Ice-making unit for flow-down type ice maker

Abstract

An ice-making unit is so configured as to facilitate cleaning of the backsides of ice-making plates. An evaporator of the ice-making unit is disposed between the backsides of a pair of ice-making plates and has straight portions extending laterally and curved portions sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates, the straight portions and the curved portions being repetitively zigzagged. The curved portion is bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates more than a clearance between the ice-making plates. Accordingly, the curved portion is retracted from a side opening defined between the ice-making plates and facing inside the ice-making unit, and does not interfere with cleaning of the backsides of the ice-making plates.

1 . An ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker, comprising: 
 a pair of ice-making plates;    an evaporator disposed between backsides of the ice-making plates and having straight portions extending laterally and curved portions sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates, the straight portions and the curved portions being repetitively zigzagged, wherein ice-making water is supplied down onto a top side of each ice-making plate cooled down by a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator in circulation, thereby producing ice cubes, in an ice-making operation, and deicing water is supplied down onto a backside of each ice-making plate, thereby separating ice cubes, in a deicing operation,    the curved portion being bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates more than a clearance between the ice-making plates so that the curved portion is retracted from a side opening defined between the ice-making plates.    
   
   
       2 . The ice-making unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of ice-making plates have upper side ends and lower side ends of the side portions thereof coupled together at via fixing portions.  
   
   
       3 . The ice-making unit according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the evaporator has an inlet portion and an outlet portion bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates.  
   
   
       4 . The ice-making unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of ice-making plates have side surfaces supported by a support member in which a window portion aligned with the side opening is provided.  
   
   
       5 . The ice-making unit according to  claim 4 , wherein a flange portion extending sideward is formed at a side edge portion of each of the ice-making plates, so that with the support member attached to the side surfaces of the pair of ice-making plates, the flange portion penetrating through the window portion of the support member overlaps a side plate portion extending along side edge portions of the window portion in association with each other.