Ice maker system

Abstract

A timing mechanism controls various functions of an ice maker through cams carried on a camshaft. A harvest rake that removes ice from a receptacle is coupled to the camshaft to be rotated thereby. The camshaft is driven by a motor which is coupled to the timing mechanism through a pair of non-circular meshing gears. The gears are programmed such that a slower speed is imparted to the camshaft when ice is being removed from the receptacle by the harvest rake. This provides a slower speed but higher torque to the harvest rake during ice removal and a faster, more accurate timing rate during filling of the receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A timed drive means for an ice making system comprising: cam means and switch means operated by said cam means,   ice removal means,   a motor, and   coupling means coupling said motor to said ice removal means to operate same, including a motor output shaft connected to a first elliptical gear through a first foci of same, and a second elliptical gear meshing with said first elliptical gear and connected to said ice removal means through a second foci of same,   said first and second elliptical gears programmed such that said first foci is toward the area where they mesh, and said second foci is away from said area during ice removal, and   said first foci is away from said area and said second foci is toward said area during liquid filling of said ice making system. .Iadd.   
     
     
       2.  A drive means for an ice making system comprising: cam means and switch means operated by said cam means;   ice removal means;   means for driving said ice removal means at a first speed during ice removal; and   said driving means driving said ice removal means at a second speed during liquid filling of the ice making system;   said second speed being faster than said first speed to provide faster, more accurate timing of the operation of the system during filling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.3. An ice making system comprising:   tray means for holding water while it is being frozen into ice;   rake means for mechanically removing said ice from said tray means; and   drive means for moving said rake from an initial position, through an ice removing range in which it removes ice from said tray means, and thereafter returning it to said initial position, said drive means including means for driving said rake means at a first non-zero speed when it is removing said ice from said tray means and at a second non-zero speed when it is being returned to said initial position, said second speed being faster than said first speed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. An ice making system comprising:   tray means for holding water while it is being frozen into ice;   cam means and switch means operated by said cam means;   ice removal means; and   drive means for driving said cam means and said ice removal means at a first non-zero speed during ice removal and a second non-zero speed during at least a portion of the time that ice is not being removed, said second speed being faster than said first speed. .Iaddend.