Stand-Alone Ice Making Appliances

Abstract

Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance further includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:
 a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice;   a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water;   a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank;   a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank;   an ice maker, the ice maker comprising an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing, the casing in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker further comprising a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing; and   a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.   
     
     
         2 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank is disposed below the container along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a side wall and a base wall which define the first storage volume, the base wall defining a drain aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a side wall, a base wall, and a bulkhead, the sidewall and the bulkhead defining the first storage volume, and wherein an auxiliary storage volume is defined by the sidewall, the bulkhead and the base wall. 
     
     
         5 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary storage volume is disposed below the first storage volume along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the bulkhead defines a drain aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising an auxiliary pump in fluid communication with the auxiliary storage volume for actively flowing water from the container, and wherein the third storage volume is further in fluid communication with the auxiliary pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the container. 
     
     
         8 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a controller in operative communication with the pump and the auxiliary pump, the controller configured to activate the pump and the auxiliary pump. 
     
     
         9 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the auxiliary pump before the pump when water is flowable through the auxiliary pump. 
     
     
         10 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker further comprises an extruder. 
     
     
         11 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator, and wherein the evaporator at least partially surrounds the casing. 
     
     
         12 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the container is removable. 
     
     
         13 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         14 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         15 . A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:
 a removable container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice;   a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water and disposed below the container along a vertical direction;   a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank;   a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank;   an ice maker, the ice maker comprising a sealed refrigeration system; and   a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume, wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         16 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a side wall and a base wall which define the first storage volume, the base wall defining a drain aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a side wall, a base wall, and a bulkhead, the sidewall and the bulkhead defining the first storage volume, and wherein an auxiliary storage volume is defined by the sidewall, the bulkhead and the base wall. 
     
     
         18 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the bulkhead defines a drain aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 17 , further comprising an auxiliary pump in fluid communication with the auxiliary storage volume for actively flowing water from the container, and wherein the third storage volume is further in fluid communication with the auxiliary pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the container. 
     
     
         20 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the ice maker further comprises an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing, the casing in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir.