Convertible ice storage

摘要

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice as it is melted. Ice may melt due to air from the refrigeration compartment or elsewhere, the ambient temperature within the ice storage bucket, or a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket.

主权项

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet; a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet below the fresh food compartment; a door providing access to the fresh food compartment; an ice maker at the door; an ice storage bucket at the door; a funnel at a bottom of the ice storage bucket; a dispenser for dispensing ice on the door; an ice chute extending from the funnel to the dispenser; a user interface associated with the dispenser wherein the user interface is configured to select between making wet ice with the ice maker and cold ice with the ice maker; a heater positioned proximate the ice storage bucket to melt ice; and a drain comprising a water trap positioned along the ice chute to capture water from ice melted by the heater.