Revolving ice maker

Abstract

An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker including an elongated cage having a central revolving axis about which the elongated cage revolves. The elongated cage having a first end, a second end and at least one elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end. An ice tray is configured to be received in the at least one elongated slot. The ice tray includes a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A motor is coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis. A controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker comprising:
 an elongated cage configured to revolve about a central revolving axis, the elongated cage having a first end and an opposite second end, and a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot each extending between the first end and the second end;   a motor coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis;   an ejector bar extending through an inner elongated cavity of the elongated cage, wherein the ejector bar is offset from the central revolving axis;   a first ice tray configured to be received in the first elongated slot and a second ice tray configured to be received in the second elongated slot;   wherein the elongated cage is disposed in a frame and positioned between an outlet plate of the frame and an air duct, the air duct is positioned adjacent the first end of the elongated cage and the outlet plate positioned adjacent the second end of the elongated cage,   wherein the outlet plate includes a first opening and a second opening that are in fluid communication with the air duct via an air path that extends from the air duct, through the elongated cage, and towards the outlet plate of the frame, and   wherein the first opening is configured to allow one of the first ice tray and the second ice tray to be removed from the elongated cage therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet plate remains stationary while the elongated cage is revolved. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet plate further includes a third opening, and each of the second and third openings are smaller than the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated cage includes a third elongated slot, wherein the first, second, and third elongated slots are angularly spaced around the central revolving axis of the elongated cage and each slot is configured to receive a respective ice tray. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first ice tray and the second ice tray each include a plurality of cavities for receiving the water to be frozen into the ice pieces, the cavities each having a lower portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the lower portions of the plurality of cavities in the first ice tray or the second ice tray directly engage the ejector bar and are deformed by the ejector bar as the respective ice tray is revolved through a predetermined angular range. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein during revolving of the first ice tray or the second ice tray through the predetermined angular range, the ice pieces in the respective ice tray are ejected from the respective ice tray. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein a controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis, the controller being configured to selectively position the first ice tray or the second ice tray in a first angular position such that each of the plurality of cavities of the respective ice tray is positioned below a respective water fill port. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the air path is configured to convey air from the air duct to the outlet plate to freeze water within the first and second ice trays into ice pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when the first ice tray is in a first position, the first ice tray is aligned with the first opening and the first ice tray is removable from the ice maker through the first opening. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when the second ice tray is in a first position, the second ice tray is aligned with the first opening and the second ice tray is removable from the ice maker through the first opening. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portions of the plurality of cavities of the first ice tray and the second ice tray are made of a resilient material. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein each ice tray includes a pair of rails extending along its length. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigeration appliance comprising:
 a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C.;   a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C.;   a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment; and   an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker comprising:
 an elongated cage configured to revolve about a central revolving axis, the elongated cage having a first end and a second end, and a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end, 
   a motor coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis;   an ejector bar extending through an inner elongated cavity of the elongated cage, wherein the ejector bar is offset from the central revolving axis;
 a first ice tray configured to be received in the first elongated slot and a second ice tray configured to be received in the second elongated slot, 
   wherein the elongated cage is disposed in a frame and positioned between an outlet plate of the frame and an air duct,   wherein an air path extends from the air duct, through the elongated cage, and to the outlet plate of the frame,   wherein the outlet plate includes a first opening and a second opening,
 wherein the first opening is configured to allow one of the first ice tray and the second ice tray to be removed from the elongated cage therethrough. 
   
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein the elongated cage includes a third elongated slot, wherein the first, second, and third elongated slots are angularly spaced around the central revolving axis of the elongated cage and each slot is configured to receive a respective ice tray. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein the first ice tray and the second ice tray each include a plurality of cavities for receiving the water to be frozen into the ice pieces, the cavities each having a lower portion. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the lower portions of the plurality of cavities in the first ice tray or the second ice tray directly engage the ejector bar and are deformed by the ejector bar as the respective ice tray is revolved in a predetermined angular range. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 17 , wherein during revolving of the first ice tray or the second ice tray through a predetermined angular range, the ice pieces in the respective ice tray are ejected from the respective ice tray. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein when the first ice tray is in a first position, the first ice tray is aligned with the first opening and the first ice tray is removable from the ice maker. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein when the second ice tray is in a first position, the second ice tray is aligned with the first opening and the second ice tray is removable from the ice maker.