The invention is an improved ice handling container and methods for using the container. The container includes a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls terminating in a mouth. A bail having an apex and opposing ends is pivotally attached to opposing sidewalls of the container. The bail has a handle generally at the apex and a hook extending generally outwardly from the bail generally near the apex of the bail for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally upward. One sidewall has a handle generally adjacent the bottom wall and a hook generally adjacent the handle extending generally outwardly and upwardly from the sidewall for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally downward.

Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a dispenser system are provided. In particular, one or more sensors associated with the dispenser system may be configured to detect one or more signals indicative of a container proximate the dispenser system and/or a level of water or ice within the container. The dispenser system may include an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the detected signals at a predetermined sample frequency. The dispenser system may further include a direct memory access controller configured to store the sampled signals in memory without having to rout the sampled signals through a central processing unit associated with dispenser system. The operation of the dispenser system can then be controlled based at least in part on the sampled signals.

A dispensing mechanism for an appliance includes an operable paddle having a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally attached to a dispenser wall between outward and inward positions. An actuator has a switch positioned proximate a pivot defined by a first end of an actuator lever. A second end of the actuator lever is positioned proximate the lower portion of the operable paddle, wherein operation of the operable paddle to the inward position engages the lower portion of the operable paddle with the bottom portion of the actuator lever and operates the actuator lever from an idle state to a use state. Movement of the bottom portion of the actuator lever operates the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, wherein the activated state of the switch activates the at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser.

A refrigerator with an ice container is provided, and more particularly, a refrigerator with an ice container, in which ice stored in an ice container may be transferred by gravity, and the ice thus transferred may be discharged in a cubic ice state or a broken ice state.

An aseptic ice making system includes an ice making system to receive water from a water supply. The ice making system includes an ice producing subsystem to produce ice and a positive air pressure subsystem to maintain a positive air pressure environment within the ice making system.

A refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage space, a door configured to open or close the storage space, and a dispenser located in the door and configured to dispense cooled water and purified water. The refrigerator also includes a purified water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the purified water, a cooled water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the cooled water, and a dispensing amount input part that sets an amount of purified water to be dispensed based on the purified water being selected through the purified water input part. The refrigerator further includes a filter device located within the storage space to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and a water tank storing water that has passed through the filter device in a cooled state.

A refrigerator, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a cabinet including a refrigerator compartment, and a freezer compartment provided under the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator compartment door rotationally connected to the front side of the cabinet to open/close the refrigerator compartment and including an ice compartment for storing ice; an ice bank which is provided to the ice compartment and stores ice; an icemaker which comprises an upper tray forming a hemispherical upper cell, a lower tray forming a hemispherical lower cell, and a rotating shaft for rotating the lower tray, and which is provided in the freezer compartment; a housing which accommodates the icemaker in an upper space thereof and has an ice collector, provided to a lower part thereof, for collecting ice separated from the icemaker; an ice transfer duct for connecting the housing and the ice bank; and an ice transfer device for transferring the ice collected in the ice collector to the ice bank along the ice transfer duct, wherein the ice transfer device can include: a transfer cable; a pusher connected to an end of the transfer cable; and a transfer case for accommodating the transfer cable which is wound therein.

A machine for making extruded ice obtained by passing a mass of ice in granules through an extrusion die (20) arranged at the end of a main cooled drum (4). The latter at one end has a flange (10) upon which a ring (14) clamping the die is fastened. Thus, screws for fastening the die to the main drum are not required, so that operations for the machine maintenance and for replacing the die are considerably facilitated.

A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. The icemaker is thermally influenced by the cold side of the thermoelectric device. Air or fluid may be moved from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device. Cold air or fluid, such as from the refrigerator compartment, is used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.

An ice distribution system and method according to which ice-filled bags are distributed within a unit such as, for example, an ice merchandiser.