CN117091326A

CN117091326A - Ice maker leak detection

Info

Publication number: CN117091326A
Application number: CN202310554810.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 柳春宰; 斯蒂芬诺斯·凯里亚库
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2022-05-19
Filing date: 2023-05-17
Publication date: 2023-11-21
Also published as: US20230375245A1

Abstract

An ice maker includes: the mold body is used for receiving liquid water and making ice from the liquid water in the mold body; and a collection tray vertically below the die body. The collection tray defines an interior volume. The collection tray is arranged and configured to capture and retain a portion of the liquid water escaping from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray.

Description

Ice maker leak detection

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to ice makers, and more particularly to a system and method for detecting leaks in such appliances.

Background

Some refrigeration appliances include an ice maker. The ice maker may also be a stand-alone appliance designed for use in commercial and/or residential kitchens. To make ice, liquid water is directed to an ice maker and frozen. For example, some ice machines include a die body for receiving liquid water. After the ice is formed in the mold body, the ice may be harvested from the mold body and stored in an ice bank or bucket within the refrigeration appliance.

In some cases, a quantity of liquid water directed to the mold body may escape from the mold body before ice is formed as intended. For example, the mold body may crack, one or more sealing elements may wear, or the mold body may be overfilled. In one example of a possible overfill scenario, a twist tray ice machine may include a separate plastic mold that physically deforms to break the bond formed between the ice and the tray, in which ice cubes may break during the twisting process. When such a rupture occurs, a portion of the ice cubes may remain in the tray, thereby resulting in overfilling during the next filling process.

The user of the ice maker is often not able to easily observe the various conditions that may result in liquid water escaping from the mold body. Thus, this condition may last for a longer period of time and/or reach a time at which a significant amount of water escapes from the ice maker (such as a time and/or amount sufficient to exhibit a secondary effect of the escaping water), even before the user is aware of the escape of water, let alone being able to remedy the problem.

Accordingly, an ice maker with improved leak detection features would be desirable.

Disclosure of Invention

Various aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes: the mold body is used for receiving liquid water and making ice from the liquid water in the mold body; and a collection tray vertically below the die body. The collection tray defines an interior volume. The collection tray is arranged and configured to capture and retain a portion of the liquid water escaping from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a refrigeration appliance is provided. The refrigeration appliance includes a food storage compartment and an ice bin. The refrigeration appliance further includes an ice maker disposed in the ice bin. The ice maker includes: the mold body is used for receiving liquid water and making ice from the liquid water in the mold body; and a collection tray vertically below the die body. The collection tray defines an interior volume. The collection tray is arranged and configured to capture and retain a portion of the liquid water escaping from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Drawings

A full disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigeration appliance of fig. 1 with the door of the fresh food compartment shown in an open position.

Fig. 3 provides an interior perspective view of the dispenser door of the exemplary refrigeration appliance of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 provides an interior elevation view of the door body of fig. 3, with the access door of the door body shown in an open position.

Fig. 5 provides a perspective view of an exemplary ice making machine in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 6 provides a perspective view of the components of the exemplary ice-making machine of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 provides a bottom perspective view of the components of the exemplary ice-making machine of fig. 5.

Fig. 8 provides a perspective view of a collection tray of an ice maker according to one or more additional embodiments of the present invention.

Repeated use of reference characters in the specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.

Detailed Description

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is given by way of explanation of the invention, and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, approximate terms, such as "generally" or "about" include values within ten percent of the stated value. Such terms, when used in the context of an angle or direction, are included within ten degrees greater or less than the angle or direction. For example, "substantially vertical" includes directions within ten degrees of a vertical line in any direction (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise). As used herein, the terms "first," "second," and "third" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another, and these terms are not intended to represent the location or importance of the respective components.

Fig. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The refrigeration appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 102 extending along a vertical direction V between a top 104 and a bottom 106, along a lateral direction L between a first side 108 and a second side 110, and along a lateral direction T between a front side 112 and a rear side 114. Each of the vertical direction V, the lateral direction L, and the lateral direction T is perpendicular to each other.

The housing 102 defines a refrigerated compartment for receiving food products for storage. In particular, the housing 102 defines a fresh food compartment 122 disposed at or adjacent the top 104 of the housing 102 and a freezer compartment 124 disposed at or adjacent the bottom 106 of the housing 102. It follows that the refrigeration appliance 100 is commonly referred to as a bottom-mounted refrigerator. However, it is recognized that the benefits of the present invention are applicable to other types and styles of refrigeration appliances, such as overhead, split door, or single door refrigeration appliances. Accordingly, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any respect to any particular refrigeration chamber configuration.

The refrigeration door 128 is rotatably hinged to an edge of the housing 102 for selectively accessing the fresh food compartment 122. In addition, a freezing door 130 is disposed below the refrigerating door 128 to selectively enter the freezing compartment 124. The freezing door 130 is coupled to a freezing drawer (not shown) slidably installed in the freezing chamber 124. The refrigeration door 128 and the freezer door 130 are shown in a closed configuration in fig. 1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other chamber and door configurations are possible and within the scope of the invention.

Fig. 2 provides a perspective view of the refrigeration appliance 100 shown with the refrigeration door 128 in an open position. As shown in fig. 2, various storage components are mounted within the fresh food compartment 122 to facilitate storage of food items therein, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage component may include a box 134 and a shelf 136. Each of these storage components is configured to receive a food product (e.g., a beverage or/and a solid food product, etc.), and may assist in organizing such a food product. As shown, the box 134 may be mounted on the refrigeration door 128 or may slide into a receiving space in the fresh food compartment 122. It should be understood that the storage components shown are for illustrative purposes only, and that other storage components may be used, and that other storage components may have different sizes, shapes, and configurations.

Referring now generally to fig. 1, a dispensing assembly 140 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. The dispensing assembly 140 is generally used to dispense liquid water and/or ice. Although an exemplary dispensing assembly 140 is illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the dispensing assembly 140 may be made while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

The dispensing assembly 140 and its various components may be at least partially disposed within a dispenser recess 142 defined on one of the refrigeration door bodies 128. In this regard, the dispenser recess 142 is defined on the front side 112 of the refrigeration appliance 100 such that a user may operate the dispensing assembly 140 without opening the refrigeration door 128. In addition, the dispenser recess 142 is provided at a predetermined height, which facilitates the user to take ice, and enables the user to take ice without bending down. In an exemplary embodiment, the dispenser recess 142 is disposed at a position near the chest level of the user.

The dispensing assembly 140 includes an ice dispenser 144 that includes a discharge port 146 for discharging ice from the dispensing assembly 140. An actuating mechanism 148, shown as a paddle, is mounted below the discharge port 146 for operating the ice or water dispenser 144. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuation mechanism may be used to operate ice dispenser 144. For example, the ice dispenser 144 may include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button instead of a paddle. The discharge port 146 and the actuating mechanism 148 are external parts of the ice dispenser 144 and are mounted in the dispenser recess 142.

In contrast, inside the refrigerator appliance 100, the refrigeration door 128 may define an ice bin 150 (fig. 2-4) housing an ice maker 200 and an ice bank 202 configured to supply ice to the dispenser recess 142. In this regard, for example, the ice bin 150 may define an ice making compartment 154 for housing an ice making assembly, a storage mechanism, and a dispensing mechanism.

The control panel 160 is provided to control the operation mode. For example, the control panel 160 includes one or more selection inputs 162, such as knobs, buttons, touch screen interfaces, etc., such as water dispensing buttons and ice dispensing buttons, for selecting a desired mode of operation, such as crushed or non-crushed ice. In addition, the input 162 may be used to specify a fill volume or a method of operating the dispensing assembly 140. In this regard, the input 162 may be in communication with a processing device or controller 164. Signals generated in the controller 164 operate the refrigeration appliance 100 and the dispensing assembly 140 in response to the selector input 162. In addition, a display 166, such as an indicator light or screen, may be provided on the control panel 160. The display 166 may be in communication with the controller 164 and may display information in response to signals from the controller 164.

As used herein, a "processing device" or "controller" may refer to one or more microprocessors or semiconductor devices and is not necessarily limited to a single element. The processing device may be programmed to operate the refrigeration appliance 100 and the dispensing assembly 140. The processing device can include or be associated with one or more storage elements (e.g., persistent storage media). In some such embodiments, the storage element comprises an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM). In general, the storage element may store information accessible to the processing device, including instructions that may be executed by the processing device. Alternatively, the instructions may be any set of software or instructions and/or data that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations.

Referring now to fig. 3 and 4, fig. 3 provides an interior perspective view of a refrigerated door body 128, and fig. 4 provides an interior elevation view of the door body 128 with the access door 170 shown in an open position. The refrigeration appliance 100 includes a subchamber 150 defined in the refrigeration door 128. As described above, the sub-compartment 150 may be referred to as an "ice bank". In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the ice bin 150 extends into the fresh food compartment 122 when the refrigeration door 128 is in the closed position. As shown in fig. 4, the ice maker 200 may be disposed within the ice bin 150. Ice maker 200 is typically used to freeze water to make ice (e.g., cubed ice, such as ice cubes) that may be stored in ice bin 202 and dispensed through dispensing assembly 140 via discharge port 146. Fig. 4 illustrates an ice maker 200, wherein an ice bank 202 is disposed below the ice maker for receiving ice cubes from the ice maker 200, for example, for receiving ice after the ice is discharged from the ice maker 200. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, ice from the ice maker 200 is collected and stored in the ice bank 200 and supplied to the dispenser 144 (fig. 1) from the ice bank 202 in the ice bank 150 on the back of the refrigeration door 128. Cold air from a sealing system (not shown) of the refrigeration appliance 100 can be directed into components within the ice bin 150 (e.g., the ice maker 200 and/or the ice bank 202).

As described above, the present invention may also be applied to other types and styles of refrigeration appliances, such as overhead refrigeration appliances, side-by-side refrigeration appliances, or stand-alone ice makers. Alterations and modifications may be made to ice maker 200 while remaining within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description herein of ice bin 150 on door 128 of fresh food compartment 122 is merely exemplary. In other exemplary embodiments, the ice maker 200 may be disposed in the freezer compartment 124 of, for example, the illustrated bottom-mounted refrigerator, side-by-side refrigerator, overhead refrigerator, or any other suitable refrigeration appliance. As another example, the ice maker 200 may also be provided in a separate ice maker. As used herein, the term "stand-alone ice maker" refers to an appliance whose sole or primary operation is to generate or produce ice, while the more general term "ice maker" includes such appliances as well as appliances having different capabilities than ice making, such as refrigeration appliances equipped with ice making machines, as well as other possible examples.

As described above, the access door 170 may be hinged to the interior of the refrigeration door body 128. The access door 170 allows selective access to the ice bin 150. Any manner of suitable latch 172 may be configured with the ice bin 150 to maintain the access door 170 in the closed position. As an example, the latch 172 may be actuated by a consumer to open the access door 170 to provide access into the ice bin 150. The access door 170 may also assist in isolating the ice bin 150, for example, by thermally isolating or isolating the ice bin 150 from the fresh food compartment 122.

Referring now to fig. 5 and 6, perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of an ice maker 200 are illustrated. In some embodiments, for example, as illustrated in fig. 5 and 6, ice maker 200 may twist tray ice maker. In such an embodiment, the ice maker 200 may include a mounting unit 210, and the mounting unit 210 is disposed in the ice bin 150, for example, mounted on one or more inner surfaces of the ice bin 150. The mounting unit 210 may be coupled to the ice tray 220, for example, the mounting unit 210 may be configured to releasably receive the ice tray 220. The ice tray 220 may provide a mold body of the ice maker 200, for example, the ice tray 220 may include one or more compartments 224 for receiving liquid water therein, and the liquid water may be held within the compartments 224 until ice is formed (or at least a portion of the liquid water may be held). The ice tray 220 may include a flexible (e.g., twistable) material, such as the ice tray 220 may include a plastic material that is flexible enough to twist the ice tray 220 to facilitate the release, e.g., release, of ice cubes in the ice tray 220, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the mounting unit 210 may include a first mounting unit 211 and a second mounting unit 212. The mounting units 211, 212 may be spaced apart from each other along the central axis 201 of the ice maker 200. In various embodiments, the direction of the central axis 201 corresponds to (e.g., is along or parallel to) the longitudinal axis of the ice tray 220 when the ice tray 220 is mounted to the mounting unit 210. Further, the mounting units 211, 212 may be spaced apart from each other so as to allow a pair of lips 222 of the ice tray 220, which are separated along the central axis 201, to be received by the respective mounting units 211, 212. For example, the mounting unit 210 may include one or more clips 218, e.g., a first clip 218 on the first mounting unit 211 and a second clip 218 on the second mounting unit 212, and the lips 222 of the ice tray 220 may be configured to be received within and retained by the clips 218, e.g., the lips 222 may each correspond to a respective clip 218 to be sized and shaped, such that an outer dimension of the or each lip 222 may correspond to an inner dimension of the or each clip 218, whereby the lips 222 may be received within and retained by the clips 218.

In various embodiments, the mounting unit 210 includes a rotor 216 configured to rotate relative to the central axis 201. In such an embodiment, the first clip 218 on the first mounting unit 211 may be integrally formed with the rotor 216. The first mounting unit 211 may be fixed to the ice bank 150. The first mounting unit 211 may include a motor or other actuation device 206 operably coupled to the rotor 216 to rotate relative to the central axis 201 (e.g., about the central axis 201). When the ice tray 220 is mounted to the rotor 216, rotation of the rotor 216 (such as by the actuation device 206) causes the ice tray 220 to pour or store ice or other contents from the ice tray 220.

In some embodiments, ice maker 200 may include a dedicated controller 207, for example, similar to controller 164 of refrigeration appliance 100 described above. In embodiments where ice maker 200 is incorporated into a refrigeration appliance, such as exemplary refrigeration appliance 100 described above, dedicated controller 207 may be a controller other than controller 164 of the refrigeration appliance, and may be in communication with controller 164, and controller 207 of ice maker 200 may be in operative communication with other components of ice maker 200, and may be specifically used to control or direct the operation of such components (e.g., actuation device 206). In some embodiments, ice maker 200 may also include one or more sensors, such as temperature sensor 310, which will be described further below, and dedicated controller 207 of ice maker 200 may also be in operative communication with these sensors.

For example, the controller 207 may rotate the actuation device 206 about the central axis 201 a first amount, e.g., a first number of degrees, to twist the tray 220, thereby facilitating release of ice cubes from the compartments 224 therebetween, such as rotating a first amount in a first direction, followed by rotating the same amount, e.g., a first amount, in a second direction opposite the first direction, to twist the tray 220, thereby releasing ice cubes from the compartments 224. After rotating the first amount, e.g., after twisting the tray 220, the controller 207 may then rotate the actuation device 206 about the central axis 201 a second amount, e.g., a second degree, that is greater than the first amount, to flip or invert the tray 220, allowing ice cubes to fall from the tray 220 into the bin 202 (fig. 4) therebelow, e.g., by gravity.

The ice maker 200 may further include a collection tray 300 under a mold body, for example under the torsion tray 220 in an embodiment such as the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 5-7, wherein the mold body is provided in the form of the torsion tray 220. For example, the collection tray 300 may be disposed below the mold body (e.g., the torsion tray 220) along the vertical V, such as directly below the mold body and/or between the mold body and the cassette 202 along the vertical V. Accordingly, the collection tray 300 may be configured and arranged to collect and retain liquid water that may overflow from the mold body.

In some embodiments, the collection tray 300 may be directly connected to the mold body, such as by a tab and slot connection, for example, the twist tray 220. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the collection tray 300 includes tabs 308 that are received in holes in the protruding arms 230 of the twist tray 220. In other embodiments, the protruding arm 230 may have a slot therein, e.g., elongated in the vertical direction V, in which the tab 308 is received, in order to accommodate relative movement between the twist tray 220 and the collection tray 300, e.g., during twisting of ice released from the twist tray 220 as described above. In additional embodiments, the relative positions may be reversed, for example, tabs may be formed on the twist tray 220 and may be received in holes or slots in the collection tray 300. In further embodiments, the collection tray 300 may be directly connected to the die body by any suitable mechanical connection. Such direct connection of the collection tray 300 and the mold body may thereby position the collection tray 300 directly below the mold body along the vertical direction V, such as having the collection tray 300 in direct contact with the mold body, e.g., with the bottom surface of the mold body and/or the protruding arms 230 or other connection portions of the mold body.

Fig. 7 provides a bottom perspective view of an exemplary mold body 220 and collection tray 300 according to the present invention, and fig. 8 provides a perspective view of a separate collection tray 300. As can be seen in fig. 7 and 8, the collection tray 300 may define an interior volume 306. For example, the interior volume 306 may be bounded and defined by a plurality of walls of the collection tray 300. In some embodiments, the collection tray 300 may include a bottom wall 302 and at least one side wall 304, wherein the bottom wall 302 and the side walls define an interior volume 306 on five sides, wherein the collection tray 300 is open on a sixth side (e.g., at the top of the collection tray 300), whereby liquid water escaping from the mold body may be captured and collected in the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300. In the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 5-8, the collection tray 300 is generally rectangular and includes four sidewalls 304. In additional embodiments, the collection tray 300 may be at least partially circular, such as having rounded corners, a disc-like rectangle (oval), or an oval shape, etc., whereby a single sidewall 304 may extend continuously around the outer perimeter of the collection tray 300.

As can be seen, for example, in fig. 7 and 8, ice maker 200 may include a temperature sensor 310 mounted, for example, in collection tray 300. The temperature sensor 310 is used to measure the temperature of the mold body and/or an object within the mold body, such as liquid water and/or solid water (e.g., ice). The temperature sensor 310 may be any suitable device for measuring the temperature of the mold body 170 and/or objects therein. For example, the temperature sensor 310 may be a thermistor or thermocouple or a bimetal. The controller 207 (fig. 5) may receive a signal, such as a voltage or current, from the temperature sensor 190, the signal corresponding to the temperature of the mold body 170 and/or an object therein. In this way, the controller 207 may be used to monitor and/or record the temperature of the mold body and/or the object therein. Some embodiments may also include an electromechanical ice maker configured with a bimetal to complete an electrical circuit when a particular temperature is reached.

In fig. 7, to describe the temperature sensor 310, the bottom wall 302 and the side walls 304 of the collection tray 300 are illustrated by dashed lines. In some embodiments, for example, as illustrated in fig. 7, the temperature sensor 310 may be mounted in direct contact with the mold body 220, such as between and in direct contact with two compartments 224 of the plurality of compartments 224. For example, as can be seen in fig. 8, the temperature sensor 310 may be mounted in the collection tray 300 by one or more posts 312 that extend upward in the vertical direction V from the bottom wall 302 of the collection tray 300. Thus, for example, the temperature sensor 310 may be disposed outside, e.g., above, the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300, such as above one or more sidewalls 304 of the collection tray 300.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ice maker may include or be in fluid communication with a fill conduit whereby liquid water may be directed to the mold body to make ice therein. The structure and function of such filling pipes are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and it is therefore apparent that, for the sake of brevity and clarity, they are not shown or described further herein. The liquid water directed to the mold body may escape from the mold body in one or more of a variety of ways, such as may not reach the mold body at all, for example, due to misalignment of the fill tube with the mold body or deformation or blockage of the fill tube, which results in an unstable flow from the fill tube (such as some liquid water may have been sprayed from the fill tube to the exterior of the mold body, for example, some liquid water may have been directed to the mold body, but then diverged from the path before reaching the mold body). As another example, liquid water may escape from the mold body through an overflow, such as when the mold body is partially plugged, such as by residues of previously formed ice therein, or by leaking, such as from cracks in the mold body. With the collection tray 300 disposed below the mold body, this escaping liquid water may thereby be captured and stored in the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300. Further, the collection tray 300 may include one or more sensors disposed in or adjacent to the interior volume 306 and configured to detect the presence of such liquid water in the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300.

For example, such sensors may include a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensor 314 and/or a capacitive sensor 316. In embodiments including the RFID sensor 314, the RFID sensor 314 may be an RFID tag 314 disposed within the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300, such as on an interior surface of one of the side walls 304, as illustrated, and in communication with an RFID reader (not shown), such as located within the mounting unit 211 (fig. 5). The RFID tag 314 and the RFID reader may remain in communication with each other, such as continuously or repeatedly transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals between the RFID tag 314 and the RFID reader. When escaping water is collected within the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300 and such water reaches the RFID tag 314, the water may at least partially absorb radio waves and interrupt signal communication between the RFID tag 314 and the RFID reader. The RFID reader may be coupled to the controller 207, whereby the controller 207 may detect water spilled into the collection tray 300 when radio communication between the RFID tag 314 and the RFID reader is interrupted by such water. In embodiments where the capacitive sensor 316 is provided, the capacitive sensor 316 may be communicatively coupled to the controller 207, whereby the capacitive sensor 316 may send a signal directly to the controller 207 when liquid water escaping from the collection tray 300 contacts the capacitive sensor 316. For example, the capacitance sensor 316 may detect or measure capacitance and may be responsive to a change in capacitance from when the collection tray 300 does not contain liquid water (e.g., the capacitance of ambient air) to when the liquid water fills the interior volume 306 of the collection tray 300 to the point where the detected or measured capacitance is that of liquid water.

In some embodiments, ice maker 200 (e.g., controller 207 thereof) may also be configured to send a user notification, for example, to a display and/or remote user interface device on ice maker after detecting liquid water in collection tray 300 and in response to the detection (e.g., when one or more of RFID sensor 314 and capacitive sensor 316 detects liquid water). For example, in embodiments where the ice maker is a refrigeration appliance having an ice maker therein, such as refrigeration appliance 100, controller 207 of ice maker 200 may be in communication with controller 164, whereby the user notification may be displayed on a user interface of refrigeration appliance 100, such as display 166 (fig. 1). In an exemplary embodiment in which the user notification is also or alternatively provided on a remote user interface device, the remote user interface device may be any suitable device, such as a laptop, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, wearable device, smart speaker, smart home system, and/or various other suitable devices. The remote user interface device is "remote" at least in terms of being spaced apart from and not physically connected to the ice maker, e.g., the remote user interface device is a stand-alone device separate from the ice maker that communicates wirelessly with the ice maker, e.g., through various possible communication connections and interfaces such as WI-FI. The ice maker and the remote user interface device may be matched in wireless communication, for example, connected to the same wireless network. The ice maker may communicate with the remote user interface device via a short-range radio such as bluetooth or any other suitable wireless network having a layer protocol architecture. Any suitable device separate from the ice maker that is configured to provide and/or receive communications, information, data, or commands from a user may be used as a remote user interface device, such as a smart phone, smart watch, personal computer, smart home system, or other similar device. For example, the remote user interface device may be a smart phone operable to store and run an application (also referred to as an "app"), and some or all of the method steps disclosed herein may be performed by the smart phone application. For example, the user notification may be or include an email, a text message, and/or other suitable notification via a remote user interface device.

In addition, the ice maker 200 (e.g., its controller 207) may also pause the ice making operation when overflowed water is detected. Thereby, any further escaping liquid water may be reduced or prevented.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. An ice maker, comprising:

a mold body for receiving liquid water and making ice from the liquid water within the mold body; and

a collection tray located vertically below the mold body, the collection tray defining an interior volume, the collection tray being arranged and configured to capture and retain a portion of the liquid water escaping from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray.

2. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising an ice bank disposed below the mold body along the vertical direction, wherein the collection tray is disposed between the mold body and the ice bank along the vertical direction.

3. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said collection tray is directly connected to said mold body.

4. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein said collection tray is disposed directly below and in contact with said mold body.

5. The ice maker of claim 1, wherein the mold body includes a torsion tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof, and wherein the collection tray is connected to the torsion tray, whereby the collection tray rotates about the central axis with the torsion tray.

6. The ice maker of claim 5, further comprising a mounting unit, said twist tray being coupled to a rotor of said mounting unit and an actuating device, whereby said actuating device is operable to rotate said rotor, said twist tray and said collection tray about said central axis.

7. The ice maker of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed in the interior volume of the collection tray and a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the escape portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray and to send a signal to the controller in response to detecting the escape portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray, and wherein the controller is configured to provide a user notification in response to the signal from the sensor.

8. The ice maker of claim 7, wherein said sensor includes a radio frequency identification tag in said interior volume of said collection tray.

9. The ice maker of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises a capacitive sensor disposed at least partially within said interior volume of said collection tray.

10. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:

a food storage chamber;

an ice bin; and

an ice maker disposed in the ice bin, the ice maker comprising:

11. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, further comprising an ice bin disposed below the mold body along the vertical direction, wherein the collection tray is disposed between the mold body and the ice bin along the vertical direction.

12. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10 wherein said collection tray is directly connected to said mold body.

13. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10 wherein said collection tray is disposed directly below and in contact with said mold body.

14. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10 wherein the mold body includes a torsion tray configured to rotate about a central axis thereof, and wherein the collection tray is connected to the torsion tray, whereby the collection tray rotates about the central axis with the torsion tray.

15. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 14 further comprising a mounting unit, said torsion tray being coupled to a rotor of said mounting unit and an actuation device, whereby said actuation device is operable to rotate said rotor, said torsion tray and said collection tray about said central axis.

16. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, further comprising a sensor disposed in the interior volume of the collection tray and a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the escape portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray and to send a signal to the controller in response to detecting the escape portion of the liquid water from the mold body in the interior volume of the collection tray, and wherein the controller is configured to provide a user notification in response to the signal from the sensor.

17. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16 wherein said sensor includes a radio frequency identification tag in said interior volume of said collection tray.

18. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16 wherein said sensor includes a capacitive sensor disposed at least partially within said interior volume of said collection tray.