| 摘要 |
A movable ice receptacle for use in a refrigeration apparatus having a refrigerated cabinet defining a space within which the receptacle is normally disposed. The refrigerated space is selectively closed by a movable closure. The receptacle is mounted for selective disposition in a rearward ice storage position and a forward ice access position. The mounting of the receptacle is such that, when the closure is moved to an open position, the receptacle is correspondingly repositioned forwardly from the storage position to the access position. For improved dispensing of the ice in the receptacle, a rapid deceleration is effected at the forward end of the receptacle movement effectively shifting the ice in the receptacle to a forward, more readily accessible portion thereof. The receptacle may be gravity biased toward the forward ice access position and urged against the bias thereof by structure associated both the the closure and the receptacle to move the receptable to the rearward storage position as an incident of the closure being disposed in the space-closing position. The mounting structure may be arranged to swingably mount the receptacle for movement in an arc. The storage position may be at a level above the level of the access position. The swinging movement may have a maximum speed when the receptacle is at the access position. At the access position, the receptacle movement may be substantially horizontal. A sensing element may be extended downwardly into the receptacle to sense the level of ice therein when the receptacle is in the ice storage position. The movement of the receptacle from the ice storage position to the access position may be downwardly to preclude interference between the sensing element and the receptacle during such repositioning.
|
