Twist tray ice maker system

Abstract

Techniques for use in ice maker systems are disclosed. In one example, an ice tray apparatus includes an ice mold body formed substantially of a metal material, and a holder for holding the ice mold body, the holder including a rotation-stopping feature formed thereon. The ice tray assembly may be used in an ice maker system mounted in a storage compartment of a refrigerator appliance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to ice maker systems, and more particularly to improved techniques for harvesting ice from the ice mold body in which the ice is formed.[0002]Existing twist tray ice maker systems have been used to automatically produce ice inside the freezer compartments of domestic refrigerator products. They operate by filling a flexible plastic ice mold (tray) with water. Once the water freezes, the mold is rotated upside down and twisted until the ice cubes fall out by gravity. The tray is then rotated back to its upright position and the cycle is started again.[0003]These existing twist tray ice maker systems have several known failure modes. First, calcium deposits form on the plastic tray causing the ice cubes to stick inside the mold. When the tray is refilled, water overflows into the ice storage bucket. The overflow water freezes the cubes in the ice storage bucket causing the ice dispensing mechanism to jam. Sec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Advantageously, in accordance with illustrative techniques of the invention, the use of a metal material for the ice mold body, which has a thermal conductivity significantly higher than that of plastic, improves the transfer of heat away from the water thereby increasing the amount of ice that can be made in a given period of time. The metal ice mold body is also more resistant to mineral deposit buildup. Furthermore, the use of a plastic holder for holding the metal ice mold body with a positive stop on the plastic holder provides for the flexibility and elastic deformation desirable to twist the ice mold body to release the ice there from without leading to significant fatigue fracture problems.

Problems solved by technology

These existing twist tray ice maker systems have several known failure modes.

First, calcium deposits form on the plastic tray causing the ice cubes to stick inside the mold.

The overflow water freezes the cubes in the ice storage bucket causing the ice dispensing mechanism to jam.

Second, because the ice mold is made of plastic, the rate of ice making is low due to the low thermal conductivity of plastic.

Third, the plastic ice trays are known to break causing the entire system to jam or overflow.

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