An ice supplying apparatus includes: an ice bank configured to store therein ice made by an ice maker; a blade unit having a fixed blade, and a rotary blade formed to be relatively-rotatable with respect to the fixed blade, the rotary blade configured to crush ice when rotated in one direction; and a discharge guide unit provided below the blade unit, and configured to discharge the crushed ice, wherein a scattering preventing unit having a different inclination, in a gravitational direction of the earth, from another side of the discharge guide unit is formed at one side of the discharge guide unit, so as to prevent scattering of the crushed ice when the crushed ice is taken out.

A solid-production system for producing a solid on demand is disclosed herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a cooling block arranged to interact with one or more fluid molds to reduce a first temperature of a fluid dispensed in each of the one or more fluid molds to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, to solidify the fluid in each of the one or more fluid molds; wherein the cooling block has a thermal mass operable to absorb and store thermal energy transferred by the fluid in each of the one or more fluid molds so as to reduce the first temperature of the fluid to the second temperature.

A solid production system for producing a solid on demand is provided herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a solid ejector arranged to loosen a solid in each of one or more fluid molds indexed into an ejection position relative to the solid ejector, the one or more fluid molds including a bottom surface and side surfaces extending therefrom, wherein the solid ejector is actuatable so as to be urged into contact with and to apply pressure to at least one of the side surfaces of the fluid mold indexed into the ejection position so as to loosen the solid within the fluid mold in preparation for dispensing the solid from the fluid mold.

A solid-production system for producing a solid on demand is provided herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a conveying mechanism; a fluid-dispensing mechanism; a pressure plate arranged to urge the fluid mold into interaction with a cooling block to form a solid; a solid-dispensing mechanism arranged to dispense the solid loosened by a solid ejector to a user; and processing circuitry configured to implement a master state machine, and slave state machines for respective ones of the fluid-dispensing mechanism, conveying mechanism, pressure plate and solid-dispensing mechanism, wherein the master state machine is configured to send commands to the slave state machines based on states of the slave state machines, and the slave state machines are configured to execute the commands to control the respective ones of the conveying mechanism, fluid-dispensing mechanism, pressure plate, and solid-dispensing mechanism.

An ice making machine having a refrigeration system and a water system, the water system having a water reservoir located below a freeze plate adapted to hold water, and a sprayer assembly located below the freeze plate for spraying water from the water reservoir toward the pockets. An inclined ice slide is positioned below the freeze plate and above the sprayer assembly directing fallen ice toward an opening. A divider assembly separating the water system from the ice storage bin includes a plurality of dividers, wherein the dividers may rotate outwardly away from the opening to allow formed ice to fall into the ice storage bin. Each divider is formed from a generally rectangular body having a front face with a triangular-shaped thickness and an extension flap extending away from the body opposite the front face.

A splash screen apparatus for an ice maker includes an ice making portion for making ice, a water/ice separating portion separating water and ice dropped from the ice making portion, and an ice storage unit connected with the water/ice separating portion through a chute. The ice storage unit stores ice separated by the water/ice separating portion. The apparatus further includes a screen disposed above the chute and ice separated by the water/ice separating portion is passed into the ice storage unit and water is stopped from being introduced into the ice storage unit.

A scoop includes a rear wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls; a gripping portion disposed on at least one of the rear wall or side walls; a floor portion connected to the rear wall and the pair of spaced apart side walls, the floor portion having a front edge portion; and a recessed portion formed in the floor portion adjacent to at least one of the spaced apart side walls and dipping below a level of the floor portion, the recessed portion being configured to guide a material contained in the scoop toward the front edge portion of the scoop while dispensing the material from the scoop.

The ice dispenser includes a storage bin configured to store ice, a chute disposed underneath the storage bin, and a blockage breaker disposed on the chute. A lower surface of the storage bin defines an ice outlet, and the ice is configured to exit the storage bin via the ice outlet by way of gravity. The chute rotates about a pivot point between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the chute prevents ice from exiting the storage bin via the ice outlet, and in the open position, the chute allows ice to exit the storage bin via the ice outlet by way of gravity. The blockage breaker extends into the storage bin and when the chute rotates from the open position to the closed position, the blockage breaker is moved further into the storage bin, thereby breaking ice blockages in the storage bin.

The present invention relates generally to an ice maker for a refrigerator appliance. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ice maker having an ice crushing part for crushing ice cubes into crushed ice, the ice cubes being moved downward from above the ice crushing part for supply thereof. In one embodiment, an ice maker is described for a refrigerator, the ice maker comprising: an ice tray secured to a tray securing part and having multiple recesses for ice making; the tray securing part operable to secure the ice tray and configured to cause the ice tray to be rotated in conjunction with a rotation thereof, such that ice formed in the recesses is discharged downward; and an ice crushing part coupled to a lower surface of the tray securing part and configured to crush ice cubes supplied by a rotation of the ice tray, thereby forming crushed ice. The ice crushing part includes a body portion, a crushing lever, an ice crushing part driver and first and second rotating bodies configured to be rotated by the ice crushing part driver.

A refrigerator comprises a body, a fresh food compartment provided in an upper portion of the body, a first freezer compartment provided in a lower portion of the body, a center compartment provided between the fresh food compartment and first freezer compartment and provided with an ice making compartment and a second freezer compartment, an upper door configured to open and close the fresh food compartment and the center compartment at a same time and a lower door configured to open and close the first freezer compartment, therefore the space utilization of the fresh food compartment may be enhanced.