The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1999
Koji Tsuchikawa, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
An ice dispenser operates an agitator only when necessary so as to prevent ice in an ice storage compartment from fusing and sticking to each other, thereby ensuring smooth release of ice from the ice storage compartment. The ice dispenser is formed of an ice maker, an ice storage compartment, an ice releasing port, an agitator for agitating ice in the ice storage compartment, and an operation controller. The controller operates the agitator when releasing ice and making ice, and causes the agitator to operate for a predetermined second set time after allowing an interval of a predetermined first set time to pass by using a timer means when no ice is being made. The operation controller resets the timer means to start counting the first set time when an ice release or an ice making operation is stopped and the agitator is stopped.