ICE MAKER WITH SLIDE OUT SUMP

Abstract

An ice maker for forming ice using a refrigerant capable of transitioning between liquid and gaseous states, the ice maker comprising a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position. The ice maker may be disposed on top of an ice storage bin having a hole through which ice produced by the ice maker may fall and when the sump is in the first position, water can be recirculated from the sump to the freeze plate by a water pump, and when the sump is in the second position, the sump is adapted to cover the hole of the ice storage bin.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to ice making machines and, more particularly, to an ice maker that has a sump which can move from an operational position to a cleaning position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice making machines, or ice makers, typically comprise a refrigeration and ice making system that employs a source of refrigerant flowing serially through a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator assembly. Thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly is a freeze plate comprising a lattice-type cube mold. Additionally, typical ice makers employ gravity water flow and ice harvest systems that are well known and in extensive use. Ice makers having such a refrigeration and ice making system are often disposed on top of ice storage bins, where ice that has been harvested is stored until it is needed. Such ice makers have received wide acceptance and are particularly desirable for commercial installations such as restaurants, bars, motels and various beverage retailers having a high and continuous demand for fresh ice.

In these ice makers, water is supplied at the top of a freeze plate which directs the water in a tortuous path toward a water pump. A portion of the supplied water collects on the freeze plate, freezes into ice and is identified as sufficiently frozen by suitable means whereupon the freeze plate is defrosted such that the ice is slightly melted and discharged therefrom into an ice storage bin. Typically, these ice machines can be classified according to the type of ice they make. One such type is a grid style ice maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which then form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes as the thickness of the ice increases beyond that of the freeze plate. After harvesting, the sheet of ice cubes will break into individual cubes as they fall into the ice storage bin. Another type of ice maker is an individual ice cube maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which do not form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes. Therefore, upon harvest individual ice cubes fall from the freeze plate and into the ice storage bin. Control means are provided to control the operation of the ice maker to ensure a constant supply of ice. Various embodiments of the invention can be adapted to either type of ice maker, and to others not identified, without departing from the scope of the invention.

One of the most desirable features of ice makers is that they operate as reliably as possible. Operating reliably becomes increasingly difficult as operation of the ice maker continues until the ice maker is cleaned.

Because the water used in typical ice makers is usually tap water supplied from municipal water supplies or private wells, the quality of the water can vary greatly and can contain a variety of contaminants that can reduce the clarity of ice made by an ice maker. Tap water contaminants can generally be classified into three categories: suspended solids, dissolved minerals and metals, and chemicals. Sand and dirt are examples of suspended solids and can be removed with mechanical filters. Chemicals are typically removed with carbon filtration. Removal of dissolved metals and minerals is more difficult and requires processes like reverse osmosis, distillation (e.g., water softening), or deionization. These processes are more expensive and difficult to implement, and ice machines generally do not include apparatus to remove any or certainly all minerals. Moreover water softening just exchanges sodium ions for calcium and manganese, so the mineral problem is not effectively eliminated by water softening.

The minerals and metals generally comprise sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc in amounts that vary with locale and type of water source.

As ice begins to form on the freeze plate of typical ice makers, minerals and metals tend to build up in concentration within the sump and begin to precipitate, or fall out of solution. This precipitate tends to coat all the parts in the ice maker that are exposed to the water. This is because purer water freezes at a higher temperature than the impurities, and thus the purer water will freeze first. This causes the mineral and metal concentration in the unfrozen water to increase as purer liquid water is removed in the form of ice. The phenomenon of purer water freezing first may also be evident when standing water freezes into an ice cube. The clearest water will tend to be at the outer edges of the cube, which freeze first, and a cloud of minerals eventually become trapped at the center of the cube.

If not regularly cleaned, an ice maker having a buildup of impurities and contaminants will be less efficient and will eventually stop making ice. Accordingly, a regularly cleaned ice maker will be more efficient and will continue to work reliably. Many ice makers include built-in flushing and purging cycles that direct sump water to a drain when a predetermined amount of water has been turned to ice. This flushing of high mineral concentration water out of the ice maker helps to keep the ice clear, but over time minerals will still form throughout the ice maker. Eventually, the ice maker must be manually cleaned to keep the ice maker working properly.

When cleaning the ice maker, it is important to ensure that acid cleaning solutions, mineral and metal deposits or anything else is not dropped into the ice storage bin and onto the ice stored therein. These materials are contaminants that cause the stored ice and the ice bin to become unsanitary. Thus, the cleaning instructions provided by all of the ice machine manufacturers recommend removal of the ice from the ice storage bin prior to and during cleaning. For typical ice makers, this is necessary to ensure that the ice remains sanitary and suitable for consumption. However, removing the ice from the ice bin is wasteful and can cause ice shortages.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method of protecting the ice storage bin and its contents from becoming contaminated during the cleaning process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, one embodiment of the invention is directed to an ice maker comprising a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an ice maker assembly comprising an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a hole through which ice may fall and a cavity in which the ice may be stored. Ice maker assembly also comprises a cabinet disposed on the ice storage bin assembly and an ice maker disposed within the cabinet. The ice maker comprises a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position. When the sump is in the first position, ice produced by the ice maker falls through the hole of the ice storage bin, and when the sump is in the second position, the sump is adapted to cover the hole of the ice storage bin.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of cleaning portions or all of an ice maker assembly. The ice maker assembly comprising an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a hole through which ice may fall and a cavity in which the ice may be stored. Ice maker assembly also comprises a cabinet disposed on the ice storage bin assembly and an ice maker disposed within the cabinet. The ice maker comprises a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position. When the sump is in the first position, ice produced by the ice maker falls through the hole of the ice storage bin, and when the sump is in the second position, the sump is adapted to cover the hole of the ice storage bin. The method of cleaning portions or all of the ice maker assembly comprises the steps of: (i) moving the sump from the first position to the second position thereby covering the hole in the ice storage bin so that ice stored in the cavity of the ice storage bin does not need to be removed; and (ii) cleaning the ice maker while the sump is the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein the drawings illustrate features in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an ice maker having various components according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a right perspective view of an ice maker assembly with an ice maker disposed within a cabinet wherein the cabinet is disposed on an ice storage bin assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a right perspective view of an ice maker assembly with an ice maker disposed within a cabinet wherein the cabinet is disposed on an ice storage bin assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a right perspective view of an ice maker assembly with an ice maker disposed within a cabinet wherein the cabinet is disposed on an ice storage bin assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a sump and an evaporator frame according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of a sump according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6A is a right view of a sump according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a right perspective view of an evaporator frame according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7A is a top view of an evaporator frame according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a right perspective view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump in a first position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8B is a right perspective view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump in a second position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8C is a right perspective view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump past a second position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8D is a right perspective view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump removed from the evaporator frame according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9A is a right section view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump in a first position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a right section view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump in a second position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9C is a right section view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump past a second position according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9D is a right section view of a sump and an evaporator frame with the sump removed from the evaporator frame according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is section view of a sump in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

In various embodiments, the ice maker described herein comprises a sump which is moveable from a first, ice-making position to a second, extended, cleaning position. The sump may be moved from the first position to the second position without the use of any tools. Various embodiments of the sump may be protected from over-extension and accidental removal by various features described more fully elsewhere herein. Further, when in the second position, the sump blocks the hole through which ice falls when it is being harvested. This protects the ice and the ice storage bin from contamination during the cleaning process and thus does not necessitate the removal of the ice from the ice storage bin when the sump and/or ice maker is cleaned.

FIG. 1 illustrates certain principal components of one embodiment of ice maker 10 having a refrigeration and ice making system. Ice maker 10 may include a compressor 12, a condenser 14 for condensing compressed refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor 12, a thermal expansion device 18 for lowering the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant, and an evaporator assembly 20. The thermal expansion device 18 may include, but is not limited to, a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve. In certain embodiments, where thermal expansion device 18 is a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve, ice maker 10 may also include a temperature sensing bulb 26 placed at the outlet of the evaporator assembly 20 to control thermal expansion device 18. In certain embodiments that utilize a gaseous cooling medium (e.g., air) to provide condenser cooling, a condenser fan 15 may be positioned to blow the gaseous cooling medium across condenser 14.

Ice maker 10 also includes a freeze plate 60 thermally coupled to evaporator assembly 20. In certain embodiments, freeze plate 60 may contain a large number of pockets (usually in the form of a grid of cells) on its surface where water flowing over the surface can collect (see FIG. 3). As water is pumped from sump 70 by water pump 62 through water line 63 and out of distributor manifold or tube 66, the water impinges on freeze plate 60, flows over the pockets of freeze plate 60 and freezes into ice. Sump 70 may be positioned below freeze plate 60 to catch the water coming off of freeze plate 60 such that the water may be recirculated by water pump 62 (see FIG. 3). In addition, a hot gas valve 24 may be used to direct warm refrigerant from compressor 12 directly to evaporator assembly 20 to remove or harvest ice cubes from freeze plate 60 when the ice has reached the desired thickness. As described more fully elsewhere herein, a form of refrigerant cycles through these components via a lines 23, 25, 27, 28. Ice maker 10 may have other conventional components not described herein, including, but not limited to, a water supply, a purge valve, a water drain, a controller, and a source of electrical energy.

In many embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 2, ice maker 10 may be disposed inside of a cabinet 16 which may be mounted on top of an ice storage bin assembly 30 forming an ice maker assembly 200. Cabinet 16 may be closed by suitable fixed and removable panels to provide temperature integrity and compartmental access, as will be understood by those in the art. Ice storage bin assembly 30 includes an ice storage bin 31 having a hole 37 (see FIG. 3) through which ice produced by ice maker 10 falls. The ice is then stored in cavity 36 until retrieved. Ice storage bin 31 further includes an opening 38 which provides access to the cavity 36 and the ice stored therein. Cavity 36, hole 37 and opening 38 may be formed by a left wall 33a, a right wall 33b, a front wall 34, a back wall 35 and a bottom wall (not shown). The walls of ice storage bin 31 may be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin 31. A door 40 can be opened to provide access to cavity 36.

Having described each of the individual components of one embodiment of ice maker 10, the manner in which the components interact and operate various embodiments may now be described. During operation of ice maker 10 in a cooling cycle, compressor 12 receives low-pressure, substantially gaseous refrigerant from evaporator assembly 20 through suction line 28, pressurizes the refrigerant, and discharges high-pressure, substantially gaseous refrigerant through discharge line 25 to condenser 14. In condenser 14, heat is removed from the refrigerant, causing the substantially gaseous refrigerant to condense into a substantially liquid refrigerant.

After exiting condenser 14, the high-pressure, substantially liquid refrigerant is routed through liquid line 27 to thermal expansion device 18, which reduces the pressure of the substantially liquid refrigerant for introduction into evaporator assembly 20. As the low-pressure expanded refrigerant is passed through tubing of evaporator assembly 20, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the tubes contained within evaporator assembly 20 and vaporizes as the refrigerant passes through the tubes. Low-pressure, substantially gaseous refrigerant is discharged from the outlet of evaporator assembly 20 through suction line 28, and is reintroduced into the inlet of compressor 12.

In certain embodiments of the invention, at the start of the cooling cycle, a water fill valve (not shown) is turned on to supply a mass of water to sump 70, wherein ice maker 10 will freeze some or all of the mass of water into ice. After the desired mass of water is supplied to sump 70, the water fill valve may be closed. Water pump 62 circulates the water from sump 70 to freeze plate 60 via water line 63 and distributor manifold or tube 66. Compressor 12 causes refrigerant to flow through the refrigeration system. The water that is supplied by water pump 62 then begins to cool as it contacts freeze plate 60, returns to water sump 70 below freeze plate 60 and is recirculated by water pump 62 to freeze plate 60. Once the water is sufficiently cold, water flowing across freeze plate 60 starts forming ice cubes. After the ice cubes are formed, water pump 62 is turned off and hot gas valve 24 is opened allowing warm, high-pressure gas from compressor 12 to flow through hot gas bypass line 23 to enter evaporator assembly 20, thereby harvesting the ice by warming freeze plate 60 to melt the formed ice to a degree such that the ice may be released from freeze plate 60 and falls through hole 37 (see FIG. 3) into ice storage bin 31 where the ice can be temporarily stored and later retrieved. Hot gas valve 24 is then closed and the cooling cycle can repeat.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, sump 70 may rest just above ice storage bin assembly 30 and may be moved cooperatively with or along guide 50 from a first position, or operating position, (see FIG. 3) to a second position, or cleaning position (see FIG. 4). Sump 70 is normally in the first position when ice maker 10 is producing ice. Accordingly, when sump 70 is in the first position, or operating position, water that is supplied by water pump 62 to freeze plate 60 can return to sump 70 below freeze plate 60, allowing the water to be recirculated by water pump 62 until water freezes on freeze plate 60. Likewise, while sump 70 is in the first position, the ice that falls from freeze plate 60 during harvest can fall into ice storage bin 31 through hole 37 without coming into contact with sump 70. Sump 70 can be moved to the second position for cleaning and sanitizing of ice maker 10. While in the second position, hole 37 is covered preventing any contaminants from falling into ice storage bin 31. Additionally, sump 70 may be moved cooperatively with or along guide 50 from the first position to the second position without the use of any tools.

Extending sump 70 to the second position may assist in providing access to the interior of sump 70. In the second position, a user may be able to easily pour into sump 70 an acidic solution for descaling calcium and/or removal of other minerals and metals from sump 70 and/or ice maker 10. Moreover, in certain embodiments, when sump 70 is in second position, sump 70 may extend a sufficient distance from under cabinet 16, evaporator assembly 20 and freeze plate 60 such that a user may clean sump 70 and ice maker 10 by inserting his/her hand into the interior of sump 70 and use a cloth, sponge, scraper, vacuum, chemical, solution, tool or any other means known in the art to clean sump 70 and/or ice maker 10 including removing contaminants. Contaminants may include, but are not limited to, cleaning solutions, minerals, metals, mineral and metal build up, dirt, dust, mold, food, bugs, cloths, cleaning tools, and any foreign materials and/or objects not desired for the making of ice.

Additionally, when sump 70 is in the second position, sump 70 covers hole 37 such that sump 70 may protect cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31, and the ice therein, from a variety of contaminants during cleaning. Because sump 70 can be extended to the second position for cleaning sump 70 and/or ice maker 10, cleaning ice maker 10 does not require the removal of ice from ice storage bin 31 prior to or during cleaning. This may result in reduced operating costs and reduced down time of ice maker 10. When sump 70 is returned to the first position, hole 37 is once again opened to allow harvested ice to fall through hole 37 and into ice storage bin 31.

Guide 50 which permits sump 70 to move from the first position to the second position may be any type of guide known in the art. In certain embodiments, for example, guide 50 may include one or more drawer slides affixed to sump 70 and cabinet 16. In certain embodiments, for example, guide 50 may include one or more drawer slides having ball bearings, wherein the one or more drawer slides may be affixed to sump 70 and cabinet 16. In other embodiments, for example, guide 50 may comprise one or more slots disposed in sump 70 which can slide along one or more tabs disposed in cabinet 16. In yet other embodiments, for example, guide 50 may comprise one or more tabs disposed on sump 70 which can slide along one or more tabs disposed in cabinet 16. Accordingly, in various embodiments, for example, guide 50 may permit sump 70 to slide from a first position to a second position. In yet other embodiments, for example, guide 50 may permit sump 70 to rotate from a first position to a second position. In yet another embodiment, for example, guide 50 may permit sump to drop from a first position to a second position. It will be understood that any type and/or construction of guide 50 which permits sump 70 to move from a first position to a second position by any type of movement may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5 for example, one or more tabs disposed on sump 70 and one or more tabs disposed in cabinet 16 may cooperate to form guide 50. Cabinet 16 of ice maker 10 may comprise an evaporator frame 100 to which evaporator assembly 20 may be affixed (see FIGS. 3 and 4). An embodiment of evaporator frame 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein sump 70 may be slidably moved within evaporator frame 100 from a first position to a second position. In certain embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A, sump 70 may comprise a bottom 72 and a wall 73 extending therefrom such that sump 70 can hold water. Wall 73 of sump 70 may comprise front wall portion 73a, back wall portion 73b, left wall portion 73c and right wall portion 73d. Wall 73 of sump 70 may terminate a distance from bottom 72, forming a rim 74 along the top portion of wall 73. Accordingly, sump 70 may generally be a rectangular box having an open top; however it will be understood that sump 70 may be in other shapes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Sump 70 may further comprise one or more tabs 76 extending substantially perpendicular from left and right wall portions 73c, 73d and substantially parallel to bottom 72. Sump 70 may also comprise one or more gaps 78 between the one or more tabs 76. The tabs 76 and gaps 78 of sump 70 may interface with corresponding tabs 106, 107 (see FIGS. 7 and 7A) and gaps 108 (see FIGS. 7 and 7A) of evaporator frame 100 in order to permit the slidable movement of sump 70 within evaporator frame 100 and to permit the removal of sump 70 from evaporator frame 100 and/or ice maker 10.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, sump 70 may comprise left front tab 76a and left rear tab 76c separated by left gap 78a. Sump 70 may further comprise right front tab 76b and right rear tab 76d separated by right gap 78b. In various embodiments, tabs 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d may be disposed proximate rim 74. A rear lip 79 may be disposed proximate rim 74 and back wall portion 73b and may extend substantially perpendicular from back wall portion 73 and substantially parallel to bottom 72. As shown in FIG. 6A, a flange or sump catch 80 may extend downward substantially perpendicular from rear lip 79. In certain embodiments, rear lip 79 and flange 80 may extend from left rear tab edge 81a to right rear tab edge 81b. In yet other embodiments, rear lip 79 and flange 80 may only be disposed proximate left rear tab 76c and right rear tab 76d. In yet other embodiments, sump 70 may not include rear lip 79 and a flange 80 may extend downward substantially perpendicular from one or both of left rear tab 76c and right rear tab 76d. While two left tabs, two right tabs, one left gap and one right gap are illustrated, it will be understood that any number of tabs and gaps may be disposed on sump 70 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 7A, an embodiment of evaporator frame 100 of ice maker 10 is described. Evaporator frame 100 may comprise left wall 104a, right wall 104b and front wall 102 disposed between and affixed to left wall 104a and right wall 104b. Front wall 102 may have an opening 103 for accepting evaporator assembly 20 and/or freeze plate 60. Evaporator frame 100 may further comprise one or more tabs 106, 107 disposed proximate bottom portions 105a, 105b of left and right walls 104a, 104b, wherein the one or more tabs 106, 107 may extend substantially perpendicular from left and right walls 104a, 104b. Evaporator frame 100 may also comprise one or more gaps 108 between the one or more tabs 106, 107. The tabs 106, 107 and gaps 108 of evaporator frame 100 may interface with corresponding tabs 76 and gaps 78 of sump 70 in order to permit the slidable movement of sump 70.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, evaporator frame 100 may comprise left front tab 106a and first left rear tab 107a separated by left gap 108a. Evaporator frame 100 may further comprise a second left rear tab 107c separated from first left rear tab 107a by notch 110a. Evaporator frame 100 may further comprise right front tab 106b and first right rear tab 107b separated by right gap 108b. Left and right gaps 108a, 108b of evaporator frame 100 may be wide enough to permit left and right rear tabs 76c, 76d of sump 70 to pass through left and right gaps 108a, 108b so that sump 70 may be removed from or inserted into evaporator frame 100. Additionally, left and right gaps 78a, 78b of sump 70 may also be wide enough to permit left and right front tabs 106a, 106b of evaporator frame 100 to pass through left and right gaps 78a, 78b of sump 70 so that sump 70 may be removed from or inserted into evaporator frame 100.

Evaporator frame 100 may further comprise a second right rear tab 107d separated from first right rear tab 107b by notch 110b. Notches 110a, 110b may be adapted to accept rear lip 79 of sump 70. In other embodiments, first and second left rear tabs 107a, 107c may be a single, continuous left rear tab and notch 110a may partially separate this left rear tab. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, first and second right rear tabs 107b, 107d may be a single, continuous right rear tab and notch 110b may partially separate this right rear tab. While one front left tab, one first left rear tab, one second left rear tab, one front right tab, one first right rear tab, one second right rear tab, one left gap, one right gap, one left notch and one right notch are illustrated, it will be understood that any number of tabs, gaps and/or notches may be disposed on evaporator frame 100 without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 5, 8A-8D, and 9A-9D illustrate how tabs 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d of sump 70 and tabs 106a, 106b, 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d of evaporator frame 100 cooperate to form guide 50. Tabs 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d of sump 70 may be supported by tabs 106a, 106b, 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d of evaporator frame 100. Sump 70 may slide along tabs 106a, 106b, 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d of evaporator frame 100 from a first position to a second position. Accordingly, FIGS. 8A-8D and FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate how an embodiment of sump 70 can move from a first position to a second position. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, sump 70 is in a first position, when ice maker 10 is producing ice. Sump 70 may be held in the first position and may be prevented from sliding forward because flange 80 contacts rear edges 109a, 109b of second left and right rear tabs 107c, 107d of evaporator frame 100. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B, to move sump 70 from the first position to the second position for cleaning and sanitizing of ice maker 10, sump 70 can be lifted slightly and moved forward so that flange 80 clears second left and right rear tabs 107c, 107d of evaporator frame 100. Flange 80 can then be disposed in notches 110a, 110b so that sump 70 may be prevented from further sliding forward. When sump 70 is in the second position, sump 70 blocks hole 37 so that no cleaning products or contaminants from inside sump 70 can fall into cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31. This protects the ice and the ice storage bin from contamination during the cleaning process and thus the ice in cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31 does not need to be removed to clean ice maker 10.

If sump 70 needs to be completely removed from ice maker 10, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 9C, sump 70 can be lifted slightly and moved forward so that flange 80 is no longer disposed in notches 110a, 110b and clears first left and right rear tabs 107a, 107b of evaporator frame 100. Sump 70 can then be moved forward, as shown in FIGS. 8D and 9D, so that left and right front tabs 106a, 106b of evaporator frame 100 align with left and right gap 78a, 78b, respectively, of sump 70 and left and right rear tabs 76c, 76d of sump 70 align with left and right gap 108a, 108b, respectively, of evaporator frame 100. Sump 70 can then be lowered from evaporator frame 100 and removed from ice maker 10. While this particular embodiment of guide 50 has been described with respect to tabs, gaps, and notches disposed on evaporator frame 100, it will be understood that in other embodiments, the tabs, gaps, and notches may be disposed on any portion of cabinet 16 without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of guide 50 which may comprise a channel within cabinet 16 in which sump 70 may slide. Sump 70 is illustrated in the second position covering hole 37 of ice storage bin assembly 30. Sump 70 may be held in the first position and/or the second position by the friction due to the weight of sump 70 (and the weight of any water within sump 70). In certain embodiments, rear wall portion 73b of sump 70 may contact an internal wall 140 of cabinet 16 in order to prevent sump 70 from being inserted too far into cabinet 16. For purposes of cleaning ice maker 10, sump 70 may be moved cooperatively with or along guide 50 from the first position to the second position by sliding sump 70 forward. This may be done by manually pulling on front wall portion 73a of sump 70 until sump 70 covers hole 37. Sump 70 may then be pushed back to the first position where back wall portion 73b may contact internal wall 140 of cabinet 16. If necessary, sump 70 may be removed from cabinet 16 by sliding sump 70 forward and out.

Thus, there has been shown and described novel methods and apparatuses of an ice maker with a slide out sump, which overcome many of the problems of the prior art set forth above. It will be apparent, however, to those familiar in the art, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the subject devices and methods are possible. All such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. An ice maker for forming ice using a refrigerant capable of transitioning between liquid and gaseous states, the ice maker comprising:

(i) a compressor;

(ii) a condenser;

(iii) a thermal expansion device;

(iv) an evaporator assembly;

(v) a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly;

(vi) a sump located below the freeze plate; and

(vi) a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position.

2. An ice maker assembly comprising:

(iii) an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a hole through which ice may fall and a cavity in which the ice may be stored;

(ii) a cabinet disposed on the ice storage bin assembly; and

(i) an ice maker disposed within the cabinet, the ice maker comprising a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position, wherein when the sump is in the first position, ice produced by the ice maker falls through the hole of the ice storage bin, and when the sump is in the second position, the sump is adapted to cover the hole of the ice storage bin.

3. The ice maker of claim 1 wherein the ice maker is disposed within a cabinet and the cabinet comprises an evaporator frame and wherein the sump and the evaporator frame cooperate to form the guide.

4. The ice maker of claim 3 wherein the evaporator frame further comprises one or more tabs and wherein the sump comprises one or more tabs, wherein the one or more tabs of the sump are supported by the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame.

5. The ice maker of claim 4 wherein the sump further comprises a flange adapted to contact a rear edge of the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame, wherein when the flange contacts the rear edge of the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame the sump is prevented from moving forward.

6. The ice maker of claim 4 wherein the sump further comprises a flange adapted to be disposed in a notch between the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame, wherein when the flange is disposed in the notch between of the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame the sump is prevented from moving forward.

7. The ice maker of claim 4 wherein the sump further comprises one or more gaps and the evaporator frame further comprises one or more gaps; and

wherein the one or more gaps of the sump are wide enough to permit the one or more tabs of the evaporator frame to pass through the one or more gaps of the sump; and

wherein the one or more gaps of the evaporator frame are wide enough to permit the one or more tabs of the sump to pass through the one or more gaps of the evaporator frame.

8. A method of cleaning an ice maker assembly comprising an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a hole through which ice may fall and a cavity in which the ice may be stored, a cabinet disposed on the ice storage bin assembly, and an ice maker disposed within the cabinet, the ice maker comprising a condenser, a thermal expansion device, an evaporator assembly, a freeze plate thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly, a sump located below the freeze plate, and a guide which permits the sump to move from a first position to a second position, wherein when the sump is in the first position, ice produced by the ice maker falls through the hole of the ice storage bin, and when the sump is in the second position, the sump is adapted to cover the hole of the ice storage bin, comprising the steps of:

(i) moving the sump from the first position to the second position thereby covering the hole in the ice storage bin so that ice stored in the cavity of the ice storage bin does not need to be removed; and

(ii) cleaning the ice maker while the sump is the second position.