An ice bucket for a refrigerator appliance, includes a bucket body; an auger provided inside the bucket and including an auger shaft rotatable about a first shaft axis and a collet at a first end of the auger shaft and including an axially beveled surface formed circumferentially around the auger shaft; and an agitator provided in the bucket in mechanical communication with the auger, the agitator including an agitator shaft rotatable about a second shaft axis non-parallel to the first shaft axis, a plurality of first tines extending radially from the agitator shaft within the bucket body to engage ice therein, and a projection that extends perpendicularly from the agitator shaft opposite the plurality of tines. The projection engages with the axially beveled surface to oscillate the agitator.

An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker including an elongated cage having a central revolving axis about which the elongated cage revolves. The elongated cage having a first end, a second end and at least one elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end. An ice tray is configured to be received in the at least one elongated slot. The ice tray includes a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A motor is coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis. A controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

A refrigerator appliance, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an ice-making assembly, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a dispenser recess having a transverse opening extending vertically from a top recess end to a bottom recess end and laterally from a first recess side to a second recess side. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice-making assembly may be attached to the cabinet. The ice storage bin may include a bin body defining a storage cavity. The bin body may be selectively mounted to the door within the dispenser recess to receive ice from the dispensing assembly. The bin body may extend vertically from the top recess end to the bottom recess end and laterally from the first recess side to the second recess side.

A refrigerator includes an ice tray, a motor, an ejector including a rotary shaft and a protrusion pin, and a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray. A control method of the refrigerator includes a first step of sensing whether the ejector is rotated to reach a first setup position; a second step of driving the heater and stopping driving of an ice making compartment fan if the first step is satisfied; a third step of determining whether the ejector is rotated to reach a second setup position; and a fourth step of stopping driving of the heater if the third step is satisfied, and wherein the ejector continues to be rotated while the second to fourth steps are implemented.

A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a cabinet outlet and a cabinet inlet in fluid communication with a freezer compartment. A door is pivotally coupled to the cabinet. The door defines a door inlet in fluid communication with the cabinet outlet and a door outlet in fluid communication with the cabinet inlet when the door is in a closed position. An icemaker compartment is disposed in the door. The icemaker compartment is fluidly coupled with the freezer compartment. A retainer is at least partially disposed in each of the door inlet and the door outlet. Each retainer includes a rim that defines ribs. Each rib is spaced apart from adjacent ribs. A gasket is coupled to each retainer. Each gasket includes an abutment surface that abuts a cabinet surface when the door is in the closed position to seal airflow passages between the freezer compartment and the icemaker compartment.

A refrigerator includes a water system and a valve. The water system is configured to direct water to a dispenser or an ice maker. The valve includes a valve body, an inlet port, and a clutch. The valve is configured to connect the water system to a water source. The inlet port is configured to receive a tube to establish fluid communication with the water source and to engage a nut to secure the tube to the inlet port. The clutch is disposed between the inlet port and the valve body and is configured to slip in response to an applied torque to the inlet port exceeding a threshold.

A method of detecting ice within an automatic ice maker includes capturing an image of an ice mold within the ice maker, analyzing the image using a machine learning image recognition process, determining one or more characteristics of the ice maker, and implementing a responsive action to control the ice maker accordingly.

An ice maker assembly includes an ice maker that has a mounting plate that includes an engagement feature with an engagement surface. An ice storage bin is configured for insertion into an ice maker receiving space of the ice maker. The ice storage bin includes a retention surface configured to engage with the mounting plate when the ice storage bin is inserted into the ice maker receiving space and an ice bin base that defines a track system configured to move the ice storage bin both vertically and horizontally. The track system includes an elongate portion configured to move the ice storage bin horizontally and a widened portion configured to facilitate vertical movement of the ice storage bin.