Icemaker

Abstract

An icemaker including an icemaker control module comprises components including an insert molded circuit board assembly, a motor assembly, an ice level sensing system using a bail arm or a paddle, and a water fill system. Lance features in the circuit board connect switch and motor leads. The thermostat, ground member, and heater of the icemaker electrically couple to the insert molded circuit board when the icemaker control module is joined to the ice maker. Energy may be conserved by pausing rotation and turning off the heater.

1 . An icemaker comprising:
 a rotatable ejector shaft having a plurality of ejectors, the rotatable ejector shaft having an end with a flat;   an icemaker control module comprising a base,   a circuit board assembly secured to the base, said circuit board assembly including a circuit board comprising conductive material and a nonconductive material molded around the conductive material and having a conducting circuit contacting and electrically coupled to a ground member, a thermostat and a heater of the icemaker,   a motor assembly secured to the base,   a drive gear rotatably driven by a pinion gear of said motor assembly, said drive gear having a bore and a flat sized to assemble to the ejector shaft end and the flat, wherein said drive gear is mechanically coupled to the ejector shaft of the icemaker such that rotation of the drive gear of the icemaker control module rotates the ejector shaft of the icemaker.   
   
   
       2 . The icemaker of  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment lever secured to the base of the icemaker control module. 
   
   
       3 . The icemaker of  claim 1  wherein said drive gear has a profile for moving a bail arm. 
   
   
       4 . The icemaker of  claim 1  further comprising an ice level detector for determining a level of ice in a storage bin. 
   
   
       5 . The icemaker of  claim 1  wherein the circuit board assembly includes switches secured to lance features of the circuit board. 
   
   
       6 . The icemaker of  claim 1  wherein the conductive material is copper, copper alloy, or aluminum, and the nonconductive material is plastic. 
   
   
       7 . An icemaker comprising:
 an icemaker control module having a housing;   an ice mold snapped to said housing;   a unitary stripper and fill cup snapped to said ice mold;   a rotatable ejector shaft;   said icemaker control module including a base,   a motor assembly mounted to said base, said motor assembly having a pinion gear;   a drive gear secured to the base and rotated by rotation of the pinion gear, said drive gear being adapted to couple to and drive an ejector shaft in the icemaker; and   a circuit board assembly mounted to said base, said circuit board assembly having a conducting circuit contacting and electrically coupled to a thermostat, a heater, and a ground member of the icemaker.   
   
   
       8 . The icemaker of  claim 7  further comprising an adjustment lever secured to the base of the icemaker control module. 
   
   
       9 . The icemaker of  claim 7  further comprising a water fill lever to contact a water fill switch and operate a water fill valve when said drive gear moves the waterfill lever. 
   
   
       10 . The icemaker of  claim 7  further comprising an ice body storage level sensor moved by said drive gear to sense if an ice storage bin is full, and to temporarily cease further harvest of ice bodies. 
   
   
       11 . The icemaker of  claim 7  wherein said motor assembly is snap fit to said base. 
   
   
       12 . The icemaker control module of  claim 7  wherein said drive gear is snap fit to said base. 
   
   
       13 . An icemaker comprising:
 an icemaker control module comprising a housing, a base and a drive gear having a water fill cam and being secured to said base;   an ice mold secured to said housing;   a unitary stripper and fill cup snapped to said ice mold;   a rotatable ejector shaft coupled to said icemaker control module and driven by a drive gear of said icemaker control module;   said icemaker control further comprising a water fill adjustment lever pivotally connected to said base;   a water fill lever having a first end pivotally coupled to said water fill adjustment lever, a cam contact that is contacted by said water fill cam, and a second end contacting a water fill switch; and   wherein adjusting the coupling of the water fill adjustment lever changes the closure time of the water fill switch to change the size of the ice-bodies made by the icemaker.   
   
   
       14 . The icemaker of  claim 13  wherein said water fill adjustment lever further comprises at least one protrusion that passes through said base and a tooth which engages teeth of said base. 
   
   
       15 . The icemaker of  claim 13  wherein said drive gear has a profile for moving a bail arm. 
   
   
       16 . The icemaker of  claim 13  further comprising a paddle for guiding ice into a storage bin. 
   
   
       17 . The icemaker of  claim 13  wherein the icemaker control module comprises a circuit board assembly having switches secured to lance features of the circuit board. 
   
   
       18 . An icemaker comprising:
 a motor assembly having a plastic housing with two attaching posts, wire leads, and a pinion gear;   a drive gear driven by said pinion gear, having a bore sized to receive an ejector shaft of an icemaker;   a water fill control surface on said drive gear operatively coupled to a water fill control switch;   a storage capacity control surface on said drive gear operatively coupled to an ice body storage level switch and a sensor for sensing when an ice body storage container is full;   a cycle complete control surface on said drive gear that is operatively coupled to a motor switch;   a circuit board assembly having a conducting circuit that mechanically grasps and electrically couples said wire leads, said water fill control switch, said ice body storage level switch, and said motor switch;   a base on which said circuit board assembly and said motor assembly are mounted;   wherein said conducting circuit also mechanically grasps and electrically couples a thermostat, ground member, and heater and wherein said bore of said drive gear couples to the ejector shaft of said icemaker when said icemaker control module is joined to the icemaker.   
   
   
       19 . The icemaker of  claim 18  wherein the conducting circuit is part of an insert molded circuit board. 
   
   
       20 . The icemaker of  claim 19  wherein said insert molded circuit board assembly is snap mounted to said base.