Patent ID: 6176099
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: F25C

Abstract:
An ice making assembly for use in a refrigerator having a freezer compartment comprising:an ice forming chamber positioned in the freezer compartment adjacent a rear wall of the freezer compartment, the ice forming chamber having a water reservoir for receiving water, at least one air inlet passage and an outlet opening for permitting cool air flow to pass through the ice forming chamber, over the water reservoir, chilling the water into ice pieces, and out the outlet opening, and the ice forming chamber having an ice displacing device for displacing the ice pieces from the water reservoir and moving the ice pieces out of the ice forming chamber through the outlet opening;an ice storage bin positioned in the freezer compartment forward of and adjacent to the ice forming chamber, the ice storage bin having a first end in air flow communication with the outlet opening so that the cool air flow and ice pieces passing through the outlet opening pass into the ice storage bin, the ice storage bin having a discharge opening at a second end opposite the first end for discharging ice pieces from the ice making assembly, the ice storage bin having a transport device for moving ice particles from the first end to the second end and out the discharge opening; and,a baffle positioned across ice forming chamber at the outlet opening and extending downward to partially close the outlet opening and to redirect a portion of the air flow normally exiting the outlet opening back into the ice forming chamber and over the water reservoir.