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:
Mar. 09, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 15, 2008
Kevin M. Chase, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Randell L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Brian Wendling, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Rahul Mehta, Antioch, TN (US);
Vashishtha Kadchhud, Nashville, TN (US);
Greg Hatch, Roselle, IL (US);
Morounkeji Fatunde, East Lansing, MI (US);
Kevin M. Chase, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Randell L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Brian Wendling, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Rahul Mehta, Antioch, TN (US);
Vashishtha Kadchhud, Nashville, TN (US);
Greg Hatch, Roselle, IL (US);
Morounkeji Fatunde, East Lansing, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A sensing system for a refrigerator dispensing system is used to sense the presence, positioning, height and shape of a container placed in a dispensing well. When the presence of the container is sensed in the dispensing well and the container is properly positioned relative to a dispensing nozzle of the well, a dispensing operation can be performed. The actual dispensing operation is regulated based on the height and shape of the container. In this manner, dispensing operations can only be performed when a container is appropriately arranged in the dispensing well and the dispensing operation will be timely terminated based the size and shape of particular container employed.