Refrigerator appliance and ice clumping prevention

Abstract

A method of operating an ice maker assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes detecting an ice-usage event. The method of operating an ice maker assembly for a refrigerator appliance also includes detecting a potential ice clumping state following detecting the ice-usage event. The method of operating an ice maker assembly for a refrigerator appliance further includes initiating an ice agitator cycle in response to detecting the potential ice clumping event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an ice maker assembly for a refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:
 detecting an ice-usage event;   detecting a potential ice clumping state following detecting the ice-usage event;   initiating an ice agitator cycle in response to detecting the potential ice clumping event; and   providing a user notification in response to initiating the ice agitator cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises sensing ice pieces within an ice storage bin at a feeler arm disposed above at least a portion of the ice storage bin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises sensing a freezer door of the refrigerator appliance is in an open position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises dispensing ice pieces from an ice storage bin via a dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting an in-cycle ice-usage event following initiating the ice agitator cycle; and   halting the ice agitator cycle following detecting the in-cycle ice-usage event.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user notification is provided on a remote user interface device in response to the ice agitator cycle being initiated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user notification is provided on a display of the refrigerator appliance in response to the ice agitator cycle being initiated. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the ice agitator cycle comprises driving a motor to rotate an ice agitator positioned within an ice storage bin periodically. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically further comprises driving the motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically in a clockwise and anticlockwise motion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein driving the motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically in the clockwise and anticlockwise motion comprises driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator in a first direction for a first predetermined amount followed by driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator in a second direction for a second predetermined amount, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a freezer chamber;   a freezer door attached to the cabinet, the freezer door movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the freezer chamber is enclosed by freezer door, and wherein in the open position the freezer chamber is accessible;   an ice maker assembly comprising an ice storage bin, a feeler arm, an ice agitator, and a dispensing assembly; and   a controller operable for:
 detecting an ice-usage event; 
 detecting a potential ice clumping state following detecting the ice-usage event; 
 initiating an ice agitator cycle in response to detecting the potential ice clumping event; and 
 providing a user notification in response to initiating the ice agitator cycle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises sensing ice pieces within an ice storage bin at a feeler arm disposed above at least a portion of the ice storage bin. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises sensing a freezer door of the refrigerator appliance is in an open position. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the ice-usage event comprises dispensing ice pieces from an ice storage bin via a dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting an in-cycle ice-usage event following initiating the ice agitator cycle; and   halting the ice agitator cycle following detecting the in-cycle ice-usage event.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the user notification is provided on a remote user interface device in response to the ice agitator cycle being initiated. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the user notification is provided on a display of the refrigerator appliance in response to the ice agitator cycle being initiated. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein initiating the ice agitator cycle comprises driving a motor to rotate an ice agitator positioned within an ice storage bin periodically. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically further comprises driving the motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically in a clockwise and anticlockwise motion. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 19 , wherein driving the motor to rotate the ice agitator positioned within the ice storage bin periodically in the clockwise and anticlockwise motion comprises driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator in a first direction for a first predetermined amount followed by driving a motor to rotate the ice agitator in a second direction for a second predetermined amount, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.