An inline vending machine for ice and water vending installed within a store wall allowing a user to purchase ice and water without entering the store. A shipping frame for shipping and installation of the insulated wall into the store wall is also disclosed.

A refrigerator appliance includes walls, a door, an ice container, a magnet, and a sensor. The walls define an internal storage chamber. The door has an outer panel and a door liner disposed between the outer panel and the internal storage chamber. The door liner defines a receptacle. The ice container is removably positioned within the receptacle. The magnet is secured to the ice container. The sensor is disposed between the outer panel and the door liner. The sensor is configured to align with and detect a presence of the magnet through the door liner and to detect an absence of the magnet. The presence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is positioned within the receptacle. The absence of the magnet is indicative that the ice container is not positioned within the receptacle.

A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.

An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the ice storage compartment, a circulation system arranged within the first reservoir, an ice maker provided within the first reservoir to dispense ice into the ice storage compartment, a second reservoir connected to the ice storage compartment, a return line conduit connected to the second reservoir and the first reservoir to direct melt water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir, a second pump provided at the second reservoir to pump melt water through the return line conduit, and a cleanout line having a first end connected to the second reservoir and a second end exposed outside of the cabinet.

An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the ice storage compartment, a circulation system arranged within the first reservoir, an ice maker provided within the first reservoir to dispense ice into the ice storage compartment, a second reservoir connected to the ice storage compartment, a return line conduit connected to the second reservoir and the first reservoir to direct melt water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir, a second pump provided at the second reservoir to pump melt water through the return line conduit, and a cleanout line having a first end connected to the second reservoir and a second end exposed outside of the cabinet.

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit, including a container having a concave center portion; a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and a cover unit configured to cover the ice tray and having a water supply unit configured to supply water to the ice tray. The water supply unit includes a first communication hole in the cover; a water supply wall on one side of the ice tray; a second communication hole communicating with the first communication hole and configured to discharge the water, and a rib or flange on the water supply wall, configured to shield part of the second communication hole.

An ice-maker provides a reversible AC motor whose direction is changed at a first and second stop positioning the tray in a filling position and an ice cubes discharging position, respectively. A bail arm may introduce an additional stop preventing discharge of ice when an ice bin is full. User controls may allow the user to set a water fill time based on local water pressure conditions. An ice tray incorporating an ice sensor may releasably connect to the ice-making machine for ready replacement.

An ice-machine rotatable assembly and housing, comprising a first side wall defining a first elongate slot extending from an edge of the first side wall, and the rotatable assembly comprising: a rotatable member configured to move liquid toward an ice former mounted with respect to the housing. The rotatable member including a first connecting part towards a first end of the rotatable member; and a first slide plate having a rail and a first side panel extending along a length of the rail of the first slide plate. The rail of the first slide plate being configured to be at least partially received by the first elongate slot, wherein: the first connecting part of the rotatable member is moveable along the elongate slot to position the rotatable member in the installed position. The first slide plate is mountable with its rail at least partially received by the first elongate slot.

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 merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load sensor structured to determine a weight of the product; and a controller coupled to the load sensor. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, and determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product based on a value regarding the weight of the product removed during the transaction being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.