A circumferentially passes beyond the water fill
contact 66.
[0039] In keeping with the invention, the leading and trailing
edges 88, 90 of the operative section 89 of the face cam circuit
track A are designed such that a constant predetermined refill
cycle is effected notwithstanding slight alteration in the radial
position of the water fill contact head 69 relative to the face cam
circuit track A through longitudinal movement of the water fill
contact elongated sections 68-70, such as can occur by reason
manufacturing tolerances in the contact retaining ribs 78, 79 or
forces to which the contact may be exposed during shipping/handling
or installation of the ice maker. To this end, the leading and
trailing edges of the operative section 89 of the face cam circuit
track A are radially oriented with respect to the axis of rotation
of the gear wheel and face cam circuit 65 such that regardless of
slight changes in the radial position of the water fill contact
head 69 the water fill time remains constant and unaffected. By
reason of the radial orientation of the leading and trailing edges
88, 90 of the face cam circuit track A, which can be formed with
close tolerances, the water fill contact 66 and face cam circuit 65
can be factory installed efficiently without tedious and time
consuming assembly and test procedures. Moreover, since the water
fill time, hence the water level in the mold, is governed entirely
by the location of the leading and trailing radial edges 88, 90 of
the face cam circuit track A the mold can be filled to the same
predetermined water level during each fill cycle not withstanding
slight alterations in radial positioning of the water fill contact
during assembly or handling of the ice maker.
[0040] From the foregoing, it can be seen that an ice maker is
provided that has a drive control module that is simpler in design
and more reliable in operation. The module has an ice ejector drive
that is less susceptible to fracture or failure in the event of an
ice cube jam during the injection cycle, and the control module is
operable for refilling the ice maker mold to the same predetermined
level notwithstanding alterations in positioning of a water fill
switching contacts due to manufacturing tolerances or forces to
which the ice maker is subjected during shipping, handling or
installation.
* * * * *