Ice well diverter wedge for ice container

摘要

A refrigerator is provided including an ice making assembly. The ice making assembly includes a storage container that has a discharge zone including a crushing assembly for selectively crushing formed ice before dispensing the ice through the dispenser of the refrigerator. The crushing assembly includes both rotating and fixed crushing blades, and including crushing teeth for crushing the formed ice cubes therebetween. A diverter wedge may be positioned at or formed integrally with the fixed crushing blades such that the diverter wedge closes any gap between the rotating blades and the wall of the discharge zone. The diverter wedge can include a sloped portion to move any smaller or differently-shaped cubes from the outer edge of the discharge zone to between the crushing blades such that it is ensured that the cubes are crushed before being dispensed.

主权项

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet, an ice container positioned within the cabinet; a crushing assembly operatively connected to the ice container, the crushing assembly comprising a plurality of fixed crushing blades, a plurality of rotating crushing blades positioned adjacent the fixed crushing blades, and a diverter wedge positioned at the fixed crushing blades and configured to divert cubes towards the crushing blades; wherein said diverter wedge surrounding at least a portion of the fixed crushing blades and extending within a discharge zone containing the crushing assembly; and wherein the diverter wedge comprises a sloped portion, said sloped portion comprising a sloped surface that is oriented wherein the surface extends along a height that is generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the plurality of rotating crushing blades and said sloped portion ending in a portion that is sized to substantially eliminate a gap between an outer edge of the rotating crushing blades and a wall as the rotating blades approach the fixed crushing blades.