An ice maker for forming ice having a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an ice formation device, and a condenser fan comprising a fan blade and a condenser fan motor for driving the fan blade. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device. The control system includes a controller adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a first speed in a forward direction when the ice maker is making ice and adapted to operate the condenser fan motor at a second speed in a reverse direction when the ice maker is not making ice. Operating the condenser fan motor at the second speed in the reverse direction is sufficient to reduce the amount of dirt, lint, grease, dust, and/or other contaminants on or in the condenser.

A transportation container includes a storage volume. A refrigeration system is contained within the storage volume. The refrigeration system includes a fan configured to ingest exterior air, a condenser coil immediately downstream of the fan, and a vent configured exhaust spent cooling air from the storage volume. A controller is configured to control the refrigeration system. the controller includes instructions configured to cause the refrigeration system to detect an indication of operational deterioration of a transportation container refrigeration system, reverse a rotational direction of an airflow fan such that air is drawn over a refrigeration coil and expelled from the transportation container using the airflow fan, and revert the rotational direction of the airflow fan at a conclusion of a cleaning operation.

Systems and methods for securely delivering, transferring ownership, storing, accessing and receiving or returning an item from another are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system and method are provided to securely receive a variety of different sizes and types of packages at one or more locations, including but not limited to on or adjacent a recipient's property. In another embodiment, the system and method allow a user to receive, store and/or return an item without exposing the item to loss, damage, spoilage or other events that would impair the value of the items. Methods of utilizing the systems described herein are also disclosed.

A refrigeration appliance has a refrigeration appliance component and a cleaning device for cleaning the component. The cleaning device includes a cleaning element, an actuating element, and a connection element. The cleaning element is connected to the actuating element by the connection element. The refrigeration appliance has a cavity which extends from the front side of the refrigeration appliance to the back side of the refrigeration appliance, and in which the connection element is accommodated. The cleaning element is moveable across a surface of the refrigeration appliance component upon actuation of the actuating element in order to remove dirt deposits from the surface of the refrigeration appliance component.

The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.

A perishable storage unit with means for sanitizing food stuffs having a sanitization unit. The storage unit provides a storage body, a door, and a cooling system, wherein the cooling system is integrated with the storage body to maintain a cooling temperature when the door is in a closed position. The sanitization unit includes a light assembly and a switch, wherein the switch is integrated with a peripheral edge of the storage unit such that the door engages the switch when in the closed position. The light assembly is configured to emit sterilizing wavelengths of light, such as ultraviolet light, and is operably coupled to the switch, such that when the door is actuated from an open position to the closed position, the light assembly is switched from an off state to an on state.

The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.

A refrigerator includes a rear wall, a first strap, a second strap, an insulative member, a housing, an ozone generator, a ventilation panel, and a light. The first strap and the second strap fix the insulative member to the rear wall. The housing is disposed in the ventilation panel. A frontside of the housing has a recessed portion that defines a receptacle on a backside of the wall, a trough on the frontside of the wall, and a first number of vents. The first number of vents establish fluid communication between the receptacle and the trough. The ozone generator is disposed in the receptacle. The light is fixed to the housing. The light includes a cover that overlaps at least a portion of the trough and defines a second number of vents that are in fluid communication with the trough.

A state estimation apparatus includes: a current information acquisition part that acquires information about a current at a power supply part of a refrigerating/freezing apparatus; a current information storage part that holds current information in a normal state of the refrigerating/freezing apparatus; an evaluation part that derives a degree of change based on the acquired current information and the current information in the normal state of the refrigerating/freezing apparatus; a filter cleaning determination part that estimates a clogging state of a filter of the refrigerating/freezing apparatus based on the degree of change to determine whether cleaning of the filter is necessary; and an output part that provides, for a determination result indicating that the cleaning of the filter is necessary, an output to that effect.

A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator.