Ice dispensing and detecting apparatus

摘要

The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus (30) having an ice storage bin (24) removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker (22), a metering device (42) for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device (90) for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor (36) causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.