Single paddle ice and water dispenser

• Main Authors: Bertolini, Nilton Carlos, McCollough, Thomas W, Sanchez, Jorge Carlos Montalvo, McMahan, Travis, Morgan, Justin
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.02.2021
• Subjects: BLASTING; BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21Sand F21V, RELATING TO USESOR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LIQUID HANDLING; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OPENING, CLOSING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.