EVAPORATOR ASSEMBLY FOR ICE-MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.

主权项

1. An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus, comprising:
a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface; a refrigerant circuit; and a freeze template thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions, wherein interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed.