Ice-Making Machine

Abstract

An ice maker comprises a frame ( 15 ), a tray ( 1 ) which is pivotable in the frame ( 15 ) about an axis and which has a plurality of compartments ( 4 ) arranged in a number of rows and separated from one another by partition walls ( 3 ), and a motor ( 22 ) for driving a pivot movement of the tray ( 1 ) about the axis, the motor being coupled to the tray ( 1 ) by way of an eccentric mechanism ( 25, 26, 28 ).

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . An ice maker comprising:
 a frame;   a tray which is pivotable in the frame about an axis and which has a plurality of compartments arranged in a number of rows and separated from one another by partition walls; and   a motor for driving a pivot movement of the tray about the axis, wherein the tray is coupled to the motor by way of an eccentric mechanism.   
   
   
       13 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , wherein the eccentric mechanism comprises a linearly displaceable oscillatory body which carries a rack meshing with a gearwheel connected with the tray. 
   
   
       14 . The ice maker according to  claim 13 , wherein the oscillatory body comprises a rail, which is oriented transversely to its direction of displacement and which is in engagement with an eccentric element driven by the motor on a circular path. 
   
   
       15 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the rail is a slot and the eccentric element is a pin engaging in the slot. 
   
   
       16 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , wherein the tray is pivotable between an upright setting in which the upper edges of the partition walls extend horizontally and an emptying setting in which the openings of the compartments face downwardly. 
   
   
       17 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , wherein the tray is pivotable between an upright setting in which the upper edges of the partition walls extend horizontally and a tilted setting in which the compartments communicate via the upper edges of the partition walls. 
   
   
       18 . The ice maker according to  claim 16 , wherein the tray adopts one of the two settings when the oscillatory body is disposed at a point of reversal of its movement. 
   
   
       19 . The ice maker according to  claim 18 , further comprising a sensor for detecting at least the respective other one of the two settings of the tray. 
   
   
       20 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , wherein the compartments each have the form of a segment of a body of rotation. 
   
   
       21 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , further comprising a wall extending above the upper edge of the partition walls at a longitudinal side of each row of compartments and at least a part of the transverse sides thereof. 
   
   
       22 . The ice maker according to  claim 12 , further comprising an electric heating element mounted at the tray.