ICE MAKERS AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCES WITH ICE MAKERS
Ice makers and refrigeration appliances are provided. An ice maker includes a motor, and a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The mold body defines a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments. The ice maker further includes a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein. The ice maker further includes a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body. The mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed.
1 . An ice maker, the ice maker comprising:
a motor;
a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mold body defining a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments;
a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein;
a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body,
wherein the mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed.
2 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein in the first position the mold body is generally exterior to the recess in the second position the mold body is generally within the recess.
3 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the cover body defines the recess, and wherein the heating assembly is coupled to the inner surface.
4 . The ice maker of claim 3 , wherein an outer contour of the heating body generally corresponds to a contour of the inner surface.
5 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein an outer contour of the mold body generally corresponds to an inner contour of the heating body.
6 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the heating body is formed from silicone.
7 . The ice maker of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the motor and the heating assembly, the controller configured to activate the heating assembly when the mold body is in the second position.
8 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the cover body further defines a liquid receptacle and a passage in fluid communication with the liquid receptacle.
9 . The ice maker of claim 8 , wherein the mold body further includes a first shaft and a second shaft each extending from the mold body along the longitudinal axis, the first shaft coupled to the motor, the second shaft defining a passage in fluid communication between the passage of the cover body and the plurality of mold compartments.
10 . The ice maker of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mold compartments are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis.
11 . A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;
a door for accessing one of the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber; and
an ice maker disposed within one of the fresh food chamber, the freezer chamber or the door, the ice maker comprising:
a motor;
a mold body rotatably coupled to the motor and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mold body defining a plurality of mold compartments and a main opening providing access to each of the plurality of mold compartments;
a cover body defining a recess, the recess configured to accept at least a portion of the mold body therein;
a heating assembly coupled to the cover body within the recess, the heating assembly comprising a heating element embedded in a heating body,
wherein the mold body is rotatable between a first position wherein the main opening is generally enclosed by the cover body and a second position wherein the main opening is generally exposed.
12 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein in the first position the mold body is generally exterior to the recess in the second position the mold body is generally within the recess.
13 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the cover body defines the recess, and wherein the heating assembly is coupled to the inner surface.
14 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 13 , wherein an outer contour of the heating body generally corresponds to a contour of the inner surface.
15 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein an outer contour of the mold body generally corresponds to an inner contour of the heating body.
16 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the heating body is formed from silicone.
17 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , further comprising a controller in communication with the motor and the heating assembly, the controller configured to activate the heating assembly when the mold body is in the second position.
18 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the cover body further defines a liquid receptacle and a passage in fluid communication with the liquid receptacle.
19 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 18 , wherein the mold body further includes a first shaft and a second shaft each extending from the mold body along the longitudinal axis, the first shaft coupled to the motor, the second shaft defining a passage in fluid communication between the passage of the cover body and the plurality of mold compartments.
20 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of mold compartments are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis.