Ice dispenser airflow system

Abstract

An ice dispenser includes an ice chute, an ice maker chute plate, and a vent wall. The ice chute is mounted adjacent an ice dispenser window and is configured to receive ice when the ice is pushed through the ice dispenser window. The ice maker chute plate includes an ice chute aperture wall configured to receive and to dispense the ice from the ice chute. The ice chute is mounted to extend from the ice maker chute plate. The vent wall is mounted to the ice maker chute plate. The vent wall includes an aperture wall through which air from a cooling system is received onto the ice chute when the cooling system is operated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice dispenser comprising:
 an ice chute mounted adjacent an ice dispenser window and configured to receive ice when the ice is pushed through the ice dispenser window;   an ice maker chute plate, wherein the ice maker chute plate comprises an ice chute aperture wall configured to receive and to dispense the ice from the ice chute, wherein the ice chute is mounted to extend from the ice maker chute plate; and   a vent wall mounted to the ice maker chute plate, wherein the vent wall includes an aperture wall through which air from a cooling system is received onto the ice chute when the cooling system is operated.   
     
     
         2 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the vent wall further includes a plurality of ribs mounted across the aperture wall. 
     
     
         3 . The ice dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ribs extends across the aperture wall in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture wall extends from an edge of the ice maker chute plate towards the ice chute. 
     
     
         5 . The ice dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the aperture wall extends perpendicularly from the edge of the ice maker chute plate. 
     
     
         6 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a diverter wall configured to direct the air from the cooling system toward an intake aperture wall. 
     
     
         7 . The ice dispenser of  claim 6 , further comprising the intake aperture wall configured to receive the air directed by the diverter wall and to direct the received air toward the vent wall. 
     
     
         8 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice bin deflecting wall mounted above the ice dispenser window and configured to direct the air received through the vent wall through the ice dispenser window. 
     
     
         9 . The ice dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the ice bin deflecting wall is further configured to direct the air received through the vent wall above the ice bin deflecting wall. 
     
     
         10 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser ice cap mounted to the ice maker chute plate to block the ice from dispensing from the ice chute when closed and to dispense the ice when open. 
     
     
         11 . The ice dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the air from the cooling system is further received onto the dispenser ice cap when the cooling system is operated. 
     
     
         12 . The ice dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a sidewall mounted to extend horizontally from the vent wall, wherein the sidewall includes an air guide wall configured to direct the air from the cooling system toward the vent wall. 
     
     
         13 . The ice dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the air guide wall extends away from an exterior surface of the sidewall and horizontally along at least a portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The ice dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising a diverter wall configured to direct the air from the cooling system toward an intake aperture wall. 
     
     
         15 . The ice dispenser of  claim 14 , further comprising the intake aperture wall configured to receive the air directed by the diverter wall and to direct the received air toward the air guide wall. 
     
     
         16 . The ice dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the aperture wall extends from an edge of the ice maker chute plate towards the ice chute. 
     
     
         17 . The ice dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the aperture wall extends perpendicularly from the edge of the ice maker chute plate. 
     
     
         18 . An ice maker assembly comprising:
 an ice maker configured to make ice;   an ice bin mounted to receive the ice from the ice maker;   an ice dispenser window mounted adjacent the ice bin;   an auger mounted within the ice bin and configured to push the ice through the ice dispenser window when the auger is operated;   an ice chute mounted adjacent the ice dispenser window and configured to receive ice when the ice is pushed through the ice dispenser window;   an ice maker chute plate, wherein the ice maker chute plate comprises an ice chute aperture wall configured to receive and to dispense the ice from the ice chute, wherein the ice chute is mounted to extend from the ice maker chute plate; and   a vent wall mounted to the ice maker chute plate, wherein the vent wall includes an aperture wall through which air from a cooling system is received onto the ice chute when the cooling system is operated.   
     
     
         19 . A freezer comprising:
 a first plurality of walls;   a door configured to provide access to an enclosed space defined by the first plurality of walls and the door;   a controller;   a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature value of air in the enclosed space and to send the measured first temperature value to the controller;   a cooling system comprising
 an evaporator; 
 a compressor; and 
 a condenser, wherein a refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator, the compressor, and the condenser to cool the air under control of the controller; 
   a fan configured to direct the cooled air into the enclosed space when turned on under control of the controller; and   an ice maker assembly mounted to at least one wall of the first plurality of walls, where the ice maker assembly comprises
 a second plurality of walls; 
 an ice maker configured to make ice under control of the controller; 
 an ice bin mounted to receive the ice from the ice maker; 
 an ice dispenser window mounted adjacent the ice bin; 
 an auger mounted within the ice bin and configured to push the ice through the ice dispenser window when the auger is operated; 
 an ice chute mounted adjacent the ice dispenser window and configured to receive ice when the ice is pushed through the ice dispenser window; 
 an ice maker chute plate, wherein the ice maker chute plate comprises an ice chute aperture wall configured to receive and to dispense the ice from the ice chute, wherein the ice chute is mounted to extend from the ice maker chute plate; and 
 a vent wall mounted to the ice maker chute plate, wherein the vent wall includes an aperture wall through which air from the cooling system is received onto the ice chute when the cooling system is operated under control of the controller. 
   
     
     
         20 . The freezer of  claim 19 , wherein the ice maker chute plate, the vent wall, an exterior surface of one of the second plurality of walls, and the at least one wall of the first plurality of walls form a cavity through which the air from the cooling system flows when the cooling system is operated under control of the controller.