Ice maker

Abstract

An ice maker includes an ice making bowl having at least one compartment in the shape of a rotational body and adapted to freeze water to form ice. A heating facility is assigned to the ice making bowl to heat the compartment. An ice body ejection facility has an ejection element which is maintained under a spring force to seek a contact with a surface region of an ice body for discharging the ice body from the compartment solely by the spring force after the ice body has begun to thaw.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An ice maker, comprising:
 an ice making bowl having at least one compartment in the shape of a rotational body and adapted to freeze water to form ice;   a heating facility assigned to the ice making bowl to heat the compartment; and   an ice body ejection facility having an ejection element maintained under a spring force to seek a contact with a surface region of an ice body for discharging the ice body from the compartment solely by the spring force after the ice body has begun to thaw.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , further comprising a separating wall provided above the compartment of the ice making bowl, to deflect the ice body moved out of the compartment by the ejection element into a collection container. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the separating wall has a through opening for passage of the ejection element. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the ejection element is constructed in the shape of an ejection finger. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein the through opening in the separating wall and the ejection element have a width which is narrower than a width of the compartment of the ice making bowl. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the ejection element is formed by a torsion spring attached to a motor-driven axis of rotation and having a contact element for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the ejection element is formed by an ejection finger supported rotatably on a motor-driven axis of rotation, and a torsion spring arranged between the ejection finger and the axis of rotation for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the ejection element is formed by a leaf spring fastened to a motor-driven axis of rotation for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the shape of the rotational body is cylindrical. 
     
     
         21 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the ice making bowl has a plurality of said compartment, wherein rotational body segments of the plurality of said compartment have parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         22 . The ice maker of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of said compartment are disposed in a row. 
     
     
         23 . A household appliance, comprising an ice maker including an ice making bowl containing at least one compartment in the shape of a rotational body and adapted to freeze water to form ice, a heating facility assigned to the ice making bowl to heat the compartment, and an ice body ejection facility having an ejection element maintained under a spring force to seek a contact with a surface region of an ice body for discharging the ice body from the compartment solely by the spring force after the ice body has begun to thaw. 
     
     
         24 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ice maker has a separating wall provided above the compartment of the ice making bowl, to deflect the ice body moved out of the compartment by the ejection element into a collection container. 
     
     
         25 . The household appliance of  claim 25 , wherein the separating wall has a through opening for passage of the ejection element. 
     
     
         26 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ejection element is constructed in the shape of an ejection finger. 
     
     
         27 . The household appliance of  claim 25 , wherein the through opening in the separating wall and the ejection element have a width which is narrower than a width of the compartment of the ice making bowl. 
     
     
         28 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ejection element is formed by a torsion spring attached to a motor-driven axis of rotation and having a contact element for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         29 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ejection element is formed by an ejection finger supported rotatably on a motor-driven axis of rotation, and a torsion spring arranged between the ejection finger and the axis of rotation for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         30 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ejection element is formed by a leaf spring fastened to a motor-driven axis of rotation for contact upon the ice body. 
     
     
         31 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the shape of the rotational body is cylindrical. 
     
     
         32 . The household appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the ice making bowl has a plurality of said compartment, wherein rotational body segments of the plurality of said compartment have parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         33 . The household appliance of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of said compartment are disposed in a row.