Ice-making apparatus

Abstract

An ice cube maker having an evaporator in fluid communication with a flow control device to supply water for making ice cubes is provided. The water is supplied by a pump from a storage tank supported by a support element underneath the evaporator. The storage tank is removably connected to the support element and/or a casing of the ice cube maker.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An ice-making machine comprising: an evaporator, a support element, and a storage tank for storing water to be formed into ice, wherein said storage tank is removably connected to said support element.  
     
     
         2 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second connecting structures, said first and second connecting structures being capable of removably engaging with each other, wherein said first and second connecting structures are disposed on opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said support element respectively for removable connection of said storage tank with said support element.  
     
     
         3 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , wherein said first connecting structure is a grappling tooth, and wherein said second connecting structure is a corresponding grappling seat.  
     
     
         4 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator is connected to said support element, and wherein said evaporator is disposed above said storage tank.  
     
     
         5 . The ice-making machine of  claim 4 , wherein said storage tank is a sump in fluid communication with said evaporator.  
     
     
         6 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein said evaporator, said storage tank and said support element are disposed in said housing, and wherein said housing is divided into a plurality of compartments.  
     
     
         7 . The ice-making machine of  claim 6 , wherein said support element divides said housing into said plurality of compartments.  
     
     
         8 . The ice-making machine of  claim 7 , wherein said support element is a sidewall and a dividing wall of said housing, said storage tank being removably affixed to said sidewall and said dividing wall.  
     
     
         9 . The ice-making machine of  claim 1 , wherein said storage tank requires movement in at least two different directions to removably connect or disconnect with said support element.  
     
     
         10 . The ice-making machine of  claim 9 , wherein said at least two different directions are first and second directions, wherein said first direction is in a plane orthogonal to said opposite surfaces, and wherein said second direction is in a plane parallel to said opposite surfaces.  
     
     
         11 . The ice-making machine of  claim 10 , wherein said second direction lies along an axis inclined from vertical.  
     
     
         12 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , wherein said first connecting structure is a coupling screw having a head, wherein said second connecting structure is a slot having a groove, and wherein said head can hook into said groove.  
     
     
         13 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , wherein said opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said support element are substantially planar surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . The ice-making machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing, wherein said first and second connecting structures are disposed on opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said housing.  
     
     
         15 . The ice-making machine of  claim 14 , wherein said first connecting structure or said second connecting structure is manually controlled.  
     
     
         16 . The ice-making machine of  claim 4 , further comprising a flow control device in fluid communication with said evaporator and said storage tank for distributing said water from said storage tank to said evaporator, wherein said storage tank catches waste water from said evaporator and recycles said waste water back to said flow control device.  
     
     
         17 . The ice-making machine of  claim 16 , wherein said evaporator is a vertical evaporator, and wherein said flow control device is a water sprayer.  
     
     
         18 . The ice-making machine of  claim 10 , wherein said second direction lies along a vertical axis.  
     
     
         19 . The ice-making machine of  claim 14 , wherein said opposite surfaces of said storage tank and said housing are a lateral planar face of the storage tank and an opposite planar face of the housing.  
     
     
         20 . The ice-making machine of  claim 16 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication with said flow control device and said storage tank, wherein said pump provides said waste water from said storage tank to said flow control device.  
     
     
         21 . The ice-making machine of  claim 20 , further comprising a wall that substantially isolates said evaporator from said pump.  
     
     
         22 . The ice-making machine of  claim 21 , wherein said wall is pivotable with respect to said evaporator.  
     
     
         23 . A method for removable connection of a storage tank having water which is used to make ice in an ice maker that has an evaporator and a support element, the method comprising the steps of requiring movement of said storage tank in a first direction with respect to said support element and then in a second direction with respect to said support element, thereby connecting or disconnecting said storage tank with said support element.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said first direction and said second direction are at an angle with respect to each other of 90 degrees or more.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of requiring removable connection or disconnection of a lateral planar face of said storage tank with an opposite planar face of a housing of the ice cube maker.