DRAINING THE SUMP OF AN ICE MAKER TO PREVENT GROWTH OF HARMFUL BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

摘要

An ice maker having a refrigeration system, a water system and a control system. The refrigeration system includes an ice formation device. The water system supplies water to the ice formation device, and includes a water reservoir (e.g., a sump or float chamber) for holding water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The control system includes an ice level sensor adapted to sense the ice level in an ice storage bin, and a controller adapted to cause water to drain from the water reservoir when the ice storage bin is full. Substantially or all of the water remaining in the water reservoir is drained such that while the ice maker is not making ice the water reservoir is empty of water. This reduces or prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, parasites, organisms, and/or other biological material in the water reservoir.

主权项

1. An ice maker for forming ice, the ice maker comprising:
(i) a refrigeration system comprising a compressor and an ice formation device; (ii) a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device, the water system comprising a water reservoir adapted to hold water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir; and (iii) a control system comprising an ice level sensor adapted to sense whether an ice storage bin is full of ice, and a controller adapted to cause the discharge valve to open to allow water to drain from the water reservoir based upon an indication from the ice level sensor that the ice storage bin is full of ice.