Ice maker appliance frost management

Abstract

An ice maker appliance includes an ice box. The ice maker appliance further includes a mold body and a frost collector positioned in the ice box. The ice maker appliance also includes a working fluid loop. The working fluid loop is in conductive thermal communication with the mold body and with the frost collector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a chilled compartment defined in the cabinet;   an ice box; and   an ice making assembly positioned in the ice box, the ice making assembly comprising:
 a mold body; 
 a frost collector; and 
 a working fluid loop, the working fluid loop in conductive thermal communication with the mold body and with the frost collector. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the frost collector is upstream of the mold body along the working fluid loop. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the frost collector comprises a flat plate. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the frost collector comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater in thermal communication with the frost collector whereby the heater is configured to remove frost from the frost collector when the heater is activated. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan proximate to the frost collector. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid loop comprises a working fluid pump, a pressure line extending from the working fluid pump to the frost collector, and a suction line extending from the mold body to the working fluid pump. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the working fluid loop further comprises a connecting line extending from an outlet of the frost collector to an inlet of the mold body. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the frost collector is spaced apart from the mold body. 
     
     
         10 . An ice maker appliance, comprising:
 an ice box;   a mold body positioned in the ice box;   a frost collector positioned in the ice box; and   a working fluid loop, the working fluid loop in conductive thermal communication with the mold body and with the frost collector.   
     
     
         11 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frost collector is upstream of the mold body along the working fluid loop. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frost collector comprises a flat plate. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frost collector comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a heater in thermal communication with the frost collector whereby the heater is configured to remove frost from the frost collector when the heater is activated. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a fan proximate to the frost collector. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the working fluid loop comprises a working fluid pump, a pressure line extending from the working fluid pump to the frost collector, and a suction line extending from the mold body to the working fluid pump. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the working fluid loop further comprises a connecting line extending from an outlet of the frost collector to an inlet of the mold body. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frost collector is spaced apart from the mold body.