US 4,727,720 A · Combination ice mold and ice extractor

Abstract

An ice maker is disclosed for freezing ice pieces and delivering the ice pieces to a receptacle under a chute. The ice machine is made up of an ice mold with an opening in its bottom which receives and ice extractor with an open bottom and upwardly and outwardly extending sides. An evaporator plate is supported below the opening in the ice mold bottom and a water supply is provided to maintain the water in the mold at a predetermined level. A thermo electro unit is disposed below the evaporator. Classical freon refrigeration can also be used. Thus when water is frozen to ice in the extractor, the refrigeration, or thermo-electric means melts the ice loose from the evaporator, in some models, and also from the ice extractor. The ice extractor, which is attached to a motor by means of an arm, swings to an inverted position over an ice chute from which the ice falls, is in some models aided by ambient heat, into a repository. The extractor then swings back into the mold for another cycle.

Claims25

Dependent claims

In combination an ice mold having an open top, a bottom and a cavity in said bottom,

means to supply water to said open top mold and an ice receiving means,
a hollow ice extractor having spaced sides, an open top and an open bottom,
refrigeration means associated with said ice mold below said cavity in said bottom,
means swingably supporting said ice extractor on said ice mold,
said spaced sides being inclined from the lower edge of said extractor upwardly and outwardly when said extractor is in position in said ice mold,
said ice extractor being adapted to receive water with said refrigeration means closing said open bottom of said ice extractor whereby ice is frozen in said ice extractor,
said ice extractor being adapted to be swung out of said ice mold to an inverted position over said ice receiving means whereby ambient air engages said ice extractor, melting the ice that is in contact with said ice extractor and allowing said ice to fall from said extractor into said ice receiving means.

4 more elements

An ice machine comprising a mold,

an ice extractor,
an evaporator plate and a water supply,
said mold comprising sides, a bottom and an open top,
said bottom having a cavity therein defined by cavity sides terminating in an opening in the bottom,
said cavity sides are tapered downwardly and inwardly converging toward said opening terminating in sharp edges,
said evaporator plate being disposed below said opening,
sealing means between said ice mold and said evaporator plate whereby said evaporator plate forms a closure for said opening in said ice mold,
said ice extractor having an open top, an open bottom and sides extending downwardly and inwardly terminating in a sharp lower edge,
said extractor being adapted to be received in said cavity,
said sharp lower edge of said extractor resting on said evaporator plate,
means to supply water to said mold,
means to swing said ice extractor from a position in said cavity to an inverted position over an ice receptacle,
a heat sink,
said ice mold being supported on said heat sink,
said evaporator plate being supported in spaced relation to said heat sink.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combination ice mold and ice extractor

Life of this patent

Combination ice mold and ice extractor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25