ELECTRONIC CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A POWERED APPLIANCE DRAWER

• Main Authors: HOOKER JOHN K, SHAH ARTI, GRIGORYAN KONSTANTIN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2010
• Subjects: BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; REGULATING; WEAPONS

An appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a drawer mounted within a cabinet for movement between an opened position and a closed position. A driving mechanism, including an electric motor connects to the drawer for driving the drawer between the opened position and the closed position. A control circuit connected to the electric motor and the transmission assembly of the driving mechanism commands the transmission assembly to connect or disconnect the electric motor and the drawer, and further commands the electric motor to drive the drawer to one of the opened position and the closed position when the electric motor is connected to the drawer. The control circuit also senses obstructions and adjusts the movement of the drawer accordingly.