Patent ID: 11867445
Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A method for controlling an ice maker having an ice maker heater and a motor configured to rotate an ejector finger relative to an ice tray in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction to discharge ice from the ice tray, the method comprising:
determining whether an error condition has occurred; and
when it is determined that the error condition has occurred, entering a first error mode comprising:
turning on the ice maker heater;
turning off the ice maker heater when an ice maker heater error correction time has elapsed or when a temperature of the ice tray is equal to or greater than a first predetermined temperature;
determining whether the ejector finger is at a home position;
when the ejector finger is at the home position, stepwise rotating the motor in the second direction until a first occurrence of at least one of the ejector finger not being at the home position or a first predetermined number of rotating steps being made, and then rotating the motor in the first direction until the ejector finger is at the home position; and
when the ejector finger is not at the home position, stepwise rotating the motor in the second direction until a first occurrence of at least one of the ejector finger being at the home position or a second predetermined number of rotating steps being made,
wherein the determining whether the error condition has occurred includes determining the error condition has occurred when the ejector finger is not at the home position at some time during the rotating the motor; and
exiting the first error mode when, after rotating the motor in the first direction or in the second direction, the ejector finger is at the home position within a first predetermined time:

wherein if the first error mode is not exited after the first predetermined time, entering a second error mode different from the first error mode, wherein the second error mode includes:
turning on the ice maker heater;
turning off the ice maker heater when the temperature of the ice tray is equal to or greater than a second predetermined temperature;
determining whether the ejector finger is at the home position;
when the ejector finger is not at the home position, terminating the second error mode and entering the first error mode;
when the ejector finger is at the home position, rotating the motor in the first direction for a third predetermined number of rotating steps;
determining whether the ejector finger is at the home position;
when the ejector finger is at the home position, terminating the second error mode; and
when the ejector finger is not at the home position, rotating the motor in the first direction until the ejector finger is at the home position and terminating the second error mode or, if the ejector finger is not at the home position after rotating the motor for the second predetermined number of rotating steps, waiting for a second predetermined time and after the second predetermined time elapses, entering the first error mode.