Ice Preparation Device

Abstract

An ice maker comprises a frame ( 15 ) and a tray ( 1 ) pivotable in the frame ( 15 ) about an axis. The tray ( 1 ) has a plurality of compartments ( 4 ) which are arranged in a number of rows and separated from one another by partition walls ( 3 ) and is pivotable between an upright setting in which the upper edges of the partition walls ( 3 ) extend horizontally, an emptying setting in which the openings of the compartments ( 4 ) face downwardly and a tilted setting in which a predetermined water quantity filled into a row of the tray ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) in part floods over the upper edges of the partition walls ( 3 ) between the compartments ( 4 ) of the row whilst after pivotation back into the upright setting the partition walls ( 3 ) separate the part quantities, which are distributed to the compartments ( 4 ), of the water quantity from one another.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . An ice maker comprising:
 a frame;   a tray pivotable in the frame about an axis and having a plurality of compartments with openings and arranged in a number of rows and separated from one another by partition walls, the tray being 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; and   wherein the tray is additionally pivotable into a tilted setting in which a predetermined water quantity filled into a row of the tray in part floods over the upper edges of the partition walls between the compartments of the row whilst after pivoting back into the upright setting the partition walls separate the part quantities of the water quantity from one another, which are distributed to the compartments.   
   
   
       15 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the number of rows is one. 
   
   
       16 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the tilted setting and the emptying setting can be reached from the upright setting by pivoting in opposite directions. 
   
   
       17 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the tray is oscillated. 
   
   
       18 . The ice maker according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the tilted setting and the emptying setting is a reversal point of the oscillatory movement. 
   
   
       19 . The ice maker according to  claim 16 , further comprising a transmission associated with the tray for conversion of a drive motion in the same sense into an oscillatory motion of the tray. 
   
   
       20 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , further comprising a wall extending above the upper edge of the partition walls formed at a longitudinal side of each row of compartments and at least a part of the transverse sides thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The ice maker according to  claim 20 , wherein the wall protrudes at least 5 millimeters above the upper edges of the partition walls. 
   
   
       22 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the compartments have the shape of a segment of a circle in cross-section. 
   
   
       23 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , further comprising an electric heating device. 
   
   
       24 . The ice maker according to  claim 23 , wherein the electric heating device includes a heating rod inserted between heat exchange ribs protruding from the tray. 
   
   
       25 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the pivot axis of the tray is the center axis of a smallest cylinder enclosing the tray. 
   
   
       26 . The ice maker according to  claim 14 , wherein the upper edges of the partition walls lie above the pivot axis in the upright and the tilted setting.